Bunnysitting

[poison_lipstick]

Saffron had never owned a pet. She remembered wanting one when she'd been younger, a pretty little cat in a shop window that had practically begged to come home with her - or at least that's what it had seemed like to Saffron, back when she was young and innocent and her real name was still what she answered to. But her parents had said no, and

Comments

[fourforone]

Buck stands near enough by that he can't help being a passive observer of the scene and for some reason, he grins good and broad when he sees what she's doing. "Lucky bunny," he notes with a turn of a grin in her direction. "What's a man have to do to get that kind of treatment?"

[poison_lipstick]

She'd been focused on Playboy, but Saffron looked up with a bright smile when she heard Buck's voice. "You mean you don't know already?" she teased, since he was fairly well familiar with her already. "Maybe if you ask Playboy here, he'll give you some tips."

[fourforone]

"I don't know. The rabbit might be pretty damn adorable, but he doesn't have anything on me," he says, ducking one of the branches as he comes closer to her and flashes her his most dimpled and fond grin. "I mean, who could say no to me? Honestly?"

[poison_lipstick]

Saffron shifted Playboy slightly where he was cradled against her and went to meet Buck halfway. "I'd say maybe a blind person, but somehow I think your charm would still get through to her other senses," she replied, smiling fondly up at him.

[fourforone]

"You flatter me," Buck says, fondly, giving her a warm smile as he reaches over to gently stroke at the rabbit's ears. "Now who does this little fluffball belong to? And I'm guessing he's a pet, not dinner, yeah?"

[poison_lipstick]

"No, he is definitely not dinner," Saffron said with a soft laugh. "Playboy belongs to Lloyd Henreid. You might have seen him at the club; he bartends downstairs."

[fourforone]

Buck's been by there a couple times. Sometimes for the other Easy boys, sometimes for himself. "Making an honest day's work of it, huh," he notes with a slightly bemused sound. "Well, tell him he's got one helluva cute rabbit. And a lucky one, at that."

[poison_lipstick]

Playboy, who had been sniffing at Saffron's hair as they spoke, suddenly shifted and started nosing along the base of her neck, which caused her to let out a laugh that was closer to a giggle. "Hey, that tickles," she informed the bunny, before turning her attention back to Buck. "I will pass that message along. So what are you doing with yourself this fine day, Buck?"

[fourforone]

Buck reaches over gently to pet the rabbit, lightly coaxing it into his hands, asking permission as he's doing so. "Well, you know. This and that. Mourning friends gone, celebrating occasions, trying to make sure Nixon doesn't accidentally kill me because I got in the way of him and his Vat."

[poison_lipstick]

She carefully handed the rabbit over, trusting Playboy would be safe in Buck's capable hands. "I think anyone who's known Lewis any substantial length of time knows not to get between him and his Vat," Saffron joked, smiling.

She sobered slightly, and reached up to place a gentle hand to his upper arm. "I'm sorry you've lost more friends." She'd heard about Joan disappearing, and really, the only reason she wasn't completely happy over it was because of Buck.

[fourforone]

Buck presses his lips together, trying not to let himself get too bogged down in death and loss. He's gone through it enough that he knows better than to let it get to him. "I'm still alive and kicking and so are the majority of my friends. Getting depressed would be selfish of me. And something I don't think she would have wanted."

[poison_lipstick]

"No, probably not," she agreed, even though she didn't really have any idea. "I think anyone who cared about you would want you to be happy. I know I do."

[fourforone]

"It means a lot to me that you care," Buck says and he's fully honest in his words to her, offering a kind-hearted grin and leaning to rest a hand to her shoulder, kissing her cheek. "You're a fine woman, Helen, you know that? I know Bill agrees," he can't help but tease.

[poison_lipstick]

She smiled fondly, clearly pleased and flattered by the praise. "I sure hope he does," she joked, then stretched up to kiss his cheek in return. "Thank you, honey. And of course I care, you're my friend."

[fourforone]

Bill raves about her, Buck knows that much, so he won't say another word about that. "I do aim to be friendly," he says with a broad grin, settled and at ease. "What kind of man would I be if not?"

[poison_lipstick]

"Well, Playboy definitely likes you," Saffron observed, looking at the rabbit, who was snuggled comfortably in Buck's arms. Not a bad place to be, in her opinion. "That's a good sign."