(Untitled)

[mothersmucker]

Scott isn't really expecting anybody to show. If anybody does, it'll probably be students from class-- he offered 'em a whopping letter increase in their grade to bribe them, and of course the permanent esteem of their favorite professor into the bargain-- though it's possible some people might stumble in on a whim, lured by the promise of free

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[likes_to_bite]

Sunny steps forward when it's her turn. She has a piece of paper clutched between both hands, and looks to Mr. Landon for his okay on when to start. Mr. Landon may look like Olaf, but he isn't, and somewhere in her small child's heart it feels like a victory to stand up in front of him, unafraid.

"My name's Sunny Baudelaire-Tennant-MacDonald. I wrote a story."

She stares down at the paper, and begins to read.

"Once there was a white dog named Queen. Her mommy and daddy told her someday she would be like her name. When she got old enough to go out past their house she looked for a castle because all Queens need a castle, with a big moat with alligators so bad guys can't get in, and horses to ride, and lots of cake forever. Queen's favorite cake was the pink kind and she had a really good nose for smelling so she followed her nose all the way to the castle.

"When Queen got to the castle there was a dragon inside! It had a princess it was going to eat so Queen had to save the princess because eating princesses is gross and mean. Queen bit the dragon and it flew away and the princess was so happy she said Queen can stay at the castle forever. And have the cake.

"The end!"

Sunny takes a bow, like in the plays, and hurries back to her seat.

[willbewonderful]

Duck scoops her up as soon as she's within reach. He feels raw all over, nowhere moreso than in his heart since Jack disappeared, but being with Sunny makes it easier. Especially when she's being so damn smart he could burst with it.

"Hey there Princess," he says, squeezing her tight. "You did so good. How'd that feel up there?"

[likes_to_bite]

"It was fun, everybody was quiet and clapped at the end!" Sunny buries her face in the side of Duck's neck, wrapping her arms around it. "It was just a little scary," she admits, now that he can't see her face.

[willbewonderful]

"You were?" She's getting big, but Duck holds her like she's still three years old, paper crushed between them. "Couldn't tell at all."

[likes_to_bite]

Sunny giggles and settles herself on his lap, snuggling in. "That's 'cause princesses can't be afraid, daddy, or dragons will get them. And dragons breathe fire and smell like turd."

[willbewonderful]

"That they do," says Duck, stifling a laugh against her shoulder. "So, what do princesses get when they do good at school, eh? You thought of what you want yet?"

[likes_to_bite]

"A pony!" Sunny says without hesitation. "A pink one with blue hair and bows I can put in her tail."

[willbewonderful]

"I see," says Duck without missing a beat. "Well, we'd better have a back up present, too, just in case I can't find one of those."

[likes_to_bite]

"A yellow pony?" Sunny tries hopefully. Certainly there has to be a pony of some kind somewhere.

[mothersmucker]

"Hey, you--" Scott says, leaning into the aisle as she's about to pass by. "Sunny, that was great!"

He'd say more, but he's grinning too much, and-- he's not sure but he thinks she looks a little nervous. Not so weird; she's just done a big thing and she's a small kid.

[likes_to_bite]

Sunny stops and bounces on the balls of her feet. "Thanks!" she says, hugging the story to her chest. "I have lots of stories, dad writes them down for me and helps me learn to write them out too."

[mothersmucker]

"Yeah? Well, it was fantastic. Do you think you might join my story-writing class when you get a little bigger?"

Heck, at this rate, he might see about doing a special class for the younger set. Jesus Christ, 'lots of cake forever'. He was done for.

[likes_to_bite]

"Sure!" Sunny says. "I like school. My dad's and my sister says it's important and I have to. One time I brought my friend Fairy to class and au-- Mrs. Charlie said I couldn't, but Fairy has to learn things too. She's smart, she can spell."

[mothersmucker]

"School's important," Scott agrees, before he realizes she isn't finished, then shuts up real quick and lets her continue. "Spelling's important, too. Well, Fairy's welcome--" He hesitated. "What's Fairy look like?"

[likes_to_bite]

"Fairy is an Incredibly Deadly Viper. She's reeeally long, and black. She saved me from Olaf once. She's a good pet," Sunny assures him, knowing lots of people are scared of Fairy.

[mothersmucker]

That's one badass imaginary friend, Scott thinks, and then remembers just where he is, and the possibility that this kid is being a hunnart poicent serious.

"Whoa," he says, and means it, 'cause either way, anybody that messes with this baby is gonna be in trouble, "she sounds good. Well, anyway, you go on and see your dad." He flashes Duck a quick grin that says: thanks for loaning her. "Make sure you stop by when you've written some more, okay. Oh, and hey..."

He reaches over to the table, grabs two little chocolate bars and hands them to her. "There you go. You win first prize, two chocolate bars for being brave enough to read a story and another for being clever enough to tell your own. Thanks, Sunny."

Scott smiles broadly and resists the urge to hug her, maybe, or tousle her hair-- he likes kids, loves 'em, even, but even with them, especially with them, getting close feels dangerous sometimes. You never do know when ole Freddy's watching, he thinks, and then all of a sudden he's glad he didn't hug her. He's an honest-to-God crazy guy.