(Untitled)

[dogbitesman]

Believing one's child to be more advanced than they actually were was a fine tradition of parenthood, and like most fine traditions, William was inclined to dismiss it out of hand, or at least expose it to a great deal of skepticism. He'd read the literature.

So he resolutely did not believe that what Olivia was trying to say was babae, a

Comments

[provincialbelle]

Belle had seen some strange things in her life and had been a part of them -- after all, she didn't think many people could claim to have a teacup as a close friend. Still, a crustacean and a baby weren't usually the most common match. "Would you like me to try and scare it off?" she asked, inching closer.

[dogbitesman]

William considered this.

"Yes," he said, "but I should probably do it anyway."

Relying on strange women to deal with hazards might send the wrong message. Actually, he wasn't sure what message that sent. Strangers can be helpful? That was true, but it wouldn't do to generalize from it, that seemed a fast way to end up in a workshop somewhere doing manual labour.1

1The bogeymen people like the de Wordes used to terrify their children were not quite the same as for most people.

[provincialbelle]

Belle couldn't help hiding her smile when the crab seemed to rather enjoy playing around the area and she regarded the father and his child with almost a sympathetic look. After all, crustaceans could be quite sneaky. "I can find a stick?" she offered helpfully. "Or hold your baby? I'm Belle, so you know my name. I live at the Homestead and I'm sure I can find many character references to vouch for me."

[dogbitesman]

"Can you find them in the next minute?" William said. "Er, not that you seem particularly untrustworthy, but, well, she is my baby. I only have the one. A stick, then."

[provincialbelle]

Belle just laughed out a friendly, "Sure," and began her hunt for an elusive stick. She really didn't fear much and after coming head to head with some awful and terrible things, a little crab didn't scare her much at all. She returned victorious with a craggy branch covered in moss and stepped in front of the two of them. "Okay, well, this is my first crab-battle," she warned. "So I hope I know what I'm doing."

[dogbitesman]

"Well, so long as the crab doesn't also pick up a stick, I'd say you have the advantage," William said, although accuracy forced him to admit, "...probably. I don't know much about crabs. They don't jump, do they?"

The legs didn't seem made for it, but you never knew. Swans didn't look remotely vicious, and yet.

[provincialbelle]

"If the crab picked up a stick, I think I would be far more worried about the evolution of the species than anything else," Belle admitted, just slightly worried about that now in her mind's eye. "Though, I've seen some odd things in my life. A footstool dog, for one," she mumbled, almost to herself as she poked and prodded. "Away! Go!" she urged the crab. "Stay away!" she added in French for good measure.