Room 203: Tea Party

[avonlea_girl]

The plates are set, the tea is steeping, and after a flurry of clearing and rearranging this morning, there is a pleasant little table set in the room, with four white chairs around it.

The pies are on the windowsill, mouthwaterly fragrant.

All in all, it looks to be a lovely tea.

Comments

[kitchen_maid]

At 3:30, Amy rushes in, a few bits of hay still clinging to her skirt. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I just lost track of time."

[kindred_spirit]

"No sugar, thank you," he says to Amy.

"I guess it does look a little like hay," he says, thoughtfully, looking across the table.

[the_seafarer]

Caspian self-consciously brushes his fingers through his hair in a vain attempt to neaten it.

It doesn't help much.

"Kiseki just has it out for me," he says, amused. "Susan must have said something. Can't imagine what, though."

[kitchen_maid]

Amy smiles at him, slightly too innocently.

"He's a very sweet horse," says Amy. He left her hair alone, either because it's dark or because Susan has never said anything about it.

"Do you ride, Gilbert?" she asks, passing a plate of tiny sandwiches around the table.

[avonlea_girl]

Anne says nothing about the likelihood of Kiseki's trying to eat her hair, or what it might resemble to him.

And Gil gets a Look, saying he'd better not say it, either.

[kindred_spirit]

Gil, having no desire to have a teapot smashed on his head, says nothing. Besides, her hair doesn't really resemble carrots, not to the extent that it might confuse a horse.

He takes a sandwich and passes the plate to Anne.

"I do ride," he says. But the mun has never loaded that icon.

[the_seafarer]

And he'd likely not want to know what Bran says it resembles.

Caspian looks pleased.

"Well, then, we shall have to find you a mount, one of these days. I have no horse of my own, but I know all the owners and they are all very generous, and happy to let someone else ride. It could be easily arranged."

[kitchen_maid]

Amy gives him a Look, all mock hurt. "No horse of your own? Caspian!"

[the_seafarer]

He sighs.

And searches in his pocket.

"I beg your pardon, my lady. Here, let me introduce you to my horse, my friends."

The thing he places on the table is small...and glittery...and pink.

Very pink.

[kitchen_maid]

Amy's smile edges into a giggle for just a second. "My royal brother's war horse," she says, indicating the very pink thing on the table.

"Killer."

[avonlea_girl]

Anne...stares.

For a long moment.

And then she is laughing, hard enough to lay a hand over her stomach.

"His..."

[kindred_spirit]

Gil doesn't want to laugh. It seems rude, to laugh. He likes and respects Caspian. But. But. . .

. . . he can't help it.

"Your . . ."

[the_seafarer]

"Yes, I know," Caspian says drily, but he cannot help but be amused.

"Blame this one, she it was gifted him to me."

[kitchen_maid]

Amy just rests her chin on her hand, and smiles at him, serenely, eyes dancing.

[avonlea_girl]

"Well," Anne says, her own eyes dancing as well, "he is certainly a--surprising--sort of steed."

[kindred_spirit]

Gil is a little surprised by the peals of laughter coming from Amy at Anne's comment.

He looks from the two laughing girls to the very pink horse on the table, and then addresses Caspian.

"I suppose it was kind of your sister to give you a horse," he says, amusement and uncertainty both clear in his tone. "Even a small, glittering, pink one."