Multi-pup post

[source_fairy]

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[not_his_pa]

William is in another chair by the fireplace with his leg stretched out over an ottoman and a hot water bottle on his knee.

Today he's reading Little Men as he got it for Christmas and finding out that he kind of likes Louisa May Alcott, he thinks of her as someone that Mary Bennet would like more than he would.

[destroy_restart]

Tower is watching the kid -- boy, young man, something in-between.

He's much too earnest and un-destructive for Tower's taste. Poor guy wouldn't even enjoy, say, a row of his school enemies falling into a pool in an amusing way.

[not_his_pa]

If it came down to it, William would rather punch them himself as a pool wouldn't be that funny to him and he squirms as he feels someone watching him.

[destroy_restart]

"Hello there," Tower says, puffing on his cigar.

[not_his_pa]

"Hello, sir,"

William's not sure why he's so interesting but he puts his bookmark in and tips his hat to Tower.

[destroy_restart]

"You're very young to be so earnest," Tower says. "That's a pity."

[not_his_pa]

"Sir?" It's a rather judgmental greeting and William isn't certain of how to react.

[destroy_restart]

"Yes, exactly," Tower says.

[not_his_pa]

"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, sir? How can I be too earnest?"

[destroy_restart]

"Just like that," Tower says.

[not_his_pa]

"I'm just bein' polite."

[destroy_restart]

"You've got no reason to, poor kid!" Tower says.

[not_his_pa]

"So what should I do instead?"

It seems stupid to act rude to anyone here as you never know who or what they are.

[destroy_restart]

"What you feel you want, not what you think you ought to," Tower says.

[not_his_pa]

"Yeah, but it ain't always safe ignorin' someone here. You never know who you'll get angry. Don't see anythin' wrong with bein' cautious."

[destroy_restart]

"You're terribly distrustful," Tower says. "What do you do for fun? Read etiquette books?"