Bibliophiles Ahoy! [THNMY post for Jas]

[vicioussweetie]

Ali, when around children, is pretty much exactly what Jas should expect: happy and indulgent. Poor Jas can probably hear them coming, since there's no rule about being quiet near a library, just inside it, as the little girl in Ali's company is telling a long a complicated story that seems to be about how "her Brucie" saved her school from a big

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[goodform]

*In the jungle, the jaguar is attuned to the chatter of monkeys and may track them and be aware of them for miles: the captain has an ear for the sound of happy children.

This aside, he's still not quite prepared (is anyone?) for the little girl's enthusiastic drive-by grabbing of his legs.

He freezes. Very still. Very, very still. Sadly, the curtsey goes almost unnoticed and certainly unresponded to, as he is then faced with the boy's intent and measuring stare, and finds himself returning it automatically and willing himself not to get angry - without cause, James, not without cause!

Ali's question takes a moment or so to filter though*

..hmm? No.

[vicioussweetie]

"That's good. This is Alex," she pauses to rest a hand on the girl's head, "and this is Julian."

Her eyes urge him to be polite. This is part of what he needs to do, doesn't he remember?

[goodform]

*He pauses once again, for a while longer than perhaps is mannerly, because they're staring, the children are both staring, and in his experience very little good tends to come of such things. But he's being introduced. His instincts jump almost gratefully at the familiar form to follow, and, sure enough, off comes the big plumed hat in the remaining hand; the shining steel claw is curled very stiffly across his chest, and he gives a stilted bow*

Good day. *pause* ...children.

[sidhes_so_sweet]

"Hello!" This, from Alex, who then turns and whispers rather loudly to Ali "You're right, he does have a nice hat!". Julian seems disinclined to speak much, and continues studying the captain with what Jas might recognize as a child's admiration.