(no subject)

[river_meimei]

The Tams' house at New Mayfair is slightly less tidy than usual -- necessarily, with a reluctant invalid occupying the sitting room full-time. But the cleaners still know their job, and appearances must be kept up. Which is why the upstairs hallway, like all the rooms except the one Gabriel is more or less living out of, is still ruthlessly and tastefully tidy.

There are, of course, doors in this house that even the cleaners and security force don't know about.

Magic will do that kind of thing.

Comments

[gabriel_tam]

It's that last which causes him to capitulate; being assured that he won't lose precious time with his daughter allows Gabriel to accept the current limitations of his own health.

"Very well."

A beat, as he glances back and forth between them.

"I trust the two of you will be able to entertain yourselves?"

[river_meimei]

"We'll play tiddlywinks with the space-time continuum," River says gravely.

It's an old joke -- and bittersweet for that, but she's smiling slightly under her mock-solemnity.

[wolflord_andain]

Galadan, in turn, looks at River, eyebrow raised.

"Tiddlywinks?"

She'll have to teach him.

He does not mind.

[gabriel_tam]

To Galadan, dryly,

"I expect you'll find out."

With a small smile, Gabriel continues,

"And I'll see you both at dinner, then."

[river_meimei]

"I promise."

River lets her hand brush a little against her father's as she rises, with the same absent gentleness she uses to touch the footstool, and smiles at him before she slips out of the room after Galadan.