➹BEEPER

[intheblanks]

"It had better be an emergency."
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Comments

[tiesaribbon]

That doesn't sound like it's good for a blood vessel. But it sounds okay for a balloon. As long as the balloon isn't filled with blood.

[But she doesn't really care about that. She yawns a little.]

You can't lock me out. Mama let me in. She doesn't need a key.

[It's true she doesn't, but that is beside the point.]

Are we going to go home or are you going to work all night again?

[She can't help it, then, she snuggles against him for a moment. She looks down for a second and then back up.]

[intheblanks]

It's not good for a balloon either. At least not one that starts off as the wiggly kind.

[There is nothing strange about his daughter having a conversation about balloons filled with blood. She's seen what her mother sometimes has in her smoothies. Fortunately, with a father who's a surgeon, teachers have always put strange comments down to him.

And there's no need to hold back on the snuggles. Of the two, he probably goes in for more.]

How about I stay with you until you're sleeping?

[tiesaribbon]

Do they pop? Is that why if you get one you have to go and see the doctor?

[She nods a little, then. It's easy not to sleep when Daddy's gone, and the office is an okay place but not cuddly or warm, really, not like her bedroom or the couch or, occasionally (for some reason no one can discern) underneath Rosella's bed.]

Okay. But I don't know. I'm not very tired.

[intheblanks]

They do. But not often.

[It's not something she needs to worry about.

Although speaking of worrying, they've told her there are monsters under Rosella's bed and it doesn't seem to have phased her. Maybe it comes of letting her meet the one in the lake.]

Not tired? What have you been doing all day?

[They need to get her running laps.]

[tiesaribbon]

Mama took me shopping for a new coat and it was really boring, then we went to the park and then we went and saw a new car she's going to fix and then she took me home and we had dinner and did homework and then I came here.

[At least he doesn't have to worry about her shopping habits yet.]

But I'm not sleepy.[She yawns.]

[intheblanks]

[It must break Saya's heart that Magda can't appreciate a fine cashmere mix yet.]

Sounds like you wore your mum out, at least. [Sounds like someone else's wearier than she's letting on, too.] Why don't I read one of these to you, since we're both staying awake. One of the less bloody ones.

[tiesaribbon]

I don't know. Mama doesn't get tired.

[She does but it's hard to tell. And then she nods and reaches for a book, one of hers, but she holds it really tight instead of handing it over.]

[intheblanks]

Not quickly.

[Still a trait he appreciates. He puts a hand on the book, notices how she's holding it.]

Everything all right, Magsie?

[tiesaribbon]

[She looks up, a little surprised. He can always tell.

(Not that she makes it difficult, but she's not quite as opaque as she wants to be.)]

I can stay by myself, you know. You don't have to stay here with me.

[She hands him the book.]

[intheblanks]

[Look at who he's married to. Nobody is as opaque as they want to be, in comparison.]

Am I babying you?

[tiesaribbon]

I don't want you to think that I'm afraid.

[Which is basically her telling him that yes, yes she is afraid.]

Someone was at home tonight. That's why Mama brought me here. I told her that I could stay there by myself and she said that you would work better if I were here.

[intheblanks]

I work much better when I get to baby you. [He gathers her in and remembers Saya's text - I thought I heard someone come in.] And the nurses are mean to me if they don't get to see you at least once a week. I'm afraid of them.

[tiesaribbon]

But you know I'm not afraid, right? I'm not afraid of anything. Just like Mama.

[Being Saya's daughter is not as easy as she makes it look. But then a pause.]

Eden said that if I was here in the morning she would bring me breakfast, too.

[intheblanks]

Eden brings breakfast and you're going to struggle to walk home.

[But he doesn't really impose dietary restrictions. Her arteries should last her a while yet.

He hums a little, opening the book.]

What if there was something your mum was afraid of? Would that scare you?

[tiesaribbon]

She makes really good bread, though. The best.

[She manages to wiggle around a little, trying to find the most comfortable spot.]

She's not scared of anything. Except water, and I'm not scared of swimming.

[intheblanks]

That's true. She just makes about six kinds at once.

[He jogs his knee up, probably making the process harder.]

Well, see? We can't chase you off with a handful of water balloons, can we?

[tiesaribbon]

Daddy-

[SIGH.]

You're making it really hard to get comfortable!

[intheblanks]

Who? [Jog.] Me? [There's no let up here.]

[tiesaribbon]

[She's putting her hand on his leg, and then the other, and then the other, god why isn't he stopping, nooooo-]

Yes, you, geeeez-

[But then she's giggling, even as she's trying to protest.]

[intheblanks]

Geeez, Louise. [He teases her in her voice, which is neither his accent or her mothers, but touched with both alongside the American and English picked up from the majority of her friends, here.

And he jogs her side to side, then tips her back lightly and grins.]

I'm not doing a good job at making you sleepy, am I?

[tiesaribbon]

No, now I'm more awake!

[But she does speak French and Italian, gifts from her mother who spoke to her in both from a very young age.]

We should have a pancake party.

[intheblanks]

[Her dad can speak one of those. Both, if Latin counts as Italian (and he claims it does, when he's trying to annoy them).]

Pancake day's a while off, yet.

[tiesaribbon]

No, we can go to the cafeteria, and get lots of pancakes, and eat them before mama finds out.

[She is on a strict no-sugar after 8pm diet. She has enough trouble sleeping as it is.]

[intheblanks]

[He hums.]

Do you know who that'd be a good party for?

[tiesaribbon]

Me. The answer is me, Daddy.

[She has that same look Chase does, like duh, it's obvious.]