the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

Today, Alanna has no lessons.

There had been a lengthy training session and a relaxing ride around the lake, but no lessons. Therefore, she's back in the flat by midmorning, and rather at a loss as to what to do.

She could pretend to read the book on court protocol. For Jon.

A bath might be nice.

Should she clean her swords?

Thankfully, Puff makes the decision for her. Huffing smoke, the mama dragon curls up on Alanna's lap and looks at her human with pleading eyes. It has been quite some time since she got quality sleep.

Alanna blinks at the disgruntled dragon and looks around, noticing the vigor with which the baby dragons are playing and exploring.

"I think I'll take the twins to meet Lucy," she decides.

Twenty minutes later, she stands before Caspian's door with a large basket in her arms. Lucy wasn't in her room. Caspian should meet the dragons who will be eating his underwear anyway. Grinning, Alanna knocks.

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We will handwave a logical reason for Lucy being there. There probably is one. It just doesn't have to be bothered with. La la la. Possibly she is on her cleaning kick again. And nowhere is safe. OR SOMETHING.

She gives Alanna a slightly bleary look. The look of someone who may have decided to be lazy and nap.

"Hello?"

Translation: I am sure I know your name, but I am not coherent. Please fill in the blanks for me. It would be appreciated. Thank you very much.

"Hello," Alanna replies cheerfully. Her arms tighten around the basket, and she shifts from foot to foot.

Why is Lucy looking at her like that?

"Lucy?" Propping the basket on her hip, she waves a hand in front of Lucy's face. "Are you suffering from some sort of tea deficiency?"

It's the only explanation.

"Quite possibly," she says agreeably and rubs at her eyes with one hand while her other arm stretch. "Hullo, Alanna."

"Oh, good. You do remember me." A guilty look crosses her face. "I woke you, didn't I? I'm sorry."

"S'all right," she says and smiles, a little, stepping aside. "What on earth do you have there?"

"Something that will hopefully make up for disturbing your rest."

Her eyes widen with obvious delight as she does her best to wedge herself and the basket through the doorway without bumping Lucy. The basket is set carefully on the floor, and Alanna flops down beside it.

"Your dragons, my lady."

The basket moves.

Lucy's eyes widen, and she makes a very gleeful and un-queenly sound as she drops to her knees.

"Oh, Alanna! May I see them, then?" Hopefully.

"That was my intention, certainly!"

Alanna laughs, slowly opening the basket. At one time, it likely served as a picnic basket, but it's looking a little frayed around the edges. The two babies edge away from the light, making soft, snuffling noises.

"Come on you two. You've never been shy before. Don't start now."

"Oh, they're so small," she marvels in a hushed tone, peering carefully. "Boys or girls?"

Tongue sticking out the side of her mouth, Alanna reaches in the basket.

"Girls."

One small, purple dragon is deposited in Lucy's lap. The knight beams.

The queen very gently reaches out her fingertips to stroke the dragon's back.

"Oh, they're darling, Alanna."

Plucking the other one from the basket, Alanna nods.

"Aren't they lovely?" She sets the dragon on the ground and watches it waddle towards its sister. "You should see all four of them together. Someone did tell you there are four, didn't they? Goddess, I haven't seen you in forever."

"Adam said you'd been sick, and I hadn't heard differently, really," she admits, "enough to want to trouble you. And no, I hadn't heard. Oh, they're dear."

The one on her lap begins sniffing Lucy, cautiously.

Hmmmmm.

"Aye, I took two arrows."

Somehow that sounds better than 'I had a horrid fever for two months.'

"Four babies! We couldn't believe it. You can imagine how thrilled Adam was at the news." She smiles. "I think they like you."

It does, really.

"I'm glad you're better, then," which she means, though she's staring at the dragons. "Do you really?"

Lucy sounds extremely hopeful.

"Thank you," Alanna says, watching the second dragon unfurl its tongue and bump her head against Lucy's knee.

"Definitely. Do you have names yet?"

"A few. I'm not certain they're very good," she admits and reaches down to stroke the second dragon. "I'm half tempted to use Lilac and Lavender."

"Those are marvelous names," Alanna insists. Of course. "Do you think Caspian will approve?"

Of the names, of the dragons... of flaming clothing.

"I suppose I'll have to ask him," with a grin, "and get his opinion."

Him? Who is him? Is this her new human, thinks the one who may be called Lilac? Mama said she would have a human. This might be a good human.

But who is HIM?

The one who will possibly be known as Lavender sniffs the girl again and decides this would be rather a nice human to have.

She looks around.

Rather a nice home to have, as well. However, it's obviously not big enough for more than one human and two dragons. Obviously if there is a Him, he will have to go.

"At least we know Lockheed approves. I suppose Kitty and I must converse with the dragon parents in regards to the remaining two babies."

For now, we may assume one is called Lilac and the other Lavender.

This may be changed in time, but it will make typing far simpler.

That said, Lilac may be communicating to Lavender that Mama said something about stealing garments, and she bets she can poof the biggest flame at the garments when they're stolen. BET SHE CAN.

Also she thinks the Him will have to be dealt with quickly. No use putting matters off.

"Do you think," Lucy asks seriously, "that they'll mind very much?"

NUH UH. Lavender doth protest. Burping a smoke ring, she insists her flame will be larger AND she will steal more garments.

Mama has had them practicing on the Pale Tall One's clothes, after all.

She wonders if His face will also get all pinched and red.

Alanna shakes her head, pulling her knees up. "I don't believe so. They just want to make sure they go to good homes. Besides, they can always visit."

Oh, BRING IT, Lilac seems to say with a burp of her own.

She will steal UNDERGARMENTS and OVERGARMENTS and. GARMENTS IN GENERAL--

Ooooh.

Does Lavender think they could steal ALL OF THE CLOTHING? The Him would certainly leave their new human alone, then. He would be too cold.

Lilac is uncertain, but feels it might be possible that together they could manage it...

"Of course." Lucy's smiling as she very carfully continues to stroke both dragons' sides. "And have family reunions."

YES, YES, YES. Imagine what they can accomplish with team work! They will steal ALL OF THE CLOTHING, burn it and present the ashes proudly to their human.

Lavender feels that two heads are clearly better than one.

"Although I very much doubt Adam and Caspian will receive invitations," Alanna says conversationally. "How have you been, Lucy?"

Lilac thinks her sister is a wise, wise bebe dragon.

The Him will be gone, and the ashes will be SO MANY AND PRETTY.

They are brilliant! Their humans is SO LUCKY to have them.

"Poor them," cheerfully. "And I've been...I've been well enough, I suppose."

Lavender forms a mutual admiration club. Never have there been more clever twin dragons.

The Him will be left with nothing but TEA TOWELS.

"You suppose?" Alanna quirks an eyebrow, expression slightly worried.

Lilac thinks this is brilliant.

Lilac attempts to inform her human of this plan, and reassure her that the Him will soon be gone, and for some reason Lucy feels the urge to giggle insanely at the dragonlet's cooing.

How odd.

"Well, quite a lot's been happening," she admits, "but I suppose things are well enough for now."

At least, Lavender opines, she has a nice laugh. Leaving the cooing to Lilac, Lavender peers around Lucy and sniffs the air.

Shhh. Be very, very quiet. She's hunting the Him.

"That it has," Alanna agrees. "I still feel out of the loop on many things." She pauses. "The White Rider hasn't given you any more trouble, has she?"

Is the Him here? Is it? Is it? Lilac is persistent in her inquiries as she continues to reassure their human. Only tea towels!

Lucy finds her cheeks warming at the cooings and feels the need to clear her throat without knowing why, but is still grinning as she picks Lilac up to gently cradle the dragon.

"Not trouble, quite, so much as she and I've spoken a bit," she admits.

Alanna gives Lucy a curious look. It's quite cool in the room, but Lucy appears to be overheated. Her gaze drops to Lilac, suspiciously.

Quietly, "aye, we've conversed as well. I don't trust her a bit. If she does give you any trouble, please let me know."

Lavender is slow to respond. Stalking quietly through the room is hard work, especially when one's tail gets wrapped around a chair leg.

The Him must not be here right now, but his smell LINGERS.

Waddling, she disappears into another room.

Alanna blinks, then laughs.

"I will," she promises, and ignores the curious look.

She's certain it must be the warm dragon on her lap.

"--Alanna? What on earth is she doing?"

LOOK UNDER THE BED, Lilac yells after her sister. UNDER THE BED. THE HIM COULD BE HIDING ANYWHERE. ALSO IN THE TUB. THE PALE TALL ONE WAS IN THE TUB ONCE.

"Claiming her territory?" Alanna manages to suggest through the laughter.

THE HIM IS NOT IN THE TUB. Lavender is very determined. REPEAT, THE HIM IS NOT IN THE TUB. I LEFT PRINTS IN THE SOAP SO THAT THE HIM WILL KNOW WHO'S IN CHARGE.

ALSO, I CHEWED ON THAT STICK THE HIM USES TO CLEAN HIS PITIFUL TEETH.

A sock flies through the bedroom door.

"Oh Aslan," Lucy manages, and it would be a groan if she weren't giggling again. "She does realize--well, I don't suppose she cares if Caspian thinks this is his room, does she?"

COPY THAT, PURPLE PEOPLE EATER. THE HIM WILL SOON REALIZE OUR COMPLETE AND UTTER DOMINATION. REMEMBER THE OVER-RIDING OBJECTIVE: FIND ALL UNDERWEAR THAT MAY BE THERE.

There was a sock.

Now there is ash.

Lilac looks smug.

Lucy looks like she thinks she should be horrified, but can't quite manage it.

"Emphasis on the 'thinks'" Alanna makes no attempt to master her amusement. "I do hope he realizes it's nothing personal."

TELL MAMA'S HUMAN SHE IS DELUDED, Lavender insists. ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE HIM IS PERSONAL. WE WILL SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROY HIS WILL TO LIVE.

I HAVE LOCATED SECRET UNDERWEAR STASH. MISSION IS A SUCCESS!

A loud crash echoes from the bedroom.

Like a bullet, Lavender races back in a haphazard line, one pair of underwear over her head and several other pairs clenched in her teeth. They seem to be smoking.

Alanna facepalms.

YOU ARE DELUDED, MAMA'S HUMAN, Lilac informs Alanna obediently. THE HIM HAS TO GO. IT IS FOR THE GOOD OF US ALL. AND BY US ALL, I MEAN THE HUMAN AND US. SHE WILL THANK US. AND WE WILL HAVE MORE ROOM.

Lucy yelps and tries to put Lilac down to grab the underwear.

Lilac is having none of that and clings to determinedly while puffing in the direction of the underwear. Mama said you have to train your humans early, after all.

There is a loud groan from Alanna's general direction as she blushes and does her best to ignore the presence of Caspian's underthings.

"They are their parents children?" she offers, hopefully. If Lucy and Caspian say no now, she's not sure what they will do.

For her part, Lavender manages to set one pair of underwear on fire. Unfortunately, it's the pair on her head. Depositing the rest near Lilac, she huffs and shakes the flaming drawers off her head, dancing in a circle and stomping them into vaguely underwear shaped ashes.

She purrs a dragon victory song.

"Well, I--suppose," helplessly, "that there are worse situations than Caspian not having any undergarments."

Caspian may not agree.

Lucy may be blushing rather fiercely after a moment as she tries to salvage a pair or two that's only slightly scorched.

Lilac, however, is being helpful. I WILL GET THE ONES THE HUMAN IS TAKING. YOU TAKE CARE OF THE OTHERS!

TUG OF WAR, HUMAN! TUG OF WAR!

"No, I suppose not." She makes a grab for a pair, only to be left holding a handful of ashes. Lavender looks smug. "I mean, Adam has survived, and I certainly don't mind."

Thinking about that statement, Alanna turns crimson.

SEE, WE ARE PERFORMING A PUBLIC SERVICE! HE WILL DISAPPEAR. Another pair goes up in flames. HE WILL DISAPPEAR NOT.

"--Alanna," sounding pained as she continues to fight with Lilac, who is having SO MUCH FUN GREAT GAME HUMAN and not at all letting go, "there is no way for either of us to save ourselves from embarrassment right now, is there?"

TUG OF WAR! TUG OF--

rip

--NOT AS GOOD AS POOFING, BUT STILL GOOD!

Lilac begins to shred the half she has happily.

WE ARE SO GOOD TO OUR HUMAN. MAMA WILL BE PROUD.

"I fear not," Alanna replies, just as pained. Having given up on the underwear as a lost cause, she watches Lavender use her tail to sweep the ashes into one pile. Eventually, she snorts. "But at least our underthings are not in imminent danger?"

The pile of ashes is glorious. Proud, Lavender crawls up in Lucy's lap.

LOOK INTO MY EYES, HUMAN. MY NICE, WIDE YELLOW EYES. GOOD HUMAN. NICE HUMAN. THE HIM MUST GO.

"Well, true. And we were going to steal the boys' clothes at one point anyway." She is trying to not imagine having to explain to Caspian that he now owns only the underwear he is wearing. Trying so hard.

THE HIM MUST GO, Lilac adds firmly. YOU ARE VERY SWEET. WE WILL BE KIND TO YOU. DO NOT WORRY. YOU DO NOT NEED THE HIM. THINK OF ALL THE ROOM YOU WILL HAVE. YOU CAN FILL IT WITH TOYS FOR US.

Lucy gently pets them both, staring down at the pretty yellow eyes. So pretty...

"...Alanna? Should I be worried on Caspian's behalf?"

"I don't think so."

Lavender makes a contented sound and gently butts the top of her head against Lucy's chin.

WE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP. ALSO, WE LIKE CHICKEN.

Her tail twines around her sister's. They really are the most clever of dragons. Lavender can't wait to tell Mama.

"Perhaps," Alanna whispers, "we should make sure he has lots of tea."

They are. Lilac will let Lavender tell, but will be CERTAIN to add that some of it was HER idea.

Mama will be thrilled with them both.

Lucy can't quite help smiling and dropping a kiss to both dragons' heads, and the smile only widens when they start to purr.

"A very great deal of tea, yes," Lucy agrees.

NOT TEA, HUMAN. CHICKEN, Lilac says kindly.

This human will need much taking care of indeed. But she and Lavender are up to the job.

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