fandomtownies | Sunday Afternoon, Across the Water and onto the Roof of the Fourth Sin

There really is no proper way to maintain dignity whilst traveling by broomstick. Granny always felt exposed. It was possible that passers beneath could see under the three skirts she was wearing and catch a glimpse of her petticoat or perhaps her outer knickers. Such wanton exposure was no way to introduce oneself to a new town.

It should have been a simple matter, then, to stop at the edge of town and step off the broom so that she could walk on her own two feet.

Unfortunately, the wind died down just as Granny reached the edge of the docks. She jerked the broom handle upwards to avoid crashing into the water and the broom responded enthusiastically, leaping back into the air.

Granny clutched the handle fiercely and jerked it sideways. A rather pointy turret jumped out at her and she dodged it neatly. She failed, however, to dodge the roof of the house said turrent was attached to. Her boot caught on the rain gutter. The gutter's strength was no match for a witch's boot, but it threw her balance off enough that she was thrown off the broom and onto the roof.

The broom and bits of the rain gutter clattered into the crevice between the turret and the main roof. Granny found herself sprawled across the shingles. She righted herself, patted her hat (which wouldn't have dared be out of place) and glared at the broom.

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Upon hearing a noise on the roof, Becky was outside with a gun drawn within seconds.

"What the hell?" she yelled up.

Granny adjusted her black shawl around her shoulders and stood up stiffly. "Blessings be on this house," she said, and gave Becky a stern look, as if to suggest that there were other things besides blessings that could bestowed upon this house and did Becky really want to find out what they were? "Is this Fandom Town?"

Jarod ran out, not long after Becky. He noticed the gun, but didn't mention it. "What's going on?" He noticed the elderly woman standing on the roof. "Ma'am? Are you alright? Stay where you are, and I'll get a ladder."

"Yes," Becky said to the woman on the roof, not lowering her weapon. She shot Jarod a quick look of confusion, and continued, "Who are you? Why are you on the roof?"

"My name," she said with dignity, "is Granny Weatherwax." She gave them a moment to recognize the name.

Jarod, if possible, looked even more confused than Becky. "Is this your grandmother, Becky?"

"No," Becky replied with a roll of her eyes. "I've never seen her before. Why is she on the roof?"

Granny crossed her arms. Apparently her reputation hadn't traveled this far. "I suppose thing are different here in forn parts, but back home 'tis well known that having a witch land on your roof is good luck. Jus' thought I'd spread a little luck around, 's all."

"That's very considerate of you," Jarod nodded. "Is it good luck for you to stay on the roof, or would you like to come down?"

"And where I come from, random people falling on the roof is something met with gunfire and other unpleasant consequences," Becky snapped. "But hey, I can account for cultural differences, as long as you get down now."

"I can come down now," Granny said to Jarod. "It's also good luck for girls to treat their elders with respect. Keeps 'em from accidentally turning into frogs."

Jarod ran off and returned several minutes later, carrying an aluminum ladder which he laid against the side of the building. "I'll hold it steady for you, Granny Weatherwax. Just take your time."

Granny eyed the ladder warily, but there appeared to be no alternative. (Flying down would have required getting the broom started again, and there wasn't enough space on the roof to do a proper running start like the old broom needed. No matter how many times she had the bristles replaced, the durn thing wouldn't start from a standstill.)

"Avert your eyes, lad!" Granny called out to Jarod. She swung her leg over the edge of the roof and gracelessly clambered down the ladder.

Becky finally lowered her gun, though her expression was no less fierce.

"How did you even get up there?" she asked, her voice just a little kinder than a snarl. "And what do you want, anyway?"

"I flew," Granny said matter-of-factly. "And what I wants at this moment is a nice hot cup of tea." She looked at them both with the air of someone expecting an invitation.

Jarod, wondering if he could look back from averting his eyes, continued to stare at the docks across the street. "If you'd like to come inside, I'd be happy to make you a cup of tea. And I believe we still have some blueberry muffins, if you'd like?"

"Miho ate them," Becky said flatly.

"Well, I don't mind waiting while a fresh batch bakes," Granny said. "Long as I can have my tea. You can look back now," she added sharply to Jarod. "Just weren't proper for you to be lookin' up at me skirts."

"Of course," Jarod replied, unused to taking orders from an older female. "Would you like to follow me inside?"

He'd come back for the ladder later.

"Have fun with waiting for that. It'll be awhile, since I know there's no chance in hell that I'll be baking anything," Becky said coolly.

She strode quickly inside.

Granny turned to Jarod. "Child needs some manners. And some proper clothing. Ain't right for a girl to go 'round wearing trousers, 'specially not ones two sizes too small." She followed Jarod into the house.

Jarod decided not to comment. Besides, as an eighteen-year-old male, he had very different views on Becky's clothing than this Granny Weatherwax did.

Continued here. (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomtownies/556281.html)

Sunday Afternoon, Across the Water and onto the Roof of the Fourth Sin

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