fandomtownies | Turtle & Canary [14.10]

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Turtle & Canary [14.10]

Jan was moping around the store while Apu rolled his eyes at him.

He hadn't even been sure he should come in after Sunday, but it was his job until someone told him otherwise, so here he was.

On time. Absolutely, indisputably, and unquestionably on time. Really.

Today's squishy flavours: Blue, Red, Duckpond

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Jan's ears flickered back and forth, physical expression of his intense confusion, as he stared at her. Lies had a certain scent to them, and he was certain she was speaking truly.

Except it made no sense at all, and he blew out a long breath, one ear curving towards her. "You didn't mean to do what you did?" he asked hopefully, grasping at what he thought he understood. "Something made you act so?"

"Like I said," Turtle, eyes still down, held up her hands, "I don't like to make excuses for my actions. And very rarely do I have to. But I would say that, yes, there is a good chance that there were influences beyond my control this weekend that inspired me to act in a way that would otherwise never have been under consideration."

Jan chewed thoughtfully, head low while he considered her words. There were berries and plants that could send a unicorn running mad, and only luck would save them from death. It was there, in that store of knowledge that was separate from the memories he didn't have.

She was speaking truly, he was certain of it. And why should humans be any less susceptible? And it would explain the deaths Dor had told him of.

With a sigh, Jan stepped forward and pressed his nose against her hand, blowing out softly, and closed his eyes. "I knew that the Turtle I knew would not do what you did," he said quietly. "And I was right. You are my shoulder-friend still, and both honourable and wise."

The little press and the blowing of air made Turtle smile, just slightly, almost reluctantly because it was almost too easy, but Jan was being honest, too, she knew that, but that might be because the notion of a unicorn lying just didn't exist for Turtle. She wanted to just hug him right there, but she restrained herself, still feeling very chastised, and only wrapped one of her arms around his nose so that her hand could lightly stroke it while it was close.

"What's shoulder-friend?" she asked, although, if she put herself in the mind of a horse, she might be able to figure it out.

"One who runs at your shoulder, who will watch for danger behind, who you trust above others," he explained, eyes still closed, and nuzzled her hand. His heart felt light again. "I am glad you are not one of those who died."

"Me, too," Turtle agreed easily enough to that one as she continued petting Jan softly. "And I'm sorry I faked my death and turned it into a game. Whatever made me do that much have been working from some of my memories because I was involved in a game like that myself not too long ago..."

"I will not forgive you, because there is nothing to forgive, just as there would be nothing to forgive if you tumbled into me because someone pushed you." Jan opened his eyes and pulled back a little so he could see her, everything in front of his nose being invisible, but only a little. "This was done to you?" he asked, ears flicking back.

Turtle looked back at Jan with her hands on his nose, one on each side, and she nodded. "Yup. Back in Wisconsin. In fact, that game is the whole reason I came here in the first place. My mother was an heir, and so was I, and she thought she could take me out of it by making me go to boarding school."

Jan's ears went flat and he snorted. "If ever she shows her face on the island, I will step on her foot as hard as I can." It was little enough, but offering to skewer someone's dam was never a good idea. Instead he whuffled her hair. "Howsoever it came about, I count myself lucky you are here."

Edited 2008-10-15 02:26 (UTC)

"I think I'm pretty lucky, too," Turtle said, smiling at Jan, and then her smile gained a little sharpness. "And it's too bad you didn't offer that before; she was just here at the monthly market, and I think she's going to pass on this year's Parent's Weekend."

"Then you can take me to her when next you have to see her," he decided. Jan lifted one hoof and put it down, then did it again, ears drifting out to the side. "Is it all right if I ask you a question about this weekend?"

Jan had just given Turtle the wonderful, magical image of Grace getting her toes crushed by a unicorn. Jan could have a raise if he asked for it.

"Of course."

"Dor said people died." His voice was very small for something as big as he was, and he pressed his nose into Turtle's hands. "Will there be a ceremony for them? To sing them away?" He didn't know if humans even had any sort of rite for the dead. He also didn't know that those who'd died hadn't stayed dead.

Turtle frowned; it deepened the more she considered this. "Actually died?" she asked. "Did Dor mention who?"

His flicked his ears, uncertain. "He simply said that there were many deaths on Sunday."

Turtle's frown deepened. "I can't think," she said, "that there would have been so many and no one's really mentioned it. But, if there is, then, absolutely, something should be done for them. We had a memorial service for Bart when the plague took him..."

"That is something," he said, and sighed. "And perhaps Dor was wrong." His tone was hopeful, and he stepped forward carefully, intending to fold his neck over Turtle's shoulder in a unicorn hug.

Edited 2008-10-15 10:09 (UTC)

Turtle easily met Jan's unicorn hug with a human hug, arms going softly around his neck. "I'll find out," she said, "and if it turns out to not just be something weird that happened this weekend, we'll do something in memorandum for the deceased."

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Turtle & Canary [14.10]

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