Fandom Post Office, Thursday

[doesnotkneel]

Edward had spent the morning Very Hard At Work, which, he felt, qualified him to spend the afternoon Slightly Less Hard At Work.

Which was to say he had found a nice table to lay upon while he poked through a book, forcing himself to focus on the more difficult words this go-around.

[[ open! ]]

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[wildandbrave]

"Are you having a very demanding work day, then?" asked Cosette from the doorway, looking amused.

[doesnotkneel]

"I did my deliveries this morning!" Edward argued, poking his head up from behind his book.

[wildandbrave]

"So you've earned a rest, is that it?" Cosette, feigning innocence, made a show of hiding a paper bag behind her back. "What a nice coincidence it is that I brought you a treat, then! We can say it's a reward for a job well done."

[doesnotkneel]

"I did earn a rest," Edward argued, mostly for its own sake. He closed the book and put it aside. "Though I won't turn down a treat either. Hello, lovely Cosette."

[wildandbrave]

"There's no need to convince me of it," Cosette informed him, and presented him with the bag -- which happened to contain a dozen cookies. "You seemed comfortable. Good afternoon, monsieur, I trust you're well?"

[doesnotkneel]

Edward took the bag gladly. "You're a wonder," he said, beaming at her. "And I'm well. Just pokin' about the books like I'm one of the learned folk."

He nodded at Cosette. "How have you fared today?"

[wildandbrave]

"I made them last night, I'm afraid, and so they aren't as fresh as they could be," Cosette told him, favoring him with a bright smile in return. "I'm still not sure how I came to be in a class on hunting mystical creatures, but it's certainly interesting. But how are you coming along with the book?"

That last question was asked with a note of pride.

[doesnotkneel]

"I'm almost forty pages in," Edward said proudly. He went fishing 'round the bag for a cookie. "It's engaging, though I'm glad I took the dictionary with me when I could."

[wildandbrave]

"Oh, well done," Cosette said happily. "I've got to use the dictionary myself rather often, or use the one on my phone. English is a funny language."

[doesnotkneel]

"It ain't that funny," Edward retorted immediately. "...Though I can see where it would be, when it's written down. Real people don't pronounce half these letters, I reckon."

[wildandbrave]

"Yes, you see what I mean, then," Cosette said, and to her credit she managed to avoid sounding triumphant about it. "And sometimes there are words that I think mean one thing, because they look like a word in French, only they turn out to mean completely another."

[doesnotkneel]

Edward looked at her, thoughtful. "Such as?" he said. "I'm not as familiar with the French language, unfortunately."

Or at all.

[wildandbrave]

"Well, coin, for example, it means corner, only it's spelled the same as your word 'coin,'" Cosette explained. "To say nothing of the time I made a mess of a batch of cookies because I didn't realize that raisins are dried grapes."

She was still embarrassed about that one.

[doesnotkneel]

"And they are wet grapes in your tongue?"

Yes, Ed. That was what she was getting at.

[wildandbrave]

"Yes," Cosette said, much more indulgently than the narrative, then giggled. "Talking of things that sound funny."

[doesnotkneel]

Edward retraced his own words, and then he let out a laugh. "I didn't mean for that to sound uncouth," he promised. "Or as if you have a habit of storing food strangely."

[wildandbrave]

"Your belief in my honor is appreciated, monsieur," Cosette told him, still trying to smother a few stray giggles. "I'm only sorry that batch of cookies was ruined, really. I hope these are all right, though?"

[doesnotkneel]

Edward took a bite, thoughtful. "They are delicious," he decided, "And I doubt your failures were much worse."

[wildandbrave]

"You say that only because I'm hardly cruel enough to share those with you," Cosette retorted lightly, "even if I'm sure you might have tried them anyway, boys' appetites being what they are."

Those oatmeal-raisin cookies had been her worst failure. Everything else had just been a case of leaving them in the oven just a touch too short or too long.

[doesnotkneel]

"I'm not certain if that is an insult or not," Edward mused, looking as if he would be Truly Upset if it were. "My appetite's quite normal, I'll have you know."

[wildandbrave]

"Let me assure you I certainly didn't intend it as one," answered Cosette, who was determined to cut off any chance of Truly Upset at the pass. "It seems to be the case with most of the boys here, that's all. Would it sound better if I were to describe it as your inclination to not let perfectly good food go to waste?"

[doesnotkneel]

Edward chuckled. "That would be most kind of you, yes," he said. "What brought on this spate of baking, may I ask?"

[wildandbrave]

"Must I have a reason, truly?" Cosette asked, feigning indignation for all of a half second. "I was in need of something to occupy an hour or two, that's all, and then I thought I might make something for you."

[doesnotkneel]

"I'm hardly complaining," Edward assured her, taking another bite of his cookie. "I'd just wondered if perhaps the library had gone on something of a cooking spree."

[wildandbrave]

"Not when I've been there, no!" Cosette laughed outright at the idea, not because it was ridiculous -- this was Fandom, after all -- but because she could picture it a little too easily. "Though I did find the recipe in a book that fell off a shelf while I was walking by."

She paused, made a little noise of surprise.

"So perhaps it's responsible in some way after all."

[doesnotkneel]

"Perhaps the island has an interest in keeping me well-fed, as well," Edward teased.

He put the cookies down. "Though I say I'll keep my thanks just for you," he added, leaning in to give her a kiss.

[wildandbrave]

Which Cosette was perfectly happy to return, yes.

"You're perfectly well to thank the island as well," she informed him afterward, "but perhaps in a less cordial way, hmm?"

[doesnotkneel]

"I'll give you no cause to feel jealousy," Edward promised her, smiling impishly. "But I may be effusive."