Completely unrelated: if you enjoy my writing, I'm also working on an original story called 'Heidi and the Maskmakers' posted both on FictionPress and on deviantArt under the same screenname.
8: Deadpan
The newest little kid appraises the House as though he's considering buying the place, strolling in at Mr. W's side with his hands in his pockets and a grin so broad it's difficult to tell if he's smiling or baring his teeth.
"Dis big castle you got, Wa, you some rich guy, shi bushi? I shoulda keep you wallet, you don' need it no."
"I assure you that you won't be needing it either," Mr. W chuckles, looking down at his most recent acquisition fondly. "Remember what I told you, Gao, we have a no-tolerance policy on stealing here. If there is anything you need or want, all you have to do is ask for it."
"I told you L wouldn't come," Alt whispers to Backup.
They're sitting in the upstairs hallway, peering down through the banisters.
"No, you're right," B agrees musingly. "He didn't. I wonder why he never visits anymore?" He considers A sidelong for a moment, just long enough for him to wonder if Backup is thinking he might have done something to make L angry (though he can't imagine what), then turns his black gaze down again to examine the latest addition. "Looks like Mr. W is going farther afield for new fish."
"Yeah." Alt watches the new boy curiously, tilting his head a little. "I can hardly tell what he's saying."
"Me neither," B says, mouth twisting upward. "He'll have to catch up. No competition at all."
The two friends exchange smug smirks. Like any of these little kids will ever be competition. They haven't worked with L. They're just placeholders, filling up all the empty rooms in this building while A and B live up to their mentor's title.
"Ack! You two really shouldn't sit here like that," Dex complains, nearly tripping over Alt as he hurries down the hall. "It's a hazard. What if someone didn't see you and fell down the stairs?"
Backup rolls his eyes slightly. "Watch your feet then," Alt retorts.
"I swear I'm the only responsible one in this place sometimes," D mutters not-very-quietly as he steps around them.
"Well then no one would have to worry about falling down the stairs, because you'll probably be there to warn them, or catch them at the bottom," Backup says, managing to keep a perfectly straight face—a feat Alt is unable to duplicate.
"Yes, I probably would," the younger boy says long-sufferingly, ignoring the sniggering with dignity as he marches down the steps to say hello to the newcomer. Greeting the fish seems to be a task he's apparently starting to take rather seriously.
"Come on," says B, bored already with the proceedings. "Let D have him, we'll have to meet him at dinner anyway. Library's way more fun than these squirts."
"Yeah, sure," Alt says a little reluctantly. It's true that he'd rather read or work on his star charts than bother with the younger kids, but B's recently taken an interest in the anatomy section of the library, and is always keen to share the…interesting stuff he finds. He gets that Backup is interested in biology and how living things work, but all those pictures of sliced-up animals and glistening organs laid out like diagrams make him a little queasy.
"What, you'd rather stay and play with the kids?" B teases.
"No!" Alt scoffs, and follows him.
-o-
"This place must seem really different to you," B says to the new kid over dinner.
Gao's sharp little eyes are focused on Gavin's hands, watching and analyzing as the young man slices his chicken into bite-sized pieces. "Hey, gimme doze one, I can try dat," he says, reaching to grab the fork and knife.
"Sure, Gao," the aide says easily, evading the boy's snatching fingers and then handing them to him. "No need to take, you can just ask."
"Yeah, ok," G replies off-handedly, having a go at the chicken. The utensils are a little unwieldy in his small hands, but he doesn't do a half bad job. "Differn', I not scared of differn'," he finally answers Backup, giving the older boy a smile that brings to mind a piranha homing in on a bleeding ankle. "Maybe, ok, dat be problem for you. Not for me."
Alt can't help himself; catching the tiny flicker of B's sideways glance, he has to stifle a snicker in his hand. It's funny, how the little kids think they're stiff competition. But as always, of course, his friend is able to keep his face perfectly straight, even giving the little boy a brotherly smile. "That would be a problem," he corrects him cheerfully.
Gao gives him an unfriendly smile through a mouthful of chicken. "Tanks, smart guy."
"Chew and swallow first, then talk," Moira reminds him, and gives Backup a meaningful look. "No Before questions, Backup, remember?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it that way," B says contritely. "I just meant, I hope you like it here at the House, even if it's different from where you come from."
"Moira said no Before questions," Dex interjects.
"Shut up, Dex. Nobody cares," says Fallon, making the other boy scowl.
"Yes, thank you, Dex," Moira says patiently. "Fallon, if you show respect for other's opinions, they will respect yours."
"Shaggy guy is right, is 'k, I don' care about questions," Gao says blithely through another faceful of roasted chicken.
"Maybe it doesn't bother you, but it's still not proper to discuss here in the House," Gavin says. "Concord, would you please at least taste your carrots?"
"No. She hates carrots," Even murmurs into her cup of milk as C glares balefully at the aide over her vegetables.
"So, what's your thing, G?" Backup asks casually, forking up a bite of his own carrots.
"Eh, what?" Gao cocks his head. "What thing? What do you mean, smart guy?"
"Your inclination. Your faculties. Your aptitude. What is it?" Backup smiles expectantly. Gao squints back at him, clearly no closer to following what he's saying. It's bordering on cruel, Alt thinks, it really shouldn't be so funny. Though, to be honest, he doesn't actually know that B is doing it on purpose. B has a fun sense of humor, but Alt can't ever remember him being mean.
"The twister of twists once twisted a twist," E mutters under her breath.
"Thank you, Ev, that was enlightening," Fallon remarks affectedly, swirling his milk in his glass as though it's fine wine then laughing.
"What Backup is trying to say is, what is your talent. What are you good at," Moira says slowly and distinctly.
"Right, sorry. That's the word I was looking for," B agrees earnestly.
"Riiiight, yeah, I got you," Gao says, then cracks a huge grin. "I win. That what my talent. Win."
"How nice," says Backup, and jeez, he can really keep a straight face.
