FOURTEEN
"How many pins does it take?"
Elfnein looks like she regrets the question, so Maria beams, "Guess how many!"
See? This is totally working out: Elfnein has forgone her wariness in favor of curiosity. She looks so gosh darn adorable, frowning and squinting hard at her hair, taking the challenge quite seriously.
It's something to keep in mind. As parents, they have to encourage her interests!
They'll go to museums, science fairs, theaters, and maybe she'd even like to visit the S.O.N.G. research labs? And, of course, they'll have to enroll—
"Fourteen, seven in each," Elfnein states.
Tsubasa elbows her.
Whoops. Getting ahead of herself again.
"Very close!" she answers with a proud grin, "it's twelve! Six needles in each cat ear, but different sizes."
"With a lot of hair gel. It takes her forever to get ready in the mornings," Tsubasa wryly interjects. "It is fortunate that she woke early today."
Her face flushes, but Tsubasa is trying and Elfnein is giggling, so she doesn't mind at all.
She can't presume to know why Elfnein looks so tired, but she can do her very best to bring joy back into Elfnein's childhood.
"What've you got there, Elfnein?" It caught her interest before, the paperback clutched tightly in such tiny hands, and so she decides it's an appropriate conversation topic.
Elfnein looks down at her book; her expression is shadowed by her hair, so when she says, "The Ersatz Elevator" in a monotone, there are no clues to whether Elfnein is reading it for pleasure or for a class.
She also suddenly realizes that she hasn't read many children's books. That's something she's going to have to immediately rectify.
"I haven't read that story," she admits easily. "Will you tell me about it?"
Blue eyes squint slightly at her, and Elfnein looks… a little lost, so she smiles encouragingly, saying, "Pretty please?"
"…Okay." Elfnein shows them the front cover, and Maria has no idea what to make of the girl in the illustration going down an elevator shaft with two other children looking on anxiously.
At least Tsubasa seems to recognize the book. "Oh! A Series of Unfortunate Events. I'm sorry I did not recognize the title—it's been decades since I last read the books. I'm afraid most of the storyline has faded in my mind," she muses, reaching out to trace over the illustration, "but this is Violet, isn't she? The inventor. And her brother Klaus and her sister Sunny."
Brightening, Elfnein finally says, "Y-yeah! I haven't read the whole series yet, but I've found a lot of historical and cultural references in it, and Lemony Snicket is such a funny narrator, so it makes up for the sad parts."
"Really now? I never realized!"
Elfnein nods, leafing through the book. She shows a particular page to Tsubasa, explaining, "See? It's in reference to…"
Tsubasa falters, fumbling for her glasses again, but Elfnein takes it as a sign of genuine interest.
It's amazing how much lighter Elfnein looks when she's excited, and Tsubasa looks much more relaxed, too.
For now, she's content watching them bond. It's good for both of them.
a/n: I went twenty-two words over board; consider it a tiny bonus :P
Thank you to Rika23onROOF for the review! This chapter isn't, but the next two certainly will be in Elfnein's perspective.
Also, a word of warning: it's not all fun and games... -hint hint.-