16 Unicorn Street | Monday Evening

[playsforkepesh]

There was something unexpectedly lovely about returning home with a bag of take-out in hand and knowing that there was another living creature in her house waiting for her, Sam decided. There was something even lovelier about having that knowledge and knowing that the living creature in question wasn't, say, a spider or a moth or something. Because that was important.

"Here, girl," Sam called as she settled at her desk in her bedroom and set down the take-out bag and the plates she'd snagged from the kitchen on her way up, clicking her tongue to summon her new... housemate. Swiveling her chair around to face away from her desk, she called, "I've got half a steak for you and something I hope is a half-decent veggie burger for me. Dinner is served."

[[for one.]]

Comments

[playsforkepesh]

For a moment, Sam was speechless, opening and closing her mouth several times and doing her level best not to let any sputtering noises come out. Eventually, the words that came to mind were a little bit stupid, but she said them anyway, even as she recovered enough to reach for her bathrobe and offer it to Éponine. "I thought you were an actual dog."

[filleauloup]

"Well, you were awfully nice to me," Éponine noted, in an offhanded breezy way; she wrapped the robe around herself and stood. "But I expected you would be, as fond of dogs as you said you are."

She looked down for a moment, humming idly as she fiddled with the ties on the bathrobe.

"Only now you don't have the pet you thought you did, and that's bound to be a disappointment, I'm sure."

[playsforkepesh]

Something felt... off about this, from Éponine's casual attitude to the things she was prioritizing, and Sam's brow furrowed for a moment. "No, I'm... sure I'll adjust," she said slowly, tucking some hair behind her ear. "Are you all right?"

[filleauloup]

"Of course; why wouldn't I be?" Éponine asked. "You've done quite a nice job looking after me for -- good lord, I haven't an idea how long it's been, but . . ."

She shook her head. "It was very nice."

[playsforkepesh]

"It's been about a week, give or take," Sam supplied. This exchange was proving uncomfortable for a number of reasons, and she was adjusting for it by defaulting to the somewhat clipped tone and rigid posture she generally employed when talking to superiors. It worked, somehow. "I'm... I'm glad you were comfortable. Certainly better than staying on the st-- than not having a place to stay, I suspect."

[filleauloup]

"Yes, that's true. I don't care much for sleeping in the ditches," Éponine said, matter-of-factly; something about Sam's shift in demeanor seemed to deflate her. "Though it wouldn't be so bad with four feet and fur, I don't think."

She turned abruptly, and started pacing along one side of the room.

"You oughtn't be so trusting, you know. All this time with a wolf in your house? Good lord, if it had been a real one what a fix you'd be in! It's a good thing it was me, instead, as I'd --" Another harsh laugh cut that sentence off. "Never mind that. I shouldn't be here; it isn't proper, you know, for me to be caught in your house in this state. The things people will say, even though they ought to mind their own business. You don't want that."