Open: Well young lady, have you been good to your mother?

[biteybaby]

Sunny Baudelaire has been having quite an exciting time lately. For once, "exciting" means "filled with fun" and not "filled with terror, pain, panic, and an inordinate amount of running and hiding". Without the threat of Count Olaf and his associates finding her in an attempt to steal the Baudelaire fortune, Sunny has had more time for her studies. "Her studies" is a phrase which here means, "catching up on learning how to do things most people take for granted".

She has finally learned how to walk. She thinks the amount of words she is now able to say has increased. Magnu has even taught her a few things in sign language, which she finds is a little easier than speaking. The biggest news is that she now has five very sharp teeth, as opposed to the four she started with when she arrived.

Shortly before she arrived, Mr Poe had told the Baudelaires about an aphorism: It takes a village to raise a child. She wonders if that is why she has had so much time to grow. Her days are spent rotating around between several different guardians, babysitters, and friends, and it has been lovely. She hopes her siblings are having just as good of a time in the village of V.F.D.

Unfortunately I must report that her siblings are not having just as good of a time in the village of V.F.D., nor are they even still in the village of V.F.D. Sunny does not know this. It would probably be for the best if nobody tells her.

Comments

[futaille]

Grantaire sets his own plate down as he slips off the counter to retrieve the cup and set it back on Sunny's table. "There you are, mademoiselle."

[biteybaby]

"Helper," she says with a look that seems to say, 'told you so'.

[futaille]

"You, mademoiselle, are entirely worth helping."

[biteybaby]

Sunny wonders if he's just saying that, or if he's actually just this helpful with everyone. Probably the latter, it's probably why so many people want to have sleepovers with him.

[futaille]

If asked that question, Grantaire would almost certainly get the answer wrong, although he would correctly say that that's not exactly the reason for the sleepover frequency. He returns to his perch on the counter with his snack, keeping an eye out for any further drops.

[biteybaby]

It would be incorrect to say that Sunny eats the rest of her snack. A much more accurate statement would be that she eats a few more bites of her snack and drinks all of the chocolate milk, but either way, she is now full and covered in graham cracker mush. She picks up the napkin and wipes her face, and is still full and covered in graham cracker mush, however she did move some of the mush around a little.

[futaille]

Grantaire finishes his own snack and wets a rag, wringing it out before properly wiping off Sunny's face. "Good as new."

[biteybaby]

"Helper Aire!" Sunny says with a grin.

[futaille]

"... Oh no, that's going to ruin my reputation if you keep that up."

[biteybaby]

Sunny giggles. "Mean Aire! Bad!" which here means, "We wouldn't want that, I will simply have to tell everyone you're an unhelpful jerk."

[futaille]

He grins brightly. "Excellent!"

[biteybaby]

She giggles, but then decides she has a serious question. "Why?"

[futaille]

"Why? Oh. Well. The better someone thinks I might be, the higher the expectations will be, and the more disappointed they'll be if I don't meet them."

[biteybaby]

Sunny frowns. She does not think that makes much sense. "No," she says, disagreeing.

[futaille]

"Ah, a contrarian in the making. I wholeheartedly approve."

[biteybaby]

She wishes Magnu or Crowley, or even Aziraphale were here now, to help her explain why she thinks Grantaire is being silly. As it is, she just sighs and slumps over, upset that she can't fully explain herself in this situation.

[futaille]

"Oh no." He sits on the floor next to her. "What did I do?"

[biteybaby]

She turns to peer at him for a moment, and then grabs either side of his head so he has to look at her. "Nice. Helper. Okay?"

[futaille]

He blinks. "Right. All right."

[biteybaby]

She stares at him for another moment, then kisses his forehead, then lets go of his face.

[futaille]

"Thank you," he says somewhat sheepishly.

[biteybaby]

Sunny yawns.

[futaille]

"Tired? Where should I take you to sleep?"

[biteybaby]

She shrugs. She can't remember right now who's turn it is on the rotation. "House," she settles on, referring to Waetee and Sagramore's house. She thinks it is more comfortable there than in any of the rooms in the mansion.

[futaille]

He smiles a little. "Sagramore and Laertes's? Certainly. On my shoulders again?"