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 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?"

[biteybaby]

She shakes her head no, she wants to just be carried the regular way this time. She looks at her cup, which is now empty, and holds it up to Grantaire. "Milk?" she asks, which here means, "Would you be so kind as to refill my sippy cup before we head out?"

[futaille]

He takes the cup as he stands. "Certainly, mademoiselle. Regular or chocolate again?"

[biteybaby]

"Chocolate!" she says, even though this is likely very bad for her tummy.

[futaille]

"Of course." He goes to clean out the cup first before refilling it. It is in fact chocolate milk again, although there's a bit less chocolate this time. Because although Grantaire of all people is not one to deny indulgences, Sunny is still very small. He picks her back up and hands her the sippy cup. "There you are."

[biteybaby]

"Thanks," she says before shoving the cup in her mouth and leaning her head over on Grantaire's shoulder.

[futaille]

"You're welcome." He holds Sunny close, bouncing her gently, as he heads off to go outside and over to the house to drop her off.