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

[biteybaby]

"Reggelt," she says in return. This is a word which here means, "Good morning to you as well!"

[kadewest]

"I'm Kade," he says. "Are you new here?"

[biteybaby]

“No,” she says. This is the longest she has lived anywhere since her family’s mansion suddenly burned down. “Sunny,” she says, signing her name at the same time, as an introduction.

[kadewest]

"Sunny," he repeats. "It's lovely to meet you, Sunny. Should you be... with... someone?"

[biteybaby]

She shakes her head no. She may be a bit of an unreliable narrator. “Unreliable narrator” is a phrase which here means, “accidentally lying”.

[kadewest]

"No? Where do you stay?"

[biteybaby]

“Otate,” she explains, which here means, “I rotate through several different rooms.”

She thinks for a moment before adding, “Waetee,” which means, “Most of my things are at Laertes and Sagramore’s house though.”

[kadewest]

"I have no idea what that means, Miss Sunny," Kade says. "Would you like some help finding... Otate Waetee?"

[biteybaby]

“Ugh!” Sunny sighs a sigh so big her entire body slumps forward with it. “No!” It would be great if everyone could understand her. She decides to try again. “Waetee and Sagamo!” She points in a direction she assumes is Outside. “House.”

[kadewest]

Sunny has the precise comportment of a teenager. Kade does know what to do with teenagers, and is summarily charmed. "Oh, Sagramore," he says. It seems that they have a lot to catch up on! "And... Laertes?"

[biteybaby]

“Esh!!!” That’s what she said!

[kadewest]

"Well, I'm sorry, little lady. I'm slow on the uptake," Kade laughs. "One of my many failings, I assure you. Would you like me to take you to them?"

[biteybaby]

"No," she says. She's exploring the mansion right now. She can head back to the house later.

[kadewest]

"No?" For the first time, Kade wishes he could text here, just to let Sagramore know Sunny is safe. "Would you like me to take you somewhere else?"

[biteybaby]

She shrugs. Like Crowley says, she's an independent woman, and definitely doesn't need a man to escort her places.

[kadewest]

Kade can't just leave a baby alone! He's used to waiting teenagers out; he sits on the floor to wait the baby out, too.

[biteybaby]

"Kay. Bye!" She starts walking down the hallway, heading to the library. She thinks a picture book would be nice to look at right now.

[kadewest]

Kade gets to his feet again and wanders after her, an expression of utmost innocence on his face.

[biteybaby]

Sunny walks for a while before stopping and turning to look at Kade. "Following."

[kadewest]

Since Kade has strict rules about not lying to children, he doesn't deny it. "Yes."

[biteybaby]

"Why?" She pauses. "Olaf?" she asks, wondering if he is perhaps a new associate of Count Olaf's who is trying to kidnap her.

[kadewest]

"Olaf? I'm afraid I don't know any Olafs." Kade pauses and tries to recalibrate. "May I keep you company?"

[biteybaby]

"Why?" she asks again. She's beginning to think she shouldn't trust him. Strangers following you isn't usually a good sign.

[kadewest]

In Kade's experience, most kids don't like being told that they're young enough to need particular adult support. He's honest with all children, but that doesn't mean he can't be selectively honest! "I'm a teacher back home. I miss my students. I'd like to spend time with someone student-aged." Who can he talk to about getting, at the very least, pagers up in this place! He hopes Sagramore isn't searching too frantically for Sunny.

[biteybaby]

"Prufrock," Sunny says skeptically, which here means, "I am not old enough to be a student. That is why I had to work as an administrative assistant when attending Prufrock Preparatory School".