[ there's a soft knock on his door, and then soft, but rapid footsteps of someone scurrying away. When Zara chooses to answer it, he'll find a small bouquet of flowers lying on the floor.
The culprit is nowhere in sight (but bundled on the couch with her nose burrowed in a book, so as to appear uninvolved in the scene of the crime). ]
[ his keen sense of hearing leaves him with a clear enough picture of what just happened; still, when he opens the door and sees the flowers on the ground, he can't help but smile wryly and play along, speaking to himself in a loud voice. ]
Oh? What's this? [ crouching down, he picks up the bouquet, holding it to his nose. ] How lovely. Do I have a secret admirer?
[ no response - she is a shy little lady, he supposes. Zara can't help but wonder what brought on this sudden gift. They really are pretty - and in one of his favorite colors, too. He's touched. So, of course, he can't let her get away with it in total silence. Gently closing his door behind him, he walks out into the next room. ]
Miss Mary, did you see? Someone's left some wonderful flowers for me.
... [ Zara will be greeted with a pair of pink eyes peeking out from the top of her book, before Mary slowly lowers it, fighting to look as though she has no idea what he's talking about. ]
[ no need to be so afraid. Once her eyes are closed, Zara kneels down, plucking one of the flowers from its stem and tucking it deftly into her hair. And once he's done that, his hand moves to gently pet her head. ]
I do now. It seems my trick worked like a charm, hm?
[ he answers mischievously, ears wiggling on his head a bit. Of course, he'd already known, but - a little bit of teasing is part of of the package when it comes to dealing with Zara. ]
[ he chuckles gently, smoothing Mary's bangs out of her face. ]
It was, I assure you. [ even if he'd been able to tell it was her, that didn't change the fact that the flowers were both exceedingly kind and perfectly unexpected. Zara smiles. ] Thank you, Mary.
[ She's still so rueful, but Zara's gentle touch really does remind her of her mother's, and the way she used to praise her when she drew her a picture.
It makes her smile, wistfully. ]
You're welcome... I just wanted to thank you, for letting me stay with you.
I must admit that I didn't take the potential dangers into account. [ he smiles rather teasingly. ] I couldn't imagine such a cute girl being a threat.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action-ish, after someone paid a visit to the flower shop
The culprit is nowhere in sight (but bundled on the couch with her nose burrowed in a book, so as to appear uninvolved in the scene of the crime). ]
MARY TOO CUTE...
Oh? What's this? [ crouching down, he picks up the bouquet, holding it to his nose. ] How lovely. Do I have a secret admirer?
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Miss Mary, did you see? Someone's left some wonderful flowers for me.
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I didn't see... but you really like them?
[ LOOKING SO HOPEFUL IS NOT HELPING HER CASE. ]
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I do. They're expertly chosen - and in one of my favorite colors, too. Whoever got them for me was very thoughtful.
[ Zara speaks with a rather put-on air of curiosity, although his good cheer is perfectly real. ]
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Maybe someone was trying to say thank you.
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[ he knows he's praising you, Mary!! But he actually doesn't know what he'd be thanked for. He taps a finger against his chin in faux-thought. ]
Perhaps it was the Earl Phantomhive?
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[ a curious hum... then he turns to Mary, smiling cheekily. ]
Do you have any idea who it might have been?
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[ LYING THROUGH HER TEETH. ]
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[ tilting his head innocently. ]
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[ tilting her head back!! ]
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[ a pleasant smile! ]
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But Mary can't refuse, not when it's coming from Zara, so she slowly, reluctantly nods, and closes her eyes. ]
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For all the wrong reasons. ]
You knew?
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[ he answers mischievously, ears wiggling on his head a bit. Of course, he'd already known, but - a little bit of teasing is part of of the package when it comes to dealing with Zara. ]
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I wanted it to be a complete surprise, though... [ said with a sigh that probably weighs more than she does. ]
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It was, I assure you. [ even if he'd been able to tell it was her, that didn't change the fact that the flowers were both exceedingly kind and perfectly unexpected. Zara smiles. ] Thank you, Mary.
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It makes her smile, wistfully. ]
You're welcome... I just wanted to thank you, for letting me stay with you.
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[ ... really. she's quiet and easy to take care of - he can't ask for much more than that. ]
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[ BE MERCIFUL. ]
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