PSL for Renart

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[He hesitates a moment, wondering if it would be appropriate, before leaning down to kiss her lightly on the top of the head.]

It'll be okay, I promise.

[And then he's gone to fetch the TV and movie as promised.]

[aigue]

[Her ears twitch and a light blush appears on her cheeks, but otherwise she just nods.

While he's gone she'll gather up the tribbles, cocooning all of them in the sleeping bag and waiting.]

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[He doesn't take long this time, just the few minutes it takes to jog to her house and jog back awkwardly juggling a tv under his one remaining arm. He does look a little unimpressed when he gets back, though.]

Thought you said you'd get food while I was gone?

[aigue]

[Her ears droop and she glances towards the kitchen.]

I'll get something now.

[Even though she isn't hungry.]

What about popcorn? Do you have popcorn?

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No.

[He doesn't keep a lot in the house anyway, as he usually lives on things he catches and cooks outside, and he definitely doesn't have popcorn.]

I've got hot dogs, will they do? I remember eating a hot dog at the movies when I was a kid.

[aigue]

[A hot dog would be more filling, which would make him happy even though she doesn't want to eat anything at all.]

... Well, the tribbles would like it. Alright.

[Hot dogs it is.]

I'll set up the tv if you cook.

[advanced]

Not a whole lot of cooking where hotdogs are concerned, but sure.

[He feels lost. Like he should be doing more for her, like there's some social convention that he's forgotten for helping deal with grief.

He hesitates a moment, trying to find something else to say, but eventually just slinks silently into the kitchen to boil a pan of water.]

[aigue]

[Saves her from the extra effort when she'd like to do nothing at all. She knows he's trying, so she needs to try too.

She gently pushes the tribbles aside and hooks up the tv and dvd player, putting Godzilla in and getting it ready to play. Then she curls back up gloomily with the tribbles, letting them nibble at her fingers.]

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[It at least doesn't take long for Bucky to make some hot dogs, so he's back in the living room hopefully before she can sink too far back into maudlin depression.]

...did you show Monty this movie?

[He's not sure if it'll help to mention him, give her an outlet for the pain, or not.]

[aigue]

[When Bucky returns he'll attract the attention of the tribbles. They can smell the hot dogs, and start squeaking excitedly at the prospect of food.]

Yes. He came to the viewing at the rec centre.

[She scoots nice and close to him, so that she can lean against him when he sits.]

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[He stiffens at first, slowly relaxing into the position when she gets settled. At least the mention of Monty didn't seem to make things worse.]

Did he enjoy it?

[aigue]

[Shes focusing very hard on getting the tribbles settled and eating, and then flicking through the dvd menu with the remote.]

He thought it was thrilling. I don't know if it was a genre he'd watch regularly but he seemed to appreciate how realistic it was.

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I was pretty surprised by that too, effects weren't like that the last time I went to the movie theatre.

[He has a lot of entertainment to catch up on, and maybe one day he'll be comfortable enough in the simple act of relaxing to do that.]

Were there ever movies made about you?

[aigue]

I'll have to show you a movie from the 21st century sometime.

[The effects would blow his mind.

That question has her perking up a bit.]

Yes, actually. It was one of the first animated movies ever, and the third to have sound.

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[He still can't quite get used to the idea that not only is she comfortable with her own fictional status, but that she is proud of it. But he doesn't need to be used to it to understand that it's part of her.]

Maybe you could show me sometime? If you-- uh, if you don't mind?

[It seems like quite a personal thing to ask now that he's said it.]

[aigue]

Really?

[He's been uncomfortable about it before, so she glances up at him in surprise.]

You wouldn't mind?

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I'd be honoured.

[Which is the truth. He might not understand it, and it might not make him that comfortable, but to see something so personal to her would be an honour if she chose to show it.]

Maybe it'd help me understand why you think it's not such a bad thing to be immortalised in film.

[aigue]

[She stares a bit longer, then brightens and smiles.]

Okay. I'll wish for it, and we can watch it tomorrow.

[advanced]

[Brilliant. He's pretty proud of that plan, he actually got a smile and she's agreed to go out somewhere, both improvements on the huddle of sad fox under a blanket that she's been so far.]

Sure, I'd like that.

[Sort of.]

So, is that the only movie you've starred in?

[aigue]

There have been others, mostly movies for children.

[Since he's asking.]

The stories have been heavily edited in modern times.

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Pretty sure they'd have to be if they were for kids, there wasn't a lot in those books you gave me that was suitable for children.

[It was a lot of sex and some pretty unsavoury behaviour in other regards.]

[aigue]

Well... maybe not for more modern children.

[Medieval children were different beasts.]

People have rewritten my stories and published more child-friendly books, too.

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And it really never feels weird? To see your whole life laid out like that, to see the mistakes and what they got right.

[He knows she's fine with it, he just really doesn't understand it.]

...it scares me, knowing someone I never met out there could know all the secrets that I try to keep.

[aigue]

It's easier knowing no one expects me to actually be real. Talking foxes aren't the norm back home.

[She sighs, though.]

There isn't much else I can do, so it's easiest to focus on the good rather than the bad. People enjoy my stories, they let them be creative. If that means they also know my secrets, then so be it.

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That's pretty mature.

[He doesn't mean that to sound surprised, even if it comes out that way.]

I don't think I could do that-- in fact, I know I couldn't. Did John ever tell you what happened the first time I learned that I was a movie character in his world?