Log: Ongoing

[dark-butler.livejournal.com]

When: Friday afternoon
Rating: PG?
Characters: Walter Dornez dark_butler and Bebedora im_bebedora
Summary: Bebedora wants to see Walter's soul, and Walter wants to know if there's anything under the hat.
Log:

Earl Grey has a distinct fragrance. The bergamot oil that flavors the black tea is citrus, but Walter always thought it was more floral than citrusy.

Walter sat in Cafe Juliet with a tea service for two and a plate of biscuits on the table. He held the cup of tea in his hands, letting the heat seep into his cold flesh and occasionally raised it to his face. More often than not, he set it down without letting it touch his lips, but once in a while, he took a tiny sip, just enough for the flavor to fill his mouth and flood his senses.

He still couldn't consume human fare and he refused to taint a good tea with blood as Alucard did, but those little sips were enough.

So, Bebedora wanted to see his soul. He was curious as to what she would see. He was curious to see this puppet without her strings.

So, he sat, he sipped, and he waited.

Comments

[dark-butler.livejournal.com]

"That is for you to say, not me," Walter said, lifting the fresh cup to his lips for a sip. "As you are the one who said you can know everything."

So many oddities here. Not the least of which was the silent rabbit that continued to munch on the biscuits laid out on the table.

"Does your rabbit have a name?"

[dark-butler.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps a better question," Walter mused as he glanced between the girl and her... pet(?), "is whether your rabbit would like a name."

As an afterthought, he gave the rabbit a small answering wave. Just how intelligent was the creature anyway?

[dark-butler.livejournal.com]

Right. Look to the vampire who had named his familiar "Pup" for suggestions on naming an animated rabbit toy.

The only thing that came to mind was that book about rabbits that he had read to Integral when she was a girl. There was a rabbit character who was the legendary hero's loyal companion.

"Rabscuttle," he said, after dredging the name out of his memory. "How does that sound?"

[dark-butler.livejournal.com]

Walter watched the rabbit's reaction with a certain bemused good humor. He had learned to curb his expectations in the City. Too many of the citizens were too peculiar by his standards. This, however, was somewhat beyond the pale.

Still, when one shared residence with both Pup and Alucard, one learned that little was impossible or even improbable.

"Right, then." Walter held out his right hand to the rabbit for a handshake. "Good day, Rabscuttle."

[dark-butler.livejournal.com]

If Pup could shake, Rabscuttle could shake, Walter reasoned, and it was clearly correct. Who knew what went on behind that face? The range of possibilities was limitless. Much as with the girl/puppet/mystery.

"You're welcome. Use it in good health." Alucard would be amused to hear this tale.

"And what do you think of Rabscuttle's name, Bebedora?" he asked, turning his attention to the girl again.

[dark-butler.livejournal.com]

To think, her rabbit had never had a name before. Walter felt just a bit pleased with himself for helping to correct that oversight. No matter how silly it might be.

"There is a book in my world, called 'Watership Down.' It is about rabbits and their lives. Not a fluffy, carrot-eating book, but a hard book about right and wrong and war and peace." He thought about reading that book to Integral. It had been far more to her tastes than something simple and light like "Peter Rabbit." Such a long time ago, when things had seemed simple. When he did not know or remember the treacheries to come.

"Rabscuttle is the mythical companion to a sort of rabbit trickster/hero/god in the book's rabbit mythology. Loyal and true." He smiled at the odd pair. "And that seemed appropriate from what little I have seen."

[dark-butler.livejournal.com]

"After naming your rabbit," Walter said, favoring her with a gentle smile, "I cannot be anything but your friend."

Yes, she'd ended up firmly lodged in the "little girl" category. Alucard was going to take the Mickey out of him for his (wholly uncreepy) soft spot for little girls.

"And the library here has many books. The librarian's name is Lucien. If you'd like, I will ask him to find it."