InsaneJournal

Who: AJ Crowley and Poppet.

When: A bit ago.

Where: The park.

What: A chance meeting.

Warnings/Ratings: Low.

Status: Complete!



While Anthony usually didn’t go to the park alone, sometimes it was nice to get away from the office and relax before he blew a brain fuse. Besides, he hadn’t quite finished his lunch so he figured the remainder of the bread could go to the ducks. It was important, after all, to build up a duck-and-duck feeder relationship, because he felt that ducks respected a person more that way.

Leaning over the edge of a small bridge over a bit of a pond, he tossed a crust.

“Hey - If you two don’t stop that damn fighting,” he warned the ducks, “I’ll be taking this bread to the pidgeons.”

Poppet often came to the park alone. Except on the days she could drag Widget away from his dusty history books. But this wasn’t one of those days. Not that she minded terribly. It was just nice when she was on her own.

She would have preferred coming at night, but her father had been insistent that they return to the house before dark. You couldn’t see the stars in the daylight. Sighing, she plopped down on the bridge, dangling her bare feet over the edge, only noticing it was occupied when he spoke. At first, he thought it was her he was scolding, but that hardly made any sense at all.

“Are you talking to the ducks?” she asked, barely suppressing a giggle. He must have been. But it sounded so ridiculous. Like they were his children.

Clearly Anthony had thought he was alone, too. He hadn’t even noticed the girl slip in, focused more on trying to teach the ducks some semblance of manners. He glanced around him, then looked down to where she was sitting.

“I’m not so much talking to them as given them very stern words.”

“Do you think they understand?” Now, cats, she knew could understand. Cats could be taught to do almost anything if you asked them nicely enough. But she’d never tried talking to ducks before.

“There’s only one to find out, isn’t there?” He raised his eyebrows. “The ducks back home knew well enough. That might have simply just been years of routine, but I can still try to put some manners in these ones.”

Poppet did giggle then, gently swinging her legs. “I’m not sure they like being ordered around. Have you ever tried asking them nicely?”

“It’s much more efficient to put fear into them. Like my plants.” Anthony nodded, wisely. “Most beautiful house plants you’ll ever see, and it’s because they’re too scared to not be.”

She smiled. “You haven’t got any children, have you?”

“God, no. Thank God, no.” He snorted, tossing the last of the bread into the pond for the ducks to fuss over. “I’d never be allowed to be so strict with them anyway. Arthur would have my head for it.”

Poppet wouldn't even know what a strict upbringing could be like. Her family wasn't exactly designed for structure.

"Are you together?" Because, yes, that was her immediate conclusion. And hey, what was personal business anyway?

Anthony waggled his ring finger. “Till death do we part and all. It’s quite nice, really. Generally we do the duck feeding thing together.” He didn’t mind talking about himself. He loved it, in fact, no matter who he was talking to.

"Does he yell at them, as well?"

“No, he’s a coddler. He coddles everything. He waters my plants when I’m not there and thinks I don’t know he does.” He snorted.

“Maybe it isn’t your method that’s working,” she suggested, smiling, “If you asked nicely, they might be willing to set aside their differences.”

“My methods work just well. He’s spoiling my plants, devil that he is.” Anthony laughed. “Ah well. It is what it is.”

“I’m sure they still like you better.” She didn’t really think that, but it seemed like the kinder thing to say.

“I doubt it.” He shrugged and readjusted his sunglasses. “I’d better stop loitering and go do some proper grown-up nonsense.”

"I hope it isn't too terribly boring." Poppet was glad she wasn't obligated to grownup-like things. Life was generally better when you behaved as though you were still a child.

“Well, thanks for that.” Anthony straightened out his coat and gave her a polite nod. “I’m sure your day will be much better. Enjoy it.”

"Most things sound better than 'proper grown-up nonsense,'" she answered, smiling as she gave him a short little wave, then turned back to the ducks. "Perhaps they will behave better tomorrow."

"Fingers crossed." He snorted and waved back before heading off, hands in his pockets.