simon_doctor | (no subject)

(no subject)

Southdown Abbey's vegetable-and-herb garden is fairly extensive, both in area and in variety. After all, as at least one of their own Shepherds has commented, a man can live on packaged food from here 'til Judgment Day if he's got enough rosemary.

It's a nice place to walk about, on an early autumn afternoon. The garden's laid out in a subtly soothing pattern, and the scents of the various plants combine pleasantly. A few of the brethren are working there, but they're widely scattered enough that the two currently strolling down the rows aren't too concerned about being overheard.

Which is just as well, as they're arguing.

A little.

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A little, yes. And fairly good-naturedly.

"What, you want her to be your best man? 'Cause she's not a man. In case you hadn't noticed."

"-- No, they taught us the difference in medical school." It is good-natured; it's hard not to be at this point.

"I want her to stand with me as my sister."

"Well, fine. If you can have a girl, I can have a boy. Which means I get the captain."

Simon looks mulish. "I wanted the captain."

They're passing a sprawling lavender bush as they speak; Simon's hand trails idly along the slightly velvety leaves.

"Well, I wanted River, but you're all, 'no, she's my sister, and not a man but that's okay'. You can't have 'em both."

Kaylee, poking Simon is not going to convince the shepherds working around you that you're just having a nice chat.

He heaves a sigh. "I suppose not."

And looks very Sad.

It's marred only by a tiny glance under his eyelashes to gauge the effect on Kaylee, but that's understandable; he's new at this.

Kaylee eyes him. And looks away.

...and looks back.

...and looks away again, and then back, and then away, and then --

"That's my thing, don't you dare start doin' it too, and it really ain't fair and what really ain't fair is how pretty your eyelashes are and -- "

Then she realizes she's rambling. And makes a face at Simon.

He looks up at her mournfully. "I'm sorry."

And then grins.

"You are so not sorry."

Pause.

"And I still get the captain."

Also grinning.

Simon tries to make a sulky face, but his heart clearly isn't in it.

"How many attendants are we each going to have? Just two, or ...?"

"...if we have much more than that, there's not gonna be anybody to watch, 'cause they're all gonna be in it."

"Two, then." He considers, as they pass a low stand of rosemary bushes.

"River, then, and ... Wash."

"Shiny." Kaylee approves of this.

"And I got the captain, and..."

Wait for it.

Wait for it.

Wait for it.

"Crowley." Decisively.

Simon starts to smile.

"I'm sure he'll be pleased."

That may be a tiny understatement.

Kaylee grins. "Hope so. I mean...it's not that I think he'd mind doin' it, but...just seems to me like he ought to be."

The Milliways connection, as it were. Because there needs to be one, in Kaylee's mind.

"It does. It seems right."

Absently he plucks a leaf from the patch of mint they're passing, and rolls it between his fingertips.

"...that smells good."

Kaylee sounds -- feels -- relaxed.

"Only a couple more days before Mama and Daddy get here."

"That's all been set up, then? How are they getting here?"

"Crowley said he'd take care of it. Since he knows people, and all." She grins up at him. "Apparently bein' a minion has benefits."

They're moving out of the herbs and into the vegetables, by now; tomato vines clambering up low trellises flank the path on either side, heavy with fruit, and beyond them appear to be yellow peppers.

"That must be convenient." Simon smiles at her fondly.

"'S nice to have job security." Almost laughing, now, as she slips her hand in his, weaving their fingers together. "Now I just got to figure out how I can make it look like I got horns without actually havin' 'em."

A few of the gardening brethren look up at the sound of their laughter, and turn back to their work smiling.

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