[How strange, then, that the book should reappear on his porch only a few days after he tucked it neatly into the library. It sits on the small table where he takes his tea, as if he'd left it there himself earlier in the day.]
[Tch. He really needs to talk to Xiaobao about the quality of his traps. It can't be that some pest keeps getting into his garden to do as she pleases. Maybe get A-Fei to put up a scarecrow. Maybe some of those mirrors that ward off impudent birds. Maybe some talismans.
When next she sees the book, she'll find it in the hands of a gelfling child happily marveling at the illustrations.]
[A few days later, the book is again placed on his porch, this time accompanied with a scratchily-penned letter tucked into the middle like a bookmark.]
thank yoou for letting mee see your buk book. i really liked the pikchers pictures.
[Another note has been added at the bottom of the letter, in more familiar viney script:]
Very kind of you, lotus, to give this child a lesson in borrowing and returning possessions. But please remember to take care of your own.
[Whether he suspects a forgery of the child's portion of the letter is up to him.]
no subject
Date: 2025-03-04 04:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-03-18 08:56 pm (UTC)Maybe some talismans.When next she sees the book, she'll find it in the hands of a gelfling child happily marveling at the illustrations.]
no subject
Date: 2025-04-20 07:45 pm (UTC)thank yo
ou for letting meesee yourbukbook. i really liked thepikcherspictures.[Another note has been added at the bottom of the letter, in more familiar viney script:]
Very kind of you, lotus, to give this child a lesson in borrowing and returning possessions. But please remember to take care of your own.
[Whether he suspects a forgery of the child's portion of the letter is up to him.]