(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

The flat isn't as quiet, this week. Everyone's stopped doing quite as much tiptoeing for fear of waking the baby; they're all getting used to one another and settling into a routine.

Chances there's someone puttering around in the kitchen, or working in the study, or playing in Sunny's room, or napping... anywhere there's a flat surface.

Visitors are welcome to stop by.

Comments

[badinlatin]

Mal is beaming.

Not that Tonks or Bernard will be able to see it unless they open the door at the sound of his knocking.

[clumsy_auror]

Tonks opens the door a crack, and then rather beams, herself, before flinging wide the door. "Mal! Good to see you, mate."

[badinlatin]

That grin doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon.

"Dora, hey." Mal gives Tonks a quick hug in greeting, in which there might be a noticable blur of a blue paper gift bag to her keen eye.

Mal pulls back after a second, offering a second 'accidental' flash of the bag. "How's everyone? I wanted to come by and take a peek at the new lil' one if I could."

[clumsy_auror]

"We're all doing passably well, thanks," she replies with a grin, waving him inside. "The young master and I were just having a bit of a picnic in front of the fire."

A large soft blanket is spread between the sofa and the fireplace, and Anthony is laying on his back, legs and arms flailing idly, wide awake and watchful. A tray with a pot of tea and some shortbread rests a safe distance away.

[balletrat]

*There's a few seconds of whispered giggling and conferral outside the door of the Tonks-Wrangle flat, before the knock comes on the door.

That's because Meg and Amy are standing there, holding a large tray piled high with an ill-assorted variety of food - chili, stew, chicken, pop-tarts, and chocolate-chip cookies, to be exact.*

[clumsy_auror]

The door opens, and Tonks grins. "Hey, girls, I--"

Then she blinks at the food.

"...Dear Merlin it looks like the kitchen exploded on that tray."

[kitchen_maid]

"Hello," says Amy, brightly. "We brought food from the party. We promised Bernard we would. And we didn't make any of it, so it's perfectly safe to eat."

[clumsy_auror]

"Oh! Right! Well," she continues, stepping aside to let them in, "who am I to stand in the way of food?"

[balletrat]

I can vouch for the chicken, *Meg offers, helpfully, deftly maneuvering the tray through the door.*

And the pop-tarts - fantastique invention, by the way, I don't know why they didn't have them yet in my time -

[clumsy_auror]

The witch casts an interested eye on the food, and helps them bring it into the kitchen and set it on the counter. "This was awfully nice of you. So the party was a smashing success?"

[kitchen_maid]

"I think everyone had a good time," says Amy, "and we didn't do any cooking at all, so I'd say it was an all around success, yes." She points at things on the tray. "Captain Reynolds made the chili, and Bran Davies made the stew, and Door made the cookies. Oh, and Meg's Andrew made the chicken."

It can be important to know these things, after all.

[clumsy_auror]

Tonks grabs a spoon and takes a careful bite of the chili.

"...Huh. That's good."

Possibly she shouldn't sound so surprised. But she does.

[balletrat]

*Meg looks about as smug as if she'd made it herself.*

Bien sur.

Everyone sort of helped everyone else out, *she adds, with a grin.* It was more a communal effort, type thing.

[clumsy_auror]

"Mmm. Probably best Bernard didn't go," she replies sagely. "He's a bit of a control freak in the kitchen at the best of times."

She would know.

[kitchen_maid]

"It did get a little chaotic," says Amy. "And Mordred wandered about making comments on people's cooking."

That had been amusing, to say the least.

"How are you and Bernard? And the baby?"

[clumsy_auror]

"We're all doing pretty well, thanks. Sunny's settling into the idea of being a big sister, and Bernard and I are both learning to nap when we can." A raised eyebrow. "Have you met the baby, yet?"

[balletrat]

No! *Meg says, beaming expectantly.*

- and that's making me wish I'd brought Derry with me, *she adds, suddenly struck by a thought.* I will next time. Or tell Del too.

[clumsy_auror]

"Well! Hang on just a sec, then. I'll see if he's awake."

The witch trots down the hall, and after a few moments, returns with a still-waking-up infant in her arms.

Anthony peers blearily at them, a little shy, one hand clenched in his mum's shirt.

[kitchen_maid]

"Oh, Tonks, he's beautiful," says Amy, waggling her fingers in a little wave at the baby.

"It's lovely to meet you, Anthony."

[gonna_live]

This, of course, doesn't mean the knock on the door isn't quiet. And by 'quiet' I mean 'not pounding'.

You learn how to do such things when you share living space with seven other people. Sometimes people take naps at odd times of day. And when those other people know where you sleep...well. Let's just say that, uh, you pick up social skills very, very fast.

Not that Kaylee would ever be bad about that. Kaylee is a saint.

Or a bodhisattva, anyway. If you're Monkey.

Anyway. So, uh. This whole knocking thing.

[creator_raven]

There is a brisk knock at the door.

It is not rapping.

People have to earn rapping.

Usually by being stupid. It is a hazard.

[badinlatin]

"Shiny," Mal peers at the infant as they walk in the room, wiggling a finger at him.

"Well, suppose I should at least get to the main reason why I'm here," he says after a moment, finally giving Dora the bag.

What she would find inside if she dares to open it is a sling for the baby. A witch (or a Barman!) needs his hands free every once in awhile, y'know.

It is bright pink.

"River helped; picked the color."

[clumsy_auror]

Tonks peeks inside the bag, and giggles. "Oh, that's brilliant, that is. Cheers, Mal," she says, pulling it out and dropping to her knees to show Anthony. "What d'you reckon, kiddo? You can travel in style in this."

Anthony, as any proper colour-blind infant would do, seems to approve.

Still snickering, 'Dora picks the baby and motions Mal onto the blanket beside her. "Here, have a proper look."

[the_lioness]

*Alanna knocks firmly and takes a step back, stretching her arms overhead. Adam had wanted to come along and formally greet Anthony, but there is business to be discussed. Besides, they could always come back later.

Not that she's hiding from a newborn. Oh, no. Not at all. That would be ridiculous.

She drops her arms and blinks at the door.*

[badinlatin]

Mal drops down to the blanket alongside Dora and Anthony, peering at the baby rather like some strange curiosity than a little human being.

The sentiment passes as Anthony flails an arm at him, and Mal laughs a little, gently poking Anthony in said flaily arm with his pinky. The baby is quick to react! - He grabs hold of the pinky with incredible baby-strength. At least, it surprised Mal.

Wonder what Zash'll think o' me.