Page 26 of Geoffrey the Very Strange
"Hey, Geoffy?" Cecil waved a hand in front of his face. "You sure you want to work today instead of just taking a day to be all dreamy about knocking boots with the shop clerk?"
"We weren't wearing boots," Geoffrey murmured, then blinked the world back into focus. "Oh, that was a eulogy, I suppose."
"Euphemism. Yeah. Make an executive decision here, boss."
"Sorry. Yes, working." Geoffrey rose, rolled up the charts, and pulled out a new sheet of paper. "I want to start trials with the rabbit I found."
Cecil flowed over to the altar. "Great! So we can just do the ones where we had some kind of reaction with the plants, right?"
"No. Of course not. We need to be methomania about this and start back at the beginning."
"Oh, come on! We don't have to be methodical about everything."
Geoffrey shot his guardian a quelling look. "You have something better to do today?"
"I was going to wash my hair."
"Which you don't actually have." Geoffrey pointed to the containers. "I'll get the rabbit. Clamshells only, comet pattern."
Aspic sangas he made his way up the hill, partly to give Cecil plenty of warning and partly because effervescent bubbles careened around inside him, and he had to let the joy out somewhere. He had a basket over his arm again containing a selection of hand pies from Mrs. Pickle, still warm from the oven. She had insisted he take several. According to her, both he and Geoffrey needed extra feeding. His hair rode mostly wild on his head, but Ishi had helped him with small braids behind both ears that at least tamed the tightly curled length back from his face.
Two reasons for joy, when he thought about it. The first, that Geoffrey had asked to see him again, and the second, that his friends—hisfriends, of all things—were happy for him. Part of him kept waiting for the next terrible thing to happen. Demon hunters would come to town, or the local water would go bad, and they'd blame the person with demonic blood. The larger part of him shouted to stop looking for trouble.
He'd found a place to stand at last, and maybe even someone to love.
Though let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Geoffrey's infatuated right now. Love might never be part of this.
Did Aspic want it to be? Yes. He truly did. Even a half-demon with an unhappy past could hope.
"Hey, Aspic."
"Oh." He startled, since he'd only been halfway up the hill. "Hello, Cecil. Decided to come meet me?"
"Heard you coming. Oooh. That basket smells good." Cecil perched on the edge. "Thought I'd warn you that he's still working. It's been a day."
Aspic fought against a frown. "Has he been in a bad mood?"
"Oh, no, no. Chipper as a chickadee. But he found a dead rabbit yesterday, and he's been manic about going through all the experimentsagainwith a bunny instead of a plant."
"I see. That's all right. I look forward to seeing him work, if he lets me."
"Yeah. Probably wants to show off for his new boyfriend," Cecil muttered.
The cave laboratory hadn't changed much since the last time Aspic had been there, though charts appeared to be attempting a takeover of the desk and nearby shelves. Geoffrey, deep in concentration while he cleared a chalk symbol from his altar, didn't notice them until Cecil cleared his throat.
Geoffrey's head jerked up. He blinked twice. Then he broke into a radiant smile. "Aspic!"
"Hello there. Cecil says you've been terribly busy." Aspic had to look away as he put his basket down. That look of pure joy threatened to bring him to tears. "Would you like to stop and have some dinner with—oof."
Geoffrey had launched himself into Aspic's arms. Sundroptsheeredin alarm, though she settled into Aspic's hair with an embarrassedcheepsoon after.
"Yes. Let's sit outside. The wearer's still nice, isn't it?"
Weather. Probably. "It's a beautiful night." Aspic slung an arm around Geoffrey's shoulders while Cecil brought the basket. "But you could fix it if it wasn't, right?"
"In theorem, yes. But weather walking's tricky. You take too much of this or that, you intrepid with the patents."
Aspic glanced at Cecil in alarm, who mouthed,I think he's tired.
