Anastasie du Motier

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

“Papa.... you should invite her now. I’ll order some tea, and we can all have some together. You would like that, wouldn’t you?”

#addingmycolours

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

“You should tell her that,” she said softly. “She thinks you’re avoiding her.”

He shook his head. “No. I don’t think so.”

“You should tell her, maybe spend some more time with her. In fact, why don’t you ask her to join us for the sweets? I’m sure she would enjoy it.”

#addingmycolours

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

“You should tell her that,” she said softly. “She thinks you’re avoiding her.”

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

“Papa…” she said quietly. “Why don’t you talk to Alice-Marie much?”

He frowned. “I do talk to her.”

“Only when you have to. You avoid her most of the time. We all see it.”

“I don’t mean to.” He huffed, stuffing the pastry in his mouth.

Anastasie nodded. "She feels like she's done something wrong."

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

“Papa…” she said quietly. “Why don’t you talk to Alice-Marie much?”

He frowned. “I do talk to her.”

“Only when you have to. You avoid her most of the time. We all see it.”

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

“Papa...” she said quietly. “Why don’t you talk to Alice-Marie much?”

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

“Yes. Yes.” He nodded.

“Do you promise?”

“I- I said I would never break a promise to you.”

She smiled, hugging him. “Thank you, Papa,” she said, ignoring the scent of alcohol that still lay on him. It was unfortunately a scent she had grown used to.

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

“Yes. Yes.” He nodded.

“Do you promise?”

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

“Oh.” He furrowed his brow. “Of course.” He nodded. “Yes. You told me.”

“Did you truly forget Papa?”

“Of course not.” He mumbled. “Never.”

“You... you’re still happy about it, right?”

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

“Oh.” He furrowed his brow. “Of course.” He nodded. “Yes. You told me.”

“Did you truly forget Papa?”

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

“Hm?” He asked, too tired to understand fully.

“My trade routes, Papa. For my maiden voyage next year.”

He shook his head. “Still not following.”

“Papa, you know this. My captaincy in the trading company? My maiden voyage occurs in around a year.”

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

“Hm?” He asked, too tired to understand fully.

“My trade routes, Papa. For my maiden voyage next year.”

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

He entered, bringing in the plate of pastries. He moved to sit on the seat at her window. “Merci.”

Getting up from her comfortable position on the floor with a grumble, she went over and sat by him.

He offered the plate, taking one for himself. “How are you today, sweetheart?”

“Busy. Planning my trade routes,” she said, her mouth already half-full of pastry.

" 'Stasie. May I come in?" - addingmycolours

“Why?” she called from the floor, her maps strewn around her. “If it’s something unpleasant I’m not in the mood.”

He entered, bringing in the plate of pastries. He moved to sit on the seat at her window. “Merci.”

Getting up from her comfortable position on the floor with a grumble, she went over and sat by him.