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Characters: Polly, Mal
Disclaimer: The author makes no
claim to owning the rights of anything to do with Terry Pratchett or Discworld.
Curious
Mal lifts the kettle off the fire, pouring boiling water into the little coffee engine which bubbles and gurgles by her knee. "What does that stuff taste like?" asks Polly, from behind her tea-cup. Mal raises an eyebrow at Polly, who has never expressed any interest in coffee before now. "Come over here and try it," she says, with a minute flick of her head. Polly is surprised. Mal has a limited supply of coffee, and they never know how long they'll be at the front of any given battle. "Are you sure?" "Always," Mal says with her usual air of conviction. Polly shrugs. She rises, and strolls around the fire to where Mal is sitting, dropping down beside her. "It smells good," she says, breathing in the scent that wafts from the little engine. Mal nods, "That it does. It's pretty bitter stuff, though, I should warn you." She fills her delicate china cup with the dark, aromatic liquid, and passes it to Polly. "The cup's hot." "You're not getting burned," Polly points out, none the less taking the cup carefully. "True. However we're also sitting in full sunlight, and I'm not turning to ashes. I don't burn all that easily anymore." "Anymore?" Polly raises an eyebrow. Mal grimaces. "Really, really long story. Definitely not worth getting into." Polly holds her friend's gaze for a moment longer, and then shrugs. "Alright." She lifts the cup to her lips and takes a careful sip. "Ugh!" She manages to swallow, but only just, before pulling a face. "I warned you," Mal says, with a lopsided smile that is not quite a smirk. "You did," Polly concedes, grinning ruefully and handing the cup back to its proprietor. "Thanks all the same, but I think I'll stick with my tea." |