Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney World, Monday

[that_oldsaying]

"Yes, I know you want to come along," Alluka said commiserating with her stuffed bunny while Papa was in the shower, getting ready for the day. "But you can't."

Her bunny wasn't taking this trip very well. But all of the rides weren't exactly bunny-friendly.

"But if you come along, then Papa Jono can't go on any rides either, and that's not fair to him."

Her bunny pointed out none of this was fair to it.

Alluka sighed. "What if we brought you back a souvenir? I bet I could talk Papa into it. And we could leave the television on while we're out. Would that help?"

Her bunny conceded that it might. A little.

[For the papa! And phone calls.]

Comments

[furnaceface]

It was probably a good half an hour later when Jono made his way into the room, toweling off his hair, but otherwise ready to face the day. It would have been sooner, but even someone who had as much experience wrapping up as he did needed to take time to make sure things were right. Especially in a comparatively normal reality.

//So,// he said, his voice jovial, //have you figured out what you want to do today, Sunshine?//

He still hadn't gotten to downloading podcasts of this weekend's radio broadcasts. He was on vacation with his kid, dammit. He'd worry about whatever the island had been up to once he got back to real life later.

[that_oldsaying]

She grinned at him from where she was sprawled on her bed, watching television with her bunny.

"I want to start with the rides!" she said, scrambling up and off the bed. "All of them!"

[furnaceface]

//Dunno if there are that many hours in the day,// Jono mused, //but we can certainly try. Is there any one in particular you'd like to try first? Splash Mountain? Space Mountain? Big Thunder Mountain?//

He paused.

//There are a few mountains.//

[sharp_man]

Now that the weirdness was over, Hannibal decided to call and check in.

So, that was the phone ringing.

[that_oldsaying]

Oh! Oh oh oh! That was Papa Hannibal's ringtone!

Alluka scrambled for the phone.

"Papa Hannibal!" she said happily. "We're doing rides today, did you know?"

How was he supposed to know, Alluka?

[that_oldsaying]

"Big Thunder!" she said, giggling. "And, and Splash Mountain last because that sounds like we'd get wet, right? And I don't want to be wet when watching the fireworks tonight."

Admittedly, it was even odds if Alluka would be awake by the time the fireworks went off, but still.

[furnaceface]

//And there, we have a game plan,// Jono said easily, //though I would guess we would dry off reasonably fast. It's been pretty warm this weekend, after all.//

Still, wet and fireworks. Who wanted that, right?

//And do you want breakfast first? Or should we break into those snacks that Hannibal packed for you?//

You know. The boring ones that didn't have mouse ear shapes. Jono cared for Hannibal dearly, but the man didn't have the foggiest clue how to appeal to a kid who had all the selection that Disney World had to offer right there at her disposal.

... It was possible that turns had been taken, feeding some of the meats to the local stray cat population before Jono went and bought Alluka an ice cream cone. Which, Jono had insisted, would be their little secret.

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka went all big-eyed and reproachful.

"Papa," she said, "those aren't breakfast. Those are snacks."

Snacks that she wasn't going to eat because there were so many tasty things to try here.

A beat.

"Can we get waffles?"

[furnaceface]

That was the right answer, Alluka! Jono laughed a little, a soft ringing of voiceless amusement that he kept between the two of them, and then he nodded.

//They do those ones shaped like Mickey,// he shared. //And I think if we go to the right place you can get them with fruit and nutella, too.//

The one with pulled buffalo chicken didn't strike him as a breakfast food, so he didn't even suggest it. Maybe for lunch.

[that_oldsaying]

Waffles for lunch sounded good to her--but so did basically everything else, so...

"Are the fruit and nutella ones shaped like Mickey too?" she asked eagerly. "Or do I have to choose?"

Or could she have both? Both she could do.

[sharp_man]

Hannibal chuckled. "I do now. Are you enjoying your trip?"

[that_oldsaying]

"Yesyesyesyes!"

She could possibly squee a little harder, if she tried, but she was trying to not burst Papa Hannibal's eardrums.

[sharp_man]

And the attempt was mostly successful!

"What have you enjoyed most so far?" Hannibal asked.

[furnaceface]

//I think you might have to choose,// Jono said, pausing thoughtfully, //but perhaps we could get one, smuggle it to the other place, and then combine the two.//

... Now he was trying to figure out how far that hike would be.

[that_oldsaying]

Probably pretty far. There was a lot of walking to do given where they were.

"Or we could get both today," she wheedled. "One for breakfast, one for supper?"

[furnaceface]

//If that's what you like,// Jono agreed easily. //Something else might catch your eye before supper, but we can always get the other for breakfast tomorrow, before we go to watch that one with the dancing dishes.//

Or whatever it was. That Beauty and the Beast thing.

[that_oldsaying]

"Everything," she said blissfully, snagging her bunny to hug and sitting on the edge of her bed. "I don't ever want to come back."

[that_oldsaying]

"Beauty and the Beast!" Alluka said happily, doing a twirl. "She's got the prettiest gown, all in gold, Papa! You can't forget that! And there's the magic rose and they fall in love!"

And if Alluka could't talk Papa into her very own copy of Belle's gown, then she was doing something wrong.

[furnaceface]

It was entirely possible that Jono had already been keeping an eye open for places where they might be able to procure one, so...

//Right, right,// he agreed, //the magic rose. That bit's very important.//

He had, at least, seen the movie once or twice before.

[sharp_man]

"What, never?" Hannibal put a mournful edge in his voice. "You could do that, I suppose, but you know that you would be missed."