iii

                                    

                                          
✧ Builders arrive. Pat's death reaches its 35th anniversary. Solomon discovers a new interest.
✧ word count: 4,806
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Just after sunrise, a team of men had arrived at Button House and Fanny immediately called an emergency meeting. With The Captain, Robin, and Julian in attendance (along with Solomon, who had been in the parlor when they entered and figured it was too late to leave now), she had quickly debriefed them on the situation currently taking place. The living inhabitants of the house had taken it upon themselves to begin repairs, something the building had been in dire need of for over a decade, but Fanny's passion against the "tradesmen" was so intense that Solomon didn't dare point this out.
The Captain paced across the wooden floor with his hands folded behind his back, "Now it's clear that this new enemy, these builders are deep in our territory. It's an occupation," He suddenly looked into space, getting caught up in his narrative, "We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight–"
"On the landing?" Julian suggested, a smug smile on his face.
"That's all right. Don't be glib,"
"But how do we fight?" Robin held up a finger, "We have no rocks, no sticks, no bears..."
"Bears?" The Captain faltered slightly.
From the sidelines, Thomas sighed, causing the others to turn in his direction. Fanny tilted her head mockingly, "Oh, yes, very good, Thomas. We'll just sigh at them,"
"You don't understand, do you?" He rose to his feet.
"Oh, most certainly not," The Captain pursed his lips.
"She does not comprehend the profundity of my feelings for her," 
"Thomas in big love with Kim Wilde,"
"Kim– Alison? He's got the hots for Alison!" Julian pointed at Thomas triumphantly. The others deflated visibly when they realized where he was headed.
"Oh, it's far more complicated than that, damn your eyes. I'm attempting to compose a poem of such intricate beauty to reflect the way I feel. I cannot be expected to plot with you halfwits and work on my art!" They all frowned as they watched him storm off.
The Captain had then "rounded up the remaining troops" (Kitty, Pat, and Mary) to present his case to Alison in the stairwell, whose look of frustration was barely concealed when she saw them approaching.
"Ah! There you are. Jolly good. Now, look here! I thought the Blitz was bad, but your builders make the Luftwaffe look like a youth group!" (From what little he'd gathered of the history after his death, Solomon knew that was certainly in poor taste) "No offense, Pat. we know your lot were capable of killing." Pat gave little reaction, seemingly preoccupied with his thoughts.
Alison walked past them, muttering, "Please, not now," which was interpreted by the man next to her to be directed at him.
"Oh, sorry,"
"No, not you, Terry. I was just talking to... Mike. Not now, Mike!" She yelled, casting her gaze upward. A muffled "What?" could be heard from the floor above.
"...Right,"
"Yes, Terry, How are you? How is it going?"
"Yeah, Good, good. We've finally managed to make the roof watertight in the, um, yeah, the back bit,"
"The East Wing," The Captain and Fanny said together, which was echoed by Alison.
"East Wing. Thank you. Terry,"