Part of The Weedverse, and a sequel to 'Suckle, Conversation
shifts focus to Alto Clef. Although he wants to say more than he does, his Speech Impediment blocks his ability to do so. Still, he enjoys spending time with his friends. One day, when Honeysuckle watches his viola practice, he learns that you don't need words to speak.
This story contains examples of:
- Escape Artist: It's noted that catching Sly Pie is far easier than holding him.
- Messy Hair: Alto's hair never entirely behaves, to one mother's frustration and the other's delight.
- Mundane Utility: Megara uses her vicious claws as lockpicks to break into the sweets cupboard.
- Performance Anxiety: Alto's viola practice goes a lot less successfully when he's being watched by Honeysuckle.
- Power Incontinence: Honeysuckle still hasn't entirely got control of her costumes, as shown when she's laughing at Sly's antics and she begins flickering.
- Security Cling: After what is apparently one in a long line of pep talks from Octavia, Alto clings to her leg out of guilt from being unwilling to talk.
- Shout-Out: Upon angering Maud, Sly Pie yells "meep meep" before taking off.
- Speech Impediment: Alto has a severe stutter, which makes him unwilling to speak out loud, even to his best friend or mother.
- So Proud of You: Maud mentions that she's proud of Megara. Although it's not entirely clear why (although she certainly deserves it),
Word of God is that in this case, it's because Megara is babysitting Honeysuckle. - Talking through Technique: The core conflict of the story is Alto's difficulty communicating normally, and in the end, the resolution offered by his discovery that he can talk to Honeysuckle with his music, and she understands and can respond in kind.
- The Quiet One: Alto is this, due to his stutter making it very difficult for him to articulate his thoughts.
- Whoopee Cushion: Sly slips one under Maud's chair when she goes looking for a book she's misplaced.
