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In the absence of conveniently-timed explanations of the theoretical framework of their universe(s), Mimsy quickly found herself incredibly bored. It occurred to her that watching fellow partygoers playing pretend with Robert had done an excellent job of amusing her, so she looked in the direction that the throne had been...and frowned with concern when she discovered that it wasn't there.

She chewed her lip and held her foxfire a little tighter, eyes following the perimeter of the room. A complete scan of the area showed no signs of him, and the effervescent happiness fought with anxiety as she tried to stop herself from making direct connections between the last glimpse she'd seen of him and his apparent absence. But as soon as she turned to leave, squeezing her pet for comfort (or a replacement stress ball), she noticed the hole in the wall that had a high probability of solving all of her imagined troubles. Just the possibility was enough to make her lopsided smile return, and she cheerfully made her way towards the hole with her head held high.

"Robert?" she called, bending just enough to ensure his identity. There was an unsettling pop from somewhere within the minipet in her arms as she leaned forward and extended her hand. "Aw. Don't be ridiculous. Come out of there! Who told you to do that?"

The sidelong glance she gave to Jerry was somehow a look of pleasant suspicion.

"W-well, I-" was all Jerry managed before the ground heaved furrily and Robert was leaning on him and suddenly the world was a roller coaster and he was tumbling back into the gingerbread crater the larger man had made. The thing was already repairing itself, slowly fluffing back into place with a pleasant, warm bakery scent, and he managed to haul himself upright again.

"M-maybe we should... relocate the pa-party?" He managed, fairly certain if he summoned Roar, he would just be sent even more off-balance as he tried to land-surf his way toward them.




hp:49/50

The need for an explanation was lost when Mimsy learned that it had not been under any direct order that Robert made a cave for himself in the wall, replaced by the opportunity to talk about her newest accomplishments.

"Oh, not particularly!" She shrugged. "But I have been well entertained by watching you thus far, and I separately achieved a level of excellence: I was told by the one responsible for the bat cookies that I hold the position of 'most hated'. Fantastic, isn't it? And I found a new pet!"

Her fingers clutched the foxfire around its middle as she held it up to them for a proper introduction, wiggling it back and forth to make its forcefully extended front legs 'dance' in greeting. One of the legs was askew, visibly wrong, and the tiny paw on the end of it flopped lifelessly. To her credit, it did look like a very grotesque little wave.

"I have named him Dr. Higgs, and I love him," she explained, demonstrating said love by kissing the top of its head and tightening her arms around it in an attempt to accordingly meet the assumed ratio of love to cuddle. The crunch that followed was drowned out by her delighted gasp of intrigue at Jerry's suggestion, and she turned to Robert with an almost comically mischievous smile, tilted her head, and giggled again.

"Well, that is an idea with potential. I am considering something...subterranean, perhaps. Like a basement. What is your opinion?" she asked, giving him a little nudge. Not even her awkward inability to smile properly could hide how happy she was at the thought.

And then suddenly cute things. Even as several began gnawing at her shield, Stormy was overcome with an overwhelming need to take one home. No, two! Three! However many she could fit into her arms? An incoherent but clearly happy burble left her as she leaned down to pluck one into her arms.

< < What are you doing? > > Quieted by the Joy suffusing the room, Thane stirred at the smell of Fear, the ache of hunger gnawing away at them both still. < < I need this. Give them to me this instant. > >

"But they're so fluffy!" Busy coddling the foxfire, Stormy had forgotten to answer in her head.

He snarled. < < Would you forsake my needs so quickly after everything you have done? > >

Her smile dimmed a little, but she chose to ignore him for the moment, which was easy given the environment and the current distraction. Turning to Gale, she beamed once more and gave him round, begging eyes. "I was thinking we should get a pet . . ."

Peyton spent a considerable amount of time being a wall flower. She'd watched the mystery hunter sweep in and extract the Christmas puppy(where had that even come from?), and the sudden flood of fluffy little biting machines that had swept in moments after and started nipping at most o the people in attendance. She seemed to have lucked out leaning against her little section of wall, the minis didn't seem all that interested in her. A trait they seemed to share with the rest of the room.

Frowning, Peyton smoothed her palms along her thighs to free the little white dress of any wrinkles, then pushed away from the wall. What had seemed fun an hour ago had lost it's appeal. If she'd wanted to spend her time on her own, she could have just stayed in her room and finished the book that'd been lent to her.

It actually wasn't a bad idea.

So she followed the wall towards the door, carefully stepping around any other hunters or rampaging fluff balls. She passed Maebe, and the grumpy blonde was given a light pat on the arm. She was busy talking to Ian and Shiloh, she wouldn't pester her.

Taym also seemed to be busy. Small fingers brushed over his side as she moved past him. Just to let him know she was leaving, in case he bothered to look for her later.

A marshmellow connected with bundled up curls, but it was the familiar voice barking at her that made her stop before she reached the door. She glanced back at Maebe, frowning a question at the other girl, before noticingShiloh and Ian. Her breath eased out in a hum of amusement as she shook her head and picked her way back over. "Alright."

Small hands were extended out, palms up, and when Maebe took hold she'd pull the other girl up and loop an arm around her hip. When she was sure Maebe was as balanced as she was going to get she started walking the both of them towards the exit. "You have enough of watching everyone else having fun, too?"

Peyton was patient as Maebe said her goodbyes. All smiles and good nature. Until they were out of ear shot of anyone else, then she leaned in to murmur very close to Maebe's ear. "If you so much as insinuate that I am a horse again I will drop you on your a**." She was still smiling, and you could hear it in her voice, but there was no doubt that she'd also been dead serious.

Casually Stormy grasped the scruff of one off his arms and set it carefully back down as it yapped a protest. "Oh, you know . . ." The puppy eyes continued, now accompanied by a hesitant little lip biting as she held the foxfire up; it was currently trying to gnaw at her fingers and failing because it couldn't quite get past its own fur.

"I know you said you're not really a pet person, but seeing you dye your hair made me think: a little change might be fun!" she said. "It doesn't have to be a--whatever these things are. Just, you know, something to call our own!" And share minipet poop duty, like any good couple.