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Sleepy Time

The shop was closed up for the night and Rico was just dusting the last table free of crumbs. Why did aristocrats have to eat like swine? It really was disgusting how few manners some of them had.

Rico was an untraditional name for a very traditional man. He was about as upper crust as they came, always eager for a better image than anyone around him, even the tea house's owner.

As he retreated into the kitchen, helping the cleaning staff move some dishes, the Mothim began to think to himself about the egg. He had not thought of the thing all day but now it came flooding back to him. The plates had a sort of wispy grey pattern on them, not unlike the long tail on the egg. Perhaps it was the pattern that made his mind wander to its present location: on his bed in his quarters.

He had found it the night before, under his pillow, like the tooth fairy had left it for him. A useless bump that had disturbed the sheets and ruffles on the bed in its demand for attention. The maitre d' had been eager at first, happy to know that a mincinno- a creature of natural cleanliness- would be there to help them with the tea house. But as he coddled the egg, doubt had shrouded his mind. He remembered the rumors, the stories. The dormouse had absolutely lost it back then...he was sure it was a mincinno to blame.

He slammed the cupboard shut a little too harshly, some of the kitchen staff looking up with perplexity. He righted himself, pardoned himself, then excused himself as curtly as a tinman.

He retired to his bedroom where that shell, full of doubt and hope at the same time, caught the light as the door slivered open. It had moved on the bed, tipping to one side. He put a hand on it and gave a long sigh.

"Perhaps you would be better in a quieter environment. This is a pretty upscale place and nobody here is too fond of the children."

Then, the egg rocked from side to side. He removed his hand rapidly, in a futile attempt to stop it, but the egg feverishly persisted. A large crack formed in te side. No, no! You rapscallion! He wasn't done deciding about ownership yet!

Rico tried his best to keep the sides of the egg from cracking further, holding the pieces in place. But it was no good at all. There was a sort of popping noise, a large break appearing in the middle. A tiny face peeked up at him from inside the shell. It demanded to know why the fancy man was keeping him from the world.

"Alright." He muttered more to the mincinno than himself. He'd keep it. It was too late to dump off on someone else, now that it was hatched. He had a duty to it now. Rico just supposed he would wait and see if the creature within could be trusted, or if he had just welcomed the bull into the china shop.




Word Count: 527