[action] sponsored by Gold's wallet

[fluffyhearted]

[ There's a little sheep going around campus... okay no, not really. Sort of. There's a Mareep turned human going around, with a basket carried in both hands. It's filled with what looks like tissue paper, tied and wrapped around a thing. ... Like circular balls. Oh, how mysterious! Sometimes, her basket might look nearly empty. But no worries, 'cause she'll soon have more in there.

And she's looking for people. Anyone. Everyone. You. Or maybe you. She's especially looking for faces she recognises, even if those faces don't recognise her.

Or maybe she's never seen you before, but hey, if you're around and don't look terribly busy (or maybe you are), maybe this girl with too much light blonde hair will come over to you. What's up?

And people whose rooms she knows of or of their classrooms, hey, you're getting a visit. Library goers, too. Greenhouses. The stadium. The gym.

Everyone, you are going to meet this girl.

Spoilers, for those with good noses: it smells like chocolate. ]

Comments

[trustycrowbar]

Hm?

[Oh, it's Maisy! Her lack of protection against the cold doesn't go unnoticed, but she doesn't seem particularly uncomfortable either. He lopes towards her a few steps as she catches up.]

Hello, Maisy... what's the basket all about?

[fluffsyou]

[ She's happy to see him take an interest in her basket. At his questioning it, she lists it up. ]

It's for Varreentines! [ She lowers it back down a little and, with the excitement, Maisy seems to have gotten a bit of a swing in her body - though a gentle one, and not one that would cause trouble for the baskets and goodies she's got inside it. ]

Do you like chockolaaate? Gooold told me and 'lorah all about Vaarrentines, so we wanted to make chockolleetts for everyoonee. It's like Chrrriisstmas agaain!

[trustycrowbar]

Well I... I guess I wouldn't mind one.

[He smiles down to her. He's not the biggest fan of chocolate, but if she made them herself...]

[fluffsyou]

[ That's what Maisy liked to hear! She pauses her movements, and brings up the basket by taking hold of the bottom of it instead. ]

Take annny! They're all the saaame. But if you like theeem a special waaay, we can make some like that toooo.

[trustycrowbar]

[He breaks into a wide grin and plucks one from the basket, turning it over...]

I'm sure these are perfect. And err, Happy Valentine's to you too.

[fluffsyou]

Thaank yoou.

[ Ah, that makes her happy to see! A happy Mister Gordon! She's smiling as she watches him, but there's a thought from something before, a memory prompted by a conversation that day. Her own smile softens a little. ]

Maaa, Mister Gordoohhn? Do you have Varreeentine's in yoooour woorld?

[trustycrowbar]

It's, uh... not really celebrated in my world anymore, but it was a long time ago.

[This is what happens when the notion of physical attraction, and by extension a major part of romantic love, are met with forced obsolescence. He tosses the choco-ball, considering it.]

And I guess we'll be able to again, if I have anything to say about it.

[fluffsyou]

Mmmmm.... have you foound a way to get baaack? You reeallly wanted to get baack... are you getting cloose?

[ Well, he would've probably been back, right? But though Maisy would be sad to see Gordon go, she still wants to know how much progress he's made on that front. Back in that laboratory when they first met, it sounded like a very serious thing for the man. ]

[trustycrowbar]

Not yet. I keep finding problems in the details. Coming up with coordinates to worlds that are close but not exact.

[Which has been INFINITELY FRUSTRATING, but he hasn't really told anyone. Also in play is the fact that... he's starting to like it here. Which isn't exactly lessening his desire to go home and finish what he'd started, but it's providing a comfortable snare to slow him down, force him to rest. Something that he actually needed.]

I'll get it. The real trick will be ordering the parts for the portal device... Although it might be easier just to rent one in the city.

[...CAN one rent a portal generator? Technically they're public transit, so it's worth a shot.]

[fluffsyou]

They haave ooone in the ciiiitty? Reeallly?

[ Wow, and before it sounded complicated! But now it seems like it could be easy! ]

Is it gooin' to be hard 'cause of all the fiiighting?

[trustycrowbar]

Hm. I hadn't thought of that.

[In fact that may be a very real risk to the whole plan. One of the easiest way to stem the influx of non-humans would be to limit or eradicate the only really reliable way there. Burn the bridge, as it were.]

That might not be an issue, but it might cause problems nevertheless.

[fluffsyou]

Maa... but maybe you'll be okaaay, 'cause you're humaaan.

[ Maisy didn't watch the news, so she only got information second hand, mostly from Gold. That was who was getting the trouble, wasn't it? ]

But a porrtaall deviice soounds biiiig.

[trustycrowbar]

It is... usually.

[Chell's portal gun notwithstanding, MOST teleporters were huge, and ones between worlds invariably so.]

[fluffsyou]

Could you really maaake one? Would it be haaard?

[ Though they were just talking about renting one, but you know... ]

[trustycrowbar]

It would be very hard. Even getting the parts would be difficult and expensive.

[Although he was planning to write most of it off to the Academy's account. The dude's so used to being strapped for funds that now that he has a source for money through the school HE SURE AS HELL IS GOING TO USE IT.]

Not only that, once I get them it'll be a two-man job at least just to put it together.

[fluffsyou]

Maa... if there's none in the ciiity, I'll heeelp you! If I caaann...

Buut, if you make a thiiing, can I watch yoou, Mistaaah Gordaaan? If you're still around to make stuff!