>>6317125“... And what…” Oti stammers in an uncertain tone, “Where, exactly, does this ‘Forbidden Magic’ come into play, hmm?”
Well, you reply in a matter-of-fact tone, it’s clear they have a habit of making decisions without considering the other’s feelings–Oti, you did the right thing leaving town, but Toppel’s right to be offended by lack of notice! And Toppel, well…
The Durher perks up as confusion spreads across her face! “W…well?”
She laughed at his cooking, you answer as straightfaced as you can! You know Oti better than anyone–imagine how painful <span class="mu-i">that</span> must have been!
“Come on now–cooking!?” Laughs the sorceress with a flick of her tail, “Oti’s stronger than that–are you really suggesting that a little laugh hurt…”
The Chytree’s stony stare ahead is the final nail in the coffin. As the rest of her words die in her throat, a haunted look forms on the fuzzball’s face as the realization settles in!
“...You… you only tried to cook for me that one time…” She mutters as her expression clouds with astonishment! “I… S-so that’s why you never…” As a second round of words never leave her lips, Toppel gulps down some of the anxiety in her voice before speaking once more:
“... I’m sorry, Oti…”
“What’s done is done.” Oti drones with an inscrutable look in his segmented eyes. “But… I accept.” Shifting awkwardly in his seat, one of his eyes flickers at the furry thing at his side. “... And I suppose I erred as well.”
A blanket of silence wraps the two in its unseen embrace as you let them stew a bit in their own emotional marinade!
“... Powerful magic indeed.” Oti remarks as he lets Toppel close to his side once again. “You’re full of surprises, Anton.”
So is he, you fire back with a wry grin! This… situation he’s in–
“It won’t impact our mission.” He replies flatly, trying not to react too much to Toppel’s purring as he stealthily scratches her head! “Speaking of-”
As if on cue, you hear the front door swing open followed by a chorus of stomping boots and ragged breaths!
“ANT!”
A fuzzy missile of your own slams into your side! “It’s a <span class="mu-i">mess</span> out there an-” Before Tzah-Tzie can get into it, her grave expression cracks at your freckled face! “Oh <span class="mu-i">my</span>! I had you mistaken for someone else, good sir~”
“<span class="mu-s">ASSASSIN!</span>”
You’ve been hugged by Volka before–you still have the aches, actually–and you’ve been tackled by Rezalith, too… but despite how painful both instances were, nothing comes close to what you feel when they both tackle you to the ground with poor TT trapped beneath!
A few minutes of frantic apologies from Volka and explaining glamours to Rezzie later, you find yourself curled up in a dusty old armchair with your favorite furball curled up in your lap like a music-playing Maine Coon!
>CONTD. 