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[viver]

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[hislittleflower]

Why not? Did you put them on her when she was sleeping? People don't like that normally.

[viver]

Oh, no. I wanted to make it a gift and she wasn't terribly enthusiastic. Not everyone is.

Would you like one, Peony?

[hislittleflower]

Yes.

But not a spider. I don't like spiders. I just got away from a spider goddess. And I don't care for the way they skuttle.

[viver]

Anything but a spider, then.

I'll think about it. It'll have to be worthy of your name.

[hislittleflower]

Do you want me to bring you some bugs?

I usually find them when I'm outside napping.

[viver]

[ You're his favorite child now Peony, congratulations/i'm sorry ]

Would you do that? I'd be so flattered.

[hislittleflower]

[ She's just happy to be noiminated. ]

Of course! If I had known, I would have brought you some already.

I assumed that you had seen them all already.

Bugs for you. Mushrooms for Sullivan. A ball of wool for Delphine. I have my marching orders!

[viver]

I always welcome more company. I hope they'll like my garden.

And Sullivan will be just as flattered. Have you seen Delphine recently? I accidentally made her a kitten again.

[hislittleflower]

I'll ask who wants to come with me, next time. They aren't often clever, but a surprising number are happy to live with us if it means food and safety.

No? [ But she'll be making a point to see her now. ] How lucky you are to have a companion who can be with you for so long.

[viver]

They are. I recently called one to keep Harry company. There was a young woman here, once, who spoke of dragons, so I thought she might enjoy the company of dragonflies.

[ wow so funny of him ]

It was Sullivan's idea. She's been with us for a few centuries now.

[ A thousand years, give or take. ]

[hislittleflower]

I truly am surprised we haven't come across more Goldbugs here. I would have thought a mansion like this would be infested with the terrors! Our hosts must have an excellent exterminator.

Such a long life! A grand old dame to be sure. I have my Bernie, but, he is more fey than animal if the truth be told.

[viver]

I don't remember creating them. I've noticed I recognize almost everything I've seen here, so perhaps this is closer to my home than it is to yours.

[ He does mean literally. Even alternate universes have varying distances between one another. ]

But I'm sure there will be an opportunity to find out. Shall I make one for you, Peony? It wouldn't live for very long, I'm afraid.

[ The journey here stripped him of creating animals that would live for longer than an hour. One the sixty minutes are up, so is the creature's life. ]

Tell me about Bernie.

[hislittleflower]

Perhaps. There are many planes of existence in my home. I find that when I describe that to others, they seem quite perplexed by it. My presumption is that we're in some odd corner of the feywild.

I can summon him if you'd like to meet him one day. Bernie is my familiar. I made him a puppy when I first summoned him and he's been a puppy ever since.

I don't know. I'm very soft-hearted when it comes to animals. I don't think I could bring myself to meet a creature that would only exist a short while before breaking my heart.

[viver]

Perhaps. By now you know that none of us ever truly die. I've wondered if that's because none of us is truly alive here. Perhaps it's some sort of limbo, perhaps we're imitations of our original selves brought to one single point in time. Perhaps this manor really is alive and simply dreamt us into existence.

[ Zephir and his endless theories. ]

Bernie is very lucky to have you, then. I'd love to meet him.