Dorm Lobby, Sunday Afternoon

[napking]

Gray had, after much consideration and attempts to fit them on his bed, come to the conclusion that it was possible he had looted too many Squishmallows from the Walmart in the woods. But if he'd left them behind they all would have burned or melted or whatever it was that Squishmallows did, so really he'd been rescuing them. He'd been providing a service.

And now he needed to rehome them so he didn't wake up in weird contortions in his own bed. He was used to it in whatever other random location he fell asleep, but his bed? No thank you. So he'd selected his favorites (and held back a few bird-themed ones for Arden to pick from), and now he'd set up the rest in the lobby of the dorm with a sign that read, Free to a Good Home!

Squishmallows for all!

Comments

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

It didn't feed on hers! That was part of the contract, in fact, and one of the parts Arden and Marc had gone over several times. Arden and her emotions were very much off-limits.

Which, sure, only held as long as the house was willing to abide by the agreement, but that was true for any sentient being.

"If Midnight eats me and y'all have to come to my rescue, you absolutely get to say 'I told you so' for the rest of our natural lives," she promised, having no idea how much longer that would be for the both of them. "And also to shrug and not rescue me, because you did warn me and I didn't listen."

It was weird, though. Talking to people who legitimately might try to rescue her? And who might not consider her in their debt afterwards? Mind boggling.

[napking]

"Of course I'd rescue you! Or, I mean, Raiden might have to do the actual rescuing if Sloth got me at the wrong time, but I'd totally make him do it." A beat. "Also he would totally do it on his own, duh." Because Raiden.

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Arden was pretty sure that Raiden was equal parts golden retriever and carbs by volume.

"I--" Arden had to look down a minute and swallow hard, willing her stupid eyes to stop stinging. It had apparently only been mind boggling when thinking about it in the abstract. Hearing it said out loud made her heart hurt.

Was this what normal people were like? Just...giving enough of a damn that going into danger to rescue someone was a given? That it rated an 'of course' because to do otherwise was absurd?

And expecting nothing in return for it?

"Thanks," she said, a little thickly, then coughed and cleared her throat. "Ugh, I think I inhaled too many melted plastic fumes at the Walmart. But thanks. That's really cool of you. And Raiden. I mean, hopefully it'll never come to that, obviously, but still. Thanks."

[napking]

She was definitely not wrong about Raiden.

Gray thought about telling Arden that rescuing humans from bad situations they'd gotten themselves into because they didn't know any better was sort of what he and his brothers did, and not worth the emotions--and hey, maybe she'd never need rescuing!--but he thought that might be devalidating or something like that. "Uh, any time," he said awkwardly. "...are you sure you don't want another Squishmallow?" She probably couldn't carry any more, buddy.

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

It would make it make even less explicable, because supernatural folks just didn't do do that.

Trust her. She wouldn't be here if that were true.

"I think five and ear pods are pretty much my limit," she said, pulling herself back together. "I ditched my Walmart cart, so I'm already gonna be juggling what I've got. Thanks, Gray."