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[ There are two brown puppies eating a Christmas pudding off the floor when the camera activates, little tails wagging as they trip over paws that they have yet to grow into. Their muzzles are oddly long even now, but they're not quite as bulky as they will be -- not yet.

A quiet chuckle from behind the locket reveals, to those who may have heard it, the surprising owner of the pups -- the Outsider. The smaller of the pups looks up from the pudding at the sound and scampers over, whining and pawing at his legs until the Outsider bends down to scoop the little one up. The locket, which is floating in midair via magic, is pushed back -- just in time for any viewers to watch as the pup attempts to burrow into the Outsider's shirt. ]

You are unlike others of your kind, little one, [ the god murmurs, smoothing a hand over floppy brown ears. The other pup is still eating the pudding, though at this point it looks more like she's getting in a fight with it. ]

In my world, Wolfhounds are kept and trained by Overseers of the Abbey to hunt heretics. That I should now have a pair myself is rather ironic and more than a little amusing. But then, they are terribly intelligent creatures.

[ The small pup licks at his chin and he starts, blinking. The locket turns off just as his mouth twists up until a slight smile. ]

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[ She smiles as they make the upteenth lap around the Outsider with her, losing their speed and Alice is starting to get tired from phasing in and out of her swarm. ]

Well, puppies are children! They need entertainment as much as they do. See? I told you I would tire them out.

And I doubt the maidenfish would know what to do with them.

[ All three of them, he thinks, will be tired soon -- they may end up curled up together on the bed he never uses. He won't mind. ]

Yes. You've done well, [ he says, in the tone of one who isn't quite as certain they could do the same. ]

[ Just a bit more, she thinks, in between their yammering and barking, Alice has to catch her breath. She's stopped phasing in and out of her swarm and has opted to just genuinely chasing them around. ]

I used to do this all the time with my kittens! Well, minus the butterflies. I could only ever do that in Wonderland.

[ Naturally, she speaks more freely about Wonderland with the Outsider; it's a huge privilege, she trusts him out of anyone in her circle to know about it. He wouldn't corrupt it, not as long as the cat lurks about the corners in Wonderland. That would be an interesting meeting. ]

I still kittens are much more demanding. At least puppies don't climb on you with sharp claws.

You had kittens?

[ He hadn't been aware -- then again, he really knows very little of what she was once like, before Wonderland and the asylum. ]

They might, if they could.

When I was a little girl, yes. They have likely passed away from old age. They were Dinah's children, Snowdrop and Kitty. Mama wasn't very fond of them climbing her curtains, you see. Or knocking things over on the mantle.

[ Long ago, mentioning how the cats freely knocked things over would have brought grief, but Alice just smiles fondly. She's tired finally and so are the pups. Alice plops down with them. ]

That does seem to be a common theme in those with cats. They are useful animals, though -- perhaps not against a Pandyssian bull rat swarm, but against one or their young...

[ Always back to the rat plague.

Both puppies are quite content to flop down on Alice, snuggling in close. ]

Why? Are they very big rats? I know that cats sometimes don't care either way.

[ Of course, she's curious. And while she's happy to bask in the feeling of puppies snuggling close to her, Alice won't let him live this down. ]

About the size of the average cat, in fact.

[ They're huge and carnivorous and he loves them. :V ]

You don't have any of those here, do you?

[ She does want to see; rats would normally be disgusting to other women, but not Alice. Idly her hands find their way to one of the puppies heads, gently rubbing behind the ears. ]

What sort of things did you do while you were gone, Outsider? Where did you go?

I can summon them. They will not like the dogs, however.

[ Which is why there aren't any in the room at the moment, despite the fact that they usually are filling it. ]

I walked the halls of a wizard guild library in Cothromach. Everyone wore robes.

[ No, please don't summon rats right now. The puppies are cute sleeping next to her. It's cute how fast they breathe compared to older dogs. ]

A guild library? [ As fascinating as that is with wizard and robes... ]

Were there any interesting books?

One on the halfbreed daughters of sylphs and their ilk, [ the Outsider confirms, watching the puppies sleep. ]

I attempted to find a copy elsewhere for you, but it seems it is... not a common reading topic.

[ The color seems to drain from Alice's face. ]

... It isn't? Did you read any of it?

I did not have the chance, unfortunately.

We could return to the library, register as patrons there and check it out for you to read.

Register?

[ Alice looks indigent. She has heard about registration for libraries in the process. No, now she remembers her father giving a huge lecture on the importance of registering for libraries, but that doesn't mean Alice can't puff up here.

And does what she can not to wake the puppies. ]

For library access.

[ MICROMANAGEMENT IS FOR LOSERS!!! Or some such. Alice settles down, crossing her arms. It's not his fault, but she has to add. ]

I can do that, but I would like you to come with me.

[ She's definitely hesitant to go alone that far out of Caer Scima no thanks to Reynard. ]

I suppose they wish to know who has the books. But I can go with you, yes.

[ He'd like to take another look around anyway -- he could easily get lost for actual hours in that place, nearly had while looking for the heart piece. ]

Good, I don't want to really go anywhere alone.

[ She swallows, looking down at the puppies and back to him. ]

Is he dead now?

That is my understanding, yes.

[ He pauses, and then offers Alice his hand, if she would like it. ]

[ Only because it's him, she will, otherwise she would have scoffed at the gesture. If the Outsider says he's dead, then he must be dead. ]

It's about time.

[ She may not be overly fond of contact, but he's watched people for a long time. It seems to help many of them. It's what he can do. ]

Yes. And everything that was not given back should be returned, I believe, with his death.

[ It does make her feel a bit better. His overall presence seems to soothe her. And how can being the pillow for two puppies be so bad? ]

I'm glad. If you lost your eyesight... come to think of it, Sir Lancelot must have lost his. He was acting so strangely when I spoke to him.

[ It's a nice way to put it. ]

And Miss Grell mentioned she lost her voice.

[ It can't, that's how. ]

I believe he did, yes. All should be returned now, though I doubt they would mind, if you were to check up on them.

Miss Grell came to visit me.

[ She's not sure if she wants to move any time soon. Oh, well. They're too cute, she can't wake them, that would be mean. ]

As for Sir Lancelot? Well... if you say he should have sight back, I suppose I can before he does something foolish.

She is well, then?

[ She's welcome to stay for as long as she likes. It's not like the Outsider uses his bed. ]

He should, yes. Magic often dies with the caster.

She was in good spirits when we spoke, the same as always.

[ It's a pleasant thought and it would bring her security as strange as that is. A chaos god who makes her feel safe when she's plagued with a number of nightmares. He's a good friend. ]

Good. I'm glad for all of this nonsense to be done with. Up until the next prat takes his place.

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