Pool-Side Thoughts
Solus's light scattered rainbows across the transparent environmental shielding. Vocatia watched the Rogues and her Sons play "nice" in the pool from behind the shade of her lip-rimmed glasses. Yeah, the snake and older clone seemed to be taking turns tossing 'Z and Shayne around like a shark's pool toy, but the gleeful giggling ensured to all the lounging thrall and Guyota around that there was little need to get involved.
Vocatia’s crest rings jingled from the happy shivers running up and down her spine, only the brave plastic slats that held up her bulk managing to keep the noise from turning annoying.
“Just the other day, after I’d spent the day rustlin’ up some of the rent from the more stubborn neighbours,” Vo explained continuing her idle conversation with Reyna. “And I was dead tired. The first thin’ I see is my kitchen wrecked. Chunks of fruit everywhere. flour across the counter, on the floor, across the sink, just dustin’ everythin’. I was shocked, dismayed even. ‘Til I heard Gnoll tryin’ to shush Forty-nine while they were hidin’ out in the dinin’ room. Poked me head in the door ta see the most lavish feast sittin’ upon the dinin’ table.” She guffawed as she watched the primal in question try to wrestle his older brother into the pool though gnawing on his horn. “It’s still one of the best meals I’d ever had. Sweet ham and pie-apple rings, mashed potatoes, and several other thin’s too: well worth gettin’ Ricky to scrub down the kitchen afterwards.”
Reyna hid her twinge of jealousy behind a sip of beer, the glass still frosted. The two thrall fell into domestic bliss as soon as they locked eyes. “Yeah, the best meals tend to come with the biggest messes,” Reyna agreed, setting the drink down beside her. The glass glided over the ring of condensation that dripped down over the thin layer of ice. “Shayne attempted to make everyone peanut-butter and banana pancakes once. We still find batter drops in the kitchen, but those were some damned good pancakes.”
Pendles launched Shayne higher than before, a fresh shrieking giggle pricking everyone’s ears and drawing their gaze. In the air, they flipped to flop belly first into the water with a loud smack. Shayne resurfaced, catching their breath in time to playfully shove Pendles as revenge for their stinging stomach.
“Ach, a few bits of batter concrete ain’t that much of a cost,” Vocatia chuckled, shaking off the water with a wiggle of her gold-tipped hooves. “‘Less it came wit’ ants. Can’t imagine what they’re like out here, but they’re tough little shits on Tempest.”
Another splash leapt over the pool’s edge as Foxtrot tripped backwards and dropped TZ. Rictus snickered from his floating octopoid ring; the dark tentacle slithered back under his skin under the cover of the water.
“... you know, I haven’t seen any since the blueberry’s taken over the kitchen.”
