The Life-Hutch Hidden in the Void

[j. d. worthington]

To the library? But, my dear Hoopy Bunny... that's just the problem. Without Ace's help, I'm afraid you're stuck here for the nonce. I did try to warn you....

I, on the other hand... am not. "It's the rules, my dear", as an erstwhile Peter Pan once put it. But, then, the universe was never really an equitable place, was it...?

*humming its little tune, the shadow departs through the nightmare portal and back into that other void where it goes at times to feed*

[HoopyFrood]

Aw, leaving so soon, again? Such a tease.

Well, if I'm here for a while, should really think of sprucing the place up. Hang a few curtains, a sofa, ooh, a nice potted plant...

[The Ace]

Sten-gun bullets hammer over Hoopy's head.

"Might not be much use, but I had to come up with something. Are you ready to leave yet, Hoopy ?"

[HoopyFrood]

Yeah, let's roll.

[The Ace]

"Through the pocket to the library, I'll see you there."
As Hoopy ducks past, the Ace picks up the brownie's surprise package, pulls the pin and closes the pocket.

[j. d. worthington]

*the misty portal opens once again, and the shadow re-enters the room. it immediately notes Hoopy's absence, and with a bemused "hmmmm", reaches out and apparently scratches a patch of air, from which a loud purr immediately emerges. it then seems to notice something odd about the wall*

Bullet-holes? My, my, it really is difficult to get her attention properly, isn't it? Very resourceful, Ace.

*notices something lying on the floor*

Now, what have we here.... Oh, my; as if that could solve the problem....

*suddenly, the shadow appears to stiffen, to look up and out into the distance, almost to sniff*

Something's stirring... no, someone....

*there is a different form of shimmering, and the shadow begins to break up*

Ah, well... he has to sleep again sometime.....

*as the shadow finally dissipates, there is a puzzled note to the invisible creature's purr; then, with an intensely bright flash, the room is rocked by a loud explosion....*

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

*A small husky puppy wanders about confused, whimpering at the new environment*

"Paiyo?" *Kirby looks around*

I don't know what happened to the tea room, Kirby....

[HoopyFrood]

*pops into the void very briefly*

*gives a shifty look around*

*doesn't see any offending shadows*

Psst...Mr No One. Are you here still? Who'm I kidding, you're probably everywhere these days...

[No One]

Originally Posted by HoopyFrood

*pops into the void very briefly*

*gives a shifty look around*

*doesn't see any offending shadows*

Psst...Mr No One. Are you here still? Who'm I kidding, you're probably everywhere these days...

Everywhere? You flatter me. Nowhere? That's more accurate.

What's up Doc?

[HoopyFrood]

Oh, hello. Good.

So, was thinking. This has gone on long enough and it would be nice to have the Tea Room back. Now, I know you're, like, multipowerful and all that jazz now, so I figure you'd be able to do it. You did get rid of it in the first place, after all...

'Course I realise you're probably not going to do it just because I'm asking, so...

What'll it take for you to fix it?

[No One]

Get rid of the place? I merely commanded a worm to swallow it. Hardly a big deal.

But sure, I'll help. Happy to. I fix something, and in return you fix something. A trickster god of your ilk could prove most...useful.

[HoopyFrood]

A trickster god? Pfft. Just a humble rabbit, me.

And what do you have in mind, exactly?

[No One]

Oh, nothing really...just a slight re-organisation of the cosmic order starting with the overthrow of the Outer Gods.

Whaddaya say, wabbit?

[HoopyFrood]

Erm... *shrug* Sounds deloightful, I guess.

As long as the Tea Room gets fixed.

[j. d. worthington]

*from the void comes a whisper of force, bearing a strange resemblance to a musical note, a thin whining as of a cracked flute in a misshapen paw*

*a portal shimmers, and the shadow peers around the shambles of the former room, then sighs*Poor kitty... they really shouldn't have done that. And overthrowing the Outer Gods...? How can they even believe such is possible? Those "gods" are the very structure of reality itself. And I've a feeling... well, all right, knowledge... that any restructuring of the tea room is going to have a few surprises which neither of these little beings is quite prepared for.....