WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

[deadgirlslikeme]

A door opens, and suddenly the sound of a baby wailing echoes across the nearby chunk of the Nexus. A bleary-eyed Victor Van Dort steps through, bouncing said wailing baby in his arms. "It's okay, it's okay. . .look, we're -- um." He blinks a few times as he registers where he is. "This isn't. . .oh, dear, how did I manage to choose the wrong door?" He goes to step back through --

Then stops, shakes his head, and proceeds to the nearest safe-looking bit of furniture, still cradling his son. "No. Perhaps someone can help here. At least, Alice and the others will get some decent sleep for a change. . ." He looks up, an exhausted man at the end of his rope. "Is there anyone around who's had at least one child and might know why they sometimes just start crying in the middle of the night and won't stop no matter what you do?"

Comments

[lastest_ringbearer]

Sssee if it has an oven, my love?

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor will go check while Alice goes to make sure there's a bathroom] Looks like it! There's a fridge here too. [he pokes a hand in] Working, good. . . [not that he knows how this place has electricity, but -- he won't question it]

[Alice returns from her trip through a nearby door] Toilet, sink, and bathtub in there, so that's sorted.

[lastest_ringbearer]

*Arda is still a strange mix of iron age, middle ages and early 1800s, so this is rather going over his head.* Time to get our bed? Smeagol's tired, oh yes. We'll be some time recovering yet, yes we will.

[save_us_alice]

[Alice looks at Victor] I think so. The bed and chair do seem to be the only other big things he needs. Well, along with food, but. . . [she looks at the pond, then at Smeagol] Still planning on catching your own?

[lastest_ringbearer]

Unless you is bringing it for us?

[save_us_alice]

[Alice smirks slightly] I don't think we'll always be around when you're hungry, unfortunately.

[Victor] But we can at least help you get the bed and the chair moved in.

[lastest_ringbearer]

We didn't think ssso.

Bed, yes. Smeagol thinks that he likes bedses.

[save_us_alice]

[Victor nods] Beds are nice. I wish I could spend more time in mine.

[Alice, a touch wistfully] Don't we all. . .ah well. Let's go back and see about getting those items delivered.

[lastest_ringbearer]

*He's all for that plan, and in fact is already out the door.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Alice laughs as Smeagol darts right back outside] Hey, wait up!

[Victor chuckles as he follows them] Well, can you blame him for getting excited? This is probably the first time he's had a proper house in. . . [he trails off, because actually putting how long it's been into words just makes him sad] Well. A while.

[lastest_ringbearer]

You keep up! *He smiles impishly and keeps going.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Alice grins] Cheeky little. . . [Cue her putting on the speed to catch up to the eager Smeagol]

[And cue Victor taking advantage of his long legs to easily outpace her] See you there!

[lastest_ringbearer]

*Fun is a rare thing in Smeagol's life, but he's having it right now. He's also a lot faster than he looks.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor is impressed -- he's pretty fast himself, and he's not used to people keeping up with him, given the size of his stride, much less managing to stay ahead of him] You're good!

[Alice, pouring on the speed to catch up] Extremely!

[lastest_ringbearer]

Had to be good, didn't we? Oh yes, yes, we had to be good. Now we can enjoy it.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor nods understandingly -- his life may not have ever really been in danger, buuut when you spend most of your childhood running from bullies. . .well, he gets it a little, at least] Right. You can.

[They make it back to the mall pretty quickly -- though by then, Victor and Alice both need a moment to lean against the wall and catch their breaths] H-haven't run that hard in a while. . .

[lastest_ringbearer]

Ought to learn how again, praps. But not now, now isss for getting thingses.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor nods as he straightens up] Yeah. . .probably be good for dealing with an active toddler, once he gets old enough.

[Alice, running her fingers through her hair] Mmmm. . .then we'll be losing sleep for different reasons. [she shakes her head] Let's get back up to the furniture department and find that employee.

[lastest_ringbearer]

*After a short while they have reached it, and Smeagol is looking for said employee.* Smeagol likes this place. Smeagol likeses you. Gollum likeses you too, but not in a nice way. More in a snarling bitey way, yesss. Smeagol is tired, he does tend to think aloud even more when he is tired. Nice Smeagol sleeps soon, he does. Can't complain if we's sleeping, no.

[deadgirlslikeme]

Alice nods along as they patrol the area] I suppose being liked in a snarly, bitey way is better than being hated in a snarly, bitey way. . .and yes, it's been quite an experience, hasn't it? But we should have your bed soon enough.

[Victor nods] Mmmm -- ah, yes, I think that's him! [hails the employee] Hi, yes, we're back -- and we did find a place by that lake. . . [cue him arranging a delivery of the bed and chair Smeagol picked out earlier to the little cabin]

[lastest_ringbearer]

Less of a difference than one might hope, Smeagol is thinking.

*He'll just be watching the whole thing happen. Can't be too careful with his things . . .*

[save_us_alice]

[Alice shrugs] Probably -- I'm just thinking it's a decent bet you'd get scarred less if the snarly one likes you.

[everything is eventually sorted out to both employee's and Victor's satisfaction, with the employee making some notes on a tablet] All right, so we'll get these in some boxes and transport them over shortly. Let me just get the moving team. [off he goes]

[lastest_ringbearer]

Praps, praps.

Back and forth, back and forth. As long as we get to sssleep before tomorrow, we suppose.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor nods a little] Sorry, it is a bit of a process. . .hopefully it won't be too much longer.

[the employee returns, with a couple of burly people (one man, one woman) who -- with a speed you might not expect -- get the furniture items packed up and ready for transport on a little trolley. The woman jerks her head at the group] John here said the place this is going is nearby, so if you just want to lead the way. . .

[lastest_ringbearer]

*Leading the way is something he's gotten good at, if nothing else.* Thisss way.