Year 2 – Shift 1 – Muffin
Muffin scratched her chest beneath the new, ridiculous costume she had to wear. She didn’t like leaving her chicken suit behind, but she knew Sara would never ask her to give up her comfort unless it was necessary.
The cool night breeze caressed her skin beside the silk. The sounds of chatter and light music played just beyond, filling her soul with raw anticipation.
“You look really good in that dress.” Kaori buzzed, skipping alongside her in a matching pink princess dress. “The pink really makes your skin radiant!”
“Thank you so much!” Muffin beamed, feeling a little less self-conscious. “I adore the roses in your hair! The orange is like fire against your hair! How did you get it so vividly blonde?”
“It’s natural!” Kaori held out her arm and giggled. “The hair, not the roses!”
Muffin looped her arm through Kaori’s and smiled into her eyes. “Are you ready?”
Kaori took a deep breath, centered herself, and returned the smile. “We got this!”
“I’m kind of nervous that our first date is a mission.” Muffin felt her energy turn inward momentarily.
Kaori tightened her grip on Muffin’s arm. “Don’t be. Please. It’s just me.”
Muffin looked at her and smiled as they took another step forward in the line. “You give my glitter the jitters.”
Kaori squeed. “I wish I didn’t have to go plant the bug. I’ll miss you!”
“You’ll be right back, silly.” Muffin giggled. “We’re next!”
The line moved, and they stepped forward.
A cadre of butlers greeted them. The largest stepped forward with his hands extended.
“Invitations, please.”
Kaori presented the forged cards in her elegant, lacy black princess gloves. “Here you are!”
The hook-nosed man leaned over and examined them closely for a moment before passing them to another.
“Welcome! How should we announce you?”
Muffin gazed into Kaori’s basking aura for a moment too long before they both giggled.
“Together.” They chirped simultaneously.
He nodded and ushered them to the top of the massive staircase leading down into the courtyard, where Lord Nipples Gruyenhamer’s annual gala was in full effect.
“Lady Muffin of House Top is accompanied by Lady Kaori of House Minamoto.”
Kaori took her arm back before Muffin could even react to the pure joy she felt while looking at the sprawling estate full of smiling, chattering faces. She led Muffin down the massive marble staircase to the floor below, where they were greeted by a husky monkeyfolk wearing a fine suit and a white turban with red stripes. He held a drink tray.
“Here are some drinks, ladies.” He bowed. “Some liquids to put into your bodies by pouring them into your mouths, perhaps?”
“What kind are these?” Muffin chirped.
“For tonight’s selection, we have the Earth cocktail Sex on the Beach.” He gestured with his free hand. “Two individuals smashing their genitals together while sand, crabs, and eels dig their way into your crevices.”
“Mo!” another server said. “We told you not to talk like that! I’m sorry, ladies. I promise no genitals were used in the drinks.”
Kaori laughed. “That’s okay! He was very nice!”
“Thanks,” the man said, ushering Mo away. “Mo, go home.”
“Oh, no, no, no, no,” he said. “To the lonely one-bedroom, I won’t go. What if something really cool happened? Something that defied belief and created a sense of wonder and awe?”
Within half a second, he was swallowed by the crowd, and the floor was theirs.
With a grin, Kaori grabbed Muffin’s arm and pulled her onto the floor, illuminated by soft mage lights reflecting prisms through the glasses held in relaxed hands.
They flowed into the crowd like they belonged there. They weaved toward the middle of the room before Kaori pulled her to a stop.
Kaori stared into her eyes for a moment too long before pushing a stray lock of Muffin’s golden curls behind her ear.
“Good luck!”
Muffin pulled her in for a deep hug and spoke gently into her ear.
“You too! I love you!”
“I love you too!” Kaori breathed as she broke the hold.
As Kaori dashed off, Muffin had a mission of her own.
She floated away from the crowd and scanned the room until she found what she was looking for. A young woman stood against the wall, stirring a drink and watching the party like it was happening somewhere far away. She was dressed in trousers and a fancy shirt that wasn’t tucked in. She had no earrings in, but had multiple piercing holes. A small necklace with a cracked crown dangled from her neck.
“Your hair is so pretty!” Muffin looked at the shock of fire-red hair contrasting against her fair complexion. “How do you get it so full and bouncy?”
The woman choked on her breath, and a flush spread across her face.
“Oh…I don’t really do anything with it.”
“Whoa!” Muffin leaned in and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Keep doing nothing! It’s working!”
Muffin bubbled over with a happy laugh.
The woman’s nerves eased, and she let out a cute little snort before clamping an embarrassed hand over her mouth. The genuine cuteness of the moment forced a shocked snort from Muffin, too.
“I’m Muffin.” She glowed. “This is my first time here. How about you?”
A flash of genuine shock passed over the woman’s face but quickly softened into warmth.
“I’m…Mora,” the woman said. “Unfortunately, I’ve been coming for a while.”
“Mora!” Muffin gushed. “Kawaii! I totally understand social batteries, girl. Sometimes it’s just time to go home.”
Mora thought for a moment, then slowly nodded. “Yeah. My social battery is always pretty low. These really aren’t my thing. I’ve been thinking tonight was my last one for a while.”
“I completely respect that!” Muffin said, dialing herself back a little. “Hey, my date is around here somewhere, and we were going to get some drinks and watch the fireflies on the lawn. She’s super sweet. Would you like to join us?”
Mora froze, her expression unreadable for a second too long, before slowly nodding. “Yes. I would like that very much.”
She took a tentative step forward, then paused. “Are you sure?”
“Of course, Mora!” Muffin offered her arm.
Mora looked down, nonplussed.
“Ummm…” Her eyes gave away little, but they gave away enough. “Okay.”
She looped her arm through Muffin’s and followed her through the crowd.
“So, what do you like doing?”
The question landed so hard that Mora slowed for a step.
“You know…” She searched through her thoughts. “I really don’t know. Like…cooking, but I never get to do it, and I’m not good at it.”
“Cooking is so fun!” Muffin guided her down the stairs and onto the lawn. “I still remember the time I messed up toast! It grew legs!”
She leaned into Mora’s shared chuckle and came to a stop on the side of a gently sloped, rigorously maintained lawn.
“This looks great! She should be here any minute.”
Mora wasted no time sitting on the hill. “I’ve never actually done this in all the times I’ve been here. This view is beautiful.”
“It really is!” Muffin said as Kaori came around the perimeter shrub carrying three drinks. “There she is! Kaori! Over here!”
Mora wheeled around and shot to her feet, getting a clear look at the oncoming wall of electric joy and being shocked at who the date was. “Who—oh?”
“Your date is—"
“Yep! I’m Kaori!”
Kaori closed the distance gracefully, passed two drinks to Muffin, and opened her arms. Mora hesitated, then accepted the brief hug. “So nice to meet you!”
“I’m Mora! Hajimemashite!”
Kaori’s eyes widened. “How—”
“Your name sounded Japanese.” Mora smiled. “I’ve been studying your culture for almost two years now! It’s so fascinating! I don’t know much of your language, though.”
“That’s so awesome that you know her culture!” Muffin bubbled as she sat on the hill, patted the grass beside her, and offered her a drink. “Where are you from?”
Mora went rigid for a fraction of a second, then sat down. “I’m from Tawagoto. A little village in the southwest.”
“That’s so cool!” Kaori said. “I love little towns. They have spirit!”
A lingering smile played across Mora’s lips as she slowly nodded. “They most certainly do.”
Kaori sat down, putting Mora between them, and took a sip of her drink. “Oh, wow! This lemon sour is really good! Reminds me of home.”
Muffin sipped the tart, refreshing drink. “Yum! I’ve always loved how refreshing they are!”
Mora sipped hers. Her eyes lit up, and she drank a little more deeply. “Wow, this is good!”
Muffin smiled over at Kaori. “Thank you! Did you have any trouble?”
“Oh, no!” Kaori smiled. “No trouble at all!”
“How long have you two known each other?” Mora asked, relaxing.
“Not long enough!” Muffin sent a vulnerable smile across the grass.
Kaori returned the glance. “It’s been a super-fun-packed year!”
“Well, the matching dresses are super cute!” Mora said. “What brand are they?”
“Honored Brand!” Muffin replied. “They are super comfy, pretty, and flexible!”
“Oh.” Mora smiled. “I’ve never heard of that brand. Do they use sweatshops? I don’t like to wear clothes from sweatshops.”
“Nope!” Kaori smiled. “All handmade by the Shafted!”
Mora was taken aback. “The Shafted? You mean the dwarves from Rocksylvania?”
“Yeah!” Muffin said. “They moved to Etokuso, but that’s right!”
“I didn’t know.” Mora gestured toward Kaori’s sleeve. “May I?”
“Of course!”
Mora reached out to feel the fabric of Kaori’s dress. “They did a really good job! This feels really well made!”
“It is!” Kaori beamed.
“Ooh, Kaori!” Muffin bounced with glee. “Mora said she likes cooking!”
Kaori’s eyes widened, and she turned to Mora. “Oh my god! What do you cook? I love food so much!”
Mora blushed. “I don’t…I like cooking, but I love to bake! I love making cakes, cookies, and all sorts of treats.”
“That sounds so awesome!” Kaori replied. “I would love to try some sometime! What’s your favorite thing to make?”
“I really enjoyed making my friend’s princess cake,” Mora mused. “But I really just love making extra-chocolatey chocolate chip cookies! I’m addicted!”
“Oh,” Muffin said. “I love chocolate! We should have a baking party! You can make your cookies, I’ll make peanut butter cake, and Kaori can make her famous orange marmalade cheesecake!”
Mora didn’t hesitate this time. “Yes! I would love that! Where do you bake?”
A flash of sadness struck Muffin’s chest as she thought about Etokuso. “Right now, we—”
“There she is!”
A voice startled them from the lawn behind.
Muffin and Kaori jumped to their feet. A woman stood at the edge of the lawn, pointing at them, with three of the king’s soldiers beside her. They immediately began spreading out as they approached, attempting to surround the group.
“Mora, just—”
Muffin looked down, but Mora was gone.
Nowhere to be seen.
She had left a card behind, which Muffin quickly scooped up. It contained her raven address. She must have bolted while the guards distracted Muffin.
“Crap.”
Kaori looked at her and nodded.
Muffin knew what to do.
Before the lead guard could stop to question them, Kaori grabbed Muffin’s arm, spun, and whipped her toward him.
He drew his sword instantly, but Muffin dove feet-first and slid between his legs. She kipped up before he could turn and landed a devastating Sweet Chin Music just as his head swiveled.
He dropped like a sack of potatoes.
The other guards charged, but Kaori was already moving.
Two stylish heels sailed past Muffin’s face and landed in the chest of the closest guard with a massive dropkick, sending him sprawling.
The third guard took a step back, looked at his fallen partners, then glanced toward the group of guards just beyond the lawn.
He turned to run.
Muffin held out her hand.
Kaori jumped, shifted into a mouse, and landed in Muffin’s palm.
Muffin wound up and pitched Kaori directly at the retreating guard.
Before the mouse hit him, she shifted into Bearori and landed across him with a sickening crunch of armor and dirt. She shifted back into her human form before she even hit the ground.
“We have to go!”
Muffin ran back and grabbed Kaori’s hand.
“What about Mora?” Kaori asked as they hurried through the grass.
“She gave me her contact,” Muffin replied. “We’re good!”
Without another word, Kaori shifted into a giant eagle.
Muffin grabbed on, and they took to the sky, Mora’s card held tightly as Kaori carried them into the night.