smoothsailingthroughstars

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

(The doll pulls out the little gremlin of a mouse, and sets her next to the wheel. Now that she knows how this goes, she climbs right on in and starts running. She is putting in a little more effort clearly, but she's the strongest of the doll's mice.)

(The doll sits back and sips her tea as she watches.)

(A little more of this, and soon enough they'll have a very chaotic power source.)

(She's looking forward to the "vacation" of sorts with Tessa, as well.)

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

Yes, let's.

(She nabs Stag out of the wheel with a deft movement, and holds the wriggly little mouse, who is very upset that her free run has been disrupted, and attempts to nibble on the doll's fingers. The doll does not notice this.)

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

(Stag is gaining speed further and further. She has finally realized how this thing works, and has a glimmer in her eyes as she runs wild and free staying in the same spot. Could anything possibly throw Stag off her stride? She is determined.)

(The doll bites back a smirk.)

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

(Stag is finally blissfully running on the wheel, going impressively fast.)

(The doll's eyes wander from Stag back up to Tessa.)

You could create a device and try to trade it. Clothes from an artisan will be more effective.

(Schlorp.)

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

(Stag is indeed moving in the wheel, but is more trying to climb awkwardly than run. She has also started using her wings to flash light back at the wheel again. She is not the smartest mouse in the shed, just the strongest.)

Yes, that might be nice. Some are better than others. We could make a list and spend a day or two in each. Apollo will be fine here alone for a while.

(She taps away on her arm.)

There's the underwater one. The one the mice came from. The city. This steampunk fantasy with sprawling farms. A frozen city smelling of coal. Actually, that is not hospitable if you have flesh. There are other more docile cold worlds...

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

(She shakes her head.)

No way. We do not need anyone else on this island.

(After a pause, she looks towards the water on the horizon.)

I have seen a few caves. None of them very deep.

...There are some other very nice worlds. I do enjoy spending my time in an underwater one for a change of pace. You would need a special suit for there. We could get a hotel and go sightseeing. A change of pace could be helpful.

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

(The doll looks at all the different little items. Perhaps there's always a point at which ideas run out. She frowns ever so slightly, and gauges Tessa's expression, trying to puzzle out the woman's mood.)

Hm. What else are you doing? I got more books recently.

We could do something else. We could also try to go on a vacation away from here.

(Stag chirps. She's climbed into the wheel, but is more just rocking back and forth.)

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

(She's confused. The doll looks around the area, and the creations Tessa has made so far. Nothing is different than how it was before. No circumstances of the island's have changed as far as she knows.)

...Did you normally have an incentive?

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

Why not?

(The doll puzzles, squinting, and looking over Tessa. Did something happen?)

(Meanwhile, Stag is taste-testing the wheel.)

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

(They stare at Stag blumbering about a little longer, and as she gets stuck under the wheel for a moment, the doll finally sits back.)

You are right. They are little idiots.

(She takes the cup she had set out for herself and sips, letting it linger. Yeah, it's decent tea to her. English Breakfast may not have been the best choice.)

Do you have other projects as of late?

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

The mouse will love the lights.

(The doll watches patiently while Stag reflects the light back at it, and takes a few sniffs. Paws the wheel, watching it shift.)

(...And then Stag tries to climb up the outside edge of the wheel.)

(The doll blinks.)

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

*Stag grabs the doll's finger with her little hands and stares at the doll with some puppy doll eyes.*

(She stares back.)

Be patient. You are fine.

(She pulls her finger away enough to give chin scritches to the little one.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

*Stag sits in the bin pouting.*

(Well, so-rry that the whole field trip isn't enough stimulation yet.]

(The doll gives Stag a few pity scritches while Tessa gets the wheel set up to go for the test run.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

*Stag hops onto the rim of the bin*

No.

(The doll, stone faced, sets Stag back down at the bottom.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

(The metal one worries her, with the warped shapes and holes, so she goes for the plastic one first. She thinks the wood one may end up being the best option after perhaps some resin to harden it up and make it water resistant, and it would allow them to texture it in the best way to ensure the little mousies have grip.)

Lets do the plastic wheel first.

(She drags the empty bin over next to everything, and lets Stag out into it, so she can sniff around while the wheel is prepped and fitted onto what's needed.)

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

(Unfortunate. She looks at it in disapproval, but at least is satisfied she's not the one who's going to have to clean it up.)

Let me see.

(She gets closer to investigate the wheels and the texture of them. For the wood, she worries about how it will hold up in nature, and if it will mold. For them more generally, she's worried about if there are spaces where tiny paws could get caught and injure them.)

(The doll notices how many mice she sees on a simple walk these days. There is more and more of them, and she knows she doesn't have room to have more even as she has trapped some. Surely, this many didn't escape that other dimension? Where could they have come from?)

(She taps her arm and bites her lip, scanning the horizon. A few distant flashes of aurora light. They're multiplying.)

(Uh oh.)

[smoothsailingthroughstars]

*The confused Stag chews on the metal mesh.*

(...She pats the cage.)

You will have exercise soon.