"Members? Members of what?" Hobbes demanded.
"The I-Maniacs."
A collective "huh" sounded from the group. And then Claire looked out the window to see their location. "Oh, wow!"
Everyone moved to the window to see what she was looking at. The three story manor stretched across the landscape and seemed to be the only thing around for miles. The Victorian style turrets gave the mansion a very gothic look. The door seemed to gape like a mouth, but the entire exterior was decorated with white, blue and silver streamers with white running lights.
"This place is incredible." Alex observed.
Both the driver and Dark Ravenette got out of the limo. The doors were opened for the group, and as they exited, they continued to gaze at the magnificent, yet slightly creepy residence.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Dark Ravenette started. "Welcome to the party." She ran to the front door and as she opened it, loud music flooded out. Each of the group slowly crept toward the door, and everyone started to enter, but as Darien nearly stepped over the threshold, his host shot her arm out, blocking him from going inside.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Mr. Fawkes. Not unless you like being mobbed. I *highly* recommend that you go through the back entrance."
She grabbed his arm and led him away from the front, separating him from the rest of his friends. He, however, was the last thing on their minds.
*************
The moment that the others stepped into the great entrance hall, all motion and sound stopped as the people inside looked at who had just walked in. Then, in one sudden ear shattering sound, the entire mass screamed with delight and rushed forward to greet them. Every single member of the group got a petrified look on their face as hundreds of people crowded around them, grinning from ear to ear. Throughout the crowd, several "oh my goshes" and "she really did its" were heard. The people of the Agency could not believe what was happening to them. Who were these people and why were they so happy to see them?
*************
At the back entrance, Dark Ravenette was trying to sneak into the house, but every window she looked through showed that someone would hinder a quiet entrance for Darien.
"Why are we trying to get inside undetected?" Darien asked. "Why don't we just go in?"
She shot him a quick look. "Are you mad?" She whispered harshly. "Do you WANT us to get trampled? The quieter we get you inside, the safer it is, for both of us."
Darien thought for a moment. "Undetected is good?"
"Mm hm." Dark Ravenette looked in the window of the kitchen, partially ignoring his question. Her attention was torn away though when she felt a chill traveling up her arm and surrounding her body. She looked behind her to find Darien completely invisible and her becoming so.
"Awwwwwww craaaaaaaap!" She exclaimed as the quicksilver completely covered her. Suddenly, the world was nothing but monotone hues. She looked to her side and saw the orange illuminated form of Darien.
"Neat, huh?" Then, he quietly turned the handle of the door to their right. Carefully, they entered the house, making sure that the door did not give away their presence by squeaking. When they were finally inside, Darien closed the door and let the flow of quicksilver cease.
"That was the coolest thing ever!" Dark Ravenette nearly yelled. She calmed down. "Okay, you can go Saran Wrap again if you want to, so to get the layout of the house, but be careful since some of the girls are ready for you."
"Ready for me?"
"Thermals." She said matter-of-factly.
Darien shook his head, and both he and Dark Ravenette turned to leave the room--
--only to find a young woman sitting at the kitchen table that they had not noticed. A surprised look was on her face, and Dark Ravenette motioned for her to be silent, but the young lady's excitement was too intense.
"TUNA SANDWICHES!?" Spotfish screamed from the table. Then, she caught herself and said what was really on her mind. Jumping up from her seat, in possible louder voice, she shrieked, "DARIEN!"
*************
From the hallway, people heard Spotfish's cry of joy, and most of them rushed to see what the excitement was about. The fans that stayed behind seemed more than happy that everyone else had left. Dark Ravenette came running from the direction of the chaos that was forming in the kitchen, eager to escape the people who would hurt her if they found out that she had been quicksilvered.
Hobbes grabbed her arm as she got close. "What exactly is going on? What is this party for, how do these people know us, and *why* are there rabbits running around?" The other agents were happy that Hobbes had mentioned the bunnies, because they were all afraid to address it themselves and then only find out that it was their imagination.
"This is your party, Mr. Hobbes, for you and everyone with you. These people are your fans. And don't mind the plot bunnies. They run free around here. They're generally harmless, until they bite you, and then you just *have* to pay attention to them." She then moved to the spiral staircase. "Enjoy yourselves. There's an open bar in the lounge to your left, dancing in the parlor, entertainment room upstairs, and people everywhere to talk to." With that, she climbed the stairs and was gone.
All five of the group looked at each other, silently agreed, and headed to their left in search of the bar. They all needed a drink.
And a mass of followers trailed behind them.
*************
Darien was swamped in the kitchen, and he had no escape. People were swarming in from all parts of the house, eager to see their favorite secret agent. He tried to work his way through them, but no matter which way he moved, they moved the same way. Finally, out of frustration, he quicksilvered, if only for the chance not to be followed. The crowd felt him pass as he pushed through, and by the time he had gotten to the door frame that led to the rest of the house, several of them had put on thermal goggles.
"Aw crap, she was right," Darien said as he took off running. He sprinted past the entrance and up the stairs, gaining a little distance between him and the mob of followers behind him. When he reached the top, he went through the first door he came too and locked it behind him. He stood there, catching his breath and listening to the hurried mass run past his hiding place. When the coast was clear, he stepped away from the door to look at the room where he had hid. Next to him and the door was a dresser, so Darien took the opportunity to take Little Darien the Rat out of his pocket and put him on the furniture so that he'd be safe. Set before him was a huge four post, draped in silk sheets. Running from the mob had drained him of some energy, so the bed was looking very comfortable. He plopped down, ready to take a brief nap, but when he rolled to the side, he found himself face to face with a pink bunny. He yipped in surprise and backed away, falling off the other side of the bed. When he peeked back over the mattress, he found the pink bunny staring at him, wiggling its nose, and another set of eyes looking at him as well. Human eyes.
"You're a big one now, ain't ya?" Alyx Silver asked while still staring at Darien, who was finally finding his footing.
"What *is* that?" He asked while pointing at the bunny.
Alyx just laughed. "It's nothing but an innocent little plot bunny. Looks like a love fic to me. I don't think it'll hurt ya."
Darien looked confused. "And in some reality, that's English?"
Just then, Darien heard someone working a key in the lock to the door. "Hide me," he pleaded in desperation to the female on the bed. She pointed to the door on the other side of the room that seemed to lead to a bathroom. He escaped right as QSscaperGirl got the door open.
"Oh my God! What the frell was that?" She yelled at Alyx.
Alyx smiled. "Darien." She went on to pet the bunny as QSscaperGirl took off after Fawkes.
After her, Pipsqueak entered the room. She noticed the rat on the table, so she picked him up, petting him behind the ears. "Wow, that was hot and tasty now, wasn't it?" She asked the rat, referring to its owner. The rat merely squeaked in response.
