Beldam is enraged; she can clearly tell that there was an intruder that Vivian had the task of eliminating, but based on how she was spoken to, she could tell that that did not happen. She would be thinking of the best punishment for Vivian, except Vivian WAS NOT THERE EITHER! "VIVIAN! VIVIANNNNNNNNNN!" she screamed in rage. Sir Grodus then stepped in. "Excuse me, Beldam? What is all of this racket? Where is your sister? You tasked her with guarding this room if I remember correctly." Beldam's rage promptly turned into fear; Sir Grodus was the one person she absolutely had to obey; worst of all, he was completely supportive of Vivian "transitioning" or however it was put. Beldam shyly said "Um, I think. why do we need Vivian anyway? They just always f– *lightning shock* OWWWWWWW" Sir Grodus then stated, "Don't try that crap on me. You know damn well Vivian uses she/her pronouns; you're just trying to ignore her gender. Anyway, MARILYNNNNNNN!" Marilyn came in, "Yes, your majesty?" "Have you seen Vivian, she was guarding this room and she's not here." "No your majesty, I have not seen her." Beldam winced, Marilyn made sure to never use those pronouns when Beldam was in charge, of course she always just did whatever was needed to save herself. "This is just great. Now you all have even lost y'all's own SISTER; be prepared for a bad punishment." Marilyn said, "Yes, apologies, your majesty." Beldam shyly said, "Would our punishment be any lighter if, instead, we just consider it as losing our br—" and is interrupted by another electric shock. "YEOWWWWWWW!" "I can already tell I don't want to hear the end of that sentence. That shock was a warning. Anyway, do what you all can to find Vivian." Sir Grodus thought… "her power…. she may seem shy and not strong… but she is absolutely necessary to my greater plans…"
As Ms. Mowz and Vivian were arriving at Rogueport, they passed by a research lab where there was an old goomba and a younger goomba with a pink bow chatting outside, and Vivian and the younger goomba's eyes locked for a pretty long instant… 'Wow… She's cute…' passed through each of their minds…. "GOOMBELLA! I'm talking to you missy!" the old goomba said. Ms. Mowz slyly said "Ehe~ got a thing for cute goomba girls don't ya~" Vivian then worried that she was implying that she liked Goombella more than Ms. Mowz, so she said, "Oh, I'm sorry… like just … this is an interesting place…" Ms. Mowz calmly said, "Ehe, nothing to apologize for, I saw the way you were looking at her! :3 guess I've got a high bar to meet~" Vivian was a bit confused but relieved that Ms. Mowz seemed as blissfully chill as ever.
As Vivian and Ms. Mowz are strolling across Rogueport on their way back to the latter's house, Ms. Mowz spots a strange object and picks it up, "Hmm, what could this be my sweetie…" Then an angry toad comes up to her and says, "HEY! Give that back to me or put up your dukes!" Ms. Mowz grins, sighs and says "Well ok I guess… this seems to be yours… Hehe~ you see her assertiveness when I steal stuff Viv-sweetie? Maybe a bit… inspirational~ *winks*" Vivian, startled by the sudden yelling said... "I mean... I try to talk more politely but I mean... it was hers I guess it's fine..." The older toad then walked over to Vivian and said, "Hello ma'am, I'm Zess T. Apologies for yelling, I didn't mean to startle you. These are my contacts." Vivian confusedly said, "Oh… I mean it's fine… like a list of people to talk to, that's important… I'm not sure how you would keep the list on a thing as small as that... is your handwriting really smal—" To which Zess T. burst out laughing and Vivian said "Oh, did I say something wrong…" Zess T. replied with, "No, you're fine. Contacts are how I have good eyesight. Like ahhhh it feels nice now! I feel passionate about cooking again! I know! Stylish Shadow Lady, Contacts Squeek, why don't I make you both something!" Vivian shyly said, "I guess it has been a bit since I've eaten… like if you want to and it wouldn't be too much trouble..." "Oh no trouble at all! I love this like you see I just mix this cake mix and through I don't know fire and stuff it's a cake! Here y'all go!" Ms. Mowz slyly grinned "Hehe thank you~! This tastes AMAZING! My princess deserves only the finest of cakes anyway tata~" Ms. Mowz somehow picks up the Shadow Siren who towers over her while carrying the cake above Vivian with little issue. She brings it down so that Vivian could theoretically nibble on it, "Now sweetie, I'm thinking this will be our dessert, so you maybe shouldn't nibble on it… of course… if you did want to… I probably couldn't stop you. :3" "What? I don't want to be too full for whatever you fix... I'm sure you're a wonderful cook..." Vivian's stomach slightly grumbles, and Ms. Mowz can tell that Vivian was hungry and should eat something, so Ms. Mowz said, "Aww… are you sure? like it must be so tempting…" Vivian admitted, "I mean… it kind of is like… it has been awhile since I've eaten… what the heck… wow this is SO GOOD! Like. food at the fortress is not anywhere NEAR this quality… Vivian munches down slowly, due to the angle of where the cake is vs her, some more and they shortly arrive as Ms. Mowz's house.
Vivian is astounded when she floats in and gets a look at the decoration in Ms. Mowz's apartment. There were so many posters, and she also notices some familiar things that she can't place the name of, but some circular things and a big horizontal bar? She saw a room with it at the fortress but she got punished if she went in there... she points to it 'What is that Ms. Mousey I mean Mowz.' Ms. Mowz's heart melts for what must have been the tenth time that day, "Hearing you call me Ms. Mousey is SO adorable so feel free to call me that if you would prefer! *kiss* Anyway, that is my home gym!" Ms. Mowz cuddles Vivian to her as she explains, "Sometimes the grand prize from my heist is a bit bigger than a badge, so strength training is essential 3" Vivian says as she's blushing, "Hehehe~ I wondered how you just carried me so effortlessly~ I like my Squeeks strong~" As Vivian realizes some potential implications of what she said, she worries she made Ms. Mowz uncomfortable, so she says, "W... w... wait I'm sorry… " Ms. Mowz replied, "What are you apologizing for now?" To which Vivian honestly said, "Like… I didn't mean to make it seem like you had to be… like you've just been so nice… and if you wanted to like… I don't know have anything closer than a friendship… i wouldn't mind… don't feel like you h—" Ms. Mowz happily interrupted the shy Shadow Siren with, "THOUGHT YOU'D NEVER ASK! absolutely babe I'd love to be your girlfriend!" Vivian's heart melts and she bursts out crying as the tiny Squeek embraces her... "Th…thank you… that means so much to me… for the first time in so long I feel optimistic about my future…"
Vivian thought she would ask, since she loved this Squeek and wanted to try to share her interests, "Would it be ok if I used this? I'm…is using these dangerous?" Ms. Mowz honestly replied, "It can be, but you'll be fine with me to show you how to use these, babe!" Ms. Mowz then showed Vivian around the gym and how to do various exercises and such and was sure to emphasize proper form. It was certainly hard for Vivian, especially considering that she was really never allowed to do anything outside of her orders, which rarely included exercise, besides some scheduled boxing to make sure she could take down intruders…although Vivian suspected it was just an excuse for Beldam to get to punch her, as she was never really taught proper form or anything that would help her win in her sparring that she had to do with Beldam... Vivian was enjoying learning how to use the gym though, and it felt good to be in control of her body on her terms. Not just… always obeying everyone… just symbolically saying NO to the weights. felt so good. After about 40 minutes, the exhausted Shadow Siren said "OK... *pant* I think that's enough… *pant* my legs will fall off if I do another squat ehe~*
"Just in time! I think I'm about ready for supper. You're a very passionate lifter; I can tell there's a lot of strength hidden under everything you've been through, and I feel you're starting to unveil it." The food that Ms. Mowz was cooking smelt delicious, and Vivian was really excited, this smelt a lot better than the gruel she was usually served at the fortress... "It's all ready; enjoy babe~!" VIvian laughed, "Hehe~ it's so nice to have someone cooking for me who cares about me actually enjoying what is served... wow, this is SO delicious! Ms. Mousey, you're such a wonderful cook!" Ms. Mowz slyly said, "Hehe~ sometime maybe you could cook for me to return the favor~" Vivian perked up at this comment, "I'd honestly love to, cooking seems really neat and I'd love to cook for you..."
As Vivian was settling to bed, she reminisced on all of the events of the day, and breathed a heavy sigh of relief, this was her new life, and even though she was aware that Sir Grodus was likely organizing a search party for her, she knew that she could not let herself be treated like she used to be treated.
