Mirth's hospitality

Mirth's humble abode was anything but. Every surface was either polished or covered in some sort of posh fiber or fur. The air was sweet and floral, untainted by the sour smog that lingered outside. Megamind was sickened by the sharp contrast between what lay beyond and within the high wrought iron fence. While the general populous scrounged about in squalor like pigs, this rat was sitting pretty on a golden toilet bowl. There were a few young boys with shackles on their ankles and terrified expressions, obviously slaves. They took his jacket and shoes replacing them with a clean maroon lounge coat and house slippers before scuttling away. The group followed him into a large sitting room that was covered in mostly snarling stuffed animal heads and shaggy fur besides the red leather couches beside the cold stone fireplace. Mirth adjusted his sleeves and lazily snapped his fingers calling forth a short, stout girl with a teetering tray of wine glasses followed by another with an ice bucket and a bottle of red wine. They carefully poured Mirth a drink and moved to Grego who took it up immediately. The girls made their way over to Megamind, trying to hand him a glass of the crimson liquid while studiously refusing to look up.

"Sorry, I'm not fond of alcohol," he said politely waving the glass away.

The stocky girls looked up fearfully, pleading for him to take the glass with watery eyes. She had a bulbous potato nose, little piggy eyes, and lumpy green skin that was streaked with old scars.

Mirth chuckled at Megamind's statement, "come now, Mr. Price. Everyone drinks in the Old Towne."

Megamind grimaced, "I hope you don't mind, but I would really rather not partake."

Mirth raised an eyebrow in question. There was silence for a long time, until the young servant could take no more.

"You must, sir. To refuse is an insult," whispered the terrified, thickset girl. Mirth glared daggers at her, speaking volumes of his disapproval to hearing her speak. She began to shake as Megamind gingerly took the glass with an apologetic look. When everyone was served Mirth settled down into his high backed chair by the empty hearth.

"So Grego, my boy. How did you meet your unusual companions?"

Grego took a gulp of wine and cleared his throat, "I found them camping out on the southern beach while out trapping. They got chased up a tree by a horde of Razorbacks the night before."

"Wasn't exactly expecting to get attacked by a bunch of mice," Megamind mumbled over the glass of wine.

Mirth nodded, "They can be quite the nuisance."

Grego continued, "They told me on the way there that they were captured on a routine barter mission because they were carting stolen goods. I brought them into Towne and had a lot of trouble getting them membership to the Towne's little do-gooder club. Decided that it would be easier to just send them over here, so they went and hired a guide. Ahi was heading this way too apparently, so he went along. I wanted to get out of that boring little place and see how my old chum was doing, so I too followed."

"And your little traveling party was born, how heartwarming," Mirth said with minimal interest, "so how did they come to know of me?"

Grego gave a dry chuckle, "Hu, I'm glad it warmed your cockles, Mirthy. I happened to mention a certain businessman that I knew on the sly that just so happened to deal in the smuggling trade."

"It was a very interesting proposition and we didn't want to be left without a trade to keep us afloat, did we Richard," Megamind placed a gentle hand on Roxanne's shoulder.

She quietly cleared her throat and said in a deeper voice, "No, Sir." She nervously sipped at the last of her wine.

Mirth smirked slightly, "and what of you, Ahi? Surly you aren't here for a new career?"

"No, sir. Just letting my number one sponsor know that I'm back in Towne," Ahi said quietly.

Mirth nodded, "excellent, my dear boy. With you back in the arena it'll be much more interesting. This calls for a celebration," he stared wistfully at the bottle of wine, "and something a little stronger."

Like he had said the magic word, the husky girl whisked the wine bottle and glasses away, replacing them with a crystal bottle of indigo liquor and brandy glasses. She poured everyone a new glass and disappeared.

Roxanne was getting edgy around Mirth. His cold eyes slipped to her now and then, observing her and sending uncomfortable shivers down her spine. From the way he was smirking she had a feeling that Mirth either saw through her disguise or he went both ways. Either way she wasn't too please with those prospects.

So far everything was going according to Roux's plan. What Roxanne wasn't too pleased with was how they were going to go about their snooping. They were going to have to put up with whatever job Mirth decided to give them. It seemed like Grego was going to be part of the Brute Squad that made up Mirth's personal army; Mirth was interested in Megamind's technological capabilities, so he was probably going to be building him a weapon; Ahi was of course going back to the Cages to make a grand reentrance; but he had yet to speak to Roxanne about her employment.

They ended up playing a drinking game with the tangy blue drink that left everyone very placid. Megamind seemed to be really out of it two glasses later, and Minion was dozing in his dome. Roxanne found herself feeling unbearably drunk soon after. She swayed in her seat as she listened to Grego snorting at a joke that wasn't very funny. Mirth seemed to suddenly notice his incapacitated guests, and hazily called their attention. Mirth suggested they all get to bed and rang for a servant who would lead them to the guest house that was attached to the west end of the mansion.

Getting to this infamous west wing seemed a difficult task to say the least. Minion and Ahi were wobbling just ahead of Roxanne and Megamind. They were speaking slowly and slurring every other word. Grego had stayed behind to keep Mirth company in the dead animal room, urging the light weights to toddle off to bed. Something about this waved a little red flag to Roxanne, but in her drunken stupor it was forgotten as quickly as it had come. She was more concerned with staying upright while she and Megamind leaned heavily on each other. His head kept rolling around and they bumped into walls and furniture all the way there.

After what felt like forever they made it to the guest house, which wasn't as suavely decorated but was still tasteful and comfortable. Minion collapsed in the middle of the sitting room on his back, not bothering to tuck into his castle to sleep. Ahi disappeared toward the back of the house while Roxanne with Megamind in tow teetered away to find somewhere to sleep for the night. She discovered a darkened bedroom and dragged the barely conscience alien to the canopy bed.

"Come on big guy, almost here," she huffed, "just a few more feet."

Roxanne attempted to pry him off her shoulder but lost her balance. She ended up flopping down half way on the bed with his arms possessively around her. She was about to pull her way free when she noticed a goofy smile spread across his face. She caught herself smiling at how cute he was just then, cuddling up to her like a kid and his teddy bear. She yawned, suddenly losing all determination to free herself. She'd get up later when the room stopped spinning so. For now she was entirely too content just laying there in the warmth of her captors arms.