The smiling shopkeeper offered the vial towards Daisy. "You know how to use it? I imagine you must, unless you were born like that?"

Daisy took it with a nod. "Thanks. I guess we need to use this on Theo, and then we'll be going."

"Of course." He waved to Theodore. "You have good friends."

Theo laughed awkwardly as Daisy paid for it and turned towards him. He turned away from her. "Go ahead."

Daisy perked a round ear. "You won't drink it?"

Theodoren huffed at the idea. "If you drink a mutagen, no idea what part of you will be affected. Put it right on the spot you want to change if you want any control over it. It'd be a waste if that went to my fangs instead."

Daisy uncorked the vial, pouring it onto his tail. Theo winced and shivered before his tail became fluffier and more normal, though still with those odd black markings. Daisy clapped at the restored liveliness. "Far better." She handed the bottle back to the shop keeper it had come from "Thank you again, for helping me with that dungeon."

Theodoren took on a serious expression, glancing down at himself, then to her. "Let me ask, what do you think of my new fangs? I like how they feel."

Cedric applauded much as Daisy had. "They suit you."

Daisy nodded to that with a smile. "I'm glad you're alright now. And I agree. You look good. It could be a fun touch, or do you really want to be an ordinary fox man?"

"N-no! I wasn't ordinary to start." He rocked on his feet. "You two are too damn cute. I swear." He pointed to them both in turn.

Cedric shrugged it off. "We're happy you like it." He took a step away. "Let's go home. We need to rest and recover."

Daisy threw a hand over Cedric, leading him off with a smile.

Theo trailed behind them, looking at them both intently. "It isn't fair."

Daisy turned an ear back at him. "What isn't?"

"Look, people make mistakes, okay?" He threw his hands wide. "But this feels like the kind of thing I don't get to make up on, like it's just too late and I kind of hate it. It's dumb."

She looked back at him, but paused. "What is?" Her tail flicked.

Theodoren took a breath, then grabbed Daisy by one arm and kissed her firmly on the lips.

Cedric went still, just blinking. He looked far more just shocked rather than offended.

Daisy blushed furiously but grabbed Theodoren all the same, one hand on his head firmly. "I thought you learned your lesson about not asking first?"

Theo squirmed, but he was smiling. "I did ask. You told me I didn't get a second chance. I'm asking for a third. Please." He puffed his chest out. "I am an excellent lover."

She tapped him on his nose. "That was the wrong tact."

Cedric leaned in from the side. "Tell her you like the way her tail whips," he whispered, not too quietly for Daisy to hear.

Theo nodded, but looked back at Cedric. "I think I can manage that myself."

Cedric leaned in and kissed Theo on the cheek. "I'll make sure she doesn't kill you if you mess it up."

Theo blinked at that, looking just as stunned as Cedric had moments before. "I, uh. I'm making moves on your girl. Shouldn't you be pissed, or yelling, or something, instead of, uh, whatever this is?"

Cedric shrugged. "You're a good guy. I know you'd never betray anyone."

Theodoren blushed furiously and pulled away, straightening his shirt. "Oh, shut up."

Daisy laughed at his pout. "Look, you're a prick." She put a finger to his snout just before the complaint could come out. "But we all have things. If Cedric thinks you're a good person, I'm inclined to at least give you a chance."

He smiled softly. "I'm glad I have a decent advocate in this. Thank you, Cedric, really." He gestured to Daisy. "And you, even though I had to bribe my way in."

Daisy raised a brow. "Bribe?"

"Nothing." He whirled away, just to be pulled back by powerful rodent hands. "Hey! Cut it out!"

But Daisy did not release him. "Bribe?"

Theo huffed and gestured at her. "You're built like a brick wall. How are you so damn strong?" She tightened her grip, making him gasp out. "Fine, I'm sorry!"

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"Be less sorry." She stepped up along his belly with her fingers. "Start explaining. How did you bribe, or try to bribe, me?"

"Look, I heard you were going to be sent, and I let it slip to the right ears that I'd be great to go with you. It wasn't a coincidence they put me in the party for that assignment, okay?" He squirmed, but his efforts were proving rather futile.

Cedric blinked, tilting his head to the side. "And?"

Theo looked over at Cedric. "You don't hate me?"

Cedric's long ears wagged. "Why would I? That's kind of sweet actually, helping out like that as a way of making amends."

Daisy laughed, pulling Theodoren closer. "You know what else I like about him? He has the strangest ideas about how the world works." She kissed Theo on the forehead. "You're one strange fox, and I'm glad you care about me. I should warn, if you hang out with me, I will lecture you on things I think are wrong, and I'm an otherworlder, so I'll think a lot of things are wrong. You really want to stick around that?"

"I want to try." He put his hand to her cheek. "I want to know more about this. We had a rough first start, but I want to know you, and all of that."

Daisy blushed faintly at his touch. She nipped the hand and released him at last. "Now, I have a question." She put her hands at her hips. "I remember what kind of game this is, but I need to hear it." Her gaze went to Cedric. "Are polyamorous relationships just really common around here?"

Theodoren shrugged as Cedric nodded. Theo gestured between himself and Daisy. "We're in a relationship?"

Daisy laughed, putting an arm over his shoulders. "Maybe we are. But before I say we are, I'm making sure I'm not making things awkward with Cedric. To be clear, if he was at all upset, this isn't happening. He's here first, owns my heart, gets to decide."

Cedric leaned over to give a nuzzle to Daisy, then to Theo. "If he's nice to me, and to you, that's okay."

She smiled at that. "I thought so." She folded her arms under her chest. "You're both mine."

— Family obtained

Daisy frowned at the floating letters. "Is that seriously a condition?"

— Yes.

Daisy threw up her hands. "Now you're just playing with me."

Cedric inclined his head. "Are you alright?" He put a hand to her face. "You're acting funny. Is everything okay?"

Daisy nodded. "Yeah, just the game systems playing tricks." She pointed ahead of her. "Let's go back. I need to get some rest."

─ New commands available. New skills available. Brood mouse family has increased statistics.

Daisy shivered, feeling lighter and more powerful. "Is that why claiming them felt so good?"

"What's that?" Theodoren leaned closer.

She shook her head. "Nothing."

He grunted, pulling away from her. "Why do you keep lying to me? I thought we were friends now, not to mention whatever else." He looked over her body.

She snaked an arm around him and drew him into a half-hug while they walked, to his seeming approval. She quietly read the words as they scrolled in her vision.

─ New Skills Available:

─ - Mother's Blessing

─ - Brood Mouse Family

Daisy pondered the words. She was still tired and worn, so she didn't want to experiment just at that moment, but she had a few guesses at how that would work.

They arrived at the dorm, but Daisy directed them both towards the office instead of any of their rooms. "We need to have a chat with them."

She led them into the office. A few others were there on various business, but Daisy didn't care much. She marched right up to the desk where the old woman sat. "We need to talk about something important." She pointed to Cedric and Theodoren. "We've gotten all romantic, so I'd like to be roomed with them."

The woman behind the desk looked over the top of her reading glasses. She stared a moment, then marked something in the ledger in front of her. "I don't see any issue with it." She looked to the side. "Dhiren will be thrilled, until we need a room. Theodoren, Cedric, are your rooms ready for use?"

"Yeah." Theodoren gestured at his own. "I've only got some junk in mine." He grinned. "Let's make out."

Daisy slapped him on the top of the head. "You can wait until we're not in public." She rolled her eyes. "Cedric?"

"I only have a few things. I can get them out in under an hour if there's another place to put them." He nervously stepped in place. "We're really moving in together?"

Daisy grinned. "We're really moving in together." She hugged them both close, squeezing their cheeks into her bust. "I'm so happy about this."

Cedric laughed at it, putting his hands on her. Theo was resisting, but he wasn't getting anywhere with his struggles.

The staffer had no emotion, just offering three keys to them. "Here you go. The number is written on them. See that all possessions are out of your old rooms by the end of the day."

As a unit, they poured into the hallway. Cedric drew away. "Let me get my things. I'll meet you there." He darted off.

Daisy let Theodoren go for him to get is own things, leaving her to enter their new room first on her own. She threw open the door to a rather large room, with an even larger bed in the center of it. She hopped into the middle of the bed and rolled around on it, laughing softly as she did so. "Damn hentai games." She landed belly down, tail swaying over her. "No real world college would be 'okay' at a three person, co-ed, one bed room."

She bounced lightly on the bed, feeling its springiness before rolling over and lounging. Her eyes closed, drifting into a gentle slumber. She was tired from their adventures.

When she woke, she found herself sandwiched between Cedric and Theodoren, with Theo having cuddled up against her chest. "You are chest fixated." She didn't feel the urge to resist, instead nestling with the two with a soft rumble. "My family," she sighed out as she heard the soft chime of a status coming online.

─ Family: 2

─ Brood Mouse Skills active

─ Health regen (3x), Stamina regen (3x), movement (3x)

She cocked a brow at the message but kept her thoughts to herself to enjoy the moment instead.