# Ch.46: The concrete dissolution

Although currently clothed, the nudist foXXXes were back at the DM's office.

F1: We brought you your wate-

The DM grabbed the tray, drank two of the water bottles,

and used the atomizer to spray himself, just for good measure.

Then he grabbed his assistant by the collar (The neck collar, he WAS a dog),

and shook him repeatedly.

K290: WHY DID YOU TAKE SO GODDAMN LONG!? I COULD HAVE DIED!

K290: I'M A BUSY PERSON, YOU KNOW!? WHY DID YOU FAIL ME LIKE THAT!?

77: ...

K290: LOOK AT ME!

He gave him a nice, very long (20s) stare in the eyes.

F4: Uhhh... Sir?

F5: I think he's broken.

F6 tried poking the DM.

G: Please don't poke him.

F6: Aw.

K390: Did you people tamper with my assistant?

F2: What? No, of course not-

K390: I can very clearly see that a pen went missing from my inventory.

And that you hypnotized my assistant.

F2: Well, maybe my hands were a bit sticky...

F1: Yes, we did. Sorry for that.

K390: Ugh, you foxes are so... Forget it. You can keep it,

I have dozens of them. I will let it pass since you brought me my water.

K390: And seventy-seven. Seriously, just don't do THAT, alright?

77: *nodding repeatedly*

K390: *releasing 77* *sigh*, so you tourists wanted to know about me, right?

F6: *nodding*

K390: Well, *loosens Eldredge tie, A.K.A. eldritch tie*

since you bothered to visit me, I guess that I will start. I'm Bob,

and I was born in a simple rural home...

The f(0x35) pretended to take notes.

After their little interview, they went to a hotel.

It was a tower of unpainted, brutalist concrete.

The rooms were cold and definitely not comfy.

F3: The floor is too cold on my paws.

F5: Do these idiots seriously call this place a hotel?

Why would anyone design a building like this?

J: I will give you a hint: It starts with an E.

F6: ...

F6: Ohhh... I got it.

F1: Could you please tell me? Wait, I think that I got it.

G: Faber, ego is maybe the cause but not really the term for it.

F1: Awww...

G: Well,

I think that this place could improve

quite a bit with some interior decoration.

How about you go to the Bradley and get some?

Our unlicensed interior designers took the time to

install a woolen rug with simple geometrical patterns,

cover the dilapidated concrete with plain creamy wallpaper,

install a boat painting or two, and put lampshades on the lamps.

G: Much better.

F4: So, what was the plan with the DM? I didn't follow.

J: Very simple. Tamper with his water, make him think we just stole his pen,

and hypnotize him through the dog so he doesn't realize what happened.

F4: That doesn't sound very simple.

J: Whatever. The thing is that we likely outsmarted him.

F6: Likely?

Z: Time will tell. I hope that we can dissimulate the hypnosis part.

F4: YOU HOPE!? We are doomed...

F4 fainted like a nineteenth century woman. Fortunately, he was caught by F6.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Z: Did he drink water recently?

F5: I don't think so.

After having F4 recover and rehydrate,

he had dinner alongside his [INSERT RELATION HERE]

They prepared some Greek salad and fish-filled pirozhki.

Unfortunately, they still had no cheese, so they basically raped the recipe.

At least they managed to steal some wheat from that place inspired by Greece,

and they also had cranberry mors.

F2: Hey Finn, can I call you brother?

F4: Uh, sure. But why would you do that?

F2: Well you kind of feel like that to me. What do you think?

F4: I don't know. Everything has happened so fast, and I'm really confused.

F6: Do you want to sit on my lap?

F4: Sure.

F6, A.K.A. Cuddle Commander.

F1: I do not know how to classify our relationship either. I like master-

J: BOOORING!

F1: ...But I would not know what to call you.

F3: I think that this problem stems from the fact

that we know each other as much as ourselves, which is to say, very little.

F1: That is probably correct.

F4: Can we say that we are kinda mates?

F2: EW!

F4: Wait that's not...

Later, the kits kipped and dreamed of non-electric sheep.

Meanwhile, Bob had a throbbing headache.

He called his assistant to check if someone else had tampered with him.

This time, upon looking at him, he felt rather uneasy,

but did not find anything.

After a hard night of work, he went to his house and slept while still in pain,

at the same time that the foxes awakened.

But let's not get too ahead of ourselves.

F3: I had a strange dream...

J: Correct. I fiddled with your brains.

F3: Why?

Z: A normal person would say it was to train...

J: I was bored.

F2: What are we going to do today?

G: According to 'A',

the emperor and the DM will have a meeting in the next few days,

and he will use him to possess the emperor, so I guess we are done here.

J: Hey! Don't steal my lines!

Jack already has hogged too many. The bastard...

F2: Is it fine if we leave the room like this?

Z: Unfortunately, no.

Decorating a room would probably give us a worse reputation than trashing it.

J: Fill it with petrol and set it on fire! Then blame it on the wiring!

F5: Great!

F3: Did anything in particular cause you to be so elated?

J: What? No, I'm definitely not stealing infrastructure code from an emperor!

Z: Make sure to share it with us. I may be interested.

After lighting up their room,

the skulk got on the car and left before they could ask about the fire.

Zack had to leave, since he still had one person left to deal with.

That person was Bob. He "awoke" inside his room, yet he could not move,

feeling paralyzed from the neck below.

K290: Oh boy.

A shadow extended from below his bed.

K290: Oh fuck!

Z: I think that I need no introduction.

K290: N-no.

Z: I also have heard quite a bit about the things you did,

so there is no need to repeat yourself.

K290: Wait, I am famous?

Z: No. You just have quite the long tongue for someone so paranoid.

Now, state your case, and you may be spared.

K290: ...Alright. Where do I start?

Z: At the beginning?

K290: Alright, alright. Look, the past world wasn't gentle,

and often not very fair.

Z: Do you think that I have not been there?

K290: Nonono! Of course not! But as you know,

you didn't get to the top by being nice.

Z: Sure. Go on.

K290: So, I defended myself!

I may have come off as paranoid or nasty, but I survived!

Can you really judge me for that?

Z: No, I am not. What I really want to ask, is what was your step two.

K290: What?

Z: Step two. The thing you do after you pull through.

K290: W-. Are you insane!?

After all these years I managed to eeke out a mere pretense of stability,

and you ask me to throw it all away!? There are even bigger fish out the-

Z: Stop. I have heard enough. If stasis is what you want,

then you may have it.

The room started cooling rapidly.

K290: You can't go against it! You can only nod along!

What can a single man... Do against the world?

Z: People like you shall never know.

It's rather difficult to accurately judge if all you do is sit on your ass.

Who would have thunk.