Somewhere, West Virginia, USA.

Clive laid, poorly, on his cot. Why was everything suddenly complicated, he thought as he rubbed his face in exhaustion. Giants and halflings from another world, not only that but he has 3 of them wanting to be with him! One was married in name only it seemed. The other was barely out of the womb, and the last might be involved with the kobolds at Jeb's house. Which he STILL hasn't visited!

He groaned as a headache formed from the thought of it all. He didn't have a scooby how to juggle or even fix any of it! He did know that he needed to meet up with Jeb. If she does have history with the kobolds he wanted, no, NEEDED to get it sorted!

Jeb and Morty, despite his still lingering disappointment in him, were his only friends in this town and he didn't want something to push away his only other friend.

That's it. He resolved himself to finally visit Jeb to clear up a couple things and go from there! If Kilpa WASN'T involved with these kobolds then no big deal. But if she WAS then that needed to get taken care of FAST!

So Clive climbed off his cot and left his tent with purpose! He marched towards his car, no distractions anymore! He was going to see Jeb and he was getting to the bottom of this!

"Mornin' Clive!" Hamish cheered. The halfling had jogged over and was now trying to match pace with Clive's determined walk.

"Morning. Can't talk right now, something I gotta take care of!"

"Oh? Wha' tha' be?" Hamish asked, curious and winded.

"Just something I've been meaning to do and just haven't had the moment to do it!"

"Right, well ifin it ain't to much trouble. I was wonderin' ifin you could 'elp us out?"

Clive stopped and looked down at the relieved halfling.

"Help? With what?"

"Well, its just tha' while tha livestock is good 'nd all. We need ta farm ifin we're goin' ta survive tha winter!"

"Survive tha winter? Didn't you guys prepare on your journey for winter?"

"Nay! It were almost summer when we left! We didnae pack fer winter 'cause it weren't winter yet!"

In their world it would be a problem. But here, in this day and age of delivery? That was an easy fix. Of course you couldn't exactly order over a hundred pizzas and not have it be assumed a prank. Not only that with the way they eat they'd be gone within the hour of getting them!

Groaning Clive mentally battled to commit to his plan or stay and help the halflings. But then he had a thought that could allow him to do both!

"Why not build a hothouse?!"

"Wha'?"

"A hothouse! A building that holds in heat and allows you to grow things year round!"

"I ain't daft Clive! I know wha' a green'ouse is!"

"Then if you know then why ask me?"

"Because a green'ouse requires heat! In case you haven't noticed but its gettin' COLDER!"

"So use heating lamps!"

"'Nd fuel 'em with wha'?!"

"With electri-ci-ty?" Clive said as he realized that the halflings were technologically Amish. As evidenced by Hamish giving him a weird look.

"Clive? 'Ow tha devils is we supposed ta power oil lamps with no oil?"

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Calm down Clive, treat them like your talking to someone at a ren-fair!

"We have lamps that use the power of lightning to power things."

"'Ow does tha' work? Sounds like magic 'nd magic don't work 'ere!"

"Its all very complicated that if I had more time I would LOVE to tell you!" Clive said hurriedly as he made to leave again.

"Clive?! Without yer help I fear we'll starve!"

That did it. His plans for today gone.

"I thought you said when I first dropped you off here that you didn't need or want my help anymore? That you didn't want to be a bother?"

"Tha' were 'fore we realized 'ow cold it was gettin'. We might not last as long as we 'ad 'oped fer. With no way ta grow food 'nd our 'omes still bein' built. We won't make it through winter. Well, not all o' us tha' is."

Shit. New plan. He was still adamant about seeing Jeb. But he now had to deal with this. While he could shack up with Jeb if push came to shove, the halflings, even Sloth, didn't have that luxury.

"Alright, come with me and we can talk about solutions I can think of."

So Hamish climbed into Clive's car and made their way into town.

"So while it might freeze over. You can build a waterwheel and use the river to power the heating lamps!"

"Power 'em 'ow?"

"Ok so there's this thing called kinetic energy."

-----

Don't be pushy Kilpa. You've already done more than is appropriate. Astrala always said that you came off too strong! So listen to her.

These thoughts raged in Kilpa's mind as she stood in front of the closed flap of Clive's tent. A battle of wanting to spend more time with Clive and giving him some space.

"Just walk away. Go do... somethin' ta keep yerself busy!" She muttered aloud. But her reason wasn't a good one when there wasn't anything to do that satisfied her! She wasn't handy with a hammer or shovel. She couldn't shepherd pigs or sheep. Not like anyone would let her help any.

So she stood around all day doin' nothin'. Then she ran into Clive. Which just made sitting around WORSE as being bored and lonely was worse without her only friend around.

Though truth be told, she was hoping to be more than friends. He was the only one that didn't look at her like she was some soft-headed outsider. Like she committed some great shame by leaving and trying to earn a fortune for the town!

Then she followed him into the woods. A normal person would have just waited, but her? NOPE! She had to follow him out into the woods and spy on him and his giant friend.

She also could have just ran back and acted like she didn't do anything wrong! But she didn't. She felt bad and confessed. No wonder he was keeping secrets from her. Not like they didn't just meet the other day, but she already made it seem like he couldn't trust her!

You buggered it right up didn't you Kilpa, she thought as she trudged away.

Then she ran into Clive's tent.

"Clive I'm sorry 'bout yesterday, 'nd yer not 'ere."

She looked around the small tent, feeling dumb and peeved that her mental worries just moments ago were now worthless as the object of them was not here! But then where is he, she thought.

After glancing about she turned and left the tent. Running into Addie on her way out.

"Omph!"

"Sorry 'bout tha'!" Kilpa apologized.

"It ain't a bother! Oh?! Kilpa? Wha're you doin' 'ere?" Addie asked as she calmed the wee baby Stella.

"Mornin' Mrs. Hambinger. I was just checkin' on Clive is all!"

Addie gave her a skeptical look.

"'Nd why would you be doin' tha'?"

"Well... I was just makin' sure he was alright!"

"Oh were you now?"

"Tha' right!"

"So now you care 'ow folk is doin'?" Addie asked bitterly

And there it is.

"I've always cared 'bout tha town."

"If you did you wouldnae left off on some mad adventure ta stroke yer own ego!"

"I left on my mad adventure so I can make some real money ta save our 'ome!"

"'Nd did you?"

"Not like I didnae try!"

"Face it! Ifin you 'ad stayed 'nd married some nice fellow you woulda been better off!"

"By doin' wha'?! Settlin' down with some fat old man ta pump out children ta sell 'em off ta whoever pays tha most?!"

"Well, while you was galavantin' off ta Harvest Mother knows where, WE 'ad ta make do! 'Nd tha' included offerin' our children tha chance at a better life with someone else!"

"At tha' point why not just whore 'em out?!"

"Well, Clive sure does seem popular today don't 'e?" A sultry voice piped up as the two glared daggers at one another.

"Speakin' o' whores. 'Ello Carrie!" Addie greeted in a sickeningly sweet tone.

"'Ello Addie! Wha' brings you 'nd... 'er in front of Clive's tent?"

"We were just checkin' up on Clive weren't we Stella!" Addie said as she coo'd at the babe.

"'Nd you?" She asked Kilpa tersely.

"Well, I 'ad wanted ta plan mine 'nd Clive's 3rd date!" Kilpa stated smugly! Though she wasn't sure if yesterday counted as a date.

"Oh please! As if a man such as 'im would consider bein' with you!" Carrie sneered.

"What? Like yer such a better option?!" Kilpa countered.

"O' course I'm better! Clive wants someone more experienced than someone whos spent all 'er time chasein' bandits 'nd monsters!"

"Experienced is what we're callin' you now? I thought it was still strumpet?!" Addie chimed in, not missing the chance to snipe at the thotling.

She hmph'd indignantly.

"'Nd what are you doin' 'ere Addie? Got tired o' yer 'usband already?"

"Fer yer information! I'm 'ere so Clive can spend time with 'is future bride ta be!" Addie proclaimed as she held up the sleeping baby Stella.

"Ha! By tha sound o' tha' commotion some days ago, it don't sound like 'e wants 'er!"

"Sometimes a man don't know wha' 'e wants 'nd wha' 'e needs!"

The two turned their glares away from each other when Kilpa barked out a laugh of her own.

"These are my rivals fer 'is affection?! A harlot tha' couldnae keep 'er legs closed ifin 'er life depended on it, 'nd a swaddlin' wee babe?!"

The air turned tense as the suitor standoff commenced. Each of the 3 glaring at the others. The babe still snoozing, unaware nor uncaring what was occurring. Then it broke when Kilpa spoke up.

"Not like it matters now anyway. Clive's not e'en 'ere!"

She chuckled as she walked past the flustered rivals. Addie and Carrie opened the flap and found her statement correct. So they huffed and marched away. Carrie backtracking when she realized her own tent was in the other direction than the one she was going.

-----

"So, tha wheel generates power tha' flows through a bit o' wire 'nd tha' is wha' powers tha lamps?" Hamish asked as they pulled in front of the General Store.

"Yup! Neat isn't it?!" Clive asked excitedly as he got out.

"More like confusin'. It sounds like magic!"

"Magic is just something that you don't understand yet!"

"Well I don't understand it so it be magic!" Hamish exclaimed. Exasperated at the not entirely willing lesson!

"Mornin' Clive. Lil man." Was the greeting Skeeter gave the two as they walked in.

"Morning Skeeter. You wouldn't have any generators and heating lamps would you?"

"Sure, whatcha need 'em for?"

"Building a hothouse."

"Sure I gots stuff for it, you wantin' it now or delivered?"

Clive looked at his small car.

"Delivered if that isn't a problem?"

"Nope, none on my part."

So Clive payed and headed out and towards Jeb's.

"Erm, Clive? Where we goin'?"

"To FINALLY see my friend."