Petalpounce pushes open the doors, holding two boxes of pizza. His eyes are narrowed. Nettlebounce ignores him, painting her claws.

Mottledleaf: *is mopping in a corner of the lobby.* Hi Petalpounce. No one ordered any pizza yet, right?

Petalpounce: *tiredly.* Give it... thirty seconds.

They wait thirty seconds.

Feathershine: *from down the hallway.* NETTLEBOUNCEEEE I WANT PIZZAAAAAAAA

Nettlebounce: You know you could just walk down here and ask me? Or call the pizza place yourself? *to herself.* StarClan, Feathershine is such a lazy pile of mousedung.

Feathershine: *grumbles.* Fine, fine. *walks down the hallway and puts her muzzle right next to Nettlebounce's ear; musters all her strength and shouts.* I WANT PIZZA NETTLEBOUNCE.

Nettlebounce: *doesn't flinch.* I have three kits, you know. I'm used to this.

Feathershine: *hisses.*

Nettlebounce: You're less mature than my two-moon-old pair. *snorts.* Anyways, Petalpounce is already here.

Feathershine: *takes the pizza from him.* Thanks! 

Petalpounce: You still have to pa—

Feathershine disappears into her office with the pizza boxes before he can finish. Petalpounce sighs.

Petalpounce: *turns to his sister.* Soooo, are you going to pay me?

Nettlebounce: No. *continues painting her claws.*

Petalpounce: *turns to Mottledleaf hopefully.*

Mottedleaf sighs, then turns to Fireheart. He is babbling at his phone and looks up lovingly at his granddaughter. She sticks a paw in his pocket and pulls out the needed money. Fireheart instantly falls asleep.

Petalpounce: Did you just rob your grandfather?

Mottledleaf: *shrugs.* He robbed me. Karma. *hands over the money.*

Petalpounce: T-thanks. *leaves.*

A few moments later, a small she-cat steps in, wheeling a cart that has a laptop on top.

Mysterious Patient: Do you have Wi-Fi here? *is still typing.*

Mottledleaf: *pads toward her.* Let me guess... electronic addiction? And you were forced to come here by who... father or mate?

Mysterious Patient: Okay, there is Wi-Fi here. What's the password?

Mottledleaf: Are you a patient?

Mysterious Patient: Yes. What's the Wi-Fi password?

Mottledleaf: "wedon'thaveapassword"

Mysterious Patient: Thanks.

Mottledleaf: What's your name?

Mysterious Patient: MysteriousKiller

Mottledleaf: Not your... *peeks at her computer screen.* username. Your real name.

MysteriousKiller: It's called a gamer-tag, check your facts. *sniffs and continuies typing.* The name's Wirefur, though most call me Wire.

Mottledleaf: That's actually a... surprisngly accurate name from what I can tell. So what brings you here?

Wire: *shrugs.* My mom told me she'd upgrade the Wi-Fi program to premium if I started going to therapy. 

Nettlebounce: *looks up from painting her claws.* Oh, you have Comcat Wi-Fi too? StarClan, they're so slow, right?

Wire: *nods empathetically.* Yeah! The speeds are so slow that I can barely keep my number one spot in the world.

Mottledleaf: *ears perk up.* So would you say you're the best player at whatever game you're playing? *tries to peek over Wire's shoulder, but Wire moves her computer cart, closer to the Wi-Fi router.*

Wire: Oh yes, of course... I've held the number one spot for quite a while.

Mottledleaf: What game are you playing?

Wire: One... one second. *starts typing even faster.* This is getting intense!

Mottledleaf finally manages to get a glimpse of Wire's screen.

Wire is playing 2048.

Mottledleaf: Wow! You're already at 4096? You've only been in here for like eight minutes!

Wire: *is sliding the blocks faster than Mottledleaf can see.* Oh, I just started this game. *switches tabs.* This is my best one so far...

The other tab shows a 32768 tile in one corner, surrounded by several 2048's and lower numbered tiles.

Mottledleaf: Would you say you're... addicted?

Wire: *laughs.* You sound like my mom.

Mottledleaf: Well, why don't you try turning off the computer?

Wire: *sighs.* I can't! This game is just too intense.

Mottledleaf: *to Nettlebounce.* Shut off the Wi-Fi.

Delicately, with painted paws, Nettlebounce tugs out the cord to the Wi-Fi router. Wire gasps, but continues sliding.

Wire: I have a hotspot, you know. And 2048 doesn't require Wi-Fi!

Mottledleaf: *shuts Wire's computer.*

Wire: ....

Mottledleaf: ...

Wire: *looks around.* Oh, I forgot there was a world outside the game... thanks Mottledleaf! You solved my problem :)

Mottledleaf: I just helped temporarily—would you like to schedule another appointment here? *tips her head to the side.*

Wire: *nods.* Sure, thank you! I'm sure my mom will pay you any price for how you've saved me.

Mottledleaf: No, I just helped you realize that you can do things other than play 2048.

Wire: *nods again.* Thanks! I'll call in a while to schedule another appointment.

⛈ by rio

i really like 2048.