Terrence came through wielding a pair of Thordes weapons that clanged. "I'm bringing a horde of warriors on you until you let me play with your people!" He was fascinated with my set of figures from my Wedding Festival, copies of all of us in what we wore that second night when we searched for our own, a Zheien custom. I'd tried fabbing a set for him, but he wanted mine. My little brother left a trail of tiny arms and legs—

Ern knelt and waved up his DS uniform, pins and all. "I am Aunt Flora's diplomat, and she nae wishes to subject her people to injury. Will you nae play with my people?" A wave, and hundreds of Danger Service figures stood in a row at their feet. But, these acted out scenes from the latest episode. A low-budget spoof of Diplomatic Service with deliberate errors to test students studying to work in DS.

One was a Thordes dressed like Terrence with the same clanging weapons. That wasn't on the show. I stifled a laugh. The figure came to life and used Terrence's voice. "I'm bringing a horde of DS men to meet your warriors! Let's have a party!" All of 'em came to life and ran at Terrence.

He laughed too hard to pester us any more! He ran and they ran after him, whooping and laughing. Then he ran after them! They dodged his play sword.

-- Icebound Flame, an unpublished story