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If you're asleep on your couch and the couch suddenly started moving, that would proooobably cause some alarm, right? So, she supposed they couldn't really blame those two for rousing at the same time she did. Many arms blindly, instinctively grappled for the cloth that clung to it, and their head slowly rose.
It rubbed a pair of mittens together before ever rubbing its eyes. Wouldn't want to get frost on her face. Then adjusted her woolen hat, which accidentally made a Tuque slip.
Something felt off.
They glance at Manteau. She was the closest. Choco was... somewhere further down herself. Blink. Manteau was looking at them oddly. Like, really weirdly. Was there... something on its face? A Tuque somewhere that she didn't realize? She already got one...
She tries to bury her nose into their scarf, but doesn't feel any fabric. Now that she thought of it, her neck felt very different. It's quite obvious around here- every single bit of skin that dares to be exposed gets hit with constant cold air.
Which means its scarf isn't there.
That's. Uhm. Odd. It didn't usually take it off. Ever. Definitely didn't remember doing it before going to sleep. She patted around her neck, just to make sure it was legitimate. Yup. No scarf. Not good.
Her winter jackets become a substitute for the missing scarf, just to keep their neck covered. Did not like this. She felt weirdly naked. Where did it go? Where could it go? Did it fall off? There wasn't much of a breeze in here, but she couldn't help but wonder if it blew away or something? They went from paralyzed confusion to furiously digging around itself for a hint of that red cloth. Its form is so cumbersome to move around sometimes. She didn't mean to freak either Manteau or Choco out, but the less time without the scarf, the better, y'know?
There was still no sign of the scarf.
Alright, time to get up. Right now. One or two of those tiny little guys with the mittens and the hats (like her, actually) fell off of her, and she heard Manteau yelp from her side.
The more she looked, the more worried she became. Because it wasn't anywhere. Which made no sense! It couldn't have just... ran away, could it??? They whine through the jacket subjected to her nervous gnawing.
Their darting gaze settles on Choco for a few moments, who lumbered over and was now offering a cup of cocoa. She hesitated, then just gave in, and the warmth came and went. Drinking faster makes it hotter, right? Makes up for its cold throat without the scarf. She didn't think Choco was really expecting the mug to be handed back to it emptied so quickly.
Is she worrying them? Manteau, after getting back up, that was, was looking up at her even weirder. The confusion on her face turned into... resolution? Two of her hands, the ones with sleeves, reached; one for Choco, and one for them. Pulling the former along was a lot easier than the latter, so she decided to give up and just take Choco with her. For... whatever reason. It distracted her from their panic, watching as they climbed over the half-formed ice that they had to melt away every once in awhile. They should probably get that over with later. Granted, if-- if Choco felt like dumping a few precious cups for it...
Besides the point! What was Manteau up to this time...? It better be about her scarf, or else... or else it'll be very... uh... sad? Disappointed? Despaired!
So, she followed.
And, as it turns out, Manteau was not up to a what, but, more worryingly, a who.
'Scarf', they call them. They almost called them 'Icicle', but it didn't like that and chose the name they know now instead. She wasn't sure what Manteau's plan was until they considered just why they chose that name.
So, right now?
Manteau was sizing up, then actually trying to fight something made of pure, permanently-frozen ice, because of the type of clothing they wore. While Choco supervised from the other side of the room, definitely not trying to get involved. For her sake. Which, actually kind-of made it worse.
She watched in horror as Manteau was practically trying to rip one of Scarf's scarves off- the only red one it had. The same color as her missing one. They would be a bit touched that she remembered and acted accordingly, if not for, y'know, the violence! They look at Choco for a moment, trying to get their attention, but all it was doing was standing there and sipping hot chocolate.
Agh. Okay. If she's gonna be the only one against this, then it'll be the one to step in. Probably. Makes her nervous. They, at heart, were trying to be gentle separating them. Sometimes, the amount of hands she had was a blessing. Manteau herself required four hands, and she needed an extra to keep Scarf away. Her teeth found themselves on Manteau instead of her own clothing. Hooked, and dragged away by the scruff. Suppose restraining her wasn't exactly necessary with her in... about-a-metre-in-the-air jail. More hands to keep her jackets up to her jaw, really. She supposed, with Manteau up here as well, it was a bit more bearable to exist without her scarf now...
Waving (yet another) pair of hands and keeping them off of Scarf was as much of an apology as she could really get right now. It looked awkward with Manteau still struggling and hissing. But she really meant it, truly!
...hold on, she wasn't hissing. Struggling, yes, very much so, but not...
Oh. So. Choco seemed to have somebody to hold back too? In the form of a very angry eight-legged, also-scarf-related critter.
As far as she knew, Scarf and Triscarf were close. Closer than to the others, at least. She figured it was because of the scarf thing? Birds of a feather. But it felt like the latter gravitated towards the former more.
So, no wonder the latter got so protective. Sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry!!
Manteau found herself placed snug between its jackets and its jackets again, almost like a snake holding a rodent still that's a bit morbid, um. Mostly for the very benign motive of trying to keep her from hurting herself or somebody else. Secondly, to show the reason for all of this nonsense, even if it kind-of pained her. It was her fault! Really! It was her scarf that got lost! She's not even trying to cover for Manteau this time!
The thought to attempt to comfort Scarf came to mind. They looked spooked. Their back was up to the wall and they were silent. Oh, how the guilt ate at her! Though, whatever's in the sky forbid she make anything worse...
When she looked back, Choco... maybe had it under control? With a cup of cocoa. Sweet and warm things are the best bribes around here, she supposed... she can't even talk- it's worked on her too. Triscarf was still glaring, but at least it didn't have to be held still anymore. Now it was just sitting... and waiting... next to Choco. Good to know. Doesn't help with the stress. Thanks, though.
Would it be better if she grabbed Scarf reaaaaaaaaaally slowly? So they didn't startle them? Or Triscarf? She wants to maybe place them next to their arachnid friend. Being across the room didn't help anything, did it? Slowly. Sloowwly. Trill at them to make sure they know she's approaching. Yeah. It's alright, it's alright-
okayokayokay quickly before Triscarf starts up again. They somewhat unfurl out while moving. Be gentle. There. There they go. Pat p--ow, icicles are pointy, right, sorry. Pat Triscarf instead. Hopefully that's good enough. Triscarf scoots closer to Scarf, and she smiles. In relief. A little in affection. Can't blame her!
It was exhausted after such an altercation. Mentally and physically, but mostly mentally. This was scary! The coats double as a cushion for her chin as she settles. Rumble rumble. Please, let's. Let's just figure this out calmly, okay? You too, Manteau. That especially includes Manteau, actually. Rumble...
...wait, Manteau?
Her head shoots back up again and swivels behind her. No Manteau. Not even a hint of such. Wh- that- th- she was just there! Ohh gosh she's gonna cry. Please!!! They look helplessly to Choco, hoping they could offer some kind of idea on what could've possibly happened!
Surprisingly, it actually did have an answer to that. Choco points beyond them. To a doorway with cracked ice that was definitely not cracked just before.
Uh.
Uhnmmuhnmuh thank you Choco?!? She, uh, has something to do now! Up she goes, once again. How did she not realize- well, guess she just, like, was too focused on Triscarf and Scarf- agh, gosh DANGIT, Manteau!
It took some squeezing through, some almost trampling over Tuques and trying to very, very quickly apologize before getting back on the move, and some searching before finding Manteau again. Thankfully, it wasn't as far as last time. Really gave her a workout, having to rush all the way across the whole apartment; but, this time, it was just two rooms away.
Trapper Hat. A nervous fellow, to be honest. She only saw them hanging out with Earmuffs. Other than that, all they were was kind-of nervously friendly with her. And it was one of the only guys around here that could speak short sentences- followed again by Earmuffs, and Balaclava. But they don't see them actually talk much either.
...errr... confirmed to speak in short sentences. Her own voice was... she didn't know. She never tried yet. It feels daunting.
Weird side-tangent over. At least Manteau wasn't immediately attacking Trapper. She was... giving them a really weird look and sometimes hissing. Not like that explained anything, leaving Trapper Hat confused and put off. Again! Agh!
Manteau protested violently against being grabbed again. Not- not literally violent, just. Got mad. But she can't blame them for wanting to avoid any more trouble! Please!
Her eyes meet Trapper Hat's, and only now did she see that her eyes were watery. Before she could raise a clothed, already dampened hand to absorb the moisture, she blinked, and she felt a colder sensation on her cheeks. It furiously rubs her face, embarrassed.
...then considers, before 'asking' if Trapper Hat had any idea where her scarf went.
Again, speaking was off the table. So she tried leaning a little closer, giving them a hopeful, yet understanding look, and pointing to the lack of scarf on her neck. It's missing. Have you seen it anywhere. Hope this isn't too awkward because she probably looks on the verge of a mental breakdown if they had to guess and they probably are.
Trapper Hat shook their head.
Worth a shot...
...
...
...aauuuuuggghWUUAAGHGGUUHHH
Inadvertently, she both breaks eye contact with Trapper and let's go of Manteau- didn't even bother to keep her neck hidden as the entirety of themself just kinda... collapsed in on itself. The very mittens she used to make that pseudo-scarf covered her head and face instead.
This has been an absolutely HORRIBLE day! It looks like it's just some long piece of cloth, but it means a lot to her, okay??! She wears it all the time, it's basically apart of her! Again, sorry for doing this in-front of you, Trapper Hat, but she- she needed another moment.
She feels some pats on her back, which she assumed was Manteau. She appreciated that. If anything, Manteau was loyal. It helped. If only a little. If, y'know, it wasn't for her being so protective as a next step. But it still helped.
...Would she be able to bear it if she never found that scarf again?
The possibilities invaded her mind before she could shut them out. Agh! Nononononono don't think about that. That can't be the case. Never will be the case! Probably. Most likely. Think rationally; it's not like it ram all the way away out of the apartment and down the stairs into the basement. Probably. Just think clearly.
Easier said than done, evidently. They felt so frazzled, so scatterbrained. And the extra cold on their neck and jaw distracted her. Maybe that sensation's getting to her, and maybe Manteau's getting in their head a little, but she wondered if someone did steal it. Who would do that? She usually wanted to think the best of everyone, but... but...
She feels another tappity tap tap on her back. Assuming it was Manteau, she just whines and doesn't get up at all. She didn't know what could make her get up at this point. But it was persistent this time. Tappity tap tap.
...
Then that tapping turned into trying to shove her upwards. Ough-
Okay, okay, hi Manteau. What's up. She had to blink some amount of times, because her eyes were wet again.
...oh, hi, Choco? Did Choco ever follow them when she first left for Trapper Hat and Manteau? She didn't see it while that was happening... maybe still making sure the fiasco with the scarf twins was finished, everybody here knows Triscarf keeps grudges...-
Choco shows her a Tuque in two of their fuzzy hands.
Despite them being little troublemakers, in all honestly, she was quite fond of them. They were cute, tiny, soft little things that looked at you with big eyes, what's not to love?
They usually had little hats and mittens, almost like winter-themed spiders (almost like her???).
This one had a scarf.
A. A very red scarf.
.
..
...
...oh. Dear.
She felt very bad for making such an issue out of this.
Well- Manteau did a lot of the issue-ing, but she wasn't any better. She freaked so bad about it, when, in retrospect, it couldn't have been more than a little ways away from any of them.
But she knew that nobody really had any malice, in the end. Not even the Tuque that caused all of this in the first place. It probably just... thought it looked nice and wanted it. It didn't know how much it meant to her. So, naturally, even the thief joined the cuddle pile.
Even Trapper Hat was invited, which they hesitantly took, and she hoped they weren't regretting it. She didn't have the energy to track back anywhere, so they just curled up in the middle of the kitchen for now. It's not like it mattered- everything looks and feels the same when everything's so frozen.
She considered tying a knot around her scarf this time, but that just didn't feel the same as wrapping it snugly around her neck like normal. Manteau was up on her chin anyways. Like she said, protective.
She didn't even have to ask for it. They assumed Choco and Manteau knew her enough to know it helped her calm. She was grateful for that.
She even, while lapsing into sleep, felt eight spidery limbs testing the waters before finding a spot to nest in her coats, and the kind of poking that could only come from an icicle that quickly ceased as they found a comfortable spot.
...yeah. Okay. This was nice. She buries her face into the red fabric. It's time to get some rest. She didn't know how long that took, or what time of day it was, but she was tired.
The last thing she heard was Manteau purring at her. Goodnight.