The hosts took turns between the groups of their extended family, tending to each little conversation like a little flame. Tonight, besides the breakdown of peace between Tunda and Sumira, the main topic was of Zarbey’s response to his wife's most recent commentary. It was rare for a grown adult to tally and brag about household chores but here we were.

  Duke Theodore Trevell didn't care much for all the drama, or at least he said he didn't.

  Circe, his wife, would say otherwise, having noted that the publications often had signs of wear on them - plus the man had a tendency to cry a tear or two in laughter. She knew the updates would be good if the paper had a few wet spots.

  One of the Duchess's brothers joked on the issue, “What I'm learning is that all women need a gay husband, my husband and I fight to do the chores.”

  The Duchess Trevell partook in the laughter, her bright laugh brighter the room. The Duke smiled, he was still working through his own awkwardness in crowds, but always appreciated color commentary from his brother in law.

  Though the same social anxiety that suppressed his innate gregariousness, powered his superpower in social awareness. In the corner of his eye, he noticed two children sneaking out the party through a door in a corner.

  “I guess we can’t entertain everyone can we,” he nudged his wife and nodded toward the children who were in the process of swiping some grapes in their makeshift shirt bowls

  She smiled, “I mean our daughter isn’t that much better.”

  Theodore sighed. He didn’t even need to scan the room to know that their daughter, Alena, had run off to do her own thing. He could already see her pulling some poor guard out their post to help her collect fireflies.

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  “Hey, apples don't fall far from the tree,” the Duchess quipped. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from Eugene and Fari’s children. And they’ve been trouble makers through and through in their youth as well.”

  Theodore chuckled, “And look how they have turned out, Circe. They might be the ones to finally cause full blown war between the Tunda and the Sumarians, the way they've been bidding up the price of spices.

  “Ha, well, the least we can do is to make sure the two little ones don’t get into too much trouble.”

  The two excused themselves to an alcove in the wall that housed two chairs and a small side table. Circe, tapped her signet ring on the wood surface. Three times. Clock. Clock. Clock.

  The surface of the table started to ripple. A beautiful crystal vase and a lovely candle holder sunk into the wooden depths.

  Lips formed and widened into a smile that exposed a pearly set of glass teeth - there was no getting the crystal vase back.

  “Hi! I thought you'd be occupied tonight,” the table had a sweet nymph-like voice.

  “I am, Dorothea, which is why I need your help. Can you keep an eye on the twins over there? Make sure they don’t get into any trouble.”

  “Ughhhh,” the possessed table vibrated, humming in spot before sticking out its tongue, it morphed into a eye on a writhing stalk. It peeked out of the alcove to look at the children across the room

  “Goth-chu.” the mouth said awkwardly, talking around its extended tongue-eye.

  “But what trouble could they even get into.” the table said, by this point, two arms formed from two of the table legs and it was standing on two legs, looking like a hunched back ent.

  “Let's focus on keeping them safe from themselves, and from getting too lost. I don't want to spend my evening coordinating a search party.

  Before Dora could finish starting a protest, the lady Duchess jumped to her next idea with a twinkle in her eye, “Let's let them think they are having an adventure by themselves.” Her ring glowed, acknowledging the statement as more than mere jest, but a request.

  The table started to shudder, warp, twist, and compress. Dora, turned into a rather large wooden cat,

  “I’d prefer a little more warning before you change me, Circe.”

  Annoyance was a universal look that all cats could make.

  “The children are running away,” Theodore pointed towards the children, who had just finished stuffing their faces with food and were taking off, “Off you go now,”

  The cat shot a dirty look that accentuated the look of merriment on her patrons faces. “I’m too old for this, you know.”

  The beast leapt forward, and started on her way, quickly running after her two, new responsibilities.

  ??——————— Nature Versus Nurture ——————-??

  “I wonder who Alena takes after more?” - Dora

  “You,” said the Duke and Duchess simultaneously at each other.

  ??————————————————————————-??