[holo] check up, check in, check out!

[taxcollectors]

"Hello citizens! Hellooo!"

It had been some time since that cheery greeting had first rung out across the tablets but there it was once again, accompanying a holographic broadcast from the arrival room. The platform was occupied by two hamsters of unusual size, the first with short tawny fur and the second with long white fur. Both were waving their little paws.

"Long time, no chat," the tawny one pronounced and scratched at its ear. "Sorry about that, we've been awfully absentee."

"Yes, it is most unfortunate," the white one agreed. "But we've been quite busy, and still are! Holiday rush and pinched budgets, you know how it is."

"They do, they do! Happy new year, belatedly! Though it's still early for Mr. Long, isn't it?"

The second hamster nodded. "Oh, yes, a little early yet. The point is we have a teensy bit of time now."

"Just a little, just enough to answer a few questions and take a few comments." The first hamster waved its paw. "But then it's back to work, so make it quick!"

Comments

[taxcollectors]

"Oh, hello, princess! Hello hello!" The first hamster? A bit of a fan. DG can expect a dozen roses on the kitchen table tomorrow morning.

The second is able to hold his composure a bit better and planted its paws on its hamster hips. "Just because you don't believe something doesn't make it not true, you know. And all we want is for all of you to go do that voodoo that you do so well!"

[tothelightshown]

DG was not overly impressed by the hamster's enthusiasm. It was difficult to get angry at something that appeared - on the outside, at least - to be sweet and fluffy and entirely unassuming. Until she remembered everything that she and her friends had been put through.

"Don't call me that," she said, "You're the reason I'm not in the O.Z right now." Learning to come to terms with being a princess and learning to have a family.

"What's that supposed to mean? Voodoo? You mean magic?"