|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- PECULIAR LATHER--CUP 7--"I LIVE AT THE HOTEL" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Peculiar Lather  ||  -------> (Cup SRpl007, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = The elevator arrived, and Fluffy got in. The only other person inside was a very ill-looking bald guy. She didn't recognize him, and he shied away when she looked at him. She decided not to talk to him. The doors closed and they sped down toward the main lobby. The elevator arrived and Fluffy got out and walked toward the front door, past Cudworth and Drake, the Hotel managers. Cudworth was a mortal with a pleasant personality, and appeared to be in his mid-50s. His shape was rotund, his head nearly bald--a few white wisps left. He seemed jolly, if a bit confused. Drake, also a mortal, was thinner and shorter than Cudworth. He seemed to be in his 60s, and had a huge, bizarre shock of white hair on his head. He was known to be clever and mischievous, but also moody and severe when provoked. Both Cudworth and Drake wore mock-military-style uniforms. "Hey Fluffy--feel plenty rested?" Cudworth yelled out suddenly. Fluffy turned around. "I certainly do Cudworth." she said, coming over. "So what events of magnitude have I missed this past week?" "Oh, you know, the usual. Well has this big debate going. El found some more hinterland ruins to explore. And Cxoven's throwing a party for everyone--you believe that?" said Cudworth. "Really? That's a shocker. Sounds like one of his practical jokes." "Nope. He guarantees that it's legit." Cudworth said as he rummaged through the papers on his desk. "So where you off to--some cosmos-shattering adventure? A mission of grave importance? An ordeal of self-discovery?" "No, just down to the bookstore." "Heh--thank goodness for goddesses like you, Fluffy. I'm beginning to think the folks around here are getting a bit too grandiose for their own good." "They are, Cuds. They are." "Well, have fun at the store." "Thanks. See ya later." Fluffy turned and walked toward the doors, but Cudworth called after her. "Oh, Fluffy--can you see if they got the new Marv Metuchen book in?" "Yeah sure--what's the title." Fluffy said, turning around lithely. "I don't quite remember, but I think it's something like 'The Blankets Don't Generate the Heat, It's the People That Generate the Heat'." "Well, if I see any new Metuchen book about heat generation, I'll pick it up for you." "My sincere thanks." Cudworth said. "My sincere your welcome." Fluffy said, turning and walking out the door. Outside on the street there was heavy humidity and heat. The area around the Hotel had a great deal of gaudy and extravagant architecture, and street venders lined the sidewalks. Fluffy took in the sights and sounds as she headed downtown on foot. After a few minutes she arrived at the Fulptiom Valley Bookstore, in one of the major commercial centers of the city. Inside, she browsed around the Earthbook import section. She was much more interested in new books from Earth than new Agoopibooks. She used to be interested in the books coming out of the other Avert Cities, especially Blamnoom, but of late she grew tired of the Deific style and attitude. Having slept a week, she was hopeful for some good new arrivals, but there really wasn't anything of interest to her, other than a new reference series, of which only a few volumes were in stock. She looked for the Metuchen book Cudworth had wanted, but saw nothing new. In fact, the Metuchen shelf was nearly empty. She guessed that Marv Metuchen had regained some of his former popularity. After some more browsing, Fluffy was about to leave, but she spied a skinny kid with glasses in the back of the store opening a newly-arrived box. On a whim, she walked back and approached the kid. "Hey, what have ya got there?" she inquired pleasantly. "You're not supposed to be back here, Miss." the kid said in a bratty stuffed-nose tone of voice . Fluffy was a bit taken aback by this little creep of a denizen speaking to her thus, but she figured he must not recognize her as a goddess--either that, or he was stupid or suicidal. Not that she would do anything to hurt him, but she knew other goddesses who'd likely slap him around and get him fired on the spot. Not Fluffy, though. She was the patient one, the calm one. "Sorry kid. Anyway, what's in the box?" Fluffy asked. "Nothing you can see. And my name's not kid--it's Ben." the kid responded. Fluffy was a bit perturbed. "Look Ben, let's make this simple. I'm Fluffy Netherfuck. I live at the Hotel." "Oh." Ben said, avoiding looking at her. "Oh. I'm sorry. My eyes aren't too good you know." "Well Ben." Fluffy said, looking at the box. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----