"Well then, Mr. Norro, it's a pleasure to meet you. Now, Imma be completely honest with you, I would have responded the same way if Junior had slapped me on the back. I'll let you in on a little secret, I've dreamt of doing that exact thing for years now. It's incredibly impolite for anyone to assume the intelligence level of any creature. It's quite dangerous around these parts, seeing as we host travelers from around the galaxy. Junior should know this by now, but he's a bit... Dense in that way." 

Jeff stood back up to his full height.

"Now, Mr. Norro, I don't know where you come from, but around these parts, we bow to no one. Especially not to the police, we are simple civil servants. Additionally, it's not in our standard operating procedures to make sausage out of our protectorates. Besides, sausage is typically made from pig, if I remember correctly. So you have nothing for fear from me, my friend."

~~~

Ainsley couldn't help but smile as she watched Jeff work. It wasn't often that she got to see him in action, but she always admired how he calmly handled potentially volatile situations.

However, she also knew that Jeff would be wholly wrapped up in his job and would inevitably forget to pick up a present, so she swooped by the gift table and grabbed two gifts. The large green box with black ribbon for herself, and the oddly shaped brown package wrapped in duct tape for Jeff. 

Additionally, it's not in our standard operating procedures to make sausage out of our protectorates. Besides, sausage is typically made from pig, if I remember correctly. So you have nothing for fear from me, my friend.

Already buoyed by the confidence that the officer sympathised with the kicking of the...impolite Junior fellow, the bull's feelings were further lifted by the revelation he not only was not to be turned into sausage but also that he had never been in danger of becoming sausage. By the time Officer Evans had finished, the bull felt better than he had since before the party had been suggested - or would if he could stop sneezing. He called me friend - I've made a friend! The nobility and purity of this first thought was, unfortunately, undercut by the bull's next thought. That's better than Moira's done tonight!

"Thank you! Achoo!," the bull said, rising back up to stand. "May I be more worthy - achoo - of your friendship now! It is a - achoo - honour to make your acquaintance!"

As the bull finished speaking, Moira returned with the packages.

"Are you quite somber and contrite now?" she asked her companion.

The bull nodded vigorously and then sneezed again.

"If this good sir agrees, you might find some relief by sticking your head in a snowbank. I believe the St. Bernard has just returned from doing just that." Moira turned to Officer Evans. "Is that acceptable to you?"

Posted by: @wren

"Hey, Delia, you know if the Mansion basement has any ladders?"

"Nope, but I don't know where else they would be. Not like this place has a garage. So it's worth checking."

"I only wish I could offer you a more dignified relief. Unfortunately, I don't believe the Mansions bathrooms were designed with bulls in mind. Now, if you excuse me, I do believe that I shall be getting back to the festivities."

Jeff turned to face Junior, fury evident in his expression. He strode confidently toward the wealthy man; initially, it appeared as if he would confront him. But as he drew near, he noticed Ainsley standing a little ways behind him, holding a present in each hand. Reconsidering his next set of actions, Jeff stepped to the side and passed on by, patting Junior on the shoulder as he did.

"Happy Holidays, Mate." 

"I got you this," Ainsley said cheerily while holding out his poorly wrapped gift. 

"Thanks, babe, it's beautiful," Jeff replied as he took the package and kissed her on the cheek. 

"Jeff, I think I ought to take that back."

"Why's that?" 

"Look up," Ainsley said, pointing at the chandelier and the two children, then at Delia and Maeve, who were standing underneath, where they appeared to be discussing a plan of action. 

"Back to work already? Some date night." He replied with a chuckle. 

"Common, I'll come with ya." Ainsley took Jeff's arm and practically dragged him over to Delia and Maeve. 

"Now, what have we got here?" Asked Ainsley as they approached.

"Just...trying to figure out how to get the kittens down," Maeve said, studying the girls.

"Hey there Kaelin! You hanging in there alright?" Ainsley called up to her young friend. 

"Got any ideas?" Jeff asked, hands on his hips.

"I'm fine," Kaelin lied, sneezing again. The sneezes were starting to almost sound like coughs.

"We're...working on procuring a ladder right now," Maeve said, glancing at Jeff then back at the girls. "Our best guess is going through the basement and look for one there. There's got to be one somewhere on the property."

"Alright, Kaelin, we are going to figure this out, aight?"

Ainsley turned to Maeve, "your sister isn't sounding too hot, she doesn't have any allergies does she?" 

"No," Maeve said. "At least, she's not supposed to."

She turned away from the girls and lowered her voice.

"She should be able to get herself down, though."

"Aye, so somethings amiss," Ainsley replied. "To the basement then?"

Jeff shuddered, "that place gives me the creeps."

"Scared of the dark, eh Jeffy?"

"It's the things that go bump that I'm not awfully fond of."

"If you two want to go looking, I'll stay here. Or, Jeff, if you'd rather avoid the basement, I'll go into the basement and you can stay here. Odd things don't bother me." 

Jeff glanced up at the younglings, then at Maeve. "Why don't you two go ahead and hit up the basement. I'll hang out here and do crowd control."

"Chicken," Ainsley replied as she handed over responsibility for her gift to Jeff. 

"Common, Maeve, let's go check out this spooky cellar," she added as she headed off in the direction of the stairwell. 

Maeve frowned, but nodded at Jeff and Delia. 

"Hold tight, ok? We'll be right back, promise," she said, more to Kaelin than Cosette.

She followed Ainsley across the room to a side door near the kitchen, then down the stairway into the relative darkness. 

"So what's giving Jeff the heeby-jeebies about this place?"

"Centuries ago, a cult of cosmic wizards from another galaxy landed here on Dittotopia. There was a huge battle and lots of drama, but afterwards they built a temple right here on this spot. It predated the Mansion by a millennium or two and they built it over the temple to keep folks from accidentally wandering into the tunnels. Of course, the cult is long gone by now, but there are... Things down here that shouldn't be awakened. Especially not by mortals." Ainsley replied while searching for a light switch. 

"I knew I should have brought my satchel into the party, could use a flashlight right about now."

Junior was a bit dazed from his slip. It took him a bit, but he was eventually able to stand, his hands on guard to catch the bull’s horns if it came charging. To his surprise, a young lady already had the bull under control. The bull even seemed submissive. “Now that woman knows how to handle cattle,” he thought to himself. The next few minutes were a blur. -He must have hit his head when he fell. He was aware of Ms. Death confiscating a spray from I.C. and saying something about presents and the officer cattle-whispering to the bull before coming over to wish him a happy holidays. “Well, that was rather nice of him.” 

As Junior’s head cleared, he kept his attention on the officer, who was looking at the ceiling. No wait, not the ceiling. There were two girls trapped on the chandelier. “How did they get up there?”

Mama had raised him to assist whenever possible, and these young ladies seemed to be in trouble, so as others were picking out and opening presents, and as Maeve and Ainsley walked out of the room, he made his way towards the trouble.

“May I be of some assistance, officer?”