#elsewhere

"If the kidnapper was a relative of hers - maybe there's something?"

"want me to cover the door or help in the looking?"

"If Flo has Frankie... mm... extra eyes can't hurt."

"Sure" And in she goes to peek around too

Thistle opens a door to drop off her bag - the room beyond is.... well, a touch sterile. The impersonal decor of a guest bedroom, in tasteful beiges and blues. There's a cluster of boxes stacked in one corner.

The troll looks for signs of family photos that predate Greg. Maybe a wedding?

"This room is...pretty, but lacks ... not sure what the word is"

"Oh. It was a guest room."

"The other room is closer to Greg and Janice's bedroom, and I'm only here every other weekend, so..." Defensive shrug.

"I guess those can't be too personal" She looks about still, checking files

"No files here. This is my room now, not Janice's office. I was just dropping off my shit." She kicks the bag on the floor.

"Oh I feel stupid" A sigh "Okay. "

"And that really doesn't LOOK Like your room.. I get it, only ever other weekend, but.. i think you should show off your stuff a bit here"

Muppet is nosing into one of the boxes.

She turns, then looks at the same box "What did you find, Muppet?"

"Shoo!" A small voice says.

Sullen look. "Haven't really had the time to... and... what?"

She goes to check the box.

There is an odd little creature in there than blinks it's eyes up at her. It takes a few rounds to do it, there are a lot of eyes.

Not much bigger than a teddy bear, and curled up with some of Thistle's abandoned art.

"Well, that's new to me. Thistle?"

"No light!" It squeaks, trying to burrow under a drawing and a bit of fabric.

"I... don't know it."

"Do you need to go into a closet or under the bed?"

"No one knows me any more. I used to live under the boy's Bed." Squinting up with one brave eye. "Now he has a Dread Beastie to protect him. There is a new crib! But no one came to cry in there! No feet to tickle and nibble, when they are little to make them giggle at all night and wake mom and dad! What's a Bugaboo to do?"

"The crib is just early. The baby has to take the long way home."

"Do you think he knows... knows something useful?" A whisper to Thistle

"All monsters-under-the-bed need a child, else we wither away." He sniffles from his comically huge nose. He has a lot of teeth, but they look silly more than fierce.

"The baby is coming. Really!"

"THistle's on it. She's brilliant and stubborn" A nod

He hugs a... is that one of Thistle's old stuffed animals to him, looking rather comical. "Promise?"

"Some Brave Monsters go in search of a New Bed, but it's Dangerous. Most beds are taken, and if you are caught out during the Daylight?"

A clawed finger across where his "throat" would be if he wasn't so roundish, and the top half of his head flops backwards almost entirely in an overly dramatic death sequence. "Arrrrrgggblrblrblrblrlble!"

"Well, that definitely sounds negative"

"Well, I'm a teenager, so not ideal, but you can stay under my bed until the baby comes home?"

"BEIGE!" He makes a choking, wheezing sound of disgust.

"There aren't even any dust bunnies or toy cars or crayons under there!"

Sigh. "I know, it's not... not a very colorful room."

"But the empty crib isn't good, either."

"Does Rian have a... uh... Bugaboo?"

He reaches out and catches onto Thistle's arm, crawling up to dangle like a sloth. Eyes squinting at the overhead light.

"Don't know! I could hear him laugh from all the way outside. He must." Sighing heavily.

"Well, if Rien has one, then maybe he or she wold share?"

"There is only one Bugaboo, and he is Me!" Proud. "Other monsters have other beds. I was the best. The best!"

A gasp.

"No sharing!"

"Oookay"

He notices the gap of Thistle's bag that is open, and swoop! He leaps in there. It doesn't look like he'd fit, but suddenly, it's just big yellow eyes, blinking from within.

A brow quirks, and she closes the zip a bit so he can hide. There ARE crayons in there.

A happy sound. The bag doesn't seem to have put on any weight.

"Huh. Well, that happened"

Janice's study down the hall awaits... or the master bedroom, or wherever they wish to explore!