“So, before I answer that question. What is the last thing you remember?” asked Sui

Trina paused for a moment, seemingly trying to recall “Ah… I want to say the countdown timer, after the house appeared but I feel like that’s wrong isn’t it”

Sui nodded “Yeah, I’m not sure if I should even mention it” Sui looked down at Ito but the spider just nodded and gestured at Trina, sighing Sui continued “but I guess I can try. So, a bunch of rabbits showed up and you started staring at them talking about how cute they are”

Trina frowned “Oh. What about Aife?”

Hearing her name, Aife turned and asked “What about me?”

Sui paused; Do I mention it? Do I not mention it? What’s safe here? Hmm, “Aife can you talk about the rabbits?” asked Sui

Aife nodded “Yeah? Why wouldn’t I, they are right there out in the fenced area… hey wait why is Trina blindfolded?”

Sui resisted the urge to slam her hand into her face. “It’s so that Trina doesn’t look at the rabbits and go all loopy again”

To Sui’s horror though, Aife seemed to only hear the first half. “She can’t see the rabbits, that’s a shame” said Aife as she reached up and gripped either side of the blindfold Trina had on and pulled it apart before tossing the thread to the ground.

Anger boiled in Sui and she was about to lash out at Aife with everything she had. You dare disrespect my work! Even a rushed job like that was in pristine condition and you tear it apart? An article of clothing designed to stop your GIRLFRIEND from being hypnotised, made by your best friend.

Sui didn’t notice as she held back her rage, but the fabric of her outfit roiled. Rolling around her frame and twitching at the peaks of the oscillations as if it was about to lash out and attack Aife.

But Sui reeled herself back in as Trina squeed in happiness “Oh, look at the bunnies how cute”

It’s the rabbits. Stay calm Sui, it’s just the rabbits. Aife isn’t in her right mind. Sui found her arms twitching and her fingers moving rapidly miming a basic knitting pattern. It’s not good to attack your friends Sui, you were taught that very young.

They are your friends; you care for them. Do not attack them over something they have little control over. Sui felt herself slowly coming back together, the threads that made up her existence winding themselves back into a tapestry of calm.

See, it’s fine. Aife would never destroy something you made in front of you. And hey, accidents happen. How many outfits has she accidentally torn during workouts? You didn’t get angry at those right? It’s the same thing, right?

Ito had walked up to her shoulder and started to rub against Sui helping her calm down. Finally, when Sui felt herself again, she bent down and picked up the discarded cloth before holding it in her hands.

Aife and Trina were already ignoring her. Trina to look at the rabbits, and Aife to look at Trina and the rabbits. What does that mean? That Aife watches them both. Is it because she has higher willpower? Or is it simply how Aife’s mind works? Clearly whatever this is has no effect on me at all, so it could be either…

I think we have the same willpower score… but I can’t be certain about that. Wait, yes I can? You can’t increase that stat right? And Aife has the same as me, right? Sui shook her head. It doesn’t matter. What I need to know is what I should do.

Trina snaps out of it, if I place the blindfold on her but what about Aife? Will she break it if I place one on her, or will it snap her out completely? Is it timed? Trina seemed confused for a second… but will Aife react instantly and rip it off?

Sui frowned. Best to do both at the same time just in case. Now that Aife’s taken it off once, she might do it again casually, and even knowing it’s going to happen I might not be able to stop myself lashing out.

Sui took a deep breath before standing behind her friends. She reached for Aife’s outfit and took a bit off the bottom of her shirt, fixing it even as she stole thread from the garment. Once that was done, Sui used her tiptoes to place the blindfold as close to the right spot, on Trina as she could manage.

On Aife she didn’t even try. With a look towards Ito, the spider knew what to do. Creating a bit of thread and attaching it to Sui’s hand, Ito then grabbed the section of cloth for Aife’s blindfold and climbed ‘the giant’s’ back with stunning speed. Once she reached the top of Aife’s neck, Ito broke off the thread and pushed it into make the blindfold.

Sui then took control and secured both of her friend’s blindfolds, keeping them over her friend’s eyes. Trina paused before asking, once again “Why am I blindfolded? What’s going on?”

Aife however had a different reaction, she leapt backward, past Sui and landed in a fighting stance, as if ready to attack anything that entered her arms reach. Ito was lucky in that she was able to sneak into Aife’s neck with her special technique before the blonde had started flying backwards.

“What the heck is going on” asked Aife when she calmed slightly.

Sui spoke loudly and confidently “The rabbits”

Trina seemed to shiver at this “Oh no. And you did this once before! What happened before? Why did I get sucked in again?”

Aife however, nodded “Yeah, there is something funny about them”

“Wait you remember them?” asked Sui

“Of course,” said Aife “Why wouldn’t I, it’s really hard to forget”

“Trina doesn’t, not really” said Sui “And they make you stop trying to catch them somehow. Trina just keeps saying they are cute, and you took her blindfold off the first time”

“Ok, but why are you fine?” asked Trina, confusion in her voice.

“I really don’t know” said Sui “I’d say my willpower is higher, but Aife has the same willpower I think… so honestly I’m not sure? Maybe it’s a combination of stats? Maybe it’s wisdom instead? Maybe it just doesn’t work on me?”

Aife shrugged when she heard this “It doesn’t really matter for now Trina. The issue is what are we going to do about it”

Trina frowned “Hmm, is Aife safe to act with her blindfold off? Even if I’m basically out for the game, if you two can work together we should be fine”

Sui bit her lip and gazed down at her arm where Ito would normally be. Of course, Ito was with Aife. Realising this Sui looked over and saw the small-ish form of Ito waving on Aife’s shoulder.

Taking the time to walk over and retrieve her companion Sui continued to ponder the issue. Once she had retrieved Ito, the spider pointed at Aife, then Trina, then mimed something by opening and closing her mandibles, then pointed at Aife ‘if Trina tells non-blindfolded Aife it should be fine’

Sui nodded, finding herself agreeing “Ok, Ito has a good idea, I think. Because Aife can act semi-normally without the blindfold, she suggests taking Aife’s off and then Trina, you ask Aife to catch the rabbits for you” said Sui

Trina paused to consider this “Guess we can try it, where’s the harm?”

Sui frowned “If Aife starts tearing into the blindfolds again like last time I might attack her”

Trina laughed “Aife’ll be fine I’m sure”

Sui shook her head. “Yeah, but her counterattack is what I’m really worried about”

Trina laughter stopped and Aife frowned. “Yeah, that could be bad” said Aife

“Look, Sui, can you maybe just look away? And Aife or I can tell you that we succeeded” said Trina

Sui bit her lip and glanced down at Ito who was nodding furiously “Ok. Ok, I guess we can do it that way” said Sui

Aife clapped her hands together before swinging her arms around a few times, and strolling up next to Trina and taking of her blindfold “What shall I do my dear?” asked Aife

“Aife, I’d like you to catch me some wabbits” said Trina making sure to stress the sound, bringing back memories of old cartoons.

Aife nodded, “With pleasure”