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Helga's lips thinned, raking the couple over with narrowed eyes. Mipsy, tastefully dressed and affable in a way that she could only hope read as sincere rather than professional, and Earnest, true to his name, with hands clasped in front of him to stop the reflex to fiddle.
They had both gone with hidden weapons only, on her suggestion. It made it easier to gain a target's trust.
She watched the subtle interplay of wants and choices dance across the woman's face: Loneliness, joy, suspicion, and desire passed over her expression as she made her choice.
"Fine." The woman snapped. "But don't hurt her. Promise me that."
"I promise." Mipsy lied.
Helga nodded, and swung the door open to let them in.
The house appeared largely unchanged, if a little more dusty, since the last time Mipsy had seen it. Pictures of Mister and Mrs. Springer lined the walls in happy poses, drapery and curtains hung sun faded and only slightly dry rotted over dark wood paneling.
The dolls, however, were new.
"It is nice to have some adult company." Helga said, quite oblivious to the strange decor. "Little Bethany has been thriving - so much more than she was before, but she's quite the handful. I've been afraid to ask for help, with those dirty council members poisoning the minds of every Jane, Dick and Sally against her, but with you -" She took a deep breath, a satisfied sigh from lungs too long constricted, "I could convince all the rest, and we could be happy again."
They had both gone with hidden weapons only, on her suggestion. It made it easier to gain a target's trust.
She watched the subtle interplay of wants and choices dance across the woman's face: Loneliness, joy, suspicion, and desire passed over her expression as she made her choice.
"Fine." The woman snapped. "But don't hurt her. Promise me that."
"I promise." Mipsy lied.
Helga nodded, and swung the door open to let them in.
The house appeared largely unchanged, if a little more dusty, since the last time Mipsy had seen it. Pictures of Mister and Mrs. Springer lined the walls in happy poses, drapery and curtains hung sun faded and only slightly dry rotted over dark wood paneling.
The dolls, however, were new.
"It is nice to have some adult company." Helga said, quite oblivious to the strange decor. "Little Bethany has been thriving - so much more than she was before, but she's quite the handful. I've been afraid to ask for help, with those dirty council members poisoning the minds of every Jane, Dick and Sally against her, but with you -" She took a deep breath, a satisfied sigh from lungs too long constricted, "I could convince all the rest, and we could be happy again."
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