"I made a mistake" Bobby confessed. It had been only a half an hour since Shawn was back. Bobby was on his side of the room, nervously shifting the covers. When he noticed Shawn might be awake he had started talking.

"I made a mistake." He repeated again, voice calling out from the dark corner of the room. "Mom heard me talking to myself about how worried I was. About what we saw. She came into the room and asked me all kinds of questions about it. I didn't say anything to her. But then, somehow, we got to talking and she said I wasn't her...*sniff*...*sniff*...wasn't her son." That last part trailed off, as if the words were caught in Bobby's throat and didn't want to get out.

Shawn nervously fingered the key in his hand under the covers, and looked around to see if Ralph could overhear their discussion. "She did? Are you sure you didn't mishear her or something?"

"...RRgghgh...shebebebebeb...RRgghgh...shebebebebeb" Ralph snored something fierce, the sound of a buzz saw cutting the open air.

Bobby thought on that. "No, I don't think so. Mom's never said anything like that before. I think...I think it might be that she doesn't love me."

OOC: Shawn Rolls Dexterity + Stealth

OOC: 07:54, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 1 success using 8d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 1,6,9,2,1,7,2,4. Dexterity + Stealth + WP.

Shawn crept up behind Bobby placing the key near Bobby's head as instructed. The back of Bobby's head opened up like some kind of slowly blooming flower. Shawn half-expected Bobby's brains to fall out. But that didn't happen. Instead, it opened like a compartment. A small chest drawer jutting out. Inside, there was...well...everything.

There was a small portion, like some kind of toy chest inside Bobby's head. It had G.I. Joes strewn about. A little door next to it read 'TV Shows.' Shawn could see a portion that read 'Hiding Places' on a sign that covered a large door. There were too small french doors that read 'Mom and Dad.' Other doors read 'Fun Things to Do' and 'Treats that I like,' and 'Comics.'

There was a small note written in chicken scratch that read 'Feddler Bothers Me.'

Shawn carefully removed the Feddler note, then looked around for anything else related to the Circus. The Tweedberry Bobby had taken would wear off at some point, and this way he could maybe nip it in the bud.

Shawn looked around, but finding things in the maze of Bobby's head was somehow more difficult than it seemed.

OOC: Shawn Rolls a Foraging roll Wits + Survival with the following results

0 Successes: Bobby starts to shift, forcing Shawn to remove the key and make off with Feddler's note

1 Success: Shawn finds something of interest

2 Successes: Shawn finds something of interest and more...

Shawn rummaged around to no avail, and pulled back as Bobby started to shift. He quietly returned to his bed, note in hand.

OOC: 22:28, Today: Shawn Cramer failed (no successes) using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 3,4,3,6.  Wits + Survival + WP.

Bobby's head closed up, shadows folding inward, the corner of the room distant and dark as Shawn retreated to his bed. "Did you feel that?" Bobby asked. "It feels like there's a draft in here."

Shawn modulated his voice to sound tired and sleepy, as though he'd been spending his time slowly getting to sleep. "Maybe? I think you're closer to the window, though."

"mmmm..." Bobby said after a few seconds. It was clear that, based on the tone of his voice and agreement, he was falling asleep. Soon, Shawn heard Bobby' breath heavily coming out in a rythmic snore. He was fast asleep and comfortable by the sound of it.

Shawn breathed out a silent sigh of relief as he heard Bobby and Ralph had both faded off to sleep. He'd succeeded. Soon he'd have to return to the Circus and pay his price, but for a moment he could just enjoy his partial victory.

OOC: End of thread