--- Kat ---


    Kat struggled to contain her amusement as Lily burrowed deeper into her chest. It was early the next day, and during breakfast Marigold had recruited the pair of them for… something. What that something WAS remained a mystery. Lily was sulking because whatever this was, meant she was missing out on talking with Thyme to get those books she wanted.


    s, Marigold was… if not a friend at the very least an acquaintance at this point so they were waiting.


    Kat couldn''t help but enjoy Lily''s ''righteous indignation'' because it waspletely adorable. She''d huffed and grumbled but not actually said anything beforeying herself down on Kat in the lounge… and realising that she was setting herself up to be teased by Marigold, transformed into her Memphis form… but she wasn''t willing to give upying on Kat''s boobs. So here they were.


    Kat was halfying, half sitting in a beanbag while Lily looked out at the world from between Kat''s boobs. It was a tad ticklish as well.


    Kat watched in interest as others wandered in. It wasn''t confirmed that they were all here for whatever Marigold had nned… but the hints were there. At least, Kat they were. The biggest hint was that no guys had shown up so far. Of course, Kat didn''t want to say or think the reason out loud lest Lily get even more pouty.


    There was only so much cuteness that could exist in the one ce without the universe imploding or something, and Lily would definitely huff cutely if she realised Marigold seemed to have acquired a bunch of pretty women for this.


    At least, that was Kat''s guess. She wasn''t entirely clear on what made people attractive, so it was just her best guess. Lily would probably know… but once again, not worth asking. Though, Kat couldn''t help but feel vindicated when Marigold and Vanya showed up, giving them eight people total. Blue, Vanya, Bonas, Burgandy, Willow, Marigold herself and of course Kat and Lily.


    Marigold took the centre of the room. The stage had been removed so the carpet would have to do. "Wee all! I''m d you guys actually agreed to show up. Certain people, who will not be named, refused my kind and generous invitation to go do other things. Of course, I will say two of them were are part of my team, but once again, no naming names," Marigold said with a wink.


    "Anyway… I was thinking of having a fun little contest!


    "You see, Thyme needs us to make up our minds about the treasures down below before tomorrow morning, so I thought this might be a chance to have some fun, and also properly investigate some of the treasures downstairs. I even managed to con Thyme into making a prize for whoever finds the most interesting treasure!


    "Now, just keep in mind that I will be your judge and you should be fine. I''ll be rating you on a scale of 1-5 for most categories, but 1-10 for the main one which is ''How amusing is it?'' the other categories are ''How practical is it'' ''How powerful is it'' and finally ''Does it look nice?''. Now, feel free not take things too seriously…


    "But I do have a few rules. No working together. Picking the same item as someone else halves your score… and Kat and Lily you''ll need to decide if you''re entering as one person or as a team,"


    "Wait, why do they get to act as a team?" asked Willow.


    "Because they can talk to each other in their heads," answered Marigold. "If they promise not to abuse that power, then I''ll let them go for separate items… but if I didn''t mention it specifically they probably would''ve just teamed up assuming they only counted as one person like Thyme''s normal events.


    Well Thyme isn''t running this one, I am, and I think it''d be more fun if theypeted against each other… but I won''t force the matter either way,"


    *What do you think Lily? Together or separate?*


    [Part of me wants to work with you just because Marigold said it would be more fun for us not to. I imagine ''more fun'' means more fun for Marigold rather then us… but I''m not all that set on the idea.]


    "See!" said Marigold waving in Kat and Lily''s direction. "That''s them having a discussion about if they want to work together or not. Despite having the ability to talk mentally it is painfully obvious when they use it,"


    "Ah," said Willow with a nod as she looked at the pair.


    Lily and Kat went back and forth on it a bit, with both of them bringing up reasons both for and against the idea before eventually settling on working separately. This was mostly due to two points. The first, was that Marigold had gone to the trouble of setting this up and she did make the request. The second, was that it would give them twice the chance to win whatever the prize was.


    "We''llpete individually," announced Kat.


    "Righto. Make sure you grab one of these forms. They just need, the number, the name, and a short description of the item" Marigold snatched up the paper from nearby and waved them about a bit to show everyone where they were. "You''ve got just one hour to find something… GOOD LUCK!" said Marigold, as she finished her speech with a p.


    --- Kat --- (One Hour Later)


    Everyone returned to the room with their papers. Kat hadn''t actually been down to the treasure room… so she was a bit unprepared for how many things were down there. Especially when she remembered that Thyme was only counting ''imed'' treasures. That meant that everything downstairs had been found by someone else.


    There was all sorts of interesting little nicknacks, and Kat wasn''t sure which one would be the best for the contest. Her first find was a mirror that projected an image of anyone who was shown in it out into the real world.


    Kat thought Marigold might like the chance to look all around her body… but it wasn''t too amusing and depending on how Marigold judged ''practical'' the answer could be ''not at all'' because Kat automatically saw through illusions like that.


    There were a few other illusion based things like that Kat considered, but in the end Kat found… a decent item. Honestly she wasn''t confident in her chances to win. It was a gardening hoe that worked better when you were naked for some reason. Kat didn''t know WHY it was enchanted like that, just that''s what the description said. So Kat was going with the shock value.


    "Hey everyone," said Marigold. She''d apparently found a table just for this. She wasying across it in a seductive pose. "I see you''ve returned from your hunt. Thyme picked the order you''lle up in so be ready toe up whenever. At the end, I''ll give you your total score… but not any of the specifics.


    Anyway, we''re starting up with Kat!"


    *Ah of course. Wish me luck Lily.* Lily blew a kiss in Kat''s direction and then immediately blushed and hid her face after she realised what she''d done. Kat smiled, spirits lifted as she readied herself for the presentation. "Well Marigold, I thought you might enjoy item 328. It''s a hoe," Kat paused for dramatic effect. "A garden hoe to be precise.


    It''s enchanted to cut more easily through dirt and debris… and it''s effects are boosted the less clothing you''re wearing,"


    "Wait really?" asked Marigold as she sat up onto the edge of the table.


    "Yup here are the details," said Kat as she handed over the sheet. Marigold read the description over and smiled. After a moment she tapped the table next to her and suddenly the paper gained a green stamp of a thumbs up in the bottom left corner. Kat raised an eyebrow at that but didn''t say anything just yet.


    "Ok, Thyme''s seal of approval is on the paperwork that means it''s a real item! I''m going to give you hmm… let''s see, amusing, practical, look nice… wait Thyme I need pictures of these things!" Marigold paused in her speech for a few moments… only for a picture to appear in mid-air. "Nice. Thanks for being a good sport Thyme, even though I forgot to mention this in the nning.


    "Let''s see, let''s see… hmm… looks a bit ordinary. Ok, in that case, Kat you''re final score is thirteen! Kinda low, but perhaps I''m undershooting things because this is just the first item and honestly I''m sort of winging it. Sure I''ll try to be fair, but how am I meant to know how these things all reallypare without knowing what they are?


    Maybe I''ll change my answers after I''ve seen everything… not sure I''ll be allowed to do it… we''ll see if Thymeinster," Kat just shrugged as she stepped backwards and flopped down into one of the beanbags. Waiting for whoever was up next to be called.