River ventures up to the studio today and finds... a surprise.
Buttons has quadrupled in size, and is reading one of her parents' books.
"Oh my gosh!" she exclaims. "You're real! Now we can pla-"
River's excitement turns to fear as Buttons scolds her;
"I am no toy," it hisses. "I'm a girl."
"Y-you're not Buttons," River reasons. Buttons was a boy.
The creature looks up from its reading, clearly annoyed. "My name is Thalia. I have research to do, River, and you're going to help me."
Thalia, as she tries and fails to explain in simplistic terms for River, is a shape shifter. Buttons was designed specifically to look like her... though she rejected the toy when she was herself a toddler. This has turned convenient, since it allowed Thalia to impersonate Buttons, so to speak, to gain access to the Archer household. She is after what secrets the Archers may (or may not) have lying around... about her own origins. She wants Yasu Archer's notes.
River is not sure she wants to help a strange magical creature sort through her parents' belongings, but Thalia is not leaving the issue up for debate.
"I have to find out things about myself, because I am a genius and I could probably use this information." She points threateningly at River. "If you don't help me you are a fool. I can say this because I am a genius."
Thalia has parents, but is not keen on returning to them until she has the information she desires. She has decided River shall help her acquire it. While Thalia reads through everything she can find on the Archers' shelves, River is commanded to bring her food and water, to help her round up the household gnomes... and occasionally to break up the seriousness by playing with her.
Thalia insists she has a human-looking form, but that going into it would cause both embarrassment and a loss of powers, which would make her visible to everyone.
Currently Thalia only allows River to see her.
...Which is problematic, since it ensures River cannot tell anyone about Thalia.
Here's what River sees.
...But here's what everyone else sees.
Thalia's father was a gnome, she claims, but one of River's ancestors changed him into a sim-like being. He is still able to exist in the freakish toy form, though, which Thalia inherited.
"I'm more powerful than he is, and my siblings don't have my powers at all," she explains. "They are inferior! I want to create others like me."
Thalia has also said she wants to research how her father was made human, so she can perfect the process and appear more human in sim-form.
River is not sure what to believe. Thalia's desires seem to change by the hour. Maybe she is not sure what she wants. But in any case, she uses far too many big words...
Some family members begin to notice River's odd behavior.
Arjun feels like River is ignoring him.
"Don't say anything to that simpleton," Thalia instructs. "He's not deserving of our time."
"He just wants attention," Thalia says, as Arjun persists.
River would like to bring her cousin into their game, but she's afraid...
Arjun gives up, dejected.
But he's caught River talking to Thalia, when River thinks he's asleep, and gets the bright idea to communicate with the phantom himself.
Piroj looks around, but cannot imagine whom or what his son is threatening with all those expletives.
"Ghosts only come out at night, son," he tries.
"Not talkin' to a ghost," Arjun grumbles, as he glowers suspiciously into space. "I'm talking to a demon."
"There are no such things as demons," Piroj replies, wondering what schoolyard pranks led to such thinking. "And I don't want you using foul language like that."
When River goes to school, Thalia feels she has dominion over this house and all of its treasures.
Thalia does not miss her parents, Nero and Alexa, who had endless rules for her. School, bedtimes, blah.
She is confident her parents will still be there when she's done with her project here.
River tells a ghost story, but it's difficult, with Thalia constantly interjecting and trying to get River to take the story in a direction Thalia wants...
DeAngelo Inkbeard throws a party. There's a lot of booze.
Stella is not quite back into her own social groove, but still graces this party with her presence.
DeAngelo can't pay the rent this week, by the way, but he's pretty sure he can bum the money off his brother and have it next week. Their mother, Sylvia, died recently and left everything to the favored sibling.
The one who didn't reject her criminal ways.
DeAngelo had planned on a pretty big inheritance, so this is setting him back.
Scott doesn't think DeAngelo's brother should be contacted, period.
"I'd rather you stay out of that mess entirely," he whines.
DeAngelo is annoyed about how few people are at his party.
"When my band hits it big, people will be flocking to me," he tells Stella.
"YOUR band?" Scott protests.
And there's Penelope.
Penelope is a decent drummer, but more importantly she makes a very good party drink!
Since Penelope is DeAngelo's cousin on the not-red side, Donoph figures she must be into Scott.
"You two should have kids or something," Donoph says - not holding his liquor well, as usual. "I'm not just sayin' that to force my own lifestyle on everyone. Just sayin'. Kids are the coolest thing ever."
"Me and Scott? Barkin' up the wrong tree, Donny."
"Oh. Is he gay?"
Penelope gives her old high school friend a strange look. "He had that weird open relationship with Dot Caliente. I don't know if I want to be romantically involved with a guy like that."
Donoph shrugs. "But that's been over for years."
Penelope sighs. "Yes, well. Scott doesn't seem that interested in me." She glances wistfully at Donoph's cousin for a moment. "Why are you blondies so hard to get?"
Penelope's conflicting sentiments confuse Donoph's drunken brain, so he wanders away.
And amuses everyone by bursting into song.
As he downs another drink, his mind is primarily upon the once beloved career that now frustrates him so.
"Wow," Scott comments. "You're a very good dancer."
"Well of course," Stella laughs. "I was prom queen in school for it, remember?"
MOAR drinking.
"You're so freaking red!" Donoph blurts.
DeAngelo glares. "It's a skin condition! Insensitive prick."
"Oh-hooo... someone's turning into a moody artist."
The consequences of drinking.
Scott follows Donny home. Or drives Donny home. Or something. Donoph can't remember.
"I always feel like someone's watching me," Scott confesses, "after I pissed off Sylvia and all."
Donoph rolls his eyes. "Not THIS again."
Scott and Stella are actually winning the game tonight!
Of course it would help if Don could keep hold of the controller properly.
Joined by Vinca. Hi Mom/Aunt Vinca.
Arjun thinks Scott is onto something, with this being watched business, and takes out his frustrations on an innocent dollhouse.
RAGE!
The dollhouse is beyond repair.
Scott was startled by the noise, and rushes in to scold the child.
"Your parents are already in bed! You should be too. I'm going to tell them about this in the morning."
"I'll say you did it!" Arjun threatens.
Scott's not very impressed.
The ghosts converge on Scott.
Some weeks, it is quiet. Some weeks, they are out night after night after night...
"You guys make me not want to late-night cook anymore," Mildred complains.
*spooky noises*
River comes home from school to find Thalia in her aunt Stella and uncle Piroj's room.
"I've been looking all over for you," she complains. "I never know if you're off getting me into trouble or not."
(River finds herself cleaning up after Thalia, a lot.)
"I have an idea about how to fix you," River says. "My family owns a museum. I bet all the really interesting stuff is there, including my great-great-grandmother Yasu's inventions."
"I don't need to be fixed!" Thalia shouts.
"I just want you to be happy," River says, holding out her arms for a hug even as Thalia thrashes away.
After thinking about it a moment, Thalia decides it's a good plan, and looks forward to seeing the museum.
Donoph taps his foot. "Riveeer... don't be sneaking around your aunt's room."
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Etc.: I had not originally intended to ever do the imaginary friend plot again. However, I saw River's doll, and wanted to see what it would look like alive, since it is my first one with spots instead of stripes. Each different doll style unlocks new clothing, as well. But as soon as Buttons came alive, I realized I had made an error. I didn't want to do another imaginary friend plot. How had that slipped my mind?! ...I decided I'd make the best of it, rather than delete the doll (because by this point, there was no way to stop it from popping to life and being a creepy, annoying little creep).
