(Subplot) A Brief Return

"I can't believe I'm still a mouse after all this time, I only sipped a few drops of that potion" Maggie pondered out loud "I thought I would be like this a couple of hours, not the best part of a day"

"You can't turn back until you have the physical space to do so. Magic is very clever like that" Noelle advised her partner "And we've spent so long creeping around in these vents being naughty little rodent voyeurs that you haven't had the chance to revert yet"

"Right, I'd better change back before people start wondering where I got to"

The two mice made their way back into their bedroom and, sure enough, almost as soon as they were in open space, Maggie grew back into her beautiful flame haired human self.

"Oh, Noelle" she sighed as she held up and stroked her girlfriend who was still stuck as a tiny critter "I'll come and be a mouse with you again soon, I promise. I'd just better check in on Mel and say hello to the others"

Noelle made an untranslatable squeaking sound from the floor as Maggie left the room.

"So you can still communicate with Noelle then?" Melanie checked.

"Anyone can, if they're in mouse form" Maggie confirmed "But we think it's best that I be the one to act as the kind of go between from her to the rest of the group, since I only need a few drops of the potion to transform me"

"That's fine by me, I have no burning desire to spend any time as a rodent" Mel agreed to the plan "It will be really helpful to hear from Noelle though. What advice did she pass onto you?"

"Erm, nothing as such" Maggie looked a little awkward all of a sudden "Other than the plan to use me to communicate between you and her"

"But you were away for hours. What were the two of you even doing?"

Don't say watching you and James fucking. Don't say watching you and James fucking. Don't say watching you and James fucking..

"Just kind of hanging out. Exploring"

"Exporing?" Melanie raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"Yeah, but I can go back and talk tactics with her now. Do you have any specific questions you would like me to ask?"

"Not unless she knows about contract law"

"What?" Maggie asked with confusion.

"The TV people are putting me at the centre of every promotional job that comes up. It almost feels like being back on the app" Mel sighed "I'm wondering if there is a way to push back on that without voiding everyone's contracts"

"Oh, our contracts wouldn't be voided if we breached them" Maggie clarified "We'd still have to honour them. We'd just get sued for millions"

"Even better" Mel placed her hands on her hips and shook her head "Anyway, that's my problem. You go and get me some magical tips from Noelle"

Maggie was soon kneeling next to the potion chest and holding the vial again, while looking down at the little mouse that shared her bedroom.

"I spoke to Mel, and I went and mingled for the others for, like, a whole half hour. Twenty minutes at the very least. That's long enough right?"

The mouse squeaked back at her.

"Right, lets get back to it then!"

Maggie once again sipped the potion and shrunk down into mouse form.

"You miss me?" she squeaked.

"You were barely gone" Noelle laughed "Come on, lets see who is getting horny with who"

"Okay, but we'd better talk at least some tactics this time. I need to have something to go to Mel with next time I turn back!"