As I set the egg on the kitchen floor on a cushion Michael had bough in his effort to make fun of me for calling her Kat, I actually found the gesture supportive. I decided to make some zucchini bread for breakfast and worry about hatching her later.
She got excited as the mixer came out of the locked pantry. "Oh no no no no!" I said wagging my finger; not the most absurd thing I'd had to do this week. "This is to bake with."
I brought Kat out of the room and set her in front of the television and turned on a show. I'm not sure if she could hear it but perhaps it would keep her entertained.
The boys set their toys down and joined the egg on the couch.
"Yay Lemmy!" Rory exclaimed. Timothy came too and I set the remote down.
"Ok guys it's Saturday so you can watch Lemmy while I make breakfast."
The boys nodded and the egg was surprisingly still. Intrigued.
I smiled at her and then turned to return to the kitchen.
The house had respawned a bit. As I reached level 11 objects had begun to display their points. I looked around the room at all of the socks and toys and plates on the floor that I had cleaned up an hour ago. Each had their points value shown as a crystal that rotated above them as I scanned it with my eyes.
I would come pick it all up in a while.
Ok back to the kitchen.
I began grating some zucchini into a bowl, "ok one and two… I'll do 4 cups that way I can freeze a batch." I muttered.
I put all of the ingredients into the bowl and then opened the refrigerator and found no eggs.
"Gaaaa!!!! Where is an egg when I need one?" I exclaimed.
Anwan came into the kitchen with Kat in her arms and it seemed that the boys had colored on her shell with neon markers.
"Mom! The boys made stained glass!" She tattled. She turned off the light and Kat began to glow many colors it was actually kind of pretty.
I wanted to be mad but I wasn't. "She's cute!" I said. "Oh that reminds me." I need eggs."
She held Kat tighter.
"Not that egg." I said.
She giggled.
"I think I'll use aquafaba." I decided.
Anwan watched curiously as I strained a can of garbanzo beans into a bowl and began measuring nine tablespoons of the stuff into the bowl.
"…..and 18… and … there." I said. Finishing making a double batch.
"Ewww why did you put bean water in the bread?" She asked.
"It's a vegan way to do it." I explained. "Aquafaba is garbanzo bean water, it can be used to replace eggs."
Anwan seemed unsure.
"You'll see I said, I replaced 6 eggs and it will be yummy and rise just the same." I assured her.
I turned to put the batter into pans when suddenly Kat remembered her fascination with electric things. The mixer went crazy and splattered batter all over the kitchen.
I screamed and grabbed at it. The splats each showing the point value of cleaning it.
Wrrrrrrrrrrr! Zrooooo!!!
Splat!
Splat!
Splat!
Splat!
Splat!
[Warning: respawn.
Warning: respawn.
Warning: respawn.]
"Turn it off Kat!" I screamed unplugging it and it kept going. I pulled the bowl of batter away and nearly lost my fingers.
Splat!
Splat!
Splat!
Splat!
Splat!
[respawn. respawn. respawn.]
"Oh shut up!" I yelled at the system as the mixer ran low on things to splat and I was completely covered.
[quest update: clean the kitchen; reward, 80hp]
It added.
The system said this with its voice seemed almost worried as if I woikd lash out at it. I let out a sigh and put the remaining batter into the oven.
I couldn't catch a break.
Rory and Timothy came to see what the commotion was about.
"Yay!" They said in unison and began rubbing the mess with their hands and sat in it.
A mess bubble appeared above their heads each worth 30 points for a bath.
"Gaaaa!!!!"
—————
The bathroom was a chaos of bubbles, giggles, and splashing water. I knelt beside the tub, sleeves rolled up and hair tied back, as Rory and Timothy kicked up a small storm in the soapy water.
They held out their hands for a pump of soap each and then wiped it on their bodies before asking for more. They would push this until I told them they couldn't have any more.
"Okay, hold still, here comes the water monster! I warned in my best dramatic voice, brandishing the cup of water like it was a monster.
"No!" Rory yelled angrily at me trying to get out of the bath. "No water!"
I was splashed dramatically and sighed and reached for the towel that was already soaked. "I think the tub has more water on the floor than in it."
"Ok time to get out."
The boys obediently climbed out, objecting to being rinsed off and I dried them off.
As soon as they were dressed again my system chimed in
Bing!
+40 hp
+40 hp
Still not enough to give Kat some lunch but it was something. "Ok guys time for a nap."
The next hour was filled of "weee" and chatter from upstairs as the twins settled down for a nap.
It took a long time.
But they were calm and played with their toys and I got a little break. I removed the bread from the oven. It smelled so good. It was great to freeze for breakfasts.
I took a slice and it burned my hand a bit. It had hot pecan pieces in it and I shifted it to my other hand going "hah" as it burned me until I was able to cool it enough for consumption.
I spread some butter on it. Yum!
The sounds of the boys upstairs warmed my heart. Their little chortles and contented playfulness continued.
And then the system chimed again.
Bing!
[New Quest: "Investigate the Noise"]
Reward: +50 HP
I groaned, biting into the warm slice of zucchini bread. "Can't I have one moment of peace?" I muttered, setting the plate down and wiping my hands on a towel.
Just as I reached the bottom of the stairs, a loud crash made my heart jump. "Oh no," I said under my breath. "What did they do now?"
But the crash didn't come from upstairs it came from the living room and I could smell smoke.