"Does she know what mindreading feels like or is it that obvious a comparison?" Stella's still gentle with Petaal, after a startled flinch at the shift under her hand; she doesn't know much about how this works and is erring on the side of caution.

"It's that obvious," says Petaal, closing her eyes and making happy little hm-hm noises.

"Ah." Pet pet. So soft.

"Mm," says Petaal. "Aren't I cuddly?"

"You are. What kind of creature are you? Or doesn't it really exist, like the dragon?"

"I'm a viscacha," she says proudly. "They're really real. And really fluffy."

"No kidding they're fluffy. You're like an overstuffed rabbit plushie crossed with the concept of huggableness."

"Amariah said so too," giggles Petaal.

"We are very much alike," laughs Stella.

"You are!" says Petaal. "You give nice pettings."

"I am glad to hear it." Pet pet pet. "You wanna take me to your world so I can meet Amariah?"

"Sure," she says contentedly, and nuzzles Stella's hand, and hops back across the table into Kas's arms. He hugs her for a moment, kisses the top of her head, and then stands up.

Stella follows after him. She floats.

Petaal turns into a brightly iridescent snake and loops herself around Kas's shoulders as he opens the door.

Stella steps out into a strip club in Rio, takes in the Portuguese signage with tolerant amusement, and puts Amariah and Kas both on the brainphone network for a conference call. [Hi, Amariah! Guess who!]

[...Stella?] guesses Amariah. [Goddesses all, did Kas bring you back? Oh wow.]

"Hey, count me in here," says Petaal.

"Sorry," says Stella, and she includes the daemons on the network too. [Yep! Are you in the middle of anything? Can I come teleport you to the door here in - some Portuguese-speaking country?]

[Yeah - absolutely - I'll tell Metis I'm going to the bathroom - we can talk in Milliways and she won't notice how long I'm gone,] chatters Amariah. There's a silence. [Okay, now.]

"Hold the door?" Stella asks Kas lightly, and teleportation occurs.

Teleportation and counterpart-hugs!

Kas holds the door.

Amariah gives him a kiss as she sidles through it.