Both Hoody and Masky had taken of their masks during the meal and left them off when it was over, Nico found it hard to adjust to. He could recognize their masks to their names, but found it a lot more difficult to adjust to recognizing them by their actual faces. Masky had brown hair and side burns, blue eyes, a fine boned nose, and a mouth on the smaller side of proportionate. Hoody's hair was lighter, a very light brown, he was clean-shaven with brown eyes, finer brows, and a wider mouth.
"Can we play hide and seek now?" Sally asked as soon as everyone was done eating, looking back and forth between Hoody and Masky expectantly.
"Of course we can." Masky said after a glance at Hoody. "You'll have to give me and Hoody a moment first though, I need to take my meds and he needs to take out his contacts, you know that Sal." Sally was up from her chair and did a small impatient sort of dance.
"Alright but hurry please? I wanna play! Nico you'll still play hide and seek with us, won't you?" She hopped over to him and pulled on his sleeve as Hoody and Masky got up and left the room. Nico might have felt a bit vulnerable without them, but Slenderman and Sally were still there, they made him feel a bit better.
"Of course I will Sally." Nico said smiling slightly. "I said I would, didn't I?"
"Yay!" Sally said before running over to E.J. demanding that she should be allowed to feed the dog as he was getting Smiling Dog's food. Slenderman got up and started clearing the table, Nico got up to help. He doubted Slenderman needed help, but it seemed like the polite thing to do so Nico did it.
"Jeffry." Slenderman called. Nico looked behind him to see Jeff trying to sneak out of the dining room. "It is your turn to do the dishes tonight, Jeffry, had you forgotten?" Slenderman said, a cold edge creeping into his mental voice.
"Yes, I guess I must have." Jeff said scowling and storming into the kitchen. Nico got out of the way. "Why can't the new kid do them?" Jeff asked. Nico scowled, he wouldn't have minded doing the dishes very much but the way Jeff called him a kid annoyed Nico.
"Because he is new Jeffry." Slenderman said in the same cool tone "Besides, he offered his help in the preparation of the meal and set the table along with Masky and Hoody. Which is more than you ever offer of your own accord, Jeffry." Jeff scowled at both Nico and Slenderman, but stormed over to the sink and started running hot water, so at least he was intending to do them. Nico slipped back out of the kitchen and into the dining room to avoid Jeff.
Sally was just making Smiling Dog sit for his food, his long dog tongue lolling over his human teeth as he panted. When Sally put the dish down Smile leapt forward like any other dog. So far Nico had been unable to tell what had earned Smiling Dog his place here besides his teeth, maybe that was all it was. After a few more minutes Masky and Hoody came back. Masky was a little more wobbly than he had been and giggled a little, maybe the pills took a while to balance, and Hoody was wearing thin framed glasses.
"Are you ready to play now?" Sally asked practically jumping on Hoody who made a small oof noise, but didn't protest.
"Yep." Masky said smiling. "Why don't I be it first? Sally, I think you should help Nico hide before you find one for yourself okay? He doesn't know the house very well yet."
"Okay!" Sally said grasping Nico's hand tightly.
"Okay who else is playing?" Masky said and turned, surveying the room. L.J. put up his hand and surprisingly so did BEN. "Okay, so L.J. no invisibility unless Sally is it, BEN no hiding inside of electronics." Both BEN and L.J. grumbled a little but nodded. "Okay I'll start counting now then, everyone scatter." Masky closed his eyes and started counting. Nico could hear the smile in his voice as everyone hurried out of the room. Sally dragged Nico out of the room and down the hall looking around obviously thinking hard about where to put him.
