The silence stretched out as much as it could with the other creatures in the room shifting and talking around them. Liya was suddenly aware of the space between her and the other three people at the table; none of them spoke a word, and she was the first to break the silence.

"Uh," she hazarded, "is there a bathroo--"

"Yes," Yoshi said instantly, fiddling with the empty clay cup on front of him. "Through the back door."

"Across the court yard," Shinobu added.

Only Vlad actually looked at her. "Take Yoshi's construct with you," he said quickly. "Yoshi?"

"Mm," Yoshi mumbled, and went for his bag. Shinobu looked at Vlad rather quizzically.

"She's just going to the bathroom."

"You can't be too careful," Vlad answered simply.

"I don't..." Liya began, but then she was out of her seat, and Yoshi was handing her the bird-shaped construct, shooting her an utterly mortified look.

"I am so sorry," he whispered.

Liya waded away from the table through the dark crowds, between other tables where other monsters sat, her face hot and the construct sitting quietly in her palm. As soon as she had turned away, Yoshi had rounded on Shinobu, hissing too quietly for the sound to carry far. Liya took a look at the construct in her hand with some worry.

"...I dunno how t'even use this thing."