<2> Robbie forcibly stifled a sigh and smiled at his mother. "Sure thing, mom," he added before quickly turning and padding along the expansive deck that led around to the front of the house. He had never been particularly good at saying no to his mother, but at the same time there was something about her that made him feel... good about giving her a hand. She was incredibly charismatic, and truly quite kind when asking him for favors at least. Aside from his father, he was probably more of her right-hand-man than anything. As he rounded the corner of the deck, a small set of stairs led to the front lawn and a pair of massive iron gates at the end of a short stone path, behind which stood another pair of goblins. The male's skin was almost identical in color to Shara's, while the female was quite short with vibrant green skin. A dress and suit that had once been pristine were now tattered and clung for dear life to their owners' bodies. The male's top had sported a large hole where the flat top had once been, and he was quick to remove it as Robbie approached the duo. His smile lit up and a cheerful, relieved laugh left his lips as he greeted him. "Is that li'l Robbie I see? Holy cripes, you got big, kiddo!" "Hey, Uncle Shaz," he returned with a half-smile of his own. A push of a button and the gates swung open to allow the duo inside, and as quick as could be Shaz pulled Robbie into a fierce hug, followed by a signature noogie. "Alright, alright!" Robbie protested and shook himself free, though any irritation suddenly melted away as his eyes set on Shaz's companion. The exceptionally short, female goblin's reddish hair was quite disheveled, but through it peered a pair of beautiful crimson eyes and the faintest of smiles on her lips. Her tattered, dark red dress covered most of her, but they certainly didn't hang from her body like one might expect. Numerous holes had appeared in the fabric, namely around her elbows and abdomen, but the rest continued to cling tight to her surprisingly curvaceous body. The past ten years had clearly been kind to his cousin, and after having just seen his own mother so scantily clad, it proved difficult indeed not to notice. "Hah! Hardly recognize her, eh?" Shaz sharply broke Robbie from his reverie. His uncle was still the same as he remembered, though his stubble had grown into a full-fledged, rather shaggy-looking beard. "I guess ya haven't seen Lisette in near as long either! You two the same age?" "Uh, y-yeah," Robbie returned and awkwardly offered her a hand to shake. "Pfffft!" Lisette blew and lurched forward boldly to hug him tight. "It's been a while, cuz! Good to see ya, too!" Robbie quickly returned the hug to avoid further awkwardness, though an innocent glance down behind her showed much of the back of her dress was riddled with holes. Portions of an impressively large posterior appeared to try and squeeze out from said holes here and there, leaving little to the imagination. Robbie did his best to slowly step back from the hug and clear his throat. "Um, mom's out back by the pool. I can take you there." "Such a gentleman!" Shaz cheered and clapped Robbie on the shoulder. "Lead the way, kiddo!" A short walk around the outside deck later and the trio were near the pool once more. Shara, however, was no longer in her chair, instead having decided to hop into the water while she waited for them. Her hefty chest remained above water as she smoothly backstroked around the pool's perimeter, but as soon as the trio came into view she halted her pace and flipped herself right side up again. "Why, I almost don't believe it!" A couple strokes and she clambered up the nearest ladder, her drenched body bouncing happily as she trotted right up to Shaz and threw her arms around his neck. "And I never thought my little brother would come back to the cartel. Welcome home!" Shara seemed less than bothered by her own state of undress, but the crimson in Shaz's cheeks certainly betrayed how keenly he noticed it. He was in good company, however, as Shara quickly moved to hug Lisette and nearly smothered her with her breasts outright in her death grip of an embrace. Shaz half-frowned as he watched his sister. "Um... about that...." Shara froze mid-hug with Lisette, and almost as if she were an entirely different person she let go of the younger goblin and took a step back. Her calm gaze focused on Shaz and all excitement fled her tone as she spoke. "Robbie, be a dear and take your cousin inside. Get her some fresh clothes and a shower while your uncle and I have a little chat." Robbie recognized that look immediately and turned straight to Lisette. "C'mon, mom said yours is the third penthouse." "Actually I think a swim might- ooh!" Lisette's thought was cut off as Robbie put both hands on her shoulders from behind and nearly motored her straight into the house to slam the sliding doors behind them. Robbie didn't stop until they'd reached the wrought-iron elevator at the center of the house. He struggled to catch his breath to speak again. "Sorry... I... think... my mom's... gonna... explode." Lisette arched her brow in deep concern. "Oh... well, I did warn my dad about coming here." The male goblin shot her a confused look as his breathing evened out. "Why? I always thought they got along, at least when you and I were kids." "She didn't tell you why we haven't been around, then?" Lisette prodded and crossed her arms defensively over her chest. "Not a woyd." "Mmh, well...."