Riddle Heights the lily-livered and the potty-mouthed

@Gilligan <3

A distraction from his woes was exactly what the boy needed, and with that simple question, he appeared to hit the jackpot. Seeing how Gil puffed up proudly at the mention of it, Duck's mildly repulsed confusion over the alien object was easily replaced by some kind of similarly mild awe. (It was difficult to get too enthusiastic about anything when you think your mother's been murdered, distracted or not.)

It was a star, Gil said, and that didn't really make sense but the pale boy nodded along with it anyway. Apparently, they all had one, which was weird because Duck had never seen anything like it before, so either Gil's family were strange or Duck was strange for having no idea what it was. But what was it? What was so special about it other than its alienness?

"Y-yeah," Duck agreed, though he was now half deep in thought pondering the object and its purpose. Gil had mentioned that his dad didn't like it - the idea almost made Duck cringe, but he had to remember that Gil's dad was not necessarily as forceful as his had been, and Gil may have been entirely within his power to keep it despite the lack of parental approval. "Do-doesn't he h-have one too? Your d-d-dad?" Gil had said everyone in his pack got one, after all. "Wh-what... does it do?" If it was just a status symbol (and just for growing up? Seemed like an easy trophy to win) then he'd better hope that Staleek and Tauza didn't learn about it, or they might want one.

Or maybe he should hope for that. For all of Gil's posturing, the star did look kinda ridiculous. But, gracious enough not to say anything of the sort to someone who was being so selflessly friendly, Duck did not dare say so - he could oooh and aaah over it all Gilligan wanted... if it meant having his company for longer.