Off-Balance

**Off-Balance** is an InCryptid short story. It is sixth in the Alice and Thomas Shorts

## Synopsis

Alice has no sense of self-preservation.  Can she outsource it to Thomas and Mary?

## Plot

Late in the night, the Healys return to Buckley from their Florida vacation. The next morning, Alice bikes into town in a blizzard in order to buy breakfast food for the mice. She runs into Thomas, who had been "out" overnight and was on his way home. When he learns she rode in on her bike, he insists on giving her a ride home.

Alice invites him in for breakfast, and Thomas jumps at the chance to meet the Aeslin mice. They are gradually joined by Mary, Alexander, and Enid and enjoy a pleasant time until Jonathan comes down and snipes at Thomas's presence.

Thomas leaves and considers working on his truck at home, only to realize that Alice hitched a ride in the truckbed. She invites herself inside and notes all the work he's done on the place, and they talk about Thomas's experience with the Covenant.

After a token argument about Thomas giving her a ride home, Alice returns to her family through the forest.

## Characters

* Alice Healy
* Thomas Price
* Alexander Healy
* Enid Healy
* Mary Dunlavy - The Phantom Priestess
* Jonathan Healy
* Mr. Holloway

**Mentioned**

* Shelly Wainwright, baker and town flirt
* Frances Healy
* Laura Campbell
* Juniper Campbell
* Naga

## Field Guide

* Aeslin Mice
* Tailypo
* Crossroads Ghost

**Mentioned**

* Siren
* Swamp Hag
* Routewitch
* Swamp god

## Locations

* Buckley Township, Michigan
	+ Healy House
	+ Library (mentioned)
	+ General store
	+ Old Parrish Place

**Mentioned**

* Florida

## Organizations

* Covenant of St. George

**Mentioned**

* Campbell Family Carnival

## Trivia

* Jonathan didn't want Alice to learn how to drive until she was seventeen.
* Mary presumably taught Thomas the finer points of American driving over the winter.
* Thomas prefers his eggs over-easy, and coffee over tea. Mary prefers tea.
* Mary doesn't like the woods, and none of the ghosts like the Old Parrish Place

## Quotes

* "As she trudged across the yard, it was impossible not to feel like the forest was watching her, *judging* her for going away..."
* "Forgive me for thinking you would prefer to keep all your appendages. Truly, I am a rude, senseless man, and know not of what I speak." -Thomas
* "Tommy, how the *hell* do you get yourself into these situations?" -Mary
* "Hail, stranger. Have you come to Join the Pantheon?" -Aeslin novice to Thomas
	+ "I would mind your answer, if I were you. A mouse asked me the same question once, and if I hadn't already been betrothed to Enid, I think her father would have tanned my hide from Cardiff to Cornwall." -Alexander to Thomas
* "There was bacon. [Aeslin] mice were inevitable." -Alice
* "Well, now you're doomed. The mice remember everything. Which means the mice will commemorate you in their history as a source of food. I hope you enjoy sharing. You're going to be doing a lot of it." -Alexander
	+ "Only when in your home." -Thomas
	+ "Mm-hmm." -Alexander
* "Fran hired me to take care of [Alice], and only Fran can fire me." -Mary
* "I am not going to ask. Do you see this? This is the face of a man not asking." -Thomas

### Aeslin Proverbs

* "The God of Hard Work and Sunshine did say, lo, 'There's good eating on an ape, if you've the stomach for it."
* "The Patient Priestess said, 'Alexander, if that lake freezes in November one more time, I'm moving to Florida'"