OOM: The Roof

[evil_koala_626]

The sun breaks over a calm autumn scene. Mist rolls from the gently lapping lake, shrouding the forest and outbuildings in an opaque blanket. It's early, Too early for the dawn chorus of birdsong, too early for nearly anything to be stirring much at all. The silence is punctuated by a familiar sound.

Snufflesnufflesnufflesnufflesnuffle.

There is a new quary today. Someone who has apparently taken no pains to conceal his presence at all. Jack Sparrow's pungent footfalls practically scream their location from the dewy grass. This is too easy.

Comments

[henry-jones-jr.livejournal.com]

A rather wretched-looking Indiana Jones is following the little blue alien. As much as he appreciates the need to find Mike's body (or Jack Sparrow), he really didn't appreciate being jumped on by Stitch before dawn and dragged out of bed to continue the search.

The to-go coffee hasn't started working yet. As such, he's exceptionally rumpled and exceptionally grumpy.

[evil_koala_626]

This is what comes from using filters in your coffee making, Indy. He totally should have let Stitch make the pot.

The trail leads from the lakeside in a meandering stagger up the lawn, past the gardens and to the base of the Bar itself. Stitch glares upwards in frusration.

[henry-jones-jr.livejournal.com]

"Another dead end?" Indy grunts.

To be fair, it's the most eloquent grunt he's made so far this morning.

[evil_koala_626]

Vertical is far from a dead end from Stitch's perspective. It's getting Indy up there that'll be the problem. Hmmm.

Wait a second! "There!"

The alien points excitedly at a rickety looking chain ladder leading up to the roof.

[henry-jones-jr.livejournal.com]

"Oh great," Indy grumbles. "The roof."

He hasn't had the best experiences up there in the past. Nevertheless, he trudges over to the ladder and starts to scale it.

"I dunno if they're still operational," he states mid-climb, "but there used to be a bunch of crazy joke booby traps up there, thanks to Raph's desire for privacy. So... don't go running off when we get up. Just wait for me and I'll show you the safe route."

[evil_koala_626]

Stitch pulls a skeptical face behind Indy's back. He's been up there before and hasn't had any trouble with traps. Whatever. With a mental Shrug, Stitch shimmies up the side of the buildin ignoring the ladder completely. He ppers over the roofs edge and grins down at Indy. Ladders. HA!

[henry-jones-jr.livejournal.com]

Indy may not be a ninja, or an alien, but he has plenty of rope-ladder climbing experience. Even at this hour, he makes short work of the ascent, and it's not long before he hauls himself over the edge to join Stitch.

"Okay. Careful now," he warns. "Which direction does the trail go?"

Everything is much as he remembers it up here: it's a maze of exhaust vents and chimneys, all billowing steam or delicious-smelling smoke. The only difference is the abundance of tattered red envelopes that are littered around. Those that aren't trodden flat sporadically skitter across the tar-paper like tumbleweeds.

[evil_koala_626]

An intense look of concentration crosses the experiments face. Two fingers are raised (to check the wind? For silence? Who knows?) There is a careful sniff a nod to himself and Stitch motions forward between the chimneys before setting his nose to the ground and resuming the hunt. The envelopes are completely ignored.

[henry-jones-jr.livejournal.com]

"Wait—"

When Indy sees that the route conforms to the safe one Mike had shown him, he relaxes.

"Oh nevermind..."

He takes a big gulp from his travel mug, then starts after, fairly certain where the trail is going to end up now.

[evil_koala_626]

A rounded shape slowly rises into view amid the rooftop clutter. It's large, it's a faded yellow. And unless his senses have gone completely haywire that's the steady sound of somebody snoring inside. Stitch smirks in triumph. Gotcha.

[henry-jones-jr.livejournal.com]

Indy's eyes narrow as they near the tent.

"Sounds like someone's home," he points out unnecessarily.

Give him a break—it's early.

"The sides and back are all rigged with slow-motion traps," he adds. "Or, used to be. Front door should be clear though."

[evil_koala_626]

That's all the permission Stitch needs.

"Grrrrrrrr" He rushes around the side of the tent. He has her! He finally has her! Stupid Bar! The tent flap is thrown dramatically open.

"HAH!" A clawed finger is thrust at the tent's occupant.

....

"GAAAAAAAAAAH!"

[mnt_mike]

Mike was sleeping soundly.
He was snug like a bug on a sleeping bag tossed on to the floor of a tent that used to dream of being a studio apartment.

A bug sans pants.

That was until the screaming started.
The narrative world works much the same way as the natural one does. Like begets like.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

Or in this case, screaming begets screaming.

Later...

[evil_koala_626]

The back door slams back on it's hinges with a rather audible BANG! There is a small figure standing in the doorway. A small figure bared fangs and narrowed eyes aimed at a certain piece of furniture.

A passing waitrat is suddenly releived of it's tray loaded with various foodstuffs. Said tray is hurled at Bar with a snarl.

"YOU!"

Re: Later...

[mnt_mike]

No bar has ever looked more innocent.
More pure.

All she's missing is a halo.

Re: Later...

[evil_koala_626]

The clatter and resulting spray of food is not nearly as satisfying as one might have expected.

Stitch crosses the distance and scales a bar stool to glare accusingly at her. He's trailed by a long stream of interesting and colorful phrases not at all becoming of a Disney character. Fortunately, they're not in English.

Re: Later...

[mnt_mike]

It's really not, no.
There's no satisfaction when the target just absorbs the ammunition.

Especially when she does so with such smugness in her finish.

As for Stitch's language?
Well for that a bar of soap appears on her top.

Re: Later...

[evil_koala_626]

There is a strangled scream of rage. No. no. Don't give her the satisfa-Akjhwegfuhjasdk/lwshfuuajf!

Okay.... Okay... pull it together...

"Won't ask where you've been." And here the short-lived calm facade (and English skills) shatter.[BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE TOO! THREE WEEKS! THREE. WEEKS. OF FOLLOWING MILKSHAKE BOY'S STINK! WHAT THE HEL?!]"

Re: Later...

[mnt_mike]

She's not laughing. The fact that there's a slight tremor is merely the fault of...uh...THE UNIVERSE EXPLODING RIGHT OVER THERE! LOOK! RIGHT OVER THERE! WORLDS BEING BROUGHT FORTH FROM PORTENTIA!
Yes. That's totally it.

She would pat him if she could, but she can't.

Re: Later...

[evil_koala_626]

Fortuantely he's too busy ranting to notice just yet.

"[And for what?! So you could go off and PLAY SMOOCHFACE?!]" The alien adopts a mock infatuited tone "Oh, Jack! Meega tae Boojiboo!" Stitch makes doe eyes and makes loud kissing noises. It's replaced by a look of disgust in short order.

"Bah!"

Re: Later...

[mnt_mike]

On Bar's top a line begins to form. Not on a napkin, and not in black flowing script, no this is on her very finish and appears as if made by red lipstick.

Bar
+
Jack

Her joins settle with a low creaking sigh.

Now she's just egging him on.

Re: Later...

[evil_koala_626]

Stitch pulls at his lower eyelids and gives a growl. This is rediculous. Bar's dark and terrible motive had been mushy stuff?! Stitch is tired. And he's hungry. And it's been three months and and and "I WANNA GO HOME!"

He slaps a horrified hand over his mouth. He did not just say that aloud. Correction, he did not just say that very aloud to Bar of all people.

Re: Later...

[mnt_mike]

Stitch wonders why she did all that for a bit of mushy stuff, and then goes to express the very sentiment that caused her to go off in the first place.

Everyone leaves.
Everyone has a home.
And everyone goes back to it.
Everyone except her, because she is home.

She has spent enough time linked with Michaelangelo to know how to make the substance he and his family calls Milky Tea. Bar brings forth a mug for Stitch.

The mug has palm trees and just below the surface of the tea stands a small figure of Elvis from Blue Hawaii.

On the saucer is a peace offering. A miniature olive branch.

Re: Later...

[evil_koala_626]

His eyes narrow suspiciously at first. And then widen as exactly what's appeared registers in his mind. He stares at the tea for a few moments in silence. And then picks up the mug and takes an uncharacteristically quiet sip.

Stitch glances sharply over his shoulder. No one seems to be paying him any attention. There is a long sigh through a bulbous nose. And then a blue hand comes up to give Bar's surface a small pat.

Re: Later...

[mnt_mike]

Her finish goes a bit cherry.
A new napkin appears, accompanied by a small plate of chocolate biscuits.

We're not so bad here, all things considered.