Nexus. Shade's Subdivision house. The Next Morning.

[mosaic_archive]

((The morning after the Black Dog Wish Incident))


Lizzie: *voice is loud... and aloud?? It shatters the morning silence of the house* Oh wot the bloomin' 'ell is this??

Hans Seiderman/Jester: O.o

Lizzie: *is the sound of a crash and grumbling* Blasted jail bait indeed... *stuff being rummaged*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *still sleepy, hasn't really been sleeping well... and is now very confused... follows the sound*

plump and very busty girl: *blue hair in a messy asymmetrical bob has fallen into her snapping brown eyes as she searches through the basket of clothing that Rhinox left at the house. Is wearing a tube top and a miniskirt, and it's evident from her grouching and muttering that she's quite unhappy with the effect of the outfit*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: ... Lizzie?

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *also woke up... for that matter, everyone in the house probably was, unless they were already awake... arrives to see this and looks very confused* ... Are we contageous?

Lizzie: *squeak of surprise and hugs one of Leech's new blouses up against her chest* Don't bloomin' creep up on me loik 'at!

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *turns a bit pink, trying to look anywhere except at Lizzie... from her reaction he's not sure she's 'decent' and is not going to try to get a good enough look to be sure*

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *also not looking* Sorry. We heard yelling, so I came to look. I'll... tell the others you're ok, then? ... Are you ok?

Lizzie: *looks from Jester to Pinhead, and then bursts into tears* I'm stickin' out all over th' bloomin' place 'n I dunno wot t' do about it!

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *turns even pinker, to Pinhead* I think... you should tell Leech to come here?

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *nods and heads back the way he came*

Lizzie: *finds out her nose is running and has a minor spazz about it* Wot th'... Ewww!

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *hurries over* What is the matter... Lizzie?

Hans Seiderman/Jester: I do not know how this happened...

Lizzie: Oi done it. *appealing look at Leech* But Oi dunno wot t' do now. *her outfit covered her fine as a doll, but as a human it covers very little. And the LOL that changed her helpfully gave her ripped fishnets to go with the top and mini*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *sigh and a sympathetic smile as she goes to put a comforting arm around Lizzie... and shoos Jester off with the other, as he's still standing there an interesting shade of pink and a hand over his eyes* It will be all right, dear... Go on, Jester. We girls need to talk.

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *yes, this does seem a good time to retreat*

Lizzie: *winces as Jester sideswipes the door frame on his way out*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *for starters, hugs Lizzie, since Lizzie looks like she needs that*

Lizzie: *starts to lean into the hug, but then remembers her nose and pulls away* Oim leakin'.

Elsa Toulon/Leech: It's all right... *looks for a hankie or tissues* That does happen sometimes.

hankies: *in the clothing basket. Lovely undyed cotton ones*

Lizzie: Ewwww. *face creased with confusion and distress*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *fishes one out and hands it to Lizzie* Here, dear...

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: *heard something about Lizzie in a state of undress, so doesn't come in, but does call out* Is everything all right in there?

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *to Tunneler* Yes, we're just fine... *sighs, quieter and to Lizzie* Though we may have to go clothes shopping. I don't think this is going to fit you.

Lizzie: *absently wipes her nose on her hand, and then looks at the blouse with dismay* It won't?

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *realises the poor girl hadn't understood what the hanky was for, uses it to wipe Lizzie's hand off with* I doubt it. There's... a lot of size difference in humans, and we're really not the same size.

Lizzie: *looks up at the taller and more slender woman and sighs* Right. Yer right, Mum. *then wibbles* Oi look loik a blasted fool.

Elsa Toulon/Leech: No, you don't. You're just confused, that's all.

Lizzie: *takes the hankie and wipes her nose again, dark eyes dropping to the floor* Don' usually stick out loik this. *glances toward the kosher kitchen as she hears Shade's voice suddenly calling in there. Knows the cat hadn't been there before*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: Well, they are supposed to stick out like that. But it does mean one of my blouses won't button up. I think we may have to borrow one of the boys' shirts, at least until we can get you something.

Shade: *hears her voice* -Leech! Leech! Kitty has something for Lizzie baby.-

Lizzie: It's okay t' wear them? *so surprised*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: Well... it would have been odd in my own time, but Susan used to wear Richard's shirts now and then. *calls back* What is it, Shade? *doesn't really want to leave Lizzie alone like this*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: *still guarding outside the door* I can go find out, if you want.

Shade: *shows Leech a picture of a very nice soft leather vest with corset laces in the front and back* -Lizzie baby can wear with other clothes. Keep bumpy things tidy.-

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *is actually just old enough to remember corsets from when she was a teen* Oh dear... he's found you a corset. *knows fetching that will turn Tunneler several shades of pink, if the poor boy realizes what it is* Will you be all right here while I go retrieve it?

Lizzie: *eyes widen, but she nods, her hair falling forward over her face again*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: I'll be right back, dear. *gives her a little kiss on the forehead and goes to get the corset*

Shade: *looks up from where he's sitting by the prize and projects a picture of the garment being worn over shirts* -Kitty couldn't get any boonies.-

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *gives the cat a bit of a look at the image of it being worn over clothes* Shade, dear... corsets are underthings, not over. *chuckles at the idea, and will give the cat a scritch as she picks it up. Odd, it's not cotton like the ones she used to have long ago.*

Shade: *shows her several images of girls wearing corsets on top even as he purrs at the scritch and shares with her that he's concerned for his Lizzie baby*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *nods agreement at the concern, but is still perplexed by the girls wearing their underwear over their clothes. She's never seen that particular fashion concept, so it's really puzzling her* *she'll start heading back to Lizzie*

Lizzie: *hugging a plaid shirt and spacing out slightly as she sits in the chair that she and Jester used to spend the nights in, and used for their landing pad from the laundry chute. Short, chubby legs in knee high, spike heel platform boots are stretched out in front of her*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *goes over and hugs her, also thinking those boots look uncomfortable and perhaps dangerous since Lizzie wouldn't really be used to walking in heels... doesn't want the poor girl to twist an ankle, now that it would hurt her to do so... shows her Shade's find, but says quietly* The poor cat seems to think it's worn over a shirt instead of under one, though I have to admit I haven't seen one in leather before.

Lizzie: *looks at it blankly, but then blinks and focuses* 'At one does go over top, Mum. S'how it's done some places. *reaches to touch the soft brown leather* ...Smells nice.

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *just blinks at that a bit, but* Well, if that's where it goes...

Lizzie: *nods and rubs eyes, then makes a soft sound of surprise and looks at black streaked hands*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *stares for a half-second as well, before she realizes what it is* It's all right. I think first we'd best wash your face. Your makeup's a mess...

Lizzie: 0.o Oim wearin' make up? *that she is. Quite punk*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: Rather a lot of it, really...

Lizzie: *winces* Wot the bloomin' 'eck... *hands go toward the arms of the chair but then stop, and she's scowling and trying to use the hanky to wipe them so that she doesn't spoil the chair*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *looks in the laundry for a robe that can be used as a quick coverup until Lizzie's more presentable*

Lizzie: *pulling on the plaid shirt she'd been holding, and expressing quiet surprise when she stands and finds it falling to her knees*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *well, that works too* Come on, dear... *tries to guide Lizzie gently to the bathroom*

Lizzie: *a bit unsteady on her boots as she leaves the laundry room with Leech. Spots Tunneler outside the door and wibbles at him sheepishly*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: *a bit embarrassed, but gives her a smile*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *keeps an arm around Lizzie, still worried about those boots... but doubts any of them would be lucky enough to have the same shoe size*

Lizzie: *quietly, to Tunneler* This... ain't wot Oi was expectin'.

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: Life's full of unexpected things, Lizzie.

Lizzie: Yeah. *sighs and goes with Leech*

Comments

[mosaic_archive]

outside, near D'Coda's hedge

Konrad Hess/Blade: *once they're out here, isn't sure how to bring up what's always been a nearly taboo topic with Torch.*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *fidgets, hands in pockets, as he waits to hear what Blade wanted before bringing up what he's been considering*

Shade: *wriggles his bum slightly from where he's tucked into a nearby comfy little hollow in the hedge next to a beautiful little black lady cat* *will silence his purr as he uses her for a pillow and watches the two transformed puppets*

Konrad Hess/Blade: *the uneasy silence creeps on for a bit. Then* You know what we expect... at the end of this.

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *hesitates, then nods* Yeah. *and thinks they've made a miscalculation, but waits to hear what Blade's getting at with this*

Konrad Hess/Blade: *quietly, and with hesitation* For most of us, there is nothing else. But you still have family. I thought... I know you don't like to talk about whatever happened, but...

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *Oh. That's what he's getting at.* No, I don't. Whatever else happens, Carolyn stays out of this.

puzzled butterfly: *flits among the snow drifts nearby, and then passes between them on the way into the garden*

Konrad Hess/Blade: I wasn't suggesting anything before we settle matters. Only that afterward... you still have somewhere to go.

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: That's where you're wrong. I don't. *bites his lip, and looks away for a moment, but decides he's sat on that secret more than long enough. If the others can be talked into what he wants to suggest then there can't be any more secrets* *and now, really can't help wishing he had a drink* Carolyn... She couldn't deal with this. Science doesn't have room to explain people coming back from the dead... Only... creatures that have some of the same memories. Partial copies that might mimic certain habits but... just aren't real. Monsters, like that zombie, and what Camille became. And me. And I had to let her think that.

Konrad Hess/Blade: *confused by this, partly because Torch hasn't talked about it, partly because, well* Why?

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: Because people around us tended to end up dead, that's why. Toulon lasted, what, five years after he started messing around with magic again? Most people who crossed our path seemed to have a life expectancy of months. She still had a chance to get out alive. I didn't. And that's just the way it was. *looks away* I wasn't the greatest brother to have around. I had problems... I still do. It was better that... that she think her brother died, than to... put everything together and see just how screwed up I really am.

Shade: *hidden ears perk as bright eyes burn with sympathy*

Konrad Hess/Blade: *starts to say something, but...*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *cuts him off. Doesn't want to hear something about how family would understand if he tried, or anything similar* I set a kid on fire, Blade.

Konrad Hess/Blade: *just blinks, but doesn't even get the 'what' or 'when' that almost comes next out*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: That day I went out on my own, when the zombie was still around. I don't... I can't even remember parts of it. I don't know if I was just hung over, or because of all that weird stuff Jester calls 'strings', or what... Too much wine, too little sense. Isn't that always the way it goes? There was a parked RV. I'm not even sure how far I walked from the hotel. It couldn't have been that far. Just some kid. Thought he was Indiana Jones, playing with a whip. And I didn't have the sense then to stay hidden.

Konrad Hess/Blade: He hit you?

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: He was playing. I didn't have any way to tell him it hurt, and... I just... *ragged breath* He couldn't have been more than nine years old...

Konrad Hess/Blade: And you don't want her to know about this?

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: She already does. Police reports were in the records she had after all the investigations in the area... like the ones that let them find Leech. Carolyn... she blames herself for things, including things she had no control over. She blamed herself for my death. *shakes head slowly* The last thing I want is for her to blame herself for what happened to that kid because I couldn't lay off the bottle. And I don't want her mixed up in any of this. By now, I'm sure she's managed to move on and put her life back together. She doesn't need killer puppets showing up on the doorstep.

Shade: *ears flat and puts his chin on the girl kitty, who pats him with a lazy gloved paw*

Konrad Hess/Blade: *sighs and just nods*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: Was that all you wanted to talk about?

Konrad Hess/Blade: Ja. Torch... I'm sorry.

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *takes a moment to compose himself* I have an different idea.

Konrad Hess/Blade: *can tell Torch is deliberately changing the subject, so he just listens*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: No matter how things go down, we're going to need someone around who can reach high shelves and use a telephone. *looks back with a very slight grin* You know, without anyone getting coated in flour, or trying to tap out Morse code on a speaker.

Shade: >_>;

girl kitty: *silently laughing at embarrassed Shade*

Konrad Hess/Blade: *faint smile* You want to stay like this. *when Torch doesn't immediately reply, adds* Jester isn't the only one who thought you might.

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: We talked about it last night. Though that's not the only reason. *pauses and looks back toward the Black Dog, then turns to back to it* I think I might have to show you what I mean.

Konrad Hess/Blade: *a little puzzled, follows*

Shade: *suddenly trotting up from the direction of the brownstones, his lady walking beside him in a pair of sturdy boots as one front paw rests easily on the hilt of a little sword* Mow! Mrowwww! Mao! *don't forget kitty, guys!*

Konrad Hess/Blade: *doesn't immediately think of picking Shade up, still only somewhat reaccustomed to having hands*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *just scoops the cat up on his way*

girl kitty: *pauses and looks up from under the brim of her hat* *soft voice that the Nexus translates clearly* What about me, then?

Konrad Hess/Blade: *feels a little weird about this, but will carefully pick up the other cat*