“I am soooo bored.” Topher stares blankly at the weasel across from him. “Mm. Green not yellow, Tri.”
Tri is standing in front of him in a sickly yellow blouse and a lavender suit. “You think so? It does look kind of old lady, doesn’t it?”
He nods, “Oh, and a little brighter of a suit. That colour lavender doesn’t really suit you.”
She sighs, “I know. I’ll put a little more red too, and then it will look better with the green blouse.”
Topher tilts his head to the left, “Hey, how are you going to get past the fact that you look like a thirteen year-old?”
“I’ll show you in a second.” She goes back into the changing room. “Hey Topher, there’s food in the kitchen if you’re really hungry.”
He smiles slightly and gets up off his chair. “Thanks.” The cat walks along the red carpet towards the purple and green kitchen. He finds a box of his favourite cereal on the counter, as well as a bowl and spoon. He opens the fridge and finds a small bottle of milk. It doesn’t have any markings other than an expiry date. “October 9th, 1948?” Topher shakes the bottle gently, “Tri, have you been shopping in the past again?”
The weasel peeks her head into the dining room. “I can’t help it! Everything’s so much cheaper.”
He rolls his eyes. “How long ago did you get this?”
“Just four days ago. Don’t worry, I milked the cow myself.” Tri chuckles.
Topher chuckles too. “You’re amazing.”
She rolls her eyes, “Like I need you to tell me that. Listen, what do you think?”
Tri walks fully into the room. She’s wearing a red-violet dress shirt with a lime green suit, but that’s not what surprises Topher. She also looks around thirty years-old. “What in the name of pineapples?!”
“Pineapples?” Tri raises an eyebrow, “Topher, we need to work on your cussing ability.”
He shakes his head, “You can transform? You never told me that!”
She shrugs, “I read it this morning in my mother’s journal. I’m almost done translating the most recent one.”
Topher sighs. “I’m never asking you for a favour again. You like to give me heart-attacks.” He shudders, “Like an image of the future.”
She sighs, “Topher, relax. You aren’t going to look that bad. At least not here. I’d stop going back to Thalia after you turn fifty.”
He groans, “Great. Thanks.” Glancing over her again, the cat nods. “You look outrageous enough to be famous. What are you going to do?”
“Charm. I’m turning it up to 700.” She morphs further, turning her fur darker brown, and changing her face shape a bit. She grins, “Even going to smile. But just for you, Topher. I don’t normally go this crazy. For anybody.”
---------------------------------------------------------
Midnight glances at the door as the thief comes in the door. “Oh. I’ll be with you in a second.”
Topher winces. She knows more than he would like her to, but Tri said that she wasn’t erasing any more memories. Luke must have been yelling at her about that again. “Thanks, Midnight.”
Alan glances into the dining room. He notices that the young visitor is on his own today. “Hey Weed, you know how I said that it was crazy that the weasel girl just appeared?”
The siamese glances up, “Something like that. Why?”
“She was on the roof last night. She slept inside a backpack.” Alan sighs, “I think I might be crazy.”
Weed chuckles. “Are you almost done that movie series? I’ve got another one for you.”
Alan shakes his head. “Weed, there are eight movies. I’ve watched two. And so far they aren’t that good.”
His friend starts chopping up a bowl of carrots. “Trust me, man. They get better.”
“If you say so.” Alan glances up as Midnight walks in. “How’s the front looking?”
Midnight winces, “You might want to take a look at this.”
The cooks follow her out of the kitchen. “What on-”
The dining room is trashed. The tables are askew, and some are even upside down. “Dudes, we have to clean this up before Chef gets here.”
“What is this that you need to clean up before I arrive?” Chef walks up behind them. “Oh.” The cat stares at the messy dining room. “Were you having a party of night last?”
Alan shakes his head. Weed shrugs and does the same. Midnight rolls her eyes. “We were robbed. And I think I know who- Oh, here he is now.”
Topher knocks on the glass door, panic in his eyes. Midnight narrows her eyes. The boy sighs and pushes open the broken door. “Is it gone?”
“Is what gone?” Midnight glares at him.
He flinches. “Listen, I have to find that robot. If I don’t…” Topher looks down sadly. “Like, Tri is going to kill me.”
The waitress pauses and straightens. “Wait, robot?”
He groans. “Her brother built it when he was three. That robot is the only thing she has of his.”
Midnight glances around at the mess. “Could it have done this?”
He follows her glance, noticing the huge mess for the first time. “Xoltla.” He runs through the mess to a slashed X on one of the seats. “Tri is going to kill me!”
“Why did you leave it here?” Midnight follows him. The other cats are staring at them in shock.
Alan asks what they’re all thinking, “Why did you think that he did this, Midnight?”
Topher freezes and turns to stare at the cat behind him. “It’s still a possibility.” Midnight is glaring at him.
The young cat’s face pales. With his eyes, he begs her not to tell them. With his mouth he says, “I. Did. Not. Rob. You.” He makes a fist. “Listen, what I’ve done in the past is in the past, lady. My father could be in prison now for all I’ve heard of him.”
Midnight meets his eyes. “In the past two days? That was pretty fast.”
He stiffens. Reaching a hand into his pocket, he presses a button on a remote. “Shut up.” He turns to the rest of the cats. “I’m so sorry about this mess. If I hadn’t been playing with that robot… Let me help you clean up.” The waitress is still glaring at him, but now her mouth is closed. She starts making frantic motions with her hands. Topher chuckles quietly as he flips a table back onto its feet. “Speak up, Midnight. I can’t hear you.”
“Christopher Penita! What is the meaning of this?” Tri stands in the doorway, her eyes and fur bright red. “He’s gone, isn’t he? And… why did you shut up Midnight?”
Topher winces, “Tri… It’s hard to-”
“Topher, I’ve been listening in off and on. Didn’t I tell you not to touch Dig’s robot? I trusted you.” She clenches her teeth. “I’ll talk to Midnight. You’d better find Pezt and get me back that robot.”
He nods and runs out of the restaurant. Alan steps in between Tri and Midnight. “Why do you need to talk to Midnight? About what?”
Tri sighs, and the colour in her eyes fades to normal. “Her mother.”
The waitress gasps, or as well as she can with her mouth shut. She shakes her head madly. Alan shrugs. “Well, be nice to her. She’s part of our business here,”
Midnight makes muffled screaming noises. Tri rolls her eyes. “Come on, Midnight. Listen, I just want to ask you some questions.” The cat winces, but follows Tri out. As soon as they leave earshot, the weasel turns around. “Hold still. If you move, this will hurt.” She grabs Midnight’s mouth.
“What the-!” The cat pulls away in shock. “Oh. Thanks.”
Tri rolls her eyes. “You have a way of saying ‘thanks’ that makes it sound like ‘jump in a lake.’”
Midnight crosses her arms. “What did you do to my mom?”
After staring at her for a couple seconds, Tri asks, “Why in the universe would you think I did something to your mother? I don’t hurt people unless they deserve it, genius.”
“Oh. Then why-?” The waitress breaks off as Tri hands her a photo.
The weasel sighs, “I didn’t hurt your mother, Midnight. Remember Topher’s father?” The cat nods, staring at the photo in shock. “Well, somehow he found out that you know where the stolen exhibit went.”
Midnight drops the photo and runs in the direction of her house. Tri follows close behind. The photo hits the ground, turning face up. It's of Midnight's mother tied up to an Egyptian statue of a young girl.
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...
Showing posts with label WFF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WFF. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Chapter 8: Rooftop Awakenings
Tri wakes up the next morning and does her normal schedule of tests and getting ready for her day. She pulls out a file from her mother's filing cabinet and does her daily translation work, then walks into her brother's room, touching his pillow gently. Diggory had been obsessed with Roman architecture, and his room was decorated accordingly. It has a red tile floor, light beige walls, white marble columns in every corner, an elevated stage for his bed and dresser, and a shallow wading pool in the far right corner. Tri's room was decorated very differently, with shiny black walls, a dark hardwood floor, a glossy aquamarine grand piano, red carpeting leading up to her canopy bed on a stage in the center of the room. On the other side of a dividing wall, she has a brightly lit exercise room with a stepper and some weights.
She walks into her purple and green kitchen to have some breakfast, and climbs up the ladder to exit her backpack. When she emerges, there’s Alan, staring at her. “You fit into a backpack?”
She shrugs, “Yeah. It’s a space/time distortion capsule. That means… well, it’s hard to explain.” She glances at her pocket watch as it rings, and then marks something down in the back of a book she pulls out of the bag. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“I was just heading down there.” He raises an eyebrow as she smirks and walks over to the railing around the edge of most of the roof. “What are you doing?”
Tri chuckles, “I’m waiting for my friend to walk under me so that I can jump on him from above.”
Alan opens his mouth to ask another question, but decides that he’d rather not know. “Okay then. Bye.” He heads down the stairs to the restaurant.
The weasel (still not used to that…) laughs after he’s gone, “I can’t believe he believed me.” She judges the distance between where she’s standing and the next building over. “That’s awfully far… but… I can make it.”
She jumps, her backpack resting gently on her back. Landing just over the edge of the roof of the next building. Biting her lip a little nervously, she leans forward, landing on all fours safely away from the edge. Topher chuckles, crossing his arms. “Another sketchy landing for the queen of falling?”
“Oh shut up, Topher.” She stands up and glares at him. “I’ve done what I needed to have done. I helped you with that job. Now what?”
He sighs, “Can you help me get out of it?”
Tri raises an eyebrow, “I don’t do stuff like that anymore, bud. Call someone else, ‘cause I’m not killing your father.”
“That’s not what I was going to ask!” Topher shudders, “I need you to speed up the adoption process!”
She sighs, “Listen, I can try. But don’t expect much. I don’t have many connections in this dimension, and they take a while to make. In Thalia, it’s different.”
He tilts his head to the side, “Why?”
“I’d never been to this dimension before. But, I practically lived in Thalia for three years.” She chuckles, “Everyone owes me something there. A favour here, a favour there, BAM you’re adopted. But here is different, because I don’t know anybody.”
Topher raises his eyebrows, “How many favours did you do?”
Tri rolls her eyes, “Dude, please. Hashtag blackmail.”
“And you wonder why Luke worries about you on a daily basis.” The cat shakes his head, “If anyone could turn to the dark side, it’d be you.”
She glares at him, “Shut up, kitty-cat.” Walking to the other side of the roof she nibbles her lip, thinking hard. “Your foster family is all ready to go through with the adoption. They love you immensely. I’d need to go a bit higher…” Her eyebrows lift, and her aqua tints flash violet. “I’m going undercover.”
The cat winces, a grimace on his face. “Is it too late to change my mind?”
She laughs without humour. Cold and menacing. “Ohhhhh, far too late, my friend. Comecome. I’m needing your help selecting my wardrobe.”
Topher whines as he’s pulled down the ladder into the backpack. “I haaaaaaaven’t eveeeeeen haaaaaad breakfaaaaaast!”
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She walks into her purple and green kitchen to have some breakfast, and climbs up the ladder to exit her backpack. When she emerges, there’s Alan, staring at her. “You fit into a backpack?”
She shrugs, “Yeah. It’s a space/time distortion capsule. That means… well, it’s hard to explain.” She glances at her pocket watch as it rings, and then marks something down in the back of a book she pulls out of the bag. “Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“I was just heading down there.” He raises an eyebrow as she smirks and walks over to the railing around the edge of most of the roof. “What are you doing?”
Tri chuckles, “I’m waiting for my friend to walk under me so that I can jump on him from above.”
Alan opens his mouth to ask another question, but decides that he’d rather not know. “Okay then. Bye.” He heads down the stairs to the restaurant.
The weasel (still not used to that…) laughs after he’s gone, “I can’t believe he believed me.” She judges the distance between where she’s standing and the next building over. “That’s awfully far… but… I can make it.”
She jumps, her backpack resting gently on her back. Landing just over the edge of the roof of the next building. Biting her lip a little nervously, she leans forward, landing on all fours safely away from the edge. Topher chuckles, crossing his arms. “Another sketchy landing for the queen of falling?”
“Oh shut up, Topher.” She stands up and glares at him. “I’ve done what I needed to have done. I helped you with that job. Now what?”
He sighs, “Can you help me get out of it?”
Tri raises an eyebrow, “I don’t do stuff like that anymore, bud. Call someone else, ‘cause I’m not killing your father.”
“That’s not what I was going to ask!” Topher shudders, “I need you to speed up the adoption process!”
She sighs, “Listen, I can try. But don’t expect much. I don’t have many connections in this dimension, and they take a while to make. In Thalia, it’s different.”
He tilts his head to the side, “Why?”
“I’d never been to this dimension before. But, I practically lived in Thalia for three years.” She chuckles, “Everyone owes me something there. A favour here, a favour there, BAM you’re adopted. But here is different, because I don’t know anybody.”
Topher raises his eyebrows, “How many favours did you do?”
Tri rolls her eyes, “Dude, please. Hashtag blackmail.”
“And you wonder why Luke worries about you on a daily basis.” The cat shakes his head, “If anyone could turn to the dark side, it’d be you.”
She glares at him, “Shut up, kitty-cat.” Walking to the other side of the roof she nibbles her lip, thinking hard. “Your foster family is all ready to go through with the adoption. They love you immensely. I’d need to go a bit higher…” Her eyebrows lift, and her aqua tints flash violet. “I’m going undercover.”
The cat winces, a grimace on his face. “Is it too late to change my mind?”
She laughs without humour. Cold and menacing. “Ohhhhh, far too late, my friend. Comecome. I’m needing your help selecting my wardrobe.”
Topher whines as he’s pulled down the ladder into the backpack. “I haaaaaaaven’t eveeeeeen haaaaaad breakfaaaaaast!”
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Thursday, September 17, 2015
Chapter 7: Hotel a’la Backpack
Alan steps into his shack after a long day. “Movie time.” He’s been working on a movie-a-night marathon, watching one movie a night to finish the series.
He glances out the window as he picks up his laptop. Tri is sitting on the edge of the building, her feet hanging through the railing. He sighs and puts down his laptop, heading out of the shack. “What’s your name again?”
She looks up at him, a tired look on her face. “Tri.”
He raises his eyebrows, “Do you know that you’re really good at getting into places you’re not supposed to?”
“The Force helps with that quite a bit.” She looks back down at the ocean. “Yes, I do know that.”
Alan follows her gaze to the ocean, “The Force?”
Tri nods, “Yeah. I’m a padawan. Almost to apprentice stage, though.”
He blinks twice, not sure whether to take her seriously. “Are you kidding?”
She chuckles dryly, “Sometimes I wish I hadn’t wanted to become a Jedi. But no, I’m not kidding.”
Alan opens his mouth to speak, but can’t think of the proper words. “Ookay. I’m going to go inside now.” His conscience starts bugging him the minute he turns around, though. “Do you have a place to sleep tonight?”
The weasel nods, “I was actually going to ask you if I could set up my house on this roof.”
He nods, unsure. “I guess so… just don’t make too much noise.”
(Sorry this is pretty short. I'm going to have to write another chapter before I can update again, so don't wait up...) Please Comment!
He glances out the window as he picks up his laptop. Tri is sitting on the edge of the building, her feet hanging through the railing. He sighs and puts down his laptop, heading out of the shack. “What’s your name again?”
She looks up at him, a tired look on her face. “Tri.”
He raises his eyebrows, “Do you know that you’re really good at getting into places you’re not supposed to?”
“The Force helps with that quite a bit.” She looks back down at the ocean. “Yes, I do know that.”
Alan follows her gaze to the ocean, “The Force?”
Tri nods, “Yeah. I’m a padawan. Almost to apprentice stage, though.”
He blinks twice, not sure whether to take her seriously. “Are you kidding?”
She chuckles dryly, “Sometimes I wish I hadn’t wanted to become a Jedi. But no, I’m not kidding.”
Alan opens his mouth to speak, but can’t think of the proper words. “Ookay. I’m going to go inside now.” His conscience starts bugging him the minute he turns around, though. “Do you have a place to sleep tonight?”
The weasel nods, “I was actually going to ask you if I could set up my house on this roof.”
He nods, unsure. “I guess so… just don’t make too much noise.”
(Sorry this is pretty short. I'm going to have to write another chapter before I can update again, so don't wait up...) Please Comment!
Thursday, September 03, 2015
Chapter 6: Hope Renewed (And Crushed Again)
(In this chapter, we learn a little more about Tri. Her life has been difficult, that's for sure.)
Tri looks down at a photo. "Well, as long as I'm here, might as well ask around." She walks up the street and heads into Chez Burger to ask the employees if they've seen the weasel in the picture. He has a new scar on his ear since the last time she looked at the photo. "Midnight, have you seen this kid?"
The waitress barely glances at the photo, "Nope."
"Okay. Thanks." Tri walks away, her head hanging slightly. Alan yelps as the girl walks up to the order counter. "Hey Alan, have you ever seen this kid?"
He glances at the picture, "I don't think so. Sorry."
She sighs quietly, "Thanks." Turning around, she heads out the front door.
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"Have you ever seen this kid?" Tri walks up to another random person on the street. When he shakes his head, she nods and walks away slowly.
She arrives at Topher's house and knocks on the front door. Lenna Tallen opens it and smiles kindly at the weasel. "Can I help you?'
Nodding, Tri holds up the photo. "Have you ever seen this kid?"
Lenna looks at the photo, and does a double take. "Yes. He lived here for a year, actually." She notices the excited look on Tri's face, "Do you want to come in?"
The thirteen year-old nods again, hope in her eyes. Lenna laughs kindly and holds the door open, letting Tri in. "You fostered my brother?"
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Topher comes down the stairs from his room to find his friend sitting on the couch, and his foster parents sitting on the chairs across from her. He sits down next to her, and she looks at him, a small smile on her lips. "Tri, are you okay?"
She nods, the smile being replaced by her normal dismissive line. But there is still hope in her eyes. "Topher, Dig was here two years ago!"
"Really?" The cat smiles, "That's great!"
Tanner raises an eyebrow, "You two know each other?"
Tri nods, "We were... internet friends for a while. I came here on my search for Dig the day before yesterday, and Topher and I have been hanging out."
Lenna looks the girl up and down, a little worriedly. "Anyway, after he had been here a year, Diggory just disappeared." Tri sighs. Like in most places that she has found traces of her brother, he vanished after a year.
Topher bites his lip. He knows that in order for the story to help Tri, she has to know how old her brother was. "How old was he, Lenna?"
He flinches at the weird look his foster mother gives him before she answers his question. "He was eight years old." Tri jolts upright and stares at her.
"I can't do anything, then." She leans back, dejected. "If he ever comes back... Topher knows how to contact me. And... tell him that you met his older sister Tri." She stands up slowly and walks away, letting herself out the front door.
Lenna looks at Topher worriedly, "Does she have a home? A family?"
He chuckles, "Even if she didn't, she wouldn't let anyone help her." He looks down at his paws, "In fact, she has the best family she could, considering her situation. If she could only find her brother... she might start to smile again."
-------------------------------------------------------
That evening, Midnight is walking home from work when she sees Tri sitting on the edge of a dock, staring into the sunset. She walks over to the younger girl and sits next to her. "Why did you help him steal those things?"
Tri glances up briefly, then fixes her gaze on the water again. "Topher is one of my best friends. And it's not like he has a choice. If he refuses to do what his father wants..." She shakes her head, "Anyway, I know what it's like to be alone. I'm helping him through it.”
Midnight raises her eyebrows. “Do you think that it’s right to steal?”
“No.” Tri looks away. “But when I have a friend who needs help, I help them.” She glares at Midnight, “And Topher needed my help.”
The cat nods dismissively, “Yeah, sure.”
The younger girl stands abruptly, “Well, if you’re going to be” she mumbles some words that make Midnight’s fur prickle, “like that, I don’t need to be here.” She looks down at the water again, like it hurts her to leave it. “Good-bye.”
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Tri looks down at a photo. "Well, as long as I'm here, might as well ask around." She walks up the street and heads into Chez Burger to ask the employees if they've seen the weasel in the picture. He has a new scar on his ear since the last time she looked at the photo. "Midnight, have you seen this kid?"
The waitress barely glances at the photo, "Nope."
"Okay. Thanks." Tri walks away, her head hanging slightly. Alan yelps as the girl walks up to the order counter. "Hey Alan, have you ever seen this kid?"
He glances at the picture, "I don't think so. Sorry."
She sighs quietly, "Thanks." Turning around, she heads out the front door.
------------------------------------------------
"Have you ever seen this kid?" Tri walks up to another random person on the street. When he shakes his head, she nods and walks away slowly.
She arrives at Topher's house and knocks on the front door. Lenna Tallen opens it and smiles kindly at the weasel. "Can I help you?'
Nodding, Tri holds up the photo. "Have you ever seen this kid?"
Lenna looks at the photo, and does a double take. "Yes. He lived here for a year, actually." She notices the excited look on Tri's face, "Do you want to come in?"
The thirteen year-old nods again, hope in her eyes. Lenna laughs kindly and holds the door open, letting Tri in. "You fostered my brother?"
------------------------------------------------
Topher comes down the stairs from his room to find his friend sitting on the couch, and his foster parents sitting on the chairs across from her. He sits down next to her, and she looks at him, a small smile on her lips. "Tri, are you okay?"
She nods, the smile being replaced by her normal dismissive line. But there is still hope in her eyes. "Topher, Dig was here two years ago!"
"Really?" The cat smiles, "That's great!"
Tanner raises an eyebrow, "You two know each other?"
Tri nods, "We were... internet friends for a while. I came here on my search for Dig the day before yesterday, and Topher and I have been hanging out."
Lenna looks the girl up and down, a little worriedly. "Anyway, after he had been here a year, Diggory just disappeared." Tri sighs. Like in most places that she has found traces of her brother, he vanished after a year.
Topher bites his lip. He knows that in order for the story to help Tri, she has to know how old her brother was. "How old was he, Lenna?"
He flinches at the weird look his foster mother gives him before she answers his question. "He was eight years old." Tri jolts upright and stares at her.
"I can't do anything, then." She leans back, dejected. "If he ever comes back... Topher knows how to contact me. And... tell him that you met his older sister Tri." She stands up slowly and walks away, letting herself out the front door.
Lenna looks at Topher worriedly, "Does she have a home? A family?"
He chuckles, "Even if she didn't, she wouldn't let anyone help her." He looks down at his paws, "In fact, she has the best family she could, considering her situation. If she could only find her brother... she might start to smile again."
-------------------------------------------------------
That evening, Midnight is walking home from work when she sees Tri sitting on the edge of a dock, staring into the sunset. She walks over to the younger girl and sits next to her. "Why did you help him steal those things?"
Tri glances up briefly, then fixes her gaze on the water again. "Topher is one of my best friends. And it's not like he has a choice. If he refuses to do what his father wants..." She shakes her head, "Anyway, I know what it's like to be alone. I'm helping him through it.”
Midnight raises her eyebrows. “Do you think that it’s right to steal?”
“No.” Tri looks away. “But when I have a friend who needs help, I help them.” She glares at Midnight, “And Topher needed my help.”
The cat nods dismissively, “Yeah, sure.”
The younger girl stands abruptly, “Well, if you’re going to be” she mumbles some words that make Midnight’s fur prickle, “like that, I don’t need to be here.” She looks down at the water again, like it hurts her to leave it. “Good-bye.”
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Sunday, August 23, 2015
Chapter 5: Suspicions Grow
"You took them." Topher yelps as Midnight confronts him as he gets up once out of the shadow of the dock.
He grumbles some choice words under his breath. "Tri, we've got a problem."
The backpack opens up and Tri climbs out. She jumps off Topher's back and looks Midnight up and down. "Topher, what have I told you about losing followers?"
He flinches, looking down. "It's really not that hard."
She sighs, "You didn't know she was following you?"
Midnight tries to back away, but she finds that she can't move. Topher shakes his head, "I'm just so sick and tired of doing these jobs. I guess I was just trying to get it over with so I could go home to my semi-normal family."
Tri nods, "Honestly, I don't get it. But, I'm sure Midnight here will feel happy to help you out."
"What?" Midnight narrows her eyes. "Why would I want to help a kid?"
Topher glares at her, "I just want to get through the next month or so until my adoption is finalized. Then Zachary will have no power over me, and I'll gladly face all my charges. I just need to bide my time until I have real parents who actually love me."
Tri rolls her eyes, "You keep quiet about what you saw, and I won't erase your memory."
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Chef looks up from his computer screen as Midnight walks in. "You are being very late."
"That jewellry exhibit at the museum was was stolen while I was there, and the police kept me for questioning." She rolls her eyes.
He raises an eyebrow, but says only, "Get to work. I have hungry customers."
Midnight brushes off and straightens her work uniform, heading through the kitchen to the dining room. She busies herself with her work, trying to forget about the deal she made with two kids, one scared out of his mind, and the other, a mystery. "Falls out of the sky and then helps steal the most valuable exhibit we've ever had at our museum? Not on my watch."
--------------------------------------------------
Tri sighs, "I'm never helping you do anything wrong again, okay?" She rubs her arm uncomfortably. "If I get in trouble with the law, there's only one person who would take my case, and then I would have to deal with her. And that grumpy waitress better keep her mouth shut."
Topher raises an eyebrow, "I didn't know you could wipe memories..."
"I only did it once, by accident. I have no idea how I did it, either." She stiffens slightly, "Your social worker is following us, Topher."
He glances back, "Do you want to lose him and look suspicious, or talk with him and get it over with?"
She groans quietly, "Okay, but pretend I'm mute. Or deaf. Please?" Her eyes are slightly paler than normal, and Topher accepts her terms instantly.
They slow down to let the beaver catch up. "Hello, Kevin." Topher smiles politely. Tri looks down and backs away slightly, crossing her arms over her stomach and watching the man intensely with her piercing aqua eyes.
Kevin glances at her uneasily, then moves his gaze to Topher. "Christopher, can we talk? Alone?"
The cat nods his head towards Tri. "She's deaf, sir. With her here is the same as if she's not."
"All the same, I'd rather talk to you alone." The social services agent sighs quietly. "I'm sorry for being impolite, but this is a big situation."
Topher looks down sadly, then moves towards Tri. He makes some hand signals that mean, "Please follow us. I'm scared." in a special code that the two made up.
She nods and walks slowly away, giving Kevin wide berth as she passes. He narrows his eyes at Topher, "That wasn't ASL."
In response, Topher says, "We made up a special set of symbols for fun. She likes to use it more than ASL, but we both know that as well." He looks down sadly, "So... what did you need to talk to me about?"
Kevin looks uncomfortable, "We should go back to my car. Do you have to be home before a certain time?"
"Lenna asked that I would be home by one." Topher follows the man towards the red minivan reluctantly. He had basically lived in that van for the first ten years of his life, actually. "Kevin... what is this all about?"
Holding the door open for him, Kevin sighs again. "That jewel robbery. The police told me that you were there, son."
Topher flinches, "Don't call me 'son,' please. It makes me sick to my stomach."
His social worker climbs into the driver-side seat, "Sorry, Christopher. I know that." He looks worriedly at the cat, who is staring out the window. "Did you have anything to do with it?"
Biting his lower lip, Topher shakes his head. "I've changed, Kevin. I don't steal anymore."
"Really? It seems like the kind of thing you used to pull off." Kevin pulls out of his parking space and starts driving towards the house.
The cat rolls his eyes. "I never broke glass, or set off alarms. Whoever did this was way too sloppy." He looks down, "But it was a similar style to-" Topher shakes his head. "I can't say yet. But I promise, as soon as I can, I will turn him in."
Kevin looks sideways at the kid. He wants to trust Topher, but his past offences cause concern. "Okay kid. I'll take what I can get." He pulls into the driveway of the Tallens family. "Here you are, Christopher."
Topher smiles thinly, "Thanks for the ride." As he gets out, he pauses and looks back at the beaver. "Honestly, I would tell you if I could." Then he runs into the house.
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He grumbles some choice words under his breath. "Tri, we've got a problem."
The backpack opens up and Tri climbs out. She jumps off Topher's back and looks Midnight up and down. "Topher, what have I told you about losing followers?"
He flinches, looking down. "It's really not that hard."
She sighs, "You didn't know she was following you?"
Midnight tries to back away, but she finds that she can't move. Topher shakes his head, "I'm just so sick and tired of doing these jobs. I guess I was just trying to get it over with so I could go home to my semi-normal family."
Tri nods, "Honestly, I don't get it. But, I'm sure Midnight here will feel happy to help you out."
"What?" Midnight narrows her eyes. "Why would I want to help a kid?"
Topher glares at her, "I just want to get through the next month or so until my adoption is finalized. Then Zachary will have no power over me, and I'll gladly face all my charges. I just need to bide my time until I have real parents who actually love me."
Tri rolls her eyes, "You keep quiet about what you saw, and I won't erase your memory."
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Chef looks up from his computer screen as Midnight walks in. "You are being very late."
"That jewellry exhibit at the museum was was stolen while I was there, and the police kept me for questioning." She rolls her eyes.
He raises an eyebrow, but says only, "Get to work. I have hungry customers."
Midnight brushes off and straightens her work uniform, heading through the kitchen to the dining room. She busies herself with her work, trying to forget about the deal she made with two kids, one scared out of his mind, and the other, a mystery. "Falls out of the sky and then helps steal the most valuable exhibit we've ever had at our museum? Not on my watch."
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Tri sighs, "I'm never helping you do anything wrong again, okay?" She rubs her arm uncomfortably. "If I get in trouble with the law, there's only one person who would take my case, and then I would have to deal with her. And that grumpy waitress better keep her mouth shut."
Topher raises an eyebrow, "I didn't know you could wipe memories..."
"I only did it once, by accident. I have no idea how I did it, either." She stiffens slightly, "Your social worker is following us, Topher."
He glances back, "Do you want to lose him and look suspicious, or talk with him and get it over with?"
She groans quietly, "Okay, but pretend I'm mute. Or deaf. Please?" Her eyes are slightly paler than normal, and Topher accepts her terms instantly.
They slow down to let the beaver catch up. "Hello, Kevin." Topher smiles politely. Tri looks down and backs away slightly, crossing her arms over her stomach and watching the man intensely with her piercing aqua eyes.
Kevin glances at her uneasily, then moves his gaze to Topher. "Christopher, can we talk? Alone?"
The cat nods his head towards Tri. "She's deaf, sir. With her here is the same as if she's not."
"All the same, I'd rather talk to you alone." The social services agent sighs quietly. "I'm sorry for being impolite, but this is a big situation."
Topher looks down sadly, then moves towards Tri. He makes some hand signals that mean, "Please follow us. I'm scared." in a special code that the two made up.
She nods and walks slowly away, giving Kevin wide berth as she passes. He narrows his eyes at Topher, "That wasn't ASL."
In response, Topher says, "We made up a special set of symbols for fun. She likes to use it more than ASL, but we both know that as well." He looks down sadly, "So... what did you need to talk to me about?"
Kevin looks uncomfortable, "We should go back to my car. Do you have to be home before a certain time?"
"Lenna asked that I would be home by one." Topher follows the man towards the red minivan reluctantly. He had basically lived in that van for the first ten years of his life, actually. "Kevin... what is this all about?"
Holding the door open for him, Kevin sighs again. "That jewel robbery. The police told me that you were there, son."
Topher flinches, "Don't call me 'son,' please. It makes me sick to my stomach."
His social worker climbs into the driver-side seat, "Sorry, Christopher. I know that." He looks worriedly at the cat, who is staring out the window. "Did you have anything to do with it?"
Biting his lower lip, Topher shakes his head. "I've changed, Kevin. I don't steal anymore."
"Really? It seems like the kind of thing you used to pull off." Kevin pulls out of his parking space and starts driving towards the house.
The cat rolls his eyes. "I never broke glass, or set off alarms. Whoever did this was way too sloppy." He looks down, "But it was a similar style to-" Topher shakes his head. "I can't say yet. But I promise, as soon as I can, I will turn him in."
Kevin looks sideways at the kid. He wants to trust Topher, but his past offences cause concern. "Okay kid. I'll take what I can get." He pulls into the driveway of the Tallens family. "Here you are, Christopher."
Topher smiles thinly, "Thanks for the ride." As he gets out, he pauses and looks back at the beaver. "Honestly, I would tell you if I could." Then he runs into the house.
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Thursday, August 20, 2015
Chapter 4: The Heist
Tri chuckles to herself as she climbs down into her backpack. "The look on his face... priceless." She grins, her eyes and fur tips bright purple.
Topher lifts up the backpack. "Huh. I was expecting this to be heavier..."
"Was that a crack about my weight, kitty-boy?" She glares up at him.
He shakes his head, "It's just that you've got a four bedroom apartment in there, as well as a control room."
She smirks, "Okay, I'm going into camouflage mode. if the museum guard asks to look inside your bag, don't panic. All you've got in here is some harmless school supplies and a water bottle."
He nods, "Got it. What I don't get is why you aren't just teleporting us in there."
Tri rolls her eyes, "Timeless Through The Ages is charging right now. I told you that. Anyway, this is so much more fun."
Topher sighs, "Alright. Let's do this." He zips the bag closed, hoisting it onto his back.
His foster mother looks up when he comes down the stairs, "Where are you headed, Chris?"
He smiles at her, "I'm heading to the museum to check out the Jewellry Through The Ages exhibit." It's not a lie, exactly. He's going to check it out of the museum, just without permission.
She smiles back, "Okay. But be back by one, okay?"
He nods, figuring that gives him just enough time to pull the heist off and deliver the goods to his "employer" before arriving at home. "Okay, Lenna." He gives her a quick hug before heading out the door.
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Midnight stands in front of a large crown in a glass case, reading the description. She had a rare hour-long break from the restaurant, and decided to visit the travelling jewellry exhibit at the museum.
Topher glances around the area. If he was only stealing one piece of the exhibit, he wouldn't need Tri's help. But a whole exhibit wouldn't fit in a regular backpack, so when he was given the job, he thought instantly of Tri. "Here goes..." He closes his eyes and throws out his arms to the sides, freezing time.
The backpack opens, and Tri steps out. "Huh. Nice use of your powers."
"You didn't know I was going to do that?" He shakes his head. "Anyway, let's just get this done before the effects wear off." Topher's power is to freeze time, but he can never be sure for how long, because it varies. It's never been shorter than ten minutes though, and that's plenty long to steal an exhibit if you don't have to worry about alarms.
They put all of the pieces into a special room in Tri's backpack that she cleared out for the occasion. "If Phineas and Ferb found out I was using this to help a thief..."
He flinches, "Just make sure we have everything please."
She obliges, climbing down into the bag again. She counts the objects up quickly, then gives Topher the thumbs up before turning camouflage mode on again. He zips up the bag and puts it on his back, moving to the exact position he was in before he froze time. Just in time, too. Suddenly, alarms start blaring loudly, and patrons gasp as the objects that were there instants before are gone.
Midnight stares at the empty case in shock for a couple moments. "It just disappeared."
Topher walks up beside her, "They all did. Everything is gone."
She turns towards him, "How is that even possible?"
"I... I have no idea." He jumps as the museum security guards block off all entrances to the room.
The head of security stares in shock at the empty cases, broken glass, and stunned patrons.
"Nobody leaves this room until the police get here, understand?"
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"Did you see anybody suspicious when you were in the museum?" The police officer looks down at Topher.
He shakes his head, "All I know is that the jewellry was there when I walked into the room, and gone before I got to look at any of it."
The officers look at each other, "That's what everyone is saying. It just vanished."
"That's impossible, though!" Topher looks down, "I mean, I'm not the smartest kid in my grade, but I know that stuff can't just disappear."
The police officers nod. "That's the problem, kid. We can't figure it out."
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Midnight watches the young cat leave the museum. Her questioning had been equally short, but being as she had been questioned before Topher, she decided to wait for him to be done. Something about the way he had responded to everything being gone didn't seem quite right. She wonders if he knows anything about it, and decides to follow him.
He ducks under a dock at the beach, and gets down on all fours, crawling into a cave in the bank. Midnight follows him at a distance, not wanting to let him know she's there. She watches in surprise as he stands up almost thirty feet into the tunnel, the small hole enlarging into a huge cavern, filled with pedestals that are holding various objects.
Topher groans at the empty room, "I did what you told me to. You can at least show up to our meeting."
A taller cat moves out of the shadows. "Hello son. Nice to see you again."
"I wish I could say the same." Topher pulls the bag off his back and unzips it. "I got the whole collection for you."
Zachary raises his eyebrows and crosses his arms, "In that little bag? Christy, I thought you knew that I'm smarter than that."
His son clenches his jaw, "Don't call me that. And this is no ordinary backpack." He reaches in his hand, and Tri passes him the first piece. "Where do I put them this time, Zach?"
Midnight watches from behind a large statue that she recognises as having been stolen a few months ago piece by piece from a museum in a larger town not too far away. Topher unloads the entire collection onto the cart. "Good work, son. I'll contact you next time I need a job done."
The younger cat hisses under his breath, "You always do, Dad. You always do."
The waitress moves back out of the tunnel to confront Topher when he comes out.
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Topher lifts up the backpack. "Huh. I was expecting this to be heavier..."
"Was that a crack about my weight, kitty-boy?" She glares up at him.
He shakes his head, "It's just that you've got a four bedroom apartment in there, as well as a control room."
She smirks, "Okay, I'm going into camouflage mode. if the museum guard asks to look inside your bag, don't panic. All you've got in here is some harmless school supplies and a water bottle."
He nods, "Got it. What I don't get is why you aren't just teleporting us in there."
Tri rolls her eyes, "Timeless Through The Ages is charging right now. I told you that. Anyway, this is so much more fun."
Topher sighs, "Alright. Let's do this." He zips the bag closed, hoisting it onto his back.
His foster mother looks up when he comes down the stairs, "Where are you headed, Chris?"
He smiles at her, "I'm heading to the museum to check out the Jewellry Through The Ages exhibit." It's not a lie, exactly. He's going to check it out of the museum, just without permission.
She smiles back, "Okay. But be back by one, okay?"
He nods, figuring that gives him just enough time to pull the heist off and deliver the goods to his "employer" before arriving at home. "Okay, Lenna." He gives her a quick hug before heading out the door.
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Midnight stands in front of a large crown in a glass case, reading the description. She had a rare hour-long break from the restaurant, and decided to visit the travelling jewellry exhibit at the museum.
Topher glances around the area. If he was only stealing one piece of the exhibit, he wouldn't need Tri's help. But a whole exhibit wouldn't fit in a regular backpack, so when he was given the job, he thought instantly of Tri. "Here goes..." He closes his eyes and throws out his arms to the sides, freezing time.
The backpack opens, and Tri steps out. "Huh. Nice use of your powers."
"You didn't know I was going to do that?" He shakes his head. "Anyway, let's just get this done before the effects wear off." Topher's power is to freeze time, but he can never be sure for how long, because it varies. It's never been shorter than ten minutes though, and that's plenty long to steal an exhibit if you don't have to worry about alarms.
They put all of the pieces into a special room in Tri's backpack that she cleared out for the occasion. "If Phineas and Ferb found out I was using this to help a thief..."
He flinches, "Just make sure we have everything please."
She obliges, climbing down into the bag again. She counts the objects up quickly, then gives Topher the thumbs up before turning camouflage mode on again. He zips up the bag and puts it on his back, moving to the exact position he was in before he froze time. Just in time, too. Suddenly, alarms start blaring loudly, and patrons gasp as the objects that were there instants before are gone.
Midnight stares at the empty case in shock for a couple moments. "It just disappeared."
Topher walks up beside her, "They all did. Everything is gone."
She turns towards him, "How is that even possible?"
"I... I have no idea." He jumps as the museum security guards block off all entrances to the room.
The head of security stares in shock at the empty cases, broken glass, and stunned patrons.
"Nobody leaves this room until the police get here, understand?"
---------------------------------------------------------
"Did you see anybody suspicious when you were in the museum?" The police officer looks down at Topher.
He shakes his head, "All I know is that the jewellry was there when I walked into the room, and gone before I got to look at any of it."
The officers look at each other, "That's what everyone is saying. It just vanished."
"That's impossible, though!" Topher looks down, "I mean, I'm not the smartest kid in my grade, but I know that stuff can't just disappear."
The police officers nod. "That's the problem, kid. We can't figure it out."
----------------------------------------------------------
Midnight watches the young cat leave the museum. Her questioning had been equally short, but being as she had been questioned before Topher, she decided to wait for him to be done. Something about the way he had responded to everything being gone didn't seem quite right. She wonders if he knows anything about it, and decides to follow him.
He ducks under a dock at the beach, and gets down on all fours, crawling into a cave in the bank. Midnight follows him at a distance, not wanting to let him know she's there. She watches in surprise as he stands up almost thirty feet into the tunnel, the small hole enlarging into a huge cavern, filled with pedestals that are holding various objects.
Topher groans at the empty room, "I did what you told me to. You can at least show up to our meeting."
A taller cat moves out of the shadows. "Hello son. Nice to see you again."
"I wish I could say the same." Topher pulls the bag off his back and unzips it. "I got the whole collection for you."
Zachary raises his eyebrows and crosses his arms, "In that little bag? Christy, I thought you knew that I'm smarter than that."
His son clenches his jaw, "Don't call me that. And this is no ordinary backpack." He reaches in his hand, and Tri passes him the first piece. "Where do I put them this time, Zach?"
Midnight watches from behind a large statue that she recognises as having been stolen a few months ago piece by piece from a museum in a larger town not too far away. Topher unloads the entire collection onto the cart. "Good work, son. I'll contact you next time I need a job done."
The younger cat hisses under his breath, "You always do, Dad. You always do."
The waitress moves back out of the tunnel to confront Topher when he comes out.
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Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Chapter 3: Experimental Potatoes
"Are you a nerd or something?" Midnight pours the half cup of coffee and places a glass of milk on the table.
Tri blinks twice. "Why?"
The waitress sighs, "You've got a lightsword or whatever on your belt."
Nodding, Tri smiles a little, "Oh, my lightsaber. Eh... yeah. Let's say it's just a model."
Topher snorts. "Okay, I'll say that next time you threaten someone with it." She kicks him under the table. "Ow."
Midnight puts his glass of water on the table. "Are you ready to order?" Although the question could be polite by the wording, her tone of voice makes it sound quite condescending.
Tri glances quickly down at her menu, and decides to test something. "Do you have a suggestion?"
The waitress groans quietly. "Whatever is most expensive. I rarely actually eat here, so your guess is as good as mine."
Topher points to a place on his menu, "Could I have the smoked salmon french toast please?"
"And I would like anything with bacon in it." Tri hands her menu to Midnight, who raises her eyebrows, but writes down the orders.
Alan glances at the order, then does a double take. "Quote, anything with bacon in it, un-quote?" He shakes his head, "This should be interesting..."
Weed looks up from where he's slicing tomatoes. "How about a bacon lattice sandwich?"
The sous chef looks at him for a moment, then shakes his head. "Weed, seriously?"
"What? It would be good." He grabs another tomato.
Alan sighs, "I’ve been wanting to try making that sweet potato and pork belly hash I made for my mom when I first got back from culinary school again."
Weed chuckles, "The one where you forgot the recipe?"
Raising his eyebrows, Alan turns away and starts to prepare the dish.
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Tri takes a small bite off the plate in front of her. "This is really good." She chuckles at Topher, who is trying to figure out how to eat his french toast, her eyes flashing violet. "You should use a fork and knife, genius."
"Oh." The cat puts down his toast and picks up the silverware. "I don’t eat much fancy food."
She looks down at her plate, "Well, this is one experiment that was worth it. Unlike my last time at a French restaurant."
Topher flinches, "I said I was sorry. I didn’t know you were allergic to chocolate."
Tri rolls her eyes, "But making me chocolate bacon soup was weird. I mean, really?"
He raises an eyebrow, "It was Thalia. What did you expect?"
She sighs and takes another bite. "In a place where it's normal for animals to do any job a human can and vice versa, I was expecting something without chocolate in it. You know, 'cause chocolate is poisonous to most animals?"
"I guess that's fair..." He slices off a small bite of the bread and puts it in his mouth. After swallowing, he comments, "You should come and buy me breakfast more often."
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Alan steps into the makeshift break room in the back of the restaurant. He sits down on a crate and leans back against the wall. His five minute break is something he looks forward to all day.
"Hello there." Tri is sitting beside him suddenly on another crate. The sous chef yelps and leaps into the air, landing on his feet awkwardly.
He puts his left paw over his heart and breathes dramatically for a few moments. "You certainly know how to scare people, don't you?"
She nods, "I've been credited with that before."
Straightening his coat and hat, he raises an eyebrow at her. "So, why are you back here?"
Tri softens her expression to the closest she ever gets to a smile around people she's not familiar with, "The waitress wouldn't pass on my message today, so I figured I'd come back here and wait for you."
He backs away slightly, but his curiosity overcomes his fear. "What was the message?"
"I wanted to thank you for my wonderful breakfast, and I'm sorry if my request caused you any problems in the kitchen." She stands up and leaves.
Alan stares after her for a few moments. "How long was she there?"
Weed walks up beside him, "The crazy thing is, man, she just appeared next to you when you sat down."
The taller cat looks down incrediously, "Sure, Weed." He gives up on the rest of his break and walks inside the kitchen.
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Tri blinks twice. "Why?"
The waitress sighs, "You've got a lightsword or whatever on your belt."
Nodding, Tri smiles a little, "Oh, my lightsaber. Eh... yeah. Let's say it's just a model."
Topher snorts. "Okay, I'll say that next time you threaten someone with it." She kicks him under the table. "Ow."
Midnight puts his glass of water on the table. "Are you ready to order?" Although the question could be polite by the wording, her tone of voice makes it sound quite condescending.
Tri glances quickly down at her menu, and decides to test something. "Do you have a suggestion?"
The waitress groans quietly. "Whatever is most expensive. I rarely actually eat here, so your guess is as good as mine."
Topher points to a place on his menu, "Could I have the smoked salmon french toast please?"
"And I would like anything with bacon in it." Tri hands her menu to Midnight, who raises her eyebrows, but writes down the orders.
Alan glances at the order, then does a double take. "Quote, anything with bacon in it, un-quote?" He shakes his head, "This should be interesting..."
Weed looks up from where he's slicing tomatoes. "How about a bacon lattice sandwich?"
The sous chef looks at him for a moment, then shakes his head. "Weed, seriously?"
"What? It would be good." He grabs another tomato.
Alan sighs, "I’ve been wanting to try making that sweet potato and pork belly hash I made for my mom when I first got back from culinary school again."
Weed chuckles, "The one where you forgot the recipe?"
Raising his eyebrows, Alan turns away and starts to prepare the dish.
--------------------------------------------
Tri takes a small bite off the plate in front of her. "This is really good." She chuckles at Topher, who is trying to figure out how to eat his french toast, her eyes flashing violet. "You should use a fork and knife, genius."
"Oh." The cat puts down his toast and picks up the silverware. "I don’t eat much fancy food."
She looks down at her plate, "Well, this is one experiment that was worth it. Unlike my last time at a French restaurant."
Topher flinches, "I said I was sorry. I didn’t know you were allergic to chocolate."
Tri rolls her eyes, "But making me chocolate bacon soup was weird. I mean, really?"
He raises an eyebrow, "It was Thalia. What did you expect?"
She sighs and takes another bite. "In a place where it's normal for animals to do any job a human can and vice versa, I was expecting something without chocolate in it. You know, 'cause chocolate is poisonous to most animals?"
"I guess that's fair..." He slices off a small bite of the bread and puts it in his mouth. After swallowing, he comments, "You should come and buy me breakfast more often."
---------------------------------------------
Alan steps into the makeshift break room in the back of the restaurant. He sits down on a crate and leans back against the wall. His five minute break is something he looks forward to all day.
"Hello there." Tri is sitting beside him suddenly on another crate. The sous chef yelps and leaps into the air, landing on his feet awkwardly.
He puts his left paw over his heart and breathes dramatically for a few moments. "You certainly know how to scare people, don't you?"
She nods, "I've been credited with that before."
Straightening his coat and hat, he raises an eyebrow at her. "So, why are you back here?"
Tri softens her expression to the closest she ever gets to a smile around people she's not familiar with, "The waitress wouldn't pass on my message today, so I figured I'd come back here and wait for you."
He backs away slightly, but his curiosity overcomes his fear. "What was the message?"
"I wanted to thank you for my wonderful breakfast, and I'm sorry if my request caused you any problems in the kitchen." She stands up and leaves.
Alan stares after her for a few moments. "How long was she there?"
Weed walks up beside him, "The crazy thing is, man, she just appeared next to you when you sat down."
The taller cat looks down incrediously, "Sure, Weed." He gives up on the rest of his break and walks inside the kitchen.
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Monday, August 10, 2015
Chapter 2: Cheeseburger
CITK belongs to my older brother Robin Gibson.
Midnight looks up as the two friends come in. "Hey Alan, it’s that weasel from earlier."
The sous chef looks up and smirks. "The one who ‘fell out of the sky’?"
"I heard and saw what I heard and saw." She sighs, and walks to the front to seat the two. "Hello again. Welcome to Chez Burger and all that."
Tri raises an eyebrow and turns to her friend, "I see what you mean."
He shrugs, "I tell it like it is." He smiles politely at Midnight, "Table for two, please."
She rolls her eyes, "Oh, I was going to sit you at a table for four."
Topher flinches, "Sorry for confusing you, then."
Tri raises her eyebrows, "She was being sarcastic." She smirks at Midnight, "Sarcasm is lost on my friend." She pats his head, "Just seat us, please."
Huffing, the grumpy waitress obliges. After they’re seated, she brings them menus. "Oh, and the sous-chef wants me to tell you that we are out of over-easy eggs."
Tri raises an eyebrow, "That’s okay. I like poached better. In fact, this asparagus thing looks good." She looks down at her menu.
Topher chuckles, "Um, isn’t it impossible to be out of over easy eggs?"
"Nope. Not here, anyway. Do you want something to drink or something?" Midnight takes out her order pad.
The weasel nods, "Yes actually. Can I have a half-cup of coffee please? And a glass of milk."
Topher smiles, "Can I please just have a glass of water?"
Midnight nods and walks away. Tri rolls her eyes, "Topher, we're going to have to teach you what sarcasm means."
He flinches, "Can we do that later? I need your help with something."
She stiffens, "Has anyone hurt you?"
"Not exactly..." The cat pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket and hands it to her. "But they are going to if I don't do this job."
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Tri walks up to Midnight after she pays for her breakfast, "Hey, could you pass on a message for me?"
Sighing, the waitress turns around. "I guess."
"Could you tell whoever made my breakfast that I really enjoyed it? I'll certainly come back here again before I leave town." Tri waves as she walks away. Topher holds the door open for her, and they walk towards the beach. "You told me you would stop stealing."
He flinches again, "When was the last time I kept a promise? Plus, I need the money."
She sighs, "Okay... I'll help you with this last job. But if we get caught, you're on your own. I don't need another town like Darren's."
Topher forces a smile, "How are you two doing, anyway?"
Tri raises an eyebrow at him. She makes that expression a lot. "It's been tough lately. He's so old-fashioned."
He rolls his eyes, "He lives in colonial times! Or is it earlier than that?"
She coughs, "Can we talk about something else?"
"Uncomfortable subject?" Topher knows that his friend doesn't much like to talk about her boyfriend. "Fine. Hey, what's that?" He points out at the ocean suddenly, "I thought I saw a pod of dolphins!"
She looks where he's pointing, "Imagination much? I don't think dolphins would come this close to shore."
He glares at her, "You know I have no imagination! Mainly because you've been inside my head..."
Tri bites her lip, "I'm learning how to control it. Anyway, I believe you. Want to go see if I can call them closer?"
He shakes his head, "Nah. Let's just head back to my place. We can discuss everything there."
Sighing, Tri follows him, throwing one last glance back at the water. Topher wasn't making it up, there are dolphins swimming along the shore. "I always feel so drawn to the ocean. I wonder why..."
Topher shrugs, "I don't know." His ear flicks nervously as they near his house. "My social service agent is here."
"Do you want me to..." Tri shifts uncomfortably. "I always feel uncomfortable around people who are with the foster system."
He looks up at her, seeing the slight colour fade in her eyes and fur. "You don't have to come in right away, if you want. I'll text your cellphone."
She smiles slightly, "Thank-you." Then climbs into her backpack, which vanishes. Topher smiles slightly and walks into his house to meet with his foster parents and social service agent.
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The next day, he meets up with Tri for breakfast at Chez Burger again. "My foster parents said they would adopt me."
Tri raises her eyebrows, "So why the gloomy face? Isn't that good news?" Under her breath, she adds, "For some reason..."
Topher nods, "But I'm worried that if they knew about my... job, they would decide to send me back to the foster system." He looks down, his bangs shifting down over his eyes. "I can't get out of it. And I don't want to have to search for another family, Tri."
"I don't understand, so I'm not going to say that I do. But I could 'talk' to your boss for you if you want." She smirks a little, her hand going to her lightsaber.
He stops her with a look. "You would 'talk' to him? Really? Because I more see you causing him extreme physical damage."
She chuckles, her eyes tinting purple briefly. "More like death. But let's eat. We'll discuss this later."
As they go in, he tilts his head to the left. "Hey, how can you afford to eat at places like this?"
The weasel narrows her eyes, "You aren't the only one who does odd jobs. And the money I carry with me converts to whichever dimension I'm in."
Alan places a plate on the counter, "Order up!" He looks over at the weasel and her friend. Why would Midnight say she saw her fall out of the sky? That makes no sense...
Midnight grabs the plate, "Shouldn't you be rushing back to the kitchen to make more orders?"
He sighs, "I've got to admit, you've peaked my curiosity."
"With the flying flashlight weilding weasel girl?" She narrows her eyes. "Or are you just teasing me again?"
The sous chef raises an eyebrow, "That's not a flashlight. It's a lightsaber."
She looks at him blankly, "Is that from those space wars movies?"
He looks at her, sighs sadly, and backs into the kitchen. "It's Star Wars, but yeah."
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Midnight looks up as the two friends come in. "Hey Alan, it’s that weasel from earlier."
The sous chef looks up and smirks. "The one who ‘fell out of the sky’?"
"I heard and saw what I heard and saw." She sighs, and walks to the front to seat the two. "Hello again. Welcome to Chez Burger and all that."
Tri raises an eyebrow and turns to her friend, "I see what you mean."
He shrugs, "I tell it like it is." He smiles politely at Midnight, "Table for two, please."
She rolls her eyes, "Oh, I was going to sit you at a table for four."
Topher flinches, "Sorry for confusing you, then."
Tri raises her eyebrows, "She was being sarcastic." She smirks at Midnight, "Sarcasm is lost on my friend." She pats his head, "Just seat us, please."
Huffing, the grumpy waitress obliges. After they’re seated, she brings them menus. "Oh, and the sous-chef wants me to tell you that we are out of over-easy eggs."
Tri raises an eyebrow, "That’s okay. I like poached better. In fact, this asparagus thing looks good." She looks down at her menu.
Topher chuckles, "Um, isn’t it impossible to be out of over easy eggs?"
"Nope. Not here, anyway. Do you want something to drink or something?" Midnight takes out her order pad.
The weasel nods, "Yes actually. Can I have a half-cup of coffee please? And a glass of milk."
Topher smiles, "Can I please just have a glass of water?"
Midnight nods and walks away. Tri rolls her eyes, "Topher, we're going to have to teach you what sarcasm means."
He flinches, "Can we do that later? I need your help with something."
She stiffens, "Has anyone hurt you?"
"Not exactly..." The cat pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket and hands it to her. "But they are going to if I don't do this job."
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Tri walks up to Midnight after she pays for her breakfast, "Hey, could you pass on a message for me?"
Sighing, the waitress turns around. "I guess."
"Could you tell whoever made my breakfast that I really enjoyed it? I'll certainly come back here again before I leave town." Tri waves as she walks away. Topher holds the door open for her, and they walk towards the beach. "You told me you would stop stealing."
He flinches again, "When was the last time I kept a promise? Plus, I need the money."
She sighs, "Okay... I'll help you with this last job. But if we get caught, you're on your own. I don't need another town like Darren's."
Topher forces a smile, "How are you two doing, anyway?"
Tri raises an eyebrow at him. She makes that expression a lot. "It's been tough lately. He's so old-fashioned."
He rolls his eyes, "He lives in colonial times! Or is it earlier than that?"
She coughs, "Can we talk about something else?"
"Uncomfortable subject?" Topher knows that his friend doesn't much like to talk about her boyfriend. "Fine. Hey, what's that?" He points out at the ocean suddenly, "I thought I saw a pod of dolphins!"
She looks where he's pointing, "Imagination much? I don't think dolphins would come this close to shore."
He glares at her, "You know I have no imagination! Mainly because you've been inside my head..."
Tri bites her lip, "I'm learning how to control it. Anyway, I believe you. Want to go see if I can call them closer?"
He shakes his head, "Nah. Let's just head back to my place. We can discuss everything there."
Sighing, Tri follows him, throwing one last glance back at the water. Topher wasn't making it up, there are dolphins swimming along the shore. "I always feel so drawn to the ocean. I wonder why..."
Topher shrugs, "I don't know." His ear flicks nervously as they near his house. "My social service agent is here."
"Do you want me to..." Tri shifts uncomfortably. "I always feel uncomfortable around people who are with the foster system."
He looks up at her, seeing the slight colour fade in her eyes and fur. "You don't have to come in right away, if you want. I'll text your cellphone."
She smiles slightly, "Thank-you." Then climbs into her backpack, which vanishes. Topher smiles slightly and walks into his house to meet with his foster parents and social service agent.
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The next day, he meets up with Tri for breakfast at Chez Burger again. "My foster parents said they would adopt me."
Tri raises her eyebrows, "So why the gloomy face? Isn't that good news?" Under her breath, she adds, "For some reason..."
Topher nods, "But I'm worried that if they knew about my... job, they would decide to send me back to the foster system." He looks down, his bangs shifting down over his eyes. "I can't get out of it. And I don't want to have to search for another family, Tri."
"I don't understand, so I'm not going to say that I do. But I could 'talk' to your boss for you if you want." She smirks a little, her hand going to her lightsaber.
He stops her with a look. "You would 'talk' to him? Really? Because I more see you causing him extreme physical damage."
She chuckles, her eyes tinting purple briefly. "More like death. But let's eat. We'll discuss this later."
As they go in, he tilts his head to the left. "Hey, how can you afford to eat at places like this?"
The weasel narrows her eyes, "You aren't the only one who does odd jobs. And the money I carry with me converts to whichever dimension I'm in."
Alan places a plate on the counter, "Order up!" He looks over at the weasel and her friend. Why would Midnight say she saw her fall out of the sky? That makes no sense...
Midnight grabs the plate, "Shouldn't you be rushing back to the kitchen to make more orders?"
He sighs, "I've got to admit, you've peaked my curiosity."
"With the flying flashlight weilding weasel girl?" She narrows her eyes. "Or are you just teasing me again?"
The sous chef raises an eyebrow, "That's not a flashlight. It's a lightsaber."
She looks at him blankly, "Is that from those space wars movies?"
He looks at her, sighs sadly, and backs into the kitchen. "It's Star Wars, but yeah."
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Tuesday, August 04, 2015
Chapter 1: Sketchy Introductions
(Here's the first chapter! I'm really excited about this one. :) Cats In The Kitchen belongs to my older brother Robin Gibson.
Tri yelps as she falls towards the building in front of her. “Chez Burger? Guess I’m in the right place.” Putting out her paws to break the fall, she hits the side of the building. “Wait, paws?” She looks down at her white furry body, “Well, that’s new...”
Midnight is sitting in the makeshift break room taking a smoke break when she hears a yelp and a thump. “What now?”
A white weasel with aquamarine tipped fur lands on the ground in front of her. “Oof.” Standing up, she looks herself over again. “Well, I like the shoulder belt.” She has on a pair of hiking boots, light green cargo pants, a purple t-shirt with frayed hems, and a beige shoulder belt that’s holding her lightsaber. She looks up, “Oh, hi there.”
The waitress nods. She looks around, then sighs. “Do you fall out of the sky often? You seem pretty used to it.”
Chuckling, Tri dusts herself off. “More than you could imagine. Although, I’m normally not a weasel.”
Alan pokes his head out the back door, “Midnight, I need you back inside.” He notices Tri and raises an eyebrow, “Hi there.”
“Hey.” She waves, “Sorry for dropping in like that. I’ve got somewhere to be, anyways.”
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“So, why do you think I’m a weasel now?” Tri spins around, showing off her new form.
The cat in front of her thinks for a moment, then shrugs. “This is an all animal dimension. I don’t think it’s possible for humans to exist here.” Tri looks up at her friend, one eyebrow raised. The cat has long shaggy light brown fur that hangs down to cover his left green eye, black paws, nose, ears, and tail, and he’s wearing khaki cargo pants and matching jacket over a black t-shirt and hiking boots. “What? It makes sense.”
She smiles and shakes her head. “So… why are you in this dimension as well as yours?”
He rubs the back of his neck, looking down at the ground. “Well… actually…”
Tri crosses her arms, “Topher, what aren’t you telling me?”
Topher sighs, “I’m actually from this dimension.” He looks up, “I used special technology to go into Thalia, then figured out how to easily travel between both dimensions… I’m sorry I lied to you about where I came from.”
The weasel (Man, writing that should take some getting used to!) puts out a paw, a smile in her eyes. “I’m not mad. Lying to me actually takes some pretty serious skill.” She raises her eyebrows, “Want to get something to eat? I saw a little French restaurant when I dropped in. Cheeseburger or something like that.”
Her friend chuckles, “That would probably be Chez Burger. I’ve eaten there before. Good food, grumpy waitress. And you don’t need to fake an ID to get in.”
“Topher! Have you been eating at pubs?” She glares at him.
He puts up his paws in defense, “Hey! They’re cheaper! And I never get alcohol.”
Tri sighs, “See, that time I could tell you were lying. You need to learn how to control that ear twitch.” She rolls her eyes, as he reaches up to hold his ears down. “Let’s go get something to eat. I’ll buy.”
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Tri yelps as she falls towards the building in front of her. “Chez Burger? Guess I’m in the right place.” Putting out her paws to break the fall, she hits the side of the building. “Wait, paws?” She looks down at her white furry body, “Well, that’s new...”
Midnight is sitting in the makeshift break room taking a smoke break when she hears a yelp and a thump. “What now?”
A white weasel with aquamarine tipped fur lands on the ground in front of her. “Oof.” Standing up, she looks herself over again. “Well, I like the shoulder belt.” She has on a pair of hiking boots, light green cargo pants, a purple t-shirt with frayed hems, and a beige shoulder belt that’s holding her lightsaber. She looks up, “Oh, hi there.”
The waitress nods. She looks around, then sighs. “Do you fall out of the sky often? You seem pretty used to it.”
Chuckling, Tri dusts herself off. “More than you could imagine. Although, I’m normally not a weasel.”
Alan pokes his head out the back door, “Midnight, I need you back inside.” He notices Tri and raises an eyebrow, “Hi there.”
“Hey.” She waves, “Sorry for dropping in like that. I’ve got somewhere to be, anyways.”
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“So, why do you think I’m a weasel now?” Tri spins around, showing off her new form.
The cat in front of her thinks for a moment, then shrugs. “This is an all animal dimension. I don’t think it’s possible for humans to exist here.” Tri looks up at her friend, one eyebrow raised. The cat has long shaggy light brown fur that hangs down to cover his left green eye, black paws, nose, ears, and tail, and he’s wearing khaki cargo pants and matching jacket over a black t-shirt and hiking boots. “What? It makes sense.”
She smiles and shakes her head. “So… why are you in this dimension as well as yours?”
He rubs the back of his neck, looking down at the ground. “Well… actually…”
Tri crosses her arms, “Topher, what aren’t you telling me?”
Topher sighs, “I’m actually from this dimension.” He looks up, “I used special technology to go into Thalia, then figured out how to easily travel between both dimensions… I’m sorry I lied to you about where I came from.”
The weasel (Man, writing that should take some getting used to!) puts out a paw, a smile in her eyes. “I’m not mad. Lying to me actually takes some pretty serious skill.” She raises her eyebrows, “Want to get something to eat? I saw a little French restaurant when I dropped in. Cheeseburger or something like that.”
Her friend chuckles, “That would probably be Chez Burger. I’ve eaten there before. Good food, grumpy waitress. And you don’t need to fake an ID to get in.”
“Topher! Have you been eating at pubs?” She glares at him.
He puts up his paws in defense, “Hey! They’re cheaper! And I never get alcohol.”
Tri sighs, “See, that time I could tell you were lying. You need to learn how to control that ear twitch.” She rolls her eyes, as he reaches up to hold his ears down. “Let’s go get something to eat. I’ll buy.”
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