Description: *Season Three, Episode Twenty* As the world comes toward yet another holiday special episode the great spirits ask why most of the holiday specials come around the same time? Halloween? Guy Fawks? Winter Solstice? These questions maybe answered as the Space Dancer Arika brings all of her power toward the final confrontation with the evil empire, don't miss it!
Today was a beautiful .. er.. winter? Day for a picnic. Really? Well the thing was that you got sales on off season items on the wrong season, this was a well known fact. So why you ask would someone go on a picnic now? Because the supplies were cheap, all except the food which costs about the same as it always does. Shame! But that's okay, she managed to scrounge up some crackers and some condements and here the witch sits eating them. For drinks she has water she melted from snow. Oh this would be perfect. Shaved ice! The witch thinks she's a total genius and goes to work
Oblivious to any off-season deals, the punk princess makes her way through the forest. It's as good a spot as any to think, and after the time she's spent in Metro City recently, she really needs a quiet place to do that. A place that someone might not think to look for her, and as such, she's chosen this spot. Arika has been sitting up in a tree for the last hour or so, just listening to the silence of the woods.
Then a Naerose wandered by with a... picnic? Blinking at the goings on down below, the diva edges over on the branch she's been using as a bench and tries to see just what the witch is up to. As she shifts, several dried and dead leaves fall to the ground. But it's nothing more than a small squirrel up here, right?
Squirrel. . Rabbit.. Food. You know the witch would love a cracker and squirrel sandwich. That's a great idea, the question is how to get it down? She decides to set a trap using her picnic basket. It's very clever she thinks. Food inside the basket, a stick, a string, to her hand, oh brilliant. Nevermind that she doesn't know how to prepare an animal for eating. Actually that's morbid, she banishes the thought and decides that if she sets the trap everything will work out in the end.
. . . .
A few moments later she successfully catches Sylvester.
"Hey! That cracker was not for you, bad Sylvester." She tries to punish her bunny by reprimanding it the same way you would a dog. It is ineffective. The bunny meanwhile just hopes she doesn't realize she has meat with her all along.
Brow raising as she watches the antics down below, the diva just shakes her head. Sliding onto her stomach, she reaches her hands out to grab hold of the branch and swing herself down gracefully. She was not, however, expecting the branch to be cold and slimy and so when her hands try to make purchase they slip right off the branch and she goes crashing down to the ground with a very loud bodily *THUMP*.
Groaning, she gives her head a shake and then makes a valiant attempt to right herself and dust herself off before Naerose notices her. Hands run down over the jeans, and she grimaces at the damp spots on her knees. "Great," she mutters to herself, "these were new too..."
Sylvester notices this first before the witch does and decides a predator has come. Since however the rabbit spends most of it's time in the presence of a predator, Naerose, this doesn't affect it as much as say a bunny who maybe actually liked their caretaker. Suffice to say it bolts and is quickly supplanted of it's attempted independence by a red crack of british authority. Naerose scoops the now unconscious bunny back into her hat. Woe is Sylvester, if only he knew how many Sylvesters came before who were freed by the hand of this punk rock princess of JUSTICE. Unfortunately bunnies do not know these things and this Sylvester happens to be a girl. You know? It's like Naerose doesn't even try anymore, since the Hollywood writers strike she was imagining what if my life were really a movie and someone wrote all my lines? I guess that means now that the writers are on strike my lines must suck. Therefore she decides not to try to be clever or witty, or make sure that her current Sylvester has even a shred of continuity with the last one. This Sylvester is brown and white spotted with black around it's head. Quite possibly the biggest departure from previous Sylvesters ever. Meanwhile. .
"Yogi Bear!" the witch cries, looks at Arika and deflates,
"Awwww." she says, the inflates again, literally like a mime running a hand in front of her face, smiley -frown-smiley.
"Hey Arika, this is totally a potluck picnic."
Great. Now she's gone and terrified a poor bunny to death. Arika has the good graces to actually blush at the fact she's frightened the poor thing and cocks her head to the side as she watches Naerose stuff the unconscious thing into her hat. "Er..." Sweatdrop. "Naerose, you know the bunny might die of not bein' able to breathe, right?" Not much she can do about it other than stealing the hat and freeing yet another bunny from the clutches of the evil witch that wants to eat it.
"And for the record I sure as bloody 'ell -ain't- a bear. I ain't that big!" Gah! The nerve! Though she supposes she can see how one might have that misconception, what with her falling out of a tree and everything.
"Uh... oh. I've got a Snickers bar, and there's a bag of Cheetos up there somewhere," she says, pointing to the branch from which she came crashing down.
"Sweet!" Exclaims the witch who is gathering snow as they speak,
"And I am going to totally make some shaved ice, this will be wonderful." She sounds not only as if she expected Arika to come but as if Arika's coming was planned. And so she goes about trying to get some shaved ice together, which she doesn't actually know how to make, she imagines it's like a snow cone and luckily happens to have some red coolaid mix with her. Why? Well .. the world may always wonder? Actually it isn't hard to guess.
"Oh and we should sing some songs or something, Hey! How it the band doing?" There are stars in Naerose' eyes, probably a bad sign.
Wrinkling her nose the diva looks around. "Naerose? Just uhh... watch out for that yellow stuff. It ain't flavorin' if you get my drift." As she says this, Arika grabs a stick off the ground and prods at the bag of Cheetos, trying to coax it down from the branch so that she can give it to the witch as her contribution to this random potluck in the woods. See? Always prepared. At least that's something, right?
"Femme Fatale is doin' just fine. We've got a contract out in Metro City for a few more days, then they're all goin' back 'ome for Christmas. Wot 'bout you? Still 'angin' with that motley crew of friends? Those Blackjack people?" Oh, she tried asking about them over in Metro, but everyone she spoke to didn't have a clue as to who they were. Funny thing that. Trying to get information on a 'gang' without using your fists is actually really difficult.
Metro? Naerose doesn't say the word, but her expression says it. All the bit about yellow snow forgotten, you literally have to hope Naerose just happens not to scoop any of it. She doesn't. Still that whole Metro thing has her undivided attention. She hangs on Arika's words as if.. as if.. As if she were actually paying attention.
"Hey.." Naerose starts, looking calculating, " I could totally get you a gig in Metro. Sorta something I er.. heard about.. A fighting circuit.. thing.. Mm. Yeah this would be all sorts of fun." She adjusts her shades while looking at Arika and adding coolaid to snow.
"Oh?" It's not as if Arika doesn't catch the calculating look. She pretends she doesn't, because she's going to be good and play along. She might just get some information out of this. "Wot would a fighting circuit want with a band? But anyway, tell me a bit 'bout it and I can pass it by Marcy. She's the one that books everythin'."
The bag of Cheetos lands in the snow with a little plop. Good thing it wasn't opened yet, otherwise little orange sticks of cheesy goodness would be littering the forest floor. "'ere you go. One bag of Cheetos, good for any wintry potluck in the snowy forest. I'm jus' sorry I ain't got a mug'a cocoa..."
"Oh we can totally check it out, ever heard of.." Naerose begins and then starts to fish around in her hat and finally pulls out a brochure, it looks like it's for some sort of snazzy casino. "The Capitol Seven Casino?" It is, it is for some sort of casino.
"Welll here is the deal I'm willing to make, you and I can case the joint, and sneak into their under ground fighting arena..." Marise would be so pissed, "And then see about gettinng your band a gig during one of their shows down there. It'll be great! " she continues under her breath, "And maybe find a way of finally sneaking me into the all you can eat buffet."
Reaching for the pamphlet, Arika shakes her head. "Nah. Can't really say as I 'ave. Been busy though. Y'know, lookin' for that missin' scientist and all. Stars stuff, I s'pose." Shoulders raise in a shrug, and she opens the pamphlet to get a better look at this casino place. "Hrm. Is it an up-and-up place? Marcy's kind'a picky 'bout things like that..."
While she reads the information in the brochure, she tries to keep one eye on Naerose. "They won't let'cha in? Now that's a shame. You'd make a good patron, wot with the buffet and all. And you're tryin' to upsell the place. You should get a commission or soemthin'..." Though she's got some suspicions. Odd that the witch would mention this place when she mentioned Blackjack, isn't it?
Naaaah. Maybe it's just coincidence.
Ironically enough, Naerose actually only mentioned it because Arika mentioned Metro, the city where the casino is located. But this goes unspoken. Arika may be suspicious as she likes, Naerose meanwhile goes on to explain,
"I know, weird isn't it? It's an all you can eat buffet and I'd never been therebefore, the first time I try to go in, with you know, actual money, they turn me away, at the door, all gruffly like 'Miss Delphine, we are not allowed to let you in to the buffet, so sorry.' and I'm thinking, that's totally disciminiation!"
Blink. "Wait, they knew your name?" Arika muses over this as she continues to read the brochure. "'ey, mind if I keep this? I can at the very least, pass this on to Marcy and she can check the place out after the 'olidays. Don't know 'ow much more time I'll actually be -in- Metro. Been thinkin' 'bout goin' 'ome myself. Not like anyone needs me 'round 'ere..." Drake is always busy with one girl or another anyhow, and the diva isn't sure how much more she can take of that before she breaks.
"But it's a good idea. The place looks decent enough and I s'pose we'll see wot we can do. And 'ey, if I wind up playin' there, one'a my stipulations'll be that you're my guest and you're allowed at the buffet as long as you like. Since they ain't gonna give you a finders fee, you may as well consider that to be it, eh?"
"I dunno," The witch muses, "I think we need to do someting better, I've tried a disguise or two to get in and I totally failed. So what if you let me in your band for the gig and then we could all go to the buffet together, surely they would never know!" Exclaims the witch.
"I could try to sing.. or.. something? You could teach me an instrument." She has that smile that the witch wears when she's totally playing a con. Ie, all the time. Meanwhile she gives a gesture to suggest like, go ahead, take the brochure, knowing casinos they're probably everywehre in Metro anyway.
"Uhh... wot?" Arika nearly drops the brochure at that and clears her throat. Hide -Naerose- in her band? That... likely wouldn't go over well at all with the other girls. Catching the pamphlet before it disappears into the snow, she folds it and stuffs it into her pocket. "I'll think'a somethin', okay? Not sure -wot-, but I'll think'a somethin'." If she decides to take that gig anyhow. Something about casino gigs isn't sitting well with her.
"So, you got any plans for the 'olidays? I thought I'd 'ave someone to spend it with, but I'm seriously doubtin' that. Probably'll just be me, Mina and Sylve-- er.. the cat and bunny that is."
"Holidays?" Asks the witch and then thinks really hard. She wasn't aware of any holidays, except Christmas! The one where everyone gives you presents. Unfortunately for the witch, who would give her anything? This calls for careful thought.
"Yeah actually, come to think of it, I've got no plans at all." She starts. Further thought.
"And you don't have anyone to spend it with except a cat and a bunny.." More thought. how to make it so she can get gifts. Probably if Naerose threw a holiday party not many people would come and not many would bring gifts.. but. Her shades light up, it must be from catching the sun at just the right angle, but she looks quickly at Arika.
"Clearly this calls for you and I throwing a holiday party."
"A -party-?" Arika clucks her tongue on the roof of her mouth a few times and seems to be considering it. "I don't know. I ain't really good at these party things." Lie. "I mean, I ain't the 'ostessin' kind." Lie. "'sides, we're kind'a really close to the 'olidays to start plannin' somethin' extravagant now, and with everyone 'eadin' 'ome..." Shrug.
"But we could do a Kris Kringle thing. Exchange gifts, y'know? Just lil' things. That way if I 'ave to 'ead off somewhere and miss the party festivities, I ain't leavin' you 'ere with nothin'." See? Arika -can- be nice from time to time. "I could likely get'cha in touch with a club or a 'all that'd 'ost the party for ya and all you'd 'ave to do would be decorate and send out invites, though..."
"So. wait, you might be alone and you don't want to spend it with me? We can invite Eva.. and her family." She probably has family, the witch thinks, "Come on Arika.. it'll be fun, if you want we can even throw it in Metro, where I dunno, some people actually live. And sure we can exchange gifts, " Naerose is pretty sure she can regift, "And we could have the party.. " She thinks, "If not Metro.." She thinks some more, "At my place!" By 'my place' she really means Niesje's place. How she might pull that one off she'll think about later.
"Oh but we need a tree. .Shouldn't be hard and to decorate it. It won't take that much planning.."
Arika clears her throat, and looks anywhere but at the witch. "It ain't that I don't -want- to spend it with you, 'rose. I'm just kind'a 'opin' that someone will open 'is eyes and think 'bout includin' me in 'is 'oliday plans, y'know? If not, I might just 'ead 'ome to London and 'ide for the 'olidays and come back in the new year, bright and cheerful like." She kind've feels bad for leaving the witch high-and-dry though.
"I could 'elp you with the tree befor' I 'ead back to Metro to finish my last two gigs though. My plane doesn't leave until the mornin'. 'fact, you pick out a tree, I'll even cover the cost of decorations, alright?"
. . .
Naerose doesn't get it.
"Ah.. okay." She shrugs a little and fixes her shades, "Well if you decide to go to london.." she thinks, "tell you what, if you want company? I'll totally come cause I got nothing at all keeping me here." A total free bird the witch is.
"And er, I really hope things work out for you, so yeah, you can help me prepare and.." She still needs someone to host the party. "Maybe you can introduce me to some friends, " She thinks out loud.
Noticing that the witch doesn't really get it, Arika exhales a heavy sigh, a cottony puff of air coming out with it and lingering for a moment in the cold air. "Drake. I want to do somethin' with 'im for Christmas, only 'e's not asked and I don't really know 'ow to go 'bout askin' 'im to do somethin' with me when I know 'e's got a family back 'ome in the States and 'e's likely goin' there for Christmas and... it ain't important."
Stuffing her hands into her pockets she glances around. "Wot's important now is gettin' a tree, getting decorations, invitations, food and all'a that. I can invite Eva and 'urricane 'ime to the party. Y'know they consider you a friend, right? They'd probably bring a small gift too..."
"Oh Yeah of course they do." Not, but Naerose doesn't even realize the truth of that as she is thinking or saying it. Her oblivious nature meant she often failed to avoid awkward situations when hanging round someone who actually doesn't like her at all. She just doesn't realize it.
"So .. wait, you want to do something with Drake, but... er he speaks spanish? I don't get it, why don't you go up to him and totally be like, 'Hey Drake, can I come to your place over the holidays?' and he'll be like, 'totally, oh and give this to your friend Naerose, gift from me.'" The witch is smmiling now cause she totally thinks she just scored another free gift.
Looking at the snowy ground in a thoughtful manner, Arika shrugs. "I s'pose it's worth a try, right? Worst 'e can do is say no." Actually, worst he can do is say he's bringing some other girl home for Christmas. Since the diva doesn't really fancy receiving that as a response, she thinks it might just be better to avoid asking him at all.
"It's bloody cold out 'ere. Why don't we 'ead into town and go to a cafe or somethin'. I can grab a notebook on the way and let'cha know everythin' you need for the party and give you some money to pick everythin' up. 'ows that sound? Lunch can even be my treat."
"Sure thing," The witch says and starts to pack up her things, and by that I mean, she grabs the food, leaves everything else behind. The great discount she got on the stuff they were using? Dumpster diving, the ultimate discount.
"Lets go then," the witch says and is up and on her feet. She probably parked her scooter around here.. There is a suspicious snowdrift nearby.
"I'll give you a ride!" She says as she sits on pure ice. It doesn't start.
"Okay.. Pushing it then."
Log created on 12:34:03 12/14/2007 by Naerose, and last modified on 20:14:31 12/15/2007.