A Laugh Can Be a Very Powerful Thing...

Hi there! Name's Roger. I'm a performer here at the carnival. A human target, actually. It's risky work, but someone's gotta do it! I love meeting new people, so feel free to drop me a line!

[neonearthtone]

[leftonthedrawingboard]

He almost smiled at how excited Roger got when he offered to show him how to draw him. Almost. Though cartooning was still a touchy subject for him and he’d steered clear of the style since the incident, Roger’s enthusiasm reminded him a bit of why he’d put so much love into the style of storytelling.

It spoke to people in a natural way, spoke to people of every gender, age, and background. Even the oldest, crustiest corporate businessman would probably stop to smile upon seeing a rerun of one of their favourite childhood cartoons.

“Alright, well then watch closely. You start with a circle— almost everything starts with a circle.” His hand moved freely, light lines flowing onto the paper as he relaxed into the drawing. “Then you split that circle with some light guidelines, so it’s easier to draw everything even and to proportion.”

He found himself moving easily into the tutorial, and he began explaining it with more enthusiasm, making sure to break it down so Roger might follow along. Goofy was a lot of circles and ovals, now that he looked at him again for the first time in a while.

Eventually he slowed to a stop, darkening in a few lines, and then setting down the pen and glancing up at Roger. “Wanna give it a shot? I’ll coach you through it if you get confused.”

[laughing-boy]

While normally Roger’s attention span would flit quickly from one thing to the next, he wasn’t able to tear his eyes away from the sheet of paper as Oswald’s pencil moved across it. Slowly, and step by step, the figure of his favourite cartoon character emerged.

Roger found himself nodding, leaning forward on his elbows and tilting his head to get a better look at the sheet, trying to take in each step as Oswald explained.

It was no wonder he had been working on a cartoon. He seemed to know the lines to the character flawlessly -- and it wasn’t even his character! It spoke volumes about how passionate Oswald must have been about animation, to have obviously studied the character’s designs so thoroughly, to be able to recreate them on the spot.

Never in his life, had Roger seen someone that was as passionate about animation as he was. Though now only that -- but Oswald had experience!

He also realized, with growing excitement, that Oswald seemed to become more open and friendly when he became absorbed in his craft. Roger couldn’t help but wonder if Oswald even realized it.

Though the thought didn’t last too long as the other’s attention was directed back onto him as he wrapped up his tutorial, eyes darting down to see the pencil extended towards him.

He hadn’t been expecting to have to try it for himself, but what did he have to lose!? -- Roger nodded, the smile persisting on his face as he took the pencil from Oswald and shifted the paper over this his side of the table.

“Okay...” He began, looking at Oswald’s work with concentration and trying to recall the first few steps. He positioned his pencil on the paper. “So, I just start with a circle?” He asked, mostly to himself as he started going through the steps. Hopefully ending with something that vaguely resembled the cartoon character.

[boundherinherbones]

A little surprised, Tia watched him pick through the candy and found herself laughing a little. “Well, well, I should ‘ave come ta you first den if I wanted dis cleared out.”

“You like sweets?”

[laughing-boy]

“Like ‘em? I love ‘em!” Roger couldn’t help but get excited at the question, picking the candies he wanted and looking down at them in his hand. He may have gotten a little overexcited when it came to sweets -- but then again... practically everything got him overexcited. “Where’d you get all this candy anyways?”

[leftonthedrawingboard]

He nodded, waiting for Roger’s reply and dusting the ashes from his cigarette into a napkin, wadding it up and tossing it at the nearest trash bin. “Yeah, your favourite. Goofy? He’s a good one.” He found it interesting in the way that Roger referred to him as his own entity, rather than referencing the people who created him.

"Those were the Golden Age of cartoons. Nothing gets made that way anymore." He sighed almost wistfully. It was always the era he’d referenced when creating his cartoons— along with some of the 20s ones, because creativity had been at an all time high back then.

He moved over to a booth though taking a seat and pulling out the pen and small notebook Merida had found him. “I suppose I’d have to say the Grinch, hough he wasn’t really recurring. I like a lot of cartoon characters, really, so it’s hard to pick an actual favourite.”

He twirled the pen in his fingers, looking up at Roger. “Wanna know how to draw Goofy?”

[laughing-boy]

Roger nodded enthusiastically once again. He could talk about Goofy for hours. Let alone all the other cartoons that he loved. It was so rare that he found someone else that was an interested in them as he was -- especially in the classics.

It seemed that whenever he stumbled upon one, not even the annoyance from being unjustly cooped up in a train for days could distract him from the conversation.

He could recall Oswald mentioning having been working on a large project. A cartoon. One that he had been producing himself. When he had first heard that, he had been practically off the wall with excitement. He had spent his whole life loving cartoons, but never had he actually gone through the process of trying to create one. Not anything more than a flipbook, anyways.

The moment Oswald had moved aside to grab a bench, Roger immediately found himself moving with him, slipping into the opposite side of the bench, so as not to become distanced from the growing excitement of the presentation.

And just when he thought it couldn’t get any better, Oswald asked...

“Do I want to what?” Roger couldn’t help but reply with disbelief, eyes wide. The shock soon gave way to enthusiasm as he nodded once again, and leaned forward on the table to get a better look at the pen and paper. “Yeah! Of course I do!”

[boundherinherbones]

“Take what ya wan’. Jus’ not all de chocolate, dos are my favorite.”

[laughing-boy]

“So much to pick from! Maybe just a couple of the licorices.  Oh! And the bubble gum looks good! -- and it’d be shame if no one ate  those cookies! Might as well take some of those too!”

[leftonthedrawingboard]

The other not taking a cigarette didn’t surprise him, but the hesitation did make him a little curious about the other. He banished it pretty quick though. His first girlfriend had always told him that curiousity killed the cat, and he’d made sure never to be foolish enough to be a cat.

He tilted his head, fingers tight around the cig as he cupped his chin with that hand, his elbow propped on the arm crossed over his chest. The other had brightened again, and with the same impression Oswald had gotten the first time, he noted that the other had a vested interest in cartoons and comics. What an ironic stroke of… well, it was something, but Oswald wouldn’t call it luck.

He took another drag from his cigarette, holding onto it again as he thought about that, thought about how to respond, before he forced the smoke out his nostrils, feeling the sting as he did so. “Yeah, I’ve read the Peanuts comics.” He looked around the room, and after a moment, stubbed out his cigarette. He hadn’t been smoking it for long but all of the talk about it had made him focus too much on negative consequences and put him off it for now.

"What’s your favourite cartoon character?" Normally he wouldn’t do what he was about to do because well, he didn’t like it, but Roger was so damn annoyingly nice and he figured he couldn’t be held responsible for what happened while he was in this car. He’d blame it on being stir-crazy. Or something.

[laughing-boy]

If they didn't get out of there soon, Roger was going to lose it. For days now, they had been cooped up in this tin can, without the freedom to wander, or explore, or get into shenanigans of any kind! He was going stir-crazy -- and a couple other kinds of crazy too.

He was certain, if he didn't get out of there soon, he was going to flip. Though talking to people did provide him with some distraction, that distraction was beginning to wear thin now. He wanted nothing more than to leap out one of the many windows lining the car.

Maybe he could get out if someone gave him a push... or maybe that was the desperation talking.

Roger's attention was called back to the moment with the exhalation of Oswald's cigarette. So Oswald had seen them! Well, at least the promise of the talk of cartoons perked him up a little.

"My favourite character? Oh boy, that's a tough one..." Roger thought back to all the cartoons he had seen. There was a lot to choose from. "Well, I love Goofy. He's a comedic genius. And I definitely have a soft spot for the goofier cartoons. The '30s, 40's, 50's. So much good stuff came out of that time period!" His excitement shot up the roof now that he was in an element of his own expertise. "How about you? You have a favourite?"

[traditionalanimation]

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? storyboards (Walt Disney/Amblin, 1988).

[leftonthedrawingboard]

"It’s weird because in theory it should be causing me more stress and it does especially if I don’t get one for a while but— it works, I guess?" He rubbed his hand along the cut of his jaw, tilting his head. His fingers reached in his pocket, pulling out the pack and turning it over casually. Lucky Strike— he remembered swiping his first pack from his dad’s desk. They smoked the same brand, consequently.

He bumped one out, placing his lips around the end and tugging it out as he pulled out his lighter, holding the pack out to Roger with a raised brow. He didn’t expect him to take one, but who knew? After a minute though, he withdrew it, sliding it back into his back pocket and taking a minute to flick the metal grinders and spark his cigarette into life.

He inhaled the smoke, holding it in his mouth for a moment before forcing it out, at least having the manners to angle it away from Roger. “I think it counts, mostly on the principal that I don’t know what else it would be.” He paused, closing his eyes partially and thinking about that. After a moment he blinked, opening his eyes. “The Peanuts cartoons are pretty good. The humour in them is kind of slower than most but they’re a good watch. Though I’m sure you’ve seen them already.”

[laughing-boy]

Roger watched as Oswald reached for the pack of cigarettes and took one for himself. Though he was a little more surprised when Oswald actually held the pack out to him, offering him one as well. A moment of intrigue came to him, as he looked down at the extended pack of cigarettes. He'd never smoked a day in his life, and didn't have much of a desire too -- though he couldn't help but be curious as to what it was like,

A moment of hesitation passed before Oswald took the pack away, much to Roger's relief. In that brief moment, he'd had to slight impulse to take one. Just to satiate his curiosity. But now with them away... out of sight, out of mind.

If he didn't count the fact that Oswald was lighting one up.

The conversation brought Roger's attention back away from the curiosity, and back to his acquaintance. And the topic of cartoons really heightened his interest. A smile came back to his face, and he nodded. He sure had seen the Peanuts cartoons, and he enjoyed every second of it!

"Sure!" Roger answered, fully back on the conversation now. "Those are pretty fun. The comics are good too, ever read 'em?" He asked, though he didn't wait for an answer before continuing. "I wish we could get out of here. I've got some in my room that I could show you. At least it would help us to pass the time." He lost some of his excitement, eyes trailing to the window. "I'm so bored in here. There's got to be something we can do..."

[leftonthedrawingboard]

"I think so. Like, nicotine overdose or something." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Stress relief, I guess. And I suppose it’s a habit I got from my dad. Not that I’d smoke if I had more of a choice, mind you."

He studied the other for a moment, not saying anything quite yet. He’d agree with people on that. Finally though, he asked, “What kind of candy and what kind of comics? The letter F is kind of recurrent for me.”

[laughing-boy]

"Ohhh, stress relief!" Roger nodded in understanding. He did understand how smoking was a form of stress relief for some people. Calmed the nerves. Gave them something to busy their hands with. Distracted them. He supposed it was a good thing to cling to, for a quick source of calm -- though perhaps not the most economically or health-conscious way of going about it.

But if it worked for others, then who was he to interfere? At least, not until he got to know the other enough that he felt he could. It wasn't as though he was without vices. He had several bad habits. Fidgeting. Shifting. Speaking too fast. Rambling. Jumping from one thought to the next. There was a multitude of things he could work on as well, but they were such deeply-ingrained habits, he could understand how it would be difficult to suddenly stop something that had become so second-nature.

Speaking of that, his mind had wandered away with him again, and he had to focus back on the conversation.

"What kind of candy?" He repeated, thinking back to the latest candies he had eaten. There were so many to choose from, and they were constantly shifting. "Right now I like gum. Does that count as candy? -- and comics, all sorts! I go for the more comedic ones though. Anything that can get me to laugh, I'll eat it up. Cartoons too! I like cartoons even more than comics... don't suppose you've got any suggestions?"

[dark-arrows]

One big happy family- not; Apple and Carrot

[dark-arrows]

"I’m sure you’ll find her soon enough, with all of us cramped in here its hard not to run into each other." she gave a smile at Rodger, knowing that even though he didn’t quite look it, he was fretting and worrying over his beloved. Thats how Rodger was, sweet and kind and madly in love with Jessica, and worried about her in situations like these. All she could do was be a friend and keep an eye out for the fellow red headed woman, it hopes it would calm down Rodger a little if they were reunited once again. 

Merida gave a nod and kept smiling, she was glad her friend at fun in Norway, since she had met him all he had was a laugh on his lips but heartbreak in his eyes. It was good to see him 100% happy, not only because they were travailing and having a blast with friends and for work, but because he had his love back agian. Rodger always had fun before, but now she really did believe it, and she had no doubt that Rodger had a blast in Norway, just like he would have a blast at every other stop they made. It was just his style

"Aye, the island wasnt the biggest but it had more ranging room then this!" she agreed with a nod and pulled her legs closer. She didn’t like cramped spaces. She didn’t like being told what to do and where she could and could not go. Hell she had to ask if she could go to the bathroom. "What’s you say we bust this popcical stand?" though she knew it wasn’t possible, even the vent that she could use to climb out had too many people to watch.

[laughing-boy]

Roger couldn't help but smile back at Merida. No matter the situation, Merida always managed to bring a smile back to his face. He would have been lying had he said that he wasn't worried about Jessica -- but they had been through worse than a couple of people and train cars between them.

Merida had kept him calm back then too, and seeing that everyone else was alright brought a tremendous sense of relief to him. For now, he could sit still (or attempt it at least) and catch up with his friend.

He leaned back on his palms on the bar counter, trying to avoid the constant stream of people that were shuffling passed, all trying to find their own friends and loved ones. People that they had been separated from for so long now, with no word. 

"There aren't many places that have less ranging room than this!" He joked, gesturing to the very cramped space before them. He could imagine how closed-in Merida felt. She had always been such a free spirit. Someone who needed freedom, and openness, and adventure. He couldn't picture her being cooped up in a tin can like this, shoulder-to-shoulder with dozens of other people, for such an extended period of time.

In fact, it was really wearing him thin now too. He wanted to run around! To be outside! To meet new people, and experience new things. But for days now, he had been cooped up in such a small space, with absolutely nothing to do. The both had.

Her suggestion had him casting her an expectant smirk, glancing to the skylight above them.

"You wanna blow this place, I'm all for it." He turned his attention to the people blocking their way, knowing full well that any chance they might have to get out through the door would most likely be futile. It was a fun thought to entertain though. "How would we get passed the guards?" He chuckled. He'd seen them out there, guarding the cars.

Why they were under such tight security, he still had no idea.

[laughing-boy]

I KNOW RODGER ISN’T GAY BUT I FOUND THIS SONG AND STARTED CRYING OF LAUGER IMAGING RODGER JUMPING AROUND SINGING THIS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6d3gm_upVo

— — — — — — — — —

LOL!!! OKAY! Now I’m laughing at this! I’m just imagining Roger jumping from table to table in the dining car singing this, as people are so stressed about being held in there, lol!

[leftonthedrawingboard]

"I hear some people like third hand smoke," he offered dryly. "No, I’m not joking and—" he paused, his face screwing up as he thought about that. "I’m pretty sure I’d die if I ate one?"

[laughing-boy]

"You'd die if you ate one!?" Roger answered back with a laugh. He couldn't help but be amused at the concept. "So why do ya smoke 'em then? Not that I want to question your life choices."

He paused a moment to consider that, before continuing.

"I've got vices of my own, ya know! Like candy! I can't get enough of it! -- Oh, and cartoons. I like cartoons a lot. And comic books. And -- lotta 'c' stuff, huh? Oh! And people say I can't hold my attention very long, but I don't believe that for a second!"

[boundherinherbones]

"I ‘ave some extra candy. Do you wan’ it?"

[laughing-boy]

"Candy? Sure! -- I mean, if you're offering."

[leftonthedrawingboard]

I hope you all like second hand smoke because nicotine withdrawal is a bitch and they’re not allowing us smoke breaks. So deal, or else I’m going to put a fork through someone’s hand.

[laughing-boy]

"Oh, you're funny! Who likes second hand smoke!? I don't even like first hand smoke!" Roger laughed, before noticing the other's unwavering expression. His shoulders fell. "Oh, you're not joking, are you? -- Well, can't you just eat 'em or something? It's the same thing, right?"

[laughing-boy]

Reunited

[imdrawnthisway]

While she was glad to see everyone else alright and happy they had a change of scenery from where they had been locked away, Jessica was about ready to start knocking her head against the side of the wall. 

She didn’t like being useless. She was used to if something wasn’t being done, or wasn’t being done right, she’d get it done one way or another, whether it had to deal with her job or her personal life. But there was so little she could do where she was, what with the locked doors and the confusion and the lack of information, and she felt so useless that she’d confined herself to the back wall for now. At least here she could keep an eye on the room. 

She wished she had her cell phone. At least she’d been able to talk to Roger that way, but after it’d been taken from her - well that had obviously been put to a stop. What she really wanted was to be able to text him to find out where he was. This place was small with how many bodies were jammed in and moving around was difficult, meaning finding her husband might just be a giant goose chase knowing his luck.  So she stayed in one spot and waited it out, knowing he had to pass by eventually.

Drumming her fingers on her knees, she kept her eyes out watching through the giant mob of a crowd they had all become in hopes of catching sight of that thatch of flaming red hair. 

Then there was a sound, the very loud, very enthusiastic, very familiar sound she’d been waiting on that jerked her from her thoughts and she was up on her feet searching for him. 

"Roger?" She called out, able to pinpoint where he was by the awkward moving of the group, suggesting that someone was trying to push their way through and having a hard but very dedicated time of it. "Darling!" She reached for him and dragged him to her as soon as he was within reach, covering his face in kisses. "I’ve missed you," she said between kisses, "so, so much."

[laughing-boy]

The moment her head turned towards him, and her eyes lit up, the worry that had been accumulating on him during this whole fiasco was suddenly washed away. Happiness flooded his heart, and all his worries were thrown out the window as Jessica stood, threw her arms open, and drew him closer.

His own arms followed suit, wrapping around her and happily accepting the multitude of kisses she planted allover his face. He couldn't help but laugh happily with each playful peck.

"Jessy! It's been torture without you! I was about ready to send a carrier pigeon or something!" He joked, if only to reassure her that everything was alright. He may have been descending into a paranoid panic before, but now that Jessica was confirmed to be safe and unharmed, peace pulsed through him. She was all he needed, and as long as she was safe and happy, he would be okay too.

His hands found the sides of her face and looked at her for the first time in -- he didn't even know how long. He thought that the months they had been separated had been long, but this had been almost as bad!

"What happened?! Do you know what's going on? Are you okay?"

[laughing-boy]

Reunited

imdrawnthisway

Roger didn't know how long it had been.Days, weeks? -- Months? It was hard to tell, without his phone, or any contact to the outside world. It certainly felt like a long time, that he had been locked away.

Away from his friends, and happy walks around the carnival -- away from Jessica. It had been difficult, the first few night to sleep, not knowing where she was, or if she was safe. At least before they had been able to text. But with the confiscation of their phones, there was no way of knowing. There was just that ever-present, gnawing uncertainty, and the growing understanding that something had to have been terribly wrong, for this to be happening.

The moment they had been moved from the small car, and into the larger dining car with everyone else, Roger only had one thing on his mind. Find Jessica.

It had been a frantic search. Pushing through the thick crowd for that familiar face, but finally he found her, and no one would have been able to stand in his way at that point.

"Jessica!" He shouted, perhaps a little too loud and too enthusiastically for the people around him.

[dark-arrows]

One big happy family- not; Apple and Carrot

[dark-arrows]

Merida laughed at Rodger, it was a good laugh too. “I’ve been okay.” she replied, in truth she hadn’t been okay, she hadn’t been sleeping, forgot to eat, all her time went into the show. She had been locking herself away from people, Rodger included and kept to herself more then ever. If no one saw the dark bags under her eyes, no one would know. And she didn’t want to worry Rodger.

"Yeha I’ve been great,." She tried again, a little more upbeat. "how have you been? Its a little hetic with all this mayhem happening, have you found Jessica in all this mess yet?" she tried, it was awkward, she hadn’t spoken to one of her closest friends in over a month…. Rodger had Jessica and they were being happy, Tramp was being Tramp, Robin had been gone, Sully walked off the face of the earth, Roxanne could never be found… she found herself drifting away from her friends and hating herself for it, and wanting to change. "Tell me, how did you enjoy our little dabble in Norway? Getting lost on the island was fun." she laughed and shook her head. "What else did you do though?"

[laughing-boy]

Roger nodded along with Merida. It was good to hear that she was alright, though she didn't seem all that convinced of the fact the first time saying it. He tilted his head slightly, both in an attempt to hear her better over the chattering crowd, and in curiosity, the smile still playing on his face.

Seeing her again was nice. And more than welcome at a time like this. He assumed that Merida had been busy -- though she did seem slightly more frazzled than usual. He chocked it up to the stress of the situation. Even he had begun to feel the unpleasant sensation beginning to take him over.

Paranoia was something he'd begun to deal with, when they had been isolated and trapped in their separate cars. With no way of knowing what they were being held for, or way of contacting the outside world -- reasons for their situation began to play in his head. Each scenario becoming more elaborate and far-fetched in his mind.

Who was to say someone hadn't contracted an incredibly contagious disease, and they were all being held there to keep it contained? There was no way of knowing, without answers.

Now they were together again, and while that did assure him of the safety of everyone -- it did little to quell his growing anxiety about the situation. They still didn't have any answers. None of them did.

"I haven't spotted Jessica yet. It's been tricky, with all these people!" It was hard to spot anyone, let alone maneuver through the tight crowd far enough to actually get to them. The fact that he hadn't seen Jessica yet, made the worry gnaw away at him again, but he attempted to remain positive. "And yeah. Norway was amazing! I don't remember having that much fun in a long time! I think it's one of the furthest places I've been away from home." He laughed.

It had been a real adventure. He'd felt so free during the whole trip. And while technically they were still there, they weren't able to enjoy the foreign land to the extent which they had previously. They weren't even allowed to leave the dining car. He supposed it balanced everything out. Going from completely free, to a prisoner.

"I'd much rather be back on that island than in this car." He joked, but it was true. At this point, he just wanted to get out of there. "Any idea how Angus is?" He asked, before thinking.