JAKE: -Hooboy, it's another fine day at Skaianet labs. Well not THE main headquarter. This would be one of their fine established branches located deep in the forest of the LOFAF district. Also known as one of Jake's fonder stakeouts! If only it wasn't so damn cold at this time of year. Where's Roxy anyway? Jake has some news to tell her.- ROXY: -Isn't it cold every time of year???? Except she's not really thinking about that. Right now she's pretty warm from all the booze in her bloodstream, and pretty preoccupied trying to get this fucking ding danged contraption to work. It's a pretty cool concept, she thinks -- it's a rifle, that appearifies. Kind of like the appeafier gun, but with even more gun. Even better, it's thieving technology from Crockercorp in the hope to sock it completely against them... somehow. She hasn't quite decided how to use it yet, but that can come later, once it actually starts working.- ROXY: -Which it isn't. And she's draped across the pile of plushies on the floor of her lab, taking a mild snooze-- er, meditation break. And also thinking that maybe she should make it a wand instead?? That'd be so fuckin' HELLS of sweet.- JAKE: -What a perfect time to kick down the door. None too gently, Jake English was a man of burly muscle and two left feet. As soon as the door bursts open, he half tumbles to the ground in a heap.- Sunnava-- JAKE: Roxaroo it is BLISTERING FUCKING COLD OUT THERE. SWEET SHIT ON A POPSICLE IM THE POPSICLE! -kicks the door closed.- JAKE: HIYA. -thunk.- ROXY: w hA HD YA FUCK???? -OKAY SHE'S AWAKE, bolting upright and blinking way too many times to try to make sense of what's happening. She's about to karate kick Jake in the head before she makes the sluggish realization that oh, it's just Jake. Of course it's just Jake.- ROXY: holy shit jaaake ROXY: hoyl ROXY: EFFIN shit ROXY: in which the eff part stands for FUCKENING ROXY: holy FUCKENGIN shit ROXY: what is ROXY: the thing ur doin??? ROXY: errrr ROXY: waddup JAKE: Making a ruckus of course! Its three in the afternoon and your eyes are as big as the moon sweet chickadee! JAKE: -hops to his feet and sets hands on his hips. Grinning widely like he didn't just commit the heinous crime of barging in on someone's booze nap.- Or it WOULD be if it was an appropriate time for moonshine! Hah! Geddit?? Of course you do! JAKE: So its high time you woke the frig up madam! ROXY: mmmmmaaaaybe???? ROXY: or ROXY: mayb not that thing ROXY: howd u kno i was even sleping ROXY: coulda been ROXY: gettin a REAL close look at the fiber stitchings on dumbledorks adorbable pink hat ROXY: dumbledores the name of my wizord plush btw ROXY: every 1 of them ROXY: every single one ROXY: -Casual leans onto her desk. Leeaaaan. Casuaaal.- also p sure that aint even how that song goes ROXY: but ill give u that one for bein so gd porecious <3 JAKE: Oh shoot. I guess i dont know? -eyes widen like he hadn't even thought of that scenario. Also snaps his fingers.- Dammit english plan these entrance things better out next time! JAKE: Either way... JAKE: Thank you muches! -strolls his merry way indoors, forgetting that he's tracking snow everywhere.- And how are dumble and the doors doing this fine afternoon? Enjoying the single life? -Haw!- ROXY: yknow the usual ROXY: workin on their incantatas n groomin their lush beard hears ROXY: hairs ROXY: but i can say with at LEAST hundred percent certainty that p much no one in this room is enjoyin the single luife ROXY: -zooms in on the snow tracks. it finally clicks where he's been.- woa hey ROXY: what were UUUuUuUuU doin? JAKE: A fine question that bears an equally fine answer! -thumbs him chest- JAKE: Yours truly was invited out to HQ for a highly important meeting regarding... well! None other than our new base of project hacking! JAKE: Finally having a share of that explorative pie as it were. That associated place called serenity? Its exciting stuff to see it all come together! JAKE: So exciting i... -looks around him, shoulders slumping.- Zoinks! Plum dumb forgot halley in the car. :/ JAKE: Can you fucking believe me? My best pal! ROXY: omg ROXY: how dare u???? ROXY: but also ur gonna have to elarborate for the drunk girls in the room what ur talkin about ROXY: mayby while we rescue ur doge ROXY: -she's already wandering to scoop up a coat and scarf. get on my body.- JAKE: Well alright see... remember all that gabbledgook you said about the crocker corp and its nefarious schemes? -babbling as they head outside again.- Wouldnt you know it some sharp eyed fellow by the name of john egbert broke off from the place and is starting his own researching venture! JAKE: Why even the mayor of can town is behind the project! Can you believe that? JAKE: Its all the more reason to check out the scene huh? If it combats those dastardly corporate fat cats? -WHOOSH as soon as he hauls the door open, they are met with an icy blast of wind.- BRRRRRR. Damn this fucking district! ROXY: -That sure is chilly as fuck. Good thing she's still got plenty of warm in her blood, and she certainly doesn't feel it as much as she could. Vague squinting happens, but she crunches into the snow pretty fearlessly.- ROXY: uuuuuuuummm YES???? ROXY: sign me the FUCK up ROXY: like ROXY: assumin he aint just one of them in disguise somehow ROXY: tryin to hide his schemes or w/e ROXY: but if he broke off that seems like itd be way too obvious.... ROXY: unless thats what she WANTS us to think ROXY: hrrmrm JAKE: Come now! Give the man a chance and maybe youll see hes exactly what the doctor ordered! -Unlike Roxy, Jake is way too aware of the cold and can just about feel his nose hairs freezing on contact. Luckily, the RV wasn't parked too far away.- JAKE: Now hurry get inside before you let the warm out! -punches the door open and scrambles inside. Halley the dog will be sitting obediantly at the foot of Jake's bed. Jake himself huffs, tugging the hoodie off his head.- JAKE: Huh. I guess i also forgot i told him to stay. -bemused.- ROXY: -She's right on his tail (so to speak), climbing inside and grinning automatically at the furry friend.- aww what a good boy ROXY: ur just the best dude arent you ROXY: a friend n a helper ROXY: a companion and a bro :') -Gently flops one of the dog's ears around. It's just so cute and velvety.- ROXY: just like ur master HALLEY: -regards Roxy with soulful eyes and noses her hand. He is a very good dog.- JAKE: Keep that up and youll spoil him! -Like Jake doesn't try to spoil him... He grins anyway.- Who wants a treat! HALLEY: -pins ears at the sound of treat. Him... he do...- JAKE: Attaboy hal pal yes you do! ROXY: ahahaha uh huh ok ROXY: "youll spoil him" says the guy w the treats on hand ROXY: u just dont want no one ELSE spoilin him i c your game here ROXY: afraid of my charms with boys n pooches alike ROXY: as u should be considerin i got em flyin out the wazoo ROXY: -What a cold and precious nose... She gives the pupper a little head pet before he's stolen away by the promise of treats.- JAKE: Can you blame me? -bucktooth pout as he kneels and feeds Halley a bacon bit.- JAKE: Youve got so much more going for you than i! Any man or beast would be lucky for your hand in spoilings! HALLEY: -lots of doggy snuffles as he devours treat. Ye.- JAKE: Pardon me if i baton the odds in my favor miss lalonde! ROXY: hrrrrnnnnghhh ok im callin time out on account a i cant handle this convo no more with you being all sweet and sincere at me?? ROXY: halley save me ROXY: ya bois bein rudedickulous *_* HALLEY: -He doesnt understand what she's saying but he sure understands his name! Wags tail.- JAKE: -just laughing- Hah! Talk about a deplorable tease! JAKE: I say what i say because i believe in my heart of hearts that its true! Maybe some day youll see it too! JAKE: Not to mention some debonair suavemeister in your future tenses. -winks at her cheesily and gives Halley ruffle between the ears.- Speaking of which! Would you like to catch a movie aboard the old couch cushion or two? JAKE: How about jackie chans my lucky stars??? Just who the shit doesnt love a good kungfu movie in the afternoon????? ROXY: -SNRK. Damn it, Jake. Her face is all warm, and it has very little to do with booze, this time. You can't just wink at her all wantonly like that??? She might be petting Halley on an ear just for the opportunity to have her hand sort of close to his. It's... strange, and nice, even getting the opportunity to feel just the body heat of another person.- ROXY: probs a person that is exaxtly the opposite of who i am ROXY: the nega roxy ROXY: roxorz the tall n betittied ROXY: hater of kung fu n kittens ROXY: fuck her man ROXY: neway the answer is yes JAKE: -goes a little wall-eyed, oblivious to her hand inching towards his. It's the rough kind of hand that has climbed trees and worked with heavy mechanics. With a little fuzz on the knuckles.- Betittied you say? ROXY: that sure is a thing i just said -Thanks past Roxy.- ROXY: with the implication ROXY: that i dont have titties i guess ROXY: which aint rly true ROXY: but i guess true enough 4 like ROXY: the concept of a anti me w even biggre bazoonglas maybe ROXY: how do u make the opposite of an average thing??? ROXY: answer me that scienc ROXY: gnna have to do a project on that ROXY: get thru the SERIOUS like six step method shit ROXY: 4 the sake of analayzin these fictional dongabongeros ROXY: askin the real q's ROXY: -Yeah, she's just... happening. All the while still moving her hand toward his, a little too drunk and curious and even distracting herself not to, until her hand is just sort of... resting over his. It feels like her hand, kind of, but also not at all. It's bigger and fuzzier and a few shades lighter and her heart is sort of thudding in her throat in a distracting kind of way that she thinks would be great if it would shut up, please, except feelings don't shut up, and neither do heartbeats, because neither of those things make any sense.- JAKE: -But he's just grinning all the same, not bothered by her ramblings. In fact they were just one of the many things that made Roxy so special! And to hear a voice that wasn't his own? Just who the hell let this happen! Jake had many such of these questions and not enough answers.- JAKE: So for the sake of this conversation were talking about confronting an alternate version of yourself who is in all ways boobalicious and cat despising? JAKE: Would this involve a water gun fight of any kind??? Im asking for a friend! -HE'S TEASING, GOD. Let him have this laugh. As her hand closes over his, he seems to suddenly remember the movie.- JAKE: Oh thats right! The couch! Come on! -far too quick to take up her hand and tug her along. Human contact sure had a way of coming around more often than not didnt it? Jake was in no position to complain.- Allow me to set up the old digs. JAKE: -That's right. A genuine television and entertainment center. What else was he going to plug in here???- ROXY: -Oh, welp. She barely has the time to laugh before he doesn't stop keep happening, as instantly taking her hand as she had the thought to even begin to try to actually wrap her fingers around his. She's back on her feet for as long as it takes to get to that couch.- ROXY: just how old are these digs were talkin about ROXY: old as balls??? ROXY: r we about to get paleontological in here??? ROXY: cuz ima have to suggest jurassic park if thats the case ROXY: no fense thems just the breaks ROXY: ....heheh that kinda rhymed JAKE: As the great ancients would probably say... why not both? -The walk is short, his RV is only medium-sized after all. In fact, even this two person loveseat of his was a tight squeeze. The good thing was it was squishy and just the kind of thing anyone in their right might would want to sink their butt into.- JAKE: Ladies get first pick! Do you think im some kind of heathan gone forgotten his manners? -Of course he has Jurassic Park on hand. Why wouldn't he? His grandma spoiled him rotten as a kiddie, god bless her. Soon enough, he's flopping back down. Arm over the back of the sofa and happy as a clam.- HALLEY: -trots over and rests at their feet. Very noble and polite of him.- ROXY: well i mean ROXY: i never had a beef with a lil heathen behavior ;) ROXY: but ur such a gentleman id be some kinda heathen myself to ask you to be anything else ROXY: and i am aspirin to be a LADY ROXY: so im gona enjoy the fux outta this sweet dinosaur moive all snuggly and like totes plantoniclaly with my hella good bud here w no complains whatsoever ROXY: -Yeah, she's noticed his arm that's kind of just behind her. She's wiggling back into it to make absolute certain she can tell it's still there.- JAKE: -It most certainly is there! Jake's arms are just too barrel to keep them to himself. He's more of a sprawler than anything. If she doesn't have a problem, neither does he.- Hells of good rko... Maybe even the best! -eyes are now fixed on the TV. Exclaims to himself. Gosh... he loved how this movie opened up. Terrifying as the first day he watched it.-