Late April catch-all! (open, one closed prompt!)

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Who: Doreen eatsnutsandkicksbutts and you!
What: Just slice-of-life stuff!
When: throughout late April / early May
Where: Central City
Content Warnings: nah, we good!


Fightin' Crimes!

[ Late-night muggings aren't exactly uncommon in Central City. Maybe you're about to jump in and stop a mugging-in-progress, or maybe you're the unlucky one who's getting mugged? Who knows! Either way, the mugging is interrupted when a short figure, just absolutely covered from head to tail in squirrels, drops into the alleyway from above and grabs one of the muggers by the scruff of the neck, hoisting him off the ground. ]

We have talked about this, Jeremy! Don't think I don't recognize you under that balaclava! What happened to community college, huh?

[ One slight problem with the squirrel-suit: not much peripheral vision. SG doesn't see the second mugger coming up behind her. Feel like lending a hand? ]


Karaoke night - closed to Sleeper!

[ A few months back, Doreen and Mark had tried out one of The Descendant's private karaoke rooms... and several furry friends of Doreen's had tagged along in her purse, because what the hell, karaoke sounded like fun, the rooms were soundproof, squirrels don't set off metal detectors, and they were joining the only two humans around who would be able to understand their singing. Since then, Squirrel Karaoke Nights (sometimes accompanied by Mark, when he's free!) have become a fairly regular thing, whenever Doreen has enough extra cash for a fun night out and wants to burn off some steam.

Tonight is one of those nights. Doreen has half a dozen squirrels chilling with her on the table, a second microphone propped up against her purse at squirrel-level, a small plate full of acorns and trail mix for snacks, and a playlist. ]

Ready, guys? 3-2-1...

Aaaand do your hair toss, check your nails! Baby, how you feelin'? [ This is followed by a squeaky, answering chorus of: ] "Feelin' good as hell!"


Rooftop hangouts

[ Usually, rooftop parkour is a great way to burn off some steam and get some exercise. Tonight though, Doreen is sitting on the edge of a chimney and shrugging her jacket off to get a better look at her right shoulder. There's a thick bruise and some scraping there, which is... weird. Doreen doesn't injure easily, nothing short of being hit by a brick wall should be able to hurt her like this. ]

... The hell?

[ Usually she'd stick with 'heck', but this justifies some mild profanity, she thinks. ]

Wildcard!
[ (( hit me up at sonopants or dm the journal if you'd like to do anything else!)) ]

Comments

Karaoke

[definecat]

[Sleeper was following a scent. It was a scent they had picked up a time or two around the bar, but it was never fresh. This time, however...well, they wanted to make sure Jason kept his bar, and having rodents was a bad thing. These didn't smell quite like the sewer rats they'd found when the place was being renovated, but still.

They were even more puzzled when the trail, which was barely there, (possibly the animals were being carried?) led to one of the private karaoke rooms. And even through the soundproofing, they could make out squeaking. Really musical squeaking. So it was kinda inevitable that a certain nominally cat-shaped entity oozed their way under the door to take in just what was going on.]

Well, this is certainly a new one on me.

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Ooh child, tired of the bullshAAAAAH!!

[ Both mics screech out and the squirrels go running for cover, some skittering up Doreen's torso to perch on her shoulders, others hiding inside the purse or behind the couch cushions. ]

... You're the cat from the bar! How'd you get in here? Also, has the talking always been a thing?

[definecat]

[Sleeper narrows their eyes at the scattering squirrels and flips their tail and ears in a manner that clearly indicates both amusement and the sentiment that if it wanted squirrel for dinner, the furry creatures wouldn't stand a chance.]

I go where I please. The owner understands that. And yes, I've always been able to talk. I just don't always choose to make conversation.

[They move to at least clear the door as a path of escape, figuring it might lessen the tensions some.]

Certainly you didn't think I was an ordinary cat.

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Good to know!

[ Sleeper gets two thumbs up! ]

I mean, I don't come here that often, and when I do you're usually snoozin' at the bar, so I don't think we've technically met? In any case, it's nice to meet you!

[ There is a brief, meaningful pause, where some of the squirrels look back and forth between Doreen and Sleeper expectantly. ]

So, uh... are we good, or...?

[definecat]

I think that mostly depends on if your backup singers are planning to raid the kitchen or otherwise get us in trouble with the health department. If you can vouch for their behavior, well, there's nothing that explicitly says you can't smuggle in animals in the club rules. Just weapons.

[They consider the squirrels, and the girl-with-a-squirrel-tail and shrug. It's not really a security thing, just something that bore checking out.]

I probably should mention it to the owner, however.

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Oh, no, they're cool, I promise! They'll leave with me, we're strictly here for the karaoke. I supply the snacks, and do all the cleanup afterwards. This is a strictly shenanigans-free affair.

[ The squirrels (the ones who aren't hiding inside her purse, anyway) nod encouragingly, and chirp in agreement. Some of them attempt to mimic Doreen's thumbs up gesture, but have difficulty without thumbs. ]

... I appreciate that we're going full Air Bud rules on this, [ there's nothing in the law book that says squirrels can't do karaoke! ] buuuuut is there any scenario where reporting this to the owner doesn't happen?

[definecat]

[The cat-shaped being definitely looks amused, but isn't really certain what they could do to help.]

We've already had issues with my presence being noted, and I'm Starfallen, even if of a very nonhuman variety. I think the boss would want to know if any other animals are coming and going, and make sure the ground rules get followed.

[They shrug, then, with a ripple, do their best approximation of a squirrel, although the extra eyes and yellow markings stay rather prominent.]

Would this look suit better?

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Ok, but the thing is, the boss doesn't really know I'm 'Starfallen', and I'd kinda like to keep that on the downloOOH MY GOSH!

[ She points at Sleeper with the microphone, halfway between absolutely giddy delight and shock. ]

... You are so cool! That said, there's no dress code here, go for whatever form you're most comfortable in!

[definecat]

[Sleeper winces slightly as her voice threatens to go hypersonic with glee, but otherwise, they're amused.]

Your chorus seemed to be convinced I was here to eat them, so I thought this might be a decent compromise. I've never done a squirrel before, so it's probably not entirely accurate.

[Unlike their usual cat, they actually did some level of fur because a bald squirrel doesn't look much different than a bald rat.]

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Sorry about that, you caught 'em off guard, and apart from Tippy none of them have much experience with cats.

[ The grey squirrel with the pink bow perched on her shoulder gives Sleeper a little wave! ]

You look great, by the way! Totally rockin' the squirrel look. Also, just to be clear, not my backup chorus, we're all karaoke equals, and they chose the next song. Speaking of which...

[ She holds out her microphone! ]

... Wanna join in?

[definecat]

If it helps, I'm not really a cat. I just like the shape better than others I've tried.

[Sleeper waves back at the friendly squirrel rocking the bow, and considers.]

Music isn't really my thing. I have a problem with intense sounds. All my kind do.

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

... Oh. Oh!

[ There's the lightbulb moment! ]

Is this a Symbiote thing? Like Venom? Are you telling me Venom could be kitty-shaped whenever he wanted? Sorry if the volume was bothering you, by the way!

[definecat]

Venom tends to take a canine shape when they're solo and not humanoid, actually. But being malleable definitely allows for a change when desired.

And the volume wasn't bad. It's generally more frequency and volume. Takes a bit of doing, although less so than if I had a host like Venom usually does.

[Venom isn't a fan of being alone, as near as Sleeper can tell. They don't know why, though. But their parent definitely cares. And is relieved that Sleeper turned out a fairly well-balances offspring.]

My brother isn't a dog person, though, so the cat was a compromise. I didn't like being a wolf much. And cats have a lot going for them. Not sure how it compares to squirrels.

[But they'll leave unsaid that the reason they didn't like it was being controlled, not the shape in question.]

Fightin' Crimes

[robintohood]

[Jason was finishing up his own rounds when he spots from a rooftop and across the street someone purposely covered in squirrels. The look is new but the attitude and tail lets him know it's Doreen. He supposes he should give her credit for the effort in better hiding her identity but it doesn't look like the most practical suit.

When he spots the second mugger coming for her he sighs and takes out a couple of bolases just in case. This could be either very entertaining or embarrassing]

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Dude, I'm telling you, finish that plumbing course and you'll make way more money than this without--

[ The squirrels covering her tail start chirping, giving her enough warning to thwap the second guy upside the head and send him stumbling. (If Jason watches closely, he'll notice that the squirrels on her tail skitter out of the way to avoid the impact, they don't want to get hurt!)]

Seriously? Seriously?! Not cool!

[ Some bolas would be appreciated! ]

[robintohood]

[Tempting as it is to just leave Doreen and her squirrels to their own devices, the squirrels suit is so bizarre and he's more interested in talking to Doreen in case she has any useful or interesting news. So the throws his bolases to tangle up the mugger]

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

[ The bolas snap around the guy's ankles, sending him to the ground with an undignified THUMP, and Doreen takes the opportunity to hang Jeremy the Mugger from a drainpipe by his jacket. One of the squirrels hands her some zipties, while another produces a small notepad and pencil. By now, the woman who was being mugged has already called the cops and run for it, so they're just on cleanup duty. ]

Thanks for the assist, random good samaritan!

[ Once the muggers are ziptied, she writes a note that says 'HI COPS, these guys tried to mug a young woman, and could use some therapy and/or community service!'. ]

[robintohood]

[Jason rolls his eyes and decides to parkour and swing his way closer to Doreen. Curiosity is getting the best of him]

Your friend couldn't watch your back.

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Excuse you, my friends did awesomely, and I think we should continue this conversation elsewhere, yeah? Cops are gonna show up soon.

[ The squirrel-suit points upwards, and Doreen leaps onto the landing of a nearby fire escape, and parkours her way upwards. Meet her on the roof!

After a moment, a pamphlet for the local community college floats down and lands on Jeremy the Mugger's head.]

[robintohood]

[Jason uses his grappling gun again and follows Doreen shortly afterwards]

You're lucky I was in the neighborhood.

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

'Scuse me?

[ She crosses her arms over her chest, and the squirrels flow out of the way to rearrange themselves comfortably. ]

I appreciate the assist, but we had that covered.

[robintohood]

[So bizarre looking at that suit]

Have one or two check behind you too and then you're fine.

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Yeah, it's been a while since we've pulled Chestnut Maneuver Alpha, we're all a bit out of practice. Take five, guys. Great job out there!

[ The squirrels practically stream off of her and gather around her ankles, except for Tippy, who stays put on her shoulder. ]

[robintohood]

[In a dry tone. Under his helmet, Jason's also arching an eyebrow]

"Chestnut Maneuver Alpha?" The squirrel suit?

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

Yeah! Cool, huh? Not sure how often we'll be able to pull that off once summer hits, it gets pretty warm in there.

[ The dry tone bounced right off her, it's evident from her tone that Doreen thinks the squirrel suit is very cool. ]