Here we are! It's a Munk x Alonzo fic! I had the idea right after I finished Unlikeliest of Lovers and was desperate to start. I may try and take my time on this to make sure it's alright although if my past record is anything to go by I'll probably be writing a whole chapter everyday.
I have a few flashes of scenes in my head but how I'm gonna tie them together and think up the bulk of the story may dictate how quickly I update. Even so, thanks for giving me some of your time to read my work. As always, if it sucks tell me so I can try and make it better.
I have a lot of fun when I think about who is reading my stories and where they're from. It makes me laugh that there are subtle differences in the versions of English that we all speak and how what seems correct to me might be confusing to no end in, say, America.
Anyway, a new story begins. We meet our characters and get underway with another Jellicle Ball.
A year in the life of the black and white toms
Chapter 1
Happy, very happy.
There are few ways to describe Munkustrap. He is such a closed up kind of tom who is comparable to an iceberg with most of his character beneath his surface. Appropriately his personality is rather matched being rather a closed book to others; one might find it endearing or frustrating depending on one's own view of the world and it's inhabitants. Perhaps the simplest description of the tom is his physical appearance, he is a silver and black mackerel tabby with such striking markings that one might get lost when marvelling at their intricacy and symmetry. In addition to this his lower legs are a mottled black with the colouring echoed in the fur hugging his shoulders. His face is predominantly white with small black and grey accents providing a profound look of wisdom and intelligence that could on occasion be wrongly interpreted as sternness. The markings aid him greatly in employing that very expression at all times. This wasn't to say he was hard-hearted by any means despite how some might perceive him. Inside, he was as regular a tom as any yet for many reasons he employed a strong, all-knowing outward expression, rather like his father. To those who knew him well – by which I mean many of the Jellicles – he was a kind soul with a great deal of respect and compassion for all cats. It wasn't hard for him to crack a smile or laugh along with a conversation but only within the limits that defined his upstanding person. Munkustrap might have had an ordinary and carefree life had he not been tasked from a young age with the protection of the Jellicles. Barely out of kittenhood, the protector of the tribe preceding him was killed long before his rightful time and for lack of any other tom that was as strong and with as good a moral character as Munkustrap, he was appointed. At the time he was young and naïve and didn't know what magnitude of responsibility the post came with. In retrospect what choice did he have anyway? It was decided that he would be the protector and that was that, the role was now his until death. Many might protest the fairness of the decision but in a way Munkustrap knew no other life. The life he had before the appointment was short for lack of a better description and he had a long time to come to terms with his new, given life. He took his charge with great pride and handled it like another cat might handle a regular day: running like clockwork with minimal fuss. In reality he never made a fuss, it would mean looking weak to others and that was a trait that every Jellicle protector should avoid at all costs.
Now, how could it be that a cat of this kind would be crossed with a cat so different? Divine intervention perhaps? Maybe it was a natural anomaly, yet, there it was. Munkustrap's view of life would shortly be turned on it's head and he would be left standing at a crossroads with no choice but to make a decision that if wrong could be fatal for more than one cat. At this point we must meet another cat whose name is Alonzo.
Alonzo, like Munkustrap is black and white yet with markings nowhere near as orderly as the latter's. Different patches of light and dark fur cover his body in an almost haphazard manner but he is fortunate enough to have developed a gorgeous flow in his fur. A large streak of midnight black graces his right hand side that is striking against the snow-white fur that surrounds it. His face is white save for two very becoming black patches, one over his left eye and another to the right of his mouth. His eyebrows couple with an interesting flick on his right eyelid giving perhaps the most away about his personality. He is cheeky to say the least, a grown tom with kittenish tendencies and a whit that may be second to none. Next to the Rum Tum Tugger - a lithe Maine Coon with a libido larger than the world can contain and also Munk's brother – Alonzo is the biggest flirt going. He has a way that seems to make cats weak at the knees and drool over him as soon as look at him, and rightly so. He is a fine specimen of young tom with a perfect figure and alluring look about him. His grace is also hard to beat which is probably down to years worth of getting to know his own body including it's abilities and limitations. Then again all Jellicles were born with a strong sense of grace and poise.
Munk and Alonzo had grown up together, they were the best of friends and knew each other intimately. They had gone through ups and downs and shared some wonderful moments in their time and were still strong allies even after so much time. Alonzo was Munk's second in command and regularly provided him with respite in his duties. They would often watch over the Jellicle junkyard together and talk long into the night about their lives, their hopes and dreams and troubles with only the stars and each other to hear them. They provided each other support during times of sadness or anguish and kept each other laughing. It seemed no two cats knew each other better than these two.
What horrible twist of fate would intervene and ruin this happy balance of friendship? Perhaps it was instinct for the two to change the way they saw each other over time, or maybe something changed in accordance with one of their actions. Either way, something was different and this is where the story of Munkustrap and Alonzo begins.
It was mid-summer and the morning of yet another Jellicle Ball. The ball was an annual occurrence involving the cats of the junk yard, it was where they would gather to celebrate being Jellicles and their leader – a very old and wise cat who was known as Old Deuteronomy – would select one of them to ascend to the Heaviside layer to be reborn in a new Jellicle life. Heaviside itself was quite a mystery to the cats below, all they knew was that it was full of wonders they all wished to see, yet only one cat per year would be granted the privilege. The wonder of this heavenly place didn't last long for those who were preparing. Munkustrap jumped down off his perch on top of a big tyre when he saw Pouncival – a hyperactive kitten with brown, white, grey and black freckles – starting to topple as he carried a stack of shoeboxes. They were to be used for the story of the awful battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles to make the cats look funnily enough like dogs. Munk caught several of them just as they were about to hit the floor after falling from Pouncival's frivolous attempt to keep hold of them.
"Don't you think you ought to try and take fewer at a time, Pounce?" the bigger tom asked him
"I can do it!" replied Pounce with annoyance
"It's just that you seemed to be having trouble there"
"Do I look like a kitten?"
Munk had to stop himself from smirking as he looked down at the tiny tom. It seemed like only yesterday that he'd been able to pick the kit up in his arms and see him look back with big, blue eyes that all kittens seem to have.
"Well you're certainly looking taller, have you grown?" he humoured the small tom who was most certainly still a kitten.
"Yes! I'm sure I have! I'm bigger than Tumble, I promise! He won't say it but it's true!" Pounce jabbered as he jumped around sending some of the boxes flying again. Munk ruffled his head fur as he replaced the boxes back and sent him on his way. A lot had changed in the last year, he thought back to the last ball and the mess that it had turned into. Macavity had decided to make an appearance and kidnap Old Deuteronomy whose appearance he used to attack the Jellicles later in the night. Munk had received some nasty scratches and bruises from the fight but was very grateful to Alonzo for stepping in when he fell. If that wasn't enough his long gone mother, Grizabella, decided to make an entrance to try and regain their trust. It was an emotional moment for Munk when his father, Old Deuteronomy, selected her to ascend to Heaviside. There was so much he wanted to tell her and ask her. He had never really had a strong relationship with his mother and felt cheated that she had gone without even getting a chance to talk to her. It was, however, just another thing he never got to do so he tried to push it to the back of his mind, besides he had a lot to do today and not much time to do it. He snapped out of his daydream to see Mistoffelees – the magical cat who had returned Old Deuteronomy from his capture last year – appear in a puff of smoke before him.
"Is this my den?" he asked confusedly and looked around
"No" replied Munk
"Damn! I must be rusty after last year"
"What are you doing?"
"I'm practicing disappearing for my bit at the ball" he said happily
"Is it working?"
"The disappearing part is working, it's just where I'm ending up"
Munk laughed before he carried on, "Keep at it, Misty"
"Don't call me that!" shot the black and white tom before disappearing again.
Munk sighed and began clearing pieces of junk from the clearing in the middle of the yard. He wondered how Jennyanydots – the de facto matriarch of the tribe – could have let things get so sloppy, it wasn't like her. Although she had been rehearsing her cockroaches a lot recently for the ball who seemed to be all the more disobedient for some reason. He knew she wouldn't stand for that so allowed her some slack on her tidying. He stood and stretched out his aching muscles. He needed some rest before tonight, he was kind of the MC for the show and needed to be on top form. He began to head to the solitude of his perch when he heard a crash behind him. He looked around to see Pounce with a bucket stuck on his head and a bunch of kittens trying to pull it off. He sighed and went to help them. 'No rest for the wicked' he thought.
Alonzo laid back in his den. The darkness encircled him and he felt quite serene in the sombre surroundings with just a hint of light peeking through the junk. It gave the den an orangey yet very dim glow and provided a great space to think. The black and white patched tom wasn't much use when it came to setting up for the ball. It's not that he was useless, more that he couldn't muster the will. It seemed quite tedious to him to have to make everything neat and tidy just for one evening so he left it to the others. They didn't seem to mind much, at least he hoped they didn't.
He startled when he found he wasn't alone. Next to him a calico tom began to stir from his slumber and looked up at Alonzo.
"Hi there" said the cat
"Uh, yeah…hi" replied Alonzo remembering his evening. He'd brought this cat home in the early morning hours from his night out with the Rum Tum Tugger and realised he couldn't remember the tom's name.
"I had a great time last night, Alonzo" said the tom rubbing up to him
"Yeah, me too"
"You wanna do something today? With me I mean?"
Alonzo bit his lip before responding, "It's kind of a big day around here. I think I need to be around to help out" he lied.
"Oh. Well okay. How about tomorrow?" asked the tom hopefully
"Doesn't seem so great either. How 'bout we just see each other around?"
The tom knew what Alonzo was trying to say and just nodded before getting up. He began to head for the door when Alonzo stopped him,
"You know, I don't mean to be rude, but it's probably better, you know, for the kittens sake if they don't see a strange tom leaving my den after I come back from a night out. You know what I mean?"
"So what should I do?" the tom asked feeling a bit put out
"Let me go out first and tell you if the coast is clear"
"Fine" said the tom in a huff.
Alonzo exited his den and looked around, he couldn't see anyone. He quickly ushered the tom out and sneaked him around the back of the junk piles before they got to the entrance of the junkyard. Alonzo sent him on his way as fast as he could and sauntered back into the yard like nothing was going on. He saw his friend struggling to pull a bucket off of whom he could only assume was Pouncival. He rushed over and helped pop the kitten free.
"Really, Pounce. A bucket?" asked the silver tabby.
"I thought there was a mouse inside" the little tom replied
"And was there?"
"No. But there could have been"
Munk rolled his eyes and sent the group of kittens away. He thanked Alonzo for helping him out,
"Thanks 'Lonz. That kit is gonna go a step too far one day"
"We'll have to keep an eye on him" replied Alonzo
"So how was your night out last night?"
"Oh, the usual. Just a good time with Tugger, you know?"
"All too well" said Munk remembering the antics Tugger had subjected him to when they had gone out together, "Who was tom?" he asked with a wry smile
Alonzo looked embarrassed that he hadn't managed to keep his one night stand a secret. He replied hoping to make Munk laugh, "Couldn't tell you if I wanted to"
Munk just rolled his eyes again, "Honestly, 'Lonz. Is there no cat around you could make your mate?"
"Well I've thought about it but I like being free"
"Please yourself"
"I wouldn't say no if the right tom came along though" he said to keep his friend from worrying
"And who is the right tom?"
"Who knows, maybe he's right before our very eyes" said Alonzo holding out his arm in front of him and moving it slowly across the view of the junkyard.
"You're crazy, you know that?" said Munk playfully swatting his friend's arm
"I'm young!" Alonzo replied happily
"You're a grown tom, act your age!" said Munk holding back his laughter
"Make me!"
The two joked together until they had to move on. Munk asked his friend to help but knew the answer already. Alonzo began to make his way back to his den in order to sleep a little more before the night. Munk decided to go back to his human's house to try and get some piece and quiet before he had to return for the same occasion.
The night seemed to arrive like a speeding bullet. The August evening was cooling slowly yet there was still a comforting warmth in the air. That warmth was joined by a little electricity that was felt by all the Jellicles for their ball. Munk had returned to find the junkyard in readiness and he waited for the darkness to blanket the area and for the moon to shine brightly. Once he was sure it was time he scampered out into the open and looked around for any danger. Slowly the other cats joined him and they began their song and dance. Munk liked this occasion, it was something in his life that always came and went on a regular basis and remained fairly consistent - a privilege he was not afforded in his earlier years. He danced happily with the other toms and queens all perfectly in step and singing their hearts out. He looked across to his friend, he seemed to be enjoying it just as much as he was. Soon he began to explain why they were all there and started the sing for Jennyanydots. She did her bit and was almost finished when his brother – the Rum Tum Tugger - interrupted with his own song. Munk sat at the side of the clearing with many of the other toms as he watched his brother flirt and gyrate his hips towards the younger queens and kittens of the tribe. Munk crossed his arms and stared daggers at his brother's inappropriateness and caught a glimpse of Alonzo sitting nearby. The tom seemed to be enjoying the display he was witnessing and bopped along with the rhythm. Munk felt uneasy as he returned his gaze to the clearing and his foolish sibling. The song ended much to the dismay of the queen kittens and Tugger went about being even more flirtatious before Munk jumped in and stopped him. Tugger pouted as he was sent aside to allow Bustopher Jones his entrance. It was very gracious of the St. James's street cat to stop by to see them. The fat tom in white spats greeted them all and did his number before quickly tottering off again.
A few more songs passed before Old Deuteronomy made his appearance. The air became silent and they could feel something magical hanging in it. It was the feeling of safeness and joy that they all revelled in. The Jellicles were glad to see their leader again and helped him up to his prime position on top of the large tyre that lay at the back of the clearing. They sang for him as he made his way, Munk and Tugger started off and soon everyone had joined in. Once he was seated they began to carry on with the ball. As the cats rejoiced Old Deuteronomy turned to his elder son and spoke,
"Good to see you, Munkustrap" he said cheerily
"And you, Old Deuteronomy" the tabby replied with respect
"Come on son, you can call me dad, no one will think any less of you" said the old tom trying to soften his son's hard exterior.
"Fine, dad"
"Is everything going well so far?"
"As far as we can tell. Macavity hasn't seemed to have bothered this year which makes things run a lot more smoothly"
"Yes, that was a frightful mess last year. Good thing we had that young Mistoffelees to hand" said the Jellicle leader recounting the previous ball's unfortunate occurrences.
"We're very lucky indeed" replied Munk
"Why don't you go and join in?" the old tom suggested, "I'll be fine over here"
"I'd prefer not to, if it's all the same" said Munk with trepidation
"Don't worry about me, boy. Go and have fun"
"No, dad. Not after last year"
"Suit yourself" said Old Deuteronomy returning his gaze to the choreographed commotion. The Jellicles were having a roaring time and everyone looked like they were having fun. Munk secretly did want to join in, a great deal actually but he couldn't let his guard down. If something bad was going to happen this was the time, so he sat and watched as the cats got on with the merry-making without him.
Alonzo was having a great time. He was dancing in fine form and loved seeing the Jellicles in such a good mood. He always enjoyed the ball as it brought everyone together and allowed them to let loose for the night. His favourite part was coming up next: the mating dance. It was a time when everyone would pair up with someone and spend some quality time with him or her. As the name might suggest there was a sexual element to the dance for those that wished to make it so. Some would pair up for mating while others would just pair up with their mate or with close friends to enjoy the company. Alonzo didn't mind which way it went really, he liked everyone there and if he got some sugar along with it then he certainly wouldn't complain. The spectacle began and the toms and queens began to dance around each other alluringly. He moved himself as they did and became completely involved in the routine. Several times during it's running he found himself catching a glimpse of Munk staring on looking like he was longing to join in. He had that overseer look about him as always except now it was graced with a little desperation. As the dance drew to it's close he run up to his friend and held out his paw motioning for the tabby to join in. Munk politely refused and suggested Alonzo return to the dance however the tom wasn't taking no for an answer. With help from Old Deuteronomy he dragged the silver tabby to his feet and forced him into the dance. Munk felt quite happy that he'd been hoodwinked into the fun but wouldn't let it show. He feigned reserved maturity and went along with the other Jellicles whilst dancing very close to Alonzo. The two eventually began to take advantage of the situation and allowed themselves to be quite silly. They pretended to be really involved with each other and rubbed up and down each other's bodies in mock flirtation. They had to stifle their giggles as things got quieter and the group of cats began to form a pile in the centre having found the one they wanted to spend time with. They looked at each other as they lay, the expression on both of their faces setting the other one off. The next part of the dance seemed to take ages to arrive but they eventually began. Several cats jumped up and were soon joined by the rest of the Jellicles in the frantic choreography. Munk and Alonzo stayed very close to each other laughing and enjoying the hysterics they put themselves into. Several times they nearly fell down in a flurry of madness and other times they nearly fell out of step from not paying attention. Munk felt great. He rarely let loose but it felt so good to be free for the night. In the back of his mind he knew he should have been watching out for the Jellicles safety but he was having too great a time to care. He was having fun with his friend – his best friend – and that's all that mattered. Him and Alonzo.
The ball went on for the whole night and eventually concluded with Gus – a very old cat with a rich and vast history in the theatre – being chosen to ascend to the Heaviside layer. All of the cats bid him farewell and were, at risk of sounding horrible, happy to see him go. He was very old and his palsy had gotten far worse in the last year. They had hoped against hope that he might make it to this ball and were overjoyed when he finally made his last journey. They concluded with Old Deuteronomy's final speech and then dispersed slowly, exhausted from the frantic ball and shunned by the rising sun. Munk helped his father on his way and made sure everyone was okay as they went to their respective dens and homes. He sent the last few cats to where they needed to be and looked around at the empty scene. The ball had been a great success and he was glad nothing had gone wrong despite his lax in observation. He slowly strolled around the clearing in the early morning light keeping watch as he always did. He stopped and stared when he saw his friend Alonzo standing opposite from him. They began to walk towards each other and met in the middle.
"Great ball, huh?" said Alonzo
"Yeah, I had a great time. Thanks for pulling me into it" replied Munk
"You need to loosen up more, Mr. Protector"
"You know I can't do that, 'Lonz. It's what I do. It's what I have to do"
"I know. I feel so bad for you sometimes though" said Alonzo looking into Munk's eyes.
"Why?"
"'Cos you never get to have any fun. You're always watching out for us making sure we're safe"
"I get to have some fun"
"Like what?"
Munk stood there, wracking his brain trying to remember the last time he had any fun. "Last ball" he eventually said quietly
"That was a year ago! And it was hardly fun for you" retorted Alonzo. Munk looked sad, his friend had obviously touched on something sore. "Are you okay?" the patched tom asked.
"Yes, it's just…you're right. It's been so long since I had any real fun." Munk looked tired as he admitted this to Alonzo.
"We have fun, don't we?" asked the patched tom gingerly. Munk seemed to brighten a little bit at that,
"Yeah, we do. You know if it weren't for you I don't think I'd ever laugh" he said smiling.
"Well someone's gotta keep you from becoming too hard" said Alonzo playfully knocking on Munk's forehead with his fist. Munk swatted him back and they laughed together. A moment later the patched tom spoke again,
"It's getting bright, I think I'm gonna turn in."
"Yeah I think I'd better go home too, I do not relish that walk though"
"Why don't you just stay at mine?"
"Would you mind? I'm exhausted."
"Anytime, mate" said Alonzo as he began to walk with Munk in tow.
They entered Alonzo's den just as the sun was beginning to make the clearing as bright as day. They fell down onto the bed consisting of some blankets found in the junk piles and snuggled up together. Being cats it wasn't strange for friends to stay close as they slept. Munk put his arms around his second in command and they gently talked as they slowly went to sleep. Well, as Alonzo went to sleep.
Munk stayed awake a while longer feeling his friend breath gently in his slumber. He felt incredibly safe when he was with him, almost like they fit each other. He smiled as he closed his eyes and drifted away into silence. He dreamt of him and Alonzo having a great time in their regular exploits. He felt happy, very happy.
Alrighty then, first chapter is there and the premise is set. What on earth shall I do with them? You'll see.
Thanks for reading, you're reviews are greatly appreciated.
