"Hey! Hey! Get off me!" the creature exclaimed, surprising Tramp. When he pulled back, his eyes widened when he realized what "it" was.
"You…can talk?!" Tramp exclaimed, jumping out of the bin in surprise and shock.
The puppet doll appeared over the side of the bin, laying his arms over the side. He raised a painted eyebrow. "I could ask you the same thing. Dogs aren't supposed to talk, right?"
Tramp blanched.
"Well? Are they?"
"Well, I don't...we can't talk to humans...?"
"Then how are you talking to me?" the puppet asked, looking genuinely confused. Tramp looked towards the mouth of the alleyway longingly, wondering if escaping this awkward conversation with the puppet was worth being caught by Javert.
"Well?" the puppet questioned once again.
"I...do you have a name?" Tramp asked, avoiding the question.
"Pinocchio," the puppet proclaimed proudly. "What about you."
"Well..." the silver-haired dog shifted awkwardly. "Most people call me Tramp."
Pinocchio winced. "That's kind of a horrible name."
"Yeah, well..." Tramp glanced once more towards the mouth of the alleyway. "I should be going-"
"And what about me?!" Pinocchio exclaimed, pulling himself fully out of the bin. He landed in a crumpled heap on the ground, his strings badly tangled.
"What about you?" Tramp asked, slowly backing away.
"What am I supposed to do? I can't just stay in the bin, for then I will be taken to the junkyard, surely!" Pinocchio exclaimed, looking scandalized by the mere thought.
"I don't know! It's not my problem!" Tramp exclaimed, before pausing. "Why don't you just go back into that wood-shop, or whatever."
"I can't," Pinocchio grumbled, though it sounded more like a whine. "I'm not wanted."
Tramp rolled his eyes, completely turning from the puppet. "Do what you like. As I said before: It's not my problem."
The puppet didn't say anything as Tramp walked away. However, suddenly strings wrapped around Tramp's neck, as a heavy wooden weight landed on his back.
Tramp yelped, trying to buck off the puppet. "Get off me!" he growled. The strings were still around his neck, but they weren't really that tight. Almost as if...
Tramp felt himself become slightly light-headed.
Pinocchio had tied his strings around his neck.
"Get off me!" Tramp yelped, trying to buck him off with renew vigor.
"No," Pinocchio replied stubbornly. "I'm coming with you."
Tramp turned his head to the side, glaring at the puppet. "I'm warning you..."
Pinocchio smiled down at him. "What are you going to do?"
Tramp growled at him, muttering profanities under his breath.
Pinocchio continued smiling. "That's what I thought. Now!" Pinocchio clapped his wooden hands together. "Let's go on an adventure!"
A/N And the adventure truly begins! Yay!
Please review!