Been a bit of a week so this chapter is mainly to lift my spirits a bit.
Relationship: Alonzo/ Munkustrap, but can be interpreted as purely friends, pre-relationship or established, whatever floats your boat.
Rehearsals. They never ended. When one performance was done another was just beginning, especially with the Jellicle Ball occurring every year. It seemed that every year a new song was being performed or old choreography was being revamped, and no matter how many years went by they would always, always, always rehearse one song in particular.
Munkustrap would have them perform the Awefull Battle of the Pekes and Pollicles until the day he ascended to the Heaviside Layer, only to be reborn as the Rumpus Cat himself and insist they all perform the song again. It was his pride and joy and, ultimately, one of the greatest sources of stress in his life.
Alonzo adjusted the shoe box that was precariously placed over his ears. Despite this not being his first rodeo as a Pollicle he still would never get used to the costume. Frankly he felt they could have done without the shoe boxes but he didn't dare voice his opinions out loud, for fear of Jennyanydots overhearing and suggesting he try and do better. No, it was in his best interests to stick to his part and guide the other toms as best he could while trying to keep from looking too ridiculous in his literal garbage costume.
"Why're we rehearsing this bit again?" Pouncival grumbled from the sidelines, watching as Munk arranged the queens on the other side of the stage. "We do this every year."
"Because, it's important we get this right." Alonzo tapped him on the head. "This is Old Deuteronomy's favorite show."
"Can't he have a new favorite?"
"No. He's allowed to like what he likes." Inwardly Alonzo had to agree with Pounce. Surely their leader, after seeing the same show year after year, would be agreeable to something new and fresh. But, as Munk insisted, it was Old Deuteronomy's favorite and it had become tradition.
"How long has the tribe been doing this show?" Jemima piped up from behind them.
"Hey, you're not a Pollicle." Tumblebrutus pointed out. "Get back to your side of the stage."
"Oh, oops." Hurriedly she skittered back to her side before Munk realized she had been missing.
"Although now I wanna know how long this show has been going on." Tumble wondered.
"Honestly… I don't know." Alonzo admitted. Even at his first Jellicle Ball as a new, unsure Jellicle he could recall Munk plunking a shoe box on his head and telling him to follow the other toms while barking. "For as long as I've been part of the tribe, and before I joined, I suppose."
"Well, you're like a million years old so it's gone on long enough." Pounce said, wiping his nose on the tissue box that served as one of his Pollicle paws.
"Excuse me, I am not-" Alonzo was interrupted by a familiar musical cue. "That's us, come on."
Everyone surged forward to start the call for the Great Rumpus Cat's entrance. This year a new arrival to the tribe had been cast as the title role, a somewhat shy cat named George that hadn't quite found his place in the tribe just yet. Judging by how quickly and enthusiastically he had take on the Rumpus Cat it seemed that he would soon find a place for himself.
Heroically George soared through the air, landing on top of a rusted dishwasher and striking a pose. At least he had the presence down. There was no doubting that he was the star of the show.
"I could totally do that." Pounce muttered. "Gimme a chance and I could-"
The metal under George's feet crumpled. A stumble. George's leg bent at an awkward angle and he slid down the pile of junk, landing face first on the unforgiving ground.
"Rumpus down!" Etcetera yelled. Immediately George was swarmed by the kittens.
"Out of the way, give me room." Munk gently but firmly pushed them all to the side, crouching down over the prone cat.
With Munk occupied Alonzo took it upon himself to corral the other cats to the other side of the stage. It was easier said than done, especially since Pouncival and Etcetera were convinced that George had died and were crawling over each other to try and see his body. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, who had actually shown up for today's rehearsal, were continuing to practice their lead Peke and Pollicle roles without a director, barking and flailing and fighting all over their makeshift stage.
How the show managed to keep it together despite teetering on the edge of disaster was truly a testament to Munk's innate ability to wrangle cats. Yet another admirable trait the tabby possessed. Said tabby helped George to his feet, half carrying him so he wouldn't have to put weight on an obviously injured leg, and followed Jenny back to her den.
It wasn't long before Munk returned sans George.
"Everyone listen to me-"
"Is George dead?" Pounce loudly interrupted.
"Pounce, if he was dead how'd he get up and walk away?" Tumble rolled his eyes.
"Are we gonna have to come up with a new show?" Etcetera raised her paw. "The Jellicle Ball is only a couple weeks away!"
"Aw, me and Jerrie practiced for weeks to get our parts right!" Rumpleteazer complained. "Now we gotta learn a whole new show?"
"I dunno if I can learn somethin' new that quick." Mungojerrie sighed. "Took me ages just to get the barkin' right-"
"LISTEN." It was amazing how just one word could silence the crowd. Munk lashed his tail once and fixed them all with a serious stare. "We are not creating a new show. As unfortunate as the situation is, we will continue with what we have rehearsed."
"But who's gonna be the Rumpus Cat?" Etcetera asked.
"Someone will be assigned the role until George is able to perform it- no, Pounce, you're too young, you won't fit the costume."
"Aw." Pounce sighed. Etcetera gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"I need a moment to think." Munk said. "Take a break in the meantime."
As soon as all eyes were off of him Munk headed off to a private part of the junkyard, expression clouded and eyes tight with worry. Quickly Alonzo followed.
"Everything alright?" He asked once he caught up with the tabby.
"Yes, things will be fine." Munk glanced at him over his shoulder, looking over Alonzo's head to gaze behind him. "All under control."
"I'm alone." Alonzo said, recognizing the look. "It's just us."
"Everlasting Cat, what are we going to do?" Munk's calm demeanor sagged into a tight ball of anxiety. Shoulders hunched, tail whipping back and forth, ears back against his head. It was a rare, uncertain side of the normally confident cat, a side that even Alonzo had only seen a handful of times.
"We'll figure it out." Alonzo jumped into his own protective mode, winding his way around the cat and rubbing up against the tense muscles. "Just take a breather."
"We don't have time for this. George was the only one who knew the role." Munk grasped at his fur on his own head. "How could I have been so careless, we should have had an understudy, but George insisted that he didn't need one. Why didn't I insist on having one?"
"in case you haven't noticed, you've been rather busy with literally everything else." Alonzo soothed, taking Munk's paws in his own so he wouldn't become bald. "And no one expected something like this to happen."
"Well, now it's happened and I have to figure out a way to fix it."
"What about someone who was the Rumpus Cat before George? Couldn't they just relearn the routine?"
"No, we've changed the choreography so much that it's an entirely new role."
"Is there anyone else who could learn it?"
"It would have to be one of the Pollicles." Munk muttered.
"So that's…." Alonzo mentally tallied the cats who were currently cast as Pollicles. "Jerrie, Tumble, Plato, Cori, Misto, Skimble, Tugger-"
"No, not Tugger." Munk's eye twitched at the thought.
"Noted, not Tugger. So that leaves Asparagus and... me, I suppose."
"If I go with Tumble then Pounce will never let the tribe hear the end of it." Munk mused. "Jerrie needs to stay as lead Pollicle, he's just managed to get the barking right. Asparagus and Cori don't have the right presence for the lead role. Misto and Skimble won't fit in the costume."
"So that leaves Plato and me."
"Hmm."
Munk's eyes slowly traveled up and down his body. In any other situation it would have sent a rush of heat coursing through him, but now it felt like he was being thoroughly inspected for any flaws. Alonzo sat up a little straighter and tried not to fidget like a nervous kitten.
"Mmm hmm." Having found something he liked, Munk led him back out to the others.
All eyes turned to them, waiting for the inevitable. More than a couple of eyebrows raised in surprise when Alonzo was pushed out in front.
"The replacement Rumpus will be Alonzo." Munk declared.
Murmurs of approval rippled through the crowd.
"Now, we don't have much time, and we still need to work on a few key scenes." Munk turned to Alonzo. "Would you go get the costume from George?"
"Sure." Alonzo nodded, doing his best to contain his excitement. There would be time for celebrations later. He had more important work to do.
George was still under Jenny and Jelly's care when Alonzo finally found him. The queens had bandaged his leg and parked him on a large, fluffy cushion, where he was currently trying to keep from sinking into.
"Oh, uh, hi, Alonzo." George sat up quickly, wincing as he jostled his leg.
"Don't get up on my account." Alonzo put on his most comforting smile.
"Oh. Sure. Um." The cat laid back down and stared at the space just above Alonzo's ears. "What can I- what do you need?"
The poor cat looked like he was about to jump out of his skin. Alonzo had to admit that he didn't know George as well as some of the other cats, not out of any particular reason, but he could see that he was making him nervous.
"I wanted to see how you were doing." Gracefully he sat down so he wasn't towering over the cat.
"Me? Oh, I'm fine. I mean, I will be. Jenny and Jelly got me fixed up." George gestured to his leg. "It's sprained but should be okay."
"That's a relief to hear. I'll pass the information on to Munk and the others. They'll be glad to know."
"Is Munkustrap- is he upset at me?"
"What? Why would he be upset at you?"
"Because there's not a Rumpus Cat for the show. I'm the only one who knows the routine and now I'm all… this." George gestured to his leg again.
"Well, here's the thing about that." Alonzo said. "I'm going to be performing the role until you're better."
"You?"
"Yes."
"Munkustrap picked you?" Now George was staring directly into his eyes.
"Yes." The way George was looking at him was mildly insulting. "I am quite capable of handling the routine."
"It's not the routine I'm worried about." George stared up at the ceiling, brow furrowed.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Oh! Um, nothing. You'll be fine." There was something decidedly not fine, judging by his expression, but he gestured to a neatly folded costume in the corner. "There's the costume."
"Thank you." Alonzo gathered up the outfit and tucked it in the crook of an arm. "I will take good care of it."
"I'm sure you will. Just, if I could give some advice?"
"Certainly."
"Don't put it on until you know the routine." George looked mildly embarrassed. "Um, I mean, just… don't get overwhelmed by the costume."
"Thank you for the advice. I'll be sure to take note of that."
The following week was a grueling one. Munk, who really should have had more confidence in his right hand cat, took it upon himself to run Alonzo through the routine every single day until he could perform it with his eyes closed. How George had survived such an unrelenting process was beyond him. Eventually Alonzo got to a point where Munk was finally satisfied. Maybe. It was honestly hard to tell.
"That will have to do." Munk said after Alonzo nailed the entrance for the thousandth time.
"Thanks." Alonzo resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Really feeling the confidence."
"As you should." The sarcasm flew right over Munk's head, the cat clearly thinking of something else entirely. His eyes were glazed over in deep thought.
"Should we try it in costume now?"
"Oh, yes, go ahead and put it on. I'll call the others. You can wait here for your cue." Distractedly Munk waved him away as he muttered notes to himself.
With a pang of hurt Alonzo shook off the dismissal and focused on putting on the costume. Maybe once they ran through the show with him looking like the Rumpus Cat he'd get the approval he wanted. Munk knew he was a great dancer, he had seen his talents, and the fact that he learned George's choreography in record time was nothing to sneeze at. Munk just needed to get his head out of the clouds and he'd see just how great he could be.
Thankfully he and George had a similar build. The costume fit almost perfectly, and with a few adjustments here and there it felt like a second skin. Even the wig didn't feel strange over his ears despite the weight. Alonzo did a few experimental turns and kicks before putting the signature red goggles on.
As soon as the ensemble was complete his body stilled. He felt… unstoppable. Was this how George felt while in costume? No wonder he always denied an understudy. The costume made him feel incredible, powerful even, alive with a wild energy that fueled him like never before. Such power couldn't be shared with another cat. There was only room for one Rumpus Cat in the world.
It was hard to see past the red glowing goggles, not that he really felt the need to see. The Great Rumpus Cat didn't need to use such trivial senses. He was in a league of his own. The amount of hair plastered over his head was also making it difficult to hear. No worries. Like with the lack of visual awareness, the Great Rumpus Cat didn't need to bother using his hearing. Pure instinct and raw talent would be more than enough to-
Already his cue was being called. Hurriedly he took a running leap and flew through the air, aiming vaguely in the direction that Munk had pointed out to him earlier. No need to worry about missing his mark, any entrance he made as the Great Rumpus Cat would be, by nature, great. Pekes, Pollicles, they were all trivial to his eyes. He was the Great Alonzo, nothing could stand up to him! He'd send them all running, just wait and see.
The carefully rehearsed choreography immediately was forgotten, replaced with pure enthusiasm and energy that couldn't be matched. Had anyone witnessed just how high he could kick or how fast he could spin? Not yet. Alonzo would guarantee them a show, make them all stare in awe of the Great Alonzo, he'd show them, he'd make sure of it.
….
Munkustrap watched as Alonzo, now clad in the Great Rumpus Cat costume, completely missed his carefully placed mark and flew headfirst into a dented garbage can. The clang was loud enough to make everyone stop mid song.
"Here we go again." He muttered, jogging forward and grabbing Alonzo by the leg to yank him out.
Immediately Alonzo was off like a rocket, spinning and leaping wildly at the other cats with absolutely no regards for safety or personal space. There was still talent, still poise, but the grace had been replaced with such enthusiasm that no one dared get close to him. Somehow he had transformed into a hurricane of destruction that no cat, including himself, could contain.
"What happened to him?" Munk asked aloud, ducking just in time before Alonzo kicked him in the head.
George, who had been allowed to sit on the sidelines and watch, shrugged. "It's the costume. It does things to your brain."
"I was hoping that wouldn't be the case." They could only watch as Alonzo set his sights on the perceived Pekes and Pollicles. It was hard to tell if the shrieks of terror were in or out of character.
"Sorry." George bit his lip as he tried not to laugh.
"Seriously, did you lace the costume with catnip?"
"No, I swear, it's just-" Whatever George had to say was drowned out by Pounce's unholy wail of fear. The Great Alonzo had singled him out and was dancing rather aggressively at him.
"Hold that thought." Munk roughly grabbed Alonzo by the arm and hauled him over to center. "Focus. You're supposed to be the Rumpus Cat."
Alonzo giggled. He actually, honestly, giggled. There would be no saving him now.
The performance, at least, was an interesting one. Everyone was hyper vigilant because if they weren't they suddenly found the Great Alonzo coming after them. Unfortunately said Great Alonzo was consumed by the role and was wildly out of control, only barely managing to hit his cues because Munk kept dragging him back into place and forcing him to.
Eventually the rehearsal got to a point where only a couple brave cats remained. At least they couldn't say that the Rumpus Cat didn't do his duty: it would be a miracle if Munk could find all the Pekes and Pollicles that had been scared off. The remaining cats were wheezing and panting, desperately trying to catch their breath after being relentlessly chased. Munk himself felt like falling over and conceding defeat, but he had one more very important task before him.
"Time to take it off." Munk said, reaching for the wig and goggles while Alonzo was busy surveying the destruction and chaos he had caused.
"Uh, no. I'm fine."
"You're barely able to see or hear through that thing. Take it off."
"No thanks."
"Alonzo."
"I'm good."
"Take it off."
"No."
"Off!"
"No!"
The ensuing wrestling match was anything but dignified, but the result was worth it. While Alonzo had sheer energy and reckless abandon for anyone's well being (including his own), Munk had years of training as the Jellicle Protector and was not afraid to use it. Eventually the training won out and he triumphantly clutched the wig and goggles.
Alonzo slunk off to collect what was left of his pride. Later they would have a talk about what had transpired. For now, Munk set his sights on a downed Pollicle that Alonzo had previously run over during the show. The tom was quiet and staring off into the distance with a dazed look in his eyes.
"Plato, I need to talk to you." Munk said, nudging the stunned tom with a foot. "Try this on and see what happens."