Scott and Jean watched the empty space which the lift had previously occupied with open-mouthed astonishment. Jean was just about to turn to Scott when a pair of skinny arms wrapped themselves around her waist and began to untie the front of her pale pink dress. Jean screamed and turned in Todd's grip to cast a desperate and furious look at Scott.
"Scott!" she hissed, whacking him with her purse, "do something!!"
"It's alright Jean," Scott said, as Rogue tugged deftly at his belt, "we'll play along for now and pull out the aces when the time is right." Rogue quickly and efficiently unzipped and tugged Scott's pants over his knees. She looked up at him through thickly made up eyes and grinned, before rising to start on his shirt. Jean meanwhile was now standing in the middle of the floor in only her white lace lingerie set. Kitty wandered up smiling. She spoke to Rogue, who was tearing at Scott's clothes in a sort of frenzy.
"Like, slowly, slowly. It's too nice a job to rush," Kitty purred, taking the dress Todd handed her along with Scott's pants over her left arm.
"Hi," Scott said, trying to offer his hand to her as Rogue tugged his vest over his head, "I'm Scott Summers and this is my fiancée, Jean Weiss. You are?"
"You're very lucky to be invited up to Toby's laboratory," Kitty said, ignoring Scott's question. "Some people would like, give their right arm for the privilege!"
"People like you maybe?" Scott answered sullenly, annoyed that she'd ignored his question.
"Ha!" Kitty barked out the laugh, and threw all the clothes that had been so carefully placed on her arm into the air. Jean, made a frantic rush to pick up her dress but Todd held her back. She turned to Scott and smiled, her eyes drifting down to his white underwear then back to his face. "I've seen it."
"Come along," Rogue said, her voice silky as she maneuvered Jean and Scott towards the lift which had reappeared, "the Master doesn't like to be kept waiting. SHIFT IT!" She shoved the two lovers roughly. They stumbled past Todd, who had poured a glass of champagne and was now drinking the remaining alcohol from the bottle. Once they were all inside he dropped the bottle to the floor with a crash and entered the lift, pulling the door closed behind him. The lift jerked into life.
"Ah - Toby - is he your husband?" Jean asked, quietly from where she stood squashed between Rogue and Kitty. The two teenagers looked at Jean as if she had just grown an extra head and they began to laugh.
"The Master is not yet married," Todd answered the question from where he stood at the front of the lift, "nor do I think he ever will be. We are simply his.........servants."
"Oh," Jean answered, falling back into awkward silence.
The lift continued to rattle upwards, floors glimpsed briefly through the wire covering that served as a door. Finally they reached the laboratory.
Toby stood in front of a mysterious object, shrouded in red cloth. He wore a green surgeon's gown, his heels visible from beneath its hem. The laboratory itself was bizarre. Tiled in pink, with a round reception-like chamber in the front. Copies of The Statue if David were everywhere, some with speakers crudely joined onto their sides. Above, on a raised balcony, reached from the ground by a ramp, stood the guests who had been dancing before. As the lift came to its halt Todd forced the door open, walking over to Toby and thrusting the champagne glass into his hand. He walked on, heading for a large red mass of machinery.
"Rogue," Toby spoke sharply. Rogue stepped forwards in summons to his call. "Kitty." Kitty did the same. "Go and assist Todd," Toby said, his eyes on Scott and Jean. "I will entertain, ah, mmmhmm - " he extended a hand towards Scott his face splitting into a grin as he laughed softly, almost coyly.
"Hi!" Scott slapped his hand into Toby's causing the slender youth to take a step backwards, almost spilling his champagne. "I'm Scott Summers and this is my fiancée, Jean Vice."
"Weiss!" Jean hissed, elbowing Scott in the ribs.
"Weiss," Scott whimpered, rubbing his ribs.
"Enchanté," Toby purred, taking Jean's hand and kissing it. Jean blushed and giggled, hiding her smile beneath a coy hand. "Well," Toby smiled, "how nice." He began to circle the couple, eyeing Scott's butt as he did so. "And what charming underclothes you both have. But here," he handed them two dusty white shirts, snatched from Todd, "put these on. They'll make you feel less................vulnerable." He continued to circle the couple, sipping his champagne delicately. "It's not often we receive visitors here. Let alone offer them hospitality."
"Hospitality!?!" Scott exploded, "All we wanted to do was use your phone, god damn it! A reasonable request which you have chosen to ignore!!"
"Don't be ungrateful Scott," Jean whispered, laying a pleading arm on his arm.
"Ungrateful!?!" Scott yelled, as he moved up to Toby, eyeing him menacingly.
"My," Toby grinned, holding his glass up between himself and the angry Scott, "how forceful you are Scott. So.............." his eyes flicked down to Scott's groin, and he slowly licked the champagne glass, eyeing Scott as he did so, "dominant."
Scott blushed bright crimson and pulled the white shirt hurriedly about himself. Toby smiled in delight at Scott's embarrassment and turned to Jean. "You must be awfully proud of him Jean."
"Well yes I am," Jean smiled, her hands moving to her hair in a gesture some people do when they feel shyly awkward.
"Do you have any tattoos Scott?" Toby asked, turning back to the still slightly pink-cheeked Scott.
"Certainly not!" Scott snapped.
"Oh well," Toby sighed, disappointment in his voice, "how 'bout you?"
Jean flicked a hand at him giggling. "Oh you." At this Toby's smile grew wider and he took a long draft of his champagne, almost visibly purring with pleasure.
Todd shuffled up to his master, fawning like a dog. "Everything is in readiness Master. We merely await your word."
"Excellent," Toby said, tossing the champagne to Todd, who only just managed to catch the glass. Toby marched purposefully up to a small microphone, taking some pink rubber gloves from Kitty as he passed her. He turned to the guests, his ruby red lips broadening into a brilliant smile as he did so. His ice blue eyes watched them from beneath the mascared lashes and smoky lids. "Tonight," he began, "my unconventional conventionalists." He paused to allow the ripple of polite laughter that followed. "Tonight you are to witness a breakthrough in biochemical research. And paradise..............is.....to be mine!" He threw his head back a small ripple of laughter passing through his lips. A loud chorus of hoots and whirrings where heard as the guests blew on noise makers and churned rattlers. Toby raised his hands to silence them.
"It was strange the way it happened. Suddenly; you hit a break." There was a loud snap as the pink gloves cracked in the still air, tugged by excited hands. "All the pieces seem to..........fit into place. What a sucker you've been. What a fool! The answer was there all the time. It took an accident to make it happen. An accident!"
"An accident," Rogue and Kitty murmured in echo, steeping to either side of Toby.
"That's how I discovered the secret," Toby whispered, his eyes wide. "That.............elusive ingredient. That spark that is the very breath of life!" The crowd clapped and hollered once more. The small 'meeps' from their whistles traveling well in the laboratory. Toby smiled and moved to where the cloth-covered object was, the red fabric fluttering slightly as Rogue and Kitty took two corners each.
"You see Scott and Jean, you are fortunate," Toby continued. "For tonight is the night that my beautiful creature is destined to be born!!!!"
With a flourish and a snap the red cloth rose into the air and fell back revealing a bandaged mummy-like figure lying in a tank filled with clear liquid chemicals. Toby gasped in delight, clutching the side of the tank with his pink, rubber-gloved hands. He turned to Todd, his eyes shining. "Throw open the switches on the sonic oscillator. And step up the reactor power input three. More. Points!!!"
The lights began to flicker as a large wheel began to descend from the ceiling. Toby's laughter bubbled out of him, unquenchable, unstoppable, maniacal.
"Scott," Jean cried, throwing herself into his arms.
"It's alright Jean," Scott answered, holding her tight.
There was a crash and the lights flickered quickly, leaving darkness writhing. All that could be heard was Todd's laboured breathing as he pushed at a wheel lever and the sinister laughter of the crazed ebony-haired youth before them.
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!" Toby cried, snatching at the wheel as it came to his height. Todd leant against the wheel lever, puffing. Toby began to turn knob after knob at an incredible speed, letting dribbles of different colours into the clear chemicals. There was a blinding flash, reducing the room to a white spot and then the lights returned. A low groan was heard from the tank, and two bandaged hands moved shakily to grip the sides of the tank. With great effort the bandaged figure rose to its feet. Kitty, who had climbed a small ladder, reached over and tugged at the bandages that covered the figure's head. They tore away to reveal the creature's face. The crowd gasped at the creature's wide sapphire eyes, and white hair; his angelic features as he regarded them with astonishment and wonder.
"Oh..............PIETRO!" Toby cried, clasping his hands together in joy. Pietro grabbed hold of the wheel above him, moving at an incredible speed.
Todd snatched at the wheel lever, winding it at top speed so that Pietro was carried upwards and out of Toby's reach.
Pietro: The sword of Damocles is hanging over my head. And I've got the feeling someone's gonna be cutting the thread!
Toby rushed over to where Todd was maniacally attacking the wheel lever as he spun it round and round, rising Pietro higher and higher. Toby growled, kicking Todd viciously, causing the hunchbacked handyman to sprawl forwards onto his face. Cringing under his master's gaze Todd began to lower the wheel on which Pietro was suspended.
Pietro: Oh, woe is me. My life is a misery. Oh, can't you see. That I'm at the start of a pretty big downer......
As the wheel lowered further Pietro let go, dropping between Kitty and Rogue who immediately began to snip at his remaining bandages with their scissors.
Pietro: I woke up this morning with a start when I feel outta bed.
Kitty and Rogue tore off the bandages covering Pietro's arms and legs.
Guests: That ain't no crime!
Pietro: My high is low. I'm dressed up with no place to go. And all I know....is I'm at the start of a pretty big downer!!
Toby leapt into the tank behind Pietro who was still being unbandaged by Rogue and Kitty and threw his arms around the speedster's neck. Toby sighed happily, nuzzling the white-haired teen's neck. Pietro spun out of his grip, Kitty and Rogue tugging at his bandages as he did so.
Guests: Sha la la la that ain't no crime.
Pietro: Oh no no no!
Guests: Sha la la la that ain't no crime.
Pietro: Oh no no no!
Guests: Sha la la la that ain't no crime!! That ain't no crime!
The last of Pietro's bandages came away, revealing him to be dressed only in gold hotpants and gold boots. Behind him Toby was carried forward on Todd's shoulders. Toby reached for Pietro, unbalancing Todd, leaving both of them to come crashing to the ground.
Pietro: The sword of Damocles is hanging over my head. And I've got a feeling someone's gonna be cutting the thread!
Pietro moved from one group of guests to another, his hands clasped together as if pleading them. He went down on one knee next to one group. Toby, who had rushed up behind him, tripped as a guest moved to get a better look. Blinking uncertainly Toby glimpsed Pietro's foot and he began to kiss the heel tenderly.
Pietro: Oh woe is me. My life is a misery. Oh can't you see. That I'm at the start of a pretty big downer.
Pietro leapt to his feet, running away from Toby as the high-heeled 'Doctor' began to pursue him.
Guests: Sha la la la that ain't no crime.
Pietro: Oh no no no!
Guests: Sha la la la that ain't no crime.
Pietro: Oh no no no!
Guests: Sha la la la that ain't no crime!! That ain't no crime!
Guests: Sha la la la that ain't no crime.
Pietro: Oh no no no!
Guests: Sha la la la that ain't no crime.
Pietro: Oh no no no!
Guests: Sha la la la that ain't no crime!! That ain't no crime!
Pietro leapt up onto the tank, perching himself precariously as he waited for Toby to catch up.
"Well really," Toby panted, gripping the side of the ladder to keep himself steady, "that's no way to behave on your first day out."
Pietro ducked his head, blinking his eyes as his bottom lip quivered. Toby's face softened and he wrapped his arms around Pietro's leg. "But seeing as you're such an exceptional beauty...I'm prepared to forgive you."
Pietro beamed.
"He's a credit to your genius Master," Todd said simperingly.
"A triumph of your will!" Rogue cried.
"He's okay," Kitty smiled.
"Okay?" Toby's head shot up away from his creation to look at Kitty with dangerous eyes. "OKAY!?!" He snatched Pietro's hand up and helped the speedster down. He began to lead him towards Jean and Scott, turning as he did so to snap, "I think we can do better than okay. Scott..Jean. What do you think of him?" He lay an arm around Pietro's shoulders, turning to look at Jean.
"Well," Jean began, eyeing Pietro with some hesitance. She turned back to look at Scott, "I don't like men with too many muscles." Scott beamed down at her. Toby's face darkened like a storm cloud.
"I didn't make him for you!!!" Toby yelled, stamping a high heel in anger. He dragged Pietro away from Jean and Scott, continuing his rant. "He carries the Toby McGivin seal of approval!!" He lead Pietro over to a rack of weights.On them was a small card reading: Happy Birthday Pietro. Smiling he began to sing.
Toby: A weakling weighing....98 pounds. Will get sand in his eyes when kicked to the ground. And soon in the gym (he placed to weights in Pietro's hands) with a determined chin, the sweat from his pores as he works for his ca - ha - hause.
He smiled, eyeing Pietro as the youth lifted the weights in wonder.
Toby: Will make him glisten and gleam. And with massage oil and just a little ste - he - he - heeeeeammm.
Toby ran a finger down Pietro's chest, stopping just at the start of his pants. His breath was quick, and he gave a small moan.
Toby: He'll be pink...and quite clean. He'll be a strong man! Oh honey! But the wrong man!
Toby danced past Pietro beckoning for him to follow. The ebony-haired teen gripped the back of a vaulting horse, pulling it forward as Pietro looked on.
Toby: He'll eat nutritious, high protein. And swallow raw eggs (Pietro leapt onto the vaulting horse) try to build up his chest, arms and (Toby raised his eyes as he took in Pietro's thighs) legs. Such an effort, if he only knew of my plan. In just seven days....I can make you ma - ha - ha - haaaaaaan. He'll do press-ups, (Pietro dropped to the floor and began to do some) chin-ups. Do the snatch, clean and jerk. He thinks dynamic tension.....must be hard work. Such strenuous living (Toby slipped up onto the vaulting horse and smiled wolfishly at Pietro) I just don't understand. When in just seven days. Oh baby...... (Toby leapt of the vault and wrapped his arms around Pietro's neck, puling him forwards as he walked up onto a small raised platform) When in just seven days.....I can make you a ma - ha - ha - haaaaan!
Toby laughed, tossing his head back in delight. There was a sudden groan from the immense red metal door behind them and with a creak it began to fall open.
"Shit!" Toby yelped, stumbling out of the way, tugging Pietro after him.
"Sugar!" Kitty squealed, leaping to her feet. The door hit the ground with a thundering crash and through the thick white mist of cold air the low growling of a Harley could be heard.
- - - ******* - - -
Ooh ooh! Who is it!?! Some of you will know. Mwahahahahaaa! This is soooooooo much fun.