Ah. I'm in a good mood. Yeah. Probably uncommon for me but, anyway.
Ah. This is more on from the last chapter. Sean's busy, so it's up to me to keep the pace. Anyway, this is sort of an important chapter. Mainly because of what I get to see.
Chapter 22 Thoughts and Tribulations
It had been only five minutes till Strife stopped. I had settled against the tree a bit more comfortably, the same with him. He held that ocarina of his with a hard grip, something I had noticed when he was looking down. He wasn't looking at me though, which made me lose a bit of the relaxation that I had gained from the little tune.
"David?" I asked, leaning in a bit to look under his fallen fronds. "Hmm". He half looked up, then fully, straight at me. "Oh….sorry…was just thinking of the last time I heard this…" he said, looking at the instrument. Last time? He DID practice to do that well…didn't he? I shook that thought, arcing my back a bit and spreading my arms. I didn't know how much time I had left. Then again, what Strife had to say next surprised me.
"Umm…say Randall…" he started, getting my attention. "Yeah?". He took a moment, knocking his left wrist on his other arm. "…I was wondering…you….wanna come over to my place for awhile?". I was a little at a loss for this one. He was actually inviting me over to his house. Never had that happen to me before. Faintly, why did he ask?
I placed my hands at my sides, hoping he wouldn't take it the wrong way. "Something you wanted to ask me or…" I said, leaving the last bit open for him. As said, I didn't know Strife TOO well. He shrugged. "I don't know…guess I sorta wanna make it up to you for worrin for me that one time…" he said. I guess he was talking about the fight he and Lan had. Yeah. I did worry…and it was nice with what he was doing. I ran through my options. I didn't know how much time I had left out here. I didn't want to stay out here for too long. Heck. Boredom was one thing…but weekends usually had allot of activity…and it tends to lead to allot of confrontation….especially young anim….ahem…especially young adults like me…and kids like the others.
I figured what the hey, I had nothing to lose. I shrugged, making it look as though I didn't have a worry on my mind. "Hmm…yeah sure…but uhh…I gotta get home afterward though…". David nodded, getting off his tree. "Don't worry…I wont keep ya…" he said, turning and heading past the tree. I followed with little regret. I kept looking around, still wonder how the heck that cat got away from me.
(NS)
I was surprised how isolated David was. His house was alongside a road that was nearly half a mile away, no sign of a dirt path. It was partly surrounded by trees, making me think his parents were nature fanatics or something.
Anyway. David led me over to the pebbled walkway that started out of nowhere, circling around an elevated oval stand, which had one of those "calming water" things. You know, it runs on batteries and pumps water through an endless loop over rocks and stuff. Nothing much, but I could smell the water before I even saw it though. I got a front look at his home now.
His house sure looked like it belonged to a big family or something. Very long. On the left, behind the house, made out of the same material, white walls, and grey shingled roof, was a storage shed I guessed, never saw it up close.
I took a moment as David got higher than me. I noticed there was an elevation in the ground, with a few stone carved steps to make up for it. I noted it's convince and started up, also seeing a few old-time lamps hanging from iron rods stuck in the ground, stopping again and looking over the house.
Leading to the back, where the shed was, was a patio with steps and two large bush trees set beside it. The start of the house had a window that I wasn't able to see through, a box, or something, I'm no exterior designer, with flowers hanging under it. Two chairs sat to the side, for guests I guess. There was a protruding section next, nearly all window. Think Japanese sliding doors replaced with windows and you get the idea. Guess it's for those who need to catch some sun or something. The right of the house, unlike the left's rectangle-like form, was the standard for a house, can't remember the shape. Square with triangle on top, there you go heh. A circular window near the top, two smaller rectangle ones near the bottom. I could see one had a hall, the other one I couldn't see through. The front door was simple white with the usual rectangle engraves over it. Hmm….reminds me now of another door….if it wasn't for the gold ball knocker and keyhole that is.
I just turned, looking over the various plant life as David fiddled with his keys, which I didn't really question where he had them. When I heard the door open, I started in behind him.
(NS)
I found myself in a small T shaped hall. I stayed near the door as David went to the right side, which led up some stairs. The end half of the left side was part of the room, which had some railing, to accommodate it's elevation. From what I saw, there were windows in the far back, one slid-able. A few chairs, a painting, and that was it for now. The floor itself looked new, polished wood. Looking it over, I notice something was on my left.
I turned and looked it over, my tail hitting against the opposite of the hall, so I just stayed where I was and looked over with my head. There was a painting hanging on the wall. It looked abstract or original, I couldn't tell, I really didn't care for what art was what. It was a portrait of Monstropolis. Although I consider where I lived now the "outskirts" of the city, it's not like I've seen Monstropolis before. But I've never been in the city yet…
My fronds went down for some reason as I looked over the portrait. It looked like a night version of the City's main street, the one that led to Monstropolis's famous Museum. For a day picture, you would expect to see monsters walking around, or little dots or something. For this one, all the dots were black, and very noticeable. I didn't get it at first, but kept looking. It was as if the black spots represented something I couldn't put my finger on. But the way the city was shadowed like the way it was in this painting seemed to mean that whatever was represented had something to do with the city…
I decided to stop judging art, something about the portrait making me feel a stomach ache. When I turned head down, I noticed something else. A one box drawer. On top of it, set on some kind of snowflake-style piece of cloth that went over the entire top, were pictures.
I got down on six now, deciding I didn't want to break anything by dropping it, pretty un-mindful for someone like me huh? Heh.
It looked like they were of David with his parents, or just him. One had just him standing in front a Monstropolis Theater, "Monster Plex". I remember hearing about the place a long time ago. It was around since the times theater first started. It was originally scheduled to become a Mega Plex, to live up to it's name, but someone ran a protest and I guess they won. I guess David grew up around watching the place's movies. Guess he was lucky to have the place stand. Hmm…he didn't seem to be smiling though. Guess the back story explains it I guess.
Another one, past the center one. Hmm…looked like one of him and Lan. David was against a light pole I guess, wearing some sort of outfit. I guess it looked sorta like a trench coat. His fronds were gone, within a black derby with no holes. His eyes were closed, guess he was signing. Lan was on the stoop, sitting down on the second step, his long tail running along the angled side surface, his claws both on the top of his cane, glasses on, a smile plastered over his face. Guess it was when they first met.
Between the two pictures, was one of David and his parents I guess. This one looked pretty old to me for some reason, it's tint making it look like an old western wanted poster. Guess they went to a theme park or something. The background had solid brown dirt, a few lifeless trees and mountains in the background, guess it was a background on one of those machine things. Anyway. David's father was wearing some sort of colonel-like outfit. I passed his father and looked over at him. Unlike the other pictures, this one looked like when he was a kid, because he was allot shorter. And also, unlike the others, he was smiling.
I wanted to examine the other one and more of this one, but I saw David come down out of the corner of my eye. I leaned back up as he stopped beside him, a slight concerned look on his face. I gave a slight guilty look. "Uhh…sorry if I uhh…" I started. He just shook his head with a grin. "Ah don't worry….curiosity leads to new expectations…" he said.
I actually got that. I decided to take his advice, looking at the last picture. "What in the…no…" I thought as I picked it up, a little more confident now that he wouldn't get mad. But what I saw in the picture made me a believer of coincidences. It looked like a bar of some sort, with the style of wooden tables and red, turned U cushioned seats against the wall on an elevated level. The reason I say bar is because of the glasses on the table in the back. But then again, I figured it was a restaurant or something. It was focused on one table in particular. On the left was Lan, leaning into the middle monster, a smile on his face. In the middle was David, in the same suit and hat he wore in the picture of Lan's home, looking down with a bit of annoyance. Wouldn't blame him for who was leaning into him with his trademark old-time camera.
"You gotta be kidding me….you know Vinnie?" I asked. Vinnie Garrison. Thought he'd make pictures, not be in them. David rose a brow. "You know Vinnie too?" he asked. I nodded. "Yeah…he keeps bugging me with this whole Reptilian Run thing…". David seemed to avoid commenting on that, wouldn't blame him that much. He took the photo from me, looking at it.
"Ah yeah….I remember this….a few months probably ago….". "So…what you…friends with this camera carrying nut?" I asked. I was gonna retract that statement, but he just laughed. "Heh…not really friends" he said, still looking over the picture. "I guess I consider him my personal photographer….he made nearly all of these…" he said, looking over the photos as if he hadn't seen them. "But I guess…he could be considered a "friend" I suppose….". He placed it back. I noticed he kept his hand on it for a second, making me feel a bit strange.
He took his hand away, looking at me. "Hmm…Well…I suppose trying to catch that cat of yours worked up an appetite…" he commented. Oh boy…he didn't know the half of it. Of course, my stomach reacted at the right time, pfft, coincidence I suppose. "Yeah…I guess…" I replied. Heck, if anybody offered me a meal, I would take it.
"Well uhh…" he started, scratching the back of his neck. "Make yourself at home…and I'll get started…" he said, half turning. "Oh…living room's right here…" he started, padding the elevated area he went to before. "Remote's somewhere around here…" he commented, heading through the opposite hall from the living room.
I just had to smile at that.
I looked back down at the pictures one last time. I don't know. Something just…didn't feel right about them….I don't know if it was David's feelings or coincidence of Vinnie's.…but I don't know what it was that I felt…
I tore away from the pictures and starting into the living room that David invited me into. I stopped at the top of the stairs. "Ohh…". I looked down, noticing the polished wood was replaced with some kind of cushioned material. Almost like fur, but not quite. I wiggled all four of my feet, getting them use to it. It was soft. Better than rock or that cracked wood at the orphanage.
I looked over the room first. The left side went outward. In the middle, a few feet from the glass wall, was a rectangular stand with several doors on the sides. Guessing from the wide T.V. screen setting on top, I guess it held video tapes. Behind it was the glass wall I mentioned, the farthest glass being the one you could slid across. Back on my left, passing another hall farther ahead, there was a long gray cushioned couch, two throw pillows set to the side without much concern. From how the house looked so far, David's parents must be a rich bunch or something.
Taking a seat, tail holes thankfully, I began searching for the remote. Guess David really was joking, the remote was just stuck between the crack of two of the pillows. I stared at the black little thing for a moment, thinking of how much trouble I would get into if Bellfree knew I was here….but then I figured…..to heck with her, this was great!
I turned on the T.V. and waited for my benevolent host.
Now one thing I have to mention. David NEVER does anything to hurt me. Quite the opposite actually. He helps me in many ways. Na. I'd rather not tell. You have to wait. Heh. Oh and…the next chapter is a little info that David taught me on….I can say it's about my race's most popular group…I give you a clue, breathes fire. Well that gave it away heh.
