Chapter 9: Solace Can Be Sought
Jesse impatiently waited behind the police lines.
"Loosen up, pal. Rhoda will be fine," Brenda the cab assured him. "She used ta crack cases with that gumshoe."
Anthropomorphic police bulldogs hurried in and out of the warehouse. He could hear snatches of their conversation. Ms. Valiant had once again cracked another case. Ms. Valiant took down the criminals by herself. Ms. Valiant found a humanoid toon girl inside the warehouse.
He sighed. Snatches of information that he cared not a whit. He could at least breathe that there was no sign of a hostage situation. Or any kind of an emergency.
But still, there was no word about Rhoda.
He stopped a toon police dog in his tracks. The bulldog growled. Jesse ignored it.
"Have you seen her?"
The bulldog shook his head. "No sign of a rabbit, Mister."
He let out a sigh, turning back to the old warehouse. His eyes caught sight of a vaguely familiar form. Ms. Valiant was missing her trench coat. The scowling middle-aged woman tugged her suspenders, the knees of her trousers scuffed. She pinched the bridge of her nose as she led a glum humanoid toon girl out, her trench coat draped on the toon's shoulders.
Jesse frowned. If Rhoda did help Valiant with sleuthing, how come Valiant was leaving without her?
The humanoid toon girl froze at the sight of him. He ignored it, focusing his attention to the entrance of the warehouse.
He should've stopped her from going on her own. But when she smiled and told him that she was going to be fine, he believed her.
Jesse resisted the urge to pace, remaining a cool exterior instead. Brenda only grinned when he heavily exhaled.
He shouldn't have let sentimentality get to him, seeing how she smiled like her old self. A smile that was less scared. Less sorry. Less sa-
Much to his consternation, Valiant stalked towards him.
"You," Valiant said.
"Where's Rhoda?"
Valiant jerked her thumb behind her. The humanoid toon girl over her shoulder ducked, covering her face.
"Jeepers, Edna! Not like that!"
Jesse's eyes widened. She… sounded familiar.
Valiant sighed and rolled her eyes heavenward.
"Toon Tonic is warehouse Disney magic -pixie dust, wand dust, whatever. Schmucks smuggle it ta suckers who want humanoid privilege," she let out in one exhale. "Which Rhoda here, accidentally drank."
The humanoid toon girl's pigtails joined her hands into covering her face. Jesse walked past Edna and reached for her.
"...Rhoda?"
He tipped up her chin and she reluctantly looked into his eyes. He startled, knowing that open, blue gaze anywhere.
"Rhoda," he simply said. Underneath the trench coat draped on her shoulders, Jesse could see Rhoda's signature clothes.
She looked like a young woman who was about to teach the fun way to learn ABCs. Underneath her overalls dress, a polka dot bow was tied around the peter pan collar of her white blouse with puffed sleeves. Instead of rabbit ears, ginger pigtails swayed on either side of her head. Her yellow-gloved hands fidgeted nervously. She ducked deeper into Valiant's trenchcoat, giving him an apologetic bucktooth smile.
"H'llo Jesse," she muttered, looking like she'd rather disappear.
Edna impatiently kneaded her forehead. "Do me a favor and get her home, willya? The suspect says the magic only lasts about four hours."
The human police force were starting to arrive and Edna retrieved her trenchcoat from Rhoda.
"Go, before she gets caught up to all this hullabaloo," Edna said as journalists began to snap pictures.
Jesse led Rhoda to Brenda, still surprised at the turn of events. She looked...
"Geez, Rhoda. You look like yer gonna play Candyland with the kids or sumthin'," Brenda commented.
He glanced at her. Her face looked more like she was going to attend a funeral instead.
"Take us home, Brenda," Rhoda softly spoke, wrapping herself with her arms. "P-p-p-please."
XOXOXOXOXO
Just when she thought Jesse had seen the worst of her, life had a way of proving her wrong.
At least now that she was bigger, she have less trouble carrying the sack of dogfood.
"Thanks, Brenda," she called back, trying to push her face into a semblance of a smile. Just big enough to show her that she was all better now.
Brenda beeped, speeding off for another passenger. Jacques barked, bounding towards them. He paused when he saw Rhoda.
Jesse immediately went between them. "Easy."
But Rhoda went past him and crouched down, stretching her hands for Jacques to smell.
"It's me, Jacques."
Jesse still snapped the bought collar around Jacques before letting him get near her. The massive dog sniffed her fingers uncertainly. He whined, barking, as though to ask, "What happened to you now?" Yet he lined his flank to her, allowing her scratch to his back.
Relieved, Jesse passed them by to unlock the door. They entered the house and she made a beeline for the stairs.
"I'm gonna stay in bed," she called out to Jesse. She gestured at her humanoid form. "Till this wears off."
She hopped for the guest room. Then tripped on her too-long human legs.
"Are you okay?" Jesse asked from downstairs after a thud that could be heard in the entire house.
"I'm fine!" she yelled back. Rubbing a bump on her forehead, she opened the door with a sigh. She was still as accident prone as ever. Maybe she could get unconscious before her thoughts would become too much.
Rhoda finally allowed herself to limp, a casualty from falling off the air vent. Worsened by all the running. Too bad Disneyfication didn't fix her whacked tooning.
It took her awhile to take off her Mary Jane shoes, unused to having footwear. At least Disney magic got rid of the slug slime off her.
She flopped on the bed like a ragdoll. Her body hurt. After the rush of the events, it seemed like every part of her body had lined up for a complaint.
Jeepers, do I get this roughed up whenever I help Edna solve cases? she pondered. I'd sell my rabbit's foot if I could just shake it off right now. Oh, wait...
She closed her eyes with a sigh. I'll just have to nap it off.
She didn't know how long had she had lain in there. Time ticked on. Her hands clenched the sheets, itching to knock herself out with a mallet. Unfortunately, her hammerspace was gone due to her Disneyfication.
She rolled to her back, exhaling. Her hands pulled the ribbons holding her pigtails, if only to loosen the ache in her head. She shuddered at the feeling of her hair cascading down her shoulders. It felt weird, having a long patch of fur that only covers her head. She rubbed the back of her neck to ease some tension, creeped out by the feel of smooth skin.
Rhoda turned away a desk mirror, unable to look at herself.
She never liked being a humanoid toon. In fact, she couldn't understand why some anthropomrphs would give their hind leg to be humanoid.
It wasn't just because she was clumsier with her longer limbs. Or that it was harder to shake off injuries. Or that she have extra fingers.
It was because she got caught.
How long should four hours last? she wondered, kneading her pounding head. She smacked her lips. The inside of her mouth felt like sandpaper. The urge to drink coffee crawled with anticipation at the back of her throat.
Coffee was her friend. Coffee wouldn't let her think. Coffee would just let her work on her cottage like a pinball of energy. Coffee would never let her dwell what her human form had costed her. Had costed them.
The ticking of the clock got louder.
Coffee, her mind urged.
She shut her eyes tight, the ghosts of her past cranking the worn gears of her thoughts.
Years ago, she and Edna had discovered Toon Tonic by accident. Unable to bear the rumors that Toon Tattler was spreading about Jared, she hired Edna. Then she tagged along to put a stop on it.
Coffee! her mind panicked, realizing where her thoughts were going.
Only for Edna to discover that the journalist's references were strong. Heavier than a telephone book and twice as thick.
Her mind frantically bang around her skull. Coffee! Coffee! Coffee!
Rhoda swallowed, curling into a ball.
So they staked out the place where Jared was going to stay after filming Gone with the Wind. Rhoda was hellbent to straighten out the journalist and tell them to leave Jared alone.
On that fateful day, they accidentally interrupted some smuggled goods.
Coffecoffeecoffecoffee-
Rhoda clamped down her ears.
In a whirl of fisticuffs, a bottle got shoved into her lips. By the time Edna had knocked everyone down, Rhoda was missing her fur and several indicators of being a rabbit.
Rhoda may not have taken it well. Edna had to remind her that they need to get out as soon as possible -with a slap back to her senses. So they did, trying to blend in with the hotel's dining crowd.
Then she bumped into Jared.
COFFEECOFFEECOFFFEECOFFFEE-
She curled tighter, torn between unwanted urges and unwanted memories.
"Excuse me, miss. Can you point me to the hotel's dessert area?" Jared asked.
She shook her head, too scared to even speak.
He tipped up her chin with a mischievous smirk. "Because I want a cutie pie like you."
Rhoda yelped when she sharply turned away from the past so hard, she smacked an imprint on the carpet.
Her hand gingerly touched new goose egg on her head as she winced.
She should've felt disgusted back then, knowing her boyfriend was flirting with a stranger.
But instead, she had only felt joy. It was like the sweeter times back then, when there was no confusion. No guilt. Back when she was still sure he liked her as a person.
She withered along with her thoughts. Along with her concussions, the ache in her head began to pulse with the craving. The inside of her mouth tingled in anticipation.
COFFEE. COFFEE. COFFEE-
She curled into a tight ball on the uncomfortable floor. Maybe she should've taken Jacques with her. But she didn't deserve the comfort. She never did. This was her punishment for taking things that made her happy. Like adopting Jacques.
Her heart broke, remembering the reassuring kiss on the forehead Jesse had once given her.
You're so pathetic, Jared jeered in her head.
Rhoda dryly swallowed. She began to pant, whether from the coffee cacoethes or from a ghost of Jared confronting her, she didn't know.
There was a knock so soft, she almost missed it.
Her body stilled, not daring to make a sound. Not when she'd rather imitate a tight wad of tissue.
She didn't know why she stood up with her ungainly humanoid legs. Maybe because it couldn't get any worse.
Her hands smoothed down the flare of her overalls dress. Putting on a small smile just to show that she was fine, she opened the door.
Jesse stood on the doorway with a steaming mug of jasmine tea.
"Hi," he said. "Are you alright?"
Rhoda wanted nothing more than to jump out of the window and run.
"I'm fine," she said in what she hoped didn't sound like forced chirpiness.
It felt weird being in the eye level of Jesse's neck, instead of his legs. She looked down on her human hands with too many fingers. Then she glanced at the clock. "Just three hours and thirty more minutes," she sighed.
"Do you want some?" he asked, giving her the mug.
She smiled, feeling the painful twinge in her chest. What kind of a person was she to move on from a relationship too fast?
Rhoda let him in and took it. "Thank you," she closed her eyes, inhaling a trickle of orange in its scent. "I've always like it with a tang."'
"I know," was his casual reply. "You mentioned it once.
Her eyes widened in surprise. She hoped Jesse mistook the redness of her face from the vapors of the tea. "Really?" She busied herself to sitting cross-legged on the bed. After a moment's hesitation, she patted the spot beside it.
"One time during breakfast," he replied, sitting down with her, his feet on the floor.
She took a sip, drowning her senses away from coffee.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
She opened her eyes again that she didn't remember closing. Jesse was looking at her quietly.
"I know I said that if you won't tell, I won't ask." He paused. "But in case you want to talk about it, I'm here."
Rhoda choked in her steaming mug. Maybe he was right to reject her from the start, falling in love for him because of how he treated everyone.
Jesse patted her back as she hacked, her burnt tongue sticking out. Way to be classy.
With a final cough, she leaned back on the headboard, sighing. "I just… I just have some bad memories about this form," she replied, gesturing at her peach-toned knees and socked feet.
Jesse had already seen her had a meltdown once. Then as a rabbit that couldn't keep a relationship. Lastly, a cherry on top: having a panic attack in public because of a song. She might as well take off her sheep's clothing and ruin her second chance with Jesse.
There was NEVER a second chance! She mentally yelled at herself.
Her eyes closed, feeling the tea's steam softly hit the bare skin of her face. In a moment of calm, she said it.
"Jared caught me investigating him with Edna," she spoke, her voice devoid of her shame. Or anything at all.
The Toon tonic smugglers were caught and Edna had saved the day again. The crowd applauded and Rhoda cheered with them on Edna's side.
But the small bottle of Toon Tonic only lasted an hour and in a blast of light, Rhoda transformed back into a rabbit.
The people around her mirrored her shock. Then she caught Jared's eye.
Rhoda turned her head away. Warmth seeped to her fingers from the mug. But she only felt cold.
"I broke his trust." Her memories echoed in her mind.
Jared turned his back and left.
"Jared, wait!" she cried, reaching out for him.
He didn't wait.
Edna snorted. "Why's he the one steaming mad?"
"You don't understand, Jared doesn't know that I go to your office after work." She winced, covering her mouth. "Jared wanted me to be straight home."
Edna's nose wrinkled, her mouth agape in puzzlement.
"It's how he cares." Her ears drooped. "And now I've ruined it."
"I've always been a fan of Edna and Thelma Valiant," she confessed to Jesse. "So when I became Edna's friend, I was happy enough to tag along with her."
"But," her pigtails drooped. "I never told Jared."
When Jared had wanted her home after work, she didn't mind. Yes, it sacrificed spending time with her friends. But it made her happy because it showed her that Jared cared. In her mind's eyes, she could see what happened next.
As soon as Jared came home, Rhoda leapt to him for a hug.
"Jared!"
He caught her midway with an impatient sound. Her breath hitched when he dropped her unceremoniously on the floor. Rhoda pressed her lips against the tightening of her throat. Jared never liked it when she would cry.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to investigate you, I was trying to stop the paparazzi from gossiping 'bout you. I swear! And..." She stopped. Then her shoulders drooped in defeat. "I know I should've been home back then. But I enjoy solving cases with Edna," she said, unable to keep the plea in her voice. "It gives me something to do when I'm not acting."
She held his hands, his eyes still refusing to look at her.
"I really want to hang out with her. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."
"So I'm the bad guy here?"
"What? No, I-"
"This is why you should be at home after work, Rhoda." He sighed, massaging his temple. "Instead of doing something crazy again, you could've just asked me about whatever those tabloids been messing with your head."
"I've been asking you!" she said in exasperation. Something in her panicked, admonishing her for breaking an unspoken rule.
His tone went cold. "Have you, really?"
"Yeah." Her mind scrambled to remember when. "Like that time I..."
His eyebrow raised when she couldn't say a specific date.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled, looking down.
"'Cause from what I remember, you're always accusing me."
She looked up, stunned. "What? No, I don't-"
He let out a laugh. "And I'm the bad guy?"
"Where have you been, Jared?" he asked in a high-pitched, sticky voice. "Why're you late, Jared? Jared, this tabloid this, this tabloid that." He spoke back in his normal tone, folding his arms. "You're obsessed and being with that detective is making it worse."
She stepped back a little, still shocked at the revelations. "I'm not..." But what if she was?
"Stay. Home."
Her whiskers drooped. "Okay," she answered, her voice small.
He sighed, turning away. "You're lucky on how much I put up with this relationship."
She rubbed her eyes. "I'm so sorry," she told Jesse, chastising herself for tearing out of the blue. Remembering their conversation now, Jared didn't do anything wrong.
So why am I crying?
Maybe Jared was right, he was the only one who could handle her and her mood swings.
She sneaked a glance and true to her prediction, Jesse looked surprised.
Her eyes were still leaking like a broken faucet and she hurriedly wiped them. Jeepers, why now?
Rhoda startled when she felt his hand patting her far shoulder.
She laughed, leaning forward to free his arm.
"Jeepers, why didn't you tell me," she chuckled over her embarrassment. Back when he had patted her back after she choked on her tea, she didn't realize that she had trapped his arm when she leaned against the headboard.
He gave her a hankie and she gratefully blew her nose.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what got into me," she said, her words muffled by the handkerchief.
"Sometimes, a faucet has to let all the rusty water out before it can be clean again," Jesse replied.
Rhoda laughed before honking in the hankie.
"That sounds like something I would say," she chided.
"It is," he agreed.
She felt his arm squeeze her shoulders and slightly pull her close, his face questioning.
In reply, she leaned to his side, her eyes feeling heavy. Perhaps crying in front of Jesse had some upsides. She grimaced, wondering if she could shake off the consequences of post-cry-in-your-sleep exhaustion that would wreak havoc with her peepers tomorrow.
"I'm sorry, you have to see me this way," she mumbled.
"Don't be. It takes some time to detach and see things as they are."
She sighed, closing her eyes. "I wish I was more like you, Jesse. Nothing seems to faze ya," she yawned. She felt herself relaxed against his side, enjoying his warmth.
Jesse said nothing. Time passed and her head began to nod off to sleep. She felt him lean back comfortably against the headboard, his long legs stretched out on the bed.
"I wished I hadn't been so detached," he finally said. "It made me wonder what would've been if..." He turned to look at her, her head resting on his shoulder.
Only to see her fast asleep.
He chuckled, deciding it would be best not to wake her up. The clock by her bedside showed that her form still had three hours to go.
For a moment, he wondered if he was really doing the right thing.
Rhoda had always inspired craziness in her surroundings. But the rush of events that had happened had left him exhausted from worry. He finally allowed himself to relax, closing his eyes.
"But I can wait a little more."
He fell asleep, his arm securing around her a little closer.
Unnoticed by either of them, Rhoda began to glow. Light flashed and sparks exploded everywhere. Beside Jesse, a rabbit now slept where the humanoid toon girl had been.
XOXOXOXOX
Ignoring the patrons drinking in the bar, Edna nursed her egg cream instead.
"I'm sorry that Rhoda had been a casualty," Doris said behind the bar. "Were they able to fix it?"
"It wears off." She fiddled with her straw. "I just don't get why she acts like it's some kind of a curse."
He flicked chocolate sprinkles into her egg cream. "Well, if Disney movies taught me anything, there is a way to break a curse."
Author's Notes:
The answer to the ending could be found in Frozen. Have you watched the sequel trailer? Looks promising.
What I loved about this fic is that I have more focus on writing about Jesse and Rhoda's friendship. Unfortunately, Jesse only got a biased view of Rhoda against herself in this chapter.
And that's the chapter for today. Sorry it took a while. My sleeping sched had been out of whack for the last few weeks but I'm now getting used to my new sleep sched. I was going to let this chapter marinate some more, but I'm gonna be busy in the weekends. So I have to post it today.
Notice how Rhoda didn't confront Jared with flirting with a supposed stranger? Through Fear, Obligation and Guilt (FOG), Rhoda was conditioned to constantly explain herself to Jared. She never noticed his Reverse-Victim-ing.
I hope you all have a restful day at the middle of this week.