"Are you sure about this...?"
"Of course! It's for his own good. After all, this place needs a woman's touch."
Nina watched closely as Marvel balanced one foot on her trident, painting the ceiling a bright shade of red. "Don't you think a ladder would be more efficient?" she asked with a raised brow.
Marvel scoffed. "Oh please. I'm an independent woman! I don't need no ladder!" She resumed painting, then glanced down before hopping to the ground. "Got any more paintbrushes?"
"What's wrong with the one you have?" Nina pointed at the brush Marvel was currently wielding.
"Nothing; I just thought it'd be nice to have a little more help," Marvel chuckled. "Besides, even with a ladder, I won't be able to get the whole ceiling done before Cortex gets here."
Nina thought for a moment. "I believe I have the solution." She smirked.
"NO NO NO!" Ripper Roo frantically dove under the kitchen table.
"Come on! Don't you like to mess with Cortex?" Nina frowned.
"You know I looove to, but by helping that loony woman? NO!" Ripper Roo poked his head out and cackled.
"She's not gonna stab you." Nina rolled her eyes.
"And how do you know that?"
"Because I won't let her," Nina spoke honestly. She paused for a moment. "That is, unless you refuse to help her."
Ripper Roo attempted to snarl, only it sounded more like a snort due to his consistent laughter. "Fine..."
"Alright Roo, all ya have to do is paint the ceiling red. Sound good?" Marvel handed the kangaroo a paint brush, which he promptly took in his mouth and dipped in paint.
"Yes ma'am." He obediently nodded, not wanting to get on her bad side. Ripper Roo proceeded to leap up and down, waving the brush like mad as large blotches of red paint covered the ceiling.
Marvel was holding an umbrella to avoid the paint splattering everywhere, and she chuckled. "Good, good."
Once Ripper Roo was finished, he nearly slipped on a big puddle of paint. Luckily, everything was covered in newspapers, so nothing important was drenched. "Sorry, it's a bit messy."
"Nah, it's perfect! Definitely faster than I could ever be. Now, ya mind helping me paint the walls?" Marvel got out a bucket of gold paint.
Ripper Roo cocked his head to the side. "Red and gold?"
"Yup!" Marvel beamed. "Those are my colors. Besides, it's a lot livelier than this boring, dusty gray color, isn't it?" Ripper Roo blinked, but slowly nodded. "Exactly! Cortex will thank me."
Ripper Roo shrugged and retrieved another paintbrush, helping Marvel paint the walls gold.
Once they were finished, Marvel wiped paint off her brow. "Woo! All finished, and I have you to thank for, Roo!"
Ripper Roo happily bounced. "So when's Cortex comin' back?"
Marvel looked at her watch. "Heh...looks like we finished at a good time! He should be getting back in about 20 minutes, so let's get all these newspapers taken care of while the paint dries."
After Nina had returned, the three took care of every paint-stained newspaper as quick as they could. By the time they heard the front door shut, signaling that Cortex was back, they scrambled into the living room, casually watching TV as if nothing out of the ordinary was going on.
"I'm back," Cortex muttered as he approached them.
"Hey." Nina nodded.
"Sup." Marvel did the same.
Ripper Roo was having a giggling fit from under the footrest, which was his favorite place to lie down for some odd reason. His head poked out and snickered at the sight of Cortex, but it wasn't long before the kangaroo busted into hysterical laughter.
Cortex did nothing but stare at his creation, but simply shook it off. After all, he should've been used to Ripper Roo's insanity by now. "Okay. Well, I'll be up in my lab if you need me."
"Alright." Marvel and Nina simply nodded again, doing their best to keep a straight face. Ripper Roo, however, continued his laughing fit.
"What do you think he'll do?" Nina whispered to Marvel.
Marvel opened her mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by an ear-piercing, womanly scream.
"MAAAAARRVVEEEELLLL!"
Marvel grinned widely, rubbing her hands together in satisfaction.
"Aren't you...worried at all?" Nina asked, hoping she wouldn't get fired.
Marvel just chuckled and waved it off. "I've known Cortex long enough now to know that this'll blow over; trust me. That guy's gotta learn that the world doesn't revolve around him." She clasped her hands together. "Now, who wants sugar cookies?"
"Sure!"
"ME ME ME!"