Day 1 with Rammy
The morning arove as usual. The ram wakes up to a new occurrence. The sun beaming down on her face. She groans as she rubs her eyes with one hand. She tries to use her other hand as well, but it's currently holding onto Parappa as if he were a teddy bear. Once she notices, she quickly shoves him off the bed, waking him up.
"GOH…" He gets back up "Morning!"
"Did you know I did that?!"
"Of course, it woke me up in the middle of the night."
"And you didn't bother to get me to stop?!"
Parappa chuckles cheekily as he puts his arm behind his head "Well you seemed like you were missing a teddy bear. Couldn't really stop that since it did help you sleep better." He shrugs "Plus you can't blame me for that since I didn't do it." She conks him on the head "GWAH…" he drops to the ground clutching his head.
"Doesn't mean I can't get mad at you!"
"Point taken…" He puts his hat back on "But seriously. You just abruptly grabbed me as if you were having a nightmare! I just couldn't wake you up after that! Especially given how hard it was to even GET you to sleep…"
"Blegh...fine...you tell anyone I did that and you're dead ya hear me?"
"As if I could! I know when to keep things that are obviously meant to be hidden...well...hidden!"
She crosses her arms "Fine, but I would rather you not know about that at all…" She sighs "I did...have a teddy bear...helps me sleep and is just...calming you know?"
"Well that's nothing to be ashamed of! Hell Lammy used to have one as well! If it weren't for the fact that she lost it, she'd probably still have it even now."
"Yeah but for a girl like her? It's obvious and easy to pass off! Me? I'd be ridiculed more so than I am now…"
"Aw don't think like that! People up here are a lot nice than people in hell!"
"While I don't necessarily doubt that, you still see how I currently look like right?"
"Ok you make a good enough point…"
"Exactly!" She hops off the bed, to which Parappa covers his face "The hell's up with you now?"
"Y-Your shirt got lift up…"
"Huh? Oh how about that. And?"
"And?! Where'd your modesty from last night?!"
"I didn't wanna end up sleeping naked. This is literally nothing. The top half I'm cool with cuz whatever. It's mostly the bottom half that's a big no unless it's someone i'm real comfortable and close with with like my girl-...ex...girlfriend..."
"Well speak for yourself! I'm not used to seeing that!"
"You live with three other girls. I extremely doubt you go through a day WITHOUT catching them nude or near nude."
"I refuse to answer that."
"Pffft...Lemme guess. Katy or Lammy?"
"Both…"
Rammy bursts into laughter without hesitation "And you worry over me?! Thahahahat's ridiculous!"
"Just...fix your shirt please…"
"Maybe later, right now mind telling me where the bathroom is?"
"Down the hallway that direction to your right…"
"Much obliged." She snaps her finger into a finger gun as she leaves the room and heads for the bathroom.
"Oh dear...when I wanted to adjust that way with the girls...I never anticipated ever having to extend that offer to a girl who could care less about being caught topless...this will certainly keep things lively around here with a personality like hers that's for sure…And why didn't she have a bra?! How was her life in hell compared to here?!"
The morning comes and goes as per usual, the only difference being the normally talkative Katy and Lammy are replaced by a now more talkative Ma-san and Rammy as the former duo become silent. After they eat they all head off to their respective jobs, minus Rammy who is left to do as she pleases..
"Here's a spare key in case you decided to go and explore the town or whatever...and please don't destroy anything…" Katy says as she places a set of keys in her hands.
"Sheesh I didn't peg you as the kind to be overly responsible."
"I am plenty responsible when need be. Now i'm off. Come on Lammy."
"Right behind you…"
"You two work together?"
"Yep, and I'm not telling you where."
"Does Ma-san work with you two?"
"Nope, she's with her father at the town pharmacy."
"Phew. Alright."
Katy's eye twitched upon hearing her response "Why the sudden relief?"
"In case I got bored and wanted to go chat with someone."
"Of course…" While she couldn't have possibly made that sound more offensive if she tried...at least it gets her off Lammy's back for the time being… "You could just head off with her now you know."
"I'll think it over. Don't wanna bug her, she told me how much of a pain her pops can be from time to time."
Oh sure, you respect her easily and instantaneously…"Whatever you wish. Anymore questions? I really gotta go."
"None. Have fun ya uptight mess."
Katy ejects smoke from her nose and ears "Yeah ok…" I honestly hope it doesn't take to long for her to become nice to me and Lammy...crap I didn't ask Leo how long it'd actually be...oh joy… Katy runs off to her van with Lammy and drives off without hesitation as to escape the other ewe faster.
Rammy watches from the living room window to see said van haul it through the streets "Temper temper...sheesh." She rolls her eyes and continues watching. She sees Ma-san and Parappa walk down the street, but then head in opposite directions once the street split "Hm…"
At Chop Chop Fruits Cafe, Parappa arrives to be greeted by PJ and Matt.
"Ey man. How was your day yesterday?" Matt says as he leans back on a chair.
"Eventful is all I can say, and even that's an understatement!"
"Do tell." PJ adds on as he rests on the counter.
"Well what's there to say? Just that I saw a lot of interesting things. Learned a bit more bout my dad's past...and uh...made a new friend."
"Oh?" Matt makes the chair lean forward "New friend you say?"
"Well yeah! And it's a...bit of a long story...it all kinda started with me needing to help someone...which is why you saw me with that guitar!" as Parappa figures out how to word the rest, Matt and PJ are caught off guard by a new figure behind him.
"Uh...is the new friend a female by chance?..." Matt says.
"All black and gray in color?..." PJ adds on.
"Looks like she could pose for a heavy metal band member?..." They say together.
"Uh...those are remarkably suspicious and accurate guesses...yes actually...how'd you know?" They both point behind him prompting him to turn around "RAMMY!"
"Sup"
"H-How'd you find out where I worked?"
"Followed you."
"Ah…"
Matt leans towards PJ "That's totally not creepy…"
PJ leans back "What if I told you I kinda anticipated having a new…'friend' added to our circle...and that this isn't even the tip of the iceberg as to what you should expect from her."
"I'm slightly terrified...she seems scary."
"I can hear the two of you loud and clear ya know." Both PJ and Matt panic and scoot away from her as she intrude on what was supposed to be between them "You know if you're gonna talk about me, at least have the balls to say it in my face…"
"U-Uh...don't be serious! We...were just messin with ya!..." Matt tries to avoid making eye contact "H-How could we be rude to a new pal of Parappa!..."
Rammy walks up to him and grabs his head, motining it to force eye contact. The color drains from Matt as he sinks to the ground, cowering on the floor "Pfft...wimp...any sign of conflict and his fragile masculinity hits the road…."
"Ehehe...Rammy that's just cuz Matt is usually the kind of guy to mediate things from getting rather...bad." Parappa rushes off to try to snap Matt out of it.
"Him? If he melts that easily then that's wishful thinking to the max! Little shit can't handle any from of a struggle!"
"Hey hey hey! No need to bad mouth my friends about anything they can or can't do!"
"And why not if it's true? If anything it's constructive criticism." Rammy plucks Parappa away from Matt "And it should help him mature out of that. World ain't all sweets galore especially with you babying him."
"He can manage enough already! It just takes a bit to get that side of him to awake that in him. He doesn't need a gal like you makin it harder on him than it already is!"
"And what are you gonna do to stop me?" She continuously pokes Matt in the face, angering PJ who charges at her, but before he makes contact, she grabs him and suplexes him onto the ground. He is out cold as a snot bubble begins to expand and recede.
"R-RAMMY!..."
"What? They started it…"
"B-But you didn't have to piledrive him into the ground!"
"I didn't piledrive him. I suplexed him. Big difference."
"Why do that at all?!"
"They pissed me off...they were clearly talking shit about me...and when I talk back they get all weak in the knees because they expect I can't fight back at bullshit?"
"Ah…" Parappa freezes up...she wasn't wrong. They did in fact deserve it. Especially for assuming that Rammy wouldn't do anything in retaliation.
Matt manages to finally speak up again "P-Parappa y-you can't s-seriously b-believe her…!"
"She...kinda does have a point...you two did offend her...and got all defensive when she doesn't take it…"
"B-But I mean c-come on!...s-she's the walking definition of terrifyin-" Rammy stomps her foot in front of him, just barely missing his crotch, as she breaks a hole in the solid concrete floor "WAHAHAHA I'M SOOOOORRYYYYYYYY!..." He curls up in fetal position as he sucks his thumb.
"I have arrived again with our stock for today- What goes on in here?" Chop Chop says as he sees the two downed boys then looks at Rammy. Fire burns in her eyes "I see. I'll return later." He books it.
"H-HEY TAMANEGI SEN-...he's gone…" Parappa stares the the unconscious PJ and immobile Matt "Oh man...I'm alone now and I have to deal with the oncoming lunch rush…"
"Relax, if those three are incapable of helping you run this place. I'll manage their place!"
"R-Rammy no offense but that's not exactly a good idea…"
"Why not? What exactly do you do here?"
"Well Tamanegi who you scared away and PJ who you knocked out cold were on chef duty, while me and Matt...who you probably gave nightmares to for about a week...were on table to table duty…"
"Hm…" she snaps her fingers "I'll handle the mooks out here. You go and handle kitchen duty."
"Uh...Are you sure you'll be able to handle the entirety of the people out here?..."
"Pfft. Can I manage?...I'm a natural with people!"
The day goes by as it usually does once PJ and Matt are dragged behind the counter. Parappa manages kitchen duty easily, but Rammy is not so...fortunate… The customers begin complaining over lack of service, lack of decency and any other reason they can think up. They all begin complaining in a group.
Matt slinks up to Parappa after calming down by a marginal amount "Parappa! You have to stop this man…"
"Stop it how?!"
"Maybe make her see that she can't handle that group of rowdy people. And apologize to us while she's at it…"
"I have faith she can manage!...and that's a no to the apology...you guys are still in the wrong."
"SHE POWERBOMBED PJ!"
"He's well cushioned thanks to his body so he'll be fine. Granted a bit sore...but fine nevertheless."
"Why are you so ok with this?!..."
"Because she's someone I gotta help!..." That and I'm afraid she'll do that to you if I don't stop your complaints...and you're not a teddy bear with a soft body… "I know that this is just a rough patch she's going through...she'll get over it and you'll be friends with her before you know it!"
"FRIENDS WITH THAT WALKING NIGHTMARE?! HELL NO!"
"Oh come on…" Matt forces his body to get up and drags Parappa to look over the counter.
"SEE?! SHE CAN'T HANDLE IT! AND BY EXTENSION, BEING FRIENDS WITH US."
The duo stare at Rammy who's suffering the brunt of the yelling from the piling customers until…
"ENOUGH!" Lammy forces her arm through the table of the male customer with the head of a spoon, who started the entire mess. His first reaction is to stare at her, wide eyed and jaw dropped. His second reaction is to release a light squeal of fear "Now you're pretty much a whiny little shit now ain't ya? Piling on a group over me? Now that I don't mind. Then it occurred to me this is the kind of shit you put my new friend over there-" She points with her thumb over her shoulder towards Parappa without even looking "Through, and that...really irks me…" She cracks her knuckles of the fist that annihilated the table by just stretching her fingers back "You are probably one of the worst types of customer...I'm sure you get away with a lot of shit by convincing a lot of random joe's and jane's to start yelling with you by makin them also think they're 'suffering' like you."
"I-I don't-"
"Don't what?...do that?...then what do you explain what just happened now?"
"B-But you were-"
"Understaffed? Yeah we are. And your first instinct is to berate everyone cuz you thought yourself the superior special snowflake?"
"N-No not at-"
"And now you're trying to defend yourself? That's a new low there guy...and I frankly won't sit idly by as you do that…" She leans in to him "Now you're gonna tell me...do you put them through all this?"
"I-I like t-to think I d-don-"
"Are you saying that because it's the truth? Or because you don't want me to be elbow deep where the sun don't shine?"
"A-Ah…"
"Truth. Now."
"I-Is there anything I c-can do as an apology?..."
"I ain't answering that." She holds her fist in front of his face "Plus...you just admitted to being an asshole of a customer...now that right there pisses me off…"
"I-I'LL APOLOGIZE!...I-I'LL EVEN START TIPPING!...HELL I'LL MULTIPLY THE TIP BY TEN!...A-AND I'LL ORDER EXTRA E-EVEN IF NOT HUNGRY!...M-MORE MONEY FOR THE H-HARD WORKERS R-RIGHT?...h-hehehe…" The poor man struggles to think of another way to apologize to prevent himself from suffering pain.
"Just for today?"
"N-NO E-EVERYDAY!..."
"Good boy." she backs away from him then turns towards the rest of the customers with her free arm on her hip and the other arm still a fist, but now pointed towards them "And how about the rest of you?"
"W-WHAT HE SAID!..." They all drop to all fours in a japanese style apology pose.
"That's what I thought. Now you pathetic lot are gonna wait to be served. Only one guy is on kitchen duty right now. Am. I. Clear?" They all nod at such a velocity, it's a miracle their necks didn't break.
Matt, as well as PJ who awoke just as all that was going on simply stare with their eyes bulging out of their head and their jaws literally dropped to the floor. Their attentions turn towards Parappa after they hear him pompously clear his throat. When they look at him, he gives them the smuggest 'I told you so' look.
The day carries out surprisingly calm, and when it comes to close the place up for the day, the customers all leave in an orderly line as they gossip amongst one another. Paula sporting her shades from her first time visiting club fun, watches the surprisingly organized line as she listens to their petty gossip.
"That was terrifying...I didn't realize that Parappa got a bouncer as a friend…"
"Bouncer? She was more like a prison warden!"
"Or one of those money collectors they send after you when you have a large debt...She looked like she was ready to strip me of my kneecaps…!"
"No kidding…" the chat goes on like this as people compare the mystery girl to various brute muscle jobs.
Paula decides to ask what's up, her hood and glasses prevent her from being found out "Hey what are you all talking about?..."
"Parappa's new girlfriend...she's like a walking nightmare!...Step out of line and she'll snap you like a twig!"
"New Gir-...uh...thanks for the info." Paula carries on her route towards the inside of the cafe before being called out by the line.
"DON'T GO IN THERE! IT'S A DEATHWISH!" Paula shrugs as she chooses to ignore them and head on in. As the door opens, the jingle is heard, prompting a voice to be heard.
"HEY, WHAT PART OF CLOSED DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND!" The yell startles Paula who stumbles and replies quickly.
"I'm just here to visit my friends!..." her only reply is an annoyed 'Tch'
As Paula walks up she hears Parappa talk to both PJ and Matt.
"Ok you two, I think you have something to say to Rammy!"
"Yeah…"
"You're right…"
They both clear their throats and together in unison say "We're still waiting for you to say you're sorry."
"CHOP!" Parappa chops PJ in his right leg and Matt in his left leg causing them both to drop instantly.
"OW…"
"WHY…"
"That is NOT what I meant…" Parappa angrily crosses his arms.
"Ugh...fine...I'm sorry for getting mad at you for berating my friend…"
"And I'm sorry for calling you scary when you clearly are…"
"PUNCH!" Parappa punches their arms, clearly angry at their wrong choice again.
"FINE...I'm sorry...yes you were right...Matt could use a better morale booster and getting a better spine…he can be a wimp at times..."
"And I'm sorry to...You're not scary...just properly assertive...you were in your right to suplex PJ who can be an ass at times…" Both Matt and PJ look angrily at each other.
"Well I guess I'll accept a half assed apology. " She squats down to them "Honestly...you two are pretty aight. Could be a bit better here and there, but eh. What can you do? Everyone has flaws."
"Thanks…" This girl...becomes a sweetheart...Leo what the absolute hell...how long till then?!... PJ gets back up "I never had the 'honor' of introducing myself proper. I'm PJ."
"And I'm Matt."
"So I take it all your friends are gonna be this diverse man?"
"I'd like to think of myself as diverse, but hopefully in the good kind." Paula says catching all their attention as she walks up "Names Paula, and who might you be?"
"Rammy. And what's with that get up?"
"Eh, don't wanna show people my bandaged head. And the glasses are to protect my eye at the moment."
"The hell happened to you?"
"Nearly cracked my head open. Nothin much."
"Shiiiiiiit. You certainly have more in you then these two if you can casually walk that off. Nice." Both Matt and PJ stare at Paula in amazement at how she gained Rammy's respect far easier than they could. She only shrugs once she notices them.
"So Rammy, what brings you here?"
"Decided to tag along with Parappa to see what he does for a living. Tweedle dee and Tweedle dumbass over here got up in my face. Suplexed one and made the other piss himself. Had to fill in for the two of them. Got a disrespectful group of ingrates to be more respectful of the staff. And now I'm here talking to you."
Paula barely holds back a laugh after hearing PJ and Matt's new nicknames as well as what happened to them. This prompts an angry joint reply from the two of them "DON'T LAUGH!"
"K-Kihihinda...hard not to... " She calms down "Since PJ doesn't really wear pants, I can assume he was the one body slammed into the ground."
"You'd be correct…" PJ scoffs.
"And Matt...oh boy I can't even say I didn't instantly guess that's what happened to you because then I'd be lying."
"Thanks for the friendly input…" Matt rolls his eyes as he leans against the wall.
"Well, that's quite the thing to hear. You working with us?"
"Naw. Just a one time thing. But you work here? With them?"
"It used to be just Parappa and PJ. Matt joined when I had to take a few days break thanks to this." She points to her eyes "But I'll be back working here tomorrow."
"If that's the case then I have another reason to just stop by and visit." she smirks to which Paula replies with her own devious smile.
"I'm cool with that." She raises her fist, Rammy meets it with her own as they fist bump before chuckling.
"Parappa stares at PJ and Matt "See why can't you two be like that?"
"I'm sorry, but I ain't warming up to THAT anytime soon…"
"I'm with PJ...I don't think we'll be friends that easily…" Both their replies just earn a sad whine from Parappa.
As the group part ways, both Rammy and Parappa walk back to the house in tow as they decide to chatter along the way.
"Hey. I gotta come clean on something."
"Hm?"
"I did not have any faith in myself at all with the people...I'm not really a natural."
Despite this being obvious, Parappa replied as if he didn't know "Whaaaat? You kidding? You see how you handled them?"
"Yeah but...to tell you the truth...I...was literally about to just huddle on the floor myself…"
"O-Oh…" Now Parappa was legitimately caught off guard.
"Heh...the pressure reminded me of how it was in hell and I was so close to just breaking down in front of everyone…"
"How did you manage then?..."
"This is gonna sound so fucking corny…" She sighs "The fact that you were just...in the immediate area." She places her hands inside her pockets "I just felt...I dunno...something… What felt like I was on the verge of shattering suddenly stabilized and the next thing I knew. I was about to send them on a one way trip to hell if they didn't calm their shit." She laughs as she looks up to the sky "What you told me last night rang in my head the entire time...you had my back...and hey...during that entire thing. You really did have my back. At any given moment you'd go out and help me if things were to go south."
"Well you're not wrong. Had things gone differently I would've stepped in to help like that to as you said! And I'm glad my words got through to you!" He snaps "Well...I got paid a little more than usual...thanks to you obviously! Want some ice cream? Or anything else? To munch on during the walk back?"
"Can we get hot dogs?"
"Sure! I know a great place thanks to PJ!" He motions for Rammy to follow as they run off.
Day 5 with Rammy
"Rammy. Wake up, I gotta get ready for work."
"Five more minutes…"
"You said that the past two houuuuurs…"
"It has not been two hours…" She motions with her free hand for her cellphone, upon getting it she checks for the time to see that he's right "Ho shit...my bad." She lets him go "Guess I'm getting to used to using you as my teddy bear!"
"As well as more and more ok with leaving more of your shirt off."
"Huh. Guess so. Soon the pants might even be dropping!"
"I'd rather that not happen."
"Dunno. Again I said that's a matter of my comfort with my surroundings. That's currently you and what can I say? You've grown on me."
"That's both flattering and slightly concerning!"
"Whatevs. You should be- Hey wait...two hours you said right?"
"Yeah?..."
"Did you eat anything?"
"Nope...I'm sure my breakfast should be on the table...but I'll have to hurry and drive off from how pressed for time I am or eat it on the drive there."
"Sorry man. You get ready, I'll see if I can heat it up."
"Thanks! Gonna drop by again?"
"Need you even ask?"
"Got me there!" he places his hat on backwards "Just tag along with me in the car then."
"Gotcha, and also-" She grabs his hat and fixes it up "That's better."
"Whoops! Thanks!"
She smiles "No prob!"
One quick prep up later. Parappa finishes eating along with Rammy and the two then head off towards the car.
"Buckled in?"
"Yes mom."
"Hey, can't help it. Was taught by my driving instructor!" He drives off.
"Aight." Rammy leans out the open window "So the other three left?"
"A while ago. But Ma-san passes her hello. The other two...they left without a word."
"Eh...figures." She sighs sadly "But I guess it's to be expected…"
"What do you wanna be their friend after all?"
'Eh...I dunno...probably not that...but couldn't hurt to have them at least on talking levels with me…"
"I understand…Things will pick up! I'm sure of it!"
The duo arrive at the cafe as Parappa rushes in to avoid clocking in late.
"Parappa! Where you been man?!" Matt asks as he rushes in.
"Eheh...I guess I just overslept is all…"
"While that is good for you given how you've been. How did you manage that?" PJ says as he eyes him warringly.
"Uh...who knows!"
"You're clearly hiding something!" Paula pokes at him to get him to answer.
"I'm hiding nohohohohothing!"
"Trust the guy, it's not like he'd lie to you three." Rammy says as she joins in on the group.
"Oh hey you're back. For the fifth day in the row..."
"Miss me?~"
"Yeah, but don't worry. My aim is getting better!"
"Pffft. What a joke." She pokes him on the nose "Admit it, I'm growing on you as much as you're growing on me you giant coping toy!"
"I'd hate to admit it...but yeah...you're growing on me...like a parasitic fungus! But growing on me nevertheless." He pokes her on the nose. Both eye each other aggressively before locking hands onto a table.
"Oh no not again...Guys we open in seven can't it wait till after we're done?..." Paula says as she watches the two arm wrestle.
"Relax P. This'll only take a minute!"
"Is that so Dingleberri?~"
"Can it! Our record so far is tied two to two...and I'm making it two to three!"
"Sadly that three belongs to me!" The two go at it as they now ignore any more feedback from the three around them.
"I just don't get it…" Matt says, scratching his neck.
"Get what Matt?"
"You and Paula and now even PJ got used to her like BAM...no problem...yet with me she can't even give me the time of day to even try…"
"Well it's not like you've even made an effort to reach out to her...PJ inadvertently did when Paula got them to get back at each other with this revenge competition…"
"But WE have nothing to build a friendship off of!..."
"Don't know less you try." Parappa walks towards the kitchen after Paula "Come on, they'll be at it for a while. We still gotta work."
"Yeah...I know…" Matt follows.
The remainder of the day goes by with it's new routine ever since Rammy arrived. Once the competition between Rammy and PJ started, the customers decided to take part in who would be victorious for the day.
"RIP THE BEARS ARM OFF!" One group was shouting
"SMASH THAT RAM THROUGH THE FLOOR!" Another group retorted with.
"God DAMN are these guys more bloodthirsty than ever…" Parappa says as he watches the mess go on while handing out orders.
"Can you blame em? Rammy's brashness got to them. Not like it's a bad thing since they still follow the 'rules' that Rammy laid out for them since the first day she arrived so at least they know the pecking order." Paula says as she collects finished trays and plates.
"I'm more amazed by how calm you two are by this…" Matt says watching from behind the counter.
"My new pupil. Life goes on in strange ways. Sometimes the biggest surprises come from places you would never expect." Chop Chop says as he materializes out of nowhere behind Matt.
"WAHHH! T-Tamanegi sensei don't do that!..." Both Parappa and Paula laugh along with Chop Chop.
The struggle between the two carries on until both their arms give way and they slam down in the center of the table, ending it in a draw. Both of them reel the arms back to stretch and relax them as they simply looked at the other.
"Not bad di-...PJ. Gotta say, you're starting to get the better of me."
"Wow. Didn't think it'd be possible for you to say that legitimately with actual feeling behind it." They both give a cocky grin "But thanks regardless. I gotta say you've really been keeping me to my paces. Trying to get the better of you has certainly motivated me into getting healthier SO that I can best you. Never thought I'd see this side of me."
"Heh. I've noticed. Pretty soon you'll probably suplex ME into the ground!"
"As much as I would love to do that. I don't think i'd want to." He stops stretching his exhausted arm as he crosses both and leans on the table "Like I said. You've grown on me as well. Just not like a parasite and more like an actual bud." They lock hands again, but this time simply shake as they nod with vigor "Agree with me?"
"Hell yeah I do! You really are an aight guy."
"Likewise. Glad I got to see that for myself." Rather than end the handshake like in regular fashion, they instead ram their heads together into a haphazard headbutt.
"H-Hahaaaaa...got a thicker skull this time didn't yaaaaa…"
"I'd saaaaay…" both fall over backwards, but quickly get back up signifying they were ok.
The day comes to a close and they all leave work as per usual. Only PJ and Paula tag along with Parappa and Rammy this time instead of splitting ways. Only Matt is the one to part off.
"So how are things going for you up here Rammy? You seem to be adjusting pretty well." PJ tilts his head in patience of her answer.
"It's all good really. Not that different from hell cept everyone here is probably squishier and that damn burning thing in the sky is a real nuisance while trying to sleep…"
"You mean the sun?..." Paula adds on as she glances towards the descending sun "Well...it would make sense that a person below the ground would find that annoying…but what do you lot normally do for light?"
"Fire."
"Oh…"
"Lava."
"I see-"
"Glowing souls of the damned-"
"OK! I got it after the first alternative." Paula shakes her head "How do you live with that?"
"How do you live with THAT?" She points back towards the sun.
"...uh...touche…"
"Now that aside. It's all good. Cept of course where I'm stayin…"
PJ scratches his head before chiming in "Yeah...that does seem like it might be a tad...cumbersome...what happened?"
"Gah...it's the cat and Lammy…"
"Huh…" I'm not surprised about Lammy. I was informed beforehand, but Katy is a shocker...she seemed...marginally fine after Europa told her about it...what could've happened? "Hmmm" PJ removes his sunglasses "Did you by any chance...do something to upset Katy? Because with Lammy...it's a rather no brainer she'd probably not wanna...interact with you...but what'd you do to Katy?"
"NOTHING! I literally arrived and kept to myself! She said it was ok to stay with them all...course...when Parappa brought up my sleeping arrangements...that's when her tone took a nosedive…"
Both Paula and PJ become curious and in union ask "What does that mean?"
"Well Parappa offered that I-"
"U-Uh...we better hurry back! It's gettin rather late!" Parappa tries to run off, only to get caught by both the bear and the fox as the grab on tight to the back of his shirt, preventing his escape.
"Parappa…"
"What did you do man…"
"I...simply did what any helpful friend would do in that situation!.." The look to Rammy.
"He offered his room. Bed and all. I wasn't ok with that. He wasn't ok with my alternative. Now we sleep in the same bed." Rammy shrugs nonchalantly while PJ and Paula simply stare at Parappa.
After a while with the proper context and explanation, the duo still don't give either Parappa or Rammy an easier time. The ease up when Rammy speaks up again.
"Relaaaaax. It's not like he does anything. He's not that kinda guy. And even if he was, he'd know better than to try it with me!" she grins as she cracks her knuckles causing Parappa to flinch "Course I know he can't and I do enjoy teasing him from it! He's to much of a soft boy to do anything!"
"I am NOT a soft boy! I can be assertive when need be!"
"Then how come you freak out everytime you catch me with my shirt-"
"HEYHEYHEY! Don't need to unveil that publically!" His reaction just gets Rammy laughing hysterically.
"Point prohohohoven!" after her laughing fit, PJ and Paula simply force context out of Parappa out again. Of course once the context is given, it doesn't exactly help the situation Parappa finds himself in.
Meanwhile with Lammy and Katy…
"I didn't t-think I'd ever g-get to a point where I'd r-rather be with Niles than at my own h-home…" Lammy sighs as she slumps over.
"Come on Lammy...I know you don't mean that...is our boss really better than Rammy?..."
"Yes…"
"Really...oh my god..." I'm sorry Leo...but I REALLY doubt your words…neither Lammy OR me are able to warm up to her at all… "I guess it's understandable...but not only did Ma-san managed to become friends with her, but so did Paula…" her tail twists about "Hell I think even PJ is starting to get along with her from what I heard?...So it wouldn't hurt to try and get to be on at least speaking terms with her…"
"Speak for yourself...I'm sorry but I just c-can't manage that in the s-slightest…" She stands back upright "Katy...that girl is a nightmare...E-Every time I play against h-her I barely win by the skin of m-my teeth!...I never w-wanted to lose given what it'd cost me because I wasn't aware of what'd happen to me if I d-did! Now granted my f-fear may have been irrational...usually i-is… because I'm sure R-Rammy can't do anything s-supernatural...cept always seem to t-turn up everywhere...but the f-fear was still valid nonetheless… I can't just g-get along with her...I'm t-the pocket definition of a-an anxious m-mess of a person...and she's the textbook definition of a person r-riddled with anxiety's worst n-nightmare! AND SHE'S LIVING IN THE SAME HOUSE AS ME! IN THE SAME ROOM AS THE GUY I LOVE!..."
Lammy's words stung, mostly because, Katy loved the guy to. Hearing Lammy bring up that part often whenever asked about how she was doing the past few days really started to wear thin on Katy's heart and tolerance, but Katy usually held back...until now "I...like him to you know…"
"Huh?... I d-didn't quite catch that...you s-spoke to low…"
"I said I like him to you know…"
"O-Oh. Of course y-you like him you've been friends with him s-since what seems like f-forever! But you don't get i-it! I l-love the guy and I f-feel as if that shadow of m-mine is out to t-take hi-"
"I LOVE him to you know…" Katy couldn't get anymore blunt than that. It hurt that she even had to get blunt towards her to begin with.
"C-Come again…?"
She sighs as she walks on ahead "Let's find a bench first before I explain myself...tired of just standing around…" Lammy quietly follows. Once the duo find a bench, Katy begins explaining herself "Alright...now before I say this...I wanna say that in no sense of the word does this mean I'm trying to take him from you as well…Hell if anything I probably wanted you to end up with him more than me..."
"B-But why...i-if you had feelings for the guy...w-why not act out on them y-yourself…?"
"Because it was harder for me…" She leans her head back over the bench "I...first gained what at first was a crush on him...when we were like nine? Eight? Probably even seven… Point is, since waaaay back."
"T-That long?!..."
"Mhm...and you know...young kids usually never think up much and always assume...it'll go away. Because the whole child mind of 'ew that's grossssss' and whatnot. But nope not me...the little crush grew to full on infatuation and...before I knew it...I was already heartbroken and rejected."
"H-He turned you down?..."
"Not exactly...he did turn me down in a passive sense of the word...see...I'm sure you recall me telling you wayback...that we were super close...like family close."
"Oh yeah?...O-Oh...I...think I caught o-on…"
"Yep...so...hard to go for being a girlfriend when you're treated like a sister...heh…"
"Yeah that...would t-throw a wrench in t-things wouldn't it…" Also explains Pinto's emotions a LOT more now…
"You have no idea...but I digress...with those emotions buried away...I thought I could just...pass it off...he was still my friend...and that was fine enough for me! Since I cared so much for him, I would obviously want what was best for him in the end! At least that's what I made myself believe...cue age fourteen...Parappa meets…"
"Sunny…"
"Bingo…" she sits back upright "Now...I see Parappa immediately move as if cupid shot his arrow almost instantly...I was shocked...it was cute!...And I wanted to help...but...on that very same day...PJ caught on that I-"
"P-PJ knew as well?..."
"L-Let me finish before you get upset with me...anywho...yeah PJ did know...and well...he wasn't exactly happy with my choice of how to handle it...so he told me that if I wanted to fully lock those emotions away and go with my plan of helping Parappa hit it off with Sunny...I should get a hobby." She turns to Lammy "I tried many things. Some stuck, some didn't. For example I found my love of poetry that way. And eventually that led me to learning to want to play base...I could write lyrics...so why not learn to PLAY music with em?...Cue..."
"Me and Ma-san…"
"Correct again...now I was happy that I could quickly make friends! Hell I was even happier that we even made a BAND!...that was the best day of my life! And I even thought I finally got over it all!...The only thing that made me slightly unsure was the fact that Parappa was in the same room in one of the practice rooms...but after me you and Ma-san rocked the house...I felt...at peace ya know?"
"This h-happy ending is short lived i-isn't it…"
"Yep...cuz...you fell in love with him….you had the same reaction to him as he had to Sunny...And...you were now my new friend...even closer than Sunny...and so I wanted to help YOU… I stopped trying to help Sunny and Parappa, but to my dismay...Parappa hit it off with her all on his own…" She groans in heavy sadness "I felt as if I let you down...but at the same time...I also felt jealous...and slightly betrayed...course I didn't pay much attention to that as I just went off and did my thing of helping you!"
"I-I noticed...you s-started to do a whole lot more t-to try and get us together...even though he was already with s-someone…"
"I thought I could make something out of nothing...cue our first live concert…something was so close to happening from nothing! That shaken soda can was really well timed! And I didn't even have anything to do with it! I dunno who it was-"
"That's...t-thanks to Rammy...b-believe it or not…"
"...well...suddenly my thanks towards her evaporated...anywho...yeah! B-But...then I got jealous again...what could've been a fun situation to push you to together...i kinda stopped at every possible turn...and Ma-san caught on-"
"D-Did everyone know b-but me?!..."
"Eheh...it's not like I wanted them to know...e-everyone kinda figured it out by catching me slip up once...PJ got me to admit it flat out when he wasn't sure if I was in love with him or not. Ma-san caught my tail curling into a heart whenever he did something nice to me… Matt caught on after he bumped into me during a class swap and our books got mixed up...he took my notebook and I got his...and he saw what was supposed to be seen by my eyes only… Paula caught on to me when I caught onto her in the same thing-"
"P-Paula also loves him?!...What's n-next...gonna t-tell me Ma-san does to…" Katy stays silent "Y-You've got to be kidding m-me…" She huddles up onto the bench.
"C-Carrying on...Ma-san caught on...so I told her to stop me in case I ever got out of line and prevented you again...and it worked!...through painful motivation I managed to help you out!...but…"
"Parappa was t-to faithful to the girl of his d-dreams…"
"Yep...they were together for four years until…"
"The accident that n-nearly took him a-away from all of us…"
"Mhm...At that point I didn't really care for love...I just wanted him alive…"
"W-We all did...but I know what you m-mean...I felt the same…"
"Yeah…" Should I tell her about the kiss?...no...not yet…"Well...flashforward a bit...remember our first time heading towards Club Rainbow?"
"Y-Yeah...the accidental call Parappa g-gave us…"
"That's when...what I first thought wasn't fair was now...an even shot?...and at the same time...I'm just at a loss...because I want YOU to have a better shot!"
"But w-why?...you've clearly loved the g-guy longer...hell I feel like a m-massive jerk f-for requiring your help preventing you from getting any chance…"
"Lammy Lammy Lammy! I chose to help you through my own wishes. The point of this story was that I ALSO feel annoyed and aggravated at our intruding new guest...I feel as pressured down as you do, but I at least wanna try and get on good terms with her."
"I don't get w-why…"
"I just have a slight feeling that...if we give her a shot...we'll be pleasantly surprised."
"I'm already surprised e-enough as is to see that ALL m-my friends love the same guy as me...g-god I feel as dense as P-Parappa…"
"Trust me Lammy, NO ONE can be as dense as Parappa." They both share a laugh "Come on. Let's see if we can try to get friendlier with her…"
"Ok…" Katy wraps her arm around her shoulder as they both head off home.
Day 16 with Rammy
"This is something I just have to get used to isn't it?"
"Hey, not my fault you're outrageously fluffy. Your hair is like a second layer of fur! Seriously what shampoo or conditioner do you use? This fluffiness is seriously unnatural."
"Just a...regular old run of the mill one?...I don't know if it's just my natural genes...or the fact that hell is just probably rough all around...but that can't be! You're soft to."
"Eh it's probably the soap I used when showering here.'
"No when I hugged you the day of the expo, you were fluffy then to!"
"Please don't bring that uuuuuup."
"Whyyyyyy."
"I don't enjoy being pictured as soft. That's all."
"But you are and that's ok! You're soft in the literal sense and figurative fluffy sense!" He hugs her while in her grasp.
"Stooooop." She shoves him off the bed again, but Parappa manages to save himself with a handstand as he flips back onto his feet.
"Here we go! Not this time!"
"Wow. Only took you sixteen days to finally get used to that." She rolls her eyes playfully as she hops off the bed to stretch.
"What with the stretching?"
"Gotta keep my muscles limber. You know I never thought I'd be busting stuff up here MORE than I used to down in hell."
"I dunno if that's a good thing...but I mean at least you're keeping your body in check while you physically break things..." He shakes his head "Now if only I could do something about your smoking habit."
"Hey. It calms me!" She then stops stretching "Course...you do as well now a days...more effectively to...so I dunno really."
"I'll get through to you on that eventually!"
"Speaking about eventually. You finally got used to me without my shirt on! You didn't fidget at all once upon waking up."
"That's out of my control. You're not giving a shit attitude towards it has worn me down." He huffs "I guess it's for the better! Now you can no longer tease me over it!..." Parappa turns his head away once she resumes stretching "Wish...I could say the same about your dropping pants…"
"Pfft. Well they're not completely off! And blame yourself! You're like the definition of a comfort zone!"
"They don't need to be to still be revealing! I can see your butt clear as day!"
"Wanna see more?" She sticks her tongue out at him.
"I'm not amused."
"I am!" Her tail shakes about as she teasingly tugs at her pants.
"I'm out!" Parappa walks towards the door.
"Hahaha! Relax man! I won't."
"Now at least. But eventually those will come off as well!"
"Aw relax. You'll get used to it like the rest of me!"
"I know I will and that's what upsets me." He chuckles "But I got myself into this by offering to help ya. And you know what? I don't regret it. You've certainly spiced up my day to day life more than I thought possible! And you've gotten along supremely well with PJ, Paula and Ma-san!...Wish Katy, Matt and Lammy were the same…"
Rammy gets herself dressed up before replying "I mean...at least Katy and Lammy are even SPEAKING to me now…only wish it was a tad nicer...but I mean it's to be expected given who I am."
"At least you're giving them a shot! Takes a big person to let the heavy past go to just start up fresh."
"I've got you to thank for that. You've rubbed off on me as much as i've done so to you!"
"Which I am all to thankful for! Now come on! Let's go greet the day."
"Could you have worded it anymore wimpier?"
"Oh hush up that's a fine way to word it!"
"Fuck offffffff!" She sticks her tongue at him.
"Make me! Now come on." the duo leave to room.
Later in the day…
"How does everyone ease up to her so quickly?...seriously...she's like the embodiment of a toxic personality…" Matt angrily rebounds the basketball off the wall as he continues grumbling "Seriously what was Parappa thinking?!...bringing her into our life…" Matt rebounds the ball once again, this time he does it with such force that it rebounds all over the place. It stops when it makes contact with the back of the head of someone much much larger.
"HEY! THAT HURT!" He turns to face Matt "WHO YOU THINK YA ARE TOSSING THAT AT MY HEAD?!"
"S-Sorry!...I-I was just t-tossing the ball around a-and accidentally threw it at the w-wall to hard and I l-lost control of-"
"Aw for the love of...you play ball then?"
"Y-Yes?..." Matt's only reply is the ball getting tossed at his torso with massive force that it sends him flying back into a wall "ACK…" The ball bounces away from him as he drops to the ground.
"Just so happens I do to. Coulda gone pro, but didn't wanna deal with all them agents and crap. Tell ya what. If you can beat me and my buddy ova here. I'll ignore ya stupid mistake. Course if ya lose...your head becomes my new ball!"
"I-I would rather keep my h-head on my s-shoulders please and thank you…"
"Then WIN idiot." Both begin walking up to Matt
"U-Uh...g-guys come on!...W-We can work this out!...E-EEP…" They're stopped as the ball hits the main one in the back of the head again.
"WHO HAS THE BALLS TO DO THAT TO ME AGAIN?!" He turns around in rage.
The ball easily rebounds back into Rammy's grasp as she looks at the two harassing Matt "Compared to you? I probably have the most balls. And I ain't even got none!" She sneers "Course this counts to I guess." She launches the ball and hits him square in the face and bounces back into her hand.
"HEY, YOU GOT A DEATHWISH?"
"Yeah I do, and it's got your name on it buddy."
"Pfft. Yeah, keep on talking."
"Fine then. Don't you think you walking parade floats need to understand that it ain't fair to challenge a guy to a 2v2 when he's the only one of his two?"
"Not our problem. What you gon do about it?" The original man says
"Yeah. Be his partner or somethin?" The smaller, but equally meatheaded man adds on.
"Yeah actually. Dunno why, but you two just piss me off for some reason. Normally I could care less about any idiot getting himself caught up in a scrap, but that idiot over there ain't just any idiot. He's an idiot I happen to know." Matt's eyes widen as he watches Rammy continuously try and defend him "And so I think if you're gonna make a bullshit challenge. Ya might as well oblige by the rules."
"You know what, fine. If it means I get to turn your head into a ball to!" He laughs along with his cronie as they get on the opposite side of the court. Rammy and Matt huddle over on their side.
"R-Rammy what are you do-"
"Parappa says you have what it takes to go pro. Is that right?"
"H-Hey let me spea-"
"Is. That. Right?"
"Y-Yes…"
"Then how bout you help me show some poser meatheads their place in the pecking order?"
"I-I can't do t-"
"Parappa said you knocked over an armed big dude with ease. These two shouldn't be that much harder given all they have is that pathetic excuse for a style."
"B-But…"
"Relax. You got Rammy on your side. And Rammy doesn't lose…when it comes to fightin at least…"
"Why the sudden last second change…"
"Relax. That's another thing. Right now is this thing. Now lets fuck up some faces!"
"I-I swear you have a fetish for hurting people…"
"Somebody gotta get the hurt one way or another!" She passes the ball to Matt as she cracks her knuckles "HEY DUMBER AND DUMBEST." The two look towards her and Matt "YOU DUMBASSES READY?!" they growl as they nod "Good…"
"R-Rammy I…"
"Trust me man. We got this."
"I-I…" Matt swallows roughly before calming down "Alright...I'll believe you…"
"That's the spirit!" She turns back to him "When the fights about to break loose. You just gotta Rave it Rammy!"
The game starts and the floor soon trembles as the two giant behemoths run around the court after Rammy and Matt. What they have in size and strength, they lack in sensibility and mobility. The smaller duo easily pass by them, but the problems arise when it comes to actually scoring. The bigger duo's heights make it a simple task of blocking the net. That's when Rammy gets an idea.
"YO! Mac!"
"I-It's Matt-"
"Not important! These guys are clearly gonna net block the entire time right?"
"I would to if I were that big…"
"That sad fact aside. Think we have a way of landing a basket?"
"No...they cover EVERYTHING just by standing! And even if we shoot over they can just stretch their arms out!"
"You're not seeing the obvious picture. Look at these walking steroid stereotypes and their inflatable muscles!"
"What are you getting a-..." Matt catches on. Their ridiculous physic was making a perfect stairway towards the basket.
"W-We won't be able to pull that off…It's stupid to even try..."
"This is Rammy you're talking to! Sensibility doesn't exist here!" She takes the ball and immediately hops up the giants body as she avoids his grasp and stomp bounces off his face and slam dunks the ball.
"HEY!"
"NO FAIR YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO FIND A WAY THROUGH!"
"S-She actually did it…" The ball bounces towards the middle, it was now up for a new point. Matt grabs the ball and slowly inhales before calmly exhaling "Here goes nothing!" Matt charges at the running bulk monsters as he uses them as a stepping stool. Stomp jumping off the smaller one to leap towards the net and dunk the ball in "GOT IT!"
The game went on like this. Whenever the bigger duo got the ball, the smaller duo could easily snatch and score on their way up. No matter what the bigger duo tried, all they ended up doing was giving the smaller duo an easier time scoring. Soon the match time ends at the score of 68 to 0 as both of the brutes collapse from having their faces stomped in multiple times.
"Guah…"
"Oh man...that ain't right…"
"HEY! QUIT YOUR BELLY ACHIN AND GET UP!" Both of them immediately listen to Rammy "Attaboys. Now you're gonna apologize to…Matt here and then get the fuck out of here. And never show your ugly mugs again.
"O-Or else what?..."
"Or else I stop holding back and cave your skulls in with my foot!" She stomps the ground, forcing her foot through the pavement deeply. Both brutes scream and run away instantly.
"WE'RE SORRY! WE'LL MAKE SURE TO NEVER MESS WITH YOU AGAIN MAAAAAAAN!"
"AND MAKE SURE TO STAY AS FAR AWAY!" Rammy says as she yells at the duo running away.
Matt walks up to Rammy in awe "You...actually saved my skin there…"
"Eh, it weren't nothin."
"But it was something! To me at least...You stood up for me when you didn't really need to! I-Is there anyway I can repay you?..."
"Well for starters you can help me get unstuck...my foot is currently clogged up tightly in the ground…"
"O-Oh!..." Matt grabs her arms and immediately begins pull to get her out. With a 'pop' noise, she's freed.
"Thank you kindly."
"Nooooo problem...now uh...what got you to wanna help me?...Why are you even around here? You mostly tag along after Parappa…"
"Ah...about that…" Rammy scratches her left ear.
"What happened?..."
"Might as well tell you… Here's what happened…"
"Huh...where you three going?..."
"Sorry Parappa no time to explain, gotta go."
"S-Sorry Parappa…" Both Katy and Lammy rush down stairs with Ma-san stopping in front of the two.
("Katy booked us a gig at Leo's club for today. And apparently he got us a few concerts to play at a few towns over to. So we'll be gone for a couple days…") She scratches her cheek ("It's so out of the blue as well...like when'd she make the reservations and the call? And why without all our ok on it! It really grinds my gears…")
"MA-SAN!" Katy shouts from outside.
("Blegh...gotta go. Hope you to take care, we'll be back soonish?") she rushes out leaving the duo dumbfounded.
"Huh...you'd think they'd tell me beforehand...I feel offended…"
"I think I know why it was so out of the blue…"
"Why?..."
"Well recall eleven days ago-"
"The day you and PJ became full friends?"
"Yeah. That night after they finally let you breathe…when you were feeling down and asked me to help teach you guitar?"
"Uh-huh?..."
"Well...I think you may have...offended Lammy by asking me instead of her...and I guess as a means of her not wanting to speak to you...Katy helped her plan this…"
"Oh...B-But it's not like I didn't try to ask her! She wouldn't even listen when I asked…"
"That's probably thanks to me...she still doesn't want to be within arms reach of me...which is where you currently are at so…"
"Ahahahaww maaaaaan…" He whines like a puppy who got in trouble "I'm being blamed for something that I didn't do...joy…"
"Aw come on...don't let it get to you!"
"How can I not?!...The worst part is they didn't even tell me about it!"
"Guess they were that pissed?..."
"Ugh...I can't believe this…" He sighs "I gonna go take a walk around town...need to air out my thoughts..."
"Oh, alright let me just-"
"Alone if you don't mind…"
"...Ok. I'll go...check up on the others then."
"Ok. Just be careful with what you do…"
"Oh have faith in me!"
"Heh...I do I do…" Parappa quickly gets ready and heads out the door.
Rammy just waits a bit before speaking to herself "Man...I can't seem to avoid trouble with her can I?...Now I got him upset because she doesn't wanna even try to make amends fully...great...I'm mad...I wonder if I can find PJ to spar with him and vent this out…well I won't find out by just standing here!" Rammy herself gets ready and rushes out the door.
"And...that's what happened."
"Yeesh...sounds like you're having one hell of a day…"
"You have no idea, but luckily the fantastic meathead brothers helped me vent my frustrations with their faces!"
"Eheh...g-good to hear…" Matt scratches his nose with a slight air of fear "Hey uh...Rammy...I…"
"Ugh...this again...Look I'm sorry about making a bad first impression on you that day alright?!..."
"N-Nono...what I wanted to say was...I may have misjudged you… You're actually a pretty great person to be around. When...i'm not in the direction of your anger…"
"Heh...is that so?"
"Yes! I'm upset it took me half a month to see it!"
"Better late than never right?" She chuckles.
"I guess that's one way to look at it." he nods "You've really opened my eyes, and saved my hide! Mind if I also get to call you a friend?..."
"Hm…" Rammy smugly dons a fake thinking pose.
"Come on...i'm sorry…"
"Heh...yeah you can. Only if I can as well."
"Of course!"
"Then alright!" She actually begins thinking this time "So...know anything fun to do around here? Parappa's usually my tour guide but uh...yeah…"
"OH um...I think I know a few places you may enjoy? I'm not fully sure."
"Can't hurt to try em."
"Great, then let's head off!"
"Your lead."
Rammy would never admit it, but Matt was actually a great day planner. Certainly showed her a fun time. She could only wish he was always this energetic.
The damn clone of mine and the blue cat can't open up to me? That's ok...it may hurt, it may suck, but hey. I at least got the other guys to accept me...huh...friendship is weird...But I'm their friend so...guess I'm weird? I don't mind it, but I do wonder...will they miss me...when I go back to hell?...If...I go back to hell?...What if...I just stayed up here?...Can….I even do that?...