xp_logs | Something Slender (and Awful) - Elevenses and the Full Monty

Clint's father's place gets ding-dong ditched, and then a visitor on the fire escape. Clint and Billy are understandably concerned, but Maddie is just not having any of it.

Clint scrubbed at the back of his head, eyes half-shut, and reached for the veggie cream cheese with his free hand. He wasn't necessarily a night owl, but who really enjoyed being awake in the mornings, anyway? After smearing a good bit of cream cheese on his bagel, he handed it off to Maddie and asked, "Right, so. Plans."

"I vote we go to the Museum of Natural History." Maddie set the cream cheese down in the center of the small table and reached instead for the peanut butter. Andre hadn't forgotten her preference for sugary, cinnamony bagels and it looked as if he had asked the guy at the bagel shop to try and drown her selection in the mixture. There was no way to not get all of that coating all over her fingers; add to that the inevitable additional peanut butter drippings, and Maddie was as happy as a deer at a salt lick as she licked her fingers clean.

"We can run around pretending to be dinosaurs in the dinosaur room until they ask us to leave. Dibs on Velociraptor."

"I get the pterodactyl then," Billy decided, making a brief airplane motion with his arms before snatching up the cream cheese. " Cuz flying dinos beat everything. What time were we supposed to meet everyone?"

"Bitch please," Maddie rolled her eyes, "With those short, stubby little arms you are totally a T-Rex.

"But hey. It's better than being a knuckle dragger like Clinton over here."

"Whatever, I'll be the mammalian forerunner to the species that actually, y'know. Survived whatever it was that killed all the dinosaurs and you guys will have to deal with being fossilized in tar or something," Clint mumbled around a mouthful of bagel. "Also, I think we were meeting at three or something, but I can't remember specifically because someone," he looked pointedly at Maddie, "Kept me up for half the night talking about pygmy goats."

His look was countered by Maddie very pointedly sticking her tongue out. "Whatever!" She turned her attention to her bagel and swiped a schmear of peanut butter and licked it off her finger with a smug grin. "One, that goat is fuckin' awesome. And two, don't talk with your mouth full, it's disgusting. That's why you're a knuckle dragger, loser."

"Well, that goat was pretty awesome. But T-Rex? Seriously?" Billy dismissed her. "I could totally pull off a flying dinosaur. See, watch." He set his half-eaten bagel on the table, staring at it intently. I want my bagel to float. I want my bagel to float. he started to chant. The bagel sat there stubbornly for a moment, then shuddered before flipping over, cream cheese side down on the table. Billy scowled at the pastry, before peeling it off the wood. "So....yeah, three sounds right and gives us lotsa time."

Laughing as he handed over a couple napkins, Clint said, "Right, three. Plenty of time for Elvis here to T-Rex his way around the Natural History Museum. Should be fun."

The deep buzzing tones of the doorbell rang once, and then paused, and then again, and then a third time, a long note like someone was leaning on the button impatiently. Under the sounds of the bell was a knocking noise, low to the ground like someone was kicking the door that came at regular, almost metronomic intervals - two quick knocks, a heavy one, then two more quick, and repeat.

Maddie turned her head toward the sound and creased her brow in confusion. "Are you expecting someone, Clint?"

"I'll T-Rex you around the Natural History Museum," Billy growled. Somehow, he always ended up the losing end of these arguments. His ears perked up at the sound, and he looked over at Clint as well, his free hand not encumbered with the bagel subconsciously mimicking the knocking pattern as he drummed it out on the table.

"Uh," Clint said, blinking as the repetitive banging and ringing continued. "No. But if they wake up Andre, somebody's head's gonna roll and it's not gonna be mine." Scooting his chair back and away from the table, Clint stood and headed for the front door.

The view through the peephole was clear - no one standing in front of the door, no one idling to the side, but the knocking and ringing continued. But as Clint watched, there was a flicker of black, and then his view was blocked by something in plain, bright white blocking the peephole.

Standing back from the door, Clint frowned. "Weird," he said, taking another look through the peephole. Still the bright white blankness and the knocking/ringing combo. Somebody was playing a really weird prank, obviously. Making sure the chain was still on the door, Clint twisted the deadbolt and opened the door a crack so he could peer outside.

The view through the cracked door showed nothing useful. The neighbor's newspaper, still uncollected in front of their door - they were terrible about it, waiting until noon or later sometimes, and the elevator closed and silent at the end of the hall.

The sound of Sesame Street from behind the neighbor's door did little to cover the sound of someone tapping on the window outside the fire escape.

Closing the door, Clint turned to look back toward the kitchen. The window in the living room led to the fire escape, but that was connected to the kitchen. "Hey guys, is there anybody on the fire escape?" This was just getting... worse than weird.

The bagel was floating now, staying just out of Billy's reach, dodging and zooming past whenever he tried to reach for it. "Ooooh floating bagel." Maddie laughed as the bagel looped around her friend's head again. "Look. It's flying!"

Billy snatched at the air again, glaring at Maddie. "It's not fair that you can do that AND know when I'm going to grab for it," he huffed. Clint's question have him a handy reason to quit the game, though, and he slid his chair back, giving Maddie one last glare before heading toward the window. He pulled back the curtain, peering outside.

On the fire escape, all they could see was the retreating back of a person in a black suit going down the ladder quickly. From the view, it seemed as though the person had grabbed the sides of the ladder and just... slid down, uncaring of speed or the possibility of falling once the ladder ended.

"Er," Clint said, frowning even as he made his way toward the window. "What the hell? You guys saw that, right?"

"Saw how I totally pwned Billy?" Maddie's teasing was good-natured as she floated the bagel back to her friend's plate. She honestly would have probably gone on with the flying bagel routine for a few more seconds had it not been for the annoying buzzing in the back of her head. She must have let her shields drop some while concentrating on playing "keep away" because it felt like someone was trying to reach her mind. And just as she never answered phone calls where she didn't know the number, she never answered telepathic buzzing from strangers. A brief pause while she bolstered her shields, and the buzzing stopped.

"Hey. What are you guys looking at?" She joined the powwow by the window, forced there by boredom of being alone at the table, and a mix of curiosity. Which quickly subsided as soon as she saw the empty fire escape. "There's nothing there. Did someone's pet bird get out and land there again or something?"

"It was... some guy in a suit," Billy said hesitantly, looking at Clint to confirm they'd seen the same thing. "Not sure if he was just climbing down or..." he paused, realizing how creepy the implication was, "...looking in here."

Clint nodded, though, because that was what he'd seen, too. "He looked kind of weird, though. I didn't get a great look, but the way he was going down the fire escape... he might've fallen or something. I'm gonna check and see if we need to like. Call an ambulance for our possible peeping tom." Unlocking the window, he climbed out on to the fire escape and walked over to the side so he could look straight down. "I don't see anybody," he called back to his friends, frowning a little. There was nobody in the alley at all. Climbing back inside, still frowning, Clint closed and locked the window. "Ugh."

"Okay. Now that that's settled," she slipped her arms through theirs and began leading them back to the table. "We finish eating. Then museum. And because I'm so nice, Billy, I'll help you fly. Okay?"

Billy peered past Clint, not really expecting to see anything more, but he needed to check anyways. Finally, he shrugged and let Maddie lead him back to their breakfast. "Right. Museum. How 'bout we leave flying to the imagination?" he asked, cautiously reaching for his bagel, half-expecting it to jump away before he got a chance to finish eating.

Hope's attempt to take her friends out for a proper British tea goes swimmingly, until they are interuppted by an unwelcome and persistant visitor who really wants the girls' attention.

The plain brick facade of the storefront did little to diminish the effect of fluffy yellow curtains bordering a window display that looked in on a shoppe with tables - mostly full of people - lit with cheery lamps and steaming tea cups and plates whose contents were varied enough that the best descriptor was "things that might be good to eat" - everything from tiny finger sandwiches to petit fours to intricately decorated miniature cakes - and the occasional bacon sandwich.

Opening the door added a intense - but not quite overwhelming - smell of tea, brewed properly, and sugar and flour and cinnamon, and what was unmistakely the sound of the Beatles - though as the girls came in from the cold, the last notes of "Sergerant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" faded, and were replaced with the Spice Girls "Wannabe" .

Topaz had been hesitant - to say the least - when Hope had suggested a trip to a local tea place. But a good tea time was hard to find at the school, and now she couldn't quite stop herself from breathing deeply, taking in the comforting scents that enveloped the trio as they walked in. Maybe this wasn't that bad of an idea after all.

"Can't believe a place like this actually exists in New York," she said quietly, more to herself than to Hope or Tandy.

"It took a little research, but apparently there are very few food and drink related establishments you can not find in New York." Hope looked around, taking in the atmosphere of the room. "If I had to be honest though... the music is slightly different from what I had pictured."

"I can...New York seems to be a hot spot for tourist stuff. This place just screams 'come inside and hear our mighty song selection.'" Tandy giggled at her own self joke, even if the others might not find it amusing as she did. "What do we do here again?"

"At this time of morning, a full monty," Topaz said distantly, still looking around, ignoring the music. She'd never been a fan of Spice Girls. "Or maybe an elevenses if you're not overly hungry."

"You...made a Hobbit joke?" Tandy looked at Topaz with surprise and awe, "You totally did."

"A what?" Topaz looked over her shoulder at Tandy, confused. "What part of that was a joke?"

Tandy smirked at Topaz, "Nevermind, don't want to explain it. Will lose its funniness."

"A full monty?" Hope asked quizzically as they made their way to an empty table. "I have heard of elevensies, but not of a full monty." She tossed a quick glance at Tandy. "Even outside Lord of the Rings."

"Full monty, full English...it means a full breakfast." Topaz squirmed, not really used to have to explain this stuff. "It's a lot of food, though, I don't really recommend it unless you two are really hungry."

"Wait do I have to do the pinky out?" Tandy asked as she sat down and looked around again. "Can we just share a monty?"

"...No. Don't stick your pinky out." Topaz draped her jacket over the back of her chair as she spoke to keep from giving Tandy a Look. "I'm sure we can get away with splitting the full breakfast. I'll probably just eat some of the toast anyways." She wasn't that hungry, and she didn't eat the sausage or bacon anyways.

"That sounds like a good idea, though perhaps we could leave of the black pudding? I am not that of fond of it." Hope neatly arranged her skirt as she sat down. "If you are really curious Tandy... Place your index finger into the handle of the cup up to the knuckle while placing your thumb on the top of the handle to secure the cup. The bottom of the handle should then rest on your third finger. The fourth and fifth fingers curve back towards your wrist." She quickly demonstrated it, a small smile on her face. "That is how you hold a tea cup."

Topaz nodded at Hope's demonstration, impressed by the girl's knowledge. "Definitely no black pudding," she agreed. "Unless you're interested in it, Tandy. I don't recommend it."

"What black pudding? Chocolate?" Tandy raised an eyebrow unsure if these girls were speaking the same language as her. "What exactly is in a monty? And please don't say it is ham and jam and spamalot?"

"Uh no... it's a kind of blood sausage." Hope frowned at the thought, but then turned to Topaz. "What was it again? I remember toast, fried eggs, something with beans?"

"Fried eggs, toast, fried or grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, sausages, baked beans, and back bacon," Topaz recited the different foods with ease. "And black pudding and hash browns, but not in every region."

Tandy looked at her two friends and raised an eyebrow. "Maybe we don't have to get a monty - that is a lot of food. Maybe just some....fruits and tea?"

"It might be a little early , but perhaps we can go for for tiny sandwiches and scones? I would be happy with either." Hope suggested an alternative. "We might end up having a late lunch then though."

The table they'd been seated at was catty-corner to the window, and so they had a good view of the street, and passers-by, as they waited for the server to bring the menu with a middlingly-long selection of teas, and a slightly less long selection of foods. The noises from the street drifted in as people came in and out of the shop, even over the sounds of Sting and The Police, so the first tap-tap on the window went unheard. The second was louder - the third quieter, as they saw a long thin man with fingers that could've been double or triple any of their own tapping on the window.

He turned his featureless face towards them, and then slid away, disappearing into the New York morning crowd.

A shiver ran through Topaz even before she saw the faceless man, and for a brief moment she wondered if someone had turned on the air conditioning. She looked up when she heard the tapping, and her stomach dropped when she saw...it. For a moment she couldn't breathe, even after it was gone.

"I am sure we can get tiny sandwiches..." Tandy looked over outside as she heard the tapping and had to do a double take but it was gone. "What the fuck was that?" Leaning towards the window to see if she got get a glimpse, her heart pounding a mile a second. "You guys heard that tapping and that thing right? Right? I am not losing it?"

"There was someone tapping on the window..." Hope blinked, not quite sure and not wanting to know what she had seen. "Perhaps someone trying to prank us?" Her words though... they seemed to lack conviction even towards herself...

"Prank us? Who...? Maddie? No sending a faceless man isn't her M.O."

"Just some random bloke looking for a laugh, maybe." Topaz's voice was distant, her wide eyes still fixed on the window. She couldn't shake the feeling that had come over her when that thing had appeared. That had been very, very real. She shivered again despite being quite warm.

"There are so many strange types these days." Hope tried to further dismiss what they had heard and seen. "Why don't we order some tea. I, for one, am a little chilled. Perhaps it's just a little drafty here." She had seen Topaz shiver, but didn't wish to put her in the spotlight. " It should warm us up nicely."

Topaz grabbed the menu, only half looking at it as she said, "Have either of you ever had orange dulce tea?" It was the first thing that came to mind - Alice's favorite tea. "Or Earl Grey." Luca's favorite. "That's good too."

Tandy mind wasn't there anymore - barely registering what the other two were talking about. If Hope and Topaz weren't talking about that thing she wasn't interested. Something didn't seem right, the hair on the back of her head stood up and a chill went down her spine - it almost felt like when she was with D'spayre but slightly different. "Hmm...?"

"I have never had orange dulce tea. It might be interesting to try..." Hope studied the menu thoughtfully. "They also offer a combo with several tiny sandwiches and small sweets. Perhaps that would be a good one to try."

They were doing their best at playing normal, but Topaz could sense the unease in the air now. She looked at the menu to give herself something to do, her eyes continuously flitting to the window. "Sounds good," she replied without really hearing what Hope had said. Something about sandwiches? She wasn't hungry anymore.

Tandy looked back at Hope as she was going on about sandwiches and sweets before she looked over at Topaz. "You sense something don't you?"

Topaz looked over at Tandy, quickly weighing the pros and cons of telling the truth. Pros...well, there really weren't any. Cons, she might scare both girls, and she wasn't even sure if there was any reason for them to be scared. Other than, of course, the faceless man tapping on the window (had it been looking at them? No, of course it hadn't been looking, it didn't have eyes). And there was a faint sense of panic already, worry. No need to add to that. "I'm sure it's nothing," she said after a moment, simply, smoothly. Lying through her teeth. She forced herself to stop looking at the window, putting her attention on something - anything - else.

Tandy raised an eyebrow as she stared right at Topaz, "I am not sure how either of you can pass something like that like it was nothing." She turned away from both of them and looked into the shop deep into her own thoughts, her skin was faintly glowing.

"It might have been someone trying to pull a prank. I will not give him the satisfaction of ruining my tea." Hope voice was far less sure then her choice of words though and she closed the menu with a snap. "Shall we order?"

"Whatever." The blonde said, clearly she wasn't happy with her answer.

Their server had stopped by to take their order - and was genuinely pleased when not just one but two of his young customers knew what he had meant when he described the selection of Earl Grey as flowery broken orange pekoe. Now, their table was crowded with little plates - some stacked on a wire frame, some in front of each girl, and all full of food - elegant little sandwiches, biscuits, two kinds of scones with clotted cream, and Topaz's grilled tomatoes and mushrooms and eggs, and adding to that, cups of tea on saucers - and the two teapots in their tea cozies.

The sound of dishes dropping - followed by one of the servers yelling "Mazel Tov!" caught the girls' attention, but it was just a waiter who had tripped, sending his tray to the ground. He bent to pick things up, and another waiter joined him, and from the doorway to the back kitchen, they saw a third figure join the first two, and remain standing, watching the waiters pick up pieces of broken cups and mop up spilled tea. It tapped its fingers impatiently, like anyone else might, but with too many fingers curled around the door frame and as they tapped the fingers moved sinuously in even waves.

"What in the world?" Hopes fingers turned numb as her eyes widened and the tiny sandwich that she held in her hand fell back on her plate. "That is not someone playing a prank on us..."

There it was again - the bone-numbing cold that had a shiver tearing through Topaz's small body. She looked around hurriedly, her eyes following Hope's gaze even as she shook.

As Topaz watched, the figure tried to get around the bent servers, leg stretching out to take a step that would've taken them over both waiters, and then looked up, meeting her eyes. It halted, black-clad foot in mid-air and then slid back, one too-long finger coming up to cover where its lips would be, if the thing hadn't had a blank featureless face - in the universal "shh" gesture.

Tandy lifted her head to see the tall man with featureless face, "We leave now." She stood up and tugged at Hope to stand up, her eyes never leaving the tall man. "Now...nownownnowownownownownow...."

"I am coming... I am coming..." Hope rummaged through her purse. Her shaking hands could not manage to find her wallet though. "We cannot leave without paying, but I cannot..."

Topaz was already out of her seat, grabbing her jacket with one hand and digging into her pocket with the other, pulling out a couple of bills. She wasn't quite sure what the cheque would be, but two twenties would probably cover it. "Let's go," she half-snapped, attempting to keep one eye on the creature even as the trio hurried to the door.

Tandy also reached into her pockets and pulled out a large bill and placed it with Topaz's pile. "Is it there?" She ran out of the tea shop and looked inside, "I am never going in there again." Tandy looked around into the sea of people, faces they all had faces. "Hope? Topaz?" The last thing she needed was to lose them.

"I am here." Hope stopped close to Tandy, hesitantly glancing inside. "I wasn't just imagining things, was I? There was a very strange figure and it was definitely not some dolt trying to prank us."

"Keep movin'," Topaz said, a bit harshly, yanking her jacket on and pushing Tandy and Hope forward in the same motion. Stopping to comfort either of them wasn't exactly on her list of priorities. "I don't much fancy standin' here waitin' for that thing to come after us."

"Uhm... right..." Hope threw a quick glance at Tandy. "What do we do now? I don't fancy that character following us all day."

"Mr. Colbert. He will know what to do, I mean he is an adult. Sworn to protect us right?" Tandy walked with them, but kept looking over her shoulder.

Topaz was gritting her teeth together as they walked, folding in tightly on herself. Her mind was in overdrive now, waiting for the same feeling of coldness that had descended upon her when that...thing...had been nearby. But the only cold she felt now was that of the chilled air. "And tell 'im what? We saw a faceless man in the tea shop? He'll think we're mad."

"Yes. They have dealt with a lot worse than a faceless man. I mean....he has to believe us." Tandy hoped that he would believe them, he had to believe them.

"They should believe us." Hope agreed, nodding. "Going by the stories Maddie and Matt told me, this should not be the worst thing they encountered..."

"Fine," Topaz gave in at last. The further down the street they got without incident, the less freaked out she felt, and she was able to force herself to be calm again. She still wasn't sure Mr. Colbert would believe the story, but if Tandy and Hope thought he would help...