Theres a fat kid trapped inside me (Clarissa)

[KEEGAN BENGAL]

Keegan had taken it upon himself to learn a bit about his new home. Seeing as it was the weekend he decided the mall might be a good place to go to learn a bit more about the people. He also came to get things to decorate the walls. He didn't really have anything to hang in his room after all and he might as well just see what was going on in the city. As it was cold he had worn a jacket over his tee-shirt to . He had just arrived at the food court when the scent of pizza nearly overcame him. He knew what would happen from almost a year of experience with his mental companion. First his stomach rumbled as if a bomb had gone off inside him then he heard the tiger, like a simpering inner monologue, rumble to life.

'Oh I am so hungry. You know how I love pizza Keegan. It could almost make me forget how good a nice fat baby might taste... Would you be so kind? I know you must be hungry too. I know it will hardly take the edge off my appetite, but I need to eat Keegan. I just have to. You haven't eaten anything since breakfast and what a tiny breakfast that was too! Just a bowl of cereal! How will I survive without more....' And on and on he went huffing in his haughty way. It was torture living inside a human, they ate like birds!

Keegan frowned and shook his head before whispering softly, ”Shut up Hobbs. I'll get some pizza.” And he turned towards the pizza stand knowing that the other choice was to listen to the tiger whine the entire rest of the trip. It was like having a fussy two year old drifting through his thoughts throwing little temper tantrums. It was damn annoying at times. Hestepped up to the counter and peered over his choices. A vast array of pizzas was laid out before him and he considered them carefully.

It wasn't enough having the hungry tiger in his mind, he had to have the darned things appetite. He just couldn't win. Keegan was always hungry. So he peered at the choices and gave up. ”One of every type--No two slices of supreme. Ya. That'll do it.” He said in his rich Canadian accent.That came out to almost a whole large pizza on his own. He knew to anyone watching, including the clerk would give him inquiring looks. Their eyes seem to say, where are his friends? Is he really going to eat all that? He ignored them with a lopsided smile and a shrug. His usual excuse was that he was a growing boy and it was best left at that. If he tried to explain the tiger? It was loony bin time.

Keegan really did stick out, what being six foot and only seventeen. Then add the voracious appetite, not to mention the fact he spoke to himself, well the tiger. It just made poor Keegan stick out like a sore thumb. It was partly the reason he left Canada. Then again half his class had seen him transform into the biggest tiger in existence and saunter out of the school. No one believed the kids, they didn't even really believe it themselves. The papers said he was kidnapped, and the tiger with the green ribbon on its tail was never found. The kids never stopped looking at him funny and something like that went around a school like wildfire.

Well all that was over. New York was crazy but it was a good crazy. The tiger even went so far as to say if he couldn't have a real jungle he would except this concrete one. For now there was only pizza.

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

Clarissa had grown used to Bashful’s weekly trips to the mall. There was always something new that she just had to have. Today, it was some new pair of boots. She’d been terrified to discover that these particular boots had heels. Heels. Boots never had heels! To make matters worse, he’d made her switch into them after she’d bought them. She’d spent ten minutes in a bathroom stall, tugging them on and shoving her own flats into the shoe box. The next ten were spent stumbling back into the mall, which was embarrassingly busy, and practically face-planting every five seconds. Oh! AND, Bashful was laughing at her! Of course, was trying to keep it discreet; that was the polite thing to do. But she could hear the snickers behind each encouragement of you can do it, doll

[/i] and it was throwing her off even further. He was telling her they had to go to Bath and Body Works next. She’d been to the mall so often now that she knew that was on the other side of the mall and she flat-out refused to walk that far in these shoes. So, disregarding his wants, she made her way to the food court. The one thing Bashful hadn’t made her do was go on a diet. Thank God. I would never do that, hun. You are perfect the way you are. Besides, a diet would butcher the confidence I’ve worked so hard to give you.[/i] Clarissa scoffed.

Craving pizza topped with pineapple and pepperoni, Clarissa was happy to see that there was only one boy in line. Perfect! She could get her pizza, sit down, and eat while relieving her already aching feet. He was tall, she realized once she’d stepped in line behind her. Much taller than she, though she did seemed to have gained a few inches thanks to the heels. Holding onto her shopping bag with one hand, she fluffed her hair a little, bored, and looked around. Come on… what was taking so long? Clarissa glanced back to the tall kid and started eavesdropping. She had missed his order but the cashier repeated it and, to be honest, it pissed her off. Clarissa was rare to anger but this was obnoxious! A slice of every type!? That was… that would take forever! She was going to have to wait ages! Bashful was none too pleased, either. He’d started mumbling, too soft for her to understand. As if waiting for her food wouldn’t be annoying enough, she now had to deal with Bashful and his temper tantrums. Dear, you better tell him to feed you or something because I am not waiting for his pizza to be done, and then yours too. Ugh! Bashful, I can’t do that! That’s r—

“Uhm. Hey. Kid. I think you ought to share your order with me since you’re inadvertently making me wait this long.” Her free hand was clamped over her mouth as soon as Bashful had returned control of her body.. Bashful!!! Do. Not. Talk. For. Me! “I… I’m sorry,” she stammered, lowering her hand. “I… uhm. Well, I kind of didn’t mean that.”

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[KEEGAN BENGAL]

Keegan nodded as the woman repeated back his order and smiled pleasantly with a nod of thank you to the girl at the counter. He was just pulling out his wallet when he heard a sharp voice from behind him. He turned his bright gold green gaze on the girl and blinked a few times. He stared the girl over. She was shorter then him, then again most people his age were shorter then him. She was cute too, despite her rude outburst. He shrugged it off, years of being teased and outcast did that to you. He cast her a sheepish smile and winced as the tiger piped up again.

'I don't want to share Keegan. I see your human eyes wandering all over that girl. I am not sharing a single slice. I am sooo hungry. Please just ignore her. Turn around and get our food. Its time to eat. I could even eat her if you will let me. She was so very rude.” He rumbled pleasantly. He was in a better mood now he was sure he was going to be fed. Still could Keegan take any longer? Didn't he know how hungry the tiger was.

Keegan shrugged his shoulders and leafed through his wallet before nodding to the counter as if to say, pick what you want. ”Only if you agree to eat with me. It looks even stranger eating all that pizza by myself.” He responded light-heartedly. He glanced to the cashier, ”Add whatever she wants to the bill. Along with a soda for me.” He turned around and folded his arms at Clarissa those animal like eyes focusing on her again, ”Sorry for the trouble. I can't control my appetite.”

Well it could be worse. The girl could be bad looking, or old, he let that thought go. It was an easy enough solution. If he was lucky he might get a date out of this. His first week in New York and he was already hitting on women. If he wasn't careful he might make a reputation like Tyler's. Then again, Tyler might try to mold him into the same. He waved his hand again looking at the girl.

”So if I'm feeding you. Could you at least tell me your name?” His easy accent made it clear he was from Canada, it was one of those recognizable lilts that couldn't be missed. He flashed her that lopsided smile again and paid for whatever she ordered. He was glad that the tiger had fallen into sullen mutters. Keegen knew most of them were about eating the two of them but he ignored it. That sort of light chatter was normal in his life. Even knowing what had happened to him, Keegan still felt crazy at times. Now was one of them. He had a simpering cat in his head and had ordered half a buffet of pizza. Well no one was perfect.

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[CLARISSA RAMONE]

Clarissa was still rather mortified over her Bashful’s outburst. He, on the other hand, was feeling quite smug. That’s what you get for not listening to me, hun. We just had to stop for pizza and n—

[/i] The boy turned to look at her and Bashful actually stopped talking. Had Clarissa been paying attention to her reincarnate, she would have noticed his eyes narrowing but she was, in fact, much too busy paying attention to the boy. His eyes were probably the prettiest… well, they were green but then there was also this gold to them and they were just mesmerizing as she’d never seen a color quite like it. It took her a moment to recollect her thoughts and she looked away from him to the counter. The cashier looked a mixture between annoyed and amused. Did you hear that, doll? I could’ve sworn…[/i] Bashful trailed off absent-mindedly. That was for the better, really; she hadn’t been listening to him anyway. “That sounds fair. I really am sorry, by the way.” She offered a smile, hoping he’d realize she hadn’t meant the rude words she’d spoken. Had Bashful still been dormant, she wouldn’t have said a word, anyway. In fact, she wouldn’t have even been here.

“Could I get two slices of pineapple-pepperoni, please?” Wait, wait. He was paying for her? She was ready to absolutely refuse that because, well, she’d been so impolite and she… he was looking at her and, once again, she lost her train of thought. Clarissa really needed to stop making eye contact with him. “You don’t have to pay for me… really,” she was trying to sound insistent but it was coming out as meek. Where was that confidence Bashful had been so proud of earlier? Kinda busy, sweetheart,[/I] Bashful had taken to circling the boy, as if something were wrong with him. “It’s fine. I… well, I can’t say I understand because I don’t.” She laughed a little, nervous. “I’m Clarissa,” she answered, holding out a hand. Handshakes could be awkward. She missed being shy because she never met people and so she never had to shake hands. Awkward moment averted. “And you are?”

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words; 363
notes; short >.<
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[KEEGAN BENGAL]

Keegan smiled at her again and shrugged. ”No worries. Besides I'm new to the area and don't know anyone. Just moved here from Alberta to go to Baum Academy. Have you heard of it? It would be nice to get to know some people. So forget it. We're good and I am going to buy you lunch.” He was clearly not taking her no for an answer. Besides he probably wouldn't have spoken to her if she hadn't spoken up. Keegan was the sort who mostly kept to himself. He was a bit of a recluse, though a nice enough guy. More then anything he needed someone else to start the conversation. Once it was started he could carry it just fine, but that initial push was almost always someone else's doing.

The hungry tiger had been lounging near the far side of the pizza stand. Well his manifestation had, the form to the dwarf, that looked nothing like a dwarf, would seem translucent and pale. He looked almost like a ghost. The tiger paused in mid sentence, something that never happened, and went stone cold silent. His great green, gold eyes, so similar to that of his human counterpart, watched the odd man with fascination. He watched how he circled Keegan like a shark and a low growl rumbled deep in the tiger's chest. It was the growl of a beast, and the hungry tiger was certainly that. He was the greatest of all tigers, even if he could not eat people as he had too much conscience. He was as big as a horse, if not bigger and proud of his size even his manifestation was so big people kept walking through it. At the very tip of his non-existent tail rested a large green bow which made him look, if anything, like one horrid joke. 'Something is looking at us Keegan. Something not human. I don't like him. Because he is not real can I eat him? I shouldn't need to get the permission of something not real to eat it. It might barely fill my belly, but I hate how he looks at us. He is something different, something strange. I haven't been this puzzled since I left Oz. Everything is mundane in your world, but not this man. How strange he is. Perhaps he is from where Dorthy of Kansas comes from. It always sounded like such a queer place...'

Keegan's eyes widened just slightly and he turned to the room around him. He searched nervously for what had upset the tiger. Nothing got anything but a whine from the tiger, or a nervous warning. This sounded like the tiger was perturbed. From his tone Keegan understood whatever was going on was something the tiger did not understand. He, however, saw nothing, and hoped she would excuse his odd behavior. He left it to rest that the tiger was, in fact, just as crazy as he always assumed. The extended hand brought him back to reality and he blinked a couple times, letting go of the tiger's delusions about invisible men. He gave her a sheepish, lopsided grin and looked her in the eyes again, ”I'm Keegan. Nice to meet you.”

He shook her hand and then turned to the cash register as the woman brought out the first couple slices. The pizza seemed to fix all that was wrong in his mind. He felt the tigers attention shift to the present and he took up his usual moaning, forgetting the circling man as quickly as he had become fixated on him. He was starving and Keegan had done as he asked and wasn't sharing. He did so love pizza. If there was one food humans had right it was Pizza. Plus there was more then that horrid dried flakes of grass that humans called breakfast. Wheaties. No a tiger needed meat and now it was coming.

Slowly all the pieces were brought out and he picked up his lot, all on one tray, and then took his drink in his free hand leaving her to grab her own food. ”So where would you like to sit?”

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[CLARISSA RAMONE]

There’s something different about this boy, dear. I can just sense it. …You know, he could be like you. I’m not sure. You see, if he was awakened, then I would see—

[/i] Bashful again let the sentence cut off abruptly and she wondered what in the world could be his deal. He never went without finishing a thought. Clarissa eyed him warily, wishing he’d stop circling the kid. He had, though, just as unexpectedly as his unfinished sentence. He was staring with fascination and… fear? Bashful was never afraid. Of, like, anything. She followed his gaze best she could without looking odd and found nothing. What are you staring at? He waved her away; his behavior was unnerving her. “Oh? I go to Baum! What grade are you?” Happy for a distraction, Clarissa focused fully on the conversation. “I’m a junior. Have you settled in?” There. Hopefully, that would be alright. She was a bit worried that her reply was a little late but hopefully he wouldn’t mind. They’d both been distracted. She’d noticed his looking around the food court but had really thought nothing of it. But… what if Bashful had been right… and… Clarissa shook her head. Those were thoughts to be thought later.

“Nice to meet you,” She’d decided it didn’t matter whether or not she made eye contact with him. It would inevitably happen often and she’d swoon over them each time. It was embarrassing which is why she was completely ready to keep the feelings to herself. I’m trying to figure out why somebody would let a tiger in the food court.[/i] Clarissa started and looked around, wondering how Bashful could keep such a thing secret until now. No, no. Calm down, sweetheart. It’s… like, a ghost tiger. Well, looks like one anyway. I don’t think he can hurt anybody.[/i] Bashful had tilted his head to the side and was watching the animal curiously. He was quite sure it was connected to this Keegan fellow but only time could tell. Clarissa looked back to Keegan, and then to the counter. The pizza was done. She took her tray, gave a smile to the cashier and then looked around. It was about the same level of business for a Saturday. She wished it weren’t. Clarissa had trouble handling too many people in a public place, hundreds of Confidence Lessons or not.

Clarissa gestured for Keegan to follow, nodding her head towards a table not too far. Weaving her way through the occupied tables and chairs, she was grateful to reach the vacant one and sit. She’d had that paranoid feeling that everybody was watching her as she brushed passed them. Uncomfortable, to say the least. Bashful followed, glancing back every so often to the tiger. “Thank you for buying,” she smiled, grateful. Even Bashful seemed to be happy about it (he insisted it was because now she still had enough cash to finish their shopping spree). This'll be interesting...[/i] Bashful muttered, taking a seat in the chair beside Clarissa. She was glad it was still partially pulled out, otherwise he would've done so himself, embarrassing to her or not.

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[KEEGAN BENGAL]

Keegan nodded and followed the girl lazily. His long strides would easily keep him at pace with someone several inches taller then she was. It also didn't help the girl was in heels and seemed a little uncomfortable in them. She walked slowly, but then Keegan imagined he would walk like an idiot in shoes like that. He wondered distantly why women would wear something like that. Then his eyes wandered up her legs so he could see where she was walking. However his eyes came to an abrupt halt at her butt. He flushed slightly and turned his gaze from her ass to the ceiling taking a deep breath, well that was one hell of a reason to wear those sorts of shoes.

The tiger rumbled happily and stalked along right at Keegan's heels like an over grown puppy. Even as they sat down he kept hovering just over the boys shoulder licking his massive ghostly chops. If it hadn't been for bashful no one would have seen him, he might not even exist. It was an extension of himself, the tiger saw himself as separate, even if they were not, and thus created himself a form. All of this was strange enough, but for now, the dwarf was not a concern he was fixated on the pizza, 'Stop talking and eat! I need it hurry up!'

[/color] He protested particularly loudly into Keegan's mind.

”I'm a Junior as well. I just moved in with Tyler Coor, not really settled yet though. Do you know him? We lived in the same neighborhood when we were little. So they roomed us together.” He shrugged. He picked up a piece of pizza and took a few bites before sipping the soda happily. Well this day couldn't be going any better. Keegan, however, always spoke too soon.

'I could too hurt someone! I'm a tiger can't you see!' The tiger suddenly roared so loud Keegan actually jumped and flinched slightly. Thankfully Keegan recovered quickly. 'I could even eat you up you strange not human man! Kansas creature!'[/color] He bared his fangs and glowered over at the dwarf in descendent. 'I would eat you if only my conscience would let me get away with it. I bet you would taste bad and you would hardly take the edge off my hunger. Why must I be such a poor tiger! If I was a good tiger I would gobble you up without thinking. I would turn you into meatballs for my spaghetti. I would... I would...'[/color] By the end he was back to his whiny self and he trailed off in unhappy, aloof, brooding.

Keegan just sat looking mortified. His eyes were wide and he suddenly started stuffing his face with slice after slice of pizza until the Tiger had calmed enough to hear again, the deafening roars having left his ears ringing. He didn't know your ears could ring from voices in your head. He took a deep breath, and a huge swig of soda as he tried desperately to not tell hobbs how fucking crazy he was. Well Clarissa would probably never talk to him again. She would tell all the girls in school what a freak he was. His life was going to be over.

What a fool the Tiger was. He was screaming at non-existent creatures about Kansas for heavens sakes. He really needed to figure out how to mute his feline friend. Hobbs was getting out of control today. He hadn't seen him so worked up since he had transformed in Canada and if Keegan wasn't careful to keep his own mood separate the tiger might just get an upper hand and... well the tiger would roar a lot and scare people but in the end everyone would go home unharmed. Unless some unwitting person agreed to let a giant talking tiger eat them. He really didn't want to start mass panic in the mall, it just wasn't what he was hoping for out of this lunch.[/blockquote][/size]

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

Clarissa sighed, relieved, happy to be off of her feet. These boots were awful and she hated that Bashful had tricked her into buying them. Maybe she’d sell them on ebay la—I don’t think so, hun.

[/i] She wanted to just kick him from under the table. Or step on his foot. In these heels. That would hurt, right? Clarissa picked up a slice of pizza and took a bite. Mmmmmmmmmm. Much better than traipsing across the mall to Bath and Body Works. She set it down, deciding to take her time. He had so many slices, anyway, it wouldn’t do good for her to end up sitting and waiting. “You’re tall for a junior,” she commented absent-mindedly, tilting her head. Perhaps she shouldn’t have said that .She knew lots of tall juniors. … Well, she didn’t know know them. But she knew of them. “Tyler Coor.” Clarissa almost blushed. It wasn’t too long ago that she’d had this lame crush on him for his pictures in the school newspaper. God, she was so naïve back then. “I know him… I mean, I’ve heard of him.” She shrugged, as if it were no big deal. It wasn’t really. She was probably just making mountains out of molehills.

Bashful jumped in his seat and she looked at him sharply, narrowing her eyes. What is your problem today!? You’re being so annoying! Bashful ignored her, his own eyes wide. She’d never seen him look like this before. Again, it was unsettling. At some point, he settled back into his usual ‘I’m better than everybody else’ look. Clarissa looked to where Bashful had been staring and saw… maybe… was there something there? She couldn’t be quite sure and she wasn’t even sure if she wanted to know. Her gaze drifted back to Keegan who, she was surprised to see, looked worse for wear than Bashful had. “Are you…” she paused as he began shoveling pizza into his mouth. “Alright?” Her eyebrows had disappeared behind her bangs. This was all too confusing. First, Bashful acting the complete opposite of his usual self, and then some fuzzy distortion, and now Keegan’s behavior. Before she could say anything else, Bashful was looking to her, eyebrows knitted together in confusion. What in the world is a Kansas creature?[/i] And then before she could say (or think) anything to him, he was looking back to what she could not see. He repeated himself (evidently, it was really bothering him. she could feel it rolling off of him in waves). Really, what is a Kansas creature?

Clarissa wasn’t sure where he’d get an answer from, speaking to emptiness. Where had he even got that from? Kansas creature. She certainly hadn’t heard anybody mention it.

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words; 455
notes; teehe.
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[KEEGAN BENGAL]

Keegan swallowed the huge gulp of soda, ”Sorry as I said. My Appetite gets away from me every once and a while.” He said bashfully. He didn't know how he would recover this. He had to have looked like a complete idiot. How the hell did he explain he was talking to hobbs? It was a tiger in his head. I mean he could show her, but how did you even approach that, hay come alone with me so I can turn into a giant tiger. Even if he got that far without her calling the cops she would panic and run the moment he changed. That sort of stuff was off a syfy show not real life. God when did his life become like a bad syfy sitcom?

The tiger grumbled as he peered at the dwarf in curiosity, ”Dorthy. She came to Oz from the land of Kansas. She would tell us strange stories of Kansas. She brought Billina the talking chicken. Which is strange because chicken's don't talk.' The hungry tiger did not seem to see the irony in the fact he was a talking tiger. Then again in oz all the tigers talked. He licked his lips again and peered at Bashful a little longer, 'Perhaps you are a munchkin. You don't smell like munchkin. You don't smell like anything. Thus you are a Kansas creature.' He gave a decisive nod, 'As you are you seem not to be real either. May I eat you?'

He took a slow deep breath. Now the voice in his head was talking to a voice in its own head. He was going utterly, and completely mad. He wanted to scream, he wanted to tell someone. So he just smiled lopsidedly and shrugged, ”You saw how much I ordered. I told you it looked strange when I eat alone.” He took a deep breath and a sip of soda. This was the most awkward meal he had ever eaten, even over the first dinner he had with his family after he had gone missing for two days. This just took the cake. At least with his parents the tiger hadn't been talking to an imaginary friend. This was just getting more and more ridiculous.

He glanced around again then looked to her once more with a bashful smile, ”Sorry I'm not myself today.”

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[CLARISSA RAMONE]

Clarissa smiled a little sheepishly in return, as if she should’ve known better. He had warned her. “Understandable,” she murmured. Of course, she’d never reached that point of starving to shove pizza into her mouth at that rapid pace but it was understandable. Or maybe she was just strange? Or perhaps he was strange. Mayhaps they were both strange. Slightly amused by her thinking, Clarissa continued eating her pizza, trying to ignore the last few minutes. Confusion was rolling off of Bashful like waves; one eyebrow was arched and he was pouting. Bashful hated when he didn’t know what was going on, she knew that much. If she focused, she could hear some sort of rumbling but only if she focused really hard. Clarissa glanced to Bashful, trying to play it off as people watching, wondering if he was serious about the ‘ghost tiger.’ It sounded like nonsense to her… but then again, he was a dwarf from Snow White who looked nothing like a dwarf. What wasn’t nonsense nowadays?

I’m still confused,

[/i] Bashful admitted to the animal she could not see. I don’t know who this Dorthy is and how is a talking chicken strange when you yourself are a talking tiger?[/i] Bashful gestured to the feline, an amused smirk having replaced the pout. I most certainly am not a munchkin![/i] Bashful bristled and Clarissa cleared her throat nonchalantly. I am a dwarf and you definitely cannot eat me! I have to take care of this girl.[/i] Bashful ruffled Clarissa’s hair. She hated this form of affection; he did it all the time which she did not understand. He always worked so hard to make sure her hair was perfection; why would he mess it up on purpose? He snickered at her, as if she didn’t understand something, and she scowled briefly.

Clarissa shook her head. “It’s fine. I can see how it’s strange…” she laughed quietly. Something to talk about… they needed something to talk about. “Tell me about Canada.” She suggested, pushing her tray away a little so she could rest her forearms and lean toward him to listen better. Listen better. Right.[/i] Bashful scoffed.

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words; 358
note; sorry it took so long! i just realized he never actually said he was from canada... xD
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[KEEGAN BENGAL]

I can't stand to Fly

I'm not that
Naive
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Poor, poor Keegan had to handle that sort of ravenous hunger on almost a daily basis. Most of the time he just tried his best to ignore it. Yet every time the tall lanky boy saw a commercial about starving kids in Africa or some other feed the hungry group it made him unhappy. Sure there were starving in Africa, but no one talked about the boy who could never be full, even after eating all the pizza on his plate currently. Perhaps it was the hungry tigers gloomy mood that put the boy into the mind set but it happened every time he saw those commercials. So while many people reached for their wallets, he reached for the remote. He gave her another lopsided smile and took up another piece eating it slower, ”I will try to not embarrass you.” He stated in as aloof a tone as he could manage, but the playful gleam in his eyes said different. He was trying to give the girl a good impression. Despite seeming a little manic at times, he was quite a nice guy. It was just an unlucky, or really lucky, lot he had been the reincarnation of some ridiculous feline.

He really didn't want to scare her off, she was the first person in a while who had overlooked his oddness and shared a meal with him. Sure he had pretty much bribed her to, but hell. It was worth a couple bucks to not look entirely crazy eating a pizza alone. He watched the girl, glad that she was nearly as distracted as he seemed to be. He had no idea that the dwarf, that looked nothing like a dwarf, existed outside of the crazy tiger's ramblings.

The tiger puffed up indignantly his fur poofing up like an agitated kitten. His long tail slashed across the floor, passing right through tables and chairs as if they didn't exist the bright blue bow that was tied neatly near his tail tip dragging lazily across the tiles as it moved. ”You must be quite slow. Everyone knows of Dorthy of Kansas. She saved the land of Oz. More then once.”

[/color] He said proudly, ”I was a personal friend of hers, with my friend the cowardly lion we have had many adventures with her. You do know where oz is right?” He said with noble lift of his non-existent chin. How could he resist. To be from Oz was boast worthy in his opinion.

His gaze returned to curious however as he peered back at the strange man, ”Are you quite sure? I could take care of her. I am quite strong as you must be able to tell.” He yawned so his massive jaws stretched wide and showed off each long white invisible tooth. He peered at the dwarf in hopes of reconsideration, but as it seemed unlikely he smacked his lips and carried on, ”Well as my conscious will not allow me to eat you I suppose we must be friends.” From food to friend was a logical jump in his mind. If the man wasn't going to be a meal, they might as well be friends.

Keegan cast his eyes about again frowning slightly. He really was starting to wonder if the tiger inside his head, who he only believed in because he had become it, was far crazier then he had thought. He was only getting half the conversation the tiger was engaging in, which also made his own conversation harder as he wanted to be involved in both. So in his mind the Tiger was rambling, well about as much as it sounded to the poor dwarf on the other end of the conversation. His bright blue eyes returned to Clarissa and he gave another smile. ”Canada.” He repeated as if searching for what she meant. Then it snapped into place, she was asking about his home.

”Well cold, but everyone is more laid back. This city seems so busy and rushed. The movies don't lie about that part. There is a lot to do outdoors during the summer.” His smile turned lopsided as he took a couple bites of his fourth slice. ”Here you learn Spanish, in Canada we learn french. More then anything its a bit slower then here. A lot more trees too. Anything in particular you want to know about?”
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I'm just out to Find
The better part of me

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STATUS: Complete
WORDS: 730
TAGGED: Clarissa and Bashful to my Keegan and Hobbs
NOTES: I'm sorry this took so very long!!! >.< *smacks own hand*
LYRICS: Superman (It's Not Easy) ~ Five For Fighting
CREDIT: Template by Waggy! at CAUTION 2.0 NO STEALING kthxbai.

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

The more Bashful spoke, the more Clarissa believed that this tiger was real. It sounded like a real enough conversation. Bashful’s reactions were believable enough. She always had this worry that he was playing some joke on her, and maybe this was one of them. But the longer she sat here, trying to talk with Keegan, the more interested she became in the tiger that Bashful was (apparently) talking to. While she was intrigued, she was also annoyed. Trying to listen in on one conversation made it difficult to pay attention to the other. “It’s fine. I’m not easily embarrassed,” which would’ve been a lie had Bashful not taught her how to handle being humiliated. It was difficult at times, of course; it’s not like she could just push away the personality she’d had for sixteen years of her life.

Bashful sat up more in his seat, suddenly interested and on the brink of a realization. The Wizard of Oz. That’s what you’re talking about, aren’t you? That movie. I mean, it’s got Dorothy and The Cowardly Li… on…

[/i] Again, Clarissa got the feeling that Bashful was understanding something. Something important, for the first time… and it made him laugh. Why was Bashful talking about Tyler? And why was he laughing? It worried her to no end and she couldn’t focus on anything for a minute other than trying to hear the rest of this conversation. Clarissa glanced from the table to Keegan. Tyler… this wouldn’t be a problem if Tyler were still the shy, forever-afraid kid she used to know. Except now he was mean and rude and different and she didn’t like it at all. I’m afraid I don’t know where Oz is. And I can take care of her just fine, thank you very much.[/i] Bashful seemed a little offended for a moment but it slipped by quickly enough. Friends.[/i] He nodded, agreeing, though Clarissa could still feel slight tension, coming from him, anyway.

“It’s just… Clarissa laughed a little, feeling as if this would be a silly thing to say. “When I was little, it was my dream to travel the world. Then, my parents dropped me off at high school and went to live my dream.” She rolled her eyes, as if she were over it when she in fact still cried to herself to sleep some nights. “Canada is on my list. I’ve never left New York; I used to hate it here. As you said, it’s busy and rushed and I really don’t like that.” Clarissa sounded bitter and she knew it, but it sucked remembering that there was a time when she never left her dorm room. So much of her life wasted. She shrugged. “Nothing really comes to mind. Is it really green? I don’t find enough of that here in New York.”

words; 472
notes; long posts are good!
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[KEEGAN BENGAL]

I can't stand to Fly

I'm not that
Naive
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Keegan smiled sheepishly again. This meal was on the incline again it seemed. She hardly seemed ready to run. Then again this wasn't Canada. She wasn't a kid who had seen him turn into a massive tiger and saunter out of town. Things were different here. He wasn't quite so odd here. Sure he was still impossibly tall for his age, and had an appetite that could horrify any chef, but he was considered human here.

The hungry tiger peered at the dwarf with interest as he spoke of the movie. ”Yes there is a movie and a whole bunch of books.' He rumbled far more contently. Since he had calmed he spoke much softer. It was amazing such a large creature could talk so softly. He looked far happier too from the little upward curl of his lips to the stillness of his tail. 'Now that you know what I am talking about. Are you from the place called Kansas? I have not heard of dwarfs before. Are you related to munchkins or gnomes? It is quite important to know. As one is good and the other quite evil.”

[/i] he sniffed quite indignantly. The gnome king hadn't even let him search for his friends when they had been turned into nick-knacks, so he had a bit of a grudge against the race.

Keegan listened with curiosity as he slowly worked his way through his pizza. He was quiet, he had always been a good listener, as she told her story. For a moment he was quiet, thinking. Honestly there wasn't much one could say to comfort from that. He frowned slightly and realized she probably didn't wasn't his pity. He knew that all too well. People's pity only made it harder to swallow whatever it was that caused the problem. He took a big gulp of soda and shrugged.

”Sorry about your folks... But you can't give up on your dreams just, because your parents stole it. So you dream is to see the world and you've never even been to Jersey? I mean from what I hear... its awful but its not too far.” He said with raised brows. He took a bite of his last slice of pizza peering curiously at her. His blue eyes flashed slightly in honest fascination. ”I do recommend going to Canada. Its nice.” He added confidently.
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I'm just out to Find
The better part of me

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STATUS: Complete
WORDS: 395
TAGGED: Clarissa and Bashful to my Keegan and Hobbs
NOTES: I'm sorry this took so very long!!! >.< *smacks own hand*
LYRICS: Superman (It's Not Easy) ~ Five For Fighting
CREDIT: Template by Waggy! at CAUTION 2.0 NO STEALING kthxbai.

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

Books? Ew. Reading is gross

[/i]. Bashful’s nose had scrunched up and he looked rather disgusted. Clarissa understood his distaste for reading, but not because she disliked reading. It was just that she did so much of it that he had had a hard time getting her to do anything else. Because of her stubborn attitude, he never wanted to see another book in her hands again unless it was a magazine. Which she had told him didn’t count but he ignored her, insisting that they both had pages, so what was the difference? Arguing with him was pointless. No, I’m not from Kansas. I’m… well, I’m pretty sure it was Germany. They never established it in my movie. Bashful sounded bitter but Clarissa was trying to ignore that by eating her pizza as if there weren’t a one-sided conversation going on right in front of her. That… had that even made sense?

Bashful’s eyebrows rose slightly. I’m not related to either. I mean, not that I know of. I’m definitely not evil, though,[/i] he bristled. I helped to save Snow White from that evil hag of a witch![/i] Clarissa almost choked on her pizza at Bashful’s outburst. Setting the slice down, she calmed down enough to finish the bite. Maybe she would just stop eating for now… At least until Bashful stopped saying such crude things. She was so grateful that Keegan couldn’t hear any of this. Thank goodness. Still, she had yet to decide whether or not she wanted to ask him about the whole thing. Bashful must’ve been talking to the tiger he’d mentioned earlier, right? Who else?

Clarissa smiled. It was surprisingly unfamiliar but that might have been because it felt genuine. She hadn’t had that in awhile. “You’re right,” she nodded. “It’s just…” Clarissa paused, wondering whether or not she wanted to go through with telling Keegan. It might be nice, knowing somebody who didn’t know who she used to be. All of her friends knew Shy Clarissa. They were still aghast by her change. With Keegan, she could go without that, without the constant questions of how she came to be how she was now. “I never had the money.” Which was such a lie. She was practically loaded as her parents hadn’t wanted to leave her with nothing. “Maybe I’ll go on a road trip someday,” she laughed, embarrassed by such a sudden aspiration. “After that, I’ll visit Canada.”

notes; google told me it was germany. snow white sucks though so who cares uck.
words; 405
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[KEEGAN BENGAL]

The tiger thrummed a thoughtful thrum and then cocked his head, 'Well if that is how it is so be it. I do not handle witches. That was the cowardly lion's job. He is my closest friend you see. He is almost as big as I am, however he lacks my courage, and my appetite. It is quite the burden not ever being full. That is why my human got the pizza. It's more for me then him you know.'

[/color] He nodded his vast head and stared at Clarissa with half lidded golden eyes, 'So you hunt witches? Does this one help you? That seems quite the task to do alone. Where is your team? Where is your raiding party?'[/color]

Keegan's eyes went wide as he was referred to as 'my human', and also at the fact that now it seemed the tiger was talking about more imaginary friends. If he was at home there would have been a long winded argument as to why it was wholly wrong to call Keegan, his human. First and foremost this was Keegan's body the tiger happened to be inhabiting. For now he had to be content with controlling his face and ignoring the pushy feline. He would have to talk about how the tiger living his mind was no longer allowed imaginary friends.

Keegan kept his attention on Clarissa glad she was tolerating his erratic behavior at all. He smiled and shrugged, ”I hear a lot of the states are nice aye?” He cocked his head to one side, trying to unobtrusively ignore the tiger. He worked on his last slice of pizza a little slower, not wanting her to take off quite yet. He wanted her to stay around and talked to him. Keegan decided he liked Clarissa enough to pursue further meetings with her. He reached into his pocket and yanked out a cellphone.

”Also if I haven't weirded you out too much do you mind if I have your number? I mean if you don't want to don't worry.” He added suddenly self-conscious of his own action. It was a big leap asking a girl for her number. They could easily turn you down.

To this the tiger finally turned its attention fully back to the boy and he growled softly, a warning. ”Quit acting like a girl Keegan! You sound as scared as a little school child. Come on show some backbone!”[/color]

This time Keegan's jaw tightened and he almost lost his cool. His smile remained but now there was a hint of tension in his features. Again he hoped for the good luck of Clarissa not noticing such a small detail. He was decent at hiding the tiger, most of the time. However sometimes the creature just couldn't leave well enough alone. Sometimes it couldn't stop meddling in Keegan's life; and Keegan would snap. Today he managed to avoid the embarrassment of such an action and just stared intently at Clarissa to keep himself in check.[/blockquote]