Francine and Katchoo's Dorm Room, Rupture University

[thismaskiwear]

"I can't feel my feet anymore. How much longer?"

"We just started! I haven't even finished the charcoal sketch. You're whining again."

"'Cause I've been sitting here so long half my body's asleep. My butt's asleep. I might as well be sitting on a rump roast!"

"If you can't feel your rump roast, it doesn't hurt, so what're ya complaining about?"

"It's cold, that's what. I'm also freezing my half-naked butt off!"

"Oh please; a quarter naked at best. Now if I could get you to take off that robe..."

"Oh God, is that the door?"

[Some dialogue folded, spindled and mutilated from Strangers in Paradise Vol. 3, Issue 19 and (later) Vol. 1, Issue 1. Continues within! Warning for Fight of the Century Round #451, long-forgotten Parents Weekend guests, and Katchoo's idea of art critique. I've also made a little space for the cheese slices peanut gallery.]

Comments

IC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"Would you relax?" Katchoo demanded, mostly indulgent but with an edge of annoyed creeping in. Oh, and also paying no mind that her sudden urge to facepalm with a handful of charcoal crayon had left a streak across her forehead. "It's our dorm room, Francie. Who's going to walk in on us?

Re: IC

[thatsamilkshake]

"What's wrong with you? Why would you ask that? It's like hanging a sign on the door saying here, universe, in here! I'm naked, screw with me. Chuck Bass is probably out there right now, just because you said that!"

Look, after living in Fandom, Francine felt she was not being unreasonable here. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

Re: IC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Because they were out to get -- not all of you, but a select figurative you. Arguably.

Katchoo jabbed at the easel, hard, with her charcoal and growled, "If he is I'll rip his face off. And Clocky'll trip him first."

The long shrill whistle from somewhere by the dresser didn't need subtitles to be understood as Keep me out of this!

"Francie . . . the robe?"

That might be a little too subtle there, Chewie.

Re: IC

[thatsamilkshake]

"Is not nearly as warm as it looks. I think I'm coming down with the sniffles as we speak!" Or at least she could manage a real-sounding sniff, if not very snotty, after a couple of tries.

Re: IC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Katchoo banged her forehead against the edge of the pad on her easel. "Tell me you're not considering a switch to majoring in theater."

Because really now . . .

Re: IC

[thatsamilkshake]

"Are you serious? You know what happens every time I get near a stage."

Especially when robes were involved. FREDDIE.

Re: IC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Yeah, well, Freddie Femur could go #$(*_*@#!!.

"Aw, geez, you're right." Katchoo snapped charcoal-coated fingers. "How's about we relocate this portrait session to the auditorium, then?"

Re: IC

[thatsamilkshake]

"Why would we do tha--" Francine's brows knit together and she stood up with a huff (on her suddenly-awakened feet). "Oh, very funny." Just for that, she stomped over to the door and jiggled the handle to make extra sure it was locked.

Re: IC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"I almost had your face!" That was not any form of innuendo, thank you, just a testament to the state of Katchoo's unfinished sketch, but if she worked quickly she could get it mostly down from memory. "Geez, Francine, what's the holdup here?"

Re: IC

[thatsamilkshake]

"You don't need me to take off my robe to draw my face!" Francine pointed out as she headed back over towards the easel, which was not anything like a real answer, no.

Re: IC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

It was a real answer like Katchoo could be mistaken for Casey Bullocks within two seconds of either of them opening their mouths?

"No, but the shadowing and the angles --" Screw the technical talk. Katchoo turned the easel to show her, instead.

Re: IC

[thatsamilkshake]

"Oh, God!" Francine stopped cold (perhaps not as cold as she'd been claiming, but pretty cold) where she stood, staring at it.

Re: IC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"What?" There was a tiny edge of apprehension in Katchoo's voice. "Is something wrong with it, Francie?"

Re: IC

[thatsamilkshake]

"It's gorgeous." Which of course was exactly what was wrong with it. Francine stepped close to gaze up at the sketch.

Re: IC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

That was a phrase that should normally come out more complimentary, you'd think.

"Yeeeeeeeeeeeeah." Katchoo dragged the word out as she gave Francine a really odd look. "What's wrong with that?"

Re: IC

[thatsamilkshake]

"Nothing's wrong with the picture; she's beautiful." Francine lifted up a finger as if to trace the stylized curve of the face on the canvas, but she didn't touch it.

Re: IC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"She?" Katchoo really did stare at her now. "Francie, there is no she. It's you."

Re: IC

[thatsamilkshake]

"Maybe on Hell Freezes Over day." Francine shook her head and wrapped her robe a little tighter around her shoulders. "I don't look like that." She might have the same haircolor as the woman on the easel, but the rest...

Re: IC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

You do! You -- Geez, honey." Katchoo turned and angled herself to look Francine square in the face. "What the hell do you see when you look in the mirror?"

Re: IC

[thatsamilkshake]

"Thirty more pounds and a double chin." Well, maybe one and a half chins.

Re: IC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

"You know how the camera adds that much? The mirror's in league with it," Katchoo told her, trying for a joke. "I just draw what I see."

Re: IC

[thatsamilkshake]

Francine was silent for a moment, two or three or a hundred conflicting emotions rumbling in her stomach. "Maybe one of us needs glasses," she said at last, trying for funny herself, but missing by a mile.

Re: IC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Katchoo hadn't gotten great scores for humor herself there; the guarded note of hurt in her voice was worth at least a .5 standard deduction.

"Maybe. Something's wrong here, and I'm not seeing it." She hadn't meant to crumple the edge of the paper, but clenching her fingers around the side of the easel would do that. "What's the hangup here, Francine? I thought you were fine with this idea."

Or she'd hoped. Which might have been a stupidly optimistic moment for her.

OOC

[thismaskiwear.livejournal.com]

Don't say we don't love you.

Re: OOC

[showmetheproof.livejournal.com]

You do love us! *eeeeeeps and eats popcorn*