any way the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me.
In Grant Park this afternoon, there is a horrible, six-legged beast with bright blue fur, the talons of a hawk, and the face of a wolf. Said monster has spent most of the morning and afternoon terrorizing anyone who ventures into this part of the park, chasing them down and trying to munch them up like chew toys
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Lena and John are standing across from Matthew at a relatively healthy distance. Lena's head is cocked to the left side, while John's is slanted way down to the right. It'd be an amusing sight, even to them, if they weren't so completely baffled.
The Crowbar got a call about this monster, and they were both sent off to take care of it.
They were not expecting to be met with this sight. "Uh..." John shuffles his gun from one hand to the other. "We're going to need for you to step... away from your...friend. Please."
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Matthew notices none of this. After his song, he was going to decide on a proper name for the beast, maybe fix him up with a spot of breakfast. He's a giving creature, Matthew.
"Well, that's a relief," Matthew says when John says they aren't here for him. Matthew gets into trouble sometimes, but it generally has more to do with other people's girlfriends, or staying places past his welcome. Guns rarely come into the picture.
And then Matthew's eyes widen when John mentions they're here for the monster. "Him?" Matthew asks, as if there is... any other beast within the immediate vicinity. "Does he belong to you, then? Sorry about that. I didn't see anyone else around." He reaches up and pats the beast on its head, missing the point yet again ( ... )
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John is still giving Matthew a look, as if he isn't quite sure if the man is real or not. "Why--why would I shoot you for a guitar?" he asks, and he doesn't know who's missing the point, but he's pretty sure they're both missing something.
Lena rolls her eyes and lifts up the gun, ready to aim if it leaps off the bench.
"Yeah, it's ours. We're taking him to a real special zoo--"
And then it does just that, leap off the bench. They both fire at the same time before it can sink its claws in to them. John straightens up and looks over at Matthew. "He's not going to...lose it over the monster, is he?" he asks underneath a whisper.
"Ssssh!"
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Most people give Matthew this look. Usually it's because he tends to dress like a futuristic prostitute or because they're in awe of his hair, so Matthew's not bothered. "I've no idea," Matthew says. "You are carrying a gun, mate. I've been robbed for less."
Kind of a walking target for muggers, Matthew. It'd be a problem if he weren't so easy-going about it.
Matthew doesn't have time to respond before Lena and John start shooting at the monster. He's too shocked to move one way or the other, and before he can, the thing is rather... well, dead.
There is a pause as Matthew looks at his friend of the past forty-five minutes, and then over and Lena and John. His mouth is hanging open in dismay. "You idiots! You've killed him. What's he done to you?"
You mean besides try to have them for breakfast, Matthew? Apparently the answer to your question is yes, John, a bit.
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"A lot of people here carry guns," John says with the slight quirk of his brow. He registers as an angel to John, so he'd assumed he was maybe a native to Chicago. HE GUESSES NOT. "You new to the city?"
Oh, Matthew. Muggers are the least of your concern here in this alternate Windy City. Then again, the monsters seem to like you, so maybe not.
Lena lowers her gone and then looks mortally offended when she's called an idiot. "What do you mean what's he done to us? He was going to make us monster kibble, would you have preferred we waited until it started chewing on one of our limbs?"
John is scratching the back of his head. "Uh, what she means to say, though she is saying it rather poorly, is we both wanted the monster--to go to a better life."
They both look at each other. "... We can give him a proper burial?"
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It's like breathing is a crime, Jesus.
Oh, Matthew. The narration cannot explain how deeply she loves you now.
"There wouldn't have been time before we became monster chow," Lena explains gently, as she can see his reaction and she doesn't want a sparring match over what is, quite honestly, someone who means no harm and has wicked silver boots. "It's our job though I suppose we could've been...gentler. About it."
John gives her another look, like maybe she's drunk the kool-aid ( ... )
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Translation: Matthew yammered on about David Bowie and the monster was too disappointed in Matthew's lack of abject fear to eat him. But as far as Matthew's concerned, they were becoming fast friends.
"Well, I don't know about that," Matthew says. "He didn't eat me, did he? Maybe he'd have had a change of heart." He nods, offering Lena an easy smile as if to say you have to do what you have to do. Really, it's the kind of look you'd give a dog after he decided to bring home a poor little squirrel between his teeth. Circle of life, and all that.
Matthew full on grins when Lena puts John up to the task. It's possible he's becoming a little more aware of John's reluctance to participate in the whole thing, but that doesn't mean he's going to drop it ( ... )
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Sorry 'bout that, Matthew.
"It could've been too late and by then I'd have lost a limb. We're not saying... Charlie's life wasn't important. We are just saying... human life above all is our main concern... here," Lena says helpfully.
John scratches the back of his head, fingers itching for a cigarette.
Lena is having to hide a grin of her own, not going to lie. She will probably regret this later when John exacts his own form of revenge but for now she will be secretly laughing her ass off. She clearly her throat helpfully. "If you know Dust in the Wind, that might be somewhat appropriate," she ( ... )
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He looked lost because he was trying to figure out where all his potential victims had gone, Matthew. Oh well ( ... )
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Maybe it would have changed had they spent a bit more time together.
Maybe the monster would have loved Matthew's singing and combing and shiny silver boots too much and spared him.
No one will ever know because John and Lena have killed it, alas.
Truly sorry about that, Matthew.
Lena snorts at the dismissal and lifts up both hands in a gesture of surrender.
Clearly, he is the one with the musical prowess here.
"Now it's your turn," John prompts to Matthew, eyes narrowing at the expression on his face--this guy's enjoying it too much. Like hell he's going to be the only one to give a speech to a monster's corpse.
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As he's shown, and will continue to show.
It's all right, guys. Matthew will find new friends! Possibly new monster friends, or he'll make friends with a passing leaf, or a group of gazelles...
It's difficult to say, but it's certain he'll never stay lonely for long.
Matthew keeps plucking at his little tune, meeting John's narrowed gaze with nothing but a simple, harmless smile. It doesn't bother him to give speeches for a monster - although the thing is getting a bit rank ( ... )
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