[It wasn't a spirit, but he was somewhat inhuman. Humanoid, to be more precise, but not human. He certainly wasn't a spirit, although by all means he should have been. Mike should have been dead, but he wasn't. Not that he was complaining; being alive had its advantages
( ... )
[Ironically enough, Lottie had a little day dream in the back of her mind that involved Mike coming to New Orleans. When she thought of it, she, herself, couldn't figure out whether she would, or even could, introduce Mike. But she never really had a situation in which a secret must be kept, either.
Stella had gotten up from her pearch to go up to the window to bark. Luckily, the pudgy thing couldn't get her head completely over the seal, but Mike might have to avoid some slobber.
Nervously and warily trotting over, a beauty pagent trophy in one hand as a "weapon", she went over to the window, pushing Stella aside with her legs. She meekly peered out; nothing out in the distance or on the ground but the servants.
She backed up again.] Jus' what in th'world are you barkin' at, Stellah? Go on, show me.
[The dog went back to the window, trying her hardest to claw her way up enough to peer down at Mike. Lottie walked back up to the window, this time hovering over Stella, and trying to follow her gaze. Upon doing so, she saw
( ... )
[This just really wasn't his night. He hadn't meant to scare Lottie. Really, he hadn't. But now that he had, the hired help's lantern was quickly approaching, and he would be found.
But the light in the room was out, and he had no other choice. He dove through the window, trying to avoid being seen in the near darkness of the room. Mike half-scrambled behind the dressing screen and crouched down, knowing the dog would be on him in a moment. But it quieted his instincts temporarily.
So, instead of just trying to wait this out, he had to let Lottie know he wasn't going to attack her.]
[Before he spoke, Lottie had seen him start to run to the other side of the room. Terrified it was an intruder, or worse, a demon, she chucked the trophy at him.
Stella was barking and growling like mad, waddling as fast as she could over to attack the stranger in her territory. She scrambled to her feet, ready to run, just in case. And then, she heard his voice.
Something about that voice was oddly familiar. Wait-!]
[Mike winced as the trophy cracked into the shelf, the force knocking off books and knick knacks that dropped onto and bounced off of his shell. Better than his head.
He heard the dog approach, but knew she wasn't that much of a threat. Not that he really wanted to hurt a dog. Mike reached into his hip pack for a bit of food that he had nicked from the kitchen, in case Lottie didn't--
--but she did. Which was good. But there wasn't time for a reunion, as others would be here any second, and he had to remain hidden.]
Yes, Mike! Call off your dog before someone gets here and finds me!
[The dog wasn't really interested in listening. Lottie stamped her foot.]
STELLAH. Get back in your bed or I'll put you out for th'night!
[Sure enough, that threat was enough to cause her to stick her tail between her legs and waddle up into her bed. She kept a watchful eye on the strange turtle-man, though.
Lottie walked over to the screen and peeked behind it.]
You alright there, sugah? I'm so sorry 'bout this...
[He answers quickly, automatically. There are other things on his mind.]
I'm good.
[Mike glances around the screen, past Lottie. He doesn't hear anyone running towards them yet. That makes him frown. What were those idiots doing while he was up here with Lottie? This was exactly why he was here in the first place.
It's alright, sugah. Sorry for throwin' that there trophy at you.
...Say, why are you in N'ahlans anyways?
[Well, they were slow, but some of the servents were coming down the hall now, their shoes echoing on the rich wood floors. There was a rather sudden knock on the door, and a man asking "Miss Le Bouff? Is everything alright?".]
Stay here, sugah. I'll jus' be a minute.
[Lottie went out into the hall to calm them. It was a little tough to hear through the door, but she said something about a frog hopping into her room; a good excuse for Stella's barking and Lottie's scream. After the Mardi Gras incident, no one would suspect Lottie of screaming at the frogs she once used to go out, catch, kiss, and see if they would turn into princes.
She bid them good night, and closed the door with a relieved sigh.]
[Mike doesn't answer about why he's there, and he lucks out with the distraction that the servants provide. When she goes to comfort the servants, he closes his eyes for a moment. Crisis averted.
He only finally emerges from behind the screen after she closes the door, nodding to her statement--he remembered seeing her father leave earlier. Mike had been careful to preserve as much of his night vision as possible, prior to the accident, and so he's adjusting to the near-darkness faster than Lottie. It also helped that he was a turtle, but that was another thing entirely.
Yes... Jus' a l'il startled and relieved from findin' you, but that's all- [And unfortunately, she probably needs eyesight like his; one of the knick knacks on the shelf that fell was a gold ball; a replica from the story the Frog Princess. In the dark, Lottie couldn't see it, and subsequently, tripped. Hopefully Mike can catch her in time?]
[Mike does catch her in time. He throws himself forward arm reaching around her to steady her. Predictably, this had the "unfortunate" side effect of her chest ending up pressed against his plastron for a moment.
He quickly tried to correct this by moving his hand around to the top of her back and settling it on her shoulder, gently pushing to straighten her.]
[Lottie, being horribly oblivious, didn't even realize Mike's uncomfortableness with her breasts. Her arms were flung over his shoulders due to the trip, which probably didn't help matters. With his assistance, though, she was soon on her feet; although she kept her arms on his shoulders a while longer to make sure she wouldn't lose her balance again in the dark.]
Ack! I'm so sorry, sugah! I can't see a darn thing without my light plugged in.
[She sort of just stared at him for a minute after that, arms around his shoulder, trying to find those familiar features of his face in the dark. Once she realized it was a little awkward, and that she couldn't she squat in the unlit room, she quickly removed herself from him, and started to meander over to her lamp.
Luck was not on Lottie's side. She ran strait into one of her bedposts.] Ow!
[Mike let out a little snort of what is probably amusement, then walked over and put his hand on her shoulder. Yes, they had been too close a moment before, but now she was being a danger to herself.]
Maybe you should let me get it.
[He walked around her and went to get the knocked over lamp. Mike righted it, then plugged it in, and looked away as he turned it on. While he was still going to lose his night vision, he was at least not going to get completely blinded by the light.
The turtle watched Lottie quietly, looking her up and down. Lottie was in good shape and healthy. She was safe. He relaxed, just slightly, when he was finally satisfied.]
You look good.
[As in safe, fine, okay. Not pretty. ... not that Lottie would know that.]
[Even though she couldn't see much of him, she looked up and nodded.]
Thanks, sugah.
[She blinked quite a bit as the lights came on, but she quickly adjusted. She stood up, holding her forhead. It seemed the bed post got her a bit.] Aw, thank you, sugah... wait, I do?
[She trotted back over to the vanity, pulling her bangs out of her face. Sure enough, there was a little red spot that was sure to bruise; she ran a finger over it, wincing only slightly.] Horse feathahs! I'm goin' t'have t'wear my hair down and in fingah waves t'covah this.
[Mike looked slightly confused by this.] It's just a bruise.
[It took him a moment to remember, oh, yeah, girls cared about these sorts of things. They like to not have any sort of blemish on their skin. That was something they were picky about, very picky.]
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Stella had gotten up from her pearch to go up to the window to bark. Luckily, the pudgy thing couldn't get her head completely over the seal, but Mike might have to avoid some slobber.
Nervously and warily trotting over, a beauty pagent trophy in one hand as a "weapon", she went over to the window, pushing Stella aside with her legs. She meekly peered out; nothing out in the distance or on the ground but the servants.
She backed up again.] Jus' what in th'world are you barkin' at, Stellah? Go on, show me.
[The dog went back to the window, trying her hardest to claw her way up enough to peer down at Mike. Lottie walked back up to the window, this time hovering over Stella, and trying to follow her gaze. Upon doing so, she saw ( ... )
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But the light in the room was out, and he had no other choice. He dove through the window, trying to avoid being seen in the near darkness of the room. Mike half-scrambled behind the dressing screen and crouched down, knowing the dog would be on him in a moment. But it quieted his instincts temporarily.
So, instead of just trying to wait this out, he had to let Lottie know he wasn't going to attack her.]
Lottie! Lottie! It's me!
[He hoped she remembered him.]
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Stella was barking and growling like mad, waddling as fast as she could over to attack the stranger in her territory. She scrambled to her feet, ready to run, just in case. And then, she heard his voice.
Something about that voice was oddly familiar. Wait-!]
Mike? Is that you?
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He heard the dog approach, but knew she wasn't that much of a threat. Not that he really wanted to hurt a dog. Mike reached into his hip pack for a bit of food that he had nicked from the kitchen, in case Lottie didn't--
--but she did. Which was good. But there wasn't time for a reunion, as others would be here any second, and he had to remain hidden.]
Yes, Mike! Call off your dog before someone gets here and finds me!
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[The dog wasn't really interested in listening. Lottie stamped her foot.]
STELLAH. Get back in your bed or I'll put you out for th'night!
[Sure enough, that threat was enough to cause her to stick her tail between her legs and waddle up into her bed. She kept a watchful eye on the strange turtle-man, though.
Lottie walked over to the screen and peeked behind it.]
You alright there, sugah? I'm so sorry 'bout this...
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I'm good.
[Mike glances around the screen, past Lottie. He doesn't hear anyone running towards them yet. That makes him frown. What were those idiots doing while he was up here with Lottie? This was exactly why he was here in the first place.
He looks back to Lottie, right at her.]
Sorry. For startling you.
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...Say, why are you in N'ahlans anyways?
[Well, they were slow, but some of the servents were coming down the hall now, their shoes echoing on the rich wood floors. There was a rather sudden knock on the door, and a man asking "Miss Le Bouff? Is everything alright?".]
Stay here, sugah. I'll jus' be a minute.
[Lottie went out into the hall to calm them. It was a little tough to hear through the door, but she said something about a frog hopping into her room; a good excuse for Stella's barking and Lottie's scream. After the Mardi Gras incident, no one would suspect Lottie of screaming at the frogs she once used to go out, catch, kiss, and see if they would turn into princes.
She bid them good night, and closed the door with a relieved sigh.]
Good thing Big Daddy's out in a business meetin'.
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[Mike doesn't answer about why he's there, and he lucks out with the distraction that the servants provide. When she goes to comfort the servants, he closes his eyes for a moment. Crisis averted.
He only finally emerges from behind the screen after she closes the door, nodding to her statement--he remembered seeing her father leave earlier. Mike had been careful to preserve as much of his night vision as possible, prior to the accident, and so he's adjusting to the near-darkness faster than Lottie. It also helped that he was a turtle, but that was another thing entirely.
So he just looks her up and down before asking.]
You okay?
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Yes... Jus' a l'il startled and relieved from findin' you, but that's all- [And unfortunately, she probably needs eyesight like his; one of the knick knacks on the shelf that fell was a gold ball; a replica from the story the Frog Princess. In the dark, Lottie couldn't see it, and subsequently, tripped. Hopefully Mike can catch her in time?]
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He quickly tried to correct this by moving his hand around to the top of her back and settling it on her shoulder, gently pushing to straighten her.]
... ... ... Like I said, you okay?
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Ack! I'm so sorry, sugah! I can't see a darn thing without my light plugged in.
[She sort of just stared at him for a minute after that, arms around his shoulder, trying to find those familiar features of his face in the dark. Once she realized it was a little awkward, and that she couldn't she squat in the unlit room, she quickly removed herself from him, and started to meander over to her lamp.
Luck was not on Lottie's side. She ran strait into one of her bedposts.] Ow!
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Maybe you should let me get it.
[He walked around her and went to get the knocked over lamp. Mike righted it, then plugged it in, and looked away as he turned it on. While he was still going to lose his night vision, he was at least not going to get completely blinded by the light.
The turtle watched Lottie quietly, looking her up and down. Lottie was in good shape and healthy. She was safe. He relaxed, just slightly, when he was finally satisfied.]
You look good.
[As in safe, fine, okay. Not pretty. ... not that Lottie would know that.]
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Thanks, sugah.
[She blinked quite a bit as the lights came on, but she quickly adjusted. She stood up, holding her forhead. It seemed the bed post got her a bit.] Aw, thank you, sugah... wait, I do?
[She trotted back over to the vanity, pulling her bangs out of her face. Sure enough, there was a little red spot that was sure to bruise; she ran a finger over it, wincing only slightly.] Horse feathahs! I'm goin' t'have t'wear my hair down and in fingah waves t'covah this.
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[It took him a moment to remember, oh, yeah, girls cared about these sorts of things. They like to not have any sort of blemish on their skin. That was something they were picky about, very picky.]
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Luckily. I sure hope Big Daddy wont see it, though. He usually ovahreacts when I get knicks like this.
And I sure hope Mistah Jones wont see it eithah.
[Who?]
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