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[52_dropoff]

Cubefall offered Charlie the usual array of choices. Kitty cat? Nope. Robot. Nope.

Alien? He did that last time.

Beautiful woman (apparently a young Helen Mirren, circa The Long Good Friday)? It would be different. But that just never seemed like the best idea for some reason.

And…”well, that could be fun.”

The selection made, Charlie vanished. And was replaced by a chimpanzee. Wearing a rather well tailored suit. And a deerstalker cap.

A big dopey chimp grin came to Charlie’s face. And then, quick as a chimp, he leapt into the rafters with an ease he never had before. Making sure to hold on to his hat, of course.

[ooc: Couldn't wait to get this posted but will reply after work.]

Comments

[herr_bookman]

There's noise in the rafters--there's always noise in the rafters--but Autor looks up out of habit anyway. "Huh," he says. "Interesting choice."

Unless that's actually a chimp, though the suit makes him think otherwise.

[52_dropoff]

"Thanks. It feels odd in here, but it's been odder for Cubefall." Like being a superhuman plugged into the quantum field. He didn't sleep for all three days.

"You?"

[herr_bookman]

Oh, stars and garters, he can speak, he thinks.

Autor looks up and shifts, moving the hood on his cloak. "I haven't made my way to the vidscreens yet. What kinds of 'odder' have you dealt with?"

[OOC: Have to pop off for a bit, but wanted to get this started! :)]

[52_dropoff]

"I was an alien two years back, and a superhuman before that. And I passed on the robot, female and kitty cat forms." Not that being a woman or a cat is odd. "I feel a lot less out of sorts this time. If still strange."

[herr_bookman]

The kid nods, grinning. "I assume you're usually a male human, then? You look like you've taken to being a chimp rather well. Do you usually hang out in the rafters or is that just a monkey thing?"

[52_dropoff]

"I come up here two or three times a week. But I think the bodies we get for Cubefall know what to do anyway.

"But don't assume anything about who I am usually. I am male, but I could just as easily have been female. Anything can happen today." Or any day around here.

[herr_bookman]

"Fair enough," Autor says, nodding. "But you said you'd passed up the female option, which leads me to believe you're male, or neuter-gendered. And you passed up the robot and kitten options, which makes me think you're neither of those. And most of the patrons are humanoid in any case. Call it an educated guess?"

[52_dropoff]

"All true. And a tip of the hat to you for reasoning it out." Sure enough, he tips his hat. "I'm Charlie, by the way."

[herr_bookman]

"Hello," Autor dips his head. "Is that your chimp name or your real one?"

[52_dropoff]

"My real name. The chimp's name is Bobo, or Detective Chimp. I plan to stay with Charlie." It's confusing enough as it is.

[herr_bookman]

"Wait, Cubefall transformations come with a name?" he says, blinking. "Or is this a specific chimp that you've changed into?"

[52_dropoff]

"It's a specific chimp. He's something of an Internet celebrity at home. Or an urban legend. Depends on who you ask."

[herr_bookman]

"Huh, I see," the kid says, and cups his chin in his hand. "What is the Internet?"

[ikissdhimbck]

There seems to be a lot of big dopey animal grins in the bar today. Tommy's let her up long enough to go outside and — well, do what dogs do. So she watches the chimp in fascination, laughing when it leaps up into the rafters.

She keeps half an eye out for thrown peanuts.

What? She has some experience with monkeykind.

[52_dropoff]

"You find chimps funny?" Yes, he heard her. Better hearing than usual? Maybe.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Oh."

Her eyes widen, and her face heats.

"N-no. Not if that bothers you. Sir."

[52_dropoff]

"Why should it? Chimps tend to be comical to most people. And usually I'm people. I just didn't realize I was being funny." He thought he was being graceful. And maybe he was, for a chimp.

"And please, don't ever call me Sir. Especially now."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Oh."


Well, then. In that case ...

"Yes. I think chimps are funny."

She waves off another snicker, craning her neck to get a good look at him.

"Not that y'weren't graceful! There's jus' somethin' about watchin' a monkey climb around."

[52_dropoff]

"I have to do this." He dangles from the rafter so he's a bit closer. "Chimps aren't monkeys. Monkeys have tails."

[ikissdhimbck]

She takes the correction in stride.

"Primates," she amends, smiling. "I never thought I'd have a debate with a chimp. Talkin' animals are still a li'l strange, even after all my years here."

Not in a bad way, just in a did that monkey just talk to me? way.

[52_dropoff]

"Believe it or not, the chimp I am impersonating can actually talk. And solve crimes. MY world can be strange. But I know what you mean.

"If you want to debate, though, I can offer a whole host of subjects. Free will versus determinism. Nature vs. nurture. The rights of the individual versus the rights of a community. Or Lincoln versus Douglas." He's feeling cheeky today. Blame the body.

[ikissdhimbck]

Her eyes widen.

"You're a crime-solvin' talkin' chimp who can debate Lincoln versus Douglas with me? Well, now I really have seen it all."

[52_dropoff]

"It's Cubefall. Different is the whole idea." He lets go of the rafter and lands on the ground awkwardly.

"Should note the the rest of the time, I can do the debates and even the crimefighting."

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate grins.

"I reckon y'have a point. There's somethin' — freein' about bein' different for a few days. Remind me of your name?"

[52_dropoff]

"Charlie. I think we might have chatted once or twice some time back. Normally I'm taller and have red hair?" He misses his red hair. But who wants to be a red ape?