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[forced-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

A monkey wanders into the Bar, picking its teeth and singing loudly in Chinese. Picking its teeth with its feet, because it's walking on its hands.

The monkey is wearing a bright saffron robe, and waving a short metal baton around with his tail.

Na Mo A Mi Tuo Fo
Ba Ni Chi De Gei Wo
Wo Shi Yi Ge Hou Zi
Ni Yao Gei Wo Chi Shi?

Comments

[creator_raven]

Raven, who is perched on a nearby chair, tilts his head curiously.

"Are you keeping time with that? Or looking for something to bludgeon?"

Raven gestures toward the baton.

[forced-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

"The latter." Monkey waves it around, and it lengthens with each pass. "I took it from a dragon!"

[creator_raven]

Raven grins.

"By trickery, perhaps? Or the dragon's poor luck?"

He is ready to duck should it be required.

[forced-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

"It was a gift!" Monkey insists. People are always giving Monkey gifts.

[creator_raven]

Raven nods.

"That is the best way to get something, yes."

Particularly when one convinces people that a thing is a gift. This is rewarding on several levels.

[forced-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

Monkey turns into a raven and flies up onto Raven's table. "How are you, hei niao?"

[creator_raven]

Raven laughs.

"You wear that shape well. And I am well enough, I think. A little restless, perhaps. But it is no surprise."

[forced-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

"I have mastered the seventy-two transformations," Monkey brags off-handedly. He cocks his head, bird-like. "You should smite something."

[creator_raven]

Raven grins.

"I cannot number my transformations in so orderly a fashion. I forget too many of them."

He blinks.

"Smiting is a thing I am trying not to do, of late. Save for metaphorically."

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

Elaine smiles at the strange creature. He looks to be having a fine time, and likes his song, but does not understand the words.

[forced-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

Monkey grins at her upside down, and flips over. "Hello!"

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

Elaine is a little surprised when the creature speaks a language she can understand. "Hello! What manner of creature are you?"

[forced-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

"I'm a monkey!" How can people not know what monkeys are?

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

"Ah. I have heard of monkeys, but this is my first time seeing one. Where do you come from?"

[forced-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

"The island of flowers and fruit. I am on a pilgrimage."

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that sounds lovely...where do you wander for your pilgrimage?"

[forced-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

"We are going to India."

[maid-of-astolat.livejournal.com]

"I have never heard of that place...is it very far from your home?"

[anthy-rosebride.livejournal.com]

Chuchu watches Monkey with scribbly-eyed awe.

So much scribbly-eyed awe that he doesn't even steal and devour Anthy's plate of octopus dumplings, which she politely offers to Monkey.

[forced-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

Monkey devours half, and offers some to Chuchu. "He lost his tie. And you lost your glasses." He tugs at his crown, which isn't budging. "Good for you both!" He pats Chuchu on the head.

[anthy-rosebride.livejournal.com]

Happy burbling noises from Chuchu, who might be considering wanting to grow up to be Monkey.

Anthy's beaming. "Thank you. Maybe someday you'll lose the crown."

[forced-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

"Only once I learn to do what it wants without it," Monkey says glumly.

[anthy-rosebride.livejournal.com]

Chuchu makes sympathetic mouse noises. Because . . . he's a monkey. Yes.

Anthy doesn't. Because she's not a monkey.

"What does it want you to do?"

[forced-pilgrim.livejournal.com]

Monkey scritches Chuchu. "Stop sinning." He sticks his tongue out.

[anthy-rosebride.livejournal.com]

"That's too bad." Anthy offers more octopus dumplings. "If you stopped sinning, could you start again after the crown was removed?"