| .......... |
.......... C A S T |
.............................. Frank |
.............................. Amahle |
Frank and Amahle meet up for their weekly Sailormoon watch.
Tags: #frank #amahle #fm #bandito #sailormoon
Amahle Moreau 15-Apr-21 05:54 PM
Amahle took the usual ride in the subway to the Research District. She never much liked going there, unless that reason was to see a rare and very special friend. This treat was done one night a week, if she could manage—it was harder to do lately since she started working under Frankie a week ago. Managing to snag a time for this was a miracle in of itself. She prayed her boss wouldn’t call her for the rest of the night. Tonight... she can finally do her own thing and be a complete dork with a fellow dork.
The woman wore a hoodie much too big for her, and baggy pants with a drawstring. The hood covered nearly her entire face, with ear buds shoved in her ear. Nothing about her appearance stood out as ‘I AM FROM THE SNOOTY SUPERIOR PURPLE SIDE’, but it didn’t stop most folks from being curious and questioning. She kept to herself as much as possible, lied when she had to, until the subway train slowed to a stop. It was a long walk from here.
Amahle walked along the street while listening to her favorite jams, looking left and right in case she got tackled or mugged for being Purple. Won’t be the first, or last time it happened, probably.
The familiar facility’s abandoned warehouse made Ama look up with an enormous grin on her face. She was finally here! A little later then expected, but...
A hand reached out to the door. Amahle hesitated, looking fearfully over her shoulder, hoping to God no one followed her here before pushing the door open and entering. Once inside, Amahle lowered her hood. “Phew. Hello? Frank?”
Frank 15-Apr-21 06:39 PM
Frank could move a lot less conspicuously—by being utterly conspicuous. People expected Banditos to be wherever the damn they pleased. A tall, conspicuous beanpole all in green was an Expected Annoyance.
Amahle hoped no one had followed her, but Frank was suspiciously absent when she entered the building. Instead, the shadow followed her in. "Y'looks a little outa place, ducky." It was jokey and not at all threatening, and Frank rolled out of the 'shadows' with his dorky hat and big heart sunglasses.
"'Ow's tings?"
Amahle Moreau 15-Apr-21 06:54 PM
Amahle leapt about ten feet into the air when Frank snuck up behind her. She yelped then slapped a hand over her mouth, whipping around and glaring at her friend through her rose-tinted glasses. “Gosh darn it,” she muttered scathingly, throwing a weak swing at Frank’s arm. She missed, because the Bandito rolled out of the way just in time. “I hate it when you do that!”
There was a lot to envy about Frank. He was cool, and did just about whatever he wanted. Amahle, on the other hand, had a life revolving around rigid schedules. Her one and only time to express herself was at the burlesque, and more rarely, nights spent lounging at the Research Facility warehouse.
“Nice glasses,” she snorted. “They’re almost as cool as mine.” She tapped her own with a grin. “What do you mean, ‘out of place’?” She mistook what Frank said, clearly! “I told you...” She whipped off her entire hoodie in one go, revealing a stylized sailor outfit with a big red bow, looking odd against her baggy pants.
At Frank’s question, Amahle hunched slightly and sighed. “I’m... so tired,” she complained. “It’s already been a week, and I’m feeling pretty burnt out. I think today I had five triple shot espressos just to keep up with Mr. Valentine...” Amahle moved to a chair and sank into it, looking like she could do better with a few days’ worth of sleep. “And I thought I was in pretty darn good shape... to be honest, o don’t even think my boss is human...”
Oh, sweet summer child, you live in a city where people are barely even human at all any more. Except Squares. Nobody really gives a hoot about them, ptttt.
Frank 15-Apr-21 09:03 PM
Frank wore a wide grin on his face, bent forward at the waist with his hands clasped innocently behind his back. He rolled idly away with a light, breathy laugh. "I gots a rep t'keep!"
He eyed up Amahle's rose-tinted specs as she adjusted them on her face, and almost--almost--reached out to snatch them from her. She was taunting him, it was in his Bandito blood. But her next move threw him off completely, and he dropped his hand with a distracted gasp. "Y'really did it! Y'look ridiculous, Rosey, I loves it." He needed to pop home and get his equally-as-ridiculous Sailor Venus cosplay.
"Jeez, sounds like da pits." He rolled after her, hands in his pockets, and let her have Top Pick of the comfiest seat. "Da's a surefire way t' gives y'self a 'eart attack. B'y needs two assistants—too damned sparky!" He left her to rest, rolling onwards to go and set up the projector. At least this was a good place to Unwind. "Shoulda scooped a case, t'unwind wit'." Ahwell. He rolled back with his phone as the remote, flopping down into the next closest pile of cushions.
"Now I gots'ta find a Mars ep, y'know, t'fit your look." He started browsing.
Amahle Moreau 16-Apr-21 05:52 AM
“What rep? You mean the one where you’re a total dork.” Amahle stuck out her tongue and blew loud raspberries, then looked sheepishly at her top. “Yeah, I did, but where is YOURS? Geez, you made me wear this on my own!” She was smiling despite herself, happy to show it off.
“Yeah, maybe I’ll do that next time. I wasn’t able to grab anything, I was already running kind of late. Just hope big ol’ boss man doesn’t call me while I’m here...” She sighed grimly, knowing it wasn’t necessary to finish her sentence to get the point across to Frank. It really sucked having to choose between her friend and work.
“Oh! Oh! How about episode forty-eight, Sailor Moon R?” Amahle gave Frank a significant look. “You know the one. Where Raye sings that one song.” She lifted her chin, and belted out, “CALL MY NAME AND I’LL BE THERE!” She didn’t have a terrible voice! In fact, she was a great singer! “Totally not a rip-off of the FRIENDS theme song, hah. I’m joking, I’m joking... I prefer Raye’s song anyway. FRIENDS was poopie.”
Frank 16-Apr-21 08:36 PM
Frank gasped, aghast! "Bandito's are da stuff o' nightmares, Rosey!" Look at him!! Just imagine the terrifying flash of heart-shaped glasses from the shadows. "Next time." Having thrown himself down onto one of the pile of cushions, he gave her a Look. "Oof, da's rough. Valentine needs a--army o' assistants. On rotation, see. Y'needs a break, Rosey." And she'd only just started.
He perked up at her suggestion, immediately flipping through their digital catalogue for the episode in question. "Dere's notin' like da laughter dat we shaaare." The episode was just starting, but he interrupted the opening credits to sing with her (maybe he'd have a the Voice if not for the accent—or maybe he was using the accent on purpose). "Just da kinda ep we's need." Good Dub Jams, all the way. He pulled a bag out from under his cloak, opening it to reveal a cash of junkfood. Amahle had a bag of skittles thrown at her.
Amahle Moreau 17-Apr-21 05:12 AM
“Nightmares. Right.” Amahle’s eyes swung to the ceiling before falling on Frank’s heart-shaped glasses. Haha, what a loser, she thought with a smile. “Oh nooo, I’m shaking in my boooots...” Amahle threw up her jazz hands, but it was all in good fun.
Amahle laughed derisively, but not at Frank. “Yeah, I mean, to be fair, there are others helping me. Just... I’m already so far behind because the last person quit, so it just kind of... it became a huge drawback. I have a mountain of paperwork, plus phone calls to all these snooty VIPs, and associates, and... ugh.” The girl shuddered. “There is no break. I’m on call,” she said, waving her phone. She avoided Frank’s face as she said this. “
Thankful for the distraction, Amahle rose up a little straighter. And you better bet your ass she sang along to the theme song. It was iconic, and practically tradition. She caught the bag of skittles with grin and a thanks, ripping it open and popping a blue one in as the show started. “I agree, pal. This is a good one.”
Frank 17-Apr-21 08:05 PM
"What! No break? Y'mean y'gotta skidaddle right in da middle o' movie night!? Rosey." That was ridiculous. She deserved better. It was JUST like the FM to do that, too. "Y'needs ta fake her deat' fer a few 'ours." He shook his head as if this were Unfortunate, But Clearly Unavoidable.
He settled into the chair beside her, holding his own bag of candy. His hat was set aside so he could recline comfortably, putting his feet up on a beanbag cushion to cross his rollerblades Politely. The episode played, and he laughed, snacked, sang along heartily to ‘Say My Name’, and watched to make sure Amehle was having a good time.
Amahle Moreau 17-Apr-21 09:02 PM
Amahle frowned and cast her eyes down at the floor, unable to respond. The ‘fake your death’ bit did make her laugh, however. “I don’t know, I think Mr. Valentine means well, it’s just... it is the first week.”
Wanting to turn things back into a positive light, Amahle reached over and stole one of Frank’s snacks, and popped it into her grinning mouth. To compensate, she held her skittle bag over for Frank to take some.
“Try not to worry too much. Things’ll fall into place eventually. I’ll make sure of that.”
* Call my name and I'll be there
There's nothing like the laughter that we share
Whenever you need someone
Or a shoulder to lean on
Call my name and I'll be there*
Truly... no song could be more fitting than the one Amahle chose.
Frank 18-Apr-21 01:40 AM
Frank pursed his lips with a drawn-out hum. "Ay." It was sweet of her to give him the benefit of the doubt. He supposed. He wasn't given room to dwell on it, though—with a comical gasp, he snatched his snacks, moving to hold them out of her reach, lest she steal more. The nerve! With a pout, he reached out to take a handful of offered skittles.
This was probably one of his favourite songs—he'd agree to just how fitting it was, if maybe for its own reasons, given his transient nature and odd vibe. As the episode came to a close, he looked her way again. "Couple more, Rosey? 'Ow's da time lookin'? Don't wants ta keep y'too late." Though he'd probably rather her just sleep here than brave the trek back to Purple so late.
Amahle Moreau 18-Apr-21 06:03 AM
That was one of Amahle’s biggest issues: she kept her schedule rigid with little wiggle room for anything else. If things went out of balance, then her whole world turned upside down.
Amahle grinned at her friend. “I’m good for a couple more!” she exclaimed. She was exhausted, but she would never pass up the opportunity to be with a dear friend. Frank was a very special person, someone she would aways make time for.
The girl was determined to stay awake, but by two in the morning, her eyes started drifting. Soon, she slumped over, fast asleep. She had not meant to, and it probably wasn’t the first time she passed out, nor would it be the last... but it said a lot to how comfortable she was here, especially around Frank.
Frank 18-Apr-21 01:08 PM
Frank squinted at her, but accepted her answer and started flipping through the app for more episodes. "If y'drift off, yer welcome t'stay da night." He'd make sure nothing happened to her.
True to his word, when he glanced over after several more episodes, he noted she'd finally fallen asleep. In half of a Sailor Mars costume and baggy sweatpants, she was a hilarious sight. But he stood and shuffled around to procure a blanket, draping it over her and moving their snacks off to one side. He tucked her in, turning off the projector so the glare wouldn't wake her, and settled in on his phone for a bit.
Other Banditos did use the warehouse, largely the lower floors, so he hung out for the night to make sure nobody disturbed her.
Amahle Moreau 19-Apr-21 09:54 AM
Turns out, Amahle slept for so long that she actually woke up feeling rested for the first time in a long time. Unfortunately, that meant that not only did she forget to set her alarm for the next day on her phone, but the minute she stirred, she snapped up and checked her phone. She had several messages waiting for her, and she slept through them all.
Mind, it was four in the morning, long before the sun peaked over the horizon. She was not sure if Frank was awake or not. She hastily slid on her hoodie and gathered her things, and woke up Frank if he was asleep. If not, she grimaced apologetically.
"Oh my god, I'm so late," she muttered. "Frank, I'm sorry, but I gotta go--I'm sorry for sleeping during the show--we can resume next week--thank you so much--" And giving her secret friend a hasty hug, she beelined for the exit and waved goodbye before shooting out the door, hoping to make it home in time for a shower and getting properly dressed (and without anyone noticing as she snuck back into her side of the island).
It would be terribly embarrassing to show up to work dressed in a Sailor Mars cosplay with baggy pants.
Frank 20-Apr-21 05:42 AM
Frank had stayed up on his phone for most of the night, but had eventually dossed off himself, sitting up suddenly when Amahle did. Banditos were light sleepers. "Yer fine, Rosey." He stifled a yawn, getting up himself and quickly trying to help gather her things. Helping pack, he grabbed up the half-eaten bag of skittles and shoved it into her bag—sugar for the road—before rolling with her towards the entrance. "Y'needs a pair o' blades. Faster mobility! Gogogo—" He jokingly hurried her along, but paused to return her quick hug. "Don't be too stressed, ducky!" A wave as she hurried off.
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