The reason I'm Insane!! (Strell)

[Linalyn]

2nd of Fall 511AV around 7am

She was on stage, lights burning bright above her. This was it. The playhouse was filled to the brim. Opening night, her night. The music started and she took her place, beginning her dance. Costume glittering in the lights, fabric flowing with each movement. Everything was exceptional. People applauded.

Then a slight smell of alchohol. The music was sounding wrong. People gasped, whispers rose from the crowd. She looked at the people, they stared at her. She searched for something to find out what was wrong. A mirror. She gasped at her raccoon form. She looked at her hands, they looked human. But, the mirror couldn't lie. Then drunken singing...?

Linalyn woke to the off tune song, covering her ears. She looked at the clock. Was he just NOW getting home and was he drunk ALREADY?!?

She scurried out to see the mess that had just come in the door. The raccoon watched from the shadows, only to turn into a woman. "Did you just get home, AND you're drunk it's seven in the morning! What were you thinking?!"

[Strell Ledaner]

Strell sauntered past Linalyn, a sway of drunkenness in his step. "Why my lithe feline, of course I'm not..." He hiccuped, his breath was filled with the stench of rum. "Drunk.." He smirked at her, awkwardly tossing his cloak onto the floor. "Who's an upset little kitten..? You want some cream, my little.." He hiccuped again and leaned onto the door frame of the bedroom door. "My little.. cat.."

Strell's head was spinning, he went too far with his drinking again. His drinking habits hadn't changed a bit since he first came in contact with Linalyn. The only thing that improved was his lute playing skills, and he had this girl to thank for that.

"I.. I'm going to... Bed now..." Strell collapsed onto the bed, asleep before he hit the covers.

[Linalyn]

Linalyn fumed climbing ontop of the 'sleepin' drunk, fighting off the urge to strangle him. Her hands made their way to his neck, she held them there. "You stupid, stupid drunkard..." Her hands tightened slightly, "I have told you again and again... I AM A RACCOON! Not a cat...Not a kitty..A raccoon. She climbed off of him, before he woke up and decided to make a grab for her rear.

Linalyn got dressed in her elegant style. Tying the last of the ribbons on her dress she scaned the poorly kept house. "He promised to help clean this shack... I'll just hide his hat on him again.." Once again she was on cleaning duty, picking up discarded clothes belonging to Strell. Bottles were piled here and there, also all Strell's. Linalyn grumbled, all she wanted to do was be on stage. Among a pile she found a marker. She debated it in her head. He deserved it. Carefully she worked her magic giving the drunk a new look. Stepping back she grined, and went to hide the bard's hat.

[Strell Ledaner]

Strell batted Linalyn's hand lightly as he subconsciously felt her drawing in his face with the marker. "No more music until I get paid..." He muttered in his sleep, he was dreaming a super imposed visual of what happened that day while he was out.

The bar was half empty, just Strell and a few other men besides the barkeeper were still about. Getting ready to pack up for the day, Strell took his lute and a bottle of rum and began to pack up. Looking out of the corner of his eye, Strell noticed a rather big man approaching him. "Ha! Why did you stop? Play another one you worthless pile of crap!" Strell grinned at the large man and flicked another cord on his lute. "Fine, fine.." Strell began to play a song for the man.

"So you, you've got it all.
While the world, seems oh so small.
From this town, you'll never leave.
Lost, forever you shall be....

In this town of Alvadas,
Its a place of twists and turns.
Nothing ever is the same
And difference is a must

For Alvadas is a city
of both wonder and chaos.
The god laughs and chortles
while you just scream and curse..."

Before Strell could put more words to the song he was making up on the spot in his dream, he sat up suddenly in the bed. Sober as the day he set foot on dry land. "Linalyn! Hey, do you know where my hat is?"

[Linalyn]

" Hat? You mean that damned one with the feather? I haven't seen it, and if I had I would of surely burned it..." Linalyn emerged from a back room only to look at Strell, holding back her laughter. " My dear man, have I told you how wonderful you look lately?" She smiled her dishonest little smile and went back to cleaning.

Linalyn paused, "Oh now I remember," she shook her head, "Silly me..." She turned to Strell, "I saw that demented hat in the bathroom." She made sure to neglect to tell him she had placed it under the pile of dirty undergarments she had cleaned up earlier. She wandered to her room to listen for Strell's finding of his hat.

[Strell Ledaner]

"I look wonderful? You really mean it?" Strell grinned and got up, brushing himself off before muttering. "I don't remember putting my hat in the bathroom..." Strell walked into the bathroom and looked around, looking twice at the mirror before sighing and rolling his eyes, proceeding to clean his face off. "I see what you did Linalyn!"

Strell grumbled and began to look around, seeing the white feather in his hat under some clothing, he picked it up and brushed it off. "Linalyn, that wasn't funny!" Picking up the dirty clothes, he placed them in a basket beside the door to the bathroom. Walking into the kitchen, Strell sat in one of the chairs and took out his lute, proceeding to play a tune he knew would annoy Linalyn.

[Linalyn]

Linalyn's head apeared from around the corner, "It wasn't? I thought it was, and besides I was cleaning the house. When it was your turn! How much mone-."

The music hit her ears, like nails down chalkboard. Linalyn covered her ears, it was unbearable. "Streeeelllllll!" She fumed. At least she could escape somewhat. She loosened the ribbons on her dress, letting her dress fall to the floor. In a flash of bright light the racoon scurried out an open window and onto the roof. It was going to take alot of sweet talking to get her to come back down and inside.

[Strell Ledaner]

Strell chuckled to himself and switched to playing a lighter song. He hadn't mean't to make Linalyn run out but as long as he was sitting there with his lute, he was going to play.

A few minutes of playing later, Strell sighed and set his Lute beside his chair and reached into his pocket. Withdrawing his hand, he placed fifty mezas on the table. Placing his hat on his head and down over his eyes, he picked his lute back up and went outside.

Glancing back up at the roof of the house, Strell yelled up to Linalyn. "The money I made the other night is on the table, can't say I don't help around here!" Shrugging, Strell sat on the ground, back up against the house wall. Lute in hand he began playing a tune he knew that Linalyn didn't mind.

[Linalyn]

The small raccoon watched from a distance, not leaving the roof. She wasn't going to cave so easily. But still.. No. No no no. She shook her head trying to rid her head of such thoughts. 'He's a drunk,' she reminded herself. No pity. No compasion. Most certainly no...ughh..feelings of any kind towards the man. No love!! It was becoming a daily battle of beating these feelings out of her head. He didn't care. He couldn't care. He left and went drinking, leaving her all alone. If he did care would he not spend more time with her? Every night he left, Linalyn wondered if he'd be back. If he'd be safe.

She snuck in the open window, and made her way to the bedroom. Her shoebox sat high on a shelf. She looked at it for a long time. Making up her mind she became human again and crawled onto the small materess not far from her box. She pulled up the covers and blankets over her head. She didn't know why she was in his bed, she just was. Then she was fast asleep.

[Strell Ledaner]

Strell watched Linalyn head inside the house out of the corner of his eye. He sat outside and played another tune, letting his mind drift before getting up and heading inside. Pouring himself some water, Strell sighed and took a drink. "Crazy Raccoon..." Shaking his head, Strell walked into his room, blinking as he saw Linalyn in his bed, asleep. Not wanting to bother her, he grabbed an extra blanket and laid down on the floor beside the bed. "Maybe I'll sleep better on the floor..." He muttered quietly, staring at the ceiling. 'Why is she always angry at me... I bring in some money.. Yeah I can be lazy around the house at times, but she is always angry... Maybe I'll see about getting her a gift..' Closing his eyes, Strell yawned quietly and fell asleep.