Snicker-Snack (Tyranny)

“Eh?” Shin laughed as she commented on bad-smelling ladies and his scent. “Well, thanks. I do what I can.” Nothing special, just bathing once or twice a day depending on the exercise routine he was handling. The taxi cab rattled along, and he glanced away from the freezing window at Tyranny’s face. “You smell nice, too…” I guess. His bangs shook as he gave a light chuckle. It was an odd way to start a cab conversation. She was definitely not your average girl off the street. “So, odd question. You ever read anything by Kiyohiko Azuma?”

The cab went over a bump as he mentioned the mangaka, rocking his shoulder into Tyranny’s. A puddle sloshed against the window at his side. Raindrops trickled down it like a horse race.

“Yeah, that’s one of his. Slice of life anime about a bunch of high school girls. He also did one comic about this girl who moved into a new house in a new part of town and looked at the entire world with wonder…” Shin scratched the back of his head with a weak laugh. “Kinda reminds me of how your eyes lit up when you mentioned moving the statue…” Not that that was a bad thing. And air conditioners were evil, to be sure. “A friend got me into the series a while back. I think it changed my life.” The conversation continued.

Before he knew it, they were at the place. Tyranny told the cabbie to wait for them with the meter off, and Shin thanked him fervently as he assented. The Asian followed Tyranny into the Quartz Rose. He glanced around the room uncertainly, ogling all the many things. A cuckoo clock in the corner ticked away patiently as the cuckoo sat on its perch. The whole room smelled of something akin to rose petals and cinnamon.

The old lady with the pepper-bun hair walked up to them. Shin smiled at her. “Good afternoon.”

“Pinches?” Shin squeaked, taking a half-step back and covering his bum. He looked from woman to woman, then turned to pull a piece of folded paper from his inner pocket. “I’ll just be over here while you’re working, then.” He leaned against the wall, pressing the paper against his palm for a flat base. A pen scribbled furiously on the little pad. As he drew, his brow furrowed, the tip of his tongue jutted out between teeth. A minute later, he was done! The ballpoint pen popped away. He folded the paper, passing it off to Tyranny with a good natured grin.

“Here,” the paper pressed into her palm. He turned to look at the old woman. “And just curious. What do you mean ‘Medusa’? Just what are we dealing with here…?”

On the paper, Shin had drawn a face shaped like a four leaf clover with a massive grin. Under that, the name ‘Yotsuba’ was written in bold 3D lettering, scribbled in with a dark dashed pen. She’d asked earlier what the comic’s title was. Well, there you go~

Mythology? No. He was more interested in science fiction. Giant robots, alien societies, future civilizations, and cyber punk worlds. Dystopia or Dinotopia, maybe a utopia, that was a good trope... eeh ah. He eyed the stone on the string as the old woman passed it off to Tyranny, and bowed his thanks.

"Thank you, miss. And sorry. Next time, I'll bring presents to make up for it. Hope you like chocolate rabbits. Anyways, good bye." He turned and followed Tyranny out the exit, tugging the back of his coat up over his head. Still raining... he raced her to the waiting taxi cab, swung through the door.

"Alright, now where did you want?" The cabbie eyed them like they were two crazy kids tugging at his hair.

"Central park, actually. Near the Mad Hatter statue... I guess that'd be East 74th Street, north of Conservatory Water. We'll have to walk from wherever you drop us off... good thing I've still got the umbrella." He hid a wry smirk.

He laughed at her joke, and tilted his head at the charm. "It's interesting. Are those Elvish...? Actually, I think I've seen that before in a book. Hold on..." He put a finger to the side of his head, snapped his eyes shut, and creased his brow in thinking. Images of dragons flew through his mind, quickly shifting to massive shapes in shadows that loomed over the hills. "Oh, right. Norse. I saw them in a book about trolls, and a woman who was very contrary... she was so contrary that... her husband drowned her. The Norwegian people have a very rich tapestry of tales." Shin blinked as the car went over a bump.

The green of the park in the distance whipped by around them. The scent of hotdog vendors was faint, bogged down by fresh rain. The car slid to a stop by the roadside, near a plaza.

"That'll be $23.50." The cabbie held out his hand through the window. Shin smiled, forking over a few bills and two quarters.

"Wow, cheap. You ready, Tyranny?" He popped out the door and tugged the umbrella open over his head. Water pounded the pavement and grass around him like a piledriver. His toe dipped in a massive puddle by the steps.

Shin ran after her, puddles reflecting his legs as he surmounted their breadths. His sneakers came down in a pool of mud and sent it splashing. His arms wavered back and forth a moment, in a desperate cling for his balance. Balance won.

He tugged the umbrella shut. He'd finally decided speed was better than protection in this ever loving downpour around them. The little button clicked into place as the fabric wrapped around sides, fastening the umbrella shut. He tugged the neck of his coat tighter to stave off the wet chill. Finally, he caught up.

"A bit crazy, diving into the rain head-on without protection." He laughed. The drum of the rain around him numbed his senses, and now his cheeks were feeling the after burn glow of a good run. "But I suppose it isn't too bad, struggling blindly through downpours. Even the worms make a point to come up out of their holes to bask in the wetness."

"Sounds like a plan," he smirked. She took off in burst of speed. He tore through the rain after her, in a run like explosives were on his heels. Each time they came down to touch grass, they shot back up into the air.

Darting from gazebo to tree covering, and finally to the hatter himself, Shin made good time. He slid past Tyranny on a patch of mud, like a scene out of Risky Business.

"Whoa!" He swirled out of control, landing palms down at the foot of the Jabberwock statue in a circle of mud. Slowly, he drew his eyes upward. It loomed out at him, striking out for throat!

He gulped.