33 Apocalypse Ave, Tuesday Afternoon

[spin_kick_snap]

It was October, even if the weather didn't match Tumblr's expectations of the month, and Kathy was getting into the spooky spirit. She'd decorated the living room with some window decals and a small stuffed bat for the cats to play with, there were a chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven and a bowl of ganache cooling on the counter for chocolate monster cookies, and two gallons of apple cider sat in the fridge, waiting to be mulled or spiked with cinnamon-flavored booze.

Now she was sprawled on the couch, playing through her repertoire of songs she'd learned on the guitar, and trying to figure out if she could learn to play Bad Moon Rising before it ceased being relevant. Hmm, maybe she should try to play something off of the Bad Seeds' Murder Ballads instead.

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[tigerundercover]

Raven had no idea, but she managed to come home from work perfectly in theme, since she was still mimicking the pop music look she'd been wearing at the store.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Halloween," she observed, looking around. "Setting a mood?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Yup!" Kathy said, looking pleased with herself. "I figured it was about time to get in the holiday spirit."

Of course that was a pun. Of course.

[tigerundercover]

Raven grabbed a perch on the arm of the couch, twitching her wings up and out of the way to keep from sitting on them. Sure, she could just make them go away, but she was still enjoying herself.

"Ghosts and skeletons and pumpkins, oh my," she said with a smile. "Hey, do you think I could make myself transparent if I tried?"

She would probably just end up looking skinless. This was a terrible idea.

[spin_kick_snap]

"And spooky baked treats and warm apple cider," Kathy agreed, giving her a grin. "Testing out possible costumes? I think you should give it a shot!"

No, really, terrible idea.

[tigerundercover]

Raven shrugged, making her feathers rustle. "Honestly, I was just kind of bored at work."

It was possible she needed a real hobby.

[spin_kick_snap]

Besides turning her skin transparent and frightening passing school children? And possibly her roommate?

...Though hot damn would that make teaching anatomy and physiology exciting.

"Well, it's just you and arguing with the stereo a lot, right?" Kathy asked. "Not even, like, holiday merchandise to flip through?"

[tigerundercover]

"Yup. I mean, it's kind of a new stock, all instruments and performance gear and stuff, but I don't know how to play any, so I just end up fucking around with the bongos sometimes."

[spin_kick_snap]

"...Please tell me you make a beret and snap your fingers when you do."

Look, what else were bongos for?

[tigerundercover]

"And a turtleneck and a kicky Audrey Hepburn hairdo," Raven confirmed. "I might have skipped over most of the beat movement, but I've seen all the parodies."

[spin_kick_snap]

"The important thing is that you're respecting the conventions," Kathy assured her. "So, what else are you up to?"

The days had a lot of long hours to fill, after all, and Kathy was starting to get a little worried about how Raven was filling them. Or rather, if she was.

[tigerundercover]

"Oh, you know, the usual. Sleeping, foraging for food. . . ."

Raven knew exactly what Kathy was worried about, yes.

[spin_kick_snap]

"The kitchen happens to be full of all sorts of food for your foraging needs," Kathy pointed out dryly. "Including Hot Pockets with your name Sharpie'd on the box."

[tigerundercover]

"I'm saving those for the long hard winter ahead."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Oh my god, my roomie's a chipmunk," Kathy complained to the little pumpkin pillow resting on the couch next to her.

[tigerundercover]

"At least I'm not a grasshopper," Raven said, poofing her cheeks way out for proper chipmunk effect.

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy cracked up, covering her face with her hand so she couldn't see Raven's cheeks again. "You look ridiculous," she announced. "Your ant friend says so."

[tigerundercover]

"You're just jealous of my chipmunkish charms." The wings had vanished now, and Raven was rocking a tail. And buckteeth.

Give her a minute, and she'll start singing dated pop songs in a high pitched voice.

[spin_kick_snap]

And 'Raven' scanned very nicely to 'Alvin' so it would even work!

"Oh totally," Kathy told her, snickering. "I've always wanted to scurry around with my butt wiggling uncontrollably!"

[tigerundercover]

"I'll have you know, I am in full control of my butt-wiggle," Raven said with great dignity.

In a chipmunk voice.

[spin_kick_snap]

Definitely added to the dignity--nay, the majesty--of Raven's argument.

"We should all only wish to be so in control of our manifest butt-wiggle," Kathy said with the appropriate solemnity.

[tigerundercover]

"So what have you been up to, oh mighty ant?" Raven asked, shifting back to her natural form. "If not preparing for the incipient winter?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Appreciating the unseasonable warmth while making cookies," Kathy said promptly. "Because who doesn't wanna eat chocolate chip cookies slathered in ganache that look like little monster faces?"

[tigerundercover]

"I mean, I know I can't say no," Raven said, scooping up a stuffed bat. "And not a spiced pumpkin in sight."

[spin_kick_snap]

"I mean, if you're putting in a request, I can see what I can do to up the pumpkin spice levels in our household," Kathy assured her, being the best of friends and roommates.

[tigerundercover]

"I was being impressed," Raven said, tossing the bat at Kathy's forehead. "Not critical."