Third Floor Common Room, Wednesday Evening

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

Inara was on her way into the common room to see what was on television when she passed by a rat in a state of dishabillé, hiding behind the door frame, peeking in at a large group of rats in petticoats.

The one in the center was on a chair or stool of some kind, and singing,

Poor wandering one!
Though thou hast surely stra-ayed,
Take heart of grace,
Thy steps retrace,
Poor wandering one!

The singing rat hopped off the stool and gestured toward the door, almost as if she knew the rat in his knickers was standing there, sighing wistfully at her.

Poor wandering one!
If such poor love as mine
Can help thee find
True peace of mind
Why, take it, it is thine!
Take heart, fair days will shine;
Take any heart take mine!

Inara gave the rat a little nudge forward with her foot, then walked into the room and took a seat on the couches, wondering what else she would see.

[ooc: Open! We're in the first act of Pirates of Penzance, if anyone wants to play along!]

Comments

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

"It's a smart rat," Ella decided. "I'd rather have pie than sing, too. But no, we wouldn't want the back-up rats to demand solos."

[laidanegg.livejournal.com]

"But he's not even wearing a bib," Dick said. "He's going to get it all over his fancy clothes."

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

Ella tilted her head. "And now you've made me wonder if he has a rat-maid to do the wash for him, or if he'll just go swimming to rinse it off."

[laidanegg.livejournal.com]

"I think it's more likely that he'll just leave it," Dick suggested. "I mean, he is a rat. They're not exactly the tidiest animals."

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

"But he'd be all sticky," Ella shuddered. "If they dress and sing, they're not ordinary rats. Maybe they do laundry, too."

[laidanegg.livejournal.com]

"I don't think most human musicians bother doing laundry..." Dick said.

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

Ella frowned. "Perhaps not," she said. "I haven't known many musicians. Are they more averse to housekeeping than the norm?"

[laidanegg.livejournal.com]

"It's part of the rock and roll lifestyle," Dick said. "Dirty clothes, poor hygiene, all that kind of stuff. I can't explain it, I can only observe it from a safe distance."

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

And none of that made the least bit of sense to Ella, so:

"Oh," she frowned. "It sounds smelly. And better observed from that distance."

[laidanegg.livejournal.com]

"Enough about them, though," Dick said. "Have you gotten out much since we left Antarctica? It's beautiful out there."

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

"I haven't," Ella said woefully. "I had classes yesterday and today, and Monday I got caught up in other things. I handwavily walked on the beach to enjoy the weather, but I haven't been off the island yet. Have you?"

[laidanegg.livejournal.com]

"I haven't been off the island yet, but I've actually gone outside more," Dick said. "Something about Antarctica encouraged me to stay inside, you know?"

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

"Something such as it being 30 degrees out?" Ella exaggerated. "That didn't fill me with the need to explore, either. I'm glad I saw it at the party, but I don't think I'll go back on my own."

[laidanegg.livejournal.com]

"I could see myself doing it as part of some kind of expedition," Dick said. "But that would be with gear and dog sleds and scientists. If I'm going to do it, I might as well learn something from it, you know?"

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

"It would definitely make the cold easier to bear," Ella mused. "Do you like science, in general? I'm better at languages."

[laidanegg.livejournal.com]

"I don't know. I mean, I'm good at science and I kind of have an interest in it, but I think that comes from really good tutors," Dick said. "What languages do you speak?"