om_main | Tybalt and Toby | Backdated to Sept 5

Between his punishment detail and the fact that their classes didn't really overlap, Tybalt's usual period of not seeing Toby till she'd cooled off was a little longer than usual. Not that he'd been avoiding (beyond the first few days where he suspected she'd throw things at him), it just hadn't happened. And it wasn't like he missed her company either. That was his story and he was sticking to it. Still, spotting her the evening after class put a smirk on Tybalt's face. Especially since he'd spotted her, but she hadn't spotted him. Perfect. Tybalt wasn't sure what room she was headed into, and didn't much care. A quick step into the shadow of a bookshelf and he appeared almost directly behind Toby. "Hello." He drawled playfully. He'd been able to resist the temptation to yell 'boo'. Bur only because that lacked style.

With more than a little difficulty, Toby managed not to jump at the unexpected voice behind her, especially since she immediately identified the voice. She did, however, spin on her heels, crossing her arms (books and all) over her chest and quirking an eyebrow. "Yes?"

Either Tybalt had noticed the suppressed jump, or he'd eaten her favorite treat behind her back. Otherwise there was no accounting for the extra grin-wattage. "So now hello requires a justification? Why so hostile October?" He bantered back cheerfully.

"Gee, I wonder. Is there some reason why you're sneaking up on me today? Or have you just missed your quota lately?" Which - okay, yeah, she was good with that. Mostly. Though it did leave her wondering just what he was up to that he hadn't been sneaking up on her.

"Or maybe I simply missed your company." Tybalt quipped back with smooth aplomb that was enhanced by the fact that he was sure that statement would never be believed.

"Because, as we both know, you're a huge fan of my company." Toby sighed. "What do you want, Tybalt? Don't you have any envelopes to stuff?"

"No. I'm all done with that tedious chore." Just the mention of it dimmed Tybalt's mood. He'd almost be tempted to hold that against Toby, if it wasn't for the fact that she'd probably saved him from having to do something even worse. Fortunately he'd already thanked her for that. So at least he'd be able to avoid that part of the endless (and amusing) back and forth between them.

Tybalt was just thinking about exactly how much he enjoyed that back and forth when a strange feeling came over him. A strange feeling with an energetic, upbeat musical accompaniment. Before he'd had time to consider it, he was dancing to the beat, an odd jazzdancy back and forth shuffle that was entirely un-Tybalt. And when he opened his mouth, what came out was:

It’s been one week since you scowled at me

Threw your mug at my head and said I’m angry

Five days since you laughed at me saying

Quit with the catty act, come back and see me

Three days since the living room,

I realized it's all my fault, but couldn't tell you

Yesterday you'd forgiven me

But it'll still be two days till I say I'm sorry

Hold it now and watch the hoodwink

As I make you stop, think

I think you’re looking like Aquaman

I summon fish to the dish,

Although I like the Chalet Swiss

I like the sushi Cause it's never touched a frying pan

Hot like wasabe when I bust rhymes

Big like Leann Rimes

Because I'm all about value

Bert Kaempfert's got the mad hits

You try to match wits

You try to hold me but I bust through

How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad

Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad

I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral

Can't understand what I mean?

Well, you soon will

I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve

I have a history of wearing my pants tight.

Even for Tybalt, bursting into cheerful song and dance with no warning was weird. But then so was the expression of helpless confusion.

When Tybalt began singing, Toby stared incredulously, trying to figure out just what he was up to. The expression lasted right up until he gave into what, on anyone else, she'd have described as a helpless, confused look, at which time her lips quirked up. No clue what was going on, but whatever. Watching Tybalt make an ass of himself was definitely better than turning into a raccoon.

When he finished, she opened her mouth to point out that he shouldn't quite his day job, but instead found herself singing in turn. And swaying. WTF was this about, anyway?

"It's been one week since you looked at me

Threw your arms in the air and said you're crazy

Five days since you tackled me," Helplessly, she gestured at her legs.

"I've still got the rug burns on both my knees

It's been three days since the afternoon

You realized it's not my fault not a moment too soon

Yesterday you'd forgiven me

And now I sit back and wait till you say you're sorry." Which, to be fair, he already had. Still, it wasn't as if he didn't have plenty of other things to apologize for. It was just too bad, Toby decided as she continued, that she couldn't blame him for this.

"There’s always a trap when you start out grinning

You put on an act, then the mud starts slinging

Go laugh it up on the front lawn,

Or act like Don Juan

I’m sure your fan club would love that one

You act like you’re dead, and I get frantic

It’s not romantic

You think you’re guaranteed to satisfy.

The DR footage would make mad films

Fine, I don't make films

But if I did they'd have a samurai

"How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad?

Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad.

I'm the kind of girl who laughs at a funeral.

Can't understand what I mean?

Well, you soon will.

I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve

I have a history of bleeding on my shirt."

Well, at least the song and dance virus was contagious. That actually allowed Tybalt to smile, though he still looked bemused. And also had him glancing down the hall for witnesses and telepaths to blame. Just glancing though. Because not only was he still moving to the grove (quite without any decision on what exactly his moves were going to be. Finger snaps? Really?) he really couldn't look away from the bizarre routine Toby was putting on. Who knew she could sing? Not that Tybalt got much more than that little moment of mental catch-up before it was his turn again apparently.

"It's been one week since you looked at me

Dropped your arms to your sides and said I'm sorry"

Toby shot Tybalt a look at the part about apologizing. After all, she had nothing whatsoever to apologize for. She retorted with, "Five days since I laughed at you, and said you just did just what I thought you were gonna do,"

Oh there were a million comebacks to that. No way had or was Tybalt ever doing what Toby expected. He frowned and drew himself up with injured pride.....that flowed straight back into the ridiculous dance steps. "Three days since the living room

We realized we're both to blame, but what could we do?"

Had he just admitted even partial fault? For anything? Damn this song.

"Yesterday you just smiled at me, 'cause it'll still be two days till we say we're sorry." Toby's expression suggested strongly just how slim the likelihood was of Tybalt actually getting any kind of apology, but was probably mitigated just a little by some swaying and her pointing at him in accusation.

Similarly, Tybalt's smirk was meant to convey his unconcern with Toby not apologizing. Hell, he'd be surprised if she actually ever did, song or not. Apart from that one time after his blood prank, apologies weren't what either of them did. Which clashed horribly with the way he twirled and dramatically held out a hand as if in a gesture of conciliation. Just great. "It'll be two days till we say we're sorry."

"It'll still be two days 'til we say we're sorry." Toby echoed, returning Tybalt's smirk. She waited a few moments after the urge to sing had passed to see if Tybalt had a retort, then blinked. "What the hell was that about?" Other than the obvious.

Apparently Tybalt was also free of the compulsion, since his retort was an angry growl rather than a musical line. "I have no idea. But someone is in very big trouble."

That, Toby could agree on. Jaw setting, she nodded and fell in next to Tybalt, gesturing for him to lead the way. "I think we should find out who, don't you?" Being turned into a raccoon was one thing. Being forced to sing was something else entirely.

"Agreed." Nothing united the two of them as effectively as a common enemy. Though of course unity was always relative. "You sing more prettily than expected though." He quipped at her.

"It never happened." That was the only proper response, really. She smirked a little though, and added, "But I liked the part where you admitted it was all your fault. You should do that more often."

That had definitely been Tybalt's least favorite bit. By a long way. That wasn't enough to stop him from making a rejoinder. "and yet it's all about how WE will say we're sorry. And knowing I make you frantic will keep me warm at night."

Toby just groaned and face palmed. Of course he'd focused in on that part. "It was the only available rhyme. Let's go find whoever's responsible."

"Of course it was." Tybalt generously allowed that excuse. He waved for her to precede him out of the room. "And then I can decide whether to throttle and then thank the culprit, or the other way round."

An eyeroll was really the only appropriate response to that, and Toby was more than willing to supply one. "So long as there's throttling, I'm in."

Toby and Tybalt enjoy the "joys" of song.