"Scott, is everything okay?" I stand up and walk to him, hoping to find whatever he's angry about.
"No, I'm not okay! Do I look okay!?" I'm just gonna leave that as a rhetorical question. It's already been proven tonight, but I know well enough that mad Scott is bad Scott. Luckily, my silence was enough for him to explain his issue. "I know I said Melrose was a bitch earlier, but I NEVER instructed her to vocalize it! She's bitching someone out!"
I track down the little lady in the room and find her projecting every part of herself to the crowd, from what I can tell, but mostly her voice. "So, are you going to go in and stop it?"
"Ha! Forget that!" he laughed, completely changing his tone out of nowhere. "Like I would interrupt a performance like this! I'm just pissed that she wouldn't call me and let me know." Maybe she wanted to handle it on her own? Nah, I shouldn't say that. Not that I care, but he won't like it. "Oh, you're interested, Tracy?" Do I look that obvious? "Heh, I don't blame you. Here. You might as well join in. A show like this just has to be seen AND heard."
He then readjusted the settings on his phone to increase the volume ten-fold, allowing me to listen in on the currently airing episode of 'Melrose Mania'... or whatever she was doing. With the help of the audio, I'm finally able to match the voice to its user, getting in on what was pleasing Scott so-... No. N-No...
Oh, hell no.
Within the rainbow that was dresses, suits, and what most unknowing people would consider elf slash fairy people, mini Melrose and all her golden essence stuck out like a sore thumb, with everyone else - yeah, that mic had sound quality that was THAT good, apparently - silent and viewing the scene. She was the prime example of the bad, popular girl in any grade school or university-themed movie - very reminiscent of the bimbos Scott fancied himself with during our school years. Ugh, no wonder he got... made her, out of all of the possible options. While her raunchy, vulgar attitude was already sickening, it was her current target and her words toward her that killed me... not even softly. The fact that she couldn't even fight back, physically or verbally, was even worse. Fighting mentally could be possible, but Melrose looked as if she wasn't going to let it... her get that far. The little female being taunted was literally cornered, with all eyes on her. She couldn't do anything.
"Being such a pretty girl, myself..." Melrose commenced. I wonder where she heard that from, hmm? "...I know another one when I see one. But, what was I thinking, with you? I guess from a distance, you're all saturated and whatever, but up close and personal... my god. You're not even worth my time. Heck, you might as well be a freaking ghost! HA!" She then initiated a quite sassy stroll to her adversary of sorts, with the others in the room laughing in agreement with her. "Look at you - your pale self, all scrawny, weak, and... foreign." What? 'Foreign'? Melrose, you and her- no, all of you are from extraterrestrial ancestry. Literally, nothing else on this planet has your DNA, as far as we know. Only she looks legit. What are you talking about? "You could be part Silver. You could even be part Iron or something - Yuck. But, no, you're some kind of albino mixed breed, obviously. Your dress is probably worth more than you. Though, I've gotta give you props. You've got pretty solid fashion sense, for such a flimsy persona. It's a shame that dress has to wear you..."
As Melrose threw insults, Scott gleamed with pride, as if he didn't even care about the harsh words spurting from his lady's mouth. I, for one, don't share those same thoughts.
"Scott, can you believe this?" I ask, hoping his inner feelings didn't match his appearance.
"I... I truly can't," he answered back. "I'm so proud!" Just add a cliche wiping away of a tear, and you have instant douche-bag. Suit-and-tie douche-bag.
"Are... Are you kidding me!?"
"Of course, Tracy. I'm not crazy." Wait, what? Okay, so maybe Scott does have a bit of sense. But, why wouldn't he go in and-? And then... he started laughing. "Oh. My. God! You really believed me! Gosh, you're stupid. HA!" Yep, Melrose got that laugh from him. That just added to the problem.
"You're condoning this!?"
"Obviously. She's my girl. Why wouldn't I?" Really? Really!? I'm not a genius or anything, but I don't need to be one to answer that. "I don't get why you're so mad about this. It's not like Rosie was lying. I mean look at that chick. She could probably be knocking everyone out of the park with a little bit of tweaking here and there. She is rather pale, flat, and basic." Basic? With her lightly kaleidoscopic... everything, those pointy ears and those unforgettable, might-as-well-be-cat eyes? "Or, she could be the other kind of beautiful by actually speaking her mind and talking back. Everyone loves a stand-up-for-herself kind of girl." So, does Melrose put up a fight at their home, making her more attractive to him? Okay... "Why do you care, anyway? It's not like she's yours or anything. Do you like her or something?"
Scott has been full of surprises tonight, but that was the one question that I didn't even think would come out of someone's mouth, especially his. Honestly, 'like' doesn't even begin to describe my emotions toward her, and yet I can't share those same sensations with anyone. My collection of them, as a whole, is one of the most taboo concepts, if not the most taboo concept, imagined within the last one hundred or so years, for some reason. I get why, but it's not like I'm trying anything wrong with her. I bet whatever Scott did to obtain Melrose... and whatever he's been doing with her was and is illegal, but I have no proof of anything. I don't. But, back to her... Her... I brought her here. She's special. To be with someone for over a decade is more than just a toleration. But, I'm not straight-up telling him anything.
"L-Like her? Uh... I don't know... kind of?" That's an understatement.
"Ohhh, so you do have a type? Now, we're talking. You sly dog, I didn't think you had it in you." He grinned so widely as he swung an arm over my shoulders - the one holding his still recording, now volume-blasting phone right into my ears now. As much as I want to listen to Melrose's rants about my girl, Scott's more... interesting right now. This is going to fill me with so much regret, isn't it? "But, it's strange. I thought you'd be up for a thicker girl, dude. I didn't think you'd go for a twig."
"Why... would you think that?" I challenge, attempting to lock my bubbling anger behind gritted teeth. She's rather thin and lanky, yes, but that's NORMAL. Literally, that's how they're all meant to be... I think.
"You're a pretty thick guy. Hell, you grew a LOT in ten... fifteen years. Good god. You could break her." Oh, no. Please, no. Thoughts... bad... That's a sick joke, Scott. "Then again... Oh. Oh, you... *chuckle* You dark son of a bitch. You're into that, aren't you?" Wait, what!?
Are people into that? With them!? "No! I mean, no... She's just... kind of pretty." Well, more than just 'pretty', but you know... "What do you mean 'break her?'"
"Jeez, calm down. Just an assumption, is all. What? You don't know?" Of course, I don't, and I'm making sure that he knew that. "Usually, when people get thin or tiny 'blank canvases...'" I'm going to assume that's what they call new, unaltered 'dolls' - ugh, that terminology, though. "...they usually just get them as hit-and-runs, trophies to display. Just passing around the ever-so-popular 'party favors'. Many aren't into full-on commitment, so they just borrow one and break it in for an evening. But, if you're in for the long run, then... well... you break them down. With that body of hers, that's probably all she's good for. Plus... what Metal class would she even be? Are 'Alloys' even in, or are people breeding them now?"
"Scott, 'breed'? Really? I know you called her a bitch, but you're making her sound like a dog (and everyone else, in association). Is Melrose your pet or some-!? Ay, wha-!?"
And before I knew any better, my back was pushing against a glass window, the tirades through the phone stopped momentarily, cracking (of something) could be heard, and Scott's hand was clamping, covering, and pressing my mouth shut, with an irate Scott Foster attached to it. Okay, I know I said something wrong, but what part? No, really, which one!?
Realizing that he and I were just a few more pressure pushes away from crashing into the room like stuntmen, most likely falling onto the collected, height-deficient crowd and... crushing some in the process, Scott removed his grab of me, and the cracking ceased. Soon enough, Melrose's voice and a few others backing her up were coming through the call again. How in the world is she still talking about her? Is she still talking about her? But, most importantly, what is Scott do-?
"Tracy... shut the hell up!" he forced upon me. "While this is a building meant for human use, don't be so loose-lipped, damn it. They don't have those freaking big ears for nothing. That glass won't block everything!" Are you telling me? We almost fell through, dude! "Listen, they're... she's obviously not my pet. Wouldn't I have a collar on her, if she was?"
"You've got her tapped, at least, considering you're listening into her private conversations right now," I add, resulting in a bit of shock appearing on his face.
"Well, that's true," he admitted, "but, she's not my pet. I don't even use that word for play at home. Calm your crap, okay?" I would go on, but I'm tired of this. However, I think I might look him up when I get home... and get my lady friend out of there. "And back to youuu, I think that doll would be a good fit for you. She seems simple enough to train, adjust, or whatever. Real basic. probably has a just-as-plain name. A plain Jane. Although, I think even 'Jane' might be too plain for her..."
"Amy..." Is the Foster duo putting her down on both sides? I really need to get out... and get her out.
"Amy?" Scott repeated, I think? Did I say her name out loud? Oh, crap. "That's rather fitting for her. Nice one." Phew, he's none the wiser. Thank goodness. "I wonder who brought her here..." Uh... heh, heh. Me... "...and how much are they asking for her? Or maybe... how much would it take to get her to leave who she's currently with?"
"You're going to buy her!?"
"Me? No! You're the one who wants her. That's on you." You can't buy a person! I didn't b-buy her! What the-? "But, if the monetary offer just too high for your liking, I suppose that there are other trades worthy of her - probably cheap, too. Depending on the person, you could make a good, convincing argument... or just take her without notice, payment, licensing, yadda yadda." He spoke so calmly and smoothly, like an experienced, backseat hustler. Yeah, I'm definitely looking him up, when I get back. "It's all pretty easy when you get down to... to... MELROSE!"
Scott suddenly screamed, and his face quickly pressed itself into the glass of the window, taking in all that was occurring on its other side. I, confused as who-knows-what, decide to look in also, and... Holy crap.
Chaos broke loose as the tens of tinies began scampering around the parlor floor, dropping drinks and knocking over things as they went. Some had hands over their ears. Some were lurching in pain. Even a few were crying. But... but why? I soon find out about the cause - and Scott's reason for panic - when I see an armor-clad human of some sort walk in, towering over everyone else as expected, capturing Melrose and all her 'golden greatness' in one swift swoop into his or her hand.
Scott was losing it now, fuming inside and out. In fact, he was so enraged, he didn't bother to run around the estate to get back inside and instead punched a hole through the glass. Now, we were met with ear-drum bursting, high-frequency screeching (a common stress signal for their kind), and a puddle of blood (a dumb mistake from a dumber human).
Putting two and two together, I quickly back up out of the way, watching Scott getting ready to jump through his man-made hole. However, he didn't go any farther than that.
"You scumbag, you're not going anywhere. You're not going anywhere for a long time."