His Queen (Alterneate)

Chapter Four

Ariel's P.O.V

          "I need you to be quiet princess." I nod my head as we walk over to where the Penguin is. "Is this seat taken?"

          "If I say yes, will it make a difference? You know, I've always been a fan. When you got locked up in this loony bin, I expected great things. A murder or two, maybe a... prison break. But all you've done is mope for the last six weeks."

          "You must know, I cannot escape." My curiosity gets the best of me.

          "Why?"

          "None of your business." I roll my eyes.

          "Now now, Ozzy, there's no way need to be rude. We just want to help you." I try. When he doesn't answer, I decide to threaten him. "You remember my father right? He killed your mother." This catches his attention. "I suggest you answer our questions." I glance at Jerome to see him have a slight approving look.

          "Because Sofia Falcone is holding someone important to me captive, and if I escape, she will kill him."

           "Wow, what a boring story. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's someone boring. The last person who bored me was Dietrich. I had to sneak into his shock therapy session and goose the juice. Now he pees himself ten times a day, and sometimes, uh... poos himself."

          "Well, that's very sad.

          "I'm gonna cure you of this attitude, Oswald. I'm gonna find that entertaining guy I know is inside of you. And when I do, ooh, we are gonna have so much fun together." After that he pulls me back to our cell. "I thought I told you to be quiet." He growls.

          "It worked, didn't it? I was just trying to help."

          "I'll let it slide this once." He grabs my arm tightly. "Don't let it happen again." I nod my head obediently. He kisses my forehead. "Come, on there's gonna be a show." I giggle following him out. After everything's set up, I sit below Jerome with my head resting on his leg.

          "Can I have some popcorn?"

          "Sure." He puts some in a little Styrofoam cup for me.

          "No, no, no!"

          "Shut your beak."

          "No! No. No. No... What do you want?"

          "I told you, Pengy. I'm gonna cure you of this sad sack mopey act. And the best cure is the laughing cure. Make me laugh. "

          "Make him laugh! Make him laugh!"

          "So, what'll you be performing? Uh, contortionism? Juggling act? A tight five?"

          "Clown dance?" I suggest.

          "Yeah!

          "Wonderful."

          "I will not!"

          "Huh? That sounds like you think you have a choice." I giggle.

          "No. Hands off... No!"

          "Make him laugh! Make him laugh! Make him laugh! Make him laugh! Make him laugh!" Everyone chants.

          "Ugh... In your own time."

          "You have no idea how I've suffered. The betrayals I've endured. Just... just leave me alone. Leave me alone."

          "Cut! Hey. Oswald, Oswald, Oswald. You are trapped in a prison. In here. And I'm offering you the key. So... dance." The inmates start poking at his feet. "Now we're talking. I can feel the funny coming. Here it comes. Here comes the funny. Okay. And you're down. Fred Astaire you are not. We'll try again tomorrow."