Old Habits, New Town

[Jose Carioca]

The moon was low in the sky, showing the lateness of the hour by how soon it would sink below the horizon. The only lights on were the streetlamps, even the night spots had closed their doors. There was a still silence for a moment before a single light turned on within one of the cozy looking homes.

The window was suddenly thrown open and a rather flustered parrot came running out, followed by the sounds of gun-fire.

"IF I EVER CATCH YOU IN HERE AGAIN YOU MASHER!"
"Leave him alone! you brute!!!"

The parrot rush away from the fighting, thankful that the man had put the gun away and thanking whoever would listen that some women were fickle (and some men completely wrapped around their girlfriends fingers). Ze made it around a building, fanning himself with his hat and catching his breath.

"Carai...gahtina's are starting to get the stronger boyfriends. Or I am getting not stronger...either way I believe I may needing a new hobby..."

[toon]

While the parrot regained his breath, a little further down the street and old fashioned police wagon was making its way rather quickly up the street.

"Youse guys hoird da boss- we gotta find out whose runnin' dis town and make sure dat Doom gets in his good graces."

"*wheeze* Heheh, that m-might *cough* not be so easy!"

"Si but we should not let Doom know dis because den. *makes a cutting motion across his neck*"

"Duh....he'll give us a shave?!"

"No you nitbrain- we'll be as good as dipped!"

[Jose Carioca]

Ze gave a small stretch, now that he had caught his breath, it would be easier to get away from the neighborhood.

That was until he heard the sound of the rapidly approaching car. He peered out of the alley, catching sight of the eerily familiar black wagon. It was impposible though, the word of the demise of the Toon Patrol had spread through Toon Town almost as soon as the police had arrived at the old ACME factory.

How was it possible for them to be driving down the street right before him. The parrot scratched under his cap- not to sure what to think of this new development. He leaned against the wall before deciding he would follow the patrol and make sure it was just a hallucination due to the late hour.

[Jessica Rabbit]

Ze wasn’t the only one tracking the Toon Patrol. Other toons had either seen or heard rumors about the weasels’ reappearance which led to fears about Judge Doom’s possible return as well. When Jessica Rabbit heard one of the patrons at the club talking about this, she immediately left to find out if the rumor was true or not. She learned from a very reliable source where the Toon Patrol was last seen and immediately headed for that district in town. The woman was smart enough to take caution and when she heard the familiar sound of the engine of their vehicle she ducked into the very alleyway Ze was in. Her long legs carried her right past him as she crouched behind a crate. It was only after the bird moved that she noticed him and quickly made a hissing sound to get his attention upon realizing that he was about to follow the weasels.

[Jose Carioca]

The hissing sound made him startle, but he turned and had to keep his jaw from dropping. He knew a beautiful woman when he saw one- and Jessica was beyond even that.

Though he did remember enough to know this particular ghatina was most definitely unavailable.

He waited for the street to quiet before turning to the woman.

"Yes? I am a bit busy my dear ghatina- but if you are wishing for Ze's company I can spare a few moments."

[Jessica Rabbit]

Jessica rose from her crouched position and placed her hands on her hips. "It's not wise to chase after the Toon Patrol like that," she told the bird. "Not if there's a chance that Judge Doom might be around." The redhead cocked a brow and asked, "What do you want with them anyway?"

[Jose Carioca]

Ze rested his hands on his hips before rubbing his beak, "Listening to me ghatina- I am to think that the Toon Patrol was gone, yes? Well- it does not seem like it."

He winced though when she mentioned Judge Doom, he hadn't thought of him. He wasn't about to admit it though and just gave a shrug.

"Then I will hav-e answer my questionings."

[Jessica Rabbit]

Jessica's natural pouting lips curled up into a sneer. This bird was willing to risk being erased from existence just to see if Judge Doom was around? Well.... wasn't that what she was doing? Jessica parted the slit in her dress, revealing a small pistol strapped to her bare thigh. She removed the weapon and said,

"If you're going to go after them, you've got to be prepared. I'm following them too."

[Jose Carioca]

Ze rose a feathered brow, folding his arms and rubbing the bottom of his beak.

"You are hav-e a point. Perhaps eh I should prepar-e now."

He pulled off the red baseball cap and began to dig around it. After a few moments he grinned and pulled out a black bumber shoot umbrella.

"There! Now, as saying is, a hunting I may go."

[toon]

The patrol car had stopped about a block away from the odd duo, the Weasels snickering at each other as they stepped from the car towards a house.

Smarta$$ was in the lead, adjusting his tie as he knocked calmly on the door, "Open up in 'ere! Dis is da Toon Patrol!"

While Wheezy and Psycho waited by the car, Stupid and Greasy stood next to their boss.

Greasy laughed as he heard running in the house before pulling out the 3d pistol and shooting the lock.

Pushing the door open Smarta$$ chuckled darkly, "Don't mind us intrudin'- da door was wide open."

This drew careful chuckles from the other two as they entered the house next.

[Jessica Rabbit]

As soon as Jessica saw the umbrella she immediately recognized who the bird was- Jose Carioca, the playboy parrot from Brazil. The sounds of the Toon Patrol’s car were growing faint and Jessica poked her head around the corner to see where they were. She just managed to catch the back of it disappear down a side street and turned back to Ze.

“We need to hurry!” She tucked the gun back into its holster and dashed around the corner, sprinting easily down the sidewalk in her red high heels. As she ran towards the end of the block, she heard a gunshot go off and practically everyone on the street turned to see where it had come from.

[Jose Carioca]

Ze took off after her, very much in agreement with doing something besides sitting around. Needless to say he was very impressed with her running ability. Skidding to a stop, his blue eyes widened at the gunshots.

"There!" he pointed towards the house with the Toon Patrol car parked in the middle of the law. The parrot got a sick feeling in his throat before doing a quick-spin into his 'trademark' cloths and dashing towards the house.

[toon]

"Spread out ya mugs- leave no stone intoirned."

The other two nodded, Greasy heading up stairs and Stupid towards the basement. Smarta$$ moved carefully through the main floor, peering into closets and opening anything he though could be used to hide in.

"Olly-olly oxygen freeze." The slicked haired weasel kicked open a few doors, hmming as the rooms all turned out empty. He scratched his chin and headed towards the end of the hall.

[Jessica Rabbit]

Jessica stopped outside of the house and glanced up at the address; she had no idea who the owners were and why the Toon Patrol picked that house, but those weasels never actually needed a reason to bother someone.

“Do you know who lives here?” she asked Ze.

Jessica was hesitant to remove the gun since it was broad daylight and getting arrested wasn’t exactly part of her plan. Not to mention the Toon Patrol would be well aware that she was trying to find out what they were up to.

[Jose Carioca]

The parrot shook his head, "Ah, I am not very familiarly with this town." He scratched his head before snapping his fingers and twirling his umbrella on his finger.

"Follow me Senohra Rabbit."

Holding the umbrella strangely like a gun, the Brazilian playboy carefully stepped into the house. He ducked behind a vase when he heard the pink clothed weasel speak. What were they doing in here?

[toon]

"Hey boss" Sleazy peered down from the banister, "There is no one upstairs. Dey split.""

Smart A$$ sighed and glared around the room he was in. They couldn't have gotten away. "If I were a toon hidin' from da law...where would I evictiate to..."
'
"Duh...da basment! Hehehe."

The other two weasels blinked in surprise, glancing at each other before looking at the door to the basement. Then they looked at their companion (who was busy searching for something up his nose).

"I don't believe I'm buyin' dis." the leader moved towards the door, gun ready.

[Jessica Rabbit]

Jessica cautiously followed after the brave parrot and once they were inside, slowly slid the gun out of its holster. Unlike Ze, Jessica was too tall to join him behind the vase, instead having to duck around a corner, ending up in a hallway. There were a few rooms along it that she could have hidden in, but she didn’t want to end up trapping herself or be too far away from Ze. Just listening to those weasels talk made her sick to her stomach, and a quick wave of panic washed over her when she realized they were here to “deal” with someone. At the end of the hall was the entrance to a kitchen, which had a huge pile of dishes waiting to be washed in the sink. The room behind her was clearly a child’s room and Jessica quickly turned and grabbed a baseball off the untidy floor. With only a moment’s hesitation to assess her aim, the woman threw the ball into the pile, the dishes noisily crashing to the floor. As soon as the ball had been released, Jessica wasted no time spinning on her heel and hiding behind the door in the little boy’s room. Hopefully all the weasels would end up in the kitchen and she could sneak back out, grab Ze and find out if anyone was hiding in the basement before the others did.

[Jose Carioca]

Ze nearly let out a yell of surprise when the dishes shattered, he'd been watching the weasels so hadn't noticed Jessica heading into the child's room.

He was about to sneak towards where he'd seen the woman head when the weasels also decided to investigate the noise. He shrank himself and leapt into the vase. Leaning his ear against it to listen to the weasels head towards the kitchen.

[toon]

"#@#$%$#!"

the weasels cursed loudly, all three turning towards the kitchen. Greasy made a motion to Smart A$$ that they should go see what it was. The boss weasel nodded and started sneaking down the hallway, their shadows looking particularly malevolent against the wall.

Smart A$$ gesture for the other two to go in first, "You mugs go in foist. Make sure it ain't no one we need to worry 'bout."

"Right Jefe." Greasy walked in cautiously, watching a few of the dishes fall to the floor along with the sponge that had sat on top of them.

Stupid hummed to himself as he walked int behind the green clad weasel. He scratched his ear and walked straight for the dishes, slipping on the sponge and causing even more of a ruckus then before.

[Jessica Rabbit]

Jessica peered around the corner and spotted Smart A$$ standing outside of the kitchen. She slid back and stood with her back pressed against the wall. It was unfortunate that the brains of the bunch did not join his partners and she debated the risk of making a dash to Ze. There was not a lot of time to think about the option however, for if the weasels got wise, they were in big trouble. Steeling herself against the possibility of getting caught, Jessica tightened her grip on her gun, trigger finger ready, and stole another look. Luckily Smart A$$ was still facing the kitchen, and taking the opportunity to flee under the cover of the noise Stupid had just made, Jessica quickly darted around the corner and poked her head over the vase. Relieved that the bird was still there, she threw a thumb over her shoulder and tossed her head, indicating that they should head to the basement.

[Jose Carioca]

Ze jumped out of the vase, growing as he did so, before glancing at the kitchen before following Jessica towards the basement. He rubbed his chin; knowing everything in this town, the door was either partially sentient or squeaky. Neither of which would offer silence.

He reached his hand into his umbrella, fishing around a bit before pulling out a Black Hole. Sticking it on the door he gestured at it with his thumb.

Ladies first after all.

[toon]

The other two weasels had started laughing before forcing themselves to stop. STupid sat up, rubbing his head for a moment.

Greasy walked over to the sink, stepping on Stupid as he did so. He sneered as he fished a soapy baseball out of the sink. "Hey boss." he held up the ball.

Smart A$$ walked towards Greasy and snatched the ball. His eyes turned red for a moment before he slammed the ball against the floor, "Der's someone here! Spread out ya mugs! I want dis place dicompulated!"

[Jessica Rabbit]

Jessica wasted no time with polite thank you’s and stepped through! She nearly tripped down the stairs because the third step was missing and she quickly hissed back at Jose, “Watch your step!” There was a small window, letting a small stream of light into the unfinished room, flecks of dust swirling within it. From what she could see there were no people home and no way out- for a normal person that is. Jessica was a Toon and there was always a way out for a Toon!

“I don’t see anyone,” she said once she got to the bottom. “Hello! We’re here to help!” Jessica uttered the words just in case someone was afraid the duo was here to get them. Still, there was no one here and footsteps could be heard in different areas now. The weasels were spreading out!

[Jose Carioca]

Ze kept his eyes on the door leading to the basement- as well as the floor above. The slightest sound that may rise the weasels suspicions would mean big trouble for them. He tapped the ash from his cigar and walked down carefully.

"Oy, qualquer um aqui? Anyon-e heres?"

He rubbed under his hat and tapped his umbrella until a light turned on at the tip, much like a flashlight to look where the light couldn't reach. The basement seemed completely empty.

"Senohrita, I am feeling this is not a good plac-e for us to be."