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toxic_cornSeries: Claudia Kishi: Pirate's Queen
Title: Chapter Two
Authors: toxic_corn and nutmeg610
Fandom: Dodgeball/Baby-Sitter's Club crossover (yes, really)
Disclaimer: Claudia belongs to Ann M. Martin and Scholastic books, and Steve belongs to Rawson Marshall Thurber and 20th Century Fox.
Rating: R/NC-17ish
Summary: Claudia's trying to get by, working at an art gallery until she gets discovered. Little does she know that the strange wanna-be pirate she meets in Central Park can offer her more than she ever imagined possible.
Author's Note: Most likely the last in the crack series, which includes Your Boyfriend Snorts Cocaine, Mary Anne, Wanna Get It On, Dawn?, Kristy and the Doctor, and Stacey Loves the Invisible Man.
You guys get an early update because I won't be here next Thursday. So here it is!
Roundup Post
Chapter Two
"So if you take a corporate job, does that make you a sell out?"
- snippet of an email from Kristy Thomas to Claudia Kishi
This was an alternate universe. It had to be. In the real world, there was no way her best friend forever would think going off to work for a crazy pirate at what was probably an imaginary gym was a good idea. Their initial conversation about Claudia's job offer ran through her head as she and Stacey walked along the sidewalk side by side.
"C'mon, Claud, I'll bet it'll be really fun!" Stacey had insisted, stirring the spaghetti sauce she had cooking on the stove. "Plus, work is work."
Claudia made a face. "You didn't meet this guy."
"Well what? Is he the creepy drooly type?"
"He's a pirate."
Stacey raised her eyebrows. "Right. And by that you mean...?"
"Arrr, I be Claudia, maties! Why's the rum gone?"
"Umm, wow."
"Exactly. I'm not going." Huffing, she went into the living room and plopped down on the couch. She noticed her issue of Glamour on the coffee table and picked it up, leafing through the pages.
Stacey sighed and sat down next to her. "C'mon Claud. Okay, so he's a pirate. It could be worse."
"... I guess." He didn't have a peg leg or a parrot on his shoulder at least, and that had to count for something.
"Yeah! And let's face it; the art gallery isn't exactly paying you the big bucks. This could really help."
"There's this pair of shoes at Neiman Marcus I've been wanting..." She caught the look Stacey gave her and quickly added, "And I can pay my full share of the rent."
"That's more like it." Stacey handed her the phone.
The phone call hadn't been as bad as she'd been envisioning; she had been worried Peter LeFleur would be a pirate too but instead he sounded like a normal guy. They'd scheduled a meeting at the gym itself and just to be on the safe side, Claudia brought Stacey with her on the chance that these guys weren't on the level.
Average Joe's Gym had a simple, childish logo on the door of a man giving a thumbs up. Oh yeah, that needed to go. Pulling open the glass doors, the girls walked into the main lobby of the least-threatening looking gym Claudia had ever seen in her life. She started to consider getting a membership as she looked over the desk and into the gym itself, seeing people of all shapes and sizes working out on machines and looking happy.
Just then, a door in the back opened and Steve the Pirate, only dressed normally, walked toward them with one of the tallest men Claudia had ever seen.
"Hi!" The tall man called as he approached them. "Are you my artist?"
Claudia glanced at Stacey. "I guess... if you want me to be."
"Well, can I see some samples of your work?"
"Sure." Claudia took out her sketchbook and handed it over.
The man flipped through the pages murmuring "Uh huh," now and then before he closed the sketchbook with a snap. "Congratulations, Claudia, you're hired. I'm Peter LaFleur and I'm just gonna have my associate here show you around to get a feel for the place and maybe you can email me some sketches next week? Steve says he gave you our card; the address should be on it."
Claudia blinked in surprise; did jobs usually come this easy? "Oh, wow. Okay, thanks! Thank you very much!"
Peter grinned. "You're welcome very much. So I'll just leave you and Steve and..." He winked at Stacey, making her giggle, "Your lovely friend to it."
"Umm, okay, cool." Again, she looked at Stacey, wanting to hiss That's pirate man! But that proved to be unnecessary when Steve stepped up.
"Ahoy," he greeted them.
"Hey again," Claudia said, wishing Peter had stuck around.
Stacey waved. "Hi."
Steve reached out and shook Stacey's hand. "Steve O'Brien. And you be?"
"Stacey McGill."
A big, friendly smile spread across Steve's face. "Oh, your people are Irish, too?"
"Yes, we are," Stacey admitted, laughing. In the face of their camaraderie, Claudia felt suddenly out of place, like she were the one tagging along.
"Well, this way, lasses." Steve led the way into the gym, missing the He's not so bad! smile Stacey threw Claudia's way and the unconvinced look on Claudia's face.
The tour took maybe twenty minutes or so, looking at the various equipment and the dodgeball class in session. Steve introduced them to some of the regulars which helped give Claudia even more of a feel for the place. It seemed like a friendly, welcoming environment and after the twenty minutes was up, she felt as if she'd been going there her whole life.
"Well, hope that was inspirational for you, Claudia," Steve said when they were back in the lobby.
Claudia nodded. "Yeah, I think it'll help."
"Good, good." Steve nodded too, staring at her in a hopeful way that made her stomach sink. "After work, we like going to this bar across the street... I mean, if you're interested maybe-"
"Oh, um, I'm really busy." She nudged Stacey for back-up. "Aren't I, Stace?"
"I guess so..." Stacey said, frowning.
Steve's face fell. "Oh. Well.... good day to ye, then. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Stacey."
"You too!" Stacey said with a polite smile. They watched Steve walk off with his tail between his legs and then went back out on the street.
"I think he wanted to get to know you better," Stacey said as they walked home.
Claudia shuddered. "I'm well aware of that."
"Awww, you didn't think he was sweet? I thought he was sweet." Off of Claudia's incredulous look she added, "What? I of all people know there's more to guys than what's on the outside. If I hadn't gotten to know Claude better, we wouldn't be together and happy now."
"Yeah, but... Claude's not a pirate. "
"True, but he has... you know, his thing, and it doesn't bother me."
"... Yeah." Being an invisible man wasn't quite as weird as a grown man who was not Johnny Depp pretending to be a pirate, though.
Stacey sighed, knowing a lost cause when she saw one. "Oh well, it was just an observation. If he freaks you out then that's that."
"I'm interested in that artist at the gallery, remember? I'm gonna focus on him, design the logo, and collect my paycheck. There's no time for... swabbing the deck or whatever."
Stacey giggled. "Okay, okay. So I shouldn't ask if you want him to shiver your timbers then?"
Claudia laughed with her. "More like walk the plank!"
"Aww..."
Claudia gave her a playful shove, making her grin.
"So any idea what this logo is gonna look like?"
Nodding, Claudia said, "A few, actually. I can't wait to get home and start sketching!"
"Well let's hurry up then!" Stacey linked her arm with hers and they crossed the street, nearing their block.
< Chapter One : Chapter Three >
Title: Chapter Two
Authors: toxic_corn and nutmeg610
Fandom: Dodgeball/Baby-Sitter's Club crossover (yes, really)
Disclaimer: Claudia belongs to Ann M. Martin and Scholastic books, and Steve belongs to Rawson Marshall Thurber and 20th Century Fox.
Rating: R/NC-17ish
Summary: Claudia's trying to get by, working at an art gallery until she gets discovered. Little does she know that the strange wanna-be pirate she meets in Central Park can offer her more than she ever imagined possible.
Author's Note: Most likely the last in the crack series, which includes Your Boyfriend Snorts Cocaine, Mary Anne, Wanna Get It On, Dawn?, Kristy and the Doctor, and Stacey Loves the Invisible Man.
You guys get an early update because I won't be here next Thursday. So here it is!
Roundup Post
"So if you take a corporate job, does that make you a sell out?"
- snippet of an email from Kristy Thomas to Claudia Kishi
This was an alternate universe. It had to be. In the real world, there was no way her best friend forever would think going off to work for a crazy pirate at what was probably an imaginary gym was a good idea. Their initial conversation about Claudia's job offer ran through her head as she and Stacey walked along the sidewalk side by side.
"C'mon, Claud, I'll bet it'll be really fun!" Stacey had insisted, stirring the spaghetti sauce she had cooking on the stove. "Plus, work is work."
Claudia made a face. "You didn't meet this guy."
"Well what? Is he the creepy drooly type?"
"He's a pirate."
Stacey raised her eyebrows. "Right. And by that you mean...?"
"Arrr, I be Claudia, maties! Why's the rum gone?"
"Umm, wow."
"Exactly. I'm not going." Huffing, she went into the living room and plopped down on the couch. She noticed her issue of Glamour on the coffee table and picked it up, leafing through the pages.
Stacey sighed and sat down next to her. "C'mon Claud. Okay, so he's a pirate. It could be worse."
"... I guess." He didn't have a peg leg or a parrot on his shoulder at least, and that had to count for something.
"Yeah! And let's face it; the art gallery isn't exactly paying you the big bucks. This could really help."
"There's this pair of shoes at Neiman Marcus I've been wanting..." She caught the look Stacey gave her and quickly added, "And I can pay my full share of the rent."
"That's more like it." Stacey handed her the phone.
The phone call hadn't been as bad as she'd been envisioning; she had been worried Peter LeFleur would be a pirate too but instead he sounded like a normal guy. They'd scheduled a meeting at the gym itself and just to be on the safe side, Claudia brought Stacey with her on the chance that these guys weren't on the level.
Average Joe's Gym had a simple, childish logo on the door of a man giving a thumbs up. Oh yeah, that needed to go. Pulling open the glass doors, the girls walked into the main lobby of the least-threatening looking gym Claudia had ever seen in her life. She started to consider getting a membership as she looked over the desk and into the gym itself, seeing people of all shapes and sizes working out on machines and looking happy.
Just then, a door in the back opened and Steve the Pirate, only dressed normally, walked toward them with one of the tallest men Claudia had ever seen.
"Hi!" The tall man called as he approached them. "Are you my artist?"
Claudia glanced at Stacey. "I guess... if you want me to be."
"Well, can I see some samples of your work?"
"Sure." Claudia took out her sketchbook and handed it over.
The man flipped through the pages murmuring "Uh huh," now and then before he closed the sketchbook with a snap. "Congratulations, Claudia, you're hired. I'm Peter LaFleur and I'm just gonna have my associate here show you around to get a feel for the place and maybe you can email me some sketches next week? Steve says he gave you our card; the address should be on it."
Claudia blinked in surprise; did jobs usually come this easy? "Oh, wow. Okay, thanks! Thank you very much!"
Peter grinned. "You're welcome very much. So I'll just leave you and Steve and..." He winked at Stacey, making her giggle, "Your lovely friend to it."
"Umm, okay, cool." Again, she looked at Stacey, wanting to hiss That's pirate man! But that proved to be unnecessary when Steve stepped up.
"Ahoy," he greeted them.
"Hey again," Claudia said, wishing Peter had stuck around.
Stacey waved. "Hi."
Steve reached out and shook Stacey's hand. "Steve O'Brien. And you be?"
"Stacey McGill."
A big, friendly smile spread across Steve's face. "Oh, your people are Irish, too?"
"Yes, we are," Stacey admitted, laughing. In the face of their camaraderie, Claudia felt suddenly out of place, like she were the one tagging along.
"Well, this way, lasses." Steve led the way into the gym, missing the He's not so bad! smile Stacey threw Claudia's way and the unconvinced look on Claudia's face.
The tour took maybe twenty minutes or so, looking at the various equipment and the dodgeball class in session. Steve introduced them to some of the regulars which helped give Claudia even more of a feel for the place. It seemed like a friendly, welcoming environment and after the twenty minutes was up, she felt as if she'd been going there her whole life.
"Well, hope that was inspirational for you, Claudia," Steve said when they were back in the lobby.
Claudia nodded. "Yeah, I think it'll help."
"Good, good." Steve nodded too, staring at her in a hopeful way that made her stomach sink. "After work, we like going to this bar across the street... I mean, if you're interested maybe-"
"Oh, um, I'm really busy." She nudged Stacey for back-up. "Aren't I, Stace?"
"I guess so..." Stacey said, frowning.
Steve's face fell. "Oh. Well.... good day to ye, then. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Stacey."
"You too!" Stacey said with a polite smile. They watched Steve walk off with his tail between his legs and then went back out on the street.
"I think he wanted to get to know you better," Stacey said as they walked home.
Claudia shuddered. "I'm well aware of that."
"Awww, you didn't think he was sweet? I thought he was sweet." Off of Claudia's incredulous look she added, "What? I of all people know there's more to guys than what's on the outside. If I hadn't gotten to know Claude better, we wouldn't be together and happy now."
"Yeah, but... Claude's not a pirate. "
"True, but he has... you know, his thing, and it doesn't bother me."
"... Yeah." Being an invisible man wasn't quite as weird as a grown man who was not Johnny Depp pretending to be a pirate, though.
Stacey sighed, knowing a lost cause when she saw one. "Oh well, it was just an observation. If he freaks you out then that's that."
"I'm interested in that artist at the gallery, remember? I'm gonna focus on him, design the logo, and collect my paycheck. There's no time for... swabbing the deck or whatever."
Stacey giggled. "Okay, okay. So I shouldn't ask if you want him to shiver your timbers then?"
Claudia laughed with her. "More like walk the plank!"
"Aww..."
Claudia gave her a playful shove, making her grin.
"So any idea what this logo is gonna look like?"
Nodding, Claudia said, "A few, actually. I can't wait to get home and start sketching!"
"Well let's hurry up then!" Stacey linked her arm with hers and they crossed the street, nearing their block.
< Chapter One : Chapter Three >
