Authors Note: This story will be short, three chapters long. There isn't a whole lot of action in it which is one of the reasons I kept it short. It tells how the relationship between Reuben and my OC character Greensleeves started. It is set after the Leroy and Stitch movie. I have completed it and will be posting the next chapter up within a couple of days.
Disclaimer: I do not own. The only thing I do own Is Greensleeves appearance and personality. Her name was on the list of experiments in the credits of Leroy and Stitch.
"Lilo, do you know how much food they would eat!" Nani looked down at her sister, hands on her hips.
Lilo scowled. Of course Nani couldn't see things her way. "But Thanksgiving is a family holiday. They're our Hohana, too!"
"They won't even all fit in the house!" Nani protested.
"We can have it outside, like a picnic."
Nani shook her head. "Are you lolo? There's no way we can afford to feed 625 experiments!"
"It can be a potluck. They can each bring something. Please!"
Nani gave Lilo an exasperated look. She had obviously thought this one out. "Fine," Nani sighed, "but you have to do the invitations."
"Thanks Nani!" Lilo cried, hugging her sister before scampering off to tell Stitch the good news.
"Captain, a call from earth."
"Put it through," Gantu commanded.
The screen flickered for a second then Stitch's and Lilo's faces appeared, "Gantu?"
"Yes, is there something wrong?"
"No. Everything's fine," Lilo answered. She then coughed importantly. "I'm inviting you..." Stitch poked her. "Stitch and I," She corrected, "are inviting you and Reuben over for Thanksgiving!"
Gantu was touched. Sure he had become good in the end, but still he had caused a lot of trouble for them. "Really?" he asked.
"Of course! You and Reuben are part of our Hohana, now."
Gantu's mind worked quickly. He had some time off, and if anything important came up the Galactic Alliance could always call. "We'll be there," he declared.
Lilo looked around her happily. The Thanksgiving picnic was a huge success. Despite both Nani's and Pleakley's fears, there was plenty of food. Everybody had brought something, though French Fry had cooked the most. Reuben, of course, had brought sandwiches, Slushy, shaved ice, and Sparky, fish from the fisherman who lived in the lighthouse. Dupe helped out by duplicating things. They had decided to have it at the beach. That way there'd be enough room for everyone. As many tables as could be borrowed were set up, high enough so the tide could not reach them. Seeing as this was Thanksgiving it wasn't many, but they had made do with crates and large logs. On these the food was placed in buffet like fashion. People could come, grab a plate, get what they want, and find a place on the beach to relax and eat. Overall it was probably the oddest Thanksgiving dinner the island had ever seen, but Lilo didn't mind. She was getting used to odd. Spotting one of the experiments about to eat a table cloth she hurried to correct it before Nani noticed.
As the day wore on, Reuben grew tired of the company. It wasn't that he didn't like them. It's just that he never was good around a lot of people. Sure he had fun. Stitch had convinced him to play the saxophone while he played the guitar. Everyone loved that, and watching Gantu do the hula dance was, at the very least, amusing. But so many people, many whom he hardly knew, made him uncomfortable. He needed to be alone for a bit. He would take a walk on the beach then go back to the picnic.
Greensleeves sat looking out at the ocean. The green experiment's fuzzy round ears drooped and her long antennas sagged. She had to get away before she broke down. It would be rude of her to cry when everyone else was so happy. She would sit here and let her tears fall until she was strong enough to go back. She drew out one of her extra arms and opened her hand. In it was a neatly folded piece of paper. She reread the letter addressed to her.
Dear Greensleeves,
I regret to inform you that the Medieval Theater will be closed for the indefinite future. We thank you kindly for the services you have rendered for the theater. Enclosed is a week's pay.
Sincerely,
Phillip Jenkins, Owner of Medieval Theaters
Greensleeves sighed. Her one true place was gone. She wasn't sure what to do now. Perhaps she should ask Lilo? But no. She couldn't do that. Jumba had unintentionally programmed her to be a lady, and ladies didn't encroach or beg. She would have to find her own place, but where?
Reuben stopped. It seemed somebody else had had the same idea he had. He was about to retreat and leave the experiment alone in peace, when he heard a sob. On a day like this why would someone be crying? It was none of his business, but he moved forward. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Greensleeves jumped. She had been caught. Rising slowly to her feet, she quickly wiped her eyes, before turning around and curtsying, "Forgive me sir, you startled me."
Reuben blinked. He had never been called sir before, even though he was a galley officer, and he had certainly never been curtsied to! "Hey, you don't have to do that," he said embarrassed. "My name's Reuben. Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. What's yours? I don't remember ever seeing you before."
"Greensleeves," she answered.
"Greensleeves, that's a pretty name. It's a song isn't it?" Reuben looked at her. He and Gantu must have missed when she was activated. He couldn't recall seeing an experiment like her before. Her body was like Angel's only a bit stockier. Her antennas were long and hung down her back, her ears were round, short, and fuzzy, and her nose was small and red. She had green fur with white on her chest, around her eyes, and on the inside of her ears. In the center of her chest was a patch of green fur that looked like a knife.
"Thank you, sir. Yes, Lilo named me after the song."
Reuben shook his head, "The name's Reuben, not sir," he protested.
"If you wish, Reuben."
Reuben frowned slightly. Greensleeves was almost too polite. He remembered the sob he had heard. There was no trace of her crying now. She'd probably think it rude of him to ask, but a lot of people thought he was rude. "I heard you crying. Is there something wrong?"
She shook her head. "I'm fine."
"Maybe I can help. I'm a galley officer in the Galactic Armada, you know."
Greensleeves hesitated. Should she? She hardly knew him, yet he wanted to help. She hadn't asked him. She let out a breath, "the theater is shutting down."
Reuben was puzzled. "The theater? What are you? An actor or something?"
"No, I make the props. The theater was my one true place, and now that it's gone..." She sighed. "I can't think of anywhere else I'd be useful."
"It can't be that bad," Reuben comforted. "I'm sure we can think of something. You said you made props. How?"
Greensleeves blushed slightly, "I can show you if you like."
"Okay. Let's see it."
Greensleeves looked around. She needed something to change. There wasn't anything around her but the ocean, the sand and... "Would you mind if I did it to you?" She asked.
Reuben took a step back, his eyes widening. He prepared to run, "I'm not going to be changed into a prop!"
Greensleeves giggled. "I wouldn't do that. I'd just give you a costume."
"Oh, well, I suppose you can do that then."
Greensleeves lifted her antennas straight in the air. She then touched the ends together. A green light grew out of them and engulfed Reuben.
Reuben closed his eyes as the light surrounded him. When he opened them again he found himself dressed in rich but uncomfortable clothing. They looked like something he'd seen in a movie once. "This is about as comfortable as a capture container."
"You look handsome in it," Greensleeves stated.
"Really? That's wonderful. Get it off of me."
Greensleeves giggled again. Reuben wasn't a gentleman, but he was funny, more like a jester. Greensleeves touched her antennas together again. Another green flash and there he was, dressed appropriately.
Reuben crossed his arms. "Ha. Ha." The bells on his cap jingled. "At first I thought you might have been hit by that polite making experiment, but I was obviously wrong."
Greensleeves bowed her head, ashamed. What had she done? She touched her two antennas together, and Reuben was changed back to normal. "I am sorry. Please accept my most humble apologies."
Great, now she's being polite again. He liked her better when she was being silly. He sat down, patting the ground beside him. "Apology accepted." He had a feeling that until he said it, she'd worry.
"Thank you." She took up his offer and sat down beside him. "I should have asked you first."
"Don't worry about it," Reuben replied. "So you make costumes, huh? Doesn't sound very evil to me."
"It isn't. But I don't make costumes. I was designed to change things back to the way they were in the middle ages. That way it would be easier to conquer them. What do you do?"
"Make sandwiches." Reuben didn't feel like going into how he was able to lift 3000 times his weight, crawl on walls, and think faster then a super computer. Or that he was practically indestructible.
"That doesn't sound very evil, either," she smiled.
"So, aren't there any other theaters?" Reuben asked, returning to the original subject.
"No, Medieval theaters aren't very common in Kauai."
"What about a costume shop?" Reuben suggested.
Greensleeves laid her ears back in annoyance. Why could I not think of that? If I wasn't being so emotional, maybe I would have. She inwardly scolded herself.
Reuben thought she was annoyed with his idea. "What's wrong with a costume shop?" He asked slightly offended.
Greensleeves, realizing his mistake, quickly corrected it, "Oh nothing. It's perfect! I was just wondering why I didn't think of it. Thank you."
"Great! There's one in town. He already has an experiment working for him, but I'm sure Lilo can convince him to take another one."
"Wouldn't that be putting her to an inconvenience?" she asked worriedly.
"Nah. She loves doing stuff like that." Reuben's stomach growled. He stood up. "Do you want to go back to the picnic, Greens? There's some sandwiches back there with our names on them."
"Yes, I'd be delighted to." She stood up brushing the sand off her fur. Greens? It was a strange way to shorten her name. Greensleeves liked it.