DATED: AUGUST 1ST

Jake was pretty sure he wasn't supposed to technically be on The Laugh Floor.

But honestly, these monsters had only set a few parameters for the kids. Stay out of trouble, don't go out into the city without someone with you, and... Well, don't touch the doors. Which technically wasn't a rule that Jake was breaking! Not today at least. But those vacation doors they sometimes still snuck into the factory were so cool! Who could blame him for being a little curious?

He hid behind a deactivated door carefully. Watching the various "Jokesters" as they called themselves go about their day. Who knew there were so many MONSTERS! It was so weird, even if Jake honestly was just amazed by it all rather than afraid. On one hand, he wondered if that was a bad thing: after all, he'd grown up to think that monsters were bad, right? But here, they seemed to think the opposite. Until recently anyway...

"I wonder how these doors work anyway?" He muttered to himself as he tapped his chin curiously. 

Apparently, the doors didn't need to be touched. The sound of the door would blend in to most around, but it was the door right next to Jacob's that opened... the sound was followed by the sound of grating claws against the factory floor.

"¡Por fin! ¡Casa!" the monster said in a voice that had a snarl to it, but it didn't seem mad, rather like its voice always sounded that way. He looked around, slowly. He was home, but even home was not familiar to him. He went to all-fours from his hunched over position, until he met eyes with the human. "Human?!" he exclaimed. At least for a short time, he stood there stunned. As hidden by the now-deactivated door as the human was.

Jake was at first a little too distracted to notice anything.

Of course, the minute he’d heard the shocked shout of human he nearly jumped out of his skin. Not because he was scared, but of course he was taken by surprise. He was pretty sure every damn monster in the factory was used to seeing them around, right? So what give…

Oh my god.

A part of him had to suppress a squeal. But the other part of him, who had become a little too obsessed with monsters after his encounters with them? Yeah he had to have a geek out moment. “Oh wow! You’re a chupacabra!” He shouted with a bit of excitement. “I knew you were real! Ha! Riley from class so owes me twenty bucks!” He announced.

The monster looked at him, turning his head. He wasn't scared, the secret was fully out? He could gather that much from how he was acting.

"Very real." He answered, looking around, giving the boy a piercing gaze. "You are not afraid of us either. Tell me what else you know." He requested. "I have been away a long time." He sighed heavily.

Honestly he was kind of surprised that the monster was surprised.

But if he’d been gone a long time he guessed that made sense. They were all trying to get used to this new arrangement anyway. “What? Me, scared? Ha, hardly,” Jake said proudly, he’d always worn his fearlessness like a badge of honor. Even if there were dark reasons behind it. “Back home I had a whole encyclopedia of monsters. But I mean I didn’t see all the kinds like here. It’s pretty crazy.”

He then tilted his head, looking the monster over curiously. “It’s weird though. I never thought you could talk. Maybe it’s the whole dog running around on all fours. Sucking the blood from cattle thing,” he admitted. Not sure if it was insulting, but at ten he hadn’t really learned to filter his thoughts well yet. “I wonder if a yeti could talk too? Ohhhh or a Jersey Devil! I didn’t even think of legendary monsters being real honestly,”

Chupacabra smiled, by the way he was acting he didn't doubt the boy. Whatever had happened humans were here and... chit-chatting with monsters.

He smiled more at the title he was a part of . "Exiles, sometimes accident. We stay away from fear of you." he explained. He nodded along as the child spoke.


He seemed offended, "I am no animal. All monsters can talk." he explained. "Legendary monster is a flattering title." his tail swished once.

His smile lessened slightly. "I hope monsters remember me as well." he said with a tinge of worry. "I have much to do. Monsters to find." his ears twitched. "Addressing my employment..."

Fear of him? Ha! That was a joke.

After all, he was just a ten year old kid. And if anything he was the last person to be afraid of with his short, 4'9" build and slim eighty pounds. He was too small for his age to really even do his peers any damage at all! But still, he wasn't going to argue with him - especially when he seemed a bit offended by his pronouncement of him acting like an animal.

"Well I didn't mean offense y'know. It's just people are pretty dang afraid of you," He explained. "And that's how humans describe you. That doesn't mean that's how everyone sees you."

Oh? He'd been away for that long? Honestly, he couldn't imagine he was caught up to speed then. "Well I hope you're funny at least. Because I bet things changed a lot while you were gone." He replied point blank.

Chupacabra rolled his eyes, a strange gesture for a monster like him. "We call ourselves monsters. Legendary? " he replied. A different kind of legendary here." he chuckled. "I am sure my friends wonder where I have been for a decade." he sighed. "And my parents must have been worried."

He quirked his brow as he asked. "I appreciate your help, but explain?"


Learning about his own world from a child! He felt a pang of shame. He was still happy at the least to be here.

Stepping through the door of that particular laugh floor were several government agents, all armed, forming a semi-circle around one particular monster that the company knew rather well. A memo had been circulated via email to all employee accounts letting them know that Randall Boggs would be returning to the property, his status to be determined. The purple and blue, serpentine like monster padded over the floor, a massive scowl on his features, cognizant of the gun pressed to his back, the metal cold and perhaps the most hostile thing he'd ever felt against his scales. 

His face now sported a noticeable if fading scar on it, running from his left eye diagonally down to the base of his right, a mark of his past in the human world. A black collar was fixed tightly to his slender neck, hugging it like a python. He'd been told it was to keep him from stepping out of line; he was a criminal after all, and the city's government was finding him barely tolerable. He had yet to be sentenced to anything, his trial pending. For now, the lawyers were holding off in case he gave them anything regarding FEAR, having dangled plea bargains before his eyes like savory treats. While their whispered promises were rebuffed by his claims that he truly knew nothing, they were deciding to try a test: release him on probation and see if he'd lead them anywhere useful. 


The keys clicked in the handcuffs and manacles here wore like garlands, the chains rattling as they were pulled away. A black and red monster that was half velociraptor and half dog stepped around to his front as Randall rubbed his wrists, the scowl not leaving his features. "Well, you're free... relatively speaking." The dino-dog told him. "Just know that thing is tamper-proof. You attempt to remove it, it goes off... you go somewhere you're not supposed to... it goes off or delivers an electric shock that will immobilize you, depending on the location. You think about cooperating, you know how to contact us; oh and one more thing!" He held up a claw here, grinning. "Your apartment's been repossessed and sold... so you'll need a new place to live." He chuckled, motioning for the guards to step away and start heading out. "You get any ideas... call me. Until then, we'll be in touch." As he moved off, one of the guards decided to get gung-ho and raised his rifle, whacking the butt of it against Randall's skull, causing him to stagger forward and give out an "Agh!" exclamation, his hand shooting up to the back of his head to rub it. 


His vision was swimming, and when it slowly drifted back into focus, he could see Chupacabra and... a human? Was that a human child in here? "What the... hell?" he asked, whispering the words under his breath. "What the hell's a kid doing in here? And where are the scarers? What the hell are all these... colors?" he asked, noting the banners and polka dots and gag devices scattered on tables. Rubbing his head again, he grimaced, starting to walk forward to find out what the hell was going on here, approaching Chupacabra and Jacob, regarding the child with his green eyes and that frown still on his features as he clasped his hands behind his back. 

A different kind of legendary, huh?

Wait, he'd been gone a whole decade? That was like, as long as he'd been alive! Though he couldn't relate to having parents that were missing you. As far as he knew, his dad was probably cracking open a few beers and celebrating his disappearance. "Well can't say I totally relate to that," Jake replied as he rubbed his neck. "But I'm sure they'll be happy to see -"

He was cut off when Randall entered the picture. What the heck? Was that dude in handcuffs? What had he done? Though of course, he hadn't had time to ask before Randall was already freaking out too. "Wow, you guys must be wayyyy behind. No one scares people anymore," Jake replied. "At least not according to Sulley. Now it's a comedy floor... Or something. It's pretty cool."

He did a circle around Randall now with fleeting curiosity. "So uh... What are you supposed to be? A gecko?" He asked. "Ohhh can you do camoflauge like a real lizard? Because that would be so cool!"

El Chupacabra nodded along simply at the child's words, not having a chance to speak before the strange lizard made his entrance. Clearly someone everyone seemed to know, something big surely happened, and he wasn't surprised. He moved aside to put his gaze more upon Randall. He took note that, noticed himself by now, he wasn't in a similar state. He should be safe.

"Sulley?" he questioned. "Much has changed." he replied, and seemed to think. "Scarers gone. Waternoose gone?" he asked in a way that was more of a statement. "Is is strange." he replied, he didn't seem to know what to think yet.

He looked to Randall, and in an almost impatient way spoke to him after Jacob's questions and any answers. "Human child." he pointed to Jacob, "He has explained what" he put his claw to his own chest, "I, El Chupacabra, have missed in the last decade." he explained. "Wrongfully banished and alone." he said with a slight growl. "Tell me your story." he said to Randall.

As Randall watched the human child circle him, his frown only increased. "Yeah... been gone for six years." He muttered, thinking this brat was out of place, but then again... a lot seemed to have changed, and he had no idea what at this point in time. "Comedy?" he asked, disgust evident in his voice. "Are you kidding me? You're saying screams aren't collected anymore? Am I... am I actually awake?" he asked, smacking his face lightly to try and bring himself round if he wasn't. "I ain't a gecko... I'm..." He sighed, his upper shoulders slumping a little. Damn this brat; his questions were endless. 

"Fine!" He growled, suddenly vanishing before Jacob's eyes, then reappearing. He was a natural, and didn't even have to think about it on this floor. Looking to Chupacabra, he actually did offer a small smile at this stage. A legendary... but who was he? Randall had heard of him, but never personally met him. "Hm... so you've been gone... I've been gone... we've all been gone I guess." He uttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes a bit. "Anyway... was banished six years ago... they brought me back cause of some child abductions going on... and naturally thought of me." He murmured again, looking down and studying his fingers on his right hand. "It's ridiculous, really; I know nothing about any of that... they got the wrong guy." he stated with nonchalance. 

Waternoose? What the heck was a Waternoose?

On one hand, he could understand both monsters confusion. But he did let them talk for a little before Randall did the cool camoflauge trick. Whoa! That was insane, he'd heard of lizards doing it before. But to totally disappear like that? Well, let's just say that he was impressed. "You are so cool," Jake finally announced rather excitedly. "You must have been one heck of a scarer, huh? I can just see where you'd scare the crap out of the right person with that kind of power!"

Wait, naturally thought of him? Jake frowned a little as he crossed his arms. "Yeah, they have been kidnapping kids. Or I guess someone has been. That's why I'm here," He pointed at himself in a "duh" fashion. "Whoever it was shredded my door or something. Not that I'm really in a hurry to go back - this place is like Christmas! I feel like I meet something super cool every other day."

The smaller monster raised an eyebrow at the hunt toward what the gecko had done. "You are unpopular."the said bluntly. "Still you were here after my... disappearance." he noted. "Abducting children..." he mused. "An attempt to solve the energy crisis, I am sure." was he being sympathetic? Or merely logical?

He looked to Jacob. "Motive and means are gone." he noted, turning to Randall "They have no better leads. This is troubling. However, is not my problem." he said dismissively. "Will be too busy reclaiming life and taking my own revenge." he turned to Jacob. "Scarers now make children laugh? he chuckled. "Scaring was a leash, an outlet. It appears they can't stop one group. Fools to to not see this coming. You will be in for many more new things."

Randall did his best to hide a grimace at Jake's awestruck exclamation and look as he called him "cool." What appeared on Randall's features was more a slight, upturned left side of his mouth, almost like a smile, though he was clenching his teeth tightly behind his lips. "Yeah..." He replied with a drawl on that first part. "I was top scarer here from time to time." He informed the human. He wanted to try and swat him away, but the last thing he needed was a child crying or wailing and drawing attention to him. "Just could never seem to surpass that da... uh, one other." He said, stopping himself from cursing in front of the kid. 

Looking down to Jake, his face scrunched up a bit. What an odd thing to say. "Wait; you don't want to go back home?" he asked, fronds raising a bit in surprise at this revelation. "I thought you'd be bouncing off the walls trying every door here to go back." The child was clearly old enough to think and act for himself, and while Randall could understand the initial fascination with this place, most kids would be crying or screaming or throwing things and pointing at the doors after awhile; at least that's what he pictured in his own mind. What was this kid's deal? 

But he perked upon hearing Chupacabra mention "revenge." He tilted his head to the side, a bit of a knowing grin crossing his countenance. "Well, I suppose someone's trying to solve the crisis, or maybe it's an attempt to sabotage the blue furball upstairs." This time, his grin morphed into more of a sneer as he shrugged his upper limbs. Whether or not he knew something, he wasn't letting on at present, keeping it to mere speculation. "Still, you say revenge; I assume you mean against those who banished you, right?" he asked, his fronds standing particularly high now on his head. He was liking this guy already, and how he thought. "You know who did it?" was his next inquiry, his eyes blinking independently of each other, as they could sometimes do.