Pickle Inspector fell short many times on his life and he didn’t forget any of them. Pickle Inspector ran away and hid from the people he loved out of fear and he remembered every single second parted. Pickle Inspector had dissapeared for another long period of time with the faint promise he would come back from his isolation as always. Pierre Ivan Parrish had plans to go back.
He was suiting his apartament in secrecy again, he was gonna surprise Droog and Slick and Fin and everyone, again. He was gonna pretend he could stay on their lives for more than a few weeks before falling appart. He liked to pretend he was a good man that could retain compromises. He liked to believe he was clean, organized, that he didn’t drift off with the softest of the winds. That he was, as a fact, a good man.
Pierre had send a message to Droog awaiting no response. It was just fair the man in question would carry on his life without someone who could handle a relationship. Someone not so fragile. There were many other things he rather not dwell about. Like the kiss in the hospital with Durante. And the other vists they had at his apartment that just revealed him more things. Like the fact that he couldn’t keep himself together when he was around that man. But that is driving away from the important.
He was too weak.
And so he found himself trying to return to his life in a burst. A life he seems to be trying to take and reuse multiple times. The only person he talked to about this changes was Ace Dick, he doesn’t talk much with him but... that is sort of why he finds a safety heaven. It is weird, it is so weird to have someone in a very loose spiritual way.
So he left Dick’s office and made the walk for his house, taking the long route just in case a familiar face might pop in.
But the calamities never stopped, not with the Inspector around.
When he drifted around the city he avoided the parts he knew his friends and relatives would take. He had patterns for each so he knew when or how to just no see them at all. All but one, he wasn’t a friend.
Patrik Sandoval had a some unfinished bussiness and he has been tracking down the Inspector with a little help of the Innovator. Great minds think alike.
“Care to share a cigarrette with an old pal?”
For a lack of better word Pierre looked very... bored of this. Not the first time, not the last he assumed. Patrik had come before to gut him a couple of times, each substimating the werewolf factor he had come to make very clear on the new scars he had left on his face. Sandoval however always managed to stand tall infront of the detective, win or loss.
“That is not gonna work, I don’t see Sleuth anymore. I do wish I did but I don’t. So please, be a dear and just leave.”
Scofflaw shaked his head, tsk tsk tsk. PI looked at him plainly. “Oh but Inspecotr, I’m not here for the usual.”
“No information? No menaces? No fights? No hallucinations? No DNA samples?”
Scofflaw quirked an eyebrow at him. He got a couple steps closer on the empty street. “No. See, I’m usually of the flashy kind, and while I like our sparring sessions more than anything I’ve come to a conclusion.”
Pierre took a step back, getting ready to run. If it was any possible his pale would have gone paler with this cold, it would had. He could see perfectly on the dark of the night what was Scofflaw going to draw. And Scofflaw knew this and yet he acted upon it.
There was nothing else, a loud noise filled the emptiness of the streets. And then Scofflaw turned into dust.
-No. No no no no no. It was going further and further into territory with neurons shrieking against each other and everything collapsing down to the worst thing imaginable. Choosing someone. Forced to choose someone and have another person, ANOTHER person in his life die because he fucked up and that was the consequence of fucking up. People die, and he has to move on because he can’t let that death be for nothing and give up.-
-But he was not going to be forced to choose. That wasn’t going to fucking happen, never. If someone forces him into a corner, he doesn’t do what they say. He turns around and bites that someone in the fucking face, whether it’s fate or Peccant fucking Scofflaw.-
-It’s a terrible thing, being rusty with shadow magic. Especially when you’re fighting against the king of it. But he didn’t need much. Just a jolt of it, brain creaking like an old machine starting up again, and a quick swelled mass of black from behind Scofflaw to knock him forward. Then just a matter of lunging when he had the chance, one hand gripping that godforsaken green fucking tie, the other grabbing a fistful of blond hair at the back of his head, holding him there in case he got any ideas of zapping away again.-
Hello lover.
-He hissed it out, all burning steam trying to hide the bitter hurt at saying the words. Again, under circumstances he dreaded to come.-
Yer gonna leave these two out of this, okay? Okay. Or else you will have to kill me, Patrik. And I don’t die easy, and not without a fight when I’ve got so many people who died for me to keep going. Including you.
--The Inspector heard a shot, as bad positioned as it was, nothing could stop Scofflaw for pulling the trigger instictivily, even if it hit nothing or someone, at this point he didn’t take count of it, he was just sure this was just it for to end in Droog’s death, he just realised Scofflaw had nothing to lose here, he was not the one at stakes and for Slick to be risking it like this was absolubtly dumb.--
If we continue this madness the four of us are going to end up in the worst scenarios imaginable and I would not like that today, Mister Slick, I’m going with Scofflaw, it is my decision and I don’t want a word of neither of you
--He gave a harsh glance at Alick then a worried one at Droog, he tried to keep his initial anger but at this degree, he himself didn’t know what was going to happen.--
–The door wasn’t open yet, it wasn’t budging and that was causing Scofflaw a bit of an anger case, he was impatient, not that anyone could tell, if he didn’t have that plastered smirk on his face things could be different, but the fact that Slick had peaked from the window, it was Slick and not the Inspector, was a pretty evident fact that he was being spected, and he had to focus and move quickly and thus he was ready. He wispered into the other’s ear. –
“The Moment you attack me or cause me any damage in any way you are dead.”
–The door was open he put his arm aganist Droog’s neck and pressed the gun even more aganist his back.–
“Hello I’m here for a quick interchange, let this be peaceful alright? And Hello there Pierre, I hope you don’t mind dropping that gun of yours before Dante here bites the bullet, sames goes for you Slick”
-Slick slowly opened the door, yeah, all the way because the seal was fucking broken anyway and there was no point. Think. Cmon think you fucking idiot you can never THINK when things go wrong. Just the same as always, turning into a mute idiot who can’t think five seconds ahead, hands tied thoughts tied.-
-There was a lump growing in his throat seeing the expression he saw on Scofflaw’s face, a sick twist of uncanny valley when a usually comforting face was twisted into that kind of fake smile.-
It’s an ax. Not a gun.
-A stupid comeback, tongue tripping over the words. All the same he let it drop, backing up so that he was very solidly in front of Inspector, ready to move at any instant. That wasn’t changing, the very clear message on what Scofflaw would have to go through to get to him. If he were a different person he could have hid his emotions a little better, but no. His mouth twitched in one corner, eyes staring at and into Scofflaw like it could make a difference– no. Not like it could make a difference. Just regret soaked in threads of connection he kept grabbing for and missing. So it came down to this.-
--PI gave a sigh and had to drop the gun as well, he hesitated on it, if he could give one shot, just one, but he wouldn’t risk Droog on it, he wouldn’t dare. He had to give it to Scofflaw, he was playing it safe. Safe and cheap, hostage Droog, of course because he wouldn’t come in himself otherwise the scenario would have been quite different.--
There is a bunch of things I would like to talk about but I consider it a waste of vocal creativity towards what you trully deserve to know, so alas, lets talk what you can muster
--He was really pissed off and dead worried about Droog, how come Scofflaw didn’t come when it was his turning night, that would had made things easier for everyone. For himself specially.--
-He blinked up at Pickles, eyes a little wide in realization. And then self consciousness, nodding and gaze flicking back and forth between the wall and the man who owned it.-
….Right. That. Yeah sorry I– got carried away. Again. But hold on, no no wait a second I know I went a little overkill but it’s not safe.
-He grumbled a little, setting the can down and wiping his hands on his pants, bright eyes finally focused completely on Pickles, a tight frown settling on his face.-
Look I’ll take care of the damages this time, I will. Last time was a flop, I get that, but you have my word this time and…. and dammit ‘mnot just gonna leave ya like a sittin’ duck out here yer–
-He shut up right away at the knock on the door, head snapping to focus in on it, lips tight over a clamped shut jaw, silent and tensed. Three knocks, then another. That wasn’t good. Three knocks was good. Not six. Slick’s eyes squinted a little more, thin slits on his face. He cast a quick look at Pickles, waving sharply for him to get away from the door, preferably far far away from the door. As far away as possible. Then he leaned down, snagging the shotgun and tossing it over to him before rounding towards the door, hatchet held very steadily behind his back. His hand flicked aside the curtain edge, looking out, mouth dry, everything chilled to the bone.-
- And there was Droog on the other side, looking a little dead-eyed, if still furious. So that meant…-
-Slick didn’t open it right away. If he did, everything was for nothing. If he did, Scofflaw had free reign over the whole thing. Though, he clearly had control of it right now. Big fucking control over it all. Because he had Droog. And so he had Slick.-
Pip… get away from here. Now. Now.
-He braced his hand on the door knob, taking deep breaths, heart beating past its fastest, smashing through that boundary into frigid calm where he couldn’t shake if he wanted to, pulse steady, everything steady and still more terrified every second of what he had to do.-
“Last time was more than a flop, last time-” -- And then the knocking on the door.-- “ That must be Mister Diamonds, or so I hope...”
--Because he wasn’t waiting for anyone else, no one else would visit him anyway, unless it was Dick, but that was weird even on a monthly basis. But he could smell it in the air, faint but Droog’s scence and... something else, well in a way Slick’s odor almost over-drived his very sensitive nose but he could still could get something out of it, was that peppermint...? Nah, must be quite wrong.--
“Oh no he is going to pay for this” --He has the gun now, but what for, that aint stopping Scofflaw, and he knows because on his previous vists his rifle wasn’t of any use, so he stands back, he stands his sapce, where he can be a shooter, and of actual use for this, at this point of his life he couldn’t be more tired of this shit always happening and he having no word on it, not anymore.--
Oh don’t worry! This ain’t someone else’s blood I didn’t hurt anyone for it. I just keep these stocked up fer emergencies. You’d be surprised at how much a pint every two months builds up after a while.
-He started on the door he just came through, starting with broad circles and lines before working on details. Then the next spot. And the next. And so on in near complete silence as he moved around the house, grateful it wasn’t too big a house.-
I didn’t mean it because of that, I mean it because you decided to vandalize my house for the hundred time.
--Because all is always the same thing, of course, of fucking course. He was being pissy yes, he knew this was for his safety but good lord he wasn’t drunk enough for this, at some point you are not drunk enough for this kind of nosense anymore. And after Slick check the symbols of his house for the hundred and a half time he is starting to lose all patience, maybe his apranoia was just...well yes--
I’m starting to believe it is better for you to leave, since nothing is happening and Mister Slick, I do appreciate your help and understand your corcern but my place is a wreck and it has turned into a vampire’s dream place, and with all due respect its been quite a while and well... Well you know...
-He slipped inside, two gallon paint cans in his hands and– Okay that was a shotgun and a hatchet under his arm. Once he got inside he kicked the door shut, dropping one can to grab Inspector into an almost too tight, quick hug before letting go from the unusual display of contact. His eyes scanned over his friend’s face, eyebrows creased almost comically with worry. Finally satisfied he nodded and turned away, setting the shotgun down but keeping the hatchet, returning his attention to the cans.-
Yknow fer a second I thought. Maybe he got here first an’ was pretending to be you or– fuck I dunno. Glad yer okay. Yer okay right?
-He popped off the lid of one can, a suspiciously thick dark red liquid inside, and pulled out a wide paintbrush, always casting nervous glances side to side.-
Just uh. If you can, could ya repeat what I’m doin here on every entrance you find. Even windows. Every single one. Honestly it couldn’t hurt t’ just do it on some walls too… yeah. But I’ll take care a’ those.
I am perfectly fine Slick... I Do have Some corcerns about what you are going to do to my house with all of that... I mean repair it post chaos is always hrmm you know... Will do
-- Pi gave a deep sigh and accepted the duty as such to vandalize his own house for the 94597447 time, he was certanly sure that if he didn’t take the beatings of any chaotic suggestion then his house will.--
I trust this is the correct going on this subject, you know more of magic than I do regardless of... well... everything
I suppose that only makes sense now. Though, I still highly doubt you could ever turn into such a character, willingly that is. It wouldn’t me like you.
It does not sounds like Stein to keep information from his………………………………….. “crew”. Whichever it is consisted of nowadays. Hence I refuse to acknowledge him as Stein anymore. I spoke to “Scofflaw”. He goes by “Sandoval” now.
You know we can extend our protection to you if you’re feeling threatened. Slick is very fond of you after all.
Sandoval? Is that it... he has changed his name and tittle...
I guess you are right, Sleuth is gone and this is... this is not him...
Protection? You cannot protect me from what can come from out of my head this Innovator has too much power I’ll be fine no need to worry, I’ll notify you of any other event involving this apperances, they can’t go too far...
And you can tell me as well if Scofflaw decides to overstep his boundaries
Mister Diamonds, you don’t understand, the visitor, I looked myself into a mirror and I saw the monster I have always been afraid I would become... he exists... He called himself Pernicious Innovator, and he looks like me.
He wanted information about Peter, it sounds like Scofflaw is hiding his own information from his.... crew... and he wanted to know about me as well... I am afraid of what they can do
