Chapter Text
EYE ON THE WORLD
News just in from around Twisted Wonderland, from our reporters to you.
As the International Conflict rages on, Shaftlander troops push north along the coast, moving to meet the troops of Briar Valley that have landed on the peninsula. Backed by soldiers of the Sunset Savanna, representatives of both the Shaftland and Savanna militaries have stated that they expect to push the Fae back to their lands by the end of the year.
Battle erupts between the Kingdom of Heroes and the Sunshine Lands, combat crossing the border between the neighboring countries. Tensions have risen due to the countries supporting opposite sides of the International Conflict, and finally those tensions have erupted in all out war.
The Queendom of Roses has been building up its coastline with defensive structures, claiming it has intelligence that factions within the Coral Sea have leaked documents stating the sea kingdoms would attempt an invasion with the support of the Briar Valley. These rumors have been denied by representatives of the Coral Sea, but reports speak of increasing unrest and rumors about civil war down in the deep.
Meanwhile, despite pleas from world leaders, the Scalding Sands has decided to remain neutral in the conflict, citing history and their failed invasion of the Briar Valley decades ago. Despite that, members of the citizenry cite national pride and are joining up with mercenary groups to right the wrongs of the-
The radio is silenced with a click as a white gloved hand turns the knob to the off position.
“Thank you, Jade.” Azul Ashengrotto said as he leaned back in the large armchair he held behind his desk. “I’d prefer to have my interviews done without distractions. Now… I believe you were about to introduce yourselves?”
Across from his desk sat a pair of men in comfy chairs, their most notable features the bags covering their heads and their hands tied behind their backs.. One was tall and thin, and wore a relatively nice suit. The other wore a cheaper outfit: no jacket and a vest with a few patches on it.
“...Not willing to talk?” Azul asked, and he motioned to his two associates. Together the twins each slammed a fist into each of the bagged men in the stomach, earning a pair of groans from the two.
“Agh, you could at least take the bag off…” The poorer dressed bagged man said. Azul frowned at them.
“Oh, you want the bags off? Floyd…” Azul said with a nod to his associate, who slammed a fist into the poorer man again. Azul then motioned with his hands to both of the men, who removed the bags.
The poorer dressed man was a dirty blond young man, a hyena beast man: Ruggie Bucchi. The hyena looked roughed up, worse for wear, with a bit of blood on his lip.
The other man, a pretty blond human with purple highlights, looked a little less roughed up. His hair was more of a mess and maybe he was a little bruised, but the man known as Vil Schoenheit definitely looked the better of the two.
“Now, let’s officially start this interview.” Azul smiled as he leaned on his desk, hands folded just below his chin. “Question number one: Did you really think that you could steal from my customers without getting caught?”
“I thought we would get caught.” Ruggie said, “It was my friend here who thought this was a great–” Ruggie was silenced as Floyd punched him in the jaw this time.
“What my friend is trying to say…” Vil said as he gave a side eye to Ruggie. “...Is that this is a misunderstanding. We aren’t thieves. We’re respectable gentlemen.”
“Ah, yes… Respectable gentlemen…” Azul nodded as though he agreed. “In that case, would you be willing to answer another question?... Why did we find these in your companion’s pockets?” Azul reached into his own pocket and splayed out various watches and jewelry onto his desk.
“Because…” Vil paused, briefly embarrassed. “I’m a doctor. And my companion is also my patient. Despite his looks, he’s very wealthy and I am his personal caretaker.”
“Yeah, he’s my shrink.” Ruggie shrugged at that. “I got that kleptomania or whatever. Also sticky fingers. That’s a legitimate medical conditi-” Another punch to Ruggie’s gut.
“I’m sure you are.” Azul kept that confident smile on his face. “But… I can’t just let this slide, even if you are honest. This club is a classy place with high quality clientele. Having such high cost crimes happen in the Lounge, is going to cut into my bottom line.”
“A couple of stolen watches aren’t going to cut into your war profiteering.” Vil said, his face confident and neutral as he looked at Azul. Azul’s eyes narrowed as he focused on Vil.
“I’d watch your tongue.” Azul growled out. “The Mostro Lounge is a legitimate business, and I am a legitimate businessman.”
“Yes, but it’s also at a port that is a major trade line between the Coral Sea and the surface.” Vil countered. “I may not be the most important person, but I have my connections. Everything my other employers say… Is that anyone who wants a deal comes to the Lounge… Especially for illicit goods. Mostly artifacts, for military use.” Vil motioned with his head to a case behind Azul, which held what looked like the head of a trident.
Suddenly there was a flick of a switchblade, and Jade pressed the knife against Vil’s throat.
“I’m starting to think this man knows too much. Do you think he’s Shaftland military? Or international police?” Jade asked, not quite drawing blood.
“And this little guppy too?” Floyd asked before he punched Ruggie in the face again.
“Seven!... You can stop with the punching!” Ruggie shouted and spat blood on the floor.
Azul raised his hand to get them both to stop.
“No… What was this about employers?” Azul asked. “As much as I don’t like spies coming into my house, if this could lead to a business deal-”
“Yeah our employers wanted us here to sus you out. Make a deal.” Ruggie said, before flinching at the possible threat of Floyd hitting him again.
“I’ve got the papers and everything to verify what we want.” Vil said. “If you could just let me get my bag–”
“No.” Azul said. “Jade, open the dear doctor’s bag for us.”
“As you wish.” Jade put the blade away and went to a nearby doctor’s bag on the floor, brought in with the two captives. Jade knelt down and unlatched the bag, flicked it open and–
Suddenly the bag exploded with a flash of light, like a flashbang grenade had gone off. In an explosive movement, Vil hopped to his feet and brought a skillful axe kick down on the stunned Jade’s head, sending him sprawling to the floor.
With coordinated timing, Ruggie slammed his knee up into Floyd’s groin, and with both his feet he pushed off of Floyd and rolled back, with a coordinated movement that tucked his hands under his feet and got the bound fists in front of him. Floyd was sent back and slammed into the desk, collapsing under the attack.
“W-What the–” Azul came to his senses after the flash, only to see Vil do a running leap onto the desk and kick Azul in his chair. The chair rolled back and slammed into the glass case holding the trident. It smashed open from the impact.
Even though he was dazed, Azul still knew he needed to defend himself. He reached into his coat and pulled out his wand, but before he could cast there was a flash of steel, and an unbound Ruggie tossed a switchblade at Azul’s hand, nicking it and causing him to drop the wand.
As Azul held onto his wounded hand, Vil gave him no time to pause. The doctor dropped from the desk and rotated, giving a beautifully performed roundhouse kick to Azul’s head, knocking him out cold.
Vil stepped past Azul to the wall where the thrown switchblade landed, turned around, and used surprising skill with his hands to cut his bonds with the knife. As Vil rubbed his lightly bruised wrists, Ruggie grabbed the trident head and shoved it into a messenger bag, which he slung over his shoulder.
“I got it.” Ruggie said. Vil nodded in return.
“Right. Let’s leave as soon as possible.” Vil said as he grabbed the doctor’s bag from near the unconscious Jade. “I’m sure our surprise alerted many of the guards.”
What followed was a brief chase across the (mostly empty) Mostro Lounge, various waiters chasing after Vil and Ruggie as they hopped over booths and across the rare full table, and made their way out the front door. Parked nearby was a magicycle, which Vil climbed onto with Ruggie climbing behind him and wrapping his arms tight for security, and the two rode off through the streets of the Coral Sea, fading into the distance.
Vil sat at his desk in the Pomefiore dorm, pen in hand. He made a few notes on the script in front of him, before he finally flipped it shut. They were last minute notes, small changes, but they were what critiques he was sure the writers could handle.
Speaking of which… Three… Two… One…
Two muttering voices and a knock on the door.
“Come in.” Vil said as he rotated his seat to look at the door. The door opened, and in stepped the two figures he had been expecting: Cater Diamond, and the Ramshackle housewarden.
“Cater, Yuu, please have a seat.” Vil said as he grabbed the script from the desk. Cater and Yuu took a seat on a nearby chaise lounge and Vil stood up, rolled his chair across from the pair, and sat back down.
“So, you wrote this script for the Queendom of Roses Independent Film Festival, correct?” Vil asked as he thumbed through the script again.
“Yeah.” Cater nodded. “I saw it on Magicam and told Yuu, and… Well, here we are.”
Vil nodded along and looked at Cater… The housewarden felt a little tense… He had apologized to Cater for his previous behavior, and their relationship had more or less repaired itself… But he still felt apologetic… Maybe this would make up for it, just a bit more.
“Personally, I did enjoy it.” Vil said as he held the script out to Yuu, who took it in hand. “I made some notes, but for an amateur effort I thought it was good. I’d warn you that… This is a popcorn movie, and most film festival movies are more artistic. I wouldn’t expect any awards.”
“The more things change…” Yuu muttered as he flipped through the script. “Just like my world…”
“So, do you have the budget set?” Vil asked. “And the cast selected?”
“The Asim family is footin’ the bill.” Yuu explained as he looked up from the script. “As for the cast, we’ve got most of it. We’re still looking for a few extras, and one of our leads needs to be casted, but otherwise I think things are set.”
“Good, good.” Vil nodded. “In that case, if there’s nothing else today–”
“Actually, that’s what we wanted to talk to you about…” Cater said as he cleared his throat. “...We were hoping you would be the main character.”
Vil paused and stared at Cater. He looked to Yuu, who put on a pleading smile.
“...I’m sorry, are you serious?”