Grim Tales of Mandy Alone

Episode III:The Grim Candidate

by Darwin O'Connor (doconnor at reamined.on.ca)

the sequel to Totally Grim and The GrimFather

based on the web comic Grim Tales from Down Below by Bleedman

particularly the part based on the fan fiction The Grim Family Tree by Sonic Rose

all based on The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy created by Maxwell Atoms

Her knee high black boots clapped on the sidewalk as she walked past the people standing in line for the club. The men stared at her legs as they swung back and forth beneath her short pleated black skirt. The women stared at her long blond hair as it swayed against her back. Unseen sequins seemed to sparkle with a mind of their own across her tight black high neck sleeveless top. Even her black headband flashed with light. The only colour she wore was her pink belt, finger nails and lipstick. Those who thought about calling out to her as she walked past changed their mind when they saw her impatient frown and dark eyes.

She approached the doorman at the VIP entrance. He was vary large, although, it wasn't clear if it was because of muscle or fat. His tuxedo jacket wasn't nearly wide enough to be closed. It was unclear if his tuxedo shirt actually extended all the way around him either.

The doorman tried to match Mandy's frown and asked in his deep voice, "Name?"

"Mandy," she replied in her quiet, but clear voice.

Even though he was holding a clipboard he didn't divert his glare from her before he said, "Your name is not on the list."

Mandy raise one of her eyebrows. "I was invited here by the owner of this establishment."

The large man did not change expression. "I'm sorry, miss. You must be on the list or you must go to the end of the line."

Mandy stretched out her fingers on her right hand and curled them up again, one by one. Her eyelids narrowed. She took at step towards him. With her heels she was able to stand face-to-face with him. "I was invited here by the owner of this establishment."

He opened his mouth, and then closed it. He looked her over and said, "For you, I'll make an exception."

Mandy stepped past him and opened the door, releasing a blast of noise and warm air on to the sidewalk.

One of the girls in the line called to the doorman. "Will you make an exception for me?" She leaned forward to show him what made her exceptional.

He looked away and gruffly said, "No exceptions."

Inside, Mandy squeezed through the crowd, heading towards the back

The constant noise grated at her. The low frequency thump, thump of the music seemed to penetrate everything. On top of the music there where dozens of half heard conversations and people yelling to be heard over the music and each other. Coloured spotlights flickered over the crowd, blinding you with light one moment and leaving you in the dark the next. The worst part was the grinning, half drunk, half trying to impress people faces. It was human insincerity at its most pure.

She suddenly felt a hand rubbing her upper arm. A voice next to her ear said, "Hey, baby. Wanna hook up?"

Mandy grabbed the arm and twisted it around his back. She whispered in his ear, "Is this what you had in mind?" She pushed him to the floor. His frat-boy friends leaped out of the way allowing him to hit the floor face first.

Mandy continued through the crowed until she reached a booth, where several men where sitting. They stood as she approached.

"Welcome, Mandy. I am Jacque Esteban Fanucchi. We where waiting for you," said the man in the centre. He spoke with a strange accent, as if he was from every European country at once.

"Your doorman wasn't," Mandy tersely replied.

"I do apologies," he smiled broadly; "there must have been a miscommunication."

Mandy brushed down her shirt as she sat and crossed her legs.

He continued, "I was told of your beauty, but mere words can't do justice to it."

"Cut the crap, Frenchie. Do you want to make a deal or not?"

"I was also told that the only thing that exceeds your beauty is your stubbornness. I can see that is also true." He took a deep breath that sounded like a slurp with all the saliva in his mouth. "What I propose is that we allow your organization exclusive control of the," he paused trying to think of the right words, "less intense pleasures, while you will allow us exclusive control of the more serious merchandise. With our respective monopolies, we should both prosper, without the unnecessary distractions competition would bring."

Somewhere behind Mandy someone called out, "There's the chick that broke Don's arm!"

The frat-boy went up to Mandy, but without even looking, she grabbed his shirt and yanked his head into the table, smashing a shot glass. She let go of him and his head slid off, leaving a trail of blood.

Mandy looked at her finger nails. "I am not impressed."

Jacque snapped his fingers and pointed and a couple of heavy set men in dark suits picked the frat-boy up and took him and his friends away. On the other side of Mandy a waitress in a low cut cocktail dress appeared and showed Mandy a bottle of wine. Mandy didn't bother to read the label.

The waitress went through the motions of opening the bottle. Jacque still smiled. "I do apoligies. Please try a glass of our finest red wine."

The waitress pulled out the cork with ease. She poured glasses for Mandy and Jacque.

Jacque picked up his glass, swirled the wine and sniffed it. "Chateau Sorauren Cabernet, and an excellent year."

Mandy picked up the glass, stared intently at it and admired the panoramic view of her surroundings it gave her. She put down the glass and said, "You and your junk have caused nothing but trouble for me. Your addicts steal from my stores, wreck up my apartments and lower my property values. You are a small man with small plans. What are you going to do with the money you make? Retire on some tropical island. You'll soon slip up and be put away, one way or the other." She raised her voice, "You can take your 'merchandise' and all your disgusting people and get out of my town or I will put you away one way, then the other."

Jacque laughed and twirled his glass. "Such hostility, mon cheri. Relax, drink. I'm sure we can come to a mutually acceptable agreement."

Mandy picked up her drink. Just as she was about to take a sip, one of the men standing around Jacque snickered. Mandy put down the drink and said, "I don't do 'relaxed'."

She grabbed the glass again and drank the wine quickly, and saw Jacques smile grow as she drank. She savored the taste before taking the last gulp. She looked carefully at the glass, again.

"I think you'll find it really packs a punch," Jacque said has he poured his full glass of wine carelessly on the table.

Mandy was surprised how quickly her stomach knotted and how dizzy she felt. Mandy struggled to speak. "I'll be seeing you again." Her head felt like it was going to split in half and her vision was blurred beyond recognition. Clumsily grabbing the table she bumped her wine glass and it rolled on to the floor, smashing.

Jacque and his associates began laughing as Mandy weakly coughed until she started to taste blood. Satisfied that she had had enough, she passed out.