Disclaimer: I don't own.
"Hey, Meg, would ye be willin' to do me a favor?" A woman with long brown hair and cat-like violet eyes glared at the speaker.
"I've told you already, John, I'm off duty. Try again later tonight," she said in a bored tone and the man she was talking to chuckled.
"I wasn't talkin' about that. See that woman sittin' over by the window?" Meg looked to where John Silver, owner and chef of the diner she was currently sitting in, was pointing. They stared at a brunette woman, barely younger than Meg herself, who was looking out the window, her blue-gray eyes following the citizens of Fantasia City.
"Yeah, so what, John." John leaned forward and motioned for Meg to do as well. Meg rolled her eyes and leaned her chin on her hand in an irritated like motion.
"That there is Vivian West." When no reaction came from the Greek-American, John sighed. "She's a new reporter looking for the scoop about the bootleggin'."
"So? We've had several blow through town and find nothing. What's the difference? Aside from the fact that this reporter's female." Yes, Megara Dimitriou was all too familiar with the male reporters looking for a big lead on the big 'who dun it' crimes and murders. And let's not forget the big tourist attraction, bootlegging. By the time they got to Meg, they had given up and decided to use on of the…services Meg provided.
"Nothin', aside from the fact that I heard she's from a rich family and brought her kid sister with her." Meg shrugged, not even listening. She instead was watching as Hercules Nicoli walked in. He caught Meg's eye and gave her a shy smile. Meg blushed faintly and turned away, almost hitting John's face, which suddenly appeared next to hers. The older man smirked and Meg scowled.
"Well, that's all dandy, but I don't care. And quite frankly, I have no clue why you're telling me this." John shrugged and started wiping the counter.
"I just thought ye should know since I think ye should go over and talk to her." Meg looked at him before she started laughing loudly. The few in the diner, including Vivian, looked over at Meg. Meg covered her mouth and in a few moments, faced John.
"Oh, Silver, you slay me. I honestly thought you were being serious." When no smile came, Meg sobered up. "You were just kidding, right?" No answer. "Oh come on John!" she whined. John gave her a look and Meg huffed. "Fine. But only because I like you."
Vivian had turned back to watching people walk by after that one woman had started laughing. My, Vivian thought, she was dressed awfully fancy. I wonder…She was brought out of her thoughts when someone approached her table.
"Hey." Vivian looked up and saw it was the same woman she'd been wondering about.
"Uh...Hello?" Vivian wasn't sure how to respond. Not many in this city seemed to like her. It was like they knew who she was. So when this new stranger came to talk to her, she wasn't sure how it was going to be.
"Name's Meg." And before Vivian could introduce herself, Meg spoke again. "And I already know who you are. Vivian West. The city's been abuzz with your arrival." Well, that only confirmed Vivian's suspicions.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you Meg. Will you please take a seat?" Meg snorted in an unladylike manner and plopped down in a chair. She pulled out a cigarette and raised an eyebrow at Vivian.
"You mind if I light my ciggy, Viv?" Again, before Vivian could address Meg, someone else spoke up.
"I mind, Megara. Ye know I don't like smoking in my diner." John gave her a look and Meg rolled her eyes and put the cigarette away.
"Silver's such a downer, don't you think, Viv. Anyway, I thought you were looking lonely over here, so I decided to bring you some company." Vivian didn't believe this, but she let it go.
"Thank you, but I was just on my way to be leaving actually." Vivian started gathering her stuff, which consisted of a small notebook and a pencil that had been chewed on. Meg frowned but shrugged indifferently.
"Whatever. You must be having such luck on getting the big scoop on the bootlegging, huh?" Vivian paused in gathering her things before she resumed.
"Well, you know, I've only been her for a few days, so—"Vivian was cut off when Meg slammed a hand down and leaned forward. Vivian stared at her with wide eyes and Meg smirked.
"See that muscular guy with the orange hair over there?" Vivian followed Meg's pointed finger before nodding. "Yeah, he's a bootlegger." Vivian whipped her head around and stared at Meg.
"You're not taking me for a sap, are you?" Vivian demanded and Meg shook her head, for once actually being sincere in her actions.
"I may be a lot of things, but I'm being completely honest with you." Vivian still didn't look quite convinced and Meg sighed before grabbing the younger woman's wrist.
"Come on, we're going to talk to him. Then you'll believe me." Vivian sputtered and tried resisting as Meg pulled (dragged) her through the diner.
"Meg! I can't just do that! What if I become a name on his employer's hit list or something?" Meg snorted and looked back at the stubborn woman.
"Please, Viv, that wouldn't happen. Name one journalist that's happened to." Vivian quieted down for a moment and Meg smirked triumphantly.
"Walter Jennings, Melvindale, Michigan." Meg frowned and glared at the journalist, who only smiled smugly at her.
"Um, Meg?" Meg whirled around and looked down at the man who spoke her name. He had a look of confusion on his face and was trying to see who was behind Meg.
"Oh, hey, Herc. How are you?" Meg asked. Hercules raised an eyebrow before shrugging.
"Pretty well, I guess. Been busy, you know. And you?" Meg gave him a smile, making Hercules blush. If she noticed, she didn't let on as she stepped closer to the man of Greek descent.
"Great! Hey, do you mind if I introduce you to someone? 'Course ya don't!" she said cheerfully without letting Hercules answer. "This," she said as she jerked Vivian forward to stand next to her. Vivian gave a surprised cry and caught herself before she fell onto the supposed bootlegger. "Is Vivian West. I'm sure you've heard of her." Upon seeing Hercules confused face, she elaborated. "She's the journalist from New York. And she has some questions for you!" Vivian looked at him and gave a sheepish smile.
"I don't need your name or anything. Just some basic information," Vivian said, using the same line she had used at the police station. Hercules looked around nervously and stood up.
"Um, I'm sorry, but, uh, I can't help you. Sorry!" He made a move to leave, but Meg intercepted him.
"Oh, come on, Herc. It won't hurt anyone to just answer some questions. This will be in a New York City paper. No one here will see it. So just relax and sit down and help a girl out by answering some questions," she said smoothly and gently pushed him back into the chair he was sitting in. Hercules opened him mouth and then closed it, a blush fully consuming his face. Being this close to the girl he really, really liked was something he didn't know how to handle.
"I..."Hercules looked up at Vivian and then at Meg before looking again at Vivian. "Fine. I'll answer some questions. Promise no names though?" Vivian gave him a smile and nodded her head. Hercules felt slightly better and prepared for the questions as Vivian flipped her notebook to a fresh page and took a seat across from him.
"Okay then. What got you into bootlegging…"
An hour later, Vivian was satisfied and slightly excited to start typing her article. She was thanking Hercules profusely. Hercules just smiled and nodded his head. Just then, a man with long brown hair and light green-blue eyes, stepped into the diner. When he found Hercules, he made a hand motion for him to come. Hercules, seeing this, stood up.
"Sorry, ladies, but I have to go. Something to do with, ahem, work." Vivian nodded and bid goodbye. Meg, not pleased, half-heartedly waved goodbye. Hercules hesitated to leave and started to head out before he turned back.
"Meg, could I, um, well you see..."he trailed off, but at the look that Meg gave him, continued. "May I take you out sometime?" Meg blinked at stared at him before a blush spread across her cheeks.
"S-Sure. Though preferably during the day." Hercules nodded and gave Meg a bright smile before he ran out the diner, followed by his impatient companion. Meg stared after him, a dreamy look on her face. Vivian noticed this and giggled, breaking Meg out of her stupor. She glared at Vivian, who only laughed harder.
"You, my friend, have it bad," she said through her giggles. Meg rolled her eyes but gave a small smile. Yeah, she mused, she did have it bad.
"Jiminy! Where've you been, Herc?" John exclaimed once said man and Tarzan, better known as Jungle Man, entered the warehouse. Hercules scratched the back of his head sheepishly before he looked around.
"Say, is the boss here yet?" John shook his head and Hercules gave a sigh of relief. Tarzan crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.
"So again, I ask, where were you?" John asked (more like demanded). Hercules shrugged his shoulders.
"At Silver's diner. I was hungry and it was the nearest restaurant. Relax guys, it's not like I was talking to anyone I shouldn't be talking to." Hercules gave a nervous laugh and John turned to Tarzan.
"Who was he talking to when you came to get him?" Tarzan had to stop and think. He'd seen Herc talking to two women, but he was more focused on getting the youngest of all the men back to the warehouse.
"That one prostitute that turned Hercules' eye…Meg, I think. And a female I haven't seen around Fantasia before." John hummed and turned to Hercules. Hercules was fiddling with the edge of his fedora and avoiding all eye contact. By that time, Adam, Phillip, and Shang had joined the group and were all staring at Hercules.
"Alright! I was talking to that journalist, Vivian West." A collective gasp came from the men and they stared at Hercules as if he had committed some sort of taboo, which, considering the time and place with which they lived, he basically had. "But it's alright, guys! She promised no names and I trust her," Hercules muttered that last part and John raised an eyebrow.
"What was that?" Hercules sighed and looked at a pile of crates holding their current shipment.
"I trust her. I get an earful of how journalists are agents of the devil, but there are a few that are harmless, like Viv." John gave a laugh, though he was clearly not amused. Hercules then looked up at John, panic filling his face. "You're not going to tell Clopin, are you?"
"No," John answered after a long pause. "I won't, because, I mean what can we do about Vivian West? Kill her? That's a horrible idea and...she is only doing her job. But you," he said, pointing at Hercules, "better pray to God or Zeus or whoever you worship that he doesn't find out!" Hercules nodded fervently, taking the advice to heart.
Olly was once again staring at the decent sized building where the doctor's office was stationed. She sighed and looked down at the bag of groceries in her hand. Vivian would murder her if she didn't get home to put the groceries up. Not like she'd notice though, Olly realized, since she's cooped up in her room typing furiously on her typewriter. Olly gave one last look at the building before she started to walk away.
"Oi! Why the long face?" a voice asked from behind the ebony haired girl and Olly cringed outwardly. She didn't even need to turn around to know who it was talking to her.
"Ugh, what do you want, Peter? I'm not bothering you," Olly stated and turned around, seeing that Peter was with his pals, Pinocchio and Arthur. Peter shrugged and shoved his hands in the pockets of his jacket.
"I just wanted to congratulate you on your acting skills. Those tears had Wendy and Alice pretty convinced." Olly frowned and shifted the bag of groceries to her other hand.
"Thank you?" she said, unsure of how to answer. Man, this Peter guy was extremely weird, she decided.
"Truce?" he suddenly asked, sticking out his hand. Olly stared at it and then stared at the red head before she slowly shook his hand.
"Didn't know we were fighting," she said and dropped his hand. "So, now that that's taken care of, I need to leave; I don't want these groceries to spoil. My sister wouldn't be very happy," she muttered and started heading down the street. Peter looked at his friends and motioned for them to follow.
"Where did you learn to act like that?" Peter asked and Olly looked surprised to see him suddenly walking right next to her before looking back down the street.
"A few years ago, I decided I want to act on Broadway. My father hired a few actors to teach me some basic things. I kept that dream up for a good three years before I decided I wanted to be a doctor. But that didn't mean I didn't come out of those lessons without some useful skills." Peter nodded before he grinned.
"Well, how'd you like to put those skills to use and teach them to us?" Olly furrowed her eyebrows and looked at Peter like he was crazy.
"You're serious? Why would a group of guys like you need acting skills? Trying to fool your folks or something when you've missed the curfew?" she snorted and sped up her walk. Peter frowned and caught up to her.
"I am serious. Look, I can pay you if you want." Olly laughed humorlessly at that and gave Peter a roll of her eyes.
"You do know who you're talking to, right?" Peter realized what she meant and rubbed the back of his neck before he got an idea.
"You said you wanted to be a doctor and I saw you staring at Doctor Sweet's office. I know Sweet personally. So how about you give us the lessons and I'll see if Sweet needs any help around the office." Olly mulled this over before nodding her head slowly.
"Alright. I'll do it." Peter smiled triumphantly at his friends. "But you got homework. You need to practice keeping your emotions in check. Like you, Blondie," she gestured to Arthur, "You wear your emotions quite clearly on your face. Think of dead puppies or something sad. Once you all have a perfect blank face, you'll be able to go far. And read up on your Shakespeare. There's some genius stuff right there. I'll see you guys in a few days for your real lesson." And with that, Olly left the group of guys as she entered the apartment building. Peter and the others stared after her before looking at each other.
"...You heard the lady. Let's go read some Shakespeare." The trio headed off to the library.
Wild laughter and loud music surrounded Captain Rourke. Currently sitting inside the speakeasy of his friend (If he'd call her that) Madame Medusa. It was a shack out in the sticks beyond the city limits of Fantasia. It was low lit and seedy and perfect for a man like himself, he thought as he took a drag on his cigar.
"Good evening, Lyle," an obese woman with a lavender tint to her skin greeted the silver haired man. Lyle nodded politely as he stood up.
"Evening Ursula. And how are you on this fine night?" Ursula gave a throaty chuckle and took the seat across from Rourke, who followed in suite.
"Wonderful. I was here to meet Jafar, but he backed out at the last moment. So instead I brought Vanessa," she said, motioning to a beautiful young woman with dark hair and violet eyes who was talking to John Clayton, a hunter that had hunted all around the world.
"Ah, your daughter is growing more and more beautiful by the day." Ursula nodded in agreement at the comment made about her adopted daughter. The two sat in a silence, nursing their drink.
"How are things going with Trouillefou? I heard that you've been having some... problems," Ursula commented and the former Army Captain gritted his teeth. Even hearing the name of his competition was enough to set him off.
"Fine. We've found a solution to the problem. It's only a matter of time until I've taken control of all bootlegging trafficking in Fantasia." Ursula looked slightly surprised but didn't comment. Yes, Lyle thought and smirked, he'd have all control. After all, the best comes to those that wait.
...Hi. I know that I haven't updated this since more than a year ago. And I'm sorry. No excuses for why I didn't. But I'm honestly going to try to be better at updating this.
This chapter was so-so for me. I had fun writing the first half (BTW, Meg and Hercules' last names are made up) but then the second half was okay, I guess. And those acting tips Olly gave...I'm a dancer not an actress, so I kinda made those up. Not about Shakespeare, though.
To DisneyPrincess, I don't know if you'd still read this because it's been forever, but I thank you for your reviews. And knowing '20's lingo is cool, no matter what anyone says. :D
To anyone else reading, if you have any suggestions of Disney characters to be added or make a cameo, let me know, I'd be happy to do it!
1920's Slang
You Slay Me- that's funny
Ciggy- Cigarette
Sap- Fool
