RWBY Plays Grim Fandango – A RWBY Let's Play-style fanfiction by Fireball Dragon
Chapter #2 – Disrupting the Workplace
Dragon's Notes: Hello there. Been a while since the first chapter, huh? Apologies, college classes took up a large part of my time. That and attending conventions, my collie dying, and just trying to enjoy my freedom from college in general. But now that all that's over, I can make more room to write.
In hindsight, I probably should've started with something a little shorter, such as Full Throttle, which is also made by Double Fine. I think Yang in particular would've really liked that game. Eh, I suppose I can save that for another time.
Please, even watching an LP online or whatever will help. The entire point of this fanfiction revolves around whether or not you know the story of Grim Fandango. And if you don't mind, please spread the word of this fanfiction, as I put more effort into this than simply remastering an old one. But while you do that…
Enjoy the second chapter.
RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth, ScrewAttack, and Monty Oum (RIP).
Grim Fandango belongs to Double Fine and Tim Schafer.
I own NONE of this.
RWBY had just helped Manny make it to the gazpacho poisoning in the Land of the Living. Even though they had no idea what gazpacho actually was, they knew a "mass poisoning" would be a good opportunity for a lead on a good client… At least, on paper.
Manny walked into the diner where the poisoning took place. RWBY was STILL kinda weirded out as to how the Land of the Living and its people looked like a bunch of magazine cut-outs glued together.
Manny: Ehhh, the living still give me the creeps.
"I really hope mom doesn't see me like that." Shuddered Ruby.
"Can those people even see him?" Wondered Weiss.
RWBY decided to try and have Manny interact with the people in the diner. Every time he tried "talking" to them, their expressions changed from creepy cut-out smiles to looks of shock and horror, with a small musical sting playing every time.
Manny: It's the fear of Death that makes monsters of us all.
"Okay, so they can see him." Confirmed Yang.
"And if I saw the Grim Reaper walking around out in the open," Added Blake, "I'm pretty sure I'd freak out too."
Manny: Boo!
"What if he scared them to death?" Asked Yang. "He could sell them packages then."
"I think they have rules against that sort of thing." Contested Weiss.
Manny: Scaring the living is technically against the rules, but we all do it.
"Even Domino?" Asked Ruby.
"I wonder how many more agents there are in his office." Asked Blake.
Manny: If I scare them to death then they'll become a customer, but I'll get nailed with a conflict-of-interest rap.
"See? Told you." Confirmed Weiss.
Manny: Pssst. It's me, Death. I'll see you soon, okay?
"I don't think they can hear you, Manny." Replied Blake.
Manny: I know you can't hear me, but try to feel what I'm about to say deep down in your soul. Don't... eat... the... gazpacho...
"Y'know, I always found it weird how the Grim Reaper never seems to say anything in like, movies or whatever." Yang remarked. "Maybe he was talking the whole time, and we just couldn't hear him."
"Death has many faces… but very few voices." Blake added. RWY liked how that sounded.
Manny: Ah, fun's fun, but I've got work to do.
"Alright, let's get down to business." Ruby said. She and her team noted a wriggling paper "cocoon" on the ground. They already knew it was a dead person, and therefore, an eligible "client" for Manny.
Manny: Bound only by the paper-thin wrapper of mortality, a soul here lies, struggling to be free. And so it shall, thanks to a bowl of bad gazpacho, and a man named… Calavera.
"That is so cool." RWBY all thought. They then got Manny to whip out his scythe and slice open the "cocoon," only to find… A dead midget. A RUDE dead midget.
Midget: Nice bathrobe.
"Oh, he's a real winner." Snarked Yang.
"Yeah, that's totally the first thing people would say when seeing the Grim Reaper." Added Blake.
"Looks like another walking stick for that guy." Weiss replied.
Right after that, the game shifted to a cutscene where Glottis drove Manny and the midget back to the garage… of the Dead! Manny and the midget left the car, Manny desperately trying to cling on to the pitiful excuse of a sale he had.
Manny: ...but we offer several travel upgrade package upgrades if you'd care to-
Midget: Cut the yap. I want something cheap where I can get some rest, and that's it.
Manny: Ay ay ay.
"How 'bout he ship you off in a box as luggage, tiny?" Yang harshly responded. She did not like how difficult the little person was being with his travel agent.
Glottis: You know, Manny, I could make this car a little faster. If you wanted...
Manny: Yeah, yeah. Whatever.
Glottis: Oh yeah, slam the front into the weeds, tub the rear end, dual blowers poppin' outta the hood! Wah-wah-wah-wah-WAAAAAH! Wah-wah-wah-wah-WAAAAAAAAHAAAAHHH!
"Yeah, you go, Glottis!" Cheered Yang. She was fixin' to work on modding her motorcycle after seeing the demon mechanic so happily indulging in his element.
Afterwards, the scene shifted to a small supply closet as Manny did something that made RWBY outright burst with laughter; stuff the midget into a small casket, apparently shipping him off as luggage.
"OH MY GOD! I didn't expect that to actually happen!" Yang howled in the face of the hilariousness of the situation. Even RWB was screaming in laughter at how Yang called the outcome. How much of a deadbeat was this little guy?
Manny: You'll get plenty of rest this way, Mr. Martinez, and you'll be safely padded by the foam created when these two chemicals mix, like this.
Manny then sprayed two separate pumps into Martinez's casket, the chemicals coming out mixing a darkish-yellow packing foam. RWBY was kinda weirded out as to how Manny just sprayed it all over Martinez.
"Go for the money shot." Mumbled Yang. RWB could hear her, though. Weiss and Blake blushed heavily while annoyed with Yang's lewd little joke, but Ruby didn't get it.
Martinez: Uh, on second thought, I wanna upgrade my package!
Manny: Sorry, Bruno, but you didn't qualify for anything better.
"That Bruno guy must've been an even bigger cheapskate than Celso." Remarked Ruby. Just WHAT kind of lives did those people live to get shafted in death like this?
Manny: But here, have this complimentary mug!
Manny then handed Bruno a coffee mug labeled "Today is the first day of the end of your life." RWBY all giggled at how ridiculous that mug looked.
"I so want that mug." Yang demanded. RWB all sorta wanted it too.
Bruno: No! Wait! Can't you find me something where I can move my legs?
Manny: You know I'd like to, Bruno... ...but my boss is a real hard-ass.
But Manny mouthing off against his boss came to bite him in the ass when Don showed up, hearing everything Manny said, clearly not amused at his employee insulting him so brazenly. RWBY collectively gulped in response.
Don: I gotta be a hard-ass when I got lazy sickle-wavers like THIS jolly boy working for me!
"Ooh, you should've turned around before saying that, tough guy." Yang said, cringing.
"Well, you're one to talk about laziness, Mr. Ditches-The-Office-To-Go-Fishing!" Scolded Weiss, recalling upon how Don rigged his computer to answer his intercom to trick Eva. She was right; Don was kinda being a hypocrite.
Don: Manny, you couldn't find a sale at a yacht club!
Yang laughed at that pun, but RWB groaned as usual.
Manny: I got a sale right here!
Don: I'm talkin' PREMIUM sales, Calavera! Like the kind Domino makes!
Manny: How am I supposed to make premium sales with the scumbag clients you're sending me?
"Or with how Domino sent his old driver home to make him late for that poisoning?" Added Blake. It seems like both Don and Domino are trying to screw over Manny. Could it be a conspiracy?
Bruno: Hey!
Don: Now you're blamin' the clients? I've had it with you, Manny! If you haven't bagged a premium before the next sales report comes in, you're out! Out on the street! No job! No way to work off your time! Just a fancy suit and your big smile and a whole lotta time to kill!
"What an awful boss." Said Weiss in disgust. It kinda reminded her of how her father tends to treat lower employees of the Schnee Dust Company.
"To be fair, it did seem a little like a victim complex." Replied Blake. "But of course, this really wasn't his fault."
"We've gotta find a lead on a good client, and fast." Said Ruby. The girls all agreed. Manny needed a lucky break now more than ever.
Bruno: Who you callin' a scumbag? Why, I oughta- MrmrMRRmr! MrMrMRrr! MrMrMRrr? MrMrMRRmr!
RWBY giggled at how fast Manny was to try and shut Bruno up. He had it coming.
Manny then walked out of the supply room, clearly annoyed after that little spiel. If an opportunity for a lucky break wasn't going to happen, he was gonna make it happen.
Manny: I'm sick of waiting around for a good lead, like it's going to fly in here tied to a brick. It's time to TAKE one.
"But where to start?" Questioned Ruby.
"Well, Domino's back in, right?" Answered Blake. "Maybe we should try and get something out of him."
RWBY got Manny to go back up the elevator to the second floor, noting that Domino's office door was finally open. They went inside to see Domino lobbing away at a punching bag, mouthpiece in his teeth.
"Gotta give the guy credit; he's got good taste in passing the time." Said Yang, as she also liked to use a punching bag to pass the time. Unfortunately, she's so super-strong, she ends up going through a lot of them pretty fast. It's done quite a bit to her wallet.
Manny: It's Domino Hurley, sweatiest man in the office.
Domino: You gotta sweat to sell, Cally, and you know it.
"Well, he sounds confident." Noted Weiss dryly.
"After bagging a nun for a client, why wouldn't he be?" Yang responded.
Manny: Well, at least you're not hitting the BOTTLE anymore.
Domino: Heeeyyy, Cally. How ya doin'?
"He could be better. A LOT better." Blake said. It was kinda jarring seeing how sharply Manny and Domino's situations contrasted in terms of luck.
Manny: So, how'd you make out at the poisoning?
Domino: Well, let's just say that Sister Calabaza has a secret passion... ...for trains.
Manny: You got a nun?
Domino: Hail Mary.
Manny: And you sold her a ticket on the Number Nine train?
Domino: Choo-choo, little buddy.
"Yeah, we saw her in your car." Weiss recalled.
Domino: Say, how'd you score?
RWBY saw a list of options they could respond to Domino with. One being the truth, two being flat-out lies, and one choosing not to say anything.
"Ruby, I don't think there's any point in lying about this." Blake said. Ruby agreed; it was best to tell the truth.
Manny: I got a mean midget I had to send parcel post.
Domino: Ah, cheer up, buddy. Another day, another death, am I right?
"If you didn't screw us over, we'd have done better." Yang said bitterly, referring to how Domino sent Manny's driver home for the day.
Manny: I want to ask you a question.
Domino: Shoot, slugger.
RWBY saw a set of set of questions Manny could ask Domino. They decided to ask all of them.
Manny: Is it hard to kiss up to the boss so much with no lips?
Domino: Hey, I got all the lip I need. I get it from you.
"That's not the only thing you took from him." Said Weiss, annoyed at Domino's attitude.
Manny: Can I have one of your clients?
Domino: Sure, Cal. Just as soon as I get one I think you could handle...
Manny: I can handle anything you got. Especially if that's your best right jab.
"Yeah seriously, I bet even Jaune could punch harder than that." Compared Yang. Considering the spike of physical improvement Jaune went through since training, it's likely he could.
Manny: Why do you get all the good clients?
Domino: You're asking the wrong guy. You should be taking a good long look at the man in the mirror.
Manny: No thanks. I don't enjoy that the same way you do.
"There has to be more to his success. Something he's hiding from us." Blake remarked. "I just know it." RWY was also suspicious.
Manny: What did you do to get this job?
Domino: You mean, what's my secret to success?
Manny: No, I mean how did you screw up and get stuck here at the DOD?
"Ooh, nice one!" Chuckled Yang.
"It's actually a good question, though." Added Weiss.
Manny: What sin did you commit and how long are you going to have to work here to pay it off?
Domino: I could easily ask the same question of you.
Manny: But I don't know the answer. I still don't know what I've done.
Domino: How convenient! Then neither do I.
"What did they do, anyway?" Asked Ruby. "It'd have to been really bad to end up like that."
"I don't think it matters." Replied Blake. "What matters is what they have to do now." RWY agreed.
Manny: I wanna tell you something.
Domino: Good, go on and let it all out. There's no reason for you to be afraid of me.
"It's not you we're afraid of." Retorted Ruby. The girls then saw a series of statements Manny could tell Domino. Of course, they chose to have him say all of them.
Manny: You know, this used to be my office.
Domino: Yeah, I know. I found your name on some comic books in the desk.
"Could we at least have those back?" Asked Ruby.
"Not likely." Retorted Weiss.
Manny: I want my office back.
Domino: Don't worry, you'll have years and years to enjoy it after I get promoted out and you're still here.
"Well, the comic books wouldn't be worth it at that time." Replied Ruby.
"That's not the point, you dolt!" Argued Weiss.
Manny: I think you're up to something.
Domino: Yeah, I'm up to about four premium sales this week. Heh heh.
"No, he's really up to something. Something big. But what?" Pondered Blake.
Manny: I think we should team up, be partners.
Domino: Oh, Manny, I would, but I'm too intimidated.
"Yeah right." Snarked RWBY.
Domino: I could never be partners with someone who was so much more of a man than me.
Manny: Oh, come on. I've seen your wife.
RWBY giggled at that.
Manny: I wanna punch you in the mouth.
"Totes." Agreed Yang.
Domino: Oh, no. Not the Christmas party all over again.
Manny: What happened at the Christmas party?
Domino: Blacked out on the whole thing, huh? Maybe you should switch to lemonade, kid.
"He'd probably just drink hard lemonade." Replied Yang dryly.
Manny: Well, you sound pretty out of breath, so I'm going to blow.
Domino: Always a pleasure, Cal.
RWBY decided to get Manny back down to the first floor. Upon going down, they see a big purple cycloptic demon crawl out the room across the storage room where Manny packed Bruno into a coffin.
Initially shocked, the girls quickly inferred that he was also another manual laborer, like Glottis. But this demon seemed a little less cheery, to say the least.
Demon: Grmmmble, grrr… You and your fancy suits and your nose holes way up in the air... Sticking your empty beer bottles down the message tubes, how fancy is that?
(Note: I added the following part of the dialogue myself because I thought it unfair that this demon's name never gets said in-game when he even has a track on the OST named after him)
Manny: I'm sorry, who are you?
Demon: The name's Brennis. Juan Brennis. I'm in charge of repairing the tube switcher machine for you ingrates.
Manny: Ingrates?
Brennis: Yeah, ingrates! You reckless idiots in your little offices keep clogging the message tubes by treating it like a trash can, and I have to keep fixing it every damn day! Can't be bothered to dispose of your beer bottles and toilet paper rolls properly?
Manny: Hmm…
(Note: This is where the added dialogue ends)
Brennis: Huh? Don't you boys upstairs realize the tube switcher is a sophisticated and delicate piece of machinery?
Manny: Uh…
Brennis: You think you're better than me?
Manny: No.
Brennis: Good.
As Brennis left the vicinity, RWBY pondered if that was supposed to be some sort of clue.
"Did he just come out of a room from the other side of the hall?" Inquired Weiss.
"Let's check." Ruby said. They got Manny to enter through a door right across the supply closet where he stuffed Bruno in a casket.
Inside the other room, RWBY saw a giant domed contraption of tubes pumping capsules all over the place. They were surprised, to say the least.
"Whoa!" Ruby exclaimed. "What is this!?" The weird Danny Elfman-like music playing in the background amused her.
"It's a pneumatic tube system!" Confirmed Weiss, also somewhat surprised. Her company utilized machines like these to sort out small Dust packages.
"A what?" Asked Ruby.
"Basically, it's a system that uses tubes of compressed air to send messages all throughout the office." Blake elaborated.
"Oh, so that's how Manny got the work order for the poisoning." Realized Ruby. She also realized, upon closer inspection of the machine, that there was a bright red tube that warranted special notice by Manny.
Manny: That red tube looks familiar. I think that's the other end of Domino's message tube... If I could just get in there…
"So we have to steal one of Domino's clients through his message tube?" Wondered Ruby. She was worried Manny might get in some big trouble for that.
"Seems like it'd be easier said than done." Yang retorted. "I think a machine like that would only be accessible by someone like Brennis."
"So we just make it so that he has to clean the machine again, and then steal one of Domino's clients." Blake replied, getting an idea of the solution.
"Well, how do we do that?" Weiss asked, not even knowing where they'd start.
"I think now might be a good time to check out that festival." Ruby said. WBY agreed; it didn't seem like Manny could go anywhere else for the time being.
As RWBY brought Manny to the Day of the Dead festival outside the office, they saw that the rest of the street was blocked off by the festival, which had all sorts of floats and tents and… what appeared to be a clown twisting balloons. They also noted a barrel containing several long loaves of bread next to the clown.
Manny: Looks like some sort of crafty mime.
"I think mimes don't talk. I'm pretty sure that guy's gonna talk." Ruby retorted. And as soon as she got Manny to "talk to clown…"
Manny: What's goin' down, clown?
Clown: Hey, back off, Suit. I'm practicing.
"Well, for a clown, he's not very jolly." Yang said sarcastically.
"He just said hello! How rude can you be?" Weiss belted out. The girls then saw the usual list of dialogue prompts.
Manny: Practicing what?
Clown: Wringing your neck! What does it look like?
RWBY collectively groaned at how rude this clown was being.
"What a jerk! Can't even say two words to him without getting made fun or threatened, huh?" Weiss chided.
Manny: Can I walk through your tent? I want to see the parade.
Clown: Well, walk through someone else's tent, all right? do I look like a turnstile to you?
"Doesn't look like there's anyone else to talk to, though." Blake noted.
"Which means we're stuck talking to this incredibly rude clown." Weiss groaned.
Manny: Some festival, eh?
Clown: Yeah, yeah, pretty busy. My carpal tunnel syndrome is really acting up.
Manny: But you don't have any... tendons.
"No one in this world seems to have much of anything on their bodies." Yang pointed out. "They're skeletons."
Clown: Yeah, well, you don't have a tongue, but that doesn't seem to shut you up, now does it?
"Pffftt." Yang huffed. She didn't like how rude the clown was being, but she couldn't help but stifle a chuckle.
Manny: Could you teach me how to do that?
Clown: Well, um, since you're a beginner, why don't you practice the first step?
Manny: Which is?
Clown: Blow!
"What a jerk." RWBY said in unison.
Manny: BANG!
Clown: Aaah! (A balloon pops in his hands) Popped another one! Lousy bony fingers!
"HA! Serves ya right." Yang gloated.
Manny: Twist me up one of them, eh, fella?
Clown: Yeah, yeah, yeah, twist this, all right?
The clown ends up simply squeezing on the balloon he was tying a couple of times. Neither Manny nor RWBY seemed impressed.
"I bet that guy's all talk." Yang boasted. "I don't think he can twist a balloon to save his life."
"But he's already dead." Blake pointed out.
"Probably because he can't twist balloons!" Yang retorted.
"Well, let's just push him a bit and see." Ruby replied. She thought if Manny was insistent enough, the clown would give him a balloon animal.
Manny: Bet ya can't do a cat.
Clown: Shows what you know, buddy. I can do anything. I can do birds, amphibians, famous poets–Go ahead. Name one.
RWBY liked how cooperative the clown was being now and saw a list of options he could make balloon animals out of; a cat, a dingo, a dead worm (Which RWBY thought was strange), and Robert Frost. They didn't know who that was. Ruby decided to pick the cat option.
Manny: Okay, a cat.
Clown: Pfft. No problem.
"Just for you, Blake." Ruby chuckled. Blake rolled her eyes but gave a little smirk. And like the clown promised, he twisted one of his balloons into a just-discernable-enough facsimile of a cat and gave it to Manny.
Clown: Some of my finest work. Don't you think, sparky?
As the clown went back to tying another balloon. RWBY wondered why "a dead worm" was in the list of options for balloon animals. It seemed so weird. Then that's when it clicked in their heads; it must be a clue to clogging the tube machine. They got Manny to talk to the clown again.
Manny: My kid wants another balloon animal.
Clown: Ah geez, what now?
Manny: A dead worm.
Clown: Heck, that's easy!
The clown then produced a deflated balloon from the back of his tent. RWBY realized the purpose of that balloon; it was meant to contain something. But what? But then the clown said something that clued them in almost instantly.
Clown: There's no limit on those!
"So we can take more than one?" Asked Ruby, piecing everything together.
"I think we only need two." Said Blake, finally figuring it out. RWY figured it out too and got Manny to ask for another "dead worm."
Manny: Do you have any more dead worms back there?
Clown: Well, suuure!
The clown gave Manny another deflated balloon. After putting them back in his inventory, Ruby decided to go the barrel of bread. "I bet he's hungry." Said Ruby.
Manny: The Bread of the Dead.
The girls figured that the bread might serve as a clue to something anyway, so they decided to let Manny pick up a loaf.
Manny: Since I really didn't get to celebrate the festival this year, I think I'm entitled to a little Pan de Muertos.
(Note: The bread Manny picks up is not actually Pan de Muertos, it's more like a baguette. Real Pan de Muertos is actually something of a bun-shaped pastry)
After stuffing the bread back into Manny's inventory, RWBY guided him back to the supply closet on the first floor of his office. There, they saw the two nozzles Manny used to spray the chemicals that would mix into packaging foam, like with Bruno.
"Alright, fill 'em up." Yang said. At her request Ruby got Manny of fill one of the deflated balloons with a dark chemical, and the other with a light chemical. At this point, Yang couldn't help but make a joke. "Looks like Domino's lucky streak is about to go… Down the tubes." All of the girls chuckled, surprisingly, seeing as how in their eyes, Domino had this coming.
RWBY got Manny to go back up the elevator and head to his office, but as he went, the balloons in his inventory kept very audibly rubbing together. Kinda par for the course when you're carrying full balloons in a suit. Eva couldn't help but remark.
Eva: What is that horrible squeaking noise you're making?
Manny: New shoes.
"Oh yeah, that reminds me." Ruby realized. "My boots are starting to wear out. I should go out to town next weekend to get new ones."
"Oh, no need, there's a cobbler over downtown somewhere. He can fix your boots for you." Noted Weiss.
"Lemme come with." Added Yang. "I swear to God, I can see my toes when I kick in my boots."
In Manny's office, Ruby got Manny to open his message tube and stick the balloons down inside.
Manny: Heh. Look out below.
With each balloon, a small scene played showcasing the respective contents falling into the tube switcher and mixing into the packaging foam. Manny and RWBY could hear the machine clogging even from another floor up.
Manny: That doesn't sound good.
"It's not supposed to." Noted Yang. But the whirring noise kind of got to Blake's sensitive hearing. Having four ears can do that to you.
RWBY got Manny to head out of his office. As he did, Eva gave a quick warning.
Eva: Server's down again.
Manny: What else is new?
"What kind of funding does that place even have?" Asked Weiss. From what the girls could tell, it seemed to be very chintzy with its budget.
As RWBY got Manny to re-enter the tube machine room, they saw Brennis repairing the machine, grumbling all the while. RWBY hoped he didn't know Manny was responsible.
Manny: Hi. I'm not getting any messages. Is the server down?
Brennis: This is their idea of a joke? They think it's funny? I'd like to jam THEIR tubes with packing material, see how they like that!
"Oh thank God, I don't think he knows." Blake said in relief. The girls saw the usual list of dialogue prompts.
Manny: So, you're saying the server is down, is that it?
Brennis: The server is not down, it's never DOWN. It's just temporarily unavailable while I'm doing some maintenance, that's all.
Manny: So, how long is it going to be down?
Brennis: With a job like this you never can tell. Probably hours.
Manny: Or until no one's around to see you sneak out, Aye?
Brennis: Whichever comes first.
"Looks clean enough to me." Yang remarked. "Though I don't think Manny has the authority to get in there."
"He should." Ruby retorted. "It's his sales that bring in Brennis's checks."
"Yeah, but he's been getting bad clients who don't qualify for anything high-end." Blake reminded them.
"Right, right." Ruby remembered.
Manny: Can I squeeze in there, just for a sec?
Brennis: Are you kidding? This is a highly secured area. No one's allowed in here who ain't me.
Manny: What's so special about you?
Brennis: I, sir, am an elemental spirit, summoned from the Land of the Dead itself...
"Oh, here we go..." Sighed Ruby. The girls remembered Glottis said the same thing.
Manny: Yeah, yeah, let me guess... You were given one purpose, one skill, one desire: fixing pneumatic tube switchers?
Brennis: No, I was created to run the elevators, but they put in those dang motion detectors... ...and put me outta work!
"Oh, he got reassigned." Weiss said.
"So demons are used for manual labor over there. Weird." Said Yang, scratching her forehead.
"Honestly, that whole 'one purpose, one skill, one desire' thing kind of implies it's more than just a job to them." Remarked Blake. "It almost seems like their main motivation for living."
"Could you imagine if Glottis got fired?" Said Ruby. The girls all then shuddered. They didn't realize what Ruby just did.
Manny: Who would do a terrible thing like this?
Brennis: It's those punks in the mail room! They think this baby's going to put them out of a job. And they're right!
"OH THANK GOD." Sighed RWBY collectively. If Brennis knew it was actually Manny that clogged the machine, who knows what would happen.
Manny: You know, I really think it's clean enough.
Brennis: Oh, it's clean enough to run, all right. I'm just fiddling around to be safe, you know... Gotta cover my ass!
Manny: Yes you do.
"The last thing I think any of us ever needed to see was demonic plumber's crack." Said Yang. RWB agreed; it was pretty gross.
Manny: Just curious-How'd you get in there?
Brennis: I squeezed down one of these tubes, like a pixie! How d'ya think I got in here? Through the door, just like you!
Yang chuckled at his sarcasm, but Blake noted "So that door is the only way in and out of the machine. Hmm."
Brennis: Say, uh, Chatty Cathy... I got a lot of tubes to flush here...
Manny: Hey, me too. I'll let you go.
But upon saying that, the machine started sparking, getting on Brennis's clothes, causing his shirt to catch on fire, much to RWBY's shock.
Brennis: Ah, not again!
Manny ran for the fire extinguisher near the room's entrance, but just as he was about to use it, Brennis warned him not to do that.
Brennis: AAAAY-AY-AY! You trying to blow this joint sky high? That's a magnesium-compound fire extinguisher! Spray that on this packing foam and we'll both be riding the giant roman candle out of here.
Manny/RWBY: What?
"How can packaging material be that volatile?!" Wondered Blake.
"I've heard of my company's Dust packages blowing up during deliveries, but the material protecting it? That's not right!" Remarked Weiss.
"Hmm… Magnesium plus packaging foam equals explosion." Noted Yang. "I feel like we need to remember that later on."
"It does seem like a clue." Ruby added.
Manny: Why would they put something so dangerous in here?
Brennis: I guess they didn't expect this room to be full of hazardous waste!
"Fair enough, the foam's supposed to be in the room across the hall anyway." Noted Weiss.
As RWBY kept watching Brennis work on the machine, they and Manny noted that the deadbolt that keeps the door locked shut wasn't set. A matter of course, since it was open.
"Do… do you think he'll notice?" Wondered Ruby, already aware of what they need to do.
"Ruby, he's only got one eye, and it's focused on the machine." Yang replied.
"Besides, he seems to just wanna finish ASAP." Added Blake. "I don't think he'll care enough to try and notice."
With their reassurance, Ruby got Manny to use the lock on the open door.
Manny: I've just locked an open door. Strange, yet symbolically compelling...
"Yeah, it compels us to finally get in that damn thing." Snarked Yang. Ruby got Manny to exit the room. As he did, Brennis pulled a little card out of a slot in Domino's message tube, and exited the room as well.
Brennis: Good enough for government work!
Brennis slammed the machine chamber's door behind him, unaware that Manny locked the deadbolt so it wouldn't close. Brennis is kind of an idiot, isn't he?
"That card…" Ruby said, pondering its purpose.
"I think it's meant to slow down the air pressure in the tubes." Weiss replied.
"Yeah well, we have 52 of those already." Yang said, reminding her teammates of the deck of playing cards Manny picked up from inside his office. But as RWBY got Manny to finally get into the tube machine's chamber, as he used one of his cards in Domino's message tube, it almost immediately got sucked into the tube, much to the girls' surprise.
Manny: Hmmm… too much air pressure.
"Oh yeah, those cards used for that sort of thing are usually perforated." Weiss remembered.
"Perforated?" Asked Ruby.
"They have holes in them." Said Blake.
"Oh, I get it!" Ruby said in realization. She got Manny to get back up the elevator to Eva's desk and use the hole puncher on top on his deck of cards.
Eva: Manny, what are you doing?
Manny: Just marking cards, honey.
"Clever girl!" Said Yang. Ruby blushed; she felt smart for figuring that one out on her own.
After making it back down to the chamber and using one of the punched cards in Domino's message tube, it finally slowed down the air pressure long enough to stop one of Domino's message capsules. Manny read the contents of the capsule out loud; it was a dossier on one of Domino's clients.
Manny: Mercedes Colomar, Client number 9308–blah blah blah… …Died of chickenpox… time of death, yadda yadda yadda… Ah-ha! Positive Attributes: Volunteered time reading stories to dying children!
"PERFECT!" RWBY exclaimed. That was a winner for sure! If he couldn't get this Colomar person a ticket on the Number Nine, something would definitely be wrong.
Manny: That's good! That's really good! I think you're it, Mercedes Colomar! I think you're the one for me!
Manny exited the room, brimming with confidence, which RWBY was also filled with. That, and guilt over breaking company equipment to steal another person's client. The game then played a cutscene showing Manny in his "work clothes," (Which Ruby and Blake ended up really loving) heading down the elevator and seeing that Glottis modified his car even further. With flaming decals and modded turbos all over its chassis, it was an absolute automobile of awesomeness.
"Whoa-HO!" Yang exclaimed. "That is one BADASS ride! Glottis's a demon of taste!" She REALLY wanted to drive that thing.
Manny: Glottis! Are you loco? What got into you? That was a company car!
Glottis: Oh yeah! And it's even better company now! Hop in! Yeeeeaha! Woo!
Glottis and Manny sped alongside the "Highways of Hell" on their way to Mercedes Colomar. As they did, Domino saw them, clearly annoyed that Manny was about to intercept one of his commission cases.
"Take THAT, jackass!" Yang boasted.
"Mercedes Colomar… Just from how the name sounds, I'm guessing it's a woman?" Blake wondered.
"It does sound like a pretty feminine name." Noted Weiss.
Manny made his way to Mercedes's "mortal coil," cut it open with his scythe, and found the soul lying inside. Just as Blake and Weiss though, it was a woman.
Manny: Buenos dias.
Mercedes: You're not the nurse.
Manny: No.
"Yeah… I hate to break it to ya, but…" Ruby said, cringing as Ms. Colomar started to slowly realize her situation.
Mercedes: You're not here to give me my medication?
Manny: No, but I am here to ease your pain.
"And if you can, please ease his." Requested Blake.
Mercedes: Guess they couldn't save me, eh?
Manny: No, but there's still a chance you could save me.
TO BE CONTINUED…