RWBY Plays Grim Fandango – A RWBY Let's Play-style fanfiction by Fireball Dragon
Chapter #5 – They Had a Date with Fate in Rubacava!
Dragon's Notes: Well, here it is; Year Two of Grim Fandango. My personal favorite chapter of the game. The other 3 had their strengths, to be fair, but there was just so much going ON during this part that it was hard not to get so engaged in it all!
Plus, as someone who actually watched and enjoyed Casablanca (Watch it ASAP), the fact that this entire chapter is basically one big reference to it only added to my enjoyment. I've always loved the film noir aesthetic, and works that pay tribute to it like this game always hit home for me. Kinda like with some of the Junior Detective shorts in RWBY Chibi.
The snappy dialogue is at its best in this chapter, IMO. The round assortment of characters that populate Rubacava and fast-paced dynamics caused by their personalities bouncing off of each other is damn-near ingenious. How did Schafer do it? The man is brilliant, no doubt about that.
Enjoy the fifth chapter.
RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth (RIP).
Grim Fandango belongs to Double Fine.
I own NONE of this.
Grim Fandango. A simple, yet inspired adventure game that touched the hearts of most everyone who played it. From its lovable characters to its witty dialogue, it was hard not to love just how unique the game was. Team RWBY couldn't help but love it either, to the point where they even kept dropping quotes from it all day after playing it last night.
As the girls headed out of their dorm to start off the day, Yang couldn't help but turn the lock on the doorknob while the door was still open. "I've just locked an open door," she said. "Strange, yet symbolically compelling."
"Good enough for government work," Ruby responded. "Come on, let's go already!" Weiss scolded. Yang re-did the lock properly this time and headed out with the rest of her team.
During a training session out in the Emerald Forest with a couple of captive Grimm, Ruby swung Crescent Rose like crazy, slaying all of the man-eating monstrosities that came after her. After clearing the course, she folded up her scythe and cuddled it like it was her own child.
Jaune couldn't help but notice how attached Ruby was to her weapon. "You really love that scythe of yours, don't you?" He asked. "Yup," Ruby replied. "I like to keep it next to my heart." Jaune smiled upon hearing that, but couldn't help but wonder if that was meant to be a reference to something.
Even Weiss got in on it, because as soon as she managed to slay the final Grimm she needed to complete today's training course, she couldn't help but belt out "Viva la Revolución!" She then covered her mouth and blushed in embarrassment. RBY giggled at that.
During lunch break, Blake said the following about her meal (A tuna sandwich); "Bound only by the plastic-thin wrapper of mortality, a soul here lies, struggling to be free. And so it shall, thanks to an afternoon school lunch period, and a woman named Belladonna." Everyone looked at her weirdly, and RWY giggled.
After classes were over, RWBY went back to their dorm room, eager to start the next chapter of the game. The disc was still in the console, so they only needed to activate the TV, the console, and run the game from the main console menu. Ruby grabbed the controller and did just that.
After loading from the auto-save point between chapters, they remembered that the game left off with Manny mopping floors at an automat in Rubacava, the City of Lost Souls, as the camera zoomed out to the sky. This time, the sky went from early morning to late at night, as three significant words filled the screen:
ONE YEAR LATER.
"He's been working at an automat for an entire year?" Ruby said, kind of worried. Somehow it seems Manny got stuck with a job that was even worse than getting bum clients as a travel agent.
"Gotta work his time off somehow," noted Yang. Though they were all admittedly worried about whether or not Meche would arrive during his stay there. However, at least of their worries was alleviated when the camera zoomed back down to Manny standing over a balcony in the automat's building, looking down at the city.
He was casually smoking a cigarette, dressed to the nine in a white tuxedo. Weiss was enamored by his dapper suit, and Blake really liked the jazz music that was playing during this scene.
Weiss then realized something, after seeing the how the giant cactus decoration that was on top of the automat spelled out "CALAVERA" from the top down. "Did… Did he work his way up to management?"
"In a year?" Blake pointed out. It seemed almost improbable for Manny to progress that fast, until a skeleton woman came out of the balcony access, who was dressed similarly to coat checkers one would find at nightclubs.
Coat checker: Hey, Boss! You gonna come downstairs? I got a customer asking for ya.
Manny: You know I don't like to mingle with the customers.
Coat checker: Well, you may wanna mingle with this one. She sounds like your type.
The woman went back in, and RWBY immediately realized exactly who she was talking about. Their suspicions were all the more validated as they saw a figure walking down out of the building while Manny looked from above.
Manny: Wellll, looks like a quiet night in old Rubacava.
"So, he's the boss now, huh?" Ruby said in amazement. Control was re-enabled, and Ruby decided to have Manny step inside. Once he did, they saw that the inside room was apparently Manny's personal office, considering it had a big executive-like desk, and even his own bed, nightstand and all. "What's that paper on his nightstand?" Blake noticed. Ruby got Manny to pick it up and look at it.
Manny: My "Wartime Communications" from Salvador… He's been sending me messages like this for the last year:
Salvador: Agent Calavera, I have word that you arrived in Rubacava safely. This is great news, as your service to the L.S.A. may now continue.
"There's no way he can back out of this now," said Yang. "He's come way too far to turn back." RWB agreed. Manny had to keep fighting for the L.S.A.
Salvador: I am pleased to report the successful hatching of the eggs you liberated. The hatchlings, which Eva has named "Manny" and "Meche," are quite healthy and eager to serve our cause.
"Awwww!" The girls cooed. It was awfully sweet of Eva to name a pair of little birds after people she knew and cared about.
Salvador: With luck, my next letter will be borne to you across the sky by these young, gossamer wings of truth. For the revolution – Salvador Limones.
Manny: I'm not done reading it yet, but… Maybe later.
"Fair enough," Ruby admitted, as Manny put the letter in his inventory. She wanted to see if Manny anything cool in his desk, so she got him to fiddle around with the desk and, much to the girls' surprise, some kind of control panel spun out from inside.
"What the hell is that?" Yang blurted in shock. There were lights flashing across some kind of board with numbers clad in red and black. Under the board sat 3 golden nodes with 3 adjacent LEDs, only one bulb lighting up at a time in some sort of sequence.
Manny had his bony finger over a button that had the symbol of a magnet labelled on it, while a mysterious voice was talking about bets and numbers and colors, in English and in some weird language RWBY didn't understand (It's French, BTW.)
"Wh-what does this mean?" Ruby said, utterly confused. They decided to leave it alone and head down to the main sections of the building. The scene then shifted from Manny's office to the main lobby, where they saw that the woman from earlier was sitting underneath the front desk doing who knows what. Manny simply shook his head in disapproval and went down another staircase.
RWBY was absolutely surprised to see that Manny turned the entire automat into his own personal nightclub! With Glottis playing piano and everything! Did he really do all of this in a single year?!
"Whoa!" Ruby said in shock. "I love what Manny's done with the place!"
"He is one shrewd businessman," Yang commented.
"Who knew Glottis would be so good at playing the piano?" Asked Weiss.
Glottis: Hello, Manny!
Manny: Hola!
Ruby decided to have Manny "look at Glottis," wondering how he could be so skilled with tickling the ivory.
Manny: I guess Glottis is good at anything that uses keys.
Yang laughed at that pun, while RWB groaned as usual. Ruby got Manny to "talk to Glottis," and the familiar list of dialogue prompts popped up once again.
Manny: Quiet night, huh carnal?
Glottis: Day of the Dead ain't good for business, Chief.
"Is it always gonna be the Day of the Dead every chapter?" Asked Ruby.
"It's been exactly one year since the first chapter, you know," Weiss pointed out.
Glottis: But last night–remember last night, Manny? Hooo-weee!
"God, I wish I was there last night," sighed Yang. "I would've showed those stiffs how to really party."
"You do realize that in order to get to that club," Blake reminded her, "you'd have to die, right?" Yang then realized that yeah, it wasn't worth it.
Manny: What's that you're playing?
Glottis: Oh this is just a little, you know… …love song. For a special lady, heh heh.
"Let me guess," Yang asked. "Is it the Bone Wagon?"
Manny: Sing a little bit of that song, why don't ya?
Glottis: Well, I only have this part… "Oooooh, Oooooooh… Oooh-Ooooh Ooooooooooooooh… Booooooone Waaaaaaaaagon…."
Yang laughed out loud at how she called it, and RWB giggled at how attached Glottis was to his car.
Manny: I like it.
"I'll be honest," Weiss admitted, "I never thought Glottis's voice would be suitable for singing, but he's pretty decent." RBY admitted it as well.
Manny: You think she'll come in tonight?
Glottis: Who, my special lady?
Manny/RWBY: No, Meche.
Glottis: You know what Manny? I think she will! I got a feeling tonight's the night!
RWBY felt the same way, but they weren't as eager as Glottis was as they were anxious. Really anxious.
Manny: You know, when we leave, I'm actually going to miss this place.
Glottis: Aw Manny, why can't we just stay here? We got our fancy club, we got three squares a day… Max lets me take the Bone Wagon out on his kitty track once a week… Plus, we look good in these clothes!
"Kitty track?" Black pondered.
Manny: Glottis, I can't live in this world forever, it's not where I belong. I've got to find Meche and help her, because if it weren't for me she'd have been on that train a year ago!
"So he doesn't care about getting his job back anymore," Ruby realized.
"Of course not," Yang added. "Why go back to working as a crappy travel agent when he owns his own nightclub now?"
"And he does owe Meche a debt," Weiss said.
Glottis: Okay, Manny.
Manny: Well, I'll let you get back to practicing.
Glottis: I don't need to practice, man. I'm goooooooood.
Ruby then decided to have Manny step into the room in the back, but as he did, Yang noticed a golden liquor bottle sitting on the bar shelves. "Hey, hold on," she said. "That bottle looks important. Better pick it up." Ruby saw no reason not to, and got Manny to "pick up bottle."
Manny: Ah, "Marillo de Oro" — A very fine liqueur filled with solid gold flakes!
"Ooooh," said Yang in awe. "Let me have a sip!"
Manny: Nothing but the best for my customers… …my rich customers.
"You're not going to get a drink like that on a janitor's salary," Weiss noted.
Manny: Yes… I'd better take this with me, for safe keeping.
"Safe keeping…" said Blake sarcastically. "Yeah, sure."
Manny finally made it into the back room, which was a casino! There were 3 roulette tables laid out in the room (Which seems rather familiar to RWBY for some reason), and a croupier in the middle, who sounded familiar not only because of his voice, but because he often shifted into a certain foreign language.
"Manny's got a casino, too?!" Ruby asked in amazement.
"Huh," Weiss said, bewildered. "The nightclub's empty, but the casino's got a full house. Wonder why?"
"I guess these guys don't care much for the Day of the Dead," Blake guessed. Ruby got Manny to "look at gamblers…"
Manny: Ah, my bread and butter… Thrill-seeking rich folk with a poor grasp of statistics and probability.
RWBY giggled at Manny's biting wit. But even though Ruby tried to get him to talk to his patrons…
Manny: Not while they're losing.
One of the customers in particular was worth noting simply because he was dressed like a policeman. RWBY guessed him to be part of the local authorities. As Ruby got Manny to "look at policeman…"
Manny: Police Chief Bogen, Rubacava's "finest." …Rubacava's "only," for that matter.
"Even the police gamble here…" Blake murmured. It wasn't very honorable of a policeman to engage in such activity. As Ruby got Manny to "talk to Bogen…"
Manny: You know, some people say you should always walk away from the table when you're on a winning streak.
Bogen: Oh, yes, but I'm feeling EXTRA lucky tonight.
"Judging from the number of chips on his table," Yang pointed out, "I don't blame him." Bogen had a LOT of chips on his table. Kinda shocking, to be honest. Ruby decided to have Manny talk to his roulette croupier.
Manny: (Everything okay down here?)
Croupier: (Well, I'm going to need some more chips, if Monsieur Lucky does not call it a night soon…)
"How does he keep winning?" Asked Weiss. The girls decided to just sit back and watch the roulette wheels spin as the gamblers placed their bets on their tables.
It was a little tedious, but after 2 or so cycles, they noticed that Bogen always bet on "Black 2." They wondered if that was supposed a clue of some sort.
"Who's that guy sitting in the back alone?" Yang noticed, pointing at a little skeleton man in a green suit sitting at a table booth by himself. Manny only had the following comment to say about him:
Manny: Chowchilla Charlie, in his regular booth…
"Chowchilla Charlie…" Ruby said, keeping his name in mind. She got Manny to "talk to Charlie," and he sidled into his booth, sitting in front of him from across the table.
Manny: Mind if I sit down, Charlie?
Charlie: Of course not, Manny. I…I mean, it is your club, right?
They knew they wouldn't like him already, judging from how slimy his voice sounded. He was the stereotypical Peter Lorre character you find in old movies; something of a sleazeball, if not an outright villain. Dialogue prompts popped up once again.
Manny: Right. So what are you doing in it? Didn't I tell you not to come back until you could pay your bar tab?
"Isn't that a mood," Yang snarked under her breath, reminded of all the clubs she's been thrown out of for that very reason.
Charlie: Oh-huh. Oh, they kicked me out of that cat track for printing fake betting stubs. So now I have to come here Manny… …which I love, which I love!
"Glottis mentioned something about that as well," Blake remembered. "Do they actually race cats over there?"
"Wanna sign up, kitty-cat?" Yang joked. Blake rolled her eyes, but was still intrigued.
Manny: How did you print fake betting stubs?
Charlie: With this!
Charlie brought out a small machine that looked sort of like a portable ticket printer. RWBY knew that had to have been important.
Charlie: Isn't she beautiful? The last time I was incarcerated, I shared a cell with the most dishonest con man I ever met. He was strictly small-time, and I managed to steal this from him quite easily.
Manny then immediately snatched the ticket printer away from Charlie and put it into his inventory. RWBY was shocked at how brazenly Manny stole it, but then again, it could serve as good compensation for Charlie's bar tab.
Manny: Thanks. You never know when this may come in handy.
Charlie: Hey, give that back to me, Manny!
Manny: Maybe once you settle your bar tab, eh, Charlie?
Charlie: Oh, Manny…
"He could've paid off his tab with the money from that machine," Weiss realized. "Oh well, it's ours now."
Manny: What else can you counterfeit?
Charlie: Nothing. Anything.
There was a list of things Manny could ask Charlie to counterfeit. Only two options popped up… so far.
Manny: Can you make passports?
Charlie: Manny, you still think like a living man in so many ways! No soul needs a passport… We are all citizens of the same nation, and our king rides a pale horse.
Manny: So, no passports?
Charlie: Noooo. No, that little hologram is so tricky, you know?
"Why not just say that from the start?" Ruby asked.
Manny: How about driver's licenses?
Charlie: Sure. Just, um, give me a recent picture, fifty bucks and uh… …about two weeks, okay?
"Well, we got our own driver," Yang said, "so I don't think we'll need something like that anytime soon."
Manny: When I think of something I need, I'll come back.
Charlie: I'm not a wishing well, Manny.
"We'll need something he can make sometime soon," Blake realized. "I just know it."
Manny: Why aren't you over at the roulette tables?
Charlie: Ah, roulette is for lonely widows and Frenchmen. Why don't you get some slot machines, Manny? Everybody–old women, little children–they all love slot machines!
"Oh please," scoffed Yang, "those one-armed bandits? …Actually, yeah, those would be pretty cool to have."
Charlie: And I have a system, an infallible system, for beating them!
"H-he does?" Said Ruby, suspicious of his "system."
Manny: I'll think about it.
Charlie: Uh-huh, huh, huh. I can tell when you're just humoring me, you know?
"Well, there are plenty of reasons to not use slot machines," Weiss noted. "Roulette tables are risky enough…"
Manny: I think slot machines attract an undesirable element.
Charlie: Oh, we're all undesirable, Manny…
Manny: Yeah, but your credit's no good to boot.
"Yeah, those things would send him out to the cleaners even faster than the cat track," Yang said sarcastically.
Manny: All my friends are lonely widows and Frenchmen.
Charlie: Except me, Manny. I'm here to keep you sane.
"And you're doing a fine job at that," said Blake, also sarcastically.
Manny: Tell me your system, Charlie.
Charlie: I can't tell you my secrets, uh, just this: You have to become one with the bandit Manny. You…you have to get inside the machine, and… and make it WANT to pay!
"What, does he crawl inside the machine and pull out the cash?" Yang blurted out. She had no idea how significant what she just said was.
Manny: On second thought, stay away from my roulette tables.
"Yeah, seriously," Ruby said.
Manny: That's a nice suit. Where'd you steal it?
Charlie: Manny, if you learn to play the odds like Chowchilla Charlie… …then maybe you, too, can have a suit this fine someday.
"I like Manny's suit better," Weiss admitted.
Manny: Well, I've got a club to run, so…
Charlie: Oh yes, please Manny, get on with your glamorous life.
As Manny left Charlie's booth, RWBY really wanted to know just what the hell was going up there with the coat-checking woman from earlier. Ruby got Manny to make his way back up and make the following observation:
Manny: Looks like Lupe's been in the sugar again.
"The sugar?" Asked Ruby. She didn't understand what that meant, but WBY did, and sighed in exasperation. Manny just seems to engage with a lot of addicts, doesn't he?
Manny: Evening, Lupe.
Lupe: Hi Manny!
"Well, isn't she chipper?" Asked Yang in surprise. The girls were rather taken aback by Lupe's loud voice and sprightly demeanor. Reminded them of Nora.
Lupe: I HAVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY NEW ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEM FOR THE COATS!
"At least she likes her job," Weiss said. Though they had the sneaking suspicion Lupe's "system" would be very important later on.
Manny: Think she'll come in tonight?
Lupe: Manny, you ask me that every night… …what am I supposed to say?
There was a list of options Manny could respond with. Ruby just decided to be upfront about it and tell him to tell her that:
Manny: You're supposed to say, "Yes, I think tonight's the night."
Lupe: Yes, I think tonight's the night… That you finally go nuts from waiting for the grand entrance of Ms. Mercedes Colomar!
"I think she might've already arrived…" Blake remarked, recalling upon a little detail not too long ago. RWY thought so, too.
Manny: Let's try that again, shall we? Think she'll come in tonight?
Lupe: YES! I THINK TONIGHT'S DEFINITELY THE NIGHT!
"Glottis did it better," Yang said with a sigh.
Manny: Thank you. It's my fault she's out in the woods alone, you know.
Lupe: (Sigh) If you say so, Manny.
"She just doesn't understand," said Ruby. "Then again, she doesn't have to."
Manny: How's the flow tonight?
Lupe: We're dead tonight, Manny.
"Aren't you always?" Yang joked.
Lupe: Everybody's back home for the Day of the Dead, I guess…
"Right, right, visiting their families and all that," noted Weiss, recalling the empty dining hall downstairs.
Lupe: …except for the casino. The casino's hopping.
"Yeah, we saw," Blake commented. They were still curious as to why those people wouldn't take the one time they're allowed to go back to the Land of the Living for one day for their own usage?
Lupe: Why is it that all the people who don't go home are the same people who just love to gamble?
Manny: Well, I guess when you've got nothing to go home to, you've got nothing to lose.
Lupe: Hey, we should put that over the door!
"That does sound like a good slogan," Yang chuckled. In all honesty, it did not, and they knew it.
Manny: Everything okay back in the land of fur and fedoras?
Lupe: Everything's in order! It's beautiful! I can't wait for people to come in and try the new system! It's soooooo cooooool!
"She must really love her job," noted Weiss, kinda weirded out with how enthusiastic Lupe was about something so tedious and basic like organizing coats.
Lupe: Want to hear about it?
Manny: Okay, tell me all the details about your new coat check system.
Lupe: Yay!
Sprightly music started to play, much to RWBY's shock, as Lupe elaborated on her system for organizing the coats. But they decided to listen carefully, as they knew this would be important.
Lupe: Okay, I found all these plastic tiles in the back, left over from the automat, and guess what? THEY ALL HAVE NUMBERS ON THEM! So what I'm doing is I give one to everyone who checks a coat in and…
But unfortunately, both Lupe and RWBY knew full well that Manny wasn't listening one bit. Needless to say, Lupe was seriously offended.
Lupe: MANNY! YOU'RE NOT EVEN LISTENING TO ME! I GO TO ALL THIS WORK ORGANIZING YOUR COATS AND YA DON'T EVEN CARE!
The girls were rather shocked at how angry Lupe was at Manny. Blake covered all four of her ears. Did Lupe really take her job that seriously?
Manny: Lupe…
Lupe: Forget it! Don't pretend to care.
Manny: No, I want to hear…
Lupe: HUP! No, I'll tell someone else about it. Someone who cares.
"You're a real doting employer, aren't you Manny?" Ruby snarked.
Manny: PLEASE tell me all about your new coat check system, really.
Lupe: Don't patronize me, Cal.
Manny: Okay, back to work.
Lupe: OKAY!
"Well, ain't she a mood-swinger?" Asked Yang sarcastically.
"I feel like what we heard about her system might be a very important clue later on," Weiss realized. "These seemingly small details usually are."
"Oh my god," said Blake. "I just realized what that panel in Manny's desk was!"
"What was it?" Asked Ruby.
"It was some kind of control system for the roulette tables downstairs!" Blake proclaimed. "The 3 little nodes are supposed to be the corresponding tables, and we could hear the croupier's voice from up above!"
"Are you serious?!" Ruby said in shock. "Manny rigged his roulette tables?!"
"It's Manny, of course he would," said Weiss dryly.
"Well how about and get the Chief of Chicanery out of there so he can actually do his job?" Asked Yang. RWB agreed, and got Manny to get back to his office. Once he was there, Ruby got him to open the panel in his desk.
Ruby remembered that Bogen always bet on Black 2. At this point, the control panel was set to affect Bogen's table. As soon as the girls heard the roulette wheel spin, numbers started flashing across the board. Making sure to time it so that the number "2" wasn't highlighted, Ruby got Manny to press the little button with the magnet.
NOTE: I know it's very difficult to visualize in your head, but that's why I implore you to actually play this game! It'll make a lot more sense once you actually see how this part works!
"The roulette wheels are magnetized," Ruby inferred. "That's how he rigged them." As soon as the wheel came to a stop, Manny couldn't help but let out a snide remark.
Manny: Heh, look out below.
RWBY could tell Bogen's winning streak came to an end, simply because he was completely flabbergasted at this shocking turn of events.
Bogen: This is an outrage! I bet on number two, why didn't it come up number two?
Croupier: Ah Monsieur, je suis vraiment désolé, I do not pick ze winners. These things are all controlled by the man upstairs.
"UH-OH," the girls said with a collective gulp. It seems Manny's roulette croupier might've inadvertently given away a terrible secret. They were worried that Bogen would use his powers as Police Chief to issue a raid on Manny's club. …Not yet, it seemed.
Bogen: Well, please tell the "Man Upstairs" that Police Chief Bogen was very upset when he left… …and when he returns later this evening, he would prefer to have better luck!
Croupier: Oui, Monsieur. Bon soir. I will definitely tell him.
"No need, he already heard," Ruby replied smugly, and she got Manny to head back down back to the casino to see that, just like they thought, Bogen had since walked out in a huff.
Manny: (Everything okay down here?)
Croupier: (What happened to Monsieur Bogen's lucky streak?)
Manny: (It ran out.)
Croupier: (Well, so did he.)
"How many people do you think know about Manny fixing his tables?" Asked Weiss.
"If I had to guess," Blake replied, "I'd say they're pretty infamous around there."
Finally decided to check on the customer Lupe told Manny about, Ruby got him to head outside and down the steps of his club's front door. Then, the game switched to cutscene mode. RWBY could feel the tension build in the air as Manny approached a familiar-looking silhouette.
Manny: Meche?
Meche: Manny. Help me. I've been lost for so long, why didn't you look for me?
"Wait…" Said Blake. "Something's wrong."
Manny: I did! You ran off! Why?
Meche: Because you said I was no good. I've been all alone in the world for a whole year…
"Is this really Meche?" Ruby asked. Something about this didn't add up, though they couldn't put their finger on it. Suddenly, their suspicions were confirmed as the figure they thought to be Meche was actually a talking skeleton bird sitting on top of a mounted telescope.
Meche: AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!
RWBY yelped at that small jumpscare as the bird took off after delivering Meche's message. Manny used the telescope the bird was sitting on to scout the surrounding area. Following the bird through the telescope's lens, he found something horrible; Domino kidnapping Meche!
"DOMINO!" RWBY screamed in shock and anger. Looks like he was trying to get his client back after Manny cheated him. He kept pulling Meche into a giant ocean liner, but Manny ran down to the docks to try and stop him. Keyword being "try," because as soon as he made it to the docks, the ship (AKA the SS Lambada) had already taken off.
"NOOOO!" RWBY cried. But Manny wasn't gonna give up just yet. He jumped as far as he could and managed to grab onto the ramp on the ship's door. RWBY sighed in relief, until they saw Meche step out and throw a wine bottle at Manny, causing him to fall into the waters of Rubacava once again.
"MECHE! WHY?!" The girls were flabbergasted as to why Meche would do something like that to someone who was trying to save her. But Velasco was watching the whole thing, and once again, pulled Manny out of the water and back to safety. The game then switched back to gameplay mode.
Velasco: This going to be an annual thing with you, Manny? Every Day of the Dead, you toss your bones into the drink, and I fish 'em out?
Manny: I don't plan to be around that long, Velasco. As soon as I find out where that ocean liner's going, I'm after it.
Velasco: Ha! That ship's going to Puerto Zapato! That's the other side of the world! There ain't no ships going out that way but the ol' Limbo here, …but–
Manny: But nothing. If the Limbo's my only hope, then I'm already on board.
Velasco: Weeeeeeell, good luck, son. That's all I got to say. Ho ho! Ha ha ha ha!
"The other side of the world?!" Asked Weiss, utterly shocked that Manny would have to chase down Domino and Meche that far.
"Well, looks like we know the main objective for this chapter," Ruby confirmed. "Get on the Limbo!" The usual list of dialogue prompts popped up.
Manny: Alright, so I'm ready to sail!
Velasco: On what?
Manny: On the Limbo, Man, let's go!
Velasco: Manny, Manny, Manny… The Limbo's not a passenger ship! She's small cargo, son, and every hand on board works!
Manny: I'll work!
Velasco: What are your skills?
Manny: Sales and restaurant management.
"He's been having to work at a travel agency, an auto-mat and a nightclub for a year now," Weiss reminded everyone. "He should be plenty qualified."
"I hope he's not overqualified." Yang responded.
Velasco: Ohhhh…hey, there is ONE opening on the Limbo's crew…
Manny/RWBY: Yeah?
Velasco: Yeah, it's in the engine room, and your buddy Glottis would be perfect for it!
"Alright, perfect!" Yang said in pride. Unfortunately, it was not that simple.
Velasco: But he'd have to get his own tools…
"That shouldn't be a problem," Blake said. "He should have plenty of tools lying around somewhere, unless he decided to become a full-time pianist."
Manny: Okay, if I get Glottis some tools, can we board?
Velasco: Uh, HE can, yes.
"Uh-oh," Ruby said. She knew what that meant.
Velasco: No offense, Manny, but there's just no place for you aboard the Limbo.
"Aw, crap!" Yang groaned. Glottis was one thing, but they can only have so many hands on deck before they run out of room.
Velasco: She's fully manned already. In fact, her whole crew is on board, ready to sail at dawn… …except for that one guy…
"That one guy?" Asked Ruby. Seemed like a good opening… To do something bad.
Manny: Who's the one guy who hasn't boarded yet?
Velasco: Yeah, well-uh, Seaman Naranja's a little late, but he'll be here before they sail.
Manny: What job did Naranja have?
Velasco: He ran the galley…
"He's the galley chef?" Blake said in sudden excitement, her cat ears twitching behind her bow. RWY giggled as they knew Blake was fantasizing about the fish they serve on that ship. But Manny saw this as a prime job opening, considering he ran an auto-mat before turning it into a nightclub.
Manny: Ah ha! Restaurant management!
Velasco: Yeah, it's similar to what you're doing now, except the fish is fresher on the Limbo.
"I'll bet it is," Blake drooled. Her heartbeat was getting significantly more audible, rivaled only by the rumbling of her stomach. RWY could not help but giggle more, despite all four of the girls realizing they had to sabotage Naraja's ability to show up for work.
Manny: What if Naranja doesn't show up? I can fill his spot, right?
Velasco: Manny, you're not even in the maritime union!
Manny: I know that, and you know that, but we're two guys who can keep secrets, right?
Velasco: Glottis is exempt, but the captain will ask for YOUR card, and if you don't have one… …They'll serve you to the sharks like chum, and what's worse… I'll get fined!
"Fair enough," Weiss admitted. Didn't seem worth having to sift through all that red tape.
Velasco: It's a tough union, boy, and I don't mess with 'em!
"Well, looks like we have three things to do for this chapter," Ruby realized. She got Manny to re-confirm it with Velasco.
Manny: So let me get this straight… If I get Glottis some tools…
Velasco: Then I can get him a job on the Limbo.
Manny: …and if Seaman Naranja doesn't show up for work…
Velasco: But he will.
Manny: …and I get a maritime union card…
Velasco: …which you'll never get.
Manny: Then I can sail on the Limbo in the morning?
Velasco: Sheeese. I GUESS SO.
"Get Glottis some tools, get rid of Naranja, and get a maritime union card," Yang summarized. "Sounds easier said than done," she begrudgingly admitted.
"Seems like getting the tools would be the easiest part," noted Weiss. "Let's try and do that first. Before they did however, Ruby got Manny to ask Velasco for more details.
Manny: What kind of tools does Glottis need?
Velasco: Authentic Sea Bee equipment only.
"Sea Bee equipment?" Asked Ruby. "What the heck is Sea Bee equipment?"
Manny: Where do I get Authentic Sea Bee equipment?
Velasco: Why don't you ask a Sea Bee? Afraid of gettin' stung? HA HA HA, HA-HA!
Yang (And even Blake for some odd reason) giggled at that pun, and were pretty fascinated, if not confused at this whole "Sea Bee" business. The girls didn't know what Sea Bees were… yet.
Manny: Where do you think Naranja is?
Velasco: Probably home selecting recipes for the trip!
"Let's get to his house," Blake said anxiously. "NOW!" RWY was a little off-put by her sudden burst of energy, obviously fueled by her borderline-rapturous enjoyment of fish. Ruby however, noticed that during this whole conversation, Velasco was busy putting together a minature ship in a bottle.
Manny: What's going on in that bottle? A tugboat?
Velasco: This happens to be a perfect scale replica of the SS Lumbago!
"Doesn't sound like the most comfortable ship to be on," Yang joked.
Velasco: I'm just having a little trouble getting the walking beam to fit in the neck, here…
Manny: Hm-that's funny because a lumbago is usually more of a problem in the lower back than the neck…
Yang stifled a chuckle, but RWB groaned as usual.
Velasco: Eh-hmmm?
Manny: Nothing. I'd better go finish packing.
Velasco: Aye, you do that, son.
And so, noting that as Weiss said, getting tools for Glottis seemed to be the easiest of the "three trials," Ruby got Manny to take off into the murky underbelly of Rubacava, in order to make right what he originally made wrong.
TO BE CONTINUED…