Hey, hi! Take this- *runs off in a stuttering mess*
(Chapter Eighteen: Blue Moon)
"Do-do doo-do do doo." Melody quietly sang to herself, wandering the ship after hours. Though she wasn't alone, the entire shorty squad was right behind her. Lynn held a confused face at the actions Melody was doing.
The hatted girl was hugged against a wall, sliding around with her finger pointing like a gun. Bonnie had joined in shortly after. "You do realize this doesn't make us anymore sneaky... right?" Lynn deadpanned, but Kero just giggled at the girls.
It was safe to say he didn't understand them, However, it did look fun.
"Bow, this is Hat. Over." Melody held her hand to her face like she was talking on a radio.
"This is Bow, I read you loud and clear. Over." Bonnie replies, doing the same action.
A few steps through a corridor and the hatted girl spoke again "We are approaching a possible location for operation 'Fluff'. Over."
The three girls and boy stopped and looked out at the garden, the waterfall was the only noise besides the soft music being played over the ships' sound system.
"Hmm.." Lynn hummed out, holding her finger up like a frame. She turned around and looked at the various angles, then she looked up at the night sky. It was odd that there was an opening in the roof here, but it was pretty. "Yeah... I see it.." Lynn noted quietly.
"We should call this a night for now," the hooded girl turned to look at her group. "We need to find out when this place is at its emptiest. Having people look down at them from the balconies would be strange..-"
Everyone nodded, Melody and Bonnie fist-bumped each other with a smile. They could be on to something here.
"Why are you children doing up so late..?" The group didn't shout, but they were surprised that they got caught.
Nighttime was the only time MoonJumper could show himself without fear of having a crowd when he had noticed the four children quietly scampering about. What were they up to? "Shouldn't you lot be asleep..?"
"Oh heeey, Moon!" Lynn stressed her face into a smile, pointing finger guns at him "We.. we were just looking for you!" The group of children looked at Lynn, wondering what she was on about "I think I remembered Gabriele wanted to see you for some reason. You should go find him!"
They took this as a moment of 'expect the unexpected' and scrambled. Melody and Bonnie teleported back to the spaceship, Lynn hopped up the balconies with precise acrobatics, and Kero.. well. He just ran.
Neither of the children gave him time to comprehend the situation the way the scattered, leaving him confused as he watched them run. The old ghost scratched his head, a perplexed face as he stared off for a moment. Shrugging, he decided to take what Lynn had said to heart, beginning his search for the doctor.
"I'm I doing something wrong here?" Gabriele pondered, walking around the top deck again. He couldn't help staying away from the view of the stars, they were nice and helped him think.
Maybe he could get some ideas from them? He sighed to himself thinking 'talking to that ghost child was in vain.' Though, he couldn't help but wonder if that boy was alright. The doctor hopes nothing destroys that child's soul.
"Gabriele-" the sudden voice made the plague doctor jump, turning around he places a hand on his chest to stop his no longer existing heart. A habit that was coming back it seemed.
"Ah... it's you.." he noted once he saw the puppeteer, MoonJumper seemed to glow when the real moon shined down at them.
"I was told by Lynn that you wanted to see me?" The ghost tilted his head, a habit from Julia. "Is something the matter?"
He wanted to talk to Julia about his whereabouts.. but this works too. However, the man couldn't bring himself to start talking, then he remembered what he's heard...
'Clearly, everyone has changed besides you and the jester.'
'It's like starting over.'
The man fears what he might become if he stayed latched to these old feelings.. these old wants and wishes. It could drive you... mad. Biting the bullet, Gabriele was willing to move on.
"Yes... I wanted to talk to you about Julia.." this grabbed the entity's attention, Gabriele continued talking "I.. got into an agreement with her, and I've upset her terribly."
"You're the reason Julia isn't herself..?" MoonJumper whispered, it almost sounded like he was mad, yet he didn't attack him. "I haven't seen Julia act like this since her middle school days." The ghost held a face, unable to confirm the emotion. Though, he shook it off and looked back at the doctor.
"I've been trying to make things up to her for some time now.." Gabriele explained, looking away for a moment "but... just when I thought I had something... She gets angry at me again."
"What exactly were you trying to do?" MoonJumper enquired.
"Uh... cook... for her...?" Gabriele shrunk with his own words, he knew why Julia was angry this time, saying it out loud made him realize that it... wasn't a good idea after all. He placed a hand to his face "Good heavens, why did I think that was a good idea?" Then he looked to his own hands, slightly blackened in small patches.
MoonJumper just chuckled at him, a toothy smile, his fangs always bother Gabriele. "Well... if you must know, Julia is quite fond of the stars. She loves listening to music, and her favorite consumable items are green tea and anything citrus dessert based."
Gabriele looked up at him, shocked at what he was hearing. MoonJumper was actually assisting him? Another fact that Julia really, really likes tea for some reason? Granted, he drank much of it when he was alive.
"Don't get me wrong, however," MoonJumper moved closer to the doctor "if I find out you severely hurt her in any way, mentally or physically," his face even closer to Gabriele's now "I will rip you to shreds like I did Zephyr." He threatened the doll.
MoonJumper has changed.. but he's still violent.
"I would never," Gabriele swore on his word.
In the distance, the two children who were left behind and scrambled to flee MoonJumper watched from afar under a table for cover. This information was great; it explains why they needed Julia's music player.. but how did the badge seller know? Kero and Lynn looked at each other, the start of a plan was finally forming.
Julia scramble around her room the next morning, slight panic on her face. Something was missing and she refused to believe it was. At that time, the group of children came walking past her living quarters, hearing audible shuffling from behind the door, and then the tall girl exited the room.
Julia spotted the kids, worry still showing "Hey, kids? Have you seen my MP3 player?" She scratched her head, the looks of shock flying past her head as she kept wondering about her beloved music player. "I think I might have missed placed it.. or maybe I left it on the spaceship..?" She mumbled that last part, walking off, Julia was too consumed in her thoughts as usual.
Melody, Bonnie, and the two others sighed in relief as Julia walked away. Today they were scouting the area for daily activity around the ship, what some events might happen, and what could possibly bring a crowd of people away from the rooms.
Though, nothing was happening at the small casino, nor the restaurant. There had to be something that could happen!
"Man.." Bonnie groaned out, scratching her head. "This was much harder then I thought..." she then turned to the group behind her "what could draw in a crowd?"
In the distance, the children saw Cooking cat with.. with the Conductor? They were happily chatting together as the walked, arm in arm. That was a strange sight, especially for Lynn. The two adults noticed the group, how their faces seemed troubled and slightly confused.
"Well hey there, dearies! What seems to be the problem?" Cc looked at them, one ear tilted to the side in curiosity. "You lot look more confused than a puppy looking at a mirror."
"I.. we..-" Melody stumbled with her words, trying to be discreet as possible. The last thing she wanted was to give word about operation 'Fluff'
"We're trying to hook Julia and Gabriele together." Lynn just flatly stated. Melody and Bonnie both looked at her with an unbelievable face. "What..?! Cc has mom powers! She'll know we're lying!"
"You could have said anything else but that thought!" Bonnie yelled back, while Melody held a hand to her face.
"Ey.. wot? Tall lassie and the stuffed doctor?" The Conductor hummed, a hand placed on his chin "yer know, that would make for an interestin movie if I were into the supernatural." he muttered out, but the shook his head and readjusted his hat.
"Well, there's always someone for everyone I suppose.." Cc nodded to herself, then smiled, her attention was back at the children. "So what is the exact problem? Ya know, besides Gabriele's physical situation."
"You see-" Lynn started, the two girls looked at her, and Kero just kicked his foot into the floor in aimlessly. "I know for a fact that there's something in between those two but they got into a fight!"
"We want them to make up, and we found a good place for that!" Melody said, then looked around to make sure nobody was walking this way and whispered: "but we want it to be a privet ordeal, so they can talk and think."
"It's the garden, and we don't know how to get rid of a crowd." Bonnie made it more clear for the two adults.
"Hmm, I see.." Cc hummed, trying to think with what she was given. She has one plan, and it'll be the first time she's ever done a live show. "I have a plan dears!" Her tail swished, as she then turned to the Conductor "sugar, you're a movie director- think you can help me with a camera?"
"Yer better believe I can!" The Conductor smiled at her, "but eh.. whatcha goin ta do?"
The sun was setting, Julia had given up on her MP3 player. She's convinced herself that she might have left it on Melody's ship. If she were to lose that player, she'd lose everything that was left of her grandpappy. All his and her favorite songs were on that small device. It was her whole world when she was little, and being able to relive those memories made her happy.
Dancing with her grandfather, singing, it was one of the many things she didn't want to forget.
She found herself in the laundry room, wearing a rather casual attire that she had brought as back up. Just a plain green shirt, and dark gray plaid sweatpants. In reality, it was the clothing she slept in. Taking a seat on the ground, Julia decided to mess with her eye patch to pass time.
Now and again she'd switch here eye patch from eye to eye. Being in a room where she doesn't have to hide her eye was rather nice, however, during the mindless entertainment she stopped. Something in the room seemed off, and at first, she thought it was a seal at the corner of her corrupted eye.
Julia turned her head slowly, with a neutral expression that looked like a threat, but never intended to be. A cloaked figure held a gripped on their metallic weapon, like it was about to strike, however, neither moved.
"Well... that's disconcerting." Julia stated, looking at the dark hood. She couldn't see any features under there; just a black void.
"Hey, Julia! You down there!?" Lynn came running down the steps, unaware of the cloaked figure. "Cooking cat is going to set up a show! You might want to get out of here-" the Mustached girl stopped talking, looking at Julia who was staring at nothing.
The moment Julia looked away was when the cloaked figure vanished, only then did she realize the dimensions were acting up. The person was never really there. That or maybe another ghost snuck aboard?
"What are you looking at?" Lynn asked
"Nothing.." Julia gathered her clothes once they were finished. There didn't seem to be a dryer here, so she ends up spending her time drying her clothes with a hairdryer. It was very inconvenient honestly.
Lynn and Bonnie hurried around the kitchen. Thanks to Julia cleaning the place up, it was fit for Cooking cat to set up a cooking show, the children were surprised to hear that she was pretty famous when it came to culinary arts. She even had a review show about different foods.
The Conductor dealt with the camera positioning, he decided that holding the camera around like a cameraman would prove to be more authentic or give it a little flair to the show itself. The two children agreed to be cooking cat's assistants while Kero and Melody set off on their part of the mission.
"Hello, my lovelies, my beautiful viewers!" Cc announced once she went live. The computer behind the scenes captured the recording of the camera and sent it to the world "As you all know, I'm currently aboard the SS. Literally can't sink to bring you a very special episode!"
A crowd in the dining area started to form, televisions that were on around and away from the residents' area picked up on her show for some to watch.
"Oh, a special episode indeed!" Cooking cat smiled kindly, and a few audiences clapped for her. "Honeycomb, can you please bring me the ingredients for this recipe we're gonna work on?" She looked to Lynn, and the child happily complied.
Melody and Kero made their way to the captain. If they remember correctly he controlled the speakers on the ship, and if they wanted to play a song they should ask him! While Kero navigated, the hatted girl looked through the player, all these songs seemed very... old to her.
"Wow.. these are the kind of song the CEO would like.." The girl mumbled to herself. Now thinking that maybe that Tim and Julia would hit it off with some conversation. The girl smiled to herself thinking out loud to herself "I should call everyone later to see how things are.."
"Melody we're almost there!" Kero smiled at her, Turning around. "Think you can handle it from here? I have to go and make sure mama and Gabriele meet!"
Melody nodded, smiling at the sack child. She watched the boy runoff, and when he disappeared she continued. Once she was at the stairs then lead up she halted for a moment. The cameras that were pointed at the garden showed they weren't there yet, but she still needed to get ready.
Up the steps, it was her job now to explain the situation to the stoic walrus captain. She heard the man sigh, clearly tired, Melody cleared her throat to make herself known and then saluted to him.
"You again, pup?" He mumbled, looking at her when he turned around. "What ya want know?"
"Okay- uh... I-" Melody fumbled a bit, trying to think of the correct words "I have a request! Not for me personally but for my sister."
The captain raised a brow at the child, he remembered the tall girl in green. The one who was insane enough to clean the entire kitchen on his ship. Julia was unaware, but she was still able to cash in a favor.
Melody was going to do it for her.
"What exactly are we talkin about?" The walrus was inclined to help if it wasn't anything stupid. If it was, he'd just tell the child to leave, but he was willing to listen.
"Okay, when we see my sister and the man in blue approach each other at the garden.." Melody looked at him, a serious look on her face "I want you to play a few songs over the sound system.." the girl handed the player over to him.
The captain took it, looked at it for a moment. This player looked old and strange, and he wasn't even sure if he'd seen it before. Without moving his head, he eyed the child unamused, but all Melody gave him was an awkward smile.
"I'll help, don't worry.." said the girl.
A few hours went by while Julia was safely in her room and almost done drying her clothes. It wasn't an excellent job, but the clothes were wearable as she tested it; only a tiny bit damp. She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror, despite everything that had happened in the past, she looked okay.
Tired looking as always, but okay.
She was amazed at how strong the healing pons was as she touched her face, but was shocked when she heard they only heal bruised skin and aches. You'd have to go to a hospital if you've suffered anything more lethal.
Like her stab wound.
Knocking could be heard at the door, this broke Julia out of her numbed state. Blinking a few times, she shook her head and walked out. The knocking didn't stop until the door opened, and Kero was there a smile on his face.
This, in turn, made her smile "what's up little buddy?" Julia asked him.
"Go into the garden, mama!" Kero pointed out towards the balcony.
Julia was slightly confused, but she did as he asked, opening the sliding door she saw Gabriele there. He was just waiting in the garden, unaware that Julia was already here. The place seemed empty, where the residents still at Cc's Cooking show?
Gabriele finally turned his head, in his hand he held a drink, which was odd because... well- He's a doll now. He noticed Julia looking at him and he waved up at her. Still a little confused she waved back.
When Julia turned around, Kero was gone and the door was closed. Kero had vanished on her and she was left with Gabriele alone. The last time the girl was alone with the doctor, something bad happened. She was just half tempted to just shut the door and pretend she never saw anything... but then remember she already waved at him.
That would have just been rude.
"Julia, please... I just want to talk." Gabriele was heard, and she looked at him. "I.. I brought you some tea..?"
Well shit, she couldn't refuse that offer.
Hopping over the railing, she carefully landed on the pathed ground. She approached the man holding her drink and she happily took it.
The same soft music could be heard playing over the sound system as Gabriele looked at her. "Julia... I'm sorry if I've only caused you to stress over this trip..." the girl looked up at him after taking a sip of the warm drink "I've been trying my best to make you happy, but... I think I've just made it worse."
Julia watched him turn his head away, she tilted her head at him, "I appreciate you doing your best Gabriele... I'm not mad at you.. just.. worried.." she had gotten his attention now "I've been dealing with a few things myself, and I guess I was just... protective of you? If that makes sense?"
She pointed to his hands, she had noticed and Julia was scared he'd burn himself to the ground for her; That was not what she wanted.
"I see.." The doctor looked down at himself "on a lighter note.. we match now." He chuckled, holding a hand next to hers. The two scarred and burned hands side by side.
Julia cracked a small smile at that. Stupid, but it was cute. Then while she was trying to think of what else to say, a familiar song started playing through the sound system. She knows this song, and she couldn't believe it was playing throughout the whole ship!
"Blue Moon!" She cried out, wondering why this song was playing know after she had lost her player.
Blue moon, you saw me standing alone-
"You know this song?" Gabriele asked her, and she turned back to him, taking another sip of her drink.
She explained "My grandfather and I used to dance and sing to this song," she reminisced "played it all the time when I came over to his house upset." One of the fewer songs that calmed her down, and made her feel happy. "Frank Sinatra is the best..."
Hearing this, Gabriele asked one question:
"Do you wish.. to dance?" He held a hand to her, and Julia felt that same feeling when he found her again back home.
It had been so long since she had danced.
Putting her drink off to the side, and placing her hand in his, she accepted it; if she was out of practice, so was he.
Without a dream in my heart, Without a love of my own-
The two slow danced together, this was so stupid, yet it still made her smile. Gabriele was smiling at her, be she couldn't tell. Though, as the song played on, things finally started clicking in her head. Listening to this old love song, she realized what that feeling was.
"Hey, Gabriele.." Julia's voice was soft, lost in thought, almost unsure if she should say this at all "I think... I figured out why what you said hurt so much.." Julia had been twirled around as she faced Gabriele again, the two slowly coming to a stop "I.. I think I'm.. in love with you.."
Blue moon, you knew just what I was there for-
Gabriele froze up, almost uncertain that he heard her correctly. "P-Pardon..?"
You heard me saying a prayer for-
Julia was incredibly insecure at the moment, as they listened to the music playing over the speakers. Everything she thought about throughout this trip was coming out of her mouth "I want to hate you. But I can't." The girl looked down, almost like she felt selfish "though, how am I any different? I left you. I was being stupid and forgot I wasn't the only one Zephyr was after." She shut her eyes, but Gabriel held her chin so that she could look at him "when I- I saw you on the ground that day... I was so, so very scared that I might have lost you.."
"Julia.." Gabriele looked at her, unsure of what to say other than apologizing for the past couple of days they've been here
"I didn't want to lose you.." She placed her head on his chest, and the doctor hugged her.
"It's rather funny actually.." Gabriel whispered, perhaps he should say it. Now was the time... "I never thought I'd ever fall in love again.. but here you are."
Someone I really could care for-
Julia looked up at him, surprised. The doctor kept talking "I was angry at first, thinking about moving on.. leaving my life behind.. everything I knew and cared about.." His shoulders sagged a bit, turning his head to look at the waterfall "But we both know first hand on what it's like to hold onto the past.. it isn't pretty."
He referenced Vanessa, locked away in her manor. The writings on the wall about her prince being gone, and him coming back... It made them both shiver, but they softly chuckled.
And then there suddenly appeared before me-
"Julia, when I was left wondering realms nobody would ever dream of, Numb as could be.." he looked down at her "Not once did I think I'd ever feel again. That feeling of being loved, worried over.. you make me feel alive again."
The only one my arms will hold-
Julia smiled at this, it was cheesy, but she loved these kinds of things. "So.. we're gonna be a thing now..?"
"I believe so," Gabriele chuckled, "though, I can't help but think this was a setup..."
"Well, it's a nice set up.." Julia placed her head on his chest, giggling to herself.
"What..? What's so funny?" He asked, head tilted.
"You smell like laundry soap." The tiniest of things could make this girl laugh and it amused the doctor, he laughed with her.
The song played on, the night rolled around, and the two danced more under the stars. It was lovely.
Quiet spectators above in the balconies watched below, The Badge Seller on one side, and on a lower balcony, a very quiet Mafia Boss who was forgotten and left behind by accident. What a show that was.
"What a happy occasion.," he mumbled, he'd smile if he could.
So uh. I'm officially calling Julia/Gabriele ship 'FedoraHearts'. Next chapter we'll finally get to the destruction of property via iceberg.
OPFan37: It's okay, I have a habit of ranting off on stuff, and I had a feeling you were joking. Though you could never be too sure with people. I know there are people like that out there that would take you seriously. Though I think my ranting scared a few folks off. Oops-
Either way, thank you for your concerns about this. I honestly hope someday my problem will heal as well.