Chapter 55: Kicked Out, Stabbed in the Stomach

Here they were. Arle and her disguised evil twin at their favorite restaurant Smile Curry at the same time. Being dragged outside by the collar by Nicholi.

Arle said something about Silvana. Both wrecked the place, broke a lot of plates. Arle was in self-defense, and Sil threw the first spell and then it became self-defense. Neither of them is gonna read something positive about themselves in the papers tomorrow. Arle hoped it wouldn't be front page and Sil didn't want bad publicity.

Nicholi threw them out on the street. "I'm disappointed in you girls." That anger. The disappointment. It hit the two right in their core. "To think my to favorite customers…" The reflections noticed Nicholi's hurt in the core too. He wanted to calm down. That was much was visible in his face. But then he turned around. "Don't bother coming back! I don't want to see you again for a long time. You two are forbidden to enter at the same time! Expect to see the bills soon." They barely heard Nicholi choking up as he went back inside.

Sig took his place. The two Arles needed consoling. "Eenie, Meenie…"

'Silvana! Why. I know a lot of people who just live to make my day miserable… But you… Hnnnnnnguh! How am I gonna pay Nicholi? He needs a new ceiling for one thing. And a wall. And half-a-kitchen. I can kiss my armour money good-bye. Sorry, Nicholi…'

'I AM SILVANA. I AM SILVANA. I AM SILVANA. I am not a Doppelganger. Arle's nobody worth caring about. WHO AM I KIDDING!? I hurt Nicholi, he's been nothing but at kind to me and I hurt him! How could I? I'm gonna be the end of everything I care about…' "Moooommy!" She ran off crying.

"…catch the tiger by- Sil wait." Sig chased after his clown. "Sil needs me. Seeya later, Arle. I'll help you if I can."

"Thanks, Sig." Arle smiled. She went home to plan things out. Unlike her twin, she didn't have the cash.

*Later, at Arle's Home*

"Carby, there you are."
"Guu?"

Arle explained her situation.

"So try not to eat as much for now. I can't afford to spend for a while."
"Guu…"
"I'd probably need a raise, or maybe a promotion… But that's an office job… That's a sacrifice I'll hafta make I guess… Carby, I'm glad you like that dumb clown. But why?"
"Guuuuu!~"
"I do those things too, funnypants…"

The two got to bed. Arle did not look forward for the fun surprise waiting at the office in two days.

*Rise and shi- oh yeah, I'm in debt…*

"And that's why I need a promotion, boss. Pretty please?" Arle begged. Her boss looked away from the freshly printed newspaper and then back at the middle of the paper newspaper.

"'Outworlders A. Nadja (Festival Champion) (Age 17) and S. Pierrot (Ringmaster of PP Circus) (Age 17) lay major damage to favorite restaurant.' Arle. A raise has been due fer a long time, Ah agree. But Ah can't promote ya while this story is fresh."

'Less paying job but I get to keep doing what I like doing… It'll feel like I'm paying him back this way, instead of sitting down all day.'

"But Ah feel like Ah should promote so ya can avoid sum scorn."

"Come on." Arle got… Something. She's acting against here best interests to just run around all day. Not some stupid inside job. "It's just the middle of the paper."

"What's this fuss all about?" A haughty voice entered the room. It was Arle's boss' boss' daughter. Raffine. Checking how everything's going in her father's stead as she did time from time.

"Raffine, am I happy to see you!" Arle ran up to her ultimate boss' daughter. "Thanks to Silvana we broke down a building."

"It happens." Raffine casually replied.

"And now I need to set things right for poor Nicholi. ASAP!"

"Oh. And you need my help?"
"Yes! I could use money. Can I borrow some? If you can't Nicholi will be left with an open wall like that. I really need it. If I could I would work for it blood, sweat, and tears for it. But I'm no position for that. But I will work to pay you back."

Raffine was touched by Arle's boast. Arle's a woman's woman. Working class. Willing to do what Raffine will never have to do out of necessity. One of the few people in this town Raffine actually respected as a person. And not just based on beauty and strength. "Leave the office."

"Beg yer pardon?"
"LEAVE!"
"Y-Yes, Ma'am!" And with that Arle's boss obeyed.
"That's Milady!" But he was already gone. Door closed.

Raffine made herself comfortable his chair. "Always hated that guy's accent." She switched to sitting on the side to the desk. "So, Ms. Arle. How much do you need?" She said in a fonder tone than the man she sent out for sure.

"I'll know tomorrow. But it's gotta be in the thousands in Credits."

Raffine inhaled through her teeth. "I'm afraid I cannot help you directly."

"Why not?"

"Well, if you must know, I'm spending a lot of my allowance hiring people on a quest, I can't afford to give that much for the next two months. My apologies."
"Oh."
"I will give you a raise a higher raise than that guy would. Just until you paid off your debt."
"Thank you!"

*Later at work*

'Circus Square 1. Silvana's Caravan. Envelope: too big to slide under the door. Gotta deliver in person. Don't make eye contact, Arle.' She knocked.

*.- .-. .-.. .*

Half-a-minute later somebody opened the door. It was Sig. "Arle." His lips curled. "Sorry I couldn't be there. Sil was really upset. How are you doing?"

"That's okay." She didn't like it. "But I'm doing fine. As long as I pay Nicholi as soon as I can I'll be fine, Not losing my house would be fine. It's been a while since I felt this stressed. The post office gets lazy with me around. I need a second job, but I can't because I have so much on my plate."

"Sorry to hear that. I wish I could help. I'm not rich. And I'd better not ask Sil. You set her off easily."

"No kidding…" Arle's wearing long sleeves and tights to hide the bruises, scratches, scrapes, and spell marks left on her. "If you can help in any way, lemme know. Okay?"

"Uh-huh. Soooo… I won't have any free time for a while. So we have to cancel."

Sig made a subtle moan of disappointment. "Okay." *Teapot* "Have to go. Sil's tea is ready. That letter for her?" Arle wordlessly put into Sig's mouth.

"Later." Arle waved good-bye.


It was a long day for Arle. Did her unfair share under the stress. The raise didn't relieve her as much. Nicholi still's without proper walls.

"Carby! I'm home! Are you?"
"Guu."
"Carby. Can you eat with Silvana for a while?"
"Gu-Gu gu?"
"I don't think I'd be able to afford to feed you for a while."
"Guuuu! Gugugu!"
"She'll treat you well. And if you happen to find out why she hates me, let me know. I have a feeling we share a history."
"Gu?"
"Hey, do you know her?"
"…Gu guuu. Gugugu gu."
"Ah."


"15,000 Credits?!" Arle fainted right in the post office.


The day was over. "Okay, spend 20 credits on a month's worth of noodles for the rest of the month. I have 432 of my week's salary left, plus the 1602 I found in my piggy bank. Let's see…" *Doing math* "Ugh. I still have 12,990 to pay… Meanwhile, Ms. Picks-a-Fight-with-me-Over-Literrally-Nothing has probably already paid her half." She reached for her key.

"Arle!"

"Speak of the devil…" 'Actually, this is one time I'd actually be happy to see him.' This clown. THIS CLOWN. She had the nerve to approach her. Pierrot (joined by Vento) ran up. Pierrot seemed a bit out of breath.

"Okay, Silvana. I don't know what your deal is. For all I know, you could be someone I have known. Who wronged who, I don't know. This could be all my fault for all I know. I get it, a lot of people have a grudge against me. But if we have any history you either help me jog my memory or keep it inside. Why do you have to hate this random girl so much, huh? I'm being threatened by poverty! Poverty! I mean, sure, I could go nomadic again. But I don't wanna go. Primp means a lot to me, Silvana. So much that I don't wanna be taken in by someone else and threaten them with poverty too. I'm a grown woman, Silvana. A grown woman, who's working so she can not only afford curry for her and Carbuncle but also to buy her armour, pay her bills, make sure I can have enough days off for adventure! Meanwhile you with your entertainment monopoly, you can drag down someone who doesn't know you who can't as easily afford to repair a building like you can, Silvana. You probably paid your half with your money already, Silvana. Well, good! But I got news for you, Silvana. Enjoy, that monopoly while you still can, Silvana! It's not gonna last forever, Silvana! Sooner or later a nice comedy club, theater, opera house, whatever(!) will open up, Silvana! And they'll give your lousy circus a run for its money, Silvana! In fact, Silvana, I hope your circus struggles and fails! Uh, no offense, little green guy. I'm sure you can find similar work."

Vento didn't respond. He had his eyes on his co-worker who quivered and shaked. Shaked so much she fell to the ground, with her hands underneath the mask. Vento wasted no time holding her. And Pierrot held him back.

"Ugh, listen, Silvana… If you impact my life like that again. I'll be forced to use my secret weapon, I'd plan to use on our mutual creeper. A restraining order. GAAAAH! I know I have amnesia, but I remember enough to know I've never hated someone as much as I have you, Silvana!" Arle delivered frigid cold. She doesn't even wanna be this angry to Rulue, Schezo or the Dark Prince. Yet, here she was.

"Uuweeeeeeh!" The dam broke.

"Dude! Stop!" Vento got angry. "She doesn't deserve this!" He ripped up Pierrot's mask.

Instantly, like a child's very first 8-Chain immediately crushed by an opposing 13-Chain, Arle felt the backfire as the pressure of guilt dropped on her. "Amitie!" She reached for the clown.

"Back off, buster! Ammy doesn't need you!" Vento got protective of the broken down girl.

"Wuuuuh. Vento, it's okay." *Sniff* "She didn't mean it at me."

"Still…"
"It hurts to see you hate my big Sister so much, Arle."
"S-Sorry…" Arle rubbed her arm, trying to squeeze out all these negative feeling that dropped on her like a weight.
"It's alright. She hates you too, it is her fault… As much as I don't wanna admit it… Weeeh!" Amitie pulled Arle in for a comforting hug.

Vento daggered Arle. Gave Amitie a bigger protective hug. To Arle, the staring inexpressive mask didn't… Express much.

Amitie regained enough composure to tell Arle why she and Vento visited in the first place. "I wanted you to know, even though Sil's my sis, I don't side with her on this." She pulled out two cheques. Signed Amitie (Pier)Rose and Vento Verde for a total of 1200.

Arle's eyes beamed. Her hands pushed the cheques to her heart. "Thank you." She whispered. One step closer to restoring Nicholi's place.

"You don't deserve it…" Vento said as he held Amitie some more.

"I've forgiven her, silly." The saddened Amitie joke-slapped Vento's shoulder. "It's a lot we pooled."

"I need a lot of it for myself." Vento commented.

"Thanks, you two." Arle was touched by the two. "I love you guys~ You too, Silvana's little henchman boy."


"Eureka!" Klug shouted at Arle's desk, done crunching the numbers. "Listen good, Arle. Follow my formula, and you'll pay it all off within a month, or less."

"Wow, not as bad as I'd hoped. If nothing goes wrong, and my co-workers get lazy and I'll help Nicholi in no time."

"I hope this teaches you a valuable lesson: make friends with Silvana." Klug gave his honest advice. Memories resurfaced for him.

"Are you kidding me."


*Ding Dong in the late evening… Ding Dong. Dingdongdingdondin-*

"Look, I need a tight sleep schedule if you don't mind, please go… Oh, sorry, Ms. Accord. Is it important?" Arle rubbed her eyes. "I need a good night's rest like you wouldn't believe." She yawned.

"Good meowght to you too."
"I came to inform you on Lidelle's behalf that she transferred some Credits into your bank account."
"We added a little mewlah too."
"Calling it a modest amount would be modest." Accord giggled.

Arle paused. Her groggy mind was busy processing. "Thank you so much~" She fell forward into the Professor. Surprising her a bit.

Giggling a bit more. Accord told her. "I'll be sure to pass the message to Lidelle."

Arle was half-a-minute away from falling asleep if they stayed like this. "Needless to say, I heard what you've been through. I know, she's the root of it, but please try to forgive Silvana."

"…"

"Arle?"

"...Zzzzzzzz…zzzzzz…"


It was a day where Arle's co-workers were all doing their share. Arle had the time to go home and transfer the cash she's earned and has been gifted with to Nicholi. The line at the bank was short. Three or so in front of her. 'At least 2-and-a-half weeks left…'

Arle fantasized. She missed Smile Curry. Heck, she missed curry, in general. Hell, she missed everything that wasn't noodles when her friends and Carbuncle weren't there to share something.

And that's not all, she just wanted to be on good terms with Nicholi again. He wasn't the type to get angry. Yet she saw his sharp side and it cut deep.

Even if everything's patched up, Arle had a feeling everything would be shakey. His heavenly curry wouldn't mean anything if there was still tension between them.

Arle hasn't seen him in quite some time. Even the letters Nicholi had sent, Arle couldn't dare herself open them to face his anger again. The faster this is over with at least she could at least let her buy herself something nutritious again. And that day couldn't come soon enough.

"This is a robbery!"
"That's it… I am cursed."
"I'm armed with a crossbow! Don't even try to think of thinking of some funny business! Down on the floor!"

"BAYO~~EN!" Arle casted and the robber and the whole room were dazed. Thanks to the dizziness, the crook shot some glass, the arrow didn't hurt anybody. Arle zigzagged up close and knocked her out cold on the back the head with her bag of credits, over and over. Burned the crossbow and arrows. Kicked her while she was down for good measure.

To make a long story short. Arle earned some money from the bank, and all the visitors out of gratitude. Got some positive PR out of it as well.


"Finally! I paid Nicholi back!" Arle cheered. She was so happy. And she has enough money over to get something at… A salad bar… couldn't face Nicoli quite yet. She also needs something healthy. She's been feeling sluggish and unenergetic these past weeks. Didn't give herself the luxury of time to have dinner at her friends' places. The food hasn't even been digested yet and she felt great already.

Still a week away before she could afford to feed Carbuncle. But that wasn't too far off.


*Ding Dong in the middle of the day*

Despite not expecting anyone, Arle rushed to the door. "N-Nicholi!"

"Hi, Arle, I'm here-"

"I'm sorry for what happened, I hope you're doing well? C-Coffee?"

Nicholi dropped a sweat seeing Arle like this. "I came by to tell you in person that you should stop giving so much money."

"Huh? But I owed you big time. I worked my butt off to repay you for the last month!"

"But you've paid me double now." The chef pulled out a bag of Credits. "I tried to tell you via mail."

*Aside glance* "Why are those unopened?"

They were confused. "When did I first pay you?"

"Almost immediately. You packaged it all cute too, with a handwritten card."

"I did no such thing…" Arle gladly took the credit bag.


"I did no such thing! Keep the money!" Silvana slammed the door in Arle and Nicholi's faces. Arle very much obliged, regardless of what she thought of it.

On the other side of the door, Silvana's regrets returned. "Why did I do that?!" Headaches returned too. She was set back financially, her personal riches had dropped 30,048. Which is nothing to sneeze at. At least Smile Curry has been repaired and blast proofed.

Even if she needed the courage to finally visit it again.

Author's Notes:
This fic is the first fic to be on the Fanfic Recs on Puyo Puyo's TvTropes. This is a dream come true. If you're a troper, search out some other fics to put in the Fanfic Recs. The authors will appreciate it.

Its position is shared with 'Request of Puyo Puyo', which is far more deserving.

15$ minimum wage. Americans deserve it.

Next up: Prom Night