Chapter 9: Stampy's Interrogation.
Stampy was quickly turning into a nervous wreck as Petra sheppards him into the room after Jesse, the strong warrior woman shoves him stumbling forwards a ways and closes the door behind them, locking it shut.
Jesse can barely contain her enthusiasm as she approaches Stampy, he looks up at her, into her cool, hungry eyes, her hands rubbing together with anticipation.
"It's done." Petra announces "we're alone."
"Excellent...!" Jesse can't hold back her massive, gleaming grin "now, Stampy, tell me: do you know why you are here?"
"B-b-be-c-cause...!" Stampy whimpers, Jesse was scaring him "...I had a button."
"No, Stampy...!" Jesse slowly shakes her head "that has nothing to do with it."
"I-it... doesn't?" Stampy's not sure if this is a good or bad thing.
"Absolutely nothing." Jesse confirms "that's just the cover story."
"S-s-so... you, d-don't think I... you don't think I did it...?" Stampy questions.
"I don't know, did you do it, Stampy?" Jesse questions.
"N-n-n-no-!" Stampy stutters.
"SHHHHHH." Jesse silences him "I... don't... care."
"..." Stampy doesn't know how to respond to this, he just stares into her eyes, agape with confusion and doubt.
"You see, Stampy, it doesn't matter if you were the one who actually pushed the button or not, what matters is that, right now, I have the power to SAY you did." Jesse explains "your life is in my hands, and I can save it or end it, do you understand me?"
"...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Stampy lets out a quiet scream, this is DEFINITELY a bad thing.
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND HER!?" Petra barks, specifically directing it towards the door so that the people outside might hear it and think they're interrogating him.
"EEEEEEP!" Stampy's breaking down "YES! YES! P-PLEASE!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! calm down, Stampy! there's no need to be afraid, you have nothing to fear from me, okay? it's all just perfectly, happily, fine." Jesse claims.
"Wh-what do you want from me...!?" Stampy isn't the slightest bit comforted, and just wants to get out, out, out of there.
"Ooh, I think you know what she wants." Petra chuckles.
"..." Stampy doesn't respond, he just looks at Jesse, waiting for her answer.
"What I want..." Jesse continues to grin as she slides closer to Stampy "...is a deal."
Stampy blinks, actually slightly calming down, "a... deal?" he repeats.
"Yes!" Jesse nods "I'm in a position to HELP you, Stampy! and I want to, really, I do, so, so badly! but I can't just 'do it', you need to give me the right incentive! just do that, and we will both walk out of here happy, alive, and... satisfied."
Stampy knows exactly what she's getting at, "I...!" his face falls into one of despair "I'm... I'm sorry...! I c-can't, Jesse...!"
"You can, Stampy!" Jesse encourages, "no one will ever have to know."
"B-b-b-but I'LL know!" Stampy freaks "I'll know, and it'll haunt me forever! y-you don't understand! I, I love Stacy, I could never do this to her!"
"What part of 'she won't know' are you not getting?" Petra scoffs.
"EVEN IF she doesn't know, it won't matter!" Stampy stresses "I'll know, and I won't be able to stand it, and then... and then... I'll wind up telling her because I can't live with the guilt! and then, and then...!" he bows his head down and cries.
"Hm..." Jesse thinks about this, because Jesse's a thinker, after a moment she looks at Stampy again, and then at Petra, then at the door, then back at Stampy, "but, Stampy, what if she just... already knew."
Stampy looks back up, astonished, "wh-what do you mean by that...?"
"I mean..." Jesse starts, a grin spreading across her face, "what if she... agreed to it?"
Stampy stares at her for a moment, and then hastily wipes his tears away before standing up straighter to meet Jesse at eye-level.
"If she... agreed to it..." he starts, widely frowning but no longer breaking down "then... I guess... maybe..." he can't bear her gaze any longer and glances away "you'd have a hell of a time convincing her though!"
"Oh? will I now?" Jesse isn't phased, "if, I somehow, can convince her, will you do as I ask?"
Stampy knows there's only one answer to this.
"*sniff*!" he breathes in, wiping his watery eyes again "...y-yes. I will." he nods once.
"Good." Jesse smiles, "that's all I needed to hear."
Stampy feels ashamed, he huddles back down into a sitting ball on the floor, burying his face into his knees.
"Petra." Jesse commands "bring me... Stacy."
"Sir, yes, Sir!" Petra nods, turning away, "boy, you just gotta love diplomacy..." she comments as she unlocks the door.
Creeeaaak. the door swings open.
"Hm!?" Dan, Lizzie, Stacy, and Cassie immediately glance to the open door.
"Ahhh, finished already?" Ivor's surprised "he's a fast one."
"Looks like it's my turn..." Lizzie heaves, not looking forward to what she thinks is going to be an intense interrogation.
"Where's Stampy!?" Stacy demands, noticing that it's Petra alone.
"Still being questioned." Petra answers "come, we require you."
"DAH! of course!" Ivor reacts "THAT'S what she's doing!"
"You require... me?" Stacy blinks.
"Is your name Stacy?" Petra mocks.
"Yep!" Dan calls.
"Then YES." Petra growls, impatient "we need YOU."
"What for?" Stacy stands her ground.
"What do you THINK, fucking dumbshit!?" Petra snaps "to CONFIRM if Stampy's telling the truth! you need to tell us your side of the story, and we'll just see if it matches up to his, and right now, Jesse is waiting for me, and I don't enjoy making her wait any longer than it needs to be, which is a GOD DAMN HARD THING TO DO, WHEN YOU SLEAZY, UNTRUSTWORTHY MOTHERFUCKERS, STALL FOR TIME, BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO GOD DAMN SKEPTICAL, OF WHY WE FUCKING NEED YOU!" she's flipped.
"GO, Stacy!" Lukas pushes "we need to get a move on!"
"If Jesse wants you, you go." Ivor adds "that's how it works."
"Errrh! whatever, fine, fine, I'll do it...!" Stacy gives in, sleeking to the door and looking into Petra's big, stern, frowning face "take me to her."
Petra just huffs once, and steps aside, gesturing for Stacy to head in, the adventuring girl does as instructed, and Petra once again seals the door behind them.
(The following was originally a brief update uploaded as it's own chapter and then removed.)
Greetings, Female Jesse fans!
Since we like to be interactive with our readers, we're holding a new poll asking if you think Jesse will actually be able to convince Stacy to agree to the deal she proposed to Stampy!
The poll closes on Friday Night or Saturday Morning, and the results will be published in the new chapter, where the answer, will be revealed.
So cast your vote, wait for the post, come over, read the chapter, compare it with the poll results, fist pump if you were right, it'll be fun-fun-fun!
Thank you to all who participate.
- the Greene Earth Productions team.