Chapter 1: Vignettes of Country Living
"GREETINGS, FORGET-ME-NOT VALLEY! I'VE FINALLY ARRIVED!!!" Nack heartily cried as he took off his purple pimp cap and waved it in the air with vigor.
"You're certainly excited to be here." Kai grinned as he finally got his feet on land after the long trip by boat.
"Hell, man. It was a huge hassle just trying to make it all the way here. A guy deserves to celebrate, don't you think?" Nack answered back.
Kai nodded. " Yeah, I can kind of relate. I always travel around during the other three seasons, so it can be comforting to have a few places to call home."
"Heh… a whole new home out in the countryside like this…" Nack smirked. "I may still have a few jobs to take care of her, but I'm really looking forward to taking it easy for once! Running around in the city was always such a pain…"
"Then I'm sure you'll start loving life in the Valley soon enough. There's plenty of laid-back people like yourself running around, pursuing whatever interest pops up into their mind." Kai assured.
"Anyway, we've been on that boat forever. I could sure use some grub, so I'm going to fire up the grill and get to work on lunch. Are you in? My food stand isn't too far from here, and you're first meal will be my treat, just to allow you a fair sample."
Nack shook his head. "Nah, food sounds nice, but I'm after an even nicer meeting with my old gal."
"Oh, Right… Muffy. I understand." Kai grinned. "You should hope that someone didn't try and take advantage of your absence from her life, my friend. There are plenty of prospective bachelors running around here, especially that happy-go-lucky Rock fellow. He seems to have put much of his attention on her as of late."
"I wouldn't worry. If anyone dares try to take advantage of my gal like that, I have a way of taking care of them REAL good…" Nack said with a sadistic smirk.
"Hmmm… well, you do have a way to intimidate, I guess." Kai replied casually. "But… just don't go overboard, okay? We don't want the peace disturbed around here."
"Right, right. I wouldn't want to bring unwanted attention to myself, would I?" Nack said in a sly tone.
"That's the idea." Kai said.
"Well, it wouldn't be right for a gentleman to keep his lady waiting, you know. And it's been such a long wait, too." Nack grinned. "Later, pal! Let's share a drink or two when we have the chance, alright?"
"Wait! Are you seriously taking off by yourself? It's a pretty big place. You could get lost!" Kai cried out.
"I'm good. Got myself a map of the place from an associate with me, so I know exactly where I'm going." Nack said as he pulled an old piece of paper from his pocket.
"Okay then! Have fun, friend!" Kai cried back while waving.
Nack waved back briefly, then chuckled to himself.
"Oh, don't worry… I'm planning to have plenty of fun." He said to himself.
After making his way through some of the surrounding sights, he finally made his way to the humble shack that was the Blue Bar. Not wanting to waste any time, Nack simply barged in without even a knock.
"HEEELLLO, BLUE BAR! I WANT AN ORDER OF TWO OF YOUR FINEST DRINKS, MY PRETTY BAR MAID!" he shouted.
However, when the excited convict finally paid attention to his surroundings, he found it to be quite barren.
"Hey, now! Where the heck is that broad? This IS the bar she works at, right?" he complained aloud.
"Would this "broad" you're referring to happen to be Miss Muffy?" a voice from back called out.
"That is correct, my man! But seriously… what is wrong with this place? Bars are supposed to be places to drink and have fun, right? Why isn't there anybody serving up the drinks around here? Hell, why isn't my darling doll offering service here?"
"Hmm… so, you must be the boyfriend from the city Miss Muffy's been talkin' about all the while." The voice answered.
Suddenly, an older man came out from the backroom. He had brown hair that extended outward a bit, and was also tied in a ponytail at the back. He wore a slightly unbuttoned white and orange cowboy shirt and silver necklace, along with some dark jeans and deep brown cowboy boots. In his grasp was a white acoustic guitar.
"That's right." Nack said firmly. "I've heard all about the appeal she's brought to this place, but her love of flirting doesn't give anybody else an excuse to enjoy her company freely except me, got it?"
"Don't worry. Miss Muffy's just enjoying her putting folks at ease around here. There hasn't been too big of a fuss concerning her." The man assured him. "But I'm sorry to tell you… the Bar isn't open until 5:00 at night, and Miss Muffy went off to a local town to shop. She won't be back for quite sometime."
Nack clicked his tongue at this sudden bit of info. "Really, now? That's just too bad. I was looking forward to the perfect welcoming party, too…"
"Yup. You'll just have to wait for awhile until you can start enjoying yourself around here." The ma answered.
"Well, since you're here at least, Bartender, can I have a drink anyway? I have some Gold ready, so you don't have to worry about avoiding payment." Nack mentioned.
"Nope. Sorry, Slick. You'll just have to wait until opening time like everyone else. It's a matter of retaining policy, you understand?" the man explained.
Nack let out an agitated growl. "Eh, Damn… whatever. If there's nothing to do here, I'll just settle in my new pad for now."
The proprietor looked at Nack curiously. "New Residence, you say? So you're not here just to drop by to see Miss Muffy?" he asked.
Nack chuckled aloud in amusement. He then pointed a thumb at his smug grin. "No way, Bartender. You happen to be looking at this Valley's new residential farmer, Nack!" He boasted with unusual pride.
The bartender looked completely dumbstruck. "…a city boy… like you… a farmer? You look too accustomed to the city luxuries to be comfortable around these parts." He noted, paying close attention to Nack's conspicuous attire.
"Hey, now. I wouldn't be judging so easily. My gal Muffy used to be part of the city, too, but it seems to be she's done just fine around here." Nack retorted.
"Yeah, I guess you have a point there, stranger…" the Bartender said thoughtfully.
"That's right!" Nack grinned. "So you'll just have to stand back while a make a living here! With a nice gal like Muffy around, and a bar like this to drink the night away, this place'll be home to me in no time!"
"Don't forget the farming, though. That's your new job here, isn't it?" the Bartender reminded him.
"Yeah, yeah. That and a few other things, but I don't wanna waste my time in a closed bar." Nack claimed.
"Suit yourself, son…" the Bartender said with a shrug.
Apparently, the aspiring farmer left Blue Bar without even bothering to get the Bartender's name.
"…that's one interesting character…" the Bartender said. "He's definitely as lively as Miss Muffy claimed, that's for sure…"
Sometime after Nack left for his new farm, Nami headed in towards the Inner Inn for her own purposes.
"…Inner Inn…" Nami muttered to herself meaningfully. "They better have some info here. A shady-looking guy in purple city clothes would definitely get attention around here…"
Nami entered into a spacious reception room, with a fairly short and stout woman with shoulder-length black hair and beady eyes. She wore a simple domestic outfit consisting of a yellow shirt and red dress draped over with a flowery yellow apron.
"Well, hello there, stranger! " the friendly woman cried. "Welcome to the Inner Inn! Will you be staying with us this evening?"
Nami paused momentarily with a serious gaze.
"… I'm looking Information…" she said coolly.
"Really? About what? Are you interested in a recent guest?" the woman called the hostess asked.
"…Possibly. I'm looking for a man named Nicholas Pattywack. He's known otherwise as "Purple Ferret" to others because of his particular taste in purple clothes and his vicious grin. He has short, platinum blonde hair and sharp black eyes. Have you seen anyone like that around? I suspect he may have been in the valley recently."
"Nope, sorry. Haven't seen a fellow like that around here. Is he a friend of yours?" the hostess asked innocently.
Immediately, Nami slammed her fists on the desk in front of the curious Innkeeper.
"NO!!! That man is DANGEROUS! He's a criminal wanted by over thirty states for armed robbery and assault! He's a ruthless thief as well as one of the Mafia's top hit men! Damn it! The man already killed the Innkeeper and his daughter back in Mineral Town! Nobody found the bodies or any proof that he did it, but I know his handiwork! There's no doubt it was his doing!" she shouted.
Ruby looked at her in shock and surprise. "O-oh… I'm sorry, uh… well, either way, I still have not seen such a man. But, this sounds like a grave concern, so I should probably let the others know right away and find out." She answered apologetically. "In the mean time, are you interested in staying for a night or two? Or maybe even enjoy a meal here? I take great pride in my cooking."
Nami nodded silently.
"Er… alright then. Here's the menu. What'll it be?"
Nami snatched the menu swiftly from the hostess' grasp, and scanned the list of foods in little time.
"I'll have a bowl of shrimp curry and cup of grape juice." She ordered specifically.
"Coming right up, miss!" the innkeeper chimed. "By the way… for whom am I making this meal for?"
Nami sighed. "…my name is Nami Granger, an officer for the FBI, but this is only for your eyes and ears only, understand?" she stated firmly as she whipped out a badge from her shirt pocket as proof.
The innkeeper nodded slowly. "…and my name is Ruby. It's a pleasure meeting you!" she said with a shaky voice. "…Your meal should be done in about twenty minutes. Please wait until then."
With that said, Ruby walked nervously towards the kitchen door on the right and closed it carefully.
Again, Nami slammed the desk.
"Damn it, Pattywack! You already wen too far when you took out my Partner Cliff! But then you had to go and take out his girlfriend Ann, too?! I swear I'll make you pay for ALL OF IT!!!" she growled.
For some reason, a familiar tiny creature happened to be listening to everything from the outside.
"Oh crap! The detective's here! I gotta warn that guy!" it cried as it scurried off in a hurry.