~Author's Note~
So many questions and Dice will get some answers in this one. Also, thank you all for reading this and my other chapters! Please tell me what you think and what you may predict to happen next. As always, enjoy the chapter!
Elder Kettle opens his door to find Porsha and Dice carrying the Cup brothers. The boys are definitely attaching to the new girl, but that wasn't his worry. It was Dice. Sure, Dice felt relief when Cuphead and Mugman actually gave him a chance, but his witty attitude got under Elder Kettle's skin. He looked at Porsha, who was worn down a bit, but she's had fire in her. Dice looked at Elder Kettle and began to break the silence in the air.
"We got two cups in need of a bed, sir." Dice chuckled awkwardly after realizing what he just said.
Elder Kettle sighs, "Bring them in. I can get them to their room." and motioned them to enter his home.
"Thank you, sir." Porsha replied looking around at the place as Elder Kettle took Mugman out of her arms.
"No, thank you two for bringing them home safely. I do feel more at ease when someone is watching my boys." Kettle expressed his gratitude as he puts Cuphead to bed next. "Now, do you two need a place for tonight? I do have two spare guest rooms in the back." Elder Kettle asked them as he closed the brother's room door behind him.
"Well, I wouldn't want to intrude.." Porsha replied to his kind gesture.
"I insist, it's the least I could do after you two are watching them." Kettle insisted and Dice steps into the conversation.
"If it's free, then I would be happy to crash here for the night." Dice looked to Porsha while she returned his glance.
"Then you two stay and we will discuss matters in the morning." Edler Kettle said walking to his room.
"Discuss..." Porsha started to say as Dice finished both of their thoughts. "...Matters?"
Dice walked down the hallway and noticed that one of the spare rooms he picked was cluttered with boxes and other items to the tee. Porsha opens the other spare room and saw that it wasn't kept up. She looked back and noticed Dice trying to fit in between the boxes.
"Dice? Really?" She states as he shoots her a confused look. "For a con man you are not the brightest sometimes...or maybe you are just pulling my leg on this act. C'mon, there are twin beds in here on either side of the wall." Porsha walked in as Dice followed in chuckling.
"You can read people like a book too huh?" Dice replied closing the door behind them.
"Well, you are too easy to read, to be honest." Porsha giggled as Dice can feel his cheeks getting red by her statement.
"Wait-hey!"
"Goodnight, Mr. Dice." Porsha said as she got into one of the beds and rolled over to one side.
"...how's she get changed that fast..." Dice pouted to himself while he got ready for bed.
~~~Dice's and Porsha's Dream~~~
"Well isn't this a nice place?" A voice cuted through the darkness of the room as Dice jolts awake. He scans the room and noticed a figure looming in the shadows. With a puffy fur coat and the scent of smoke filling the air, Dice knew right away who was here. Mr. Wheezy, but why? He had gotten out of the casino before it went caplowe, so why was Wheezy here. Wheezy ignited his head, causing a flickering light to fill the room, and Dice noticed his stare.
"What do you want?" Dice asked glaring at him.
"Ya know why I'm here. Boss wants ya to have a little chit-chat." Wheezy replied lighting up a cigar in his mouth.
"Well then, you're going to leave here empty-handed." Dice scoffed turning over in his bed.
"Not entirely true..." Mr. Wheezy laughed as he pulled out a revolver and cocks it.
Dice heard the click of the gun, "Shoot me then, heck, it beats talkin' to that monster." he replied.
"This ain't for you. See I am with some new people the boss hired. Ya may have heard of 'em from the walls squealing." Wheezy aimed toward Porsha while Dice realized his statement. Dice got immediately out of bed and made a run to Wheezy. "Shame this beautiful dame has to have her life cut short though..."
The gun fired, causing a flicker of light again in the room. Dice decked the man across the face and pinned him down. Blood dripped from his nose as Dice asked what the hell he was doing. Wheezy laughed and noticed the bullet he shot from his gun spun in mid-air. Porsha sat up, got out of bed, and the bullet plopped into her opened hand.
"Dice." Porsha calmly stated while Dice turned around in disbelief of the sound of her voice.
"W-wait, how the heck did you-" Dice sputtered out words more than he was able to speak. Porsha sighed as she dropped the bullet to the ground.
"Dicey, this is a dream. He cannot hurt me in here nor you." Porsha explained snapping her finger and the pistol disappeared from Mr. Wheezy's hand.
"Wait...how'd ya know about this?" Wheezy scowled in irritation.
"You really think the daughter of a scientist and a doctor wouldn't experiment on their own kid? This was the first thing they did to me! Now I am kinda glad I can control most of my dreams, but I still don't understand why I would be in Dice's..." She rambled off while Dice glared at Wheezy.
"Why are you working for them?" Dice questioned and his voice is cold and stern.
"Got no choice. After you left the casino and it crumbled, well, I sought after new work. Hey, the Devil took me back and handed me off to his new Right Hand Man." Wheezy explained as Dice shifted his focus.
So, he was replaceable. That's just great. Dice knew all along that he was, but even he hoped it wasn't true. Until the Cup brothers showed up and he heard it himself. "Good for nothin' lackey." Just like the rest of his henchmen...lackeys/pawns in a game of chess or in a deck of cards. Dice's stomach churned at his thoughts then he released Wheezy from his grip. He stood up and walked to Porsha. Porsha could see him try to calm down.
"Wheezy, please just go. I do not want to do this." Dice voiced as collected and well mannered as he could manage.
"Ya know I can't do that until you come with me." Mr. Wheezy replied as he put his hands in his pockets.
"As a former friend...please, just this once..." Dice pleaded, knowing what would come.
"Dice." Porsha's voice cut through Dice's thought and he looked at her.
"Porsha he tried to kill you just now..." Dice explained as she held out her hand.
"I know, but he can't stay long..." Porsha asked and Dice took her hand.
"Would you accompany me?" He replied and Wheezy looked impatient.
"Dice! My offer still stands and I ain't goin' back without ya!" He barked while Porsha noded.
The room droped into a pitch black area, where illumination was scarce, and Dice realized that they were in a part of his head that he dreaded most. Dice griped Porsha's hand, if he wanted Wheezy to leave them alone, then he would have to make it happen. The room turned into a familiar setting, one of the casino's parlors, and Porsha opened her eyes. She noticed Dice was determined to end this as they all walked to a door. "BOSS" Was the nameplate on the door and Dice opened it and walked in.
"You won't leave me be until I talk to him, then fine...I'll talk to the sick monster..." Dice answered bitterly.
"Well, this is weird..." Wheezy said looking around. "He's...not here..."
"Typical." Dice walks around to the front of the desk as Porsha trails behind him, still holding hands. "You want to talk? So, let's talk!" Dice replied finding the Devil hidden in one of the drowers.
The Devil groaned and let out a snarl as he jumped out of the drawer and changed shape. Dice thought he looked rough after he was beaten by the two brothers, but he was wrong. He looked worse now than ever. His fur is all mangled and discolored, claws, too long for anything to be done, his horns were not even filed down, and his multiple arms and legs protruded outwards. Dice sighed as the Devil shot him an angry look.
"Come crawling back?" The Devil hissed and Porsha noticed Dice's grip had gotten stronger.
"Back?" Dice laughed sarcastically. "And crawling back!? Oh ho ho ho! NO!"
"Hmm?" The Demon raised his brow, "Then why are you here? Get lost then..." and went to sit back down in his chair.
"Are you kidding me? I am supposed to bust out of here; as one of your lackeys intruded on my slumber and tried to threaten my friend, just to speak to you!?" Dice had a change of tone that was like a father scolding his child for something they had done.
"Wheezy? Who told you to get him? Cuz, I never did." The Devil asked and Wheezy was shaking in his boots.
"It was your new right-hand man, s-sir." his voiced explanation was shaky as he awaited a plumbing from the boss.
"Blackruth? Really?" The name cut through like an ice pick cutting into a patch of ice perfectly. Dice stares at Wheezy, not believing what he's heard, and Porsha grips Dice's hand now.
"Yes, indeed, I did ask for him." Blackruth replies smoothly as he strolls in.
"That voice..."Porsha mumbled while she noticed a medallion around his neck. It was him, on her father's tape...he was the one who shot her.
Blackruth walked to Dice and Porsha, noticing a barrier between them, and his laugh turned into a sleazy grin. "Even the daughter of a Scientist and Doctor is superstitious! Oh, how interresting!" His tongue was foul, but his voice was silky smooth.
"What do you want?" Porsha sternly stated her question while Blackruth paced around them.
"Well, I want to strike a deal." He replied, stopping in front of Dice.
"Well, you're all wet on that offer." Dice scoffed as he released Porsha's hand to crosses his arms.
"Well, dear me! Here I thought you would want to redeem yourself and protect your new friends. You know? Down there in Inkwell Isle?" Blackruth tossed his hands in the air as he walked away a bit.
"Of course I will redeem myself, but not with the likes of you!" Dice explained and Blackruth spun around.
"Then why are you working with her? She is indebted to us after all!" He chuckled and looked to Porsha.
"What does he mean by that?" Dice asked her and Porsha was confused.
"I never made a deal with you, nor any of the Devil's lackeys." Porsha replies, but Blackruth raised one finger in the air and clicked his tongue.
"But-but-but! Your family did!" Blackruth boasted and Porsha was baffled by his reply. "Oh, did your mommy and daddy not tell you? Their research was far too dangerous for mankind itself, but not for beings like us. We made a deal: If they succeed in their work, then we get the prophets from them!"
"Well, there were no prophets from my parent's research, so you're out of luck." Porsha replied as Blackruth shook his head.
"YOU are the product of their research. You were the experiment Dollface." He said and smiled wide.
Porsha stood back, realizing what she just heard, and still wanted something to say. She held her tongue, not to speak, they were watching, they were always watching her every move...how... and most importantly, why? She noticed Dice looking at her and then he let out a short huff.
"So, she has no clue this was apart of her parents deal?" Dice asked looking at her with sympathy.
"It seems she was kept in the dark about a lot of things, but a deal's a deal." Blackruth explained as he shruggs.
"What if I die? The deal will be off and you will be at a loss." Porsha asked and Blackruth laughs.
"Porcelain Doll, you can't die. That's why we made a deal with your parents in the first place." He stated happily and Porsha gripped Dice's sleeve.
"That's impossible, everyone's life has to come to an end, that's how life moves on." Porsha explained.
"Then how did you survive that gunshot Doll?" Blackruth asked and Porsha quickly came up with the most logical answer.
"Easy, I was still alive, but barely functioning. Due to my injuries..."
"Well, that is a keen observation, but I will let you hear the next tape. That your father left you. It is with Elder Kettle now as we speak. Dice..." Blackruth began as he tossed something at him. "It was a pleasure meeting you."
Dice woke up from the dream and Porsha was holding her head in her hands. Dice noticed something in his hands and opened his palms. It was a locket, his mother's locket... Porsha got up and something dropped on the floor that was hiding under the covers. She found out it was an old doll, but her old doll. Dice put the locket in his pocket as Porsha threw the doll across the room, causing it to shatter. Dice looked at her, assessing the situation, and got up to stand beside her. He put his hand on her shoulder and they notice the shattered doll reforming. It was as if it wasn't thrown at all. Dice and Porsha looked at each other as the door opened.