Dice was helping Porkrind unpack new items for the shop as a customer came in. He rang the bell as Porkrind waddled over to the counter. He gave his greeting, called for Dice to get the item off the shelf, and bring it to him. Dice obeyed, bringing up the item and realized it was Foxtrot. Porkrind bagged up the item as the fox handed the pig his change.
"Have a nice day!" Porkrind said as Porsha walked in, crossing paths with Foxtrot.
"Excuse me." Porsha politely stated and he scoffed exiting.
Dice sighed and went to the back to try and breathe easier. Porsha noticed and Porkrind looked perplexed. "What ruffed his feathers?" Porkrind asked her.
"May I please see him for a moment?"
"Miss Doll, ya can see him anytime ya want. Yer always welcomed here." Porkrind replied to her smiling.
Porsha moved the hanging cloth away while she walked into the back. "Dice?"
"Porsha..." Dice tried to compose himself around her.
She walked up to him and straightened out his shirt. "You are okay. He is gone now."
Dice took her hands, that were trying to re-tie his tie, and held them onto his chest. "I know. I just needed to..."
"breathe?" Porsha finished his sentence and He smiled.
"Yes, thank you." He noticed he was gripping her hands.
Porsha chuckled, "It's fine. I was trying to fix your tie." and she tapped his purple tie. "I was trying to calm you down, but I may be a bit awkward at it..."
"Well, you did it by talkin' to me." He replied to her sweetly and kissed her forehead. "I should get back to work now."
"Still getting off at five, love?" Porsha asked, fixing his tie.
"Yes, still at five." He reiterated to her.
"Then I will see you then."
Porsha walked out of the shop and onto the third isle. She figured, since the school was still being built, that she would go pay a visit to the Cup brothers over on the first isle. So, she did just that and started to make her way to that destination. On her walk, she encountered Foxtrot again. But he was different: talking to the people with charm and care, making valuable points, while others laughed at his jokes. Porsha knew this all too well, she stepped into action, and walked up to the Root pack.
"Hello, boys! How is your day so far?" She beamed with glee, the vegetables smiled wide, and greeted her with open arms.
"It is going swell!"
"Oh! This is the book you let me borrow! It was very good."
"You look amazing today miss Porsha!"
"Yes." Foxtrot replied after they finished and everyone looked at him. "You do look ravishing today, Miss Doll."
"Thank you all." Porsha exclaimed while she and Foxtrot locked gazes. "So, what brings you here?"
"What brings Lil' old me here? Well, I have to get something that I left here a long time ago." Foxtrot answered whirling his tail around. Porsha analyzed the way he spoke his words while they chatted along. He stood firm; crossing his arms at times, then resting his hands on his hips, and watched his eye movement. Every time he would be uncertain of things he spoke of in the conversation his ears would twitch as he glanced tot he left. She sighed as she bid them all farewell.
He's just like Blackruth...Porsha thought, knowing, fearing, and now with worries in her heart for the others of this peaceful town. Unfortunately, she did not know what Foxtrot was planning for Inkwell.
"Porsha!" Cuphead yelled as he ran up to her.
"Cuphead! Mugman!" Porsha was greeted with hugs from both of the boys.
"Happy birthday!" The two exclaimed happily to her.
Porsha was shocked, "H-how did you know it was my birthday?" and asked the two.
"Dice told us and he said he'd be coming tonight!" Mugman explained as his brother nodded.
"So, go get ready! It starts at 6'oclock!" Cuphead said and ushered her to let them finish the decorations.
Porsha chuckled as she waved her hand. "Alright, see you all this evening!"
She walked down and noticed something shimmering in the woods. Porsha made her way through the bushes and tree limbs. Winter was coming soon and she would feel the wind pick up a bit. The light stopped right at an enormous empty spot in the wooded area. It looked like a building used to be located here, but was gone. Nothing but rubble and the floor was left of the facility.
"This must have been the casino." She said aloud and walked around to investigate further.
She noticed the light shimmering behind some rubble and moved the rocks and debris away from the light. She stepped back as the illuminating light was the same symbol Blackruth used. The hand gripping the scarf, the workers holding onto their future, fortune, and fame. She heard breaking twigs behind her and turned around swiftly. It was Foxtrot, but, why was he here.
"Huh, you are not as fragile as I thought." He stated plainly, looking questionable.
"Looks can be deceiving. You of all people should know that." She responded, watching each of his movements cautiously.
"Drawn to the light, are you? Like a moth to a flame?" He exclaimed laughing.
"Unfortunately, yes." Porsha said as she stepped on the symbol. "But more like Charon to Hades."
"Charon? What's a Charon?" He asked looking at her with no intriguing expression.
She raised her hands to her chest and blue whisps appeared around her. "It's a being that brought the souls of the departed to the gates of heaven or hell. They released them from their suffering of being trapped in this earthly realm in a fable." Porsha moved her hands down swiftly and a rush of blue wisps flew upwards around her. The souls traveled upward towards the sky and vanished out of sight and the symbol cracked underneath her feet.
"Well, I'll be damned! You got some tricks up your sleeves!" He started raising one eyebrow. "I guess that is why he picked you. He always chooses the special ones, you know? Innocent and nieve."
Porsha laughed loudly, causing Foxtrot to stare at her in a new expression; surprise. "You think I am as innocent as a daisy and nieve as an infant?"
"Oh, little Doll's gonna act tough?" Foxtrot jeered at her as she simply started walking away.
"You have no idea who I am or who you are messing with. So, here is some advice: leave these people and their loved ones alone or else." Porsha's words made Foxtrot scoff bitterly as he pushed through the rubble of the casino.
"You don't know what yer steppin' into Doll." He says to himself as he picks up a medallion from the rubble.
Porsha made it back to her apartment and realized the time. She hurried to Porkrind's shop and saw that he had just closed up for the day. She asked if Dice was still here and without a doubt he was. Porkrind pointed to where he was and Dice put on his coat. He noticed Porsha, with Porkrind still pointing at him, while buttoning his coat up. He remembered the gift and checked his pockets. He sighed in relief, the letter was still there, right where he left it, and his panic faded.
"Are you ready to go?" Dice asked her as he walked up.
"I suppose so." Porsha replied, taking his hand with a smile.
"You two kids stay out a trouble. Ya hear?" Porkrind said, watching the two leave.
Dice and Porsha made their way to the first isle. Before they made it to the Cup brothers house she asked Dice a question. "Did you tell the boys it was my birthday?"
"Why, yes. Yes, I did." He replied looking at her.
"How old are you?" Porsha asked and Dice chuckled.
"Shouldn't I be askin' you that?"
"I am 21 now, so, how old are you?"
He scratched his chin as he looked in the other direction. "23."
"Huh, I was guessing 25 or 27. Maybe it's the mustache that makes you seem older and more mature." She giggled, seeing him get flustered.
"W-well it isn't my fault! All those years workin' at the casino took its toll on me!" He said in defense and felt his cheeks getting red.
"I am just teasing! You look fine, love!" Porsha explained and he pulled her in close. She noticed something on his face and touched his cheek. "Love? What happened here?" She asked with concern, realizing it was chipped.
He quickly pulled out his mirror from his pocket. "...It-it's nothing. Just a nick from work, that's all..."
Porsha could tell he felt insecure now and apologized. "Sorry, hold on." She got out her make-up and covered the spot.
Dice was shocked at her apologizing to him. "Sorry for what?"
"The teasing. Also, if I say something that bothers you let me know." She explained while she put her make-up back in her bag.
Dice embraced her from behind tightly, causing her to tense up in shock. "Thank you." That was all he said as he pecked her head. Porsha could feel her cheeks getting brighter than her rosy hair as she tried to cover her face with his arms.
"You flatter me too much, love." Was all the words she could muster as Dice noticed her hiding her blushed face from him.
"And you are too kind to me. Now, should we head on then?"
Porsha took in a deep breathe and let it out as they stopped their touching moment. "Y-yes."
They arrived at the house only to find Elder Kettle and the boys standing outside of it. Their grandfather held them tightly as Porsha realized their home was covered in flowers and vines. She walked up to the house, seeing the boys turn to her, and she's seen it before. Porsha moved on the vine on the front window and saw the same symbol, hand gripping a scarf.
"Elder Kettle, Cuphead, and Mugman you guys can come with us." She said sternly as she looked at Dice.
Dice knew that look, the concern and worry, the mixed emotions, and those had to be kept at bay. "Cuphead. Mugman. Let's celebrate the party at my apartment." He ushed them to follow them as the house ignited into flames.
"OUR HOUSE!" Cuphead yelled in shock as he tried to run toward it. Porsha held him back in an embrace.
"Close your eyes! The flames are not good for your eyes little one!" She said holding his face away from the fire. Porsha paused, eyes widening by the words she stated and remembered they were said to her by her father. She remembered now, this always happened, on her day of birth, and something bad occurred on the same day. Her voice was quiet as she looked at Cuphead. "Let's get you all somewhere safe..."
"Okay." Cuphead said and they all followed Dice to his apartment.
They reached Dice's apartment and got settled inside. The Cup brother's helped Elder Kettle settle into the spare room. Then Dice showed them his other guest room to give them for the time being. Porsha knew the boy's hearts were hurting from losing their only home.
"Take as much time as you need boys." She reassured them that they were welcomed at her home as well.
"Don't hesitate to ask me anything." Dice said as he patted their heads.
"We can find a new place." Mugman said and Cuphead looked worried.
"How?"
"Well, we are old enough to get a job right? Then we can save up money to get one." Mugman explained to him.
"Okay, let's look for some jobs then!" Cuphead focused and walked over to the newspaper in the kitchen.
"Alright!" Mugman said, following him.
Porsha was surprised. The two were not saddened by it, sure they would be, but took a big step for adults and simplifying it. She realized tears were rolling down her face. Excusing herself, she went to Dice's bathroom and tried to wipe the tears from her face. Dice noticed Porsha was missing and went to go look for her.
"Porsha?" He spoke her name and she jolted hearing his voice.
"D-Dice..."
"You're crying." Dice walked up to her and wiped some tears away. "What's wrong? Are you sad that we didn't get to celebrate your birthday?"
"No-no-no! It's just the boys..."She tried to explain further. "They make buying a house sound so simple. They lost their home, their memories, the place where they felt safe and now it is gone. Shouldn't they be saddened or even distraught?"
"They have been through a lot, but the brothers have always been like that. They move on, so Elder Kettle is safe." Dice explained and Porsha still was crying. "It isn't the boys, is it?"
Porsha nodded, "It's about my birthday...I never celebrated it because it was the day my mother passed...then my father the year after that..." and looked away from Dice. "I never coped with it well...and now I just think my day of birth is just a curse... but it isn't about me. Right now we need to help the boys all we can."
"Porsha." He lifted her face to see his. "It's okay to be upset. It is normal to grieve and ask these things. You are not being selfish right now. I know you care about them and want what's best for these two."
"They can come work with me at the library. It is not much, but it will help them." She said and Dice realized she her tears had stopped. "L-love?" She noticed him wiping the tears from her face.
~~~Author's Note~~~
When you write this whole chapter in Philosophy class because the professor doesn't teach anything. Haha, okay, here you lovely people go! More mystery and all that jazz for you guys, gals, and other non-binary pals to pounder on! As always thank you all for reading this and stay Awesome!