Pairings: For the most part canon. Eventual Jelsa, but beforehand there will possibly be others.
Rating: R/M because people are dying so censorship is a much lesser issue of debate
Disclaimer: Send your appreciation and respect to the minds of Disney, DreamWorks, Bluth, and pretty much any animation company that is not me. The original concept of this story is not mine: Fables belongs to DC/Vertigo Comics. I'm simply reinterpreting a pre-existing story, like pretty much everyone else on this website. Song and lyrics, "9 to 5," is by Dolly Parton.
Thanks: To SashaWren and IGdude117 because my writing is by no means perfect and there's always something to improve. Seriously, give them major props and thank you's. And I would also like to extend thanks to Sharkohen, cartoonlover44, Flail Whale (sorry for the lack of "." but the site was fighting me), and Guest for your reviews. Your support means a lot!
Cheers
Chapter Three: "The Pot and The Kettle"
Or
"9 to 5"
Tiana could not help but list all the things she could have been doing at that moment instead, even as Elsa attempted to diplomatically reason the necessity of Tiana's removal from work to residing in the sheriff's office. Such tasks included running the kitchen – checking in with the head chef Remy, making sure all was running smoothly, noting the list of foods needed for restocking the following day, listing popular new food items, evaluating some of the newer Fable's waiting abilities – conducting similar check-ins with her other restaurants, scheduling an appointment with her financial adviser, visiting all those familiar faces she adores, and then of course, most importantly, becoming very intimate with her bed.
A common commentary on her life was that she was always running around too much, forgetting to enjoy life, so this could feasibly stand for a nice break.
Except that her ex-husband is missing in a way that had her frustratingly concerned for the man and she is waiting to be questioned as a potential suspect.
"Silver knows I didn't do anythin', right Elsa?" Tiana half asked, half demanded. The Fable leaned against the sheriff's desk, not quite in the mood to sit.
"What?" Elsa looked over at her wide eyes. Her surprise simmered to a smile and slight shake of her head. "Oh, of course. He knows you. We all do. As I said – and he has said – this is simply a formality. An inconveniently timed formality –"
"Mmmhm."
"– But that is all it is, I'm sure." Elsa paused and offered a smirk, "And if not, I do happen to be Deputy Mayor; I have some pull on the matter."
At that Tiana gave a wry smile. "Thanks, Elsa, though I am still not too happy about this."
Elsa covered her mouth with her hand as she yawned, "Yes, I wouldn't exactly be pleased in your position, either." She shook her head and assumed an expression as if she were less tired than she just demonstrated.
"You're tired."
"No," Elsa waved her off. "I'm fine." Tiana smirked as the Snow Queen yawned again as if her body meant to call her out on her fib.
"You need more sleep."
"Pot, meet Kettle," Elsa smirked.
Tiana crossed her arms over her chest. "Yeah, but I happen to be needed here. You have the luxury to be finished for the night. Or are you lookin' for overtime?"
At that Elsa hesitated, "Well, no."
"Okay then!" Tiana pointed out the door. "You've had a full day of complaining Fables, a missing Fable, and a once-missing-now-found Fable in medical care and I'm sure are plenty disappointed about Anna not bein' around – it's time for bed."
She could see from the way Elsa bit her lip and her eyes flickered to the door that she had won. "Tiana, it wouldn't be right to leave you here alone."
"You're sweet," Tiana playfully bumped her hip into Elsa's, "But get out of here. No reason for both of us to suffer." She hip bumped her again and Elsa giggled. "Get goin'."
"Okay, okay," Elsa slipped on her coat and purse before giving Tiana a hug. The two Fables embraced for a couple beats; Tiana had not realized until touching how much she was in desperate need of a hug. It had been a long day.
"Thanks Elsa," Tiana smiled, still holding her. "I needed that."
Elsa squeezed her tighter. "Me too."
They broke apart, shared a look and then a laugh.
"In all seriousness," Tiana sighed, "Go live the dream and get a good night's rest."
The deputy mayor hung in the doorway, "I will," and with a sleepy smile shut the door behind her.
Tiana shook her head to herself. "That girl …"
Elsa did have a point though. She allowed herself to finally release the yawn she had withheld. Tiana could stand to follow her own advice regarding sleep schedules. Too bad the coffee from earlier had long since worn off. Luckily, this was Silver's office which meant a coffee machine had to be in there somewhere. "He won't mind…" She reasoned out loud. The sheriff had mooched enough food and drink off of her over the years he would have to have some nerve to not allow for some sharing. Especially when he abducted her from work at an hour growing more ungodly by the minute.
She looked around: file cabinets, a window to the city outside, a closet … She made her way to the door.
"Here you are."
As she thought, amidst the clutter of papers, mugs, alcohol, ("No way this is legal," she muttered) and random knickknacks, a coffee machine was indeed present. The Fable opened the lid and was sorely disappointed to find it missed a coffee packet. She picked it up and set it down on Silver's desk, mindful to find a spot not covered in his things.
In a matter of minutes she found an outlet embedded in the desk, a clean-looking mug (though she did wipe it down with her scarf for good measure), a packet of instant coffee, and had her drink brewing. Waiting for it proved a nice distraction from what she was technically being accused of and the fact that she was virtually alone in a building at night and admittedly creeped out.
At least there was more than enough objects in the room for her to occupy herself with. Somehow she was surprised to find a collection of pictures on his desk. The largest was a black and white photograph portrait of himself in sheriff garb from 1843. He had long been the sheriff by this point, but everyone had been excited to try out the image-taking device that had recently been invented. She was impressed he had kept it so well preserved, considering its age, but she imagined he probably had a spell or two cast to maintain its appearance.
The shorter yet wider photograph was a more recent photograph taken August 28th, 1963 – one of her personal proudest moments – when she was accompanied by Silver, Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Jack, Esmerelda, Merlin, Milo, a Glamoured Stitch, Pocahontas, and John Smith to attend Reverend Martin Luther King Jr's speech at the Lincoln Memorial. The shot was of them huddled together, sweaty, tired, and excited amongst the mass of people. The thrum of change and promise had sprung them into action, and as a Fable who was so affected by the society in which they resided, she welcomed the change encouraged by the Natives. It was also one of the first times such a large group made up of important individuals to the Fable community had departed Fabletown. The Mayor had been quite upset but the importance of the matter had not been lost at him. The exceptionally happy expression on Elsa's face indicated she was still relatively new to the Deputy Mayor position. Tiana knew she was not the only one who held the opinion that even though Elsa was doing a fairly good job, her energy should really be spent on her artistic endeavors which enliven her so.
The third and last photograph did not surprise Tiana in the least. It was an old photograph of Jim, long before she met him, evidently a proud graduate from the Naval Academy he had attended on his world. Or one of them. Jim, Silver, Jumba, Pleakley, and Stitch were among the few who had traveled to different planets – albeit in a very different manner – before The Great Conqueror.
Tiana smiled softly, recognizing for the first time in a while how sentimental Silver actually was. The beep of the coffee brewer captured her attention.
"Mm, hello drink number five …" She joked to herself as she lifted up the mug.
Tiana began to take a sip but it was too hot. She pouted and began to lower it when a familiar-sounding walk caught her attention.
She perked as the door opened, "Elsa, what part of –?" She faltered as it was very much not the Deputy Mayor at the door but a Fable she had never before come into contact with.
"Are, are you lost?" She asked carefully.
The foreign woman had long purple hair, large eyes and lips, an elegant long and pointed nose, exceptionally pale, and a waist narrow enough to elicit staring. The attire she wore was alarmingly similar to the style Elsa wore: professional white, tight, and elegant. However all elegance was gone given she was voluptuous enough to potentially give Holli Would a run for her money. Somehow they even had the same airs about them: up to no good.
The mysterious woman's expression dropped into a terrifying snarl. "You!"
Her long fingers were like claws as they reached across Silver's desk, meaning to grab at her. Tiana yelped and stumbled back, held up by the wall. A splash of her drink hit her fingers and she winced. Was this what Elsa normally had to deal with?
"I, I'm sorry, do I know you?" Tiana stammered. Even though the woman clearly reacted to her, Tiana still fumbled for some rational reason. "Are you looking for the sheriff? Cause it's after hours so you should probably come back – oh my God what is that?"
She screamed as purple steam began to rise off of the woman. Her skin bubbled and burst leaving dark marks scattered where cloth did not cover. Tiana screamed all the louder when the woman's face actually peeled away to reveal an older, heavier, and much more recognizable Fable.
"Mad Madam Mim!" Tiana said in horrified shock.
The witch cackled and leaned across the desk, seething with energy. "Happy to see me, dearie?"
Tiana wondered why she had been so eager to shoo away Elsa.
"Well I'm glad to see you. Very glad." The witch reached out and poked Tiana harshly in the chest. She sneered in some satisfaction as Tiana flinched. "I'm gonna give ye the count of ten."
"I'm sorry, what?" Tiana held her drink tightly as if it were a safety blanket.
Mim leaned over the desk, gripping the sides with her boney fingers. "I wouldn't stand there. Ye best get movin'." Tiana's blood ran cold. "After all, this won't be much fun of a game if you don't give me something to chase." And it occurred to the Fable that Mim was not only growing large at a fast rate, but was changing form into a very large and pink crocodile.
Tiana whimpered as she stepped back as if that movement alone would create enough distance between her and the mad Fable.
Mim's cackling voice carried through her reptile form, "Let's see if you taste as good as you cook," and lunged over the desk, knocking various objects to the floor.
Tiana screamed, flailed her arms, and without thinking thrust the contents of the borrowed mug into Mim's eyes. The witch roared and Tiana scrambled past the thrashing beast.
"You meanie! You cheat! I'll get you!"
The Fable hitched up the skirt of her dress, kicked off her heels (her second favorite she inwardly moaned) and ran as fast as she could.
"Help!" She yelled, looking for any sign of light in the offices she past. Yet she knew logically that everyone had gone home. The only other occupants who could help her were on the Seventh Floor, the Third Floor, or in the Basement.
"Help!" She called out again, louder. Tiana spotted the stairs, 20 paces ahead, and focused her intent.
"Better run faster!" Mim called out from behind her. The crocodile's heavy steps carried with a thump thump thump across the wooden floor.
Tiana screamed again. "No, no, no this is not happening! There is no way I'm goin' out like this."
The witch's laughter could not drown out the vibrations of her foreboding steps.
"Help!"
"Oh yes, call all you want." Mim sang. "Mean time, I'm gettin' closer."
Tiana used the doorway as leveraged to propel herself into the stairway. Steps be damned, she jumped down to the half level between floors screaming.
"Tiana?" Relief flooded in her at the sound of Silver yelling her name, though she continued to run as he was several stories down.
"Silver!" She cried and could hear his steps hurrying despite his limp to meet her.
Up above she could hear the witch enter the stairwell and yell, "Mim!"
Silver reached Tiana and grabbed her by her forearm and forced her behind him as he pointed his weaponized mechanical arm at her assailant. "Mim!" He roared.
"No, no," Tiana could hear the witch tsk as she lumbered closer to their level. "You ruined it. You should've said someone else's name."
Silver maintained his volume. "Do I have ter remind ye that attackin' another Fable is agains' the law, and with intent to murder, is punishable by the Cauldron?" Tiana saw Mim come around the corner and was the peculiar image of a Fable crocodile sitting half a floor above pouting.
"I, I didn't actually harm her. Just wanted to scare her is all." Mim said with a nervous tenor as she shifted back into human form.
"Scare me? You said you were gonna eat me!" Tiana cried from behind the sheriff.
He did not seem to hear either of them and Tiana became very aware that his finger had not left the trigger on his arm.
"And I'll have ye know, goin' after Jimbo," his voice lowered to something dangerous and reminiscent of why there was a need for the Forgiveness Act. "That was a mistake."
Even Tiana took an involuntary step back and his aggression was not even directed toward her. From her position she could make out a red light reflected against his upper cheek.
"Uh, Mister Sheriff, sir," Mim held up her hands, backed up a pace or two. "It was all in good fun, yeah? No need to do anything hasty." Silver maintained his stare. The witch fell to hysterics. "It's not fair! Why are ye only punishin' me, eh? She's the one who killed him, not me!"
Tiana and Silver stiffened at her declaration. "Killed?" Tiana breathed. "Someone's dead?" She turned to Silver for verification, but he gave no answer. She thought of the "crime scene" in Naveen's apartment and her blood ran cold. Surely it couldn't be him: he's too popular a Fable to die.
The sheriff's anger was much less palpable, but he still held up the gun. "Mim, don't ye go and try ter blame other Fables. Good Fables. The lass is nothin' like ye! She would never think ter do the things ye do. Now," he used his organic hand to reach into his pocket and pulled out glowing handcuffs. The gun did not waiver. "Ye best be puttin' these on, 'cause I'm takin' ye in. An' I wouldn't recommend resistin' arrest. Ye really don't want ter be givin' me another reason ter do ye in."
The witch groaned dramatically before spitting out, "Fine!" and began to step closer.
Time seemed to slow as a sneer stretched across Mim's face and her fingertips began to glow. Silver widened his stance and leveled his gun. Tiana crouched behind him, covering her ears and closing her eyes. A bang shot off and Tiana flinched despite having braced herself. Tiana dared to open her eyes in time to see the sheriff slam his mechanical arm into the wall, punching in a new hole.
"Blast it all!"
Purple smoke created a haze around them and Mim's body was nowhere to be seen.
Tiana was momentarily caught in a moment of confusion and unease. What to say to the ill-tempered man who currently wielded a gun? Especially when a witch who had done whatever had been done to Jim, and had killed possibly Naveen, just got away. With her powers she could be anywhere. Tiana began to reach her hand out to Silver in comfort when he started to speak.
"Tiana," his voice was surprisingly gentle. "I'm afraid I'm gonna have ter insist ter ye stayin' here now. At least until we find Mim. Otherwise, I'm afraid she'll be gunnin' fer ya, and that's somethin' I won't be allowin'."
Tiana rubbed her arms as if chilled. "Silver, I have work to get to, Fables relyin' on me, I can't just leave them all –" She cut herself off as he held out his normal hand. Tiana had not realized until then she was still half sprawled on the floor. She took it and almost yelped at the ease in which he pulled her to her feet.
"Tell ye what," he guided her hand to the crook of his arm so he may better escort her. "Fight me in the mornin' all ye want, but righ' now, I'm knackered and have a terrible storm brewin' in me that I'd rather not take out on ye. So will ye agree to that, ter wait 'til the morn?"
Tiana knew he could sense her hesitation, for he said, "It'd give me better shut eye, knowin' yer safe."
The number of things she had left to do continued to waver in her mind as she acquiesced. Already she could picture the debate in the morning, him not letting her leave, her employees blowing up her phones with questions and concern. Even more, her long-since-visited apartment felt all the more inviting in that moment, but she valued her life over a familiar bed. She supposed it was warranted for her to stay on the premises for the sake of her neck. At least she would hopefully be able to sleep – if her anxiety and adrenaline did not keep her up.
Maybe this was the universe telling her to not overwork herself so much. Or maybe the universe had nothing to do with any of the passing events and Mim truly was as insane as her name would lead one to believe.
(And the blood starts pumpin')
Elsa awoke that morning feeling surprisingly rested. Perhaps she reached the degree of tired that was so tired, she fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow. She didn't even remember changing into her nightgown, yet when she awoke, she was indeed dressed in the clothing. She was almost happy until she remembered mid-shower what she was going to return to at work. The Fable had groaned and rubbed her eyes, trying to focus on the feeling of the water peppering her head. When she realized she was creating hail, she breathed, calmed herself to rid the bathroom of her powers, and finished her shower.
Already she felt done with this week, and it was Tuesday.
She dried herself with a towel, muttering, "At least Jack will –" Elsa cut herself off and her blood ran cold. Oh no. "No, no, no, no, no!" She scrambled into the next room, suddenly realizing she needed to hurry. "I can't believe I forgot! Stupid, stupid, stupid! Those poor guys. How could I do that?" She forgot to bring Milo, Jack, and Stitch dinner last night. "Where's my phone …?" Hair sopping wet, not even half-dressed, she grabbed her phone and dialed.
It rang three times before a very groggy, "Hello?" answered.
"Jack! I am so sorry about last night! I completely forgot – there was an emergency – did you get something to eat? I'll be sure to reimburse you." If she did not feel so awful she would maybe reconsider her offer, considering how much Stitch and Jack could eat.
She could hear Jack moan as he stretched and cracked his neck, "No, no, you're fine. We," he yawned. "We had a late dinner. Stitch … Silver covered for ya so you're good."
Elsa's shoulders almost sagged in relief. "I'm glad. I'm so sorry."
Jack chuckled, "So I heard the first time. Seriously, don't worry about it."
"I feel awful."
"You shouldn't," he said and Elsa couldn't help but smile. She made a call to apologize, and yet this was turning into him consoling her. The male Fable probably guessed she was about to go into another wave of apologies, for he continued with, "Tell you what, how about you come here and bring us all breakfast with extra coffee and we'll consider it even."
Already she was mapping out the rest of her morning to include her new errand. "Deal," She grinned and then frowned, confused. "Wait. You're not all … you're not still in the rented out apartment."
His next chuckle rang with guilt even though he had nothing to apologize for, "Well, it was late…"
"Oh no, Jack!"
"No worries Your Highness, Milo was a perfect gentlemen and took the floor."
"Jack."
"Sleeping in the same bed before the big day? Oh that would be perfectly scandalous! What would my mother think?"
"I'll see you in about twenty-thirty minutes."
"Heh, okay see you then."
Elsa hung up and allowed herself to have a good minute of laughter before she finished dressing for the day. She dressed in typical Elsa fashion: professional yet chic and made her way out her apartment door. She paused to look at the door across the hall belonging to her sister and brother-in-law and thought to herself that she rather missed their morning trip to the local café to grab tea and breakfast. At least she would see them at the Remembrance Day Ball. She had already left Anna and Kristoff the outfits she designed for them in their closet. One of the many traditions they shared.
Few things made her as happy as seeing the look of delight upon her sister's face.
She supposed Milo, Stitch, and Jack would have to do.
Elsa arrived at the apartment with probably more bagels than necessary, plenty of coffee, and hot chocolate for her and Jack. Whatever criticisms she held for the Fable, at least she respected his preferences in drink. She also had food for Jim, but she purposely kept his food out of sight in her tote bag. She knocked on the door and waited a few moments before Jack eagerly answered the door.
Like her, he was a morning person, though his appearance didn't quite indicate it given the mess of his hair and his overall unappealing smell. Elsa cringed a smile as she held out the goodies. "I brought breakfast!"
"Ooh!" Stitch perked up from the knocked over couch. "Mm-mm, Stitch smell coffee," he sniffed at the air and gasped in delight and Elsa felt rather smug. "And, and coconut cake?" She nodded and Stitch intercepted Jack's outstretched hands and scurried off to the small island where a zombie that looked an awful lot like Milo was seated. Stitch began to make quick work of cake, somehow managing to eat and drink at the same time.
"Come on in and welcome to our housewarming," Jack said brightly. "As you can see, we finally got around to decorating!"
"I … can see," she smiled tightly at his joke she found erring toward distasteful. As far as she could tell they were successful in recreating the crime scene: the apartment was a complete mess and covered in blood. How they maintained an appetite was beyond her.
She locked in to the one Fable she dubbed sane – albeit pitiful as well – in the room and called out, "Milo! How are you?"
Milo waved but his forced enthusiasm was overtly palpable. He certainly looked like he was forced to sleep on the floor, if the way he kept stretching and rubbing at his back was any indication.
Stitch reached out as he ate and patted Milo's head. It did not seem to help. Elsa smirked despite feeling more than sympathetic, though that expression dropped as she really took a look around at their surroundings.
"Okay, you know what? No." The trio looked up at her confused. She marched over to the food and snatched it up despite Stitch's protest. "You are not eating here. It's disgusting and I know it's not really Naveen's …" She refrained from finishing the thought. "You've been here long enough. Let's go back to Fable City Hall."
"Aye aye, Your Highness," Jack shrugged, already making his way toward the exit. Milo scrambled to gather his few things and would have fallen if Stitch hadn't snatched his hand out and grabbed the Fable.
"Come on," the blue alien said briskly and scurried after Elsa. She offered Milo another sympathetic look before exiting the door Jack held open with dramatic airs.
With some regret she allowed them into her car. They were covered in dried blood, sweat, and their own stink and she did not exactly have any plastic bags or blankets to put down. It had been awhile since she had last had the inside of her car cleaned – though Anna swears that the only one who ever sees a mess in the immaculate thing is Elsa. The drive itself was less than five minutes.
She drove up to the Fable City Hall Parking Lot entrance and with a wave of her pass was allowed inside. Close to the side entrance was the vacant slot with a sign Reserved for Deputy Mayor she gladly filled.
"Hey, uh, Miss Elsa?" Milo asked hesitantly as they got out of the car. She almost groaned, knowing already what he was going to bring up. "When are we going to hear about the additional parking spaces for the Basement employees? It, it has been a while…"
"Well Milo," she began to recite as she had a dozen times already. "The problem is that your department technically has already met the maximum allotted amount that can be assigned to your department. Right now a hearing is being scheduled, but the Mayor is a busy man." Elsa gave him a pointed look as they entered the building. "Especially so close to the Remembrance Day Ball, never mind Remembrance Day itself. Surely you recall the last time you helped out and how busy that was."
He shuddered at the memory. "Oh boy, I, I remember."
A moment of quiet passed as they arrived at the side elevators. Elsa smiled herself, wistfulness coming over her as she recalled memories of using her magic, creativity, and genuine care for the Fable community to organize such grand parties. The lights, the gowns, the decorations, the music, and the friendships – it was through the job that she met and became close with Fables such as Tiana who was always in charge of catering. Of course she was honored to help out her fellow Fable as Deputy Mayor, but she really felt, well, less free.
Maybe Anna was right: she needed to allow for a more consistent creative outlet during her downtime. Problem was, she pretty much had no downtime these days.
"I, I am sorry for bringing this up," Milo cut through her thoughts.
Jack snorted, "Eh, it's not like you're the only one with complaints."
Stitch nodded, "Ih, Fables so whiny."
Elsa held up her hand and smiled not too tightly, "It's fine. I understand your frustration."
"I just, I have nowhere to park because some of my coworkers are always, well they're always parking these ridiculously large cars and purposely parking them so that spaces are limited and often I can't find a space. The one to get everyone to stop would be Merlin, but he doesn't care because he teleports everywhere! And the last time I proposed a solution to Megamind, he blew up seven vehicles!"
"Oh yeah," Jack laughed. "That was hysterical." He caught Elsa's eye and added, "Oh, but uh, terribly dangerous. Someone could have been hurt."
The elevator door opened.
"As I said," Elsa resumed with her no-nonsense persona she especially reserved for Deputy Mayor matters. "At this point I'm not the one you need to address." They followed her inside as she hit the 3 button. "If you do wish to move anything along, I would speak with the White Rabbit. He's the one keeping track of everyone's schedules… What?"
She realized the three Fables were giving her an odd look.
"Uh, Elsa," Jack said slowly as the elevator rose. "Why are we headed to medical?"
"Oh," if her arms were not filled with food she would have raised her hand to her mouth. "Right, you don't know. I actually am not sure how he would feel about all this company but …"
"What's going on?" Jack pressed.
"Is it, is it Naveen?" Milo asked, hopeful.
Stitch had cast a very irritable look at the bespectacled Fable's question, but refrained from commenting.
"No, no," Elsa shook her head, unsure how much she really could say. "As far as I know Naveen is still missing. No, Jim turned up."
Stitch's ears perked up immediately.
"Wait, what?" Jack gave her a bewildered look. "Back up. Since when was he missing?"
"Probably since Tuesday," Milo supplied. "You know how he's always visiting City Hall – he had just gotten back about a week ago."
"Ih."
The doors opened and Elsa took lead again.
"But I thought he-" Jack lowered his voice as Elsa gave him a look he knew all too well meant Quiet Down. "I thought he was off on some diplomatic meeting again."
"No, he wasn't," Elsa whispered and paused in her walking. They stopped as well and huddled around her. She almost felt like some athletic coach conspiring with her players before a match. Or better yet, a mother instructing her children. "So let's, let's try and be … respectful, which means no yelling or one of your pranks." She stared down Jack and Stitch.
"Hey," Jack held his hand over his chest, his tone laced with mock, but she could tell he was mildly hurt. "Give us more credit than that. We know there's a time and place for everything."
Stitch bobbed his head fiercely. "Ih, Jim is Ohana."
Elsa's suspicions melted. Of course, they were all friends. Stitch's use of the term he cherished so much was a great reminder of that. It wasn't often that Stitch used that term, yet over the centuries she had developed what she considered a strong understanding of his cherishing of that word. He did not use it lightly. It was not as if they really knew what had happened with him anyways – she didn't even know the whole story – so it was not as if they held any ill-intent. They were all friends, and even if they could be oblivious at times, still cared. "I'm sorry, you're right. That was callous. Joking around is not necessarily synonymous with uncouth and immature." That last portion was more her speaking out loud to herself.
She continued walking.
"Though now that I think about it," Jack drawled behind her, "They say laughter is the greatest medicine…"
Elsa would have turned around if not for Milo's quiet request to Jack to stop antagonizing her, and the hairless, broad shouldered doctor who popped his head through the doorway.
"Ah, I thought you might swing by! Just in time, too. I completed Jim's examination so come on in!"
Elsa bowed her head slightly in greeting. "Joshua, thank you."
In the name of courteousness, she offered one of the coffees she had on hand to him which he politely denied. Elsa accepted his refusal and passed the doctor as he perked up and exclaimed the names of her comrades with great enthusiasm, especially for Milo. Dr. Joshua Strongbear Sweet was a pleasant and handsome, fast-talking Fable who was the official doctor on call. She imagined he would put Jim more at ease over Baymax. Still, she was glad the robot was there because last night with Dr. Sweet off the clock, getting Jim the help he needed would have been much more difficult.
The Fable in question was lying in the same bed she left him in the previous night. It was funny – so many hours had passed, yet it felt as if she had never left. The bandages around his injuries were still present, though she could tell from the way they were wrapped and the lack of oils and blood soaked through they were new. His legs were no longer propped up, but were splayed out beneath the hospital sheets. At least there was much more color in his face and he had enough energy that when he saw her he was able to sit up with enthusiasm.
"Elsa!" Jim's eyes creased as he looked to her and then out the door. "It seems you've brought the whole crew to come visit."
"Well I brought their breakfast along with yours," she answered as she seated herself in the same seat she had resided in the previous night. The adventurer sat up a little more as she began to fish in her bag for the bagel reserved for him.
"Wow, thanks," his grin grew at the sight of each additional item she placed in his lap until he had all the condiments, knives, and napkins he could ask for. He brightened even more when she held out his coffee. "You've gotta be kidding me. Coffee, too? That's it, you're perfect."
Elsa wondered if her blush was visible as she cheekily responded, "About time someone noticed. Now I don't have to share these donuts." she met his gaze and raised her brow, "Or coffee."
"I, uh, may have been too hasty with my wording."
"Perhaps."
"I am pretty drugged up."
"Just take the donuts, Hawkins."
"Leave some for Stitch!" The alien catapulted himself onto Jim, startling Elsa and giving the injured Fable a considerable wince in the process. Elsa was quick to hold out the bag once Stitch realized the Deputy Mayor still held custody over the food.
"Choose one," she instructed and he halted in the midst of closing his claws around several.
With a dramatic pout his ears pinned back to his head, and he muttered, "Fine!" and snatched the bag out of her hands before marching over and seating himself in Jim's lap.
Sometimes she felt that even though Stitch was considered an adult he permanently possessed the brain and cognitive development of a five-year-old.
Chaos suddenly seemed to ensue as Fables clustered into the room, talking over one another. Jack peppered Jim with questions regarding what he had been up to and why he was bandaged like a poorly done mummy, Milo informed him that his presence has been missed and he could have used his help dealing with Silver the other day, and Stitch paused in his own eating to give his own prognosis on Jim's state. Dr. Sweet's laughing warning that everyone should quiet fell on deaf ears. Elsa found herself appreciative of how Jim handled the sudden onslaught of questions despite the discomfort she knew he had for the subject. He knew he was in caring company, and so he was tactful in his answers, and addressed what few questions he could make out.
A kind of thrill jolted through her as Jim caught her eye and smiled, evidently sharing her bemusement over the situation. It felt almost like a private joke.
The moment was interrupted by the sudden drawing of a curtain which had previously separated Jim's cot from the rest of the room. Tiana was dressed in a hospital gown and her coat, probably for decency's sake, and declared, "Y'all could wake the dead with the noise you're makin'!" Elsa stared in confusion.
Milo was the first to speak. "Tiana, are you all right?"
"Are you sick or something?" Jack further pressed. "Or is this the new designated hangout area cause you really could have picked a place with a bit more color." He looked doubtfully at the very white décor and then added with a chuckle for Dr. Sweet's benefit, "No offense."
The doctor in question grinned as he raised his brow. "This coming from the Fable who is so white he could be mistaken for someone with albinism?"
Jack paused then answered solemnly. "Yes."
Tiana snorted and Elsa's attention was redirected from Jack's rendezvous with political correctness.
"That aside," Elsa clasped her hands together, "You still haven't answered."
Tiana shook her head. "I'm fine, really. Just had a bit of a long night." Elsa watched Tiana, Joshua, and Jim collectively shared a look.
Elsa stood and thrust her open palm to her side in frustration. "Something happened. I knew I shouldn't have left."
"I'm gonna stop you right there," Joshua said gently but firmly and rested his hand on Elsa's shoulder.
She was very conscious of his touch on her shoulder, heavy and warm and if it was anyone else, imposing. The doctor had a way of being a little familiar compared to what she was used to. Regardless, she knew he meant well and like most Fables attracted to males, she had harbored a crush for him at one point so she did not mind too much (part of the reason she enjoyed being one of the few to refer to him by first name).
Elsa met his gaze. "You can't control everything and what happened is nobody's fault but Mim's." The doctor paused and added, "Maybe Silver, too," but that aside was mostly unheard, courtesy to the collective "What?" uttered by all occupants previously unaware of her involvement.
"Yeah, her," Jim said darkly and Elsa wondered if the witch had any involvement with what had recently befallen him.
"Perhaps," Milo's voice grew with conviction as others quieted to hear. "It, it would be beneficial to everyone if you could tell us what is going on exactly." He adjusted his glasses. "If, if you don't mind, that is."
Tiana adjusted her shoulders, obviously contemplating her options. Elsa watched as her friend tried to catch Jim's eye, but his gaze was downcast and jaw set since Mim was mentioned.
Joshua shrugged his shoulders and Tiana sighed. "I … I guess I can tell you, at least what happened. With me, at the very least. But I'll tell you one thing, if Naveen been messin' with her, well, I'm not surprised we can't find him."
(The folks like me on the job from 9 to 5)
Unlike Elsa, Silver did not have a good night's sleep. After leaving Tiana in Baymax's care, he set about contacting Yen Sid. The head of the Seventh Floor was supposed to keep tabs on those residing on his floor, so as far as the sheriff was concerned, all events concerning Mim and Jim fell under the sorcerer's responsibility. He used the emergency contact number and there was no answer. Silver would definitely have some choice words with the Fable next he saw him, clarify the meaning of the term "urgent".
Silver slept in one of the cell cots that night. He was beginning to grow a pattern where, whenever he was on a case, he would lead late nights ending in his passing out on Town Hall premises. Elsa made a passing comment at one point that he might as well make use of the beds for inmates, and since then has done so. Normally the one to wake him in these scenarios would be Kronk, if not, the White Rabbit, but instead he was roughly awakened by his second least favorite magical Fable (Mim only recently had earned herself first place).
The sheriff's eyes shot open as he felt himself suddenly suspended a good three feet above his bed. He yelped, "What the devil?" And began to flail in the air as if he could right himself. "Who –?" He wildly looked around and then narrowed his eyes once realizing who the responsible party was. "Yen Sid," he growled. "Put me down or I'll –!"
Yen Sid gave a flick of his forefinger and Silver found himself voiceless and two seconds from bursting a vein. The sorcerer then snapped his fingers and amidst purple smoke appeared Mim bound by glowing handcuffs. She, too, seemed to be magically inaudible.
The depth of Yen Sid's voice suppressed the sheriff's anger through sheer force. "Sheriff or not, remember to whom you speak."
Silver was momentarily lost until he recalled the rather aggressive messages he left on Yen Sid's machine mere hours earlier.
Yen Sid ushered Mim forward with a sweeping motion of his long, arm, his robes casting a breeze with each movement.
He locked eyes with Silver as he continued, "Do your job, and I will continue to do mine."
And with that, he vanished.
Immediately Silver fell to his bed, uttering an 'oof' in his landing. His rage bubbled up again, only to be momentarily quelled by Mim's quip. "Not to worry, dearie," she said as if they were the closest of friends and had not been locked in combat the previous night. "I hate him, too."
Somehow he did not feel particularly cheered by the fact that they shared similar sentiments regarding the leader of the Seventh Floor. "Mim," he growled as he gripped her from her shackled hands. The witch groaned as he began to steer her out of the cell and down the hall. "Yer under arrest fer kidnappin', possession of magical contraband, unauthorized spells, resistin' arrest, and under the suspicion of the murder of Prince Naveen."
Mim's grumbles ceased at the last charge. "What?" She wriggled in her bonds to no avail. "I didn't kill him! I didn't!"
Silver was only mildly surprised by the witch's protests. Considering the number of times she used to brag about the ways she tortured her past victims, he figured she would have no issue owning up to the crime. Perhaps it was the threat of the Cauldron that triggered her blatant denial.
Then again – he glanced at her as she continued her objections – the more he thought about the style of confinement and torture found in her apartment, the more doubt began to rear its head. He half threw her into the interrogation room and shut the door behind her. Silver entered the Observation Room and flipped on the camera. Even with swine like her, certain protocols needed to be followed.
Silver ran his hand over his face, as if he could rub away his tension and exhaustion. Anna's voice resonated in his mind, recalling the number of times she had advised her sister to conduct breathing exercises to combat stress. Normally he laughed it off and would counter with a recommendation for a good dose of alcohol, but in this moment he decided to take the princess's advice.
Silver held his hands over his large belly, breathing and expanding his torso until it could fill no longer. He held his breath for a moment, and then released. His tension rolled off in a long, drawn out wave. He repeated the process until he felt he was in a better position to engage the Fable in the next room without blasting her head off.
When he entered the interrogation room, Mim was seated, clasping her hands on the desk, jiggling her leg in what he assumed was nerves. If so, it was warranted.
"Now Sheriff…"
"Mim," he closed the door behind him. "I'll have ye know now I'll be havin' a sample of ye DNA fer comparison to the scene of the crime. One of yer crimes, so ye best not be givin' me a hard time, fer I'll give ye a harder one. I tell ya, even for an ex-pirate like me, I'm amazed by how busy ye've been. I almost don't know where ter start."
He slammed his hand on the table, leaning toward her. Mim glared right back.
"So where would you like ter begin first; Why ye abducted Jim or why ye murdered Naveen?"
"I didn't kill him!"
"Of course ye did. Ye know it and I know it. Ye've always been a killer and ye always will be! I'll bet ye did ter Naveen what ye did ter Jim, and once ye were done with Jimbo, ye were goin' ter do the same. Weren't you!"
"No!" Mim shook her head. "Sheriff, I signed the Contract, we all did, and I, okay I may have bent a rule or two …"
"Kidnappin' ain't exactly a bent rule, Mim."
"Okay!" The witch slammed her palms flat on the table. She raised them slowly at Silver's warning glare. "I snagged ponytail boy, I did! That's my bad, but I didn't harm a hair on Naveen's pretty little head."
"Yer lyin', Mim."
"Okay, maybe a hair or two, but I didn't do anything he didn't want himself. I'll have you know, we were enjoying ourselves. Not my fault you goodie types are too, what's the word, vanilla to understand preferences. But it's nobody's business but ours. You're all nosy, you are."
Silver couldn't help it – his jaw dropped as he realized what Mim was insinuating.
The witch leaned back in her chair, smirking as she eyed his robotic arm. "I'd think you would be a bit more open-minded."
He lowered the object of her attention into his lap without thinking. "Are ye tellin' me that ye and Naveen were seein' one another?"
The witch winked. "Oh ho ho ho, you betcha."
Silver thought back to Jim's story, how Naveen pushed him together with Mim, and a story began to construct itself in the sheriff's mind.
"When did ya start seein' each other, exactly?"
"December," she answered immediately.
The sheriff was not sure who he was more impressed with for committing to a relationship that long: Naveen or Mim. Neither were known for their consistency. "So ye've been seein' each other for six months." He couldn't believe the words he just uttered, so he continued with another question that seemed equally ridiculous in this context: "And could ye describe the relationship?"
This question she seemed excited to discuss as she clasped her hands together and wriggled in her seat. "Well, it's mostly for fun, you see. No point if there is none. Poor, handsome sap, positively clueless to how much fun I was having with him. He didn't realize I was me, you see." She winked again.
"Ye disguised yerself."
"What can I say?" Mim shrugged. "You get free drinks when you are not an ugly, old witch. Even more when," she began to strain herself and then stopped. "Ugh, I hate these things." She thrusted her wrists as if she could shake off the glowing handcuffs. "Locked out of my magic – it's inhumane, you know!"
"Plenty o' Fables function just fine without magic," Silver said.
She tsk'd. "Most Fables would be dead without magic."
Silver steered the conversation back. "So ye tricked Naveen into thinkin' ye were a young woman."
"A very sexy woman. Had some nice knockers out to here!" She cupped her hands a good foot away from her chest.
"So when did Naveen figure out ye were lyin'?"
Mim cackled and waved her hand to dismiss Silver's suggestion. "Oh no, he didn't figure it out." Silver raised a brow and she eagerly leaned forward and stage whispered, "You see, I had this plan, this great prank, that I was going to scare him to death!" She laughed. "Midst getting jiggie with it, I was going to transform back, or into a hideous, horrible creature – whatever I felt like, really – and take utter delight in his terror. A marvelous little idea." She dreamily sighed. "It was a great plan. But! I was only going to do it once I was bored, and I almost was, but then he started getting bored, and I wasn't having any of that! Only I could get bored, not him!"
"So you killed him."
"No, I didn't kill him! I decided to try and spice things up some more. I got chains, built the dungeon, acquired some dead animals, but it seemed he had the same idea for experimentation, cause then he introduced me to, uh," she paused and gave the sheriff a fearful look before finishing with, "the Jim boy."
"Are ye sayin' … that Naveen introduced ye ter Jim fer the sake of a, a threesome?"
"Well yes," Mim seemed surprised by Silver's incredulousness.
There is a certain degree of stupidity that an individual could take, and Silver in that moment reached his. "So that's why ye abducted Jim?" He yelled. "He wanted none o' it, and so ye kidnapped him?"
"No! That wasn't it!" Mim cowered before him. Silver realized how he was leaning over her, had his fist raised, and the monitor in his brain was beeping a warning that his blood pressure was too high. He begrudgingly seated himself. She hurriedly continued, "I never even touched the subject with Jim! I promise."
"So why'd ye do it? Why'd ye take Jim?"
"To protect him, of course."
The beeping in his head increased in frequency.
"What?"
"I knew it, I knew things were a bit off once Jim left. I had figured it was because Naveen was disappointed we'd have to delay our three-way – oh that rhymed! – because of Jim's business trip. He was all distant, shifty … But I told him, you know, that there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. And there are plenty of other handsome Fables out there, but Naveen was stuck on Jim. He was distracted and distant … the poor thing. But then I was beginning to get bored with him and was thinkin' bout cutting him off. It would be for the best, really. Then I changed my mind once Jim returned and I thought Naveen would be normal and not so complain-y again. But instead ... nothing. He told me he went to go and speak to Jim Tuesday, and I realized that Jim was a little gun-shy, so I went ahead and … sped things up. Nabbed him, figured we could have some fun, and I could surprise Naveen, let him know we're all ready! Then, I go to his place – and it's horrid! Absolutely horrid!"
"Somebody killed Naveen, Sheriff! And a nasty job of it! Makes me so mad. After all that effort I put into him and someone else had all the fun. I didn't even get to watch! And they had no right, whoever it was. If anyone had a right to killing him, it was me. 'Scum of Fabletown,' that means it was personal. A silly reason to do anyone in, if you ask me. Do things for the enjoyment of it!" She chuckled, "And it was such a waste of a death. I should have done it. In my own time. If I wanted to. But I didn't! I didn't want to, so he shouldn't be dead. Anyways, I got out of there, I did. And I knew if Naveen could be killed, the ponytail boy could be in danger, too. Might have been someone going after pretty Fables, or Fables involved with me - so I kept him. Plus he was plenty nice company. Such lovely screams …" She trailed off at the look on Silver's face.
"I knew you'd be on the case! I did! So I kept to scouting the premises, and who do I find in your office waiting? That fancy chef lady, Tiana." Mim wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue as if she had a bad taste in her mouth. "And I realized, she did it! Who else in this town has more of an issue with Naveen? Her! She's just sore cause he is a horny bugger, couldn't handle it. He wanted to keep his being back a secret for a reason – and I bet it was her! He was too scared to tell me. If only he knew who I was, I could have protected him once he told me. But, ya can't do nothing about what you don't know about."
"Tiana didn't do Naveen in," Silver growled.
Mim's eyes were wide. "What?" Her expression shifted to annoyance. "Then why was she in your office, huh?"
"And what ya did ter Jimbo, that wasn't protectin', that was kidnappin'. And if ye were so concerned fer him, ya should have come to me!" Silver jerked his thumb to his chest. "Mim … I've heard enough. The case of Naveen may still be in deep waters, but ye have committed felonies and will now be charged fer kidnapping, aggravated assault, bein' in violation of yer previously instated parole, sexual assault, and resistin' arrest. Not ter mention illegally constructed magical enhancements and spells banned by the Seventh Floor and City Hall since 1920. And fer now, yer gonna sit here," he stood, "but I'll be back."
"Wait!" She called as he walked away. "How, how long will you be? I have nothing to do here. It's no fun without my magic!"
Silver stopped in the doorway. At the sight of his face she silenced herself. "I couldn't give a damn about whether or not yer enjoyin' yerself. I would be a bit more concerned about whether or not I let ye live through this, cause honestly, I haven't decided yet meself."
With that, he shut the door.
Rage like he had not experienced in years rocketed through him. How he managed to sit through that, without others observing, and not kill her was enough for him to seriously consider the existence of a God. Listening to her nonsense, her blatant misunderstanding of a situation, the fallacies in her logic, and most of all, the fact that he believed her. There was no doubt in his mind, she was guilty. But of doing Naveen in? No, that was someone else.
Which brought a whole new series of questions to the case.
Silver made a mental promise that he would make a trip to the Basement to make use of their weapons room so he could fire some shots himself and get rid of this anger. Too much was boiling up.
In the meantime, it was time to pay Jim and Tiana a visit.
When Silver arrived, he was more than surprised to see that a whole crew seemed to have manifested itself. He knew once he saw Elsa he was going to need to have a long conversation with her about what he had uncovered, but not with the extended company present. He opted to communicate with Dr. Sweet, the one who was supposed to be in charge of things around here.
"Sweet," The sheriff half bellowed as he entered. "I didn't know ye be relaxin' that rule o' yers of limited numbers when there be patients in bed." His mechanical eye swiveled over the occupants of the room. For a moment his focus rested on Jack, but he quickly adjusted it back to the doctor before he triggered another dispute. He was still grasping for control of his emotions.
Elsa stood from her seat next to the bed. His mechanical eye swiveled to her, and that hand of hers on the hood of the bed – Jim's bed. "It's my fault. I simply was bringing Jim, and Tiana it seems," Elsa gave the restaurant owner an apologetic look, "Breakfast. I treated the boys as well and so they came along." Her expression hardened, shoulders pulled further back as she declared in her typical This Was My Decision And It Is Final manner; "There was no way I was going to force them to eat in that apartment."
Silver couldn't help it, he deflated a little. Elsa had that effect, though his irritation was still palpable. And he had to admit, her bringing the trio of Fables working on the crime scene analysis did inadvertently give him one less errand to run.
"And I could make an exception for our Deputy Mayor who has done so much for Fabletown." Dr. Sweet said cheerily. "I see no harm as long as Tiana and Jim don't mind – and you all don't exactly make a home for yourself in here."
Even as the guests shook their heads, Silver firmly said, "I'll be seein' they don't. These lads have some reportin' ter do, and then some tests ter conduct. Ain't that right?" Jack huffed loudly as Stitch and Milo nodded. The latter Fable held out a folder, thick with notes and photographs. The sheriff took the folder, flipped through the contents briefly, and then looked up. "Right. Ye lot will be joinin' me in me quarters ter look over this." He waved the contents. "And before ye give me even a peep, I'll tell ye now, ye can eat up there."
Stitch cried, "What?"
Jack muttered with a tone which thinly veiled his displeasure, "Oh great, my favorite hangout."
Tiana spoke over Elsa's, "Come on, Jack" with, "Y'all are acting like a bunch of children. I wouldn't tolerate this sort of behavior at one of my restaurants."
The only Fable of the three who met him with a smile in response was Milo, but Silver caught the disappointed look the bookwork casted to the side when he thought the sheriff was no longer looking.
Not too fond of actually being the bad guy, Silver clasped his hands over his chest dramatically. "Oh, ye be breakin' me ol' heart." His woeful expression dropped, "But we have some serious business ter attend ter, so I guess I'll have ter get over it. Come on, or do I have to kick yer bums into gear for ye?"
Thirty seconds later he was leading the three Fables, toting their breakfasts along, up to his office. It was a good thing Silver enjoyed barking at people to get in line, or his job would have gotten real old real fast long ago. Still, Stitch and Milo were one issue that he easily managed, but Jack was a different one. He had been putting it off as other issues have come up over the years, but it seemed that another encounter was going to occur and soon between the two. Maybe the sooner the better, so no more tension arises. However, there always seems to be something going on these days that there is never really any time. It seems he'll have to make time.
Maybe once this whole Naveen debacle is handled.
Silver unlocked his office and was momentarily surprised by the mess that greeted him until he remembered that it was never cleaned up after the events of the previous night.
"My gosh, Mim did all this?" Silver could hear Milo ask from behind.
The cyborg reached down and picked up a mug, recalling both Tiana's explanation of what occurred and how she defended herself. "Ya, I'd say this be courtesy of the witch." He noticed there was a chip. "Blast it." It had been a gift. His mechanical eye began to seek out the missing piece amidst the mess. "Jack, I change me mind. Head down the hall and grab yer cleanin' supplies. Ye'll start here this mornin'."
"Yeah, this is the opposite of fun," Jack grumbled, but went to retrieve the necessary items.
"Do I look like I'm runnin' a carnival?"
Silver knew the moment after he uttered his retort, he had opened up for a biting comeback, and Jack did not leave him wanting. "I don't know," Jack raised his voice as he walked down the hall as a "courtesy," "With a little effort you could have that whole terrifying clown thing going for you easily. You're scary and not funny!"
Stitch snickered and flicked something off his claws that Silver had no intention of identifying.
"He'll pay fer that bit o' disrespect," Silver promised in a low voice to those remaining in his office. "Now, let's have a look at what ye found, cause if me current theory be right, that blasted witch be tellin' the truth."
(It's enough to drive you crazy)
A quiet buzz seemed to resonate around Tiana as she continued to reside in the hospital. Dr. Sweet had yet to release her, deeming that she was too anxious to return to work. How does one communicate without bursting a blood vessel that her anxiety comes from not visiting her restaurants and overseeing them this morning? She had already taken six calls from various employees inquiring to her whereabouts and expressing concern for her health and safety. After all, Tiana didn't do late. Especially not when it concerns her work that she is so passionate about.
Tiana even made some calls herself, but after varying reassurances that the restaurants were not falling to pieces in her absence she surrendered her phone to Dr. Sweet.
However desirable like water to a gator he may be, he was not winning points with her.
"When was the last time you took a vacation?" The doctor asked as he collected the last remnants of food from Jim, Elsa, and herself. At her silence, he said, "You know, studies show people live longer when they take breaks from their busy schedules."
Tiana shook her head and almost laughed, "Well it's a good thing we seem to be immortal."
"Doesn't mean there are no benefits." He gently tapped his fist to his chest. "It's good for the soul."
"You should probably take a break," Elsa not-so-helpfully offered from the other side of Jim's cot. The deputy mayor looked a little too pleased at the playful scowl Tiana sent in her direction.
"What was that, Miss Kettle?"
"It was a suggestion," Elsa said in her usual diplomatic manner save for the smile almost hidden, "Miss Pot."
Tiana and Elsa shared quiet giggles as Dr. Sweet countered, "Call yourselves pots, kettles, or whatever kind of dishware you like – but it's better for all of us if you can hang tight." Tiana sobered at that. "At least until Silver gets back. Then you can carry on your merry way and work yourself to the bone as you like."
Tiana simmered under his words. She understood, but staying still under pressure had never really been a strong suit for her. The idea of remaining in that building any longer was not exactly comforting, either. She wanted to go, back to her restaurants, where things were normal and no one tries to kill her and the reminder of her ex-husband's fate could be banished from her mind.
"I guess …" Tiana slumped a little in her seated position on the bed. At least she had some extra time to spend with Fables who she normally would need to wait for them to make a reservation or for active coordinating to occur for her to see them.
She and Elsa used to have Sunday walks as their designated time to catch up, and Joshua Sweet was a frequenter of Tiana's, but Jim was a bit of a scarce sighting. As Fabletown's delegate who would travel to other posts around the world, checking in on management, and confirming the safety of portals, he was not around much. The only reason he was in town was because Remembrance Day was only a few days away and all Fables return for the resident holiday.
A bit of a shame, the way he was then greeted.
Tiana surmised as she watched Elsa's torso lean toward Jim's, not quite touching, as she engaged in conversation with the doctor, and the glances the adventurer kept sending in the Snow Queen's direction, that perhaps there was a silver lining to the whole incident.
Then a collection of heavy steps began to sound and Tiana knew they were in for a return of the sheriff and his regular lackeys.
"All right, I've got me a plan," the sheriff bellowed as he entered the room without pause. "An' I'm gonna need the lot o' ye ter cooperate if we're ter get this done right."
"What done?" Tiana, Elsa, and Jim asked collectively.
Jack, Milo, and Stitch entered, huddled near the entrance.
Joshua crossed his large arms and tilted his head to the side. "And what plan is that?"
Tiana watched as Silver didn't even bat an eye. "Well, ter be plain wit' ye, the most o' this I'll be keepin' ter meself." He continued to speak over the air of indignation which emanated from some of the surrounding Fables. "Now, now, this be important. We'll be dealin' with the waste of salt Mim, oh ye can be sure of that. But before we can deal with her," he half growled, "We need ter deal with the Fable who did away with Naveen."
"Wait, you mean it wasn't that crazy woman?" Tiana balked. She looked to Milo to confirm. He nodded, lips pressed tight, expression grim, but said nothing.
"I'm just as surprised as you." Jack shrugged.
Elsa stood. "Wait, who exactly is it that you think is the suspect?"
"What do you need from us?" Jim spoke up amidst the running commentary. Several of the Fables cast him astonished glances at the inclusion of himself. Tiana would have been surprised he had the will to be involved despite the experience he had recently suffered, except that this was Jim. He always had a certain resiliency and strength to survive.
Silver raised his remaining eyebrow in slight surprise at Jim, then softened his gaze. Tiana knew that look.
He answered Elsa first. "It's more of a hunch, ter be honest, but I'm pretty good 'bout me hunches. I have reason ter believe it may not o' been Mim. She's a psychopathic witch, I'll give ye that. But I have new reason ter believe she might not a been the one ter do him in. I'll know by the Remembrance Day Ball fer sure."
"The ball?" Elsa repeated.
Milo stepped forward, "You see, we realized –" Silver held out his arm, silencing the Fable. Tiana caught Jack mouthing to Stitch, 'What did we realize?'
"Careful lad, we're not dockin' the ship just yet." Silver lowered his arm. "I've already spoken with these three," he jerked his thumb to Milo, Jack and Stitch, "and they be knowin' their duties, but Jimbo also be right; I'll be needin' yer cooperation if we're ter confirm me theory."
"What are they doing?" Elsa asked.
"Classified," was Silver's answer.
"So you cannot tell us anything." Elsa's statement was almost a complaint. Tiana didn't blame her. If she was going to be roped into something she would want to know the details.
"Afraid not, me beauty," Silver's slip of the tongue earned him a 'Hey' from Elsa and Jack. "Not 'til I have everything confirmed, but I imagine the wind will clear come three days' time. Trust me."
Elsa nodded.
"Do I really need to be involved?" Tiana asked despite herself. "I mean, I'm busy enough as it is orchestrating catering and everything, I don't have time for any elaborate plans!" And she really had no interest in placing herself in further harm's way. From the way that Naveen's apartment kept being mentioned, she had a feeling his ending had not been clean. If his assailant was going to be at the Remembrance Day Ball, she really did not want to come to a similar end.
"Not ter worry, Tiana, yer involvement should be mostly painless."
"Mostly?" Tiana repeated, incredulous. "What exactly are you going to have me do, hm?"
"I'm goin' ter have ye go with me."
A good long pause sounded as the other occupants of the room processed what was said.
In typical fashion, it was Jack who broke it. "You're asking her on a date?" He looked ready to laugh. "Man, that's terrible. You have to wait for the threat of death for an opportunity to –"
Silver looked more than irritable, and maybe a little red, as he loudly spoke over Jack. "Ye've been attacked once already, and while I suspect Mim was actin' by her own accord, if the Fable I be suspectin' is responsible, ye may be in danger. So, I figured it'd be in yer best interest to have some protection without stirring fear at the Ball." At that he looked pointedly at the prankster who still looked like he was holding back laughter. "It also would coordinate well with me overall plan."
"Yeah okay," Jack said as he continued to laugh. "Whatever you say."
Stitch's snicker did not help.
Tiana held her hands in her lap, a little embarrassed herself. She and Elsa made a point of going stag for years, enjoying one another's company and their own responsibilities. Tiana would check in on the kitchen, how everyone was enjoying the food, while the Snow Queen would check on decorations, themes, and that everyone was accommodated as necessary. Of course, since Elsa took the job as deputy mayor the pace had shifted, but the single status had remained and the two were rather comfortable with it as a norm.
The ex-princess couldn't help but look to Elsa as if expressing an apology. Elsa's smile in return more than communicated that Tiana's concern on Elsa's behalf was unnecessary.
"O-okay," Tiana said. "If it will help…" And keep me safe, she thought.
"It will, so I be appreciatin' it," Silver said. He then turned to Elsa and Jim. "Jimbo, ye sure ye want ter be involved in all this? I mean, yer still recoverin' 'n all…"
Jim shook his head. "I can't just sit here and do nothing."
Silver placed his hands on his hips, cocking his head towards the doctor. "Well? What be yer thoughts on this?"
Dr. Sweet pushed himself off from the wall. "If we were dealing with one of the Natives, I would say there was no way. Recovery time would take a couple weeks. However, we're Fables so we heal at an abnormally fast rate."
"And Jim is one of the more well-known Fables in this world," Milo reminded him.
The rest of the Fables nodded as the doctor continued, "Right, which means he'll heal even quicker. At the rate he's going, definitely in time for the Ball. But I still think it's reckless for him to go into anything that could endanger him so soon."
"Mm, that be a good point," Silver used his organic hand to stroke his chin. "But I have a means ter solve that wee problem, too. Elsa, ye should accompany him."
Tiana did not miss that Jack's chuckles immediately came to a halt.
This time it was Elsa and Jim's turns to flush. "I'm sorry, I'm doing what?" Elsa tilted her head, seemed to realize what she had said, and then turned to Jim and said quickly, "I'm sorry, that was rude. I don't mean anything by it, I just –"
"Don't worry about it."
"No, I mean it. That was unnecessary –"
"Oh fer cryin' out loud," Silver cut in. Tiana had to admit, as much as their somewhat awkward banter was cute, there was a time and a place. "Elsa, out of all the occupants of the room, who do ye think has the best capacity fer protectin' him? Or have ye somehow forgotten after all these years about that little ability o' yours?"
Tiana could see that Elsa was humbled as she clasped her hands together and softly said "Oh. Yes, that is a good point." Tiana could practically hear Elsa inwardly berating herself. She would talk to her friend later. "Okay, then." She looked down to Jim and offered a hesitant smile. "I … guess we're going to the ball, then."
Tiana couldn't see his expression from her position as he answered, "Try not to sound too excited there."
Another wave of apologies and light teasing sounded from the two. Silver continued giving orders to the rest of the occupants, explaining the steps needed to prepare for the days to come. Dr. Sweet was engaged with his own opinions and recommendations on keeping an eye on Jim's health and not pushing him too hard. Milo jotted away, taking notes eagerly as the sheriff recounted the little bit of the plan he would reveal.
Part of Tiana wondered why she couldn't stay near Elsa as well, but Silver had articulated he required her presence for his plan, so she did not press the matter. She continued to keep quiet as she watched Stitch perched himself on Jack's shoulder, and the two silently left the room.
Maybe later she would mention something to Elsa, but probably not. She felt doing so may open a whole can of worms she was not too interested in engaging. Furthermore, Tiana had more pressing concerns, such as her safety at the Remembrance Day Ball and, she spared a glance at Silver, her date.
(It's a rich man's game)
a/n: Apologies for the long wait. Hopefully the length of the chapter will make up for it :)
Happy holidays!