Chapter 13 Fredrick the Eccentric

Alex

November 3rd, 2012

5:32 PM

Seattle, Washington

Downtown Seattle

Note: This is another flashback scene featuring more backstory between Max and Alex during their days of Seattle set eleven months before the events of LIS1. In the first flashback back in chapter 1 of this episode, I had mentioned a magician the Caulfield cousins would be seeing in this chapter named "The Frankly Stanley". I have now changed the name to "Fredrick the Eccentric" which is a more creative title for an illusionist performer. They'll be no more backstory chapters until the next episode. So enjoy this one while you still can.

After over eight in a half hours of outing with Max, we went for a walk in the park, had some lunch at a hot dog stand, and walked through the most boring tour at the Burke Museum of Natural History ever. Luckily, as soon as we left the museum, it was almost time to see the magic show at the Seattle Theatre. The one and only "Fredrick the Eccentric". My baby cousin and I's desert after the nasty main course.

"Wowser," I said. "That was utmost worst museum tour I've taken in twenty of my life, ever!"

"You wanted to go to that museum and take the tour, Alex," said Max. "It was your idea to begin with."

"Why don't we just get our asses down to the theatre across the street and meet Fernando and Kristen there. Shall we?"

"That we shall."

We walk across the side of Downtown Seattle past parked cars and pedestrians to get to the theatre. It was a few blocks away from the Burke Museum. Max and I would be meeting our friends their shortly.

"At least we got to see the best part," I said. "The Eon Codex exhibit and we met the guest curator. Makes sense why a bunch of low-life crooks would want to steal it and get themselves killed for it and sent to prison for it."

"Yeah," said Max. "I'm sure all that talk about some crazy ass codex was worth the tour. Now I see why you made a proposition about it on the train."

"More or less, Max. More or less. Anyway, have you ever been to a magic show before?"

"More or less, Alex. More or less."

"Meaning?"

"Back in Arcadia, when Chloe and I were still friends, she used to have this magic kit at her house and we'd pretend to be sorcerers at Hogwarts from Harry Potter. We pretended to be Gryffindors."

"Okay, that's much of actually going to magic show as it being the magic show, but I thought Pirates were your thing? Not witchcraft and wizardry."

"It wasn't. We didn't even the costumes either. All we had was a cape, a hat with a moon and stars, and a wand. We'd tell each other's fortunes, wave the wand around for magic spells, all that jazz. When we were pirates, Chloe would where a Jack Sparrow hat and vest and I would wear a bandana and eyepatch. You know the story. The only magic shows we ever saw were ones from Penn and Teller."

"Oh, Penn and Teller of all people."

"Don't be a hater. They weren't that bad. I mean they were good for their time. William used to have these old cassettes of their own shows and they were surprisingly awesome. Nowadays, like everything else, their talent has overstayed their welcome."

"Remember that camping trip we had gone on when Chloe's dad was still in the family? To the Tillamook Woods?"

"You mean the camping trip we went on six years ago when you were visiting me in Arcadia Bay? What about it?"

"I'm pretty sure Chloe was there too. You were ten going on your tweens like Chloe was while I was going on my teens. The best part of it all was us sitting down by campfire with our dads eating smores and wieners while my dad was telling the crazy ghost story about the almighty Ares. The Greek god of war. And how he led an army of Persians against the Spartans, slew his father Zeus, and wielding the powerful Eternity Gauntlet that caused millions to be wiped from existence as the legend goes."

Max chuckled for a second recalling that time together.

"I can't believe you brought that one up," she said and smiled.

"You remember that, don't you?" I asked.

"How couldn't I? I remember my dad and William telling Bryan to tone down the violence of that story since it contained content such as decapitation and dismemberment."

"Then a year later, the Zack Snyder movie '300' came out. The one where Gerard Butler says 'This – is – Sparta!'"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've heard that meme a bazillion times that I can count. It may be music to your ears, but not mine."

"I know my memes too, cousin. As do you."

Suddenly, someone had tripped on the sidewalk in front us. We stop our feet when we're startled by the person pushed to the ground and that person was none other than Fernando Rojas. Getting picked on by Cleveland's sinister bully Gus Anthony and his two teenage gang bangers Joel and Tommy. Kristen had been with Fernando and ran after him as the three bullies chased.

"What don't you know, Fernando," said Gus.

"Please, stop it, Gus!" Kristen pouted. "Leave him alone!"

"You stay out of this, bitch! Tommy, make she stays out of this."

Once my cousin and I were in Gus's sights, he couldn't help but take notice we had entered the scene of bullying out in public. The two of us stepped back like we weren't doing anything wrong.

"Well if it isn't the Caulfield cousins," said Gus. "Max the Wax and Alex the Salix."

"Hola, Max," said Fernando. "Hola, Alex. Just talking business with-"

Gus kicked Fernando in the rear to silence him. Fernando squealed the pain out of him.

"Shut it, sucio!" Gus snapped. "Or my bite is gonna be worse than my bark."

"Understatement of what you've always done until now, Augustus," I said.

"First of all, that's Gus to you, Alex. Second of all, this isn't your damn business."

"Well, it is now since you've brought us into this, Gus. There's always a peaceful resolution to this sort of thing that you can't seem to choose to do."

Then Gus instantly pulls out his switchblade and this is where things intensify. Max and I take a few steps backward. I make sure Max gets behind me. For I was far more the girl to stand up to bullies more than Max ever could be.

"You want to test me, cunt! Huh?!" Gus snarled. "Is that what you want to do?"

"That knife touches anyone, biotch, it won't end well for you!" I warned. "For one, we're in public. For two, a cop could see you with that knife and you wouldn't want to just stab someone where there are witnesses everywhere. If this situation is to be settled diplomatically, I'm happy to help without violence. Okay?"

There were some people on the sidewalk already starring at us to make sure the scene didn't end drastically. Before anyone could pick the phone and call the cops, Gus put his switchblade away and decided to use his words as Nanny McPhee would say. Smart decision, Gussy boy.

"Now, what seems to be the issue with senior Rojas, heh?" I asked.

"Fernando owes me a lot of cash," replied Gus. "So unless he pays up, he ain't going nowhere. That's the only way it's going to be settled."

"Drug money. Go figure. What if I pay up for Fernando in advance for his troubles? Then maybe we can call it square."

"What?" Gus thought.

"What?" Max said.

"What?" Fernando said.

"What?" Kristen said.

"Get the fuck real, Alex," said Gus. "You? Pay for him?"

"Do I look like I'm crazy?" I asked.

"No offense, Alex," said Fernando. "But I think you do."

"What do you think, Joel?" Gus asked. "What do you think, Tommy? You got an opinion on this?"

"I don't know, Gus," said Joel. "It's all up to her if she wants to pay for Fernando, bra."

"I say if Alex wants to pay," said Tommy. "Let Alex pay. No question."

"Well unless you brought money," said Gus. "We've got no deal."

"Alex, don't," said Max. "Don't waste your money on stupid drugs."

"What's it gonna be, Alex? Pay up or walk away?"

"It's okay, Alex," said Fernando. "I don't need the drugs anyway."

"Yeah, Alex," said Kristen. "I don't think he needs it."

"You either give me the money or you walk away peacefully and let us handle this our way. Well…I'm waiting."

X/SQUARE/LM – PAY GUS

B/CIRCLE/RM – DON'T PAY GUS

I reach for my wallet and give him what I can. Considering I've been running liquid all day with Max, I won't have too much money to spend at the theatre now that I'm paying Gus for Fernand. I hand him the dough and it's all his.

"Thank you," said Gus. "Now if you'll excuse, we've got bigger fish to fry. So beat it, all of you."

Gus tossed Fernando a pack of cigarettes and he, Joel, and Tommy leave all of us as I give my amigo a hand off the sidewalk from when he was pushed. Everyone else is relieved it was over peacefully but questioned my decision in standing up to Gus and his gang.

"How do you talk your way out of those pendejos?" Fernando asked.

"How do you keep coming at it with those pendejos?" I asked. "You can't just keep putting up with those assholes forever, you know."

"And you can't just go tipping off those assholes forever, you know," said Max.

"It's my defense mechanism, Max. Thank you very much. It's how I stand up to bullies depending on how the victim in distress."

"The next you go tipping off losers like Gus," said Kristen. "I'd listen to Max. Just so you know."

"You're welcome, by the way," I said. "Why are you at it again with Gus anyway, Fernand?"

"I just needed a pack of cigarettes before the show," said Fernando. "I was grabbing a smoke as soon as Kristen and I were meeting you gals until I noticed my pack was empty. That's why I went to Gus."

"Maybe you should get a job or something. A lot easier than drug dealers."

"Screw you, Alex. Tell that to Gus. Not me. I've got a job at Taco John's and it may not pay well, but it's the only place my parents let me work at."

"Guys, Seattle Theatre," said Max. "Now please?"

Max

November 3rd, 2012

5:55 PM

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Theatre

The four of us enter the theatre. Admitting our tickets to get inside and took a nice reserved table for us to sit at. One with a white tablecloth, a bouquet of floors, and silverware to eat with. They had served food at the theatre we went to and we all ordered it before the show began. Fernando pulled out a pamphlet from the table about the magic illusionist performing in five minutes.

"Fredrick the Eccentric," said Fernando. Reading the pamphlet. "Whose bright idea was it to see this bozo on stage again?"

"It was my bright idea of course," said Alex. "Trust me Fernand, this guy is known to have a Penn and Teller level of illusion. Not exaggerating. Kristen, you with me?"

"Whatever illusion satisfies my disillusion," said Kristen. "I'm with you."

"Max, are you with me?"

"I'm always with my big cousin," I said. "I'm with you, Alex."

"Senior Rojas, you with me?"

"If your non-exaggeration is proven true," said Fernando. "Si, I'm with you, hermana."

As soon as the lights went down and our food was served, stage lights were being shined in front of the stage to present tonight's entertainment. And the show went on.

"Ladies and gentlemen," said the announcer on the speakers. "Boys and girls of all ages. Welcome to the Seattle Theatre. It is time for the performance of a lifetime. Put your hands out together for the one…the only…Fredrick the Eccentric!"

Lo and behold, Fredrick the Eccentric was here. The man himself dressed in a top hat and tailcoat appearing out of thin air from a puff of smoke coming out of the stage floor with a smile on his face and his female assistances in pink dresses and masks standing between him. The audience around us makes a round of applause for the magician's entrance. We make sure we clapped our hands as well.

"That's Fredrick the Eccentric?!" Fernando questioned. "A fucking circus magician?"

Fredrick had taken a bow on stage with his two assistances stepping aside. Then calmed the crowd to thank them for their attention.

"Thank you!" Fredrick said on stage. "Thank you! And thank you! It is I, Fredrick the Eccentric for tonight's entertainment! Welcome! Who's prepared to see some magic?! Are you prepared to see Fredrick's eccentric magic tricks?!"

The crowd yells yeah. But not loud enough.

"I can't hear you!"

The crowd yells yeah even louder. Then Fredrick decides to put on a show for everyone.

"Excellent! Now for our first performance, we will need a volunteer. My first trick will be to a saw a nice young lady in half!"

Oh, my dog. This should be fascinating. Sawing a lady in half. What a lame trope.

The young women in the dresses rolled out a box on a table and a saw for Fredrick to use for his trick. I never knew how illusionist could ever pull tricks like that and frankly, I probably won't ever find out. Or would I?

"I see a few young birds out there who could use some encouragement," said Fredrick. "Let's see who shall stand right up to be Fredrick the Eccentric's volunteer."

A light was shined around the audience to pick a volunteer. This is where things get ironic. As soon as the light in the dark stopped moving, it suddenly shined on me. Meaning I would be Fredrick's volunteer. I think I felt a rock inside my stomach and through my ass.

"And we have a volunteer!" Fredrick announces.

This is not happening. The stage light is shining upon me and going to be sawed in fucking half! Wowser! My face is getting pale and I'm pissing myself already. Alex, Fernando, and Kristen looked at me in shock and surprise that I would be Fredrick's variant to be sawed in a box. Should I be worried or should I be inspired?

"You better get up, buttercup," said Alex. "Your gonna be on stage!"

"Oh, fuck this shit," said Fernando.

"I think I'm going to faint," said Kristen.

"Well, fuck me," I said.

"Step right on up, buttercup!" Fredrick called. "Isn't that nicest young girl for my variant!"

I gulp down my throat and get off my table in nervousness. Should this be exciting or terrifying? The assistance in the dresses help me up on the stage and I'm greeted to Fredrick.

"What is your name, miss?" Fredrick asked.

"Max," I replied.

"Max, would you be a kind dead and step in this very box for everyone to see?"

"S-Sure, I-I guess."

"Ah, she's a little nervous. Let's show her some inspiration, everyone!"

The assistance helps me inside the box by lifting my body over the table and through the wooden saw crate. I could feel my feet entering something under the box as soon as my body as all the way in and only my head visibly sticking out. My feet didn't look like they were sticking through the side. They were instead crisscrossed somewhere under the table. Then I could see a pair of legs with sneakers sticking out on the side. They had to be fake. Is this how a magician pulls a trick like this?

I can see my cousin and two friends staring at me right now. Horrified about what's to happen. But I think Mr. Eccentric knows what he's doing and will impress them. The man himself brings out his hacksaw to start cutting the box open and illusively cut me open.

"And now," begins Fredrick. "Prepare to be amazed, by my first ever eccentric trick on this fine young lady named Max as she is about to be split in two!"

"I think I'm going to be sick," said Kristen at the table.

Alex and Fernando sat there in silence with their hands pressed against their mouths while Kristen looked away. I could've said what Kristen said better myself, but I just hold my breath for something remarkable.

The two assistances stood between me as Fredrick began sawing away down the center of the box like lumber as my body laid inside like a body in a coffin. Even with my legs crisscrossed on my side, it still feels like body if about to be torn half in half through my waist like Bishop the android in Aliens. And yet I feel nothing when Fredrick's half away through cutting with his saw.

Once Fredrick is finished cutting, the box splits open and so as it seemed my body. My fake legs on the other and my real body on my side. The audience oohs and awes and the face of my cousin and friends are lit with intrigue and amazement. Their eyebrows raised and the jaws dropped.

"Behold!" Fredrick shouts. "My eccentric trick!"

The audience applauds with glee. Impressed to see a seventeen-year-old girl sawed in two with no harm done. I give everyone a big bright smile to show how brave of a variant Maxine Caulfield was for volunteering Fredrick's eccentric trick. While Alex and friends clap for me, Fernando snaps a photo of me with his phone to post it on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram with hashtag quote on it.

"Hashtag: Max Sawfield", he said typing the tagline.

Now I'm going to become infamous all over social media for whoever's following Fernando on those social sights. I'll bet it'll become Cleveland's next high school meme in less than a week from now when the weekend is over. It'll feel amazing and embarrassing to me all in all.

I look at Alex in the eye from the stage to the table. Still entrapped in Fredrick's wooden box cut in half. What felt like the most nauseous moment of my life has turned into the most fearless moment ever. The both of us grant each other a warm smile for my achievement. Whenever Alex's little cousin is in need to fear, my big cousin is here.

If only Chloe were here to see me now. She and Alex are one in the same and always will be. Forever. Maybe.

Or maybe not.

Note: So there you have it. My second and last backstory chapter for Max and Alex in episode 3. This scene may be a little forced, but a little likable at the same time. I'm writing backstory chapters for the Caulfield cousins in a way to develop the two characters the way Pricefield and Amberprice were developed in their own games as hard as I can. I'd also like to note the reason why these flashback chapters are set in the year 2012 and eleven months before the original game is so not a whole lot of time would be spread before Alex's supposed death back in episode 1.

I originally thought about setting the first and second flashbacks in 2010, parallel to Before the Storm's events, but figured it wouldn't be too original. I also originally planned Alex to go on stage with Max to perform a trick of her own for a little adlib for the audience which would be another nod to Before the Storm but decided to shelve it so I wouldn't have to waste time thinking about it before writing it. And when I thought about it, I decided it wasn't needed. I'll have more exciting backstory chapters in the following episode of Eternity War. I don't know how else to put it, but whenever I write these backstory/flashback chapters, it almost feels like a proper Life Is Strange story in the way most of the fanbase would see it. But that bothers me not.

Until next time, stay tuned and golden!