Jaden reached the plaza in record time. She hadn't wanted to leave Merlin in the state that he was currently in, but she also didn't feel like explaining herself and potentially getting another lecture about the severity of her pranks. That was something she had experienced enough for one lifetime.
Stepping foot inside Scrooge's shop, she saw the old duck looking rather frustrated, so she walked over to him.
Scrooge looked up from what he was doing, pleased at least to see Jaden. "Curse me kilts…hard as I try, I can't unlock my blasted safe! Ever since we all lost our memories, I can't recall the combination. I left myself this note under the register with instructions on how to find it again, but I don't remember the answers to the clues. Will you help me jog the 'ol memory?" He asked her.
With nothing else better to do, Jaden shrugged her shoulders. "Sure, why not?"
"You could work on your attitude, you know. Muster up at least a wee bit of enthusiasm." Scrooge scolded her, unimpressed by her unbothered demeanour. "Now, everything you need to know to find my six-digit safe combination is on that note." He told Jaden, handing her the note.
Looking over the note given to her, Jaden went over in her mind the tasks she needed to partake in order to find the code; Ask Goofy about his favourite day, take a bit o' fresh air in the meadow and count the ponds, and how many telescopes does one wizard need to study the stars? It sounded easy enough Jaden deducted. Having already been to Merlin's house not that long ago, she already knew the answer to the last question.
Telling Scrooge that she'll be back shortly, Jaden left the shop in search for Goofy. The fact that this would be the first time she'd be speaking to Goofy since that fateful night didn't seem to cross her mind. She found him in the meadow by one of the ponds, doing his usual afternoon ritual of fishing.
Having heard the sound of her footsteps on the freshly cut grass, Goofy turned towards Jaden as she approached him. "Hey there, Jaden! What can I do for you?" Goofy questioned in a friendly manner.
It didn't go unnoticed by Jaden how he was so sweet and innocent sounding, so unlike the person she had bumped into the previous night. But now, that had all changed. She knew all his secrets, for better or worse she didn't know. She was still waiting on his call for what their next move would be, although she wasn't about to remind him of that in a hurry.
She forced herself to focus on the task at hand. "I need to know what's your favourite day of the year." She stated.
Goofy appeared to think about this for a while. "My favourite day of the year? Huh…let me think. Oh, I know! It's May 25th! I can't rightly recall why though. Hmm…" He went to think again but Jaden stopped him with her words.
"Thanks Goofy." She said rather hurriedly, walking away from him in haste before he could stop her to talk about other business.
Remembering the other task she needed to achieve, Jaden made her way back to Scrooge's shop, counting the ponds along the way.
All answers stored away in her brain, Jaden entered the shop and walked back over to the duck.
Scrooge stood up from his place on the floor. "Knock me over with a feather! You found the numbers! Hurry, let's piece together the combination. The first clue was to ask Goofy about his favourite day. Did ya?"
Jaden nodded. "I did, and the answer is May 25th."
The duck's eyes flickered with recognition as the memory came back to him. He produced Jaden one of his winning smiles. "Sparkin' spats, that's it! In Scotland that would be 25.05. Now, for the next clue…take a bit o' fresh air in the meadow and count the ponds. So, how many ponds did you count in the meadow?"
"Three." Jaden answered.
"That's right, three! I hope the fresh air did ya some good…" Scrooge looked her over, noting the tired look in her eyes, but put it down to her running around the valley trying to find the code. He continued, "and finally, how many telescopes does one wizard need to study the stars?"
"Just one is enough."
Having all the numbers he needed on hand, Scrooge input the code to his safe, squealing like a little schoolgirl when the safe's door was unlocked. "Eureka! …that's my combination! So genius, nobody could guess it…even me!" He laughed at his own joke before panic spread all across his features. "Now, forget those numbers straightaway! I've got property to protect!" He fretted, whilst Jaden nodded her head in understanding, but making a mental note of the safe combination for future use.
Scrooge's face softened as he spoke. "But, I do want to thank ya. Now that I have access to my fortune, here's a wee gift." He indicated Jaden to hold out her hand, and when she did Scrooge handed her five hundred coins from the safe.
Jaden thanked the duck before leaving the store, pocketing the coins in her jacket. She decided to head home and catch up on some sleep, feeling exhausted from the hard day's work of running around all afternoon for Scrooge. Today might not have been as productive as she would have liked, but at least she got a naked picnic out of it all.
Jaden spent the next week working in Remy's restaurant, whose business had been a booming success since opening not that long ago. The entire village couldn't find any fault with the food, and the place was quickly becoming a popular spot to unwind and have their evening meals. Jaden had even convinced some of the village citizens to host a weekly poker game at the restaurant, which was great for bringing the community together. That was until Merlin had caught Jaden cheating near the end of a game and scolded her that night afterwards.
But for all her faults, even Merlin had to admit that there was something about Jaden that you couldn't stay mad at for very long. The two had become quite close over the course of her stay at Dreamlight Valley, that the pair had established a new-found respect for each other. Merlin had even gone as far as teaching the woman more about how to enhance her magic skills, but had quickly realised that whilst she was indeed a quick learner, she also wasn't the best student with her pranks.
Currently it was early morning, and Jaden was yet again rudely awoken by Mickey as he walked in at bang on 6:30am for his expected cooked breakfast. He took his usual spot on the edge of her bed, with Jaden groaning in annoyance as she covered her head with her pillow.
"Piss off, mouse. It's way too early." She half whined and half yawned out.
Mickey didn't say anything, just continuing to stare at her which got annoying and creepy pretty quickly for Jaden as she sat up and threw the pillow at his face, which still caused no reaction from the mouse.
"You're the worst neighbour ever. I really should start locking my door." She said as she got herself out of bed, quickly getting dressed before the mouse could drag her out of the house nude again. Not that Jaden would have minded of course, but she also didn't want to have to deal with his constant staring that creeped her out so much. She knew once she got back to the real world that she'd never be able to see the likes of Mickey Mouse the same way ever again.
Once she was fully dressed, she walked over to the stove and got started on breakfast for them both, hating the fact that she had to cook for him in the first place. After a short while there was a knock on the door and Merlin stepped inside the house. What was it with everybody and not knowing the correct way to knock? You were supposed to knock and then wait to be prompted to enter, Jaden thought with an inward sigh. Maybe she should teach these nosy fuckers how it's really done.
"Hi, Merlin!" Mickey greeted the wizard happily.
Jaden glanced over her shoulder from her cooking. "Hey, Merlin. Want some breakfast too?" She offered him.
Merlin shook his head. "I've already had breakfast, but thank you for the offer." He waited for Jaden to finish cooking, then got straight down to business. "You've accomplished a great feat nurturing your friendships, Jaden. The village will be all the better for it. Well, come on, come! No time to dilly dally, we must go back to the pillar, recover the orb and lift the curse from the meadow."
"Can I at least have breakfast first?" She asked him.
He sighed and nodded. "Very well, I will wait for you at the pillar." He told her as he left the house.
After Jaden had her breakfast and kicked Mickey out of her house, she started to walk towards the meadow, but was quickly stopped by Goofy standing in her path, blocking her way to her destination. "You got time to talk?"
Jaden squared up her shoulders, readying herself if Goofy decided to try anything, her senses on high alert. She took a quick glance around to make sure that the two were definitely alone and once she realised that they were, she nodded her head. "I suppose. I'm supposed to be meeting Merlin right now, so you'll have to make this quick." She informed him, narrowing her eyes to tell him she wasn't afraid of him.
Goofy pushed his face right into Jaden's, a dangerous whisper emanating from his lips. "You don't tell me what to do Jaden, it'll be wise for you to remember just what I'm exactly capable of. Now, just follow me, this will take as long as I say so."
With not much of a choice but to obey, Jaden let herself be led by Goofy across the meadow to his house. Once inside, Goofy gestured for Jaden to take a seat on the plush leather sofa, silently informing her that despite the threatening circumstances that she was a valued guest in his home.
Goofy sat himself down on the nearby arm chair, inclining himself forward to better address Jaden.
Jaden took in her further surroundings with interest. The house was clean and tidy, telling her that Goofy took pride in his home, from the polished furniture, to the brightly coloured yellow patterned wallpaper with their straightened picture frames of various landscapes hanging on the walls.
For a crazed serial killer, she was expecting the house to be in a much worse state.
"Not even going to offer me a drink? You're not much of a good host." The words were said automatically and with a playful sarcastic quip to them. It only occurred to Jaden after it was too late that maybe she shouldn't go antagonising him if she knew what was good for her.
Thankfully, Goofy either didn't seem to take much notice of the comment or just simply didn't care. He was only interested in getting straight down to business. "Now, I'm sure you know why you're here. We made a deal and I want to ensure that you hold up your end of the bargain. If not, I can assure you that the consequences will be rife. Do I make myself clear?"
Jaden nodded her head in understanding. "Crystal clear. Now exactly what do you want me to do?" Jaden enquired, unsure if she'd like to know the answer to that question. She could feel her clasped together hands start to sweat, whether it was from nerves or excitement she didn't know.
"We all have our roles to play Jaden, and now I need to know exactly what your role is going to entail in this deal of ours. If it can be helped, I want this to be a fifty-fifty job. Can't have you just standing around doing nothing whilst I do all the work." The hint of spite in his voice was not lost on Jaden, who gave Goofy the satisfaction of seeing her adjust herself rather uncomfortably on the sofa.
Jaden had a funny feeling it would have come down to something like this, which was why she came prepared. She had been cooking the ideas of a plan in her mind for the last few nights since the incident. This was to be the conversation that would change everything, that there was no turning back after this and Jaden knew she had to present herself with as much dignity and confidence here, to prove not only to herself but to Goofy, that she was to be a key player here. That was what she kept telling herself as she put her plan into motion.
"Thought you were never gonna ask. How about this? You give me a name of a victim you have in mind, and I'll lure them out for you to do whatever you wish with them. When you're done, I'll help you dispose of the evidence. That sounds fair now, doesn't it?"
Goofy appeared to think about this for a few moments, leaning back in his armchair as he examined the situation. "I will admit, that is the hardest part when it comes to this job, so you taking that on will be a big help. But how exactly will you do it?" Goofy asked suspiciously, not wanting Jaden to sabotage this all on her first attempt.
Jaden shrugged her shoulders, unphased by Goofy's concerned behaviour. "What I always do when I want something. Flirt with them a little bit and promise them a shag they won't forget. Only this time, instead of bringing them home, I'll bring them to you. And that's where you come in. Unless you have any better ideas?" Jaden raised her brow at him, daring him to challenge her further.
Goofy however, didn't seem to want to take the bait. He crossed his arms together in a calculating manner, indicating to her that he was still the boss. "Well, I guess we're going to find out just how good you really are. You just better be ready when I need you." It was more of a threat than a statement, and he was pleased to see that Jaden had taken that on board. "That being said, I haven't thought of a potential target yet, I don't like to have my victims so close together, gotta let the news of the last one's disappearance die down a little bit first."
"Good to know." Jaden nodded, indicating her understanding before going on to bring the first bad news of their working partnership. "Whilst I remember, I also want to let you know that I'll be lifting off the curse of the well as soon as I leave here, so dumping the bodies there is kind of out of the question now. I'm assuming you've got another place in mind?"
She couldn't quite believe that she was even discussing something like this, not just with Goofy but with anyone in general. It wasn't like she was completely innocent to begin with, as she had taken countless lives back in Ferelden. But that was different, she had to keep reminding herself. Ferelden was a very unusual place compared to Dreamlight Valley and the largest difference between the two was that she was at war in Ferelden, with many people wanting her dead thanks to her being accused of killing the King because of her being a Grey Warden. The killings back then could be classed as self-defence, but here? The only excuse that she would have in her favour in this world would be that she was a psychopath.
Jaden was positive that Goofy would react to this news badly, but if anything he wasn't that all bothered by this news. In fact, she'd go as far as to say that he was almost expecting it. "We can use my shed until we find ourselves a proper place. It's not as if I use it for anything else." Goofy said nonchalantly.
Jaden exhaled a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding. At least he wasn't going to complain about the little setback. Now, with that out of the way, she decided to try her hand at something that she had been wondering about since coming up with her plan. "By the way, do I get to at least have some fun with this myself? Like, can I do some of my own damage so to speak?" She asked interestedly, wondering just how far she could go with this.
Goofy narrowed his eyes at this. "Only when you've gained my trust that you can handle something like that. But for now, just stick to the deal you've made. Just know that if you step out of line, or you go back on your word, I will know about it. Got it?" He said with undisguised warning.
"Okay, okay, I've got it. Can I go now? Merlin is probably wondering where I am." It wasn't so much as Jaden was worried about the old man thinking something had happened to her, she just wanted to get out of this house before she agreed to anything else with this man.
Goofy drew out a long sigh, signifying that he was bored. "Yes, you may. I've got what I needed out of this conversation and I hope you have to. Don't be a stranger Jaden, just make sure you answer your phone when I contact you." Goofy pushed himself off from his armchair and held the front door open for her, who gladly took the invitation to leave as she practically leapt up from the sofa and was out of the door in no more than three strides.
When she heard the door close behind her, Jaden breathed in a huge gulp of clean air, glad to finally be out of the tense atmosphere. She hastily walked away from Goofy's drive, turning her head back and forth to make sure nobody had seen her walking out of the house, even if it did seem she had just visited for a harmless cup of coffee. You could never be too sure with these types of things.
She was aware this discussion had been a long time coming, and now that it had finally happened, she could feel the weight lift off from her shoulders. They both had a plan in place, they had a location to do their dirty deeds and with their roles (for the time being at least) having been agreed upon, it was time to put it all into action.
Now she just had to play the waiting game.
