I don't own RWBY or Call of cthulhu
February 11th 1926 on the Merchant District Arkham Massachusetts.
A few hours later
3rd POV
The scene opens up in the Merchant District. The only building in the district with a Green house. It remains quiet apart from a sleepy town ambience. As it stood still and undisturbed, the quietness of it eerie setting was interrupted as four cars pulled up to it. Three civilian and one Arkham Police Department Issued. Half a dozen agents and local police barged into the apartment complex. Searching the residence with shotguns at the ready. Moving through the apartment complex they found that nobody was in, in fact all signs of inhabitants were staged to give the appearance of residence. Clearing each room, they found nothing but propped up Manikins, cobwebs, and dust. Only one roomed looked lived in, but only contain the bare essentials. Nothing personal. As the agents and APD officers looked around Ruby makes her way upstairs to the roof. Going onto the roof, she had the gifted pistol at the ready. She slowly approached the Greenhouse before busting in. Inside she found several exotic looking plants.
"Juliet Scarlet! I have a warrant for your arrest come out with you hands out!" Ruby called out into the greenhouse. She waited a few moments before entering. As she made her way, she called out again. "Tommy, you here!? You haven't been seen all day! Please say something so we know you're alright!"
Ruby really hoping for a response. Sadly, she got no response. After a few moments she entered the green house. Making her way towards the back of the greenhouse. She was hesitant to enter but quickly turns the corner. She is relieved nobody was their but also worried now for Tommy's safety. With the greenhouse cleared she was about to leave when she noticed a book on the table. Picking it up she found it to be a ledger with names of her many victims beside a number of plants.
"William Albert/Hydnora Africana, Curt Armstrong/Drosera capensis, Robert Angerton/Dracunculus Vulgaris?" Ruby asked herself as she reads aloud the entries inside the logs. "Just what were you doing Scarlet?"
She was about to set the book down when she got an idea. Walking out into the green house she looked around before finding a Rafflesia Arnoldii that was marked with the name Grant Washington. It was a peculiar plant, large bulb and center that gave off a horrible odor. Yet as she looked it over, she couldn't how this connected to Mr. Washington. From the report of missing people, he was some wealthy art museum gala collector who had an allergy to pollen. Thus, he stayed in the city. As she overlooked the odd plant a familiar and degrading voice was heard behind her.
"What's this then cyclopes." Officer Campbell asked as he walked into the Green house with his young Partner. "Finding a new hobby beyond weird gun fetishes?"
"Hobby and no, Officer Campbell. I'm trying to make the connection between this plant and a missing persons case." Ruby said with an annoyed huff as she puts down the book.
"A missing persons case. That's not what the operator told me. An arrest warrant for a broad name Scarlet. Sure it ain't you Red?" Officer Campbell asked in a snarky tone.
"Damn it all Campbell is there a rest stop between here and the point?" Ruby asked getting annoyed by his presence.
"The point is you sure she's this what was you call her, a black widow killer? You sure she's a killer or maybe something else." Officer Campbell said with a smug grin on his fat face as he leans down to Ruby. Ruby wasn't impressed but what he said next made her furious. "Like maybe she got him hitch and left you holding your panties dry and high."
Without a single thought, Ruby threw a right hook at Officer Campbell's face, causing a tooth to fly out of his mouth as he stumbles back and hits the table. He was shocked by how hard Ruby threw that punch, course he didn't know about her aura or her history of fighting Grimm. Still with a rage he struggles to get up before going to throw his own fist at her. She easily side stepped him before throwing another punch sending him to the ground. He comes tumbling to the ground knocking over the exotic plant.
"Gwwwaaaa, uuwwww hwwwwuuukkkin hhhhhorrrr, uuuuw braaaaac mi haawwwwww." He calls out in agony as he held his jaw. "Mhhhhdddoon, hrasta er!"
Ruby turns to the other officer expecting him to try, however he paused with a look of horror plastered on his face. Ruby looked with a bizarre glair before he points down, "Um… Campbell."
Looking down Ruby gasped in shock. Campbell looking over saw the broken pot had a horrific secret beneath the fowl smelling exotic plant. A severed head still decomposing was beneath it, he let out a painful scream as he crawls away from the maggot ridden skull. His screams brought the entire investigation team upstairs to see such a horrific sight.
An hour later
By now the word was out, police and coroners from both the APD and Miskatonic university medical schools coroner quarters were rushed to the Green House. The media hounds following soon after. While very little information was leaked about the goings on, they learned about the dubbed Black Widow Killer and would soon run her name through the press. Ruby was off to the side, watching as her fellow colleagues working with the APD to bring the bodies out of the greenhouse as discretely as possible. As she watches she held onto a pack of cigarettes. They were Tommy's Brand and though she tried to get him to quit she is beginning to understand the reasons why her fellow detectives were smoking them by the packs. As she held her missing partners brand, that same officer from before walked over to her.
"You need a light ma'am?" the young officer asked. He was relatively handsome, well groomed dirty blond hair with a clean shaven face. He sat down beside her and was about to reach for his pocket when Ruby spoke up.
"I don't smoke." Ruby said as she stopped him. "I'm… I'm just worried for my partner."
"Aw… heard about one of yours going missing. Didn't realize it was related to this." The young copper said.
"Yeah…" Ruby said with her head held down. "… hey so about your partner."
Before Ruby could finish he held up his hand. "It's alright… he's an asshole… most of the time. So way I see it, he had it coming. Though I would be lying if I was caught off guard how you broke his jaw in two punches."
"Heh, if you think that was impressive, wait till you meet my sister. She would have broken it without throwing a punch." Ruby said musingly. The young officer gives a slight chuckle at the thought not realizing she was being literal.
"… So… what's your partners name?" He asked.
"Tommy." Ruby replies.
"Oh hey I have the same name." He said with a smile before he realized that didn't help the matter. "Oh… sorry."
"No it's fine." Ruby said as she waved it off. After a few moments of sitting around awkwardly she turns before offering him her hand. "I'm Ruby, Detective Ruby Rose… though I suppose you know that already."
"Officer Tommy… Tom Muldoon. Pleasure to officially meet your Ruby." The young officer introduced himself. The two goes back to sitting in awkward silence. After a few minutes Officer Muldoon decided to comfort Ruby. "Sorry, what happened to your partner. I'd hate to think one my brothers getting into a situation like that."
"Brother?" Ruby asked.
"Brothers, I'm the youngest of six and the four are serving out in Boston." Officer Muldoon explains. "Family been coppers since fleeing the potato famine at home."
"Oh, neat." Ruby said,
"But I got to ask, why black widows?" Officer Muldoon asked.
"Well… I think it's because they eat their mates." Ruby explains.
"What?" Officer Muldoon asked with a raised brow.
"After the black widow mates, the female spider eats the head of their mate as some kind of grizzly mating ritual. My sister use to tease me about this when I was a kid." Ruby explains.
"Huh, did not know that about spiders. Thought you picked it because they were poisonous though I think a trapdoor spider would be a better allegory then that." Officer Muldoon explains.
"Maybe, do they eat their mates?" Ruby asked.
"Not that I'm aware of but they like to hide in serial settings. Digging a hole maybe under a small clearing or under a down tree and along comes a mouse, a frog, or bird then they leap out of their holes. Dragging them down into their homes to which they devour them. Rather nasty way to go." He explains earning a shiver from Ruby.
"Yeah… horrible way to go. Being pulled down into a trap like that." Ruby said as she thought about it for a moment. Suddenly her eyes went wide. "A trap… oh Monty almighty a trap!"
"Hmm?" Officer Muldoon asked with a raised brow. "What trap?"
"Back at the museum the day after I first met her, she set up a trap for me. That must be where she took Tommy!" Ruby explains as she quickly gets to her feet.
"For real?" Officer Muldoon asked with a raised brow, "Well there isn't a moment to loose. He could be in danger."
"I'll see about getting one of the agents to give me a ride." Ruby said but was stopped by Officer Muldoon.
"Don't bother, I got a ride of my own." He said as he held up a set of keys.
"You sure about this? It will be dangerous." Ruby said hesitantly wanting to tell him what she saw. However he refused.
"I took an oath to uphold the law, and that's what I plan on doing." Officer Muldoon insisted as he walks towards his motorcycle. "No amount of convincing will dissuade me, so let's get going."
Ruby was once more a bit hesitant about bringing him into the fold but he was right about one thing. They don't have time to lose, If she is anything like what she saw under those goggles then Tommy was at serious risk. So hesitantly she followed him to his motorcycle. Getting onto the back before he speeds off down the street towards W College Street.
Miskatonic Exhibition Museum twenty minutes later.
Driving as quickly as they can, they arrived at the museum. It was Saturday so nobody would be around. Knowing how dangerous the woman is, Officer Muldoon pulls from his Bike a lever action rifle. As he grabs a few shells, Ruby pulls out Crecent Rose from behind her.
"… The hell is that?" Officer Muldoon asked with a raised brow.
"Hmm, oh this here is my baby Crescent Rose. A custom rifle of my own design." Ruby explains.
"Jesus, custom design? What are you related to John Browning?" Officer Muldoon asked sarcastically.
"No, though he prefers it if you use his middle name with his full name. Never liked that song about his counter part moldering in the grave." Ruby said as she walked up to the door causing Officer Muldoon to look at her wide eye in shock.
"Wait… you met John Mosses Browning?" Officer Muldoon asked with a shock look on his face.
"Met him, worked with him. Can we talk about it another time?" Ruby asked not wanting to get side track with this case.
"Um, yeah sure." Officer Muldoon said as he reels back from the shock that Ruby worked with THE, John Mosses Browning. He takes a moment before following Ruby up the steps. Because it was Saturday the museum had closed down early so nobody should be inside. Using a card she finicked the lock allowing the two to enter the now empty museum. Making their way to the back, Ruby leads Officer Muldoon to the back she Scarlets office is. Breaking down the lock door they found the room empty. As Officer Muldoon looked around, Ruby heads over to a vent on the wall. Kneeling down she removes the vent before flashing a light down it.
"A bit small to fit him, much less you." Officer Muldoon said as he tried his hardest not to check Ruby out.
"Maybe." Ruby said before noticing a shoe further inside the vent. "Or maybe not."
Ruby begins pressing against the wall, knocking on it hoping to hear something as she does Officer Muldoon asked with a confused brow raised, "what are you doing?"
"Looking for a fake wall, you know like Trapdoor spider would make." Ruby explains as she tapped the wall.
"Oh come on now. I'm highly doubtful she would built a fake wa…" before Officer Muldoon could finish his sentence Ruby punches the wall to reveal that it was hiding a hidden room. "Huh… ok talk about cliché."
Play Crawling all over - Creepy Fantasy Music By Emily RollFor Fantasy, for added suspense
Ruby struggled to remove the wall but with some help by Officer Muldoon they pulled it off. The damn thing was held by massive and extremely adhesive cobwebs that had an odd rotting egg smell to them. In the small burrow beside pipes and electricity wire was a large hole that led underground. Hesitantly they looked down to see it lead somewhere beneath the museum. Ruby worried for her fellow Blackwood Partner heads down with Tommy following along. It was clear someone or more accurately something dug their way up into the museum. They eventually crawled out into an underground cavern with multiple cob webs covering the walls, floors, and roof of the caverns.
"God almighty." Officer Muldoon hushes to himself as he looks around. "Just what kind of hell did we walk into?"
Ruby didn't answer. She had some idea. As she looks around, she spots something in the dark. It looked like a human size Cancun of sorts. Thinking it was Tommy, she didn't stop to think as she tore the silk web around the facial features, but as she thinks she came upon the facial area she nearly let's out a scream in fear as she looked on at the corpse within. It looked human but hideously deformed. A loathsome humanoid with rubbery skin, canine-bestial features, and elongated limbs that stretched out. As deformed as this being is, it was dead. By the looks of it something had eaten it's brains through the eye ball. Leaving it hollow as a small swarm of spiders crawled out of it's eye socket.
"What in Monty's holy name is that?!" Ruby asked with a horrified look upon her face.
"I… I… I'm not sure." Officer Muldoon said as he tried not to gag seeing the spider crawl out of it's eye. As he looks away, he finds a number of these cocoons. Some as big as the one Ruby had tore with others bigger. "… Maybe… maybe they were here first."
Looking over at the number of strange cocoons Ruby couldn't help but nod. Though if these creatures existed before Scarlet then what were they doing down here in the first place? Taking a moment to collect herself before going to check out of the cocoons. The two spend thirty minutes overlooking them pulling free victims of Scarlet and more of those odd humanize creatures. As they pull free the corpses of all those who's brains and flesh being devoured, they finally found one hidden under stalagmite that looked well to carved to be natural. Tearing away at the webbing Ruby's heart skipped a beat in a mixture of fear and joy upon seeing Tommy's face.
"Oh Monty Tommy!" Ruby said as she held Tommy's face. It doesn't look like an eight-legged freak ate his brains but he wasn't responding.
"Damn… he must be out cold." Officer Muldoon remarks as he tries to shake Tommy awake. However he wasn't responding. "(Sigh) If only we had smelling salts or ammonia. Going to be a pain to get him out of here."
Ruby thought about it for a moment before an idea came to her mind. "Actually. I think I have an idea."
She reaches into her back pocket and pullet out a single fire dust bullet. Officer Muldoon watches in confusion as she breaks open the bullet from the casing. She then sprinkles the red dust over Tommy's nose hoping to get a response. His nose begins to twitch as it seems he's about to sneeze. Ruby nearly smiled widely seeing him twitch in such a way before remembering the last time dust particles entered someone nose. Mainly hers. She quickly grabs Officer Muldoon and pulls him back before Tommy sneezes out a huge cloud of fire.
"Woah… just what kind of powder you're caring at the Blackwood agency?" Officer Muldoon asked with a surprise look on his face at seeing a man sneeze literal fire. Course Ruby was more focused on Tommy who was coughing and hacking up the dust. He was coming too as his eyes twitched.
"Hey, Tommy. Speak to me. Come on." Ruby pleaded as she tries pulling from the cocoon.
"Beeehhhhhhhhhiiiiiinnnnyaaa!" Tommy mutters.
"What?" Ruby asked as she get's closer to Tommy.
"Beee… hhhhhhhhhiiiiiinnnnddddddd…..yrrrraaa!" He said again. Ruby still didn't understand what Tommy was saying to which he grabs ahold of her nearly screaming in his paralyzed state. "Beeeee, HHHHHHiiiiiiiighhnnnnnn yyyyyyyyuuuuuuuu!"
It took Ruby a moment before realizing what he was saying. Turing around she saw nothing… till she looked up Looking up, she saw it the horrific being that had formed such a collection of web and corpses. Smeared in blood upon it's crimson red hairy black legs. On the abomination was a strange black and green streaked symbol. The upper body was human like but only from the breast up. The skin was sagging and torn as if it were a cloak. The face so mangled that Ruby could hardly identify it. With a clicking noise it let's out a hiss of anger for flies have barged in unannounced and tried to make off with it's prey. The two let out a scream in terror upon seeing such a horrific being.
The creature leapt at the three, but Ruby who had seen her true form managed to grab the three and using her semblance dived out of the way. Officer Muldoon was too sunned in fear to notice the fact that he was saved by Ruby. The creature let's out a loud howl, rallying a number of spiders to her. The smallest being that the size of a foot and largest the size of Officer Muldoon bike.
They crawled towards them at a fast pace before leaping at the three with terrible prowess and venomous poison leaking from their maws. Ruby not skipping a beat quickly pulled Crescent Rose from behind her, cutting the first eight legged freak in half. "Now would be the time to shoot or Run!" Ruby called out to Officer Muldoon as she fires off a few rounds at the incoming hoard of spiders. Officer Muldoon, quickly pulls himself from the shock of seeing the huge hoard of spiders. Placing Tommy aside he levels his marlin model 1895 lever action against the oncoming hoard of arachnids. Their body was tough, but a well placed shot by a 45-70 gov punctured through their body. He put down three of them before turning back to Tommy.
"There are way too many of them!" Officer Muldoon calls out as he drags Tommy back towards the tunnel.
"Go, I'll cover you!" Ruby calls back as she sliced four of those eight legged freaks in a single swing of her blade.
The hoard were relentless as crawled from multiple holes in the ground, walls, roof, and corpses. For every spider killed another five appeared. Ruby moved as fast as she could to cut down the incoming hoard of arachnid hoards but they won't stop coming. As she cut one of the largest spiders in half she twist around only to have the shaft of her scythe grabbed by the chosen one. Ruby struggled to pull her beloved Crescent Rose back. The awful thing was so close to Ruby that she could make out in the limited light of the festering cave a semi humanoid face sagging over the spider like features as if it were a burlap bag. But despite its mutilated animalistic features Ruby could recognize the creature. Scarlet. She had shed her skin for her true self.
Almost in her voice she let out a howling cry before lunging at Ruby. Pulling back she turned the tables by quickly pulling out her Silver Flower and shoved it down its throat. Firing four 45. ACP at point blank range. The creature lets out a loud yelp in anguish but it seems that the stopping power of the 45 did more bruising then penetrating. Still with the pain, Ruby pulled her iconic weapon away, doing a massive backflip before firing at the abomination. The thing dived out of the way, or one of its spawn took the bullet in their mothers place. Despite Ruby being quicker on the draw she couldn't hit the damn thing. She was nearly jumped by one of the larger spiders as she lost focus on how these things were slowly surrounding her. With no choice she was forced to fall back. Running and dodging the hoard of spiders that had nearly surrounded her she found Officer Muldoon pulling Tommy up the hole when she came barreling in.
"We need to go!" Ruby said as she raced up to Officer Muldoon.
"Ugh, no shit. Your partners either really heavy or the webbing is getting caught on every damn nook and cranny." Officer Muldoon grunts as he struggles to pull Tommy up. Ruby was about to join him when that thing appeared. Letting out a howl as it grabs ahold of the cocoon bottom. The two let out a sharp scream in fear when a gun shot goes off.
Tommy while mostly numb had regain some movement. So in the midst of dragging his sorry ass out of the tunnels he had grabbed Officer Muldoon revolver. The 38. Did nothing against the body of the spider like being, but he wasn't aiming for the creature. Not intentionally. He fired off two shots hitting the face but the third one hit the pipe that was heating the museum.
"Shhhhhhhorryyyyyy Julllllesssssss." Tommy struggled to say before firing a four shot. The bullet cut an electrical wire running alongside the hissing broken pipe. The natural gas from those pipes ignited from the spark of the wire. Causing a fiery explosion that covered the entire tunnel. The creature let's out an agonizing wail as it was engulfed in flames. The cave themselves ignite as the obscene bodies were producing a potent methane like gas acting as tiny incendiary bombs.
The caves burned as did the basement and bottom floor of the museum as well. Killing all those bellow the museum. But what of the three misfortunate law enforcers? Were Ruby a normal one eye girl they might have perished but using her semblance she pulled the three from the fire and out of the basement before they were engulfed in the flames. Crashing outside on the snow, Tommy and Officer Muldoon survived with a few cut's and burns. It took Officer Muldoon a moment to realize he was outside but the experience caused him to crash onto the snow. The shock of both the horrific sight and near death experience caused a lapse in memory, having him fall to his knees paralyzed in fear. As for tommy, he was pulling out of his own poison induced paralysis watching as the fires were slowly spreading to the other floors. The faint screams of that thing can be heard in the dusk sky but it soon dies after. As the three look on Ruby finally speaks to Tommy.
"… sorry about what happened to Scarlet." Ruby said to Tommy. "I know she was important to you and…"
Tommy held up his hand, stopping her. He then speaks in a hush and raspy tone that was much easier to make out then before, "WWWWhatever… she… whhhas… died, yhhhears ago."
That was the end of that. They watched on as the sound of alarms can be heard as people from their homes and the university emerged to see what has happened. As they do the scene cut's back before black with the setting sun over Arkham.
Play (Electro Swing) Out of My Mind [Odd Chap Remix] by Ray Collin
The scene opens up in a dark caves beneath the Miskatonic Exhibition Museum. Among the corpse wrapped in web, a single head remained still, one eye missing with his brains sucked out. As he remained still his mouth begins to move as a spider crawl free from it. Rather than leave the spider moved the jaw, causing the cadaver to sing. As he sings the other spiderlings begin to force their cadavers to hum, eventually forming a musical of these poor souls last thoughts.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday too,
I keep thinking about you
And I can't get you out of my mind.
I had that whiskey, had that wine,
I keep drinking all the time
But I can't get you out of my mind.
As the line finish a spider crawled out of the corpses head, with a bit of brain that formed a word within the sponge grey matter.
(Miriam Battista as, Ruby Rose)
I drank all these bottles down,
I met every little girl in town.
I guess
I'm thinking about yeaaahh!
I jumped up and down the wall,
Asked the pope to save my soul
And I can't get you out of my mind.
Another spider crawl's out of the Cadaver dragging another bit of brain matter with it, this one spelling another name from the grey matter.
(Joseph Wiseman as Tommy Colt)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday too,
I keep thinking about you
And I can't get you out of my mind.
I had that whiskey, had that wine,
I keep drinking all the time
But I can't get you out of my mind.
A third spider crawl's out of the Cadaver dragging another bit of brain matter with it, like the previous brain mush it too spelled another name.
(Ivy Close as Juliet "Scarlet")
I drank all these bottles down,
I met every little girl in town.
I guess
I'm thinking about yeaaahh!
I jumped up and down the wall,
Asked the pope to save my soul
And I can't get you out of my mind.
A fourth and final spider crawl's out of the Cadaver dragging another bit of brain matter with it, like the previous three brain mush it too spelled another name.
(Alfred Abel as Director Joshua Blackwood)
Went to China
Went to Spain
Went to Rome, and back again.
I've been all around the world,
Even had a Swedish girl
But I can't, get you out, of m mind!
Yeah!
As the song comes to an end, the spider in the Cadaver crawled out of his mouth. Leaving the corpse's head to remain silent forever more as the scene pulls away. The scene going dark as the sound of spider's crawling and an infamous clicking noise.
Hello everybody. so this chapter is a bit short but a calm tone to the adventures to come. … well as calm as they can get seeing I burned down the studio during the making of this arc. (Me and spiders mix as well as electricity and water.) So Tommy lost a potential love life, Ruby had another run in with the mythos, and you the reader gain a basic understanding of one of the most infamous fictional towns in horror lit. Now onto the questions and comments.
From Carre: 1. No problem.
2A. Yep… honestly I'm looking forward to these Berlin stories. (Mostly because I take a lot of inspiration from Babylon Berlin, plus a few books I found I have some new ideas brewing upstairs.)
2B. That would be a fair analogy… he is. And no, he isn't an Eldridge being. He's all human. Probably because his family had changed the sir name. Legally it was Mire but it was changed to Blackwood I think some time back in the mid 1700 as they come to inherit the business.
3A. Yep This chapter is full of references As Black Cross0 pointed out one of the two named Lovecraft protagonists.
3B. Or a giant Shoe… or do what that Zoë Roth meme girl did.
4. Will do.
Thanks for writing Carre.
From Crimsonweresloth: Hey, do you think I like doing this?! Part of Lovecrafts work is devel into your unnerving fear. Give broad details of your worst phobia to show why your terrified of them. He had octopuses I have spiders. I'm honestly waiting for you to dive into your own phobias. Also that wasn't me. I've been pulling a steven Armstrong on every spider in the house… or the ones that aren't on fire. You may want to get that checked out
Thanks for writing Crimsonweresloth.
From Dasgun: … *Poke with stick*
Thanks for writing Dasgun.
From Black Cross0: Yeah, he really didn't… Detect, her did he.
Glad you noticed that little reference. (You did miss one more Lovecraft original protagonist as well as a few other side characters from AH game's, but it will eventually come up. Maybe after *Currently* Arc 19)
Oh trust me, Ruby will be quite familiar with the horrific machinations from behind the scene. But it'll start small, subtle, in a small town north of Arkham that very few dare to go. *Que the evil laughter*
Thanks for writing BlackCross0.
Well, that's it. This arc has been tough one mostly due to last minute calls and the incoming summer heat making it difficult to write. Also literal last minute I was nearly scammed (thank god I'm a complete luddite when it comes to technology so they got jack but it was damn close) but I digress I'm rather looking forward to this next arc. In more ways than you'll know… for now. So till next time please leave a comment or question down bellow. Fav and Fol the story also.
This is Wombag1786 signing off.
February 16th 1926, Christchurch cemetery
The scene opens up on the Christchurch cemetery. In the late winter snow, two familiar figures are seen standing over a grave. Tommy who was recently discharged from the hospital and Ruby. Both looking down at the grave of Juliet Scarlet. The coffin that was buried beneath them of course was empty but it still felt like giving her a moment of peace. Leaning down, Tommy set down a set of new England aster. Juliet's favorite or at least her favorite last time he truly saw her. As he looked down at her grave with a somber stare he reflected the good memories… or the memories before her transformation into what the press now dub, 'The Black Widow killer' Her last name was carved out to prevent people from defying her grave. Blame on the Miskatonic Exhibition Museum was passed onto her, many believing she died covering her most heinous of crimes. Though sadly only a handful of people knew the truth and not one would speak of it. After a few moments of silently looking down Tommy gives one final nod before he turns to Ruby.
"We can go. I said my peace." Tommy said to Ruby.
"You sure? I mean I can go and leave…" Before Ruby could finish Tommy cut's her off.
"After these past few days, doubtful I'll leave your side." Tommy said as he walked away from the Gravestone.
"A-All right then." Ruby said before following him. The two slowly made their way out of the graveyard, silently walking as the snow crunched under their feet. As they do, Tommy speaks up.
"Hey kid… thanks." Tommy said as he walks toward the gate.
"No problem." Ruby said quietly. "Sorry about what happened to Juliet though. She seemed nice."
"Yeah… whatever happened to her to… to turn into that. God damn…" Tommy said feeling sad for a girl he now considers long gone. As they walked to the gate on the outer edge of the Cemetery a thought came to Tommy's mind. "Say kid, how did you figure out she was… well, that."
"Oh, I found those goggles among a missing case file on Dr. Whitley." Ruby said with a shrug. "Seemed his theory about spider like cults was close to the truth on Spinner."
"The what?" Tommy asked a raised brow.
"Oh he was studying a hidden cults on all these Polynesia nations and how it's possible that it spawn from the island he and Scarlet… er Juliet, landed on back in April. I think that is how she became one of those Spinner daughters."
"I'm sorry daughters of what?" Tommy asked. "Is she some spider god?"
"Apparently in this book the web of um truths, it drew a connection with occult activities. The idea of devil worship, a trail of murders, and a personal favor from Director Blackwood, helped me get a warrant for the search of her apartment." Ruby said with a shrug. "Though I don't know why we had such a thing in classified files section?"
"Aw… well that goes back to the agency's founding." Tommy explains.
"Oh?" Ruby asked. She had heard the stories before how, the agency was formed after the witch trials of the late 17th century but beyond that she never got much details beyond that.
Play "(Dark Orchestral Violin) - Time Will Catch Me First -" composed by Peter Crowley's Fantasy Dream
Tommy turns to Ruby and gave her the full story. As he does the scene pulls beyond the cemetery wall. "Well, you know the agency was formed the following after the Arkham witch trial, originally the Blackwoods Private Law and Search Service. What most people don't know including most members of the organization is that the agency has a hidden history of collecting occult items. The first case was established prior to it's founding during the final month of the witch trials with the case of Keziah Mason."
"Hmm… wasn't she the witch who lived in this town?" Ruby asked vaguely recalling the tale of the Salem Witch trials of the era.
"Yeah, it was rumored she was a cannable who used the blood and bones of her victims for dark magical rituals. Course no body's were found so it's likely hogwash by overzealous puritans." Tommy said as the scene pulled pas the gat and into a nearby basement. "But the story goes that she did in fact wrote her name in a black book by an entity she referred to as, the Dark Man. Her last victim was the Mire Family a wealthy couple who brought much needed prosperity to the town."
As he spoke the scene pulls on an old oil family portrait of two wealthy husband and wife with their new born child. Beside it were smaller portraits of four individuals, a country farmer, a Haitian slave, a local hunter, and a Dutch sailor. The scene pulls away from these individuals as Tommy's voice continue narrating. "When she was accused by the Mire's slave, a woman by the name of Abiatha Clay she sought to silence her or possible claim the Mire's child as a sacrifice. Her methods were discovered and in a fit of panic killed the family but not before a shot in self defense awoken the town. Groups quickly formed and local's rushed after her into the woods. One group, made up of Ms. Clay, the son of a Farmer named Ebenezer Clements, an experience trapper Henry McClement, and a visiting Dutch sailor Naut Menkhorst found Mason and her covenant at the heart of the forest. Nobody was sure what happened but the following day the old hag was led away in chains with that Sailor. You know the story how they beat a confession out of her soon after before she escaped. Naut… wasn't so lucky."
"Huh… say weren't those four names in the main lobby's on the pillars?" Ruby asked remembering that their names were written around the plaque in the lobby as the scene pulls away from the painting into a row of shelves holding a number of case files.
"The founders, well, really it was Clay, Clement, and McClement who founded it but Joshua Mire insisted that his name be added in his will before passing in 1763." Tommy disembody voice explains as the scene pulls up to a single figure standing over some files.
"Mire? Are they still around or did their family died out with Joshua?" Ruby asked as the view slowly pulls up.
"They are but they go by the Blackwoods now." Tommy said as the scene pulls up to reveal Director Blackwood, standing over the shelf of case files with one open in hand. "They name change came after the Revolutionary war with Joshua's son, Author Mire the Second changing his sir name with the swept of Anglophobia that came with the war for independence."
"Wait, so does that mean Director Blackwood is related?" Ruby's disembodied voice asked as the Director looked over the newly added information to Dr. Whitley.
"I think he's third cousin related but the last of the line as most died or married off." Tommy's voice explains as it became clear that the Director had added details to the missing case file, including the word written repeatedly, 'Daughter of Atlach-Nacha' over and over again. As he closes it and begins putting away the case file Tommy's voice continued. "Regardless, his family has been in Arkham to this day. They have amassed and lost fortunes. Had an expansive family lineage whittled down to a single-family line only to spur back again. But in all that time they have collected rare books, tomes, scrolls, and tablets from around the world."
As the Director walks away from the shelf, it can be seen on the rows of shelves were hundreds of case files but along side them artifacts. From ancient and creepy looking Ningyo Kokeshi dolls to complex Victorian clockworks that continues ticking with no end. As he passes by a strange idol confiscated from Inspector Legrasse of New Orleans PD he comes to a stop at a large bill board. Tommy's voice continues explaining. "The classified section of our agency isn't because the files are sensitive rather the clues are rare items of occult and antiquity. As to why the agency keeps them is unknown but those who know the history of the Agency theorize that the family keeps them in hopes of finding that old witch."
"She must be bones if not dirt already." Ruby disembodied voice said in a casual tone as the Director stops at a wall. "Seems kind of petty to keep looking for bones of an old lady who wronged your family centuries ago."
The view pulls back to reveal the wall was one big evidence board. With a built in Chronological timelines dating as far back as 1693. On large copy of Samuel Dunn's map of the world. Each line branching off on it's own, marking places around the globe that sighting were of the elusive Arkham witch and her master. The massive web of string, notes, files, cumulated in nearly two centuries of intensive investigation into the unknown. At the heart of it all was a sketch hand made by a witness at the trial of Kaiser Mason, hanging at the center. Mocking the heir to a terrible legacy. As he looks up at her he stares for a few moments before turning to a few bullets and string lines on the wall. He turns to retrieve a case file as Tommy's disembodied voice remarks.
"Revenge can change a family, kid. But with the strange this I've seen ever since I met you I do question at times that perhaps there is more to fear then we know. And all that time the Blackwoods have known if not know more then what we know now." Tommy's disembodied voice explains as Director Blackwood walks back to the evidence board Setting down a file marked, "Remnant" he opens it up to reveal a number of files mentioning a world with a broken moon. He goes to the board and begins removing photos, posters, and reports from around the world. A poster from New York's Yankee Melody cabaret. A missing patient report from a mental ward in Hong Kong. A mug shot from Chicago that had ties to both Arkham and Hammond. A newly published recruitment for the French army with the half-burned face of their champion. A news article of Churchills exoneration with a nun in the background. And an article of a missing town out in Huntsville Texas that a lone officer detailing a white-haired girl as his savior.
As he places these clues into the file he stopped at one. A cluster of photos and a copy of a detective admission paper. He stares at it for a few moments before going to the side and grabbing a small note. Writing the word 'potential asset.' Before posting it. He takes a step back revealing the cluster was of Ruby. Evidence of false identification, her royalty payments to Colt manufacturing, and even more shocking multiple photo evidence of her using her Semblance with the most recent being a week ago during this whole 'Black widow" incident. He looks on at the photo before going about clearing out the rest of the items upon the board, with one being a German news's paper detailing ghastly murders known as; 'Die Lustmorde.' The Lust Killings, that gripped Berlin last year on the 23rd of June. In the photo were two familiar looking figures who were overlooking the murder's. The camera pulls in and just before the scene goes blank it became apparent that it was Blake, and Ren in the crowed of Berliners.
Berlin, June 1922 Rote Burg holding cells.
The scene opens up on a Cell. Inside lies a single inmate. He is an ugly looking man, thin tall, bolding. As he looks down at the dirty floor, the faint sound of footprints can be heard as the faint aroma of cheap smokes hits the late fifty-year-old man nose. A puff of smoke moves through the bars. He didn't look up despite the smoke hitting the man's nose.
"Nun, sie haben es gefunden." (Well, they found it.) A voice booms in through the bars before a book was slid in. "Ihr kleines Wurstrezept Berliner Metzger. Wir müssen Sie nicht mit all Ihren Morden in Verbindung bringen. Nur eins und damit haben wir Sie." (Your little Sausage recipe Berlin Butcher. We don't need to tie you to all your murders. Just one and with this we have you.)
The old man didn't respond, Annoying the other one he throws his cigarette onto the book causing a response from the man who quickly brushed it aside making sure the book was intact. As he does the stranger let's out a spiteful tsk as he pulls out another cigarette. "Ich werde es genießen, zu sehen, wie du Butcher hängst." (I'll enjoy seeing you hang Butcher.)
He then walks away leaving the old man to his book of recipes. As he left the man stares at his book. As soon as he was sure that he was alone did he open it. He passed by a list of names, recipes on sausages, a collection of fabrics made from… children's underwear. He then stops at a page which seems to be some sort of… game. Using his nails he carves symbols into his hand, face, and feet. As he finishes, he goes to the bed, taking the sheet and making a noose. Throwing the noose over the bar's he prepares to take the leap but not before saying, "Y' l' uln mgepogor r'luhh mgephaiagl. The horned ehye mggoka'ai ya pleads ng except fahf act ot vulgtmoth. H' mgah'ehye ah, Schachmatt Berlin" With that he leaped from his bed as the scene cuts to dark. All that can be heard now, is the low chuckle of some unforeseen force.
Play the opening credits to Babylon Berlin
The scene opens up on a comic book falling on top of the previous one. The cover art depicts a set of makeshift rag dolls of all named characters. Held on by a string noose wrapped around each of their necks with flies and maggots crawling out of them. As they are held a shadowy figure is seen holding it over it's maw, ready to feast upon them. To the side was character bubbles with the tittle reading above.
RWBY NOIR
Der Teufel Frisst Fliegen
Staring:
Blake Belladona: Churchill's Black cat
FEB: The Drunk Priest
Ren: The Boy who'd seen too much.
Olof Larsson: The Unfortunate Swedish Sailor
Guest Staring
Joseph Hooker: Blackwood Agent far from Home
