#persephone pemberton

[linoone]

junes nonsense !

[a-case-of-neverland]

The Storm is Here, Part Five

the last part of the Storm is Here! When It Rains, It Pours, the sequel, is being worked on. 

The hideaway of the Gases was a bit old fashioned. Red walls, dark curtains standing for doors, dark wooden floors mopped with hydrogen peroxide to get the stains off. Large lounge chairs dotted the living room, an old Victrola sat in the corner, lazily spinning a record on it’s turntable. Krypton walked into her private room she shared with Neon to remove her jewelry, setting her jewels back in their velvet lined case Neon had gotten her for her birthday last year. Neon followed, setting her spiked club next to their door.

“What you think ol’ Ash is thinking?” Neon asked, taking off her bandana as Krypton set her heels in the closet.

The glamorous girl shrugged in reply. “I know whatever it is, he’ll tell us soon.”

“I sure hope so,” Neon muttered. “Or I’mma force it out of him.”

“September 8th, 1934.

I don’t know what’s brewing in this stupid town. There’s something lingering in the shadows of every street- More than usual. I blame the Gases for making me paranoid. Surely they’re not stupid not to deliver the money soon. Oh well. If they don’t, I know what to do. Ethan wants to write them a note, but he can’t even write.

Lillian’s said she took care of a girl going by the name Roxana Pemberton. Sounds a little familiar, doesn’t it? Girl had her entire back covered in scratches, like it’d been filleted by a hook. Not sure if it’s actually Radon’s sister or not yet. But there was another kid that came in at the same time as her going by Owen Caputi whose entire head was covered in blood. I have no idea if these two are connected.

But for some reason I can’t get the thought out of my mind…

Aaron has told me he saw a Gas headed into the general store and come out with a woman in a low back brown dress and heels. Said he’d never seen her before. What are those damned fools up to now?

It’s Eric’s night to cook. Hope he doesn’t make fish.”

Radon looked up from the journal and rolled his eyes. Captain always had been one for the theatrics. Was he staging his own journal?

Or did he really not know that Quartermaster had ripped up Raz and Jackie?

Had Captain had nothing to do with this? It was a Pyrate gone rogue?

But why?

Radon knew one thing.

He was damn sure gonna find out.

Newt blew the smoke off his revolver as a hole appeared in the shop’s window with a satisfying shatter. The young man behind the counter leapt back and lifted his hands in surrender.

“Please sir, take anything! Just please, please don't shoot me!” He cried.

Newt rolled his eyes. “I'm not here to rob you. And I don't kill ya, either, if you answer me good. Got it?” He leaned across the counter, narrowing his eyes.

The salesman nodded quickly, his eyes round with fear. “Yes- Yes sir.”

“Damn right.” Newt nodded, slipping his gun into his sleeve, so the handle stuck out. “You sell hooks here?”

“We do, sir.” The man nodded again.

“Tell me all about the people that came in here lookin’ for hooks, yeah?” Newt said.

The man looked even more distressed. “Uh, not many sir. Only one.”

Newt scoffed. “Well that narrows it down a hell of a lot. Tell me more.”

“A- A man, sir. Black hair. Many tattoos. Shifty. I think he stole even more than he bought, sir. Had a woman with him, a pretty one. A low-back brown dress, she did, sir. She didn’t speak a word, sir.”

A raised brow. Newt pulled out a notepad from his pocket and said, “Details, boy. Give me more details about the man.” Letting his gun stick out a little more in his sleeve.

A drop of sweat fell from the salesman’s forehead and landed on the counter. “Y-Yes sir, of course. He was about five foot eleven, dark hair and eyes, not very distinct. Could blend into a crowd easy, you know, sir?”

Newt was writing as the man spoke, before slipping it back into his notebook. “One more thing before I go. Here’s some money.” He handed the salesman a five. “Use it to get some damn better windows.”

And then he walked out, knowing he had a lot to tell Ash.

“I don’t get it. What’s this mean?” Xenon asked, wide eyed as he looked around at everyone.

“Gods, Wren, has that sniper hit you too many times or what?” Neon snapped. “It means that a Pyrate didn’t do this. None of the Pyrates line up with this.”

“Unless they hired someone,” Helium mused, writing another note and ripping it from the pad.

“Also plausible.” Krypton nodded. “I just don’t get it, though. Why even bother with this? What do they hope to gain?”

Helium looked like he could go for a drink. A long sigh escaped his mouth and he stood up, beginning to pace before he tacked another note to the corkboard. “Who did this?” He asked to no one in particular, running a hand through his ginger orange hair.

“I’d like to know that too.” A new voice said.

The entire crew snapped into one state of mind, all drawing their weapons and aiming them at the front door. There, in their doorway, stood Radon. The tall, lean criminal was hard and tough looking, especially now, but there were flaws in his facade, per usual. Dark circles under his eyes. A weariness in his stance, like he was tired but wouldn’t allow his body the rest. Nonetheless, he had a gun of his own and wasn’t hiding it, spinning it in one hand.

“What do you want, Radon?” Newt asked. “It’s six on one. You can’t beat us in a gunfight.”

Radon only shrugged. “I’m not that stupid, Throne. I know. I just have questions now. More.” A glint came over his eye. “And it’s in your best interest to answer them, or I swear by the gods-” With every word his voice gathered strength until it was almost a yell. “I will rip Ichor apart brick by brick with my bare hands until I find the low-life that did this.”

Persephone was the first to lower her gun. She sauntered up to the criminal with ease, navigating the sea of her fellow gang members and put an arm around him, her voice a purr. “Listen, sugar, I’m sure whatever it is, you can come on in and we can talk about it, yeah?”

As if he hadn’t already let himself in- Somehow. “Some whiskey work for you? Helium don’t mind sharing, do you, hmm? Thought so.” She led Radon over to their liquor cabinet and opened it with one fingernail, pulling out a bottle and setting on the table like a peace offering. “Now, sugar, sit down, would you?”

Radon glared at the rest of the gang, looking them up and down. It was clear he wouldn’t sit until they put their guns down. Argon was easy to crack, their handgun went right back into their bag as they sat back comfortably with a notebook. Xenon followed after, his sniper going back in his case with ease. Newt and Neon both had to give Helium looks first, who nodded. Hey, it was better than Radon blowing up everything.

Helium sat down beside Krypton and across from Radon, who hadn’t touched the bottle yet.

“Ask away, Radon.” He finally said, Neon and Newt retreating to opposite corners, their guns just inside their sleeves. Just in case.

“The hell did one of you do with a woman in a low back brown dress goin’ in the general store?” Radon blurted, leaning forward, like he would absorb the information as soon as he heard it.

Immediately, Helium glanced at Krypton, who wrinkled her nose. “Nobody wears brown dresses anymore, sugarplum. No one with a good sense of style, anyways.”

“Where did you even get that information anyways?” Helium asked.

Radon’s voice morphed into a growl. “Nothing you need to know.”

“It might be helpful,” Helium muttered, rolling his eyes. This is why he didn’t like working with Radon. He showed up, uninvited, demanded things from people, and left. While not leaving you with a scrap of information of why he was here.

Radon snapped, “I regret to inform you sir that you will not be the receptor of such knowledge. Now which one of you fucks went to the general store with a lady in a dress?”

Newt stood up away from the wall before walking over. “A low-back brown?” He asked, raising one of his brows and sitting down next to Helium.

“Yes, idiot.” Radon replied, venom in his voice.

Newt took a deep breath. “Okay. I have a better idea of who did this. I interrogated a shopkeeper, the general store clerk. He said there was one person who came in for a hook the other day. A man with a woman in a brown, low-back dress. Not one of us, but no Pyrate either. Descriptions don’t line up with anyone we know in this town.”

While Newt spoke, Krypton watched Radon’s expression. It was as if his mind had reached a conclusion, but his heart couldn’t believe it. In a swift motion, he pulled out a knife and drove it into the table, safely away from any fingers. “Describe him. Now.” His voice was tight and high, as if only years of self discipline were keeping him controlled.

Newt recalled the information with surprising speed. But that wasn’t hard, really, with Radon demanding it from him.

“Black hair. Tattooed. Could easily blend into a crowd. Steals more than he buys. Dark hair and eyes, five foot eleven.”

It wasn’t even the end of Newt’s description when Radon let out a string of curses and yanked his knife from the table, running out the front door of the base as quickly as he’d come.

“...Well that was, something.” Krypton said after a moment of quiet. “Hope he finishes off this business.” She took off her white gloves and shook them out, a bit of dust coming off. “There we go,” She purred to herself before getting up and leaving the room, as if nothing of importance had ever happened. Neon waited a moment before following her, pulling her bandana off her face as she went.

Argon looked over at Helium and asked, “What do you think will happen now?”

“It’s pouring now, gang. Pouring and storming.” Helium said quietly before he took a sip of whiskey and put it back in the cabinet.

[linoone]

Forgot to upload ❤️ februarys sketches ...