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Episode
013 |
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“I didn’t say it was my fault. I said it
was my responsibility. I know the difference.” Rose, Sandman “And he just disappeared?” “This Crimson Rose is bad news,”
Edgar summed up, his arms crossed as he leaned back from the table, just
barely outside the edge of illumination from the hanging light over the
center of the table. “He dresses like
a knight, acts like a knight…” “The hell he does,” Ledger
disputed with an indignant look.
“Knights don’t go around trying to stop street crimes.” “Oh come on. We’ve all gone through the Batman phase at
one point or another,” As he spoke, Marilyn came up
behind him, confidently balancing a large tray on her arm. Without a word, she began to distribute the
plates, unconcerned as an awkward silence fell on the table. With the meals
served, she dashed off, quickly returning to the back of the bustling
restaurant. As soon as she disappeared, the
five knights all turned to “Don’t ‘what’ us,” “With…” “Nothing?” Armand prompted. “She’s got her life,” “Man, don’t pussy out on us,”
Roland challenged. “You like her. She likes you.” He picked up his hamburger. “Why aren’t you two dating? Or preferably something less public…unless
she’s into that sort of thing and then, well…” “I’m going to have to agree with
Roland,” Edgar said. “Well, maybe not
that last part, but…This little flirting game you two have been going through
ever since we came back from storming the Brotherhood’s fortress has been real
adorable, it really has, but one of you has got to grow up and make a move.” “Guys, she’s still pissed about me
not letting her come to said fortress-storming,” “Ah, the fortress storming,”
Roland said with sarcastic fondness.
He put his arm around Ledger’s shoulder, drawing him into the fake
moment of warmth. “Remember how the
moonlight glittered off the walls of the indomitable enemy fortifications?” “How the endless wave of Hand of
the Brotherhood killers came swarming out of the woodwork,” Ledger said,
playing along. “Ah, the good ole days,” Roland
said with a tight-lipped tearful smile.
He turned away, covering his mouth.
“I’m sorry,” he whimpered. “I
promised myself I wouldn’t cry.” “Guys, she’s not going to forgive
me for not letting her come, now can we please move on?” “Ev, why do we care?” Ledger asked
before biting his chicken. “I mean,
okay, this crack-pot’s running around the city with a utility belt and a
flair for the dramatics. Let the
police catch him. Or, at the rate the
police in this city are going, let him fall down a flight of steps, break his
neck, end up paralyzed, and be picked up by the police two weeks later.” “Because the Knights aren’t liked
right now,” Edgar agreed with a glance to “Not at my home,” Ledger
pronounced. “Whatever,” Edgar said
tolerantly. “The point is, this guy
looks like a knight. If someone
weren’t too discerning, someone like the police and the FBI and the
Department of Homeland Security are known for being, they would lump him in
with us and us in with him. He breaks the
law…” He held his hands out, letting
the obvious settle on the table. “I love being responsible for
other people’s messes,” Armand grumbled cynically into his water. “I think I’ve figured out that he
has a pattern, and the other night’s success in spotting him, I think, confirms
it,” “We figure out where he’s going to
be next, and we jump him,” Roland said as Marilyn came up behind him. “Jump who?” she asked. “Morgan,” Ledger answered quickly,
his mouth half full. “We’re going to
throw him a surprise birthday party.” “It’s Morgan’s birthday?” she said
with a smile. “No,” Roland said. “He’d be expecting one on his birthday.” “That’s why it’s called a
surprise, duh,” Armand added. “Jump who?” Marilyn insisted. Before anyone could speak, her eyes lit
up. “The Crimson Rose?” she asked with
a giant smile. “No,” Marilyn got a stubborn look on her
face and cocked her hip out. “Oh
really,” she said. “Don’t you have other tables?”
Roland asked. “They’re doing fine,” Marilyn said
certainly. “Okay then,” Ledger said. He threw his head back, chugging the entire
contents of his water glass in one go.
He dropped his glass, then grabbed his head as the cold headache
hit. “Can I get a refill?” he asked
politely through the pain, holding up his glass. Marilyn looked at the glass, then at the
others, getting angry. She snatched
the glass out of his hand and stormed into the back. “You are so pussy-whipped it isn’t
even funny,” Armand said. Her serious
face broke into a smile. “Okay, actually
it is.” “You know, for a girl as annoying
as she is, she’s remarkably perceptive,” Roland said, watching where she had
disappeared into the kitchen as he patted Ledger, who was bent over the table
in pain, supportively on the back. “Annoying?!” “Yeah,” Roland agreed. “That doesn’t make any sense,” he
insisted. “Ev, number one, I’m a HUGE hypocrite.” “It’s true,” Armand supported. “Number two,” Roland said, “I’m
speaking on what you should do, not whether or not I’d like it. Of course I wouldn’t like it. She’s too altruistic and not easy enough.” “You are the weirdest person I
have ever met,” “No, you,” Edgar said. “We’re not going to ask her out for you.” “The Crimson Rose!” he exclaimed through
clinched teeth. As “It is our obligation, as knights,” Morgan stood still for a moment, then
thought better of proceeding. He
turned on one foot and promptly headed out of the restaurant. “Now, can we please stay on topic?” “By stopping street crime?” Armand
asked. “By standing out,” “In spite of ourselves,” Ledger tossed in. “We need to do that now,” “That ship may have sailed, “Do I want to? No,” he said, barely noticing Marilyn
putting Ledger’s drink down. “But do I
feel like we need to be ready to?
Yeah. This is serious. I’d like to think that someone who wants to
stop crime can be reasoned with.” He
turned his head, his lack of faith clear.
“One way or another, though, this guy’s got to be stopped and it will
be better for everyone, I think, if we’re the ones to stop him.” |
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