Foo Foo
by Buster Hudson (2016)
Genres: Mystery

Someone's been bopping the field mice on the head, and only Good Fairy, Senior Detective can find out who.

action: %
response: Little bunny Foo Foo went hopping through the forest,
scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head.
Down came the good fairy, and she said,
"Little bunny Foo Foo, I don't want to see you
scooping up the field mice and bopping them on the head.
I'll give you one more chance, or I'll turn you into a
goon!"

Press any key to begin.
A tremendous pounding disturbs you from your slumber. For the love of Gaia. How much did you drink last night?

You piece the evening back together. A late day at work, a rainy commute, ramen for dinner, a plotless bodice-ripper for dessert. You were too long between the steamy parts when you fell asleep.

So, nothing. Not even the usual two-count of mint schnapps in your tea.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Oh. It's the front door.

You climb out of bed into your own little slice of heaven. Maybe someday you'll get out of here.

The rain is heavy against the window.
action: You open the door
response: You fumble with the locks until you get the door open. A very wet rabbit shivers on the other side.

Not again.

"Really, Foo Foo?" You make no attempt to hide your frustration. "Couldn't this wait 'til morning?"

The rabbit hops inside, pushing past your outstretched arm. "P-p-p-p-please, Miss Fairy," he begs. "You're my only hope."

1) "That's Detective Fairy to you."
2) "Tell me you didn't bop again."
3) "You're dripping all over my carpet."
action: 2
response: "Tell me you didn't bop again."

"D-d-d-d-don't turn me in." Foo Foo struggles to hold himself together. "It's just like the last time. One minute, I'm hopping down Lumpen Lane, and the next, I'm in the Forest, looking down at a..." His brittle words crumble into full-fledged sobs.

You reluctantly hand him a tissue. He blows it to shreds.

1) "Someone's got to know what happened to you. What we need is a witness, and I know just where to look."
action: 1
response: "Someone's got to know what happened to you. What we need is a witness, and I know just where to look."

*   *   *   *   *

By morning, the summer sun is busy hiding the evidence of the previous night's storm. You step through a lingering puddle and over the police barricade to where Murphy is waiting.

"Good, you're here," he says. That's your name. Good Fairy, Senior Detective. Though it's good that you're here, too. Makes for awkward moments when your arrival is not so good.

"We got an anonymous tip that Foo Foo's hiding in this part of Fieldtown," Murphy continues before popping in a few more sticks of chewing gum. He's the kind of rookie who chews more gum than he can handle, and no, that's not just an expression. There's way too much gum in his mouth right now.

"Fe schreet'sh a dead end, an fere'sh no way he'sh gettin by me an Big Chommy." He pats his magic wand and grins lopsidedly.



Aging rowhouses, broken sidewalk, flickering street lamp. It's Lumpen Lane all right. Not much has changed, except maybe that poster. That's new.

A police barricade keeps onlookers out, and more importantly, everyone else in. Usually. The road heads east from here.

Meanwhile, Murphy leans against a public postbox, chewing loudly. You know you can open the postbox anytime to bring the investigation to a premature close. Nobody at headquarters knows you hid the rabbit, and you intend to keep it that way for as long as it takes to prove his innocence.
action: You talk to Murphy
response: He stands at attention. "Yesh?"

1) "What do we know so far?"
2) "I'll check in with you later."
action: 1
response: "What do we know so far?"

"Anofer field moush wash" He stops to adjust the gum in his mouth and keep from drooling.

"Spit it out, Murphy," you say.

"I shaid, anofer field moush wash"

"Sorry, no, I meant the gum. It's impeding your speech." You hold up your hand in front of his mouth, and he complies, spitting out an obscenely large ball of gum.

Yikes. You knew this case would get your hands dirty, but this is something else. Not wanting to litter, you shove the ball into your coat pocket.

Murphy begins again. "Another field mouse was scooped up from the Forest and bopped on the head. Sabado called it in, so you might check with him on the details. He owns the bar at the end of the street."

1) Send him away briefly to check on Foo Foo.
2) Ask for a hint.
3) "I'll check in with you later."
action: 3
response: "I'll check in with you later."

"Good luck catching the perp."

Aging rowhouses, broken sidewalk, flickering street lamp. It's Lumpen Lane all right. Not much has changed, except maybe that poster. That's new.

A police barricade keeps onlookers out, and more importantly, everyone else in. The road heads east from here.

Murphy leans against a public postbox, keeping watch.
action: About yourself
response: What can you say? You're Good Fairy, Senior Detective, and you know how to look the part. You keep your midnight blue hair short beneath your bowler hat. Your trench coat, while tailored to accomodate your unusually large wings, hangs clumsily from your shoulders. Maybe you lost weight. You don't remember the last time you checked.

As for the glass heels, well, they're a reminder of those twee days when you flit about granting wishes to sick children. Sometimes, you think these shoes are all that's left of the woman you once were.

Fieldtown'll do that to you.
action: Examine poster
response: It's a picture of a smiling, well-dressed couple holding hands and leaning into one another. The two are emerging from a white townhouse on a tree-lined, cobblestone road papered with autumn leaves. Large, elaborate cursive reads: "Coming soon to Lumpen LaneAlabaster
Estates. Contemporary luxury. Comfortable living."
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a chewed gum ball
your badge
a mugshot
action: You examine the gum
response: It's a big, pink, wet ball of chewed gum. You don't like looking at it.
action: You examine the badge
response: Your police badge. "FPD * GOOD FAIRY * SENIOR DETECTIVE".
action: Examine mugshot
response: It's a photo of Foo Foo from the second time you brought him in then let him go with a warning. He claimed he had no memory of bopping anyone, and like the do-gooder you are, you believed him.

The problem is, you staked your reputation on those extra chances, and now he's gone and bopped again. The Chief promised the whole affair would go away if you make the rabbit a goon* by sundown. But that won't have to happen if you can prove his innocence first.

* Fairies no longer turn criminals into goons as punishment. The practice was archaic and, more often than not, counter-productive. Now criminals are sensibly put in prison, but the old fairy phrasing stuck.
action: You look
response: Aging rowhouses, broken sidewalk, flickering street lamp. It's Lumpen Lane all right.

A police barricade keeps onlookers out, and more importantly, everyone else in. The road heads east from here.

Murphy leans against a public postbox, keeping watch.
action: Examine postbox
response: It's a large red postbox, meant to collect the mail for all the residents and businesses on this street.
action: You ask Murphy about Foo Foo
response: You might try talking to Murphy instead.
action: You talk to Murphy
response: He stands at attention. "Yes?"

1) Send him away briefly to check on Foo Foo.
2) Ask for a hint.
3) "I'll check in with you later."
action: 1
response: Murphy grunts but does as requested. You wait until he's around the corner to open the postbox. Foo Foo flops out onto the ground as dramatically as possible.

"How much longer are you keeping me in there?" he asks between exaggerated gasps.

"Just a little longer. Keep it together."

Foo Foo exhausts his complaints, and you settle him back into the postbox. Just in time too. Murphy walks back around the corner.

"All clear," he says. "No sign of the rabbit. Need anything else?"

1) Ask for a hint.
2) "I'll check in with you later."
action: 2
response: "I'll check in with you later."

"Good luck catching the perp."

Aging rowhouses, broken sidewalk, flickering street lamp. It's Lumpen Lane all right.

A police barricade keeps onlookers out, and more importantly, everyone else in. The road heads east from here.

Murphy leans against a public postbox, keeping watch.
action: You go to the east
response: Good old Fieldtown. It was once a field, but now it's a town. Fieldtown.

You stroll down the sidewalk past the derelict rowhouses to a small joint called Get Your Nibbles. Come to think of it, you've been up most of the night. Maybe they serve coffee.

The entrance is to the north, while the road continues east.
action: You go to the north
response: No coffee. Should have grabbed a cup of the slop they call coffee back at the station.

You scope out the joint. If it weren't for the display case of whatever they do serve here... possibly mud logs, you'd have mistaken this place for a toy store. The walls are painted a cheery yellow and lined with shelves full of toys. Cuddly toys.

Wait a minute. The stuffed rabbits along one of the shelves look curiously like Foo Foo. You are about to lean in for a closer look when a green fairy appears from behind the counter.

"Nice shoes, stranger," she says, smirking.

Holly.

"I had help picking them out," you say, tipping your hat. Of course she's still as good looking as ever. What's it been, ten years since you were both on wish duty? Play it cool, Good. Play it cool.

1) "How you been?"
2) "So. What kind of tea party you got going on here?"
3) "I'm looking for a rabbit."
action: 1
response: "How you been?"

"This is Fieldtown. You know how it is. I do what I can." She moistens her lips. "How about you? I heard you joined the FPD."

"Keeping tabs on me?" you ask, leaning in closer.

"As I recall, it used to be the other way around."

"Times change."

"Yeah, they do." She looks away at something that isn't you.

Silence.

1) "So. What kind of tea party you got going on here?"
2) "I'm looking for a rabbit."
3) "I've got work to do."
action: 1
response: "So. What kind of tea party you got going on here?"

She closes her eyes and opens them slowly, like curtains before the next big act. "I happen to sell the best nibblets this side of Fieldtown." Her smile wavers when your reaction is little more than a blank stare, but only for a moment. "Why don't you try a sample? We have vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, key lime, mint, and salted caramel."

You look down at the mud logs in the display.

1) "Are you sure they're edible?"
2) "I'll try the vanilla."
3) "I'll try the chocolate."
4) "I'll try the strawberry."
5) "I'll try the key lime."
6) "I'll try the mint."
7) "I'll try the salted caramel."
action: 1
response: "Are you sure they're edible?"

"Nope. They're actually full of poison, and now that you know my secret, I'll have to get rid of you too." She wiggles her fingers threateningly at you.

1) "I think I'll pass, but thanks."
2) "I'll try the vanilla."
3) "I'll try the chocolate."
4) "I'll try the strawberry."
5) "I'll try the key lime."
6) "I'll try the mint."
7) "I'll try the salted caramel."
action: 6
response: "I'll try the mint."

Holly snaps on some gloves and reaches beneath the counter. She breaks off the corner of a mud log, which she hands to you. It can't be as bad as it looks, right?

Wow, that was revolting. Not even a hint of mint, just wheat grass and pine nuts and maybe actual mud.

"What do you think?" she asks.

1) "It's, uh, I don't think it's my flavor."
2) "It's pretty bad. Sorry."
3) "It's great! I'll take one to go."
action: 3
response: "It's great! I'll take one to go."

She blinks in surprise. "Um, really?"

You can't hide the truth in your face, and she laughs. "I know, I know, they're terrible," she says. "Only field mice actually eat nibblets. I don't know why I thought you would like them, but I haven't made a single sale this week, and I'm behind on my lease payments, and I thought, hey, a girl's got to try."

"I take it business isn't going well."

"I shouldn't be bothering you with my problems," she says, shaking her head.

"Please, bother me." You hit her with the puppy dog eyes.

She groans and playfully shoves your shoulder. "Fine. I gave up selling stuffed animals after that mouse opened his felt dinosaur store down the street, and I chose nibblets because the neighborhood is ninety percent field mice. Or it was a few weeks ago. Where did everyone go?" She pauses. "It's like no matter what kind of store I open, my business is doomed to fail."

She looks around, then drops her voice from conversational to conspiratorial. "Sometimes, I think the other stores are out to get me. They could be part of some kind of animal cult, collaborating for their own advantage at the expense of outsiders. I mean, it's possible, right?"

1) "Anything's possible."
2) "That sounds more like a game about crime."
action: 2
response: "That sounds more like a game about crime."

"Yeah, it does, doesn't it." She busies herself rubbing a dirty spot on the counter.

"Hey now," you say. "Tell you what. I'll be checking out a few of the nearby stores, and I'll let you know if I come across anything cult-ish."

"You don't have to do that."

"I want to do that."

She grins. "At least try to find out where all the field mice have disappeared to. It'd be nice to have customers again. And as a reward, you can have all the free nibblets you want."

"Gee, thanks," you reply.

1) "I'm looking for a rabbit."
2) "I've got work to do."
action: 1
response: "I'm looking for a rabbit." You hand her the mugshot of Foo Foo.

She looks it over briefly before returning it to you, shaking her head. "Sorry, I haven't seen him. That's Foo Foo, right? I heard what happened. It's all over the papers. Those poor, poor mice..."

"We have reason to believe he's in the area."

"I'll be sure to let you know if I see him," she says.

1) "I've got work to do."
action: 1
response: "I've got work to do."

"Sure, okay." As you turn to leave, she grabs your coat. "Hey, look. Just... Let's talk again soon, okay?"

You nod. "I'd like that."

If it weren't for the display case of muddy nibblet things, you'd have mistaken this place for a toy store. The walls are painted a cheery yellow and lined with shelves full of cuddly toys. The stuffed rabbits look curiously like Foo Foo.

The exit is to the south, and a closed door to the north connects to what must be the kitchen.

Holly smiles at you from behind the counter.
action: You get the rabbit
response: You pick up a Foo Foo look-alike.

"Not for sale, Good," Holly warns like a mother with her misbehaving toddler.

You put it back. "I was only admiring how lifelike it is. You were always so good with your hands." She turns away, blushing.
action: Go north
response: (first opening the kitchen door)
It's locked.

"Unless you're in the health department or have a search warrant, you can't go in there," Holly says. "I pride myself on a clean kitchen."

"Are you saying I'm dirty?" you ask, but she only smiles and winks at you.
action: You go south
response: A small food joint is sandwiched between the derelict rowhouses, its entrance to the north. Lumpen Lane runs east and west.
action: You go east
response: The road passes in front of a pawn shop to the north before curving southeast. You stop and stare at the storefront.

Yep, still a dump.

One of the first cases you closed as a detective involved busting the owner, Domingo, for the distribution of illegal cheeses. The Prohibition has lasted nearly a decade now, and most of what your department does anymore is take down the budding cheesemongers hoping to make a quick dollar.

You're not looking forward to a reunion with this particular crime rat.
action: You go north
response: The dusty shop is chock full of useless junk, or valuable antiques, depending on your point of view. Yours is the former.

Domingo looks up from his book, which he shoves into his desk as you approach. "I'd like to say it's good to see you, Good, but we both know better. Also, your name is confusing. Have you thought about changing it yet?"

"Have you given up the cheese racket yet?"

"Ouch. That's a deep cut, Good. Haven't touched the stuff since my release. Scout's honor." He holds a few fingers up in the air, then draws them across his neck.

"I don't think that's how" you begin, having been a fairy scout in your tender years, but you're swiftly interrupted.

"I don't care what you think. They didn't come from me, and if you so much as lay a blue little finger on me, I'll have my lawyers" Now
it's your turn to interrupt him.

"Take it easy, pops. What didn't come from you?"

"The cheese!" he roars, slamming his fists onto the desk. "That's why you're here to arrest me!"

You are, in fact, not here to arrest him, and your stunned silence is the only correcting he seems to need. His snout stretches into a nervous smile. "Uh, nice weather we're having, ain't it?"

1) "Now I've got to ask. What's this about cheese?"
2) "Have you seen this rabbit?"
3) "You knew a lot of the local field mice. Know what happened to them?"
4) "I'm going to take a look around."
action: 1
response: "Now I've got to ask. What's this about cheese?"

Domingo pulls out a rubix cube and works on solving it. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Enough with the games, Domingo."

He puts away the cube. "All right. Word on the street is there's a new cheesemonger. Calls himself the Verde. How am I supposed take that? Me, Domingo Verdeterre! He's rubbing it in my face that I'm out of the game. You got to take him down, Good."

"I'm on a different case."

"Case, shmase. You bested me. Now you best him. It's only fair."

"I'll see what I can do."

1) "Have you seen this rabbit?"
2) "You knew a lot of the local field mice. Know what happened to them?"
3) "I'm going to take a look around."
action: 1
response: "Have you seen this rabbit?" You hand him the mugshot of Foo Foo, but he barely glances at it before throwing it back at you.

"I don't know what it is with rabbits," he says. "Why they all got to look the same? Don't misunderstand me, some of my closest friends are rabbits."

"I'm sure they appreciate your sentiments." He ignores your remark.

"All I'm saying is I get lots of customers, so I can't give you a definitive yes or no at this point in time." Classic Domingo.

"If you do see him and let us know, the FPD would be very grateful."

"I got a few parking tickets..."

"Don't push it."

He shrugs. "It was worth a shot."

1) "You knew a lot of the local field mice. Know what happened to them?"
2) "I'm going to take a look around."
action: 1
response: "You knew a lot of the local field mice. Know what happened to them?"

"You on missing persons now too?" he asks.

"A favor for a friend."

"Some friend. Look Good, I'll be square with you. I loved the field mice, even before I got into cheese. Fun drinking buddies, great for local gossip. But most of Fieldtown don't like 'em and don't like giving 'em jobs. Maybe they just wised up and got out. Went somewhere where good cheese isn't a vice. That's what I hope for 'em anyway."

You nod your head, having nothing more to add.

1) "I'm going to take a look around."
action: 1
response: "I'm going to take a look around."

"You break it, you buy it."

The dusty shop is chock full of useless junk, or valuable antiques, depending on your point of view. Yours is the former, though you never know. There could be something of use around here.

The entrance to the south leads back to the street.

Domingo eyes you from his desk beneath a portrait of a pirate rat.
action: You look at the portrait
response: The oil painting depicts a rat pirate. Or a pirate rat. Whichever is the appropriate term.

Domingo catches you looking up at it. "That's my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather Captain Verdeterre. Sank every ship he ever sailed and still turned a profit. Now that's how you run a business." He salutes the portrait before returning to his work.
action: You examine the junk
response: You survey the piles of junk for items of interest. Let's see, there's an old goblet, an ornate vase, a faded tapestry, a painted idol, and a curved dagger stuck in a wall.
action: Examine goblet
response: You think it's pewter, but that's mostly a guess. Should have spent more time antiquing with grandma.
action: You look at the vase
response: It's white with blue flowers and vines and leaves. Looks expensive.
action: You look at the tapestry
response: It's a picture of a rat getting speared by a human. Possibly religious, definitely weird.
action: You examine the idol
response: The wooden doll is painted in bright colors.
action: You look at the dagger
response: It's too fancy a knife for your tastes. The blade is curved.
action: You get the goblet
response: "It's a communion chalice recovered from the Crusades," Domingo says, "blessed by Rat Pope Asiago X-V-I-I himself. A very unique piece. I'll let you have it for a mere 737 dollars."

"Maybe another time."
action: You get the vase
response: Domingo yells out in warning when you get too close. "Careful! That's a Ming! If you even chip it, you owe me, uh, 708 dollars."

You keep your distance.
action: You get the tapestry
response: "That's of particular significance to a devout Rat Catholic like myself," Domingo says. "The rat is Saint uhthe name's not important. He was martyred after scaring the farmer's wife. For you, only 712 dollars."

"Doesn't match my decor," you say.
action: You get the idol
response: "Having trouble with your love life?" Domingo asks. "Try an African fertility idol. I'll give you a discount623 dollars."

"Thanks, but my love life is just fine," you lie, quickly putting it back.
action: You get the dagger
response: "It's a rare sacrificial dagger from, uh, the Mayans," Domingo says as you inspect the dagger. "Definitely the Mayans. Anyway, since we're such good friends and all, I'll let you have it for free. Of course, that's if you can pull it from the wall. Since there's a roughly one-in-eighteen chance you can do it, I ain't too worried about losing it." His smile lingers a little too long.
action: You pull the dagger
response: As much as you pull, the dagger won't budge. Domingo stifles a laugh.
action: You pull dagger
response: You yank on the dagger, but it doesn't come out. Domingo covers his mouth.
action: You pull the dagger
response: Try as you might, the dagger stays stuck. Domingo chokes on a snort.

This isn't working. You'll never get it out this way. Maybe there's another way about this.
action: Go south
response: You stand outside your least favorite pawn shop. The entrance to the store is north. The road in front curves west and southeast.
action: Go southeast
response: The sun hangs heavy in the eastern sky, hot and oppressive. The shade of an old, boarded-up rowhouse offers you some relief. The road wraps around it to the east.
action: You look at the wall
response: This rowhouse is in terrible shape. The front door is all boarded up, but you don't know why they bothered. Fieldtown's drifters wouldn't even squat in here.
action: You go to the east
response: A small camera shop to the north brings some charm to this part of Lumpen Lane. That is, aside from what might be the remains of the shop's front door littering the sidewalk. The awning above you reads "Finch & Fern's Cameracopia" next to a picture of a cornucopia overflowing with various types of cameras and camera accessories.

The road in front runs east and west.
action: You go north
response: As you enter the shop, your shoe crunches on broken glass. A finch in an apron turns from where she's busy sweeping.

"It's about time," she says with an exasperated chirp. "I called for help hours ago!"

"Sorry," you say. "I'm on a different case."

"Different case? What could be more important than this?" She points to the mess. It's not pretty. Every camera, every shelf, every glass case, everything that could be smashed, was. "Go ahead and get started, and let me know if you need anything."

"Listen, uh, Mrs. Finch..." you say.

She rolls her eyes. "No, honey, I'm Fern. This is Finch." She motions to the potted fern on the counter. That's not confusing.

1) "What happened here?"
2) "I'm actually looking for a rabbit."
3) "Rumor has it the field mice are disappearing. You know where they went?"
4) "I'm going to look around."
action: 1
response: "What happened here?"

"You're the expert," she says, noisily scooping a large piece of glass into her dustpan. "Maybe you can tell me."

1) "I'm actually looking for a rabbit."
2) "Rumor has it the field mice are disappearing. You know where they went?"
3) "I'm going to look around."
action: 1
response: "I'm actually looking for a rabbit." You hold out the mugshot of Foo Foo.

She looks at it, confused. "What does that have to do with the ghost?" she asks.

You blink. "What ghost?"

"The ghost that terrorized us last night!" She flails her wings in the air, then stops all at once. Her eyes widen in realization. "You're not the exorcist I called for, are you?"

"No ma'am. Good Fairy, Senior Detective." You flash your FPD badge.

"Oh, great," she says. You get the feeling she's not that happy about it. "Don't think I'm going to stop cleaning so you can do your CSI cop thing. This mess will take me all day."

"I won't get in your way."

1) "Tell me about this ghost."
2) "Rumor has it the field mice are disappearing. You know where they went?"
3) "I'm going to look around."
action: 1
response: "Tell me about this ghost."

"A real Jacob Marley if you ask me," Fern says. "Heard its chains rattling and rattling, like it was going to rattle the whole building down. We were here late, developing film for one of our customers, and after destroying our poor shop, it tried to get into our dark room to get us! If it wasn't for Finchy scaring it away with that old Edgerton flash he was fixing up, I don't know what would have happened to us."

"Did you see it?" you ask.

"Only briefly, in the light of the flash. Endless loops of pure white. What do you think?"

"I think you should file a police report."

Fern frowns. "It won't matter once the exorcist gets here, but you do what you want. Finch owns the building, and he's been under a lot of pressure to sell. There's a vaguely threatening note about it around here somewhere. If we don't get the ghost problem resolved, this might be the final nail in the coffin for us."

1) "Rumor has it the field mice are disappearing. You know where they went?"
2) "I'm going to look around."
action: 1
response: "Rumor has it the field mice are disappearing. You know where they went?"

"Not a rumor, honey. The mice are getting run out. I'd put my money on Sabado, if I had any."

You arch an eyebrow. "The bar owner? Why?"

"He doesn't just own the bar. Been buying up all the property on Lumpen Lane. Field mice don't have great prospects in general. I'm sure they're taking whatever he offers. Our shop might be the last building not owned by him."

Seems you owe Sabado a visit.

1) "I'm going to look around."
action: 1
response: "I'm going to look around."

"You know where to find me. And watch you don't cut yourself on any glass while you're poking around," she says before returning to her cleaning.

You'd say the store was trying to convey church basement-chic, except it looks like a tornado went through it. There's broken glass and camera parts and debris everywhere. Someone, or something, wasn't happy.

To the east is a closed door. The way out is south.

Fern is busy sweeping up broken glass. Finch is sitting quietly on the counter nearby.
action: You talk to Finch
response: Finch doesn't respond to any attempts at conversation.

"He was up late after the ghost attack. Let him sleep a bit longer," Fern says.
action: You examine the glass
response: You search through the debris for some clues about the attacker. From beneath a pile of broken cameras you pull out a small handwritten note.

"Sabado gave me that note about a week ago," Fern says.

"Can I have it?" you ask.

She waves a wing. "I don't care what you do with it."

You brush off the dust and bits of glass.
action: You look at the note
response: It says: "Finch & Fernmy offer still stands. I suggest you take it. Sabado."
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a handwritten note
a chewed gum ball
your badge
a mugshot
action: You look at parts
response: You sure hope everything was insured.
action: You examine Fern
response: She's a golden finch, an usual sight so close to the ground, but this is Fieldtown after all. She wears a blue gingham apron over her floral dress, which she uses to wipe her wings with as she cleans. Occasionally, she makes a clicking sound with her beak as if disapproving of everything.
action: You examine Finch
response: Finch is a potted fern. A camera flash sticks out of his pot beside him.
action: You examine the flash
response: It's a flash without the camera. There's a small button on one side.
action: You get it
response: "Can I have this?" you ask, pointing to the flash.

"If you think it'll help," Fern says. "Be sure to give it back when you're done. Finch spent a lot of time fixing it."

You pick it up.
action: You go east
response: (first opening the side door)
You try the door, but it's locked.

"That's our dark room. We're developing film right now, so we have to keep the door closed," Fern says.
action: You get glass
response: A small camera shop is open to the north. The road in front runs east and west.

>You can't see any such thing.
action: You go north
response: You'd say the store was trying to convey church basement-chic, except it looks like a tornado went through it. There's broken glass and camera parts and debris everywhere. Someone, or something, wasn't happy.

To the east is a closed door. The way out is south.

Fern is busy sweeping up broken glass. Finch is sitting quietly on the counter nearby.
action: You get the glass
response: You might cut yourself. Might be better to leave it alone.
action: Go south
response: A small camera shop is open to the north. The road in front runs east and west.
action: Go east
response: The shop's large bay window forces a colorful prehistoric scene onto the street. Felt dinosaurs are posed whimsically around pieces of cardboard painted to look like palm trees and boulders. A sign above the display reads: "Welcome to Dinosaur Island!"

The shop's entrance is open to the north. Lumpen Lane continues east and west.
action: You examine the shop
response: A prehistoric window display stands beside the shop's entrance to the north. Lumpen Lane continues east and west.
action: You go to the north
response: The display from the window continues throughout the store's interior, surrounding the space with a jurassic menagerie. The walls are covered with shelves upon shelves of felt dinosaurs. Incredibly, you can't find any two that look exactly alike. No wonder Holly's stuffed animal shop went under.

A blue curtain has been hung in the rear of the shop to resemble a waterfall. Lumpen Lane is back to the south.
action: You look at the dinosaurs
response: You admire one of the dinosaurs. It's sewn out of red-orange felt, about eight fairy-inches in size, with a flat head and a few nubby teeth. It's posed like it's playing hide-and-seek.
action: You examine the dinosaurs
response: You admire one of the dinosaurs. It's sewn out of coral blue felt, about five fairy-inches in size, with three horns and googly eyes. It's posed like it's trying to climb a tree.
action: You look at the dinosaurs
response: You admire one of the dinosaurs. It's sewn out of royal purple felt, about seven fairy-inches in size, with a series of plates down its spine and a skinny tail. It's posed like it's looking for food.
action: You look at the dinosaurs
response: You admire one of the dinosaurs. It's sewn out of lime green felt, about five fairy-inches in size, with wheels for legs and spikes on the end of its tail. It's posed like it's trying to climb a tree.
action: You look at the curtain
response: The blue silk sways in an unseen draft. A decent enough waterfall.
action: You search curtain
response: You push the curtain aside, revealing a secret tunnel.
action: You look at Tunnel
response: The tunnel is more like a doorframe with the door removed. Above the header, someone painted the words "Secret Tunnel to Trex's Workshop" and an arrow pointing inside.
action: You enter the Tunnel
response: The back room could use some tidying. Scraps of felt are everywhere. A crooked cabinet leans against a wall in the corner.

The secret tunnel to the south leads to the retail area.

A mouse sits in silence, staring at a dinosaur on the workbench. His nametag says his name is Trex.
action: You examine Trex
response: Brown fur, short whiskers, a pleasant but anxious disposition. That last one isn't so typical for a field mouse, the way the beat cops talk.
action: Examine felt
response: You think this Trex character ought to clean up after himself a little more.
action: You examine the cabinet
response: One of the legs is bent, giving the large cabinet a terrible lean. There's a hole in the side not pressed against the wall.
action: You examine the hole
response: You peer inside the hole. It's mostly full of felt. A small bottle of something has rolled to the far side of the cabinettoo far to reach.
action: You talk to Trex
response: The field mouse hasn't acknowledged you barging into his workshop. The fellow must be off. You clear your throat.

"Trex, I presume?" you ask.

He twitches and blinks several times, as if waking from a daydream. "Oh, hello," he says. "Sorry. I haven't been myself lately. Did you want to buy a dinosaur?"

You shake your head and pull out your badge. "Good Fairy, FPD."

1) "Have you seen this rabbit?"
2) "A lot of the other field mice from the neighborhood have gone missing. Know anything about it?"
action: 1
response: "Have you seen this rabbit?" You hand him the photo of Foo Foo. He looks it over intensely.

"Yes, I do believe so," he says, handing it back.

"Can you be more specific?"

Trex rubs his paws together nervously. "Oh dear. It was last night just after sundown. I was closing my shop, and I could see him through the window talking with someone, but I couldn't see who. I'm not in trouble, am I?"

"Not unless you're withholding any information. Did you hear the conversation?"

Trex shakes his head. "No, I was too far away." He smiles with a sudden thought. "My dinosaurs would have. Doohickey was in the window all night." He points to the red dinosaur on the workbench.

Great.

1) "A lot of the other field mice from the neighborhood have gone missing. Know anything about it?"
2) "I'll show myself out."
action: 1
response: "A lot of the other field mice from the neighborhood have gone missing. Know anything about it?"

Trex looks around and bites his paws. "No, ah, no. I don't really know the neighbors too well."

"You're not from here?"

"I was born in Fieldtown, but my parents carted us kids off to live among the humans when I was young. They believed it'd be easier to feed us stealing scraps off the kitchen floor than begging for scraps on the street corner. We lucked out and ended up with a nice guy who happened to keep a filthy kitchen and no cat. He sewed felt dinosaurs for a living."

"Like the dinosaurs you make?"

"Yes, exactly. I learned by watching him over the years. Except he had magic, which is rare for a human. He could bring them to life. I can't do anything like that." He looks longingly at the dinosaur on the workbench. "If only I could bring my Doohickey to life, even for one day."

1) "I have an idea that'll help us both."
2) "I'll show myself out."
action: 1
response: "I have an idea that'll help us both. You see, I, uh, used to be a wish fairy. No funny remarks, all right? I get enough lip from everyone at heaquarters about it already." You point a very intimidating index finger, and he swallows hard and nods many times. "So I worked with a partner, and one of our specialties was bringing toys and stuffed animals to life. It's not permanent, mind you. But maybe your Doohickey here can be a witness in my case."

The mouse claps his paws together. "I like that idea. What do you need me to do?"

"Nothing at the moment. First I need some wish powder and a wand."

"I don't have any of those things," he says.

"Don't worry about it. I'll be back with what I need." Of course, you haven't had any wish powder in ages, and your wand is in the shop thanks to that incident with the frog in the sewers. Still, you're determined to think of something. You need that witness.

1) "I'll show myself out."
action: 1
response: "I'll show myself out."

"Have a good day."

The back room could use some tidying. Scraps of felt are everywhere. A crooked cabinet leans against a wall in the corner.

The secret tunnel to the south leads to the retail area.

Trex sits in silence, staring at one of his creations on the workbench.
action: You examine Doohickey
response: It's sewn out of bright red felt, at least eighteen fairy-inches in length, with six legs and savage claws. Its tongue hangs out over an assortment of jagged teeth.
action: You talk to Doohickey
response: You ought to leave it alone for now. Trex seems to like the company.
action: You look in the hole
response: You peer inside the hole. It's mostly full of felt. A small bottle of something has rolled to the far side of the cabinettoo far to reach.
action: You get the bottle
response: It's out of reach.
action: You pick up the cabinet
response: It's too heavy to move.
action: You go to the south
response: The display from the window continues throughout the store's interior, surrounding the space with a jurassic menagerie. The walls are covered with shelves upon shelves of felt dinosaurs. Incredibly, you can't find any two that look exactly alike. No wonder Holly's stuffed animal shop went under.

A blue curtain has been pushed aside to reveal a secret tunnel to the north. Lumpen Lane is back to the south.
action: You go south
response: A prehistoric window display stands beside the shop's entrance to the north. Lumpen Lane continues east and west.
action: You go east
response: The road ends at a tavern to the east, its facade a collage of tree trunks, branches, and leaves. The sign above the open entrance says "The Forest".

An alley disappears behind the rowhouses to the north.
action: You examine the sign
response: It says "The Forest".
action: You go east
response: Your first few steps into the dimly-lit space sink into dirt. And here you are wearing your nice heels.

Turns out the floor is completely hidden beneath a layer of dark soil, who knows how deep, giving the air a damp and loamy odor. Above you, the ceiling is a canopy of intertwined branches and dead leaves. The columns supporting the roof are thick, bark-covered trunks. The Forestthey weren't kidding.

The barkeep looks up from where he's stacking glasses behind the bar. "We're closed a few more hours," he grunts. "Even the earliest drunks don't get here until noon." He sounds like the kind of guy angry with the world for no good reason.

"Good Fairy, FPD," you say, holding up your badge. "I'm only here for answers."

"Sabado," he replies. "Make it quick. I already told you guys everything I know."

1) "I'm looking for a rabbit."
2) "I've heard the local field mice have been vanishing."
3) "I'll leave you alone now."
action: 1
response: "I'm looking for a rabbit."

Sabado looks at the photo and scrunches his face like he bit into something sour. "Yeah, that's Foo Foo. I'm the one who reported him last night. The maroon came into my bar and bopped one of my customers on the head. Hard enough doing business without renegade rabbits scaring away my customers. So you going to do your job and find him?"

"One way or another."

"Well he's not here. Do me a favor, would you? If you catch him, bring him to me first. Would love to give him a taste of his own medicine." He winks at you in precisely the way you hate being winked at.

1) "I've heard the local field mice have been vanishing."
2) "I'll leave you alone now."
action: 1
response: "I've heard the local field mice have been vanishing."

"Of course they've been vanishing," Sabado says. "It's that Gaiadamned Foo Foo. Bopped field mice three times already. Three times! No wonder they've all left town. Nobody in their right mind wants to sit around waiting to get bopped on the head."

1) "A little birdie told me you're buying up all of Lumpen Lane. Might not be Foo Foo chasing the field mice away after all."
2) "I'll leave you alone now."
action: 1
response: "A little birdie told me you're buying up all of Lumpen Lane. Might not be Foo Foo chasing the field mice away after all."

Sabado shrugs. "So what if I am? What happens to the mice ain't my problem."

"What happens to your customers should be your problem."

"The whole plan's been approved by the City Commission. Who, I might add, were thrilled to have this dump of a street made respectable. So unless my legal financial transactions have become police business, I'm done with this line of questioning."

So much for that approach.

1) "I'll leave you alone now."
action: 1
response: "I'll leave you alone now."

"Come back when we're open."

The corner tavern resembles an old forest more than a bar. Even the ground is covered in a thick layer of soil. The western exit leads back to the street, while a closed door to the north behind the bar reads "Employees Only". A lit-up jukebox looks rather out of place in the corner.

A shovel leans against one of the walls.

Sabado mutters to himself as he wipes down the bar.
action: You look at Sabado
response: He's tall for a rat, graying in broad patches, joints that bend at sharp angles. You're not sure if he has an expression besides scowl.
action: You examine the shovel
response: Smaller than your average shovel but larger than a spade. The handle is maybe two or three fairy-feet in length.
action: You get it
response: "Can I borrow this?" you ask, picking up the shovel.

Sabado spits into something behind the bar. You take that as a yes.
action: Dig
response: You thrust the shovel into the dirt. Sabado immediately objects.

"Hey!" he shouts. "I let you borrow the shovel. Not tear my place up."

"Sorry," you reply. "Won't happen again." Not while he's here, anyway.
action: You look at jukebox
response: Not in great condition. Looks like it only carries songs by cult rock group They Might Be Humans. There's a single coin slot in front.
action: You hit sabado
response: You prefer avoiding violence if you can.
action: You give the note to Sabado
response: Anything that might interest Sabado would likely come up in conversation.
action: You look at the note
response: It says: "Finch & Fernmy offer still stands. I suggest you take it. Sabado."
action: You talk to Sabado
response: "What now?" he asks.

1) "I'll leave you alone now."
action: 1
response: "I'll leave you alone now."

"Come back when we're open."

The corner tavern resembles an old forest more than a bar. Even the ground is covered in a thick layer of soil. The western exit leads back to the street, while a closed door to the north behind the bar reads "Employees Only". A lit-up jukebox looks rather out of place in the corner.

Sabado mutters to himself as he wipes down the bar.
action: Examine bar
response: A plain wooden bar. You can't investigate much more with Sabado behind it.
action: You go west
response: The road from the west ends at The Forest to the east. An alley disappears behind the rowhouses to the north.
action: Go north
response: The alley skirts along the wall of the bar from the south before turning sharply west.
action: You go to the west
response: The alley runs east and west behind the rowhouses and shops. An empty dumpster is not quite pushed up against the wall opposite the store.

The closed door to the south is likely a rear entrance to Cameracopia.
action: You go south
response: (first opening the back door)
It's locked.
action: You look at dumpster
response: It's empty.
action: Go west
response: A door to the south leads into an abandoned rowhouse. Leaning against the house is a dented trashcan. The alley curves northwest and east.
action: You look at the trashcan
response: It gives off a strong odor of cheese, but there's no cheese inside. Not anymore.
action: You go northwest
response: The alley arrives from the southeast and ends at a wall. There's a rear entrance to Get Your Nibbles to the south.
action: You look at the wall
response: It's taller than you and separates the alley from the rowhouses the next street over.
action: Go west
response: The sidewalk wraps around an old rowhouse and continues east. The rat's pawn shop is back to the northwest.

A shiny coin draws your attention.
action: You examine coin
response: Heads. Must be your lucky day.
action: You get the coin
response: No sooner than you pick up the coin, a loud bang echoes through the empty street. Your hat is knocked off your head. You turn to see movement in the second-story window of the rowhouse just before the shutters snap shut.

Talk about a lucky break. If you hadn't bent over, the bullet that went through your bowler hat would have went through your face. Which you happen to like the way it is. Someone doesn't want you snooping around.

You replace your hat and flutter your wings. Nobody takes shots at Detective Good Fairy and gets away with it. That is, if you can find a way inside.
action: You examine the hat
response: To be worn at the most striking angle. A pair of holes were left behind by the bullet meant for your head.
action: You look at the rowhouse
response: This rowhouse is in terrible shape. The front door is all boarded up, but you don't know why they bothered. Fieldtown's drifters wouldn't even squat in here.
action: You examine the window
response: The window is obscured by a closed pair of shutters.
action: You fly
response: You spread your wings and leap into the air, coming to rest on the window sill.
action: You open the window
response: The shutters are closed and locked, barring entrance to the room inside. You can barely make out the latch in the small gap between the wooden slats. If you had something flat and hooked, you think you might be able to open them.
action: You examine the wings
response: Your wings are blue and leathery, too large for your body. You don't like them.
action: Go downwards
response: You descend back to the street.
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a shiny coin
a shovel
an Edgerton flash
a handwritten note
a chewed gum ball
your badge
a mugshot
action: Go north
response: If it weren't for the display case of muddy nibblet things, you'd have mistaken this place for a toy store. The walls are painted a cheery yellow and lined with shelves full of cuddly toys. The stuffed rabbits look curiously like Foo Foo.

The exit is to the south, and a closed door to the north connects to what must be the kitchen.

Holly smiles at you from behind the counter.
action: You examine Holly
response: She's a green fairy, and not the kind you see after too much absinthe. Or in your case, exactly the kind. She haunts your dreams less frequently when you're sober.

Her long olive hair is half-falling out of her bun, and her apron is covered in a brownish food product. Her wings, two large sprigs of holly, remain delicately folded.

Also, no ring. Maybe she didn't move on.
action: You talk to Holly
response: "Hey there," she says.

1) "Know where I can get some wish powder?"
2) "I've got work to do."
action: 1
response: "Know where I can get some wish powder?"

"Feeling sentimental for old times?"

"Something like that."

"I might have some lying around. Be a good girl and don't go nowhere."

She disappears into the kitchen and returns a few minutes later. "Your lucky day," she says as she hands you a small pouch. "It's enough for two spells, but no more, so use it wisely."

"Thanks Holl. I owe you one."

1) "I've got work to do."
action: 1
response: "I've got work to do."

"Sure, okay."

If it weren't for the display case of muddy nibblet things, you'd have mistaken this place for a toy store. The walls are painted a cheery yellow and lined with shelves full of cuddly toys. The stuffed rabbits look curiously like Foo Foo.

The exit is to the south, and a closed door to the north connects to what must be the kitchen.

Holly smiles at you from behind the counter.
action: You examine Murphy
response: Murphy joined the FPD straight out of Academy less than a year ago after a failed attempt at professional soothsaying. He's a good kid who tries too hard, and you can't really blame him. A narrow frame, curly red hair, and a pair of ladybug wings won't inspire fear in the criminals of Fieldtown. Might be why he sprang for the biggest wand he could find, Big Tommy, which he keeps holstered at his waist.

His premonitions could be helpful, even if they are vague.
action: You get the wand
response: That seems to belong to Murphy.
action: You talk to Murphy
response: He stands at attention. "Yes?"

1) "Can I borrow Big Tommy?"
2) Send him away briefly to check on Foo Foo.
3) Ask for a hint.
4) "I'll check in with you later."
action: 1
response: "Can I borrow Big Tommy?"

Murphy looks down at his feet. "You sure you need it, Good? I mean... it's just I'm on guard duty and all."

"It's only for a little while. Besides, I know you can handle any trouble, with or without your wand."

He brightens. "You think so?er, I mean, of course I can. You can
count on me." He unstraps his wand and hands it to you with a flash of his pearly whites. What a great kid.

1) Send him away briefly to check on Foo Foo.
2) Ask for a hint.
3) "I'll check in with you later."
action: Go north
response: The dusty shop is chock full of useless junk, or valuable antiques, depending on your point of view. Yours is the former, though you never know. There could be something of use around here.

The entrance to the south leads back to the street.

Domingo eyes you from his desk beneath a portrait of a pirate rat.
action: You look at Domingo
response: He's a portly rat with graying whiskers and shifty eyes, which you feel are his better qualities. Those creepy smiles are his way of showing off his gold teeth. They match the gold watch that hangs from his breast pocket.
action: You get the gold watch
response: That seems to belong to Domingo.
action: You examine the gold watch
response: It catches the light too easily. Domingo must polish it daily.
action: Inventory
response: You are carrying:
Big Tommy
a pouch of wish powder
a shiny coin
a shovel
an Edgerton flash
a handwritten note
a chewed gum ball
your badge
a mugshot
action: You go to the southeast
response: The sidewalk wraps around an old rowhouse and continues east. High above the boarded-up door, a second-story window is obscured by a pair of wooden shutters. The rat's pawn shop is back to the northwest.
action: You go north
response: The back room could use some tidying. Scraps of felt are everywhere. A crooked cabinet leans against a wall in the corner.

The secret tunnel to the south leads to the retail area.

Trex sits in silence, staring at one of his creations on the workbench.
action: You talk to Trex
response: "Something I can help you with?" he asks.

1) "I have what we need."
2) "I'll show myself out."
action: 1
response: "I have what we need."

"How can I help?"

"Stand back and watch."

The back room could use some tidying. Scraps of felt are everywhere. A crooked cabinet leans against a wall in the corner.

The secret tunnel to the south leads to the retail area.

Trex bounces up and down with excitement as he awaits your wish magic. His enthusiasm is infectious, and you soon discover a smile spreading across your own face. Your old job didn't solve the world's problems, but you never felt more satisfied than in moments like this. Sometimes, you wonder why you left the wish squad at all.

That's right. Holly.

You shake her from your thoughts. You've got a spell to cast. First thing's first, you need to put some wish powder on the dinosaur.
action: You put the wish powder on the Dinosaur
response: You sprinkle some powder on the stuffed dinosaur. All that's left is to point your wand at it.
action: You point the wand at the Dinosaur
response: You point your wand at Doohickey. "Flippity, floppity, foo," you chant with the required intonation. Yeah, it's embarrasing to say out loud, but what can you do. Nobody said wish magic was glamorous.

The dinosaur blinks and stretches his six legs. His tongue flops around the corners of his mouth.

"Oh Miss Fairy! You did it!" Trex cries. He gathers the felt dinosaur in his arms. "Doohickey, my friend. You're alive! How do you feel?" Doohickey wags his tail and barks.

Well, crap. So much for having a witness.

"He can't talk?" Trex asks, sadly.

"It takes a lot of skill to get them to talk," you say. "I'm what you might call out of practice."

Trex wipes the mist from his eyes. "It's okay. We can still be good friends anyway." He nuzzles the fidgety dinosaur before handing him to you. "A deal's a deal."

You hold Doohickey up in front of your face and get licked softly and dryly, because his tongue is made of felt. "Hey, boy. Can you help me find whoever was talking with a rabbit last night?"

He barks enthusiastically in response. Maybe this'll work after all. You take him with you, for now.
action: You look at Doohickey
response: He's sewn out of bright red felt, at least eighteen fairy-inches in length, with six legs and savage claws. Its tongue hangs out over a motley scraggle of teeth.
action: You go east
response: The corner tavern resembles an old forest more than a bar. Even the ground is covered in a thick layer of soil. The western exit leads back to the street, while a closed door to the north behind the bar reads "Employees Only". A lit-up jukebox looks rather out of place in the corner.

Sabado mutters to himself as he wipes down the bar.
action: You talk to Sabado
response: "What now?" he asks.

1) "I'll leave you alone now."
action: 1
response: "I'll leave you alone now."

"Come back when we're open."

The corner tavern resembles an old forest more than a bar. Even the ground is covered in a thick layer of soil. The western exit leads back to the street, while a closed door to the north behind the bar reads "Employees Only". A lit-up jukebox looks rather out of place in the corner.

Sabado mutters to himself as he wipes down the bar.
action: You talk to Doohickey
response: He barks at you happily.

>He barks at you happily.
action: Pet doohickey
response: Doohickey wags his tail.
action: You look at jukebox
response: Not in great condition. Looks like it only carries songs by cult rock group They Might Be Humans. There's a single coin slot in front.
action: You put the coin in the jukebox
response: You insert the coin into the slot. It falls with a distinctive clink into an unemptied bucket of coins.

The machine whirs to life, lifting a record onto the turntable and then lowering the spindle. A melancholic accordian begins a song.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
Doohickey
Big Tommy
a pouch of wish powder
a shovel
an Edgerton flash
a handwritten note
a chewed gum ball
your badge
a mugshot

The statue ate my fly (fly), the statue ate my fly (fly),
action: You talk to Sabado
response: "What now?" he asks.

1) "I'll leave you alone now."

With a condiment of mustard it chewed my pet alive.
action: 1
response: "I'll leave you alone now."

"Come back when we're open."

The corner tavern resembles an old forest more than a bar. Even the ground is covered in a thick layer of soil. The western exit leads back to the street, while a closed door to the north behind the bar reads "Employees Only". A lit-up jukebox looks rather out of place in the corner.

Sabado mutters to himself as he wipes down the bar.

The statue made me cry (cry), the statue made me cry (cry),
action: You wait for a while
response: Time passes.

It said my pet would kill me, but that was all a lie.
action: You look at the jukebox
response: Not in great condition. Looks like it only carries songs by cult rock group They Might Be Humans. There's a single coin slot in front.

My phone, it rang at me (and now I know the lies it told would never be).
action: Sing
response: You hate singing.

A lesson that I learned (a statue's love won't last, it can and should be spurned).
action: Dance
response: You hate dancing.

I thought I once preferred a granite figure's company.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

The fact that there are humans will no longer bother me.
action: You listen
response: An upbeat rock jam plays from the jukebox.

The statue ate my fly (fly), the statue ate my fly (fly),
action: You wait a while
response: Time passes.

If I ever meet the sculptor I will punch them in the eye.
action: You listen to the jukebox
response: An upbeat rock jam plays from the jukebox.

The statue gave me hives (hives), the statue gave me hives (hives),
action: You wait for a while
response: Time passes.

My poor pet it cooked to death within a spinach pie.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

My phone, it rang at me (and now I know the lies it told would never be).
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

A lesson that I learned (a statue's love won't last, it can and should be spurned).
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

And as I swung the sledgehammer up through the air,
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

I knew to hide the evidence beneath my basement stairs.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

And what they found was just some rubble left where the statue ate my fly.
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

And now you know to hide (to hide when a statue asks if you need a ride).
action: Wait
response: Time passes.

A lesson you should learn (you must refuse to share its love or you'll get burned).
action: You wait awhile
response: Time passes.

The song comes to an abrupt end.
action: You go west
response: The road from the west ends at The Forest to the east. An alley disappears behind the rowhouses to the north.
action: You go to the west
response: A prehistoric window display stands beside the shop's entrance to the north. Lumpen Lane continues east and west.
action: You talk to Fern
response: "What is it?" she chirps.

1) "I'm going to look around."
action: 1
response: "I'm going to look around."

"You know where to find me," she says before returning to her cleaning.

You'd say the store was trying to convey church basement-chic, except it looks like a tornado went through it. There's broken glass and camera parts and debris everywhere. Someone, or something, wasn't happy.

To the east is a closed door. The way out is south.

Fern is busy sweeping up broken glass. Finch is sitting quietly on the counter nearby.
action: You go north
response: The dusty shop is chock full of useless junk, or valuable antiques, depending on your point of view. Yours is the former, though you never know. There could be something of use around here.

The entrance to the south leads back to the street.

Domingo eyes you from his desk beneath a portrait of a pirate rat. Doohickey barks sharply as you approach. Could the rat be the one you're looking for? Only one way to find out.
action: You talk to Domingo
response: "What do you want now?" he asks.

1) "Tell me again about Foo Foo, but this time, tell me the truth."
2) "I'm going to take a look around."
action: 1
response: "Tell me again about Foo Foo, but this time, tell me the truth."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I have a witness." You lean on the desk and stare him down, giving the words time to sink in. You need him to take the bait.

"You're lying," he squeaks. His eyes are all pupil. They twitch back and forth. So he is involved.

You lean even closer. "Last night. In front of Dinosaur Island. The witness was in the store and heard everything you said." You prod him in the chest. "You going to come clean? Or are we doing this the hard way?"

Domingo slowly rises to his feet. "Looks like I've got no other choice. Fortunately, my lawyer's arrived just in time."

You turn to look where Domingo's pointing, and are surprised to see no one. While you're distracted, he ducks around you and scrambles out the door. For an older rat, he sure can move. You try to give chase, but it's difficult to maneuver around the piles of junk in the store, especially with your large wings getting in the way. Before you know it, he's gone.

You scold yourself for being so careless. The worst part of it is, you've been had by the oldest trick in the book. Maybe Murphy had better luck.

You stand outside your least favorite pawn shop. The entrance to the store is north. The road in front curves west and southeast.
action: Go west
response: You arrive at the barricade to find Murphy slumped against the wall. With a little help, he staggers to his feet.

"Sorry, Good," he says, brushing himself off. "Domingo came out of nowhere. Like a surprise kiss from someone you've only ever considered a friend and never sent any signals that indicated otherwise. I mean, not that I'd know anything about that. Anyway, what'd you do to piss him off?"

"Faked a witness. Nothing out of the ordinary."

He unwraps a stick of gum and tosses it into his mouth. "Okay, now what? You have enough for a case?"

"Hindering an investigation and assaulting a police officer. That's a month in the slammer, tops."

"Yeah. Fieldtown." Murphy chuckles.

1) "Domingo is involved with Foo Foo somehow. What we need is hard evidence."
2) "Before he left, Domingo wanted me to catch a new cheesemonger called the Verde. Now I'm wondering why."
3) "Domingo won't stay gone for long. May take a few days, but we'll wrangle a confession out of him."
action: 1
response: "Domingo is involved with Foo Foo somehow. What we need is hard evidence."

"Maybe there's something in his store," Murphy says. "I can get you a warrant in a few hours."

"I don't have a few hours." Now that you think about it, you don't need a few hours. "You know Murphy, it's a shame Domingo left in such a hurry. He forgot to close up shop."

Murphy gives you a knowing smile.

1) Send him away briefly to check on Foo Foo.
2) Ask for a hint.
3) "I'll check in with you later."
action: 2
response: "Before he left, Domingo wanted me to catch a new cheesemonger called the Verde. Now I'm wondering why."

"You think there's a connection to Foo Foo?"

"Not sure. But there's only one way to find out."

"If you say so." He digs his toe into the sidewalk. "Anything else?"

1) Send him away briefly to check on Foo Foo.
2) Ask for a hint.
3) "I'll check in with you later."
action: 3
response: "Domingo won't stay gone for long. May take a few days, but we'll wrangle a confession out of him."

Murphy frowns. "Which brings us back to Foo Foo."

You look over at the postbox. "I know, I know. He needs to be a goon by sundown." If only there were another way.

1) Send him away briefly to check on Foo Foo.
2) Ask for a hint.
3) "I'll check in with you later."
action: Time
response: You should pick something to say.
action: 1
response: You send Murphy off again and peer into the postbox. "Still doing okay?"

Foo Foo responds with a miserable frown. Yep, he's doing fine. You close the postbox back up and wait for Murphy.

"No sign of the rabbit," he says, clearly bothered by this routine. "Need anything else?"

1) Ask for a hint.
2) "I'll check in with you later."
action: 2
response: "I'll check in with you later."

"Good luck catching the perp."

Aging rowhouses, broken sidewalk, flickering street lamp. It's Lumpen Lane all right.

A police barricade keeps onlookers out, and more importantly, everyone else in. The road heads east from here.

Murphy leans against a public postbox, keeping watch.
action: You get the dagger
response: As much as you pull, the dagger won't budge.

Nope, still not working. You don't think you'll pull it out like this.
action: You look
response: The dusty shop is chock full of useless junk, or valuable antiques, depending on your point of view. Yours is the former, though you never know. There could be something of use around here.

An empty desk sits in the rear of the shop beneath a portrait of a pirate rat. The entrance to the south leads back to the street.
action: You examine the desk
response: It's bare and has a single drawer. Of course there's only one drawer.
action: You open the drawer
response: You open the drawer, revealing a book and some papers.
action: You read it
response: There's a note written on the inside cover: "DomingoPage 95. One
debt clean per mouse. You have my word."

You flip to page 95. It describes the process for hypnotizing someone into bopping someone else on the head. Geez. They put this kind of stuff in books?

So Domingo was hypnotizing Foo Foo all along. Seems he owed someone money. But who?

You flip back to the handwriting on the inside cover. Handwriting you've seen before. You pull out Sabado's note to Finch and hold it up against the writing. Well what do you know. It's Sabado's all right.
action: You examine papers
response: A bunch of gambling debts. Blackjack, craps, roulette. Someone should tell Domingo to stick to the penny slots.
action: You get the book and the papers
response: book: You already have that.
papers: Taken.
action: Go south
response: You stand outside your least favorite pawn shop. The entrance to the store is north. The road in front curves west and southeast.
action: You go to the southeast
response: The sidewalk wraps around an old rowhouse and continues east. High above the boarded-up door, a second-story window is obscured by a pair of wooden shutters. The rat's pawn shop is back to the northwest.
action: Go east
response: A small camera shop is open to the north. The road in front runs east and west.
action: You talk to Sabado
response: "What now?" he asks.

1) "I got your number, Sabado. You're behind the boppings."
2) "I'll leave you alone now."
action: 1
response: "I got your number, Sabado. You're behind the boppings."

"Oh yeah? Where's your evidence?"

You wave the hypnotism book around. His smile doesn't budge. "That could mean all kinds of things," he says. "Besides, you're still missing a motive." He picks some dirt out from beneath his nails. "You can't be saying I had my own customers bopped. That'd be bad for business."

"You know what's bad for business? Having all those field mice around when you're trying to buy up the street. Bar sales are peanuts compared to the money you've got behind you. Enough to pay off all of Domingo's debts and then some. So where's it coming from?"

"You're right," Sabado admits after a brief pause. He hovers close to your face, breath like stale beer. "I got a lot of money behind me. Probably more than you'll ever see on an FPD salary. Let me guess. You have a cozy little studio somewhere. Maybe half your meals are ramen noodles. Maybe more. You could have a nicer place, you know. A much nicer place."

1) Reject the bribe.
2) Consider the offer.
action: 1
response: "I'm heading out."

"Come back when you've got something for me."

The corner tavern resembles an old forest more than a bar. Even the ground is covered in a thick layer of soil. The western exit leads back to the street, while a closed door to the north behind the bar reads "Employees Only". A lit-up jukebox looks rather out of place in the corner.

Sabado mutters to himself as he wipes down the bar.
action: 2
response: "I'm listening."

Sabado smiles broadly. "You may or may not have heard about the Verde, but he's the latest in a string of wannabe kingpins. Foo Foo's one of his best dealers. The buyers call him Little Bunny."

You pride yourself on your poker face, but this time, you're caught off guard. If Foo Foo's a dealer, he has you played.

Sabado smirks. "Cat got your tongue? I thought you'd have known that already, Detective," he says. "My lawyers are holding onto evidence to prove Foo Foo's a dirty dealer, should it be necessary. All you need to do is find Foo Foo, put him in prison, and throw away the key. Alternatively, you could bring him to me. No harm would come to him. I'm just looking for some information. Then we can talk about making your living arrangements a little more comfortable." He picks up a glass and rubs off a smudge, as if to say this conversation is over.

Fine. Foo Foo's the one you need to speak with anyway.

1) "I'm heading out."
action: 1
response: Once Murphy is out of sight, you open the postbox and yank Foo Foo out by his ears. "Why didn't you tell me you were dealing cheese?" you spit. You want answers and you want them now.

"You know?"

"I'm a detective. You think I wouldn't find out?"

Foo Foo twiddles his paws together. "They were going to evict... mother and I. We needed the money. Then I sort of stuck with it."

"For crying out loud, Foo Foo, this is Fieldtown. We always need the money. You're making me look like a half-wit with all those extra chances." You close your eyes and count to ten. Long enough to let the anger drain from your blood. "Sabado wants me to bring you to him."

"What are you going to do?"

1) Keep him hidden. Get answers yourself.
2) Deliver him to Sabado.
action: 2
response: "I'm taking you to him."

Foo Foo insists it's a ploy to wring more information from him all the way up to the bar's doorstep. That's when he starts to beg, but by then it's too late.

Sabado joins you by the entrance in better spirits than usual. "Good! You brought Foo Foo. How... unexpected, but I'm no less delighted. I might even let you stick around if you stopped acting like a man all the time. Roughness doesn't suit a lovely creature like yourself."

You refuse to let him get to you. "Funny, I was about to tell you the same thing."

He snatches the now-frightened rabbit by the ears and drags him toward the door marked for employees. "Just keep an eye on the bar for me while I'm gone. This shouldn't take long."

"I don't work for you," you say, but the retort falls flat.

Sabado stops. He turns his head round, looks you up and down, then lifts the rabbit slightly off the ground as if to show you his prize. "Don't you?"

Several hours pass before Sabado returns, tossing the rabbit at your feet. "He's all yours, Detective." Foo Foo seems shaken but unharmed. He says nothing.

"What about my" you start, but the rat cuts you off.

"He had nothing for me, so I have nothing for you."

That's it then. You put all your chips on black, and got green. Serves you right, you suppose. Not much left to do now but bring Foo Foo to Murphy.

*   *   *   *   *

The next few months are brutal. You become the subject of a full internal review after Foo Foo filed a complaint. The committee assigned to your case keeps calling you in for more questions. They can't make heads or tails of what you were thinking. You were instructed to bring him in, only to hide him in a postbox? Then you identified a new suspect, but turned the rabbit over to him instead? Sabado never does give you any compensation, but it's not like you could have ever held him to it.

You don't dare step foot onto Lumpen Lane again.

You finish one of your potboilers and turn out the light. The rain is heavy against the window.

Thoughts creep into your skull and refuse to let you sleep. Thoughts about Holly, Foo Foo, Sabado, and the field mice.

You shake them off. Nothing to worry over at all. You've managed to keep your job, and there's always tomorrow to look forward to.

It's not like you could have made much more of a difference. It's fine. Everything ended up fine.
action: Er
response: Restore failed.

Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, QUIT, or UNDO the last command?
action: 1
response: "I'll handle Sabado. I need to figure out why he wants you. In the meantime, if you're dealing, then you know who the Verde is."

"I don't know."

"Don't lie to me, Foo Foo."

He holds up a paw. "I swear to Gaia, I get the cheese from a dead drop in an alley behind a rowhouse."

"What about the money from the sale? You leave it there too?"

He looks around nervously. "I give the proceeds to the green fairy who runs a nearby food place. Honest."

No. It can't be.

Murphy's footsteps approach from around the corner. Without another word, you push Foo Foo back into the postbox.

"No sign of the rabbit," Murphy says once he's returned to your side. "Everything okay? You don't look so good."

"I'm fine. Thinking of an old friend."

You can't confront her. Not yet. Not until you have something more concrete. You need to keep searching for clues.

1) Ask for a hint.
2) "I'll check in with you later."
action: 2
response: "I'll check in with you later."

"Good luck catching the perp."

Aging rowhouses, broken sidewalk, flickering street lamp. It's Lumpen Lane all right.

A police barricade keeps onlookers out, and more importantly, everyone else in. The road heads east from here.

Murphy leans against a public postbox, keeping watch.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
some papers
a book
Doohickey
Big Tommy
a pouch of wish powder
a shovel
an Edgerton flash
a handwritten note
a chewed gum ball
your badge
a mugshot
action: You fly
response: You beat your wings and lift up into the sky. Thankfully, the weather is good for it. Nor are there any owls. You hate owls.

Aside from Murphy at the barricade, the length of Lumpen Lane is empty. You descend back down to the ground.
action: You go to the southeast
response: The sidewalk wraps around an old rowhouse and continues east. High above the boarded-up door, a second-story window is obscured by a pair of wooden shutters. The rat's pawn shop is back to the northwest.
action: You go to the north
response: The back room could use some tidying. Scraps of felt are everywhere. A crooked cabinet leans against a wall in the corner.

The secret tunnel to the south leads to the retail area.

Trex sits at his workbench, working diligently on his next creation.
action: You put the gum on the shovel
response: You take the gum ball from your pocket and squish it onto the end of the handle. Gross.
action: You put the shovel in the hole
response: You carefully guide the shovel through the hole in the cabinet, and pressing the sticky end onto the bottle, you pull it back out. It's a bottle of Presto Remove-O.

"Can I borrow this?" you ask as you unstick the bottle.

"Sure," Trex says. "I'm careful with my felt, so don't often need it."
action: You examine bottle
response: The label says "Got something stuck? Get it unstuck! Removes stains and adhesives from carpets, clothes, furniture, and walls! Removes other things too! Warning: Do not ingest. May cause dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth, or death."
action: Go northwest
response: A small camera shop is open to the north. The road in front runs east and west.

The sidewalk wraps around an old rowhouse and continues east. High above the boarded-up door, a second-story window is obscured by a pair of wooden shutters. The rat's pawn shop is back to the northwest.

You stand outside your least favorite pawn shop. The entrance to the store is north. The road in front curves west and southeast.
action: Go north
response: The dusty shop is chock full of useless junk, or valuable antiques, depending on your point of view. Yours is the former, though you never know. There could be something of use around here.

An empty desk sits in the rear of the shop beneath a portrait of a pirate rat. The entrance to the south leads back to the street.
action: You put the bottle on the dagger
response: You squeeze some of the Presto Remove-O onto the dagger. The orange gloop runs down the blade to where it meets the wall, and you swear you see the dagger give a little.
action: You pull the dagger
response: With a mighty tug, you wrench the dagger from the wall. Bingo was his name-O. You slide the dagger into your coat.
action: You open the shutter
response: You slide the dagger in between the shutters and lift the latch. Piece of cake. The shutters swing open, and you leap inside.

It's clear this place hasn't been occupied in awhile. Mold creeps along the dirty walls and the sunken floorboards. The northeastern wall is partially missing, exposing a rotting staircase to the lower level. The open window leads back out to the street.

A paper bag sits conspicuously in the center of the room.
action: You examine the bag
response: The bag is printed with the words "Feckless Pawn" and a picture of a smiling pirate rat. You notice some dirt stuck to the side of the bag.

In the paper bag is some cheese.
action: You get it
response: Taken.
action: You look at the cheese
response: Looks like gouda, of the illegal variety.
action: You taste the cheese
response: That's evidence. Wouldn't want to tamper with it.
action: You examine the dirt
response: There's not much. Still, headquarters could probably determine where it came from. Maybe even get a fingerprint.
action: You go to the northeast
response: You make your way into a derelict kitchen long since stripped of its appliances. The floor is lost beneath a fairy-inch of standing water, either from a burst pipe or a leaky roof.

A staircase leads up to the bedroom. Daylight leaks through cracks in the door to the north.
action: You examine the water
response: You'd prefer to interact with the dirty water as little as possible.
action: You go north
response: You open the door and step through the threshold.

A door to the south leads into an abandoned rowhouse. Leaning against the house is a dented trashcan. The alley curves northwest and east.
action: Go up
response: It's clear this place hasn't been occupied in awhile. Mold creeps along the dirty walls and the sunken floorboards. The northeastern wall is partially missing, exposing a rotting staircase to the lower level. The open window leads back out to the street.
action: Go south
response: You unfurl your wings and leap from the window, landing gently on the street below.

The sidewalk wraps around an old rowhouse and continues east. High above the boarded-up door is an open window. The rat's pawn shop is back to the northwest.
action: You talk to Murphy
response: He stands at attention. "Yes?"

1) "Can you get the dirt on this bag analyzed?"
2) "I'll check in with you later."
action: 1
response: "Can you get the dirt on this bag analyzed?"

"Sure thing, Good." Murphy takes the bag and utters an incantation. The bag disappears in a flash of light. "I'll let you know when the results are in from the lab."

1) "I'll check in with you later."
action: You check what you're carrying
response: You are carrying:
a curved dagger
a bottle of Presto Remove-O
a shovel
some papers
a book
Doohickey
Big Tommy
a pouch of wish powder
an Edgerton flash
a handwritten note
your badge
a mugshot
action: Wait
response: Time passes.
action: You put the powder on the rabbit
response: Not while Holly's looking.
action: You talk to Holly
response: "Hey there," she says.

1) "I've got work to do."
action: 1
response: "I've got work to do."

"Sure, okay."

If it weren't for the display case of muddy nibblet things, you'd have mistaken this place for a toy store. The walls are painted a cheery yellow and lined with shelves full of cuddly toys. The stuffed rabbits look curiously like Foo Foo.

The exit is to the south, and a closed door to the north connects to what must be the kitchen.

Holly smiles at you from behind the counter.
action: You talk to Sabado
response: "What now?" he asks.

1) "I'm heading out."
action: 1
response: "I'm heading out."

"Come back when you've got something for me."

The corner tavern resembles an old forest more than a bar. Even the ground is covered in a thick layer of soil. The western exit leads back to the street, while a closed door to the north behind the bar reads "Employees Only". A lit-up jukebox looks rather out of place in the corner.

Sabado mutters to himself as he wipes down the bar.
action: You use the flash
response: A high-pitched whir sounds. The flash goes off, and the area briefly illuminates in a harsh light.
action: You go west
response: The sidewalk wraps around an old rowhouse and continues east. High above the boarded-up door is an open window. The rat's pawn shop is back to the northwest.
action: You go north
response: The dusty shop is chock full of useless junk, or valuable antiques, depending on your point of view. Yours is the former.

An empty desk sits in the rear of the shop beneath a portrait of a pirate rat. The entrance to the south leads back to the street.
action: You look at the portrait
response: The oil painting depicts a rat pirate. Or a pirate rat. Whichever is the appropriate term.
action: You move it
response: It's too far away.
action: You examine the desk
response: It's bare and has a single drawer.
action: You fly
response: You try not to make a habit of flying indoors. Not good for the head.
action: You give Doohickey to Trex
response: Trex's eyes light up as you hand over the dinosaur. "Thank you again," he says, hugging his new pet tightly.

"Take my advice, kid, and don't get too attached," you say. "He won't last too long. Nothing ever does."

1) "I'll show myself out."
action: 1
response: "I'll show myself out."

"Have a good day."

The back room could use some tidying. Scraps of felt are everywhere. A crooked cabinet leans against a wall in the corner.

The secret tunnel to the south leads to the retail area.

Trex plays with Doohickey on the floor.
action: You go west
response: Murphy flags you down as you approach. "Hey, Good. I got the results from the bag and dirt for you."

"I could use some good news," you say.

"Well, there's no fingerprints, unfortunately. Was probably wearing gloves. The interesting part is that it's not dirt at all, but a mixture of water, wheat, barley, soy, pine nuts, corn starch, and a trace amount of mint. Some kind of food product. Not one that I've ever seen."

"Leaves a bad taste in your mouth, actually." He cocks an eyebrow but says nothing. Holly has some explaining to do.

"Anything else?" Murphy asks.

1) Ask for a hint.
2) "I'll check in with you later."
action: You go north
response: Nearly noon by now. The air isn't circulating so well through the store. You loosen your coat.

Holly is there waiting for you. The ambient light shimmers off her greenness. Green. The Verde. "Hey. You doing okay?"

1) "You know Foo Foo."
action: 1
response: "You know Foo Foo."

"What?" She stiffens.

You move closer. "I said, you know Foo Foo. You knew him all along."

"I don't know what"

You point at the toys on the walls. "The mouse down the street makes his dinosaurs from his imagination. But you"you point back at her"prefer them lifelike. That's why your stuffed rabbits look like Foo Foo. He was a regular visitor here. You didn't even realize you were modeling your toys after him."

Silence, prolonged. Holly tiptoes around the counter, adjusts the collar of your shirt, gently smooths a wrinkle in your coat. Her bottom lip is quivering. She tries to calm it with her teeth, even smiles a little. "Please, Good. You've got it all wrong."

1) "You were worried I'd find out about you, so you sent me after Domingo."
action: 1
response: "You were worried I'd find out about you, so you sent me after Domingo."

"Why are you saying these cruel"

You slam a palm down on the counter. She flinches. "You flew into an abandoned rowhouse while I was investigating the other stores, dropped a coin you knew I'd pick up, and shot at me to lead me to the bag of cheese. Where'd you stash the revolver? Should I search the kitchen?"

Holly collapses to her knees, hands pressed to her ears, shaking. "No... you mustn't..."

"There was one flaw, Holl. You left a bit of the nibblet on the bag you planted. The same nibblet you broke apart to give me a sample. The mint-flavored one, remember? You hadn't made a single sale all morning."

She buries herself in her hands.

"Domingo was a former cheesemonger," you continue. "An easy target. Sure, it was a shaky setup at best. But once a criminal, always a criminal, am I right? I busted him before, and there was bad blood between us. I was bound to pursue him until I stumbled onto something new."

"Please..."

1) "You're the Verde."
action: 1
response: "You're the Verde."

At this, she reaches up and grabs the bottom of your coat. "No. No I'm not." She's still shaking, but more resolute. Her face is wet.

"The field mice are disappearing," you say. "The cheese business is suffering. And your best dealer is scooping up your customers and bopping them on the head. Everything's falling apart. Then who shows up but me, your old fling. Maybe I can solve your problems. Find the mice, throw Foo Foo in prison where he can't do any more harm. Get things back to the way they were, get the money flowing again. Sabado wants his rent after all."

She grips your coat more tightly now, her green knuckles white. "Yes," she says, barely above a whisper. "Yes, Sabado wanted his money. I sank everything I had into the toy store, and lost it all. His loan gave me a new start, but the interest was too high. The Verde offered me a way out. She" She stops herself.

You sink down to the floor beside her. Tension wanes. It hurts that you made her cry, hurts real bad. You had to get the truth out of her, but you still hate that you did it.

Her hands are warm under yours. You release them from your coat, one finger at a time.

1) "She?"
action: 1
response: "She?"

"I can't. I'm sorry." She lifts the corner of her apron and wipes the tears from her cheeks, leaving a smudge of brown food product behind.

You reach out to wipe it away, reaching out like you used to, but that was a decade ago, before you knew yourself and what you wanted, what you didn't realize you'd miss so much. "You got some mud stuff here," you say.

She laughs a little. "Mud stuff. Is that what you think of my food?" You can only smile. She grabs your hand. "Why did you leave me, Good? Where did I do wrong?"

1) "That time at the holiday party. You and her." An obvious lie.
2) "I realized I wasn't in love with you." A severing lie.
3) "There were little things. The little schemes of yours. I left the wish squad because of them. I needed space." The truth.
action: 3
response: "There were little things. The little schemes of yours. I left the wish squad because of them. I needed space."

Holly releases your hand. "I was a different fairy then, did things I'm not proud of. But I'd have given you what you needed, if you only asked. I'd have done anything for you."

"I know. We didn't talk. Not like we're talking now."

She looks into your eyes.

1) Kiss her.
2) Let it go.
action: 2
response: You turn and lean back against the counter, wrapping your arms around your knees. "We had a good time, you and me."

"Yeah, we did." A break in the conversation. Holly straightens her legs and leans against the counter next to you. She's the first to speak again. "Listen, Good, you have to believe me. I wasn't ever going to shoot you. I couldn't shoot you."

"I know," you say.

"I didn't want to do any of it. I had to. She told me to."

1) "Who told you to?"
action: 1
response: "Who told you to?"

Holly doesn't answer your question. She takes your hand, presses something into it. A key. "This'll get you in. You swiped it from me when I wasn't looking."

"Holl"

She puts a finger on your lips. "Take my revolver. It's under the loose tile in the kitchen. You're going to need it."

Before you can protest, she stands and opens the door to the kitchen. You rise to your feet.

If it weren't for the display case of muddy nibblet things, you'd have mistaken this place for a toy store. The walls are painted a cheery yellow and lined with shelves full of cuddly toys. The stuffed rabbits look curiously like Foo Foo.

The exit is to the south, the kitchen to the north.

Holly smiles at you from behind the counter.
action: Go north
response: You're surprised to see only a small portion of the space is set aside for food preparation. The rest is dedicated to the construction of stuffed animals, mid-production, as if operations had never stopped. It's likely they didn't.

A large bucket of wish powder stands in the corner. The tiled floor is stained purple where hastily scooped quantities were spilled.

The retail area is directly south, and the back door to the place is north.
action: You get the powder
response: (the pouch of wish powder)
You already have that.
action: Search tiles
response: You step on the tiles one by one until you find the one that shifts under your weight. Lifting it slightly, you reach underneath and pull out a small revolver.

Five bullets, one missing. You grin, thinking of Holly, your hat in her sights. You're glad her aim wasn't low.
action: You examine the bucket
response: You haven't seen that much wish powder in a long time. Maybe not ever. How did Holly get all this? It's probably worth a fortune.

Your pouch has enough wish powder for another spell, so you won't need any more.
action: You go north
response: You unlock the door and step into the alley.

The alley arrives from the southeast and ends at a wall. There's a rear entrance to Get Your Nibbles to the south.
action: You unlock the door with the key
response: The key turns in the lock, the door opens.

About a dozen surprised cuddly toys halt their activities to look at you. Several of them were pushing a large wheel of cheddar through a band saw. Several more were weighing and sorting smaller chunks of various cheeses into plastic bags. A zebra in a visor with thick spectacles was counting a pile of banknotes.

You recognize them as the same makes from the shelves in Holly's shop. Lions, tigers, and bears, all beautifully crafted, lifelike. Malice flashes in their beady plastic eyes.

They reach into their own stuffing and withdraw a handgun each. They start shooting. Bullets fly. You duck behind a nearby dumpster, just in time. Their shots impact the wall next to you in scattered puffs of cement dust.

You cock your revolver. This could get ugly.
action: You look at the toys
response: Lions and tigers and bears, bearing pistols.
action: You shoot the zebra
response: You peek around the dumpster and fire at the closest toy. A bear, making his way toward the door. The shot catches him square in the head. He goes tumbling into a pile of his own stuffing.

One down, only 4 bullets left. The math isn't in your favor. You'll need to think of something else.
action: You look
response: You're taking shelter behind a dumpster in the narrow alley.

Through the open door to the south, a gang of pistol-wielding cuddly toys attempts to pump you full of lead. Not the kind of day you were expecting to have.

You look around for anything that can help. Cheese wheels, stacks of cash, a chandelier. You're going to have to improvise.
action: You look at the chandelier
response: It hangs from the ceiling, flickering.
action: You shoot the chandelier
response: You take aim at the chandelier and fire. Your shot finds the cord perfectly, and the entire thing crashes onto the table below. You got one, maybe two toys trapped underneath, but the rest keep firing. Fortunately, they're terrible shots.

Think, Good. There's got to be something.

You take another look. With the chandelier out of the way, you can now see the nozzle of an overhead sprinkler jutting out from the ceiling.
action: You examine the sprinkler
response: It's just barely visible through the doorway, jutting out from the ceiling.
action: You shoot the sprinkler
response: The target is small, so you're careful. You pull the trigger, the nozzle is torn off. Water sprays out over the room, running down the walls, covering the cheese. The animals scramble to protect themselves, but it's too late. Their wish powder washes off, collecting into purple puddles on the floor.

One by one the animals drop, lifeless. The water decreases to a steady stream, and then a slow trickle. Finally, silence, punctuated by the occasional drip.

The room is smaller than it looked through the doorway. You cross it swiftly, careful not to touch anything. CSI can handle this mess.

The inside door is abruptly kicked in. You raise your revolver and find a shotgun pointed at your head.

Fern. She's still wearing her apron. Her eyes shine a brilliant green.

"Drop your gun," she says.

"You first, Verde," you reply. "There could still be a ghost around."

She laughs. "I hope you didn't actually believe that. The last thing I wanted was the police sniffing around." She motions for you to put your weapon on the table.

Neither of you move. When she speaks again, her words are marinated in irritation. "You should have left it alone."

1) "Not my fault you're breaking the law."
2) "Someone needs to keep the cheese off the streets."
3) "Putting cheesemongers away is my idea of fun."
action: 2
response: "Someone needs to keep the cheese off the streets."

"Ha!" Fern chirps mockingly. "Do you really think the Mayor and his cronies don't enjoy a plate of cheese with their wine at the end of a long day's work? The Prohibition only punishes the lowest among us, by design. I'm here to level the field."

You look over at the piles of cash on the table. "You're a regular bleeding heart. Then all this cash must be... what? Appropriate compensation? Tell me again who's taking advantage of the lowest among us."

She shakes her head. "I'm going to buy back this street. Make it a home for the field mice again. Sabado won't sell, but his backers willcapitalists can always be bought if the price is right." She tightens her grip on her gun. "I'm going to ask you this once. Are you with me, or against me?"

1) "You made your point, and I hear it." With her.
2) "I don't make the law. I enforce it." Against her.
action: 2
response: "I don't make the law. I enforce it."

She clicks her tongue disapprovingly. "Then I'm afraid this is where we must part. Goodbye, Detective. It's been"

BONG!

Holly bops Fern over the head with a frying pan, and the bird crumples to the floor in an undignified heap. She must have snuck in through the front.

You look into each other's eyes, seconds stretched to little eternities. You want to thank her for saving your life, but the right words won't come.

"I had to know," she says. "When you write your report, are you going to turn me in? For my part in all this, I mean."

1) "I... have to be honest. I'm sorry." Turn her in.
2) "My report might be missing a few details." Let her off.
action: 1
response: "I... have to be honest. I'm sorry."

Holly nods, bites her lip, forces a smile. "It's okay. I always admired your personal code of honor. I'm... glad I could see you one last time." She turns to leave.

"Holly, wait!" you shout after her, but she's already through the door and out onto the street, spreading her wings and taking off. You slow once you reach the sidewalk, watching as she disappears into the great blue distance.

You already know you won't see her again. You hope she'll go far away from Fieldtown. Maybe she'll find the field mice, find the right woman who can make her happy, make a nice life for herself. Maybe you ought to do the same thing.

Not much left to do now except open the postbox and end this.

A small camera shop is open to the north. The road in front runs east and west.
action: You open the postbox
response: You open the postbox and pull out a frightened Foo Foo.

"He was in there the whole time?" Murphy exclaims, slapping his forehead. "How did you know?"

"Doesn't matter, he's innocent." You toss Murphy the book. "Check the note on the inside cover. Foo Foo was hypnotized."

Murphy takes a minute to look through the pages. "So it was Domingo all along?"

You shrug. "Sabado, but we'll leave it to the DA to put a case together. Even if we catch Domingo, he'd never squeal. At least we can spare the innocent party." You both look at the rabbit.

"Does this mean I'm free to go?" Foo Foo asks.

You chuckle. "Yes, you're free to go. But if I see you again, it's Goontown for you."

The rabbit thanks you profusely, and waving goodbye, he hops down the lane.

Murphy munches on another stick of gum. "I guess everything turned out all right."

You shake your head. "Have headquarters send the boys over to the camera shop. They'll find the latest cheesemonger out cold, along with enough cheese and cash to buy the city."

You've stunned Murphy once again. A notable feat, considering he can see shades of the future. "What's happened, Good?"

"I've had all I can take of Lumpen Lane. You take it from here." Hands in pocket, you head home. You want to savor your last memories with Holly over a nice glass of mint schnapps.

They might be all you'll ever have.
action: 2
response: "My report might be missing a few details."

"Oh, Good. You don't know how much this means to me." She bends down to check on Fern, make sure she's breathing. "I can't ask you to do anything else for me. It wouldn't be right."

You tighten your jaw. This is the Holly you were trying to forget. "What is it Holl?"

"Well, Fern made my loan payments to Sabado for me, provided I kept up a steady supply of cheap labor. But she also had to buy all that wish powder, which meant no money for principal until business ramped up. If you can find the contract I signed at Sabado's, we can rip it up, and I can be free of him forever."

"To do that, I'd have to find a way inside. He's only interested in Foo Foo."

She smiles prettily. "Maybe you can fool him into thinking you found Foo Foo. I don't know, you'll think of something. I can wait for you here, and keep on eye on the bird."

"And if I don't?"

"Then I'll just have to manage." She picks up the shotgun and finds a comfortable spot to sit. "Also, I saw the rat bury a spare key in the dirt by the bar. He didn't realize I was spying. You may need to keep digging for it."

The room was a distribution center for the Verde's illegal cheese ring. Large wheels of cheddar and swiss are stacked in the corner near a band saw for slicing. Scale weights, plastic bags, and inventory logs are scattered about the large table in the center of the room, along with cubes of various cheeses. In one corner is a small table, where stacks of cash are arranged into neat piles next to a counting machine. Everything is soaking wet.

The bodies of a dozen or so stuffed animals lie strewn across chairs or on the floor.

Holly keeps watch over the unconscious Fern near the door to the west.
action: You get cubes
response: Better to leave everything in here alone. Let CSI handle it.
action: You get the money
response: Let CSI handle it.
action: Go north
response: The alley runs east and west behind the rowhouses and shops. An empty dumpster is not quite pushed up against the wall opposite the store.

The cheese room is through the doorway south.
action: You go to the north-west
response: The alley arrives from the southeast and ends at a wall. There's a rear entrance to Get Your Nibbles to the south, the door left open.
action: Go south
response: Only a small portion of the space is set aside for food preparation. The rest is dedicated to the construction of stuffed animals, mid-production, as if operations had never stopped.

A large bucket of wish powder stands in the corner. The tiled floor is stained purple where hastily scooped quantities were spilled.

The retail area is directly south, and the alley is north.
action: You go south
response: If it weren't for the display case of muddy nibblet things, you'd have mistaken this place for a toy store. The walls are painted a cheery yellow and lined with shelves full of cuddly toys. The stuffed rabbits look curiously like Foo Foo.

The exit is to the south, the kitchen to the north.
action: You put the powder on the rabbit
response: You sprinkle some powder on a stuffed rabbit.
action: Wave wand
response: You wave Big Tommy.
action: You point the wand at the rabbit
response: Here goes nothing. You point your wand at the stuffed rabbit.

"Flippity, floppity, foo," you chant. With a sharp intake of air, the stuffed rabbit comes to life. He's disoriented for only a moment before he falls in line behind you, wiggling his nose happily.
action: You look at the rabbit
response: His resemblance to Foo Foo is uncanny.
action: Kiss rabbit
response: He's fine the way he is.
action: You go east
response: You enter the bar and its earthy smells. A hint of decay clings to the air. You wonder what people see in this place.

Sabado joins you by the entrance in better spirits than usual. "Good! You brought Foo Foo. How... unexpected, but I'm no less delighted. I might even let you stick around if you stopped acting like a man all the time. Roughness doesn't suit a lovely creature like yourself."

You refuse to let him under your skin. "Funny, I was about to tell you the same thing."

He snatches the now-frightened rabbit by the ears and drags him to the area marked for employees. "Just keep an eye on the bar for me while I'm gone. This shouldn't take long."

"I don't work for you," you say, but the retort falls flat.

Sabado stops. He turns his head round, looks you up and down, then lifts the rabbit slightly off the ground as if to show you his prize. "Don't you?"

He leaves through the door and is gone, closing it firmly behind him.
action: Dig
response: You thrust the shovel into the dirt and unearth some kind of bone. A rib, you guess. Digging again, you uncover more ribs.

A thought crosses your mind. You stumble backwards, away from the bones. Your stomach turns. These couldn't belong to the field mice, could they?
action: Dig
response: You force yourself to dig somewhere else. Even more bones.
action: Dig
response: Bones. Is this a bar or a graveyard? You're not sure you want to know.
action: Dig
response: Huh. They're all ribs.
action: Dig
response: This time, you discover a small metal object. You pick it up and clean off the dirt. It's a key, large and cast in iron.
action: Search bar
response: A plain wooden bar. There's a letter tucked in with the barware.
action: You get the letter
response: Taken.
action: You look
response: The corner tavern resembles an old forest more than a bar. Even the ground is covered in a thick layer of soil. The western exit leads back to the street, while a closed door to the north behind the bar reads "Employees Only". A lit-up jukebox looks rather out of place in the corner.

With Sabado gone, the bar counter stands alone.
action: You examine the key
response: An iron key.
action: You open the door
response: It's locked.
action: You unlock door
response: The key turns, and you open the door a crack. The light from torches mounted on the wall dances across a stone staircase, spiraling downwards. You're reminded of what Holly said earlier about an animal cult.

No. It was a bunch of nonsense. Though you swear you can hear a rattling sound, coming from down below.
action: You go north
response: You descend the stairs slowly, making as little noise as possible. The rattling sound grows louder. Reaching the bottom, you keep crouched by the stairs and glance around the corner.

The stone archway opens into a large vaulted chamber, barely lit by torches on the wall. Across the room, a great white beast twists and bucks about wildly, hissing and rattling.

A rattlesnake. Here, in Fieldtown. You hold your breath.

Sabado stands close to the snake, chanting in an unknown language. In the far corner lies the stuffed rabbit, lifeless once again.
action: You examine the snake
response: A great beast, thrashing about. The bone-white segments on the end of the tail rattle incessantly.
action: You look at Sabado
response: He's tall for a rat, graying in broad patches, joints that bend at sharp angles. You're not sure if he has an expression besides scowl.
action: You look at the rabbit
response: A lifeless stuffed rabbit.
action: You listen
response: You shift your weight for a better position and knock a piece of brick off the wall. It clatters noisily to the floor. Both snake and rat turn to look at you.

Sabado ceases his chanting. "Get the rabbit out of here!" he shouts at you. "Get rid of anything with wish powder on it!"

"Why?" you shout back.

"Shut up and do it!"
action: You get the rabbit
response: You run for the rabbit, but the snake twists directly into your path. You duck as a coil strikes the wall above you, leaving a spider's web of cracks behind. The beast could crush you with ease.

"I can't get to the rabbit!" you shout.

"I'm doing what I can," Sabado replies. "You have to find a way!"

How are you going to back the snake away from the rabbit? He's asking the impossible.
action: You read the book
response: The note on the inside cover reads: "DomingoPage 95. One debt clean per mouse. You have my word."
action: You use the flash
response: You activate the flash. The light is nearly blinding in the dimness of the chamber, but the effect is immediate. The snake recoils into the opposite corner.

Now's your chance.
action: You get the rabbit
response: You grab the rabbit, turn, and get out of there, deciding that if you live through the day, you're finally going to trash these heels.

The snake resumes thrashing about the chamber, the effects of the flash worn off.
action: Go upwards
response: The corner tavern resembles an old forest more than a bar. Even the ground is covered in a thick layer of soil. The western exit leads back to the street, while the door to the north is open slightly. A lit-up jukebox looks rather out of place in the corner.

With Sabado gone, the bar counter stands alone.
action: You drop the rabbit
response: Dropped.
action: You go down
response: You return to the chamber at the bottom of the stairs. The snake continues a violent dance.

"I said, get rid of everything with wish powder on it!" Sabado shouts before returning to his chant.
action: Go upward
response: The corner tavern resembles an old forest more than a bar. Even the ground is covered in a thick layer of soil. The western exit leads back to the street, while the door to the north is open slightly. A lit-up jukebox looks rather out of place in the corner.

With Sabado gone, the bar counter stands alone.

You left a stuffed rabbit here.
action: You check your inventory
response: You are carrying:
a letter
an iron key
a revolver
a curved dagger
a bottle of Presto Remove-O
a shovel
some papers
a book
Big Tommy
a pouch of wish powder
an Edgerton flash
a handwritten note
your badge
a mugshot
action: Go downwards
response: Returning to the subterranean chamber, you find the albino rattlesnake now docile, coiled up the corner. Sabado looks worn down, but still grumpy. They speak to each other in hushed tones. You hear the words "trespassed illegally".

Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. You work yourself up into a mock rage. "Just what in Gaia's name is going on down here?" you shout, stomping across the stone floor, waving a fist in the air.

The snake shrinks away apologetically. Sabado isn't as easily cowed, but he decides to play nice. "Detective, I'd like you to meet my business associate, Mr. Sistrum. Mr. Sistrum, Detective Good Fairy."

"Pleassse, call me Hannibal," the snake says. He bows slightly.

"Forgive me if I forget my manners," you say. "It sometimes happens when I'm almost crushed to death."

"Hannibal suffers from allergies," says Sabado. "His most severe being wish powder. Even being in the same room is enough to send him into a fit." He thrusts a finger at you. "And it was your dirty, powder-covered trick which caused this latest attack."

Hannibal rests his rattle on the rat's shoulder. "Peace, friend. She couldn't have known about my allergy."

"I want to know why she tried to fool us in the first place," Sabado says.

1) "You didn't give me the impression you weren't going to hurt Foo Foo."
2) "I wanted to find out what you were after."
3) "I wasn't planning on handing over Foo Foo. I only wanted a way in."
action: 3
response: "I wasn't planning on handing over Foo Foo. I only wanted a way in."

Sabado smirks. "And here you are. With a warrant, I'm sure."

"We were only trying to determine the identity of the Verde," Hannibal cuts in. Sabado throws him a sharp look, but the snake continues. "The neighborhood is important to us. We want to help facilitate the removal of the cheessse. Surely you want the same."

1) "All taken care of. Fern is the Verde. She'll be in police custody shortly."
2) "All taken care of. The Verde will be in police custody shortly." 3) "Not any of my business, actually."
action: 2
response: "All taken care of. The Verde will be in police custody shortly."

Both of them look surprised. "Who is it?" Sabado asks.

"You'll have to read the papers tomorrow to find out," you reply. "Now it's my turn for a question." Hannibal inclines his head toward you. Sabado crosses his arms and scowls.

1) "I've heard from several sources that the field mice are vanishing. Then I dig up some bones buried upstairs. And now I find there's a snake in Fieldtown."
action: 1
response: "I've heard from several sources that the field mice are vanishing. Then I dig up some bones buried upstairs. And now I find there's a snake in Fieldtown."

Hannibal uncoils and rears his head like a cobra, bares his fangs. Maybe he does have a violent side. You feel for the revolver beneath your coat.

"Hannibal is an old friend," Sabado says. Odd that he would cut the tension, unless he knows when the snake isn't playing around. "I don't appreciate unfounded accusations against friends."

"Tell me about the bones."

"Every Tuesday is scavenger night," he says with a resigned huff. "All you can eat spare ribs. It's gotten popular." You narrow your eyes, and he looks offended. "What? They were dead already. And no, they weren't the field mice."

"Then what happened to the field mice?"

Now he's angry. "I don't know what you want me to say. They packed up and left. Gaia Almighty, all you complainers are looking for some kind of big bad villain to blame. Well guess what, there isn't one. Blame Fieldtown. Blame everybody. We're all to blame, because we're all looking out for numero uno." He raps his chest proudly. "Ourselves. You don't like it, go do something about it. Otherwise, shut your Gaiadamned mouth."

Hannibal grins and settles back into his coils. "For the record, I strictly eat eggs. Unfertilized ones."

"Any more questions?" asks Sabado.

1) "Were you behind the attack at the camera shop last night?"
2) "What did you do to the rabbit?"
3) "Let's talk about the contract you have with Holly."
4) "No more questions."
action: 3
response: "Let's talk about the contract you have with Holly."

The two look at each other. "What contract?" Hannibal asks.

"The contract in which Sabado lent her a sum of money to rebrand her store. There're laws against usury. I'd like to double check the rate. Make sure it's all square." You outline a square in the air with your finger.

"Honestly Detective, I have no idea what you're talking about," Sabado replies. "I didn't give her no money. In fact, she's all paid up through the end of the year. Now I have to figure a way out of our lease agreement."

"You're lying," you say unconvincingly. You both know he was telling the truth. So why would she lie about this? A terrible sinking feeling settles in your stomach.

"Whatever," Sabado says, brushing you off.

1) "Were you behind the attack at the camera shop last night?"
2) "What did you do to the rabbit?"
3) "No more questions."
action: 1
response: "Were you behind the attack at the camera shop last night?"

"I'm afraid I went to speak with the proprietor, to propose a more generousss offer, and suffered one of my fits while I was there," Hannibal says.

"I swear she's up to something," says Sabado.

You leave that one alone.

1) "What did you do to the rabbit?"
2) "No more questions."
action: 1
response: "What did you do to the rabbit?"

"He fell over as soon as Hannibal's allergies started acting up," Sabado says. "Must have scared him lifeless."

It's possible. Not something you've ever tested. "You didn't think to get him out of here?"

Sabado talks through gritted teeth. "If you didn't notice, I was chanting."

"It calmsss me down," Hannibal adds. "Another hour, I'd have been fine again."

That's why Sabado had a book on Snake Charming in the first place. Though an hour isn't exactly a quick turnaround.

1) "No more questions."
action: 1
response: "No more questions, for now. You're still on the hook for getting those mice bopped."

Sabado smiles. "If you had enough to arrest me, you'd have done it already. Now get the hell out of my bar."

"It was lovely meeting you," Hannibal says.

You doff your hat.

The stairway from the south opens to a large vaulted chamber, barely lit by torches on the wall.

Sabado stands with his arms crossed and a terrible pout.

Hannibal rests in the corner, a pile of white coils, his forked tongue taking little tastes of the air.
action: You examine Hannibal
response: He's an albino rattlesnake, the faintest of diamond patterns showing on his scales. He seems completely at ease with his nakedness, which you assume must be a snake thing. You imagine clothes to be difficult for snakes.
action: Go upward
response: The corner tavern resembles an old forest more than a bar. Even the ground is covered in a thick layer of soil. The western exit leads back to the street, while the door to the north is open slightly. A lit-up jukebox looks rather out of place in the corner.

With Sabado gone, the bar counter stands alone.

You left a pouch of wish powder and a stuffed rabbit here.
action: Go north
response: You'd say the store was trying to convey church basement-chic, except it looks like a tornado went through it. There's broken glass and camera parts and debris everywhere.

To the east is the cheese room. The way out is south.

Finch sits quietly on the counter.
action: Go east
response: The room was a distribution center for the Verde's illegal cheese ring. Large wheels of cheddar and swiss are stacked in the corner near a band saw for slicing. Scale weights, plastic bags, and inventory logs are scattered about the large table in the center of the room, along with cubes of various cheeses. In one corner is a small table, where...

You look around in disbelief. Holly's gone, along with all the cash. Near the counting machine is a piece of paper with a little green heart.

You think back to everything that happened. New possibilities emerge. The Verde may not have been one woman, but two, a partnership that turned sour. One of them planned to blow all the money on some junk real estate for the field mice. The other waited for the right opportunity to make a move against her. There's a sucker born every day, you guess.

You pick up the little green heart and crush it between your fingers.

(Three months later...)
*   *   *   *   *

A tremendous pounding disturbs you from your slumber. For the love of Gaia. What now?

You climb out of bed into your own little slice of heaven. Maybe someday you'll get out of here.

The rain is heavy against the window.

Knock. Knock. Knock.
action: Inventory
response: You are wearing your pajamas.

Knock. Knock. Knock.
action: You look at the pajamas
response: Deep red, with little dancing penguins all over them. You've worn them to holes, but you don't care. They're the most comforting thing you own

Comfortable. You mean they're the most comfortable thing you own.

Knock. Knock. Knock.
action: You examine the window
response: It's dark outside. The rain obscures everything.

Knock. Knock. Knock.
action: You examine the bed
response: Wide enough for two. Rarely does it hold that many.

Knock. Knock. Knock.
action: You open door
response: You fumble with the locks until you get the door open. A very wet rabbit shivers on the other side.

This has got to be one of those recurring nightmares. "I thought I told you the next time I saw you, I'd turn you into a goon," you say.

The rabbit limps inside. "I won't be around that long. Heck, I probably won't last the night." He sounds more controlled, more confident. He doesn't sound like himself at all.

"Foo Foo, what's going on?"

He opens his coat and reveals a tear where his right arm meets his shoulder. The ends of the fabric are frayed. Cotton is starting to push through.

He was stuffed all along.

1) This can't be.
action: 1
response: "You're stuffed?" you ask incredulously. "How is that possible?"

"Mother was skilled," Foo Foo replies. "More than you realized. She worked on me for years. I've been alive for years, while my siblings only last days."

"But you're soaking wet!" You stand over him. Anger swells. Yes, you were betrayed. Yes, you were fooled. But surely not to this degree.

Foo Foo lowers his eyes and sags to the floor. "I have a heart, you know. She made one out of red felt and filled it with wish powder. Simple, yet effective. Makes you wonder why no one thought of it before. Anyway, it's almost all used up."

1) No. You can't believe it.
action: 1
response: "But you're heavy... and your speech..." You sit down on the edge of your bed.

"'Sticks and stone shall be my bones, and words will ever guide me.' Mother made that up for me, I think to help me understand what I was. She said I learned to talk the fastest out of all her creations. I spoke as soon as I was brought to life, repeating the last word of her spell over and over again."

"Flippity, floppity, foo," you whisper.

He nods. "'Foo! Foo!' I had shouted. I apparently named myself."

You still have questions.

1) "How were you even hypnotized?"
2) "So all those times I gave you extra chances..."
3) "Why are you here, Foo Foo?"
action: 1
response: "How were you even hypnotized?"

"I wasn't, but I had to pretend that I was, otherwise I'd have been found out. Questions would have been raised. Mother didn't exactly acquire all that wish powder legally."

Of course she didn't.

1) "So all those times I gave you extra chances..."
2) "Why are you here, Foo Foo?"
action: 1
response: "So all those times I gave you extra chances..."

Foo Foo finishes your sentence, as much as it pains you to hear it. "...was to get you to investigate, without tipping you off. Domingo's attempts at hypnotism were the perfect excuse. All you had to do was show." He smiles. "You have a good heart, Good. Holly wasn't even expecting you to give me so many chances. She admired you for it."

"Must be why she did what she did," you say sarcastically.

He doesn't respond.

1) "Why are you here, Foo Foo?"
action: 1
response: "Why are you here, Foo Foo?"

He furrows his brow and presses his lips together. "I loved her, so much. I believe she loved me too, even though I was a means to an end. But you... she loved you most of all." He climbs onto the bed and sits next to you.

You turn away. "She didn't love me. She ruined me."

"She never told me why she carried out this last scheme," Foo Foo says, "but I think she wanted to become the villain you wanted her to be. A reason for the both of you to move on, even after all those years. She never saw herself as good enough for you. I suppose she never thought she could be a good person."

"You never answered my question."

He looks up into your eyes. "Did you love her?"

1) "Yes."
2) "No."
action: 1
response: You nod. "Yes, Foo Foo. Very much."

He beams. "That's what I hoped you'd say." He puts his paw on your hand. You take it. "Mother used to cuddle with me at night sometimes, like I was still a toy. I... wonder if that'd be all right."

You smile gently. "Sure. It'd be all right."

You wrap your arms around him and pull him with you onto the bed. He's still cold and wet, but you keep him close anyway. It isn't long before he's merely warm and damp, and by the time you fall asleep, it's hard to tell where the rainwater ends and where the tears begin.

The morning brings a pale light through the window. You wake feeling refreshed, like you finally slept after years of trudging through life in a weary haze. In your arms is a lifeless stuffed rabbit.

He's smiling.