Red Stitch Report: Episode 5

For the Page Name just go with whatever it's listed as on Twitch.

## Summary

A brief summary of key events that happened. Basically what they would say happened previously on the following episode.

## The Details

While Cadmus initially seems to fall in line with Vice, he uses this as an attempt to catch him off guard, and immediately throws a punch at the devilish boss. Vice, unphased and unmoved, completely dismisses Cadmus’ emotions, remaining apparently uninterested in the fates of Cadmus’ friends-turned-Chimeras. Knowing that a true bout is unavoidable, Vice states that they’re free to resort to fists with him there and now, but that they do have a ring that would make for a more appropriate venue for them to settle it in. Cadmus accepts the agreement, allowing the party a moment to rest up, and the group leave Vice in the storage room; knowing that they’ll have their revenge a short while later. Goose, grateful for the assistance, plainly tells the group that she has zero intention in fighting Vice herself, and takes her leave. The party bid her adieu, wishing her well.

Given that the group have a moment to themselves, and that security have all been displaced by the fire alarm, they see it as an opportune moment to go and investigate Hutch’s room - it’s not like they haven’t made an enemy of the owner of the building already, anyway. However, not wanting to miss an opportunity to get the upper hand on Vice, Cadmus and Craigor decide to immediately go to the ring to try and set a trap; hoping to plant explosives to drop some of the arena rigging on Vice during the fight. Ian, while initially dragged by Isabelle to join the Hutch investigation, decides to slink off and do his own thing, having learned zero lessons from being ambushed and left for dead in a murder basement literally mere hours ago.

Isabelle and Florence are surprised to find that Hutch’s room is largely mundane, decorated much like a standard apartment, with no particular areas of interest (apart from an oven, which Isabelle considers investigating for secret passages). By his bed, Florence discovers Hutch’s Journal, which seems to offer more questions than answers. Rather than a collected miscellany of events, it simply lists dates with no explanations, before eventually including hastily scribbled shorthand for life-threatening conditions such as strokes and heart attacks. Florence quickly realises that these must be the dates that Hutch “died”, before his regenerative Epithet ensured his survival. While Florence is reading, Isabelle discovers a polaroid and a letter on the other side of the bed. The polaroid seemingly shows a young Hutch, Marco and Leianne, alongside an unknown fourth person; and the letter is a heartfelt reminiscence addressed to Hutch from someone named “Joan”.

*Dear Hutch,*

*I hope you’re doing well. I know it’s been a while since I’ve reached out; I promise I’ve been thinking of you guys, I’ve been absolutely swamped with my work so I’m sure you can forgive that its been slipping my mind. Were it not for the legally binding contracts and promises to the government I’d give you an update on that aforementioned work, but somehow I doubt you’d really care that much anyway.*

*You always were something else, Hutch. It seemed like back in those halcyon days we’d trip over a groundbreaking discovery every day but you didn’t bat so much as an eye at it.*

*I struggle to think of someone who’s ignored more miracles than you have. I suppose that’s part of your charm.*

*I hope Marco and Lee-Lee are better miracle workers than I was, I really do.*

*Anyway I found this photo of the ol’ gang and all the memories came flooding back. You never were the most photogenic guy, I’m surprised you went into a career in television. Haha.*

*Not like I’m doing much better to be honest. You’d think Lee-Lee just took this out of the blue with how unprepared we both look. We should really get together again and do a reshoot haha.*

*Really though, I’d love to take a day and catch up with you guys.*

*The lab has never been the same without you.*

*Hope To See You Soon*

*Joan*

*XOXOXOXOXO*

Before the two can properly discuss their findings, they hear someone coming, and immediately hide under the bed. Shortly after, Zelda enters the room, accompanied by her one-sided crush: Heartthrob Hutch. The two are privy to Zelda’s unsuccessful attempts to woo the wrestler, and find themselves stuck under the bed as Zelda remains in the room even after Hutch makes a hasty escape.

At the arena, Cadmus and Craigor’s plans are immediately shot when they find Vice already waiting for them; observing the uncleaned arena, still covered in soccer balls. While they consider trying to distract Vice so Craigor can plant the explosives anyway, they decide that it would be better to get the master of distraction on their side for the plan, and go to hunt down Ian. The duo find Ian trying to steal items from a vending machine, alongside Daisy, and Cadmus decides to open diplomacy by using his strength to knock a stash of items free for their terrible teammate. Cadmus then proceeds to inform Ian that he’s probably going to die facing Vice, and asks if Ian wants to be there to watch it happen. When informed that he could be a sniper in the rigging, allowed to take potshots, Ian immediately agrees and is ready to give it his all (even if Ian’s “all” is still only like 40% on a good day). Daisy also offers to help out, eager to use her special move, an offer that Cadmus immediately accepts. As the four approach the stadium, Cadmus receives a text from Florence stating “HUNCH ALIV”, which Cadmus quickly realises means that Hutch is alive - a fact proven true mere seconds later, as he sees the dead man walking around immediately afterwards.

The group reconvene by the arena, with Ian sneaking off to climb into the rafters. While looking over Hutch’s logbook, Florence pens in the date that they crushed him in the car compactor, and realises that Hutch’s handwriting was a match for the blunt “I filled the tube with goo” report back at Marco’s apartment. Deciding not to put off the match any longer, Cadmus proceeds to the far side of the ring, deciding to enter as a face for a change. Vice offers Cadmus one last chance to back out, but Cadmus refuses, determined to get revenge for his friends that Vice defiled. Vice extends the offer of combat to the rest of the party, more than happy to take on as many opponents as they can provide. Pulling out his microphone, Vice introduces himself and Cadmus to the empty stadium, starting the fight in the true entertainer’s way. Before beginning, however, Vice gleefully exposes Cadmus’ Epithet to them all: ☆Vote☆.

The fight against the demonic CEO has an awkward start, with Cadmus being unwilling to be the one to close the gap on Vice, and Vice taking full advantage of this position. Ian, situated at a perfect sniping point in the rafters, is unwilling to start shooting until Vice is clearly under attack by other targets. And so, the shuffle forward begins, with the gap eventually being closed, only for Vice to use his hellish powers to teleport himself outside of the ring - a move that turns out exceptionally poorly for him, with Craigor and Isabelle immediately showering him with long ranged attacks the moment he reappears. It almost seems like the group are managing to turn the tide on Vice, right until he starts displaying more of his power, at which point he immediately downs Cadmus and cripples Craigor. With Craigor being used as a human shield, he gives the signal to Daisy, letting himself be caught in her ultimate attack - as spike balls, a piano, and the ceiling itself is dropped onto him and Vice, dealing an almighty blow.

Vice, however, still manages to shrug off this blow, alongside many of the other great ones directed his way. While Cadmus and Craigor try to continue battling, despite being heavily injured, Vice dances around the battlefield while gleefully torturing all of the party members he can get his hands on. Seeing this display, Florence attempts to oust Vice’s Epithet, correctly guessing it to be ☆Cruel☆; a revelation that Vice revels in. Fuelled by pure adrenaline and anger, the party continue their fight, culminating in Cadmus mounting Copperhead’s Motorcycle (that Craigor stole), attempting to run Vice over, before Vice teleports the bike away - leaving Cadmus to soar through the air and slam into Vice with a mighty punch. With an over the top dramatic, dying monologue, Vice is sent careening off the ropes, screaming in defeat as he turns to ash. Cadmus quickly surmises that Vice was messing with them; a fact quickly proven to be true, with Vice rematerializing behind him, perfectly fine.

With a quill and contract, and unperturbed by the combat, Vice offers Cadmus a new deal. He can leave scot free, and take anything he desires with him, as long as he (and the group) vacate the Absurd Beef Initiative. Cadmus, quickly reading the contract to ensure there were no hidden clauses, signs; and informs Vice that he’ll be coming with him. Cadmus expects Vice to confess to the police, but Vice states that the contract only states that Cadmus can take him, not to make him talk. Their battle concluded, the group dust themselves off, and begin to wrap up their time in the wrestling stadium. Cadmus is convinced that they can still expose Vice’s crimes to the authorities due to the wealth of evidence left around, but after remembering that they left him alone in the storage room, coupled with his teleportation powers, their hearts all drop as they realise that Vice might have indeed covered his tracks.

Florence bids farewell to Vick and Daisy, thanking them for their help, and offers her services to them in the future; but Vick declines, preferring that their time together was but a fleeting encounter, expecting their paths never to cross again. Cadmus calls up Hunter Palm to ask about the fate of Dashing, but instead is greeted with the news that the apartment complex that Marco lived at was burned down, with the party suspecting that Hutch was responsible. Hunter Palm also informs them that Dashing had not yet arrived back at the insurance society, but that they were aware of the situation. The group also report their findings at the Absurd Beef Initiative, exciting their boss, and take a disappointed breath as they know their work is far from over.

Before leaving for good, the party decide to investigate the storage room one last time, to ensure that Vice hadn’t covered up the murder basement. Sure enough, the entrance was gone, and the hidden button to reveal it was also missing. Vice, feigning ignorance, showed off the stone he had used to transform the wrestling arena in their previous fights; with Isabelle and Craigor immediately seizing it from him. Vice, however, states that he would have given it to them if they asked, as per the contract. The party proceeds to use the stone to return the basement to them, but Vice suggests that the item is password protected (or something along those lines), with the party trying several possible words but succeeding on none of them. Vice reminds them that they signed a demonfire hell contract that involved them “getting the fuck out”, and trying an infinite number of words inside the storage room would be a clear violation of that. Accepting their loss, the party are escorted out of the building, with Craigor shouting every word that comes to his mind as they do so.

Having wrestled with both their past and their case, both figuratively and literally, the party finally take their leave from the Absurd Beef Initiative. Accompanied by Ian, who boils down their victories and losses into an overall win for neutrality, it’s time to return to their base of operations - and continue their investigations on a case that is far from over.