An Unwelcome Return

In this Our World story, the Beaktons move into Bootstrap Butte.

This is a transcript from Discord.

## Story

```
GOOOOD EVENIN' LADIES AND GERMS! [I need to ask if this was intentional :P]
Hopefully you all enjoyed the madness of last night's Tropical Chaos finale. And if you didn't too bad. 'Cause this scene takes place like maybe a week after. In a certain Western town... AT HIGH NOON. Well, actually it's like 11:43 but that's irrelevant.

Emerald:
*A certain sheriff and her deputy are fixing up some things around Bootstrap Butte. The town, though ravaged by the Overlord, has slowly come back to its former glory...* "Heraldo! Toss me that there wrench!"

Heraldo:
"Yes Ma'am!" *He tosses her said wrench, but slips on a screwdriver in the process.* "WAHOOOHOOHOOO!"

Emerald:
*Shakes her head in regret.*

As she shakes her head she notices two figures at the end of Main Street walking towards them.

Emerald:
"Well, hows about that... I didn't even speak of the devil and he still appeared."

Jack:
"Hello to you too Sheriff Taylor."

Emerald:
*She jumps off the ladder she was on, and tips her hat to cover her eye.* "Mrs. Beakton... Congrats on gettin' hitched. Don't know why you chose this corpse eater, but oh well."

Angela:
"Corpse eater?"

Jack:
"Yeah, long story."

Emerald:
"Too long..."

Heraldo:
*Gets up and dusts himself off.* "It's a pleasure to see ya again, folks!"

Jack:
"Same to you Heraldo..."

Emerald:
"...My apologies fer missin' the wedding. It was crazy 'round here."

Angela:
"It was crazy there too..."

Jack:
"Yeah, it's crazy everywhere... But at least it seems Bootstrap has bounced back fast. Thanks to its capable and skilled mayor.

Emerald:
"...That sounds like flattery."

Angela:
*Sigh.* "It is."

Emerald:
"Well, then. Out with it. What'd ya want?"

Jack:
"Um. Could we discuss this inside?"

Emerald:
"You didn't bring the root beer chugger with ya, right? 'Cause if so, he's banned until you pay yer tab."

Jack:
"...I thought Ange paid that?"

Emerald:
"Only covered half. Do you *KNOW* how much that idjit drank?!!?"

Jack:
*Sigh.* "Unfortunately I have an idea..."
*Pulls out his wallet.* "How much?"

Emerald:
"Jack Beakton... Payin' a debt... It really is a new world, ain't it?"

Angela:
"Wait until ya hear about him making an arrest."

Emerald:
"WHAT!?! How dare you?! That's a job only for the enforcers of the law!"

Jack:
"Yeah... Heh."
*Pulls out his badge.*
"So I got a new job."

Emerald:
"..."
"Heraldo..."

Heraldo:
"Yes ma'am?"

Emerald:
"Grab the hammer."

Heraldo:
*He grabs the hammer.* "Alrighty?"

Emerald:
"Bash me over the head with it. I don' wanna live in this world anymore."

Jack:
"Really? I go straight and that's the thanks I get?"

Emerald:
"This has gotta be some sorta sick joke."

Heraldo:
"Um... Lady Emerald? Ya haven't watched the news lately, have ya?"

Emerald:
"When have I had time ta do that? When have YOU had time ta do that?!?"

Heraldo:
"Well, uh..."

Emerald:
"Let's get a drink, then ya can explain it to me."

Several root beers and an explanation of OC3 later...

Emerald:
"So... You ditched yer uncle and became a fed? Good fer you."

Jack:
"Well, not exactly a fed... Okay technically speaking I am... Anyways, that's irrelevant..."

Emerald:
"Irrelevant, huh? So yer wastin' my time..."

Jack:
"No, just not why I came here... Is the old Davis ranch still for sale?"

Emerald:
"...Why?"

Jack:
*Smiles evilly.*

Emerald:
"Oh. I see... HERALDO! WHERE'S THAT HAMMER?!?!"

Jack:
*Holds up the hammer.*
"So, my question?"

Emerald:
"...Yes. We finally had the chance to bury the bodies after Overlord's massacre there..."

Jack:
"...Wat."

Emerald:
"When Hunter Klein first came to this town we tried to fight back at the ranch... He wiped out a good bit of our best fighters..."

Jack:
"*Oh*. So uh, no ghosts to your knowledge right?"

Heraldo:
"There might be a few..."

Emerald:
"No. There's no such thing as ghosts, ya moron."

Jack:
"'Cause I already have one I got to deal with..."

Louis:
*Appears.* "Howdy."

Emerald:
".........."

Jack:
"Louis, where's your robot shell?"

Louis:
"In the car?"

Emerald:
(Then again, weirder things have happened here...)

Louis:
"Anyways, I scoped out the ranch. No ghosts. Unless you count the sasquatch in the woods..."

Jack:
"...Yeah, no. I do not..."

Heraldo:
"Oh, ya saw my cousin Richard?"

Louis:
"Yeah, plays a mean sax."

Jack:
*Ahem.* "Anyways..."

Emerald:
"If ya want the house... I suppose ya could have it... BUT only until the Butte is back up and runnin' fer business."

Jack:
"...And when will that be?"

Emerald:
"End of June? I'm hopin' ta have it ready for Sonic Day."

Jack:
"Huh. So what's the holdup with it? Things look just about done..."

Emerald:
"Oh, ya know... The gate needs to be fixed, the cattle needs to be rounded up, the mines need to be un-caved in, the..." *She continues to list a bunch of tasks for several minutes.*

Jack:
"Huh. That... sounds like it'll take longer than June."

Emerald:
"Don't you know who yer talkin' to? This is Bootstrap Butte. We do things FAST 'round here."

Jack:
"...Which reminds me. Is that racer hedgehog lady here still?"

Emerald:
"Who, Stripes? No way. That dame can't stay in one place fer a second."

Jack:
"Well, I need to let her know I cut her sponsorship from the Evazorn Fruit budget... I think my secretary just liked Stripes's agent... And he's not answering my calls..."

Emerald:
"Figures. Anyway... I've got work ta do, so if you'd kindly excuse me."

Jack:
"Wait, how much do I owe ya for the house?"

Emerald:
"Tell ya what. Y'all help out with the town projects, ya can stay fer free."

Jack:
"I mean, I planned to [do] that anyways... so you got a deal."
*Extends his hand for a handshake.*

Emerald:
"I was jokin'. 30,000 smackers."

Jack:
"Oh. Hang on..."
*Reaches into his pocket for his checkbook.*
"Uh, you take checks?"

Emerald:
*Nods.*

Jack:
*Writes out a check for 30k and passes it to Emerald.*

Emerald:
"Pleasure doin' business with ya. Now go wash some windows."

Louis:
"OH! OH! What can I do?"

Emerald:
"...Stay outta my sight, please."

Louis:
*Disappears yet is still there.* "Done."

Emerald:
*Chugs a root beer, then storms out of the saloon.*

Jack:
"..."

Louis:
"I think she likes me."

Emerald:
"Heraldo! Move it! We're burning daylight!"

Heraldo:
"Yes, Ma'am! Right behind ya!" *He runs out.*

Jack:
"Well Louis, we better get to work... If I can get Angela off the shooting range..."

Louis:
"Not likely. She seems to really like that new shotgun."

Jack:
"Heh. Well, let's just leave her to it... I've learned it's best not to get between a woman and her weaponry..."

The two birds of questionable aliveness mosey on out of the saloon and begin working on what will hopefully become a more permanent home.

```

## Characters

*In order of appearance:*

* Emerald Taylor
* Heraldo Higgins
* Jack Beakton
* Angela Beakton
* Louis Beakton

## Participants

* Captainclay55
* GasglowJones