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| Part two: friends and family | |||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||||
| At the hospital where Slap Happy and rest of the remaining Malkavians were taking refuge - things were unusually quiet. Ever since the new prince took over - things in Eco just didn't seem quite as fun. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why the long face?" a familiar voice asked. Slap Happy looked over and saw Snapps hanging upside down from a pipe. The Primogen smiled and walked over to where the upside down prankster was. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Things just haven't been as fun as they used to be. Haven't see you in a while," he commented. Snapps hopped down and sighed. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Haven't been very welcome. I know what was going on here for a spell - I know that the prince had people here looking for me. I don't know - did I do something wrong?" he asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "The prince - is just paranoid. Did you see anything - that you might not have been supposed to see? Something that might have made the prince nervous?" he asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I saw Axis and his crew get gunned down. I heard the Ventrue's voice on the phone of the guys that did the hit. I'm in deep - aren't I?" he replied. Slap Happy sighed and walked over to where his broken chair was. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "He had a hand in it. That's why. He's worried that Skamms will find out - I knew it," he muttered. "Do you have any proof?" he asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nothing he couldn't deny. Look - I know that he has a blood hunt on one Malkavian - I don't want you getting in trouble because of me. That wouldn't be funny," Snapps stated calmly. Slap Happy was going to reply when he noticed someone walking down the stairs. When he saw who it was - his eyes lit up. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "As I don't live and breathe - my god - is it really you?" he asked in modest disbelief. Snapps was going to reply when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked over and saw Dr. Jest smiling at him. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hey Doc - what's up? Am - am I in trouble again?" he asked hesitantly. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Not really. Could you go over and wait by the door - I have some - politics to discuss with an old friend," he requested. Snapps nodded and skipped his way over to where the door was and looked attentively at the roof. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I heard you got aced," Slap happy commented under his breath. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "You should know me better than that. How are you feeling? Headaches gone?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Huh? Oh - yeah - haven't had them in ages," he began as he looked over at the Snapps. "Nice guy that boy - is - is he yours?" he hesitantly asked. The mad doctor looked over and smiled at the teen that was still staring at the roof. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "One of my - favorite childer. I heard about the hunt called on Skamms," he added. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I tried to stop it Doc," Slap Happy began. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know you did. People like us have to stick together. Others can't understand the greater truth - now - I have to clean up the mess here," he began. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Can you? Skamms made a big one," Slap Happy asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where he is concerned - he usually does. He is gifted like that. I heard that - Axis - had an unfortunate encounter. Got shot down. Know anything about that?" Dr. Jest asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just rumors - everyone - myself included thinks the prince had his hands all over that mess. Of course - no proof," he replied calmly. Dr. Jest sighed and shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I - invested a lot of time and effort into that boy - if anyone was going to deal with him - it was going to be me. Someone made a liar out of me. How unfortunate for that unlucky party," the doctor commented. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Funny - Skamms used to say the same thing - guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree eh?" Slap Happy remarked. Dr. Jest quietly laughed and sighed. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why - do you think I sent Skamms here? To make sure that the fool prince would stay in one piece. Then - this - has to happen. How unpleasant," he began as he looked over at Snapps. "You know - I feel the uncharacteristic urge - to play a - prank - on someone. My boy Snapps will be in on it - can I count on you?" Dr. Jest asked curiously. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "You? A prank? I wouldn't miss this for anything," the Primogen replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Music - to my enlightened ears. Oh - I also learned - that you looked out for Snapps on more than one occasion. Made him a member of your coterie even," he replied and stated. The Primogen looked over at Snapps - he was still looking attentively at the roof. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "The boy is a miracle worker. Have you seen some of the stuff he's pulled off?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have. He's got a gift. Anyway - I want you to have this," the doctor stated as he tossed an odd looking talisman to the Primogen. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "What's this for?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Looking out for my boy," he answered. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hey - if I knew he was yours - I would have done more," he pointed out. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "If - you knew - others might have as well - and he would have been in serious danger. Snapps - could you come here for a moment?" he called out. Instantly Snapps hurried over and looked at the two. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "What's up?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "We are going to be going on a trip soon - but not until after we - play a special prank on a - special someone - you game?" the doctor asked. Snapps smiled and looked over at Slap Happy. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Us? The three of us?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of course," the doctor answered. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "That - is too cool. I can't remember the last time we did something crazy together," the teen stated happily. Dr. Jest leaned forward and whispered something to him. Snapps nodded and removed what he often called his 'bag of tricks' and handed it to Slap Happy. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "What? What am I supposed to do with this?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "A gift - from me. You always looked out for me - even when the prince wanted me. It's so you won't forget me," he added with a wink. On that - both he and the doctor began to walk towards the stairs. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "Wait - when will this prank go down?" Slap Happy asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| "You'll know - trust me you'll know," Dr. Jest commented - not looking back. Slap Happy looked to the bag he was holding for a moment - when he looked to the stairs - both he Snapps and Dr. Jest - were gone. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | |||||||||||||||||||||