章節 35: Chapter 35: A Gerbil's Grievance
"Welcome back."
"What the-Chester?" Ricky flinched, then noticed Chester and Alexander perched on top of his shelf, staring down at him.
"It is we, Alexander and Chester. United under one fate as we share in our-"
"I-I just can't do this interaction right now, I'm too tired for this." Ricky waved his hand right before Alexander could mumble on into some tirade.
"But I-"
"Can it wait until morning, I'm exhausted?" Ricky asked, already pulling a blanket over himself as Alexander drooped his shoulders.
"I-I suppose so-"
"Then see you in the morning." Ricky then collapsed into a deep slumber, Alexander's lips twitching in sadness all the while.
*Sniff*
"I am a strong warrior, and strong warriors don't cry~" Alexander encouraged himself, wiping his eyes so that no tears would stain them.
After countless hours of soul-searching and long talks with Chester, Alexander finally found the right words to express himself to the man who had abruptly wrenched him from his eternal slumber.
Transforming him from his Macedonian form, the epitome of his era during his time, and into the body of a gerbil.
After finally mustering the courage to voice everything he truly wished to say from his heart, he was dismissed for the sake of mere sleep.
"You're very strong, Alexander." Chester encouraged him, their friendship blooming through the shared tragedy of being Ricky's familiar, the common adversity giving them a sense of familiarity.
"I am grateful for your words Chester."
"It is nothing, my friend."
4 hours later,
Ricky rubbed his eyes, the light shining down through his eyelids and with a loud yawn, he opened them, blinking against the brightness.
'Oh for f*cks sake.' Ricky thought inwardly, rolling his eyes when seeing Alexander holding a piece of paper.
Chester had encouraged him to write down all his feelings and present them to the person who had caused him so much distress. As he prepared himself, he geared up to pour his entire heart out.
*Sigh*
"Alright, let's get this over with and hit me with it." Ricky gestured to his new gerbil which was possessed by Alexander the Great, knowing this oncoming speech would be brutal but decided to get it out of the way instead of putting it off.
"I, Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia, hegemon of the Hellenic League, and conqueror of Persia, Egypt, and beyond, lament profoundly in this strange and unforeseen moment. Verily, I find myself disheartened beyond measure, for I, who once stood tall and proud as a colossus among men, have been unceremoniously awakened within the diminutive form of a gerbil. The grandeur of my conquests, the glory of my name, and the echoes of my triumphs reverberate through the annals of history. Yet, fate has played a cruel jest upon my essence, confining me within this humble creature's vessel. Oh, how my spirit longs for the vast horizons, the clash of swords, and the thunderous hooves of my mighty steed, Bucephalus! In this diminutive form, I am but a shadow of my former self, yearning for the days when I commanded armies and shaped the destiny of nations. Alas, I beseech you for answers as to why I've taken this form, for what does my purpose hold within this state, it is only right that I am justly compensated with the words of truth in which you so deceitfully hold from me. Also let it be known, my lamentation fills the heavens, echoing across time and space. May you hear my heed, my plea, and grant me release from this peculiar fate, restoring me to the stature and glory befitting Alexander the Great, the indomitable ruler of realms vast and untamed." Alexander gloriously finished while looking up at his summoner, puffing out his chest to show his furry exterior.
At first, Ricky was indifferent, but that changed when he heard the genuine passion and emotion in Alexander's words.
It became clear that Alexander wasn't just an automaton by the system but a real being, capable of thinking, understanding, and, most importantly, feeling which weirded him out greatly.
This realization greatly confused Ricky, who had believed that his sole purpose was for Alexander to assist him without any questions filling him with a twinge of guilt.
Ricky tried to empathize with Alexander, seeing things from his perspective.
However, he couldn't genuinely understand where Alexander was coming from, having never been transformed into a gerbil himself.
"I'm-.......I'm sorry and I know it must feel crappy to wake up in the body of a gerbil." Ricky actually apologized for confining Alexander in that body as the mighty king nodded along, puffing out his chest in the process.
"And I don't want to disregard you or anything, but summoning you was an accident." Ricky then confessed again as Alexander froze in shock.
"W-What?" Alexander asked in confusion and Ricky let out a sigh, deciding to tell him.
Alexander had crafted his entire speech on the assumption that the man before him sought his aid for something significant, only to be told it was merely a mistake.
"The guidelines of the summon were any historical figure and you just so happened to be summoned so I didn't mean to-" Ricky decided to leave out the system part but Alexander didn't care either way.
"You pulled me from my eternal rest-.......on accident?" Alexander, baffled at what Ricky just said, collapsed onto his butt in exasperation.
Chester Favorability: 52
Chester Favorability: 51 (-1)
"Wait Alexander-" Ricky looked to the side to see Chester shaking his head in disappointment, trying to clear up the confusion and explain further.
"Cease your upcoming words for I will turn a deaf ear to them, I must recollect my thoughts, be gone." Alexander dramatically turned away as Ricky facepalmed as it seemed he had a knack for making things worse.
"Can you at least hear me out-"
"I SAID CEASE YOUR WORDS AND BEGONE!" Alexander let out a mighty roar, proclaiming in loud squeaks for Ricky to hear, the latter holding up his hands.
"Ok, ok." Ricky could sense how much he was unsettling Alexander with his mere presence, so he decided to excuse himself and take a shower.
Upon his exit, Chester found Alexander's mighty facade had crumbled, leaving him sprawled out on the ground, defeated, much like the fall of the Greek Empire.
"Alexander, if it makes you feel better I was also summoned randomly-"
"It does not matter Chester, nothing matters in a world without a purpose, that is what my teacher Aristotle always used to say." Alexander closed his eyes, yearning for a deep sleep, while Chester, sensing his need for solitude, flew out of the window to continue building his nest in the tree outside Ricky's window.
Emerging from the shower, Ricky found Alexander the gerbil sprawled on the top shelf, devoid of any vigor unlike before.
It then finally dawned on Ricky that familiars above the rank of Epic were not bound to obey their masters' commands.
Initially, Ricky hadn't given it much thought, but witnessing the sentience of his familiars made him finally understand the rationale behind this rule.
Suddenly, a lightbulb flashed above his head, and he hurriedly dressed before appearing next to Alexander.
"Alexander, I'm about to do something reckless and maybe even shed some blood, want to join?" Ricky asked the war hungry gerbil's whose ear twitched.
"Tempting me with the call for arms will not simply make my emotions fleeting." Alexander scoffed only to make Ricky shrug.
"Fine, then I guess I'll have to fight for glory and reclaim my honor all by my lonesome." Ricky spoke in Alexander's way of speaking, walking away only for Alexander's figure to slowly stand up.
"Glory? Honor?" The words sparked the fire of intrigue in his tiny heart as he scampered to the edge of the shelf.
"What does thou mean?" Alexander wished for him to elaborate as Ricky turned to Alexander with a serious expression.
"My friend was murdered by my enemy and all I seek is the thirst for justice." Ricky spoke in terms that Alexander could once again understand, clutching his fist in a dramatic way.
In the shower, Ricky reflected on the situation as unlike others, Alexander was essentially bound to him.
However the majority of his reasoning stemmed from the fact that if he was going to get himself into a fight, then having a famous commander by his side wouldn't be so bad.
All the while, Alexander's eyes lit up at the thought, his mind racing at the opportunity to see this time's way of fighting.
"THE LUST OF BATTLE HAS ENSNARED ME ONCE MORE, COME, LET US GO AND RECLAIM YOUR HONOR, YOUNG RICKY!" Alexander's heartache was quickly replaced by his love for battle, and it roared in defiance for blood.
Ricky chuckled and scooped him up, placing him on his shoulder as they strolled out the door.
Alexander Favorability: 0
Alexander Favorability: 13 (+13)
"Let us go and slay my enemies!" Ricky laughed out loudly, proclaiming with a loud shout as Alexander raised his tiny paw.
"HAZZAY!"
Walking out of the mansion, he saw not his car but Jake's car parked in front of his doorway as he raised an eyebrow at the sight.
"Come on, I'll give you a ride." Jake rolled down his window and tapped the side of his car, prompting Alexander to raise an eyebrow.
"Your comrade?" Alexander asked, carefully gazing at the man in front of him.
"I guess so, yeah." Ricky nodded to Alexander on his shoulder, getting in the front seat of the car.
"And is this your chariot, such a weird contraption?" Alexander marveled at the craftsmanship, in awe of the modern day vehicle.
"Yep." Ricky nodded along, tapping the vehicle while Alexander's eyes sparkled.
*Jake Meyer's POV*
*Squeak*
"I guess so, yeah."
*Squeak*
"Yep."
Jake wanted to speak but hesitated, overhearing something entirely different as Ricky conversed with an actual gerbil.
"Uh, Slick." Jake asked, Ricky turning over to him with a curious expression.
"What's up?" Ricky asked once Jake stopped on the gas, the car blazing forward which made Alexander flinch since he swore this had to be pulled by horses.
"Why are you talking to a gerbil as if it can talk back?"
*Jake Meyer's POV END*
"Can he not understand my words?" Alexander tilted his head as Jake's face became weirder as if the hamster could understand him.
"Evidently he can't." Ricky notified Alexander who nodded his head.
"A shame." Alexander sat on Ricky's shoulder with the latter nodding.
"Indeed."
Needless to say, it was a weird car ride for Jake who continued to peek at Ricky and Alexander talking back and forth.
"Make a right." Ricky suddenly spoke as Jake gave him a weird look.
"This isn't the way to school-"
"I know, make a right." Ricky tapped the window as Jake tilted his head but turned the car as requested.
Ricky then began guiding him to a specific location, eventually arriving in Harlem and parking directly in front of Madame St. Clair's office for the Numbers game.
"Skid, I need favor." Ricky unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to Jake, who wore a foreboding expression.
"When you go to school-"
"I ain't gonna go nowhere." Jake gripped the steering wheel tightly as Ricky laughed, wiping his mouth before nodding.
"Skid this ain't a game and you don't have any powers, I trust you so don't get me wrong but-"
"But you won't let me have your back!" Jake pushed Ricky a little aggressively as the latter sighed.
"Listen Skid, calm down you're overreacting-"
"I'M OVERREACTING, YOU THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT'S ALLOWED TO FEEL RICKY, THEY WERE MY BROTHERS TOO!" Jake pointed at Ricky who tried to calm him down but it only seemed to add fuel to his fire.
"ROCCO'S DEAD, EDWARDS IN A COMA, AND NOW MY LAST FRIEND WANTS TO GO FIGHT ALONE, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO REACT RICKY!" Jake yelled, using his real name which made Ricky facepalm.
"I JUST-......…..I just wish you'd lean on me for things other than paperwork." Jake collapsed against the steering wheel, his head thudding against it.
Normally coolheaded, he was now overwhelmed by guilt as Ricky wasn't the only one who felt responsible for not being there for Rocco and Edward.
"What a loyal comrade you have, young Ricky." Alexander commented, stars shining in his eyes after witnessing the ferocity in Jake.
"Reminds me of my old comrade, Hephaestion." Alexander nodded, reminiscing in the times of old.
"Alright fine, but you'll follow my lead, alright?" Ricky's words made Jake stand straight up as he opened the door.
"I promise, I'll follow your lead Slick." Jake saluted as Ricky rolled his eyes before walking towards the office.
Walking into the building, eyes immediately locked onto his being since the only time white men came to the office was to cause trouble.
"May I help ya misters?" An old black woman nervously asked Ricky who flashed her a smile.
"Hey darling, I have an appointment with Madame St. Clair that I'm late for." Ricky strolled over to the desk, leaning on it with a sleazy smile.
"I'm sorry sir, but I've never heard of no one by that name here." The old woman was clearly lying though it didn't bother Ricky.
"Tell her Ricky Luciano is here to see her." Ricky continued as a couple subtle gasps were let out in response.
"Y-You're Slick?" The old woman asked incredulously as Ricky nodded, wiping the imaginary dust off his shoulder.
"The one and only baby, why did you want an autograph?" Ricky joked as the tense atmosphere lightened in an instant after recognizing him.
"I knew it was you!" A young black man in his twenties hurriedly walked up to them.
"Willow, this is the cat that reopened the Cotton club and did away with the white only rule!" The man enthusiastically told Willow who stood up urgently.
"I-I apologize Mr. Luciano, I didn't mean to offend you-" Willow started profusely apologizing but Ricky grabbed her hands.
*DING*
'No.' Ricky glanced at the elderly woman, her appearance reflecting the ravages of time as if Father Time himself had struck her face with a bat.
"Don't worry about it doll, you were only doing your job just like me." Ricky winked at her as she calmed down in an instant while donning a smile.
"Right away, Slick." Leotha quickly walked to a bookcase before pulling on a book which revealed another section of the room as she hurriedly walked into it.
"Nice shindig ya got here." Jake commented since the place was very well put together for a neighborhood with mostly poor quality buildings.
"Madame had bought the building and fully refurbished it, everyone here in Harlem calls it the 'Safe Haven' of Harlem since if anyone is in a bind, they can come here." The man eagerly informed Jake though he was mostly telling Ricky who nodded.
"Thanks?" Ricky asked though in a way that would imply he was asking for his name.
"Oh right, I'm Dorsey." Dorsey eagerly held out his hand as Ricky shook it.
"Oh look, it's a wild troubled white boy." Madame made a sassy comment from the side as Ricky let go of Dorsey and spread his arms outwards.
"My dear Madame, oh how I missed you~" Ricky smiled, walking over to her yet surprisingly she didn't push him away and took him into a hug.
"So cozy." Ricky laid his head on her shoulder as she rolled her eyes while patting his back.
"I need a favor." Madame shamelessly asked, getting straight to the point while in Ricky's arms as he let out a quick laugh.
"You know, there was a sliver of me that actually thought you had finally opened up to me~" Ricky commented as Madame sighed though didn't break the hug as Ricky finally let go moments later.
"First, but I need something from you as well." Ricky asked as Madame raised an eyebrow before nodding.
"Then let's talk and see if our favors are mutual." Madame gestured for her to follow though stopped Jake.
"I don't know you." Madame waved her finger, signaling Jake to stay put as he gazed incredulously at Ricky who shrugged.
"Ricky, who the hell is this negro broad-"
"Don't worry kiddo, the adults won't take long." Ricky joked, waving him off as he followed Madame into the secret door making Jake sigh.
"Would you like a glass of water?" Leotha asked and Jake forced a smile.
"I'd love one."
5 minutes later,
"Now that we're in my office, what do you need from me first?" Madame gestured for Ricky to take the floor, but he remained distracted, his gaze fixed outside her office window.
"It's like an underground sweatshop in here." Ricky summed it up in a few words as he surveyed the workshop through the glass.
Madame employed thirty people officially and seventy more unofficially as she was a good boss who took care of her own, which was why she scoffed at the comparison.
"What do you want, Slick?" Madame rolled her eyes, leaning her head on her hand.
"I need to know any information you have on the jewish mob." Ricky said, closing the curtains in the process as Madame stood up.
"Then my hunch was right, we can both indeed help each other." Madame traced her hand on the table before sitting at the front in an alluring way.
"Although you said earlier you'd deal with Dutch, he-"
"Frank is dealing with him but after Edward he's a little preoccupied in the hospital." Ricky informed, though it only seemed to worsen Madame's expression.
"Listen Slick, with Owney gone and the Irish mob being buried by your family, the jews have been trying to move into Harlem." Madame immediately informed Ricky, who responded with a chuckle.
"You're joking right? Harlem is Luciano territory now and we would know-"
"The problem is that they aren't targeting your assets but the people living in 'your' territory." Madame informed Ricky, who raised an eyebrow and took a seat directly in front of her, signaling that he wanted to hear more.
"A high ranking member of the jewish mob, Dutch Schultz, who Frank was supposed to take care of has been sending his goon McGee for collections in the outskirts of Harlem, just a ways outside your control." Madame informed Ricky before massaging his temples.
"The usual situation happens on the outskirts where McGee comes, demands payment, and if he leaves empty handed then the shop owner just disappears." Madame explained which made Ricky raise an eyebrow.
"What about that boy toy of yours?" Ricky joked as Madame looked away in shame.
"I sent him last night to take care of it." Madame closed her eyes as Ricky waited for anything only to be met with a foreboding silence.
"And what, he got shot or something?" Ricky heartlessly asked but Madame shook her head.
"Slick, he was found half dead atop a car." Madame bit her lip as Ricky nodded in acknowledgment.
"Did he get thrown off a building-"
"Slick, I think this was someone with powers like yourself who did this to him. What do you think?" Madame gave her theory with Ricky raising an eyebrow in contemplation.
"Maybe." Ricky thought, rubbing his chin, making Madame's eyebrow twitch.
"Maybe?" Madame repeated Ricky's words with a slightly annoyed tone.
"Care to tell me your thoughts on the matter." Madame asked though was clearly annoyed that Ricky was seemingly trailing off into his own thoughts.
"Sorry, I'm just wondering how bumpy his fall was to lodge himself into a car." Ricky held back his smile and looked directly at Madame in a serious manner.
"..." Madame didn't even humor Ricky and simply stared at him with an emotionless stare.
*Sigh*
"My birds have told me that McGee is going to hit up the south side again." Madame shook her head, writing an address on it before handing it to Ricky.
"Thank you." Ricky snatched the paper and stood up as Madame leaned back on her chair.
"You're not funny, Slick." Madame said as Ricky walked out of the room before he started laughing.
"Not every joke hits Madame, not even if they FALL into your lap!" Ricky yelled as he walked farther away from the office.
"HE DIDN'T FALL OFF THE BUILDING-you know what, I'm not even gonna humor you." Madame was about to retort until she realized that it would only be a bad idea to do so.
"Ha, I got the last laugh!"
*Bam*
Ricky let out a final laugh while shutting the trick door behind him, making Madame sigh and lean back in her chair.
"Ohhhhhhh, is it because his name is Bumpy?" Alexander peeped out of Ricky's shirt pocket after realizing the joke.
"Well it's not funny if you explain the joke Alexander." Ricky said to Alexander, lecturing him on joke culture as the gerbil intently nodded along.
"Who is he talking to?" Dorsey asked Jake who sighed heavily in response to this question.
"His gerbil." Jake answered the question, following Ricky out of the door only to leave Dorsey standing there even more confused than before.
"His what?"
Meanwhile In The Mangano Family Territory,
"Carlo, as you know, two of our own have been shot in Magano's territory-" Lucky tried to explain only to hear a slight snort.
"So?" Carlo leaned back, not caring for his appearance in front of Meyer or even Lucky for that matter.
"If anything, shouldn't you be talking with your jew friend over there?" Carlo pointed at Meyer, cracking a smile though Meyer didn't give into the provocation.
"I already tried to make peace with them but the jewish mob want's blood- '' Lucky continued, maintaining a steady expression.
*Sigh*
"You do know what this is, right Lucky?" Carlo leaned forward, flicking the peanut to the side as he interlaced his fingers, facing Lucky with a calm smile.
"Karma." Carlo immediately confused Lucky who tried to remain professional, but had his blood boiling from the lack of respect from a mere underboss.
"This is what you get for rubbing shoulders with the folks that aren't your kind, your blood." Carlo pointed at Lucky as the mob boss rolled his eyes.
"Meyer is a trusted member of the committee-" Lucky tried to remain professional but his words only made Carlo snap in rage.
*Bam*
"Lucky, that vote was bullsh*t and you know it!" Carlo stood up in anger, reopening old wounds as Lucky raised an eyebrow at him.
"Are you done?" Lucky asked calmly but Carlo started laughing at his response before regaining himself.
"Yeah I'm done, just like I'm done talking to your smug ass." Carlo turned around and started walking to the door as Lucky stood up.
"This is between you and the jewish mob, the Magano family permits you to handle the situation but on your own." Carlo sneered at Lucky, walking away while shutting the door behind him with an arrogant deposition.
*BAM*
Carlo said exactly what Lucky wanted to hear as the door slammed behind him, only for Meyer to flip the table in a fit of rage.
"F*cking Gambino-" Meyer angrily seethed, his eyes reddened from the total disrespect not only in front of him, but for Lucky.
"Calm down Meyer-" Lucky tried to urge him only for Meyer to snap as well.
"HOW CAN I CALM DOWN!" Meyer yelled at Lucky but quickly composed himself, realizing what he had just done.
*Huff*
"I apologize-"
"It's okay Meyer, come on." Lucky put his hand around Meyer's shoulder as they walked towards a door on the opposite side of the hall.
"We got what we needed to move forward with our plans." Lucky smiled, playing Carlo's hatred for others against him to get those sweet words of permission that he would twist and twist into his favor.
"Let's end this, shall we?"
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