Chapter Text
"Kaufmo, you're killin' me, killin' me. For crying out loud, how many times do we have to make the same damn scene?" The director complained with tired voice.
"S-sorry Raoul" The clown shrinked in the middle of the stage.
"My stomach can't take this, i'm done." The man gets up from his chair. "Clean this messed set, lose the lights and say lunch! Raoul yelled exhausted. "We're on a half."
A bell rings, the lights got turned off and everyone on the set was preparing for leaving. The clown followed Raoul with a nervous face.
"Please, just one more time, I'll do it good, promise" He begged grabbing the director's coat. Raoul look at him with irritated look and shake off his hand.
"First try to memorize the script and then i'll think about it, clown". He tried again to walk off but Kaufmo followed him.
"I can do it now. Just give me another chance, please. Look."
No reaction.
"Look"
Silence from Raoul who didn't turn his back at him while walking away.
"LOOK!" Screamed as he follows him.
Meanwhile, a slim purple bunny with annoyed face looked both of them leave. He sighed disgusted while grabbing a small bottle from his coat. That view was pathetic and sad at his eyes.
"Artists" He said before drinking.
The burning sensation running through his throat was interrupted by a tapping on his shoulder. By instinct, he hides the bottle as he turned around. A candy woman was looking at him with a little and awkward smile. His annoyance was rising guessing what she was thinking.
"Here we go, the judgmental look" He thought
"Mr. Rabbit, Mr. Ace is waiting for you. Please follow me." She said with calm and educated tone.
He nodded, and both of them walked in silence.
The corridors made him sick, the walls decorated with portraits of different artists, people running with manuscripts and coffee, lines of auditions and the constant noise of typewriters along with employee whispers. It was a madhouse. Chaos was the best word to describe that environment. He wished he had been able to drink a little bit more before. Door, after door, after door, after door. He felt that he was in an infinite hall, until they get there: A double door with patterns of cards on it.
The candy lady opened them up, inside there was a man with a head made of cards in front of a moviola along with what he suspected was an editor.
"Mr. Ace, Mr. Rabbit's here to..."
The card headed man halts her without turning around. Cold and firm, he saw how the lady repressed a sigh.
"He'll be right with you" she said before leaving. Her voice was trying to sound calm, but he acknowledges some angry behind that smile.
He sighed again as he looked around the room with tired but analytical eyes. The awards on the wall, the celebrity pictures all over the place, some sofas for the guests and some curious secret door wide open revealing a bunch of editors inside, tangled with photographic film strips all around them. The cutting room.
"No, no, no!" The man complained "Wait until he gets to his feet, then hit him with the boulder"
The editor nodded as he takes the film away and closed the secret door. The card headed man turned to the rabbit, hiding his hands behind his back as he approached. Jax was unsure if he was upset or just trying to look dominant in front of him.
Hard to read a face without some real face to read.
" How much do you know about show business, Mr. Rabbit?" Mr. Ace asked with some cranky tone.
"Only there's no business like it."
"And it's expensive as hell" He remarked "I'm 25 grand over budget on the latest "Kaufmo the Clown" film. You saw the man blowing his lines. He can't keep his mind on his work. And you know why?"
"Too many failed stunts on him?" Asked with sarcasm, he doesn't care. At all.
"Nah! He's an actor." Ace's voice softened "He can trip anytime you want without risk; he'll shake it off. It's his line of work" His cranky tone comes again "But break his heart, he goes to pieces just like you or me. Here." He land him a newspaper
"Seen cooing with not so new sugar-daddy was Pomni "The Jester", wife of Kaufmo the Clown." Read out loud "What's this gotta do with me?" Asked uninterested
"Aren't you the private detective? Figure it out" Ace said with irony.
His annoyance was rising every second, not only he was called for a ridiculous case of infidelity, but also the unwitting were artists. Jax was hoping for something worth the time and the suffering of being there, but no. Just some stupid romance drama, along with a unnecessary lesson of show business and money costs.
"I don't have time for this" He said walking straight to the door, but some hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Look Rabbit! His wife's poison, but he thinks she's Betty Crocker." His voice showed irritation, but he calmed himself down again, at least his corporal language helps Jax to read him. "All i ask is for you to follow her." His tone was happily greedy "Get me a couple of nice juicy pictures I can wise the clown up with."
Hell no, he would not get back to that place again.
"Forget it, i don't work in Black Maria"
Ace's grip didn't go, it tightened
"What's wrong with Black Maria? Everyone loves Black Maria." He said like he was a silly kid
"Well, I don't and i won't go." He moved his shoulder out of Ace's hand
But at the second to do that, both of his hands grabbed him again, now leading him to his desk, the feeling of his head being too close to him makes him to punch the cards out of his head.
"Calm down fella." He said with jolly attitude "If you don't want to go to Black Maria, you don't have to. Nobody said you had to go to Black Maria anyway." The condescended tone was getting under his skin.
Ace forced him to sit before letting him go and sit on the other side of the desk. "Kaufmo's wife sings at a joint called the Ink and Paint Club. O.K.? No need to travel that much, and no Black Maria involved." He put his hands together as he leaned at him. " Is it more fitting for you, Mr. Rabbit?
He looked at him annoyed. He was someone persistent and suspected that he would not let him go without closing the deal. His throat and head are begging for alcohol at that moment, Jax needed it to deal with this kinda man...and any other being. He let his eyes flutter around the place in silence, no looking anything in particular, just to mess with Ace and his patience. Jax was no interested at all, but he maybe can take some advantage of this and make a little bit more bills than he thought. Besides, he has his interests too and Ace can cover them. So...why not?
"Well?"
Jax gets up and go straight to the drinks behind Ace with a smirk on his face.
"100 bucks pal, plus the expenses"
A 100 bucks!? That's ridiculous!
Jax smile widened as he grabbed a bottle and a glass
"So's the job, isn't?"
Ace's hands were turning into fist in his desk, but he let go. He tapped his desk like he surrenders with his pride hurt.
"Alright, alright, you got your money." He said defeated as he turns around and taking out a checkbook. "Have a drink"
"Don't mind if i do" Jax said jolly as he pours it with delightful eyes
One sip and it feels like heaven to, not because of the quality exactly, it was just the sensation of the burn and knowing that he will be soon better with the effects. He finished the glass in an instant like it was water.
Now, that's more like it He thought while serving himself another shot.
Ace was too busy with his check to watch him.
He take a look out the window while waiting, right down of them there was a lot of workers running around like untidy ants, Jax was shaking his head disappointed. Every inch of the place was rotten at his point of view. Not worth it.
"A little messy, but is part of it" said Ace behind him with a check on his hands "Here you go"
Jax take a look and his face frowned
"Where's the other fifty?
The card man just put his arm around his shoulders, like they were friends and was leading him away from the window. The urge to push him was getting strong.
"Let's call the other 50... a carrot to finish the job." He said with humorous voice
Jax's eye twitch at the hint. He could've bet that Ace was smiling at him mockingly
"A natural joker, aren't ya?" He said before leaving
Every step leading him out of the studio was a breath of fresh air. When he saw the main street, he was relieved. And happier he was getting as he saw a tram stopping right in front of the studio, he run towards it to catch it, fortunately, the conductor waits for him at the door. Jax showed him the check, and the conductor give him a bad look.
"Do i look like a bank?" asked sarcastic before shutting the door in front of him
Jax was not surprised, he put back the check in his pocket and wait the tram to go past him, with some of the agility that didn't leave him after some years, he gets to sit on the back of it. Some kid was also there and was screaming at other ghost boy who was running towards them, trying to catch the tram. With better humor than before, Jax help the kid getting on with them. The view of the studio in the distance relieved him a little.
"Mister, ain't you have a car?" one of the kids was taking out some cigarettes.
"Who needs it in here? "Jax said proudly "We've got the best public transportation system in the world".
He sure got a car, but these pipsqueaks didn't need to know it. And he was right, the tram itself is the best: The little wobbling on the rails, and the efficiency to get to point A to point B was all that Jax need it. No struggling with parking, not to worry about the gas, no traffic....It was the best, no doubt.
"Kid, handle me some of those"
"sure, here" The little ghost happily lends him a pair of cigarettes.
As he was inhaling the nicotine, Jax let his head rewind his new job.
Now he has to go to that club and see how he could take pictures of a gold digger singer in a not-so-happy marriage. A great night is waiting for him. But a good money is a good money. At least he can have a drink or two in the club...maybe three. He'll do his job, get paid and forget again everything related to the artist business. After all, it's not his problem, it's Ace's and Kaufmo's. Who would marry a clown anyway? That jester must be as crazy as him or pretty desperate to get in the flashlights.
Hunger of money and attention, and she will get it in a few hours.
But to get the pictures...he needs a camera. Fuck.
Some honking wake Jax out of his thoughts. With a quick look he recognized his building and get off the tram, waving goodbye to the kids. Across the road was the tram station next to it, there was the bar. Jax rush to the entrance and get to the stairs. The smell of wood and alcohol welcomed his nose and so some mannequins who were playing pool. He knows almost all the people in there. That ambiance is where he belongs, calm, everyone is on their own business, drinks every time he wants, and no one has the nerve to scold him because they're the same as he: A drunk.
As getting closer to the bar, he saw a tram driver, unconscious in his table, a dozen of empty beer bottles around him and his hat laying on the ground. Jax grab it and puts it back to his head. He can't judge him.
"What's with Earl?" He asked
The mannequin sitting next to him was writing on a pad and turn it towards him.
"...Laid off?" The confusion in his voice was right on point.
"Yeah" Another mannequin with soldier uniform joined "A new outfit bought the red car. Some big company called Glitch Gloink".
Jax was in disbelief "No way" The soldier nodded his head. "They bought the red car?"
"Yes, point of no return" The solider said as he returned to his seat "Put the poor guy on two weeks' notice. Cutbacks they said." The notepad guy followed him and left Jax alone, better for him, he's not into too much chit chat at the moment.
"Well" He speak to himself while grabbing the notepad guy untouched drink " Here's to the pencil pushers. May they all get lead poisoning, huh?"
Before he could touch the glass, a weird shape hand covers the drink. He knew who it is without turning around, but he did anyway, an annoyed face was looking at him. An annoyed, triangled and ugly face.
"Tomorrow's Friday, Jax. You know what happens here on Friday? The pink triangle head ask irritated but calmly.
"Some Special?" He asked obliviously.
The bartender took the drink out of his hand, Jax looked the empty space "My boss checks the books on Friday, dumbass. And if I don't have that money, I gave you back in the till, I'm going to lose my job." Remarked
"Could you relax, Zooble?" He asked with a pride smile "I got you a present" He showed the check in front of Zooble.
"50 bucks!? The bartender sounded relieved for an instant "...Where's the rest?" But the annoyed voice came back.
Jax frowned offended "It's only a snoop job away." He said with false glee, putting the check in the bar "But i need your camera. Mine's in the shop"
"Wouldn't be the pawn shop by any chance, would it?" Zooble asked tauntingly while walking away to the till.
"Don't start with a scold, Zooble. If you want the other 50 i need the camera" He said more firmly. He doesn't have the energy to discuss with anyone. And specially not Zooble.
Zooble sighed heavily and get the camera behind the till. "Fine, just because I'm desperate"
"Thanks for comprehension Zoobie, i know you would understand" He mocked "Any film in there?"
Zooble gives the camera without looking "Maybe"
"It better have" Said Jax while inspecting it while Zooble gets back attending the bar.
"Haven't had that roll developed since our trip to the beach. Sure, was a long time ago."
"Yes it was" Jax agreed and putting the camera on one of his pockets " We'll have to do that again sometime."
"Yeah, sure" Zooble's tone was nostalgic and sarcastic. "There's no way right now"
"Gangle would like it" He sing " Just saying"
"Shut it, bunny boy" Zooble landed a whisky sour in front of Jax "Most important, the paper is even good?"
Jax sipped with joy and points the check "Just look at the scrawl"
"A. Jackpot? As in Jackpot Entertainment?"
He was going to nod, but at the second the thought of it come to his mind, a heavy and dense arm embrace him from behind, the strong essence of fudge got into their nonvisible noses. A brown blob shows up from behind Jax and sit next to him with one the of the most uncomfortable smiles he ever saw.
"Jackpot Entertainment" He repeated with his deep voice "Who's your client? Mr. Detective of the stars?" He laughed without letting Jax go from him.
His brow was frown; he didn’t even look him in the eye. He was calm, and Zooble knew that isn't a good thing from him. His frozen posture was telling everything, a countdown had started, and that brown blob is touching some buttons.
"Cut it out Fudge" Zooble said firmly.
"I know, you're sitting Baby Sandy right? You have to change her diaper before the filming?" He laughed at his own joke, Jax was still silent without moving a muscle. "Or maybe Fred lost Ginger?
His solo laugh was bothering everyone in the room. Jax eye twitched.
" Even better, Mr. Calloway kidnaps Ellington's big band in the Cotton?"
A sudden blow to his face stuns him, something grabs him and hits him against the bar, some of the glasses gets stocked in his face. Everyone in the room freeze in shock, Zooble saw it with calm but with certain pain, not for Fudge, of course. Jax's outburst is something painful to watch for Zooble.
"Get this right you shithead: I. Don't. Work. For artists." Jax whispered furious against Fudge's head before push him and let go. Both detective and bartender exchanged looks before he frowned and walked away. Zooble's eyes softened sadly.
"What's his problem?" Jax heard away.
"An artist killed his sister" Zooble answered.
"FUCK" Jax was stomping his way out of the building, his thoughts were a hurricane. "Why...WHY DO YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM!? " He was reclaiming to Zooble in his mind. "I'm not going around telling every miserable passerby your past or your secrets."
His head and chest hurts as he was walking towards the building across the street. He was angry, angry at Ace, at Fudge, at Zooble...at that being. At himself most of all. Those memories were carving under his skin so easily that annoys him.
"Not now, not now" He repeated to himself "It's work time, focus on that"
He shake his head. His pupils dilated and his wide smile appeared again
"Let's have some fun"