Frank's Minion: chapter 54

LP went with David to the closet in the castle that had games for her and Miracle to play with whenever they were bored. "We got Clue... We got Monopoly... Scrabble... Operation... Mystery Date... Dirty Minds... I Never..."

"Clue?" David suggested.

LP went over, pulling over a stool and hopped up, grabbing the murder mystery game and smiling to David. "It was Mrs. Peacock with the revolver in the bathroom!" she giggled at her and Miracle's inside joke.

David smiled politely as he didn't know the joke.

"Oh, Miracle and me do that a lot," LP smiled apologetically. "We just call out the random characters and who killed, and with what, and where before we start playing."

David nodded.

LP took David to the room where the games were played and put the box on the table. "You know how to play?"

David nodded.

"Okay, good, it's hard to explain." LP smiled, taking out the board, tiny weapons and character cards.

David smiled.

"You wanna be anyone in specific?" LP asked as she looked at the various cards with more characters than the usual Mrs. White, Miss Scarlet, Miss Peacock, Mr. Green, Professor Plum, and Colonel Mustard.

David shrugged.

LP looked away, shuffling the cards for David and give him a random pseudonym. "How about Miss Georgia Peach?" she didn't see the pun in that fictional woman's name.

David chuckled.

"Umm... Monsieur Brunette?" LP took out the one that was a foreign con artist.

David nodded.

"Okay, here, you be him." LP smiled, handing David the card, then choosing one for herself. "Hmm... Scarlet... Peacock...White... Lady Lavender... Mrs. Meadow-Brook, Miss Grey... Mrs. Silver... Madame Rose..."

David grinned.

LP then took out the Madame Rose card and they started their game. "Welcome to a wonderful, unforgettable evening... You are invited by Mr. Black and his butler to an evening of partying, drinking, and social convention." she started to make a story for her and David to follow with for the game like she often did.

David enjoyed playing along.

"Ah, welcome Monsieur Brunette, you are being expected," LP continued to narrate, shaking David's hand. "My name is Madame Rose. I can tell your future using tarot cards or a crystal ball." she smirked, sounding mysterious to imply her character was a fortune-teller.

"Bonjour, Madame," David said charmingly, kissing her hand.

LP giggled. "Yes, good sir... Welcome to the party. I have a gut feeling this will be a 'killer' evening."

David gave a fake French laugh.

LP chuckled at the laugh, then got back into character. "Wine, monsieur?"

"Oui, merci, Madame." David winked.

LP giggled and continued. "The other guests arrive... Colonel Mustard is telling us of his latest hunting expedition. The girls are chattering about their husbands while Mrs. White feels betrayed to know hers... She is hiding something from the other guests, we all have a secret. Clearly despite her namesake, Mrs. White isn't so pure..." she grew shifty eyes.

David gave a gasp, smiling. "I see." he said.

"We are asked to meet Mr. Black in his dining room as the gong strikes," LP smirked, making the mood very intense. "We all go into the dining room... There are name tags for everyone to sit, obviously as the host, Mr. Black sits at the head of the table. How convenient! Madame Rose and Monsieur Brunette sit together, which makes some of the other guests cackle seeing that the two have struck a bond just after having discourse in the foyer for pre-meal wine."

David broke out into chuckles, it was amusing.

LP glanced at him, but had an amused smirk to show she wasn't mad about him 'laughing at her'. "Yes...?"

David couldn't speak for a moment.

LP glanced at him, then continued. "We are seated by name tag... Monsieur Brunette and Madame Rose sit together as the butler pours us our drinks, selections of water or wine. Being aristocrats, we choose the fine wine aged to perfection. Mr. Black is very late to his own party and there is a mysterious feeling about not having the host to his own party. Soon enough, Mr. Black arrives and greets us all, shaking everyone's hands and kissing the women on the cheek. Mrs. White is visibly disgusted with Mr. Black... But, why do we think this is?"

David pretended to put a glass down. "She think he's messing around with other women." he said.

"Yes, Mr. Black has a history of 'adult tree' in the past." LP pointed.

David tutted.

"Mrs. White is the most angered with Mr. Black," LP smirked darkly. "The butler is now coming with foreign cuisine that surprises the guests. A few of the guests look sick to their stomachs, but more prim and proper people like Miss Scarlet already eat ahead. The only other sounds heard are the men slurping their soup, seeming to be on purpose to break the tension of the silence in the room as familiar eyes deeply scowl at one another."

David winked to LP and made a slurping sound.

LP giggled. "That was great!"

"Well I need to help get into Character." David winked.

"Understood." LP giggled, cupping her mouth a little.

David smiled.

"Anyway," LP cleared her throat to continue. "Dinner is going on... Everyone is eating, eating, eating... Suddenly, Mr. Black had come and requests his guest to the lounge if they do not want any fruit or dessert."

David blinked.

"Monsieur Brunette doesn't wish to have grapes or cake?" LP asked him before continuing the story.

"Uh, no thank you." David said.

"To the lounge!" LP proclaimed and mimed herself walking to meet the other 'guests'. "Mr. Black offers his lighter to anyone who chooses to smoke for leisure. Professor Plum lights his pipe while Miss Scarlet smokes a cigarette..." she wrinkled her nose about the filthy habit of smoking.

David wrinkled his nose too.

"Yuck," LP shook her head, sticking her tongue out. "All was normal, drinks were poured, topics of boring adult stuff were discussed... Mr. Black handed boxes to his six guests including Monsieur Brunette and Madame Rose. The boxes weren't properly wrapped and were easy to open. Tension increased as the guests wondered which would be the first to open and reveal what they were given. Madame Rose decided to open hers and took out what was revealed to be a candlestick..."

David opened his. "I opened mine to find a dagger." he said.

"How slicing and threatening," LP replied. "Lady Lavender opens hers to find the lasso..."

David grinned.

"Is that what this is called?" LP took out the rope, breaking character a moment.

David nodded. "Yeah." he smiled.

"Okay," LP nodded, then got back into character. "I have a lasso, Monsieur Brunette has a dagger..." she then listened the other weapons and took out this Mrs. Peacock card, glaring at it as the character was set to have the revolver. "Shame..."

David raised an eyebrow.

"Mr. Black informs the guest that death and betrayal will be among them as I, Madame Rose have predicted," LP continued, sounding like she was making more of a novelization of the board game, than just play it like a normal child. "He tells them in order to be safe, there must be death in order to survive in the end... He turns out the light, a gunshot is heard, and the lights come back on to show the host of the party had been dead on the floor with crimson blood leaking out from his lifeless body! But who killed him?"

David shivered then grinned.

LP stuck her tongue out playfully, then heard something outside. "Miracle...?"

David looked at her.

LP left the room without saying anything and went to the front door. "Miracle!"

David followed.

"Whoever killed him was the one with the revolver..." LP's eyes grew shifty again. "All eyes lie upon Mrs. Peacock..."

David gave a chuckle.

Noelle nuzzled against Nation. Nation smiled.

"I thought since you were related to Randy and Genta that you'd... You know... Hook up with your brother..." Noelle said shyly, hoping she didn't offend the woman.

Nation gave a laugh. "Oh, no, we respect our cousins' decisions, but we just never liked each other that way." she explained.

"Sorry, wasn't sure if it was a family thing or what..." Noelle smiled apologetically. "Guess I should know since I'm not that much like my brother... I heard he used to wear our mother's old necklace like a sash when he was a toddler."

Nation smiled.

"I think our sister takes after him though..." Noelle smiled.

Nation laughed gently.

"Well, genetics are funny." Noelle shrugged. "I really like you, Nation..."

"And I do like you too." Nation smiled.

"Like like...?" Noelle pressed her lip.

Nation blushed slightly, nodding.

"I think I like like back..." Noelle blushed.

Nation smiled and kissed her cheek.

"Ooohh..." Noelle felt tingly with the kiss, in a good way.

Nation then settled to listen to the music with Noelle. Noelle rested in her lap. Nation stroked her hair. Noelle looked up at her, smiling. Nation smiled.

"You are so pretty..." Noelle smiled cheerfully.

Nation played with Noelle's hair. "If I am, then so are you." she said.

Noelle sighed. "Where were you when I was growing up? We could've had so much fun!"

Nation played with her hair still. "We would have had fun..." she smiled.

"I knew these three girls... They always tried to trick me and stuff..." Noelle sighed. "Vanessa, Michelle, and Suzanne... I think they wanted me to become one of them, one time they came to our place with backpacks and they told me to go with them, but then... My brain told me 'They're making you run away!'," she sighed, putting her hands to her face. "Plus back then Frankie was such an ego maniac... He always bullied me, but at least he wasn't as bad as they were and he was so busy with Randy all the time."

Nation leaned down and kissed her forehead. Noelle giggled at the kiss. Nation smiled.

Cosmo pulled up by the castle.

"Hey, I know this place!" Anastasia sounded freaked out.

Miracle jolted at Anastasia's exclamation.

"Oh, sorry." Anastasia said to Miracle as Cosmo stopped the car.

Miracle looked around, fearful a little. Cosmo came to help Miracle and Anastasia out to assure them that everything was going to be okay. Suddenly Riff passed. Miracle was kind of hyperventilating.

"Oh, dear..." Cosmo mumbled.

Riff headed out of the castle. Miracle bit her lip.

Cosmo looked to see Riff coming, then looked to Miracle. "Look sweetie, it's your Daddy!"

Anastasia came out, looking with wonder. Riff came over and picked her up. Miracle started to cry.

Cosmo smiled at the reunion. "I believe they've given her horrid therapy."

Anastasia blinked at Riff Raff. Riff gently cradled her. Miracle was both happy and scared.

Magenta came out and her eyes widened. "Miracle!"

Cosmo looked over to see the woman and smiled. Riff gently put her down. Miracle jolted at the loud exclamation. She started to tremble violently.

"Sveetie, it's Mummy..." Magenta came over to her daughter to reunite with her.

"They gave her nasty medicine and I'm worried about her health now from it..." Cosmo said to Riff.

Riff looked at him. Miracle looked at Magenta, still trembling but now Cosmo had said that it was obviously not because of Magenta herself.

"Does Frank have anything to fix her up?" Cosmo asked.

"Honey... It's me..." Magenta went to her daughter.

Riff watched carefully. "No... I don't think so..." he said quietly.

Miracle took a shaky step towards her.

"I'm sure Nation has maybe something..." Cosmo was deeply worried for the poor girl.

Magenta smiled to show she was friendly and wiped her leaking and kind of grotesque running eye mascara. Riff glared at the straight jackets. He then looked calmly at Anastasia. Miracle started to rush closer but started to trip, seemingly over nothing. Anastasia looked over to Riff, not sure what to say.

"Mir!" Magenta rushed to her daughter.

"Let's get them inside before they freeze." Cosmo suggested.

Mir looked up at her mother. She luckily had been caught. "That cat just tripped me up..." she whispered. Magenta could probably feel how light she had become and how she felt fragile.

Magenta picked up Miracle, noticing the very light weight. "Oh, dear... You haven't been eating much, have you?"

Mir tried to nuzzle into Magenta. "Food alvays flew avay..." she mumbled.

"My poor baby, you must be starving..." Magenta carried Miracle inside.

Miracle tensed up, trembling, she started to hyperventilate. Magenta shushed and gently tried to soothe her daughter as she went to the kitchen to give the girl a little something to eat.

"I don't vant to go... I be a good girl..." Miracle whimpered.

Riff glared at the straight jackets. He then looked calmly at Anastasia. Anastasia looked over to Riff, not sure what to say.

"Who are you, child?" He asked, helping Cosmo to get Anastasia inside. He undid the jacket.

"My name's Anastasia," the red-headed girl looked around. "They locked me up because my mom thought playing video games was evil, so she and my dad ran away to an Amish farm last year. I heard about this place on TV."

Riff nodded once.

"I guess I could go home with them..." Anastasia did not live here and was not invited, so she best turn around and leave unless someone wanted her to stay.

"Hold on... why did Cosmo bring you too?" Riff asked, as gentle as he could.

LP looked with David from afar by the Christmas tree that Miracle was being brought back in. David held LP's hand.

Anastasia shrugged. "Miracle was my roommate."

Riff nodded. "Then for now you can stay here." he said.

Nation gently got up to check on anyone who needed checking, kissing Noelle's cheek. Noelle nodded and understood, waiting for Nation to come back in a little while.

"Oh, sir, I couldn't..." Anastasia said softly.

Riff looked at her. "I insist." he said.

"I hope she's okay..." LP said under her breath.

David nodded. LP decided to go with David to meet Miracle.

"Sweetie, would you like to open your presents now?" Janet caught LP and David in the corner of her eye.

LP sighed, not sure what to say now.

David looked at Janet then LP. "Go ahead." he said softly.

"I guess I'll open one..." LP sat on her knees, taking one with a blue snowman wrapping paper and it was to her from Riff. "Hmm..." she grabbed one end, bit her lip and ripped one side to the other.

David smiled, watching.

LP bit her lip. "I should wait for Miracle."

Brad clung to Janet, still not told her the news he heard.

Janet stroked him. "Are you sure, sweetie?"

David smiled.

"I'm positive, Janet." LP put the present down.

"Okay dear..." Janet cooed.

David smiled. LP put the present back in place.

Janet smiled, then wrapped her arm around her fiance. "You okay, hon?"

"Just something heartbreaking..." Brad said softly, not sure whether to tell her now or later.

David looked over.

"You think Mir's going to be okay?" LP asked David.

David nodded "She almost got my mom beat up." he said.

LP giggled, that was a bit funny. David chuckled too.

"That was kinda funny, David." LP giggled.

David grinned.

"Umm... Wanna continue our game?" LP suggested for them to do that until Miracle would be taking a bath and they would open presents later while around this time, every other kid in the world has already opened their gifts.

David nodded, smiling. LP nodded, then went back to the game room to arrange the 'murder mystery party' back on track and alive. David went with her.

"Really?" Anastasia smiled shyly.

Riff nodded. Anastasia smiled at Riff. Riff didn't react, but that was normal.

Nation looked thoughtful. "Anastasia, come here, dear." she said gently.

Anastasia heard her name called and smiled as she came to Nation, geeking out over her like she did with Cosmo. "Wow, Nation McKinley!"

Nation chuckled. "Okay, you know the medicine you were given, did it ever make you see things?" She asked gently.

"It did the first few times," Anastasia explained. "Soon enough, I think it gave me an allergic reaction because they stopped giving it to me and I couldn't swallow it anymore. It tends to make people paranoid and 'hear colors' and then odd things that aren't there."

Nation frowned a little, giving the girl a small hug. She looked at Cosmo "Did you grab their files?" She asked.

"I managed to get some, but I had not read them, I left them in the car." Cosmo replied, sounding like the doctor he was firmly trained to be.

"Go fetch them, Cos." Nation said.

Cosmo nodded and went to the car. Riff went to fetch Miracle and Magenta. Nation smiled slightly at Anastasia.

"I took pills after the injections got old, I guess." Anastasia shrugged.

Nation stroked her hair, but not like she had Noelle's.

Anastasia giggled a little. "That tickles!"

Nation chuckled.

"I didn't know you and your brother/colleague lived here..." Anastasia looked around. "I saw a special on this castle."

"We're just here for the holiday." Nation explained.

"Oh, okay." Anastasia blinked.

Cosmo came back with the files for his sister to examine. Nation took the files. She found Miracle's and Anastasia's luckily. She decided to read through Miracle's first, handing Anastasia hers to choose whether Nation could read it or not.

Anastasia sat on the floor and looked to Brad and Janet while Nation read.

"Will she be okay?" Cosmo sounded more like a frantic patient than a professional television doctor.

Nation looked to Cosmo. She looked a little grim.

"What is it...?" Cosmo's face instantly paled.

Nation sighed. "They put her on the strongest meds, it's going to be hard to get her weaned from them..." was the first problem she mentioned.

"Oh, dear..." Cosmo looked like he was going to be sick to his stomach.

Nation nodded. "They've also written here that since she went in she increasingly had wild and violent episodes..." she said softly. She was outraged. "They kept her mostly in isolation..."

"Oh, my... Can't we do something?" Cosmo was deeply worried.

"We have to find a way to wean her off the meds... but I don't know Cosmo we may have to treat her cat the station." she said softly.

"Do you think we can?" Cosmo asked. "This feels like the Make a Wish foundation..."

Nation looked at him. "If we don't she could hurt someone or herself..." she said. She kinda wished Noelle would come so she could hug her.

"Should we take her to the station?" Cosmo wondered.

Nation sighed. "That is the best option." she said.

Cosmo nodded grimly. "Should I tell Magenta?"

Nation nodded. "But we'll let her have a day here." she said softly.

"They von't hurt you anymore, I promise..." Magenta said as she took a huge chunk of the roast that Janet suggested to be served for dinner and gave it to Miracle to eat that nearly filled up the whole plate. She left a fork and knife.

Miracle looked at the meat. Her stomach spasmed from the look of it. She looked at her mother. "The jacket von't stop hugging me..." she mumbled.

Magenta decided to try to feed Miracle. "Ve'll get it off soon, babe..."

Miracle tried to eat some. The flavors were intense.

"Eat up..." Magenta allowed Miracle to eat as much as possible and hopefully regain the girl back to her normal self.

Miracle couldn't manage much. She looked queasy a little.

Magenta stopped feeding Miracle. "You poor thing... I'm so sorry you vere taken avay like this..."

Miracle looked at her mother, trying to stay focused. "Not your fault, Mommy." she whispered.

"My baby..." Magenta sighed.

Miracle struggled a little. "Jacket... I vant to hug Mommy..." she whispered.

"Do you vant a hug?" Magenta asked, taking the plate away.

Miracle nodded.

"Of course, my angel..." Magenta pulled Miracle into a hug, hugging the first time in what felt like more than four weeks. She nearly cried in the hug and felt so glad Miracle was back to all of them.