https://youtu.be/533XqERJUwY

It was funny how, for all his affiliation with black as a colour, for the foreseeable future, it was now his prison. It constituted the stones that lined the walls and floors of his prison cell, the bars that separated him from the outside world. Honestly, if he didn't know better, he'd swear the Mikado did this on purpose to taunt him.

The shackles that held him in place weren't black, though. The entire time, he'd been held in a silver pair of manacles made from pure Natura, designed to get in his way. He couldn't move his arms very far - pure torture for someone like him, who couldn't possibly express himself with mere words - and when he tried to cast spells or summon his weapon, the magic simply fizzled out, rendering him useless.

He was no stranger to this brand of chains, though. Nobody was, least of all the meagre law enforcement in Erdeland. Just one of Coronus Crystallus' many revolutionary endeavours. That was how the story went, at least. He knew the guy who really developed those, and he was a deceitful, thrice-damned devil.

He sat down on the bed - a small, plain bed with black bedding, that felt more like a cushioned stool than a comforting mattress. Dressed in the extravagant, once-immaculate but now mildly ragged suit he'd worn on the night of his capture, he looked down, his crimson eyes gazing down on the cold, black floor as he remained still. He couldn't break out on his own - the bars were far too thick and closely-packed for him to even think about squeezing out - so all he had to do was wait.

What was he waiting for? Who knew? There were so many things. Maybe he could have been waiting for his knight in a shining hoodie to arrive and free him from this hellish place. Maybe he could have been waiting for the law enforcement to put an end to all this flagrant crime. Heh. Maybe he could even be waiting for one of that dastardly Mikado's followers to go rogue - Galileo in particular seemed rather testy. Or maybe, he could just be waiting for her to show up and get on with it.

And speak of the devil. Hearing two sets of footsteps slowly making their way down the silver halls, he sat up, looking sharp and putting on his boldest smirk. Through the bars, he saw two figures walk up in front of him, remaining silent as his eyes met theirs.

They were both fairly masculine-looking women, though both carried completely different vibes about them. The one in front, dressed in a formal black pantsuit, was taller and more dignified in her bearing, with silver hair tied into a low ponytail and brown skin, similar to Makoto's. Her orange eyes, sharp like an eagle's, gazed harshly upon Iago, but her face was otherwise devoid of emotion.

Walking behind her was a slightly shorter, but still well-built woman, the muscular physique Iago knew she had being hidden behind a baggy green hoodie and brown sweatpants. She slouched slightly, her hands in her pockets as she looked at Iago with a hint of melancholy in her forest-coloured eyes. Her pale skin complemented her hair, which was short, scruffy and brown.

Gazing upon the pair, Iago grinned as though he were reuniting with an old friend, attempting to spread out his arms only to have his attempt impeded by those damned chains. Nonetheless, he didn't let that get in the way of his ever so congenial greeting. "My, it has been far too long, hasn't it? I do enjoy our little chats, my friends! They're ever so riveti-"

While he was speaking, the taller woman reached into her blazer pocket, pulling out a remote control, tapping a couple of buttons on it and watching as a compartment on the ceiling of Iago's cell opened, revealing a gun turret that poked out to fire a short barrage of bullets made from a grey energy. Each one struck Iago's back, interrupting him and causing him to clench his teeth as he felt his shield rippling against him. Without putting the remote away, she faced him directly, frowning slightly, while the shorter woman looked at him with a blend of pity and remorse.

"Iago Amino. You always were fond of the sound of your own voice." the suited woman said calmly. "I suppose it must run in the family."

Immediately, the friendliness vanished from his face, and with a glare filled with hate, he growled, "Don't you dare compare me to that...that scoundrel."

"There's no need to pretend your hands are clean, Devil's Spawn." she retorted, shaking her head. "But your verbosity may prove useful. There's a reason you're being kept alive, after all."

"Ha! My dear Kotoba, if all you wish is to recruit me, then-"

"Don't flatter yourself." Kotoba cut in, sighing slightly as she kept her thumb trained on a button on the remote. "What I'm after is information. And if anyone has the knowledge I seek, it may be you."

Iago raised an eyebrow, but as it was the one beneath his peekaboo bangs, it came out as a blank stare. "Oh? And why should I give you said knowledge?" he asked. "If you need me, then that means I have leverage, no?"

"Because you're the one behind the bloody cell." the more casually-dressed woman sighed, speaking up in an audible brogue accent. "Just give her the answers."

"You would be wise to listen to Valerie." Kotoba added. "Unlike you, she has some good survival instincts."

Iago squinted at that, crossing one leg over the other. "Oh, fine, if you truly insist!" he exclaimed. "But if we must proceed in this manner, may I at least request something to drink? A black coffee in these trying times would be salvation in excelsis!"

"Coffee is for talkers." Kotoba deadpanned. "Now, then, let's get back on topic. I believe you were particularly close with the Red Joker, weren't you?"

Iago frowned a little at that, giving Kotoba a slow, wordless nod. "Perhaps you could tell me a little about him. I've been observing him for some time, but I find myself confused." she continued, crossing her arms. "To be brief, he has little in common with the Joker I know. Tell me, in the time you've spent with him, did you ever get that feeling?"

"Whatever could you mean?"

Kotoba raised an eyebrow, pressing the buttons on the remote as the turret opened fire again, something Iago wasn't quick enough to evade. Valerie shuddered slightly as she heard Iago's melodramatic screams, watching the man fall to his knees. She knew Kotoba didn't have a high tolerance for tomfoolery, something Iago provided in spades. Fun.

"Playing dumb, are we?" she asked, visibly and audibly unamused. "He disappears without a trace for several months on end, and when he finally returns, he's done a complete 180. No longer is he the assassin, the villain, the attack dog. I could almost call him a hero, now."

Iago grinned a little as he recalled what Inigo had accomplished - partially thanks to him, but that wasn't the important part. Kotoba, watching him, shook her head. "He's saved many people, and hasn't even killed a single one of my men." she continued. "Am I expected to believe that an observant man like yourself failed to notice something so plain to see?"

At that, Iago smirked. "So my baneful brain has been noticed, has it?" he asked. "No one has ever been closer to him than I, so I can assure you - he is practically a different being entirely! Does it matter, though? At the end of the day, you will still perish, I shall be free, and it will be all thanks to him!"

"Really? I can't wait to test that." Kotoba hummed, smiling a little. "I do wonder if this 'new being' can match up to what we have in store for him. I wonder, what might be the most efficient way to kill him? I'll have to ask Galileo about that..."

The two of them locked eyes for a short while, before Kotoba shook her head. "Back on topic, however, I'm quite curious as to how he gained this new perspective." she said, tapping the remote lightly enough to not trigger any buttons. "Any thoughts on that, Devil's Spawn?"

"'Twould be the erasure of his memories, my fair lady!" Iago exclaimed. "The Red Joker of yesterday is but a ghost of the past!"

"Makoto didn't tell you? Then I'll put it cleanly. I killed your father."

Kotoba's eyes widened slightly as she recalled a scene playing out in her head, feeling and almost hearing a heavy heartbeat before she shook her head, composing herself. "...so he doesn't remember..." she murmured. "...an interesting tale..."

"The story has been told." Iago chuckled. "To believe, or not to believe - that is the question!"

"One with an answer." Kotoba straightened her posture, adjusting her tie before looking at the quiet woman behind her. "Valerie, everyone is deployed, correct?"

"Hmm? Oh, um, aye." Valerie nodded quickly. Coyote had told her as much, and she saw no reason to see him as lying to her. She'd even seen his carefully laid-out deployment strategies.

"Good. Then I'll pay extra-close attention to their reports." Kotoba nodded. "That is the only way to be certain."

She made a gesture to Valerie, turning around and beginning to head out. "Come. We shall be off." she said, and began to walk off without a word. Valerie exchanged a sympathetic glance with Iago, who glared sharply in response, before she, too, left.

Once he was alone, Iago sighed, looking down and shaking his head. "And so, the rest is silence..." he sighed, before perking up with a gasp. "...Hold on, what of my coffee?"

.........

https://youtu.be/bukQCWazDec

It was a quiet day at Pingo Station. Surrounding two tracks running in opposite directions were a set of sheltered benches - wooden, and protected from the elements by the arched, bricky rooves protruding from the surrounding exits and entrances. Sitting on one such bench was the duo of Azurine and Silas, all dressed up and ready to travel. The former wore a sky-blue sweater with a stylised wolf's head printed in white and mixed with a baggy pair of trousers. The latter, meanwhile, had a plain, sleeveless, red shirt under a yellow, equally sleeveless jacket, and a pair of beige sweatpants.

In Silas's hand was a phone, and he focused on its screen, seeming to text someone, while Azurine gazed up at him. The two of them remained wordless for a little until she broke the silence, asking him, "What'd he say?"

"He says he'll make sure to update us if he sees Galileo or his goons again." Silas replied. "Can't help but feel worried about him, though. He's not that great a fighter, you know?"

"I get that, but it'll be fine! Plus, Ruben's police is picking up the slack, right?" Azurine suggested, before sighing. "...not that that's very encouraging, but it's something!"

"No doubt." Silas sighed as well, looking up to the sky. "I'm sure he'll be able to keep us posted, though. He's always been pretty diligent on that front."

Azurine nodded at that, looking at a green-coloured watch on her wrist before shaking her head. "...geez. I get the train's not coming for another five minutes, but where are they?"

"Maybe we ought to give them a little time." Silas chuckled. "We did get here early."

"I swear, if he finds a way to be late for this, I'm gonna beat his ass." Azurine scowled, crossing her arms while Silas put his phone away with a light chuckle.

"That...would be bad."

The two of them continued waiting, and the minutes came and went. Right when they had one minute left, Azurine was about to open her mouth to complain once again, only to stop as she heard rapidly-approaching footsteps. Both she and Silas turned their heads to face the nearby entrance, spotting Scarlett as she sprinted out through it, stopping to look around before giving a triumphant jump for joy.

"Alright!" she declared, euphoria written all over her. "Looks like I win!"

She headed over to the other two, who eyed her in confusion. "Uh...what'd you win?" Silas asked, tilting his head.

"Wait..." Azurine narrowed her eyes, placing a hand on her chin. "Were you guys racing?"

"...I dunno. They were both in the air, so I decided this on my own." Scarlett shrugged casually. "As you can see, though, I left them in the dust."

"You didn't kill them, did you?" Azurine raised an eyebrow suspiciously, and Scarlett let out a nervous chuckle, unsure how much that was intended as a joke.

"If they died, that's a skill issue."

"Ooh, if they did die, can I take over as the strategist?" Silas asked jokingly, a cheesy smile on his face as Azurine looked over at him strangely. "...I mean, if you had dibs, that's fine, too."

"You're a tactician at best." Azurine huffed, crossing her arms. She was the strategist here, she thought. She took in a deep breath, only to pause herself as she heard a pair of voices coming from...above?

"They're over there!"

"Looks like this is the final sprint, then."

"Ready? I know I am!"

"Of course. Winner takes all!"

"...what the f-"

Before anyone else could say anything, or Azurine could finish her sentence, they saw the two speakers finally approaching, Inigo having leapt up onto the roof opposite them while Makoto, with his wings spread, flew up into view. As he quickly drove into position, Inigo jumped off towards the trio, both of them landing at the same time. Both of them turned their heads to face one another, as if trying to find some sort of evidence that they had been the one to land first, but upon finding none, they stood up straight.

"We're here." Inigo said, as though none of the above had just happened. "What time is it?"

"Don't worry, we didn't miss any trains. We've got less than a minute left before ours arrives." Azurine gazed up at Inigo uncertainly. He hadn't been late, but this was only barely better. "But geez, what took you so long?"

"Tutoring." was all Inigo said in response. Makoto, meanwhile, bowed his head respectfully, closing his eyes.

"Apologies." he told her. "He was teaching me how to play chess, and I got carried away."

He then cleared his throat while Azurine processed this. "By the way...you didn't happen to see who won, did you?"

"Scarlett did." Silas pointed towards the girl in question, who offered a smile and a wave. Before Makoto could say anything else in protest, everyone fell silent as the screeching sound that was all too familiar with them. They turned to face the tracks, watching as the howling steel carriage that was the train came into view, painted in sleek black as it approached them, coming to a stop.

Inigo pressed the silver button and the doors opened, revealing its spacious interior, and one by one, they walked in - Inigo and Makoto first, then Scarlett, and finally Silas and Azurine, who up to this point, had yet to stand up from their bench. Quickly, they entered the train, finding seats easily as they prepared to travel to their destination.