Settle Up Pt 9

"So this is a drive-in theater?"

Walt nodded. "It sure is. They used to be etremily popular long ago. You could be comfortable in your own vehicle and watch movies with your family and friends. They were cheap but profitable investments for operators. But they have their disadvantages too. They're only able to be open seasonally, weather is a big factor on what kind of a crowd you can draw. The machinery got more and more complex and expensive as theaters themselves became more corporate and a lot of these small mom and pop outdoor theaters started to disappear. You can still find them though and for some folks there's a nostalgia involved as well. The first movie I ever saw was in a drive-in like this one."

Penny smiled. "With your grandparents? What did you see?"

Walt nodded. "It was. It was a little after they brought me home. I was still really little so my memories of it are a little vague in places but it was definitely a Disney double feature of Fantasia and Snow-white."

"That sounds like a wonderful memory, Walter." She said. "Is that what we'll be watching tonight?"

Walt shook his head. "No. Tonight will be some other movies but we can watch those movies too sometime if you'd like. Disney made the animated talking animal Robin Hood yall liked so tonight we're seeing one of the new live action ones I haven't seen and then they're showing a classic, Casablanca!"

Penny giggled. "A favorite of yours?"

Walt laughs. "That obvious? Yeah. I honestly don't have high hopes for the "Robin the Hood 3: Get Scooby-Doo or Face the Wrath of Khan" one but "Casablanca" is considered to be one of the greatest movies ever still despite its age."

Penny smiled. "Then I'll be looking forward to it!"

The movie was starting.

It was a complicated piece of cinema. The plot "borrowed heavily" from Get Shorty replacing him Scooby-Doo and with StarTrek's Khan as the antagonist with a streetwise Timothy Drake/Robin as the protagonist. Making it a "period piece" and Robin and cast doubling as Robin Hood characters with Robin as also Robin made it even more... convoluted.

"Walt," Penny said quietly looking at him. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, Penny." He said.

"Do you... understand what this movie is about?"

Walt nodded. "Yes, Penny."

"Oh," she said. "Can you explain it to me?"

Walt said. "I'll try... they ripped off a good movie, ruining three different franchises and for some reason thought no one would notice if they made it a "period drama"."

"I see," said Penny. "So it's..."

"Yes, Penny," Walt said. "It's a total flop. Dumpster fire infact. Hot flaming garbage."

Penny breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, good! I thought maybe it was just me."

Walt shook his head. "Oh, no. This a wreck they can see from space. One of the down sides of the RD effect was the entertainment industry. It both revitalized it and how things were done and threw it on the trash heap at the same time. By using characters they can make them cheaper but that also means they'll churn out anything to try and make a quick buck." Walt sighed. "I stopped paying attention to it fifteen minutes in."

Penny nodded. "Then you are doing "work" with Friday?"

Walt chuckled sheepishly. "That obvious? We are. I didn't want to disturb you. Sorry this movie is a bust."

Penny shook her head and patted his arm. "I'm sure Casablanca will be better since you said so. And I'm happy to just be spending time with you!"

Walt smiled and took her hand. "Me too, Penny."

She smiled. "Can I ask you something else?"

"Certainly," he said.

She nodded. "What was in the napkin in your pocket that you handed that homeless looking man with the money you gave him?"

Walt smiled. "Peice of poisoned hamburger. He was one of my agents."

Penny looked at him. "From earlier at the restaurant? Someone tried something?"

Walt nodded and, seeing as they didn't care about the movie, quietly said. "Friday, go ahead and show her on the display and fill her in."

(("Yes, Boss.")) Friday projected Emeralds profile and other information.

(("Emerald likely infiltrated the RWBY Thursdays and Poisoned Walter's hamburger. Despite repeated use of her semblance and skills she was spotted several times approaching and leaving the location by agents and operatives through various means of detection. After detecting the poison and confirming yours was safe to eat, Walter made sure his was "inedible" while securing a sample of the tainted food for analysis. His previous declaration provoked the enemy into targeting him instead of you and one of their agents foolishly revealed themselves. Since Emerald is known more as thief and saboteur than an assassin, we're looking at the previous attacks, calculating likely suspects who she would go to such an **** for. The name at the top of the list-"))

"Cinder Fall," said Penny quietly.

Cinders profile is projected next. (("Correct, Penny. We believe that some of the previous attempts fit her profile and knowing that Emerald is a favorite agent of hers we're operating on that assumption now. Likely an Emerald from before her change of heart. The fire in that building earlier was likely arson and possibly a likely vantage point to observe from and cover their tracks."))

Walt nods. "It's not a hundred percent certain but it's likely her. She is the power hungry type who has trouble keeping a clear head and obsessed with her personal grudges and flaunting her perceived power. If she can get the maiden power from you while you're weakened and make you suffer at the same time she'd likely go for it."

Penny nods. "That does sound like Cinder. So she used Emerald and she attacked you because you said you'd protect me and loved me? Just to try and hurt me?"

Walt sighed. "I'm sorry, Penny." He hugged her.

She hugged him back. "It's not your fault Walter. If it is her, she chose to do it that way. You didn't make her do it."

She sniffled and Walt held her and stroked her hair. "Hey, now... everything is OK. Noone got hurt. Even that fire was an abandoned building."

Penny nodded. "I know. It's just... it's sad. They could have second chances at something better too but..."

Walt smiled at Penny and hugged her. "Not everyone will make good choices for themselves Penny. They will make their own decisions. And we don't know what either of their circumstances are... they could be chipped or controlled in ways we don't yet know."

"But you doubt it, don't you," she said.

Walt nodded. "It fits their patterns and profiles of behaviors. If she was taken from before her change of heart, then Emerald is still obsessed with Cinder and Cinder is obsessed with gaining even more power and lording it over her grudges."

Penny sighed. "It just seems so petty and wasteful to hold onto those things and feelings here."

Walt thought about Neo and her situation with Ruby and Penny, Mystique's attack on Tsu and now, likely, Cinder and Emerald. It was sad in a way. "Sometimes the things in our pasts are hard to let go of... we all have to make our own decisions on what we really want our futures to be and try to do the best we can in our present. That is life."

He kissed her. "It took me a longtime to get there but that's what I decided after meeting you. That morning when you told me what you wanted, asked me if I could do that for you, it was a big moment for me. You were the one shaking up my present and drawing me out of being stuck in my past. Once there, with you, I could see my possible futures and I chose the one I wanted to move forward towards. The one that would make you happy. Because making you happy, makes me happy!"

She smiled happily. "It makes me happy too! I feel the same way, Walter! Our happiness and love keeps building and growing... and now others have joined in and has become a beautiful blossoming garden!"

Walt grinned. "It has and it all started with you! None of this happiness would be possible without you in it!"

Penny shakes her head. "No. You are the one who made this possible! You are the garden, Walt!"

Walt shakes his head. "If that's true then it would be an empty garden full of weeds if you hadn't been there to tend it, plant the seeds and nurtured them to grow! I'm not the garden."

She laughed happier than ever and kissed him. Walt understood her vision somehow! "You're right. You're the wellspring! And I want to be the one to grow a garden around you!"

Walt laughed too! "I kind of dout I'm the source but I'm not going to argue. It's a wild idea but if that's what you want and it makes you happy, then that's what we'll do! And it does seem to be working! I love you, Penny!" He kissed her.

She kissed him back. "And I love you Walt!" She covered her mouth. "Oh no! We're probably being too loud!" She said quietly.

Walt chuckled. He looked around. "Penny that's why I parked in the back here."

Penny looked around. She had noticed they were back from the big screen. "I was wondering about that. Why do people park back here?"

Walt blushed. "Well usually it's to get some privacy and not disturb the other patrons with their activities."

Penny noticed that some folks were hanging out while other vehicles were dark but making noises. "But what other activities would- Oh!" She blushed too! "Would you like to..."

Walt kissed her. "Maybe later... but we can make out a little if you'd like."

Penny nodded smiling. "The movie isn't very good... let's make our own entertainment until the next one!"

Walt nodded smiling too as he drew her closer. "You have the best ideas!"

[Walter Stark Penny Polendina F.R.I.D.A.Y Neopolitan Pyrrha Nikos Blake Belladonna Kali Belladonna Sienna Khan Willow Schnee Glynda Goodwitch Ahnassi Lifts-Her-Tail Senko Sayoko Shinozaki Roberta Cisneros Haruna Sasha Blouse Ilulu Raven Manami Aiba also with Tsuyu Asui Haruhime Sanjouno The Baroness Demona Mystique Pirotess Lydia Aela the Huntress and Serana

Will Return In

Settle Up Pt 10

Coming Soon]