Chapter Text
((Dickie arrives at her apartment happy, jumps up and down until she bumps into the couch. She pulls herself together, heads to her bed and looks at her cell phone)).
Dickie Duck (thinking): You did it, girl. A confirmed date, well, confirmed outing. If I can make this whole thing work, maybe...maybe....
((Dickie covers her flushed face with her free hand as she holds up her cell phone. Suddenly, she hears a call and it's Gyro. Dickie answers)).
Dickie Duck: What's up, fella?
[Cut]
Gyro Gearloose: Dickie, uh, finishing up here, how are you?
[Cut]
Dickie Duck: Wonderful, my friend, because I made it.
[Cut]
Gyro Gearloose: Wait what?
[Cut]
Dickie Duck: I have a date with LP, Saturday. Yay.
((Gyro's heart felt a hard blow when he heard date and Launchpad in the same sentence. He tries to hide his pain to avoid any suspicion in his broken voice, although hearing his friend happy gives him some satisfaction, even if it's someone else)).
[Cut].
Gyro Gearloose: That was surprising, coming from the pilot.
[Cut]
Dickie Duck: Although I take it more as an outing, we'll go to the disco.
[Cut]
Gyro Gearloose: Tell me it's not because of that movie?
[Cut]
Dickie Duck: Hey, it may not be the greatest thing, but at the very least the dances were great. The chemistry of the couple. You know what I mean?
[Cut]
Gyro Gearloose: Yeah, yeah. Hey. Sorry I gotta go, I gotta clean up the lab.
[Cut]
Dickie Duck: Well, see you Doctor G. Bye bye.
[Scene change, Gyro Gearloose's Underwater Lab]
((Gyro put his phone down on his desk, put his hand up in frustration. Fenton notices the Doctor and goes with him))
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: Docter Gearloose?
Gyro Gearloose: What do you want, Fenton?
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: I just want to know...
Gyro Gearloose: I'm sorry, I'm just... stressed.
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: Oh, I see.
((Fenton is afraid to ask, since he knew it was related to Dickie, he didn't want to repeat the same thing from the other time. The hero grabs his bag and heads for the elevator)).
Gyro Gearloose: Dr. Crackshell-Cabrera!!!!
((Fenton stops, freezes, thinking the worst)).
Gyro Gearloose: Would you like to go out with me on Saturday?
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: Wait what?! I mean, I mean!!!! Of course... But why?
Gyro Gearloose: I just need a break, and you're my only friend... so, it's more for the sake of dismissal.
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: Glad to know that, I guess, hehe... (Thinking) His friend, that's a progress, strange, but good.
[Next day: Friday]
[McDuck Enterprises]
((Dickie is sitting at her desk, reviewing the latest bills for the month from McDuck Enterprises, seeing a worrisome amount for the repair expense to Duckburg, the plane and the expeditions to Viking land; compiled it in a folder labeled “expense for the month (plus)”, pulled out a note, wrote and left it taped to the folder. Saw her phone, it was 5:30 pm, goes to her coffee machine break with a smile. Fenton appears))
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera (Neutral): Hello, Miss Dickie.
Dickie Duck (Dreamy): Aaaawwww, Fen, good afternoon~.
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: Ahhh.
Dickie Duck: Oh excuse me, I'm just happy, that's all.
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: How nice, that you're....
Dickie Duck (proudly): Because I've got a date, Babe!!!! Well, exit. It's just as a point.
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: Oh, hey, good for you. I figure the lucky....
Dickie Duck: LP~
((Fenton froze when he heard that nickname, he thought about Gyro's attitude yesterday, afraid to ask and thanks to the blonde, concluded his co-worker's annoyance. Fenton knew his boss's feelings towards the girl, being the only one who knows. The hero conceals his discomfort at knowing his boss's secret about the blonde)).
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: Oooohhhh... I didn't expect that... wow, how unexpected.
Dickie Duck: Fenton, stop trying to dissemble, I know you're hiding something.
((Fenton's eyes widened and he got more nervous))
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera (Thinking): Oh no, why am I not good at dissembling?
Dickie Duck: I don't blame you if you're jealous.
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera (shock): What?
Dickie Duck (mocking): Well, bye Fen.
((Dickie retreats while prancing around, Fenton stands there confused by the sudden response)).
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera (thinking): Jealous?!
[Next day: Saturday]
[McDuck Manor; 7:20 pm]
((In Mrs. Beakley's room, the housekeeper combs the pilot's hair with a slicked back quiff. Launchpad is wearing a 70's style outfit, a multicolored semi-open shirt with psychedelic patterns, black bell-bottoms and dancing slippers, as she looks in the mirror))
Launchpad McQuack: Thank you, Mrs. B. The hairstyle complicated me.
Bertina Beakley: No need to thank you. You almost got burned.
Launchpad McQuack: Yeah, it's weird, if I use the curling iron in the kitchen, it's like for french fries to curl.
((Bertina rolls her eyes to the other side in frustration))
Bertina Beakley: Ready.
Launchpad McQuack: Thank you, Mrs. B.
Bertina Beakley: Wait, do you have any idea what you're doing?
Launchpad McQuack: Huh?
Bertina Beakley (uncomfortable): Dating... that girl.
((An awkward silence fills the room, Launchpad stares at the floor for a few seconds, takes a sharp intake of breath and turns to Beakley firmly))
Launchpad McQuack: Mrs. B, I know what I'm doing, don't worry. Thank you.
((The pilot gives a final smile to the housekeeper and leaves the room, while Beakley is left somewhat uncomfortable.
Launchpad walks down the stairs, bumps into the door leading to the living room where the kids and Della are watching TV)).
Launchpad McQuack: Goodbye children, goodbye Miss D.
Louie Duck (just raises his hand without looking): Bye
Dewey Duck (mumbling): Good luck!!!
Huey Duck: Bye, if you need advice for....
Della Duck (answering smacked): Bye and take care!!!!
((The children and Launchpad are taken by surprise by the way the woman answers, Launchpad just raises his hand and then drives away from the mansion in the limo. Huey turns to his mother))
Huey Duck: Mom... you... are you upset about...?
Della Duck: Ergh, yeah, because of her.
Dewey Duck: Right, because she should have asked me to dance, I'm a better dancer than him. It's not fair.
((His siblings and mother look at him shocked and puzzled by Dewey's words))
Della Duck: Just, suspicious. How did she gain everyone's trust so easily? Don't they think it's strange?
Huey Duck: Well... she's kind of charismatic.
Dewey Duck (whispering): And pretty ~
Della Duck: Baaahhh... she's just loud, she doesn't deserve that attention. And don't you think it's weird that she looks a lot like... you know who.
Huey Duck: Yeah, it's a little weird, although what's weirder is that she never mentions her.
((Della is pensive, looks across the room with an angry face and then some))
Della Duck (Thinking): I hope that careless guy doesn't get in trouble for her... That wretch.
[Disco: Groovy Rainbow, 9:00 pm.]
((A lot of customers dance, drink and chat in the extremely colorful venue, with seventies decorations and posters from the decade. The atmosphere is energetic and cheerful.
Launchpad enters the place. The pilot walked to an unoccupied table near the dance floor and sat down in a soft chair. He checked his phone and saw a message.
-
Dickie Duck:
[I'll be there in a few minutes... sorry. the scooter stops... haha XD]
Launchpad McQuack:
[I got here a while ago. No problem, Di :) ]
-
((Launchpad stares at the dancing customers waiting for the girl.
While Gyro in just a white t-shirt and dark brown pants, together with Fenton who is wearing his father's suit; they walk on the street until they reach the disco)).
Gyro Gearloose (dry): Here.
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: Oh, it's quite a picturesque place.
Gyro Gearloose (dry): Yeah, let's go in.
((Both scientists enter the place, Fenton sees the people dancing, his uncomfortable gaze is diverted trying to find a table far enough away from the crowd))
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera (pointing): There Docter Gearloose, so as not to disturb us.
Gyro Gearloose (dry): Sounds good to me. I don't want to dance, other than to have good fries with tartar sauce.
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: And he told me it was close to his house... How... 5 of a mile?
((Gyro didn't answer the question and they both sat down, a table quite far away that was near the door to the outdoor bar. Fenton scanned a QR code on the menu, while Gyro noticed the pilot's presence and looked away)).
Waiter: Good evening, would you like any food or drink?
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: I'll have a ginger lemonade, please. And you, Docter?
((Gyro looks at the wall with a pitying look))
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: Eeeehhhhh... Docter?
Gyro Gearloose: Ah, yes, yes, yes, I want...an iced tea.....
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: How about fries with tartar sauce?
Gyro Gearloose: Yeah, yeah, and that too.
((The waiter writes their order on his cell phone and leaves. Fenton observes his friend dismayed by his sudden sullen attitude, however, he kept silent to avoid an awkward conversation. The waiter delivered their order.
In the upstairs booth, the DJ was checking the records, when he heard a knock on the door, a blonde girl whispered to him, the employee looked at angry, she took out 40 dollars, the DJ looked both ways and accepted the money. Then he checked the vinyl record drawer, the musician dusted off the selected record and put it on the turntable.
Suddenly the song “Shake Your Groove Thing” by Peaches & Herb; everyone reacted surprised by the change of music, although they were again animated by the song, Launchpad received a message, read it and went straight to the dance floor)).
Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera: Huh? What's going on?
((Dickie Duck appears, sporting a full green suit, purple heels, gold earrings and bracelet, and hair tied back with a purple ribbon. Fenton was shocked and confused, Gyro spit out some of his drink in surprise and Launchpad gave him a small smile.)
Launchpad McQuack: Not bad, Miss Di Di *giggle*.
Dickie Duck: Same here... Let's give it to him, fella (motioning with her hand to the pilot).
((They both started dancing to the rhythm of the song. Those on the dance floor joined in the seasoning of the song.
The duo expressed their joy and in good sync with their dance steps, plus Dickie who showed off her steps that she knew from 70's movies. Launchpad at first had a hard time keeping up, though he recovered with disco-like arm movements.
Fenton watched the two from afar with a surprised look on his face, after processing, he understood his friend's true intention; when he turned to speak to him, and he was gone. Fenton looked both ways to see if there was a sign of the scientist until he saw the door to the semi-open outdoor bar and headed there.
Outside the bar, three shadows appeared with a bag in hand.
Inside the disco, as the song ended; Dickie and Launchpad went to sit at their table).
Launchpad McQuack (tired): Uuufff...you never get tired.
Dickie Duck: I've been dancing for a while now. So, no.
Launchpad McQuack: Fairly eccentric to come in like that for an outing.
Dickie Duck: Says it that he crashes several times.
Launchpad McQuack: Bruleé.
Dickie Duck (confused): Isn't it Touché?
Launchpad McQuack: Exactly.
Dickie Duck (processing): Aahh... forget it.
((They both ordered a strawberry milkshake and a mint orange juice. Their orders were received, while drinking simultaneously, the girl starts the conversation)).
Dickie Duck: How has your job been going?
Launchpad McQuack: Pretty good, now that Mrs. D and I are starting to work together more frequently and without yelling at me too much. All good.
Dickie Duck: Oh... And you don't dislike it when she yells at you?
Launchpad McQuack: A few times, when I notice that it's more out of retaliation for no reason. Although my family gave me a lot of patience. *laughs*
Dickie Duck (wistfully): It must have been nice.
Launchpad McQuack: What do you say?
Dickie Duck (wistful): Of having a family.
Launchpad McQuack (worried): Oh! I'm sorry I didn't mean to...!!!!
Dickie Duck (melancholy): Don't worry. I mean, I reached out to have one.
Launchpad McQuack: Oh my... I...
Dickie Duck (melancholy): The only family I ever had was my mom and then...going independent all of a sudden.
Launchpad McQuack: But only her?
Dickie Duck (melancholy): I never knew my father. And I don't know if I have another one...although at least I had people who were important to me.
Launchpad McQuack (comforting): Family found, it's a nice way to see what's beyond. With Mr. McDuck and his family it felt good.
Dickie Duck: Yes, actually being in the company is comforting. I hope you involve me in the adventures so I can understand why and not just be in the background.
Launchpad McQuack: What if I...?
Dickie Duck: No, no, no, I want to try it on my own. I appreciate the gesture anyway.
Launchpad McQuack: Oh ok. Eeehhh. Nice talk. Heh heh.
Dickie Duck (sweet tone): LP, really, thank you for this... outing, you're a good man.
Launchpad McQuack: You don't have to thank me, you're....
((Suddenly a loud knock is heard at the door of the shop, the door breaks down and they're the Beagle Boys).
End of chapter 2.
Some additional sketches of the quartet of employees.
