happilyeverbeginning | Two Darkwing Duck Adventures for the Post of One!

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Two Darkwing Duck Adventures for the Post of One!

[For Morgana]

[Drake's quest to find answers about the missing Professor Waddlemeyer was full of dead ends. He had made no progress, and he felt bad about the effect that had on Gosalyn. She was still her normal chipper self most of the time, but he had learned to see the cracks in that. And he wanted to do everything he could to help her feel better until he could reunite her with her real family.

These days, it seems the thing she got most excited for was a band. To Drake's relief, it's not like other music of the youths which register just as noise for him. This actually sounds like the kind of thing he'd listen to in high school! And the singing is just great... but this is about Gosalyn! In a spot of bad timing, Gosalyn's fallen sick while the band's has come to St. Canard for a concert. And so Drake's claimed to be out for a night of quiet patrolling while Launchpad tends to the sick kid, but in actuality he's doing something as Drake Mallard. If she can't attend the concert, maybe he can at least get an autograph for her or something. Maybe that will raise her spirits!

And so, Drake Mallard sneaks around backstage at the concert, for any sign of mysterious melodist...]

[For Della]

[It was a long night of fighting crime in Avalon for one Darkwing Duck. Some sort of magical monsters were on the loose, and he didn't get out of it without a comical number of bruises on his head. He was also left somewhat disoriented...

So when he slinked back home in the wee hours of the morning and tried to clamber into his bedroom through the window, he did not realize that he was going through the completely wrong window, into the room of the one person who didn't yet know his secret!]

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[Darkwing has set himself on the mission. No more distractions, he had to take down the bad guys, even if one of them as a baddie in more than one sense of the term!

But then he finds himself stopping in his tracks. As a familiar melody enters his ears... and not just his heart, but his mind. He finds himself starting to doze off.]

H-hey. I... know this...

[He stumbles around in a daze, and he hums some of the words gently before he collapses and starts snoring loudly onto the street.]

[ Phew! That was too close a call! After a huge sigh of relief, Morgana slings the guitar onto her back and goes to gently pick up the handsome hero into her arms. ]

Sweet dreams, Dark darling~.

[ She kisses his forehead, before rejoining the band. They say since he's out like a light, snuff him out for good - which gets a fierce growl in return. He becomes a dead over her dead body! Instead, she demands them to drive around until she can find a safe spot to put him, ultimately deciding on the park under the shade of a large tree. (A literal bed of roses would have been romantic, but thorny.)

Now, what to do next? One night's worth of robbing wasn't going to satisfy any of their greed, but Morgana managed to convince them to lay low for at least a few days. They'd need to prepare themselves in case Darkwing interrupted their gig again.

Morgana herself was rather eager to do some research, alongside her band's rehearsals... Who was that cunning mind behind the shadowy disguise? ]

[He still hears the song echoing through his dreams. Eventually, he wakes up under the tree with a start! He spends a moment wondering how if he dreamed all that... While rubbing at his forehead, because he still feels the warmth of a kiss there. That's proof enough to him! But it's not a good thing. It means that not only did he have to fight Morgana, but they got away.

After going back home and receiving the ego boost from giving Gosalyn her autograph (while keeping the battle from her) he gets to work on research! He looks for everything and anything he can find on the internet about Morgana and her band, for any clue about what might be happening and where they could be hiding. He's sure Morgaha must be being blackmailed or under mind control or something. He also examines the papers with the autographs a lot more closely...

And in turn, looking up Darkwing will bring up articles about his fledgling crimefighting career in Saint Canard, information on the original television series that inspired it and some news on the aborted movie in which the original Darkwing actor apparently lost his life!]

[ There's good news and there's bad news in Darkwing's research -

The Bad News? There's a reason why Drake had never heard of the band until Gosalyn brought it up, and why Morgana was so startled over an autograph. Morgana and The Ghoulies, as they called themselves, were so under the radar they didn't even have an obnoxious fanclub on Duckblr. They were struggling to host any gigs, and had to pay out of pocket for the most minor of road trips. And what road trips they did have usually had a string of "mysterious robberies" left behind. That night had definitely not been their first rodeo.

The Good News? Continued research and a keen eye would find that the band was still in town, and were using an abandoned theater set for rehearsals and practice - mostly thanks to a bored janitor who was practicing his selfies in that area.

As for Morgana's side of things? She was rather intrigued by this discovery - someone so inspired by an old superhero show that they took on the moniker to bring justice to the world? It was an odd mesh of delusional and charming. (She might have wound up watching an episode. Or two. Or six.) But that still meant whoever was behind the mask now was just an ordinary mortal... So to speak of "ordinary."

Maybe she could use a bit of rehearsal time to see if she could master that theme song on her guitar... ]

[He was sure that this must have been one of those big bands all the kids these days are into! He makes sure he typed the name right several times before accepting the reality of how low-profile this band really is. It just baffles him, with how great the band is, and how Morgana seems like she should be the star of everyone's hearts. There must be something he's not getting here! But one thing he does get is that there seems to be mysterious robberies wherever they perform. It looks like this isn't their first criminal rodeo for sure.

And sure enough, he finds a lead. But jumping in and cracking skulls as Darkwing doesn't seem to be the right call. No, he decides to make a day visit... something peaceful, this time for the sake of trying to make sense of this and get more information. It helps that it's at a theater... his old type of stomping grounds. And a place where he could have a reason to be!

So Drake just saunters on over in the middle of the day! As casual as possible, even if he's freaking out on the inside!]

[ Unsurprisingly, there's no security at the theater, so he'll meet no trouble as he enters. Not to say trouble isn't brewing here... As he enters, he'll hear shouting on stage. ]

Where do you think you're going?! We haven't even been at this for an hour!

[ The others retort back at her, sharp and condescending - there's no love lost between this crew.
"If you had hadn't been so soft on that Darkwing Dork, we could have grabbed way more loot!"
"Yeah, we need to start working on the next big heist."
"I'm sure this town of full of suckers!"]

You... the MUSIC is supposed to come first, THEN the crimes! You can't just... what about our fans?

[ "WHAT fans?" One of them dryly mocks, which really seems to hurt Morgana, given the way her shoulders slump. They snort and laugh at her naivety before leaving her completely alone on the stage.

Morgana swallows thickly, then shakes her head. Their life of crime is supposed to be temporary! Just until they catch their big break! ... Eventually...

Hanging her head a bit, she's still determined to practice, even if her song is much more melancholy than metal. ]

I sense there's something in the wind,
That feels like tragedy's at hand...

[Drake was initially planning to just saunter on up. But once he overhears the argument, he decides it's best to make himself scarce. The way they're arguing... It does give his heart a hopeful skip. Her heart's really not in it after all! Maybe her bandmates are the True Villains after all.

Once they're gone, he's ready to go off and confront her... but then he he hears something else instead. That beautiful melodic voice is singing again! But a song that sounds more gentle, more somber. He needs to hear more of it. So Drake just continues to slip through parts of the the theater as he listens to her, until he's right behind a nearby curtain.]

[ As expected, he goes unnoticed. Morgana continues to sing, strumming her guitar, although the lyrics raise plenty of questions - is she merely rehearsing a song? Is it about herself, or another? She takes slow, somber steps with the melody, eyes closed as who knows what travels through her mind. ]

And though I'd like to stand by him,
Can't shake this feeling that I have...
The worst is just around the bend,
And does he notice... my feelings for him?
And will he see... how much he means to me?
I think it's not to be...

[ She only met Drake once, but he was nicer to her than most of the people she met through her travels. Yet surely once he realized the magic and monstrosity was real, he'd turn tail in the other direction. And Darkwing? Oh, that was fun, but they were on different sides. He was always going to be more determined to stop her than date her. There were only a handful of hearts in this world that would truly accept Morgana McCawber for who, and what, she was.

And one of them happened to belong to a rather big, black, possibly venomous spider that was crawling on Drake's foot. Say hello to Archie. ]

[Morgana doesn't need to be using her magic for her music to put Drake in a trance. He feels absolutely enchanted as he listens to each word, with a bittersweet heartache. He's tenpted to step up and make this into a duet... really hoping that the subject of the song is him and not some other guy!

But his train of thought is disrupted when he happens to feel something on his leg. He slowly looks down to see the biggest spider he's ever seen on his foot! Immediately, Drake lets out a distressed squeak, before pressing a hand over his beak and starting to shake his leg frantically in an attempt to shake the spider off!]

[ Well, it is and it isn't about him and some other guy... Ah, the trickiness of being in a love triangle when you are in fact two sides of it. ]

What will become of my dear friend?
Where will his actions lead us then?
Although I'd like to join the crowd,
In their enthusiastic cloud...

[ The squeak goes unnoticed, either because he was able to cover it up in time or Morgana is just that into her singing. After all, she's very passionate about her music, be it her guitar or her voice.

And that spider is very passionate about getting this guy the heck out of here. Instead of flinging off, it instead begins crawling upward... ]

[His eyes widen with fear, and he intensifies his leg-shaking! While trying to catch more of the song. He whispers harshly at the arachnid.]

Get off! You... You're really ruining the moment. Come onz I need to know how this song goes!

[He ends up essentially kicking his leg against the curtain to try to get it off!]

[ The spider isn't letting go - although in the end, trained physical movie actor versus spider isn't much of an even match, and Drake may very be able to fling the dang thing off.

Sorry, Drake, this is a solo act. Jack didn't join the song until the movie was pretty much over! ]

Try as I may, it doesn't last...
And will we ever end up together?

[ With a heavy sigh, she moves to take off her guitar, letting it rest on a nearby piano. (Which may or may not have been playing along with this song?) She goes to sit on the edge of the stage, looking down but of course, not really looking at anything at all. ]

No, I think not, it's never to become...

[ She draws her knees to herself, hugging them close, and hiding her face in her hair. ]

For I am not... the one...

[With enough effort, it seems Drake manages to dispose of that enemy for the moment! And listens to the last, heartstring-pulling words of that song.

He can't take it anymore. Drake bursts out from behind the current, his facial feathers all red!]

Yes you are!!

[Except now that he's said that out loud, he feels like that's... a bit much. So he quickly puts on a casual smile and starts slowly clapping his hands.]

Um, that is... Yes, you are... doing great! Now that, that was very... well sung by you!

[ Morgana jerks her head, clearly not having expected that kind of audience. She blinks rapidly - maybe wiping away a quick tear that was just from exhaustion, really! - before lighting up like a Christmas tree... or, uh, Halloween lantern, in this case. ]

Drake!

[ More than happy to push aside all the depressing thoughts she'd been going through, she is quick to get on her feet. ]

What are you doing here? I... Hm. Well, if I'd known you were coming, I would have chosen something much better.

[ Given the way she's twirling her hair around her finger, it's definitely not an accusatory tone. What a pleasant surprise! ]

Hey. Hi. Hi there!

[He says eagerly with a wave, a goofy smile already plastered on his face as if he's temporarily cast all memories of her crime out of his mind.]

Oh, you know, I was just looking for a place to practice some lines, and I thought this would be a nice, secluded area to do so! Instead, I ended up being audience to another lovely private concert!

[He softly shakes his head.]

It's okay. It was kind of a somber one, a little depressing, but... you sang so beautifully. I felt it, all the way in here! [He says as he pats his chest.]

Practice some lines? ... Are you an actor?

[ Which just shows how little she knows about him. He has a daughter (presumably), he's gosh darn adorable, he lives in St. Canard... ! Lightbulb.

Maybe he can give her the answers about Darkwing she seeks - someone who lives in the city should know about local heroes. She can't exactly go "Say, do you know Darkwing Duck's weakness and how to exploit it?" but surely she can weave something along those lines. She just needs to focus on that, and not get distracted by how fun it is to flirt with him.

... Or at least not get too distracted.

Locking her hands behind her back for the moment, she begins to walk towards him, ready to hunt. ]

My my my, we really don't know that much about each other, do we? I think it's time we changed that.

As a matter of fact, I am! [She sounds possibly impressed by his line of work. It's great when being an actor actually manages to come up with allure.] I'm just, between roles right now and getting ready to jump back in the saddle!

[He's been between roles for far longer than he implies, unless one counts him being between his daytime role of Drake Mallard and nighttime role of Darkwing Duck. In any case, he quickly runs a hand through his hair-feathers in an attempt to look slightly smoother. It's time to talk about himself! And hopefully not trip over himself at the same time.]

I- I'm thinking the exact same thing! I'd love to know more about you, too! You... you're such a good person, after all! [At least, that's what Drake wants to believe at heart.]

[ ... Um, ow. A good person probably wouldn't take advantage of Drake's obvious affections so she could gouge him for information to make committing crimes easier. She tugs nervously on her collar a bit, hoping that guilty feeling goes away soon.

Naturally, having guilt could imply she was a good person, but Morgana didn't realize that.

Shoving that useless emotion down, Morgana begins to walk circles around Drake - he's not the only one with a flair for the dramatic. ]

Oh, there's not too much to tell on my end... I've only recently arrived in Saint Canard, and I'm still trying to find my footing. It's such a lovely city... I'm sure you know everything about it! But I must say, it's also a very unusual one... I've been hearing the strangest rumors...

... About a handsome man in a cape, who goes around stopping crime.

[ At which point she pauses, glancing at him, eyebrow raised. ]

[She's circling him so elegantly. She has such a strong stage presence, it makes his heart sink even louder! ... Even if it makes it dizzying to try to keep his eyes on her.

He weighs her words and is ready to say some words of welcome as a resident of Saint Canard, but then all thoughts in his head empty out when she mentions that particularly good-looking rumor.]

Y-you mean the one and only Darkwing Duck?! He... He's not just a rumor and handsome, he's real! The real deal! [He almost blurted out his identity right there, but the last shreds of reason within him hokd him back.

He feels both flattered and jealous. Darkwing is handsome, but what about Drake?]

And he's... very wise. Full of words of wisdom, that guy. If I came across him, I know I'd take any suggestions he had for me to heart. And he's only hard on people who are really bad, you know. [He pauses and waggles his hand in the air.] I don't know if he's really that handsome though...

[ On the one hand, "If" he came across him sounds like Drake hasn't met him - on the other, he seems very sure that Darkwing isn't that good-looking. Though that could be jealousy creeping in - which, again, gives Morgana a pang of guilt. It is kind of a jerk move to praise a guy she's interested in, in front of a guy who's interested in her... who she's also interested in... Uhhh...

Okay, now she's getting a little dizzy. This wasn't the best plan. ]

Well, like I said, I've only heard the rumors... I don't expect him to crash any shows of mine anytime soon. Though if I do see him, I'll be sure to tell him he's apparently got a fan... even if that fan doesn't think he's really that handsome.

[ But once again, the urge to tease just can't be tamed, as she leans in, smirking all the while. ]

Though I have to say, I don't like sharing my fans with anyone else.

[It's quite difficult and confusing to compete with one's own self, especially as Drake's first instincts are to defend himself and attest that he is in fact very handsome! She is also conveniently leaving out that she has met Darkwing... but then, he's not expecting her to straight-up confess to her crimes like this.

As she leans in closer and says that to him, he gives a nervous gulp and smiles sheepishly while he tries to look her in the eyes.]

M-my, my! It's okay, it's... very doable to be fans of more than one figure, Miss Macawber. [At the same time, he can't forget the sight of her other fans bringing her their valuables in the dead of the night.] It sounds like you... really care for your fans...

[ And, again, ow. Her face falling, she pulls back away uncomfortably. It's not his fault, he doesn't know she's a criminal - which is all the more reason he shouldn't get to know her. They were just setting themselves up for disappointment. ]

Yes, well... I've been told that it's a weakness of mine...

[ The good side of her knows that stealing from people who actively rooted for her and enjoyed her music is awful. But the bad side of her retorts that as her fans, they should do anything she wants!

With a sigh, she walks a bit away, heading for the lone piano bench. ]

It'd probably be better if I wasn't so close to them. That way, nobody gets hurt.

[Oh. Now he feels bad, like he's given her a low blow. He wants her to stop her criminal ways, but seeing her sad is just so gut-wrenching.]

Hey hey hey! [Drake follows her, coming up closer to try to pat her on the shoulder.]

It's okay. I'm sure whatever's wrong is something you can work on. But shutting yourself away isn't the answer! I'm sure there's other ways to make sure no one gets hurt, and everyone is happy.

[ She glances over at him, and gives a small little smile in return. She reaches over to the hand on her shoulder, giving it a comfortable squeeze. ]

Thank you... You're very sweet.

[ And wayyy too trusting. But she supposes that's part of his charm. She kind of hopes the world is never cruel enough to snuff that out of him.

As for herself? Let's bottle down those useless feelings of guilt and sadness and hope that never uncorks! Everything is fine! And if he's going to be so very trusting, it's his own fault for being lured into a fun little trap, mmm?

She takes his hand off her shoulder, but doesn't let it go. ]

All these lovely words, advice, a shoulder to cry on... you're giving me so much, yet all I've done is give you an autograph. Seems a bit uneven. If you'd like, I can do a bit of fortune telling - palm readings come very easy to me.

[ danger, danger, drake mallard! ]

[And his cheek-feathers glow red as she squeezes his hand! It's hard to imagine that a hand so warm, so lovely, was executing orders of evil just the night before. This has to be just some spell he has to break her out of! Maybe he can win her over.

And then his heart beats quicker at her suggestion. A reading? Of his own palm? Even more hand contact??]

W-well, I... I'm doing what's right! You don't have to feel like you owe me anything. I just like being here for you. And you know? I just had a fortune cookie the other night, so I think I got my lucky numbers!

[He jokes with a small chuckle, but he still is tantalized by the offer.]

B-but hey! If you really wanna go for it, I... won't stop you. My hand is open for you! [He tugs at his collar nervously.]

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