Work Text:
It was a sunny day on Topazia, perfect for relaxing and going to the beach
But it was also perfect for solving some mystery, and who to call if not the best detective in the city?
Obviously help is always welcome, and so here we are in front of a respectable house, made of wood and with a wonderful garden
Hercules P: Geronimino?
Are you here dear?
The shorter mouse asked in a shrill voice as he knocked on the door
Strangely there was no response, he was probably already at work
Only when he was about to leave he noticed that the mailbox was still full, it was impossible that he left without taking the newspaper.
He tried knocking again, and after a while the mouse he was looking for came out!
Except he was... Weird?
He was still wearing his white cheese pajamas, red slippers and his glasses were missing
Hercules P: Geronimo?
He asked, looking him up and down
Are you OK?
Geronimo S: In your opinion?
What do you want Hercule?
He answered in a hoarse voice, almost on the verge of falling asleep
Hercole P:Do you have a fever?
Geronimo S: Yes.
Sorry but whatever you ask me, I won't be able to help you.
And with that he went back inside
Do you want to come in?
He nodded his head and went in with his friend, putting the yellow jacket on the clothes hanger
Hercole P: Since when have you had a fever?
He ventured, with tone strangely serious for him
Geronimo S: Since yesterday evening, as soon as the shift ended I went home, fell asleep on the desk in the living room and never got up again.
Now I have fifty calls on my phone from my grandfather, when he sees me he will probably kick me out of the family business.
He sighed as he took some clothes from the closet
Now if you don't mind, could you come out of my room for a moment while I have to change?
Hercole P:...Dear Geronimo, maybe you should stay at home if you don't feel well.
Geronimo S: I told you, my grandfather wh-
Hercole P:If he calls again I will explain the situation to him.
He proposed as he pushed his friend back onto the bed
I'm good with words!
Geronimo S:No...
I... Grandfather... career...
Hercole didn't understand what his friend was trying to ask, he suddenly fell asleep and silence returned.
As soon as he finished placing him on the bed he rushed into the kitchen, every time his grandmother felt ill as a child she gave him some herbal tea, now, were there any elder leaves?
The friend's kitchen mirrored its owner: Smooth wood with sliding drawers and a good-sized fridge
There were a lot of receipts and other paperwork on the table that shouldn't be there
Hercole P:And then he complains about me...
He muttered to himself as he searched for the cups
Finally he found a purple one with green spots, took the kettle and put the water to cook
He looked back at the table, for some strange reason it was too messy even for him!
(Ok seriously what's happening to him?)
He checked the paperwork and placed it in the appropriate folders that were placed on the floor, each with a different label.
Hercole P: "He does a lot of work, he should rest every now and then...."
He thought to himself again as he prepared the herbal tea
The scent of elderberry, mint and honey spread through the room, reminding him of the moments spent with his grandmother
He brought the herbal tea to Geronimo's room, who had woken up in the meantime and was now sitting on the bed
Geronimo S:What are you doing?
He asked confused as he looked at the cup
Hercole P:My grandmother always gave me a special herbal tea to break the fever, I'm sure you'll like it.
Geronimo looked at him a little perplexed, he certainly didn't trust his friend's strange recipes, but in order not to be rude he accepted
Strangely enough it was good
Geronimo S:Thank you very much.
They were silent again, with the noise of the city faintly heard from the window
Hercole P:Anyway, if you didn't feel well last night, you had every right to go home and rest first.
He ventured again as if it wasn't obvious
Geronimo S:And piss off grandfather?
You don't know what that mouse is like....
Hercole P: But aren't you in charge of the newspaper?
Geronimo S: Yes, but not even he was convinced to put me in charge.
He's probably yelling at some employer or asking Thea where I went.
He continued by handing the cup back to the other mouse
Hercules P:....
Um, do you want anything else?
Have you already taken Tachipirina?
Geronimo S: I have to eat something first, otherwise it won't have any effect.
He retorted with his usual obvious
The smaller mouse returned to the kitchen and took the fruit he found, mainly pears, apples and oranges
He washed them and cut them into a bowl, then took the Tachipirina and put it in the water, then returned to the top.
Hercules P: Here.
That should be enough.
Geronimo S: Listen, thank you for your help, there's no need for you to stay here, I can manage on my own.
Hercole P: Don't worry dear, I can also stay for the morning, at least until your grandfather calls so I can explain the situation to him.
But you sleep and relax, you need it.
Just as he finished his sentence the phone rang
Hercole P: Oh, it's your sister!
He exclaimed
The other mouse rolled his eyes, he knew how much his friend loved his sister, praising her when he could
Hercole P: Sorry, it's the emotion.
He specified and then left the room
Greetings?
Thea S:Geronimo sorry if the call seems rushed but you have to-
...Hercules is that you? What are you doing at Geronimo's house?
She asked confused
Hercole P: I passed by here and stopped for a moment, but why do you seem agitated?
Thea S: Ok Hercule then I'll tell you, whatever you do don't-
But before the mouse could finish the sentence he felt as if someone was grabbing the phone forcefully
Shortpaws:STILTON!
Where have you been for the love of cheese!
You haven't bothered going to work since this morning!
The old man shouted without realizing that he wasn't talking to his nephew
The mouse took courage and responded to the not very friendly words, trying to be as polite as possible
Hercules P:Ahem, hello sir, do you remember me?
I'm your nephew's friend, he doesn't-
Shortpaws: Oh cheese, is that really you?
Don't you have some mediocre case to solve or something?
Where is my nephew?
Hercole P:Your nephew is not feeling well sir, he has a terrible fever and-
Shortpaws:Fever? Ah!
He laughed with little gusto
Did you hear Thea? Your brother has a fever, we all believe it.
Pass him to me, I need to talk to him if he has a backbone.
Fever, another way of saying he doesn't want to work.
Thea S:Grandpa, maybe you could get Hercole to talk instead of giving your hasty conclusions?
He listened a little annoyed by the old man's useless anger, he had never imagined that Shortpaws was like this....
Irascible?
Hercole P: Genuinely your nephew would never lie to skip work, I can confirm, I am-
Shortpaws:Still defending him?
Look, you kind of banana addict, if it's really what you say, tell your friend to come to work immediately.
I don't care that he has a fever or anything I don't know, today is a busy day and I need him here.
He was starting to lose his temper, but still tried to find (somehow with little success) a mature dialogue
Hercole P:For the last time your nephew does not-
Shortpaws:What part of "making me talk to my nephew" isn't-
Hercole P:LET ME TALK FOR FUCK SAKE!
There was no answer on the other end of the phone, and that made him realize he had to use a different approach
Hercules P: Sorry.
Look, I honestly don't want to continue a conversation where I'm interrupted every second by someone rude like you, and I would like to go back to taking care of my friend.
So I would like you to let him rest and recover from the fever, although it shouldn't be a strange request given that he is the head of the newspaper and not you.
Shortpaws:How dare you-
Thea S: That's enough grandpa, ever since we started the call you've been screaming like a scoundrel.
If Hercole says that Geronimo is sick, he is sick.
Shortpaws:What's gotten into you all today?
I should remind you that even though I'm no longer the boss, I have the right to discipline slackers like him.
He replied defensively
Thea couldn't even listen to him at that point, so she snatched the phone away from him
Thea S:Hercules you say Geronimo needs to take the time he needs.
Shortpaws:But-
He tried to protest only to be silenced by his niece
Thea S: And don't worry about coming today, we can manage on our own.
Hercole P:Ok!
And with that the call ended
He went back upstairs and found his friend waiting for him
Geronimo S: I heard you screaming downstairs, what did he say?
Hercole P:...Oh that?
You know how old people are, you have to repeat things out loud to them before they understand you completely.
However, your grandfather wishes you the best possible recovery and that you don't have to worry about missing your working day.
He looked at the mouse in surprise, his grandfather not shouting or arguing?
Geronimo S:Really?
Hercole P:Exactly.
You don't have to worry....