Snoot Autism 5

Okay so THIS should be the last one I need.

Part 1: https://rentry.org/cbqhkotg
Part 2: https://rentry.org/ncaxd6f5
Part 3: https://rentry.org/m5nw8dr7
Part 4: https://rentry.org/9i3qsnps

Part 10 - Finale (cont.)

Ending 2

Two weeks later
These two weeks have flown by for Wynn, and despite having an ideal setup for the start of a great life, he is no closer to settling down with Claudia and Malcolm than he was two weeks ago. The incident with the car thief has caused the man to become excessively protective, bordering on paranoia. He refuses to let Claudia or Malcolm go anywhere alone or stay in a place without someone he trusts there with them. This has not been helped by the fact that on occasion Wynn spots that same dark car lurking at the edge of what may be called his sphere of influence. He's made mention of it to Father Xander and the police, just to be safe, and the up tick in the occasional police car passing through has offered some relief. However as the days go by, these passes become less reliable.
The dark car in question is also rather inconsistent in its appearances, often only appearing for a paltry two to three minutes at a time. Never long enough for the man to approach stealthfully enough to investigate. Wynn suspects that because he never sees anyone exiting, the occupants, whoever they are, must be working for Dierdra and are keeping an eye on him. She is due to call him at some point, and she may be a little upset that Wynn killed a potentially useful stooge and passed along some incriminating documents to the police. The fact he has not received an angry phone call or been visited by goons demanding some form of revenge causes Wynn to think that perhaps Dierdra didn't know about the files Donovian had, and any secrets he had died with him, so she is only but so upset.
He likes to believe so anyway. Having nothing else to go on, he has adopted a dangerously dismissive attitude towards any threat Dierdra may pose. In his mind, he is ready for anything. If she comes knocking to shout at him, he believes she'll just try to cut another deal. If she attempts to threaten Claudia or Malcolm, he keeps his magnum loaded and knife sharp, and resolves that it would be the last mistake she makes. As far as the money is concerned, he has started to spend a bit more of it on little gifts and treats for Claudia and Malcolm. It began as small things, like sets of toy cars for the boy and finer clothes for his mother. But soon a new tv and more extravagant food was being bought. By the end of the two weeks, Wynn is on the cusp of buying Claudia a new car.
The parasaur woman would be lying to say she had not appreciated Wynn recent doting on her and providing for Malcolm. She never questions where Wynn gets the money from. When the man presents her with a new outfit, sheets, or appliance, it is always with a look of affection in his eyes. When she accepts the gifts, she receives an all too rare smile from the man as a bonus. She overlooks Wynn's more protective behavior and little insistences of knowing the whens and wheres of not only her schedule, but Malcolm's as well. She sees it as him attempting to be more of a husband and father to the two of them, an idea that overrides many other thoughts in her head. Sometimes, during the evenings before or after dinner, when Wynn and Malcolm are playing together, she ends up just watching them.
She gets lost in the apparent dream come to life. Malcolm is, as always, over the moon with the current situation. He has the most wonderful mother a boy could have, the most awsome father, and the coolest friend. On top of this, his father in Wynn is now buying him all sorts of toys and games. He even mentioned buying a new car, which as a topic now reigns supreme in any conversation with the boy. It's a picturesque little slice of life and moment in time for all of them. It says a great deal that the man, secretly, has gone so far as to purchase a wedding ring. He has no idea when he means to present it to Claudia, or even what to say, but he keeps it in his pocket, and runs his hand over the box often as he thinks about if this is the day he finally asks Claudia the question.
Unfortunately, Wynn's choices catch up with him first.

Two weeks ago, Claudia assisted getting things ready for a church charity drive that takes place this particular morning, and Wynn is still the defacto driver for St. Sattler's, so he was needed to go across town to drop off supplies and charity items that have been accumulated. It's only set to be an hour round trip, but the unloading and set up will add perhaps a whole second hour to the ordeal. He is going to be making the trip alone, so while he still feels apprehensive about it, he will be leaving Claudia and Malcolm on their own. He does ask them to stay with Father Xander and Minnie at the church in his absence though, which they agree to do. Claudia because she can assist with more charity work and gossip, and Malcolm to tell Minnie about all the new stuff he's gotten.
The old priest and middle aged ceratops are more than happy to host the pair. Father Xander picks up on Wynn's distress on leaving them alone, and reassures the man that he isn't going out let anything happen to them. He comments that even though Wynn may not think it considering how the Donovian situation played out, the priest is not about to let anyone lay a finger on Claudia or Malcolm. The man has had his faith in Father Xander shaken, but the way the ancient ankylosaur speaks about this does motivate Wynn to depart in good spirits. As he leaves he gives Claudia and Malcolm a hug and kiss goodbye, and while driving away, considers that seeing as how perhaps on his return to the church, seeing as how most everyone that matters to him and Claudia are there, he might have finally found a moment to propose.
The city travel is no worse than usual, but Wynn's desire to get back to Claudia and Malcolm makes it feel agonizingly slow. Every red light is the city out to get him, and every annoying driver cutting him off is a personal insult for how much it bothers the man. But eventually he arrives at the event, and hastily unloads all of the boxes, signs for it, and stacks and stores them as directed. He completes his tasks in record time and gets back on the road. They drive back is no less anxiety inducing or bothersome. However, he does once again palm the small velvet box in his pocket that holds the engagement ring for Claudia. His befuddlement turns into a fresh bout of excitement as he nods to himself, internally declaring that today will be the day he and Claudia set the course for the rest of their lives.
As he approaches the church his excitement evaporates instantly. On the outside, nothing seems to be the matter. But as he parks the van and exits the vehicle, something imperceptible causes his stomach to contort with panic. He can't determine the source of the dread, but every step he takes towards St. Sattler's doors only causes it to grow. Perhaps it's too quiet, or the door is not closed all the way, or perhaps he somehow hears the faint weeping coming from inside before truly registering it. In any case, he is in a full out run by the time he's half way to the door. Bursting into the sanctuary, that dreadful feeling becomes all too solidified as he sees Minnie crying over the toppled form of Father Xander. There is no sign of Claudia or Malcolm. Minnie cries out to Wynn as he runs to her side.
He kneels next to her over Father Xander's prone form and asks what has happened. Minnie, through panicked and tearful gasps says that not even 15 minutes previously, thugs stormed in and demanded to know where the man was. When they were told he wasn't there, they grabbed Claudia and Malcolm. Father Xander tried to stop them or tell them to just wait until Wynn came back, but they wouldn't listen. They struck the priest down and then gave Minnie a phone and told her to relay instructions to Wynn. He has to come to the restaurant to settle his debts, and that the money is no longer enough. That, and it didn't have to be this way. Minnie doesn't know what's going on and pleads with Wynn for help. He asks if she has called the police. She admits she was too much in a panic to think to do so.
Wynn tells her to get an ambulance for Father Xander. The old priest is still alive, but he isn't looking to good. He then gets up to leave. Minnie shouts out a question of where he's going. He says he's going to give Dierdra and Alphonse what they're owed. He rushes back out to the van and drives home to find it ransacked. The money is gone, but not his spare ammunition for his magnum, nor any of his other tools. Taking whatever he can get his hands on that might be useful, he once again drives off as storm clouds begin to roll in and rumble menacingly overhead.

By the time Wynn arrives at the restaurant the sky is already dark with storm clouds. He has parked the van some distance away and proceeded stealthfully on foot. He first checks the back entrance and then the front. Both have a a guard waiting by them. The message Minnie relayed said that they wanted him to settle the debt, so they would probably take him inside alive. Although that mean he'll be disarmed and, he wagers, executed. He doesn't know exactly what Dierdra's game is here but she has taken Claudia and Malcolm as leverage over him. She likely wants to make a deal, knowing her, and if he had to guess it'll be his life for theirs. Wynn considers it. Claudia and Malcolm mean everything to him, but the more he thinks about the situation the angrier he becomes.
He wants to live. He wants to spend the rest of his life with Claudia and Malcolm. More than that, he wants to punish Dierdra for bringing them into this. The allosaur woman was right: it didn't have to be this way, and she'll regret making it so. Fueled by a sense of self righteous anger and the victory he had in over Donovian and that car thief, Wynn elects for a violent approach. Heedless of consequences, Wynn deludes himself into thinking an action hero mindset that can overcome all challenges with enough bravado and force. He approaches the rear door and gets not only his bowie knife ready but his magnum as well. Once he learns where Claudia and Malcolm are, all hell will break loose. The guard catches sight of the man all too late.
He barely has his pistol drawn before Wynn tackles into him, knife point first. The resulting tumbling causes the goon's pistol to fall from his grip as he draws it from its holster. The man and the saurian goon grapple on the ground for a few moments more before Wynn is able to finish the guard off with several more stabs. Collecting the second pistol just in case, he makes his way inside. Echoing his first time breaking into the restaurant, he moves quiet as a ghost to the nearby security room. It's occupied by a single guard. Taking a gamble, Wynn rushes him, and is able to plant his knife in the saurian's throat before he can make a noise of alarm. The clatter of chairs and thumps as they two of them struggle against each other is all the noise that escapes the room. It's over soon however.
Wynn rises, covered in the blood of two of his enemies, and scans the cameras. The coverage is as bad as it was the first time. Only the public areas have any cameras on them, but it's enough to show Wynn that Claudia and Malcolm are being held in the balcony seating area, tied up and gagged. The sight causes Wynn to feel a tremor of fury run through him. Dierdra is with them, pacing back and forth with a distressed look on her face. There seem to only be two other guards besides her there. On sitting next to the parent and child, and the other seated below the balcony in the restaurant's entry way. Getting over to Claudia and Malcolm without being seen will be difficult, and he doesn't know if there are other guards with him in the back rooms out of sight of the cameras.
He also doesn't know how long it's going to be before Dierdra starts to notice the bodies of her men start to pile up. He's high on his initial success, and believes that he may actually be able to intimidate Dierdra into letting Claudia and Malcolm go. He doesn't care about the money, so perhaps she can just break even while she still has some man power left. Deciding on this approach, he moves out of the security room and makes his way towards the kitchen, which fortunately for him, is empty. With automaton like coldness, he takes a breath and casts open the double doors that lead into the dining area. It's a dramatic entrance that gets everyone's attention as he calmly walks, weapons in hand, towards the large table that dominates the room. Looking up towards the far balcony, Dierdra stares back at him.

She is not happy to see Wynn. Just by looking at the man she can tell what has happened, but that does nothing to diminish the shocked tone of her voice as she asks what he has done. Wynn's only reply is that he has come for Claudia and Malcolm, and if she gives them to him she can keep the money and nobody else has to die. Claudia and Malcolm are still gagged, but muffled calls can be heard from beyond the balcony when Wynn speaks. Dierdra's own response to Wynn is furious disbelief as she drops all pleasantries and calls him a fucking idiot. She explains to the man that because of his little stunt with Donovian and the handing over of the files he had to the police, she's lost practically all the support she had accrued. The other members of the gang think she's too weak or incompetent to lead now.
The money is no longer enough. She needs to make an example out of Wynn. If she doesn't then Alphonse gets back all the support, and not only will Dierdra be killed, but Claudia and Malcolm for being associated with Wynn. Possibly the entire Bayside Neighborhood. If Wynn had just worked with her then none of this would have happened. But as it stands now, Dierdra levels a pistol at Wynn and says now she doesn't have a choice. It's either Wynn or her. The other guard in the room have drawn their weapons at this point as well, and there for the span of a few heartbeats, the room is frighteningly still. But then it erupts with gun fire as Dierdra and her two guards open fire. Wynn's luck continues to hold out as the shots sizzle past him as he dives under the massive oak table for cover.
The thick and heavy wood provides enough of a barrier to protect him from the small arms fire, but it won't last forever. Worse for him the kitchen door behind him fling open as two guards from elsewhere in the back rooms appear and level their pistols down at him. He is able to fire two slugs from his own magnum before they can shoot him, and the magnum's own caliber far exceeds theirs. The .475 is a smaller version of the big game cartridge, and true to the advertising, it makes one hell of a mess out of the two saurian ambushers. As they fall, Wynn's own cover begins to disintegrate from gunfire, so he dashes for the next closest table. The guard that had been watching the front door has now joined the fight, making Wynn's current enemies 2 on the balcony and 2 below on his level.
Tables get flipped, and cover is taken by everyone. Wynn's well acquainted with the hardness of these tables, having landed on one before, and their sturdiness makes them decent enough cover. They don't last long against the small arms fire, but every second helps. Wynn returns fire when he can as he tries to work his way over to the stairs to the balcony. His main advantage is the magnum itself, as its got the power to punch through the cover of the thugs. While it does take a few shots, Wynn is able to shoot down the two gang members on the ground floor. The stairs up are in an enclosed hallway, and he is surprisingly permitted to ascend the steps without being fired upon after slaying the two guards on the ground floor. Turning around a corner at the top of the steps onto the balcony, he freezes in place.
Dierdra has a gun to Claudia's head, and the last remaining guard has his gun to Malcolm's. The parasaurs are scared out of their minds and look to Wynn with pleading eyes for salvation. It's a standoff, and the pause in the conflict causes Dierdra to once again start talking. She tells Wynn to toss away his gun or everybody here loses. Wynn doesn't move his gun away from pointing at Dierdra. She yells at the man, cursing him for ruining everything. Wynn tells her there's only one way Dierdra walks away from this and that's if she lets Claudia and Malcolm go. Tears start running down Dierdra's cheeks as she tells the man that she's already dead for what's happened here today. Wynn counters with that she can just take the money and run. A very long moment passes as Dierdra considers her options.
The allosaur woman's face contorts with internal conflict, and eventually, with tears in her eyes, Dierdra lowers her weapon and tells Wynn that he wins. She tells her last remaining minion that they're going to try and make a run for it. He obliges, and puts his gun aside. Wynn tells them to go and grab what they can from the safe and get out of Volcadera Bluffs. Dierdra warns him that Alphonse will still be coming for him. The man just says that he'll deal with him when the time comes. The goon just shakes his head and says the man's delusional. Although things are still tense Wynn lets them pass, and Dierdra and the goon make their way down the steps and towards the rear offices. Wynn meanwhile rushes to Claudia and Malcolm's side and starts cutting their bonds and ungagging them.

Malcolm leaps to embrace him once he's free, ignoring the blood the man is covered in. Claudia on the other hand is handling the situation far less well. She is suffering a severe panic attack, and once ungagged is screaming for Malcolm to stay with her. When she sees the blood Wynn is covered in, and now Malcolm, she only gets worse as she demands to know if Malcolm is hurt. Wynn has to spend some time calming her down before they can get out of there, but he is not adept at it. He soon realizes that it his appearance that is causing her to freak out. There is little he can do about this. Even though Dierdra has given up, he wants to get Claudia and Malcolm someplace safe as soon as possible. Malcolm is doing what he can, but a 5 year old seeing his mother have a breakdown can only do so much.
The gravity of the situation is truly starting to settle in the young parasaur's mind and his mother's panic is quickly influencing him into a panic of his own. Putting his hands on Claudia's shoulders and shouting her name Wynn is able to get her attention. He tells her they need to leave and get them all to someplace safe, NOW. The word safe seems to resonate with her, as she repeats it a few times, eventually nodding. She addresses Malcolm, but her words are mostly for her own benefit as she enters into a shaky state of optimism and coos to the boy at how everything will be okay. It's enough to get her up and moving, which makes it good enough for Wynn. She clutches her son close as she follows behind him. They proceed down the stairs, and turn the corner of the passage towards the front.
Standing in their path to the exit is two armed gangsters, with an immense figure looming in shadow behind them. Only two pin pricks of light glinting off unseen eyes, and the massive silhouette signify the presence of Alphonse. Claudia lets out a yelp of surprise at the sight, and almost as if it's rehearsed the doors to the kitchen fling open to reveal Dierdra and her accomplice being brought in as prisoners by two more armed goons. Everyone takes a moment to comprehend the situation before the monstrous form looms into better lighting like a predator emerging from dark underbrush. Alphonse speaks to Wynn, begining with a simple "Good Evening." The primeval looking mobster comments on how Wynn must be the human that had stolen from him, and asks if the man had seen the dinner Alphonse had made that night.
Wynn doesn't respond, so Alphonse keeps talking, saying the man must have been, and that Wynn will suffer a similar fate, though unlike that other human, Alphonse will devour the man alive, in front of these other two. The Allosaur mobster then addresses Dierdra, saying how disappointed he is in her. He was hoping she'd finally show some stomach, but like always she tried to compromise and play nice. As Dierdra is escorted next to Wynn by the thugs, her companion is led forward and brought to Alphonse's side. Wynn hears the allosaur woman swear under her breath, as her last remaining minion turns to face her, apparently joining ranks with her father's men. Alphonse continues speaking, saying that this is not a business where you play nice. It's predators and prey. And Dierdra always sided with the prey.
He explains that he let this coup attempt carry on as it did to see if she had what it took to lead. She failed, and as such will die with the vermin and sheep she has such affection for. Alphonse once more addresses Wynn, commenting on how the human understands it better than his daughter does. He notes how the man's violent solution to the Donovian problem and now the mess he's of the restaurant is the kind of mentality he wishes more people had. Alphonse then motions for his minions and they approach to grab Claudia. Wynn instinctually points his gun at the first one, which causes them to freeze, but also get all guns pointed at him in return. Alphonse lets out a curious rumbling from his throat, and states that he's not going to kill them. At least not yet. They need to watch the man die first.

In an instant, the immense allosaur is upon Wynn, wrapping a massive claw around the man's head as the tips of his claws leave gashes across his cheek. Dierdra is hurled to the side by her father's other sweeping arm and crashes into a table. Claudia and Malcolm meanwhile only scream as they are seized by Alhponse's minions. With his free hand, Alphonse grabs Wynn's gun arm and squeezes, causing the man to heave in pain as the bone snaps and the magnum falls from his hand. Now no longer a threat, the massive allosaur takes his time looking Wynn over and wondering what part to chew off first. The thoughts are interrupted as Wynn, letting the adrenaline and fury fuel him, sinks his bowie knife deep into Alphonse's snout. Directly into the oversized nasal passage. The resulting shrieking roar is earsplitting.
It also causes Wynn to be released from the mobster's grip, leaving the blade embedded in the monster's snout as he drops to the floor. The other gangsters seem surprised by this, and in their moment of being stunned, Wynn scoops up his magnum and lets loose several shots. The magnum slugs pulp the 3 of the 5 goons, specifically the ones holding Claudia and Malcolm. The remaining two fall back to tables closer to the entrance, while Wynn shouts for Claudia to run for the back exit. She is frozen in terror however. Whatever courage she had before has evaporated, and she now just huddles with Malcolm in the fetal position weeping while Malcolm cries with her. With no time for more rational decisions and down to one working hand, Wynn drops the magnum, grabs Claudia and yanks her towards the back.
They do not make it far before she rips her hand out of his grip and runs towards the balcony. Her panicking mind looking for the one direction there aren't any apparent dangers. Unfortunately Wynn does not have time to correct this course, as the other mobsters open fire. Wynn dives for his gun, but falls short. The best he gets is some cover. He's pinned, and Alphonse is busy pulling the knife from his nose. It is now that Dierdra reenters the encounter and scoops up one of the guns from the bodies that now litter the floor. She opens fire and kills the last two goons. She and Wynn exchange a look for only a moment before the massive claw of Alphonse wraps around the allosaur woman's throat, and snaps it. Alphonse make no comment as his daughter's lifeless body falls from his hands.
He merely turns to Wynn and growls like an animal as blood pours from the new wound in his face. Wynn is in arm's length of the magnum now, and scooping it up sends a slug directly into Alphonse's chest. It does not have the desired affect of killing him, but it certainly looks like it hurt. Instead of making a second shot, Wynn starts running to the kitchen, hoping that Alphonse will be mad enough to follow him. He is. The allosaur charges after Wynn, and the man has to use the remaining shots in the magnum to slow the beast down so he can stay ahead long enough that he can take cover behind the various kitchen preparation tables to hide and reload. Alphonse is only seconds behind, but Wynn is out of sight. Still, the primeval saurian stalks around the kitchen searching for the man.
He can't use his sense of smell due to the bloody nose Wynn gave him, so he is stuck trying to keep the man from reaching the exits and searching by sight. In this brief game of cat an mouse, Alphonse decides to get chatty again. He exposits that he's going to enjoy eating Wynn. Everyone thinks he's insane for eating humans, barbaric, but he's just being true to the natural order of things. He reveals that he believes that this is the proper state of being. Hunter and hunted. He asks how Wynn felt when he killed Donovian, saying it must have felt good. That it felt right. That's because it was right. It's so simple, but no one wants to admit it. They're all in denial of how things are meant to be. Alphonse wraps up his little speech about the same time Wynn is able to reload.

During the speech, Wynn found the gas powered stove, and had the idea to open up the valves and cook up an explosion. The monster wouldn't be able to smell the gas due to his nose being stuffed with blood, so Wynn just needed to wait for the gas to build up. Wynn listened and waited for the beastly allosaur to end his monologue, and once he's in a decent position away from Alphonse, he stands up and finally replies, that it did feel good killing Donovian. As will watching Alphonse die, and anyone else that threatens his family. He then runs and dives out of the kitchen and fires a slug into the gas filled room. It gets a spark, and the eruption is ground shaking, and the building's stability is threatened. Smoke and fire consume the back half of the restaurant, and the roof of the building groans.
The ringing in Wynn's ears isn't fading anytime soon, but even still, he can hear the cries of Claudia and Malcolm coming from the balcony. The man lurches to his feet and staggers his way to the stairs, attempting to call for Claudia, but the after effects of the explosion make it difficult. Smoke is filling the place up fast, as he reaches the top of the stairs, seeing Claudia and Malcolm huddled together. The boy sees him and calls out for the man, shouting "Dad!" and explaining that his mother won't move. Wynn hobbles over and, tries to get the parasaur woman to move. This time, he doesn't bother with words, he just drops his magnum and gives her a kiss, cupping her cheek with his one good hand. It appears to work. All he says is "Let's go home." The whining of wood and timbers grows louder as they move.
It takes Wynn a bit of extra time getting down the stairs. This time, their path to the front exit is clear. But one final horrific screech of fury gets their attention. As if emerging from hell itself, the charred and still burning form of Alphonse emerges from the fire and smoke, rushing towards Wynn. The only thing close to the man is the discarded knife, and is only just able to pick it up and roll out of the the way of the monster hurtling at him. Claudia and Malcolm are not so lucky. She cling Malcolm close to her as she is knocked to one side by a walloping claw. Wynn seeing her harmed so loses all sense of rational thought and leaps upon Alphonse's decimated body and begins to carve, rip, and tear at the monster's throat and face as best has he's able to. The knife does its bloody work well.
The thrashing from Wynn and Alphonse is a horrific mess, but both suffering as they are, Wynn is able to overcome the beastly gangster. With a final, gurgling death rattle, Alphonse dies with a knife lodged deep in the depths of his neck, while Wynn suffers many new claw wounds across his body. He barely stands as the balcony above them threatens collapse. It is only in the moments following the slaughter that Wynn takes not of Claudia's far more intense weeping and crying out, not for him, but Malcolm, who has gone limp in her arms. Wynn approaches to drag them away, and realizes what has happened. The blow from Alphonse slew the boy, and Claudia has finally snapped. Whatever fury the man felt or sense of victory transforms into a deep, bottomless pit of regret and self loathing as he, like Claudia weeps.
The fire unfortunately does not permit him time to mourn. Claudia is babbling, her world shattered, and no longer cares about the fire or indeed the threat of death. Wynn won't lose her too, and drags her from the building. He is able to get her outside, where it is raining. Sirens are heard approaching, and Wynn tries to share in Claudia's grief now that they are out of imminent danger. Whether it's the cold rain giving her clarity in her thoughts, or just the culmination of her mental breakdown, she rebukes him. She calls him a monster. A murderer. She just wants to live with her son in peace but everyone is out to get them. Her final command is for Wynn to stay away from them. After this she clutches Malcolm's body closer and repeats the phrase, "Leave us alone" over and over again.

Brokenhearted, the man obeys, and stumbles into the dark storm soaked alleyways as police and firetrucks fill the roads.

Episode 3

Two weeks later, Saturday.
To say Wynn and Claudia have enjoyed these past two weeks would be the understatement of the year. They've been taking practically every opportunity to share an intimate moment. Claudia in particular leads the amorous pursuits. In public or around Malcolm she is as composed as ever, if a bit more cheerful and energetic, but when gets alone with Wynn she completely unleashed years worth of pent up passion and yearning upon the man. He's certainly not complaining of course, but there are some mornings where he is a bit more sore than he'd like. That all being said, they've effectively married themselves to each other. The only thing missing is the ceremony and the rings. Unfortunately the honeymoon comes to an end one somewhat overcast morning, as the phone rings pulls the man from his comfortable slumber.
Lurching out from the warm comfort of his and Claudia's shared bed, Wynn lumbers down the hall into the living room to collect the phone. Dierdra's pleasant voice greets and bids him a good morning, saying with a detectable edge of command in her voice for him to get dressed because it is time. Affirming that he understands she tells him a car will be around to collect him shortly and then hangs up. The man goes back towards his and Claudia's room and spots the parasaur woman lurking in the door way. He repeats that it is time for him to go with Dierdra and she asks when he'll be back, to which his only reply is he doesn't know. She gives him a kiss and tells him that she'll wait for him, no matter how long it takes. He just needs to make sure he comes back. The man says he will, no matter what.
With that he gets prepared and sits to wait for his transport. It arrives a short few minutes later and with a rapping knock on the front door, a familiar looking goon waits to escort the man to the waiting car. He's ushered into the back seat where he sits alone. The goon takes the driver's seat and tells Wynn to not be worried. Everything has been taken care of, and Alphonse is the one who's getting cooked this time. It's a sure bet he says. The man nods, but remains silent for the rest of the ride. The car eventually pulls up in front of the restaurant and he's instructed to get out and head towards the room with the safe. The goon amuses himself with a joke that the man should know the way. Wynn's his lack of reaction causes an awkward silence, which the man suspects will be the first of many.
Wynn is shoo'd out of the car and onto the sidewalk where he is confronted by a door guard who opens the door for him and gestures for him to enter. Once inside, more guards pat the man down and disarm him before leading him to a familiar looking conference room where Dierdra sits comfortably at the head of the table. A few familiar faces sit around the table and regard the man. Dierdra stands when he enters and bids him welcome, and introduces Wynn to the other members sitting at the table. She embellishes Wynn and her history a bit, with a few carefully placed lies and exaggerations. Him always being working with her and his phenomenal skill being chief among them. The others seems skeptical, but at the very least willing to go along with it. After the introduction, Dierdra begins her speech in earnest.

Dierdra's speech here is very similar to the one she gives in E1. She confidently begins laying out her plans to the assembled, explaining that Wynn is a very capable individual. She vouges for Wynn's abilities and skills, which is enough for those seated around her. She stands up and walk around the table towards Wynn while continuing to speak. She states that with their money returned their organization is ready expand, and soon without the shadow of her father holding them back. She explains her plan to invest and uplift Skin Row using the money. They'd then effectively own two whole sections of the city, and both would be generating a vast sum of income from property rentals and investment returns. Making all of them incredibly rich and all of the money being completely clean.
She comes to stand next to Wynn and continues on, saying that they will be expanding their organization to include humans. They'll need the boost in manpower and it will make operating in Skin Row easier, as some anti-saurian sentiment remains after Alphonse's purge of the human gangs that once owned the territory. Wynn will be the human face of the organization to spearhead the effort, as he has proven himself reliable. No one at the table argues with her over this, as she has rather thoroughly assumed control of the gang, and it has been pretty smooth sailing. Wynn's compliance with her made things a lot easier for her, which comes as a bit of a shock to the man. Dierdra has total confidence in herself, and that is reflected around the table, as not one of these harded criminals express any doubts.
The question is raised by one of the assembled of how can be so sure about Wynn will be able to perform. Another expresses his own concerns seeing as how Wynn is just sort of standing there, ominously. Dierdra states that Wynn understands that brute force is a last resort, but that he is obviously not afraid to break some fingers if it comes down to it. As for how they can be sure they can trust Wynn, Dierdra has one last test for the man that just so happens to be necessary to removing Alphonse. Even Wynn cocks an eyebrow at this statement. Dierdra just smiles and says that he's the bait. When her father hears that she's brought the human who robbed them in alive, he'll waste no time to get here to eat him. That's when they strike, and put the old monster to rest.
Wynn is stone faced as he always is through this, and just keeps his focus on Dierdra. Internally he's not exactly excited about the idea, but he made his bed, so now he has to lie in it. He just hopes he can talk to Dierdra about Claudia after. However his thoughts are interrupted by Dierdra completing her speech with a very rousing call to a vote. A semi-official ritual takes place of each of the members at the table declaring themselves in support of Dierdra's plan and leadership. It is a unanimous acceptance of her leadership, and once the ceremony concluded she tells them all that now it's time to deal with Alphonse. From somewhere on her person she pulls for a small vial of a clear liquid and holds it aloft for all to see. She explains, mostly to Wynn that with Donovian's assistance, it will be easy.
For the first time the room looks unsure, but they keep silent and let the allosaur woman continue. She states that the director has given her a supply of concentrated carfentanil, a powerful tranquilizing substance that is currently used exclusively for medical purposes. If too much is used, the subject slips into a coma and dies. She adds that the small vial she has is enough to drop perhaps a dozen or so of your average saurian, and she has eleven more. Once this toxin flows through his veins, her father's monstrous strength will be made irrelevant. It's a death more peaceful than he deserves, but she comments on how it is fitting, in an ironic sort of way. She puts the vial away and tells them all to get into position and start familiarizing themselves with the dart guns she has prepared.

The conference ends, and as the various other mobsters file out of the room, Dierdra holds Wynn back and expresses how glad she is that he is here. The man admits that he is quite nervous about the whole thing, and not sure what she expects him to do here. The elegant allosaur just laughs and tells him that he's what's going to bring Alphonse to her. He's the bait. A small disgruntled face slips through his usual stony expression, but she assuages his fear with another charming laugh and explains that her father won't get anywhere near the man. The carfentanil will do more than any bullet could, and the man will be quite safe next to her. She continues saying that she thought that Wynn might appreciate being a part of this, as this is the culmination of an intense little journey they have taken together.
She presses in close to the man making no effort to hide a seductive tone in her voice. She continues by saying that she'll be right next to him the whole time so he doesn't need to worry about a thing. She adds that once this is all over they'll be spending quite a bit of time together, if for no other reason than she'll have to give the man some training for his new job. Wynn isn't stupid or dead, so when Dierdra pushes herself into him, he knows what's up. He valiantly places his hands on Dierdra's shoulders and very gently pulls himself away before telling her that he had actually wanted to ask her what this new job meant for his ability to be with Claudia. Dierdra is a bit put out by the sudden gesture, but doesn't seem all too surprised by it. She composes herself a bit and explains the man's situation.
Wynn is now part of her criminal enterprise, and while they will all be taking a more legitimate approach to business for the next few years, she's going to have the man running around doing dirty work for her. Also, in order to put any fears about loyalty the other lieutenants may have about him, he will have to stay someplace where they can be sure he's being watched. So, Wynn will be living with Dierdra going forward. The typical emotionless face Wynn usually wears is replaced by an expression of such confounded anger that it takes Dierdra almost by surprise when a low, yet perfectly calm, "What?" escapes the man's lips. The allosaur woman steps back and rests her rump on the conference table as she quickly explains that it's the only way the others will trust not only Wynn, but her as well.
They need to know everything is under control, and definitely don't want any surprises. This keeps everyone happy. Wynn struggles as he attempts to summon the words to voice his disagreement with this condition of her plan, but Dierdra talks over his stammering. She attempts to comfort the man by saying it is not a permanent thing, and she will try to facilitate visits between him and Claudia, but this is what he signed up for when he agreed to all this. She states with a tone of finality that this isn't something he can go back on, especially now. Either he goes along with this or the others will be calling for the man to be killed and replaced by someone they think would be better. Dierdra once again stands up and she puts a hand on his shoulder as she assures him that she wants what's best for all of them.

Wynn gives her a dubious look, but her words seep in and he accepts her reasoning. As one last meager act of defiance against these new conditions he finds himself in, he tells Dierdra quite plainly that he promised Claudia he'd be with her, and that he loves her. The allosaur takes on a guilty look as the words hang in the air. Eventually she just sighs and with a weak laugh says that he must have taken her advice she left him with on his and Claudia's date. The man nods and confirms he did. The mood of the room is now somewhat depressed, and so after a short pause Dierdra says that they should get this over with. Again, the man nods, and the two exit the conference room and make their way down through the halls and rooms towards the security room.
Along the way, they pass by numerous other gang members arming themselves with dart rifles and, very cautiously, loading them with the carfentanil laden ammunition. Soon they enter into the security room and Dierdra goes about checking the cameras to see if her forces are in position. She relays orders via a nearby runner stationed at the door, and once everything and everyone is in place, she turns to look at Wynn, and asks if he's ready. He replies with a flat "As I'll ever be." With one final deep breath, Dierdra pulls forth a phone and calls her father. The deep, ominous voice of Alphonse emanates from the other end of the line, and questions why she's calling him. She explains that she's caught the human that stole the money from them, and he is tied up and waiting to be dealt with.
There is a long pause after that statement. For the first time that day Wynn sees Dierdra look uncertain. However, a rumbling reply comes through stating that he is on his way. The call abruptly ends and both Wynn and Dierdra let out a breath they didn't know they were holding in. The elegant allosaur woman quietly admits that despite how confident she is in this plan, her father still terrifies her. She puts a hand on Wynn's arm, and he can feel it shaking. They sit for an awkwardly long minute until Dierdra steadies herself and with a nod and a smile towards the man tells him they'd better get into place. Along the way she explains that the ropes will be just tight enough to give the impression of restraining him without actually doing so.
Wynn takes note of the strategically placed gun men, both above and below. He also notes that he's being guided to a seat at the head of a familiar looking table where a gruesome banquet took place six months ago. He spares a thought about how many people have eaten at this table, unaware of the grisly food it has held. The errant thought passes quickly as Dierdra motions for him to sit while one of her minions hefts the rope. Soon, Wynn appears to be tied to the chair, but Dierdra wasn't lying, and he can feel that he can wiggle free at a moment's notice. With everything seemingly in place, all that's left to do is wait. There is a tension in the air that no one seems willing to break. The minutes tick by, but eventually everyone's attention snaps to the front of restaurant as the doors sweep open.

Alphonse arrives with two guards flanking him. The massive allosaur patriarch looms out of the shadows under the balcony like shark emerging from dark waters. The predatory glint in his eyes are laser focused on Wynn. The man keeps a neutral expression, but he can't help a nervous sweat from forming on his brow. The colossal saurian was truly a throwback to a far more savage age. Alphonse stops his thundering approach just beneath the lip of the balcony and lurks there for a moment. He casts his gaze around him at the guards that stand around the room. He snorts as he finally addresses Dierdra. He compliments her for finally finding the human responsible for the theft, but asks why the man is still alive. His animalistic eyes flick from Dierdra to Wynn, which proves effective at unnerving them both.
She states that she thought he may have wanted to execute the human himself as an example. Alphonse a low rumbling bellow emanates from the giant reptilian as he considers the statement. He speaks again, saying he is impressed that Dierdra captured the human without harming him. She lies and states his clothes are hiding a few bruises, but he wasn't too much trouble to bring in. This seems to satisfy the monstrous mobster as an explanation as he takes a large lumbering step forward. He asks her if she is aware that he is going to devour this man. She answers yes, to which Alphonse further asks whether that bothers her. Dierdra swallows her disgust and replies that it doesn't matter what she thinks, as she isn't the one in charge. Alphonse takes another step forward saying that she is correct in that.
He admits he was concerned that these recent events were a sign of Dierdra becoming careless. He was starting to think that her distaste of him and her soft heart had overridden her ambition. He takes another long step forward, bringing him well into view of the gunmen on the balcony. Dierdra makes a sweeping motion with her hand and suddenly rifles are leveled at Alphonse and more than a dozen darts fly from their barrels. They darts zip through the air and plant themselves across the primeval patriarch's body. He reacts with a roar of confusion and anger as he attempts to pull or shake the darts out of his body. Wynn sheds the ropes and rises to stand next to Dierdra and braces to dive away with her from a very pissed off Alphonse if necessary.
Everyone holds their breath as Alphonse lurches and shakes his head. That volley was their entire supply of the tranquilizer, and by all scientific reasoning, Alphonse's heart should have already stopped beating. The giant saurian staggers another step forward and with a clumsy, sweeping claw upturns the table. He catches himself from stumbling and gazes int Dierdra's direction, but it is obvious he can't focus his sight on her anymore. A low rumbling growl emerges from him, as he attempts to speak but finds he no longer can. He takes another lurching step, extending a massive claw towards Dierda, before his legs finally fail him and he collapses. His huge body slamming down a scant few feet from his daughter and Wynn. Seconds tick by in silence as the whole room listens to the behemoth's breathing gets slower.

Eventually, the labored breathing gurgles to a stop, and the watchers exhale. Wynn only notices how hard Dierdra was gripping his arm when she releases the pressure. She motions for a goon to check the body. Said goon approaches cautiously to say the least. He nudges the huge mobster's leg with is foot and jumps back as if he expects it to bite him. However, there is no reaction. The body of the monstrous allosaur lays there limply, quite evidently dead. Murmurs slowly build from among the saurians in the dining hall questioning if he's really dead, to that they can't believe it, to some daring to speak above a whisper that it's about time the old bastard finally died. Dierdra slowly approaches and kneels down next to Alphonse's head. The others fall silent as she speaks to the body of her father.
In the coldest voice Wynn has heard her speak yet, she says that this was for her mother, that she hated him so much for taking her away, and that her biggest regret is that the colossal monster died painlessly. A breath that sounds like a throaty laugh escapes from Alphonse's mouth that causes everyone in the room to either flinch or reel back. Wynn is quick to rush over and pull Dierdra away. She looks at the huge body of her father with an equal mix of horror and fury. She demands someone give her a knife, and the minion that took Wynn's offers the man's bowie knife. She takes it and in remarkably brutal fashion carves a deep gouge into Alphonse's neck. The hatred in her face is clear and she makes sure to cut as deep as possible which takes some time considering the size of the victim.
However there does come a point where enough blood has poured from the neck wound that there is no realistic way anyone, even a monster like Alphonse, could still be alive. So Dierdra stands up, hands Wynn his knife and declares her father is dead, the organization is hers, and tells her men to bury Alphonse's body deep. She then goes into the kitchen, leaving Wynn and the others alone. Some comment about burying Alphonse in concrete too, just in case, as they all go to lift the massive saurian. Some also call for Wynn to lend a hand, but before he can a call from Dierdra summons the man. Some of the goons shoot the man a stink eye and mumble under their breath but tell the man to get going. Wynn enters the kitchen to see Dierdra leaning over a sink and looking like she's about to vomit.
He asks if she's okay, to which she replies she will be. She explains that this, gesturing to herself and her current state, is the aftershocks of years of stress, hatred, relief, and terror all being released all at once. She feels like laughing and vomiting at the same time, and asks Wynn to help her out the back. He does so, trying not to think too much on how heavily she leans into him, and they emerge into the warm, overcast, dimly lit late morning air. She takes a long breath of air and rests her head against Wynn's shoulder. She thanks him, and says that she's sorry about forcing Wynn away from Claudia. She reiterates her promise he'll get to see them as often as she can allow. She releases her grip on him and tells him that she'll let him say goodbye before he goes, and walks with him to her car.

As they approach her car, she tells Wynn that she can give him until sundown. She tells the driver to take drive Wynn home and back when the time comes. She will remain here to oversee the disposal of her father's body. Wynn gets in the car and is driven home. Along the way, he reflects that his life is now out of his hands, and wonders what he's even going to say to Claudia and Malcolm. By the time the car pulls back in front of Claudia's house, he still hasn't been able to think of anything. He exits the car and is reminded that he has till sundown, so make it count. The man's walks like his legs have turned to lead and a pit forms in his stomach. He hopes he can think of some way to tell Claudia by the time he reaches the door. He is denied even this as the door swings open and the parasaur woman rushes out.
She embraces and kisses him tenderly, declaring how happy she is that he's back and safe. Wynn returns the embrace and holds her tight. They stand there for a time, and only break when Malcolm rushes out to join in. Wynn picks the parasaur boy up and guides the group of them inside. Claudia notices the car remaining parked and raises a questioning eyebrow as the door closes behind her. The man sits them all down in the living room. Malcolm is all over him, climbing, prodding, and asking questions, making it very difficult to bring himself to break the bad news. So he decides to put it off for a bit and just ask for something to eat. All three of them together make a meal and sit down to enjoy it, where Wynn gives a mostly sanitized version of what happened. Of course this means he leaves out a lot of the story.
It proves to be quite entertaining for the young boy, but Claudia can tell the man is not being completely honest. Malcolm gets even more excited as the story nears its end. He is under the impression that now that the big bad mobster is beaten, now he, his mother, and Wynn can all live together as a family. He is already thinking of all sorts of things they can do together, which Wynn and Claudia both listen to and nod along with. Eventually though, Claudia can read a guilty look in the man's eyes, and tells Malcolm that she needs to talk to Wynn alone for a bit. The boy refuses to leave however. He even begins to tear up as he argues that she always sends him away when they all talk. He then asks the man if he wants him to leave. Wynn looks into Claudia's eyes and knows that why she wants to talk alone.
The man eases his head down into his hands before he talking a deep breath, and deciding that he'll have to break the news eventually, so might as well do so now and to them both. He will just have to sugar coat it as much as possible. Wynn says that Malcolm should stay, because he has a bit a bad news the boy will find out about anyway. Claudia is a bit upset by this, but Malcolm's mood shifts from frustration to concern. The young parasaur boy sits back down and leans forward, while Claudia just gives the man a worried look. But, it has to be done. So Wynn takes a bracing breath and tells them both that he is going to have to go away for a while as part of his promise to Dierdra. She helped them all out, so now he must help her, and that means being separated from them for a time.
They each wear confused expression as they try to digest the information. Malcolm asks the man what he means by going away, a tinge of fear in his voice. Wynn says that it just means that he'll be living somewhere else for a while, but he will be able to visit occasionally. He hastily adds that it won't be forever. He will be able to live with them again one day. The boy asks how long, and Wynn cannot tell him. He doesn't know. Claudia asks him what Dierdra will have him doing. Wynn once again says he doesn't know, not really. He also doesn't know exactly how much he should say on the matter. So he simply states that what he does know is that it's apparently important, and that he has until sundown tonight before he must return to her. This causes a bit of outrage from the parasaurs.

Wynn is not surprised that they are upset, but it doesn't make it easier when they plead with him to stay, or talk to Dierdra, or let Claudia try. It breaks his heart, but he recalls Dierdra's warning, that if her now subordinates can't trust him he's as good as dead, so he swallows his regret and in a very authoritative tone states that he cannot back out. The sudden tone shift from the man quiets the table. Still trying to sugar coat things, he explains that he must keep his end of the bargain. It's the only way he can provide for Claudia and Malcolm. He reiterates, he will come back to them and on that day they can be a family again. In an unprecedented display of emotion, he says he's sorry that this is how it has to be, and asks them to wait for him. He wants these last few hours with them to be happy ones.
Malcolm still doesn't understand why it has to be this way, and just wants Wynn to stay. Not being able to handle it, he starts to bawl. Wynn reaches out to comfort him but he pulls away from the man and demands reaches for his mother. She pick him up, but she's starting to tear up as well and it's clear that there is a great deal Claudia wishes to say about all this, but not in front of Malcolm. The man pulls his own hand back and is left stumbling of what to say. He tries to look to Claudia for help, but she doesn't meet his gaze and is instead of concerned with consoling her son. All she says is to give her a moment, as she goes to put Malcolm in his room. This does little to lessen the boy's crying. Wynn repositions into the living room and sits solemnly on one of the chairs, deep in thought.
Claudia eventually returns and tells the man that the boy will calm down in a while, but she looks like she's about to start weeping herself. Wynn apologizes again. The parasaur woman composes herself enough to ask if Wynn what's really going on, and why can't he stay. The man finally reveals that those below Dierdra are not as kind as she is, and that she is worried they may harm the man if he doesn't play along with the plan they've all agreed on. Claudia buries her face in her hands and questions what Wynn has gotten into. The man states that this is the choice they made. The parasaur woman, raises her head to look Wynn in the eyes and tells the man that she's been having symptoms that she recognizes as her being pregnant. The words hit Wynn like a freight train, as well as a mix of joy and guilt.
He is shocked, happy, and despairing all at once. He had never even thought about having a child, ever, in his life. Learning she'll be having their baby the same day he is informing her that he has to leave her, for potentially years, is devastating. His own internal thoughts on this catastrophic ironic twist are interrupted by Claudia asking him, through barely held back weeping, what is she going to do without him. Then she collapses into full blown crying, which pulls the man from his seat and lets her bury her head into his shoulder. Holding her tightly, he looks up to see Malcolm standing down the hallway. He extends a hand towards the parasaur boy, who takes the invitation and is brought into a group hug. The three embrace one another and let their emotions out in full. Even Wynn sheds tears.
The spend the next several hours just holding onto each other on the couch. As the hours pass, the weeping turns to crying, then to sniffles, and then to a melancholic silence. Wynn does his best to memorize every moment of it. Every breath, every tear, and every emotion moment of such overwhelming emotion. Eventually the trio register the time is drawing to a close, and begin to stir. Malcolm begs the man to not leave, but seems to accept it when the man says he has to this time. Gathering what few things he has, Wynn stands at and opens the door, before looking back. Highlighted by the setting sun, the man promises Claudia and Malcolm he'll be back. No matter what. They watch him exit and enter the waiting car. Then they watch him drive off. And then they start counting the seconds until they see him again.

Ending 4

Later that evening, as the sun begins to get low in the sky.
The event has been a spectacular success for everyone involved. Dierdra has, for the most part, made quite the splash with everyone. There is of course some gossip about her dressing a bit too salaciously for a church function and questions about her history among the various circles, but for the most part the elegant allosaurus has been welcomed with open arms. Wynn watches from a close distance. He has not abandoned his cautious nature, though there are some distractions that pull at him. Between play fighting with Malcolm and Tiffany, and spending what time he can enjoying the gathering with Claudia, he is kept rather busy. He does relax a little thanks to the presence of the undercover police being here in force for the express purpose of keeping an eye on Dierdra. However, inexplicably, the mood shifts.
Wynn, while in the midst of politely listening to Claudia and Minnie discuss the upcoming charity events, feels a shift in the atmosphere that at first glance no one else seems to pick up on. Something causes his senses to sharpen and some instinctual feeling of being in danger to take hold. Scanning the surroundings for anything that may be the cause, he notices he's not the only one picking up on something. Det. Terry Connors and Patch Winslow seem to having a similar feeling and are speaking into radios. Wynn interrupts Claudia and Minnie's conversation and tells them that they should go get the kids and Dierdra and stay close to the police. They immediately get worried and ask what's wrong. Wynn can only tell them the truth that he doesn't know for sure but something is just off.
They accept and go do as he says as Wynn approaches the detectives. He tells them that something is off and asks if there's something going on. They seem surprised he's aware that something's up, and explain that they're still trying to figure that out. Connors suggests that they've just called a check in with everyone, and that it's probably just them being jumpy. Winslow is a bit more cautious, but Wynn continues to look and listen as if on alert. Straining his ears, he finally locates something off. He hears the sound multiple approaching semi-trucks. He tells the detectives and explains that semi-trucks do not come to this part of the city. Ever. Connors says that doesn't mean it means that something dangerous is happening. Wynn however tells them Alphonse isn't subtle, and he must know about Dierdra.
Even if it's just as a precaution, Winslow and Connors agree to get everyone into the church. Connors distributes directions via radio, and Winslow finds Father Xander to enlist his help. Wynn meanwhile locates Claudia, Minnie, Dierdra, Tiffany, and Malcolm, where he informs them that they need to get into the church. His only explaination is a look towards Dierdra, which both the allosaur woman and Claudia understand and rush the kids to the sanctuary where police and church members are guiding the guests inside. Concern is being mitigated by Father Xander and Minnie and their efforts do prevent a panic from overtaking the guests. Soon, everyone is safely inside the church, and not a moment too soon, as two semi trucks round into view and start making a b-line for the church grounds.

The officers had taken defensive positions around the church, but had to run as the semi-trucks crashed onto the scene. Fortunately the trucks are not used as a battering ram to run over the police or crash into the church, but instead as mobile walls to box in the area around St. Sattler's. The police take what cover they can as the trucks come to a stop. Even before they do the backs of the containers attached to the trucks are flung open and armed gunmen disgourge from them. Gunfire rattles out very soon after, and a shootout commences. Cries of terror erupt from the people in the sanctuary, and the police were shouting into radios for reinforcements. So far, the sanctuary was safe from the fighting outside. Wynn unfortunately, was not.
He had been one of the last to head for the doors. He was more than willing to let the police handle things out here, but before he could get inside he was cut off by a string of gunfire and had to dive for cover. He wasn't excited about being outside during the shoot out, particularly because he didn't have any of his weapons with him. Though at the moment he was primarily focused on not being seen and therefore shot at. If he was stuck out here however, he would at least risk a peek at things. Wynn recognized the attackers as being members of Alphonse's gang. There were not as many of them as the man thought there may be, but the gangsters being outnumbered seemed to matter little as Wynn saw the colossal form of the allosaur crime lord emerging from the back of these trucks.
The police had simple side arms which were adequate in repelling the ambushing gangsters, but against the titanic beast that was Alphonse, they were simply too small of a caliber to effect the brute. The allosaur patriarch was practically feral once he hit the field. He rushed the police line and was brutally sweeping aside anyone he came across as he made his way towards the doors to the church. Wynn knew his intent. The monstrous mobster planned on killing Dierdra and anyone that got in his way, which may very well include EVERYONE in the church. This thought spurred the man into action. There wasn't really time to consider if it was fear or courage, but the man made a mad dash for the church van that sat parked and surprisingly untouched in the nearby parking lot.
Mounting the driver's seat and turning the engine on, Wynn gets the van moving and angles it towards Alphonse. Before his mind can tell him how stupid of an idea this is, he puts pedal to the medal and speeds towards the gigantic allosaur. The ramming maneuver has mixed results. Alphonse was in the midst of being pelted by small arms fire as he was charging towards Chief Ripley, and had nearly gotten withing biting range when the van collided with him. This knocked the charging allosaur off course and spared Ripley a potentially gruesome end. It did little else however. The van was totaled, and Wynn had gotten Alphonse's full attention. Upon seeing the man through the shattered glass, the monstrous allosaur very effectively ripped the cabin apart trying to get a hold on of the man. Wynn, fortunately, tumbled away.

There is just not really anywhere for the man to go. The area around the church had turned into a shooting gallery with two sides. The police, set up protectively around the church, and the criminals who had taken up position along the roads. The only one breaking the lines was Alphonse. The pistol-fire that pelts Alphonse does bother the enraged allosaur, but his sheer size and mass makes the bullets have a distressingly reduced effect. Distressing in particular for Wynn, who is now being chased by the monstrous mobster. The man ran into the field of cars parked next to the church, ducking and weaving as best he can to avoid the giant saurian. Considering Alphonse can bulldoze over the cars, even being able to bat them aside, makes it difficult. But Wynn is able to stay ahead of the monster.
Salvation comes to the man in the form of Chief Ripley seemingly intent on returning the life saving favor by pulling Wynn out of the way of Alphonse when the beastly gangster was almost on him. Being so large and moving so fast, Alphonse couldn't shift direction without tripping over a car and crashing into some poor minivan. Ripley and Wynn didn't waste a lot of time exchanging words, as the Chief used the time to land a few key shots with his own pistol. His only instruction to the man was to run. Wynn did so, making his way to the back door of the church where he would hopefully be able to get inside. Only to get cut off again by the police chief being flung in front of him, with his weapon clattering away. Turning, Wynn sees Alphonse once more on his feet and getting ready to charge.
There is a pause in the chaos then, where Alphonse roars at the man, that him, Dierdra, and the police all die today. Obviously driven mad by bloodlust, the allosaur states that he will enjoy devouring Wynn alive in front of all those inside the church. Using the brief moment where the insane saurian is willing to monologue, Wynn just honestly tells him that there's no way Alphonse is getting out of this alive. The primeval cackles in reply, explaining that he doesn't care. That schemes, plots, all defy the natural order. It's predator and prey, strong and weak. The police, his gang, the people in the church, whoever lives and dies doesn't matter to him. He has let go of caring about that. He is returning to his true self, a predator, a terrible lizard, and it has set him free.
Wynn understands fully now what Dierdra meant when she said her father was insane. The ramblings had allowed Wynn to inch closer to Chief Ripley's dropped weapon however, which was not the run of the mill side arm for the police, but a rather large revolver. It was probably one of the few guns here that was actually harming Alphonse. Now that the monologue was over, the monstrous mobster roared and charged, given Wynn a very short window of time to duck, roll, grab, aim, and shoot the revolver. The maneuver was executed as perfectly as one high on adrenaline could do, and the revolver came to point its barrel down Alphonse's snout. The man pulled the trigger and sent a round into the eye of the colossal saurian, which certainly did something devastating to the monster's brain.

Alphonse did not stop immediately, but he did swerve into the church wall leaving a definite crack in it. From there he rose, stumbled and began to wander. He was still trying to seek and kill Wynn, of that the man was sure, but the bullet to the brain had diminished the allosaur somewhat. Clumsy sweeping swipes with his claws would still prove lethal to the man, but there were at least easier to avoid. However, the man was still being backed against the wall of church, and he didn't want to leave Ripley here alone. So he took another shot. This one dug into Alphonse's chest, but still the allosaur kept coming. A third shot pierced the throat, but still, he kept coming. Wynn found himself pressed against the wall and with a single slug left, so he took aim and waited.
Alphonse came to loom over the man and now seemingly having him cornered leaned down to bite at Wynn, in some instinctual need to make good on his promise to devour the man. Wynn, leveled the revolver down Alphonse's throat, too his final shot. This one proved to be the kill shot, as a second shot to the brain tends to be. The monstrous mobster jerks for only a moment before dropping dead. Wynn is breathing heavily, and as his adrenaline high comes down, is relieved to hear the sounds of sirens rapidly approaching. The man nearly jumps out of his skin as Ripley speaks up asking for his gun back. The chief only tells Wynn, "nice shooting," before telling the man to get inside with the other civilians while the police clean up out here. Wynn more than happily obliges. He quickly makes for the back entrance.
And it's locked. Of course it is. Which leaves the man with a few minutes to himself where he awkwardly loiters around the back door with Alphonse's body. Fortunately the action seems to be over. With the approaching police reinforcements, the shooting ebbs away and sounds of arrests can be heard. Soon, the church is swarmed with uniformed police, ambulances, news crews, and a tow truck for Alphonse. As for Wynn, he is found by Det. Winslow and Connors, who bring him around to the front as the rest innocent bystanders are let out. Relief washes over everyone as none of those insider were injured. Some police officers would need medical attention, but none seemed to have died. The mobsters likewise seemed like they weren't too keen on this plan, and made no real effort to push or risk life or limb.
It was ironically, a rather bloodless affair all things considered. Alphonse was one of the few fatalities. The crowds of innocent party goers were had to spend a bit of time calming down as they were led to the waiting crowd of emergency vehicles and police. Some of the more talkative ones speak to the various reporters. Wynn didn't concern himself with any of these things. Once the doors to the church were opened and the people started pouring out, he had one thing on his mind. Even amid the multitude of colorful saurians rushing out the exit the man has no difficulty spotting Claudia, and he sticks out like a sore thumb as the only human there. Claudia holds Malcolm in her arms as she descends the steps of the church. She and Wynn run to each other the moment the spot one another.

As he's about to reengage the hug with Claudia he finds lights, cameras, and microphones shoved in his face. Various reporters swarm him and start barraging him with questions about him and his victory over the infamous mobster Alphonse. Among the barrage of questions, the one that hangs in the air and takes prominence above the others is "Who is Wynn Doe?" Wynn does as he always does and just sort of stares at them while he tries to think of what to say. This pause is filled by those surrounding Wynn. Tiffany, being a precocious youngster, is first to interject. She exclaims that he's a like a secret agent or something. Minnie says he's a caring and loving friend to the community. Father Xander says he's a good and honest man. Dierdra that he gave her courage to change her ways.
Malcolm exclaims he's his dad. And finally, Claudia says Wynn is her husband and plants a kiss on him for the whole dang world to see. There's a fair few cheers that erupt around them. The reporters ask a follow up question of what does the man plan on doing now. This time Wynn answers, saying that there are some things he needs to take care of, but afterwards, he shrugs and says has been told he might make a good police officer. With a few comments from the others about how that might go, the scene ends.

next scene

Two weeks later
The attack occupies the news feed for most of these two weeks. The death of Alphonse even makes national news, though the further out from Volcadera Bluffs the word spread the less Wynn's name appeared in whatever article or blurb about the event. It seems that while the mobster's reach was not far reaching, his infamy was. But more than that, there were certainly criticisms from all over about how Chief Ripley allowed a potential witness of no small import to be put in danger, not to mention a church picnic worth of people. So although the overall outcome was a massive win for the VBPD and the city at large, the mayor still gave the chief of police one hell of a verbal reaming and admonishment. That all said, everyone was in pretty good spirits in the little area of St. Sattler's.
Wynn was informed in no subtle fashion that the money he took from Alphonse was, in essence now his. Partly because the city didn't really know about it, and also because it was no longer needed as evidence for any kind of case against the mobster. He was given the warning by the detectives to that he still had to be cautious when spending it. He may not have Alphonse sniffing around for him anymore, but ever since the news let the world know he exists, he'd now have to worry about the IRS. That being said, he did make a rather healthy charitable donation to St. Sattler's to effect repairs to the damage of the shootout, which Father Xander was quite thankful for. The elderly ankylosaur jokingly informed Wynn that before all this, he had made a small prayer for a refurbishment of the church. Seems it got answered.
Fortunately most of the damage is superficial and easily replaced. Which is good, because Minnie and Claudia have been running amok preparing for the parasaur woman's wedding to Wynn. Doubly fortunate is that Claudia wasn't looking for some grand affair either. Essentially just the ceremony and a dinner following it. She insisted on dancing, and warned Wynn he had better learn. Which Wynn does more or less (in a bonus chapter). The money is used to finance this as well, and while it will not be a large event, Claudia does still want it to be special. Wynn too for that matter, which is where Dierdra lends her expertise in fashion and elegance. She also during this time gives Wynn some advice in buying rings. It is a very fast two weeks, with wedding preparations just moving along, one thing after another.
Claudia and Wynn's vigor in all this is quite frankly impressive. But no less so is that of Malcolm and Tiffany's. Malcolm being the ring bearer is of course a big responsibility for the young lad, and he has issues with the quick pace of the wedding preparations. Him getting a little suit included. But he's excited, and in the few moments in the evening where her, his mom, and Wynn can catch a breath, he looks forward to when the man is officially "his dad." Tiffany, being a family friend and essentially big sister to Malcolm is a shoe in for flower girl. That, and her singing talents were actually quite good so she was tapped to do a song or two. While she was all for it, her oft never seen parents were a bit wary that the family their daughter babysits for was involved in all this chaos, but eventually relent.

The small scale of the wedding made it easy to plan for, but much to Wynn's surprise, Claudia had spent quite some time picking out suits and dresses for the occasion. No doubt, the result of one of her outings with Minnie. It seems she's been expecting this eventuality for some time. And so, two weeks proves to be just long enough to get everything sorted out. As the day gets closer, everyone gets more and more nervous with excitement. But eventually, the day comes. There aren't even a dozen people in attendance. Wynn, Claudia, Malcolm, Tiffany, her parents, Dierdra, Minnie, and even Det. Winslow and Connors. Wynn doesn't have a best man, so Winslow and Connors flip a coin for the privilege, with Connors winning. Even with how small scale the whole thing is, the ceremony carries as much gravitas as larger ones
Claudia is of course beautiful in her dress, and together, they make vows to one another to begin their new lives together. Claudia chooses to take on the name Doe, to help cement Wynn's identity, Pvt. Wynn Doe is no longer a false identity, but his true self. Wynn promises to live this life as best he can, to make Claudia proud of him, and to never abandon her or Malcolm. While they have kissed before, this one is some how highlighted and made more special by the occasion. The banquet after is a surprise, as Moe provides authentic Italian cuisine. More surprising is that Moe and Winslow know each other from "back in the good ol' days." Dierdra had been the one to spearhead the food, and even assisted with some of the dishes. She mentions over the course of the dinner of an offer made to her by the old Italian.
With her needing a new line of work, it seems she's worked out a job with Moe. She's just starting as a waitress, but she should be able to make enough to move out before too long. Wynn thinks upon this for a moment, and remembering his and Claudia's promise to help Dierdra start her new life, he offers her the duffle bag of money. He comments that he did steal all of it from her in the first place, and he was told the best thing he could do with it is use it to help others. Wynn has been quite thrifty with the money, so even with the expenses around the wedding and church repairs, the remainder is still quite vast. Dierdra is tempted to take all of it, but says she'll only take half. She says the man should consider it a wedding gift, as they both have lives to build. Wynn graciously accepts it.
Finally, comes the time for the dance, and as the lights go down and the music plays, Wynn and Claudia take their first dance as husband and wife as the world falls away around them.

Epilogues

Ending 1 - A Man Without Love

Ripley Aaron often complained about hating his job as police chief, but today was the rare day he meant it. Today he hated it with every fiber of his being.
He was currently standing before the altar of St. Sattler's Bayside Church, watching what EMTs and coroners he could scrounge up process an entire congregation of murdered saurians. His scowl hardened as he surveyed the victims. The elderly priest, the middle aged ceratopsid, the young teen raptor, a young parasaur mother and her son, and everything in between, and some only a year or so old.
This massacre is on top of the calamity of yesterday afternoon, where his SWAT team and some of his best detectives walked into what was supposed to be the biggest arrest of the last decade. All they found was that monster Alphonse, bloody and barely alive standing among the eviscerated remains of his own gang. Then the explosion went off. Work crews are still digging through the rubble to figure out what the hell happened.
The last 48 hours have not been kind to the aging pterosaur, and worse, he had horrifyingly little to go on. All he knows is that Detective Winslow, one of his old friends from the start of his police days, was now in the ER fighting for his life along with his partner, because Ripley had chosen to go along with the old pachy's plan of using some human to give them a signal. This human was suspect number one in this colossal debacle, but he apparently is no where to be found.
All Ripley has on him is a name. Pvt. Wynn Doe, which records indicate is an alias. And thanks to the chaos of yesterday, this Wynn Doe had a whole day to do whatever he wanted while Ripley called in extra manpower from the state just to keep order in the city. Then the call came in about this disaster. The old saurian police chief squeezes the bridge of his beak as he stands there among the field of possibly the greatest failure in all the careers of every police chief Volcadera has ever had.

Eventually the bodies start getting wheeled out, and the coroner in charge of the scene approaches the chief and informs him of the cause of death being carfentanil overdose via ingested wine. After a brief explanation of the ins and outs of acquiring the substance, Ripley was left with the question of where it came from. As he pondered this, an officer approaches saying the body of Alphonse's daughter has been found at the carnival. Inside the trunk of a car reported stolen from this area yesterday. The report further states that the carnival reported carfentanil going missing some days before the attack at the restaurant.
With the three locations linked in such an ironclad manner, it doesn't take Ripley to piece together some idea of what happened. He runs down the series of events in a more or less correct interpretation. This leads Ripley to correctly conclude that Wynn was responsible for the explosion yesterday, if not the bloodbath itself, and that he also caused this massacre for a singular purpose. He was eliminating people who could identify him.
This once again leaves the Chief with the issue that no images of this man have yet been found. No way to positively ID him visually. The only ones who can are all in the hospital. If they ever wake up, Wynn will be long gone from Volcadera Bluffs, but at least they can put out an APB for him. If his detectives don't wake up, then this Wynn Doe may just vanish forever.
A storm has blown in off the ocean and the dark sky rumbles over the whole of the state. Ripley can't help but feel utterly defeated by a guy he never even met. He sadly walks to his car and sets course for HQ, with a very long night ahead of him.

Meanwhile...
Far up the coast, somewhere to the north of Volcadera Bluffs. A car sits parked a short distance from edge of a cliff. Below the cliff is a dark and churning surf crashing against the rock walls. Above, an equally dark and thundering sky. Upon the edge of this cliff stands a man. In this man's hand is held a fake ID belonging to someone called Pvt. Wynn Doe. The man holding it studies the card curiously. The human face pictured on the card looks like him, but the name means nothing to the man. Neither do the faces of the people that flash in front of his eyes as he turns the card this way and that. People whose names and face the man compartmentalizes, and then discards. The last is the face of a mother and son.
The man on the cliff gazes for a long moment from beneath shadowed eyes, with only pin pricks of light hinting at their presence. With a flick of the wrist, the man casts away the only remnant of Pvt. Wynn Doe into the ocean below, along with all the history attached to him. The creature that stands upon the ledge now watches as it's consumed by the waves and vanishes beneath the choppy waters. Once it is out of sight, this grim automaton goes to the waiting car where a large duffel bag stuff with money awaits it. Wordlessly it ignites the engine and drives onwards down the road as the pitch black storm clouds rumble overhead.

ENDING 1 COMPLETED

Ending 2 - Hotline Volcadera Bluffs

2 Years later.
Minnie parks in front of St. Hammond's Psychiatric Hospital, a building some distance outside the confines of the city. As she steps out of her car, she notes how peaceful and scenic the area is. It's a veritable garden, full of flowers, streams, and the sounds of birds. A person, saurian or otherwise, couldn't ask for a more peaceful place. Minnie takes a breath and heads towards the check in office. For the last two years, Claudia has been under care here. After the incident at the church, the horror show at the restaurant, and the death of Malcolm, she has completely collapsed in on herself. The parasaur woman is completely unresponsive to everyone, except as chance would have it, to Minnie.
The doctors think it's because of the long history the two share, as Minnie has been seen by Claudia as a caretaker for years, so the parasaur woman associates her as being safe. Minnie on the other hand believes in the simpler explanation that God has made it her mission to once again pull her friend out of darkness. But it is such a deep darkness, the ceratopsid woman is unsure she can do it. Although, she tries. Every Sunday, after church, carrying all the well wishes of St. Sattler's and beyond with her, Minnie treks to this sanctuary to talk to her friend and perhaps pull her back from the brink. She is led by orderlies into a sterile looking common room filled with comfortable chairs to wait.
Eventually, an orderly walks Claudia out from behind a door to the patient rooms. Minnie never gets used to seeing what's become of Claudia. Wide eyed, vacant expression, almost doll like in her movements and expression. And tired. So horribly tired looking. Like she hasn't slept at all these past two years. He friend is guided to sit across from her, and Minnie is given the usual speech by the orderly to call if there's a problem, and then they are given some space. Minnie begins with a friendly greeting. It is not returned. She then asks how Claudia is doing. No response. This is as it usually is. Minnie is not deterred as she begins recounting the goings on and the gossip from the week.
During one pause in the recounting of events, Claudia speaks. It's quiet and scratchy, but Minnie is laser focused on it. The parasaur asks if Minnie is there. She replies yes. Then Claudia asks if Malcolm is back from school yet. Minnie never gets used to this either. Every week Claudia asks, and Minnie must answer no. Claudia nods slightly and says that he must be with Tiffany then, commenting, as she does every week, of how cute they are together. It's so nice for Malcolm to have a someone to be a big sister for her. Minnie has tried, over these last two years to tell Claudia, in numerous ways, that Malcolm is in Heaven, but the words fall on ears that don't want to hear. Claudia is lost in a happy memory long since past.
Claudia happily repeats things Malcolm has done that week, which is identical to what he's done every week for the last two years, and how they're all going to go to the park later. Her, Malcolm, Tiffany, Minnie. Usually, Minnie would let her continue describing the perfect day at the park with the four people she just mentioned. But this time Minnie comments, speaking the name of one noticeably left out. "And Wynn?" Minnie asks. This causes Claudia to jolt, and to start shaking her head. She begins to say "No," over and over again, louder and louder, until the orderly takes notice and moves to restrain her. The shouting of "No" transforms into a screaming repetition of the phrase "LEAVE US ALONE." Claudia is then restrained, and pulled from the room, as Minnie is asked to leave.

Before she can go, the doctors ask what set Claudia off like that, and Minnie tells them she mentioned the name of Malcolm's adoptive father. The doctors ask her to not do that again, to which Minnie agrees. They're all fairly certain that Claudia will be back to how she was earlier next week, but they'll watch her just to make sure. They also mention that payment for her treatment is due next month. Minnie nods and writes out a check to pay them, eliciting a comment from one of the doctors how working at a diner must pay better than they thought. Minnie just smiles and nods as she leaves to return home. It's a solemn drive. She ruminates on the actual source of the money. Every month, without fail for the past two years, a parcel of money appears in her mailbox. She knows that it is Wynn who puts it there.
The last time she saw the man was a week after the incident at Malcolm's funeral. Wynn was not among the mourners. He lingered on a hill watching from far away like a ghost. Minnie only caught a glimpse of him before he vanished. Minnie fears it was also the last time Claudia had any semblance of sanity. After that day she stopped eating, leaving the house, talking. Everything. If not for Minnie checking up on her daily, the parasaur would have starved herself to death. After news spread of Claudia being placed into psychiatric care, the money started appearing in Minnie's mailbox. The first, and so far only, time there was a note attached. It read only, "Keep her safe."
Minnie admits that without the money, she couldn't keep Claudia in that sanctuary, but given the dark cloud hanging over all their lives since the incident, she dreads knowing where it comes from for it can be from nothing good. She hears gossip at the diner. Rumor about a vigilante psychopath that haunts the alleyways and dangerous parts of town. Brutal killings are taking place. So far all criminals of one variety or another. It's hardly a comfort however as the bodies continue to pile up. The police, and the public, are nervous that this killer may stop targeting criminals. There are currently no leads on the identity of this vigilante, and everyone has their theories. But Minnie knows. She prays daily for Wynn and Claudia to find their way out of the darkness they're in.
Prayers, that have so far gone unanswered.

Meanwhile...
In a shadowy alley of what the locals call Skin Row, a small time saurian car thief wheezes as he runs faster than he ever has before. It's not easy, as his leg has a wicked gash in it that leaves a trail of blood behind him. He chances a glance over his shoulder. Nothing. He thanks Raptor Jesus as he reaches what should be a safe house. A piece of crap pizza joint whose music is the only thing worse than the food. He bursts in through the front, unconcerned about customers, as this place never has any. It doesn't make its money selling pizzas after all. No this dank dark pizza parlor is the front for the criminal equivalent of a mom and pop store. Stolen goods, basic narcotics, and some entry level prostitution. The car thief dashes past the meth addled musicians and into the back offices.
He bursts into the office of the owner, Tony, a guy that once ran with some Alphonse before the big lizard got killed. Tony was in the middle of counting some cash before he was interrupted, and screams at the car jacket about what the big idea is. The small time thief stammers out that it's HIM. Tony sees the leg of his employee and pieces together who he's talking about rather quickly. He takes on the expression of one who was just told the Devil is coming for him, and tells the car thief to help him pack the money and they'll run for it. The thief keeps trying to say there's no time and they have to go now, but Tony insists they take the money. They start shoveling cash into bags and Tony says to follow him to his car out back. It's in a dark, poorly lit drive in alley, and the tires have been slashed.
Expletives are exchanged as the thief says HE's here. Tony pulls forth a gun and says that they'll just have to hoof it. Not a comfort to the thief, who asks what about him and his busted leg. Tony, answers this with a kick to said leg, toppling the thief and saying that should keep the psycho occupied while he gets away. As Tony runs into the dark of the night, the thief lays there in terror, especially when he hears gunshots and a scream come from the direction where Tony ran. Emerging into the edge of a alleyway light, stands the vigilante psycho that is Wynn, with bloody instruments in had. The thief begs for mercy, but finds none in the specks of light glinting off the man's shadowed, predator like eyes.

ENDING 2 COMPLETED

Ending 3 - The Made Man

2 years later.
Wynn awakens before dawn. He's been looking forward to today, and almost didn't sleep the night before as a result. The large, ornate, high ceiling bedroom the man awakens in is dark. Despite being in a penthouse near the heart of the city, the ambient lights of the surrounding buildings barely illuminate things this high. He leaves the confines of the bed and begins getting ready for the day. It's one of his visitation days. Dierdra has been true to her word and given the man as many chances as she could allow to let him be with Claudia and Malcolm. The visits are unfortunately sporadic and hard to plan for. The allosaur woman wasn't lying about keeping the man busy. There always seemed to be some new fire to put out, arm to twist, minion to bring into line, or meeting to sit in on and look imposing.
All that was nothing to the man. As long as he kept his eyes on the prize, he'd do anything to be with his family again and as often as possible. Dierdra knows this, and despite how busy they still seem to be, both she and Wynn can tell that he may no longer be as needed as he once was. As such they have both been preparing for the inevitable day when Wynn will leave Dierdra's apartment and return to a more humble life with Claudia. This, preparation, has had Wynn taking on a new duty for Dierdra. As he takes a seat on the edge of the bed to finish dressing himself. Doing so stirs Dierdra from her slumber, and she rolls over, wearing only a bed sheet, to bid him good morning. Wynn responds with a less emotional good morning.
The elegant allosaur woman does not seem bothered by the lack of warmth in the reply. She instead asks him if he got any sleep last night. He affirms he did. Dierdra looks from the man to the dark ceiling as the post-waking fog evaporates from her mind. As they linger in silence for a time, Dierdra eventually asks if he's excited. Questioning her about what, the allosaur woman explains about seeing Claudia today. Wynn, naturally says that of course he is. After another brief pause she asks if there's anything he'd needs, or would like to get them as a gift. He shakes his head, stating that Claudia mentioned to him last time that the money he sends her is more than enough. That she only cares about him being there with her. Something he admits he yearns for.
Dierdra gives a soft chuckle as she asks what she has to do to get the man to love her like he does Claudia. The man replies, with a bit of a cheeky tone, that ordering him into her bed didn't work. Dierdra rolls closer to Wynn and explains, as if repeating a well trodden conversation, that she needs an heir, and that Wynn is the only one she trusts. Placing a hand gently onto his arm, she says in a far more honest tone that he's the only one she wants. Wynn does not reply to that directly. He merely stands up and begins to make his way to the exit. Before he goes, Dierdra calls to him, saying that she'll keep her promise to the man. Once she's with child, he's free. This gets the man to turn to face her as he states that he knows she will. He may not love her like he does Claudia, but he trusts her.
With that, he exits the penthouse.

Later, as the sun crests over the tall buildings of downtown Volcadera Bluffs and shines on the grassy hills and brick paths of the city's premier park, Wynn sits waiting on a bench growing more anxious every minute that passes by that they don't show up. Though these visitations are sporadic he does get enough of a heads up to at least call Claudia and let her know. Usually. Fortunately, he and Claudia got to speak in the phone this time and set up a nice outing for the family. He scans everyone who enters his field of vision for them, and every time is disappointed. They're already 15 minutes late, so the man's leg is restlessly tapping away with the seconds. Another 15 minutes pass, then 30, and eventually an hour has come and gone before, at long last, the man spots them. A trio of parasaurs coming his way.
He stands up to be more visible, which is easy. He now sports a virtually all black attire, which has him stand out like an ink spot against the otherwise colorful verdant green of the park. Malcolm is leading the way. He's 7 years old going on 8, and those two extra years have made him surprisingly sharp for his age. Still obsessed with cars as far as Wynn knows. Following after him is Claudia. Seeing her causes Wynn's heart to fill up with a happiness that only reminds him of how terrible the ache it has during the days he's spent without her. She cradled in her arms and resting on her shoulder is the newest member of the family. Wynn and Claudia's little one, a girl, named Justine. Wynn's not sure where Claudia pulled the name from, but she says it felt right.
Not that Wynn had much opportunity to weigh in on his daughter's naming. He would have missed the young parasaur girl's birth without direct intervention from Dierdra making it possible. Though his allosaur mistress wanted to be in attendance as well. She's so desperate to be included as part of their family. Envious enough Wynn suspects she does not in fact NEED and heir. She just wants what he and Claudia have. The man doesn't like to think about the odd affair he's currently engaged in with Dierdra, and shake's his head clear of the thoughts. That's just business. A debt that has to be paid. Looking towards the approaching members of his family, he refocuses on their happy faces and feels a smile stretch across his own. Malcolm breaks into a sprint towards him, and the man gets on a knee ready to embrace him.
They collide at the young parasaur boy is scooped up and hug each other tightly. Malcolm and Wynn express how much they've missed one another and the parasaur boy immediately begins recounting all what Wynn has missed since last they met. When Claudia approaches closer, Malcolm stops his current story and tells the man to see what Justine can do and asks his mother to show them. Claudia gently chides her son for being too excited, but after a brief kiss hello is exchanged between her and Wynn, she speaking simply to Justine, and informing her that her daddy is here, asking if the infant parasaur wants to say hello. Justine scans Wynn's face before shyly tucking it away in the nape of Claudia's neck. The parents merely exchange shrugs and Claudia says she'll come around in a bit.

The family make their way to a nearby field where they set up for a picnic. Along the way Wynn and Claudia catch up, with the occasional interjection from Malcolm. It's revealed to have been 7 months since their last real meeting. Claudia begins to list what all the St. Ellie's community is up to. Tiffany is about to start high school, Father Xander is retiring, and Minnie is still running the diner and church functions, waiting for Claudia to be able to return to working full time. Wynn asks if the money he's sent her is enough, which she replies that it has been more than enough, but she wants to work. It's wonderful looking after Justine, but she just wants to get out of the house. She then asks about how things are going for Wynn. The man shrugs, and says they're about the same as they always are. Busy.
However, he does say that all the work over the last 2 years has not been for nothing. A lot of infrastructure has been built, and what was once Skin Row has indeed been renovated and made appealing for small businesses and families to start coming in. There's already a fair number of offers. He adds that by the end of the year all the investments and work may start to pay off. Claudia and Malcolm both energize upon hearing this. The boy asks if that means Wynn will be coming home soon. His expectent look is mirrored by his mother. Wynn's expression flashes, ever so briefly to one of shame as he recall's Dierdra's condition for his release, her desire for an heir by him. He sighs and replies that he's not sure. He hopes so. Claudia asks that he might be able to convince Dierdra to give him more free time.
The words may as well be a knife in the heart. He keeps his poker face, even though Claudia continues to make a case for an early release. Wynn just listens, and when she finishes just says he'll ask her. Malcolm seems confident that Wynn's job is almost complete, and then not only can he come home, but Auntie Dierdra can stop by as well. A prospect that Wynn hopes to avoid so there are no awkward questions about the allosaur's new child. He's lied to Claudia and Malcolm enough already. Before the conversation can go on too much longer, he suggests they not worry about work for now and just enjoy the picnic. The others agree and begin to set up their little spot and dig into their meals. For what it's worth, this time makes all of it worthwhile. This time spent with the woman he loves and his children.
As the day goes on, the family plays games, chit chats about this and that, and Wynn gets to spend whatever time he can trying to get to know his daughter. He's already missed so much with her as is. She does eventually warm up to him over the course of eating a cucumber, and show off that she can not just walk, but run since last he's seen her. Wynn is absorbs all of this. Memorizing every detail. It will keep him going in the time to come without them, and act as justification for what he must do with Dierdra. Eventually the hours whittle away and the sun begins to descend. Wynn gets a grim look on his face and sighs heavily. It does not go unnoticed by Clauida, who asks if he has to go soon. He nods, and explains that sundown, like always. He scans the edges of the park and spots the dark car waiting for him.

The parasuar woman reaffirms her love for the man, and with a deep and passionate kiss, the man does so as well. He tells her that no matter what, he loves her, Malcolm, and Justine, and will always come back to them. She responds that she knows and that they'll all be waiting for him. She adds that once Wynn is back for good, then they can make all this official. Wynn agrees, saying he's already got a ring picked out. One more kiss between them, and they both know that time is up. Wynn calls over to Malcolm who is nearby playing with Justine. The boy makes no secret about his disappointment by the man's departure, once again asking as he always does if Wynn really has to go. When the man confirms this, he sees a flash of anger cross Malcolm's face. Wynn acts quickly and kneels next to the boy.
He says that soon he'll be home for good. Dierdra has got him on one last project, and she's promised that once it's done he'll be free. And she hasn't broken a promise yet. The boy just says he hates it when Wynn leaves, and with the beginning of tears forming admits that he misses him so much. The man gives the boy a hug and states that he'll be back. He'll always come back. Finally, he says goodbye to Justine, in his own way. They just stare into each other's eyes for a bit, and the man promises to come back for her as well, before planting a kiss on her forehead. Then, he slowly rises to his feet and the family takes a moment just standing there. None of them want to walk away first, but it is Claudia who eventually acts first. She gathers up Justine and takes Malcolm by the hand.
With one last smile, she turns and walks away, leaving Wynn alone in the park. Almost ten minutes pass of him just standing there staring down the path of their departure. Eventually he makes the long walk to the waiting car. The driver that's been waiting for him asks if he had a nice visit, which gets no reply. The saurian rolls his eyes and opens the door for the man. As Wynn enters he is surprised by he additional passenger. Dierdra has apparently also been waiting, and allegedly watching him and his family this whole time. She bids him to sit, and once he does the car begins to pull away. When she comments that it looked like they all had fun today, the man confirms they did. She tries to egg the man on to further conversation, but is disappointed at his simple replies. Eventually she gets to business.
She says that the two of them still have work to do. Wynn attempts to hide a grimace, but Dierdra spots it. Genuinely looking hurt, she asks if being with her is really that unpleasant. The man hesitates before stating that what occurs between them is just business. He looks at her as he tells Dierdra that he does care for her, she's a friend. But he doesn't love her like he does Claudia. Dierdra looks devastated, but also understanding. Looking away they sit in silence for a time. Eventually she says they'll try again tonight. Wynn makes an affirming sound as the car returns to the city center as night falls on the city.

ENDING 3 COMPLETED

Ending 4 - The Saint

2 years later.
Wynn awakens next to Claudia, taking a deep breath as he does so. It's early morning in the room, and a small voice is making noises from the foot of the bed. The man groggily looks towards the cradle and the tiny form that's stirring in it. He rolls out of bed to inspect the tiny baby parasaur girl. She's still mostly asleep, just having some half awake grumblings, so he elects to let sleeping babies lie and circle around to Claudia's side of the bed where he gives her a kiss on the forehead and informs her he's gonna get breakfast started. She gives a sleepy hum in reply as he makes his exit and heads to the kitchen. Coffee gets brewed, toast gets started, fruits are pulled from the fridge, and eggs get scrambled. Soon, the smells of a wholesome meal soon waft through the house and rouse his family.
First comes Malcolm who hasn't changed much. He is slightly taller, his motor skills are sharper, but he's still just as enthusiastic and invested in cars as much as ever. Except right now when he is rubbing the tiredness out of his eyes. His emulation of Wynn's habits have increased. Not just waking up earlier, but also talking a little more succinctly. So their morning greeting is brief, but the with the smiles the two shoot each other it is anything but some cold interaction. They quietly enjoy each other's company as they prepare themselves plates of food before crying can be heard from the bedrooms. Soon, Claudia emerges with the baby parasaur in her arms, where the mother informs Wynn that, "Justine wants her papa." She passes the baby into Wynn's arms and after some gentle rocking, the crying stops.
Claudia marvels at how Wynn is able to calm their daughter, to which the man just shrugs as he hands the baby back over. He excuses himself to go get dressed. Returning not long after sporting a dapper set of clothes, but most prominent are a pistol holstered under one arm and a police badge on his belt. Malcolm tells the man he's looking cool, and Claudia asks the man if he's ready for his first day as a detective. He replies that he is not entirely sure he's ready. He worries he hasn't really earned it yet, as he is being fast tracked to the position. His wife gives his shoulders a reassuring rub as she states he'll do fine, and that Winslow and Connors will be there for him to lean on if he needs help. The words do help the man feel better, and he asks if she and Malcolm are ready for theirs.
Malcolm is of course, but is also slightly bummed his mom isn't working at his school for her new nursing job, or that Tiffany's graduation from Volcano Elementary means she's leaving him behind too. Claudia says she'll keep an eye on her from the nurse's office. She also reassures the parasaur boy that he'll see her again when she asks the raptor girl to babysit for him and Justine. Until then, Justine will just be a little helper around her office. Malcolm is still ansty about the whole thing, but with the promise he'd still see Tiffany he begrudgingly accepts the situation. With that, they all finish what is left of their breakfasts and then break to get prepared for their respective days. Wynn is due to leave first, and as he is exiting he bids the others goodbye with hugs and kisses.
With that he walks to his own car and drives downtown to the Volcadera Bluffs First Metropolitan Police Department.

The Police Department is always busy to some extent, but Detective Wynn Doe is fortunate his first day seems to be a calm one. In the two years since Alphonse's death, crime in the city has fallen drastically. It has made virtually everyone happy except Chief Ripley, and while he's not happy, neither is his department. Mostly. Det. Patch Winslow seems to be used to this sort of thing though. Which helps, as currently Patch has been assigned as Wynn's partner/mentor in order to show him the ropes. The veteran police pachy welcomes the man to his new desk and gives him some first day run down for new detectives. During the introduction Wynn mentions he will do his best, but he expresses his worries that he have been moved into the desk so quickly. Detective Terry Connors appears to help assuage the man's doubts.
He states that Wynn's fast track to the detective desk was for three reasons. The first is that it looks good for the papers, so there is a political element to his ascension. Getting the human that took out Alphonse in the police force was good, but getting him to a fancy position like Detective sounds better. Patch interrupts that the second reason is because Wynn has proved to be exceedingly competent these last two years, and was destined for the detective desk. Terry then tells the man that third and lastly, Wynn was stupid enough to say yes. This gets a laugh out of the three of them as they proceed to get started on the day's paperwork, of which there is a lot. Although boring, it is peaceful, and Wynn is quite apt at sorting paperwork.
The others notice this, and as part of "training" let Wynn handle some of their workload. Eventually Chief Ripley does stop by, mostly to say hello to Patch. When he notices Wynn he asks the man how he's settling into his desk. Wynn says he may need some time to get comfortable, but he's looking forward to it. Ripley replies to not get too comfortable, or he'll end up like Patch. To which the pachy replies that Rip is just made the pachy was smart enough to deny the promotion. Ripley grumbles at this, but then cracks a smile as he tells Wynn he has an assignment for the three of them. Go buy pizza for the whole department. He'll get back to Wynn about the department compensating him. Then Ripley tells Patch that the promotion did come with some benefits, and chuckles to himself on the way back to his office.
Exchanging shrugs, the detectives make a call to the Department's favorite pizza place to place an order for pickup. A very pleasant, but bored, teenage voice answers and takes the order. The trio then get themselves organized and file into Wynn's car, as seeing as how he's the new guy, he gets the privilege of not only buying the pizza but getting it too. It's a short enough drive and they arrive before the order is ready. A fact that doesn't bother any of them as Moe's has become an unofficial hangout for many police officers. There is another reason which becomes clear as the trio enters the newly renovated and very busy Dino Moe's. They are greeted by the premier hostess of the establishment, Dierdra. She looks a tad overworked, but otherwise completely in her element as she welcomes them.

While they wait for their order to be prepared, Dierdra chats up Wynn, commenting on him becoming a detective as well as asking about Claudia's new job as a school nurse. The man prefers to tell her more about Claudia's excitement about her job and Malcolm's grumblings about Tiffany graduating. During the questioning Wynn reveals that the school Claudia and Tiffany are now attached to is indeed Volcano High. The allosaur woman says that she knows of it, as they also make quite a few orders from them. Which prompts the man to inquire about how she and Moe's is doing. Here, Dierdra reveals that the old Rex is pretty much retired, leaving much of the business's operations to her. She attributes this to her business acumen turning the place around in two short years, although the money Wynn gave her certainly helped.
At this point, one of the cooks from the back wheels out several delivery bags worth of pizzas. He's a young, bald, faceless, human, and Dierdra identifies him by name revealing it to be some funny play on words in the same vein as Anon, Inco, and Wynn's own silly names. (Silen T. Mode?) She very affectionately thanks young lad and after he departs back to the kitchen she says that she thinks she's found herself someone special. She says he's got some hang ups that he's still working through, but adds, "don't we all?" before saying she asks who's paying for the pizza. Patch and Connors both say the new guy as they escape with the pizza. Wynn just sighs and pays before saying it's good to see her and hopes things go well with the boyfriend. She thanks him and comments that she'll make sure of it.
The detective's return to the station is met with applause form the rest of the department with a few Wynn is still very much the New Guy in the station, and his fast tracked promotion has given off the impression he's getting special treatment, so he suffers a few jeers and heckling as he deposits the food. That being said, the food is well received, so it is only a light ribbing as he makes his way back to his desk and returns to the paperwork that still waits for him. Soon, Patch and Terry filter in to keep him company as the rest of his workday thankfully proves to be uneventful. Although Patch does mention that the Chief's kids went to Volcano High, as well as who those kids ended up marrying. He comments that his daughter works there as a teacher, so Wynn may want to have Claudia say hello.
The man keeps that in mind as the day goes on. Eventually the hours tick by and no emergencies arise, so Wynn gets to go home on time. Despite only doing paper work, he's exhausted. But as he enters into the door of his home, he's greeted by the smiling faces of Claudia and Malcolm. Justine is apparently sleeping. The trio share a dinner as they exchange stories about their first day, and when Wynn tells his wife about a possible connection she may have with his boss's daughter, she reveals that she may have met her. She was the music teacher who offered her a very warm, "Hello from Volcano High!" They bonded over exchanging baby pictures. Beyond that the conversation touches upon Father Xander being replaced at St. Sattler's, and Minnie and her new husband being the last two people he's marrying.

The talk continues into the night and remains pleasant, until at last they all retreat into their rooms. For one final time we see Wynn and Claudia nestle together in their bed, and each expresses how grateful they are they have one another and reflect how much can change in two years. And as they drift into sleep, they share ideas and dreams of what possible futures lay ahead of them until, at last, they enter a deep and peaceful slumber.

The End.

ENDING 4 COMPLETED

2ND PASS COMPLETED

OH MY GOD IT'S OVER. YAAAAY
Well there's still one thing that needs to be said.

IT'S SHIT.

It's a whole lot of ideas that need a chainsaw taken to them to carve out what's good and bad, but I am gonna put that on hold until later because I AM TAKING A BREAK.
From this anyway. I got vidya I want to play. I don't know if I'll do anything more with this. Maybe? I don't know. Let's see what /snoot/ does with it first.

Although I suppose I COULD do the bonus chapters and mini mysterious before I call it quits for good.
. . .

Dammit I guess I'm not quite done yet.
Curse this damn autism.

Alright, let's just repost what ideas those were just so we have them organized somewhere.

Bonus Chapters
Birthday Boy Malcolm celebrates his 6th birthday at Pizza Cave
Moe retires, leaving the business to Dierdra. Dierdra also has a human boyfriend of her own now. Insert another bald faceless anon here. Current name: Silen T. Mode.
Tiffany enters high school and meets her music teacher Lucy Mous.
Malcolm and Wynn) go fishing and talk about life stuff.
First Christmas: Wynn Doe gets a sweater.
Bonsu chapter: Chapter about a bonsu tree. Also known as the, "What the fuck is a bonsu tree" chapter. It's like a Bonsai Tree, but different, somehow.
Meeting the Chief: Wynn and the Riply meet for the first time in a non-official setting (possibly with Patch). In my Headcanon, Riply is the Dirty Harry of Snootverse (while at work), so this bonus episode would be to get that across.
Rose of Mercy: Wynn, Claudia, Minnie, and Father Xander team up with another church to run a soup kitchen, where Rosa and Stella are helping out. Mostly for interactions with Snoot Game characters.
Something worth remembering: Claudia and Wynn standing over the crib of their first child together and just being happy.
Two Steps: Before Wynn and Claudia's marriage, he needs some dancing lessons. A random act of kindness gets him the assistance of ballet dancer Frikki Frekkasdottir
The Big Event: The Policeman's ball, where Wynn, Claudia, Lucy, Anon, Inco, and Olivia all interact. Dead last in the timeline.

Mini Mysteries:
A collection of short post E4 stories following Wynn, Patch, and Terry solving riddles and brain teasers wrapped up as detective work. Also a good way to work in some cameos.

Mysterty of the Missing Masterpiece

St. Hammond's Art School from Wani has had a theft of a winning art piece.

Conundrum at the Carnival

Another theft, this time from the carnival. The culprit is one of the carnival folks (one of the identical twins)

Customer Disservice

A maker of "athletic enhancement drinks" in Little Troodon has been accused of discrimination by a a customer, who has accused the the merchant of also selling illegal and dangerous steroids. (Potion Seller and the Knight. You end up arresting them both)

Mechanical Malpractice

Local Mechanic Mia has been accused of sabotaging vehicles that pass through her shop so she can guarantee return business, but she denies it. She's innocent, but is a bitch about the whole thing.

Mrs. Fang, I presume?

Ex Principal Spears and his wife Fang have reported a break in at their car dealership.

The Swamp Monster

Reports have come in about a Swamp Monster roaming the national park. Wynn, Terry, and Patch are sent in by Ripley who thinks it's funny, but it's causing a fuss so he wants them to go settle things. The "Swamp Monster" turns out to be Gertie, who accidentally trespassed on a new resident's property

I Wani Solve a Mystery

Wynn pulls the short straw on assignments and is assigned to participate in a Murder Mystery charity fundraiser event at the local Art Gallery. Inco, Olivia, Damien, Liz, and a few other wani characters are in attendance. (Wynn and Inco pull a Sherlock and Watson routine)

Getting Punk'd

Wynn, Terry, and Patch are called into a solve a case of missing money. The Swamp Babies had just put on a concert. They put all the money in a safe before the show, but afterwards it was gone. Going with the female Nick in this one, who under questioning reveals she is pregnant. The culprit for the theft is their manager.

Notes for 3rd pass

Okay, we're just gonna read this and section by section put down whatever notes spring to mind.
As a general overarching thing, convert Wynn's dream sequences to bonus chapters

Intro
It is mostly fine. Have to rephrase a few things to make it align with the floor plan better. Wynn should not be expecting this to be a big store. Just the start of several thefts he plans to make before moving onto a new city.
Alphonse can only get in and out the front, so if he's cooking the human he'd be around as Wynn is skulking around. Could probably add a 2nd floor walkway in somewhere to help facilitate not getting caught.
Dierdra uses the upstairs bathroom because it's as far away as she can get from the table, and the balcony booths are somewhat secluded. Wynn doesn't run away using the walkway because he trips and falls over the balcony.

Part 1
Maybe change the empty choice to check on the money result in Wynn tumbling off the couch and falling unconscious. Still gets admonished by Claudia. Conversation with Claudia seems fine as is. May as well just have Wynn say goodnight when she leaves. Or attempt to before he konks out.
During the Minnie and Xander conversation, move the implication that Claudia has seen Wynn's junk later. Or have her admit to it when their relationship is more cemented. Might be funnier that way.
The Xander conversation seems functional enough as is. Could probably be cleaned up a bit.
The second Claudia conversation is pretty good. Maybe for the Honesty choice have Wynn admit to not having much of a history as an explanation for his lack of things. For the Attachment option, he could ask her to talk to get his mind off of the pain of having moved around. also, the movement should probably just be to show where the bathroom is. Falls asleep while Claudia talks.

Part 2
Choose one of the empty choices and just use that to move things along. The second option seems best.
The attachment choice could probably be something else. It comes on a bit strong as the first one. Maybe change it to, "Stare" and "Ignore them"
Make a few more mentions of how sore Wynn's body is when sitting down for lunch and to watch the movie.
Add in a brief description of Wynn's first experience with an actual dinner. It's the first time he's ever eaten spaghetti.
The phone call. Actually write it out or describe it? Mix of certain words and describe the rest may be the best. A certain level of readers filling in the blank themselves make horror and disgust more impactful.
Is it an effective form of harassment? Believable? It affects Claudia. It's written that it does. It makes her look stupid, but fear and abuse make victims not take actions they should. And if he gets away with it, why not do it?
Can he do more in this early stage? Could, yes, but doesn't. Doesn't need to. She's a beat dog at this point, so he doesn't need to try for anything more complicated.
Is it too early to bring it in? No, I don't think so. But make it so Wynn understands that this is what Xander meant by helping Claudia.
Explain a bit about where Tiffany's parents are. Adjust their appraisal that Wynn is just weird and drop the idea they want to teach him to be normal. Doesn't go anywhere anyway.
Snoot version of Bluey is Buggy.
Confrontation with Claudia seems mostly okay. Her reaction needs to be more defensive. Maybe once he admits to deleting the message or not she shuts down the conversation. She could try telling Wynn to leave the room if he hears it ring earlier.

Part 3
Church service seems good. The Empty Choice could be a bit more vague about his feelings.
Xander and/or Minnie should find him after service about the job.
Xander makes it so Wynn won't be doing any driving near Little Troodon or Skin row for charity drives. To help convince Wynn to stay he should hint that the man should stick around and not do anything rash like running away.
Could also mention that there are some movements being made to get him out of his predicament.
Wynn putting together the situation about Dierdra and the money during his walk back, he should know that if or when he's found, they will be coming for the money. So he can't spend a lot of it. He also has to figure out why he should stay. Has to be for practical reasons, with a dash of emotion if he has attachment points.
Just because there isn't a lot of noise doesn't mean no one is looking for him. Xander is right that if he runs now he'll be running forever. Criminal organizations don't worry about jurisdiction and who knows how far reaching Alphonse's reach really is.
They also hold grudges. Decides it's probably in his best interest to stick around and see what Xander's idea is.
Second Tiffany visit seems fine. Remove "teach to be normal part and it's a short little scene. Maybe discuss Tiffany's parents and what they do a bit more? Maybe add in something that reinforces Tiffany as Malcolm's essentially big sister?
Like, she's been his babysitter his entire life (all 5 years of it). Perhaps outright call her a latchkey kid?
Attachment choice is a nice subtle increase in being comfortable around each other. Remove the almost smile. Have it be a gesture Wynn doesn't understand the importance of. The thinking of Claudia while hand holding is alright.
Tone down Claudia's reaction for the dinner prep scene. Change the yearning look to be something brief at the end. Majority of he look should be a bemused smile. "At Ease" is a good term.
Is having a one month time jump in the middle of a chapter a good idea? Yeah, it can work. I think there were a few in Snoot. Not a month, but a couple of weeks.
The phone calls should come once a month. Also mention that not all the calls she gets on that phone is harassment. She gets plenty of other calls, but she's afraid of every one of them being a harassment call.
For the church event, it's okay to have Rosa there, but probably best to call her "Church Woman" or something.
For the honesty answer, the high attachment variant of the response he shouldn't outright say helping her and Malcolm make him happy. Only that it is those moments that he feels something. That's when it doesn't feel like a job.
Cut down on Claudia's explanation of why she's eager to take care of Wynn. Save the deeper explanation for the big confession scene after Wynn gets kicked out. She should just say that it's a bit like paying off a debt for her.

Part 4
The investigation into Claudia's background is pretty solid. May be a good spot for a minigame. The more disorganized it gets the later in the time line it is.
The Empty Choice seems fine as well.
Now, is this scene too early in the narrative? It's only chapter 4 of 10. Not exactly the midway low point. However, it is Choice 4 of 7. So it will be crossing the midway point in terms of character development.
May need to expand the scenes between them coming together again to make the consequences feel like they are more relevant.
Change that Wynn is a good liar because he always speaks the same tone, more or less. Otherwise the scene seems good enough.
The big path split. Hooboy. here we go.
E1 (Lie and no attachment) - The big general overhaul that needs to happen is Wynn's whole info and supply gathering thing. It's currently overly descriptive and not enough of it comes up later.
Streamline it or have Wynn actually break in and steal some info. The stakeout aspect is decently logical, as is following him home. Save the "identifying a sociopathic stare" thing for when they meet in person.
Setting up hunting cameras is a decent enough strategy but conflicts with his hesitancy to spend money. Cheapo ones cost ~$50 bucks.
E2 (Lie with attachment) - The start of this one is okay. Need to use Pizza Cave more throughout the story.
E3 (Told Truth with attachment) - Cut down on just how much Xander finds out about Donovian. Safe some of those revelations for Dierdra to explain. Specifically the tasks he performs the gang.
Attachment and honesty variety makes for a lot of branching paths. The highest level one seems pretty good. The kiss, I think, is appropriate. It's a very emotional moment. Shave it down to two types. Combine the high and mid versions.
Leave out the kiss unless attachment is full.
The meeting with Donovian is rough, and probably needs the most work. The cause and effect push credulity to the limit. May need an entire rewrite.
High attachment intro, Wynn doesn't understand why it's a big deal putting Malcolm asking for him to put him to bed.
Change the 3 ideas of the plan into and Empty Choice instead of something based off of points. Remove line about sabotaging car.
Maybe change the whole setup to a choice about sabotaging or causing a distraction during or after the event. It works, but as Wynn walks off with Malcolm, Donovian spots him? Not a good way to convey info if they can't meet.
Unless, during the distraction Wynn's ID card gets lost. Bit too convenient. Unless he uses it to gain access to somewhere he needs to be in order to interrupt Donovian.
All it costs is 1 of the 2 face to face encounters with the director. So In favor of more interaction, I think confronting the director will remain, but the events or dialogue will need to change.
Choice is a bit obvious though. Maybe change it to "Push through the crowd aggressively" vs "weave through crowd carefully"
Instead of having Donovian being denied via phone, maybe Wynn can trick him with a hot-mic to end everything early.
OR Dierdra is there as Donovian walks away and Wynn sees her talk to the director and hush him up. Raises the question of why Wynn doesn't immediately bolt if he knows she knows about where he's staying now.
I suppose she could ambush Wynn and tell him about the meeting in the park the next morning herself, promising him safety and to rein in the director as much as she can.
That's a bit more of an elegant solution, and smooths out the question of what to do in the more heated exchanges. Also earn an immediate bit of trust by telling Donovian to leave Wynn alone and not bother with nobodies despite making it clear she knows who Wynn is.
yeesh part 4 is really damn long. It's a big chapter and all, but damn. And yeah. The entire Fair Scene needs to be rewritten.
If I change how Wynn gets invited to the meeting with Dierdra, then the whole morning scene after the Fair. Keep the Van scene.
The Dierdra meeting reads fine more or less as is.
Conversation hen he gets back can be trimmed down a bit in regards to his past.

Part 5
Account for the fact that only one route knows about Pizza Cave, or mention it beforehand
Maybe make it so Malcolm doesn't get an answer one way or another to the "Is Wynn my dad?" question
Fix that the activity sheet was only left behind for no attachment run. Remove tip or no tip choice. Serves no point
Have the high attachment couch kissing scene only have the one big thank you kiss. Rest is just a nice cuddle on the couch.
The whole section about the fake bullying call can be removed, as well as the empty choice. Just skip to the taunting phonecall. Maybe no phone call at all and just wipe that whole section.
Maybe change the scene entirely to one where he asks Father Xander for an update on Donovian, but also advice about possibly maybe being in love with Claudia.
Whole section seems a bit crap, so best to just wipe and rewrite. Make the drama about telling people that Claudia and Wynn are a couple?
Maybe Malcolm overhears Claudia and Wynn talking about Donovian being Malcolm's dad and that's how we end up with the same honesty choice.

Part 6
CLaudia DOES have a cellphone. Tiffany should have used that to tell Claudia was sick last chapter. Malcolm would tell Tiffany that his mom hates the house phone, and Tiffany would probably only have her cell number.
No computer though. That's confirmed.
Definitely mention that Donovian's harassment is being blunted by Xander's police friend or Dierdra.
Add in some empty choices for when Wynn and the kids are playing
Expand scene of Tiffany and Malcolm talking to Wynn about him entering the Dad role for Malcolm. Maybe put Tiffany's feelings about Malcolm being her psudo little brother here.
Don't know if the Minnie recap is feasible, but if there are certain markers for other events then it may actually be easier to do than I'm thinking.
The conversations themselves seem fine.
Move meeting the detectives to a different day and make it so Xander gives a heads up? Don't see why he wouldn't. Maybe have them meet Wynn and Claudia at church.
Detectives only suspect Alphonse and Donovian are connected. The Dierdra info is more relevant that way.
Maybe come up with a reason why Claudia can't just record one of the harassing messages and use that as evidence? You know, destroy his public image? Also known as his first and best layer of defense?
The E2 one, where the detectives address the concerns about just kicking in the door, is the exact situation that happens in E4. A shooting gallery that endangers citizens. Gonna have to rewrite that I think.
Tiffany NEEDS a role in the finale. To much setup to just drop it.

Part 7
I think this chapter is probably the best. I certainly spent a long enough time writing it.
It's, like, 95% good. Just imply Dierdra has a human fetish instead of outright saying it.

Part 8
OKAY here's where shit starts going off the rails in my opinion. Really need to utilize Tiffany in the E4 ending in this especially. She's been dropped in so much of these plots because I just can't think of how to integrate her.
Don't even know if the cps agent angle is worth doing. Donovian could just CALL Wynn with the threat. Maybe threaten that he as a pet CPS agent.
Though what would be the thing that gets him ready to act, murder or otherwise?
SO let's start just going down the list.
E1
Maybe Wynn should just reach a point where "It's time to take care of Donovian." Like, he agrees to help Dierdra if she covers up his crime. Police don't really feature in this ending. They're suspicious of Wynn but don't have any proof so they can't do anything?
No need to collect evidence for anything as Dierdra will grab it later when she cleans up.

E2
Alter Xander's reasoning for Wynn to turn himself in to trust the system to find the man innocent. or justified and let him off with a reduced sentence. Perhaps Wynn can retort back.
Something about how Xander threatened Wynn would meet God if he hurt Claudia, but Donovian had been hurting her for years, and Xander did nothing. So don't judge the man for doing what the priest himself promised to do.
Detective's reaction might need to be adjusted as well. Then again, having a defeated attitude at their own system fucking them over and being desperate for some kind of win seems okay

E3
The solo investigation of Donovian's house and the cracking of the safe might need less explanation to make it more believable. If minigames are involved, now would be a good time for one.

E4
Wynn should have a better rapport with the detectives in E4 and perhaps, if I cut out the school side trip entirely and just have Donovian call Wynn at home, the detectives can be there.
Also, if I cut out the school side trip, I can shift the day around to make it easier for Tiffany to be involved in the thievery.

Part 9
The date nights. Just going by memory, the E3 one is probably the best of the bunch. E1 is as always the most extreme because at this point Wynn is the villain.

E1
Everyone is a bit too chill with Donovian's death. Maybe have it remain that he disappeared under mysterious circumstances and Wynn is only suspected by the detectives and Xander? Or they aren't as fine with it as it is now?
The key thing for the carnival scene seems to be just how uncomfortable it is having Wynn around. He's, like, Anti-Fun at this stage.
It is a bit of a jump for him to go from, "I just want to leave" to "I have to kill everyone." Also, his hiding spot wasn't particularly well hidden or quiet.
He really needs to argue with himself as to whether killing a whole church worth of people is the best way to disappear. Mostly because the damage to his anonymity is already done. The police know about him.
Unless Xander and the detectives have not mentioned his name and left him as an anonymous source. But after Donovian's death that seems hard to believe. Unless it gets blamed on Alphonse/Dierdra.

E2
Decent enough set up. Naturally have to clean up the parts where I repeat myself. Definitely shorter than the E1 version. The ending needs to rework some of the lines.
Change it so Wynn isn't sure he will be able to not go kill mode, but he definitely doesn't want Malcolm to see him like that.

E3
There's a lot of spelling mistakes that will have to get cleared up.
It's honestly a solid chapter. Donovian just backing off is a lot easier to deal with or explain away than him being killed so there's less issues with Wynn and Claudia being "in the clear"

E4
Dierdra living with them in E4 is a bit of a stretch and shows a lack of what sounds like common sense on the police's part. Buuut I don't want to just remove her from the story either.
Out of the finale I should say. Realistically she'd probably be in witness protection until the epilogue. OR she would have been told to go back to the gang and not rock the boat until the cops came in for a raid to arrest everyone.
Maybe have sweeping arrests be made throughout the week with Alphonse escaping with a small contingent of those loyal to him. Dierdra could have expected him to have died fighting, but him running has her spooked?
Maybe she's the only one who knew about Wynn and Claudia so she's still safe with them?
Don't have her separated from Wynn and Claudia immediately when they arrive at the church cookout. Have her pulled away because Winslow or Conners wants to talk to her a bit. Or Sam and Ripley.
It's kinda clunky. The main idea is that Wynn and Claudia go down the line of people and get a line or two of how they've helped or been helped by them. Ending of course with addressing all that Wynn actually did for Claudia and vice versa.
Don't know how well it comes across in the text as it. Will likely need a clean up and rewrite.
Also, the Malcolm and Tiffany section might be missing.

checks

Turns out it was! What a mess. The section itself is okay. It's functional, but maybe play up the father/son dynamic between Malcolm and Wynn a bit more.

Part 10
The Finales...
Oh dear. Once again, the only one I think I like is E3's. Will probably need a healthy amount of rewriting. And while it's fun, probably don't need to track the days too terribly close.

E1
Use visual story telling with the carfentanil and that whole plot. Or just a bit more clever.
It's been 2 weeks, but maybe a news broadcast mentioning how a the carfentanil was stolen and no leads.
Claudia probably wouldn't ask Wynn any questions in the morning.
The real question is whether Claudia's decline is believable or not. I'm not entirely sure it is.
The boardroom scene works fine. Dierdra's plans and reasoning sound logical enough.
Contacting the police is the weakest part of the set up. He should tip them off that something is happening before he goes to Dierdra.
The reliance on convenience that is the whole silent alarm thing is just too far fetched.
That being said, the actual Alphonse confrontation seems fine. Cut out Wynn killing the chauffers. Have them in on the coup. Don't have Dierdra notice Wynn turning on the gas.
Have him move Dierdra's body to the trunk at the cemetary.
Xander would know what's up, and be on the look out for Wynn, and no doubt rat him out immediately once things went south at the restaurant. The moment police got hurt and Wynn is shown to be just fine, he would know.
Maybe Wynn should avoid going back to Claudia's? Just head for the church and poison the congregation then? Poison the wine the night before, move the finale to Sunday, have it so that mass is on going during the shootout, Wynn arrives just after communion?
That way we get all the scenes...Man this is where it falls apart ain't it?
Preemptively poisoning the congregation sounds like the right move. He would then show up to the church after. Maybe he gets there after the event, and talks to Claudia's corpse? That's pretty tragic. Or, by narrative virtue, she's the last one alive?
His last words to her (while she's alive) would be to attend the church service and be at peace, because when he gets back all her problems will be over.
What if he just leaves, and Claudia is left waiting for him to come back forever more? Or is that not tragic enough?

E2
The start seems okay. I guess there may be a question of whether Wynn would still be the church driver. Then again, Xander may be taking every opportunity to try and save the man.
Okay, so the kidnapping is functional but not good. Reduce the time that Wynn is away from them to essentially a short jaunt. Better to cut the charity trip out. Reduce the time between Wynn leaving and the kidnapping.
Drive back home to get the wedding ring because he forgot it? He's supposed to be smart and neurotic about that sort of stuff, so probably not FORGET but something else. Could just kidnap them in front of him, and he goes off half cocked.
I guess we can go full action movie and have Wynn just drive a car through the front doors.
...
Nah that's too dumb. Which is saying something considering E4.
He could be at home ruminating about the ring, when he gets called over? Or he's already on his way with the ring to propose and the dark car drives past. He was just avoiding church and Xander because the priest kept trying to convince him to turn himself in.
Then the car drives past, Wynn rushes to the church, finds Xander there and Minnie is panicking, swears revenge, locks and loads, and rolls out.
Simple enough.
Move Claudia and Malcolm up to one of the conference rooms. That way we can change the whole pace of the fight to something a bit more like an infiltration. Wynn can climb up a drain pipe to reach and breach through a 2nd floor window.
The window can't work as an exit due to, perhaps Wynn being the only one dextrous enough to use it? Or the pipe he crawled up comes loose he leaps from it into the window, in classic action movie fashion.
Then he has to reach them as stealthily as he can, but once he does that, would he care very much about stealth? Yes because they're still in danger. Now, let's say he gets them out, and tells them to go get the police, while he deals with Dierdra.
That could be a character moment where he FINALLY tells Claudia and Malcolm who he is, who these people are, and what's going on, and that if they ever want to be together he can't allow the gang to exist. Also reveal he murdered Donovian too I guess.
Okay, so they should escape through the back door, we can have our Jurassic Park kitchen reference, and then he sends them off, and heads back in to do all the killing. Which is pointed out as stupid by Claudia saying they can go to the cops together.
He doesn't, they go, he returns, NOW the action and the shooting and the murder starts. Dierdra confronts Wynn on the balcony, then enter Alphonse, who dramatically climbs up and over the balcony ledge.
Alphonse has captured Claudia and Malcom, as they ran right into him as they were running away. Bad luck, but He was actually on his way there anyway to confront Dierdra himself.
That sounds a lot less convoluted. Maybe also reveal that if Wynn had gone with them, they would have likely avoided Alphonse entirely.
Maybe he kills Dierdra sooner in the conversation. Like when he drops the "she always sided with the prey" line.
Should the resulting fight still end up in the kitchen with the restaurant burning down? I suppose it doesn't have to, but Malcolm needs to get killed at some point.
So maybe the initial idea that, in order to make Wynn suffer a bit Alphonse executes Malcolm while Wynn is otherwise incapacitated sounds fine. Claudia and Malcolm could be handcuffed and watching the whole thing, and Wynn could get slapped over the balcony.
The real key to victory here would be that magnum. Treat that thing like goddamn Excalibur for this fight. It's the only thing really hurting Alphonse. I mean, it's what I did for E4.
So Malcolm needs to die, probably pretty close to the end of the fight. Definitely a "Fuck you" from Alphonse. Then Wynn goes berserk and just stabs/shoots/slices into Alphonse like an animal.
Then post-bloodlust clarity hits and we get the sad scene. If the restaurant doesn't burn down, I guess he can just leave her there as the police sirens can be heard.
Though leaving her there in either sprinkler/rain cradling the corpse of her son seems like the more dramatic option.

E3
Start is actually mostly good. Maybe when Wynn is complaining about having to live away from Claudia, Dierdra can actually get snappy at him when she reminds him that's what he agreed to.
Wynn gets his weapons back after the conference, and when he's covering Dierdra, he pulls the knife out in a defensive gesture, and she just yanks it out of his hand when she wants to cut Alphonse's throat
Two weeks may be long enough for Claudia to know. I think it's not too unreasonable.

E4
Okay, this one may need the most rewrites. It was kinda rushed at the end, which is probably not hard to tell. IF we go with the shoot out at the church, then this whole thing needs to be cleaned up.
Have the warning of danger come from the police. They have cruisers that are keeping an eye on things that note that semi trucks are en route and are acting odd.
They come to Wynn and request his help and getting people out of there. Is there no time for someplace better than the church? No, not really. Maybe it has a basement, at least?
Trucks could just have their tires shot out and grind into the dirt.
Definitely have Wynn be told he'd make a good cop by Patch near the start of the finale, or even as early as the Dealing with Donovian chapter.
Now, while action packed, I'm not sure the events of this particular ending really fit well. Maybe it's the setting or just how divorced it is from being "honest" and having "attachments"
I mean, it's essentially the finale of an action movie, so maybe the reward is just the pure machismo on display? Just a sort of victory lap, feel good ending?
Maybe it's just the setting it takes place in. Maybe it can happen in the same place, just scaled down, so it's JUST Alphonse and, like 6 dudes. Even still that's potentially one deadly shoot out for people to be in the crossfire of.
How about it picks up on Wynn and his family's way back home, accompanied by all the relevant players. The detectives, Dierdra, etc. Then the goons can just attack them at home, and the scale of the collateral damage is reduced.
Major question is Alphonse. He's just so damn big, that one wonders how he gets there or makes his appearance. Could stick with the semi truck I suppose. It would definitely stick out.

Part 11
The Epilogues! These were actually easy, because the 2nd thing anyone ever thinks of when making a story after how it starts is how it ends. So I had all of these in mind while writing.
Which would, allegedly, make them one of the better written parts...right? Sure. I'm certain that's how it works. Plus, they're short, so they don't have much to really worry about.

E1
I think this is a reasonable enough ending. Wynn is divorced of his humanity and everyone is miserable.

E2
I think the psyche ward portion mostly works. Maybe Claudia talks a bit too much. Minnie should probably have a not very high opinion of Wynn. Also Wynn's note may say "I'm sorry" or "for Claudia" as opposed to "Keep her safe"
The Wynn scene could be better. The goons should duck back inside the building once they find the tires slashed, preferring to fight Wynn in the confines of the store instead of the streets.
But the power goes out, and they can't see shit. The stumble around looking for the breaker, and when they flip it on, there's Wynn. He hits the guy with the gun in the head with the crowbar, while the car thief bails and tries to run.
He trips, and looks to see Wynn have illuminated. Then cut to black/red. Sounds a bit more terrifying.

E3
So, while it will probably get meme'd on, this ending is likely the best. It's supposed to be the "Compromise(d)" ending.
Don't know how people will react to the Wynn/Dierdra dynamic. I guess it depends on if the reader believes what Dierdra is saying or not.
Wynn and Claudia's kid being named Justine may change.
Maybe touch on the thoughts Wynn may have in regards to his and Dierdra's eventual child, and whether he would care for them as he does the one he has with Claudia.
Change that St. Ellie to St. Sattler.
The final conversation between Wynn and Dierdra in the car seems alright, but Dierdra may be a bit too understanding. Unless there's a hint that she's taking birth control in order to keep Wynn around longer.
Probably best to not hint at that too strongly however. Just allow room for an implication to be suggested.
Then again, I do want to get across that Dierdra is desperate for a positive family experience, so I don't want her to be THAT self sabotaging.
Probably fine as is.

E4
It's mostly good
Got to clean up some of the police office discussions and establish the dynamics of the 3 detectives a bit more.
Moe's being a police hangout should be the result of Wynn saying he likes it to the news, which gave Moe a publicity bump because the "hero cop that took down Alphonse" eats there.
Got to think of what to name Dierdra's human boyfriend. Silen T. Mode is pretty good, but there may be a better one out there. Or that one is already taken.
Thought of a new one: Blane C. Kanvis. Blank Canvas? Right? That one works. I like it. He can wear white clothes.
Not sure Minnie getting married is worth mentioning, but I don't see the harm in it either. Beyond that, this epilogue seems fine.

What's Next?

Now that's a good question.
Is this enough to actually get started on something?
Is 2 passes and some notes (And no Peer Review) good enough?
Do I actually WANT to do this?
I can honestly say I don't know.
Maybe I'll play around with it and try to get through the prologue, and see how I feel then. Try to experiment with the mini game aspect.

Believe in the autism that believes in you I guess.

Well, I've started working on it.
It's actually kinda fun
Almost done with the prologue after...2ish weeks of work?
The real question is at what point do I actually want to share it?
Personally, it'd be when it's "complete" so anons get the full experience.
That will be a few months away though. Like... 6 more months
I dunno. I'm easily talked into sharing my autism. Maybe I can drop some of the splash pages I've made if pressed.