They're Only After One Thing {Basil, Dash, Jessie, Negaduck}

[Deleted]

"I guess you're right.." Morgan considered what Jessie had been sensibly saying about finding more affordable hotels, still not acknowledging that it would look strange for her to be talking to herself, or to her doll. Even if living some place was an emergency, and their room was near enough to what the penthouse felt like back in New York, they could probably buy more things if they didn't spend it all by paying for an expensive hotel room using the credit card. Yeah, her daddy would definitely like Jessie.

After the six year old had finished paying for the breakfast, she had placed the credit card next to her plate at the table where she sat to eat. It was a little weird not giving Jessie anything to eat. Dolls don't eat, she knew, though she used to play pretend with her dolls all the time that they would eat with her while playing at princess tea parties. "Okay!" With a smile and a complacent nod at Jessie upon hearing her offer to go get some brochures for the affordable hotels, Morgan then turned her attention to her plate and ate quietly to herself. Given that Jessie was probably going to come back with a lot of pamphlets to look at, Morgan decided to finish her plate first, not really thinking about putting her credit card away just yet. Her daddy would always tell her to eat her breakfast before it would get cold, or just eating before she was allowed to do something else, like coloring or in this case, looking at brochures. Looking at pictures of hotels sounded a little boring, if Morgan was going to be honest, but the thought of making her daddy somewhat proud of her was a little reassuring to Morgan. Plus, it was Jessie's idea. A sigh escaped the obedient little girl's lips. The things she did for her Daddy, or to even feel his presence somehow even when he wasn't with her.

When Morgan finished the plate, she put her golden credit card in the smallest zipper of her bookbag, then left her bookbag in her seat in order to save her spot, before she got up from her seat to throw her breakfast away at the garbage bin that she located next to her table. The little girl crinkled her nose slightly as she attentively tried to lightly scrape off the garbage from the tray that ended up getting stuck halfway through the hole in the garbage because of the garbage flap. It would've been easier if Morgan had pushed the garbage flap more to make an even bigger hole, but the little girl's hands were also trying to grip onto the tray without it falling. Unfortunately, some of the garbage had nonetheless ended up falling off the end of her tray and onto the floor. A sigh escaped her lips as the shy girl bent over to pick up the garbage that fell onto the floor to place each item back into the garbage. At least no one laughed at her when this happened, not like they did at school when her pencil box would fall and spill all of her colored pencils on the floor. Either way, the shy Morgan didn't want to look, keeping her concentration on just cleaning up the garbage before she'd go back to her seat.

(Only saying that this thread is generally no posting order just because Morgan won't be a part of the adventure for too long)

[Negaduck]

The Grand Floridian. Translation: the ritzy hotel where all the rich jerks stayed. And that suited Negaduck fine, because it just meant better pickings. Most tourists were clueless anyway, too busy ooh-ing and ahh-ing to pay attention to a hand slipped skillfully into their pockets. Which was all the better, as far as he was concerned.

This morning's haul was already respectable, thanks to the skirt who came out of the gift shop with a brand new gold necklace sticking out of her purse.

Negaduck was about to move on to the pool to see who'd "hidden" their watch in their shoes, when he spotted a better mark. A little girl left all alone. "Oh, look," he said to himself, "She left her backpack. Somebody ought to look after that for her, or it might get stolen."

Chuckling at his own joke, the crime boss strolled past the chair, slipped the bag under his cape, and continued toward the exit without breaking his stride. And nobody the wiser.

[Jessie]

It wasn't that Jessie would begrudge Morgan the idea of living in a fairy tale castle (such as this hotel, more than any other, seemed like) but, as a toy that spoke to her, and had an actual relationship, verses the silent job of comforting toys were often given, it was up to her to point out things that were good for the little girl over all.

And while Jessie had a feeling there wasn't actually much danger of Morgan maxing out her father's credit card while here in the parks, she couldn't be entirely sure...

So a cheaper hotel was probably a good thing to look for.

Jessie was pleased Morgan seemed to agree, as well as at the little girl being ok with her going off for some brochures. Something in her still didn't sit right...and she would say it was Toy's Intuition later...

"Alright, I'll be back in a jiffy!", the cowgirl promised, and hopped down from the table to scurry over to where the brochures were kept. She didn't really have to keep a look out for anyone seeing her moving, but still did, just in old habits. She then scanned the rack and, picking out what seemed the good ones, directed her climbing path that way and for the least amount of backtracking, dropping the brochures on the ground and then hopping down to scoop up the pile.

On her way back, she saw that Morgan wasn't at the table, but...more than that...a duck in a cap stole her bag!

"Hey! Stop!", she shouted, picking up her pace, though he was already all but at the door by the time she was nearing the table, of course.

[Dash Parr]

Dash was hoping Mr. Hector would want to do something fun today, but realized, as he made his way over to the Grand Floridian, that he might be a bit early for the polite time of day to ask such. Oh well, he told himself, as he walked through the front doors and glanced about, maybe there was other fun stuff to do while he waited.

That led to him investigating (and sort of comparing) the buffet to what the hotel kitchen Mom worked at put out. He didn't see Morgan, over by the trashcans, but just as well for his later perhaps having to pretend to have not been there. As himself anyway.

While Dash saw 'typical' things, like eggs and hash-browns, he also saw more fruit!

"Should have known!", he sighed to himself, "They can put out more, so the put out more fruit, not bacon, like would make sense!".

"Hey! Stop!"

If there was a phrase all Supers were all but predisposed to respond to, it was that one! Dash craned around to see who spoke...and couldn't tell at first. Still...it sounded like a cry for help so...

Making a quick decision, Dash ducked back out of the way and quickly changed to his Super suit to then glance around for the person who had spoken. "Did...did someone ask for help...?", the Super Boy ventured cautiously.

[Basil]

Ah, the Grand Floridian. It really was a treat for the eyes, with its elegant appointments and charm. Basil knew that everything in this hotel was far beyond his means, including the menu, but he still enjoyed visiting it on occasion, just for a lark.

On this day, however, the calm was broken by a frenzied cry:

"Hey! Stop!"

Was someone in trouble? It was a lady's voice, so the mouse detective searched about the room for the speaker. None of the humans appeared to be in need of assistance, however, unless one would count that woman who appeared to have run short of mustard. Surely not.

Then Basil's attention was drawn to a child in a familiar, if gaudy, uniform. He was playing with a doll of some sort. Could the call for help have come from him?

[Deleted]

As soon as she had finished picking up the garbage and placing it in the trash, Morgan turned and blinked in surprise upon seeing a duck wearing a black mask, a hat and clothes. The clothing bit didn't phase her too much, given that she had already met several animals that wore them, so the first thing that the little six year old actually thought was: Wow, that duck is realllly tall! Up until now, she had never seen ducks that tall before. It was only a few seconds after when she came to her booth, that she actually noticed that her bookbag was missing! "Someone stole my bookbag!" Morgan gasped in surprise, her eyebrows tilted upwards with fear in her large hazel eyes as she looked around for it. Her daddy's credit card was in there! Of course, the New Yorker was used to hearing this all the time, but she had never experienced it herself! A kid taking her lunch was not the same thing in this case!

"Did...did someone ask for help...?"

Unbeknowst to her, it was a good thing Jessie had yelled something, or else Morgan wouldn't have turned her head when she heard someone wearing a costume and a mask asking about help. It was what prompted the little girl, so paralyzed in fear and bewilderment at her situation, to instantly ask for help! "Wait! I need some help!" She hurried over in front of the costumed boy, something the shy Morgan normally wouldn't do to just anyone. "You gotta help me! My bookbag was stolen and my daddy's credit card was in there! Please! I don't know what to do! I'm all by myself!" Tears slid down the six year old's chubby cheeks, only dreading what her father would think about letting something like this happen. The little girl's hands started to tremble as panic started to set in, not at all used this this sort of thing given how she used to be overprotected by her father. Morgan glanced over at a mouse wearing clothing, which was only a slightly comforting sight enough to cause her to try to breathe a little more, but the anxiety of someone taking her daddy's credit card and leaving her with no way to pay for her room or food was far too great for her to return to being calm. 

[Jessie]

Jessie kept on, but of course knew, even before she reached the door, that she wasn't going to make it in time. Even as she saw the bandit get away, the cowgirl doll merely huffed (mostly in frustration, toys didn't really run out of breath) and tried to run faster, especially as Morgan next called out. Yet it was no use. The door shut firmly behind the bandit!

Both calls had gained someone's attention, though, as a boy dressed like a superhero asked if someone called for help.

Jessie was about to reply, and take all of the shock at a talking toy that went with it, when Morgan instead did, asking the boy for help. He was just a kid though, dressed like a superhero or not. Jessie wasn't sure how he could help.

With a sigh, she glanced around and her gaze landed on a mouse in odd clothing. Maybe...it was a long shot, but...small critters sometimes saw just as much as toys, even if people didn't always know it.

The fact that he wore clothes gave Jessie reassurance he was probably one of those talking kinds too.

"Excuse me there, little mousey!", Jessie didn't know she didn't start of well asking for help maybe, as she rushed over to him next, "Did you see the duck who took that girl's backpack? I...I only got a good enough look to notice that he was a duck but...", Jessie glanced back to where Morgan was still frantically explaining to the boy, "Oh! Why didn't I stay with her!".

She knew the answer of course, she had been looking for brochures, that seemed so trivial now!

<<ooc: I don't think Jessie and Basil have ever met...>>

[Dash Parr]

"Wait! I need some help! Please!"

Dash turned towards the different voice (and one that he was already thinking sounded familiar) and was just able to not show his surprise as he saw it was Morgan! That little girl he had gone on a pirate scavenger hunt with.

"You gotta help me! My bookbag was stolen and my daddy's credit card was in there! Please! I don't know what to do! I'm all by myself!"

A book-bag? Stolen? Had it been while he had been there? How could he let a crime go on right under his nose like that! While Dash wouldn't say he was the best with little kids (Jack-Jack aside), his previous acquaintance with Morgan only made watching her cry all the more sad!

Why that sneaky...whoever it had been?! Why were villains so evil?

"Aww don't worry M--Miss", Dash almost forgot and gave himself away by saying her name, but was luckily able to change it at the last moment. You're The Dash. You've never met her before. You're just helping. The boy reminded himself.

"Don't worry", he repeated, "I'll stop him! Which way did he go?"

[Basil]

Someone stole my bookbag!

Ah. There was the victim, a little girl. Basil lost that keen look he'd worn a moment ago. A child missing a bag of books was hardly his idea of a crime. Doubtless she only misplaced it. It was rather disappointing, actually; he'd thought for a moment there might be a real case worthy of his talents.

Excuse me there, little mousey!

Well, really! Basil fully intended to show his disdain for being addressed in such a disrespectful manner. Until, that is, he beheld the speaker. "A...doll?" A child's doll that was, to all appearances, alive!

Did you see the duck who took that girl's backpack?

Basil recovered himself enough to say, "I did not. But there is a felonious duck skulking about the parks." If Negaduck were involved, then perhaps there was something here to sink one's professional teeth into.

"Show me the scene of the crime, if you please."

[Deleted]

Morgan smiled a little upon hearing the boy reassure her, trying to take a breath to calm herself down like her daddy would tell her. Did she know much about superheroes? Not really. Yet she did know about the hero in the storybooks, so if the boy said that he would help, then the six year old Fairytale dreamer believed him.

"I'll stop him! Which way did he go?"

"I..I don't know!" The shy Morgan said defeatedly, "I didn't see who got it or where he went.." The six year old's honey brown head lowered, feeling useless that she couldn't provide more information. She did notice a duck, among other people around, but she didn't put it together who had actually stolen the bookbag. She didn't see it in action. "But maybe Jessie saw him!" The little girl suddenly stated when she lifted her head up with hope in her eyes upon realizing that Jessie was also probably around, so maybe she saw more!

The six year old knit her eyebrows together and turned to look for her little cowgirl doll. "There she is!" She pointed the cowgirl doll to the superhero as she hurried over to them. "Hi.." Morgan bent her knees to greet the little mouse sheepishly upon noticing that Jessie was talking to the mouse, though she smiled a little out of comfort when he seemed to wear a trench coat like the people back home during the fall and winter. Maybe he was a New Yorker! The little girl would have asked, but the thought of New York only made her anxiety worse at the thought of her father finding out that his credit card was stolen! Morgan knew her manners enough to not interrupt talking unless it was really important, so she waited until they were done speaking. 

"It was the duck?!" Morgan parted her mouth in shock upon catching the last bit that had been mentioned of the conversation. "Did you see him?" She glanced over at the superhero boy, "He was wearing a red hat and a yellow trenchcoat.. and I think he was wearing a cape?" Leave it to the young New Yorker that loved fashion to recall this particular information.

"Show me the scene of the crime, if you please."

Morgan raised her eyebrows with some hope in her expression upon finding that the mouse also offered to help! Wow! She really felt like a princess now! "I-I can show you!" The little girl offered with a newfound hope in her expression, glancing between the mouse and the superhero boy, then hurried over to the dining tables. "I was sitting.. um.. over here! Next to the garbage!" She gestured to the table as they walked towards it. "I wanted to save my seat, so I put my bookbag here to throw away the garbage.." She demonstrated the seat where she had set the backpack momentarily before it was stolen. "My daddy's credit card was in there!" Morgan reiterated her concern with tears welling up in her hazel eyes, "And I don't have a fairy godmother to help me live by myself.." If she wouldn't be able to recover the stolen credit card, then the little girl would not be able to pay for any of her living expenses.

[Jessie]

Even in the midst of her hurry to aid Morgan, Jessie caught the mouse's astonished exclamation. "Oh, yeah, sorry, back home all the little critters know about how toys can move and talk". She had forgotten that not everyone was on the same page, as well as having become too comfortable with moving around in the first place since arriving in the parks.

"I did not. But there is a felonious duck skulking about the parks. Show me the scene of the crime, if you please."

So she probably wasn't wrong in what she saw in the first place, well that was good. Morgan came over then to help out with what she had seen, bringing a Superboy with her. Well that was likely to help!

Jessie beamed proudly as the girl gave details others might not have recalled to and which would prove useful. "If I only had a good strong bit of banner string or somethin' we could hogtie the villain!", she said. Of course they had to find him first, and prove he did it...

To that end, she nodded and lead the way over to where Morgan's backpack had been on the chair.

She let the girl continue the explaining, only smiling and supplementing, "So since Morgan only has me to watch out for her at the moment, I went to find a brochure on hotels and see if we couldn't find a cheaper one or something for her; that's why I left the table, usually I don't, since folks aren't used to the fact that toys can move, even here".

[Dash Parr]

Here was a real test, helping someone he knew but who couldn't know they knew him, all while keeping his identity secret; but Dash felt confident that he could do it!

Morgan hadn't seen which way the thief went. "Jessie?", he asked lightly. Her doll? Morgan lead the way over to where that mouse his mother had mentioned was and...a talking doll...the doll Morgan had had with her since Dash had met her. Walking and talking!

For a long time Dash just stared, his blue eyes wide behind his mask. "Your...doll is talking...". Focus! Dash reminded himself. He shook his head and listened to both Morgan and Jessie explain the situation.

"If I only had a good strong bit of banner string we could hogtie the villain!"

"I could go get some!", Dash realized too late it wasn't a serious suggestion...

"Hmm...duck, yellow coat. Let's go find him!", Dash really did expect it to be that simple and would have darted off then and there if the others with him could move as fast as him. He rushed to the door and peered out, "Hmm...I don't see him...or any feathers...".

[Basil]

Basil passed over the fact that he'd just been called a "critter." And fascinating as a living toy might be, he knew there was a more pressing matter at hand.

The doll led him to a table in the restaurant, which Basil examined thoroughly. This produced a white feather, which, though not conclusive, was certainly indicative.

duck, yellow coat. Let's go find him!

Who was this? The somewhat absurd costume was quite familiar to Basil. "Patience!" Counselled the mouse. "Nothing will be gained by running amuck." Whipping out his magnifying lens, Basil studied the floor, finding traces of..."Webbed footmarks. Ha! The villain went in this direction. And, hello...what's this?" His index finger brought up a bit of some liquid. "Smells like butter...with an abnormally high salt content..."

"And there appears to be a trail of it heading in that direction."

He turned back to the children for a moment. "This is far too dangerous, even for children with super powers. You youngsters wait here." With that, the mouse detective dashed off after the villainous duck.

[Deleted]

"Your...doll is talking...".

The little six year old was so concerned about her missing credit card that she hadn't realized that Jessie's movement was out of the norm until the costumed boy pointed it out. "Oh..it's supposed to be a secret. A lot of grown ups don't understand." The trusting girl smiled sheepishly, but she was sure that nothing bad would happen if they knew though. They were helping her and Jessie, after all. 

Morgan was still distraught and upset about the possibility  of never seeing her credit card again, but somehow the masked boy's comment about getting banner string made her smile a little. If it wasn't for the fact that she was used to Jessie's nature for a more than a year now, the helpful girl would have also thought that it meant literal, too. 

The little girl parted her mouth in shock at how fast the boy suddenly went to check for the duck outside! Her eyebrows rose in amazement, nearly taking a double-take. Not even the fastest runner in her first grade class could run that fast! However, she frowned helplessly and lowered her head when the duck didn't appear anywhere in sight.

Just when she was starting to dread for the worst about her credit card, the mouse managed to snap Morgan out of her negative thoughts. She then tilted her head curiously as she watched the mouse inspect the area where she lead them to the booth that she sat in. He found lots of things that Morgan hadn't even thought of looking, so she was left in silent awe. 

"This is far too dangerous, even for children with super powers. You youngsters wait here." 

"Okay," Morgan said obediently, used to her father giving her such orders, and was set on remaining behind without protest. As the mouse left, she glanced at the others to see what they were going to do. For a brief moment, there was a flicker of hope in her hazel green eyes. 

[Dash Parr]

{Reversing order, since it seemed best}

"Oh..it's supposed to be a secret. A lot of grown ups don't understand."

Dash nodded vaguely. "Yeah...right...ok, well I won't tell...", and that seemed to be all there was to say about that!

"Patience! Nothing will be gained by running amuck."

Dash crossed his arms. "Well the longer you take the further he gets away!", he countered. He knew Mom would probably be less than pleased with his answering back, but really he didn't have to take orders from a mouse, he was a Super, and a good one, and he had been on the scene first if he recalled.

No matter what Mom said about how smart Basil was. This mouse wasn't even police!

The boy was only mildly annoyed, not fully annoyed as he became as Basil went on!

"This is far too dangerous, even for children with super powers. You youngsters wait here."

Dash scowled. "Not likely!". He darted after and soon over-took Basil. Actually he had to concentrate more energy on not leaving him behind...since he did know better where they were going. "Look I can handle anything he can throw! Plus I'm a Super, you're just a civilian, I have to protect you while you play detective".

[Jessie]

"Your...doll is talking..."

Jessie really did try to avoid freaking out kids, so winced a bit at the boy's words. "Yeah...um...". An explanation didn't seem to be needed though, thankfully, as Dash quickly snapped to offering to get her some string and help round up the varmit! Jessie grinned, she knew she'd liked this kid the second she met him, though he was only now realizing she could move and talk.

"Patience! Nothing will be gained by running amuck."

"He's got a point", Jessie said, though she had to also curb a small smile as Dash shot back what he would probably label just an honest answer.

"Ya don't want to give yourself away too soon, and take away the opportunity of useful planning or even element of surprise". Jessie had some sorts of Deputy type knowledge same as she would need from her show, though gained more through her experiences and adventures as a toy than in a wild west town against outlaws.

Same principle though.

She watched as Basil tracked the villain's foot--or web--marks before dashing off, and really wasn't all that surprised when Dash darted off after him, despite his words.

Jessie was just about to follow in the boy's footsteps (though she could hardly hope to do so quite as quickly) when Morgan's words interrupted her, even though the girl simply complied. Actually it was that complying that reminded Jessie. She couldn't just go leaving Morgan. Even for her sake.

But...she had to go help Basil and Dash stop the criminal...

The cowgirl doll tugged her hat as she thought, but really there was no choice. She hopped back to Morgan and patted her arm, "It'll be alright Morgan, you'll see". Jessie paused and thought once more. She really wasn't sure if putting the question to Morgan was the right thing to do or not...

"I...I'll stay right with you if you want...or...if ya want me to go help round up the varmint who took your card...". Jessie winced at her own question, and realized how pressuring it sounded to someone in Morgan's position. "Never-mind", she smiled and hugged her girl's arm.

[Basil]

Well the longer you take the further he gets away!

Fortunately, Basil was too absorbed in his work to pay much attention to that statement. Alas, not so for this one:

I'm a Super, you're just a civilian, I have to protect you while you play detective

" 'play detective' ?!?" That one cut to the quick. "Why that little--" Whatever Basil intended to say would've been a waste of breath, as the pestilential child raced off at a remarkable rate of speed. So his ability was supernatural quickness, eh? It would be impressive if the child was not so impertinent.

"He is ruining this investigation," muttered Basil as he picked up his own pace, though not enough to miss the duck's traces. Even a cursory glance at the footmarks indicated their quarry was walking at normally; if a certain someone had been listening, he might've learnt that undue haste was not needed.

[Negaduck]

Negaduck stalked out of the restaurant, stolen goods in hand. Even if he didn't find anything of value, just the act of snatching some kid's backpack was enough to make the day brighter. Without even pausing, it only took him a few seconds to rifle through the contents and find the only thing that interested him: a credit card. "Ooh, careless," chortled the duck.

He might as well test it out, thought Negs, and the first handy spot was a popcorn wagon. Negaduck bought a bag, smiling as the unsuspecting cast member charged it to some unknown sap. The crime lord continued on his merry way, tossing the backpack behind a hedge and munching the popcorn as he strolled along, contemplating where to spend his victim's money next. "I wonder if there's anyplace around here to buy dynamite," he mused.

[Deleted]

Morgan didn't understand a lot about tension, but she knew of it without realizing that there was a word for what it was. Her father was a Divorce Lawyer, after all, and she wasn't really a fan of Take Your Child To Workdays because of the people that didn't seem happy at his job. It sort of felt that way between the mouse and the boy in the red suit. The little girl smiled awkwardly at the two of them, choosing to remain silent. Yet when they weren't looking, she was just frowned upon thinking of her father, what would he would do right now? Tears formed in her eyes as the six year old trying to keep a brave face despite the pout that she wore on her lips to keep herself as composed as possible.

"It'll be alright Morgan, you'll see"

Jessie, as always, knew what to do when she felt sad. The light squeeze was what she needed to hug the cowgirl doll back in a comforting way. 

"I...I'll stay right with you if you want...or...if ya want me to go help round up the varmint who took your card...".

Morgan's eyebrows rose upon hearing Jessie ask her what she wanted Jessie to do: if she should stay or if she should go and help, too. Morgan's face was like an open book, easily able to tell exactly how she was feeling even without words. If her expression had words right now, then it definitely said "no, don't leave me!" The six year old girl was indeed helpful, but that didn't mean that she didn't have selfish tendencies to want comfort, too. Morgan frowned upon hearing Jessie say nevermind, returning the hug as if wanting to absorb all the comfort from Jessie right now.  Yet all she could think about was how similar Jessie was to her daddy in that protective way, and how she managed to try to talk to both of them, the way her daddy did at work. It occurred to the helpful girl that maybe Jessie wanted to be helpful, too.

"Come back, okay?" Morgan requested of Jessie doll, giving her one last hug with tears filling her eyes, before gently letting her down. She didn't know the other two very well. They could just give up and leave, so if Morgan trusted anyone to come back after trying her hardest not to give up, it was Jessie. In that sense, it was comforting to know that they were doing the best that they could to retrieve her credit card back. 

-exit Morgan from the scene. It's all up to the heroes now! -

[Jessie]

Morgan's words surprised Jessie.

"Come back, okay?"

She was giving her permission to follow the varmint and help Basil and the Superboy get her credit card back; and she of course trusted that Jessie would come back to her whatever the outcome. Which she would, but Jessie vowed to herself it would not be before hogtying that duck!

"You got it little lady", her words and salute were a bit jovial, for the benefit of trying to cheer Morgan further, but her promise was serious. Turning, she then straightened her hat as she did when she was dead serious about something--either defending her honor when meeting Woody or now hunting down a lowlife duck--and rushed from the hotel to catch up to the two.

It seemed a tall order for one toy, but then toys were creative about getting around and Jessie found that the awnings were her best bet. Between running across these and other roofing and swinging between she soon caught the two up, or the mouse. The boy was a bit too quick. Jessie dropped in front of Basil, unaware she landed right on one of the web-prints. "Alright, I'm here, what's the progress?" she asked.

[Dash Parr]

It wasn't that Dash hadn't learned about team work, he was just used to a team that also had special abilities. Still, with his speed there was no way he wouldn't quickly catch up to the duck, and if he knew what to look for, a yellow coat. What had there been about a hat?

All of this might have actually worked against Negaduck far too quickly...if the boy hadn't put himself on the wrong scent.

The first yellow coat he came across was a yellow raincoat, and since acting before thinking was how one caught bad-guys in Dash's mind, he leapt. "Ah ha! I got...", Dash paused as he spotted the man glaring up at him.

"What's the big idea?"

"What's your idea wearing a raincoat when it's not raining?", Dash countered annoyed. Grumbling the man shoved Dash off of him, not roughly but not gently either, and standing dusted himself off. A nearby popcorn vendor, unaware he was a link in any kind of chain, shook his head as he watched.