Operation: Moonfall | Jimmy Crystal Revenge & Redemption

The Fixer

"Cleo!" Jimmy said with outstretched arms, fangs bearing through a strained grin. "Came to gloat, didn't you?"

A snow leopard dressed in a sharp azure pantsuit strutted through the door, her head full of dark curls that bobbed and coiled with every step. Perched on the bridge of her snout were violet-tinted shades, and a manila folder was tucked under one arm. Her name was Cleo Keller, and she was known as one of the city's top fixers: someone that could make the problems of Redshore's big wigs go away.

Behind Cleo a buzz sounded out as the reinforced door shut, metal clanging upon metal. Cleo stepped further into the cell and took in its spacious sights: ritzy carpet a deep midnight blue, tapestries draped across the walls, and an HD TV nestled in the corner. Perched in a seat fit for a king was Jimmy Crystal, his snow-white fur prim and claws manicured. He was just as she remembered, only trading the designer suit and tie for an orange jumpsuit.

There was no way Mr. Redshore City would receive anything less than luxury during incarceration. Too many palms to grease. Too many favors owed.

Cleo took a seat across from Jimmy in a metal folding chair that somebody likely scrambled to grab when they realized Crystal was getting a visitor. Between them was a small table of polished oak, a menagerie of snacks spread across it.

Following a short silence, Cleo said, "You know I never wanted to see you end up like this."

"I remember you being the one that said I'd end up here eventually." Jimmy looked amused, but something about his words pierced like an icicle.

Cleo let the feeling pass. "I wasn't going to come at first, but Jerry was screaming and crying on my porch. For days. It was quite annoying."

Jimmy let out a deep chuckle. "Jerry's still making himself useful."

"He is," Cleo said. "I'm surprised you keep denying his visits."

Jimmy's gaze dropped to the floor. "I don't want him to see me like this."

"Considering his feelings, that may be doing more harm than good."

The wolf tilted his head with a skeptic squint. "What are you talking about?"

I forgot how dense you can be, Cleo thought. "It doesn't matter right now. What does matter is that I'm here with a plan to deal with Buster Moon and help you—"

Jimmy raised a hand to silence her. "Don't need your help. I already have a plan."

"Don't tell me you're going to put a hit out on him or something insane like that."

"N-no..."

"Good! I'm not going to ask you what you were thinking when you tried to kill Moon because I know you weren't thinking."

Jimmy's fist crashed into the table. Snacks flew everywhere. "Are you taking that talentless little loser's side!? Do you know what he did to me!? I gave him the opportunity of a lifetime! Gave him and his amateur friends everything they needed! He stood in my auditorium and lied to me like it was nothing! Like I was nothing! I even gave that lowlife a second chance after I found out what a lying little con artist he was, and he kept humiliating and disrespecting me!" Unclenching his fist, Jimmy let his claws dig jagged streaks into the wood as his fury boiled over. "And it all ended with me doing a perp walk out of my own theater! That he seized illegally! Buster Moon deserves everything he has coming to him!"

Cleo slapped Jimmy's hand away, causing the wolf to recoil with a yip sound. "Don't do that," she said. "It's a nice table, and you're ruining the snacks."

Jimmy recovered with a growl, but Cleo continued on.

"This mobster bravado you concocted started as a shield, but it's slowly morphed into a double-edged sword when mixed with your unchecked rage," the snow leopard said. "That said... I agree with you."