Jackie shook his head ruefully as he entered Section 13. Jade was at home 'sleeping off' the insanity, with Hsi Wu and her cousins taking care of her. Viper had to head off for 'a job' of some sort, which left him more or less to his own devices. Having just merged back from being split, Jackie found himself with a bit too much nervous energy, and as such had decided to see if Captain Black had anything interesting going on. Despite his continued reluctance to consider himself a 'secret agent', he'd gotten too used to it to really turn his back on it entirely.
As he approached Augustus' desk, he saw his friend looking ruefully frustrated. "Something wrong, Augustus?" he asked in concern as he stepped in.
"Oh, Jackie," the Captain spoke up, shaking his head. "No, not...wrong, per se. Just...awkward and frustrating." He leaned back in his chair with a sigh. "Jackie...you're on friendly terms with Valmont, aren't you?"
Jackie hesitated. "Well, I don't know about 'friendly'..." he began evasively.
"I'm not censuring you, Jackie," Augustus reassured him. "Valmont has always been very personable, and easy to get along with. It's part of what made him so successful and dangerous. I'm just asking if he'd greet meeting you socially pleasantly, or if he'd rather not see you."
Jackie rubbed the back of his head. "Well...his step-daughters are friends with Jade and the girls, so...we do meet socially on occasion..." He chuckled nervously. "Though I wish his eldest was a bit less friendly..." Seeing Augustus' raised eyebrow, he explained, "She's a little...enthusiastic regarding...certain things, and is a bit...too eager to offer Jade advice in that regard. Frankly, I feel Jade's growing up too fast as it is."
"...ah," Augustus observed awkwardly, plainly having no idea how to respond to that, but having understood Jackie's point. To pass the time while they both let the awkwardness fade, he began shuffling some papers.
"Why do you ask?" Jackie asked finally. "Is something up with investigating him?" Here he found himself conflicted. On the one hand, despite his intentions he found he liked Valmont as a person, and between that and seeing him doing well as a family man he didn't want to see him getting in trouble, especially if that disrupted his family. On the other hand, he was a criminal, and in his mind criminal activities had to be pursued by the law.
"You could say that," Augustus admitted ruefully. "I've been instructed to cease investigations into Valmont specifically as a criminal, and establish a liaison with his organization."
"Buh-wha?" Jackie gasped out in surprise. "Why?"
"Several reasons," Augustus explained morosely. "First off, given his work to 'reform' the Demons Sorcerers so they work with the modern world as opposed to trying to conquer it, he's considered useful to the Veil Authority, and in that regard his criminal connections are an asset."
"Politics, then," Jackie mused sympathetically.
"That, and he's apparently one of the most powerful beings on the planet, magically speaking, short of the members of the Jade Council, meaning that if he decided to actively fight law enforcement instead of passively ignoring it, it's doubtful he could actually be contained or locked up unless he allowed it."
Jackie blinked in surprise. "You mean...literally the only thing that can truly keep him in check is his own conscience?"
"Pretty much," Augustus allowed. "Oh, there are various ways to counteract his abilities, the normal checks and balances of magic...but the cost/benefit analysis from the political and legal perspective says it's prohibitively expensive to actually try and arrest him, and it's better for all involved to just let him declare his ill gotten gains and pay taxes on them." Augustus chuckled a bit as he looked at another paper. "Which he's always been quite conscientious to do, unlike Al Capone."
"Well, I guess that explains it," Jackie allowed uncertainly.
"It's not so bad," Tiger said from his shoulder.
"Not so bad?" Kitten demanded from the other shoulder. "He's still a criminal kingpin!"
"And there's always going to be crime," Tiger countered. "Because economics is driven by profit, and everything that can be used to keep crime in check can be profitably used by criminals to evade it. So short of crime being eliminated completely, better to have someone like Valmont at the top who isn't going to let it turn into anarchy, and prefers to keep profits up and casualties down."
"...good point, but it's still not pleasant," Kitten allowed.
"Never said it was," Tiger agreed. "But as long as there's crime, best to have someone like Valmont in charge of organizing it, rather than someone like Shendu."
"Also, Lucifer Morningstar personally asked me to change strategies regarding Valmont," Augustus continued.
"Wait, what?" Jackie demanded in surprise. "A member of the Triumvirate came here?"
"Not officially," Augustus corrected. "He's unsurprisingly quite good at being circumspect...but apparently he has long term plans involving Valmont for the betterment of the world as a whole, and wanted us to play along. Which is why I'm hoping you'll act as liaison with Valmont's organization."
Jackie frowned, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he let that all sink in. "And...how will that work?" he asked carefully.
"Basically, you just meet with him socially, and pass any messages between the two of us that need to be passed unofficially," Augustus explained. "You're known to be friends with me, and you're friendly with him, so you have every excuse to meet with either of us, or even arrange for us to meet."
"So you're able to work with his organization without actually 'cooperating with criminals'," Jackie translated dourly.
"Exactly," Augustus confirmed. "Can I count on you, Jackie?"
Jackie sighed ruefully. "Like I'd say no," he allowed. "But I'm not a secret agent."
"No, you're an archaeological criminal expert with the blessing of Bastet, nephew to the world's most famous Chi Wizard, Uncle to the Chosen One, and caretaker to three ki-lin," Augustus pointed out with a teasing smile. "That's much worse."
Jackie groaned and buried his face in his hands. "Bad day..."
"Haven't heard that in a while," Augustus mused thoughtfully.
Hmm. I sense the start of a new arc. The chapter title doesn't hurt, either.
Chapter Two Hundred(!)
"Bad Day"
Chapter Count: 1 (damn, it's been a while)
Total Count: 49
"I'm not his/your Mistress!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 12
YEY!!!!!
Jackie does have a killer resume when you lay it out like that. And when you think about it, he's also one of the few beings in existence to have thwarted Valmont...
I think I need to go read the Book of Ages arc again. It's one of my favourites~
I just finished watching the Netflix season of Lucifer, so now I kinda wonder if the one mentioned is the same Lucifer Morningstar.
other than that thought, everything seems good like always.
Well this is a major change. Now I wonder how this will effect the whole Wong and Oni masks arcs that should be starting soon?
I’m half surprised Jackie didn’t point out the irony of having the Devil vouch for the character of a criminal.
This is going to be fun now that he’s back in the story. :)
Sounds like a good idea, really. At this point he's more a force of nature than a person you can handle with a normal justice system.
Interesting.
Good day, IMO.
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Where is the "one more thing" count or were you not the one doing that?
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Void Runner is the one doing One More Thing/Aiyah counts.
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Well, Lucifer Morningstork Is one of creation's constants
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Thanks
Not to mention being cou... boyfriend with one of the most prolific criminal/thief/informant in the underworld.
It's nice to see this update after this break.
Magic must defeat magic!
I have an idea for the Oni Masks for when they appear. Interested?
Liking the fanart
Is it acceptable to laugh at Jackie? Because I totally am.
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Not as yet, as I'm only at the start of season 3, and that's not till season 4.
Did you take inspiration from the show Lucifer when you made Lucifer Morningstar?
I love reading updates to this story, no matter how brief they may be.
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For his 'civilian' design that he appeared in when he isn't in combat mode, yes.
Well, one has to wonder if Valmont will play a role in getting Dao Lon Wong defeated before he causes any more serious trouble. He is rather fond of the CMCs, after all.
Chapter Two Hundred
"Aiyah!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 50
"One More Thing!"
Chapter Count: 0
Total Count: 86
Hurray for updates!
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Alright, im just sad it took me this long to makd the connection.
Lucifer Morningstar is a bit of tautology though.
is Jackie Chan's nice going to be in the story
I'm only on chapterPet Problems.
That was fun, may I have another? Looking forward to more.
Keep up the great work. Deus tecum.
Is it weird that I want Dazzlings short stories?
Like each chapter is a place they’ve been banished from or purposely left?
Maybe they’re a background influence that make full circle from Equestria and eventually returning to Equestria?
Since MLP: FiM is ending, I guess the coming together story would be a Super Season 9? Maybe Cozy Glow can be the herald of Infinity Tirek... or whatever supped up Tirek is called.
My brain is exploding over what you’ve set up and I’m still playing catch up.
EDIT: What if they go to AJ’s High Schools?!
gotten toO used
The second 'u' is unnecessary
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You mean third "u"...
I love watching the show on TV when it was first aired
cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/474643182102118401/499382970658979870/Shooting_approved.png
Took a little over a week but finally read all the chapters from start to current. You should have a spirited away type arc.... loved the movie. Where the girls are pulled into the yokai world where they meet people like witches and other beings like deities from the jade court. I think it'd be awesome for them to meet a qulin like haku their... the ten foot long river god dragon quilin i mean. Maybe even a potential ship for the girls since their getting older. *wink wink* Hymn ... wonder if a 10 ft. long curled up water deity would count as a waterbed if they use him to sleep on.
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The demon sorcerer of the moon.
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Is Tso Lan, not Tsao.
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Huh I thought I saw it spelled differently in earlier chapters.....nvm.
At long last, finally got up to reading this(which took several days), and it was worth it. Now just to wait till the "next"-button returns.
Keep it up.
UPDATES WOOOOOOO lol btw tatsurou i am also currently reading a "multiverse" crossover by blackdrag-rose and got your work confused with his sowwie
i just realised i havent read this in so long im going to have to restart
Re-read and caught up yesh
"So that you're able to work with his organization without actually 'working with criminals'," Jackie translated dourly.
Sorry. One last bit of editing.
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i.imgur.com/DuyhEPg.jpg
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pet shop of horrors
what? Have not you ever cheated on the villains in horror movies?
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pet shop of horrors
what? Have not you ever cheated on the villains in horror movies?
More please
looks like next will be Jackie Chan Adventures Season 3
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lol
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Sounds like a fun fight. Where can I find him? Also, I think I responded to the wrong comment.