The Presses are Rolling

📷 (c) Karen Cann, Robert Arthur Jr., Lena Myzovets

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Summer break felt dull without being entangled in a case.

At least, Jupiter was bored. Even Bob felt like the peace was suspicious.

"Come on, fellows!" Pete beamed, adjusting his beach chair. "We haven't had an actual vacation in forever!"

"Our mental faculties need ceaseless enrichment," Jupiter frowned. "I should have brought a puzzle."

"Say," Bob said, pointing at a cave in the distance. "That reminds me of that coughing dragon case."

Jupiter perked up, his eyes glinting. "Indeed. Bob, what do you say about exploring that cave after lunch?"

"Count me out," Pete groaned. "Nobody's taking my well-deserved vacation!"

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Die drei ??? Fanfiction for @retrowrimay 2026

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Day 9: Songfic, Day 17: Hanahaki Disease Leaving California

Day 19: Kidfic Biblically Accurate?

Day 27: Poemfic Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate

Day 30: Missing Scene Book #32 The Mystery of the Blazing Cliffs - M.V. Carey (1983), ch.13

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Day 30: Missing Scene

📷 (c) Florinel ZONE, NASA, Sunder Muthukumaran

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Book #32 The Mystery of the Blazing Cliffs - M.V. Carey (1983), ch.13

For a strange, brief second, Pete felt like he wanted to answer: You. I would take you with me, Jupiter. I can't imagine life on any planet where you're not. Then, remembering himself, he quickly shook off the thought. What was that? Pete looked away. What was he thinking? Why did his brain do that? Wait, what was the question again?

Bob said something after. But Pete's mind was elsewhere. He wondered what on earth had gotten into him that moment.

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📷 (c) Ty Welch, Robert Arthur Jr., Eduardo Caon Photo Co.

CW: panic attack, claustrophobic situation, verbal bullying, violence

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"Enough, Skinny," Jupiter muttered.

Since the elevator stopped, he'd been regulating his breathing.

"Poor MacSherlock," Skinny jeered. "Mama's boy is panicking."

"Shut up—"

"Oops. Can't be mama's boy when you don't have a mom."

WHAM!

Jupiter rattled him against the elevator wall.

"Why do you hate me so much?!" Jupiter cried. "What did I do??"

Skinny glared at his rival—no—enemy.

He remembered the comparisons.

Jupiter was brave. Skinny was reckless.

Jupiter was a prodigy. Skinny was wasted potential.

Jupiter, success. Skinny, failure.

…Was it Jupiter's fault?

Skinny didn't know anymore.

"Everything about you," Skinny hissed, "pisses me off."

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📷 (c) Dariia Lemesheva, Robert Arthur Jr., Dimitris Kiriakakis

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The newly furbished sign gleamed under the morning sun.

Bienvenidos a la Hacienda Álvaro

Jupiter, Pete, and Bob smiled at each other. It had been a year since the case.

"Hello, friends!" Diego greeted. "It's my pleasure to host you."

The place was prepared for a banquet to celebrate the hacienda's rebirth.

Pete glanced toward the restored statue.

"Looks better with a head!"

They all laughed.

Diego looked around the lively grounds. "Pico and I desire to be worthy of the Alvaro name. I hope this is enough."

"Of course," Jupiter replied earnestly. "The Alvaro pride lives in you, Diego."

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