Chapter 48
Breakups and Makeups
That morning, Fabien was in the kitchen making breakfast. He wore a Bart Simpson t-shirt, jeans, and flip-flops. Gus was seated in a blue long-sleeved shirt, blue plaid pajama pants, and mismatched socks. He was eating French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausages. Craig was still on the couch, sleeping. Craig’s plate on the dining room table had unfrosted strawberry pop tarts on the plate. Craig awoke to the smell of sizzling bacon, snapping him from his slumber and jumping up from the couch.
Craig: “Fuck yeah—”
His smile dipped when he saw Fabien wearing that t-shirt.
Craig: “Oh, fuck no!”
He frowned.
Craig: “Where’s your Nuklear shirt?”
He whined. Fabien gaped at him.
Fabien: “Sorry, I don’t wear shirts of fake bands. Your breakfast is on the table. Eat on the floor or at the table, I don’t give a damn.”
He huffed and continued making breakfast. Craig gaped at him.
Craig: “Fake band?!”
He pouted and sat down at the table. Fabien pointed to the unfrosted pop tarts.
Fabien: “That’s yours.”
Craig: “WHAT? Come on! I ain’t eatin’ that fruity girly crap! What about my bacon ‘n eggs?!”
He whined.
Fabien: “Go out and get breakfast at Voyage Bullshit. I am not making anything for you. I am DONE doing stuff for you!”
He barked.
Craig: “Voyage Bullshit?! Fine, I ain’t eatin’ at a table where people think I’m stupid!”
He fired back.
Fabien snarled at him and shoved him out of the chair.
Fabien: “GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, CRAIG!”
He bellowed.
Craig: “I ALREADY WAS LEAVIN’!”
He fired back and stormed out. Fabien gathered his clothes and records and threw them on the lawn, along with his surfboard and bass guitar.
Craig: “HEY! The fuck are you doing?!”
He gasped, swooping onto the lawn at his stuff.
Fabien: “Do I need to explain THAT to you, as well?! Don’t come back, Craig! It’s over!”
He snapped. Craig’s bottom lip trembled.
Craig: “...O-Over?! You’re gonna throw our love away over some stupid tickling?!”
He fired back at him.
Fabien: “I’m throwing it away over some stupid Nuklear Intoxikation!”
He fired back.
Craig: “Nuklear isn’t stupid!”
He gaped at him.
Fabien: “Yes, it is. It’s stupid and fake. YOU ruined the band.”
He huffed and went into his house.
He came out with the box of Nuklear shirts and threw it on the lawn.
Craig: “What?! NO, that ice cunt ruined it!”
He fired back at him.
Fabien: “Then why did he implore Deimos and your sister to make their own band?”
He challenged.
Craig: “...I dunno?! ‘Cause he wanted to fuck me over, that’s why!”
He pouted. Fabien rolled his eyes.
Fabien: “Yeah, that explains why Kurt also left Nuklear and he never met Tristan.”
He said dryly.
Craig: “...Who told you about Kurt?”
He pressed him. Fabien sighed.
Fabien: “Tristan went to Andreas about you when Deimos first joined Nuklear.”
He replied.
Fabien: “And Andreas told him.”
Craig huffed.
Craig: “Just as I thought! Tristan wanted to ruin Nuklear ‘n he did!”
Fabien rubbed his temples. He threw his arms up and locked his glare on Craig.
Fabien: “Are you THAT stupid, Craig?! Why did Kurt quit? Kurt never met Tristan so tell me. You never told anyone why he quit, not even Makayla!”
He rasped.
Craig: “I’m NOT stupid! He was a stick in the mud and never wanted to have any fun! He said I was too much of a troll or some shit! I’m NOT a troll! I’m fuckin’ handsome!”
He rasped. Fabien’s eyes went into a full roll.
Fabien: “Whatever.”
A silver Jeep Wrangler pulled up in Fabien’s driveway and parked there. Anthony climbed out and looked at Fabien’s lawn and Craig was still in his underwear.
Anthony: “Is this a bad time?”
Fabien: “No.”
He smiled.
Craig: “Yes.”
He pouted.
Fabien: “New car?”
Anthony: “Yeah, after Maxx destroyed… everything, I had to replace it all. His folks gave me the money so I wouldn’t press charges against Maxx but… I don’t want to see him again. Anyway, are you still interested in starring in my tickling films?”
He smirked. Fabien’s eyes sparkled.
Fabien: “Of course.”
He purred.
Craig gaped at him.
Craig: “WHAT?! Why the fuck for?!”
He rasped at Anthony.
Anthony: “Uhm, he called and asked if he could star in my tickling films and do some pin-ups. I said yes?”
He shrugged.
Craig: “Wh-What?! You called him for this?”
He gaped at Fabien.
Fabien: “He’s leaving and anything he says doesn’t matter. I’d love to do those films.”
He smirked.
Craig: “That’s right, he’s leaving ‘n anything he says doesn’t matter!”
He ushered Anthony back to his car. Fabien shoved Craig away.
Fabien: “I was speaking of you.”
He said as his features harshened.
Craig: “...M-Me?! Come on, you don’t really mean that?”
He cried.
Fabien: “Leave, Craig. I’m going with Anthony to shoot those films.”
He said firmly.
Craig: “Fine… I’ll leave.”
He sulked off to his car and watched Fabien go off with Anthony, following after them.
~
Tristan, Deimos, Celeste, and Makayla sat on Deimos’ back patio. Tristan wore a white pressed shirt with a dark wool knit sweater over it, light gray pants, and black wingtip Oxfords. Deimos wore a Testament t-shirt, torn jeans, and black cowboy boots. Celeste wore an Iron Maiden off-shoulder shirt, leopard print skirt, and black ankle strap boots. Makayla wore a tank top with a denim skirt and boots.
Celeste was flipping through the new Felipa’s Bikini Shop catalog. Ivy was modeling bikinis, as well as Felipa and her friends. Ashley was in there modeling more gender-neutral swimwear. Ashley posed with Ivy, Felipa, and her friends, as well as Vanessa and Blair. Blair was modeling male swimwear. Blair, Ivy, and Ashley modeled swimwear with their cats’ faces printed on them. They offered a service of your pets’ faces printed on male swimwear, female swimwear, or nonbinary swimwear. Makayla sighed at the picture of Ashley in their swimwear posing with those other people.
Celeste: “Tristan, you should model for this! You and Fabien!”
She held up the catalog. Tristan was lost in thought and flashed her a smile.
Tristan: “I will think about it.”
He said faintly and inhaled a long drag of his cigarette.
Deimos: “You and I could model for it.”
He smiled at Tristan and cuddled him close. Tristan smiled up at him.
Makayla: “What about me?”
She interjected.
Deimos: “Are you asking because you’re genuinely interested in modeling or are you wanting to be closer to Ashley?”
He challenged. Celeste shifted her eyes.
Makayla: “Well… they don’t have any plus-size female models.”
She stammered.
Celeste: “Well, if ya go to her bikini shop, which is on the boardwalk, and ask Felipa, she’d have you on board.”
Makayla: “Good idea! Maybe I will!”
Deimos: “Right…”
He drew a long breath.
Deimos: “So we need a logo for our band.”
He began.
Celeste: “I can draw Ivy’s crying face or something.”
She offered. Deimos gaped at her.
Deimos: “And that… has nothing to do with our band but… I was mulling on taking on Tristan’s suggestion of getting Ivy to design our logo.”
He nodded. Celeste pouted.
Deimos: “What do you think, Makayla?”
He asked her.
Makayla: “Ivy? Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest with you guys… you know.”
He gestured to Deimos and Tristan. Tristan cleared his throat.
Tristan: “Ivy is… essentially my stepmother now.”
He rubbed the back of his head.
Makayla: “Isn’t that… really weird?”
Tristan shifted his eyes and pursed his lips.
Tristan: “That’s scratching the surface.”
He muttered.
Deimos drew a long breath.
Deimos: “I factored that into my decision but it’s not like we have a lot of choices. I don’t know who designed Nuklear’s logo but I don’t want to go to whoever designed Maxx’s piece of shit logo.”
He rolled his eyes.
Deimos: “I guess we have to bite the bullet.”
He shrugged.
Tristan: “Ivy and I crushed on each other… until we didn’t. We parted amicably and now we’re civil to each other.”
He declared.
Makayla: “Well, if you’re okay with it, I am too then. She better be good.”
She stated.
Deimos: “We don’t have much choice and I am not going to whoever did Maxx’s logo. That works for a piece of shit band that is a joke. We’re more than that.”
He said doggedly.
Celeste: “Why mention Maxx’s band and not Nuklear?”
Deimos: “Because I think whoever did Maxx’s works out of the country will take on any client for a cheap price. Maxx doesn’t like to spend money on anything other than tacky clothes and sex romp videos.”
He rolled his eyes.
Makayla: “Oh, I thought Maxx drew it himself with crayons on a napkin?”
She said half-jokingly.
Deimos: “He lived with Anthony until he destroyed his cabin and everything. Maxx told him he got it from someone in Dhongshin for two dollars. But yeah, it started by Maxx mailing that stupid napkin to them.”
He drawled. Celeste snorted and snickered at the story. Tristan raised his eyebrows.
Tristan: “He destroyed his cabin?”
Deimos paused and nodded soberly.
Makayla: “What do you mean by he destroyed his cabin?”
Tristan cupped his mouth. He considered everything Ashley and Blake told him and Deimos about Maxx’s changes.
Before he could inquire further, someone climbed over the fence and jumped down into the yard. It was Gus. He wore a yellow-orange beanie, a caramel bomber jacket, a grey shirt, light brown pants, and dirty sneakers.
Deimos: “I know it’s news to you but we have a door.”
He said dryly. Gus handed Makayla a Ziploc bag of marijuana. He gaped at Tristan before he did.
Makayla: “...Thanks, Gus. Couldn’t be more discreet?”
She shifted her eyes, shoving them away into her pocket.
Gus: “Do you work for the cops?”
Tristan quirked an eyebrow.
Tristan: “No, Gus, I’m a private attorney. I’m not a prosecutor. I work for my clients, not the police.”
He clarified firmly.
Deimos: “The fuck couldn’t you do this late at night, dipshit?”
He rasped.
Gus: “Because I think I might need Tristan’s help.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets. Tristan buried his face into his hands.
Tristan: “Oh God…”
He said under his breath.
Gus: “Fabien and Craig broke up because he found out why Kurt left Nuklear. And now Fabien is getting his feet tickled at Anthony’s studio.”
He explained. Makayla blinked mutely.
Makayla: “So? Why should we care?”
Tristan sighed and rolled his eyes. Deimos gawked disbelievingly at him.
Deimos: “That’s great. That’s less baggage for him. Trust me, Craig is a waste.”
He said acidly.
Gus: “Well, I love smelling his stinky feet and if Craig is gone, all I got is Jaclyn and Fabien gets mad if her shoes are in the house.”
He explained. Makayla’s face scrunched up with disgust.
Makayla: “Eww. I don’t want to know.”
Tristan: “...There are websites that sell dirty stinky socks online. Why do you need Craig’s?”
Gus: “Best way to wake up.”
Makayla shuddered.
Makayla: “Have you thought of getting an alarm clock?”
She said dryly.
Deimos: “Leave Tristan alone. He’s not fixing Craig’s mess.”
He growled.
Makayla: “No one can fix Craig’s messes.”
Gus said nothing more and climbed over the fence, leaving.
Tristan: “Craig is still upset that Fabien went with Jaxon to The Nobel Monarch but doesn’t want to indulge in his kinks. Craig contributes nothing to the house and expects to run it.”
He explained. Makayla rolled her eyes.
Makayla: “And what is wet.”
Deimos: “Not much different than Nuklear? Got it. What’s new? Fabien knew he was an idiot when he dated him. He’s not going to become an Einstein or even a halfwit.”
He rolled his eyes.
Makayla: “How could he not know? You can see Craig’s idiocy from space.”
Tristan: “Can’t argue there.”
He muttered.
Deimos harrumphed.
Deimos: “Anyway, I can discuss the logo details with Ivy over Bungle Instant Messenger to make things less awkward and more professional. I can discuss what we want in a logo in writing more than I can orally”
He nodded.
Tristan: “I agree, Deimos. I can elucidate my ideas better through writing, as well.”
He smiled. Deimos smiled back at him and the two kissed.
Tristan pursed his lips.
Tristan: “Deimos, do you read other newspapers besides the one you get? The Pink Top Daily?”
Deimos locked his gaze on Tristan.
Deimos: “No, one is plenty. Why do you ask?”
He threaded his fingers through Tristan’s soft, white tresses.
Tristan: “I need other newspapers. I suppose I could drive to the library.”
Deimos kissed Tristan’s head.
Deimos: “Blake collects newspapers and reads plenty during his coffee. I have an order from Ashley for some blueberry muffins I need you to pick up. Why don’t you walk there and see if Blake will let you find what you’re looking for?”
He said softly. Makayla’s ears perked up.
Makayla: “Oh! Blueberry muffins? Can I come, too?”
She chirped. Tristan paused and smiled.
Tristan: “Of course, I’d be delighted.”
He said genially.
Celeste: “I wasn’t gonna come. I don’t mind the rest but Blair is ugh.”
She huffed and folded her arms over her chest.
Deimos: “Well, I better get going.”
He and Tristan kissed and then Tristan went out to the front door with Makayla following.
~
Tristan and Makayla walked through the neighborhood. The weather was getting warmer and spring was in the air. They approached the Donati manor. The lawn was decorated with ceramic mushrooms along the garden edges and life-size cat ornaments in various poses scattered across the lawn resembling the cats that live here. On each side of the pathway to the door were hedges trimmed in the shape of cats. Makayla smiled and happily sighed. Tristan raised his eyebrows.
Tristan: “Wow, it resembles something from a fairytale. How quaint.”
He smiled. He went up the stairs and rang the doorbell. Shauna answered.
Tristan: “Good afternoon, may I see Blake Sabatini?”
He asked her. And the other one, Makayla hoped to herself.
Shauna: “Yes, come in, please.”
She led them inside to the kitchen to wait for Blake. Blake sauntered into the room, surprised to see them.
Blake: “Oh, you’re here to see Ashley?”
He enquired. He then frowned when he saw Makayla.
Blake: “What are you doing here?”
He hissed at her.
Tristan: “No, Blake, I am here to see you. Makayla wanted to accompany me to make sure no dangers came upon me.”
He reassured him. Blake turned to Makayla.
Blake: “Dangers huh? Funny considering she is a danger to Ashley.”
He huffed. Tristan rubbed the back of his neck feeling awkward.
Tristan: “Well, you know how Deimos is protective of me.”
He laughed a bit.
Tristan: “Deimos informed me you read several newspapers and I wondered if I could go through them.”
He added.
Blake: “Sure, I was about to throw out this week’s pile, but feel free to go through it.”
He nodded and went into the kitchen to get the newspapers for them.
Ashley was in the kitchen baking.
Ashley: “Hey Blake! Are you making some paper maché?”
They asked.
Blake: “No. Tristan and Makayla wanted them for some reason.”
He explained. Ashley paused when he said Makayla.
Ashley: “Oh, Makayla is here?!”
They dropped their spoon.
Blake: “Yeah.”
He grunted and walked back into the room, presenting Tristan with various newspapers.
Tristan: “Thank you, Blake. Oh, and I’m here to pick up an order Deimos placed with Ashley.”
He added as he accepted the newspapers.
Ashley entered the room with Deimos’ order.
Ashley: “Hey Tristan! Here’s your order!”
They presented him with a wicker basket full of treats.
Ashley: “There’s surprises in there!”
They whispered to Tristan, winking at him. Tristan raised his eyebrows.
Tristan: “Oh, how lovely!”
He said to Ashley and turned to Blake.
Tristan: “How is Andreas doing, Blake?”
He asked.
Blake: “He's doing well. Did you want a reading from him or something?”
He asked. Ashley snickered.
Ashley: “I think he's asking because you two are getting close!”
He teased. Blake blushed.
Tristan: “Perhaps. I owe it to him for helping me.”
He cupped his chin and smirked.
Blake: “Oh, what did he help you with?”
He enquired.
Tristan: “When Deimos was getting involved with Nuklear and going to be their drummer, the red flags flapped everywhere but I know this was Deimos’ dream. He was informed that Kurt—their former drummer—quit and left on less than stellar terms. I also was aware of Andreas’ history with Craig, so I asked him what made Kurt leave and he told me his theories. They align with Craig’s behavior and now Craig blames me for Nuklear falling out.”
He laughed a bit. Ashley tilted their head.
Ashley: “Oh, uh, how did that help you?”
They scratched their head, looking confused. Tristan flicked his gaze on Ashley and felt something form in his stomach.
Tristan: “I love Deimos and didn’t want to see him hurt.”
He said coolly. Ashley paused when it dawned on them and they thought of what Lazaros said about Tristan being manipulative.
Tristan: “Just as you love Lazaros and don’t want to see him hurt. Do you understand?”
He smiled a bit. Ashley smiled and nodded.
Ashley: “...I understand.”
Tristan smiled tightly. Blake folded his arms across his chest, understanding that he had done the same for Ashley.
Tristan: “Thanks for the treats. You two have a wonderful day.”
He nodded and turned around to leave.
Ashley: “Okay! Have a nice day!”
They smiled and waved.
Vanessa and Blair stood there glaring at Makayla.
Vanessa: “I think Tristan forgot someone.”
Blair: “More like she forgot to leave with him because she has her sights set on Ashley! Well, they don’t like you! They posed with me for Felipa’s Bikini Shop!”
He said loftily. Ashley awkwardly shifted their eyes.
Makayla: “You don't speak for Ashley! And I'm signing up for the plus-size women!”
She declared.
Ashley: “W-What?!”
Blair: “Well, Ashley is NOT posing with you! They agreed to the calendar with ME!”
He huffed.
Ashley: “I did?”
They awkwardly scratched their head.
Vanessa: “They’re doing it with ME! And Ashley is taking me shopping to hand-pick out bras and panties for when we sleep together and they take my virginity!”
She hissed. Blair flared.
Blair: “NO! They’re taking MY virginity!”
He fired back at her.
Makayla: “No, Ashley needs someone with experience!”
She fired at them.
Ashley: “WH-WHAT?!”
They squeaked, awkwardly shifting around.
Ashley: “I… uhh, I, gotta go!”
They turned around and ran into the door.
Ashley: “Oww!”
They rubbed their head.
Vanessa: “Ashley, wait! Let’s get Blake’s boyfriend to read our tarots and he will tell us we’re destined!”
She whined. Blake blushed.
Blake: “He's not my boyfriend…”
Blair: “You have NOTHING in common with them! WE’RE destined!”
He hissed.
Makayla: “Oh, please!”
Ashley: “Whoa, whoa, don't fight guys! We can all get our tarots read!”
They clasped their hands together.
Blair: “Fine, let’s get Blake’s boyfriend to read our tarot and he will tell us that it’s ME who will be Ashley’s knight in shining armor!”
He stuck his tongue out at Vanessa and Makayla.
Makayla: “You? A knight? Come on! I'm a knight! Ashley needs a real protector!”
She fired back at them, holding up her fists.
Vanessa: “You didn’t walk back with Tristan to protect him!”
She screamed.
Makayla: “He doesn't need me to protect him! That's Deimos’ job! I want to protect Ashley!”
Blair: “I call shotgun!”
He ran out to Ashley’s car. Ashley awkwardly shifted his eyes.
Ashley: “Haha, okay, let's go see Blake's boyfriend!”
Blake: “He's not my boyfriend…”
His voice trailed off.
Makayla climbed into the car with them.
Blake: “What do you think you're doing?!”
He hissed at her.
Makayla: “Going to get a tarot reading from your boyfriend.”
She teased.
Makayla: “Ashley said it’s okay!”
Ashley: “I did?”
They awkwardly rubbed their neck.
Makayla: “See!”
Blake rolled his eyes.
~
Ashley’s Chevrolet Station Wagon pulled up to Måneravn and parked in front. Vanessa swung the door open and rushed inside before they did.
Blair: “HEY!”
He snarled and opened the door to follow her. Coming out the door was an obese white man with fluffy, short blue hair. He had large, thick-framed glasses that hung on the bridge of his nose and puffy cheeks. He wore a Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts, socks, and sandals. He giggled and rubbed his hands as he exited the store. Ashley observed the man’s outfit.
Ashley: “Wow! Some people are so confident to wear things that don’t look good!”
They chuckled innocently. Makayla frowned as their remark reminded her of Lazaros.
Vanessa was in the store and saw a large jug of “love potion” on the display of potions on the wooden shelves, which was a pink liquid in a spherical bottle. She twisted the cork off and drank directly from the bottle. Andreas emerged from the back room and gaped at her.
Andreas: “Excuse me, what are you doing? You need to pay for that!”
He scolded her.
Vanessa: “Ashley, can you pay him for this!?”
She whined.
Ashley: “Uhh, but I didn’t drink it? Why do I have to pay?”
They scratched their head.
Vanessa: “Ugh, put it on the Donati tab. My uncle can pay for it.”
She pouted.
Ashley: “But your uncle didn’t drink it?”
They tilted their head.
Blair: “I’ll pay for it. Ashley would have if they wanted you!”
He said doggedly. Vanessa furrowed her eyebrows.
Makayla: “Oh please. You two are pathetic.”
Blair: “Yeah, you need Tristan to make your band a band! Tristan who is just like Lazaros!”
He growled.
Vanessa: “Oh, and you have to do a tarot to tell Ashley I’m the one for them!”
She said loftily.
Blair: “Uh, no? I’m the one for them!”
He snapped. Andreas looked at them both.
Andreas: “...That’s not how it works.”
He frowned.
Makayla: “Yeah, because I’m the one for Ashley.”
Andreas rolled his eyes.
Andreas: “No, because this isn’t some wishing well. You can’t always get what you want.”
He frowned when he thought of that troublesome client he had that night who asked for the same things and tried to have his way with him.
Andreas: “I’m sorry, but I refuse to help those who will bring me trouble when my readings don’t align with what they demand of me.”
He warned them, holding his hand up firmly. Blair and Vanessa both pouted. Not after last time, Andreas thought.
Ashley: “Oh, no, they’re not trouble!”
They assured Andreas.
Andreas: “Not trouble? Your friend drank most of my love potion stock. She’s going to pay for that and not just with money, but in other ways from the universe…”
He stated.
Blair: “How much is it? I will put it on the family credit card because Ashley doesn’t want her. They want me.”
He hissed at Vanessa. Ashley awkwardly shifted their eyes.
Andreas: “And where is Ashley’s say in any of this? You can’t decide for them if they love you.”
He challenged them all and thought of Craig doing that to him.
Makayla: “Well, Ashley, who do you love?”
She prodded at them, gesturing to them all in the room. Ashley shifted their eyes and stammered as they all glared at them.
Ashley: “Well… you broke my heart, Makayla… what we had is… history now.”
Makayla frowned.
Ashley: “I only just met you… I don’t really know you… all I know about you is your cup size?”
They said to Vanessa. She pouted.
Ashley: “And… you’re like my best friend!”
They said to Blair. Blair smiled a bit.
Blair: “You’re my best friend, too, Ashley!”
Ashley smiled back at him.
Ashley: “But, the one I love isn’t in this room…”
Vanessa: “It’s that Tristan guy, isn’t it?!”
She stomped her feet and whined.
Ashley: “Uhh, Tristan? No!”
They exclaimed.
The door swung open and Lazaros stood in the doorway dressed in a purple sequin suit with a black pressed shirt, white tie, white gloves, and white loafers with a gold clasp. He had a purple sequin cape draped on his back.
Lazaros: “I have arrived!”
He announced. Ashley turned around, breath taken by his dazzling beauty.
Ashley: “L-Lazaros!”
They gasped giddily. They then turned to Andreas.
Ashley: “Wow! You really are magic!”
Andreas shifted his eyes. Blake rolled his eyes at Lazaros.
Blake: “Great, now you’re stalking Ashley and listening in on everything?”
Lazaros: “No need to read my tarot to tell me I’m amazing; I already know it!”
He flipped his hair.
Blair: “God, he’s worse than Tristan! Tristan pretends to be humble.”
He fielded scathingly. Lazaros’ face twisted with disgust.
Lazaros: “Whatever, Blair, your tarot will read you’re a loser with no goals but we knew that.”
He waved his hand dismissively at him.
Ashley: “That’s not true, Blair is a good drawer and electric piano player!”
Blair smiled a bit at Ashley.
Lazaros: “Anyway, I just published another cookbook you will like Ashley!”
He held up a book of himself on the cover in his chef’s uniform titled, “Italian Dishes.”
Ashley’s eyes sparkled.
Ashley: “Oh wow! You made a cookbook for me?!”
They beamed.
Lazaros: “I did, Ashley! I made all your favorite recipes but they’re perfected!”
He said loftily. Blair rolled his eyes.
Ashley: “Wow!”
They beamed and clasped their hands.
Lazaros: “I overheard one of your special friends drank a love potion. I will pay for that, Ashley! That should not be put on your shoulders!”
He placed his hand on their shoulder. Ashley shivered to his touch.
Ashley: “But you didn’t drink the love potion, Lazaros!”
Lazaros: “I should get my picture on this wall, ‘customer of the year’ for doing this.”
He beamed. Andreas rolled his eyes.
Andreas: “No.”
Lazaros rolled his eyes.
Lazaros: “Well, the bleak seek the bleak, or Tristan just got to you.”
He said to Andreas. Andreas looked around the room.
Andreas: “Oh, I didn’t realize Tristan was present in this room with us and has invisible powers.”
He quipped dryly.
Lazaros: “Yes, he’s VERY manipulative and turns people who disagree with him against you.
He hissed. Andreas casually picked up a mirror and held it up to Lazaros’ face.
Andreas: “Yes, he sure is.”
Blake laughed at his quip. Lazaros gaped at him.
Lazaros: “Why are you showing me myself? Because I’m so desirable?”
He said smugly. Ashley giggled.
Andreas: “Because you’re projecting yourself onto others.”
He stated.
Lazaros: “I wonder… Do you speak to Tristan this way? Probably not. This is why he sings your praises on how you helped him.”
He sneered at him. Ashley sighed. Here we go again, they thought. Andreas flicked his gaze to Ashley, taking note of their body language.
Andreas: “I speak this way to everyone. No one is special.”
He then paused.
Andreas: “Helped him, huh?”
Ashley ran his fingers through his hair and looked over at Lazaros.
Lazaros: “Oh, you don’t know? You gave him vital information to destroy Nuklear Intoxikation and Tristan used that to get what he wanted.”
He folded his arms and smiled smugly.
Andreas: “Oh, did I? Well, Craig caused the death of Nuklear Intoxikation by being Craig and burning all his bridges. It was only a matter of time before it all caught up to him. Tristan only sped up the inevitable and put it out of its misery.”
He shrugged. Lazaros glared at him.
Lazaros: “So you’re just like him then.”
Ashley sighed and tugged on Lazaros’ sleeve. Lazaros stopped to look at Ashley and smiled.
Ashley: “Hey, Lazaros, wanna cook something for me or tickle me?”
They asked softly. Andreas observed them and looked up at Lazaros.
Andreas: “I think this card suits you well.”
He declared, presenting Lazaros with a “The Devil” card.
Andreas: “So long as you are bound by your obsessions, you will lose yourself… and those around you.”
He flicked his gaze over to Ashley. Ashley bowed their head and swallowed hard.
Before Lazaros could reply, standing behind Lazaros was Craig in his underwear looking furious. Fabien was behind him.
Fabien: “Oh, please, Andreas, your children’s card games are meaningless. This fat fuck will always put glitter cupcake fatty magnet on a pedestal!”
He hissed. Lazaros rolled his eyes.
Ashley: “Glitter cupcake fatty magnet?”
They scratched their head and laughed.
Fabien: “We got kicked out of Anthony’s because YOU told Tristan something to ruin this moron’s band.”
He hissed and glared at Craig.
Andreas: “...Why are you in your underwear?”
He rolled his eyes at Craig.
Craig: “You TOLD ice cunt about Kurt!”
He hissed.
Andreas: “So what? It’s not a secret you burn your bridges.”
He shrugged.
Fabien: “Well, he followed me to Anthony’s studio and destroyed much of it and now I have to pay the bills!”
He snarled at Craig.
Andreas: “Why is that my problem? Take it up with him.”
He pointed at Craig.
Fabien: “Because Craig wanted to come here and settle a score with you. I wouldn’t come to this shithole otherwise and your stupid children’s card game. I don’t need a card to tell me that fat fuck will always love his glitter cupcake or Craig is an idiot.”
He fielded scathingly.
Ashley: “Aww, glitter cupcake?! That’s so cute!”
They cooed at Lazaros. Lazaros smiled a bit.
Andreas: “There is no score to be had. We’re done.”
He glared at Craig.
Fabien: “So much for your reading Andreas. You’re a fool.”
He snorted.
Andreas: “Says the fool dating a manchild in his underwear.”
He rolled his eyes.
Craig: “Pfft, you dated me too ‘n I got a great bod!”
He flexed his muscles.
Fabien: “I wouldn’t talk. You’re smitten with someone who goes to a blind tattoo artist and a blind barber.”
He snorted. Blake rolled his eyes at them.
Blake: “Hey, didn’t you run off with some big dick rockstar at a hotel?”
He stated. Craig’s shoulders slunk and his heart sank. He looked like he was going to cry.
Fabien: “I did… and he went to the lounge to scream at Tristan for not sleeping with him. My biggest mistake was learning he truly was another Maxxy Malone but we never did anything, except rack up his bill.”
He smirked.
Blake: “Really? The name ‘Axion Jaxon’ and the big stupid hair didn’t tip you off that he was another Maxxy Malone?”
He replied. Fabien shrugged.
Fabien: “He said Maxx stole off him and it was confirmed. I made an error in my judgment and I wanted to make Craig jealous besides. Sometimes you do what you can to get what you want. I do this, Lazaros looks like a glitter cupcake to attract fatties, and Andreas relies on children’s card games.”
He snorted.
Andreas: “You went through all that effort just to make Craig jealous? All you had to do was say hello to another man.”
He stated.
Craig: “OI! EVERYONE STOP GANGIN’ UP ON ME!”
He snapped.
Fabien: “I do that at my work and he’s not?”
He rolled his eyes.
Fabien: “If you left your magical world, the customers where I work are full of perverts.”
Blair and Vanessa were fanning their faces.
Blair: “GOD! What is that stink?!”
Vanessa: “I know! I smelled it when those two came in!”
Makayla: “Ugh, it’s Craig’s fucking feet.”
Fabien groaned.
Lazaros: “Don’t you have peppermint oil or something to give him?”
Ashley fished in their jacket pocket and pulled out the essential oils they wore for cologne.
Ashley: “Hmm, I have patchouli and lavender oil…”
They held them up.
Lazaros: “Do you have peppermint?”
He asked.
Ashley: “Nope, just those two scents!”
Craig glared at them.
Craig: “Why the fuck do you have those on you?! I ain't wearing none of that girly crap! I don't wanna smell like a flower!”
He huffed.
Lazaros: “Well, you don’t, so good work.”
He smiled and looked at Ashley.
Lazaros: “Well, since Mr. Tarot Death Awaits us and doesn’t want me to pay for your special friend’s potion, why are we here? Let’s go where you can properly watch me cook, my smitten kitten!”
He said loftily to Ashley. Ashley beamed and blushed, rubbing against him like a cat.
Ashley: “Ooh, Cook for me, Lazaros!”
They purred.
Ashley: “Can you tickle me for dessert?”
They blushed.
Lazaros: “As you wish.”
He said softly and led them out.
Lazaros: “Best of luck on your card games. Ta-ta.”
He flipped his hair and left.
Ashley: “Peace out!”
They smiled and waved at them all.
Fabien gave Craig the stink eye.
Fabien: “And why can’t YOU tickle me?!”
He pouted.
Craig: “What?! I do tickle ya!”
He whined.
Fabien: “I better get it when we get home.”
He huffed and turned around to leave. Craig smiled a bit when he said “we.”
Craig: “Fuckin’ oath, when WE get home!”
He grinned and followed after Fabien.
Blair stood there with Makayla and Vanessa.
Blair: “...I think we got left behind.”
Makayla: “Story of my life.”
She sighed, kicking her heel.
~
Tristan was in the kitchen of the Katsaros Hacienda looking through the newspapers. Celeste snuck around him and saw the double chocolate turtle cheesecake on the island. She saw the single turtle on the cake and took it.
Celeste: “Yoink!”
She said and munched on it. She noticed Tristan wasn’t paying attention.
Celeste: “Reona to Tristan!”
She waved her hand. Tristan sighed.
Tristan: “I suppose I will never find it.”
He muttered and picked up the Pink Star.
Celeste: “Find what?”
Tristan: “Who owns Foxy Robin’s.”
He muttered.
Celeste: “Why, because you want to know who gave you the book?”
He nodded.
Celeste: “Someone who knows you and isn’t Fabien, Deimos, or me.”
He froze when he saw it. He rubbed his fingertips on a picture of Robin wearing a headscarf on her head with cat-eye sunglasses, a little black dress, and Ashlee in her purse. She extended her hand out to Foxy Robin’s. It said, “24-year-old Nouvelle Gaule native, Robin Rénard, opens her nightclub, Foxy Robin’s.”
Tristan picked up the newspaper to read and Celeste read over his shoulder. Tristan read that Robin was recently Jarlath “Jonesy” O’Hara’s mistress and Jonesy recently passed away. Robin has recently purchased this nightclub where she performs her ballet, sings, and hosts auctions for clients to spend the night with her.
Celeste: “Do you know her, Tristan?”
Tristan closed his eyes and sighed. He folded the newspapers up.
Tristan: “I do.”
Celeste: “Was she a girlfriend?”
Tristan: “No. I never dated until Deimos. I crushed on Ivy for a bit until she snapped at me for missing a lunch date because Dougal Springer held Ashley and their friends captive.”
He huffed bitterly. He cleared his throat and waved his hand.
Tristan: “It doesn’t matter. I bear no resentment toward Ivy, and we do not work together. It’s for the best because I love Deimos and only him.”
Celeste: “I know what you mean. She’s always angry with Victor when he does nothing wrong.”
She folded her arms across her chest. Debatable, he thought. He wasn’t going to debate that and didn’t care right now.
Tristan: “In any case, no, she was a friend from collège or middle school as Americans call it. We were friends… or classmates until I left Nouvelle Gaule to start a new life here.”
He explained.
Tristan: “...Why didn’t she give me the book herself? Why send a waitress? And what does she want?”
He mused aloud.
Celeste: “Maybe she was really shy?”
She offered. Tristan shook his head.
Tristan: “She wasn’t shy when we went to school—she was the opposite and judging by her nightclub, it still is. This is what boggles my mind. I don’t know what her motives are.”
He said as his voice trailed off.
Celeste: “Why don’t you go ask her?”
Tristan: “If I could be in a quieter environment, I would but that nightclub is anything but quiet.”
He tapped his pen. He then recalled Fabien mentioning his father arriving here for an old case he did and something about this wracked his brain.
~
In a dilapidated apartment on the bad side of town, an obese white man with fluffy, short blue hair sat before his IBM PS/2. He had large thick-framed glasses that hung on the bridge of his nose, and puffy cheeks, and wore a Hawaiian shirt, khakis shorts, and socks with sandals. Flickering, actinic fluorescent lights illuminated his facial details. He beamed and laughed to himself.
Man: “Darrel Gatti, you’re a genius! The tarot reading was right! Now I have what I need to get the woman of my dreams!”
He straightened the collar of his shirt and promptly rose from his desk, strolling past the heaps of trash and out the door.
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