Chapter 68
PinkFaire
Tristan, Deimos, and Celeste sat in the back of a taxi on their way to PinkFaire. Celeste wore a Rolling Stones white tank top, spiked collar, bleached jean shorts with a studded belt, bleached denim jacket, and knee high cowgirl boots. Tristan wore a white pressed shirt with a few buttons undone and a dark blue paisley cravat tied around his neck and tucked in his shirt, black waistcoat, black pants, and black wingtip Oxfords. Deimos wore a black Motörhead t-shirt, his leather jacket, torn jeans with a bullet belt, and cowboy boots.
The taxi dropped them off in the parking lot. Deimos took his wallet from his back pocket, paid the driver, and the three got out of the car.
They approached the entrance to PinkFaire. The fair was gated in by a light brown grand stone wall. The entry was a stone wall taller than the gate that had three archways with heavy black doors. On each side of the doors were two turrets and a sign above the doors with “PinkFaire” written in gold Old English letters. Above the sign and across the gated fence were huge crenelations. There was a drawbridge with a river underneath. They entered the gatehouse. Deimos went to the ticketbooth and told the lady who wore a wench’s costume he was paying for three adults.
When they entered the fair, it resembled an old village. The shops and attractions had mahogany wood rooftops, slate tile walls, and aromatic flowers. The fair was divided into several sections: artisan, entertainment, shops, games, rides, food, and medieval torture.
Actors dressed as knights, peasants, court jesters, Vikings, etc. roamed around the fair and people could get their picture taken with them. There was a stand where guests could dress in costumes such as a knight, Viking, royalty, peasant, etc. and have their picture taken.
There were various games such as axe throwing, throwing knives, archery, and throwing stars.
There was someone dressed in a Varg the Viking costume for little kids, and to get their pictures taken with him.
They sold turkey legs, meat pies, giant pickles, and other regular foods. They also sold soda, juice, water, fine wine, and beer.
The live entertainment consisted of comedy skits, acrobats, musicians, fortune tellers, games, archery, Viking ships, pub crawls, fair quests, sword fights, dancers, jugglers, stilt walkers, actors staging impromptu sword fights, and even mud wrestling.
Ashley ran a stall with Lazaros, selling their baked goods, homemade teas and essential oils, and wreaths. They were dressed in their Keke onesie. Lazaros sold his honey, salsa, jams, marinara sauce, and other preserves. Lazaros wore a white suit, a gold shirt with a few buttons undone, white pants, ivory shoes, and white loafers.
Andreas operated Måneravn, offering tarot card readings, homemade candles, and pillboxes. Blake accompanied him.
They also had the "medieval torture", which was the tickling booths where the actors would kidnap guests or other actors and tickle their feet. The tickling booths were behind a gate, where wooden stocks were displayed. Men and women were dressed in ivory shirts, blue vests, gray pants, knee-high brown boots, and tricorn hats with giant feathers.
Fabien waved at them, with Craig by his side, holding his hand. Fabien wore a black Nuklear Intoxikation shirt with a green plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows over it, jeans, and flip-flops. Craig wore a white Nuklear Intoxikation tank top with a denim vest, torn jeans with a bullet belt, and work boots.
Fabien: “Hey! Didn’t think you’d be here! You’re overdressed, Tristan!”
He teased.
Deimos: “Tristan is always dressed for the occasion. He’s my fancy boyfriend.”
He looked up at him with pride. Tristan reddened.
Celeste: “Let’s tickle his feet.”
She smirked. Deimos embraced Tristan from behind and kissed his neck. Tristan laughed.
Deimos: “As much as I’d love that, let’s view the fair first.”
Tristan chuckled.
Tristan: “What would you like to see first?”
Craig: “OOH! Let’s check out the wicked sick sword fighters!”
He jumped giddily.
Fabien: “Sounds good!”
He grabbed his big strong arm and leaned into it.
As they walked through the fair, they spotted Andreas’ stall with Blake. A wry smirk curled on Fabien’s lips. He approached them.
Fabien: “Well, well, well, look who’s here? Small world, tunnel vision. Still predicting people’s future with your children’s card game, Andy? How well did Craig’s go? The only tower he demolished was whatever he had with you. Now he has upgraded.”
He wagged his head and laughed at him. Andreas rolled his eyes.
Andreas: “You’re already predictable, so I don’t need to do a reading for you. Maybe I should charge services for arguing with assholes?”
He countered.
Fabien: “Well, if your sex is anything to go by, I can see why Craig was underwhelmed.”
He whispered.
Fabien: “You wouldn’t blow him. You eat this weird crap and drink terrible coffee but wouldn’t put his dick in your mouth. Don’t worry, honey, I got that covered.”
He smiled and nodded, glancing up at Craig. Craig grinned down at him and cackled. Blake stepped forward.
Blake: “That’s enough! Clearly you’re dissatisfied if you feel the need to keep starting stupid arguments with us.”
He folded his arms across his chest.
Fabien: “Yes, I am very dissatisfied with my life because I love to make a space alien and someone who relies heavily on children’s card games the butt of my jokes. Whatever helps you sleep at night and live with your haircut and the scribblings on your arm.”
He said dryly.
Craig: “OOOOH! Go, Fab!”
He cackled, giving him a high-five. Fabien high-fived him back.
Blake: “Space alien? What are you on about? Did you smoke some whacky Viking tabacci or something?”
He quirked an eyebrow at him. Craig burst out laughing.
Fabien: “We’ll see about that.”
He winked.
Fabien: “I am just unhappy with how badly your ‘fortune teller’ boyfriend treated Craig. Don’t worry, I got that more than covered.”
He smiled and nodded. Andreas gaped at him.
Andreas: “How I treated him?!”
He glared at Craig.
Fabien: “It left him with many emotional scars I am trying to heal.”
He said sharply. Blake rolled his eyes at him.
Blake: “Oh yeah, is that so? I’m unhappy with how badly your fake rockstar boyfriend treated Andreas. It left him with a lot of trauma.”
He folded his arms across his chest, stepping in front of Andreas, getting in Fabien’s face.
Fabien: “Oh, interesting! Is this why Craig feels insufficient and like he can’t be enough even though he threw some loser out the window for assaulting me? And why did he tell me Andreas tried to mold him into being another him and understanding his stupid card game? He didn’t love him in HIS language.”
He snapped.
Blake: “If Craig feels insufficient, it’s because he is. He’s a loser. Did YOU complain about cleaning up after his messes?”
Craig: “OI! Fuck you, cunt!”
Blake: “There’s more words in the dictionary than ‘cunt’.”
He said dryly.
Craig: “Yeah, I don’t need ‘em ‘cause this one describes you! If ya looked up ‘cunt’ in the dictionary there’d be your face with ya shit haircut, mate!”
He fired back at him.
Andreas: “I wasn’t the one trying to mold him, he was the one trying to mold ME! He kept trying to force me to drink and party and go surfing!”
He countered.
Fabien: “Yes, I did once. Couples argue. Just because you say nothing to Mr. Fortune Teller and you sweep your problems under the rug, doesn’t mean others do… and why isn’t Craig trying to mold me?”
He challenged.
Andreas: “That’s right, couples argue and our relationship is history, so I don’t know why you have to keep digging it up again. Probably because you’re already the perfect mirror image of him?”
Craig: “That’s right, he’s WICKED SICK and perfect! There ain’t nothin’ to change!”
He boasted.
Fabien: “Don’t misconstrue what I said, Andy. I am not the mirror image of Craig. He knows this and I know this. He doesn’t mold me to change because I love him in his language. What part of that are you not comprehending?”
He spread his arms out.
Andreas: “Good for you. I don’t care.”
He shrugged.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tarot card showing Andreas grinning inanely with lazy eyes. The card read, “0: The Goober.”
Fabien: “Here you are, Andy, a card that adequately describes you!”
He snorted. Craig cackled with amusement. Blake glared at them.
Blake: “The fuck is this?!”
He flared.
Andreas: “The result of someone’s brain not developing past the age of 0.”
He quipped. Blake laughed.
Fabien: “Right, that’s you, Goober! You seem to think everyone’s fate is in the hands of a children’s card game.”
He laughed.
Blake: “The only one who is childish is you. Now, fuck off little boys.”
He said firmly. Fabien smirked. I hit a nerve with this loser, he thought.
Craig: “Little boys?! Wahahahah! Mate, I’m taller than of y’all!”
He laughed.
Fabien: “So… how did Craig’s reading ‘The Tower’ go? Is his life a trainwreck now?”
He smiled. Craig grinned widely.
Craig: “Yeah, where’s all this chaos ‘n destruction ey?”
He scoffed. Andreas rolled his eyes.
Andreas: “Where’s your band, ey? You destroyed that, and it’s still destroyed.”
He countered. Craig recoiled and knit his eyebrows.
Craig: “I don’t need a band! I got Fab!”
He pouted, putting his arm around him. Fabien smiled.
Fabien: “That all you got, Goober?”
Deimos marched ahead.
Deimos: “I would have said Jaxon was the destruction… but we neutralized that.”
Tristan glanced at Deimos. We? He wondered. Craig burst out laughing.
Craig: “Oh yeah! That was wicked sick, mate!”
He grinned at Deimos, giving him a high-five. Deimos high-fived him back and smiled.
Tristan: “...What did you guys do?”
He laughed a bit.
Deimos: “I took your advice, Tristan. Sometimes you have to go against your morals for the greater good.”
He sighed.
Tristan raised an eyebrow and couldn’t shake that Deimos and Fabien were behind Jaxon’s downfall. Maybe Craig played a role, he thought. He recalled how badly Gus was beaten up and someone of Jaxon’s stature and strength couldn’t cause that much damage, he mused.
Craig: “I’m proud of us, fellas! We make a good team!”
He grinned, putting his arms around Deimos and Fabien. Deimos smiled a bit.
Tristan: “What did you guys do? I wondered how those photos I found during my research got in the tabloids when I never gave those away?”
He cupped his chin.
Tristan: “I have been around Jaxon… I find it interesting that he… developed juggernaut strength to beat up Gus like that.”
He hummed. Craig snickered.
Craig: “Juggernaut strength ey?”
He said loftily, flexing his muscles.
Fabien: “Yeah… sure.”
He rubbed Craig’s arms. Craig grinned at him. Tristan smirked. I see what you did there, Fabien, he thought. He had Craig beat up Gus for pictures. Deimos healed him, he thought.
Tristan: “...Well played.”
He smirked.
Craig: “We make a good team!”
He grinned smugly.
Tristan: “Jaxon is the definition of the tower; he causes chaos and destruction no matter where he goes. Perhaps this is what Andreas’ card meant.”
He offered.
Tristan: “He can draw cards but every drawing and meaning is up for several interpretations and not just one. He thinks it was your band and maybe that is true, but I think it was Jaxon. He tried to ruin your relationship but by doing so, he strengthened your bond.”
He folded his arms and tilted his head. Craig grinned widely.
Celeste approached them with a giant pickle on a stick.
Deimos: “Where’s his?”
He asked and pointed to Tristan.
Craig: “Wicked sick pickle, Celeste!”
He cackled. She pointed to a stall selling giant pickles, which was next to Lazaros and Ashley’s stall, which Jaxon had just sauntered to. Craig frowned when he saw Jaxon.
Craig: “Oh, that cunt has soooome fuckin’ nerve!”
Jaxon buzzed around their stall, leaning over the table. He was wearing a long-sleeved leopard shirt that covered his injuries. Ray Ban sunglasses obscured his face. He carried a bottle of whiskey in his hand and slurred his speech.
Jaxon: “Hey! Give me your strongest liquor!”
He commanded. He paused to look at them closer.
Jaxon: “HEY! You’re those hotties from those weird fetish videos! You’re the one eating all that food, and you’re the one with the rubber ducky in the bathtub!”
He slurred and laughed at them. Ashley shifted his eyes.
Ashley: “...What videos?”
Lazaros: “Ugh, I don’t know what you’re talking about but you’re clearly drunk, so I will take what you say with a grain of salt!”
He waved his hand dismissively at him.
Lazaros: “Ignore him, Ashley. The only videos I have are of our special moments and if he snuck in to watch those, he’s a bigger creep than I thought!”
He scoffed and flipped his hair. Ashley gasped.
Ashley: “You snuck in and watched our special moments?!”
They gasped at Jaxon.
Jaxon: “What? Fuck no. Tristan showed me!”
He scoffed.
Lazaros: “Oh, you mean the mediation he did to prove your sorry ass not guilty and you showed up with whiskey? Keep it classy.”
He sneered at him. Ashley glanced up at him, pleasantly surprised he wasn’t getting angry and blaming Tristan.
Jaxon: “God, why does everyone keep harping on about that? What’s the big deal?!”
He huffed and threw his arms up.
Lazaros: “Whatever, are you here to buy from us or admire us? If neither, get lost! I don’t care!”
He waved his hand at him. Ashley glanced up at Lazaros.
Ashley: “Buy from us or admire us? I like that!”
They smiled and laughed.
Tristan approached the stall, followed by Deimos and Celeste. Ashley smiled and waved at them. The three waved back. Celeste put the pickle in her mouth and gazed at the sweets Ashley had made.
Tristan: “The big deal about what you did, Jaxon, was… you don’t do stuff like that. I was doing you a service and in return you respect my space and me. The fact that you showed up drinking reflects that you had to numb the pain so you don’t take accountability for your actions or have to deal with them. That and it was extremely disrespectful.”
He said firmly.
Jaxon: “If you had a problem with that, why didn’t you say something then?!”
He held his arms up. Tristan froze and couldn’t speak. Deimos looked up at him and stepped ahead.
Deimos: “I hurt him and we argued. That’s why he said nothing.”
He growled at him. Jaxon laughed at them.
Deimos: “I didn’t want him representing you or helping you after what you did and I hurt him about it. I wanted to understand why he would do that knowing what you did to Vanessa and him. I never did until… I teamed up with Craig and Fabien to ruin you.”
He hissed. Tristan gazed at Deimos. Jaxon’s laughter died on his lips.
Jaxon: “...WHAT?!”
Craig approached him from behind, placing his hand on his shoulder.
Craig: “That’s right, Jacky-boy! How’s it feel to be beaten by a dumbass bogan?!”
He cackled.
Fabien: “How does it feel that Celeste isn’t picking you…? And why would she when you smell like a goddamn brewery?”
He fanned his face. Craig laughed. Celeste gaped owlishly at them with the pickle in her mouth and carrying cake pops Ashley made. She sucked the pickle back and popped the stick out. Ashley smiled at her.
Ashley: “She’s picking my desserts! Not you!”
They chirped. Jaxon rolled his eyes.
Jaxon: “You don’t need those cake pops, baby.”
He smacked them out of her hands and to the ground. Ashley cupped their mouth and gasped.
Ashley: “My cake pops! You mean jerk!”
They cried. Lazaros had to agree with Jaxon; Celeste didn’t need them, but Ashley did, and he ruined them.
Celeste: “Jaxon, why did you do that?”
She asked irritably.
Jaxon: “You’ll ruin your perfect figure eating that stuff!”
He countered.
Celeste: “I always eat junk food! I’m still my size! I’m not going to be Makayla’s size if you’re worried about that!”
She rolled her eyes.
Ashley: “And so what if she was? I thought you were in love with her? Shouldn’t you love her for who she is, no matter what?”
They tilted their head.
Ashley: “But she doesn’t even like you, dude… she likes cake more than you.”
They added.
Jaxon: “That’s bullshit.”
Lazaros: “Listen, if you don’t want her eating it, you could have given it to Ashley to eat.”
He nodded and put his hand on Ashley’s shoulder. Ashley looked up at Lazaros. Deimos rolled his eyes.
Tristan: “Come on, Jaxon… Everyone knows Celeste pretty much lives on junk food. I don’t think any of us are the cleanest eaters.”
He cupped his chin.
Celeste grabbed his whiskey and poured it on the ground.
Celeste: “You don’t need this.”
She hissed.
Jaxon: “HEY! What did you do that for?!”
He shrieked.
Celeste: “You threw my cake pops on the ground!”
She snapped.
Jaxon: “What’s that got to do with anything?!”
He fired back.
Celeste: “Alcohol slows down your senses and makes you less aware of your surroundings!”
She barked.
Jaxon: “So what?”
Ashley: “So he doesn’t need it then ‘cause he’s already not aware of his surroundings and how he hurts people!”
Jaxon: “Oh, come on! You believe what you read in a tabloid magazine?!”
Ashley: “Dude, you hurt my friends and you remind me of my crummy old friend! I know a Maxxy when I see one!”
They cried. Celeste embraced herself.
Celeste: “I guess so.”
Ashley knit their eyebrows.
Ashley: “Here’s more cake pops! On the house!”
They offered them to her. Celeste smiled and accepted them.
Celeste: “Thank you!”
Jaxon pouted and seethed on their Maxx statement.
Tristan: “Thank you, Ashley.”
He nodded to them.
Jaxon: “...Maxxy… fucking Maxxy… MAXXY?! AGAIN WITH THAT CLOWN IDIOT! I AM NOT LIKE HIM!”
He seethed.
A wasp landed on Jaxon’s shoulder where Percy stabbed him. Celeste’s eyes widened and she slapped his shoulder.
Celeste: “Watch it!”
Jaxon yelped in excruciating pain, collapsing to the ground.
Jaxon: “YARGHHH! DON’T!”
Celeste showed him the palm of her hand with blood on it and a dead wasp.
Celeste: “You had a wasp on you.”
Tristan handed her a facial tissue to clean it off. She took it and wiped it off and noticed blood seeping through his shirt. Tristan looked away. Ashley gasped.
Ashley: “Oh no! That wasp made him bleed everywhere!”
They pointed at him, drawing attention to him.
Jaxon: “NO! I just… I gotta go!”
He stammered and turned on his heel to find a medic. Tristan watched him go. Deimos scrutinized Jaxon and then Tristan.
Celeste ran after Jaxon.
Tristan: “Where are you going, Celeste?”
He called out to her.
Celeste: “I want to know what that was!”
She said and ran after him. Tristan looked away and knit his eyebrows. Deimos gazed at Tristan and wondered if he knew if there was something more to this.
Craig: “Pfft, what a weakling sook. Can’t even handle a tiny wasp!”
He laughed.
Ashley: “But how would it make him bleed everywhere? That doesn’t make sense! …What if it wasn’t the wasp, but something else?!”
They gasped. Fabien cupped his chin.
A cameraman in a t-shirt, backwards cap, shorts, and sneakers showed up.
Lazaros: “Ashley and I are going on lunch break and Jake here is going to film us having lunch.”
He nodded and smiled tightly.
Ashley: “Aww, that’s so sweet, Lazaros!”
They clasped their hands. Deimos folded his arms over.
Deimos: “Right, sounds exhilarating. They have turkey legs.”
Lazaros: “While it’s not as good as mine, you take what you can get.”
He grinned.
Ashley: “Nothing will ever beat your cooking…”
They smiled up at Lazaros, placing their hand on his shoulder.
Lazaros: “I can tell.”
He bit his bottom lip. Ashley tilted their head.
Ashley: “Oh? What’s that supposed to mean?”
They laughed.
Lazaros: “Just the way you eat my stuff as opposed to how you eat others’ stuff.”
He licked his lips.
Ashley: “That’s because your stuff is better and it was made by you!”
They smiled at him.
Lazaros: “Yes, made with lots of love.”
He sank his teeth into his bottom lip.
Ashley: “Haha, well, I’m a lot to love!”
They laughed and winked at him.
Fabien looked at them and then at Tristan and Deimos. Deimos glowered at Lazaros and Tristan buried his face in his palm.
~
Celeste ran through the woods after Jaxon. She caught up to him and stood before him.
Celeste: “What happened?! I didn’t hit you that hard and that wasn’t a killer wasp!”
She snapped.
Jaxon: “Stay out of this! I don’t want him to hurt you, too!”
He snapped and slashed his hand through the air.
Celeste: “Him?”
She raised an eyebrow.
Jaxon: “Who do you think?! The guy above me.”
He waved his hand. She stepped toward him.
Celeste: “...Percy?”
She folded her arms over her chest. Jaxon nodded in confirmation. Celeste pursed her lips and nodded.
Celeste: “I guess you pissed him off with what happened at Tristan’s office.”
She brushed her hair behind her ear. Jaxon gaped at her. How did she know that?!
Celeste: “But you’re still alive so I guess he has some use for you.”
She shrugged.
Jaxon: “Yes, he does…”
A devious smirk crept up on his lips.
She leaned in closer to his wound.
Celeste: “Want me to help patch this up a bit? I don’t think I can convince Deimos to heal you… Tristan would have to convince him but I can patch you up a bit.”
She offered.
Jaxon: “Sure, knock yourself out, babe.”
He grinned at her. She nodded and unbuttoned his shirt to slide it off. She gazed at the wound and grimaced. She fished in her purse, got some rubbing alcohol, and poured some on facial tissue.
Celeste: “This is going to sting like fuck!”
She pressed it on his wound, sending a stinging pain through his arm and body. Jaxon threw his head back with a scream of pain.
Jaxon: “YAAAAARGH! FUCK!”
He screamed. As the stinging waned, she put a bandaid on his wound with Polysporin and wrapped it with gauze.
Celeste: “I was gonna garbage this after I met Deimos, but forgot. It came in handy.”
She said under her breath.
Jaxon: “What’s Deimos got to do with it?”
Celeste: “He’s a healer. Tristan has ice powers. I got super strength and durability. Deimos heals your wounds and sicknesses.”
She explained and helped him put his shirt back on.
Jaxon: “Oh, that’s how you smashed my kitchen?”
He laughed a hollow laugh.
Jaxon: “I’m living with Percy now.”
Celeste stopped and she flicked her gaze up at Jaxon.
Celeste: “You pissed me off, Jaxon. You threw my robe and slippers over the ledge because another man gave those to me. Another man that wasn’t you… Wouldn’t it be easier if you came out of your transparent closet?”
She asked sharply. Jaxon gaped at her.
Jaxon: “What transparent closet? I’m out and I wanna fuck hot men, women and everything in between! I got nothing to hide!”
He spread his arms out.
Celeste: “I don’t mean that! I mean your feelings for ME!”
She snapped.
Jaxon: “OH? What do you mean?”
He chuckled and shifted his eyes.
Celeste: “Well? What do you feel for me, Jaxon? I’m not like anyone else you ever met and you told me your deepest, darkest secrets. You don’t do this for anyone… or at all.”
She said firmly.
Jaxon: “You’re the best I ever had, and I didn’t even have it…”
He confessed, thinking of how they never even had sex.
Celeste: “I don’t know if you noticed this…, but I am a bit… conventional when it comes to drinking… and… sex.”
She said with strain.
Celeste: “The drinking part is for practical reasons and taste but sex? I just… don’t have sex with anyone. I prefer to indulge in kinks.”
She admitted and embraced herself. Jaxon gaped at her like she had five heads.
Jaxon: “How could you not want to have sex?!”
He asked her. Celeste twisted her mouth.
Celeste: “I think… because tickling others and making them squirm turns me on more.”
She said slowly.
Jaxon: “Oh, really now… that can be arranged.”
He purred.
Tristan caught up with Celeste.
Tristan: “Where were you? Why did you follow him… and patch him up?”
She looked away like a scolded cat.
Celeste: “I don’t know.”
She murmured. Tristan heaved a deep sigh.
Tristan: “Be glad it’s me finding you and not Deimos.”
He said gently.
Celeste hugged him and he hugged her back. Tristan raised his head to Jaxon.
Tristan: “That was generous of Celeste to do that for you, Jaxon. Did you thank her?”
He asked him.
Tristan: “Or apologize to her?”
He added. Jaxon huffed.
Jaxon: “Thank you, Celeste, and I’m sorry you’re too sexy for his father.”
He sighed. Tristan rolled his eyes.
Tristan: “Are you going to feud with my Papa for her?!”
He snapped.
Jaxon: “Why do I need to? He doesn’t stand a chance against me!”
He countered.
Tristan: “Well, I do.”
He hissed.
Tristan: “So can she get jealous when you fornicate with others?”
He challenged.
Jaxon: “So what? They don’t mean anything to me.”
He shrugged.
Tristan: “But she does. I can see it, Jaxon, and I am sure your superior can, too.”
He added firmly.
In a flash, someone pressed chloroform rags to Tristan’s and Celeste’s faces. They drifted out of consciousness and fell to the ground. Jaxon grinned.
Jaxon: “Finally! What took you so long?”
He beamed.
Percy carried Tristan and marveled at him. Percy wore a red velvet frock coat with a gold braid trim, gold buttons, and white ruffles at the sleeve cuffs. A ruffled white cravat was tucked into his light gold vest. He also wore white gloves, knee high black boots, a long cape, a white mask and a wide brimmed red hat with a giant gold feather.
Percy: “I was enjoying Celeste draw out your true feelings, my magical friend. I knew there was someone inside that mask of yours.”
He crooned. Jaxon pouted and looked away.
Jaxon: “Hmph, whatever.”
He flushed. Percy smiled tightly.
Percy: “Are you going to pick her up or shall I?”
He asked him.
Jaxon: “NO! I want to do it!”
He insisted, kneeling and picking her up, struggling against his wounds. Celeste lay in his arms.
~
Tristan’s and Celeste’s eyes fluttered. They heard a ringing sound in their ears and their heads pounded. Their vision was blurry. They snapped their eyes open. Tristan gasped.
Tristan: “Mon dieu!”
He shrieked. He and Celeste had their wrists shackled to a wooden board and their ankles were locked in stocks.
Celeste had her boots and socks removed and Tristan had his Oxfords and sheer socks removed.
Celeste’s heart thundered in her chest when she looked down at her dark purple toenails. She saw her armpits were exposed under her jacket, her tummy was exposed, and her feet were. God, no, this is fucking HELL, she thought and struggled against her bonds.
A small whimper escaped Tristan’s throat. The last he recalled was speaking to Jaxon. He froze when it dawned on him. That phone call, he thought. NO! His panic soared. Percy stood before him.
Percy: “My gorgeous ice prince… How I love your soft slender soles… and all of you!”
He sang as he ran his forefingers over the sides of his feet. A laugh bubbled from his throat.
Tristan: “Hehahahahahahahahaha! S-STOP!”
He laughed, trying to control it.
Jaxon grinned at Celeste.
Jaxon: “You were saying about tickling turning you on…”
He teased Celeste, stroking his finger down her foot. She jumped in her seat and burst out laughing.
Celeste: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”
She laughed hard and thrashed in her seat.
Jaxon: “Does this turn you on?”
He scribbled his fingers all over her soles. She shrieked with laughter and her large boobs shook as she laughed.
Celeste: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! FUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHACK! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
She threw her head back and laughed. She wiggled her toes and fanned them out.
Percy wiggled his fingers over Tristan’s soft soles and Tristan howled with laughter.
Tristan: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!! STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP! NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!”
He laughed hard and violently wiggled his feet, trying to escape the tickling. Percy licked his lips and vigorously scribbled his fingers all over Tristan’s slender soles.
Tristan: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!’
He screamed with bouts of hysterical laughter as the tears poured from his green eyes.
Percy: “Mon dieu, my ice prince! You are extremely ticklish! I… I love this.”
He purred as the tickling continued. Tristan gasped for air and breathed ragged breaths in between laughing. This was exhausting him and he couldn’t take anymore.
Jaxon watched as Percy worked his magic on Tristan, taking notes. He flicked his gaze over to Celeste and smirked at her, aiming to achieve what Percy accomplished. He picked up the pace of his fingers, strumming her all over her bare soles like a guitar.
Jaxon: “Are you turned on now?”
He smirked at her. Celeste cackled loudly and hysterically. Her mascara streaked her cheeks as she wheezed between laughing.
Celeste: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA JEHEHEHEHEHEHEHESUS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
She laughed hard and struggled against her bonds.
Tristan laughed breathy laughs as the intense tickling continued. He then passed out. Percy smirked and stopped tickling him.
Percy: “Oh my, our little prince is in a slumber.”
He crooned and caressed his face.
Jaxon laughed at him and continued tickling Celeste, faster and harder.
Jaxon: “Come on, my Green Queen! Sing for me!”
He crooned, picking up the pace. She cackled loudly and her lungs were starting to hurt.
Celeste: “NOHOHOHOHOHOHO! STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!”
She laughed hard and leaned over laughing silent, wheezing laughs. She didn’t want to pass out. She wheezed loudly and leaned back, blacking out.
Jaxon stopped tickling her and grinned widely.
Percy: “Looks like we took things up a notch.”
He teased.
Jaxon: “I did it! I got her horny for me!”
He grinned. Percy laughed.
Percy: “Uh, sure, darling!”
He undid their shackles and put smelling salts to their nose. Both snapped their eyes open and gasped.
Tristan: “Wh-What did you think you were doing?!”
He snapped.
Percy: “I am not going to hurt you, my ice prince! Don’t fret! What you heard on the phone was merely me teaching my sidekick not to disrespect his royal highness!”
He handed him a water bottle to drink from. Tristan snatched it and glared at him.
Celeste groaned as her feet tingled like Hell. Jaxon grinned at her.
Jaxon: “I'm glad you enjoyed my sexy moves. I knew you were hot for me!”
He said loftily.
Celeste: “It wasn’t hot! I thought I was gonna suffocate!”
She pouted and got her compact mirror out to wipe the mascara off her face. She put her ankle socks back on and slid her feet into her boots.
Jaxon: “Suffocating on my sexiness!”
Celeste groaned.
She swung her gaze to Percy.
Celeste: “The fuck are you doing here?”
She asked Percy.
Percy: “Greetings, my warrior princess! I am indulging in drinking in my ice prince and my sidekick has developed feelings for you!”
He bowed.
Celeste: “No shit, Sherlock.”
Jaxon: “Yes, he's been showing me the ropes… if you know what I mean.”
He winked at her.
Jaxon: “Sometime I'd like to show you my ropes in a little Shibari.”
He purred. Celeste rolled her eyes.
Celeste: “You recruited the best sidekick, Percy.”
She said flatly.
Percy: “I am a man of taste, my magical friend.”
He smiled down at Tristan, who trembled as he put his sheer socks and shoes back on.
Jaxon: “We got you good!”
He taunted them.
Tristan grimaced and saw Percy was gone.
Tristan: “Gone… Faster than the speed of light.”
Celeste helped him off the ledge.
They heard a high-pitched man’s voice call, “JIRO-KUN! Jiro!” They turned around to see Yoshi with Ivy and Blair. Blair was dressed as a wizard. He had on a black robe with flared sleeves that had gray velvet and silver trim at the sleeve ends. A black sash fastened at his waist. He carried a staff with a purple orb at the top encased in a stone dragon. The orb glowed when Blair pushed a button. On his leash was Samson who had a saddle with a toy knight riding his back.
Ivy wore a dark green floor-length dress with long hanging sleeves. The bodice was laced with gold ribbon, and the sleeves, neckline, and center front were brocaded with gold ribbon. She wore a gold queen's crown on her head.
Yoshi wore a green tunic top with jagged edges, a black belt around his waist, dark green leggings, brown suede ankle boots, and a green pointed hat.
Jaxon’s demeanor soured when he heard that name. He turned to see Yoshi.
Jaxon: “My name is Jaxon.”
He hissed between clenched teeth.
Yoshi: “Don’t be silly, Jiro! Remember me?! When you and Nariko-chan came to my shop to look for this rare Varg the Viking tea set? And she and you sat at our tables to drink it?!”
He asked excitedly. Celeste gaped at Yoshi and at Jaxon.
Jaxon: “No.”
He said in a small voice, glaring at him.
Yoshi: “Oh, well, you did it and Nariko-chan bought up every Varg the Viking thing in the shop! I thought you were the cutest couple ever!”
He said as his eyes sparkled. Celeste looked away to stifle a laugh. Tristan looked away awkwardly.
Jaxon: “Stop talking NOW!”
He snapped and fumed.
Yoshi: “Uh, what did I say, Jiro?”
He knit his eyebrows.
Blair: “You’re into Varg the Viking? I never pegged you to be into a… toddler show.”
Jaxon: “I'm NOT! I HATE THAT STUPID BIG-FOOT ASSHOLE!”
He raged. Blair and Ivy both looked unimpressed.
Tristan knelt to Samson.
Tristan: “Okay, this is adorable.”
He petted Samson’s head.
Celeste: “Look, Yoshi, whatever Jaxon did with Nariko about Varg, his dad made him.”
She drawled.
Jaxon: “EXACTLY!”
Yoshi: “Uh, why?”
Celeste: “So his former fiancée wouldn’t cry.”
She nodded.
Yoshi: “Former? Aw, you left her? Why?”
He turned to Jaxon.
Jaxon: “Because, I never wanted to be with her and can't stand whiners!”
He huffed.
Yoshi: “C-Can I have her then?!”
He looked at him beseechingly.
Jaxon: “Knock yourself out!”
He shrugged.
Tristan rose after petting Samson and dusted himself off.
Tristan: “Hello, Ivy. How are you doing these days?”
He smiled tightly.
Ivy: “Better without you and her around.”
She spat at him and Celeste. Tristan bowed his head.
Tristan: “I’m sorry…”
He muttered.
Celeste: “Vic is doing better without you bitching at him about nothing! I’ve never seen him happier.”
She said acidly.
Blair: “Why would anyone be happy with YOU, unless they’re like you? Like him and Tristan!”
He shot a glare at Jaxon and Tristan. Tristan bowed his head and shook it.
Tristan: “I’ve apologized countless times to Ivy and I said I will do what it takes to make it up to her.”
He said, taking a plaintive tone.
Ivy: “I don’t want it, Tristan! You used me while you were pining for Deimos!”
Celeste: “You bitched at him for missing a stupid lunch date where you cry about nothing! His groomer and his stupid Darashinai attacked him and your boyfriend of the now the day before!”
She barked. Tristan darkened when Celeste mentioned that.
Ivy: “He wouldn’t have missed it for Deimos.”
Celeste: “Yeah, ‘cause Deimos doesn’t whine about nothing. He and Deimos actually talk.”
Jaxon swung his gaze over to Ivy.
Jaxon: “Well, hello, beautiful, why don't you come have some fun with me then?”
He purred at her. Ivy glared indignantly at him.
Ivy: “NO! My Nana told me men like you want one thing and I don’t want it! I am saving myself for marriage!”
She snapped. Jaxon backed away.
Jaxon: “Yikes, another one of those girls. Forget it.”
He waved his hands.
Blair: “There is nothing wrong with that! My grandparents did that and they loved each other until my grandmother died five years ago!”
He flared hotly. Jaxon yawned loudly.
Jaxon: “This conversation is so boring.”
He turned his back to them and turned back to Celeste.
Jaxon: “So, wanna go on a thrill ride?”
He grinned at her.
Blair: “I only came here because Yoshi wanted to see you. Have fun with your psycho girlfriend and your corrupt lawyer.”
He spat and left with Ivy and Yoshi. Jaxon laughed at them.
Jaxon: “Okay, I will. Better than you boring NPCs.”
He waved his hand.
Tristan laughed a bit.
Tristan: “NPCs.”
He chuckled.
Jaxon: “You know, those characters in video games in the background?”
He explained.
Tristan: “This is why I found it funny. I knew the reference… and I agree.”
Jaxon: “That’s right! I'm the main character and you guys are my supporting mains and they're just boring NPCs!”
He said loftily. Tristan drew a long breath. You could have not added more, he thought.
Deimos caught up to them.
Deimos: “Where were you, Tristan?! I was looking all over for you!”
He held him close. Tristan hugged him back.
Tristan: “Percy and his sidekick kidnapped Celeste and I… for a laugh.”
Deimos held him out.
Deimos: “HE WHAT?! Where is he?!”
He snapped.
Celeste: “He left. Don’t fret, Tristan and I are not hurt.”
Jaxon: “Aww, what about me? Am I not good enough?”
He pouted.
Deimos: “I didn’t ask about you.”
He snapped.
Tristan: “What thrill rides did you want to do?”
Celeste: “I think they’d be good to blow off steam from enduring that tickling and fucking Ivy and Blair.”
She folded her arms tightly under her bosom and pointed to a swinging ship ride. Tristan’s eyes widened.
Deimos: “Sure, I’m down for it.”
Tristan: “Yes, of course.”
He held Deimos’ hand. Deimos and Celeste grabbed Tristan’s hand and led him to the swinging ship ride.
Jaxon: “HEY! Wait for me, my Green Queen!”
He ran after them.
Deimos, Tristan, and Celeste were in queue for the “Sea Dragon”, which was a swinging Viking ship ride. Tristan’s heart hammered in his chest but when he saw Deimos’ and Celeste’s faces, he tried to put on a brave face. As the three moved along in the queue, Deimos and Celeste took his hands and led Tristan to the end of the ship.
Tristan: “You don’t want to sit in the middle?”
Deimos: “The end is where it’s at.”
He winked. Tristan sat with Deimos on one side and Celeste on the other. Jaxon barged in, sitting beside her.
Jaxon: “Hello, there!”
He teased.
Celeste: “Hey!”
Tristan removed his glasses and folded them to put into his breast pocket. Celeste kissed his cheek, leaving a lip print. Tristan heaved a deep sigh. Celeste kissed his forehead, nose, and other cheek.
Tristan: “Golly.”
Deimos kissed his other cheek. Jaxon stared at them.
Jaxon: “Gimmie some sugar!”
He pointed to his cheeks. Deimos reached out and flicked them. Tristan leaned on his shoulder. The ride attendant put the bars down to secure the passenger’s seat.
The ride started to swing slowly, back and forth, until it started going higher and higher. Tristan felt his heart thunder in his chest as their end of the ship got higher. He clutched onto the bar with white knuckles. Celeste felt exhilaration from going higher and higher in the air and coming down. Jaxon swung his arm around her.
Jaxon: “Here we are again!”
He grinned. Celeste laughed as her excitement soared. Deimos held Tristan close and Tristan started feeling nauseated. The ride started to slow down and the excitement or fear in the passengers died down as the ride came to an abrupt halt. Deimos knit his eyebrows as Tristan leaned over panting.
Jaxon: “Ohhhh, nooo!”
He held his hands up, leaning away from him. Celeste and Deimos glared at Jaxon.
Celeste lifted the bar off them and she and Deimos helped Tristan get out of the ride and onto the ledge. The three quickly escorted Tristan into the men’s room. When Jaxon got off the ride, someone put a horned helmet on him.
Jaxon: “HEY!’
He protested as he was hauled back onto the ride again.
~
Tristan was in the men’s room throwing up as Deimos patted his back and held his hair back. Celeste stood outside the stall handing them tissues. Craig and Fabien entered the men’s room and Fabien’s eyes widened.
Fabien: “Why are you here, Celeste? You’re a girl!”
He laughed.
Craig: “You’re in the bloke's room!”
He laughed.
Celeste: “ ‘cause Tristan is getting sick.”
She replied.
Deimos: “Does it fucking matter? AT ALL?”
He growled.
Fabien glanced in.
Fabien: “What happened?”
Deimos: “He went on the Sea Dragon.”
Craig laughed.
Fabien: “Craig needed to use the bathroom. After that, he wants to do axe throwing. Anyone in?”
He asked. Celeste shot her hand up.
Celeste: “ME!”
Deimos: “Sure, I’m game.”
He smiled. Craig grinned.
Craig: “Fuck yeah!”
He cheered with excitement.
~
Ashley and Lazaros were running their stall as usual. They sold one of Ashley’s wreaths to an elderly woman. Percy appeared before them.
Percy: “Well, well, well…, if it isn’t Miss Piggy and Kermit!”
He wrung his hands. Lazaros rolled his eyes.
Ashley: “Haha, I love the Muppets! How can I help you?”
They laughed.
Percy: “Perhaps I could buy every baked good you have so Kermit can have one of his men film you eating all of them. How would you like that?”
He grinned. Lazaros gaped at Percy and bit his bottom lip. Was he making a joke or serious, because how could he refuse that offer? He wondered.
Ashley: “Oh?! Uh, wow! Really?”
He chuckled and shifted their eyes at Lazaros.
Percy: “Don’t think too hard there, Kermit. You know you want to stuff your Miss Piggy.”
He whispered and wiggled his eyebrows. Ashley swung their gaze up at Lazaros. The way Percy said it struck something in Lazaros. He bit his bottom lip.
Lazaros: “I-If you’re serious, th-that would be fantastic!”
He said in a small voice. Ashley's eyes widened at Lazaros’ reaction and they chuckled.
Ashley: “Wow, Lazaros! Your face is all red!”
They teased.
Lazaros: “He is buying all your stuff! Isn’t that great? And giving it to you! How generous!”
Percy threw his head back and gave a harsh bark of laughter. He handed them one thousand dollars. Ashley’s eyes sparkled.
Ashley: “Very generous! Thank you so much!”
They smiled at Percy.
Percy: “Okay, Miss Piggy, now the sow can slam her face in the trough for her froggy lover!”
Ashley: “Lazaros likes it when I eat!’
They teased, looking up at Lazaros.
Percy: “Oh yes, of course, he does.”
His ruby eyes glittered.
Ashley: “Do you, Lazaros?”
They pressed him, taking a bite of a meowcaron. Lazaros grinned and his cheeks turned a bright pink.
Lazaros: “Of course! I love it lots!”
He chirped. Ashley chuckled and blushed, locking their gaze on him, teasing and taunting him with each bite. Lazaros inhaled sharply, savoring each moment.
~
At the axe throwing stall, players had to throw an axe and the blade had to hit the bullseye. Fabien and Tristan just watched, not participating. Craig stepped back and charged at the wall with his axe, throwing it with all his might.
Craig: “YAAAARGH! Check that shit out!”
He gloated. Fabien licked his lips and pinned him with a half-lidded stare.
Deimos was next. He took the axe with both of his arms, bent them back, and stepped forward, throwing the axe near the target. He smiled smugly at Tristan, whose green eyes glittered. He bit his bottom lip.
Celeste came up after Deimos. She lifted the axe with her right arm and threw it at the wall, splitting the wall and shattering it. She gaped at the destruction.
Celeste: “Oops, sorry.”
Deimos drew a long breath and shook his head. Tristan laughed a bit. Fabien clapped.
Fabien: “Excellent work, Celeste!”
Craig: “Fuckin’ wicked sick!”
He applauded her.
They heard a float going by with 1950s music playing and Dougal singing badly over the lyrics. It was a large golden pirate ship with Dougal figureheads on each side, and the flag had his head badly cropped and edited with Tristan and Fabien. Tristan and Deimos froze when they saw the ship.
Fabien: “The fuck?”
Darashinai landed before them. She wore a blue and white striped shirt, blue shorts and a red scarf on her head. She grabbed Tristan and Fabien.
Darashinai: “Come with me, fuckboys! Dougie wants some totally fun!”
Tristan gasped when she grabbed him. He was overcome with fear as everything happened so suddenly. Fabien tried to free himself.
Fabein: “Craig! HELP ME!”
He reached out to him.
Craig: “NOOO! FAB! Get the fuck off him!”
He roared, chasing after him. Deimos followed.
Deimos: “LET HIM GO!”
He bellowed. Celeste threw an axe at Darashinai and the axe bounced off her.
Celeste: “Shit!”
Darashinai lept and landed on the ship.
She handed Fabien and Tristan to Dougal, who quickly slapped a power-suppressing collar on Tristan. He put handcuffs on the two of them. Dougal wore a long red coat with white ruffles and a long black cape, both trimmed with golden fabric. He also wore a fluffy white jabot, two belts accenting his waist and chest, black pants, and knee-high brown bucaneer leather boots. On his head, he wore a black velvet hat with a curved brim, gold edging and adorned with an oversized white feather.
Dougal: “YOHOHOHOHOHO! It’s BUTT PIRATE DOUGAL!”
He took Fabien and Tristan from Darashinai, slapping their butts.
Deimos: “GET YOUR FAT HANDS OFF HIM, DOUGAL!”
He bellowed.
Craig: “FUCK OFF, FAT CUNT! HANDS OFF OUR BLOKES!”
He screamed at him, cracking his knuckles.
Dougal: “YARGH HARGH, FIDDLE THEIR TODGER, I’M A JOLLY ROGER!”
He held Fabien and Tristan close to him. Tristan and Fabien gasped and panted as fear overtook them.
Dougal: “And guess what? Another schmoodar is joining them!”
Darashinai dragged Jaxon in.
Jaxon: “I DON’T WANT TO FUCK YOU, LADY! HANDS OFF ME!”
He protested in her grip. She tossed him to Dougal.
Dougal: “Hello again, love! It’s not her you’re fucking but Daddy!”
He grabbed him by his hair and held him with Tristan and Fabien.
Jaxon: “NOOOOOO THAT’S EVEN WORSE!”
Deimos: “GET OFF TRISTAN, YOU FUCKER!”
He and Celeste ran to the ship and landed on the edge, where they were shocked off, and landed on the ground.
The ship drove away as Dougal laughed and took the men to the captain’s cabin. Craig chased after the ship like a dog chasing after the postman.
Craig: “GIVE ME BACK MY FAB, FATTY!”
He roared, throwing axes at the ship. Whenever the axes hit the ship, an electric shock bounced the axes back.
Deimos and Celeste convulsed with shocks. Deimos healed himself and went to Celeste to heal her. Percy zipped up to them out of his costume and wore his blood red dress shirt, black pants, and black Beatles boots.
Percy: “That fat pig took my ice prince and Jaxon! We can’t waste time! We have to get them!”
He said soberly.
Deimos: “I am NOT teaming up with you!”
He rasped.
Percy: “I don’t want to team up with you either, Deimos, but it’s for my ice prince and my sidekick!”
Craig: “Who fucking cares?! I want my Fab back! Let's team up with the weirdo and take that fat fuck down!”
He snapped.
Celeste: “Yes, for Fabien and Tristan! And against that lardass!”
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