Chapter 28
Francis
Ashley drove Blair to the grocery store. They needed some baking supplies to help the Donatis personal chef prepare for Thanksgiving. Ashley was learning about the traditions of the Donati family and was happy to celebrate them with their new friend. They parked the car in the parking lot and both got out. Blair retrieved a cart for Ashley.
Standing before Jumbo Jones’ Grocer, an old man was speaking in a loud voice at a table. He was a tall, slim old white man in his early to mid-eighties. Rectangle glasses hung over his brown eyes, and he had medium scraggly white hair and a full beard. He was dressed in a white three-piece suit, black western bow tie, and black and white saddle shoes. He had a kitten in a carrier.
Man: “Hello, effeminate men!”
He drawled in a Cajun accent. He winked and twirled his ebony cane. Ashley tilted their head.
Ashley: “Blair… why is the Bluegrass Fried Chicken man being really weird?”
They asked Blair. The man harrumphed.
Man: “I am NOT Captain Samson, tugboat boy! I am Borko Brava! Do you two clearly homosexuals have a moment?”
He tapped his cane on the carrier with a kitten inside of it. The kitten was a tuxedo kitten with white blotches on his paws and white rings around his legs. Blair knelt and cooed at the kitten. Ashley’s eyes lit up at the kitten.
Ashley: “Oh my stars! That kitty is so cute!”
They squealed and beamed.
Ashley: “Uhh, tugboat? Boy?”
They scratched their head, looking around.
Borko: “Yes, YOU, Simple Simon! Now listen up: I rescued this kitten from a dangerous facility and they will ship him to a place to be eaten by illegal immigrants! But if you give me one thousand dollars for him, he is yours and you get this!”
He held up a “Hero for a Day” certificate.
Borko: “You put your name in the blank and tell your friends and family you saved a kitten from being eaten by illegal aliens!”
He drawled. Ashley gasped.
Ashley: “O-Oh no! The poor bambino! We have to save him, Blair!”
They cried. Blair nodded. He thought the weird old man’s rants were ludicrous but he wanted to save that kitten. He handed him one thousand dollars. Borko’s eyes lit up as he took it.
Borko: “You did a great thing, my effeminate man! Here is the carrier for the fat boy to carry!”
He handed Ashley the carrier and Blair the certificate. Ashley looked hurt when he called them a “fat boy.”
Borko: “Now you can look not as flaming as you do!”
He drawled. Blair blinked.
Blair: “Uh, thanks?”
He rolled his eyes. Ashley gave the man a look.
Ashley: “...That guy gives me a bad vibe.”
They shuddered.
They both watched Borko fold up his table and leave. They saw a short, slim white girl bounce up to him. She wore her mid-length mint green hair in twin tails and wore a pink wool sweater with a purple wolf design, cyan jeans, and white sneakers. She had a round face and large brown eyes. She wrapped her arms around Borko and they kissed. Blair gagged and averted his eyes. Ashley looked perplexed.
Ashley: “Uhh, I don’t think that’s his grandaughter… they don’t even look related.”
They scratched their head.
Blair: “...She’s not, Ashley. That’s his girlfriend.”
He gagged. Ashley’s jaw hung open.
Ashley: “...WHAT?!”
Blair nodded soberly.
Blair: “Uh, I thought misgendering you and being homophobic was the worst he could do.”
He whispered and gagged. Ashley frowned. Blair looked at the crying kitten in the carrier.
Blair: “Who knows where he got this little baby? But I don’t trust him.”
Ashley: “The baby is safe now!”
They beamed. Blair smiled and nodded.
~
Victor led Ivy to their new bedroom. He had black and white Bohemian sun moon curtains over the stained glass windows and one on the side window. There was a peacock statue in between her desk and her vanity. Hanging above their bed was a peacock fan. The canopy bed had a peacock color theme with a peacock-stained glass roof.
Ivy: “Oh wow! I love all the peacock stuff! You know my tastes well!”
She beamed, taking in the breathtaking surroundings. Victor smiled at her.
Victor: “I had it redone when I decided you were moving in. When I moved in, it didn’t feel like me, but now it does!”
He smiled and spread his arms out. Ivy smiled back at him.
Ivy: “Thank you for making me feel at home, Victor!”
Victor: “And your studio is set up. It’s down the pedway in the room next to the archway leading to Tristan’s bedroom and bathroom.”
He nodded to the pedway. Ivy tensed up when he mentioned the location being right where Tristan was.
Ivy: “Oh, I see… What did he say about that?”
She asked. Victor cleared his throat.
Victor: “Oh, I didn’t say anything to him yet. I told him I was making the spare room into your studio and he was upset because he wanted it into a gaming and movie room for him and Deimos. But Tristan can do that in his bedroom and does.”
He nodded and looked down, thinking of how angry Tristan was about that. Ivy paused to take all of this in.
Ivy: “Oh, I see.”
She frowned.
Ivy: “He claims I asked for too much when Deimos wants an entire room for gaming and movies?”
She laughed bitterly. Victor put his hands on her shoulders and massaged them.
Victor: “Deimos has that room in his own home.”
He said gently to her.
Ivy: “I don’t want to talk about either of them, I’m sorry.”
Victor nodded.
Victor: “I understand.”
He said softly.
Victor: “I think I know what to do to cheer you up.”
He kissed her head. Ivy smiled a bit and gazed at him.
Ivy: “Oh, what’s that?”
~
Victor led her into her studio and smiled.
Victor: “Ever want to draw me?”
He smiled and spread his arms out.
Victor: “Like… artistically?”
He blushed and raked his fingers through his hair. Ivy froze and blushed.
Ivy: “Oh, you want me to draw you, huh?”
She stroked her chin.
Ivy: “Whatever do you mean by ‘artistically?’”
She teased and smirked. Victor bit his bottom lip and started unbuttoning his vest, and then his shirt.
Victor: “Like… with nothing on… but this.”
He held up his yin-yang gold necklace. He shrugged out of his shirt and vest, unbuttoned his jeans, and slid off his briefs. He stood before her baring it all. Ivy’s eyes lit up.
Ivy: “O-oh my!”
She giggled, cupping her mouth. Victor blushed and smiled. He strolled to the lounge and laid on it posing for her. Ivy couldn’t contain herself as a wide smile spread across her blushing cheeks. She bit down on her pencil as she observed his naked form and began sketching him out onto a large canvas. Victor followed her expressions and his smile spread to show his white teeth.
Oliver ran through the door as she sketched him. He froze like a deer in the headlights when he saw everything. He stood there frozen at what he saw and slowly backed away going through the door.
Oliver stood in front of the door as if he saw a ghost.
~
Tristan stepped out of his bathroom in a towel wrapped around his waist. As he stepped to his bedroom, he noticed something new in the room next to his: an easel, a gem-cutting workstation, an organizer cart, a drafting table, drying racks, and a desk with a printer and a computer. Tristan slowly walked in observing everything. He felt numb and he couldn’t react. He saw Oliver staring at the door frozen.
Tristan: “Ollie?”
Oliver didn’t move. Tristan sighed and went to his room to get dressed.
When Tristan emerged from his bedroom dressed in a black button-up shirt with geometric patterns, suspenders, blue jeans, and black loafers, he still saw Oliver frozen in front of the door. Tristan rolled his eyes and opened the door. No one was in the room. He blinked. What scared him? He wondered. He saw a cloth over something. Tristan cleared his throat and a bad feeling formed in the pit of his stomach. He reached out to pull it away and saw a charcoal sketch of his father naked. He blinked. He turned around to Oliver and the sketch. He tightly pursed his lips, clenched his fists, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door.
~
At the dinner table, Victor ordered Chinese food and had it delivered. He dished up Ivy’s for hers and they sat with Tristan. Oliver stood in front of his bowl still traumatized. Tristan flicked his gaze to Oliver and then to his father. He saw Ivy receive lemon chicken and mushroom fried rice.
Tristan: “Where’s the royal quintet?”
He asked sharply. Victor looked at his son and smiled. Ivy quirked an eyebrow at Tristan. What is a “royal quintet” is that another jab at me being a “princess”?! She thought to herself.
Victor: “I already ordered your favorite, Tristan. I didn’t think you could handle the royal quintet.”
Tristan slammed his fist on the table, which caused him to jolt. Ivy gaped at Victor’s remark.
Ivy: “No…, he couldn't handle me being a ‘royal quintet’.”
She sighed bitterly. Tristan rolled his eyes. Victor raised an eyebrow and laughed a bit.
Victor: “Huh? No, a royal quintet is something Tristan gets to celebrate! It’s a stir-fried dish in a rice wine sauce with chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, and lobster!”
He smiled.
Tristan: “You could have… asked me! You could have asked me a lot before you jumped ahead and did it!”
He said as his voice rose.
Ivy: “Why does he need your permission to do things? You aren’t his father… oh wait. He’s your father.”
Tristan: “I pay for most of the things here! I get the final word!”
He snapped at her.
Victor: “Tristan, Deimos has a room for gaming and movies! He doesn’t need another room.”
He assured him. Tristan removed his glasses to rub his eyes. He put them back on and pointed to Oliver.
Tristan: “Well, LOOK AT HIM! He’s traumatized! I went into that room and saw THAT!”
He pounded his fist on the table. Victor embraced himself and felt humiliated. Ivy’s heart sank and she placed her hand on Victor’s. Victor clasped her hand.
Celeste came down and her eyes lit up.
Celeste: “OOOOH, lemon chicken!? Thanks, Victor!”
She said and took it from Ivy to eat from the box.
Ivy: “HEY! That’s mine!”
She cried.
Victor: “Excuse me?! I got that for her!”
He snapped. Celeste blinked at him.
Celeste: “Get her another one? Or give her yours.”
She suggested.
Ivy: “Or you could get your own?”
She suggested.
Celeste: “I don’t have a sugar daddy to get me stuff.”
She countered. Tristan cupped his mouth and said nothing. Ivy gaped at her.
Ivy: “If by ‘sugar’ you mean ‘sweetheart’ then he’s my sweetheart daddy.”
She countered, placing her hand on Victor’s. Victor grasped her hand and smiled.
Celeste: “What Hallmark movie did you get that line from?”
She asked wryly.
Tristan: “Have mine, Ivy. I don’t have much of an appetite.”
He said with a sardonic smirk.
Victor: “Tristan, say something to her!”
He huffed. Tristan turned to Celeste.
Tristan: “Something.”
He said evenly. Victor shook his head and cried.
Deimos came in and blinked.
Deimos: “I am here, Tristan.”
He rushed to him.
Tristan: “I need to get out of here. Get me out of here.”
He said through clenched teeth. He picked up a traumatized Oliver and held him in his arms.
Deimos: “I placed an order with Ashley for some macarons.”
He said to him.
Celeste: “I’ll wait this out. I don’t want to be near Blair!”
She folded her arms across her chest.
Deimos: “I didn’t invite you. He needs it and it seems Oliver does, too.”
~
Deimos walked by Tristan, who had Oliver in his arms. He said nothing to Tristan. What could he say? He wondered. He looked at Tristan sympathetically. He swallowed the lump in his throat and reached out to hold his hand. Tristan held his hand tightly and held Oliver in the other arm.
~
They arrived at the Donati manor to pick up the macarons from Ashley. Ashley beamed warmly at them as they greeted them. They were dressed in bellbottom jeans with a long sunburst coat with golden sun embroidery patterns.
Ashley: “Buongiorno! My apologies, but I’m running a lil’ bit behind as I’ve been busy with… a little something, haha. They should be ready soon!”
They said apologetically, clutching something close to them, tucked in their long coat. Deimos bent over.
Deimos: “What do you have in your coat?”
He asked. A tiny mew and a tiny nose peeked out from Ashley’s coat, staring at them with dewy eyes. Tristan’s eyebrows rose and he leaned over to examine the kitten.
Tristan: “AWWWWW, who is this?”
He cooed.
Ashley: “Well… we rescued him from Captain Samson! He was being a creepy weirdo! Oh, and he’s dating some girl who is young enough to be his granddaughter! I’m never eating Bluegrass Chicken again!”
They shuddered. Deimos scrutinized them and he knew they meant Borko Brava and Ivy’s sister, Lily Ferraro. He said nothing and felt the less they knew about those two, the better.
Ashley: “Anyway, we don’t have a name for him… and he’s not getting along with the other cats here, so we may have to find him another forever home…”
They sighed and glanced up at Tristan. It looked like he had been crying and Ashley began to feel sad.
Ashley: “You look sad, do you want to hold him? You look like you need some kitty cuddles!”
They beamed, presenting Tristan with the tiny tuxedo kitten. Tristan smiled and took the little kitten in his other arm to hold him close to his chest. The kitten then purred in his arms. Oliver blinked and moved from his frozen state to sniff the little one. Deimos smiled at the sight.
Deimos: “I think the kitten takes to Tristan… and Oliver.”
He nodded and looked at Tristan smiling at the kitten in his arms. Ashley beamed clasping their hands together.
Ashley: “Aww, what a happy furr-mily!”
They beamed.
Ashley: “You should take him!”
They added. Tristan and Deimos turned to them.
Tristan: “Are you sure? I can pay you for him. Your price is mine.”
He nodded. Ashley nodded.
Ashley: “You look like you need him more than I do… and it looks like Ollie needs him, too!”
They said softly, petting Ollie and the kitten.
Ashley: “The price is… you must love him forever!”
Tristan felt like crying happy tears.
Tristan: “That is doable! I will love him forever! Thank you, Ashley! That means so much to me!”
He sighed. Deimos nodded and placed his hand on Tristan’s back.
Deimos: “Thank you, we’ll be forever in your debt.”
Ashley beamed happily at the sight of their happiness with their new kitten.
Ashley: “I’m happy to spread joy with kitties! They’re little balls of sunshine and the best cure for sadness!”
They exclaimed.
Tristan: “I agree, thank you, Ashley. If the macarons are not ready, Deimos and I can pick them up tomorrow.”
He nodded.
Ashley: “Oh, thanks, guys! I’ll give you a call when they’re done! Sorry for the delay! You know how it is with baby kitties! I hope you enjoy your new furr-ever baby!”
They beamed, petting the kitten’s tiny head.
Deimos: “Of course, thank you very much.”
He smiled a bit and led Tristan out. Tristan beamed down at the little black-and-white bundle of joy as he walked out with Deimos.
~
Tristan and Deimos were in Tristan’s bedroom with the new kitten as he ran around the bedroom, exploring his surroundings. Tristan picked him up and the kitten purred immediately.
Tristan: “He loves being loved and cuddled!”
He chuckled. Deimos reached over and stroked the little one’s head.
Deimos: “Did you catch that Ashley adopted him from Borko and probably Lily?”
Tristan nodded.
Tristan: “Yes, of course, but I figured you didn’t want me to say anything about that… To be fair, it is an uncomfortable topic.”
He sighed. Deimos pursed his lips and nodded.
Tristan put the little kitten down and watched him sniff Oliver.
Tristan: “I think I will call him Francis.”
Deimos nodded.
Deimos: “Francis? Huh, I like it! It suits him!”
He smiled a bit. Tristan flashed a smile back at him.
He and Deimos sat in silence for a few minutes and he looked at Tristan.
Deimos: “What is going on with your dad and Ivy?”
He finally asked. Tristan’s smile slowly faded.
Tristan: “They’re dating and he moved her in.”
Deimos raised his eyebrows.
Deimos: “They just met.”
Tristan drew a long breath.
Tristan: “Tell me about it…”
He muttered.
Tristan: “Oliver and I came across a picture she drew of Papa… naked.”
He said with strain and clenched his teeth. Deimos gaped disbelievingly at him.
Deimos: “Is that so? They don’t think they’re moving too fast? Okay.”
He swallowed the lump in his throat and raked his fingers through his hair.
Deimos: “...Do you think Ivy is doing this to spite you? Not long ago she was pining for you while dating me and she has this sudden change?”
He asked. Tristan cupped his chin and nodded.
Tristan: “That thought crossed my mind several times and Papa is desperately seeking love. My grandmother told me this is how…”
He stopped and sighed.
Tristan: “...Met my… mother.”
He said with strain. Deimos put his hand on his shoulder.
Tristan: “He didn’t get to know it; he just… dated it without knowing it.”
He explained.
He watched Francis chase Oliver around the bedroom.
Tristan: “Papa also seems to see me as the same little boy he knew before… the fire. He was in a coma for fifteen years and while I can understand that, a lot of time has passed and I have grown a lot since I was eight.”
He went on to explain.
Tristan: “It seems he’s in a time capsule not moving on with the times; he still dresses like the seventies are still going and doesn’t adjust to modern technology.”
He lowered his head.
Tristan: “I realize it’s a lot for him to be thrust into a world that kept revolving while he was in a coma, but he cannot differentiate between what is rational and what is impulsive. Yes, falling in love is a beautiful thing but that takes time to make it into a masterpiece and a beautiful thing… It can’t be rushed. If you create a piece of art in five minutes, it will be sloppy. If you create something and take your time every refinement, it will be a masterpiece.”
He explained.
Deimos: “It’s a good analogy but Celeste’s shirt for you looks like it took her a few minutes and it’s a masterpiece.”
He said dryly. Tristan paused and laughed.
Tristan: “Well, there’s an exception to every rule, but I don’t believe for one second she rushed creating that for me. That was the point I was trying to make.”
Tristan cleared his throat.
Tristan: “I would also like to point out that Papa is accusing me of being controlling but he never ran any of this by me and insists you don’t need a gaming and movie room here. He’s controlling this and thrusting this on me and telling me how to feel.”
He began.
Tristan: “And Ivy is like her mother. Rosemary rushed into her marriage with her first husband, Fiore, and when they divorced, she rushed into a relationship with Archie. She never knew either man. Now that she’s getting to know Archie, all she does is complain to others and me while not doing anything about it. Complaining about problems while doing nothing to help yourself is just whining.”
He shrugged.
Tristan: “I have this hunch that Rosemary and Ivy will constantly be looking for that ‘perfect’ soulmate because both are constantly raising the bar. Such a person doesn’t exist; we all have flaws and faults. There is always a gray area and not everything is in black and white.”
He concluded. Deimos stared down at his lap.
Deimos: “I agree. I also agree that Ivy was not our person and we aren’t hers.”
He nodded.
Deimos: “Look, Tristan, don’t worry about making that new studio into a gaming and movie room for me. I have one at home and we can do those activities in your bedroom. Let Ivy have it. Give her a week and she will want more.”
He stated.
Tristan: “What, my bedroom?”
He huffed. Deimos chuckled.
Deimos: “Tristan, you’re not going to change their minds.”
Tristan: “I realize this. It’s not about the gaming room; it’s the principle of it. Papa didn’t consider how this would affect me.”
Deimos sighed.
Deimos: “I know… I know what it’s like to have parents who do whatever they want and don’t consider their children. My bedroom is next to a nursery that hasn’t been opened or used in seventeen years. It sits there collecting dust and no one wants to face it or make peace with it.”
He huffed. Tristan inched closer and rested his head on his shoulder.
Deimos: “Someone else has to do something about that nursery because my parents won’t.”
~
In a facility, Dr. Wolfgang Duerr and Dr. Ellis Hoffman watched Maxx through a window. Dr. Duerr cupped his chin.
Wolfgang: “Turn it on.”
He instructed. Ellis nodded and cranked up the knob. Vivid orange lights turned on in the room where Maxx was locked. Maxx swerved his head.
Maxx: “NAH-AH!”
He whined. Dr. Duerr flicked his gaze at Ellis and nodded. Ellis turned the knob up to 450ºF. Maxx screamed and cried as the tears down his streaked fake tan face sizzled. Ellis turned up the temperature until Maxx’s hair burst into flames and melted on his face. Maxx knelt down crying in pain as he burst into flames. He stopped screaming and laid on the floor as a burnt mass.
Dr. Duerr bowed his head and sighed. He shook his head. Ellis turned off the heat and the room went dark. Ellis put on some rubber gloves and Dr. Duerr’s eyes grew large like saucers. Before his eyes, he saw Maxx’s skin, eyes, and a stubble of the hair on his head form back. Maxx staggered up and blinked.
Dr. Duerr: “Oh my God…”
He mouthed and a bright smile formed on his face.
Maxx then let out a caterwaul.
Maxx: “NAH-AH!”
Dr. Duerr swung the door open and put his hands on Maxx’s shoulders.
Dr. Duerr: “You… are… EXTRAORDINARY!”
He said in a breathy voice.
Maxx: “MY ROCKIN’ PANTS! MY SEX BEEST MANE! WHAT HAPPENED TO IT?!”
He shrieked. Dr. Duerr gaped at him. Maxx wrenched from him and punched the lights out.
Maxx: “DAT PANTS WAS WORTH MORE THAN THIS PIECE OF SHIT!”
He sobbed and removed a latch to tear apart wires. The voltage surged through Maxx electrocuting him.
Maxx: “ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGH!!!!”
He fell back fried to a crisp and started to heal before their eyes. Maxx looked down in horror.
Maxx: “NOOWAAH!! MY LEOPARD PRINT PANTS!”
He cried and felt his head. His jaw dropped.
Maxx: “NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! WHERE IS MY SEX BEEST MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANE!?”
He cried and kicked his feet. Ellis gaped at him. He can heal himself and he’s crying about tacky clothes and a tatty wig? He wondered.
Dr. Duerr knelt to him.
Dr. Duerr: “Maxx, you are a supreme beast. Never forget that.”
He smiled. Maxx gawked at him.
Maxx: “I know I’m sexy but Maxxy Malone ain’t gay, old dude!”
He snapped. Ellis rolled his eyes. Dr. Duerr rose and dusted himself off.
Dr. Duerr: “That reminds me… when you can, do find a suitable mate to breed with. We need more of you running around.”
He instructed Maxx. Ellis inhaled sharply. Yes, the world needs more of Maxx, he thought dryly.
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