Chapter 21
Beach Bash
It was the day of Beach Bash, a small music festival held on Pink Top Beach. A huge stage with huge speakers on each side and a PinkFM logo banner on top, showing Randall Wood sponsored this event, was set up on the beach. Several vendors sold food, drinks, band merchandise, and other stuff.
Maxx’s eyes were as wide as saucers at the crowd of people.
Maxx: “Look, Tones! All those people are here to see ME!”
He jumped giddily around him. Sure, they are, buddy, he thought and laughed.
Anthony: “Maxx…”
He placed his hand on his shoulder.
Anthony: “Sex Beest is mega-famous…”
He burst out laughing. Maxx marveled at the crowd.
Maxx: “I hope Fatley is here so he can see how GOOD I am!”
He beamed and pounded his chest.
~
Deimos and Tristan were at the Greek food vendor Lazaros was operating.
Tristan: “I’ll take a chicken gyro with extra pickles and no tomatoes.”
Deimos: “I’ll have two chicken gryos with extra pickles. Oh, and lots of tzatziki sauce.”
Lazaros filled a large cup with blue soda and put two straws in it for them to share.
Celeste showed up and sat by them.
Celeste: “Hey, friendos!”
She chirped.
Celeste: “Hey, Laz, gimme two chicken gyros, lots of pickles, tomatoes, and feta!”
She pounded the counter.
Lazaros: “Comin’ up.”
He nodded.
Celeste: “Oh, and Ashley is running a vendor here.”
Lazaros squirted a lot of tzatziki sauce on a gryo.
Lazaros: “Oh!”
Deimos drew a breath as he and Tristan shared a soda.
Ashley was at a vendor behind Lazaros with Blair selling their desserts, candy apples, ice cream in waffle cones, and cake pops. The Voyage Burger vendor was next to Ashley’s with Craig in the Burger Berserker costume. Ashley tried to hold back their tears of laughter. Lazaros poked his head through.
Lazaros: “Surprise!”
He exclaimed. Ashley jolted, taken by surprise by his sudden barging in.
Ashley: “OH! O-Oh, hey Lazaros!”
They reddened.
Lazaros: “I’m behind you!”
He chuckled and drew the curtain back to show his Greek food stand with Deimos, Tristan, and Celeste sitting there eating. Celeste waved at them.
Ashley: “Oh, pawesome! Hey guys! Oh wow! Your food looks so GOOD! I was smelling something really tasty, but it didn’t smell like Voyage Burger, haha!”
They laughed.
Celeste: “Or Craig’s feet!”
She quipped. Tristan snorted.
Tristan: “God, I have to live with that stench.”
He complained and fanned his face.
Celeste: “Get Funny Feet foot powder.”
She suggested.
Ashley: “Oh, I make homemade essential oils and have some peppermint oil in my car!”
They beamed.
Tristan: “Andreas also sells those! He has a tent set up here to do tarot readings. You should get yours done, Ashley.”
He nodded.
Ashley: “Ooh, a tarot reading!”
They beamed.
Fabien approached the vendor with a smirk.
Fabien: “What would he read, Tristan? That this fatass wants more food and more? That he, she, or it takes up half the road with their big fat ass?”
He laughed. Ashley sighed.
Ashley: “Dude, what’s your problem?”
Blair: “Grow up!”
He snapped.
Fabien: “Get a better line, Blair.”
He looked over at Craig.
Fabien: “Coucou, Craig.”
He waved.
Craig: “FABIEN?!”
He grinned and came rushing over to him.
Fabien: “I got a new man, and he plays for a glam metal band. I love wrapping my legs around a real metalhead and not some fake one.”
He smirked.
Craig: “WHAT?! WHO THE FUCK?!”
Ashley gaped at him.
Ashley: “You’re with Maxx now?!”
They laughed. Craig’s fury soared.
Deimos: “That was my question.”
Fabien: “No, I’m not with your boyfriend, fatass! I’m with a real man!”
He huffed. Ashley frowned.
Ashley: “He wasn’t my boyfriend; he was my friend… Actually, he wasn’t that either. I’m done with him.”
They said bitterly.
Fabien: “You know what? I don’t care. I’m with a real man who plays metal and that isn’t you, Craig.”
He said bitterly and flicked his hands away.
Craig: “I AM A REAL MAN!”
He barked.
Tristan: “So why remind him?”
He asked and smirked.
Fabien: “Because, Tristan, Craig’s sex was vanilla.”
Tristan bore his gaze on him. Did my remark sting that much? He thought. I make such profound impacts on him, he mused.
Craig: “MY SEX ISN’T VANILLA! IT’S FUCKIN’ CHOCOLATE!”
Ashley winced. Tristan rolled his eyes. Brilliant analogy, he thought.
Ashley: “Eww.”
Deimos: “Who is it, then? Sex Beest is headlining.”
He nodded to the stage with a huge banner that said, “Welcome to Pink Top City, Sex Beest.”
Fabien: “There are other bands besides Ashley’s boyfriend’s make-believe band. Not Nuklear Intoxikation, right, Craig?”
He sneered at him. Ashley frowned.
Craig: “...We’re too good for this shit! That’s why!”
He pouted.
Fabien: “Right, you and Lord Kradula ov Khaos are a one-man band. I’m sure you’ll be up there with Ashley’s lover boy.”
He rolled his eyes. Ashley frowned.
Lazaros: “Hey, they’re not interested in Maxx but in me!”
He snapped. Ashley froze and went beet-red in the face. They looked like a deer in headlights.
Fabien: “Yes, Lazaros, every fatass wants you. Is that why you’re hanging around Jaclyn’s mother?”
He scoffed. Ashley buried their face.
Lazaros: “No! I’m helping a woman in need! Something you could learn about!”
He countered. Ashley gazed up at Lazaros, drawn to his kindness for this poor woman.
Fabien: “Is this fatass who can’t tell if they’re a man or a woman another charity case?”
He chuckled. Ashley looked hurt.
Lazaros: “Insolent man! Ashley is a smitten kitten with me and not you, that’s why you’re upset.”
He flipped his hair. Ashley cupped their mouth and their cerulean eyes sparkled.
Ashley: “...H-He called me a kitten!”
They said to themselves in a small voice.
Fabien: “Sure, I’m so upset that fatass doesn’t want me and not that Craig can’t please me in bed.”
He huffed. My remark did sting him, Tristan thought. Ashley tilted their head.
Ashley: “So, you’re upset Craig can’t please you in bed?”
They scratched their head. Fabien glared daggers at them. Craig glared at Ashley.
Craig: “SHUT IT!”
Celeste: “Craig, I don’t mean to be that girl but I am pretty sure Fabien is mad you won’t tickle his feet!”
She exclaimed. Fabien jolted as if someone had stabbed him.
Tristan: “You said what I was thinking.”
Ashley: “OH! I get it now! Fabien and Craig are mean jerks because they aren’t getting tickles! Laughter is the medicine for the soul and makes you happy and happy people aren’t jerks!”
They gasped. They then thought of how badly they wanted tickles. Fabien bared his teeth and hated that they were right. Tristan blushed and thought of Deimos tickling him many times.
Craig: “WHAT?! That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard! Are you retarded?!”
He laughed at Ashley.
Ashley: “It’s not stupid, it’s facts!”
They pouted, folding their arms across their chest, projecting their own tickle cravings.
Fabien: “It’s NOT stupid, Craig!”
He rose and shoved him. Tristan raised his eyebrows. He was surprised Fabien was reacting.
Craig: “OWW! What the fuck was that for?!”
He whimpered.
Fabien: “Tickling is not stupid! You didn’t see how I reacted when that Don Bearelli guy tickled my feet?!”
He rasped.
Craig: “WHAT?! You got turned on by THAT?”
He laughed. Fabien blushed and embraced himself.
Fabien: “YES.”
He blurted. Craig laughed.
Craig: “Fuckin’ seriously? You got a kink for mascots? Do I turn you on then?”
Fabien glared hotly at Craig.
Ashley: “...He’s into tickling, Craig.”
They sighed exasperatedly. Gosh, he’s almost as irritating and dumb as Maxx, they thought.
Fabien: “YES! Ashley is right!”
He screamed. Craig’s mouth hung open and for a moment he was quiet.
Craig: “WHAT?!”
Fabien nodded soberly.
Tristan: “One step at a time, Craig. Don’t overwhelm yourself thinking too hard about it.”
He said dryly. Craig glared at him.
Craig: “Shut the fuck up!”
He barked at them and then turned to Fabien.
Craig: “...You want me to tickle you?!”
He asked. Ashley pleaded with his eyes. Yes, please, get him to leave us alone, they thought to themself. Fabien gaped at Craig and was silent. He finally nodded.
Fabien: “Y-Yeah…”
He muttered and scratched his head.
Craig: “Does this mean you’ll take me back?!”
Tristan’s eyes widened. He wasn’t going to say anything to jinx this.
Fabien: “You didn’t say you were going to tickle me.”
He said bitterly and rose. Craig knit his eyebrows.
Craig: “WHAT?!”
Fabien: “Anyway, I have a new man now.”
He muttered and left. Tristan watched him go and drew a long breath.
Craig: “NOOOO!”
He rasped, kicking up dirt.
Deimos rubbed Tristan’s side and tickled it. Tristan burst out laughing and squirmed.
Tristan: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
Deimos smirked and held him close. Ashley smiled at them and sighed, wishing for that bond with someone, too. Craig scoffed at them.
Craig: “Hmph, tickling is fuckin’ stupid!”
He muttered to himself.
Celeste: “Craig, if you want to get Fabien back, maybe embrace tickling? It’s not like he’s wanting you to eat his shit or have Japanese hornets sting your dick.”
She said archly.
Craig: “Fine, whatever.”
He pouted.
~
Announcer: “All right, everyone! Have we a treat for you tonight! Welcome to Beach Bash, Pink Top City! Sponsored by Randall Wood and welcoming a new face to this wonderful beach city! Let’s all give a rockin’ welcome to… SEX BEEST!”
There was cheering amongst the crowd.
Maxx stepped on the stage with Anthony sliding the cassette into the boombox. Maxx grabbed the microphone and shot his fist in the air.
Maxx: “ ‘eeeeyyyy!! PINK TOP! LET’S ROCK MY COCK!”
He wailed. There was a wave of laughter in the audience and someone asked, “Is this guy for real?”
It opened on high-energy strumming of a guitar. When the hook riff kicked in, Maxx thrust his pelvis on stage.
Maxx: “F-U-C-K! MACHINE! F-U-C-K MAAAAAAAAAAACHHIIIINEEEEE!!”
Deimos winced as he heard Maxx’s screeching and cupped his ear. Tristan pressed his hands against his ears and huddled to himself. Celeste collapsed on the ground and gritted her teeth. People in the audience gaped mutinously as Maxx and the laughing in the audience weren’t silent anymore.
Deimos: “Fuck, that is wretched singing!”
He hissed.
Deimos: “He’s not even singing along to the tune! He’s screeching… WHATEVER!”
He spat.
Tristan: “I’m getting a migraine, Deimos!”
He whined.
Celeste: “What is a ‘mee-grain’?!”
She asked and groaned as she cupped her ears and this sound was bothering her.
Tristan: “A huge headache! I apologize for my pronunciation!”
He cried. Deimos held him close to console him.
Maxx: “F-F-F-U-K!! MAAAAAAACHIIIIIIIIIIINNNEEEEEEE!!”
He shrieked at the top of his lungs. Deimos, Tristan, and Celeste cupped their ears. The laughter turned to boos. “GET OFF THE FUCKING STAGE, ASSHOLE!” one guy roared. “YOU CAN’T FUCKING SING, CLOWN!” another hollered. Anthony could not contain his laughter as the people in the audience shouted at Maxx. One man blew his air horn at him.
Maxx: “Wha-Wha?!”
Someone threw a tomato in Maxx’s face. He dropped the microphone and cried.
Maxx: “YOU’RE ALL ASSHOLES!!”
He stormed off the stage in tears as the audience booed him off stage and threw stuff at him.
The announcer came on stage.
Announcer: “Give it up for Sex Beest!”
The audience chanted, “SEX BEEST SUCKS! SEX BEEST SUCKS! SEX BEEST SUCKS!” Some booed and blew their air horns. Anthony basked in this. From the moment he met Maxx, he knew this was what would happen and things went as planned.
Announcer: “Okay, now that Sex Beest went off to cry, let’s hear it for… STEEL AXE!”
He cheered and the audience whistled and cheered for Steel Axe. A group of men dressed in glam metal attire sauntered out onto the stage. A short and slim Japanese man with his dark hair teased with blonde streaks took to the microphone. He was dressed in a cut-off T-shirt with jeans. He was Jaxon Tachibana, the lead singer of Steel Axe.
Jaxon: “Hellooooo, Pink Top! We’re Steel Axe!”
Fabien was in the audience cheering for them and waved his Steel Axe flag. It depicted two metal axes crossed over each other with a skull, resembling a skull and crossbones. Craig looked over in his direction and froze.
Jaxon: “This is from our EP; ‘The Rebel.’ ”
He announced, shooting his fist in the air. The band kicked in with the drum beat, followed by soaring guitar riffs.
Jaxon: “REBEL! I’m the rebeeel! We’ll sneak around in the niiiight! Gonna keep you up all niii-iiight!”
He sang. Ashley froze remembering Maxx showing them this same song and claiming it was his. Deimos helped Tristan to their stand.
Deimos: “Could I have a blue lemonade or sweet tea for him?”
He asked and rubbed the small of Tristan’s back.
Ashley: “...Maxx knows these guys?!”
They gaped at the band on the stage. Tristan felt his head pounding. Ashley turned to Tristan and knit their eyebrows. Deimos put his hand on Tristan’s head and a purple glow emitted from his hand. Tristan sighed.
Ashley: “Oh, are you all right? Of course, coming right up!”
They beamed and prepared a blue lemonade and a sweet tea.
Deimos: “We wanted one drink, but thank you.”
He said and handed the sweet tea to Tristan.
Ashley: “Oh! Well, you both can have a drink then! You look like you need one, too!”
They beamed.
Tristan: “I’m sorry for taking your mind off something, Ashley. Maxx’s screeching affected us greatly.”
He sighed.
Blair: “It doesn’t bother Ashley and me that much. Yes, it was horrible, but you guys look sick. Also, Lazaros had to leave.”
He stated. Tristan rested his head on Deimos’ shoulder.
Ashley: “Oh, no, it’s okay! I’m sorry his screeching is hurting you!”
They knit their eyebrows.
Ashley: “Oh… Lazaros left?”
They frowned.
Blair: “Yeah.”
Deimos looked at Blair dipping one of the cheesecake slices Ashley made into the blue chocolate.
Deimos: “May I have one for him?”
He asked and rubbed his back.
Ashley: “Of course!”
They beamed and nodded, serving up the cheesecake with blue chocolate. They put it on a paper plate and handed Tristan a fork. Tristan felt sick.
Tristan: “I can’t eat this. My apologies.”
Ashley: “Oh, what’s wrong?”
They knit their eyebrows.
Celeste: “Can I have that?”
She took it from him and ate it. Deimos sighed.
Ashley: “Wow, you really like my food, Celeste! You keep stealing it!”
They chuckled.
Celeste: “So, uh, about that band playing…”
Maxx stormed into the audience. Someone shoved him into the sand.
Maxx: “OWWHHH!!”
He cried.
Man: “Dude, you fuckin’ suck! You can’t fuckin’ sing, CLOWN!”
He kicked sand at Maxx. Another man blew his air horn at him.
Maxx: “STOP IT!! NOOOOOWWWW!!”
He whined and kicked his legs. Maxx scrambled to his feet and glared at Ashley.
Maxx: “YOOOOOOUU!!!”
He growled as he pointed at Ashley.
Maxx: “YOU RUINED THE MIC, FAT ASSHOLE!!”
He barked. Ashley was taken aback.
Ashley: “What? What are you talking about?”
They scratched their head, looking confused.
Maxx: “DEY SAID I SUCKED ‘CAUSE YOU RUINED THE MIC, YOU FAT TRAITOR!”
He barked.
Ashley: “What are you talking about? I’ve been here all day, Maxx. Maybe it wasn’t the mic?”
They scratched their head.
Deimos: “No, it can’t be the fact that you fucking suck. It’s Ashley’s fault you’re a failure. How could I not see it?”
He said dryly.
Ashley: “How’s it my fault he’s a failure? It’s not my fault he sucks!”
Tristan: “He’s being facetious, Ashley…”
He muttered and drew a long breath.
Blair: “Look, Maxx, if this backlash you’re receiving is too much for you, why don’t you take voice lessons?”
He said sternly.
Maxx: “I’m a rockin’ rebel, nerd asshole! I don’t need no stinkin’ voice lessons!”
He stomped his feet.
Deimos: “You’re right, voice lessons won’t save you. You’re beyond help.”
He said acidly. He folded his arms in front of his chest and bore his icy glare on Maxx.
Deimos: “You will never amount to anything other than a laughing stock. You will rue this day for the rest of your life so why not exercise some damage control and leave this city and don’t come back?”
He spat. Maxx’s lips twisted grotesquely as his anger soared.
Maxx: “YOU FUCKIN’ ASSHOLE!! SEX BEEST AIN’T GOIN’ ANYWHERE!! YOU’RE MY ENEMY NOW!! YOU WILL PAY FOR CROSSIN’ DA BEEST!”
He bellowed at Deimos as he stomped and spun around in a circle kicking the sand.
Deimos: “Bring it on, clown.”
He said evenly. Maxx stormed away. Tristan and Deimos watched him go. Celeste finished her cheesecake.
Celeste: “What was Maxx whining about now?”
Tristan: “Blaming Ashley for the myriad of failures in his life.”
He said dryly.
~
After Steel Axe performed, Blair looked at Ashley.
Blair: “Do you know those guys, Ashley? You seemed like you knew them from the song they played.”
Ashley: “No, but I know that song… It’s the same song Maxx played for me when we first met. He said it was his band…”
They pondered.
Tristan: “He did the same stunt when Deimos wanted to hear his music but he played a track from Tortugazm. I thought he was confident in his abilities.”
He cupped his chin.
Tristan: “For someone who claims he is ‘da best’, he exhibits many classic traits of insecurity.”
Deimos chuckled darkly.
Deimos: “That’s an understatement.”
Ashley: “He stole their music!”
They frowned, looking over at the band.
Tristan: “Are you surprised the man who tries to emulate Vivienne’s look and BJ Hardon’s personality—or lack thereof—is a thief?”
He asked wryly. Ashley sighed.
Ashley: “Well, I didn’t know who those people were before, and now I guess nothing should surprise me anymore…”
Blair patted their back.
Deimos: “I wonder if Steel Axe knows our Sex Bee is cribbing their music.”
He said darkly and had a determined glint in his eyes.
Ashley: “Oh my stars! We should tell them! They need to know! It’s the right thing to do!”
They gasped.
Deimos saw Fabien coming to the vendor with Jaxon. Their arms were locked.
Deimos: “Wonderful, you can tell him now about the Sex Bee thief.”
He said dryly. Tristan locked his gaze on them.
Tristan: “So that’s who Fabien’s new man is.”
He said under his breath.
Fabien: “Hey, guys, this is my new man. You can breathe easy, Ashley; I’m not stealing your man… who performed badly.”
He snorted. Jaxon greeted them all.
Jaxon: “Hello! I’m Action Jaxon!”
Celeste: “Heyo, Action Jaxon! Going to get some action, Jaxon?”
She said playfully. Deimos groaned.
Jaxon: “You bet I am, ma’am!”
She beamed.
Celeste: “Great music, by the way!”
Ashley: “Maxx isn’t my man and I’m not worried about you stealing anything, but your man should be worried about Maxx stealing his songs! When we first met, he showed me ‘the rebel’ and said it was his band!”
They exclaimed. Fabien raised an eyebrow. Jaxon turned to Ashley.
Fabien: “Who’s stealing his songs?”
Jaxon: “Did you say Maxx? As in Maxxy Malone?”
Ashley froze.
Ashley: “You know him?!”
Jaxon groaned.
Jaxon: “Yes.”
His chipper demeanor soured. Tristan raised his eyebrow.
Jaxon: “He was the biggest joke of Swanton and the biggest poser ever! Here comes this spoiled, snotty prime minister’s kid trying to play rock ‘n roll. He cribbed our name and we had to change it because of his name. We were Axe Beest before and now we’re Steel Axe. He got us kicked out and banned from a lot of places because they thought we were associated with him and ‘Sex Beest’.”
He explained.
Jaxon: “I can’t believe that little fucker is running around, cribbing our music and claiming it’s his!”
He fumed. Tristan listened to them and wasn’t surprised given Maxx’s patterns. Blair patted Ashley’s back.
Deimos: “Oh, Sex Beest? You’re mistaken. It’s Sex Bees. Check out his stunning merch, if you don’t believe me.”
He said dryly. Tristan snickered.
Tristan: “If it’s any consolation, Steel Axe has a nicer ring to it, and I read when Vivienne does his ‘Feel the Steel’ tour, you’re going to be opening for him when he comes here. That’s a huge start.”
He nodded. Jaxon smiled at Tristan.
Jaxon: “Right you are!”
Fabien growled at Tristan. Shut up, you little know-it-all shit, he thought.
Tristan: “We’re huge metal fans, so we’re going to be there!”
He nodded.
Celeste: “Yeah, Action Jaxon!”
She cheered.
Suddenly, a waft of malt vinegar, rotten cheese, and rotten eggs assaulted their nostrils. Deimos squeezed his nose and Tristan cupped his mouth and nose, feeling tears form in his eyes. Celeste put her shirt over her nose. Blair gagged.
Blair: “Did someone throw a stink bomb?”
Celeste: “God, who fuckin’ brought road kill here?! Was it Larry?!”
She gagged. Ashley cupped their mouth on the verge of tears, coving their face with their bandana.
Tristan: “Didn’t you give Craig that ‘Funny Feet’ foot deodorizer?!”
He cried. Fabien put his shirt over his nose.
Fabien: “It was bad, but not THAT BAD.”
Jaclyn walked away wearing a 1950s’ polka-dot sundress, huge hat, and cat-eye sunglasses.
Jaclyn: “Prime minister’s son, is he?”
She said with a smirk.
Just as the smell faded, they sank into their seats and groaned.
Craig: “OI! THE FUCK IS THIS?!”
He bellowed, marching up to Fabien and Jaxon.
Fabien: “Hey, Craig, I assured everyone here that the stink was not your feet; it wasn’t that bad but this is my new man, Jaxon. He’s in Steel Axe.”
He smirked and held onto his arm. Craig’s nostrils flared as he glared at Jaxon.
Jaxon: “Hello! I’m Ja–”
Before he could finish his sentence, Craig punched him in the face. Ashley cupped their mouth. Blair gasped.
Craig: “STAY AWAY FROM MY MAN!”
He roared. Fabien knelt to Jaxon.
Fabien: “JAXON!”
He cried.
Craig: “HEY! What about ME?!”
Tristan knelt to Jaxon. Jaxon groaned and rubbed his head.
Tristan: “Are you all right?”
Ashley: “Oh my god!”
They gasped, rushing to the freezer for some ice to give to him.
Jaxon: “...Thanks, Ma’am.”
He nodded to Ashley. Ashley shifted their eyes.
Ashley: “Oh, I’m not a girl–”
Jaxon: “The hell is your PROBLEM?!”
He fired at Craig.
Craig: “Fabien is MINE!”
He rasped.
Jaxon: “Well, I don’t see a ring on him!”
He scoffed, holding up Fabiens’ hand.
Craig: “OI! DON’T TOUCH HIM!”
He rasped.
Deimos: “Aren’t you playing step-daddy to Tristan?”
He growled. Tristan winced and shook his head at Deimos. Fabien glared coldly at Craig.
Fabien: “I am NOT yours, Craig! I wrap my legs around TRUE metalheads and not posers like your clown idol!”
He snapped.
Craig: “WHAT?! That Chinese Maxxy Malone ain’t TRUE metal!”
Jaxon glared at Craig and saw red.
Deimos: “He’s right. True metal is laying around fucking other men and yelling at Tristan and me because reading above kindergarten level is too hard.”
He said dryly.
Jaxon: “I’m Japanese, you bogan caveman! Don’t you dare compare me to that disgrace!”
He spat, delivering a spinning back kick that hit Craig in the face sending him crashing into the sand. Celeste’s eyes lit up.
Celeste: “Kenpo! Nice!”
Tristan looked at Celeste and then at Jaxon. She took this from that, not that the seemingly jovial man snapped at being compared to Maxx, he thought. Craig winced and rasped in pain and anger.
Fabien kissed Jaxon’s bruise better and held the ice pack to his face. Jaxon smiled at him and kissed him, flipping Craig the bird. Craig clenched his teeth and growled.
Fabien: “Jaxon, should we go home and tend to that wound? I think you could use some TLC…”
He purred and traced his fingers down his neck and to his chest.
Jaxon: “Oh yes, I could use some of your… Thick Long Cock...”
He winked at Fabien and gave Craig the side-eye. Craig bared his teeth and sneered at them. Fabien chuckled.
Ashley: “Uh, I thought it meant tender loving care!”
They scratched their head. Jaxon laughed.
Jaxon: “This is another kind of tender loving care!”
Fabien: “Well, Craig, if anyone is like Maxx, it’s you. You didn’t do anything to make your band a reality. Like him or hate him, but Deimos is right.”
He purred. Deimos rolled his eyes.
Craig: “WHAT?! I’M NOTHING LIKE THAT CLOWN CUNT!”
Ashley shifted their eyes.
Ashley: “...How are you not?”
Deimos: “He’s right. Maxx was up there performing for Sex Bees and Craig is here pining for a man who moved on.”
He said dryly.
Ashley: “Oh, well, maybe Craig and Maxx should date then?”
They shrugged. Craig’s ire soared.
Craig: “WHY YOU, LITTLE FAT SHIT! I’M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS!”
He rasped, scrambling to his feet, and marching up to them with cracked knuckles. Deimos slid off his seat to defend them.
Victor came and waved at Craig. Craig froze in his tracks, putting his fists down and his demeanor immediately shifted.
Victor: “Hello, Craig!”
He paused when he saw Tristan glaring at him. Craig turned to Victor and rushed over to him.
Craig: “VICTOR!”
He beamed and ran up to him like an excited dog. Ashley frowned at Craig.
Ashley: “Oh my stars, it’s good you came here just in time! Craig was going to kick my ass and he was all over that other guy over there!”
They said to Victor and pointed to Fabien. Craig froze and glared at Ashley. Victor paused and stared at Ashley and Fabien.
Victor: “You’re involved with someone who tried to expel my son from law school?”
He asked Craig. Tristan raised his eyebrows. Craig put his hands up.
Craig: “N-no! Not anymore! We’re through now!”
He glared at Ashley wanting to strangle them for outting him.
Victor: “Why would you want to beat up Ashley? They always make our delicious sweets!”
He said as his voice rose. Ashley smiled at Victor. Craig swallowed hard.
Craig: “Oh… I was just jokin’! It’s just some banter with this lil’ rascal! Beat up as in… beat up some eggs!”
He forced a laugh and put his arm around Ashley. Ashley groused when they caught a waft of his body odor and pulled away from him.
Ashley: “N-No, you weren’t! You beat me up when I was with Maka—”
They huffed, reminded of when Maxx would claim he was “joking.” Craig picked up one of their cup cats and shoved it in their mouth.
Celeste: “Why the one-eighty?”
She asked.
Tristan: “Damage control.”
Fabien: “I did NOT try to expel Tristan! It’s HIS FAULT I was expelled!”
He fired and pointed at Tristan. Tristan looked impassive.
Tristan: “Yes, of course, I made you cheat on your exams and write cheat notes for your tests.”
He said dryly.
Craig: “Don’t worry, I was expelled too ‘n I turned out fine! It’s no biggie!”
He scoffed and grinned. Fabien growled at Craig.
Celeste: “Well, I think he’s right. You wouldn’t have made a good lawyer. You’re too lazy and impulsive. You’re good at what you do now!”
She chirped.
Tristan: “She has a point. It’s not the ‘get rich quick’ scheme you think it is. Also, you don’t have to go on the same path as your father.”
He added.
Fabien: “I know THAT, Tristan!”
Tristan raised an eyebrow.
Tristan: “Do you? If so, why cheat on exams, and continue this rivalry with me?”
He challenged. It’s not JUST that…, it’s everything, he thought bitterly.
Jaxon: “Wait… you wanted to be a lawyer?”
He asked Fabien disbelievingly. Fabien gaped at him and shifted his eyes. Did I or did my father? He thought.
Fabien: “I-I went to law school.”
He stammered.
Fabien: “And I was expelled. My father was a lawyer, a-and he wanted me to be one… And do other things.”
He said as his voice trailed off.
Jaxon: “Yeah, well my parents wanted me to be a doctor, but I flunked out and did what I wanted to do–be a rockstar!”
He assured him. Fabien smiled, feeling understood.
Fabien: “Were you in an arranged marriage, too?”
Jaxon frowned.
Jaxon: “Yes… I was supposed to be married when I was 21 to the daughter of my father’s boss. Were you?”
Fabien: “Yes, my father wanted me to marry the daughter of his friend. I left the ceremony on Blanche before the vows!”
He laughed. Jaxon laughed.
Fabien: “Blanche was my Clydesdale mare!”
He added.
Jaxon: “Ah, so you rode off into the sunset with freedom!”
He smiled, relating to his plight. Fabien nodded.
Fabien: “Yeah, and I got a job at Danny Donger’s and my friend won the lottery so we bought a house together. I also do lewd pin-ups for Danny Donger’s.”
He winked. Jaxon beamed.
Jaxon: “Sounds like you’re living the life you want now!”
He winked.
Celeste: “They got a lot in common, Craig.”
She stated. Craig pouted. Victor looked at Craig.
Victor: “I didn’t know you were going to hurt this person or try to get involved with my son’s bully.”
He looked at Craig. Craig knit his eyebrows.
Craig: “Hurt who? Who’s Tristan’s bully?”
Victor: “Fabien is!”
He snapped.
Craig: “I ain’t involved with him! He’s with that glitter cock!”
He pointed to Jaxon.
Tristan: “And this is what I warned you about, Papa. And you made that hurtful comment to me because of this!”
He snapped. Victor drew back and embraced himself. Tristan slid his ass from the stool.
Tristan: “Keep avoiding me. I couldn’t care less.”
He huffed and stormed past him. Deimos cleared his throat and followed Tristan. Tears formed in Victor’s eyes. Ashley knit their eyebrows and went over to Victor when they saw him crying.
Ashley: “What happened? Why is he upset with you?”
They asked.
Victor: “I hurt him by allowing Craig to stay with us.”
He cried. Ashley paused.
Ashley: “Oh… I did something like that too… my brother was so mad… I feel so bad and like a fool letting someone like Craig stay with us…”
They sighed. Victor sighed and embraced himself.
~
Later when Ashley, Blair, and Celeste arrived home from the festival, Dr. Ellis Hoffman stood in front of them with his suitcases. Blake waited for them and surveyed Dr. Hoffman.
Ellis: “Hello, Ashley. Sorry about what happened to you… but I must go. It has been fun!”
He grinned.
Ashley: “Wh-Why are you leaving?”
Ellis: “Maxx is going to live with Anthony now and I am going to rent a cottage nearby.”
He nodded. Blake raised an eyebrow.
Blake: “Why are you so interested in this clown? Are you trolling him, too?”
Ellis smiled.
Ellis: “You needn’t worry about that now. You just take care of each other.”
He said reassuringly.
Ellis: “Do keep in touch, Ashley.”
He handed them his pager number, which Ashley accepted.
Ashley: “You, too, dude!”
Ellis found all of his notes on Maxx interesting. He wondered if his singing was always this trite or if the Xupran DNA transfer caused it, as Xuprans are known to have loud screams and communicate by screaming.
Ellis took his suitcases and luggage and stepped outside to the cab to go to the cottage near Anthony’s place.
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