Chapter Fifty-Four: Vanessa's "Beau"

Chapter 54

Vanessa’s “Beau”

Deimos was driving through downtown Pink Top City with Tristan on the passenger’s side. He had a worried look on his face as he drove. Tristan put his hands on Deimos’ lap. Deimos smiled briefly and patted Tristan’s hand.

Deimos turned on his signal light and turned right into Pink Top General Hospital. The two men got out of the car and marched into the hospital.

~

Fabien was in Craig’s room and got dressed in his Danny Donger’s uniform.

Fabien: “I brought you some wings from Danny Donger’s. They’re not my wings but I didn’t want to throw them away as Gary asked me to.”

He said and went to the thermal bag to get the Tupperware containers of the wings.

Craig: “Ooh, fuck yeah! You got me wings?!”

He beamed. Fabien opened a container.

Fabien: “They’re all mild. Is that okay?”

He asked. Craig’s smile faded a bit.

Craig: “Who the hell gets MILD?!”

He pouted. Fabien shrugged.

Fabien: “I don’t know but I didn’t want to throw these away.”

He folded his arms.

Craig: “I’ll still eat ‘em!”

He stated. Fabien smiled.

Before he could dish them up on a plate, the door opened and a young black man in a nurse’s uniform came in.

Fabien: “Hello, I’m going to feed him.”

He said genially.

Nurse: “Craig, I’m here to inform you of bad news.”

Craig paused.

Craig: “Oh no, I gotta spend another night in here?!”

He whined.

Nurse: “You will until your bones mend but this isn’t about you.”

He drew a long breath. Craig gave her a quizzical look.

Nurse: “Your sister is in the hospital. Something happened at her place.”

Fabien rolled his eyes. Probably fell or got her fat ass stuck somewhere, he thought. Craig froze.

Craig: “What? What do you mean somethin’ happened to her?”

He pressed him.

Nurse: “She had alcohol poisoning from consuming a fifty-ounce bottle of vodka.”

He said evenly and gave him a sympathetic look.

Craig: “WHAT? What do you mean? Fifty-ounces? How much is that?!”

He gasped. The nurse paused.

Fabien: “It’s roughly one and a half liters.”

He replied soberly and showed the size with his hands.

Fabien: “We have those bottles at the bar.”

Craig’s jaw fell open.

Craig: “...The fuck?! Is she goin’ to be okay?”

He asked with concern in his tone. The nurse folded his arms over and inhaled sharply.

Nurse: “We’re hoping for that. They’re pumping her stomach now.”

Fabien went over to Craig and placed his hands on his arm.

Fabien: “Are you okay?”

He asked tenderly. Craig sighed and bowed his head, overcome with regret and guilt.

Craig: “...Is she gonna make it, Fab?!”

He pleaded with him.

Craig: “I never got to make shit right with my sister ‘n now… she might die!”

He pursed his lips. Fabien wrapped his arms around Craig.

Fabien: “I am so sorry, Craig…”

He said gently. Craig rested his head on his chest.

Nurse: “Excuse me.”

He went to Tristan and Deimos.

Nurse: “Which one is Deimos Katsaros?”

Deimos: “I am.”

Tristan and Deimos entered Craig’s room. Celeste was outside of the room.

Nurse: “Makayla Medeiros had alcohol poisoning. She consumed 50 ounces of vodka.”

He said to Deimos. Deimos looked away and glared at Celeste, who was outside of the room.

Nurse: “Gus Bhagat found her and called emergency services. No one was with her.”

He said flatly. Deimos hung his head. Tristan put his hand on his shoulder.

Nurse: “She’s having her stomach pumped. All we can do is wait.”

He nodded.

Nurse: “Excuse me.”

He left them in the room.

Craig: “WHAT?! You cunts left her alone on Love Day?!”

He snapped. Deimos drew a rough breath.

Deimos: “Tristan and I had plans and I made reservations for Intermezzo. I told Celeste to watch her and she didn’t! She tended to Tristan’s whiny father!”

He rasped and glared at them. Celeste bowed her head. Craig gaped and glared at Celeste.

Tristan: “Deimos, this isn’t on Celeste or my father. Makayla knew about the date your brother was putting on for Ashley.”

He said gently but firmly. Craig’s ire soared.

Craig: “WHAT?! She did this over THAT?!”

Celeste nodded.

Celeste: “She got depressing and I wanted to have fun with Victor.”

She shrugged. Craig gaped at her.

Craig: “WHAT? You ditched my sister to go be his fuckin’ mistress while he cheats on that whiny girl with ya?!”

He huffed.

Celeste: “I was a witch, not a mistress.”

She corrected him.

Tristan cleared his throat.

Tristan: “Craig, with all due respect, if you were not in this condition, what would you be doing on Love Day? You’d be spending it with Fabien, of course. You never call her, you never check on her, so get off your high horse.”

He said sharply.

Craig: “No shit I’d be with Fab. You cunts are her mates. She hates me ‘n doesn’t want anythin’ to do with me!”

He cried.

Tristan: “You’re using us as your emotional punching bag because you don’t think you will ever be able to make amends and you’re going to possibly be left with this guilty conscious looming over you.”

He added.

Craig: “I don’t need a lecture from you, Mr. Know-it-all!”

He fired back at him. Tristan glared darkly at him. Deimos bared his teeth at Craig.

Fabien: “He’s got you there, Craig.”

He said flatly and shrugged. Craig paused and relented.

Tristan folded his arms.

Tristan: “No one is to blame here. Makayla is an adult and she should not need to be monitored. I told her and told her to get over Ashley but I can see this consumed her.”

He said firmly. Deimos bowed his head and looked away. Craig bared his teeth.

Craig: “She could’a killed herself over that fatass?! No shit, she needs to fuckin’ forget about her!”

He seethed. Tristan drew a long breath.

Tristan: “I agree with you. What do you think I was trying to do? All my attempts fell on deaf ears. She wants to ‘save’ Ashley from Lazaros but that’s not on her to do that. That’s on Ashley… If they want to be saved. I honestly couldn’t care less who Ashley chooses.”

He folded his arms. Craig huffed.

Craig: “I’ll make her fuckin’ forget about that fatass! I’ll make amends to her by match-makin’ her with someone who ain’t a fat loser!”

He said doggedly.

Fabien: “Tristan is right. No one is to blame. People want to have fun on Love Day, not listen to someone whine about some fat loser and a glitter cupcake fatty magnet.”

He drawled. Deimos looked away and cupped his mouth. Tristan put his hand on Deimos’ shoulder.

Tristan: “Deimos, please don’t be angry with my father or Celeste, and don’t beat yourself up. She did get help because of Gus.”

He nodded. Deimos put his arms around Tristan and sighed.

Craig: “Good on ya, Gus!”

He stated.

Fabien: “Yeah, Craig, you know he did this to be rewarded.”

He groaned. Craig frowned.

Craig: “Oh fuck…”

He pouted.

~

The following day, Makayla lay in the hospital bed. Deimos, Tristan, and Celeste stood over her. Tristan wore a white button-up shirt, a red cravat stuffed in the shirt, a black waistcoat, black pants, and black wingtip Oxfords. Deimos wore a denim jacket over a white t-shirt with an American flag skull, jeans, and cowboy boots. Celeste wore a leopard print buster with a studded leather jacket over it, spiked collar, jean shorts, black pantyhose, black ankle strap boots, and a leather studded cap.

Deimos: “Pumping her stomach can do so much but if I don’t do this, it will worsen.”

He nodded. He put his hands on her and a purple glow emitted from them as he drew out the poison and healed her completely. Makayla snapped her eyes awake, feeling the pain disappear from her body and feeling like nothing had happened.

Makayla: “...Wh-What happened?”

She looked around, noting the people in the room. She was surprised to see Deimos, Tristan, and Celeste. Deimos drew a rough breath and glared at her.

Deimos: “You had alcohol poisoning. That’s what happened.”

He said sharply. Makayla’s eyebrows rose surprisingly.

Makayla: “Alcohol poisoning?!”

She cupped her mouth. Deimos nodded soberly.

Tristan put his hand on Deimos’ shoulder and gave him a beseeching look.

Tristan: “What Deimos said happened… did happen. You consumed a fifty-ounce bottle of vodka. Celeste left you claiming you were depressing her.”

He said gently and cupped his mouth. Makayla bowed her head.

Makayla: “...You left me?”

Celeste shifted her eyes and looked away.

Celeste: “Yeah.”

She said tersely and rubbed the back of her neck.

Tristan: “What is going on Makayla?”

He asked her. Makayla bowed her head.

Makayla: “...Maybe I got too carried away with my drink this time.”

She sighed. Deimos rolled his eyes and removed his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose. He drew a rough breath.

Deimos: “No, Makayla, Celeste said you were too depressing. I doubt it was just that.”

He said gruffly. Tristan sighed and placed his hand on Deimos’ hand, looking at him with pleading eyes. Celeste looked away.

Makayla: “Me? Depressing?”

Celeste bowed her head and didn’t reply. Tristan pursed his lips and inhaled sharply.

Tristan: “Makayla, I don’t believe it was that simple. Ashley was across the street with Lazaros on Love Day. Celeste left you because it made her feel depressed. This is not something anyone does on a whim.”

He said gently. Makayla twisted her mouth.

Makayla: “I messed everything up and lost the person I love to the biggest asshole on Reona! It’s not fair, why does he deserve to be with Ashley? He doesn’t even love them! He’s just using them to stroke his ego and stroke his dick to his fat-feeder fantasies!”

She huffed bitterly, which made Celeste uncomfortable. It brought back what Makayla had done before she left. Tristan picked up on this and sat by Malayla.

Tristan: “It’s unfair that Lazaros gets to have his cake and eat it, too. But… what Ashley does is outside of your control.”

He sighed and his eyelids dipped.

Makayla: “No, he makes Ashley eat the cake!”

She quipped bitterly.

Deimos: “No, he gave them enough food to fill an army.”

He said bitterly. Makayla frowned.

Makayla: “Great. He wants to fatten them up so he can control them!”

She snapped.

Tristan cleared his throat.

Tristan: “Sometimes we make mistakes—huge mistakes—that cost us everything, but life goes on and there will be other opportunities. You can either learn from it or history repeats itself.”

He said genially. Makayla sighed.

Makayla: “You’re right… and one of these days Lazaros will ruin this and lose them.”

She said, taking solace in this.

Tristan: “I don’t follow Ashley’s fascination with Lazaros but… what they do or feel is outside of my control and Ashley is not going to listen to me. Blake warned them and they’re not listening to him.”

He drew a short breath.

Makayla: “Tell me about it. I don’t know what they see in that pompous asshole. I ruined what we had over that asshole, but he’s the one who gets to be happy?”

Deimos: “You also almost killed yourself over Ashley… And what would that achieve? Ashley will feel bad about it but pretend they’re okay because this is ‘The Sunshire Way’, and Lazaros comes offering them cake and two gallons of ice cream; Ashley forgets whatever upset them and gazes at Lazaros with stars in their eyes.”

He rolled his eyes. Makayla pursed her lips and bowed her head.

Makayla: “...You’re right… Ashley wouldn’t want that… ugh, Lazaros would do that. He makes me sick.”

She huffed.

Deimos: “Ashley is not thinking of you, Makayla.”

He said bluntly. Makayla felt that sting.

Deimos: “Who is here with you now?”

He extended his arms out. Makayla paused and looked up at them all.

Makayla: “...You guys…”

She sighed and smiled a bit. Tristan and Celeste smiled back at her.

Deimos: “Let’s get out of here and get you home.”

He nodded.

Celeste: “The food here sucks anyway.”

Makayla smiled a bit.

Makayla: “Can we go to Voyage Burger together?”

She asked.

Celeste: “Hell yeah!”

She jumped up.

Deimos: “All right.”

He said begrudgingly.

Tristan: “Of course, Makayla. We’d be delighted.”

He said genially. He hated dining in fast food places but wanted to cheer her up a bit.

~

Tristan, Deimos, Celeste, and Makayla arrived at Voyage Burger. Deimos opened the door for Tristan with Makayla and Celeste following after him. Makayla went up to the cashier and placed her order.

Makayla: “Can I get a Ragnarok burger with pineapple and some Odin Rings and a Valhalnilla shake?”

She asked. Deimos raised his eyebrows. Usually, he orders for all, he thought. Tristan laughed a bit and embraced Deimos from behind. Deimos smiled up at him.

Deimos: “I’ll get a Destrukto meal, extra pickles, Odin Rings instead of fries and a root beer float.”

Tristan: “I would like a Warrior Chicken Thor burger with extra pickles, no tomatoes, Odin Rings, and a southern sweet tea.”

Celeste: “Destruckto Meal for me. Odin Rings as well as fries and a chocorok shake!”

She nodded.

Deimos: “I’ll pay for all of this.”

He nodded.

Makayla: “Thanks, Deimos… I appreciate this.”

She said earnestly. Deimos smiled a bit.

Deimos: “Not a problem.”

The door opened and in came Jaxon with Vanessa. Deimos and Tristan saw him and grimaced. Deimos rolled his eyes. I think we’re stuck with this fucker as well as Maxx, he thought. Makayla frowned at Jaxon and looked away. Tristan noted her demeanor and raised an eyebrow. The cashier told Deimos they would bring it to them.

Deimos: “Where do you guys want to sit?”

He asked. Makayla nodded to the furthest booth away and led them there with her.

Celeste: “Kind of unlike you to want to sit away from others. That’s more of a three of us thing… Unless you’re accommodating us.”

She grinned to show her sharp teeth. I don’t think it’s that, Celeste, Tristan thought and drew a long breath, glancing at Jaxon with Vanessa hanging off his arm.

Makayla: “I just hate seeing assholes get to be happy with what they don’t deserve.”

She frowned at Jaxon with his arm draped around Vanessa. Tristan glanced at them. Deimos scoffed.

Deimos: “That’s generous of you to think that will last.”

He chuckled darkly.

Makayla: “It won’t… I know it won’t.”

She glared at Jaxon. Tristan shifted his eyes. Deimos raised an eyebrow.

Tristan: “Makayla, would you like us to get this to go?”

He offered. Makayla snapped out of her daze.

Makayla: “...Let this go?! I… can’t. Not after what he did to him.”

She misheard him. Tristan cleared his throat.

Tristan: “We can take this home.”

He said slowly.

Makayla marched over to Jaxon and Vanessa. Deimos’ eyes grew large. Tristan sighed. What is she doing now? He wondered. Tristan knelt to Celeste to tell the cashier they wanted this to go. She nodded. Vanessa noticed Makayla coming.

Vanessa: “Oh, hey, Ashley isn’t here.”

She told her. Makayla closed her eyes and sighed, not wanting to think of Ashley. Jaxon’s jaw dropped when he saw Makayla.

Makayla: “So, he asked you to join him on tour and told you he loved you, huh?”

She said to Vanessa. Vanessa’s eyes grew large.

Vanessa: “Y-Yeah! How did you know?!”

She asked excitedly. Makayla sighed and closed her eyes, shaking her head.

Tristan: “Because he says that to everyone. He said that to me until I declined him… and then he yelled at me in the cigar lounge for turning him down.”

He rolled his eyes.

Makayla: “Because he said the same thing to me back on a tour in 1985. But I had eyes for another.”

She bore her glare onto Jaxon. Tristan raised his eyebrows. Deimos looked impassive. Jaxon’s eyebrows rose, surprisingly when he finally realized who she was.

Jaxon: “...Makayla?”

He shifted his eyes.

Makayla: “Oh, did you forget me?”

She fired back at him. Jaxon shifted.

Jaxon: “...No, of course not! …You just look… different.”

He cleared his throat.

He leaned into Vanessa’s ear.

Jaxon: “Damn, she let herself go!”

He whispered to her and laughed mockingly. Vanessa cupped her mouth.

Vanessa: “Oh.”

Tristan, Celeste, and Deimos heard him. Celeste gazed at him.

Tristan: “Tell Makayla what you told Vanessa, Jaxon.”

He commanded.

Jaxon: “I didn’t say anything.”

He scoffed. Deimos looked at Celeste.

Deimos: “Celeste, would you like to grab his dick?”

He asked her. Celeste grinned. Jaxon smirked.

Celeste: “Would I ever!”

Jaxon: “Oh, you want to have some fun, huh?”

Vanessa knit her eyebrows. Celeste went over, grabbed his dick and squeezed his balls using some of her force. Jaxon screamed in pain and his blood ran cold.

Tristan: “Tell Makayla what you told Vanessa.”

He smirked and looked down at him in pain.

Jaxon: “ARRGGHHHH! TOO ROUGH!”

He shrieked and winced in pain. Celeste squeezed him harder and smirked.

Jaxon: “OWWWWWH! O-OKAY! OKAY! I SAID SHE GOT FAT!”

He shrieked. Celeste let him go.

Makayla turned to him with a glare, picking up his tray of food and dunking it on his head. Vanessa cupped her mouth.

Vanessa: “Are you okay, Jaxon?!”

She knelt to him. Makayla gaped at her.

Makayla: “Really, after everything you just heard and saw, you still defend him?”

She said in disbelief.

Vanessa: “Yes! He told me he loved me! But his dad is so hot!”

She cried. Makayla paused and laughed bitterly.

Makayla: “You and several others can tell the same tale! He robbed him of his band position!”

She glared at Jaxon. Jaxon slunk in his seat and shifted his eyes.

Jaxon: “Don’t listen to her… she’s just a crazy fan!”

He laughed awkwardly.

Tristan: “You said the same line to me, too.”

He shrugged.

Tristan: “And Fabien, too.”

Deimos: “You even hit on me.”

He stepped forward.

Celeste: “And he wanted to have a good time with me, but he’s not you, Tristan!”

She smiled. Tristan sighed.

Tristan: “Surely, you jest.”

He said dryly.

Deimos: “Why are you with this… Maxxy Malone wannabe?”

He fielded scathingly. Jaxon glared at him.

Jaxon: “How dare you! He’s a wannabe of me!”

He fired back. Makayla rolled her eyes at him.

Vanessa: “Because Ashley spent it with your snobby brother and they told me to go find love!!”

She cried. Makayla paused and turned to her.

Deimos: “Best reason in the world.”

He said dryly.

Makayla: “Well… it’s not worth screwing your life up over… I know all too well.”

She pursed her lips. Tristan raised his eyebrows.

Makayla: “He’s not worth it.”

She nodded to Jaxon. Vanessa embraced herself and felt confused from it all. Did she make a mistake? No, she knows what love is and this was it, she thought.

Celeste: “Yeah, Maxx sold more albums than he did. Maxx’s stupid album hit gold.”

She said flatly. Deimos rolled his eyes. He wasn’t shocked. People are buying his crap to laugh at him and see how bad it is, he thought.

Makayla: “...That wasn’t my point—”

Jaxon slammed the table and cut her off.

Jaxon: “...His album hit GOLD?!

He rasped. Deimos and Tristan raised their eyebrows.

Celeste: “Yeah, it’s all over Much More Music and Timmy and Tommy said this on Metal Meltdown.”

Jaxon: “HOW?! He has NO talent?!”

He snapped. Deimos shrugged. Vanessa tugged on Jaxon’s arm.

Vanessa: “Don’t worry, Jaxon, your album will sell. Can we get some ice cream?”

She whined.

Jaxon: “I don’t want ice cream.”

He huffed, seething about Maxx. Vanessa’s bottom lip trembled.

Makayla: “Imagine being jealous of Maxx.”

She shook her head.

Tristan: “You have a supportive girlfriend, Jaxon. Shouldn’t you focus on her instead of how ‘successful’ your former best friend is?”

He asked archly.

Makayla: “Which one? Vanessa or the other ‘girlfriends’ not with us in this room in this present moment?”

She challenged. Jaxon glared at her as she tried to expose him in front of Vanessa.

Jaxon: “You should be grateful you got to come on tour with me. I wouldn’t want to go anywhere near you now.”

He sneered at her. Tristan rolled his eyes.

Makayla: “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near you either… and neither do all the others you did this to. Soon, she will be another one of us when you find the next shiny thing and discard her, too.”

She gestured to her friends.

Tristan: “She’s not wrong.”

Vanessa embraced herself.

Celeste pointed to the TV in the corner. Much More Music announced that Sex Beest’s album has now reached platinum.

Celeste: “Holy shit! He sold a million copies of his album!”

Jaxon furious shot up from his seat.

Jaxon: “WHAT?!”

He screamed.

Jaxon: “This is BULLSHIT!”

He fumed, picking up a chair and throwing it across the diner. Tristan rolled his eyes. Celeste blinked.

Makayla: “Here comes the rockstar tantrum.”

She huffed as if this was no surprise to her.

Vanessa put her hand on Jaxon’s chest.

Vanessa: “Jaxon, it’s okay! Your album will sell as good!”

She said beseechingly on the verge of tears.

Jaxon: “Then why is HIS album selling platinum while MY band is stuck playing dingy gigs, huh?!”

He huffed, throwing his arms up. Vanessa started crying.

Vanessa: “I-I don’t know…”

She sobbed into her hands. Tristan sighed and started to feel sorry for Vanessa.

Deimos: “Didn’t know being the opening act for Tortugazm was a ‘dingy gig’...”

He muttered.

Makayla: “The only thing that’s dingy is him.”

Rufus entered the Voyage Burger and his eyes widened.

Rufus: “Jaxon, what are you doing here?! I was looking all over for you!”

He said frantically.

Jaxon: “Out with my date.”

He grinned at Vanessa. Vanessa smiled a bit and was glad his mood picked up. Tristan raised an eyebrow. That was… quick, he thought.

Makyla: “Oh, please.”

She rolled her eyes.

Jaxon: “What do you want, Rufus?”

He groaned. Rufus smiled and held up a pair of keys. He tossed them to Jaxon. He caught them with his hands.

Rufus: “To tell you I got you a penthouse right here in Pink Top City in the Pink Top Worldcenter!”

He said with that twinkle in his eyes. He clasped his hands and rubbed them. Tristan raised his eyebrows.

Tristan: “That is… one of the most expensive places to own a condominium in the country!”

He exclaimed. Jaxon grinned.

Jaxon: “That’s right… and it’s all mine!”

He said smugly. Tristan and Deimos rolled their eyes,

Rufus was going to say something, but his smile faded when he saw the chair.

Rufus: “Who threw that chair?”

Deimos: “Jaxon did.”

He said flatly.

Deimos: “Because Maxx’s shitty album sold platinum.”

He added.

Jaxon: “How?! How does that talentless hack get platinum over stupid songs about fat people?!”

He groused. Rufus sighed and picked up the chair.

Rufus: “Don’t let it get to you. He’s not opening for Tortugazm. It’s a fad. It will pass.”

He said gently.

Vanessa: “He’s right, Jaxon!”

She knit her eyebrows.

Jaxon: “That’s even worse! A FAD made platinum over US!”

He snapped. Rufus sighed.

Rufus: “Jaxon, I can’t control what people waste their money on! You’re opening for Tortugazm, you got one of the most expensive penthouses in the nation, and a beautiful girlfriend! Don’t let some schlub people laugh at get you down.”

He said beseechingly and clasped his hands together.

Vanessa: “He’s right, Jaxon! Lots of good things are overlooked and it sucks but I know you’re good!”

She held onto his arm and tugged on it.

A Voyage Burger cashier came out with a bag of food for Deimos, Tristan, Celeste, and Makayla.

Deimos: “Oh, thank God. Let’s get out of here.”

He said quickly. Tristan nodded and left with him, and Celeste ran ahead of them.

~

Jaxon, Vanessa, and Rufus arrived at The Pink Top Worldcenter, which was one of the tallest buildings in Pink Top City, rising to sixty stories. It had glass windows that reflected the sky and other buildings, and a glass blue strip for a private elevator. The building had many amenities, including an outdoor soccer field, two tennis courts, gardens, a rooftop observatory, resort-style pools, walking paths, a game room, an indoor basketball court, a boxing studio, a golf simulator, twenty-six pool-side cabanas, a spa, a pharmacy, convenience stores, gift shops, and a skyport for helicopters.

They entered the building to a large lobby with several white barrel chairs, glass coffee tables, and the floors were black marble with gold accents. There were several potted plants around and a large wishing fountain in the center. The elevators were gold.

They went up the elevator, where one could see the view of downtown Pink Top City as they ascended.

They entered Jaxon’s condominium. A sprawling living room with white marble flooring, sparkling white walls, and wide steps going down to a living room with a curved white leather couch, glittering white columns behind it and in front of the couch was a lagoon-shaped wading pool with neon orange lighting around the tub trim. The tall and wide glass windows gave them a beautiful view of downtown Pink Top City.

At the end of the couch was a spiral glass staircase going up to the pedway with a glass balustrade.

On the other end of the couch was the dining room with a bar. The area had pink lighting. It had white marble flooring that gave a glittery look, a round island with a chrome top and neon orange lighting adored the trim. There were four leather bar stools surrounding the island. Hanging above the island was a gold drum pendant light.

The bar had chrome tabletops, barstools, and neon orange light strips accenting the trim. Behind the bar were rows of spirits and liqueurs and ancient Japanese paintings on each side of the liquor shelf. There were glass sliding doors that led to the balcony that had a table with chairs with an umbrella and lounge chairs.

The room adjacent to the bar was the TV room, which had a circular dark purple leather sofa, a coffee table with neon orange lights, a platform with a pole for dancing and a big screen TV on the wall across from the sofa.

The kitchen was small; it had an electric glass top stove, sink, dishwasher, and pink marble countertops with white cupboards and cabinets. At the end of the kitchen counter was a potted plant in a marble white sparkling vase. There was a small dining room table and chairs with pink plush seating.

The upstairs had a lounge room with a pink suede curved couch and a large saltwater aquarium behind it, gold round nightstands, potted plants on each side of the couch, and a pink carpet with green palm tree silhouettes.

The bathroom was a large sprawling bathroom with red marble flooring and walls with gold accents. There were glass windows offering an excellent view of the city. At the end were gold sinks, a gold toilet, and a large mirror. Next to the sinks was a linen cabinet. In the corner on a platform was a hot tub in front of the windows. Across from the hot tub was a huge glass, walk-in shower next to the windows.

Jaxon’s bedroom was a large bedroom with a king size bed on a platform. The platform had red neon lighting. The bed had red silk quilts and pillow cases and large windows behind and on the left and right side of the room with a view of downtown Pink Top City. The flooring and walls were black marble with white accents.

Vanessa walked around the penthouse, spinning around and admiring the decor.

Vanessa: “Wooooow!”

She cupped her cheeks in a breathy tone. Jaxon beamed smugly.

Jaxon: “Now, THIS is the life! I’m on top of the world!”

He held his arms out, taking in all the views. Rufus smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.

Rufus: “I knew you would love this!”

He exclaimed.

Jaxon: “You know me. I deserve the best!”

He gloated. Rufus smiled tightly and looked at his watch.

Rufus: “Well, I must depart, Jaxon. I don’t want to make the missus angry with me again.”

He said nervously and wrung his hands.

Jaxon: “Why are you still with that ugly broad?!”

He rolled his eyes. Rufus hung his head.

Rufus: “For better or for worse, Jiro.”

He forced a smile and inhaled sharply, before he departed.

Jaxon: “It’s JAXON.”

He huffed.

Vanessa bit her bottom lip as she sauntered to him and placed her hands on the wall of his chest.

Vanessa: “Want to watch some TV?”

She purred. Jaxon shrugged.

Jaxon: “Sure.”

He led her to the TV room. He sat down and put his feet up on the coffee table. She bit her bottom lip and reached over to take his cowboy boots off and socks off.

Jaxon: “Go on then, take my shoes off and give me a massage.”

He commanded her. Vanessa was about to, but got a waft of foot stink and made a face. I thought they would smell as nice as Ashley’s feet, she thought.

She swallowed hard and gingerly massaged his feet. Jaxon maintained his smug smirk, completely unaware.

Vanessa: “Hey, Jaxon, do you know that Andreas sells peppermint oils at his store?”

She asked and stammered. Jaxon paused and recalled that handsome goth man who ran that store… and what he’d like to do to him.

Jaxon: “So? Why are you telling me this?”

He pressed her. Vanessa swallowed hard.

Vanessa: “Well, your feet kind of stink.”

She whined. Jaxon gaped at her.

Jaxon: “...Excuse me?”

Vanessa drew back.

Vanessa: “It’s not as bad as Craig’s! But they kinda stink!”

She waved her hands around. Jaxon’s jaw dropped.

Jaxon: “I bring you into my luxurious home and give you a taste of the rockstar lifestyle… and you insult me?!”

He cried. Vanessa cupped her mouth.

Vanessa: “I’m sorry, Jaxon! I didn’t mean to hurt you!”

She cried. Jaxon pouted and shifted his focus to the TV.

The TV played in the back. Maxx was in a hot tub outside of his mobile home. There were diamonds floating in the tub with a piece of cat poop. Rock was with Maxx.

Rock: “So, Maxxy’s debut album sold platinum! How do you feel, Maxxy?!”

Maxx: “I can’t wait for da lady babes to fuck me, Rock! When are they comin’?!”

He shot his fist in the air.

Rock: “Soon, buddy! Maxxy, how does it feel to stick to Steel Axe?”

He grinned. Maxx gaped at Rock.

Maxx: “...Da fuck is a steel axe? My cock? Yeah, it feels good to stick it to my cock! Call me lady babes!”

He winked at the camera.

Rock: “Very witty, buddy, but no! You know, Jaxon and his band!”

Maxx scoffed.

Maxx: “Jaxon? Dat asshole? Who da fuck cares, Rock?! What’s this got to do with me?!”

He whined and splashed the water around.

Maxx: “I WANNA KNOW WHAT FATLEY THINKS! DAT FAT ASSHOLE BETRAYED ME! FATLEY WILL FUCKIN’ PAY!”

He caterwauled, pointing his boney finger at the camera.

Vanessa knit her eyebrows.

Vanessa: “He doesn’t know you guys?”

She looked at Jaxon. Jaxon seethed and shot up from his seat.

Jaxon: “THAT CLOWN FUCKER COMPARED OUR BAND TO HIS DICK?!!”

He seethed, kicking over the lamp, causing it to smash upon impact.

Jaxon: “HE FORGOT WHO WE ARE?! WHO THE FUCK IS FATLEY?! WHAT ABOUT ME?!”

He rasped, picking up his boot and throwing it at the mirror on the wall. Vanessa’s bottom lip trembled.

Vanessa: “Jaxon, it’s okay…”

She said gingerly and trembled.

Vanessa: “I think a lot about you!”

She nodded. Jaxon panted, catching his breath, and turned back around to her.

Jaxon: “And so should the rest of the world…”

He twisted his mouth, gazing down on the twinkling lights of Pink Top City.

~

Rufus’ 1985 white Ford Mustang rolled into the parking lot of Dynamite Kitties. He got out of his car, straightened his jacket and entered the premises.

~

Rufus sat in a room with a red leather booth and an aquarium on each side. He pursed his lips.

Rufus: “I got him settled into the penthouse. I saw Maxx’s video… He’s not going to be happy. I am trying my best to keep him under control.”

He said beseechingly. A hand reached out to flick ashes in the ashtray.

Rufus: “I had to diffuse a situation at Voyage Burger… I might need your help.”

He raised his head.

Rufus: “I know I asked a lot when I hired your help to get Steel Axe to be the opening act for Torturgazm but I need more.”

He pursed his lips.

Rufus: “And how on Reona did MAXX get platinum?”

He locked his gaze on Percy, who sat across from him. He wore a red silk dress shirt, black pants, and black Chelsea boots.

Percy: “My grandfather…, Dr. Wolfgang Duerr, is spending… a lot of time with this ‘Maxx’ creature.”

He stuck his forked tongue out and licked his lips.

Percy: “He might play a role in this but matters not…”

He leaned back in his seat and folded his hands over his chest.

Percy: “I can’t have the family I am residing with involved in this mess. Allow me to get my ducks in a row and I will deal with Jaxon. Leave it to moi.”

He grinned evilly.