Chapter Five: Other Priorities

Chapter 5

Other Priorities

Anthony Ramires is the 27-year-old lead singer and guitarist of the electro-funk band called, “Ouro Novo”, which meant new gold in Portuguese. He is a tall, muscular Afro-Latino man with a chocolate complexion and deep purple eyes. He wore his apple-green hair in a feathery mullet. He was always dressed in a white tank top, jean cut-offs, and flip-flops. He comes from Apple City of Imperium State; he moved to Pink Top City when he was 20-years-old in 1980.

Anthony is the second son of Callisto Ramires, Sr., who is the owner of a five-star hotel franchise in the United States called, “Ramires Ritz.” His older brother, Callisto Ramires, Jr., is the manager of some of the hotels. Managing hotels and hospitality did not interest Anthony in the slightest, so he moved down south to find his destiny. He began singing and playing guitar in nightclubs for extra cash to build his dream.

Aside from himself, there are two other members of Ouro Novo.

Deimos Katsaros is the drummer of Ouro Novo. Deimos met Anthony in 1981 when he was 17-years-old and had dropped out of high school. He played the drums for some acts in clubs, which impressed Anthony, so he took him on as a member of his band. The two have been good friends since.

Kian Saab is the 26-year-old keyboardist of Ouro Novo. He is a heavyset man of Middle Eastern descent with thinning dark brown hair and a long beard. He wears a bandana—usually an American flag print—around his head to hide his receding hairline. He had large dark olive green eyes, a thick, bulbous nose, and always had a welcoming, friendly smile on his face. He was usually dressed in t-shirts, short pants or dungarees, and white high-tops.

Anthony and Deimos met Kian in 1983. Kian is a transgender man. Once he began transitioning, his father kicked him out of his home back in White Oaks, Hockey State. Kian used what money he saved and scrounged up to move down south to Pink Top City, where it was warmer. Kian played the synthesizer on the street to earn a few bucks while he slept on the beach. Anthony and Deimos were impressed with his skills and felt he deserved better, so they took him on as their keyboardist, and the band formed in 1983.

Two years later, Anthony earned enough money to achieve his real dreams: opening up his fetish film studio and producing his tickling fetish films. He uses the stage name, “Tony the Tank Top Tickler” when starring in his films.

Since Anthony started doing his tickling films, Ouro Novo has been doing fewer gigs and it seems to be on the back burner. Kian is pursuing a career in culinary and Deimos wants to be a part of a metal band or go solo. 

Anthony was recently admitted to the Pink Top General Hospital after collapsing during filming in his studio. 

~

Lazaros was shopping in the Pink Flamingo Mall. He was inside the big box toy store, Toy Mania. He looked at the baby dolls and picked up a pink box, which had a baby girl doll. She had big blue eyes and a head full of light blonde hair. He looked over at Jaclyn and smiled, who, in turn, short him a cold glare.

Jaclyn: “You better not be thinking what I think you’re thinking.”

She growled. Lazaros smiled warmly.

Lazaros: “Doesn’t this doll look like you when you were a baby? Big blue eyes and a head full of blonde hair?”

He sighed as he placed the doll back on the shelf.

Lazaros: “If we had a little girl—”

She put her hand up to shush him and flattened her manicured hand to her chest.

Jaclyn: “Do NOT bring up my childhood and we’re not having children, Lazaros! Why are we here?! Ugh, I’m getting a headache from these screaming brats! If this keeps up, I will speak to the manager!”

She snapped and stomped her foot. A claw against his heart, it was tempting to give her a scathing reply, but he didn’t want to make a scene.

Lazaros: “Jaclyn, we’re here during school hours and before Christmas… I don’t hear any ‘screaming brats’ as you so eloquently put it.”

He said calmly. She blew a puff of air.

Jaclyn: “I don’t care! I want to get out of here! Lazaros, you said you were going to buy me jewelry and a new dress for the Donovan’s Christmas ball! That’s the only reason I agreed to go to that stupid event and you drag me here?! How dare you?! You owe me!”

She waved her hands in the air as she spluttered with outrage. An old couple strolled past them. The old lady gave Lazaros a look that said, “you poor young man, you have to go back home with that.” Lazaros shoved his hand in his hair and looked away.

Lazaros and Jaclyn stepped out of Toy Mania and went into Allure, which was a shop that sold a wide variety of dresses. They sold evening dresses, cocktail dresses, bridal gowns, prom dresses, and accessories.

Lazaros: “I actually came here to get a gift for Anthony.”

He stated. Jaclyn scowled.

Jaclyn: “Why would you want to get a gift for that foot-obsessed clown?!”

She asked acidly. Lazaros bowed his head.

Lazaros: “He’s in the hospital for collapsing during filming. I tried to tell you that last night but you didn’t want to hear it.”

He replied with a bite of impatience. Jaclyn’s scowl deepened.

Jaclyn: “I don’t care. If he doesn’t want to collapse, he should become a vegan! I forbid you from seeing him!”

Her hand sliced through the air. Lazaros flinched. He went pale as his expression turned blank. 

She stabbed her finger in the direction of the dress she wanted. It was a strapless royal blue sequin evening gown with a slit on the right side of it.

Jaclyn: “Onto more important matters… I want that dress.”

She demanded. Lazaros glanced at it for a moment and immediately looked away.

Jaclyn: “In a size 2.”

She smiled sweetly at Lazaros.

“That is a fat woman size!” A deep-voiced called out. She had a thick Russian accent. Lazaros and Jaclyn turned around to see Radinka. She was dressed in a strapless gold sequin gown and a fur boa draped around her shoulders. Jaclyn scowled at her.

Radinka: “Hello, Jaclyn Morozova…”

She chuckled. Jaclyn flinched and shot her a cold glare.

Radinka: “Oh, you’re not called that now?”

She scoffed and flipped her hair. Jaclyn bared her teeth at her, feeling her fury rise. Lazaros reassuringly put his hand on her shoulder.

Lazaros: “Ignore her.”

Jaclyn smacked his hand off her shoulder. Lazaros felt a piercing go through his heart.

Jaclyn: “How dare you?! Do not use that surname on me EVER AGAIN! I am not like that man!”

She ranted and shot her forefinger at Radinka, who stood there grinning at her.

Jaclyn: “AND I AM NOT FAT!!”

She shrieked.

Radinka: “Oh? Size 2 is fat woman size! Me? I wear size 00!”

She said loftily.

Radinka: “I am not surprised when you design me clothes I not like them! They were for fat women like you!”

She held her hand under her chin and cackled. Jaclyn’s face turned as red as her hair and her fury rose.

Lazaros: “Jaclyn, look, let her rant, and let her think what she wants to think! I’ll buy you the dress and we’ll go.”

He said beseechingly. Jaclyn put her hand up.

Jaclyn: “Lazaros, I am busy now! If you want to make yourself useful, tell that skeleton woman that I am not fat!”

She snapped at Lazaros. Lazaros’ bottom lip trembled.

Radinka: “Sizes are what makes you fat and you are fat!”

She placed her hands on her thin hips and wagged her head. The veins on Jaclyn’s forehead strained.

Jaclyn: “Who finds you gorgeous?! No one! You pay people to say you’re beautiful and sexy! YOU… ARE… NOT!”

She hissed and stomped her foot with each syllable. Lazaros hissed and rubbed his hands all over his face before he stormed off. 

~

Anthony was in the ICU at Pink Top General Hospital. Deimos walked down the corridor sipping coffee he purchased from the hospital cafeteria. He had to have some fix since he couldn’t smoke in the hospital. He approached Anthony’s room and met Lazaros there. Lazaros arrived with a balloon that had a teddy bear sick in bed with “get well soon” written on it and a fruit basket.

Deimos: “Hey! I didn’t think you would show.”

His eyebrows rose in surprise. Lazaros lowered his head.

Lazaros: “You and me… Hehehe…”

He laughed humorlessly. Deimos twisted his mouth. He could tell by the hurt in his twin brother’s face that this was a Jaclyn issue. He wanted to tell him to get rid of her but now was neither the place nor the time. 

They entered Anthony’s room. He wasn’t conscious.

Lazaros: “Hi, Anthony! Deimos and I are here. I brought you a fruit basket and a balloon!”

He raised his hands bearing the gifts and placed them on the table. He and Deimos sat on each side of him. Lazaros flicked his gaze to his brother. Deimos nodded and his hands rose toward Anthony. The door swung open. Deimos froze and Lazaros swung his gaze to see Tristan in the doorway. He greeted him with a smile.

Deimos: “Hello, Tristan! Nice to see you came!”

Lazaros flicked his gaze to his brother. Tristan held up a Garfield balloon of Garfield in a doctor's uniform with “Get Well Soon.”

Tristan: “I know Anthony and he would love this.”

He said softly to Deimos. Deimos’ face lit up the room when he saw Tristan. He cleared his throat and placed the balloon on the table with the fruit basket.

Lazaros: “He’s not conscious. The doctor hasn’t been in to speak with anyone.”

He replied quickly. Lazaros shot a glare when Deimos wasn’t doing anything to help Anthony but stare at Tristan. 

Anthony’s heart rate monitor started going off. Lazaros nodded frantically to Deimos and nodded to Anthony. Deimos put his hands on Anthony’s arm and closed his eyes. Doctors and nurses scrambled into the room.

Doctor: “I need everyone out of here now!”

He commanded.

Doctor: “Give him two milligrams of novaporin.”

He instructed the nurse.

Doctor: “You need to leave now.”

He said firmly to Deimos. He released Anthony’s arm and rose. Anthony’s heart rate monitor returned to normal. His eyes fluttered. He groaned and sat up. The doctors and nurses gaped in silence.

Anthony: “Wh-Where am I?”

He looked around to see the ocean of faces staring at him disbelievingly.

Deimos marched out of the room quickly. He strode past a tall, wiry elderly white man with a black fedora hat. He has a narrow gaunt face with a prominent ski-jump nose and pronounced cleft in the chin. Dark sunglasses obscured his eyes. He was dressed in a black peacoat, black trousers, pointed dress shoes and had black gloves on his hands. As Deimos met up with Lazaros and Tristan, the elderly man couldn’t peel his eyes off Deimos. He heard the doctors and nurses say his recovery was a miracle. The corner of the old man’s mouth hitched. He put his hands behind his back and turned to a short, stocky white man with frizzy dark hair. 

Man: “Sir, it wasn’t a success. It didn’t work on him.”

The elderly man’s breathing hitched. He bowed his head and nodded. He folded his arms behind his back and walked away. 

Deimos: “I’ll drive Anthony home.”

He and Tristan walked to Anthony’s room. Lazaros put his foot forward and felt his pager buzzing. He checked the number. It was Jaclyn. Lazaros felt like smashing that pager against the floor. He ignored it and joined Deimos and Tristan.

Anthony: “The doctors gave me a full examination and I’m totally healed! It’s amazing!”

He smiled showing his milky white teeth. 

Lazaros’ pager kept buzzing.

Lazaros: “I should go.”

A defeated sigh escaped his lips. Anthony knit his eyebrows.

Anthony: “Jackie-babe, huh?”

Lazaros forced a smile.

Lazaros: “Glad you’re better. Enjoy your fruit basket.”

He said quickly as he left. 

~

Lazaros arrived home to see Jaclyn slumped on the couch scowling at him. He nervously licked his lips as the panic swelled inside him.

Jaclyn: “I had to buy MY evening gown with MY money! Do you know how embarrassing that is in front of that skeleton woman?!”

She asked huskily. Lazaros sat down on the chair and hung his head.

Lazaros: “I told you to ignore her and let her rant.”

He said with a touch of defiance. Jaclyn glared at him through dark, narrow slits.

Jaclyn: “How dare you?! I told you what to do and you didn’t do it! If you loved me, you would have told that hag I wasn’t fat but you didn’t! I bet you DO think I’m fat! I think you’re cheating on me with someone else!”

She snapped. He closed his eyes and drew in the air between his teeth. He rose from his seat, his hands clenched and unclenched at his side.

Jaclyn: “This is your fault!”

He paused as tension radiated from his body.

Lazaros: “I should make dinner…”

He said calmly.

~

Lazaros, Deimos, and Jaclyn were at the dining room table having dinner. Lazaros made hot and sour soup served with pork gyoza. Deimos and Lazaros were discussing Anthony’s recovery. Jaclyn felt her fury rise. She slammed her hand on the table.

Jaclyn: “THAT’S where you were?! You left me to pay for my dress to see that buffoon?!”

She asked sharply. Deimos rolled his eyes.

Deimos: “I know, it’s not every day you have to buy your own clothes so your boyfriend can see someone whose life might be on the line.”

He said dryly. Jaclyn ignored Deimos as her hot gaze bore on Lazaros.

Lazaros: “…Yes, I went to see Anthony.”

He sighed and took a sip of his wine. Jaclyn tightly pursed her lips as her face lit up with rage.

Jaclyn: “How dare you?! I told you NOT to do that! You care more for him than you do about me!”

She screamed. Lazaros hung his head and removed his glasses to rub his eyes.

Deimos: “So, uh, you’re not vegan anymore?”

He asked Jaclyn to stray the topic away from Anthony. She arched an eyebrow and gaped incredulously at Deimos.

Jaclyn: “Of course, I am! What makes you ask me that ridiculous question? Did Ivy put you up to that?!”

She hissed. Deimos rolled his eyes and shook his head. He pointed at her dinner.

Deimos: “Because you ate the same meal as Lazaros and me. Hot and sour soup, as well as the dumplings, has meat in them.”

He explained curtly. Jaclyn’s eyes grew large. She put her hands to her throat and gagged.

Jaclyn: “Lazaros, you poisoned me! AUGH! I am going to die!”

She gagged and coughed, rushing to the bathroom to get sick. She made her coughing, puking, and gagging sounds loud enough for Deimos and Lazaros to hear. Lazaros broke down crying.

Deimos: “Just fucking dump her ass, Lazaros! This is abuse and her feet REEK! I had to get a gas mask to enter this place!”

He snapped.

Lazaros: “Why did you tell her?!”

He cried. Deimos was taken aback.

Deimos: “Th-This is NOT my fault! She willingly ate the fucking food! She was also antagonizing you for doing something of your own free will! She is ABUSING and destroying you!”

His voice rose. 

Jaclyn marched back to the table, dumped the food on the floor, and stomped her foot as the fury ripped through her.

Jaclyn: “HOW DARE YOU?! YOU FORCED ME TO EAT THAT!”

She roared. Deimos marched to her and glared hotly at her.

Deimos: “He did not! It was there. He asked you if you wanted it and you willingly ate it! There was no force!”

He snapped through clenched teeth.

Jaclyn: “Lazaros, tell him you forced me to eat that trash!”

She snapped.

Deimos: “Dump her!”

He growled.

Jaclyn: “Excuse me? Lazaros is free to do what he wants!”

She growled. Deimos threw his head back and laughed darkly.

Deimos: “That is rich coming from you! If he’s so free to do as he pleases, why are you on his ass about visiting Anthony?!”

Jaclyn: “Because I didn’t approve of it!”

She fired back. Lazaros quickly rose and stormed off upstairs.

Jaclyn: “Lazaros! Get back here! I am not done with you!”

She yelled at him. The door slammed.

She turned to Deimos.

Jaclyn: “Look what you made him do!”

She huffed.

Deimos: “Jaclyn, you’re pushing your luck. He’s going to retaliate one day and it’s going to strike you.”

He pointed to her as he warned her. Jaclyn scoffed.

Jaclyn: “I’m sorry you feel that way but that’s not how it is.”

Deimos threw his hands up and slapped his sides.

Deimos: “Okay, whatever, have a good night.”

He waved his hand dismissively at her and left. 

~

Ivy was in her black floral dress and apron as she slipped on the oven mitts with cats printed on them and removed a three-cheese beef lasagna from the oven. She bought the finest bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. She had butterflies in her stomach thinking of this dinner she made special for Tristan. She also made roasted broccoli in a creamy bacon sauce. For dessert, she made tira misu.

Someone knocked on the doorframe of the kitchen. Ivy raised her head and her eyes lit up to see Tristan standing in the doorframe smiling at her. 

~

Tristan and Ivy sat at the dining room table. She set it up with the finest silverware, candles, and dim lighting. Tristan sat down with her and she dished his dinner up for him and poured his wine. He smiled at her. 

Tristan: “This looks delectable, Ivy! You outdid yourself here!”

Ivy blushed and smiled at him. 

Ivy: “It’s all my Nana’s recipes! She gave me this recipe for lasagna and the broccoli side dish!”

She pointed to the broccoli in the creamy bacon sauce. Tristan smiled tightly. He stabbed some broccoli with his fork and thrust it into his mouth, savoring each bite and humming to the delicious creamy bacon sauce. He ate some of her lasagna and loved the taste. 

Tristan: “This is excellent, Ivy.”

He smiled at her and sipped his wine. 

Ivy: “I’m glad you like it!”

She smiled back at him, sipping her wine with him.

Tristan: “Deimos and I visited Anthony in the hospital.”

He began.

Tristan: “Deimos wants to leave Ouro Novo. He’s dissatisfied with the band and where it’s going. I think it’s for the best seeing how each band member has a different goal in life…”

He said as his voice trailed off. Not unlike me, he thought.

Ivy: “Oh? Is he okay?”

She enquired about Anthony. Tristan nodded. 

Ivy: “Oh… he never told me that…”

She said numbly, taking another sip of wine.

Ivy: “And what are your different goals in life?”

She pressed him. Tristan nodded and set his fork down.

Tristan: “I want to open my law firm. I want to work independently. I don’t want to work with Daniel but I mainly want to do my own thing, add my flare to my workplace, and make it something exclusive to me. Yes, starting at someone else’s law firm is what most lawyers do but I want my own office.” 

He explained. 

Ivy: “Well… what’s stopping you from doing that, Tristan? You should work independently.”

She stated. Tristan chuckled a bit. 

Tristan: “Money. I can’t get a building with my good looks!”

He quipped. Ivy laughed.

Ivy: “If only you could.”

Tristan smirked. 

Tristan: “And I’d have to get furniture, printers, computers, hire people to work for me…

He explained and his voice trailed off. He leaned back in his seat and gave her the side-eye.

Tristan: “...and someone to build my website.”

He cupped his chin and stroked it. Ivy’s eyes lit up.

Ivy: “Good thing you know a graphic designer.”

She beamed. Tristan smiled tightly at her. 

Tristan: “Of course, you’d be my star graphic designer!”

He spread his arms out. Ivy’s eyes sparkled with stars in her eyes.

Celeste came out eating the tira misu from the pan. Tristan raised his eyebrows. 

Tristan: “What do you think you’re doing?!Ivy: “HEY! That’s not for you!”

She snapped at Celeste, shooing her away like a cat

Celeste: “Tristan, I found your journal and I saw your drawings! They’re nice! I was looking inside to see if you want Ivy or Deimos but it’s all in French.”

She held up the journal of a cartoony Tristan holding Oliver in his arms.Ivy: “Journal?!”

She swung her glance over to Tristan and flushed at what she said

She opened the page to a cartoon of Tristan seemingly going insane. 

The page read, “Parfois, je pense que les gens me regardent et disent : ‘Ce type est une boule ambulante de dépression et de réflexion excessive, il n'a rien à faire parmi nous.’

Mais comment tu veux garder ton calme quand tu vois dans quel monde on vit ? 

C’est juste pas possible…”

Tristan’s face turned a deep shade of red and his ire started to increase. Ivy blushed and looked up at Tristan.

Celeste: “Does this say you want Ivy, Deimos, or both?” 

Tristan’s face flared red.He angrily rose and snatched the journal from her. Ivy cupped her mouth.

Tristan: “It doesn’t say anything like that! Why don’t you mind your business?! You weren’t invited!”

He barked and pointed to her eating from the casserole dish.

Tristan: “Why are you eating that dessert like a little raccoon?!” 

He snapped. 

Ivy: “She is a little raccoon and raccoons aren’t welcome here!”

She hissed. 

Celeste: “What does it say?”

Tristan threw his hands up.

Tristan: “Weren’t you ever taught NOT to snoop in other’s personal belongings?!” 

He hissed. Celeste bowed her head. 

Celeste: “...No.”Ivy: “What is wrong with you? Were you raised in a barn?!”

She hissed.

Tristan: “Look, these are my personal thoughts! I don’t leave this around, so why did you go into my bedroom and get it?!”

He hissed through clenched teeth. 

Celeste: “It wasn’t in your bedroom; it was on Deimos’ lawn!”

Tristan glared at her and had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He wanted to call her a liar but he read her expression and body language and she was telling the truth. Ivy froze as she read his thoughts. Ivy: “...Why would it be on Deimos’ lawn?”

She swallowed hard.

Celeste: “Oh, lasagna!”

She grabbed a spoon rest with a painting of a beach. It was something Deimos won for Ivy at a fair. Celeste started eating the lasagna with the spoon rest. 

Ivy: “What are you doing?! Why are you eating with THAT?!”

She cried. 

Tristan went outside and saw Lazaros on the lawn with a big grin on his face. Deimos rushed up to Tristan and wrapped his arms around him. Tristan hugged him back. Ivy bowed her head, looking hurt and feeling cast aside.

Deimos: “Hey, Tristan, want to go for a double bacon cheeseburger? I’ll drive us.”

Ivy cleared her throat.

Lazaros: “Hey, Tristan, tell Ivy I am sorry Celeste came and ruined her dinner and took your journal. She is a little rascal!”

He chuckled. Tristan glared at Lazaros. 

Lazaros: “You should go with Deimos since Celeste ruined Ivy’s dinner.”

He smirked. Ivy narrowed her eyes into slits at Lazaros.

Ivy: “What are you playing at?”

She pressed him.

Lazaros: “Nothing, Ivy. What are you playing at?”

He countered.

Ivy: “Don’t blame-shift me! You did this!”

She fired back.

Tristan: “YOU told her about this and put my journal on his lawn!”

His voice rose. 

Deimos: “What?”

He looked at Lazaros. 

Celeste came out with the empty casserole. 

Celeste: “You stole his journal?! What does it say? Does he want Ivy, Deimos, or both?”

Tristan rolled his eyes. Ivy drew a long breath.

Tristan: “Why are you SO fixated on THAT?!”

He snapped at her. 

Lazaros: “Oh, please. It says nothing like that. It’s just Tristan whining about how ‘bad’ he has it and ‘woe is me’, ‘feel sorry for me’, ‘I have insomnia and I’m depressed!’ That’s all it is.”

He wagged his head. Tristan glared hatefully at Lazaros for divulging his deepest thoughts to everyone. Ivy glared at Lazaros.Ivy: “What is your problem?! Those are his personal thoughts and journal! How would you like it if someone did this to you?”

She snapped at him. Lazaros rolled his eyes at her. 

Deimos narrowed his eyes at his brother. 

Deimos: “Are you trying to help me? This isn’t helping me, Lazaros; this is the opposite of what I want. I don’t want to see Tristan hurt ever again!”

He scolded him and Lazaros stepped back. 

Deimos: “If he’s depressed and unhappy, I will do what I can to make his life better and light up his life! This isn’t how to do it and I never asked for your help!”

He added in a sharp tone. Lazaros drew back. Tristan gazed at Deimos. 

Deimos: “Fix your own fucked up life and stay out of mine. I’m just fine.”

He looked up at Tristan and smiled. Lazaros clenched his fists and teared up. That goddamn Tristan is turning my brother against me, he thought. Ivy read his thoughts and shook her head.

Ivy: “No, you’re turning him against you. I think all that time around that witch is rubbing off on you.”

She rolled her eyes at him.

Lazaros: “I proved that he’s not thinking of YOU or Deimos! He’s thinking of himself!”

He snapped at her. 

Tristan: “Perhaps I have other journals where I share my thoughts on Deimos and Ivy. You happened to locate the one where I write about my thoughts on my life. Are you so miserable that you need to project your faults and insecurities on me? How does this prove anything? Neither Deimos nor Ivy can understand French. Celeste repeatedly asked me if I wanted one or the other or both. I never said anything like that in this journal.”

He rolled his eyes. 

Lazaros: “So you have another journal?”

He smirked. 

Tristan: “Maybe I do and maybe I don’t. It’s life’s greatest enigma.”

He said wryly. 

Deimos and Ivy looked up at Tristan. 

Celeste: “Who do you want, Tristan?” 

She asked.

Tristan: “Will you please refrain from asking me these questions?!”

He asked harshly. 

Celeste: “You don’t know, do you?”

Tristan’s face turned a deep shade of red. 

Tristan: “I said STOP IT!”

He barked and waved his hand to form a sheet of ice with icicles sprouting from it. 

They heard a loud crash coming from Jaclyn’s house. 

Celeste: “Okay, she may not be growing weed in there but she’s definitely hoarding dead animals!”

Tristan gaped at Celeste and wondered if she had ADHD. Ivy read his thoughts, surprised to find they echoed her own.

Tristan: “Okay, that statement was out of left field and has nothing to do with the topic we were discussing.”

Celeste: “You said to stop it and used your ice powers to tell us to stop, so I did.”

She said evenly. Tristan rolled his eyes. Yeah, touché, he thought. 

Deimos: “Why do you say she’s hoarding dead animals now?”

He raised an eyebrow. 

Celeste: “Did you smell the stink from there? Ever smell a dead skunk on the highway? It smells like fuckin’ roadkill.”

She gagged. 

Deimos: “No, that’s her feet. I know, they smell that bad.”

He rolled his eyes. Lazaros scrunched his nose. 

Tristan: “Why would anyone keep their curtains shut over stinky feet?”

Celeste: “I know this asshole who boards with a family I know. Anyway, the kid brother is into black metal and sometimes picks up roadkill to put in a jar or a bag to inhale it.”

She stated. Tristan and Deimos gaped at her. Lazaros laughed. Ivy groused, reminded of Larry.

Tristan: “...What does that have to do with Jaclyn and why she keeps her curtains shut?”

Deimos: “Jaclyn is not into metal, Celeste, let alone black metal.”

He rolled his eyes. 

Celeste: “Anyway, the smell of the roadkill he collects smells like what’s coming from the house.”

Tristan hung his head. Deimos rolled his eyes.

Deimos: “Oh, super, you point out yet again her feet smell like roadkill. That’s not exactly telling us why she keeps her curtains closed.”

He said dryly. Ivy: “Are you trying to say she keeps literal roadkill in her house… or something worse?”

She shuddered.

Tristan: “She’s hiding something in there that she doesn’t want us to know.”

He looked at Lazaros.

Tristan: “Interestingly, you went into my house for my journal to expose me but not in her house to see what sinister secret she is hiding.”

He fielded scathingly. Ivy glared at Lazaros and shook her head.

Deimos: “That is a good point, Lazaros.”

Lazaros drew back. 

Celeste: “Yeah, don’t you wanna know what your Radinka-wannabe girlfriend is hiding rather than who Tristan wants to shag?”

She challenged. Tristan, Ivy, and Deimos reddened. 

Tristan cleared his throat. 

Tristan: “I believe we know the answer to this. I’m just a scapegoat for Lazaros so he doesn’t have to face his problems.”

He said acidly. 

Ivy: “Well, your problem is stinking up the whole neighborhood! I’m pretty sure that’s more important than Tristan’s private matters that don’t concern you.”

She said sharply to Lazaros.

Lazaros: “Ivy, don’t you have other things to do like watch your plate lest Celeste eats your food?” 

He rolled his eyes and waved his hand. Ivy rolled his eyes at him

Tristan: “That was a weak comeback and you pointed her here.”

He said flatly. 

The door swung open and Jaclyn stormed out dressed in a bright red long-sleeved, long nightgown and a black bonnet nightcap. 

Celeste: “Holy fuck, it’s the Grandma Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood!”

She gasped. Deimos and Lazaros both laughed at her quip. Tristan gaped at Jaclyn. I don’t like to judge people on what they wear and what they wear to bed, but isn’t that a bit… outdated? It looks like something my grandmother or great-grandmother would wear, he mused. Ivy nodded in agreement with him. She always found it odd how Jaclyn was allegedly 23 years old but dressed like she was 60 years old. 

Jaclyn: “DO YOU MIND?! I have to get my beauty sleep! Ivy, if you don’t stop this racket you caused, I will call the police on you for disturbing my sleep!”

She bellowed. 

Ivy: “Me?!”

She glared at her.

Deimos: “Oh, come on, it’s seven o’clock.”

He threw his hands up and rolled his eyes. 

Jaclyn: “I need my twelve hours, Deimos! I don’t want to get wrinkles!”

She huffed.

Ivy: “Oh, what’s that around your eyes? I think I see a wrinkle!”

She teased. Jaclyn’s face flared red. 

Celeste: “She will huff and puff and blow your house down!”

She quipped. 

Jaclyn: “FITTING AS SHE IS A FAT PIG!”

She bellowed. Ivy blinked mutely at Jaclyn, looking around for a fat woman, but she didn’t see one in sight.

Ivy: “Who is?”

Jaclyn: “You are, Ivy!”

She scoffed.

Jaclyn: “Anything over a size 2 is fat!”

Ivy observed her tall build.Ivy: “No way you’re below size 2. You look like a size 4.”

Jaclyn fumed at Ivy.

Celeste: “Okay, Radinka.”

She said dryly.

Jaclyn: “DON’T COMPARE ME TO THAT WOMAN!” 

She barked. 

Tristan stepped forward. 

Tristan: “Okay, that is enough from you! I won’t allow you to insult her and bully her or anyone like this. She didn’t cause this noise and it’s early in the evening. No one is sleeping.”

He said sharply. 

Ivy: “Thank you, Tristan.”

She smiled up at him. Jaclyn gaped at Tristan and froze at the sight of him. Who is this… handsome man? He looks better in the flesh… and he’s so tall! I can wear my heels with him, unlike Deimos and Lazaros, she thought. She glared at Ivy. Of course, he too, is smitten with Ivy. I will do what I can to have him, she thought. Tristan saw she was staring at him like a deer in the headlights and felt uncomfortable. He knew that look. Maybe I should have said nothing, he thought. Ivy read his thoughts and rolled her eyes at Jaclyn. Oh, god, here we go again, she groaned to herself.

Ivy: “Not even in your wildest dreams, Jaclyn.”

She hissed. 

Jaclyn: “I don’t know whatever you mean, you green cow.”

She said loftily. 

She saw Celeste peer into the window and she screamed. 

Jaclyn: “DON’T LOOK IN THERE, YOU BLATANT IVY FANGIRL!”

She bellowed. 

Celeste: “Huh?”

Tristan: “Okay, now you’re not making sense.”

Jaclyn: “GET AWAY FROM MY HOUSE!”

She threw her shoe at Celeste. Celeste jumped away and gagged. 

Celeste: “OH NO, A STINK BOMB!”

She screamed. Tristan and Deimos burst out laughing. Jacln’s face turned as red as her hair. Oh no, my two handsome men are laughing at me… because that green cow’s fangirl humiliated me for her, she thought. She turned to Ivy with fire in her eyes. 

Jaclyn: “STAY AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AND BE QUIET! I HAD ENOUGH FROM YOU, YOU GREEN COW!”

She bellowed at Ivy. She snatched her shoe and stormed inside. 

Celeste: “She will blow your house down.”

Deimos laughed bitterly. 

Tristan: “Why on Reona is Lazaros dating her? Isn’t this out of his usual choice? He tends to go for fat people.”

He stated. Deimos rolled his eyes and recalled the many one-night stands Lazaros brought to their room when he lived with him. 

Tristan: “She has some hold on him but what…?”

He cupped his chin. 

Deimos: “You mean blackmail?”

Tristan wasn’t sure if it was blackmail but it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.