Chapter One-hundred Fifty-Eight: Who is he?

Chapter 158

Who is he?

Jordi drove through Papamos in his Ferrari 328. He was smoking and wore a light purple button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, white chinos, and light brown boater shoes. He turned on his signal and drove down Spring Garden Lane. He slowed down as he ventured down the road and turned into the driveway of Ashley and Lazaros’ house. He extinguished his cigarette in the car’s ashtray, shut off the engine, and stepped out of his car.

Jordi saw Ashley seated on the front patio. Ashley was huddled up on the chair with their large tabby cat in their arms, looking distraught. They glanced up to see Jordi and quickly forced a smile.

Ashley: “Oh, hey, Jordi!”

They greeted him with a smile and a wave, but their eyes told another story. Jordi took one glance at their expression and inhaled sharply.

Jordi: “I’m here to pick up my order of cinnamon apple muffins and bran muffins for my grandfather…, you look like you could use someone to talk to. Is everything okay?”

He asked gently and sat by them. Ashley’s smile dipped, and they shifted their eyes.

Ashley: “Oh, no, I’m so sorry! Something… came up! I will make you some new ones!”

They gasped.

Ashley: “Y-Yeah… everything is okay…”

They pursed their lips, gazing up at Lazaros’ window above them. Jordi knit his eyebrows.

Jordi: “My grandfather is going to be furious. I understand if you’re not on time, but he… doesn’t.”

He said with strain. Ashley knit their eyebrows and buried their head in their hands. Jrodi knit his eyebrows.

Ashley: “Oh no… I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault!”

They cried. Jordi cupped his mouth.

Jordi: “No, it’s not. Something is wrong. Please talk to me. I am here for you.”

He said gently, putting his hand on their shoulder. Ashley swallowed hard and glanced at him.

Ashley: “O-Okay, since you’re clearly a psychic, you already know something happened, so I’ll tell you!”

They drew a breath.

Jordi: “Oh, no, I am not a psychic, but I… knew something was amiss.”

He waved his hands around. Ashley drew a breath and braced themself.

Ashley: “Lazaros overfed me…”

They confessed.

Ashley: “And then… I got sick… and I threw up his amazing food and now he’s upset with me!”

They cried, huddling their cat. Jordi knit his eyebrows and hugged them.

Jordi: “Look, that stuff happens, and Lazaros needs time to process this. It’s not your fault.”

He said gently.

Ashley: “R-Really?”

They smiled a bit. Jordi smiled and nodded. He handed Ashley a handkerchief.

Ashley: “Aww, you bought a little bandana for Stella? Thank you!”

They beamed, tying it around his neck. Jordi’s eyes widened, and he laughed a bit.

Jordi: “It’s a handkerchief, but okay, you’re welcome to give it to him.”

He nodded. Ashley laughed.

Ashley: “OH! Sorry, haha!”

Tristan walked up to Ashley and Lazaros’ house. He wore a light blue polo shirt, white shorts, and white slip-on vans. He noticed Ashley’s distraught demeanor and knit his eyebrows.

Tristan: “Afternoon, Ashley. Hello, Jordi.”

He nodded.

Tristan: “Is this a bad time? I came to pick up my Papa’s cinnamon sugar donuts and the cherry cheese cake trifle I ordered from you.”

He said as he leaned against the pole on the veranda. Ashley froze and slunk down, bowing their head.

Ashley: “I’m sorry… Lazaros made me eat that, too! I’ll make you a new batch, and you guys can get vouchers on your next orders!”

They cried, pulling out slips of paper on them with a crayon cat drawing that read “50% off Meow-voucher.” Jordi raised an eyebrow. Lazaros made them eat our orders, he thought.

Jordi: “Oh, Ashley, please, you don’t have to do this for me. I understand! I’m not angry!”

He smiled. Ashley smiled a bit, feeling more reassured.

Tristan: “It’s a good thing Deimos is not here. This is uncharacteristic of Lazaros to make you eat your orders. I assume Lazaros is requesting you eat more and more, am I correct?”

He asked Ashley. Ashley froze.

Ashley: “How did you know? Yeah… but it’s too much and I don’t wanna end up like Makayla and I made those orders for you guys!”

They cried.

Tristan: “And I am with Jordi; those vouchers will not be necessary. We’re both very understanding.”

He smiled. Ashley wiped their tears.

Ashley: “Thanks, guys, you’re the best!”

They smiled a bit.

Tristan: “What happened, Ashley? I can tell you were crying, so this has to be more than Lazaros making you eat your custom orders, and not every client will be as lenient as Jordi and I are.”

He sighed. Ashley sighed.

Ashley: “I made Lazaros cry! I threw up his amazing cooking, and I really hurt him!”

They cried. Tristan nodded and heaved a deep sigh.

Tristan: “Do you know why you threw it up?”

I am assuming Lazaros overfed them to the point of getting sick, he thought.

Ashley: “I didn’t want to! It’s not that it was bad, it was just… too much food! He overfed me like a cat!”

They exclaimed. Tristan cupped his mouth, and Jordi knit his eyebrows.

Tristan: “I see… Again, this is uncharacteristic of Lazaros. So Lazaros is upset about his recent fight with Deimos and is doing this to alleviate his emotional pain.”

He stated. Jordi bowed his head. Ashley nodded slowly.

Ashley: “Yeah… he’s been crying and cooking in the kitchen non-stop since they had that fight.”

They sighed. Tristan twisted his mouth.

Ashley: “I didn’t want to tell him it was too much food because I didn’t want to upset him and add more to his hurt…”

They added.

Tristan: “I understand that, Ashey, and while it’s good you want to be supportive of him during his time of need, he shouldn’t have overstepped boundaries, and he has. If you’re throwing up, this is a sign he’s overdoing it, and he needs to face his issues.”

He said gently. Ashley bowed their head and nodded.

Tristan: “I know Deimos is prone to outbursts of anger, and I know about dancing around topics not to spark a bout of rage, but I always reprimand Deimos for his actions.”

He added for good measure.

Tristan: “And he should never make you consume your orders. You have to be able to separate business from pleasure.”

He nodded.

Ashley: “I know… but he was having a bad day and I didn’t want to upset him more, and I wanted to make him feel better… maybe we need a code word or something for when food is too much?”

They pursed their lips.

Tristan: “You mean a safe word, and while that is good practice, how would one go about that when Lazaros denies this is a fetish?”

He pressed his forefinger against his lips.

Ashley: “I don’t know…”

Jordi: “He never did this before, so maybe he should face his issues.”

Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “Oh, absolutely, but it doesn’t mean he will.”

Ashley bowed their head.

Ashley: “I hope Deimos does too! My brother never pushed me into a pool, and would push people into a pool if they did that to me! Oh no, is Deimos making you eat lots of food too because he’s upset with Lazaros?!”

They knit their eyebrows. Tristan laughed and waved his hand.

Tristan: “No, Ashley, Deimos isn’t into that, but he is having several outbursts of anger…”

He said as his voice trailed off.

Tristan and Jordi both raised their heads when they heard Sylvia walking down the street raving about trains. Then they saw Sylvia walk down the street with Blair, folding his arms and pouting. Blair wore a yellow “Camp Candy” shirt, blue shorts, knee-high white socks, red sneakers, and a white boater hat. Jordi’s expression darkened when he saw Blair and Ashley, who reverted to being upset again when they saw Blair in his gaudy wardrobe, sticking out like a sore thumb.

Sylvia: “Good afternoon, fine gentlemen! Greetings, Ashley! Ashley, as you know from our previous discussion, Demetrio’s sister, Maria, is in town, and we ordered a tiramisu, a strawberry shortcake trifle, cupcakes, and several macarons! Maria is so very excited to try your delicious desserts!”

She sang. Ashley swallowed hard and shifted their eyes.

Ashley: “O-Oh, my apologies, there’s a bit of a delay as something came up…”

They knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “But, I promise you, I will make a new batch and you get the Meow-voucher!”

They exclaimed, handing her the Meow voucher. Sylvia took it.

Sylvia: “Ashley, I ordered these a week ago. Is everything okay? If you like, why not come to our house and make it? We shall pay extra, of course! Demetrio is raving about your excellent food, and Maria is eager to try it.”

She smiled. Ashley’s heart sank as they dreaded setting foot in that manor again around Blair.

Ashley: “NO!”

They blurted.

Ashley: “N-No, that won’t be necessary, I can make them tonight and have them done by tomorrow for you! No extra charge!”

They forced a smile.

Blair: “What happened? Did you eat it? YOU FAT LOSER!”

He snapped. Ashley bowed their head and huddled their cat close to them, wordlessly.

Blair: “You can’t do anything right! You ate everything, you FAT WOMBAT! Sylvia hired you to do a job, and you can’t do it because you’re so fat and failing!”

He barked. Ashley huddled into their cat.

Ashley: “Y-You’re not a nice guy! You’re lying like all those other guys on that Nice Guys website! None of you is nice! You’re all MEAN!”

They countered.

Blair: “And you lied about wanting me! You just used me until you found a jerk!”

He snapped.

Ashley: “I never said I wanted you! Lazaros isn’t a jerk!”

They cried.

Blair: “Yeah, he is! That’s why he made you eat all that food!”

He fired back.

Sylvia: “Blair, that is quite enough from you! They do not deserve to be reprimanded for this!”

She chided him.

Tristan: “Blair, you’re taking this opportunity to lash out at Ashley. You couldn’t care less about whether your aunt tries their food or not. It’s just one thing to find fault with them so you look good and they look bad.”

He hissed.

Jordi: “Why are you here? Do you need Sylvia to babysit you?”

He asked wryly.

Blair: “I am here to make sure that fat loser delivered, you food thief, and they didn’t! I knew they would fail! They always fails! They are a fat shame! I don’t need to make them look bad; they’ve already done that! They threw away a nice guy for a jerk, and now they’re getting their karma, getting fatter like Makayla!”

He cried. Ashley recoiled at those cruel words. Jordi sneered at Blair. Tristan was going to speak up until he saw Lazaros.

Lazaros stepped out of the house, standing over Ashley as if he were protecting a kitten, and sneering at Blair.

Lazaros: “What is this garbage doing on our property?!”

He hissed at Blair.

Blair: “I was picking up an order from FATLEY, and they ate it because they’re fat!”

He snapped.

Lazaros: “How dare you speak that way of Ashley!”

He snapped at Blair and put his arm around Ashley.

Sylvia: “Pardon me, Lazaros, but we were to pick up an order, and Ashley said it’s not ready. I offered to pay them extra to make the desserts at our house.”

She waved her hands. Lazaros held his hand up.

Lazaros: “That won’t be necessary! Ashley will prepare and eat the food with me!”

He smiled widely.

Tristan: “Why is that, Lazaros? Why are you having Ashley eat the food they prepare for their clients?”

He asked him calmly.

Lazaros: “Because Ashley deserves to eat that food more, and that’s what the people want!”

He smiled.

Blair: “ ‘cause they’re FAT!”

Tristan extended his hand and shot Blair with a blast of ice, knocking him down. Sylvia gasped, and Blair wailed in pain. Jordi snorted.

Tristan: “I don’t recall asking you anything.”

Lazaros: “Blair is simply jealous that he can’t have Ashley!”

He beamed and held Ashley close.

Tristan: “Yes, Lazaros, I’m well aware, but you’re not answering my question. Why are you doing this? Do you not realize you’re affecting Ashley’s business?”

He asked firmly.

Jordi: “I’m lenient and I understand, but my grandfather is going to kill me, so I don’t know what excuse to drum up or if I should buy something from a store or what…”

He said as his voice trailed off. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Lazaros: “Isn’t this what their business is? People pay them to make food, and then Ashley eats it for me?”

He grinned widely. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “N-No, Lazaros… People pay me to make food for them to eat, not me.”

They corrected him firmly, but gently.

Jordi: “Yeah, and while I understand, my grandfather… will not.”

He said with strain.

Lazaros: “Well, how about he watches Ashley eat my roast chicken tonight, then he will be happy?”

He beamed widely. Ashley had a look of concern on their face. Something was off with Lazaros and was bothering them. Jordi cleared his throat.

Ashley: “Lazaros… I’m worried about you…”

They confessed.

Lazaros: “You’re right! I need to get back in the kitchen and cook you a new feast!”

He gasped and cupped his cheeks.

Tristan: “Lazaros, don’t you think you’re overdoing it a bit? They just threw up because you overfed them!”

He snapped. Ashley nodded meekly.

Lazaros: “I just didn’t cook it well enough! I need to do it better!”

He cried.

Tristan: “Lazaros, it’s not that! It’s the fact that you’re overfeeding them to deal with your emotions, and so you don’t have to face your problems, but your methods are affecting Ashley and their business! This foolishness has to stop!”

He snapped.

Lazaros: “What emotions and problems?! I’m fine! Well, people should be paying Ashley to eat that food! They deserve it more!”

He smiled at Ashley, rubbing their tummy. Ashley shifted their eyes and laughed awkwardly.

Ashley: “...Maybe we need a safe word, Laz?”

They offered gently.

Lazaros: “A safe word like some kind of fetish?! I don’t have a fetish, Ashley!”

He pouted. Ashley shifted their eyes to Lazaros’ hand on their stomach and laughed awkwardly.

Ashley: “Riiight.”

They laughed meekly.

Sylvia: “Anyway, we should get going. Ashley, I hope you deliver tomorrow. And Tristan? I have a new employee at my office that I’d like you, Deimos, Jaxon, and Celeste to meet.”

She nodded. Tristan gaped at her.

Tristan: “Yes, sure, Sylvia.”

He cleared his throat.

Ashley: “Okay, sure, see you later, Sylvia!”

They waved her goodbye. She led Blair away as Blair clutched his stomach.

Jordi: “So, Ashley, when can I expect my cinnamon apple muffins and bran muffins for my grandfather?”

He smiled awkwardly. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “Right away! I’ll get onto those now!”

They exclaimed. Ashley swung their gaze to Lazaros.

Ashley: “Hey, Lazaros, how about you cook us some dinner while I make my new orders?”

They forced a smile, trying to keep him occupied while they made their new orders.

Lazaros: “All right, I shall cook up a feast for you!”

He smiled. Tristan folded his arms and heaved a deep sigh.

Jordi: “Thanks, Ashley! Take care now!”

He smiled and waved to them.

Ashley: “Take care, guys, I’ll work on your orders tonight!”

They rushed back inside to get to work.

Jordi turned to Tristan.

Jordi: “Want to go for a drive with me?”

He asked. Tristan shrugged and smiled.

Tristan: “Yes!”

He said as he climbed into the passenger’s side of Jordi’s car.

~

Jordi and Tristan drove through downtown Pink Top City, and Jordi put on his signal to make the turn to Greammoon Hills. Jordi covertly checked Tristan out and gazed at his slender, long legs.

Tristan: “So what are your thoughts on what went down?”

Jordi: “Oh, thanks for blasting Blair!”

He laughed. Tristan smiled.

Tristan: “You’re welcome. I meant everything else, though. What are your thoughts on Lazaros intervening?”

He asked him. Jordi gazed at the road.

Jordi: “I don’t think Lazaros made much of a difference, except he called Blair out.”

Tristan twisted his mouth and nodded in agreement.

Tristan: “I don’t think the problem is solved because Ashley is not the type of person to reprimand Lazaros for his faulty behavior.”

He said coolly. Jordi heaved a deep sigh.

Jordi: “I want to say this is extreme people pleasing, but it seems like… Ashley comes from another planet. I handed them a handkerchief to wipe their eyes, and they tied it around their cat’s neck like a bandana.”

Tristan laughed awkwardly.

Tristan: “Look, you’re not the only one who thinks this. Both Ashley and Blake are unfamiliar with things that even people who live as hermits deep in the mountains would know… such as Xupra and Xuprans.”

He replied. Jordi glanced at him.

Jorid: “They don’t know what Xuprans are?”

Tristan shook his head.

Tristan: “Nevertheless, I think Ashley will gingerly dance around the topic and Lazaros’ issues until something implodes. And even then, I am not so sure.”

He said as his voice trailed off. Jordi flicked his gaze at Tristan, surveying his expression, and focused on the road.

Jordi: “I… I don’t want to be that guy, but if this keeps up, I will have to take my business elsewhere, which is a shame because I do support and like Ashley, but this isn’t good business. I know they’re trying, and I hate to fault them for it.”

He said with pain in his eyes. Tristan smiled at him, seeing what Jordi was trying to do, and connected the dots.

Tristan: “You’re supporting someone in need while the person you support is making some delicious treats your grandfather can eat that won’t affect his health. I think that is a noble, kind gesture. We need more people like you.”

He said genially. Jordi felt the heat rise to his face as he reddened.

~

Tristan, Deimos, Celeste, and Jaxon sat on Tristan’s backyard patio. Jaxon wore a black silk button-up shirt, a black tie loosened at the collar, an open paisley vest, tight black leather pants, and Chelsea boots. Celeste wore a black halter top, Daisy Dukes, knee-high black booters, a black leather jacket, and several bangles on her wrists. Deimos wore a Pink Floyd t-shirt with a denim jacket over it with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, torn jeans, and cowboy boots.

Tristan had informed them that Lazaros had forced Ashley to eat the food he had ordered from them. Deimos cupped his mouth.

Deimos: “And let me guess: Ashley said it was all fine, didn’t reprimand him, and we’re back to square one. I hate to say this, but maybe they should prepare this stuff in the Donati kitchen. I mean, Blair whines like a little bitch, but he doesn’t make Ashley eat their supply. It’s like those coke dealers who put their supply up their nose.”

He huffed. Tristan bowed his head.

Tristan: “Pretty much. Ashley refused to make the orders at Blair’s house.”

Deimos’ eyes went into a full roll.

Deimos: “Blair is not that scary. He’s a whiny little fuckhead. Just smack him and the blue fucker is on his knees.”

He grumbled and sank into his seat, folding his arms.

Tristan: “I believe the anxiety they would feel being in his presence would be too overwhelming for them to concentrate on the task at hand.”

He suggested gently.

Deimos: “They need to suck it up, then. There are worse people to face than fucking Blair.”

He rolled his eyes. Jaxon shifted in his seat and cupped his mouth, thinking of Ichiro.

Celeste frowned.

Celeste: “So there won’t be any snacks from Ashley to munch on tonight?”

Tristan inhaled sharply.

Tristan: “I’m afraid not, Celeste. I did purchase some donuts from Jumbo Jones’ bakery.”

He said as he leaned over to his shopping bag and pulled out a box of donuts. Celeste grimaced.

Celeste: “They’re fuckin’ nasty, Tristan! I was looking forward to that trifle!”

She huffed. Jaxon rubbed her back and kissed her head. Tristan drew a long breath.

Deimos: “Lazaros strikes again…”

He muttered angrily.

Jaxon: “Then we’re going to have to start it without the good snacks.”

He pursed his lips. Celeste pouted.

Celeste: “This news would go better with a snack.”

Tristan drew a long breath.

Tristan: “I don’t know about you guys, but I find my appetite dissipates after receiving bad news.”

He knit his eyebrows. Deimos rubbed the small of his back. Tristan patted his hand and drew a long breath.

Tristan paused for a moment and hung his head. He inhaled sharply as he tried to translate the words in his mind into speaking them.

Deimos: “Take your time, my prince.”

He said gently. Tristan smiled gently at Deimos and gave him a peck on the lips.

Tristan: “So…”

He began and leaned over, resting his elbows on his knees.

Tristan: “I received a bouquet of larkspur yesterday morning.”

Deimos looked away in shame, wishing he had asked Tristan instead.

Tristan: “The message written on the card was in French. It said, ‘Happy belated birthday, and we’ll see each other before you know it.’ Barnabas Chatrian signed it.”

He said with strain as he bounced his knee.

Deimos: “So, you know Barnabas on a personal level then.”

Tristan nodded soberly.

Tristan: “Unfortunately.”

He said in a low voice.

Jaxon: “Who is he?”

Tristan drew another long breath.

Tristan: “...He’s my uncle, Narcisse Beaumont.”

He said slowly, trembling all over. Deimos held him close.

Tristan cleared his throat and tried to gather his thoughts.

Tristan: “I am sure you all recall me divulging the book. ‘Faire un voyage intérieur’ written by Émile Chatrian. The protagonist’s name is Barnabas.”

He explained. Jaxon nodded. Celeste blinked.

Celeste: “I don’t remember that…”

She muttered.

Tristan: “Narcisse loved that novel and identified with Barnabas, despite not actually doing anything generous or any missionary work. Maybe he thinks he is. I want to know why he’s helping Dougal and why he’s contacting me now after so many years have passed.”

He said with pain in his eyes.

Jaxon: “When was the last time you saw Narcisse?”

Tristan sighed.

Tristan: “After the fire that put Papa in a coma for fifteen years and claimed the lives of my siblings and that… thing.”

He said with disgust.

Tristan: “Narcisse and that thing were close, and he blamed me for the fire.”

He said bleakly.

Deimos: “So he’s using DOUGAL to execute his revenge?!”

He said furiously as he shot up from the chair. Tristan drew another long breath.

Tristan: “Possibly.”

Deimos punched the palm of his hand.

Deimos: “I’ll shred both of those fuckers for threatening you!”

He said doggedly. Tristan smiled a bit.

Celeste: “So, uh, where does this Narcisse guy live anyway?”

She asked. Tristan raised his head to gaze at the sky.

Tristan: “The island where I was born: Clerteaux. I remained there until I was eight, and then my grandparents moved to Argentville.”

He replied.

Celeste: “Why did you leave?”

Tristan bowed his head.

Tristan: “We wanted to get away from the Beaumont family for one and for another, Papa could receive the utmost care in a hospital in Argentville.”

He cleared his throat.

Tristan: “It was a fresh start, too. I didn’t want the ghosts of my past to haunt me continually.”

He said grimly.

Tristan: “Whenever Rosemary or Ivy prompted me about my family background or what traditions we engage in, both—but especially Rosemary— would give me strange looks when I told them I am estranged from most of my family.”

He explained with a twinge of annoyance as he furrowed his eyebrows. Jaxon sighed.

Jaxon: “Look, man, I get it. It’s a reflection of them, not you. Anything outside of their tradition is foreign to them. Some people come from shitty families, and not everyone follows tradition.”

He said firmly. Tristan smiled a bit.

Tristan: “You’re right, Jaxon.”

Celeste: “So, uh, when he said he would see you before you know it, what did he mean? Does he mean he’s coming here, or you will go to him?”

She asked. Tristan made a praying gesture with his hands and blew parted air through them.

Tristan: “Likely the latter…”

He drew a long breath.

Celeste: “Are ya gonna go?”

Tristan shrugged.

Tristan: “I’m not sure what to do at this point. I want to leave this behind me, but some people choose to remain in the past.”

He said as his voice trailed off.

Tristan: “And while we can deal with Dougal, he knows Dougal’s connection to me, and he will send more of his minions to antagonize me. Maybe I have to end this once and for all.”

He bowed his head. Deimos kissed his head, and Tristan closed his eyes.

Deimos: “You mean, we’re going with you. You’re not alone in this.”

He corrected him gently.

Celeste: “Yeah, what he said! We’re with you all the way, Tristan!”

She cheered, and Jaxon nodded.

~

Jordi stood by the patio entrance, listening. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Fabien standing there. Fabien wore a black Rat Fink t-shirt, blue jeans, and flip-flops.

Fabien: “Hey, Jordi, eavesdropping? How about that dinner you asked me to take a raincheck for?”

He grinned. Jordi grimaced at him.

Jodi: “You sent Blair after me at the theaters! You told him I was there on your Bungle server!”

He shot his forefinger at him. Fabien smirked.

Fabien: “Hey, Celeste told me where you were, and nothing with work came up. Also, Blair sent me the video where you confided in Tristan your true thoughts about me.”

He said with a smirk as he leaned over.

Jordi shifted his eyes and bowed his head.

Jordi: “I’m sorry, Fabien… I’m sorry you had to find out through HIM.”

He said with shame. Fabien rolled his eyes.

Fabien: “Spare me. You don’t have the balls to stand up to your shitty boss or your prick of a grandfather, so you won’t tell me how little you think of me!”

He spat. Anger flickered on Jordi’s face.

Jordi: “Excuse me?! I DO stand up to Minerva! I stand up to her often, as well as my grandfather! I didn’t want to tell you how I felt about you because I know your patterns, and I know I would be on your radar of bullying and making people’s lives miserable! I did this to avoid ALL OF THAT!”

He snapped.

Jordi: “You have this tendency to bully and belittle people for existing, all because you’re so unhappy with your life!”

He added. Fabien glowered at him.

Fabien: “Well, look at who’s pretending to be a psychologist now!”

He said dryly.

Jordi: “I feel many people feel the same way I do, but don’t say it to avoid your wrath, or don’t want to argue with you. You chose to remain with Craig; don’t take it out on others.”

He hissed.

Fabien: “And MAYBE I like doing this because it’s fun and funny! Life is not serious! You can’t change what Blair did to you, or that Fatley is a fat loser, so laugh at them! But you get your panties in a knot over BLAIR!”

He fielded scathingly. Jordi stepped forward.

Jordi: “BLAIR BULLIED ME AND BELITTLED ME FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT, FABIEN!”

He bellowed.

Jordi: “I didn’t ASK Mrs. Donati for food because I was greedy or wanted to antagonize Blair! I was hungry! My grandmother walked out on my grandfather and me! We had NOTHING!”

He cried. Fabien rolled his eyes.

Fabien: “Oh, boo fucking hoo. Look at Blair now. He’s a pathetic piece of crap, and you’re bent out of shape about him.”

He rolled his eyes.

Fabien: “You sound like Fatley! That fat sack of shit cries about Blair, too, and changes his or her gender every five minutes.”

He hissed.

Jordi pressed his hands against his temples.

Jordi: “Why do you feel this incessant need to bully Ashley?! Because they’re nonbinary? Or overweight? Or wear their heart on their sleeve?!”

He asked him sharply. Fabien shrugged.

Fabien: “Maybe all of it, and I never understood why any of you take to that fat whale, unless you all do it out of sympathy. Ah, yeah, that’s it. Sympathy.”

He laughed.

Jordi: “Or do you do this because you view them as being weak and by bullying them, you feel stronger? Because you didn’t exhibit much strength with Craig!”

He huffed. Fabien grimaced.

Fabien: “What does my being with that big loser have anything to do with me having a little fun? Lighten up, Jordi!”

He huffed and rolled his eyes.

Jordi: “Because you’re not happy that your time spent on Craig went in vain and you missed out on Jaxon.”

Fabien froze as if a knife had gone through his heart when he heard those words.

He turned to Jordi as his expression darkened.

Fabien: “So, you think you’re so high and mighty, and better than me, huh? Does Gina know you’re chasing after a man who’s already taken?”

He asked slowly. Jordi froze as Fabien’s words slashed at him.

Jordi: “I don’t know what you mean! I am not in a relationship with her anyway!”

He snapped. Fabien smirked and folded his arms over his chest.

Fabien: “That’s not what she told her family or what she thinks. You never corrected her or never broke things off, and here you’re chasing after Tristan and getting all flustered around him.”

He smirked.

Fabien: “Checkmate, bitch.”

Jordi felt his ire soar at Fabien.

Suddenly, the two men erupted into laughter as something brushed against their tummies, causing them to fall to their knees and burst out laughing.

Jordi: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!”

Fabien: “OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!”

They looked up to see Celeste, grinning down at them like a Cheshire cat as she removed their shoes and tickled her fingernails down the soles of their feet. Jordi and Fabien shrieked with laughter.

Jordi: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!! NOHOHOHOHOHO!!”

Fabien: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!! DAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAMN IT!!”

They both writhed and squirmed as she tickled their soft soles.

Celeste: “I’ll stop tickling you if you stop fighting and be friends again!”

She teased and licked both of their soles. They screamed with laughter.

Jordi: “NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!! PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEASE!! WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

Fabien: “NO!! HOHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NEHEHEHEHEVER!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

They laughed and tried to get away, but to no avail. Celeste grinned and stroked her long green locks on their soft soles. The men howled with laughter.

Fabien: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!! NO MOHOHOHOHOHOHORE!”

Jordi: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!! OH GEHEHEHEHEEHEZ!!! OH GOHOHOHOHOD!! MAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAKE IT STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!!”

They laughed as tears welled in their eyes and begged her to stop.

Celeste: “If you two stop fighting and be friends again!”

She smirked.

Jordi: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! OKAAHAHAHAHAHAHAY! WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!”

Fabien: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!!! WAHAHAHAHAAA!!! PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEASE!!”

They laughed hysterically on the verge of passing out.

Celeste stopped tickling the men, and both gasped and wheezed as they caught their breath. Jordi clasped his hand over his chest as he heaved.

He gasped and reddened when he saw Tristan standing before him.

Jordi: “T-Tristan! How much of that—?”

Tristan: “All of it, Jordi. We have acute hearing.”

He sighed. Jordi’s face turned beet red.

Tristan: “Fabien, you need to face and accept the fact that you wasted your time on a wastrel like Craig, and Jordi, you should have been honest and upfront with your feelings on Fabien. Not all friendships are built to last.”

He sighed.

Celeste: “No, they’re gonna be friends again.”

She pouted and hugged Fabien. Fabien patted her back.

Fabien: “I had no problem with Jordi until he said that stuff about me! I didn’t share things about Blair to rub it in. I wanted you to see he’s a loser and not worth being upset about.”

He stated to Jordi. Jordi drew a long breath.

Jordi: “I’m sorry, Fabien. I see what you mean. But it’s not just Blair… It’s everyone.”

He said firmly.

Fabien: “You don’t owe Fatley SHIT!”

He hissed. Jordi’s eyelids dipped.

Jordi: “...Actually, I do. Because of Gina, Hannah walked out on my grandfather, and he would have died if it were not for Ashley. It’s easy to say ‘oh, let him die,’ but I do want him and my grandmother to reconnect before he passes. If nothing else, I want him to have closure on why she left.”

He explained.

Fabien: “Sometimes, you’re not going to get that, and sometimes you don’t get what you want.”

He sighed, thinking of how he missed out on Jaxon.

Fabien: “Maybe the reason she left is simple and straightforward: he’s a prick and she felt constricted.”

He huffed.

Jordi bowed his head.

Jordi: “But why leave me behind?!”

He cried.

Tristan: “Perhaps she wasn’t in the right headspace, or perhaps she felt she was unworthy of you. Maybe this journey she had to take was one she felt she had to travel in solitude.”

He explained.

Tristan: “All we can do is speculate, but as Fabien said, sometimes we’re not going to get closure, and that is something we have to accept, sadly.”

He said calmly.

Jordi: “I feel Blair is bringing up a period of my life that I would rather forget, and it doesn’t apply to me now.”

Tristan: “Blair never had to struggle, and it’s painfully obvious. No one is judging you, Jordi. For all Fabien’s flaws, he never judged you for that.”

He nodded and smiled.

Tristan: “Blair also lives in the past, and he harps on Jaxon, Deimos, and me for not wanting to be his friend in high school. He doesn’t love Ashley; he loves HIS version of them. You can feel your feelings, and they’re valid, but I feel this is a person who is not worth getting upset about. He has nothing to show for himself. His fiancée is using him for his money, and to spite me, he has no friends, sans Yoshi, and no one likes him. All he does is whine and complain about nothing. He’s a laughing stock on Bungle.”

He smiled and nodded.

Tristan: “But you made something of yourself. You’re taking care of your grandfather, you helped Jaxon and us countless times, you’re earning your own money, and you have people who care about you and like you! You’re doing so much better than Blair.”

He said genially. Jordi beamed.

Celeste: “So now that I did that, I hope you can be friends!”

She nodded.

Jordi: “I’m open to it, but Fabien, stop insulting Ashley in front of me. They’re not a friend of mine, but I do owe them a favor. You don’t have to like them or agree with their lifestyle, but it’s not your life to live.”

He said gently but firmly.

Fabien: “Why? It seems like what you said to Tristan was a done deal. You don’t have to say that to make others happy.”

He hugged his knees.

Jordi: “Well, what do we have in common other than our former workplace?”

He asked him.

Fabien: “We have shitty parents or grandparents, in your case, and you were always kind to me. You never judged me or took advantage of me.”

He muttered. Celeste rubbed against Fabien like a cat. Jordi sighed.

Jordi: “Other than our trauma, what do we have in common? You seem to want to troll people, and I am not interested in that.”

He bowed his head.

Fabien patted Celeste’s head, grabbed his flip-flops, and slipped them on.

Fabien: “Forget it, Jordi. Your mind is made up, and I won’t be a sympathy pet for anyone. I am not Fatley. I know you all pretend to like them because you feel sorry for him or her or it, whatever it is now, and I won’t be that for anyone.”

He spat at Jordi. Jordi’s eyelids dipped.

Celeste: “But you were friends…”

She said, her voice trailing off.

Fabien: “That was then, Celeste. Jordi seems to think he’s better than me because he doesn’t work at Danny Donger’s.”

He flared hotly. Jordi angrily scrambled to his feet.

Jordi: “Now, don’t put words in my mouth! I never said that! I said I couldn’t work at Danny Donger’s anymore because the pay isn’t high enough to cover my property taxes, put food on the table, pay for a live-in caregiver, and cover the cost of my grandfather’s medication. It would be fine if it were just me! Danny Donger’s is far less demanding! I have duties! I don’t sit around all day trolling people!”

He fired back. Fabien glared at him. Tristan heaved a deep sigh.

Jordi: “This is WHY I wanted to avoid this! Blair fucks everything up for me YET AGAIN!”

He rasped.

Fabien: “That blue fucker just exposed you, and you got caught.”

He rolled his eyes.

Celeste: “I still like you lots, Fab!”

Fabien patted her head.

Fabien: “And I like you, too!”

He glared at Jordi.

Fabien: “Someone does. Enjoy your life, Jordi. Don’t ever think you’re better than me, though, because you’re not.”

He glanced at Tristan and left.

Celeste looked away sadly.

Tristan: “No, Celeste, a song from Vivienne will not solve this dilemma.”

He sighed. She pouted.

Jordi: “Nothing will.”

~

In Clerteaux, Nouvelle Gaule, there was a row of vineyards. A man’s purple-sleeved arm reached out, his pale hand inspecting the grapes. He gasped when he saw a little caterpillar crawl on the leaves. In an instant, he brushed the creatures off and crushed them beneath his white loafers. He walked away, leaving the remnants of the crushed caterpillar, struggling to get up until it died.