Chapter One-hundred Ninety: Ice Cavern

Chapter 190

Ice Cavern

Jaxon lay in bed, turned over, and tried to fall asleep that night. He wore a pair of black boxer briefs. He sighed and furrowed his eyebrows, thinking about how Tristan and Celeste were sleeping together because he had voiced his disapproval of Celeste wearing that sexy costume for Ichiro.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Gina rushed in. She wore a short purple silk night gown with spaghetti straps.

Gina: “JAXON!”

She screamed. Jaxon sat up.

Jaxon: “What is it?”

Gina: “SOMEONE IS IN MY BEDROOM!”

She cried.

Jaxon: “Oh, shit!”

He threw the sheets off himself, grabbed his silk dragon robe, and put it on, tying the sash.

He marched to her bedroom with Gina clutching his back. Jaxon looked around and growled.

Jaxon: “ICHIRO, SUGATA O MISERO!”

He commanded. He turned to see a corpulent figure. Gina screamed and clung to Jaxon’s chest. He held her, and the corpulent figure vanished. Gina cried on Jaxon’s chest. He sighed and held her close.

Jaxon: “It’s okay, he’s gone now.”

He smiled down at her.

Gina nestled into his arms, feeling safe and secure.

Gina: “That weirdo keeps coming back.”

She muttered.

Jaxon: “Do you know who he is?”

Gina shook her head. Jaxon bobbed his head.

Jaxon: “Anyway, I’m going to head back to bed. Get me if he comes back.”

He reassured her.

He sighed and left her there to return to his bedroom. Gina gazed at him, wishing he had slept with her instead.

~

That morning, after Jaxon showered, he came down wearing a red leopard print button-down shirt, tight black leather pants, and Chelsea boots. He went to the dining room. Gina rushed to him and wrapped her arms around him. She wore an off-shoulder purple dress with a large black buckle on her waist and purple leg warmers. Jaxon smiled and hugged her back.

Jaxon: “Yo.”

Gina: “I’m going shopping with Mommy. Be back later.”

She smiled and waved at him with her fingers.

Jaxon raised his head to see Balderico at the table. He wore a white pressed shirt, dark red pants, black cap-toe Oxfords, and a brown cardigan.

Balderico: “Well, good morning, Jiro! Nice to see you all grown up! Your father and I know each other very well, and I must say you did an amazing job protecting Gina!”

He cheered. Jaxon paused, and he felt a sinking feeling when he said that. Who is this man, and what does he want from me? He wondered.

Jaxon: “...Is that so?”

He forced a smile and swallowed hard, wanting to dig deeper. Balderico nodded.

The maid placed steamed rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and tamagoyaki on a plate, along with chopsticks, in front of him.

Balderico: “Your favorite, Jiro.”

He grinned. Jaxon’s mouth was agape.

Jaxon: “What’s this about? What do you want from me?”

He slid the dish away. Balderico smiled tightly.

Balderico: “Just some common hospitality, Jiro, for protecting my daughter after that greasy coal miner’s grandson broke her heart.”

He chuckled.

Jaxon: “What do you mean by common hospitality?”

His jaw tightened. What did I get myself into?! He wondered. Balderico’s eerie smile remained intact.

Balderico: “Jiro, let’s cut to the chase. I know you don’t want to wed Nobuyuki’s daughter, Noriko.”

He said coolly.

Jaxon: “So you’re blackmailing me?”

Balderico inhaled sharply.

Balderico: “That’s a harsh way of putting it. I prefer to call it ‘since I am protecting you from being trapped by the Nakamuras, you do this for me.’ ”

He beamed.

Jaxon’s heart hammered in his chest. He slowly began to rise.

Jaxon: “No, I knew she dated Jordi and was shitty to him! I don’t want to be in a relationship with her!”

He snapped and began to run, but two burly men in suits grabbed him before he could escape.

Jaxon: “HEY! LET ME GO! LET ME GO! CELESTE! HELP ME!”

He cried as he thrashed against their grip.

~

Jaxon was down in the basement, seated in a chair, his wrists shackled to arm bars, and his bare feet in stocks. Balderico smiled at Jaxon.

Balderico: “You’ve gotten yourself in quite the ticklish situation, Jiro.”

He teased. Jaxon glowered at him and struggled against his bonds.

Jaxon: “When my Green Queen finds me, she will chop you up, asshole!”

He sneered. Balderico held his forefinger up and shook it.

Balderico: “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, Jiro.”

He said wryly. Jaxon bared his teeth.

Balderico: “All you have to do is agree to date Gina! Better yet, propose to her for Christmas!”

He smiled.

Jaxon: “NO! I don’t WANT to date her, and I don’t WANT to marry her!”

He rasped. Balderico sighed.

Balderico: “Oh, well, I have ways of making you comply.”

He snapped his fingers.

A tall, solid white man towered over him. He wore a gimp mask, hot pants, and boots. He held up a feather and waved it around. Jaxon’s face went ashen. He whimpered and curled his toes. He dragged the feather across Jaxon’s soft soles. Jaxon screamed with laughter as the soft feather danced all over his soles and toes.

Jaxon: “ARGH! NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!! WAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAAA!! HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEHEHEHEHEHEEHEHEHEHEE!!!”

He screamed and thrashed with laughter.

Man: “Cootchie-cootchie-coo!”

He sang. Jaxon felt his fury soar and screamed through furious bouts of laughter.

Jaxon: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHAHAAA!! FUCK YOOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOU!! AHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!”

He threw his head back and laughed hysterically as tears streamed down his cheeks.

The gimp held his toes back and scrubbed all over his soles with an electric face scrubber. Jaxon caterwauled with hysterical laughter.

Jaxon: “AHAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!! AIYEEEEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEEEEE!! WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA! NOHOHOHOHOHOOOO!!!”

He whined as he laughed and wheezed in between laughing. His face was as red as his hair stripe.

The gimp stopped tickling Jaxon. He panted and heaved rapidly. Balderico loomed over him.

Balderico: “Do I have my answer, Jiro?”

Jaxon panted.

Jaxon: “NOHOHOHOHOHOHO!”

He whined and struggled against his bonds. Balderico snapped his fingers. The gimp held up cat massagers and turned them on. Jaxon screamed and wailed.

Jaxon: “NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!”

He whined and laughed.

The gimp scrubbed his bare feet with the cat massagers, and Jaxon’s hysterical laughter filled the house.

Jaxon: “AIYEEEEEEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOOOOO!! NOHOHOHOHOHOOOHOHOHO!!”

He laughed hard and gasped in between laughing. This took a toll on him, leaving him exhausted.

Balderico: “I can do this all night, Jiro.”

He grinned. Jaxon panted and glared at him with hatred.

~

Celeste went with Trevor to Pink Top General Hospital to deliver from Jumbo Jones’ Grocery. Celeste wore a Warlock Tank Top, a leather skirt, nylon stockings, black ankle strap boots, and a leather jacket. Trevor wore his Jumbo Jones’ uniform consisting of a short-sleeved white pressed shirt, a necktie, black trousers, sneakers, and a black apron.

They went up to Blair’s room to see Blair in his bed with his bandages removed and a few stitches on his face. He wore a shirt that read “Christmas is a time for true love.” Ashley sat in the room, looking as if they were somewhere else. They were dressed in jean shorts with a purple paisley shirt. They brightened and came to life when they saw Celeste enter the room. Ashley: “Green kitty Queen!”

They gasped, rushing over to her and hugging her. Celeste hugged them back.

Celeste: “Got ya a potted plant.”

She handed them a small potted sunflower. Ashley's eyes lit up with glee.

Ashley: “Aww! My favorite—”

Blair smacked it from her hands, where it smashed on the floor. Celeste looked distraught when she saw the pot smash on the floor.

Blair: “That would set off allergies!”

He huffed. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “Wh-What did you do that for?! I don't have any allergies?”

They cried, kneeling to the sunflower, trying to salvage it.

Trevor raised his bag.

Trevor: “Special delivery from Jumbo Jones!”

Blair: “It’s about time! I ordered that five minutes ago!”

He groused. Ashley drew a breath at Blair. Trevor pulled out the container of spaghetti.

Blair: “Did you remember the stinky cheese?”

He asked. Trevor gaped at him.

Trevor: “What?”

Blair: “The stinky cheese that smells like Ashley’s feet.”

He teased with a grin. Celeste cringed, feeling secondhand embarrassment. Ashley gaped at Blair.

Ashley: “Uhm, what?! My feet don't smell like stinky cheese!”

They knit their eyebrows, feeling humiliated and insulted. Blair laughed.

Blair: “Oh, yes, they do, Ashley!”

He teased and laughed.

Trevor: “Wow, and I thought Larry sucked at being romantic!”

He scratched his ass.

Ashley: “Why are you so mean?! That's not romantic! That's mean and lying!”

They cried at Blair.

Blair: “I was just teasing, Ashley! It’s what lovers do: tease each other.”

He smiled. Ashley frowned at him.

Ashley: “No, it's not!”

Celeste: “Nah, you’re just being an unfunny dickhead.”

She drawled.

Ashley nodded in agreement and stood close to her.

Celeste: “Also, the fuck is ‘stinky cheese’? You can say Parmesan cheese. You’re not five years old!”

She huffed. Ashley laughed.

Ashley: “Well… he sleeps in a race car bed…”

They laughed bitterly.

Blair: “Yeah, I don’t remember inviting you or asking for your stupid gifts. I ordered spaghetti with stinky cheese, and now you’re gaslighting Ashley into thinking me teasing them is me being mean!”

He snapped.

Ashley: “She's my friend! And you're gaslighting by lying about my feet stinking when they don't! Your feet smell like poo, like your attitude!”

They cried back at him. Blair frowned.

Blair: “No, they don’t, Ashley! Why are you being like that?! I was teasing as lovers do, and now you’re being mean LIKE HER! I want her out of here!”

He whined.

Ashley: “Well, YOU said lovers tease each other, and I'm just doing what you said to do and did to me! Not so nice when the shoe is on the other foot, is it?!”

They cried.

Blair: “Uh-oh, Ashley is gonna remove their shoes! Better get out, guys!”

He teased. Ashley pouted at him, wanting to take their sandals off and throw them at him.

Ashley: “I'm wearing sandals, you dumb-head!”

Tristan entered carrying a potted sunflower for Ashley. He wore a navy three-piece Italian-cut suit, a white pressed shirt, a black tie, and black wingtip Oxfords. Ashley brightened again when they saw Tristan, and they ran up to him, greeting him with a hug. Tristan hugged them back.

Ashley: “Tristan!”

They gasped and smiled at him, happy to see him, too.

Tristan: “Silence, you tool.”

He said coldly. Blair smacked the pot out of his hand, where it smashed on the floor. Tristan drew an exasperated breath.

Blair: “Your gifts stink!”

He snapped. Ashley's bottom lip trembled.

Ashley: “No, YOU stink, just like your feet!”

They cried. Blair sobbed.

Blair: “Ashley, stop being mean! It’s HER fault!”

He pointed to Celeste.

Ashley: “Blair, stop stinking! It's your fault! Uh-oh, Blair is gonna remove his shoes! Better get out, guys!”

They countered, echoing him. Blair sat there as his face contorted with rage.

Celeste: “Donut worry, Blair. They’re teasing you because they love you!”

She smiled.

Blair: “SHUT UP!!”

He screamed at her and flailed his arms.

Celeste: “Uh-oh, someone needs their back patted and to be burped.”

She said wryly.

Tristan: “Don’t give him ideas, Celeste.”

Tristan cleared his throat.

Tristan: “Daisy from Sole Desire called me.”

Ashley perked up.

Ashley: “Ooh, soul desire? What's that?”

They titled their head with a smile.

Blair: “It doesn’t matter, Ashley! It’s fetish crap!”

He huffed.

Trevor: “Oooooh, you’re modeling your sexy, slender feet!”

He drooled. Tristan gaped at him.

Ashley: “Ooooh! Can I do that too?!”

Blair: “NO!!”

He screamed.

Tristan drew a long breath.

Tristan: “Not quite… She called to say Jaxon hasn’t shown up for his photoshoot.”

Trevor kicked the floor.

Trevor: “Bummer. My Jaxon fap session will be later than usual.”

Celeste: “He never bails on those, even when he was with Deimos and crap.”

She folded her arms and pouted.

Ashley: “Oh dear, is he okay?”

They asked with concern.

Blair: “STOP DISCUSSING FETISH CRAP, YOU FAT LOSERS!”

He cried and covered Ashley’s ears. Ashley frowned at him and pulled away.

Ashley: “They're not fat. What's wrong with being fat and liking fetish stuff, Blair?”

They folded their arms across their chest and pouted.

Blair: “Fetish crap is for abusers, Ashley! And for beatniks and losers!”

He replied. Ashley bowed their head and shook it.

Ashley: “No, it’s not! You’re such a wet blanket!”

Blair sneered at them.

Celeste: “Fuck what Blair says because it’s garbage. Why hasn’t Jaxon shown up to his session? And why did Daisy call you?”

Tristan: “My guess is Jaxon put me as an emergency contact.”

Trevor: “Oh, I think I know why he bailed.”

He drawled and scratched his ass. Celeste and Tristan gaped at him.

Trevor: “I made deliveries of groceries to the Belloni place and saw his car in the driveway.”

Celeste gawked at him.

Celeste: “Why the fuck is he at Jordi’s ex’s place?”

Tristan: “An excellent question, and is he there willingly?”

He cupped his chin. Ashley tilted their head.

Celeste: “Trevor, take me to that place. I gotta get to the bottom of this. He might be in trouble.”

Tristan gave her the side-eye.

Tristan: “What if he moved on?”

Celeste flapped her arms.

Celeste: “Because he didn’t! My Jaxon senses are tingling!”

She said doggedly.

Ashley: “Oh no! I hope everything is okay!”

They said earnestly.

Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “Well, Ashley, we’d best get going. We have to rescue Jaxon from the dancing behemoth while you tend to the whining behemoth.”

He said wryly.

Ashley: “Oh dear! He’s dealing with a female Blair!”

They cupped their mouth.

Ashley: “Blairhemoth…”

Trevor grabbed Tristan and Celeste and teleported away. Blair sneered at Ashley.

Blair: “When I get out, you’re not going to talk to those losers ever again!”

He snapped. Ashley’s jaw dropped.

Ashley: “What?! But they’re my friends, and they’re not losers!”

They cried.

Blair: “Well, I could tell the cops about who tried to kill me then!”

He huffed. Ashley knit their eyebrows.

Ashley: “You’re EVIL!”

They cried at him.

Blair: “Take that back!”

He snapped.

Ashley: “It’s the truth and not a lie!”

They cried. Blair held up the call button.

Blair: “Take it back!”

He commanded. Ashley swallowed hard.

Ashley: “Fine. You’re not evil, you’re a being of pure rainbows and light!”

They sang in a saccharine tone, plastering a strained smile across their face. Blair beamed.

Blair: “Awwww, you’re the best, Ashley!”

He cooed. Ashley glowered at him, wishing there was some way out of this.

~

Celeste, Tristan, and Trevor teleported inside the Belloni manor. Celeste gasped when she heard Jaxon laughing hysterically.

Celeste: “Jaxon?!”

She screamed and followed the trail of his laughter.

Jaxon: “CEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHELEHEHEHEHEHESTE?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!”

She heard him cry out between exhausted breaths of laughter from the basement.

Tristan: “Celeste, wait up!”

He called out as he rushed to her.

Trevor: “Oh, yay, Jaxon tickles!”

Celeste rushed down the basement stairs, where she saw Jaxon strapped to a chair, his ankles locked in the stocks, and cat massagers taped to his feet as he laughed and screamed.

Jaxon: “CEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHELEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHESTE?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHA THAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHANK GOHOHOHOHOHOHOD!”

His face was beet red, and tears streamed down his cheeks as he was on the verge of passing out.

Celeste hurried down, turned off the cat massagers, and took them off his feet. Jaxon hung his head and threw it back, panting as tears rolled down his cheeks. Tristan and Trevor came down the stairs.

Trevor: “Aw, man, I didn’t get to see one second of Jaxon tickles.”

He whined.

As Celeste was about to release Jaxon from his bonds, she was punched across the room. She hit the wall with a thud, leaving a dent, and then collapsed to the floor. Tristan gasped and cupped his hand over his mouth as he saw Dougal hovering over her in his golden armor.

Dougal: “Get your bloody fuckin’ hands off my Schmoodar, ya daft cow! It’s THE GOLD TODGER here to get him to ride my fat todger!”

He laughed.

Celeste grabbed Dougal’s leg and flung him across the room.

Celeste: “Fuck off, Golden Dickhead!”

She rasped.

Dougal: “YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGGHHHH!!”

Tristan growled and released a blast of ice, slamming him into the wall and freezing him solid.

Tristan: “That will keep you subdued.”

He huffed.

Celeste began to unbind Jaxon’s restraints. Everyone heard the ice start to crack. Tristan slowly turned his eyes toward Dougal. The ice broke apart, and Dougal freed himself, smashing through the ice while shards scattered across the floor.

Dougal: “SILLY TWINK! DOUGIE HAS ICE-PROOF ARMOR!”

He laughed.

Tristan turned ashen. Celeste growled and charged at him with a mighty roar. She lunged at him, delivering several blows to his armor. Dougal laughed.

Dougal: “Aw, ya soddin’ bint, you must be at sixes and sevens! I’m chuffed with this armor Narcisse gave me!”

He chuckled and pushed her aside. She crashed into the wall.

Dougal: “And that ain’t all! It’s ice-proof!”

Tristan: “Yes, Dougal, you told me. You only have to tell me something once.”

He narrowed his eyes into dark slits.

Dougal’s rocket boots ignited, and he flew toward Tristan, slamming him into the wall and pinning his wrists. Celeste shook her head to clear the rubble and gasped.

Celeste: “Tristan!”

She screamed. Suddenly, she, Trevor, and Jaxon were enclosed in purple bubbles.

Jaxon: “Wh-What the?!”

Celeste: “These fucking bubbles again!”

Trevor: “At least I am not trapped with that fat guy in the gold suit because his farts stink.”

He groused and fanned his face. Celeste pounded the surface.

Celeste: “TRISTAN!”

She screamed.

Dougal spread his smile to reveal his spaced-out, ugly brown teeth. Tristan panted and looked at Dougal with complete fear in his eyes.

Dougal: “Oh, my lovely Tristan! I’ve been waiting for this since ya were seventeen and I finally get to shag ya!”

He licked his face. Tristan winced, and his bottom lip trembled. He squeezed his eyes shut and looked away when he heard the crotch part of Dougal’s armor click.

Tristan panted as his fear grew. Ice began to form around him and on the floors, with thick icicles hanging down from the ceiling. Ice formed around the barriers where Celeste, Jaxon, and Trevor were kept. Celeste and Trevor looked around, and Celeste locked her gaze on Tristan. She breathed on the surface of the bubble and wiped it. She gasped as she saw that the entire basement was an ice cavern.

Celeste: “What the fuck?”

She said breathlessly.

Dougal slammed Tristan against the floor.

Tristan: “GET OFF ME!”

He cried as ice formed around Dougal’s arms. Dougal chuckled.

Dougal: “Won’t do ya any good, my sexy schmoodar!”

Suddenly, the basement door slammed shut. It was frozen tight with thick ice. As the banging persisted, the ice began to crack and shatter. There was a pause, and it broke open as Deimos kicked his way inside, breaking the ice and the door.

Deimos: “TRISTAN!”

He bellowed as he ran down the thick, icy stairs. Tristan gasped to see Deimos. Dougal bared his teeth. Deimos’ eyes burned with fury to see Dougal’s bent member out.

Deimos: “YOU FAT FUCK!!”

He roared and lunged at him to deliver a punch.

When Deimos’ fist hit Dougal’s armor, it shattered into pieces and knocked Dougal off. The impact caused Dougal’s naked body to crash into the ice wall.

Dougal: “ARGH!!!”

Deimos threw a right hook at Dougal, then a left hook, and kept socking him.

Deimos: “STAY AWAY FROM TRISTAN! I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!”

He shouted as he repeatedly punched Dougal, breaking his nose and giving him two black eyes.

Dougal: “YARRRRRRRGHHHHH!!”

He cried in pain.

Deimos’ jaw tightened, and he let out a mighty roar as he delivered a brutal uppercut, knocking some teeth out and sending Dougal crashing into the icy floor, which cracked upon impact.

Tristan sat up and rubbed his forehead. Deimos rushed to him and knelt to him.

Deimos: “He didn’t, did he?”

He said anxiously and saw that Tristan’s pants were still fastened. Tristan shook his head. Deimos breathed a sigh of relief.

He wrapped his arms around Tristan, caressing his hair. Tristan’s eyes widened, and his arms rose to hug him back.

The bubbles where Celeste, Jaxon, and Trevor were kept popped. Celeste held Jaxon in her arms as she landed on the floor. Trevor fell on his ass.

Trevor: “OOF!”

Narcisse watched from behind a corner with a big grin and smiled at the remote. Ah, that fat whale of a man doesn’t realize who calls the shots, even with his ridiculous suit of armor, he thought.

~

They were all outside of the Belloni manor. Jaxon had his shoes back on and heaved a deep sigh.

Jaxon: “I guess I should get back to the hotel.”

Celeste: “Why were you there?”

Jaxon: “Gina was being harassed at the Starlight Club. She wanted me to spend the night, and I did… I slept in the guest bedroom.”

He explained.

Celeste: “You don’t have to play the hero for everyone who thinks they need saving.”

She huffed and folded her arms. Jaxon embraced himself.

Tristan: “What Celeste means is that Gina is a parasite, Jaxon. Look at how she treated Jordi. Do you think her treatment of you would fare much better?”

He asked him. Jaxon glared at him.

Jaxon: “I don’t remember asking you anything. I don’t want to look at you! You slept with her knowing we’re trying to work things out, and you ruined that!”

He snapped. Deimos looked away. Tristan heaved a deep sigh.

Celeste: “Nah, Jaxon, YOU ruined that. You fucked Deimos because I was sick of you being all sad about some girl dying!”

She fired back as she pointed at his chest. Jaxon looked away with hurt.

Tristan put his hands up.

Tristan: “Look, Jaxon, Celeste, and I know that was a one-time deal, and it won’t happen again.”

Jaxon waved his hand at him.

Jaxon: “Whatever. I don’t care.”

He said with hurt in his tone and marched back to his car.

Tristan sighed and turned his attention to Deimos.

Tristan: “Thank you, Deimos.”

He said genially. Deimos smiled a bit.

Deimos: “Anything for you, Tristan.”

Tristan looked away.

Tristan: “This doesn’t mean we’re going to work out.”

He said tersely. Deimos drew a long breath.

Deimos: “Why do you shut me out like that? When I held you, some of that ice melted! You know you want to talk to me!”

He said doggedly. Tristan looked away and pursed his lips.

Tristan: “...I have work to do.”

He said slowly and walked down the driveway.

Celeste gaped at Deimos.

Celeste: “How did you break Dougal’s armor? I tried punching it, and it didn’t make a dent.”

Deimos: “I’m worried less about that and more about fixing what I have with Tristan!”

He snapped at her and stormed off to his car.

Trevor: “Maybe Deimos hit a self-destruct button or something?”

He scratched his ass.

~

Balderico gaped at his entire basement, which had become an ice cavern. Narcisse chuckled.

Narcisse: “My naughty little nephew is… something else!”

He smiled and cupped his mouth. Balderico turned to him so fast he almost toppled over.

Balderico: “Your nephew turned MY BASEMENT into an ice cavern!”

He snapped.

Narcisse: “Aren’t you an observant fellow?”

He teased. Balderico glared at him.

Balderico: “What has working with you gotten me?! Your nephew is blackmailing me, Jiro won’t date my daughter, and I am no closer to exacting revenge on Jordi for breaking my daughter’s heart!”

He snapped and stomped his foot with each syllable. Narcisse smiled.

Narcisse: “That takes time, Balderico. You wait for a quality meal, but something cheap and bad for you, like Voyage Burger, takes seconds.”

He nodded. Balderico glared at him.

Balderico: “I see your point, but I think I’m no closer to getting where I want! My basement is an ice cavern, and Jiro isn’t dating my daughter!”

He barked. Narcisse sighed and smiled.

Narcisse: “Simple Simon met a pieman.”

He muttered.

Narcisse: “I had to wait decades to witness my nephew tap into his potential. Decades, while I raised Victor and Charlotte’s other son and waited for the right opportunity to bring my nephew back to where my darling sister and I were raised.”

He smiled. Balderico glared at him.

Balderico: “That’s nice, but that isn’t solving my BASEMENT BEING RUINED.”

He bellowed.

Narcisse: “Tantrums won’t get you closer to your goals, my friend.”

He smirked.

Balderico: “Well, working with you has been a waste of my time. See yourself out and take your fat yutz with you.”

He snapped and marched away.

Narcisse’s right eye twitched, and he turned to Balderico, squeezing his fist. No one breaks an agreement with me and gets away with it, he thought.