Chapter One-hundred Ninety-Two: Blair's Leverage

Chapter 192

Blair’s Leverage

Blair and Ashley walked through the mall, Fabien filming them on his BlairCam. Celeste followed along. She wore a white tiger-striped tank top, a leather skirt, black stockings, black ankle-strap boots, and a leather jacket.

Blair: “Why does SHE have to follow us?!”

He huffed. Ashley frowned at Blair.

Ashley: “Because she’s awesome and she’s like a kitty!”

They pouted at him and smiled at Celeste.

Fabien: “Security, in case someone breaks up the happy couple! I would die if someone came between you and Ashley, Blair. You two are couple goals.”

He laughed. Blair beamed. Ashley frowned.

Ashley: “Oh, I get it, it’s a funny joke, hahaha!”

They laughed bitterly.

They approached Douglass, the talking Christmas tree.

Celeste: “Look, it’s a big talking tree!”

She pointed to him. Ashley brightened a bit and laughed.

Douglass: “Sure am, pretty lady!”

Blair: “Don’t encourage her! The star of the show is Ashley!”

He smiled and put his arm around them. Ashley shuddered when they felt his arm around them. He grinned and groped their boobs. Ashley jolted and yelped, pulling away from him.

Ashley: “HEY! Wh-What are you doing?!”

They cried and covered their hands over their breast.

Fabien snorted and burst out laughing.

Fabien: “Blair makes sure romance is never dead with his ladylove.”

He snorted.

Ashley: “It was never alive, and I’m not a lady!”

They cried. Fabien laughed loudly.

Douglass: “Hey, there are kids around, young man!”

Blair: “Oh, it’s just a slip of my hands! Lots of couples do it!”

He laughed. Ashley frowned at Blair and wrapped their faux fur coat around their chest.

Celeste: “There’s a stand with fudge!”

She pointed to a vendor selling homemade fudge. Ashley’s eyes lit up.

Ashley: “Ooh, fudge!”

They beamed.

Blair: “Yeah, I don’t want Ashley to become a blimp, so no.”

He huffed. Ashley frowned at him.

Ashley: “How much is the fudge?”

They approached the vendor.

Vendor: “Fourteen dollars for a block, twenty-five for a box of fudge.”

He drawled.

Ashley: “Ooh, can I get a box, please?!”

They exclaimed.

Ashley: “And can I get one for my friend?”

They smiled at Celeste.

Celeste: “Gimme Rocky Road!”

The vendor nodded and began placing the fudge in two boxes.

Ashley: “Yay!”

They beamed.

Fabien: “Maybe the fudge will go to her boobs, Blair.”

He laughed. Blair beamed widely.

Blair: “Yeah, Ashley, your boobs need to be bigger!”

He shouted. Ashley frowned at Blair, feeling humiliated.

Ashley: “...You sound like Maxx.”

They twisted their mouth. Blair stomped his feet and cried.

Blair: “NO, I DON’T!”

He whined.

Ashley: “Nah-ah.”

They echoed back at him.

Fabien laughed loudly.

Fabien: “Couple goals.”

He snorted.

Ashley: “No, it’s not! Are you and Celeste a couple now or something?”

They asked them.

Fabien: “Yeah, I would say so!”

Celeste: “Yeah, for sure!”

She took a piece of fudge from the box and ate some.

Ashley: “Oh, congrats!”

They smiled a bit, happy for Celeste, but forced a smile for Fabien.

Ichiro snuck around, wearing a fedora over his ensemble. He rolled his eyes. I don’t know how that woman can find Blair charming, but better make his last moments memorable, he thought with a grin.

Fabien: “So how was dinner, Blair?”

He laughed.

Blair: “I don’t know why she gave Ashley their pizza before mine?!”

He stomped his feet. Ashley drew a breath.

Ashley: “I don’t know… maybe if you were nice, you could have gotten your pizza.”

They sighed with annoyance at him. They didn’t know how much longer they could take of him.

Blair’s eyes lit up. In the window of one of the dress shops, he saw a mannequin wearing a red sequin ball gown with puffy gold sleeves, gold running up the sides of the dress and the bodice, and a gold tiara of diamonds and rubies. Ashley tilted their head and looked at the dress.

Ashley: “Uhh, wow, that’s very Ivy…”

They scratched their head, noting the red and gold gown he was staring at.

Blair: “Ivy would wear a Chinese dress or something not in English.”

He laughed.

Blair: “Ivy is also in the past.”

He put his arm around Ashley. Ashley shuddered.

Blair: “The Donati Christmas Gala is coming before you know it, Ashley… and I think this dress would look great on you.”

He smiled at them. Ashley stepped back and gaped at him.

Ashley: “...Uhh, me in a dress? THAT dress? I’m not a woman, Blair…”

Their voice cracked.

Blair: “I know, Ashley, but you’re not a man! And you have to be the princess of my ball!”

He smiled and awkwardly kissed their head. Ashley recoiled and slinked away from him.

Ashley: “I’m not a woman either, and I’m not a doll you can dress up!”

They cried.

Blair: “Well, what would you wear? Outdated suits from ten years ago?”

He asked sharply. Ashley frowned.

Ashley: “I’d wear what I want to wear, even if it’s ‘outdated suits from ten years ago’.”

They countered.

Blair saw a cop walking by.

Blair: “Okay, I will tell that cop what Lazaros did to me that night, then.”

He said with a smile. Ashley’s shoulders dropped, and their heart sank.

Ashley: “You’re so cruel!”

They cried.

Blair: “Am not! Take it back!”

He commanded.

Ashley: “Whatever… have it your way.”

They mumbled and pouted.

Fabien approached them.

Fabien: “That’s a gaudy dress. Do they sell it for fat women, too?”

He laughed. Ashley perked up.

Ashley: “Oh, damn, they don’t have it in my size. What a pity!”

They feigned sadness, clicking their thumb.

Fabien: “I asked if they sold it for fat women, not that they don’t.”

He laughed. Ashley frowned.

Ashley: “Well, I’m not a fat woman. That would be Makayla.”

They pouted.

Fabien: “Nah, that’s a beached whale.”

He cackled. Ashley laughed a bit.

Celeste stood before the same shop, gazing at a purple sequin gown with a slit up the right and a V-neckline. Jaxon stood behind her. He wore a red button-down leopard print shirt, black leather pants, and Chelsea boots.

Jaxon: “You want that dress?”

Celeste shrugged.

Celeste: “Where would I wear it?”

Jaxon: “Maybe I could take you to a nice restaurant?”

He smiled. She bowed her head.

Jaxon: “Percy is building our house. Should be done soon.”

Celeste: “It’s your house.”

She pouted. Jaxon looked away with hurt in his eyes.

Jaxon: “Getting information about Borko is not worth it.”

He said with hurt. Celeste looked away.

Ichiro raised an eyebrow. Why do they want intel on Borko? He wondered. Do they know he was my mentor? He mused.

Blair: “NO! NO! NO! THAT DRESS IS TOO SKIMPY FOR ASHLEY!”

He screamed. Ashley turned to the dress and Celeste.

Ashley: “Uhh, I think that’s for Celeste! She’d look really nice in that!”

They chirped. Celeste smiled a bit.

Jaxon: “I don’t mind getting it for you, babe. We can go to a nice restaurant… and talk.”

He said gently. Celeste’s eyelashes dipped.

Tristan, Jordi, and Madelyn approached them.

Tristan: “Hello, everyone, still suffering the aftermath of Blair’s tantrum?”

He said wryly. Ashley sighed and nodded.

Ashley: “Aiutami…”

They sighed with pleading eyes.

Jaxon: “Get lost! Can’t you see Celeste and I are trying to work things out?”

He said acidly.

Tristan: “Jaxon, I am not the enemy. I apologize for what happened. I want nothing more than for your happiness.”

Jaxon: “Whatever.”

He huffed.

Fabien: “Well, you can handle MY joystick.”

He winked.

Jaxon: “NO!”

He rasped. Madelyn gaped at them all.

Madelyn: “Whoa…”

She said awkwardly.

Jordi: “So why are you looking at dresses?”

Ashley drew a long breath. Good question, they thought.

Blair: “Listen, you fat cupcake head, I am getting THAT DRESS for Ashley for the Donati Christmas Gala! You’re not invited, you fat pig!”

He screamed at him. Jordi glared at him. Ashley furrowed their eyebrows at Blair.

Ashley: “Don't be mean! He's not fat or a cupcake head! I told you… I’m not a woman, Blair…”

They said exasperatedly.

Jordi: “I didn’t ask you, Blair.”

He hissed.

Madelyn: “Fat? Jordi is literally slimmer than you!”

She laughed at Blair.

Blair: “HE IS NOOOOOOOOOOOOTTT!!”

He screamed at her. Jordi glared at Blair.

Tristan: “Is that so, Blair? The last time I checked, you’re not running the gala, so you have no say in who gets an invitation.”

He said coolly.

Blair: “I DO SO, LAMB CHOPS!”

He screamed at him. Madelyn laughed at his insult.

Madelyn: “Lamb chops?!”

Suddenly, Blair was pushed aside. Deimos moved in front of Tristan.

Deimos: “Get lost, dickhead!”

Blair fell to the floor and cried. Ashley sighed in relief and couldn't help thinking of Lazaros when they saw Deimos. Deimos turned to Tristan.

Deimos: “Tristan, we need to talk.”

Tristan: “About what?”

He turned around.

Deimos: “About us!”

He took his hand. Tristan knit his eyebrows and sighed.

Blair: “Well, while you LOSERS scream about NOTHING, I am gonna get that dress for Ashley!”

He shouted.

Ashley: “I don't want to wear a dress or that dress!”

They cried.

Blair: “Tristan, you’re a lawyer, right?”

He grinned.

Tristan: “Indeed, I am. Aren’t you observant today?”

He said dryly.

Blair: “So I could report a crime to you?”

Tristan raised an eyebrow. Ashley’s heart sank.

Tristan: “...Yes?”

Madelyn: “What crime? That Ashley doesn't want to wear your stupid dress?”

She said to Blair.

Blair: “A crime I know a certain Katsaros did.”

He gave Ashley the side-eye. Ashley glared at him.

Ashley: “Okay, fine! I'll wear your ugly dress!”

They cried and threw their arms up. Tristan raised an eyebrow. Deimos rolled his eyes.

Blair: “Forget what I said, Tristan!”

He smiled and ran into the dress shop. Tristan glared at him. No, I won’t forget what you said, he thought.

Jordi: “So did any of you get invitations to the Donati Christmas Gala?”

He asked.

Tristan: “Yes, I did.”

He replied.

Deimos: “You’re coming with me, Tristan.”

He knit his eyebrows.

Tristan: “Stop it, Deimos.”

Deimos bowed his head and looked away.

Jaxon: “Yeah, I got one through Percy.”

Fabien: “I stole one from the man who tells the future with a children’s card game.”

He laughed.

Jaxon: “Great, now shove it up your ass.”

He hissed. Fabien smirked.

Fabien: “Oooh, kinky!”

Blair came from the store with a giant box in his hands.

Blair: “They had it in your size, Ashley. Oh, when I make the big announcement, you will dazzle in this dress.”

He beamed.

Ashley: “Oh… why is that? Are you getting me a cat?”

They forced a smile, trying to be optimistic.

Blair: “We can get you another cat, but no, that is not my big announcement! That will be made when we get to Santa’s workshop!”

He beamed, putting his arm over them and sneaking a grope on their boob. Ashley yanked away.

Ashley: “Please don't do that! I told you to stop!”

They cried at him. Blair laughed.

Blair: “Slip of the hand, my turtle dove!”

He chuckled. Tristan rolled his eyes. Madelyn gaped at Blair.

Blair: “When we do it, it will be magical.”

Tristan cringed. Ashley’s heart sank.

Ashley: “...Do what?”

They pressed him.

Blair: “Do it! You know! That thing couples do!”

Fabien laughed at him. Jordi rubbed his temples. Tristan rolled his eyes.

Madelyn: “I don't think Ashley wants to fuck you, Blair.”

She laughed at him. Ashley’s heart sank.

Blair: “You don’t have to be so crude!”

He chided her.

Blair: “And you don’t speak for them! They want it.”

He beamed.

Ashley: “NO!”

They blurted out and glared at him, shoving him away from them.

Blair gaped at them and turned to Tristan.

Blair: “Tristan, you’re a lawyer, right?”

Tristan: “Do I need to remind you? What do you want to tell me, Blair?”

He asked exasperatedly.

Blair: “About a crime done to me.”

He gave Ashley the side-eye. Ashley glared at him with hatred.

Ashley: “STOP. IT.”

They hissed at him like a cat.

Tristan: “What is it, Blair?”

He pressed him.

Blair: “About Halloween night.”

He smirked. Ashley grabbed Blair's arm and slapped their hand over his mouth.

Ashley: “DON'T!”

They cried.

Tristan surveyed them and smiled.

Tristan: “Blair, what Ashley means is they want to wait until after you two wed. That’s all it is.”

He assured him. Ashley felt like the floor opened under their feet, and they were falling into the pit of hell. Oh, no, marriage with Blair?! Please no! They thought.

Blair: “Oh, I knew that, stupid!”

He laughed at Tristan. Tristan smirked. Deimos gaped at him.

Blair pointed to the children’s train ride.

Blair: “Come on, Ashley, let’s ride that! I think it’s safe enough, if not daring!”

He grinned. Ashley rolled their eyes.

Ashley: “Oh, are you sure it's safe?”

They asked sarcastically.

Blair: “That is a GREAT question! Come on, I will go ask the ride attendant.”

He took their hand and led them to the ride. Ashley groaned and shuddered like a cat being dragged around by a child.

Deimos turned to Tristan and took him aside.

Deimos: “Why did you do that?”

He asked him.

Tristan: “Because that little shit is blackmailing them with what happened to him on Halloween night!”

He whispered hoarsely. Deimos looked away.

Deimos: “So you’re protecting me?”

He said with hope in his eyes. Tristan glared at him.

Tristan: “Ashley wouldn’t go this far for you, Deimos.”

Deimos sighed.

Deimos: “So you think Lazaros did this?”

The two men watched Blair scream in terror as he and Ashley rode in the child’s train car. Ashley covered their ears, with their back to him.

Tristan: “...No, I don’t, but my hunches won’t prove anything to a court of law.”

He said, his voice trailing off.

Deimos: “Tristan, I didn’t beat Blair that badly.”

Tristan: “I never insinuated that, and using you as leverage wouldn’t affect Ashley.”

Priscilla was walking with her nanny, Mrs. Westwood. Mrs. Westwood was an older white lady with silver hair in a bun, dressed in a cardigan, a long skirt, and loafers. Pricilla wore a floral pink dress, white socks, and black Mary Janes. Her face lit up when she saw Jordi. She ran from her nanny to Jordi.

Priscilla: “JORDI!!”

She hugged his legs. Jordi was taken aback by her action and knelt before her.

Jordi: “Hello, Priscilla.”

Priscilla glanced at Tristan, who approached Jordi.

Priscilla: “Oooh, who’s he? Is he another prince? He’s handsome!”

She smiled. Tristan chuckled and knelt to her level.

Tristan: “Hello, little one. I’m Tristan Trémaux, a friend of Jordi’s.”

Priscilla: “Why do you talk different?”

She asked him. Tristan laughed and shifted his eyes.

Tristan: “What do you mean?”

Deimos rolled his eyes.

Priscilla: “You say ‘Hello’ and ‘Jordi’ different!”

She chirped. Tristan laughed.

Tristan: “Oh, it’s because I am French!”

Priscilla’s eyes lit up.

Priscilla: “Are you a prince, too?”

Tristan chuckled. Deimos rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “I sure am!”

He laughed a bit. Her eyes lit up, and she took his hand.

Priscilla: “I want you and Jordi to come with me to see Santa!”

She tugged on his and Tristan’s hands.

Tristan looked at the gateway to see Santa, and the candy cane-striped sign read, “Santa is taking a break and will return in thirty minutes.”

Tristan: “Unfortunately, it seems like Santa is taking a break, so why don’t we talk to Douglass to pass the time?”

He suggested.

Celeste and Jaxon approached them.

Celeste: “I think we need a break from Blair.”

Priscilla stared at Jaxon.

Priscilla: “Are you a prince, too?”

She asked. Jaxon laughed and nodded.

Jaxon: “I sure am! I’m the pepper prince!”

He smiled and hooked his thumbs in his pants.

Priscilla: “Oh, is that because you like peppers?”

Jaxon: “...Sure, that's right.”

He chuckled.

Priscilla: “Oh, what are your favorite peppers? Mine are the yellow ones!”

Jaxon: “The red, spicy ones!”

~

They stood before Douglass. Priscilla took Jordi’s and Tristan’s hands to talk to the tree. Jaxon, Deimos, and Celeste followed behind.

Douglass: “Well, hello, there, little girl, and a Merry Christmas to you! Have you been a good girl this year?”

Priscilla beamed.

Priscilla: “Yes, I’ve been a very good girl!”

Douglass: “Ahahahahahaha, good to hear! And what do you want for Christmas?”

Priscilla smiled up at Jordi.

Priscilla: “I want Jordi to come live with me at my castle and read me bedtime stories like he did!”

Jordi forced a smile and looked away. Tristan flicked his gaze at him.

Priscilla: “And I wanna get to dance with Tristan at the Christmas ball!”

She bounced. Tristan and Jordi both laughed. Deimos rolled his eyes and folded his arms, pouting.

Deimos recalled going to see Douglass at the Pink Flamingo Mall on Christmas of 1970 with his parents and Lazaros.

Christmas - 1970

Monica held the 6-year-old Deimos and Lazaros by their hands and led them to Douglass, the talking Christmas tree. Deimos and Lazaros looked up at the tree.

Douglass: “Well, hello, Deimos and Lazaros! I’m Douglass the talking Christmas Tree!”

Deimos looked back at Monica with knitted eyebrows.

Douglass: “Have you two been good boys this Christmas?”

Lazaros nodded.

Lazaros: “Yes!”

Deimos said nothing, recalling his parents blaming him and Lazaros for Diamantina’s death.

Douglass: “And what would you boys like for Christmas?”

Deimos looked back at Monica, who nodded to him, and Deimos looked up at the tree.

Deimos: “I wanna kitty…”

He muttered.

Lazaros: “I want a cooking set, and I want to feed my yummy food to Mrs. Cherry Pie!”

He hollered. Deimos gaped at him and felt a fury burn inside him. After everything they endured, his focus was on a redheaded woman in a beehive being fed by this chef.

Douglass: “Well, that makes me all sappy inside, hehehehe!”

Deimos: “You weren’t supposed to say that!”

He screamed at Lazaros, and he started punching him. Monica screamed and ran to break them apart.

Present Day

Douglass: “And how are you today, young man?”

He asked Deimos. Deimos snapped out of his daze and saw he was standing before the Christmas tree.

Deimos: “I… I’m okay, I guess…”

He rubbed the back of his neck.

Douglass: “I hope you’re having a tree-mendous Christmas so far.”

Deimos bowed his head.

Douglass: “And what do you want for Christmas?”

Deimos: “I want…”

He looked back at Tristan.

Deimos: “I want Tristan to see how sorry I am, and I want him and me to be together like we were before I messed everything up!”

He blurted. Tristan’s eyes widened, and he looked away with hurt.

Douglass: “Well, that makes me all sappy inside! Hehehehe, I hope you get all your wishes come true, Deimos!”

Deimos paused. How did he know my name? He wondered and looked at the tree.

Deimos approached Tristan.

Deimos: “I meant what I said.”

Tristan looked away with hurt.

Tristan: “I didn’t hear any of it.”

Deimos inhaled sharply.

Deimos: “That’s a lie! You did! I can tell by your face you did!”

He exclaimed.

Priscilla: “Are you a demon?”

She asked Deimos. Deimos froze and slowly turned to glare at her.

Priscilla: “You look mean!”

Tristan chuckled. Deimos angrily stomped his foot.

Deimos: “Maybe I don’t have a reason to smile right now!”

He huffed.

Priscilla: “So you’re grumpy bear?”

Deimos snarled at her, and Tristan let out a peal of laughter.

Jordi: “Grumpy bear or sour puss.”

He muttered. Deimos sneered at him.

Deimos: “Shut up!”

He whispered hoarsely.

Celeste stood in front of him, folding her arms and pouting.

Celeste: “Well, SOMEBODY’S grumpy!”

She huffed. Deimos bared his teeth at her and elbowed her away.

Deimos: “FUCK OFF! ALL OF YOU JUST FUCK OFF!”

He bellowed.

He turned to Tristan.

Deimos: “I apologized to you several times, but I guess I have to grovel and bow to you for you to listen to me!”

He snapped at him. Tristan narrowed his eyes at Deimos.

Deimos: “You want to be like your father, but you are your mother’s son!”

He snapped.

In a flash, Tristan slapped Deimos hard across his face. Deimos’ face turned from the impact. He rubbed his sore cheek and gaped at Tristan.

Tristan: “I don’t forgive you, you bastard! You are your father’s son!”

He cried and stormed away. Deimos watched him go with sadness in his eyes.

Jordi sighed and left with Priscilla. Celeste and Jaxon left Deimos. Deimos looked away. I always fuck everything up, he thought.

~

As they walked down the mall, Tristan removed his glasses to wipe his eyes. He put them back on again.

Jordi: “Are you okay?”

Tristan sighed and forced a smile.

Tristan: “Yes.”

Priscilla: “When you talk to Santa and tell him what you want for Christmas, you can feel better!”

She beamed. Tristan laughed.

Tristan: “That sounds like a splendid idea!”

They approached Fabien, who was filming Ashley, Blair, and Madelyn on the train with his “BlairCam.”

Fabien: “You guys missed Blair riding on the BIGGEST thrill ride of his life!”

He cackled.

Blair approached him panting and clasping his hand over his chest.

Blair: “That was a scary ride! I will need a lot of courage to work up my big announcement!”

He nodded.

Fabien: “Is it as big as Ashley’s butt?”

He cackled. Ashley frowned at Fabien.

Blair: “Hahaha, yes!”

He smiled. Tristan rolled his eyes. Ashley frowned at Blair.

Ashley: “You’re a big jerk!”

They fired back at Blair.

Blair: “Fabien’s my good friend, Ashley!”

He smiled.

Tristan: “Aren’t you the romantic one?”

Fabien: “Hey, Blair got two fatasses following him on that thrill ride, Tristan. Curb your jealousy.”

He laughed. Jordi glared hotly at him. Madelyn turned to Fabien.

Madelyn: “Who the hell is this guy?”

She asked Jordi.

Jordi: “A former co-worker.”

Fabien’s eye twitched when he said that to her. That’s all I was to you? He wondered as he shot Fabien a glare.

Blair: “Might need to work on that, but I cut up a girl’s French toast at Fred’s Burger Castle for her! That’s why I got fired! I was fired for being nice!”

He huffed. Madelyn laughed at him, and Ashley rolled their eyes.

Tristan: “Certainly not for invading someone’s space.”

He said dryly.

Ashley: “Uhh, that’s weird, not nice.”

Blair: “Oh, don’t be jealous, Ashley. I will cut up your French toast, sausage, and food for you, too!”

He smiled. Ashley frowned at him.

Ashley: “Please don’t.”

Fabien threw his head back and cackled.

Fabien: “Yeah, Fatty Maddy, maybe Jordi should cut up your French Toast, too! Save him from doing it for his Grandpa!”

He fielded scathingly.

Madelyn: “What’s your problem?”

She glared at him.

Jordi: “You watch your mouth, Fabien!”

He hissed at him.

Blair: “Fabien is just teasing, you fat piece of crap! Come on, Ashley, let’s go get some hot chocolate and wait for Santa!”

He pouted. Jordi glared at Fabien and Blair. Madelyn shoved Blair into the fountain. Fabien laughed loudly at Blair. Blair cried loudly as he hit the water. Ashley stumbled over a laugh.

Blair: “NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! MY REGULAR CLOTHES!”

He cried and splashed around.

Blair: “ASHLEY! GET ME OUTTA HERE NOW!”

He demanded. Ashley laughed at him and shook their head.

Blair: “Or I will tell Tristan who broke the law!!”

He bawled. Ashley’s laughter died on their lips, and they heaved a long sigh, dragging their feet over to the fountain and reaching out to him. Blair took their hand and stepped out of the fountain.

Blair: “Thanks, Ashley!”

He beamed and kissed their cheek. Ashley recoiled in disgust, feeling like a sloppy fish was kissing them. They pulled away from him and said nothing. Fabien cackled loudly.

Fabien: “Man, Fatley, you almost could swim in that, but that’s too small for a fat whale like you!”

He laughed loudly. Ashley frowned at him.

Ashley: “I’m not even that fat!”

Tristan: “What has gotten you so nasty suddenly, Fabien? You’re witnessing one of the world’s wonders, being Blair.”

He said wryly. Fabien paused and glared at him.

Fabien: “Just stating facts, Tristan. She is a fat whale. You would never pork her, and you know it.”

He snapped. Ashley gaped at Fabien and shook their head.

Blair: “Because Ashley is too good for you, Tristan! Ashley loves nice guys like me!”

He beamed. Ashley groaned at Blair, wanting to push him back into the fountain.

Tristan: “Yes, Blair, Ashley is very much in love with you, even a blind man can see it.”

He said dryly.

Madelyn: “How can anyone resist someone as charming as Blair?!”

She laughed at Blair.

Celeste: “Come on, Ashley, let’s get some hot chocolate and wait for Santa.”

She said to mimic Blair. Ashley’s eyes brightened at her.

Ashley: “Sure thing, green kitty queen!”

They smiled at her.

Blair: “No, I think I want Ashley to get a diet hot chocolate.”

He nodded. Ashley rolled their eyes at Blair.

Ashley: “Gee, I thought you loved me.”

They pouted sarcastically. Fabien howled with laughter.

Tristan: “I hope one day you give romantic advice, Blair. I never met a romantic manchild quite like you.”

He said dryly.

Madelyn: “I hope he writes a book! He’s such a Casanova!”

Ashley: “...Oh god… please no.”

Blair: “Thanks, Tristan! Sometimes beatniks can see the truth!”

Ichiro gaped as he watched them. Two funny-looking, overweight women are charmed by this loser, and Fabien gets an incredible thrill out of him?! I don’t see the appeal in Blair at all, he thought.

Priscilla bounced.

Priscilla: “JORDI. JORDI! SANTA IS HERE!”

She exclaimed and pointed to Santa.

Santa Claus sat on a throne. A white-and-red archway marked the entrance to the photo area. A green sign with the word “WELCOME” was near the top of the archway.

Behind Santa stood a chalkboard decorated with holiday elements. A large, stylized message read "MERRY CHRISTMAS," surrounded by images of green-and-red-wrapped gifts.

The entire area was filled with tall, lit Christmas trees draped with silver and gold balls, creating a dense, wintry forest.

There was a low white fence with red accents on the left side for the queue. Priscilla took Jordi’s hand to lead him to the queue.

Blair gasped and grabbed Ashley’s hand. Ashley shuddered at his touch.

Blair: “Come on, Ashley! Let’s go! We don’t want to be late for the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!”

He hollered. Ashley drew a breath.

Ashley: “Oh no, we can’t have that.”

They rolled their eyes.

Ichiro smiled. Well, Blair, the big announcement is your exit from this world, and Fabien will have nothing, he thought with an evil grin as he reached into his trenchcoat and pulled out an injection gun.