Chapter One-hundred Sixty-Five: Plan into Motion

Chapter 165

Plan into Motion

Ichiro sat in his office at his desk, staring at the screen of Fabien’s Bungle Server. A post from Fabien popped up. It was a video of Borko’s funeral. Ichiro clicked on it and pressed the play button. He watched the events of the funeral unfold and groaned when Blair started acting up and whining. Ichiro cupped his mouth and recalled the first day he worked for New Horizons Research when he was eighteen. Borko showed him the ropes and mentored him.

Ichiro used to look up to Borko and aspired to be like him one day. The day Borko retired was the day that he died. The shell of him remained, but the man he used to be passed away. Ichiro didn’t recognize this man, who was seeing this young-looking woman who could pass for a child and acted like one. They were two different people, he thought.

He recalled their final conversation. Borko seemed like his old self, not the persona he had put on for the Huang-Ferraro family. Ichiro cupped his chin. He never told me where he was going that night; he said he had some errands to run, he mused.

His computer dinged. Ichiro blinked.

BlairDonati: I’m gonna start drinking. I just can’t seem to catch a break or smile. I’ve lost all motivation. Real life has been raping me, and I can’t see a break. REAL LIFE, FAMILY STUFF, TAKING CARE OF IVY, ETC. ETC. ETC.

BlairDonati: I just don’t have it in me. I can’t work on my comic when my broken family NEEDS ME ALL THE TIME! I DIDN’T WANT TO GO TO THIS STUPID FUNERAL! I HATE MY IN-LAWS!

BlairDonati: WHY DID ASHLEY REJECT ME?! I AM A TRUE PRINCE!

BlairDonati: AUUUUGGGHHH, IVY NEEDS ME TO OPEN A JAR! WHY ME?!

Ichiro gaped at the screen. These are his most significant problems?! He wondered.

DeimosK: You want to start drinking? I recommend the stuff under the sink.

BlairDonati: It’s cleaning supplies, dummy!

BlairDonati: UUUUUUUUGGGGHHHHH!!! IVY IS COMPLAINING WE HAVE NO LEFT-HANDED CAN OPENERS! WHY CAN’T MY LIFE END NOW?!

Icihiro snorted at Deimos’ retort.

Ichiro: “Soon, Blair… Soon, you will become a richonoid and your dreams of your humdrum life ending will come true.”

He grinned.

A picture popped up on the screen. It was a picture of Fabien on Jaxon’s couch with Celeste sleeping and resting her head on his chest.

SeigneurMonstre: She’s asleep.

Ichiro’s jaw dropped when he saw that, and his rage started growing stronger and stronger as he stared at the picture.

BlairDonati: I genuinely have nothing on my mind. Ivy ALWAYS gives me chores to do, and Vanessa would rather smooch Jiro’s father. Ashley would prefer a fat feeder fetishist over a true prince. I don’t have time to be happy anymore. I’m not happy, and I hate everything.

Ichiro bared his teeth. I don’t have the time to watch this simpleton; I am claiming my green queen, he thought as he angrily rose.

~

Jaxon lay in bed beside Celeste. He was naked, and she wore a black tank top with black panties. His back faced her as he lay deep in thought.

Ichiro teleported to their bedroom and gazed down at Celeste. He inhaled sharply and lowered himself to her. He reached down, slid his hand under her top, and cupped her breasts. He felt his hardness push against his pants as he traced his thumbs over her nipples. Jaxon turned over and bellowed when he saw Ichiro.

Jaxon: “TEMEE, KANOJO KARA HANARERO!”

He barked and threw his fist at Ichiro. He gasped and quickly ducked. Jaxon threw the sheets off him and angrily rose from his bed, his feet braced apart, ready for impact. Ichiro clicked his tongue and adjusted his glasses.

Jaxon: “GET AWAY FROM MY GREEN QUEEN, ASSHOLE!”

He snapped.

Ichiro: “You mean MY green queen!”

He hissed through clenched teeth.

Jaxon: “She’s not yours! She will NEVER be yours!”

He fired back.

Ichiro: “Yes, she is, Jiro!”

He huffed. Jaxon snarled at his brother and bared his teeth.

Ichiro: “In any case, I have to protect her from your little troll friend, Fabien!”

He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. Jaxon gaped at him.

Jaxon: “...What do you mean?!”

Ichiro rolled his eyes. Jaxon’s heart thundered in his chest.

Ichiro: “Always so oblivious, aren’t we, Jiro?”

He said dryly, shaking his head.

Ichiro: “The day those two purchased those spicy chicken fries from that fast food establishment solely to spite the Donati nepo baby, they kissed.”

He said with strain as his ire soared. Jaxon’s heart sank, and he stepped back.

Jaxon: “That’s a fucking lie!”

He hissed. Ichiro glared at him.

Ichiro: “Would I become so enraged if I fabricated this story?”

He challenged. Jaxon froze.

So many thoughts swam through his head as he tried to process what Ichiro told him and how Celeste was spending more time with Fabien. His heart thundered in his chest as he glanced at a sleeping Celeste and then at his brother. Jaxon let out a mighty roar and lunged at his brother, slamming into him, and the two crashed through the window and out into the backyard.

Ichiro’s glasses fell off. He put them back on and glared at his furious younger brother standing before him. Jaxon punched him across the jaw.

Jaxon: “OMAE NO SEI DA! KIRAI DA!”

He bellowed. Ichiro growled at him and wiped the blood from his mouth. He glowered at Jaxon.

Ichiro: “Jiro, kono chikushō!”

He lunged at him, and the two men crashed into the pool.

Ichiro gasped for air as he rose from the surface. Jaxon lunged at him and held him underwater. Ichiro’s elbow slammed into Jaxon’s stomach, and he drew back.

Ichiro: “Kanojo wa temee o aishiteinai, wagahai o aishiteiru n’da!”

He barked as his fist flew across Jaxon’s cheek. Jaxon grunted and glared at him with hatred.

Jaxon: “Urusē! Usotsuke, kono yarō!”

He lunged at him and socked him repeatedly. Ichiro bellowed with each blow and grabbed Jaxon’s neck.

Ichiro: “SHINE!”

He glowered at him as he started strangling Jaxon. Jaxon wheezed and tried to pry his fingers off his neck.

Ichiro: “Kono yarō, hikyō da zo!”

He whined.

They heard footsteps on the pavement, and the brothers turned to see Fabien standing on the balcony. He wore a green plaid shirt with the buttons undone to expose his bare chest, jean cut-off shorts, and flip-flops.

The two men glared at Fabien with hatred. Jaxon shoved Ichiro off him and climbed out of the pool. Ichiro swam to the ladder and climbed out. Fabien grinned at Jaxon’s naked body. Ichiro shoved him aside.

Jaxon: “OI!”

He snapped.

Ichiro: “Hello, Mr. Troll! You wait! Your precious little nepo baby will soon be obliterated, and you will be a broken shell of a man!”

He grinned and laughed. Fabien quirked an eyebrow and laughed.

Fabien: “What are you talking about? You want to do something to Blair?”

He laughed awkwardly. Ichiro folded his arms across his chest and smirked.

Ichiro: “You won’t laugh when I am done with him.”

He chuckled.

Fabien: “...You actually think I am friends with Blair?”

He threw his head back and laughed. Ichiro’s right eye twitched.

Ichiro: “I know exactly what you think of him, and when he’s gone, you will be a broken man! Stay away from my Green Queen and stick to trolling sheltered menchildren!”

He rasped. Fabien’s smile faded.

Ichiro smiled. He pressed the button in his ear.

Ichiro: “Sayonara.”

He teleported away. Jaxon drew a long, angry breath. A red glow surrounded him as he healed himself.

Fabien: “Uhm, what was that about?”

He rubbed the back of his neck.

Jaxon marched up to Fabien, shoving him against the wall.

Jaxon: “HEY! What do you think you’re doing with my Green Queen?!”

He snapped and glared at him. Fabien’s eyes widened, and a grin spread across his lips.

Fabien: “Oooh, kinky. You wanna join in, too?”

He winked. Jaxon gaped at him, taken aback by his response.

Jaxon: “...Are you fucking with me?!”

Fabien laughed and stepped forward, inching closer to his face.

Fabien: “More like I’d like to fuck you.”

He whispered into his ear. Jaxon gasped and pulled back.

Celeste sauntered into the backyard, and her eyes widened like an excited cat when she saw Fabien and Jaxon in proximity to each other. Fabien turned to her with a smile. Celeste pounced on the two men, removed Fabien’s flip-flops, and started tickling their feet.

Jaxon: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! NOHOHOHOHO!!”

He whined.

Fabien: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO! WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed hard and pounded on the ground.

Jaxon yanked away and panted. Celeste stopped tickling them. Jaxon rose to his feet.

Jaxon: “Did you kiss him?!”

He asked her. Fabien blushed and looked away. Jaxon’s face flickered with hurt when he saw Fabien’s reaction. Celeste blinked.

Celeste: “No?”

She tilted her head. Jaxon threw his hands up.

Jaxon: “Why is he reacting that way?! Why did Ichiro tell me you kissed him?!”

He snapped. Celeste bowed her head.

Celeste: “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Jaxon… You believe stuff Ichiro says?”

She scratched her head. Jaxon threw his arms up.

Jaxon: “Why would he make that up?! And look at how HE’S reacting!”

He snapped and pointed to Fabien. Fabien looked away and reddened. Celeste blinked.

Celeste: “Want to float your cares away?”

She asked him. Jaxon threw his arms up.

Jaxon: “STOP IT! STOP TREATING ME LIKE I AM DEIMOS’ WEIRDO BROTHER!”

He screamed through hot tears and stormed inside the house.

Celeste bowed her head and sighed.

Celeste: “Did we kiss, Fab?”

She asked and scratched her head. Fabien looked away.

Fabien: “Uh, so Blair is throwing a huge tantrum on my server.”

He blushed.

Celeste: “But he always is! Did we kiss, Fabien? ‘Cause I don’t remember!”

She grabbed his arm. Fabien’s face turned a shade redder.

Fabien: “Yeah, we did briefly when we both ate that spicy chicken fry…”

He muttered. Celeste paused and blinked.

Celeste: “Oh, that. Oh, okay.”

She nodded.

Jaxon listened on from his and Celeste’s bedroom. He wiped tears from his eyes and started going through his drawers. He slipped on a pair of underwear, grabbed his black leather pants, and slid those on over his hips. He grabbed a black dress shirt with a red and orange paisley pattern and shrugged into it, buttoning it up. He slipped his sheer socks on his feet.

Celeste entered their bedroom.

Celeste: “Where are you going, Jax?”

Jaxon paused, keeping his back turned to her and clenching his fists. A single tear trickled down his cheek.

Jaxon: “Why do you care? You have Fabien now.”

He trembled with hurt.

Celeste: “No, I don’t? I have you, though! You’re the apple of my eye!”

She chirped. Jaxon’s shoulders rose as he tensed up.

Jaxon: “Am I, though? I had to hear it from HIM that you kissed over dinner!”

He snapped with hurt in his tone. Celeste blinked.

Celeste: “Oh, our lips met when we shared a fry, though.”

She drawled. Jaxon spun on his heel, glaring at her with hurt and anger.

Jaxon: “YOU HAVE BEEN STILL SPENDING MORE TIME WITH HIM! YOU WENT TO A FUNERAL FOR AN OLD KOOK INSTEAD OF BEING WITH ME!”

He bawled through hot tears.

Celeste: “Y-Yeah, I did! Fabien is fun, and he likes excitement! You used to be that way until Chelsea turned into a monster!”

She blurted.

Her words slashed at Jaxon like razors as he felt his heart break.

Jaxon: “So you want me to go back to being the asshole I was?! The mask I wore to hide how much my shitty family hurt me?!”

He cried. Celeste knit her eyebrows.

Celeste: “I never said that, Jax! I said you liked excitement, and now you’re all sad about someone you didn’t know well, and I do wonder if you had feelings for her!”

She said tersely. Jaxon’s bottom lip trembled, and he broke down crying harder.

Jaxon: “Sorry for having empathy and going through trauma over people dying because of me! Not everything is about you!”

He snapped through tears.

Jaxon: “Clearly, you have feelings for Fabien because you’d rather spend time with him than me… You only like me when I’m ‘fun.’ Go on, have fun! Laugh at Blair’s bullshit and kiss Fabien! I gotta get outta here!”

He grabbed his car keys, cigarettes, and lighter and headed for the door. He slid his feet into his Chelsea boots and left the house, slamming the door behind him.

Celeste: “Jaxon, wait! Where are you going?!”

She ran to the door, but someone’s hand touched her shoulder. She turned around to see Fabien.

Fabien: “...Give him space.”

He nodded. Celeste bowed her head.

She then turned to face him.

Celeste: “Fab? I didn’t think what we had was a kiss. I thought a kiss was like… deeper than accidentally meeting when eating a fry.”

Fabien looked away and raked his fingers through his hair.

Fabien: “Yeah, I suppose so.”

Celeste: “And aren’t you only into men?”

She peered into his face.

Fabien: “I… thought I was.”

He blushed.

Celeste: “I guess it’s like how Deimos realized he’s only into men. I thought it was because the only woman he ever dated was Ivy, but no, he’s just into men.”

Fabien smiled a bit.

Fabien: “Yeah, it’s like that, I guess.”

He swallowed.

Celeste: “Fab, do you love me?”

She asked him. Fabien paused.

Fabien: “I… I don’t know, honestly.”

He sighed and sat on the couch. She sat with him.

Fabien: “I mean, I thought I loved Craig, but Craig just drained me. He left my house a mess, kept me on a short leash, and contributed fuckall to my house.”

He rolled his eyes.

Fabien: “But I am having fun with you. You don’t go on about mopey, depressed bullshit or tell me not to make fun of Blair or whatever. You live in the moment and have fun! The world is too depressing, and I don’t want to be a Blair; I want to laugh at him because he’s a pathetic piece of shit.”

He laughed a bit. Celeste smiled.

Celeste: “I’m having fun with you, too, Fab! Blair is someone where the jokes write themselves.”

She chuckled. Fabien smiled.

Celeste’s smile faded.

Celeste: “And Jaxon used to be this fun, until we went to Seashell Cove and Ichiro turned Chelsea into an ichironoid or whatever.”

She said with a tone of sadness. Fabien leaned closer.

Fabien: “Who is Ichiro and what is an ‘ichironoid’?”

Celeste: “Ichiro is Jax’s older brother. He turned Chelsea into a monster, and he calls them some weird name after himself. Anyway, Jax hasn’t been the same. Sometimes I wonder if he had feelings for her.”

She sighed.

Fabien: “Why? Because he’s sad she died?”

She nodded.

Fabien: “Maybe… Jaxon is becoming what Jordi is now. He thinks he’s better than everyone because he doesn’t laugh at others’ expenses and uses others to fill in the gaping hole in his life.”

He said bitterly. Celeste looked away.

Celeste: “Maybe…”

She sighed.

She rested her head on his lap. Fabien’s eyes grew large, and he smiled a bit. He patted her head.

~

Desiree drove through downtown Pink Top City in her 1987 Volkswagen Fox. She went through the entertainment strip, and her car came to a slow roll when she spotted Jaxon’s car parked in front of the Starlight Club. She recalled Minerva giving Jordi an ultimatum to kidnap Jaxon or he would go in his place.

~

Jaxon sat in the bar of the Starlight Club. He was smoking and having a drink of Jack and Coke. He withdrew his wallet to gaze at pictures of him and Celeste together and wiped tears from his eyes with the napkin.

Jaxon: “I never should have gone to Seashell Cove…”

He muttered and shook his head.

Jaxon: “No, this happened before with Kristen. I destroy everything good.”

He sobbed.

He felt someone tap his shoulder.

Jaxon: “Sorry, I need space…”

He sighed.

Suddenly, a gloved hand clasped over his mouth. Jaxon tried to scream until a needle plunged into his neck. His vision grew blurry. He fluttered his eyes and tried to call for help, but nothing came out of his mouth. He then blacked out and collapsed into someone’s arms.

Desiree smirked at him and flicked her gaze at the bartender, who put his hands up. She withdrew a wad of cash and tossed it to him.

Desiree: “You saw nothing. Got it?”

She smirked and hoisted Jaxon over her shoulder. The bartender gingerly took the cash and sheepishly nodded.

~

Minerva was in her suite in the Megalos Tower, wearing her sheer lingerie with a sheer robe draped over her shoulders. She grinned at Jaxon, passed out on her bed.

Minerva: “You do marvelous work, Desiree. I shall give you a raise.”

She grinned. Desiree nodded and grinned tightly. Minerva turned to Alfie.

Minerva: “Get the private jet ready, Alfie. We’re taking Jiro to Nouvelle Gaule at the villa.”

Alfie swallowed and nodded slowly.

Alfie: “Yes, dear.”

~

Jordi arrived at the Megalos Tower for work that morning. He wore his black suit work uniform as he retrieved his work ID card and swiped it through the time clock machine to clock in for work. He pressed the button for the elevator, and when the door opened, he had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He entered and pressed the button for the eighty-fifth floor.

When the elevator reached the eighty-fifth floor, Jordi got off and strolled past the food court. He saw Makayla and Brad in there. Makayla had five or six trays of food on the table. She was dressed as a hog farmer, and Brad had pig ears perched on his head. She fed him spoonfuls of what appeared to be slop but was likely porridge from Voyage Burger.

Makayla: “Good piggie.”

She crooned.

Jordi rolled his eyes and went straight to Minerva’s office. Why hasn’t Alfie greeted me? He wondered.

He entered Minerva’s office and saw no one inside but a soldier seated on the floor, rocking back and forth as he sniffed her nylons.

Jordi: “UGH!”

He groused and slammed the door shut.

~

Jordi stood in front of Minerva’s suite. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Jordi: “Minerva? Are you in?”

He called out and folded his arms. He tapped his foot as he waited for a response. He knocked on the door again.

Jordi: “Minerva, are you okay?”

He asked again. He drew a long breath. Where the Hell is she? He wondered. He couldn’t shake the bad feeling that formed in the pit of his stomach.

He ventured down the foyer and saw Desiree stroll down.

Jordi: “Hey, have you seen Minerva or Alfie?”

He asked her. Desiree smiled widely.

Desiree: “Guess who got a raise?”

She said loftily. Jordi’s heart hammered in his chest.

Jordi: “Desiree, where is Minerva?”

He asked slowly.

Desiree: “Take the day off, Jordi. Take your grandpa for a walk in the park before the hurricanes start. It’s a nice day out.”

She guffawed. Jordi glared at her.

Jordi: “Stop derailing the conversation. Where IS Minerva?”

He asked sharply.

Desiree put her hands up.

Desiree: “Jordi, chill. She’s in Nouvelle Gaule for her birthday.”

Jordi’s face turned ashen.

Jordi: “She… She went alone, right? Or with Alfie?”

He stammered. Desiree folded her arms over her bosom.

Desiree: “Alfie is with her… so is Jiro.”

Jordi’s heart stopped for a brief moment, and then he started feeling himself tremble.

Jordi: “...How did she get her hands on Jaxon?!”

He asked as his voice rose.

Desiree: “I kidnapped him at the Starlight Club, okay? I didn’t want you to get fondled by that old witch, so I saved ya!”

She grinned. Jordi bared his teeth and shook his head.

Jordi: “Don’t give me that bullshit, Desiree! You didn’t do ANYTHING for me! You told me ‘Guess who got a raise!’ You’re a SELLOUT! You only care about your own selfish self!”

He snapped at her. Desiree furrowed her eyebrows.

Desiree: “I only have myself to look out for me, Jordi! Minerva lets shit slide with you, but she won’t with me, and I didn’t want her to touch you!”

She countered.

Jordi: “That is a load of bullshit, and you know it! If you cared about me in the slightest, you would have told me about my grandfather being in the hospital, but you didn’t because of Minerva’s orders! That’s what comes first with you!”

He snapped and shoved past her.

Desiree: “I have to work, Jordi! You should know that better than anyone!”

She fired back. Jordi flipped her off and ran down the foyer. He slammed his hand on the elevator button. Desiree chased him.

Desiree: “JORDI! WAIT!”

She called out.

Jordi: “I have nothing to say to you!”

He rasped and got on the elevator, slamming the button to shut it and pressing the ground floor button.

Desiree drew a rough breath and threw her arms up. Ichiro listened in and raised an eyebrow. So Jiro is in Nouvelle Gaule, is he? He wondered.

~

Celeste sat in the living room with Tristan and Deimos. Celeste wore a leopard print haltertop, a denim skirt, and knee-high boots. Tristan wore an Italian-cut deep purple three-piece suit, a white pressed shirt, a black tie, and black wingtip Oxfords. Deimos wore a black Flotsam and Jetsam tank top, torn jeans, and cowboy boots.

Celeste informed the two men about the events that had transpired between her, Jaxon, and Fabien, as well as Jaxon’s failure to return home.

Tristan cupped his mouth.

Tristan: “Celeste, do you have feelings for Fabien? You have been spending a lot of time with him lately.”

He asked firmly. Celeste shifted in her seat.

Celeste: “I don’t think so, no. Fabien is a lot of fun, and Jaxon is sad about a girl he barely knew.”

She sighed. Tristan rubbed his temples.

Tristan: “Celeste, he is traumatized from her death, and he felt the same when it happened to Kristen. He feels they died because of him. It has nothing to do with romantic feelings.”

He said firmly but gently. Celeste winced and sighed.

Tristan: “But I do agree that it’s unlike him not to return home.”

He cupped his mouth.

Deimos: “Maybe he doesn’t want to.”

He suggested.

Tristan: “I don’t think he’d run away from this, Deimos. If he did, he would have come to one of us… or Percy.”

His lips twisted into a sneer when he mentioned Percy. Celeste pouted.

Tristan locked his gaze on Celeste.

Tristan: “Celeste, you just insulted how much Jaxon grew… When he was about ‘thrill rides’, that was a mask he wore to cope with how his family hurt him. Coming from you—the woman he loves—would have devastated him. Jaxon loves you dearly.”

He said coolly.

Celeste: “No, he was just… fun and wanted to have fun before Chelsea got turned into a monster creature by Ichiro! Now he’s sad about her and thinks it’s his fault she died when it wasn’t!”

She said defiantly. Tristan drew a long breath. Deimos looked away.

Deimos: “I… I kind of have to agree with her.”

He said with hesitation, not wanting to upset Tristan. Tristan drew another long breath.

Tristan: “Deimos, Jaxon has to face his nursery, as well.”

He said flatly. Deimos had some pain in his eyes and bowed his head. Celeste’s mouth was ajar.

Celeste: “What, he has a dead brother or sister, and Hiroto and Mayumi kept their nursery as a shrine?!”

She gasped. Tristan shook his head.

Tristan: “No, they didn’t.”

He cleared his throat and crossed his legs.

Tristan: “It’s a metaphor; what I mean is Jaxon has to face his traumas. He has to make peace with what happened to Chelsea and Kristen and realize he is not to blame for their deaths.”

He said as he knit his eyebrows.

Tristan: “Otherwise, it will hold him back.”

He added and gazed at Deimos. Deimos heaved a deep sigh.

Celeste: “What would make him face that?”

Tristan: “I don’t know, Celeste. Us telling him this isn’t the solution. But Jaxon has to realize that he cannot save everyone.”

He nodded. Celeste lowered her head.

The door swung open. Celeste raised her head, expecting to see Jaxon, but Tristan, Deimos, and she saw Jordi panting in the doorway.

Tristan: “Jordi, what’s wrong?”

He rose.

Jordi: “Minerva… she took Jaxon! She took him to her villa in Argentville!”

He said anxiously. Celeste rose.

Celeste: “WHAT?!”

She rasped. Tristan knit his eyebrows and cupped his mouth.

Tristan: “Jordi, do you know where this villa is?”

Jordi nodded.

Celeste: “We have to get him, Tristan! He got kidnapped!”

She said doggedly.

Tristan: “And we will get him, Celeste! We have to get there in an instant.”

He nodded. Deimos sank in his seat.

Deimos: “Do we have to go to… him?”

~

Trevor was working at Jumbo Jones’ Grocery and struggling to open a box containing a frozen chocolate pie. Celeste rushed up to him, dressed in her catsuit, with Jordi, Tristan, and Deimos following behind.

Celeste: “Trevor! Trevor, you need to teleport us to Argentville, Nouvelle Gaule!”

She said firmly.

Trevor: “Can you help me open this pie?”

He asked her.

Tristan: “Opening that pie is a rather trifling matter, Trevor. There are bigger issues at stake.”

He said icily.

Trevor: “Ivy makes pretty good trifles!”

Celeste smacked the box out of Trevor’s hands. Trevor gaped down at the splattered pie on the floor.

Celeste: “Fuck Ivy! Trevor, we need to get to Argentville!”

She growled. He knelt and began eating the pie with his hands off the floor. Jordi grimaced. Deimos’ twisted his face in disgust.

Trevor: “Did Jaxon get kidnapped again?”

Tristan: “What was your first clue?”

He asked dryly.

Trevor: “When you guys need me to teleport somewhere, Jaxon is kidnapped.”

He laughed as he had chocolate smeared on his face. Deimos folded his arms.

Deimos: “No shit, Sherlock.”

Larry approached them.

Larry: “No can do. Trevor can’t take time off work. He has been slacking off, and I have a brutal trve kvlt album to release!”

He said in a gravelly tone.

Celeste: “Well? When is your fuckass album going to be released, Larry?! You say this shit all the time, and we don’t have an album! Not like I’d listen anyway!”

She snapped. Larry glowered at her.

Larry: “Trve kvlt music takes TIME, which I don’t have because you normies keep taking Trevor off work!”

He huffed.

Deimos: “Sounds like excuses.”

He rolled his eyes.

Larry: “Anyway, get a plane to Nouvelle Gaule. Trevor is NOT taking time off work!”

He snapped.

Celeste bared her teeth and delivered a punch directly to his face. Larry’s head jerked back, and he screamed as he flew into a carton of apples and slammed onto the floor as the apples toppled over him. Larry lay down with his arms and legs broken.

Deimos: “Looks like you’re going to be in a full-body cast and therefore a mummy. Can’t get more ‘trve kvlt’ than that.”

He said wryly. Tristan chuckled.

Trevor: “Well, since my ASS manager can’t talk, he means I can go! Let’s go to Argentville and rescue Jaxon for the twenty-fifth hundred thousand time!”

He cheered and grabbed them all to teleport away.

~

In the edge of the city of Argentville that night, there was a large, ornate château. It was a grand villa with multiple stories and a symmetrical design. The villa was made of a mix of reddish-brown brick and lighter stone. It had a high, steeply pitched slate roof with several prominent chimneys and dormer windows. The style was a 19th-century revival style, characterized by its elaborate detailing and mansard roof.

The front of the villa was dominated by a central section featuring a grand, double-curved staircase that led up to the main entrance. The staircase featured stone balustrades and arches underneath. Large windows with decorative trim were featured on each floor, and elaborate balconies adorned the side of the villa.

A well-maintained lawn surrounded the château. There was a manicured garden area with some sculpted hedges and a few mature trees on the left and right sides of the villa.

Jaxon was still unconscious. He wore a red silk robe with the name “Jiro” embroidered in gold on the left breast pocket. He lay on the central four-poster bed, draped in gold and beige fabric, and had a tall, elaborate headboard and a canopy.

The room was a lavish, ornate bedroom, designed in a classical Baroque style, with a focus on luxury and intricate detail.

The ceiling was highly decorated with intricate plasterwork, moldings, and carvings, all painted in a similar gold and cream palette. A large, multi-tiered crystal chandelier hung from the center.

The walls were creamy off-white and were adorned with large framed paintings and gilded sconces. One wall featured a large fireplace with a carved mantelpiece.

The furniture was a mix of styles, including a prominent red velvet chaise lounge. There were also gilded chairs and a sofa near the windows, all upholstered in ornate fabrics.

The large windows on the left provided lighting, while the central chandelier and several lamps and candelabras throughout the room created a warm and elegant ambiance.

The floor was covered by a large oriental rug that complemented the room’s color scheme.

Jaxon’s eyes fluttered. His head was pounding, and so many thoughts swam through his mind. His eyes snapped open when he realized he was in an unfamiliar environment.

Jaxon: “What the Hell?!”

He rasped as he looked down at his robe. He tried to sit up but felt his hands tied behind his back.

The door cracked open. Jaxon’s heart hammered in his chest as his fear ascended. He panted when he saw Minerva leaning against the doorway, wearing just a blue transparent negligee.

Minerva: “Good evening, Jiro. Ready to give me my birthday gift?”

She purred.