Chapter Two-hundred Three: Fabien's Bungle Server

Chapter 203

Fabien’s Bungle Server

That morning, Jordi stepped out of the shower, put on his purple bathrobe, and brushed his teeth. He sat down at his computer and clicked on Fabien’s Bungle Server to check for messages. He saw a message from Tristan with a photo of Oliver, his paw on a heart-shaped card.

SmokeShow: Here is a gift from Ollie for Love Day. He surprised me with this card.

Jordi smiled and typed up a response.

PurpleLightning: So cute!

RedPepper69: Aww!

BlairDonati: I can’t cry anymore because I cried so much. I bought all this chocolate for Ashley, and how do they appreciate it? By choosing a jerk over me. Just as well, since the chocolate goes to their gut, not their boobs.

Jordi rolled his eyes. Why doesn’t Fabien ban him already? He wondered as he resumed brushing his teeth.

Suddenly, a message popped up from Fabien. Jordi froze at what he saw. It was a picture of Madelyn in her ball gown at the Donati gala with the caption, “Here comes the butter fairy to deliver butter and lard to her fellow lardasses.” He then posted another piece with Madelyn’s head pasted to a beached whale with the caption, “word’s greatest wonder: a beached whale.”

Jordi froze, and his heart hammered in his chest as he saw those pictures on the screen. He felt the heat rise to his face, and his fury soared. He began typing

PurpleLightning: Fabien?! What is this?! What the Hell is your problem?! Why are you attacking her like this and ridiculing her?!

BlairDonati: What does this have to do with me? My heart is breaking because Ashley is a gold-digging bitch.

SeigneurMonstre: Here, have another. :)

He then posted a picture of a freeway with the caption, “Fatty Maddie’s waterslide.” Jordi bared his teeth and typed a message.

PurpleLightning: CUT IT OUT! STOP BULLYING HER!

BlairDonati: Ashley is fatter, and they led me on.

PurpleLightning: What did Madelyn ever do to you, Fabien? What did I ever do to you? I blew you off for dinner once, so your beef is with ME, not HER.

BlairDonati: No one here has it as bad as me. My family cares more about a missing guy from the hospital than my heart breaking.

PurpleLightning: And you’re not even banning Blair. This server is a chaotic mess of Blair whining. Enjoy your life, Fabien.

Jordi huffed and clicked on “Leave Server.” He then right-clicked Fabien’s username on Bungle and blocked him. He went into the bathroom to rinse his mouth.

When he returned, he saw a direct message from Tristan.

SmokeShow: Hello, Jordi. I witnessed what Fabien posted on his server, replete with Blair’s never-ending sniveling. I wanted to check in on you. How are you doing? Did you want to meet up over tea and talk?

Jordi sighed and began typing.

PurpleLightning: Thanks for checking on me, Tristan. I’d love that. Meet me at Alice’s Dreams in thirty?

SmokeShow: Absolutely. I’ll be there.

Jordi smiled a bit and rose from his computer to start getting dressed.

~

Fabien sat at his computer with his towel around his waist. He was seething with rage as he stared at the monitor.

Fabien: “I can’t believe he left my server and blocked me…!”

He pounded on the desk.

Celeste stepped into his doorframe. She wore a white tiger-striped bustier, a jean mini-skirt, and black leather mules.

Celeste: “Hey!”

She smiled and snaked her arms around his shoulders. Fabien smiled a bit and rubbed his face on her arms.

Fabien: “So Jordi blocked me and left my server.”

Celeste: “I heard you, and yeah, Fab, you insulted his girlfriend.”

She laughed.

Fabien: “So? Do you think that fat bitch is gonna last? I knew him for a while, and whenever you turned around, he had a new girlfriend or boyfriend. By this time next week, he will have a new one.”

He huffed.

Celeste: “Well, you still made fun of his girlfriend, and Jordi is protective. Also, you got Blair in your server, and Blair bullies Jordi about something he did when he was a teenager.”

Fabien turned to her.

Fabien: “So you’re on his side?”

He asked sharply.

Celeste: “No. I’m not on anyone’s side. I’m telling you why he left.”

Fabien furrowed his eyebrows and rubbed her arms.

Celeste: “Uh, what did he mean by he blew you off for dinner?”

Fabien paused.

Fabien: “I don’t know. Jordi just wants to make me look bad because his girlfriend is a fat retard.”

He grumbled.

Celeste: “Uh, okay.”

She laughed.

Fabien rose and wrapped his arms around her.

Fabien: “I have to go to work.”

Celeste: “I know you do.”

She whispered.

Celeste: “What about Love Day?”

Fabien: “Unfortunately, I have to be at work on that day, but I get mad tips from pathetic losers like Craig.”

He grinned.

Celeste: “Well, uh, I wanted you, Jax, and me to go to Maestro Morgan’s Dazzling Carnival…”

She murmured and lowered her head. Fabien paused and gazed at her.

Fabien: “I’d love to, Celeste, but I can’t afford to take the day off, and Love Day gets me great tips. Can we do it another day?”

He asked her and knit his eyebrows. She looked at him with her dewy violet eyes. Fabien looked away. He couldn’t resist that look.

Fabien: “Look, I can’t promise anything, but let me talk to Gary, okay?”

He relented. She brightened and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him. Fabien melted to her soft lips on his flesh, feeling he needed that.

Celeste: “Okay!”

She cupped his face, and he leaned into her hands.

~

Fabien stepped out of his bedroom in his Danny Donger uniform: green hot pants, white socks with two green horizontal stripes near the hem, and green sneakers. He banged on Gus’s bedroom door.

Fabien: “Hey, Gus!”

He turned the knob, and a waft of strong foot odor smacked him in the face, causing him to turn his head and gag. Gus’s bedroom was small with gray walls, a dark gray carpet, a double platform bed with a black upholstered frame, a wooden desk with a computer and a neon silhouette of a marijuana leaf, and posters of Jaclyn in her beauty yoga uniform on the walls. Stinky shoes and Gus’s clothes were strewn on the floor. Gus lay down in his bed. He wore a Hockey State Wolverines sweater, gray sweatpants, and mismatched socks.

Fabien: “Look, I need to take Love Day off, so you have to work at DashDish double time or something. Find some way to get extra money.”

He waved his hand at him.

Fabien: “I gotta get to work. Knowing Gary, I will be working double time, so I will see you later.”

He drawled as he grabbed his server pouch and headed out the door.

~

Jaxon was out on his patio reading a manga in Japanese with his sheer socked feet resting up on the railing. He wore a white tiger stripe button-down shirt and black jeans. He saw Fabien step out of his house. Fabien smiled and blew him a kiss. Jaxon sneered at him and inhaled a long drag of his cigarette. Fabien got into his Shelby Mustang, slid his key into the ignition, and started his engine. He looked behind him as he backed out of his driveway and then drove down the road.

Celeste stepped out and sat by Jaxon, snuggling him. Jaxon smiled and leaned his head on hers.

Celeste: “He might be coming with us to the carnival on Love Day.”

Jaxon’s smile faded.

Jaxon: “Why?! Did you see what he did to Jordi’s girlfriend on his server?!”

He asked sharply.

Celeste: “Yeah, I did. It’s Jordi’s problem.”

Jaxon: “You don’t care he made fun of her?”

Celeste: “I can’t tell Fab not to do it. I never said I liked it or agreed with it, but I told him why Jordi left.”

She explained.

Jaxon: “Yeah, well, no shit he left. He was sick of him making fun of his girlfriend and keeping that whiny blue bitch in there.”

He said acidly.

Celeste: “And I told him that.”

Jaxon: “And nothing is ever his fault.”

He clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes.

Celeste: “But he finds you and me hot.”

She grinned. Jaxon sighed.

Jaxon: “Yeah, I know I am, but it doesn’t make what he’s doing right.”

He drew a long breath.

Celeste: “Yeah, especially when Makayla is fatter and much worse.”

Jaxon sighed.

Jaxon: “Don’t bring up that thing, babe.”

Celeste nodded and rested her head on Jaxon’s lap. Jaxon smiled a bit and patted her head.

Celeste: “Remember when we had our first date at that carnival?”

Jaxon beamed and nodded.

Jaxon: “It’s one of my favorite memories.”

Celeste nodded.

Celeste: “Mine too. I had so much fun that night. I want to have fun with you and Fab when we go.”

Jaxon’s smile faded.

Jaxon: “I don’t know what you even see in him!”

He snapped.

Celeste: “But you saw something in him until he did that crap for Craig. Fabien reacts when he’s hurt about something or feels he’s losing control.”

She drawled. Jaxon looked away.

Celeste: “I think that’s why he’s making fun of Madelyn. Jordi said something about blowing Fab off for dinner, and I think that hurt Fab.”

She added.

Celeste: “ ‘cause he wasn’t happy with Craig. Who would be? He’s like… You know, the purple fat thing.”

She wagged her head. Jaxon drew another long breath.

~

Tristan sat at a table in Alice’s Dreams, reading a magazine titled “Cottage Comfort” and reading the mystery short story inside as he waited for Jordi. He wore a black waistcoat, black pants, a light-blue pressed shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a dark-blue tie, and black wingtip Oxfords.

Jordi arrived at the café. He wore a denim button-down shirt, jeans, a brown aviator jacket, and black zip-up boots. He approached Tristan, took off his jacket, and sat down across from him.

Tristan: “Hello, Jordi.”

He smiled and closed the magazine over.

The waitress approached them.

Waitress: “Welcome, gentlemen! What can I get for you both?”

Tristan: “I’ll have the apricot amaretto herbal tea with some sugar.”

He replied with a smile. Jordi rubbed the back of his head.

Jordi: “I’ll have the same.”

He blurted. Tristan smiled. She took their order and left.

Tristan: “You didn’t have to get the same as me.”

Jordi reddened.

Jordi: “I’m sorry… I don’t know tea as well as you do, and they have so many flavors here.”

Tristan just smiled.

Tristan: “No worries, Jordi. Thank you for meeting me here.”

He said calmly.

Jordi: “No, thank you. I need someone to talk to.”

The waitress returned with their tea and left the two men.

Tristan locked his gaze on Jordi.

Tristan: “I am sorry that Fabien made those cruel images to ridicule Madelyn.”

He said gently. Jordi furrowed his eyebrows.

Jordi: “I don’t know why he did! It’s ME he has beef with! She did nothing to him!”

He slashed his hand through the air.

Tristan: “I am well aware of those facts, and this is why Fabien did this.”

He said evenly. He picked his cup up from his saucer, blew on his tea, and inhaled the pleasant aroma.

Jordi: “Well, why did he?! I blew him off for dinner!”

Tristan: “Well…, how would you react if he made images to mock you?”

He asked calmly and sipped his tea. Jordi’s shoulders relaxed somewhat.

Jordi: “I’d be annoyed.”

Tristan: “Would you be angry?”

Jordi sighed and shook his head.

Jordi: “Not really.”

Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “Exactly. Fabien knows which buttons to push to get a rise out of you, and this is what he did.”

He replied.

Jordi sighed and stared down at his reflection in his tea.

Jordi: “Why is he this angry with me for blowing him off for dinner, though?”

Tristan cupped his jaw and stared up at the ceiling.

Tristan: “For whatever reason, he believed you two still had a strong friendship, and he took exception to you blowing him off.”

Jordi rolled his eyes.

Jordi: “We never had a strong friendship; we were coworkers at some point in our lives, and then I quit that job because it wasn’t paying me enough to give my grandfather a comfortable life… or myself because we were going to lose our house.”

He huffed.

Jordi: “And whenever we did speak, he would bring up something stupid Blair did that he finds amusing, and I don’t want to discuss him. We had nothing in common aside from where we worked.”

Tristan: “Yes, sometimes this happens. When we graduate or move on from workplaces, we lose contact with people with whom we attended school or worked.”

He nodded. Jordi cupped his mouth.

Jordi: “But even when we were coworkers, I don’t think I ever liked him… I tolerated him because I had to see him during my shifts. It’s the same at my current job with Minerva’s assistant, Alfie, but Alfie doesn’t bring up Blair or constantly mock and shit on people’s days.”

He said angrily, folding his arms.

Tristan kept his gaze on Jordi, surveying his emotions and body movements.

Tristan: “Perhaps this is partially on you for not communicating how you felt about him. You do have this tendency to avoid conflict and ghost people.”

Jordi felt a twinge of anger.

Jordi: “You’re saying it’s my fault he insulted Madelyn?”

Tristan shook his head.

Tristan: “Nothing is your fault. I merely stated you should have communicated your feelings about him.”

Jordi heaved a deep sigh.

Jordi: “Even if I did, it wouldn’t matter! You can’t win with this guy! He has it out for everyone who crosses him or pisses him off in the slightest. You have to watch yourself at all times, lest you get on his radar for whatever reason.”

Tristan inhaled sharply and exhaled.

Tristan: “Yes, I’m no stranger to Fabien’s wrath. I suppose you’re right; there is no winning to be had.”

He sighed.

Tristan: “Regardless…, whatever you two had definitely expired, and he cannot deal with this.”

He sipped on his tea.

Jordi: “Why is this?”

Tristan: “Because he has no friends and he wants them.”

Jordi rolled his eyes.

Jordi: “Might want to think why that might be.”

Tristan: “In the end, he’s sabotaging his own goals or needs. That’s his problem, not yours.”

He set his cup on his saucer.

Jordi: “I don’t want him hurting Madelyn!”

He insisted. Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “You can’t control what he does, and I dislike what he’s doing as much as you do. She did nothing to warrant that, and his beef is with you, not her.”

He folded his hands and sighed.

Jordi: “I think I was going to leave his server anyway. Even if he didn’t do that, he still has Blair in it, and all Blair does is whine. I had to mute his server because of Blair whining and Deimos arguing with him.”

He grimaced. Tristan twisted his mouth.

Tristan: “Yes, Blair’s whining does become tiresome, and there have been times when I told Deimos to stop arguing with him. Arguing with him isn’t going to achieve anything. Blair isn’t going to listen to anyone.”

He stated with some irritation. Jordi knit his eyebrows.

Jordi: “I imagine that would be frustrating for you.”

Tristan bowed his head.

Tristan: “Deimos has to blow off steam, and I reckon it’s better to do it on Blair than some poor, undeserving soul.”

Jordi drew a long breath.

Jordi: “Thanks for hearing me out.”

He smiled a bit. Tristan returned the smile.

Tristan: “You’re welcome. So what do you have planned for Madelyn for Love Day?”

He asked. Jordi smiled and inhaled sharply.

Jordi: “I had a dress custom-made for her, and I am going to see what she wants.”

He smiled tightly.

Tristan: “Sounds good.”

He nodded and drained his cup of tea.

Jordi: “What about you?”

Tristan raised his eyebrows and folded his hands.

Tristan: “Deimos is taking me out to dinner.”

Jordi raised an eyebrow.

Jordi: “You’re agreeing to go out to dinner with him?”

Tristan sighed and nodded.

Tristan: “It’s in exchange for spying on the body double of Ichiro.”

He whispered. Jordi bowed his head.

Jordi: “...I see.”

He pursed his lips.

Tristan: “You seem dubious.”

Jordi: “It’s not that I don’t think whatever plan he has won’t work, but it seems like you want to go with him.”

He said evenly. Tristan clenched his hand.

Tristan: “Well, no, but I do want to stop Ichiro.”

He said tersely.

Jordi: “Don’t we all?”

Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “In any case, I have to work. I hope I helped solve your dilemma.”

He said genially as he rose. He wrapped his dark blue scarf around his neck, shrugged into his peacoat, and buttoned it up. Jordi surveyed his movements.

Jordi: “Yes, you did.”

He smiled.

Tristan: “I’ll get the bill. Take care, Jordi.”

He nodded and went to the cashier to pay for the bill. Jordi heaved a deep sigh. He bailed on me when I brought up his wanting it, he thought, and rose to put his jacket back on.

~

Tristan was driving home that evening. He drove up his driveway and noticed Jasper’s yellow Beetle parked in the driveway. He drove past it, pressed the button by his rearview mirror to open the garage door, and drove inside. He parked his car inside and climbed out with his briefcase in hand.

He stepped into the mudroom, untied his shoes and took them off, revealing his sheer black socks, unbuttoned his coat, took it off, and untied his scarf. He entered his house and saw Bastien in the kitchen cooking. He wore a beige button-down shirt, a brown sweater vest, light brown pants, and brown socks.

Bastien: “Evening, Tristan! I am making chicken fricassée with rice, a salad, and bread for Father and Jasper. Would you join us?”

He smiled as he used two large spoons to toss the salad.

Tristan: “Sure, Bastien.”

He smiled a bit and entered the living room.

He saw Victor and Jasper on the couch, conversing. Victor wore a beige button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a brown vest, bell-bottom jeans, and was barefoot. Jasper wore a brown three-piece suit, a white pressed shirt, a black tie, and black socks.

Victor: “Hello, Tristan!”

Jasper: “Evening, Tristan.”

He nodded. Tristan smiled awkwardly.

Tristan: “What are you doing here, Jasper?”

Jasper: “Your father and I were speaking. We’re getting to know each other very well.”

He chuckled. Tristan sighed with relief and nodded.

Tristan: “Well, that’s good. Bastien asked if I would join you two for dinner tonight.”

Victor: “That would be lovely. I was telling Jasper what an excellent cook my son is.”

He grinned and patted his shoulder. Jasper reddened at Victor’s touch. Tristan smiled at Jasper’s gesture to his father and felt a wave of relief.

Tristan: “Yes, Papa, I would be delighted.”

He nodded.

~

Tristan sat at the dining room table across from his father and Jasper. Bastien had a bottle of Vouvray and poured some into their wine glasses. Victor eyed the fricassée over rice, the salad, and the buttered loaf with delight.

Victor: “You outdid yourself, Bastien.”

He beamed.

Jasper: “Yes, this looks scrumptious! I sure am famished!”

Victor’s eyes sparkled as he sipped on his wine. Bastien sat next to his brother. Jasper gulped down his wine and tucked into the dinner.

Jasper: “Delightful! You are a talented chef, Bastien!”

He raised his fork. Bastien beamed.

Bastien: “Thank you, Mr. Henderson.”

Jasper: “Call me Jasper!”

He grinned.

Jasper took a slice of the loaf and thrust it into his mouth.

Jasper: “Victor, you have very talented sons and are very handsome. I see both look like you.”

He winked. Victor smiled.

Victor: “Awww, thank you!”

Tristan smiled a bit, wanting to hear that he looked like his father and not like… that thing.

He flicked his gaze to the window and saw someone outside. He rose from the table and went to the window.

Bastien: “Is something wrong, Tristan?”

Tristan gazed out the window to see no one. He forced a smile and turned to his brother.

Victor: “Are you okay, Tristan?”

Tristan: “Yes, I thought I saw someone.”

He said quickly and sat down.

Bastien: “Maybe it was Deimos!”

He teased. Tristan sipped his wine. No, I don’t think it would be Deimos, he thought. Then he turned ashen, worried that if Deimos showed up, what would he think? He wondered.

Jasper: “I hope that oafish man doesn’t hit me again!”

He harrumphed. Victor rubbed his shoulder.

Victor: “He won’t! Deimos doesn’t have feelings for me!”

He reassured him. Jasper smiled and patted his hand.

~

Deimos was walking to Tristan’s place and smoking. He wore a Megadeth tank top, torn jeans, and cowboy boots. When he reached Tristan’s driveway, his heart sank when he saw Jasper’s Beetle.

Deimos: “What the fuck?!”

He dropped his cigarette, scraped it with his toe, and ran up to the house.

He marched inside through the mudroom and went through the kitchen. Tristan heard him and quickly rose.

Deimos: “Tristan, what is that fat piece of shit doing here?!”

He bellowed as he entered the dining room. Jasper and Victor turned to face him. Tristan rushed to him and raised his hands.

Tristan: “He’s here for Papa! He was here when I returned from work!”

He snapped. Deimos gaped at him and the two of them.

Deimos: “Oh, well, okay, sorry about that. I thought he was here for you.”

He grumbled. Jasper turned around. What a rude man, he thought. Victor patted his back and smiled tenderly at him.

Bastien: “You have nothing to worry about, Deimos. I believe Tristan was waiting for you.”

He teased. Deimos turned to Tristan and brightened.

Deimos: “You were?!”

Tristan looked away.

Tristan: “No, I wasn’t.”

He said tersely.

Bastien: “Well, you rose to look out the window.”

Tristan gazed at his brother. No, that wasn’t Deimos, he thought.

Bastien: “Deimos, would you care to join us for dinner?”

Tristan’s eyes grew large.

Jasper: “Does he have to?”

He whispered.

Victor: “Well, he and my son used to date.”

He whispered back. Deimos glared at them.

Deimos: “Yeah, I would!”

He spat at Jasper.

He went and sat by Tristan. Bastien dished up some fricassée over a bed of rice, a bowl of salad, and some buttered loaf. As he was going to pour Deimos a glass of wine, Deimos shook his head.

Deimos: “Any beer?”

Bastien smiled.

Bastien: “Yes, Deimos.”

Jasper raised his eyebrows. Victor chuckled. Bastien returned with a bottle of beer for Deimos. He opened the bottle and began drinking.

Bastien: “So any plans for Love Day?”

Victor: “Well, you’re making Jasper and me a special dinner.”

He chuckled.

Bastien: “I recall, Father. My question was for Deimos and Tristan.”

Tristan reddened. Deimos knit his eyebrows.

Deimos: “I’m taking Tristan out to dinner.”

Tristan: “It’s in return for him doing something for me.”

He interjected and sipped his wine. Deimos bowed his head.

Bastien: “If you say so, Tristan.”

He smiled.

Tristan ate his dinner in small bites and noticed something in his peripheral vision. He rose and went to the window.

Bastien: “Deimos is here, Tristan.”

He smiled. Tristan gazed out at the barren lawn and at the fountain outside.

Tristan: “I saw someone outside.”

He muttered. Deimos rose and placed his hand on the small of Tristan’s back. Tristan shivered and turned to Deimos. He quickly left and went back to the table. Deimos knit his eyebrows and sighed before joining Tristan at the table.

~

A Mediterranean Revival-style mansion stood thirty miles outside of Pink Top City. It featured stone masonry on the lower levels, white stucco above, and dark-tiled hipped roofs. Multiple octagonal towers with conical roofs gave the home a castle-like feel.

There was a wide, tiered stone staircase leading to a palatial front door, flanked by ornate balconies and large arched windows. On the left was a covered driveway that allowed people to drive through to a rear courtyard or to the side entrance.

The massive paved motor court featured a central fountain and a gold Lamborghini Countach parked nearby. The perimeter was lined with manicured hedges, cypress trees, and palm trees

In the backyard, there was a swimming pool, outdoor lounge spaces, and a glass-roofed gazebo.

In one of the guest rooms, Narcisse was on the bed, curled up into a tight ball and crying. The guest room featured a sophisticated, moody color palette with a mix of traditional and academic decor.

A dark-wood four-poster bed stood in the center of the room, adorned with a patterned purple-and-blue quilt. It was flanked by matching dark nightstands with small blue lamps.

To the right was a dedicated workspace featuring a classic dark-wood desk, a computer, and several wall-mounted bookshelves filled with books and small plants.

The walls were covered in light-blue striped wallpaper, with wainscoting on the lower half. The dark furniture contrasted sharply against the light wood flooring and the large geometric area rug. In the center of the ceiling was a large, ornate black-and-gold chandelier, and matching wall sconces hung above the bed.

Dougal entered the room wearing just a pair of Union Jack boxers.

Dougal: “Oh, blimey, I’m chuffed you’re back! I can’t wait for Schmoodar Day to come and me new gold suit! I know normies call it ‘Love Day,’ but for me, it’s Schmoodar Day!”

He laughed. He then held up a can of ravioli.

Dougal: “Can you make me some ravioli? I can’t use the bloody can opener or microwave. And that thing is down with the flu or something. Like that’s a bloody fuckin’ reason to not do what you’re told!”

He scoffed. Narcisse raised his head and glared at Dougal with a shit-eating grin across his face.