iZombie Prompt Response: Why the hell is there glitter everywhere?
“I feel evil,” Peyton Charles whispered as she shook out a bag of sequins on her best friend’s bed. “You’re a fake ray of sunshine, Ravi. If Liv figures us out, I’m blaming you, just so we’re clear.”
“It’s payback, sweetheart,” the doctor grinned. “Major dares call me Princess Sparkles; I’ll give him sparkles.”
“I think he was just naming your beard, honey,” Peyton laughed. “Besides, you got all the glitter out eventually.”
“That’s not the point,” Ravi pouted. “Those two put me through multiple personalities every day, a man’s got to blow off steam somehow.”
“But what if they think the kids did it?” Peyton mused, referring to three orphaned zombie children Liv and Major had taken in after Seattle had been over-run by zombies and the city’s humanity imploded. “You know how orphans stress about reasons to end up back on the streets. Why put them in that position?”
“What makes you think they’re not in on the plan?” said Ravi mischievously. “Ollie and Annie are right little monkeys, not as saintly as you seem to think. Even that adorable Pippi isn't as innocent as she looks.”
“I give up,” Peyton grimaced. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, love,” said Ravi airily, spreading another handful of glittery sequins on the pillows. “There, that should do it.” He checked his watch and ushered Peyton out of the room. “We need to get out of here, those two should get back from their grocery run any minute.”
Not much later, Liv and Major returned with arms full of fresh groceries. “It feels nice to be shopping for a house full after so many years of living with just Peyton, that girl eats like a bird,” Liv commented, nudging the door open with her shoulder. “Where do you think the kids are?”
“It is suspiciously quiet,” Major frowned. “Do you think it was a good idea leaving the kids home alone?”
“We have to show them they’re trusted,” Liv pointed out. “You know better than most how troubled kids can be sometimes.”
“I do know, that’s exactly why I’m worried.”
“You worry too much,” Liv laughed, depositing her grocery bag on the kitchen counter. There was no response, however, and she returned to the living room curiously. “Major? What’s going on?”
“I told you so!” he said triumphantly, pointing at the staircase. A trail of glitter led all the way up the steps to the upper floor. “Why the hell is there glitter everywhere if those little monkeys didn’t do anything?”
“I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation,” said Liv calmly.
“Does nothing shock you anymore?” asked Major, quirking a bushy eyebrow.
“Not since I married you, babe,” she said coolly and her husband tilted his head thoughtfully.
“After all these years, I still can’t tell whether you’re insulting me or not sometimes.”
“It’s a compliment,” Liv assured him. “Look, I don’t think we need Clive’s detective skills to figure out where this mess came from. Do you?”
“Hell no,” said Major, shaking his head vigorously. “After all these years and I still feel like a naughty kid when Clive is around, the threat is too real.”
“Seriously? I’ll be sure to tell him that sometime.”
“Don’t you dare!” Major objected, grabbing his wife around the waist and spinning her to face him. “You’re really not funny, Mrs. Lilywhite.”
“Aww, here I had record-breaking comedic ambitions,” Liv giggled, pushing herself up on tiptoe to reach his lips. Before she could make contact, Major stiffened alertly and pulled out of her reach once more. “Quit making me work so hard for a kiss,” Liv groaned but Major wasn’t listening. “What the hell is going on?”
Major didn’t answer, too busy storming up the stairs. “I know who is behind this,” he declared as he went. Shaking her head in amusement, Liv followed. Looking positively manic, Major checked each of the upper floor’s bedrooms, one by one. “Aha! What did I tell you?” he said triumphantly. In the girls’ bedroom, he found Annie and Pippi giggling conspiratorially. “Ladies, what’s going on here? You wouldn’t happen to know where that glitter trail on the stairs came from, would you?”
“No,” said Annie, drawing out the word deliberately even though she was turning as flaming red as her hair. Major glanced over his shoulder at Liv, who was smirking knowingly at the mischievous girls.
“You’re actually enjoying this, aren’t you?” said Major in disbelief, frowning at his wife.
“Totally. Believe it or not, I used to be a teenage girl, you know.”
“I’m well aware of that.” Major threw her one of his crooked grins and pulled her in for another kiss. “Or have you blocked the nineteen-year-old who lived in my football jerseys from memory? You drowned in them back then and still would.”
“I see grossing the kids out so much they confess is your tactic here,” Liv teased. “I like the way you think.”
“Dad, cut it out,” begged Annie and Major looked up at the redhead with an innocent expression. “You’re scandalizing Pip,” said the girl, pointing at her foster sister. Sure enough, Pippi’s eyes were wide, but decidedly eager rather than offended.
“Speak for yourself!” snapped the youngest of their three foster kids, elbowing Annie in the ribs in frustration. “It’s so cute, I love it. My last foster family before you and Ollie helped me run away were always fighting. This is a good change.”
“Pip, you have got to be the only one in this house cuter than your Mom,” said Major decidedly. He scooped the twelve-year-old up and hoisted her over his shoulder to shrieks of delight.
Annie muttered something exasperated under her breath and Liv moved to stand beside her. “Something on your mind, kiddo?” she prompted. “Where is Ollie anyway?”
“Who knows?” Annie shrugged impatiently. “He’s probably the least used to this new family arrangement out of all of us.” She dropped her gaze, as if reluctant to speak her mind. “I guess it’s just been easier for Pippi to believe it’s real,” she admitted quietly. “I can’t get comfortable and then lose everything again.”
“Is that what you’re afraid of?” asked Liv gently. “Did something happen to make you worry about that? Because as far as we’re concerned, you’re our family now. You three made dreams come true that were only vague concepts until we met you all. It sucks that you had to lose so much to get here but we wouldn’t change a thing about this family, you have to know that.”
“I wish Ollie would stop trying to run away,” Annie sighed. “I feel steadier somehow when he’s home…no offense. If I could have as much faith as Pip does, I totally would.”
“You’ll get there, sweetie,” said Liv reassuringly. She had barely put a comforting arm around Annie’s shoulders when Pip popped up as if out of thin air and nuzzled against Annie too. When Major sat down on Annie’s other side, Pip scrambled onto his lap like a clingy monkey. “So, now that’s settled, does anyone have an explanation for that glitter trail on the stairs?”
Annie and Pippi looked at each other, stifling giggles once more now that the fear of being reprimanded was over. “Uncle Ravi and Aunt Peyton were here,” Pippi blabbed. “Only they said we weren’t supposed to say anything.”
“You just did, dummy,” Annie pointed out, rolling her eyes at Pippi.
The younger girl’s expression crumpled guiltily but Major instantly gave her a squeeze. “That’s my girl,” he said proudly. “What do you say we plan a revenge prank for Uncle Ravi and Aunt Peyton? This mess is going to last us a long time.”
“I’ll say,” Liv laughed, running her fingers through her husband’s sandy hair. “Hey Princess Sparkles, you’ve got glitter in your hair.” It was hard to say if Major’s groan or the children’s giggles were more prominent at her words, but Liv knew for sure they were among her favorite sounds in the world: the sounds of home.
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