Hey guys! I'm Quinn. Pleasure to meet you lovelies. Please feel free to interact with me and my works, nothing inappropriate please. I will accept constructive criticism as I haven't really written fanfiction before, but compliments are appreciated too. I like to talk, to feel free to message me or ask me things. Eventually, I may use this blog to introduce my ocs and let you ask them things as well. But, for now, I am just a humble creator writing and occasionally posting my other creations to my heart's content.
My releases for ongoing works will not be scheduled, as I will probably not be good at sticking to that schedule anyway. I will post as I see fit, which will probably lead to bursts of posting on one fic and potentially not touching another fic for prolonged periods of time. I'm sorry in advance.
Fandoms I am currently writing for/taking requests for:
Date Everything
Castlevania
How to Train Your Dragon
Young Justice (2010)
Resident Evil
*This list may change. If you have any other recommendations, they are welcome, but I may not know the fandom too well. Please allow extra time for me to research the desired character(s) for the one-shot*
When Elizabeth Krenah gets an odd text from her sister Addison, she rushes to check in. Unbeknownst to her, however, Addy is not as crazy as she may sound. And Elizabeth is severely unprepared for what she is about to get herself in to.
Pairings: Oc/Eddie/Volt, Oc/Hector
*Trigger warnings: Mild cussing, sexual jokes/implications, mentions of bars and drinking, slight mentions of hallucinations*
Chapter 4: Errand Boy (Sorry this one’s a bit shorter. I promise I am working on the next chapter already)
"So, where do I start?"
She glances at her clock. "I was supposed to deliver dishes today."
I nod. "Okay, to whom?"
She thinks for a moment. "The boxes are labelled, but I think it might be Bev, Mitchell, and... Maybe Kopi?"
I raise a brow. "Alright. If I remember correctly, I think Kopi is your coffee maker." She nods. "But who are Bev and Mitchell?"
She motions towards the kitchen as she picks up a piece of long-forgotten bacon. She begins to eat as she explains, "Beverly is my bev counter, owner of the Tipsy Tumbler. Mitchell Linn is my food."
I pause for a moment, looking at her incredulously. "The food? Like any food? All of it?"
"...yeah, don't think too hard about that one."
I scoff. "Yeah, I'm not the one eating the food right now."
She gasps, nearly choking on the piece of bacon. That makes me laugh as I pat her back. "Go away!" She dodges away from me.
"Okay, where's the dishes I am delivering?"
She covers her mouth, still chewing as she murmurs, "Cabinet under the microwave."
I nod in acknowledgement, walking upstairs to grab the Dateviators. I pocket them and rush back down. As I walk back downstairs, I notice she has already turned on the television and is lounged on the couch. The sight makes me smile.
As I open her cabinet, I see regular dishes stacked like any other house. No boxes. It takes me a solid moment to realize I haven't put on the Dateviators yet. I put them on my nose, seeing three boxes labelled Beverly, Mitchell, and... Freddy?
"Hey, Ads?"
"Yeah?"
"Who the hell is Freddy?"
"Oh, that's who it is! Freddy's the fridge. Sorry, I don't usually deliver dishes to him."
I nod, waving her off with a "That's fine." I carefully grab each box, setting them on the counter. I grab Beverly's box, walking to the beverage counter.
I focus the Dateviators on the counter, and suddenly I am in a small bar area. It's not a club like the Breaker Box, but it is a quaint little area. There's plenty of seating, and a beverage serving counter. It feels very homey. A ginger-haired woman is her hair made of liquor? stands behind the counter, looking quite bored. A sign above her says "Tipsy Tumbler Grand Reopening!! (Again)."
I step forward, clearing my throat. "Excuse me?"
The woman jumps, looking up. "Oh, hi! You must be Elizabeth!" She rushes towards me, and I have enough sense to set the box of dishes down before she envelopes me in a hug. "I've heard so much about you!"
I give her a questioning look. "Word must travel fast around here."
She grins at me, rushing back around the counter. "What can I get for ya today? Oh my gosh, you are my first customer of the day! I haven't had a new customer in a while. I mean, Addy stops by once in a while to hang out when she can, but not many frequent this bar. I-"
I stop her with a laugh. "You're Beverly?"
She nods, her ponytail flowing over her shoulder. "Oh, yeah! Sorry, I tend to get too excited. Where are my manners?" She trails off nervously, chuckling.
I try to give her a reassuring smile. "Addy is taking a break today, but she wanted me to deliver these dishes to you." I pick up the box again, holding it out to her.
She grins excitedly, setting the box on the counter and taking out a cup. "Oh, these are perfect! Thank you! Tell Addy and Daisuke I said thanks." She pauses. "Are you sure you don't want a drink?"
I think it over for a moment before shaking my head. "No, not right now. I will stop by sometime else, though. I just have more deliveries to do."
She nods, and we say our goodbyes as I walk out.
Next stop: Freddy. I grab his box, eyeing the contents. Why would the fridge need so many bowls? For leftovers?
Time to find out, I guess.
I walk over to the fridge, again focusing the Dateviators. Suddenly, a giant yeti towers over me. I scream, nearly dropping the box as I scramble a few steps back.
The yeti grins down at me. "Hey! Cool kid's sister! How are ya, kid?"
I look at him for a moment, the fear starting to subside. I am still a bit cautious. "Uh, I'm fine. I have a delivery." I hold the box out to him.
He smiles wide, taking the box. It suddenly seems much smaller.
"Thanks, kid! These will be perfect! Send Daisuke my thanks."
I nod. "Hey, uh, Freddy?"
"Yeah?"
"Why do you need so many bowls?"
His face lights up again. "I am starting an ice cream parlor! You and cool kid should come check it out sometime."
I nod, thanking him for the invite as I say goodbye. Alright, now I just need to talk to Mitchell.
I quickly realize that Mitchell can be very...critical of everything. He's not rude necessarily, he just has a specific vision. I guess I can respect that.
"Hmm..." He inspects a dish. "These will do. Give Daisuke my thanks." I nod, stepping back as he goes back to muttering about the food and how it will be presented. I take the Dateviators off, walking back into the living room.
I sit beside Addy on the couch, some drama show droning on the TV.
I sigh, "I understand now what you mean by not all the Dateables were human. Freddy scared the shit out of me."
She laughs. "Yeah, I heard the scream. But he is sweet."
"He said we need to check out his new ice cream parlor."
She lights up. "I would love to do that sometime!"
We relax into silence again, and I pull out my phone. I wince at multiple missed calls from Hailey. I quickly send her a text.
Hey, sorry I haven't been responding. This emergency is going to take a while. Can't go in to work an undetermined amount of time. Sorry. I know this is probably giving up my job.
With that, I check the time before setting my phone down. It's too close for the Breaker Box opening for me to do anything else.
"Hey, Addy?"
"What's up?"
"Mind if I shower and use some of your clothes to head to the Breaker Box?"
She grins smugly. "Told you you'd like them."
I shrug. "What can I say? My standards aren't very high, and they make good mojitos."
She chuckles. "I prefer their cosmos."
"I may have to try that later."
"But to answer your question, yeah. Borrow some of my clothes. And definitely take that shower. You need it."
I roll my eyes, shoving her off the couch as I get up.
As I begin walking upstairs, she stops me. "Wait! Could I use the Dateviators while you get ready?"
I nod, walking back and handing her the Dateviators. "Yeah, there's two more charges.
I finally go back upstairs, Addy not far behind me. As I turn into her bedroom, she walks over to her attic.
I quickly get ready, picking an outfit clearly never worn by Addy.
It's a simple black dress, spaghetti straps keeping it on the hanger. I grab a pair of silver heels and walk into the bathroom. Luckily, the dress fits enough. It is tight and uncomfortable, but it's not killing me. It'll work.
I check the length, letting it fall just above my knees. I slip on the shoes and pair it all with my usual silver jewelry. I use some of Addy's makeup to apply a silver sparkle along my eyelids, and I finish it all off with my regular black lipstick.
Looking in the mirror, I grin. This is a clubbing outfit!
I stride out of the bathroom, unable to stop smiling. I make my way to the attic, hearing murmurs. I knock on the door before poking my head in.
Addy is leaned up against her HVAC unit. She lights up as I step in.
"Stunning! Honestly forgot I had that one."
I laugh, feeling on cloud nine already. "So, what have you been up to?"
She grins, eyes shining. "Talking to Hector, the HVAC unit."
"Ah." I click my tongue. "Well, I hate to interrupt, but I am heading to the Breaker Box in a few minutes. Sorry to cut the conversation short."
She nods. "Yeah, got it."
I walk out, going to her room and sitting on her bed. After about five minutes, Addy walks in and sits next to me. She hands me the Dateviators, unable to stop smiling.
I smirk at her. "So..."
She looks at me, embarrassment beginning to shine through her happiness. "So?"
I laugh, leaning onto her shoulder. "Hector, huh?"
She looks away. "What about him?"
I roll my eyes. "I'm not taking the time to beat around the bush with you right now. But I am glad you're happy." I grin at her, walking out.
As I approach the Breaker Box, I once again seem to be the first one here. Volt, however, is not there to greet me tonight.
I hate to say I am almost disappointed. Walking inside, a shine catches my eye. It's Volt, standing beside the stage. He is having an intense discussion with Eddie. Volt looks concerned, but Eddie looks annoyed. And exhausted.
Eddie holds a toolbox, and Volt is positioned to block Eddie from the stage. Despite everything in me telling me to leave them alone, I walk closer.
"Excuse me, am I interrupting?"
Both men pause mid-sentence, obviously caught off-guard. Volt recovers first, turning to me with a broad smile.
"Livewire! Look at you! You look ravishing." He takes my hand again, kissing the back of it like he did yesterday.
I grin, trying to fight the blush I know is creeping onto my cheeks. "Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself, Volt."
He grins like that compliment has made his day. "Why, thank you Livewire."
A movement behind him catches my eye, and I notice Eddie has slipped behind Volt and onto the stage. He begins some last-minute repairs before the show.
Volt follows my gaze and turns. His hair crackles, seemingly agitated. But he shakes his head and turns back to me. There's a crack in his facade now, his eyes holding annoyance and worry.
"Curious about what Eddie is doing?"
"Curious about if he needs help."
The annoyance in his eyes flares, as if I personally insulted him. He chuckles, but it seems forced. "Trust me, Livewire, Eddie can handle himself."
He loops his arm around my waist, guiding me away from the stage. It's a bit forceful, and the tension makes me slip away from him. He looks at me, a sadness in his eyes.
"Sorry, I just don't want to be touched like that right now."
He nods. "My apologies, Livewire. I meant no harm."
I shake my head as I sit at the bar. "No harm done."
He walks behind the bar, shrugging his jacket off and rolling up his sleeves. "What can I indulge you in today?"
I hum. "Heard you've got good cosmos."
He chuckles, nodding knowingly. "Addison does love her cosmopolitans. Would you like to try one tonight?"
I nod. "Please."
He gives me another charming grin, his hands already moving. "Coming right up."
He mixes my drink, eagerly watching me as I take a drink. I hum in approval.
"Pretty good."
His face lights up again. "As if you expected anything else? Your approval is greatly appreciated, Livewire."
Before anymore could be said, more customers find their way inside. Volt excuses himself, strolling away to capture the attention of the new crowd.
I decide to stay seated on the barstool, nursing my drink. Someone else walks behind the bar, and I hear the sound of something heavy being placed down. I look up to see Eddie wordlessly easing into the familiar rhythm of bartending.
I place my head on my hand. "Hey."
His eyes flick to me, and he gives a curt nod.
God, he really isn't a conversationalist.
I keep pushing. "Stage needed fixing today?"
He groans, rolling his eyes. "No, I just like to hit the stage with a hammer every now and then."
"That bored, huh?"
That earns a scoff from him. "Yeah, as if I don't have millions of other jobs to do."
I take another sip from my drink. When I realize he isn't talking again, I look down at the bar.
"You looking for any help?"
That catches him off guard. He pauses, looking at me as if I grew two heads. I raise my brows.
"...What?"
He shakes his head, like he has to shake himself out of his thoughts. He resumes cleaning the glass he is holding.
"You really wanna help?"
Now I roll my eyes. "No, I just like to lead people on and see how far I can get. Course I wanna help. Got some bartending experience under my belt, so I know what needs to be done in and around a bar for cleaning and maintenance. If that helps sway your mind."
He doesn't respond, still focused on "cleaning" a glass that so shiny it's nearly blinding.
I place my head in my hand again, taking a sip of my nearly empty drink.
I turn back to the stage, focusing on a gorgeous woman playing the piano. It's easy to lose myself in the music.
Something hits the elbow I have resting on the bar, making me look over.
A new cosmopolitan sits beside my arm. Eddie has already grabbed my empty glass, cleaning it without a word.
I murmur a thank you, taking a sip. I hum in surprise. This drink isn't as sweet as Volt's, not as sweet as I was expecting. But it is still delicious.
The show finally concludes, and the crowd begins to disperse. I finish my drink, standing to leave.
As I turn away, Eddie's voice stops me. "You still wanna help?"
I resist the urge to roll my eyes again. "Yeah, I do."
He nods at me. "Show up tomorrow morning. Wear something comfortable, but something you don't mind working in."
I nod, walking out. Once again, I make my way to Addy's room.
To my surprise, she is awake. She jumps as I tiptoe in.
"Sorry, thought you'd be asleep."
She shakes her head, and I notice it looks like she's been crying again. She glances at her phone. I sit beside her on the bed.
"Alright, what's going on?"
(An: hey guys should I start posting on Ao3? Just a thought)
When Elizabeth Krenah gets an odd text from her sister Addison, she rushes to check in. Unbeknownst to her, however, Addy is not as crazy as she may sound. And Elizabeth is severely unprepared for what she is about to get herself in to.
Pairings: Oc/Eddie/Volt, Oc/Hector
*Trigger warnings: Mild cussing, sexual jokes/implications, mentions of bars and drinking, slight mentions of hallucinations*
Chapter 3: Should I stay (or should I go)
(Word count:2,952)
I nurse my drink for a while, slowly sipping on it as the night drags on. A few more characters have found their way into the bar tonight, each one fascinating and unique in their own way.
So far, I have spotted what must be Addy's vacuum, a construction worker (?), a beautifully reflective man whom I suspect may be a mirror, and a...shower? Quite the diverse group tonight.
It's not long after these men walk in that Volt struts away from talking to a worn-down bartender to hop on stage. He vibrantly announces the first performer, a character by the name of Johnny Splash.
Okay, can we get any more obvious? The crowd groans and heckles as the shower man walks on stage. Despite the obvious pun of his name being based off Johnny Cash, he begins to talk in an obnoxious Elvis impression.
Johnny thanks Volt and the crowd before he begins to sing. I wince slightly. I can... see why the crowd dislikes him. He's very off-key. It's okay, though, I tell myself. He just needs some voice lessons. Or a different hobby.
On the good hand, he doesn't seem to let the crowd affect him as he sings song after song. The crowd, especially the trashy-looking man, shouts and jests at him. The trashman even throws a wad of paper at one point, but Volt immediately puts a stop to that. I feel bad for Johnny, but his perseverance is oddly endearing.
I begin to fidget with my ever-lightening glass as the performance keeps dragging on. Out of boredom, I glance at the bar again. Nobody is over there right now except Volt, who leans with his back against the bar next to the worn out bartender. They seem to be watching Johnny's performance with barely-disguised distaste.
Well, Volt has barely-disguised distaste. The bartender doesn't bother with hiding his distaste for the shower's performances.
I sigh, spinning my glass again. It's now empty save for a little bit of severely watered-down liquid barely covering the bottom. I debate whether or not I should interrupt the two men at the bar. They seem to be enjoying each others company. Is it worth getting another drink to disturb their peace?
I decide to watch them for another moment, still debating. Volt seems more relaxed, almost subconsciously leaning into the other man. His grin is wide, but now it doesn't seem like a performance. This isn't a show for the people watching.
The other man-didn't Addy mention an Eddie earlier?- is almost Volt's complete opposite. He seems a bit more rough around the edges than Volt is, even just by appearance alone. Volt is refined, energetic, eager to please, and he puts on a good charismatic front. This man seems just tired. Annoyed.
The bartender has short unkempt hair, and even now I can see hints of red and gray woven through the black. His outfit is similar to Volt's with the breaker vest and black pants. However, this man has wires and extension cords wrapped around him, tangled all along his outfit. The wires even run down his arms and legs.
Hm. I've seen my share of people showing off their kinks in public. Never would have guessed I'd see it in this bar, though.
This bartender is more tan than Volt, more lean too. He has more of a worker's build, and it's clear he's not worried about his impression on the crowds. He lets Volt handle that. I bet he's the maintenance, working better behind the scenes when nobody is watching him. But he has eyebags, a slump in his shoulders. And I notice him wince sometimes when he leans his weight a certain way. Addy was right in her warning earlier: this Eddie character seems to have a habit of working himself to death.
I finally make up my mind, standing up as Johnny nears the end of another song. I hope to catch both the host and the bartender, but before I can get too close Volt is pushing off the bar to saunter back onto the stage. He bids Johnny good riddance, doing everything short of shoving him offstage before the shower leaves. Once again, the crowd heckles. Once again, the shower shows no sign of being discouraged.
I am once again pulled out of my thoughts as I hear a gruff "What do you want?"
I turn back to the bar, the tender eyeing me harshly as he dries off a glass. I hold up my own empty glass. "A mojito, please."
He takes the glass from me, grunting in acknowledgement. As he makes my drink, smooth jazz begins to fill the club. I guess there were no more performers interested tonight.
I finally speak up, glancing at the bartender. "What's your name?"
The bartender looks up at me, meeting my bored gaze with his own intense one. "Why?"
I raise a brow, shrugging. "Well, I think referring to you as 'man who makes the drinks' is a bit longwinded, don't you? So? You got a name?"
He sighs, turning as he continues to make my drink. "You're not going to stop until I give you my name, are you?"
I hum, tilting my head. "I mean, that is the objective. But if you want me to just give you a name instead, that can be arranged."
He grumbles, almost slamming my drink on the counter in front of me. "Eddie."
He leaves no room for conversation, but I grin anyway. I grab the drink. "Liz. Nice to meet you, Eddison."
He sputters, turning and glaring at me as his face turns red. "Don't call me that."
I hum, standing. I hold my arms up in a surrender position. "Sorry, Eddie. Won't call you that. Thanks for the drink."
With that, I walk back to my table. Sitting down, I realize that most of the earlier "crowd" has dispersed. I guess they were just here for the performance. Now there's only one or two people left, nursing their drinks as I nurse mine.
Soon, I am the only one left in the bar. The others finished some time ago, and my half-finished drink is now severely watered down. But something in me begs to stay, so I sit with my half-finished drink.
Eddie now sits at the bar, nursing his own drink. A whiskey sour, I think I remember him making earlier. Now, looking at him, it's almost hard to believe he is the bartender. He looks like any regular at the bar, down to the slumped posture and standoffish demeanor.
Trying to drown his pain in the bottle. typical.
I stand, using a napkin to wipe down where my drink sat before walking over to the bar.
Eddie doesn't look up from his drink as I approach. "No more refills. Come back tomorrow."
I shake my head, sitting beside him. I place my drink on a napkin. "Don't need a refill."
He side eyes me, his metallic grey eyes intense and still annoyed. "Then what do you want?"
I match his side eye, raising a brow calmly. "Can't a lady want some company?"
He scoffs. "Volt's unavailable right now."
"And how is that relevant?" I take a sip of my drink.
He pauses, the angry glint in his eyes giving way to surprise. He glances away, ears red as he mutters, "You haven't met me yet. I'm not good company."
"I'm a big girl. I think I'm old enough to judge good company from bad for myself now."
He huffs, his air of annoyance returning. We drink in silence for another half hour, and finally I am done with my drink. I slide the empty glass to him, hitting his elbow gently.
"Thanks for the company. Wasn't half bad."
He nods and waves me off. I walk out, taking the Dateviators off.
Getting used to the real world again, I poke my head into Addy's room to see her sound asleep. I creep in, hooking up the Dateviators to the charger on her nightstand. I quietly creep out again, shutting the door quietly and tiptoeing to the living room. I make my way to the couch, grabbing Mateo for warmth.
The next morning, I wake up to a faint humming and murmuring coming from the kitchen. I grumble sleepily, clutching the blanket next to me as I roll over-
And hit the floor.
I groan, sitting up. After I untangle the blanket from my legs, I use to couch to heave myself off the floor.
Couch? Oh, right. Yeah, I'm not in my house. Not in my bed.
I set Mateo on his usual chair and stretch out my sore limbs. Addy pads into the living room behind me.
"Everything okay?"
I nod, yawning. "Fell off the damn couch."
She laughs. "Idiot." When I turn around, she's already walking back into the kitchen.
I trudge after her, leaning against the fridge as Addy starts making a cup of coffee. The stove is already on, heating up a skillet.
I'm still shaking off sleep when she hands me the cup, and I move over to the coffee maker to put sugar in it. I put some creamer in it too. Addy winces as I gently tap my spoon against the mug.
"Don't do that!"
Her voice is sharp, snappy. It makes me pause. "...My bad."
I carefully set the spoon in the dishwasher, taking a sip of my hot coffee and nearly scalding myself. The air is tense and quiet for a few moments as she cooks bacon. Once she is almost done with that, she murmurs, "Sorry for snapping at you."
I shrug. "Not the worst that's happened to me. What was that about, though?"
She chuckles humorlessly. "You haven't met Daisuke yet. Honestly he scared me at first with his care for the dishes. It is endearing, I just... I'm clumsy, and it seemed like he'd kill me if I broke a dish. Sometimes I still think he might. So just try not to break any dishware. Please."
I hum. "Okay..." It seems a bit deeper than just one character being antsy about dishes. I watch her move for a moment, her actions tense and skittish, like she knows she's being watched. I note the way her hand shakes as she goes to grab eggs from the fridge.
It isn't long before we get to the root of the problem. "I was thinking today you could meet some of my favorites. I mean, I have an errand or two to run today between the Dateables, but after that there are a few people I want you to meet! I think I could convince Hector to speak to you today... I think you'll like him!"
Ah, there it is. I shift uncomfortably. She turns to give me a forced grin, anxiety clashing with hope in her eyes. I give her a tight lipped smile before taking a sip of my coffee.
She pauses, her back already turned to me. "...What is it?" But by the way her shoulders slump, she can already assume what I am about to say.
I shake my head, setting my mug down by the sink. My voice is soft, like I am telling a child their dog just died. "Addy...this has been fun and all, but I need to go back home. I-I have a job to get to, and-and even if I didn't, I have nothing here! I don't have any clothes, any other possessions of mine. I don't even have my phone charger. I'm unprepared to stay here any longer. I can't stay here any longer."
Addy looks at me again, panic seeping into her gaze. "No. No, no, no please you can't-you can't leave. Please, I am begging you to stay. Don't leave me here."
I sigh, looking down. Looking away from her. I never could say no to her. But how could I stay? I need clothes. I need to shower. I need my own stuff. I need my house. "Babes, I wish I could, and I am sorry I can't help more, I just-"
She cuts me off, pacing now. The carton of eggs are long forgotten on the counter.
"I-I mean, even thinking logically, I could order you new clothes and whatever you need. If you need a bed that badly, you can have mine and I can sleep on the couch. We could switch out. But-but Valdivian has surveillance on my house. If they even think I have the Dateviators, not only am I in trouble, but they will track you down too. Isn't there strength in numbers? Please, just stay."
I finally look up at her as she grips my hand in a death vice. A war wages in my mind. Obviously I want to stay, not only for her physical health but for her mental health as well. She is clearly taking a toll in the mental department. She stares me in the eyes, tears threatening to spill on her cheeks.
"I thought-I thought I was going crazy. I mean, yes, I have a hundred different people to talk to in this house, but you-you understand! And you have always been there for me! I don't have to put on this machine to see you, to question if you are real or not. I don't have to wonder, when I take these glasses off, if you will just stop existing. I don't have to wonder if you are a hallucination or not. You don't just disappear. You are about the only thing here that doesn't make me question my sanity, ever! Please, I am begging you. Don't go. Just stay with me."
I look at her, still not saying anything. Addy stares at me, tears streaming down her face. I push myself off the counter, pulling her to straighten her up so she can meet my face. I wrap my arms around her in a grounding embrace.
"Okay, okay. I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
She grips my shirt, allowing herself to cry. Her knees give out, and I guide us both to the floor safely.
We sit for God knows how long, just the sounds of the machines providing noise around us. Soon, she begins muttering.
Apology after apology is repeated. Variations of "You shouldn't have to deal with this" and "I shouldn't be acting like this" is repeated over and over.
I shush her gently, rocking us softly. Once she's quieted down and her breath is even, I pause.
"Addy, I'm moving you to the dining room table, okay? I need to clean up in here."
She shakes her head, gripping my shirt tighter. I hug her against me.
"At least let me turn off the stove?"
After a moment, she finally gives me a small nod. I grin and stand up, hauling her with me. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, I turn to the stove to realize it is already turned off. I look at it in confusion, but she numbly murmurs, "Thanks, Stefan."
I keep guiding her as I place the mugs in the sink and grab the plate of bacon. I set us down on the couch, wrapping Mateo around her as I set down the plate on the table. She shifts closer to me.
"...I'm sorry."
The words are quiet, and if it hadn't been dead silent in the house I wouldn't have heard her. She keeps rambling.
"I just... some days I get so lonely. You know that. But I haven't had a day like that in a while, even before I got the Dateviators. I mean, even when I got lonely, I could text Sam, but she couldn't be here. It wasn't the same. And I knew if I texted you all the time you'd come rushing over if I mentioned having a bad mental day. Or you'd at least insist on calling, no matter what you were doing. And I don't want you throwing your life away for me. Especially just because I felt a little lonely.
"And then I got the Dateviators. I thought they would help me with this feeling, but sometimes the more I talk to the Dateables the more disconnected I feel. And when I take off the Dateviators I have to ask myself if it was all really real or not. Some days it just doesn't feel wirth it. But they need me. They need my help. I mend relationships, fix misunderstandings, lessen the workload, and just overall help keep the peace. So I just can't stop wearing the glasses no matter how much I want to!"
She is yelling at this point, on the verge of crying again. She tugs at her hair, gripping Mateo against her as she rocks herself gently.
"...Doesn't that make me a bad person? to not want to help them?"
She looks up at me, and suddenly I am just seeing the little child that scraped her knee trying to get to a squirrel she thought was stuck in the tree. I frown at her, shaking my head vigorously.
"Oh, no, baby. Everyone needs a break. Especially when you go from having no people to having a hundred people in your house. And you don't have to fix everything, it's not your job to make sure every object likes each other. they shouldn't be putting that on you. But," I sigh, closing my eyes and pinching the bridge of my nose, "I know you're not going to listen to me. So let me lighten the load. I'll take the Dateviators for the day."
When Elizabeth Krenah gets an odd text from her sister Addison, she rushes to check in. Unbeknownst to her, however, Addy is not as crazy as she may sound. And Elizabeth is severely unprepared for what she is about to get herself in to.
Pairings: Oc/Eddie/Volt, Oc/Hector
*Trigger warnings: Mild cussing, sexual jokes/implications, mentions of bars and drinking, slight mentions of hallucinations*
Author's note: I apologize if some characters are ooc. Enjoy loves!
Chapter 2: The Fun Begins (Word count:3,014)
"To the living room!"
With that cheer, Addison drags me into the living room. She lets me go to crouch in front of a chair, her voice soft. "Hey, Mateo. I want you to meet my sister Elizabeth. I hope that's okay."
She puts on her Dateviators, straightening up and focusing on the chair. After a few seconds, her eyes light up. "Mateo!" She hugs what seems to be thin air, squeezing tight. She then steps back, looking at me. "Mateo, this is Elizabeth. She will be hanging out around here for a bit." Now she begins to speak to me directly. "I'll hand you the Dateviators now, okay? Then I'll be up in my room for a bit."
That last sentence throws me off a bit. I look at her, eyes wide. My voice is a bit stronger than I would like it to be as I exclaim, "Wait a sec, you're leaving me?"
She grins. "You're used to speaking to strangers. You'll be fine! Besides, I'll just be upstairs and it won't be long before I'll have to get you ready for our next event anyway."
I sigh as she takes off the Dateviators, giving them to me. Addy leaves with a "have fun!" I place the Dateviators on my nose, jumping at the sudden appearance of a young man in front of me.
I hear Addy chuckling to herself as she walks away and roll my eyes. I focus on the man in front of me.
"Uh, hi. As Addy said, I am Elizabeth. You can call me Liz." I offer an easy smile.
The man, Mateo, reflects my smile. "It is nice to meet you, Liz. As Addy has said, I am Mateo. Her blanket."
I grin as I take in his appearance. There are no sharp angles to this man. Fluffy white hair rests on a head that features soft brown eyes and a kind smile. He wears a plush comforter as a robe that covers some more blanketed layers of clothing. Comfortable house slippers adorn his feet. Even his voice is soft!
I don't get to observe him very long before a tugging is felt on my leggings. I glance down to see a patchwork dog, sewn from many fabrics. A tassel hangs around its neck. I grin at the adorable creature.
The dog's appearance and actions seem to make Mateo panic, and he gasps, "Davi, no!" Despite Mateo scolding it, the puppy continues to tug on my leg. Mateo continues, scooping up the dog. "Davi, that is not nice!" Despite his best efforts to sound stern, Mateo gently cradles Davi to his chest. He looks up at me bashfully. "I'm so sorry, he's just-"
I am already shaking my head, laughing. "No worries! He just wanted to play, didn't you boy?" I reach out, scratching behind a patch of cloth resembling a dog ear. "Um, what is he, if you don't mind me asking?"
Mateo grins fondly at Davi. "This is Davi, one of my inanimals! He is a knit bull."
That pulls another laugh out of me. "A knit bull, huh? How cute."
Davi yips, nipping at my hand. Anxiety flashes across Mateo's face again before he realizes I am enjoying the playful puppy's antics. I finally pause as Mateo begins to speak.
"So, uh, do you like animals?"
I nod, stepping back as Mateo sets Davi down with another reminder to behave. The dog hops away, his mischievous nature never wavering.
I decide to give Mateo a verbal answer. "Yeah, love them. Addy and I used to have quite an arrangement of animals as children. Now, I don't really have time for them."
Mateo's expression shifts, looking sad. "I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have time for my inanimals. They may be stressful at times, I will admit, but they are worth it. I wouldn't give them up for anything."
I shift, looking down. Memories flood my mind of past dogs and cats my sister and I used to adore. Guilt claws at my heart. "Yeah, I want to get a pet eventually. I just wouldn't be a good caretaker now. I'm not home enough."
Mateo nods in understanding. "Well, you are always welcome to visit my inanimals and I. Addy helps me whenever she can, and I enjoy the company. I mean, that is, if you want to. I don't want to make you feel as if you have to-"
I cut him off. "Mateo, I would love to. I may not be able to come over very often, but whenever I can visit I would love to meet more of your inanimals."
He lights up, smiling at this. "Thank you, Liz. That means a lot." He pauses, an idea striking him. "Actually, would you like to meet-"
He is interrupted by the sound of Addy quickly but carefully rushing down the stairs. "Sorry to interrupt the conversation, Mateo, but I am going to steal Lizzy for the night. Talk to you tomorrow?"
She doesn't wait for a response, not that she would have heard one, as she whisks me away. I wave bye to Mateo before he just...vanishes.
Addy leads me upstairs and to her bathroom. She is still murmuring greetings and names I can't quite catch. She finally focuses back on me, done fiddling with her makeup on the counter.
"Ready to go clubbing?" She can hardly contain her excitement.
I look down at my outfit. Leggings, one of my band t-shirts, and sneakers. Hardly an outfit for a night out. I might wear this to bartend, but never to go clubbing. I look back up and shrug at Addy.
She shakes her head, looking me up and down. "You'll be fine! Tell you what: You left some makeup here last time you were over. So do your makeup and then we'll see how you feel, okay?"
I nod, but I still feel unsure. "I guess..." I take another look as Addison rummages under her sink. I fidget, tugging at my necklace and earrings as I glance in the mirror. My mouth twists into an uneasy frown.
I'm usually pretty confident in my looks, comfortable in my body, but this... I'm not dressed up enough for this. It feels wrong.
She finally stands up, arranging my much darker makeup next to her own. "Stop worrying! You look fine." She glances up at me in the mirror. Finally, she steps back so I have room do my makeup.
She begins applying her red lipstick, leaving me to apply my own makeup. I hum, analyzing my appearance like I am choosing what makeup to wear. Like I don't always do the same look. Finally, I begin applying my smoky eye, touching it up with eyeliner and mascara. I finish the look with a black lipstick.
Addy laughs as she looks at me through the mirror again. "You emo bitch." It makes me crack a smile.
"Listen, you know what they say."
She snorts, trying to hold in another laugh as she finishes applying her mascara. "What, once you go black you never go back?"
I roll my eyes, grinning. "Shut up."
She gasps in mock offense. "And to think I almost let you use my products." She finishes her makeup, grabbing the Dateviators. I follow her into her room.
"I'll only be there long enough to get you set up again," she says, "I doubt I will even go into the club tonight. Not that I don't love the breaker box boys, I just...sometimes the crowd will be a lot. And I know it is only a Thursday, so the crowd won't be too much, but still. Plus the performances can be kind of hit or miss..."
Part of me fails to see this logic. Do the Dateables have jobs that they need to worry about? Why would that affect the ebb and flow of the bar crowd? Does the fridge just not work on the weekends?
Addy begins to once again drag me, taking me out of her room and starting to walk down the hall. "Come on, we need to get there before the crowd does!"
She rushes to the closet door down the hall, swinging it open to reveal-
"A breaker box?" I raise a brow at her incredulously.
Addy grins. "You'll love it! It is the best club in the house!"
I hold up a hand, counting on my fingers. "One, that implies the existence of other clubs in the house. Two, is that, like, you know, dangerous? Like, I feel as if I walk in your literal breaker box my brain is getting fried."
She chuckles. "I wouldn't kill youuuu! At least, not by electricity. Ready?"
I roll my eyes. "Let's just get this over with."
Once again, Addy turns away from me to focus on the new Dateable. She steps away from me, stepping closer to the breaker box. I resist the urge to grab her arm as she makes a knocking motion dangerously close to the door of the breaker box. She appears to wave someone over before stepping back again. I watch her in confusion.
She ignores me, but I see her face light up as she looks in front of us. "Volt!" She holds her hand up, almost as if offering the back of it. "How are you and Eddie?"
I stand awkwardly to the side as Addy listens to this "Volt." She finally nods.
"I'm glad! Just make sure he doesn't work himself to death, yeah?" She listens again before turning to me.
For a moment, it looks as if she forgot as I was there. As if I had to be pointed out to her since she was so engrossed in conversation already.
I wonder how this "Volt" really is. I'm intrigued.
"Oh! Right." Her voice cuts through my thoughts. She pulls me forward as she regains her composure. "Volt, I am afraid I will not be joining you tonight. My sister, Elizabeth, is visiting and I wanted her to check out the bar. However, as there is only one pair of Dateviators, there's no way we can both join you. I'm sorry, but I trust you will treat Elizabeth as well as you treat myself."
With that, she says goodbye and hands me the Dateviators. She stands beside me as I slide the glasses onto my face. Once again, I have to get used to the rosy tint of the world now.
A man stands in front of me, practically glowing. Well, not practically. He is glowing! A soft electric hum emanates from him. And the more I look at him, the more bizarre features I begin to notice on him.
His hair is literally electricity, white and staticky. His eyes are white as well. Even his eyebrows are in the shape of lightning bolts! He wears a vest with breaker switches, and switches line his pants as well. A jacket is thrown over his shoulders, the same cool grey as the outside of the breaker box. Power strips and cords line his shoulders, and an electric warning sign is on his right sleeve. Copper wires line his wrists, resembling bracelets.
He stand with an air of confidence, an almost enticing aura surrounding him. He is used to being the center of attention. He knows what people think of him.
Interesting.
After a moment of surveying each other, he steps forward. He gently bows slightly to take my hand, and I let him. But my eyes narrow just slightly as he kisses the back of it. So that's what Addy did earlier.
Hm, so he's a flirt. A tease. No wonder he's the face of the bar.
He looks up at me through his lashes, and electricity seems to flood my veins, charging the air around us.
"It is a pleasure to meet someone so dear to our Addison. My name is Volt, as Addy had said."
I can see why Addy got so lost in his voice so quickly. It's smooth but electric, reflecting just the energy you may need. It is practically designed, like every part of him I'd imagine, to draw people in. To let their guards down.
Speaking of Addy, I turn to glance at her. But she is gone, the roach. I resist the urge to sigh and turn back to Volt. "I'm Liz."
He finally straightens up, his eyes lighting up as I speak. "Liz. What an electrifying name." He offers his arm to me, but I shake my head. He seems slightly disappointed, and I feel a bit bad. I still walk beside him as he guides me into the new club behind him. The Breaker Box.
Despite my rejection, I crack a smile at his words. My voice is monotonous as I mutter, "Ha, electrifying. Very funny."
He chuckles. "So, Addy mentioned you'll be staying for the show tonight, Livewire?"
I raise a brow at the nickname, but choose not to address it as I nod. After all, my friends and I have nicknames for everyone. I call people babes or loves. I imagine maybe Livewire isn't that different?
"I suppose I could bless this bar with my presence."
Volt laughs, lighting up the room. "Wonderful! We have an open mic tonight, so I hope you will enjoy performances from scross the house! In the meantime," he leads me to a VIP table, setting me down. "Is there anything I could get for you tonight? Anything you heart desires?"
Ah. There it is again. The ever-flirtatious host, pulling people in like a magnet.
I must say, he is quite good at it. I glance at his lips, his expression. His smirk is just hungry enough to let the imagination roam wild. A tempting offer. The crowd must love him.
I decide to take the bait, leaning forward on the table. "anything my heart desires? Careful now. Don't offer what you can't give away." I allow my lips to fall into a smirk that matches his.
He chuckles, leaning towards me as well. "Well, I can certainly try. And, Livewire, I am pretty good at what I do."
We stare at each other for a moment, each challenging the other to look away first. Finally, I give in, my face heated as I glance away.
"Could you make a mojito?"
Once again, he laughs. He takes on a mockingly offended tone.
What kind of bartender do you take me for?"
I roll my eyes, grinning. "Hopefully one that can make a damn good drink?"
He smiles. "You would be correct in that assumption, Livewire. I will have that drink right over."
He turns around with a wink and a flourish. I shake my head, grinning despite myself at his display.
The club brightens a bit as the door swings open. A glance over shows two more interesting characters that I haven't met yet.
The first guy to walk in isn't exactly the cleanest guy I have ever met. In fact, it looks as if he crawled out of the dumpster. He wears a takeout container on his head, a banana peel atop that. A grocery bag covers his torso, but a trash bag falls over his shoulders and down to his knees. And are those trash cans on his feet?
He catches me looking and scowls as he slumps into a chair towards the back of the club.
The other man that walks in has dark red hair cut in a square along his head. He is pretty muscular, and he wears different metals and food packages that almost resemble some sort of apocalyptic armor I might find a young man wearing as him and his friends gather to role play. A microwave door is strapped across this man's chest. A turntable is connected to his arm like a shield, and-
Oh my God, is that a gun> My brows furrow, and I stand up. I need to get Volt.
As if I summoned the charming host, he calls out to me. "Liz! Not leaving already, I hope?" I turn to him, seeing him walking over. He holds my mojito in his hand, and I notice his nails.
They are painted a stunning silver, quite the fitting color on him. How did I not notice this before?
I shake myself out of my thoughts, cursing his endless ability to charm one out of their mind. "Uh, no. No. Sorry. Just wanted to ask you something..."
He raises a brow, close enough now to set my drink down on the table for me.
"Is everything okay, Livewire? You look a bit frazzled. And not in the good way."
He leans in to me a bit, and I take a small step back. I glance over at the red haired man. "Sorry, just-does he come here often?" I motion toward the militaristic-looking man. Volt glances over.
"Luke? Yes, he is quite the regular here, though I fail to see how he is the cause of your concern."
I hum, still looking over at Luke. I let myself relax, but I don't take my eyes off of the man.
"Does he always have that weapon on him?"
Volt laughs unexpectedly, and my eyes shoot toward the electric man. "That's what this is about? Livewire, I assure you he would not be allowed in this club if I believed he was a threat to any of our other patrons. Luke can be... intense, but I promise he will bring no harm to anyone here. Cross my circuits, you are safe with me Livewire. You are safe in here."
I nod, relaxing as I stop staring at Luke again to look at Volt. I can't help but believe him, and I offer a small smile. "Thanks Volt. For the reassurance and the drink." I reach down, grabbing the drink to hold it up to him in a cheers motion before I take a sip, watching him walk away. I relax back into my chair. Maybe this night may not be as bad as I assumed?
When Elizabeth Krenah gets an odd text from her sister Addison, she rushes over to check in. Unbeknownst to her, however, Addy is not as crazy as she may sound. And Elizabeth is severely unprepared for what she is about to get herself in to.
Pairings: Oc/Eddie/Volt, Oc/Hector
*Trigger warnings: mild cussing, sexual jokes/implications, mentions of bars and drinking, slight mentions of hallucinations*
Chapter 1: Visiting Hours (Word count: 2,990)
Word counts might not be consistent; don't expect every chapter to be this long.
I read the text. Then I read it again. And again. And again. Just as I've done for the past five minutes. But I still can't get it to register in my brain.
Addy: May not be able to text for a bit. Even sending this text is a bit risky, but I didn't want to ghost you. Was given some sort of top secret Valdivian experiment that allow me to directly acknowledge a thing's existence, or date, and now the government is after me. Don't worry, I am fine. Just letting you know I may not be able to respond to your messages for a while so you don't worry. Love you
I blink, finally setting my phone down. She's finally lost it. I mean, I know she was never the most extroverted, and I know that solitude can be bad for someone, but I thought she was watching her mental health. Did I screw it up? Should I have checked up on her more? I think my sister's finally been driven insane!
I sigh, running a shaking hand down my face as I sit at the kitchen table. I pick my phone back up, dialing a number. After three rings, the line picks up.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Hails."
"Lizzy! Whatcha need, babes?"
"Sorry to dump this on you, but I have a family emergency. Think you can handle the bar by yourself tonight? This can't wait."
I can practically see her nodding now, already waving off my request. "Of course, don't worry! It's only a Thursday, I will be fine. And if I need to, I can always summon Jesse up here. You just take care, yeah?"
I nod. "Yeah, thanks. Oh, and please don't say 'summon' when you talk about calling people in. You make the bar sound satanic."
I hear her laugh through the phone, but it sounds far away. She must move closer to the speaker because when she speaks, I have to hold my phone away from my face. "Well, the way you dress, sometimes it seems like you will serve drinks at 2 and get off in time for witching hour at 3. Besides, it's Jesse we are talking about. He is basically Satan."
I roll my eyes. "Insult to Satan. Anyways, thanks again, Hails. I'll see you later."
She bids her goodbye and hangs up. I set my phone down again, getting up. I quickly get dressed, throwing on some comfortable clothes.
I make what is supposed to be an hour drive in record time, breaking more road laws than I would like to admit.
Once I pull into her driveway, I am out of the car almost before it stops. I rush to her porch, rapping sharply on the door-
Is her window busted? I stare at the broken and jagged glass on the door in confusion before an "I'm coming!" shakes me out of my thoughts.
I step back from the door as it pulls away from me. Sure enough, my little sister stands before me in a lovely red shirt. Leggings hug her legs and rose-tinted glasses perch on her nose.
I raise a brow at her. "...going somewhere?"
She blushes, seeming to remember her attire. She looks down at herself before looking back at me. "Uh...what are you doing here?"
I shrug as she steps aside to let me in. "Honestly? Your text made me think you're crazy. Sounds like you've lost your mind. I wanted to check in on you."
She laughs awkwardly. "Well, you see me. I'm fine! I just texted you to let you know I would be unable to communicate for a while. No reason to come running."
I roll my eyes at her. "Oh yeah, no. The government is just on a manhunt for you. No reason to come running." I sit on the couch, and she stands in front of me nervously. "Listen, I know I haven't visited much lately, and that's on me. But if what you need is more company, I can get you hooked up with some groups around here and I can pull away from the bar a bit more to visit. I didn't realize your hallucinations were getting this bad."
She doesn't say anything, fidgeting with her hands. Finally, she murmurs, "No. No, you don't need to do that..."
Her voice is so quiet, it cracks my heart. I close my eyes, cursing myself. I take a breath to center myself again. "So, are those the glasses?"
She seems to light up at the question, watching me point at the hearts on her face. She nods, opening her mouth to say something, but something to her right catches her attention. Her eyes focus on thin air as she murmurs to herself.
"Yeah-no, I know. I've got it. I know, calm down! She doesn't know any better."
I watch her murmur for a few more moments before she recollects herself. "Anyway, Elizabeth, yes. These are Dateviators." She taps the glasses frame lightly. "They also have another name: Skylar Specs. She is the technology that makes the dateviators work. She allows me to talk to the other objects in the house."
I nod, humming as I think of what to say. But Addy's smile falls again before I can say anything.
"...You don't believe me, do you?"
I shrug, tilting my head. "...I believe you are seeing what you are describing. I just...It is a bit too much to wrap my head around. I have to admit that the idea of these Dateviators is a bit out there."
She nods, then looks to her right again. She stills for a moment, eyes focusing on empty air again. I tense up after a few minutes, preparing to snap her out of it. She finally lights up, looking at me.
"Good idea! Lizzy, how would you like to try on the Dateviators?"
I pause, thinking it over. Finally, after a few moments of her puppy dog eyes, I cave. "Sure, why not? Let's put this matter to rest."
She smiles excitedly, taking the Dateviators off and handing them to me. I hesitantly place them on my face, my eyes trying to adjust to the rosy hue of things.
I can see the appeal of these. They make everything look gorgeous. there's a giant heart in the middle of my vision now. Before I can take the glasses off to hand them back, a woman pokes her head into my view.
"Ohmigosh, hi! I'm Skylar, though I guess you could've figured that. I am so excited to see you! Or, at least, that you can now see me. Addy speaks so highly of you! It is so awesome to finally be meeting you!"
I take a moment to look at her as she rambles. Her pink hair is the first thing I notice. In fact, she seems to be sporting various shades of pink, yellow, and white. Skylar wears glasses that look like the Dateviators that now lay on my face. A white jacket covers some of her upper body, cropped at the navel and open to reveal a pink bra. Her jacket has many glasses and heart illustrations, like on the buttons and wrists. Skylar also wears a skirt going to her mid-thigh made of yellow, white, and pink hearts. White boots complete her outfit.
She screams lesbian, though I try not to judge people's preferences based on their clothes. But when you are a walking flag, it is hard to ignore.
When I stop examining her, I realize she is way too close to my face. I step back, forcing on my customer service smile.
"Uh, hey! It is a pleasure to meet you."
She grins, seeming to miss my discomfort. "As I've said before, Addy has said so much about you! I absolutely cannot wait to hang out with you! Do you really like-"
Addy cuts her off. "Skylar, I may not be able to see or hear you, but I can tell you are overwhelming Liz. Just take a deep breath, calm down."
Skylar catches herself, stepping back to take a breath. When she speaks again, her voice is at a volume safe enough to listen to.
"Sorry, Addy has been helping me with my excitability. It still can get out of hand a lot. Sorry."
I nod, still blinking at her in shock. "It's okay, I'm used to it. But, if you don't mind, I think I am going to give the Dateviators back to Addy, okay?"
Skylar shakes her head. "Of course not! Go ahead." But a sadness seeps into her smile. It shifts, becoming forced.
I mentally curse myself again, shaking my head. "Skylar, no...I need you to understand that I am not rejecting you, or pushing you away. This is nothing personal, it is just a lot to take in. I can visit you later, is that okay?"
She nods, looking reassured. I take the Dateviators off, handing them back to Addy. She murmurs her goodbyes and puts the Dateviators in her shirt pocket.
"So..." She fiddles with her hands.
"So..." I mirror her, shame flooding my chest. My face burns as I look at the floor. "I'm sorry for doubting you and calling you crazy."
She forces a laugh. "It's not like you were being mean about it. And to be fair, the concept of the Dateviators are kind of a far out idea." She perks up, growing excited. She begins to bounce on the balls of her feet. "Oh, but there are so many people here! So much I want to show you!"
I nod, smiling at her childish nature. "Baby steps, though, okay?"
She catches herself, stilling. "Yeah, yeah. Baby steps. And, I am sorry about Skylar. She can get excitable too."
I wave that statement off. "I get it. She seems very sweet. I hope I didn't seem rude."
Addy nods. "She is sweet. I love her."
"Hey, hey, whoa now. I thought one of the siblings had to be the straight one. And it's not me."
She blushes, stammering. "Well, I-uh, not with Skylar, I mean, I-UGH!" She buries her face in her hands for a moment before glancing at the ceiling.
After a moment of her trying to even her breathing, she speaks. "I am. Straight, I mean. Skylar has been a great friend to me. I do love her, just not romantically. But I love her all the same."
I nod. "I know, love. Teasing you."
The air conditioning kicks on as she takes another moment. She takes another deep breath, murmuring, "Thanks, Hector."
Again, I raise a brow, but I choose not to say anything. Addy walks into the kitchen, again murmuring to (I assume) the appliances as she rummages through the freezer. She grabs a tub of ice cream, and I sit at the dining room table. A moment later, she comes in with two bowls of green ice cream.
I grin, eyes lighting up as I eye the treat. "Pistachio?" She nods, grinning. "Oh my God, yes."
She smiles wider, handing me a bowl. "Just be careful with the dishes please."
I nod. "Of course."
We eat in silence for a moment. I relish in the peaceful moment between two sisters, but Addy begins to fidget quickly. After her third time of adjusting her candelabra, she catches me staring at her. She looks down, pulling her hands into her lap.
"Sorry," she mutters, "I'm not used to much silence around the house anymore. Usually there's always someone around to talk to nowadays."
I nod. "I understand." A pause. "Could you...explain the situation?" A bit more in detail than the very hurried explanation I was given earlier?"
Addy shifts again, suddenly eyeing her half-eaten ice cream in distaste. "Um, well, it all started when I kinda...sorta...lost my job."
My brows shoot up my forehead, trying to meld with my hairline. "Lost your job? You mean the one you just applied for and the one you just got accepted into? That job?"
She tilts her head from shoulder to shoulder. "Eeehhhh, not technically fired. Technically Valdivian doesn't have a valid reason to fire me. So they put me in labor limbo instead." She uses her fingers to quote "labor limbo." "Basically I'm on thin ice. They put me in labor limbo because of innovations made in the Artificial Intelligence units in the company. It's cheaper, and they claim it's more efficient. It's not, but hey, who cares? It's cheap."
"The same day I got thrown into labor limbo, I got a random Thiscord message from an anonymous sender. The message explained that Valdivian was working with the government to create some advanced weapon experiment. That experiment turned out to be these." She pats her breast pocket where the Dateviators are nestled. "This sender sent me the Dateviators for safeguarding-"
"Really not happy with how easily they got your address, babes."
She nods, waving me off. "Yeah, yeah. I wasn't either at first, but they've left me alone mostly after that. Besides the occasional check in over Thiscord. This was a week or two ago. I guess it didn't register to me how in over my head I was until I noticed the government seemed to be closing in on me some more. They probably don't know I have them, but they are watching me. I can't leave my house, not that that changes much. I just concluded my messages might be monitored too eventually, and figured going non-contact with you was the best."
I lean forward. So many things swirl through my head. I always try to consistently text her, so these past few weeks her life has been falling apart and she's been hiding it from me? I'm a bit hurt, but I don't voice this. Instead, I say, "Does that explain the broken glass on the door?"
She hums, nodding. "Yeah, been meaning to fix that. Sorry, Dorian... When the drone delivered Skylar, it crashed through the window."
"Anyways, back on subject!" She claps her hands. "Since I can't exactly leave my house, and I don't have a job, I've just been here...getting to know my...furniture..." She trails off awkwardly.
I grin, letting out a breathy huff that almost resembles laughter. I slump up against the back of my chair, rubbing my hands along my face. "If I hadn't seen it myself, I don't think I'd be believing you right now." My voice is slightly muffled, but I know she hears it.
"Right?! God, I have been wanting another human to talk to!" She yells, shooting up. I hear the blatant relief in her voice, and I smile. Her breathy laugh echoes off the walls. "I-I mean, no offense to you guys. I just... I've felt like I've been going crazy! I've had hardly any outside communication beside you, the anonymous messenger, and Sam, who actually seems to believe me as well. Or, at least, she hasn't called anyone on me. I've just been stuck here talking to my objects. Which, again, I love them. I'm just so glad to be able to talk to someone that kind of understand how crazy this is!"
I nod, glancing around. "So, everything in your house is human?"
She nods. "In a very simplistic explanation, yeah." A pause. "Well, except for a few."
I raise a brow at her. "Not a helpful answer, babes."
She shakes her head, closing her eyes. "Trust me, it would be easier if you met some of the dateables." She pauses again. "Er, I mean, objects. Dateables are my objects."
I sigh, looking around. "Kinda horrifying, huh? The fact that everything in your house is alive. That you've never had a truly private moment. That they've seen literally everything."
She blushes, looking down. "You, I thought that too at first. But, they've seen all of that and they still love me. Or, again, most of them."
I lean on the table, pushing my long-forgotten bowl away from me. "You're not gonna give up until I say I'll meet them, right?"
She shrugs, but there's a glint in her eyes and mischief in her smile that makes me believe I'm right.
I sigh, once again placing my face in my hands. "You owe me a damn good drink..."
She laughs joyfully, throwing her head back as I peek at her through my fingers. "I have just the place! Later though. They're not open quite yet. But I think you'll love them!"
Before I can ask who "them" is, she exclaims again, "Oh, I almost forgot! Skylar only has a few charges per day, five to be exact. So we can interact with five dateables each day. I have already used three charges today, so we have to think about who to talk to.
"Also, promise this is my last rule, we only have one chance to talk to each dateable each day. If we screw up and piss someone off, we can't remedy the situation until the next day."
Who the hell is "we?"
"Hmm...Let's see, who should we talk to.." She seems to be talking to herself now more than me now. "Well, you probably need to talk to someone a bit more toned down before the club..."
I look at her incredulously. "Sorry, club? What happened to not leaving the house? And, you know I love a good night on the town, but I am not dressed for it. Besides, I am at a bar literally every other night."
She shushes me, waving her hand absentmindedly at me as she concentrates. "You'll be fine..." She lights up. "Oh! I know! How would you like to meet a good friend of mine, Mateo Manta?"
I nod. "I guess I trust you. Lead the way."
She gingerly takes the bowls and places them in the dishwasher. Then she turns to me. "To the living room!"
