Anyway heres a microfic because thats all im good for apparently: (also this is not beta'd get off me)
Valerie was Taking A Day. She deserved it after the absolute helluva week she'd had:
First, Phantom attacked. And she got to tangled with his unruly ass while the Resistance and the GiW tried to get the remains of a transport past the shield.
Then, she had to deal with the GIW being on her case (she'd like to see them hold their own while protecting a transport convoy. OH WAIT.)
Then, Phantom attacked again.
Then, she had to deal with that weirdo klansman looking ass ghost (Walkman or something.)
And to top it all off, she had to deal with all this shit while on her period that, of course, had decided to start a week early.
Now blessedly free of her monthly curse she was taking a goddamn break getting some fucking retail therapy.
There was just one problem.
Phantom attacked *three times* per week.
And he was a giant selfish manbaby who craved her attention like she was his goddamn babysitter, which is likely why she found herself in her current situation.
Things had been going well. She'd dolled herself up in a red flared leg bodysuit that clung to the rest of her like a second skin and hit up all her favorite boutiques. Then she decided to give herself a break from the hard work of shopping by going to the salon and having her nails filled in and getting a quick ponytail install. And now she was stopping by the little cafe in the mall for an iced coffee.
The barista was one of those kids that clearly hated every second of their shift and made no attempt to put on a customer service face but they always got her order just how she liked it so she didn't complain.
(Plus, she gets it. Phantom had nothing on the PTSD of working in fast food)
However as she awaited the sweet icy delight of her caffeine fix her day off was interrupted by an uproarious noise. The sky above the glass ceiling in the Amity Park mall shifted from the aqua of the skyline through the green sheen of the ghost shield to its true unobstructed blue color. But there was barely any time to reconcile with that fact before that same glass skyline crashed in as the Phantom now descended through the opening.
He swiveled his head around (even turning it completely backward. ew.) Before he spotted her.
A huff of red mist steamed out of his nose and she noticed that the whites had turned an inky black. He turned to face her fully alighting to the ground and marching an angry beat in her direction. His handsome face pinched in a rare show of true ire.
Civilians were screaming, fleeing the scene, or diving out of the way and trying to hide, but, contrary to his typical relish of such things, Phantom paid no mind to the scrambling humans.
The only two unaffected by the display where Valerie (who you couldn't pay to give a damn) and her barista (who, frankly, was not paid enough to give a damn.) They both watched the Ravager of Worlds approached with matching aplomb, the barista mechanically going through the motions of fixing her order.
Now standing close enough to where his shadow fell over her. The lines of Phantom’s body were tense with restrained fury, glaring down at her silently, snorting that red mist, looking like a bull in a rodeo pen.
"Sir you'll have to wait until im finished with this order, someone will be with you in a moment" the barista deadpanned, reaching for the whipped cream to top off Valerie's drink.
Dan ignored them, "Where were you?!"
Valerie crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"
Dan's blood boiled green in his face, "I've been waiting outside the shield for three hours!"
The barista drizzled chocolate and caramel over her drink in an aesthetically pleasing lattice pattern before capping it dropping a straw in the hole on top, their dispassionate demeanor unchanged all the while, "one ice mocha, extra whipped cream, with chocolate and caramel. That'll be $7.26." The barista's announcement and artists' flare however would sadly go ignored.
Valerie clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes, "So? What's that got to do with me?"
Dan sputtered, the disbelief at her dismissal of him shocked the white back into his eyes, "What does- You stood me up! I waited for Three Hours!"
"So what?! You the one that decided to do that. I don't owe you anything."
Dan's mouth dropped open, "Oh." he scoffed in offense, "wow. okay. Sure. Ten years. Ten. Years. of dedicated blood feud rivalry but we 'don't owe each other anything' good to know where we stand!" His voice pitched petulantly.
"Will that be cash or card miss?"
Phantom's tirade now had the few remaining humans peeking out from their hiding place, apparently their mortal fear being replaced by curiosity as Phantom ranted on like a jilted lover.
Valerie lifted a hand to her face, embarrassed to be associated with the dramatic ghost, "Oh my god. Can you not do this here?"
Phantom whirled on her raising his voice and making an even bigger scene, "Why?! Are you embarrassed?! Do you feel humiliated?! Does it feel like being left outside waiting for three hours for someone who ditched you for overpriced coffee?!"
Sensing an opportunity the barista once again asked, "cash or card please."
Valerie realizing the poor teen was left hanging and was unwittingly dragged into her relationship drama, turned to face them, "Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry. It'll be card sweetie."
If possible Dan's face grew even more petulant, "'Sweetie?!'" he said like the word was made of acid.
Valerie turned to face him with an incredulous expression at his apparent jealousy as the barista finished the transaction, "Oh my god Phantom. They're like. 16. Don't be gross."
"Would you like a receipt?"
Valerie shook her head and the teen without missing a beat looked at Dan and asked, "Would you like to place an order?"
Dan smiled knife-like fangs gleaming, "as a matter of fact, yes." He pushed past Valerie leaning over the counter the sclera of his eyes turning black once more as flames rushed up his spine and over his shoulders, "Seeing as your protector abandoned her post, and forsook her duty to do battle with me. I WILL HAVE THE BLOOD OF AMITY PARK AS RECOMPENSE!" He finished with a hellishly echoing voice, his snake-like tongue lolling out of his mouth.
The teen blinked, "We don't have that, sir. But we do have a Blood Orange Iced Tea™️ as part of our ✨️Summer Specialty Menu✨️. Would you like to place an order?"
Dan was stunned, all the pomp and pyrotechnics gone out of him, "I...no." it almost sounded like a question with the baffled inflection in his voice.
But the teenaged barista simply took him at his (deeply confused) word. "Alright. then, im going on my break."
Valerie peeked around Dan's arm her hand on his impressive bicep, "I'm so sorry about him."
But the teen shrugged, "Honestly you aren't even the worst couple ive had to deal with on shift."
With no further acknowledgement of either of the adults the barista walked five steps to the door behind them before walking through and closing it behind them without fanfare. There was a scraping sound like a chair with metal legs being moved over a concrete floor and then what sounded like Candy Crush being played without headphones on the other side of the door.
The pair lingered in a moment of shared awe. Dan spoke, "Never, even in all the Ghost Zone, have i ever met an individual so Dead Inside."
Valerie shrugged, "What retail does to a motherfucker, i guess."
Then they noticed her hand still on his arm Valerie jumping away. Putting distance between them.
It reminded Dan of why he bothered to enter this vermin infested place to begin with.
"You stood me up." He said again. Most of the fight had gone out of his voice. He almost sounded hurt. In his prideful, petulant way.
Valerie sighed praying for patience. "Look I've had a long week and i just needed a day, okay?"
Perhaps because he was still in thrown off his game from the failed standoff with the barista he replied with an uncharacteristically honest, "Well I don't see why you couldn't have brought me."
Valerie blinked, "I-" she started before pausing because what before starting again, "You hate being around humans."
Choosing to go the 'in for a penny' route, apparently, Dan quietly replied, "I dont hate being around you."
"Really?" Valerie said skeptical, "Could you buy all these?" Valerie lifted her arms gesturing to the various shopping bags hanging off of them.
Dan opened his mouth before Valerie cut him off.
"I said buy."
Dan closed his mouth. Now avoiding her gaze and looking just so put out.
Valerie rolled her eyes, before grabbing the bags in to two handfuls each, "Well you can at least make yourself useful and carry them for me," before passing them along to the tall ghost.
The parcels handles were held easily in his much larger grip, suddenly perking up.
Valerie sighed, "and...I guess i can call next time if i cant make it."
They spent the rest of the afternoon together, much to the chagrin of everyone working in the mall. Dan proved to be an expensive date, with Valerie remaking on his status as a "broke ass poltergeist" the works at the mall were terrified to serve the couple but far more afraid of what would happen if they failed to prove satisfactory for the Phantom's date with the Huntress. All except for the barista who (only after the end of their allotted time for their break) served up two orders of Blood Orange Iced Tea™️ the couples curiosity having been piqued.
They had made the ✨️Summer Specialty Menu✨️ sound quite appetizing.
I just realized that i aint shared these two sketches.
So this is probably the best ive ever drawn their faces and i will probably be using these as a sort of "master ref" going forward bit yeah here's the blorbos
I like this picture of Dan because while it jas that whole handsome devilish charm to him, it alsi has a playful mischief thats almoat cute. It looks like a face regular degular Danny Fenton might grow up to have.
Kinda makes the crimes against humanity more unsettling in a way.
And here's a default Valerie face
Lookit her. She's such a cutie. 🥰 I wanted to honor that her features still have that rounder shape (and i left her bald in the reference post because im constantly changing her hairstyle and she's bad enough to pull it off anyway)
But yeah, that's the direction i wanna be moving in going forward.
