A/N it's been a while. Glad I finally got round to finishing chapter seven on this. Don't be expecting me to say weekly updates from here on because frankly the updates will come when I'm ready. I Will however be trying to write more now so don't abandon hope.
Trigger warning- drug usage, mental health
don't do drugs.
{M}
Marceline twisted the tuning keys on the guitar and strummed a few chords to check the tone. It seemed that everyone that touched an instrument managed to magically un-tune them. It was quiet in the store on a Thursday evening and only her and Rose were working, which was normal for late in the week. They had settled down on chairs in front of the string instrument section where they could see the entrance to the store and began the almost daily grind of tuning all the guitars and ukuleles. There was also a mandolin and a few violins and violas that would require attention. Marceline had grown comfortable with Rose over the weeks she had been working here as they often had shifts together. She was a good boss in that she very rarely disappeared to do paperwork unless she couldn't avoid it, more often than not she seemed to prefer working the front of the store with the rest of the staff.
"Hey Marceline, what music do you listen too?" Rose asked, finally breaking the silence. Marceline hummed in thought for a moment.
"Lots of stuff, I'll listen to anything with a decent beat really. I guess my favorite stuff is punk rock." She hung the red Stratocaster back on it's stand and selected the one next to it. "What about you?" She turned to look at her boss. Rose wasn't even looking at the viola in her hands as she tuned the instrument with ease.
Does she know how to tune every instrument in here?
"Lot's of classical, some rock music, punk, rap and dub-step" she smiled.
"Dub-step is OK, but it has to be a decent beat, otherwise it just sounds like robots having angry sex" she joked. Rose nodded agreement.
"I'm actually going to see the St. Louis philharmonic this weekend. There going to play some Mozart and Beethoven that I've been dying to hear for a while." Marceline felt a small pang of jealousy at this, she had never considered that the locals might have some music worth hearing.
Not that I'd be listening to an orchestra
"Looks like it's almost time to close up, how are you getting home tonight?" She asked hanging a Viola back on the wall.
"I'm getting the bus tonight" She replied replacing the last guitar. Simon's car was being worked on so he wasn't able to give her a ride home. She stood up and stretched out to a symphony of cracks from her arms and knuckles.
"Not a chance. I can't have my employee's going home alone this late at night. I'll give you a ride!" she moved to the cash register to shut it down. While the mall closed at nine the service doors weren't sealed until ten so that staff could leave at their own pace. Rose popped open the till and started counting the cash while Marceline considered her offer.
I'd save some cash and get home a full half hour faster. I trust Rose as well, she's been an epic boss so far. Sure as hell safer than a bus this late at night.
"Sure, lemme text home and let him know" she popped her phone out of her pocket and turned it back on while she grabbed the mop and bucket. She fired off a quick message to Simon to let him know she was getting a ride home with her boss and set about cleaning the floor.
It took them about forty minutes to properly clean and close the store when only two of them were working. They slipped out the back exit into the employee car park of the mall and Marceline followed Rose. She was trying to envisage the type of car that her boss would drive, she envisaged a dorky little hatchback and was stunned when they stopped in front of a huge muscle car. It was a classically shaped muscle car with a huge long hood and only two seats inside. Marceline wasn't an expert on cars but she was vaguely aware that this one was pretty rare and definitely old. It was painted a deep black with two parallel white stripes running the length of the car. Rose was smirking at her when she slipped into the drivers seat.
"Wow, I didn't think you'd drive something this cool" she mentioned while she got into the car.
"It's a nineteen sixty nine Chevrolet Camaro" she replied wistfully. Clearly she didn't get the opportunity to show off her car often. "I love they way she purrs" she smiled as she started the car. Marceline wasn't into cars but had to admit that the deep roar coming from the engine was much more satisfying than any other car she had been in. she muttered a wow as she felt the vibrations from the engine as Rose pulled away.
"I live on gumdrop avenue in OOO" Rose nodded at the information and seemed to think about this for a moment. "I hope that isn't too far out of the way for you?" She didn't want to think that her boss was going to be stuck driving for another half hour just to drop her off.
"I live not far from you and I don't mind. I love driving this car." she patted the dash affectionately. They sat in silence for a little while as Marceline considered what to say next. She didn't want the drive to become awkward.
"So...what do you do on your day's off?" she asked.
"I don't get day's off love, I don't have a manager so I have to look after the store every day. Besides I don't get out much." she smiled at Marceline "Me and the sun don't get along" she joked.
"How did you manage to get so pale?" Rose looked at her for a moment and chewed her lip as though she was considering her answer.
"I have a condition. It's called Xeroderma Pigmentosum"she replied eventually. "It means my skin won't heal when It gets sun damaged so I have to cover up and avoid sunlight when I can." she smiled at Marceline who was just staring at Rose while she digested this new information.
That explains the long gloves, heavy clothes and the fact she's always at work.
"The car has specially treated windows that block the U V from getting to me so I can drive but I still have to go to work pretty early to avoid being burnt" she added.
Marceline was amazed when she considered the challenges that Rose must face on a day to day basis. She took another long look at Rose as though considering her for the first time. She was ghostly pale wherever you could see her skin, which wasn't a lot because she was wearing the silk gloves she wore on an almost daily basis when she wasn't covered up with a hoodie or a sweater. Her lips were coated in her usual layer of lipstick but they really popped when compared to the white background of her skin. For the first time Marceline noticed that Rose's eyes were a deep blood red just like hers.
"You must have a really tough time working at the store" she finally managed to mutter.
"As long as I get in early, before the suns all the way up it's fine" she replied with a shrug as she pulled over in front of Marcelines house.
{B}
Bonnibell was having a good day, it was not often she got to spend a day socializing with all her friends. Granted, This had recently been expanded to include Finn and Jake by extension of Lady's relationship with Jake. They were hanging out at mcdonalds in the mall food court while they waited for the rest of their friends to make appearances. The Mertens boys were having a competition to see who could choke down more slushy first while Lady cheered her on. Jake had been growing his fledgling mustache into a full beard and Bonnibell was positive it would just irritate her to have a partner with a beard. She smiled when Jake finally won the competition by finishing his slushy first and giggled when both boys gripped there heads and cried "Brain freeze".
"Hey Cousin" Bubba called out sitting down next to Bonnibell. Bubba had grown a little since she'd last seen him, gaining another inch made him a full 5 foot 10. Giving him an inch over Bonnibell. He had re dyed his hair the bright pink he had maintained since he and Bonnibell had both dyed it in rebellion all those years ago. He was ,objectively, handsome and had been a good cousin to Bonnibell ever since her parents had died. She had thanked him for his support by helping him get an apprenticeship at Candy Kingdom as a junior media advisor.
"Hey Gumball" she replied giving him a quick hug. "You're still keeping your hair pink?" she asked
"Yeah, I like it pink and no-one at the office minds as long as I can do my job" he smiled at her.
"Jake, Finn this my cousin Bubba Buttler, call him Gumball. Everyone does." she was glad to finally be able to merge her two friend groups into, hopefully, one but it would be difficult because Bubba and his friends were a full two years older and mostly in college.
"Nice to meet you dude" Jake gave Bubba a manly handshake and she tried not to smile when she saw Bubba wince. Finn just waved hello, becoming oddly shy around new people.
"Nice to see you again Gumball" Lady gave him a short hug hello.
"I see you still haven't actually dyed your hair rainbow yet" he replied referring to the rainbow of extensions in lady's black hair.
"My parents would probably freak out at me if actually dyed it" she replied sitting down on Jake's lap, much to his surprise.
"So why Gumball?" Jake asked, trying to act casual.
"It started when I dyed my hair pink and never really gave up, you can blame Fionna for that"
"Blame me for what?" Fionna asked as she and Cake sat down next to him.
"I was just explaining my nickname" he smiled at her. It was a goofy smile he seemed to reserve just for Fionna.
"Ooo, that's a good story!" Cake cried "let me tell it! OK so, Bubba had just started dying his hair pink and me and Fionna were laughing at him when we first saw it! I said he looked like a goof ball and then Fionna said 'maybe a Gumball!'" Gumball laughed and then introduced Fionna and cake to everyone. It had been a while since she had seen either of them since they weren't at school together any more. She looked them both up and down. Fionna was wearing her favorite teal blue top and white three qaurter trousers with the knee high socks she favored. It gave her a distinctly tomboy look but this wasn't surprising for a woman that wanted to be a cop. She had gained a few pounds but it had settled as voluptuous curves. Cake looked the same as always, she was unique in OOO in that she had both dark skin and blond hair. She looked just as shapely and fit as always. Bonnibel didn't want to admit to the jealousy she had for their figures.
"So what's the plan for the day?" Lady asked
"I thought we could wander for a little bit, maybe go see a movie and then get some lunch" Bonnibell declared looking around the group.
{M}
Marceline was bored. It was going to be another long day at The Music Store and she hadn't even had the energy to smile at the pun that was the store name. The Music store. She had barely slept the last few days while trying to avoid taking her Zopiclone, It lost effectiveness the more you used it, so she had to keep it in reserve for the really bad streaks of insomnia. To top it off, what few hours of sleep she had managed to get naturally had been plagued with nightmares that even Hambo couldn't dispel. She was also feeling the usual shame of being seventeen years old and still sleeping with a teddy bear. The nightmare, however, was always about the same thing recently. A darkness that sweeps across the land engulfing everything that stood in front of it, then a series of desperate cravings for the color red, of all things. Usually topped off by a pair of bright red eyes appearing in the sky and fangs, like a vampires, sinking into her neck. She shivered at the memory of it and sighed. The store had been completely dead all day. Rose had even considered sending Marceline home at one point but had reconsidered when she decided Bongo could take an inventory in the back instead of working the front with her. She pulled out her phone and set about using the mall WI-FI to browse Reddit. She was a big fan of the website and it's seemingly endless entertainment options.
"Excuse me, do you have any violin strings?" Marceline looked up and was surprised to find she was staring at a gender-bent princess. He looked just like Bonnie except he was handsome rather than pretty and the only pink on him was his hair , as opposed to Bonnibell's obsessions with the color. She looked past him to see the pink princess herself with her 'royal entourage' striding into the store and dispersing.
"Uh, yeah. What gauge?" she asked waving her arm to the selection of strings for various instruments arrayed on the wall behind her.
"Medium gauge, those ones look like the ones I usually get" Marceline handed him the set of strings he'd pointed to and then started to ring him up on the cash register.
"You're friends with Bonnibell huh?" she asked as she took his money.
"Actually I'm her cousin, Bubba." he offered his hand.
Well that explains a lot, except the pink hair. No way it could be natural. She shook his hand awkwardly. It seemed a bit formal for people their age.
"Marceline, I go to school with your cousin" she replied.
"I hope she isn't too much of a pain, I know she can be a little uptight when it comes to education" he smiled at her with mirth.
You're telling me pinky. I bet you were exactly the same! you've got the same stuck up formality.
"Why is she so obsessed with getting good grades?" she asked letting her curiosity get the better of her. She had tried to talk to the pink princess in school again after they'd hung out. She had asked about the main scene, where Romeo finds Juliet dead, in the play. Bonnibell just sharply told her to 'be quiet' and had ignored her the rest of the lesson. Clearly the princess was prone to mood swings of her own when education was involved.
"It's because..." he started
"Hey Marceline" Bonnibell smiled as she came over and joined her
"Hey Princess" Marceline replied smiling when she elicited the oh so easy frown.
"Could you stop calling me princess?" she asked. Marceline smirked at her, hand on chin, pretending to think.
"Don't think I can, sorry. your majesty" she replied with a short bow.
"I didn't know you worked here" she was trying to change the subject
"Yeah, I've been working here for about two weeks now."
{B}
Bonnibell was a little taken aback when Marceline said she'd had the job for a two weeks. She had spoken to her in her role as an anonymous friend three times last week alone and it had never come up. Marceline had even been back to her house and spent time going over music with Bonnibell for the play before she suddenly became always busy. Bonnibell had assumed that telling Marceline off for talking in class was the cause of the sudden could shoulder and had decided not to press the subject to hard in case she scared Marceline off.
"Do you want to come over and work on the play tonight? " She asked before she could think. Marceline had that affect on her. "I've finished the lighting and background designs."
great work Bonnibell, just talk before you think why don't you.
"I don't get off work 'till nine , so probably not a good idea" she replied frowning
"You could sleep over?" she suggested, immediately regretting the decision when her brain reminded her that with Marcelines sleep problems and medication requirements she'd probably never say yes.
Although it's good to appear as though i don't know too much.
Marceline looked like she was considering it for a moment before shaking her head.
"I can't, I got things to do early tomorrow" Bonnibell knew she was lying but let it slip.
"Don't worry about it. Maybe we can meet tomorrow?" she asked hopefully.
She groaned in response "Not gonna make this easy on me huh princess? How about in two days?"
Bonnibell nodded eagerly with a smile. Marceline sighed and walked over to the stock room door and shouted something into the room she couldn't hear. Suddenly a colleague of Marceline's wearing the uniform of the store appeared. He looked tall at about five foot eleven, Bonnibell always did have an eye for heights, and was rather muscly. His broad shoulder and barrel chest were stretching the uniform slightly, he wasn't particularly handsome and had a brown trimmed goatee to boot.
"What's up Marceline?" he asked looking over Gumball and me.
"Can you cover my shift on Saturday, I've got to do some stuff for the play" she asked him.
"Yeah, of course. Could always do with a little extra cash in my pocket. I'll let Rose know." he smiled at Marceline and Bonnibell felt an uncharacteristic pang of jealousy.
I wonder if he and Marceline are an item. Wait why does it matter if they are? Actually it's probably not good for Marceline to be in a relationship just now.
"Yo princess, any of your other friends need help?" Marceline asked shaking her from her thoughts.
"Oh, I don't know." She walked with Marceline further into the store to find the others. "You know, one day I'll get you to sleepover" she said nudging Marceline slightly. She specifically aimed for Marcelines ribs in order to get an idea of how much body fat Marceline was carrying and get a rough idea of weather she had been eating properly over their separation. Discomfortingly it felt like it was all bone.
"Maybe, I'm not really into sleepovers princess," she turned to look at Bonnibell "Because reasons."she added before Bonnibell could ask why. She muttered an OK in response and tried not to feel rejected. Secretly she knew exactly why not but she wanted to try and help with that if she could. She just had to get Marceline to open up to her.
"Hi, do you need any help?" Marceline asked Jake who was holding a viola. He almost dropped the instrument in surprise and seemed to shrink a little when he turned to see Marceline.
"Uh, no! No, I'm fine. I'll put it back" He slid the instrument back into it's place carefully before stepping away sharply.
Oh , Jake you don't actually believe that Marceline is a vampire do you? You're clearly scared of her.
"No problem" Marceline was trying not to smile "I'll be at the front if you need help" Bonnibell couldn't help but wonder if the increase in anti-psychotics had helped Marceline deal with her schizophrenia or if the side affects were getting better.
{M}
Marceline woke slowly and stared at Hambo for a few minutes while she let her head clear. Her mouth tasted like she had been sucking on something metallic all night, she hated that flavor. It was one of the few costs that came with using the Zopiclone to get to sleep. She shook her head a little, sometimes it actually helped, and sat up in bed. She grabbed the can of energy drink that sat on her bedside table and popped the tab, gulping down some of the sweet liquid gratefully.
Thank God we went to the store last night
She set about her morning routine as usual minus brushing her teeth, she couldn't stand the mix of mint and metal and her teeth would be fine if she only missed one day. Once showered and feeling a bit more alert, she sidled downstairs and flopped onto the couch in the living room. It was only nine am so Simon was sleeping in, like usual on the weekends.
fuck what was the plan for today. her thoughts were trudging along slowly while she sipped her energy drink and tried to wake up some more. oh yeah I've got to spend some time with Bonnie. I really can't be arsed with it today but I guess I've got no choice, she'll just chase me with requests if I don't show up to deal with the play.
She held up her hands in front of her eyes and grimaced when she realized she was already beginning to shake. She was really glad that she had been able to get her prescriptions sorted out while at the same time she hated that she required such vast amounts of medication in order to function like an average human being. With a sigh she went into the kitchen and grabbed her medication box. It was a little black sorter than had AM/PM and day's marked off on little sections that would contain her pills for the day. Popping open the one marked Saturday AM and taking the two pills contained within with another slug of her energy drink. She could barely even remember what exactly she was taking any more.
An anti depressant and something for side affects...cycling something. Whatever.
She slipped back down into the comfortable sofa and turned on the TV while she waited for the shakes to stop. She could remember going into full withdrawal from the anti-depressants, she could remember the noise it caused in her head. The feeling of pressure on her brain and the recurring feeling of suddenly rushing.
Thank God I don't have to deal with it all the time. Flip side is dealing with a little pink pill three times a day, a big fat blue and red pill in the morning and a fat yellow pill before bed, which may or may not include a little pink pill of it's own. Just so she could feel normal and sleep. Yay
{B}
Bonnibell looked into the oven and checked the time, She had the rare opportunity to do her own cooking for a change and was reveling in the act of chemistry for hungry people. She took a sip of her filter coffee and sighed with appreciation of the flavor. The finest Jamaican blue mountain roast beans, freshly ground and made into the best coffee, that hadn't been through a cat's intestines, money could buy. She had made the decision to prepare some cupcakes for Marceline coming over since they were small and easy to eat too many of. She had laced the cupcakes with enriched flour and had made the frosting with lots butter and sugar in order to try and get a little fat back on Marceline's bones. She knew it was slightly creepy that something as simple as cupcakes could be used like this but it was for Marcelines own good, so she knew she was doing the right thing. She had also made sure to have a supply of scones with butter and heavy cream in the fridge in place of milk for the tea. Just in case she could use that as well. For the main meal she had chef pre prepare a pizza base with the same enriched flour laced with mozzarella cheese. She had a sauce prepared that was laced with vitamin water and finally it would be topped plenty of mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. No-one can improve pepperoni. She'd checked.
I've done all this for a good casue, so it's OK. She reasoned. Marceline needs all the help she can get
She checked the time again and decided it was a good time to get changed out of the soiled apron, cooking cupcakes had been messier than she had thought, and make sure everything else was ready for Marceline's visit. Jogging upstairs and into her bedroom she quickly got changed then she checked that she had moved her things back into her room from the study. Then checked that the staff had not left anything out of place, just a nervous thought since her staff were always impeccable. She jogged back downstairs and checked the oven again, smiling when she noted that the cupcakes appeared to be done and the time was correct. She slipped her oven proof gloves on and pulled the tray out of the oven, inhaling the smell of fresh cake gratefully. She was tempted to grab one while they were hot but she resisted the temptation and slipped the cupcakes on a cooling wire rack.
"Milady, Marceline is here" Peppe called as he entered the kitchen
"Thanks Peppe, could you ice and then bring these cupcakes up to my room in about ten minutes please"
"Of course milady" He smiled and held the kitchen door open for her to leave.
{M}
Marceline knocked on Bonnibell's monolithic front door. She was a little surprised there wasn't armed security dotted around the mansions grounds but she had spotted the cameras that were dotted around the building and front gates and had argued mentally that there was probably armed security somewhere inside the huge pink monstrosity of a house.
After all this is America, can't you shoot a trespasser here? She made a mental note to ask Bonnie that when she got inside. She was surprised when the door was opened by a short man wearing a blue tailcoat.
"Uhm, hi. I'm here to see Bonnie. I spoke to someone at the gate" she felt awkward, it had been easier to say the same thing through an intercom.
"Of course, right this way." He stepped aside and let Marceline enter. The house was just as impressive as always. The small entrance room led to a much larger grand staircase with hallways at the bottom leading off to the left and right wings and everything had the feeling of age and opulence. There was never even a speck of dust and it occurred to Marceline that a place this big probably required a small staff of people just to maintain.
"I'll just fetch Bonnibell, please wait here" The butler wandered off to the downstairs left into what looked like a dining room or something.
Jeez Bonnie, your family weren't big on doing things in half measures where they. Bet this place has like forty rooms.
"Marceline!" Bonnibell cried walking up to her, she looked like she was about to try a hug when Marceline held up her hands
"Whoa there princess, I'm here to work on the play not get friendly." She reminded her. Bonnibell's cheeks flushed pink for a moment and Marceline wondered if she had been a touch too harsh.
"Sorry princess, we're not friends, were colleagues."
sorry princess I don't let people get close to me.
"Sure, sorry." she mumbled waving a hand to the staircase
{B}
Bonnibell tried desperately not to the let Marceline get her down or dissuade her.
She's got problems Bonnibell, just keep at it. I'm sure you can wear her down eventually.
"So I finished the lighting on the last few scene's, I think, I was hoping to go over the music with you and make sure the two synced up appropriately" she lead Marceline upstairs towards her bedroom where the green folder that held all her work was. grabbing it she opened it to the correct page and looked over the work reflexivly. She had spent quite a few hours on the play making notes on what light, which color and where to point them. She hadn't realized just how much arrangement went into something so simple, since every light had to be set up before the play giving her only so much flexibility.
"OK, I finished writing the music last night." Marceline pulled a scruffy looking notepad from her backpack flipped it open and handed it to Bonnibell. Although she'd hate to admit it, Bonnibell had never actually learned to read music. She tried not to show this as she looked over the arrangement of illegible symbols in front of her.
"You can't read it can you" Marceline noted with a smirk.
"Not really" she replied meekly.
"Wow i know something that Bonnie the nerd doesn't" She could feel her cheeks flush with heat when Marceline sighed and pulled a small red ukulele from her backpack. Bonnibell was impressed to find that Marceline had actually learned more than one instrument. As far as she had been aware Marceline only knew how to play the guitar. She took the notepad from Bonnibell and set it against the wall at the head of the bed.
"OK, so this is the piece for the death scene. It'll be played solo on a viola by Jake" she started strumming a simple sad tune that seemed to convey the emotion of sadness perfectly. It rose a little before dropping again at what Bonnibell could only assume had been timed to match the death of Juliet after she sees Romeo and kills herself. It was amazing on a ukulele and was probably even better on a viola.
"Wow that's a great piece of music" Bonnibell was awed by Marceline's ability to convey so much emotion in just one small piece of music. There was a knock on the door and Peppe presented himself with a plate of newly decorated cupcakes in hand.
"Cupcakes?" Marceline looked a little nervous at the presentation of food and Bonnibell was scared she had trapped Marceline.
OK, Marceline, eat up or tell me you have a problem. Either way we both win.
She smiled when Marceline took one of the cupcakes and bit into it. Peppe had added chocolate to her original frosting and it looked rather indulgent. She tried to ignore the fact that she already had a few extra pounds to lose when she bit into her own cupcake while Peppe retreated.
Did Peppe know my plan when he added the chocolate?
"These are good Bonnie, did you get your manservant to make them or did the chef do it?" she asked sarcastically.
"Actually chef doesn't work on weekends. I made these" she replied smiling.
{M}
Marceline was struggling to eat the slice of pizza she had been handed. On One hand her voices were going nuts and abusing her mind with the fact that she would gain weight from this extra cheesy tasting pizza and on the other hand she wasn't anywhere near ready to admit to anyone that she had a problem with eating. If she didn't eat more pizza though Bonnie would want to know why. Then she'd have to lie, remember the lie for the future so she didn't fuck up and reveal the lie and depending on what she said she probably still have to eat something else.
You don't need to eat it. Put the pizza down! You don't want it!
But then I'll have to tell Bonnie. She'll ask questions.
"Is something wrong Marceline?" Bonnibell asked with an expectant smile.
"Nope" She bit into pizza and resolved to eat at least one more slice of it in order to make sure Bonnie was off her back.
"Shall I put something on for us to watch?" she asked flicking a switch on the side of her bed. Marceline turned in shock to see the bottom of her bed flip open and a flat screen television appeared from it's hiding place inside the bed frame.
"Fuck Bonnie, you have a T.V in your bed?" Bonnibell giggled a little at Marcelines shock
What a cute laugh she thought as she bit into the last of her pizza. Wouldn't mind hearing more of that. Wait. What the fuck? is that even normal?
"I only use it in the morning to be honest, I like to have a coffee in bed first thing in the morning." she replied taking a sip of the coffee in her hand. Marceline eyed the cafetiere of coffee with curiosity.
"Would you like a cup? It's really good coffee! I'm spoiled on it" Bonnie took the second mug and poured her a cup of coffee, black without sugar.
she remembered?
"Thanks Bonnie" She took a sip of the coffee and stopped to consider her previous definition of coffee. It was like drinking an existential crisis for someone that loved coffee. Coffee up until now and forever afterwards was a pale imitation to the blessed black fluid she had just tasted. She took another long sip of the drink just to confirm that she Bonnie had just ruined coffee for her. It was amazing, not bitter at all despite being black and unsweetened, the flavor was just so clean.
"Wow Bonnie, this coffee is...wow! How much is it? What is it?"
I've got to buy some of this stuff.
Bonnie's cheeks flushed pink and she muttered out "I...kinda, uhm, don't know how much it is. But it's Jamaican blue mountain roast." Marceline considered this for a moment.
Wow Bonnie you must be really spoiled to not know how much your favorite drink costs. Bonnie hopped off the bed and flicked a button on the wall and waited for a response Marceline couldn't hear.
"Peppe, how much does the coffee cost?" She asked the hidden intercom. Her eyes widened considerably when she got a response and her cheeks flushed again.
"Thanks Peppe" she muttered before sitting down. "Apparently it's ….well...fifty dollars for eight ounces." she flushed pink again and Marceline looked down at the mug she had. It had probably set the princess back about ten dollars just to make that pot of coffee.
"Holy shit princess"
{B}
Bonnibell finished writing in her notes how much Marceline had eaten, she had been keeping notes on everything she knew about Marceline eating. In total she had eaten two cupcakes, two slices of pizza and two cups of coffee. Before leaving with a bag of it. She groaned inwardly at the memory of finding out she was drinking black gold and had even considered switching down to a less expensive coffee until she had said as much to Marceline.
'it's not your fault you're rich Bonnie, enjoy your coffee. I'm gonna have to start convincing Simon to buy this stuff though' she had said with her usual smirk. She had spent the last hour considering any other possible ways of helping Marceline. She was a little worried that the pressure she was placing on Marceline to eat was going to backfire, but not knowing what Marceline was eating at home meant that there was only so much that she could do. With a sigh she closed the notebook and slipped into her bed.
At least Marceline had hung out with me, despite her statement of not being my friend. And i got her to something nutritious. or something laced with nutrients would be more correct. she dismissed that line of thought and picked up her planner, flicking to tomorrow's date.
Tomorrow I have to finally 'knight' both Finn and Jake. I don't think they'll mind that their 'Knighthood' is actually just taste testing for me.
She let her mind wander as she was falling asleep and it naturally slipped back to thinking about Marceline. The black haired beauties silky black perfect mess of hair was vivid in her minds eye. She wanted so badly to stroke and pet her hair to find out if it's as soft as it seemed.
{M}
Marceline strummed the opening to 'Bad to the bone' and struck a pose in front of the band. She had decked herself out in her very best punk rock gear, which meant putting on her favorite dress, for no other reason than to look punk for their band practice. She was wearing a mid length Grey/black dress that the top of spiked out towards her neck, she'd tied it around the center with a red belt then slipped on some purple striped leggings. She looked pretty good for once. The band all laughed at her striking the pose and Keila and Bongo applauded her. They had finished practicing together, doing covers of other peoples music mostly, and were just goofing off in Keila's garage. Bongo and Guy were gonna be staying the night at Keila's since her mom was going to be out overnight at a work conference in St. Loius.
"So what we doing for food?" Bongo asked stepping out from behind his drums and stretching. when he cracked his knuckles it sounded like a bag of rocks in a cement mixer.
"How does pizza sound?" Keila asked leaning her guitar against the wall. There was a general murmur of 'Enthusiastic' approval.
I could eat, I only had toast at breakfast so I'm OK to eat some pizza. Keila grabbed Marceline by the wrist and dragged her into the house with her, leading them to the kitchen.
"Shouldn't we ask what the guys want?" Marceline asked not really minding that she didn't have a choice about going with Keila.
"Guy and Bongo always share a meat feast pizza, wanna split a pepperoni with me?" She asked pulling a drawer open and grabbing a pizza menu. Marceline nodded and smiled, she hadn't really had any friends back home, she always spent her days in her bedroom binge watching T.V and playing her guitar or video games. She enjoyed spending time hanging out with the band. They were so cool compared to her.
"OK thanks" Keila hung up and then sniffed the air "Son of a bitch!" Marceline sniffed while Keila ran back into the garage, there was an odd, sickly sweet smell in the air. She'd noticed the smell on Guy and Keila before but had never been able to identify It. When she got back to the garage Keila was yelling at Guy
"What about Marceline!" she shouted pointing at the door she was stepping through.
"What about me?" she asked looking at Guy, in his hands was a large joint. Marceline knew now what the smell was, Keila and Guy smoked pot.
OK Marceline don't make a big deal out of it, your friends are cool, smoking pot is fine.
"I don't mind" Marceline said trying to act aloof and cool. "it's just pot" Keila shot her a look
"You really don't mind?" she asked, Marceline shook her head and picked up her guitar again. She had never seen anyone smoking pot before and she didn't know what to do in this situation so she just strummed out a few chords and couple of little tunes while Keila and Guy passed the Joint back and forth while bongo fooled around with his phone. with She was watching them curiously as they seemed to relax and sink further into the old couch, practically melting into it. Guy had a goofy smile on his face while he and Keila were talking about the best choice of pizza toppings. She tried to look casual when Keila caught her staring.
"Have you ever smoked?" she asked, Marcelines face flushed a little pink knowing she'd have to admit she hadn't. It seemed weird to have not smoked pot before when it was so popular.
"Not really, I used to smoke fags...cigarettes"Keila smiled at her and came over to stand next to her.
"You wanna try it?" she asked holding the joint out. Marceline was a little curious, she knew it was a popular drug in the U.S, so she reached out and took the joint from Keila with only a little hesitation.
"Just take a drag like you would on a cigarette" Keila said sitting back down next to Guy on the old sofa. Marceline could smell the sickly sweet smoke coming off of it and it was making her a little quesy. She knew she was gonna stink of pot but she could sneak back into the house after Keila dropped her off. She took the Joint into her mouth and inhaled a large drag. It tasted a little weird, but not bad and held it in her lungs before slowly exhaling it through her nose. It made her want to smoke cigarettes again and she felt the familiar immediate relaxation that came with smoking.
"It's not bad" she said smiling at Keila.
"Yeah? You smoke it like an old pro" Bongo laughed. Guy was already hard at work grinding up some green buds in a small green circular tub. It seemed he was going to roll a new joint.
"You finish that one I'll smoke with guy" Keila said nodding at the joint in Marceline's fingers.
"Don't you smoke?" she asked Bongo
"Nope, i wanna live to old age thank you." he joked going back to his phone. she switched her attention to what Guy was doing and watched curiously as guy took some of the now ground up weed and a filter and expertly built a fresh joint. She'd have to learn how to roll her own if she was gonna smoke more. She took another deep drag from the joint, not wanting to waste it. She was beginning to feel pretty relaxed and happy. Her anxieties bleeding off and the tension she'd unknowingly been carrying in her shoulders relaxing. The voices she usually had to ignore as commentary on everything she did were quiet. She was even looking forward to getting some pizza soon.
Holy crap this stuff is pretty good! Hope it's not too expensive
A car pulled up outside the garage and Keila walked over to the guy that got out and paid for the pizza's. Marceline was glad because she was feeling unusually hungry.
Holy crap I thought getting the munchies was just a myth.
She bounced over to Keila when she got back and snatched a piece of the pizza without thinking too much about it. It was great to eat without feeling the usual toxic shit that went on in her head.
{B}
Bonnie was lying in bed reading a book when her anonymous friend phone jingled.
23:14 M: u there bud
23:15 Anon: always. How can I help?
23:17 M: my dads coming to visit and I 2 deal with him apparently
Hmm she hasn't talked about her dad before
23:17 Anon: Is that a problem for you?
23:20 M: yeah he super old fashioned doesnt like when I play music and get bad grades or date chicks
23:21 M: he also may or may not be into illegal activities
holy crap! Is that rumor was true! Is her dad really is a mafia boss or something. She bit her lip as she considered how to respond to this new information.
23:23 Anon: it's not something he gets you into is it?
23:24 M: nah hes just super judgy and doesnt get that I need meds and shit
23:25 Anon: Is there a friend you can retreat to if it gets too rough?
Please say yes,please say yes, please say Bonnie! She waited for a minute before switching over to the internet and tapping 'Abadeer, Scotland' into google. The top result was about a night club and she opened it. "The Nightosphere" it was called. A few minutes of more research showed that an Abadeer was the owner of this nightclub and a series of similarly named nightclubs spread out across most of Europe. There was even a news piece about the first club. Scanning it quickly in-case Marceline replied she read that the club had been involved in a police raid as it was suspected that it was a drug trading hub but the police had turned up nothing and apologized to the owner, Hunson Abadeer. Googling his name she found an article about him in a Scottish financial magazine.
"Hunson Abadeer, one of the more powerful political figures in the United Kingdom and his business empire. His career started as a manager of the first 'Nightosphere' club and after the tragic death of it's original owner in an unrelated accident he became the owner of the club. Immediately he began a face-lift and re-branding of the club from a simple nightclub to a dark and Gothic upscale hangout for all sorts of people. In just a few months the club surged in popularity under Hunson's leadership and eventually he was able to open a sister club in Manchester city. Following the success of this he opened a third club in Glasgow before his young family was struck with tragedy when his wife died during childbirth to his second child, Marceline Abadeer." Bonnie was ripped from her reading when the phone buzzed again.
23:32 M: I guess there one person I can hide with gotta talk to her tho
23:33 Anon: Please do, it sounds like your dad might be trouble for you mentally and having somewhere safe to retreat is a reasonable strategy to avoid self harm.
23:35 M: true thanks. TTYL
Bonnibell immediately returned to her reading, she was completely captivated by the article. It was revealing much more than she had thought possible.
I need to google my other friends...and me.
"After the death of his wife one might have been forgiven for thinking that Hunson would slow down, however the reverse seemed to happen. He threw himself into opening another four clubs {!} in the year that followed, all of them wildly successful. He then expanded the now widely recognized 'Nightosphere' brand into Europe opening two clubs in Paris and Berlin before the first major scandal hit the brand. His first club in Edinburgh was raided by police there claiming they had reason to believe it was a major distribution hub for illegal narcotics in the area. The police found nothing and immediately issued a major public apology to Mr. Abadeer, Hunson turned this into a success by opening the night clubs he now owned in four countries to the rehabilitation of drug addicts on their least busy day of the week and donated thousands to several charities across the united kingdom and Europe. Following this stream of success Hunson was hit with a second tragedy when young Marshall lee Abadeer passed away from an overdose. Hunson, again, seemed to gain a new vigor and turned his eyes onto politics this time. Pursuing a vigorous approach to rehabilitation of drug addicts and the clamping down of illegal narcotics he managed to get into power in 2016 as the member of parliament for his home town of Edinburgh." The article went onto to mention that he was clearly a person to watch out for in the financial world as his nightclub empire continued to grow to include another dozen cities but Bonnibell was still reeling from the shock of finding out about Marshall lee's death.
{M}
Marceline knew this dream. This nightmare. It was the one she feared the most. She had managed to avoid it these past months and quietly wondered if she was still high. She unwillingly took the steps down the hall, towards her brothers room. She really didn't want to go in. The hallway of their house was dark, stylized in the memory of a ten year old girl, it was all shafts of light and darkness. She knew Simon was downstairs arguing with her dad again even though she couldn't hear the toxic words they were throwing at each other. The hallway seemed immeasurably long and she felt like she had been walking for a long time. She felt the reassuring weight and texture of Hambo in her right arm. Always there with her even when she was having the worst nightmares. With her left arm she reached out to her brothers door. Her mouth was dry and her throat felt tight. Her hands were clammy and she was sweating despite the cold. her hand came into contact with the door handle. There was a distant rumbling noise as she slowly turned the handle of Marshall's room. Inside it was darker than black and the rumbling noise seemed to be coming from within.
"Marshall?" it took her a moment to realize that she was the one speaking. Dark red eyes appeared on the roof of Marshall's eyes and their pupils settled on her. She didn't react to them because she knew, even in her dream, that they were only a hallucination. She took a step into the silent black darkness that represented his room and tried not to scream when the world rushed away from her. The hallways behind her dissolved and the walls of the room disappeared into darkness leaving only the bathroom door in his room behind. She knew something was wrong and that it was her brother but she was overcome with panic and fear at what she would find. She knew what she would find. She wanted to scream out and stop herself from walking further into the room, to cry out for her father, Simon or anyone that would hear her. She wanted Marshall to be there smiling at her and playing his black Gibson. Her eyes turned reluctantly in spite of all this to the bathroom. The light from behind her was filtering into the bedroom and she could see a foot resting on the floor of the bathroom. Marshall's foot. Unmoving.
She took the tentative steps towards the bathroom despite the fact that she was screaming at herself not to. She reached out in her normal body and grabbed herself by the waist, the young her didn't move or flinch at all. She could feel tears streaming down her face. The young her reached out to the light switch and she looked into the bathroom.
"MARCELINE" She felt the arms wrap around her. smelt the guitar strings and musk of Simon. He was hushing her. someone was screaming. It was her.
A/N
OK so that was a heavy chapter. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out though, feel free to take a wild guess at that hidden subplot again. (I'm super sneaky and you'd have to be super sharp to guess what will happen) I'm almost tempted to give a hint. OK just one.
The red eyes are important.
