Lately it'd been getting colder, then again being up north you'd expect heavily snowfall. Tim had his scarves wrapped neatly around his neck, he moved bits of the fabric to cover a portion of his face; no doubt this was the coldest winter he had experienced yet. Nebby shivered slightly, "As much as I like visiting Zeal, I can't stand the tea Zarok's serving. Wonder where he's getting it." "Well to them it must be good, we didn't have the best quality tea back in my day," Tim muttered, "And I must admit, I feel pity for Oliver and the others, to stay with Zarok must take plenty of sanity and courage."
"You feel bad for Kardok too?"
"While I may never forgive him for what he had done to my Captain, he may never forgive me for all I care, but what I do feel is that he deserves better union."
"I'd sooner find myself fired than be working for him."
"Do you think Zeal will be alright?"
Nebby shrugs her shoulders, "Part of me wants to say no, but at the same time yes. It's a mixed feeling; I'll say he's got a fifty-fifty percent chance of coming out in a body bag." "That's not very comforting…" he noted. Nebby frowned, "Well fuck, Tim, I'm not a fortune teller!" Tim sighed, "I'm not saying you were. I'm only concerned, that's all; I need reassurance." she then patted him on the back, "Nah, I know what you need; some hot cocoa and homemade brownies, that'll take the stress off." But he seemed reluctant to answer, to which Nebby gave a lop-sided smirk, "C'mon, I know that shit makes you smile. Give me at least one!" she nudged his arm repeatedly; "I know you're smiling under those scarves, don't fuck with me!" That's when the archer caved in and began laughing, "You really ought to control your language." This then earned another lovely "fuck you" from Nebby, making him laugh harder.
Once home, they removed their coats and headed straight for the kitchen. "Would you like my help?" He offered. "Yeah, could you grab the chocolate chips from the pantry?" Nebby instructed as she searched the cabinets for a pot and small bowl. Nodding his head, Tim opened the doors and searched the higher shelves. He'll never understand just how a person as petite as Nebby can store items so high up when she barely reaches it herself, never mind the thought, it was an easy grab anyway. "Ms. Nebula, how much chocolate do you intend on using? And are we settling for dark chocolate or semi-sweet?" Tim turned around with the packages in both hands just as Nebby was snapping her fingers. He then raised a brow, "What…are you doing?" "Hold on, hold on, you need to see this shit." Nebby was heavily fixated on her hand, "I had it earlier, just give me a second…" With enough snapping and friction, a tiny flame appeared onto her middle finger in the manner of a lighter.
Tim nearly dropped the bags, "Ms. Nebula, I'm surprised at you! Pyromancy! How long have you been able to do that?" "Since a few minutes ago," She shrugged, "I guess my powers are becoming more apparent?" "Quite so, think you could use your magic to speed up the cooking process?" He inquired, now getting a closer look at the tiny flame. "Whoa, pump the brakes here, I barely managed to figure this shit out." With a flick of her wrist, the flame was put out, "How about this, I make the brownies, you make the cocoa. Sound fair?" Nebby brought out the butter and sugar and then proceeded the mix them together, "You already know the recipe, right?" Tim cheerfully nodded, turning on the stove and setting up a double boiler. He held onto the edge of the bowl as he poured in the chocolate chips- in the end they decided to go for both, and topped the pile with at least a dollop or two of butter.
Nebby looked over her shoulder, watching Tim work before glancing back down to the bowl in front of her. She had already added eggs- beaten just right, sifted flour, and finally the cocoa powder, all well mixed, but not to where she'd see bubbles, no, that'd mean the batter was cakey, and that wasn't what she was looking for. She then retrieved her greased pan and a rubber spatula, picking up the large bowl and watching the batter pour in. Once perfectly leveled, Nebby was about to turn and ask Tim to move, but then stopped; what if…? She removed her two oven mitts and picking up the pan filled with batter. Should she do this? She had barely just gotten a good grasp on her magic. Why not give it a try? Exhaling, she felt her hands begin to warm up, sliding her hands down towards the bottom of the pan.
Getting hotter now, just need to hold this position for 25 minutes…
Wait, it's getting too hot-
Hissing in pain, Nebby quickly set the pan onto the countertop and looked down at her hands. "Damn it…" she cursed under her breath, the palms of her hands were now a bright, irritating shade of red. "Is everything alright, Ms. Nebula?" Tim turned his head to see the injuries and nearly panicked, "What happened to you?" "It's nothing, just a failed attempt to make baking easier." Nebby grunted as she tried turning on the faucet. Tim reached over and turned the nozzle, cold water spewing out from the spout. She immediately doused her hands from the running water, almost sighing in relief. "Shall I fetch the Aloe Vera?" He inquired, turning off the stove. "Nah, I'm good…probably shouldn't have attempted to replace the oven with my hands anyway." Nebby replied. Satisfied, she shut off the faucet and dried her hands off with a towel.
"Maybe you can levitate the pan and heat it from there?"
"Hmm, that's actually not a bad idea."
"It's what I would do, really."
"I'd need to figure out levitation first, though."
"Fair enough; you need time."
He then turned back to continue working, stirring the melted chocolate occasionally and almost melting from its rich scents. Something about it just reminded him of home, not a day goes by where he doesn't miss fair Gallowmere; its lush grasslands, the sparkling waters of the lake, the salty sea air by the harbor, the welcoming atmosphere of Peregrine Castle…
He missed it all, wishing he could go back to when times were simpler. Moreover, he missed his friends. He wondered just what his beloved Captain was doing now…no doubt doing everything he can to figure out where he had gone, probably worried sick. Maybe he was already on his way from the Hall…
.
.
.
Dan sheathed his sword; final adjustments had been added to the blade as well as his shield. As much as the others had insisted on letting him bring an axe or a Warhammer just for safe measure, Dan refused. A simple sword and shield would do just fine, and the blade was sharp enough to cut someone's head clean off. "I really ought to thank you for the adjustments." Dan smiled at Stanyer, who replied with a nod, "Anytime, old chap!" The skeleton then began making his way toward the exit. Since his last adventure, the doors had been shut tight; after all, there was no use in returning to the Land of the Living if there weren't any apparent threats. But this was different; this was a rescue mission. Dan was determined to find Tim no matter the cost! "Herr Fortesque! Going back on zhe battle field, ja?" seeing Karl Sturngard there alongside Dirk and Megwyne wasn't exactly a surprise, but Woden being an addition to the group did take him off guard as the two didn't have a, per say, good companionship with one another. "Yes? What have you?" Dan raised a "brow". "We were wonderin' wha' your strategy's gon' be once you're down there." Dirk frowned upon seeing how confused the knight looked, "Aw Dan man, don' tell us you don' have a strategy!" "I haven't really worked out all the details." Dan admitted, slightly embarrassed.
Woden rolled his eyes, "Canny Tim's been missing for half a year now and you not once thought of a plan? Typical Fortesque…" Megwyne shook her head, "It wasn't exactly easy, and whenever we managed to track him through the Mirror Pool, the visions wouldn't offer us enough insight on his location. But what we do know is that regardless of where he is now, his journey definitely began in Gallowmere." "We can't say the same for Target face right here," Woden folded his arms, "He's been laid to rest in London, remember?"
"I hate to admit it, but he's right," Karl nodded, "Herr Fortesque isn't exactly easy on zee eyes, und he'd scare everyone in his path!" "Thanks a lot, Karl…" Dan grumbled. Though they weren't wrong, his look alone would've sent anyone into a panic. Not to mention the journey from London to Gallowmere would mean having to disguise himself for long periods of time. This reminded him of an old acquaintance back in Gallowmere; before they were separate beings, she would use a special pendant to keep herself properly disguised… "Hang on, I have an idea!" Dan's face lit up, "When Tim and I were alive we were friends with a sorceress named Willow, and when she came to Gallowmere she came disguised as a boy named Winston. In order to keep the disguise going, she wore an enchanted pendant that allowed her to get around more easily. We only knew this because years before the war, the pendant was destroyed, making Willow and Winston separate entities."
Most of the group stared at him in utter confusion. "So…you're sayin' you want' to 'ave boobs, right?" Dirk scratched his head, "because I'm no' gettin' it."
"He means that he wants something that'll turn him human." Woden confirmed, "It's probably the best idea I've heard yet, we'd just need a necklace and some sort of enchantment." They then glanced towards Megwyne, who then added, "I'm not sure, I can try but I can't guarantee perfection. That, and I'll need time to make it." Understandable; while some heroes in the hall knew of magic and have utilized a good portion in the past, they hadn't exactly done enough to be considered full-time magic users. Megwyne was the most powerful when it came to magic, but only to an extent. There had been times where she had been bed-ridden due to excessive use, and that was what the others feared, if she pressured herself too much she'd drain herself of her energy too quickly. For this occasion, Stanyer and Imanzi volunteered to accompany the Celtic woman as she prepared the artifact. Odd that no one had considered this. And for such a massive order, it took up a good half of the day, and in turn it worried Sir Dan.
The wait ended in the evening, when Imanzi emerged from Megwyne's chambers with a gold necklace in hand. Dan stood up from his chair, "Is she alright?" "She'll need plenty of rest before doing anymore magic, but she'll be alright." The amazon reassured him, "Here lover, your necklace." She presented it to him. Dan's fingers wrapped around the necklace; the pendant in the middle was gold, with a dark red ruby in the center of it. "Now, go. Go find your friend," Imanzi gestured towards the door, "And be careful out there." "Thank you; and I will." Dan gave her a roguish grin. He took a deep breath, and then made his way towards the exit. He had never mentioned it before, but it always saddened him whenever he had to leave this paradise, even though it was necessary. He heard the gates creak open for him, just enough for him to squeeze through. The exit itself was a small space, with a pedestal in the center that had a ray of light shining down on it. After slipping on the necklace he stepped onto the pedestal, immediately Dan felt himself become lightweight. Light enveloped the knight as his vision grew darker, before finally consuming him entirely.
His eye opened, blinking several times to help it adjust. He raised his head to see where he was now. He wasn't greeted by darkness, so he wasn't inside Kiya's tomb. The tapestries and faux pillars made it clear he had been moved to a new exhibit in the Museum. He got up…only to bang his head against a sheet of glass. He groaned in pain, "Faigh muin…!"
Dan pounded his gloved fists repeatedly; wasn't baring any affect at first…that was until he saw a crack. Progress was progress; Dan continued banging his fists against the glass, when it finally shattered, the knight sat up from his slab and stretched, then scratching his head. He stopped to realize that wasn't bone he was scratching, but hair. Excitedly, Dan stepped down from his slab and spotted the nearest shield, then gazing upon his reflection. Hair black as a raven's wing, chocolate brown eyes, and a lower jaw to boot; Dan nearly squealed with absolute delight. He runs a hand through his hair, "Yep, still one handsome devil after all these years, thank you Megwyne!" Dan hated to admit it, but he had nearly forgotten what he used to look like. Years of being a skeleton with an oddly shaped skull hinders your ability to think after all. Looking under was another display case, this time, containing his journal, opened for all to see! Dan frowned and smashed the glass, taking back the book, "It's private for a reason!" Okay, back to the business at hand.
The knight walked down the corridor, glancing around at the other displays; thank goodness none of them were alive. He then noticed a poster just at the exit:
~
LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE?
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE LEGENDS?
GOT AN APETITE FOR SUCCULENT PUMPKINS?
COME WITH US ON A TOUR THROUGH
GALLOWMERE, SCOTLAND!
SEE THE FRONT DESK IN THE MAIN HALL
TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS EXCITING DESTINATION!
"Heh, when I see Tim, I'll tell him that I called it." He muttered to himself. Dan proceeded further down the museum, passing by several exhibits. The main hall of the museum had a front desk, a set of stairs leading to the second story, several benches for guests to sit and relax. Dan went straight for the front desk; peering over he could see a register and a large grey box with the label, "For Gallowmere Tours" on the top. Pressing a button, Dan almost shrunk back when the machine went off, though all the buildup eventually led to a ticket popping out. He reached out and pulled it off, so this was his ticket to Gallowmere? Strange magic! His stomach then rumbled, "Ach…forgot I hadn't eaten a thing since 1286!" His eyes then wandered towards the register; dare he? Well, he would need currency in order to get around. Dan unsheathed his sword and plunged it through the device, the slot sprung open, allowing for Dan to collect the thin sheets of paper and coins inside. It felt wrong, horribly wrong. But he really needed it! Sighing, he stored the money into the small satchel tied to his belt, at least he'll be able to eat and maybe buy necessities. He then made his way towards the front doors, yet they wouldn't budge. Go figure he'd need a key. Maybe there was one at the security office? Dan looked inside, being that it was the only door open to him at this time, and luckily for him there were a set of keys on a corkboard, dangling off a tack. Next to the corkboard was a locker, and suitcases. Perfect, now he knew where to store his armor and weapons.
Now properly dressed in uniform- which turned out to be a bit too big for him, Dan picked up his bags; on duffle bag for his weapons and a suitcase to contain his armor, he made his way back to the entrance, now able to open the front doors. First thing he was greeted with were bright lights, followed by the roaring. Dan jumped back, were there dragons here? No, but there were strange metal boxes on wheels speeding around. People were walking down the sidewalk laughing, some stopping when a light showed red, and going when it was green. He walked down the stairs, tapping the shoulder of the first person he saw, "Excuse me miss, but you know of any good places to eat?" "Yeah, there's a really good diner just down the road from here and an inn right across from that if you're tired." She answered. "Thank you, miss." He smiled, and then going by the directions- albeit vague, that were given to him.
Once there, Dan opened its doors, greeted by a smiling face. "Table for one, please…" He smiled tiredly. The host nodding and escorting him to a table by the window, handing him a menu as he sat down, "A waiter will be with you shortly."
Dan waited for the man to go away before opening his journal to the last entry submitted:
October 13th, 1886 Going Home Never thought I'd made it out alive, that Palethorn is a complete nutjob I tell you! Perhaps he could be a good associate with that arch-cad Zarok if he were still around. Looked around the ruins, no sign of the Professor or Kiya anywhere, hope they're alright. That blast would've had the roof crashing down on them! Wait, I see something coming down some stairs… Kiya gave me quite the greeting! Been a long time since I've held a woman in my arms, old men… I didn't feel like giving the Professor any hugs. Speaking of which, the Prof here says its time to go home, about time! I could have a good old ale right about now, even if it'll just slosh through my ribcage. The lads are never going to believe this when I get back. Canny Tim's probably going to blow a G-rated gasket and go off on a usual rant about how worried he was about me- I swear sometimes he acts like my Mom. At least I'll come back in some dashing new armor, can't wait to see the jealous look on Woden's face! I feel pretty bad about leaving her behind, so I've decided to stay with her in the tomb. Though we hadn't been together that long, I felt as though we've had a spark. Only thing that blows about these quests is how ungodly short they were. Plus, I didn't want her to be alone in the dark again, she's expressed to me how dark spaces make her uncomfortable, why not keep her safe around my bony arms? Even if we're going to completely different destinations, at least I'll be happy knowing she's got a room-mate here in London.
The walk back to the museum was grueling and tiresome, if I still had soles on my feet I'd have asked the Professor if we could take a break in between streets of rubble. Saving the world doesn't mean being light on your feet you know, at least put some gel pads in my sabatons! Anyway, we're dropping Kiya off at her tomb, and from there we'll be heading back to my exhibit.
Maybe if I'm lucky, the Hall of Heroes might establish visiting hours…
That would've been great. It would've also been nice to see the Professor or Winston the Help Ghost again, surprised he didn't see them in the museum. Perhaps they've already moved on? That might be the case; otherwise he would've seen a small child running around the hall and a bobble head of a man following close by. A waiter came by with a notepad and pen in hand, "Hi, I'll be your waiter for this evening, can I start you off with something to drink? A coffee or some pop?" Dan looked back at his menu for a moment before replying, "Um…lets have the coffee?" "Absolutely, sir, I'll be right back." The waiter briskly jogged off to tend to the other patrons. He looked back at his ticket,
GALLOWMERE TOURS
ONE ADMISSION FOR TOURS
Ticket valid for free transport, food, and board at the Crypt Keepers Hotel ™
Tourists are to arrive at the bus station before 8:30 am the next morning
He folded the ticket and stashed it in his pocket, best not lose it. Dan whipped out a pen from the uniform's shirt pocket and turned to a new page in his journal, writing down his upmost thoughts.
Winter, 201X And it's not just Zarok, but that crazy bitch Beatrice too. I knew she could shapeshift but by god is that a poor disguise, I mean green skin with pink? I always suspected the two to be in cahoots with each other. So now I've got more questions; Was Canny Tim kidnapped? Is he safe? Why him and not me? What do they intend to do with him? Is this a plan to lure me in? Just came out of the museum in the meantime, and stone me if I don't wake up in the same uncomfortable spot as last time, turns out these guys decide to put me in a glass coffin too. Hope they don't mind me shattering a glass or two. In other news, I've finally got my flesh back; and I tell you, I've never been so happy to finally use a bathroom after centuries of being bones and armor- I've been holding it in since the Battle of Gallowmere, cut me a break.
BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER!
Guess whose back? No, not another big baddie this time, I'm here on a rescue mission. My old friend, Canny Tim went missing half a year ago and I have no idea where he's up and gone off to. Megwyne and I have tried numerous times to track him but whenever his image popped up we didn't have any clue as to where he might be. So, I thought to hell with it, I'll go down there and get him myself. Because apparently Zarok's ugly mug is back and his goons too. I know Tim was able to take down Lord K the first time, but without a crossbow he's a sitting duck!
My journey begins here in London, but tomorrow I'll be setting off for Scotland. Ah, good Ol' Scotland! I hope Gavina's still there. Anyway, I've already got my ticket; all I need is to do is show up. I really hope I don't get lost again.NOTE TO SELF: Update this journal as and when stuff happens.
Dan shut his book and looked at his menu just as the waiter returned with a mug of coffee. "Are you ready to order?" The waiter set down the mug. "I'll have the roast chicken." Dan then hands the menu to the waiter, "Alright, I'll let the chef know." He once again left his table; Dan turned his head to look out the window. It was starting to rain, little droplets hit against the glass and the streets became brighter as puddles began to form. Seeing a couple pass by, two women specifically, with one retrieving a cover to keep them dry from the rain warmed his heart. He sighed, as it only made him want to see Kiya even more. Maybe he'll stop by at her tomb tomorrow morning before going to the bus station.
.
"Thank you so much, these look amazing!" Violet smiled as she held her bouquet of flowers in hand; geraniums, snapdragons, Oleander, orange lilies, and a hint of Basil. "It was no trouble, Ms. Branwen, I'm sure your sister will love them," Willow gestured towards Nebby, "I wouldn't have made it had it not been for Ms. Nebby." "I always keep an extra tire with me!" The baker proudly remarked, puffing out her chest and placing her hands on her hips. Just as she finished, Tim exited the meeting room, "Alright, everything's set up." "Perfect, give me a moment while I retrieve my purse." Violet turned and headed towards her desk, and after briefly rummaging through her Louis Vuitton handbag, retrieved her wallet and brought out some bills. Willow and Nebby accepted their payment, and left. Flora passed by, the two girls wishing her a Happy Birthday.
Meanwhile, Tim was on another floor. He wasn't allowed at the top, or at least, that's what Nebby told him. While he was originally seated closest to the elevators, there was only so much a phone would do to distract him. And for the record, he was curious about the layout- as earlier when they'd pulled up, he gaped at the sight of the large building. The directory didn't help either. Some areas he couldn't access due to not being an employee, but just because it says no didn't mean that he wouldn't. Willow was correct- Nebby was a bad influence on him!
As he explored the hallways, he could hear a distinct melody coming from the left. It sounded like…humming? Curious, he followed the source of the voice, stopping in front of a tall, white door. The label in front read, "Break Room"; the small window, however, made it difficult to see who was inside; though it was clear that there was only one person inside, twirling and pulling on their skirt.
Was that Ann?
"There's a saying old, says that love is blind," Ann twirled again, "Still we're often told, "seek and ye shall find"…So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind."
Tim hadn't been seeing Ann all that often, what with her hectic schedule, but seeing her here made him, oddly enough, happy. She has quite the voice, probably best if I don't interrupt. Tim thought as he leaned against the door, though it wouldn't hurt to listen in a bit longer.
"Looking everywhere, I haven't found him yet," Her voice became softer, "He's the big affair I cannot forget, only man I ever think of with regret…"
Tim immediately realized what he was doing, if she caught him spying she'd think him to be a creep. Well, the polite thing to do would be to knock and let her know why he was here. Sure enough, it caught her off guard and she opened the door, "Tim? What are you doing here?" "Afternoon, Ms. Charity! I'm sorry, I was wandering around and I couldn't help but notice someone singing," He admitted, "It sounds awfully creepy, I know, but how could I resist?" Ann was turning red at this point, "It's okay…I'm glad you like it."
"You don't mind if I come in?"
"Oh…of course, I was only preparing my lunch."
"I noticed you hadn't stopped by at the café for a while now."
"I've been coming in early, Madam Vi's orders."
"That's unfortunate; have you talked about this with her?"
"Oh, I would but…she makes me nervous."
Tim sat at a table closest to the fridge, "How so?" Ann wrung her hands, then pushing up her glasses, "It's nothing, really, and I'm not good with communication." "You're talking to me just fine, Ann." He pointed out. She looked down, her hand grasping onto the sunny yellow fabric of her skirt, he wasn't wrong, "That's only because I'm comfortable around you." The room fell silent; with Ann retrieving a container from the microwave and bottled water from the fridge, only noise being her heels hitting against the floor and doors opening and closing. Tim glanced at her, "You look nice today."
Best start with a compliment, just to help her feel more at ease. "Thank you, and so do you…" She blushed, locks of her hair falling off her shoulders in feeble attempt at covering her face. "I assume you're accompanying Nebby?" She inquired. He nodded, "Its Flora's birthday today, we, as well as Willow, were asked to deliver flowers and sweets personally." "That explains why you're here, and Nebby? How is she?" She lifted her head up. "She's been alright. Lately she's been trying out these dating sites, which I find unusual, really." He shrugged, "I don't see why it has to be online, too sketchy for my tastes." "Speaking of which…are you spoken for?" She wondered. Tim simply nodded his head, "As a matter of fact, yes! Winston Steeple, he's my beau." "Oh, that nice man from the library?" Ann smiled, "I never knew you two were together."
"We've been together for a long time, well, with the exception of the military coming between us."
"The important thing is that you're together now, right?"
"Of course, and I'm excited to catch up on everything we missed out on!"
"That's wonderful, I'm happy for the both of you!"
"And what about you, do you have a special someone in mind?"
"Me? Oh, no. I hadn't explored the dating scene in a very long time."
"Not even a little crush?"
"Not since high school. But Nebby and Salem have been encouraging me to get back out there."
"Not to a point where they'd be pestering you about dating sites, are they?" Tim laughed, which in turn made Ann giggle, "No, but I will say that even my boss or her sister try setting me up on blind dates." "Do they like playing matchmaker?" Now Tim was interested.
"Yes, they do," She admits, "Though I wouldn't blame them, their hearts are in the right place. They once tried setting me up with someone in the office, I wouldn't go through with it because I was so nervous."
"Would you be nervous if I asked you to dinner?" Tim rested his chin on his hand. "I'd say yes!" She blushed again, only to shrink back once she's realized how strong it sounded, "I-If I have the time that is…" The archer laughed again; she could be so cute. "Though it is unfortunate to hear about your schedules, why not get a new job?" He frowned.
Ann did the same, "Because the money I earn goes to the hospital, for my mother." "Is she sick?" Now he was worried. "You could say that, I've been using the money to keep doctors from pulling the plug on her," She sighed, "We got into a car accident back in the 80's, I was very young at the time, but I was old enough to understand that the impact could've killed her had it not been for the air bag. She's been in a medically-induced coma since then, at first it was my father paying, but…I don't know where he's gone off to, without him I had to be the one to keep Mom safe."
"That's…quite the big responsibility." He acknowledged. That seemed to explain everything. Odd that neither Nebby nor Salem had mentioned this…
"So, you say Willow was here too?" Ann attempted to change the topic, "I've met her before, she's very nice. She often gives me free flowers for my Mom, Irises specifically; they're her favorite." Another mental note to add, never know when he'd need it. Tim glanced at the clock and got up, "I'm probably keeping you from enjoying your meal; allow me to give you privacy." "Oh no, it's okay, I enjoyed your company." She smiled.
Tim felt a light blush form, "It's no trouble at all." He was about to turn and leave, when- "Wait!" Ann called, "What about dinner?"
"I don't know…when are you free?" He turned back, curious.
"Hm, how about this Saturday? At 8? I'll send you my address if you'd like." She queried.
"Perfect! And not to worry, Ann, you can count on me!" He winked.
No sooner did he step out of the door did he come face to face with Nebby, "Flirting again? Shame on you, you're in a committed relationship." She waggled her finger in his face. Tim immediately retorted with, "I was not flirting!" It didn't help him; Nebby just pulled him away from the break room and towards the elevators. Willow pressed a button for the doors to open, "And where had he gone off to this time?" Nebby took the opportunity to tell her, "Flirting with my best friend and asking her on a date." Tim frowned, "I was not! We simply chatted and then we agreed to have dinner on Saturday." That took Willow by surprise, "Tim, asking her to dinner is a date. You basically asked her out." It seemed like Tim finally got the message, as he paled and went, "Oh golly what am I going to tell Winston?"
.
.
.
Winston had invited Tim to get some ice cream, and of course, Tim agreed. If it'd get him away from Willow and Nebby's taunting, then that'd be fine by him! Though, it seemed like the local ice cream parlor had shut down due to a fire that broke out at the dead of night- someone had apparently left the waffle maker on, so it was going to be frozen yogurt instead.
It was only when they'd met up that Winston immediately noticed his beau's tension, and when he asked, Tim couldn't exactly lie to him. "You asked her out?" Winston raised a brow, pulling down the lever for his cup. "It was an accident, love! I didn't know!" Tim objected. "Sweetheart, I love you, but you can be a bit of an airhead sometimes. Besides, it was an honest mistake." He chuckled, and it reassured the other. Tim picked a flavor and pulled the lever, "I'm surprised that you're so calm, unless you're fuming on the inside…" Winston stayed silent for a moment, then moved onto the toppings, Tim followed once his cup had nearly filled up. The two only muttering to each other as they loaded their cups with toppings of all sorts; at least, that's what Winston did, Tim wasn't too familiar with all the options and only picked what he knew. The total amount paid was an exuberant amount; most of the bulk came in the yogurt. They sat down to eat, Winston finally speaking up, "I am shocked, I'll admit."
"But not angry?"
"Not in the slightest- oh, I didn't know you liked that flavor."
"Chocolate? You should've seen my face when I tried it."
"Anyway, since we're on the subject of Ann…I do have a confession."
"Which is…?"
"I have a crush on Ann."
Tim nearly choked on his frozen treat when he admitted that, "Ann? Why didn't you tell me?" "Mostly due to my excitement over having my sweetheart back, and beforehand, I had considered dating again," Winston explained, "Ann and I met at my work, she was looking for a book on tarantulas and we just…clicked, it's hard to explain- even after she found her book we kept the conversation going. Then she invited me over for tea and I found that she liked to bake and sing, it was nice." Seeing the blush on Winston's face made Tim's heart sink, "But then, what about us?" Winston placed his hand over Tim's, "Sweetheart, I still love you, make no mistake! It's just that, I like her too." "Then what do we do?" Tim questioned. "Okay, don't get mad, but I think you have a crush on her too." Winston instantly braced himself for Tim's reaction.
For a moment, Tim sat there silently, with a blank expression on his face. Now, to most, especially with Dan, it'd freak people out with how utterly dead he looked whilst deep in thought. It was like he'd become a statue!
After what seemed like an eternity, Tim's expression softened. It wasn't anger, no, Winston would've recognized it immediately. Tim leaned back in his chair, covering his face with his hands and groaning, "Son of a-!" "Language, sweetheart." Winston sighed. Tim uncovered his face and leaned on the table, then smiled, "I guess I am taking her on a date."
