The three girls made small talk until they reached the costume shop, The Black Mask. When they pulled up, Vi said, "I've bought some interesting outfits here...fun times." Her smile was mischievous. The other two girls shared a look, but did not ask any questions.
Max put a hand on her girlfriend's lap and said, Hold on," before hurrying out. Kate moved slowly to allow the freckled girl to open the door for her. It seemed silly, but the blonde found it endearing and romantic at the same time. Vi had gotten out and was watching the sight, just putting her hand to her head as she shook it and grinned, muttering, "You girls just never stop with the cute shit, do you?"
They both were bashful and Max gave a shy shrug. "Ok, let's go," Vi said patting Max in the back. They all walked over together to the store's entrance and went inside.
A bell sounded as the door swung open and a skinny bearded man gave them a toneless greeting. Kate smiled, Max nodded, and Vi ignored. The brunette was sure the welcome was only given as a way to let them know he was aware of their presence. It was a typical shoplifting deterrent.
Vi led the way, seeming to know exactly where to start. As Max and Kate followed, they saw only one other person, some man in the corner looking at masks. They ended in an aisle with full outfit sets. While they browsed, Kate spoke up, saying to Vi, "So what do you do, Vi? For work I mean."
Vi stopped moving as she was pulling out Batman costume hanging from the wall. She let it fall back down and said, "Well, fuck, I do lots of stuff. Let's see though, I mostly tattoo, bartend, but I guess the main job is accounting."
The two other girls paused as if waiting for her to say she was joking. She just rolled her eyes and said, "I told you, eclectic as shit."
Max and Kate looked back to each other and smiled. "The blonde continued her questioning, saying, "That's impressive. You must be great with numbers."
"Fuck, I have to be. It's just a part time thing, but it pays. This hodunk town doesn't have enough jobs though, so I get my biz done online."
She picked up the Batman costume again, but said, "What am I thinking? Wrong Batman," and pushed it roughly back in place.
Max asked, "You do tattoos, but don't have any?"
Vi looked back to her like she was crazy and said, "When did I ever say I don't have tattoos?"
Max shrunk back a little and said, "Oh, um...I just couldn't tell..."
Vi stepped near Max to put a hand on her shoulder. She was a few inches taller than the brunette, which only added to her intimidation factor, but the older girl said, "Yeah, I keep them hidden pretty good, huh? Next you're going to ask to see them, but I don't know if miss K will want you looking in those places," and winked.
Kate looked away and Max froze in obvious awkwardness, but Vi laughed and said, "I'm just messing with you, well...sort of." She paused and looked at Max as if considering something, her face growing serious. Her hand was still on the brunette's shoulder. She then took it off to pat Max's upper left arm twice and sighed before saying, "There's at least one I can show you. Just not today." She switched back to her mischievous mood and said, "Now Maxie here, I can see getting a tattoo someday, but you..." She turned to Kate. "...I think a tattoo, a sleeve would be an amazing contrast on an angel like you."
Max trembled for a moment, with visions of Chloe and her tattoo. There was a second where she unwillingly pictured Chloe's tattoo on Kate. It looked like Kate might have been thinking the same sort of thing, or maybe just the idea of getting tattooed was shocking enough. The blonde said, "Oh, um, thanks...but I don't think I'm a tattoo sort of person," then hastily added, "Not that there's anything wrong with having tattoos, just...not for me."
Vi could not be deterred from her confidence. "You may change your mind. I have seen it happen many times. Like...a lot of times."
"We'll see..." Kate offered politely with a shrug.
"I'll take it as a maybe. Just promise me I get to be the one to do it, if you ever decide to go for one. I promise I'm good and I do it by the book. I run a clean and hygienic ship."
Kate decided to make Vi happy and said, "Uh, sure...if I ever decide to um, do that..."
Vi turned back to Max, saying, "And you? When should I set up your appointment?"
Max wasn't quite ready for the question and said, "Oh...um, I'm not sure...I'll let you know."
"I'm going to keep asking, but I'll let it go for now. Oh, and it's on the house. Well, for you two. Don't go offering all your friends tattoos. We just need to do it after hours. Boss is okay with that, just need to let him know in advance. That help change your minds? No? Still not ready?"
The other two thanked Vi for her offer but again declined for now.
Vi said, "Well, I tried. Let's keep looking then."
The couple shared a minor look of relief that she did let it go and they continued to pick through the costumes. Max pulled out a fox outfit. She put it up against herself then looked at Kate and said, "Maybe you'd look better in this, actually."
"Sure, I'll try it on," Kate said with a grin. She took the costume and put it under her arm.
"A Fox as a Fox? Isn't that redundant, guys?" Vi declared.
Kate's cheeks turned a light red.
Vi put her hands on her hips and said, "Well damn, Maxie, you can't just leave those easy ones out there. I have to say them if you're not going to be quick enough. Someone has to. Ooo look, Minecraft. I'm definitely a creeper."
"No, that's Max," Kate said smiling at the brunette who grinned back, getting the reference to the morning Polaroid.
Vi just looked back and forth between the two a moment, realizing an inside joke was going over her head. She seemed slightly annoyed and decided to move on and let go of the green costume to grab a yellow hazmat suit.
The older girl said, "Game over girls, I am claiming this as my official Halloween costume and later will use it in my own band. Just will leave the hood down and zip this thing down to show some decent cleavage. I want to promote safety and sexiness."
"Go for it, Vi. If anyone could pull it off, it's you," Max said.
"Thanks Maxie. You really know how to validate my random decisions. I appreciate that."
"You never told me your band's name," Max said, implying the question.
"My band? Oh, we're The Screw Ups. Everyone is ironically holding a steady job."
"I like it," Max said.
Max walked over to a costume that caught her eye and took it out. She got Kate's attention and lifted it up to her.
Kate squinted to read the label and said, "Daenerys Targaryen? Really?"
"Why not? You'd be perfect as her," Max said smiling.
Vi nodded and added enthusiastically, "Mother of fucking dragons. I'd pledge my loyalty right here and now to put you on the iron throne."
Max joined in, saying in a poor British accent, "As would I, your majesty," and bowed. Vi took a knee and pushed Max until she did the same. Kate seemed amused and embarrassed at the same time.
"You guys...stop it...people are going to stare."
Vi looked around and said, "Who? The one guy who looks like he is about to leave, or the guy at the front who sees a bunch of weirdos like us do this every day?"
Kate rolled her eyes and sighed. "Okay okay...rise subjects and give your queen a minute to try this on."
Vi whispered to Max, "This is good practice for you though, right?" and winked as she elbowed the brunette. Max batted Vi away and whispered loudly, "Vi! Shh, stop it," and was looking annoyed with her eyes, but was smiling.
Kate did not show that she heard as she reached her girlfriend to trade the fox costume for the Daenerys one. Max and Vi followed her to the changing room, and as soon as they were all headed that way, Kate turned back around and smirked at Max, then glanced to the side to look at her left hand extended out, flaring her fingers, as if looking for a missing ring. Max gave Vi an annoyed look, but when the older girl nudged her, she smiled.
When Kate disappeared in one of the stalls, Vi turned to Max and said, "So...you taking good care of your queen?" Vi elbowed Max suggestively.
"What? Um, no, I mean...we...that's our business, but...no...we are taking it slow for now. Kate wants to do it right, you know?"
"She wants your respect...she's in it for the long haul."
"Um, maybe? I think she knows I respect her...but you're right. We've already been talking about...the future, you know...the far future."
"Moving in together? Marriage? Kids?" Vi said it jokingly but saw Max not balk at her guesses. Vi spat out, "Daaaamn Maxie. She is ready to lock you down. Or are you the one? I don't blame you. Just don't scare off that princess of yours."
"I think we both feel the same. So we'll keep it slow for now. Someday we'll...um, do more...I just have no idea what I would do with her."
"Like you haven't imagined it in your head a million times?" Vi looked at her skeptically.
"Well, sure...I just...never did...any of that with...anyone. What if I mess up?"
"Of course you haven't, you sweet baby gay. Let momma gay show you the way. She looked around and then came close to Max before covering her mouth and whispering in the brunette's ear.
When Kate came out, she saw Max look a little wide eyed while Vi was patting her on the back before the taller girl looked slyly over to the blonde. Her expression changed to a delighted surprise, noticing Kate in her outfit.
Max also suddenly became aware of her girlfriend in her costume that revealed more skin than she usually did and said, "Wow, Katie, you look..." She couldn't find the words.
Vi finished them for her, saying, "You look like you're ready to burn some fucking Lannisters and look hot as shit while doing it."
"Yeah...what she said," Max added.
Kate smiled at the compliments, but also looked away shyly. The way Max looked at her affected her more than Vi's words.
Vi said, "Looks like that's a keeper. What about you, Maxie? We still need to find you something."
They browsed around again and Vi shouted, "Ah ha!" She pulled out a helmet and declared, "Daft punk, oh yes, harder better faster mother fucking stronger!" She then realized the other two were staring and said, "Oh sorry, this is for me too. I think I'm going to do a breaking bad mashup with this shit. Sorry Max! We'll find you something. Maybe we can make you a dragon! Couple costumes are so corny but you two gaybies are made for it."
Max shared an apprehensive look with Kate and said, "That's okay. I think maybe next year we can try that...I'm low on funds anyways, so maybe something simple?"
"Hmm...simple..." Vi pondered this new line of thinking and wandered down an aisle by herself. Max and Kate slowly began to follow, but as they turned a corner, Vi was already coming back. She held a long plastic axe. "You have a black and red flannel?"
Max blinked and said, "I think I do..."
"Perfect, you're a lumberjack. I have boots too if you need them. Might be big, but they'll work for one night."
Memories of wearing Rachel's clothes came back to Max and she started to get worked up, but then she also recalled back to her vision of the girl at the tobanga and a calming peace came over her. Somehow she felt this was okay, or even more so, was fitting. Max nodded. "Okay, lumberjack it is."
"Or lumberjane," Kate jumped in and then said, "Have either of you read the comic?"
Max and Vi looked at each other and the older girl shrugged.
"Oh...um...it's good," she said quietly while looking to the side, then spoke louder, saying, "Anyways, I think I'd love that look on you, Max."
"Come on...you can call her Em around me..." Vi said nudging Kate gently with a smirk.
Kate bit her lip while looking down and said, "Okay..." then turned to Max and said, "So...what do you think, Em?"
Max took the axe from Vi and turned it to look at the price. Once she identified it, she said, "This will work."
"Let me change back real quick," Kate said and rushed off.
Vi turned to the brunette and said, "Hey Maxie, I actually thought of something you could do right now that I think you both would love and be at your current slow roll." She got closer and Max listened as she whispered one last piece of advice. They were already done talking when Kate got back.
"Alright ladies, let's hit it!" Vi said cheerfully and led the way with helmet and yellow costume in hand.
Max and Kate followed. They walked side by side and the brunette was surprised to find the other take her arm and lean her head on her shoulder. Max did not want to say or do anything to accidentally make it stop, so silently walked with her enjoying the feeling of being an obvious couple in that moment. Once near the register, Kate broke her hold though. She reached for her bag, but Max gently kept her hand from going inside and said, "I got this."
"No, Em...you said-"
"I know, but let me do this. It'd make me happy."
Kate smiled warmly and said, "Okay, love. This time..."
Max who paid for the costume along with her own accessory, then Vi paid for hers. They had items in bags and got walked out the door. Before getting to the car, Vi asked, "So...what other plans do you lovebirds have?"
Max spoke up first, saying, "Well, we are heading up to see my parents tomorrow. We're surprising them actually."
Vi put her hands out as if to stop Max from doing something. "Wait wait...is this the coming out of the closet and hey, this is my girlfriend deadly combo we're talking about?"
Max looked at Kate and then back to the older girl and said, "Uh...yeah? I guess so."
"No way! That's huge! What's your...expectations? What are the odds this is going to be a good trip?"
"Well it won't start out great."
Before Vi could ask, Kate said, "We have no car, so we need to take the bus."
"Shiiiiiiiit," Vi said with an apologetic look.
"Yeah," Max said and continued, "But I think it will be okay. My parents...they're pretty liberal. I don't know how much they expected this though. So, we'll see." She turned to Kate, suddenly realizing she might be worrying her and added, "But I'm sure they'll love Katie. I mean they already do. They met her...just as my friend though."
"Friend? Well that's the underfucking statement of the year."
Kate and Max shared a smile.
Vi turned the blonde and asked, "And what about your parents?"
Kate froze for a moment and then immediately began tearing up. Her lip quivered as she said, "Y-you didn't tell her?"
Max looked at her compassionately with concern and put her arms around the now trembling girl.
Max quietly replied, "It wasn't my story to tell."
"I love you so much, Em," Kate said looking lovingly at her through her pain before burying her head into the brunette.
Vi looked mortified. "Oh shit. I'm...I'm so sorry, Kate..." She knew enough of what happened just with Kate's reaction and was not going to ask anything else right now.
Max responded for her, saying, "You didn't know."
The older girl could just make out a muffled, "It's okay, Vi," as Kate whimpered her own reply.
Vi looked down in thought and said, "Fuck it. We have to turn that frown upside down and Momma gay is not letting her babies take the bus. You guys take my car instead."
"What?" both Max and Kate said at the same time. Kate spoke as she brought her head up from the brunette.
"No...we couldn't..." Max began.
"You can, you will, you are. How long does a bus take? All day?"
"Half a day..." Max said quietly.
"Half a fucking day! I bet you could get there in half the time in my car."
Kate also tried to politely decline and said, "Vi, you are so sweet but-"
"Quiet, my children! Momma has spoken. Okay!?" She pointed a finger at them, waiting for them to continue to protest, but this finally stopped them. She continued, saying as she looked back and forth between the couple, "Now...please fucking tell me one of you can drive."
"I can..." Max said. "My dad taught me and I got my license, but I haven't driven in a while..."
"That's perfect. You'll be fine. I just might want to...have you do a practice drive."
"Vi, I promise I won't crash or even scratch your car."
"Fuck the car!" Vi said almost too intensely and catching her own outburst said very calmly, "I mean...I don't care if my car is banged up to shit. I just want you two to be okay. That's what matters, right?"
The two nodded, unsure how to take her sudden mood swing. Vi then added, "Besides, you saw my car. It's a piece of crap. Anything you did would be an improvement."
Max came up to the older girl and said, "Thank you, Vi. You are amazing." She hesitated for a moment, but then went for the hug. Vi froze and pretended to be annoyed, but couldn't pretend long and returned the embrace, saying, "Of course, Maxie. You're more like me than you know. I can't help but to help." She then felt Kate jump in, squeezing her from behind. Vi exclaimed, "Whoa angel, you two are really ruining my street cred. You're lucky you're my new favorite couple, otherwise I'd be pushing you off or expecting some necking by now."
"We love you too, Vi," Kate said and they all let go.
Vi spoke, saying, "Let me know how it goes and call if you need anything. Advice and shit, or whatever.
"We will," Max replied.
"Alright. Let's get you formally introduced to Betty."
"You named your car?" Max asked.
"No, that's just it's name," Vi replied with a smile.
"Betty, like Betty Davis?" Kate guessed.
"You know it, angel. Or Betty Rubble. Both hot. Now let's get started!" She handed Max her keys, who gulped and took them. Vi then said, "Be gentle with her, but show her who's boss." She winked at Kate though and then headed over to her car. The two shared a look that turned into flirtatious smiles before they followed.