Chirpy prepared the different foods speedily. She kept in mind everyone's different tastes. It seemed that the colors mattered also. Her creations always had to make a good first impression. Especially the desserts because they were the finale.
Once Chirpy had everything in order by taste and color, she stepped back with a smile. Of course, she took a few pictures for her growing culinary fan base. That was a necessity. She had even made some dishes specifically for pictures. They were the dishes with the most elegance.
Besides those, Chirpy placed Audrey's portion. She could tell it was Audrey's because of the pink plate and cup. Chirpy pursed her lips at that. She put the pinkette's food up before walking in the direction of Audrey's room. Well…it was more like Chirpy's room. The green-haired woman didn't mind Audrey staying there, though.
Chirpy finally reached her door with an eager smile. She turned the knob and let herself in before saying, "Hello, Audrey! I'm back!" She chirped with a bright smile.
Audrey gave her a small wave before quietly returning to the book she was reading.
Chirpy's smile fell the slightest at this. She looked around as she tried to think. "Maybe...you need to give your mind something else to think about. Let's go out for some fresh air." She said with a more peaceful tone.
"I'm uh...good, thanks," Audrey said as she turned her down and went back to the book.
Chirpy blinked at that before walking off. After a few seconds, she came zooming back in with a wheelchair. "Beeep beeeep!" She chuckled. "C'mon, Audrey. You won't have to walk. I'll push you! On top of that, I thought you might want to eat in the kitchen with the rest of the group." She said with a pleading look in her eyes.
Audrey gestured to herself. "As much as I would love to get up...I'm too tired." She said after pausing, most likely trying to find a response.
Chirpy shook her head. "Tired? I'll help you!" She said, reaching out her arms to catch her if needed."
Audrey gave her a half-eyed look before sighing and setting her book down. She got up and sat down in the wheelchair with ease before grabbing her book again and opening it back up to the page she was on.
Chirpy grinned at that brightly. She went behind the wheelchair to give it a push. "Let's take a test drive, huh?" She said making car noises before she took off.
Audrey deadpanned at that as she turned her focus to the book.
Chirpy's smiled dropped again before pushing Audrey normally to the kitchen. "We're here. Your plate is over there. Come to me if you don't like it." She said with a sigh.
Audrey shrugged with a neutral look as she put her book on her lap. Rolling a bit closer, she took the plate as she tried not to look around.
That's when the majority of the group blasted into the kitchen. Some of them were being chased. Others just walked in casually.
Chirpy had prepared Heidi's food as always. The drones were the things that were a change. She secured the food on the drone before typing in a command destination. Chirpy did and watched the drone fly away.
The group, for the most part, were trying to grab their food and leave. They all had 'business' to attend to.
Audrey stared at them as a few kept bumping into each other. Shaking her head with a half-eyed look, she set her plate on her lap and rolled out of the 'danger zone' and off to the side.
The majority of the group waved at Chirpy before blasting to who knows where with their food. Every now and then someone thanked her and it makes her feel happier. As for today, everyone is running around and rushing through.
"Wonder why they don't just sit…" Audrey mumbled while shaking her head and returning her attention to her food.
Trip was literally eating standing up. He repeatedly shoveled food in his mouth using two utensils. When his mouth was empty, he said, "Must, catch Mario Kart open!" He said before going back to shoveling.
Everyone else was better. Slightly better.
Audrey looked exasperated at that. "Of course." She deadpanned, trying to hold back the urge to facepalm.
That's when Ara walked in with CJ by the jacket collar. Ara looked exasperated once again,rolling her eyes at CJ, who was acting like a dog that didn't want to go to the vet. "CJ, he can't stop you from going to the kitchen. You're under house arrest. House! Not room arrest."
CJ constantly drug her feet across the floor. "I would much rather be eating my food in my room!" She said with a frown.
Ara looked back at her for a moment. "Wouldn't you rather eat with everyone else?" Then she looked at the rest of the group. "Why don't we eat this one together this time?"
All of the group looked at one another before she got a unanimous, "No!"
Ara's eyes halved at that.
Triple G stopped stuffing to say, "The Mario Kart Open for America starts today! I have to get ranked!"
Uma folded her arms before saying, "One of my favorite bloggers is streaming tonight…"
Hazel raised her hand, bags visible. "I'm an early bird." She made a face that looked half dead. "I'm tired."
JR held up a net. "There were some raccoons digging in our trash last night. I planned on hunting them down!" He said with a smirk.
Deuce blinked. "Whoa, bro. That sounds rad." He shook his head. "I have plotting to do."
Chester raised his paw. "I have work to do."
Everyone looked at Freddie. She chuckled. "Yeah. I don't want to eat with you guys 'cause...I don't care."
At that, the group proceeded to get their food and try to escape. That prompted Chirpy to roll her eyes from her spot on the countertop.
Audrey shook her head at them. "And I just don't want to be here because I'm a whale." She said sourly, jabbing at her food.
Ara huffed, nearly sounding like a horse as she exhaled. "Fine! Fine. Everyone just run off in your own little worlds. Who needs bonding anyway." She said with a roll of her eyes.
"Not like I can run away," Audrey said in a deadpan, pointing at her swollen feet then jabbing her head in Chirpy's direction.
JR opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by Freddie's hand slapping against his mouth.
Chirpy, on the other hand, sighed before saying, "I got it." Before making her way over to cater to Audrey's feet.
Deuce scratched his head, "Why do you need a foot massage? You don't walk." He blinked.
Freddie looked at Deuce dryly. "I couldn't save him in time." She shook her head.
Audrey gave him the stink eye before chucking her fork his way. "I can't walk because I'm a whale who can't even see her feet!" She said with a huff as her cheeks comically turned red from anger.
Deuce scurried out of sight while Chirpy tried to calm Audrey down a bit.
George blinked before saying, "No worries. It's temporary. After babies are delivered, you will be a Coca-Cola bottle." He said in his monotonous tone.
"Oh yes, that makes me feel so much better," Audrey said back in a deadpan.
CJ silently chuckled before whispering. "Steer clear. Moody pregnant mama bear." She said before backing up, prompting a few others to back up as well.
"What? I don't have anything else to throw and I like this book." Audrey said while rolling her eyes.
Triple G blinked before saying, "Never trust a chick that can make sharp glass out of thin air." He cringed at that.
Uma nodded in agreement. "Yeah...we're fine back here." She made a thumbs up.
"This scenario doesn't persuade any of you to eat together, right?" Ara asked with a nervous smile.
CJ blinked. "Stop acting desperate."
Ara sighed heavily at that. "Fine." She said boredly.
Audrey stared at them all. "...You guys know that she won't let me use my magic, right?" She asked as her eyes halved.
At that, CJ bursts into hysterics. "You got banned!?" She laughed, biting her lip to try and keep it in. Her eyes watered.
"In my book, I'm fine. In her book, I'm too huge to be playing with my magic." Audrey said with a pout as she folded her arms.
Chirpy's eyes halved at that. "I didn't say huge." Chirpy squared her shoulders. "I said fragile." She said matter-of-factly.
"...I bet if Heidi or Hades were around they would let me use my magic," Audrey said as she pouted even more.
Chirpy looked up at her with halved eyes. "I wish they were here as well, but they're not. Because of this, you follow my instructions and rest. That includes your magic." She said softly before turning her attention to the pinkette's stomach.
"...Whatever," Audrey said with a sigh and small frown before she decided to turn her attention to her book.
Chirpy walked away from Audrey and up to the group. "Please look over her. She's been pretty...stressed...for the past couple of days."
"Part of that may be my fault," Hazel said plainly.
Ara glanced at Hazel before saying, "Despite who's fault it is, we understand." She said with a smile.
Uma shook her head. "This is why I ain't having kids."
Freddie agreed before saying, "Bruh. I'm staying single." She took a sip of her soda.
At that, Chirpy smiled. She went back to the pregnant woman and went back to taking care of her feet. "I made you a few homemade candies. Do you want them?" She asked, pointing to the counters.
Audrey looked and blinked before reaching over and grabbing them. "Thanks…" She said with a small smile before shaking her head and looking over the candies.
Deuce's eye twitched at that. "Chirpy is magical…"
Triple G blinked before shrugging, "Yeah…"
While everyone was distracted, CJ looked around, spotted her plate, and zipped back to her room. The only thing that signaled her absence was the gust of wind that came out of nowhere.
Ara blinked at that before looking at where CJ once stood. Then she saw the pirate's plate missing. "Ugh! CJ!" She said in aggravation.
Freddie chuckled at that before saying, "Speaking of...I gotta go."
The funny thing was, as soon as she said that, the rest of the group scattered as well.
Ara just stood there blinking before shaking her head in amusement.
George was the only one left.
She looked at him and asked, "What are your plans?"
George blinked before saying, "Panda training."
Ara smiled at that. "If you can't beat 'em. Join 'em." Then she turned to Chirpy and Audrey. "I'll see you guys. Probably tomorrow." She called as she followed Geo out.
Chirpy smiled brightly before waving. "Bye, Ara! See you later!" Then she turned to Audrey. "It's time to get you to bed."
Audrey had made quick work of the candies and shrugged lightly at that. "I guess...Maybe I'll make my daily list of dem-requests before bed." She said mainly to herself.
Chirpy nodded with a smile. "Alrighty. Let's get you to bed." She said with a shake of her head.
888888
Fluff. So much fluff. Apparently, George's panda sits on anyone that lays on the ground.
Ara was helping George train his panda, Xiao, when she laid on the ground to catch a break. She was enjoying the sight of the refreshing night sky when the butt of a huge panda suddenly covered her face. Now, she was currently drowning in fluff while Geo was trying to keep a straight face.
Ara somehow crawled out just enough to expose her head. She gasped for air. "George! Get this thing off of me! AH!" Ara was suffering at this point.
George nodded. Before saying, "Xiao! Off!"
The panda looked at him. He gave him a lazy look before munching on leaves.
"Off," George commanded one last time before looking exasperated.
The panda moved off of Ara...for two seconds. The next thing Ara knew is that she was in Xiao's grasp...in his lap. The best was holding her as if she was the teddy.
Ara looked more than exasperated as George laughed. He even pulled out his phone and took a few pics.
"Don't you dare." Ara said.
"Posted it," George replied.
Ara gave him a deadpan.
Before anything else happened, there was a sound before Amaterasu poofed into the room. She glanced around before staring at the panda. "...Why is there a panda here?" She asked as she slowly inched back, watching as the panda took quite an interest in her.
George blinked before saying. "My panda." He pointed at the large animal.
Ara, who was in the bear's grasp, said, "This was Susanoo's gift to him." She said in exasperation.
Thankfully Xiao placed Ara on the ground but began to make his way over to the goddess.
Ama shifted so that she was deeper inside the room and away from the windows. "Of course my brother actually gave you...a panda." She said with a sigh as she tried to avoid the panda's large paws. "I was hoping he wouldn't." She mumbled to herself.
George nodded at that before bowing in respect.
Ara barely picked herself off of the ground Without her ribs collapsing in the process. "Yup. He did. I think I need to go to the hospital." She said, walking in the room and towards the door.
"No time for that." Ama said before snapping her fingers."There, you're fine. I need you for something." She said as she dodged the panda again and began guiding Ara out.
Ara blinked at that before saying, "Uhh...Where...Why? Now?" She looked at Ama quizzically.
"All answers shall be responded to once we reach our destination," Ama said in her best monotonous voice as she barely escaped the panda and closed the door.
Ara blinked at that. She looked around with deep confusion as Ama led her through the halls. "...Can I at least have a hint?"
"No," Ama said simply as she dodged a few windows and sped up her pace.
"Can't this wait until tomorrow?" Ara asked, slightly complaining. "It's pretty late…" She looked to the side.
"If it could, I would not be here. I am sure you remember how I said I wouldn't come at night?" Ama asked with a small frown.
Ara nodded. "As a matter of fact, I do...so why are you here?" She looked up in confusion. "Is it really that important?"
"Yes, you may call it an intervention of sorts that was meant to occur earlier today...but I was caught up in handling the aftermath of my brother's prank on Hades. The last meeting ran long, but I had to come as it was of utmost importance...even if it is nighttime." Ama said, looking unhappy at the end before the look faded.
"Sure," Ara said in exasperation. Mentally, she made plans to give Susanoo a nice scolding when he returned.
As Ama turned a corner, she cleared her throat. "And believe me, the current time isn't my favorite either. The moon and I don't get along...well." She said, averting her eyes at the end.
"Riiiiight…" Ara trailed off. "I guess it is pretty important since you're here at night. But if it's so urgent, of all people why do you need me?" She raised her eyebrow.
"You are the only one that fits the bill, the only candidate so to speak. Not because a panda handpicked by my brother was flattening you...but because you meet...certain qualifications that others don't." Ama said with a shrug.
Ara blinked before pouting. Seeing there was no way she could talk herself out of this one.
As Ama turned onto a rather familiar hall, she tightened her hands ever-so-slightly on Ara's shoulders before stopping. "And...we are here." She said, staring straight at...a chained door.
Ara stared at the door blankly. "Why are we at CJ's door?"
"I told you-an intervention," Ama said with a smirk.
Ara looked at the goddess with a raised eyebrow. "You want me...to go inside? Don't you know that's death?"
"No, death is opening the door to the Underworld to stage an intervention for your depressed sibling," Ama said matter-of-factly as she walked Ara over to the door. "This is light in comparison."
Ara looked at the door before wincing. "Alright…" She trailed off before using the key to unlock the chains. Once the chains were unlocked, Ara gestured to the door. "Well...there you go. I'll just be on my way…" She said, trying to turn around.
Ama didn't allow her to move one bit and kept a firm hold on her. "No. You are staying with me."
Ara made a small whimper at that before opening the door...only for a flood of music to pour out of the room, followed by a ton of bass. Ara blinked in surprise.
Ama didn't appear shocked one bit as she guided Ara in as silently as possible with a grin on her face.
CJ, who was in the middle of a jam session, was dancing and rapping with a hairbrush. Of course, she wasn't expecting company at this hour. So she was in her own world while the goddess made her way into her room. Surprisingly, it took CJ every bit of fifty seconds to realize the two extra people in her room.
CJ danced as she sang, "I'm a savage. Classy, bougee, ratchet. Sassy, moody, nasty, yeah. Actin' stupid what's happening? What's happening?" Then she finally turned around. "I'm a-WAH!" She exclaimed, flailing, and throwing her brush elsewhere. The brush fell directly onto her crash cymbal, creating a ton of noise.
CJ looked like a deer in headlights as she looked at the two. Grabbing at her remote, she turned her music off before asking Ara, "What is she doing here!?"
Ara, who was still blank said, "That's what I've been trying to figure out." She blinked.
Ama simply waved with her grin like nothing was wrong. "Please, don't be alarmed. I'm just here for...business." She said casually.
CJ shot a death glare at Ara. Ara raised her hands in the air, shaking her head.
CJ rolled her eyes before walking over to retrieve her brush. "What kind of business?" She asked dryly.
"An intervention," Ama said with a shrug as she walked Ara over to a nearby seat. "Just that."
CJ raised her eyebrow. "Is this about me getting 'arrested'?" She asked, using air quotes. "I am not apologizing for my series of burns. Duck Shoes walked right into those." She grabbed her brush before putting it on her dresser.
"No, it isn't about Hermes," Ama replied as sat down.
CJ raised an eyebrow at that. "Okay...well, I can't think of anything else I've done wrong." She said with thought as she sat on her drum stool, on the other side of the room, behind her drum set.
"Hmm...No, actually it involves you avoiding a certain individual to the point of running and quitting," Ama said, not bothering to filter the answer one bit as she folded her arms.
CJ blinked in shock before she tapped her chin. "Yeah...about that…I totally give up." She said the last part with exasperation.
"Because my words are indeed correct. That individual is...certainly painting herself to be viewed differently than she really is." Ama said with a troubled look in her eyes.
"Maybe..?" CJ said, not really knowing who or what she was talking about.
"I am referring to my dear friend Heidi and the situation that went down not too long ago." Ama said bluntly as she locked eyes with the girl.
"...What about it? I quit. People quit stuff all the time." CJ said before looking away.
"People do not spontaneously quit, they leave for a reason. Your reason involves Heidi and the situation along with the revelation you all learned." Ama said with a head tilt.
CJ slid her finger across her cymbals. "Sounds like a good reason to quit to me." She said boredly, looking at the instrument.
"You wish to leave for the wrong reason. You believe that Heidi will try something or act like the one thing you didn't have. I know the truth...and it doesn't match your belief." Ama said with narrowed eyes.
CJ's eyes halved at that. "Heidi...doesn't seem like the type to be thrilled about kids. Also, I'm not hers so I don't see the problem of why I can't quit. My reasons are personal." She stated, tapping on her high hat.
"Yet I can make each reason become wrong with a simple explanation. Every single thought you have concerning her...is quite wrong to say the least. I was the one speaking and revealing every last little secret that was hidden from her...therefore I know the truth. Wouldn't you rather know the truth so that you may leave knowing that you didn't leave based on something false or misunderstood?" The goddess asked as she tilted her head up.
CJ glanced at her with an uninterested expression. "I'll only listen if you can prove everything I said wrong. Everything."
"Your first question and claim was regarding Heidi's current behavior towards children, correct?" Ama asked, pausing for a confirmation.
CJ simply nodded at that.
"That behavior stems from her time on the Isle involving her relationship with a certain pirate. A simpler version would be that Hades didn't want his daughter to take any maternal interest in kids as that would tamper his plans. That Hades only had the throne in mind and Heidi was the only individual that would be on his side for good. While he didn't want to change his daughter, he was told that drastic measures would have to be taken to make her the perfect soldier for him. Of course, it all went fine and she showed none of that interest until...Audrey. Audrey wanted children and Heidi reacted as she should have, cautious and uninterested before quickly turning to panic. Hecate didn't exactly keep long term in mind if you know what I mean." Ama explained with a frown as she rested her head on her hand.
CJ looked to the side before raising an eyebrow. After that, she shook her head with a shrug. "Anything else?" She asked boredly.
"You mentioned that you are not hers and that is very correct. Heidi did not attempt to say that she would try to become a parent to her daughter...or you. Not because she didn't care, but because she knew that it wasn't her place and it was too late. She said that her daughter had a good father and didn't need her now. She didn't even mention you much less try to replace the kid she lost. She acknowledged that she couldn't do anything and moved on to more pressing issues such as her father's incredible amount of lies." Ama said with a soft sigh.
The blonde stared at her drum set in thought. She was determined to not get emotional of any sort. She hated that stuff. The only thing she did was fold her arms before saying, "About me leaving?" CJ asked, looking toward the ground.
"Do you still wish to know now? Heidi will not treat you differently...the only being that will receive that is Hades. That's actually why she is hiding…" Ama said before grimacing at the end.
"I want to leave," CJ said with a deep frown as a bit of yellow made its way to her eyes.
"Tell me why then you may leave with no abilities and no memory of this event ever happening and you will believe that you merely spent a week on an island vacation," Ama said in one breath.
CJ bit her lip for a minute before growling, "I want to leave because this is crazy! This whole thing. It's-it's...I refuse to get mixed up in whatever is going on!" She said with a fold of her arms and a huff.
Ama's eyes glowed at that. "Then why did you agree without much trouble at the beginning? You knew what you were walking into-the trouble. Yet now...it as if you missed it all entirely. So forgive me for accusing you-but I don't believe that that's the truth." She said with a frown as she inched forward in her seat.
CJ exhaled at that. "This is not the kind of trouble I signed up for." She stated matter-of-factly.
"This specific trouble only started after the revelation with Heidi being deemed the mother of her world's version of you. A claim she turned down immediately and said that her daughter belonged with her father and shouldn't have her life thrown into chaos by her returning. This is something emotional that you refuse to come to terms with, thus you wish to run away from it all." Ama said as her frown deepened.
CJ refused to look up as she said, "If I want to run. I can run. What I do shouldn't matter. Who cares if I run away?" She snapped.
Ama stood up as her eyes burned brightly. "I care because I have seen too many people run until they are lost! I have lost both my brothers to that and barely gained one back!" She said with a huff.
CJ grumbled. "I'm not your brothers."
"No, and you should be glad for that fate. However, you are one of the many in the universe, my universe, that are running instead of coming to terms. I am tired of seeing people die running, give up and hide, and pull the stunt you are pulling!" Ama said with a frown. "I am tired of it and like hell, I will sit and watch it happen again for the billionth time!"
CJ, still not looking up, said, "Why does it matter? After this...crap is over everyone's going to go back to their worlds. Everything is going to be normal again. If I disappear from the picture literally nothing will change." She said, laying on the drum set.
"Nothing will be the same as it was before. I am making a change so this may never happen again for as long as I live. It will not be the normal bliss you knew because that changed the moment one person chose to take over the universe. One person that can achieve it if they truly desire it. As for you! You think nobody would care? You think they'd all just forget you disappeared in the night and move on? You are wrong for even considering that not a single person would care." Ama said as she folded her arms.
While Ara made a bunker out of pillows, CJ glanced in Ama's direction.
CJ shrugged before saying, "I planned on leaving a note. Besides, I live nearby so it's not like my friends couldn't visit. They know where I live. We could...talk on the phone…" She said in a lazy manner.
"They do not deserve this...this shit. They don't deserve a note pinned to a board or taped to the fridge! If they were your friends, you would tell them instead of being afraid and running away and resorting to phone calls as a way of conversation! You are afraid, unwilling to move past those emotional barriers and you are going to lose your friends if you think that treating them like that is good." Ama said with anger in her voice.
CJ looked up at her with a matching look of anger. "My friends know me. You don't." She said plainly as she stood.
Ara took extra precautions and added a few more pillows to her fort.
"I know you and I have known you. As long as you are in my universe under my protection...I know you...And you need to move on before they do. And trust me...even your closest friends will leave you if you are always holding onto that one little thing. Let that thing go...or let them go." Ama said as she walked over with a deep frown. "There is only one way to keep them and that is to move on with anything that is holding you back...emotionally or physically."
CJ deeply frowned at that. She made sure to walk to the other side of the room before scoffing.
"Oh, you probably think this is one huge joke, don't you? You think that everything will be fine if you do nothing but run like a scared child." Ama let out a laugh. "It won't be. Like I told Heidi...it won't become better until you let go. She isn't that frightened of children as she is of lying now.." She placed her hand on her hip as the temperature in the room began rising. "Wouldn't you want to be free of that emotional turmoil instead of acting like a stubborn goat and dealing with it?"
CJ took a moment. Her yellow glowing eyes shifted for a moment as her emotions warred with themselves. She just decided on not talking at all while she pondered over her thoughts.
Before things could get any worse, or any hotter for that matter, the door that had been closed was thrown open by a panicky Heidi who had completely lost her blanket. "What the hell are you doing?!" She yelled at the top of her lungs.
Ama's eyes halved as she slowly turned to face her. "It's an intervention, where's my blanket?"
"Ugh-forget the blanket!" Heidi marched in and glanced around as she acknowledged everyone. "You...are getting seriously upset. Like...upset enough to cause a sun to spontaneously explode without warning." She said and looked at everyone. "Like what the hell kind of intervention is it that it results in an entire country getting blown up?"
"I'm not going to blow up the country!" Ama said with a huff.
"Then why did Susanoo just teleport away with Ara?" Heidi asked, prompting the older goddess to whip around and curse.
CJ oddly found humor in that. The blonde's lips upturned the slightest as she looked out the window in an attempt to hide her expression.
"My brother...is just being himself," Ama said with another huff.
"Now he has Audrey and a bucket of popcorn along with a lawn chair. He's waiting for you to cause a giant explosion." Heidi deadpanned.
Ama twitched at that. "I am going to kill that boy." She said with a growl as the room became noticeably cooler.
"Cool, right after I kick your ass for interrupting my snack time because you wanted to cause a massive amount of destruction!" Heidi complained while poking her.
"My ass? I'm kicking your ass for losing my blanket!" Ama said back as she poked the bluenette back.
"What's up with that blanket?!" Heidi said with annoyance, prompting Ama to roll her eyes.
While they were doing that, she looked at them with boredom. That's when she caught sight of the door. It was open. CJ smiled at that, took one last glance at them, before activating her power to try and slip out of the room.
Ama and Heidi both whipped around at that. While the older goddess immediately froze the girl in place, Heidi made it to the door in a mere second and closed it.
CJ looked more than exasperated. She sighed heavily. "Well...it was worth a shot." She said with a shrug.
"I'll get you your stupid blanket back...just somebody tell me why an intervention almost turned into one of the biggest firework displays," Heidi said with a frown as she looked at them both.
CJ looked at them both before answering with one word. "Humph." And looked elsewhere.
"So I have one being a stubborn ass and another who doesn't want to admit she got carried away. Great." Heidi clapped her hands and sighed. "You suck and you suck," Heidi said before plopping down in a chair. "Congrats you both hit home runs in the pissed me off game."
"Join the club. We've got jackets." CJ said in a deadpan.
"What's the requirements? I've got a whole list of shitty things that make me a good candidate. Psycho mom and lying dad are my top two along with being hated by millions." Heidi said with a huff as she kicked her legs up.
CJ rolled her eyes and said, "Good enough. I just want to go home and somehow that made yours truly want to blow me up!" She said, her eyes flashing yellow.
"She'd only want to blow you and Rome up if you pissed her off over something personal to her. You do that and you are a goner." Heidi said as she made a blanket appear. "I'm still not giving this to you until you two figure your shit out and get this handled." She said, prompting Ama to scowl and retreat to a chair.
CJ, who was still frozen, rolled her eyes. "So much for sleeping 'cause I ain't sayin' nothin'." She would have folded her arms if she could.
"Then I guess you get to stay there while I watch a movie and keep tabs on you two. I already deal with one stubborn ass and I don't need two more causing trouble." Heidi said with a huff as her eyes glowed with threat.
CJ, in the meantime, just focused on having a staring contest with the floor.
Heidi groaned and tossed a nearby pillow at the frozen girl. "So, here's the deal. You just get this crap over with and tell me instead of the chick who wants her blanket and I'll let you do whatever the hell you want. I don't have time to constantly stop her from exploding or deal with someone as stubborn as my father and uncle." She said with a scowl.
CJ's eyes shifted at that before shaking her head. "No offense, but I'd much rather kick the bucket first." She said plainly.
"Because somebody did some digging, found out some shit, ruined a few relationships for me, and made it appear as though you were mine even though we both know you aren't...and you just would rather float down to Hell?" Heidi asked bluntly.
CJ blinked before saying, "Oh. You were talking about that." She said with a bit of relief. "I thought you meant what she was pestering me about. Sure we can talk about your topic instead."
"I can sense emotions no matter how hard you try to shove them down-so don't try hiding them, CJ. My topic isn't important anymore, but Ama's is...otherwise she wouldn't have risked a night visit." Heidi said with a scowl. "You can try to change my mind and act as stubborn as you want...but you can't hide what is up here." She said while tapping her head. "Because I'm a freaking sensor."
CJ couldn't help the feeling of uneasiness that seemed to come out of nowhere. She frowned before looking elsewhere. "Yeah. So what?"
"'So what' is the fact that you are acting like a stubborn ass over some years old feelings when you could get them out instead of taking them to your grave like a chicken." Heidi said with a roll of her eyes and leaned back. "I can sit here for days, make everyone wait just because I want you to speak. I've outlasted my father before and I can certainly outlast you."
CJ growled before saying, "I don't care about your father or any of this! I just want to go home and forget any of this ever happened!" She closed her eyes tightly.
"Good, we both agree about my father. But I don't give a shit about everything else you just said because all your doing is running from the problems. Point is-you are afraid. Afraid to admit. Afraid to talk to someone that isn't yourself. Afraid to open your eyes and look around. Am I being a mean asshole? Yes, but only because being nice gets nowhere with stubborn goats like you." Heidi said with a deep frown.
CJ glared and said, "I don't care what you say to me, I've been through worse. I don't know what that other CJ has been through, but my life wasn't easy street." She said looking elsewhere.
"I don't know what that one went through either...because I didn't know her. She lived an entire life that I don't know about. Don't even pull the other crap...because I don't know anything about her...much less how she lived. I lived on the Isle...trapped in a cave most of my life with no friends and with almost no family. You don't see me acting like you about my life. I moved on and admitted that my life was shit and worse than probably most of the Isle. So no, I don't know what the other CJ was doing or how her life was. I only know that she is with Hook for good and I am not her mother." Heidi said with a huff as her eyes glowed.
"Oh, for the love of…" CJ grumbled as she felt something else shift inside her. "I should have left. I wouldn't be in this mess. Ara bumped her head on my damned boat…" She said, trying to get unfrozen.
"You should have done a bunch of things-that's what we always say and guess what, screw that. You didn't do it, suck it up and live the life you have now." Heidi said with a growl and pointed at her. "You made a choice and you can either get past your emotional issues and be happy or you can sit on your ass and complain about what you should, could and would have done."
CJ glared at Heidi's finger before snapping. "Stop talking to me like that!" She said with her own growl.
"I'm not going to sit back and baby you or sweet talk things. I am no longer that person and right now...I'm the person who wants you to just stop. Stop denying. Stop hiding. Stop being a scared ass and talk to somebody." Heidi said with a huff as her breathing began to calm down.
CJ, on the other hand, seemed to get angrier. "I mean…stop talking to me like I'M YOUR KID! I'm not your kid and you're not my mother and I will not be tricked again! You want to know what's on my mind!? How about this!? I don't want anything to do with you, yet my stupid self still wants to try and make this work! You are not even from my world! You're gonna go back home! And I refuse to get my heart broken again! I ain't having it! SO STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!" She roared, tears now freely streaming down her face.
"You think...I'd want to go back to a place full of people that see me as a monster. A world that will RECOGNIZE me as the demon child of the bitch that destroyed my world? Ha! I can't go back after this! I can only return to the Underworld and live there if I don't want my problems to destroy everyone else's! Hell yes I wish I could stay but how can I when people like AMA exist and tell me to go back?! Back to what? To what exactly? I don't have a home that will welcome me back." Heidi said with emotion heavy in her voice. "I would rather die than live with my name down as that demon's daughter for all eternity!"
"I don't care…" She said, barely able to speak. "As long as you're gone. Either I leave or you leave. That's why...I just want to go h-home." CJ said, now silently bawling.
Heidi was silent for a moment before standing up and stomping over to Ama. "Lock her in then unfreeze her...we need to have a chat." She said in a growl before practically grabbing the goddess and hauling her out.
As soon as CJ was unfrozen she practically crumbled to the ground. She was basically a shivering, sniffling pile on the beige carpeted floor. She didn't bother to look around. Instead just kept herself curled up on the ground.
