Holy WHAT I haven't updated this story in lITERALLY over a year. I got a pm from someone recently asking about my fics and I basically had a big flashback and went "holy shit, what even happened to my writing talent. Maybe I should dust it off."
The funny thing is, on October 13th a few months ago I thought very briefly, "October 13th… why does that sound familiar…? Hm… Oh well, it's probably the birthday of an anime character."
How far I've fallen.
Anyway, not only am I currently a college student now, but I have a million other projects I'm constantly thinking about making me very busy. :) (I'm dying inside) I've been drawing wAY more than writing, I'm making animations on my youtube now, song covers, I have WEBCOMICS in the works? I'm helping a friend of mine with character designs for his projects? All very exciting things but like I said, I'm v busy. And don't have much time to devote to fanfictions anymore. HOWEVER, I really would like to get back to them. So I'm gonna try.
So this is me trying to get back to them.
Especially since I had COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN THAT I NEVER FINISHED THIS ONE I AM SO SORRY
By the next day, any sign of rain had completely disappeared from Radiator Springs. Stacy was a bit upset, but Finn urged that they had more pressing concerns at the moment.
"You worry too much." Stacy waved her husband away as they entered Flo's. "Okay kids, why don't you pick out where you want to sit?"
"I want a booth!" Clementine announced, and Leland quickly agreed. The two rushed off, River close after them.
"Should we tell them that someday we won't all be able to fit in a booth, or…?" Stacy cracked a smile.
"How are you so calm?" Finn whispered.
"Oh, don't worry, I am constantly internally screaming. I am so stressed, that I've transcended the plane of anxiety and I'm now in a state of pessimistic calm."
Stacy paused to give her husband time to react. All he did was give her a skeptical look. "Besides, I've always combated fear with humor. You should know that by now, shouldn't you? Master spy?" Stacy poked Finn in the cheek, and it was his turn to swat her away. "Fine, fine…"
With a quiet sigh and a quick scan of the restaurant, Finn looked back at his wife.
"We should be… I don't know, coming up with some sort of plan…" he quietly urged.
"We tried. We fired up the detector, and…" Stacy sighed. "No… No, you're right. We're kinda fu—screwed at the moment." She corrected, remembering they were now in earshot of the children. "We'll talk with Sid and Holley later, okay? Maybe if we all brainstorm together…"
"It's a start." Finn unenthusiastically agreed as the two joined their children in the booth they picked out.
It wasn't long before the waiter came over to take their orders. "Morning. What are you all having?" Sebastian, Flo and Ramone's nephew, had recently moved to Radiator Springs to work for Flo at the café, hoping to bide his time until he found a job of his own. Of course, he was reminded of how much he loved the town and requested to simply stay in Carburetor County and continue working for Flo, to which she agreed.
After they took their orders and waited for their breakfast, they sat in uncomfortable silence. The children were laughing and all looking at their menus—unaware of what was going on.
The diner door swung open and Stacy and Finn looked over to see who had entered. To their relief, it was Siddeley, with Holley and Mater in tow. (no pun intended. okay maybe a little.)
"Hey," Sid greeted solemnly, once Finn and Stacy had walked over to them.
"Hiya," Stacy quietly replied. "Did you, uh…" She looked over at Holley and Mater, who both nodded.
"I kinda figured," Stacy sighed as she tilted her head back and closed her eyes for a moment. "You're a lot paler than usual."
Holley cracked a hesitant smile. "Saying something, considering where we live, now."
"Please, you're still just as pale as any other Londoner I know." Stacy grinned. "Except maybe Sid."
Finn quickly scanned the restaurant once again—a habit—before his eyes landed back on Mater and Holley, who didn't look as cheerful as Stacy did. Finn could tell they were trying to put on a brave face for the children, but Finn knew the news about their least favorite stalker rattled them more than they'd like to admit.
"Finn?" Holley gently asked.
"Hm?" He looked over, catching himself trying to survey the room a third time. "Oh. Yes. What did you say?"
"Nothing, I just..." she trailed off, deciding to gently take Mater's hand in hers. "You seem a bit on edge."
Holley opened her mouth once more, realizing, yes, of course he was. "Sorry—I—I didn't... We all are. Sorry."
"No, don't apologize. It's..." Sid cut in.
Stacy and Mater exchanged a glance. And then another.
"Okay! This conversation is... Going nowhere." Stacy decided with a whimsical air to her voice—one of the best ways she knew to relieve tension.
"Hey..."
The five turned at the new voice. Flo stood before them with a coffee pot in one hand, and the other on her tilted hip, looking concerned.
"Are y'all doin' all right?" She quietly asked.
"Why do you ask?" Holley squeaked.
Flo raised an eyebrow. "Well, for one—" she gestured with the coffee pot to the four of them, and then the entrance to the cafe. "Y'all are loiterin' around near the door."
The five turned their heads to look at the door, then back to Flo.
"Right. Sorry." Finn bobbed his head in an apologetic nod.
"Are you all right, though? Really?" she pressed, with kind eyes.
The group all exchanged glances. They were keeping this information from their children—hell, they were keeping it from Holley and Mater before earlier today. They knew they should tell the townspeople, there was no doubt in their minds. But the question was when.
"Mum? Dad?" Clementine had walked over, breaking the tension by interrupting their uncomfortable staring contest.
"Clem," Stacy greeted.
"Are you guys coming over to eat, or what?" she asked with inquisitive eyes.
It took Stacy a moment to respond. "Oh. Oh, y-yes. Yes, we—" she turned to look at Flo. "Sorry. We're fine," and then looked back at her daughter. "Sorry, honeybun. Come on, I know you're hungry." she smiled, taking her daughter's hand and walking back over to the booth that the kids had picked out.
With once last worried glance, Flo slowly turned her heel and walked back into the kitchen.
Finn, Sid, Holley, and Mater lingered a moment longer. Finn took another step closer to them before saying in a low voice, "This is no place to talk, anyway."
They all said nothing for a moment. Finn glanced away, then turned his head back to their general direction.
"After all the kids are in bed, we'll talk—do you know anywhere we won't be compromised?"
"I don't like the idea of leaving the kids alone." Holley cut in.
"I don't either," Finn admitted. "Especially with what happened last night. But think for a moment. It's only the ninth. It's doubtful Sigma will do anything substantial until then."
"Doubtful?" Mater echoed, tone a bit harsh.
"Mater is right," Holley sounded upset. "You want to leave them alone on a gamble?"
"Now is not the time to talk about this." Finn, also taking on a harsh tone, insisted once again. He paused, looking back at Stacy, occupied with their children.
"Alright." He finally decided. "Alright. Here's the plan."
He looked at Siddeley. "Sid. You've been awfully quiet. Tell me what you think of this."
"Of your plan? Let's hear it." Sid hesitantly agreed.
"Flo." Finn whispered.
"Flo? Your master plan is Flo?" Sid whispered back, sounding exasperated.
"Yes. Listen—" he looked over towards the kitchen. "She already suspects something is going on. We need to tell the townspeople what's going on eventually—they were as big of a part of the events that transpired over ten years ago as we were. We can tell her tonight. And the children can stay with her."
The group mulled this over.
"It's not ideal." Holley frowned.
"But we trust Flo." Mater finished.
"Daddy!" Leland called from across the restaurant, urging Finn to hurry up.
"You'll tell her?" Finn asked. "You'll ask and explain what's going on?"
"Yes. Leave it to us." Holley reassured.
"Good. Good. We'll see you later. At Flo's house." Finn confirmed.
"Yes. Then we'll go from there." Holley nodded.
"Alright. Yes... Good." Finn said, more to himself, as he hurried away towards his family. The remaining three exchanged glances, and made their way over to the counter to wait for Flo to reappear.
I swear, the only reason I got this done was because of this cute little site I found called Fighter's Block that forces you to write words to defeat a lil monster attacking this lil RPG boi. Thank god for tumblr amirite
If anyone's been around long enough to have had the displeasure of reading Raindrops, you might remember Sebastian. Except his name used to be Jack. And also he was Flo and Ramone's son. But 19 year old me thought back to what 13 year old me was thinking when I first wrote him in, and 19-yr-old me said, "Hey, past me, that makes very little sense. I'm gonna change that up a little, cool?"
To which 13-yr-old me replied, "No!"
So 19-yr-old me said, "Come on…"
"No." said 13-yr-old me, quieter this time.
So 19-yr-old me said, "How about I do? ?"
(This is a very bad parody of History of Japan just ignore this)