Reviews :
Firesong-Writes : Thank you so much friend. I find solace that i can relate to others, and that the saga brings likeminded people together in this way. It's easy to feel entirely alone in my struggle but I'm grateful to discover people who suffer just like me. I also am so entirely flattered that you screengrab some of the things Kepa says. Kepa not only is a representation of the higher being I aspire to be, but she's also a perfect mirror to Cory, my husband. She's Gideon's biggest cheerleader, his foundation, the rock he leans on when he's sad, which is often. I have a hard time taking people's advice, or even my own, but it's assuring to know that others can take away value from it. That's all I ever want. Is to help.
Burgie : Yyyyep. Tessa eventually spills the beans - although no one has ever come forward to me and admitted they had a group chat about me, in my fam, I could almost taste it. I'd be apart of a main group chat, and no one ever talked in it unless they were asking me a question or wanted to keep it from collecting dust. They're all one morphed being that took the notion of being attached at the hip way too far, I'm entirely positive there was a much more grand, official group chat I was left out of. This was so long ago tho, I look back and think of how silly it all is.
Snake557 : Bahaha candle brunch. And yes, anywhere where the internet is involved, stuff leaks back into the Arcade. MLM's unfortunately are one lol
chuckiboo : Hi friend, thank you so much for following along and enjoying the journey with me. There's only a select few of you left, but reading your guys' insight and understanding the sheer dedication it takes to keep up with me really warms my heart. So, thank you! And, you'd be shocked to know that Gideon's final straw is probably the thing you'd least expect...
*Chapter 125*
In lazy, untimed scuffs of bare heels, paws and shoes alike, Gideon, Mara, Kepa and Novus slowly happened upon their destination. Deeper into a more homey avenue of Vidrix City's sprawl of diverse, luscious uniqueness was an adorable little family owned bakery with a quaint art studio outside. A four story, tan, worn down brick building crowned with white and faded beige trimmings, alongside pale red fire escapes. Gideon craned his neck a little and although the delicious smells of the bakery filled his head with warmth and delicious temptation, his eyes trailed to the hanging sign on the building near the front door. A separate little secluded walk up that lead to the at studio him and crew successfully sniffed out. Two weeks had passed, two lazy weeks of colder winter conditions paired with Gideon and Kepa diligently seeking out art studios looking for teachers, guiders, assistants; one little studio stood out, one little studio gave him the call back for an interview, said studio they stood before warmly and appropriately named Golden Fox Studios.
"Can we, uh..." Gideon tugged the thicker collar of his hoodie, underneath the grey denim of his jacket. He choked a shaky little chuckle, took a step backwards, bumped into Novus's snout, caught his footing and bashfully eyed a more popular chain coffee shop just a few shops down, "Can we maybe go get some coffee and sit and mull this over first?"
"Gideon, your interview is in ten minutes," Mara mumbled with a giggle, Kepa exhaled a drained sigh. Ever since landing this interview, Kepa had been bending over backwards to lift Gideon from the paralysis of his anxious nerves.
"We can meet you there afterwards. I mean, that's where we'll be while you're in your interview," Novus rattled cutely as Gidoen's shy eyes glanced into his, both boys readjusted their footing after Gideon's tumble into him.
"Baby," Kepa loudly whispered, she flattened her ears and gingerly gripped Gideon's bigger left hand in both of her littler hands, his right had having a solid grasp on his portfolio. Gideon frowned and peered tight into Kepa's honey-golden orange eyes, "I'm telling you... You're going to be just fine. We've practiced what you should say, we've run through all the options of trick questions, we've narrowed down the pieces in your portfolio, trust me. You're going to knock this out of the park."
"You should be excited," Mara cooed lovingly with a nod that Kepa eagerly joined in on, both girls seemingly bounced on their feet, "You're going to come out of this interview grinning, I promise."
"What if I don't get it?" Gideon staggered in soft worry, Kepa squeezed her eyes shut and firmly shook her head.
"Then it's not for you, Gideon, not every single scenario you pursue in life will confidently have your name on it, unbeknownst to you," Kepa affirmed gently, "It's not something you can technically see until hindsight, but... There's no sense in sitting still and wondering, now, is there?"
"If you don't get it, then, on to the next," Novus's deep voice cutely mumbled, to which Gideon lovingly sagged his arm overtop Novus's fluffy head in a show of silent appreciation for him.
"Go on," Mara whispered with a loving smile and a gentle nudge, and though Gideon took a few steps out and away from the security of his group, he nervously peered over his shoulder and caught gazes with Kepa. He almost pleadingly peered into her soul, and it was with their silent conversation did Kepa huff a cute, silent giggle and step away from Novus and Mara, so to have a small, private moment with Gideon.
"I'm scared," Gideon just barely whispered down to Kepa as she sweetly wrapped her little arms about his midsection and sagged her chin into the center of Gideon's sternum.
"Unfortunately, that's a good thing," Kepa whispered back to him, loud enough for him to hear her over the city and traffic noises all about them. The sun clipped the top of her pale pink hair, she wore her favorite yellow hoodie and tattered skinny jeans, her tail warmly hooked about Gideon's bigger bare ankle in the moment of afforded, tender romance before Gideon had to leave. Kepa wrinkled her nose and closed her eyes amidst a cute, sassy volley of a remark, "Nothing good ever comes from remaining inside your comfort zones."
"I know," Gideon's deep voice shook a little, he raised his eyebrows a little and watched as a few customers left the bakery next to the studio's smaller stone stairwell, one that led into the arch of a low entry way and up into the depths of the building. He warmly hugged Kepa about her little shoulders, leaned down to kiss her adorable, flat nose and gave her a meek smile, "Thank you... I guess I'll come find you guys at the cafe afterwards."
"We'll be inside," Kepa assured as she stood to almost full height and caught Gideon in an innocent smooch to his lips. Upon departure, she cutely sagged back to the flat of her feet and held eyes with Gideon as she walked away to rejoin Mara and Novus, "Go get 'em, Mr. Fox."
Gideon smiled a little and felt his heart swell. Although he had told Kepa that his last name was Fox, he swung his eyes up to the sign of the studio above him and knew that, although it wasn't his last name, it was still a name he proudly sport. Feeling as if it were destiny that this little studio was aptly named as such just so happened to be the one to reach out for an interview. He inhaled a deep, shaky breath, pressed up the stone steps, gingerly opened the bright red door and allowed his eyes to adjust to the world inside. He could feel his jugular throb with the rush of his pulse, his nerves caused his core to ache, he did everything he could to act normal inside the feeling of his mouth suddenly going dry. As the door shut behind him, he felt as if his sense of reality had sealed away, the sound of the traffic outside nearly ceased, he narrowed his gaze and desperately forced his eyes to adjust to the low light he had stepped into.
A dim, narrow, stone stairwell that continued upward, a golden beam of sunlight could be seen casting across the flat wall the stairwell met with. Warm, golden splays of concrete complete with the speckles of kicked up dust due to Gideon's presence, he raised his eyebrows and could hear echoey murmurs of distant voices from up the long, narrow stair well. A cute giggle from a woman followed by a grumbly retort from a man, Gideon cautiously pressed up the stairs and did whatever he possibly could to quell his nerves. Upon hitting the final landing and easing left, he squinted a little and came into an open-aired archway of a huge, high-ceilinged room. In this room were multitudinous, roughed up, sturdy wooden easels all surrounding a center platform in the middle of this sunny room. The walls were littered with tacts of paintings, scribbled white boards of incoherent confusion only understood by whatever studio session was present for said scribblings, Gideon hesitantly stepped one foot in the room and looked about, aware he was a deer in headlights.
Beyond the easels and tucked into a corner of the room was a massive work desk, a few filing cabinets, every piece of furniture in here was sturdy, gorgeous wood all haphazardly clad in artistic mess. Whether that be flings of paint, mindless doodles and scratchings, carvings of people's names, the whole place was a delightful slew of organized, artistic chaos, mood and atmosphere Gideon felt right at home in. Stood together at the desk were two individuals, they cutely bickered. A tall man stood with his arms lazily crossed, a being clearly of Turbotime origin. With dark grey skin and golden, pixel-cubed pupil eyes, he begrudgingly peered down at a positively adorable woman. Both beings were so scarily polar opposites, Gideon almost laughed out loud due to the sight. A bearded, older, begrudged Turbotime resident in the throes of conversing with what looked to be one of the cutest mouse-residents, clearly not from Turbotime's origin. She wore a bright pink apron, her huge, adorable mouse ears hung behind her head in a lazy flop, she was a little shorter than Kepa but definitely had the same cute disposition. They warmly bickered, until the man lifted from his sour glower and peered hard into Gideon's soul. He opened his mouth and smiled, though faltered and hesitated as the woman whirled about amidst the disturbance; the room fell silent as the man grappled for words, but eventually let out a hearty bass of laughter.
"Alright, Wreck-It Ralph, get in here, we can bust this interview out and then you can go on and destroy the building," The man's brash voice echoed about the space, Gideon dared to let a nervous little smile and chuckle escape him, though he only brightened once the woman began to freely giggle.
"Now, don't forget, the competition is two Friday's from now," The woman meeped, her voice was even cuter than her appearance. Her adorable brown eyes glanced upwards to Gideon as Gideon shyly made himself more present in this large room, woven about the sturdy wooden easels, "You're the one designing the flyers... Y'gotta get it to me faster than last time, darlin', you know the drill."
"I know, I know," The man croaked with a grumble, he rolled his eyes a little as the woman cutely began to leave both his and Gideon's presence; it was here did Gideon know that he had spoken with said woman on the phone upon her inviting Gideon to said interview. Once she took off her apron, hung it on a nearby line of hooks and skipped down the stone stairwell, the croak of the front door, all the way at the bottom of the stairwell, groaned open and slid shut with a thud, officially sealing both men alone. Gideon perked up in nervous stiffness as the man gave him a meek little smile and outstretched his hand, "You must be Gideon."
"Yes," Gideon huffed politely as he reached his much larger hand out and shook hands with this stranger. Although Gideon could tell this man wanted to comment on the size of his hands, Gideon was almost glad he stuffed it.
"Name's Murphy, everyone calls me Boots," Murphy's deep voice crawled with bass, he stepped out from behind his much larger desk with hefty thuds. It was here did Gideon understand just why his nickname was such. He sport hefty brown work boots, worn down with years of love and unlaced a little. Upon his steps, the hollow wooden floors reverberated the thuds of said heavy boots. Murphy wore a painter's apron loosely tied at his hips, the neck gape dangled over his front to insinuate he was too lazy to take the whole thing off. He gestured to a nearby easel and bobbed a nod, "Here, y'can sit here. I'm glad y'found the place."
"Yeah, wasn't too difficult," Gideon warmly mumbled with a smile, he sat down at the sturdy stool, before the empty easel, and watched as Murphy lazily sagged his rear to the front side of his desk in a cross of his arms and lean, once more, "Just... Had to look for my middle name."
"I saw that, Gideon Fox Von Schweetz," Murphy chimed warmly. A grizzled man, obviously the same age as Lash and crew, it was here did Gideon get a good look at Murphy's face and began to feel his skin crawl. Although Murphy had the same types of eyes that Turbo had, as well as every other native Turbotime resident, Murphy's right eye was glossed a frosty white, the square of his pupil simply a milky grey. His left eye held normality, a confident yellow glow, though his right eye looked as if he was blind in said eye. His grey skin was about Lash's tone, though it held a very solid amount of peachy brown colors in the bends of his joints. His black hair was ruffled atop his head, all complete with an untamed, peppered-grey beard in thick braid down the center of his chest. He eyed Gideon in cheek and smiled, "Tell me... What's Sugar Rush's Prince doing applying for a studio art teacher position?"
"Well, I..." Gideon sucked in a silent breath and felt his coding wiggle with that hefty swathe of nervousness that had been taunting him for days, "I'm one of the only individuals in my family that has properly pursued my artistic ability. I've come a long way in honing my skill, I feel as if I'm ready to step out and try something new, in the way of helping others learn as well."
"Aren't you in line for the throne?" Murphy grunted with a chuckle, Gideon grinned, shook his head and looked off, "Whatcha doin' wasting your time with paint, my boy? Don't you got a kingdom to prepare to run?"
"No, no, I'm... User, I don't know what position I am to be King of Sugar Rush, but it's certainly not next," Gideon choked a small laugh that he was happy he shared with Murphy, "I'm the youngest of four. My oldest sister is Queen, her daughter, my niece Berri, is next in line."
"User, you're buddies with Turbo and crew, aren't you," Murphy wondered in a low tone of almost whispery disbelief as Gideon bobbed a humble nod and looked down to his hands, "You're really out here bobbing and weaving from royalty or fame, you're doing everything you can to assimilate into the city, you'll show up at my dusty shop, huh?"
"With... All due respect, sir, this is where my heart is, in art and storytelling," Gideon's voice trembled just barely, he staggered in cold realization that how outsiders viewed his life was vastly skewed from reality, "I love being able to have access to free concert tickets and... Sure, living at the palace has it's perks, but, if I'm being honest with you, I spend the majority of my time in Turbotime anyhow."
"At the arena?" Murphy guessed, due to proximity with Turbo and Berri.
"Well, Whiplash is my best friend, yes, but... My girlfriend lives on the outskirts of Juniper Forest," Gideon politely explained, Murphy grinned and looked across his studio with a small nod, "Lash lets me paint on the back walls of his confectionary, and my girlfriend lets me paint the walls in her home, but... I'm itching to teach, to learn."
"Good man, is this your portfolio?" Murphy's crackly voice wondered as he outreached his hand, as if to suggest it was now due time to hand it over and see just what Gideon was made of; with a strike of concealed terror, Gideon gingerly handed over the larger black folder of his artwork.
"Yes, sir," Gideon mumbled politely as Murphy grunted in mild annoyance at himself, grappled for his reading glasses, sagged them over the hook of his nose and began to flip through Gideon's portfolio.
All pieces Gideon had garnered over time, some old, some new, a few were also prints of much larger pieces he obviously couldn't fit inside said folder of a portfolio. Gideon nervously twiddled his thumbs and allowed his surroundings to soak into his brain as Murphy's grizzled look of contemplation so patiently flipped through Gideon's work. Warm sunlight so comfortably cast into this studio, the whole place replicated a snuggly hug. The dusty smell of all sorts of different art supplies filled the air, alongside the fresh, amazing smells from the bakery next door, Gideon flinched the second Murphy choked a surprise chuckle and bobbed a nod.
"Welp... I will tell you, your artwork is incredible," Murphy mumbled warmly, "Your ability to evoke emotion is telling, but I will tell you, y'got a decent ways to go before you can teach."
Gideon tried not to visibly sag, and though he figured now was the time to hang his head and leave, he nervously watched as Murphy continued to flip back and forth between different pieces in Gideon's portfolio.
"How often do you draw from life?" Murphy wondered as his one golden eye hooked tight to Gideon's gaze, the blind eye equally tracked, though hauntingly remained lightless.
"Um... Probably not as often as I should," Gideon staggered, he had an inkling the lack of life drawings was hindering him, and though he had sketched Kepa a few times, in an attempt to figure draw, he was well aware it wasn't nearly enough.
"It's obvious... You're so inside your head, all of this art is clearly coming from your imagination, which... Is a good thing, but you definitely need to go sit at a cafe and gesture draw the individuals you see, candidly," Murphy rattled, as if he had given this advice a hundred times. He gently sagged Gideon's portfolio closed and handed it back to Gideon with a dreaded sigh, "Unfortunately, Gideon... I'm looking to replace myself. I've been doing this for about forty years, my boy..."
"I understand," Gideon sighed with a nod of polite defeat, he gave Murphy a twinkling little smile of no hard feelings and had the urge to lurch out of the slouch of the stool he was sitting on to leave, though Murphy coughed a noise of detest towards himself and looked off, causing Gideon to halt his movement.
"There was something about seeing your name on your application, I thought... What the hell is Wreck-It Ralph's son doing lallygagging in Vidrix's west side?" Murphy choked a laugh, though he looked deflated, "If I'm being honest with you, Gideon... I judged you too soon. I was certain the son of a bad guy, a prince no less, wouldn't pay my little studio any mind, let alone actually show up to this interview with a solid portfolio to show."
"Well... I love my family, I love Sugar Rush, but... I'm excited to embark into new avenues on my own, I'd like to get a little further from palace life and do my own thing," Gideon patiently explained, Murphy narrowed his gaze and looked as if he was contemplating something while dissecting Gideon's patient words, "I want a dedicated place where I can create, while helping others achieve their goals. I-I may not be, well... Good enough to teach, but it's something I'd love to do, one day. At least mentor..."
"It's noble... And, get you some good life drawing skills and I'd say you're well on your way," Murphy mumbled, still in the same tone of dismay towards himself. He sighed and looked about his well loved studio, he grumbled an outward notion of nostalgic warmth, "Gideon, I've been in this studio for forty years. I opened it myself. I met my wife at the bakery next door."
"She bakes?" Gideon prod warmly, Murphy cocked an eyebrow and eyed the arch way exit with a cheeky look of boyish warmth.
"Boy does she, y'saw her. Cute as a button, it was love at first sight," Murphy's deep voice grumbled in full, teasing irritation; Gideon perked up and now put two and two together, the adorable little mousey woman that he had talked to, over the phone, was the lucky lady in question, "We had babies here, who all had grown and left the nest here, I've taught stumbling artists that went on to do insanely incredible things... Even so much as making a place for themselves on the internet, once we were plugged back into the main Arcade."
Gideon patiently listened, he could see the pain in Murphy's eyes, he long blinked in still concern as Murphy looked to be gambling with himself.
"It's no easy task finding someone to simply move in and take over nearly half a century of cherished memories, like this," Murphy mumbled in vulnerability, "I saw your name on the application list... Not only is your name in my studio name, but you have roots to Turbotime's greats. The lore of our game is something us natives are fiercely protective of. Knowing Turbo's story has rocked the whole Arcade, our people were hated for so long."
"If there's anyone who understands being misunderstood," Gideon started slowly, to which Murphy blurt a laugh.
"It definitely would be you and your obvious connection to Wreck-It Ralph of all guys," Murphy's laughter carried, causing Gideon to grin and look down at his hands in the sweep of honor, "I'll tell y'what, Mr. Fox..."
Gideon raised his eyebrows in a swing of humble surprise and held his breath as both men caught eyes.
"My three daughters are all grown and gone... User bless 'em, they don't have an artistic bone in their bodies," Murphy chuckled as he shook his head, and though said statement seemed negative, the fondness in his eyes made clear he cherished his three daughters no matter what, "I don't want to sell this studio and hand it over to some schmuck I don't even know."
"I don't blame you," Gideon pressed gently.
"Gideon, I can't hire you to replace me, but I can give you an apprenticeship underneath me," Murphy humbly revealed, "I don't think Cookie would let me sell this beauty on such short terms, anyhow, but... Why don't you and I work together for a bit. I'll build you up, you can attend classes for free as a teacher's assistant, and maybe one day, we'll talk about handing over the studio."
"I-I... I'd love that," Gideon staggered softly, to which Murphy narrowed his gaze and side eyed Gideon.
"It's unpaid," Murphy warned, Gideon shrugged and shook his head.
"I'm not here for money," Gideon bravely retort, to which Murphy grinned and rolled his eyes.
"Course not, Palace Prince doesn't need money," Murphy grumbled to himself as Gideon excitedly stood and pressed closer to Murphy with an extended hand, for a proper handshake. Both men fervently shook hands amidst grumbly chuckling, to which Murphy firmly gave Gideon's opposite upper arm a fatherly few pats, "Alright, Gideon, I expect you to dedicate your time, here. Class is every Tuesday and Friday from nine to noon, but I expect you here every day for at least two hours, outside of class time, excluding weekends."
"Done and done," Gideon huffed with concealed excitement he could barely contain, "Thank you, Murphy, I-I... I won't let you down."
"Y'better not, this studio has eyes," Murphy grumbled in sarcastic tease, though due to the sheer amount of time spent with Kepa and her witchy intuition, Gideon swallowed hard and was sure to take Murphy's word seriously, "Alright, git, I'll see you tomorrow, first thing... We'll go over fundamentals and get you on the right track."
"I'll be here," Gideon assured with a nod as he began to step across the sunny studio, he looked over his shoulder and gave a polite wave as he left, "Thank you, Murphy."
"Y'betcha," Murphy's grizzled voice mumbled in grandfatherly contemplation as Gideon's agile footwork sent him back down the stone stairwell from whence he came, and as Murphy dragged his tired eyes about his beloved studio, he sighed in contentment, the rays of sun that filled the air with renewed hope, a new beginning for both men involved.
