A/N: Once again, thank you all for the wondrous reviews and favorites and follows! I'm glad you're all enjoying this collab story! Ace and I sure as hell are having fun RPing it!
Now, a couple of guests reviewed the previous chapter, so since I can't reply directly, I'll just do it like this.
/Guest: Thank you so much! well, you wait no longer. The next chapter is here~
/PockyWonderful: Thank you! I'm really glad you are. And the "nacho" part was Ace's idea. XP Glad we managed to make you laugh!
And, with that said, read on, fellow writers and readers. Read on!
A Triangle in the Stars
Chapter Five: The Picnic
Steven and his friend finished setting everything up. He was watching the ocean, the waves, as they came and went. Waiting for Bill and Lars, and also thinking he should go check on them. Sadie was also watching the waves, every now and then turning to look at the town and checking on the lunches.
"If they don't hurry up, it's gonna get kinda cold," she was referring to the food, but, of course, Beach City was also known for getting chilly at evenings and at night, because they were near water.
"D'you think they killed each other? should I go check on them?" he was uneasy, fidgeting on the blanket.
"I hope not... and yeah, you should," she answered, looking just as uncomfortable with the fact. Lars didn't deserve death, no matter how mean he could be. And neither did Steven's new friend, even if he had this... disconcerting... air about him. Steven got up, sighing, and began back into town, calling their names whilst cupping his hands.
Bill heard Steven, and angled his eye in that direction. Lars was too busy sulking to pay much attention. They were almost done handing out fliers and putting up the posters. They only had about five left. Steven waved, "You guys done yet?"
The triangle waved back, smiling now, pulling away from Lars and hoping the boy didn't see. He replied, "Nah, kid. We only have about five more of these... fundraiser... dealios."
Bill seemed confused now, as he eyed these posters and fliers once more. He was confused about charity. Fleshbags giving to fleshbags... but expecting nothing in return? it seemed idiotic and counterproductive to him. But he soon pushed that aside and hid it like the con artist he was.
Lars, despite the relief that they were almost done and that the triangle had stopped clinging to him, grew sick to his stomach. He had seen a small glimpse of Bill's nature underneath that innocent facade he put up, and got even sicker because this creature seemed able to switch between the front and that at the drop of a hat. But he hadn't the heart, the bravery, nor the care to tell Steven, which was, unbeknownst, to him, exactly what the demon wanted. Instead, he simply nodded in agreement, "Yeah."
Steven smiled and began towards them, "Sadie and I finished setting up the picnic. We're waiting for you, and the food's getting cold!"
"Well well well, that's good to hear," Bill chuckled. "We'll finish up quickly then!"
And then Lars plucked a few papers and rushed off to hand them to people, still acting cool. He came back moments later before Bill could do anything. The boy started leading them back, "C'mon, guys!"
"Oooh, so we're finished early, eh? great!" the demon grinned. He was getting fairly tired of this, to be honest. Lars made it no better, even if he was fun to mess with. He carelessly did away with the last couple of posters and followed Steven, rubbing his hands together. He couldn't wait to try more human food. Lars sighed of relief, but also out of anguish, and sauntered behind the both of them. So much for showing off his groove. That nasty nacho ruined it all.
Steven smiled at Bill. A soft, gentle smile. "So... after this... is there anything you wanna do, exactly? I don't have any plans, or anything, so we could do whatever you want. You know, in return for you helping me with this fundraiser thing..."
Bill looked at Steven, thinking for a while. Oh, he had plans all right. But all of them would clue them in to his true nature. So, instead, he decided on something inconspicuous, "Well, kid, since this fundraiser's about a school, how's about we zip on over there and see what it's all about, eh?"
This was perfect. He could mess things up and they wouldn't be any the wiser. He was playing Steven like a fiddle, and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Lars frowned slightly, crossing his arms. He still tried to act cool though, but he obviously didn't like what was going on.
Steven started to sweat, "Uh, I don't know where it is, and I don't think we can just walk over there..." he bit his lip. "And, uh, maybe something that doesn't involve as much walking? my legs are killing me!" he chuckled.
"We can just ask Sadie for the location," he suggested. He then proceeded to egg him on, "C'mon, kiddo! it'll be fun! you've always wanted to know what school entailed, didn't you? this is the perfect chance!"
Those legs would just have to suck it up. He'd let nothing get in his way. Absolutely nothing. He felt a little more of his powers come back, and smirked inwardly.
Steven sighed. "If that's really what you wanna do, why not?" He continued leading them down to the pier.
"Good choice, kid," he chuckled as he once again followed the boy. "Good choice."
Lars couldn't exactly stand for this. But he let this happen. For one, even though he might not show it, he was terrified of Bill, terrified of what he could do to him. For second, his repute as a jerk was at stake. He'd never let his kindness show in public. Which was, again, exactly what Bill wanted. Steven smiled and sighed again, trying to psyche himself up, "It might even be fun!"
"Yeah, that's the ticket!" Bill threw up his arms with celebration. But he was also inwardly confused. Moments earlier Steven was sighing begrudgingly about it, but now he was fully on board? that hardly ever happened. But he dismissed this and called it a serendipity. He wondered why he was questioning it in the first place. Lars stayed behind the two, despite wanting to walk in front of them now. He didn't want his back towards Bill, that was for sure.
Steven picked up the pace a little, excited. The demon and the young man also quickened their step. They were a little ways from the pier now. Sadie smiled when she saw them and waved them over.
"'Ey, Sadie!" Bill grinned, floating up to her and sitting beside her. Now was his chance to talk with her, get her on his side. Lars frowned, sitting on one of the blankets. He hoped to whoever was in charge that the nacho wasn't flirting with her.
"Hey, Bill," she smiled politely. She sat down next to Lars, which left Steven sitting in between Lars and Bill.
The demon grinned, taking something from the basket next to him, "It's nice to finally be able to speak to you, kid!"
"Nice to talk to you too," she started eating a sandwich.
The triangle's grin grew bigger and then he began eating too, trying to gather his thoughts. Lars begrudgingly grabbed a sandwich as well. He didn't want to be here right now. As if sensing his thoughts, Sadie said, "Hey, uh, Lars, could you run back to the Big Donut and grab us some napkins? I forgot to get us some."
Lars grinned. He'd take any chance to get away from that triangle for even a few minutes, "Sure thing, Sadie!" and he got up and started running back to the donut shoppe, taking bites of his food all the way there.
Bill looked his way and sighed happily. He was relieved too, in a way. He glanced at Steven and then back at Sadie, and that smirk was back on his eye when he finished eating that sandwich. He had to get her to trust him. But how? Steven probably already told her what he did. But it was nothing compared to what he could have done. So perhaps he still had a chance.
Steven was oddly silent as he ate. Probably enjoying the sandwich.
"Well, I see the sandwiches are a hit!" Sadie grinned, breaking the silence. All four of them were eating them.
"They sure are, kid! you made them?" he asked, despite already knowing she didn't, but sounded genuinely curious. He decided casual conversation would be better here.
"No, actually. My mom sends me lunches in little packages all the time. I decided I might as well use them for something... in fact, this picnic basket is just several of those lunches put together," she smiled at Bill.
"Well, that's awfully nice of her!" the demon grinned back. He used to have a family, but they weren't quite the way Sadie's or even Steven's was. In fact, he even felt a tiny bit envious, but he shoved it down. He shouldn't be envious of fleshbags. He was leagues better than them, all of them, and he wouldn't dare stoop to their level.
"It sure was... I guess I took it for granted..." she bit her lip, holding back tears now. Steven put an arm around Sadie, taking Lars's spot.
Bill scoffed. Again with the crying thing. Jeez, this town sure had a lot of tears, and he had only met three people. He reached into the basket again and pulled out another sandwich. He ended up retorting, "You sure did. You humans take 'ungrateful jerks' to the next level!"
The tears really began to travel now, from Sadie's eyes. Steven glared at Bill. "It's not like you're much better!" tears were starting to roll down his cheeks too. "I took you into my home, fed you, and tried to be nice to you the best I could... but you've been so..." he looked away from Bill, "mean."
Bill narrowed his eye and took a bite out of the sandwich. This crying deal was getting on his nerves. Plus, he was only telling the truth, as brutal as it may have been. He scoffed again, "Yeah, yeah. You took care of me, I get it. I know it. I'd been through it, kid!"
However, he soon found he couldn't also toss a spiteful quip at Steven for some reason. It was strange, just like it was for him when he witnessed and was on the receiving end of kindness. His now wide eye twitched, but he shoved the confusion down, and the little feeling fell with it. He then whispered, eye narrowed once again with a hint of something negative, low enough so that the boy and Sadie couldn't hear, "And mean isn't the only level I can get on..."
Steven shook his head and stood up, tossing his unfinished sandwich into the basket, "Sadie, could you just lead us to the school the fundraiser's at? I lost my appetite."
"Uh, yeah, sure," she rose to her feet, frowning a little and wiping the tears away. She also put her sandwich into the basket.
The demon took this chance to grab the picnic basket and shove all the food into his eye-mouth. It was all for him now. No one else was eating. And Lars, he felt, wasn't coming back for more. He grinned after he finished, tossing the basket aside and turning to face the two somewhat squicked-out kids. Now his plan to see how the school ran so he could ruin it from the inside-out could finally get rolling...
A/N: I hope you enjoyed that chapter! :3
I had Sadie in the beginning, and Ace later took on the role. Lars was once again taken by me. Bill Cipher and Steven, well, I already said who they belonged to. :3 But just in case you don't remember, Ace was Steven and I was Bill. XP
I hope you review. It'd really make my day even more. X3