Reviews :
Snake557 : Aww :] Royboy needed a good mom hug haha
chuckiboo : It's true! Royal just takes a bit to come around, but Royal is such a softy, it's hard for him to stay mad for long. :D Thank you!
Burgie : Agreed! It was probably a long time coming lol
*Chapter 15*
After a long day of properly getting acclimated to palace life, Boss, Marble and Balba lay comfortably with each other in a splay of laziness on the recreational hall's snow blanketed terrace. Soaking up the last bits of Sugar Rush's sun rays, all three beasts were as still as statues amidst their napping. Although Boss was nervous to meet a pair of lykatas, due to the two species being enemies, Boss was thrilled that both females welcomed him, albeit with a healthy amount of caution. Once the three got acquainted, and both girls showed Boss about the palace grounds and enclosure, they began to warm up as friends, once and for all. Due to the stress that the day weighed on Boss, he felt absolutely drained, and although he was soaking up every single second of their group nap, he still felt as if he couldn't fall into a proper sleep. He feared that at any one moment, Royal would jump back into the ring and take another snap at him.
Boss nervously peeled his eyes open in slow, dreaded exhaustion. He furrowed his brow in a rise of concern, the rollercoaster that was now taking a toll on just how much sleep he got, his vivid blue eyes peered to Sugar Rush's melting sunset, far on the horizon, past the glorious white spires of Sugar Rush's palace. He thought on the fact that not just days ago, he was carelessly living his life amidst Dead Zed's jungles, hunting and simply being, and with his age, he was certain he wasn't due to partake in mating season, having come this far in life not hearing the perfect call. He sagged a little and allowed a smile to play across his mouth; he wondered if waiting all this time, for Lickity's call, was a smart move, on his part. None of his existence now, as it were, would be his reality, and with his gentle daydreamings, he knew he had a lot to thank Lickity for, alongside hoping her own son felt the dregs of said gratefulness.
With a deep expansion of his rib cage, and a grumbling yawn that made the recreational hall's window's tremble, Boss lazily rolled over, closed his eyes, slumped his wing atop Marble's spine and snuggled into the mess of fur the three had easily become. Marble and Balba sleepily shifted accordingly, and in no time, all three were back to snoozing. He huffed a long sigh into Sugar Rush's cool air, and as it fogged with the last little bit of glistening sunlight, he tried his very hardest to at least get some form of shut eye. Having never lived in a pack before, he was worried this would be a rocky transition, but with the ease and welcoming Marble and Balba were certain to show him, he wondered if it was more than enough to maybe having three of his four pack mates at least enjoy his presence.
Inside the warmth of the recreational hall, Turbo had been hesitantly dragged into the palace's typical bout of social gatherings. Zed and Tessa were able to reconvene with everyone, properly thank Ace and Libby for watching over Berri, as well as Turbo and Rancis for taking care of Sugar Rush whilst they were gone. Amidst the group loosely and comfortably scattered about the warmly lit living quarters of the rec hall, a proper murmur of conversation soaked the air, a group which consisted of Ralph, Vanellope, Candlehead, Gloyd, Swizzle, Minty, Torvald, Penny, Nox, Ace and Libby; tight to Penny's gravity was Wren, and Tessa was rightfully due for snuggling Berri all night long. Hung tight to the kitchen island was Turbo, Tessa and Zed, and although the group was having a grand old time, Turbo nervously hovered to the King's and Queen's gravity, he knew amidst the nervous side-eyes and whispering notions, he was safe and sound with the two most important people of the game.
With a shaky inhale, Turbo's nervous, glowing eyes did everything they could to subtly peel from the kitchen island to the beige tiled gap of excitable conversation, a good amount of laughter, drinks were shared and smiles were plenty, though Turbo was very well aware that Minty, Gloyd, Swizzle and Torvald had their defenses honed tight to Turbo's being. In the sly sweep over the group, he could occasionally see the four also tenderly throwing ever so subtle glances Turbo's way, as if every single second of his eyes even so much as laid on them was a pose for a potential threat. Turbo felt himself on a weird roller coaster of winning and losing; the royal family so diligently did everything to build him up, whilst their royal subjects worked their hardest to tear him down. Turbo felt as if it were maddening, he clenched the fabric inside his zip-up's pockets, clenched his teeth behind a neutral facial expression, and although he was getting worked up, he did everything in his power to keep that anger brimming just underneath the obvious from happening, his eye color turning molten red.
Although Tessa was cued to Turbo's energy, she played it off in hopes of eradicating his worries, a potential to override his frustrations with a solid amount of love and acceptance, she knew this was difficult for Turbo. She gently tightened the cozy sling she wore across her chest, Berri's little body was snuggly outlined against Tessa's front and chest due to it, and although the group of people continued on, Berri soundly snoozed in her mother's care. Tessa gently tidied some of the hot blue fuzz atop Berri's head and eyed Turbo for a moment. He looked off towards the massive floor to ceiling windows, of the rec hall, and just as he was about to potentially get lost in thought forever, Tessa inhaled a soft breath and let her even softer hand find the side of Turbo's upper arm. Tessa felt her insides clench the second Turbo's attentive, creepy gaze darted to hers without a single blink.
"You doing okay?" Tessa eased warmly, she successfully concealed the twinge of fear that Turbo successfully laid over her; she had to wonder if part of his problem was the rigid, formidable posture he always held himself in.
"Your majesty," Turbo nearly grumbled, though it was ladened with an appreciative smile. He bobbed a lukewarm, not wholly satisfied nod and finally showed a small sag of his shoulders, "It'll be good to head back home, I strangely miss the city."
"You enjoying the city life?" Tessa prod, her voice held a gentle lilt of mild disbelief.
"Oh, well... Yeah, it's gorgeous to look at, from my little coop," Turbo finally showed a smile and faced Tessa, once and for all; Tessa huffed a small sigh of defeat and gave him an annoyed smirk.
"You've never been TO Orion City, have you," Tessa muttered, still through said annoyed smirk.
"No, ma'am," Turbo sighed through his nose and softened even more so, a direct hit of pity Tessa immediately took on, though she reeled at said fact; he was so good at simply just being a doughy, secretive softy that Tessa felt as if said given pity was entirely second nature, an involuntary, knee-jerk reflex, and also something Turbo deserved, something she was willing to give in full force.
"Well... Hopefully when it warms up, you'll feel more inclined to leave that sky scraper of yours," Tessa encouraged, Turbo shrugged and tried not to fall into his rhythm of peering across the gap of people, to where the four secretly agitated Sugar Rush racers mingled.
"Who knows," Turbo exhaled a continuously defeated sigh, his eyes sagged to the back of Berri's head in an aimless, comfortable stare, though he shook his head amidst the stare and furrowed his brow. After a few seconds of gentle, honed silence between the two, Turbo's creepy eyes stabbed into Tessa's, once more, "You think this will ever get easier?"
"... You mean, others accepting you?" Tessa inquired, Turbo nodded once with an intent long blink, Tessa held her breath and tried to remain positive.
"Well, you've come this far," Tessa shrugged, gave him an apologetic smile and gently glossed her eyes about the room, "I think everyone here seems pretty accepting of you. I mean, if even anyone was scared or suspicious of you right now, they'd likely up and leave, or I would've heard about it."
"You sure?" Turbo naively asked, his gentle eyes glossed about the room, as well, and it was with Tessa's words did he begin to maybe wonder if he was other thinking; unbeknownst to him was Tessa's protective bluff.
"Oh yeah, I'd be sure to snuff out any nay-sayers real quick," Tessa assured with a nod, she confidently gave Turbo her word, "All else fails, you always have the King and Queen on your side. Our say is the final one."
"Thank you, Tessa," Turbo eased, a warm smile that finally showed a bit of relaxation, though just as he was maybe beginning to warm up, he was cued to reflexes he couldn't quite break from, habits that likely would never die; he knew the second he got too comfortable was likely the second he should shy away, in fear of potentially feeling hurt as the night progressed, "I-I think I should probably head on home. I've had enough socializing for the month... Year."
"A lifetime of socializing, all condensed into three days," Zed only eavesdropped of Turbo's last sentence, though he eased into their conversation and warmly pat Turbo's upper arm amidst a firm, confident and finalizing handshake, "Thanks for everything, man. I haven't forgotten about the tools to be sent to you. It'll probably be a few days, but I'll keep you posted."
"Thanks, it means a lot, really," Turbo warmly assured, and as both men continued to gab about the potential of Turbo's new build, a proper bike to either race or leisure with, Turbo said his quick and appreciative farewells to Tessa, and Penny, alongside a cute, friendly wave to little Wren, who promptly returned said wave with gust.
As they both sauntered across the rec hall's glorious tiles, Tessa crossed her arms about Berri's snoozing body, cocked an eyebrow and gently glossed her attention across the crowd that mingled. Penny stood with a dawdling Wren at her side, though Penny quickly caught on to Tessa's thought process and conclusively brought her attention to the group, across the way, as well. Candlehead stood with Torvald and Swizzle, the look on her face assured to Tessa that her aunt was diligently trying to get a point across to both people. Their body language was hunched and reserved, as if secrets were being traded, Torvald finally rolled her eyes and angrily peered off to the recreational hall's massive double doors, ones of which Turbo and Zed were just now disappearing out of, and the second the door latched shut, Tessa could see Torvald's, Swizzle's and Candlehead's conversation finally rise from hushed secrecy to defeated, revealed annoyance. Tessa cocked an eyebrow and was glad her and Penny dragged their met gazes to each others in a string of silent conversing, a constant reminder that both girls were on the same page.
"Hey, Aunt Candlehead," Tessa called gently as she finally dragged her eyes from Penny, who lovingly stroked the top of Wren's head; he had his little arms hugged about Penny's lower leg, he was fighting sleep in a drowsy show of gentle neediness.
"Yeah?" Candlehead perked up, a gentle conceal of her now frustrating conversation with Torvald and Swizzle; her emerald eyes glistened with the twinkling show of sheepish girliness, her emerald hair was in two low pigtails.
"You guys doing alright over there?" Tessa prod sternly as she remained frozen; her tomboyish, funny and loving demeanor could so quickly flip to Queenly dominance at the drop of a hat, that even Penny was trying not to recoil.
"We're... Okay?" Candlehead prod nervously as she sheepishly peered to Torvald and Swizzle; Tessa knew Candlehead was the entire antithesis of a liar, she wore her heart right on her sleeve and she knew it. Torvald tried her hardest to force an assured smile, though she defeatedly slumped and peered to Swizzle in a show of now sorrowful confusion, Candlehead continued to desperately try and prove to Tessa they were okay, but failed right from the start, "W-We're just discussing... Well, Turbo, I guess."
"C'mere," Tessa cued, her voice was kind though absolutely laden in motherly dominance; all three racers began to nervously cross the gap, and although Tessa wanted this to remain within their small conversation, she knew it would turn into a show the second her father was caught curiously and nervously glancing over his shoulder and nudging Vanellope, so she could be cued in as well.
"We're sorry, Tessa, it's just... Uncomfortable," Torvald suggested with a shrug, she tucked her golden brown hair behind her ears and shot Swizzle yet another look of nervous desperation, as if she wished maybe he took the reins, for this conversation. The three finally eased into the opposite side of the island, from Penny, Wren, Tessa and Berri, as Torvald continued on in a show of uncertainty, "W-We know Turbo is accepted as a part of the royal line up, and all, but... It's just..."
"Nerve-wracking," Swizzle completed in a blurt, his masculine voice coat the group of women in a tremble of sheepish uncertainty. He huffed a small cough into his fist, eyed Torvald for assurance and finally glued his attention to Candlehead.
"I was trying to reassure them that, if Turbo were to want to do anything bad to the game, he would've certainly done it by now, right?" Candlehead wondered, as if she was confident in her words but also uncertain and had to ask Tessa for clarity.
"Yeah, considering we were gone for three days and the game is safe and sound," Tessa snapped with a shrug and a confused, nearly annoyed smile, "He's been in charge of a decent chunk of the game for well over a month now. The poor guy really is trying, but it's hard when you guys are constantly throwing him side-eyes."
"We weren't," Torvald defended nervously, and just as Tessa suspected, the rest of the group began to hear the gentle argument in the kitchen and came to investigate, "Weren't trying to, anyways, I just always like to at least have my eye on him."
"Well, what about Nox? Throttle? You guys don't treat them as if they're a threat," Penny dared to jump in, in being Tessa's right hand woman, she was thrilled Tessa willingly shared the task of putting out fires.
"Yeah? What about Nox and Throttle?" Nox prod in cheeky dismay as he crossed his arms and joined the group at the island; he bugged his creepy gaze and pierced it straight through Torvald's heart like an ice dagger, though his smile proved just how much hidden mischief this guy could potentially fall into. He huffed a chuckle and merely glanced to Tessa, for assurance in the Queen's court, "Got beef with my big brothers?"
"Oh come on, it's justified!" Swizzle began to grow defensive, a challenge for Tessa he was certain he didn't know just what he was getting himself into; though Candlehead held the sides of her head and scrunched, as if to physically show Swizzle that he was asking for it. Torvald eyed her in a rising spike of worry and dart said look of worry to Tessa and Penny, though Swizzle loudly continued on, "The guy had our game in a choke hold, or... At least helped in it."
"We've already explained just exactly what happened. This was Lash's doing, and he's safely bubbled away," Tessa reassured, and although she wanted to be firm with her subjects, she diligently was reminded that she also needed to be a leader, one of grace and tenderness, of reassurance and safety. She held her tongue and was glad she was getting the hang of navigating just what it meant to be Queen over so many different personalities.
"How do we know Turbo hasn't unbubbled him?" Torvald now tenderly wondered as Minty, Ralph and Vanellope loosely surrounded the backsides of the group at the kitchen island; it was in this instance did Penny pick Wren up into her arms.
Tessa heaved a hot, annoyed sigh through her nose, kicked in her silver coding and allowed her palm to become soaked in a gentle show of light and circuit board. As she pressed her palm to the kitchen island, she cued a read-only drop down of menus, from Sugar Rush's code room, and in one single swipe, the very bubble that Lash was tucked away in, gently hovered above the kitchen island in a bob of gravity. Tessa crossed her arms over her chest, and Berri, once more and cocked an eyebrow in Torvald's direction.
"Turbo has access to Lash's bubble... He always has," Tessa revealed, to which Torvald nervously peered up to Swizzle for reassurance; he only shrugged and gave her a look as if to express to her that they should maybe consider Tessa's words, "Turbo's not the bad guy, here. He never was... He's on our side, and after so many days and hours of brewing and stewing, it'd be absolute cake for him to just unbubble Lash and have at it... But he hasn't."
"But whose to say he WON'T?" Minty finally chimed in; a force to be reckoned with, someone who never let up, someone who fiercely defended her own strict opinions, and although Tessa valued this about Minty, she was well aware it made Minty a rather intimidating being to be around, for everyone. Minty eased to the island's counter, rested her fingers to the marble and cocked an eyebrow. Her gorgeous, light green hair was tucked into a low ponytail, her warm, hazel eyes read a weird amount of cold delight, as if she relished in simply arguing with others on their own opinions, "Maybe he's biding his time? Maybe he wants our trust? Turning on us will be incredibly easy, then."
"It's already incredibly easy, now," Nox interjected, he knew Tessa had the floor, though he also was well aware his outbursts were justified, "He has access to nearly everything the code room contains."
"WHY? Why does he need all that?" Minty now raised her voice, to which Tessa inhaled a sharp breath and knew it was time to put the arguing to an end.
"Because he helped save you guys!" Tessa barked, the whole entire group fell into prickled silence, "You're forgetting, that without Turbo's help, I would've never been able to get the code room back from Lash. You guys are holding on to this too tightly, and aren't seeing that Turbo wasn't the one in charge of this mess. Turbo was too exhausted due to his old and decaying code swap."
"Well, that's his own fault," Minty very boldly dared, she shrugged and abruptly reeled her next words due to the fact of just who she was surrounded by; swappers and faux-codes alike.
"We all do things we're not proud of, we all make mistakes, but certainly you see his efforts to at least try and come around," Tessa argued, she gestured to Nox in urgency, "Nox and Throttle have earned their place, they're an awesome addition to this castle, and I know the lot of you would be sad to know that in alienating Turbo, like such, you're hurting Turbo's only kin. You DO know this, right?"
"We're not trying to hurt anyone's feelings, we're just scared," Swizzle defended, to which Tessa diligently took in, "We never know what's going to make him suddenly turn, it's not easy to give up trust to one of Arcade's most feared bad guys. You so easily just handed over an insane amount of power to someone who knows the code room, and all, like the back of his hand."
"He saved our lives, has proven himself and is in desperate need of our attention," Tessa demanded as she gently held the back of Berri's little head, "Keep this up, y'guys, and just maybe he'll use this ammunition for something negative. If you're so sure he has in it him, why aren't you guys kissing his ass?"
The group fell silent under Tessa's stern words, and it was in this instance did Tessa understand she had the attention of every single being in this room. Not only that, but Balba, Marble and Boss slowly began to shift and sit up from their continued nap, they peered inside with agitation, and it was only a matter of time before they pawed at the rec hall's door handles and let themselves in. Tessa huffed an annoyed, curt noise of despair and gestured her hands out, only to lazily slap them to her sides in defeat.
"I mean, I don't understand your guys' way of thinking. Isn't the term 'keep your friends close but your enemies closer' appropriate here?" Tessa exhaustively peered to Minty, Swizzle and Torvald in a show of now wanting this all to end, though Minty meanly narrowed her gaze and tried her very hardest not to stare in Nox's direction with her sharp, unraveling words.
"We can keep our enemies as close as we want, clearly," Minty scoffed, and although she tried not to make it clear that she was directing her words towards Nox, she failed miserably, cocked an eyebrow and shot Tessa a knowing look, "The issue goes beyond friends. Blood is thicker than water... Where does that eventually put all of us?"
"If you're going to take a stab at Nox, at least get the quote correct," Ace suddenly jumped into the ring, everyone nervously flung their attention to their resident User and figuratively shrunk. Ace firmly sunk his hand atop Nox's shoulder in a protective, brotherly stance and gave Minty a look of whole challenge, "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. If y'got a problem with Nox, Throttle and Turbo, then y'got a problem with me."
"And if you have a problem with a Userrr," Penny trailed, she pursed her lips and looked up to the rec halls high, beamed ceilings in girly, coy, mischievous delight.
"But you wouldn't know anything about that, would you," Ace felt bad for getting mean so quickly, though he firmly held onto Nox and defended him, as if his life depended on it, in which is previously has, "You're too scared to get close to anyone... Let alone the fact that the rest of us have close relationships and friendships with one another. You delight in alienating people who are misfits, or outcasts... My mom has a solid point. If you're so scared Turbo is going to turn on you, why aren't all of you bending over backwards to kiss his ass and remain on his good side?"
"Forgive us for not immediately befriending the guy who helped keep us locked up in silence for over a year and a half," Torvald dared as she crossed her arms, Minty bobbed a nod whilst Swizzle now remained a silent neutral.
"Well, then be prepared for the creepy, uncertain vibe you're getting from him," Ace argued as he put his hands on his hips and removed Nox from his loving hold, "You get what you give... He's only mirroring you guys. You give Turbo an inch, and he'll give you a mile. It could either be a mile of love or hate. Which direction do you want to go in?"
The group, again, fell silent, and it was in this instance of pride did Tessa willingly back down from her own fight and allow Sugar Rush's Prince the floor; Zed had finally strolled back into the rec hall, a few minutes prior, and was diligently mediating from the side lines. He looked disgruntled and frankly exhausted, from the topic at hand, and although he wished so badly that everyone would get along, from the racers to Turbo, and now the flyer's dispute, he heaved a hot sigh and brushed his hand through his electric blue hair in a show of persisting defeat.
"He showed Sugar Rush a very fair amount of love... What only took two weeks to show eradicated over two decades of hate," Ace explained in a wheeze of narrowed-eyed desperation, he gestured his hand out to Nox and frowned, "This isn't hard. Turbo is a great guy, he's hilarious, he's giving, and sure... He's a little mysterious and walled off, but, if you just take the time to get to know him, you'd really be surprised."
"He secretly loves to sing, he's a sucker for romance novels, he tells the funniest jokes," Nox listed in a rise of desperation, somehow hoping to convince the group before him.
"Oh, so the whole entire time he was in the background of Sugar Rush's demise, he just, y'know... Had the code room in a choke hold, but, oh! Sure loved a good, steamy, romance novel!" Minty now continued to challenge anyone she could, and it was with this did Vanellope's wick burn down the quickest.
"Minty, we get that you have an opinion on everything and everyone," Vanellope grumbled in entire dismay, she sagged her face into her palm and shook her head, though she finally stabbed her irritated eye contact to Minty and was well aware she was now flying well beyond impending word vomit, "If you're so adamant about who we live with, who we share our codes with and how anyone on this User-forsaken lot does life, then why even show up?"
Minty glowered Vanellope down, and although Tessa was now Sugar Rush's current Queen, Minty's allegiance had previously lied in Vanellope's hands, something that may have never fully switched over, just yet, and with Vanellope's shut down, Minty's facial expression began to crumple to a show of anguish and impending tears, and in a push of a huff, Minty shoved her way through the crowd, stormed to the recreational hall's teleportation pad and was briskly whisked away, lime green coding and all. Vanellope groaned an echoing, loud moan of whole annoyance up to the recreational hall's ceilings and grappled her black hair; Penny stifled a hard laugh into her hand and winced as Wren so cutely copied in Penny's gestures and giggling.
"Rule number one," Libby eased from the edges of the argument, she lifted a finger and lazily looked about the group in tender dismay, her accent coat the conversation in a gentle lilt of difference, "Never put Minty on the spot. This is the third time I've seen her storm off, over something like this."
"I don't know how we're going to get to the bottom of this," Vanellope loudly complained in a raspy groan of exaggerated despair; Ralph, and a few others, laughed at her expense.
"She can't be reasoned with," Nox complained, though his agitation was clearly justified, alongside the look of hurtful sorrow in his golden eyes.
Ace narrowed his eyes and tenderly eyed the teleportation pad, he wondered just where all this frustration and opposition was rooted, and just why it became so rooted. He inhaled a nervous breath and knew, deep down, absolutely anyone could be reasoned with; all it took was the right person of conversation.
"I think she can," Ace assured in a show of forced confidence, though he hoped his words resonated with everyone, a clear bookmark Ace promised the group that he'd soon pick up after.
