Reviews :

BanannaSammich : The gang can be pretty convincing ;) 'specially a certain blondie.

Lyssdoodle : Yes indeed!

Snake557 : Too true xD


Song Listened To :

Be Alright by Jake Miller


*Chapter 219*

With the murmur of Turbo's and Lash's conversing that very slowly came to an understanding halt, Turbo's bare feet pressed out onto the tower's glossy, cobbled patio first. With the patter of rain and the rumble of thunder in the distance, the sky was kissed an angry orange at the dregs of the sunset. With the last glints of the sun's rays desperately peaking through Sugar Rush's nighttime storm clouds, the back patio was alive with the glisten of raindrops. What would be more magical than this, the patio was suddenly filled with the tender sound of Berri's beautiful singing voice. Her able fingers precisely strummed on her favorite acoustic guitar, and as Turbo's golden eyes eagerly honed tight to the situation at hand, he sagged his shoulders and melted at the sight of Berri, Tatum, Theo and Wren cutely lounged on the outdoor patio furniture, Berri's strumming and singing had the group quiet in anticipated, lulling wait. Although Lash was quiet and stuck close to Turbo, both boys slowly and cautiously approached the bubble of music they were desperate to become one with.

"You come and go, so far from home, there must be something about those grey skies," Berri's tender voice so daintily sung out to the group, she lulled her eyes closed and truly marinated in the feeling, the words, the magic of the melody her being exuded, she furrowed her eyebrows and pressed on in velvety goodness, though much to Turbo's and Lash's gentle surprise, Tatum's lovely, harmonious voice easily sagged right into Berri's as they both pressed on together, "Kissed with regret, a wandering souls' secret, truly felt as if I've struck gold."

Lash crossed his arms and relaxed as him and Turbo's gentle bare feet scuffed to a halt. Although the group had had the day to disperse and be alone, Lash was glad him and Turbo had a proper day of really digging deep into hardships and emotions. What was ended with a lovely brother date at Turbo's favorite Sugarbucks, it was Turbo's idea to bring Berri home a drink, as a peace offering. Lash cocked an eyebrow and looked ahead to Turbo's demeanor, he stood a little before Lash with Berri's hot, deliciously steamy beverage in his careful grip. His eyes peered to Berri in a daydream of golden softness, as if he was in the presence of an angel, true love that Lash only hoped to one day secretly feel. Lash held his breath and tried to stuff the urge to grin like an idiot, his golden eyes scanned the group and was plucked to find that Theo and Wren had quietly noticed Turbo's and Lash's presence, and with such, Berri and Tatum's gentle singing and strumming came to a very tender, easy halt as all eyes peered to both Turbotime boys.

"... Truce," Turbo's voice patiently pressed to Berri, across the stretch; it was with the sound of Turbo's gentlemanly voice did Chester's big head and floppy wolf ears suddenly pop up from the deep sleep he was previously in.

"Turbo," Chester sleepily and groggily barked with a fang filled smile. Berri grunted with a laugh as Chester suddenly got to his paws, bumbled past the group and greet his favorite guy. Turbo diligently held Berri's drink out and to his side in the act of Chester's bumbling 'hello's, he nudged his snout into Turbo's center and dutifully soaked up the firm pats and rubs of Turbo's free hand. Chester sagged his wings and did what he could to not smack his long tail into the group behind him, "Whatcha doin' here?"

"Just... Came to make nice," Turbo mumbled cutely, his golden eyes cast across the stretch of Chester's long, fluffy spine; it ended with the lock of Berri's vivid blue eyes, the spill of her beautiful blue hair, she peered to Turbo in a very equal amount of wary truce, as well.

"You didn't bring us any Sugarbucks?" Wren complained cutely, he gave Turbo a playful frown and eventually turned it into a full pout.

Turbo huffed a small laugh, slowly scoot past Wren and successfully made his way to the love seat Berri was sitting at, all by her lonesome. Lash grunted and easily slumped himself down next to Throttle, who was now comfortably sandwiched between Lash and Wren, with Theo and Tatum at the seating area across from them. Chester made himself comfortable on the cobbles, once more, as Turbo quietly hovered before Berri with his little peace offering. Berri peered up to him in still curiosity, as if she was still on the defense, from earlier, though having had said secret conversation with Lash, she looked mildly renewed. She hoped she didn't radiate the aura of having new direction, the incentive to rush Tron and plug Turbotime back in, she felt as if it hung inside of her like a glowing star, just begging to shine through. She bit her lip a little and peered into Turbo's lovely, golden eyes as he finally issued her the warm, little beverage.

"I... I really didn't know what non-caffeinated drink you'd want, so I just... Sort of guessed," Turbo mumbled warmly, everyone was quiet and honed in to the situation at hand; usually Berri wouldn't want their dirty laundry on display, though somehow, this made making nice, with Turbo, worlds easier.

"That's sweet of you," Berri warmly cooed in soft innocent, she bobbed a nod and delicately put her acoustic guitar down so she could accept Turbo's little gift. She brought the lip of the cup's lid to her nose and took a curious whiff as the steam eased out the top, "Ooh, what is this?"

"Peppermint white hot chocolate," Turbo mumbled with a lack of confidence, as if to worry if maybe she wouldn't be receptive to it, though with one little swig, she sagged her shoulders and lulled her eyes closed in a dreamy way; Turbo immediately grinned.

"I want a sip," Wren uttered with a grunt as he sat up and expectantly gestured his hand a little, as if to politely demand that Berri hand the drink over; she cutely did, trusting that he'd only take one sip. Turbo carefully sat down next to Berri as Wren took a swig, his handsome eyes lit up, "Oh, wow, that's so good."

"Did Bug help you out?" Berri wondered in smiling defeat as Wren handed the drink back to her, though Turbo immediately shot Lash a dull look as he burst out with laughter he tried to stifle.

"I warned you," Lash grinned ear to ear, "Hell, BUG warned you."

"It's so different from your usual, Bug's expertise is never wrong," Theo mumbled warmly as he lulled his larger arm about Tatum's littler shoulders; everyone was dressed down for the night, a crisp and lovely evening with the kiss of orange tight to the horizon as the sun set, the palace lot had slowly come to life with little fireflies.

"I just... Want to apologize for today," Turbo eased in soft defeat as he rested his elbows on his knees, lazily hunched a little and peered his golden eyes down to the ground. He finally glossed his eyes about the group and caught eyes with Wren, Theo and Tatum, "To everyone. I know my past brings an emotional rollercoaster, I just... Didn't expect it to overflow on everyone I love."

"Aww, you love us?" Wren chirped in teasing delight, Turbo hardened and shot him a disgruntled look of playful, smiling irritation.

"Don't push your luck," Lash muttered.

"It's okay, Turbo, we ALL have a world of drama that's hard to stuff, all the time," Tatum shrugged, she glossed her eyes to Theo's in solid warmth before the group gave Turbo a very real amount of loving energy, "We stick together, we have each other... Really, what more could we ask for?"

"It's okay, Bo," Berri finally eased, she rested her larger hand to the center of Turbo's back as he remained leaned lazily over his knees, a little. His curious, golden eyes peered tight to her as she defeatedly continued on with a humble smile, "I know you didn't mean harm in your words, there's a lot of hurt you have harbored, and though yours is likely years and miles huger than the majority of us, it's still valid. It's still something we all can agree isn't beyond us."

"You got support from all kinds of angles, Bo," Throttle's deep, wise voice glossed the group, and as Turbo eased his gaze to Throttle, with Lash sat right next to him, he sagged his shoulders and felt relieved that he could so easily be with all of his brothers, once and for all. Although Nox wasn't physically with them, in this instance, Turbo still felt entirely whole by the thought of it all. Throttle glanced to Lash, bobbed a nod and gave his kind eyes back to his little brother, "You got all your brothers, plus the younger family now surrounding you. You can get empathy from us, and sympathy from them."

"You're covered," Berri chimed lovingly, Turbo finally smiled and aimlessly looked down to the grass cobbles beneath them, kissed with green summer grass though now cutely threatened by the pink autumn grass that desperately wanted to peak through, underneath.

"Much appreciated," Turbo bobbed a nod, he gave Berri a loving, knowing smile; he was well aware the two had their swap schedule to keep up with, coming up in two hours, though he was thrilled they could all relax with each other before the storm this weekend would consist of. He heaved a hot sigh and glanced about the group in kind reminder, "I'm glad we have these still moments, here... Cause this weekend is going to be another roller coaster of emotion."

"Oh, Arcadia," Wren bobbed a nod and lulled his eyes closed, "User, you have to get me up to speed on those songs of yours. I can improv those tunes all day long, but there's only so much I can pull out of my ass."

"DON'T," Throttle immediately shut down, to Lash, as he noticed Lash largely open his mouth, as if to childishly expand on Wren's innocent statement; Lash blew a raspberry in defeat and looked off.

"Bedgy called me earlier this afternoon, I guess we should arrive at Arcadia the night prior, like last weekend," Theo confirmed as he pulled out his phone and scrolled through a few things. He furrowed his eyebrows and continued on, "She also texted me and told me that... Security is being amped, Turbo, if you have any extra protection to bring, in terms of deleters, she said that'd be great."

"We're all equipped with it, what more can we do?" Wren dry wondered, Lash rubbed his face and looked as if he wanted to join in on the conversation, though really had no way to.

"There's not much more we can do, I can bring more protection for the arena," Turbo mumbled with a nod, as if he wasn't concerned, "We have a VIP meet-n-greet after the show, inside Arcadia's train station."

"The train station? Isn't it tiny?" Throttle wondered in searching, as if trying to remember just what it looked like.

"No, it's massive, the docking area is rather small but it sections off into this huge atrium, off to the side of it," Turbo explained with hand gestures, Throttle softened and bobbed a nod in revealed curiosity, "They have a food court and whatever else."

"You guys sure you'll be protected inside an area that's not a protected outlet?" Lash finally braved, he narrowed his gaze and gave Turbo a wary look, "I don't know... The easiest crimes committed are in stations, stations don't have code rooms."

"Arcadia does," Throttle cooed, Lash furrowed his eyebrows in hot confusion and halted his ideas.

"... Since WHEN do stations have code rooms?" Lash barked with a hearty laugh, though Berri shrugged and rubbed her jaw in agitation.

"I hear you, Lash, it IS weird, but Arcadia is a brand new station," Berri mumbled, to which Lash sagged in further defeat, "We should be just fine, we just need to speak with the higher ups in Arcadia Station."

"We can protect the train station, we should be just fine," Turbo assured with a nod, "Midnight Moon was perfectly protected for our last show, and THAT venue is inside the station."

"I guess you're right," Lash mumbled in further defeated uncertainty as he sagged, he gave Berri a wary look and was glad she caught on to it, "Stations are just super unstable, unlike coded, structured games. Just... Keep your wits about you, I guess."

"Thanks, Lash," Berri validated, he bobbed a nod; Throttle nervously furrowed his eyebrows and glanced to Turbo for reassurance.

"You think everyone will be able to make it to the show, like last weeks numbers?" Wren wondered as the group fell into conversing, Berri raised her eyebrows in soft confusion as her phone buzzed. She quietly wormed her hand into her pocket, so to retrieve her phone, as Wren continued on, "Last week was planned for months, I mean... This weekend was such a spur of the moment."

"It could go either way, really," Throttle mumbled with a smile, "Either word got out and now the crowd will double, or... People already had plans this weekend and will unfortunately miss it."

"Either way, that crowd was insane," Lash choked a laugh as everyone murmured equally agreeing notions, "I'm sure it was much vaster in person, but the crowd looked like it went on for MILES."

"Yeah, a crowd big enough to kick the stage fright right out of you," Theo stated with a laugh, warm laughter everyone fell into.

Berri giggled and peered down to her lock screen as she sipped her delicious drink, though she furrowed her eyebrows in soft shock as to just who had sent her a message.

UserSquared : Hey Berri, sorry to bug you. I'm home alone and I think Lickity is out front in our bushes... I would text Mom about it but I think her and Zed are out, as well.

Berri long-blinked in softness and had to double check that it was, indeed, Mara who was texting her. Having never seen this username in her message list before, she huffed a silent noise of bewildered delight and prepared to thumb Mara a message, in return.

Blue : Lickity's in the bushes? Sorry, I'm confused.

UserSquared : Well, we planted some flower bushes the other morning, and, I would go out there and shoo Lickity away from the bushes but I'm kind of nervous to do so. Can you come collect Lickity please?

Blue : Oh, oh I see. She's such a brat, I'll be right over.

Berri furrowed her eyebrows and glanced to Chester, across the small stretch. He laid on his belly with his furry chin in his big, powerful paws, he kindly snoozed. Berri rubbed her chin and knew this was potentially a test of her patience, a chance to really see if Mara genuinely wanted Lickity out of her business, or more so a way to sneakily get Berri alone. Bravely, Berri knew she had to at least go and collect Lickity and pray that she either didn't see Mara, in this venture, or any conversing that came up would be neutral and easy going. Aware that nearly every single interaction with Mara included very snippy, bratty back and forth, she wondered if she could channel a more mature air and really try and go into it with her walls down. Not knowing just what she could be getting into, Berri politely excused herself from the group and assured everyone she'd be right back, hoping to simply collect the palace's luck dragon, and nothing more.