Beneath the Stars
By Gold Sparrow
Thanksgiving Special:
Squashing Beef
In which we once again visit the opposite dimension of the world Badroulbadour schemes in and Centola pines in. A world that has it's own fair share of mix-ups, screw-ups, and blow-ups. Welcome to the town of Magi, which celebrates Thanksgiving...
6:00 PM, Sindria Estate
You'd think that being that they all live in the same town and go to the same schools and work under fifteen minutes away from one another, they'd learn to get along. Unfortunately, in the town of Magi, that's in no way true. At all.
"Why are we here?" The girl whines, clutching her mother's dress. Her father gently squeezes her hand and smiles down at her, looking a bit uncomfortable as well.
"I don't like it either, sweetheart, but your mother says we have to so-" The mother reaches over and smacks her husband's arm, glaring daggers at the man.
"Sinbad was kind enough to invite us, Yunan! He wants to make amends" Yunan pouts despite his age, and his daughter giggles. They walk side by side by side down the long entryway to Sinbad's mansion, climbing the staircase to the large front door.
"Bad, your mother only wants to go because she and Sinbad where friends when they were in high school" Bad looks up to her mother, bewildered.
"You and Sinbad were friends?" She asks incredulously, gasping. Her adoptive mother, a blue haired woman with a gentle face, rolls her eyes.
"Yes, sweetheart. Sinbad and I were friends"
"Yamu, however, decided to marry me after college and Sinbad and I don't really get along so we ended up having…" Yamu's cold stare makes him stop and shiver. Bad looks back and forth, looking between the two.
"What? What happened?"
"Uh, we have beef" Yunan replies, ringing the doorbell, listening to the sounds of music and laughter behind the lit windows.
"Mama, what's beef?" Yamu glares at her husband and sighs, responding quickly,
"Beef is something you have when you don't get along with another person. Sort of like a problem or past argument" Bad smiles angelically up at her mother.
I have a lot of beef then.
Sinbad decided to be a good person.
So, for Thanksgiving, he decided to throw a kick ass party and invite over all the people who like him and all the people who don't.
And it was all his idea.
Yep, one hundred percent him.
And it definitely has nothing to do with the fact that Zeina had teased him a week prior, making fun of the fact that many people dislike him.
Not one bit.
So he forces a smile and tries (in vain) to chat up Solomon Jehoahaz Abraham, who raising one dark blue eyebrow. Other than that, he doesn't move his stoic face. Sinbad is really trying to get on Aladdin's father's good side, especially since their companies are negotiating a business deal. So he makes a joke that Solomon doesn't laugh at and pretends there is no awkwardness in the air.
That's when Badroulbadour appears.
His insides freeze.
Oh no, no, no, no, no.
Mentally he wills her to go away, trying to use whatever psychic powers he might have to make her leave. But unfortunately, Bad wiggles her eyebrows and mouths, 'I'm coming over'. Sinbad shakes his head and mouths back, 'go away!'. She takes a step, and then another, and then looks curiously down at her feet, and back up with fake surprise. 'They're moving on their own' She replies, shaking her head.
He waves his hands in a motion for her to turn around and go when an ice cold voice says,
"What are you doing?" Freezing, he straightens himself and turns to meet the questioning gaze of Aladdin's father, clearing his throat and chuckling nervously.
"Uhhh, I was just….Inviting over a friend of mine…" Bad arrives. He takes a deep breath and wills her with his eyes to be polite. It wasn't as if he and Badroulbadour didn't get along, oh no. It's just that the girl and him have hung out waaaaaay to much and she's seen him do the most humiliating things.
Which she later relays to her father, Yunan (hate that guy) and Zeina (damn that woman).
"Hello Mr. Abraham!" The pinkette greets sweetly, smiling brightly up at the man.
"Oh, hello there Badroulbadour" The man's stone features soften somehow. "I'm glad you're here. I was afraid Aladdin wouldn't have anyone his own age at this party"
Wha- wait, what's wrong with my party!?
"Oh no! But do you know where Aladdin is? I was looking for him" Solomon smiles slightly, gently patting the girl's curls.
"He's with his friend Alibaba over there. I'm sure that he'd love to see you" Bad giggles and nods, turning to Sinbad.
"Hi Mr. Tison*! Thank you for inviting my parents and I to your party!"
"Uh- No problem, Bad. You're always welcome" Smiling, the girl saunters off, and Sinbad watches in amazement.
"She's so polite, isn't she?"
How does she do that?!
6: 15 PM, Sindria Estate
The dinner table consists of seven people.
Morgiana sits next to Catrina, and is listening intently to what the girl has to say.
"So then, Bad and I..." Alibaba is chatting idly with Centola about the party, and Aladdin is listening to Kougyoku tell Hakuryuu a good explanation as to why she should be allowed to move out of the Kou Gardens where Gyokuen forces her to live with her.
"Sup, bitches!" The table's occupants look to the voice, seeing a doll-like little girl smiling innocently at them. "Bad is here!"
Groaning, Alibaba puts his head in his hands while Catrina cheers.
"Um, nice to see you?" Hakuryuu asks, scrunching his eyebrows together.
"Hey Haku! Can I sit next to you, Aladdin?" Aladdin nods, gesturing to the empty chair beside him. Bad squeals and sits, kicking her feet back and forth."Yay!"
"Bad, this is a day of thanks. And I would be thankful if you would leave"
"Well we don't always get what we want, now do we?"
Alibaba was not in a good mood. He was dragged to Sinbad's fancy Thanksgiving party by his friend Aladdin, and now is forced to sit next to the bane of his existence: Badroulbadour. She's the kind of kid that nobody sees as a bad seed. In fact, in her scarlet dress with the poofy bow and her long pink hair curled in corkscrews, she looks like a little doll.
Except for the sinister grin that is aimed right at him.
And what really, really sucks is that the other members of the table had ditched them, meaning that he was stuck there with the little brat that somehow always ends up annoying him to no end.
"So Prince-y-"
"Name's Alibaba"
"-I heard that you've been snooping around in my business" Bad cups her chin in her little palm, kicking her legs back and forth. "What's that about?"
"W-what- Wh…" He pauses, looking to the ceiling with annoyance. "You're talking about Centola"
"Wow that took you a while" Glaring, Alibaba scoots his chair back.
"What about Centola, Bad?"
"I don't like you hanging out with my precious big sister" Bad smirks "She's waaaaaaaay out of your league, bro" Alibaba's eye twitches.
"If you're going to insult me I'm leavin-
"But I can help you!" She rushes out, smiling wider. Alibaba pauses, squinting down at the girl.
"What?"
"I can help you with Centola, but only if you help me with a problem I've been having"
"A 'problem'? What, someone beating you up?" The pinkette gives him a look that makes him feel a whole new degree of stupid.
"Yes Alibaba, I'm getting beaten up" She retorts sarcastically, and then bites out, "I've just come to realize that while I have enemies, I may need to squash some of my 'beefs' with people" The blonde's mind goes blank. Then, he starts laughing.
"So let me get this straight" He manages, smiling widely. "You want me to help you 'squash your beefs'? Why in God's name would I help you?"
"I already told you. You help me, I'll let you hang out with Centola" Alibaba blinks down at the girl.
"What-?"
"Don't you think it's funny I always am around her when you are? And how unfortunate accidents and mishaps seem to separate you two whenever you're 'alone'? I can make all that go away if you help me out here" The teen stares at the child.
"You're a monster"
"And we have to squash some beefs. Let's get to it!"
And that's how Alibaba was bribed into helping Bad dissolve her problems.
"So, you're like a terrible person"
"Yeah, pretty much" The two stand next to the punch bowl, surveying their first target. "And after I filled his glove compartment with the whipcream, I put hair all over it and mixed it up for kicks"
"Ew. Wait, how'd you get the hair?" Bad looks at him and smiles darkly.
"Don't worry about it. Anyway, he found out it was me and we haven't spoken since then"
"And?"
"Annnnd I need a favor from Asad"
"What favor?" Bad rolls her eyes.
"Don't worry about it. Let's get cracking why don't we~" Bad turns away and looks into Alibaba's eyes. "What's the plan?"
"Plan? You'll just go and apologize for it"
"Um, I would except for two reasons" The blonde sighs.
"What is it?"
"One, I don't apologize- it's not in my nature, and two, I'm not sorry" The blonde blinks, processing this.
"You have to. That's the only way to get rid of the beef-"
"No, I could assuage his anger by giving him a gift" The teen throws his hands in the air.
"Then do it!"
"I need your help with that!" Bad tells him what she wants to give the elder brother of Judal, and Alibaba just shakes his head, muttering,
"Do you always use women as a bargaining chip?"
"Not always, but when I'm dealing with love-struck idiots then yes"
"BAD!"
"Well, I'm just gonna lay out the plan for you. To settle all the beefs, we need Eren to help with Catrina, Catrina to help with Kouha, Kouha to help with Kougyoku, Kougyoku to help with Asad, Asad to help with you, and you to help me do everything" she spreads her hands, grinning. "And voila! We are done"
"How long is this going to take?"
"Longer you speak the longer it'll take"
6:34 PM, Sindria Estate
"Eren!" Eren Chandlen turns to the one who called his name, smiling widely. He opens his arms and the girl flies into them, arms around his neck, giggling.
"How's my favorite pinkette?" He asks once he sets her down, smoothing the curls on her head. She beams, and then greets Hakuei, who had been chatting with Eren.
"Eren, can I ask you a favor?" Eren nods.
"Of course! What is it?"
"Well, I want to make peace with all the people I've smited over the years"
"That's so sweet" Hakuei coos, but Eren knits his eyebrows together.
"You know, there is two things wrong with that: One, what's with the 'smited'? Are you God or something? And two, you don't make peace you make war. That's literally what you do for fun. You have a game called 'Screwing over Alibaba'"
"I know, but I've seen the errors of my ways. I want to grow up with lots of friends and a good childhood. And yes, we've had fun being mean but it's time for me to own up to my sins. Please, won't you help me? I already made amends with Alibaba" She motions toward a table nearby where Alibaba talks with Hakuryuu.
"No way" Eren shakes his head, confused. "You made up with Alibaba?"
"Yes! And Hakuei won't mind if I borrow Eren for a little while, will you?" Hakuei smiles and shakes her head.
"No problem. Go help them, Eren!" The Chandlen sighs and shrugs his shoulders, taking Bad's little hand in his.
"Who do we do first?"
"Catrina!" Catrina Amala didn't really like Kouha. In fact, she tried to avoid the older teen like the plague. This is due to an incident that is forever known as 'The Chicken Convention', and shall never be mentioned again.
So, that's why she says,
"No" Bad gapes, her lower lip quivering.
"But...but…"
"Bad, anything else, but you know I have beef with Kouha for that stupid little prank he and Judal pulled on me"
"Why does everyone have beef?" Alibaba asks, confused.
"I don't have beef" Eren comments.
"Please Catrina! This could be my Christmas present~" Catrina bites the inside of her cheek, considering the proposition.
"I'll do it" She says slowly, and Bad erupts into cheers "On one condition!"
"Name it" The ten year old states, still smiling.
"I get to smack Eren"
"Done." Catrina looks satisfied, which is the opposite of Eren, who throws his hands up and back away.
"Oh hellllllllll no!"
"Eren, take one for the team"
"I don't know Bad getting hit by Catrina really hurts-" Bad's glare shuts Alibaba up, and then he corrects himself by saying, "Well, I mean, if it's fast then it can't be too bad-"
"No, no, no. I am NOT getting hit"
"Eren...please?" Bad makes puppy dog eyes, and the man sighs.
"Fine. Just not the…"
"In the face" Catrina confirms, aiming her fist. Eren opens his mouth to argue but Catrina's faster, swinging her fist in a arc against his cheek, hitting him with a thick thwack.
Bad starts laughing.
7:15 PM, Sindria Estate
Eren cradles an icepack in his hand, pressing it to his cheek to get the swelling down.
"Sorry Eren. I was trying to find a way out of it, and you agreed so…" Catrina explains, looking regretful. Eren cocks his head.
"So you hit me?"
"Pretty much yes"
"Catrina~! Let's go settling things with Kouha~!" Bad becons, light on her feet. They go over to the table full of Kouha's groupies and look to the red headed teen. Once Kouha actually sees them, he grins and calls for Bad to come to him.
Rushing over, Bad hops onto a chair to the left of Kouha and hugs the teen, giggling as he plays with her hair.
"'Ouha! It's nice to see you!"
"Yes, it is isn't it?"
"Wait, you two get along?"
"Of course we do!" Kouha exclaims, hugging the girl tighter. "She's a doll, isn't she? It's that one I don't get along with" He points to Catrina, who glares.
"Oh, 'Ouha, can I ask you a favor?"
"Of course you can!" Kouha looks tender. "What is it?"
"Admit to Kougyoku that she's older" The Ren chokes on his spit.
"Why in God's name would I do that?!" He's scandalized.
"Because if you do, then you can braid Catrina's hair" The air goes tense. Catrina sighs in defeat, nodding that it's true, and the rest of the group all stare in wonder at the child in front of them.
What in God's name is she up to?
"I'm...I'm actually very tempted" The Ren admits, rubbing his chin. "But I don't think-"
"And I'll take you off my chain mail"
"Okay!" The Ren hops up, marching toward his sister. "Let's do this!"
"Chain mail?" Alibaba asks, raising an eyebrow.
"I got some freaky shit going on online, Prince-y"
"Well, you see, Kougyoku and I are pals, but the other week I sort of got in a fight with her because I told her Asad was flirting with some girls and that was false information."
"Should I even ask why?" Alibaba questions, rubbing his temple. After spending the past hour with Bad trying to fix all her beefs, he is getting a big headache.
Keep going, Alibaba. Just another hour and you and Cent will never have to deal with Bad again.
"No. No you shouldn't"
One. More. Hour.
"Kougyoku!" Bad chirps, bouncing over to the girl. Kougyoku forces a smile.
"Hello, Badroulbadour"
"Ooohh, full name" Eren winces and shakes his head back and forth. "Not a good sign"
"Look, about our fight last week, I'd like to present a gift as a form of apology" Kougyoku crosses her arms.
"I don't think anything you can say would-"
"Kougyoku, you're older than me" Kouha comes forward, clenching his fist and grinding out the words. "You're my...big sister" The teenage girl's jaw unhinges, falling open. Then she starts laughing. Kouha goes red before grabbing Catrina's arm and dragging her back to his table to braid her hair.
"Oh my God!" She manages, giggling. "That was good, I'll admit!"
"So you forgive me?"
"Well…"
"I'll take you off the my chain mail~"'
"Deal!"
"Of course, that's if you do me a favor" Kougyoku twists her lips, scrunching up her face.
"What sort of favor?"
7:34 PM, Sindria Estate
They all sit at the table, and Alibaba lays his head in his elbows, watching the dancefloor. On it, Kougyoku and Asad dance a lively waltz, gliding effortlessly across the floor. Aladdin and Bad are there too, although both are blushing heavily and they stumble on one anothers feet. Morgiana and Hakuryuu laugh (at least Hakuryuu does) as they glide together as well, and Eren and Hakuei are sharing jokes at the children they dance beside.
Kouha is braiding Catrina's hair, making several small ones at the base of her head and then combining them toward the base. They're smiling at one another, obviously made up after the problem they had in which there were live chickens involved. Alibaba shivers.
I'm thankful it wasn't me
Aladdin stops dancing to go talk to his mother and father, and Bad goes up to the sitting Alibaba.
"Happy Thanksgiving" She greets, standing beside him. Her cheeks are flushed.
"Yeah, happy Thanksgiving...How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"All tonight, you went around convincing people to do things for you, and then when it came down to it, it was all so that Asad would get a dance with Kougyoku" Bad frowns, and then her face softens, a smile forming.
"Come dance with me!" She exclaims, holding out a hand. Alibaba raises an eyebrow.
"No thank you" He deadpans. Rolling her eyes, she pulls on his arm and forces him up, pulling him to the dance floor. She's much shorter than he is, and so her hands are on his forearms and his are on her shoulders. They do a gentle sway, back and forth, and Bad is grinning happily.
Alibaba smiles a little bit.
"You know, Alibaba, I didn't just do this for Asad"
"Yeah?"
"Well think about it. I've settled the score between me and many of those who were upset with me, and also stopped some feuds that have been going on for a long while. Besides that though, I also got Asad to do something for me"
"What?" Bad averts her eyes and grins wider.
"Well, I had him call Judal and pick up a special package for you!" The blonde tenses.
"A special package?"
"Yep! And here it is!" A finger taps his shoulder, and he turns to face-
"Cent?!" Centola smiles widely, engulfing him in a hug.
"Ali! I'm here!"
"How?" The strawberry blonde takes Alibaba and starts to dance with him, shooing off the pinkette who shoots him a knowing look and goes off to glomp Aladdin some more.
"Well, Judal called and said that he was coming to pick me up because Asad told Bad to. Apparently she had to have me come because of some promise she made to you?"
Alibaba goes pink.
"W-well…" Centola laughs, and the music seems louder, more welcoming. The laughter more prominent, the smiles brighter. And suddenly it doesn't matter that they're at Sinbad's mansion, or that he's done everything so that Bad would leave them alone, because he realizes that it was fun. Like during Halloween when they teepeed Gyokuen's house, and the entire situation was much funner at the end than it seemed at the beginning.
And even though they live in the same town and go to the same schools and work minutes away from one another and really should get along but don't, they're having a good time with one another, and that's good enough.
For now.
Bad - Alibaba helps her settle her beefs.
Alibaba - Asad gets Judal to pick Centola up from her house for the party
Asad - Kougyoku's dance
Kougyoku - Kouha's admission that he's younger
Kouha - Gets to braid Catrina's hair
Catrina - One free punch on Eren
Eren - Bad's asks him to do it
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Man I'm having a good week! Busy, but it's been fun, especially since my Onii-Chan is back from college and I get to glomp him whenever I want~ I hope you all are also having a wonderful Thanksgiving and a wonderful week. I know I am!
Mr. Tison:Sinbad's hometown is Tison village, so I decided to give him that last name.
AU: This is the same universe that Halloween Special was in, and I'm planning on making all the Specials to be set in this world. Yes, there will be more~!
Once again, Happy Thanksgiving from Badroulbadour, Centola, Catrina, Eren, Asad and everyone else!
BYE~~~~~~~