Me: Hey guys! Today we have reached 1.3k readers, and 6 followers for Jenni Graves Lackadaisy OC!
[All cheer excitedly]
Me: Allow me to introduce the gang! Let's kick things off with the charming and sweet Marley Dash!
Marley: Hey there fanfic readers!
Me: The tech savvy and brains of the gang, Ali Snow!
Ali: Hey guys!
Me: The feisty and rowdy Sierra Serval!
Sierra: Howdy! Howdy!
Me: The cunning and courageous Bella Vista!
Bella: Greetings.
Me: The hyper and jumpy Dolly Fisher!
Dolly: Oh yeah! That's right!
Me: The beautiful and flirtatious Suzie Egypt!
Suzie: Well hello my delicate flowers!
Me: The shy but brave Kassian Dash!
Kassian: Hi all!
Me: The handsome and sophisticated Marcus Jags!
Marcus: Hello readers.
Me: The clever and cunning Leslie Pumes!
Leslie: Let's do it!
Me: And last but not least...the star and hero or antihero of our story...the dangerous...the charming...the gorgeous...the cunning...the one...the only...Jenni Graves!
Jenni: Hello everyone! It's nice to finally meet you all in person.
Me: I have some questions a few fans have asked about you guys. Why don't we go over them together?
Jenni: Sure thing, shoot.
Me: Ok, first question, do any of you smoke, drink, or use illicit substances?
Sierra: Well, I only smoke hemp cigarettes but only when Marley isn't around.
Marcus: I only smoke out of a pipe.
Suzie: I smoke out of a cigarette holder.
Me: Ok, what about booze?
Marcus: I'll have a little alcohol every now and then.
Suzie: Same.
Sierra: Yeah, but not all the time.
Me: Illicit substances.
Jenni: Does hemp leaves count?
Me: I don't think so.
Jenni: I chew on cannabis leaves to help with anxiety.
Leslie: I can't believe that stuff isn't legal.
Marley: I tried doing that, but I didn't care for the taste.
Dolly: Bleh, me neither.
Me: Ok, next question. Are any of you religious?
All: No.
Me: That was quick. What are your thoughts on Lackadaisy and Marigold?
Dolly: I think they're both really cool! Any friend of funky jazz is a friend of mine.
Suzie: Same here. Working with Marigold is actually enjoyable. Dancing, being flirty with handsome well-dressed men, being in my luxurious golden dress all night and day, you know how it is.
Bella: On the hand, Lackadaisy seems to be more of a well-mannered establishment than Marigold. The boss is more professional, the service is better, and the place is a bit small, but I've always found comfort in small spaces.
Sierra: Have to agree with Bella on that one.
Marcus: Frankly, I can go either way. Both establishments have an exciting ambiance and extraordinary staff.
Leslie: Me too.
Marley: Well, working for Lackadaisy is one of the best things that happened to me! Lackadaisy is where I met my handsome and musical husband.
Kassian: Well, even though my wife works at Marigold, it's still nice to help out at the bar at Lackadaisy.
Ali: I've only been to both of those speakeasies once and the first minute I walked in...I was hooked like a fish!"
Marley: Jen, you've been quiet.
Jenni: All I'll say is working with Marigold has changed my life.
Sierra: Your love life.
Me: That brings us to our next question. How are things going with your love interests?
Marley: It's amazing! Rocky, and I are fantastic! He's my sweet little psycho.
Sierra: Things have been good between Zib and I. He likes flirting with other females but I'm not worried.
Ali: Got to say being married to Nico is quite a blast...both in a good way and a not so good way.
Jenni: How's that?
Ali: Nico's a loving husband and all. He never lets any guy hit on me. If they do, he hits on them...not in the way you think. On the other hand, he does like bringing home exotic pets like snakes and chickens.
Kassian: Serafine's the same way. She is a lovely dancer.
Ali: And those dresses she wears...I'm glad I'm her sister-in-law.
Suzie: Jeremy and I love hanging out with the Savoies! They're so much fun! Jeremy's a little frightened of them but I understand.
Dolly: Fish and I are doing great! I still think it's funny how his name is Fish and my last name is Fisher.
Leslie: You still haven't found out his real name yet?"
Dolly: No. He doesn't want to tell me. That's ok. I don't mind. How are things with Wes?
Leslie: Oh, it's great. He can get a little creepy but he's quite a charmer.
Marcus: Lacy and I are doing well. She was a little apprehensive about marrying me because of my status in the mafia world but I know we're safe as long as we're around friends.
Jenni: Rest assure Marcus, you and Lacy are safe with us.
Marcus: Thanks Jen.
Bella: Same with me and Horatio. He knows my father is Antonio Vista.
Ali: Wait, that guy's still alive? Jen, I thought you got him.
Jenni: I'm not going to kill one of my best friends' father.
Bella: I could care less. Hey Jen, how are thigs going with Mordecai?
Jenni: I don't wish to talk about it. He and I want to keep our relationship conspicuous for a while just to see where it's going. But things have been getting...serious. Nothing major. Just talking about some things.
Marcus: Well, we can respect that.
Me: Wonderful! Everyone's doing well. Let's move on. Question for Sierra, how is Viktor doing with his therapy?
Sierra: I'm actually surprised! He's making good progress. Yesterday, he walked up 8 steps on the stairs!
Marley: Glad to see he's getting better. I was getting worried.
Me: Another person wants to know if you want to have a relationship with Viktor.
Sierra: Oh for Heaven's sake, of course not. Zib is my boyfriend. Viktor is my friend and client.
Me: Understood. One more question for Sierra...oh forget it.
Sierra: What is it?
Me: I can't. It's too painful to read.
Sierra: Come on, tell me!
Me: Ok...Do you think your uncle died because of the Ghost train of Ely?
Sierra: Oh...oh...Maybe...I don't know anything about that...It's possible.
Dolly: I always thought your uncle worked on Graves Railways. He could have fallen to the Graves Family curse...no offense Jenni?!
Jenni: "Sighs"
Sierra: He did work for Graves Railways.
Me: Let's just put that down as a maybe. Next question is for Marcus. The reader wants to know what happened on the night Gracie was kidnapped.
Marcus: Well, that's quite a story. I was 18 or 19 when I started working for him. I was a bartender along with my friend, Joey. I had recently lost my job as a janitor at another speakeasy because the manager found out my real last name was Jags. I had put my name in my application as Marcus Spotwick. That was my maternal grandfather's name. Gracie hired me as a bartender regardless of my age and name. I don't think he knew my family history, that or he didn't care.
Marley: Didn't Mordecai ruff him up or something?
Marcus: Yes. Poor guy. I was off work that night. Joey called me somewhere around 11:00 and told me some woman robbed the speakeasy's patrons, kidnapped Gracie, and killed his bodyguards. I grabbed my rifle, got in my car, and drove around the city looking for him. I went to the bar to check on everyone. Fortunately, no one was hurt but I tracked those Savoies and found them by a river laughing about something in French. They were stupid enough to leave their car unlocked and running. I stole back the patrons' belongings and returned it to their rightful owners.
Kassian: They didn't see you?!
Marcus: I'm a black jaguar. Plus, I'm pretty sneaky.
Kassian: Oh right. Sorry, hope I wasn't being racist.
Marcus: You weren't. Afterwards, I continued my search for Gracie. I didn't want to go to the police because...for obvious reasons. I looked for another hour before getting to the Lagering caves. That's where I found Gracie with a bloody leg. I took of my shirt and let him use it as a tourniquet. Took 30 minutes to get him out of there and into my car. He got blood all over my seats but it I was just happy he was alive. I took him to my apartment and gave him proper first aid.
Jenni: How's he doing now?
Marcus: He can walk again. He and I agreed he could stay with me as long as he went back to work and paid rent. Oh, and it would help a lot if this wasn't mentioned to Heller or the Savoies.
Jenni: Don't worry, Mordecai knows already but he doesn't care.
Kassian: I'll be sure to not tell Serafine or Nico.
Ali: Same.
Me: Question for Jenni. Are there any remaining living members of the Graves Family besides yourself and your brother?
Jenni: I have 3 aunts that are alive and a few cousins on my father's side.
Me: Another question for you. Did you kill Atlas May?
Jenni: What?
Me: A lot of people think you killed Atlas May of Lackadaisy.
Jenni: No, I didn't.
Me: Are you sure?
Jenni: I didn't kill him.
Me: Ok. Anyone know anything about their heritage?
Jenni: Scottish and Latin American
Marcus: Italian American
Bella: Same
Sierra: I have a bit of old west in me. One of my great grandfathers was married to an Indian.
Ali: My great grandmother on my dad's side was an Eskimo.
Suzie: My family originated from Africa.
Dolly: I have no idea! I think my family were native Texans.
Marley: Same over here. Kassian?
Kassian: My dad says we're from British Settlers, but I don't know how true that.
Leslie: My family were always Americans.
Me: Cool! I'm Scottish, Irish, and have a little Native American too.
Marley: What's the next question?
Me: What would you guys like for Christmas?
Marley: Oh that's easy, a big bundle of flowers!
Sierra: A new hat would be cool.
Dolly: A cute stuffed animal.
Marcus: I've been dying for a new pair of timberline boots.
Ali: A hot tub! What?
Kassian: I'd like a house. An actual house. I just live in a hotel room.
Leslie: A new magnifying glass. Mine broke.
Suzie: A sand globe. Instead of snow, it's sand. Get it?
Bella: I just want to live with my beautiful family. Maybe a new dress.
Jenni: I've always wanted a hemp garden...or maybe plant a forest.
Me: All great gifts! A reader wants to know what your favorite foods are.
Jenni: Muffins. Blueberry.
Marley: Pancakes!
Ali: Because Rocky likes them?
Marley: No. I kind of like waffles a little more.
Ali: Well I love snow cones!
Sierra: I like jerky.
Marcus: Spaghetti. With the squiggly noodles.
Dolly: Buttery garlic bread!
Leslie: Bananas! Love tropical fruit!
Suzie: My mama makes the best chicken noodle soup in all of New York!
Kassian: I really like cheesecake.
Bella: Salads. Any kind.
Me: You guys are making me hungry! What about beverages?
Jenni: Coffee
Marley: Chocolate milk
Ali: Hot chocolate
Sierra: Orange juice
Marcus: Tea
Leslie: Apple Juice
Suzie: Margarita
Kassian: Water or milk
Bella: Pina Collada
Dolly: Soda
Me: Now you guys are making me thirsty!
Jenni: Any more questions?
Me: Favorite books. Holidays. Animals. Plants. Any medical conditions? Someone wants all the names of the people Jenni's killed and how.
Jenni: That's private.
Me: Yep, and I think that's a good place to end our chit chat time.
Marley, Suzie, and Dolly: Aww Man!
Me: Don't worry guys. There will be plenty more of the Graves Gang in the future! Right now, let's give a big shout out to Tracy and the creators of Lackadaisy for creating such a fantastic world and inspiring the creation of a generation of OCs and their families!
All: Way to go guys!
Me: Let's also give a shout out to all the other fanfic writers, old and new, for helping build our community!
Jenni: And don't forget to love and support the Lackadaisy team so they can build a larger and more beautiful world for our favorite gatos!
Me: Thanks again for all the support for and from the Graves Gang! See you all at Lackadaisy!