#22 Time to Celebrate
Oh, come on. I need to finish before he wakes up, Globby worriedly thought as he worked about in the kitchen. He currently was in his Dibs form so he could make breakfast without making a mess. It was a mild morning on Saturday, June 7th and it was a special day as it was Felony Carl's 43rd birthday, so Globby wanted to get a head start on the day and make their morning meal a surprise; he had already made coffee, set some bananas and syrup on the table and gotten out the plates and silverware without much racket. The gelatinous mutant did have to stop briefly when Jasmine came in, meaning he had to feed and water her before getting to the main dish: pancakes.
Globby managed to get the batter mixed and was about to get it into a large pan when he heard the shuffling of footsteps. Darn it. So much for it being ready. Oh wait! The shapeshifter then fabricated a small bouquet of rainbow-colored balloons tied to a weight so they wouldn't fly away. He also stretched an arm up to one corner of the kitchen (opposite of the main entrance) and swiped it along to the other end, creating a long pink banner that read "Happy Birthday Carl" in red letters as it went. There. That ought to do it until I give him his present later, Globby contently thought before changing back into his Dibs form. He now poured the batter into two circles, followed by creating a large handful of chocolate chips to sprinkle on top. (Globby had already checked with the motorcyclist a while ago and he said he was fine with this sort of thing, especially after pointing out where honey comes from).
As the pancakes were cooking, Felony Carl came through the living room and into the kitchen, which prompted Globby to shed his disguise and exclaimed, "Surprise! Happy birthday Carl!" once he was in view.
The unibrowed man gave a warm smile and replied, "I thought I heard you get up early, but this is a wonderful display none the less. Thank you." He then sniffed the air and added, "The pancakes are smelling delectable too."
"Thanks. I was just about to flip them. I already got coffee made so help yourself," the pink and purple man responded as he changed his left hand into a spatula to complete his task. After Felony Carl poured himself some creamer into his mug and some coffee, he set the mug on the counter and proceeded to give Globby a big hug, to which the other turned around to reciprocate it.
"You know you do not have to do this for me," the husky biker stated with a coy smile.
Globby gave a small snort and told him, "Oh please, I want to do this and you were so sweet back in January with my birthday. It's the least I can do." He then looked at Felony Carl as a softer expression crossed his face. "Besides, what kind of person would I be if didn't celebrate your birthday?"
"More than likely an inconsiderate one. Now, you might want to check that breakfast is not burning," Felony Carl informed him with a smirk as he released his boyfriend. The gelatinous mutant then quickly smiled and shifted back to face the stove, where he was fortunate that they were almost done.
A couple minutes later, he expertly removed the pancakes with a spatula hand, set each on a plate and brought them over to the table for eating. "There you go. Enjoy," Globby cheerfully said before sitting down.
"Thank you for the impeccable meal," Felony Carl told him as he reached for the syrup. Globby went ahead and just made his own butter pecan syrup to put on his pancakes before he turned his left hand into a fork and began eating.
It was a couple minutes of quiet chewing and sipping of coffee when Felony Carl decided to ask, "So, what did you have planned for the day? I do not have to work today or this evening, so I am tentatively free as of this moment."
The shapeshifter finished his bite of banana and answered, "Well, I mainly wanted to just spend the day with you doing the things you like; you're either working or I'm out doing what I can to help people, so it's been a while since we've spent a full day having fun. Plus, we do have two months of quality time to make up for." He then looked to his left for a second before adding, "I also planned on making your cake tonight so it would be a surprise. I already got the ice cream though." Globby proceeded to point a gelatinous thumb at the freezer.
"Ah. That would explain the Neapolitan container that suddenly found its way in there," Felony Carl cheekily remarked.
"Yeah," the pink and purple man simply said with a smile while scratching the back of his head. The two then finished their meals in peace, enjoying the light conversation and feeling the building of anticipation at what else the day would hold.
After breakfast, Globby and Felony Carl spent the next two hours watching TV on the couch, discussing what the former had in mind and of course, giving some pets to Jasmine. The shapeshifter relayed that he thought they could maybe go to the movies (Globby's treat), followed by eating at Joe's for lunch and lastly, going to the Botanical Garden in Torii Gate Park. This proposal sounded good to the motorcyclist as despite his rough exterior, he enjoyed leisurely activities, had a love of plants and hadn't been to the park in a while; it also was a place Globby had visited so rarely, so it would be nice for him too. Felony Carl eventually pulled out his phone and pulled up the movie listings. The duo searched through what was in the area and decided on "Turn of the Screw," a murder-mystery movie that they both were interested in. They decided that since the movie theater was less than a half mile away, they could walk and enjoy the outdoors. Once they got done watching the news and verified that it was going to be a nice low to mid 70s today, they headed out of the apartment and made their way off Ichiba St.
"Man, it does look like it's going to be a gorgeous day. Good thing too since we got a little bit of walking before we hit the theater," Globby casually remarked as he and Felony Carl turned left onto Hatchi Blvd.
The motorcyclist nodded and added, "Ample conditions make for optimal days." The two continued north for several blocks, sidestepping past other people on the sidewalk, waving hi to those that recognized the shapeshifter and making idle chat about stores they went by. After almost 20 minutes of walking, they finally made it to the Toshi Eiga Theater, where it was a 3-story building that was light peach in color with dark brown trim. Out front, it had posters lined along the wall of what they were showing like "Kentucky Kaiju Vs. Seismic Sloth" and "For the Win;" there was also a large white display above the ticket both with all the movie titles listed. It may have been Saturday, but since they were going to the first showing at 10:45am, there was only two other people in front of Globby and Felony Carl in line.
The gelatinous mutant then gave Carl a wary look as he said, "Do you think I should be less…this before we go in?" gesturing to himself.
Felony Carl looked Globby up and down, followed by shrugging and telling him, "You do whatever feels most comfortable. If making a mess is your main concern, you can always make a cover for your seat."
Globby pondered the idea for a couple seconds before smiling and nodding in agreement. A moment later, they stepped up to the ticket counter and were greeted by an employee with short brown hair, wearing glasses and was named "Rene."
"Hi. Welcome to the TET. How may I help you?" he professionally asked, not acting surprised or off putted by Globby's arrival.
"We'd like two tickets to the 10:45am showing of 'Turn of the Screw' please," the shapeshifter answered right back.
"One moment," Rene responded while typing into his computer. "That'll be $12.50 sir."
"Coming up." Globby then produced a pure silver coin the size of a nickel, making the ticket booth operator stare at it in confusion. "Sorry. It's this guy's B-day, so I want to treat him, but as you can see, no wallet," Globby apologized as he patted the sides of his hips for emphasis.
"It's uh, okay sir. I'm sure you're fine to pay this way. Here." Rene proceeded to print out two tickets and slid them under the protective glass. "I'll check with my manager in the meantime; we'll know where to find you anyway if there's an issue. Enjoy the show," he courteously said as the pink and purple man took them.
"Thanks," Globby told him before he and Felony Carl pushed the double doors to go inside. The interior was covered in forest green wallpaper with gold trefoils imprinted on it. There was also a black and white tiled floor for the lobby that turned to a purple carpet with bright blue diamonds as the theme. In front of the two diverging hallways that led to the actual theaters, a concession stand stood with all manner of candy, drinks and popcorn that was being made behind the counter. "Hope there's not a problem. People usually just accept it and move on," the gelatinous being nervously wondered.
"I am sure it will be fine. The young worker is merely being on the cautionary side rather than face scrutiny later," the motorcyclist speculated as they approached the ticket taker, who appeared to be a young man less than 20yrs old wearing a black shirt and khakis. The young man took their tickets and after giving them a little shake to remove a tiny bit of slime, tore it in half and gave the rest back.
"Thanks."
Felony Carl and Globby then walked further into the theater where the reformed mutant asked with a wink, "Need anything cuz you know I'm covered on snacks?"
The unibrowed man gave a soft chuckle and answered, "I am fine for now. We will have lunch after the movie anyway."
"Okay, but say the word and instant water bottle at your disposal. Once we're in there, I don't want you or me to miss any of the movie on account of a little thirst," Globby cheekily informed him.
Felony Carl nodded and said, "Alright. Now, which theater are we in?"
"Uh…#3 to the left," the shapeshifter replied after checking the tickets.
The duo then headed in and found the small place to have about 60 seats, with most of them being available. They spied some free ones in the middle with no other people around, so they made their way up to the grey cushioned spots. Before Globby sat down though, he fabricated a soft black mat that he formed over the seat and arm rest so as to not risk making a mess for whoever was responsible for cleaning up.
"There, now I don't have to worry about anything except you and the movie," the gelatinous mutant stated, satisfied and now sitting in his chair. Felony Carl proceeded to take the one to his left, where they sat quietly for a few seconds until the motorcyclist remembered, "I better get my visit to the bathroom out of the way. Be right back."
"Okay," Globby simply said as he followed his boyfriend with his eyes until he was gone. I hope the movie's good. I'd hate it if he had a bad time, the pink and purple man anxiously thought as he leaned on his right elbow. He gazed around the theater to occupy his time, noticing the soft maroon walls with a few lamps along them as well as the 10 or so brighter lights overhead. Globby also looked to find about a dozen other people in there too, mostly couples and a handful of others by themselves. Before he knew it, Felony Carl returned and took his seat next to him just as the lights started to dim.
"Perfect timing," Globby remarked, garnering a small smile from the bandana-clad man that was barely visible. The previews then started to play, giving everyone a sneak peek at "Outstanding Warrants" (a cowboy-themed movie), "Nightlife" (a thriller set in Nueva York) and "One Way Left" (a suspense picture involving a man on death row).
"Not a lot of happy or funny moments in those movies I bet," Globby commented quietly to which Felony Carl replied, "Family-friendly trailers would probably be seen if we went to the showing of 'Beyond the Rainbow.'" This made the shapeshifter snicker a little before he silenced himself for fear of being too loud.
A couple minutes later, the movie finally started. The duo had seen that it was about a young woman who had been slain in a resort where there was a family reunion happening, but beyond that they were in the dark. As the movie progressed, they leaned on each other for comfort and occasionally made remarks about who they thought the killer was. There were a few jokes thrown in every now and again, making each individual laugh stand out among the low attendance. Twists and turns abounded with each suspect being crossed off or added as new clues were found; it also led to some gasps and "Oh, that makes sense" from the reform criminals.
After an hour and 50-minute runtime, the credits started to roll, leading everyone to stand up and get a stretch in before gathering their things; in Globby's case, he merely reabsorbed his protective mat and scooted along with Felony Carl down the seats to the exit aisle. "So, what'd you think?" the gelatinous mutant asked as they made their way to the front entrance.
"I found it intriguing and suspenseful. It certainly was wrought with mystery," the biker answered with a nod of approval.
"Yeah, I seriously thought it was going to be the woman's brother since that would be super dark, but I was pretty close with it being his wife; she too just gave me creepy vibes," Globby added before they walked up to the front set of doors and opened them.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Truly, the allure of a good mystery comes from not knowing who is innocent or guilty, making for considerable shock and drama. Also, it was most fortunate they did not refund your unorthodox payment," Felony Carl analyzed as they now headed back south towards Joe's.
"You said it," Globby simply stated with a small chuckle. They continued their journey for another five minutes before proceeding to turn left on Naga Ln and only needing to take that course for a few blocks. Along the way, they noticed more people on the sidewalk as well as traffic picked up too. The sun was now overhead and would have made things hotter if not for the comfortable breeze. Finally, the pair spied their favorite dining place as the giant red "Joe's" sign stuck out the side of it. From their current position, they could see there wasn't a line out the door, but plenty of people filled the inside booths.
"Hopefully we won't have to wait for a table," Globby anxiously wondered.
"I am sure it will be fine," Felony Carl reassured him as he now held the door open for him.
"Thanks."
"My pleasure."
Their eyes surveyed the small establishment and found that while mostly full, their usual spot was vacant. Felony Carl smiled slyly and said, "Told you it would work out."
The shapeshifter nodded as they slid into the seats and replied, "Yeah, yeah. I wouldn't be surprised if Joe keeps it empty just for us."
"That is a probable possibility," the bandana-clad man conceded as he handed a menu for Globby to browse.
Not 20 seconds after they arrived, their waitress Andrea, a woman in her mid 30s with long blonde hair tied up in a ponytail, came over to get their drink orders. "Afternoon Globby. Afternoon Carl. Anything to start you off with?" she politely inquired.
"Ice tea for me. Thanks," Globby requested.
"Lemonade for me today, Andrea. Thank you," Felony Carl informed her.
She jotted their drinks down and told them, "Alright. Be right back," before quickly heading to check her other tables.
The two reformed criminals then returned to their menus as the gelatinous mutant wondered, "Find something yet? I was leaning towards the chicken salad sandwich."
Felony Carl looked up and answered, "The BLT sounds rather appetizing."
"Ooo. Well, I guess we're good once Andrea gets back," Globby remarked, followed by placing his menu off to the side. He then self-consciously asked, "So, enjoying your B-day so far?"
The husky biker smiled warmly and replied, "It has been a delight, and I have no doubt the trek through the gardens and subsequent cake enjoyment will be wonderful too."
Before he could say anything else, Andrea returned to set the ice tea and lemonade down before questioning, "Got your meals picked out for me?"
"Yep. I'd like the chicken salad sandwich with chips. Thanks."
"And I will have the BLT with fries. Much appreciated."
"Okay. I'll put these in and get back with you soon," the blonde woman said as she now headed to the kitchen.
Watching her walk away and looking about the crowded restaurant while hearing the murmur of conversation, Globby now contently sighed, prompting Felony Carl to inquire, "You good?"
"Yeah, all good. Just getting that glad/relieved feeling again from not having to hide anymore," the pink and purple man answered with a grin.
Piquing the unibrowed man's curiosity, he followed up with, "I do not believe I have asked you before, but was it hard to maintain your non-standard form for so long?"
Globby shrugged with a more-or-less hand gesture and replied, "At first it was. Definitely spent a good bit of practice to get it set in, but eventually it got stuck in my mind to always keep part of my focus on my disguise. It certainly made for an exhausting time when I came here because you just know I couldn't stay away from this place for two months." He added a wink to his last statement, garnering a smile from Felony Carl before they both decided to take a sip of their drinks.
Once satisfied, the shapeshifter then questioned the biker, "So, we going back home to get your bike and drive up to the garden?"
Felony Carl nodded and responded, "It might take a while to make it there on foot and would be subsequently too tired to enjoy the beauty."
"Fair enough. With how fast you drive, I'm sure it'd be faster than if I swinged there anyway," Globby teased as he gave a cheeky grin. The cat loving man now chuckled, making the other laugh a little too. Any day I can get him to smile is a good day, the gelatinous mutant happily thought. All we've got left is the park, cake and of course, a little surprise present. Now, I wonder where he wants to go first once we get there?
"Wow Carl! Just look at them all," Globby remarked as he fawned over the multitude of flowers they walked past. Once they had finished lunch and returned to their apartment to fetch Carl's bike, they drove northeast to Torii Gate Park. It had been months since Globby (or rather Dibs) rode on Felony Carl's bike (there wasn't much need when he could swing or fly and until he learned mimicry, would have made a mess of it), so he shifted his form into his smaller old self and even made a helmet for the drive. They proceeded to speed through the city, only stopping for red lights, stop signs and when an ambulance came blaring its sirens behind them. After 15 minutes of weaving through all the streets and hills of the city, their eyes gazed upon their destination. Both gentlemen had been to the park before, but Globby had rarely gone to the gardens as most of his previous visits to the place were when he was a criminal looking for an easy score.
The husky biker parked along the south entrance, where an archway served as the gate inside. They had already been in there 30 minutes and had strolled through the bamboo forest, where the shapeshifter joked about turning into a panda for a cute photo; afterward, the former criminals took the path past some hills where the magnolia trees were starting to bloom, showing off their large pinkish-white flowers; there were also some mimosa trees too but were not yet in season.
Now, Globby and Felony Carl had worked their way to all the perennials plots, where a variety of blossoms were on display. They saw vibrant orange day lilies as well as bushes of red, pink, white, and yellow roses off to their left while the right had rows of purple, red and pink anemones and snapdragons.
The gelatinous mutant saw the display card that said what each plant was along with its scientific name, where he gave a small laugh at the anemone one and said, "I guess they couldn't come up with a more original name."
Felony Carl chuckled and replied, "You uttered the same thing before when I told you about all the nouns that are called 'Kiwi.'"
"So true," the mostly transparent man stated as they now walked past a giant lilac bush. On the purple flowers, countless butterflies, bees and other manners of insects were going from one blossom to the next, sipping the nectar as the sweet, calming scent permeated the air.
Globby sighed as he briefly put his head on Felony Carl's shoulder. "I hope you're having a nice time."
The motorcyclist nodded and told him, "It is a proverbial utopia for plant enthusiasts such as myself. It is most fortunate we have come on a day like this."
The shapeshifter smiled contently as they continued on, walking past a few other park visitors, one being an elderly woman and another being a small family of two women with their son in a stroller. The duo then saw a small pond, decorated with white and pink water lilies while a couple ducks swam peacefully on top.
Seeing the birds, Globby nudged Felony Carl and asked, "Hey, want to make some fluffy birds happy?" He proceeded to fabricate some pellet food in his left hand before flashing a cheeky grin, to which his boyfriend reciprocated. They walked onto the bridge that crossed the water, where the husky man took a handful of the synthesized food and tossed it into the pond, getting the birds' attention. Before they made it though, some orange, white and black koi came to the surface and ate it up.
"Umm Globs, it appears there are more mouths to feed than anticipated," Felony Carl informed him.
"Don't worry. Plenty more where that came from," he quipped as he simply formed more food for the hungry animals. They stayed there for a couple minutes, being sure that everyone got some and then turning to explore more of the park.
The path they were on lead them near the edge of the gardens, allowing them to hear some cars drive by as they passed some open meadows, with well-kept grass and a few people enjoying a late-afternoon picnic. Eventually, they came to where several rows of tulips had been planted, displaying their prominent colors of pink, white and yellow; there were also some that were purple, red and black, and pink and white, but not as many as the others. Once they awed over their pretty petals, they noticed another of the areas that was shrouded by some small trees.
"Do you know what's over there Carl?" Globby inquired as he pointed a gelatinous thumb.
"I believe that is the Tsuki Pavilion, a small dock of sorts that extends over the accompanying pond," Felony Carl answered, already knowing what Globby was going to say next.
"Ooo, sounds pretty. Let's go see," he enthusiastically said, taking the husky biker's large hand and leading him down the way.
The area became more shaded as the branches above them extended over the path. The duo gazed up every now and then to see the afternoon sun glint down on them. A few minutes later, they saw the pavilion, where the trees opened up to the sky overhead and currently a dozen visitors were idling around, looking out over the small body of water. The dock itself was made of dark, stained wood with a 4ft tall rail around the edge of it. There were also a few tables and chairs laid out so late-night visitors could possibly see the moon if the time was right. In addition, there were a couple metal posts on the beginning of the pavilion, sporting hanging baskets where some small pitcher plants were growing out of them.
"Dang. Those are some funky-looking plants," the shapeshifter commented, noticing their red and green color, tube-shaped bodies and the leaf over their mouths.
"Yeah, and they are carnivorous too," Felony Carl informed him, making the gelatinous mutant take a step back from them. The bandana-clad man chuckled and elaborated with, "They are only dangerous if you are an insect."
"Oh," Globby simply said as the duo moved onto the dock. They moved along the center with the shapeshifter trying not to bump into people; fortunately, the visitors were leaving him alone too with only a few actually staring at him for a few seconds before returning to their sightseeing. Once they reached the end of the structure, Felony Carl and Globby could see more lily pads and blossoms on the surface as well as a good covering of green duckweed.
The pink and purple man gazed up and went, "Hey," making the other look up too. Above them was the bright blue sky again, but with the sun in the center of the viewing area, giving the appearance of the glowing orb being surrounded by a ring of blue followed by a ring of green. "Looks like we came at the right time," Globby remarked with a small smile.
"It is a pleasant sight, but I have a feeling it would be enjoyable at any hour," Felony Carl coyly replied as he looked back over the water. They both let a deep sigh escape as they continued to examine the area. It was a couple minutes later by the time the chocolate-loving mutant asked, "So, ready to get going?"
His boyfriend nodded and said, "Sure. We will have to finish soon so as to give you ample time to make this surprise celebratory cake."
"Oh, it won't take that long. This is your day. If you want to walk a little slower or stop along the way, no problem for me," Globby told him while making a dismissive gesture.
Felony Carl chuckled softly and replied with a smile, "Alright. We can stay just a little bit longer then."
"Okay, keep your eyes closed. Almost done," Globby instructed his boyfriend as he sat down at their kitchen table. It was twilight outside their apartment now as they had arrived home only 45 minutes ago. Being that they had a late lunch, they stopped off at a Benito's to pick up some of their signature wraps to go and just eat them when they got back; there of course was the matter of taking care of Jasmine when they were done and giving her a few pets before they could go back to the celebration.
After his order to have Felony Carl close his eyes, Globby began focusing on the cake and its flavor. Let's see, I already settled on dark chocolate raspberry to give it an extra special taste, so for the design, I'm thinking… A few seconds later, the birthday cake started to form from the bottom up, starting with a plate to set it on, followed by the dessert itself. The gelatinous mutant's vision had the outside be a soft pink frosting with green swirls and red roses spiraling along the exterior. For the final touch, he spelled out "Happy Birthday Carl" in sparkly gel icing that went from yellow to orange to red in color for the bottom of the letters to the top, making each look like a glowing flame. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, he then set the cake down on the table and said, "No peeking. Still got to get the present."
"As you wish Globs," Felony Carl cheekily replied as he kept his eyes shut.
The shapeshifter proceeded to go into the hallway closet outside of their bedroom, where he had hidden the gift he made yesterday under some spare blankets; the box had black and hot pink stripes along with a silverly bow on top and was only 1ft x 1ft in size. A moment later, Globby was back in the kitchen and finally told his boyfriend, "Okay. You can open them now."
Felony Carl did as the gelatinous mutant said and saw him holding the present along with the beautiful cake he made. "This all looks incredible. Thank you for all the thought and detail you put into today," the cat loving man complimented the other.
Globby blushed slightly and smiled before replying, "Hey, you're worth it and I'd gladly do it every day. Now, go ahead and open it up so we can see how the cake turned out." He then handed the striped box over and waited eagerly to see if he liked it.
Felony Carl took the box and gingerly took the lid off to peek inside. As it turns out, there was more than one item within, so the large man first pulled out a small black sack, prompting Globby to explain.
"What you've got there is something I asked Honey Lemon to help me with. They're more of those special pink paint balls for your motorcycle, so anytime you want it to be glittery and pink again, just toss a couple at it. Plus, I know how to make them now so it won't just be for a limited time."
The goateed gentleman smiled and said, "Truly a delightful gift. I will certainly use them. Thank you." He then pulled the second gift out to reveal a large, tightly folded pink shirt that read "No more Mr. Nice Guy" in sparkly dark magenta letters.
Globby self-consciously scratched the back of his head as his boyfriend examined it and told him, "I thought it might be funny like in an ironic way or something since it might be hard to peg down whether you're really being serious or not about the whole 'Nice Guy' thing."
Felony Carl chuckled softly and responded, "It looks greats and I will be sure to wear it in the future. No need to worry." This made the shapeshifter give a quiet "Phew" at the gift being well received. The last thing Felony Carl pulled out was a white mug that read "World's Greatest Cat Dad" in black letters and had a picture of Jasmine inside a red heart.
"I uh, figured it'd been a while since you got a new mug and I just had to put the truth on there," Globby explained a bit cheekily this time. Then, as if to emphasize the point, their white cat came in and began rubbing against Felony Carl, prompting him to lean over and pet her. "And Jasmine agrees with me," the pink and purple man smirked while crossing his arms.
Once he was done petting his feline, the vest-wearing man set his gifts aside and stood up in order to give Globby a heartfelt hug, to which the gelatinous man reciprocated. "These are all such wonderful treasures I am sure to enjoy for a long time. Thank you for an extra special celebratory day," Felony Carl conveyed to his boyfriend.
Globby smiled and replied, "Anything for you Carl. Happy birthday." He then released the other from his sticky hug before forming another plate in his right hand and a small knife in the left. "Now, come on. Let's try the cake and feel free to give me notes so I can make it better next time."
The motorcyclist simply smiled and told him, "Sure," as nothing more needed to be said as they enjoyed the final treat to such a fun day.
NOTES
Hope you enjoyed the gifts Globby gave Felony Carl as well as all the places they went. I also thought Felony Carl would be fine with whatever food Globby made from himself since he's for one, a pretty laid-back guy and I think I made a valid point in regard to honey (although there are plenty of other food with gross origins O_O).
The next story will be about Krei having a meeting with a certain new interviewee. O_O