Snowflake's Digital Diary: Entry 11
I have only three words to say, diary… Ho-ly SHIT! I mean the day started out pretty normal. Wake up, watch Daddy do his work, eat, steal from the Mega bitch's panty drawer, sleep again, the usual. But then what do I find when I come down into the kitchen earlier? Only some lady claiming to be Daddy's mom! That's right! I got a Gran-gran now!
I mean, holy fuck, talk about a wild card in the deck of the afterlife! I NEVER would have thought this could happen. And Gran-gran seems so nice too… okay yeah, I haven't actually interacted with her yet, but she SMELLS nice, anyway.
Obviously, I'll go meet her later. It'll give her and Daddy some time to catch up first… honestly, I think they both need it cause I had NEVER seen Daddy cry so much.
After both Mick and his mother had a good cry, the pair of them wasted no time in trying to catch up with each other, though not without a good deal of hesitancy and awkwardness considering how long it had been since they last saw each other. Thankfully, they managed to break the ice a little by telling each other about their current lives.
"Wait, so you work for Shank?" Mick questioned, doing his best to look unbaffled. "As in Shank Calico… MY old employer?"
"Mhm," Shelly replied with an awkward scratch of her head. "Kind of ironic, considering he bought the Rustler's Retreat shortly after you came to work here, hmm?"
"Wow… talk about poor timing," Mick uttered, trying desperately to keep himself from face-palming.
To think, had he never lost his job at the Peppermint Puss, Mick might have reunited with his mother that much sooner… That being said, that would also mean that he never would have come to work here, or met all of his new friends… and become Octi's bodyguard. Funny how cruel life down in Hell could be even without meaning to be… life in Hell.
"I just don't understand how you could have been down here all this time," the Cat Demon commented, feeling that he could no longer put off asking the bigger, more awkward questions. "I mean, how is it even possible? You were practically a saint when you were alive."
Hearing that, Shelly let out a small sigh. Obviously, she had expected such a question to come up… and now it was time to take Ember's advice and be sincere with her answer.
"That's sweet of you to say, honey, but… I was far from a saint," she began, her mind reeling over how to best word her explanation. "You see, I… wasn't the most lawful person in my youth. I must have shoplifted so many stores that I've actually lost count… It probably didn't help that even as an adult, I kept doing it."
Once again, Mick found himself shocked. Far from when he reacted when Shelly first came into the room, granted, but still, learning that his own mother was a thief when she was alive was nonetheless surprising, to say the least.
"You shoplifted?" he asked, giving Shelly cause to quickly elaborate before her son got the wrong idea.
"Not as much after I had you, I promise," she assured him, though not doing much to quell Mick's confusion. "Though I'll admit, it was hard to kick the habit. I might have stolen the occasional can of soup now and then… maybe a lollipop or two… then there were all those pens from the post office… I swear I couldn't help it!"
So not a thief so much as a kleptomaniac? Well… at least she wasn't out robbing banks back then. Plus, that does explain a few things, the most notable being her new appearance.
"So… you stole a few small items out of habit," Mick summarized. "Then what? Hoarded it all?"
Shelly gave an embarrassed nod at that, her light blue fur gaining a small touch of red around her face.
"I basically had an entire drawer filled to the brim with all those pens," she admitted sheepishly. "I guess you could say I… squirrelled them away."
…
"BAhahahahahaha!"
Mick didn't know why, but hearing that come from his mother's mouth immediately cracked him up.
"I see you're still making terrible jokes," he commented, unable to believe how much he missed such wisecracks.
"Hey, you're laughing aren't you?" Shelly retorted with a light smirk. "Can't call them terrible if you are!"
It was a small, yet truly blissful moment between the two of them, one that they would undoubtedly look back on in the future, though it was over just as quickly as it began.
"So… what have you been doing with yourself down here?" Mick couldn't help but ask as soon as he calmed down. "Were at the Rustler's Retreat this WHOLE time?"
Once again, Shelly couldn't help but feel a little awkward.
"Not exactly," she answered with another sigh. "When I first got here, I didn't have the most pleasant of starts. The instant my feet touched the Pride Ring, I was hounded by every pervert in a five-mile radius. Luckily I managed to find protection by working at an Emporium up in Cannibal Town."
"You what!?" Mick exclaimed, once again getting smacked in the face with shock.
"Oh, don't worry, it wasn't as bad as it sounds," Shelly reassured her son. "In fact, I was only the Emporium's bookkeeper, and Rosie was quite nice once you got used to her… acquired tastes shall we say. True, for a long time I thought she and her employees were all going to eat me, but apparently they all prefer the 'less fairer' sex for their palette and I was never forced to join in, so I eventually got used to the job."
Hearing that, Mick couldn't help but feel a little sick.
"You got used… to working with CANNIBALS!?" he blurted out.
"Hey, we all need to adapt somehow in this pit," Shelly argued. "Besides, I was only there for about 10 years. Once I grew a little stronger and gained enough confidence in myself, I was finally able to stand on my own two feet and eventually made my way to the Rustler's Retreat. The girls at the Emporium were a little sad to see me leave though, Rosie and I even stay in touch."
…
"You sure they didn't want to eat you?"
At that remark, Shelly once again couldn't help but laugh, glad that her son was taking everything she was saying so well. Obviously, she wasn't planning on telling Mick EVERYTHING just yet though. After all, if her son found out about her relationship with Shank, AKA his former employer, along with everything else all at once, he would probably have an aneurysm. As if he wasn't slightly overwhelmed already.
"Well, what about you, then?" Shelly then asked, deciding to shift the focus of the conversation off of her for a bit. "Sounds to me like you've had quite the adventure down here yourself."
Mick, of course, could only scratch his mask's cheek at that question.
"I suppose you could say that," he muttered, unsure of how he should approach that particular subject.
Despite who he was talking to, the Cat Demon still wanted to keep a lot of things close to the chest… especially the details of what he went through during the first 7 years of his time in Hell. And obviously, neither of them wanted to even touch the extremely touchy subject of how Mick ended up in Hell in the first place. In the end, the Cat Sinner simply chose to relay what he went through during his time here in the Goetia house.
"Wow… nobles, cowboys and swanky hotels," Shelly commented with a smirk. "And you haven't even finished your first year yet. Makes me wonder what else you're going to get up to."
"Hopefully nothing too over the top," Mick stated with a sigh. "Then again, knowing my luck, I'm probably gonna end up pissing someone else off in the near future."
"Well, in any case, I'm sure your fans will love it."
The moment those words left his mother's mouth, Mick's eyes instantly shrank in horror.
"Oh Christ, you've seen the videos too!?" he exclaimed, earning yet another amused smirk from Shelly.
"I'm a follower of the blog," stated bluntly, holding up her phone. "Obviously, I had no idea it was you, but the videos were still fun to watch… love the nickname by the way. Really has a nice bit of panache."
Mick, of course, could only groan at that.
"Ugh…"
At that moment, Shelly's smirk slowly began to fade, revealing a face filled with curiosity and concern as she looked upon her son.
"So… you go by Mick Nikos now?" she asked, causing Mick to freeze up a little.
Obviously, Mick had expected such a question. In fact, he damn near dreaded it ever since Shelly first came through the door. Still, he had to make sure his mother understood and respected his decision to go by such a name.
"I do," he confirmed. "And if it's all the same to you, I'd rather you keep calling me that name while we're in public. Keep my real name between us, yeah?"
Hearing that, Shelly couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"May I ask why?" she asked curiously.
"I guess… I guess you can say that it's a name I left behind a long time ago," her son uttered, once again scratching at the left side of his mask. "I'd rather not have anyone else know my real name. I… I need to keep it hidden."
The way Mick spoke… he almost sounded… terrified. Almost as if openly saying the name SHE gave him was a sin all on its own.
"Son…" Shelly uttered, reaching a hand out to him. "What happened to you?
At those words, Mick immediately froze up again. While one of his hands continued to scratch at his mask, the other slipped into his pocket and gripped his Rosario tightly. Needless to say, he also chose to remain vague when answering his mother's question.
"Let's just say… the last 14 years took their toll," he forced out, unable to bring himself any more than that as flashes of horrible memories came flooding back to him all at once. Memories filled with blood, tears and the grinning faces of Angels.
Despite the mask covering his face, Shelly could still tell that her son was suffering from a mental and emotional struggle as he began to fidget like a scared kitten. Whatever it was that happened in the past had clearly left him with a lot of trauma. With that in mind, Shelly decided to drop the subject right there and then. She did, however, hope that one day in the future, he would be comfortable enough to let her help him in his struggle.
"It's okay, hun," she said, placing her hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to say anything if you don't want to."
"Thanks, Mom," Mick replied gratefully, taking a few cleansing breaths to calm himself down.
After giving her son a few moments to collect himself, fearing that he just might end up going into a panic attack if he didn't, Shelly let out a small sigh and tried to think of a way to change the subject again. While she tried to rack her brain for ideas, her gaze suddenly found its way towards one of the paintings hanging on one of the nearby walls, one which depicted Prince Stolas, along with his wife and daughter, all dressed up in their royal attire and posing in front of the house. Seeing this intriguing piece of artwork, a smile soon formed on Shelly's face.
"So… bodyguard to a Princess, hmm?" she asked, giving Mick the sudden urge to sit up straight and blush beneath his mask.
"It's… it's good work," the Cat Demon said awkwardly.
Alas, that only seemed to intensify Shelly's grin.
"Oh, I'll bet it is," she commented, trying desperately to hold in her giggles. "I must say, you have quite the eye for the ladies, my boy."
"MOM!"
Not even half a day into their reunion and Shelly had already returned to the role of the embarrassing parent. Oh, how Mick wished that was the one thing he'd never have to experience again.
"Oh relax, I'm just teasing," Shelly chuckled, giving her son a soft but playful elbow to the arm. "But seriously, as far as Demon Royalty goes, she IS quite pretty."
Needless to say, Mick couldn't help but agree with that.
"Isn't she just," he commented, quickly and bashfully clearing his throat upon realizing what he had just said. "Uh… I mean, she knows how to look good while being painted!"
"Mhm," Shelly uttered, rolling her eyes as her smirk refused to leave her face. "And what about Ember? From what I hear, you and her are… pretty close. Never thought I raised you to be a playboy, Nicky."
As playful as Shelly made it sound, Mick immediately froze in horror upon hearing that. Did Ember tell her about his time in Wrath, or worse… what he and her got up to during that time!? Oh, hell, he definitely needed to speak to Ember about this later!
"W-well, of course we're close," he stuttered, nervously, obviously reluctant to speak about his sex life in front of his mother. "We're pretty good friends."
"Right… GOOD friends," Shelly repeated, clearly sceptical about her son's claim. "Well… regardless of your relationship, it's clear that she and the others care for you a great deal. Hell, we owe her and them all a lot today."
Mick, of course, couldn't resist smiling beneath his mask at such a statement.
"Yeah… that we do," he admitted. "They are a good bunch… even if some of them are a little odd."
CLUMP!
"Oof!"
Snapping their heads over towards the door, both Mick and Shelly were surprised to see Linda splayed out over the floor. Having been eavesdropping on the two's conversation for so long as she and Ember leaned against the door, neither Imp seemed to realize that they were also leaning up against the handle. One misstep later, Linda had fallen forward, landing face-first on the floor just as Snowflake tumbled out of her arms. Needless to say, both she and Ember found themselves a little embarrassed due to their current situation.
"Hehe, sorry!" Linda uttered awkwardly as she quickly picked herself up and ran back through the door.
"We'll, uh… leave y'all alone now!" Ember added, feeling just as awkward as she swiftly pulled the door closed.
One moment of uncomfortable silence later, Mick let out a groan of anxiety while Shelly couldn't help but laugh.
"Odd, yet incredibly nosey it would seem," she said through her giggles, having a strong feeling that neither Imp had finished listening in just yet.
Her son, however, wasn't quite as amused.
"Yeah," he said, spotting something in the corner of his eye and snapping his head towards the other door. "VERY nosey!"
"Shit, he's onto us!" he heard Jessie's voice say through the door, her voice slightly muffled through the wood.
"Scatter!" Jewel's voice added before Mick and his mother heard loud clatters that indicated a small group of Demons trying to run away.
Once again, Mick groaned with anxiety.
"I am SO sorry about them," he apologized, only for Shelly to shake her head.
"It's quite alright," she said. "After all, wouldn't you be curious too if the roles were reversed?"
"I suppose so," Mick replied, though he was reluctant to admit it.
Suddenly, Mick felt a small paw softly scratching away at his leg. Looking down at his feet, he was greeted by the one Demon he was delighted to have in the room right now.
"Hey, girl!" he greeted, beaming as he scooped up Snowflake in his arms and lifted her onto his lap. "Were you feeling left out? I'm so sowwy."
Seeing her son gushing over the adorable little Kitsune pup, Shelly instantly felt her heart melt. The moment she looked into those big blue eyes, the elder Sinner practically fell in love at first sight.
"And who's THIS little one?" she asked, trying desperately to hold in her delight.
Seeing the twitching expression on his mother's face, Mick couldn't help but smirk beneath his mask as he held the little fox out in front of him, knowing exactly what was about to happen next.
"Mom," he said. "Say hello to Snowflake, my pride and joy."
After allowing the Kitsune pup to give her a curious sniff, showing her that she meant no harm, it didn't take Shelly more than twelve seconds to suddenly scoop her up and cuddle her like an adorable plushie. As Mick had expected, his mother still couldn't resist the charm of cute animals even in death.
"Aww!" she exclaimed, fawning over Snowflake like a little baby. "What a cutie!"
"You should have seen her when we first met," Mick commented, trying desperately not to chuckle. "Back then, she was so small I could lift her up in the palm of one hand and carry her in my pocket."
At those words, Shelly's fawning appeared to increase tenfold. Apparently, just the very idea of this precious little fox somehow being smaller and cuter made the elder Sinner's heart flutter like a flock of butterflies. As for Snowflake herself, though she was understandably startled at first, she didn't seem to mind being gushed over like this. What's more, between the smell of strawberries and alcohol, there was a certain… familiarity about this woman. A tender feeling that made the Kitsune pup feel like she could always trust Shelly just as much as she did Mick and Octavia. Such is the power of a grandparent it would seem. She even seemed to have the baby talk down to a tee.
"Oh, aren't you so cuuuuuute!" she said, her eyes seemingly growing bigger than the lenses of her glasses. "Aw, Nicky, can I keep her?"
Hearing that, Snowflake's eyes immediately snapped wide in shock, unsure as to whether Shelly actually meant that or not. Unable to resist laughing in amusement at that, Mick had to take a moment to calm himself down before he straightened himself out. As much as he enjoyed seeing his mother happy, however, all good things had to come to an end.
"Okay, I think you've had enough Snowflake Snuggles for one day," he said after about five minutes, offering up his arms to take the little fox off his mother's hands. "I think the poor girl needs a little break."
True enough, Snowflake did seem to look pretty uncomfortable. As much as she liked to be pampered and gushed over, even she had her limits, and the way Shelly was hugging her close seemed to be pushing them. Alas, the Squirrel Demon seemed to have no interest in letting her go just yet.
"Do you like the sound of dat, hmm?" she said, seemingly ignoring her son's words as she gave the Kitsune pup kisses all over her face. "Do you wanna stay wiv me forevah?"
"Come on, Mom," Mick insisted with a sigh, "I think you can let her go now."
However, Shelly simply refused to have such a precious treasure taken away from her so soon.
"No!" she snapped playfully, turning her body so that her back was to her son. "She's mine now! You can't have her!"
Okay… now things were starting to get annoying.
"Mom!" Mick exclaimed, trying in vain to take Snowflake back, even as the little fox herself tried to climb over Shelly's shoulder in protest.
Shelly, however, had yet to bring out the big guns.
"Come on, little one," she whispered into Snowflake's ear. "There's some treats in it for you."
The instant she heard the T-word, Snowflake instantly ceased her struggling and settled back down to cuddle into Shelly's shoulder, the Squirrel Demon's bribe working like a charm, much to Mick's dismay.
…
"You little traitor."
After Mick finally managed to pry Snowflake from his mother's grip, that being no small feat given how many treats and tummy rubs he had to promise her, it wasn't that long until Shelly reluctantly had to leave the house. As the late night hour drew near, she, Mick and Ember were all saying their goodbyes at the front of the house while Johnny waited in his van to give them a lift back to the Rustler's Retreat.
"I'm sorry you couldn't stay longer," Mick apologized, wrapping her mother in a tight hug. "I would have loved to catch up some more."
Needless to say, Shelly shared the same desire wholeheartedly.
"There will be plenty of time for that, sweetheart," she said reassuringly. "We know where each other is now, so we can visit each other any time we like."
"Well… sort of," Mick stated awkwardly. "Might want to double-check the times with my employer. Trust me, I do not want you getting in trouble only because you are in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Of course, the Cat Demon's concerns were warranted. After all, Prince Stolas might have been okay with it, but Mick dared not think about what might have happened if Stella had been in the household to witness all of this. Shelly, however, didn't seem too deterred by this.
"Oh, don't you worry," she said. "From what you've told me, I'm sure the Prince would understand if I dropped by for a social visit now and then."
"It's not HIM I'm worried about," Mick muttered under his breath, now having horrible flashbacks of running around the house naked with a crossbow-wielding madwoman on his tail.
"Hey," Shelly said firmly, placing a hand on the back of her son's head. "Everything will be alright… I promise."
Feeling his mother's touch again and hearing her gentle words, Mick immediately felt at ease. There was just something about the way she reassured him that always managed to calm him down.
BEEP! BEEP!
"Come on, guys!" Johnny called out from his van. "We gotta get going before the royals get back!"
Hearing that, Mick immediately let out an annoyed huff.
"Way to ruin the moment, Johnny!" he called back irritatedly.
"Sorry!"
Johnny's lacklustre apology aside, the Greaser did have a point. As much as Mick would have loved to have his mother stay a little longer, he would rather not spring her appearance on Stolas out of the blue after a night out. If he was going to introduce them, then he wanted to do it right… Besides, he also worried that Stella and Octavia might come back early, which was a whole other type of nightmare to deal with.
"Well, guess we better head off then, Sugar," Ember said, giving Mick a small pat on the back. "Y'all stay in touch, yeah?"
Mick, of course, only gave the Imp the most genuine of hugs in return, his gratitude for her part in reuniting him with Shelly clear for all to see. Feeling the Cat Demon's arms wrap around her, Ember, of course, couldn't help but melt into the embrace.
"Thank you, Ember," Mick uttered in her ear. "For everything."
Pulling away from the hug, Ember could only chuckle in response.
"Aah, tweren't nothing," she said bashfully. "Just happy to see y'all happy, Mick."
Then, just when Mick thought the Imp was turning to leave, Ember gave him yet another surprise by removing his mouthpiece and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before putting the mouthpiece back, leaving the Sinner frozen in a state of shock.
"W-wha!?" he babbled, much to Ember's amusement.
"Consider that my reward, Sugar," she teased, finally turning towards the van with a sway of her hips. "Be seeing ya!"
…
"Damn, she's good."
As Ember climbed up into the van, Mick's eyes suddenly found themselves wandering to the area below her waistline. He had almost forgotten how… mesmerizing Ember could be when she tried… so much so that Mick had also almost forgotten that his mother had been watching the whole exchange.
"You know, if it doesn't work out with your Princess, Ember IS a nice girl…" Shelly commented, causing her son's face AND mask to turn red from embarrassment.
"Mom!" he exclaimed, earning himself a small laugh in response.
"Hey, I'm just saying, we Sinners need to grab any opportunity when it comes to stuff like this," Shelly continued, emphasizing her point by flipping her hair and gesturing to her figure. "Especially when we're not being hounded by ol' Father Time anymore.
Not that Mick was surprised by his mother's statement, of course. When Shelly was alive, even he couldn't deny that she looked good for her age. Though she may have been pushing 40 when she died, for the last few years of her life she had looked as though she had been towing her late twenties. What's more, somehow, her Demon form looked even younger, thus making her look even more attractive… not that Mick would ever say that out loud, of course.
"I suppose that's true…" he uttered, unable to form any kind of argument to his mother's words.
"That being said, I suppose it's just as well we're ageless in both mind and body," Shelly continued. "Otherwise, technically speaking, you'd be a few years shy of being old enough to be the Princess's dad."
Hearing that, Mick immediately let out an annoyed huff. No way was he going to let THAT comment slide.
"Oh, you're one to talk… granny," he said with a smirk, earning himself a playful slap across the arm.
"Oh, I KNOW you did not just use the G-word on me!" Shelly retorted, pausing for a brief moment before the pair shared a small laugh.
BEEP! BEEP!
Once again, Johnny's horn broke them out of the moment, causing Mick to give the Greaser yet another annoyed glare.
"Well… guess I've delayed long enough," Shelly said reluctantly, gently placing a hand over the cheek of her son's mask with a heavy sigh. "I just wish I could see your face."
Mick, of course, felt an immediate lump in his throat at that. As much as he wanted to grant his mother's wish, he just couldn't reveal what lay beneath the sheet of metal he had crafted. In time, perhaps he might comply if he could only find the courage to do so… but not tonight.
"Believe me, so do I," he admitted, anxiously scratching at his other cheek.
Seeing that such a request was making her son uncomfortable, Shelly merely sighed in defeat and respected his boundaries. Clearly, he wasn't ready just yet. Instead, the pair of them opted to give each other one final hug before Shelly departed, the smell of her strawberry shampoo still just as Mick remembered it as he held her close. Suddenly, an idea popped into Shelly's head, one which she immediately put into action the moment she pulled away from the hug. Before Mick realized what was happening, his mother was reaching for the edges of his mask.
"Mom!" Mick gasped defensively, reaching out for his mother's wrists to stop her. "What are-"
"Shh!" Shelly cut him off softly, looking into his eyes with deep assurance. "Trust me…"
Despite his fears, his mother was still one of many people whom he trusted completely. As such, Mick hesitantly lowered his hands and allowed Shelly to proceed with what she was doing. Making sure she didn't overstep, Shelly reached her fingers under the chin of the mask and gently pulled it away, allowing her to lower it just by an inch or two and giving her a clear view of the top of her son's forehead without revealing anything else. Once revealed, she then lowered her face and placed a kiss against Mick's brow. Feeling his mother's soft lips upon his forehead, it took every ounce of willpower Mick had not to start crying again before Shelly put the mask back properly. Satisfied with what she was able to give her son, the elder Sinner smiled and finally turned away.
"I'll come back soon, yeah?" she said, making her way over to the van. "I'd love to meet this Princess of yours."
"Y-yeah," Mick uttered, still feeling somewhat emotional over what had just happened. "I'd like that."
"Bye, honey."
Those were the last words Mick would hear his mother say before she then got into the passenger's side of Johnny's van, gave him a small wave and was driven off the grounds of the Goetia household, leaving him alone on the front steps with his thoughts. His mother… after all these years, he had reunited with his mother, something that he had never even thought possible! Now that she had left though, the emotional fatigue quickly took over, so much so that the Cat Demon quickly lost his footing, forcing him to take a seat on those steps.
As he sat there, Mick looked up at the red sky of the Pride Ring, trying his best to piece himself together. Of all the things that could have happened in his afterlife, this was by far the last thing he could have imagined. He had been clinging on to so many memories with his Mom, never once thinking he'd have the chance to make new ones. That said, when such ideas came flooding to his head, they also made way for even more somewhat unrelated ones. If this reunion could be possible… then perhaps other things are just as possible.
Looking back into the open doorway of the house, seeing a glimpse of the rest of the staff as they quickly ran away from their second bout of eavesdropping, Mick soon felt his chest tighten as thoughts of a certain Goetia Princess began to come to him, bringing him a smile that would have matched the one on his mask. Perhaps this reunion was just the push he needed to do something he should have done a long time ago… However, at that moment, some of Shelly's words began to give him cause for concern, causing his smile to fade.
"Old enough to be her dad, huh?" he uttered, looking down at his own hands with a sigh. "Guess I never really thought about that."
Suddenly, he felt a familiar brush against his leg as Snowflake came outside and took a seat next to him, undoubtedly wanting to check in on him after his mother's departure. Needless to say, Mick was grateful as he gave the little fox a scratch behind the ear.
"Amazing what can go over your head over time, eh, Snowy?" he said, causing Snowflake to give him a curious tilt of her head. "Being stuck at 17 for so long, the concept of age seems almost foreign now… at least for me."
Hearing that, Snowflake had the immediate urge to provide her master some comfort. Luckily for her, she had the foresight to bring out her digital pad when she came outside.
"yOU wanNa TalK?" she asked through the device, giving Mick cause to smile again.
No matter how many times he had experienced this type of exchange by this point, the Cat Demon still found it baffling that he was now able to hold a verbal conversation with his dear pet. Of course, that wasn't to say that he didn't also find being able to do so was both a delight and a pleasant change of pace that he was glad to be a part of.
"Don't know what there is to say, in all honesty," he admitted with a sigh. "I mean… we've all got a choice, don't we? We've a right to choose, don't we?
At that moment, Mick rose up, seeming lost in his thoughts as his words came out in the form of a small melody.
Mick:
And well, I'd be the first one to say that I am no catch,
Still, is it really so hard… to think that we'd be a good match?
After that, Snowflake watched with intrigue as she watched Mick stroll down the steps and pace across the courtyard, seemingly deep in thought.
Mick:
I'm reviewing the situation,
I've been through much since I have come to stay,
I was brought here by invitation,
And since then I've not disliked a single day,
True, the staff are all as mad as loons,
And the Gardener's a fucking loony toon,
The boss is very kind to me,
Though his wife's a massive bitch to me,
A nightmare she greatly tries to be,
A migraine she truly is to me…
I think I'd better think this out again!
At that moment, Mick briefly stopped pacing around and stood by the nearby fountain, staring at his reflection in the water. Seeing this, Snowflake walked up to the fountain herself, jumping up onto the rim of it as Mick continued to think aloud.
Mick:
A job you can keep, anyway,
Who gives a damn, anyway?
Still, if she didn't give me a chance, I couldn't have shined,
But… can I even say… that I am even worth her time?
After that, Mick proceeded to step up onto the rim of the fountain himself and walk along the edge of the water with Snowflake following suit.
Mick:
I'm reviewing the situation,
Octi thinks I'm such a worthy knight,
But never once in my imagination,
Did I think I'd be fit to guard a mite,
I'm a super skinny S.O.B,
There's a small chance that I come with fleas,
A firestorm I make, that's true,
A burning blaze with flames so blue,
But, the damage I'd cause, possibly,
Oh, how angry my royal boss will be…
I think I'd better think this out again!
With an exasperated sigh, Mick then ceased walking and sat back down, allowing Snowflake to place her head upon his lap as she looked up at him with gentle, yet concerned eyes.
Mick:
But then she trusts me, does she not?
We're the dearest of friends, are we not?
If I were to ask her to accept all of me,
If she did say yes… then what future would we see?
As another assortment of thoughts began to swim through his head, Mick scooped Snowflake up in his arms and began to pace again. This time in the direction of the front gate.
Mick:
I'm reviewing the situation,
Her own peers'll be shocked to see my mug,
Titled Demons with a station,
Who would look at me like I'm a lowly bug,
I'm a humble Cat with savoir-faire
But it's not as if they'd even care,
The poor Princess would have no heir,
Cause her man has got a useless pair,
He's rather odd, an older sod,
In a younger bod, and oh my god!
I think I'd better think this out!
I think I'd better think this out again!
Yanking at his hair in frustration, Mick then let out an exhausted yell and slammed the forehead of his mask up against the metal bars of the gate. This time, not even Snowflake's snuggles could help him get over what he was feeling. No matter how many times he thought it over, everything seemed to be telling him NOT to hope for what he truly wished. And yet… even so, there was still one tiny spark in his head that still refused to go out. A spark that so far only served to confuse him more as he turned around and gave a look back at the home of his crush.
Mick:
Despite all of that… is it possible?
To face all of that… is it possible?
Is it all worth the pain for this forbidden romance?
How could we know… if we don't take the chance?
At that moment, Mick's eyes began to open in more ways than one. Looking down at Snowflake, who appeared to be on the same page as him given how much of a happy pant she was giving him in return, all of the thoughts and feelings finally led him to a decision… a decision he should have made ages ago.
Mick:
I'm reviewing the situation,
Time let the heart rule over the head,
I have come to a revelation!
Screw the consequences, I'm already dead!
Giddy with exhilaration, Mick stepped away from the gate and practically danced right there in the courtyard with Snowflake in his arm, making it seem the two of them were taking part in a strange-looking waltz. In all that time, neither Mick nor his beloved pet could stop grinning like idiots.
Mick:
I don't know what the fates will bring,
But all of that don't mean a thing,
To beat the odds will be a cinch,
Cause I'll burn them up all in a pinch,
By next full moon, and one, two, three,
She'll know just what she means to me,
It's time I declare to thee…
To she who stole my heart frooooooooooom me…
I think I'd better think this out again!
Hey!
With one final leap of joy, Mick then tossed Snowflake in the air, only to catch her a second later as they both landed. Taking a moment to catch their breath, both Sinner and his pet appeared to be of the same mind. After all the bullshit and the mayhem, the joyful moments filled with excitement, the tearful embrace they both shared… It was time to confess everything… It was time to tell Octavia his true feelings!
BEEP! BEEP!
"What the shit!?"
Suddenly, Mick was snapped out of his train of thought due to having to literally dive out of the way of a speeding van and land in the nearby rose bush. Apparently, while he had been trapped in his own head, Mick had failed to notice that the front gate had been remotely opened, allowing the speeding vehicle to zoom by and nearly run both him and Snowflake down.
After shaking off the initial shock and pulling themselves out of the foliage, both Sinner and Kitsune pup stomped over to the van as it pulled up next to the front steps, determined to give the driver a piece of their minds… However, they both found themselves suddenly coming to a stop with looks of surprise.
At first Mick thought Johnny might have come back for some reason, but then after taking a closer look at the mode of transport, he quickly saw that this was a completely different van… and that Stolas was in the front seat! Daring not to take another step, all Mick could do was scoop up Snowflake again and listen as his employer spoke to the Imp currently in the driver's seat.
"Thank you, for… inviting me out tonight," the Goetia Prince said awkwardly as he leaned in through the open passenger window. "Despite everything that's happened, I… I enjoyed spending time with you."
The Imp, however, only looked irritated at that sentiment.
"Yeah," he uttered bluntly.
Now that Mick was finally able to see the driver and hear his voice, he quickly found himself somewhat surprised to see that it was, in fact, the same Imp he had seen during the Pain Games down in Wrath, the same Imp that he had also caught sneaking away from the grounds now and then. Blitz, he believed his name was. Undoubtedly, the reason Stolas had been out of the house up until now was because he had been with his Impish lover again.
As much as he didn't like the idea of anyone having an affair, given who Stolas was married to, Mick could certainly understand why he would prefer Blitzo's company over Stella's. Plus the Prince did seem a little happier whenever the Imp came over… though from the sound of it, it appears that the night didn't go well for the pair this time around...
"You know, I have some more wine in the house," Stolas continued, seemingly trying to keep the night from being a total disaster. "Octavia's with her mother this weekend. So, we could-"
"I'm not fucking you tonight, okay?" Blitzo interrupted with an exasperated sigh. "I'm really just… I'm really not in the mood, Stolas."
From what Mick could gather, the night had certainly taken its toll on the both of them, though Stolas seemed to be the only one still trying to be optimistic.
"We could talk, or… watch a movie, or maybe… cuddle?" the Goetia Prince offered, only to be met with some harsh words for his trouble.
"Stolas, don't act like what we have is anything but you wanting me to fuck you, okay? You make that really clear all the time," Blitzo snapped, his voice breaking a little as he tried to keep himself together. "But, I just, I-I can't do it tonight, okay? …I'm sorry."
As both Stolas and Blitzo looked at each other with sad looks on their faces, Mick could easily tell that both of them were hurting. Whatever happened between them must have been REALLY bad.
"Okay," Stolas eventually relented with a sigh of his own before stepping away from the van and bowing his head. "Goodnight, Blitzo."
"Night,"
That was the last thing Stolas would hear the Imp say before he quickly drove off, circling the fountain before speeding away from the courtyard, leaving Stolas all by himself in front of the mansion. Shedding a tear, Stolas immediately sat down on the front steps and rubbed a hand across his face in regret. Seeing his employer and the father of his crush in such a state, the compassionate side of Mick's soul immediately cried out to him. As such he knew that he couldn't remain silent any longer.
"Rough night, sir?"
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
The Featured Song: Parody of "Reviewing the Situation" - From the Movie: Oliver