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urfavblackbimbo · 2 months

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Chapter 9

Summary:It’s been a couple of months since the business has started the air to becoming colder in South Central area and celebrating Frankie’s birthday and one gift he will cherish forever, one day getting a call from Avi saying he wants to meet and with lapd breaking into Avi’s place then arresting Avi and Lee, Frankie wanted him out that day and had to cough fifty gs for the lawyer and that raises a couple of eyebrows at y’all. And now the coke is all officially gone then Frankie comes up with a plan to drive down to Oakland to meet Swim to end up finally meeting the man that we all were looking for…. Avi’s connect.

Warnings:afab-reader, n-word usage, cursing, minor character death, kissing, oral (female & male rec.), sneak-peak of dad!frankie, making crack-rock, slight fear of heights

Word count:8.6k mdni+ Happy reading

This takes place in Season 2 ep. 1 and 2

Four Months Later

The business is going good, really really good. You and Frankie were the only ones that was allowed back to Avi’s place from now on, walking into the cookhouse to see Louie stirring the mason jar, you grabbed a black bandana and wrap it over your nose then tying it behind your head and grabbing kitchen gloves, then pouring equal parts of the baking powder and coke in the mason jar with a little bit of water and stirring in the water. Lee and Kev were breaking up the large rocks into smaller rocks then bagging them, Jerome, Peaches and a couple of other guys were bagging the rocks in chip bags. Once your shift was done, you went to the ice cream truck, had ice cream for the kids and rock for the adults. As the kids were coming up for the ice cream and the adults would walk around back to get their rock

Peaches is tying up the bags of money in the truck, while you and him were sitting on the car waiting for everybody to finish up, getting back to Jerome’s house he unlocks the backroom with two deadbolts behind it, Frankie opens it to show the back wall is in containers of money and Jerome dumps bags of money on the table, Jerome leaves to grab more bags of the money and left you and Frankie to count it.

Couple weeks later

Today is Franklin Saint's birthday. The man is turning the big 20. He wanted to do something small with just his family, friends and of course you. The gift you got him was a gold chain with the word ‘Saint’ in the middle and a fresh pair of white sambas with light blue stripes going on the sides. You had them both wrapped in birthday paper sitting next to you.

Once he enters to Jerome’s house seeing Lee making out with Wanda, he takes of his dark blue jacket, showing off his white shirt, blue and green shoulders and the color going across his chest, he sees you in the corner and Kev stops in his tracks “Ladies, I would like y’all to meet Franklin Saint aka our savior aka the big black apostle.” He smiles “Franklin’s fine, alright, nice to meet you ladies.” all the ladies smile at him, and one of them is staring a little too hard. Frankie walks away to greet Jerome “What’s up unc?” Jerome puffs out some smoke “Sup nephew.” He grabs some chips and starts eating them and sees you sitting on the couch “What you doin’ here alone?” you couldn’t wait to show Frankie what you got him, you pick up your large gift first and you handed it to Frankie “Happy birthday baby.” he looks down at the gift and takes the large gift and takes a seat next to you, opening his gift of a red adidas box carefully to see a pair of white sambas with a light blue stripes going across “Holy shit baby, you know I can never get enough with these shoes.” Frankie has been collecting sambas shoes for a while, the boy has a damn near obsession. He gives you a kiss “Thank you baby.” you smile “Your welcome baby, but I have one more gift.” you bend down to grab the smaller gift, your back was exposing to him showing your purple waist beads, you were wearing a black backless dress and black wedges with your necklace on display.

Suddenly you find your next gift, you handed it to him he opens the gift to see the gold chain with the words ‘Saint’ written on it, he holds it in his hands not saying anything “Do you like Frankie?” he turns to you “Of course baby I love it thank you really.” you kiss him on the lips “Your welcome baby.” Louie walks into the family room wearing a red long romper, Jerome slams his hand on the table “Goddamn! I don’t know how you got the energy.” Louie takes a couple twenty’s in her bag “If I got to spend my time my days in that cookhouse. I sure as hell ain’t spending my nights in here.” Jerome yells and takes a sip of his drink “Hey Peaches! Hey hey make sure she get to the club aight.” “Bye Jerome.” “Give me a kiss.” Jerome smacks her ass “Give Claudia a kiss for me too.” Louie looks back “I will if you want to.” “Tell her to come see my tree!” Louie laughs “She ain’t wanna see your tree, but she do like pie though…. I tell her that y’all said hi too.” you smile at Frankie “Come on, put it on.” he open the clasp and lock it behind his neck, as it lays there resting on his second button “What’chu think?” You rest your fingers to touch his necklace the smooth golden in cursive of his last name “I love it on you baby, the jeweler did a really good job gold is definitely your color.” he smiles at you showing his pearly white teeth he grabs your hand “Come on let’s go to our room.”

As you enter to the guest room Frankie starts kissing your neck feeling his gold rubbing against your neck, he spins you around to take you in his lips he slips off your dress and takes off his shirt to only have his necklace on he pulls down his khakis pants to show his red plaid boxers you push him on the bed you climb on top and makes out with him he grabs your ass and flips you over slowly takes off his boxers and starts to stroke himself he lowers himself on his stomach to face your pussy he leans down to kiss your soft inner thighs “I should be givin’ you head today it’s your birthday.'' he looks up “You right it’s still my birthday and one of my wishes is to eat you out.” he dips his head his tongue sliding all over your pussy he moans all over it. Loud banging was coming from down the hall. It sounds like Jerome is yelling “Open the gooddamn door! The fuck is wrong with you.” you put on your dress and Frankie puts on his boxers to see what the hell is happening Frankie opens the door first to see Jerome busting through his room to Kev with two girls in his bed Jerome grabs his shoe and smack one of the girls ass “Oh you wanna fuck in my house nigga.” and start smacking Kev he was naked to only have his bucket hat to cover himself he runs out of the room and down the stairs and Jerome chasing him “Grab his ass!” they both pass you, Frankie, Lee and you all laugh “Is that your birthday Franklin?” he smiles “Yeah and I was showing Lexi how thankful I was.” you smack his shoulder Lee sticks out his tongue out in disgust “Leon what’s taking you so long?” coming from Wanda inside of the room Lee touches his shoulder to say good night to him and Frankie copies “Good night Lee.” “Good night Lex.”

You both get undressed to get back on the bed you rest your head on the pillows spreading your legs “I think you want to finish what you started, birthday boy.” he smirks “I ain’t no boy, I'm older than you now.” He climbs on top of you his necklace dangling in front of your face your eyes switch back and forth to his face and neck “Well if I’m the birthday boy then I’m about to make to make one of my wishes come true.” you rise on your elbows “Can you tell me one of your wishes?” He pulls closer to your face grazing your lips “If I tell you. Then it won’t come true and one of my wishes will definitely come true.” kissing your lower stomach moving down to your pussy dragging his tongue to touch your clit and down to your lips and your softest walls gripping the sheets his hands grip your thighs to hold you in your place, your hands find their way to his hair your fingers touching his tight coils “Fuck baby oohh ughh shit.” Pants and moaning coming out of you he moans into your pussy feeling the vibration “That’s right baby you fuckin’ nut on my face.” Frankie slips his hands to your knees bending you in half seeing him admiring your pussy and let’s a long drop of saliva on your warm pussy before you could realize he is deeper in your pussy getting your juices all over his face the wetness leaking out of you then you try to fight back with closing your legs but there was no use you couldn’t win even if you wanted to. You continue to grind against his face he ate you up like you were his last meal he kept moving his face to rhythm of your hips your waist beads were riding up to the middle of your soft tummy once he felt you relax under grip he slowly rise to grab a small washcloth to clean up the excess of you and throws it in the dirty hamper “Thank you for my wish baby.” he kiss you “I’m still not tired.” you rolled on your stomach to crawl to where he was and opened your mouth to take him in your mouth “What do you say to the birthday boy baby?” you mumble ‘Thank you’ you look up to him to see that he is already looking at you “Stretch that throat baby I wanna fuck your throat.” you relax your throat to take him deeper feeling his slighty over gown bush touching your nose “Fuck-kk baby you’re taking me soo goo-od.” his chest is puffing out taking deep breaths and even deeper moans “I wanna see your eyes baby, let me see your eyes baby.” his hips strokin’ out of your mouth his necklace catching your eyes resting on his chest with his new accessory he fo’real could be a male model with the looks he was givin’ you, he grips the back of your head you grip his ass to bring him closer and cumming in your throat “Fuckkk baby I’m bout to nut baby ohh fuck.” there was so much sliding down your mouth tasting his musky and clean nut you take one more swallow to taste all of him “I’m glad to spend your birthday Frankie.” he grabs your face to pull you in a sloppy wet kiss “I’m glad too baby.”

A few days later you get an unexpected call to from Avi saying he wanted to do a another pickup “Just sayin’ a little heads up would be nice.” he’s holding a duffle bag of forty-two thousand dollars and Avi puts his arms up “But I like seeing you Frankie and the beautiful Lexi…eve-even Leon here is growing on me.” He pats on Lee’s shoulder “You know how stressful it is to ride through Encino with this much fuckin’ coin in the car?” Avi walks over to his bar “Okay, maybe Leon is not growing on me show much. I got a few ounces lying around somewhere so you don’t feel like you wasted your time. Muir go to the stash see what you can find for Frankie.” the gunman walks away “You got it.” Avi takes a sip of his drink “You know not too long ago you were happy with just a few hundred dollars.” “How we grow huh?” “Like weeds. Hey, on Friday both of you come over for shabbat dinner, wear a nice coat.” Avi pulls on his jacket “Come on Franklin and Alexia, you both have money now, get yourself a nice coat and flowy dress to match.” He puts his hand on Avi’s shoulder one of the gunmen comes back running back “Avi! Avi!” the men are scattering around trying to hide the drugs and the money “Hey what’s goin’ on?” you turned to look at Frankie “What did he say?” Frankie asking around Avi is speaking in hebrew to the gunmen to calm down “LAPD! HANDS UP LAPD.” He pats on your shoulder to run from the cops one of them starts chasing you “Right there! Don’t move!” you run around the house to see a fence blocking you Frankie throws the duffle bag over the fence and hops over it effortlessly you climb the fence and Lee pushes you over the fence to escape you run to Frankie and see Lee getting handcuff “You thought you can run from me punk ass kid.” Lee puts his hands on his head “Shut the fuck up.” and gets dragged back to the house.

Frankie finds a payphone to make a call to Jerome “What’s up nephew, you heard anything from Avi.” Frankie hands you the duffle bag “Hey unc and Avi got raided the cops came and they got Leon.” Frankie kept nodding his head and listening to Jerome and hangs up the phone “Jerome wants us to meet Tyrone, he's a lawyer.” Jerome was already there waiting for the both of you he walks up to Jerome and Frankie opens the car door setting it on the ground, walking into the office there was a lightskin man in a suit named Tyrone and a darkskin man named Biscuit and sitting on the table behind him “Apparently your boy’s in business with a babe ruth motherfucker, that dude Avi? Hitting him with possession with intent to go along with a hefty gun charge?” Biscuit spoke up “intrems y’all lame-asses can understand. That boy fucked” your eyes shift to Tyrone “What about Leon?-” you get cut off by Biscuit “Hit him with a 69-PC.” “The fuck is a 69PC?” Jerome turns to Biscuit “Felony evading.” Jerome puts his hands out “Why the fuck you ain’t just say that then?” Biscuit kept looking at Jerome “Cause I’m a fuckin’ professional J-rome.” “No you’s a moron Biscuit.” Tyrone trying to calm them down “Now the bad news is your boy got priors and because it’s a felony bail is fifty.” Jerome looks in shock “Thousands?” Biscuit looks fed up “Ain’t fifty hundred nigga.” Jerome looks at Biscuit “I want him out.” “Gonna need ten percent down cash, collateral, whatever.” Jerome sucks in his teeth “Shit fifty thousand ain’t shit.” Biscuit and Tyrone make quick eye contact “Yeah it is, it’s a lot Jerome actually I’m need a minute to get that for you.” “Aye ain’t my boy on there, do what you gotta do.” You all walk out of the office to Jerome’s car “Nephew you got the fifty gs right now, let’s get this shit done.” He turns around “Avi and Leon are locked up and we spent the whole day running around Enico with forty-two gs in a duffle bag, trying to find a cab or a bus before the cops found the both of us.” Getting in the car “So yeah maybe I’m a little on edge.” Jerome takes his cigarette out “Well with Avi in the clink you know where we can find some more coke?” Frankie just stares off into the distance as Jerome pulls off to the courthouse.

It’s been a few hours since Lee has been locked up and Frankie decided to get him out that day you were sitting on the rail with Kev in front of the courthouse with Jerome and Frankie “Aye he still ain’t out?” Jerome was pacing back and forth “Any minute man Tyrone is in there now-” Kev cuts off Frankie “Where was I?” Kev was wearing a red adidas tracksuit “Uhhh, you was getting ready to ruin the rest of the fuckin’ movie.” He puts his hands in his pockets “Damn right and he go ‘Say hello to my little friend’ doing finger guns imitating gunshots “Yo he bad, I seen this shit twice” Jerome still pacing around “So he lived?” you look at Kev for his answer “What nah man, everybody in that motherfucka died. What’s up Jerome you got crabs or something?” he flinging his arms around “I don’t like being around this motherfucka gooddamnit.” Lee and Tyrone walk out of the courthouse “Ahhh this fool.” “So when you drop the soap, do you bend over to pick it up or do you squat? Like how does that work?” you all go into a fit of laughter filling up in your tummy Lee shakes his head “This motherfucker.” “Hey y’all make sure this little nigga don’t run, you hear?” “Who the fuck you talkin’ to?” Lee deepens his voice “Aight playa. Look y’all need me again and it sounds like you will, you know where I’m at.” Frankie shakes Tyrone hand and walks away you walk up to Lee to give him a hug “Thanks for pushing me over you know I can’t hop no fence.” “Yeah no probs I wasn’t gonna let you go to holding.” Frankie wraps his arms around Lee and starts walking “They sweat you hard?” “Some.” “You give them my social?” “Name, number address.” “Appreciate that, man. So what you want, huh? Drink? Lap dance?” Frankie pushes Lee to the front “Wanda didn’t wanna come with y’all, huh?” “Oh nah man, she was havin’ a little trouble walking spent a little time with her while you was gone.” you all laugh at his joke “Oh, you wanna to fuck with me after I just got out, huh?” “Nah we wanted to fuck with us.” Pointing at all of you “Oh really? So I have to beat all y’alls ass huh?”

It’s late in the night and you were sleeping with Frankie in the spare room you had a his red and white baseball shirt on and some panties with your bonnet Frankie his arm over your tummy pulling you closer in his dreams he was wearing a undershirt and blue boxers to cover you both in a yellow blanket that you took from your house. Two loud bangs ring through the house and the sound of smash glass hitting the floor screaming to the extent of your heart exploding “AAHHH!” Frankie jumps up to grab his gun from under his pillow and runs to the family room you quickly chase after him to see as well “HEY WHAT THE MOTHERFUCK!” coming from Jerome and “WHAT THE FUCK!’ from Louie you all see each other in the room Frankie running in front of you to shoot his target, there were two bodies laying on the ground with ski masks. Peaches has his gun pointing down to the ground “There we go, Peaches.” Jerome cheers to him and walking to the window “What the fuck happened?” you looked at all of the broken glass “How they get in?” “Back door.” Peaches says it sarcastically “Somebody didn’t lock that shit. Somebody left that shit unlocked.”Louie runs back to the back door and Frankie went to go check the windows “They jimmied the shit.” Frankie yells “And Peaches you aint hear it? And so what you just kill some motherfuckas in my house, you ain’t wanna scare them first?” Louie getting louder and louder by the second “What you gonna do that for?” Jerome yells at Louie “I ain’t asking you!” Louie waving her hand in Jerome’s face “Well I’m answering you!” you put your hands out the to hush them “Stop! Fucking stop. Keep your voices down. Who the fuck are they?” you step back to see the faces of the dead men Jerome lifts up the mask “It’s motherfuckin’ Biscuit.” your heart drops to your stomach almost feeling nauseous Frankie lifts up the mask “That ain’t Tyrone.” Jerome walks over to see “That’s Jamal, that’s Biscuit older brother.” Frankie walks closer to Jerome “Biscuit’s older brother, who’s paranoid now, unc? I told you not to mention that fuckin’ money!” Jerome snaps his fingers at him “They wouldn’t even thought twice about this shit if you ain’t make a big deal of it, goddamn!” you walk up to Jerome “Jerome why did you even bring it up? you should of never said anything!” Louie steps in front of Frankie “And I told you not to keep that fuckin’ money in our house!” “Wanna talk about this now!” Frankie yells in Louie’s face “Hey if nosy-ass Shirley heard the shots, then the cops is probably on the way now, so now what you gonna do?” Frankie slams his gun on the table “Fuckk.” There was silence not knowing what to do you try to turn your wheels but you were still tired “Me and Jerome go load up the bodies, drive ‘em out, bury ‘em, you three stay here and clean this shit up. Sun rises, this never happened.” Peaches says it with a calming voice and there was another silence “I’m with that shit. Come on.” Jerome walks into his room to go get dressed “This shit is fuckin’ crazy.” You and Frankie go back to the room to put on your clothes.

Frankie comes back inside from throwing the last trash bag away and washes his hands in the sink then comes into the living room to clean the last piece of the glass and throwing it away then taking a seat a the table Louie folds her arms “Why they ain’t back yet?” “Gotta dig. Shit takes time.” he takes a seat with you “How you know?” Your thoughts traced back to Karvel the way your bones were shaking after burying him and how you all had to take turns to dig deep enough for a his body he gives you a quick glance “This house ain’t never gonna be the same.” Louie pulls her chair out and sitting on it “You know, we should probably get some bars on the windows.” “And some new doors.” A knock on the door breaks everyone’s thought and looks at a figure at the door “That them?” Frankie sits up “Nah, they wouldn’t knock you expecting somebody?” “At eight in the morning?” Louie looks at Frankie crazy. He walks closer to the door and peeking through the window “Aw shit.” “Who is it?” you stand up and ask Frankie he puts the gun in the couch and grabs a jacket to cover his blood stain undershirt “One second.” He opens the door and see Melody “Mel what’s up?” “Hey Franklin I wanted to wish you a happy birthday even though I couldn't see you on the actual day.” Her eyes look straight a you “And I wanted to give you this.” Melody pulls out a light blue card with his name on it. “Thanks Mel, I wanted to ask you if you or Andre talk to my mom’s at all?” “She and my dad spend some time together, I see her here and there.” Frankie leans more on the door “How she doin’ ?” Melody look in disbelief “How she doin’? Her heart is broken, Franklin. How you think she’s doing?” Frankie slams the door in front of Melody’s face and walks to the side yard and throws the letter away.

Back at the cookhouse everyone was there even the bodyguards “Coke is officially gone, we got enough of rock maybe another day or two but that’s it.” Louie puts out her cigarette Frankie is getting frustrated “What about you Rob?” “You know how hard it is to find someone to get you more than two kilos a week who isn’t full of shit. He’s trying to rip you off, he’s trying to kill you-” you roll your eyes, sitting next to Jerome “Yeah yeah whatever, man. Anything for you two?” Lee says “Nigga, you want a chopped up key for twenty-five grand? Guy just a motherfucka.” Kev looks at him “Nigga it was your connect. I mean it’s like the white boy, Rob say.” Jerome laughs “There’s a lotta bullshit out here, Frankie.” He puts his hand behind his head and puts them on the table “Okay. First thing in the morning, we head up to Oakland. Visit Swim get enough rock to tide us over. Maybe even talk our way into they connect. Set up a pipeline south. That’s what we do.” he taps on the table “I’m down.” Lee nods his head “Same.” Kev lights his cigarette, he looks at you and you nod your head “Good, get some rest man. We’ll link up at Jerome’s in the morning.” He pats on his unc shoulder you stand up to walk with him to his 1982 Silver Toyota Celica he opens your side first to let you in and rounds to his side and gets in the car pulling out to slowly drive back to Jerome’s house the radio filled up the silence between you too the groovy music playing he taps his fingers to the beat of the music you sway your head to the beat as well his fingers grazed over your pink adidas tracksuit moving his fingers to your inner thigh when he had to turn on a street he uses both hands to turn the steering wheel hearing the music to keep say ‘Keep on doin’ it, Keep doin your thing.’

Hearing another car screeching on Frankie’s side and hitting you both, your body moves with the crash thankfully you had seatbelt on your head hurts feeling groggy from it then some white man comes out of his car and walks up to him “O my god dude I’m so sorry hey how’s your neck?” “It-s’s good.” a taser coming to him tase in the neck and putting a cloth over his nose to him to sleep you unbuckle and try to get out of the car the white man see you and puts the cloth over your mouth and puts you to sleep as well then fading to darkness.

You were dreaming you slowly raise up to see him sitting on the patio and reading the newspaper wearing nothing but a long gray robe you slowly rose from your bed and see tall skyscrapers next to you looking down to see your two beautiful kids both of them was a copy of him and you their were sleeping peacefully and holding there stuff animals you grabbing your matching short gray robe off the hanger in your walk-in closet and wrap around your body and as you walk to him saying in your morning voice “Good morning baby.” he sets down his newspaper and poke his lips out for a kiss uncontrollably you do “Good morning sweetcheeks.” you giggle “Sweetcheeks? Nigga you know you’ve never called me that?” you sit on his lap and give him an another kiss softly resting your fingers on necklace and you hear a another voice in your head “Lexi wake up, come on baby just wake up for me. Leon come on Lee.” It was Frankie. You pull your lips back away from Frankie and you heard it again “Fuckkk come on Alexia wake up please.” You slowly open your eyes and you look to see that you were handcuff with your hands behind you to a pole “Lexi is that you, you okay?” Seeing Frankie handcuff and craning his neck to look at you “Yeahh my fuckk my head hurts, where the fuck are we Frankie?” “I-I don’t know baby?” and another groan coming from the front of the basement “Hey Leon…Leon is that you?” “Yeah man what the fuck is goin’ on? Aw hell nah I fuckin’ pissed my pants.” You tug on the handcuffs “Hey where were you grabbed?” Lee groans “I was walking home and some white dude asked me for directions but… I don’t know man?” Your throat was dry you didn’t how long you were out for “Did any of you get a good look you at him.” “No Frankie.” “No not really my motherfuckin’ head hurt.” You hear whistling and someone coming come the down the stairs “Hey how many out there?” “I -don’t know, I only seen one.” the man comes to the tall gate and locks it with a key and enters then emerging the same white man that hit you with his car “You punk motherfucka. On my momma, I’m going to kill you when I get loose. You hear me, you fucking worm? I’ma kill you!” Leon yells at the white man he waves his finger in a no and leaves and to go come back with a long taser stick “What the fuck is this? What the fuck are you going to do with that?” the man walks to Lee and tase him with it “What the fuck -ow fuck!” the electricity runs through Lee’s body. You and Frankie begs for the man to stop “Hey man please stop.” you try to kick your feet at him “Hey hey! Stop man.” you stuck your feet out to trip him he stumbles almost catching his balance “Bitch.” you say to the man and the man walks over to you to tase you as well your muscle tighten up you couldn’t do anything but scream and groan.

“Tell me about the bust.” “What?” Frankie sounds confuse “Tell me about the bust.” “The bust?” “Tell me about the bust.” “What bust?”he looks down at the taser “Oh fuck.” “At Avi’s.” “It was nothing man, we showed up at Avi’s to buy, fuckin’ cops showed up, we ran. That’s it.” “It’s the truth he’s not lying.” you groaned out “Oh yeah, that’s right, right and you too got away.” “Yeah that’s right.” “Right.” the man walks in front of him “But he didn’t.” “Right?” “He didn’t get away. And yet, somehow… twenty-four hours later, he’s out. Free as bird. How?” “What you think we lyin’ to you?” “He didn’t snitch man.” and Lee yells “Hey kiss my ass I ain’t talk to no motherfuckin’ police.” “All right check with the courts, you don’t belive me just check with the courts man. He charge with felony evading, man and I bailed him out and he didn’t snitch he’s got a lawyer. A court date, it’s all legit.” the man nods his head and taps the taser on his shoulder “I’ll check, we’ll see okay?” as the man pass and and Lee he kicks his feet out to try to trip him, the man moves his feet out of the way “Best to back the fuck up with that shit.” the man steps closer to him “Oh, I would love it if you do that one more time, do it.” and points the taser in his face “You are the stupidest person I’ve ever met.” and then the man leaves and lockes the tall gate

It feels like it’s been hours the man comes back “Your right, Leon Simmions was arrested for evading and resisting, Out on bail.” “We already told you that, dumbass. Now let us the fuck go.” your shoulder were aching to the point you were couldn’t even feel them anymore the man leaves to go grab something “Where the fuck is he going? Hey just be cool, man just relax man, we gonna get out this shit. ” the man comes back with putting a clip in a gun and walks towards Frankie “Hey! Hey, what are you doin’, what are you doin’ man?” “We’re not fucking lying.”you look at the man “You said we were telling the fucking truth!” Lee craning his neck to look at him “Yeah, no, I believe that you’re telling the truth. That’ll help me sleep… but now you three have seen my face.” “I-I can’t see you fuckin’ face.. Huh we still don’t know who you are. Won’t tell a soul about this shit.” “Come on, you have to think I’m pretty stupid to believe that, wouldn’t you?” Frankie takes a breath and begins to smile “Okayy…. I’ve got a ton of fucking cash huh, I’ve got a lot of money I could offer you-”the man shakes his head “That’s not worth it to me.” “Then what is?” “See if you knew the answer to that question, you might be of some use to me. But seeing as how you’re not even smart enough to figure out who I am, I’m afraid there is no benefit to me letting you live .” the man is pointing the gun at him “Do you work for Avi?”the man shakes his head in a “No.” “Man, if you don’t work for Avi then why the fuck do you care if we snitched?” “Hey man, fuck it Franklin. Piece of shit going to put us down like dogs, fuck him.” “Shut the fuck up Leon!” you both say “You’re trying to stay alive, that’s not the way.” the man cocks the gun back and puts the gun under Lee’s chin and grabbing his hair “Fuck you fuck you fuck you.” “Come on, Franklin. Think about it. I’m gonna shoot him.” you try to move your arms but it was no use “Gonna put a bullet in his brain. Who am I, Franklin? Who am I!” you see a light bulb go off in his head “You’re the connect!” The man lets go of Lee and stands up walks over to Frankie and gives him a smile “You’re the plug. The guy we was looking for.” the man pulls out photo of Rob sitting in his car “You trying to cut Avi out?” “Avi’s a crazy person, and he upped the prices. It’s stupid to want to pay less and deal with somebody sane?” “No Franklin, It’s stupid to trust a stoner kid to get it done.” Lee turns to say “Whitey got a point.” “Shut up, man. Look, you’ve lost a buyer and I’m out of my supply. Why don’t we help each other out.” the plug laughs at Frankie “Come on you were selling dimebags on the street corner six months ago. You’re gonna take Avi’s place?” Frankie not breaking his concentration “I’d like to try. How much you sellin’ to Avi?” the plug stands up “A lot more you can than you can move, kid.” “At the right prices, I could move six a week, easy.” the plug shakes his head “Eh, six won’t even make a dent.” Frankie thinks “Ten, then.” you lift your head to look at him “ten a week. Hmm that will help you out?” Frankie looks at you quickly “How are you going to move ten keys in a week.” He looks at the gun “Put that away… and iI’ll tell you.” the plug turns “Convince me and I’ll put it away.”

“And once we figured out how to rock it up and sell it for cheap, we were sellin’ more and more. We got dealers spreading out all over my neighborhood, we expanding every week.” he talks to the plug “ “What do you do with your cash?” “Storing it for now. I’ve been growing a business.” “Security?” he nods “We got plenty.” “Fuck is this? A job interview? You got a supply, we want to buy. What more is there.” You roll your eyes “He’s just being careful. Wants to know if we foreal. Which we are.” “What’s the high like? This rock?” “Short and intense then you need more right away.” “You speaking from experience?” “Nah man I don’t deal with none of that shit.” “You’ll never turn me down, now excuses, no bullshit. I show up with ten keys every week. Do you understand?” “Yes.” “And you see what happens to people who fuck with me?’ “Hey we good? Because I’ve got to use the fucking bathroom or I’m piss my pants.” The plug pulls out a switchblade and cuts Lee loose. Once he got out of the bathroom he lets you and Frankie loose, your shoulders finally relax and you slowly got up the plug hands you black bag “Put that on, I trust you three understand why this place needs to be kept secret.” he squats down to grab something and said “What’s your name?” ”Richard Nixon. No I’m kidding it’s Reed Thompson.” he stands up “Reed Thompson and how do I get in contact with you, Reed Thompson.” he stuffs something in his pocket and walks towards you and pulls you to follow him “You don’t. I contact you.” as Reed walked out and you all followed him “Well that don’t won’t work for me.” Reed puffs out some air “I’m sorry?” and put his arms out and keep walking “We talkin’ a lot of money and product, man you know everything about me, I don’t know shit about you.” As you kept walking through the underground facility with pipes everywhere “Yeah, that’s because you don’t need to know anything about me except that I can supply you.” to seeing a tall and long hallway it was dimly light with tall windows at the top of the ceiling. “Where’d you get your product?” Reed raises his eyebrows “Why?...So you can cut me out now?” “Come on, man. Put yourself in my shoes, you get T-boned, electrified, thrown in the shithole, gun in your face and now what?” he walks right next to Reed and looks back at you and back at Reed “You’re supposed to go along with some crazy-ass deal? How am I supposed to trust you?” “trust is overrated.” “Not to me.” Frankie side-eyeing Reed “Are you always going to be this big pain in my ass?” you nodded your head “Yeah, he is.” “Look, you can’t afford to walk away from this deal, you don't have any leverage.” Reed stops in front of a door “Right, but I will if I have to.” Reed smiles at him his thick mustache resting on his thin lips “Help me sleep at night, Reed Thompson.” “Put your hoods on.” he tells all of you to do Lee puts it on first then you and Frankie, looking through a black bag and you can’t see shit. Hearing a car opening and having him push you in and closing it.

It’s been twelve hours since anybody has seen any of you and everybody was trippin’, Rob was all calling every south central hospital and emergency room and Jerome was loading up his pistol gettin’ ready for war, Kev and his little cousin Delory comes in with his friend Victor saying “There’s the mexican lady that wants to know how to make a whole sale with Franklin, her name is Lucia Villanueva she’s from Pico-Union.”Jerome perk up and wanted to know why was they selling to the mexicans, Jerome puts his foot down with them “You know what tell all you fuckin’ corner boys to stop selling in Pico-Union!” and grabs Delory by the shoulder to push him out and screamed “Fuck you lookin’ at fat boy.” at Victor, Jerome checks Kev to get the boys out of Pico-union eventually Lee was drop off to go back to Jerome’s house and tell everybody the news, everybody was in a frenzy when they saw him, asking him if he was okay and if he was hurt, he tells them “I just need to take a shower and change my clothes.” Kev touches Lee's shoulder “Where the hell you been at him? You smell like piss, aye Jerome we need towels or something.” Louie is anxious waiting for you and Frankie to show up, she turns to Rob “Franklin and Lexi, need to walk through this door right fuckin’ now.”

Pulling into a airport that was reserved for private planes, Reed parks and steps out of the car, Frankie is seating in the front seat and you are in the back seeing a jet parked in an aviation lot walking closer and seeing somebody working on the plane “Hey Matt. I want you to meet one of our new customers.” a another white man steps of the plane and cracks a beer open takes a swig of it and walking in the lot and get closer to the jet “This is Franklin and Alexia, Franklin and Alexia this is Matt he’s my pilot.” Matt walks to him and shakes hands with him “Nice to meet you both.” you get closer to Matt and shake his hand as well “Same here.” you nod in agreement “You wanted to know we bring it in.” Reed staying back “This your own plane? How far does it fly?” Frankie looks inside of it seeing all of the controls and buttons and back at them “Well, with the weight stripped out, and the auxiliary fuel tanks and about twenty-two thousand nautical miles…give or take? Far enough.” you turned to Matt “How y’all two know each other?” then looking at Reed “Uh, we met at this bar of this little cafe up near the Agua Dulce Airport. You’ve ever been up there? Antelope Valley?” he starts walking closer to all of you “Have any of you ever been up in one of these small planes?” “Nah man, we never ever been on a plane.” Matt puts hands out “Hold on for a second! Y’all have not experienced the greatest thrill a man or woman can have besides, obviously, banging a regional cocktail waitress, well shit’s about to change.” Matt takes off his sunglasses to look at him and you, Matt walks away to grab his jacket and his beer.

You sat in the back of the jet behind Matt with Frankie sitting in the front seat, Matt gets in and takes a another swig of his beer “You always drink when you fly?”he looks at Matt close on his side of the plane “Always.” “How’s this thing stay in the air?” you heart was beating a little too fast for you, taking deep breaths to slow down your heat rate “Uhhh ...luck? mostly?” you turn to see headsets for the plane, you put them over your ears and squishing down on your afro “It’s actually physics.” Matt puts on the headphones and so does Frankie “Ever crashed?” “Oh yeah, all the time.” Matt smiles sarcastically “He’s kidding.”Reed talks over the radio “Listen kid, relax nobody does anything better than I fly.”Matt cuts on the jet and starts driving it runway, he slowly picks up speed and once he got to a certain speed the jet started to lift “Hold on boys and girl and here we go.” Once Matt got in the air a voice was coming through the headphones “Tower to forty-one Foxtrot, radar contact. Fly heading two three zero. Climb and maintain two thousand.” Matt talks over the radio “forty-one Foxtrot to tower, heading two three zero climbing and maintaining two thousand feet, thank you tower. Forty-one AMF out.” Frankie turns back to Reed “Aye-. who he talkin’ to?”he looks back to Reed “Hawthorne Tower, but we get far enough out, and we check in with someone else.” looking through the glass and down at the ocean, seeing it at this height the waves went so far “Yup, you are never alone when you’re up here Franklin.Don’t ever say this country doesn’t have it’s moments” Matt says in the radio, you see him leaning over the glass to see more of the ocean, a little smile going across his lips “So are they tracking us the whole time?” looking over to Reed “Yup….but there are ways around it if need be.” Reed looks back at you “Yeah, going low is the mainway.” Matt forwards the steering wheel down and drops the plane down and heart falls straight down to your ass, you clench your fingers to a handlebar squeezing it so tight that they almost turn a different color, you couldn’t help yourself but to laugh in this moment “Please don’t do that again. What the fuck man?” He says in a shaky laugh “So after you pick up the product, how you bring it back to the country?” Frankie looking back at Reed “Hey Franklin, ask me one more question?” Reed pulls the headphones back off of Frankie head “I’m going to throw you out of this fucking plane!” Frankie belts a hearty laugh “I could do this all day.” Matt taps on Frankie’s leg “Go ahead and take a yoke.” Matt lifts his hands up “Nahhh.” Frankie shakes his head “Yeah man grab that fucker right now.” he lifts his hands closer to the steering wheel “Not that!” Matt screams over the radio he jumps back “I’m just kidding, grab that, grab that. Come on and fly this plane pilot.” Frankie turns to look back at you and gives you a small smile and turned back to the front and grabs the wheel “All right, all right I got it.” he steadies the plane, your heart swells in tenfolds the smile that Frankie had was easerable from your memory “We got a pilot here boys!” Matt takes a swig of his beer “Yeah, running South Central baby!” Frankie yells “Stop yelling, stop yelling I got you over the headset.” Reed says through the headset and they both yell to having your ears pop “Oh man I can’t believe this shit, I’m flying this motherfucka! You see me Lexi? You see me Reed?” He flies over the ocean looking at the beautiful skies and clouds, thinking one day you would be in the front seat of your very own plane with him.

“Here’s good man.” He tells Reed to park around the corner of Jerome’s house “You don’t want me to drop you off at the house?” Reed trying to crack a joke “Nah man it’s fine.” “So, a couple of days, you’ll be ready?” Reed turns to look at him “Mm-hmmm, ten keys. Ten grand a key.” He looks at Reed “And, I’ll uh I’ll pay to fix the car up.” “No, I don’t need it. Just need your product.” he steps out of the car and grabs your door to let you out and closes your and his door then dips down his head to look at Reed with the both of you looking at him “Hey man, I understand why you did what you did today I do. From here on out, no games, no tricks, no bullshit you be straight up with me, And I’ll be straight up with you. But if you ever fuck with me…or anybody that I care about, then it won’t be good for you. You understand that?” Reed nods his head “Yeah I do Franklin.” He smiles at Reed and taps on the car then digs in his back pocket to pull out a screwdriver and throws it on the seat “Reed Thompson.” He grabs your hand to walk to Jerome’s house.

He walked through the backdoor first and you close the door following him to the front porch with him walking in first then everybody stood up Louie jump on Frankie and gave you a hug too “God damn y’all where the hell y’all been at?” you gave Jerome a hug as well “We got a story for y’all.” Louie backed up “Yeah Leon told us.” He pats on Jerome’s shoulder “Yeah that’s just the half of it we about to move into the big leagues.” Kev flicks his cigarette into the bushes “By trusting that white guy that kidnapped y’all ass, huh?” you both take a seat on porch rail “Yeah, something like that.” He groans as he lowers himself on it “Guess that mean I’m going to be cooking a lot more, huh?” Frankie lets out a soft “Mm….It means we all gotta step up.” he looks at everybody and then lastly at you he leans forward to grab your hand “Me and Lexi flew on a plane together today.” everybody was asking questions from left to right “What was it like?” “Where did you go?” “What did it look like?” “Who flew the plane?” You both answer all of the questions and once everybody was satisfied they all relax in their chairs you squeeze his hand “I should go home.” He nods his head “I’ll walk with you but let me change first.” you whisper “I wanna take a shower with you Frankie but no funny business huh?” he cracks a smile “All right Lexiboo I promise.” sticking out his long and slender pinky to intertwine with your smaller one “Okay let’s go.” you both swiftly pass everyone to go into the guest bedroom and grab a extra towel for the both of you and Frankie kept his promise on the funny business then you both step out of the shower and Frankie opens the medicine cabinet to find your and his tooth brushes you both silently brush your teeth and walk into the guest room used the lotion all over your body still keeping his promise and put lotion all over his body and once you both got changing into a dark jeans and lilac sweater and white forces to keep you warm from the cold breeze of South Central, he changes into a knitted sweater that was a dark blue on top and darker green on the lower half then a red stripe going in the middle and to tie it all together with khakis and white sambas. You grab your backpack to stuff your old clothes in there zipping it up and putting your arms through them “I’m gonna talk to my moms once I walk you home, tell her about meetin’ Reed.” your eyes shift “I still haven’t told my momma about us Frankie, she thinks me and Shon-Shon are besties I know I’m gonna have too.” he steps closer to you and slowly grabs your face with two hands “I don’t think I ever told you how much I appreciate you being in this with me and I know I was very apprehensive about you being in this shit with me at first, but right now I wanna make you officially as my partner like if something goes down with me and I want you to run it for me and carry on my legacy.” you nod your head and kiss him on the lips..

Walking down the street to see your house light were off ‘Thank you Jesus’ silently going off in your head and continue to walk to your house stopping right before it “I’ll see you later baby.” you groan while putting your arms around his shoulders pulling him in a soft hug, his strong arms around you pulling you in closer you give in for a lazy kiss slumping his firm hold kissing his full lips “I lo-ve you-u bab-by-.” he pulls back to smile at you “I love you too partner, I’ll see you later maybe I can come cuddle with you.” you lean in “I’ll leave my window crack for you.” giving him a final kiss to walk up the steps and grabbing your keys to unlock the door, you wave to Frankie and waves back then puts his keys back in his pocket to ring the doorbell. Going inside the house completely dark just hearing your momma tv going off in her room, you swiftly go into your room and setting down her bag, then taking off your pants grabbing your bonnet securing it on your head slowly closing your eyes to dreamland, you had your window crack for Frankie to come and which he did, just leaving him in a boxers and white muscle-shirt to cuddle you in a deeper sleep, not knowing that a war was about to happen because of Delory and Victor going back to sell in Pico-Union.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

I feel like I just ran a marathon by finishing this chapter and I feel like I just couldn’t stop cliffhanging when Frankie and Lexia got in that accident with Reed anyways we finally get to meet Reed, y’all that whole integration took me out I was trying to incorporate Lexi-boo in this chapter like her arguing with the Saint family after Biscuit and Jamal broken in and her tripping Reed and then calling him a bitch but in the next chapter is a very iconic scene in the snowfall community 👀👀👀👀and Frankie made Lexi as a partner which was obviously going to happen in this fanfic but one thing I need to talk about is Lexi’s momma THIS BITCH HASN’T BEEN HOME IN WEEKS I feel like something is brewing at the Johnson’s residence and shit’s about to get angsty but anywhore adding the little smut from the show bitch when I watch that seen for the first time seeing his chocolate skin I was like this nigga is soo fuckin and the peekaboo bootycheek I was gripping my sheets okay one last thing Frankie’s birthday of course Lexi had to be there like duh and not this bitch wearing a backless dress in the winter time and Lexi is the type of girl to wear waistbeads and the sambas you know Lexi had to get him some and finally the necklace I was actually debating on what the necklace should of been but I’ve decided that is Saint I just love the last name I couldn’t help it but thank you sososo much for reading it was definitely a rollercoaster for me to write this but I’m glad to knock down a another stone I love y’all so much 💞💞💞💞💞

Love Nazzy 😻 😻 😻 ps. I just bought a brand new laptop and I’m so excited to work this baby and of course it’s pink.

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orchidsangel · 2 months

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on the topic of fashion, what’s something that you despise and would never be seen wearing? for me, it’s polka dots

i feel so similar about polka dots. and it’s not even that i despise them, just that i wouldn’t personally wear them because i just don’t think i could pull them off, but sometimes i see people wearing them and they look so good. it’s really just that i hate polka dots for myself but on other people they can look really great (not everybody tho…)

i really hate bike shorts. i’ve hated them since they started trending years ago and i’ve hated them since. i think they look fine if you’re biking or working out but in a normal outfit they look so. fucking. stupid.

in the same vein, leggings paired with lingerie tops. this really open happens w a specific genre of teenage girls but i just hate it so bad. why the fuck are you wearing lululemon to the club?

the jerseys w bloomers w mid calf socks w either kitten heels or adidas sambas combo is also trash. i cant stand it.

and this isn’t something i wouldn’t wear, but on the topic of fashion, another thing i hate is when a small independent designer creates something new and the first thing people say in the comments is “can’t wait for shein to dupe this.” like, YUCK. these bitches have zero integrity!!!! but i won’t get into it too much because i could write an essay on how fast fashion has made people entitled and unempathetic

thank you for this ask!!!

#orchidsangels

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geeky-in-the-tardis · 2 years

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everybody say “thank you samba”

#I love the first picture so much #I love con #on my knees #personal #con o’neill #our flag means death #samba schutte #Izzy hands #con oneill #guz khan #David fane

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shesinmy · 3 years

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Oi! Posso pedir uma reação dos personagens de JJK, onde eles pegam a s/n cantando e dançando uma música em português?? Obrigada! (Sei ler em inglês, mas não confio muito no meu potencial de escrever na língua, desculpa! 😳).

Hey! No problem!! I'm just going to translate so everybody can understand it ;) "Hi! Can I request for JJK characters reaction to s/o singing and dancing songs in portuguese? Thank you!"

JJK WITH S/O SINGING AND DANCING BRAZILIAN SONGS

Warning: suggestive

1. Gojo Satoru: he loves it. There is something about Brazilian moves that makes this guy goes crazy. The balance of the hips are just perfect and he also loves to see his Mochi singing in Portuguese. He hugs you from behind startling you but you continue to move because you know that is what he wants. Needless to say that the music is long gone forgotten and you two are moving in your pace.

2. Nanami Kento: Nanami here likes the flow that Brazilian music tends to have. He also likes how the language is melodic by its own and when you're the one singing, it warms his heart. Also he can't contain himself and just stays there staring at your sexy moves with your hips moving like that. He takes your hand and guides you to your room.

3. Itadori Yuji: he joins you immediately. He loves to dance specially with you. He has that wonderful smile on his face and you know that he's doing his favorite thing to do with you. All is amazing until he asks you: "Y/n, I didn't know Brazilians spoke Spanish". You flick his forehead. "It's Portuguese, idiot". "Ohh! Isn't it the same?".

4. Megumi Fushiguro: this boy is burning from inside out. While he watches you move your hips around he can only think how those moves can be used in your hot moments. He doesn't need an invitation to pull you by the waist so your chest is on his. He holds your legs so you can lock them around his waist while he drags you to the couch.

5. Kugisaki Nobara: she loves it. She wants you to teach her how to dance like that. She wants to learn everything. Samba, forró, funk, axé. But she has a thing for funk, I can feel it. If you add some Pabblo Vittar and teach her how to move, she'll totally post a video with the two of you twerking a la Brazil.

6. Inumaki Toge: first things first. Toge here wants to learn those axé dances that all Brazilian knows how to dance. Like "Dança da Mãozinha", "Onda Onda", "Brincadeira da Tomada". You dance them together but he can't take his eyes from your ass and eventually grab it.

7. Okkotsu Yuta: his cheeks are so red that no matter how much he tries he can't hide the redness all over them. But he is also so proud. He loves this unique side of yours. He also loves the language and he loves Brazilian music. He wants to know all about it and sometimes he even joins you with the singing since he started to learn the language and with the dance just so he can rest his hands shamelessly on your ass.

HEHE I loved this one. I'm a huge fan of Brazilian music. I just love all of it and I love to dance them. I know all the dances. Since I'm a Carnaval lover I learned those dances when I was a kid. Plus, Brazilian music is amazing! We have many talent people here and lots of genius. If anyone wants any indication, send me a message, I'll be glad to introduce you!

#jjk x reader #jjk headcanons #jujutsu reader #jujutsu headcanons #gojo x reader #nanami x reader #itadori x reader #megumi x reader #kugisaki x reader #inumaki x reader #okkotsu x reader

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mydearburkhart · 3 years

Text

The Amy-verse

(or "if I was in that '70s show" part 4) | previously on The Amy-verse

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from That '70s Show, which is created by Bonnie and Terry Turner and Mark Brazill. I own nothing, except for my original character, Amy Hamilton.

Warning: I'm not fluent in English and this is one of the ways I found to learn on my own. So if you find any mistakes, please let me know :)

1×02

*basement*

Hyde: Does it bother anybody else that these women live in Hooterville?

Eric: Technically, Petticoat Junction is down the track from Hooterville.

Hyde: Okay, does it bother anybody else that these women live down the track from Hooterville?

Donna: It bothers me that they bathe in the town water tank.

Kelso: With the dog.

Jackie: It isn't the drinking water, it is the water for the train.

Donna: It's still three naked women with a dog.

Fez: I want to be the Hooterville dog.

Jackie: Ames, you're awfully quiet. Are you okay?

Amy: Yeah, I was just trying to understand the context of this... scene, then I gave up and spaced out.

Kitty: Coming down... now, don't mind me. I'm just putting some clothes in. Eric, honey, I thought you could wear this on your birthday. It's nice, you look so handsome in it.

Eric: Why would I want to dress nice on my birthday?

Kelso: It's your birthday?

Amy: You don't know when his birthday is?

Kitty: Oh, you never know what's going to happen on your birthday!

Eric: Mom... mom, do not throw a party for me.

Kitty: Oh well, listen to Mr. Popularity. Like I have time to plan you a party. [laughs] Oh, uh... by the way, your sister Laurie is coming home from college for the weekend. No special reason, she just is. [goes upstairs]

Donna: Well, you're getting a party and best of all... it's a surprise!

Amy, to Eric: Your mom sucks at keeping secrets, but she's lovely. You should stop being an ungrateful idiot and appreciate the effort she's putting into this party.

[...]

*driveway*

Amy: So...

Donna: What?

Jackie: What are you gonna get Eric for his birthday?

Donna: I don't know, nothing seems right. I wanna give him something... special.

Amy and Jackie looked at each other, then gasped together: He kissed you!

Donna: Shh!

Amy: Donna, get in the car!

Jackie: Yes, get in the car so we can talk!

[...]

*in the car, Amy is on the back seat with her head between Jackie and Donna*

Jackie: Okay, what happened?

Amy: Tell us everything!

Donna: I'm not gonna talk to you two about this.

Amy and Jackie, at the same time: And who are you gonna talk to?

Amy and Jackie, to each other: Nice!

Donna, watching the boys play in the driveway: Okay! We get home from the Rundgren concert, and I'm sitting in the hood of the car, and I kissed him...

Jackie: French or American?

Amy: Even though everyone knows Brazilians are the best kissers...

Donna: I can't believe I'm talking to you two about this... [looks out of the window and sees them playing again] Okay! So, I lived next door to Eric my entire life and we talk about everything together, we love the same music, we love the Packers and then I kissed him and everything changed. And now I don't know if he's my boyfriend or if he's my best friend. If he's my boyfriend I lose my best friend, If I screw it up I lose my best friend and my boyfriend. Now, I have to give him his gift...

Jackie: Donna, Donna! I solved it. Get him... a scented candle.

Amy: Oh yeah, good idea.

Donna: A scented candle?

Jackie: It's practical and romantic.

Amy and Jackie: Oh, yeah.

[...]

*kitchen*

Amy: Hey, Mrs. Forman.

Kitty: Hello... young lady with an accent.

Amy: It's Amy.

Kitty, laughing: Amy... is there anything I could help you with?

Amy: Actually, I want to offer you my help.

Kitty: You want to help me?

*Amy nods*

Kitty: Oh, well. That's new.

Amy: I noticed that you're busy planning Eric's party and thought you could use some help.

Kitty, laughing: Oh honey, that's very kind of you. But wouldn't you rather spend time with the girls?

Amy: Uh... Jackie went to the mall with Donna to help her find a gift for Eric and I'm... kinda avoiding the mall.*

Kitty, understanding what she meant by that: In that case, I'd appreciate your help. Now, what do you know about American birthday parties?

Amy: Nothing really, but I know a lot about Brazilian birthday parties. See, there's a very popular candy on birthdays called brigadeiro. I can teach you the recipe.**

Kitty: Well, doesn't that sound fancy?

[...]

Kitty: Oh, Amy... this is delicious! [laughs]

Amy: I know!

Kitty: Thank you for helping me today, honey.

Amy: You're welcome, Mrs. Forman.

[...]

*basement*

Eric: Look, I know what you're all doing here.

Kelso: What are you talking about, man? We're just hanging out, like always. Except we're dressed nice, but that doesn't mean anything.

*Amy comes into the basement, wearing a red dress and a black jacket*

Amy: Let's party! [sighs] Why aren't you guys excited? I even wore my favorite dress!

Eric: Because I didn't want a party.

Amy: Oh, stop being such a pain in the ass. It's your birthday! Come on, cheer up a little. [she pulls him into a tight hug and gives him a kiss on the cheek] Happy birthday, Eric!

Amy, looking around: Why are you all staring at me? I'm Latina, I'm a hugger!

Kitty, from the stairs: Hi kids, I need your help with something. Amy, Jackie, Donna, Michael, Steven... young man with an accent, would you give me a hand? Not you Eric!

*everyone but Eric goes upstairs to help her*

Kitty: Everybody's ready? I'll call him.

*back in the basement*

Kitty: Eric, honey! Honey, could you come up here for a second? [goes upstairs again] Shut up, he's coming!

Everybody: Surprise.

[...]

Eric: Cassettes? Great, thanks, Hyde.

Hyde: You're welcome.

Amy: Open mine now.

Eric, opening the present: More cassettes? Wow, thanks, Amy.

Amy: Yeah, I didn't really know what I should give you. I was gonna give you a book, but I couldn't find an English version.*** So I thought, I'll give him some cassettes with Brazilian songs.

Kitty: Ooh, let's put them in the 8-track and play them.

[...]

Eric: Hey... it's a hot shave dispenser.

Kitty: Oh, he won't need that for a long time... a long, long time.

Midge: Of course he will, he's almost like a man.

Kitty: *kinda laughing, kinda crying*

Donna: I got you something...

Amy and Jackie: No!

Jackie: Donna, help me find my purse...

Amy: And I need help to find... my jacket?

Fez: But you are wearing it.

Amy: That's not the point, I'll lose it so Donna can help me find it.

Jackie: Donna, now!

[...]

*kitchen*

Donna: Jackie, you didn't even bring a purse... [sighs and points at Amy] And you have your jacket on.

Amy: Like I said, that's not the point!

Jackie: Duh! You can't give him your present in front of his guy friends.

Donna: I am one of his guy friends.

Amy: But you want to be his girlfriend!

Jackie: Look, Donna. I have put a lot of thought into this gift, please do not wreck this for me.

Donna, sarcastically: I'm sorry, I was being selfish.

Jackie, hugging her: It's okay...

Amy: Jackie, she was being sarcastic.

Jackie, gasping: How rude.

Amy, rolling her eyes: You know what? Go ahead, Donna. Give him a romantic gift in front of his friends, who are a bunch of assholes by the way, and his parents. He'll be embarrassed, you'll be embarrassed and it's more entertaining for us!

Donna: How come you're always right?

Amy: It's a talent of mine, you'll get used to it.

[...]

*the Pinciotti's kitchen*

Bob: Three fours, I need them.

Midge: Bob is very good at Yahtzee.

Kitty, gasping: The liquor cabinet!

Red: It's locked.

Kitty: What if there's an emergency?

Red: They'll call.

Kitty: What if they run out of chips?

Red: They'll starve.

Bob, standing up: I'm gonna fix myself a drink. Red?

Red: No... Kitty needs one.

Kitty: Well, I am just so worried– [motorcycle noise] Oh my lord, Laurie's leaving.

Red: Oh honey, she's in college. She doesn't wanna hang around with them.

Kitty: Well, maybe I should make a call, just in case–

Red, reaching for the phone before her: Kitty... what could happen?

Kitty: What could happen? [pause] Well, plenty could happen. Oh, plenty!

[...]

*fantasy sequence, Forman's living room*

Donna: Now that the adults are gone, we can be as bad as we want!

Jackie: Who wants to give Eric a venereal disease?!

Kelso: Hey, look... coasters!

Hyde: Forget coasters!

Eric: Please fellas, my mom put out coasters for a reason...

Hyde: I think I'm gonna put my drink directly on the furniture, that way it will leave a ring!

Eric: NOOO! Why oh why didn't I begged my mother to stay?

Amy: Oh shut up gringo, have some of my country's exotic food while we listen to samba!

Fez: Quiet you silly Americans, I'm on a long-distance call on your parent's phone.

Eric: But that's immoral.

Fez: Ha, in my country of... wherever it is I am from, I can never tell... morals get in the of a good, dirty time. But first, I need to eat some chips... What? Out of chips? Now I am mad, I must shoot something! [pulls out the gun]

Eric: Not the littlest hobo!

[...]

*Forman's kitchen*

Jackie: Wait on the porch, and I'll get Eric.

Donna: It's dark out there.

Jackie: And you're giving him a candle, yeah?!

Amy, shaking her head: Poor Donna, so young and naive.

Jackie: Here, matches.

Donna: He might not want to light it.

Jackie: Don't say that...

Amy: Don't even think it!

Jackie: Now, when he opens it, he'll say cool... or something. And then, you give him a look... like this. [demonstrates]

Amy: Oh no, honey. Don't do that, it won't shine on you. [to Jackie] Jackie, it's Donna, the same girl who wanted to give Eric his gift in front of everybody.

Donna: I'm right here.

Jackie, shaking her head along with Amy: She's right though, don't do that.

[...]

*living room*

Fez: So, what did you get from Donna?

Eric: Nothing yet.

Kelso: Oh... maybe it's the big gift. You know the really big gift. You guys... know what I'm saying when I say the big gift, right?

Hyde: Yeah, we got it... and we got it.

Fez: I'm not even from here and I got it.

*Amy and Jackie come into the living room*

Jackie: Oh Eric... Donna's on the porch.

Amy: She's waiting for you.

Kelso: He's getting the big gift!

[...]

*Amy, Jackie, Fez, Hyde, and Kelso are spying on Eric and Donna*

Jackie: This is it, he's going for it.

Kelso: Uh-huh, it's his birthday, she should kiss him first.

Jackie: She did the last time.

Fez, Hyde, and Kelso: What?

Amy: Shut up, Jackie.

Jackie: Nothing... shut up and watch.

Hyde: Come on Forman, go for it.

Eric, from outside: The door is open, we can hear you... We can see you!

*everyone hides*

Fez: Is he kissing her?

Hyde: None of us can see them, Fez.

Fez: Eric, are you kissing her?

Amy: Since you can hear me... Donna, I told you not to give him the look, it doesn't shine on you.

*Donna closes the sliding door*

taglist

@kim1918, @supernannygirl704things, @snookstheallmighty

let me know if you want to be part of the list ;)

* I don't know if it's clear, but Amy's family is broke.

** Brigadeiro is a little ball made of chocolate, and it's just THAT good.

*** That's actually true, but the English version of the book I chose was only released in 1988.

#mydearburkhart #the amy-verse #that 70s show #70s show #that '70s show #t7s #jackie burkhart #steven hyde #eric forman #donna pinciotti #fez #michael kelso #kitty forman #red forman #bob pinciotti #midge pinciotti

20 notes · View notes

lonelypond · 4 years

Text

AU YEAH AUGUST: Café Quarantine, Part IV

Love Live, NicoMaki, 4.4K, 4/5

Summary: Nico's feeling better and the quarantine is about to end, but will the Café continue?

Chapter IV

Maki paused in the door of the kitchen. A masked Nico was prepping what looked like lasagna. Maki grinned. Nico had started objecting to takeout, insisting she could make better, healthier food.

“How were the donuts?” Nico asked, aware of Maki even turned away.

“Perfect.”

Nico snorted.

“Hey Nico.” Maki had woken up with an idea.

“Mmmm hmmm.” Nico hummed as she spread another layer of sauce.

“Why don’t you have your Mom bring your siblings over?”

Nico spun, sauce spilling across the counter.

“I mean, you can use the media room. I’ve got controllers enough for everybody to play MarioKart or something. I bet they miss you a lot. You shouldn’t be contagious.”

“You want to be beat at MarioKart by more people?” Nico aimed the spoon at Maki and flicked her wrist.

“Ha! You beat me once.” Then Maki shrugged, “I’d stay out of the way. I might still be asymptomatic.”

“Maki will be fine.” Nico said fiercely, surprising Maki.

“Probably.” Maki agreed, “Anyway, ask your Mom. She doesn’t work on the weekends, right? It’ll give them something to be excited about.” Maki zoomed off, while Nico was still processing the offer.

###

“No!!!” Maki roared at her phone while Hanayo’s not in any way innocent suggestion blinked there. It was time to pick another theme after three days of “Dames.” And Hanayo, probably with Rin giggling in the background had just sent a group text with the word “Kiss.” Sure Maki might have thought it to herself, maybe imagined singing “Prelude to A Kiss” or “Give Me A Kiss To Build A Dream One” but her private conversations in her own head were private, never to be shared or discussed in the same house as Nico.

No, no, no...this had to be stopped before Nico agreed. She typed quickly.

M: I thought Nico’s friend was going to dance. So wouldn’t dance be good? “

M: Or weather, I’ve been wanting to play “A Foggy Day in Londontown.”

N: Dance is good.

H: ಠ╭╮ಠ

Maki got a non group text from Rin.

R: Chicken.

M: This isn’t helping me, Rin.

R: (*≧▽≦)ﾉｼ))

R: (っ˘зʕ•̫͡•ʔ

Maki stormed out of her own bedroom, hoping to avoid Nico, slamming the music room door, and settling down to play. Time to Beethoven the annoyance at nudge-y friends out of her system.

###

The Yaazawas were in the house. Maki had decided to stay upstairs, listening to music in her room, but the need for a snack and something to do drew her out. She was positive that the extra games she’d downloaded would keep them occupied all afternoon.

A quick cold slice of pizza for refueling and Maki decided to sneak past the media room to the music room. There were yells and laughter and Nico trash talking. She sounded happier than she had since the quarantine started. Soon, maybe tomorrow, she’d go back to her place. Maki moved away from the door quickly before anyone noticed her, but it wasn’t quickly enough.

“DR. MAKI!!!!!” A voice Maki didn’t recognize screamed and a small weight slammed into her before she reached the sanctuary of the music room. “You saved Nico. You’re the best doctor.”

Maki froze and looked down. She’d seen pictures of Nico’s siblings. This was the middle one, a girl, Cocoa. Nico said she was constantly in motion. Maki believed that because as light as Cocoa was, she’d started dragging Maki back down the hall, “C’mon, Nico says you love MarioKart. Play with me. Cocoro only wants to play dancing games.” Cocoa let go and looked up at Maki eagerly. Did Nico look like that when she was a preteen, she definitely still had that much energy now.

Maki stepped back, “I can’t. I still have a couple days before I can hang out with people.”

“Nico said you’re probably fine.” Cocoa kept bouncing.

“I don’t want to take any risks?”

Cocoa’s expression turned serious, “Are your parents making you? Nico said they were really serious about quarantining.”

Did Nico tell her siblings everything? What had she said about Maki? Maybe Maki should have lingered in the hall and eavesdropped.

“I have to go. Go have fun with Nico.”

Nico’s voice saved her, “C’mon Cocoa. Nico approves of Maki being extra careful. We’ll come back sometime when she’s not quarantining, right, Maki?”

“Sure. Any time.” Maki wondered what games Nico’s little brother was enjoying and if Nico was really into dance games and had never mentioned it. Rin and Hanayo could come over sometime and…

“Have fun.” Maki headed for the back door, thinking about too many things for music..

“Thanks, Dr. Maki!” Cocoa waved, Maki nodded.

###

No moon yet. Maybe Maki would stay out here until dark. Nico’s mom would be taking the littler ones home soon and then Nico would probably nap and then there was Café Quarantine. Dance. Hanayo had finally agreed to the dance theme and Maki had practiced “One Note Samba” late last night. Nico would be singing “I Won’t Dance” while Maki played. Maki was not in a duet mood. Not really in a music mood, but…

Nico’s voice again, “Are you all right?”

Maki shrugged.

“Nico made you masks with music notes. They’re in the laundry.”

“Thanks.” Maki closed her eyes, refusing to look at Nico, hands behind her head, “Can you get Cocoro and Cocoa to stop calling me Dr. Maki. I didn’t save you.”

“So it’s all right if Cotaro does?”

Maki ignored that. She heard Nico sit in the chair to her left, “Nico is really grateful. All the pizza delivery saved Nico cooking. And the acoustics here.” Nico whistled.

“It was the right thing to do.”

“Nico feels special.” A nip of sarcasm, Maki grinned.

“When are you leaving?”

“Nico is going to make sure Maki is well.”

“I’ll be fine. You don’t have to stay for me.”

“You’ll have to swing by Nico’s apartment. We can do a Café Quarantine from there, but Nico doesn’t have a piano. I could borrow a keyboard. We could set up a little corner, it won’t be as fancy as your house, but people will…”

“This isn’t my house.”

Silence.

Nico was great at reading a room, at sensing what her audience, whether a customer or a drinking, dancing crowd wanted to hear, wanted to share. But not this one single person. Not Maki. If her knowledge of Maki was a mansion, Nico had only spent time on the ground floor and Maki had fled to the roof or the yard, having conversations with the stars in long silences that Nico watched from a distance. Nico knew there was a key, a way to understand Maki, but right now, her only guess was more time and Maki relaxing enough to trust her. So Nico went back to practical. And the thing they’d had in common at the first.

“Nico will almost be glad to get back to the coffee shop. Nico hasn’t slept this many hours since she was a baby, a very cute baby, but it’ll be nice to have…”

“I’m glad for you.” Maki tried not to snap, then opened her eyes, Nico was watching, almost too near, her expression curious, worried. Questions Maki didn’t want to hear gathered. Maki stood, “The samba needs more work. I’m glad your family’s having fun.”

“Maki?” Nico sounded hurt at Maki’s rush to leave. Maki wondered how she’d feel when Maki stopped showing up at the coffee shop. Would it be a relief? An answer Maki didn’t want right now. Scowling as a puzzled Nico stared, Maki didn’t acknowledge the invitation to talk, instead she fled upstairs, crushed a pillow to her chest, and buried tears before anyone could hear them.

###

Maki had lost the argument. Nico was back in the music room, in a tight, tight so so short little black dress that was going to interfere with Maki’s ability to read music if she glanced Nico’s way at all. And Maki suspected Nico knew that, from the teasing, take no prisoners twinkle in the ruby cannons. Which led to their first disagreement, Nico finding Maki’s trousers and open lilac linen shirt not nearly dressy enough.

“How does it look when the pianist doesn’t meet the dress code?” Nico pouted.

“There are no customers, Nico. We’re not sticking people in ties when they show up at the door. It’s just us.”

“And the camera. And the principle. Nico runs a classy place.” Nico spun, she was still wearing her mask, “Didn’t you say you enjoyed Hanayo harassing you. Well, now that I’m feeling better, you get in person service.”

“I didn’t ask for” Maki sneered, “In person service.”

“Nico knows what people want.”

“I want comfort.” Maki rolled up her sleeves. “It’s been a long day.”

“And you weren’t chasing kids around, which is tiring, if you didn’t know, so give Nico a break. And a perq,”

“A perq?”

“Nico is eye candy.” Nico waved her hands, showcasing her very well put together aesthetic, Maki completely caught by the curve of a calf. “Where’s Nico’s treat?”

Maki sat at the piano and the opening notes of “I Won’t Dance” filled the room.

“All right, that is a treat. And Nico appreciates it. But why don’t you match the music.”

Maki set her jaw, pivoted so she was facing Nico, who was now taller than her, which was very weird when you’re used to towering over the tiny tempest and now this set of stellar, torn from distant galaxies gems was dangerously close for the molten lava temps they were throwing off, “So I have to pretty up to be appreciated?”

Nico’s mouth opened and closed, like chewing gum was happening instead of speaking, and then a flood of charm and apology rushed Maki as Nico’s hands seemingly tried to sculpt the gown she wanted Maki to wear in the air between them. “Nico didn’t mean that at all. Maki’s doing Nico so many favors and you’ve had so much fun dressing up, Nico can tell, Maki’s so classy, surely there’s a little black dress in your closet…

Maki raised a hand, “That is a lovely dress.” She fidgeted with her collar. “I may, just may, be slightly underdressed so I’ll see what I can find.”

“Ooohh, Nico can help.”

“No.”

Nico sat on the piano bench, wondering if Maki was going to go for a gown or a cocktail dress. Most of Maki’s gowns were off the shoulder, so that would definitely be...Nico sighed, pointless fantasies unless Nico spoke up. Obviously, Maki was losing interest in the audience she had here.

Maki came back with a tuxedo jacket and a fedora, her smirk daring Nico to say something. Nico pulled a rose out of the floral arrangement in the hallway and handed it to Maki, who blushed so adorably Nico wanted to kiss the tip of her nose.

And then without any more talk, the evening’s Café started.

This is just a little samba built upon a single note Other notes are bound to follow but the root is still that note Now this new one is the consequence of the one we've just been through As I'm bound to be the unavoidable consequence of you

Nico was singing, showing surprising verve and vigor in the quick steps of her dance as she swayed into "the unavoidable consequence of you” That summed up Nico nicely, Maki thought. The Brazilian songs seemed to suit her, maybe that was why Maki kept coming back to them. Lively, vibrant, 24/7, a bossa nova beauty of complex harmonies twisting through an irresistible rhythm that was beginning to be the constant, too rapid default beating of Maki’s heart. “Estou com saudades de você” the Brazilians said. “I miss you soon” Maki thought, an inexact translation, but one that carried the feeling of the ease with Nico that she’d barely had and the loss of proximity that would derail any chance their connection would grow.

Nico came up behind Maki, the sudden proximity a fever of its own, and Maki felt fingers stroke through her hair, stealing her fedora, and then quicksilver Nico was back at the camera, for her audience. It was growing every night, Nico’s recovery spiking viral likes and comments. Hanayo was about to start selling branded masks and fuzzy socks.

Nico said something, then the camera was off, and Nico’s complete attention was on Maki. So Maki ducked, taking cover in the samba again, singing

There's so many people who can talk And talk and talk and just say nothing Or nearly nothing I have used up all the scale I know And at the end I've come to nothing Or, nearly nothing

Nico laughed, “The unavoidable consequence of Nico, huh?”

Maki grinned, “I didn’t say it.”

“No.” Nico was behind Maki, her hands sliding down Maki’s jacket, playing a quick, almost right chord as she softly sang in Maki’s ear.

So, I come back to my first note as I must come back to you I will pour into that one note all the love I feel for you Any one who wants the whole Show-Re-Mi Fa-So-La-Ti-Do He will find himself with no show Better play the note you know

Maki in a daring move, slid her hands under Nico’s and played the finish.

Now was the time, “I’m quitting the coffee shop, Nico.”

Nico risked a quick, loose hug, “Yeah, your parents probably would not like you being that exposed. You’ll be in Princess in a Tower mode.”

“I’m an adult, Nico.” Maki could have cried for the wavery betrayal of her voice, “I’m going to turn 21.”

“Don’t drink your way through Chicago. Trust Nico.” Nico stepped back.

“Why? What did you do?” Maki spun to face Nico.

“You’re still too young for that story...when’s your birthday? Nico will bake you a cake.”

“Next week”

“What’s your favorite flavor. Besides pizza.”

Maki shrugged.

“What are you going to do when you’re not working? Coronavirus kinda closed colleges. Did you pick a major?” Nico had settled into the farthest corner of the couch. Maki took a quick look, but the legs were too distracting, and Nico’s exquisite profile looked even sharper with the weight of serious thought shadowing perfect angles. Maki thought she might swoon.

“I have a plan.”

“Tell Nico.”

Maki shook her head, turning back to the piano as she blushed.

“C’mon tell Nico."

Maki began to play. A random song. Maki had been listening to the NYC Jazz Quartet and Vocalist Naski Young Cho. “Paris Match” had been looping. Maki could hear the lyrics in her head so she started singing.

As I tread the boulevard floor Will I see once more; Because you've clouded my mind 'Till then I'm biding my time I'm only sad in a natural way And I enjoy sometimes feeling this way The gift you gave is desire The match that started my fire Empty nights with nothing to do I sit and think, every thought is for you; I get so restless and bored So I go out once more; I hate to feel so confined I feel like I'm wasting my time

Maybe not so random a choice. Maki pushed back from the piano, shaking her head. Too many fever/fire/heat analogies. Good thing she wasn’t a painter or there would be rubies and lava and flames licking every wall she could put paint to. Instead, she put that excess in every note she had the energy to play and then hoped to collapse into dreamless sleep.

“What was the name of that song?” Nico’s voice was quiet.

“Paris Match.”

“That’s on the playlist with that NYC Jazz quartet Korean singer you’ve been listening to, what was her name?”

“Naski Young Cho.”

“Her style works for you?”

Nico wasn’t going to ask about the lyrics. General music questions were safe. Maki yawned, starting to relax. “She’s all right. Had to get used to her voice a little.”

“Did you have to get used to Nico’s?”

“No.”

A hand was suddenly gentle on Maki’s shoulder and Nico’s voice was stripped of all affectation, caring, honest, “You’re not wasting your time with music, Maki.”

Maki’s shrug was the smallest of gestures, but Nico’s hand squeezed gently in response. Another yawn.

“C’mon, Chopin, let’s get you to bed.”

“Satie.”

“The weird French guy? Okay, Ms. Surreal, tell Nico your melting clock dreams over breakfast.”

Not if they were anything like the last ones she remembered, Nico in a costume stolen from Cabaret or Chicago. Should anyone think about fishnets that fondly? Maki let Nico push her toward the stairs. When had she last actually slept for longer than a couple of hours? Maybe, giving in to the weariness closing her eyes, would reset her mood. A mood reset, to one less incendiary, was essential.

###

Maki was eating cereal, watching SheRa, and not thinking about Nico or anything. Chewing. Just chewing. She’d been ignoring Rin and parent texts all morning. Nico would probably be leaving soon and then it would be time for Maki to take that step. But right now, this was a pocket of time when she was living in a space where Nico’s voice could be heard and she was going to treasure every minute of that. Netossa...Maki grinned as the character teased and challenged her wife.

“Hey Maki!” Nico fell over the back of the couch, a controlled trajectory, startling Maki and causing her cereal bowl to spill onto the table. Nico dropped her head on Maki’s shoulders, eyes mischievous, “This is too much fun.”

Maki stood up, but Nico pulled her back down, leaning forward with a dish towel, “Nico came prepared.”

“Um...we shouldn’t be…” Maki started.

“Nico is fine. And chock full of antibodies so Maki couldn’t give it to me if you tried.”

“No one knows how it works, Nico.” Maki slid further down the cushion.

“No, but that’s a pretty good guess. Nico did research, talked to her doctor.”

“Papa told you…”

“Well, I didn’t ask your father if it was okay if I made his daughter jump off the couch, squealing, no, but we went over the basics.”

“Oh.”

Silence and then Nico sounding nervous, “Nico’s going to go back to her apartment tomorrow. If you come over, Nico will cook dinner and we can duet.”

Maki didn’t know what to say. Nico was leaving. No more nights like last night. Maki alone again. Nico off with her friends, her family, doing all the thousand things, without Maki, that Nico had done before this quarantine.

“Maki? Did you hear me?” Nico poked Maki’s shoulder, her expression comic hurt.

Maki shook her head, forcing herself to look more thoughtful than morose. “I can’t just put the piano in my pocket.”

“Eli has a keyboard we can borrow. Since dancing didn’t work out last night, we’ll try it when we’re all in one location.”

Maki fidgeted. “I’m not comfortable with…”

“Eli’s been careful. Nico has windows.”

Maki shut off the screen. “There’s so many variables. And no way to know if anyone’s been exposed.” Maki rubbed her forehead. “This was the easiest part, wasn’t it.”

Turns out Nico had a not smiley tone. “Not for Nico.”

“Sorry. I guess it got pretty rough”

“It was. Don’t catch it.”

“You seem so much better. I’m glad. ” Maki smiled, reaching for her bowl, put the dish towel in it, “I’m going to make coffee. Want some?”

“Sounds good. And then we have to decide on tonight’s songs.”

“I’m tired of themes.” Maki announced as she left the room.

“Well, then talk to your cute, pushy friend who texts Nico 100 times a day about them.”

“I think I lost her number.”

Nico snorted and hurried Maki down the hall.

“Are we moving Café Quarantine to Brazil” Nico sounded exasperated. “If you really want to play this “Desafinado” tune, Nico’s choice doesn’t really go. What’s the title mean?”

“Out of tune.” Maki completely concentrated on her piano, hoping Nico’s questions would end there. She didn’t really want a discussion of lyrics.

“Nico is not out of tune.”

“That’s not what…” Maki played several chords, “Anyway, I’m going to play the instrumental, you don’t have to worry about it.”

“But Nico wants to keep the mood,” Nico was flopped on her stomach on the couch, staring at Maki, “It’s a good mood. Nico likes it, but Nico knows Brazilian coffee not this…why are you in this mood?”

“Samba smooth...it makes me smile.” Maki stopped playing, staring at Nico. ”Might work really well for you too, the melody’s playful, simple, I’d be doing most of the work…”

“The accompanist underestimates the amount of personality Nico adds.”

Trust me I don’t, Maki thought, but she rolled her eyes at Nico

“There’s a few more I’ve been practicing...I could print out lyrics for you…” Maki paused, “It would be a challenge to learn it before tonight.”

“Not for Nico.”

Maki chuckled, “Give me 5 minutes.”

Nico flipped, laying on her back, “Then you’ll have to keep up with Nico. You’re used to Not Well Nico. Full speed Nico is going to knock you out.”

Maki could only hope for a soft landing.

###

Maki had played “Desafinado”, with Nico fidgeting and gleaming like she was up to something. As soon as Maki was finished, Nico was in front of the camera, applauding madly.

“Maki’s just the best, right. Nico’s been so lucky to have in house music like this while she was healing. Nico’s been spoiled.”

Maki watched suspiciously as Nico continued to bounce. They were supposed to go right into the duet but Maki got the feeling improvisation was about to happen.

“Mak’s obviously been missing coffee and Nico so she’s been playing all these bossa nova songs for her beautiful boss”

Maki snorted.

“But Nico’s about to head home,” Nico paused, “Don’t worry Café Quarantine will continue, Nico would miss it too much, and Nico doesn’t want anyone coughing like…” Nico’s energy dipped for a moment, then Nico recovered, “But we’re all going to take care of each other and be fine, Nico insists.”

“Can I start playing?” Maki drawled.

Nico turned and GLARED, “Nico is giving a pep talk.”

Eye roll.

“Maki’s nicer than she pretends.” Nico announced to the camera, “but you’ve been watching her play, you know that.”

“Nico.”

“Since our piano genius has been in a Rio mood, Nico recorded Maki playing this song and will now add words.”

The intro to "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" began and Nico sang with a gentle longing that surprised Maki, who would have loudly disagreed that Nico knew anything about quiet anything.

Quiet nights of quiet stars Quiet chords from my guitar Floating on the silence that surrounds us

Quiet thoughts and quiet dreams Quiet walks by quiet streams…

### Maki wanted to just sit and inhale the mood in the room after the last note, the quiet, calm, the connection, but of course, it didn’t last for long. “And now we have one more song for tonight.” With a wink and her soon to be patented not quite devil horns gesture, Nico tossed the audience back to Maki, which caused Maki to fumble for a minute. She’d been sitting, caught up in this rare glimpse of reserved Nico.

But now she had to focus, roll her shoulders down, dash into the first verse Someone to hold me tight That would be very nice Someone to love me right That would be very nice Someone to understand Each little dream in me Someone to take my hand And be a team with me

And then Nico joined in. So nice, life would be so nice If one day I'd find Someone who would take my hand And samba through life with me

And Maki dropped out, the rhythm making her think that perhaps she should be dancing with Nico rather than the piano. This song seemed to cry out for more responsiveness than resonance. Someone to cling to me Stay with me right or wrong Someone to sing to me Some little samba song Someone to take my heart And give her heart to me Someone who's ready to Give love a start with me Oh yeah, that would be so nice I could see you and me, that would be nice

What the hell Maki thought, stood up and offered her hand to Nico. So nice, life would be so nice If one day I'd find Someone who would take my hand And samba through life with me

Nico was a sure, steady dancer, obviously hearing the song in her head as she and Maki stepped quickly around the music room, laughing. Nico slowed down when they passed in front of the camera.

“I think we’re sambaing down to Rio. Good night!”And Nico stopped recording without really interrupting the flow of their dance.

“It’s too bad you didn’t listen to Nico’s ‘wear a bikini for the full Brazilian effect’ suggestion.” Nico smirked.

Maki started to stiffen, but just kept moving to the music in her head. She didn’t really need to answer Nico, did she?

“So can we start the ‘Kiss’ theme week tomorrow?” Nico had pulled Maki closer. “Both your pushy friends keep telling me it’s the only thing to do next.”

“Are they?”

Nico nodded.

“They are pushy.”

“But cute. And Nico doesn’t really mind.” A hesitation, Nico was glowing, Maki suddenly wanted a room full of candles and a pianist sensitive to the mood ready to slide easily into the next song. It was so easy with music, to build the mood, to know the next note, the next step, the next song. “Do you?”

Had Maki dropped out of the conversation again. “Do I what?”

“Mind if it’s Kiss?”

“You don’t mean the band, right? Hanayo’s a little too fond of metal for me. But Rin just headbangs along.”

Nico stopped. “You’re terrible at mood. How do you play the piano so well?”

Maki shrugged.

Nico almost threw up her arms, but Maki caught them and pulled Nico closer, “I don’t mind.”

No candles, no music, no warning, but Maki suddenly knew what was next. And Nico was just close enough, just looking up enough, deep banked embers glowing in her eyes just inviting enough. Maki blanked, and then Nico was a blurry warmth, close enough that Maki could feel the smoothness of a cheek, and Maki was going in for a second kiss before she even noticed the first.

A/N: There will be a brief epilogue.

And @auyeahaugust is almost finished. Thanks again for the inspiration. And now to get back to my fics in progress.

#NicoMaki #Nishikino Maki #Yazawa Nico #Cafe Quarantine #RinPana #Au Yeah August #Love Live #Quarantine #Jazz #Bozza Nova #Jobim

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modmamono · 4 years

Text

Why Space Channel 5 is one of SEGA’s best dumbest games ever, no questions asked. (Report 1 & 1/2.)

Space Channel 5 on the Dreamcast is one of my favorite things ever, let alone favorite video games. Though I more often watch it on YouTube then actually play it.

For those not in the know, Space Channel 5 is a game series developed by United Game Artists and published by parent company SEGA. And that’s the most Wikipedia quoting I’m gonna do in this gush piece.

There aren’t many games quite like this rhythmic, Simon says game. At least in style because this game has that in spades, the gameplay anyone can do. And I am not at all qualified to explain its style because I wouldn’t how to describe it as besides maybe very 70s?

Point is there’s something charming about this game, and I think SEGA agrees with me on that. The lead character, Ulala (seen above), appear in these games to name a few years after new Space Channel 5 games stopped being made after 2002:

2004: Sega Superstars

2006: Sonic Riders

2008: Sega Superstars Tennis and Samba de Amigo

2010: Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

2012: Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed and Project X Zone

2015: Project X Zone 2

And not to mention the invading aliens have been skins of the titular Puyo Puyo in that series for a while I can’t determine. Possibly since at most 2007 up until current day with Puyo Puyo Champions in 2018/2019.

ALSO not to mention the VR game that came out recently! (How could I forget that? That’s the main reason I’m doing this.)

So it is clear SEGA loves this game and it’s sequel a lot. I don’t think their most beloved cult classic NiGHTS: Into Dreams gets that much love from the company though it certainly does get a lot itself, most games wish their parents still loved them that much long after they had a game. Anyway...

Now the part where I actually talk about the game.

I wanna say, first and foremost. This is not a review of the game. This is just gushing about why this game makes me happy.

And everything I’m gushing about is just what you get from the from one playthrough of the game. Save for one exception, I will not be talking about supplementary material, nor Space Channel 5′s lore.

And yes, this colorful dancing/rhythm/simon says game has lore. Basically any non-repeated character model has their own biograph. So I will not go into that.

You’re not missing too much, there are interesting tidbits, sometimes they fill you in on background details of the story.

Speaking of the story. I’ll start in a second. But if this is new to you, you can watch it here first (The first playthrough is only half the video):

youtube

Prologue:

We start off with a bunch of alien sitting on a space couch watching space TV. These aliens are known as the Morolians and they’ll be the main antagonists for the evening.

This cutscene has no dialogue, so this is all open to interpretation for a first time viewer. Though I do enjoy this split second foreshadowing:

And that’s when the title screen appears. Blasting you with the series’ main theme Mexican Flyer. Look it up if you must. You’ll be hearing it a lot, it’s the game and Ulala’s leitmotif.

Report 1: This is terrorism attack on an airport... I’m gonna ignore that.

This is the only piece of supplemental material I’ll talk about, as it’s present in the game itself, but not elaborated on, and it is important to two of the character.

The game starts in a flashback. In the year AD 2489 a spaceship exploded. Everybody on board died safe for a little girl.

She was rescued by a man working for Space Channel 5. A news organization that with a specific focus on dancing. That last bit is nothing special though, as everything in this galaxy revolves around dancing.

After the little girl is saved by this kindly Channel 5 Gent (Age 25) she knew what she wanted to be after she grew up. She wanted to be a sexy dancing reporter for Space Channel 5 just like him (presumably). And to meet him so she can thank him in person.

10 years later......

It is AD 2499! And the Morolians attack a space airport and their ray beams hypnotize people to dance silly.

THE HORROR!

And that’s when Space Channel 5 sends in Ulala to report on the progress.

But what they’re actually doing is for Ulala to solve the problem instead of the Space authorities.

One character I do wanna mention now is that Ulala’s producer, Fuse, is an unseen character yet is important later. He’s the one briefing Ulala in the screenshot above. And oversees Ulala’s every move.

Also Ulala never got to meet her rescuer. He either left shortly after Ulala got rescued, or shortly before Ulala joined. Given what we learn later, likely the former.

Anyway onto the show:

BAM!

BAM!!

BAM!!!

I will always love that. Ulala got down on the ground in the panicking space air port to coolly report on the panic.

As quick aside, I wanna mention that Ulala doesn’t run in this game, she slowly struts and all of her struts are simply majestic. And those amazing struts lead her to the first gameplay section of this game.

Some Morolians hold a few hypnotized people hostage. This is is a dance battle. Meaning you got repeat exactly what the aliens do in the exact rhythm they did it in order to save the hostages. And I love this gameplay. It’s simple yet fun (provided you got minimal lag, you should look into that if you wanna play this game).

The controls are:

Up: Up

Down: Down

Left: Left

Right: Right/Light

Button 1: Chu (Aliens)

Button 2: Chu (Humans)

And this is how normal people settle things in this world apparently:

Party 1 (usually the Aliens) make up a tough but fair pattern for Ulala to copy in the hopes of psyching her out.

Party 2 (Ulala & Co.) gets as many chances ad she got. And the better she does more people tune into her news report. If she wins she gets what she wants. Saving the hostage and getting Party 1 out of her hair.

Every single one lives by this code of honor and I honestly have no clue if there’s an in-universe reason. But I love it regardless. I love it when people say: Up Down Chu Chu Chu. And the Ulala repeating it.

Though frankly, I don’t like it when the Morolians issue the commands. I like it when others do the exact same commands in this same game, so it’s a little bit of a bummer the Morolians do it.

Anyways. You save the hostages and they join in on Ulala’s unstoppable strut as will always happen if you rescue people. And they strut to the second gameplay type: The Shoot-out.

The controls are the same as the above but now you gotta watch out for humans in the mix.

In general these are trickier. And I might go into that later. But they do work on the same rules.

Don’t worry I won’t go over every dance or shoot-out unless there’s something special about it.

Also I’m pretty sure you kill people if you push the wrong Chu. Don’t do that, it’s bad for the ratings!

Skipping over three battles.Something new happens, rival space news station: Space(?) Channel 42 has a reporter of their own out on the field. And that reporter is planning to steal Channel 5′s viewership. And this is HER!

You do a dance battle and she dies.

Though seriously, I like this game does this. It’s not only aliens you fight, but other factions of the Space News Media. And it’s always a nice shake up when someone besides her shows up.

You see, for the most part any reoccurring enemy has recognizable mannerisms you gotta batlle, and her is no different. It’s hard to describe for me. You kinda gotta play or watch the game for yourself to see what I mean, but I think it’s best exemplified in Report 2. And the following games.

Though one thing’s for sure, each non-normal Morolians or rival reported does bring their own genre switch with them. Heck sometimes even normal battles have unique genres. I’m am not musically inclined so I wouldn’t know hers or most others.

Any way, before she dies she give an emotional speech and gracefully suggests to take her Channel 42 guitarist with her and Ulala accepts that’s the least she could do for a lousy reporter like her.

And then it’s boss time!

Yeah, actual bosses with actual boss characters. And not like the recently deceased as shown above. She’s practically for all intents and purposes another Morolian dance battle.

And it’s down to funky jazz music, not unlike what you’d see in Sonic Adventure! Even Ulala comments on it, confirming it’s dietetic Where does it come from? Not sure, there might be an explanation somewhere. But do keep that in mind. That the music we hear is also the music the characters hear as well.

Anyways:

Not Pictured: Super Stretchy Arms.

I think it’s a bit of a misnomer. Invader is correct, that’s what it’s here for. But is it really a robot? It moves like an organics and is a bit rubbery. This basically goes for all Morolian robots.

I can suspend my disbelief. You shouldn’t nitpick too much about Space Channel 5, it doesn’t want you to think too hard about it’s world even if there’s a lot to it. I’d be concerned if Space Channel 5 did wanna put its story and world building first and foremost.

But “Hypnotized Robot Invader”?

What?

Spoiler.

Robots and hypnotism... I’m pretty sure a sign that we made perfect human-like Artificial Intelligence if they can fall susceptible to Hypnosis. Even then I doubt it.

Sorry, that’s always bothered me, I get what they mean by it. It’s just the word choice... Did they mean Hypnotizing Robot Invader? This boss is great.

It starts off with a normal dance battle, but you get to watch a new Morolian enemy’s moves. It’s also quicker on the draw along with a few softballs to throw your timing off. Pretty good stuff.

And that applies to the next phase as well, where the the shooting starts.

I don’t have much to say.

Unlike the robot’s final phase where it’s the first phase again, but with guns and the robot goes to berserking speeds with the input commands.

And after you beat it, it joins you in a strut.

As does everyone you saved, No matter the gender, nor age, nobody is embarrassed imitating Ulala no matter what she does. We’ll be half as lucky to get a cool future as cool as 2499.

And with that the first report is over.

Report 2: (Age 35)

At the Morolian HQ (Presumably), their boss doesn’t like failure.

But like a good boss he doesn’t dwell on failure and moves on to the next plan. One of his lackeys has this plan: Another boss battle dance robot who operates on:

The everyone at the table is impressed. So I guess Ulala is screwed, game over.

This level is more of the same as the last one more or less, it’s possibly the most boring level in the series in that regard. It’s not bad, this is just the game bulding enough a status quo before they change things up in Report 3.

But that doesn’t make this level any less interesting to talk about, so I won’t go over it much.

The short story until something new happens is: Space Ship (think of it as a fancy yacht but in space) is being attack by Morolians, Ulala is send to report on it, and being the professional she is saves hostages as well.

She saves the captain, crew members, stewardesses, waitresses, the Space Diva (OH NO! NOT THE SPACE DIVA!), passages and the like.

UNTIL!

He voice says “I’m gonna steal you show, Space Channel 5”. And you see this ship flying by:

Another rival reporter, this one a pirate broadcasting station.

Side note: That’s sounds like the most important kind of pirate ever. Alternative news/non-mainstream with no money/rating motive blinding everything with journalistic integrity? Yes, by all means. If they’re pirates then so are Secular Talk & The Humanist Report.

Back to the silly dance game. The Pirates either jam or hack Channel 5′s signal and the Ulala is stuck with them for a while.

And then we meet that where we meet the gent above.

“[His] name is:“

“JAGUAAAAARRRR!!!” “JAGUAAAAARRRR!!!“

(Age 35)

LET’S DANCE!

Dude, I love Jaguar (Age 35) he’s gotta be my second favorite character in the series on account he’s just cool and incapable of embarrassment.

Remember the deceased of the last report? The Channel 42 reporter in the blue dress? He’s her counterpart for this chapter.

But whereas the deceased’s gimmick sounded air headed for a lack of a better term. Maybe, girly? Point is, battling her didn’t feel too dissimilar to battling Morolians despite her rhytmic mannerisms.

Jaguar (Age 35)’s gimmick is that he just adds. He starts with a simple Up. And then he adds a Chu, and another Chu. Eventually it becomes a really long chain of commands, it has to be some of the longest in the series. And you have to do them all from start to finish because he does them all sequentially. Can you repeat?:

Up. Chu. ChuChu. Right. Left. Down. DownDown. Down. Chu. Chu. Chu.

He is easing you into it, but it is by no means an easy fight. Because after the chain is at its longest, he just spamming ChuChuChu in quick succession. And then a simple Chu.

After defeat Jaguar & Co, escape by jet-pack, saying they will meet later.

This battle is a highlight for me. Coco Tapioco and the big bosses to come are better if you ask me (with exceptions). But Jaguar (Age 35) is some of the best the normal gameplay goes.

And you could argue what normal means in the context of Space Channel 5. But effectively, like Channel 42′s deceased, functionally he might as well be another Morolian if he wasn’t there to be set up for later. Because you do get person that just joins your Strut Club like everywhere else.

You gain his Jazz Man and you get a great sax solo as a reward beating him. Like how you got Channel 42′s guitarist for beating them. I like the think the Jazz Man can work for Jaguar (Age 35) again while the Channel 42 Guitarist is blacklisted.

And before we move on from Jaguar (Age 35) check out his Chu pose:

BOSS TIME!

Jaguar (Age 35): The alien mothership is retreating. Don’t you have to follow them, Channel 5? Fuse: Blast you, Jaguar [Age 35].

With the pirates giving chase, Ulala is left with the cowardly alien robot to elegant music.

Ignoring the robot’s title, while silly, its cowardice is its greatest asset. For it has kidnapped some space schoolkids, making their space teacher worry. Their space teacher can actually be seen at the start of the report.

Space fashion, am I right?

I’ve exceeded Tumblr’s invisible limit of what to put in a blog post. I’ll have to rewrite this boss what I have to say for this boss. So full, can’t spell check! We’ll be back!

#space channel 5 #sc5 #ulala #dreamcast #chu #gushing #jaguar #fuse #pudding #coco tapioca #morolina #morolians

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