Astrin read aloud from the degenerate fanfiction, wiping tears from her eyes.
"The time we spent was fair, but I didn't know if she would call me back. My love is stronger than thirty-seven grown daddies, and her fragile body is like an estate sale. We would never work out."
They all erupted into laughter. After some time, Gwyn was the first to speak.
"What happens next?"
Astrin shook her head.
"That's it."
"Wait… that can't be it," Elise said.
Astrin handed her the paper.
"Check for yourself, that's how it ends."
"I didn't expect a sad ending that time," Gwyn said, pondering the madness of the author.
"That's the thing about Ollaz," Elise said. "He keeps you guessing."
"But what about his shaboingle? How will he ever recover after such passionate lovemaking?" Leo asked.
"I guess we will have to wait until the next installment," Elise said with a little disappointment.
"I think this one's old," Gwyn said with a hint of hesitance.
"What makes you say that?" Leo asked.
"Well, Elise had blonde hair in this," Gwyn pointed to Elise. "She has pink hair now."
"By the Gods, you are right!" Elise said, laughing. "So this is like… at least a couple of weeks old.
"Elise… you don't care that this… person writes these vile things about you?" Astrin asked nervously.
"Oh, yeah. It bothered me at first, but I got to say, I am his biggest fan." She thought to herself. "I kind of want to meet the author now."
"And show him your breasticles?" Gwyn quipped.
"No, of course not!" Elise gave Gwyn a playful shove. "I wonder who wrote it."
"Do you think it could be Artero?" Astrin asked.
This made Elise almost laugh louder than when they were reading Ollaz's fanfiction.
"No, no. Gods. He hates reading. I have never seen him write either, too busy listening to audioscrolls."
"Fucking nerd," Astrin said.
Everyone turned their head.
"Astrin!" Her brother shouted.
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
~
"Hit me!" Artero proclaimed loudly. His voice held a confidence that made his moves seem cold. Calculated. Intentional.
"Artero… my guy, you are at twenty right now. There is literally no reason to take another card," Myria said, coming as close as possible to what could almost be considered pleading.
"Look! We've all busted, it's just you and Mr. Keeper, he has to hit twenty-one to beat you!" Teddy shouted. "Don't do it!"
"I said what I said!" Artero yelled, drunk with power. Or maybe just regular drunk.
They all had been partaking in some beverages while playing card games on the divine desk.
"Aye, lad, if it's what you wish."
Mr. Keeper slowly raised a hand in the air. The air was electric. Everyone watched in anticipation as the Lotman's hand slowly lowered the card next to Artero's two others.
"No way!" Teddy shouted.
"Ace baybeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Artero shouted, throwing his hands into the air.
"Holy shit, you got twenty-one!"
Myria was beyond astonished.
Even Mr. Keeper couldn't believe it.
"What a beautiful play, lad," but he raised another card in the air. "It's not over yet!" He revealed his second face-down card. A perfect blackjack.
The table erupted in disappointment cries.
"How is that possible?!" Teddy shouted, pulling out his hair.
"God damn, you're one lucky goblin," Myria said, her face plain and bored.
"Not a goblin!" Mr. Keeper shouted.
Artero was heartbroken. He stared at the cards in front of him in disbelief.
"What does this mean?"
"Oh… ye just keep yer bet, 'a push' if ye will." Mr. Keeper said knowingly.
"So… I didn't lose?" Artero asked.
Mr. Keeper wore a wide smile.
"No, not technically."
Artero held the singular golden coin to his face.
"My precious…"
"Are you okay, dude?" Myria asked.
"Am I okay? Am I okay?!" Artero jumped on the divine desk. "I'm more than okay! I won! I fucking won!"
Myria leaned over to Teddy and whispered.
"He is absolutely wasted."
"Yeah, but he's a drunk winner!"
Teddy jumped on the table, and they started to dance, and even Mr. Keeper joined in. Teddy reached out his hand to Myria, and she rolled her eyes.
They all danced with Artero, who was mad with power, with his singular "win".
~
Anastasia paced in her room. Eagerly waiting for her associates to arrive. Then a subtle knock on her door.
Her servant, Reginald, opened the doors.
Two women dressed in corsets and short skirts strutted through the door. They playfully twirled their pig tails.
"Like we're here!" Vanessa said, trying extra hard to be noticeable.
"Yeah, and we're only like… fifty-five minutes late!" Cassi, the shorter and much less attractive girl, said proudly.
"Yes, come in, come in. Not like I'm on a time crunch or anything," Anastasia said disapprovingly. "Can we get started?"
"Yeah, but like… I totally forgot what you were asking us to do!" Cassi laughed stupidly.
"Yeah! Like… um… it was about the dance or something?" Vanessa asked, tilting her head, with an annoyingly high-pitched resonance in her voice.
Anastasia sighed.
"How many times do I have to tell you two…"
Ana rolled out a piece of parchment as large as a dining table in front of Vanessa and Cassi. They eyed the paper with confusion. Anastasia explained the plan from the beginning. Again.
"Um… Like… This is a cool plan and all… but it isn't a little extreme?" Vannessa asked with a raised hand.
"Yeah… like… we are down for like whatever you have planned, but this is a little complicated…" Cassi said disappointedly.
"If you two don't want to do this, just say so now," Anastasia said.
"It's not that, but… isn't the Wintumnos Dance supposed to be fun or something?"
"What do you mean? This will make the Wintumnos Dance unforgettable." Anastasia eyed her plan, thinking over every detail. "It'll be perfect."
"Like… okay… but… how will this make your ex-boyfriend love you?" Vanessa asked with a hint of skepticism.
"Are you questioning me?" Anastasia grabbed Vanessa by the face. "Do you think I'm dumb?"
"No! I like… didn't say that at all… you're like super-hot and smart and stuff," Vanessa said nervously.
Anastasia gently released her face.
"Good girl. Now, do you know what your role is?"
"Yeah… but like… how do we know it will work… isn't it suspicious for us to be pushing for that girl to be the whatever person?"
"It'll be fine…" Anastasia smiled sweetly. "You just worry about what I have planned for you."
"I like… already forgot my part in it," Cassi said stupidly.
"Oh my gosh! Me too!"
Vanessa then hugged Cassi.
Anastasia rubbed her temple.
"Why must I have to use these idiots…"
"Because like… everyone thinks you're super—"
Anastasia cut off Cassi with a raise of her hand, and the ring on Ana's finger began to glow.
"Super nice! Pretty with like… a rocking body!" Vanessa finished for Cassi.
"Y-yeah! T-that's what I was gonna say! T-totally hot!" Cassi said, shaking in fear. She even pretended to read the document, knowing it would please Anastasia.
Truthfully, to both of the women, it was just a mess of scribbles and lists of events that were beyond their comprehension.
"Good, I'll go over it as many times as it takes…" Anastasia pulled the two women closer to her. "We'll go over this one more time."