that's the way they all became a lucky bunch

ernest is often presumed to be on friendly terms with some of the other defected volunteers of his generation, but the actual truth is that he dislikes them all immensely. olaf’s histrionic tendencies and penchant for self-pity drive him up the wall, esme is such a narcissist and a horrific snob, and georgina thinks she’s just so much cleverer than she really is. this makes for a very lonely existence.

frank and ernest both smoke, all day, full time, first thing in the morning and last thing at night. neither of them have ever had any desire to quit. running a hotel is stressful, after all. dewey, however, has never smoked. it’s one of a few secret ways you might tell him apart from his brothers; he’s the only one who never smells of it.

beatrice is an only child who is also orphaned at a young age — her mother dies before she can ever remember her and her father dies when she is still a young child. the organisation raises her, through a chaperone who lives close to olaf’s family home and allows them to play together regularly.

georgina has never once had a romantic attachment to someone who didn’t betray her in the end — from her affair with an already-married josephine anwhistle, to bertrand baudelaire who destroyed her career, to olaf who tried to drown her and destroyed her career again — until esme. unfortunately, this means she is always waiting for that other shoe to drop.

beatrice and bertrand had been friends but not interested in one another romantically until they jointly took on their opera night mission. they became close suddenly afterwards, partly because they could form comforting excuses and platitudes for each other at the same time as truly understanding the guilt they both carried and the absolute horror of what they had done. if we weren’t good enough people, we wouldn’t care so much. we didn’t have any real choice. it was for the greater good, wasn’t it? do you still dream about it sometimes too?

the man with a beard but no hair and the woman with hair but no beard were one assigned as partners for a particularly traumatic vfd mission in their youth. that shared trauma led them to a lifetime symbiotic partnership and shared hatred of the organisation they grew up in.

-

Sally strolls down the sidewalk with many folders in her arms, as well has her purse that is very close to falling off from her shoulder, when she hears someone running up from behind her in what she can tell is high heels. She feels glad that it being quite early in the morning —the sun can barely be described as up— or else she would have heard pedestrians complaining. Before she can turn around to the confront the person, Sally feels two arms suddenly hugging her.

The arms belong to someone wearing a familiar grey long-sleeve shirt, with their nails painted white as snow. Sally also sees a silver ring engraved with a small ‘C’ in the middle, being worn on the right middle finger. Sally knows that ring rather well; she gave it to the woman on the birthday they both became of age.

“You’ll never believed what happened at the Mulctuary Money Management interview, Sally!” Miranda’s voice is full of excitement.

Miranda quickly let go of Sally, and then turns her around so the two could face each other. Sally couldn’t help but feel her cheeks becoming warm. It took some time, but Sally is rather fond of Miranda’s surprised hugs, even if they happen in rather inappropriate moments. Sally doesn’t think this isn’t one of those moments though.

“I guess you’re too excited to wait to tell me over the phone?” asks Sally, shrugging her shoulders. “You do realize I’m rather full on my hands at the moment.”

Miranda gives out a laugh, before placing her hands onto Sally’s shoulders. “I needed to tell you in person! You’re the one who even made it possible after all! You lend me the clothes, help me practice answering questions…you even help me do a proper handshake!”

“Will you just tell me?” asks Sally once again, this time with a laugh herself. “As much as I enjoy the suspense, I really don’t want to drop these folders. They’re full of reports for V.F.D., and I don’t want to go re-type them all if they managed to get ruined!”

“Oh fine! I got the position as secretary at Mulctuary Money Management! Do you know what that means?” Miranda gives out a giggle. “My mother will have to keep her promise to postpone my training at Caligari Carnival to be the next Madame Lulu!”

Sally feels her arms dropping, and hears the folders falling onto the sidewalk. She even hears her purse slipping down as well, landing with a soft ‘thud’! But Sally doesn’t care though. All she cares about is the words that came out of Miranda’s mouth. Or rather, one word: postpone.

Sally then grabs Miranda’s hands. They were soft and smooth, and always warm when compares to Sally’s own cold hands.

“Oh Miranda, that’s wonderful news!” says Sally. “I’m so glad you got the position!”

Miranda gives out a small smile. “I would rather listen to my boss ordering me to bring files of paperwork, coffee, jot down notes, or anything else if it means I get to be closer to you! The drive from the Carnival to the City was starting to eat my bank account away!”

“We have to celebrate right now.” Sally soon let go of Miranda’s hands. “I don’t think any café is open right now, but my place isn’t that far from here. I could make you a quick breakfast if you want, as my treat. I know how to make a rather tasty meal of French Toast.”

“French Toast sounds wonderful!” Miranda soon frowns, and then looks down at the sidewalk. “I do think we should take care of this problem first. Sorry for making you drop them.”

Sally gives out a scoff. “I think the sidewalk isn’t that dirty enough for me to re-type them all.”

-

Sally places her arms on the metal railing, and then takes a look her watch, before taking a glance at the bag besides her. Miranda has been keeping her waiting for the last fifteen minutes. Usually, it’s Sally who is running late. Maybe Miranda wanted to switch things up a bit, or maybe she was held up with Olivia. Sally did recall Olivia is supposed to be visiting last week. Perhaps Olivia picks this day of all days for the right reason.

“I’m not surprised Miranda would put family first. Who wouldn’t do such a thing? I know I normally would…but Gustav is such a sweet brother to give Miranda the afternoon!” Sally smiles, and thinks about how her and Miranda’s day will be.

Even though both enjoy the off season, their hectic work schedule made such a desire to be impossible. However, the impossible made today all more perfect. It’s Sally and Miranda’s birthday, and Gustav agreed his present to Sally is to have the afternoon with Miranda.

Sally turns around, and squints her eyes. The sun could be getting to her, but Sally sees one Georgina Orwell, of all the things the woman can do, trying to roller skate. The keyword here is ‘trying’. The spectacles wearing older woman is wearing arm pads and kneepads but no helmet, and has her arms out to keep balance.

“Sebald, move your ass!” Orwell screams at the top of her lungs.

Sally watches Orwell about to fall over the railing and into the bush. She probably would have, if the decision to grab Orwell with her free hand never happen. Sally pulls Orwell back, and holds her close. They weren’t necessary hugging, but their position is close to one another. Their faces are a few centimeters apart. Orwell looks rather taken back by Sally’s heroic action.

“Hear I thought you still hold a grudge against me, Sebald,” says Orwell, giving her a cheeky smile. “I guess time heals all wounds after all.”

“Just because I saved you from a well deserve fall doesn’t mean I won’t forgive for breaking my brother’s heart in the most humiliating way possible,” growls Sally. “You put the ‘itch’ in bitch. Besides, I didn’t want you ruining Miranda’s birthday gift. That’s my main priority.”

Orwell does a weird side glance, and then returns her attention back on Sally. The cheeky smile is still on her damn face. All of a sudden, Orwell gives a small bop on Sally’s nose and whispers, “I guess your grudge against me will just get bigger. Hope you have fun explaining why we’re in a somewhat compromising position one can be in public.”

Orwell grab Sally’s chin, and turns it sideways to where she was looking before. Sally feel her eyes widening in horror. Her mouth opens up, but no words could come out. All those words are still scramble in Sally’s brain, as well as a very terrible thought. With the bitch ruining both Gustav and now her own life, Sally hopes Orwell has a very pleasant and painful death.

Standing in front of them is Miranda on her bike, wide-eye from shock. Miranda is wearing her red hibiscus dress that goes down to her knees and a sunhat Sally bought last summer back on sale. In the bike basket there is a small wrap present, with a heart-shape tag that says ‘Sally’.

Miranda’s eyebrows narrow, and her mouth forms into a scowl. Without hesitation, Miranda quickly bikes off in the opposite direction, with Sally hearing the shatter that is of her own heart.

-

“Sally, are you sure you want to do this?” asks Gustav, still sitting in the motorcycle sidecar. “Even though I was able to explain to Olivia the whole situation —it helps Olivia never like Orwell either— she told me Miranda is still furious at you. You know how stubborn she can get, especially after a heartbreak. Remember what happened to her and—”

“In that situation, Miranda cooled down in five weeks times and the two went back to being friendly associates again. Gustav, she been giving me the silent treatment for five months.” Sally takes of her helmet and hands it to Gustav. Sally then tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I think if I personally explain it to her, as well as giving her a belated birthday gift…”

Sally soon sighs. “Gustav, you know all I want is for us to be friends again. Well… I mean, yes, I also hope we can get back together, but it’s a fragment of hope. It’s a ‘maybe-it’s-a-happy-ending’ hope. It’s a hope I don’t realistically expect to happen, as much as I desperately want it.”

Gustav gives her a tired smile and knowing look, as he hands Sally the bagged-gift sitting beside him. Sally grabs the bag, and then gives a small wave at Gustav before walking away down the street. Miranda’s apartment is a few blocks down, but Sally didn’t want to take the risk of getting spotted. Sally hopes Miranda is in a good mood to at least hear her out.

As Sally continues walking, she couldn’t help but think about the day she accidentally ate Miranda’s chocolate-coconut pudding. Even though they had formal talks as students, that conversation was their first personal interaction with one another. If she never ate the pudding, neither of them would have become friends, and eventually so much more.

When Sally approaches the building, she sees Miranda exiting. Since today is a Friday, Miranda is wearing a pink and white checkered dress with short sleeves. She had outgrown the pink and white striped sweater when they turn seventeen, replacing it with a dress of the same colors. With Miranda holding the door for some reason, Sally figure it’s her chance to call out.

Sally stops herself in time though. Miranda holding the door for reason is because she’s holding it for Thursday, of all people. Sally feels her face burning out of embarrassment. She forgot Thursday is back in the dating field, given how he and his ex-wife’s divorce is finally finalized.

She still can’t understand why after so many years of a happy marriage, his ex-wife got tired of him. Sally can’t see why. His personality is rather pleasant as pleasant can be, his eyes are in a wonderful shade of the most common eye color the population can have, and a face shape Sally admits is perfect for him. She can truly see why Miranda —and once upon a time, the ex-wife— is smitten by the man. Sally isn’t surprised Miranda said yes to a date with Thursday.