Multifandom Fangirl

I have recently opened up a store on Acggoods! My store, Starla Cartoons, has items featuring my traditional art of different animated fandoms! I recently dropped a series of Hazbin Hotel merch, of the Vees specifically. I plan to drop more merch of different characters and fandoms in the near future! Enjoy!

Thank you for your support!

Chapter 12: Redemption

Tags/Warnings: ValentinoxOC, Sad Valentino backstory, attempted murder, suicide.

Previous Chapter: https://www.tumblr.com/naomistarla/814840898500329472/chapter-11-hospital

“Angel! No!” I shout as I grab the spear and try to wrestle it out of his hand.

“Let go, Kylie! I have to do this! It’s the only way I can be free! Why other people can be free of him! I won’t have to lose any more friends because of him!”

“Remember what Charlie said? Only God should choose when life ends! I mean, Val’s life did end, but I guess God meant this life too!

Angel growls and fails to yank the spear from me.

“Killing was what got you here in the first place!”

Angel’s face drops. Then he frowns.

Oh no. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.

“No! Our dad hit us! He…Val…” Angel shakes so hard that the spear trembles even while I’m also holding it. Angel lets out an exhausted cry as he drops to the floor with the spear.

“I…I can’t. You’re right.” His face falls into his hands. “He can’t even do anything to me right now. Seriously, what’s going on with him?” He peeks over at Val.

“Uh…he’s on some doctor sedative thing.” I sit in front of Angel.

Angel sighs. “Val and I are a lot alike.”

As much as I love Val, this actually breaks my heart. “N-No.”

“Kylie, when I first came to the hotel, I was hitting on anyone I could. Even when they wanted to be left alone, it would take me forever, or a push to the floor to stop. Val and I are both very sexual and confident and, well, pretty hot. But the more I tried to save my soul and share my feelings, I was becoming less like Val. I cared about people more. I cared if I made them uncomfortable or scared. Sometimes I wonder what I could have done someday if I never had a friend like Charlie who encouraged me so much. A friend like Husk to bother to tell me I was self-destructing and that I wasn’t alone.” Angel looks into my eyes. “If I killed Val, I’d feel closer to being like him than ever. I mean, if I have to defend myself someday, I can’t make any promises, but…I can’t murder him.”

I don’t know what to say. I agree with everything he says, but…wow. Just wow. I almost tell him I’m sorry, but I still want to be with Val. Also, I doubt it would mean much to Angel at this point.

White lights sparkle and dance around Angel. We both gasp and stand up.

“Angel! You—”

“I think I’m…I think I’m being redeemed!” Angel looks all around as the lights begin to lift him up.

“Angel!”

Charlie bursts through the door, Vaggi and Husk behind her.

“Angel?” Husk says gently, a hint of sadness in his face as he reaches up.

“No!”

I look at Val, who’s awake, yet half-lidded. He weakly reaches an arm out.

Angel gives Charlie a warm smile. “Thank you for everything. Keep at it, Princess.”

Angel and the lights vanish.

Vaggi glances down at her spear, at Val, then looks back up at the spot where Angel was. “He…didn’t do it.”

“He acted against his sin!” Charlie walked over to the empty area as droplets appeared in her eyes.

“I’m…sorry Husk.” Vaggi puts a hand on the winged cat’s shoulder.

Husk smiles a small, bittersweet smile. “Don’t be. He made it. Besides, I’ll see him again.” He looks at Charlie. “Do you have a spot open in your counseling sessions?”

“I always do.” Charlie runs back to the group and flings her arm around Husk.

Vaggi picks up her spear. “Say, Kylie. I know you screwed up, big time, and I can’t stop you from dating Valentino.” She rolls her eyes, his name clearly like poison to her. I see he fell back asleep. “But you’re welcome to come back if you want to.”

Charlie walks up to me. “Kylie, I want you to know that redemption is for anyone who wants it and tries their best. Just don’t invite Valentino back unless we can be sure he’s interested in redemption.” She smiles and walks away with Vaggi and Husk.

Anyone can be redeemed. And I’m welcome to stay.

Hours later, I approach Val’s bedside. Hopefully he can stay awake by now.

“Val?” I gently shake him.

“H-Huh?” He wakes up, then he frowns. “Angel. He’s…gone.” Val sighs. “Well, I was getting tired of his disloyalty, but I didn’t want to be rid of him. Don’t worry, amorcita. I love only you.” He squeezes my hand.

“Val…” I tear up. “I love you too, but I want to keep trying to get redeemed.”

“You-you do?” Val’s grip on my hand loosens. “But…what about us?”

“You could come with me.” I grab one of his other hands. “Vaggi said it would be okay if you were interested in redemption. If I’m gonna be honest, I think Angel was right about you having not truly changed, but I believe you can. I see how you are with me; how much you care for Velvette. I know you still care for Vox, deep down, even after all you did and even after your ‘thing’ with him not working out. There’s good in you.”

Val sighs. “Well, it’s not like I have anything to lose. Hell’s gonna be a worse place for me than it ever was.” His eyes water. “How important is my fame anyway, my power, if there’s a chance of me being redeemed, being happier than I ever was. Having genuine love from people instead of just lust.” He curls up. “I never told you what sent me to Hell.”

“Oh?” I slide closer.

“The sixties and seventies were my time to shine. A time where people preached peace and love. I was always a very…loving guy. I always dreamed of having a family of my own. And I promised myself I would keep them as close as possible, and that I wouldn’t let them be ripped away from me like mine was.”

“What happened?”

“Well, it wasn’t just one incident. First my papa, he had…issues in the head that blew up when I was little. He tried to jump off a building with me in his arms, and after the police talked him into putting me down, he jumped.”

“Whoa. That’s heavy. Sorry.” Maybe I sound stupid, but what am I supposed to say to that?

“Then when it’s just my brother and mother, she finds out the family she was a maid for was doing some underground thing, they kill her and my brother gets caught in the crossfire. That being said, I was terrified of having more people I loved ripped away from me. Almost every breakup I had was because I was too clingy or controlling. Until my…wife.”

I gasp a little. I’m seeing more and more why he wouldn’t tell me about his life on Earth.

“We were living the hippie life. Braiding each other’s hair, trying to make a living with our art and her jewelry while we lived in a studio apartment with…our daughter.” He cracks a smile. “We had the time of our lives, but our projects didn’t sell so well. We agreed that one of us would find job, and we needed one fast. We needed a lot of money fast, too. Well, I ran into a couple I knew from years earlier. They were both down on their luck, so we came up with a crazy plan. Until I or my wife could get a normal job, I would be their pimp! I was taller and stronger than both of them—seriously, I was almost seven feet tall on Earth, so I could protect them from dangerous clients. My wife grudgingly tolerated it until something in me woke up. The power. Having more people around who enjoyed my company. I felt like it kind of compensated for everyone I lost.” Val runs a hand down his face. “My wife couldn’t take it anymore when she saw I was pimping out more people, and that I was doing more than that. She took our daughter and drove away. I flipped out, screaming at her to come back. I took my new car I bought with my pimp money, chased them down, and crashed into them. I…I don’t even know if they survived. If they didn’t they sure wouldn’t be in Hell. I can’t even bring myself to try to look them up.”

I just say what I’m thinking. I owe him that. “I don’t know what to say. Maybe…you could see them again someday. Even sooner if they’re in Heaven now. You might not be strong enough right now to try to get redeemed without help. The Hazbin Hotel was invented for a reason, Val.”

He sets his teeth. “I don’t want the hotel to see Valentino the adult film director, pimp, and dancer who was weak enough to be hospitalized and is even less perfect than he was before!” He perks up. “I can just punch anyone who laughs at me for being a failure!”

“That’s the spir—well, they probably would want you to work on that. You wanna at least give it a try?”

Val sits up. “I want to give it more than a try. I want to be truly happy for once. I want to be a good person again.”

I squeal and bounce my feet, too happy to care that I kind of ruined the moment. Hand-in-hand with Val, we walk through the doors of the hotel as we do our best to ignore the gasps and stares. I don’t think our best is very good.

We approach the front desk, where Vaggi stares at us with a stern but not unwelcoming expression.

“Both of you are booking?” Vaggi asks.

“Yes.” Val and I say.

“And both of you want to be redeemed?”

“Wha….” Charlie rushes over. “You’re both wanting to be redeemed?”

“Yes,” we both again say as we smile at each other.

Charlie and Vaggi look at each other with narrowed eyes.

“Well, I’ve got my eye on both of you, mainly you, Valentino.” Vaggi warns.

Charlie frowns and gives Val the “eyes on you” sign.

Vaggi pats the counter. “Also, I know you have weapons.”

Val groans and pulls a gun, his name bedazzled on it, from his garter. He grabs another from his other leg and puts both of them on the counter.

“Aren’t those golden things on your fingertips weapons too?” Charlie points out. She seems to actually wonder.

“Glam and weaponry all in one.” Val grins and wiggles his fingers before he pulls the sharp tips off.

Vaggi pulls out some kind of rectangular machine and flies around Val with it. Ha! Must be a metal detector! They’ve stepped up their game since I left!

“Well, no more weapons.” Vaggi flies back down.

“Okay, perfect!” Charlie looks at both of us and clasps her hands together. “Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel!”

The End

Just dropped some AHKJ Keychains!

1000 likes!

Chapter 11: Hospital

Tags/Warnings: Anorexia, injury, ValentinoxOC, OC, Vox, Velvette

Previous Chapter: https://www.tumblr.com/naomistarla/810215385807929344/chapter-10-rekindled

On the pavement, bleeding at random areas, I cry out as I grab my leg. It doesn’t look right. Is this what a broken bone feels like? It feels like its broken. Breathing doesn’t feel much better.

How’s Val? Oh s—t.

“Val!” I yell. Sharp pain hits my side from the yelling. I’m too terrified to care. “Valentino!”

I shuffle closer to the car, and I see Val not moving, his eyes closed. Thankfully his chest is moving.

I hear a siren and see flashing lights in the distance.

I hold Val’s hand as we lie in two gurneys in the ambulance. They measure our heart rates and do all that medical technical stuff I only understand so much about. I’m told I likely have a broken rib, or a cracked one at best. They pay way more attention to him, since I told them the reason for our accident was him passing out.

Vox and Velvette are in the lobby as soon as we arrive. Someone who works at Vee Tower must’ve told them about the crash, since it was at Vee Tower.

“Val! Babe!” Velvette runs to him as we’re pushed down a hall. “Oh sweetie!” She kisses her finger and touches his head. “Kylie, you guys alright? What happened?”

Val smiles weakly at her, then glances at Vox. “I…passed out while we were driving back.”

Vox, who silently follows the small crowd, raises his eyebrows, his teeth set.

Later on, it’s confirmed that I do have a cracked rib. I’m told not to laugh or cough for six weeks. As I talk with the doctor, I hear nurses ask Val about what he did today and what he ate. I don’t hear him list much food.

“You never eat enough!” I hear Vox blurt out.

The room falls silent as everyone turns to him.

“Voxxy!” Val says in a warning tone.

“Val, as long as I’ve known you, you’ve skipped a lot of breakfasts, and the full meals you do have have strict rules to them! You can’t even have an extra cracker with crackers and tomato soup!”

“Shut up, Vox!” Val shouts before he loses resolve and his head collapses back on the pillow. He must still be tired.

“No, Val! I should have said more years ago, but I think you have a problem!”

I sigh. I have to weigh in. “He-He’s right, Val. That night we had our first date since getting back together, you just wanted breadsticks.”

One nurse sighs and looks down at Val. “Sir, I’m going to strongly recommend you receive an in-depth diagnostic evaluation by one of our psychologists.”

Val growls. “Fine.”

“E-VAL-uation. Very appropriate.” Vox snickers.

“No!” Velvette glares.

Val slightly sits up and tries to throw a pillow at Vox, but he collapses back down.

While Val gets questioned by the shrink, I listen to music on ValTek headphones; apparently VoxTek changed its name for a bit after Vox’s little f—k up. I do trust them with my music! It’s comforting, but kind of sad to hear some music from Earth. Val told me they’ve been pirating Heaven and Earth’s stuff for decades. Val motions for me to take the headphones off.

“We’re done,” he says after I remove them.

The psychologist, a golden retriever I think, walks up to my bed and gently puts her hand on the edge. “I’m sorry to tell you this dear, but your boyfriend is about thirty pounds underweight and is suffering from Anorexia Nervosa.”

“Doctor! What the f—k?” Val snaps. “She had those headphones on for a reason!”

Val’s clearly regaining his strength.

The emotional support animal shrugs and says in the same mild-mannered tone, “Sorry sweetie, HIPAA isn’t a thing in Hell. Your death predates it anyway, so there’s no reason for you to get the frownies. At least you can be happy your girlfriend chose to not hear anything! You picked a winner!” She walks out the door with the medical doctor.

What a weirdo. She must be good at her job though because the diagnosis seems accurate.

“So…what happens now?” I ask.

Val sighs and drops his face in his hands. I gotta say, it’s pretty off-putting and sad to see him look so defeated. “I’m going to keep seeing her, and the medical doctor. There’s a treatment plan; I’ll get emailed the details.”

“I’m so sorry, Val. I should have said more when I felt funny about—”

“—No.” Val lies back down. “I’ve had this for a while. I wouldn’t have listened anyway. It’s not like anorexia can kill me here. VoxTek’s brand is perfection, and when it comes to my looks, I’m a perfectionist. The last thing I would want is to screw up our image, and I was this whole time!” He sniffs and turns away, curling up. “Our company’s fans are so fickle and shallow! I did everything I could to keep my fans! I don’t know if I’ll even have anything when the press hears about this! One time, one worker got demoted simply because people were sick of seeing her naked all the time! I’ll be seen as weak! I already have a messed-up wing and antenna!”

I climb out of my bed and into his. It’s warmer than I thought it would be. He turns to me and hugs me.

He unleashes an impassioned cry. I can feel how overwhelmed and disappointed he is. I wish I could absorb it all. I at least know that being here is helping.

“I love you.” I say as my own tears come. “No matter how much you weigh!”

The rest of the night is quiet, with a few distant voices here and there. Injuries. Val sleeps hard, since he asked for a sedative. I don’t sleep. I feel so peaceful that I don’t feel the need to. He’s getting the help he needs, and I’m by his side.

I wonder how the Hazbin Hotel residents reacted to the accident. It had to have made the news by now.

My phone dings in my purse below my bed. I don’t want to answer. I’d have to get up.

It dings again.

Annoyed, I jerkily climb out of bed, pull out my phone and the text is from…Vaggi?

I don’t know what she’d have to be upset about anymore. I’ve been gone from the hotel for a while now.

The message reads, “Are you okay? Have you seen Angel Dust?”

“Angel?” I blurt out. I look at Val, relieved I didn’t wake him.

I text her back, “Have a cracked rib. Why?”

She responds, “Since your…incident, he’s been acting differently. Not as perky, doesn’t tease as much. Less Angel Dust-ness. I haven’t seen him since 6pm or something, and my spear disappeared. I’m saying this mostly for the sake of his soul, but I’m worried about what he’s gonna do. I don’t know if he has it, but please be careful!”

I answer with a scared emoji and a thumbs up.

I look up from my phone and see a dead-eyed Angel Dust standing in front of me, holding Vaggi’s spear.

I yelp and jump. “Angel! Oh! What’re you—”

Chapter 10: Rekindled

Tags/Warnings: Friendship drama, ValentinoxOC, Vox, Velvette, Angel Dust, Charlie, Vaggi

Previous Chapter: https://www.tumblr.com/naomistarla/807481525180497921/chapter-9-crossroads

Still propped over me, Val smirks at them. “I’m starting to think this hotel has a problem with boundaries.”

“You’re one to talk!” Horns grow from Charlie’s head as her eyes glow red.

Vaggie points the spear in our direction. “Valentino, leave. Kylie, you’re welcome to stay, but he isn’t.”

“Wait, you’re kicking him out? He didn’t do anything!” I sit up, holding my robe shut, prompting Valentino to back away and sit.

“We don’t know how long his ‘getting better’ will last, and we don’t know if Angel Dust would be safe around him.” Vaggie comes closer, still pointing the spear, now directing it more clearly at Valentino. “Valentino, leave. Now.”

Valentino shrugs. “If you insist, Actual Angel.” He climbs out of bed, unbothered by his nudity in front of Charlie and Vaggie.

Charlie screams as her body contorts. “You can get dressed first!” She pulls a startled Vaggie out of the room and slams the door.

“We’re staying at the door until you leave!” Vaggie shouts. “We WILL attack if you do!”

“Well, will you come back with me?” Valentino takes his time pulling his clothes back on.

I sigh. I want to stay, but I don’t know if I could stand staying in the same place with someone I hurt so much, even if I kinda think he’s overreacting. Word also might get around the hotel about my little encounter and me being a “toxic friend” and stuff. Valentino’s an overlord, so yeah. That makes things worse.

“Yes.” I put my clothes back on and grab a few more from my drawers.

“I can send Kitty to pick up your things.” Val reaches a hand out to me.

As soon as I grab his hand, he scoops me up into all of his arms and flies out the window.

Soaring through the air, my hair and tail being violently blown aside, I scream and latch onto Val’s neck.

“Oh come on, mi cariño! We’ve flown before!”

“We’ve never jumped out a window!” I say as I squint.

I gradually regain confidence and feel a thrill looking down at the citizens of the Pride Ring. “Hey everybody, my boyfriend can fly! Suck it!” I stick my tongue out.

Val yelps and jerks us to the side as some kind of flaming projectile heads for us. “Might not be best to tease people in Molotov Cocktail Avenue.”

“Well sorry; I never heard of that place! I’m still new here! Sounds fun though!”

After a few more minutes of flying and staring down at everyone, Val stops at his bedroom window at glowing pink Vee Tower, opens a window, and climbs in.

“Val’s room sweet Val’s room!” I giggle and kiss the floor.

“Oh, okay. The floor’s the first thing you kiss when you come back. That’s fine.” Val looks away, crosses his top arms, and puts his bottom ones on his hips. I see a smile try to creep up.

“What? I missed this place!” I sprawl out on the floor. “Missed all its…Valentinoness!”

Valentino laughs and picks me up from under my arms. “Well, that was the idea!”

“Well, it was a good idea!” I give him a peck before he puts me back down.

“So, anywhere you wanna eat tonight to celebrate?”

“Hmm…could we go to that Italian place again? I really miss the lasagna.”

“Oh! Yes, please! I miss the breadsticks!”

“Let’s wear matching outfits!” I jump and clap my hands.

We arrive through the dark glass doors, standing proudly in our matching red coats—well, his being made of his wings, of course. Mine was Velvette’s “Valentinhoes” coat, designed for Valentino fans, resembling his wings. Val and I are also both wearing zebra prints; mine being on a dress borrowed from him, and his being on his pants.

All eyes turn to us. The patrons, the servers. Some of them look at each other and whisper. I wish I could say I wasn’t a little self-conscious. I mean, it was embarrassing enough for everyone to know about the breakup, even though I wanted them to know. The drama, thought not put in much detail, was probably going to be refreshed in people’s heads now. Great.

Buuuut I gotta at least kinda enjoy the attention! Val pulls me closer and gives a cheesy tip of his hat to everyone. I straighten my back and give them a casual wave.

A woman holding menus walks up to us. “Table for two?”

“Yes. Gracias,” Val answers.

After we’re seated, Val points to the breadsticks on the menu. “I think I’ll just order breadsticks for both of us.”

“Oh, ok. I’m gonna get the lasagna, how about you?”

Val’s eyes narrow as he looks up. “Uh, I think I’m just gonna have half the breadsticks. I’m not really that hungry.”

“What? Are you sure?” I honestly feel disappointed. I mean, I’m glad to be here, and to be with him, but I don’t like being the only one with a meal at a restaurant. It sucks some of the fun away.

Val holds his hand up. “It’s okay, Kylie. It’s fine.”

His phone buzzes. He rolls his eyes and picks it up. His face drops a bit when he reads whatever’s on the screen.

“What’s wrong?”

He puts his phone back in his pocket. “Eh, nothing. Anyway…” Val puts his elbows on the table and rests his chin on his glamorously folded hands. “…you do anything, or anyone interesting when you were at the hotel?”

“Ha!” I kick him under the table. “Whatever. Well, I started figuring out why I do certain things I shouldn’t do, and I started actually having better control over my anger.” I almost say my sexual impulses too, but I don’t know how he’d take it. “I mean, I’m glad I’m back with you, but there are some things I still miss.”

He taps my nose. “Well, glad you had a good time without me. As for me, I just released what may be the last movie of Angel Dust’s Lonely Husband series. Vox and I just made up after a fight over ai.”

“Huh? Ai? Why?”

“Well, two of the actors got into a fight over which one of them I liked better. They literally tore each other to shreds. Got pretty ugly.” Val flicks his hand. “Anyway, Vox suggested I use ai to replace the actors.” He growls and pounds his fist on the table, making me jump. “I would’ve punched his screen in, but I’m trying to control myself. That’s how much I love you.”

I take his hands in mine. “I bet that took a lot of strength. I’m proud of you, Val.”

He rubs my hands with his thumbs. “Thank you.”

A few weeks pass. I’m again settled into my role as Valentino’s girlfriend/sugar baby, and our rekindled relationship is old news. We still get tabloid pics, though. Some less flattering than others. It’s crazy how ugly someone can look if someone snaps a picture when they’re talking.

Having just showered, I lounge on the couch in my silk bathrobe. I watch Val’s most recent interview on my phone, and I pay extra close attention, since Val told me he was asked about our relationship.

I feel a little less excited than I otherwise would, since I just caught a glimpse of Angel Dust downstairs before I showered. Part of me keeps wanting to apologize, but what for? I’m with the man I love, and he’s treating him better! Wish Angel could understand that! It’s not like I was asking him to be friends with Val or be part of a throuple or whatever!

Well, I know our relationship isn’t exclusive, mainly on Val’s end. Neither of us said it was, but it’s pretty clear. I’ve seen how he acts with some of his workers, including Angel. Clearly our hearts are only for each other, but physically its free reign. Kinda wish we laid out some rules. I’m honestly not in love with the idea of open relationships. More rules, more complicated situations, and so on. I actually did try to get with a couple of Val’s actors, but I didn’t try too hard because I just wasn’t enthusiastic enough. Maybe I’ll talk to Val about laying out some rules or even closing the relationship.

I get snapped out of my train of uncomfortable thought when I hear the interviewer mention my name. I go back ten seconds.

“So, how have things been going for you and Kylie?”

“Amazing. Just perfect. We just can’t get enough of each other, and she just couldn’t stay away.” Valentino chuckles and smokes.

I feel a mild flash of anger. Acting like he thinks he’s so cool. Which he is, but still. Ugh! He was so happy when Angel Dust walked in on us together. He shouldn’t have had to find out that way!

“Kylie!”

I jump and nearly drop my phone.

Val runs to me, holding up two dresses. “Baby, I was thinking we could match for the show! Cheetah print, huh? Realized we have the same dress! Ha!”

Wow. Nearly forgot we were about to go to Velvette’s fashion show. I’m honestly surprised I never asked Val if we could wear matching dresses, given he’s the first boyfriend I ever had who wears them. This was definitely a fantasy I had growing up. Walking down the red carpet while people would take pictures and ask questions. Well, this isn’t THE red carpet, but it’s some kind of equivalent. It’s red and it has Velvette’s card logo thing on it. It looks like a card with a “V” and a “3” forming a heart.

“Oh! I see you two are wearing something from Velvette’s Hell Frozen Over collection!” A woman in a blazer points out with a wide grin. She looks mostly at Valentino but gives me some glances. “We all totally missed seeing the wintry, intricate ice patterns worn by the Pride Ring’s most fashionable celebs! What made you decide to bust these out?”

“Oh, you know, nostalgia, if it’s long enough ago to count. Also, there were two dresses available that were our sizes, so yeah.” Valentino grins and turns around. He stumbles and catches himself on my shoulder, grabbing his head.

“Are you okay?” The paparazzi and I ask at once.

“Yeah, don’t worry, chicas!” Val gives his eyes a few fast blinks. “I think it’s all these lights.”

“I…I guess so.” I pat his arm. Kinda weird that lights would do that to him, since he’s around them all the time. I mean, his profession involves a lot of them, and we’re in Hell.

“Val!” Velvette waves.

“Oy, me love! You looking forward to your show, wot wot?” Val chuckles.

They both burst out laughing at his fake cockney accent.

Velvette’s new line is called, “Wearable EDM.” Lots of wacky, creative cutouts, as well as neon colors and prints ranging from cheetah to news headlines. One man on the runway wears a rainbow blazer with different photos and headlines swirled. Velvette honestly never struck me as the EDM type, so this was a pleasant surprise. Well, she is the most culturally relevant and up to date of the Vees, not to mention the youngest, so I guess it makes sense. I’m totally into this, even more so, since Val and I get to sit in front with Velvette. More publicity! Vox is next to me, so yeah, things are a little awkward. He and Val exchange polite smiles. Good to see they’re getting along better, like Val said, but I can’t help but feel a little jealous. Hey, I said a LITTLE jealous. I’m not the jealous type, but can you blame me? I mean, he’s kind of Val’s ex, so a little jealousy is natural, I think. “That was the best show of hers I’ve been to in years! Well, she’s only had a few, to be fair.” Val says as he drives us back home.

“I gotta get back into EDM!” I exclaim, “The runway music and clothes! Chef’s kiss!”

“Well, I found the music a little obnoxious, but I loved the clothes!” Val pats my knee.

I flick my hand. “Ugh 70s kids be like…”

“Ha!” Val slaps his lower hands on his legs. “Nice! The 70s is when I died, though.”

“Oh! Right!” I gasp. “So that means you remember black and white TV! How did you feel when color TV became a thing?”

“Oh, I was excited! I have awesome memories of watching it at my friend’s…” Val’s head sinks as his voice trails off. “…houses.”

“Val?” I lean over and put a hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Val’s head hits the steering wheel as he lets go.