darling, serpentine

Fangs wanted to ask Toni if there was more to this, if she was okay, what all the money was for originally and why she wouldn’t stay with them, but he couldn’t get his thoughts and questions into words. This was too much for her to do, but he knew all too well once Toni decided on something there was no stopping her. With a little sigh he reached out to pull her into a hug, his chin resting on top of her head as he said ‘thank you’ to her once more. As he pulled back he smiled down at her and warily put the envelopes into his backpack. The guilt settled into his stomach, but he tried to hope for the best, that he wouldn’t have to sell any longer and that they would all be okay. “Does Sweet Pea know you’re doing this?” Fangs would have no way to explain how he could afford a place or food on top of his mother’s hospital bills being caught up. “Well then we’ll have a good crash pad for our movie nights again.’ He tried to say with a lighter tone as he pulled his backpack back up on his shoulder.

“You’re right about that.” it wasn’t something he liked to admit, because he did always figure it out. Even if most of the time he shouldn’t be able to figure it out. Hearing her next comment he cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes to her “Toni, c’mon…” he started “you know i can’t do that. i gave it up because i can’t do the job. i’m not going back on my word now.” he reminded her “no he’s not” he argued with a laugh “i’m for the cookouts, but the neighborhood watch shifts, i don’t know about that.” FP shrugged “Do you remember who owns this place? I don’t have to run anything by him and he’s not the one in charge of me. He didn’t do this to be hateful towards you and I know that if he knew what was going on, he’d be worried about you. The drive-in is bad, i know it is.” his eyebrows rose slightly “but i won’t push you, i know that you’re smart. but just know that if you need to, the door is always open for you.” 

“But you can come back. You can be Jones’ right hand so he at least he checks in with someone before making reckless decisions. Even if you don’t become King again, don’t say that you can’t do the job. You were more than capable of taking care of us and making sure we all had food and shelter,” Toni pointed out. She sighed, knowing it would have been a long shot on getting FP to get his position back, but there was no harm in trying especially when it would do so many people good. “I know... I know...” she threw her hands up in defense. “I’m staying at Sweetpea’s tonight and Fangs’ the next. The boys keep me safe, but if I ever for a second don’t feel that way I’ll come here. Deal?”

“Interesting. I guess there’s no reason I can’t try both.” She added a playful wink. If she wanted to do well on this creative writing assignment, maybe what Josie needed was to get out of her head for a while. That was when her best ideas would hit her, when she wasn’t thinking about it. “So, when are we going?”

“Look, baby, if you want to paint pictures of daisy and hang up a hundred of her with flowers and flames or whatever you want I will let you do that. But please just let me keep her a classic.” He said nodding as he placed his hands on her cheeks and gave her a light kiss. There was a few things that Sweet pea could win if he made an alternative for Toni, this just being her hanging up paintings. As strange as it might have seemed to feel hurt about her wanting to sell the bike Sweets couldn’t help the feeling and he could stop himself from letting that hurt show before he pushed it back and gave a blank frown. It had been something he got excited for, making something she’d enjoy. “I just… come on, Toni. We can find another way to get money for Fangs now that we know I’ll take up more hours at the garage… I’ll try to get another job. But that bike is for you, you deserve it.” He said. He knew the look Toni was giving him. It was the look that he knew no matter how hard or how stubborn he could be with her; he’d never win. He looked down and shrugged, not knowing what to say. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to sell it… “ He said, it was just a weak attempt at trying to get her to at least give it a second thought. He chuckled against her skin as he made sure his lips didn’t manage to get too far from her. “I do like it more when you’re bad, I can always show you what you get when you are. And I think that’s something you like, isn’t it, babygirl?” He said lifting her legs up so she could wrap them around him  and support her by holding her there.

“I got a few more perks to being taller. LIke when you want something and all I gotta do is reach up and you can’t reach it. That and I can hide things from you and Fangs on the top shelf and you never know.” He said with a smirk as he played with her right back. The easiest part about them was that even as just friends they’d always had been given moments were their worries were pushed to the side and they acted like normal teenagers. Moments like slipping off into the woods and just making fun of each other were everything to him. Imagine the girl in short skirts and twirling around him had been one of those fond and foggy drunk moments that even before they started dating he always craved, it was toni at a  moment he saw her really happy and he fell hard for it. Obviously enough to end up the way they were now. “So, after my shift… I’m going to come by the Wrym… get some drinks in you and I’ll get that dance out of you tonight?” He asked raising a brow before scoffing. “You know how I am when I try dancing, princess… I don’t know why you like seeing me humiliate myself.” He didn’t dance. There had been only a few times the girl had managed to get him drunk enough but he always regretted it. Sweets stuck his tongue back at her. “I guess you deserve to get me with fluffy hair. But I still think it looks ridiculous, even if you like it.” He said leaning forward. His hands easily roamed across her skin. It was so easy being distracted by her when Sweet pea really only wanted to touch her at all times. “Yeah but will he believe you? That is something I wouldn’t admit… so it looks like you’re shit out of luck.” He said. “Come on, we should start to head back, I gotta get you to the Wrym so that later I can get you all to myself. After I try and get that little show while you dance, cause now that you got the image in my head I only want to see it.”

Toni’s pout returned once Sweetpea spoke. She knew this was as much as Sweetpea was willing to give her, but still not getting what she wanted turned her face sour. Toni wasn’t used to not getting her way when it came to the serpent boy. She accepted his kiss, shaking her head as he pulled away. “You’re not taking up more hours, Sweets. You already work so much just to get yourself by. I’m not gonna let you work yourself to death when we have an easy way to solve the problem,” she began. Toni took in a long breath, two stubborn serpents would never be easy to ease. “I don’t feel like I have to sell it, Pea, you’re not listening. We look out for each other no matter what. Fangs would do the same for us and right now we need to be there for him in whatever way we can; the first being with that bike. I can... I can ask Veronica for a job at the speakeasy and I’m still having hours the Wyrm. Once I build up some more money we can...  We can...” her voice dropped as she tried to gather her thoughts together,” “don’t need a bike, Sweetpea, let me help our friend. Please.” If her friend was in need, Toni didn’t think she deserve any of it. She just needed to do something. A smile crossed her face as Toni’s legs wrapped around Sweetpea’s tall frame. “Oh I like it very much, but I think if you wanna see me bad you’re gonna have to earn it with a certain.. flashy metal,” she smirked, licking her lips.

“That just means I can punch you in the stomach until you hunch over and give me what I want. Fangs can just lift me on his shoulders and we can fight you that way,” she teased. She shook her head as he spoke, knowing his intention couldn’t be anything but good. “No here’s what’s gonna happen,” Toni started. “You’re gonna come after your shift... I’m gonna get some drinks in you. Then you’re gonna talk sweet in my ear all night til I get you in that begging position you mentioned a little while ago.” Toni laced her hand within Sweetpea’s only shaking her head. “You’re a good dancer when you’re not stepping on my feet. It makes me happy to see you dance; do you not like seeing me happy?” she added, a fake frown covering her features. “But if it isn’t your thing I understand... I guess I’ll just have to find another guy to let me dance on them.” She knew that it wasn’t his thing, but when Toni was drunk she loved being able to dance on her boyfriend and have him dance along with her. “Hey if you get to see me with my hair all over the place and brunette, eh, then I more than deserve to see your fluffy hair.” Her skin warmed underneath Sweetpea’s touch. It always found a way of calming her nerves and getting her centered. “You think Fangs really needs you to confirm it to believe it? We both know you’re too stubborn to admit it even if it were true.” She leaned up on her tippy toes, pressing her lips against his as if it were the first time all over again. “Just imagine me doing the dance... naked,” she grinned. “Now come on, Birdie will have my head if I’m late again.”

“I hope so. I’m trying to get my shit together, for both of them.” He mumbled as he rubbed his hands together “I’m doing okay, trying to find ways to keep me busy. I’d like to get back in a little if i could.” he shrugged before letting a laugh out “he did call the other day, just to check in. no neighborhood walks yet. i think then it will set in I’m officially old.” he leaned back into the chair and listened to Toni go on, his head tilted slightly “you know you’re always welcome here.” FP said giving her a little nod “i dont care what Jug says. You’re safety is more important.”

“You’ll figure it all out, FP, you always do,” Toni encouraged. “You could always go back for your title, you know, I don’t think any Serpents would put up a fight if you asked for your mantle back.” It was a light suggestion, Toni knowing that it was a long shot, but she still wanted to try. With FP back in charge things might get better for the Southsiders. “He’s slowly gonna get you. Just you wait. It’s gonna be asking you to a cookout and then slowly build to his neighborhood watch shifts,” she joked. Toni shook her head, almost scuffing at the idea. “Yeah, I’m sure he’d love that. He wouldn’t even give me my leather back Don’t think my safety is top priority. I’ll be safe, FP. The Drive-In isn’t that bad.”

“Black is classic, babe. Daisy is a classy girl, she isn’t some flame wearing, flower child.” Sweet pea said with a final tone. “I can’t believe you are so stuck on changing her. It hurts her feelings you know?” He had gone off on his ramble before he stopped in confusion by what she was saying only to stop and look at her, waiting for her to laugh and declare it all as a joke but the line never came. “Sell it? What the hell are you talking about? I’m not going to sell it to anyone, I’m almost done… it’s yours like you always wanted.” Sure, it took a while but he had his actual work in the garage and he wasn’t allowed to just work on the bike as much as he wanted to. He was mostly just confused at this point on why she’d change her mind after all this time of them talking about her riding her own bike. With little to no protest when the girl moved, only letting his hand go further up her leg as she did so that smirk he fought was winning it’s battle and it quickly was stretched across his face. “Sometimes a little wait is all the teasing I need out of you.” Not that Sweet pea had ever been known to let this game last. Between the two of them it was for absolute certainty that he’d lose and give in. “Hm… if you’re good, huh? You think you can manage that, babygirl?” Pea had leaned forward as he spoke, speaking in a hard tone and placing his lips against her neck as he did only to drag them across her skin as his words were pulled out of him.  

He gave a soft look. He didn’t know what to say and knew nothing could help. It really could be nothing… he hoped it was nothing. If it was nothing then Toni didn’t have to worry about anything in the future. But the Southside was tricky and it was always something. “Perks of being as tall as me is I’m a hard guy to out drink.” He said with a proud shrug. “Besides I like when you start to dance around, not so much when you try to drag me in but at least you are way too happy bouncing around the bars or my trailer.” He laughed at the thought. Toni had that energy about her Sweet pea never seemed to be able to match. Sweets shook his head. “You really like that bed head look? It’s everywhere and what is intimidating about a bunch of black fluff?” He asked seeing that his signature look had always been that curl and brushed out hair. Not his shaggy morning look Toni was lucky enough to see. “Really? I was kind of hoping that just added to the effect. You know… poor Sweet pea…bruised and begging for attention.” He said lifting his hand to the still sore spot on his lip. “Shit, I tried. Can’t be the best at everything I guess. Fangs beats me at one thing… but you can never tell him I admitted to that.”

Toni finally just threw her hands up, knowing she’d never get through. “Fine, can I at least paint you how I would want Daisy to look and you can just put the paintings in the garage or in the trailer?” she asked with a small pout. It was lesser known that Toni was into painting, but when she had an idea for something it was such in her head, much like her ideas to glam up Sweetpea’s bike. She noticed the drop in his face and immediately got ready for the speech. “I know, Pea, and you’ve made it beautiful and perfect, but I can’t take it. I can’t buy something like that when Fangs is selling on the side. I can’t with a open heart buy something so... so unnecessary when my friend needs the money. I can save up for another bike or whatever, but I can help our friend now,” Toni attempted to explain. She was ready for Sweetpea’s push back, but she had already made up in her mind what she was going to do. There wasn’t much to be done once Toni made up her mind about something. Toni took no time to settle herself into Sweetpea’s lap, finding comfort in the familiar spot. “Teasing me is fun and all, but remember that only gets you going more than me... And I doubt you wanna be stuck in the garage remembering how turned on you had me wanting you,” she smirked, the sultry tone coming through. A small moan escaped her mouth as Sweetpea’s pressed against her neck. “I would promise to be good, but I think you like me better bad,” she whispered back.

“The only perk of being your height is you have the privilege of being able to lift me up when I can’t reach the freezer,” she teased. As much as she teased him, Toni loved his height. Most girls would kill for a guy Sweetpea’s height and she was lucky enough to be the one who got him. “You only like when I dance around because I’m usually in a short skirt and a tank top by then. You get a show and a view. How lucky for you. I’m gonna get you to dance with me one of these days. Even tonight, I know how sweet you are when you’ve got some rum and cokes in you,” she smiled, sticking her tongue out. Toni shuffled with her hair in hands, letting it twist within her fingertips.”I like it because it’s a look only I get to see. Why would I like the Sweetpea everyone gets.” Which was true, what she really liked about him was the sweet parts that only Toni’s been able to see from knowing him for so long. Not everyone could understand the relationship they had or how it worked, but she didn’t care either. She looked up to the boy, raising an eyebrow. “Sweetpea begging? Now that’s a sight I’d love to see,” she smirked. She put the camera back down, moving closer to Sweetpea. “Oh trust me I’ll let Fangs know that he has one up on you.”

Fangs stared at Toni for a few moments before nodding once more, she wasn’t wrong, of course he would do it for her because she was his family and family took care of one another, but it was easier to be the one taking care of others than being the one who needed help. When she told him to stop selling Fizzle Rocks he found himself nodding because he really was trying to not have to do it. He knew it was wrong when he first started, but the need to feed everyone and take care of his mother trumped doing the wrong thing, but now no matter how much he’d try to stay away, he was getting in bed with the enemy and needed to do whatever he had to to prove his loyalty. “He’s not selling your bike, he’s been working really hard on it. Let yourself have something, T. Stay with us, let us drive you crazy, you don’t have to be our caretaker.” His voice was almost pleading, wishing she’d let him give back to her in some way, even though it would never measure up to what she has done for him.

ANTONIETTE TOPAZ –––

M O O D B O A R D (2/∞) — SOUTHSIDE TRIO

Sweet pea laughed as she punched him, his hand went up to his arm but really it didn’t hurt all that much. “See, you keep talking about painting her but that is where you are really losing your chances. She doesn’t need a paint job, once you get your bike you can do whatever you want with it but no one is going to be painting mine. Though you got a point about the prettiest Southsiders riding her. I am the best, those speeding tickets mean nothing because they just weren’t clocking me under Sweet pea’s speed. And anyway we all know the one cop would find an excuse to give me a ticket for anything, he fucking hates me.” There was a quick thought in his head about that knife that had him only biting at his lips to pull back his smirk. “I guess you’re just going to have to figure that out later. Too bad you gotta wait that long. He said as his hand slowly dragged up her thigh.

He knew how much she worried about her grandfather and anything he said would never stop that he still tried to seem to try. “I’m sure everything, is fine. Like you said, you’re probably just overthinking it.” Sweet pea shifted a bit, intrigued in the challenge of getting her camera. “You know, it’’s not hard to get you dancing drunk.” He said as the many times Fangs and himself have had to spend the night chasing after the girl hasn’t proven that. “Okay, okay. You had me at no hair gel. I can live with sleeping on the floor but my hair always has to look good.” He said with a wide smirk. “So, fine I’m not going to be a mountain lumberjack but it was a good idea until you ruined it.” He frowned hoping for sympathy from the girl even if he’d never be able to master Fangs’ puppy dog look. It was hard being someone with a forever scowl.

“Black is so predictable though. You could have like flames on the sides or even some daisies on the side so she can wear her name,” Toni replied in a cheery voice.  “Right... I need to talk to you about the bike,” Toni’s voice started. “You’re going to have to sell it... to someone who isn’t me.” She hadn’t exactly told Sweetpea her plans yet regarding the bike because she knew it wouldn’t go down too well considering how much work Sweetpea had put into it. She licked her lips noticing him holding back a smirk, knowing that could only mean she sparked an idea in his head. That was never a good thing for her. “You’re really going to make me wait,” Toni pouted. She looked down at his hand, moving up her thigh and then back up to him. Toni switched their positions, moving to straddle Sweetpea and wrapping her arms around his shoulders, “If I’m good girl can I find out sooner?” 

She simply shrugged, “I hope so...”  Toni’s grandfather meant everything to her. The last thing she wanted to think was something could be wrong with him that he couldn’t tell her. she rolled her eyes at his response. “It’s not my fault you challenge me to drinking games knowing the amount it takes you to get tipsy gets me blackout. I can’t turn a challenge down,” Toni grinned. “For the record I think you look pretty good with o=and without the hair gel. you first thing in the morning is a pretty good look,” she added teasingly. Toni turned the camera on him once again as he pretended to pout at her. It was cute when he tried to play the sympathy card with her. “Puppy dog eyes and busted lips don’t exactly go together, babe.”

’ You’re still holding on to that Blue thing?’, she replied, her lips turning into a tight lip smile as she looked over to the female, ‘I can’t believe you’re being petty right now.’

“Look, you might be the size of a Keebler elf but I have seen what you can do and I’d be terrified.” He said with a laugh. He knew he’d get it for calling her out on her  height but he had to at some point. Sweet pea stood straight. “Okay, I can’t let a first time driver just ride Daisy. That is not how this works. And of course he was that easy, Fangs would do anything for a donut and a pack of Twizzlers. If he wants to teach you, fine. But that only means you’re being taught by the second best.” He smirked at her as he fed into his own ego. Sweet pea leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry, princess there isn’t anyone else worth bein’ sweet for. You just happen to be the only one who can get it out of me.” He said. His arms wrapped around her and made sure the space that was already so minimal was closed and he could just feel her warmth through his jacket. “I thought you would. Speaking of taking advantage of things… I’m definitely going to be doing that tonight after your shift.”

Sweet pea bite at his cheek and nodded. He wasn’t going to fight it. “Yeah… I know. It’s just been hard for everyone. Sometimes being just okay even seems like it’s fucking impossible.” Sweet pea hated that he never really knew what okay was, if it wasn’t his life that was fucked up it was someone else’s who was close to him. It was a vicious cycle that he didn’t know how to stop for just a minute of peace. Sweet pea shrugged. “Maybe it’s nothing… he could be just dealing with something that is simple…” He said not knowing what really to think about that, but he wasn’t going to feed into something that could cause Toni to worry. Sweet pea shook his head. “See, I think you should be, a camera needs to get a shot of this beautiful girl every now and then. And we all need to see more of the butt. At least for me to keep.” He said giving her a wink before he nudged her softly. Sweet pea leaned against a tree and watched Toni take her pictures. “We should just live out in the woods. It’s actually nice out here. Be like those cabin people who just leave one day to live in the woods off the grid. I could be like some hot ass lumberjack.”

Toni punched him in the forearm the second he made the joke. Though she was small everyone knew she wasn’t one to be messed with, Serpent or not. “I would treat Daisy so well. She’d get a nice little paint job and have one of the prettiest Southsiders on her. You can make sure the engines all good and all that crap, but I’ll make her look good. If Fangs is second... are you insinuating that you’re the best because I can show some speeding tickets that say differently,” she teased. Her smile grew looking up at Sweetpea as his lips pressed to her cheek. “And I better be the only one. That knife you got me could easily be put into use if anything otherwise. I’d hate to have to ruin it this early,” she added with a small laugh. She raised an eyebrow, but ended in a smirk. “I don’t know whether to be intrigued or concerned,” Toni grinned.

She could only shrug. Everything her grandfather did because of his age always worried Toni and when he was secretive she would only worry. The only time he was ever quiet was when it came to the Topaz parents. She wanted to assume it was about being kicked out, but Toni knew it has to be much more than that. She shook her head, “Maybe when I’m drunk I’ll allow you to hold my baby, maybe, and that’s only if you get me dancing in the woods drunk that I’d consider it.” Toni started canvasing the area and getting a few images in. It wasn’t a far thought off for Toni. She already lived like that every night of her life. “You know that would mean no hair gel right? You’d have to actually sleep on the ground, make friends with the mosquitoes...” she began listing.