#kuzpin

Feral was open.

Invite Only. Sure. But it unprecedented that Feral let people in that didn't live there. This was first since Feral became... well... Feral.

Delta Castle was decked out. She finally decided I have a ballroom. I'm going to fucking used it and have a god damn ball. Why the fuck not?

People were busy. Friends were vacationing. It was spooky season. Voodooists had feast after feast and celebrations no one could keep up with. Witches, alchemists, magic users of all kinds knew the veil was thin and were in high demand. Busy bees all from necromancers to fortune tellers, mediums, to paranormal investigators. Still, even the Laveaus knew how special the invite was. They were going to take the time to come to Delta's home. Her home. Not just feral. What a thought really. The very idea she was allowing people to bring plus ones was really something else. Though Valerie suspected if anything went wrong Delta would have the last laugh considering at that point whoever fucked with her at that point could never leave. So it was a pretty trusting giving situation all things considering.

Valerie was dressed like a daughter of October, her hair all flouncy She didn't have many chances to truly wear big extravagant dresses aside from the theater, but it really depended on the show. Most everyone would come in through Figaro's bus except Valerie and Thomas. They'd be the only one's who didn't. They'd get a personal escort from Tree. He'd show up for them and give them a ride in his branches up the mountainside to the castle, an Ent-Walk if you will, the VIP service. The best part would be Valerie noticing Tree had a bow tie on down around his lower trunk. He dressed for the occasion.

"Looking handsome, my friend. Looking good. I missed you."

Going through the doors of the castle everyone would be given a gift bag with party favors. There'd be a keychain inside that said Stay Feral. It was starting to be Delta's little catch phrase when she showed face on tv or podcasts. She didn't do a lot of PR as she wasn't much into that sort of thing, but it did happen. She and Frank did go out sometimes and they'd get approached.

The place would be packed too. Valerie hadn't expected it to be quite so populated considering what she heard of Feral, but Delta invited a large amount of fae from the other realm. They all came in from the hidden tree door in her childhood bedroom. The portal had always been there and it was getting more use now than ever before. She was slowly getting to know her homeland even when she wasn't there just by Diablo's shared mind with Maleficent. Then when she did make visits the puzzle pieces would mold together so much faster. She could learn at advanced speeds.

By the time anyone from the outside got there the fae were dancing and it would look like a full party. Where was the music coming from? That's what Delta wanted to know.

The DJ booth was empty. How long could it play on it's own? She should have known better than to hire a cat. Where the Hell was that cat now? At the buffet again. Of course. Right next Zero. "Cheshire. What are you doing?"

Chess pointed at Zero. "He wanted a bone. So I had to eat until I found the right one to throw to him. He's very patient. A very good dog."

There was a whole plate full of eaten meat with just the bones left piled up high at least a foot on it next to him. She glared at the plate.

"These are soup bones. Not throwing bones."

"Mhm. That's nonsense."

"I know. I can't believe there's not been one good throwing bone in all this buffet yet. You should really talk to the chef and get a refund."

"I. Am. The. Chef." Delta said through gritted teeth.

"I see. My. My. Well, now we know why Daddy went out of business, don't we?"

"Get back in the booth, CHESS!"

"Touchy. Touchy." Then she really just laughed as she disappeared into curls and swirled herself back into the DJ booth.

Delta looked at the plate and there was Zero staring at her. Delta rolled her eyes and threw them all right at him. Bones scattered all over the floor. At least Chess was good for rave effects all wrapped up in a furball. But, she really did need her to stay at the booth, at least until after the dance with her girls. She needed her to be ready in case she signaled because there wasn't a set time for it. She was going to wait till everyone was ready. Plus, no one in weird costumes or big dresses was dancing in that shit. They had to do a quick change up for it first. She needed the DJ to pay attention. After she could slack.

Funny enough Zero wasn't the "dog" there. Willem had brought Slippery with them so there was a real dog that was pretty happy about that pile of thrown ribs.

Then in the most random thought Delta tilted inspired by the bones. She walked up to the DJ booth and requested, "Bone Thrower by Revolution Smile." It was exactly ball room music, but this was her ball. What did people expect? Knowing the lyrics by heart as outsiders started to pour in it almost felt fitting. It wasn't an ode to the outsiders she invited. But, it sure was an ode to the outside world right now. Fuck everyone but the people she allowed here. Her weird ass quirky misfits and monsters, even the annoying ones like Chess.

The rocker in Valerie's heart walked in during this with Thomas smiling, like fuck yeah. The lights were all over the place. This place was kick ass. She didn't even know Chess was going to be here. Her smile widened when she noticed her at the DJ booth. "Look love. It's Chess."

Then there was Bas and Maddy. They lived right downstairs and would arrive right after their vacay just in time. So, they didn't have far to get here. All they had to do was come up their lighted steps.

Bastien would have taken some of the good stuff tonight and the lights were tripping him out. Everything was messing with his senses and he was lost in a world of his own and that included the bass and his wife's skin and perfume in the middle of the dance floor.

For those than can see he gargoyles they'd be all three be sitting on their rears in chairs with their arms over the ledges glasses on, or half cocked and crooked on their heads giving people nods and peace signs who walked by. Even his voices were high.

Then there's going to be Kuzco. The man has no shame. Ball? Were they supposed to get dressed up? Shrugs. All he knew was there was music and costumes allowed. This guy never wore anything normal. He shows up in ALF costume, but not just any Alf costume. It was a plastic horrid 80's kid's costume with the wretched masks that cut your face and no one could ever breathe in.

He managed to get a hold of the largest size possible, but it still didn't fit him even though he was a pretty small guy. Almost but no cigar. So he cut the legs and wore it like a poncho over his clothes. He'd say, "Here kitty kitty to Chess" way too many times all night since Alf liked to eat cats and not in the sexy way.

Willem and Nutmeg were in a circle of fae dressed as fauns comparing their fake horns to people with real horns having loads of fun with it. Everyone was hamming it up loving sharing the concept with each other. Imitation was flattery. They did feel flattered.

While all this was going on Figaro was getting a round of passengers to haul up. Koda and Elsa being in the round coming up. Koda invited his uncle to come along but he passed on the situation this time. Maybe next time if Delta let people in again. If this went well who knew? Dale and Scout were also in this batch and if GoGo was accepted an invitation to come with Scout she would too. The triplets and the Savanne kids were being babysat by Caim's people this time. Jules had a bunch of kids despite the exterior lack of responsibility. Tray assured them no he could handle it. If the halfling could handle a coven of vampires, and survive Hell as half human, he could handle a few pups and a couple zombies. They were going to be alright with Unkie Jules and Tray. Scout was a little disappointed her buddy Tray wouldn't be with her this round, but he insisted she go since Feral was going to be full of all her old friends. She needed this.

Babyface, Black Arts, Ellie, and Nebby on this ride in too. The bus was getting pretty stoked to go on up to the castle. Dale couldn't sit down with his Barbie Box on so he put it in the seat next to him. So, he'd be sitting there with his hair nice and gelled and his crop top on when he noticed Ellie and Babyface loading the bus and talking to whoever they were with. He assumed that was the fam he kept talking about but his brain didn't go that far yet too excited with, "ELLIE!" He stood up and went running down the aisle.

First hug.

Second smile.

"God damn. Fuck you for staying away so long. Fuck you both."

Scout waved from behind him a seat over.

They all had their reasons for wanting to drink tonight. The Esmeralda situation. The River and Summer situation. Either way, it was time to leave that shit behind because it was Game Night in Clopin and Kuzco’s room.

Candyland themed of course. Sweet shots, sweet cocktails, lotsa candy, it was lit in there, disco ball going, turning everything bright and sparkly in that bedroom. Twister mat on the ground, Truth or Dare Jenga all set up on an end-table, card deck, UNO card deck, and a game of Headbandz where Clopin had made all the cards because who wanted to pretend to be a cat when they could be the three-titted woman from Total Recall.

Literally as soon as the unmarried couple came in, Clopin was up to them with the first shots. Tequila. “Think we all need this to start the night off, what do you think?”

Kuzco and Clopin have celebrated many o' many holidays together. At this point in their lives between birthdays, anniversaries, Christmases, and all the others inbetween it could leave gifting to run a little dry. This was especially true when they had the attitudes of people who could live off of nothing if they had to as Kuzco's once so coveted "off the grid" life, but now also were back to having the wealth of royalty. They wanted for nothing and needed nothing. They'd given each other everything usual and so much of the unusual. They'd given each other detrimental and completely mental. This year Kuzco was going back to nostalgic and sentimental. Their roots.

Being back in Peru was familiar and strange all the same. It was a place he was welcome and yet also a place he was never quite welcome to begin with. Of course after his disappearance the place was welcoming him back with open arms like some long lost commodity. It didn't mean he'd forgotten what it was like before, what he had been running from, why he ran into Clopin's arms to begin with. Having his long lost relative's namesake ended up being a heavy burden no matter how many generations had passed. A big part of him wanted to run back to the other half of his heritage in Italy. Being back here started to become a stark reminder of it all despite his daughter starting to change the government, the world there at large.

Memories stung. Clung. But, there were good ones too.

Machu Pichu.

He recalled the first time he took Clopin there. He opened up to him and told him of how he played there as a child. He played hide and seek and used all the ruins and structures like hide outs and secret forts. He had one in particular he'd hide from the secret councel in. He'd go there and they'd search and search. The whole village would be looking and he'd be right there hidden on the mountain happy as can be all alone. Then he'd get scared when it'd start to rain too hard or he'd get hungry and finally have to go home. He felt sneaky and he felt like he had a fun story to tell this too cool off the grid guy that he had it in him to be like him too. He wanted to convince him. That was the area of Machu Pichu he was taking Clopin for Valentine's Day.

He had a picnic ready. The New Chef helped him with a lot it, but he had a lot of the brainstorming going on. He had samples of all the different sorts of Peruvian candies a person might sample if first coming like they were tourists again just for kicks. Then he had Peruvian lilies mixed with roses in a vase with some pear cider wine.

It would be all set up when they'd arrive at the familiar spot. Kuzco's groove would be softly going in the background. It wasn't Smashing Pumpkins today. It was Electricity by Theme Song Guy. This particular song had been Kuzco's song for a long time and it might have been titled the same power that their dear friend Flo had, but that was actually coincidental and had nothing to do with why it was Kuzco's song. It was a metaphor chosen for his groove magic. His groove magic was like the feeling of electricity, like coming alive.

This was very important for today inside Kuzco's feelings. He'd been stuffed up a long time between hiding on their private island, raising their daughter, staying on Laveau land, just all of it. Now here they were. Piper changed it all. They'd been through so much and he wouldn't change a thing. They always made the best of every single day and he knew they always would. But, what do you get someone who has everything and needs nothing who means so much to you? Sure, he could go for another funny gift. He could. He usually did. He liked to laugh. But, this year felt different to him. Everything felt different. Valentine's Day never felt like a big deal to Kuzco but today it did.

He sat down with Clopin and even though he'd heard the song before because he recalled telling him TSG gave him this song he still made sure he listened to every lyric as he poured their drinks.

I can't really explain it I haven't got the words It's a feeling that you can't control I suppose it's like forgetting Losing who you are And at the same time Something makes you whole It's like that there's a music Playing in your ear And I'm listening, and I'm listening And then I disappear

And then I feel a change Like a fire deep inside Something bursting me wide open Impossible to hide

And suddenly I'm flying Flying like a bird Like electricity Electricity Sparks inside of me And i'm free, I'm free

It's a bit like being angry It's a bit like being scared Confused and all mixed up And mad as hell It's like when you've been crying And you're empty, and you're full I don't know what it is It's hard to tell

It's like that there's some music Playing in your ear But the music Is impossible Impossible to hear

But then I feel it move me Like a burning deep inside Something bursting me wide open Impossible to hide

Then suddenly I'm flying Flying like a bird Like electricity Electricity Sparks inside of me And I'm free, I'm free

Electricity Sparks inside of me And I'm free, I'm free Ohhhh-oh-whoa... I'm free.

He let the music continue to play without words softly behind them as he spoke after.

"Remember? He wrote that about my groove. So I wouldn't feel bad about getting in trouble when I couldn't control my music when I was younger. It was part of me. It made me free. It was the only time I felt like me. Everyone always wanted to supress me and he found a way to make sure I could still be me with the Theme Song Guy Band so I could still go outside. So I could live the best he could figure out anyway."

He nodded his head. His chest hurt a little recalling memories of TSG. But, there was a point to all this he was trying to get to.

"I don't know Papa Cougs. I think something changed along the way. I love you and all that. We know that. That's always been a given or we wouldn't be married. Okay look. What I'm trying to say is I brought you out here to say, you're my groove. Like you are my groove. If I've never said it before I need to say it right now. I can't groove without you. I used to need groove to feel free, to be me. But, now I need you to feel groove in like everything else I do because I can't do anything without groove. I don't function without groove. You spark my groove. Yeah. You're the spark to my groove. That's it. You ignite it. You bring me to life inside. I just felt the need to say that today."

Why Thomas’s car? the twins might wonder.

Because they needed something generic to blend in with the traffic of New Orleans, just in case things went wrong. The Dune Buggy of the Gods tended to bring some attention to it, and given their rather sneaky activities tonight, they didn’t need that. And they needed a trunk for their purposes. Not an open one like in the pick up trucks, and it didn’t need to be particularly spacious. It just needed enough room for Esmeralda.  He could probably have asked for the car, Thomas was a nice enough guy, but it might come with questions. He was more of a beg forgiveness rather than ask permission kinda fella anyhow. Despite not having to beg for a very long time.

He didn’t have a costume on this time. Just black t-shirt, black pants, purple and gold shoes. He couldn’t help himself with those. He had to get a new pair after Kuzco did because he got jealous of those cute strawberry kicks, so you know he had to get some to match. In his own damn colors. And put in an order for Piper as well.

“Alright, here’s the plan,” Clopin would say once everyone was inside, starting the engine of the mid-size car, making it crawl away from the house and then gained speed the further that they went. “Kuzco, babe, you’re gonna be the distraction. You’re gonna talk to her, give her one more chance to come around.” He still never went into detail with Dale or Chip about why they were handling Esmeralda. “And since she’s stubborn, I’ll be sneaking around from behind, knock her out, and I might need the help of you boys to get her back to the car, my arms aren’t quite what they used ta be. We’ll take her to my old alley which they assured me is empty tonight, and Dale - you do your thing. It goes south, I’ll dispose of her and no one should be any the wiser. Any questions?”

Esmeralda had left early in the day to get ready, doing her last minute running around. Leaving the instructions for Agnes and Pierre and what they would have to do, would have to contribute. The twins dressed differently, but still in celebratory clothes, a little knitted purse with a sapphire necklace around Agnes’s side. She would pick up Seven and Zero around sunset, just those two because she was bringing no date. Unless Dallas was her date for the night, something she didn’t mind. The puppy was family enough that it had a little bowtie around his neck. She thought briefly about asking someone but couldn’t think of anyone who would understand the weirdness of this wedding ceremony. It wasn’t in a church. It wasn’t in a park or a beach or anywhere that people would typically think of a wedding.

The abandoned plantation. It was lit up with candles of all sorts, guiding people to where they were supposed to go. Two large men, both of them with missing teeth, colorful bandanas covering their heads, one with just a beard and the other with a head full of facial hair, were standing around, directing the few vehicles that came. Mostly, people got there by foot. It was a wedding among the homeless of New Orleans after all. One of them would come in close to Agnes’s window, peer his face against it. Knock on it. She’d roll it down.

“Evening Agnes,” The hairier one with the purple bandana grinned. “Go ‘n park over there.”

Agnes had no idea who this man was. She didn’t think that she had ever seen him before. But then again, apparently she had been working with her mother on the shelters for the last two months. This looked like someone who needed them. “Thanks,” She’d smile, feigning familiarity and then would go and park the car off to the side, among the bushes. There were a few others, but they could be counted on one hand.

Pierre would take both Zero and Seven’s hands and would rush on past the house to get to the less creepy and more well lit back area. Much less creepy back here, leaving Agnes to carry the dog behind.

Indeed, it was well set up. Carpets spread on the ground, with a few being daring enough to advertise their wares there in case the rich showed up - i.e. these four. Plenty of places to sit. Bright bonfires. There was one here who knew fire magic, could help to turn the flames different colors, making it not only bright but beautiful as well. Food was already laid out. A band had been formed of panhandlers, guitars and fiddles and a saxophone and a clarinet, all coming up with rhythms together. Pierre would stick with his two while Agnes would find the woman who read her palm and the little girl to give the necklace. As the night grew darker, she’d be looking for Bastien among the faces though. She missed him. So much.

The bearded man would be shocked at who came up next in the obnoxious dune buggy. The former king. The one that most people assumed had been dead. Some of them had been interviewed and targeted by Peru’s people after the big disappearance of Clopin and Kuzco, accusing them of hiding them, though they had been doing no such thing. But seeing that face, was a great relief. Even if it was hidden under a large purple hat with a golden feather sticking out. “Le roi!”

“Hush, hush, hush,” Clopin would wave off. “No need for that. I’m here in secret, can’t you tell by the hat?”

The man would stumble over his words, showing Piper exactly what power that he had on the streets back in the day, to where people still revered him like this. It brought his mood up a little. A smirk. He’d pull in behind what had become the familiar SUV of the Renault family. Dressed in dark purples with golden trim to match his little lady, he’d take her arm proudly, and Kuzco’s if he came, and would escort them to where his own wedding with Kuzco had been. And he’d explain it to her as well. “Ours had better music. The musicians must have died off, how sad,” He’d note.

Piper would have gotten the texts from Summer and headed out from her room to up to the Papa’s royal suite. 

When she stepped in without knocking her brows would raise at the sight of the pair. 

“So, what is going on with the Renaults now? Summer said I needed to talk to you.” 

Got bored.

Made gifs.