#rp20

Octavio yawns and stretches, landing on his chaise lounge with a thunf. It seemed like forever since he’d had a moment to himself, what with all the meetings and projects and ceremonies and paperwork. Tay hadn’t really understood the gravity of being emperor some five years ago, but now that he’d taken responsibility, it seemed ever-present.

He’d finished for today, though. There had to be some balance between work and life—he couldn’t lie around all day like he used to, but he couldn’t do a 160-hour workweek either. It would be better to have a daily cut-off so he could relax without thinking about the future of the Octarian empire (inevitable), starting today.

Despite this, he decides to switch on his shellphone. It had been blowing up with messages recently, so he’d just turned it off to forget. If anyone REALLY wanted to speak with him, they should just ask in person. Scrolling through, he ignores all the ones that are definitely work related, before stopping and gazing in horror. Several missed texts from Lulu!

How long had it been since their last meet-up? He’d had all eight tentacles tied up with everything. At least she was probably busy too, what with her new ruling responsibilities, her husband—AND HER PREGNANCY?!—instead of reading through what he’s missed, he dials her number.

For once, Winnie couldn’t keep her eyes off whatever clock she found in the rooms she had on her list to do general cleaning maintenance on that day. After taking a scrubby brush to the toilets and showers, fluttering the giant sails of sheets to get everything ready for the Lodge’s grand reopening, her eyes found the old analog alarm clock perched on each of the identical nightstands. No two told the exact same time. Sometimes they jumped forward a couple of minutes. Other times they lagged another five. Regardless, all of the hands still trucked on throughout the morning, through her lunch break, early afternoon. Every single one told her the same thing: Minute by minute, the second attempt at her and Nero’s first date drew just that little bit closer. 

She didn’t utter a peep about it to anyone, obviously- But her emotions swirled underneath her pleasant, quiet surface about the whole affair. On the one hand? If the experience was even half of what it felt like to actually have gotten to kiss Nero that first time, she already knew it wouldn’t be hard for her to just leap up past cloud nine and arc over the moon before coming back to earth. On the other- She really hoped something didn’t come up... Again.

This time, though, a lot more of the planning got shoved into Nero’s hands- Mostly as a way of making sure he kept himself accountable. Winnie had to admit that, for the most part, it was Abi’s idea. He would have to prepare the picnic, bring it along, pick Winnie up from the Lodge, and get them to the base of the hiking trail and back.

Edgar seemed just as elated as Winnie when it came to the whole thing. Throughout the entire day, he hopped and bopped after Winnie far more than he usually did. Before she even asked, he would swoop down with whatever tool she needed, dropping it right into her hands with a little playful pull at one of her locks of hair.

Marcus hadnt gone straight back harvent like josiah had demanded. He had instead stopped off in a town about 40 minutes away, to take care off some business. It had been a deal that hed been working on, for a number of weeks now and was so close to getting that final handshake to seal it!

It was for a row of 5 connected buildings. All home to different independent shops, that had resided there for years now. But the position was like a dream come true. The invest,ent oppurtunity marcus would be able to drive once he manages to evict the families currently there would bring in a sizeable revenue! Even josiah would be chuffed with that work. So he set up a face to face meeting with the landlord- human by the name of Clive Mayes. It was in coffee shop on the other side of the road to the buildings.

Clive had already been waiting when marcus arrived with artemis. He was a small man, with a stocky build. Curly grey black hair that could have done with a tidy up. He was wearing a pair of slacks that looked a size to big and a crinkled shirt under his chunky knit cardigan. He looked like your typical grandpa, and rightly so as he was nearing his 70th birthday.

Marcus on the other hand wore one of his better suits. Tailored fit, Italian cut with a nice tie pin in the shape of a bee. We wont mention were it came from though. His shoes clicked harshly on the concrete as he strode up to where clive was sat at one of the outside tables, holding out his hand.

Clive waved him off and nodded to the seat " we've spoke plenty my boy. No need for such formalities now" he grinned his tether stained a faint yellow with age.

" my apologise... sir" marcus replied, taking the offered seat, artemis sat beside him obediently.

Clive glanced down at the bag marcus had clutched under one shoulder " dont tell me theres more paperwork" he groaned in good nature. " cant a man simply retire".

Starring: Racing Point RP20 

First Look: The BWT Racing Point F1 RP20