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[img]https://i.imgur.com/4IqRjt1.gif[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/Brn9v41.gif[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/KekauVl.gif[/img]

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[img]https://i.imgur.com/iiDCV5o.png?1[/img]
[color=slategray][sub]A [@Lovely Complex] and [@Universorum] collaborative project
Starring: [color=6174ff][b]Joy ‘Just One Slice’ Darling[/b][/color], and [color=309b75][b]Damian ‘I Got You’ O’Connor[/b][/color]
Featuring the Supporting Cast of: [color=7d1c7f][b]Erick ‘The Concerned Father’ Darling[/b][/color], [color=4a86e8][b]Jude ‘Drink Your Juice!’ Darling[/b][/color], [color=f26522][b]Rocket ‘DON’T LEAVE ME JOY’ Darling[/b][/color], [color=116291][b]Artemis ‘The Underminer of Authority’ Darling[/b][/color], [color=932727][b]Apollo ‘She’s Right There…’ Darling[/b][/color], [color=d32626][b]Bryant ‘What the Fuck?’ O’Connor[/b][/color], and [color=2e8b57][b]Melody ‘You’re Tearing the Family Apart!’ O’Connor[/b][/color]
Location: The Darling Residence —> Damian’s Car —> The O’Connor Residence[/sub][/color][/center]

[indent]Having one of the [url=https://i.imgur.com/40kf4rZ.jpg]best perspectives[/url] of the city of fallen angels, toward the end of Oriole Way, [url=https://i.imgur.com/BRH9vml.jpg]sitting above[/url] Sunset Strip, a [url=https://i.imgur.com/bvM42Nu.jpg]modern[/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/vMq7D0N.jpg]family[/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/1foY3jL.jpg]habitation[/url] resides —  fabulously high-tech, contemporary, and in union with the slope. Visitors are always reminded of the precarious geology. The house is laid out with three levels, the basement with a huge committed [url=https://i.imgur.com/r30OffO.jpg]theater[/url], exercise center, a guest bedroom, and a absolutely necessary [url=https://i.imgur.com/03LiFPD.jpg]wine room[/url]. The main floor comprises of [url=https://i.imgur.com/6A6rOYd.jpg]living[/url], [url=https://i.imgur.com/7GXLRJe.jpg]eating[/url], and [url=https://i.imgur.com/JJf66cq.jpg]kitchen[/url] spaces, as well as a family room, for game nights. The upper level consist of [url=https://i.imgur.com/Z8taNOG.jpg]two[/url] [url=https://i.imgur.com/gPXhQrv.jpg]bedrooms[/url], with an attached office to each, an extra room for the man of the house, and a rooftop porch over the expert. Each floor has a bathroom. The house utilizes marble, dull rock, chrome, and the highest tech known to date, with the Assistant Apollo as the main control and security system, while the Assistant Artemis is second-in-command, assigned to the only child of the household.

Welcome to the Darling residence. The home of American entrepreneur, inventor, industrial designer, and one of the CEOs of ASMR, Jude Darling, and American football tight end for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL, Erick “Ender” Darling.  Both winning honors and awards in their profession and both known faces in their desired pursuits. Technology and Sports.  

Joy Darling sat on the right side of her father, who was at the head, and across from her was her mother, who was sitting on the left side of the only man of the house, aside from Rocket who was laying on his back by the fireplace in the living room. They sat on one side of the table, in close proximity with one another, leaving the other end bare. Most nights, dinner started with Joy and her father, then her mom would come home five to ten minutes later, rushing in to join the family. Being together at dinner was valued in this house. Both Ender and Joy took their time, knowing very well the matriarch of their humble abode was a busy woman. Today, her mother arrived home earlier than usual and actually was the one that prepared dinner for once. Homemade pizza. Grandma Nana’s recipe. The crust was the most mouthwatering piece of crust anyone’s ever tasted. Sure, there was Captain Cuddle’s pizza too, which was good, but nothing beats Grandma Nana’s pizza. At least in Joy's book.  

Joy’s fingers played with the placement of her utensils, even if this meal didn’t require utensils, all the while Apollo played a [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4D7u5KF7SP8]smooth song[/url] on low volume throughout the household. Her mother raised an eyebrow at her daughter’s actions. Why hasn’t she touched her food yet? Joy not being the first to eat? Something was wrong. After giving a quick side glance to her husband, to see if he too acknowledged the way their daughter was acting, Jude cleared her throat and inquired, [color=4a86e8][b]“Anything new and exciting happening at school?”[/b][/color] 

Glancing up from her plate, Joy met her mother’s curious gaze and shrugged, [color=6174ff][b]“The Helmsleys are back. That’s about it. Kids wouldn’t shut up about those three.”[/b][/color]

Ender looked up from his food, and over at his daughter. [color=7d1c7f][b]“I didn’t know they even went anywhere.”[/b][/color] He said, furrowing his brow. Usually he stayed up to date on the Helmsleys; they were [i]more or less[/i] family, but apparently he’d let them slip through the cracks. Shaking his head, he stared at Joy for a few seconds, before he leaned forward, [color=7d1c7f][b]“hey, are you okay, honey?”[/b][/color] He asked, raising an eyebrow. Ender was blunt and to the point, same as always.

Looking up at her father with her big eyes, Joy considered what she should tell him. She didn’t like hiding things from them, but right now, she felt like it was necessary. It was too soon to introduce Damian, out of all people, as her boyfriend. That could lead to restrictions and god, who knows what else! It was only today she realized he even was her boyfriend. On top of that, she didn’t know how she would ask them about going to the Helmsleys' boat party, on a Tuesday night. 

Her life was becoming one big fat lie. 

Is this what it feels like... being a teen and actually trying to explore things beyond school? Up until now, her life was kind of clockwork, full of pattern and routine. A life solely focused on her doing her own thing. Now, here she was, with a boyfriend, having done borderline sexual stuff with him and was probably going to do more tonight if she got the greenlight to go. For once, Joy didn’t have a solution. As a child, things were simple. All she wanted was to fly around space, visiting planets and meeting extraterrestrials. Now she wanted to spend an unreasonable amount of time with a singular entity, who was inhumanly handsome. Her mind briefly shifted to the memory of her staring at the ex-jock during gym class, before she realized there was a long pause of her not responding to her father. [color=6174ff][b]“Oh, sorry, I’ve just been thinking a lot about the science fair.”[/b][/color] False. Although she should be thinking about her project, the only science that’s been on her mind was sexology… with Damian.

What was she getting herself into?  

Her attention was ripped from her father to her phone vibrating in her pocket. She gave her dad, and then her mom, who was watching in silence, with a concerned, yet contemplative look on her face, a reassuring smile. [color=6174ff][b]“I’m okay. I promise.”[/b][/color] Truth. Even if she didn’t know what she was doing nowadays, she wasn't depressed or sad. Actually, she was more excited about her high school days than she’s ever been. High school was becoming kind of fun for her and it was all because of one person. With that, she pulled out her phone only a smidge to check her text. 

[quote][b]From[/b] [color=309b75][b]Damian

I lied. I’ll be there in like four or five minutes. I forgot how close you lived LOL[/b][/color][/quote]

Ender shrugged his shoulders. To be honest, he trusted Joy. If she said she was okay, then she was certainly okay. She knew herself better than he did; and he wasn’t about to argue or duel her over that. [color=7d1c7f][b]“Okay, Joy.”[/b][/color]

In contrast to her husband's apathetic demeanor, Jude pouted, [color=4a86e8][b]“You still need to eat. I don’t want you to go hungry.”[/b][/color] Mama actually cooking a family meal was rare and she made pizza just for Joy! Only to find out the end of the world was near and her Joy was not hungry. When wasn’t she hungry?! Was there something she needed to know? Why couldn't Joy openly tell her things? All Jude desired was for her child to come to her and tell her personal things. Little things. Love things. Anything! Joy, unfortunately, wasn't comfortable with that. [i]Yet.[/i] 

[color=6174ff][b]“Okay, okay. I’ll eat.”[/b][/color] Joy absentmindedly responded back as she texted Damian. 

[quote][b]To[/b] [color=309b75][b]Damian[/b][/color] 

[color=6174ff][b]What?! I haven’t even asked yet! I don’t know what to say. Should I just be honest? SOS.[/b][/color][/quote]

[quote][b]From[/b] [color=309b75][b]Damian

Don’t even trip, I got u. Maybe go upstairs and get a backpack and stuff ur outfit for the night in it.[/b][/color][/quote]

Shoving her phone back in her pocket, grumbling to herself, she looked up at her parents again, then down at her pizza. In a matter of seconds, she gobbled down the slice, stuffing her face in the most unlady-like way before grabbing a napkin and wiping her fingers and lips clean. After swallowing the last bit of her food, she hastily dismissed herself, [color=6174ff][b]“I got to… use the bathroom.”[/b][/color] She stood up, avoiding eye contact with her father, and without further adieu, ran off.  

[color=4a86e8][b]“Wait, just one slice? You didn’t even drink your juice.”[/b][/color] Jude furrowed her eyebrows. What was going on with her daughter? This was not like her at all. Well, the shoving her face with food was kind of like her but not the running off so urgently with the excuse 'i have to go pee'. Unable to complain anymore, Jude bit into her slice, tired from her long day at work and worried with the changes that have been happening recently with Joy. Her eyes trailed to the archway and widened a little when her daughter came running back in. 

[color=6174ff][b]“You’re right. I’m taking my juice with me.”[/b][/color] With her glass in hand, Joy once more prepared herself to dart out the room again but then...

Ender looked down at his phone, vibrating with a phone call. Normally, he wouldn’t answer phone calls at the table, but this was a special case! He tapped the green button and put the phone to his ear, [color=7d1c7f][b]“hey, Damian. What’s up?”[/b][/color]

Errr… Joy needed to pack but she was curious how this phone call would go. However, she couldn’t be suspicious and show [i]intrigue[/i]. With her mother’s attention now on the phone call, Joy turned on her heel and exited the room. Instead of going upstairs and packing for her night adventure, like Damian had asked her to do, she stood hidden, by the wall, near the entrance to the dining room. Eavesdropping. Hoping this would end well. Bringing her glass to her lips, she waited patiently to hear her father’s responses to her secret boyfriend. She sipped her delicious juice quietly. 

[color=7d1c7f][b]“Here, let me put you on speaker so Jude can talk too.”[/b][/color] Ender took the phone off of his ear and put it on the table, pressing the button. Once he did that, Damian’s voice came over the line, as happy as ever.

[color=309b75][b]“Hey, Auntie! I’m actually outside, like right now?”[/b][/color]

[color=7d1c7f][b]“You are? Then why don’t you come inside?”[/b][/color] Ender said, raising an eyebrow as he looked over at his wife. Like always, though, Damian had a response prepared.

[color=309b75][b]“I’m on the clock! Sorry, I’d love to drop in. I’m here to pick up Joy! She and I have an astronomy project we’re working on together — the teacher paired us up at random, isn’t that crazy? Anyway, we’re supposed to go to the observatory tonight. I figured it’d be okay; but don’t blame her if it slipped her mind. She has all kinds of ideas for this thing, I’m planning on just riding her coattails, haha. After the trip, she’ll probably crash at my mom and dad’s. I’m staying at the Wells’s right now, because I’m kinda in trouble…”[/b][/color]

[color=4a86e8][b]“Oh, sweetie. I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure it’ll all blow over soon. The only grudges your mother can hold for a very long time is anything in regards to someone interfering with your dad. You know, girls that dared to try and steal him away from her.”[/b][/color] Melody was indeed a jealous woman and when trespassers tried to touch what was her's, a vicious beast unleashed. 

Jude felt much better after hearing Damian explain in more detail of what was going on with Joy. If there was one thing her Joy hated, it was spontaneous projects that conflicted with what she wanted to do. From the stress of the science fair and this sudden astronomy project, of course, her baby has a lot on her mind. Don't even get her started with the gossip that has most definitely been going through the halls today with the Helmsley children back in town. Joy was never fond of BHHS' school politics and the showmanship of the popular kids. If only Joy ranted to her, Jude sighed. Mama could ease her stress. 

Having responded to her god son, Jude called out to Apollo, [color=4a86e8][b]“Apollo, can you tell my daughter that Damian’s here to pick her up?”[/b][/color]

[color=932727][b]“She’s not very far away…”[/b][/color] Came the reply from Apollo, but he quickly followed up with, [color=932727][b]“Very well. Joy, if you would please step back into the dining room, your mother would like to inform you that Damian is here to pick you up.”[/b][/color]

[color=6174ff][b]“Just a minute!”[/b][/color] Joy called out from the living room, causing Rocket to wake up from his slumber and roll on the rug, wanting belly rubs. In hushed tones, she talked to her phone, denying her pup from love and attention, [color=6174ff][b]“Artemis, mirror mode.”[/b][/color] Joy was internally freaking out. Why was he here so fast?! So soon! She didn’t even get a change of clothes. While her dog was giving her the puppy dog stare from behind and whining.  

[color=116291][b]“I don’t think mirror mode is necessary. You look fine, Joy.”[/b][/color] Artemis’ tone had a hint of sass. [color=116291][b]“You shouldn’t keep them waiting.”[/b][/color] Rocket howled. [color=f26522][b][i]LOOOOOK AT MEEEEE, JOYYYY.[/i][/b][/color] 

… her phone declined her. [color=6174ff][b]“I’m supposed to be your master! I feel like I need to fix my bangs. Come on, Artemis. I don’t have all day.”[/b][/color] 

There was a sudden camera snap. [color=116291][b]“I sent a picture of your face to Damian to be the judge of that. I also informed him you do not have a change of clothes.”[/b][/color] Joy’s face visibly displayed ‘what the fuck’. Rocket growled at the phone.  

[color=309b75][b]“Alright, well, thank you guys! I’ll stop by sometime soon, I promise.”[/b][/color] With the short farewell, Damian hung up and then looked at the text message he’d received from Joy.

[quote][b]From[/b] [color=309b75][b]Damian

You look cute/10
and u dont really need a change of clothes, you can just sleep in mine or something. we’ll figure it out, come on let’s roll.[/b][/color][/quote]

[color=4a86e8][b]“Joy?”[/b][/color] Jude called out.

Joy was glaring at the camera lense, as if it were Artemis’ eye. [color=6174ff][b]“I hate you.”[/b][/color]

[color=116291][b]“You’ll thank me later. Now drink your juice and go.”[/b][/color] Artemis teased before going completely quiet. 

Hissing at her phone, Joy shoved it in her jean pocket and marched into the dining room AGAIN. Holding her finger up, letting her parents know to hold up a sec, she chugged down her juice and lightly slammed it on the table.  [color=6174ff][b]“I must flee.”[/b][/color] She made her round of giving both her parents’ kisses. 

[color=6174ff][b][i]Stupid Artemis, not doing as she says.[/i][/b][/color]

Leaving to reunite with her boyfriend, Joy could hear her mother's voice from behind her resounding throughout the room, [color=4a86e8][b]“Good luck, my angel! Call us if you need anything. And try not to stay up all night working on the project. I’m sure you two will get an A!”[/b][/color] 

[color=7d1c7f][b]“[i]Please[/i] make sure he gets an A. Damian’s a good looking kid, and he’s funny, but… he ain’t all that smart. Carry him like JJ carried me.”[/b][/color] Ender said, as he gave Joy a wave as she headed toward the door. Once the door was shut, and Joy was off in the wild to work on a project, Ender looked at Jude, [color=7d1c7f][b]“I’m gonna call Connor, and make sure it’s alright that she crashes there. I’m sure it is, but a fair warning is never a bad thing.”[/b][/color]

Jude nodded in full agreement. It’s been awhile since Joy went over the O’Connors' place. Melody would be ecstatic. [color=4a86e8][b]“Isn’t this exciting though? Joy is spending time with Damian again. I seriously thought those two had a huge fall out.”[/b][/color] 

The car door opened and Joy hopped into the passenger seat. Rocket was by the big glass window staring down at them while barking. His master was leaving! When would she be back?! [color=f26522][b][i]ALONE FOREVER[/i][/b][/color]. Closing the door behind her, she playfully glared at her boyfriend,  [color=6174ff][b]“You did not give me enough time, at all.”[/b][/color] Leaning in, she gave him a feathery light kiss and adoringly cooed, [color=6174ff][b]“However, I forgive you. Let’s get out of here.”[/b][/color]   

[color=309b75][b]“Told you I’d handle it.”[/b][/color] Damian said with a sly smile and a wink, before he shifted the car into gear, and pulled off onto the road and toward the party, [color=309b75][b]“One stop left, though.”[/b][/color] He had to pick up Riley and the littlest of their friend group: JD.

[right][i]Meanwhile…[/i]

[b]The[/b] [color=d32626][b]O’Connor[/b][/color] [color=2e8b57][b]Residence[/b][/color][/right]

[color=d32626][b]“Yeah, no. That’s totally fine. Yep! I’ll see you on Thursday. No worries, buddy.”[/b][/color] Bryant O’Connor (Connor, to most people), Damian’s father, pulled the phone from his ear and looked over at his wife, who was sitting at his dinner table with him — both children were missing — Connor turned his attention back to the phone, which still had Ender’s contact on it. [color=d32626][b]“That son of a bitch.”[/b][/color]

[color=2e8b57][b]“What else has he done? This family is falling apart.”[/b][/color] If it weren’t for the food in front of her, Melody would’ve probably face planted in the outmost dramatic way. [color=2e8b57][b]“Who was that?”[/b][/color] Melody grabbed her fork and fiddled with it, as she waited for her husband to reply. These past couple of days were the absolute worst and gave her anxiety! She felt like she could break out with awful zits any day now.

Connor looked up at the ceiling and then back to Melody, before he shrugged his shoulders. [color=d32626][b]“Uh, that was Ender. Damian stopped by their place. He let Jude and Ender know that he and Joy have an [i]astronomy[/i] project together, and that Joy is probably going to be spending the night here after they get a headstart on the project at the observatory tonight.”[/b][/color] Damian and his parents had once had a talk. In an effort to both establish a strong relationship and trust with their child, while still letting him be a kid and have freedom, they had set up a way for him to get away with certain things while not lying to them about what he was up. The ‘astronomy project’ play was one of those things. Simply put, Damian told the parents of whatever girl he was taking somewhere to party and have sex with that they had an astronomy project together. The deal was, Connor and Melody would back him up on it, no matter what.

And now Ender had called with the same story they’d heard a hundred times before.

Sparks coursed through Melody’s brain, trying to connect the dots but only ending up causing a short circuit. Her eyes popped and her mouth dropped. If she were a cartoon, her jaw would probably touch the table. She was shook. 

Frozen and completely petrified, Melody didn’t know what to think! The party was one thing, but never in a million years did she think her son would go after her god daughter. FOR SEX. Her brain could not formulate thoughts or words. She couldn’t even move and for some reason, oxygen was not going in and out of her nostrils. 

Letting out a loud gasp, Damian’s mother came to realize she had stopped breathing, having been caught unaware and unprepared. Catching her breath, she finally stood up and reacted in total Mel fashion, [color=2e8b57][b]“He’s going to fuck Joy?!”[/b][/color][/indent]