[center][h1][color=blueviolet][i][b]The Bates and Annabelle: THOT Night Boogaloo The Reveangance[/b][/i][/color][/h1]

[i]A [@BrokenPromise] and [@Crusader Lord] collab[/i][/center]

[hr]

[center][h3][b][u][i]~Last Night~[/i][/u][/b][/h3][/center]

The Darkness-wielding magical girl felt the tingles of excitement dance just under her skin and over the top of it as she sat at the table. It was a circular table, booth style, something that would likely be associated with being in a restaurant….a fancy one at that. The leather covering the crescent seat was painted a nice color of gold, complimenting the light brown table with a yellow ring in the center of it nicely. The back of the seats were covered in a lovely, diamond-shaped design pattern, with yellow and thin hints of gold combined with something like a lighter silver or light grey. A chandelier hung above the modest table, its gold-colored frame and high-class design being a thing that only seemed to add to the fine air of the place overall. However, the entrance to the room was blocked by a thick set of curtains, making it that much more private and intimate without hitting the point of “creepy” as it were. 

Annabelle herself was also dressed for the occasion. A cute pair of gold earrings with a gold necklace, which she’d bought after helping that one girl to get to a pawn shop earlier, as well as a little sexy black dress that covered her non-transformed figure and accentuated its features rather….rather well, hmm~ Though despite this, her trademark smile seemed brighter than normal, like she’d become a tad more energetic than her usual. It was nighttime of all times, but she’d reserved this place in advance, hand-written and sent invitations to her new friends along with a couple sets of fine clothes for the evening for them, and had come here early in great anticipation of what was to come. 

But that was the key word in her mind, the one that stood out a good bit. [b][i]Friends[/i][/b]. How long had she been working for Lord Soth, and how long had she been exposed merely to enemies, neutral magical girl groups/factions, or even creatures of other planes of existence without end? She’d always wondered what some friends would be like, to be able to talk to each other, rely on each other, and other things like that! Perhaps they could have a sleepover!!!

A pair of boxes sat in Annabelle’s lap, though her legs were swinging a bit under the table. By all that was good, she had done her best to find what she hoped were some good gifts for Elory and...and especially Regina. Ah. The thought of seeing Regina again brought a small heat to her cheeks for a bit, almost making her squeal in girlish delight. Smart, cute….ah, she wanted to get to know her better, trully! It would be amazing, and…..maybe she’d feel a little more whole after this, eh? 

It had been…...it had been a long time. And lonely, walking a road with a horror talking to you and monsters at your command. It left her feeling empty….like the husk of a human being, like some tumbleweed sitting on the side of the road, being blown about without control from place to place by the dry, arid winds. She….she couldn’t even remember who she had once been even!!! And as much as she seemed ok it was something that hurt….hurt quite a lot. Did she have family, parents, sibling? Had there been anyone there to love her, and her to love them with all her heart? Did she have a pet dog, or a bird that at least didn’t quote poetry when annoyed? 

Truthfully…..if she had a wish, it would be for a good life one day. A happy life. Friends. Family. Someone to love with all her heart genuinely. Something “real” to grasp onto. 

But for now, she tried to chase out those thoughts, hoping her guests would arrive soon. 

Annabelle didn't have to wait long before her guests showed up. The first to part the curtains was Elroy. He was disguised, so there were no horns on his head or otherwise tell tale signs of him being anything but a normal boy. His clothes weren't anything special. But as a monster, he only had one disguised form he could readily appear in. He held the drapes apart so that Regina could enter. Like Elroy, she looked perfectly human. Unlike Elroy, her outfit for the occasion was what someone would expect to to wear to a nice dinner. She was wearing a red cocktail dress with feather-shaped frills that raced around her neck line. So also wore a silver bangle and necklace, but neither had any special markings. Upon entering the small room, her eyes expanded a bit. Neither of the twins said anything, and promptly took their seats.

[color=c9272c]"Nerine vista."[/color] Elroy said before folding his hands together.  [color=c9272c]"I didn't even know such a place existed."[/color] 

Regina's eyes move all over the small space. It took her a moment to process everything before letting her eyes rest on Annabelle. [color=f200f2]"Thank you for having us."[/color] She bowed her head. [color=f200f2]"I'm not really use to any of this. If we had another disguise artifact, I'd have made Elroy a bit more presentable."[/color]

[color=silver]”A-Ah….ah, its ok, Regina! I just wanted to treat you both well is all, and you look a-amazing!”[/color] Annabelle said, her surprise briefly overtaking her at a couple of moments as she attempted to process the visage of a human-looking Regina in a cute red cocktail dress. 

A light heat came to her face at the time, though eventually she seemed to get her footing back again before continuing with her smile still in place….but more gentle now than it had been, actually. Rather than excited, it was more genuinely happy, really. Though she didn’t yet signal for a waiter to take their orders, had to make sure she took care of her new friends first! 

[color=silver]”Well, i wanted to give you both something….it’s, well, it’s been a long time since i had the chance for friends! So i wanted to let you two know i really do appreciate it! I….er…..i really hope you like them,”[/color] Annabelle said, before shly pulling out the boxes and handing them out to each of the Bates siblings. 

Unlike her own professional appearance for this, the boxes seemed…..personally wrapped rather than professionally so. As if she’d taken time, rolls of tape, and a few rolls of gift wrap to get things done right on her own. However, her inexperience with the task was more than apparent, nearly embarrassingly so for Annabelle as a sheepish tint came into her smile for a few seconds as she handed out the gifts. He heart was racing at all of this, nerves wanting to get the better of her for the first time in….how long had it been? If ever? It was an unfamiliar feeling, but she welcomed the emotions with open arms, much like opening a new gift of her own in a sense on Christmas day. 

[color=c9272c]"Well."[/color] Elroy shook his box. [color=c9272c]"At least we know santa's elves didn't wrap these."[/color] 

[color=f200f2]"Elroy, please!"[/color] Regina's face had contorted into a snarl, but it was quickly swept away by her fascination with the gift she had received. [color=f200f2]"I..."[/color] She placed the box in front of herself. Regina folded her hands together in her lap and avoided making eye contact with Annabelle. [color=f200f2]"I didn't get you anything. Is it really okay to-"[/color]

Elroy bit into the corner of his gift and sheared off all of the wrapping paper with his teeth. He then pulled the lid of the box off and placed it beside his seat. [color=c9272c]"Hmmm."[/color] Elroy looked in the top. [color=c9272c]"A tiny RC car?"[/color] He looked up at Annabelle.  [color=c9272c]"I expected to be disappointed. Does that mean I should be disappointed anyway?"[/color] 

After watching Elroy open his up, Regina slowly dug her way through the wrapping paper. [color=f200f2]"I feel kind of bad about not getting anything you anything."[/color] When she pulled the lid off and peaked inside, she blushed and looked off to the side.This allowed Elroy to peak into the box without Regina interfering. 

[color=c9272c]"You guys are on the jewelry phase already? I'm sorry, Regina, you're done."[/color] He reached inside the box. [color=c9272c]"You're so done."[/color]  He pulled a gold pendant out of the box and fastened it around her neck. [color=c9272c]"So, totally, done."[/color] Regina's face continued to brighten into a lovely shade of red. 

[color=f200f2]"Um."[/color] The necklace had disappeared, as it was not part of Regina's disguise. But with a simple though, it soon showed up for everyone to see. [color=f200f2]"T-thank you very much."[/color] she closed her eyes. [color=f200f2]"I don't think I've ever been treated this nicely by anyone before."[/color]

Elroy pointed at his sister. [color=c9272c]"So done!"[/color]

Regina pushed a strand of hair over her ear as she opened her eyes up again. [color=f200f2]"Was there anything you wanted from us?"[/color] Regina blinked before looking directly into Annabelle's eyes. [color=f200f2]"Anything you needed?"[/color] Regina pushed her lips together.

As Regina looked into her eyes with pursed lips, Annabelle felt the heat in her own face grow exponentially stronger. Ahh….what was this feeling, what….what was this growing inside of her? It was….warm, like a fire, but comfortable like her bed was in the mornings when she needed to get up. It made her kinda….heh, kinda happy? That word seemed to fit what she was feeling, somehow. But why did it only happen when she looked at Regina? That was the odd thing to the mind-bent magical girl, and yet for some reason it also felt...right in some manner.

[color=silver]“A-a-a-ah….y-you didn’t have to g-get me a thing, truly. Y-You don’t have to given anything back. I-I just wanted to help make you….feel happy, Regina. It’s even got your name engraved on the back!”[/color] Annabelle said, summing up some courage she looked up at Regina too, looking back in the other girl’s eyes sincerely, [color=silver]“I….i guess i’m kinda stupid. It’s been...i can’t really recall how long since i became a magical girl. 

I don’t remember anything before that, no faces, no names, no….nothing. It’s all a blank, and i don’t know if i wanna remember or not... But i guess….i suppose….i’ve always wanted to get close to someone one day. Make friends, a-actual friends….and maybe find that someone more special than that one day too...

 ...Everything’s just been...just felt kinda empty, actually, for a long time. I’ve...I’ve felt empty for a long time. Just….i just never had anyone, not even just friends to talk to. Other magical girls, they avoided me….or attacked me. I...ha, i live around monsters even! I had no family to see, no pets that didn’t report to my boss…...nothing, no one.”[/color]

[color=f200f2]"I see."[/color] Regina tipped her head, [color=f200f2]"That's very sad. It sounds very lonely."[/color] She folded her arms. [color=f200f2]"But as sad as you think things are now..."[/color] Regina lifted her head to look at Annabelle. Her brow was furrowed [color=f200f2]"I think you are better off without those memories."[/color]

Elroy was making car noises while driving the car through the air. [color=c9272c]"Man, I can't wait to play with this thing when I get home!"[/color] Elroy set the toy car aside as soon as dinner showed up.  [color=c9272c]"We won’t leave you. We’d be crazy to leave someone who showers us in so much stuff"[/color] He picked up his fork and knife. [color=c9272c]"Speaking of empty, let’s all fill our stomachs’ now."[/color]

Regina sighed. She ran her hand through her hair before picking up her utensils.

Set before the trio was an array of food, a virtual italian feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. Giant meatballs slow cooked to tender perfection, filled with a rich and delectable array of spices and coated in various sauces and cheeses. There was a large salad, tossed with tasty peppers, chopped tomatoes, a fine layer of cheese grated over the top, and a lovely italian-style dressing to compliment it alongside in-house made croutons. A couple large pizzas, the smell of the old brick oven they had been cooked in wafting from them, were topped with an array of meats and veggies that could seemingly boggle the mind atop their already great width. These were all paired with things like fresh, buttery breadsticks whose fluffy center was to die for, amidst other things. 

However, Annabelle at first took a moment to think on what Regina had said. Did it really leave her better off to not have any sort of memories of the “before” she became a magical girl? To not know how she was back then, or anything? Considering Regina’s own seemingly hesitant behavior in making contact, it didn’t take long for Annabelle to piece together some guesses as to how this played into those words potentially. However, she didn’t seek to bring that matter up, more or less beginning to get some food onto her plate in a half-thinking/pondering state. 

[color=silver]“Heh…..thanks, both of you. Though i hope you don’t mind the small feast! You can bring any leftovers back for the others if you want!”[/color]

As she spoke, it was obvious Annabelle had made a large pile on her plate, not something abnormal to her perceptions at least. Always hungry, she was. 

[color=c9272c]"You think there's going to be leftovers? Challenge accepted!"[/color] Elroy dove into his food like some ravenous beast,

Regina hesitated, shifting her eyes between the magical boy and magical girl who were sitting at the table with her. [color=f200f2]"Well."[/color] She speared one of her meatballs with a fork. [color=f200f2]"Maybe next time we could order out and eat with everyone in your hideout. How does that sound?"[/color]

Annabelle let out a small giggle at Elroy’s antics for eating, before getting in a bite of one of the giant meatballs she had put on her plate. Though as Regina spoke Annabelle’s movements seemed to grind to a halt, as if something had come to her mind. Or rather….as if something unpleasant had arisen back up. Swallowing her food, she looked over to Regina, trying to keep things pleasant, but worry evident in the void-touched magical girl’s eyes. 

[color=silver]“Ah...perhaps we could meet away from my boss’ hideout next time, actually, like tonight.

It’s...well...boss is working on something, something [b]big[/b] and it’s starting to worry me more and more. Some kind of ‘grand ritual’ it sounds and looks like from what i’ve gleaned, but he won’t tell me about the details at all. 

So unless you are dropping off more stuff, you might wanna keep some distance….ah...i just want to make sure both of you stay safe, ok?”[/color]

After speaking, her tone deliberate as if trading off a secret of some sort and putting some emphasis on it, Annabelle gave a small but sincere smile to Regina. The herald of Soth then briefly returned to her own meal, using another larger bite of meatball with some breadstick to try to soothe the nerves a bit more. Though after doing so she tried to look back at Regina again with a brighter, happier look, trying to lighten the mood overall again. 

Regina stared back at Annabelle for a moment. [color=f200f2]"If that’s how you feel, then I will take your advice."[/color] She resumed eating shortly afterwards.