Adagio wailed in terror and agony as she was dragged up by the blazing harpoon that had snared her. The dark, safe coldness of Home was falling away beneath her fins. She screamed as she saw the sun shimmering on the surface of the water. When she emerged, she was in a human form.

Where was this? An island. Somewhere remote where no one could hear her scream.

Ahead and above was a volcano, and it rumbled a warning before a series of dark and ashy tendrils of stone or perhaps clay ensnared her limbs. They began to lash and slide over her sensitive areas, her nipples rolled and stroked while her clitoris was lightly tickled. The tendrils flipped her and slapped her ass until it was red and tender. Adagio begged for help, but the tentacles penetrated her mouth. Her muffled screams hitched and melted into moans as squirming tendrils invaded her vagina, coiling, wriggling, and rubbing against every fold and bump inside her. Adagio was flipped over onto her back, suspended in the air over the ocean before the volcano. The grey skies darkened and sparked with lightning as a massive demonic figure rose from the mouth of the caldera, lava pooling around its knees. It had rippling muscles, goat horns on its head, and a pair of massive wings. The tentacles were coming from where a tail would be. The tendrils in Adagio's mouth opened to let her speak, just so she could cry out a desperate plea to stop.
The demon smiled at her. Laughed, not maliciously, but sweetly. Its eyes blazed like a forest fire, as did its massive, red hot cock.

Adagio felt a blazing of her own deep inside her stomach, and a horrible thought squirmed into her skull.

She wanted this.

Adagio's ass was pointed at the monstrous shaft that was the size of her whole body. The searing, burning cock tore into her. Adagio's vision whited out with both pain and pleasure as she screamed her soul out.

She awoke.

The morning sun; Adagio's eternal nemesis poked her in the eyes until she turned away from it, grumbling. She thought perhaps if she simply ignored it, the new day would go bother someone else. This, of course, proved to be wishful thinking, as the sounds from the copse of trees behind Buck's apartment complex made it impossible for Adagio to grab on to the dozing peace she had been torn from. Outside, birds screamed in horrible joy at the hateful glaring orb in the sky while squirrels, raccoons and other awful things carried on a nonsense cacophony. Nature's conversation was a loud, arrogant mouth salad up on the surface, and this was the main reason why Adagio lived in a soundproofed suite high above the city. This was also why she tended to be grumpy in the morning; she'd rather wake up hungover in a bathtub then let the sweet voice of morning shake her like a disobedient infant. Why did this world have to be so damned rude?

Adagio stretched and let loose a yawn that escalated into a sort of quiet, frustrated scream. She was coated in a cold sweat. She'd had a nightmare, definitely, but her indignity at being awoken by the sun was pushing that horror out of her head. The dream tumbled down a crack in the back of her mind, and it was gone.

Adagio blew a strand of curly orange hair from her face. She sat up, felt a slick squish between her thighs, and realized that she'd woken up wet. She tossed the blanket off to check. She was hot and achey; grumpy, wanting and frustrated.

Where was Buck? Last night she'd finally had her way with him after watching him tiptoe around her for weeks, and now, instead of being there to care for her in her time of need, he was...somewhere. Somewhere besides where he should be, which was between Adagio's thighs. This was his apartment. Where in the world had he gone?

Adagio got out of bed scratching her stomach and waddled over to the window. The light streaming in from behind the venetian blinds hurt her eyes. She reached and found that the window had been opened to let a cool night breeze in, but now the stale stuffiness of the Canterlot spring morning was creeping in instead. Adagio grunted with disgust and closed it.

Over in Buck's tiny closet of a bathroom, Adagio was glad for his hair texture. He had a variety of hair care products crowding the bathroom sink that she could use to detangle and tame her magnificent orange mane. Adagio realized to her horror that because Buck's bedspread was neither silk nor magical, her hair was clumping up in horrid nappy tangles. She sighed. The things she did for this man. As Adagio combed and pulled and coifed, she heard the sound of footsteps in the kitchen area.

My, but the walls were thin in this place! There was a faucet running, then a clanking of pots and pans, and finally the sound of something sizzling over the stove. So there he was. He was cooking for her, just as he had the morning after their first date. Perhaps she wasn't angry at his absence in bed, after all. There was always the couch after breakfast.

The bathroom faucet ran with a cooling stream, and as Adagio washed her face, she went over her battle plan.

Buck had done quite a bit of work for her, in retrospect. He had allowed her into his home, miraculously, and given her a forum with which to infiltrate his friend group. He had shown his interests to Adagio, and put her in front of a horribly addictive pirate show that he was passionate about, so now they had something to talk over.

There was a swinge of pain behind Adagio's eyes. She was still a bit hungover. She swore to herself that she would go light on the alcohol next Saturday, for her own sake. It was so easy to get caught up in the festivities when you were with good company.

The drink had sunken into her, and she had lost control in the middle of the night, watching that obnoxiously poignant show, but this had worked in her favor. There were no mistakes here; Adagio was simply a method actor. Buck was the caring type. This meant that Adagio's vulnerability could be a weapon to use on him. A powerful one.

Last night had been a victory. Buck had let her sleep against him, and before then, they had...well. Adagio knew that she couldn't get cocky. She was still on thin ice after what she pulled previously, even if Buck played it off. He had grown a bit wary, and getting him to open up, in turn, would be difficult. Therefore, today called for a tactical approach. Adagio would help Buck to clean the mess leftover from the night's events, and Buck, seeing her dedication and kindness would take her into his arms and thank her, and practically beg her for a third date and potentially some of that cunnilingus from the morning after their first night. Adagio felt her stomach flutter at the thought. She adjusted her flowing locks and saw the hickey that Buck had left on her.

That hickey made her feel truly powerful. Perhaps it was simply the result of laying in Buck's arms once again or even just the love and lust he had bathed her in before that. Like her dream, Adagio could already feel Buck's saccharine affection bleeding out of her. She would need him again, and soon.

"No. You can't get too attached. Remember what you are." Adagio said to her own red-cheeked visage in the bathroom mirror. She needed to stay focused on the task at hand. "This is simply a long game with a worthwhile prize at the end." She wanted Buck for power, pure and simple. Everything else he had to offer was just icing on the cake. She winced as another small wave of dehydrated pain pressed against her temples.
She wondered; if she moaned to Buck about a headache, would he give her another one of those orgasmic massages? It had been ages. Adagio rolled her neck and felt something pop.

Relationships were always the same. There was the lover and the loved. The used and the user. The winner and the loser. Adagio was going to win this game. Buck just didn't know that he was the prize.

She put a leg up on the bathroom counter, got up on her tiptoes, and looked over her form.

She was gorgeous, to no one's shock but everyone's appreciation. Had she put on the slightest bit of weight? Adagio couldn't tell. She ran her hand over her stomach. It didn't feel much different at all. No. Must have been her imagination. She noticed distantly that there was a little plastic box sitting on the back of the toilet marked 'makeup'. Hm. Hell. She had forgotten to bring makeup, but then she hadn't intended on sleeping over. She supposed it didn't matter. Buck didn't seem to care if she had makeup on or not.

Adagio heard the clack of a cabinet closing in the kitchen. It was time to make her entrance.

She didn't want to miss breakfast, after all.

Adagio heard a cheery drumroll and a light, bouncy trumpet solo introduce a jazzy tune as she rounded the corner to the kitchen. She was armed as before with Buck's straw hat jolly roger tank top, a pair of frilly panties, and no bra. The smell of cooking ham tantalized her nose while a jaunty cello riff filled the apartment. Ooh! She might be able to coax a dance out of him, that would be effective. Buck liked to dance, didn't he? Perhaps he just liked to dance with her. Adagio took a breath and shook her arms out and put on a perky smile. She took the kitchen stage.

"Good morning, Buck."

Buck was having a fantastic morning, which was pretty rare. Adagio had opened up on him in such a sweet way last night. Now the both of them could say they had cried in front of each other. That bond sounded good to Buck. He felt he could actually be vulnerable with her, a little bit. That was a change, wasn't it?

He had things to do. Buck had left a sticky note on Adagio which explained what he was up to, and then he'd carefully untangled himself from her and got out of bed. She snored a little bit, which was precious.

Buck wondered idly as he got dressed if she could smell his emotions in her sleep. If he felt too much affection for her, would it be like waking up to a nice-smelling fart? This was a pressing concern, but not as important as getting himself together. Sundays were not for rest in Buck's book. In the last year and a half, he had put in the work to try to inch toward being healthier. He had been doing Ring Fit and weight lifting and just recently, jogging. He had a history of asthma, and so the running was pretty miserable for him. This had only strengthened his resolve, though. He was always a guy that had a lot of endurance, and so jogging regularly could only make him better.

Exercise was its own reward, really, that's what Dad had said, and so every Sunday Buck would do his routine and drink his water and have a cobb salad for breakfast and a PB&J for lunch, as a treat.

At the moment, he was panting and sweating and working his way up the steps leading down into the amphitheater area of Center Park. There were other folks about, and he hoped they couldn't tell that he was fighting for his life. He tried to remember his breathing as he started prancing up the steps, his knees bouncing high. It would be a good day, he was sure of it.

Meanwhile, back at Buck's apartment, Adagio had frozen mid-step. Her gaze was locked on a pair of bright yellow eyes. Well, a single eye. The other one seemed to be studying something on the kitchen wall. Those eyes belonged to a thin and chesty blonde woman who at the moment was dressed in a modest and flirty ensemble from...the '50s? She had on a black blouse with white polka dots and an above-the-knee light blue skirt that had little bubbles embroidered on the side. All of this was behind a plain white apron, the outfit sitting like a bouquet of flowers behind a back.

A disgustingly cute outfit, Adagio thought. They had said "Good morning, Buck!" at the exact same time and in nearly the same tone of voice. Wheels spun in Adagio's head as she assessed the situation. Cooking breakfast. A cute ensemble. Hair up in a ponytail. Swing music!? This little trollop had come to seduce Buck, in the most outdated and circuitous manner possible.

"And who are you, exactly?" Adagio said, down her nose. The shock quickly bled out of the woman's face, replaced by the expression a bear makes from the inner threshold of its cave.

"I'm Ditzy Doo, Buck's next door neighbor. You've...seen me before, right?" She said. Her voice was high and breathy and bumbling. It certainly fit her dopey appearance, Adagio thought. Ditzy Doo turned to continue working over the stove.

Ah, yes, the girl next door. Adagio had spied her before, but always when she was drunk or distracted or both. Ditzy Doo had occasionally come to ask the party to be a little bit quieter or request to borrow some napkins or some such or flutter her eyelashes at Buck. Good lord, she did come to seduce him! Adagio couldn't blame her; she knew what Buck was capable of, but still, the sheer audacity of it all.

"And I've seen you too. You're Adagio, right?" Ditzy Doo said. She was focusing intently on flipping the ham in the frying pan before her. Adagio didn't like the way she said her name. Like scraping grease into the trash. Was she imagining things? It didn't matter. She wanted this woman out of her space. Buck's space. Her territory!

"Yes. Adagio Dazzle, leader of the Dazzlings." Adagio said. She tossed a hand through her curly hair and smirked.

"Hm." Ditzy Doo said.

Adagio took a look around the apartment. It was still in disarray from the last night's festivities. There were still unfinished drinks and plates just lying around. It had been a fun night.

"...Well, it's a pleasure to meet you. It is odd, though, I don't believe I've ever heard Buck mention you." Adagio said. She felt a touch of anger and sullen resignation coming from the kitchen.

"No, that makes sense. I haven't seen you around until just recently. Have you known him long?" Ditzy said. Adagio could swear she saw the ghost of a smile in the corner of her mouth.

"Not especially, no. We met rather recently, and we got along so well that he insisted that I attend a new tradition of his. Cartoons and Vodka. It's been an absolute blast, let me tell you." Adagio said. She hadn't moved from her spot. Ditzy Doo was moving slowly but busily around the kitchen. Adagio saw her place some bread in the toaster. "Tell me, why haven't you attended any of these get-togethers? Wouldn't Buck be delighted at your company?" A swift jab. How would she react?

"Oh, no, I couldn't. I have my own hobby to do on Saturday nights. I can't just bum around Buck's apartment on the weekend! I have other things going on." Ditzy Doo said this casually as she shook a bit of pepper onto the ham. Adagio saw her reflection on the back wall of the stove frown for just a moment, then the slightest curl of the lip sneak onto her face.

"Ah, well, I'm glad to hear that you're comfortably busy. I'm sorry if you don't get to see Buck as much, but I can assure you that he's having an excellent time as of late regardless." Adagio tittered.

"Well, that's good. I'm glad Buck is getting to enjoy himself again. Until just lately he's been sorta miserable!" Ditzy Doo said, cheerily. Miserable? What did Buck have to be miserable about? They had been spending time together, he-oh, no, but then Adagio had hurt him, and before that, she had tried to kill him, just a little bit so...wait, was she rubbing that in Adagio's face? What was her game, here?

"Yes, well, it's important to me that he be cheery. He's a good man, and he deserves to be around people that make him happy." Adagio said. "It can be hard some times, he's terribly thoughtful."

"Oh, I don't find it hard at all! Buck is really a sweet man when you get to know him, and he's easy to make happy. All Buck needs is a sympathetic ear and a good meal, and he's right as rain." Ditzy Doo said. She plated the ham and jumped for a second when the toast emerged. She began buttering the slices after placing another set in the toaster.

"I suppose that's a part of it. Buck is a complicated and layered individual. And the poor man has needs that he barely even acknowledges. He needs someone bold in his life to help him unwind. I for one am glad to be here for him." Adagio said it slowly. Sweetly. She could taste Ditzy Doo fill with thin anxiety. Good.

"...Did you need something? I'm cooking brunch for Buck, but I can absolutely make something for you if you aren't going anywhere!" Ditzy Doo's cheery pitch somehow grew even brighter. Adagio sniffed. Oh, oh, she was furious about Adagio. But she was doing an excellent job of hiding it. Ditzy turned from the stove to smile at Adagio. "I'm actually pretty good at guessing what to feed people. Let me think..." She said, her one focused eye traveling down Adagio's form, then back up. Ditzy put a hand on her hip. "...a salad, maybe?"

Oh. This bitch. It was going to be like that, then? Very well.
Adagio wondered if Buck had learned to repress his emotions via osmosis just by spending time with this one. How much time had Buck been spending with this one? Hopefully not enough to express himself exclusively in snide little remarks. Although, on him, Adagio thought, that might be quite cute.

"Oh no, I don't need anything to eat at the moment. I was planning to ask Buck to dinner tonight. Do you have any recommendations about what he likes?"

"Oh, no need, I was gonna surprise Buck with a nice stew tonight after work. He likes things to be savory, typically. Aside from his sweet tooth of course. Buck loves his sweets." Ditzy Doo chuckled. He did?

"Ah, yes, Buck is fond of things that are nice and savory and thick." Adagio said.

"Right! Well, did you plan on hanging out with Buck before work? I didn't know there was a plan for today." Ditzy said.

"Oh, our little sleepover was impromptu. Buck's bed was just so cozy, I couldn't resist curling up with him and drifting off." Adagio said, inspecting her nails. Ditzy Doo's cold hatred was palpable and delicious. Vanilla ice cream, Adagio thought. Actually, that was a fine way to describe this one; painfully vanilla.

"As a matter of fact, I was going to surprise Buck with a delectable desert--catering to his sweet tooth, naturally-- as thanks for allowing me to share his bed. Likewise, I intended to help him clean his apartment, but he seems to have run off." Adagio was half-lying, of course, but she leaned over to start picking up empty glasses and plates. May as well commit to the bit.

"Oh, what were you thinking of making?" Ditzy Doo poked. Adagio frowned. She froze, halfway between bending over and collecting dishes. Sonata had been the cook of the group. Adagio was a survivor, so naturally, she had workable skill around the kitchen, but she had never prepared a dessert in her life. They were unnecessary. The little slag had caught her out in the open. Still, cooking was simple. All one had to do was gather the right ingredients and follow a recipe. What was in the case at Sugar Cube Corner that looked simple? What constituted a 'simple dessert'? Think, Adagio, think!

"Angel Food Cake?"

"Uhm, not to be rude, but there's something attached to your butt...?" Ditzy Doo said. Adagio straightened up in an instant. She slapped at her butt, and her hand came back with a sticky note that Buck had somehow gotten onto her without her noticing. It said "Gone joggin' early. Got work tonight, but willing to hang after workout." He had very intentionally written the apostrophe for his accent on the note, and Adagio couldn't decide if she found that endearing or irritating. She leaned toward the latter. Everything was irritating at the moment.

"Apparently, he went to jog early. I suppose it's a nice morning for it." Adagio looked out the living room window and found that there was an adequate amount of cloud cover for a sunny day. It also looked like it was going to be hot out there. She decided then that she wouldn't try to travel much if she could help it.

"Ah, that's Buck. So full of surprises!" Ditzy said, giggling. "Did you know, he hates being given gifts? That's why I always try to surprise him with gestures like this; he wouldn't take them otherwise!" Ditzy's cheeriness at the mention of Buck was beginning to chafe at Adagio. She didn't have time for this. At any moment, Buck was going to come bounding up the stairs, cock waggling in his running shorts like a slutty little eggplant, and Adagio was not keen to share him. Not with this woman.

"Is that so? Buck seems like more of an opportunist to me." Adagio said, casually. She saw Ditzy Doo freeze.

"In what way?" Ditzy said, slowly. She had paused in the middle of putting together what looked like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Oh, how delicious; she didn't really know Buck.

"Oh, from what I've experienced, Buck has little issue taking what he wants, given the right prompt. That's all I mean. He's a good man, after all. A passionate man. Honest." Adagio purred. She placed some plastic cups and plates into the trash. She didn't bother looking at Ditzy; she could feel her seething.

"Honest. Yes. Buck is very sweet and earnest. But, he has a bad habit of falling in with..."

"Yes?"

"Mean girls. So I'm very glad to see that you're here supporting him and being kind. He needs kind people around him. He's had enough of mean girls." Ditzy said, icily. She began placing the fried ham and some slices of what looked like pepper jack cheese between the next round of toast that popped up. She put the peanut butter and jelly sandwich onto a small saucer and stepped around Adagio to place it on the coffee table, as well as a tall glass of apple juice. When had she poured that?

Ditzy then went back to the kitchen and wrapped the ham and pepper jack sandwich in shrinkwrap before placing it in the refrigerator. "A nice surprise for later." She mumbled. Her anxiety seemed to wash away a bit, replaced by the same protective instinct that Sunburst had shown in the bar. Was this one not the usurper that Adagio expected? Perhaps she was just trying to be helpful, and perhaps get a little attention from big, sweet Buck in the process.

Adagio could respect the hustle, but Buck was hers, and so Ditzy Doo would have to get out of the way regardless of her intentions.

"I'm sorry, did you need help with the cleaning? You have a lot of hair, so if you need to put it up, I could lend you a tie or something if that would help?" Ditzy said. She reached into her skirt pocket (!!!) and produced a couple of scrunchies. "Buck is always losing his scrunchies, somehow, so I carry some around just in case." Ditzy said, smiling.

"Oh, that's quite alright, there's just a few little odds and ends left to pick up." Adagio said. She placed the glass pieces in the sink and wiped her hands.

"Oh, you weren't just going to leave it at that? There's still the vacuuming and the dusting and wiping the table!" Ditzy said. How many times had she snuck into Buck's house to clean!? Adagio narrowed her eyes at Ditzy Doo for a second.

"Why, no, I wasn't going to leave it at that." Adagio lied. "You seem rather knowledgeable about cleaning Buck's apartment. Tell me, did you say you were his neighbor, or his maid?" Adagio said. Ditzy Doo snorted, the fool. That was meant to be an insult, not a joke.

"Ah, well, Buck needs a bit of help now and then, and so do I. We support each other; it's just the sorta relationship we have. Buck forgets to clean sometimes, and I-"

"You...sneak into his house and give him a good shine and polish?"

"What? No, of course not!" Ditzy Doo said, blushing. Ah, so she was the nervous sort. Likely not a threat, really. "I don't need to sneak in; Buck trusts me. I have a spare key!" Ditzy said. She had already begun gathering bits of trash.

Adagio briefly considered the possibility of learning a transmutation spell to turn this little heifer's guts into snakes, but the thought passed. If this woman well pleased, she could come and interrupt Adagio's precious little time with Buck during the week and ruin her steadfast pace. This was unacceptable. Adagio turned in search of a vacuum cleaner and eventually found it hiding in a corner of the living room.

"Tell me, Mrs..." Adagio trailed off.

"Miss, actually. Ditzy Doo." She said, picking up a feather duster from under the kitchen sink.

"Oh, certainly. Tell me, how did you and Buck meet?" Adagio said, casually.

"Funny story actually, I was picking up my daughter Dinky from-" Adagio turned on the vacuum cleaner and cut Ditzy off mid-speech. When Ditzy turned to glare at her, Adagio made a yawning motion, then pointed at the vacuum, then to her ear. Ditzy Doo gritted her teeth and turned away. Adagio made some motions around the living room floor. She wasn't exactly sure how this machine worked; she had usually pushed this kind of labor off on Aria. Ditzy Doo turned to look at Adagio's work and saw her moving the vacuum cleaner in a loose circular motion in front of Buck's desk. She swiftly got up and slapped the switch off.

"Stop! You're gonna suck up Buck's papers with that thing! There could be important notes in there!" Ditzy said. Adagio could taste that her concern was genuine, if ridiculous.

"Important notes? On the floor?" Adagio said. Ditzy Doo daintily kneeled down and picked up a small stack of papers that was under the desk, placing them out of harm's way.

"Yes. Buck has a unique artistic process, and it can get a bit messy. That's why he needs some housekeeping now and again." Ditzy chided. "You need the handy vac to get under there, anyway." She said. Ditzy Doo crossed the room and grabbed the handheld vacuum from where it was hanging on the hat rack. What? She bumped it with her breasts as she turned, and had to stop and steady the rack before it fell over. Ditzy peeked at Adagio indignantly, straightened her blouse, and then stepped over to her.

"Do you mind? I need to get down there." Ditzy said. Adagio stared at her for a full three seconds, then stepped aside. Ditzy's obnoxiously large bust slapped lightly against the lip of the desk as she got down on all fours.

Adagio took a moment to appraise the woman's curves, feeling a great deal of comfort and security in her own form, then started the vacuum again and pushed it thoughtlessly around the living room.

Just how far had this one gone with Buck? Adagio sensed a deviousness in Ditzy Doo. Something about her neighborly defense against Adagio didn't read right. She was a self-interested little thing, and if her interest was in Buck, why had it been so easy for Adagio to snare him? It was simple, Missus Ditzy Doo here hadn't managed to catch him herself. How?

Adagio saw Ditzy Doo stand, then, and as Adagio stealthily watched her switch to the feather duster to get at the bookshelves, she saw Ditzy Doo lean far down.

She wasn't wearing any panties.

Adagio saw the entire relationship between Ditzy and Buck laid bare in an instant. The cowardly little slag had definitely come here to mark her territory. No, wait, she didn't know Adagio was here. She was going to make a half-hearted attempt to seduce Buck, likely by standing around like a lesbian sheep, waiting for Buck to realize that she is, in fact, a woman. And poor, dense Buck had never even noticed. How many times had Ditzy repeated this pathetic little dance? It would be sad if it weren't so hilarious.

Adagio cackled with relief. Ditzy Doo shuddered and spun around, looking briefly like a terrified small dog. Adagio couldn't believe she had almost been intimidated by this creature.

"What's so funny?" Ditzy Doo said, hands on her hips. Adagio strode forward and smirked at Ditzy, lowering her voice.

"Oh, nothing. It's just I was worried for a moment that you were here to get in my way." She said, crossing her arms.

"What?" Ditzy blinked. She stank of co-dependence. And seaspray shampoo.

"Nothing at all, dear. Do you know where Buck keeps his surface cleaner?" Adagio said. Ditzy's eyes slowly squinted at Adagio.

"...Under the sink." The dense creature said. Adagio turned around, a few strands of her hair lightly smacking Ditzy's shoulder. She grabbed a colorful bottle and a piece of scrap cloth and then moved to spray Buck's TV stand when Ditzy snatched the bottle out of her hand.

"That's degreaser." Ditzy said, sharply. For a split second, the spindly-armed girl's eyes both focused on Adagio, then she blinked and they walled once more. Pity. It had to have been pity, the reason Buck would let her come here and clean his messes.

"...so it is. Right, this is used for cleaning up the ugly mess you left on the stovetop. My mistake, I must have spaced out for a moment. I was wracking my brain for an answer." Adagio said, stepping away. While she talked, Ditzy returned to her fastidious dusting of Buck's writing area.

"An answer to what? If you have questions about Buck, I can answer them. I...we know each other real well." Ditzy said, quietly.

"Right. I expect only you can answer this question, Miss Doo. I can tell that Buck is a complicated man, but in certain regards he's very simple." Adagio said, casually. She peaked at Ditzy and saw a rueful smile spread across her face.

"Yeah, that's Buck. One minute he's writing a thesis about critical film theory, the next he's forgetting to pick up his mail. I like that about him, though." Ditzy said. Oh, gag, there was a little blush in her cheeks.

"What I mean is, when it comes to certain...recreations, Buck is remarkably straightforward, wouldn't you say?" Adagio said, drawing her wit. "When Buck finds something intriguing, it seems that he'll go for it single-mindedly as if it were the only thing in the world that matters." Adagio said. She was wiping down the stovetop, wincing as she looked over the smudged rag before dropping it in the trash.

"Mmhm. That's my Buck. He can't help himself--it's either all in or no interest. No in-between with Buck..." Ditzy said. It was low, and a bit mumbling. Adagio could feel her own smirk grow more sinister.

"Yes, that's right. And that's what I wanted to ask you, Ditzy Doo." Her steel flashed.

"Hm?" Ditzy was dusting the lower window frame now, but she looked back quizzically at Adagio with her stupid, off-center doe eyes and her dangling udders.

"Ditzy, we both know that Buck is a sex fiend. Why do you sit around waiting for him to lay you when you know that all you have to do is bend over and ask?" Adagio watched as Ditzy's confused, somewhat suspicious expression shifted to one of seething fury. Adagio had found a nerve to stab, and now Ditzy's face was turning red with equal parts embarrassment and anger. Ditzy stomped toward Adagio.

"You...! What are your intentions with Buck!?" Ditzy demanded. Adorable. Outdated. Like an antique teddy bear, this one. Adagio raised a cocky eyebrow and gave a smarmy smirk.

"I want him. It's just that simple. I know that you do, too." Adagio growled. She crossed her arms under her breasts and pushed forward into the taller Ditzy, who stumbled backward a bit. Ditzy Doo's back touched the bookshelf as Adagio's breasts and hers met between the two of them. "And so, I'm going to take him from you, Miss Ditzy Doo, and I'm going to keep him from you, and I'm going to enjoy every moment of it. He belongs to me, and no one, especially not a sniveling little wannabe housewife with a lame eye is going to stand between me and What. I. Want."

"What...what is wrong with you!?" Ditzy said. She was keeping her voice low. Why? In case Buck appeared out of thin air in his living room?

"Oh, nothing's wrong, dear. In fact, everything is going swimmingly! Buck is going to be mine, and there's nothing you can do about-"

"Get out of my way." Ditzy said. Somehow, it sounded like a threat. Adagio could see there were tears in her eyes. Pathetic little wretch. Ditzy Doo moved around Adagio and made for the door.

She tripped forward in an instant, slamming into the wing of the coffee table and catapulting both the sandwich and the juice across the apartment. Adagio's outstretched foot was mostly incidental. Ditzy Doo was a bumbler, after all. Pratfalls were to be expected. What wasn't expected was this; the moment that Ditzy Doo fell, the door to Buck's apartment clicked and swung open.

"Uh...huh. Well, I guess it's a shower and not a towel off, huh?" Buck said. The sandwich had landed on his forehead and now it was trailing down the side of his face. The juice was everywhere, including the front of Buck's shirt and pants, the threshold he was standing in, and the carpet beneath it. Buck dabbed a bit of jelly from his chin and idly licked it off his finger. "Mm. Well, I guess that's on me. I was just thinking I wanted a pb&j." Buck smiled for a moment at Adagio, then looked at the floor and saw Ditzy Doo crumpled up. "Uh...Ditzy? Y'alright?"

Adagio looked down and wondered if her eyes could see the back of her skull. Here it comes. Ditzy Doo's shoulders were shaking. She started to pick herself up, shuddering. Adagio heard a sniffle and a whimper, and immediately Buck was kneeling at Ditzy's side, helping her up. There were already tears streaming down her face.

Buck's face and taste were filled with remorse and gentle care. As Buck helped her up, it became clear that Ditzy had the makings of a bruise going down her arm. "S'alright...Let's sit you down, and I'll get you some ice, alright?" Buck said. He handled Ditzy like she was made of porcelain. The way Ditzy Doo was shaking, Adagio could be convinced that her spindly limbs were made of glass. "Can you move it? Try. I'm here, don't-don't worry..." Buck soothed. Ditzy Doo slowly levered her arm and rolled it. "Okay?" Buck asked.

"I'm f-fine...nothin' broken. I fell, that's all." Ditzy whimpered.

"Alright, then it's probably just a bruise. You know what to do with those, right?" Buck asked.

"Stay off it. Be careful. Keep it elevated." Adagio said, casually.

"Oh, hey. Adagio, could you get me some ice in a hand towel?" Buck said. Adagio was irritated at his chivalry toward Ditzy Doo, but then he looked at her, and for the briefest of moments she felt a rush of endorphins as Buck's love seemed to flood the world.

A glance.

He was sweaty and sticky and exhausted, clearly, but here he was tending to his sniveling neighbor like she was a kicked puppy, and he had looked at Adagio.

It was just a glance, and it seemed he had composed a hundred poems, sung a thousand ballads to Adagio's glory, all in one singular instant as his eyes fell upon her. It seemed that Buck had missed her on his run. How had Adagio never noticed it before? Or was Buck simply holding back his emotions until now? He loved her. It was simple and raw and overwhelming.

"-dagio? Adagio? Hey? Can you help us out, please?" He was talking. Focus.

"Yes, of course." Adagio said, halfway out of the room. She gathered up a clean-ish smelling towel from Buck's bathroom and then had to stop and put a hand to her chest before she reached into the freezer. Her heart was pounding. She glanced over her shoulder. She tasted Buck's care for Ditzy Doo. He was smiling at her tenderly. Ditzy Doo's eyes were trained on the bit of couch space between them, it seemed. He wasn't even looking at Adagio, so where was this sudden surge coming from? Focus, now. He made a request of you. Play the part.

Adagio bundled up the ice and passed it swiftly to Buck.

"Hold that." Buck said. He gave Adagio a grateful look and plucked a roll of tape off his desk. Adagio crossed her arms and looked away. Ditzy Doo patiently held the towel to her arm, then let Buck gently wrap it up. "Notta doctor here, but I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that if it swells up after this, you gotta get it checked out. it don't look all that bad, though. Just don't go flailing your arm into stuff, and you'll be fine." Ditzy Doo nodded as Buck lectured. She wiped the tears from her face.

"I think I'll be okay to work." She said.

"I dunno, Ditzy, you might have to use a sick day or two. Does it hurt bad?"

"I'm okay, Buck. I promise." Ditzy said.

"...alright, if you're sure." This sounded like an old song and dance. Adagio didn't have to speculate why Buck had been ready to administer first aid. Ditzy Doo was a klutz.

"She said she's fine, Buck. Give her a bit of space." Adagio suggested. Adagio saw a pensive look in Buck's eyes. Buck looked around his space, saw it cleaned, and frowned.

"...were you guys in here cleanin'?" Buck said, finally.

"Mhm." Ditzy Doo smiled.

"Ditzy, you know you don't gotta do that, right? I can clean up after myself, you know?"

"Yeah, but you're busy and you've been workin' hard, I thought it might be nice to surprise you!" Ditzy Doo said, disgustingly cheerfully. Buck looked to Adagio. Fireworks, again, but lighter this time.

"Are you okay, Adagio? You look flushed. D'ya need me to turn on the fan?" Adagio looked away.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Buck. What about you? You're an absolute mess at the moment." Adagio snarked. Buck looked down and saw his ruined black tank top and grey athletic shorts. He laughed.

"Oh, yeah, that's right! Hah, well, oh shit, Ditzy, did I get any mess on ya? Your hair okay? Izzat a new skirt?" Buck asked, suddenly getting up and moving away from Ditzy Doo. He carefully perused the couch for any sign of his mess. Ditzy gave herself a brief pat-down, then smiled and shook her head at Buck. Then, she leaned over and gave Buck a tender kiss on the cheek. It was as if an invisible hand had reached over and straightened Adagio's spine. It was like a tiny little spark of pink sugar on her tongue. It was sweet and loving and protective, that kiss. Like some kind of magical ward that a grandmother would leave on their sire. It tasted like a warm cookie. It was disgusting.

"Cool, cool. Okay, well, I'm a fucking jelly-smeared disaster now, so I'mma go get cleaned up." Buck chuckled. On the way to his bedroom, he turned. Snapping from her blinding rage, Adagio's eyes searched Buck's form quickly like she had forgotten his dimensions. "Oh, right, I guess I'm late to the party, but Adagio, this is Ditzy Doo. She's my neighbor and confidant; one of the best damn people I know." Buck said. Adagio gave Ditzy a half-hearted finger wave. More than she deserved, in other words. "And Ditzy, this is Adagio Dazzle."

"The pleasure is all yours. Buck and I are-"

"Friends." Buck finished.

"Excuse me?" Adagio said, her tone turning sour in an instant.

"Good friends." Buck said, smiling and nodding.

"...what?" Ditzy Doo said. "I thought that you two were...a thing?"

"A thing? Are we a thing...huh...I don't actually know. Whaddaya think, 'dagio?" Buck said. Adagio did some quick mental calculations. The last time she checked, humans tended to decide if they were "going steady" after three or four dates. Common knowledge would suggest that they date for an average of 3 months before they stop being able to maintain whatever facade they put up to get a partner in the first place. It's at that point that most relationships fall apart. While she and Buck had had intimate physical contact and some rather intimate conversations, in truth they...

"Ditzy, check it out. She's doin' this thing where she like freezes up? And she gets this tiny lil' frown and I think she's doin' like a Sherlock sorta thing? Like I think she's monologuing in there."

...had only been on two dates. She was going about this whole thing backwards, it seemed. No wonder Buck seemed anxious and disoriented, this was all rather atypical. What was his exact train of logic on this? Wait, he's not anxious right now, is he? Is that because of Ditzy? How close were they, actually? Was she an actual threat, or was Adagio just projecting?

"Yeah...that's...that's kinda odd, Buck."

"Is it? I think it's adorable. Hey. Hey!" Buck said, somewhere miles away.

Well, this wasn't really a shakeup. Buck was still afraid of her, probably, so committing to the 'dating' label might be too much for him at the moment. He truly was an anxious thing, wasn't he? So then what's the play, here? Should I-

"Adagio! Babe! Hey!" Buck said, a bit louder. Adagio snapped out of her dissociative episode as Buck's hand touched her shoulder lightly. "Hey, I know you're doin' like the "equalizer" thing, or whatever, but I actually wanted your opinion?"

"Ah yes, uhm...No."

"No?"

"No, we aren't dating. We've only been out together twice, and Cartoons and Vodka simply doesn't count because there are other people there. Dating implies that we've been having frequent quality time alone." Adagio said, crossing her arms.
"And while I must say our alone time so far has been...quality." She said, smirking at Buck.

"Aw shucks." Buck said, without a hint of sarcasm.

"It has also been very brief. Buck and I aren't anything serious, it seems."

"Well, I dunno about that. I do really wanna get to know you, Adagio. And I think you wanna get to know me too."

"What do you mean? I know everything about you already!" Adagio said, indignantly.

"What's Buck's favorite color?" Ditzy Doo said, striking Adagio square in the stomach with her verbal jab.

"Uhmm....hmm...ahh...fair enough." Adagio said, shrugging.

"How about next Sunday?" Buck said.

"Hm? What's that, dear?" Adagio said.

"You been hangin' out at my place every Saturday watchin' whatever I put in front of you. How about we do somethin' you want to do?" Buck said.

"Oh. Oh! You want to explore one of my hobbies, Buck?" Adagio said.

Panic. Bald panic rose in Adagio's very core. What hobbies had she been getting up to just lately besides sulking in her bathtub, getting drunk, and just recently getting hopelessly addicted to a new kind of genre fiction? Oh, this was her academy days all over again!

"Yeah! I wanna see what you do for fun!" Buck said. Fun. What I do for fun? What do people around here do for fun? Adagio liked to do Sudoku puzzles in the morning, those were fun. Well, fun-ish. Well, they were a challenge--a very slight one. If Buck found out that Adagio spent most of her day either working or scheming, he would think her an unrepentant work-a-holic at best, and an extremely boring bimbo at worst. This morning was veering dangerously off-track.

"Hahaha, well I don't think I can wait all week. I want to spend more time with you Buck, not sit around waiting for you to come to me! Again!" Adagio said, waving her hand as if the conversation were a puff of smoke that she could banish. "What, uhm, what about Tuesday? You have those days off, don't you?" Adagio said.

"Tuesday is game night with the boys." Ditzy Doo said, tapping her foot. She refused to look at Adagio now, it seemed. Adagio could taste her anxiety and her hatred and her care for Buck, all snarled and tangled up and dripping out of Ditzy.

"Plus Scoots." Buck said. Adagio looked between Buck's smiling face and Ditzy's far-off stare. She smiled. Twist the knife, dear.

"Well, I'm not waiting until Saturday to see you again, Buck." Adagio said.

"Uh, what about your lunches at the shop?" Buck said. Adagio stepped up beside him and bumped him with her hip. "Oh, quality time. Right?"

"Alone time, Buck. I want you alone." Adagio growled. She raised an eyebrow at Buck and caught his eyes. Just a small lick of the lips, and she could feel the embers of Buck's lust awakening. It was quiet and warm. Good. No need to further inquire about my off time.

"Oh...oh! Well, uh...hm. Well, if you want, you could come to Game Night with me!"

"What?" Ditzy Doo said.

"Oh, I wouldn't intrude on your sacred time with the boys!" Adagio said in mock concern.

"Naw, naw, it's no trouble. I wanted to invite you anyway, since you seem like you'd be a natural at roleplaying. And after, we can, uh, I can take you out to dinner. Well, then again, it'll probably be late by then, uh..."

"I'll accept takeout." Adagio sighed. "For you."

"Alright then, that sounds like a plan!" Buck said. He was playing it cool, but Adagio was learning. He tasted like raw excitement, like a child that brought their dog to show and tell. He was going to show her something at Game Night. "And then we can do your thing come Sunday, okay? I'll take the day off and everything."

"Hah, right, oh, yes, uhm. My thing. That I do...for fun." Adagio muttered.

"Oh, speaking of dinner, Buck, I don't know if you got the text but there's been a...somethin' downtown. Sugar Cube Corner is closed for the evening!" Ditzy said, perking up.

"Oh, shit. What happened?"

"Something about a sinkhole? In the street?"

"'scuse me?"

"I dunno, but Mrs. Cake said we would have to wait for it to be patched before we can come back to work. She's counting it as paid time off, don't worry." Ditzy Doo you idiotic, wonderful pawn. You just saved me, Adagio thought.

"Uh, is that going to pull out of our PTO for the year? 'cause I need that to go see my folks around the holidays..."

"I dunno, Buck."

"Okay, well...that's weird, but sure. That means I've got the day off!" Buck said, brightly. He looked at Adagio, expectantly. Oh gods, no, don't ask me again, please. Adagio cringed.

"Yeah! And, Buck, guess what?" Ditzy Doo tittered. Adagio rolled her eyes.

"Whazzat?"

"I'm making your favorite stew tonight!"

"Get out! Man, I must've died while jogging and gone to foodie heaven!" Buck said.

"And, as a bonus, I'm making you a surprise dessert, Buck." Adagio said. She reached out and lightly caressed Buck's backside. He blushed. Oh. So he liked that, did he?

"Is it...uh...is it gonna' be a sexual kinda dessert?"

"What? No, I...well...hm." Adagio hadn't considered that. With a brief glance at Ditzy, Adagio boldly grabbed Buck's crotch through his pants and squeezed it tenderly. "Do you want it to be, Buck~?" She said. Ditzy Doo's rage was delicious. She had to stop making this so easy.

"Ahhh...hah...well, uh, it'd be rude to just kick out my house guests after dinner, especially when they're cooking, so-ah!" Buck mumbled. Adagio squeezed. Ditzy seethed.

"I'm not hearing a noooo~" Adagio said in a sing-songy voice.

"No, no, you cut that out!" Buck chuckled, batting her hand away. "Chill out on that, huh? The sex stuff is obviously making Ditzy Doo uncomfortable." He said, giving the wannabe housewife an apologetic shrug. "She ain't into that stuff, so maybe put a lid on it, huh?" He murmured in Adagio's ear.

Oh. Oh, no, oh the poor thing. Oh, Ditzy, Buck thought that the simpering little coward was celibate! Adagio felt Ditzy Doo's chances with Buck sink into the ocean; a smoldering wreck. What had Adagio even been worried about? She was hopeless. "Hey, actually Ditzy, how are you gonna stir that soup with that shiner on your arm? Won't that hurt?" Buck said.

"Oh...oh...that's right, I..." Ditzy Doo spoke from her social shipwreck. She sounded hollow. Adagio realized then that she had an opportunity to salt the earth, here. She wanted to crush all of Ditzy Doo's hope, and she had all evening to do it.

"Oh, not to worry, Buck can help you with that while I handle dessert!" Adagio said. There was a blank silence in the room. Adagio looked between the two.

"I uh...yeah, I could help!" Buck said.

"Are you sure, Buck? I know you have trouble with-"

"No, no it's fine. I'll be fine as long as I follow your instructions. I won't touch anything you don't tell me to." Buck said, quickly. Adagio held her tongue. Too easy.

"Okay, if you're sure..."

"I'm sure. 'dagio, could I ask you to go with Ditzy for the groceries? I don't see no stew fixins' so I assume you haven't got 'em, yet?" Buck asked, smiling at Adagio. Adagio blinked and blushed and melted a little. She wasn't sure why.

"...yes, I can. Now please, Buck, there's peanut butter in your hair, so stop being helpful, and go get clean!" Adagio said. She slapped Buck on the ass as he turned.

"Alright, alright! I'll probably be about done with my workout when you get back!" Buck said, chuckling his way into the bedroom. He poked his head out. "And don't worry about the mess in here, I'll take care of it!" He said.

"Go on, shoo!" Adagio said. There was heat in her face and a nervous tapping in her foot. She turned to look at Ditzy Doo, who had been staring at Adagio's back with an expression halfway between bemused and horrified.

"You...you're blushing." Ditzy said. Adagio wordlessly trotted into Buck's room and came back out wearing a pair of sweatpants with the drawstring pulled all the way out, and one of Buck's obnoxiously comfortable hoodies; one that was black with a bright pink interior. She slipped her shoes on in a manner that she hoped was menacing enough to erase that observation from the world.

"Let's go." She said. Now it was her that wouldn't look at Ditzy.

Ditzy Doo's hands sat clutching 10 and 2 like a suddenly sentient crash test dummy, trying to hold herself together. They had taken her car, and Adagio was sitting slumped halfway down the seat like a moody teenager, seatbelt never buckled. She looked like she was doing that monologuing thing that Buck mentioned. Ditzy Doo decided to give that a try.

Ditzy Doo loved mornings. The calming chorus of the birds outside her window was one of the best features of living in her crummy apartment, the other being Buck. She loved to rise with the sun and take a little time to have a soothing cup of tea or scroll on her phone, or start a project or watch just a bit of trash tv before gearing herself up to convince Dinky for the morning that going to 1st grade was both a good idea and something she wanted to do while fully clothed.

This morning, what she thought would be a good morning, had gone mad. This homewrecker sitting next to her had come strutting out of Buck's bedroom like she owned the place and also that hoodie she's wearing-that's Buck's hoodie! She's not even wearing a bra! Adagio had been blushing for the entire ride so far, and only now Ditzy could see that it was finally starting to run out of her cheeks. What's her deal? Well, it was hot out. But still; one minute she's acting like a villain from a disney channel original movie, and the next she starts hesitating and waffling when Buck is around? How did this happen? Where did she even come from? Ditzy didn't know, and maybe it didn't matter, but this girl was trouble, and not like Berry Punch was trouble, no, this girl was a schemer and probably not drunk most of the time. Then again, every time Ditzy had glimpsed her during cartoon nights, she was definitely sorta wasted. But not this time, no, she had spent the night with her claws all over poor Buck and then came out in the morning looking like the cat that caught the canary. Ditzy wished that Adagio was just a lush like Berry Punch. Then Ditzy Doo could calmly remind Buck that alcoholism is bad and maybe ask if he wants to have tea sometime? Buck liked his tea sweet. Sweetie. He was too sweet. Buck needed to learn how to say 'no' to women like this! Luckily, Ditzy Doo was here to save the day. She wasn't about to let this orange cheeto lookin', no bra having, man-stealing...MEAN little-

"You do realize I can see you staring at me, right? Just because you're wall-eyed doesn't mean the lazy one is invisible." Adagio spat, finally sitting up.

"I'm not staring, my eye just does that when I look forward."

"Oh, so you can't help it?'

"Yeah."

"How dreadfully uninteresting. Listen, Miss Doo, you don't like me, and I think your skirt is tacky. But for Buck's sake, I think it's best that we handle this evening with civility and grace. We should put our differences aside, at least for right now." She said, staring out the window. Ditzy Doo let out a sigh. She was mean, but also sorta reasonable.

"Really? I mean, bad taste on the skirt, everybody loves bubbles! But anyways, I'm on board, if you would maybe tone it down some with Buck-"

"First of all, I was lying about the truce, but secondly, what do you mean 'tone it down'? I barely even touched the man!"

"You grabbed his crotch!"

"And he loved that, didn't you see his face?"

"You literally told me that you wanted to make him yours, and you keep making...sex eyes at him!"

"What do you mean?"

"You're doing it right now!"

"This is just what my face looks like, dear. If it's sexy to you, that's a 'you' issue." Adagio said. Now it was Ditzy's turn to blush furiously.

"And you're not even wearing a bra!" Ditzy squealed. Her 'civility and grace' was mostly focused on not running people over. Sometimes her sight would drift and she'd swerve a little, and that was on a good day.

"And you're not wearing panties. So honestly? I think you're the one that should tone it down, Miss Ditzy Doo." Adagio said. Ditzy Doo's civility and grace were shattered as she felt a whole body blush coming on. "What, are you not even going to try defending yourself on that one? Even with the whole 'pure housewife' aesthetic that you're doing with that outfit?"

"...OH HEY LOOK AT THAT WE'RE HERE AT THE MARKET!" Ditzy Doo shouted before killing the engine and jumping out of the car. She wondered if there was anywhere nearby she could take a cold shower.

Ditzy Doo didn't need the extra arms, really. Buck's kitchen was basically an extension of her own, and she only needed a couple of things. She had a grocery basket hanging on her not-bruised arm and was currently looking over some onions in the produce section. Adagio was idly flipping through a magazine several paces behind her. Ditzy Doo hadn't said a word to her after getting out of the car, and when she'd look up, Adagio was somehow always ready to catch her with an evil grin over the copy of "Millionaires Monthly" she was scanning. How does she do that? It didn't matter. Just focus. Dinky likes little potatoes and Buck likes bacon in his stew. It was going to be a nice night, whether or not the poofy little social monster wanted to muss it up; Ditzy was determined to make it so. As she finished collecting her odds and ends for the night, Ditzy turned to Adagio.

"Aren't you gonna get the things you need for your cake?"

"Oh, yes, that's right. The dazzling dessert that I'm making for Buck! Right. The...particular ingredients elude me, actually." Adagio said. She fidgeted a bit. What's she on, now?

"Angel Food Cake, right?"

"Yes, that's the one!"

"So what's the holdup?"

"Oh, nothing at all, I was just trying to be polite and wait for you to be done with your errand, first!"

"Okay, why? There's two of us. You could just look up the recipe on your phone, get the stuff and then meet back up at my car." Ditzy Doo said. She was already heading toward the checkout line.

"...right." Adagio looked about for a moment, like she'd been caught shoplifting, then she sucked her teeth and looked to Ditzy helplessly before glaring in the opposite direction. "I'm a bit...between phones at the moment."

"What?"

"Well, my previous phone is indisposed and the new one is in the mail, so I can't exactly look up the recipe."

"It's...angel food cake is just a sponge cake and some berries. Maybe a little sweet cream on it if you're feeling extra. Just go get a sponge cake packet and read the instructions on the back." Ditzy Doo rolled her eye. She saw Adagio try not to laugh as the other eye rolled in the opposite direction. "Haven't you done cake before?" Ditzy asked.

"I have plenty of 'cake' to go around already, thank you, now move aside." Adagio stormed off in a huff.

Ditzy Doo was beyond done with this woman, yet she couldn't help being curious. The other girls before hadn't given a single toot about Buck. They had swaggered into his home, made a mess, and then wandered away when they realized he wouldn't let them ruin his life. Buck knew better than this, right? But then, Ditzy had seen the way Buck looked at Adagio. And Adagio had gotten all flustered like a schoolgirl. Adagio lit up in front of Buck the way Ditzy had during the first year she had really known him. That was real, wasn't it? Malicious as she seemed, no one could fake that reaction. Everything else about her was like a villain from Dinky's Saturday morning cartoons. Right. It didn't matter how she acted around Buck, really. It was obvious to Ditzy Doo that Adagio Dazzle had come to hurt Buck; to try and control him and abuse him. Buck needed someone to protect him. Ditzy Doo searched around the store after loading her car and found Adagio squinting at the side of a box of cake mix while pushing a cart around which was filling up with ingredients. Ditzy Doo took a deep breath. She'd had time to think of what to say.

"This isn't going to work, you know." Ditzy said it as coldly as possible. Adagio slowly turned to regard her.

"Excuse me?" She growled.

"I said, this isn't going to work. The cake, I mean. Buck works at a sweet shop. He isn't going to be impressed by something so basic." Ditzy said.

"Speaking from experience?" Adagio spat back. Ditzy Doo felt her teeth grinding for a moment, then steadied herself. Don't let her win.

"What I'm saying is, whatever you plan to do with Buck, it won't work. Girls like you...you all think he's dumb. Or gullible, but he's not. Buck is nice. He's patient, and he keeps giving people like you the benefit of the doubt. And then they toss him into the garbage when they get bored with him."

"There's no one like me, Miss Doo," Adagio said, grinning.

"And then there's that. You're arrogant. You know what I think?" Ditzy said.

"Thinking? You? Oh, honey, don't strain yourself for my sake!" Adagio said.

"What I think is that Buck won't let you abuse him. So you're pretending to be nice to him to wring something out of him. And the moment you stop pretending, he's going to see you for exactly what you are." Ditzy crossed her arms. Adagio gave a sharp grin. She got a bit closer. It felt like her gaze was trying to rip Ditzy apart.

"Ohhh? And what, pray tell, do you think I am, Miss Ditzy Doo?"

"A parasite. A tiny, vicious little thing trying to suck as much blood out of Buck as you can before he catches wise and swats you off." Ditzy said. Adagio tilted her head so swiftly and sharply that Ditzy heard a little crack. The woman's eye was twitching, and her lips were moving but no words were coming out. She looked halfway to unhinged, but Ditzy Doo would not be daunted. "So you can strut around his apartment and paw him up all you like. It's only a matter of time before you show him your true colors, and then he'll throw you out. No matter what kind of damage you do to him, the people that love Buck will be there to help him heal. Because unlike you, he actually needs us." Ditzy Doo finished. She hadn't blinked or looked away from Adagio. She watched the face of Buck's lover twist into a scowl of cold, unending hatred. Ditzy felt as if she were looking at the ocean at night.

"I could kill you by looking at you." Adagio said it, not with menace, but as a statement of fact.

"If you did, Buck would never talk to you again." Ditzy said, simply. "You don't need all of those ingredients by the way. It's cake mix; you just add water." With that, Ditzy Doo turned and headed for the parking lot.

By the time they got back to Buck's apartment, Adagio had mumbled seventeen different curses in six different languages. She felt utterly defeated for the first time in literal ages. Ditzy Doo didn't say a word the whole car ride back. The basic little bitch had caught her. She was like a guard dog; too stupid to be intimidated and too stubborn to be negotiated with. She would stay a thorn in her side for as long as she pursued Buck.

It was war, then, pure and simple.

Adagio saw Ditzy Doo knock, try the door handle, then open it. Adagio had gotten used to barging through Buck's doors whenever she felt like during parties. Ditzy Doo's delicacy took her by surprise. Adagio was hit with a confusing wave of emotions as the door opened. Determination, joy, exertion, and love, all mixing together in a sweat-soaked haze. She heard Buck shout something, then she scrambled into the apartment to see who he was with.

Buck was standing in front of his tv in a fresh set of clothes. He was running in place, holding some kind of plastic wheel in his hands. There was what appeared to be a smaller clone of Ditzy Doo right alongside Buck, copying his every move. "Almost there, Dink! Final stretch, c'mon, let's push it!" Buck said, between heavy breaths.

"Okay!" The little Ditzy said. She looked like she was having an easier time with the breathing, but her feet were sort of kicking forward instead of staying under her knees with each step. She was wearing a pair of somewhat baggy grey overalls and a simple white shirt underneath. Her hair was the same blonde as Ditzy Doo, but with a cream-colored edge, and her skin was a pale purple. Actually, in a way she looked remarkably similar to Buck.

Buck's dark purple skin glistened with sweat as he and the little one counted their high-kneed steps out loud. "One! Two! Three! Four! Five!" They said in unison. There was a twinkling sound from the TV, and then a peppy voice said: "Now turn your exercise into experience points with a victory pose!"

"You ready, Dinky?" Buck said, turning to the child. She gave him a thumbs-up, practically bouncing on her heels. They smiled and nodded at each other, then they slowly lowered into a squat.

"Hold it...hoooooold it...!" The little one said. Adagio watched Buck's body compress down like a spring. He looked incredibly solid and powerful like that. His calves flexed and bulged. They looked like they could cut glass.

"Release toward the sky!" The voice on the TV proclaimed. Buck and the child then sprung up and did a bit of a hop, stretching their bodies and reaching.

"Yeeeaaah! We did it Dinky, we did it!" Buck said. He lifted the child, Adagio supposed her name was Dinky, up into his arms and spun about with her. He nuzzled his cheek against hers.

"Noooo Buck, nooo your beard is all fuzzy! It tickles!" Dinky squealed.

"Oh, sorry, Dink. Here, is this better?" Buck said, with a silly grin. He blew air into Dinky's cheek, making a raspberry sound. The girl squealed and kicked.

"Lemmie down, lemmie down!" She demanded. Buck set her down and patted her head.

"Wait, wait, no, I wanna go up! Do the flippy thing!" Dinky said, clapping her hands.

"Oh, ya mean this!?" Buck said. He picked up Dinky under her arms, then flipped her around and caught her ankles. He then spun the tiny child and let her hang by the ankles behind his back while she squealed and laughed. Buck spun her again, then tossed her onto his couch. "KABOOOM!" Buck yelled, kneeling down to tickle the energetic little tyke. Dinky screamed and thrashed about and laughed like a deranged muppet.

Adagio felt a surging rush of sheer maternal love charge past her. She looked over and saw Ditzy Doo with an expression of the most disgustingly pure adoration Adagio had seen in recent memory. Gears turned in Adagio's head. That child was definitely Ditzy Doo's little crotch spawn. Why then was she a similar purple color to Buck, and why was he handling her so well? Just what in the world had Buck not told her about this relationship!? Adagio began to silently panic for the third or so time today. She felt exhausted as Buck finally finished tossing the toddler around.

Buck stood and put his hands on his hips and spoke. "Alright Dinky, that's it for today! We did a whole buncha real tough exercises, so you know what it's time for?"

"It's juice time!" The child was on her feet in an instant.

"Uh-uh, Dinky! What do we always do before and after exercise?" Buck said, sternly. Dinky scratched her chin and seemed to think hard about it.

"Uhm...uhm...we...drink water?"

"Yeah! What else?"

"Ooh, I 'member! We stretch!"

"That's right! You're so smart, Dinky, I would'a forgot!" Buck said, slapping his forehead. He gave Dinky a knowing smile, and the two of them did some rudimentary stretches according to instructions on the TV screen. Adagio got a glorious view of Buck's legs and backside as he touched his toes. Buck looked over and noticed her, finally, as if he could sense her rising thirst. "Oh, hey ladies! Back already?" Buck said, standing up straight. He rolled his arm, smiling.

"It's been like two hours. Have you been exercising the whole time, Buck?" Ditzy Doo said.

"Naw. I was takin' a nap, then Dinky showed up, so we did some coloring, then I remembered that it's Sunday, so I got back to exercisin'. And you know Dinky likes to join me on that! Don't worry, it's still nothin' too-too strenuous, just the easy settings on Ring Fit." Buck said.

"Yeah, Mama, Buck's right, it's fine, we just-" Dinky began before she swooned and plopped back down on the couch. She landed in a position that looked anything but comfortable. Adagio wondered if the child had an aneurism, but then she looked at Buck and Ditzy. Ditzy Doo was giggling, while Buck was counting down on his fingers. When he hit "one", little Dinky began a snore that sounded like a small army of feral piglets.

"And that's nap time for Dinky." Buck said. Buck scooped the girl in his arms and brought her into his bedroom, then came out, wiping off his face with a towel. He shut the door as quietly as he could with the squeaky hinges, then rolled his neck with a quiet pop.

"Oh, Buck, you must be exhausted! Do you wanna massage?" Ditzy Doo said, verbally stabbing Adagio in the ribs. Ah, that's right. Ditzy Doo was Adagio's worst enemy today. She'd almost forgotten.

"Nah, that's alright. I assume y'all are gonna need some help with all the groceries?" Buck said.

"Actually, uhm...we don't. Adagio has them." Ditzy Doo said. Buck's eyebrows flew up as he regarded Adagio. She smirked and flipped her hair.

"What? You think a woman like me is afraid of a little footwork?" Adagio said, raising the heavy grocery bag on her quivering arm. She could feel Ditzy roll her eye.

"Well shit, I dunno, ya might break a nail or somethin'. Or slip a disk. That looks like more than just stew fixin's. Didja get extra?" No, no wait, follow-up questions were Adagio's worst enemy. How could she forget?

"Well, after looking at the ingredients list I decided to try it from scratch instead of-"

"Adagio read the ingredients list instead of the instructions on the cake mix box. Sound familiar?" Ditzy Doo said, the little rat. How dare she!?

"Oh my god, you did, didn't you!?" Buck covered his mouth and started wheezing. "That's amazing!" He guffawed. No no no...a chill ran up Adagio's spine as she turned her red face to Ditzy Doo. The woman had her arms crossed, a smug look on her face.

"Last year, Buck decided he wanted to make Dinky a birthday cake, but when he grabbed the box of mix, he also read the ingredients on the side instead of the instructions on the back...we had birthday cake for dessert for a while after that, which was fine with Dinky and not so fine with my diet." Ditzy said. She had the grace to not laugh in Adagio's face, but the very thought that she had to restrain herself made Adagio want to set the woman's hair on fire.

Buck had tears in his eyes, but Adagio could taste the joy coming off him. "Hey, hey, in my defense I had a lot on my mind at the time! Oh my god I thought I was the only person in the world that could make that mistake! C'mere, you!" Buck wrapped his arms around Adagio's waist and lifted her up, laughing. Adagio dropped the bag of groceries. This was all wrong. Adagio Dazzle did not make mistakes, and she certainly did not make them in front of her potential minions and their chesty, co-dependent neighbors.

"Wha-you...! Put me down! You still reek of sweat! And peanut butter! I didn't mess up, I just decided to challenge myself!" Adagio pouted. Buck set her down gently and put his hands on his hips.

"C'mon Adagio, I'm not that dumb. We all make mistakes." Buck said. Adagio's gaze wandered away from Buck's dumb handsome smile and over to Ditzy Doo, who was now walking to the kitchen with the grocery bag. She was seething again; it was an adorable and delicious hatred, like a burnt marshmallow. A treat. And so was Buck. His own affection for Adagio was growing intensely. He very obviously wanted to hold her again. "Hey, you remember what I said about imperfections a while back?"

"Oh, yes, let me try to remember...something about how if my ass was a teapot, it's crack would be filled with gold?" Adagio said, in a stage whisper. Another peak of rage from the jealous bitch putting things away in the kitchen. Exquisite.

"Oh shit, I said that? That's a good one. But yeah, no need to be embarrassed! I'm not about to judge you on something like that, and neither is Ditzy." Buck said.

"Buck?"

"Yeah, 'dagio?"

"Come here, Buck." Adagio said. She waggled her finger at him in a come hither motion.

"Hm?" Buck tilted his ear toward Adagio. She snatched him by the chin and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She tasted Buck's shock and lust mixed with the fury coming from the kitchen. It was like a sweet electrical burn on Adagio's tongue. Buck's fingers found their way to Adagio's hips and dug in as she licked his lips. Then, he lightly pushed her away, smiling apologetically. "Hey, hey now, chill out on that, okay? I've got a guest over." Buck whispered.

"So let her watch. I'm your guest too, am I not?" Adagio whispered in his ear.

"Ooookay, okay, I think someone needs a cold shower." Buck said. He placed his hands on Adagio's shoulders and took a step back. Adagio pouted her lips and fluttered her eyelashes at him.

"Only if you join me, Buck..." She said. Adagio saw Buck bite his lip. She looked down and saw his stiffening cock shift in his pants as he took a few more steps back.

"Adagio, cool off. I mean it." He said, crossing his arms. Adagio smiled sweetly and winked at him.

"If you insist." She said. Adagio's gaze drifted briefly to the kitchen just in time to see Ditzy Doo look away. Pathetic. "Actually, I think I'd like to get a jump on dessert, if it's all the same to you. Angel Food Cake is best served with a slight chill, so letting it sit in the icebox before dinner would do it some good." Adagio said.

"Oh, uh, sure thing. Lemme get out of your way!" Buck said.

"...icebox?" Ditzy Doo wondered.

"Oh, no, Buck, you're fine. I'd like you to help me in the kitchen, actually." Adagio said. "It's Ditzy Doo that's in the way."

"What?" Ditzy Doo glared at Adagio.

"Why don't you go take a nap with your daughter while Buck and I get started, hm?" Adagio said.

"Are you sure, Buck? I can-" Ditzy talked past Adagio.

"He's supervised, not to worry! I'll be watching him very closely." Adagio said, making a show of looking Buck up and down.

"...It's cool, Ditzy. Go on and cuddle. Y'obviously deserve a break; I'll handle this." Buck said. Adagio saw Ditzy's concerned frown shift slightly to a small smile as she looked at Buck.

"Alright, Buck." Ditzy said, and then she was gone. Adagio cleared her throat.

"Well then, Buck, would you kindly fetch me a wooden spoon? I have no clue where you keep things in this place. I think I saw a hand vacuum on the coat rack." Adagio said, pulling a mixing bowl from a cabinet after a moment's search. Buck wordlessly set a wooden spoon down next to her. "I think I'm going to start with the mix after all, then move on to baking it from scratch next time. No need to overcomplicate things..." Adagio said. Buck said nothing as she measured a cup of water. "Well, you're terribly chatty, all of a sudden." Adagio said. She turned and saw Buck's anger. It tasted like hot and sour soup. He was genuinely upset with her.

"Do you think I'm blind, or just stupid?" Buck said, in a low whisper.

"Excuse me?"

"Adagio, Ditzy Doo is obviously uncomfortable with all the sex stuff. I made that clear." Buck said. "So why're you all over me? What's your problem? Why you torturin' my neighbor?" Buck said.

"Me!? She started it! You should have heard the things she said to me out of your earshot. She said that I'm arrogant."

"I mean..." Buck gestured broadly at Adagio.

"She said I was just another in a long line of 'mean girls' come to abuse you."

"She...she's trying to protect me, Adagio, you have to understand. I've made mistakes, I trusted girls that I shouldn't have, and did things I shouldn't have and I was hurt for it, and Ditzy was there...she's just tired of seeing me hurt."

"And now you're making excuses for her. She's trying to make a rift between us!" Adagio whispered.

"Adagio, Ditzy ain't like that. It's 'cause you're new, and scary. That's all. If I explain things to her, she'll lay off."

"Buck, do you honestly think I care what she thinks? You're underestimating her; she is going to come in here whenever I'm not around and poison our relationship. I know her kind." Adagio hissed.

"No, I'm gonna get her to apologize. I ain't about to sit here and let you two do this mean girls shit when you could be talkin' it over like adults. Ditzy is my friend, Adagio. She'll understand."

"If you insist."

"And you're going to apologize too."

"For what, exactly?"

"For antagonizing her. You're gonna say you're sorry and we're going to talk about this, and everything'll be fine."

"And if I refuse?"

"I won't even touch your cake." Buck said, looking down his nose at her. Adagio blushed and crossed her arms and turned her back on Buck. Was that wordplay intentional? He wouldn't dare.

"As if you could resist..." She mumbled. She poured the water and stirred the cake mix. She felt Buck's anger soften. And then she felt Buck's big meaty arms wrap around her from behind. Buck started rocking her side to side.

"I'm sorry she insulted you." Buck said, softly.

"She called me a parasite, Buck. She despises me."

"She's just scared for me. You have to admit, you're pretty intimidating sometimes...but you're right. I'm gonna have her apologize."

"I'm not trying to bring trouble into your home, Buck. We can just let this go." Adagio said. Her eyes were on the cake mix, but she sipped at the sweet, tender love that was beginning to swell around her. She hated that she couldn't stay mad at him.

"Hm. You're nothin' but trouble." Buck said, chuckling. "Didja know you're beautiful when you pout like this?"

"I'm not pouting." Adagio said. Her frown fought valiantly against the smile that was trying to emerge.

"You have the cutest smile...and you're even laughing, now...!" Buck murmured.

"What are you talking about-" Buck blew a raspberry into Adagio's neck, forcing her to cackle mid-sentence.

"God, you have the evilest fucking laugh!" Buck chuckled.

"Stop that! You're acting like a clown!" Adagio giggled.

"Shh...and you're acting like a brat. What do I gotta do to get you to play nice?" Buck said. He kissed Adagio sweetly on the cheek.

"Hmm...beg my forgiveness."

"For what!?"

"She kissed you."

"On the cheek!"

"On your hands and knees. If you beg on your hands and knees, I think that will satisfy me." Adagio smirked.

"Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't ya? Me on my hands and knees." Buck whispered. He kissed down Adagio's neck.

"It would be a good start~." Adagio said. Buck found the hickey he had left, and kissed it gently. Gave it a bit of a nibble. Adagio bit her lip. She felt warmed by a campfire, or a chocolate fondue fountain.

That's right. He had missed her on his run.

"Okay, fine. I'll apologize." Buck said. He hadn't stopped swaying Adagio back and forth.

"Well...? I'm waiting, Mr. Purple Prose." Adagio said. She closed her eyes and smiled, triumphantly.

"Helloooo my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gaaaal~" Buck sang. It was low and private and silly.

"Oh, you bastard."

"Send me a kiss by wire. Baby, my heart's on fiiire!

If ya refuse me; honey you'll lose me

Then you'll be left alone.

Oh baby, telephone, and tell me I'm your own..."

Adagio twirled and lightly pushed Buck away by his chest. She put her hands on her hips and tapped her foot to a silent beat.

"You call me on the telephone, you tell me that you're all alone

I knew that you were lying through your teeth-you dirty rascal!" Adagio sang.

"Oh boy." Buck said on beat.

"How can you expect me to believe the lies you hand me?

You've been out with that blonde again, now do you understand me?

You broke my heart and made me cry with every phony alibi

but I could see the lipstick on your shirt-you dirty polecat!

Telephone, and tell me I'm your own...!" Adagio sang. She huffed and posed dramatically with a hand on her forehead. Buck closed the distance with a step and caught Adagio with a hand on the small of her back. Adagio's smile won the battle as her own hand slid to Buck's shoulder. Their free hands linked and Buck danced her around the kitchen as he sang.

"Well, I'm sorry that I made you blue

It was a beastly thing to do

I never should've hurt you like I did

(with Lil the barmaid)

If you take me back again, I'll never ever wander.

'Cause when I did I found that absence made the heart grow fonder!

So cross my heart and hope to die, I'll never tell another lie

I'll mend your broken heart as good as new-my little cough drop.

Telephone and tell me I'm your own." They danced back and forth to the quiet melody. They hummed the last refrain together; Buck warm, round baritone complimenting Adagio's sweet, fluttering mezzo-soprano. They came to a stop with Adagio's back against the counter. Their foreheads were touching.

"There, now. Even if dinner ends up bein' a disaster, we'll have a nice memory of today." Buck said.

"You are the corniest man I've ever met." Adagio said, her eyes half-lidded. Buck's hands wandered down to Adagio's ass, squeezing softly. Roaming. The campfire burst into bonfire.

"Hmm...maybe. I'll stop being corny when you stop liking it." Buck said. He lifted Adagio roughly by the ass and planted her on the countertop. Now she was a bit taller than him. "Now, will you please promise me that you'll play nice with my neighbor?" Buck said, taking Adagio's hands in his.

"No. I'm still mad at you." Adagio huffed, looking away.

"No, you're not. You're mad that I made you smile." Buck said. He kissed the cheek Adagio had turned to him. Damn him. Reading me like a book! "Adagio, come on. You know the song; 'If you wanna be my lover, you gotta...?" Buck started.

"...be willing to swallow." Adagio said, grinning.

"Oh my god. Friends. You gotta get with my friends, Adagio."

"I get along fine with your friends, Buck! Scootaloo wants me to use her face as a stool, and Sunburst agrees with me that Zoro is better than Sanji."

"Y'all are crazy."

"And you are dodging the issue. That woman can come in here whenever she wants and disrupt us. I haven't had you alone all day." Adagio felt a haze of blazing heat wash over her. Buck was smirking.

"Well...we're alone now." Buck said. His hands let go of Adagio's and instead reached around to grope at her ass. "If you just wanted attention, you could'a asked..." He squeezed and sunk his fingers in.

"What...do you think I've been doing...since I got back...?" Adagio groaned as one of Buck's hands drifted up the small of her back. It slid under the hoodie and shirt covering her.

"Did you steal another one of my hoodies?" Buck said. He drew even closer, pressing his crotch against Adagios. She wrapped her legs around his waist. Adagio squirmed as Buck's other hand slipped under her top as well--this time in front.

"I had to cover up some when I went out...mm...ah!"

"Because you refuse to wear a bra when you're at my place." Buck said. His thick fingers had found Adagio's left nipple. They were pinching and pulling. Adagio moaned softly. She leaned back, putting a steadying hand behind her, and lifted up the hoodie and shirt, letting her breasts slowly drop in front of Buck. A forest fire blazed behind his golden eyes. Adagio looked away as demurely as she could.

"They aren't as big as hers..." She whispered.

"I ain't lookin' at hers." Buck said. He took Adagio's free nipple into his mouth while his hand continued to play with the other. Adagio's hand stroked Buck's hair as he dug in. But of course, he'd be talented at this as well. Why was that even a question? Adagio's thighs squeezed around Buck's waist, her breaths growing short. Buck's tongue twirled around her nipple, while his fingers tugged and twisted the other one. Adagio tried to stay in this blissful moment, but something caught in her head, and her thoughts kept drifting toward it.

"I can feel your eyes on me from across the room-you can't fool me...You would never admit it, but you love having easy access to me when I'm here, Buck." Adagio said. Buck bit down gently on her nipple, suckling on it. "You dream about having your way with me all over your apartment. And that's silly, Buck. You can fuck me wherever you want. Why limit it to here?" She tried to push the thought away by riling Buck up. She was already hot and wet.

"Do you want me to fuck you on this kitchen counter?" Buck growled. Adagio's smile dropped.

"...do you think I'm a parasite?" Adagio said. Oh no. She could feel it. A genuine tear was pooling in the corner of her eye. Buck stopped immediately and searched her face. His lust puttered out in an instant.

"No, Adagio, I don't." Buck said. He reached up to wipe away Adagio's tear, but she caught him by the wrist.

"Look at me. Do you think I'm going to throw you away, Buck?" Adagio said. She saw Buck's lip quiver, then he turned away.

"I think...that your cake mix is clumping up." Buck mumbled. He retreated to the mixing bowl in two steps and started to move the spoon.

Adagio wanted to be furious. She wanted to shriek at him and tell him that she's not another bimbo come to wring him dry, but that was wrong, wasn't it? They were right about her. She wanted to use Buck. What was really the difference between Adagio and the other "mean girls"?

Time.

They had gotten bored with him or kicked him to the curb when he stood up to them, no doubt. But Adagio needed Buck for the long game. She did want to siphon him over time, but not for his attention or money or muscle. She needed his magic. Human lives were both horribly short and agonizingly long, in a way. Adagio wondered how many years she could squeeze out of Buck before he keeled over. How long before his love turned to fear? Adagio had to make this last; fear was delicious but never sustainable. And it seemed like Buck's love for her was bottomless, the over-emotional fool. Perhaps what Adagio really needed to do was pull a few pages from Buck's own book in order to keep him.

Adagio scooted off the counter. She stood behind Buck and placed a hand on his back. He shuddered for a moment, then seemed to relax.

"Buck...do you want me to leave?" Adagio asked.

"No. I-I want you to stay here, and be mean and needy and beautiful and wonderful." Buck said. Adagio wrapped her arms around Buck's waist and squeezed him. He tasted like a little drop of hope in a cold, salty ocean of despair.

"Do you want me, Buck?" Adagio said.

"Yes." Buck said.

"Then you shall have me, Buck." Adagio said.

"Will you please try to make good with Ditzy Doo?" Buck said. Adagio grimaced. Perhaps he knew how to play the game after all.

"I'll do it for you, Buck." Adagio sighed.

Buck and Adagio worked on the cake together, and miraculously, the rest of the evening was peaceful. Buck didn't have a funnel pan, but he apparently knew a trick involving a glass of water that would make a regular deep pan work. His sister taught it to him, he said. Eventually, Ditzy Doo came yawning out of Buck's bedroom, and while Adagio thought in the back of her head that she'd have to roll around in Buck's sheets to erase the woman's stench, she stayed amicable toward Ditzy Doo. After a word with Buck, Ditzy apologized for what she said, and Adagio grumbled out something like an apology that Ditzy accepted.

The stew came out good, if a bit over-seasoned. It was odd watching Buck stand around awkwardly, waiting for Ditzy to give him orders that mostly involved stirring or taste testing or getting something off a high shelf. Adagio didn't understand why he was so anxious about cooking food when he had consistently managed to make tarts that were slowly starting to get good.

The angel food cake came out fantastic. Adagio's eyes lit up when she tasted it and found that a bit of Buck's love had somehow been baked into it. This warranted an investigation, but later. Even Ditzy Doo seemed impressed with the cake.

Little Dinky stayed in Buck's room for the rest of the night. Ditzy explained that Dinky was just shy around new people, but Adagio knew the truth; she could taste the little girl's fear as she occasionally peaked out at the table.

The evening went on in an agreeable fashion. Adagio could still taste Ditzy Doo's territorial feelings beneath her sweet facade, but she chose not to prod at it.

At the very least, Ditzy Doo would not be at Game Night.

Game Night would have its own complications.

Author's Note

Song Review: Let's Face It, I'm Cute is a smug jazzy tune that is a bold declaration of one's adorableness. That's it. From Ditzy's perspective, Adagio radiates this song, but from Adagio's point of view, she is being confronted with the simple fact that there is another woman with an emotional connection to Buck, and she won't go away, won't back down, and murdering her in cold blood is not an option.

Sorry this one took a while. I think I may have written and re-written and re-edited this chapter about six times. That fact, and a soul-crushing crash on the part of my laptop that erased hours of drafting, is why this one took a while to come out. Next one will be an even more complicated chapter, but it'll also be out soon. Get ready for some super nerdy banter.

I'm not apologizing for the cock-tease in the kitchen.