Chapter 146: The Pigeon Incident

"So let me get this straight," Molly begins. "While I was at work, Bluebird died..."

"...and you replaced him with a pigeon?"

"Pigeons need love too," Dysen says. "Technically, it's more of a present from the cats..."

"This is the kind of thing people go to marriage counseling for."

"It's only until the wing heals."

Molly scrunches up her nose. "You should have just let the cats eat it."

Dysen pouts. "But it makes pleasing coo, coo noises."

"You really want to keep this pigeon."

"Only until the wing heals!"

"Fine."

"I love you, Molly."

"I love you too."

The twins make plans for later tonight. Holland's is to stay indoors and play video games. Olive's is to drag him to some club uptown where several of their schoolmates are gathering.

The plans are mutually exclusive.

Of course, Olive is the one to win. "Scissors beats paper!" she crows. "You go to the club tonight."

Holland scowls. "Dammit, why did I agree to this?"

The club is a tiny, stale old building. It must have served some more dignified function in days long past, but with no space for new construction in Monte Vista's crowded uptown, it was inevitably repurposed. The decor is garish, the wood on the countertops looks rotted and splintery, and the sneering bartenders don't care enough to check IDs.

That last bit is obviously why this dive was chosen. Galen May, one of the very few upperclassman Holland spots in the room, is sitting by himself and looking a bit confused about how the younger high schoolers have invaded his favorite haunt.

Zab Ziggfield showed up in a fashionable hat and strappy dress and made the mistake of trying to order food - it smells bad, really bad - and Magan Sielen has already downed enough Kneecappers to approach Olive.

"Y-you look good," he half stammers, half slurs. Olive grins and strikes a pose.

Holland narrows his eyes at Magan before taking the seat next to Galen.

"Hey Hol," Galen mumbles. "Is Polly out?"

Holland stares at the drink menu. "Polly's too classy for this place and so am I."

"Cool," Galen says. "So, I recommend the Spline Reticulator. It's not bad."

Holland doesn't remember what he orders, but it helps him lose focus on the cringe that is Magan Sielen talking to his sister.

"Plumbob, I have such a crush on your sister," Magan sighs. "But then, so does every guy."

Olive smiles and rolls her eyes.

"I bet you'll be as pretty as Apollo when you're older," Magan says quickly, seeming to notice his mistake but incapable of fixing it in his current state of inebriation. "I mean, you're pretty now... I'd go out with you..."

"You are literally the worst," Zab insults Magan, coming to Ollie's rescue.

"I'm sorry," Magan moans before he scuttles away.

At this point the strobe lights went nuts and I had to get rid of them.

Most of the evening is a blur of dancing, cheap drinks and cheaper food. Magan's foolishness is forgotten quickly as more teen foolishness fills the hours with plenty of ammunition for gossip come Monday morning.

"The point of this is to socialize," Olive leans in to whisper in Holland's ear, chiding him for his behavior which has been wallflowery at best and standoffish at worst.

After enough pestering from his twin, Holland gives in and socializes with Zab a bit. They both agree that this bar is pathetic, and probably the ugliest community lot I have ever created.

Obviously they've never visited the bowling alley.

Holland's best friend Akari arrives, causing him to automatically gravitate towards her presence.

"Hey Hol, what's up?"

"Nothing. Lame party."

"Yeah? Sorry I'm late. I spent a few hours getting my hair right."

"It's nice."

"Thanks! So were you flirting with Zab...?"

"What? No. She's with Toledo."

"Oh like that's going to last," Akari laughs, then stops laughing when Holland doesn't seem to get the joke. "So are we doing video games tomorrow?"

Holland stifles a yawn. "You betcha. Someone has to slay the megademon."

Akari drags Holland to the "dance floor", but the two dance separately, careful to project that they are only friends.

There's Lorimer Stout-Porter, owner of the tallest hair in the room, unashamed to show up wearing an old man sweater.

On the way home, the twins are busted for curfew violations.

After they're unloaded from the police car and released into the capable care of their parents, their father offers them congratulations and a celebratory dance for their hard earned street cred.

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Etc.: I guess I should acknowledge how long it's been since chapter 145 was posted. The twins were stuck at that lame party for almost a real life year. Scary thing is, it doesn't feel like it's been that long.