Matthew’s and Sophie’s Lord of the Wings

August 5, 2025

Date: 2025-08-04 17:28

(Matthew’s and Sophie’s Lord of the Wings)

[Mon Aug 4 2025]

A Dusty Fairground Parking Lot/span>/spanThe unpaved parking area stretches across packed earth, its surface worn
smooth by countless vehicles over the years. Tire tracks crisscross the dirt
in overlapping patterns, creating shallow ruts that fill with murky water
after rain. The ground is compacted hard near the entrance but becomes looser
and more uneven toward the edges where sparse patches of crabgrass struggle
through. Old carnival posters, faded and torn, cling to the chain-link fence
that marks the lot’s perimeter, their bright colors bleached pale by weather
and time. A few streetlights on weathered wooden poles cast pools of yellow
light across the lot after dark, leaving deep shadows between them. The smell
of motor oil mingles with the earthier scent of dust and dried grass. Empty
bottles and discarded tickets collect against the fence where the wind pushes
them, remnants of crowds that have passed through this gateway to the
fairground’s attractions./span>/spanIt is afternoon, about 85F(29C) degrees, and there are clear skies. The mist is heaviest At Carnation and Franklin/span>/spanMatthew peers at Arachne for a good few moments and then he nods and reaches for ome of those wings. “I gotta taste the competition,” he says, plucking up one of Sofia’s wings, “Tell me, what’s your process, Pizza Queen?”

Brushing back the sleeves of her oversized sweatshirt, Arachne moves unhurried through the crowds trying to get some wangs, checking out the booth’s setup with curiosity. “Good presentation,” she notes, raising her phone to snap a few pics.

In contrast, Annabelle settles for just one of the sauce-lain, rounded wings. She manages to eat, though the process of enjoyment is stifled by her lack of appetite. “I think they taste good. Everything taste funny. It’s kinda an experience, you know, painkillers.”

Jakem hmm’s as he samples some of the buffallo wings “Pretty good, but I”m not a fan of bleu cheese unfortunately.” he comments.

August, by Arachne’s side, waves off a few chicken bones by her side after hip-checking her, then throws them off to the side. It looks like he’ll stick around, for the time being, right on her heels.

Alice gives Sophie a little wiggle-finger wave as she hops off her horse. “Heyyy. Not here for super long, just wanted to pop in and support your first, uh, thingy.”

Malin laughs softly at Shiloh. “Well, Obie isn’t here, so there shouldn’t be any cheating!” she claims before heading to try the next entry.

Sophie beams a wide smile at Alice, “Please, nab a free t-shirt and then head off to taste the wings, you’ll find the booths to the west, east, north and north east.”

Alice nods, peeking at the shirts. She takes one, then starts hunting for Stelle, specifically.

Annabelle uses the hospital gown over her shoulder as a paper towel as she blinks at the pair of Decepticons, then turns her eyes towards Jakem. “Hey, Gak. You made it. Enjoying the taste?”

Malin rubs her palms together briskly as she heads over towards the next entry — the pizza place’s wings. “Oooo,” comes out past her lips as she looks over the food. “They smell very buffalo-y.”

Jakem nods to Annabelle “Thunderbird’s pretty impressive. Who made that one?” he says, looking about. “I might have to hire them to cook for the Den.”

“Sous vide the wings before a deep fry, put ’em into the freezer for just long enough for the skin to do its thing, then a second deep fry, coat em in traditional buffalo sauce, one part butter to two part franks, and a little dash of celery salt. Plus making the bleu which is a whole process of its own,” Sofia explains to Matthew a bit long windedly, a stickler for the details.

Sofia points to the sign for Jakem, explaining, “Diego’s original recipe. Seemed very much up your alley, yeah.”

Alice finds Stelle after power-walking from the main lot, though her attention drifts from the French woman to Shiloh. “Of COUUUURSE you made wings. Are you gonna win?”

Sophie peaks her head into a bucket and makes a note

Jakem squints at the sign, then looks towards Sofia “I thought he died. These aren’t undead are they?” he asks, snagging another and biting into it.

Shiloh grins wide at Alice, waving over her way “I can only hope. But it seems like I have some tough competition.”

Sophie peaks her head into a bucket and makes a note, but then she nabs a wing excitedly.

Jakem calls over to Annabelle “So yah ready to keel over yet?” he calls out to her. “We still gotta find Lucky’s booth.”

Sophie licks her lips and then hands a plushie to Shiloh, “Give it away to a fan.”

“I don’t think he’s dead,” Sofia says to Jakem with a laugh and a shrug. “But I haven’t seen him in a hot minute.”

Alice takes a tentative little bite of some wings, almost immediately looking for something to wipe her fingers off on the moment she has the wing done, meticulously cleaning the sauce off once she’s found a little napkin. “Oh, I like these. I loooove gochujang. Good job, Shiloh.”

“Lucky’s is right there!” Kai points to the north as he calls over to Jakem.

Matthew eats these wangs like he’s a pro. The wing gets a good bite, tossed, then he’s manhandling the flats, yanking out the bones and tossing them aside. He downs them boneless, drenched in that blue cheese, looking like he doesn’t want to be making the ‘this-tastes-way-too-good’ face he’s making rightn ow. But he is.

Shiloh peers down at the plushie before grinning at the departed woman “Maybe I’ll give it to Kai next I see him, he seemed a pretty big fan.” He wonders out loud.

“It’s just over there, I think.” Annabelle points [north], setting in beside someone. She’s maybe two bites in, and still chewing on the second. “I’m okay. I won’t know until like, thirty minutes when I’m really digesting it. I can’t feel my mouth.

Alice gives Stelle a poke, declaring, “I’m gonna go try Sofia’s. Meet at the lot when you’re done?”

Sofia spies that face Matthew is making and says, “Just good fundamentals, right?”

Stelle comments, “He’s gonna win,” before she wanders off towards the east and nods to Alice.

“It’s just over there, I think.” Annabelle points [north], setting in beside Jakem. She’s maybe two bites in, and still chewing on the second. “I’m okay. I won’t know until like, thirty minutes when I’m really digesting it. I can’t feel my mouth.

Kai wanders away from Arachne, chewing on the wing with a cheery grin, “Mmm mm! This is a great event. All the protein I could want,” he says and hucks a chicken wing in the direction of someone’ set up.

Sofia gives Sophie a thumbs up and says, “Will do!”

Jakem lets out a soft whistle “Shit, these are so good I hardly mind that I’ll need burn treatment for my tongue.”

“Extra-extra hot.” Annabelle mumbles with a face shaded in fear. “..Eggh. I dunno.”

Sofia wiggles her fingers at Alice and smiles. “Hey you, glad you made it!”

Jakem nods to Arachne “Oh hey, love the sweater.” he comments with a gasping barely there breath as he chugs water.

Alice powerwalks towards Sofia like she’s got a bone to pick, but she doesn’t. She’s here for wings, and wings she’ll get. She remembers to wave, at least, offering a smile. “I didn’t want to miss it, but I was super busy before this,” she declares, even as she’s reaching for spicy goodness.

“Don’t be a coward Anna!” Kai calls off to her and looks to Shiloh, “If it’s free, yeah!” he agrees and jogs over that way.

Matthew is still chewing, still appreciating that classic flavor as he starts to wander away from the booth towards Lucky’s. “You know, classic is classic for a reason,” he does reason, “and the blue cheese?” He’s shaking his head, not a no, but dismayed by its deliciousness. “So good, but you know… I still gotta stand by my guy, Shi.”

Malin tries the wings, and then she nods her approval at Sofia. “Oh, these are good,” she comments to the one who made them. “The meat is so perfect.”

“I don’t condone self-harm.” Annabelle grumbles back over her shoulder, the volume barely battling with today’s breeze.

Matthew lingers just long enough to study Alice, a crooked grin working into the man’s features. “Hello, Alice.”

“I’m assuming that they’re about as hot as they smell,” Arachne turns her shaded gaze on Jakem when he speaks her way, pointing at the stand. “On a scale of one to ten, ten being spicier than ghost pepper, how hot is it?”

Jakem shrugs to Annabelle “Nothing tastes better than hypocricy.” he says with a broad grin.

Sofia tips her nose a couple times at Matthew, asking, “Is this a wing competition or a loyalty competition? But I’ll sample them all soon, can’t wait to give them all a try.” She beams a smile at Malin and says, “Meat prep makes all the difference. No scrawny wings here.”

Kai is still chewing on another wing when he runs up to the tray to steal his fourth wing from the tray, “Just try one,” he tells Annabelle and hucks a bone off near the bucket.

“Do it,” Stelle comments towards Annabelle but she isn’t all bark at the very least and grabs a wing herself, biting in deep.

Sophie giggles and wiggles at Esme, “Here!”

Obadiah says “So what’s the Plan? where did Mike end up?“

Stelle coughs near instantly but holds it in.

Matthew wanders in, looking over the tray of wings with no lacking of delight. “So these the famous Wing Wangs?” he asks Jakem, plucking up a drummlet. He sucks it down in one bite.

Esme grins to Sophie, “Hell yeah! This’ll look great next to my dragon.”

Annabelle’s gaze settles somewhere in the middle distance, urged by the peer pressure. Sadly, Frank and his saucy wing will have to finished by someone else, because she drops it in the trash and sets out for the new wing with a sharp breath.

Kai chews on the extra hot wing happily, his nose running anew, a soft moan under his breath, “Mmm…” he sighs and nibbles on the bone, “I’m gonna mind control Cristol to marry me, I swear.”

Alice finishes off a wing – dunked in bleu cheese, of course – and then promptly finds the nearest napkin to wipe her hands off with, meticulously and neurotically cleaning off every ounce of sauce before she can speak again. “Hello, Matthew,” she mentions, but he’s already done, so Sofia gets her attention instead. “These are fantastic. A tour de force. Classic. An artform in chicken and butter and hot sauce.” She purses her lips, thinking. “But do they match mango lime gochujang? Mango is like, THE flavor this decade.”

Jakem hmms at Arachne “And now we get to the game. You know I’m going to lie, but there’s all sorts of lies, and I could tell the truth to lie through intention…” he comments as he strokes his chin.

“I’m guessing if I tell you it’s seven I squared, it’ll be lost in translation so let’s go with just seven.”

Stelle wanders off to the southwest, coughing again as she sets off to cast her vote.

Obadiah nods and motions to the west, “Am I still over there?”

“Well, you can also consider the ever so exotic Thunderbird wings,” Sofia supposes back to Alice with a little grin. “But personally I think the classics stand up to the test of time for a reason.”

Jakem looks to someone “I mean if you get her a nice enough ring you might not need the mind control.”

Jakem looks to Kai “I mean if you get her a nice enough ring you might not need the mind control.”

Sophie says “Yep! “

Malin calls out, “I was wrong! There will be cheating, Shiloh!” to Shiloh upon her seeing Obadiah.

Sophie says “I heard nothing!“

Alas, the inflammation caused by capsaicin is not something painkillers concern themselves with treating. Annabelle immediately find that she can feel pain, and promptly, spits it out and wholly consumes a paper towel onto her tongue, fretting a limp wrist with its fingers covered in the sauce like its a lost cause to amputate.

Matthew’s eyes start to water, this spice is hitting him where it hurts- his tastebuds. “Oh–” he mutters out, “that’s… wow. Hooowheee!”

Alice slowly nods, eyeing the thunderbird wings. “I remember these… from when I ate that mushroom that made me high…”

Annabelle says, with a paper towel in your mouth, “Phhhufck awww-ohh-oooo.“

Sophie walks by and nabs a wingie as she goes, “These ones are addictive!” She grins at Matthew, “And Obie’s here!”

Alice says, sharply, “I’ll be right back.“

Kai snickers at Jakem and looks around, he heads off, sniffing harshly and rubs at his eyes with the back of his forearm, “Mmm fuck so good,” he glances to the tray again, not quite drooling.

“I think you just like being a walking fae stereotype,” Arachne decides of Jakem after a moment too long in silence, seeming content with the scoring, but she does not go for a wing after Kai’s sniped bone-hawking back toward the display. She scrunches her nose in mild distaste, just reaching over to pat Matthew on the back.

Alice slam dunks the ticket.

Sofia says “Whaaaaa! You’ve earned a prize!“

Alice says “It was close, REALLY close, but I have to give it to the classic.“

Matthew turns towards Annabelle, his eyes watering, one tear striping down his cheek, “Fuckin'” and he look around, “Whar’s d mihlk?”

Alice says “Shilo– “

Jakem chortles to Arachne “Someone’s gotta uphold traditions.” he says. “Though I still need to get my hands on a pot of gold.” he adds as he reaches for a second wing from the pile.

Annabelle looks at Matthew with a hiccup, looking like she might sob. She shakes her head in a lament, no milk to be found.

Malin makes her approach, eying Obadiah with a certain sort of theatrical hesitancy, completely on purpose.

“Milk is for babies, go get a beer,” Kai tells Matthew with a laugh, sniffling again as his nose continues to run from the heat.

Esme wiggles a wave to Stelle and Malin with a grin, taking up a post somewhere – she’s here for moral support! Or something like that

“Aren’t you a little too tall for that cliche,” Arachne wonders toward Jakem after measuring him out. “I suppose you do have that cursed Irish aesthetic going on,” she muses, but what does that even mean.

“Beer!” Matthew suddenly howls it out and shakes his fist in the air, “I knew I forgot to bring something! We had beers for this whole thing.”

A slender hand lifts and Malin waves right back to Esme. “Hey, Esme. How’s it going?” she asks as she makes her way to try a wing.

In totally not a Chopped style presentation Obadiah explains to Malin and Stelle, “I have two entries this evening, a classic buffalo and a special rum glazed.”

Matthew makes his way over towards the next stand, waving as the group here works through the spice.

Malin gazes at the two options. “Which one is better?” she questions Obadiah.

“I lost my nice bow to a pirate skeleton the other day, but otherwise it’s goin’ good.” Esme figures to Malin, looking curiously toward the rum glaze wings as Obadiah presents them.

“Everything beats buffalo,” Stelle comments idly, picking one up already.

Shiloh chuckles and grins across to Matthew “Much appreciated.”

“I’m baby.” Annabelle admits without shame, if that’s what it takes to get milk instead of beer. “Where is it.”

Wincing as Esme replies, Malin tells her, “I’m so sorry to hear that. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if I lost my bow, but I know it’d be pretty upsetting, but at least you probably got a cool story from it all?”

Matthew is still working through the spice when he makes his way over, reaching for one of Shiloh’s wings. He’s had these before, and it’s like coming home when he plucks it up. “Hey man, Lucky’s wings?” He shakes his head, “those’ll kill you!”

Kai wanders over to grab a wing in each hand, salutes Obadiah with one of them and Esme with the other and gets to eating.

Malin glances over towards the wings that Cristal made. “My mouth is still kind of fire…”

Shiloh chuckles a bit, telling Matthew “If they’re anything like the spicy ones they set up in their spot, I can bet.”

Malin looks back to Obadiah expectantly, placing a hand on her right hip that she juts out just a little.

“Gaaah, this one’s undercooked!” and adopts a horrendous imitation of a British accent, “Obie’s is fucking raaaaaaaw!” and Kai hucks the bitten wing off to the side, “He glances at the other wing and wrinkles his nose, “Is this one going to give me salmonella too?

Matthew grins at Buck when he notices the detective. “Oi, where’s your girl?” he wonders of him, “and are you ready to solve the case of Wing King?”

Buck raises an eyebrow, “I just got out of the hospital, so I thought I’d stop by to see it.”

Esme looks momentarily curious at the chatter of Lucky’s wings but then her nose wrinkles. “Yeah Obes, which ones is better?”

Obadiah winces slightly at the story of the bow and the commotion about the wing challenge happening over on the otherside. Esme gits a side eye before pulling out a switch blad and looking at someone, “I’m waiting.”

Sophie wanders up with her clipboard and gives Buck a soft hug, “Thanks for popping by ya busted old thing.”

Buck winces as Sophie gives him a hug, “Easy, easy. bruised ribs, but I’m okay.”

Shiloh waves to the crowd “Hey, welcome everyone. For today I made some mango lime gochujang korean fried chicken wings, double fried just bow they do it. Please dig in, but remember to leave some for everyone else.”

Shiloh says “And don’t forget to vote for me if you think mine were the best!“

Kai chews on the second wing and hmms, he doesn’t chuck it, though and instead he turns to run off after Obadiah draws a knife, “Gaaah!” he calls out as he flees, wing still in his mouth.

Esme cackles

“So what do we do here. I’m not big on spicy food.” Buck says.

Matthew gives Buck a through study, nods and says, “I’m glad you were able to make it through, sorry you were injured.” He tosses one of the bones aside and then plucks up another wing, “Make sure you get a ticket to vote,” he says and then starts to wander towards the next stand.

Obadiah says “Bitch, @me says before donning a pleasant affection and looks to @malin, “Rum basted or classic?”“

“Bitch,” Obadiah says before donning a pleasant affection and looks to Malin, “Rum basted or classic?”

Sophie looks around, “Well if ya aren’t a spicy boy, then you need to try Obie’s wings and the side at Sofia’s.”

Malin squints at Obadiah. “I asked which one was better, man.”

“I was distracted by a fool calling perfectly crafted wings raw,” Obadiah says before motioning to the Rum wings, “These are unique but the classic is the classic. I eat the classic ones myself”

Sophie says “Oh! And..Shiloh’s here. Not too much heat.“

Matthew makes his way over, sidling up to Malin, “You talkin’ to my bitch?” he wonders casually of Obadiah, sliding an arm across the Swede’s shoulders. “Gimmie the wing you think worthy of the winning vote.”

“Oh god, what the fuck is that?” Buck says to Shiloh, “Did you make fire sugar chicken?”

Sophie rubs Buck’s back before she heads off to hand out some more items, “Don’t forget to crab a free t-shirt!”

Malin leans into Matthew, smiling at him before looking back at Obadiah. “Okay, okay. I’m going to try the classics, then.”

Shiloh grins across at Buck “Gochugaru for the kick with kashmiri peppers. I tried to balance it out a bit with the sweet mango gochujang sauce. This is something they like over in Korea, double fried for some extra crunch.

Matthew grins at Sophie, “Alright,” he says, and then he begins to work on that wang.

Sophie moans as she picks up a crispy wing, “Best day ever.”

“No but hospitals do.” Annabelle tells Jakem. “Activated charcoal. N-acetylcysteine. The sorts.”

Swooping in like an avant garde-hipster-food critic, Arachne circles around people coming in and out of the Shiloh’s booth, an ear attuned to the reviews, snapping pictures of the mango lime Korean fried wings. “These really do look pretty good,” she tells August, nudging him lightly in the arm. “How many did you eat?”

Buck gives a shrug to Shiloh, “Hey bud, I eat plain pepperoni pizza. You made Googoo cashmere pepper sweet mango sauce wings, okay.”

Malin tries the wing, and then she nods slowly in approval to Obadiah. “That’s a heat I can handle. I think Cristal tried to murder me,” she shares honestly as she glances over her shoulder towards the woman’s almost too hot to handle entry.

Sophie glances around, “Have all of you voted?” She asks, with a quirk of her brow.

Buck says “Where’s the next wings?“

Sofia waves over to Jakem and Annabelle as they head back in, as well as Sophie. “Welcome back! Wasm

Jakem nods to Annabelle “Acetylcysteine? That’s like something they put on proteins or something?” He nods to Sophie “Yeah, voted a while ago.”

Kai shakes his head at Sophie, “How do I vote?” he asks innocently.

Annabelle goes back to Vincenzo’s. Vincenzo’s never hurt her tongue. She looks at Sophie like she’s been caught, jaw opened for a bite.

Sofia waves over to Jakem and Annabelle as they head back in, as well as Sophie. “Welcome back! Wasn’t too spicy, was it Annabelle?”

Matthew nods at Malin on what’s tried to murder him and he’s looking not all that sure about this wing, but who can resist that classic flavor? He definitely can’t, and works in for another bite. “You make your own blue cheese, though?” gets asked.

Jakem nods to Sofia “She’s fine, we’re talking about antidotes for unrelated reasons.”

Sofia says “Yeah, seemed that way.“

“Fuck man, these are damn good wings.” Buck says.

Shiloh lifts his shoulders into a shrug before his attention turns to August and Arachne “Please, enjoy. Just be sure to leave some for the rest. And don’t forget to vote for me if they’re your favorite. Let me know if you have any questions.”

Malin hugs herself gently against Matthew’s side and then says, “I guess I need to vote.”

Obadiah looks over to Matthew, “Not the cheese, of course, but the dressing, yes. It’s a little aggressive compared to the store bought.”

“Terrible.” Annabelle responds Sofia, with a flush and cracked lips. “They don’t find it relevant in medical school to tell you that painkillers don’t help with spicy foods.”

“Not enough,” August tells Arachne, “Now I don’t want to because Kai touched them with his filthy hands.” His own are, after he pulled out some wet wipes to clear them and throw away it away, slides into the pockets of his hoodie to stay there.

Jakem says “sofia You get votes if you take a ticket. If you don’t, you don’t.“

Matthew nods at Malin, it’s clear where he thinks the vote should go, but he doesn’t speak it, just gives her a light squeeze. “Vote with your heart!”

Sofia waves a hand at Buck with an easy smile. “Hey Buck! Enjoy.”

“It’s true. My hands are covered in raw chicken juice from his wings! Oh nooo!” Kai calls over to August and leans over to yoink another of Sofia’s wings from her.

“I think she is going the hottest wing, which is a thing in and of itself I suppose,” Obadiah says to Malin. “Like that internet show thing. Fire Wings or whatever. Where they try to kill famous people?”

Annabelle looks around for where tickets might be, scowls, and then Lets It Be by taking out a sheet of paper and setting it flat against the table.

Esme says “That sounds unpleasant“

“They’re the best ones Buck, don’t be a coward!” Kai calls after him, “Pepcid AC or whatever for your old guts,” he tells Buck when the man approaches.

Shiloh shakes his head, rolling his eyes at Kai’s antics “There’s no raw chicken served here, and I’m sure none of the other booths serve raw chicken either.”

Buck gives a shrug, “Nah, I just got out of the hospital, don’t want to bust any stitches.”

“Shank him Shiloh!” Obadiah bellows, fully prepared to make good on his threat.

Jakem tsks “Should use firmer stiches. Those hospital stitches dissolve after a while.”

Kai retorts to Shiloh, “Yours weren’t raw, they were just New York Bats,” he grins a little, his face messy with wing sauce.

“Hey Shiloh, it’s a tough call, but Your goo goo mango whatever wings were just slightly better than Obie’s.” Buck says with a shrug.

Jakem says “Gonna go see how Cristal is doing.“

“What is Laura-ea?” Annabelle asks as her phone beeps. She sees someone comes back in, and then looks to the bucket where her scuffed vote lay. “Um. I made a vote. I can’t take it out. Someone else can, but it would be like redacting my vote.”

Sofia shakes her head and laughs softly, saying, “Absolute chaos around here.” She smiles at Annabelle and says, “Not sure if they’ll count that paper but we’ll see! They’ll probably count the ticket Sophie gave you though.”

Malin chuckles at Obadiah, but she’s nodding in agreement. “She definitely wins the hottest wing part… I can barely feel my tongue, still.”

“What is Laura-ea?” Annabelle asks as her phone beeps. She sees Sophie comes back in, and then looks to the bucket where her scuffed vote lay. “Um. I made a vote. I can’t take it out. Someone else can, but it would be like redacting my vote.”

Shiloh shakes his head, chuckling softly between someone and Kai, clearly not too upset “Maybe I should try bat sometime, I hear it’s a delicacy in some places.” He tells Kai before grinning wide at Buck “Thanks for your support, Buck!”

Buck gives a tip of his hat to Arachne, “I don’t know if we’ve met, miss. I’m Buck Ransom, from the local ones.”

Esme snags a rum wing

Obadiah looks at the plushie, “Do I vote with… the plushie?”

Shiloh shakes his head, chuckling softly between Obie and Kai, clearly not too upset “Maybe I should try bat sometime, I hear it’s a delicacy in some places.” He tells Kai before grinning wide at Buck “Thanks for your support, Buck!”

Jakem looks to Annabelle “Sounds like someone’s name.”

Esme nods to Sophie, “I grabbed one! And I voted.”

Malin heads onward, but tells Obadiah, “Yours had the perfect amount of spice, though! I could feel the heat without feeling like I was eating a volcano.”

Sophie winks at Esme.

Sofia says “Alright, thanks for your vote! I should probably check all the other wings out, back in a bit.“

Her adventurous spirit quelled by the cruel, pressuring world, Annabelle votes for home with a social bias. “The other wings will hurt me.” She reasons.

Annabelle says “No need to try anything else.“

Sophie runs back, hands Obadiah a ticket then skips off with her clipboard

Sofia winks over at Annabelle, saying, “Don’t get hurt, for sure.”

“What do we do after we vote, just stand around?” Buck asks.

Annabelle prays for Sofia, doing the wrong directions for the Holy Trinity.

Obadiah says “Two. “

Jakem says “If you wanna know who wins you do.“

Malin tells Buck in a tone expressing utter confidence, “You do the Macarena.”

Sophie says “We got a crown to give away“

Sofia waves at her mouth after clearing a wing, tossing the bones in a bucket and continuing on, wiping her hands down with a paper towel.

Esme grins as Gabriel shows up, “Hey babe.” Then she just gives Obadiah a solemn nod.

Shiloh says “Conflict of interest and all that.“

groaning, Buck says to Malin, “Can you do it for me? Just got out of having my ass beat by a cyclops, a couple of medusas, and some wooden ladies. My ribs are still bruised, but Justine’s out of the mists.”

Sofia is on the war path trying wings, giving Shiloh a quick nod and clearing a flat deftly, sucking the meat from between the bones.

Gabriel joins Obadiah at the booth, “I know nothing about wings and I can’t even eat them, but you’re stuck with me. Enjoy.” he smiles at Esme, “Hey. How was everything that I missed?”

Malin squints at Buck. “Dancing will totally help that,” she insists, although in ‘helping’ she may just mean increasing the recovery time. Anyway, she nods and says, “Sure,” before she does the Macarena, without any music, as hips snap and hands slide about.

Sofia nods and wipes her fingers down, telling Shiloh, “You did a double fry too? Not bad. Any freezer time?” She wiggles her head from side to side and says, “They’re very solid. Not my usual flavor profile for wings but I can’t complain at all.” She heads out with a wave though, blasting through the other booths so she can get back to her own.

Esme leans in against Gabriel and tells Obadiah, “Maybe more people need to try your wings!”

Shiloh calls out to someone “I got standards alright?! No votes from me!”

Shiloh says “Thanks Sofia!“

Obadiah looks over at Sofia when she appears, “There is my only true competition! How are you doing?”

Malin notes after calling out, “Heeeey Maracrena!” and does a jump-turn to face Buck. “You know that song is about encouraging a woman to cheat?”

Buck watches as Malin does the macarena and he halfheartedly does some hand motions as he watches other people, distracted, and then Malin talks to him and he blinks as he looks back, “Wait, what? I don’t speak spanish, so I have no idea.”

“Yeah, you don’t have to speak Spanish, Google exists,” Malin replies to Buck easily as she waves her right hand dismissively.

Sofia clears one of Obadiah’s classic wings right off the bat, demolishing the flat with a slurp and a twist. She gracefully enough gives time to swallow, but perhaps doesn’t chew sufficiently, and grins back to Obadiah. “Doing good, gotta get back to my booth in a sec. But had to try the competition too.” She glances over to the rum wings, ready to follow them up.

“Knowing the Macarena has never been useful in a case of mine, so it’s never crossed my files. I did hunt down a chupacabra though, nastly little things.” Buck says with a grimace.

Shiloh calls out to Jakem as he spots the man “Come try my wings! I know I haven’t seen you over here yet, Jakem!”

“I know the feeling,” Obadiah says with a grin and nod to Sofia, “I am going to make my rounds soon enough I think.” He winks at her and adds, “But you know how it goes, yeah? I am sure the classics are going to be close.”

Shiloh calls out to someone “I watched him drop a ticket, don’t let him fool you!”

Shiloh says “I watched Kai drop a ticket, don’t let him fool you!“

Malin looks impressed when Buck mentions the chupacabra, but the rest has her suggesting, “Well, next time–” She pauses to applaud Buck’s effort. “–next time you have a cheater investiation, you can listen to the song for inspiration.”

Buck nods to Malin, “I’ll remember that. Not all of being a private eye is watching for cheaters.”

Sofia clears the second wing with a nod, tossing the bones in the discard pile and wiping her fingers off with a paper towel. “Your classics aren’t as good as mine,” she informs Obadiah with a playful little grin. “They’re good, but they’re not quite perfection. The Rum Glazed though? I could fuck with that. I really like the flavor choices.”

Shiloh waves over to Jakem “Hey hey. Welcome, let me know if you have any questions.”

Jakem says “Oh, he was right, I hadn’t tried these.“

Sophie bustles into the arena, fanning herself with a clipboard and raising her voice over the crowd. “Alright folks, last call! Voting is ending soon, so if you’ve got a favorite wing, now’s the time to make it known!” Her grin is bright, her steps quick as she weaves between hay bales and tables, tapping shoulders and nudging indecisive tasters toward the voting bucket. “No complaining later if your pick doesn’t win!”

Sofia says “I’m gonna run back to my booth though, for any last minute stragglers.“

Malin asks of Buck curiously, “What’s the most common situation people come to you for an investigation?”

Jakem nods to Shiloh “Where can I get a pot of gold?”

Sophie books it back in, a little green and blonde blur as she hands over a ticket to Gabriel, “Here ya go.”

“Oh fuck no,” Obadiah says as he crosses the midway.

Jakem says “Not yet I’m afraid.“

Buck gives a shrug to Malin, “All kinds of stuff. A lot of hauntings, noises in the basement, usually that’s pest control, not ghosts. Finding artifacts, looking up who’s dating who, the common gossip stuff. A few times I’ll get a call to identify any evidence on a dead body with forensics.”

Gabriel takes the ticket from Sophie with a smile, “Thank you!”

Seraphina hurries in where people are gathered, only to hear that she may very well be too late. “Aww…”

Sophie nods and looks at her phone, “Gotta run!”

Sophie runs away from Matthew with a smile and hands over a ticket to Sofia.

“Hmm,” hums out past Malin’s lips as she listens to Buck. “So, during those times, you play The Macarena and see how people react, to like… just see what happens. For science.”

“Gosh, there’s no water in this stupid…” Annabelle looks down to her hip, and knows it’s her time. She pulls out a green water pistol and sets it to her mouth, and pulls the trigger for her salvation.

Annabelle uses a translucent lime-green water pistol: 58The trigger is pulled and a thread of liquid is exhaled, but drifts harmlessly aside.

Obadiah is far more dainty with his wing then Sophie, cracking the flat in two and peeling it off the bones, all while dead-eying Sofia. He chews slightly then goes, “Mm. Your bleu cheese is better.”

Annabelle says, chocking, “Ghkakkk./b>/spanBuck gives a nod to Malin, “For science, sure. It’s observational deduction, I suppose.”

Jakem nods to Annabelle “Gotta load ’em. What’s in that?”

“Observational deduction,” Malin repeats that phrase, head bobbing at Buck. “Where’s your yoga lady at?”

Jakem shrugs to Shiloh “Don’t have my clogs earned yet, but working on it.”

Annabelle shakes it a little, letting the liquid inside swish. “Water. It’s like a water bottle, but you can force it on others. I guess I could fill it with something else.”

Sophie says “And it’s wild“

Malin offers up a confirming nod to Sofia. “I have! Everyone’s entries were so good. Well, I think Cristal tried to kill me… but it wasn’t bad, my taste buds just got fried.”

Arachne screeches bloody murder when Matthew suddenly lurches at her, tripping and crashing into the booth, “YOU CAN’T STOP THE TRUTH! I KNOW ALL YOUR DIRT! I’M GOING TO TMZ!”

Annabelle says “Me neither.“

Jasper says “Classic. “

Sofia smiles at Jasper as he samples and simply says, “Just regular old buffalo and bleu done with the best ingredients and methods out there! Hope you enjoy!” Turning back to Malin, she laughs, and says, “Too much spice for me, but I get it.”

“There’s a point where it isn’t flavor, its just hot.” Seraphina agrees with Malin. “But I need to make my vote!”

Sofia says “Not that I MIND spicy, I just want there to be a more complex flavor. If I was gonna go for a really spicy wing I’d use… Dirty Dick’s.”“

Esme grins and thumbs up to Jasper.

Obadiah looks at Arachne with a twitch of his lips, “You exposed my secret ingredient!”

Sofia pauses and amends her statement, explaining to Seraphina and Malin defensively, “Dirty Dick’s is a brand of hot sauce.”

Seraphina smirks at Sofia. “I figured!”

Matthew says “SOphie “

Sofia shoos Seraphina and says, “Go vote!”

Sophie giggles, “I read that coming a mile away.”

Malin laughs helplessly at Sofia as she clarifies. She nods to Seraphina. “It was hard to choose just one!”

Jasper grins as well upon putting the ticket in the bucket. Licking his lips, he grins and turns to look around.

“I’m selling them to TMZ,” Arachne immediately switches to blackmailing Obadiah, shameless. “Unless you wanna do a little something for me?”

Shiloh waves to Aeryn, beaming a smile!

Matthew grins at Aeryn, “Okay, this is one of the wings and from the family chef, no less!”

“Ew.” Annabelle chirps of dirty dick.

“Damn it, makes me want to eat human food,” Aeryn looks wistful. “I love this.”

Esme waves to Seraphina as she comes over. “Great choice!”

Matthew nods at Aeryn, “Ready to try others?”

Obadiah gives his attention to Arachne and says, “Ooh. I like deal! What is the favor?”

Malin is still laughing, entirely amused.

Sofia chuffs quietly at Annabelle and says, “It’s honestly a great sauce. Very fruity notes, despite being very high heat. Tropical, even.”

Obadiah gives Seraphina a broad grin at her vote and says, “Fine! I owe you -two- hugs.”

“Sure, but impossible that it could be better,” Aeryn seems dubious as she nods to Matthew.

Matthew looks like he clearly agrees, “I’ll take you to the wings that he’s tied with.”

Malin admits, “The name certainly garners attention,” to Sofia.

Aeryn says “Let’s see.“

Sofia leans over her table and gives Aeryn a peck on the opposite cheek before backing off to let her enjoy the wings.

“No, it’s blackmail. You don’t have a choice unless you want me to leak all your weird photos to TMZ,” Arachne attempts to bully Obadiah. But then, she’s turning on Esme and Gabriel, holding her phone out like a microphone, “Esme! Esme! Come here!”

Matthew leads Aeryn over to the stand and wings, “Okay, this is the competition, remember–” he looks towards Sofia, “it’s not a loyalty competition.” But he’s nudging his cousin like maybe it is.

“Whenever-” Annabelle pauses, trying to find the words as she continues to tries and lick her lips clean of a spice that’s stuck on her tongue. “..I don’t- Like, when you say fruity, like, an apple? I’m so bad with food words. Like, I’ve tried to explain to people what I’m doing when I skate- but if they’re not a skater, they just kinda have to see it to understand.”

Gabriel lifts a brow at Arachne and her chaos.

Esme blinks at Arachne, trying to see if she recognizes her but she doesn’t immediately. “Uh…what’s up?” She asks, straightening up a little and peering at the phone.

“Oh damn, this sauce is good though,” Aeryn tells Matthew, promptly crunching fangs into a wing in the middle of his sentence. “Like, really good.”

Annabelle says “At least music is universal. ‘Blue’ is a word that always works. Mellow. Violent.“

“Oh right, right, what do you want to keep my secrets secret?” Obadiah says with a smirk to Arachne and then she is off to harass Esme

“You owe me more than that,” Seraphina assures Obadiah, snagging one more of his wings before she scampers on back to speak with the girls, but not without nodding to Esme, “I’m a sucker for tamarind. It was a lovely, unusual flavor, equally sweet, spicy, and tangy. But oh… it was hard. Sofia’s is a classic flavor profile that I’d devour, too.”

“You could name your next skate trick ‘Dirty Dick’ just to make it even more confusing,” Malin suggests to Annabelle easily.

Matthew hears something that makes him still in his tracks, “Who invited TMZ?” he’s asking.

Aeryn says “Nobody yet.“

“More like… tropical fruit, like a… pineapple, mango, sorta flavor, if memory serves.” Sofia pauses and says to Annabelle, “It’s been a couple years.” Smiling over to Aeryn she admits, “The buffalo is pretty standard, but I feel like the Bleu is where we go the extra mile with this wing. We also had Kentucky Fried Thunderbird, but it’s out now.”

Matthew looks to Aeryn and says, “Okay, have you made a decision?”

Sofia says “I didn’t have enough thunderbird for a full batch.“

“I mean. There are like tricks called; sex change and slappy crook.” Annabelle half-laughs to Malin, scratching her cheek. “Dirty dick wouldn’t even be weird.”

Matthew nods at Aeryn, “You know how to find the booth you want to vote at?”

Aeryn says “I think so.“

Gabriel furrows his brow with all of the food talk, “Why does all of this make me hungry? I can’t even eat wings.”

Malin admits to Annabelle, “I really know nothing at all about skating, but now my interest is piqued. What’s a Sex Change look like?”

“My sources tell me that you’re secretly bankrolling the event so that MEGA Studios will accept your demands for sixty percent ad revenue cut. Is this true?!” Arachne fabricates gossip on the fly to demand and badger Esme with, mega-thick shades turned on Gabriel to size him up. “What are you looking at, Slim Shady?”

Matthew slips away, smiling at the trio of women, “We’re about to end things!”

Aeryn says “All set.“

Annabelle says “I haven’t voted. I could vote.“

Gabriel quirks a grin and gives Arachne a quick once over, “Not sure. I’ll tell you when I figure it out.”

Matthew says “If you don’t have a ticket, get one from Sophie!“

Malin asks Matthew, “Did you make sure Obie didn’t cheat?” She glances towads Obadiah in the distance.

“One moment.” Annabelle raises a finger and steps away.

“Oh I am sure I do,” Obadiah says to Seraphina with a grin, “And yes, she has the better bleu cheese dressing. I have to concede on that point.”

Esme grins and leans in a little for a dramatic whisper to Arachne, “Actually it’s 75 percent. And free wings for life.” She nods firmly before easing back against Gabriel with a laugh.

Matthew squints and then look sback toward Malin, “I have not,” he says dutifully. “And anyone cheating at a wang slang can…” he’s searching, hands spreading out, flopping on the conclusion.

Arachne stomps her Balenciaga sneaker at Gabriel in an attempt to punk him out, but then Esme is feeding her salacious gossip. Her hand comes up with an exaggerated gasp. “How did you manage that?! Inquiring minds want to know!”

Matthew looks towards Malin like maybe she might be his saving grace on this rhyme scheme.

Gabriel isn’t punked out in the slightest and even goes so far as to poke his tongue out at Arachne before letting her pester Esme some more.

Annabelle returns from her brief comms-call, bending her legs through the trouble of standing.

Esme murmurs something to Gabriel before giving Arachne a sly smile. “I can’t give up all my secrets! I’d be a terrible business woman if I did that.” She follows this with a wink and a laugh. “But I’m -very- good at cuttin’ deals.”

Malin squints right back at Matthew. She searches his face, and then sees his expectation, so she just throws out, “A–” and then stops, and chooses to whisper.

Sofia smiles back at Annabelle and supposes, “Hmmm… few people I think haven’t even tried mine yet. But c’est la vie.”

Arachne looks over a shoulder, then stretches out a hand to slap Gabriel hard on the shoulder. “I just saw Buck Ransom doing something suspicious again. Later, Ser Knights!” She does something neither Gabriel and Obadiah would ever expect; she finger-guns them, then two-fingered salutes Esme, before strolling off in the crowd.

“I didn’t try the boy over there’s-” Annabelle points [northwest], pretending not to itch a bandage as she sets her other palm on her shoulder and makes micro movements. “Miss Lucky Cristal destroyed my trust for people in the world. They’re have to peer pressure me to eat anything ever again.”

Matthew suddenly starts laughing, very amused by Malin’s response, nodding and then he speaks out, “can get clucking gang banged.”

Gabriel blinks at Arachne and looks to Obadiah, “Good god she’s been possessed.”

Esme peeks to her phone and then looks back up just as Arachne heads off, a low laugh escaping. “Later!”

Obadiah glances around then flashes his gaze back to Arachne, “Bye! Hope to hear back on that blackmail soon!”

And with that Matthew makes his exit to go be a host or something, at the swag table.

Seraphina drifts back over to Sofia and Malin, despite that the conversation has shifted to other topics. She smiles, but the smile is softer, thoughtful again, as if something were on her mind. But how can one be stuck in their own little world of thoughts when someone says something like that. “What?” she asks, blinking.

Seraphina drifts back over to Sofia and Malin, despite that the conversation has shifted to other topics. She smiles, but the smile is softer, thoughtful again, as if something were on her mind. But how can one be stuck in their own little world of thoughts when Matthew says something like that. “What?” she asks, blinking.

“Well… That’s something,” Jasper murmurs as he watches Arachne run off.

Malin snickers at Matthew, slipping an arm around his hips. She laughs when Seraphina is questioning the latest thing the Montrose said. “He can’t help himself. Don’t mind him.”

“Not even going to ask,” Aeryn shakes her head. “Duty is done, I’m off to find Eva.” She waves her fingers, and strolls away.

Sofia rolls her eyes with amusement over at Matthew and Malin and then pivots to Annabelle, saying, “Cristal’s was a rough one, yeah, if you don’t have a lotta spice threshold.”

Esme sends off once more text with a flicker of amusement before peeking into obie’s basket.

Obadiah waves to someone, “Give her our best!”

Malin nods to Sofia about the too hot to handle wings northward.

Sophie says “BITE ME!“

Annabelle shrugs as she shoots another round from her watergun into her mouth, swishing around with a sour wrinkle of her nose. “Maybe. I should kill more of my tastebuds. Obie’s were good, though. I trusted again, and I wasn’t hurt. Life is complicated. It’ll still take peer-pressure, though.”

Arachne says “Don’t run from the Lord, Sophie!!!“

Matthew suddenly snorts and starts laughing when Sophie says that.

Obadiah says “There are too many vampires around to be shouting that Sophie!“

Esme laughs

Malin calls out loudly, “The Lord sees all!”

Sophie laughs and gives Matthew a little grin, “We have a winner.”

Gabriel says “Who wants bit?“

Obadiah says “Sophie “

Sofia lets out a breath and moves from behind the booth, saying, “I suppose we should hear out the announcement.”

Matthew starts calling out, “Everyone please come this way, we are ready to announce a winner, votes are final, the competition is over, make your way, ladies, gents, and wangs!”

“I will say I enjoyed the wings I did eat. I didn’t try anything real spicy, but the ones I did were really good.” Buck says.

Obadiah moves closer

Matthew steps aside, yielding the ‘floor’ to Sophie, she’s the host after all.

Arachne starts to harass Sophie, only to turn on her heel and look toward Matthew when he calls in the cluckers, throwing an elbow to get good angles, her TMZ badge pushed into a back pocket.

Matthew glances at his phoen then over to Sophie and nods.

Jasper walks into the crowd, but not without grabbing more wings. He turns to look at Matthew and Sophie, munching on his wings.

Obadiah stands near the back of the crowd, watching, waiting, commiserating. Fearing that someone will say it ain’t so.

Malin gazes at Sophie from where she stands.

Shiloh watches Sophie with an eager, nervous energy about him.

Matthew is on the edge of his seat, he looks pretty nervous, like his whole entire career and reputation were on the line. His arms sit loosely crossed over his chest, pacing slightly back and forth, waiting on Sophie’s announcement.

Seraphina lifts crossed fingers up to Obadiah, “I got your back, bae!”

Kaelyn lingers towards the edges of the crowd, plucking at the sleeves of her flannel as the contestants wait to hear their fate.

Sophie steps up with a grin, holding the final tally sheet high, “First off, thank you so much to Mega Studios for helping host this amazing event!” She gives Matthew a smile, “And, now that that’s done, what you’re all here for! It was neck and neck for a while there, but after counting every last vote, we have a winner.” Her voice carries over the crowd as she draws out the moment, eyes scanning the excited faces. “This year’s Lord of the Wings champion is…”

Excitedly she finishes her sentence, “Shiloh!” She pulls out a beautiful golden crown and large trophy, “Shiloh, just barely beat out Obie and Sofia and should be damn proud. It was fine competition. Come on up, Shiloh, and claim your well-earned victory!”

Both hands raise as Malin begins to clap for Shiloh, paired with a wolf whistle at the man.

Obadiah snaps his fingers in disappointment, letting out an easy sigh before holding out his hand to Shiloh, “They were good, I’ll give you that.”

Buck gives a few claps of applause for Shiloh, giving a tip of his hat and wincing slightly, but smiling and happy.

Shiloh blinks as his name is called, his lips split into a wide grin as he makes way for the stage, calling out to the crowd gathered, “Thanks everyone that came and tried the wings here and voted, even if you didn’t vote for me. I cook because I believe food can bring people together, and I think seeing the turn out today that isn’t untrue.”

Sofia affords Shiloh some sportsmanlike applause, nodding her head a few times, and eying the crowd with a suspicious squint.

Matthew hollers out loud, “WE GOT THE BEST WANGS IN TOWN,” towards Shiloh. A moment after and decorum is settling in, a sheepish smile working into his features as he settles in, reflecting a fragment of the Chef’s humility.

Sophie adds in, “Sofia and Obie were TIED and it was one ticket away from Shiloh’s victory!” She joins in with the applause. She motions for Shiloh to join the main stage, “Get up here! We gotta crown you. In fact..”

Jasper applauds, smiling at Shiloh until he he pauses upon hearing the howling.

Sophie hands a crown to Matthew, “If you would do the honors.”

When Shiloh decides to not shake Obadiah’s hand, his polite smile falters just a second, briefly, before he gives a polite clap of his own.

Shiloh didn’t seem to spot Obadiah’s hand, too carried away with the moment.

Seraphina leans in to Obadiah and reminds him, “Sticky fingers.” Then she remains leaning on him.

Matthew climbs the stage, showing off the crown for all to say as he approaches Shiloh. “I never had any doubts,” he claims for all to hear, “but I have to say Sofia and Obie got some good wings and y’all should definitely get in on that blue cheese magic they got going on.” With that he crowns Shiloh, Lord of the Wings.

Shiloh beams a smile at Matthew as he’s crowned, “Stick around and try everyone’s wings if you missed some, I promise they’re all great. I’m going to do just that.” He announces.

Sophie can’t help but plug her workplace, “Vincenzo’s – blue cheese sauce. You heard it!” She then picks up the heavy trophy once the new Lord has his crown, and passes over the trophy, “Now, don’t get a big head or your crown won’t fit.”

Esme snags a crop top while things are busy before moving back to Obadiah and Gabriel

Shiloh chuckles a bit at Sophie and raises the trophy, though his gaze turns back to the booth, it seems like he really just wants to eat some wings.

Obadiah leans back into Seraphina as he fires off a couple of texts, before giving Arachne a wry grin. Whatever she is up to, it isn’t good, but he is here for it. Damn fae.

Matthew makes his way off the stage and back into the crowd and, his job compete, he goes to stand beside Malin.

Shiloh hops down from the stage, moving back to the crowd, searching for his competitors.

Esme nods at Gabriel’s whisper.

Obadiah says “Well the Order dominated the wing competition.“

Malin leans in against Matthew’s side, giving him a broad smile and saying, “Today was great.”

“I want to give everyone a big thanks!” Matthew calls out, “for coming and competing.” He beams at Malin’s words, nodding his agreement.

Buck calls over to Malin, “Remember to Macarena with Matthew.”

Shiloh glances around before finding Obadiah “Hey man, that was close. I’m going to give your wings another try, as well as the others.”

Malin winks over at Buck, “Oh, believe me, we did earlier.”

Shiloh says “Where’s Cristal?“

Matthew says “She had to leave early, unfortunately. “

“I should be going … I have a few more details to overlook at the gym before I fully unlock the doors. But we’re almost there.” Seraphina says to Obadiah, pressing a kiss onto the man’s cheek, then approaching Sofia for a cheeky kiss too, and a hug.

Buck says to Shiloh, “She went up to Boston, but she was happy to be here.”

Esme stretches upward briefly and exhales holding her plushie. “Are you sticking around or heading home soon?” She asks Obadiah.

Shiloh nods to Buck and Matthew “I’ll have to thank her for coming out later. Hopefully she left her wings behind.”

Obadiah nods to Shiloh, “All good man. All good.” He glances to Esme, “Need a lift back?” Seraphina gets a fond smile and rubs in the kiss, winking at her before looking back to Esme

Sofia mentions to Shiloh, “Her booth is still set up.” She then swoops her arm around Seraphina in the hug, playfully dipping her down before pecking her and releasing. “See you soon, gorgeous.”

Matthew smiles at whatever Malin whispers, slipping an arm around her shoulders.

Eloa rides up on her horse and hitched the creature, giving it’s muzzle a rub before making her way into the crowd. She gives Shiloh a wave a big thumbs up.

Shiloh chuckles.

Jasper waves at Eloa while he’s eating sone wings.

Shiloh waves to Eloa “Hey El, you missed the whole thing, but there’s still some wings set up.”

Esme nods to Obadiah, “Yes please. I got some shit I gotta handle before I get distracted with other shit.”

Eloa flashes a smile and gives a wave to Jasper

“I’ll leave my booth open for a few more minutes before I pack things up folks! Come and grab some if you haven’t already!” Sofia waves to everyone and heads back to her booth for a beat.

Eloa says “Where are the booths?“

Obadiah waves to everyone then slips out with Esme

Malin looks entirely content as Matthew’s arm drape about her. “You had a very good turn out, too,” she tells him, looking over the crowd.

Annabelle is busy being a duckling before she realizes her feet are moving. “Oh. Are you going back home? I’m going home. I have to clean my arm- do you think, uhh.. Oh- should I pay Ambrose rent now, or, day of?”

Matthew shrugs his shoulders and says to Shiloh, “I figured you and Sofie would figure that out between one another, I’m sitting that out.” A glances towards Malin, “I think we have some business at the theater we should address, tonight?”

Eloa says “Oh guess it’s empty?“

Eloa says “Oops there we go. Thanks Sofia!“

Sofia waves a hand at Eloa as she packs up the booth, saying, “Try some!” She glances to Annabelle and says, “I’ll be heading home soon, just want to give people a chance to try. Regarding rent, I don’t think he was rushing you.”

“Oh,” Malin suddenly has her memory of what needs to be done revived, and she nods to Matthew. “We really should, you’re right.”

Shiloh blinks a bit at Sofia as he tries the wings, “Celery salt, wouldn’t miss it from a mile away, nice touch. I can tell you put a lot of thought into these.”

Sofia taps the side of her head to Shiloh and says, “It’s the little things. All add up.” She smiles to Eloa and says, “Thanks for swinging by!”

“In that case..” Annabelle sniffles, looking back down to her phone. “..I think I’m gonna open a pharmacy. What quarter do we live in? I forget if we’re in the Quarter or uhmm.. Whatever’s just west of it.

“Thanks good wings.” Eloa starts tearing up a little and fanning her mouth. “Where’s your stand Shi?”

Sofia supposes to Shiloh, “We have very different approaches, both valid. You’re more experimental and fusion based, pushing the edge, I just do the classics, simply and refined as well as I can.”

Tessa pouts at Buck a little, drifting lazily toward her car. “Home,” she insists, regardless.

gives a shrug, “All right, but we’ll take two cars.” Buck says as he gives a wave to Matthew, “That’s what Malin said. We’re definitely stopping by.”

Sofia begins stacking up her chafing trays and taking her signs down, asking Annabelle, “Want a ride home once I get this loaded in?”

“Kay.” Annabelle comments habitually after a moment, then more meaningfully, “Oh please. Walking here from the hospital sucked.”

Shiloh turns to go try the other wings.

“Well, I smell like horse from Constance riding me around on it when we saved Justine this afternoon. I do need a shower.” Buck says as he wrinkles his nose up at himself.

Shiloh returns licking his fingers before nodding to Eloa and Sophie, asking the former “Thoughts?” With a smile before turning to Sophie, “When did you want to do that interview?”

“Oh who won by the way?” Eloa asks as she lifts the last wing from the tray and crunches into it after hugging Sophie.

Sophie points to Shiloh, “The one with the crown!”

Shiloh says “Super grateful for everyone that voted for me.“

Eloa giggles, “No wonder you had the last wing left. This is much less spicy than the other ones.” The latina apparently can’t handle spice. Once she’s finished the wings, she claps at Shiloh as he dons his crown. “Good job Shi.”

Sophie putters away on her phone, “I had the blog mostly pre-written so it’ll be up in…no time.”

Matthew looks towards the last few stragglers, “I’m out, great work, Sophie. Congrats, Shi!”

Shiloh says “Thanks Matthew, have a good night!“

And with that Matthew taks Malin’s hand, walking her towards her car before departing to his own.

Sophie waves, “See ya Matthew!”