🃏🃏🃏🃏

Cover Card

Miko’s Daily Routine: Count your blessings? Count my money~💴

“In the Sands of Diamonds, Miko gives tax collecting a personal touch~✨ She changes the country’s currency (constantly) on a whim!”

🃏🃏🃏🃏

“BLAH! BLAH! BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!”

*nail check* *nail check*

“BLAH! BLAH! BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!”

*nail check* *nail check*

“BLAH! BLAH! BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!”

*nail check* *nail check*

“ARE YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW LISTENIN’ TO A DAMN THING I’M SAYIN’!?!?!?!?!?!?!?”

“Sure, Pa. I’m listenin’...” Faith pouts and sighs, or a “sigh pout,” if you will. “…listenin’ to my man Witty escape…”

*squeak-💀* Cherry has been listenin’ plenty to Bishop’s onslaught of “fatherly advice” to Faith and ascended to mousey heaven to escape the suffering…

“Ooooooooohhhhhhh, and why wouldn’t he turn tail and skaddadle? WITH YEW BLOWIN’ THAT GOT DANG CHEAP CIGARETTE SMOKE EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!”

“It’s not about the price tag. It’s about the presentation.” *nail check*

“IT’S ABOUT MY RUUUUUUUULES IN MAH HOUSE!!!” Bishop can’t believe what he has to put up with. “Please, if yew, really must fund yer ‘presentations,’ then do it on yer own dime and…GET A JOB!”

Faith turns her back on him. “I already have a job making the best art in the world and the best game in the world~✨” *nail check*

“Both of which earn you $0.00 and $0.00 daily!”

This gets Faith’s “forward facing” attention. “So yer sayin’ they’re worthless then?”

“...that isn’t what I mean.” Bishop sighs. “...I’m sayin’ yer gettin’ too old to keep squattin’ under my roof without pitchin’ in.”

Faith resumes her back turning. “Oooooooooh, so that’s what it is, yew wanna kick me out?”

“NO! Ugh…you don’t get it.”

*yawn* “Yer right, I don’t get it. Yew just want more money. Isn’t that a man’s job?” *nail check*

Bishop revs up. “FAITH-” but stops when he catches Dee and Chili trying to *poof* outta sight from around the wall, having been watching them argue.

Bishop dials it back. “...yer too cooped up in here.”

“So?” Faith snaps it back. “It’s hot outside.”

“And I never see you bringing anyone home…”

“SO? LIKE WHO?”

Bishop puts his hands up. This won’t get anywhere. It never does. “I’ll be back around dinner, and I want everything on that list in this kitchen and unpacked by the time I git here.” He heads upstairs to freshen up.

“Suuuure thing, boss!” Faith childishly does a twirl and keeps her back turned so that Bishop can’t see her. “Hmph, hmph, hmph!”

Dee can see Faith just fine, though, for he’s poking his head from around the corner again. He’s seen this face plenty of times. It looks like Faith is about to cry-

😡😡😡 “WHAT ARE YEW LOOKIN’ AT BUTTHEAD!?!?” Faith barks venom at the boy! 😡😡😡

*poof* The Amazing Disappearing Dee vanishes once more.

🃏🃏🃏🃏

A shuffle later~✨

🃏🃏🃏🃏

“Is yew ready or what?” Faith is all dressed up, pouting, and tapping her foot by the front door. Although it's certainly no surprise that she is pouting. “What did I tell yew about keepin’ girls waitin’?”

“Yeah, yeah sheeeeesh, keep yer-” *YOWCH* Dee’s suspender pops and slaps him in the face.

“HMPH! At least somethin’ is working ’round here.” Faith pouts. “Took ya long enough, dope. Yer lucky the ✨gorgeous girl✨ waitin’ is yer patient and lovin’ onee-sama~💖 A girlfriend would have dumped yew 45 minutes ago!”

“I would've been ready in 45 seconds if yew didn't make me keep changing my clothes! Oww…” Dee rubs his nose as he descends the stairs. “Fabby wouldn’t have done that…”

There he goes again. Why must he address her as “Fabby” and not “Fabiana”? Very suspicious… Faith raises an inquisitive eyebrow. “And she’s not yer girlfriend, little boy.”

“Well, she’s my friend and a girl!” Dee blows a raspberry. Per l'Italia 

“Well, she ain’t unless yer sweet onee-sama approves!” Faith blows a raspberry back. For America 

“You ain’t my mama…” Dee rolls his eyes and scratches at his nape and collar. “Yeeesh, and why this shirt? I hate this one! It’s too itchy!”

“Typical clueless boy, high fashion is a struggle.” *nail check, wow* “And if a ‘boy’ and a ✨gorgeous girl✨ are gonna be out in public together, then their clothes must be a good match!” *cutie twirl* “My beauuuuuuutiful dress won’t pair well with ‘comfortable’ rags~💖” *nail check, boom*

“Oh, a girl? I thought I was with a princess…” Dee snarks it up.

“Good boy~✨” Faith pats Dee’s head. “A few smart things must be bouncin’ around in yer empty noggin after all~✨”

And finally, together, they go outside. Geeeeeeeeeeez.

-CHAPTER END-