Fantasy So Night Follows Day by TMaskedWriter

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Troy was taking somewhat longer to get dressed. This had been his third shower and second clothing change of the day, and he figured he wouldn't be going anywhere else today except over to the Greens' house, possibly take that stroll through the neighborhood later with Helen to convince the neighbors that everything was normal. He'd selected a black jeans and shirt combo that would work for either "messy barbeque" or "whatever thing Helen ends up dragging us into next," and was dressing when Capitan Ortega entered his bedroom and called him across the street, explaining that Signorina Bailey had left with Signor Mander and Primo Tenente Velasquez forty minutes ago, and that's what he presumed the argument to be about. They stood outside the front door and listened to the battle raging within the house for a moment. Troy looked over to the barbeque, then to Ortega, and spoke to him.

"No countdown on this one. Is there another 'supply run' happening soon?"

"One can leave at any time, Señor Equals." Came the response.

Troy took out his wallet and opened it. He took out $700 and handed it to Ortega.

"I'm going to need chocolate, and you're going to need some baked beans and cornbread to go with those ribs. One of those big, American stores that sells everything is about 12km north up Highway 99, they'll see it on the right."

He did a head count and some quick math.

"Thirty-Six Ultimados, more downtown, us, and whichever neighbors stop by... let's say sixty of their largest-size cans. Tell them to get BAKED beans, not PORK & beans. Those are pork ribs; more pork in the beans would be overkill, even for Americans. They'll probably end up with a mix of flavors, but the ones with the words 'maple-cured' on the cans are preferred. You're gonna want cornbread, too, and you've got too many people to make it all from scratch or mix. Send someone to the store's bakery, they'll probably have to ask someone to locate the cornbread for them, then buy out their stock. Tell them we want two more full batches and arrange a time for pickup, we'll send people for those ones, too. Pay in advance, so they know we're serious. Everything left over, go to the Candy aisle and spend it all on chocolates."

Ortega took the money, and turned to leave, when Troy raised his hand in thought again.

"Their chocolate selection will not be up to La Contessa's standards. That's not a concern. We want quantity AND quality in equal measure. The high-end stuff will all be grouped together, but you can't go wrong with some Hershey Kisses or the little Reese's, either. Just put as much as will fit into a plastic bag outside the door and message me when it's there. I'll come back out to grab it. That's not a signal to move in. It means things are going well."

The Capitan went to carry out Troy's instructions. Something big smashed inside the house, turning his attention back to the door. Troy Equals took a deep breath before stepping into what sounded like a brawl between the two most powerful women in the world about the third. He put his left arm in front of his face to serve as a possible shield, then stepped into the Green House, closing the door behind him.