Junnabee
The Pandemonium Pansexual
I haven't heard from this person in months and I was really liking this rp.
I was writing for Gumball and they were writing Marshall Lee.
The conversation that spiked it basically boiled down to these points:
I was writing for Gumball and they were writing Marshall Lee.
The conversation that spiked it basically boiled down to these points:
- Gumball is hosting a gala/party/event but doesn't invite Marshall. Queue a grumpy Vampire King
- Marshall is coming to grips with his immortality is struggling knowing he has to watch those he loves continue to die or forget him. Hd could express this to Gumball and they can go from there.
- We could also do an AU where they've been arranged to marry each other, which could be why they have negative energy.
If you want to pick this up and help me finish it - just let me know!Marshall Lee was pissed.
The Vampire King wasn't an idiot, although some may believe the contrary, and he knew when his spouse-to-be's birthday was. Sure the Prince probably thought he wouldn't even notice the date had gone by until it had been over a week, but Marshall always knew exactly when it was. And just like always, Prince Gumball held a party and didn't invite him. If that wasn't bad enough, his new friendship with Fiona meant that he was hearing all about her preparations for the night. It was frustrating to say the least, now he couldn't even just pretend not to know. It wasn't like he invited Bubba to hang out with him on his birthday either, but he didn't host a ball and invite literally everybody else in Aaa. What was the Prince going to do once they were finally married? He couldn't just not invite his husband to his birthday bash now could he. And yet the vampire was hovering just outside the window to the hall the event was being held in, watching from outside in the rain as his supposed fiancé mingled without a care in the world.
Marshall wanted nothing more than to burst in and ruin the party. Hell he had been tempted to do that a few times in the past years when he wasn't invited to something but had always blown it off like he didn't care. He did care. Why did Bubba have to make it so clear that he hated him? Because Marshall knew. He could tell every time the Prince looked at him, the way he told Fiona not to hang around him, and the obvious unwillingness to even acknowledge him. He decided in that moment that he wasn't going to wait for Bubba to warm up to him anymore. It was ridiculous of the Prince to think he'd get away with this for so long, the Candy Kingdom was going to find out eventually. With one last glance through the curtains at his smiling betrothed, the vampire floated around to the front door.
He was late, but that was to be expected when he wasn't even invited. And he was dripping wet, the Prince was going to hate that too. Oh well. Marshall pushed open the door and naturally his presence began to cause a stir almost immediately. He was very underdressed, wearing his usual ripped jeans and a flannelette shirt while all the other guests were in gowns and suits. It didn't bother him, of course not, though it would probably both their host for the evening. He glanced over to see one of the Banana Guards talking to Peppermint Maid. With a glance in his direction the candy made a dash to the crowd, no doubt to inform her Prince of the intruder. Whatever. Some of the guests were already whispering about his appearance so it wouldn't take long for Bubba to figure it out. He lifted one hand to shake it through his hair, water droplets falling to the ground as he did before he started his casual float to the centre of the room where he recalled seeing the Prince earlier.
-----
Prince Gumball couldn't believe this was happening.
The birthday ball had been going so well. Things like this usually did for him. The only time things got dicey was when the Ice Queen would make the occasional appearance in order to whisk him (or one of his other Princely guests) away. There wasn't any chance of that happening tonight, however. Seeing as Fiona had sent the creepy queen packing hours earlier. So, by all accounts, things should have been going so very well - as mentioned before. Unfortunately, as Peppermint Maid rushed towards him, he had developed the sinking feeling that he had been a little to secure in his belief that the night would be flawless.
He offered the Slime Prince an apology for having to duck out from their discussion, before turning to lean down so she could speak quietly to one of his ears. He doesn't like what he hears - at all. He feels the cheek muscles in his face start to tighten and has to force his eyebrow not to twitch. Instead, he thanks her and stands back up to scan the crowd.
Marshall Lee is coming right at him.
He was dressed in his usual slack clothing. Looking as laid back and carefree as always. Dripping all over his ballroom. Which would, no doubt, make quite a few of the Candy People sticky by the end of the night. A problem that Gumball would have to deal with himself comes to the end of the night. His ideal way of ending a party wasn't peeling people off of the floor and walls - and sometimes each other. That kind of thing was just uncomfortable. He was already trying to decide if it was worth demanding the menace to stick around and help him since he caused it. It'd probably be a mistake. Marshall Lee would probably find a way to make it an even bigger chore for Gumball rather than help.
Dirtballs.
He excuses himself from the conversation and moves to meet the vampire halfway.
------
Dripping water through the hall hadn't exactly been a part of Marshall's plan, but it was now and he had to own it. No doubt he was going to get a lecture from Gumball about being careless and inconsiderate of his guests, it was too late to avoid that one now. And yet it was still amusing to see the pink prince excuse himself from whatever conversation he had been having to turn around and deal with him instead. Naturally the guests parted around him as soon as he got too close, Bubba wasn't the only one who wanted nothing to do with him, basically everyone in the Land of Aaa shut him out. The closest friends he had now were Fionna and Cake, but his own fiance kept advising them to do the opposite.
"Well look who it is," Marshall Lee grinned, throwing his hand behind his head as he floated over to the Prince who was very unhappy about the interruption. "It's the birthday boy! Coming to greet me himself how lucky am I!?" he continued, knowing full well that it was exactly the opposite that was going on. Bubba was going to tell him to leave, to tell him that he hadn't been invited, well, the Vampire King wasn't going to let this go so easy.
"My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail, you know how unreliable the post is. But Fionna told me all about your party so I figured I'd still come along. Sorry for being late," Marshall grinned, floating around the Prince carelessly. He had kicked his legs up now and was floating around as if he was laying on his back, flashing a grin full of fangs. Already out of the corner of his eye he could see Peppermint Maid keeping an eye on them and a few of the Banana Guards had also re-positioned closer to them. They shouldn't act though, they didn't want to cause an even bigger scene in the middle of the Prince's birthday party now would they!
After all, they'd have to get used to his presence eventually. Surely they couldn't expect to still keep him at arms length once they were married.
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Gumball can't help himself from listing his arms and crossing them over each other as Marshall Lee comes closer. The dismissal sitting on his tongue only for Vampire to shove it back with a clever cut of his tongue. It wasn't so much that he cared about being polite to the brute. Rather, he didn't want to present an unpleasant front in front of all these people. He didn't like to put what aggression he had on display.
"You were hardly missed," he groused in strained politeness. He turns his body once, following the circling of the Vampire King. His natural instinct hissing that he shouldn't let him out of his sight for a moment. It's only after the first 180 that he feels like it was giving something to Marshall Lee. It felt like indulging him. He did design to do it again. From that point out he simply turned his head until he could see him no more, and turned to glance over his other shoulder.
"What are you doing here," he cuts to the chase as his voice drops to something a little flat in order not to lose his temper. After all, he hadn't start chaos. Yet. It wouldn't look very good if he started to angrily chase him off when he hadn't really done anything other then cause a sticking (and slipping) hazard.
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Marshall didn't even have to do anything other than exist to make the Prince's blood boil. He both loved and hated that. It made it easier to get under Bubba's skin and tease him, but it also meant any genuine attempt he made to be nice to the candy Prince was mostly brushed off. The fact extended to most of the guests that were in attendance, all but perhaps Fiona and Cake who he had actually managed to befriend. He would never admit it to them but he quite enjoyed their company, it was better than being alone after all. And yet he still found himself feeling lonely and he blamed Bubba for that. He blamed the man he was supposed to marry, but he wouldn't confess that now. No, today was Bubba's birthday and it wouldn't do to cause such a fuss.
Of course he was hardly missed, in fact they were probably all thanking their luck stars that he hadn't shown up except now he had ruined their night. Marshall didn't like that they all assumed the worst of him, that they all just believed he was here to terrorise. If only they knew the truth. Bubba had stopped spinning and the vampire couldn't help but chuckle at his attempt to keep control of the situation. But Bubba should know already that he can't control Marshall Lee.
"What am I doing here?" the vampire repeated, finally stopping and placing his feet in the ground where more water continued to pool around him. "It's your birthday Bubs. I'm here to celebrate with you," he continued, flashing the gummy Prince a mischievous grin. Bubba couldn't keep him out forever, he would have to face the music soon or later. "I even got you a gift but I suppose you don't want that either," he said with a shrug of his shoulders, trying to play it off like no big deal. It was easier to deflect rather than show how he really felt, and Bubba didn't deserve his honesty right now. He wanted to question the Prince, to ask him what his plan was to keep him away once they were married. To ask him how long he planned to put it off and delay telling his people. But that would cause a scene that even Marshall Lee didn't want to be a part of right now.
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"Celebrate with me?" He sounds incredulous, finally turning to the Vampire King now that he had touched down on his ballroom floor. Glancing down his wet rat look to the puddle forming on the floor then back up to his face. It seemed unpleasant. The way his flannel clung to him and his pants looked watered down. Pressed against his skin and water slicking his hair. It had to have been cold. Somehow, that just irritated him further. His eyebrow twitches in a way that really gave away the fact he was fighting the urge to allow a bitch face to come over his expression.
"You? Marshell Lee." He can't quite stop the look of disbelief, "Got me something? What on earth could you have gotten me?" He almost eminently regrets asking. There's no way that this isn't some kind of prank or joke. No doubt designed to make a full of Bubblegum in front of his people. It would be very like the vampire. After all, he had proved in the past that it wasn't beyond him. He wasn't sure if he did it for the laughs or if he genuinely meant to be cruel. Either way, he wasn't in any mood to deal with it.
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Marshall hated the way the Prince responded to him, sounding so disbelieving of him. He tried not to think that his supposed fiance thought so little of him that the idea of celebrating together was out of the question. Not to mention Gumball certainly didn't seem thrilled at the idea of the vampire having gone out of his way to get him a gift for the occasion. "Why do you think I'm so bad that I wouldn't get you a present for your birthday?" he all but mumbled under his breath, starting to lose his patience a little. Every time he tried to be nice to the Prince or any of his people it was met with backlash, like of course he had something planned up his sleeve. Why couldn't Gumball see that he really wasn't that bad?
The Vampire was quite for just a moment, considering whether or not he should actually give the Prince the gift he had brought with him. But then he pulled his guitar case from his back, and set it down in front of him. Marshall knelt down and undid the clasps to open the lid, only when he did there wasn't his signature red guitar inside, no, there was a present that had been wrapped somewhat messily in pink paper and a white ribbon tied into a bow. Well, it had been red to begin with but Marshall got hungry. He had stored it in his case to keep it safe from the weather, but now he pulled it out and threw it to the Prince. Thankfully it wasn't anything breakable.
"Why don't you take a look," Marshall all but snapped. Though he was nervous about the Prince opening his gift in front of everyone, it wasn't like it was anything overly special. He knew that Gumball liked to bake, and while he was sure that the Prince had a lot of kitchenware, the vampire had found a matching apron, oven mitt and pot holder set that he thought the Prince would like. In fact, even Marshall Lee couldn't deny that the Prince would look adorable in this colour palette.
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The package struck him in the chest with the crinkle of wrapping paper. His arms reflexively came up to cradle the present before it could drop to the floor. He glances between it and the Vampire. He was actually pretty surprised that an effort had been made to try and keep it in one piece and dry. He was even reluctantly pleased with the fact that there had been an effort to try and wrap it.
He shifts it into one of his arms and lifts the freed hand to tug at the knot of the bow watching it come undone with ease. He tucks the ribbon between his fingers as he pulls the paper to rip it open. He pauses to stare down at the contents. It's clear that he's surprised. The hand with the ribbon moves and lifts the oven from the paper and stares at it for a moment. The pretty blues and the golden yellow. A hard hit of darker pink on top of a softer one. The material felt sturdy under his hands and they looked pretty well made too.
Glob it all. He loved it.
He drops the thing back in the paper and skillfully curls the ribbon in his fingers into a neatly folded shape. He slips the white material into his breast pocket without a work - for safekeeping - before folding the paper around the set that Marshall Lee had gotten for him. Like trying to protect it from the elements or prying eyes. Fiddlesticks, it'd be rude not to thank him now.
"...We should see about getting you dry." That wasn't gratitude, Barnabas. Try again.
"If you want to come with me we can see about finding a towel?" Closer, but still now a Thank or a You. Again.
Gumball sees Peppermint Maid hurry off to go grab a towel - even as she's sending Marshall a sharp kind of look all the in the same breath. He was sure the towels would meet them even if they didn't make it to the closet linen closet before something went - predictable - wrong.
"It'll give me a chance to put these away before something happens to them." Just say it!
"They're lovely, by the way." ...Close enough.
-----
Marshall loved the way Bubba hesitated before opening the gift, looking back and forth between the present and the one who gave it to him as if he was unsure. The vampire wondered if the Prince thought it was a trap, and honestly considering the male wasn't overly found of him it wouldn't surprise him if that is what was going through his head. He packed up his guitar case, closing the lid down and clasping it shut once more before standing and throwing it back over his shoulder. He never even carried the thing with him when he did bring his guitar, because usually he was happy enough just to have the axe on his back ready for him to use at any time. The case never really got used, but this time he had actually found a purpose for it.
Gumball finally began to undo the ribbon and peel away the paper, and Marshall could have sworn he aged ten years just waiting for him to open the thing. Though the look on the Prince's face made everything worth it, and the vampire couldn't help but let the smug grin that he had been fighting back spread across his lips. The moment was made even sweeter when suddenly the candy prince was speaking to him in a much kinder tone, sure he didn't really believe it but it was hilarious that Bubba was caught off guard. Suddenly, it seemed, he was allowed to stay because he wasn't being shoved out the door. But watching Bubba struggle with deciding whether to acknowledge the gift was by far his favourite move of the night. For now anyway.
"You're welcome," Marshall responded with a somewhat cocky tone. Bubba hadn't directly thanked him, no glob forbid he actually have to say those words to the vampire, but this was as close as he was probably going to get. He would lie if asked how much thought went into the gift, because honestly he had spent more time than he liked to admin thinking about what the Prince would actually like. Did it matter if Bubba liked the gift? Well now Marshall would say that it did because it made the Prince's reaction all the more sweeter. "A towel would be great, thanks," he said, shaking a hand through his wet hair and letting more droplets fall to the floor. He stepped closer to the Prince, assuming the plan was to follow him as they would at least want him out of the hall until he was dry again.
-----
Gumball cringes and steps back to avoid getting water on him. He holds back the natural urge to give him a nasty look and instead smiles, a little strained, and turns to lead him through the crowd with a parting, "If you'd follow me?"
It's easy enough to make his way out of the ballroom. The crowded natural begins to part at the sight of them. Politely, at first, at the sight of the Prince. A natural show of respect. Then, when they see the dripping guest, they take another healthy shuffle back. No one, unsurprisingly, wants to get sticky. They want to avoid candy clumping as much as Gumball does.
A guard moves and opens a door for him and Marshall, and closed it behind them. The two of them make their way down the hallway in relative silence. He's not sure what to stay at all. He's not sure what's more uncomfortable. Making this trip in silence or actually trying to strike up a conversation.
A maid bustles down the hallway with a towel in hands. He offers a grateful look and relievers her of it (not willing to let her so close to the wet vampire) with the hand he isn't currently supporting the apron set against his chest. He turns to him and holds out the pastel towel to him.
-----
Marshall Lee followed the Prince through the crowd while trying to keep the smugness from his face. It amused him that suddenly the Candy Prince was being polite instead of just trying to get him to leave. His eyes glanced around the room as the crowds parted to make way for them, and of course he noticed when they took another step back at the sight of him. The Vampire King didn't know if it was simply because he was dripping water through the hall or if it was because they wanted to just get further away from him, either way he brushed it off and turned his attention back to Gumball as they exited the Hall.
Now that they were away from the crowd Marshall let out an audible sigh, running another hand through his damp hair only causing for more droplets to fall to the floor. The halls were silent save for the sound of Gumball's footsteps, the Vampire had of course chosen to float. Hands shoved into his pockets his attention was turned to the maid that came running down the hallway towards her Prince. Naturally she didn't come near the Vampire but he was hardly surprised. Everyone in this Kingdom had been taught to fear him, and it was stupid.
His eyes flickered back to Gumball when the Prince held out the towel to him, and Marshall took it carefully into his hand before beginning to dry himself off. "You know they can't be scared of me forever," he mused as he ran the towel through his hair, eyes focused on the Candy Prince. "How long do you plan to keep this up?" he asked. He was surprisingly calm, he had always thought when he eventually confronted Gumball about this he would be angrier and louder, but it was the Prince's birthday so maybe he shouldn't be causing so much of a scene.
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Something not too unlike panic crosses Barnabas's features for just a moment at the question. He's certainly not ready for it. Even less so for the placid sort of way the other man had delivered it to him. He had imagined this question once or twice before - on the days the reality of his situation wouldn't quite leave his mind - but never had the scenarios his head would conjure gone quite like this.
In them, Marshall Lee was always combative. Loud and simmering. Barnabas liked to pretend he would be calm, but his imagination knew good and well he would be the same. They would let tempers rise. Boiling and rolling, spatting, and hissing. Carrying on in a way unbefitting of their titles.
They were passionate people, the two of them, it was an indisputable fact. There would be yelling - screaming even. Perhaps even fist raised and teeth bared. Hands laid on each other in acts of (hopefully half-hearted) violence. All of it coming together in a accumulation of their undeniable passions that would lead them to a screaming of a whole nother kind as their entanglement in each other became-
Oh, no. Absolutely not. Those scenarios, when his mind was so cruel as to conjure them, we always to be strictly ignored. Much in the same way Marshall Lee's question would be. He hopes his flush read as irritated as he began to rant in hopes of pulling Marshall Lee's attention to any other topic.
"They can be scared enough when you bring the storm in with you. You know they'll stick. It's a disaster waiting to happen - And look at you! Barely any the dryer even with the towel."
He suddenly steps closer, the hand not clutching his gift to his chest rising to the vampire's hair, "I swear! You're soaked. Your clothes are sodden. And just how thick your hair must be to retain a small lake's worth of-" Pink fingers graze a lock of his bangs, gently rubbing it as if to prove the point to himself. No doubt becoming slightly tacky with the rainwater he finds there.
"-oh!"
He stops cold. It becomes very clear, very fast, that he hadn't quite been thinking of what he was doing when he reaches out to touch the Vampire King. He snatches his hand back, a darker shade of pink dusting his checks as he makes a fist - pressing his fingers to his palm and hiding his thumb under them - as if he could hide the sticky evidence of his own faux pas.
He clears his throat and carries on, "If you were anyone else, I'd be worried about them catching ill."
A beat, then, perhaps a tad uncertain, "...you're not going to catch ill, are you?"
He had avoided answering the question so completely he had even managed to distract himself.
The Vampire King wasn't an idiot, although some may believe the contrary, and he knew when his spouse-to-be's birthday was. Sure the Prince probably thought he wouldn't even notice the date had gone by until it had been over a week, but Marshall always knew exactly when it was. And just like always, Prince Gumball held a party and didn't invite him. If that wasn't bad enough, his new friendship with Fiona meant that he was hearing all about her preparations for the night. It was frustrating to say the least, now he couldn't even just pretend not to know. It wasn't like he invited Bubba to hang out with him on his birthday either, but he didn't host a ball and invite literally everybody else in Aaa. What was the Prince going to do once they were finally married? He couldn't just not invite his husband to his birthday bash now could he. And yet the vampire was hovering just outside the window to the hall the event was being held in, watching from outside in the rain as his supposed fiancé mingled without a care in the world.
Marshall wanted nothing more than to burst in and ruin the party. Hell he had been tempted to do that a few times in the past years when he wasn't invited to something but had always blown it off like he didn't care. He did care. Why did Bubba have to make it so clear that he hated him? Because Marshall knew. He could tell every time the Prince looked at him, the way he told Fiona not to hang around him, and the obvious unwillingness to even acknowledge him. He decided in that moment that he wasn't going to wait for Bubba to warm up to him anymore. It was ridiculous of the Prince to think he'd get away with this for so long, the Candy Kingdom was going to find out eventually. With one last glance through the curtains at his smiling betrothed, the vampire floated around to the front door.
He was late, but that was to be expected when he wasn't even invited. And he was dripping wet, the Prince was going to hate that too. Oh well. Marshall pushed open the door and naturally his presence began to cause a stir almost immediately. He was very underdressed, wearing his usual ripped jeans and a flannelette shirt while all the other guests were in gowns and suits. It didn't bother him, of course not, though it would probably both their host for the evening. He glanced over to see one of the Banana Guards talking to Peppermint Maid. With a glance in his direction the candy made a dash to the crowd, no doubt to inform her Prince of the intruder. Whatever. Some of the guests were already whispering about his appearance so it wouldn't take long for Bubba to figure it out. He lifted one hand to shake it through his hair, water droplets falling to the ground as he did before he started his casual float to the centre of the room where he recalled seeing the Prince earlier.
-----
Prince Gumball couldn't believe this was happening.
The birthday ball had been going so well. Things like this usually did for him. The only time things got dicey was when the Ice Queen would make the occasional appearance in order to whisk him (or one of his other Princely guests) away. There wasn't any chance of that happening tonight, however. Seeing as Fiona had sent the creepy queen packing hours earlier. So, by all accounts, things should have been going so very well - as mentioned before. Unfortunately, as Peppermint Maid rushed towards him, he had developed the sinking feeling that he had been a little to secure in his belief that the night would be flawless.
He offered the Slime Prince an apology for having to duck out from their discussion, before turning to lean down so she could speak quietly to one of his ears. He doesn't like what he hears - at all. He feels the cheek muscles in his face start to tighten and has to force his eyebrow not to twitch. Instead, he thanks her and stands back up to scan the crowd.
Marshall Lee is coming right at him.
He was dressed in his usual slack clothing. Looking as laid back and carefree as always. Dripping all over his ballroom. Which would, no doubt, make quite a few of the Candy People sticky by the end of the night. A problem that Gumball would have to deal with himself comes to the end of the night. His ideal way of ending a party wasn't peeling people off of the floor and walls - and sometimes each other. That kind of thing was just uncomfortable. He was already trying to decide if it was worth demanding the menace to stick around and help him since he caused it. It'd probably be a mistake. Marshall Lee would probably find a way to make it an even bigger chore for Gumball rather than help.
Dirtballs.
He excuses himself from the conversation and moves to meet the vampire halfway.
------
Dripping water through the hall hadn't exactly been a part of Marshall's plan, but it was now and he had to own it. No doubt he was going to get a lecture from Gumball about being careless and inconsiderate of his guests, it was too late to avoid that one now. And yet it was still amusing to see the pink prince excuse himself from whatever conversation he had been having to turn around and deal with him instead. Naturally the guests parted around him as soon as he got too close, Bubba wasn't the only one who wanted nothing to do with him, basically everyone in the Land of Aaa shut him out. The closest friends he had now were Fionna and Cake, but his own fiance kept advising them to do the opposite.
"Well look who it is," Marshall Lee grinned, throwing his hand behind his head as he floated over to the Prince who was very unhappy about the interruption. "It's the birthday boy! Coming to greet me himself how lucky am I!?" he continued, knowing full well that it was exactly the opposite that was going on. Bubba was going to tell him to leave, to tell him that he hadn't been invited, well, the Vampire King wasn't going to let this go so easy.
"My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail, you know how unreliable the post is. But Fionna told me all about your party so I figured I'd still come along. Sorry for being late," Marshall grinned, floating around the Prince carelessly. He had kicked his legs up now and was floating around as if he was laying on his back, flashing a grin full of fangs. Already out of the corner of his eye he could see Peppermint Maid keeping an eye on them and a few of the Banana Guards had also re-positioned closer to them. They shouldn't act though, they didn't want to cause an even bigger scene in the middle of the Prince's birthday party now would they!
After all, they'd have to get used to his presence eventually. Surely they couldn't expect to still keep him at arms length once they were married.
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Gumball can't help himself from listing his arms and crossing them over each other as Marshall Lee comes closer. The dismissal sitting on his tongue only for Vampire to shove it back with a clever cut of his tongue. It wasn't so much that he cared about being polite to the brute. Rather, he didn't want to present an unpleasant front in front of all these people. He didn't like to put what aggression he had on display.
"You were hardly missed," he groused in strained politeness. He turns his body once, following the circling of the Vampire King. His natural instinct hissing that he shouldn't let him out of his sight for a moment. It's only after the first 180 that he feels like it was giving something to Marshall Lee. It felt like indulging him. He did design to do it again. From that point out he simply turned his head until he could see him no more, and turned to glance over his other shoulder.
"What are you doing here," he cuts to the chase as his voice drops to something a little flat in order not to lose his temper. After all, he hadn't start chaos. Yet. It wouldn't look very good if he started to angrily chase him off when he hadn't really done anything other then cause a sticking (and slipping) hazard.
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Marshall didn't even have to do anything other than exist to make the Prince's blood boil. He both loved and hated that. It made it easier to get under Bubba's skin and tease him, but it also meant any genuine attempt he made to be nice to the candy Prince was mostly brushed off. The fact extended to most of the guests that were in attendance, all but perhaps Fiona and Cake who he had actually managed to befriend. He would never admit it to them but he quite enjoyed their company, it was better than being alone after all. And yet he still found himself feeling lonely and he blamed Bubba for that. He blamed the man he was supposed to marry, but he wouldn't confess that now. No, today was Bubba's birthday and it wouldn't do to cause such a fuss.
Of course he was hardly missed, in fact they were probably all thanking their luck stars that he hadn't shown up except now he had ruined their night. Marshall didn't like that they all assumed the worst of him, that they all just believed he was here to terrorise. If only they knew the truth. Bubba had stopped spinning and the vampire couldn't help but chuckle at his attempt to keep control of the situation. But Bubba should know already that he can't control Marshall Lee.
"What am I doing here?" the vampire repeated, finally stopping and placing his feet in the ground where more water continued to pool around him. "It's your birthday Bubs. I'm here to celebrate with you," he continued, flashing the gummy Prince a mischievous grin. Bubba couldn't keep him out forever, he would have to face the music soon or later. "I even got you a gift but I suppose you don't want that either," he said with a shrug of his shoulders, trying to play it off like no big deal. It was easier to deflect rather than show how he really felt, and Bubba didn't deserve his honesty right now. He wanted to question the Prince, to ask him what his plan was to keep him away once they were married. To ask him how long he planned to put it off and delay telling his people. But that would cause a scene that even Marshall Lee didn't want to be a part of right now.
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"Celebrate with me?" He sounds incredulous, finally turning to the Vampire King now that he had touched down on his ballroom floor. Glancing down his wet rat look to the puddle forming on the floor then back up to his face. It seemed unpleasant. The way his flannel clung to him and his pants looked watered down. Pressed against his skin and water slicking his hair. It had to have been cold. Somehow, that just irritated him further. His eyebrow twitches in a way that really gave away the fact he was fighting the urge to allow a bitch face to come over his expression.
"You? Marshell Lee." He can't quite stop the look of disbelief, "Got me something? What on earth could you have gotten me?" He almost eminently regrets asking. There's no way that this isn't some kind of prank or joke. No doubt designed to make a full of Bubblegum in front of his people. It would be very like the vampire. After all, he had proved in the past that it wasn't beyond him. He wasn't sure if he did it for the laughs or if he genuinely meant to be cruel. Either way, he wasn't in any mood to deal with it.
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Marshall hated the way the Prince responded to him, sounding so disbelieving of him. He tried not to think that his supposed fiance thought so little of him that the idea of celebrating together was out of the question. Not to mention Gumball certainly didn't seem thrilled at the idea of the vampire having gone out of his way to get him a gift for the occasion. "Why do you think I'm so bad that I wouldn't get you a present for your birthday?" he all but mumbled under his breath, starting to lose his patience a little. Every time he tried to be nice to the Prince or any of his people it was met with backlash, like of course he had something planned up his sleeve. Why couldn't Gumball see that he really wasn't that bad?
The Vampire was quite for just a moment, considering whether or not he should actually give the Prince the gift he had brought with him. But then he pulled his guitar case from his back, and set it down in front of him. Marshall knelt down and undid the clasps to open the lid, only when he did there wasn't his signature red guitar inside, no, there was a present that had been wrapped somewhat messily in pink paper and a white ribbon tied into a bow. Well, it had been red to begin with but Marshall got hungry. He had stored it in his case to keep it safe from the weather, but now he pulled it out and threw it to the Prince. Thankfully it wasn't anything breakable.
"Why don't you take a look," Marshall all but snapped. Though he was nervous about the Prince opening his gift in front of everyone, it wasn't like it was anything overly special. He knew that Gumball liked to bake, and while he was sure that the Prince had a lot of kitchenware, the vampire had found a matching apron, oven mitt and pot holder set that he thought the Prince would like. In fact, even Marshall Lee couldn't deny that the Prince would look adorable in this colour palette.
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The package struck him in the chest with the crinkle of wrapping paper. His arms reflexively came up to cradle the present before it could drop to the floor. He glances between it and the Vampire. He was actually pretty surprised that an effort had been made to try and keep it in one piece and dry. He was even reluctantly pleased with the fact that there had been an effort to try and wrap it.
He shifts it into one of his arms and lifts the freed hand to tug at the knot of the bow watching it come undone with ease. He tucks the ribbon between his fingers as he pulls the paper to rip it open. He pauses to stare down at the contents. It's clear that he's surprised. The hand with the ribbon moves and lifts the oven from the paper and stares at it for a moment. The pretty blues and the golden yellow. A hard hit of darker pink on top of a softer one. The material felt sturdy under his hands and they looked pretty well made too.
Glob it all. He loved it.
He drops the thing back in the paper and skillfully curls the ribbon in his fingers into a neatly folded shape. He slips the white material into his breast pocket without a work - for safekeeping - before folding the paper around the set that Marshall Lee had gotten for him. Like trying to protect it from the elements or prying eyes. Fiddlesticks, it'd be rude not to thank him now.
"...We should see about getting you dry." That wasn't gratitude, Barnabas. Try again.
"If you want to come with me we can see about finding a towel?" Closer, but still now a Thank or a You. Again.
Gumball sees Peppermint Maid hurry off to go grab a towel - even as she's sending Marshall a sharp kind of look all the in the same breath. He was sure the towels would meet them even if they didn't make it to the closet linen closet before something went - predictable - wrong.
"It'll give me a chance to put these away before something happens to them." Just say it!
"They're lovely, by the way." ...Close enough.
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Marshall loved the way Bubba hesitated before opening the gift, looking back and forth between the present and the one who gave it to him as if he was unsure. The vampire wondered if the Prince thought it was a trap, and honestly considering the male wasn't overly found of him it wouldn't surprise him if that is what was going through his head. He packed up his guitar case, closing the lid down and clasping it shut once more before standing and throwing it back over his shoulder. He never even carried the thing with him when he did bring his guitar, because usually he was happy enough just to have the axe on his back ready for him to use at any time. The case never really got used, but this time he had actually found a purpose for it.
Gumball finally began to undo the ribbon and peel away the paper, and Marshall could have sworn he aged ten years just waiting for him to open the thing. Though the look on the Prince's face made everything worth it, and the vampire couldn't help but let the smug grin that he had been fighting back spread across his lips. The moment was made even sweeter when suddenly the candy prince was speaking to him in a much kinder tone, sure he didn't really believe it but it was hilarious that Bubba was caught off guard. Suddenly, it seemed, he was allowed to stay because he wasn't being shoved out the door. But watching Bubba struggle with deciding whether to acknowledge the gift was by far his favourite move of the night. For now anyway.
"You're welcome," Marshall responded with a somewhat cocky tone. Bubba hadn't directly thanked him, no glob forbid he actually have to say those words to the vampire, but this was as close as he was probably going to get. He would lie if asked how much thought went into the gift, because honestly he had spent more time than he liked to admin thinking about what the Prince would actually like. Did it matter if Bubba liked the gift? Well now Marshall would say that it did because it made the Prince's reaction all the more sweeter. "A towel would be great, thanks," he said, shaking a hand through his wet hair and letting more droplets fall to the floor. He stepped closer to the Prince, assuming the plan was to follow him as they would at least want him out of the hall until he was dry again.
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Gumball cringes and steps back to avoid getting water on him. He holds back the natural urge to give him a nasty look and instead smiles, a little strained, and turns to lead him through the crowd with a parting, "If you'd follow me?"
It's easy enough to make his way out of the ballroom. The crowded natural begins to part at the sight of them. Politely, at first, at the sight of the Prince. A natural show of respect. Then, when they see the dripping guest, they take another healthy shuffle back. No one, unsurprisingly, wants to get sticky. They want to avoid candy clumping as much as Gumball does.
A guard moves and opens a door for him and Marshall, and closed it behind them. The two of them make their way down the hallway in relative silence. He's not sure what to stay at all. He's not sure what's more uncomfortable. Making this trip in silence or actually trying to strike up a conversation.
A maid bustles down the hallway with a towel in hands. He offers a grateful look and relievers her of it (not willing to let her so close to the wet vampire) with the hand he isn't currently supporting the apron set against his chest. He turns to him and holds out the pastel towel to him.
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Marshall Lee followed the Prince through the crowd while trying to keep the smugness from his face. It amused him that suddenly the Candy Prince was being polite instead of just trying to get him to leave. His eyes glanced around the room as the crowds parted to make way for them, and of course he noticed when they took another step back at the sight of him. The Vampire King didn't know if it was simply because he was dripping water through the hall or if it was because they wanted to just get further away from him, either way he brushed it off and turned his attention back to Gumball as they exited the Hall.
Now that they were away from the crowd Marshall let out an audible sigh, running another hand through his damp hair only causing for more droplets to fall to the floor. The halls were silent save for the sound of Gumball's footsteps, the Vampire had of course chosen to float. Hands shoved into his pockets his attention was turned to the maid that came running down the hallway towards her Prince. Naturally she didn't come near the Vampire but he was hardly surprised. Everyone in this Kingdom had been taught to fear him, and it was stupid.
His eyes flickered back to Gumball when the Prince held out the towel to him, and Marshall took it carefully into his hand before beginning to dry himself off. "You know they can't be scared of me forever," he mused as he ran the towel through his hair, eyes focused on the Candy Prince. "How long do you plan to keep this up?" he asked. He was surprisingly calm, he had always thought when he eventually confronted Gumball about this he would be angrier and louder, but it was the Prince's birthday so maybe he shouldn't be causing so much of a scene.
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Something not too unlike panic crosses Barnabas's features for just a moment at the question. He's certainly not ready for it. Even less so for the placid sort of way the other man had delivered it to him. He had imagined this question once or twice before - on the days the reality of his situation wouldn't quite leave his mind - but never had the scenarios his head would conjure gone quite like this.
In them, Marshall Lee was always combative. Loud and simmering. Barnabas liked to pretend he would be calm, but his imagination knew good and well he would be the same. They would let tempers rise. Boiling and rolling, spatting, and hissing. Carrying on in a way unbefitting of their titles.
They were passionate people, the two of them, it was an indisputable fact. There would be yelling - screaming even. Perhaps even fist raised and teeth bared. Hands laid on each other in acts of (hopefully half-hearted) violence. All of it coming together in a accumulation of their undeniable passions that would lead them to a screaming of a whole nother kind as their entanglement in each other became-
Oh, no. Absolutely not. Those scenarios, when his mind was so cruel as to conjure them, we always to be strictly ignored. Much in the same way Marshall Lee's question would be. He hopes his flush read as irritated as he began to rant in hopes of pulling Marshall Lee's attention to any other topic.
"They can be scared enough when you bring the storm in with you. You know they'll stick. It's a disaster waiting to happen - And look at you! Barely any the dryer even with the towel."
He suddenly steps closer, the hand not clutching his gift to his chest rising to the vampire's hair, "I swear! You're soaked. Your clothes are sodden. And just how thick your hair must be to retain a small lake's worth of-" Pink fingers graze a lock of his bangs, gently rubbing it as if to prove the point to himself. No doubt becoming slightly tacky with the rainwater he finds there.
"-oh!"
He stops cold. It becomes very clear, very fast, that he hadn't quite been thinking of what he was doing when he reaches out to touch the Vampire King. He snatches his hand back, a darker shade of pink dusting his checks as he makes a fist - pressing his fingers to his palm and hiding his thumb under them - as if he could hide the sticky evidence of his own faux pas.
He clears his throat and carries on, "If you were anyone else, I'd be worried about them catching ill."
A beat, then, perhaps a tad uncertain, "...you're not going to catch ill, are you?"
He had avoided answering the question so completely he had even managed to distract himself.