Chapter Text
October 2021: 7-8 Months Post Bunny’s Murder and Solved Cast.
1: October 3: Fall Festival, Full Moon.
Almost the whole course of the year after solving yet again another murder, the Only Murders trio came to one realization: What were they to do from now on? They had their own projects of course– Brazzo’s now in better mental condition from his Alzheimer's and not longer in a wheelchair, Mabel with her apartment renovations and Oliver with the new show he was directing. But within that Oliver found ways to make his friends still a part of his life. He managed to trick Charles into the show by saying Sazz would be a far better opposite of Ben. Charles objected, did a reading with Sazz and vola he was cast…Sazz his understudy naturally. For Mabel, Oliver had help out with set designs and during table reads asked if she’d record or jot notes down. It wasn’t her totally favorite thing, but a new adventure with some friends wouldn’t be so bad.
Mabel and Alice hadn’t talked much since the day after Alice helped paint over the walls. Though they had the breakup and Mabel was unable to trust Alice as much, the blonde English girl did still allow Mabel to come to the art studio and use the space for her creativity. Mabel took the offer but hadn’t gone over too much the last couple of months. And when she was there she’d just sketch away on her pad by a window still. By herself usually at the studio. Physically and socially. Of course if people came up and spoke with her she’d talk back—minus a few individuals who bothered her. But she kept to her lonely self again.
She did make one friend from Alice’s group of friends who–out of the bunch–was not a starving artist. Luna Parks. They met at one of Alice’s art galas in the early days and talked about a gemstone covered chair in a corner. Luna worked as a (nurse?) at the hospital. A few years back Alice had sliced open her own finger cutting into pineapple and made it to the hospital. Luna stitched her up and the two talked to ease Alice’s pain. Sometime after Alice invited Luna to an art party. The chestnut brown brunette liked art but not that much, but she loved parties. That point forward Luna would go to Alice’s parties. Luna and Mabel became fast friends after that. And probably because Luna wasn’t an artist, Mabel knew she could trust her and be friendly with her. After the break with Alice and though Mabel continued to use the art studio, she didn’t want to be around art-sy people. IN that sense. So, she and Luna hangout more.
Luna, as well as the other artists, found and agreed that Alice had gone just too far. It's one thing if it was an already dead person, like Marie Antoinette. But an alive person who you are also dating? Yeah, too far. And for the ones who were at the set that day dressed as Tim, Zoe and Bunny? They had been told Mabel gave permission.
Over the months Mabel and Alice hangout. Usually together but if not usually Luna hung out with Charles and/or Oliver. She bonded well with Oliver over the damn dips. Luna’s boyfriend would hangout too. And sometimes Mabel brought along a new friend of her own too.
The last eight months or so the two older men in her life made it a point to have dinner with Mabel. If not every night, three times a night. They had come up with the most lazy and weird excuses just to stay with her. She didn’t mind it so much. They usually end up listening to a murder podcast on her laptop and discuss it among one another. They had been doing this since May. She’ll never forget the dinner that Oliver suggested a new form of podcasting.
“Hey, we should do a murder mukbang podcast. We react on camera. That’s a thing for the youtube channel.”
“God, Oliver, no.”
“We can get ads!”
“No!”
“Well just because YOU aren’t always camera ready, doesn't mean I am. And Mabel’s a natural–look! No makeup, nothing…God, you look like a zombie. Not as bad as Charles though.”
“No!” Charles insisted again. “Mabel, back me up?”
She smirked and said, “Spaghetti, linguine, spaghetti, linguine, spaghetti, linguine, spaghetti, linguine, GARBAGE!”
Neither man expected this kid to know that joke, yet here she was making it and causing both of them to belly hollar with laughter.
Sundays were the one day of the week where Mabel slept in. No earlier than 10 AM, coffee with eggs, rewatching X-Files just as her Sundays with her dad had been growing up and then start getting her days work ahead. Knitting the holiday gifts she had for her friends, painting parts of the apartment that were walled up, floor space freshly coated with new flooring and then adding new stuff into the different rooms. The only rooms she updated with paint colors but kept everything the same were the modern day kitchen and the “Retro pink fifties” bathroom– both rooms her aunt enjoyed and wished to keep as original as possible. Cool. Her place, her rules. Mabel just did the rest on her own term.
Not this morning as Mabel woke up to a face-time request from Luna. “What in the hell, Luna?”
“Hey girly.” The dark brunette greeted. “Rise and shine, it's a beautiful day.”
“Luna it’s only…Seven in the morning.” Mabel groaned. “Who is awake that early?”
“Lots of people.”
“You’re not even working.”
“No. I took this morning running class. Wolfie’s old sergeant from high school runs it and looks at my boyfriend. He’s so slender but muscular.” She giggled. “Kidding. I found
this class online somewhere and thought it’d be nice to run without being alone after my neighbor Jennifer moved back to New Mexico. You should join.”
“I’ll stick with my Tuesday and Thursday classes. So, is anything wrong?”
“No.”
“Did you butt dial me?”
“No.”
“What is it?”
“I wanted to ask you a question.”
“It’s October third.”
“Well duh I know that, Silly. No, I’m having a get together not this upcoming Friday but the one after. This one will be celebrating the Fall season and it’ll be five days before the Full Moon. You know how much I LOVE Full moons!”
“No. Explain.”
“The full moon represents a new beginning. The beginning of completion and an abundance of energy from the inner soul. A transformation of the soul and the person themselves. I swear to God Mabel I heard artists and spiritual hippies get a total turn on when it comes to these Full Moons. Like, highly creative. And sexual. Do you know how many people get so turned on and wanting to fuck on Full Moon nights because of what the full moon represents?”
“I meant it sarcastically but…Okay. Sounds weirdly promising for artists and people who are wanting to fuck these days. Any theme?”
“A Halloween theme. I’ve got this co-worker whose uncle lives in a big-ass penthouse somewhere in the city. By the Beacon Theater, a twenty minute walk from your place or six minute drive. Super cute, large enough space on all three floors. The third floor has a staircase leading up to the private penthouse roof where there's an outdoor kitchen, shower and a pool and a freaking pizza oven! Mabel! Pizza! Oven!”
“How did you get to this place?”
“Well since last month I wasn’t able to host the Luna Fall Festival to celebrate the Fall season, I figure I will do it this month. Halloween month too so why not make it a Halloween theme? And since the Full Moon is five days later with the energy of the full moon starting to take affect...or effect...a few days before and after the night of, I figure I'd make it a celebration of the full moon too."
“I don’t know. I’m not into parties. You know that.”
“Mabel Mora, the last party you went to was a Killer Reveal Party. In fact, you HOSTED the party.”
“That was more like Charles and Oliver but yea.”
“Charles and Oliver and Lucy can come. Charles can bring his boo. Oliver can bring Winnie. Lucy can bring a friend too…Or hangout with this one girl who is coming. She’s like twenty-two but is so Gen Z.” Luna then grinned brightly and said, “Deli Prince can come too.”
“He’s not a party person either. Even if he was he has work the next day.”
“So he can visit for an hour.”
“Wolf going?”
“Duh.”
“Well let’s see if I can convince him to go.” Fat chance.