It was not often that Richard Moreau heard from his family, and every day that he went without either a thought or mention of them was a day that he thoroughly enjoyed to the fullest. Even with all of the crazy things going on in his life, he’d rather deal with an entire squad of angry Senshi and their wicked magic than to put up with the thought of having to bring himself to associate with that lot. As far as he was concerned, the rest of the Moreau family could just stay in Sugarland, Texas, on this oversized ranch where they took turns throwing hundred dollar bills at the poor homeless that gathered under the overpasses. He moved to Destiny City to get AWAY from them.

So why was he getting a phone call that a ‘Ms. Victoria Moreau’ was on his way to the Sugar Shanty at this very moment? He wanted to think it was a prank. It very well COULD have been a prank, though by who, he had no idea. Krishna nor Nyasa really knew anything about his family and he swore he’d rip out a few jugulars if is college friends ever pulled this kind of prank. Yet, after confirmation from Lucca, he knew it to be the real deal, and he gave a pathetic groan as he could see the taxi pulling up, right at the front of the store, and the woman that forced the poor taxi driver out to open her door, and the stupid little hat she wore was unmistakable.

“Lord have mercy on my soul,” Richard muttered to himself, before putting forth his sweetest, most diabetic inducing smile he could muster. Ms. Moreau walked into the store, the friendly chime unable to chase away the dark cloud that followed after her like death, and her first words almost broke that smile of is. “Oh, look at such a tacky place! So colorful and bright, I swear I could go blind in here!”

’Ah, I only regret that murder would prevent my inheritance,’ Richard thought to himself, knowing that she was simply trying to get a rise out of him and not too eager to shoot down her enjoyment, even if it came at the cost of his beloved store and his even more precious ego being shot down. He stepped around the counter and took her hands in greeting, distracting himself from the driver that pulled suitcase after suitcase into his store. “All the more to catch customers’ attention with, dear mother! How are you doing, and tell me, what have I done to be honored by your extended visit?”

“Oh, don’t be that way, d**k! It’s only for a few days, at least until your boar of a father calms down.” Victoria didn’t bother denying his accusation, and Richard couldn’t help but feel that she wasn’t quite being honest with just how -long- she’d be staying. To think, he had just rid himself of one naggy, cold hearted witch, only for another one to come sauntering in her place. But… at least this one could be extremely useful in the long run. “Now, don’t mind me. Help me move my things to the back and I’ll stay out of your hair while you sell all of this teeth-rotting delicacies. I’ll even put up with your pet horse! Trust me, it will be fun.”

He waited until she scuttled towards the back of the store towards his office before allowing his shoulders to droop and a snarl escaped his lips, before twisting into a more strained grin, before grabbing the first of many suitcases and following after her. “Oh yes. Fun.”

((Word Count: 617))