Tempus Fugit {Who Killed Markiplier}

~Thanksgiving~

After that day I decided I really was never going back to the office. I wrote to Abe, telling him i couldn't come in anymore, but didn't bother mentioning Damien. For all I knew, he didn't care in the slightest.

Before I knew it, weeks passed and Thanksgiving rolled around. Other than Celine and the Colonel's short visits, I was alone quite a lot. I had far too much time on my hands, so I was extremely grateful to hear Mark and Celine had invited me to attend Thanksgiving dinner with them at the manor. I was happy to be in the company of my siblings, but I was also slightly uneasy. The Colonel would be there was well, and I feared something truly toxic was brewing.

~*~*~

I arrived at the manor a little after five. I was dressed for the occasion; a black dress with a white color, black flats, and my hair all in waves. I hoped the night would go well, but I had an inkling that things wouldn't be that easy.

Benjamin, the butler, was standing in wait by the door. "Ah, Miss Iris! Welcome! Mark and Celine are inside." he said. I furrowed my eyebrows. "Is the Colonel not here yet?" I inquired worriedly. Ben shook his head. "I haven't seen him. But I guarantee you'll know when he arrives; he's quite hard to miss."

I snorted and nodded. "Thank you Benjamin." I sighed in an exhausted tone. His lips curled into a smile. "Anytime Miss."
   
My exhaustion increased as soon as I stepped inside. Loud arguing to the point of yelling emitted from the dining room.
   
"I don't care what that bastard says! If he has the audacity to lash out at me one more time I swear I'm going to-"
   
"Mark Fischbach don't you dare finish that thought."

"Oh what, so you're taking his side now?"

"You're both in the wrong! You're both hotheads!"

"Then why the hell do you always see to defend him?!"

"I.. I do not!"

"Yes, you do Celine, and I'm fucking sick of it!"

"Well congratulations then!! Why did you even marry me if all I do is sicken you!?"

Suddenly a foreign voice behind me whispered, "They've been at it for an hour now." I jumped and let out a gasp, startled by the unannounced presence behind me. A man with long curly hair and a thin black mustache stood in the doorway to the kitchen. His chef attire told me he was most likely Mark's cook. "Ha-Have they?" I asked quietly. He nodded stiffly. "If I'm being quite honest girly, I wouldn't be surprised if Mark ended up killing her." he murmured deviously.

A shiver careened down my spine as he disappeared back into the kitchen. Just as he did, Celine rushed over to me. "Oh, Iris, hello." she sighed, clearly exasperated from her fight with Mark. "Celine is everything alright?" I asked in a whisper as we embraced. She pulled back from my grip and smiled, though it was clearly forced. "I'm fine. Is the Colonel here?"

I shook my head. "Benjamin says he hasn't arrived yet."

"Bully! I didn't think I'd have an audience waiting for me, but I thought someone would at least recognise my presence!"

I whipped around to see the eccentric himself standing behind me. My eyes widened. "Wh- How.. How did you.." I stammered.

"Hello Celine, lovely to see you again!" he boomed, ignoring my clearly flabbergasted expression. My sister smiled weakly at her secret lover. "Hello Colonel. I'm so glad you're here." They embraced, and I just barely heard her say, "Please keep your head tonight. Mark is in a foul mood and I have a terrible feeling about tonight." The Colonel whispered something back that I could not hear, then tightened his embrace around her. I felt a pang of sadness and, unfortunately, a tad of jealousy towards their bond, but promptly pushed it down.

Suddenly on a whim, I left the two secret lovers alone and went to find my tempramental brother-in-law. "Mark?" I called out. I looked to the stairs as I heard heavy footsteps descending from the upper floor before the smug actor came into view. 'Ahh, Iris! My apologies for not greeting you sooner. I've been a bit.. Irritated, this evening." he said as he reached me. "I heard. There was some rather concerning yelling when I first got here, what was that about?" I asked, leaning against the banister with my arms firmly crossed over my chest. He waved me off. "It was nothing you need to be concerned with." he replied bluntly. I stood as tall as I could without standing on my tiptoes. "You're jealous of the Colonel, aren't you?" I accused smugly. His demeanor changed in an instant. "I don't know what you're talking about." he said dangerously. He started to walk away, but I quickly moved to block his way, my hand resting against the doorframe and my arm outstretched so he had no way around me.

"You really are envious. Believe you me, I know what that looks and feels like. Is that why you always seem to pick fights with him whenever you're together, or why you don't let Celine come visit me anymore?"

"Shove it Iris."

"No," I stated firmly, "why should I? If you don't stop treating my sister like dirt-"

"Who says I do?"

"Me. The constant ridicule, the restraint of her whereabouts, it's obvious you're keeping her from something, or in this case someone."

"Why did you approach me?"

"Because I'm looking out for my sister."

He scoffed. "And what makes you think she needs assistance?"

"Well the fact that you can't properly take care of her is telling enough."

A flash of a rage unlike anything I had ever seen flashed over my sibling's chiseled face, but I was determined to stand my ground. He huffed and straightened his blazer, lifting his chin slightly as he recomposed himself. "Right then. I'll see you at dinner." he muttered in a low voice before pushing past me to go into the foyer. "Oh by the way," he called back to me, "our final guest has yet to arrive."

a/n: hey kiddos :, ) i'm so sorry i haven't updated, i fucking suck, i know. but, if i can work my ass off and quit being a proscraticunt (thank you markimoo for this glorious word), i could possibly have a cute ass chapter out on valentine's day ; ))) i'll try to get the next few out soon to meet that deadline! thank you as always for being patient with me. i love you all so so much.

-🦋