The Ticket Master (A0)
Murphy was lounging on the front porch in a hammock with a Hawaii background, sipping on an iced soda, when he heard the familiar sound of Mitzie’s dad’s truck rumbling down the street. The man was a mountain of muscle, a conspiracy theory aficionado, and—Murphy’s personal favorite—he burned his tax forms every year, convinced that the government was tracking every penny he earned.
"Mitzie! C’mon, you ready?" Murphy called out, announcing that her dad is there. Mitzi happily smashed the door behind her sporting a silly smile. The picture of Hawaii fell and the camera zooms out to show Murphy is in the apartment hallway.
Mitzie appeared in the doorway, packing up her backpack with what seemed like the entire contents of a survivalist’s handbook. She was rocking her usual mix of confidence, randomness and optimism, a perfect foil to her dad’s no-nonsense, government-hating personality.
"So you sure you don't wanna runaway and go to that NSync concert?"
"I'd love to, but deer hunting season ends in a few days. They taste even better with marshmallows and kerosene".
“Where’s the fun in the woods if I’m not there for you to be amazed at my skateboarding skills, huh?” Murphy said with a grin.
Mitzie shot him a glance, naively enthralled. “Oh, it's too bad you won't come. We were going to start a really big fireplace tonight, the old papers from the 70s burn the brightest. No park rangers for miles to bother us. Just me, you and my dad.
Murphy raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, right. If he thinks Bigfoot’s an undercover CIA agent, I don’t know how I’m supposed to make it through a weekend of that."
Just as he spoke, her dad appeared behind her, towering in the doorway like a brick wall wrapped in a flannel shirt. His sunglasses were still on, even though they were indoors.
“You two just keep up with those government-approved distractions while I’m out there surviving real life,” her dad grunted. His voice sounded like gravel being ground underfoot. “They’ve probably planted listening devices in your TVs, Murph. You best keep that remote out of sight.”
Murphy shot Mitzie a knowing look. “Have fun, Mitz. Tell your dad I’ll keep an eye out for any government drooling drones in my neighborhood.”
Mitzie smiled, the hint of a smirk. "You do that. I’m off to prepare for the end of the world, Murphy. Just be sure to use the special Sonic the Hedgehog fireworks I got you."
With that, she grabbed her duffel and walked out the door, her dad muttering about taxes and surveillance as they left.
Murphy stared after them, softly smiling. He was content. Hey, that just meant more time for him to figure out who to take to the concert.
Murphy kicked his skateboard along the cracked sidewalk, taking a smooth turn as he stopped in front of a vending machine. He knocked on it a few times, a little tap of his finger, and then twisted the knob with a flick of his wrist. With a satisfying clang, a Pepsi bottle dropped down.
"Just like clockwork," Murphy muttered to himself, cracking open the bottle with a grin.
Suddenly, a sharp voice interrupted him. "Hey, Murphy!"
Murphy turned slowly, already knowing who it was. There, with a smug look on her face, was Vivian.
"I couldn't help but overhear," she said, her smirk practically glowing. "I’ve been wanting to go to this concert for weeks, and here you are, with an extra ticket... How convenient."
Murphy groaned internally. He held the Pepsi bottle between them like a shield, barely concealing his annoyance.
Vivian leaned in closer, that irritatingly self-satisfied look still plastered across her face. "I’m sure you were planning on giving it to someone worthy, right? You wouldn’t want to waste it on just anyone."
Murphy raised an eyebrow, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "I was planning to invite you, actually. Since you're the only one who gets my taste in music." He tilted his head. "It’s gonna be a blast."
Vivian gave him a sarcastic smile. "Wow. A rare gesture of kindness. Should I be honored?"
Murphy chuckled lightly, holding his Pepsi between them like a barrier. He pulled out his phone and typed something quickly. "You know what, Vivian?" He locked eyes with her, smirking. "How about you text me in exactly one hour? I’ll let you know if I still have the ticket by then."
Vivian blinked, clearly caught off guard by this sudden change of plan. "One hour?" she repeated, her smile faltering.
"Yup, just text me in exactly one hour, and we’ll see," Murphy said with a wink.
Vivian huffed, clearly frustrated but trying to hide it with a forced smile. "Fine. One hour. We’ll see if you keep your word."
She strutted off, her annoyance barely masked. Murphy took a sip from his Pepsi, grinning to himself. "That’s the fun part. Watching her try to outsmart me."
Murphy was sprawled on the couch, eyes glued to the TV, lazily flipping through channels when his phone buzzed. It was a message from Vivian—always a sign that something either very bad or very entertaining was about to happen.
"Hey, Viv. Got something you want?" Murphy texted back, knowing full well that a simple "yes" would probably spiral into something ridiculous.
Moments later, Vivian’s reply pinged back. "What do you want for that NSync ticket? I’ve got cash if you’re desperate."
Murphy smirked, tapping the screen with a plan already in mind. "Nah, cash won’t cut it. I want 12 favors."
The phone went silent for a second, and Murphy chuckled, knowing she’d be reading that and wondering if he was serious. He didn’t have to wait long.
"12? Are you kidding? That’s a joke, right?"
Murphy grinned to himself. "Take it or leave it. You want the ticket or not?"
Vivian’s next reply had a single word: "Fine. What’s the first one?"
Murphy didn’t hesitate. "Let me ride in your limo. Just a joyride. I’ll even keep it classy."
Vivian’s response was swift and laced with sarcasm. "Really? You’re making me do this? It’s a limo, not a carnival ride."
Murphy raised an eyebrow, casually lounging back. "Hey, you’re the one who agreed. You want the ticket, right?"
There was a pause before the inevitable. "Fine, get in."
Murphy hopped off the couch with a grin that stretched wide enough to make his teeth almost glow. He was loving this. "This is gonna be fun," he muttered, already picturing the chaos that was about to unfold.
As the limo cruised down the street, Vivian, gripping the wheel with a tight jaw, made it clear that this was hardly her idea of fun. "Don’t think for a second that I’m doing this because I like you, Murphy."
Murphy leaned back, making himself comfortable. "Oh, I know. Trust me. I’m not fooled by your 'nice' act."
Vivian shot him a glare. "You’ve got 11 more favors to cash in after this. And they better not be ridiculous."
Murphy just smirked. "Ridiculous is kind of my thing."
An hour later, after a quick stop at a fast-food joint, Murphy wasn’t about to let up. "Next favor," he started, already fully enjoying the power dynamic he had over her. "I want a deluxe burger, extra cheese, and fries. Oh, and a milkshake."
Vivian groaned, glaring at him. "You’re really milking this, huh?"
"Well, when you’ve got a limo and a menu in front of you, why not go big?" Murphy teased, flashing his trademark grin.
Vivian’s response was a heavy sigh. "Fine. One burger coming up. But that’s it."
Murphy leaned back in the limo, savoring his small victory. "And don't forget the fries. This is just the beginning."
Vivian was practically steaming now, but she wasn’t backing down. "You’re unbelievable, Murphy."
Murphy waved off her complaints. "I know, right? And I’ve got plenty more favors to ask. Get ready."
As if on cue, Murphy hit her with another request. "Now, let’s talk music. Your limo, your playlist, right?"
Vivian, who hadn’t been thrilled about the first few favors, was now visibly annoyed. "You want to control the music too? Next you’ll be asking me for a chauffeur’s hat."
Murphy laughed. "Nah, I’m just here for the tunes. What do you got?"
She handed him her phone with an exasperated look, and he scrolled through it, finally hitting play. "This is an... interesting playlist you’ve got here, Viv."
Vivian’s eyes narrowed. "Don’t touch my playlist. I have standards."
Murphy grinned. "Oh, I’m just picking a few of your songs. We’re bonding. Enjoy."
Vivian rolled her eyes. "This better not be the start of another favor list."
Murphy leaned in, his eyes gleaming. "Speaking of lists, I could use a personal photo shoot. You’ve got a camera, right?"
Vivian stopped mid-drive and shot him an incredulous look. "You want me to take pictures of you? Seriously?"
Murphy shrugged. "Hey, I’ve got to keep up appearances. Instagram is a thing, you know."
She muttered something under her breath before rolling her eyes. "Fine, but I’m not enjoying this."
Murphy smirked. "You say that now, but wait till you see how many followers I get with those shots."
Minutes later, in the middle of a crowded mall, Murphy was already eyeing the stores. "Hey, you know what would make this even better? A shopping spree."
Vivian looked at him like he’d just asked her to climb Mount Everest in flip-flops. "I’m not buying you stuff, Murphy."
He gave her a sly grin. "Well, I was thinking you could let me borrow your credit card for a bit of retail therapy."
Vivian shot him a glare that could’ve melted metal. "Absolutely not."
"Come on, just a little shopping spree. You’ve got killer taste," Murphy teased.
She was practically twitching. "You’re testing my patience right now."
Murphy shrugged, leaning back casually. "You’ve still got a couple favors left, Viv. You’re almost there."
Vivian let out an exasperated sigh and shot him a look of pure frustration. "Fine, one jacket, and that’s it."
Murphy flashed a wide grin as she grabbed the jacket from the store. "You’re the best, Viv."
As they walked out, bags in tow, Murphy couldn't help but smirk. "You know, I’ve got more favors to ask. But I’ll be nice."
Vivian, rolling her eyes, gave him a sarcastic laugh. "Nice? You’ve got a funny way of showing it."
Murphy chuckled. "You’re one favor closer to that NSync ticket."
Later, as Murphy texted her about another favor, she could only shake her head in disbelief. "You seriously can’t get enough of this, can you?"
Murphy’s grin was infectious. "Nope. What else you got?"
Vivian groaned. "Fine. I’ll help you pick up your notebooks from school. Happy?"
"Perfect," Murphy replied. "I knew I could count on you."
As they walked to the school, Vivian couldn’t help but mutter to herself, "For someone who pretends to be cool, you’re really a pain in the ass."
As they approached the school, Vivian found herself juggling Murphy’s heavy stack of books with little grace. She was already regretting agreeing to this, but as they neared the front steps, she spotted a few of the popular kids leaning against the wall, whispering and giggling. Of course.
One of them, Sarah, did a double-take and then gave a snide smile. "Whoa, look at this. Vivian, the book carrier. Since when did you get a job as Murphy’s personal assistant?"
Jake, standing next to Sarah, nudged her and laughed. "Guess it’s official. He’s too cool to carry his own books, so now he’s got someone to do it for him. That’s so cute, Viv. Are you getting paid for this gig or just collecting favors?"
Vivian, trying to ignore the sting of embarrassment, shot them both a sharp look. "You guys are hilarious. Really."
But Jake wasn’t done. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "What’s next? You gonna start following him around, doing his homework too?"
Vivian clenched her jaw and shot back, "Not unless he starts asking me to write essays on how annoying he is."
Vivian's grip tightened on the books as she fought to stay calm. She had enough of the teasing.
Vivian gave him a look that could melt steel. "I swear, you’re lucky I’m doing this for the tickets," she muttered.
Murphy just laughed, his eyes twinkling. "Hey, I told you. I’m irresistible."
As they walked away, Vivian muttered under her breath, "Yeah, but not in the way you think." She couldn’t help but roll her eyes as Murphy chuckled beside her, completely oblivious to how much she wanted to toss one of his books at him.
Later that night at the concert...
Murphy leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, watching Vivian march toward him. She was practically glowing, a wide, smug grin plastered across her face, her steps light and self-assured as she approached. After twelve favors, this was her moment. Her hand shot out eagerly as she closed the distance between them.
"Finally," she said with a dramatic sigh, her voice dripping with mock exhaustion. "I get what I’m owed."
Murphy’s smirk deepened. He reached into his jacket pocket, moving deliberately slow, letting the anticipation hang in the air. Vivian’s eyes gleamed as she watched, ready for the prize—an NSYNC ticket, no doubt. But instead of handing over the sought-after golden ticket, he pulled out another one. His fingers flicked it toward her with a casual air, like it was no big deal.
Vivian’s expression shifted from eager excitement to confusion. She blinked, holding the ticket up to her face. "What’s this?" she asked, staring at the ticket in disbelief. It wasn’t for the concert.
Murphy’s grin grew even wider. "Enjoy the show, Viv," he said with a wink, his voice dripping with amusement. "But you’re not going to be seeing NSYNC tonight."
Zoe, who had been standing off to the side, watching with interest, couldn’t help but chuckle. She stepped forward, nudging Murphy with her elbow. "You know, that’s a real nice touch, Murph."
Vivian's eyes narrowed, slowly piecing it together. "What did you do?"
Murphy shrugged nonchalantly, his hands now stuffed casually into his pockets. "Well, you wanted a favor, didn’t you? I think I just found a more... suitable venue for you."
Vivian’s gaze flicked from the ticket back to him, then to Zoe, as she processed what was happening. Her face slowly turned a bright shade of red, her frustration building by the second.
"Where am I supposed to go with this?" she snapped, her voice a little too sharp.
Murphy’s grin widened. He wasn’t backing down. "Well, you’re not going to the concert, that’s for sure. You’re going to one of these places instead."
Vivian's fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms as she glanced down at the ticket once again. The realization was sinking in fast, and the look on her face was a mixture of disbelief, fury, and—if Murphy wasn’t mistaken—embarrassment.
With a final, exasperated sigh, Vivian looked up at Murphy. "This is unbelievable," she muttered, holding the ticket out toward him like it was some kind of toxic substance. "You’re sending me to this instead?"
Murphy didn’t even flinch. "Yup. Enjoy."
Vivian’s jaw tightened as she glanced at the ticket again—her eyes scanning the words that weren’t what she had expected. The address printed on it led to a gravel-filled parking lot, barely more than a space between run-down buildings. It was an underground rap battle, and the crowd was described as "rowdy"—no VIP section, no chance for special treatment.
"A rap battle? Seriously?" she blurted out, her voice a mixture of disbelief and fury. "I came this close to NSYNC, and you send me here?"
Murphy just smiled, his tone casual as he gave a shrug. "Hey, it’s an experience. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a new appreciation for music. Or... you know... for a little chaos."
Vivian shot him a glare, then turned her eyes to the ticket in her hand again, as if willing it to change. No such luck. She had no choice but to walk away, grumbling to herself. The sound of blaring music and shouting crowds echoed faintly from the parking lot as she made her way toward the scene, her steps heavy with resentment.
Zoe watched the whole thing unfold with quiet amusement, a small chuckle escaping her lips as Vivian’s back disappeared down the street. She turned to Murphy. "You’re cruel, you know that?"
Murphy just shrugged again, tossing the empty soda can he’d been holding into a nearby trash bin. "Nah, she’ll survive. If she wanted to go to a concert, she should’ve been more careful with her favors."
Zoe smirked. "That’s one way to teach someone a lesson." She shook her head, eyes gleaming. "Alright, let’s get going, Murph. I’m not about to miss this concert."
With that, they both turned and headed down the street, leaving Vivian behind in her battle with the underground rap scene—a battle that was loud, chaotic, and entirely her own.
THEND
Epilogue:
Hey it looks like Poochie/Vivian has something to say! Do you?
"Yes I certainly do... I have to go now! My planet needs me."
(screaming dying woman noises) said the fox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIyOiwGfJ1I&ab_channel=Dan%27sCoolVideos
Note: Vivian died on the way back to her home planet. (Whoaaah Vivian came from another planet?)
VIVIAN'S DEAD HAHAHAHHAHAHHA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo-KmOd3i7s&ab_channel=NSYNCVEVO
She got replaced by a deuteragonist skater girl cat that also plays soccer and sleeps under Murphy's bed on caturdays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8C5nzqxg6s&list=PL5PwU5UDxWFos27orgfXsQHvRBfMAxAwU&ab_channel=Kidvs.Kat-WildBrain
https://kidvskat.fandom.com/wiki/Fiona