CW: Swearing, Alcohol, Mentions of Death, & Violence

Name: Nick & Karina

Day/Time: Friday, 10:47 pm

Current state of mind: Like you gotta ask

What are you wearing? Black leather jacket, black t-shirt, jeans, & boots (Nick) & jeans, dove gray tank top underneath a navy-blue cardigan, & suede ankle boots (Karina)

What are you listening to? Drunk On Love by Rihanna

What are you drinking? Octoberfest (Nick & Karina)

Where are you? Chillin on our balcony by the fire

What’s up? I’m Nick.

Hey! I’m Karina. And we’re back for another takeover, where we answer twenty-one random questions selected by our author and her friends.

Nick: Now that you know our names and the game, let’s get this shitshow circus started, so we can all get back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Karina: 😮Wait. You’re not going to fight this? No ranting about what a waste of time this is—or how we all have better things to do?

Nick: Nope. Don’t see the point in wasting my breath. It’s not like my bitching and moaning is gonna change a damn thing. *Lifts the beer bottle to his lips and takes a swig.* Besides, you like this game, and I like seeing you happy. I can manage a few inane questions for an hour or two. 😉

Karina: *Her eyes light up as a smile plays up on her lips.* I’m so glad. You have no idea how much I missed you. I’ve been waiting all day to finally get some alone time with you. And now, we have plenty of privacy—

Nick: Sweetheart, there’s nowhere near enough privacy for all the things that I want to say and do to you right now.

Karina: Oh…*She bites her lip as crimson blush dusts her cheeks.* In that case, I guess we should probably get started.

Nick: Yeah. We probably should. 😉

1. What’s the most challenging thing you’ve done today?

Nick: Dragging Aria out the door so I could get her ass to school on time. Again.

Karina: Let me guess, she lost her phone.

Nick: Nope. This time it was her history book. She ransacked her room—which looks like it got hit by a Cat 5 hurricane, BTW—for over fifteen minutes trying to find the damn thing. I was ready to make her go without it, but she finally found it buried under a mountain of clothes.

Karina: 😬 Yeah. I can relate.

Nick: Sweetheart, you are nowhere near as disorganized as my baby sister.

Karina: Maybe, but I am more destructive.

Nick: 🤨 What did I miss?

Karina: You know how I’ve been saying the office printer is possessed.

Nick: Mm-hmm.

Karina: Well, my suspicions proved right. I was trying to print some docs earlier, but the stupid thing started screeching about a paper jam. But there was no paper jam. I checked every little nook and fucking cranny. Nothing. But it would not stop shrieking at me, so I gave it a love tap. Maybe two.

Nick: 🤨

Karina: Fine. *grumbles* I cussed it out and smacked the unholy shit out of it.

Nick: *His eyes flicker with amusement as he bites back a laugh.*

Karina: I got it working, though.

Nick: I bet. *chuckles, shaking his head* I’m just gonna buy a new printer.

Karina: Good idea.

2. What was the last thing you bought for yourself?

Karina: A pumpkin spice latte and a chocolate chip muffin.

Nick: Why am I not surprised?

Karina: Because I am completely and utterly predictable.

Nick: You mean completely and utterly adorable. 😉

Karina: You don’t find my pumpkin spice addiction annoying?

Nick: Nope. Not at all. *kisses her forehead*

Karina: 😊 Well, that’s a relief. How about you? Any extravagant purchases today?

Nick: Nah, nothing exciting. Just a coffee and a club sandwich from the Cove Café.

3. Have you ever ghosted anyone? If so, why?

Nick: Nope. I give fair warning before icing someone out. If they don’t understand the message, then that’s on them. Not me.

Karina: True. It’s like the saying goes, “I can explain it to you, but I can’t understand it for you.”

Nick: Damn fucking straight.

Karina: I ghosted a co-worker once. We worked in the ER together and became fast friends, but then things got weird after a few months. She started copying my style, my clothes, my hair— basically everything I did, right down to the food I ate. Hell, she even got the same tattoo as me.

Nick: What the fuck.

Karina: Yeah, it was freaky. Thankfully I got offered a job out of state. I didn’t say a word to her. Just packed my shit, changed my number, and blocked her. Never heard from her again.

Nick: Thank fuck. But if she ever tries contacting you again, let me know.

Karina: You don’t have to worry about her. No one does.

Nick: 🤨

Karina: She’s dead. Her ex killed her in a fit of drunken rage a few years ago.

Nick: Damn.

Karina: Yeah, it’s really fucked up.

4. Have you ever lied to get out of a date?

Karina: Yup. I told this one guy my cat died. I didn’t have a cat at the time. 😬

Nick: Do I wanna know?

Karina: Long story short, Courtni tried setting me up with one of her co-workers while we were all hanging out at the bar. Not wanting to embarrass the guy in front of his friends, I agreed. And regretted it. I called him the next day—fully intending on telling him I wasn’t interested—but, I panicked and told him my imaginary cat died instead.

Nick: 😆 Oh man, can’t say I’ve ever had that problem.

Karina: What? No fake pet deaths? No work or family emergencies?

Nick: Nah, I’ve always been straightforward about that kind of shit. If I wasn’t interested, you knew it. Never saw the point in fucking with someone’s feelings.

Karina: Neither did I, but…

Nick: Did you hear from him again?

Karina: No, but—

Nick: Then he got the hint. Sorry to break it to you sweetheart, but he knew you were lying. Pet death is right up there with a family emergency when it comes to excuses.

Karina: I know. But I still should’ve been honest.

Nick: Shit happens.

5. Have you ever had a one-night stand?

Nick: Yeah, had plenty of them in the past. I wasn’t interested in commitment—had no desire in settling down with anyone. *locks his gaze onto Karina’s* Not until you.

Karina: I’m a lucky girl. 😘

Nick: I’m the lucky one. 😉

Karina: We’re both lucky. *kisses his cheek*

Nick: *Captures her mouth with his and kisses her senseless. Breaks the kiss and drapes his arm over her shoulder.* How about you? Any one-nighters?

Karina: Yeah. I had three and regretted each one. I think I was trying to fill this hole in my life at the time—like something was missing, you know?

Nick: Yeah. I do. *kisses her again*

6. When was the last time you two went on a date together? What did you do?

Karina: Last Saturday. We went to the beach house and cooked dinner.

Nick: We didn’t get much cooking done.

Karina: No. We got a little distracted.

Nick: And by distracted you mean, we devoured each other before we devoured dinner.

Karina: That’s one way of putting it. *laughs as a rosy blush blooms on her cheeks.* Gods, I was famished.

Nick: A good workout will do that to you. 😉

Karina: True. I’m thinking we should just get carryout tonight—order a ton of food, so that way we don’t have to worry about starving in the middle of the night.

Nick: Good idea, because I plan on working up one hell of an appetite later.

Karina: That makes two of us. 😘

7. What’s your favorite movie and/or show to watch during Spooky Season?

Nick: Show? The Haunting of Hill House. Movie? Zombieland.

Karina: I love Hill House. It’s my favorite too. As far as movies go, I’m a Practical Magic kind of girl.

8. When was the last time you dressed up for Halloween?

Karina: A couple of years ago. I was an angel—or something that resembled one.

Nick: Fuck. That sexy, white backless dress has been burned into my memory banks. You looked like a goddess that night.

Karina: It was a gorgeous dress, but I felt more like a half-naked angel than a goddess. 😅 I still can’t believe that’s what Ash picked out for me.

Nick: It’s Ash, sweetheart. If anyone’s gonna pick out something that revealing, it’s her. Not that I’m complaining. All I could think about was getting you home.

Karina: The feeling was mutual. *blushes* I wanted to be alone with you from the second I saw you. I didn’t even know you owned a pair of leather pants. Not until that night.  

Nick: I own a few pairs, keep them on standby for special occasions. 😉

Karina: Is tonight a special occasion? *bites her lip*

Nick: We can make it one.

Karina: I think I’d like that.

Nick: Ditto. 😉

9. Name something you fear.

Nick: Stupid people.

Karina: 😂

Nick: I’m not kidding. You’ve got all sorts of half-wits doing dumb shit like driving blindfolded, licking toilets, drinking bleach, and eating detergent pods. If that’s not fucking scary, then I don’t know what is.

Karina: They do keep the ER in business, that’s for sure.

Nick: Yup, it’s all fun and games until they meet the Grim Reaper.

Karina: True. For me, it’s spiders. I am absolutely terrified of fucking spiders. Those eight-legged creepy-crawlies scare the living shit out of me.

Nick: And that’s why I kill them.

Karina: Thank you, because I’d probably set the house on fire if it wasn’t for you. 😬

Nick: I’ve got no doubt about it. 😉

10. Have you ever communicated with the dead using a spirit board?

Karina: Not with a spirit board. If I talk with the dead, it’s usually through other channels like my dreams.

Nick: Yeah, we don’t need spirit boards. We’ve got plenty of other methods to chat with the dead.

Karina: You don’t talk with the spirits all that often, though.

Nick: Nah, they tend to leave me alone. The only time we ever talk is in the Underworld or at Lost Souls.

Karina: Oh gods, Lost Souls. 😔 There’s got to be a way for us to free those spirits.

Nick: There is. We just gotta find a loophole.

Karina: I hope we find one soon.

Nick: Ditto.

11. Have you ever lived in a haunted house?

Nick: Not in this life. Had some issues with unwanted guests in the past, but we figured out how to keep the spirits out. It’s not something we worry about now.

Karina: You have no idea how relieved I am, because living in that townhouse was an absolute nightmare.

Nick: Chicago? The place where the old witch dropped dead?

Karina: That’s the one. That diabolical bitch tortured me and Courtni every chance she got. She’d bang on the walls and doors, fuck with the lights and all the electronics, and hover over our beds while we tried sleeping. We couldn’t take it, so I called my aunt. She flew out the next day, cleansed the place, and sent that bitch packing.

Nick: Your aunt’s a natural when it comes to dealing with spirits.

Karina: Yeah. She really is. I’m just glad I never have to deal with that ever again.

Nick: No. You never do. *squeezes her hand*

12. If you had to dress up in a couple’s costume for Halloween, what would you two go as?

Karina: Honestly, we wouldn’t dress up.

Nick: Nope. We don’t do the whole costume thing.

Karina: But hypothetically speaking… Maybe a doctor and a nurse? That would be fun.

Nick: You in a sexy nurse’s costume? I’d be down with that.

Karina: And you in a suit with a lab coat and a stethoscope. Can’t say I’d mind that at all. But that’s kind of boring, don’t you think?

Nick: Yup. Boring and common.

Karina: We are not boring or common.

Nick: Nope.

Karina: Oh! We could go as Geralt and Yennefer.

Nick: You are not getting me in a white wig.

Karina: But you have the pants, and you look really fucking hot in all black. 😘

Nick: Sweetheart—

Karina: It’s only a hypothetical.

Nick: Fine. I’ll wear the pants sans the wig. And you wear that sexy two-piece number from the ball, and we have a hypothetical deal.

Karina: *Kisses him.*

13. If your best friend got into a bar fight, would you break it up or join in?

Nick: 🤨 You honestly think I would sit back on my ass and let Ryan have all the fun? Not only would I join him, but I’d help him dispose of the dead bodies after.

Karina: 😅 I am not surprised in the least.

Nick: No one is. Been there. Done that. Wrote the fucking book.

Karina: Very true. I’ve never been in a bar brawl. I’ve witnessed plenty of them but have never been an active participant. But if one of my good friends got into a fight, I would absolutely have their back. No questions asked.

Nick: Wouldn’t expect anything less. 😉

14. What qualities do you think make for a strong friendship?

Karina: The same ones that compromise any strong relationship—loyalty, honesty, trust, respect, and good communication.

Nick: Yup. Any relationship is straight up fucked without those. Couldn’t have said it better myself, sweetheart. *kisses her forehead*

Karina: Thank you. 😘

15. Name something you’re good at that most people would find surprising.

Nick: Braiding hair.

Karina: Your braiding skills are impressive, but honestly, you’re just good with hair.

Nick: Yeah well, I had plenty of time to hone my skills after Aria came into the picture. Riss wasn’t always available, and I couldn’t have my baby sister running around with unkempt hair. So, I perfected my haircare skills.

Karina: You’re definitely talented. I swear, it’s like your fingers are pure magic, they just feel so good whenever they’re in my hair or massaging my scalp. I honestly can’t get enough.

Nick:🤨 Is that so? 😏

Karina: Mm-hmm.

Nick: *murmurs into her ear* How about I show you just how magical my fingers are after we get out of here.

Karina: *Blushes as his warm breath caresses her skin, and swallows hard.* I’d like that.

Nick: Good, because I’m all about show and tell. 😉

Karina: *swallows hard* Umm… For me, it’s probably knife-throwing.

Nick: That’s not all that surprising, but then I know all about your impeccable aim.

Karina: I have you to thank for my impeccable aim. 😊 If you hadn’t trained me, I’d still be throwing my blades into your walls instead of hitting the actual targets.

Nick: Practice makes perfect.

Karina: So does having a good teacher. 😘

16. Do you like having your picture taken?

Karina: Yes and no. Honestly, it all depends on my mood. Sometimes I don’t mind posing for pictures—as long as I don’t look like a hot mess—and other times, it just feels intrusive.

Nick: Yeah, I get that. I don’t mind having my pic snapped on holidays or special occasions, but when we’re just hanging out at the bar or grabbing a bite to eat, that shit grates on my last nerve.

Karina: Gods, I hate having my picture taken while I’m eating. Just let me enjoy my food.

Nick: I hear you, sweetheart. Loud and fucking clear.

17. Who or what did you last take a picture of?

Nick: I don’t snap pics all that often. *tips his beer back and takes a drink* I think the last pic I took was of Kari and all the girls on the beach.

Karina: That was the weekend before Labor Day. I actually love that picture—and I usually hate outdoor pics because my hair always looks like a disheveled mess.

Nick: Your hair never looks like a mess. It’s sexy when it’s all wind-blown. 😉

Karina: I’m glad one of us thinks so. 😘 The last picture I took was of Nick giving Max belly rubs out on the lawn.

Nick: That was after we got done playing fetch.

Karina: Yeah, I got a ton of candid shots of that too.

Nick: You’re lucky Max was distracted, otherwise he would’ve run off the second he saw your camera.

Karina: I know! I don’t know why your dog is so camera shy.

Nick: Beats the fuck out of me. Normally, he’s an attention-whore, but the second anyone busts out a camera, he gets timid. It’s a damn head-scratcher.

Karina: Yeah, I don’t get it.

18. Out of your family and friends, who is someone you’d like to spend more time with?

Karina: Lexi. She lives with us, and I feel like weeks go by where we barely see each other—other than at dinner. I really need to make more time for her.

Nick: Yeah. I feel you. I’ve been meaning to spend more with Aria, but it’s just been one fucking emergency after another. I can’t catch a damn break.

Karina: Yeah, things have been pretty chaotic around here lately. *tilts her head up at him* We have the weekend off. What if we took the girls up to the orchard tomorrow?

Nick: Arbor Farms?

Karina: Yeah, they both love it there. And the weather is supposed to be absolutely gorgeous.

Nick: I’m good with that. Let’s talk to the girls before we hit up the beach house and see if they’re up for a field trip.

Karina: I’m sure they will be.

Nick: I’ve got no doubt. 😉

19. If you had to listen to one Halloween song on repeat for the entire day, which song would you choose?

Nick: Highway to Hell by AC/DC.

Karina: Good one. I’m going with Disturbia by Rihanna.  

20. Name a popular Fall-time food or drink that many people love, but you hate.

Karina: Candy corn. I fucking hate it. It’s just so overly sweet and gritty. I honestly don’t know how or why anyone likes it.

Nick: Candy corn is fucking nasty. I tried that shit once. And once was enough.

Karina: Same. *nods* I think I know your answer to this one.

Nick: 🤨Yeah? What’s that?

Karina: Pumpkin pie.

Nick: Yup. Can’t stand the taste or the texture.

Karina: Yeah, I can’t handle the texture either. I love pumpkin spice, but pumpkin pie grosses me out.

Nick: That’s because it’s baby food disguised as pie.

Karina: 😂

Nick: It is. It’s just pumpkin puree, condensed milk, and some spices. It’s basically the same shit I fed to Aria when she was a baby. Minus the bells and whistles.

Karina: You have a point. I just never thought of it that way.

Nick: You learned something new. You’re welcome.😉

Karina: 😄And that is just one of the many reasons I love you. 😘

Nick: Love you too. *kisses her forehead*

21. What is your favorite Halloween tradition?

Nick: The bonfire.

Karina: Yes! The bonfire is my favorite too. I love hanging out with everyone, and I love listening to music while telling stories and drinking Riss’s famous spiced spiked cider by the fire. It’s the best part of the night.

Nick: Damn straight it is. And it’s the best way to end the night, right along with this takeover.

Karina: Wait. This is the last question?

Nick: Mm-hmm.

Karina: Wow, time flies. I guess that’s a wrap.

Nick: It sure fucking is.

Karina: Once again, Nick and I want to thank you for joining us, and we hope you had fun. We both want to wish you a happy, healthy, and safe Halloween and upcoming holiday season.

Nick: Stay safe out there.

Karina: And don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.

Nick: Or would do. 😉

Karina: 😅

Until next time,

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