estdeus_innobis | After the snow has fallen

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After the snow has fallen

Wednesday, early evening; after the snow has stopped but the power is still out.

It seems that I missed some excitement last night. When I came through from the apartment to the inn proper in the late morning, I found a note from Adam.

Boss -
There was a bit of a ruckus here last night. Some girl took her clothes off and got offended when Billy Hogan got fresh. A fight broke out - just the usual broken glasses. Will tell you more about it when I'm in next. Don't believe everything any of the regulars tell you - I was the only one who wasn't drunk.
A.

I would, perhaps, have got to hear some of those stories, and I must say I'm terribly curious, but then it started snowing. It has been a long time since I saw snow fall like it did this afternoon; since I lived in New London, I think, for Versailles was warmer. The Whitechapel is quiet enough during the early afternoons anyway, so we locked the front door, Cora and Peter soon settled into a high stakes game of gin rummy, and I went to make sure that Hermia and Alice were alright. Luckily we have plenty of food and firewood, and the apartment is well furnished with candles.

The snow has settled down now, but it is very dark outside and the power is still out. So I come back into the bar and Cora - cheerful for once, having managed to take most of Peter's wages for this week - and I get the fire banked as high as possible and line the windows with candles so that passerby can see that we are open, and I unlock the front door. I imagine that many people's homes will be very cold and very dark this evening, and what better cure for that than company and alcohol?

[OPEN]

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Everybody is still fussing, though maybe not as loud before. Mice in the storeroom when the lights come on, that's what it's like now. Still words, all tossed over my head, but with leaving as well, with things calming down. I'm happy for it, because I don't like the way the big man's voice crawls on my skin when he's angry, and sad too. Without all the yelling, there's no reason for me to stay downstairs. Valmont won't be busy with everybody else anymore and then he'll make me go to bed.

I clutch to Gaueko's hand tighter with the thought just as the- the other man, wings and blood and no way to describe it in my head, just as he starts talking again. "No, girl. Didn't know you could see like that." I blink at him, thinking maybe I'm in trouble for that too before I remember what Mr Constantine said about Excolo being different and maybe it being okay. The big man too, he says the same, so maybe even if some people say I should get in trouble they'll say different. "Should listen to your father, little one."

And I don't know what to do to that, except to nod, because he's right. Even if I don't want to listen, I know I should. A nod and a look up to the big man, eyes as sad as I feel at the idea of shuffling back to my room and watching the snow fall from through the window. "I have to go upstairs now. Everybody says so." Then, well, I don't move right away. I nodded and I said it and I'll do it, but maybe I stop a little bit before too. Maybe I stay there, with my hand in Gaueko's and the shadows all around, hoping he'll say I can stay instead.

Edited 2010-01-24 08:29 (UTC)

I have been trying to become a part of the wall during all of this. Between Gaueko bellowing, Simon... more to say, his companion speaking up, and Alice thrown into the mix, I figure I would just slip out again when someone new walked through the door.

People are branching off a bit, trying to get things back to congenial, but Gaeuko is having none of it. I can't say as I blame him in this one instance, but Iago is trying.

"I don't want any trouble as I've enough already to last indefinitely and rather than disturb you further, I'll take my leave. A good night to you, sir," Okay, that sounds like the best idea in the world, but I wonder if Gaueko will let that happen... "Lannie, let's be off. Lucien, you're welcome to join us, since you're already dressed for it. Likewise, I'd not refuse the company." What??? Wait??? How'd I'd get drawn into this? Oh right... Excolo.

"Uhhhh... sure." I say, hoping to hell we can make a clean getaway. "Been wanting to talk to you anyway." Which is not a lie, since I am very curious about the selective memory loss in his case.

The room goes very quiet, and I feel a great weight on me for a moment, cold in my chest like when I lay on my back in a field just outside town, Lysander's sword wound in my stomach, pain passing into a great silence.

And then the moment passes, and people are speaking again, slightly more measured than before. Alice has her hand in Gaueko's. I do not like that. I do not like it at all.

"Maybe just one time I could stay downstairs? To talk to all the people and watch the snow? Maybe please?"

Simon chips in with a soft "Should listen to your father, little one." It almost makes me start, hearing myself called father, but it doesn't feel wrong.

I gently pull her away from Gaueko, taking both her hands.

"You can stay downstairs, Alice," I say. "But sit down by the window like a good girl, yes?" I say. "It's easier to watch the snow from there." Even a few feet of distance from Gaueko will make me more comfortable. We have the bell jar at our apartment, but Alice is in and out of there. I wonder if there's a way of making a bell jar that Alice can wear. Something small. I will ask Hermia.

It looks like things may be calming down, with people leaving.

"You can stay downstairs, Alice," Valmont says to the little girl. It seems I remember something about he and his fiancee taking in a child. "But sit down by the window like a good girl, yes? It's easier to watch the snow from there."

"It is very pretty out there, Alice," I note with a glance at Valmont. "You really should go see." Please, please get out of the middle of this.

I wish it was as easy to find excuses for adults.

Everyone's getting involved now, but there are only two people I have an eye for; one is my ninia, being drawn away from me (but not back upstairs, that would have earned a snarl), and the other is the bartender, who's now backing away towards the door. "I don't want any trouble as I've enough already to last indefinitely and rather than disturb you further, I'll take my leave. A good night to you, sir. Lannie, let's be off. Lucien, you're welcome to join us, since you're already dressed for it. Likewise, I'd not refuse the company."

Leaving in a group. Vaguely smart. I spare a glance to my ninia, "As far as I'm concerned, little one, you're welcome to stay," and then step

through

the

shadow

the shadow of flickering candleflame and snow-moonlight and when I step out I'm standing in the doorway.

"Now then," I say mildly, towering over the bartender and his little retinue. "Let's talk about my Glass, what do you say?"

Valmont and another guy try to coax the little girl away and I hope they succeed. That little girl shouldn't be anywhere near this psychotic piece of shit. I don't like the glance he tosses her way either, like she's a nice juicy bone that's all his. Somehow I'm not surprised. Frankly I'm shocked he hasn't pissed all over the place to mark it as his too.

"As far as I'm concerned, little one, you're welcome to stay,"

Oh she has his permission? Isn't that sweet. I have to bite my lip hard to hold that comment back. Keeping Iago alive is my job, not getting him beat to a bloody pulp. He going don that road well enough on his own. Suddenly the god man disappears and I can't help but shove Iago behind me as I spin around and growl a low "What the Fuck?!" when his voice pops up behind us. What the fuck did he just do?

"Now then, Let's talk about my Glass, what do you say?"

His voice is calm but his stance isn't. This does nothing to relax me as I stay where I am and get a better look at this guy. Christ he's tall..and now he's blocking the door... So much for leaving.

No, no, no, no, no.

Valmont is pulling me away, saying I can stay, but pulling me away. That's okay, I guess, because he said I could watch the snow and the angel man scares me, makes my skin crawl, but the big man's still right there, still so close so I nod along, trying to tug away to tell Gaueko to come sit with me where I can feel his shadow. Just until people leave, just until the fighting is good and stopped and none of it hurts my head anymore. But then he leaves, he leaves. He says I can stay too, for all that matters, and then he's in the shadows, like where he took me I think, and I can feel the tears well up in my eyes.

I want to do like I'm supposed to. I want to sit at the table and drink my cocoa and watch the snow. And it's not fair, not at all, that I can't. I can't just sit there, not with all the people fighting and the angel man looming tall over for when everybody dies. Somebody growls and I look over that way to see the big man stepping out like he does, with some lady glaring up at him. Except it's not a lady, kinda sorta not, because it's a big wolf like Johnny. Like Johnny and angry. What if she hurts him, what if something bad happens and the angel man has to take him to heaven and- and-

It's too much now, I think. The fight was supposed to be over. It wasn't so bad with the big man with me and was supposed to be over besides, but it's not. Not as much yelling now but all the colors are worse and the angel man is going to have to pick up everybody bit by bit with the way they want to kill at each other. I whimper and jerk away from Valmont at the same time, not wanting to be down here anymore. I don't like it. Too much.

"Gaueko..." I hear my own voice say, a whining sort of whisper that's more a kitten lost all alone than a girl with too many people around, with the wind rattling at the windows louder than before. "Make everybody stop yelling now."

Lucien amenable to exiting, saying, "Uhhhh... sure. Been wanting to talk to you anyway." I nod, hoping to make my way quickly out before the situation worsens.

The young miss wants to stay and Gaueko agrees, leaving me to wonder if Valmont realizes the difficulties he's going to have if he disagrees. It's not my concern though and I give a longing glance towards the door. It's not to be though as suddenly, Gaueko's blocking the way out as he pleasantly says, "Now then, Let's talk about my Glass, what do you say?"

How the fuck..?

Lannie's between myself and Gaueko, giving me a distinctly uneasy feeling for her safety and she's cursing under her breath as well. The young miss is unhappy with things, asking Gaueko to "Make everybody stop yelling now." Funny that as he was the only one doing so.

Deciding quickly on a course of action, I acquiesce without fuss, moving to the table closest to the door while pulling Lannie along with me. Nudging her into the seat closest to the wall, I stand near her at an empty chair and offer the one across from me to Gaueko as I reply respectfully, "Have a seat. As I'm a captive audience, I say we should talk about whatever you wish."

There's another free chair here and should Lucien want to join us, there's room but I'd not blame him if he chose otherwise. Not in the least. Waving to the bartender, I call out, "A bottle of whiskey please," before turning back to Gaueko and prompting him with, "You mentioned your daughter?"

Valmont's got Alice, and I think again that he's a good guy, and not just for a townie. If he's got any idea who's in his bar right now that his kid's cuddling up to and he's managing not to panic and make it worse, he's a really good guy.

And then Gaueko's gone and back again, and oh yeah, I remember that trick, and for a second my fingers reach for smooth hot metal to push against. There was ice everywhere then too.

Alice says his name right as the windows rattle in their frames, and I shoot them a quick look, 'cause that sounded a bit odd. I understand wanting that in principle, I really really do, but I am pretty sure that "I've got one hell of a bone to pick with you, you inbred little fuck!" came out louder than anything else anyone has been saying. "No-one's yelling, hon," I say gently, glancing over to where Iago and Lannie are sitting down with Gaueko. "No-one's hitting each other, no-one's yelling." No-one is hitting each other, and I guess that seems kinda odd given how Gaueko blew up on the midway when Tez went after Anushka--

Okay, actually, that seems maybe more than kinda odd. He was on Tez's throat about three seconds after Tez touched Anushka and saw her, really saw her, and he hasn't even touched this guy (and oh, really, married to his daughter? Fuck me with a chainsaw).

"It's gonna be okay," I say to Alice, sitting down at the table with her and Simon, and wiping my eyes, and yeah they're still leaking but I'm grinning. I'm pretty sure it's true, true enough, all gonna be fine. Lower my voice and sneak another look at the table. "He's got a kid?" I say softly to Simon. "I didn't know gods did-- I don't know." I'm trying to imagine Lugh or Eris babysitting, Tez running around after someone the way I used to need to keep an eye on Sabela and Xay, Verdi even being old enough to have a kid. It's all really weird.

I won't say it doesn't sting a little when Alice pulls away from me and says Gaueko's name. He likes her because he sees the oddity in her, whatever it is that can make lamps flicker and doors shut, and, I think, because her fragility reminds him of Anushka.

We know how well that ended.

There are a few of us at this table now, and although I stay standing I am by Alice's chair, between her and Gaueko - who is any case is now at the door after a little show of power. I have seen neater tricks than that in my time in Excolo.

"You'll be able to build snowmen tomorrow," I say to Alice. "I wonder if the pond at the park has iced up enough to skate on yet."

He's shouting again, for all the girl's asking him to stop. A flare of power from her. Human sort of thing, all anger and upset and energy. Shoot a glance at the pes but it seems like he's just blustering now.

Zann sits down with us. Wipes at her eyes, and I smile at her. Starting to realize the effect I have on her, for all I don't mean to. "He's got a kid?" She says it soft, and he might not notice. "I didn't know gods did-- I don't know."

I shake my head. "His by blood and nothing more. She's her mother's daughter, not his." Frown at his back. "It happens, between gods and mortals. Usually it's trouble."

The big man says there's no yelling anymore and he's right, there isn't, but the colors said different, still flaring up angry and scared as I look around. I don't like it, the words not matching the colors, and there's nothing to do with Valmont setting me at a table and the snow coming down outside to keep us all in.

"You'll be able to build snowmen tomorrow," comes from Valmont, and his words don't match either, with his colors all sorts of worried even though his voice is trying for nice. "I wonder if the pond at the park has iced up enough to skate on yet."

My eyes are on Gaueko, not the window, even if I wanted to look at the snow before. I'm not angry anymore, all that seeping out of me and just leaving worry bubbling up in my throat, wanting to come out my eyes and streak down my cheeks. The wolf lady is mad and she's looking at Gaueko and then he'll get hurt and the angel man will take him to heaven and-

"Why are you here?" I ask the angel man, my face gone serious with the windows still wanting to rattle from the wind and the glasses on the table doing the same. "Nobody's gonna die. Nobody." And that's that.

I think she's listening to Valmont, but she's looking at Gaueko, and she's got that funny tight set to her throat that always pulls down the corners of your mouth, and her eyes are shining, and then she turns to Simon looking serious as... well. As death, was what I was gonna think, but I kinda can't being myself to finish the thought.

"Alice, honey?" I say, reaching out to touch her hand. "No-one's gonna hurt him. Honest. I've seen him pick a fight with the night sky, I sweartogod I have, and he just strolled away at the end of it all. No-one's gonna hurt him." It's quiet and kinda awkward for a second and I try to find something to say, manage a smile. "Don't be upset, okay, hon? Please? It'll be okay?"

Girl's watching them argue, her eyes wide. Looks to me sudden - "Why are you here?" Question makes my breath catch. "Nobody's gonna die. Nobody." Oh. Shake my head again. "Not for me to say, little one." Zann pipes up. "Alice, honey?" Touches the girl's hand, and I think she might be more reassuring. "No-one's gonna hurt him. Honest. I've seen him pick a fight with the night sky, I sweartogod I have, and he just strolled away at the end of it all. No-one's gonna hurt him." She smiles at the girl. "Don't be upset, okay, hon? Please? It'll be okay?"

Lean forward. "I'm just here for a drink, little one. Wasn't planning and carrying anyone home, tonight."

To be honest, I'm not interested in finding out what Simon is, because from the way Alice is looking at him he's not quite an ordinary man, and although Alice has - problems - I know she sees things I do not. I know. But I am quite happy at the moment to continue to believe that Simon is just a butcher. And I do not like the way Alice keeps looking over at Gaueko.

"Alice, my dear," I say quietly, "it must be your bedtime. Come on, I'll take you upstairs."

"Not for me to say, little one," the angel man says, his voice not making me feel any better when it washes over. Not for him, not for him, and I know that, it's not for man to know the time and maybe not angels either. But I still don't like it.

"Alice, honey?" The pieces lady is talking now and her voice is better, her colors too; at least the ones I can see through the tick tock work. "No-one's gonna hurt him. Honest. I've seen him pick a fight with the night sky, I sweartogod I have, and he just strolled away at the end of it all. No-one's gonna hurt him. Don't be upset, okay, hon? Please? It'll be okay?"

"Okay," croaks out from my mouth, easier to say looking at the pieces lady and not... Him.

Though he's talking again, leaning forward even, so I can see the face he wears better through all the light. It's a man face, which is kinda weird 'cause I know it's not right. "I'm just here for a drink, little one. Wasn't planning and carrying anyone home, tonight."

"Promise?" That comes out easier, because a promise is a promise and that's that. No getting out of it. "Everybody's all mad now. Everybody's gonna get hurt now." I shake my head, don't want to think about it, told the pieces lady I wouldn't get upset so I don't want to think about it.

"Alice, my dear. It must be your bedtime. Come on, I'll take you upstairs."

I don't want to go to bed, even now. Sitting here is better, even though my head is starting to hurt. I still don't like the way the wolf lady is looking at Gaueko, not at all, and even if there are promises, something bad could happen. It makes something twist in me, just to think about it.

But I know I shouldn't misbehave. I already came downstairs when I wasn't supposed to and I don't want to get in trouble, with Valmont being so nice about me talking back before. So I nod, small and slow, before getting up from the table. A look over to Gaueko and I think maybe people are leaving, no more fighting or angry words. I give him a little smile and follow Valmont upstairs.

I just had to leave the office today, didn't I?

Gaueko drags Iago back into the argument, and God bless him (help him?) he tries again, heading for a table. I do note there is one chair left and...
I bet it's for me.

I could go, get out of Dodge, head for higher ground....

fuckFuckFUCK

With a sigh I stuff my hands into my pockets and head over to the empty chair. I shoot a small smile to Lannie, who is also in the middle of this mess, and hope the fact that I have been combing my medical books for a reason or solution to Iago's memory loss may help lessen Gaueko's anger.

Somehow I doubt it.

Just about everyone's fussing over my ninia now, and hardly paying attention to me. Which would be fine, with the bartender staring up at me and all but pissing his pants in terror. He doesn't try to run, which is good. I'm not sure I could restrain myself enough to keep from chasing him if he did. He sits at a table and orders a bottle of whisky, and his hands are barely shaking. He's got some guts to him, but I knew that already.

I'm distracted only when my ninia calls my name, pleading and terrified. Poor little thing. All this is far too much for her. "No more yelling, little one." I say, raising my voice so that she can hear me, but not yelling. "No more yelling. I promise." She has others fussing over her, but if she calls me again I'll go to her. Poor little thing.

"You mentioned your daughter?"

"Indeed I did," I say, pouring myself a double measure. "My daughter who you married and then allowed someone to curse you into forgetting. I'm betting it was your father, considering the man has the dispostion of a worm-riddled wolverine with a toothache. But what I'm trying to figure out is just how we can get your memory back. I'm thinking that opening your skull up and carving her name into the meat of your brain might work. What do you think?"

Gaueko answers the young miss, saying, "No more yelling, little one. No more yelling. I promise." I suppose that only leaves quiet discussions and random violence then. How fortunate for me. Or not.

Trusting in his promise to Verdi, I offer him a seat and begin an unwilling conservation. The whiskey arrives and Gaueko pours himself a drink. I follow suit and offer the bottle to Lannie and Lucien, giving Lucien a small smile before turning back to Gaueko as he replies to me.

I light a smoke and take a sip of my drink, considering what to say before I respectfully ask, "How does one go about allowing themselves to be cursed? It's not as if I'd received any warning, otherwise, I assure you, I'd have avoided it."

I lean back in my chair as I continue evenly, "And while I appreciate your current offer of a solution, I must respectfully decline. I'd prefer to go with something less... messy to my person and the people around me." I exhale, glancing briefly at my friends, the loyal idiots, before adding, "However, if you'd like to collaborate on a viable solution, I'm more than willing to do so. That's what I think."

I knock back half my drink before quietly asking, "If you believe my father to be the source of the problem, why are you upset with me, the victim in this?"

The bartender does indeed have guts. I'm starting to remember why I liked him. "How does one go about allowing themselves to be cursed? It's not as if I'd received any warning, otherwise, I assure you, I'd have avoided it." he says, taking a drink, "And while I appreciate your current offer of a solution, I must respectfully decline. I'd prefer to go with something less... messy to my person and the people around me. However, if you'd like to collaborate on a viable solution, I'm more than willing to do so. That's what I think." Most of the whisky disappears down his throat before he continues, "If you believe my father to be the source of the problem, why are you upset with me, the victim in this?"

"First off," I say cheerfully, "to answer both your questions, considering you're married to a demi-god, serving another god, and your best friend...possibly bum-buddy as well, I haven't quite worked that one out yet...is immortal, you should be smart enough to recognize the signs of magic around you. That you didn't is a sign of either idiocy or willful ignorance, and I dislike both." I toss my own shot back and begin pouring myself another, banging the glass back down to the table. "Second of all. Your father is not the one upsetting my daughter. You are, or rather, your stubborn refusal to remember her is. Therefore, you are the object of irritation." Another shot down my throat, burning its way down to my gullet. "In addition," I say as I pour, really warming to the subject now, "If you had any brains or any guts whatsoever, you would have realized that your father is a shit-brained snake-eyed ball-licker who would suck the rotting cock of a goat if he thought it would meet his ends. As such, you should either have never gone near him again, or else slashed his throat months ago. I favour the latter myself, but either would have kept us from this situation here."

The second shot is tipped down my throat. The glass slams against the table hard enough to scar the wood, "Finally, and perhaps most important of all...he's not here." My lips lift and spread, and I grin at him, teeth in the candlelight, "But you are."

Edited 2010-01-29 05:16 (UTC)

Listening to Gaueko's line of thought is both enlightening and alarming, and vaguely insulting as well, but I find it's easier to set that piece aside as I drink more whiskey. The threat in the glinting teeth helps too. Intending to address his notions, I begin with an honest question, "Are you dismayed that I'm not as especially clever as you'd hoped?"

I take a drag, exhaling before I say, "Considering all those people you mentioned, I'd agree with you completely, except for the flaws. Truly, it's only due to perspective but I believe it's key. Of those three people, I only recall two, and only one, Verdandi, from recently." Another drag and I say, "Verdi's done all she could and more, and frankly, I'd rather not have her experiment any further on me, unless necessary. I've turned purple, among other things, but I still can't remember my wife. Dorian, I recall, but from quite a while ago, not from anytime recent though."

I finish my drink, refilling it as I comment pleasantly, "I'd just like to interject here and offer my congratulations on your near-constant originality regarding the combo of both insults and foul language. And were it not directed at me, I'd be inspired and highly amused but such as it is," and I trail off, giving him a half-shrug before draining my drink.

My smoke's almost out and I light a new one before crushing out the stub. "I'm not a murderer," and I'm even-toned as I continue, "And I don't favor patricide as a solution, not even for my father. However, if it were possible, I would gladly trade locations with him immediately." I'm amused now, flashing a half-grin as I ask, "Why deny him the full pleasure of your irritated company, yes? Truly, I would see it as just desserts and I could likely arrange a meeting later." Anything to not marry Rosalind...

I give him a cheerful grin and continue, "You tell me when's best for you, and I'll make sure he meets you then." I finish the third drink, still grinning as I add, "In fact, I could take care of that right now. Unless you had more to say...?"

"Are you dismayed that I'm not as especially clever as you'd hoped?"

"Partly," I snort, "particularly since her other man isn't much for brains. I was rather hoping you'd balance out the equation."

He smokes, I drink. "Considering all those people you mentioned, I'd agree with you completely, except for the flaws. Truly, it's only due to perspective but I believe it's key. Of those three people, I only recall two, and only one, Verdandi, from recently."

"Yes, now," I shake my head, "you should have gotten out of the situation before it happened. Maybe some of your brains got taken with the memories." That can happen. You mean to just make someone forget last week and then end up with a man who's forgotten how to put pants on or why it's a bad idea to play with yourself in public.

He makes some empty compliment about my talent at swearing and I wave my hand dismissively. Trying to get on my good side. But he continues, "I'm not a murderer," and I'm even-toned as I continue, "And I don't favor patricide as a solution, not even for my father. However, if it were possible, I would gladly trade locations with him immediately. Why deny him the full pleasure of your irritated company, yes? Truly, I would see it as just desserts and I could likely arrange a meeting later."

"First of all, the more fool you." I say, pouring another drink. "And if you need any more reason for me to be pissed at you, then that's it. That man should have been killed years ago, and your excuse for not doing it is 'I don't do that'. Not a reason. When something needs doing, you fucking do it. And at worst, if you faint at the sight of blood or whatever...though there are certainly ways around that, I don't know why the fuck you'd go near enough to him to allow this to happen."

I shake a cigarette out of my own pack and light it, "And for whatever reason, Glass has asked me not to kill your father. She might want to handle it herself, I don't know. And sit down. We're not done." Maybe she doesn't want to take care of it herself, but I see no reason I can't drag him back and seal him in her cellar until he regrows his brain cells.

Edited 2010-02-01 00:34 (UTC)

"Partly, particularly since her other man isn't much for brains. I was rather hoping you'd balance out the equation."

Her other man? I suppose he means Dorian and I comment, "He's quite pretty but why you expected him to be brilliant is beyond me. As for the rest, well, I suppose you and my father have a common opinion of me." I grin, feeling generous, perhaps from the liquor, as I add, "But I won't hold it against you."

He goes on, laying out his unreasonable expectations as as he muses about my apparent stupidity. Maintaining my sense of humor, I grin and continue to drink while complimenting him. He's tries to wave it away and I listen attentively as he continues to insult me while suggesting murder as a viable course of action. He adds, "...I don't know why the fuck you'd go near enough to him to allow this to happen."

Before I can stop myself, I chime in cheerfully, "Well, it's not as if I could avoid him. He's quite determined, when he chooses to be. I have the foul luck to occupying more of his thoughts than I'd like. Family," and I shrug, draining and refilling the drink quickly. I'm up to four. Or five?

Apparently, my wife's secured some sort of promise and I grin, pleased at her cleverness. If I have to be married, she may as well be bright, yes? He thwarts my escape though and I grin widely at him as he declares, "...We're not done."

I exhale my smoke low and offer in a helpful tone, "If you'd like me to fix this, then keeping me here won't help a bit."

I'm pleasant, warming to the topic as if it were a game and I begin a list, "We've already established that my father's a prick of many variations, and that I'm not as clever as you'd hoped." Pondering, I continue, "Whether that's due to inbreeding or my current affliction is up in the air, but that still leaves me an idiot either way." I brighten as I add, "Oh, and I'm lacking that certain killer instinct. I'm thinking you take that as a flaw as well."

I'm remarkably cheerful considering the frightening company and intrigued by the whole absurd situation, I ask, "Have I missed anything?"

....he was a hell of a lot more respectful before he lost his memory. "He's quite pretty but why you expected him to be brilliant is beyond me. As for the rest, well, I suppose you and my father have a common opinion of me. But I won't hold it against you."

"I'm so glad," I say cheerfully, "for your opinion means ever so much to me." Still smiling, I tip my drink back with one hand, reach out with the other and seize the back of his head, yanking it forward and down. I stop about an inch short of smashing his face to jelly on the table. "Don't compare me to him again." I say as I set my glass down.

To give him credit, though, he does recover quite quickly. And it doesn't turn him off his drinks. "Well, it's not as if I could avoid him. He's quite determined, when he chooses to be. I have the foul luck to occupying more of his thoughts than I'd like. Family,"

"I fail to see why you couldn't avoid him," I snort, "and if he really makes it that impossible, we come back to killing him. Or at least threaten him with something. Maybe that busty sheriff would lend you her gun. You're meant to be resourceful, boy." He keeps refilling my glass, too, which is good. "Or get your little snarly friend to chew on him some." She's shut up too, I notice, which is welcome. "Though I must say, if you're going to fuck something canine, an actual dog is cheaper to feed and doesn't give you all that backtalk." If it wasn't for Glass, I'd say he had poor taste in women. This one's pretty enough, but she has far too much of a mouth on her, and not much of a survival instinct either. Seems obedient enough, though.

He breathes smoke and opines that, "If you'd like me to fix this, then keeping me here won't help a bit."

"Leaving you to wander the town doesn't seem to be doing a hell of a lot of good either," I shrug, "So I'm thinking taking out a few frustrations on you will serve well enough."

"We've already established that my father's a prick of many variations, and that I'm not as clever as you'd hoped. Whether that's due to inbreeding or my current affliction is up in the air, but that still leaves me an idiot either way. Oh, and I'm lacking that certain killer instinct. I'm thinking you take that as a flaw as well. Have I missed anything?"

"It's quite remarkable to me that you can remember everything but the one thing that counts," I smirk, taking another mouthful of whisky. "But no, you haven't missed anything. The question of what the hell to do with you still occurs. I'm still favouring anything that includes violence, mind, but that is a certain predilection I have. But if you have any useful suggestions, I'll listen." I glance at the bottle. Damn. "Provided you buy another bottle."

I listen as they banter back and fourth. I'm drinking more and trying not to growl or start a fight. Iago brings up good valid points -- which is what Iago does rather than fight-- and the god guy repeatedly shoots them down, not offering anything of real use. Except that Glass is his daughter? HIS? I'll have to offer my apologies when I see her next. Luckily she seems to have better taste in men than her mother did.

It shouldn't surprise me that the only thing he has to offer is bodily harm. If you can't kill it, fuck it or eat it, may as well chase it, catch it with your teeth and shake the shit out of it, right? Why use logic. That would be ... logical. But he goes on anyway and it just gets worse. I straighten and lunge when he grabs Iago's head. I'm fast, but not fast enough. Holy Shit. I don't even touch him before he's leaning back saying "Don't compare me to him again."

"Why not? You both act the same," I smile, baring teeth as I hook my foot under Iago's seat and pull it and him back, hopefully out of arm's reach. Then he starts in about me."Though I must say, if you're going to fuck something canine, an actual dog is cheaper to feed and doesn't give you all that backtalk."

I'm glad I've been drinking this whole time or this shit would have set me off. I've barely said shit until now... maybe getting his attention from Iago is a good thing, though not the best for me, but I can take a hit better than he can. "If its cheaper and you're offering, why don't you just drop your pants and bend over then?" I say in a joking tone, even though I'm not joking at all. Figures, he would think we're fucking. At the rate this dominance game is going, I'm surprised he hasn't started humping someone's leg.

"Leaving you to wander the town doesn't seem to be doing a hell of a lot of good either," Because he's so concerned with doing anyone any fucking good. I roll my eyes. "So I'm thinking taking out a few frustrations on you will serve well enough."

"Wait... did I miss the part where something was done to you?! Far as I've seen its Glass who's lost a husband and Iago a wife. Do you have to be double jointed to get your head stuck that far up your own ass? Or is it a god thing?"

"But no, you haven't missed anything. The question of what the hell to do with you still occurs. I'm still favouring anything that includes violence, mind, but that is a certain predilection I have. But if you have any useful suggestions, I'll listen. Provided you buy another bottle."

Yeah you and me both, Pal. Sucks that you just happened to be the biggest kid on the playground, with better toys. I wave at the bartender and ask for not one bottle but two. Lucien and I can split one. Might keep me from offering my useful suggestion of setting the bottle on fire and jamming it up his ass. I can't believe this useless shit bag is a god.

After the snow has fallen

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