estdeus_innobis | No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow.

July 3rd, Friday night
Stumbling homewards along the bank of the river

I am not sure who is helping who to walk; Iago helping me or me helping Iago. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to grab him and take him over to La Fee Verte ... but he was mopey and it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Admittedly, I don't have the best track record with good ideas. We got drunk on absinthe. Then I thought it would cheer him up ever more, so we went to see the show at The Grindhouse. Then Daiyu happened. Before I could say 'boo', we were back in her trailer, chasing the dragon. What happened next is still rather fuzzy. I am pretty sure we didn't have sex, with either her or each other, but I am pretty sure we got a private viewing of her contortion act.

But now my head just hurts, and Iago's giggling madly and stumbling over his own feet, and I may just need to sleep this off. Maybe I just want to get back inside....

Shake my head to make that crawling feeling go away. I'm being silly, it's not like I am out alone, after all. Iago is babbling something about his cousins, and I can't follow any of it. "You are an absolute mess, do you know that?" I say, half sighing, half laughing. "Granted, I am an absolute mess too." We both stumble and barely keep each other from going down face first into the river.

"We are never telling Glass about this, right?"

(open to Iago and Marbas and Kaeli)

Threaded | Flat

I've not smoked any opium since that last time with Dorian and perhaps I shouldn't have this time. The whys of it escape me right now before I'm overcome with an uncharacteristic bout of giggles. Damn dragon... I swear it chased me this time, and then sat on me for good measure.

Picturing Lucien's contortionist, I'm struck with a funny thought regarding one of my cousins. Perhaps it was the other one and before I know it, I'm saying all of it, stumbling along with Lucien as I try to regale him in my disjointed way.

"You are an absolute mess, do you know that?"

"I'm a mess?" There's another fit of snorting giggles and I'm nodding as he adds, "Granted, I am an absolute mess too." Fate must agree because we stumble again, barely keeping our balance for the moment.

I glance at the rushing river before saying, "It would suck to drown, Lucien. If anything's likely to piss off Glass, it would be that." I give him a silly half-grin, adding, "I think she'd miss you too."

"We are never telling Glass about this, right?"

Chuckling madly, I ask, "Which part? Almost falling in the river?" I nod much more vigorously than I intended before continuing brightly, "Your secret's safe with me." I blink, attempting to recall whatever else might upset her. "The contortionist was interesting but since Glass is unlikely to come looking for me on her own, I doubt she'll ever know." I poke him in the ribs, amused as I add, "Unless you tell her yourself, of course."

I lean on him, he leans on me and between the two of us, we're actually still standing. Good for us, and I giggle before frowning. Damn opium... "So where to now? Surely that can't be the only fun to be had, not even in a town as small as this one."

It's late.
It's dark.

He's drunk and drugged.

And stumbling along the deserted river bank with the Tavern's bartender. Who is in worse shape than Lucien.

I doubt I will have a better chance than now.

Just need them to get a little farther down the river, where the bend curves away from the houses and the light...

Just a little bit further.

I'm not doing as well in this fight as I think I should be and after landing face-first in the turf, I'm royally pissed off.

I pick myself up and spit out dirt before glancing over my shoulder. Lucien's wrestling with Underhill and I make it to one knee, forcing myself to move faster than my body wants to. It's like swimming through molasses and when I finally make it to my feet, I'm rubbing my aching jaw. ...fucker, I'm going to break his nose a second time just for this.

I look over in time to see the two of them tumble down again. Lucien looks like he's doing better and I move forward, intent on pulling the lousy prick off my friend so I can follow through on that planned nose-breaking. I'm about to snarl at him when I see the unthinkable. Underhill's pulling a knife from Lucien's chest and I'm shocked to stillness as I watch in pure horror.

The blade plunges down, twisting viciously and almost immediately, Lucien's blood is quickly leaking out. There's so much of it.... No. NO!

As he raises the knife a second time, I charge the bastard, trying to knock it away by throwing all my weight at him. I have to get him away from Lucien. If Lucien dies, I don't know what I'll do so I have to stop this, and immediately, at that. A red haze of rage burns through my fogginess, lending me what I hope's an improved aim as I try to beat the shit out of the evil fucker that just stabbed Lucien.

Sick crunches sound under my pounding fists and goddamnit, I hope that was his nose again, and maybe a cheekbone or two as well. Whatever it was, I hope it hurts like hell. He fucking deserves it and I yell that at him before glancing quickly at Lucien. Fuckfuckfuck, he's not getting up. It's all this bastard's fault. I roar, stringing a long list of curses to match each hit I give him when suddenly there's another sickening crack, this one louder than any of the rest.

What did I do?

Summer has been lovely. I hadn't realized how much I missed the fresh air and grass between my toes until that first warm spring day. Every day since reminds me of the first. They keep getting better and better.

Anushka is dancing in my dreams tonight, laughing and free. I can't not join her, not when she's taking my hands. No burns, just warmth and grass and free-- Ouch. I wince, at the sharp pain.

Not laughing now, she kisses the top of my head, "We'll dance again, precious," she whispers, slipping away.

"No!" I cry out reaching into the empty room, pain throbbing in my stomach and a coldness creeping up from my feet. "What in the world?" I say, feet touching the floor.

Looking out the window towards town, everything looks like it should, but the pain sharpens a little more. Lucien's office is in that direction. If someone was brought in feeling like this, he might need my help.

Grabbing a coat to cover my nightgown, I bolt out the door, running toward Luciens' office. I'm part of the way there when I see a distant figure heading toward me in a staggering run.

The cold freezes my throat and I hope I can still scream if it comes to that. No reason to slow down, though.

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