On Ellen earlier this week, Minaj kept a jokingly terrified look on her face the whole time she — along with the studio audience — was viewing the clip, but DeGeneres is clearly pleased with the finished project. And who could blame her? As Minaj concludes, “Ellen, you are hilarous.”
Indeed she was. This was fantastic as was Nicki’s reaction. ❤
Hanging lazily off a top branch that swung out to join up with another tree’s follage, Raul yawned as it was just another lazy afternoon. His long black tail sweeping down beneath him as he kept his eyes closed and went back to snoring lightly. On a lower branch his brother; Shamus was watching out for prey that might happen along in the forest, as they some times did. Small deer, or if they were lucky something a bit larger. He heard the snores of his brother and glanced upward. “Will you stop that infernal racket. I’m trying to hunt here.” Shamus’s voice having a certain nasally whine to it which totally rubbed Raul up the wrong way. Raul opened an eyelid and then scratched his belly. The colour of night he blended well into the follage. “You call that hunting, brother. I call that…something else. What’s the word? Ah yes…hanging around. Heh.”
Shamus let out a growl, when suddenly he heard the oncoming sound of a large elk thundering through the undergrowth. Thinking this was his chance, he gathered himself up on the branch, ready to pounce down, when there was a blur of colour and the elk was taken down by a strange creature. Shamus’s head flicked back, his tail becoming erect. “Oi!” It was some sort of female…cat..dragon? He blinked, and then rubbed his paw against his eye. Surely he was seeing things. The din created by the killing of the elk, and the blood letting that ensued was enough to rouse Raul from his slumber. For a moment, he thought Shamus did it, till he stared down to see the female with the beheaded Elk.
“Woah. Someone’s in your territory, bro.” Raul said, now turning over and stretching. The smell of a fresh kill having him lick his lips. Shamus was poised to leap down when another happened along. A male. Shamus eased back again. This was getting beyond a joke. What was happening below was the ferocious feeding on the still kicking elk. Raul couldn’t contain himself, and leapt down from branch to branch, only to land about three feet from the action. A full blooded celestial cat that looked much like a large black leopard let out a loud roar, as it surveyed the changing male. Shamus quickly followed. He was a bit lighter in colour than his brother, and the twins observed the pair with piqued interest.
“Ooo she’s bloody. I fancy sniffing her out.” Raul said with a very toothy grin. Shamus wasn’t so sure when the boy turned into some pristine pomp looking humanoid prince.
Shamus whined loudly. “They’re kids.” And no ordinary kids either. Raul rolled his eyes, and then he changed into his true form. A black haired lad of about 17. His long gangily body was dressed in all black leather, with hair that hung down past his eyes.
“Check out the girl. her momma is going to be real angry cause she got her clothes dirty. Heh.”
Shamus smacked his brother’s arm and then whispered. “You don’t know who they are yet. Could be related to Eliles.”Raul snickered at this and then grinned again. “Get outta town. What would her kids be doing this far from home, hey?”
Shamus studied the boy’s attire and then said.
“Wing boy…got a name?”
Shamus had ginger red hair, which was a bit unusual considering his true form colouring. Both boys waited to hear the kids speak.
-The Twin half-breeds were greeted in kind by what they had least expected, twin Celestial cats. Weather they were related or not, Eliles twin children wouldn’t no until they informed them. As for who they are and why they were clear out of the way of mirari’s main towns. Who’s to say, not all the celstial cats were in constant command of there mother and many answered to Angels directly still work missions for the side of heaven. While others…lived on earth as normal as any creature till they were called to battle for the sake of heaven. Could these two boys be one of those, much like Ani and Nolans aunts and uncles were.
“Check out the girl. her momma is going to be real angry cause she got her clothes dirty. Heh.” the black cat said he thought it was a real riot didn’t he.
Didn’t he no better though, her mother was notorious for ruining clothing, and being bashful after word when she had to change clothing. The other male was smart in smacking his brother promptely. They were whispering amoungst each other and brother and sister looked at one another.
Aniceta when clean was a beauty all on her own, though still a bit young, her golden hair was pulled into a high pony tail then pleated tightly down he back. Usually the golden mass was a swirl of curls in every direction but down. While Nolan’s hair went straight down his back as straight as a nail. As for the two cats that greeted them, physically they were older then them but not by far, numerically…who’s counting again?
The Ginger cat pointed out Nolan first calling him winged boy. Nolan actually turning a shade of red covered his mouth and looked away, “um…N-Nolan,” he whispered softly. Aniceta rolled her eyes and rammed her elbow into his side. Nolan actually squeaked and rubbed at his rib cage where she hit him. It looked painful actually, but wasn’t it a good thing they were twins…she knew he could take a beating.
“I’m Aniceta Karedric, this is my twin brother Nolan Karedric, were Children of Eliles of The Flames of Morcal…but what ever, why are you way out here, I thought all the cats were converging closer to the castle these days….” Ani said crossing her arms over her still non-existent breasts (and she assumed she may never get any at this point). She wasn’t about to admit that she dragged her brother this far towards the mountains and this far away from the safety of the castle and risk a attack from hell hounds just to avoid this exact kind of company.-
Both elder boys stared at the stuttering Nolan and their heads moved forward as they tried to catch his name. Not trying to be impolite or anything, they just found him to be a bit…girly. What with the fancy duds and matching jacket. His name was Nolan. The girl on the other hand, who had the blood stains and curly golden hair seemed to have more balls than her brother, giving him a good elbow in the ribs.
“Hehe…she’s trouble.” Raul said with a crooked smile, folding his arms and cocking his head to the left in a jaunty manner. No doubt she was about to give a speech. Shamus listened intently. Unlike his cocky brother he was more reserved in his judgement.
“I’m Aniceta Karedric, this is my twin brother Nolan Karedric, were Children of Eliles of The Flames of Morcal.”
At this both boys made a big. “Ooooh!” sound in unison, before hearing her questions in regards to why they were way out here. According to her, they should be closer to the castle.
“I was about to ask you the same thing, Aniceta. Also, why is a celestial cat like yourself being…so..”
“Bloodthirsty!”
Shamus shot a look at Raul, who threw up his shoulders and mocked a pout. “You saw how that elk died. Kicking and in distress. Flailing like it was still racing for the cup.” He spoke about how the beast’s legs were still moving for sometime afterwards. Shamus shook his head and placed a hand on his forehead.
“Always so visual with your descriptions, Brother.”
“I try.”
At this Shamus then decided to be open in his answers.
“We….were bored.”
“Out of our minds….bored.”
“So…we thought we would take a bit of a tour of the forests.”
“Shamus sucks at hunting. He needs everything done for him. Can’t even catch a cold. Get it? Catch a cold?”
At this Raul fell about laughing as Shamus was ready to kick him a good one.
Raul was in deed quite detailed in describing how the Elk died before Nolan ended it’s suffering by crushing the head. Nolan might have defended her about it, but you know what, he thought the same thing.
The males also explained why they were out there the reasoning had been from a bout of boredom that the two of them
“ I was no’ bein’ bloodthirsty! Besides I see every celestial cat hunt with just as much cruelty before! Killing something is a cruel at it self isn’t it!” she responded to Raul’s comment of her being bloodthirsty with a swift swing at his person with her leg, it was aimed for his shin.
Nolan had tried to reach out for her before she could but missed and he spoke up to her loud enough his sister would hear him even as he mumbled, “yea…but every celestial cat ends it quickly so the animal doesn’t have to suffer,” he was sending cautious and bashful glances toward the older males, he was such a shy boy.
Ani turned on her brother with a shove at his chest, he tittered backwards just a little bit and he pouted a little, like he might cry, “what ever! I’m only a third celestial cat anyways, I’m half-dragon I can’t be blamed if I get caught in the moment of the hunt!” she snapped placing her hands on her hips. For thirteen years old, they are quite, active…and aware of things.
Raul was laughing so hard, that he only just realized the youngling was about to retaliate when it was way too late. Copping a good kick to the shin, he leapt up and then danced about favoring one leg.
“Ow Ow Ow Ow! Raul cried, while it was now Shamus’s turn to have something of a chuckle at his brother’s expense. The young girl had quite the temper and seemed to be very physical when dealing with others – her brother included. Ani was proud; proud of her true nature, proud of how she killed and she didn’t give a blue toot what anyone thought.
Nolan was trying to at least show some respect towards the two elder boys, but it was his shyness that made him appear bashful and soft. Shamus put his take on killing for a meal.
“While I consider myself a hunter even if my brother Raul thinks otherwise, I do believe in killing them quickly as opposed to letting them suffer.”
“That is IF he catches anything. Nine times out of ten its me that does the catching. Shamus is just lucky that I happen to share my food.” Again he offered a broad grin to Shamus, though his shin was throbbing from Ani’s kick.
Ani went right on being physical, knocking her brother around with a good shove to the chest. That poor lad, the twins both thought. If Ani had been a boy, the pair would have jumped him and given him a good thump. But her looks were so deceiving, so they decided not to try it on.
“Dragon, kitty cat…whatever. It’s not very attractive being a bully girl.”
Raul said this to get his point across. “I don’t t know, some fellas like em rough.”
At this both boys sniggered before returning their attention to the young boy and girl.
The twins had watched there antics and responded in kind to there opinions on hunting. Sure enough it’s not a common practice to let a beast suffer after just cutting it’s body in half with your massive jaws as Ani had done. It was brutal, it was cruel, but it seemed something entirely wild and feral for the Fe-dragon girl.
Nolan rubbed at his chest where his sister had shoved him, though he was a gentle boy, he was as tough as nails, but only because to survive the bashing his sister gave him very early on in life, talking new born to toddler ages, it seemed like the twins were constantly fighting to discover the stronger of the two. Of course the stronger one was Ani, but the bigger one was Nolan. And now that they have gotten bigger still, Physical Strength, belonged to Nolan, he just didn’t like to throw his weight around like his sister, he wasn’t a fighter.
“Dragon, kitty cat…whatever. It’s not very attractive being a bully girl.”
“Fe-Dragon…Momma calls us Fe-Dragons, and I’m not a bully!” Ani snapped her face turning a shade of red under the golden hue her skin retained.“you kind of are,” Nolan whispered, Ani choose to ignore him.
“I don’t t know, some fellas like em rough.” Raul responded to his brother.
Ani slapped her hands over her cheeks as she got redder, now that’s not something a thirteen year old wanted to here,“perverts” she muttered, this time she was a little bit stunned into silence. And they were sharing a laughing. Her twin brother even, red face he was covering his mouth to hide a laugh from her, she was glaring at him.
“What else you two do for fun?”
Ani dropped her hands, she was still staring at her brother and Nolan dropped his hand the pair seemed to be thinking like they wanted to respond with something they both liked in unison. Nolan’s gaze flickered to the mountain tops where there were pools of Lava flows and hot springs. The lava flows were maintained by many celestial cat brethren and some dragon species that flew over the mountain and rested there. Ani smiled when she got his message and together the twin brother and sister glanced back at Raul and Shamus.
Both twins stared incredulously at the young pair, who said in unison that they enjoyed lava pool diving. Like that was a typical hobby for outgoing Celestial cats. Raul did raise an eyebrow and said with a jaunty air.
“Wow…hot stuff.” Course it was, but neither him nor his brother were really into that sort of shenanigans.
“I’d do anything for a thrill, but…I won’t do that. Burn my bum hole, not to mention my other bits. Nuh uh.” Raul winced at the thought of it. He was an air element, and he liked it cool and breezy, not hot and chance of getting fried.
Shamus on the other hand was an earth elemental, and while he could probably withstand it, he wasn’t really atune to such things either.
“Mud pools, maybe. Mainly cause they are so good against my skin.” Shamus rubbed his cheek then glanced back at Raul who was now whistling with his hands jammed in his coat pockets. “What?” Shamus asked, as Raul then said back.
“You haven’t told her what you REALLY love to do.”
‘She isn’t interested in that.”
“That’s cause you haven’t said.”
“Must you drop me in it?”
“Yep.”
~Sigh~
“He likes to sing….and dance. He is a musical cat.”
Shamus went bright red, like a beacon as Raul sold him out.
“Give em a demo, Bro!” he chimed, swinging his hips back and forth, before breaking into some techno dance routine. Shamus picked up on the dance and then he joined in. The two boys really could dance, and they had some fancy moves. But when Shamus sung….it would take Ani and Nolan’s breath away.
-Anieta and Nolan, when they set out this morning on there own, they had intended to only go as far as the guarded game padlock provided by there mother and many Aunts and Uncles. Or that had been Nolan’s intention. No instead his sister had taken him farther out, fussing about the hand fed loving pets the game had become from being watched and cared for by the nurturing earth cats. They were no sport if the animal was expected to be hunted down all it’s life and walked right up to the predator.
They had gone so far away from the safety of town and the castle that the mountain was almost a breath away, the smell of the volcanic ash reached them where they were standing now. It was almost an arms reach away wasn’t it. Instead they were stopped right after there delicious meal by to very charming Celestial males (weren’t they all).
And now, here before the Prince and Princess of Mirari, a dance number and Melody was being performed in front of them by the very same Charming pair of tom cats. Nolan actually smile a brilliant grin of mirth, he wanted to start laughing. His hands were curled around his waist before long as he held it in, he chanced a glance at his young teenage twin sister, to see what her reaction might be.
Aniceta Tara Karedric was beat red watching the pair doing there dance number. Oh what was the girl suppose to do, she might be a bully, she might be mean, but she was young and it’s totally not like she gets to see magazines form the human world that her cousin Selena often brings and even lets her listen to the musical sensations. She had always imagined what those humans might look like on stage, and perhaps this is what she might fantasize.
Then Shamus actually started to sing, Nolan actually stopped wanting to laugh he was impressed and instead clapped his hands politely. As for Aniceta the little girl, bit her lips, made her ears go flat on her skull. His singing was so beautiful, to hear a celestial cat sing (that actually had the talent to) was a blessing to some, and an attractive and inescapable trap to females.
Red as a tomato Aniceta cursed under her breath as the scent in the little clearing grew rather incrediably annoying to her, and she shifted forms into the Fe-dragon. The wind swirled around her as she opened her Golden wings that faded to white at the ends and took off into the sky her razor barbed tail stricking the ground as it whipped around behind her sending up a cloud of dirt and stone.
Nolan raised his hands above his head shielding himself from the debree and grinned wide and started to laugh.
“haha…. you chased her off!* Laughing* Flustered, I’ve never seen her* laughing* so flustered before,” he said and waved his hand in the air.
In the sky, all you could see was the flickering gold from the sunlight reflecting off her golden fur and scales as she seemed to be heading for the mountain.
Ending the dance routine, the twins got a clap but something else happened that was unexpected. Aniceta swore and then she actually shifted forms right in front of the three boys. Raul was shocked to say the least. He had expected a reaction, but nothing could have prepared him for this. So this is what a juvenile Fe dragon looked like. Interesting.
He glanced sly at his brother; Shamus, who had just stopped dancing and was panting hard.
“Where’d she go?” He asked, looking about for Ani. He got so caught up in her dance, that he didn’t realize it scared her away. This was when the Princely Nolan spoke up. He was laughing and pointing to the sky.
“haha…. you chased her off!* Laughing* Flustered, I’ve never seen her* laughing* so flustered before,”
Shamus glanced up and then looked dissapointed. He didn’t think his singing was so bad it would make the girl leave. Raul couldn’t help but chuckle and slapped his brother on the back.
“Clearly she hasn’t got an ear for music….or an eye for talent. Don’t take it too hard, Bro. I still think you are a great dancer. Singing could use a bit of work…heh.”
Now the twins were left behind with the shy Nolan, who was now left alone in the forest with the boys. Raul approached him and crouched slightly so they could see eye to eye.
“You going after her, or you need us to walk you back to your house…castle…whatever you live in.”
Raul was pretty sure that Ani could take care of herself. She had proved it a few times in her wild antics.
Nolan who was indeed a shy boy, and generally very well behaved, occasionally might indulge in some well place vengeance on his wild sister. She had already disappeared from view and he hadn’t been paying attention to the brother’s conversation.
That was when Raul had now approached and lowered himself to he was eye level with the tween. “You going after her, or you need us to walk you back to your house…castle…whatever you live in.”
Nolan nearly leaped out of his skin when they had gotten so close and he almost decided against the little thoughts that were dancing around in his head and would return home with tail tucked to tell the Aunties where Aniceta had gone off to and why they had gone so far out.
But oh he changed his mind just as quickly, here was a prime chance to torcher his twin, he had so few chances, and he really just did it out of love, isn’t that normal for siblings. However, at the same time, he couldn’t’ just abandon her either, so he opened up his white gold tipped wings and pointed off to the mountains.
“I think I should follow her, as much as I rather we have never left the padlock,” he muttered and flapped his wings.
Once off the ground the boy waved his hand for the two of them to follow, “come on, if you stay with us, we won’t get into as much trouble when we go home,” he added even reaching to grab Raul’s hand to tug and follow him. Expecting that Celestial cats all had wings to fly with to travel to and from heaven’s gates.
The Mountains.
Aniceta swirled through the tree’s until slowly vegetation starting to die away, leaving behind blacken stone and ash that swirled through the air disturbed by her wing beats. She found the edge of a hot spring, deciding against the stinging heat of lava today and ruining her clothing in the process she laid down beside the steaming water and dipped the end of her barbed tail swirling it around in the water.
She remember Illyana saying, how men always smelled to high heaven, and she never noticed something like it till now, she only ever said that there were a few males she had met who didn’t bother her so much. And now Elt, the future great cat of fire, was courting her, with much great dislike on her part and just as much like. Ani thought she might be special, that she might be more feline after all and not become a dragonness, but she herself even said it…she was half-dragon, the rest were two parts cat and the mortal cat blood dies away quickly in the presence of such powerful blood lines.
But it happen after all, as she is on just the edge of puberty, she scented just ever so faintly, a fragrant and intoxicating scent coming from one of the twin brothers, but at the same time a scent that made her want to gag….the question was…which scent belong to who?
Ernie checked his watch and determined that he’d given Max more then enough time to clean himself up. He finished making notes in Max’s file before getting to his feet and tucking the folder beneath his arm. He went to the door and unlocked it, seeing Max sitting on the little bench inside the room.
“Well, you’re looking much better. How about some breakfast? I’ll give you a tour of the place so you can get your bearings, then I’ll take you up to your room.” He waved Max out of the shower and started down the hall.
“This facility is one of the best in the country, so you’re in good hands here. Each resident has their own room, you have a radio and a tv so you won’t be bored much. Or if you want to hang out with the other residents, we have a state-of-the-art recreation room with big screen TV, video games, pool tables, and ping pong. We also have a combination gym/pool area if you want to exercise.”
Ernie led him past each area he was describing and Max would be able to see a few of the residents in the rec room, watching one of the early morning talk shows that were on.
“The dining room is at the end of this hall. Breakfast is from 6 to 9, Lunch is from Noon until 3 and Dinner is from 5 to 8. You’ll find the weekly menu in your room so you can make your selections from that. We have someone who comes around to collect them so the kitchen staff knows what to make for each resident.”
Ernie went into the dining room and up to the serving line.
“Morning, Yasmine!” Ernie greeted the woman who was watching the food levels. She looked up at him and grinned.
“Hey Ernie! Lookin mighty fine this morning!”
“Only for you, sugar.” Ernie grinned, leaning against the counter.
“Who’s that with ya? Never seen him round here before?”
“This is Max. He’s going to be staying with us for a little while. Max, this is Yasmine. She’s in charge of the kitchens.”
“Nice to meet you, Max. What can I get ya for breakfast this morning? You look like you could use a good meal.” Yasmine smiled warmly.
Ernie may well have been pleased to see that Maxwell had scrubbed up a lot better than when he had arrived, but the patient – he was still damaged goods. Feeling the affects of not having had anything to drink, the stark reality of being sober was actually making his paranoia worse.
Shuffling along beside the mountain of a man, that was showing him the various places for recreation and where patients were able to go, Maxwell was wearing a very dour expression. This was not like a health spa. He had been to those. No this was a veiled institution. People who came here were suffering from their addictions in the same way a mental patient deals with his afflictions.
Everything for the patients was state of the art, and why wouldn’t it be? They were housing some of the city’s most influential people, who had all fallen from grace. Some were addicted to sex, others drugs…then of course there were those like himself – alcoholics. The road to recovery was going to be a very long and painful journey, but the worst part for Maxwell was, he was yet to understand he had a problem. In fact, he believed that this was all some mean plot by his sister who had designs on his gallery.
Walking past the various rooms, he finally came upon the dining hall. A large expansive room, with your typical canteen style arrangement to serve the patrons at the various allocated times. There was already a line up for breakfast, and other patients were already chatty, though some who like Maxwell were new, were desperately trying to conceal their identities.
Ernie introduced Maxwell to the lady in charge of getting the patient’s their meals. A sweet looking woman, but also one that would not stand for no bullshit. She had that way about her. Sassy almost and her friendly nature with Ernie showed she was a people person. But…Maxwell was not exactly in a social frame of mind. He was more…”vote me off the island”. Yasmine was very polite when she asked what he would like for breakfast.
“Scotch and wheeties please. Oh…and a cake for later with a large file in it so I can break out of this nut house.”
Denise found Ernie at the Nurse’s Station, flirting with Wanda, his current crush of the month. Ernie had a reputation around the facility as a bit of a ladies man, and was under the impression that no woman in their right mind would turn down a chance to date him. Wanda was made of sterner stuff and said no to him every time he asked.
“Give it up, Ernie. Wanda has better taste in men.” Denise grinned, moving around the counter. Ernie made a face at her.
“Aw come on, Den. I was beginning to wear down her resistance.” Ernie grinned. At that, Wanda rolled her eyes.
“He likes to think he’s wearing me down.” she snorted. Denise chuckled.
“So, Ernie. Got a new patient for you. Hard-luck case, too. Right up your alley.”
“Drugs, alcohol or sex?” Ernie wondered.
“Alcohol. Bit of an obsessive-compulsive.”
“Oooo. A challenge. I love those.” Ernie rubbed his hands together. Denise handed him the file that had been started on Max. Ernie quickly skimmed it and nodded.
“Where’s he at now?”
“Holding. We didn’t have a room ready for him last night so we left him there. He’ll be in Room 225 starting today, though.” Wanda stated after checking Max’s placement in the computer.
“Doc wants him cleaned up and in the general population before breakfast.” Denise repeated Ansel’s orders for Max.
“Hm. I’ll have to take a couple of sets of clothes with me since I don’t know his size.” Ernie nodded, turning to head off to the patient supplies closet. All new patients were issued a standard set of facility clothing; a tshirt, a sweatshirt for cold days, sweatpants, socks and non-slip sneakers, with the initials of the facility stamped across them.
“Be careful with this one. He was a bit wild when they brought him in last night.” Denise warned.
“They’re all wild when they first get here. I’m used to it.” Ernie shrugged. He waved to the two women and went off to make the rounds.
——
Patient Holding
The holding center for new patients was somewhat similar to a holding area for new inmates, only there were beds instead of chairs. It was on one of these beds that Ernie found his new charge, looking a bit worse for wear after being sedated for the past 12 hours. He dropped a bundle of clothes in a nearby chair and approached Max.
“Well, good morning, Scotch!” Ernie grinned, already deciding on a nickname for Max. Ernie liked giving his patients nicknames, it was easier to remember who they were. “Looks like you had a rough night. I hope you got enough sleep.”
After a moment, Ernie continued on.
“Well, let me introduce myself. My name is Ernie Jefferson, no relation to Thomas and I’m going to be the guy in charge of your everyday life here until the doc says you’re cured. Follow the rules and we’ll get along. Don’t follow the rules, and things could get ugly.” Ernie grinned. “Now, I’ve brought you a change of clothes and I’m sure you want to take a shower. We’ll get you cleaned up, get some breakfast in ya, then I’ll take you on a tour of the place so you can get your bearings before I show you to your new room. How’s that sound?”
“Well, good morning, Scotch!” The cheerful yet deep voice of Maxwell’s in-keeper – for want of a better word. Maxwell slowly raised his head, and then the full size of this mountain of a man came to light. Was it possible that the center hired ex football stars to keep the inmates in line? This was starting to feel more and more like prison. The name Scotch was comical, if you were yourself drunk when you heard it. Sober, on the other hand it was more like he was teasing Max.
“I beg to differ.” Max retorted, still coming out of the effects from the sedatives. “Looks like you had a rough night. I hope you got enough sleep.” Sleep? A drug induced coma? Maxwell didn’t regard it as sleep at all, though Ernie was right about one thing, he had had a rough night.
“This isn’t exactly the Hilton, so I would have to say no, to answer your question. I had a terrible night and feel as though I have been hit by a lorry. That is a truck, since you probably don’t understand the Queen’s English.” Rubbing his head slightly, he then gave Ernie the floor. Well, Ernie kind of took over the conversation. Making it clear that HE was going to be in charge of his every day life until the Doc says he is cured. Now one thing about being an alcoholic was, he didn’t think there was anything wrong with him. He lived in a constant state of denial. Maxwell gave him a foul look to hear that he was going to be bullied by this walking mountain till somehow he managed to get released. The clothes that had been dropped unceremoniously on a nearby chair were intended for him to change into.
Now, I’ve brought you a change of clothes and I’m sure you want to take a shower.
Maxwell looked at the odd assortment of clothing in the drab colours. They didn’t suit him at all, and he had to wonder what size the pants were. “These? What, the poor reject them?” Maxwell was mortified, and even more so when he discovered it was a group shower block. There was to be no privacy in the holding area. Max didn’t mind showering with a woman, or by himself, but never with other men. This was turning into something out of one of those B grade jail movies. He was actually terrified to drop the soap.
We’ll get you cleaned up, get some breakfast in ya, then I’ll take you on a tour of the place so you can get your bearings before I show you to your new room. How’s that sound?”
Maxwell pinched himself, and then cried out since it hurt. This nightmare was actually real. Being sober made it all the more frightening. He shot a look again at Ernie and then whispered. “I don’t belong here. See, my sister made a terrible mistake. I’m perfectly fine. Not like the rest of these loonies. Look, I have this trust fund at the National bank. I’ll pay you ten thousand, if you get me out of here.” He then did a wink and tried to get Ernie to shake on it. Needless to say, this probably wasn’t going to go well.
CharlotteCarrendar: – As dawn was fast approaching, it was not that hard to make out the farm house that was centred close to the gates of the sprawling 50 acre property. The vehicle drove along the gravel road before finally coming to rest not far from the veranda of the weathered farm house. For Rain, it was a sight for sore eyes. For Eve, it was a world to which she had never explored – knowing nothing but the insides of the Zen laboratories. Rain shut down the engine then clamoured out of the vehicle, landing with both feet firmly on the gravel drive. She left the door open for Adam as she sauntered up towards the veranda steps. Eve was not so quick to get out. More or less waiting for Adam to say it was okay. She was nowhere near as bold or cocky as Rain, but they were two different women entirely. The small techno puppy on Eve’s lap wagged its tail, as it too waited for Adam to say they could get out of the truck. Rain turned around on the first step and looked at the pair in the truck. ”Are you two coming, or not?” She wasn’t one for pleasantries that was for sure. <3>
IceTe3a: – It didn’t take long for them to arrive at his farm house, the armoured jeep kicking up a dust trail while it sped along the beaten down old dirt road. The 50 acres of farmland was thriving, without human touch, the grass was a luscious green that could be seen through the high beams of the jeeps lights. The farm animals of course kept the grass at a low height so everything worked perfectly together to keep the place alive and rich. Moments later the wooden farm cabin showed up in front of them, the jeep came to a slow roll as Rain cut the engine. He sat there waiting as Rain stepped out of the car and walked off, he smiled lightly as he leaned towards Eve “Don’t mind her… She doesn’t know any better.” he of course was making an excuse for Rain’s behaviour towards him. Stepping out of the jeep he turned to face the inside of the jeep and leaned in to look at eve with a smile “Come on, it’s fine here. No one is ever out this far”He knew Eve would come out of the jeep now and follow him, as he closed the driver’s side door with a solid thud. “Yeah.. Yeah.. “ he glanced over to Rain who was waiting impatiently. Walking up in front of her, he opened the door and walked inside, it had a low glow to it from the lights as he looked around everything seemed in place. A rather old sofa sat in front of the fire place, a rather large deer head hung over the fireplace with a rug in front. A small kitchenette and a single bedroom, he turned around and looked at Rain with a smirk knowing she wouldn’t be impressed with the “Safehouse”.
CharlotteCarrendar: – Eve was quick to follow along behind Adam after he had assured her that everything would be okay. Still wearing her lab gear and sensible shoes, she did look totally out of place with her surrounds. Rain on the other hand was dressed for it. She entered the wooden cabin, which was sparsely decorated. Her first thought when she saw the deer head, sticking out of the wall. ~He decorated this~ It had a man’s touch. A hunter. Certainly nothing girly about it in the slightest. From the worn couch or sofa that was located near the fire place, to the small kitchenette. Wandering further in, she found that there was only one single bedroom. Rain turned around and counted herself, Eve and Adam. ”There’s only one bed. Where are we all meant to sleep?” Rain asked, looking slightly miffed. She didn’t want to spend another night on the floor, not after the last sleep near the filing cabinet. Eve on the other hand, marvelled at the insides of the cabin. Going as far to place down the techno puppy and explore. Even reaching out to touch the deer’s head and try to look inside its mouth. She wasn’t worried about where to sleep. Eve normally shut down in a chair. Rain looked at Eve oddly, as she found her behaviour to be strange. <3>
IceTe3a: -He arched a brow as he heard Rain complain, he knew this was going to happen as he shook his head. Walking to the centre of the room he was about to do something but stopped as his eyes caught Eve, she was curious of the deer head, she had never seen anything outside of the labs before and he smirked slightly. “It’s a deer, plenty of them on the property I have quite a few animals on here actually, you’re welcome to see them tomorrow” glancing back at Rain who still looked un impressed he smirked “You’re going to sleep where I tell you to “ That was a bold statement coming from him, when she could simply shut him down with a touch of her fingers. Pressing his heel of his right foot down, it hits a pressure pad that you would never be able to see as a hissing sound started to echo the room a rather large hidden door popped out of the floor and slid forward, fully mechanized as it showed a hidden staircase “We all have our tricks, mine are just better, come on you two. It’s getting late, we need to get some rest anyway I’ll give you the full tour tomorrow. For now, we’ll need sleep with that he walked down the staircase, disappearing into the floor; as he came down the stairs and finally hit the end of the staircase a rather solid large door stood in front of him, a red beam shot across the room as it scanned everyone. Now that Rain had forced her way into his systems her and Eve were now on the security listing as well, the door gave the green light as it opened up with a hiss. Stepping inside it was like another world, the underground bunker stretched on for ages; to be exact it was a football field and half long and wide. “ Fully equipped science and research labs that make Zen’s look like a kids toy.. a kitchen and mess hall, armory and training room, Central operations room, a garage with a exit drive.. hidden of course. he was walking down the hall and pointing in the direction of each location, this place was really big he had enlisted the help of some black market people to gather what he needed down here and hired people to build it all. It took quite awhile for it to be set up but once it was done, he killed everyone that helped.. no sense having a secret safe house if people knew the location, anyone that knew about it was now dead this entire place was that off the grid Zen and the rebels could not find it if they pulled their resources together to look for it. Opening a door close to the Science labs he looked at Eve as the door swung open and showed a fully furnished large room, with a walk in bathroom and closet, it had its own personal coms system and computers all hooked up to the network “ Eve, this is your room from now on, it’s close to the science labs, which I think you’ll claim as your own. We’ll see you in the morning, feel free to explore the labs before you turn in for the night, they are that way” he smiled lightly and pointed in the direction of the labs knowing she would go check them out, leaving Eve behind he continued to walk around for awhile knowing Rain was behind him as he came to a stop in front of another door. Opening the door up it showed a rather larger room, with a large bathroom, walk in closet and fully furnished with a bed. Turning to look at Rain he smirked as he nodded behind him [/b] this is my room, your room.. is across the hall [/b] he pointed across the hall at a door opposite to his, knowing full well it was a broom closet he turned around and walked into his room closing the door behind him. Oh she was going to be pissed off, he knew that much but it was worth it, chuckling quietly to himself he tore his shirt off and lit a cigarette as he took in a deep drag.
CharlotteCarrendar: – ”Deer…here?” Eve asked, her eyes widening as she had been touching the trophy like head of the one above the fire place. She thought it was beautiful and so clever how it was sticking out of the wall as it was. Adam promised that he would take her to see them the next day, and this brought a big smile from Eve, who moved her finger up to her glasses and pushed them up the bridge of her nose. Adam was ever so polite to Eve, but the same could not be said for Rain, who was told in no uncertain terms that she would sleep where he told her too. You could hear the audible growl come from her, but in the face of company, she didn’t act on her anger. Rather, she followed Adam along when he decided to show the real hide out. The wooden cabin at the top was nothing more than a cover for what lay beneath. When the opening appeared in the floor with the stair well, Rain was quick to follow Adam down. Eve took a moment longer. Snatching up the techno pup and then giving the deer head a pat, before making her way down the stairs. What met them both was simply astonishing. An underground bunker, the likes that would have the Zen salivating. One man could not have built all this on their own, that was for sure. ”Woah.” Rain uttered, clearly gobsmacked by the sheer size of it. Eve just smiled and fell in behind Adam as he gave something of a small tour. What grabbed Eve’s attention was the science lab. It was just like being home. She walked slowly around it, taking it all in – till Adam opened a door that was to be her room. Running right off the science lab, it had its own bathroom and a large spacious bedroom with computers and a networking station. Happily, Eve entered the room, and then wished Adam and Rain a good night, closing the door behind her. With her out of the way, Rain wanted to know where she was to sleep. Everyone had a room but her. What she got…was a door on the other side of Adam’s room. All he did was gesture to it, and then left her to her own devices. Rain wandered over and opened the door, only to find it was a broom closet. From within Adam’s room, he was sure to hear the enraged scream of Rain. Clearly frustrated at being treated so poorly. But really, she kind of deserved it. In Eve’s room, she set down the techno pup on the computer desk and then wandered about the room, looking in every cupboard and drawer. She was so new to all this, but she felt oddly secure. Maybe it was because she was close to her charge. Either way, she was a lot happier than Rain. Moving for the bed, she took off her lab coat, and draped it on the edge, before crawling up on the bed. This…was a first. She had seen others sleep properly but she never had a bed. So she laid her head down and smiled as she said. ”Systems..shut down.” and closed her eyes. <3>
IceTe3a: – Standing there in the middle of the room, he heard Rain’s abuse and screams as he arched a brow knowing full well of the hell he just unleashed “I’m going to need a bigger gun.. he said softly to himself. Walking over to his bed side table he opened the draw and pulled out a fresh bottle of whiskey opening the cap he let it roll onto the floor as he took a swig “Well over deserved this is” So he was finally here, in his safe house it hadn’t been used for quite some time, but now it was busy with people. His room of course was the largest room; it was dead centre in the building allowing him easy access to all areas but really close to the command centre. Turning as he sat on the bed, he laid down on his back, cigarette in his mouth and a bottle of whiskey in the other as he switched between the two, taking a drag of smoke and a swig of whiskey. A calm sigh escaped his lips he knew they needed to make plans, but for tonight and tomorrow everyone could settle in and relax for awhile, it was a well earned break everyone needed; something he thought everyone needed to do from time to time. Glancing at the door, Rain was still out there chucking a fit, he knew he was in for it as he took one last gulp of whiskey setting the bottle down on the bed side table as he took in a large drag of cigarette. First he called her a dead root and refused to help her than he did this he was really testing his limits with her “I should lock that door.. he said trying to reassure himself.
CharlotteCarrendar: – After marching back and forth, with a broom in her hand that she had taken out of the broom closet, or what was assigned as her room, Rain was showing a foul temper. How dare Eve get her own room, with all the mod cons, while Rain got a broom closet. No, this was not going to do. She turned to face Adam’s door and then tossed the broom to the side, letting it clatter to the floor. Marching over she put her hand on the door handle and oddly enough, it wasn’t locked. She pushed the door open and saw the wonderful bedroom that was more than enough for two people at least. Seeing Adam enjoying a bottle of whiskey and his cigarettes – clearly relaxing, Rain started. ”You really think I am going to sleep in a broom closet? Listen, I’m not the one that can sleep standing up. Maybe you…or Eve can, but I can’t.” She pushed up her sleeves and then went around to his side of the bed. She took the bottle of whiskey and knocked it back, drinking a good few mouthfuls, before letting out a gasp since it burnt her throat. The buzz from that gave her the courage to do…what she had been planning to do for some time. She reached out for his pressure pad on the side of his head and let her fingers dance as she leaned in and whispered. ”Remember that cutting comment you made, that I was a dead root. Well, now…its payback time.” Rain coded for him to lay on the bed, as she started to take off her shirt, doing something off a strip tease, till she was down to just her bra and panties. Yep, you guessed it, she went and mounted Adam, straddling him as he lay there, defenceless. ”Now, let’s see what kind of a root you are.” From the outside of Adam’s room, you could hear the sounds of Rain well and truly getting her rocks off with Adam. She used him…and she used him well. The poor guy. Even the techno pup in the next room pricked its ears up at Rain’s loud cries of passion. <3>
IceTea: He heard more yelling and shouting coming from outside, it was getting worse as suddenly he heard something slam against the floor “Ahh.. shit he was about to get up as the door swung open, and Rain came screaming in about how it was unfair Eve got a room and she didn’t Rain almost came off jealous, was she jealous he treated Eve better than her? ” Are you jealous of Eve?! he said out to her as she came over stealing his whiskey, he sighed as he took one last drag before she started on him again, this time her hands went for the side of his heads “Hey don’t you even tr.. her fingertips reached his pressure pads before he could finish his dispute of her doing this, it rendered him unable to talk or move, as he felt her briefly inside of his systems, she let go and started to strip as he watched her helplessly. Noticing he was unable to move, he realized she had turned off his ability to move around freely. She stood before him in her bra and panties as she whispered about pay back for the dead root comment, and then stating how she was going to find out what kind of root he was. She wouldn’t.. he thought to himself, straddling him rather quickly as she took him into her, she started to ride him hard as she used him to pleasure herself. He could feel her weight crashing down on him as she screamed out and moaned in pleasure, oh she was going to get it for this one as he watched her helplessly unable to move away from her he was forced to lay there and wait until she was done pleasuring herself, this was going to be a long night.. her skin rubbing up against him, he had warned her not to touch him and this time she went way too far, her hips swaying as she went up and down not bothering to check on him, or care if he was in any sort of discomfort or pain, she was in her own world and hardly registered him as she continued to use him.
CharlotteCarrendar: – Rain let out a loud cowgirl like whooping sound when she was finished, and then smirked as she tapped the pressure pads on his head and this would allow him to move and respond, if he so dared. She rolled off him and then decided to lay down beside him. A happy look on her face. It felt good, not so much from the sexual side of things, but that she got her own back, for all the nasty things he had done and said to her. ”Night Adam.” she whispered before closing her eyes, and trying to drift off to sleep. What a bitch. <3>
IceTea: Finally she had finished as she let him loose and rolled off of him, a happy look on her face as she said good night, shaking his head he came to a stand as he headed for the shower. “That much of a dead root you need to force yourself on guys huh” she may have felt happy about what she did, but he was about to give it back to her. Not one to back down from confrontation and that’s what this was, a power struggle to show who was lead, who was alpha out of the two of them, and it was a constant battle. He walked into the bathroom as he turned on the shower and stripped what clothing he had left on, simple name calling wasn’t going to be enough, not this time as he was going to teach her a valuable lesson. As he was in the shower his hues HUD flashed up as he connected to the network in his room, activating his room speakers he smirked. She forgot he still had recording of the large storm in him, as he played it loudly through the rooms speakers, it’s a good thing each room is sound proofed, as he started to wash himself he chuckled as the storm played through the speakers and thundered through the room “Night Rain he chuckled.
CharlotteCarrendar: – Fear. Something that was Rain’s biggest problem and her weakness was storms. Adam knew this and he remembered exactly how she reacted the last time. Laying in the bed, smug in what she had done, she patted the pillow and tried to go to sleep not thinking that Adam would pull that dastardly trick again. But, in the comfort of the shower, he decided that now was the time for payback. Yes, this was a constant game of tit for tat, and a power struggle that continued to go on between them. With the first sound of thunder rolling through the room’s speakers, Rain sat up like a shot. How could that sound possibly reach them from above? Surely it was sound proofed. But then the full force of the storm noise hit. This sent Rain into meltdown. She grabbed the pillow and lay down with it over her head, trying to muffle out the sounds. Her body went into foetal position as she started to cry from the fear of the storm. Now..who was the bastard? Adam was going to love this. <3>
IceTea: He walked out of the shower fully naked and dripping wet, walking into the room he stood near the bed as he looked down at her smirking, he knew her weakness it shut her down as fast as she could turn him off, they were evenly matched as he watched her fear for her life under the pillow. He almost felt sorry for her as she shivered out of fear, sighing he pulled a pair of pants on and laid down on his side of the bed. Turning the storm recording off he pulled her up to lay pressed to his chest, comforting her. This was a first for them both but he wasn’t going to go so low and exploit her fears, even if he was only equipment to her he didn’t mind as he had grown use to it. “I’m sorry, that was a low blow on my behalf “ he sighed and reached over and grabbed the whiskey bottle as he wrapped an arm under her and over her side keeping her close to him. Taking a sip he sighed as he offered her the bottle, staring up at the ceiling he smirked“You were a interesting root, I’ll give you that, thought you’d last longer though.” a slight chuckle escapes his lips as he looked down to her.
CharlotteCarrendar: – For once it seemed that they had gone against each other and pushed each other’s limits. But now, with Rain genuinely showing her real fear and being unable to control her reaction, she did look pretty sad, when Adam came out of the bathroom. The biggest shock for Rain, was when Adam took it upon himself to actually comfort her as she shivered from the fear of the storm. He turned off the storm recording and the room fell into silence, aside from her soft whimpering. His arm curled around her and with her head to his chest, she reacted as someone frightened would. Rain clung to him, barely hearing that he said he was sorry. She desperately needed comfort, something she had not had in a very long time. As he took another swig from the whiskey bottle, he then paid her a compliment, though it was done so with a bit of cheek. Thought she could stay in the saddle a bit longer. This had her bring her head up from his chest. The look she gave him was different from all the other times. Before, she looked upon him as an object – a machine. This time, there was relief. His chuckle was actually endearing. Finding humor in the situation at last, she then came back with.”There’s always next time.” This was said quietly, and she continued to snuggle into Adam. Her fingers strummed lightly across his stomach. A truce of sorts? Perhaps. They did work better together, than when they were not trying to tear each other apart. <3>
IceTea: He smirked hearing the only thing she was willing to say, “There sure is” he looked down at her and smiled as he took another drag of his cigarette. His right hand slowly strokes her hair as she clung to his chest, she needed the touch of another human to calm her down, this was obvious and since he took it this far it was up to him to comfort her back to her normal bitchy self. Tomorrow would see them both acting like normal no doubt as he put the cigarette out on the ashtray on the bedside table, he had to wonder what was going through her head right now; knowing full well the thing she thought as her equipment she was now clinging to for comfort, he shifted his weight as he pulled her up closer. Her head and part of her upper torso was now resting on his chest as he closed his eyes “Sleep now, I’ll be here the entire night “ he said in a low tone to reassure her that everything was fine. It was irony that now he had two girls he had to protect, one was a bad assed rough bitch and the other was a sheltered doctor who was sweeter than honey itself. Rain and himself did just take a big step in their friendship but even though there may be times of peace she would always see him for what he was, equipment; but slowly he was growing use to how she treated and acted around him.
CharlotteCarrendar: – This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. In hindsight Rain would have been better off sticking to Adam’s suggestions on winging it, but instead she had to continue that tit for tat arguing to the point she went below the belt, and subsequently he shut himself down. Now he was left behind, cold and alone in the isolation of his cabin, and Rain was making her way across the compound. The was a large training field or grassed area where troops were trained in physical exercises during the day. At night it was deserted and the only creatures with the large moths that hovered around the UV floodlights. Rain did her best to keep as close to the buildings as possible, so as not to stick out on the security cameras, that were no doubt scanning the areas 24/7. The Command building which was central to the compound was right in the middle of the property. A ten story building with multiple offices, training facilities, laboratories, and of course a major communication station that covered much of the city. With this amount of technology and such important people working within its walls, you could be certain that it was as hard to break into as fort Knox.
Approaching the main doors, which was a bold move on her part, two patrolling guards came around the corner, brandishing large assault rifles with laser attachments. They seemed to be engrossed about the football game that was going to be on the following night. Routine patrols often were a boring affair, as many never made it this far in. With the two deep in discussion, Rain lowered her head and marched past them, making sure to salute and show acknowledgement, which was returned without question. One threat down…so many to go. Rain made it to the front entrance of the Command centre and there on the right hand side of the sliding bullet proof glass panels was a special key swipe activated alarm system. Thankfully, when Rain had made her way out of the cabin, she had swiped Adam’s card so at least she had that. The problem was the CCTV cameras that were recording her movements outside the doors. Calmly, she swiped the card through the slot and then it asked for a special pin code number. Rain concentrated on the alarm system, mentally pulling it apart till she was able to pick up the alarm pin code that was Adam’s. She pressed it in, and there was a nervous minute wait, till the light finally turned green. Rain let out a sigh of relief, before heading into the command centre doors. Now..she had to find Eve. There was a information board on the left hand side of the corridor, and Rain quickly scrolled down through the names till she found her. Fourth floor, executive administration. Eve must have been really high up as far as the chain of command was concerned. No doubt, if she was able to take apart and rebuild Adam. She was not an employee you wanted to just have in any ordinary office, but right where the Commander could keep tabs. The halls of the ground floor were deserted, and Rain’s footfalls created an echo as she walked across the foyer to the row of lifts to upper levels. Nervously she looked around and wet her lips nervously. She pressed the up button on the third lift and stood back waiting.
The lift door pinged, then slid open. The lifts were not terribly large, certainly not good for any large number of people to use. Strange. Entering the lift she pressed four, and then the doors closed with a quiet hush. All around the inside of the lift was darkened glass, and Rain kept looking at the reflections of herself. Was she really the dead root that Adam said? She touched her face as if questioning her own appearance, when the door started to open on the fourth floor. Again, no one was around, as she checked up and down the corridor first. Now, to find Eve. She turned left on leaving the lift, and with her gun drawn, she kept close to the wall, till suddenly she heard a sound, and then a man walked out of his office right into her.
”Where do you think you’re going, Soldier?” He barked. A tall man of an impressive build, middle aged with grey side burns. He looked old enough to be her father. ”I SAID WHERE ARE YOU GOING?” Slowly Rain raised her head, and something in the Commander’s face changed from annoyance to outright shock. It was as though he was staring at a ghost. At this point, Eve opened her office door due to hearing the altercation. She too saw Rain and let out something of a gasp. This was the defining moment. Rain drew the weapon on the Commander and said.
”GET IN HER OFFICE…NOW!” It wasn’t a request, it was an order. She cocked the gun and the Commander started to back pedal while Eve watched on horrified. ”Do you have any idea who I am?” The Commander roared as he tried to challenge the gun wielding Rain. ”A dead man walking if you don’t do as I say.” she then appeared that she would shoot, if he didn’t do as she said. Hands up he went into Eve’s office, who was now backing up herself. The Commander’s face was growing red from anger. ”I don’t deal with terrorists.” So that was what he regarded her as. Rain laughed nervously, and flicked the gun for him to keep moving back. ”I’m not here for you, so you can shut the fuck up.” At this the Commander roared. ”Eve…get Adam here now!” Eve nodded nervously and tried to get to her computer terminal, as Rain was looking back at Eve, then at the Commander. ”He can’t help you!” Course he couldn’t, she had made sure of that back at the cabin. Eve then realized he was offline. ”Sir, he is not responding.” Ina blink of an eye, the Commander then took action, kicking the gun out of Rain’s hands, causing it to discharge into the ceiling. He grabbed a hold of Rain and then pushed her down to the floor. Clearly he was a lot stronger physically than her. With her hands behind her back, the Commander barked at Eve. ”Get the MPs!”
Rain struggled under the Commander’s hold, and glanced up at the computer terminal with a lock on to Adam. With the power of her mind, she made the call to reactivate Adam and wake him up, so he would see exactly where she was through Eve’s terminals. ~Adam!~ <3>
IceTe3a: In the cold of the night the wind was gently blowing across the training field as he sprinted across ~ STALL DAMN IT~ he shouted back in Rain’s mind hoping she would be able to give him time, two guards walking past doing their round’s came to a salute as he passed knowing full well who he was and his rank being higher. He didn’t bother to salute back as he was in too much of a rush trying to make it there in time, it would take too long to go through the building, he would have to scale the wall and bust through the window. **Accessing blueprints… Scanning… Scanning… Window Located 4th floor east** He had located the side and which window he needed to bust through, finally making it through the training field he came up to the rather large buildings that stood centre of the entire base these buildings were mainly offices for the brass, Science labs and advanced tech and weapon testing all top end classified stuff.
Sprinting straight over towards the east side he was right about one thing, he could go all night as his body pushed and pushed his feet smashing heavily across the concrete path not once did he break a sweat whilst running and it wasn’t about to happen now. Coming to the east side of the building he needed to be at, he came to a stop as his eyes glanced up counting the floors “ Two… Three.. Four.. Gotcha! Raising his grapping gun he dropped the rope as he aimed for the very top of the building *Bang!* the grapple whirled into the air flying… Adam was almost.. anxious but he knew it would find its mark and it had, the grapple digging into the buildings side wall as he gave the rope a firm tug he started to climb. Up and up slowly until he reached the fourth window, quietly he walked above the forth window; pulling his pistol out he flicked the safety off and cocked the gun. Loaded and ready to go ~ Ready… East side window in Three, roll to your right~“Three.. Two… One…”
With spring in his legs he jumped backwards as he was sent flying away from the building he let his grip on the rope loose as he slid down slightly, guiding himself up with the fourth window he pointed his pistol at the glass timing it perfectly down to the second *BANG BANG BANG* three bullets shatter the glass as Adam came flying through the shattered glass instantly after. Letting go of the rope he fell forward rolling on his shoulder and back onto his feet in a crouch he came to a quick stand as his pistol was pointed directly at the Commander “I Suggest you let her go… His eyes had the stare of death in them only that of a well seasoned soldier could have that death stare and it came natural to those who had been through hell and back surviving to once again do it all over again.
His hues look over at Rain as he smirks shaking his head “Perhaps you should have fucked me after all” not even realizing Eve was in the room, she was out of the camera view and he had not registered him being there yet, little did he know she was standing not so far away behind him, “Get up Rain, we have work to do” he had basically more or less told everyone in the room he was now working with Rain and against Zen, how would they react to this, he was about to find out.
CharlotteCarrendar: – The smashing of the glass panel and arrival of Adam brought about at first a wave of relief to the Commander, until he found it was he that was now having a gun trained on him. You could see the blood run from the Commander’s face as he had his knee on Rain’s back. Did he just say let her go? The Commander growled angrily at Adam, his rage returning. ”You are a Zen officer, Adam. I will have none of this behaviour. She is a prisoner of the Zen. A traitor to those who knew her family. She’s a goddamn mutant, boy!” Now the word boy was not one that you should ever say to someone like Adam. Rain’s face was pushed into the carpet at this point, and the standoff was something she was now a spectator too. Even in the face of the threat from Adam, the Commander tried to pull rank. ”Eve, control him Get him to back off NOW!” Eve; who had been watching all this unfold looked panicked and then she ran to the computer terminal. Madly she was typing in codes, to try and get him to act on the orders of the Commander. But every time she tried, something was blocking her. It was like he had been…”Reprogrammed.” Yes that one word. She turned back to Adam and the Commander, with Rain on the floor. ”Sir, he is no longer under Zen command.”
”WHAT?!” The Commander roared loudly. Here he was, with one of the most wanted criminals of the Zen and his best soldier had been turned against them. He then took his pistol out and held it to the back of Rain’s head. ”Back off…or she dies. One….two…” <3>
IceTe3a: He watched as Eve ran into the computer area when did she arrive in the room? No problem though, as they soon realized Rain had reprogrammed him, his eyes flicker back to the Commander who just called him boy.. you could see how pissed off Adam was, he wasn’t even speaking as you could tell by his face how pissed he was. He pulled a gun out on Rain as it got serious one two… his hand slid behind his back and with a flick of his wrist he sent his knife flying across the room with great speed, it would find it’s mark dead centre in the front of the Commanders forehead *BANG BANG* he shot two rounds on in the commanders heart and one disarming the pistol from his hand, the Commanders body fell down on the floor as the blood splattered across the room a slight choking noise as his lungs filled with blood but he was dead, walking slowly he grabbed Rain by the arm gently, he pulled her up to him placing his hands on her cheeks his hues scanned her body for any injuries before he nodded “We need to get out of here fast, Eve you’re coming with me.. Please” letting go of her cheeks he walked over to Eve and smiled lightly his hues looking into her friendly eyes “ No harm will come to you, I promise.. Let’s get you out of here” so now Adam would have two females he needed to look after Eve and Rain, this was turning out to be interesting.
CharlotteCarrendar: – That countdown had Rain think to herself that this was it. She would die on the floor of Eve’s office and then Adam would forever belong to Zen. But little did she realize the anger that the Commander riled up in Adam. Calling him boy? Also, Rain was under his protection. After all the hateful remarks and spiteful exchanges, he finally did something that would ultimately save her life. The Commander grit his teeth as his trigger hand trembled. He was not bluffing, but to his horror, Adam was incredibly fast at whipping out a knife and sending it flying across the room and straight into the Commander’s skull. Blood spurted out in a crimson torrent, that sprayed all over Rain’s back, but more was to come, as Adam went in with the second wave of his attack. Firing two shots into the Commander’s heart and one at the hand that held the pistol, blowing it across the room. Rain screamed as she heard the pummelling sound of the bullets making their mark. The Commander’s body fell onto the floor – with the final dying gasps followed by the sickly squelch of blood pouring up and out of his mouth and nostrils. His eyes stared out at the scene before him, soulless. The Commander’s life was at an end. Rain was shivering from shock, when she felt Adam’s hand gently pull her to standing, then cupping her face and scanning her for any injuries. Thankfully there were none. Eve watched the pair interact, keeping her distance, till Adam turned his attentions on her. ] “ No harm will come to you, I promise.. Let’s get you out of here” Though he showed kindness with his eyes, Eve kept glancing between the two. Rain was ready to go, but she really wanted Eve to come with them. She looked at Adam and said. ”Adam..this is my home. I know of nothing else.” She meant this because this was where she was created. Rain approached Eve and asked. ”We need you to help us. Eve, you are the key to help finding my father.” Eve turned her head towards Rain and showed true fear. ”Your ..your Father?” Her voice had a tremor to it, and then she looked back at Adam for guidance. <3>
IceTe3a: He shook his head lightly as he glanced over to Rain and back to eve and sighed walking in between them he wrapped his arms around both their waists “look girls, we don’t have time for this.. Eve, Rain’s dad is the one who built me, she won’t harm you and you have my word.. I will protect you, you’re free to be yourself around us” he didn’t have time for them to get friendly as he guided them outside he kept his arms around their waistlines as he moved their bodies exactly like his, he made sure they were able to be pushed out of the way of any danger. He was forcing their bodies to move tactically “Look Eve, you know me better than I can remember about myself, but..I’m not who ..what you think I am he sighed as he turned a corner and opened the elevator door, pulling them inside he pressed the door for the car park . As the doors closed he looked at Eve and smiled “I’m Rain’s equipment.. More or less.. It’s good to see you’re doing well” he shrugged as the door to the elevator opened and they were in the car park “Look.. I’m forced to be utilized by Rain for her own needs, we can go back to my other safe house.. out in the countryside I have a rather large facility there” he walked over to another truck and opens the door, this truck was a military style truck and much better than the old crapper they came in, sitting in the driver’s seat he looks as its only two seats Eve could sit in the passenger’s seat, it was a 2 seater heavy jeep with a big boot full of equipment that they could sort through later. Unfortunately for him he would have to suffer with Rain… sitting on his lap again, and if she was going to use him as a chair.. she was going to drive again, oh god she was going to get him back for that Dead fuck comment on this drive he could just feel it..
CharlotteCarrendar: – Adam didn’t have time for explanations, or for any long stories. He wanted the girls out of there and right away, guiding them both, with Rain looking back over her shoulder at the body of the dead Commander. She kept hearing what he called her before Adam had killed him. ~She was a mutant~ Her understanding of the word meant that she was not human either. All this time she had been having a go at Adam about his claims of being human. And who was she to talk? She didn’t give him a problem being led out but as Eve left, she grabbed her robotic toy dog, leaving everything else of her life behind. The only reason she went with them, was because Adam gave her his word, that no harm would come to her. She believed him. She did this because she was one of only two beings on the entire earth that knew how he came to be, and what had made him so special in the first place. Why he couldn’t be replicated. Surprisingly, no alarms had yet been triggered or sounded yet. This in itself would be unusual, but the time of the daring raid was chosen for a specific reason. On getting out to the car park, Adam had picked a vehicle that was miles better than the old farm truck that they had travelled over in. On reaching it, Adam spoke to Eve directly, in a way to allay her fears. He explained that he accepted that he was Rain’s equipment, and that he was happy to see her being as well as she was. Eve had so much she wanted to say to Adam, but not in front of Rain. Not yet. Eve knew a great deal about Ernest and what had become of him. ”Adam….” she started to say, as Rain interrupted. ”We really should get moving, we can talk on the way.” She urged Eve to get into the vehicle, and then seeing there was only one other seat, she looked at Adam and said. ”Guess I am driving, huh?” She knew that meant he would be her seat. She waited for him to get in, before getting onto his lap. Rain gripped the steering wheel as the door closed. ”Now the fun part…getting out of here.” She started the engine, and then put her foot on the gas. <3>
IceTe3a: He felt Rain slide on top of him as her weight came pressing down on his lap he tried to shift his body weight as he felt her weight pressing down on top of him… amongst other things, this was slightly awkward but she didn’t seem to be bothered by it in the slightest ~ Try not to move around..~ he said in her head in a soft tone. The engine started and they drove off and out of the car park, what few guards were awake wouldn’t pull them over to stop them as no one suspected a thing, they would be able to simple drive out of the base without issue. He had suggested that they set up their new base at his safe house out in the country side.. Rain was driving and had no idea where it was, would she physically log into him with one hand showing Eve partly the extent of what he meant by being Rain’s equipment.
looking over to Eve he smiled as he looked down at the puppy and back at her “So Eve, what do you know about Rain’s father.” The vibration from the engine of the truck wasn’t helping as Rain’s body was slightly shaking on top of him, this could be a situation he didn’t want her to realize about, as they finally left the Base behind slipping through the last point and onto the main dirt track towards the city, now is when Rain would need to utilize him once more, much like you would a GPS.
With Brock and Pandora enjoying a night in, and the return of Ame to Seattle, we turn our attentions to Maxwell and Felicity Hines. A prearranged dinner is about to end in disaster. Also, the next day we see just what happens at Simone’s Doctor’s appointment.
Brock listened intently to Pandora explain that she needed to speak to Simone BEFORE the girls luncheon reunion. Her reluctance to even having to deal with the girl showed especially in the way she sighed and the sad look in her eyes. Brock was unhappy that she was feeling this way about a girl that had been her best friend. He truly felt like he had ruined that for her by his thoughtless actions. Taking a spoonful of the ice cream monster, he placed the spoon in his mouth and nodded thoughtfully when Pandora expressed the wish not to have to discuss the issue further. In fact, she didn want to even think about it. Simply relax with him in stead.
Reaching for the TV remote, he turned it on, so he and Pandora could snuggle in bed, eat ice cream and enjoy a movie. Settling back, he dug the spoon into the ice cream mountain again, and then asked her a question.
“Are you excited about the new house? I know its going to be a lot more work than a simple apartment. And we have to go furniture shopping. Just letting you know now, I totally suck at that sort of thing.”
The house that awaited them was a dream really. No doubt Pandora would find herself very busy over the next few years making it a home.
“Might invite Jason and Jane over after we move in. I wonder how they are going.” Brock said, taking another bite of ice cream as the Ghost busters movie – the original came on the screen.
Brock didn’t make a comment, knowing it was probably an exercise in futility. Not wanting to depress her further, and to get her mind off the past, he grabbed the remote to the tv and flipped it on. He flipped through the channels while helping her go through the mountain of ice cream before asking her thoughts on the house.
“Are you excited about the new house? I know its going to be a lot more work than a simple apartment. And we have to go furniture shopping. Just letting you know now, I totally suck at that sort of thing.”
At that her thoughts moved to a happier medium. “Are you kidding? I haven’t even seen the inside of it yet and I already have all these ideas. I’ve thought about converting the basement into a ‘man cave’ for you, so you have some space to hang out with your buddies. But the garage is mine.” She was forceful in her convictions about making the place their own. “And I was serious about letting Jane work the yard. I don’t know a damn thing about lawn care and flowers.”
“Might invite Jason and Jane over after we move in. I wonder how they are going.”
“They are cute together. I wasn’t surprised when they hooked up.” she stated as she took a bite of ice cream. Brock stopped flipping channels when one particular movie popped up on the screen.
“Hey hey! I love this movie.”
Pandora grinned as well. “Ghostbusters” was in her top 10 list of all-time favorite movies. “As do I.” she agreed, settling in beside him. As the movie progressed, they slowly made their way through the mountain of ice cream, but Pandora was finding herself becoming sleepier and sleepier as time went on. Near the middle of the movie, her head was resting on Brock’s chest, the spoon in her hand slowly slipping from her fingers as she slowly fell asleep. By the time the movie was over, she was sound asleep.
——
Outside the hotel
George was becoming frustrated. He had stolen some clothes from a Salvation Army bin down the street and had tried to get into the hotel. The doorman had been suspicious but had allowed the man inside. Thinking nothing of it, he went directly to the desk and inquired about the room his step-daughter was currently in. He was politely rebuffed. Annoyed, he demanded to know what room she was in, declaring it a ‘family emergency’. The clerk stated that if it was an emergency, then he should already know what room she was in and to call direct. The clerk then asked hotel security to escort George out, and non-too-gently they did, shoving him into the street without so much as a “thank you”. He started to rant and rave, raising his fists as if he were going to attack. The security guards, both bigger and taller then him, told him in no uncertain terms that if he continued his intended course of action, they would have no choice but to call the police – the kind of attention George did not want. Grumbling under his breath, he stomped back to the car. Denise wisely kept silent, less he turn his anger onto her.
“That bitch is going to be in a world of hurt when I get my hands on her!” he snarled.
It was a good thing the movie came on when it did. One of Pandora’s favourite movies, and something that would help her relax and unwind. Slowly though, the ice cream mountain was taking it’s toll on Pandora, to the point Brock felt her head rest on his chest, as the spoon slipped from her fingers and landed unceremoniously on his crotch.
“Heh.”
He stared at her and saw her eyes were closed – the soft sounds of her snores so endearing. Brock took up the spoon and the giant bowl of ice cream and put them on the bedside table, before he pushed back the bed covers. He helped ease Pandora under them, and resting her head on the pillow, while he went to put the rest of the ice cream in the freezer. It was simply too much for the pair of them. Coming back into the bedroom, he switched off the television set and took off his shirt and jeans, more or less stripping off right then and there. He turned out the light, the crawled into bed beside her, drawing her to him so her head would rest on his bare chest just like before. Brock kissed the top of her head, and drew his arm around her tighter as he stared at the window.
Deep in the back of his mind, Brock worried about how Pandora would go with her reconciliation with Simone, if it even happened at all. Part of him wished they could just leave it alone, but Simone was part of a group of friends – something that existed before he came along. Brock knew there was little he could do, but be supportive of Pandora as he promised he would be. He did know one thing. There was nothing on this earth that was ever going to take her from him again.
Little did he know of those that were camped outside the hotel.
In another part of Seattle, a lone woman was seated at a table in one of the best restaurants in Seattle, slowly twirling the stem of a wine glass between two fingers. Several men had walked past her table, inquiring about her single status and she assured them that she was waiting for her dinner companion. She was kind of annoyed that the previous week, he had stood her up for lunch and hoped he hadn’t run off to drink.
She had extended this invitation to dinner in the hopes it was accepted. They really needed to have this talk, and she was hoping he would listen to her words.
Felicity sighed as she checked her watch.
“25 minutes late…as usual.” she muttered, sipping her wine. “Where are you, Max?”
Ame’s chaufer Sebastian was helping her out with placing her luggage in the back of a 1950 rolls royce then he shut the trunk as soon as he was finished loading the last of the luggage.
“Sebastian, mi prendere per il mio aeroporto privato nelle vicinanze.” (Translation: Sebastian, take me to my private airport nearby.) Ame commanded in her native tongue and her driver nodded and opened the door for her as she slipped into the back, putting her cellphone in her lap as she stared out the window, eager to see her friends once again after a year. Little did she know what had happened in the past year while she was gone that there was drama between her favorite group of friends. Sebastian shut the door to only walk around the car fast paced and slipped into the drivers seat. He started the car to only press down on the gas and moved forward as Ame sat next to a door, watching the scenary go by as she was being taken to the private airport.
What can she do with all of this money that she has? Give a good chunk of it to charities? She did not know what to do with it since she had so much of it by repairing, selling, and designing some cars of her own that she had sold to major car companies.
Soon, they arrived at the private airport of Ame Moretti. She opened the door and stepped out, not even waiting for her driver to get out of the car after putting it into park and shutting the engine off. Sebastian stepped out of the Rolls Royce to only hand Ame the keys, placing them in her hands. Ame gave a nod in thanks before spanking once again, “Voglio che tu inviare la Rolls Royce al mio indirizzo di casa a Seattle, WA così la macchina può essere spedito fuori Italia. Questa vettura è un regalo a uno dei miei amici, ma io proprio non lo so che sta andando a prendere la macchina ancora.” (Translation: I want you to send the Rolls Royce to my home address in Seattle, WA so the car can be shipped out of Italy. This car is a present to one of my friends but I just don’t know who is going to get the car yet.)
Sebastian gave a nod, “Subito, signora. Avrò spedito non appena il vostro bagaglio è fuori del tronco,” (Translation: Right away, ma’am. I will have it shipped out as soon as your luggage is out of the trunk.) his voice was deep and husky sounding as he ran around the car to only open the trunk and took out her luggage for it to be placed on the private jet. Ame picked up her purse from the back of the Rolls Royce and opened it up to give Sebastion his pay for the year he had helped her witht hings. She took out about a hundred grand in hundred dollar bills and gave it to him as soon he shut the trunk. He widened his eyes at the sight of the money and took it, bowing to her for he had never gotten paid this much in his years of driving people places. People who were loading the plane with her luggage got paid directly to their bank accounts since the money was wired over to them. Ame closed her purse back up and jogged to the jet so she can step into it and take off to her home in Seattle to see the girls once again.
The pilot closed the door to the interior after he stepped in since the co-pilot was sitting in her proper seat and nodded to Ame who nodded back and the captain stepped into the cock pit, taking his seat and strapped on his seat belt and was signaled that he was able to take off. He started the engines of the jet to slowly rolled out onto the freeway and started to gain speed while rolling down the road. Within minutes, the jet had enough speed and the pilot lifted the jet off the ground, taking off into the air to head to Seattle, WA, the home of Ame Moretti.
Moretti’s Private Airport
It took a total of 14 hours and 40 minutes to get to Seattle, WA from Rome and boy was it tired some for Ame since she barely got any sleep during the whole flight back. The pilots landed the jet, putting on the air brakes and began to slow down, bringing the jet to the building to park it. Coming to a stop within the large building, the door on the side of the vehicle and Ame walked down the steps, taking in a breath of the air and she smelt rain. She smiled widely, having missed the smell of rain in her hometown for she head to her baby, the 1969 Dodge Charger. She let a hand slide across the left panel, feeling its metal beneath her hand as she took out the keys to the car from her purse and unlocked the door, opening up tot he drivers side to only throw her purse onto the passenger seat and walked to the trunk and opened it and signaled for her luggage to be placed in the trunk and shut after everything was in there.
She walked back over to the driver side and slipped her frame into the car, closing her eyes as she savored the feeling of the car’s leather seats against herself. Ame grinned and looked up at the rear view mirror, waiting for the workers to finish loading her luggage into the car. The trunk was shut after every bag was in there and gave her the signal that every thing was all set then gave a smirk and shut the door and turned the key as they engine turned over and began to purr like a true muscle car. She turned on some classic rock music from the radio and stepped on the gas to only move forward and out of the building, heading towards her home.
Hiding behind a dark pair of sunglasses, Maxwell approached the Maitre d’ with a drunken swagger. A lopsided grin, he slouched upon the small podium that the man was standing at ready to guide patrons to their booked tables. His breath reeked of scotch and his clothing smelt like that of a hobo.
“I have…a booking with my delightful sister. AH..there she is. You just..just..seat other people, I can find my way through.”
The Maitre d’ looked down his nose at Maxwell, who slapped his arm on the way past and ambled over to where his sister was waiting patiently. Maxwell took off his glasses and flung them on the table, before sitting down with a hard thud on the chair, amusing one of the patrons at another table. It was obvious that Maxwell had started his day off early, with a drink with breakfast. God knows how many he had had since then.
“Felicity..my angel in Prada.” Maxwell gushed, snapping his fingers for the nearest waiter to bring the drinks menu.“Garson? Oh…there you are. Yes. Scotch on the rocks and a lovely spritz for my darling Sis.” Maxwell placed his order before lazily turning his attention back to Felicity.
“I want to humbly apologize for standing you up the other day. Or was it the other week? Ha! Can never tell. OH, did I tell you that Muriel left me. That….wrinkly old bag of bones. Dating someone know who looks like they still wear diapers. I mean, that’s great right? I should be happy the old duck found someone that thinks that can bounce her tired buns off the nearest wall for four hours without the need for viagra.”
Maxwell took up a bread stick and chewed it lazily, getting crumbs all over the table.
“Don’t know any society creepers under fifty, do you?”
A commotion at the entrance drew Felicity from her thoughts and she wanted to bang her head on the table when she saw it was her brother. And clearly he was three sheets to the wind and still flying. She pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on.
“Felicity…my angel in Prada.” he grinned stupidly as he stumbled his way to their table. A waiter appeared at his elbow before he could sit down. “Garson? Oh…there you are. Yes. Scotch on the rocks and a lovely spritz for my darling Sis.” he announced. Felicity knew she had to nip this in the bud.
“Cancel that. We’ll both have club soda.” she stated in a no nonsense tone, practically daring the man to look to her brother for confirmation. Something in her eyes must have frightened the server for he simply nodded and walked away as fast as he legs would carry him. She turned her glare on her brother. “Maxwell! I cannot believe you! How much have you had to drink today? No…don’t answer that. I can smell you from where I’m sitting.” She sat back in her seat with a sigh as she looked him over. His eyes were bleary and blood shot, his clothing was wrinkled and stained in some places and it looked like he hadn’t shaved or showered in weeks. Felicity shook her head, sadness etched in every line of her face. Her brother needed help, and she was the only one who could.
“Why are you doing this? You’re slowly killing yourself and you act like you don’t even care. Mum wanted to fly over and smack some sense to you but I talked her out of it. And poor Da…he sounded so heartbroken. You’re the youngest of us all and yet Mum and Dad loved you the most…and you’re doing a right piss job of throwing away everything they worked for so that we could have our dream jobs.”
She ignored his angsting over Muriel, that ship had sailed the night of that horrible dinner. She tossed a pamphlet on the table before him. On the front of the pamphlet were the words “Seattle Subtance Abuse and Treatment Facility”, located not far from Maxwell’s apartment.
“You need help, Maxwell. I love you, and I’m not going to watch you throw your life down the toilet. You can either go voluntarily or involuntarily but you are going.”
Ever the gentleman, Maxwell let Felicity have her moment. Oh yes, she was bringing up Mother and Father, and how dissapointed they were in their “darling boy” who was drinking his life away rather than face his problems head on. He showed something of a childish smirk when she asked how many drinks he had had, then withdrew the question for the stink of him left no doubt at all, that he had started the moment he woke up.
“Why are you doing this?
“Cause..it makes me feel good?” This was actually a lie, but he kept telling himself this in order to continue. He could see the toll this was taking on his sister, as she implored him with all her being that he stop and look at what he was doing with his life. He had such promise, such hope for success, and yet he gave into the bottle, day after day. Was it to help him forget? And if so, what was the reason behind such madness. Felicity was not about to stop her interrogation, as it pained her so to see her younger brother throwing his life away.
“You’re slowly killing yourself and you act like you don’t even care. Mum wanted to fly over and smack some sense to you but I talked her out of it. And poor Da…he sounded so heartbroken. You’re the youngest of us all and yet Mum and Dad loved you the most…and you’re doing a right piss job of throwing away everything they worked for so that we could have our dream jobs.”
He took the brochure that she threw across the table and flicked it open. Maxwell squinted as he could barely make out the words on the page. Setting down the pamphlet, he reached in his pocket for his reading glasses, something that he was not terribly proud to wear out in public. With shaking hands he again picked up the pamphlet and started to read.
“This…isn’t a health spa is it?” He flipped it over, looking to see if they had amenities, like it was some sort of resort. The more he read, the more he came to understand exactly what this was. Maxwell tossed the pamphlet down on the table and waved his hand dismissively. “I don’t need this, Sis. I…I can quit anytime I want too.” Again, more lies.
He glanced around the other tables to see other people drinking. Wetting his lips with his tongue, he was about to get up and go steal a drink from another table, when his sister said.
“You need help, Maxwell. I love you, and I’m not going to watch you throw your life down the toilet. You can either go voluntarily or involuntarily but you are going.”
This was not a request. This was a real and very clear threat of action on her part. Maxwell immediately started to make excuses.
“What about the gallery? Lucy? She needs me. We have exhibitions. Some…girl named Roi. Or something. Yes…we have a lot coming up. Who is going to help her if I am not there?”
The truth about Lucy…was about to come home to roost.
Felicity waited as Maxwell looked over the pamphlet. She snorted when he asked if it was a health spa. But the more he read, the more he came to understand exactly what it was.
“I don’t need this, Sis. I…I can quit anytime I want to.” She could hear the lie as clearly as she could hear a sneeze from across the room and the fire in her eyes ramped up a notch.
She saw the look in his eyes as he looked around at the people drinking at the other tables. She was not falling for it.
“What about the gallery? Lucy? She needs me. We have exhibitions. Some…girl named Roi. Or something. Yes…we have a lot coming up. Who is going to help her if I am not there?”
Felicity stared at her brother, a bitter laugh erupting from her throat.
“The gallery? As far as I am aware, you’ve pretty much have been shot of the gallery! Lucy runs that place like she fucking owns it! She doesn’t need you! She’s doing the work of twenty people with barely a finger. You can’t even fucking remember the name of the artist who’s showing this weekend! What the hell does that tell you, Maxwell?” she exploded, bringing all eyes to their table, undisguised curiosity on every face as the blonde woman went up one side of the man she was with and down the other. “Lucy. Doesn’t. Need. You!” She spat each word as if it were a curse. “She doesn’t need this drunken bum, who smells like he took a bath in scotch! She needs the man who took charge of his life and opened the gallery all of Seattle would kill to show in!” she snarled, slamming her hand so hard on the table, a couple of glasses fell over with a crash.
By the end of her rant, she was breathing like she had been running a marathon.
“I’m sorry, Max. I love you too much to let you shove your life down the shitter.” She waved her hand to someone behind Max and two men approached the table. They were dressed all in white with the initals “S.S.A.T.F.” stitched along the breast pockets.
“Ms Hines?”
“Yes.”
“Dr Monroe stated you may have need of us. Is this the patient?” A heavy hand dropped onto Max’s shoulder.
“This is my brother, Maxwell Hines. Did Dr Monroe receive my paperwork?”
“Yes, ma’am. Everything is in order. We’re just awaiting the arrival of your brother so he can begin treatment.”
“Oh he’s very ready to begin.” Felicity nodded, staring sadly at her brother. She hated going behind his back like this…but she was not going to watch him drink himself to death. Her parents would never forgive her for not doing everything she could for him. The man on the left handed her a clipboard with for a final signature needed to have Max involuntarily admitted to the Treatment Facility. She quickly signed it and handed it back. “I am sorry, Max. One day, you may or may not thank me for this.” And with that, the two orderlies made move to grab Max by his arms to lead him out of the restaurant.
The matter of Lucy and the Gallery for that matter were things that Maxwell truly had not given two shits about. Not since the fated dinner, and probably for months before – he would go in and sit at his desk, playing Minecraft as he waited for the pubs to open. He was also taking bottles of booze into the office – squirreling away like some hermit while Lucy did ALL the work. In fact she gave up on even asking Max for anything some time ago. It was only now, as his sister berated him over her, that the truth was about to come home. Like a donky kicking him fair in the teeth. He showed a look that was one of feigned surprise, even going as far as to scoff the suggestion that Lucy didn’t need him. He had being lying to himself this long, he could keep up the charade. This was how conceited he truly was.
“Lucy. Doesn’t. Need. You!”
In his defense, he picked up a bread stick and tapped it on the table till it broke.
“I’M…I’M MAXWELL HINES. A GODDAMN PILLAR OF THE SEATTLE ART WORLD. AN EXPERT ON HOW TO SHAG OLD WEALTHY DUCKS WITH COBWEB COOCHIES. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I HAVE DONE TO GET THE SPONSORSHIPS…WHO I HAVE SLEPT WITH…THE HORRORS….YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT I HAVE SEEN. NOW IF YOU WILL EXCUSE ME, I HAVE A DATE WITH THE BAR!”
It was then that the two muscle bound employees from the rehab clinic appeared and placed hands on Maxwell’s shoulders.
“Ms Hines?”
“Yes.”
“Dr Monroe stated you may have need of us. Is this the patient?” A heavy hand dropped onto Max’s shoulder.
“This is my brother, Maxwell Hines. Did Dr Monroe receive my paperwork?”
“Yes, ma’am. Everything is in order. We’re just awaiting the arrival of your brother so he can begin treatment.”
“What? WHAT?! No..no, you can’t do this. Felicity..please!”
“I am sorry, Max. One day, you may or may not thank me for this.” Felicity signed off on his treatment, and the two men tried to drag Maxwell out of his chair. Needless to say, he put up a fight…a drunken one.
“Get…get your hands off me, you grape apes. You can’t do this! Not in a crowded restaurant. FELICITY!!!”
Mawell screamed and kicked as he was hauled out. Like a mental patient that was being hauled off to an institution. It was pitiful to watch.
Arriving ten minutes early for the scheduled appointment, Erica was leading Simone along the hallway to Doctor Benson’s office. It had been a hectic morning, just trying to get Simone to go. She protested for much of the trip in and then when she was faced with the fact that she was having to see a Doctor about this, nerves hit in home.
“Do I have to do this?” Simone begged as Erica went to reach for the door handle to the office waiting room. Erica gave her a filthy look. “For the one hundredth time, yes. Now quit being a baby and come on in.” Erica opened the door to a sea of expectant mothers at all stages of pregnancy. Some even had young children with them. The waiting room was brightly coloured, with walls littered with happy snap baby photos, and thank you cards to Doctor Benson from many a happy parent. Simone cringed as she took it all in.
“I don’t belong in here.”
Erica marched Simone up to the nurse at the reception desk and gave her her brightest smile.
“Simone Jackson is here for her nine am appointment.”
The nurse looked up and then saw the star of the musical stage shows in Seattle, looking around and appearing very uncomfortable with the surrounds. “Ah yes. Miss Jackson, if you could just fill out this form and go pee in this cup.”
“What?” Simone asked, seeing the dainty cup and the clip board. She took up the cup and made a face, shivering as though it was something disgusting. Erica gave her a side ways glance, as she started to fill out the form for Simone.
“Go pee in the cup while I get this done for you.”
“Why can’t I just pee on a stick?”
“Because…they want more pee?’
“Ewww…how am I going to pee in something this dinky?”
The nurse looked over her glasses at Simone, who was acting like a spoilt brat. “Miss Jackson, please if you would just go and fill up the cup, and bring it back when your done. The Doctor will call you.”
Simone rolled her eyes and went off to the rest room, leaving Erica to do the paperwork. The nurse leaned forward and whispered. “I take it this is her first time.” Erica whispered back. “If you think that was bad, you should have seen her in the car.” The two women nodded in agreement, as swearing could be heard coming from the rest room.
“GOD DAMMIT!..PEED ON MY HAND!”
The whole waiting room heard that one, with some mother’s giggling at her exploits. How hard was it to pee into a cup? For Simone, it was. She came out minutes later and took the cup over to the desk, where the nurse simply pointed her to sit down with Erica. Erica was flicking through a magazine, as a little boy stood in front of Simone, picking his nose. Simone sneered at him “Disgusting child.” The boy ran to his mother, who scowled at Simone. Simone sat down with a huff and held onto her sample cup.
“What is taking so long?!” Clearly, she hated to be made to wait. Another ten minutes passed with Simone fidgeting and whining, when a very handsome doctor opened the door.
“Miss…Jackson?”
Simone looked up and her mouth fell open. He was like a dream out of General hosptial. Slowly she got up and then walked towards him as he smiled at her politely.
“Won’t you come in?” Simone nodded dreamily and went inside. Erica dashed on in after her, much to the Doctor’s surprise. She simply patted the Doctor on the arm and said. “It’s for your safety.” The Doctor cocked his head and then followed both ladies inside.
Simone sat down opposite his desk and she set down the sample, saying in her sweetest voice. “I peed in the cup for you.” she fluttered her eyelashes and Erica gave her a nudge. Now was not the time to be flirting. The Doctor took the cup and then went to do some tests. He…had pregnancy stick testers and when Simone saw them, she exclaimed. “That is a lot easier to get a reading from then holding a cup to your twat.” The Doctor chuckled at her candor and then he confirmed what they knew to be true. She was pregnant.
“Well, Miss Jackson, I guess congratulations are in order. You are pregnant.”
Simone’s face crumpled as she heard this and the Doctor took her hand and patted it, before offering her a kleenex. She took the tissues and then blew her nose into them, as Erica then asked the next obvious question. “How far is she?” Now this was something that could only be worked out with a special scan, but the Doctor sat back and said. “When was your last period, Miss Jackson?” Simone sat there as she tried to figure that out. Erica sat forward in her seat, dying to know.
“About…three months…I think.”
Erica let out a whoop of delight. “IT’S NOT BROCK’S!”
“It’s not?” Simone asked, now wondering how that was possible. The Doctor then looked between the girls and asked.“Whose Brock?” Erica was already over the moon about this, but it still didn’t tell them who the father was. Erica leaned forward toward Simone and asked.
“Who did you sleep with three months ago?”
Simone sat there, and looked to the ceiling.
“Simone?”
“I’m thinking.”
It then dawned on Simone….who the father was.
“Oh my god….it was the lead singer of that German rock group. Uhm….Wolfgang Ritz.” Erica sat with her mouth open.“You dated that gorilla? I thought he was hairy.” Simone shrugged. “I was drunk…it was dark…I thought that was the carpet.”
Doctor Benson was now able to calculate the pregnancy. Simone was three months pregnant with a baby to a rock star who wasn’t even in the country.
We continue with Brock and Pandora, back in Seattle and now off to spend the night at the Fairmont Olympic while they wait for their new house to be ready to move into. Little do they know of what is happening with Simone. The plot thickens.
Pulling up just outside the entrance to the Fairmont, Orson let out a long slow whistle on seeing the beauty of the grand hotel. Anyone would tell you it was one of Seattle’s oldest and finest hotels, and was truly up the upmarket end of town. Orson threw his arm back over the driver’s seat and looked back at the pair.
“Bring me back one of those monogrammed toweling robes, Bro.” He said this with a quirky smile as Brock shook his head at his brother. “I’m not stealing no robes for you. Bring Erica and do it yourself sometime.” Orson let out something of a raspberry as Brock got out of the car, and then walked around to open Pandora’s door. He offered her his hand to help him out onto the sidewalk, as Orson popped the boot.
With only a bit of luggage, after dropping off the garbage bags of old clothes to the life line bins, Brock was ready to treat his special lady to a night she would not forget. He slammed the boot shut, only to hear Orson curse.
“Careful. You might damage her!”
“Dude…nothing can harm this car. They made it back in the days when they used more steel than they would on an army tank.”
“Eh..true. STILL…she’s a lady and I don’t go slamming her.”
“I’ll remember that. Thanks for the ride, bro.”
Orson did something of a salute as he pulled away from the curb, leaving Pandora and Brock there with their bags. Brock picked up everything, and motioned for them to head inside.
The foyer was incredibly beautiful. The architecture was from a bygone era. All around people were enjoying the hotel’s services, with a line up for the restaurant, and many at the piano bar. it was a popular place after work for many, others were either international guests, or those from out of town.
Brock walked up to the guest service desk with Pandora, and rang the bell. A girl in a blue uniform emerged from an inner office and said.
“Welcome to the Fairmont Olympic, can I help you?”
“Yes, I have made a reservation for two under the name Brock Carrendar.”
The girl checked her computer terminal, and then smiled up at the couple. “Yes, we have your reservation. Room 589.’She handed a form for Brock to fill out, while smiling at Pandora. “We have provided a welcome basket with some goodies. Always love to have newly weds.”
Brock coughed and asked.
“I’m sorry…but we aren’t newly weds.”
The girl behind the counter went bright red. “I’m so sorry Sir, but that is what you ordered. The honeymoon suite. Extra spa and all the trimmings.”
Brock looked at Pandora and wondered what she would say.
When they pulled up in front of the hotel, Orson whistled in surprise and even Pandora was stunned at the elegance and beauty the place gave off. She was now glad she hadn’t changed her clothes after getting back from Hawaii. Brock climbed from the car, coming around to help her out as Orson opened the trunk for their bags.
Once their bags were safely on the curb, Brock slammed the trunk down, annoying Orson. This devolved into a 2 minute conversation about the dangers of angering Orson’s “girl”, ripe with sexual innuendos. Brock made mention of the car being the equivalent of an army tank, which made Orson grin with pride and comment:
“Eh..true. STILL…she’s a lady and I don’t go slamming her.”
Pandora nearly bit her tongue in half at the laugh that wanted to escape her right then at the unintended quip. This was Orson they were talking about after all.
Waving his brother off, Brock took up their bags and he indicated for her to head inside, the doorman opening the door to young couple with a tip of his hat.
Across the street, George pulled the car to a stop and growled in anger.
“Well let’s go in.” Denise demanded, making a move to step from the car. George grabbed her arm and shoved her forcefully back into her seat. “Ow! George! What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Do we look like the type of people who frequent a place that swanky?” he snapped, pointing at his grease-covered overalls and her tube top and short skirt.
“Well…no.” Denise admitted after some silence.
“Do you have the money to buy your way into a place like that?”
“Well…no.”
“Then we will do what we have been doing,…watch and wait.”
Inside, Brock and Pandora arrived at the front desk where he gave his name and stated that he’d made a reservation. The clerk typed into her computer and easily found the reservation, stating that they were booked into their Deluxe (aka Honeymoon) Suite, assuming they were newlyweds.
Brock was actually embarrassed by this and he looked at Pandora to get her input.
“It’s fine, Brock. With all the bags, we need the room. Besides…” she stepped close to him and whispered into his ear, “…think of all the flat surfaces we can…make use of.” She stepped back and winked saucily at him. A tiger didn’t change their stripes in a day, ya know.
Suite 589
Once they reached the room, Pandora collapsed to the bed as Brock placed their bags aside. It was a beautiful room with a gorgeous view of the city. She could see the Needle from where she lay. Sitting up, she grabbed her carry-on bag and searched for her phone. Finding it, she noticed a missed call and a voicemail indicator.
“I really need to stop leaving my phone on vibrate.” she muttered, putting the phone to her ear. The message she heard surprised her.
“Hey Panda, its Ame. I am just calling in to see how things are going. Sorry for leaving town a while ago. Some emergencies had come up in my home town so I had to leave right away. Please call me back when you get this! Love you bunches!” There was a callback number.
She hadn’t heard from Ame in nearly a year and had almost given her up as lost. She was actually glad to hear from her.
Dialing the number, she growled when she got a voicemail in return. Not bothering to leave a message, she hung up and turned to send Ame a text message instead.
That done, she put her phone on the side table and moved to unpack her things. She wasn’t sure how long she and Brock would be living in the hotel until they’d gotten their new house situated. She kicked off her shoes and moved to a reclining position on the bed.
“You owe me some ice cream, Mr Carrendar.” she stated, watching as he moved around the room, unpacking his own things. “And I expect payment.”
The room at the Fairmont was luxury personified, even more so than Carrendar House. Brock set down their bags, and then on straightening looked about his plush surrounds. Would Pandora find this a little bit over the top? This sort of room was for Presidents, and Rock stars which they were neither. Brock silently watched Pandora take in the view from the room of the city, nervously waiting to see if she would ask to stay somewhere else. It wasn’t like he was trying to show off, or be extravagant, this was just the best hotel in the City, and a welcome stop between her apartment and their new home.
Noticing that she had taken out her cell from her bag, Pandora had seen she had missed a call. For a moment he was concerned it would be from Simone; the girl that he had yet to deal with since he took off after Pandora to Hawaii. Thankfully it wasn’t.
“Whose the message from, babe?” Brock asked with a certain level of curiosity. He wasn’t trying to pry into her affairs, but he just wondered. She would probably tell him if it was just another friend, or to do with work.
Brock started to unpack his things into the joint closet, when Pandora reminded him that he owed her some ice cream, and expected it…now. Brock chuckled at her impatience for the tasty treat. “I did promise, didn’t I?” He said with a laugh, grabbing his wallet and then going over to the hotel phone. He picked it up and dialed for room service.
“Yeah, hey, this is Brock Carrendar in suite 589. My lady love wants the biggest bowl of icecream you got. Really? Oh yeah with everything. Even sprinkles. Great. Thanks.” Brock hung up and smirked.
“One desert coming up.” he said with a wicked grin. It was pretty certain that Pandora was going to get one hell of an ice cream headache.
About 10 minutes later the door bell intercom buzzed, and Brock jogged to get it. Out in the foyer stood a bell boy with a large silver dish, that contained Pandora’s ice cream dish. Brock stepped back and gestured to his Pandora.
“It’s for her.”
The young bell boy entered the swanky room and placed the dome topped tray on the table nearest Pandora and took off the lid to reveal an ice cream masterpiece.
Needless to say, she would need more than one spoon.
“Whose the message from, babe?” his husky voice caught her attention and she looked up from reading Ame’s latest text.
“Hmm? Oh. It’s from my friend, Ame. She’s been out of town for the past year and she’s due back tonight. She wants to take me, and the other girls to lunch next week so we can catch up.” With a sigh, she set the phone aside for the night. He nodded at that and at her reminder of ice cream, he went to the phone and called room service.
She wasn’t sure if she was ready to deal with Simone just yet, but with Ame returning, it was unavoidable. And now with Pandora moving out of her apartment, she wasn’t even sure of Kali anymore. She hadn’t heard from her since her last night in Hawaii.
When the deserved treat arrived, it was a stacked, delicious mess of chocolate and whipped cream goodness.
Pandora stared at it with wide eyes.
“Brock! I was expecting you to go to the store around the corner for a pint! This is huge!” she exclaimed. “I hope like hell you’re going to help me eat this!”
She held up her spoon and pointed it at him. “Please?”
Brock could barely hide his amusement when he saw the size, the sheer magnitude of the Ice cream castle. Cause technically that is what it was. What was even funnier was Pandora’s reaction. She expected him to go around the store for a pint, not order something like this. He was truly amused by her exclamation on how she hoped that he was going to help her eat this.
“Oh no, love. That’s just for you.” Brock teased, knowing it would get a good reaction, before taking up the spare spoon and sampling a small scoop full of creamy goodness from the top.
“Taste better if you were wearing it.” He said with a cheeky tone. Getting his finger and running it through the cream and dabbing some on her nose. “Let’s try that shall we?” He leaned forward and kissed the cream off her nose gently before licking his lips. “Yes, I prefer Pan flavoured ice cream.”
Sitting down beside her with the monster treat, he eased back to watch her attempt to take on the mountain, and asked about the earlier conversation concerning Ame.
“So, she’s been out of town a year and coming back now to…..oh.”
He knew that a lot had changed between the group of girls, and that he was partly responsible for that. The sigh that Pandora made would probably be in relation to Simone. A subject they were yet to discuss. Nervously he asked.
“What if she calls Simone? Are you going to be able to sit at the same table as her? I mean, I know you have forgiven me, but…”
He didn’t need to follow through with his sentence. Brock was pretty sure that the waters would remain icy between Pan and Simone.
He had the nerve to laugh at her! Oh that was so not on! Although she did melt just a bit when he dabbed ice cream on her nose before kissing it off. He eased back on the bed beside her, leaving her to handle the mountain of goo by herself. She set the large treat between them and started digging into it.
“Smart ass.” she grumbled good-naturedly. There was a brief uncomfortable silence that he broke by asking about Simone.
“What if she calls Simone? Are you going to be able to sit at the same table as her? I mean, I know you have forgiven me, but…”
“I know I’m going to need to talk to Simone before Ame’s luncheon. I’d rather not have to deal with her at all. But rather the devil you know…you know?” she sighed, sliding the ice-cream-filled spoon between her lips. “Maybe I’ll go see her tomorrow…alone.” she added when she thought Brock might offer to go with her. “I don’t want to think about it anymore tonight. I just want to relax with you.” She took another bite, moaning slightly when the chocolatey goodness slipped down her throat.