“Shut the fuck up, he did not!” Cassie yells out just as I open the door.
“He did!” Ivy responds and the two of them burst out into laughter. “Speak of the devil!” Ivy stands up and pulls both Vince and I into a hug. “Glad you made it.” She whispers to , although I’m not sure why. Vince is close enough to hear, and Cassie can hear regardless.
Vince follows her into the room, and I take a mont to take in everything. Cassie is wearing a shirt that’s far too large for her small fra. Her right arm is still stuck in a sling and held tight to her body, and a shiny silver arm sits on the dresser.
I guess that ans her arm isn’t going to heal. If I hadn't freaked out she wouldn’t have gotten injured. She’s losing another limb because of . I-
“Ow!” A sharp pain in my ear rips out of my thoughts.
Everyone’s heads turn toward the two of us and their conversation cos to an abrupt end.
“You ok Little Blue?” Vince asks.
“Yeah, sorry. Corax was helping.”
Corax gives a nudge, silently urging to enter the room. I step inside and close the door behind .
“By biting you?” Cassie asks disbelievingly.
“I was stuck in my own thoughts.” I’m sure that doesn’t explain anything, but I’m not exactly sure what else I can say.
Corax puffs up on my shoulder, satisfied from his work being known.
Cassie looks like she wants to say sothing, but instead drowns her tongue in a large gulp of beer.
“Shouldn’t you be in the hospital?” I ask her. I’m not exactly sure what happened to her, but I can't imagine alcohol is the cure.
“Probably.” She gives a half-hearted shrug with her one functional arm. “I have to wait for the swelling to go down before surgery though.”
“Lets try not to talk about what happened, and more importantly, where’s Lucas?” Vince asks Cassie.
“Asshole chose his new boyfriend over us.” She responds.
“Can you really bla him?” Ivy asks.
“Of course I can! If I had a girlfriend I’d drag her in here with us. You know he still hasn’t introduced ?” As much as Cassie complains, her tone makes it clear she’s not actually mad.
“He’s probably embarrassed by you.” Ivy says happily.
“Shut up!” Cassie tosses an empty beer can in her direction while failing to hide a grin. “Blue, hand another.” She gestures to a small pile of beer bottles next to .
“Ok. How do I open this?” Drinking wasn’t important enough for Finn to add to my mind when I was born. Maybe I just twist the cap off?
“Just give it.”
“But your arm-”
“What about it.” She cuts off and jumps to her feet. She takes the beer from my hand before returning to her spot on the bed. In one quick motion she brings the bottle down, catching the cap on her leg and sending it flying off across the room. “If I need help I’ll ask for it.”
She’s angry at , and she has every right to be. Of course she’d be angry, especially after losing her legs. Why do I never think before I speak? Why am I so-
Corax gives a soft bite on my ear, gently bringing out of my spiral.
“Sorry.” My apology cos out barely louder than a whisper.
“Just don’t do it again.” Cassie refuses to look at while she speaks. “Anyway, are you good enough to drink yet Vince?”
“Nope. Still feel a little off.”
“Don’t worry,” Ivy puts her hand comfortingly on Vince’s shoulder. “I won’t let your drinks go to waste.”
“I’m sure you won't.” Vince gives a small chuckle. “Even though you probably should.”
“You’re just jealous.”
“Maybe a little.”
The two of them begin quietly teasing each other in a private conversation. Ivy keeps glancing at out of the corner of her eye. What does that an? Does she want to talk to Cassie? I can’t imagine what else she would be trying to tell .
“What’s alcohol like?” I break the awkward silence between us.
“Fucking awful, and then fucking great.” She takes another drink.
“What do you an?”
“It tastes like sothing died in your mouth. But after that? You’re having too good of a ti to care.” She takes another long drink to demonstrate. “See? That was miserable, which ans I need more.”
“You really voluntarily change how your mind works? Why?” I’d give anything to have complete control over my mind.
“Because it’s fun.” She says simply, refusing to elaborate.
“But isn’t it dangerous? From what I’ve read, addiction is a serious concern, and withdrawal can be lethal. Not to ntion how awful hangovers seem.”
“My job is dangerous too, at least this is fun.” She takes a second swig.
I guess she has a point.
“Sit.” Corax says quietly in my ear.
Vince, Ivy, and Cassie are all on the edge of the bed. There's space next to Cassie, but she probably doesn't want sitting next to her.
I lower myself carefully onto the floor.
“Blanket?” Corax asks Cassie.
“What?” She asks back.
“Do you have a blanket we could use?” I expand on his question. I'm not sure why I need to, he was pretty clear.
“Oh. Sure.” She puts her beer on her nightstand and tosses us a small blanket from behind her.
I make a small nest from it between my crossed legs, which Corax imdiately climbs into. After a few adjustnts his quiet, content ticking noise begins once again.
“What is he doing?”
I can't hear anything other than curiosity in her voice.
“Cozy.” Corax responds.
“You sound like a cat, not a bird.”
Corax’s humming stops for just an instant while he processes that. It's not long before he decides it's not a problem and resus his ticking.
“How do you know what cats sound like?” I can’t imagine any animals surviving out in the sands.
“We had a few when I was a kid. an bastards, but cute I guess.” She takes another long swig of beer. “Except for Griffin. He was sweet.”
She must be referring to before she t Vince. How can she talk so casually about her old life? I can barely think about the lab without feeling sad. I kill that line of thought, I’d hate to make Corax leave his comfy nest.
“I didn’t realize any animals survived.”
“Of course they did. Rats thrive anywhere humans survive, and cats are a hell of a lot easier than setting mouse traps every day.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
I think she’s getting more comfortable around . She looks more relaxed at least, although that might just be the alcohol. Despite being a little more comfortable, she makes no effort to continue the conversation.
“I wish I could see one.” I say half to myself, half to try to keep the conversation going.
“Why?” Corax mumbles from my lap. “Bird better.”
That pulls a genuine laugh out of Cassie.
“Of course, but I want to know how much better you are.” I tell him. The last thing I want to do is to put him in a sad mood right now. Him being self centered is better than the alternative.
He fluffs up his tallic feathers to show off and sinks deeper into the blanket. I reach down and begin to gently stroke his head exactly how he likes it. That, of course, only makes his ticking louder. We sit in silence for a few monts until Cassie continues the conversation.
“Only animals you’ll find in this city are pets of the rich. They cost more money than any of us will ever see.”
“Oh.” I can’t keep the disappointnt out of my voice.
“I had a dog in my early years.” Vince finally rejoins our conversation. “Not sure I’d still be here without him.”
“What happened to him?” I’m sure I already know the answer, but I have to ask.
“He got too old for my lifestyle. He more than earned his retirent with an old friend on the gulf coast.”
“Wait, the oceans still exist?” A thousand questions and implications rush into my mind. Why not build this city there instead of the middle of nowhere? I guess there is water under the city, but it can’t be more than an entire ocean. Maybe the power requirents to distill the seawater are too much?
“For a while they did.” Vince’s voice rips my focus away from my thoughts. “Took about a decade to start, but eventually the oceans started draining. Miles of ocean were lost every few hours, leaving behind endless salt flats littered with dead sea life. I was on the west coast at the ti. Went to sleep with the ocean at my back, woke up to a ten mile hike for water.”
“That’s awful.”
“It’s not all bad.” Vince reassures . “Breakfast ca easy that day, and there are so deep trenches where you can still find water. Pretty nice places to live from what I’ve heard.”
“If you can get over the sll that is,” Ivy says. “To this day the flats still sll like rotten fish.”
“They aren’t that bad.”
“Lucas vomited last ti we got 50 miles from the old coast.” Cassie reminds him.
“Ok, maybe they are a little bad. I’m sure you could get used to it though.”
“What, already planning for when the city goes to shit?” Cassie asks.
“I have a lot of plans for a lot of things.” Vince shrugs. “Wouldn’t be the first ti I’ve had to leave a burning city.”
“It better not be your fault this ti.” Cassie teases him.
“What do you an this ti?” I ask.
“It’s just a joke, Little Blue.” Vince reassures with a gentle voice.
An awkward silence settles over the five of us for just a mont, before Ivy breaks it.
“We all should probably eat sothing. Vince, would you mind helping ?”
“Sure. Be right back you three.”
The two of them head out into the hallway, leaving Corax and I alone with Cassie. Starting one conversation was hard enough, how am I expected to start a second? We sit in silence for a few monts while I desperately search for a way to start one. Luckily, Cassie eventually saves after finishing her beer.
“So, how are you doing?” She asks.
“Better, I think, thanks to Corax. I’m not sure if I would have survived the bus without him.”
“Good. Make sure she stays that way.” Cassie orders the small bird in my lap. “Getting shot once was enough for .”
“I’m sorry.” The mories threaten to flood my mind, only to be frightened away by a very scary raven biting my fingers.
“It’s fine. I almost shot Vince once. I can’t be too mad.”
“Really?”
“Mm hm. Our early days were rough. To make a long story short, we got into a fucked situation, and the dumbass let sleep with a gun under my pillow. I had a nightmare, he tried to comfort , and I put a bullet in the roof. Just learn to miss and you’ll be fine.”
“I’ll try.” If I can’t trust my own eyes, how can I know when to miss? Maybe Corax can help? “How are you?” I nod towards her arm.
“Oh this? You should see the other guy.” She halfheartedly jokes. “That’s actually his arm over there.”
“I don’t think I want to know the full story.”
“Fair. Hand another beer, would you?”
I hand her another beer without opening it just as a knock on the door interrupts us.
“Cass? You in there?” Lucas’ voice cos from the hallway.
“Lucas!” Cassie jumps to her feet and places her beer on her dresser in one smooth motion.
She opens the door to reveal Lucas with a short man I’ve never seen behind him. The unknown man has his hand sitting gently on Lucas’ shoulder. He’s far shorter than Lucas, but also looks far stronger.
“Hey, is Vince around? I need to talk to him.”
“And here I was thinking you were going to finally introduce to Ethan.”
“Sorry, I will soon.” I can’t figure out what emotions are in Lucas’ voice. It’s a mix I’ve never heard from him before.
“I’m just teasing. Him and Ivy are grabbing food. They’ll be back any minute. Speak of the devil.”
It takes a few seconds before I can faintly hear two people coming up the stairs. That must be them.
“Why does everyone keep calling that today?” Vince’s voice confirms my guess.
“Hey, can I talk to you?” Lucas turns to the hallway and asks.
“Of course. Ivy, can you take the food?”
After a bit of shuffling, Ivy enters the bedroom and closes the door behind her.
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