Hauntings
It has been mostly quiet for a small change. Little disturbances, small eruptions, nothing too big, you know?
Rena's wedding was a splendid affair, and she seemed radiant as did Nerio. I finally softened. No matter what he is, and I have no illusions there, he loves her and it does not seem to be the kind that rots into abuse. I offered him a clean slate and he seemed to take it. I promised Rena that I would do what is necessary to curtail the curse I placed on Damian, so that Nerio and his children are spared.
So mulling that over, I was about town, wanting a drink? I ran into Sammy and she was upset. Drak, the latest Sarcina Pratorean, had taken his own life and her own fiance had died. We talked and I offered to do a small service for her man, just me and her, and we did, giving his bones to Maman Brigitte and his soul to the Bawon, below the waters. Later, she wanted to drink so we went to the Milk Bar.
That place. It is horrible, I will leave it at that. There was a bit of a tumult, and the man O is to marry, Dorian, he was there, with some blonde woman who he pulled around by her hair. Even if I had not already gotten a bad feeling from him, I sure disliked him after that, right?
I went to bed and a few nights later, I went out again, tired of studying, and headed out for a drink.
I ran into Deets and learned that she and Debra both have left the Sarcina over an argument with O. We caught up a bit and I did not pry too much when Raven, the Hound? He wanted to talk with her. So I went outside because this mech had just said there was an accident and I wanted to see.
No accident, but an arrow with a note, addressed to me personally, wanting to meet. I got Deets, for I have learned that lesson well, we? A few more silly notes later, and the mechanical man shows and wants to talk on the roof. We go, and it turns out he is Grif, playing at superhero. Literally. He puts on the armor and takes the name Vengeance. I do not know whether to laugh or cry, it is both touching and silly, you know?
He got pretty cocky, and I really hope he remembers that in his efforst to 'do good', that he tries not to hurt the peoples around him. It seems that these crusader types, they always ignore the regular folks and it bothers me.
I went back to study, then last night came down for a walk about town and tend to my duties in the park, when I across Forge, and Kuno (with a pink tail of all things?) and some various cat peoples, all scrapping. I left them to it, then later on, at the same spot, there was Forge again with this little neko lady, Marina, and of all peoples, Charles. And a wolf.
The wolf wanted to eat the neko. I did my best to run interference, because that is what Asimu said I should do, protect the protected animals, but it occurred to me, she was not very specific. But it worked out, mostly because the wolf, she avoided attacking me (maybe my coyote side smells like a friend?) and because Marina commanded her to stop. She just said, "No!" and that was it. Like the wolf was her pet.
The wolf headed towards downtown so I followed and she allowed me to pet and comb her fur and it was a glorious thing. So close to such a wild, vibrant life. I felt blessed and lucky to be alive and who I am.
Yet now, I am having trouble sleeping, nightmares.
I think it is because it seems that my old family is truly fragmented now and I feel a bit at loose ends, sort of untethered? There is Rena of course, but she is well seated with her husband, with KAOS, even with the Sarcina still. Deb has joined the Mercs, Deets is deciding. Indi is gone wandering and I rarely get to see her though it is a joy when I do.
Graves is gone without a trace. I have no men to look up to, and I feel the lack. At home, there were always grandpapas to go to, or somebody's brother, or so and so's cousin. I am odd in being an only child, but my maman, she died when I was eight and who knows anything about my papa. Even Drak, who seemed to be turning into a sort of brother figure, he took his own life, that most precious of things, and I was not good enough of a friend for him to call. Chi is a bit of a brother, but he is also what he is and I cannot relax. Jackson I once thought to call brother but that went away.
And that brings me to this part. Seeing Marina and Charles there last night, so chummy? that bothered me some. I know what he is, and I know what she is, and both of them have looked at me with dead eyes and excited pulses while doing something to cause me pain or torment. I know that Marina thinks we are all okay now, but we can never be right. I know too much about her now.
And last night, I just had bad bad dreams, the kind that you claw to wake from, then try to wake up enough so it a new dream can start but you just cannot and you fall asleep right back into it. Marina and Charles with dead eyes, looking at me.
I will go to make my honors and then maybe I will see if I can find enough bottles of whiskey to make me drunk and get a good rest tonight. It cannot hurt, right?
Rena's wedding was a splendid affair, and she seemed radiant as did Nerio. I finally softened. No matter what he is, and I have no illusions there, he loves her and it does not seem to be the kind that rots into abuse. I offered him a clean slate and he seemed to take it. I promised Rena that I would do what is necessary to curtail the curse I placed on Damian, so that Nerio and his children are spared.
So mulling that over, I was about town, wanting a drink? I ran into Sammy and she was upset. Drak, the latest Sarcina Pratorean, had taken his own life and her own fiance had died. We talked and I offered to do a small service for her man, just me and her, and we did, giving his bones to Maman Brigitte and his soul to the Bawon, below the waters. Later, she wanted to drink so we went to the Milk Bar.
That place. It is horrible, I will leave it at that. There was a bit of a tumult, and the man O is to marry, Dorian, he was there, with some blonde woman who he pulled around by her hair. Even if I had not already gotten a bad feeling from him, I sure disliked him after that, right?
I went to bed and a few nights later, I went out again, tired of studying, and headed out for a drink.
I ran into Deets and learned that she and Debra both have left the Sarcina over an argument with O. We caught up a bit and I did not pry too much when Raven, the Hound? He wanted to talk with her. So I went outside because this mech had just said there was an accident and I wanted to see.
No accident, but an arrow with a note, addressed to me personally, wanting to meet. I got Deets, for I have learned that lesson well, we? A few more silly notes later, and the mechanical man shows and wants to talk on the roof. We go, and it turns out he is Grif, playing at superhero. Literally. He puts on the armor and takes the name Vengeance. I do not know whether to laugh or cry, it is both touching and silly, you know?
He got pretty cocky, and I really hope he remembers that in his efforst to 'do good', that he tries not to hurt the peoples around him. It seems that these crusader types, they always ignore the regular folks and it bothers me.
I went back to study, then last night came down for a walk about town and tend to my duties in the park, when I across Forge, and Kuno (with a pink tail of all things?) and some various cat peoples, all scrapping. I left them to it, then later on, at the same spot, there was Forge again with this little neko lady, Marina, and of all peoples, Charles. And a wolf.
The wolf wanted to eat the neko. I did my best to run interference, because that is what Asimu said I should do, protect the protected animals, but it occurred to me, she was not very specific. But it worked out, mostly because the wolf, she avoided attacking me (maybe my coyote side smells like a friend?) and because Marina commanded her to stop. She just said, "No!" and that was it. Like the wolf was her pet.
The wolf headed towards downtown so I followed and she allowed me to pet and comb her fur and it was a glorious thing. So close to such a wild, vibrant life. I felt blessed and lucky to be alive and who I am.
Yet now, I am having trouble sleeping, nightmares.
I think it is because it seems that my old family is truly fragmented now and I feel a bit at loose ends, sort of untethered? There is Rena of course, but she is well seated with her husband, with KAOS, even with the Sarcina still. Deb has joined the Mercs, Deets is deciding. Indi is gone wandering and I rarely get to see her though it is a joy when I do.
Graves is gone without a trace. I have no men to look up to, and I feel the lack. At home, there were always grandpapas to go to, or somebody's brother, or so and so's cousin. I am odd in being an only child, but my maman, she died when I was eight and who knows anything about my papa. Even Drak, who seemed to be turning into a sort of brother figure, he took his own life, that most precious of things, and I was not good enough of a friend for him to call. Chi is a bit of a brother, but he is also what he is and I cannot relax. Jackson I once thought to call brother but that went away.
And that brings me to this part. Seeing Marina and Charles there last night, so chummy? that bothered me some. I know what he is, and I know what she is, and both of them have looked at me with dead eyes and excited pulses while doing something to cause me pain or torment. I know that Marina thinks we are all okay now, but we can never be right. I know too much about her now.
And last night, I just had bad bad dreams, the kind that you claw to wake from, then try to wake up enough so it a new dream can start but you just cannot and you fall asleep right back into it. Marina and Charles with dead eyes, looking at me.
I will go to make my honors and then maybe I will see if I can find enough bottles of whiskey to make me drunk and get a good rest tonight. It cannot hurt, right?
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