tried to help. Don't tell me I made your life a living hell, because you will have done that all on your own.
"And if – this is a gigantic if, Junco – but if you can take back everything you'll lose by choosing this path, then please know that my satisfaction will come from that, and not from watching you fail."
He walks towards the door, palms it, and then turns. "By the way, has anyone ever mentioned that your language is filthy?" His voice is pleasant, like he's pondering the meaning of something quizzical, but he wrinkles his lip like he has a bad taste in his mouth. "I don't care for it. Cheapens you, Junco."
He leaves me standing there, facing the emptiness of space scowling, and feeling rather cheap and filthy, if I do say so myself.
But not minding one bit.
The door is still open when I walk through a few seconds after Lucan. I watch his figure walk away, down the long hallway, then turn to find Ashur. He's talking to a girl farther down the other end of the hallway and I make my way towards them. The girl is taller than me, but that might be due to her high heels. She has long black hair and wears what I would consider to be housewife gear. I can hear her deep voice murmuring towards Ash, who seems to be on drugs or something. Even though he's looking right into my eyes, it takes half a dozen seconds for him to acknowledge me.
"Junco, there you are."
I raise my eyebrows at him. "You OK?"
The girl turns and a flood of memories waft over me with her scent. I see my toddler self leaving church with my parents, my chubby hands firmly clutched between their palms as we cross the street and head towards the bakery in town. She smells like the bakery.
"Junco." Her voice is deep and entrancing. "I tried to get away as soon as I heard, but was delayed. I am so sorry I was not there when you woke up."
My head spins as I look up at Ashur. "What's going on?"
He smiles but says nothing and my head is swimming.
"Let's go get a stim, that will clear you two up. I was just at the clutch and I'm afraid that the effects won't wear off."
She pulls on us and we follow her.
"– so, like I said, Junco – hey, you still with me? Drink that, will you? It won't get better until you drink it all down."
I look at the drink in front of me and I have no idea how it got there. "Where are we?"
"Oh, for Seven's sake, Junco. I've answered that question seven times. Please, just drink it all right now."
I pick up the glass and bring it to my lips, drinking whatever it contains. I stare out the window, and then get up and press my face against it, amazed. We are at the top of a very tall structure, and the ground is so far away I can't even make out the bottom. I swoon with the realization of how high I am and her hands come out to steady me.
"Sit down, Junco. You're going to fall."
I let her lead me back to the chair and my head clears a fraction. "Where are we?"
She smiles, then breaks into a laugh. "Oh, for fuck's sake. Why don't you just tell me when you're feeling normal and I'll continue talking. I'm tired of telling you everything seven times."
I look at her. "Who are you?"
Her green eyes twinkle. "I'm Esta, Junco. Your sister, from the clutch."
"Why do I feel this way?" I try and look around but my head throbs, like I have a hangover.
"I'm afraid it's an occupational hazard. The wings, Junco. Mine cause people to become sedated and easily controlled."
"What kind of power is that?"
"The kind that makes it possible for me to spend all my days with the Aves Clutch." I squint up at her. "Children, Junco. I raise the children."
I nod my head, understanding. I think. Things are beginning to come in a little clearer and I look around me. The bar is massive. I mean huge. Probably fits like three hundred and fifty people. And every single patron is smashed up against the far wall, sipping drinks and eyeing us with caution. "Shit, Esta. You can really clear a room." My eyes track to the far end of the bar and
"And if – this is a gigantic if, Junco – but if you can take back everything you'll lose by choosing this path, then please know that my satisfaction will come from that, and not from watching you fail."
He walks towards the door, palms it, and then turns. "By the way, has anyone ever mentioned that your language is filthy?" His voice is pleasant, like he's pondering the meaning of something quizzical, but he wrinkles his lip like he has a bad taste in his mouth. "I don't care for it. Cheapens you, Junco."
He leaves me standing there, facing the emptiness of space scowling, and feeling rather cheap and filthy, if I do say so myself.
But not minding one bit.
The door is still open when I walk through a few seconds after Lucan. I watch his figure walk away, down the long hallway, then turn to find Ashur. He's talking to a girl farther down the other end of the hallway and I make my way towards them. The girl is taller than me, but that might be due to her high heels. She has long black hair and wears what I would consider to be housewife gear. I can hear her deep voice murmuring towards Ash, who seems to be on drugs or something. Even though he's looking right into my eyes, it takes half a dozen seconds for him to acknowledge me.
"Junco, there you are."
I raise my eyebrows at him. "You OK?"
The girl turns and a flood of memories waft over me with her scent. I see my toddler self leaving church with my parents, my chubby hands firmly clutched between their palms as we cross the street and head towards the bakery in town. She smells like the bakery.
"Junco." Her voice is deep and entrancing. "I tried to get away as soon as I heard, but was delayed. I am so sorry I was not there when you woke up."
My head spins as I look up at Ashur. "What's going on?"
He smiles but says nothing and my head is swimming.
"Let's go get a stim, that will clear you two up. I was just at the clutch and I'm afraid that the effects won't wear off."
She pulls on us and we follow her.
"– so, like I said, Junco – hey, you still with me? Drink that, will you? It won't get better until you drink it all down."
I look at the drink in front of me and I have no idea how it got there. "Where are we?"
"Oh, for Seven's sake, Junco. I've answered that question seven times. Please, just drink it all right now."
I pick up the glass and bring it to my lips, drinking whatever it contains. I stare out the window, and then get up and press my face against it, amazed. We are at the top of a very tall structure, and the ground is so far away I can't even make out the bottom. I swoon with the realization of how high I am and her hands come out to steady me.
"Sit down, Junco. You're going to fall."
I let her lead me back to the chair and my head clears a fraction. "Where are we?"
She smiles, then breaks into a laugh. "Oh, for fuck's sake. Why don't you just tell me when you're feeling normal and I'll continue talking. I'm tired of telling you everything seven times."
I look at her. "Who are you?"
Her green eyes twinkle. "I'm Esta, Junco. Your sister, from the clutch."
"Why do I feel this way?" I try and look around but my head throbs, like I have a hangover.
"I'm afraid it's an occupational hazard. The wings, Junco. Mine cause people to become sedated and easily controlled."
"What kind of power is that?"
"The kind that makes it possible for me to spend all my days with the Aves Clutch." I squint up at her. "Children, Junco. I raise the children."
I nod my head, understanding. I think. Things are beginning to come in a little clearer and I look around me. The bar is massive. I mean huge. Probably fits like three hundred and fifty people. And every single patron is smashed up against the far wall, sipping drinks and eyeing us with caution. "Shit, Esta. You can really clear a room." My eyes track to the far end of the bar and
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