Thirty-Second Gate

[forsometimenow]

... I'm back to normal again, thank God.

Just in time to celebrate the beginning of my third year in Paradisa. I never thought I would be stuck here for this long. Right now I'm not feeling too charitable toward this place, but it's not been entirely bad. Not really.

Comments

[ dictated ]

[peacockherald]

Dare I say this calls for a small celebration?

[forsometimenow]

You really think so? Well, I guess being human again on top of it would make it celebration-worthy...

[peacockherald]

It is another year we have made it through. I think that is always worth celebrating.

[forsometimenow]

Yeah... I suppose so. I'm still alive and well.

[peacockherald]

Are you? Well, I mean.

_{[ It did not take a genius to see that she was less than pumped right now. ]}

[forsometimenow]

Yeah. I just came off a difficult loss is all.

[peacockherald]

Ah. Do you... wish to speak of it? I am happy to listen.

[forsometimenow]

I turned into a Wraith... a creature from my home world. They sustain themselves by draining life force from human beings.

[peacockherald]

Oh. I am sorry, Jennifer. That is not a thing I would wish on anyone.

[forsometimenow]

Yeah, it... wasn't pleasant. Normal food gives them no nourishment, and I refused to feed on anybody, so I had to cut myself off as much as possible.

[peacockherald]

That must have been awful. Then even more cause to celebrate and lift your spirits.

[forsometimenow]

It's been pretty hard to keep myself from eating too much, I admit. Sweets especially.

[gottaknockhard]

['Back to normal' probably means loss. He misses so much, but that doesn't mean he can't sympathize.]

That sounds like a challenge.

[forsometimenow]

To celebrate, you mean? I could use a beer or three.

[gottaknockhard]

[Or to the castle to make things worse for her. He'll settle on her assumption.]

Sure. [One for every year.] It's customary to treat everyone on your anniversary, you know.

[forsometimenow]

[Which is a good thing, since she's not sure what could be worse.]

Gladly. I'll buy a round for the whole bar sometime.

[gottaknockhard]

I could be free in an hour.

[forsometimenow]

You're on. Death Match, or did you have someplace else in mind?

[gottaknockhard]

They've got more selection than the alternative.

[Assuming they restocked... Obviously they'd had to have.]

[forsometimenow]

I'll be there.

[gottaknockhard]

See you then.

[It doesn't take him an hour to get there, but it's always a good idea to give the illusion of having other things to do. He takes a seat at a table and spends the time it takes her to get there avoiding eye contact with anyone who happens to be on shift.

This is as much of a party as he can offer.]

[forsometimenow]

[Jennifer arrives a few minutes after Spike, spotting him immediately and sliding into a barstool next to him.]

Hey, Spike. What's your pleasure for tonight?

[gottaknockhard]

[She might note that he doesn't already have any kind of drink in front of him. He won't outright say that he's abiding by the weird rules of his loss, but he doesn't respond how he normally would.

Not that he's using her to get alcohol. Nobody would do that.]

It's your day, your choice.

[forsometimenow]

[Of course not, Spike, you're totally above that. ;)

Jennfier did notice his lack of drink, but dismissed it as him being polite and waiting for her.]

Then I'll make it two beers. [She signaled the bartender, and when the drinks were placed in front of her, she slid one over to Spike.]

Here's to two years, I guess.

[gottaknockhard]

[Completely above it. He doesn't even have a reason to smile as wide as he does when he picks up the glass and actual liquid pours down his throat.

There may be weird rules to it, but he considers it a personal victory whenever he proves he can still hold onto his vices. Of all the things he could say and all the wisdom he has on the subject, he only tips his glass, already half empty.]

Cheers.

[forsometimenow]

[Spike's smile makes Jennifer smile as she drinks, but it diminishes as she sets her glass down and holds it in both hands.]

... I never thought I would be here for this long. So many people I knew here have come and gone in that time...

[gottaknockhard]

[He should savor this more, drink slower, but the conversation is feeling familiar to him and finishing his glass buys him the time to reflect. It's a shame experience always gets in the way of his buzz.]

You remember them all?

[forsometimenow]

Some of them have faded. Some are stronger than others. [Jennifer turns her glass in her hands.] Just like back home, I guess. People make an impact on my life all the time, whether they were friends or patients or family... and some I don't recall at all.

[gottaknockhard]

[That's usually the way it is.]

I'm not sure which category I'd fall under.

[forsometimenow]

[She gives him a friendly nudge.]

Well, I don't see you around all that much. Not knocking it, of course...

[gottaknockhard]

[He turns to her then, watching her for just a moment longer than he should, and smiles.]

It has been a while since I've been to a clinic.

[forsometimenow]

Which means you haven't gotten beaten up enough to be my patient in a while- which is a good thing, I'd say.

[gottaknockhard]

I'd hate to think I'm outgrowing it.

[forsometimenow]

[Jennifer laughed.]

I don't think the castle would let you. Want another celebratory beer?

[gottaknockhard]

[He really should spent more time with her. She knows just what to say.]

Well, it is a party.

[forsometimenow]

[Jennifer keeps the smile on her face, ordering two more beers.]

And you know me- I'm always a party person.

[gottaknockhard]

[More than his usual, anyway.]

You reminded me of one.

[forsometimenow]

[She takes a small drink, looking interested.]

Yeah? Who is it?

[gottaknockhard]

[He seems to enjoy that pique of interest, because he teases at an explanation.]

A girl I used to know.

[forsometimenow]

[She fights the urge to roll her eyes and prompts:]

So, tell me about her.

[gottaknockhard]

[He grins and drinks the beer that's handed to him. Not a bad party at all.]

I never asked you if you had a twin.

[forsometimenow]

[Ah- she wonders if this is headed where she thinks it's headed.]

I don't, actually- I was an only child. I've been told there was someone here before who was my spitting image, though.

[gottaknockhard]

I thought you might have.

[He may have even been the one to say it, and yet he's always so focused on his inner dialog that he can't be sure. Still, he can't help but feel a little more friendly towards her for the resemblance.]

She was an optimist. Always smiling. Which is probably why the castle didn't want her to stay.

[forsometimenow]

Yeah... when I first got here, more than one person thought I was her. [Jennifer stared down into her beer, remembering, especially the reaction Simon had had to her at first.]

Simon's told me about her... too good for a place like this, huh?

[gottaknockhard]

[He should be more melancholy in bringing up lost friends, but he tends to like that theory. The good ones get out eventually.]

That should ease your mind.