Disclaimer: nothing including the ability to spell disclaimer so I'm going back now to fix it.
Medium is the MessageLady winced as the slap stung her cheek. Her mother was livid and the backhand made her knees buckle.
"You stayed out all night with him, disgraced Duke and then spent the night at his apartment," Her mother ranted.
"That is right," Lady conceded, keeping her eyes forward and expression blank.
"This is unacceptable, Lady," She cried, "And you should have been paying closer attention." Tsarina took a step back as her mother rounded on her.
"Do not talk to Tsarina like that," Lady snapped, "It was no fault of hers. She is not my keeper."
Tsarina gave her a grateful smile behind her mother's back.
"You will go this instant and apologise to Duke. You will never see that transgenic male again," The queen commanded.
"No!" Lady responded forcefully.
"What?" Her mother hissed. Tsarina's eyes widened at Lady's obvious defiance.
"I will not go simpering to Duke when I am the heir," She retorted.
"You have a duty to the prophecy and Duke is the man I selected for you," The older woman spat out.
"No, Mother that is where you are wrong. I am sick of this prophecy and how it takes my free will. It can work around me from now on. I will see Alec again and I will not have Duke as a consort," Lady decided. Tsarina gasped audibly.
"Do not oppose me," Her mother whispered harshly.
"And do not control me," Lady rejoined.
"Fine, but I will no longer have you as an heir," Her mother threatened.
"You may try but the prophecy was rather specific about who it wanted for the central role," Lady warned.
"That is true," Her mother mused, "But I can evict you from the castle."
"What?" that came from Tsarina.
"She can leave," Her mother concluded.
"Wait this is ridiculous…" Tsarina began.
"Fine!" Lady interrupted. And she turned on heel and stormed out of the castle.
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Alec was avoiding work at the Jam Pony as he usually did. Normal had given up trying to instruct him today as he always seemed to wriggle out of it. He really wanted to reflect on his kiss with Lady. Sure he was drugged and wounded but he couldn't get it out of his mind.
He kept seeing her in his mind, just appearing in Jam Pony and kissing him. Even if he didn't want to picture he did it automatically. Like right now his mind had created this perfect image of her walking toward him in casual clothes… looking very serious.
"I need your help," She said.
"Wait you're not a day dream?" He stammered.
"That morphine really hit you bad," Lady surmised giving him a surprised look.
"No I just… never mind. What do you mean help?"
"It is complicated. Could we sit and talk about it?" She proposed.
"Yeah sure. I honestly didn't expect to see you so soon," He confessed, "I wanted to but thought you would be sidling up to Duke."
"That is kind of what I wanted to talk about," She said lowering herself into a chair. She looked around the people of Jam Pony, clearly awkward.
"Shoot," Alec took the seat opposite her and waited patiently.
"I got uh kicked out of the castle and the cult," She stated quickly. Alec stared at her in shock.
"I told my mother that I would not be with Duke and the prophecy could operate with what I wanted," Lady finished.
"You didn't do this for me did you?" Alec asked feeling the onset of a panic. He was certain of his growing feelings for Lady but he thought quitting something you had been involved in your entire life was a bit extreme for their early relationship.
"No. Well I was banned from seeing you, which influenced my decision but I had to escape. I knew I had changed. I'm rarely quoting anymore." She finished speaking, not even sure what the last fact had to do with anything.
"Ok let me digest this information," Alec said running his hand through his hair.
"I am sad that they won't continue the work I started. I had the scientists working on a cure for Max and Logan to earn her trust. I only needed Max's blood but now…" She trailed off.
"A cure?" Alec asked sharply. Lady nodded.
"So how can I help?" Alec said warily. He was not the kind of guy people came to ask for help.
"I need you to help me to find a place to stay. I don't think I have been cut of financially but even if I have I can get Tsarina to send funds," Lady said.
"Sure. I can help you find an apartment. You wanna go now?" Alec offered.
"Yes but don't you have work?" Lady looked at Normal who was delivering his traditional 'bip bip bip' line.
"No… well yeah but I'm sure I can get out of it," Alec winked at Lady and walked towards Normal.
"Hey Normal, I need the afternoon off. I have a meeting with a fighting manager. Could see me back in the ring for the right price!" Alec informed his boss. Normal beamed at the young man and practically shoved him out the door.
They walked side by side with the bike in between them.
"I have to stop by Joshua's first," Alec said, patting his backpack.
"Why?"
"Tried to sell these ham hocks but there was no market. I figure it was the least I could do for him after, you know, trying to kill him," Alec shrugged.
Joshua seemed overjoyed to see Lady again. He clearly liked her but he thought they were looking for Max.
"Actually, I came to see you. I, uh, scored a sweet deal on some ham hocks. My buyer fell through on me. You want 'em?" Alec proffered.
Joshua eyed them eagerly and Lady smiled at his blatant desire for the ham hocks. Joshua's face fell, "I don't have any money."
"Oh, that's all right. Take it as an "I'm sorry" for trying to kill you that one time," He tossed the backpack to Joshua and began strolling around his house, "Hey, man, this is nice digs. This, uh...oh, wow. This is real nice." He had spotted a painting in the corner.
Lady moved closer to examine it as Joshua said, "It's mine."
"Joshua, this could be worth some serious coin," Alec's eyes were shining and Lady could almost see dollar signs in them.
"It's good?" Joshua looked at the pair of them.
"Oh, yeah, you kidding me? I mean, look at that attention to detail. You don't see that kind of work anymore," Alec gushed. Lady nodded her agreement as she took in the brush strokes and the colour.
"Take it," Joshua removed the painting and thrust it in to Alec's hands. The transhuman looked proud.
"No, no, those ham hocks aren't worth that much," Alec laughed and tried to pass the painting back.
"I want you to," Joshua said sincerely.
Alec looked taken back by this display of authentic generosity, "Well, all right. Thanks."
"He should sign it," Lady suggested.
Joshua nodded eagerly and signed his name in felt marker.
"All right," Alec said grinning and started to leave, "enjoy your ham hocks."
"Bye Joshua," Lady said following Alec out.
"That was sweet of him," Lady said as they hit the street.
"Yeah. It's gonna be worth a fortune," Alec answered enthusiastically.
Lady narrowed her eyes, "You are going to sell it?"
He nodded not even looking at her. His eyes were all for the painting. He must have felt her glare on his skull because finally he flicked his gaze up to her face.
"It's not like that Lady. My motives aren't purely greedy. The world should see this painting and it is kind of ironic having a painting by a transhuman in the galleries. Besides I was actually talking about selling the frame." Alec smirked at the idea.
Lady grinned too, "I suppose if we kept the picture."
"Exactly. Let's go sell this fine piece of frame," He exclaimed walking down the street.
"What about my apartment?" Lady called after him.
"Crash at mine tonight then we'll find you a place bright and early tomorrow," He said but his mind was on the future cash.
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"I like it," The woman surmised.
"Great. Let me just get this out of the way for you," Alec began removing the painting so the frame stood on it's own.
"Yes, please do. It's hideous. Astounding. Look at the use of colour," She waved her hand in the air for emphasis.
"Gold? My favourite," He grinned at the woman.
"Well, some gold, yes, but it's the broad strokes of cerulean and crimson commingled with found objects and palimpsests that make this work of art so unique and exciting. Don't you agree?"
"Oh, yeah," Alec said, clearly confused.
"The painting," Lady hissed.
"I'll give you six grand," The lady decided.
"Six grand?" Alec stuttered in an incredulous voice.
"Fine, seven. Agents. Enzo! Draw seven thousand from the safe and lock this up. No--on second thought, you leave this here. I want to bask in its organic energy, feast my eyes on its heroically gargantuan impasto strokes." The woman stared at the painting admiringly.
"Yeah, well, grab some beer and some ham hocks, and you've got yourself a party," Alec stated.
"Um we were actually selling the frame," Lady butted in.
"But the painting is exquisite," The woman sighed.
"But it was given to us by the artist," Lady protested, glaring at Alec.
"Hey he would want his art shared," Alec said trying to placate Lady.
"I must meet this artist. I must meet...Joshua."
Lady and Alec started at her last words. They exchanged eye contact and Lady shook her head.
"Yeah, yeah. He's--he's shy," Alec tried desperately to deter her.
"Listen, my clients don't just want pictures to hang on their walls. They want the opportunity to engage with the artist, to interact with minds more creatively fertile than their own," There was slight contempt in her tone.
"Well, what can I say? I mean, he's fertile, but he's--he's a homebody." Alec tried to describe Joshua.
"He does not get out much," Lady contributed.
"Well, at least tell me he's prolific," The woman demanded.
At that moment a wad of cash was thrust into Alec's hand and there was no more hesitation in his eyes, "Thank you. Oh, yeah. Yeah, he's--he's painting night and day. Can't get enough palimpsests and, uh, cerulean paint to keep up with his bursting organic energy."
Lady hit him in the arm when they left.
"Now we have to get more work and sell it to her," Lady stated.
"But look at this cash," Alec said with glee.
"It was a gift, Alec," Lady argued.
"And we are sharing the gift with the world. We have to go back to Joshua's."
"I don't think he is going to be very happy," Lady guessed, following the ecstatic Alec.
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Lady sighed as she watched Joshua enthusiastically paint another picture. Alec was reading a book and half supervising. Occasionally he would offer a supportive comment, "That's it, Josh, that's it. Come on. Get ready. Show me what you got. Show me what you got now. Beautiful! Beautiful! Hit it up on the left corner there. Left corner. Oh, it's great, Josh. It looks great. Keep going. Show me what you got. Be one with the paint."
Lady groaned and sat down on the floorboards and watched Alec exploit Joshua's talents. At least she had convinced him to give Joshua half the cash, which he had done most reluctantly.
"She liked it?" Joshua asked. He couldn't quite believe it.
"Oh, she loved it. You know what she loved? She loved the colour. Use some of that yellow. There you go. There you go. Toss it on there. Oh! Ooh, ooh… you know what? The big gargantuan impasto strokes… loved 'em. Get crazy. Go on. Do it up. Do it up. Get crazy, dog-boy. Joshua, get crazy. Oh, it's pretty! It's pretty. Hit it! Oh, it's beautiful," Alec ranted.
Lady couldn't help giggling. When he got involved or passionate about anything, even if it was only money, he was so cute. His eyes shone and he made her want to kiss him. She had no home, no family and she was happy at this moment. She also enjoyed watching Joshua paint. His intensity was infectious.
The transhuman paused his painting and said simply, "Joshua."
"What's the matter, Josh?" Alec showed some concern.
"Has a new face," Joshua finished.
"Oh yeah?"
"My work is my face, Alec." His face was one of open delight and Lady realised that selling his painting was possibly the best thing they had ever done. It had given him a purpose, a place in this world.
"Yes!" Alec agreed.
"Good!" Joshua cried.
Alec dropped the book suddenly and leapt to his feet, "Okay, you know what she liked? She liked the palimpsests, the papers with… that are written on," Alec seized some papers from a desk and threw them at the painting, "Boom!"
Joshua laughed, which encouraged Alec, "These are the ones right here. Ooh--oh, Josh, these are great. Here we go. Here we go. Here we go. These are winners. These are winner. Look at that. Look at that. Huh? What do you got for me? What do you got for me? What do you got for me? I need some help. I need some help. I need some--help me! Help me! Boom!"
Joshua sprayed paint all over the papers. Alec abruptly grabbed Lady's hand and pulled her to her feet. He bent and laid a gentle kiss on her mouth as Joshua howled his excitement. He released her and collapsed in the chair.
"I got a headache," He said looking exhausted. Lady looked at the painting, covered in all the paintings from the desk and couldn't help but see the appeal. It was erratic but expressive. It was a symbol of something that had nothing to do with cults or transgenic politics but was what it was.
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Lady lay on Joshua's couch tired, with her head on Alec's leg. He was counting cash from Joshua's second painting. She had spent the night in Alec's bed and this time he hadn't slept on the couch. They hadn't gone to sleep touching but when they woke he had put his arm around her waist. It was comfortable, warm and felt safe.
"Said she loved it even more than the first. Said she wants to get together and discuss your "blossoming artistic sensibility," or something. I don't know. Here you go," Alec handed him some money.
"Rita wants to meet me?" Joshua asked, disbelieving.
"Yeah. That'd be pretty wild, huh?" Alec answered, distracted by his money.
"Joshua wants to meet Rita. Discuss my...blossoming," Joshua said with a spectacular stroke of paint.
"Bad idea." Alec said quickly shaking his head. Lady closed her eyes, seeing where this conversation was going, and not wanting to see the hurt on Joshua's face.
"Good idea, a good idea," Joshua debated.
"Look, Josh, you're a great artist, apparently. But you're also, to be frank, a dog-boy. Listen to me. Listen to me. One look at you, and your benefactress is gonna go runnin' in fear for her life. That's gonna cut a blossoming career off right at its knees, not to mention future sales," Alec attempted rationalising with the dog man.
"People afraid of things that are different," Joshua's mouth drooped.
"Well, what are you gonna do? All right, now, come on. Show me some of that bursting organic energy. Josh, don't be like that. Come on," Alec started to comfort his friend. At that moment Max walked in.
"Good morning, Joshua. What are you two doing here?" She said harshly. Lady sat up and returned the odd look Max was giving her, which was somewhat more hostile than usual.
"Just paying a friendly visit to the artist-in-residence," Alec replied.
"Uh-huh. Just stopped by to grab my papers," Max said walking over to the desk.
"Focus. Focus," Alec instructed Joshua.
"That's weird. They were right here." Max looked confused as she gazed around the room.
"What'd they look like?" Alec prompted.
"White grid paper with scrabbling all over it," Max answered.
"Pardon?" Lady asked at the same time Joshua cried, "Palimpsests!"
"Huh?" Max said turning towards him.
"Uh...what...uh..."Pal upset"? Pal upset. He's just worried about you, the big lug," Alec covered up.
"Maybe they're down in the basement," Max suggested.
"Yeah," Alec assured her.
Max's pager sounded making Lady jumped, "It's Logan."
"Oh, well, you know, that could be important. Why don't you go find out what that's about? Michelangelo and I will find your papers for you, huh?" Alec offered.
"Okay," Max agreed and left.
"Gotta help Max! Gotta find virus bitch papers!" Joshua began working himself into a panic.
"These are the papers she was working on in regards to the virus?" Lady asked.
Joshua nodded pathetically. "Shit," Lady swore.
Alec stared at her in shook at hearing a curse word when Joshua growled at him, "Okay, okay. Easy, easy, Josh. I'll just go back to Rita and ask for it back. Lady can stay here and help you find any papers that may have fallen on the ground."
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Lady had searched the house from top to bottom with Joshua, who looked like he might cry.
"I just wanted a way to live with outside people. So they could know Joshua existed," His tone was heart breaking.
"We'll sort it out, Josh," Lady promised.
"But virus bitch was going down!" Joshua wailed.
"It still will!" Lady reassured him, "Alec will fix this." Internally she hoped he would other wise they would have some serious explaining to do.
At that point Alec walked in.
"She wants two more!" He said before either of them could open their mouths.
"Two more?" Joshua sighed.
"Straight trade. Said she'd give us the old one back," Alec explained.
Joshua groaned, perceptibly not feeling the artistic spirit.
"Come on, come on, come on, come on. Burning daylight. Start flinging fuchsia, huh?" Alec encouraged but his sounded anxious.
"Uh-uh. Can't paint. What about Max?" Joshua was worried.
"You want to help Max? Get your ass in gear. Come on. Gotta get you started. Come on. What do we need? A little paint? Is that it? This oughta work. See? It's all in the wrist," Alec demonstrated by squirting paint on the canvas.
Joshua growled at him but began painting.
Alec slumped down and put his hands over his eyes. He held a hand out to Lady, "Don't say I told you so."
"I was not going to," Lady said but a smirk crossed her lips.
"Good."
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Joshua was hysterically stalking his house. Alec had returned with the painting's saying Rita had called the deal off.
"Lost Max's papers...lost my muse...lost everything," Joshua yowled.
"That's not true, Josh!" Lady disputed
"No, Josh, your career's not over. Okay? Let me give you a little advice from my, uh, brief sojourn in the art scene. It's all about supply and demand. You know? Rare doesn't just apply to meat, my friend. Look, you need to kick back. You know, you need to kick back, you need to stop painting, and you need to make 'em wait. All right? Before you know it they'll be busting down your door for a Joshua!"
"No. No, no, no, no, no, no. Virus bitch going down. Need to get Joshua #2 back. Steal it," Joshua's eyes lit up.
"Steal it? Yeah. Can we, uh, crack one of these windows open? 'Cause I think the paint fumes in here are turning your brain into oatmeal!" Alec said sarcastically.
"Why not," Lady sided with Joshua, "You know you could do it!"
"Sneak, sniff, steal it, huh?" Joshua kept at Alec.
"Listen. Listen to me, okay? We jack that painting, Rita's gonna know it was us. 'Kay? That's a career-ender. Not the plan. Now, look, as soon as we start selling paintings again, you can get Max a new doctor. Heck, you can buy her a whole hospital, okay? You know, but just, uh, tell her you lost the papers. Tell her, uh, I don't know, tell her your dog ate 'em. Tell her you ate 'em. Max will get over it, all right? You know why? Because underneath that--that sadomasochistic leather and that tough-girl image, she's nothing but a big softie," Alec said.
"Joshua? " Max called.
"Okay, We gotta go," Alec sat up and pulled Lady with him.
"Big softie huh?" Lady repeated Alec with a quirked eyebrow.
"Shut up!" Alec snapped.
"Hold on I have to say something Joshua," Lady turned back to the house. She ran back and almost ran into Max who was coming toward her. She dodged her and ran inside to face a devastated Joshua.
Lady grabbed as piece of paper and a pencil and scribbled the address of the gallery down, "Take this!"
"Thanks Lady." Joshua smiled as he realised what it was.
"You want me to go with you," Lady offered.
Joshua shook his head; "Joshua will be fine by himself. Alec needs his girlfriend."
"I'm not his girlfriend. Not really," Lady elucidated.
"Take care pf Alec," Joshua instructed. Lady found this an odd thing to say but nodded any way.
She found Alec waiting outside for her. "I think everything is going to be alright now."
"What did you do?"
"Nothing," She dodged the question and grabbed his hand. She couldn't get Joshua's words out of her head. Was she Alec's girlfriend? She would ask him sometime but not tonight. Tonight she just wanted to go to sleep or watch some TV. Some thing simple.
AN: Yah you know the usual! Please review. Pretty please. I wanted to use this Chapter to establish Lady's relationship with Joshua and Max has discovered the new cult. Which was why she was a bit cranky to see Lady there! Also develop Alec and Lady's relationship because of future events.
MD666