Chapter 6:
Seven Sins
Lust
Gatrie and Shinon holed themselves up in the nearest tavern after dark. Who says you can't get hammered just because you're at war?
Gatrie consumed drink, after drink, after drink, but it did no good. He still saw her in his mind's eye.
Astrid, he yearned pathetically. "Why him?" He accidentally drawled out loud.
"Who?" Shinon asked hollowly. He downed some alcohol himself, but improved on the ability of holding his liquor.
"The…the pink-haired bum," He answered, drunkenly intense. He despised how his competition was such a pitiful loser.
"Oh. This again," Shinon said, disinterested. He knew the story. Everyone who knew Gatrie three years ago knew the story. And they all knew that Gatrie still hasn't moved on. "She's never coming back to you, Gatch." Shinon responded blunt and cold, but honest.
"But that's just…" Gatrie took a long swig of his beer. "…stupid."
"Get over it."
"Never! My heart…solely belongs to…her." He sighed dreamily.
Shinon groaned, wishing for at least one night Gatrie could go drinking without lamenting his lost relationship. He glanced at the door, considering ditching his hopeless romantic buddy and leaving him with the tab. That's when he noticed two very unusually somber and beaten girls walk in.
Shinon waved them over to join him at the bar, slightly uncharacteristic of himself. "Well, Roxanne and Ilyana," He paused to finish his drink. "Do I want to know?"
Both ladies looked at him exhaustedly and unamused. "No," They both said in unison. Ilyana practically collapsed onto the seat next to Shinon and put her head on the counter. "Rum and coke, please," She muttered.
"Make that two," Roxanne added. She occupied the free stool next to Gatrie with much more physical control than Ilyana, but about the same state mentally. Nudging Gatrie when she saw his blank expression, she asked "You okay, Gatch?"
"Hmmm?" Gatrie turned to her with a distant, foolish smile. "Yes, Astrid?"
"Oh Gods." Shinon put his head in his hands.
"Uh," Roxanne took a sip of her liquor. "What?"
"Just thinking 'bout you," He slurred and slid his arm around her shoulders, pulling her to him and effectively spilling her drink. "Come closer, baby." Still lost in his inebriated daydream, Gatrie leaned in for a kiss.
"Gah!" Roxanne broke out of his grip and chucked his beer in his face. Shinon snickered and Ilyana cracked a smile. "How drunk are you? Who's Astrid?"
Stunned by the sudden attack, Gatrie held out his arms as if to get his bearings and establish his personal bubble. He looked at Roxanne and calmly answered "The love of my life."
"But how drunk are you," Shinon echoed, entertained. Ilyana started giggling as she worked on her third glass.
Gatrie slowly and menacingly turned to look at Shinon. "Oh, so you now you have something to say, you pink, scruffy scoundrel?!" He shouted maniacally while Shinon just smiled at the stupidity. "Oh, and don't think I forgot you too, you twisted little sister!" He wagged his finger at Ilyana.
"Well," Roxanne rested her elbow on the counter. "This is weird."
"Hee hee hee!" Ilyana covered her mouth with her hands but couldn't control herself.
Gatrie erupted. "Who dares laugh at me and my beautiful Astrid?"
Roxanne sighed loudly. "I'm not Astrid, whoever that is."
"Hmm," Ilyana twirled her finger around the rim of her empty fourth glass. "I feel like I've told you their story before."
"Yeah, I remember ridiculing Gatrie about this not too long ago," Shinon chimed in, nursing his second glass.
"Oh yeah…I think it's coming back to me," Roxanne recalled the very uncomfortable feast she shared with the whole army. "They were in a failed relationship, right?"
Shinon shrugged. "More or less. After Makalov came into the picture and somehow stole her affection, this one has been pitifully lusting after her for the past three years."
Gatire slammed his glass down. "Folly! Its true love, you mad people!"
Shinon snorted. "Whatever lets you sleep at night."
Ilyana laid her head back down on the bar. "Mmh, sleep." She smiled and comfortably closed her eyes.
"Mmmmh, sleep…" Gatrie mimicked Ilyana and dropped his head on the counter, passed out.
Roxanne and Shinon exchanged an amused glace. "Cheers," Shinon mocked lightheartedly and raised his glass.
Roxanne laughed and did the same.
