Seyruun High Jinx –NEXT!
Chapter 19
Discord and Harmony.
"Well, I have discovered something that I like to do and am good at!" -- Xelloss
Sat PM-Sun AM, Zephillia.
After their final set, the Flying Figs had escaped unscathed and departed with hopes for a fun meeting again the next day at Amelia's party.
Lina had kept her word to Mayor Phil and gotten Amelia into her sleeping bag on her cot before eleven o'clock. Barely. She told everyone else that they had a midnight curfew in order to get up and out of Zephillia with the sun, about seven AM. As it was it would be tight getting to the Mayor's before 2:00 for the big band get-together he and Amelia were hosting.
"It's my turn ta drive so I might as well go ta sleep," Gourry said.
He had already laid out his own sleeping bag onto the floor of the tent, cushioned by a thick layer of blankets after folding up the 'cot designed for midgets', as he and Val had done the night before.
"You…not so fast," Lina said as she stopped Gourry with a hand to the chest. "Filia and Sylphiel are at the bathroom. When they get back, they're changing in here, then...and only then, you can come in."
"Sure, Lina, I'll wait."
Gourry wandered back to the campfire to find Zel, Val, and Xelloss awash in local fan-girls. Friendly types. Very friendly. Gourry caught Zel's eye and pointed significantly at his watch.
"Ah, well...we have a very early start in the morning, so, sorry to break up the fun, but..." Zel said standing up.
Val and Xelloss were sharing some vital information, ignoring Zel. The girls were whining in disappointment.
Val stood and announced that he and Xelloss would move on to a little party at some of, or one of, the girls' tents and that Zel and/or Gourry were more than welcome to join them.
"Hey Val!" Zel called out. He broke away from the group of fan-girls giggling around him and forced himself into the circle surrounding Val. "I don't think that's a very good idea."
Val grinned, "There's a little party in that tent over there. Xelloss and I are goin'. It's a greaaat idea. How 'bout you?"
Zel shook his head too embarrassed to meet Val's eyes.
"He needs some outlet for his...frus-tray-shuns, Zel-bob, an' these girls seem ta just wanna show us a good time."
Zelgadiss had managed to pull Val apart to speak semi-privately. In a lowered voice he asked, "We are setting off back to Seyruun at sunrise, or have you forgotten the afternoon party at the Mayor's?"
"So? Gourry can drive while I sleep. It don't take all night, ya know," Val laughed. "He needs to discover himself."
Zel blushed and looked away. "Listen, this is embarrassing to say, but I'll just say it and be done with it. I think what Xelloss needs is to meet someone about his age who is just as...inexperienced. Another innocent. So they can figure it all out together, at their own speed. I believe this because I know whomever he has sex with, for him it will be making love, regardless of their actual suitability for him. And he deserves to fall in love with someone who adores him and will cherish him for the special person he is, and not some groupie out to score with as many stars as possible."
Val ruffled Zel's hair, or tried to. It did not 'ruffle'. "Good speech, but… Yer just a worrier. He'll do what he does and survive. Shit, look at 'im, he's lovin' all the attention. This'll just be a fun an' run night. 'Sides..." Val patted his side pants pocket and grinned again. "He might not do nothin', but if he does, he'll be protected."
"Protected? Nothing! Val, he's been drinking!" Zel snapped, ignoring the reference Val intended.
"He had a glass of wine, Zel. He ain't drunk."
"He's never drunk wine before, more than a sip or two (what with the meds he's taking...) His judgment is impaired naturally but then add that and..."
"Okay then, maybe he'll just fall asleep. I'll see that he gets back to our tent. He'll be okay. Now, I got me some little ladies waitin', so if you'll excuse me..." Val pushed the smaller guy away and strode up to Xelloss and their fan-girls. "So's how 'bout we go party somewhere's more private, eh?"
Gourry stepped up to Zel. "Ya did what ya could. Time to back off and let him make his own mistakes."
Zel nodded. He was in a dark mood totally unsympathetic to his disobedient friends. "Let's go back."
He and Gourry headed back to their tent, the one they shared with the girls, who were already asleep. Val and Xelloss, lost within a cluster of girls, disappeared into the shadows of the night.
Xelloss awoke disorientated. Where was he? Tent in Zephillia. Who are these...girls? Ah yes... He was wearing his watch, and little else. 3:00 AM. Damn! He had to be up in a few hours! He dug around and found his shirt. It was far too dark to look for the rest of his things without waking one of the many occupants. He spotted a tuft of pale spiky hair in the gloom.
"Val? Wake up! We have to get back to our own tent. Come on!" Xelloss whispered sternly in the exposed ear of the dead-to-the-world guy. Xelloss was kneeling over him, shaking his shoulder.
Although he tried batting the annoyance away, Val eventually woke up to reality and desperately began his own rummaging for clothes. By that time Xelloss' eyes had adjusted to the dim light and he had found both pairs of their shoes. They dressed in a hushed rush, and both tripped over the tent flap on their way out. A few lanterns glowing dimly in the camp provided all the light they needed to tumble back into their own tent, their own sleeping bags, back into their own fold.
"You are late," Zel mumbled in his half-sleep as Xelloss to his left and Val to his right wrestled with their clothes, covers, and Xelloss' tipsy cot.
"No shit..." growled Val.
"Sorry," Xelloss whispered.
In the morning, Lina thrashed both boys to within an inch of their worthless lives, and that barely got their eyes to open. Val had found no blankets folded beneath his bag on the floor that night and not slept very well. He complained about it, saying that he had been punished by Lina, which he had been.
"Tough! Now shut up and move it!" She left the tent to allow them to dress, sending both Gourry and Zelgadiss in to make sure they did!
When they emerged, they still were not safe. Amelia lectured them to death, with Gourry adding his own significant grunts of approval. "And you were drinking, Mr. Xelloss! That's another thing you aren't supposed to do!"
"But we were at a wine festival and it was just a taste..." he explained defensively.
"Miss Lina said you hadn't come in when she checked her watch at TWO AM! What were you doing at that hour? Up to no good! I can tell, you look like...a mess, both of you! There's practically no time for you to shower either! What are all those parents of those nice kids going to think?" Amelia wagged an accusatory finger in Xelloss' face, fearing Val might bite it off if she tried it on him.
"But Lina said we could party, just not in our tent. That, and I quote: '...is for sleeping.' So we did! And see, we're up and ready and right on time!" Xelloss piped up sounding a bit more chipper than necessary.
Regardless, he and Val were shoved into the back of the van to be neglected for the better part of the trip home.
Zelgadiss wasn't talking to either of them. He and Gourry traded off driving and selected the music, being comrades in decency and correctness. Since they had left before breakfast was being served, Gourry reminded Zel to pull off at the first respectable looking place to eat, and most importantly, feed Lina.
Feeling fuller and happy, pleased with the gig, the visit to her hometown, and life in general, Lina proclaimed it a fine day indeed. The wayside hamburger and fries joint was the best, even for breakfast! That seemed to relieve a little of the strain and everyone began to smile and relate fun incidents they remembered.
Xelloss, when pressed to say something, simply smiled, then said, "Well, I have discovered something that I like to do and am good at!"
"As in a career, Mr. Xelloss? Like drumming?" Amelia asked with interest.
A strange, close-lipped smile, "Well something like that, but actually, I guess...it's a secret!"
Only Val laughed.
"What do you mean?" Lina looked crossly at Xelloss. She had no suspicion what the two boys were chuckling about.
Gourry remained closed lip about it all. He wanted to say something, too clue Lina in, but didn't.
Xelloss' demeanor changed. He had been joking. Couldn't they tell? What kind of a person did they think he was anyway? His expression darkened as he understood. "Well, as flattering as it is to think you all think I'm capable of doing what you think I was doing ALL NIGHT…" He frowned and stood. "Nothing that…significant happened." He gave Zel a particularly dismal look. "You can drill Val, who I might add isn't into group orgies either, especially with underage girls…some of them anyway." And that said, Xelloss threw his napkin onto his plate of half-eaten food and stomped out of the restaurant.
"What's his gripe?" Lina asked with a mouth muffled with hamburger. She clipped Zel on the shoulder with her hand. "You! I was speaking to you, Zel-bub."
"Does it really matter?" Zel sighed. "He'll be fine in a moment. He's just…short of sleep."
"Serves him right," Lina snorted. "But he doesn't have to take it out on the rest of us."
Zel had to leave abruptly in order to cover his smirk. As if Lina ever held back her emotional outbursts!
He found Xelloss languidly swinging his legs back and forth from a low-hanging oak branch. The mighty giant of a tree rose from a tiny asphalt-free spot in the parking lot.
"Sorry," Zel muttered in a voice so low Xelloss had to stop humming to hear him.
"What was that?"
"Sorry for the cold-shoulder act."
"'S'okay." That's all Xelloss said for a few minutes.
Zel said nothing either.
"You should have joined us…last night."
Zel shook his head. "No. I just can't…"
"What? Stand to be admired? Touched? What is it with you, Zelgadiss? What makes you feel that you have to deny yourself every possible good physical feeling out there?"
Zel turned his back to his friend. Admissions were difficult.
"I guess as long as I hate myself…this way. I think everyone else should, too." There, Zel had said it.
Xelloss swung down from his branch. "Then do something about it!" he said sharply. "Before you drive yourself into a miserable hole you can't climb out of. Get those treatments or… learn to live with yourself the way you are." He was harsh. He still stung from Zel's mistrust of his behavior and was just getting tired of his friend's entire 'I must be cured to live on' excuses.
Zel just stared at his feet. "I know."
"Hey you guys!" Lina shouted from the van. "Get a move on or we'll be late for the party!"
"Er, ah…" Gourry said as Zel passed by. "Yer turn ta drive, right?"
"Yes." Zel agreed, but he was in no way agreeable.
Filia was dropped off at Sylphiel's to get cleaned up and changed. Her folks were driving up from the Cephied settlement with Milgasia to join everyone for the party at Mayor Phil's. The clan leader was standing in for Val's parents, along with his once foster-father, Rezo. Nels Lahda would take Sylphiel and Filia to the mayor's, and they would all meet up there to enjoy the Sunday brunch get-together.
Filia strutted around to the driver's side of the van. Zel at the wheel, lowered his window, "Yes?"
"A little birdie told me you are taking Amelia out for her first date," she smiled through hooded eyes, "...while we're in Atlas City."
Zel coughed out an affirmative.
"I know a place to eat..."
"I've already made reservations, but thanks just the same. Now, before it's too late..." he put the van in gear preparing to shove off to the next house.
"Do you know that there's a really superb art exhibit opening at the AtMet?"
"I'm certain I can't get tickets to that. It's been sold out for months," he said resignedly. In his head, he was rolling around that word 'superb'. Not a word he normally would associate with Filia. Probably the way her mother had described the event, he smiled slightly.
Filia understood his smile to be a show of interest and continued. "My parents got them for me and...well...someone-to-remain-nameless-at-this-time to go with them, but as it turns out, they have another function to attend that night back at the settlement and that's, you know, 'too much driving back and forth for one day', dad says, so...would you and Amelia like to go with me and...whomever?" Filia asked. "Call it my birthday present to both of you since your birthday's just before hers, right?"
Zelgadiss nodded.
She took that as a 'yes'. "Great! We'll have a good time."
He was about to point out that he hadn't yet said yes to going, but she rattled him with her next statement, silencing him.
"Oh, I know...we won't crowd you two. We'll give you two plenty of alone time!" She laughed and backed off as a blush spread to his face, and laughed louder when he opened, then closed his mouth speechless.
Zelgadiss fought down a blush as he drove off. First Xelloss, now Filia was intent on interfering in his life. Planning his date. Of course, he hadn't any better ideas than what they had offered; Xelloss had arranged the dinner at a restaurant he owned in Atlas City and now Filia had set up the entertainment. Amelia would love both places, he was certain, and it was for her birthday. He just felt like, well...they were afraid he'd botch the whole thing if left to his own devises. Maybe he would, but he'd like the opportunity to...ah...well... He decided to let it pass. If he could think of anything special, he'd add that to the agenda, too.
Zel pulled the van over and left Lina and Gourry halfway in between their two homes so Lina could 'get me some exercise before chowin' down!' Amelia got out too. She would change at Lina's and get a ride back to her house with Lina and Luna, leaving the remaining three boys to drive back to their place in the van. Gourry planned to drive his mother and father and brother, Joey (considered to be an official, though part-time, Slayers member), over in his mother's minivan.
Val, Xelloss, and Zelgadiss had only to pick up Rezo and Mrs. Shearer, go on to their house, change and then return the van to the mayor's house. They had thirty minutes, or be late. Phil did not like 'late'.
Zel knew his father would be ready– probably had been ready for hours, and waiting by the door to leave– so without a warning cell phone call, he drove from Lina's street the block or so directly to his old house. He was right. Rezo heard the van drive up and was at the door calling Mrs. Shearer to grab her coat before Zel was out of the van. Instead of knocking at their door, Zelgadiss simply opened the van's sliding side door and waited for them to appear. They did, preceded by Beast howling with joy when he detected the return of his boy pack-members. He nuzzled one of Zel's out-stretched hands, while Zel's other hand gallantly helped Rezo's housekeeper into the van. Zel's father settled himself inside without a fuss, and then Zel pushed Beast in onto Xelloss' lap (Why meee?) ere he closed the door and drove on to his current residence. All told, he and his father had shared two grunts and a nod for conversation. In other words, the usual.
Before the ten minute drive to the boys house was over, however, Mrs. Shearer had managed to wring out of Xelloss the current status of their dating (score: Zel, one --with Amelia on her birthday; Xel, zero), the outcome of their festival event (fun, too little sleep, and attacked by fans and an alligator!), and the state of their homework (more than there is time to do it, alas. Ick! The dog licked me on the mouth!). He had purchased (How? Well now...that's a secret!) a bottle of wine at the festival for Rezo and Mrs. Shearer to share in the front room while waiting for Val, Zel and him to get ready (such a good, thoughtful boy!)
Xelloss took his fastest shower on record and dried his hair with the hair drier while dressing, hopping around on one foot to put on his pants, and checking his e-mail simultaneously.
Val showered, but only re-gelled his spikes, rather than attempt to wash, dry, and restyle completely. After that effort, he dug through his pile of clean-to-moderately used clothes, and chose the least offensive ('rents will be there) to wear. He even lightened up on the harsh jewelry. He stepped out wearing black jeans and a black button-down shirt that was only missing the first three buttons, and only two necklaces in thinner chain than usual.
Zel cleaned up sufficiently and was ready in about five minutes—four and a half, to be precise. He put the rest of his time to good use reading his chemistry assignment with Beast happily curled around him tail-thumping, on his bed.
Mrs. Shearer took a self-guided tour of the boys' house, minus the busy-sounding bedrooms. She was satisfied with the job her nieces were doing on the cleaning, but felt the refrigerator contents were lacking in substance.
Rezo found the remote and listened to the news.
They arrived at the party moments after everyone else, except for Lina and her sister. Bobby's band and families were already lining up at the punch bowl when Lina made her grand entrance fashionably late, though actually only by fifteen minutes. She was the center of attention. Lina came by it naturally. She energized the air around her with excitement.
Luna sidled over to Xelloss, who was watching Lina and smiling. "So, did you and the blockhead make peace this weekend?"
He turned and nodded, "Yes, I think so." He allowed a smile to spread to his eyes as he pondered the 'blockhead' reference.
"No fights?"
"Nooo. Neither of us wants to ruin the band and hurt Lina."
"Hurt your chances with Lina, you mean..." Luna smiled slyly.
"That...would follow. Yes." His smile slackened and he looked wistful instead.
"You have your doubts, Xelloss? That's not like you." Luna drew closer to him and lowered her voice. "What's the matter? Something did happen, didn't it?"
"Not in Zephillia. Before that...when I called Lina to discuss whether or not I should stay with or leave the band." He turned solemn eyes to meet hers. "I told her...that is, I let it slip...by mistake... ah... I said I loved her."
"Whew! And...what did Lina say?"
"To that? Ah...nothing. I was ranting and that just slipped out and then I covered with a bunch of other things which I can't remember now. It..." He paused and gazed over at Lina again, his smile returning. "...doesn't matter. She knows how I feel about her. It's just that she..." His eyes downcast, he added, "I can wait. I can wait for her forever, if I have to."
Luna patted him on the shoulder and sighed. What could she say? He had it bad, and Luna didn't have the cure. "Rezo wants you to join him, Xelloss. A joining of the brotherhood of lost boys."
That made Xelloss smile. He set off across the stone pavers to join Val and Zel for introductions. He was happy to let Milgasia and Rezo explain the complicated interconnections...or not... He didn't really care.
"Xelly!" A youthful voice called across the patio.
The weather was holding nicely. The mildly warm, sun rays removing the morning chill; blue sky with clouds floating sedately, not threatening rain. Fall color was perking up the landscapes, late but welcome just the same.
"Xel-ly!" the call was more persistent this time.
Xelloss turned and waved as Joey charged his way. Gourry was shaking his head and listening to his mother tell him to 'just leave Joey alone.' Gourry's father, a rare sight out of his home or work, looked uncomfortable in the party setting. He was interested in speaking to Xelloss, though, so he volunteered to keep an eye on the younger son and loped off in his direction.
"Joey, give your friend some space, son," his dad warned him.
Even though he was about seven years younger, Joey was easily as tall as Xelloss. He had Xelloss wrapped in a skinny-armed bear hug. "I wish I coulda gone too but my mo-om made me go to my soccer game!" Joey whined, totally ignoring his father's suggestion.
"Ah..." Xelloss gasped then smiled weakly. "Well, she's right, you know. Once you join a team, you stick with it. We understand that, so it's okay with us when you can't join the band..."
Joey's dad nodded. He was glad Xelloss was backing up their family's decision. He never knew about that young man...
Joey was not pleased. He released Xelloss and flailed his arms in frustration. "But I wanted to be with you guys. Gourry told me ya got mobbed by fans. Wow! I wish I coulda been a part of that!"
"It was exciting, but I can also see how it might get a little old in time. I mean, we couldn't even join in the festivities," Xelloss said in an attempt to downplay the truly awesome event as best he could.
"Ya didn't seem ta miss much fes-tiv-i-tees," Val said with a nudge to his ribs in passing. Val was on his way over to ladle up Filia's folks some punch.
Joey wasn't finished with his rant, though. Now that he had his idol's attention, he wanted to share his other peeve. He mad about losing his bike, the one Gourry had lent him. "So, I rode my bike to the game and after it was over I go there and it's, like...gone! Some asshole stole my bike! At a soccer game! Now I don't gotta bike or nothin'!" Joey looked like the re-telling might bring him to tears. "A-and it wasn't even mine. I-it was Gourry's. I just borrowed it. So now I gotta replace it and I don't get to ride it either! That just sucks!"
Xelloss tried to be a sympathetic listener, but Joey really just wanted to be mad. He'd missed the festival, playing the drums with the band, and having 'fans'. Instead, he had had the bicycle he'd been borrowing stolen and now was viewing the entire weekend as waste of his time, including this party– especially this party! He didn't want to meet any old people. He didn't want to get to know anybody. He didn't want to be nice, either.
Xelloss was suddenly feeling old. It wasn't that long ago when he would have been the petulant young teenager wanting all the adult privileges, but without the responsibility. That might have been only last year, in fact. Yep, real old...
He leaned over and whispered into Joey's ear, "Okay, I hear you. Now, lower your voice...ah...just shut up. I'll tell you what. You be cool and tone it down and shape up. Yeah. You're being a real jerk right now and embarrassing your brother and parents. Don't give me that superior Gabriev Glare either. It doesn't work on me. You know how stupid you sound? Yeah, but you just can't stop, huh? Okay. Well, here's some news for you: You can. Stop. Now. Stop and be the great kid...er...dude you are and I'll make you a promise. Ready to listen? Okay. Here's the deal. You be cool and I'll buy you a bike, two if you like, one for your brother and one for you. You can tell them that...you're working off the expenses doing yard work at our place."
Joey's eyes went from narrow to wide with realization. "Oh yeah?" he gasped. "When? Today? After this? Can I go with you and pick out mine?"
Xelloss smiled and shut his eyes, counting to ten...then opened his eyes and answered, "Give me a moment to think about that, or as my little brother would say, 'to reserve judgment'. Check with me again later, 'kay?"
That wasn't a 'no', but it wasn't a firm 'yes' answer either. Okay, Joey would have a chance to shape up first. Xelloss sighed, "Gods, Zelgadiss-ness is rubbing off on me." But then again, that was a good thing, wasn't it? "Get your mother some punch. That will impress her, believe me," Xelloss smiled and turned away. Mr. Gabriev was waiting to speak to him about something, he could tell.
"You handled that very well," Mr. Gabriev shook his head appreciatively. "I'd like to know what magic words you used to settle Joey down so fast."
Xelloss smiled and with a giggle said, "Ha! That's a secret!" Mustn't let toooo much of Zelgadiss get in the way of his own personality!
Bobby stepped back from the refreshment table to observe the gathering. You had your tall blondes and your short brunettes. Only the mayor broke form, being the biggest man and definitely dark. Sylphiel and her mother and father, which Bobby had just learned were really her aunt and uncle, were on the taller side…but definitely the dark hair and the short mother kept them in that grouping for now. Although... Zelgadiss had naturally dark hair, he'd been told, so he belonged in the short and dark group, as did himself, Amelia, Luke, Sarah, Pearl, and Xelloss (as well as their parents present today).
The Blondes… now… Val's hair was a light green, so he fell into the lofty flaxen group. Filia, Lee, Joey, Gourry and their parents (Milgasia he included) were all in part of the tall blondes. Only Lina seemed to have no slot to fit in. Her older sister was in the short, dark group, but Lina...well... Bobby decided that short and dark would do for her, too. Analysis complete.
He started to laugh. What a strange bunch of people, himself included! He bumped into Amelia mid laugh. "Oops! Sorry! Ack, did I make you spill your drink?"
"Only on my hand. No problem, really, Mr. Bobby!" she smiled. "I heard you laughing to yourself. Care to share?"
"Oh, I don't know..." he demurred, suddenly shy. "It was pretty dumb, actually."
"Oh, come on. I could use a good laugh," Amelia smiled again, but glanced in Zelgadiss' direction. He had been in one of his signature dark moods all day. Something having to do with Xelloss had set him off last night and even seeing his dog again hadn't 'cured' him.
Bobby chuckled nervously, and then gave in, explaining his grouping strategy.
Amelia did smile. "I never thought of it that way, but when you put so many of us...your band and ours together with our families, it does kinda divide up that way...except for Daddy, and Miss Sylphiel's father doesn't really fit the mold either..."
"Who was that Xelloss was talking to? Joey? That's Gourry's brother, right? I was actually thinking of the lady...over there." Bobby was now looking at Luna.
"Oh, Luna, she's Lina's older sis. Ever since her mother left them, Luna's been her caretaker. It was a most unjust, uncaring thing for a mother to do, don't you think!"
Bobby nodded. How unfair. "So many of them, er… your band members, are missing parents. Sylphiel, Lina, Val, Zel, Xelloss…"
"And me, too!" Amelia finished for him. "But you know what? We all have family and adult mentors and…"
"Each other," Bobby smiled. "I see that."
But as he was about to add an additional thought, a disturbing laugh interrupted him, and everyone else. "Oooooo hooooo hooo hoooo!"
Amelia blanched.
Bobby turned toward the noise and nearly lost his footing. "Oh my gods protect me…." He mumbled beneath his breath. "Who is… that vision of…?" he couldn't quite find the correct word.
"More of my family, Mr. Bobby. That's Gracia, um… Nahga, my sister. And the guy with her is Adam Hayate, her boyfriend. He's a member of a band too!" Amelia's voice wavered a bit in the beginning, but grew stronger toward the end.
Bobby swallowed, "Ah…well, she's… something, eh?"
Something, yes, and more…
Nahga swept the patio like a witches broom, leaving her special mark on all she passed. First, Zelgadiss received the full benefit of her attention, but as he was totally unresponsive, and thus no fun, she rapidly moved on to her next captive. "Liiiina! My gods I haven't seen ya since that dude-without- dudes ranch!"
What a rude interruption, Lina thought. "Ah, yeah…miniature golf and everything, huh? Oh, meet Gourry, his mom, Sylphiel, her dad. This is Nahga, Amelia's big sis." After introductions, Lina returned to eating.
Nahga had hit another dry well. Who else did she know here? "Hey, that other boyfriend of yers…is he around? Yeah, couldn't be far, huh? Oh Xeeeeel-loooos!"
Ouch!
Xelloss, however, was speaking with Lee's almost-twin sister and didn't want to be disturbed. That, plus he was still thinking about what Mr. Gabriev had told him. He had found a good location for building a recording studio and plenty of design specifications and he had a few papers for him to sign off on the finished house-- the one he'd built for Kiki and her family. As smoothly as possible, he passed Nahga off to someone who might really care. "Val's in a funk. Maybe you could go cheer him up, you think?"
Discord and Harmony.
Now, Val was not a disagreeable guy most of the time, just a bit rough around the edges. And when those edges were more worn than usual, perhaps even rubbed the wrong way, perhaps chafed raw in places, well... those were the times he became down right ornery. An unpredictable, offensive, coarse, loud, and destructive kind of ornery. His friends, this particular group of boys and girls, had only glimpsed snippets of that side of Val's personality, and for good reason: they always seemed to provide the necessary balm to his wounds at the right times and places. Well, until now. Currently, Val was wallowing in his own suppurating sores.
He was sipping at the insipid, to his opinion, punch, thinking about things starting with the wine festival and moving on. Last night, he'd had a drink or two, wishing he hadn't later, but he was weak to temptation, and Xelloss was curious. So they had some wine. Big deal. The fan girls came along about then and promised some good times. Sounded good too. It was nice to know he hadn't lost his touch with the chicks.
Filia had turned up her nose lately at his invitations to go out with him. Always had some lame excuse or other. Mom this or Dad that or duties here and there and with everyone but him. It was like she didn't want to be seen outside of the settlement with him. What was with that? It was as if he wasn't good enough for the little cheerleader any more. He owned a goddamned country club. He even asked her to go there for dinner. A country club! Shit, if he could degrade himself into going to a place like that, why couldn't she just...try? What happened since the summer?
So, these cute, eager little fans wanted to party with him and Xelloss. But then Zel-godamnit got his righteous dander up and got in his face. Like he couldn't have lightened up a little and joined them, the asshole.
Well, Xelloss was game, so what the hell.
Val closed his eyes and snorted. Didn't get much sleep last night. Then Lina gives him grief. At least that little preachy girl knew better than to try and come down on him like she did Xelloss.
Ah...another hangover... Val looked through narrowed eyes for Luna. He didn't want to be lectured by her again either. Know-it-all women...
Filia especially.
She knew it all. What was that about? Her parents were there. Val had brought them some punch, a pretty nice thing for a uncultured punk like him to do, he thought. So her mother, Mrs. Ul Copt asked her daughter whether or not she had decided on a friend to bring to some dumbshit artsy-fartsy show in Atlas City. Val had readied himself to receive the expected invitation; he was there, she was there, her parental units had brought it up...
"Yeah, sorta. Zel-bob's going for it. I'm working on it," Filia had said with a toss of her beautifully groomed hair. "I mean, it's no place for you (meaning Val) certainly. Zel at least appreciates fine art and Amelia fits in at the AtMet for whatever. Xelloss might, but I don't know…it's kinda a waste on him too."
Val bristled, but held his rebuttal in check and stalked off to be alone. AtMet. It was no place for the likes of him. She'd said it. Right there in front of family and friends. Man, that had hurt. Didn't she know what she did to him? Shit, that's what happens when ya stick to the one chick. He shoulda known better. Ya can't count on a fe-male in a pinch. Never could, starting with his mother…
He hadn't stuck around to hear any more Filia's put-downs. I mean, who'd wanna?
Of course Filia had not meant to be so insensitive. She just was. What she had intended to say was that Val would be completely bored there and that she had wished to save him the torture of an evening of tediousness and Amelia. She was doing it for his benefit. And she had not really been avoiding Val lately on purpose. Filia had important roles to play in the clan since she had come into the fold again. Real responsibilities. He did too, but didn't take them seriously most of the time. The season changes were the busiest for the clan and now that Filia was nearing adulthood, her duties were critical.
Not that Val cared a hoot at the moment. Val tossed back the cup of punch, gagged on the insipid drink, and spat it out onto the tile pavers. It was outside after all. What...ever. F- 'em all.
He was one sore, irritated, tired dude with a bruised ego and a chip on his shoulder, when out of the blue there came a call of salvation.
"Oh ho ho hooooooooooo! Va-al! Wow, are you one hot lookin' hunk of man to-day! It's been aaaaages! What are you doin' here with all these stiffs?"
Val was much better looking than she recalled. He'd gown a few more inches, added pounds of muscle, and a nice tan...oh, and from what she had overheard her father saying, he'd grown a pretty substantial bank account as well. His attractiveness was significant and she was just the type of girl to appreciate 'the finer things in life', as her friend Lina said.
Val's head swiveled around so fast he wrenched his neck and couldn't move or do anything more than holler in pain. It helped that Nahga was there to rub it better. She offered him a ride home or somewhere, and Adam Hayate, feeling like he was yesterdays news (perhaps gratefully), took off without a word. Adam had another girl on his mind anyway—and she had money, too.
Gourry had steered his mother on a course as far away from Joey as possible and in the direction of Lina, as soon as she appeared. His mother knew that her nearly grown up son had a 'thing' for the little redhead girl, and had for some time. She was a perceptive woman, however, and could see that Lina was more interested in getting to the buffet than to the altar any time soon. Yes, it was a shame her son wasn't more interested in settling down with a more stable girl. One with common goals, who would make him a comfortable home, and would put his needs before her own. A homebody. Someone like...
"Oh Gourry-dear?" Sylphiel called. She was carrying a blueberry muffin bursting from a napkin. "These are the best I've ever smelled! I thought you might like to take the first taste."
Gourry turned a mite slower than Lina, but from his altitude, he could see Lina's hand dart out toward the treasure. His treasure. And it did smell good. The warm, freshly baked aroma wafted upwards to his nose and snap! He snatched the dainty morsel from the napkin and popped it into his mouth without thinking to the moment beyond his swallow.
One could feel the shock, then resentment emanating from Lina. Mrs. Gabriev stepped forward at that moment. "Lina, how good to see you. How was your visit to Zephillia? I understand it was your home town?"
"Eh?" Lina's attention wavered. Kill Gourry. Be polite to that lady talking to her. Who? Mrs. Gabriev. "Oh, eh...Zephillia, yeah. It was great. Just like I remembered it, down to the smells. We all had a good time and the music went fine too."
Gourry, now aware of how close he'd come to getting clobbered, made a quick escape to the buffet table. There he piled up a plate for himself, but before he was through, he nabbed a couple extra goodies to take to Lina...and something for his mother as well. He was nothing less than thoughtful.
"That's so much for you to carry, Gourry-dear. Here, let me take that plate." Sylphiel stood smiling at his elbow.
He looked down at the plate in one hand and then at the items teetering in the other. "Ah...that's okay, but ya could do somethin' for me..."
"Anything!"
"Could ya make up another plate just like this one? I don't think I got enough fer Lina here."
That wasn't what Sylphiel wanted to do though. "Oh, certainly. You take that to Lina, then join me over there, you know... at that empty table. I'll have everything you need there," she smiled shyly batting her eyes.
"Oh, okay! That sounds fine then," Gourry nodded then moving carefully, went in search of Lina.
"There you are! Oooooooh is that for me?" Lina's eyes brightened as they filled with the vision of an overflowing platter of food drifting her way. "Here, gimme!"
"Wanna sit down? There's a table free...?" Gourry asked as he juggled plates and cups just out of her reach. "Mom? You too?"
"Certainly dear. You lead the way and we'll follow, won't we Lina?" Mrs. Gabriev said to the kids.
Lina sighed and nodded. The sooner they got a move on, the sooner she'd eat. "Yeah. Fine. Over there, then. Hey, is that Sylphiel waving at us?"
"Yeah, she said she'd save us a table and get some food." Gourry nodded energetically and strode faster. His arms were getting tired.
Thankfully, Nels Lahda moved in to help set the plates down and pull out a chair for Mrs. Gabriev.
"Son, that looks like enough to feed a small army. Think it'll do for starters?"
Gourry looked over the table of food. "Fer starters, like ya say, yeah. I can load up some more later."
Nels Lahda shook his head and said to Gourry's mother, "How do you manage at home? You have several other growing kids as well to feed?"
With a sigh, Mrs. Gabriev answered, "Yes, several, and four are teenagers. The youngest is Charlie, then Alfie, both starting new growth spurts. The twin girls I believe are slowing down..."
"They don't eat so much," Gourry threw in as an observation before returning to stuff food in his mouth as fast as possible.
"You're right," his mother continued. "The two girls are weight-conscious."
"Oh, I know how that is," Sylphiel sighed dramatically. "I bet I gained a pound just sniffing this food! It's like so not fair! Lina can eat anything and still stay so slim!"
Lina, not wanting to be out-done by the Gourry eating-machine, simply shrugged in response, and then slathered up another roll to eat. Gourry however felt it necessary to say something in her defense. "Um...Lina's very ah...she's always runnin' 'round doin' stuff."
His mother smiled and nodded, "Yes, Lina's very energetic, lively. She just burns up those calories in no time. But, Sylphiel-dear, you look just fine, even a little thin, I think. But then, that's what I keep telling my girls and they don't listen to me."
"You left out Joey," Lina managed to mutter with her mouth filled with salad.
With a glance over her shoulder to catch a quick look his way, Mrs. Gabriev said, "Yes, and then there's Joey, who just started middle school..." She sighed and went on, "He's growing five inches or more each year. He might out grow his brother here, or just stop tomorrow."
Nels Lahda caught sight of the boy. "Ah yes, he's going to be taller than Xelloss soon." He couldn't miss Gourry's wince when he named Xelloss and wondered what was amiss there.
Mrs. Gabriev continued, "Yes, He's been giving Joey drum lessons over at our house. I'm afraid he's subjected to a large amount of hero-worship…and the twins seem to be infatuated with him as well. Don't get me wrong, Xelloss has been very patient with them all and does absolutely nothing to lead them on."
"Liiiina! My gods I haven't seen ya since that dude-without-the-dudes ranch!" Nahga hollered like a banshee from hell.
What a rude interruption, Lina thought. "Ah, yeah…miniature golf and everything, huh? Oh, meet Gourry, his mom, Sylphiel, her dad. This is Nahga, Amelia's big sis."
After introductions, Lina returned to eating. But then Nahga added, "Hey, that other boyfriend of yers…is he around? Yeah, couldn't be far, huh? Oh Xeeeeel-loooos!"
Mrs. Gabriev caught sight of her older son out of the corner of her eye. Gourry had stopped eating and was frowning down at his food. Lina had paused in her continuous consumption to listen and she was blushing, Mrs. Gabriev noted. Strange, now that she thought about it, Lina had come over to practice some song…and not always when Gourry was around, but Xelloss had been… Clarity restored. Xelloss and her son were in competition over Lina! Hope dawned. Gourry could find a more apt girlfriend. Looking into her coffee cup, Mrs. Gabriev could see the reflection of another face, that of a very pretty dark-haired girl. She raised her eyes and fixed on that face—Sylphiel was looking up beseechingly at Gourry. 'Please notice me…' A solution came to the woman's mind.
"Mr. Lahda, I have never been to the Mayor's residence before. I wonder, are there any gardens to see?"
Being head priest of the largest White Shrine organization in the area had shaped Nels Lahda into a fairly perceptive man. "Yes, my wife is enjoying the last blow of the rose garden. Would you like to join her? I'll take you there."
They excused themselves from the kids, and took off purposefully in the direction of the gardens. They spoke briefly and to the point. Nels was worried about his daughter and her irresponsible relationships with boys. As much as he liked Xelloss as a young man, he dreaded the possibility of and his daughter getting close to the boy again. Mrs. Gabriev sympathized and said she felt the same way about Lina and her son, not pointing out that she thought Xelloss was more interested in Lina than in his daughter. Why confuse the issue? They did not want to become match-makers for their children, but that afternoon they decided to take an active role in their children's lives, which just might chart their future course in life…
From the Authors:
Seyruun High Jinx has a home. If you haven't already visited it and if you ever wanted to see what the kids look like as envisioned by Frog, you can now that our staff photographer has been to their dimension and returned with photos! If you are interested, visit the website. Where? Please go to the author profile for Kaeru Shisho and choose the link.
End Seyruun High Jinx –NEXT! Chapter Nineteen.