Drunken Master Assassin
He awoke to a muffled knocking sound. At first it didn't penetrate his subconscious, but it kept on coming, persistant in it's efforts to wake him from his sleep. Finally he got out of bed, threw a robe over his underclothes and stumbled sleepilly to the door. He yanked it open to find Alica and Stephen on the other side, staring at him as if he were some kind of ghost. He looked very tired and he had the dark circles under his eyes to prove it. His hair was a mess, sticking up everywhere from all the tossing and turning. He still felt very tired too, but he was glad they he woken him up. He smiled wearilly, trying to reassure them that he was glad to see them, but they only looked more startled.
"Are you alright, Long?" Alica asked. "Maybe we should've let you sleep."
"I'll sleep later." he replied. "Anyway, I've been thinking that it wouldn't be a good idea for me to go out in public after what I did the other night. So why don't you two just go and get the alcohol? I'll be dressed by the time you get back." He reached into one of his pockets, looking for his wallet, and then remembered that he had left it in the pockets of his pants. So he walked back into his room, pulled it out, walked back over to the door and handed Stephen a few twenties. "If you wouldn't mind Stephen, could you please get me a twelve pack of beer? I'm going to horde it in my fridge so I don't have to ask someone else to go on errands for me everytime I need a drink."
"Sounds like a plan." he replied. "I won't need all of this though."
"Well, get yourself a drink, and Alica too if she wants anything, and then just bring back whatever's left."
"Nope, not me." Alica refused. "You two can kill your taste buds with the foul, bitter taste and poison your bodies with the toxins of alcohol if you like, but I'm staying away from it."
"She's probably smarter than both of us there." Stephen admitted, chuckling. "Well, to each his own. I'll be back in a little while Long. So get some clothes on, and for God's sake do something about your hair."
"Is it really that bad?" he asked, brushing one hand through his bangs and over the top of his head. He felt all kinds of knots and tangles. "I guess so... Oh well, I never claimed to look good right after crawling out of bed."
"I don't think anyone does." Alica agreed.
"See you two later." he said, closing the door. He stood there listening to their footsteps as they left, trying to wake himself up. Then he walked over into his kitchen and started boiling some water, thinking that a cup of tea would be a good start to waking up. Then he went into his bedroom and put his clothes back on, and brushed all the tangles out of his hair. By the time he was done the water was boiling and he poured himself a cup of tea and sat down in his recliner to wait for them. Immediately his thoughts started wandering again, he started thinking about who and what he was, and what he was doing. He tried to stop thinking about it, but everytime he tried his thoughts always drifted back. I hope they get back soon, he thought while sipping up the last of his tea.
He got up and set his cup on the table, reminding himself that the next time he got a chance he should go out and get himself some kind of end table to put next to his recliner. Finally there was a knock at the door and he got up and welcomed them in. Stephen handed him the spare change, which he put back in his wallet before taking the beer to the fridge. He motioned for the others to sit down while he opened a package and took out a few beers. When walked back into the main room he was almost afraid he'd find Stephen in his chair again. Luckilly the man had gotten the point last time and sat on the couch with Alica instead. So Long sat back down in his recliner, opened the can and took several big gulps of the bitter liquid. He noticed that Stephen had a bottle of something open, but was unable to tell what it was from where he sat, not that it mattered.
"So Alica..." he began. "why the dislike of alcohol, hm?"
"I don't like the taste of it." she stated. "And it's no good for your health anyway, so I just stay away from it. But forget about me, what makes you two like the stuff?"
"For me it is simply a little indulgence." Stephen replied. "And not all of it is bitter you know, some of it can be quite sweet. I bet you've never tried a cooler or a mudslide."
"Bleh. I've only tried a chardonay, and I hated it. So I'll not try anything else, thanks."
"Suit yourself. What's your favorite drink, Long?"
"Beer I guess. Nothing fancy. I don't really care for many hard liquors either. I prefer wine on special occasions. I usually like a chardonnay or a burgundy."
"I don't know how you can drink that stuff." Alica complained, making a face.
"It's an aquired taste I guess." he replied casually. He finished off the first can of beer and set it on the coffe table before opening another.
"That was quick." she complained. "Hope you hold your liquor well."
"Well, I intend to drink untill I can't think straight, seeing as I've been thinking too much lately. Once I can't think straight I may keep on drinking though..."
"So you're drinking to forget about something?" Stephen asked. He paused for a moment, waiting for an answer, but Long just ignored him and took another gulp pf his beer. "Not really a good idea if you ask me. Personally I only drink a little bit, as sort of a novelty. Why risk getting drunk anyway, you might end up doing something you regret, or someone for that matter..."
"Stephen!" Alica protested, as he chuckled at the joke.
"Someone?" Long complained. "I'm not that type of man. Not that type of drunk either, it's much more likely I'll end up crawling around in a gutter or killing someone who gets in my way. If I get to that point I'll lock myself in my room first and sleep it off first."
"How are you going to do that if you don't even have the mental presence required to restrain your own actions?" Stephen wondered. Long gave him a dirty look, which made him back off.
"Anyway, no matter how it goes it's got to be better than remaining so conscientious about everything."
"So, you admit that you have a conscience then?"
"Wish I could say that I didn't... but unfortunately I can't. Why people seem to think that all assassins have no conscience anyway? Just because we kill for money? Ha! Both Alica and I have better motivation than that."
"What does Alica have to do with it?"
"Didn't she tell you? She's an assassin too."
"No." They both turned to Alica, who groaned nervously at being the center of attention.
"I find that slightly amusing... why not Alica?"
"I didn't want him to be scared of me, like he is of you." she admitted.
"You told me you were a scientist!" Stephen protested.
"I am, but I'm also an assassin."
"Why?"
"Forget it." Long advised, finishing off his second beer and opening a third. "It isn't her choice you know, she either kills others, or dies herself. Survival of the fittest I guess."
"I see..." the other man replied, shaking his head. "What a shame, a sad predicament to be caught up in. I don't know if I could kill others simply to preserve my own life."
"I don't know if I can keep doing it either." she agreed, hanging her head.
"I wouldn't." Singh Long contributed. "At the state that I'm in now I would simply let them kill me. I almost wish I could, death would be a welcome alternative to this life. But there are others to think of..."
"What 'others' do you speak of?" Stephen asked. "You actually care about someone?"
"He has a better reason for being an assassin than I do, Stephen." Alica explained, turning his attention from Long. "He kills to keep his loved ones alive, while I only kill to save my own worthless hide." At that moment she truly despised herself, terrified of what she had forced herself to do to stay alive. She felt selfish for taking so many lives simply to preserve her own, and merciless for sparing only one of those she had been sent to kill. Yet, she knew no other way to survive, and she couldn't begin to think of dying. "I guess, I'm just afraid to die. I never thought it would all end this soon, so I keep on doing what I need to do to live, but..." She trailed off, getting too emotional to be able to finish. Her eyes started tearing up. Stephen set his drink down on the table and patted her on the back, a concerned look on his face.
"I never knew it could be like this." he admitted. "I always thought that the only reason people became assassins was for money. I never knew that Tylon blackmailed people into it by threatening to take their lives and the lives of the ones they loved. What a wretched bag of scum they are for doing this to you."
"I hate Van." #318 stated.
"I thought you liked working with my brother." Alica reminded him, wiping the moisture from her eyes and straightening up in her seat. "What made you change your mind?" He took a long swig of his drink before replying, obviously trying to drown out his doubts.
"Well, I suppose I ought to have hated him since the very beginning... seeing as he is the leader of Tylon and all. But it was your father's idea to threaten to kill my family, not his... so I decided not to hold it against him. Foolish decision, considering that he would do the same thing just as quickly, if not faster. I guess I respected him right up untill he threatened to kill my family if I got any closer to you. An inadequate reason to waste a brilliant assassin such a myself, don't you think? What makes you so important to him anyway? Well, never mind. My point was that it reminded me of what kind of an ass hole he is."
"So it doesn't bother you untill your own family is threatened?" Stephen concluded, shaking his head in dissaproval of the other's large ego. "And what's this about you staying away from Alica?"
"Van has forbidden me from so much as looking at her in a way that he sees unfit, at the cost of my own, and my family's lives."
"Why would he do that?"
"Who knows?"
"Well I guess that if I had a sister I wouldn't want you touching her either..."
"You're not still afraid of me, are you?"
"Whatever gave you that idea?"
"I'm an assassin, Steve. I can smell fear as though it were a stench hanging in the air, sense it the same way a chill creeps up your spine on a cold night."
"Don't be so dramatic!" Alica scolded.
"Don't call me Steve." Stephen requested.
"Steve." #318 said.
"Meh... what's wrong with you?" she demanded, realizing that he was being a bit more irritable than usual. "I think you've already had too much to drink!"
"I don't." he argued, finishing off his third beer.
"I would slow down if I were you," Stephen warned. "what you've already consumed will catch up with you pretty quickly."
"I don't give a $#!@."
"Hey, don't take that kind of attitude with him!" Alica threatened, raising her voice and glaring at him. "Stephen, maybe it's time we leave..."
"I agree." he said, rising from the couch and heading for the door. "If I were you, Long... I would lock myself in for the night now and sleep it off." Alica followed him to the door.
"Are you trying to order me around?" #318 asked, climbing off his chair. Stephen sighed in resignation and shook his head, then he and Alica left the room.
"I'm sorry Stephen." Alica apologized. "I admit he usually acts like a jerk, but this is beyond even his normal attitude."
"He's just a rotten drunk." the doctor replied, shrugging. "I've seen it all the time... people like him are the very reason that choose to I monitor my drinking." They stood silently in front of his door for a moment, and then Stephen took her arm and lead her down the hall, thinking it would be best of they weren't around if he decided to come out of his dorm. "He really doesn't hold his liquor well, I wouldn't be surprised if he got much worse before going into a hangover. I think it's best for us not to be around when that happens. You can come visit my dorm for awhile if you like, we can sit and chat. That way at least the entire day isn't wasted... not as wasted as he is anyway. Hehehe..."
"How can you joke about something like this?" she asked, unable to completely suppress a slight giggle herself. His laughter was bright and cheerfull, something she hadn't heard in a long time. And also quite contagious. But as good as it felt to laugh with him she still forced her self to become serious. "I'm worried. I hope he doesn't get himself into any trouble."
"What trouble could he get into? He can certainly take care of himself."
"I just hope he's not stupid enough to kill anyone important and get Van angry at him."
"Hm..." Stephen hummed, glancing into her face and noticing her serious expression. "You really care for him, don't you? Well, I'm sure he'll be fine. Don't fret about it. I'm sure he'll just decide to sleep it off. Besides the hangover, he'll be all better in the morning."
"I hope you're right."
"I'll show you." Singh Long told the closed door, as though they could still hear him. "You think you're so smart, don't you? 'Lock yourself in' he says... Heh, I'll show you that I can go out and have a little fun." He was about to leave the room right then and there, but he wasn't so far gone yet that he didn't realize that Alica would probably scold him again if she saw him leave. The bitch, he thought unreasonably, unable to control the slightest bit of his anger. So you think I've been drinking too much, huh? I'll show you. He got two more beers out of his fridge and swallowed them down in two long gulps, just to spite her. Then he stood there haughtilly with his hands on his hips, proud that he had enough control of himself that he could do so. Then he strode towards the door and opened it wide, peering out into the hallway beyond. Fortunately, he didn't see them anywhere. He stepped out and walked towards the elevator, with no idea at all where he was going.
He got into it and pushed a few buttons, with no real concern as to where it was taking him. Truth was he was getting too angry to care. Who do they think they are to order me around anyway? I'm Tylon's top assassin! I shouldn't have to listen to orders from the likes of them. He though briefly about going back and telling them so, but he couldn't seem to remember which button to push or which floor they were on. He just waited untill the elevator stopped and got off. He walked off into the building in search of them, taking numerous turns and walking down hallways, often walking around in circles without even realizing it. After awhile he accepted the fact that he was hopelessly lost, at which point he got angry again. Finally he was stopped by someone who noticed his wandering, softly tapping him on the back.
"Hey, you've been wandering around my laboratory for almost half an hour. Are you lost?" He turned around to see a gangly looking fellow wearing a lab coat. He had a hideous face: an insane looking, toothy, gaping grin; a flat, squashed-looking nose; and green, grass-like hair. "Hubba, hubba! You must be lost 'cause I know I've never seen such a lovely man in this part of the building!"
"Ugh..." he groaned in annoyance. "Will you please just tell me how to get out of here?"
"Well I could... but that would be depriving me of such beautiful scenery! Why don't I tell you the way to my dorm room instead?" He closed one eye to wink at the other man, and as soon as he opened it back up Long's fist was in his face. Cross me and you will die! #318 thought, delighting in the screams of pain that his fists drew from the man as he rained punches into his chest. Yeees! This is what I needed! A little fight to calm me down... A little pain and blood... He stopped for just a moment while the other was stunned, and then kicked his legs out from under him and bent over and punched the back of his head.
"Oh my! Whatever is going on in here!" The familiar feminine voice came from behind, but he still had to turn and look before he realized who the voice belonged to.
"He hit on me." Long stated, as though it explained everything and justified him in beating the man.
"He did?"
"Yes." Fox strolled casually over to his side and glared down at the beaten green-haired man who looked up at him with a sheepishly apologetic expression on his face.
"Eh, Fox-kun... I can explain!"
"How dare you!" he cried, smacking the ugly one in the face with his purse. "I give you one last chance to make up for your crude behavior only to find you hitting on another man!?!" He glanced at Long and smiled. "Admittedly he is a cutie... but that doesn't justify this! It's over Hajime, we're through!"
"N-no... my Foxy! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaase!" he cried, begging for mercy like the coward he was.
"Hmpf!" Hans muttered, turning away. Then he glomped Long, and since he was as drunken as he was he wasn't able to keep his balance and they both fell backwards onto the floor. Busuzima silently crawled away. "How can I ever thank you for beating up that pervert?" Fox asked, snuggling on top of him and curling his bangs with one of his fingers. Long was terrified.
"AHH! HELP!" He struggled out from under Hans and up to his feet, starting to feel a little dizzier than he should. He was too far gone to even remember the alcohol he'd been drinking earlier, and so didn't realize that it's effects were settling in. He tried to run off, but stumbled on his own feet, falling to the ground.
"Oh dear, have you tripped on something? Let me help you up." Fox said, offering him a hand. Long shoved it away and tried to get up on his own, but stumbled to the floor again.
"Why is the hallway moving out from under my feet?" he asked.
"Did he hit you on the head or something?" Hans asked, truly concerned. "Oh, poor baby!" He grabbed his arm and picked him off the ground, half supporting and half dragging him towards the elevator. "Why don't you come up to my dorm room and we'll have a look and see if you've got a nasty wittle bump?"
"I don't wanna!" he protested, making a pathetic attempt to struggle away.
"Come, come, now. We'd better go check you out." he insisted, ushering him into the elevator. He struggled all through the elevator ride and the long walk down the hall to Fox's dorm, but it did him no good. Most of the time he only suceeded in throwing them both off balance for a moment, or every now and then getting himself dropped on the floor. When this happened Hans simply picked him back up again. Once they got into the dorm he was laid down gently on a sofa. Fox brushed back his bangs and felt over his head through his hair, looking for any bumps. "Hm... that is strange, I don't feel anyhting wrong at all deary... but your breath smells horrible. You've been drinking, haven't you?"
"None of your business!" he snapped. "I can do whatever I damn well please!"
"Ah! Well... you don't have to get so nasty about it! You're completely drunken aren't you? I guess the least I can do is get you a breath mint for that smell." He got up and walked off, Long yelling obscenities after him. He tried to get up off the couch, but fell face first into the floor. "Ugh... why can't the room stay still?"
"Oh dear! You've gone and dumped yourself on the floor again." Fox observed, picking him up and setting him back on the couch. "Do yourself a favor and suck on this breath mint." He tried tried to stick it in his mouth and Long bit down on his fingers and spit it back out on defiance. "Ack!"
"Suck on this!" Long said, flipping him off.
"How rude! I'm only trying to help you know!"
"If you wanna help me then get me outta here!"
"How about I help you take your clothes off instead?"
"Ah! He's going to rape me! Somebody HELP!"
"Well I won't if that's that way you're going to be about it. Still, I really wanted to do something nice for you for beating up that freak... Oh, I know! I'll give you a makeover!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Alica reluctantly followed Stephen into his dorm and sat down on his couch. She had to admit that she was relieved to get away from Long for a bit, she hated it when he acted so conceited. Someone ought to bring him down a peg or two before he hurts himself. Then she and Stephen had a nice little chat. She truly enjoyed his company, impressed with his warm attitude and quick wit. It was nice to finally find someone at her own level of intelligence to converse with, and his optimism was a rare thing within the walls of Tylon. Talking with him was like a breath of fresh air to her, reminding her of happy times long since past. After awhile there was a disturbance somewhere on the floor above them. They heard all kinds of yelling and the thudding noises of something bumping around.
Alica decided to go investigate, figuring that Long had probably been stubborn enough to ignore their good council and had gotten himself into some kind of trouble. She asked Stephen to come, but he declined, wisely choosing to stay out of whatever was going on. So Alica took the elevator up one floor and followed the noises around for awhile. She carefully tracked the sounds to a door and knocked on it loudly enough to be heard. She waited a few minutes and then knocked again, finally Fox came to the door.
"What's going on in there?" Alica asked.
"Oh, n-nothing really..." Hans began. Alica slid past him to peek on the room, and what she saw there made her sick. Long was tied down to a chair sitting in front of one of the room's many mirors and Fox had covered his face in makeup. His lips were colored a bright shade of red, and a pale cinnamon blush covered his cheeks. Mascara made his eyelashes look long and pretty while a light blue eyeshadow complimented his eyes. Hans had also taken his hair down and re-parted it on the side.
"HEEELP!!!" Long screamed, recognizing her.
"Oh my God..." she trailed off.
"It's terrible, isn't it?" Fox asked. "He keeps moving, which ruins any neat and even application. I wanted to do eye and lip liner too, but he just won't hold still!" Alica showed him aside, warped one of her fingers into a claw and slashed away the sashes and ribbons binding him to the chair. "Ah, my lovely sashes!" Hans cried out in terror at having his things destroyed. Long fell to the ground.
"Come on Long," she said, walking back to the door. "let's get out of here." He stumbled around a bit before finally getting to his feet, but then he fell right back down again.
"I tried to get up, but the room is spinning! Please, Alica... make it stop!"
"This is the last time I save you from Hans." she grumbled, helping him to his feet almost reluctantly. He leaned on her heavilly as she lead him out the door.
"Are you alright, Long?" Alica asked. "Maybe we should've let you sleep."
"I'll sleep later." he replied. "Anyway, I've been thinking that it wouldn't be a good idea for me to go out in public after what I did the other night. So why don't you two just go and get the alcohol? I'll be dressed by the time you get back." He reached into one of his pockets, looking for his wallet, and then remembered that he had left it in the pockets of his pants. So he walked back into his room, pulled it out, walked back over to the door and handed Stephen a few twenties. "If you wouldn't mind Stephen, could you please get me a twelve pack of beer? I'm going to horde it in my fridge so I don't have to ask someone else to go on errands for me everytime I need a drink."
"Sounds like a plan." he replied. "I won't need all of this though."
"Well, get yourself a drink, and Alica too if she wants anything, and then just bring back whatever's left."
"Nope, not me." Alica refused. "You two can kill your taste buds with the foul, bitter taste and poison your bodies with the toxins of alcohol if you like, but I'm staying away from it."
"She's probably smarter than both of us there." Stephen admitted, chuckling. "Well, to each his own. I'll be back in a little while Long. So get some clothes on, and for God's sake do something about your hair."
"Is it really that bad?" he asked, brushing one hand through his bangs and over the top of his head. He felt all kinds of knots and tangles. "I guess so... Oh well, I never claimed to look good right after crawling out of bed."
"I don't think anyone does." Alica agreed.
"See you two later." he said, closing the door. He stood there listening to their footsteps as they left, trying to wake himself up. Then he walked over into his kitchen and started boiling some water, thinking that a cup of tea would be a good start to waking up. Then he went into his bedroom and put his clothes back on, and brushed all the tangles out of his hair. By the time he was done the water was boiling and he poured himself a cup of tea and sat down in his recliner to wait for them. Immediately his thoughts started wandering again, he started thinking about who and what he was, and what he was doing. He tried to stop thinking about it, but everytime he tried his thoughts always drifted back. I hope they get back soon, he thought while sipping up the last of his tea.
He got up and set his cup on the table, reminding himself that the next time he got a chance he should go out and get himself some kind of end table to put next to his recliner. Finally there was a knock at the door and he got up and welcomed them in. Stephen handed him the spare change, which he put back in his wallet before taking the beer to the fridge. He motioned for the others to sit down while he opened a package and took out a few beers. When walked back into the main room he was almost afraid he'd find Stephen in his chair again. Luckilly the man had gotten the point last time and sat on the couch with Alica instead. So Long sat back down in his recliner, opened the can and took several big gulps of the bitter liquid. He noticed that Stephen had a bottle of something open, but was unable to tell what it was from where he sat, not that it mattered.
"So Alica..." he began. "why the dislike of alcohol, hm?"
"I don't like the taste of it." she stated. "And it's no good for your health anyway, so I just stay away from it. But forget about me, what makes you two like the stuff?"
"For me it is simply a little indulgence." Stephen replied. "And not all of it is bitter you know, some of it can be quite sweet. I bet you've never tried a cooler or a mudslide."
"Bleh. I've only tried a chardonay, and I hated it. So I'll not try anything else, thanks."
"Suit yourself. What's your favorite drink, Long?"
"Beer I guess. Nothing fancy. I don't really care for many hard liquors either. I prefer wine on special occasions. I usually like a chardonnay or a burgundy."
"I don't know how you can drink that stuff." Alica complained, making a face.
"It's an aquired taste I guess." he replied casually. He finished off the first can of beer and set it on the coffe table before opening another.
"That was quick." she complained. "Hope you hold your liquor well."
"Well, I intend to drink untill I can't think straight, seeing as I've been thinking too much lately. Once I can't think straight I may keep on drinking though..."
"So you're drinking to forget about something?" Stephen asked. He paused for a moment, waiting for an answer, but Long just ignored him and took another gulp pf his beer. "Not really a good idea if you ask me. Personally I only drink a little bit, as sort of a novelty. Why risk getting drunk anyway, you might end up doing something you regret, or someone for that matter..."
"Stephen!" Alica protested, as he chuckled at the joke.
"Someone?" Long complained. "I'm not that type of man. Not that type of drunk either, it's much more likely I'll end up crawling around in a gutter or killing someone who gets in my way. If I get to that point I'll lock myself in my room first and sleep it off first."
"How are you going to do that if you don't even have the mental presence required to restrain your own actions?" Stephen wondered. Long gave him a dirty look, which made him back off.
"Anyway, no matter how it goes it's got to be better than remaining so conscientious about everything."
"So, you admit that you have a conscience then?"
"Wish I could say that I didn't... but unfortunately I can't. Why people seem to think that all assassins have no conscience anyway? Just because we kill for money? Ha! Both Alica and I have better motivation than that."
"What does Alica have to do with it?"
"Didn't she tell you? She's an assassin too."
"No." They both turned to Alica, who groaned nervously at being the center of attention.
"I find that slightly amusing... why not Alica?"
"I didn't want him to be scared of me, like he is of you." she admitted.
"You told me you were a scientist!" Stephen protested.
"I am, but I'm also an assassin."
"Why?"
"Forget it." Long advised, finishing off his second beer and opening a third. "It isn't her choice you know, she either kills others, or dies herself. Survival of the fittest I guess."
"I see..." the other man replied, shaking his head. "What a shame, a sad predicament to be caught up in. I don't know if I could kill others simply to preserve my own life."
"I don't know if I can keep doing it either." she agreed, hanging her head.
"I wouldn't." Singh Long contributed. "At the state that I'm in now I would simply let them kill me. I almost wish I could, death would be a welcome alternative to this life. But there are others to think of..."
"What 'others' do you speak of?" Stephen asked. "You actually care about someone?"
"He has a better reason for being an assassin than I do, Stephen." Alica explained, turning his attention from Long. "He kills to keep his loved ones alive, while I only kill to save my own worthless hide." At that moment she truly despised herself, terrified of what she had forced herself to do to stay alive. She felt selfish for taking so many lives simply to preserve her own, and merciless for sparing only one of those she had been sent to kill. Yet, she knew no other way to survive, and she couldn't begin to think of dying. "I guess, I'm just afraid to die. I never thought it would all end this soon, so I keep on doing what I need to do to live, but..." She trailed off, getting too emotional to be able to finish. Her eyes started tearing up. Stephen set his drink down on the table and patted her on the back, a concerned look on his face.
"I never knew it could be like this." he admitted. "I always thought that the only reason people became assassins was for money. I never knew that Tylon blackmailed people into it by threatening to take their lives and the lives of the ones they loved. What a wretched bag of scum they are for doing this to you."
"I hate Van." #318 stated.
"I thought you liked working with my brother." Alica reminded him, wiping the moisture from her eyes and straightening up in her seat. "What made you change your mind?" He took a long swig of his drink before replying, obviously trying to drown out his doubts.
"Well, I suppose I ought to have hated him since the very beginning... seeing as he is the leader of Tylon and all. But it was your father's idea to threaten to kill my family, not his... so I decided not to hold it against him. Foolish decision, considering that he would do the same thing just as quickly, if not faster. I guess I respected him right up untill he threatened to kill my family if I got any closer to you. An inadequate reason to waste a brilliant assassin such a myself, don't you think? What makes you so important to him anyway? Well, never mind. My point was that it reminded me of what kind of an ass hole he is."
"So it doesn't bother you untill your own family is threatened?" Stephen concluded, shaking his head in dissaproval of the other's large ego. "And what's this about you staying away from Alica?"
"Van has forbidden me from so much as looking at her in a way that he sees unfit, at the cost of my own, and my family's lives."
"Why would he do that?"
"Who knows?"
"Well I guess that if I had a sister I wouldn't want you touching her either..."
"You're not still afraid of me, are you?"
"Whatever gave you that idea?"
"I'm an assassin, Steve. I can smell fear as though it were a stench hanging in the air, sense it the same way a chill creeps up your spine on a cold night."
"Don't be so dramatic!" Alica scolded.
"Don't call me Steve." Stephen requested.
"Steve." #318 said.
"Meh... what's wrong with you?" she demanded, realizing that he was being a bit more irritable than usual. "I think you've already had too much to drink!"
"I don't." he argued, finishing off his third beer.
"I would slow down if I were you," Stephen warned. "what you've already consumed will catch up with you pretty quickly."
"I don't give a $#!@."
"Hey, don't take that kind of attitude with him!" Alica threatened, raising her voice and glaring at him. "Stephen, maybe it's time we leave..."
"I agree." he said, rising from the couch and heading for the door. "If I were you, Long... I would lock myself in for the night now and sleep it off." Alica followed him to the door.
"Are you trying to order me around?" #318 asked, climbing off his chair. Stephen sighed in resignation and shook his head, then he and Alica left the room.
"I'm sorry Stephen." Alica apologized. "I admit he usually acts like a jerk, but this is beyond even his normal attitude."
"He's just a rotten drunk." the doctor replied, shrugging. "I've seen it all the time... people like him are the very reason that choose to I monitor my drinking." They stood silently in front of his door for a moment, and then Stephen took her arm and lead her down the hall, thinking it would be best of they weren't around if he decided to come out of his dorm. "He really doesn't hold his liquor well, I wouldn't be surprised if he got much worse before going into a hangover. I think it's best for us not to be around when that happens. You can come visit my dorm for awhile if you like, we can sit and chat. That way at least the entire day isn't wasted... not as wasted as he is anyway. Hehehe..."
"How can you joke about something like this?" she asked, unable to completely suppress a slight giggle herself. His laughter was bright and cheerfull, something she hadn't heard in a long time. And also quite contagious. But as good as it felt to laugh with him she still forced her self to become serious. "I'm worried. I hope he doesn't get himself into any trouble."
"What trouble could he get into? He can certainly take care of himself."
"I just hope he's not stupid enough to kill anyone important and get Van angry at him."
"Hm..." Stephen hummed, glancing into her face and noticing her serious expression. "You really care for him, don't you? Well, I'm sure he'll be fine. Don't fret about it. I'm sure he'll just decide to sleep it off. Besides the hangover, he'll be all better in the morning."
"I hope you're right."
"I'll show you." Singh Long told the closed door, as though they could still hear him. "You think you're so smart, don't you? 'Lock yourself in' he says... Heh, I'll show you that I can go out and have a little fun." He was about to leave the room right then and there, but he wasn't so far gone yet that he didn't realize that Alica would probably scold him again if she saw him leave. The bitch, he thought unreasonably, unable to control the slightest bit of his anger. So you think I've been drinking too much, huh? I'll show you. He got two more beers out of his fridge and swallowed them down in two long gulps, just to spite her. Then he stood there haughtilly with his hands on his hips, proud that he had enough control of himself that he could do so. Then he strode towards the door and opened it wide, peering out into the hallway beyond. Fortunately, he didn't see them anywhere. He stepped out and walked towards the elevator, with no idea at all where he was going.
He got into it and pushed a few buttons, with no real concern as to where it was taking him. Truth was he was getting too angry to care. Who do they think they are to order me around anyway? I'm Tylon's top assassin! I shouldn't have to listen to orders from the likes of them. He though briefly about going back and telling them so, but he couldn't seem to remember which button to push or which floor they were on. He just waited untill the elevator stopped and got off. He walked off into the building in search of them, taking numerous turns and walking down hallways, often walking around in circles without even realizing it. After awhile he accepted the fact that he was hopelessly lost, at which point he got angry again. Finally he was stopped by someone who noticed his wandering, softly tapping him on the back.
"Hey, you've been wandering around my laboratory for almost half an hour. Are you lost?" He turned around to see a gangly looking fellow wearing a lab coat. He had a hideous face: an insane looking, toothy, gaping grin; a flat, squashed-looking nose; and green, grass-like hair. "Hubba, hubba! You must be lost 'cause I know I've never seen such a lovely man in this part of the building!"
"Ugh..." he groaned in annoyance. "Will you please just tell me how to get out of here?"
"Well I could... but that would be depriving me of such beautiful scenery! Why don't I tell you the way to my dorm room instead?" He closed one eye to wink at the other man, and as soon as he opened it back up Long's fist was in his face. Cross me and you will die! #318 thought, delighting in the screams of pain that his fists drew from the man as he rained punches into his chest. Yeees! This is what I needed! A little fight to calm me down... A little pain and blood... He stopped for just a moment while the other was stunned, and then kicked his legs out from under him and bent over and punched the back of his head.
"Oh my! Whatever is going on in here!" The familiar feminine voice came from behind, but he still had to turn and look before he realized who the voice belonged to.
"He hit on me." Long stated, as though it explained everything and justified him in beating the man.
"He did?"
"Yes." Fox strolled casually over to his side and glared down at the beaten green-haired man who looked up at him with a sheepishly apologetic expression on his face.
"Eh, Fox-kun... I can explain!"
"How dare you!" he cried, smacking the ugly one in the face with his purse. "I give you one last chance to make up for your crude behavior only to find you hitting on another man!?!" He glanced at Long and smiled. "Admittedly he is a cutie... but that doesn't justify this! It's over Hajime, we're through!"
"N-no... my Foxy! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaase!" he cried, begging for mercy like the coward he was.
"Hmpf!" Hans muttered, turning away. Then he glomped Long, and since he was as drunken as he was he wasn't able to keep his balance and they both fell backwards onto the floor. Busuzima silently crawled away. "How can I ever thank you for beating up that pervert?" Fox asked, snuggling on top of him and curling his bangs with one of his fingers. Long was terrified.
"AHH! HELP!" He struggled out from under Hans and up to his feet, starting to feel a little dizzier than he should. He was too far gone to even remember the alcohol he'd been drinking earlier, and so didn't realize that it's effects were settling in. He tried to run off, but stumbled on his own feet, falling to the ground.
"Oh dear, have you tripped on something? Let me help you up." Fox said, offering him a hand. Long shoved it away and tried to get up on his own, but stumbled to the floor again.
"Why is the hallway moving out from under my feet?" he asked.
"Did he hit you on the head or something?" Hans asked, truly concerned. "Oh, poor baby!" He grabbed his arm and picked him off the ground, half supporting and half dragging him towards the elevator. "Why don't you come up to my dorm room and we'll have a look and see if you've got a nasty wittle bump?"
"I don't wanna!" he protested, making a pathetic attempt to struggle away.
"Come, come, now. We'd better go check you out." he insisted, ushering him into the elevator. He struggled all through the elevator ride and the long walk down the hall to Fox's dorm, but it did him no good. Most of the time he only suceeded in throwing them both off balance for a moment, or every now and then getting himself dropped on the floor. When this happened Hans simply picked him back up again. Once they got into the dorm he was laid down gently on a sofa. Fox brushed back his bangs and felt over his head through his hair, looking for any bumps. "Hm... that is strange, I don't feel anyhting wrong at all deary... but your breath smells horrible. You've been drinking, haven't you?"
"None of your business!" he snapped. "I can do whatever I damn well please!"
"Ah! Well... you don't have to get so nasty about it! You're completely drunken aren't you? I guess the least I can do is get you a breath mint for that smell." He got up and walked off, Long yelling obscenities after him. He tried to get up off the couch, but fell face first into the floor. "Ugh... why can't the room stay still?"
"Oh dear! You've gone and dumped yourself on the floor again." Fox observed, picking him up and setting him back on the couch. "Do yourself a favor and suck on this breath mint." He tried tried to stick it in his mouth and Long bit down on his fingers and spit it back out on defiance. "Ack!"
"Suck on this!" Long said, flipping him off.
"How rude! I'm only trying to help you know!"
"If you wanna help me then get me outta here!"
"How about I help you take your clothes off instead?"
"Ah! He's going to rape me! Somebody HELP!"
"Well I won't if that's that way you're going to be about it. Still, I really wanted to do something nice for you for beating up that freak... Oh, I know! I'll give you a makeover!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Alica reluctantly followed Stephen into his dorm and sat down on his couch. She had to admit that she was relieved to get away from Long for a bit, she hated it when he acted so conceited. Someone ought to bring him down a peg or two before he hurts himself. Then she and Stephen had a nice little chat. She truly enjoyed his company, impressed with his warm attitude and quick wit. It was nice to finally find someone at her own level of intelligence to converse with, and his optimism was a rare thing within the walls of Tylon. Talking with him was like a breath of fresh air to her, reminding her of happy times long since past. After awhile there was a disturbance somewhere on the floor above them. They heard all kinds of yelling and the thudding noises of something bumping around.
Alica decided to go investigate, figuring that Long had probably been stubborn enough to ignore their good council and had gotten himself into some kind of trouble. She asked Stephen to come, but he declined, wisely choosing to stay out of whatever was going on. So Alica took the elevator up one floor and followed the noises around for awhile. She carefully tracked the sounds to a door and knocked on it loudly enough to be heard. She waited a few minutes and then knocked again, finally Fox came to the door.
"What's going on in there?" Alica asked.
"Oh, n-nothing really..." Hans began. Alica slid past him to peek on the room, and what she saw there made her sick. Long was tied down to a chair sitting in front of one of the room's many mirors and Fox had covered his face in makeup. His lips were colored a bright shade of red, and a pale cinnamon blush covered his cheeks. Mascara made his eyelashes look long and pretty while a light blue eyeshadow complimented his eyes. Hans had also taken his hair down and re-parted it on the side.
"HEEELP!!!" Long screamed, recognizing her.
"Oh my God..." she trailed off.
"It's terrible, isn't it?" Fox asked. "He keeps moving, which ruins any neat and even application. I wanted to do eye and lip liner too, but he just won't hold still!" Alica showed him aside, warped one of her fingers into a claw and slashed away the sashes and ribbons binding him to the chair. "Ah, my lovely sashes!" Hans cried out in terror at having his things destroyed. Long fell to the ground.
"Come on Long," she said, walking back to the door. "let's get out of here." He stumbled around a bit before finally getting to his feet, but then he fell right back down again.
"I tried to get up, but the room is spinning! Please, Alica... make it stop!"
"This is the last time I save you from Hans." she grumbled, helping him to his feet almost reluctantly. He leaned on her heavilly as she lead him out the door.