Where are my bikini-clad dancing girls? I asked for some bikini-clad dancing girls, and I
expect some dancing girls! This, I command! Or no chapter!
¤A giant hammer appears out of nowhere and smacks the author so hard that not only is the silliness knocked out of him, but the silliness is also thoroughly slapped by trout¤
Woah... What was I thinking? Don't answer that, please. At any rate, it's back to the chapter churn for another fine batch of homemade Food for Imaginations!
Disclaimer: Not FDA approved.
Rise of the Silver Stars
Chapter 25: Last Night Free
"I will not go."
"Aw, but it'll be fun!"
"Doubtful."
"C'mon! Mr. Kitty thinks it'll be fun!"
"That flea-ridden feline is not possessed of the dimmest faculty in determining whether or not something would qualify as fun."
"Don't listen to him, Mr. Kitty! He doesn't mean it!"
The cat had other ideas and jumped away, escaping out the cracked open window. He lost more cats that way... And Knives was steadfast in remaining rooted in place. He was rapidly running out of ideas to pry him out for a night on the town short of clonking him over the head. Of course, if he did that, anyone around when Knives woke up would be in for a world of hurt. Maybe he should just try the direct approach, as the cajoling was doing nothing. He really should remember that keeping up appearances was completely unnecessary- this was his brother, for crying out loud! Okay, one deep breath, and as you exhale let it blow the mask off...
Knives looked up as his breath whistled out. "What's your reason now?"
"It's funny, really... I suppose there really isn't any reason for you to come, but... I'd really like you to be there. How long has it been since we last did something together? Since before The Fall, right?"
"It hasn't been that long."
"Yeah, we've been in close physical proximity plenty of times since, but we've never really been together. At first, I didn't know what else to do, and then I had to run away. Even if you could consider my following you around for those first years to be being together, we certainly haven't been since. Oh, and, uh... Sorry about running out like that and the leg and all. I didn't know what to do."
Knives waved his hand absently. "I recovered."
"Physically, yeah. But the worst hurts run deep, right into the soul. I know those haven't healed- I wasn't the one who got shot and I can still feel the hurt. I can only imagine how you must have felt."
"...you're right. It does still hurt. I thought you were on our side, brother. Oh, how blind I was to not see how your mind was poisoned. If only-"
"Enough. What's done is done. Maybe we can't ever go back to the way things were, back when we were all happy. But can't you just set aside all that for one short night? It's been over a century, Knives. I don't want to forget the good times we once had, or lose hope for ever having them again. Just for tonight, can we be family again?"
Silence reigned for a long time in that room. Only the occasional bump or thud from outside signaled that events were still happening beyond those four walls. Knives finally broke the silence. "Well, if you would just see the truth, we could create our Eden in under-"
"That's in the future. A future I don't want to see come about if everyone can't come. A future I will try to prevent, and also why I'm asking this now. Not for me, or for you, but for us."
"...just one night?"
"That's all we need."
Knives rested his chin on his fist. The pose reminded him of something he had once seen somewhere, but he couldn't quite place it. At least he was thinking about it, no doubt weighing the risks against the benefits. It was blazingly simple, really- anyone who can't pause for even a moment's happiness will never know happiness. Still, couldn't he hurry it up? Talking all day long was wearing his throat down, and the sooner he made up his mind, the sooner they could be on their way. Well, assuming the ladies were able to get geared up at a rate faster than the dunes on a windless day. It wasn't like they had an entire closet of clothing to sort through...
"Okay."
"What?"
A smirk crossed Knives' face. "You never could stay focused. That hasn't changed. I'd... like to hope... that there's more that's survived the years. So I'll do it. For us. Just... try not to let them get too close to me."
"Sure thing, bro."
¤ ¤ ¤
Practicality was a virtue. If by some odd chance it wasn't, then it ought to be one anyway. Virtues were good things, meant to be cultivated in oneself. She was still just a tad surprised that Vash, seemingly the very antithesis of virtue, had decided to grow himself a bit in this area. It amazed her every time she saw him run around like a lecherous oaf, only to end up doing little things, unnoticed things, that would help out those most in need. However, he always kept up appearances- oh no, he wasn't the one who saved little Timmy from the well, he just 'happened' to fall down there because he was blind stinking drunk and didn't even notice there was a kid on his back as he climbed back out. It was a flimsy front for the good man just below, and it took a lot for him to drop the pretense entirely and let himself be seen.
That had been how he explained everything he brought back from his day out. No exaggeration, no hands misplaced, not a bad joke or off topic drift. Just a simple, patient, understanding air as he explained the workings of complex technology from before The Fall. True, he was right back to his usual self the very moment comprehension passed on the collected faces before him, but it was these short times when he was his real self that made her heart rise up and overthrow her logic. There no doubt in her mind that this was the one person she wanted to spent her life with- a nice long peaceful life, where there'd be someone waiting for her at home while she pulled in the paychecks, with well behaved children doing their best to be helpful.
"So much for that." She boosted herself up slightly to see over the cracks in the bottom portion of the bathroom mirror, and finished snapping the neck of the envirosuit in place. The fit was perfect- at first it felt just a tad too big, but the wonders of lost technology seemed to make a tailor unneeded as the suit itself made the final adjustments. A second skin, indeed. It felt like nothing at all, though it certainly revealed nothing. The armor added some much needed feeling of substance, though she still had doubts about the quality- a quarter of an inch of some white featherweight metal wasn't much when it came to stopping bullets, even if Vash swore it was up to the task. The necessity of the armor meant no children for this family- it was a sad fact that their trouble would eventually engulf anyone who involved themselves in their constant run from the law. It was a shame, really...
The last of the armor plates snapped in place, and she stepped back to appraise the finished product. It certainly looked impressive. The black suit and white armor actually looked almost artistic, with the latter neatly framing the former in a way that just extruded a sense of power. To think that once long ago everyone wore such things- it must have made for interesting times. However, while the projected authority might be useful, it wasn't exactly a way to blend in with the crowd. The cavalry uniform fit over the suit well- the only portion that stuck out was the collar, and that wasn't as attention getting as the mass of connectors along the arms, torso, and back. All in all, she concluded that nothing really looked different since she had entered town, though she was hopefully a bit better protected. It was certainly quite comfortable, and seemed to keep down the stench of sweat and grime that had been starting to waft off the uniform.
Leaving the bathroom, she spotted a number of the others lounging in the living room. Well, at least those of the number that knew how to relax. Knives was wedged into a corner, glaring at anyone who moved. It was no secret that he resented the equipment they had been given- he wouldn't mind if they all dropped dead, and with improved protection he was doubtlessly fuming that they were that much less likely to do so. Frank wasn't exactly relaxing either- more overly excited about the mechanism attached to the right wrist of each suit that would deploy a shocking, yet non-lethal deterrent. He had somehow managed to get the casing off it and was flicking it in and out, watching the levers and connectors snap back and forth. He had spent the day doing much the same with every fancy gun he could find in the city. The man loved the craft, even if he despised the purpose. There was only one other person besides him that was showing more of the suits than just the high collar, and that was only because Rai-dei's robe-pajamas had a very low cut. He had practically fallen on his face after receiving one of Vash's gift boxes, trumpeting praise for his idol. No wonder the Gung-ho Guns were the only humans to have met Knives, however indirectly, and lived. They may have been ace psychotic killers, but that clearly had to have been second to their ability to suck up to the boss. Maybe Milly could work some sense into the ex-killer, as Vash's every word was a divine proclamation- and speaking of Milly...
"Alright, the bride-to-be is ready to go!"
"Go? Go where? In case you forgot, it's not exactly safe out there."
Milly laid a finger aside her head, managing to look both thoughtful and not. "Well, yeah, but it's not safe here either. You could be swallowed up by a giant sinkhole, or have a mountain fall on you! My Uncle Earl had all sorts of things like that happen to him, and always narrowly escaped!"
That sounded less factional then fictional, but the point had been made. "Okay, but is this someplace I want to go?"
"Of course, silly! You can't miss your own bachelorette party!"
Uh oh. She was well acquainted with the damage parties could do, and any that had the word 'bachelor' in them added almost an extra thousand double dollars to the claim. "Are you sure about this? 'Rowdy' doesn't even come close to what I've heard about parties like that."
"That's the idea! It's the last night before marriage, so you've got to go nuts."
"Well, if you insist..."
"It's settled then! Don't worry so much, it'll be almost all Cavalry. With so many troops there, what could possibly go wrong?"
Her mouth opened, then closed after a second. What could go wrong, indeed. As the entire group- Knives included, oddly enough -moved out, she grabbed a bottle of Old Doc Harrison's Cure-All Tonic. While it certainly wasn't a cure-all, it did work on headaches. As the saying goes- "Be Prepared."
¤ ¤ ¤
This really wasn't quite as much fun as he'd been hoping. Maybe it was the overall hurried nature of things- though that wasn't stopping anyone else. Then, perhaps the assortment of seedy characters that had burst in not long after the festivities had started? Nah, they just kicked things up a notch, and the biggest of the new arrivals seemed to hit it off just fine with Vash. Might it be the sheer weirdness of seeing Millions Knives in a good mood- if a tad bit induced by the drinks? It was hard to guess that the somewhat drunken off-key singer was the self proclaimed judge, jury, and executioner of humanity. Especially with that god-awful bright yellow and blue headband, a perfect match for the green and orange one right next door.
Of course, none of those were the real reason he just couldn't have fun. The real reason was that he had been here before, a long time back, to mark his own departure from the ranks of bachelors. It wasn't the location, the timing, or the company, but a nagging sense that he wasn't supposed to be out for seedy events like this. He really ought to be at home with his family... Damn those fates that had placed the ultimate barrier between them.
Well, as the old saying went, "If you don't like where you are, go somewhere else." He paused just long enough to load up a platter with as much food as would fit- never pass up a free lunch. He maneuvered through the crowd and to the door, pausing to look back on the festivities. It was getting pretty wild, between the grub, the drink, the music, the strippers, and the self-proclaimed "Grand Lord Master of the Lampshade Hat," dancing away atop a table. Vash had moved to the small crowd gathered at the foot of the stage, and was shaking up the beer bottles then laughing like a ninny every time someone opened one of the boobytrapped brown sud bombs. One last glance found the human hating twin... Sandwiched between a pair of strippers in the corner. He shook his head and looked again- yeah, it was him. That finally shoved him over the edge, and he got one long hard laugh. Oh, if he only had a camera to capture the moment for when Knives sobered up! It'd be ample repayment for the continual attitude he'd been getting for being a human ever since he left Warrens City.
He stepped out and balanced the tray on the saloon's banister. The noise dropped a fair bit once he got away from the door, though the rapidly moving shadows kept the energy present. There was a decent wind blowing, and though the bite of the night's cold was forming up, he was staying pretty warm. By all rights he should be shivering, but the jumpsuit Vash had provided was downright toasty. He began to crunch into half of a sandwich he had liberated, when a sudden growling emerged from the shadows. He tensed as he spun towards the noise, spotting a dark figure between the light from two windows. "Who's there?"
The figure stepped foreward, into the beam of light, revealing... One Milly. He let out the breath he had been holding. She started to speak, but hadn't even managed the first syllable before the loud growling interrupted again- this time, clearly coming from her midsection. He guffawed as her cheeks turned a bit red. "Well, if you're hungry, just say so! I've got more than enough. Say, want the other half of this?"
She shook her head. "No thanks."
"How 'bout the stew?"
"Okay!"
She snatched up the offered bowl and began to dig in. He looked over to the next building, where the ladies were having their own party. A bottle flew in a neat arc out the door to smash into the Thomas' trough. Well, looked like they weren't having any trouble either aside from whatever they made for themselves. "So, needed a little fresh air?"
"Oh, no. I just didn't feel like staying."
"Is that so... Same for me, though I made sure to haul off as much as possible."
They stayed like that for a time, as the volume sporadically picked up from one door or another depending on which side had the cheer-worthy event happen. "Will you listen to that... Sounds like they're really going all out."
"Yeah."
As if to punctuate the statement, a shout came out. "Gentlemen, a toast! To the underwear!"
"To the underwear!"
He was tempted to stick his nose back in the door to see just what prompted that outburst, but decided not to, leaving his gaze pointed out into the street. Some things were best left mysteries. However, one couldn't just leave a toast without toasting something. He lifted one glass of seltzer water and paused- he didn't know quite what to toast.
"To family?"
He turned aside to look at her. She smiled, a glass of her own ready. He beamed one back- somehow, she always knew just what to say.
"To family it is."
The glasses clinked.
I've been waiting to do this chapter for a while, since it's got a few moments I've had stuck in my head for some time. It's also prepared the way for next chapter, which is where we find out what made Knives so, well, Knivesish. Feel free to speculate wildly, though I can assure you that you'll be wrong. Now off to bed, 'cuz I've got one nasty headache...
Wolfwood: Is that a lampshade?
Yeah.
Wolfwood: You... That was you! How'd you get out of here?
Weren't you listening? I have author power, I can do whatever I want. And no, I'm not letting any of you go back.
Wolfwood: But you have no idea how much this hurts! My big girl's waiting for me!
Yeah, well... E.G.?
E.G. Mine: Losers don't get to go home- they go to hell!
Wolfwood: Right back at you. Bastards.
Reviewer Responses
cjflutterbye: The alcohol has been broken open! Knives might be tipsy enough to wake up in someone else's bed... Or is he? Hmmm...
Blu: Just 'cuz the pot calls the kettle black doesn't make it any less true. Time for this kettle to ramp up the speed!
betseytheripper: I'm only dead occasionally- it's for tax purposes. Action's still a bit light, though the next chapter should pick it up. And the gerbils can have the keyboard- it's an $11 no-frills model that I subject to horrible experiments. It would a mercy for the poor thing, really.
hope-is-4-ever: The wedding comes in two (or three) chapters, so not much longer!
Hopeful Wings: Yeah, it was weird... Just wait until you see where that ends up >:)
millythompson: ¤grins back¤ Oh, just wait until you see what role you'll be playing at the wedding!
kitsune: Vash? Planning? Pfft, it'll never happen. ;) And now, I must go and retch, for the horrible vision of Guido and Ramone in thongs you gave me. Until next time! ¤runs for the bathroom¤
¤A giant hammer appears out of nowhere and smacks the author so hard that not only is the silliness knocked out of him, but the silliness is also thoroughly slapped by trout¤
Woah... What was I thinking? Don't answer that, please. At any rate, it's back to the chapter churn for another fine batch of homemade Food for Imaginations!
Disclaimer: Not FDA approved.
Chapter 25: Last Night Free
"I will not go."
"Aw, but it'll be fun!"
"Doubtful."
"C'mon! Mr. Kitty thinks it'll be fun!"
"That flea-ridden feline is not possessed of the dimmest faculty in determining whether or not something would qualify as fun."
"Don't listen to him, Mr. Kitty! He doesn't mean it!"
The cat had other ideas and jumped away, escaping out the cracked open window. He lost more cats that way... And Knives was steadfast in remaining rooted in place. He was rapidly running out of ideas to pry him out for a night on the town short of clonking him over the head. Of course, if he did that, anyone around when Knives woke up would be in for a world of hurt. Maybe he should just try the direct approach, as the cajoling was doing nothing. He really should remember that keeping up appearances was completely unnecessary- this was his brother, for crying out loud! Okay, one deep breath, and as you exhale let it blow the mask off...
Knives looked up as his breath whistled out. "What's your reason now?"
"It's funny, really... I suppose there really isn't any reason for you to come, but... I'd really like you to be there. How long has it been since we last did something together? Since before The Fall, right?"
"It hasn't been that long."
"Yeah, we've been in close physical proximity plenty of times since, but we've never really been together. At first, I didn't know what else to do, and then I had to run away. Even if you could consider my following you around for those first years to be being together, we certainly haven't been since. Oh, and, uh... Sorry about running out like that and the leg and all. I didn't know what to do."
Knives waved his hand absently. "I recovered."
"Physically, yeah. But the worst hurts run deep, right into the soul. I know those haven't healed- I wasn't the one who got shot and I can still feel the hurt. I can only imagine how you must have felt."
"...you're right. It does still hurt. I thought you were on our side, brother. Oh, how blind I was to not see how your mind was poisoned. If only-"
"Enough. What's done is done. Maybe we can't ever go back to the way things were, back when we were all happy. But can't you just set aside all that for one short night? It's been over a century, Knives. I don't want to forget the good times we once had, or lose hope for ever having them again. Just for tonight, can we be family again?"
Silence reigned for a long time in that room. Only the occasional bump or thud from outside signaled that events were still happening beyond those four walls. Knives finally broke the silence. "Well, if you would just see the truth, we could create our Eden in under-"
"That's in the future. A future I don't want to see come about if everyone can't come. A future I will try to prevent, and also why I'm asking this now. Not for me, or for you, but for us."
"...just one night?"
"That's all we need."
Knives rested his chin on his fist. The pose reminded him of something he had once seen somewhere, but he couldn't quite place it. At least he was thinking about it, no doubt weighing the risks against the benefits. It was blazingly simple, really- anyone who can't pause for even a moment's happiness will never know happiness. Still, couldn't he hurry it up? Talking all day long was wearing his throat down, and the sooner he made up his mind, the sooner they could be on their way. Well, assuming the ladies were able to get geared up at a rate faster than the dunes on a windless day. It wasn't like they had an entire closet of clothing to sort through...
"Okay."
"What?"
A smirk crossed Knives' face. "You never could stay focused. That hasn't changed. I'd... like to hope... that there's more that's survived the years. So I'll do it. For us. Just... try not to let them get too close to me."
"Sure thing, bro."
Practicality was a virtue. If by some odd chance it wasn't, then it ought to be one anyway. Virtues were good things, meant to be cultivated in oneself. She was still just a tad surprised that Vash, seemingly the very antithesis of virtue, had decided to grow himself a bit in this area. It amazed her every time she saw him run around like a lecherous oaf, only to end up doing little things, unnoticed things, that would help out those most in need. However, he always kept up appearances- oh no, he wasn't the one who saved little Timmy from the well, he just 'happened' to fall down there because he was blind stinking drunk and didn't even notice there was a kid on his back as he climbed back out. It was a flimsy front for the good man just below, and it took a lot for him to drop the pretense entirely and let himself be seen.
That had been how he explained everything he brought back from his day out. No exaggeration, no hands misplaced, not a bad joke or off topic drift. Just a simple, patient, understanding air as he explained the workings of complex technology from before The Fall. True, he was right back to his usual self the very moment comprehension passed on the collected faces before him, but it was these short times when he was his real self that made her heart rise up and overthrow her logic. There no doubt in her mind that this was the one person she wanted to spent her life with- a nice long peaceful life, where there'd be someone waiting for her at home while she pulled in the paychecks, with well behaved children doing their best to be helpful.
"So much for that." She boosted herself up slightly to see over the cracks in the bottom portion of the bathroom mirror, and finished snapping the neck of the envirosuit in place. The fit was perfect- at first it felt just a tad too big, but the wonders of lost technology seemed to make a tailor unneeded as the suit itself made the final adjustments. A second skin, indeed. It felt like nothing at all, though it certainly revealed nothing. The armor added some much needed feeling of substance, though she still had doubts about the quality- a quarter of an inch of some white featherweight metal wasn't much when it came to stopping bullets, even if Vash swore it was up to the task. The necessity of the armor meant no children for this family- it was a sad fact that their trouble would eventually engulf anyone who involved themselves in their constant run from the law. It was a shame, really...
The last of the armor plates snapped in place, and she stepped back to appraise the finished product. It certainly looked impressive. The black suit and white armor actually looked almost artistic, with the latter neatly framing the former in a way that just extruded a sense of power. To think that once long ago everyone wore such things- it must have made for interesting times. However, while the projected authority might be useful, it wasn't exactly a way to blend in with the crowd. The cavalry uniform fit over the suit well- the only portion that stuck out was the collar, and that wasn't as attention getting as the mass of connectors along the arms, torso, and back. All in all, she concluded that nothing really looked different since she had entered town, though she was hopefully a bit better protected. It was certainly quite comfortable, and seemed to keep down the stench of sweat and grime that had been starting to waft off the uniform.
Leaving the bathroom, she spotted a number of the others lounging in the living room. Well, at least those of the number that knew how to relax. Knives was wedged into a corner, glaring at anyone who moved. It was no secret that he resented the equipment they had been given- he wouldn't mind if they all dropped dead, and with improved protection he was doubtlessly fuming that they were that much less likely to do so. Frank wasn't exactly relaxing either- more overly excited about the mechanism attached to the right wrist of each suit that would deploy a shocking, yet non-lethal deterrent. He had somehow managed to get the casing off it and was flicking it in and out, watching the levers and connectors snap back and forth. He had spent the day doing much the same with every fancy gun he could find in the city. The man loved the craft, even if he despised the purpose. There was only one other person besides him that was showing more of the suits than just the high collar, and that was only because Rai-dei's robe-pajamas had a very low cut. He had practically fallen on his face after receiving one of Vash's gift boxes, trumpeting praise for his idol. No wonder the Gung-ho Guns were the only humans to have met Knives, however indirectly, and lived. They may have been ace psychotic killers, but that clearly had to have been second to their ability to suck up to the boss. Maybe Milly could work some sense into the ex-killer, as Vash's every word was a divine proclamation- and speaking of Milly...
"Alright, the bride-to-be is ready to go!"
"Go? Go where? In case you forgot, it's not exactly safe out there."
Milly laid a finger aside her head, managing to look both thoughtful and not. "Well, yeah, but it's not safe here either. You could be swallowed up by a giant sinkhole, or have a mountain fall on you! My Uncle Earl had all sorts of things like that happen to him, and always narrowly escaped!"
That sounded less factional then fictional, but the point had been made. "Okay, but is this someplace I want to go?"
"Of course, silly! You can't miss your own bachelorette party!"
Uh oh. She was well acquainted with the damage parties could do, and any that had the word 'bachelor' in them added almost an extra thousand double dollars to the claim. "Are you sure about this? 'Rowdy' doesn't even come close to what I've heard about parties like that."
"That's the idea! It's the last night before marriage, so you've got to go nuts."
"Well, if you insist..."
"It's settled then! Don't worry so much, it'll be almost all Cavalry. With so many troops there, what could possibly go wrong?"
Her mouth opened, then closed after a second. What could go wrong, indeed. As the entire group- Knives included, oddly enough -moved out, she grabbed a bottle of Old Doc Harrison's Cure-All Tonic. While it certainly wasn't a cure-all, it did work on headaches. As the saying goes- "Be Prepared."
This really wasn't quite as much fun as he'd been hoping. Maybe it was the overall hurried nature of things- though that wasn't stopping anyone else. Then, perhaps the assortment of seedy characters that had burst in not long after the festivities had started? Nah, they just kicked things up a notch, and the biggest of the new arrivals seemed to hit it off just fine with Vash. Might it be the sheer weirdness of seeing Millions Knives in a good mood- if a tad bit induced by the drinks? It was hard to guess that the somewhat drunken off-key singer was the self proclaimed judge, jury, and executioner of humanity. Especially with that god-awful bright yellow and blue headband, a perfect match for the green and orange one right next door.
Of course, none of those were the real reason he just couldn't have fun. The real reason was that he had been here before, a long time back, to mark his own departure from the ranks of bachelors. It wasn't the location, the timing, or the company, but a nagging sense that he wasn't supposed to be out for seedy events like this. He really ought to be at home with his family... Damn those fates that had placed the ultimate barrier between them.
Well, as the old saying went, "If you don't like where you are, go somewhere else." He paused just long enough to load up a platter with as much food as would fit- never pass up a free lunch. He maneuvered through the crowd and to the door, pausing to look back on the festivities. It was getting pretty wild, between the grub, the drink, the music, the strippers, and the self-proclaimed "Grand Lord Master of the Lampshade Hat," dancing away atop a table. Vash had moved to the small crowd gathered at the foot of the stage, and was shaking up the beer bottles then laughing like a ninny every time someone opened one of the boobytrapped brown sud bombs. One last glance found the human hating twin... Sandwiched between a pair of strippers in the corner. He shook his head and looked again- yeah, it was him. That finally shoved him over the edge, and he got one long hard laugh. Oh, if he only had a camera to capture the moment for when Knives sobered up! It'd be ample repayment for the continual attitude he'd been getting for being a human ever since he left Warrens City.
He stepped out and balanced the tray on the saloon's banister. The noise dropped a fair bit once he got away from the door, though the rapidly moving shadows kept the energy present. There was a decent wind blowing, and though the bite of the night's cold was forming up, he was staying pretty warm. By all rights he should be shivering, but the jumpsuit Vash had provided was downright toasty. He began to crunch into half of a sandwich he had liberated, when a sudden growling emerged from the shadows. He tensed as he spun towards the noise, spotting a dark figure between the light from two windows. "Who's there?"
The figure stepped foreward, into the beam of light, revealing... One Milly. He let out the breath he had been holding. She started to speak, but hadn't even managed the first syllable before the loud growling interrupted again- this time, clearly coming from her midsection. He guffawed as her cheeks turned a bit red. "Well, if you're hungry, just say so! I've got more than enough. Say, want the other half of this?"
She shook her head. "No thanks."
"How 'bout the stew?"
"Okay!"
She snatched up the offered bowl and began to dig in. He looked over to the next building, where the ladies were having their own party. A bottle flew in a neat arc out the door to smash into the Thomas' trough. Well, looked like they weren't having any trouble either aside from whatever they made for themselves. "So, needed a little fresh air?"
"Oh, no. I just didn't feel like staying."
"Is that so... Same for me, though I made sure to haul off as much as possible."
They stayed like that for a time, as the volume sporadically picked up from one door or another depending on which side had the cheer-worthy event happen. "Will you listen to that... Sounds like they're really going all out."
"Yeah."
As if to punctuate the statement, a shout came out. "Gentlemen, a toast! To the underwear!"
"To the underwear!"
He was tempted to stick his nose back in the door to see just what prompted that outburst, but decided not to, leaving his gaze pointed out into the street. Some things were best left mysteries. However, one couldn't just leave a toast without toasting something. He lifted one glass of seltzer water and paused- he didn't know quite what to toast.
"To family?"
He turned aside to look at her. She smiled, a glass of her own ready. He beamed one back- somehow, she always knew just what to say.
"To family it is."
The glasses clinked.
I've been waiting to do this chapter for a while, since it's got a few moments I've had stuck in my head for some time. It's also prepared the way for next chapter, which is where we find out what made Knives so, well, Knivesish. Feel free to speculate wildly, though I can assure you that you'll be wrong. Now off to bed, 'cuz I've got one nasty headache...
Wolfwood: Is that a lampshade?
Yeah.
Wolfwood: You... That was you! How'd you get out of here?
Weren't you listening? I have author power, I can do whatever I want. And no, I'm not letting any of you go back.
Wolfwood: But you have no idea how much this hurts! My big girl's waiting for me!
Yeah, well... E.G.?
E.G. Mine: Losers don't get to go home- they go to hell!
Wolfwood: Right back at you. Bastards.
cjflutterbye: The alcohol has been broken open! Knives might be tipsy enough to wake up in someone else's bed... Or is he? Hmmm...
Blu: Just 'cuz the pot calls the kettle black doesn't make it any less true. Time for this kettle to ramp up the speed!
betseytheripper: I'm only dead occasionally- it's for tax purposes. Action's still a bit light, though the next chapter should pick it up. And the gerbils can have the keyboard- it's an $11 no-frills model that I subject to horrible experiments. It would a mercy for the poor thing, really.
hope-is-4-ever: The wedding comes in two (or three) chapters, so not much longer!
Hopeful Wings: Yeah, it was weird... Just wait until you see where that ends up >:)
millythompson: ¤grins back¤ Oh, just wait until you see what role you'll be playing at the wedding!
kitsune: Vash? Planning? Pfft, it'll never happen. ;) And now, I must go and retch, for the horrible vision of Guido and Ramone in thongs you gave me. Until next time! ¤runs for the bathroom¤