-- Final Fantasy IX : Have and Have Not -- Chapter Seven :Depression --

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You guys rock. :) (Well, with the exception of a few people whom I won't name who still won't even bother to read my fan fiction ...)
So. Here's the next chapter, even though it is kind of short. There's only so much room in my brain for the guys of Tantalus right now, as I'm working on knitting together Sophia's past with what I have planned for me. (Mwahahahhahahaaa ...) I promise, as soon as I get Sophia's past a little more sorted out, I'll start working on having Marcus recuperate a little more. I mean, the poor guy's not going to be a depressed drunk over my little pickpocket forever!
As a side note, I'd like to thank Bloodshy Testament for helping me with the whole Ruby mix up (long and embarrassing story -- if you read this chapter before February 5th, 2006, you'll probably know). And I hope your PS2's recovery is swift, my friend!
In other news, I have some plans for new fan fictions, and I'll put that up on my main page. So be sure to check that out!
Enjoy!

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Marcus wasn't doing any better.

Blank had done a good job keeping him away from the alcohol -- namely by confiscating all the alcohol that he had and drinking it himself. But, even though Marcus was no longer hitting the bars, and no longer had a personal supply of drinks to keep him drugged, it was pretty obvious that his condition was declining fast.

And that was what brought about a meeting of Tantalus, with saving their member as the prime directive.

Blank, knowing the most about Marcus, led the discussion. "Something is seriously wrong ..." he said, only minutes into their meeting, a frothy mug of beer clasped in his hands. "I mean, Marcus hasn't even noticed that I replaced all his booze with Apple Juice! I've even stopped putting it in empty beer bottles!"

There was silence around the table for a moment, as if no one had thought such a thing would be possible.

"That's it." Baku slammed a fist down on the table, causing his comrades to dive for their mugs all around. "We're gonna have to go after this girl."

"But how!" Cinna's question was met with a rather uncomfortable silence. "I mean, we don't even know who snatched her."

"Or if she was really snatched. I mean, from what I've heard, the guy was pretty good looking."

There were a few glares, but most of the people around the circular table grudgingly agreed.

"Yeah, heard he was quite the looker ..."

"Had some o' the ladies staring as he went by ..."

"I heard some of 'em were going as far as to drool ..."

Blank sighed. "Just don't let Marcus hear you say any of that -- it'll crush him."

"You mean whatever's left of him ..."

Baku, overcome by another temporary rage, slammed his fist once more on the table. Precious beer sloshed onto the table from the newly-refilled pitcher, and the waitress that had just filled it scampered off. "Don't go talkin' like that! We're gonna get to our sources, we'll fill 'em in on what the girl looks like, and we'll find her! Easy!"

Blank shook his head. "It's not gonna be that easy!" he insisted. "You know Marcus -- he never gets discouraged! Not like this! He knows that we're in way over our heads! We can't take this lightly, or we're gonna end up like her!"

Silence.

"You mean ... joining that guy ... in his bed?"

"No! I mean taken captive!"

"What's all this about being taken captive and, uuuhh, beds?"

Ruby, clad in the usual lacy dress, heels, and bonnet over her curly pale locks, complete with lace parasol slung casually across her shoulder, approached their table. There was silence for a moment, as many half-drunk minds wondered what to say to her, and she in turn, studied their faces.

"Sayyy ... where's Marcus?"

More silence.

"Still moping," Baku offered, almost reverently.

"Moping?"

Blank nearly groaned aloud. Ruby didn't know!

"Oh, well," Cinna started in a fairly casual tone -- he probably had more alcohol in his system than the others, "there was this pickpocket that he had this huge crush on, but he was playing games with her, and now she's gone off with some other guy."

There was silence. At least until Baku took the opportunity to hit him over the head and hopefully shut up any more outbursts that he might have.

Ruby took a seat and crossed her arms across her chest. "Hmph. I told him that if he kept toying with everyone he met, then he was never gonna find someone willin' to settle down!" She scoffed. "I should have known though, after all the times he turned me down ..."

Someone offered a chuckle, but most others were silent, unsure as to whether gently reminding Ruby that she had in fact turned Marcus down many times would send her into rage.

"Well." The maiden got to her feet, clapping her hands together, her eyes lighting up with an idea. "I'm going to go see Marcus. I know exactly what'll get him on his feet!"

"Er, don't take him any alcohol."

"No, no, of course not, nothing like that. Besides, I'm not gonna need alcohol." With a small smile, a wink, and a giggle, she was gone.

Blank looks were exchanged around the table.

"What have we gotten Marcus into ...?"

---

At the time, Marcus was plowing his way through another beer. Or, so he thought. His mind was so clouded that he conveniently forgot that beer wasn't supposed to be sweet, and that it was supposed to come in a bottle ... and that you were actually supposed to get drunken off of it.

The juice box was clenched in his fist, and he was chewing sullenly on the straw. He was so stupid ... so horribly, inexcusably stupid! Playing games with her ...

Her! He had to stop just calling her Her! Marcus put down the juice box and lent forwards in his chair, cradling his aching forehead in his hands.

What was a name lovely enough for her? He racked his brain, searching for an answer.

In his minds eye, he could see her. Her beautiful dark hair, those piercing eyes, her porcelain skin, her perfect figure hugged lovingly by the clothes she wore. And, for a moment, one perfect, fleeting moment, he felt normal again. The pain that had been clawing inside of him, howling for release, was gone, the pounding in his head blessedly silent, as he just looked at her face. He imagined he could hear her voice ...

And then the door was slammed inwards.

"Oh, Marrrrrcuuuuuuuuuuussss!"

He groaned. All at once, his pain came rushing back, slamming into his heart with stifling agony.

"Marcus, sweetie, are you alright!"

"Ruby ..." he groaned, sitting back in his chair, kneading his closed eyes with his palms.

"Oh, sweetie!" A cloud of lace and too-strong floral perfume was all over him. "I just can't believe you've decided to just give up! Come with me, hun ..."

Her lace-gloved hands were trying to pry his hands from his eyes, and he swatted at her irritably. "Get lost, Ruby."

"And just leave you to wallow in your misery? I don't think so! Not while I'm around!" She stomped her foot angrily as he succeeded in pushing her away. "Come on, Marcus, you have to get over this street girl!" There was a pitiful moan. "Besides! You've got me!"

Another moan, this one more pitiful than the last. That was followed by something that sounded vaguely like "Oh ... great ..."

Ruby clenched a fist. "You need to get up and around, and I'm not taking no for an answer! I'm going to be waiting right outside your door, and you had better be out in five minutes! Understand me!"

Yet another moan.

Ruby turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

After a few moments, Marcus got up out of his chair. The juice box fell to the floor, and lay there in the silence that followed. Faintly came the sound of a door opening and closing. And then there was nothing but blessed peace in the empty house.