The date and Menat might as well call it what it was, had ended….disastrously. She was furious. Angry at Vega for how he had been treating Charlie, angry at him for fighting Vega. Angry at Maggio for being so annoying. Angry at Guile for being complicit. The question was why? Dates didn't end with two unrelated people fighting each, horror movies and someone losing a tooth.
While she cleaned up, no one said a single word, not until Guile cleared his throat, trying to cut through the tension, try as he might. "I guess…that could have gone better. Sorry about that, Menat."
She shrugged, refusing to look at him as she corked the bottles. Charlie stood in the corner, silent as the night while he tended to his injury and Maggio sat on the couch, drinking more than he ever should. Had Menat been in a remotely good mood, she'd tell him to cut it out. But now, he could destroy his liver for all she cared.
"To the balcony. All of you," she said and didn't wait for affirmation, storming her way outside. A little while later, the door opened and the three males arrived, guilty like prisoners walking to the gallows. Once Guile had closed the door, Menat began ranting.
"I think we can all agree that went terribly so my biggest question for this is why. Why couldn't you leave us alone? Why were you drinking? Why is Guile the only one who had the courtesy to say sorry? Why can neither of you two admit to what happened and-and just tell me why?!" she ended up sounding shrill and livid by the end of her questionnaire maelstrom, watching as Maggio's expression descended into annoyance.
"Because Vega's a fucking douchebag. Did you hear the shit he said? He doesn't give a shit about you! You told him to leave yourself!" he shouted at her and while that was true, Menat would hear none of it.
"I did because I was angry and for your information, I still am so tell me what the heck you were doing or so help me, I'll choke it out of you! Maybe things wouldn't have ended like this if you didn't do whatever the crap you were doing!"
"Why are you so ungrateful?! We were trying to help!" Maggio nearly hit Guile in the face by accident when he stepped in before the apprentice could jump Menat.
"Do I look like I need your help?! Did I ask for it?"
"You need it because your stupid girl hormones are ruining your stupid girl brain!"
Menat blinked, then felt the anger bubble and simmer as she tightened her grip around her glass so tightly it could almost break, "Stupid? You're the stupid one! You're awful, all of you!"
And from then on out, the event or what someone would be liberal to call a discussion descended into an outright screaming match of interruptions with the two apprentices, red in the face, veins nearly popping, not allowing the other to complete their sentences or get to a point for a good solid five minutes.
Menat had a faint memory of Rose saying how alcohol was a truth serum and no more obvious was it than now when the two of them ended up hurling insults at each other, both intoxicated and out of craps to give about the other person's feelings.
It was a miracle that Maggio didn't hit her over the head with the bottle in his hand or Menat smacked him across the face with her glass of water, which was probably spilling with how she shook with anger. By the end of the argument (which wasn't even close to concluding) Guile had to butt in with a simple explanation.
"We tried to ruin your date on purpose because it was agreed upon that Vega is a terrible person. You don't know him like Charlie, and I do. I can assure you, he hasn't changed much."
The words hit her like an anvil. It explained so much and it did nothing to ease Menat's mood. She did not consider herself an angry person but the knowledge that the people she trusted and loved had actively sabotaged what was supposed to be a wonderful event caused her wrath to heat to a full boil.
"You…" she began, feeling a category five meltdown hit her like a slap across the face, then shouted so loudly, her voice cracked, "How could you?! Are you kidding me?!"
Guile stood completely stunned, trying to explain himself but Menat was beyond done with trying to discuss the justification of this. She was certain half the city could hear her blow her lid off, "I am not a child! It was my first date. My first date! It was my chance to feel special and happy! And you ruined it! You humiliated me! No wonder, Vega was so mad. No wonder I am mad!"
Guile tried to raise his hands, "Yeah but Menat, it's just-"
"It's nothing! Screw you!" she cut him off, surprised that she didn't let a single curse slip.
"You stupid bitch, get over it! He was an asshole! He doesn't love you so get your empty head out of your flat fucking ass!" Maggio hissed, gesturing with the bottle in his hand. The liquid inside swooshed on the inside.
His words cut in deep. Deeper than usual. Deep enough to sober her somewhat. She didn't want that abuse from him or anyone. Did she deserve it?
"I don't love him! I just wanted a date…I-I…was excited…" Menat crumbled, her anger turned to sorrow and shame. She felt like crying, breaking down, crumbling into dust where she stood. She couldn't stop it.
"Just-" Maggio began, then stumbled backward to grab the ledge of the balcony and vomit out onto the street. Guile was there to make sure he didn't fall over the railing. Charlie came closer to Menat like a shadow, trying to console her but she was furious with him as well.
"Don't touch me," she shoved him away, unable to stop the floodgates or quell the sobbing that forced powerful convulsion from her chest as she cried. She couldn't make sense of her emotions anymore, listening to Maggio continuing to hurl more drunken verbal abuses at her and Vega but she didn't listen for specifics.
Everything began to burn when she heard; "The fuck is wrong with you, acting like some escort for him, huh?"
It hurt. It outright singed. Everything was like hellfire. Her head felt like it was about to explode. She wished the earth could split in two and swallow her. If only they'd say sorry at least.
"I hate this…" she breathed out between helpless sobs, not sure if she meant the mess that she was, shameful memories, or her ruined makeup. In the cool of the night, the cold breeze felt like icicle needles against her skin.
And thus, the four of them stood there on a balcony one late night, crying, vomiting silently sulking, lowkey panicking, probably having awoken half the city. What a dramatic scene Rose would witness when she came home. What a shock, she'd feel when someone had to verbally explain the absolute mess which had occurred.
After a few more bouts of puking, Maggio looked like he was ready to apologize, already sorry for his outburst. Unsteady, he walked towards Menat, still solemn but apologetic. With shaking hands, he offered her the bottle of tequila and she held onto it, watching it blur in her vision as the tears fell from her eyes.
"Sorry…" he said, and she shook with no end to her crying. Was she smiling? She couldn't tell. Menat turned her head to Charlie who stood by the bench, hidden by the shadows. He had an equally glum expression, but the guilt in his eyes was all she needed to see.
It had been the same look he gave her after the incident at the new winery. Menat was overcome with emotions, and in her haze, she dropped the bottle and the glass, barely hearing them shatter all over the balcony stone tiles, spilling tequila and water everywhere.
"Menat, what the everloving fuck are you doing?!" Maggio shrieked in shock. She couldn't answer him, let alone calm down, and succumbed to her emotions, casting away her logic and calm.
Relieved, drunk yet hurt and battered, she fell to her knees, right into the shards, defeated. The pain was the one reminder that she was alive even if it didn't even face her. Moreso it felt like a dull, pleasant ache. Menat closed her eyes, hearing footsteps and frantic voices surround her, feeling her body lifted off the ground and the shards pulled out of her flesh. Before she knew it, she was in her bed.
Alone in the dark with nothing but pain and exhaustion. Her head throbbed and ached, something fierce like someone had kicked her. She could hear voices outside the door, primarily two. Exclusively Guile and Rose. Oh Rose, how disappointed she would have been if she saw Menat and Maggio scream at each other like two banshees. She couldn't hear what they were talking about, drifting off to deep sleep.
It was raining when Menat fluttered her eyes open. The downpour was the only thing she heard over the sound of her own pounding heart and faint breaths. And the breathing of another. Now the pain from her stunt last night hit her like a truck and she groaned a little, fumbling under the blanket to feel her knees and the bandages on them. Parts of them were crusted with dried blood.
Her head didn't feel as if it was about to explode at least. Now when she was sober and calm, she wanted to kick herself in the gut for doing what she did.
Maybe Menat should call Vega and apologize for her actions when she felt better. She closed her eyes again, hoping to roll into the gap between her window and bed, hoping to rest her forehead against the cool surface. That were the joys and the drawbacks of a double-sized mattress. Instead of her beloved wall, she rolled into someone sitting against it with their head between their knees.
"Charlie…?" Menat sat up, just barely seeing him in the dim light of her drawn curtains. He was asleep, but twitching and so she put her hands on his shoulders to use Soul Power, in hopes it would calm him down. He relaxed, then tilted his head upwards and opened his eyes, his expression scowling immediately when he saw her. The green gem in his forehead glowed and she realized, he wasn't wearing his glasses.
"Are you insane? Don't you ever do that again" he chided, similar yet different to the moment they first met. He seemed more alive with the way he looked at her, despite the sleep still present in his glazed stare.
Menat sat back a bit, unsure of how to respond until his expression softened with guilt and he looked down again, uttering a low "…Sorry"
Menat was already sober without the drunken aftereffects, but her mind seemed to clear upon looking at him. For a moment, she wondered if he apologized for that weird greeting or the chaos from yesterday. Maybe both. She took a deep breath and inched closer to him, eventually sitting right next to him.
She felt him stare at her, probably trying to find out what to say to her instead of scolding her. In hindsight, Menat shouldn't have accepted the bottle. Stress and alcohol just seemed to siphon the energy right out of her. Anger and exhaustion made her coherency a complete mess.
"I was thinking that I'll call Vega to apologize for slapping him, but I think our time together or chances or whatever is thoroughly gone. At first, he was really charming but then the bragging started, and he kissed me and I felt…not good," she leaned against the wall, then leaned forward to snatch her blanket and put it over the both of them.
When she had left the common room last night, she went to brush her teeth from all the wine she had been sipping and to wash herself off Vega's sudden kiss. He had mentioned during their first meeting that good women were elegant, poised, and drank wine which sounded a lot like Master, so Menat wanted to go down that same route. During the entirety of the date, she felt like she had forced herself to be someone she was not, something she only realized now.
"I tried to be like Master because she's great. She's a real role model. A real lady. I feel like a dud compared to her. I thought I could be cooler if I tried to imitate her but…it wasn't fun," she pondered aloud. It was strange to divulge all her doubts about herself like this. She had tried to with Vega, but he seemed unamused by her mannerisms. She had enough people skills to pick that up.
An arm snaked around her back and shoulder, somewhat warm but firm. Charlie hesitated for a bit before pulling her closer.
" …You don't have to be Rose in order to be good. There's one Rose but there's also one you. Airheaded, forgetful, cat-like, divination and chocolate spread-obsessed quirks and all. Don't think you have to change for someone. Especially not a dipshit Spaniard."
She laughed ruefully at that. Heaven forbid that become Vega's new nickname. "Yeah, it was…he got too much, you know? I asked him if he was shy since he didn't talk to anyone but me, but he said that Maggio was annoying and that you were sullen. And I thought that was weird. Then he began bragging about his wealth and beauty and I was like heavens, stop! Shut up!"
As she ranted, she watched Charlie's expression closely, noting how the corners of his lips twitched just slightly, telling her that she accomplished to amuse him.
"So in hindsight, thanks for everything!" She concluded and smiled at him when she was done complaining about the obtuse innuendoes, Vega had been whispering in his ear during while everyone else watched movies. Charlie seemed rather relieved that his operation had been successful. He almost smiled, faint as if she wasn't meant to see it.
He had done more of that lately.
Outside the rain showed absolutely zero signs of stopping but its ambiance gave way to a special mood to blossom under the warmth of the blanket. Looking at Charlie, Menat noted a bruise on the side of his jaw and she felt a ping of guilt struck her. His expression frowned a bit when she let the remorse show on her face.
"When I heard what he said to you, I think I sobered up my crush on him and that made me so mad. The signs were already there when I thought about it. Sorry to put you through that," she looked away, finding solace in her lap.
For the date, she had settled for a dress far too elegant for a date at home…and not at all her style. If Charlie wasn't here, she would have pulled the damn thing off and tossed it to the floor. Good thing, she found it in a thrift shop.
"I did punch him first, so I deserve it," Menat heard Charlie say as if it was just a fact and she snapped her gaze up at him.
"No, you don't…" she protested gently. Vega had said some absolutely vile things and she had heard them all when she returned to the common room because she forgot her phone on her way to the bathroom. If he really was the bigger person, why didn't he follow her? Menat didn't want to ponder on it anymore; she'd call him, say sorry and leave it at that. Meanwhile, Charlie retracted his arm and climbed out of the bed, snatching his glasses from the table where the starlight lamp stood.
Menat asked, "Where are you going?"
"Out to inform Rose that you're awake. Don't worry, she's not mad at you. If anything she saw it coming. "Didn't need tarot cards for that" she said," he explained, lighter on his feet than usual. Soul Power had no doubt eased the habitual loss of feeling in his legs.
Soon, he was gone and Menat sat with the blanket around her body, nervous about the inevitable scolding she'd receive. Despite what Charlie had told her, she could believe Rose had foreseen this. She couldn't believe she wasn't angry, however. Then the door clicked open and Menat cowered under the protection of her blanket.
"Good morning, Menat," Rose entered and closed the door behind her. She was still in her gown, which she wore for the theater. Still wearing makeup as well though the lipstick was a bit smeared.
"Good morning, Master…"
"Don't look so defeated," Rose sighed, then sat on the bed, right next to her apprentice. "I could have told you it would end like this. As someone who's met Vega before, I can tell you, he's not very pleasant."
"Then why did you let him come?" Menat tilted her head in confusion. No way, Rose intended for things to go down the way they did. Was she even aware of the plot from the three others?
"Two reasons. One was to give you a taste of life. People deride divination because they think it's a tool to shield people from the downs of life. However, you and I both know, it's actually a guide to lead us through the path predetermined by fate," Rose said while Menat sat and listened in silence, watching an array of emotions on her master's face while she continued.
"And the second reason was…well, you looked so happy when you announced it. I couldn't possibly bring myself to dash your hopes like that, so I thought maybe he had changed as you theorized. Wouldn't be the first time, a former member of Shadaloo decided to turn his life around."
Menat tugged the blanket around herself a little more, wishing at times she wasn't so naïve and airheaded. At her age, she couldn't even blame it on being a young girl anymore. Old habits tended to die the hardest it seemed.
She pouted, "I may not have known him as you did but if that is what he's like now, I hate to see what he used to be like."
"Well, in that case, suffice it to say that Operation Cat Trap was a success. The others will be quite happy to know."
Operation Cat Trap. How clever. As disastrously as it ended, it became quite apparent that they had really thought this whole thing through. Probably since the Association party.
"…Wait where are they?" Menat ask, remembering that everyone was in various stages of inebriation.
"Dealing with a hangover in different degrees."
Menat managed to bite back a laugh at the image of the usual strong and cool Guile knocked out from a bad hangover. Charlie appeared moderately sober or maybe it was the Soul Power easing him into stability. As if being called by an unknown force, the door swung open and he entered, somewhat more sluggish than earlier.
"Exhibit A. You'd hate to see Maggio," Rose quipped as Charlie sat on the edge of the bed and lay down with his hand over his eyes.
She pursed her lips a little as she pried his glasses out of his hand and put them on the windowsill, "Today's lesson is mixing tequila and wine is a bad cocktail."
This time, Menat couldn't quite hold back a peal of laughter, causing Rose to chuckle and Charlie's lips to curl into something that resembled a smile.
"To my knowledge, Maggio did blow chunks over the balcony," Menat cleared her throat to curb her giggle, shuddering at the memory, praying to whatever god had enough mercy that the puke hadn't hit someone.
