IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE!

Okay, before you yell at me - YES I did delete my original chapter ten "A Cure For The Senses." Not a great writing strategy, I know, but I was reading through it this morning in order to do some more writing when I decided that I didn't like the way it flowed with the rest of my story. It's a plotline that I like so I might use it later or in one of my other fics, but it will not be included at this point in time. I'm very very sorry. I did keep the beginning of the chapter, though. I liked it.

Here's a short and happy filler chapter to segway into my regularly scheduled program.

1st Person - Onyx

I woke up the next morning with both a splitting headache and an urge to split my head.

Did I remember last night?

Oh boy, oh boy, did I!

Did I feel like throwing myself out of a five story window to crack onto the pavement like a six week old watermelon?

Oh boy, oh boy, I did.

I groaned, pulling my covers over my head to block out the morning light. Why the shit did Emilee have to choose the only bunk with a window? My mind flashed back to the conversation last night and I suddenly had the urge to throw up. From regret or the jug of whiskey swirling in my stomach, I had no clue, but one of them was definitely not making my day any better.

Was it the law of the drinkers that getting wasted will just inevitably leave you physically crippled the following day?

I'd have to ask Hanji some time.

I was just starting to float to sleep when there was a loud pounding at my door. I groaned, which the visitor apparently took as permission to enter as they slammed my door open. "Rise and shine, cupcake! It's a brand new da- HEY! WATCH IT- OKAY OKAY I'M LEAVING! JESUS!"

I threw the final boot at Harold, sighing in relief as he ran out the door. I slumped back onto my bed and drifted off.

And then suddenly I was crashing to the floor.

I yelped, face planting, and whirled around. Jax and Harold stood behind my bunk, which they had tilted onto its side, with enormous grins in place. Grins which, upon realizing my homicidal intent, instantly vaporized.

"Run!" Harold shouted, dropping his end of the bed. The other leg slammed down onto Jax's foot, causing him to fall and yell in pain. I rose to my feet, a murderous glint in my eye, and stood over him as he desperately scrambled away, crawling towards the door.

"HEEEEEEELLPP!"

"What, Fran?"

She turned to me, beaming.

"Nyx! I'm going into town. Come with me."

I crossed my arms, tilting my head quizzically.

"Why?"

"Because I want you to." She tsked. "Besides, since you decided not to go into Trost today,"

I flinched guiltily.

"You can help me haul my bags back home!" She chirped.

I blinked owlishly. "What are you planning on buying that you can't carry yourself?"

"Groceries mostly." She looked me up and down with a smirk. "Although...Getting you some new clothes wouldn't hurt." She sniggered as she strode out the cabin door.

I paused.

"W-Wait! What's that supposed to mean?!"

I sighed, letting my head fall heavily onto the counter in the little shop. "I'm sorry..." I groaned.

The man behind the counter just chuckled, propping his chin on his hand. "Don't even sweat it. We get three like her a day."

I blinked tiredly at him and looked back at my mentor. "Somehow I doubt that."

Fran was shooting from wall to wall, sifting excitedly through the racks of different colored dresses and skirts, leaving nothing short of a catastrophe in her wake. She suddenly stopped, holding a blue cotton dress into the air triumphantly.

"OOH! Nyx I found it! This is the one!"

I almost cried in relief, waving a hand at her. "That's great, Fran."

She grinned and looked down at her discovery, only to scowl. "Wait, wait. No, this one's a cross stitch. I can't have that." And with that she stuffed the dress back into its pile and continued to toss unsatisfactory clothing behind her as she searched.

I let out a load groan and slammed my head back onto the counter. The man before me laughed. "Is this a usual process for her?"

My head lolled back. "You have no idea. Last June she spent an entire week deciding what boots to buy. In the end she just ended up repainting her old ones with black ink."

He laughed. "Well, what fits fits, right?"

"HEY! NYX! WHAT ABOUT THIS ONE- oh. no nevermind. I want something a little less blue. Like, maybe a shade greyer. Or greener, y'know? I'm sure we'll find it eventually."

"Nyx, hold this." Fran ordered as she pushed a crate into my arms.

I peered over the top, irritation ticking at my forehead. "Fran, what exactly do you need with an entire crate of apples?"

"For the men."

"That's what the cafeteria is for."

"For the horses."

"We aren't allowed to treat them anymore, remember?"

"Hold this." She cut me off, dropping another crate on top of the apples. I staggered under the weight, swaying dangerously.

"Fran? Fran! FRAN IT'S GONNA-"

*CRASH*

*CRASH*

*PLOP*

*PLOP*

*PLOP*

"...ow"

"Jesus Christ, Fran. Put the rake down."

"No, I want to use it."

"Use it where?"

"The courtyard."

"There's a crew that rakes the courtyard."

"Well, clearly they aren't doing it well enough."

"Fran, you sound like the asshole."

"Sometimes he has a point."

"I'm gonna pretend I didn't just hear that." I sighed, pulling the rake from her grasp and returning it to its rack.

Fran crossed her arms. "Well, I want to buy something."

"Why do you have to buy something everywhere we go?"

"Because everything has a use."

"Not everything has a necessary use."

"..."

"..."

"How about a grill?"

We strode up to HQ near sunset. I walked slowly up the stairs only to be met by Jax's grinning face.

"Hey! How was your day off?"

"..."

"...?"

"..."

"..Nyx?"

"I sure hope I die tomorrow."