Final Fantasy VII: Emerald Dusk

Part I: Dawn

Chapter II: The Bar

"Come on Al. You can't just mope around like this forever. Come out with me. We'll go down to that bar and I'll get you in."

It had been three weeks since Akemi had left. I had only left my house two times since then. Once to take out the garbage, and once to pick up our mailbox which had a habit of falling over for no apparent reason. I guess Cid thought that I had to move on and he was probably right. After all, what good is there to be found in dwelling in the past?

"Alright Cid, grab my jacket and give me a smoke."

Cid drove to the bar. It was a fifteen minute drive from my house. You had to be eighteen to get in legally, but everyone knew that the owner constantly let in the younger guys who helped work on the Shin-Ra rocket.

I must have had six smokes by the times we got to the bar. Me and Cid were the same when it came to cigarettes. When something was bothering us we would smoke the town smoggy. It was a bad habit and we both knew it, but at the moment I didn't care.

Cid went into the bar first while I waited in the car. I found it unfair that Cid could get into the bar without lying to everybody. Cid was the same age I was, but he was able to grow a beard so everyone at the bars figured he was eighteen or nineteen. It took Cid about fifteen minutes to come back out and get me, and when he did come back he had the distinctive smell of vodka on his breath.

"You're in Al. Come on."

The bar was a lot different than I had envisioned. I always figured that bars looked a lot like the old saloons from the movies. This bar was dark; it reeked of cigarettes and liquor, and every step I took I either stepped on something sharp or sticky. I didn't much care for the environment, but that didn't matter as all I wanted to do was forget my problems.

"Attention losers and drunkards!"

Cid's voice bellowed throughout the bar. I turned and looked to him. What in Gods name was he doing?

"Me and my good pal Alius Neo here," at this point during his speech Cid wrapped his arm around me. "We're here to get totally drunk, and the first one of you to get in our way will have to deal with Al."

I took a quick glance around the room. Half of the guys in there were three times bigger and I was.

"Cid, be quiet." I said in haste, maybe so much of a haste that Cid didn't hear me, because he just kept going.

"Now, if you would care to join us for a drink, we have no problem with that, just don't talk about Alius's girl that left cuz he doesn't wanna talk about that."

It was at this point that I threw Cids arm off of me and headed straight to the bar.

"I'll have a double shot of rum please."

The bartended was an elderly man, around fifty years old I guessed. He poured me two doubles and then told me that it was on the house. The guy sitting next to me heard the barkeep and decided that he didn't like me.

"Hey! I'm broken hearted too Eddie, do I get a free drink?"

The bartended Eddie shot a hoarse look to the drunk.

"No Frank, I only gives decent hardworking people free drinks. Get a job and stop cheating on yer girl and then maybe I'll give ya something."

I didn't want to have anything to do with this, so I turned my back to Frank, drank my drinks and started looking for Cid. I saw him going from table to table looking for me. I let out a chuckle as I watched Cid stumble around aimlessly, double and even triple checking some tables for me.

"You think my life's funny kid?"

Frank had grabbed a hold of my shirt and had spun me around on my chair and threw my drink to the ground.

"What're you talking about guy?"

I didn't really know what to say in this situation since the only drunk person I had ever dealt with was Cid, and he was a happy drunk.

"You think you can laugh at my problems? Well let me tell you something kid, your little bitch is gone and probably screwing some other guy by now, so why don't you just"

The next thing I knew Frank was on the floor with a bloody nose and there was a crazy person on top of him, attacking him in a manner no one in the bar had ever seen. Who this person was I don't know, but he had decided to use me as his vessel. Can't say that I regret what happened to Frank, he got what he deserved.

I didn't start coming back to my senses until the car ride home. Cid had called a cab because we were both in no condition to drive. Cid wouldn't stop talking, I can't remember what he was saying and I don't think I really cared to hear it. Franks words echoed in my head. As much as he was just trying to piss me off he was right. Akemi was gone and with another man, married by now. This night was supposed to help ease the pain, but I'd be lucky if I woke up tomorrow and my hand wasn't swollen.

I got out of the taxi when we got to my house. Cid reached up and gave me a hug.

"I'm serry about da ber, wer gor fishen tomorrer."

"Cid, shut up give me a smoke and go home." Cid handed me his pack. I pulled out a stick and then gave Cid his pack back then signaled for the taxi to take Cid home. I paid the driver in advanced, knowing that Cid would be too drunk to do it later.

I lit up my smoke and sat on my porch while I smoked. I looked up at the night sky. I wondered if Akemi was looking at the same sky and if she was thinking of me as well. I figured it was better for me not to dwell on the matter, as it would only bring me more grief than it already had. So finished my smoke and went inside.

Inside I found my father on his recliner. He had an empty glass in his left hand and a picture in his right. I took the glass from his hand and discovered the half empty bottle of scotch on the table. I put the glass down beside the bottle and turned my attention to the picture. It was a beautiful woman with dark red hair and beautiful blue eyes. My mother.

I put the picture back on the mantle where it was usually found. I picked up the blanket on the couch and put it over my father, and then I took the pillow on the same couch and put it behind my fathers head. I then turned my attention to the open bottle of scotch on the table. I stood there staring at the bottle for a moment contemplating what would happen next. I put the lid back on the bottle and went to bed; where I spent the next three hours trying to get to sleep.