Chapter Three: Privacy is the Best Policy
The inn was small, just a bit bigger than the buildings around it. The woman directed Lucille to the alleyway between the inn and what looked like a bakery. They fit nicely, though with little room to open the wide-swinging doors.
Purposely, Lucille broke hard, causing a crash in the back, and a fit of curses to come from Kohaku in the back.
Lucille chuckled, opening the driver's side door. "Small place…" he commented to Celes, who nodded in response.
Gwindel stretched his arms out, the hedgehog making a small grunt, most likely of displeasure of having to wake so early from a light sleep. The Cellist sat up, and looked at Lucille. "What are you doing?"
"The inn's open. We're checking in. A bed would be better, right?"
Gwindel nodded, fixing his top hat.
"You a Looney, you know that Lucille? You're an idiot, too. Just wait until you get into you bloody room. Your ass is mine." Kohaku sat up, leaning on the back seat.
"You promise?" Lucille smirked with a wink, jumping out of the front seat.
Kohaku hissed at him, going to the back of the car to get out.
The woman pushed the four inside a small, cramped entry way. It was dark and a bit musty, but the woman made no mention of the space, like most women did. She moved to the back of what must have been the front desk, grabbing a bundle of keys on a huge key ring.
"There's three rooms upstairs, and a free one downstairs, is that okay?" the woman looked to Lucille with concerned eyes.
"Yes, of course." Lucille turned to Celes, "You don't mind staying downstairs, do you?"
Celes shook her head.
"Great! When the rest of the Orchestra will be here?" the woman asked, oblivious.
"We're here." Gwindel spoke up, putting the restless Hedgehog on his shoulder.
A look of concern crossed the woman's face. "Oh, right, I apologize. I'll you to your rooms."
Xxx
With Celes settled downstairs, Lucille looked around his room. It was simple; a well-made bed with a simple wooden frame, a splintery dresser, a wooden vanity, and a door leading to a bathroom on the far side wall. It would do for the time being.
There was a knock at the door, and Lucille called out the person on the other side.
"It's Kohaku, Dimwit. Open the door."
Lucille walked over and unlocked the door, finding both Kohaku and Gwindel waiting.
"Come in," he said quietly, "what is it?"
The two walked in, shutting and locking the door behind them.
"What's the plan?" Kohaku said quickly.
Oh. That's why they were here.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, Lucille spoke in a hushed tone. "They say the lord of the town- by the name of Goody or another- has a daughter that's been turning the girls that she considers competition into Guignol. There's some big event coming up that we were warned of at our last stop. The daughter is holding the event, and is the suspect of foul play. We're performing, and hopefully we can get the Guignols out of the shadows."
"And, if we get them out? What about the others at the party?" Kohaku sniffed the bottle of whisky that was on the vanity.
"Freeze, and then it's up to you and Gwindel to dice them." Lucille shrugged.
Kohaku took a swig and nodded with a coughed. "Yeah, yeah, but what do you expect to do if there's too many?"
"When have there even been too many, Kohaku?"
He shrugged, taking down more of the whisky. "I'm not too concerned with the people, or anything. There's something going on here though. I can feel it." He pointed to his face.
"Yes, I know." Lucille sighed, falling backwards onto the mattress.
There was a moment of silence that passed.
Gwindel spoke up. "What about Celes?"
"What about her?" Lucille sat up and looked at Gwindel with a puzzled expression. "We'll get her out before we do anything rash. It's not much of a deal, or anything."
"Speaking of Celes," Kohaku wheezed. "You two have been awfully clingy lately. What did I tell you about that?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Lucille smirked, falling back again.
"You can't get that way with her, Luc. I'm not joking around. She's stuck with us, and if you screw everything up, her life is going to be bad, do you get it?" Kohaku walked over, and leaned over the singer with a death glare. "Leave her alone, Lucille. You got it?"
"You're insane, Kohaku. You're making false assumptions, you know." Lucille turned away, looking at Gwindel, who was sitting on the dresser.
"He's right, Lucille." The Cellist nodded.
Lucille groaned and buried his face in the pillow. "I'm being nice. That's all."
Kohaku backed away. "Sure. Stop being nice, then. It shouldn't be much of an issue."
"Go and get some sleep, you two, and just be ready, okay? Worry about this later." Lucille commanded, lazily gesturing to the door.
Without saying anything else, they left, shutting the door quietly behind them.
The room grew cold, and Lucille climbed under the covers, nestling warmly into his pillow.
Did they really notice his advances on Celes…? He was careful, now, keeping his flirtatious words and actions to secret attempts of stealing a kiss from the beautiful girl he'd known so long. It never worked, but all he could try.
But, then again, did Kohaku and Gwindel know what he felt for the girl, and he had since the moment he saw her the first time.
It hurt how much he was actually in Love with Celes, and it hurt more that he couldn't actually be with her. He wasn't actually an eligible suitor in her mind. He was just the singer, Lucille.
With a moan, Lucille grabbed his chest. Could he take it much longer? Could he take playing a father figure instead of a lover much longer?