The Lost City

"Who cares 'bout lookin' bad?" Aegeas said, letting Kartiel walk away. He watched Kartiel for a few seconds, then pushed himself onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. "I want to look right. And he kinda sucks, and you know he kinda sucks, so what's the point?"

"The point is he doesn't kick ush out of the kitchen before we make it through another bottle." I said, punctuating the sentiment with another heavy draught.

"And I suppose I'm the old-fashioned ssort when it comess to truces. But there really seemsh to be little point now, does there?

Now that he'sh forfeited, like a lightweight, he's forfeited his truce protectionsh. If he returnsh, he will have us two, drunk off our arses, to reckon with.

Yes, he will be blown away by our...scathing lyrical prowessh."

Bo smiled back warmly and nodded, walking up to Maahes and giving him a pat on the back. "Sweet! Then let's go! Do uh... more reading or whatever, while the others get drunk - though uh, speaking of which. I should probably go check on them?" He looked back at Nadira and Codix. "Just occured to me, it's probably not the best idea to leave them alone without at least one sober friend to make sure nobody does something stupid? So uh, would you mind a little detour Maahes? Or should I just meet up with you in the library... later?"

"Yeah," said Aegeas. He nodded until he saw the ceiling spin. "Words and, and, lyrics and stuff." He paused and frowned. "Kellach said I was good at the singin' thing. He said I had an, an emotional voice, yeah. I miss 'im. Wonder how he's doin'. He'd've had a shot and gone back for more. Wish I could hold my drinks that well."

"I don't mind the detour," Maahes said. He was a little worried about being left out when they arrived at where everyone else was, but he would gladly follow the others - he just hadn't wanted to go there because he knew he'd be left out when everyone else was drinking.

Codix and Nadira glanced at each other.

"We don't mind it either," Nadira added.


By the time that the four left in the infirmary had come to this decision, Kartiel had already completely left the kitchen and was now heading down the hallway. His mind was already trying its best to regain its sobriety, but something told him that wouldn't be happening in the near future. He just needed to find a secure place they wouldn't be able to discover him in - God forbid he gave away anything else.

I smiled, imagining Aegeas in an opera. It was... quite the picture.

"Tell me about yourr Kellach, he soundsh like a swell bloke."

Aegeas smiled. "He's fun. He's full of energy, and, and pulls me into whatever fight he's just got himself caught up in, or whatever bar he just got drunk in, and stuff like that. Doesn't think things through, and sometimes he lies about stuff, but he's good. And he's a good kisser, so, uh, it all works out."

I whistled, impressed. "Soundsh like my type. Itsh' a pity he didn't end up here with ush, too.

Not to, not to shay we'd want him in danger, no. Jist saying he, he soundsh great. Yer very lucky."

Aegeas crossed his arms and scowled. "Back off; he's mine. Well, kinda." He looked at the floor, scowling turning into a frown. "But he's very good, and it woulda been nice ta have him 'ere."

"Hah, don't you worry about me. I'm not that bad."

At least, definitely not when the fellow in question had been claimed by an irritable seasoned warrior. I may have been a touch shallow, and petty, but I could never be accused of being desperate.

"Kinda, eh?" I laughed a little more. "Ah, I know how that ish."

"I'm n-not sure ya do," Aegeas said, flipping over and trying to pull himself up off the ground. His arms felt like hot jelly, though, and he slumped onto his stomach. "It's com...it's comp...it's weird."

Bo smiled and nodded. "Okay! Let's get going," he said, heading down the hall with a little skip. They walking in silence for a short while, but just as Bo was going to turn to talk to Maahes, he heard footsteps up ahead. Hurrying a little, they turned the corner and he saw Kartiel walking slowly, and it was clear that he was intoxicated.

"Oh - uh, oh boy," Bo muttered to himself as he slowly approached Kartiel. "Are uh... are you okay?" he asked.

The moment Kartiel turned to face them, Codix held his breath. He had come to the same conclusion that Bo had: Kartiel was drunk, and a drunk Kartiel would be even less enjoyable to deal with than a sober one. He thought through all the possible things they could do, and came to the horrifying conclusion that they'd just have to deal with the god.

"It's just you four," Kartiel said, relief stealthily seeping into his voice. His eyes drifted warily over Codix and Nadira - the former in particular - but he didn't say anything to either one of them. He turned his attention back to Bo, seeming to remember that Bo had just been speaking to him.

"I'm fine as I ever am," he said almost sarcastically, but the sarcasm was half-hearted. "Which is to say that I'm not-" He paused thought for a moment, and let out what suspiciously sounded like a giggle. (A giggle coming from a wraith, Codix quickly decided, was a terrifying noise) "S***, I'm more intoxicated than I thought I was."

Bo fluttered his eyelashes when Kartiel giggled. It was... weird to see Kartiel drunk. Though he was in the body of a wraith, it was oddly humanizing in a way. Or at least, made him feel less like a big untouchable god and more like just another person - albeit, a very morally compromised one, and not necessarily his favorite person in the world, but still very much a person. One who was drunk, and vulnerable, and seemed relieved to see that it was them instead of the others, leaving him to assume that Aegeas and Boris were probably teasing him or something - and if Raiden were with them, he could imagine why Kartiel would want to leave.

It was a conflict of interests for him. He knew that Kartiel was still their captor and their enemy. But he couldn't help to feel... bad for him. He knew at any moment, once Kartiel sobered up, he'd probably go right back to being as mysterious and callous as he'd been before. Helping him would not be in his best interests logically, but even practically, it would be cruel to leave the drunken god to his own devices in his current state.

He smiled a little and came a little closer, putting a hand on Kartiel's shoulder to steady him.

"I mean, you did get slashed in your legs," he replied quietly. "No thanks to us. But yeah, you are definitely drunk. You should get some water in ya, if you haven't already. We were gonna head to the library, and we could grab some for you on the way there. And I uh, I'd like you to come with us. I don't want you to be alone, drunk as you are."

"Why don't you tell me about it? At worsht, I may indeed not under, undershtand, but y'know, I won't judge if that'sh what yer worried about."
I said, staring at the tiles on the ceiling, counting the tempo at which they swayed.

"Or jist say if you don't feel like it. That'sh fine and dandy, with me." I said woozily.