Arcadia-Party

"Hey, wake up." A soft voice. Sitting up I search for the sounds origin. The door is still closed, and the voice continues. "Up here."

Looking upwards I shriek in fear as I roll out of the bed. Rose is watching me intently. She doesn't even laugh.  She seems relaxed, lying on her back sprawled out on the roof as though she were lying on the floor. Scrambling to my feet I demand an explanation, "What are you doing in here? I thought you'd lay off."

Yawning, she stretches out in an almost cat-like fashion. "I got bored. You slept for a few hours, and  Cally said to wait until you wake up. She's not too pleased with our little arrangement, but seemed relieved that I won't actively stalk you. Win-win I say." Without warning she drops from the roof, landing perfectly on all fours. "We're all heading over to Lakeside. It's a nice little bar, serves human imports as well as more conventional drinks. Well, for us anyway."

I don't feel like I have much of a choice in the matter. "Why would I go?"

She picks a bit of fluff away from her gray hoodie. Not something I expected her kind to wear. "Because it's Ladies' Night. Drinks are half off, and I'm buyin'. You don't have to come, but it won't exactly be a party without everyone. Not to mention I am oath bound not to do anything... detrimental to your health. Besides, I'm not into chicks." A kind-hearted smile follows.  That's new. Not a hint of ill-will.

Well, it seems like my new motto in life has become 'What the hell.' So... What the hell, I'll go. "I tend to do stupid things while drinking..."

"Like what?"

"Why do you think I'm here?"

"That's a story I'd like to hear one day."

"Is there anything in particular you'd like me to bring?"

"Got any party tricks? Frank, the guy who owns the place, encourages people to live it up a little. He's rather fond of shows of skill, useless talents, and the occasional song. Our whole group is bringing something to the table. Even Ceana is getting in on the fun."

"I know a few coin tricks. Well, I can dance the damn thing across my knuckles."

Patting me on the shoulder she replies, "Frank loves that stuff. You may even score free drinks if he particularly enjoys it. Let's go."



During our short walk Cally and I came to an agreement. We will not speak of my bargain with Rose, lest we open a rift between us. I don't exactly want to alienate the woman who brought me here and promised me safety. She also takes the time to return the contents of my pockets from a few days ago, namely my gold coin.  

As we enter the bar, Cally makes a final statement on the subject. "You have a knack for getting into tight spots. How you worm your way out I'll never understand."

We sit at the bar, just a bunch of friends getting ready to drink the night away. That's when I remember a key detail. "What ever happened to Svetlana?"

"When she realized you were gone she gave up. She was a little disheartened by your absence. You seem to leave an impression on everyone you meet. Well, it's kept you alive so far."

That's one concern alleviated. As long as I don't run into her for awhile I should be fine. Something tells me that it won't play out like that.
I sit quietly as everyone orders their first drink of the night. I order the house draft, some local brewery that has a rather fragrant formula. Taste's kinda like Red-Stripe though.

We each chat a bit about our lives, and I kill time explaining how I got here to Rose. She punches Vermina in the shoulder when I explain her warning of Rose and Charles. It's actually shaping up to be a fun time.

Frank knocks on the bar, grabbing my attention. He is the stereotypical bartender, tanned skin, bald head, a tribal tattoo running up his right arm, and a greasy white wife-beater. "Hey sweetheart, what's yer name?"  

Name, name. Huh, already have one. "It's Dianna, two dees." For an added laugh I pull my shirt away and casually look down. I make a face as if unimpressed. "Well, you know what I mean." I get the laugh, so it's all good. Disregarding the fact that I feel so uncomfortable with my new body. I tried changing back on the way over with no luck.

After his chuckle he brings up the reason for grabbing my attention. "See that guy back there? The one in the blue ball cap? This ones on him." He slides another house brew in front of me. I take it and raise it in thanks to the ball-capped man.

On my right Cally is downing a shot of what I assume is bourbon, nearly choking from laughter. On my left I get a nudge from Rose, who gives me a heads up, "Looks like Mr. Hat is gonna come talk to you. Let him down easy would you? Ooh, better yet, lead him on. Do this for me and I'll shave twenty minutes off of your part of the bargain."

She clams up as he walks directly up to me. Yellow button up shirt, pleated dress pants, and well worn leather boots. No sense of style apparently. Like many other residents of this place, I can't quite nail a nationality (I have noted that some beings here have the same diversity as our world.) He speaks with a firm but friendly tone, voice matching his stubbled face. "Name's Henry. Pleasure to meet you miss..."

I stand up and circle him, pretending to size him up. I decide to do a little acting. I think I am getting good at that. Feigning a Russian accent (a rather hammy one at that,) I introduce myself, "I am Tatyana Petraski, and you seem to have good taste, mister Henry." I decide to lead him on a little. A few moments of embarrassment for him will relieve  twenty minutes of God knows what for me.

"Yes I do..."  

I stop circling him and place an arm on his shoulder. Leaning in close I whisper into his ear a handful of words I know in a seductive tone, "YA nenavizhu kholodnyĭ bliny." I have no clue what I just said, and I feel like a bastard for doing this. But it may save me a bit of trouble down the road.

Pulling away I slow as he leans in for a kiss. And I push him away. He seems confused. "What? Did I do something wrong?"

I should let him down easily. "Nyet. Oh, sorry, no. You see, I am... How you say? lesbiyanka. You are a nice man, but I need more of this." I grab my chest to demonstrate. To make it even clearer I grab Cally and kiss her deeply, surprising her. Bonus points for yanking the toothpick she recently started chewing on out. "Understand now? Again sorry, here, I order you a drink to repay your kindness."

He refuses and wanders off to his table again, disappointed but not throwing in the towel.
Returning to my seat I spit out the toothpick and resume drinking. That invisible collar I felt earlier returns, seeming to grow lighter. "What was that?"

Rose finishes of her mug and slaps me on the back. "My word is bond. You should know this by now. Up until the time I collect, just consider me a good friend. Who's to say you won't grow on me."

"Well, uh... Cheers to that then." We all toast to that little witticism and drain our respective glasses.



More idle conversation leads to a few in our group performing a trick for Frank's amusement. They weren't kidding, when someone tries to show him something, he just stops bartending and focuses intently.  

Vermina is up first. "I know I generally don't take part in this sort of thing, so here goes." Reaching behind the bar she grabs a bottle of some obscure beer, places the cap in her eye, and twist the bottle. The cap pops off as she downs the beer. "Ta-da."

It earned a laugh from Frank, but my trick should be more impressive. I take out my coin, shield on one side, sword on the other. I never asked him where he got this thing... I start the coins Waltz across my knuckles, picking up speed and finishing with a trip from one hand to the other. After it makes the circuit, I palm it, giving the illusion of vanishing.

Frank loves it, even offering me a free round. Ceana speaks up for the first time all night, "Dianne, could you do that trick with this?" She hands me a metal washer, a circular piece of iron with a nickel sized hole in it.  

I take it from her after pocketing my coin and begin dancing the metal across my knuckles. I hear a dull 'tinking' sound and the washer is jerked away from my hand. The bar silences as she walks over to the wall at our left where she pulls a throwing knife out of said wall. The washer has actually been cut to fit over the knife, which seems like a normal blade... The crowd goes wild for her, and drinks are on the house.




Closing time. We all stumble out of the little dive and head home. Sort of. I don't recognize the house we are in... there is an oak table with chairs, and a grandfather clock ticking away slowly. I am on a large couch in the room adjacent the dining room. My chest feels heavy.

I can't move, and now I know why.  I am lying outstretched on the large couch, Cally is spooning my back, Vermina is in a pile on the floor, Ceana has fallen asleep on my feet in a sitting position... I'm too tired to try anything.  


Where is Rose? Oh. Here she is, staring at me. On a recliner. "Welcome to my home. Your crew didn't look too well, so I let you crash here. Yes I know you live next door, but I don't usually get company."

I just nod to her in thanks. She seems to get it.

"Rest easy. I had fun tonight. It doesn't change anything though...



I fall asleep once more, to wasted to do anything else.




It was fun...