(For anyone keeping track other than your humble narrator, this scene runs concurrent to 'Musing of sun tzu' but is upstairs in Gands 'office'.)

Aiden has the gift, i am god damn sure of it.

Problem is, how do you break that to a sleeper?... Shes not awake, i can tell that much easily. But she can see things... feel things. Much like a cult mage deep in a time trance she catches glimpses of whats to come... or things that have passed that she shouldnt know.

I could always push her, see if i can force her avatar out into the open... But im half an ananda code violation away from having my balls chopped off, plus Aurora is already in town...

So this should be fun.

I sit on a plush leather couch across from Aiden, two freshly mixed drinks on the table beetween us and casually ask.

'So, you've seen me die?'

So I cross my legs carefully, the vibrations in the air making me slightly uncomfortable. Slimy, thick, and greasy air, a constant around me. The dreams I've been having have been making the sleep process very difficult. I take up the drink offered and down about half of it before starting this conversation all over again. Note to self, don't share information with other strippers...

"A dream I had, I mean it could mean nothing..."

Another hesitant breath before another mouthful of drink.

"It's still very hazey to me, all of this. I mean I've never worked in a place like this before. I imagine that perhaps the new environment might be getting to me, just a bit."

I shutter down a nervous laugh, licking soft lips, fingers following across afterward. Why do I feel so dizzy? Ergh, maybe I should have taken time off like Bo had wanted, but hey, I got bills, right? Thats what society provides, reason behind existence, and it's all about the green. I try to sit up, straighten myself, but this overwhelming feeling of heaviness coming over me. Could it be another fainting spell?

Now i'm sure of it. If the club draws her in and affects her like this... Then its all real, even if she doesnt believe it herself.


A tiny grin creeps over my lips as i watch her, swirling my drink in my right hand a bit.

'Well, humor me then... what did you see?...'

I blink, ergh, this whole place makes me feel heavy. Another sip of drink, god even the poison they serve at the bar isn't clearing the fog. I lean over, resting my elbows on my knees, hands running through scarlett locks as the cascade down and hang.

"It was just weird. I mean I don't really know I believe in these things you know? I just saw a pale figure holding over you, sort of choking you I suppose. And there was music... It's ergh..."

My head is feeling light all of a sudden. I feel myself slipping, and everything is fading in and out. Now I'm starting to feel like somethings at my own neck. But I can't move. I feel frozen and then, blackness, weightlessness.

But I can still feel my body, as it begins to move on its own. I watch myself from above, as is slumps for a moment or two. Still for a bit, before sitting up halfway. Eyes seeming rolled back in my head. Like a marionette. And my voice, but, it's not my own. Deeper, darker, scarier...

"Gand Sullivan, Beware! Great evil comes your way. Beware the night walkers, for one does hold the string of your fate. Tread lightly and beware the fire along the way..."

And as the last word is spoken, my body drops again, and myself with it. And the light feeling. And again, everything is heavy, slimy, gross...

"Ergh my head..."

Fingers pick up from the side and run across my temples. I feel myself sliding right off my seat, my body completely useless still.  

--Last edited by DeepMelancholia on 2008-04-24 22:39:14 --

I freeze, suddenly wishing one of the dreamspeakers were here to tell me if some kind of demon had the lovely Aiden by the head...

When she speaks my last name, which -noone- is privy to i drop my drink to the floor with a plop and slosh. I dont even worry as the liquor soaks the carpet... my head feeling heavy, like pins pricking my brain.

'oh fuck me..'

Is about all i can manage. all the hair on my neck standing on end like i was electrified... She wont slip to the floor, ill regain myself just in time to keep her from flopping her way under the table, even if i overturn her drink in the process...

I can't shaking the spinning of the room. I feel as though I've been drained of all my energy. I must feel as light as a feather, cus I feel like I'm floating. I look up into Gand's face.

"What the... What happened?"

I'm obviously shaken by the incident. This one worse then the last. Bo knows better, why don't I ever listen? Whats the point of hiring help if you don't use it? God I need a drink. And why does it feel like someone else is in the room? No, more then just one other, many others. All whispering things, I can't understand whats going on. What are they saying? Death... Murder... Chaos... Magic...

Fuck the code. This girl can see things and i need to know.

'There there..' I tell her. Helping her back into her seat. I settle on the table, directly in front of her to watch her face.

'You.. uh, have a gift... but, Aiden; I need you to show me, ok?'

I dont expect her to have any idea what the fuck im talking about. But i use my most comforting voice, fatherly, almost...

I pick up whats left of her drink, palming the short glass so she wont notice a subtle shift in color of the liquid... Like sugar into absinthe a little cloud blooms and settles as i hand it to her.

"Thanks..." I cautiously accept the drink again, taking it down in one gulp. I cough a little, sparkling emerald colored eyes becoming clouded white, as if my eyes were reflecting storm clouds. The temperature in the room begins to drop and breath becomes apparent. As he peers closer into my eyes, he can feel the trance taking him over, a pressure of sorts. Then the scene of his death begins to play in his mind. A woman, pale skin, brown hair, and there stands the image of a ghostly child by her side. As the scene plays, the whispers start settling in, coming from all sides, all kinds of voices. They begin talking, all at the same time, all conversations very hard to differentiate from each other. All trying to be in control, and heard. And as quickly as it came, images of my past lives flash before the spell is broken, and the room returns to it's normal state. My eyes flutter before  returning to normal, and I start to slump again, energy drained.

If i wasnt on the verge of panic before, i certainly will be now... Covered in a nervous sweat and reeling from the visions Aiden will make it to the floor this time. I rub my eyes and fall back against the low table as the hundred voices clear from my head...

'Jesus... i am not going in there again...'

Ill pick up the drained Aiden and put her on the couch so she can recover... i might have some explaining to do... but still.
I stand just in time to answer the phone as it rings on my desk... The bartender, two men downstairs to see me, urgent...