The Morning-After Party

An unfamiliar scent of ash and mahogany, intertwined with the otherwise familiar tones of sujamma, flin, and oranges made their way across the room like a lazy couple on a weekend stroll. Dark, slate colored stone laced the floors and walls, and bright-colored furniture accented the room that otherwise would have felt like a dungeon. Bottles, mostly empty aside from the residue of the liquor encased the night before, were littered between the undersides of dressers, dividers, and the bed. And then, to top it all off, I sat on one of those beds. Alone, clutching a bottle as though it were my child, and in a dire need for something to drink. I suppose the morning is a good a time as any.

I turned off the bed and sat upright, stretching and uncorking my loving bottle. As I yawned, I turned the bottle upright and took a drink. It was sujamma, not so rich and not so fresh as it seemed, last night. I choked down what I could—a sixth or so of the bottle–and finally stood up, slamming the bottle on the desk. My ready was day to commence. Wait. That's not right.

I turned to leave the room, remembering to grab my bottle again at the last second. Rather than going up the stairs right next to the bed, I took the long way around: Staircases were on either side of this otherwise long hallway, split into several rooms. I opted to take the detour, to see the results of the night before. It didn't take long before I was met with the not-so-foreign sights and scents of the party. Liquor and blood spilled the floor of the room where we spent most of the party. Gladious's party, right. That's where I'm at. I took another pull from my bottle and continued on.

Past a divider and a row of torches, Gladious's room claimed the other half of this hallway. I didn't bother looking past the divider; I didn't want to see the aftermath of my attempts to drunkenly seduce someone, and accidental hooking-up of two other people, instead. I opted to, rather, grab one of the bottles that lay on the floor, and toss it over the divider, carefully aiming for the dresser to avoid any potential breaking, and consequential shrapnel. After confirming that nothing had been shattered, I finally started up the stairs, not bothering to answer, or listen for an answer, from Gladious or Estre.

I finally managed to make it up the stairs, and took one last look in the home before I stepped outside. It was dark. So damn dark. The slate colored walls were even more of an ebony tone, up here, and the fireplace did little to imbue any sort of hospitality in the place. I took no time to finally leave the house, where I was welcomed to the sound of an erupting volcano, and the bite of ash in the air. It took me a moment to catch my breath, but when I did finally do so, I uncorked my bottle and drank myself back to sleep, quietly waiting outside for a portal back home.

I awoke in the middle of the morning to heavy footsteps of a giant walking up the staircase next to my bed. I slowly rise up yawning, groaning clenching a hand to my head as it softly ached from the long night of alcohol and the bottle that had met my forehead. I glanced around the room slowly trying to piece together things that led to this moment as it all started to come back to me. I softly chuckle to myself congratulating myself on what a great party I threw.

I glance down to my left as I see Estre, curled up into my side on the bed. I thought I'd never see that, she said she'd only have dinner with me if I fought Kashya. How things can change so quickly I suppose. I slowly crawl out of bed and make sure she's covered up well with the blanket. I give my netch Meghan a good pat on the head before I quietly make my way to the kitchen for some breakfast.

I take another glance at the bed as I make my way to the bar's entrance. I softly stride right on into the bar as a slight gasp emerges from my lips. I see empty mugs all over the table, I'm pretty sure I see some blood over near the bar itself, sujamma spilt everywhere, a shattered plant Estre had gifted me, and shards of glass from liquor bottles scattered throughout the room. I try to tiptoe around the glass and spills as I make my way behind the bar, sighing to myself. I began cooking myself some breakfast while also brewing some coffee.

I make two plates of breakfast, and two cups of coffee. I take my own food and drink to the table and calmly eat alone, glancing around the room trying to figure out if I should be proud or angry about this mess. I told myself I'd deal with it later, as I take bites out of my food. I really oughta throw more of these parties more often, the people seem to love them. It was much greater than the last, I told myself. As I finish my food and drink, I take the second plate and cup I had fixed up.

I slowly tiptoe around the glass yet again, this time being more careful as I had a cup and a plate in both of my hands. I softly creep back to my bedroom, approaching Estre's side of the bed I gently set down her plate of food and cup of coffee beside the bed next to her but not too close where she'd accidentally step on it if she were to wake up. I smile down at her before softly creeping up the staircase to make my way outside for my morning face wash.

I exit through the double doors that led from my home to the outside. I stretch my arms out and yawn greatly as I'm met with the comforting sounds of the volcano and the ash showers. I stumble my way to the fountain as I kneel down and lean over, splashing the contents into my face letting out a sigh of relief. I smack my lips and turn around as I spot the giant Kashya herself, passed out with a drink. I made my way over to her, gently nudging her with my foot to try and wake her up.

Reliza was peeing behind a bush in the front yard.