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| Pocketful of Molars | Started by: KatieMurdock on May 21, '09 23:38 |
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The pills were in her purse and the Hospital she was leaving behind was still pleasant. A low hum stalked her as she walked out the double doors and into the dark street. The dark street, what a lie. No street in New York was dark. Katie rolled her eyes at the thought. Turning a corner she found a bus stop. She needed to deposit the pills to this guy she knew, yeah this guy. The only guy that would be awake and not completely spun out on drugs at three in the morning. Insomniacs they called them, insomniacs. Before reaching the bench Katie heard a shuffle in the shadowy alley to her right. Then a sudden clash, maybe a garbage can lid hitting the hard ground. She looked in, as if it was her business to see what was going on, not really. She couldn't see anything, this wasn't surprising. Katie looked down the street, no bus, then quickly made a quick right and took up some space in that alley. What was surprising was what she found in that alley. A hooker without her pimp and full of cash laying on top of none other then a trash can lid. The woman was passed out, her hair sloppy all over her face. Katie would have thought she was dead, but her cream colored skin moved up and down in her mid-section. The whore was breathing. Katie just took the money. The bus ride was smooth and cool. The big apple had been hit by an early heat wave. Middle of May and the fire department was already relieving the kids from the sweltering heat by bursting local fire hydrants. A soothing whistle of air howled through the bus every time it turned a corner. It was a soothing lullaby for Katie, but she didn't fall asleep. The pills, money, the boss, all these things kept her awake. After departing from the bus Katie stopped at one of those little 24-7 huts that people set up on the streets. In the middle of streets, inconvenience. Black. Was all she said. When the man in front of her didn't get the point she sighed loudly, rolled her eyes and spat. Coffee? It was handed to her and she continued on her way, finding the right building even though they all looked the same. Businesses all smashed together, restaurants, barber shops, appliance store, all longer then they were wide. All with apartments, living spaces above them. Tiny little spaces for average sized humans. One day, one day they'd have enough space. Katie climbed the stairs, knocked on the right door. The only green door in the place. He told her that, she didn't ask him how he knew it. No one came. Katie opened it anyway and walked in. She found the couch and took a seat, slumping into the deep, worn cushions. |
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It had become more of a nightly routine than he'd ever care to admit, sitting alone in the dark looking out the window into the city. The city never slept, some said, but his friends did. As did many of his enemies, and even most pimps, pushers and part-time fiends settled in sometime. He didn't. His rest came fifteen minutes at a time, maybe an occasional full hour if he ever got really lucky and the mood struck. The lights outside were always the same, but on some nights they seemed to have a pulse. blinking or wavering briefly, sending him some complicated aldis signal he was incapable of comprehending. His only answer was the cherry red ember on the end of his cigar. He was expecting her, so he had left the lights on in the other room. He heard her knock, but he knew it was nothing more than courtesy, so it prompted only the raising of a glass of bourbon to his lips. He heard the door open, and the light steps on the hardwood floor, none of which surprised him as he took one last moment to allow the cool air escaping into his apartment from the night to dry the sweat on his brow. Terry's dead. He moved his smoked glasses from atop his head to the bridge of his nose, saving his bloodshot eyes from the trauma of a lighted room. I guess his hound didn't win enough. Or maybe too much. Or maybe he just owed somebody something or got mouthy with the wrong working girl. He stopped at the liquor cabinet and poured Katie an equal measure of bourbon. Don't change nothin'. One's as dead as another, right? He handed her the glass, not pausing long enough for even the slightest acknowledgment to be made of the question mark at the end of his previous sentence. I was gonna put money on that dog, but they won't run him without an owner. Maybe I should buy him, just for the races tomorrow, then after I cash in sell him off. Hell, they make retired horses into dog food, right? Feed ol' Pongo to the horses. He leaned against the arm of the couch and looked at her, less than half a smirk on his lips. |
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| Reply by: Elias at May 22, '09 00:07 | |
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She still held the paper cup that was once full of hot coffee, now only a little sloshed at the bottom of it. Katie poured the burbon he had given her into the cup, mixing the coffee with the liquor. She ignored answering his question, thoughts of Terry or who Terry was even played across her mind. Katie couldn't place her finger on who he was. Just another name, another face. You want to end up like that damn Terry? Katie announced rather loudly after Elias spoke of buying that dog. She worried about him on and off. It wasn't his drinking as he did that as long as she knew him and he never let it get in the way of business. His sleep pattern, wasn't that either. Even though sometimes his eyes were a bit darker then she wished to see them, she knew he was okay at the end of the day, still alive and breathing. I thought you were smarter then that. Maybe it was the loneliness she sometimes noticed. Like when she had first entered the apartment. Katie knew he was over at the window staring off into the city. She shook her head pushing the thoughts out and stood up, crossed the room to open spot on the floor and opened up her bag. The contents spilled all over the floor, clattering to the ground. If it makes you feel better just eat some jello. They make that stuff out of dead horses too. The pills rolled across the floor. Each in there individual bottles. An assortment of products. |
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| Reply by: KatieMurdock at May 22, '09 00:56 | |
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What, fat and lazy and dead at forty-five, never having to worry about anything again? He watched the transfer of fine Kentucky spirit from Katie's glass to her coffee cup. He took the glass from her, obligingly, and escorted it back to the counter. Nah, that ain't me. He turned back to her with a smile. Jell-O, huh? You know what the boys in Nicaragua used to put o that stuff? Chili powder. No shit, lime Jell-O and chili powder. I can't eat that shit after three years of that. The bottles toppled out onto the scratchy dull surface of Elias's unmaintained hardwood floor. He held the stub of his cigar out in front of himself and flicked his middle finger, dropping the ash to the ground, before he hunched down over the medicine. He grabbed the nearest bottle gingerly by its top and turned it in his hand. Well, it didn't hurt that bad. And besides... not my brand. I think you'll make some back-alley surgeon very happy. Or some hoppy grocery bagger kid. We could ride through the neighborhood every month or so breaking jaws to keep demand up, huh? He shook the bottle idly, then clenched his fist around it and stood abruptly/ What's the story? |
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| Reply by: Elias at May 22, '09 01:25 | |
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Katie wrinkled up her face at the thought of chili powder on lime jell-o. She didn't want to know why anyone would try something like that. The room became instantly chillier as their conversation took a quiet dip, she watched his ash from the cigar fall to the ground. The motherly instinct some where deep inside of her called to clean that up right away. Katie pushed it away. "What's the story?" He asked her. She looked up at him. Right at him and waited for a little bit. Then carelessly asked. The story? |
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| Reply by: KatieMurdock at May 22, '09 01:39 | |
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The pills. He closed his eyes briefly as he sipped his drink. He could feel them burning against the back of his eyelids, and he suddenly had a great urge to open them again and keep them open, lest the pressure behind them compound and leave him blind or perhaps just hideously disfigured. I figure a woman walks into your apartment in the middle of the night and dumps half a medical locker on your living room floor has a story to tell. Where they came from, where they're going? He glances at the pile on the floor, then to Katie's eyes, and in a quick instant second guesses himself the way he only does when she's around. He exhaled Or maybe I'm just old and a bit sideways. How much you think it costs to keep a champion greyhound? I might look into it after all. |
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| Reply by: Elias at May 22, '09 02:29 | |
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Of course you're a bit sideways! She coo'd at him innocently, a large smile on her face, teasing. But then she quickly twisted her face into a clean slate, sharpening the tone of her voice. Before I tell you all about it, lets get one thing straight. If you want to die, I'm doing it. I will not let you walk out, buy that stupid dog and get hunted down by some angry bookie. Katie looked at him until she was satisfied and then continued. So, a few hours ago I was sitting over at Adrian's Italian Grill. I don't really know how I even got there, but that probably doesn't surprise you. Also, how does Adrian even have time to run a grill, isn't he a godfather now - all ruler of Chicago. Maybe he just placed his name on the building, selling point, smart man. She noticed herself running off of the story, dazing out the window and starting to get hungry again. She quickly pulled herself together and turned her focus back on the pills and Elias. So, I'm sitting at the Italian grills, having a few drinks before I have to go bust up another 7-11 and I hear these punks talking behind me. Large shipment of drugs being dropped off at Brooklyn's Hospital and the next day they'd be distributed to the other hospitals in the area. The guys are talking about how it'd be a good idea to go shopping. Elias what is one thing I really like? She didn't wait for him to answer. Shopping! I keep listening to these guys, find out when the drop time is, when the nurses change shifts. They are basically laying the whole plan out in front of me, well behind me, as I wasn't in front of them. I finish my drink and look at the time. I've got about an hour to..... She trails off, a crooked look on her face. At this point Katie notices her mouth is pretty dry from all the talking and all her coffee/burbon is gone. Hey Elias, you got anything else to drink? |
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| Reply by: KatieMurdock at May 24, '09 20:44 | |
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Else? He asked, feigning puzzlement. You mean like gin? He flashed a sly smile as he ambled over to the small area in the corner of the room, which constituted the "kitchen" in the place, calling back to her over his shoulder. You aren't gonna tell me you went and ripped off a buncha thugs all on your lonesome, did you? While I was a phone call away? I don't like that, not a bit. Wanting to play safe, and calling on his barroom experience, he made Katie a fresh drink and poured her a water back. I mean, yeah... I would have had to clear the party out--Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy, and three dozen or so beautiful dames, but anything for you, you know. He smiled at her again as he handed her the two glasses. Then he raised an eyebrow to her, never being one to let a distraction drop. And about this hound... I've been killed before, mind you. And who's to say it was the dog? Like I said, maybe he slapped the wrong whore around. When have you ever known me to be bad to a working girl? I love them. All of them. Or, hell, I could buy the dog, you and I could stack bets heavily on the favorite to place, then you put a round in my brain stem just before the gates drop. |
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| Reply by: Elias at May 27, '09 02:39 | |
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Uhhh.....pass. Katie said, with a point. She was not going to shoot any dog, even if it was cursed. Why would he ever want her to do something like that? Her thought process moved from one confusion to the next. Why did he give her two glasses. Katie dumped the water into the gin and took a sip. Horrible, but it was better then nothing, hopefully Elias didn't just catch the look on her face. Party...in this place? She said sarcastically, she didn't even need an answer. Katie looked around the small space. The living room/kitchen could fit maybe ten, down the hall was the bedroom, but he probably had it stacked with old news paper clippings as far as she knew, so fit about three. The bathroom? Who parties in the bathroom. She added her next comment in just to humor him. I would have never been able to get those ladies off of you, good thing I didn't have to call you. She winked. Plus, are you doubting my strength? Remember who won the last arm wrestle. Katie pointed her finger at Elias and then continued the story of how all these pills ended up on his living room floor. Okay, so I'm down at the Italian grill checking out the time and I figure I've got about an hour before the nurse rotation. So I hop on the train, stop over at my place and pick up one of my costumes. You know, they always tell me I can't have Halloween every day of the week, or every week of the month, but I don't listen to 'em. I get back on the train and off in Brooklyn. Find the hospital these thugs were talking about and slip in. I tell the nurse that I'm there to see my dyin' ol' pops. She fixes me in, even though it's way past visiting hours, but I give her the story that he only has a few days to live. Once she leaves my side and goes back to her desk I'm left to go find pops, but my dad died years ago. I'd have more luck looking at a cemetery. I sneak into the bathroom and change into the uniform I brought with. Okay so the outfit is a little shorter...or a lot shorter... then the regular nurse uniform, but I tell myself I'm going to add some spice to this grave yard shift. And you know what? You know what Elias? She looks at him in shock. No one even notices. I exit the bathroom just as the new nurse is sitting down at the desk. She asks if I'm new and I say yes. The security in that place, I'm telling you man, we could rob that place every night if we wanted to. I don't know what'd we do with thousands of popsicle sticks and suckers, but I'm sure we'd do something with them. Anyway, the security is horrible, she didn't even ask my name, just sent me down the hall to where they keep the drugs. Katie stood up excited and exclaimed. She took me right where I wanted to be! Can you believe it! She sent me right where I would rob them blind. Literally, the only man I saw was blind. No one noticed the shortness of my skirt. She sat back down a light frown on her face. So I get my bag, swing it over my shoulder and start filling up. Caught the midnight train going anywhere...well actually I did have a place in mind. Oh and speaking of hookers, I totally beat one up on the way here. Katie took the wad of money out of her bag and threw it in with the pills. It'll help us get these pills where they need to be taken. You know where we are taking them? Guess, I dare you! She challenged, with a grin. |
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| Reply by: KatieMurdock at May 27, '09 03:01 | |
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Elias was leaned against the wall directly across from her, arms crossed, cigar turning idly between his fingers. He looked at her intently over the top of his glasses while she spoke, and sighed thoughtfully at the word "guess." He was always guessing something. Finally, he drew in a short breath as he reared his head back and spoke with barb-like terseness. Mexico, knowing my goddamn luck. And you can have it to yourself. He chuckled quietly to himself, almost a silent hyperventilation. So here you are lecturing me about dog races and getting canceled over a well-bred machine of an animal, and you're waltzing through town belting whores? At least I get my money honestly, through cheating, and not through something as blatantly criminal as mugging. His calm amusement broke suddenly into full laughter. Well, can't say I'm not all-in-all impressed, and a bit proud even. But shouldn't a proper lady such as yourself, in a position such as yours, leave the punching to the lowly gorillas such as myself? No matter how much hair said lady has on her knuckles. He smiled at her playfully, hoping she could appreciate his little vaudeville bit as much as he was. And if not, hoping at least that she'd think to buy that dog in his name and turn a nice profit for herself after she shot him. He took a few deep breaths, trying to restore his aplomb. And you know, in some espionage circles, not being noticed is a good thing. So where're you taking me? |
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| Reply by: Elias at May 27, '09 03:50 | |
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Katie smiled at him, her hands busy fidgeting with a pill bottle and giggled when he spoke of her slamming down some whore. Only she was laughing at the truth and the great enjoyment she had about the story she made up. An exciting life was an exciting life, even if it wasn't true.<e> Hair on my knuckles?! She yelped with a giant smile on her face. Of course she knew he was joking, but she wanted to play along. Well, you know that hair doesn't come from nuffin', you've gotta work for that hair! Get into a few fights here and there for it. A sly smile fell across her lips, but then her posture quickly changed as she dropped the pill bottle on the ground and straightened up, smoothing her hair down and clearing her tone of voice. A proper lady eh? She said, standing up and taking one of the books off the lamp table on the left side of the couch. She placed the book on top of her head and started to walk slowly and steadily across the living room floor. A proper lady like this? She said cooly and as Katie reached the kitchen she took down the book and turned back to him. Well I guess this proper lady is taking a gorilla on an adventure. Katie pointed at Elias as she said gorilla, just to make things clear. First stop just so happens to be Vegas...and then maybe Mexico. Just as Elias was going to deny the trip she cut him off. You can't say no! You know how delicate I am, I need someone to protect me, specially that position I'm in, the boss would KILL you if you let me go alone.</e> |
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| Reply by: KatieMurdock at Jun 01, '09 02:05 | |
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Maybe Mexico. He repeated her words softly, almost a sigh. His gaze didn't waver, having watched her parade across the room with his copy of The Dain Curse, which she was now clutching close to her, idly rapping her fingers on the cover as she professed her latent contempt for him. What, like you need me? I've been to Vegas, there's nothing there but whores. He was trying to come up with some monumental reason to lay out of the trip, other than just his personal feelings for the destination. That, he knew, was a cop out that simply would not fly. And besides, she had played to him perfectly, disguising her argument to seem like he was simply agreeing to cover his own ass. Really, he was a simple and chivalrous man with an odd urge deep inside to look after her. This, of course, for the sake of his cool, had to be denied at every turn and hidden from sight. But never ignored. On the other hand... there's nothing there but whores. He exhaled heavily, allowing his cheeks to droop a bit. Ehh, shit. Let me find my duffel bag. The "finding" would be no real task. It was just a few steps walk closet, which was nearly empty anyway, and pulling the bag from the top shelf. But some how 'Let me grab this old sack out of this empty room' just didn't hold enough gravity for him. I'll protect you from the punks and monsters, you save me from the showgirls. Some of the showgirls. A few. The ugly ones. |
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| Reply by: Elias at Jun 01, '09 21:58 | |
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Why don't I just protect you from yourself? She looked at him then glanced at the door. Then she sweeped her vision across the room and out the window. It was almost like the something changed in the room, everything just became instantly more dangerous. Like the hot summer days, but the scent of rain floats through the air, the dark clouds rumble in and all of a sudden your in a natural disaster. Katie's tone changed also. Don't worry about a bag, we need to go now. She dropped the book she was holding, it thudded to the ground. Elias made a noise, maybe it was his favorite, Katie didn't ask she was busy shuffling the pills back into her bag. She did a bad job at this, panic coursed through her, but there was not Godzilla tramping through the city, peering into Elias' apartment window. Finally, everything was back in the bag. Katie made her way towards the door and then realized he wasn't with her. She turned and called for him, an eary tone in her voice. In the stair well, she took two steps at a time, even though she never did. Their steepness scared her and she'd rather be in one piece at the bottom then a few. At this moment it didn't seem to matter. Outside Katie flagged a cab by walking out into the middle of the street and waving her arms. The sky was still blanketed by darkness, but a cab stopped in front of her just as Elias grabbed her arm. He shot her a look, she had no time to explain her mysterious actions. JFK. Three simple letters and they were off to the airport. Katie relaxed in the seat her mind wandering up to the tops of the buildings and the sky. |
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| Reply by: KatieMurdock at Jun 01, '09 22:50 | |
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I... He didn't have a chance to properly start his sentence before she was on the floor shoveling pill bottles around. He started to kneel to help, but he didn't get to finish this either, as she was already up and at the door. His knees creaked as he straightened them again and looked to grab a few essentials that he could carry on his person-- bourbon and cigars. He was just lifting the lid of a box of nickel cigars--he knew how to prioritize, there was too much of a rush, for whatever reason, to visit the humidor for the quarter cigars--when she called out for him. He stuffed a few of the cheap stogies into his shirt pocket and followed after her, only closing the door as a casual afterthought. She was bounding down the stairs at least a floor ahead of him. He went down quickly, but there was no fire. This was a problem for him in several ways, as he patted his pockets for his silver cigarette lighter. Flinging the soggy end off his previous smoke aside, he stood only half-perplexed on the sidewalk as Katie darted for the road. He continued to pat his pockets, finding not his lighter, but his pearl inset cigar cutter. He dutifully snipped the end of a new smoke and clinched it in his teeth as he strolled into the street after Katie. He put her into the cab as quickly and gently as either consideration would allow of the other, then sat looking at her, trying not to stare as she sank into the seat and peered out the window. So. Is there a program to go with this show? He patted his pockets once more. Got a light? |
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| Reply by: Elias at Jun 02, '09 00:11 | |
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Katie ignored him for most of the ride. She continued to watch out of the window, her eye sight just above the bottom of the window. A few people staggered the side walk, drunks, hookers, lonely folk, but it was basically deserted, at least on this end of town. Katie turned her back on the driver only twice and it was only a half turn. To look out the back window, she kept tabs that not the same car followed them for five blocks. When she wasn't looking out the side window or the back, she looked at herself in the rear view mirror. Garbage. The airport came into view, the tab was high on the cab and Katie pulled out a matchbook. She stricked the stick across the rough paper and produced a flame. You want a program? I'll take you to the phantom of the opera when we get back into town. She announced just as the cab pulled up to the curb. Before the cabby could turn to ask for a fair both of them were out of the vehicle and already headed into the airport. Katie knew a guy, who knew a guy, who knew a guy who had a private jet. This guy owed the guy he knew that she knew a favor and with Katie's position she got this guy to give her a free trip any time she needed one. She need one tonight. It took them awhile to get to the aircraft, but when they did it was worth it. Neither of them had to shovel out money for the cab fare, as the cabby couldn't keep up. The airport was still very quiet. The early commuters hadn't arrived yet and they had snuck out onto the runway without putting off any security guards. The private jet hummed throughout the cabin, it relaxed Katie. She looked over at Elias, it seemed he didn't feel the same way. Turning to him she spoke, loosing the edge. Sure beats getting mauled by those pesky flight attendant carts every hour. She said with a smile. Katie then turned away and snuggled up into the seat. The flight would take awhile, she might as well get some sleep. Her calm breathing was so much different then the panic she had displayed as they left Elias apartment. |
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| Reply by: KatieMurdock at Jun 02, '09 00:25 | |
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