Thatberg Profiles

Chapter 8

(i know i update these chapters really really infrequently, but motivation is rare and good ideas are even rarer, so i make do) 

The day was clear, and Alex was finally feeling well rested. He was a little peeved that Ghost had let himself into his house at midnight, but oh well, there was a reason they called it the witching hour.

He looked out from the roof of his apartment building, legs over the side. Looking out over his city, he let out a sigh of relief.

The sun rose with iridescent colours, illuminating Thatburg in all its otherworldly glory. Very few people in the city have been trained with the basics of magic, but more where learning. Alex had learned from the best, not that he could use it, but his understanding was better than most peoples. His eyes glowed a deep purple as he watched over not only the 'real' thatburg, but also the unseen side.

Fairies flutter by, huge iridescent creatures bathed in the sun from skyscrapers. All manners of creatures strode by, human and non-human, all oblivious to the others' existence.

It was moments like these he felt lucky, both to be born with powers, but also to be where he is. Of course he still worried about the simple things, like rent and the custody of his daughter, but seeing a sunrise like this, from both sides really put things in perspective.

He let out another sigh as he stood up, still aching from last night's fight, wincing at the memory of being thrown against that truck. He quickly moved on as he remembered what ghost had said amusingly "I'm guessing I should see the other guy?".

He finished off his instant noodles as he headed back inside to escape the noise of the early morning rush. He jumped back down onto the small balcony he owned, carefully avoiding his one small cactus. Ducking through his skylight, he let out a long sigh as he saw the mess his apartment still was.

The blankets still hadn't been put back onto his couch after he had rolled off of it this morning, holding the bandages on. The unwashed clothes still piled messily on the floor.

He traversed his home, moving things back into their respective corners. He moved one of his dumbbells away from the door of his fridge, only to be wafted with the usual scent of spoiled milk. He pulled out a bottle of whisky and took a swig before getting back to his morning routine.

He avoided his own gaze in the mirror as he began to brush his teeth. He paused as he saw his muscled but scared body. It was times like these that he liked to imagine what a normal life was like, not being attacked or having to attack people on an almost daily basis.

He winced as he pulled his shirt over one of his more broken ribs, pulling him back to reality. As he walked out of his apartment, the woman who lived next door to him paused as he walked by, nervously trying to start a conversation but failed to speak up before he reached the elevator.

"Still quite the lone wolf I see," said ghost, nonchalantly standing in the corner of the elevator.

Alex, quite used to his companions' appearing habits simply replied "you gotta find someone mate, waiting in cheap apartment blocks all night for one witty line isn't exactly healthy".

"Oh please, you know i have no interest in anybody," ghost replied.

"I know that," said Alex, looking forward to his morning coffee with viscous abandon, "it's just you should get more sleep is all".

"And what, waste 50% of all my time, no thank you!" replied ghost, almost offended at his friend's outrageous comment.

As they headed outside, Ghost attempted to pitch his idea for dry water. Alex pointed out how pointless it was. As they walked down the street, both Alex and Ghost drew in several mixed looks. Where Alex looked like the kind of guy who might have ended up in a boy band if he had taken a music career, people focused more on his good looks than him, Ghost was the kind of person whose eyes saturated a lot more attention than his face. People's eyes seemed to slide over Ghost's face, almost as if they never really saw it. His eyes would often dart from place to place with intellectual flair, concocting any number of brilliant strategies should things go pear shaped.

Alex sighed as he saw the looks some people gave him. He faded out briefly as he thought of all the pain he had been through and probably will go through for these people. "Would it be so wrong to ask for thanks?" asked that little voice in the back of his head.