~ Bloodmoon City ~

Drunkards

~ Start Of Day 26 ~ December 3 ~

I woke up around 11:00AM. I walked out of my room, holding the purple box. I walked over to Alice's room and knocked on the door. She walked out of the room and smiled at me.

Alice: Hi Claire...!

Claire: Hey Alice...! So um...I made something for you a while ago with Amethyst...!

I carefully take the dress out of the box and show it to Alice.

Claire: It's the best thing I could think of making for you...do you like it...? It's fine if you don't...!

Alice: I love it Claire! Thank you...

She carefully takes the dress from me and smiles.

Claire: You...You really like it...?

Alice: Of course! It's wonderful!...Thank you...!

Claire: You're welcome...uh...hey, Alice I have a question...

Alice: Hm?...

Claire: Would you maybe...want to go on a date with me at some point...maybe not today but at some point...

Claire looks away from Alice, not knowing what answer to expect from them.

Alice: Y-Yeah! Sure...!

Alice replies slightly flustered not knowing exactly how else to respond. Alice had felt strong feelings for Claire for quite some time now, and was hoping that Claire had felt the same.

Claire: R-Really?...

Claire asks, and proceeds to look Alice in the eyes, almost getting lost in her gaze.

Alice: O- of course I would...!

Alice says beginning to stutter, not knowing how to show her feelings properly. It would mean the world to me. Their eyes met, and were both fixated on each other's gaze, feeling too embarrassed to respond.

Claire: Great! Uh...we can choose when and where we wanna go on a date later! For now I might just walk around town and see who I find!

Alice: Alright!

I walked away from Alice, Happy. I decided to start walking around town again so I went to the park where I saw Yumo, Lunar and Sora.

They were holding small shot glasses each filled with a clear liquid. Yumo was holding a large bottle of rum in his left hand, and shot glass in the other. The three of them were drinking happily. Why in a public park with children around? I had no idea, but I wasn't in the position to question their actions.

Claire: Heeeey guys!" Claire says dragging out of the word hey as if to signify that something has happened recently. "Mind if I join you all for a drink?

Yumo looks up with a smile, clearly drunk.

Yumo: O-of course, friend. Please sit down and I'll serve you.

I sat down next to them at the picnic table realizing they didn't just have booze with them. They had small snacks, as well as smally cut sandwiches.

Claire: What's the occasion? Are you out here for fun, or are you celebrating a birthday I didn't know about?

I say this as Yumo pours liquor into a shot glass, and hands it to me.

After taking the shot glass from him and downing the liquor in the first go, I start to pout.

Claire: You all know I hate it when you keep secrets from me right?

I say obviously hiding my later outing with Alice.

My face begins to turn red as I already start to feel the effects of the liquor.

Claire: Geez this is some really strong alcohol. What is it?

I turned to Lunar and Sora hoping they would start talking, but they seemed too drunk to notice.

Yumo: I-I'm sorry... I think I may have given them too much.

Yumo looks down, and almost seems a little bit sad, as if he had done something he wasn't supposed to. I look at him with pity, not exactly knowing how to respond but attempted to comfort him.

Claire: Hey don't stress yourself out. It wasn't your fault they're that drunk. It's their own fault they're a bunch of meatheads. I mean look at them.

I say this as I grab the bottle of liquor from Yumo's hand. His grip loosened as I grabbed for the bottle, and poured myself another shot. Yumo started to speak up, and I could tell he was struggling to get words out. After a while of fidgeting with his fingers he finally began to speak up.

Yumo: But it is my fault... I exist only to serve, and I continued to serve them, as is my life's purpose. You don't know anything about my backstory, and what I've gone through in the past... Nor would you understand.

His voice was still low, but almost more aggressive as if trying to get his point across.

Claire: Oh...Sorry...I wasn't trying to make you upset or anything...

Yumo looked up at me, and I could tell behind those bloody rags covering his eyes, he was starting to tear up.

Yumo: It's fine Claire... I appreciate you for trying to make me feel better... Maybe one day I'll tell you about my past.

Yumo looks back to the other too, watching as the drunkards laugh at each other's dumb jokes. One of them fell off the picnic table's bench, and they both burst out in laughter. Yumo looks back down at the ground.

Yumo: I wish I could laugh like them, but what about my life is worth laughing about? I've attempted to drink my sorrows away, but I've never felt intoxicated. Drink after drink, and yet......here I am...

I look at him wondering how to properly comfort him, but instead I take a shot glass, and pour him a drink, knowing it won't make him feel intoxicated, but will at least make him feel a little better.

Claire: Here Yumo. I know it won't help much, but let me at least do something for you.

Yumo takes the drink from her hands

Yumo: Thanks Claire... It means a lot to have someone care for me.

Yumo seems to go back to his normal self, shy and less depressed. I watch him as he downs the shot within seconds. He slams the shot glass against the picnic table careful to not shatter the glass. We both sit there not saying anything for a while before I suddenly remember my date with Alice.

Claire: Oh shit! I forgot I had somewhere to be. I appreciate the drinks Yumo.

I throw him a coin, and watch as he somehow manages to catch it. I stood there stunned wondering how he managed to catch it with rags covering his eyes, but shrug the moment off. Yumo looks up at me almost with a genuine smile. It melted my heart to see him put emotion into his smile, as I heard him speak up.

Yumo: No problem Claire, I'll see you again I hope?

Claire: Of course I will

Yumo: Promise?

Claire: I promise

I say my last farewells to the three of them, and walk off still feeling slightly intoxicated from the drinks, but manage to walk semi straight. I felt a fire in my chest not only from the effects of the alcohol, but also from the nervousness, and excitement of the date I had soon. I continue walking down the street wondering how it would all happen. I put a smile on my face knowing I'll be happy with the outcome either way.

~ To Be Continued ~