The Circle

Singin' Irish Parodies

Lewik quickly undressed himself in the large open locker room, and headed for the showers, that in contrast were divided into small singular booths.

He entered the small cabin, and placed himself directly under the fountainhead. Since it was freshly used from all the former sweaty Circle members changing duties and coming back from battles that day, so there would be no cold water to ease his aching muscles. Soon the hot water poured down on his shoulders, washing away the grime and troubles on the day. He secretly swore to himself he'd never fight Mudman again.

As he had gotten older, Lewik had found the shower as a way to enter an almost meditative state, where he could follow the stream of his thoughts more intensely, while the warmth washed his body. He closed his eyes, and went over the highlights of the day, it was over quickly, nothing much to reflect upon there. A breakout in one of the many super-powered prisons dotting the world- Brazil in this case- had occurred, and a small horde of the inmates had scattered across the globe. The Circle had been dispatched across the world to bring them back, so it had been red-alert at the Ritz for all members.

Lewik looked down on his feet to see they had begun to imitate the rhythm of a jolly song. Could he really still remember that Irish one? Should he try? There was no one around to hear it if he tried...

"Now everybody's died, so until our tears are dried,

We'll drink and drink and drink and drink and then we'll drink some more.

We'll dance and sing and fight until the early mornin' light,

Then we'll throw up, pass out, wake up and then go drinkin' once again..."

He did not know why his mind, after so much time had passed, still clung to these lyrics, but it kind of excited him to test himself on how much he could still remember.

"Joe Murphy fought with Reilly near the cliffs of Alderney,

He took out his shillelagh and he stabbed him in the spleen.

Crazy Uncle Mike thought he was a leprechaun,

But in fact he's just a leper- and his arms and legs are gone!"

He liked the way his voice echoed in the small space. If he tried, he found he could actually make a fine tenor. He listened closely again; the only other sound in the room was the water dripping down. He wanted to make sure there was no one else when he started the next part:

"When Timmy Johnson broke his neck it was a cryin' shame,

He wasn't really Irish, but he went to Notre Dame.

MacNamara crossed the street, and by a bus was hit,

But he was just a Scotsman- so nobody gave a shit!"

Then he heard the sound of the door to the arena. It was not the sound of it opening, but closing. Lewik cringed at the thought of somebody hearing him sing in the shower. Could he not at least have sung something more well-known or cool? He listened very carefully, but there was nothing, until he heard bare footsteps on the tiled floor coming closer.

"Is that you, Lew?"

"...Yeah, it's me Isy"

Then there was silence again. Isy entered the shower next to him, and then the sound of flushing water was doubled.

"You know Lew... I like comical songs too"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah... Connor lived in Ulster town, he used to smuggle arms,

Until the British caught him- and cut off his lucky charms!

And dear old Father Flanagan, who left the Lord's employ,

Drunk on sacramental wine beneath the altar boy!"

Isy started weary, soft and quiet, no doubt from fighting all day, but he quickly picked up the pace and volume. Lewik had not expected this, and was for a moment stunned by the secret talents his assassin friend possessed, before joining in on the second chorus.

"Now everybody's died, so until our tears are dried,

We'll drink and drink and drink and drink and then we'll drink some more!

We'll dance and sing and fight until the early mornin' light,

Then we'll throw up, pass out, wake up,

And then go drinkin' once again!"

From Lewik's left a deep and powerful bass suddenly sounded with bravura and intensity. The two had not heard anyone approaching, and a new awkward silence had broken out between the two, but the deep new voice continued the song without them.

"Someday soon I'll leave this world of pain and toil and sin,

The Lord will take me by the hand to join all of me kin.

Me only wish is when the Savior comes for me and youuuuu,

He kills the cast of 'Riverdance' and Michael Flatley too!".

There was a brief solo when the stranger sung, then Lewik and Isy joined in at the final chorus after a while.

" Now everybody's died, so until our tears are dried,

We'll drink and drink and drink and drink and then we'll drink some more!

We'll dance and sing and fight until the early mornin' light,

Then we'll throw up, pass out, wake up,

And then go drinkin' oooooonnnnce aaaaagainnnnn!"

None of them had spared anything on the last tune. Lewik felt it should be weird, but could not help himself but to feel happy. He felt all of them had somehow gotten closer, even to the mysterious person next door.

Even though he had finished, Lewik waited in the shower. He wanted to see who it was with such a powerful voice. He suspected Isy might be interested in the same, for he did not go out either. They waited for a few minutes before Lewik heard him turn the water off. Quickly he followed, grabbing his towel and ran out to meet his new friend.

Lewik and Isy were both equally very surprised to meet the robotic Patrick, shamelessly naked (not that he had any genitalia or physicality insecurities to hide), on the other site. "Excuse me, masters Lewik and Isaic. Just came by to clean the olde plating, when I heard you singing. So I decided to join in, if that was satisfying to you both"

And with that he quickly disappeared into the locker room. Chris appeared shortly afterwards in the doorframe, still fully dressed in his dirty combat armor. He placed his hands around his mouth to form a megaphone.

"HA, GAYYYY"