Strange Aeons [Book 1]

21. That ship has sailed [part II]

River was walking with his usual cock-of-the-walk along the corridor. He greeted the people around him, and he didn't look at all like someone who had lost a trial mere days before.

He put his best smile on his radiant face and knocked on the door.

From inside came the clear sound of a church choir. The moment he knocked, it went silent.

«Come in!» called Garaham's voice from inside.

«Good morning, big brother!»

Garaham glared at him with so much anger anyone else would have exited in silence. But not River.

«Have you no mirror to spend your time in front of, rather than disturb people who have an actual job to do?» he hissed.

«Aw, come on! We never spend time together, can you, for once, be happy to see me? Everyone else is!» River marched towards him. Since he entered, the room was suddenly feeling incredibly smaller.

«I don't know, can you not be here?» he retorted.

River leaned forward and put his elbows on his desk, lowering himself enough to look him in the eyes. Garaham had the face of someone who hasn't slept for days, his eyes were circled with black shadows, even worse than usual, his breath smelt of coffee and stress.

«Sooo... working hard or hardly working, huh?» started River, looking at his nails, trying to find a way to drop the news with a bang.

«And why, pray, would you bring up our High School nicknames?» growled Garaham.

«Speaking of High School, do you remember when we were in 10th grade, and you were absolutely head over heels with Minnie Dudzinski? About yay tall, blonde, giant blue eyes and glasses you could use to make death rays with?» Garaham's hand was holding his Montblanc so tight his knuckles had gone white.

«Let me get this straight. You have lost a trial in front of the whole Order, your newest underling is a sociopath who plays you like a fiddle, we have a werepeople situation that could topple the balance of the supernatural world and you come into my office to talk about Minnie Dudzinski?»

«You see? That's what I was aiming for! You always lose perspective on things. You let your duty blind you, and you can't see the good things that are right in front of you.» River was completely undaunted by Garaham's fit. «You thought it was your duty not to try and get with Minnie Dudzinski because you knew that it would never have been a serious relationship, because of the arranged marriages and stuff, and never even talked to her. I banged Minnie Dudzinski in the gym closet.» he smiled at the sweet remembrance. «...three times.»

Put in front of the choice, Garaham chose to crush the form under his left hand, because he loved that Montblanc too much. He took a deep, deep breath and tried to fight any instinct that was telling him to get the Gatling down the wall and shoot.

«Thanks for this very nice stroll down bad memories lane. Now, if you're content with making my blood pressure skyrocket, can you please, tell me what the bloody hell is the point of your speech?» he hissed.

«Simply that you're too serious, my brother, and that makes you neglect your happiness. You wanted Minnie, but you were too serious, you lost her and I took her.» River stood up, with a seemingly innocent smile. «...just like I took Banshee.»

«I beg your utmost pardon?» Garaham didn't even have voice enough to articulate.

«I banged Banshee. Yesterday night.» River counted on his fingers. «...five times. Pretty good performance. Well, the poor thing had been saving herself for ten years. She was rabid. »