Lace Ravine

Chap. 1: Lace Finds Herself in a Bit More Trouble Than Usual - pt. 3

In the hall, after a few shivers had given back control of Lace's body, she cursed everything in sight. The ceiling? An insult to her height. The lights? Rude to the eyes. The floor? Obnoxiously overconfident in its strength. Herself? Just the same fuck-up she always was.

She stomped one boot on the carpet, then, finding it didn't give her nearly the release she needed, she stomped five more times until she felt ridiculous. Hot air blew from her mouth back into the space, and her eyes passed over all the monotony that was around her. She felt lost, she felt guilty, she felt like she needed to get her mind off of all that made her anything but happy. So she spun, and breezed to the elevator.

She arrived three levels lower two minutes later, to a room that only ever brought her happiness. Calm, she stepped into the ship's bar.

The place was nearly empty, it was far too early, and the only other person in the room stood behind the counter, on her tiptoes. The petite Phorcorian woman stretched as far as she could toward the top shelf, and Lace watched her cute form wiggle up and down until she reached the glass she was trying for. A soft exhale accompanied a smile, and Lace decided she'd make it even bigger.

She called from across the room to the woman's back. "What does a girl gotta do to get a drink around here?"

The Phocorian twisted around eyes widening- then she leapt over the bar and sprinted across the room and into Lace's waiting arms. Pammini hugged her friend tight in glee. "Lacey! You're finally back!"

When they parted, Lace smirked. "I wasn't gone so long, was I?"

Pammini laughed tenderly, then danced back toward the bar, Lace in tow. "Anytime you're gone is too long."

Lace hopped onto a seat, and leaned on the counter, following Pammini with a loving gaze as she started to make Lace's usual order. "You sweet talker!"

Pammini sang while turned away. "I've heard lots of rumors..."

"You've heard every rumor ever whispered!" The Phocorian chuckled, then turned to the human with a pointed look. "About me?" She nodded, and Lace smiled. "You know only most of those are real."

Pammini sighed and placed a black drink in front of her friend. "Is Maisy really upset with you?"

Lace stared into the mix for a moment, before taking a long swig and answering. "Oh, yeah. It's bad, Pami."

"What happened?"

Lace peeked upward, trying to hide her guilt with a grin. "You didn't get a rumor on that part of the story?"

Pammini shrugged her tiny shoulders. "I have, I'd just like to hear it from you."

"Ah, well. Everyone will know soon, anyway." Lace sipped again, then twisted away to speak her truth to the empty side of the room. "I stole something from her."

"Oh, Lacey."

Lace spun back. "Hey! I don't need that much pity in your voice!"

Pammini cocked her head to the side, and smiled. "I can't help it! You're just so easy to pity." Lace laughed, then the cloud returned, and she rested her chin in her palm, and tried to find comfort in Pammini's honey voice. "What are you going to do?"

Lace let her other hand fall in a fist on the bar. "I'm gonna get it back."

The Phocorian's voice dipped in volume. "Then get her back?"

Lace's sharp words sprung into the air. "What do you mean by that?"

Pammini piled on the sweetness, and shook her head. "Nothing at all, love." She moved to finish her cleaning, but continued the talk. "What did you take?"