Rabbit Blood

Chapter 11 - Seven Deadly Sins

When Leslie and Ginerva entered the hotel, they were met with several walls of I.M.P. posters. An especially big one dangled from the metal chandelier above their heads.

"Unobtrusive, innit?" Leslie japed.

Ginerva broke into giggles, which triggered her own laughter. They passed reception, ducked around the ladder upon which Niffty wobbled, placing more posters, and ascended the stairs to Leslie's room. Immediately, Ginerva made herself comfortable, flopping on the bed.

"Mind if I roll one?" she asked.

Leslie glanced up; she saw the sprinkler, but no actual smoke detectors. "I guess not. Lemme open the window."

"Thanks."

They passed a few moments comfortably bitching about their boss, as Ginerva smoked a marijuana cigarette. Honestly, Leslie didn't get the appeal. She never tried it, and she didn't want to. The only thing weed seemed to do to her friends was make them homogenous and boring.

Presently, Ginerva took the topmost of Leslie's pillows and shoved it behind her. This was weird for Leslie. That pillow had its own life story at this point. Just last night, she lightly chomped its neck and whispered dirty things to it.

"Oh yeah... guess who got an earful from Rapier today," Ginerva said.

"Who?"

"That one guy who sleeps at the bar."

"Aw nooo, Douglas."

"Yeah, yeah. Poor D came in, soon as we opened, and obviously fell asleep, so Rapier got the air horn from behind the bar and... PAARP!"

Leslie shook her head, saying, "What an asshole. It's like this whole place is just full of assholes." They laughed. "Hey, Ginny, can I ask you a question?"

"You just did."

"What did you do to come here?"

Her friend took a long toke. "Ahhh, it was either the stealing, or maybe the business I was running."

"Dishonest practices?"

"No! Just some people don't know how direct selling works. Some people in my downline went into debt, but it's up to them to make the money back after they invest. I could handle it; they couldn't. Not my fault."

Leslie nodded slowly. "And now you're a waitress."

"Yeah. It's bullshit."

"Can I ask you something else?"

"You just did."

Leslie laughed. "Er... how did you cope with the new body, when you first got here?"

"Hm," said Ginerva. She stretched one arm above her, and plucked a feather from it. "It took some getting used to. Especially when it came to bathing and stuff; I had to shower in the dark."

Leslie smiled in relief. "I do that!"

"Yeah. I mean, even alive, I had insecurities. The old belly, love handles... but put it in perspective. You're not the only fucker who looks weird, and there's far uglier demons down here. So get used to it! Spend some time naked, get to know yourself, and eventually you'll own it like you did before."

"Huh."

"You might as well. There's no changing it now."

"I don't know," Leslie said. "When I'm redeemed, they might give me a new body."

Ginerva finished her blunt with a long, long drag. "I wonder if you get your old body back. Or if it's like an off-the-peg thing. They wouldn't let you choose," she reflected. "Vanity."