Ms. Macabre’s hand in mine felt very warm. I tried not to look back so she wouldn’t see my purple tinted cheeks. I led her across the various walkways and paths until we eventually landed in front of the newly established Ses Casa. My friend Rodolfo had recently moved into this building and established his Gelato shop based on the one left to him by our mentor. When we entered the building, I could see it was the winddown from the post dinner rush. Rodolfo was cleaning off one of his counters when he looked up at the jingle of the door’s bell.

“Welcome, how can I help—Oh! Gae Lia hey!” He smiled, and starred curiously at Ms. Macabre, and then at our hands. I only just then realized that we were still holding them. I let go and we approached the counter.

“Hey Rodolfo, it’s good to see you! Let me introduce you to my…my bodyguard. This is Ms. Macabre.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” he said looking up at her. Rodolfo is a red Tiefling man, about two feet shorter than me, always well dressed and horns nearly a foot tall pointed straight up. He has golden eyes and usually a wicked grin.

“You as well,” Ms. Macabre nodded looking down towards him.

“Can I get you both anything?” He gestured to the freezer in front of him, I took a look in and squinted.

“Does that one say ‘Giet’s Rich Chocolate’ and is that… ‘Fang’s Whiskey Crème’…and ‘Kryndam’s Red Bean’s’ and I swear if that says ‘Draganov’s signature Govodka and Cherries’— Did you ask permission before naming flavors after the heads of the alliance?”

“Well, it was Mr. Genovese’s idea, he thought it would be a nice touch. I’m making flavors based on you and Jaden next,” he said nervously, his cheeks going from scarlet to crimson.

“I love it, honestly I do, but man I hope the other heads do too for your sake,” I snorted. “I’ll take some of the ‘Draganov’s signature Govodka and Cherries’… what would you like Ms. Macabre?”

“Um, I think I’ll just have vanilla,” she said after glancing at the various flavors.

“Solid choices ladies,” Rodolfo said as he pulled out the scoop and dished the gelato into cones. “I’m closing up in a few minutes but if you want to wait around I can hang out after.”

“Sure thing,” I grinned and found us a table to sit at and wait. I licked my gelato and glanced at Ms. Macabre as she thoroughly was enjoying hers, I saw her tongue move so gracefully across the gelato, I wonder how it would feel if she—

“How’s your gelato Gae Lia?” She said looking at me, I realized I had been starring and I felt a couple of drops of mine dripped on my hand. 

“It’s delicious, I’ll have to tell Otet that he should try it since it’s named after him,” I spoke quickly to cover up my staring.

We sat in silence for a few more minutes as Rodolfo wiped tables and the last customers petered out. Soon Rodolfo locked up the front door and flipped the open sign to closed. He turned around with a heavy sigh and sat with us, folding his arms and laying his head on them.

“Rough day?” I asked as he arched his back stretching.

“Not really, just tiring. I really need to hire an employee or two.”

I patted his arm and glanced over at Ms. Macabre. She stared at the two of us with an odd look on her face, before seeing I was looking. She quickly busied herself with her gelato.

Weird.

I focused my attention back on Rodolfo, when he eventually lifted his head I saw the bags under his eyes, and he was paler than usual.

“Have you been getting enough sleep?”

“You know I haven’t Gae Lia, have you?” He quickly turned it on me. 

“Yes,” I said defiantly.

“Without wearing yourself out to the point of exhaustion?”

“Well—”

“There we go,” he cracked his knuckles. “We’re on equal ground.”

I closed my mouth annoyed. He was right of course, but I couldn’t help it. Exhausted sleep was the only way to get the nightmares to go away.

“Now if you don’t mind,” he rested his head on his hand. “Can we talk about something lighter and less personal?”

“I guess,” I sighed. “Ms. Macabre, would you care to drink with us?”

“I-I’m sorry?” She looked startled.

“See I know for a fact that Rodolfo here has a good stash of alcohol,” Rodolfo tried to object. “Please, don’t even try.” I said glancing back at him. “And I could use a good drink with pleasant company.”

“I think I’ll have to pass personally; I don’t think your father would be very happy if his daughter’s bodyguard was drunk.” 

“Fair enough, but it’s alright if I do?” 

“I can’t really stop you, so sure.”

“Excellent, Rodolfo do you have Tabaxi Whiskey or even some Govodka?”

“I—let me go get a bottle,” he sighed pushing his chair in and headed for the stairs to his personal quarters.

I quickly finished off my cone while he ascended the stairs. He returned a few minutes later with a couple bottles of each, and a couple glasses.

“Don’t tell Beldani, she’s been trying to make sure I don’t drink to much. I only do it recreationally, I’m not stupid.”

“As long as it stays that way my lips are sealed,” I said reaching out for a glass. He handed it to me before sitting and popping the top of the Whiskey. He reached and poured us each a glass, before taking a sip of his.

---

I watched the two friends drink, and drink, and drink. About halfway through the second bottle of Govodka I cut them off, Gae Lia was wobbly and getting teary. She kept trying to talk to Rodolfo about somebody, somebody named “Nabeo”. In turn Rodolfo was seemingly drawing into himself. He gripped the glass so hard his knuckles went from deep red to pink. I had no idea who they were talking about, but it seemed to be something painful that they shared.

“Gae Lia it’s getting late,” I glanced at the clock and saw it was approaching eleven. “I think it’s best that we head home.”

“Mmm I guess,” a slight slur to her words. She wiped the tears from her eyes, seemingly confused too why they were there.

“Goodnight Rodolfo, it was nice meeting you,” I helped Gae Lia to her feet.

“Goodnight, and it was nice to meet you too Ms. Macrame” he wobbled getting to his feet. “Gods what do the Shulaya’s do to their drinks.”

I decided not to correct him, he probably wouldn’t remember anyway. I gently guided Gae Lia’s arm over my shoulder and helped to walk her home. She kept wobbling and stumbling, I was worried she was going to trip and send us both tumbling, so I eventually just picked her up and carried her on my back. She was a very tall woman, but she was light to me. Gae Lia soon passed out as I walked. Eventually we made it back to the Shulaya estate, it was now almost midnight. When we entered the front door, we were greeted by another Goliath woman, dressed in the uniform of the house attendants.

“Is that Ms. Shulaya?” The woman asked concerned. “Is she okay?”

“Fine, just drunk. We stopped by one of her friends’ houses.”

“Ah I see, do you need any help?” The woman followed as I headed for the stairs.

“No thank you, um, what’s your name?” I glanced at the woman; she was about 7’5” so short for a Goliath.

“Nivi, Miss.”

“Thanks for the offer Nivi… actually could you tell me who ‘Nabeo’ is? She keeps mumbling the name.”

“Oh,” the woman’s face saddened. “That would be the eldest Shulaya daughter. She passed away about three months ago.”

“So, she would be…?”

“Her older sister, yes. I think she blames herself; I’ve watched from a distance. Ms. Shulaya there has been working herself to death ever since she’s been allowed to work again.”

“Gods that’s awful,” I felt Gae Lia shift in her sleep. “Thank you for telling me, I best get her to bed.”

“Yeah, if you need anything do let me know.”

“Thank you Nivi, I appreciate it.”

I ascended the stairs, before making it to our quarters. I carried Gae Lia to her bed, gently placing her on it I pulled the blanket over her and as I turned to leave I felt a tug on my shirt. I glanced around; Gae Lia’s eyes were open a bit. She had a hand griped to my hem.

“Please, don’t leave me alone,” her voice was barely a whisper.

“I—of course not.” I sat down on the other side of the bed. Gae Lia reached out for me, she looked so sad. So unbelievably sad. I crawled across the bed and sat next to her. I was startled when she wrapped her arms around my waist. She was so warm, her head rested on my lap. I felt tears fall on to my leg and soak through my pants.

“It’s my fault.”

“No, it’s not. Don’t tell yourself that.”

“But it is,” she hugged tighter, she was really crying now.

Man, I suck with emotions, no one had ever sought me for comfort…except my sister.

I placed my hand on Gae Lia’s head and stroked her hair, that had always helped with Shathon. Gae Lia leaned into my hand. I stroked her hair until I felt her cries stop and she started snoring. I realized I was unfortunately in a predicament. I didn’t want to wake her up by pulling arms off me.

I guess I’m sleeping here tonight.

I gently slid down until her arms were closer to my chest and I could get a head on a pillow. I turned to look at her. Her face was puffy from crying and flushed. But she finally looked peaceful. I reached a handout and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

I really want to— No, I’m just helping her sleep. This means nothing, she’s my charge and…and we’re becoming friends.

I turned so I was on my back.

You keep telling yourself that Morloth. Maybe you’ll believe it if you think it enough.

“Gods, what have I gotten myself into,” I sighed glancing at the ceiling, before closing my eyes and trying to get some sleep.