Abbernathy and Magick's End |Trilogy Now Complete!

(17) - Immaculate Mornings -

☆

LUCY WAS IMMACULATE in all ways. In the way he looked, the way he dressed, the way he fashioned ribbons into his most lustrous locks. In the way he comported himself as Aelurus's king. 

Continuing in that tradition, Lucy was immaculately hung over the morning after celebrating his brother's return late into night. The churning in his stomach and throbbing in his head, though unpleasant, a small price to pay, given that a well-timed passing out on his part had allowed Abby and Sebbi a moment alone.

He knew his brother craved it, and while Sebbi had returned more honest than he'd ever been, he wouldn't outright say as much, especially not to Lucy who would use the information to tease him mercilessly - a completely accurate assessment. So Lucy had drunk himself into a stupor, somewhat on purpose, danced until he felt his six bowls of stew trying to resurface, and then crumpled there on the porch to give his favorite people in the world, their time together.

Had his head not felt like a fruit bursting open, he would have badgered Sebbi about what exactly had transpired. And his brother, being his brother, would have reacted by blushing, stammering and swatting at Lucy's nose. Younger siblings were so very predictable.

Not that Lucy had needed to ask. 

Abby's appearance that morning gave it all way. She had a new ribbon in her hair, one poorly made, threads dangling from the unfinished edges. It had stars on it, ones that glided over the fabric as though they were part of the real sky.

A gift. Sebbi had wanted to give her a gift.

And Lucy had gifted him the opportunity to give her said gift. He would ask for compensation at a later date, when it suited him.

For now, he had to tend to his headache. Picking up the glass of eel egg, vinegar, and thrice spice, he held his breath and sipped.

He felt like his entire face scrunched as the hot, sour, tangy mess trekked down his throat.

Next to him in the booth, Margo chuckled. It echoed in Lucy's head, his headaches splintering into tinier, angrier aches.

Grimacing, he took another sip of what the barkeep assured him was a shortcut to a sure cure. 

Gods, he hoped it worked.

A waitress brought over their food. Lucy insisted on a liquids only diet, at least for the morning, while Margo ordered a cheese plate, subbing all the fruits and pickled vegetables for other cheeses. Abby and Sebbi got stew.

Lucy rested his head in his hand, as the usual tantalizing smell of fish swimming amongst a savory, herbed broth, made him gag.

Margo nudged his arm, her eyes widened with concern. "You sure you're okay?" They had gone out to eat at The Smoke Stack, one of Ean's more reputable pubs. Margo, making sure not to cause a scene, had temporarily hid her whiskers with a concealment charm, and seemed to have a good handle on tamping down her radiance. One had to look closely, to see the fluctuating colors alighting on her skin.

Too bad the same could not be said of Axion. The former Shadow King had arrived at Abby's house, festooned in bright yellow from head to toe. His blouse was made of a see-through lace, matching a parasol he twirled his hands. The shirt was buttoned only up to a crater Lucy assumed was his bellybutton. Every other button was undone, leaving most of his chest exposed.

Abby voiced what Lucy had thought - what was the point of a shirt, if you weren't going to wear it properly?

After several minutes of pleading, Axion had buttoned up his shirt, and agreed to wrap his face in bandages. He had to borrow Abby's gardening gloves as he had left his only pair back in the Evernight.