Untitled

Mother Confessor:

Staring morosely into the purple drink that tastes of exotic fruits, drowned in fermented spirits. Wondering what is to become of myself, when a familiar gravely voice addresses me from edge of the table.

“May I join you, miss” , the familiar voice asks politely.

Not averting my gaze, “ Sure”, I softly answer.

“How are you this evening”, the voice asks across the table.

“ I am fine” , I lie taking a sip of the beverage.

Looking up at him. Watching as he fumbles for something in his pocket, and places it upon the table. Then pulling the small metal tray from the wall with a small box inside it. Within the privacy of the high walled booth, he begins to unfasten the mask hiding his face. Placing it upon the table beside his drink. The scarred warrior in his true form, now sits before me. Reaching down for the package from his pocket, he opens it.

“ Would you like one” , he offers.

“Those will kill you”, I respond back.

“Yeah probably, but who wants to live forever”, he chuckles back.

“ Why not. Couldn’t hurt to try it”, seeing his point for what it is.

Taking two of the tobacco filled tubes from the pack. I watch the ritual with fascination. Placing them between his lips, while removing a small stick from the box in the small metal tray. A small glare of light flashes as the stick is struck along the box. Bringing the tiny torch to the tip of the cigarettes, and drawing a breath to bring them to a soft orange glow. Then shaking the small torch out and placing it in the metal tray. Removing the now lit cigarettes from his lips, he passes one to me. Gingerly I take it from him.

Having never smoked before, I observe his lead. Placing the firm filter into my own lips, I suck in a small amount of the thick gray smoke. Feeling the warmth of smoldering end, as it glows brighter illuminating my face. It is a bit harsh on my unpolluted lungs causing me to cough. Hacking up the fog from my lungs, he slides the tray over so that I can put down the cigarette.

“ First time is always a bit rough”, he says taking a generous swig of his drink. “ It helps every now and then with stress” , he continues addressing my darkened state.

Retrieving the cigarette , I give it another draw. This time more prepared for the intrusion to my respiratory system. Expelling a thick cloud of dense smoke from my mouth. Setting it down in exchange from my cocktail. Taking another sip of the harsh liquid, allowing the warming effects to travel throughout my body. Coupling the warmth with the beginning effects of the nicotine now reacting in my neurochemistry, he was right about relieving the stress.

A small smile crosses my face as I gaze at him. He too smiles back through a thick cloud of smoke coming from his nose like a mythical creature.

Marckus:

It is pleasant sitting across from such an enigmatic creature, and having a drink. Also to not hide behind my “war face”, and just be a man. Taking another generous swallow of the volatile liquid burning all the way down to my gut. Been a long time since I had a smile on my face for the right reasons. Not because of all the chaos and death that I had sown on some poor populace.

“So what happened to your encounter with the tech”, she timidly asks me.

“I am not sure. She must have been much busier after your examination, than I had thought. Though I am enjoying your company so far”, I reply taking another long drag on the smoke. Blowing smoke rings on exhalation of the carcinogenic gas.

Having a bit of trouble believing that this creature is capable of instilling such fear in the hearts of so many. So frail and coy in the flesh. Nothing like the rumors claim in the least. Looks can be deceiving, even in such a fabled being. I should like to at some point see the fable made flesh. It would be nice to see just what this monster can really do. Comparatively to my own much more brutal way of life. To see precision and grace in a different dance for a change. Sure I will always love the thrill of hunting, and of being hunted. But to see raw mutilation without the worry of being attacked in the process.

Taking another drag at that thought, “I should like to see your setup, and possibly see you in action as well”, I casually say producing another gray cloud. A morbid curiosity driving the statement.