summer on the river styx

“Fuck—” That was the only word that seemed appropriate of the affect ten years had had on her old work place and once favorite watering hole. Ten years did little to change her tendency to swear. The fury nodded over at her old manager, they’d never really spoken much but the unspoken nature of their friendship was something she appreciated. He didn’t tell her much she’d cost them in damages and she kept the riffraff out. She sat herself at the bar and ordered properly for the first ever time in her history with the Anti-Hero. “Well I don’t know about you, but I’m staying here all fucking night.”

  A scoff was all Nyx elicited from Dee. She’d been wanting to go off and explore every nook and cranny of Barton—the exact same thing she did when she first got here. What had changed? Who was still around? What was everyone doing? There were so many unanswered questions, and being anchored to a barstool for the rest of the night didn’t sound all too enticing. But hell—it was what Nyx wanted to do. She worked at the Anti-Hero pub for forever, and Dee figured there must be some sentiment in the dusty old bar.

At first Ariel thought she was crazy, she really did. She missed Dee enough to mistake someone’s voice with hers. Sometimes walking down the street, she would see two figures relatively similar to the demi-god and the fury and would immediately freak out. For some time, she would often tap the person in the back and hope that it would be her friend but often ended up disappointed. Ariel looked up at the use of the word “dude”, it seemed like a strange detail but there was only one person she knew that would often use it. A wide smile appeared as she stopped playing “It’s you.” she said, or muttered she didn’t know…she stood up and hugged the girl “It’s been so long!”

  The embrace was tight, as Dee squeezed a little bit harder than necessary—but how long had it been since she seen Ariel? To her, certain faces would always remind her of Barton, and Ariel’s sweet face had always stuck to the back of the demi-god’s mind. Every mention of ballet or gymnastics Dee would think back to her, and it almost became some burden of heartache to be nostalgic for the people she left in Barton. “Yep—it’s me,” she teased, but the severity of her emotions became apparent—she fought back tears through a tight lipped smile “It’s been forever dude—I always remembered you being shorter than me, but I guess we’re the same height.”

She felt the door burst open, and yet didn’t stop playing. She spent her day playing everything related to Tchaikovsky in the slightest. It only made her miss ballet more, but at the same time it gave her some sense of duty. “You’re no supposed to be here.” she said, she didn’t sound rude and didn’t feel the need to. It happened often, this didn’t mean she didn’t disliked it but she couldn’t hold it agaisn’t anyone. Opening the wrong door happened, and it wasn’t a big deal “If you’re looking for Rachel, she is at the other door. I don’t work on Sundays, neither I take contracts today.” the entire time she spoke, she didn’t stopped playing. “I apologize.”

  At first, Dee didn’t say anything. Was there a need to say anything? The wonderful melody that floated through the air was the only thing worth listening to—she didn’t have to hear herself speak. Instead of striking up a conversation and interrupting Ariel, the sound of squeaky boots stepping around the room tried to mimic the tempo of the song. One after the other, the squeaking got farther away as Dee gazed up and down the walls and windows. It was only when Ariel was finished talking that Dee laughed, tapping the glass pane of the window. “You don’t need to apologize, dude,” she said, stifling a giggle “Well, maybe you do—is this any way to treat me after all this time?”

"I only got drunk once…with a beer. I didn’t know what it was. Uhm, Dee…i’m 19"

    "... What the hell, dude? You're 19? When did that happen? Why didn't you tell me?" 

Sienna bit her lower lip as she listened, nodding as Dee told her more about the owner of the car. “He sounds unpleasant,” she agreed for the other girl’s sake, running a hand through her hair. “Do you have to deal with guys like him often?”

"Dee, it’s your birthday. We can do whatever you want." The shorter girl said with a little shrug of her shoulders. "Something out of state? Are we going on an adventure?" Nyx asked, a smirk appearing on her lips. 

  “Yeah. Road trip,” she declared, wiping a stray strand of hair back into place. Raising her chin she took a deep breath “We’re going on a road trip—one that takes us to Mexico and back—you have a passport dude?”

"Then at least let me help you? It would hardly do to have you injured on your birthday."

   Leaning back just to give the man an incredulous glare, Dee frowned. "What are you going to do? Can you even reach up here? Or--like--get some big stick?"

Terra had hoped for a different reaction, had expected her words to enrage this girl further, to awake in her an anger that would drive her to act. Her tone, however, changed into something calm and submissive. It seemed very unlike this girl to take an insult so willingly, to not argue; it was as if she agreed. Terra frowned, “And perhaps this is why other people have not acted yet; they also do not know how to go about it.”

  There hadn’t been any organization, any coalitions, or even some half-assed town hall meeting—it had just been funerals. As a child, Dee could remember the stories her mother wove of the strange town of Barton Hollow, and the distinct fear the people had of the faeries who tormented them. They terrorized the town, going so far as to steal newborns and kill them without second thought. At least, that was, until they finally made a deal with the townspeople. “’Cause they don’t know what to do—and they’re fearful,” she added on “It’s always been like this—no one has ever fought back against the faeries.”

"Get plastered?" she wrinkled her face and then quickly shook her head "Uhm no, i don’t really. I have never celebrated one." 

   "Wait wait wait--you've never gotten drunk on your birthday? Like what about when you turned 21?"

"Happy birthday, Dee! …uhm I don’t think i’m the right person to answer that….what do people do during their birthdays?"

   "They celebrate? Have some cake? Get plastered?" she laughed "You don't know what people do on their birthdays?"

Biting back a smile, Sienna watched silently as the dark-haired girl finished up spray-painting the car. “What did he do?” she questioned curiously, her head tilted slightly.

   "Oh, shit--where do I begin..." she took a deep breath "Just being an overall asshole--he's on the rugby team and those dickwads are always hitting on the girl's soccer team." 

“What, respecting my elders?  Is that what I should be doing, according to you?”  

   "Minding your own business and respect are the same thing--I don't need a high schooler giving me shit."