Something magnificent

Alice understood why the holidays rubbed people the wrong way so she never really questioned someone when they said they didn’t like the holidays. Halloween being the exception, holidays hadn’t always been her favorite either. However, as time had passed and she’d repaired her relationship with her family, she grew to like the holidays more and more. “Ugh, that’s the worst, when you can’t get any peace and quiet,” she frowned. She nodded when Karen said she’d take the coffee, glad to be able to actually give her something. After all, she was a guest. “I have quite the collection, plus everything available on Netflix. My favorite, though, is The Ring. Wanna’ start with that one?”

Well. At least she got it. That’s what she liked about Alice. Karen couldn’t agree with her excitement over the holidays but at least Alice wasn’t shoving it down her throat. She liked how accepting she was of things instead of forcing her opinion on someone else. “Yeah. Holidays are an excuse for my neighbors to get a little too festive. Shit they’ll be throwing off cocaine and having the loudest sex ever. I guess I could handle some of the children showing up at my door and doing trick or treats even though they’re almost as annoying but the adults? They’re worse.” She said with a sigh. “The Ring? Like the original or Westernized version of it? The Japanese ones have always been better.” She said then shrugged. “Sure. Let’s do it.” 

She chuckled, though she could tell Karen wasn’t too thrilled. Then again, Karen had never seemed all that thrilled about anything–at the very least, Alice had never seen it. It was interesting, spending time with Karen. Though they were both well aware of the past, neither of them ever really talked about how once upon a time, they had both been at Glendale, Alice as a patient and Karen as an employee. It didn’t ever seem worth bringing up, though Alice couldn’t help but think of it whenever their paths crossed. She wondered if Karen ever felt the same, or if she even remembered it that well at all. “Yeah, it’s still a little over a month away but what can I say? I’m always eager for the holidays to get here I guess..” When Karen mentioned the beer, Alice thought that maybe she didn’t remember Glendale that much after all. Before her slip up two months ago, she’d been sober for a year-and-a-half and even after her recent slip-up, she hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol since then. With a small smile, she said “I’m sorry, I don’t have any beer. I’d give it to you if I did. Besides coffee, though, I also have hot chocolate, tea, or apple cider.”

Karen had nearly forgot her days as an orderly. She had carried a noble wish back then. Wanting to help the patients but then she realized the environment had not been suitable for her. She was too rough and critical of people with illnesses so she decided to move to the second best. Being a bouncer wasn’t all that different but better since her conscience would never feel guilt when she had to manhandle someone. Knowing they were just assholes and drunks sometimes both and not people who were sick. She tried to leave the orderly life behind which is why she never brought it up when she needed to spend time with ex patients like Alice or Jane or Heather or Alice’s husband. She barely mentioned it. “Lucky you. Holidays give me the hives. Too much cheeriness. It gets batshit loud where I live.” Belcrest was an ugly place anyway. She didn’t remeber what Alice’s diagnoses had been so she just shrugged when she said there wasn’t any. “Shame. I’m not into the.... Festive beverages. I’ll take the coffee.” She said realizing how awkward she must be. “What movies do you have?” 

School had been keeping Alice pretty busy these past few weeks but she needed a break and with Halloween steadily approaching, it was time to dive head-first into all of the autumnal witchy ooky spooky vibes of the season. She had just finished decorating the apartment and was brewing some coffee. Looking across the kitchen island, she smiled and said “So… What do you think? I know I probably should’ve been studying today but the apartment needed some cheering up so I decided to decorate instead. And now I’m thinking about having some pumpkin spice coffee and possibly a scary movie marathon. You in?”

God. What is it with people and their obsession with Halloween season. Karen was not fond of it and she didn’t think she ever would be. It was just like any other season except gloomier which isn’t a bad thing for since it gives her an excuse to warm herself up with alcohol but all the extra festivities? She found them annoying. That’s not even counting those children knocking on her door for some trick and treating bullshit. She wasn’t into it at all. Alas her companion over here seemed to be delighted by the idea. Karen just shook her head looking up with a slight sigh. She would have to admit it looked neat. Better than the shipwreck she called her apartment. “It’s..... I guess it looks cozy. Isn’t Halloween still a month away? Or pumpkin season. Whatever that means.” She said before shrugging. Oh hell. “Guess I have some time to spare. I’d rather have some beer though.”

“I feel like they made the right call. It’s better this way, it’s what I’m used to. People don’t give a shit about me and that’s how it’s always been.” Jane shrugged, sniffling. She felt like she didn’t deserve for someone to care about her, although she did want someone to. “Yeah, so I guess I’m done there. It just sucks because I was getting my life on track and then I, I don’t know, couldn’t handle myself. I fucked myself over. I’m never going to be able to drink again.” Jane looked to her. She wanted to mention how AA meetings were free but she felt like this woman didn’t need to hear that now. “Yeah. It’s bullshit.”

“Well...... I’m sure there’s at least someone who cares. Or not. I don’t know. I’ve never had anyone care about me either. I’m fine with that though. Life’s easier that way. No one can tell you what to do.” Karen felt bad since her first suggestion involved getting her a drink but she sounded intent on not going back so she didn’t say anything. She just nodded. She didn’t know what else to do to help her she looked like she was stuck in misery. Karen didn’t even know why she even wanted to help in the first place. She doesn’t give a shit usually. Maybe because she could see herself in this person. Except this person actually tried to get better. Karen has never done that. “We should get you back up. Come on. Fuck them. They’re not worth your time.” She said. “Wanna grab a bite? Maybe it’ll help you feel better.” 

“Ghosted me, pretty much. I don’t have any texts or missed calls.” Jane wasn’t sure if Heather tried coming over and if her roommate said something, but that kind of made her feel worse thinking Heather knew what happened to her and just didn’t care to check in. “Guess we ghosted each other.” Jane cracked a small smile, she understood. “I’m tired of feeling like my life isn’t going anywhere.” Or that she was unimportant.

“That’s fucking shitty of them still wow. Clearly they don’t give a fuck about you and you shouldn’t bother with them. No use in sticking around people like that.” She sighed and shrugged. Karen never had any qualms cutting people off especially when they turned to be complete assholes. It made life easy for her. She’d rather not get attached to anyone. “My life isn’t going anywhere either.” Karen confessed with a bitter laugh. “Obviously going to rehab is only going to make my life a living hell. No one gives a fuck about me. I’m stuck with a moderate paying job. I feel like I’m just going to fucking rot alone and booze is the only shit I will mourn.” 

She felt like there was no talking about it, just complaining. Jane thought the possibility of seeing this girl again was slim so she felt fine with letting it all out. “I’m an alcoholic. And I went away for help and I lost my fucking soulmate or whatever you believe or don’t believe in. And I don’t know what I’m doing with my life anymore. I thought I was getting back on track but then I do stupid shit like erase months of hard work because of a lapse of judgement.”

Karen thought soulmates were absolute bullshit but who was she to judge people’s beliefs. She might be an asshole to a lot but she wasn’t the kind of person who liked to shove her mindset on others. “Well that fucking sucks. Did they dump you or something? What a shitty thing to do. It’s why I don’t do relationships really. People are assholes.” She didn’t know how to cover for the alcoholism part since she didn’t plan on fixing her own. “You shouldn’t be around me either. I solve problems with booze.” She said chuckling humorlessly. “But..... You shouldn’t feel like a faliure just because you relapsed once. Or twice. Or more. The road to recovery isn’t smooth or at least that’s what I’ve heard.”

Jane shrugged. She looked at the woman. “I wasn’t thinking when I sat down, it’s a little sticky down here.” She bit into her lower lip. She didn’t know what to do anymore, with herself. She felt like such garbage, like she deserved to be there. “I just fucked up. Uh, it’s fine.” She took some toilet paper to wipe under her eyes, she was still crying and didn’t know how to stop. 

Karen shrugged. “That shouldn’t be a problem. I work at a nasty club this is nothing.” She said as she looked at the girl up and down. She didn’t seem like the other drunk girls around here. She was clearly conscious enough to not act like an idiot but her crying was pretty bad. Was she going through a fresh break up or divorce? that would make sense. “Lucky you you’re sitting infront of fuck up extraordinaire. Want to talk about it?” Karen asked raising an eyebrow.

The person’s voice startled her, she quickly wiped under her eyes, then her snot on her sleeve. “Yeah,” her voice was hoarse as she spoke. She knew she had to get up eventually, but she wasn’t ready to then. She was so upset with herself, she wasted months of hard work in one night. She was going to have to call her sponsor and start all over. “I’m okay.”

Karen felt like she knew her from somewhere but she couldn’t put her finger on it maybe because she had been drinking too she always had a hard time remembering things after she got tipsy. The girl looked so upset though it felt wrong to just leave her there ever for someone as careless as she was. She never thought much of others but she would be willing to help as long as they didn’t annoy her. “Are you sure?” She asked. “Do you want me to sit here with you? Like Jesus. You look really troubled...”

Jane sat on the floor of the gender-neutral bathroom inside a hip, Bushwick bar. She didn’t care how dirty it was or if she even locked the door. She went back on months of sobriety with a few sips from a drink she shouldn’t have ordered, and she was in pieces. She was crying to the muffled sound of the bar’s radio, snot running out her nose and letting every noise out.

Karen had been drinking as usual. Her shift just ended and she was now relaxing with a few pints of booze. Feeling a little overwhelmed she walked into the bathroom to wash her hands and honestly escape a few guys who had been leering at her. She heard crying from one of the stalls and raised her eyebrow. Karen usually didn’t care but it sounded really bad. “Hey. I can hear you from here.” She said as she knocked the door not wanting to open it yet just incase the person just forgot to lock the door. “Are you okay?”

The Spring had given way to summer and the heat of the city was rising up from the blacktop even as the sun dipped below the horizon. The park offered some reprieve from the smell of asphalt and the greenery was soothing. The humid air left sweat clinging to Finnegan’s face and arms as he rounded the corner and slowed his pace. His smartwatch began to quietly summarize his workout, but the firefighter wasn’t listening. He brought his water bottle away from his lips and his brow furrowed as he saw a figure in the shadows up ahead. He stepped to the side, trying to get a better look without going up too close to them. It looked like there was a person seated on one of the benches near the entrance of the park, but they were slumped over slightly. Sleeping? Injured? Dehydrated? Finn’s rescue instincts were hard to shake. “Excuse me.” His deep voice cut through the sounds of the crickets and cicadas in the summer air. “Are you alright? Do you need some help?” 

“Shit.....” Karen had her head hung really low. She was hungover once again and as always. She didn’t have enough energy to listen to her tenants complaining over how she reeked of booze so a walk in the park sounded like the best idea for the time being. Karen’s head was throbbing quite painfully and she didn’t know if she made the right decision by doing this but there was no turning back now. At least she didn’t have to deal with anyone screaming and burning her ears off. Karen barely looked up as she heard footsteps close. She glanced to see a familiar face. They used to work together in Glendale and oh how so many things have changed now. “Finnegan...” She murmured slurring a bit. “My heads seconds away from exploding. I had too much last night.” She was an alcoholic so it wasn’t a surprise.

Annabeth knew going to a bar was literally the worst possible way she could spend her night, but she was especially lonely and horny and desperate. Her only other option was Tinder, which she grew to hate after too many encounters with Trump supporters and literal nazis. 

She took a seat on a stool and ordered herself a water, glancing around the bar to see if there were any contenders. Usually she preferred being with men, but tonight she didn’t really care much about that. As long as they were attractive and not bigots she was interested.

She notices someone at the end of the bar and smiles over at them as she sips on her water like it’s an actual alcoholic beverage. 

Karen usually preferred to drink at home. She wasn’t the most social individual at there and would rather be stuck in a cubicle of her own apartment instead of going outside and actually interacting with others. Alas. She had run out of booze back home and she wouldn’t be getting paid enough for a whole bottle until at least the end of the beach bash. 

Sighing she walked over to the barkeep and handed some cash. He shot her a dirty look but Karen was already used to it. She only shook her then sat down. As she looked over she noticed a woman was giving her a smile. She didn’t smile back thoug she did raise her glass to greet her. “Here by yourself?” She asked gruffly.

“I thought about dyeing my hair the colors of my flag for this, then I decided it would be a little impractical and I didn’t think I would really fit the lavender…” She twined a strand of her red waves around her finger, and tipping up the sun hat that was colored like the bi flag, crimson lips quirking in a smile. “So I bought this hat instead. What do you think? Is it stylish? Maybe I won’t get wicked sunburn this year now. Buying up all the booths and burning my wallet is still a huge possibility, on the other hand.”

Karen was.... Well. Karen was being her usual self. She had a flask with her and a bisexual flag tucked in her breast pocket. She wasn’t the kind to go around and chat with many people preferring to mind her own business for as long as it was possible. She was just here to relax because she knew she would have to get prepared tomorrow for the bash in the upcoming week. Karen looked slightly to the side at the girl who was talking.... She thought she wasn’t talking to her at first. Shrugging slightly, Karen knew nothing of fashion. “It’s not too bad.... It looks like an accessory and nothing more though. It won’t protect you from the heat.” New York was mild in comparison to her hometown but she knew better than to underestimate sunburn. “Eh. Wish I had more cash to do that. I’m just going to spend it on the booze instead.”

These past few weeks had been difficult for Alice, especially since before school had started getting stressful, she and Alec were living in a bubble of wedded bliss–and they still were. However, all of the end of the semester’s due dates had started to creep up on her, leaving her feeling a lot more stressed and anxious than she’d been in a while. It was times like these in the past that she’d turned to bad habits to help ease her stress but she couldn’t do that, not anymore. So instead, she was fighting her urges while being over-caffeinated and unfocused. Sitting in her favorite crowded coffee shop, she didn’t even realize that someone was asking her a question until they actually tapped her on the shoulder. “What? Oh, shit, sorry… Yeah, you can go ahead and sit, I’m not saving that seat for anyone..”

“Thanks. Honestly this place is so packed.” And Karen hated every inch of it but it was the closest diner she knew and she didn’t feel like driving across the town only for a cup of coffee. She could have settled with her usual dose of alcohol but considering how much she had been wanting to apply for a new job lately she thought she could try to shift the pattern. Karen frowned when she realized how familiar the girl looked. “Alice, right?”