Five Years today
Feb. 27th, 2026 08:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessFive years ago today I fell. I nearly lost my leg. I was in the hospital/care home for months. It was horrible. Care homes are awful. It seemed like I'd be there forever. But there was still hope.
I taught my classes online from my bed. I helped interview for a new professor from that same bed.
And I had THIS community. You made that time better by checking in with me. You sent me gifts. You sent me stories. The Prodigal Son community made this most amazing art out of one of my stories and I took it back and forth to the hospital every time I had to return for more surgeries because I was afraid the care home would lose it and it was precious to me (It's in my office on top of the file cabinet today).
I'm not sure you know how much you meant to me as I learned to walk again. As I went through all this pain (If you want a visual, go look at the pictures Lindsey Vonn has been posting of her leg and external fixator, my leg looked exactly like that). And I feel sad that one of my biggest supporters,spikedluv isn't here to read this. But so many others did so much and more, especially evil_little_dog. It meant everything and I appreciate all of you. Thank you.
I'm doing good. I hike when I can. I'm not in terrible pain for the most part but the leg is weak and the nerve pain I do have is not fun. But I'm here. This is not stopping me.
And today I realized that not only is it a bad day for me two of my favorite celebrities died on the 27th, Leonard Nimoy and Mister Rogers.
In better news...
Tried the new coffee shop in Point Pleasant. this one isn't near the mothman centric stuff. There is one there that I go to that is...okay. I'd love to say let me watch your shop for a weekend and you go to a coffee conference because even McDonalds gets more adventuresome than you. This one had a great menu but too many cold drinks (especially for winter) I liked it but it's out of the way. A student found me there. figures.
AND the on-campus Mennonite coffee shop has mushroom coffee. I was afraid to know how much it was and they named the mixed drink with it the muddy puddle....
Came home to the news of someone I went to school with losing everything when some monster burned ALL of his beehives (he makes his living with the wax/honey etc), 60 hives, tens of thousands of bees, all gone. People suck.
Sigh.
But I did write and since I'm not ready for it to be on AO3 as it's part of a longer work, I'm just putting it here. Wrote it forspikesgirl58's 6 word challenge.
The words I had to use: Equinox, Bat, Loss, Allowance, Sunday, & Privacy
Chapter One
Angel swayed slightly as he exited Valentino’s limo in front of the Equinox. He’d never been in this bar and as far as he knew, neither had Val. He was too high to give a shit. He wasn’t even sure what had been in the drug cocktail Val had given him, didn’t care. Ever since he returned to Valentino two days ago – maybe longer, time was no longer a thing that existed in his drug-addled brain – Angel had been higher than he’d been in forever. Val had been kind, bordering on sweet, but that was a trap. Angel knew it. It wouldn’t take a month of Sundays before Val reverted to form. Valentino knew how the sweetness trap worked Angel’s nerves.
“Why this place, babe?” he slurred out as Val exited the limo, carrying Vox’s head suspended from leather bondage straps like a purse.
“I’m feeling like music tonight.” He pulled Angel close, running his fingers through his hair. “You’ll enjoy it, amorcito.”
Angel yelped as Vox tongued his hip bone, shocking him.
“Now, now Voxie, none of that or you can wait in the car.” Valentino waved a finger in front of Vox’s eyes.
Vox tried the whole mesmerizing eye thing for a second until Valentino’s face darkened ominously and then he knocked it off. “I’d rather wait in the car than be seen like this!”
“And that’s why you’re coming.” Velvette bailed out of the limo wearing the same outfit as Val, a bat wing-inspired corset, and a leather mini-skirt. Angel had been dressed the same like he was one of them, like he was worthy of being a Vee. It was them mocking him. “Maybe next time you won’t fuck us over and try to blow away all of hell because you want to fuck Alastor.”
“That’s not what I was doing!”
“Angel cakes, do you have delightful toy I gave you?” Valentino kept stroking Angel’s hair.
With a feral grin, Angel pulled the ball gag out of his purse. Val lifted Vox’s head, thrusting it at him.
“You know how it goes.”
Angel smirked and blew a kiss at Vox who let loose with a stream of curses that should have struck Angel dead they were so vile. But, with his mouth flapping open, it was easy to pop the ball in and strap it into place.
“I like him better this way,” he said, not caring if the other Vees corrected his behavior.
“So do I.” Velvette cruised past him, clicking along on her darling heels. Angel’s weren’t as cute. His mirrored Valentino’s.
He took Valentino’s offered arm and Val carried Vox on the opposite side, not just so he couldn’t somehow still manage to shock Angel – he put nothing past Vox – but also Angel wouldn’t be tempted to break off an antenna like he tried yesterday. He still wore the bruises Val had peppered into him for that. Fuck them both. Vox had mind raped him and Val allowed it. He was only here because there was nowhere else to go. He deserved this after what Vox had made him do to Charlie and his friends.
The Equinox bar had a Vegas lounge feel to it, soft lighting, round tables all facing the stage and pretty décor. This wasn’t a typical hellish bar, packed with people, writhing together, sloppy drunk and loud. It was more refined for the sinners, the ones with class. So what the fuck was Val here for? He chose a table in the back for them, another surprise. Valentino usually wanted to be the center of attention, not hide in the shadows. Valentino didn’t know the meaning of privacy. What the hell was going on?
A cocktail waitress brought them a complementary meat and cheese board with a bright smile on her face. “The bar menu is on the table. I’m happy to take your drinks order when you’re ready. Just turn the light to flickering.” She gestured to the electronic candle in the middle of the table.
“This place is almost not tacky,” Velvette said, glancing around. “Do you have a drink recommendation?”
“I prefer the rum drinks but I will say the witch’s heart is fantastic; it’s shimmery vodka and blackberry.”
“I’ll take that,” Velvette said. “Make it two?”
Valentino shrugged. “Why not make it three? I know Angel likes anything shimmering.”
Angel managed a smile for him because he wanted Valentino to think he was appreciative of him thinking of him. However, his attention was on the crowd trying to work out what was going on here. He forced himself to not react when he spotted Rosie at a table near the stage. Had Valentino known she’d be here? Why did he suspect so? Something was wrong. Worry crept up his spine.
“You’re tense, amorcito.” Valentino ran a finger down Angel’s back.
“Sorry, not really. It’s just that I’ve never been here and I’m scoping out the place. It’s different from our usual.”
“Yeah, it’s probably boring.” Velvette rolled her eyes.
“You enjoy lounge acts, baby and I’m not sure that casino lounge is the best place for you,” Valentino said. “Maybe here might work better.”
“Oh?”
Alarm bells went off in Angel’s head. What had he told Vox about singing in the casino? It had to have been something, right? It had been a side gig that he didn’t give a percentage to Valentino for. His anxiety kicked it up a notch. He was going to get hurt. Angel could smell it in the air, the simmering rage. Valentino might look placid but he wasn’t.
“You don’t sound happy.”
“Just surprised is all. You don’t usually book me singing gigs.”
“You deserve a treat. You did come back home where you belong, after all.” Valentino caressed his way up under Angel’s skirt. He stopped his hand just short of Angel’s panties. Angel barely breathed waiting for what came next: an illicit caress of his cock? A vicious twist of his trestles to remind him who was boss?
“A treat? For running away from tacky central?” Velvette pulled out her phone.
“Now, now, Velvette. Our Angel liked it there.”
“I did,” he whispered. Valentino looked at him sharply. “I know you don’t like her, Val, but I did like the princess. She reminded me of my sister.”
Vox tried to mumble around his gag and Val thumped him.
“You’re better off away from all those bad influences, Angel.”
Angel breathed in, loud like a dragon, but held his tongue. He merely nodded and the waitress returned with their drinks. He sipped his drink, sweet and pleasant and maybe, just maybe he’d get lucky and they would evans leave it as ‘better off away’ and drop the topic before the enormity of his loss hit him again. Val had made it clear he was already tired of how blitzed out of his mind Angel was and his high would be curated by Valentino. He’d had his allowance of drugs for the night. He’d have to play along and hope the alcohol would be enough. He fiddled with the drink menu trying to settle his nerves. He grinned when he spotted something.
“Val, next drink can I try the vampire Cynar Negroni? It’s got all the Italian liquors that I love. It is more bitter than this though, I’m sure, if either of you decide you want one.”
“If it’s gross, I’ll pour it down Vox’s gullet,” Valentino shot his….lover? Ex? What the hell did they call Vox now that he was just a head? Val shot him serious stink eye. Vox growled around the gag.
“Or I could drink it and you can make him drink this tequila drink.” Angel tapped the menu. “You know how he loves tequila.”
Valentino kissed Angel greedily and Angel was sure he heard a ‘fuck you’ in spite of the gag. “You are evil, amorcito.”
“I am in hell.”
“Speaking of which I think a further hell is about to start.” Velvette nodded to the stage now illuminated brightly.
Angel ignored her. Her musical tastes were highly limited as far as he was concerned. He looked forward to the show. A quick glance to the front of the room proved Rosie was too. The MC announced the singer as Phoenix and promising a mix of music from the 50s to the 1990s which was not what he was expecting. The band took the stage and Angel dropped his drink. He caught it before it splashed. Now it made all made sense. He knew why they were at this club and why they were hiding in the back. Did Rosie own this place? Did Alastor? Did it matter?
What mattered was Husk had walked on stage with such a broken expression Angel nearly sobbed out loud. What had he done to his friend? No, what had he done to the man he absolutely was in love with? Where had Husk found a suit? He looked amazing. He had a saxophone suspended around his neck. Wait? Husk was a musician? How the fuck did that never come up in conversation? That absolute asshole! Angel had a list of saxophone solos he’d love to hear and none of them were from the 50s to the 90s.
It took him a few seconds to realize his secondary eyes were open and that Valentino was watching him. Angel looked at him and Val smirked. Angel didn’t flinch. Fuck Valentino and his games.
“You recognize el gato pendajo.” Valentino’s tone was light but his expression was not.
“Husk is Charlie’s bartender. I guess he plays sax. I didn’t know that.”
“He’s more than the princesa’s bartender,” Val argued.
“He’s my friend.”
“He’s more.” Val put a cigarette in his holder and lit up. He still sounded unbothered but there was no way in hell that he wasn’t jealous and furious.
“No, he’s really not.”
Valentino grabbed Angel’s by his chin and brought the tip of his cigarette close to Angel’s little eyes. “Lie to me more,” he threatened. “That Hijo de puta came into my house and tried to kidnap you. He didn’t do that because you’re just friends.”
Angel swallowed hard, trying not to let his fear show. “Cherri probably talked him into it. Or Charlie sent him to bring me home.”
“You were home,” Valentino growled.
“Not if you asked Charlie. That’s all it was, Val. You know Cherri always has my back. She’s with Charlie now too.”
“You really think you can convince me you’re not fucking the kitty? Vox told me how fast he jumped to your defense.”
Angel could feel the heat radiating from the tip of Val’s cigarette.
“He did,” Velvette said and Angel curled his lip at her.
“He’s my friend. We’ve never been naked together. He doesn’t even like my movies. He’s not interested in me,” Angel lied. Thank God Husk hadn’t looked like he was in love with Angel when they were in the hotel. If Vox had spied on them when they were in the casino lounge….of course he might have texted Vox all about it for all he could remember.
Val dug his fingers into Angel’s flesh. “No one risks their life for someone else.”
“Friends do. Pentious straight up died again for us. Husk and Cherri thought I needed rescuing. I told them to leave me alone. I chose you, Val. Doesn’t that count?”
“Did you choose him or are you too embarrassed to go back after being Vox’s bitch?” Velvette’s gaze sliced him deeper than the knife his brother had given him on his thirteenth birthday, the one he nearly severed a tendon on when his hand slipped.
“I’m here. That’s all that matters,” he said and both of them snorted at him. Vox gargled out a laugh.
Valentino’s antennae twitched. “Would you rescue me if I needed you to?”
“I did. I strangled my best friend for you,” he said miserably.
“I forced you. That doesn’t count.”
It does, you fucker, it does. I betrayed people I love for your abusive ass. he thought but what he said was, “You wouldn’t need me to save you.”
“He would if that stray pussy shows back up.” Velvette set the candle to flickering and put her empty drink on the edge of the table.
Valentino glared at her not happy to have her doubt his fighting prowess.
She shrugged. “What? He blasted you straight out of the penthouse and I found you dangling from Vox’s wires. And he’ll be back.”
“No, I told him and Cherri to lose my number. We’re done,” Angel spat.
“Who gives a fuck about you, crack whore? That damn deer might send him and that tiny one eyed bitch after us again,” Velvette said and Vox tried to shout something. Velvette pulled his head closer and started working the gag off.
“Niffty? Why would Alastor and Niffty…oh, never mind.” Of course. Angel had been there – high and unconcerned – when Vox and Alastor had mixed it up years before Al had gone missing.
“What?” Val asked.
“Jesus, Val, your vision is shit. Did you not recognize that cat? He even asked ‘we still fighting these nobodies?’ Nobodies! Us! I should make him choke on that fucking sax,” Velvette raged.
“Leave him. It’s more painful that way at least for some of us.” Val let Angel’s chin go and patted him on the head. “Who is he really, Angie? He went toe to toe with us and was winning. I might have been ganged up on but he bested me in a fight. I want to know who he is.”
“Val, all I know is he’s allied with Alastor and he is Charlie’s bartender. I texted Vox everything. You know as much as I know,” Angel protested. Husk beat Val? Why couldn’t he remember clearly? Oh right, he was blitzed at the time. Did he really disappear into his hat? That had to be a drug dream, right?
“Is he an overlord?” Velvette asked.
“How would I know? You guys go to the meetings not me. He’s my friend but he never mentioned he’s a bad ass fighter. I’ve seen him explode heads with his dice and cards. Husk is just…Husk. I didn’t even know he was a musician. Mostly I dump my purse on him at the end of the day and he pours me drinks. It’s nothing more than that,” Angel said, refusing to tell them Husk was once an overlord.
“He has to be an overlord,” Velvette mused, pulling Vox’s gag away. “He was there stabilizing dumbfuck’s mistake.” She flicked a wickedly sharp fingernail at Vox’s eye. He squeezed them shut tight.
“If he is, it’s news to me.”
“You brought me to one of Alastor’s damn clubs!” Vox snarled. “And yes, of course Charlie’s pet kitten is an overlord. He disappeared from the scene before you got here Velvette. Val, you and I fought him before Alastor went m.i.a.. He’s the gambling overlord, thought Al had killed him until he popped up with him.”
“He’s with Al and Rosie,” Angel said. “That’s all I know. What does it matter?”
“It matters that he’ll try for you again.” Valentino slammed a fist on the table and other patrons glared their way.
“He won’t.”
“And who knows if he’ll help Alastor against us again.” Velvette smiled, happy to be stirring the pot for both him and Vox.
Angel wanted to argue but he couldn’t. “That has nothing to do with me.”
“Doesn’t it?”
He shook his head and hunched in miserably as the waitress returned. Velvette ordered another witch’s heart and two of the vampire drinks. No one ordered for Vox, maybe to spare him the embarrassment of being hand fed in public. Val let the topic drop because it was clear that he was convinced that Husk would attack again. Angel hadn’t protected him, after all. What if they decided to bring the attack to Husk? He’d betray Val in a heartbeat if that was the case. The best he could do was to ensure Husk never came back after him.
Because he would.
Because his eyes were on Angel even now as his fingers played over the keys of his sax. Husk saw him and wasn’t even hiding the fact that he knew the Vees and Angel were in the club. He was smart enough to not leap off the stage and try something. Hopefully, he knew he couldn’t take on two Vees alone. Maybe Rosie would throw in with him but Angel wouldn’t bet on it. She might pretend to be sweet but who in hell really was? Charlie, that’s who.
When Val didn’t press the point, Angel settled back listening to the lyrics, every word extracting another sliver of his shattered heart and feeding it to the cannibals.
Don't ask me
What you know is true
Don't have to tell you
I love your precious heart
He recognized this song thanks to Cherri, Never Tear Us Apart. Oh, how he wished. He’d been torn. Val got the tattered remains of him. He didn’t even deserve that much. As the group played on, Angel knew more of the songs. Phoenix had a sweet voice. She was pretty and he hoped Val didn’t pay her any mind. She had the body for porn. When she broke into Jump, Jive, an’ Wail Phoenix proved she could dance and God, how good was Husk? His saxophone sang through the song. Angel could have wept for all the nights lost in not knowing Husk had this talent.
When the set was over, Husk disappeared and didn’t come into the audience area. They waited for some time, halfway through the next performance, but there was no sign of him. Was he outside waiting? Angel hoped not. Rosie, on the other hand, swished her way over to them.
She smiled at the group. “Is this your first visit to my club?”
So, Vox was wrong but maybe she shared it with Al. Angel wouldn’t bet against it. She leaned on his shoulder.
“Not really our scene,” Velvette said, “but the drinks are fabulous. I already have them trending.”
“Good to know. Thank you.”
As Rosie made small talk, she tapped her phone against Angel’s chest. He glanced at it to see a picture of Husk and Cherri holding Fat Nuggets. He jammed his nearly empty vampire negroni into his mouth to keep the sob from getting out. She pocketed the phone and said her goodbyes. He couldn’t even thank her. Valentino poked him up and scooped Vox’s head off the table. He said nothing until they got out to the limo.
“Huh, I was sure he’d be waiting out here for you.”
“I told you, Val. We’re friends, nothing more. And I broke off the friendship. Husk isn’t coming back for me.”
“We’ll see,” Val said in a tone that said when the inevitable happened, Husk’s pelt would be the newest rug in the penthouse.
Angel needed a plan to keep that from happening. He could only hope he could do that before Husk ended up double dead.
Fannish 50 recs
Claimed Torchwood
No Time To Spare FAKE
10 Seconds Hazbin Hotel comic
Going to Visit Uncle Mer Stargate SG-1/Stargate Atlantis
The Healing Power of Touch Stargate Atlantis
Suited Torchwood
Good Boy Hazbin Hotel
Points Given, Points Taken Hazbin Hotel
Three Times The Trouble Hazbin Hotel
the greatest adventure (what lies ahead) Merlin
Punishment Torchwood
Oh Boy, You're Too Young To Burn (It'll be alright) Hazbin Hotel
A Guard on my Heart - Universe Explanations The Owl House
Letting Hope In Hazbin Hotel
God Sends Meat And The Devils Send Cooks Hazbin Hotel
There's No Aftercare in Hell Hazbin Hotel
Color Palette 9-1-1
Status Quo Hazbin Hotel
and, sometimes, she actually puts down her phone Hazbin Hotel
Down To Earth Hazbin Hotel
Confidence Is Sexy Hazbin Hotel
If A World Was Ending, You'd Come Over, Right?
Doctor Who
the arrows point in a circle, and it never ends Hazbin Hotel
our forever fall RWBY
Renewed Liaison Les liaisons dangereuses | Dangerous Liaisons - Choderlos de Laclos
There My Heart Forever Lies The Jacobite Trilogy | The Flight of the Heron Series
in the darkness with you 镇魂 | Guardian
Audio Quality Hazbin Hotel
Feverish The Professionals
with bells and brays
陈情令 | The Untamed (TV) / 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
The Good (?) Doctor Teen Wolf
Your Perfect Doll Hazbin Hotel
The Truth Exposed Stargate Atlantis
I taught my classes online from my bed. I helped interview for a new professor from that same bed.
And I had THIS community. You made that time better by checking in with me. You sent me gifts. You sent me stories. The Prodigal Son community made this most amazing art out of one of my stories and I took it back and forth to the hospital every time I had to return for more surgeries because I was afraid the care home would lose it and it was precious to me (It's in my office on top of the file cabinet today).
I'm not sure you know how much you meant to me as I learned to walk again. As I went through all this pain (If you want a visual, go look at the pictures Lindsey Vonn has been posting of her leg and external fixator, my leg looked exactly like that). And I feel sad that one of my biggest supporters,
spikedluv isn't here to read this. But so many others did so much and more, especially evil_little_dog. It meant everything and I appreciate all of you. Thank you.I'm doing good. I hike when I can. I'm not in terrible pain for the most part but the leg is weak and the nerve pain I do have is not fun. But I'm here. This is not stopping me.
And today I realized that not only is it a bad day for me two of my favorite celebrities died on the 27th, Leonard Nimoy and Mister Rogers.
In better news...
Tried the new coffee shop in Point Pleasant. this one isn't near the mothman centric stuff. There is one there that I go to that is...okay. I'd love to say let me watch your shop for a weekend and you go to a coffee conference because even McDonalds gets more adventuresome than you. This one had a great menu but too many cold drinks (especially for winter) I liked it but it's out of the way. A student found me there. figures.
AND the on-campus Mennonite coffee shop has mushroom coffee. I was afraid to know how much it was and they named the mixed drink with it the muddy puddle....
Came home to the news of someone I went to school with losing everything when some monster burned ALL of his beehives (he makes his living with the wax/honey etc), 60 hives, tens of thousands of bees, all gone. People suck.
Sigh.
But I did write and since I'm not ready for it to be on AO3 as it's part of a longer work, I'm just putting it here. Wrote it for
spikesgirl58's 6 word challenge.The words I had to use: Equinox, Bat, Loss, Allowance, Sunday, & Privacy
Chapter One
Angel swayed slightly as he exited Valentino’s limo in front of the Equinox. He’d never been in this bar and as far as he knew, neither had Val. He was too high to give a shit. He wasn’t even sure what had been in the drug cocktail Val had given him, didn’t care. Ever since he returned to Valentino two days ago – maybe longer, time was no longer a thing that existed in his drug-addled brain – Angel had been higher than he’d been in forever. Val had been kind, bordering on sweet, but that was a trap. Angel knew it. It wouldn’t take a month of Sundays before Val reverted to form. Valentino knew how the sweetness trap worked Angel’s nerves.
“Why this place, babe?” he slurred out as Val exited the limo, carrying Vox’s head suspended from leather bondage straps like a purse.
“I’m feeling like music tonight.” He pulled Angel close, running his fingers through his hair. “You’ll enjoy it, amorcito.”
Angel yelped as Vox tongued his hip bone, shocking him.
“Now, now Voxie, none of that or you can wait in the car.” Valentino waved a finger in front of Vox’s eyes.
Vox tried the whole mesmerizing eye thing for a second until Valentino’s face darkened ominously and then he knocked it off. “I’d rather wait in the car than be seen like this!”
“And that’s why you’re coming.” Velvette bailed out of the limo wearing the same outfit as Val, a bat wing-inspired corset, and a leather mini-skirt. Angel had been dressed the same like he was one of them, like he was worthy of being a Vee. It was them mocking him. “Maybe next time you won’t fuck us over and try to blow away all of hell because you want to fuck Alastor.”
“That’s not what I was doing!”
“Angel cakes, do you have delightful toy I gave you?” Valentino kept stroking Angel’s hair.
With a feral grin, Angel pulled the ball gag out of his purse. Val lifted Vox’s head, thrusting it at him.
“You know how it goes.”
Angel smirked and blew a kiss at Vox who let loose with a stream of curses that should have struck Angel dead they were so vile. But, with his mouth flapping open, it was easy to pop the ball in and strap it into place.
“I like him better this way,” he said, not caring if the other Vees corrected his behavior.
“So do I.” Velvette cruised past him, clicking along on her darling heels. Angel’s weren’t as cute. His mirrored Valentino’s.
He took Valentino’s offered arm and Val carried Vox on the opposite side, not just so he couldn’t somehow still manage to shock Angel – he put nothing past Vox – but also Angel wouldn’t be tempted to break off an antenna like he tried yesterday. He still wore the bruises Val had peppered into him for that. Fuck them both. Vox had mind raped him and Val allowed it. He was only here because there was nowhere else to go. He deserved this after what Vox had made him do to Charlie and his friends.
The Equinox bar had a Vegas lounge feel to it, soft lighting, round tables all facing the stage and pretty décor. This wasn’t a typical hellish bar, packed with people, writhing together, sloppy drunk and loud. It was more refined for the sinners, the ones with class. So what the fuck was Val here for? He chose a table in the back for them, another surprise. Valentino usually wanted to be the center of attention, not hide in the shadows. Valentino didn’t know the meaning of privacy. What the hell was going on?
A cocktail waitress brought them a complementary meat and cheese board with a bright smile on her face. “The bar menu is on the table. I’m happy to take your drinks order when you’re ready. Just turn the light to flickering.” She gestured to the electronic candle in the middle of the table.
“This place is almost not tacky,” Velvette said, glancing around. “Do you have a drink recommendation?”
“I prefer the rum drinks but I will say the witch’s heart is fantastic; it’s shimmery vodka and blackberry.”
“I’ll take that,” Velvette said. “Make it two?”
Valentino shrugged. “Why not make it three? I know Angel likes anything shimmering.”
Angel managed a smile for him because he wanted Valentino to think he was appreciative of him thinking of him. However, his attention was on the crowd trying to work out what was going on here. He forced himself to not react when he spotted Rosie at a table near the stage. Had Valentino known she’d be here? Why did he suspect so? Something was wrong. Worry crept up his spine.
“You’re tense, amorcito.” Valentino ran a finger down Angel’s back.
“Sorry, not really. It’s just that I’ve never been here and I’m scoping out the place. It’s different from our usual.”
“Yeah, it’s probably boring.” Velvette rolled her eyes.
“You enjoy lounge acts, baby and I’m not sure that casino lounge is the best place for you,” Valentino said. “Maybe here might work better.”
“Oh?”
Alarm bells went off in Angel’s head. What had he told Vox about singing in the casino? It had to have been something, right? It had been a side gig that he didn’t give a percentage to Valentino for. His anxiety kicked it up a notch. He was going to get hurt. Angel could smell it in the air, the simmering rage. Valentino might look placid but he wasn’t.
“You don’t sound happy.”
“Just surprised is all. You don’t usually book me singing gigs.”
“You deserve a treat. You did come back home where you belong, after all.” Valentino caressed his way up under Angel’s skirt. He stopped his hand just short of Angel’s panties. Angel barely breathed waiting for what came next: an illicit caress of his cock? A vicious twist of his trestles to remind him who was boss?
“A treat? For running away from tacky central?” Velvette pulled out her phone.
“Now, now, Velvette. Our Angel liked it there.”
“I did,” he whispered. Valentino looked at him sharply. “I know you don’t like her, Val, but I did like the princess. She reminded me of my sister.”
Vox tried to mumble around his gag and Val thumped him.
“You’re better off away from all those bad influences, Angel.”
Angel breathed in, loud like a dragon, but held his tongue. He merely nodded and the waitress returned with their drinks. He sipped his drink, sweet and pleasant and maybe, just maybe he’d get lucky and they would evans leave it as ‘better off away’ and drop the topic before the enormity of his loss hit him again. Val had made it clear he was already tired of how blitzed out of his mind Angel was and his high would be curated by Valentino. He’d had his allowance of drugs for the night. He’d have to play along and hope the alcohol would be enough. He fiddled with the drink menu trying to settle his nerves. He grinned when he spotted something.
“Val, next drink can I try the vampire Cynar Negroni? It’s got all the Italian liquors that I love. It is more bitter than this though, I’m sure, if either of you decide you want one.”
“If it’s gross, I’ll pour it down Vox’s gullet,” Valentino shot his….lover? Ex? What the hell did they call Vox now that he was just a head? Val shot him serious stink eye. Vox growled around the gag.
“Or I could drink it and you can make him drink this tequila drink.” Angel tapped the menu. “You know how he loves tequila.”
Valentino kissed Angel greedily and Angel was sure he heard a ‘fuck you’ in spite of the gag. “You are evil, amorcito.”
“I am in hell.”
“Speaking of which I think a further hell is about to start.” Velvette nodded to the stage now illuminated brightly.
Angel ignored her. Her musical tastes were highly limited as far as he was concerned. He looked forward to the show. A quick glance to the front of the room proved Rosie was too. The MC announced the singer as Phoenix and promising a mix of music from the 50s to the 1990s which was not what he was expecting. The band took the stage and Angel dropped his drink. He caught it before it splashed. Now it made all made sense. He knew why they were at this club and why they were hiding in the back. Did Rosie own this place? Did Alastor? Did it matter?
What mattered was Husk had walked on stage with such a broken expression Angel nearly sobbed out loud. What had he done to his friend? No, what had he done to the man he absolutely was in love with? Where had Husk found a suit? He looked amazing. He had a saxophone suspended around his neck. Wait? Husk was a musician? How the fuck did that never come up in conversation? That absolute asshole! Angel had a list of saxophone solos he’d love to hear and none of them were from the 50s to the 90s.
It took him a few seconds to realize his secondary eyes were open and that Valentino was watching him. Angel looked at him and Val smirked. Angel didn’t flinch. Fuck Valentino and his games.
“You recognize el gato pendajo.” Valentino’s tone was light but his expression was not.
“Husk is Charlie’s bartender. I guess he plays sax. I didn’t know that.”
“He’s more than the princesa’s bartender,” Val argued.
“He’s my friend.”
“He’s more.” Val put a cigarette in his holder and lit up. He still sounded unbothered but there was no way in hell that he wasn’t jealous and furious.
“No, he’s really not.”
Valentino grabbed Angel’s by his chin and brought the tip of his cigarette close to Angel’s little eyes. “Lie to me more,” he threatened. “That Hijo de puta came into my house and tried to kidnap you. He didn’t do that because you’re just friends.”
Angel swallowed hard, trying not to let his fear show. “Cherri probably talked him into it. Or Charlie sent him to bring me home.”
“You were home,” Valentino growled.
“Not if you asked Charlie. That’s all it was, Val. You know Cherri always has my back. She’s with Charlie now too.”
“You really think you can convince me you’re not fucking the kitty? Vox told me how fast he jumped to your defense.”
Angel could feel the heat radiating from the tip of Val’s cigarette.
“He did,” Velvette said and Angel curled his lip at her.
“He’s my friend. We’ve never been naked together. He doesn’t even like my movies. He’s not interested in me,” Angel lied. Thank God Husk hadn’t looked like he was in love with Angel when they were in the hotel. If Vox had spied on them when they were in the casino lounge….of course he might have texted Vox all about it for all he could remember.
Val dug his fingers into Angel’s flesh. “No one risks their life for someone else.”
“Friends do. Pentious straight up died again for us. Husk and Cherri thought I needed rescuing. I told them to leave me alone. I chose you, Val. Doesn’t that count?”
“Did you choose him or are you too embarrassed to go back after being Vox’s bitch?” Velvette’s gaze sliced him deeper than the knife his brother had given him on his thirteenth birthday, the one he nearly severed a tendon on when his hand slipped.
“I’m here. That’s all that matters,” he said and both of them snorted at him. Vox gargled out a laugh.
Valentino’s antennae twitched. “Would you rescue me if I needed you to?”
“I did. I strangled my best friend for you,” he said miserably.
“I forced you. That doesn’t count.”
It does, you fucker, it does. I betrayed people I love for your abusive ass. he thought but what he said was, “You wouldn’t need me to save you.”
“He would if that stray pussy shows back up.” Velvette set the candle to flickering and put her empty drink on the edge of the table.
Valentino glared at her not happy to have her doubt his fighting prowess.
She shrugged. “What? He blasted you straight out of the penthouse and I found you dangling from Vox’s wires. And he’ll be back.”
“No, I told him and Cherri to lose my number. We’re done,” Angel spat.
“Who gives a fuck about you, crack whore? That damn deer might send him and that tiny one eyed bitch after us again,” Velvette said and Vox tried to shout something. Velvette pulled his head closer and started working the gag off.
“Niffty? Why would Alastor and Niffty…oh, never mind.” Of course. Angel had been there – high and unconcerned – when Vox and Alastor had mixed it up years before Al had gone missing.
“What?” Val asked.
“Jesus, Val, your vision is shit. Did you not recognize that cat? He even asked ‘we still fighting these nobodies?’ Nobodies! Us! I should make him choke on that fucking sax,” Velvette raged.
“Leave him. It’s more painful that way at least for some of us.” Val let Angel’s chin go and patted him on the head. “Who is he really, Angie? He went toe to toe with us and was winning. I might have been ganged up on but he bested me in a fight. I want to know who he is.”
“Val, all I know is he’s allied with Alastor and he is Charlie’s bartender. I texted Vox everything. You know as much as I know,” Angel protested. Husk beat Val? Why couldn’t he remember clearly? Oh right, he was blitzed at the time. Did he really disappear into his hat? That had to be a drug dream, right?
“Is he an overlord?” Velvette asked.
“How would I know? You guys go to the meetings not me. He’s my friend but he never mentioned he’s a bad ass fighter. I’ve seen him explode heads with his dice and cards. Husk is just…Husk. I didn’t even know he was a musician. Mostly I dump my purse on him at the end of the day and he pours me drinks. It’s nothing more than that,” Angel said, refusing to tell them Husk was once an overlord.
“He has to be an overlord,” Velvette mused, pulling Vox’s gag away. “He was there stabilizing dumbfuck’s mistake.” She flicked a wickedly sharp fingernail at Vox’s eye. He squeezed them shut tight.
“If he is, it’s news to me.”
“You brought me to one of Alastor’s damn clubs!” Vox snarled. “And yes, of course Charlie’s pet kitten is an overlord. He disappeared from the scene before you got here Velvette. Val, you and I fought him before Alastor went m.i.a.. He’s the gambling overlord, thought Al had killed him until he popped up with him.”
“He’s with Al and Rosie,” Angel said. “That’s all I know. What does it matter?”
“It matters that he’ll try for you again.” Valentino slammed a fist on the table and other patrons glared their way.
“He won’t.”
“And who knows if he’ll help Alastor against us again.” Velvette smiled, happy to be stirring the pot for both him and Vox.
Angel wanted to argue but he couldn’t. “That has nothing to do with me.”
“Doesn’t it?”
He shook his head and hunched in miserably as the waitress returned. Velvette ordered another witch’s heart and two of the vampire drinks. No one ordered for Vox, maybe to spare him the embarrassment of being hand fed in public. Val let the topic drop because it was clear that he was convinced that Husk would attack again. Angel hadn’t protected him, after all. What if they decided to bring the attack to Husk? He’d betray Val in a heartbeat if that was the case. The best he could do was to ensure Husk never came back after him.
Because he would.
Because his eyes were on Angel even now as his fingers played over the keys of his sax. Husk saw him and wasn’t even hiding the fact that he knew the Vees and Angel were in the club. He was smart enough to not leap off the stage and try something. Hopefully, he knew he couldn’t take on two Vees alone. Maybe Rosie would throw in with him but Angel wouldn’t bet on it. She might pretend to be sweet but who in hell really was? Charlie, that’s who.
When Val didn’t press the point, Angel settled back listening to the lyrics, every word extracting another sliver of his shattered heart and feeding it to the cannibals.
Don't ask me
What you know is true
Don't have to tell you
I love your precious heart
He recognized this song thanks to Cherri, Never Tear Us Apart. Oh, how he wished. He’d been torn. Val got the tattered remains of him. He didn’t even deserve that much. As the group played on, Angel knew more of the songs. Phoenix had a sweet voice. She was pretty and he hoped Val didn’t pay her any mind. She had the body for porn. When she broke into Jump, Jive, an’ Wail Phoenix proved she could dance and God, how good was Husk? His saxophone sang through the song. Angel could have wept for all the nights lost in not knowing Husk had this talent.
When the set was over, Husk disappeared and didn’t come into the audience area. They waited for some time, halfway through the next performance, but there was no sign of him. Was he outside waiting? Angel hoped not. Rosie, on the other hand, swished her way over to them.
She smiled at the group. “Is this your first visit to my club?”
So, Vox was wrong but maybe she shared it with Al. Angel wouldn’t bet against it. She leaned on his shoulder.
“Not really our scene,” Velvette said, “but the drinks are fabulous. I already have them trending.”
“Good to know. Thank you.”
As Rosie made small talk, she tapped her phone against Angel’s chest. He glanced at it to see a picture of Husk and Cherri holding Fat Nuggets. He jammed his nearly empty vampire negroni into his mouth to keep the sob from getting out. She pocketed the phone and said her goodbyes. He couldn’t even thank her. Valentino poked him up and scooped Vox’s head off the table. He said nothing until they got out to the limo.
“Huh, I was sure he’d be waiting out here for you.”
“I told you, Val. We’re friends, nothing more. And I broke off the friendship. Husk isn’t coming back for me.”
“We’ll see,” Val said in a tone that said when the inevitable happened, Husk’s pelt would be the newest rug in the penthouse.
Angel needed a plan to keep that from happening. He could only hope he could do that before Husk ended up double dead.
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