Lend me your ear while I call you a fool

[syl_thorn]

[Lunchtime, Friday day 54]Ended up sittin' wit' Tez pretty much all night, mosta th'day too. Wasn'as bad azzI'd feared, wasn'as good's'I hoped. Few spasms, 'f'e started seein' thin's 'e never said, didn' end up havin' t'tie 'im down. But'e wuz weak's a kitten, an'e didn' wanna be alone (never said so, but I knew it), so I stayed wit'im an' we

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[simon_klavec]

Couldn't decide on anything in particular to do 'round the carnival, so I just wandered. Watched the lights and the barkers and the signs. Watched the rides and the scams. Just walked and watched.

Tried out the charms Syl gave me. Seemed to work, for all I'm not sure I believe in them. Oče would've used something like it. Thought about dressing up a bit since I haven't met anyone for something other than drinking for a while. But I'm still working, so it's shirtsleeves and the leather apron. Cutting up pork when I hear the bell on the door ring.

"Slaughterman? You 'round?"

Syl. Wash my hands off quick. "Back here, čarovnica," I call out. Step into the doorway. She looks nice. More rested, too. "How has is been going with you?"

[syl_thorn]

"Back here, čarovnica," comes'a voice from 'round th'back room. Hear some water runnin' an'en Slaughterman steps inta view. Caught'im workin'; leather apron spattered in blood, an' c'n see 'e washed'is hands real quick, but there's still stains onnis arms an' under'is nails. Don't bother me none. Had far worse thin's 'n blood on m'hands in m'time. "How has is been going with you?" 'e smiles.

"Not too bad," I says, smilin' back. Shop's nice. Ain't never been in here, bu's clean, nice counter, an' some good meat laid out fer buyin'. "Better after I tried them steaks y'left me. Y'do fine work, Slaughterman." My, they was fine. Norm'lly leave food up t'th'cookhouse, but not wit' somet'in' so precious as steaks like'at. Got some spices in m'wagon, (amazin' how many charms call fer garlic, really is), laid outta fire, called Hope 'n Faith 'n th'other girls over t'share, wuz too much fer just me. We ain't eaten like that since I dunno when.

"How'd th'charms work fer ya?" Tilt m'head t'one side, "An' what's 'carovnica'?" '

[simon_klavec]

Smile. Nice to get the compliment from someone as takes pride in her work. Like talking with tradesman and such - appreciate craft, no matter the kind. "So far so good. Glad for sleep without the dreams." Am, too. Quiet and dark, and it beats the nights I've woken up, finding myself staring north and bleeding. Good thing I do my own laundry, too.

"An' what's 'čarovnica'?"

Smile. Bit of a warning tone in her voice and I'm guessin' she doesn't let people call her just anything. "Hard for me to name people by their given name. You said not to call you 'Ms. Thorn'. Figured naming you for your work would be alright. Spoke like that in the old country - means 'witch'. Trade name, like 'Klavec'."

[syl_thorn]

Gotta nice smile, Slaughterman does, even iffit makes th'scar pull'n twitch. "So far so good. Glad for sleep without the dreams."

Ah, tha's good. Wuzza bit worried; never dealt wit' dreams comin' from somewhere's outside b'fore. Heard offit, knew could happen, knew y'could guard 'gainst it, jes' never seenit b'fore. Them charms was basic'lly jury-rigged, buttI worked hard onnem. Damn glad t'hear they's doin' their job. "Tha's great. 'f we ever end up leavin'is town, 'll make sure I leave ya wit' a good supply'a th'oil."

"Hard for me to name people by their given name. You said not to call you 'Ms. Thorn'. Figured naming you for your work would be alright. Spoke like that in the old country - means 'witch'. Trade name, like 'Klavec'."Ah, tha's good 'en. Didn' think Slaughterman'd be callin' me nothin' bad, buttif a fella starts callin' ya "darlin'" 'r "baby" on th'second date, yknow there might be a problem. "S'like me callin' ya Slaughterman, then. Ain't got no 'bjection t'that." I says, smilin'. "S'a real nice shop, here