New Years' Eve ... Eve
Nica was hanging at the bronze with her sketchpad. She was drawing a lot of mayhem these days.
Becky was with her, watching people dance.
"This is going to go down in history as the weirdest holiday season ever," Nica said.
Warren wandered into the Bronze, humming as he went.
"Last year was weird for me." Becky said "So, maybe, all the rest of the holiday seasons in my life are going to be weird."
"We have weird lives," Nica said glumly, "so yeah, that stands to reason."
"They could be weirder." Becky said "You could have a chicken for an uncle"
Lizzie wandered in with Warren, a seagull perched on her shoulder.
Nica laughed. "Yeah, but instead, I have a younger friend who's an aunt."
Nica looked up. " ... seagull? Huh?"
"At least she isn't really your uncle." Becky was pretty sure that would be weirder
Nica nodded. "True ... "
Becky waved to Lizzie and Warren
Warren waved.
"Hey! How's it going?" Lizzie said, smiling and waving back.
"Weird and kinda bad, but we're ignoring. Does your seagull talk and tell you to do evil things?" Becky asked
"It's going. And is the seagull your aunt?" Nica asked.
" ... it's a seagull," Warren answered, bemused.
"His name is Gulligan, and he's not evil- he's my christmas present," Lizzie said.
"Huh," Nica said.
"Ooh, a nice Chrostmas Present" Becky said "And just because it's a seagull, doesn't mean that it can't communicate."
Lizzie petted the seagull. "Well, we understand each other at any rate, so I suppose that's some communication. So what's been going bad?"
"Sid's Diner got shot to hell the other night. We were kind of there at the time," Nica said. "Becky's dad got shot."
"...oh no! That place has the worse luck- and sorry about your father. Who did it?" Lizzie asked.
"Watcher's council people." Becky said "They shot Nica's aunt too, but Vito said they're probably going to run away now because they fucked up big time, and everyone is going to be fine... even though I think I might try eating somewhere else."
"And I'm convinced that my cousin's insane, because now, he's talking about buying Sid's. Something about the property value dropping like crazy, I dunno." Nica shrugged and sipped her drink.
"He could buy it, and turn it into an opium den." Becky suggested "Or sell drugs and stuff from there"
" ... I don't know if Vito is really the drug-dealer type," Nica said. "But I guess he could."
"Hm... I've considered buying it," Warren said, looking thoughtful.
"It would need, like, bullet proof windows." Becky said "And all kinds of wards and stuff. THat place has really, really bad luck."
"Well, I could mention you're interested. Would you be willing to work with a partner?" Nica asked.
"Might be," Warren nodded. "Then again, if he's not a complete dick, he can run it. The last manager, I kinda hope got shot."
Nica laughed. "He was kind of a jerk. But I don't think he was even there."
"Damn," Warern said.
"How are you guys?" asked Becky
"Pretty good," Lizzie said. "Enjoying the holiday."
"Couldn't be better," Warren said.
"That's good." Becky said
Nica nodded.
"I could use a little snack though," Lizzie said, glancing towards the bar. "Let's get some wings or something - no offense, Gulligan."
"You guys can sit here if you want." Becky said
Nica nodde. "I'll make a food run." She got up.
"Thanks!" Lizzie said, smiling. She settled down at their table with the seagull still on her shoulder.
Warren settled on in. "Thank you."
"Wings? Anything to drink?" Nica asked.
"Root beer?" Lizzie asked.
"Pepsi," Warren said, "and maybe a bacon cheeseburger."
"That bird looks pretty cool." Becky said
"Thanks," Warren said.
"Okay ... Bex? Anything?"
"Just some water." Becky said
Noca smiled and headed off to the bar.
*Nica
Nica returnd a few minutes later with wings, a cheeseburger and drinks, and resettled, looking considerably more cheerful. She smiled at Bex, then at Warren and Lizzie. Life wasn't so bad.
"Thanks Nica," Lizzie said, and collected a wing and her drink.
"And thanks, Becky- Warren made him for me," Lizzie said, in reply to the bird comment (which mun missed earlier, oops)
"Warren is good at making stuff." Becky said "WHen I first moved here, he was working on a jet pack."
"Yeah, it works well," Warren said, smiling.
Lizzie smiled at Warren, and leaned over to kiss his forhead. "He's amazing."