(Untitled)

[patriotqueen]

- It's just a drink. Alcohol clears the mind, sets one up for the day, or for the next one, until evening falls and a nightcap gently eases one to sleep again. Alcohol cleans the mind, like medication, keeps it preserved, keeps it all in working order, up and running. Alcohol numbs the mind, what hurt will be less painful, what worried will be

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[a_sport]

"Guy?" He was going to watch the stars come out, but they'd wait for him. Calvin veered off the path to crouch down near him. The scent of the alcohol was palpable.

"Hey," Calvin said quietly.

[patriotqueen]

Guy looked up and - since he knew the voice - tried a smile. But the palm trees and the bushes spun around him and so did Calvin. "Hullo," he said, sounding strained and not quite as nonchalant as he wanted it to sound.

[a_sport]

"Hey, Guy," he said again, gently this time, almost carefully, and moved to sit next to him. It wasn't as though Calvin was a teetotaler, and he'd had his share of headaches in the morning, but it wasn't anything like this.

"You okay?"

[patriotqueen]

Guy didn't nod, because he knew nodding would make everything worse. "I'll be fine. Just a moment." He took a breath and held it for a second, while intently looking at a branch that wouldn't stand still. Then he exhaled. "I think I'm safe. For the moment."

[a_sport]

"Okay," he said with a nod and waited for Guy to be able to settle himself. Calvin refrained from fussing over him, even if he wanted to make him drink water and then hustle him off to bed. Guy was a grown man, he could take care of himself. Mostly.

"Think you could get up, go to the Compound?" He offered. "Or just sit here a little while."

[patriotqueen]

Others would have debated the argument that Guy was a grown man and would have strongly refuted the statment that he could take care of himself. Guy, however, found himself perfectly capable of it.

"I'll stay here," he assured, making the fatal mistake to nod. "A little while," he added, and put a hand on Calvin's arm. Sadly, it was less out of affection and more because of support.

[a_sport]

Calvin reached out to steady him, pressed his shoulder against Guy's in an effort to keep him upright.

Seeing someone like this, especially someone he knew like Guy, reminded him of his father. He hadn't been like this all the time, not really, but it happened enough. Not that they ever had any money to drink away on booze, but that didn't stop Pop.

"What happened?"

[patriotqueen]

Guy didn't particularly like the way he was being looked at. It resembled pity too much for his liking. "Nothing. I was just on my way to the hut," he lied easily.

[a_sport]

Calvin nodded slightly, even though it wasn't what he was asking not really.

"People don't often drink this much without getting set off by something," he pointed out, which was not exactly a question. "Not if they know what they're doing."

Guy knew what he was doing when it came to drinking, of that there was no doubt.

[patriotqueen]

Guy's response to these type of inquisitions was to get annoyed. "I got thirsty," he replied, pointedly looking at Calvin.

[a_sport]

"That's understandable," Calvin allowed then kept going. "Alcohol dehydrates you, though, just like Coke. So if you get real thirty, might want to get some water in you too."

After a moment, he bumped his shoulder against Guy's, not enough to jar him but just to give him a bit of affection. "We can just sit quietly, if you want. Enjoy the night air."

[patriotqueen]

"Perhaps," Guy agreed uncommitedly. He wasn't actually quite sure he'd be able to stand up at all.

He gave Calvin half a smile and sat quietly for a moment. It only made him more aware of his dizziness. His breathing got slightly more heavy. "I think... I don't think the night air is doing much good."

[a_sport]

"You really did a number on yourself," Calvin said with something between fondness and exasperation.

"You feel like you're going to be sick or just need a lie down?"

[patriotqueen]

Guy knew what he had done; he was living it. And he only needed a moment to compose himself.

Still, he managed to snicker. "Not yet and no," he answered both questions in one breath. "But let's go indoors." A brave suggestion on his behalf.

[a_sport]

“Alright,” he said with a nod and clambered to his feet. Whether they wind up back at the Compound or Guy’s hut, either’d be better than just sitting down by the path as night keeps falling. Then looked down at Guy and, before he made a move to help him, asked. “ Are you going to be able to walk, even with me helping? Let’s make my carrying you a last resort.”

[patriotqueen]

Guy accepted the hand and lifted to a standing position, using the tree as support and Calvin's hand to lift him. "Wonderful though that sounds," he grinned, "I think I can walk."