Page 82 of Descent

“Every time you’re rude, you have to take a shot.”

“If we hold to that you’ll need a gin IV.” She smirks.

“Shot!”

“You’re a mean drunk.”

“Shot!”

“I hate how much I love you.”

“Um … half a shot?”

We stumble from the bar several hours later, the lights of the city twinkling and streaking just a bit to my alcohol-sodden perception. It feels normal. Natural. Like I’ve done it a million times before.

“So you just paid your tab, you step outside. You need to go home. Where are you going?” Circe throws out casually.

My feet are moving before I can process.

“What are we doing?” I ask, swaying.

“Following you. I saw it in a movie one time.”

“Cool. I don’t remember if I’ve ever seen a movie. Oh! Falafels!” I’m slapping down cash and stuffing my face in a flash, wandering along and humming a tune.

“I’ve never heard you sing.”

“Apparently, I’m secretly a virtuoso baritone.”

Absently, I lead on, the directions flitting around my brain. Left. Definitely left. Then right. Straight.

“Do you play any instruments?”

“No clue. You?” The piss-coated bus stop makes me pause, turn a circle. That way!

“Every Lyra is expected to master an instrument,” she responds offhanded, a puzzled look crossing her features. “So I guess I do. Not sure what…”

“Guess we’ll have to go shopping and try them all.”

“Deal. Where are going, Er?”

“My car. Gotta get my car.”

“You’re not driving,” she laughs as I break into a run.

But I’m hyperfocused, intent on getting to my ride. I stop, looking down an alleyway, a garage door at the far end.

“There!” I stare at the keypad on the wall for several seconds. “Do you know the code?”

“Why would I know the code, Ero? Here, let me see it.” Circe steps up, deftly popping the panel off and toying with the wiring. The garage door rattles into motion.

“How did you know how to do that?”

“I taught myself how to open any lock as a kid. Eventually got in trouble with my parents for robbing a couple of banks for fun.” The memory rolls off her tongue while she’s distracted.

“I robbed a bank one time,” I muse, suddenly remembering my own heist.

“Oh yeah, what happened?”

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