Phaedra M. Paderborn (painbreak) wrote in forgotten_gods, @ 2010-02-11 20:13:00 |
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Entry tags: | ecstasy, morphine |
Who: Morphine & Ecstasy
What: Complete phone log.
When: Backdated to Monday night 2/8/10, very late. Same day as this occurrence.
Warnings: Mentions of drug use. Sort of.
[One o'clock in the morning and for some, the night was only just beginning. One such person was the god of Ecstasy, sitting on the fire escape outside his apartment with a bag of hard candies and his cell phone. Dialing a number he got through less than reputable means, he put the phone to his ear and listened to the other line ring. It didn't even occur to him that the other party might actually be asleep.]
[She had been asleep for a good two hours. Two sweet blissful hours in which to lose herself in dreams, although there was a strange brightness to the dreamscape that had not been there before, as, slowly but surely, somewhere, on a time-released, even flow, her substance was making its way into the system of a certain Milo MacKenzie across the city. There was a ringing hum in her dream. It went on for some time, making her look around for its source. But slowly, her eyes opened. The phone was ringing. She rolled over, picked it up and in her sleepy-smooth voice,] ... Hello? [Thinking it might be Heroin, or a patient emergency, a strange, forced alertness came to her then. Morphine's home phone did not have caller ID. A shame.]
[And yes, she had apparently been asleep. Ecstasy dropped his head back against the brick wall with slightly more force than necessary before he replied.] Phaedra? It's Adam. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, it's only I didn't think you'd be asleep! It's still so early... but, um. I can call back later if you want? [Except he didn't know how he'd last that long with the burning questions he wanted to ask.]
[She reached to flick on the bedside lamp, glancing at the time with weary but bright eyes.] Adam... [She took a moment. Adam? Another moment. Ecstasy?] I sleep more than you might think. Is something troubling you? Has something happened? [She could not ever recall receiving a call from Ecstasy. They were never close. She could feel many mortals under her sway at the moment - it is why she slept as much as she did, with how many of her users were those being treated with morphine to help them sleep through their pain. To feel one mortal amidst thousands... although, she had noted in Mac's file that he had the same address as Johnny. The bright palette of her dreams began to make sense in her mind, but she would play it tired and oblivious, for now.]
You could say that. [He paused, wondering how to phrase what he wanted to say without sounding like a petulant child. This was his elder sister, well-respected in the medical field both in her drug form and in her current mortal persona, and he couldn't play the bouncy raver now. A glance inside the window, to the room where he'd left the boy who spurred this call in the first place, cemented his resolve.] There's a mortal, one of my particular favorites. Today he got a prescription for MS Contin. [A pause.] From you. I just... I'm worried.
[Morphine sat up slowly, still sleepy, coming to a seat at the edge of her bed where she drew her legs beneath her, smoothing the folds from her sweat pants. She smiled inwardly.] Oh yes? You are a friend of Mac's? He seems like such a nice boy, Adam. I encouraged him to seek a psychiatrist for whatever was ailing him, but he was quite frank with his needs. Why are you worried? [She paused, thought of her brothers, their fierce bond with their 'favorites'. Fortunately, her favorites were immortals. Two in particular, actually.] The prescription worries you? MS Contin is very safe, I assure you. [When used properly. Quieter.] Do you think I intend to interfere with you? [She was only doing her job. One hopeless, fragile mortal in pain after another.]
[E caught himself grinding his teeth as he listened, popping a candy into his mouth to stop that.] He is a nice boy. He's a nice boy and I know he wouldn't ask for something like this unless he really needed it. We've discussed it. And it's not so much that I think you'd interfere with me. [Except it was, though if he was thinking logically he would wonder where he got the idea that she would care about one little mortal musician when she had thousands under her spell already.] ...You won't, really? I mean, maybe I totally have the wrong idea but isn't your side of the family awfully possessive once you get hold of someone? Because he was mine first. [So much for not sounding like a petulant two-year-old, he thought before holding the phone away from his mouth to crunch the sweet between his teeth.]
[She could almost hear the crunching of candy. She glanced at the time, and she was suddenly glad that her earliest appointment in the morning was not until ten. It was almost darling, the way Adam went on about his afflicted mortal. Possessive? Of course she was possessive.] Are we not all possessive, in our own ways, Adam? [She looked down at her nails, realizing they had somehow become a little longer and almost sharp instead of curved. How curious. Her thoughts were interrupted by the suddenly childish declaration of ownership, as if they were in a sandbox far too small for two children who fought rabidly over trivial objects. Except only one of them was the child, in this case. She resisted the urge to laugh, keeping her voice at its disturbing calm throughout.]
'My side' of the family does have a way with people, don't we? Regardless, I see no harm in him trying to seek comfort in the solace I can offer him. It will not deter him from you, nor will I purposefully destroy what it is you have created, Adam. [For she had bigger fish to fry.] It will make him feel so much better. And is that not something you want for him?
Well yeah, I guess. [Obviously he was as possessive as she, or he wouldn't have been calling in the first place, would he? But he was just doing what was best for Mac. Just trying to protect him before his sister, with her deeply addictive drug and this-side-of-legal way of providing it, could sink her claw too deep into the mortal.]
Of course I want him to feel better. And if you really won't do that, then... okay. Okay. This is workable. I don't mind sharing if you're only trying to help. We both just want to help. [With his biggest worry seemingly not a concern --for the time being-- Adam relaxed a little.] Will you send me the bills? I'll take care of it.
[She slowly slid her legs back under the blankets, setting her hand in her lap as she leaned back against the headboard.] And he will feel well, soon. I assume he told you the details of his prescription; I will leave it up to him to fully divulge what he will. [She spoke softly, evenly.] To not provide assistance in the search for a pain-free world would be against our natures, wouldn't it?
[She smiled sleepily.] Adam, I appreciate your concern and your devotion to this boy, and I will do everything to ensure his relief. [She contemplated the feelings that might arise within her as the time-released pills increasingly mingled with the ecstasy in Mac's system. She would keep in touch with this feeling, so that it might not get lost amidst all the others. Constant, unyielding awareness.] If you have any additional concerns, I would be happy to meet with you for lunch in the coming weeks. Otherwise, I do have patients to see in the morning.
[Things were actually turning out far better than he had expected, and Ecstasy was quickly returning to his old self now that he felt there was no danger of losing his current favorite to another.] That's why we were created, isn't it? To help make the world a better place. Everything'll turn out all right. [He popped another candy into his mouth and stood up, preparing to climb back into the apartment and make his own way back to bed.]
Sure, lunch would be fun! Don't stress it, though. I know you're busy, so whenever! Thanks, Phaedra, I appreciate your help. Have a good night! [Worried to bouncy in 2.8 seconds, that was E. His sister who had been a recent imagined threat was now an important ally in an equally important task, and hadn't things just gone spectacularly? He was all smiles as he clicked his phone shut and closed the window behind him.]
Mm, yes, of course, Adam. You too. [She passively listened to the rest of his upbeat attitude. He was so worried, it was endearing. But Morphine was not worried. She knew that Mac would come back for more. And when and if he decided to stop with the treatment she could provide... well, she would cross that bridge when she came to it. As the phone on the other end clicked, she set the receiver of her telephone back down, slid back into bed and turned off the light. She absently brought her fingers to her hair, fingers toying through red curls as she lulled herself effortlessly back to sleep. It was the start of something curious and worth exploring. It was the start of a strange, surreal alliance. And her brother was so sweet in understanding she was only trying to do her job. And, truly, she was. To a point. Phaedra could be so very convincing, in that way.]