sixwordstories | (no subject)

Dude... you look like a badass! Ever been to prison?

You have an interesting view on badassery.

I'll say there was a time where they attempted to put me in a prison, yes.

But you look like you eat people, bro.

My dad's in prison... that's badass, right? [ Mac's looking a little uncertain. ]

Is it the beard?

If you want it to be, I'm sure there's a way to spin it as being badass.

Yeah! The beard, the crazy eyes.

You look like some kind of horror movie dude. I'm actually pretty jealous of your crazy high level of intimidation... do people avoid you and shit?

[In an insanely noisy as jostling fashion, he sits down next to Mr. Fairy Man, leaning into his personal space] Yo. I was hoping I'd find you here.

Not really. Lot of people find me very personable.

[Mister Fairy Man does not seem bothered, taking another lungful of sweet smoke]

Been lookin' for me?

Sorry about that, man! You should work on your fighting skills.

Nah, not really. Just passed through here and figured I'd check around. [Which means yeah, maybe a little]

Not at all, it's something I enjoy. Not much of a fighter.

I see. And I just look very cozy, I imagine?

You look like trouble, actually. Hard for me to stay away from that.

Give a kid a drink and you're trouble. So that's the way the rules are these days?

Well you know, it is illegal. [He points at the pipe] What's in there?

Only because an important government official and some concerned mothers said so.

Opium.

Don't I know it. I'm the last person who cares. I've been doing this shit since I was like thirteen or some something. I don't even fucking remember anymore.

See now that I've never smoked before.

Everything is poison if you take too much of it.

It's not one of my preferred substances. There used to be such magic behind it, such ritual. Then some prick put it in a needle and sucked all the holiness out of it.

I can guarantee you that my mother is far from concerned.

I prefer my drugs in pill and powder form. Or smoke form, or drink form. Basically anything but needle form. I'm too hot for that.

I find that's common among most of the people I drink with.

Never much cared for pills either. Powder and smoke, but I'm old fashioned. One of the reasons I'm dying.

None of them are like me, I can guarantee that, too.

See, that's because you've never tried my pills. They're different. [He quirks an eyebrow] You're dying?

No one has ever been exactly like someone else. Even twins are different.

Maybe. I've thought about it.

I am. Been dying ever since restrictions got tighter and the old stuff was swept away. When people stopped taking what I make in favor of a faster high. Made it filthy, a sacrilege. Made their own in their basement with cough syrup and chemicals and sold it just to turn a profit.

I was the inspiration for artists and writers. I convinced women to dance naked around fires and tear the heads off men, lost in visions.

There's no ritual anymore. No sacredness. I can't adapt, I'll be pushed into my grave and younger, smarter, sharper people will take my place.

Not really what I mean.

Oh yeah? Got a good look at them last time?

[He wonders...] You really think you're the green fairy, don't you. Like, you for real think this. You know people haven't drank that shit for a long time and you're still here, right? Either way, everything that doesn't evolve, dies.

[He doesnt' feel bad. He just smirks] Like me.

A real good look. Didn't take one, figured that'd be rude.

I don't think. I know. How many washed up old men have bright green wings? Enough people drink it to keep me going, and I keep trying to get my hands on other natural ones. I just got way too hitched on the Absinthe.

[He didn't expect him to]

Might take my place, though I don't know if that's what you want.

Well aren't you sweet. If you want, we can make a trade.

[He thinks on that for a moment] So let me get this straight. You're okay if people do your shit? That's all you want?

Why wouldn't I?

There's gotta be some honor among us.

I want people to do my shit and remember me. I want people to drink my drink and smoke my opium and think of me while they do it.

Thought you wanted to die, kid.

Honor? Yeah, sure. [He snorts softly. He doesn't really do a whole lot of honor]

If they see you when they do your shit, wouldn't they remember you?

[He eyes the pipe] Maybe I had an epiphany.

I have enough for the both of us.

I can't always be there. I get the occasional little cult started in some college campuses. Writers and artists that want my muse. I still got some magic left to give and they'll do anything to get it. Everyone wants to be the next big thing. The next Mark Twain, the next Andy Warhol.

Really. Well you can start by getting famous. Make some legends about yourself and spread it around. It's how I started.

That's a lot of fucking honor.

I have a nice little cult going. They all stuff my pills down their throats like candy. They could be taking your shit, too.

I already do that. Where I'm from, everybody knows me.

It's not as much as you think.

I'm listening. [He certainly doesn't want to die]

Where you're from. Everyone knows about the Green Fairy.

If it's for the both of us? Then yeah. Because I have no fucking honor, believe me. I'm out for me and myself, and that's about it. [Oh, except for epiphany boy. He makes a big difference in Kavinsky's life]

Everyone can know me, too. So here's the thing, I can have them taking what you have and you can have people taking what I have. As long as we make sure they know who it's from. My cult will know exactly who you are.

Then it'll only take a little extra honor to cover you.

Gotta go the extra mile to hit immortality. They have to associate everything with you. You have to become important. It's one thing to be remembered just while they're doping up. It's another to linger there after the fact. Be there every time they do it again, even if it's just in spirit. Become that substance.

Helps to add rituals and meaning to it.

Hey, if you wanna lay down some honor for me, I wont be against it.

I don't need to last any longer than a good high. I don't need other people to become me. I'm fine with just feeling that on my own. I'm just saying, we could probably put our heads together and do alright.

What's your ritual?

You won't get what I got if you don't. Gotta take this kind of shit seriously. Make it sacred. Make it important.

I have several. I showed you one last night. The mere preparation of Absinthe correctly is a ritual. Not just pouring it in a glass with some ice or mixing it with another drink. The old way of making it. The right amount of people, you can't drink it alone. The right time and place, after dark, feeling thoughtful and ready to see something new.

I don't wanna be a fairy. I don't need shit to be serious. I make my name in my own way. Whatever I want to do at the moment is important. I don't devote myself to shit.

I'm just saying that we can make a trade. No skin off my back, though.