Come on, Ade, meet the family! - Sincerely, Cas

[Laine]

Ade finally staggered into the rental vehicle, after shakily walking out over the invisible walkway, hand poised over Cassidy’s shoulder the whole time incase he lost his balance. The doctor breathed a heavy sigh as they pulled away, slowly taking off towards the mall, with Rozalyn’s car leading the way (since Alecia was worried Cas would get lost). He drew a hand through his hair, “...God, Alecia is…Well…” He chuckled weakly, thankful that his ears were no longer filled with the sound of Cas’ mom’s Gliesian clucking. He smirked at Cas, “You’d better not turn out like that when you get older. Or I might ask the TA to rethink your contract with me.”


---


Alecia tugged at Adrian’s shirt eagerly as soon as he reluctantly left the safety of the car. “Theese is…heedeous, Aderiyaan. Weel start with shirts.” She said, instantly delegating the others as she stalked towards the mall, Adrian hooked around her arm. “Rozalyn, take Cassidy to try on those pants I showed you. They will be a tight fit but they are highly fashionable.” She barked in Gliesian, pointing to the two Petars and the clothes shop ahead of them– which was part of the chain that Alecia worked for. She practically steamrolled towards another store with the auburn-haired other, leaving a dumbfounded Sabe waiting on a bench somewhere, rubbing his eyes and chuckling to himself.


Soon after they had entered, Adrian’s arms were loaded with huge – but admittedly warm-looking – shirts, which Alecia had him try on in turn, to which she rated them and handed him another in an almost military effort. In less than half an hour the poor doctor had tried on over twenty shirts, some of which were so high fashion they barely qualified as shirts at all - including one compromised entirely of Velcro, and another that had several large holes cut out the mid section. Cas’ mother seemed to be enjoying herself, but Adrian was completely exhausted by the end of it.


As soon as he left the changing room, Alecia pointed over to the other side of the mall, hands piled with shirts that she deemed suitable for Ade to wear. “Weel do pants nects. Thee Earth pants aree…too small…” She sniggered, nodding at Ade’s shorts. The doctor folded his arms and groaned, begging for an opportunity to slip away.

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy commanded the vehicle in the foreign tongue, and let go of the wheel. Automatic mode. It was tracking and following his parent's car ahead. He grinned, reclining his seat slightly in a pretentious manner, folding his arms behind his head. "You will?" He only chuckled, popping an eye open, "You'll never get tired of me."


**************


Cas rolled his eyes upon getting out and hearing first hand Alecia's comments about Ade's 21st century ensemble. "He just needs warm clothes, to be honest. Not a new wardrobe!" He crossed his arms, huffing into the frigid air. A puff of vapor rose to the wind, blowing away from Cas' lips. The Gliesian morning was probably close to a snow storm's temperature, but without the snow.


"Maybe I should dictate this`" He got tugged to the side by Rozelyn, who beckoned him to come with him. He frowned, shaking his head. "No no no-" Tugged again, and soon Adrian was alone with Alecia, having clothes thrown left and right at him to try. While Cas was off in another store, refusing to try anything that was not loser than skin tight. Which was tough to find.


Sabe Pesant approached his wife, Alecia, about a half hour later. "Rozelyn wants you real quick. Cas is, uh... Refusing to try on something. And he needs persuading, according to her. Something about a date night outfit. It's... Just go see."


Alecia's brows rose at the mention of a date night, and Cas refusing to embrace modern fashion enraged her. She motioned to Ade, indicating she would return shortly, and left Sabe alone with him.

 

[Laine]

The both of them breathed a heavy sigh as Alecia left, her heels making a tiny trotting noise that echoed throughout the mall as she marched towards her indignant son in the next store. Adrian frowned at the clothes strewn in his arms, wincing at the thought of how much it would cost. “I…onlee wanted something…wawrm to wear.” Ade mumbled in Universal Tongue to Sabe. “Theese is…so much…”


Sabe replied with a light chuckle, “Alecia…is an excessive person.” He replied in Kerschnaille. At the same time, he reached over and took a half of the clothes from Ade, piling them into his own arms to lighten the load with a humoured grin, “Be thankful you are not bound to her for life.”


The doctor cocked an eyebrow at the statement, his eyes falling to one of the dark hands clutching around the pile of clothes. He hadn’t noticed it before – but sure enough, inked on the back of Sabe’s palm was a name, written in a swirly alien cursive. He briefly remembered the basis of the binding ceremony Cassidy had mentioned before – like marriage. Sabe noticed he was staring after a moment, and with thinly-veiled amusement he shuffled his hands, holding one out so Ade could see it better. Despite being bewildered by the idea, he was inquisitive about the mark, and gratefully inspected it from where he was standing. After a moment, Sabe turned the hand around to reveal a light-tan coloured planet tattooed on the fleshy part of his wrist.


“Did it hurt?” Adrian murmured suddenly. He bit his lip as he said it, realising the implication between acting so interested in it.

 

[chellemrys]

Sabe pursued his lips, thinking back to when he was bound- nearly two and a half decades in the past. "No. Not one bit." Tattooing used to hurt, but now they spray some numbing gas on your skin before they do it. Plus it is finished in less than a minute.


The man took his hand back suddenly, trying to hide his amusement better now. "You act like you have not even seen one before." Sabe chuckled at Adrian's deep interest over his tattoos. "Do they not have this where you are from?"


From a few stores over, Alecia cried a loud 'CAS!', and Sabe's eyes flashed over to the entrance of across the room. He rolled his eyes, and turned his attention back to Adrian. "Good luck, Alecia." He murmured, elbowing Adrian with a grin. "All three of them are stubborn."

 

[Laine]

Ade shrugged, scrunching up his face at the other, “Well. There is- something similar.” He murmured, unsure if he should really be bringing this up with Cas’ father here and now. The doctor cleared his throat, shuffling forwards in the queue as another person was served. “…But it’s a little more…primitive, I guess. Well, that’s what Cassidy said.” Ade said, chuckling.


Adrian snapped his head around at the sound of Alecia’s exasperated voice from afar. He nodded at the comment, but before he was able to reply, Sabe unexpectedly cut in, “-So you have already discussed this with Cassidy?”


The question had such serious wording it caught the doctor off-guard, despite Sabe’s still-jovial facial expression. “Wh-what, marriage?” In a delayed reaction, he shook his head, “Not really. Not…very much. Well, I mean – Cas doesn’t really seem interested in it.”

 

[chellemrys]

Sabe pressed his lips into a line, trying to suppress a chuckle. He acted like he was looking towards the other store, to iron his face. The man turned back, "Cas likes to hide when he is flattered, or surprised. He gets embarrassed." Oh, that was the truth.


They could not hear Cas, in the next store. Because he was busy hushing Alecia, who was drawing attention to them from individuals both in the store, and passed bys outside! His dignity was at stake though. "Mom..." He spoke to both, "These are probably... Four sizes too small!"


Alecia nodded, "They are your size, but yes- they are supposed to fit like that!" Cas shrugged in disbelief, narrowing his eyes at Alecia.


"No, there is no point. I won't wear then anyway if you do buy them. Waste of money." Alecia stood back, crossing her arms and staring her son down. Cas mocked her pose, and drew up his eyebrows.


"CASSIDY!" Sabe looked in shock across the way, towards the entrance to the store.

 

[Laine]

“Embarrassed?” Ade couldn’t keep a tiny, nervous smirk from crawling up his face. “Why would he be-” He turned his head as the scream echoed from the store across the way, casting a worried look to Sabe as he did so.


By the time Rozalyn marched out of the store, Ade and Sabe were already done paying, and were sitting on a bench in the middle of the mall, swamped by 5 bags stuffed with the alien clothes. What the two were talking about wasn’t immediately obvious – Ade looked pale and pushed a hand through his hair as Sabe spoke, whereas the other was laid back, speaking softly and unable to keep the small hint of a grin off his face. The pair looked up as Rozalyn approached, swinging her hips and huffing with an unusual frustration.


She folded her arms as she glanced back over a shoulder towards the shop. “A-zaa. That boy is unbelieveable.” She grumbled in Universal Tongue, turning to the two, “He and Alecia are practically at each other’s throats over…a shirt! Of all things…”


She noticed they had both suddenly hushed what they were saying as she approached, the mother cocked an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with you two?” She demanded, with a slightly irritated tone.

 

[chellemrys]

Sabe's lip quivered but silent he stayed. He would not subject Adrian to Rozelyn and Alecia's reaction, especially in public. Ade would have to do that to himself. Save wasn't the sadistic type.


Cas came from the store shaking his head, his mom exasperated. Sabe drew his brows together, and twisted up his humored lips. "Hm." He suddenly looked puzzled, more than anything else. But as always, he was the epitome of silence. Only observing, rather than participating.


Cas walked up to the three, and mocked Alecia facing Sabe and Ade, mouthing her incessant orders to obey. She was blind to this, and Rozelyn was distracted. Sabe chuckled, before Rozelyn said again in he universal tongue, "Really, what is up with you two?"

 

[Laine]

It took Ade a few seconds to realise that Rozalyn was standing in front of him, “Whuh…what?” He blinked at her with a blank expression for a few seconds. “Oh – nothing. Nothing’s wrong.” He suddenly said with a nervous smile, worried that Sabe would rat him out. Thankfully, Cas’ father remained silent, and leaned back against the seat. The doctor folded his arms and struggled to keep a sigh from escaping his mouth. “We were just-“


The Lieutenant emerged from the store, and Sabe nudged the other with his elbow, and Ade instantly straightened up, cutting himself off. He chuckled at Cas as he approached, his expression softening “…Did you get anything, dear?” Ade said, standing up awkwardly as he tried to dodge Rozalyn’s question, “Your mother has been…very generous…” He murmured, with a slight hint of sarcasm in his voice as he pointed to the masses of clothes around his feet.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas' brows lifted, and he smiled, "What? Me?" He shook his head, the smile fading, "What do you think, Ade." He grumbled, stopping before the other. Oblivious to the conversation that had just occurred. He narrowed his eyes at the bags, and looked sideways at his moms, "He is only staying for a few days... Not forever." He huffed, shaking his head.


The Lieutenant stiffened when a loud beep emanated from his wrist, echoing through his family's vicinity. He shut his eyes to avoid looking panicked, and he reopened them with a quick excuse to leave, "H-Helmi... I- M-My stomach." He whispered, turning and retreating towards the bathroom fast, "Sudden stomach ache. A-zaa-" Cas pushed a frantic hand through the side of his hair, practically running the other direction. Another loud beep, but Cas waiting until he rounded a corner to play with the hopper.


Sabe's brows were pulled down, arms crossed as he watched his son suddenly hurry away. He bit his lip, obviously thinking something was odd. But he stayed silent, as always. Just observing and letting everything go on. He looked at Adrian from the corner of his eye, and quickly averted his gaze, wiping the suspicion off his face just as fast as it had appeared.

 

[Laine]

“I think you should’ve at least brought back one souvenir.” He chuckled, nudging the Lieutenant as he complained to his moms. The doctor avoided Sabe’s gaze, acting as if their conversation had never existed.


Adrian recognised hopper sound as soon as it occurred – it had woken him up from sleep so many times over the past year and half it was like an alarm. The doctor’s eyes suddenly widened, and he failed to keep a panicked expression off his face as his head snapped towards Cas’ wrist, then worriedly back to his dark eyes. Thankfully, the Lieutenant was a little more aware of his parents standing around him, and scooted off with minimal suspicion to answer his call.


He was left there, awkwardly standing in the middle of the mall, and so he cleared his throat and addressed Alecia and Roza, who both looked slightly confused. “…He was ill this morning, too…must be because he is so used to my crappy Earth food.” Adrian mumbled slowly in Kerschanille. He was still avoiding Sabe’s gaze, realising that now he was alone with just Cas’ parents, he could talk freely without his partner knowing. But nerves got the best of the doctor, and he simply folded his arms, sighing a little as he waited for his partner to return.

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy's mothers hardly ever analyzed situations, unless they involved clothing or romantic interests. They were currently emerged deep in the world of fashion and Adrian, not really noticing the beeping in the first place. Sabe however, sat back and watched everything, not missing a thing. Adrian's shocked expression at the beeping made the father lean forward in his seat, place his elbows on his knees and stare intently at the two.


Sabe huffed, watching a scurrying Cas' back disappear around the corner. "Mechanicaal." He muttered in English, towards Adrian. Then to himself with brows joined in scrutiny, "My son is a professional actor, I think." Sabe looked at his wives, saw them both going through the clothes and planning outfits, and snatched Adrian by the back of the shirt, "What is he hiding? Tell me." Sabe's father had observed Cas' suspicious behavior visit after visit, but was the only one who ever noticed. So he always remained silent, just watching and waiting for the truth. But truth always got hitched to Cas' ship out of town.


Now was his chance. Sabe looked more energized than ever, eyes wide and pressing, a finger poking into Adrian's shoulder. "Why does he hide his belongings and get upset if we offer to take his jacket or wash his clothes? Why does he always run away like that? He didn't feel ill this morning, he ate like a- a- ganesih this morning!"

 

[Laine]

“Huh?” Ade murmured, trying to keep the panic out of his voice as Cas’ father seized him. The deep, dark eyes that mirrored Cas’ bore into his skull as the suspicions poured out, and the doctor bit his lip. ‘Don’t tell them I’m a Time Agent’ Cassidy had told him, and yet as he tragically searched for another excuse, Ade drew a complete blank. Well – almost.


He took a deep sigh, and shuffled slightly away from Sabe, “Well…I mean - Cas…made me promise not to tell you.” He huffed in defeat, and the father’s eyes lit up with satisfaction. Sabe squared up to Ade, prompting him to continue by squeezing his shoulder lightly. The doctor shuffled uncomfortably, unsure what to say. He turned away from Rozalyn and Alecia, who as per usual were ignoring Sabe’s suspicion in favour of chatting about how stubborn their son was. Sabe leaned into Ade, his eyes narrowed.


The doctor looked over his shoulder in the direction Cas had gone, before sighing again, and turning to meet Sabe’s eyes, “…Cas…well…he…” He murmured, wincing as the words rolled out of his mouth, “He’s ashamed…and a little scared that you might find out – or that Rozalyn, or Alecia found out, that-“ He paused again, taking in a tiny sigh for effect.


“…He’s a drug addict.”


Sabe’s eyes instantly widened, wondering if he had understood Ade’s English correctly. His hand fell off Adrian’s shoulder, and he straightened up, as if he was about to keel over. “What?” He said, his voice a hushed whisper. Ade’s heart was thudding painfully in his chest, knowing it was a bad idea. But he nodded slowly, repeating his words quietly between gritted teeth, “He’s a drug addict, Sabe.” He swallowed thickly, Sabe regarding him in utter disbelief.


“…Well, h-he used to be. He’s…getting help for it, now.” Adrian nodded, pushing a hand through his auburn curls. “It’s where he and I met. At a support group.” Ade added, smiling weakly. It hadn’t been a complete lie – since the voffs and cigarettes the Lieutenant got through at home certainly were an addiction, whether or not Cas cared to admit it. And it certainly seemed like a far better option than the truth – for now.

 

[chellemrys]

Alecia and Rozelyn didn't notice any of the exchange, they were too busy refolding the clothes now. Sabe was staring at Adrian in shock. "W-What... What were YOU in for?" He whispered, crossing his arms.


Cas emerged from the bathroom moments later, conveniently shoving something into his pocket as he rounded the corner. Unknowing about what Adrian had told his father. His eyes were down, his face was paler than usual. And he even looked flustered to top off the effect.


Cas fixed hair hair, which was now ruffled and standing up. He cleared his throat, "Sorry." He whispered, eyes averted.


Sabe's mouth was hanging open, but he sucked in his breath, narrowing his eyes. "I think we're ready to go." He stood, walking away from the two to grab Alecia and Rozelyn.


He left Cas standing there so coldly that the lieutenant narrowed his eyes and snapped his head around to glare at him. "W-What the..?" He whispered, not feeling up to dealing with any nastiness at the moment.

 

[Laine]

Ade chuckled uncomfortably. “Well, uh…” He mumbled, rubbing his neck. Sabe’s brow slowly deepened, a combination of shock and thinly-veiled pity slowly taking over his face, just as his son reappeared. The doctor stood there helplessly as Sabe stalked away, the unbeknownst Alecia and Rozalyn trundling off behind him, chattering amongst themselves as they carried Ade’s clothes.


“Sorry. It’s my fault.” Adrian sighed, folding his arms as he turned to the Lieutenant. “I’ll tell you about it when we get back to the car.” He started walking slowly, huffing in exasperation as he made his way towards the mall exit. How had things soured so quickly?


“You know, you should really-” Ade began, cocking an eyebrow as he turned to his left and saw that his companion was nowhere to be seen. The doctor span around, only to find Cassidy was standing in the exact same place he was half a minute ago, staring blankly at Ade in front of him. “…Cassidy?” He murmured, cocking an eyebrow. The Lieutenant started moving, slowly pacing forward, but wobbling slightly, as if he were drunk, or walking on a very thin platform. As he approached Adrian, the doctor noticed how large and unfocused Cas’ eyes seemed, and his face seemed tense, despite looking greasy and pale. “…Are you alright?” He asked – redundantly so, since it looked as if Cas was about to throw up. The Lieutenant seemed to ignore him, leaving Ade trailing behind him in concern and confusion as they exited.


Ade looked his partner up and down as he shuffled uncomfortably in the seat beside him. Cas sat motionless with the keys in his hands, staring out the front window and sucking in breaths a little too rapidly. He doctor stretched out a hand, and gently shook him by the shoulder. “-Cas?” He murmured softly, wincing as dark eyes snapped towards him, “I said, we should probably get going...” He repeated, using the same gentle tone he had when Cas was recovering from an attack.

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy dropped the keys and drew his hands back to smack over his eyes. He hunched over, breath catching violently in his nose. His lips unclasped, and he desperately gasped for air.


The Lieutenant reached for the keys beneath the wheel, and dropped them again. Then a third time. He squinted at the floor, screwing up his lips. Then promptly drove his boot into the gas petal, and his face into the steering wheel. He clutched at it, shoulders shaking. It looked like he was sobbing or something, but he sat up and laughter rang through the car. Cas wiped at his eyes, tugging a white packet from his pocket. "Two left."


Cas paused, tugging the white packet open. A syringe and a mound of glittering purple powder fell in a heap into his lap. "And I'm one of them!" Muttering he scooped a heap of the powder into the syringe, and pulled out an old fashioned box of matches he picked up in the 21st century. He struck it on the dash and dropped it in the shaft of the needle, causing the powder to smoke and seem to dissolve into a liquid. Cas' eyes were huge; he pushed a hand up through his bangs to get them to spike out of his eyes, before pushing his sleeve up to point the needle at the most prominent vein in his arm.

 

[Laine]

Back at home, Ade had undertaken some training to deal with drug addicts – working late shifts at an inner city hospital made the risk of crazed drug addicts coming in looking for pain killers very real. But the shock combined with intense confusion over the situation stunted his rationality, and he sat back in the seat, staring at his partner as he readied the syringe. “Whuh-What is that…?” He murmured stupidly, wincing at the Lieutenant’s pitched tone of voice.


The doctor suddenly and almost reflexively reached out and grabbed for the syringe before he even knew what he was doing. “Woah, stop-!” He seized the Lieutenant’s hand and twisted it back on itself, pointing the needle towards the roof just before it reached it pierced Cassidy’s skin. A bead of the lilac liquid formed at the top as the plunger depressed slightly.


The other’s hand was warm, and clammy – and Ade stared at him, dumbfounded that what he said to Sabe appeared to be coming true. His gaunt appearance and erratic behaviour seemed to mirror that of a desperate man, and the strange drug in the syringe was something he’d never seen before – but he could tell it was probably more harmful than the voffs he was used to Cas smoking.


Realising that Cassidy was stronger than him, he quickly pushed the needle out, towards the dashboard, stretching the Lieutenant’s arm as far as it would as he clung onto the fluid-filled syringe. “Cassidy, what the hell do you think you’re doing?!” He growled as his partner resisted, and their arms both shook as they struggled for the syringe.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas' wide eyes flew to Adrian when he grabbed his syringe, acknowledging his presence in the vehicle also. "Come on, Ade." He struggled with the other, annoyed how far the drug was being held out of reach. It didn't matter that he was stronger than Ade if he couldn't reach the needle!


Cas took his free hand and began weakly slapping at Adrian, voice cracking as he yelled for the doctor to return it. He swallowed thickly, his Adam's apple bobbed up then down. He opened his dry mouth to lick his lips, then said. "Ade, it's good... F-For me." His eyes searched for any understanding in Adrian's, flickering over his love's gaze with a grimace staining his own.


The drug translated to 'slumber' in English. Cas hungered to forget certain events, at least for a little while. And almost any drug could make you do that. But this one was a full memory knock out. He could make himself believe anything. He would blackout for maybe four minutes, and wake appearing distant, but happy. While high he could change the details of his reality, and consciously choose whether or not he believed something had happened. And live happily ever after. For a handful of hours.


"Please." Cas mouthed, mouth too dry to voice words. He stared for a moment longer, then lunged over the dash with a growl. He chest fell into Adrian's lap, and his face smacked into the window, but he reached the syringe. Grabbing it with one hand, he pushed the other palm over Adrian's face, tugging the drug away and retreating to his driver seat. He pointed the syringe threateningly at Adrian, figuring a doctor would be afraid of any disinfected needles. "Ade, I don't know what I'm going to do to myself when... But Arvin died just this morning. Trying to negotiate with a cartel leader, in the 30th century. They- He-... Shot him at point blank." He squirted a bit onto Ade's face, the tiniest of smiles taking over, "Ade I'm not a coward. But I just don't want to remember." He took the needle and positioned it expertly at a vein, pushing it in, without injecting, "There must be something you don't want to remember. Do you want some?"

 

[Laine]

“Arvin…? Who…?” Ade winced. He backed away from the needle pointed at him, to the point where he was pressed up against the passenger side window. His hands were held up in surrender as he regarded his partner in irritated confusion, unable to piece together the disjointed explanation Cassidy had given him. “Cassidy, you’re not making any sense.” Adrian said. It crossed his mind to smack the needle from Cas’ hand, but he seemed frozen in place as the Lieutenant lowered the needle, rolling up his sleeve again. “Seriously, Cas, stop.” He said, his voice firm at he stared the Lieutenant down. But the agent continued, smiling slightly as he pushed the needle down into his flesh.


“Wow…You’re…” He murmured softly, his eyes scrunched up in disbelief, “…You’re fucking unbelieveable, Cas.” Cassidy’s hands shook slightly as they held the syringe, and Ade exchanged a disgusted look with him. The doctor opened his mouth to speak again, but he simply sighed and shook his head.


“No, you know what? Why should I stop you?” He growled. “This is tame, considering what I know you’ve done. Infact, I’m surprised I haven’t caught you doing – this – sooner.” His hand slid behind him, pressing on the handle. The door opened with a click, and the doctor pushed behind him, exiting the car without taking his eyes off Cas. “Go ahead, love. I already told Sabe you were an addict. At least now I was telling the truth.” He huffed, punctuating his sentence with a slam of the door. The doctor pushed a hand through his hair, before marching away from the car, digging his hands into his shorts pockets.

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy snorted, laughing even more at Adrian's sudden change of attitude. He pushed down on the syringe end, unflinching at the stinging sensation the device left on his skin. He tugged it out, and threw the needle out the door with Adrian before he got to slam the door. He didn't care that Adrian told his father anything, in fact he barely heard the comment.


The lieutenant didn't glance twice at his love stomping off. He locked the doors and reclined the seat, just waiting. About ten seconds of pushing the bright powder off his lap, and he fell backwards so the seat was cradling him. His lids fluttered and hands slipped down to the sides as he descended into unconsciousness, and the comforting black area that accompanied memory loss. He was in the recesses of his mind, crafting a personal heaven he could live in for the next few hours. When he awoke he didn't see the car, he had forgotten he was in the car. He was on the level of sleep walking instead: awake but unaware of reality.


Cas believed he was on a cot next to a man made fire pit; a centauri white beach stretched out under him. His nose pointed at the stars so far above that made the whiteness and water glitter. He could hear the soft breathing of his friends around him. The entire original crew. They were all alive and well, and they were on an exploration mission. This had actually happened, and he chose this memory as reality for the time being. Only minor alterations existed: Adrian was next to him, and no one was injured or hungry. Cas stared up into the black space above and felt no desire to venture out into the unknown, but stay there in limbo, forever. Letting gravity glue him to the sand, and the thick humidity imitate a loving embrace.

 

[Laine]

There was a certain bitterness to being both furious and freezing, and Adrian felt it as he stalked down the sidewalk. He folded his arms over his chest, walking past the mall, the restaurant behind it, and the alien hotel on the cornerside – all whilst constantly glancing behind him, half expecting his love to be trailing behind him. But Cassidy did not appear, and so the doctor continued walking, his brow furrowed as he tried to organise his thoughts in the chilly Gliesian breeze. The dark-skinned humanoids cocked their eyebrows in confusion as he passed them, commenting amongst themselves about the strange foreigner’s dress sense, and marvelling at his paleness, which was starting to turn red from the sun’s penetrating rays.


The Gliesian city seemed to quickly swallow him up. Each step Ade took made him feel more lightheaded, and a dark blurriness began to cloud his mind as he walked without purpose, forgetting why he was there, or exactly what he was walking away from. The anger faded and made way for distress, and a deep sinking feeling took over his stomach as the doctor realised he was very much lost. He stopped dead in his tracks, suddenly looking all around him. His eyes focused on a familiar face, and he reached towards them. His own face twisted into a weak smile, mouth curling just below a dark purple stain, made by the slumber drug.


“Oh, thank God, Cas…” He said, huffing in a sigh of relief as he held the other by the shoulders. There was a nervous, almost desperate laugh in his voice as he spoke, “Where the hell did you go...?”


The other cocked an eyebrow at the foreign tongue, yellow eyes catching in the bright sunlight. As soon as Ade noticed them, the face of his lover seemed to melt away, replaced by a Gliesian woman – dark skinned and dark haired, like Cassidy, and with a curious smile as she took one of Ade’s hands from her narrow shoulders. “Stratil ste?” She purred in amusement.

 

[chellemrys]

A man stood across the way, seemingly not caring or noticing Adrian until he had grabbed the woman. He lifted a brow, watching from his circle of friends from several feet away.


Watching. Only watching until she grabbed his hand and smiled. He cleared his throat loudly, shoving both sleeves up past his elbows, and marched with a protruding chest over to the two. "What is this?" He hissed in Gliesian, pushing at Adrian's chest. "What are you touching her for?" He challenged, several people stopping their conversations to look over in sudden interest. Little had Ade known he had found his way into a rough part of the city.


The man looked Adrian up and down, thinking it odd to find someone so pale here. He smirked, brushing blue hair from his eyes, "Foreigner." He switched to kershnaille, and repeated everything he had already said before. The girl apparently liked the dominant attitude her partner had, and she grinned in amusement, whispering that he had just grabbed her out of no where!

 

[Laine]

“What are you touching her for?” He repeated in a mockingly slow tone. The woman snaked back, releasing Adrian’s hand and standing behind the other, grinning all the way. She pouted and murmured something to the man beside her, which only seemed to make things worse.


“…I-I…sorry, she looked, like…” Ade started to mumble, clearing his throat as he realised he was speaking in English. The group in front of him exchanged nervous smiles to each other as they heard the foreign tongue, the man in front folding his arms defiantly. “She…she…” Adrian repeated in wobbly Kerschanille. The newly learned language seemed to disappear clean out of his head, and he took a step back as he furrowed his brow in confusion. The doctor’s heart thudded painfully in panic, and he shook his head, turning to walk away whilst whispering a quiet apology.


“You’re going the wrong way, foreigner.” The man’s cocky voice came back in Kerschanille. Ade turned back towards him in confusion, but before he could react, he found himself slammed into the wall behind him, the Gliesian’s hands twisted around the other’s shirt collar. He drew himself up into Adrian’s face, smiling wickedly as the girl behind giggled. “You have some money for me? Or some of this left, perhaps?” He drawled, tapping at the flecks of violet powder on Ade’s shirt.


The doctor shook his head violently, still struggling to understand what was going on. “No. No – no money.” He sputtered in Kerchsnaille, emptying out his pockets to show the group.

 

[chellemrys]

The Gliesian smirked, puffing up with a huff before snapping his forehead into Adrian's nose. "You sure about that?" A tone ringing with cockiness reverberated through the narrow street, drawing any remaining distracted to tune in. "Should I turn you upside down, and shake the coins outta ya?"


"HEY!" The antagonist's head snapped to down the street, where a Gliesian cop was running towards them. Green skinned and ridged faced like the outside of a pineapple. "What's going on here?" The big tough guy released Adrian, and dashed away, with his girlfriend. Several shady shapes melted into the shadows, not to return until the safety from a lack of authority to return.


The cop ran up to Adrian, the only culprit left in sight, and immediately began questioning the meaning of the disturbance. Well, that was before he noticed the purple substance lacing Adrian's collar. The green man narrowed his eyes at the streak; his eyes rose to meet Adrian's in suspicion.

 

[Laine]

Adrian cupped his hands over his nose, sucking air in a gasp of pain as the Gliesian dropped him at once. By the time he recovered and lifted his head up, cold and suspicious amber eyes met his as the officer reached down, clamping his hand around Ade’s arm and hauling him up from the ground. His eyes remained fixated on the powder littered around Ade’s shirt collar as another officer approached.


“Well?” He drawled firmly in Gliesian, lowering his brow as the auburn-haired doctor stumbled to explain what had happened. The other officer folded his arms, casting his eyes up and down the street for the other Gliesians that had run off.


“...They were…ah-sking for…drugs…” Ade mumbled, wincing as the word drug caught the officer’s attention. His foreign accent and nervous demeanor, as well as the violet powder around his neck were all the two needed, and one drew out of pair of cuffs, advancing towards Ade and shaking his head.


“You do not even try to hide it, drug dealer?” One officer spat. He sighed, putting a firm hand on Ade’s shoulder and turning him around, forcing him against the wall. “Wait-wait-!“ Ade stammered, struggling back against the officer’s grip.