Apple, within Bonkers…

"I'm really starting to hate this place even more. Death is all around. I mean Malcolm Three-Eye murdered in his office. Who expects that in your own office? I would not expect to be murdered in the Vulgar Camel. Well, wait a minute, yes, I would expect to be murdered in the Vulgar Camel. I would hope no one would murder me in my sleep. Shit, yeah, I would, if I slept in the Vulgar Camel."

“Hey Buttercup, what you know?” I turned and looked at Sin. “What is with all this Buttercup business?” “Sounds better than Apple to me, I guess?” I looked at Sin and wondered if she had been drinking too much, again, or sniffing something, again. Either could be plausible. The Bread and Bonkers looked to be pretty much empty. Apple liked it empty, and Sin knew it.

Sin shrugged. “I heard the Sherrif got into it at Malcolm's and then followed some people to the Tea Room where they really got into it. That Sherriff guy? He looks to be a bleeder, got all the way knocked around.” “In the basement I heard, again, I'm telling you basement things are trouble. Maybe White Scale is onto something about basements.” Apple nodded. “Yeah, that judge woman. She seems smart enough to let someone else do the bleeding.” Sin looks at Apple. “You are all over the place, you, OK?” I nod, point down to her drink. “My 5th bonker of the day.”

Sin nodded. “Heard the cat thing. You know the one came up to you and asked for sex? It was smart enough to stay at the Vulgar. Were you at the Vulgar with him? Hmm? Hubba?” I punched Sin in the arm, hard. “No, I was not, and before you go asking, I wasn't with a red-scaled dragon, either. Heard it was nosing around after it had gotten kidnapped the week before and it was in its room 'resting'. I think it was drinking itself into oblivion. I have no idea what a red scale drinks, but I'm sure it had a lot.”

I looked at Sin. “I heard it was some of those slaver types, men, and they spoke a dark language. No one understood, throwing people off the track.” Sin nodded. “We have all types in this town, barely safe for a half-naked woman to walk the streets in the middle of the day. We have those cultists who want to make dragons dead and then turn them into butterflies or something. Got other people who want to worship dogs. Dogs, do you believe that?” I shook my head. “They aren't dogs, you idiot, they are jackals. You know those scavenger things in the desert? Yeah, they resemble dogs, but they aren't. There is some godlike being it has a dog's head. I'm sure those cat people hate the dog people and are planning a big cat box pissing match or something.” Sin laughed. “So, your cat boyfriends is going to piss in the dog's kibble, I mean, the jackal people?” I got angry. “He ain't my boyfriend OK. NOT.” Sin smiled, “You are protesting a lot.” “I don't like cats, at all, alright, the idea of letting a cat be my first makes my skin crawl. EWWW,” Sin watched as Apple shuddered and shook herself.

Sin looked down and saw she had nothing to drink. “Hey, can I get something?” One server came over and put a cup of bonk down in front of her. “Someone bought rounds for everyone, and we figure we got about three left, so enjoy.” Sin looks around. “Who bought?” The server shrugged, “I don't know, I don't care. They left a gold piece and I'm happy with my tip.” Sin laughed. “A gold piece, huh? Hope they need their fortunes told or they want to look down my top.” Even Apple laughed.

I sat up in my chair. “What about those weird graveyard people?” Sin shrugged. “Hey, all I know is they are weird, and they worship snakes, or people that look like snakes, or some other snake thing. Far as I can tell, there are some that want to be snakes and others that want to BE snakes. Like that makes any sense at all.” Sin laughed. “If I had a choice in the matter, I think I'd like to be a snake. That way I could diddle myself with my snake head, know what I mean?” I shook my head, disgusted. “You are a sicko,” Sin nodded. “Yeah, and?”

Sin looked at me. “You know I am surprised none of those heroes are dead yet. I would have put money on that singy voice one, hands out with the Druids in the grove? Thought they, them Druids, would have sacrificed her to their tree gods by now.” I shook my head in the negative. “Think they are waiting for something to happen, like those whackos on the ship?” Sin seemed to agree with me then. “I guess, maybe they are waiting for the same thing. Hey, did you hear the carnival is in town? Yep, got here last night, that B guy, he is a looker. I might tell his fortune for free, if you know what I mean.”

“Maybe the carny folks are here for the BIG RACE.” Sin looks at me. “They doing that again?” I nod. “Heard as soon as the funeral is all over for old Malcolm 3 Eye. I tell you, I'm glad he is gone, so tired of him looking down my dress, looking at my scars. I swear he got turned on by them. Weirdo.” Sin nodded, “Still rough he had to die to stop.” “Yeah, well,” was all I said.