By the Pricking of My Thumbs

Liv nods. "Of course! We should have thought of that first off. Maybe you'll be missing that trip to the hospital after all."

i look at it in disgust "but its all shrivelled and gross".

"it is that or be a lawn ornament?" I reply " and it is dried not rotten for crying out loud" rolling my eyes

i grimace and say "fine" as i take the fruit and start chewing.

I tilt my head as the sound of crystal chiming on crystal fills the air, a few of the segments chipping off as mobility returns to are friend "well at least if you light yourself on fire it will be a heat burn instead of a flame burn i guess

I cock my head as Ignacy stands. "How does it feel?"

"Not sure how he feels, but he looks like a damned beetle from this angle." Lily quips.

i stretch "actually im feeling fine thanks".

"Well, if you're moving come on into the kitchen and get something in you." I say, turning away. "Maybe the rest will wear off, if not we'll find someone to sort it tonight. I have to busk anyway; we're running low on a few things and Lily needs new clothes, though I suppose the apartment could see to that..."

the spiders chime in sitting on my shoulder "Cor blimey! what bout us? were hungry too!" i sigh and throw them a couple bullets "il need more ammo if this keeps up".

Soon enough, we are back out on the hot neon streets of the Nightside.

the bustle and flow of the nightside is refreshing and disconcerning, seeing a shrine to whinny the pooh was odd, i wonder how long before someone either burns it or steals the teddy bear "so what is the plan folks,"

"Well I don't know about you," I say, tightening the strap of my satchel, "But I plan to sing and earn our rent money.Possibly the fee for a doctor too, in case Ignacy takes a turn for the worse and begins to do statue impersonations again." I'm still tired, but I can manage a few songs at least.
"

Muttering, a previously chastised Lily watches a Roman centurion with a heavy money belt weave her way through the crowds. "Wouldn't have to sing if you let me do it my way."

"Lilly, I can earn four hundred dollars in two hours on a good night. And it doesn't get anyone grief. Lay off the slit purse routine." I say arily. Finding a corner, I draw in my audience with a rousing and somewhat bawdy sea shanty.

Lily sits watching with the others as a grunge-coated man with a greasy, braided black hair hanging lifelessly from beneath a tattered tricorn hat begins singing along brassily, a wicker wrapped fifth of rum clutched like an infant to his breast. His antics inspire glowers of disapproval from more cultured ears in the crowd, but he continues on, oblivious.

Grinning at the laughing crowd, I fall into a classic drinking song.
"Oh the grass is growing water flowing in a free and easy way
But the rarest thing is the fine potcheen made near Galway Bay." It's an old song and a little threadbare around the edges, but with a little power even an old doggerel can become lively. I keep a wary eye on Lily where she stands, her hands in her pockets. The crowd is warming up now. I smile, They're ready for a little more exciting fare I think. Calling up a song I'd garnered from a few cd's rented from the library, I begin a joyful ditty, "Pour your brother one more round, pick each other off the ground, let another chorus sound! Pour your brother one more round!"
In the middle of the song, I spin, letting my joy free in my voice. But the joy fades near the end of the song, as I realize that Lilly is no longer beside me. Dia Danu, where has she gotten to?

Emerging from the fringe, Lily looks left and right; Liv's disproving glare causes her to hunch her shoulders when they meet eyes, but she contritely returns to the group, hands in pockets.

I study Lily, but she gives nothing away, and I get back to my work until the crowd moves on. "Lily?" I ask as we walk, "You say you'd like to help us earn our bread?"

Smirking, Lily stoops and comes up with no fewer then seven necklaces of varying value twined around her wrist along with the white serpent. "I thought Eve and I where. Look what I found!"

I stare at the glittering gems...and sigh. "You know, I've known pixies, bright borrowers and ravens who were less thieving than you."

"I didn't take them! They were just lying there on the ground!"

"Right. And river rocks are diamonds under the mud." I sigh...but lecturing her does nothing. I change the subject. "I was wondering if you might like to go busking. Can you sing? Or, perhaps, do card tricks or something of the like?"

"Never tried; twern't no percentage in it." She lifts her hand, "Sides, ya gotta play to your strengths. You sing and do so well... I open latches and locks."

I shrug. "Do as you like then."
After one more busking session, there's enough in my pockets for our needs. I glance at Ignacy; aside from the fact that he looks as if he's wearing dull armor under his clothes, he seems all right. "How are you?" I ask.