The Wilting of the Rose
an excerpt

She didn't look exactly herself, even in the dim lighting, Doc noted. Maybe it was because of the dim lighting that she looked like she was shaking. The evening had chilled to a cool temperature, but not enough to make a morph shiver. He kept a close eye watching her.

“You forgot your dinner,” Doc said, stepping down into the room and closing the door behind him. “You look hungry enough, why don't you work on your cabin later?”

“Just set it on the table, I'll get around to it.” she turned back to her curtains and fluffed them up a bit.

Doc sat down with the bowl at the table. “I didn't come in here to yell at you about what happened...”

“What, about almost dying from the drink? So you've come to spy on me? Babysit me? I know everyone has been watching me and waiting to catch me.” Adrian said bitterly, quickly sorting through the items she had somewhat spread on the floor.

“We've been watching you, but we'd rather -not- catch you in the act. That wouldn't actually make us happy.”

Adrian ignored him.

“So tell me what happened.”

“What do you mean what happened? I drank too much, that's all.”

“Hardly sounds like an accident to me.”

“I didn't say it was an accident.”

“So what was it then?”

She found a sparkling object she seemed to be looking for and held it up. It was a jewel encrusted hook, glinting cheerfully in the soft lantern light. “Those bastards left me only -one- curtain hook?!”

Doc watched her unpack a few items from her pack, trying to ignore the unmistakable sound of bottles clinking together. One of the items she took out and placed with her stuff looked like familiar. He pointed at the object. “Isn't that Blacktail's pipe?”

Adrian grabbed it and looked at it fondly. “Yeah, I'm using it as collateral.”

Doc chuckled. “That's a good word for it. I haven't seen him use that in ages. I didn't even know he still had it.”

Adrian shifted through her back again and brought out a bag that was about half as full as it started out. “Care for a smoke?”

“You know I can never refuse a good tobacco... knowing its from Blacktail, I trust its good.” He took the offered pipe and bag, and smelled it. His eyes widened when he recognized it. “Paruka leaf! That's not exactly an everyday herb, Adrian.”

“Well? Are you going to light up or am I going to have to take it back?” she asked as she poked and screwed the little curtain hook back into its rightful place on the wall.

“Adrian... it was this bad?” Doc asked. It was like the proof he didn't knew he needed that his friend's situation was indeed a rather serious one.

“What?”

“You know what its commonly used for. Medicinally its used for recovering alcoholics. Why didn't you tell me?”

“Tell you what? That I'm a drug user as well as an alcoholic?!”

“YES! You have to resort to PARUKA leaf to combat your drinking problem, don't you? What's been happening to you since I've been gone?!”

Adrian quietly fiddled with the hook, turning it and turning it. It got harder to turn, and then she really had to crank on it. Finally there was a small CRACK sound as some of the wood around the hole gave under the pressure of the threads.

“Yeah, it's come down to that. That night, I guess I passed out for quite awhile. Even had a couple seizures within a week when they made me quit cold-turkey. I don't remember-”

“No, you wouldn't remember. Why did you do it to yourself? And don't say it was an accident.”

“You keep asking and you still haven't got an answer. What makes you think you'll get what you want?”

“I think that's all I needed right there. You... just don't know yourself.” Doc got up and walked to Adrian, whose back was still turned. “Here, you're not looking too good. Have some paruka... calm your chills before... it gets too bad.” He reached into the paruka leaf pouch, brought out a lighter, and prepared the pipe.

“I'd really rather just have a drink... or several...”

“I know. Here.” He put the pipe in her hands. “Sit down and relax. We've got a full day of work tomorrow.”

Adrian eyed the pipe reluctantly but lifted it to her lips and drew in a little bit of the smoke, then let it out quickly. “I hate this stuff!” she shoved the pipe back into Doc's hands. “Its completely destroyed my life!”

Doc fumbled with the pipe suddenly trust at hims, trying not to let it fall and spill its leafy embers. “That doesn't even make any sense! No doubt this stuff has saved your tail-”

“I was fine when I was drinking! I get carried away once, doesn't mean I have to quit!”

“I was going to go easy on you and let you have an occasional ale, but I don't think that's gonna do you any good.” he muttered sadly.

“Go easy on me? You were going to go EASY on me? What's that supposed to mean?”

“It means that I know you have some bottles in your bag there, and I'm fairly certain they don't have grape juice in them. I should have realized how serious this was before. I've seen people go through withdrawal before, so go SIT DOWN and SMOKE the fucking pipe! You're not going anywhere else until then!” his bellows echoed throughout the room.