The Elbow Room

[Leon Silverblood]

Leon lifts his head off of the bar, eyes filmy. He shakes his head but stops when he nearly knocks himself over, and grabs at his mixed coke for balance. Somehow, holding the glass actually centers him, though it is empty and he grimaces for a few seconds before ordering another from the barkeep with a wave of of his hand and flourish of a half-empty box of shells. Leon hope the burly fella doesn't catch on that they are 2-gauge shells, which hold 2 1-inch or larger steel ball bearings and are fired form a shotgun that hasn't been made since-
He surveys the room, looking for Melody, noticing Prizz and wondering why everyone always shows up when he's sleeping.

"Figments of my imagination?" He asks himself aloud, then asks the plastic girlfriends hanging from his chest. Leon hasn't had his medication in a looooong time.

[Lachryma]

Lachryma slowly stalks down the stairs, looking very tired. Her feet leave small puddles of blood.

She stops next to the bar and tilts her head while looking at Leon.

"You look sad, philosopher. What is problem?"

[Leon Silverblood]

Leon wipes his sleepy eyes and look up at Lachryma.
"Sad? No, no, just trying to assure myself of what's real and what's...."

He looks down at Castor, Pollux, and Samantha. After a moment he looks up apologetically.
"Don't mind them, they're always interrupting."

He looks around at each person very closely, then even pokes Lachryma in the stomach.
"Ok.....you're here.......Is there really two people at that table over there? And where's Melody?"

[Lachryma]

Lachryma rubs her stomach, feeling violated.

"Yes, yes, all is real. People sit at table, Mel wanders off, and dead ones' heads start to bother me."

She adjusts her poncho slightly. Drops of blood hit the floor.

"And nearby hospital is overrun, gets ugly."

[Leon Silverblood]

Leon looks Lachryma directly in the eye.
'Thanks, and Kudos for defending the bar."

Then he turns to the bartender again.
"What the f*** are you putting in my drinks?! I ask for straight liquor I get rum-or-vodka-flavored water! You give me something decent or Zod will strike you down with lightning where you stand!!!"

[Melody Arachne]

Melody emerges from the bathroom, tugging her shirttails straight and setting her combat boots down. She braces a hand on the table to slide her feet back into the black boots.
In the intervening time she has manged to clean up a bit and change her outfit, sporting an oversize white men's buttondown shirt, knee socks, and a plaid micro skirt. Long dark brown hair is pulled up into pigtails, swaying as she saunters to the bar and gives Lachryma a slow up-and-down once over.
"Sister, we need to work on your look. You wanna do that Russian thing, we should at least go for the pin-up soldier girl look. Or maybe fur. Fur's pretty hot."
She steps up onto the rungs of the barstool, leaning over to grab herself a glass. Turning, she slides it down the bar to Leon. "Stuill got that bottle, Sport? Howsabout pourin' me one ...?"

[Lachryma]

Lachryma looks down at herself. She can't see any problems.

"What is idea, then, fashion woman? You have closet of..."pin-up girl" clothes hidden nearby? Or you just going to mock me?"

Lachryma walks over to the undead dancer and spits in her cage.

"Is I to look like that? Is that plan?"

[Leon Silverblood]

Leon's jaw drops and he nods, making a feeble attempt at "uh-huh" with an uncooperative tongue.
Staring at her, he pours mescal all over the bar as he stares straight past Lachryma at Melody's face, then stands slightly to get a view of her legs. He turns his head to the bottle and swears, looking for a towel to wipe it up with. In his attempt to turn appromately 720 degrees and walk god-knows where, he knocks over a barstool and apologizes to it. He stops himself cold, looks at what he's done, then stands the stool back up and takes the towel that ValJohn, the bartender gives him, cleaning up his mess, drying the bottom of a shot glass and sliding it over to Melody.
Once more self-possessed, or at least possessed, he walks past Lachryma to Melody and takes a seat.
"Where-?...Wow..."
He tries to pour himself a shot. After failing several times, he draws deep on the bottle.

[Melody Arachne]

Melody gives the other girl a slow, dimpled smile.
"And that, my dear, is why you should care."

"You wouldn't carry around a weapon and refuse to use it, would you?" She takes the glass, sliding herself onto the barstool and carefully crossing her legs. "Wouldn't that be contrary to the very idea of ... well, whatever it is you folks believe in?"

"Nothing I ever heard said you all have to dress like men, Zhivago..."

[Vito The Don]

Vito shuffles around in his duffle bag and pulls out the Mosin Naget. He looks at it, and throws it at Lachryma."I was never a good shot with it, I'm far more partial to the M-63. I once killed 34 Zeds in 2minuits with it."

[Lachryma]

Lachryma catches the rifle and straps it across her back. She gives a small curtsy to Vito.

"Thank you, strange man, will be put to good use."

She turns back to Mel.

"Well? If you no like my look, give me new clothes!"

She pulls out a small silver mirror and places it in Mel's palm.

"Is payment for fashion advice. Is lovely, no?"

[Leon Silverblood]

Leon turns and glances at th weapon. "I prefer the MAC-10 and AK-74, mostly....But tell me about this gun, Vito." He turns back to Melody and pours her another shot.

"I love the way you're dressed, forget them. Where did you acquire that wonderful taste?"

[Melody Arachne]

Melody drains her glass, grins broadly at Lach. "Oh, excellent! Give me a bit to dig in my stuff, see what I can come up with." She taps her chin with the rim of the empty glass, looking the girl over. "No heels ... so impractical on the free-running routes... "

She gives Leon a beaming smile. "I told you, hon, I'm from Jersey."

"Hold on, I'll be right back down ... " Melody slips off the stool, heading up the stairs. She pulls a chain free of her shirt as she goes, a large brass key hanging from it. "Goin' to the storeroom, ValJohn, I'll bring back towels."

[Lachryma]

Lachryma taps her foot impatiently.

" 'Yes, you look ugly in clothes, let me fix'...then lady takes forever! Is annoying."

She turns to Leon.

"So, how long have you drink today? For many hours?"

[Leon Silverblood]

Leon smirks at Lachryma, then pinches her nose.
"Silly girl. I drink for days!" He grins. "Maybe I should have been Russian. Your nation does make some damned good beer!"