Wasted and Wounded

<snip>He took a long, pleasantly throat warming swig, scooped up part of his haul and headed for the cubicle in the corner.

Shortly after that, Alex discovered three things about showers:

1. It is possible to smoke in a shower.
2. Doritos get a bit soggy in the shower.
3. Holly popping up in your quarters, can really put a crimp in your shower. </snip>

“All right, dude?”
“UuhhArgh!”
“How’s it hangin’?”

A startled Alex let the cigarette drop from his lips and attempted to force his wits into something resembling a human mind, capable of communication.

It’s not.

“Bloody hell! Go away.”
“Charmin’ that is. You’ve not even said hello since you got back and now you’re barkin’ at me. I just thought you might be bored...”

Alex growled.

“Holly, can you smegging see in here? Because if you can, you can be sure that I will shortly be erasing a large chunk of your memory.”
“Well I’m hardly likely to say ‘yes’ after you’ve said that, am I?”
“HOLLY!?”
“It’s all right, I’ll leave you to your Doritos.”

Alex’s eyes bugged.
He pushed the cubicle door open a gnat’s and peered out. Holly was telling the truth, he’d gone to bother someone else.
“Modo.”

After the horrifying disturbance, the rest of Solvay’s shower wasn’t quite so relaxing.

--

Slightly inebriated after imbibing a fair portion of shower-whisky, he made his way down to the promenade, in faded cig-pack-stuffed jeans and an ancient and almost threadbare green-blue pullover. He’d be unlikely to admit it, but he still felt unable to put on his default blue coveralls, after the whole disturbing huzzard thing (which’d occurred not long before the trip to– What was it Cass said the planet was called? Ah yeah, Fernandos).
Well anyway, he internally excused, it wasn’t like he was working.

He nodded to several of the woodland creatures that ran the shops, pubs and eateries. He was heading for Whiskers’s, because it had a good juke box (which, impressively, still functioned as efficiently as it did in its pre-incident days), offered an okay selection of dishes, and - best of all - served alcohol fit for humans.

He thought back to the planet, and how in panic he’d longed for a bar. What a smeggin’ relief it was to be headed for one. While his mind was back there, his thoughts plodded inevitably towards the dinosaurs.
Wow. He’d met dinosaurs.
He wished he could tell Jacob but that wasn't exactly possible. He sighed and pushed the thought away.

As he rounded the door a few timid rodents scattered, which was a shame. He was an antisocial bastuhd, but – weirdly – at that moment he wouldn’t have minded someone to drink with. Truth be told he was still feeling very guilty about leaving Bedge behind and the company of cheerful fluffy creatures would’ve distracted him.

So he sat alone, and became very drunk indeed.

---
---

As he stumbled back towards his quarters he bumped into Jade.

“Hi Doc Torjade.”
“Wow. You’re not looking so hot, there…”
His face fell into an exaggeratedly affronted expression.
“… Rude.”
Is all he managed in retort.

She gave him a shrewd look.
“You all right?”
“Yip.”
He thought about it.
“Actually, no. I’ve been meaning to ask. I need you.”
Her brow lifted.
He pulled his sweater up and displayed his stomach.
“Erm?”
“My staples. Can you take ‘em out?”

Before she could answer, he bent to her ear.
“Not now” he whispered. “I’m a bit drunk.”

“Really?”
He missed the sarcasm and pinched an invisible segment of air.
“Li’l bit.”

And then, without waiting for an answer, he wandered unsteadily off down the corridor.

--
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<Tag. Don’t forget to say how you’re spending your free evening, e'body.>