Nightshade Lullaby

The thing about being a nightshade addict.........Well, there's a lot of things about being a nightshade addict. But, the one that was on Galen Knighthawke's mind as he lit his first nightshade cigarette in several days was the sleep that the foul, poisonous narcotic put you into sometimes, at the end of a long day fueled by its other effects. A body can only survive propped up by poison for so long before it gives out. For most, the collapse lasts only about a night, and, most nightshade addicts will tell you, is preceded by a most wonderful sensation.

They called it the nightshade lullaby and, Galen reflected as he counted his money, for at least the 5th time today, at the Luna Bank, he had never felt it. Not once.

Nightshade smoke had a curious effect on him. It sharpened his senses even as it deadened his emotions, keeping him, he supposed, from going insane at certain points, certain times in the past, when it was all just too much. It slowed him down even as it agitated and drove him. In the past it had clearly added to his already sometimes frightful natural intensity.

Over the past few days, Galen had discovered that he didn't need the poisonous narcotic to drive him. He suspected he was near-quitting. Today, however, he had for some reason smoked like a fiend. Joylah had even taken a few puffs of one of his cigarettes, earlier at the Drunken Crow in Malas.

Joylah had been tired and lef the Crow an hour or so before Galen did. This had rarely happened; normally it was Galen who tired first. But he couldn't blame her. It was turning into a very rough night at the Crow. There were a lot of thoughts running around in Galen's head, concerning Starr's death and the irony of some of Sinjun's reactions, that Galen would rather not have. Starr didn't deserve these cynical thoughts, from what Galen knew. He did his best to banish them.

Still......Galen was quite sincere last night when he had suggested to those in attendance that their focus was wrong. While Redwulf's motivations may be worthwhile to consider as a clue to his next move, the crowd in attendance seemed nearly obsessed, as though what had happened to Redwulf was something worthwhile to consider in and of itself.

Galen had to remind himself sometimes that the deaths of innocents he hardly knew were no longer his concern. It was difficult.

Galen had long since finished counting his money. He extinguishes his cigarette and walked outside to the area near the city walls. It was a cold night, but the cold invigorated Galen rather than sap him. He lit another cigarette, and laid it on the ground over a small patch of rocks and let it burn rather than actually smoke it. He stared at the glittering embers, and he thought. Guild BEF was still hanging around the Moongate, talking amonst themselves about things they may have done, but they certainly hadn't done today. They had literally been hanging around that Moongate pretty much all day.

Galen was surprised at the apparent ease with which the Paladin Lords of Luna had become puppets of the foul Shadow Empire. Their seemingly hand-picked Mayor hung out near the bank, attempting to get Britannians doing their business there to bring him elf ears and kirin brains. This man sickened Galen, even as the Shadow Empire's lax attitude toward Britannians in Luna amused him; it showed that revenue superseded hatred.

He wondered how Phoebe would handle the pressure she was about to be under. He had been offering her �training� of sorts over the last few weeks, and had come to look upon her....."No, don't think that," Galen reminded himself. "You will never have children. Thinking of someone in that way just makes it worse." And besides. Phoebe had come into her own very quickly, and no longer needed him as a mentor. A friend, perhaps, but Galen was aware that even his friendship could be a liability.

There was a lot more on Galen's mind tonight, but he banished it all and extinguished the cigarette. He already missed Joylah. And it was late. And it was time to go home. He smiled as he opened his runebook and found the appropriate page.

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> Nightshade Lullaby > The thing about being a nightshade addict.........Well, there's a lot of things about being a nightshade addict. But, the one that was on Galen Knighthawke's mind as he lit his first nightshade cigarette in several days was the sleep that the foul, poisonous narcotic put you into sometimes, at the end of a long day fueled by its other effects. A body can only survive propped up by poison for so long before it gives out. For most, the collapse lasts only about a night, and, most nightshade addicts will tell you, is preceded by a most wonderful sensation. > They called it the nightshade lullaby and, Galen reflected as he counted his money, for at least the 5th time today, at the Luna Bank, he had never felt it. Not once. > Nightshade smoke had a curious effect on him. It sharpened his senses even as it deadened his emotions, keeping him, he supposed, from going insane at certain points, certain times in the past, when it was all just too much. It slowed him down even as it agitated and drove him. In the past it had clearly added to his already sometimes frightful natural intensity. > Over the past few days, Galen had discovered that he didn't need the poisonous narcotic to drive him. He suspected he was near-quitting. Today, however, he had for some reason smoked like a fiend. Joylah had even taken a few puffs of one of his cigarettes, earlier at the Drunken Crow in Malas. > Joylah had been tired and lef the Crow an hour or so before Galen did. This had rarely happened; normally it was Galen who tired first. But he couldn't blame her. It was turning into a very rough night at the Crow. There were a lot of thoughts running around in Galen's head, concerning Starr's death and the irony of some of Sinjun's reactions, that Galen would rather not have. Starr didn't deserve these cynical thoughts, from what Galen knew. He did his best to banish them. > Still......Galen was quite sincere last night when he had suggested to those in attendance that their focus was wrong. While Redwulf's motivations may be worthwhile to consider as a clue to his next move, the crowd in attendance seemed nearly obsessed, as though what had happened to Redwulf was something worthwhile to consider in and of itself. > Galen had to remind himself sometimes that the deaths of innocents he hardly knew were no longer his concern. It was difficult. > Galen had long since finished counting his money. He extinguishes his cigarette and walked outside to the area near the city walls. It was a cold night, but the cold invigorated Galen rather than sap him. He lit another cigarette, and laid it on the ground over a small patch of rocks and let it burn rather than actually smoke it. He stared at the glittering embers, and he thought. Guild BEF was still hanging around the Moongate, talking amonst themselves about things they may have done, but they certainly hadn't done today. They had literally been hanging around that Moongate pretty much all day. > Galen was surprised at the apparent ease with which the Paladin Lords of Luna had become puppets of the foul Shadow Empire. Their seemingly hand-picked Mayor hung out near the bank, attempting to get Britannians doing their business there to bring him elf ears and kirin brains. This man sickened Galen, even as the Shadow Empire's lax attitude toward Britannians in Luna amused him; it showed that revenue superseded hatred. > He wondered how Phoebe would handle the pressure she was about to be under. He had been offering her �training� of sorts over the last few weeks, and had come to look upon her....."No, don't think that," Galen reminded himself. "You will never have children. Thinking of someone in that way just makes it worse." And besides. Phoebe had come into her own very quickly, and no longer needed him as a mentor. A friend, perhaps, but Galen was aware that even his friendship could be a liability. > There was a lot more on Galen's mind tonight, but he banished it all and extinguished the cigarette. He already missed Joylah. And it was late. And it was time to go home. He smiled as he opened his runebook and found the appropriate page.
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