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7-23-05

Aki strolled briskly down the crowded street...clutching Morgan's cup to her chest. The boy bobbed gently in his lemonade, staring up at his guardian with wide eyes. "Where goin?"

"We're just going for a walk, darling! I was wondering if you wanted to take a peek at some other cups!" Holding the tip of her pinky just over the edge of the glass, Aki smiled as he draped one arm over it.

"New cup?" Still skeptical, Morgan tilted his head...hair sliding across his face as though it were liquid as well. It had grown a bit since she'd known him, hanging lightly in a tussled wave.

Shaking her head, Aki smiled...trying to find a way to explain 'window shopping' to a young man. "No, more just to look...and see if anything catches your eye!!" Pointing to the nearest housewares shop, Aki strolled up to the window and paused. "See those shelves over there? Everything a Drinkable could ever desire! Let's go in!"

Morgan nodded absently, eyes fixed on the glitter of glassware. Raising his little hands as though he were trying to help Aki push open the door, he gasped as they stepped inside. Air conditioned! How nice!!

Pointing to the shelves she'd mentioned, he kicked his feet....stirring up the ice. "That way!"

"Okay okay!!! We'll go that way!!" Nodding to the startled clerk, Aki wandered towards the glassware...holding Morgan high and steady so he could check out the products.

His eyes darted along the rows, face impassive. The Drinkable considered quietly...shaking his head at the tumblers and tea cups. "For Biskie."

Aki laughed, nodding as he indicated the tea cups. "You're right, she'd prefer those!" His nickname for Hibiscus was so cute!!

She continued to walk down the row, past the sake sets and skipping the wine glasses. Suddenly, Morgan's hands tightened on the rim of the glass with a squeak...pale knuckes turning white as he tried to stop his glass. "Ooooh...."

There was no mistaking the noise of an enraptured child! Twisting to see what he'd spotted, Aki could only smile..it figured!! Slender stems, angular basin, gold rim...of course Morgan would set his sights on the most expensive martini glasses the shop had to offer!!

Raising one little finger, he pointed in awe. "What....issit?"

Grinning at the mental image of Morgan reclining in it like a hot tub, Aki brought him a bit closer. He ran his hand along the gold, a perfect compliment to his bright tones. "It's a martini glass!! A $125 dollar martini glass!" She had money enough, but that didn't mean she'd lost a sense of what was pricey and what was reasonable. It must be the gold rim, she figured.

"Whassat?"

Aki pondered...she wasn't much of a drinker. "A martini is a gentleman's drink, I suppose. Cool and smooth, in an elegant glass! Sometimes they have olives in them..."

Morgan made a face, tearing his eyes away long enough to peer up at her doubtfully.

"Or sometimes...like with lemon drop martinis...they have a curl of lemon rind on the rim!" She couldn't help but giggle at his expression...so excited! Unfortunately, he didn't seem to be grasping the idea of window shopping. It would be so sad to let him down!!

"Well, there are many other glasses to look at...don't you wanna see?"

Sighing, Morgan narrowed his eyes...turning her a cold shoulder. He wanted to see this one...but questions from Aki where rarely 'questions'. More 'polite suggestions.'

Aki strolled past the shotglasses....pausing as Morgan giggled. "For bebehs." He pointed in amusement, rocking back in his glass with a splash of ice cold lemonade. Nodding, she laughed as well...a Drinkable point of view was an amusing thing!!

Finally, they found the pitchers and serving decanters. It was like being among giants, Morgan stared with wide eyes and ducked into his lemonade in a distinctly 'Cedric' type gesure. "So big!"

Nodding as he burbled, Aki flicked the straw to the other side of his glass...clearing his view. "They are indeed! Say, all this shopping has put me in the mood for a treat. Want to go to ice cream with me?!"

Instantly, his little cheeks flushed pink at the thought of sugar. Nodding, glassware forgotten, Morgan moved one of the lemon wedges around under his butt so he could sit carefully upon the bobbing fruit. Hands once again on the edge of the glass, he steadied himself as Aki strolled back out of the shop...leaving the clerk still staring open mouthed.

Psh...like they'd never seen an elf carrying a Drinkable before!!

August 6th

Morgan watched carefully, totally submerged below the swirling lemonade. Hands pressed against the side of the glass, he watched Hibiscus ooze slowly upwards. It was an interesting angle for viewing...he could see all the way through her, to the petals on the other side!

Reaching up with two amorphous arms, Hibiscus gripped the rim of Morgan's glass and pulled herself all the way up. She wasn't scared, not at all! If she fell, she'd just splatter and reform! Unless she fell into Morgan's drink...

"Morgan!! Morganmorganmorganmorgan!!!"

Splashing back to the surface, flipping his hair back from his face, Morgan gazed cooly at the tiny blob perched upon the rim of his cup. Raising a brow, he waited for her question....prompting her when it didn't come. "Yes? What?""

Hibiscus beamed at being acknowledged. Pointing one stubby arm down at his lemonade, she chirped a little question. "What happens if I fall in!?" Slowly, worry crept over her little face. Would she disperse? Would all the lemonade flood out of the cup?!

Morgan tilted his head as he pondered....wet blond locks tumbling across his little face. Would she become lemon tea? Would he become hibiscus lemonade? Holding up his hands, Morgan pressed them gently aganist her side to keep her steady. "Let's not find out."

Nodding happily at that solution, Hibiscus pushed upwards....sprouting legs so she could tiptoe around the edge of the glass. Morgan held her hand as she wobbled....turning in slow circles in his lemonade as he treaded water.

"You taste soooouuur!!" Making a face, Little Tea giggled nonetheless. There was a hint of sweetness, under the lemon...she could taste it because they held hands! "I wonder how the others taste!"

"Others?

Nodding, Hibiscus waved one hand grandly...settling back down into a blob, bulging over either side of the rim. "The others! More like meeee!!

Sighing, Morgan draped one arm over the edge...kicking an ice cube as he pondered. There were others like him as well, like Cedric!! "More like me too. Wanna meet them?"

Hibiscus paused, peering shyly from under her petals. "Meet...them?" What if they didn't like her? What if they tried to dunk her in their glasses? Frowning gently, she shook her head. No, they wouldn't do that. Morgan was one of them, after all...and he was nice! A little reserved, but nice when he wanted to be!

"....Okay! And you can meet others like me too!" She didn't mention it directly, but it would be so nice to have a friendly face there when she had to meet the others. Aki said they were nice, but how was Hibiscus supposed to know!? If Morgan went with her, she would have somewhere to hide if things went poorly. "Deal?"

"Deal."

Aki drifted back out of the doorway, smiling to herself. Looks like she had a party or two to plan!

Half Empty...

"Morgan! Hibiscus! Get yourselves presentable, breakfast is served!!" Wiping her hands on her apron, Aki set the muffins upon the table and pulled the juice from the fridge. Cranberry juice, the one beverage they could both agree upon!

Levi and Nisha were out with Elle, taking their lessons in geography around town. Well, Levi was taking his lesson...she assumed Nisha was probably asleep on Elle's back. Pouring two of the ceramic thimbles, and a full glass for herself, Aki set the pitcher upon the table and made her way to Hibiscus' ledge.

The little Gogo was just waking, stretching in the shade of her carved crystal dome. Petals peeking out before she did, Little Tea blinked up at Aki. "What eatin'?"

"Muffins! Wrapper and all." It sounded weird, but considering the way the ferment smiled, it was the right thing to say. Little Tea's love of paper was so odd! Lowering her hand, Aki waited till Hibiscus climbed aboard.

"Oooh, you taste like apple! And spices!!"

"Well, now you've ruined the surprise!!" Poking Hibiscus in the side, Aki smiled as the ferment doubled over like the dough boy and giggled. She let Little Tea slide off her hand and shook a finger of warning at her. "Now, be polite and wait for Morgan! We'll be right there!"

Hibiscus nodded, contenting herself with snuggling up against a napkin as she waited. Oh, but paper was a fine feel...so smooth and clean and fresh!

Winding down the hall, into the living room, Aki hummed happily. Hibiscus had been enjoying her Taste Dates so much that she'd decided to set one up for Morgan as well! Not a Taste Date, per se...more of a Vessel Date! She'd bought a variety of different glasses, plastic and crystal, cobalt and acrylic! Perhaps if Hibiscus could 'taste' the difference of the materials she rested upon, he could 'feel' the difference of the glass that held him!!

"Morgan! It's time for-"

Silence. No clatter of ice cubes, no plink of a shifted straw. The silence settled upon her, deafening and terrible.

"Morgan."

It wasn't a question. Shards of glass glimmered upon the edge of the table, others shining from the carpet far below. Her stomach clenched, but nothing rose...it had been over twelve hours since she'd eaten. There was nothing in her. Empty.

Somehow, the splinters of bright glass were more macabre than bones. The wet ring upon the table was just as nauseating as blood. The bright morning seemed to dim around her, the only points of light reflected from twisted and shattered glass.

With a solid whump, Aki hit the ground in a dead faint.