“With the number of cousins I have here, I’m pretty sure I’d have at least three or four volunteering to babysit my ass even if I didn’t need one, and it’s not like I can wander off that far anyway without any kind of vehicle. I don’t have that particular talent.”
“Maybe so, but you can still wander into traffic and that won’t do anyone any good in the long run,” he pointed out. He doubted the pills would make him wander, but there was always a chance. “My sister’s the babysittin’ type and I know she’s around somewhere. Lu said she was trying to eat everything in the fridge.”
“I wasn’t expecting it to be one. I’m just less inclined to want to even think about it right now, much less talk about it, so your professional disinterest is appreciated.”
“Being nosy doesn’t get you paid on the streets. This is on the house though, LuLu says you’re family. You’re probably going to need a sober person to keep you from wandering off though.”
“Sounds straightforward enough.” Gabe nodded, though he’d never been particularly fond of tequila, so he’d down that fast enough to try not to taste it. Everything else sounded like it was what he was looking for, at least, so he didn’t really have any reservations beyond that.
“I don’t know what’s got you all twisted, didn’t ask, not my business, but this isn’t a permanent solution. At most, this is a once ever 4-7 days cocktail and you’re also going to need something hydrating to drink on the comedown.”
“Alright? And what exactly is that lot going to do? Just wondering what I should expect.” he asked, looking a little shocked at the complex cocktail Cian was suggesting since he generally avoided anything synthetic other than occasionally dabbling in hallucinogenics.
“The orange are anxiety medication, the purple and yellow are two specially altered versions of X, the green are uppers, and the tequila takes the edge off while the pills kick in. Basically? You’re gonna feel hazy and weightless for a good few hours with a slow comedown and low kickback.” He grinned, shrugging. “I’m very good at what I do.”
“Mostly a snow leopard with a bit of vampire thrown in. Not sure how that affects dose, but it shouldn’t take too much.”
“Seeing as shifters have a higher metabolic rate overall and vampires are generally harder to fuck up? You’d be surprised,” he answered, digging through his backpack and pulling out a collection of color coded bottles. “Three of the orange, one of purple, one of the yellow, four of the green, two shots of tequila and not a word to any of the more responsible adults around here that I’m still dealing.”
He snorted a laugh at that as he pulled away. “Not that new, dude. We just don’t spend that much time around mom’s side of the family.” Or dad’s, really. His parents tended to avoid people thanks to their powers, but at least they had each other. “Teddy. Elpis is my mom.”
He squinted a little, head tipped to the side as he looked him over. “Uh, when the hell did you grow up? Last time I saw you, you were like…eight.” He knew Elpis didn’t come around too often but still.
He had no complaints about another kiss, going with the flow like he always did. The question had him grinning. “With Tru mostly. She tell ya she’s pregnant yet?” Probably, but he wasn’t sure how many people outside the family had gotten the information.
The wolf stared at him for a moment before laughing. That had to be a joke, right? Tru pregnant? It was hilarious. “Yeah, right, and next you’ll be telling me you’re goddamn Santa Claus.”
Leo hung the decorations mostly out of spite. He had a feeling all the holiday cheer would irritate his less than cheerful fiance. He also hung them because he was feeling festive and Christmas decorations were cute as hell.
So garland and lights were all over the apartment, hanging from the walls and the ceiling and anywhere Leo could think to hang them. The tree he’d acquired was almost too tall for the living room and not a branch was bare. And he’d hung mistletoe in just about every doorway, including the closet.
Mac rolled his eyes and threatened him and grumbled a lot, but insisted that Leo be the one to clean up after himself. And he would. After the holidays.
For now, he was determined to kiss Mac every time the other walked from one room to the next.
