01 | video

[freedrinkplease]

[ It's evident on Pig's face--rather how he doesn't look up--that he's in his own world. Distant. A tongue darts out to lick dried lips and blue eyes focus on the screen--he's got a definite Irish accent, certainly from Cork, but the way he's dropping words and rearranging sentences is still a little jarring. ]

There we be. Pig and Runt. Warm like. Drinky drinky and I says "Happy Birthday, Runt!" And she? She smiles. [ There's a bit of a laugh but there's absolutely no humour in it. ]

But now where Pig, eh? Where Pig? No club, no fucking Runt. No Runt--No Runt.

Just.... Pig.

Where he be, yeah?

Comments

[eiremagic]

Oy.

Oy.

You're not in love with her, are you?

[freedrinkplease]

[ He snaps out of it, giving an unconvincing scoff. ]

Pig and Runt, we be pals. King and Queen of Pork City. Born at the same time in the same place and livin' next door. She my mate.

[eiremagic]

I've mates too, but I never talk about how their smiles light up a whole bloody room.

[freedrinkplease]

We be different. We know things.

[ A pause, and then: ]

An' even if it was Pig liking Runt, who be carin'? Always just us two. Not..here, though. In the tick-tock city. Pig's alone, yeah?

[eiremagic]

[She's considering this]

Don't worry. Time'll stop for her. When you get back, it'll be like nothing happened at all.

[freedrinkplease]

[ And, after squinting for a while at Eden: ]

Why you be helpin', Eden?

[eiremagic]

I've a soft spot for me countrymen.

[A stupid spot, too, considering she's housing Nathan Young]

[freedrinkplease]

You not be wantin' no-how? I can't offer you shite, foxy.

[eiremagic]

I'm not expecting shite, so we're even.

[freedrinkplease]

You not be expectin' nothing?

[ WHAT. This is the weirdest concept ever. ]

[eiremagic]

I remember what getting here was like.

[freedrinkplease]

[ Pig's eyebrow raises, and he actually takes a long, hard look at her. ]

When you got here? [ How long ago? ]

[eiremagic]

Four years ago.

[It's been a long, long time.]

[freedrinkplease]

Jesus.

That be a long, long time, foxy.

[eiremagic]

Yeah, that's for fucking sure.

[freedrinkplease]

That fucking sucks, with your four.

[eiremagic]

Yeah, well. That's life, boyo.

[freedrinkplease]

You be livin' all alone, then? With your four years in this place.

[eiremagic]

[She shakes her head]

No, I live with me boyfriend and a flatmate.

You going to need a place to stay? We've a couch.

[freedrinkplease]

Yeah. You don't want nothin'?

[eiremagic]

Nah.

[freedrinkplease]

[ There's a large bit of silence as Pig considers this--weighs the options over carefully. It's a decision he's certainly not taking lightly. ]

Yeah. I go with you, yeah?

[eiremagic]

Yeah, come on, then.

[freedrinkplease]

Sure you don't want nothin'?

[eiremagic]

What would I want?