Title: The Great Escape Authors: Cousin Shelley & Arletta Asbury With Approval/Help From: Cousin Toni Time: A little after "WAR: LC Orders Flowers"; Concurrent with "NOT Another One" Lush Nick was at it again. Staggering through the CERK lobby, sloppy grin on his face, gripping tightly a glass with a red substance in it. Not blood though, definitely not blood. At least not *pure* blood. He brought it to his lips and downed it in one gulp. Shelley stood leaning up against the wall watching him and wondering just how he managed to be drunk 24 hours a day. She shook her head in dismay as he crashed into a small table and landed on the floor beside it. 'Good thing he's a vampire and heals fast' she thought as she crossed the lobby to go pick him up *one more time*. Placing the heavy Registry book down on the table that had tripped him, she grabbed his arm and tried to get him to his feet again. "Nick, what am I gonna *do* with you?" she asked him, huffing and puffing. He was *not* light. "Dunnso " he slurred, grinning, "Anotsher drinksy ?" Finally managing to get him back on his feet, however unsteady, she picked the Registry book up and turned back to Nick. Staring him in the eyes to make sure they stayed nice and blue, she began "Nick, really, you need to sober up....just a little?" "Thash no fun" he complained. "How would you even know?" "I wash sshober onsh...didn't liksh it" he slurred, turning, intent on continuing his endless search for another drink. Shelley grabbed his arm to stop him. He didn't like the way this conversation was going, and showed his disapproval by letting his eyes glow yellow. A look of fear crept over Shelley's face at the sight, and she dropped his arm quickly. "I Liksh it, sho don't try to shtop me!" he said in a slightly menacing tone. Shelley sighed, a habit she was acquiring quite a bit around him. No one wanted an angry, drunk vampire...least of all her. "Okay, okay, don't get upset....it was just a...a...a *suggestion*, Nick" she lied, shaking slightly. His eyes turned back to blue and he grinned again, turning in the direction of the liquor cabinet, his now empty glass still clutched tightly in his hand. Shelley watched him go, and let out the breath she had been holding since those eyes turned yellow. 'I have to remember he's not your average lush' she reminded herself. "Cousin Shelley?" a voice called out from behind her. "Yes?" she answered, turning to see Cousin Toni walking towards her. Behind her was a figure that looked remarkably like another LaCroix. "Did Denese tell you? I'm afraid it's another one. This one seems to think he works for MI6 or something," Toni said a small sneer edging in. "Not work and not MI6. I tried work once. It didn't work out... too much like work," LaCroix interjected urbanely. Shelley ignored him and directed her comments at Toni. "We'll need a designator," Shelley said with practiced ease as she flipped the registry book open to the section labeled "LaCroix's". At Cousin Toni's pained look, she knew this was going to be one of *those* entries. ************************************************************** Nick staggered over to the liquor cabinet. He tottered for a minute, then regained his precarious balance. Smiling at the feat, he reached up and opened the cabinet door. "Jush one morse" he said, "maybe jusht two" his grin got larger. Looking into the now open cabinet, he saw 8 bottles of red liquid with the label "Bloody Mary's in a Bottle" in large letters across the top. Below, in smaller letters, they read "(Made in Canada with real blood; suggested for Vampiric use only)" on them. Nick did a double take. The 8 bottles danced in his inebriated vision. No, wait. There were only 4, he was seeing double again, he then frowned at the low supply. He grabbed one of the bottles and opened it with his full attention concentrated on that one difficult task. He knew what pleasure success with it would bring. Placing his glass carefully under it, he tipped the bottle to pour out the contents. Nothing happened. He tipped the bottle further and further until it was completely inverted. Still nothing. He brought the bottle up to the light and, swaying only slightly, looked thru the dark green glass. "Empshy?" he asked the bottle forlornly. "Empshy" he decided and abandoned that bottle for one on on the shelf. It was empty as well, and he frowned with worry. The other two bottles had the same problem, and he felt himself on the verge of panic. There was no more! He whirled around, nearly falling, and looked across the lobby. No one was watching *him*. He could buy a supply himself, better than these mortals who had let the supply run dry! Momentarily, he thought of trying to find Natalie so that she could go with him. A mixture of disappointment and confusion crossed his face as he remembered her rebuke earlier. Vaguely, he wondered why she had changed so drastically, but then his mind returned to the problem at hand...no more Bloody Mary's at CERK. Maybe she would join him if he found more. He smiled at the thought. Staggering to the door, he went out into the night. In the chaos resulting from Toni's argument with the rather dapper, but still arrogant Lacroix, Shelley never saw him leave.