Station, стр. 43
Another week, Lilly and Hadder produced a stageproduction of "Glengarry Glen Ross," even getting curmudgeonly Glento play the role of Shelley Levene. With a small but eclectic,Elevated cast, and backed by set-pieces crafted by manikin workers,the performance played to a packed house that showered Lilly andHadder with applause at its conclusion. Later that night, Lilly andHadder were inundated with requests for future plays and commentsregarding how so-and-so would be perfect for playing the role ofsuch-and-such. Lilly and Hadder sat together once the crowd aroundthem had died down, sharing the moment and a Number 7. "Youavailable next month," asked Lilly, staring intensely atHadder.
"I'll have to check my schedule, but I can probablymove some things around."
"Well, don't put anything off on my account. I knowtime is money."
"This is true. But perhaps if I got some sort ofdownpayment, I could reserve some time for your endeavor."
Lilly climbed up to straddle Hadder, puttingforeheads together the way they always did. "How's this for adownpayment." She kissed him deeply, the remainder of The RoyalJelly fading away into the recesses. They separated andlaughed.
"Acceptable."
While those who frequented The Royal Jellyand its surrounding Bars, a Cluster loosely defined as The Commons,had done admirably in adjusting to Station, there were alwaysmoments when Hadder was reminded that the city's people were abroken bunch. Some were simply fixed better than others. Hadderwould sometimes wake to find Lilly sobbing in the shower, the waterhot enough to scald. Royal would spend all Solay and most of theHaela ensuring that others were able to be themselves and escapeinto a good time, only to end up drinking alone in a booth atHaela's end, powering through joints as he stared blankly at thewall. Even Glen, generally a rock, was found one day digging alarge hole for no reason, his hands showing open wounds from hisfurious efforts.
Hadder asked Royal about this one day as they satalone on the steps of The Royal Jelly, enjoying beers earlyin the Solay. Royal sighed deeply before responding. "We all do ourbest here, Hadder. Some, like those lost souls that stick to theCelebration Cluster, cope by running, thinking the past will nevercatch up to them if they never stop moving, never stop divertingtheir attentions from how they ended up in Station. Some endlesslymourn, like those sad bastards in the Weep. They've grieved andcried so much, they're afraid of what they'll find if they stop.Scared that there'll be nothing left once the anguish is leftbehind. Then you have us who try to heal. We talk about the Before,how we came to be in Station. We try to own up to our mistakes, tryto offer consolation to those dealt bad hands, try to improve. Buteven the faintest scars itch once in a while. You try to scratch itwithout drawing blood and then move on. None of us will ever benormal, Hadder, even that beautiful creature you're with. But wecan strive to be the best versions of ourselves, and hope thatthat's enough."
Hadder thought for a moment. "It's enough for me,Royal. But I don't know about some of the others, Lillyincluded."
"Well, you ain't been here that long, have you? Thelonger you're here, the mind starts to drift over the city's walls,to the bigger world, and its endless opportunities to ply what'sbeen gained from Station."
"What are you saying, Royal?"
"I'm saying lots of people, including myself, becomeinstitutionalized, accept their lot here. But many others refuse,feel like they've done their time, have been rehabilitated, and nowwant another shot."
"You make Station sound like prison."
"Isn't it? Just because we're free to do what wewant and enjoy ourselves, that doesn't change the fact that happy,sad, content, or angry, we're confined within these oversizedwalls."
"You think some want to sneak out of Station?"
"Sneak out? No, Hadder, they don't want to sneakout. They want to break out, tear the walls down. They want to seeStation laid to rubble."
"There you two gossiping gals are," said Lilly frombehind, preventing Hadder from further follow-up questions. Shedropped a breakfast sandwich in each of their hands. "So, what arewe talking about?"
Royal forced a smile. "Hadder's thinking of gettingthat scar on his forehead removed."
"The one you got from kickboxing? No, I love thatone." Lilly grabbed Hadder's head and kissed his forehead. "Don'tdo that, Marlin. I love your scar."
Hadder simply nodded, wishing he could say the sameback to her.
Hadder sat drinking with Jess Dangles, awell-adjusted young woman whose strange Elevation was four ears oneach side of her shaved head that provided real estate for herstrange addiction - earrings that sung like chimes and glitteredlike bouquets of starlight when she moved her head side to side.Despite her unique look, Jess was a reasonably normal, personableaddition to the Commons, having recently grown tired of theCelebration Cluster.
Lilly ran into Cranesman and immediatelyaddressed Jess. "Did you tell him yet?"
"No," answered Jess, "I thought it best that I letyou bring it up."
"Bring what up," asked Hadder.
"There's a party this Haela, Marlin. I want togo."
Hadder shot Lilly a confused look. "Of course we cango, what's the issue?"
Lilly looked to Jess and back to Hadder. "It's inthe Celebration Cluster. At The Soiree Noire, to beexact."
Hadder could feel his face scrunching as if he hadjust smelled something foul. Lilly responded to the look. "Listen,I know you had a rotten time in the Celebration Cluster last timeyou were there, and I know you're not crazy about Monty, but thisis gonna be the party to end all parties."
"What is it?"
Lilly smiled. "It's a Blade Runner party."
"Your favorite movie."
"That's right, so you know I have to be there. Comewith me, please, please, please."
Hadder leaned forward and kissed Lilly. "Anythingfor you. Plus, it'll be good to see Jonny VV and Reena Song again.I've always felt bad for how I disappeared on them."
"See! Two great reasons to go! Ok, you two enjoyyour drinks, I gotta run."
"Where are you going," asked Hadder to the back ofLilly, who was already quickly making her way towards the Barentrance. "To get my outfit made, silly," she said over