Chapter Text
“Tell me something funny. Something to take my mind off this,” said Blu. She motioned in the direction of her face, where puffy and bruised skin (the varying colours of which were visible even in the mood light) cemented her right eye shut. “This watered-down rubbish isn’t working.”
River leaned back in her lumpy seat. The worst table in a seedy bar and she was actually grateful (talk about lowering standards), but this was not a night to teeter on stools. “What’s not funny about a dozen archaeologists resorting to fists over a find?”
Blu raised a brow, winced in pain. “Well, you would think that, starting it.”
“I ended it, too.”
“I’m glad you were on my side.”
This was not a time to pat herself on the back, so in lieu of answering she finally took a sip of her own drink. There was really only spirits and red dye in the glass, but it went down. “Might not feel like it now, but you asked for my help and it’ll be worth it.”
“All right, tell me a secret, then.” Grimacing, Blu pushed her dark let’s-call-it-a-fringe aside. “Something unexpected.”
“Well…” River traced a pattern in the condensation on her glass. “Did you know I’m married?”
Blu choked on her drink; coughed, then swallowed bravely. “That was unexpected. Married? Like, conventionally?”
Shrugging, River fought back a smile. “I’m not conventional.”
“That was my point.”
“I know.”
“Husband?”
“Usually.”
”What does he do?” Blu struggled wrapping her tongue around all the syllables of the next word, and after a few false starts she managed: “Archaeology?”
“The opposite.”
Frowning, the other woman wrapped her hands around her glass. She was not a sharp drunk. Apparently she decided changing the subject would be better than worrying her head. “Was that what you did when you had that hour off last week?”
River laughed, too much; sharp pains shot through her bruised jaw. “Oh, it’s been forever.”
“But you’ve never mentioned – you’ve always – you flirt. You and I –”
“Of course I flirt.” River took another sip, caught a shard of ice in her teeth and didn’t answer until it had melted. Made a mental note never to introduce Blu to the 50th century. “I guess I’ll have to say it’s complicated.”
“Proper exla – exna – explanation, please.”
“Later, perhaps. Now, shut up – we have makeup to apply and a black market to visit.”
“Black market?”
“You asked for my help,” said River, shrugging, “and that way is fastest.”
“Ooor un-con-ven-tio-nal,” slurred Blu, her eyes glittering. “I hope it’s worth a black eye and a secret.”