Time: Sunday AM 5/3/98
Place: The Fiendish Glow
Follows: A Little Blood Never Hurt Anyone..., NA Chariots of Fire, Parts 1 and 2
Lora Conk, Sherry, Debbie, are used with permission.
Ronnie O'Mannion, Daniel Patrick Kelly, and Deirdre are fictional characters and are used with permission.
Author's Note:Danny Boy was written by some Irishmen in the 16th century, lamenting the loss of his clan. Unfortunately I've forgotten his name. The Doddered Auld Carroll was written a long time ago as well, in Aberdeen, Scotland, poking fun at the tradition of older Scottish men to wed young lasses. I've forgotten who originally wrote it too. An Charlie is my Darlin' is by Robert Burns, the Bard of Scotland. May he not roll in his grave when he sees what I've done to it.
[Sunday 3 May, morning]
Debbie stared at the large pan of Tiramisu that she, Sherry and MacCousin Heather were sharing. The three were sitting in Heather's quarters listening to Lore, Clannad's ™ latest CD. Heather was staring, mid-bite at her MacNunkies tapestry.
"You know," Debbie began, "I think I'm in the mood for something different."
"I know what you mean," said Sherry, in between bites. "I asked Cabon for Shepherd's pie last night and he looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears."
"Mmmmm, Shepherd's Pie," murmured the MacCousin, who had usual been watching way too many episodes of The Simpsons. "You know," she began. "There is a place in Toronto that serves great Celtic cuisine. I bet they even serve it at breakfast."
"The Fiendish Glow? I thought they were just a cantina," said Sherry, lowering the pan. Heather continued munching.
"I've seen their ads," said Debbie. "They are more than just a cantina. Just think of all the pub food."
Sherry looked convinced, however Heather who spent most of her free time at home hanging around Irish pubs, was still scooping Tiramisu into her mouth. Besides that she felt a bit apprehensive about the pub. She had not set foot in the place since she, Nyx and Pen had bought the place. It had not been a pretty sight. Heather scooped up another spoonful of Tiramisu, guiltily thinking of the cleaning that Brenda and Lora must have endured. She had not even sent the fanfic fairies to help in the cleaning activities.
"Think of the possibility of seeing men in kilts, MacIntyre," Sherry added, knowing her fellow addict's true motives.
The MacCousin threw down the pan decisively. She was always ready to look at bonny knees (even bony ones). She straightened her sash and grinned. "I'm ready, let's go!"
The happy threesome stood outside waiting for a cab as the other addicts ran off to their other planned activities. Most of the addicts were going to participate in the Chariot races.
"We'll probably end up missing the chariots," mused Debbie, out loud as she tried to wave down a cab. She looked at Sherry who had wandered out wearing one of Heather's many sashes. "I don't really mind missing them," she added. "Do you?"
"Nah, I sure don't want to stand around in the heat today," said Sherry, wiping her brow. It was unseasonably hot for Toronto in May. She looked for Heather over her shoulder and then started laughing.
"What's so funny?" asked Heather.
Sherry couldn't stop chortling and soon Debbie joined in. "Your sword, it's almost as tall as you are," Sherry finally was able to get out.
Heather made a face. She had borrowed the sword from her boyfriend. The claymore made her a bit unsteady on her feet, but the scabbard kept her from becoming too unbalanced. Besides that, how could she show up at a pub without a claymore?
Debbie and Sherry continued laughing at Heather. Cabs continued past them. Heather stared at her fellow addicts stonily. First she had to deal with the GHP and now this. "I don't get any respect," she mumbled, piteously. Sherry and Debbie finally realized they missed all the cabs.
"Thanks a lot, MacHeather," grumbled Debbie. "You made us miss all the cabs."
"It's not too far from here," stated Sherry, pushing the two other addicts forward. "Only a few blocks on Luminescent Lane and Cactus Court."
[A few blocks away]
Ronnie couldn't help chortling at the sight. He covered his mouth with his hand when saw them coming down the walk. He had never seen such odd outfits. Two ladies were dressed in what appeared to be togas, silver breastplates and sandals, as well as various sashes, pins and other Celtic jewelry. Debbie was in black jeans today after finding that her togas were still not back from the cleaners. However, she was decorated with a sash and jewelry as well. The taller dark-haired woman and the two reddish-haired shorter women jingled all the way up the street. Ronnie nudged Danny, who began chortling as well. The three addicts were absolutely unaware of any strange looks they received from the employees of the pub.
"What are you two chortling about?" asked Lora. Lora was dressed in white jeans and a white tank top. A short pearl necklace and a stunning pair of pearl earrings completed the outfit. She picked up her claymore and she peeked her head out of the doorway and in the direction of Debbie, Sherry and Heather. "You two better stop laughing. For one thing, the one with the claymore on her back is MacCousin Heather. She's one of the owners of The Fiendish Glow."
Ronnie and Danny straightened up.
"Besides, that," added Brenda. "We are in need of entertainment. The karaoke machine has been silent for, well hours. Even if all they will probably sing about is Nunkies.
"So they're that Nunkies faction?" asked Danny.
Brenda stopped, mid-breath. "Don't ever call them Nunkies," she said.
"Oye," Ronnie said with a wicked grin. "The lassies tha' err so 'ot 'n' bothered ower that vampire Lora so wants to searrch."
Lora gave Ronnie a stern look. Then she got a strange blissful smile and blushed slightly. She back into her little fantasy about searching LaCroix for weapons. Lora couldn't help wondering what it would be like to run her hands over him. Brenda poked Lora and she finally got back to reality.
Heather smiled as she reached the doorstep. She had only briefly spoken to Brenda and Lora before the war. She hoped they would be able to recognize her. She doubted that the co-managers would remember her too fondly since she had left the Glow Worms behind to clean and start up the business. Her smile became bigger at the doorstep.
Debbie and Sherry gave each other strange looks.
"I think she's more nervous than they are," pointed out Sherry in a hushed voice.
"Is she an addict?" Debbie asked Sherry. "Look at all the tell-tale signs."
"I have no idea," said Sherry. "Maybe she's thinking of someone else and we just always assume it's Nunkies that every woman fantasizes about.
The threesome stepped up to Lora and Ronnie. Lora was able to finally concentrate on the matter at hand.
Brenda sighed and shook her head, deciding to give Lora a few more minutes to clear her thoughts. "Come on in," she said, welcoming the addicts with a warm smile. "And you," she said to the MacCousin. "You should have been to visit sooner." Lora, Brenda and Heather all exchanged hugs.
Debbie sighed contentedly, watching the light sparkle through her shot glass. Sherry was humming peacefully over a glass of Harp while Heather poured herself another glass of heather cream, enjoying the soothing taste of the scotch and cream mixed together. Brenda and Lora joined them and the quintet sat in companionable silence.
The employees of the pub tiptoed around the group once they heard they one of the owners was present.
"Can aye get ye ladies anything else?" asked Deirdre. "Consuela says it may take 15 minutes or so to get your orders. We usually don' get 'any orders for shepherd's pie at breakfast time."
"No problemo," said Debbie, with a smile, as her two fellow addicts grinned and shrugged at Deirdre, peacefully. She turned to Lora and Brenda. "Now what was that about our being the entertainment?"
[five minutes later]
Debbie, Heather and Sherry jumped onto the karaoke stage. Sherry brought up a tambourine.
"Ooooo, what to sing? What to sing?" grinned Sherry.
"Anything but Broadway hits," said MacHeather, shivering at the thought of the GHP's singing once again.
"What about Danny Boy?" suggested Debbie. "it's one we all know".
She entered in her selection and the karaoke machine began.
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen
to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and
all the flowers are dying
'tis you, 'tis you must go and I
must bide.
It wasn't a grand performance, but the threesome managed to garner some applause at the songs end.
Sherry started looking through the songs once again. When Heather leaned over her shoulder and squealed.
"Oooo, I love the Doddered Auld Carroll," she said with a wicked gleam in her eye.
"I haven't heard that one before," said Sherry, "What does that mean anyway and how does it go."
"It's very easy," promised the MacCousin. "It's Aberdeenshire dialect for the doddery old man." She started the song this time and the pub employees ducked and shuddered when Heather began.
The Doddered Auld Carroll, he come over the lee,
Ah ha, but I
downa hae him.
He come up the lee to court wi' me,
Wi' his gray
beard newly shaven.
Within a few seconds Debbie and Sherry joined in.
. . . So my mother she tell me to gie him some meat.
Ah ha, but
I downa hae him
I gie him some meat, but he nae teeth to eat
With
his gray beard newly shaven.
The audience giggled with every verse and even Lora and Debbie joined along on the chorus until Liam O'Neal walked through the pub door again. Ronnie motioned to Lora and they met the inspector at the front door.
***********
Liam O'Neal had been wandering around town for a proper breakfast. It was still quite early in the morning. He could only think of one place to go to.
Liam came by way of the Metro and sighed as he passed by the sign for The Fiendish Glow. It was too early to be on the lookout for vampires. However, what if they were vampires there right now. He opened the front door as he heard the start of a very strange version of Robert Burns' poem, An' Charlie he's my Darling.
'Twas on a Monday evening,
Right early in the year,
That
Nunkies came to our town.
Without his young chevalier.
An'
Nunkies he's my darling,
My darling, my darling.
Nunkies he's my
darling.
Not the young chevalier.
He set his addict on his
knee,
All in his Highland dress;
For brawie well he ken'd the way,
To
please a bonny lass.
An' Nunkies he's my darling,
My darling,
my darling.
Nunkies he's my darling.
Not the young chevalier.
Liam shivered and noticed Ms. Conk and Ronnie coming toward him. Something about the song was utterly unnerving, and the women singing it were even stranger. He took off towards the exit sign, his MacIntosh, folded over his arm, flapped behind him.
"Yes, I've definitely forgotten something," he murmured, as he walked outside.
**********************************
Sherry, Heather and Debbie stumbled off the stage as the food came forth from the steamy kitchen.
Ronnie and Lora stood to one side discussing why the inspector had left so quickly.
"Maybe he had sum sort of attack on hearin' the ladies sing," he pondered.
Lora shrugged. He had a point. However, Heather, Sherry and Debbie seemed to enjoy themselves greatly. She wandered back over to their table where the addicts where ready to dig in.
Debbie sighed contentedly over her portion of Irish Stew, while the staff waited for the verdict. Heather leaned and smiled as Deirdre placed her portion of corned beef and colcannon in front of her. Sherry received the shepherd's pie that she'd been waiting for.
Heather coughed and raised her glass as did Debbie and Sherry.
"A Toast," began the MacCousin.
"May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head
be always strong.
And may you be in heaven
half an hour before the
devil knows you're dead."
'Miguel' raised his own glass and nodded to the staff to join him in a toast in return. "May your enemies never meet a friend."
"Hear, hear," said Debbie.
There were many yumming noises from the addicts through the entire meal, until they had finished off the Bailey's Irish Cream Ice Cream.
[an hour later]
Ronnie whistled for a cab to take the addicts back to the shrine. The MacCousin appeared to have more trouble than usual carrying her claymore.
After about ten more minutes of good-byes, the Glow Worms and addicts hugged each other. The addicts climbed into the cab, holding onto very full tummies.
"Gude food," said Debbie.
"Ditto," replied Sherry.
Both addicts waited for Heather to say something, but the next thing out of the MacCousin's mouth was a snore.
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NEXT STORIES: THE LIGHT COUSINS
TAKE ON A FIENDISH GLOW
and
GLOW ADVENTURE DOWNBELOW OR, HOW I
TICKED OFF THE FANFIC FAIRIES
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