Smoke and Mirrors [Nick]

[Nicolas Constantine]

Right at the final stretch, Tash's hand reached out and grabbed Nick's hoodie, rolling forward off her board. At this tug, Nick's board slipped from under him and they rolled along the rest of the way.

At the end of the hallway they stopped rolling and just lay there, giggling.

"That was pretty awesome, I have to agree."

Nick lay there for a little before getting up. He offered his hand to Tash once he dusted himself off. If she was planning on getting up, she'd probably need his help.

"Come on, we should get this done, so we can have more fun."

[Tash]

A glance to her left showed that Nick had indeed rolled with her. He was laying there on his back, breathless and laughing too. But he had a much easier time getting up. Tash squinched up her face: she hated having to ask for help with something as ridiculous as standing, but she knew she'd need it. She couldn't force the words out of her mouth - she wouldn't have been sure what to say anyway, given the odd situation - so she just stuck both arms in the air and waved them helplessly about.

"Nick? NickNickNick! Osservi qui!" She managed before starting to laugh again. "Hey donnaiolo: Lo aiuterò, una volta che posso levarmi in piedi."

Once he got her standing, it would be down to business! At least until the fridge was properly installed. She was in too good a mood to stay serious for long. And the propensity for called for celebration!

[Nicolas Constantine]

Once Nick helped her up, he walked back to the apartment and the fridge, making such Tash was fine behind him and taking the boards with him. He went inside the apartment to see where the machine was supposed to go, and sized up the space. It seemed about right to hold the fridge that was outside, and he went back to it to see if he could get it in the place. He looked at the fridge and then at the boards and then at Tash.

"Hey, Tash, if I lift the fridge, will you be able to stick the wheels underneath it?"

Hopefully she was fine enough to help him out, because moving a fridge is never a one person job...

[Tash]

Tash took both of the boards from him, moving to the side of the fridge nearest the hall. Her thoughts were clear enough that she realized she didn't want to be almost literally, caught between a rock and a hard place if the balance on the box was off. She sat down, her feet tucked beneath her and one board to each side at the ready. Hopefully they'd get this done quick. She was so not in a working mood. She was in more of an ice cream mood.

"Aalllright, ready when you are." She announces, looking up at him from the ground and waiting.

[Nicolas Constantine]

Nick stretched a little before going to lift the fridge, as he didn't want to pull any muscles. To his knowledge, refrigerators were rather heavy, and even though he was strong, he could still only lift so much weight. So he stretched out his arms, back, and legs and removed his hoodie revealing one of his body tight shirts. Then he got into position next to the fridge. He squatted down and stuck his hands under the box.

1...2...3...

He heaved upward, lifting the fridge up enough for Tash to stick the board underneath. It wasn't terribly as heavy as he thought.

"Alright, do it now, Tash." he said through his teeth.

Once she but it under the first end, he would do the same at the other end, but first putting something in front of the wheels of the first board to prevent the fridge from rolling away when he lifted the other side. He expected Tash to do the same on the other end as well.

[Tash]

"Alright, do it now, Tash."

At his signal she wrangled the wheeled platform beneath the side of the fridge he had lifted and set the lock on the wheel. It shouldn't move now, not unless she meant it too.

"All good on this side."

She scoots around to the other side, dragging the recalcitrant little board and sits again, awaiting Nick's say so again. They finish the second side with similar ease and roll the box inside, where they take it apart. Tash crawls behind the newly freed fridge before they push it up flush against the wall and plugs everything in.

She makes it out from behind the fridge and rolls over onto her back on the kitchen floor.

"Ice cream in the baby fridge, I got it this morning, it won't stay un melty much longer tho."

She gazes up at him from where she lays sprawled on the floor, arms flung out above her head, her hair a messy halo on the floor and a little smile on her lips.

[Nicolas Constantine]

After installing the fridge, Nick was keeled over regaining his breath. He wasn't out of breath, but setting up a new fully sized refrigerator wasn't chump work.

"Ice cream in the baby fridge, I got it this morning, it won't stay un melty much longer tho."[/b]

Nick looked towards Tash, who was sprawled out across the floor.

"God I need ice cream right now..."

Instead of going over to the mini fridge, however, he collapsed on the ground next to Tash.

"Who ever knew that a fridge would be so much work?"

[Tash]

Tash rolls herself sloppily over in his direction, giving him a lazy little Cheshire Cat grin. One hand props her up and the other drapes itself over Nick's chest.

"I got two kinds. Caramel ripple. Mint Chocolate Chip. Which one?" Her fingers dance across his ribs as she tries to recall the flavors. She smiles and perks up after a moment. "There's still a bottle and a half of that vino bello and the last of some glorious weed. We could share a hit."

She thinks about it for a minute, that little smile still playing across her features and her eyes sleepy and happy. Under her breath and almost entirely to herself, she begins to hum Bob Marley's "Stir It Up".

[Nicolas Constantine]

Nick smirked back at her as she made her fingers dance along his chest.

"That's a tough decision. I might have to do a scoop of each."

But alcohol and weed were another story. The problem with alcohol was Nick always drank more than he should because he had a tough stomach. The problem with weed was he didn't know his limits with it at all. Both of them together... well there was only one way to find out and Nick wasn't doing anything for the rest of the day. There was time if he needed it to wear off.

"And sure, I'd love to share a hit and a glass with you."

He reached over with his finger and poked her nose with a playful smirk on his face.

[Tash]

She laughed and gave a little whoop, rolling over a little more and nuzzling him like a kitten before she stood herself up and got the bowls from the cabinets with a surprisingly little amount of difficulty. The first high was starting to wear off by now so she was getting the munchies. This would be freaking perfect timing she thought as she danced around the kitchen, scooping ice cream and pulling out the bottle of Mt. Etna.

Passing Nick where he lay on the floor, she plopped the bowls of ice cream down on his stomach and sailed past him and up the stairs to the loft where she kept her stash. She reappeared about a minute later, with an expertly rolled little toke in her right hand and a lighter in the left.

"And now...." Dramatic pause. "The celebration may commence!"

[Nicolas Constantine]

Nick giggled as she nuzzled him. He liked touchy feely Tash. He watched her from the floor as she danced around, getting out the bowls, scooping the ice cream in them, getting the bottles of wine.

And after depositing the everything on Nick's stomach, which he moved off of him placing them next to him, he watched as she disappeared upstairs to come back with a joint and a lighter.

"And now.... The celebration may commence!"[/b]

Nick chuckled and sat up.

"This is some celebration." he said, taking a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth.

They had wine, weed, and ice cream. Wow, impromptu picnic anyone?

[Tash]

She grinned at him over her bowl of ice cream, which was being emptied at a prodigious rate despite the fact that she was a relatively fit girl. Not your average, junk food consuming couch potato. Tash stood and put her bowl in the sink for it to be rinsed, then flipped open the lighter and lit the joint.

Then it was couch time. She stretched out on the long sofa, sinking into the padding and motioned to Nick. This was so much better than the floor. But there was something missing....Ah! Of course. Leaning back, she twists around and stretches out her arm to press play on the iPod docked atop a massive pair of speakers. "Buffalo Soldier" floats out of the speakers and Tash grins at him cheekily.


"I know, I know. Bob Marley and weed is cliche. But I've been in a Marley mood for days, so cut me some slack?" She says, taking a slow drag on the joint and closing her eyes. Eyes still closed, she holds it out in his direction while singing the song's lyrics, her voice mellow and the singing casual. Little tendrils of smoke rise lazily from her mouth as she sings. Copper colored, green eyed dragoness.

[Nicolas Constantine]

Tash finished her ice cream even though Nick started before her, and copied her by rinsing his bowl and leaving it in the sink as well. When he turned around, she was already on the couch with the toke and lighter in hand. She then motioned for him to come and sit on the couch with her, which he did. He went over to the sofa and sank into it. Damn comfy stoner couch...

She started to play some music which Nick's musical mind pinpointed as Bob Marley.

"I know, I know. Bob Marley and weed is cliche. But I've been in a Marley mood for days, so cut me some slack?"[/b]

She took a slow drag of the joint, closing her eyes and handing the joint to him.

"Ha, I don't mind. Whatever music makes a good mood, whatever floats your boat." he said as he analyzed the joint.

Nick put the joint up to his mouth and breathed it inward, letting the smoke fill his lungs. He held it back over to Tash and began to cough uncontrollably.

"Sorry, I don't do this that often..." he said between coughs.

[Tash]

He coughs immediately and she bursts out laughing. It's not any sort of mocking laughter, it just reminds her of her first time taking a hit. She has to admit to herself: she must have looked pretty damn funny.

Still laughing a little, she takes the little joint from him. Bringing it up to her mouth, she takes in another small puff of the smoke and rolls it around in her mouth, winking at him as she does so. One finger meanders lightly along his arm, following the line of his bicep down to the elbow joint.


"No problem innamorato, just let the pro show you how, huh?"

Something in the back of her head, somewhere in between the fridge moving and lighting the second spliff, had reminded her she was a bit of a flirt when she was high. Drunk. Intoxicated, period, really. But she had dimissed it almost as soon as it came into her head. I mean, this was Nick: he'd know what it did and didn't mean, wouldn't he? Of course he would, or so she assumed.

[Nicolas Constantine]

She was laughing at him and his face slumped, not yet feeling the effects of the herb, but throat beginning to burn a little. She took the joint from him and took another puff, winking at him and acting like she was pro. Which she probably was...

She traced a finger along his upper arm. It was a bit strange, but he let it slide. He did have rather nice muscles and Tash seemed to be a bit touchy feely today.

"No problem innamorato, just let the pro show you how, huh?"[/b]

"Ha ha, stop hogging it all, testa di pentola."

He snatched the joint back from her and took another puff, letting the thick smoke enter his lungs. Nick held it for a few seconds, exhaling a huge puff of smoke and not even coughing.

"Hows that for pro?" he shoved her shoulder in a friendly and playful way.