Chapter 8

Nina groaned as she woke up. She smelled the familiar scent of opium and tobacco "Madam Xi?" she asked, her voice was hoarse from disuse. Her eyes darted around as she reoriented herself to her surroundings.

The old woman sat in a nearby chair, her feet not even able to reach halfway down. "Yes, Little Nina?" she said as she exhaled from her Opium pipe that seemed almost longer than her.

"Just..." she took a deep breath to orient herself. "Making sure. Can you take these needles out? I'd like to move a bit"

"They're your set, so take em out yourself" she said grumpily. The woman had the attitude of an old dog sometimes.

"Hag..." she said as she moved her fingers to free her arm first by manipulating the rose quartz tips gently. She set up as she was freed and set the needles in their container.

"Thanks for taking care of me" she said and stretched her sore muscles.

"No need to thank me. Your bill will thank me later"

Nina rolled her eyes , the old woman was gonna drain her dry. "How long was I out?" she asked as she started doing some light stretches from the bed.

"About a month" Madam Xi responded as she started to clean her pipe

"A month!? How is Yao?" she asked, she hadn't been around to keep him from doing anything stupid for a whole month.

"He killed Little Wang, he's awaiting his trial in front of the council in three days." She inhaled deeply from her pipe and exhaled to the floor. "It was unlike him to do such sloppy work "

"He wasn't rational...I told him about the baby" she stood, uneasy at first, then went to open her window.

"I see. Things make much more sense now." the old woman looked her over once. "Rest, I'll have you ready by the trial."

"Alright, I'll have to call Rico." She said and looked around the room "My phone..."

"On your nightstand." she sat back on her bed and started to call her best friend.

"NINA!" Rico screamed, half crying. "You're alive! I was so worried. I got turned away every time I tried to visit, you bitch" he said. Though the insult was undermined by his sobs.

"I'm fine" she chuckled "I wanted to talk to you about the emergency commission I made a few years ago"

"Ughhh the one for him" Rico groaned. Like most people close to Nina, he hated Yao. He wished she would just leave him for good.

"That's the one." she smiled "Can you have it adjusted to my latest measurements by tomorrow"

"Fine but you owe me. And you know I don't settle" he huffed on the other side.

"Why don't I buy you a new set of tea pets? Really cute ones."

"Yes! You know I'm a slut for tea pets. I'll be by in an hour."

"Give Dorian my love see you soon by-" she looked at the phone and chuckled.

"I'll have guests in an hour. I'm going to shower at least before I'm bedridden again"

"Okay" Madam Xi said gruffly. The girl was heard headed at the best of times

----

Nina stepped out of her shower feeling refreshed.

she put on her robe before she heard her friend's voice in her head "Be Careful" Dorian's baritone resonated "he's on the loose"

"Oh n-oof" the wind was pushed out of her lungs as a tiny human rocket collided with her.

"NINA" Rico cried into her stomach.

"Rico for someone so damn short, you cause so much trouble"

"Agreed" Dorian's voice rang out in her head as he walked in. "He almost got shot twice trying to break in"

"I just wanted to make sure she was okay!!"

Nina chuckled, the two of them have been her personal tailors and best friends for many years. She gave Rico a hard hug "you're squishing me with your stupid gorilla arms

"Revenge" she grinned. Dorian picked up his lover and set him to the side. His tongue had been removed for talking back once upon a time. Luckily he and Rico were telepaths. Though he usually used ASL with people he didn't know or like.

"Rico, you've seen her, get her measurements so she can rest. She just woke up from a coma"