Post by Calypso on Nov 21, 2023 10:44:15 GMT -8
I’ve heard it said that drugs are a trap. You start out to feel good and eventually it turns on you and you keep going because now it’s to keep feeling bad.
It’s not exactly that simple.
It’s kind of like that line from an old Eagles song, “Some dance to remember, some dance to forget.” There are lots of reasons why somebody starts. I know I started because it felt better to be high than it did to deal with Mom and Dad and whatever issues they were having that day. You never knew what the issues would be and they did change from day to day, but you knew they would be there and somehow it would either be my fault or it would be about me in some way.
I didn’t have anything good to remember, so I was definitely dancing to forget.
Eventually I landed in my little circle of people who were just as messed up in some way as I was and I can honestly say I started dancing to pretend I had something to remember. I was trying to play the part of somebody who could actually be a friend and social and communal and I was doing whatever was handy with others who were doing the same thing.
None of us wanted to admit we were hooked.
We made every excuse we could to avoid that. We’re just having fun. It’s a party. My leg hurts. My head hurts. I’m feeling down. My dad’s an asshole. My boss fired me. The team won. It’s my birthday.
Probably a thousand more at least.
Any port in the storm, as they say.
June 16, 2022
Office
The Safe House
Las Vegas, Nevada
4:17 PM PDT
The call had some as normal since she’d started volunteering a couple of days a week at the shelter. The other Wolves had called it “good networking” as well as good for her to be doing something like this. For Calypso Bates, it was just the next step in being of service and atoning for how much she’d been a taker before. It had also had an unexpected benefit as well.
She’d enjoyed helping people.
So she was happy for the call to come and ask if she could come help. Now, as she waits in the office of the head of the place, she can’t help but frown. She’d never been sent to the office before.
Calypso Bates: Don’t worry, Cal… you've been fired before.
Before she can say anything else, the door opens and the receptionist, Gigi Granderson, steps in looking nervous.
GiGi Granderson: Thanks for coming, Cali. Nancy’s gonna need special help on this one.
Taken aback, Calypso cocks her head interrogatively.
Calypso Bates: Why? What’s wrong, Gigi?
Gigi shakes her head.
GiGi Granderson: I don’t know all the deets but I know the dude is trying to get at her more than usual and doesn’t sound like he’s taking no for an answer.
Almost completely dumbstruck, Calypso can only stare back at her.
Calypso Bates: Fuck, I should have brought Adrian, Anse and Cain with me.
Now it’s Gigi’s turn to frown in confusion.
GiGi Granderson: Are those from that MC of yours?
Calypso nods.
Calypso Bates: They used to be underground fighters. If we need back-up…
Gigi nods as the door opens again and the boss walks in, almost shaking.
GiGi Granderson: Nancy?
Nancy Broadstreet exhales heavily.
Nancy Broadstreet: She’s in the next room. Bard’s on the way to the hospital with Shand, Marty’s watching the front door. The guy promised he’d be back with help. I don’t get the feeling he means to wait long.
She turns her gaze to Calypso.
Nancy Broadstreet: How fast can you get that help you mentioned before here?
Calypso barely shrugs.
Calypso Bates: Ten, fifteen maybe depending on how many are there right now.
Nancy nods.
Nancy Broadstreet: Make the call, tell them we need to be able to move a couple of people and we need a place to hide them.
Calypso nods and quickly dials a number on her phone. It’s answered almost immediately.
Adrian Murdoch: Cali?
Calypso Bates: Adrian, can you guys come help me at the shelter? They got a live one coming back for a round two.
Murdoch goes silent for a second.
Adrian Murdoch: We talkin’ transport or defense?
Calypso shrugs.
Calypso Bates: Transport for sure, the other possible.
Adrian Murdoch: Ten minutes.
Calypso Bates: Thanks.
She ends the call and nods.
Calypso Bates: They’ll be here in ten.
Nancy nods and then motions towards the door.
Nancy Broadstreet: Come on, we’ll need to calm her first.
Calypso nods understandingly.
Calypso Bates: So what’s the deal?
Nancy leads her out the door of the office and pauses in front of the next door, making sure her voice is lowered enough to not be heard.
Nancy Broadstreet: Nice girl, ended up with a guy feeding her habits. He likes to remind her who’s in charge, especially after the baby. He got her one too many times and this time she ran. He’s not happy about it.
Calypso nods again and Nancy turns the knob on the second door. As the door opens, a blonde woman holding a baby looks up, her eyes going wide at what she sees.
Woman: Ca–Cali?
Calypso stops in the doorway, shock evident on her face as well.
Calypso Bates: Dana?
Nancy Broadstreet: You know her?
Calypso nods slowly.
Calypso Bates: We used to use together.
Nancy nods knowingly. Dana almost starts shaking, tears welling up in her eyes.
Dana Irons: Is that really you, Cali?
Calypso moves in towards the blonde woman and squats down before her.
Calypso Bates: It’s me, D. I got some friends coming. We’re gonna keep you safe. If you got pissed now, how bad would it be?
Dana looks away in shame and Calypso nods knowingly, compassionately. She reaches out and takes hold of Dana’s shoulders.
Calypso Bates: Hey, hey, hey… it’s alright… no one’s turning you in here, D. Mumphrey shows his face, he’s not gonna like what he gets. I promise you that.
Dana looks her in the eyes.
Dana Irons: You… you do?
Calypso nods, smiling for her old friend.
Calypso Bates: So… what’s the baby’s name?
Dana hugs her baby and manages a small smile.
Dana Irons: Eric.
Calypso smiles, nodding her understanding of the significance.
Calypso Bates: After your daddy.
Dana nods back and Calypso’s phone chimes at her. She stands and hecks it.
Calypso Bates: They’re here. Brought the van. You want them out front or in the back?
Nancy Broadstreet: Out back.
Calypso nods and quickly sends the message.
Calypso Bates: Ok, we’re up whenever you wanna go.
Nancy smiles for Dana.
Nancy Broadstreet: Come on, Honey, it’s gonna be alright.
Dana stands and allows the other workers to lead her towards the back door.
Nancy Broadstreet: Some of them will stay?
Calypso nods.
Calypso Bates: No way the Black Sheep leave you guys unprotected.
Nancy can’t help but smile.
Nancy Broadstreet: Black Sheep? Sometimes that’s what we feel like here.
Calypso Bates: Well, I hope you keep eating all the grass because the world needs you.
They walk out just in time to see Calypso’s fellow Wolves of Óðinn helping Dana and little baby Eric into the van with Full Patch Nate “Demon” Odomes at the wheel. As Nancy and Calypso approach, the hulking figure of Sgt-At-Arms Adrian Murdoch turns to face them.
Adrian Murdoch: You ridin’ with them or you ridin’ chase on your bike?
Calypso Bates: Chase, I don’t trust Mumphrey to not fuck with my bike when he comes back here.
Adrian nods knowingly.
Adrian Murdoch: Me, Anse and Cain are stayin’. Demon’s gonna come back after gettin’ Cuda, Rav and Ram, maybe Salem and Spade. Half afraid to tell Therion, Oracle and Hadlee.
Calypso grins.
Calypso Bates: I mean…
Adrian nods.
Adrian Murdoch: Exactly.
The door closes and Adrian smacks the van.
Adrian Murdoch: Alright, mount up!
Nancy smiles at them.
Nancy Broadstreet: Thank you.
Adrian nods and motions at his two compatriots.
Adrian Murdoch: Now, Ma’am, if you would kindly direct us to the waiting area, we’ll stake out the front door for you.
Nancy nods and leads them inside while Calypso goes around to her bike. This was going to be an interesting afternoon.
It’s not exactly that simple.
It’s kind of like that line from an old Eagles song, “Some dance to remember, some dance to forget.” There are lots of reasons why somebody starts. I know I started because it felt better to be high than it did to deal with Mom and Dad and whatever issues they were having that day. You never knew what the issues would be and they did change from day to day, but you knew they would be there and somehow it would either be my fault or it would be about me in some way.
I didn’t have anything good to remember, so I was definitely dancing to forget.
Eventually I landed in my little circle of people who were just as messed up in some way as I was and I can honestly say I started dancing to pretend I had something to remember. I was trying to play the part of somebody who could actually be a friend and social and communal and I was doing whatever was handy with others who were doing the same thing.
None of us wanted to admit we were hooked.
We made every excuse we could to avoid that. We’re just having fun. It’s a party. My leg hurts. My head hurts. I’m feeling down. My dad’s an asshole. My boss fired me. The team won. It’s my birthday.
Probably a thousand more at least.
Any port in the storm, as they say.
June 16, 2022
Office
The Safe House
Las Vegas, Nevada
4:17 PM PDT
The call had some as normal since she’d started volunteering a couple of days a week at the shelter. The other Wolves had called it “good networking” as well as good for her to be doing something like this. For Calypso Bates, it was just the next step in being of service and atoning for how much she’d been a taker before. It had also had an unexpected benefit as well.
She’d enjoyed helping people.
So she was happy for the call to come and ask if she could come help. Now, as she waits in the office of the head of the place, she can’t help but frown. She’d never been sent to the office before.
Calypso Bates: Don’t worry, Cal… you've been fired before.
Before she can say anything else, the door opens and the receptionist, Gigi Granderson, steps in looking nervous.
GiGi Granderson: Thanks for coming, Cali. Nancy’s gonna need special help on this one.
Taken aback, Calypso cocks her head interrogatively.
Calypso Bates: Why? What’s wrong, Gigi?
Gigi shakes her head.
GiGi Granderson: I don’t know all the deets but I know the dude is trying to get at her more than usual and doesn’t sound like he’s taking no for an answer.
Almost completely dumbstruck, Calypso can only stare back at her.
Calypso Bates: Fuck, I should have brought Adrian, Anse and Cain with me.
Now it’s Gigi’s turn to frown in confusion.
GiGi Granderson: Are those from that MC of yours?
Calypso nods.
Calypso Bates: They used to be underground fighters. If we need back-up…
Gigi nods as the door opens again and the boss walks in, almost shaking.
GiGi Granderson: Nancy?
Nancy Broadstreet exhales heavily.
Nancy Broadstreet: She’s in the next room. Bard’s on the way to the hospital with Shand, Marty’s watching the front door. The guy promised he’d be back with help. I don’t get the feeling he means to wait long.
She turns her gaze to Calypso.
Nancy Broadstreet: How fast can you get that help you mentioned before here?
Calypso barely shrugs.
Calypso Bates: Ten, fifteen maybe depending on how many are there right now.
Nancy nods.
Nancy Broadstreet: Make the call, tell them we need to be able to move a couple of people and we need a place to hide them.
Calypso nods and quickly dials a number on her phone. It’s answered almost immediately.
Adrian Murdoch: Cali?
Calypso Bates: Adrian, can you guys come help me at the shelter? They got a live one coming back for a round two.
Murdoch goes silent for a second.
Adrian Murdoch: We talkin’ transport or defense?
Calypso shrugs.
Calypso Bates: Transport for sure, the other possible.
Adrian Murdoch: Ten minutes.
Calypso Bates: Thanks.
She ends the call and nods.
Calypso Bates: They’ll be here in ten.
Nancy nods and then motions towards the door.
Nancy Broadstreet: Come on, we’ll need to calm her first.
Calypso nods understandingly.
Calypso Bates: So what’s the deal?
Nancy leads her out the door of the office and pauses in front of the next door, making sure her voice is lowered enough to not be heard.
Nancy Broadstreet: Nice girl, ended up with a guy feeding her habits. He likes to remind her who’s in charge, especially after the baby. He got her one too many times and this time she ran. He’s not happy about it.
Calypso nods again and Nancy turns the knob on the second door. As the door opens, a blonde woman holding a baby looks up, her eyes going wide at what she sees.
Woman: Ca–Cali?
Calypso stops in the doorway, shock evident on her face as well.
Calypso Bates: Dana?
Nancy Broadstreet: You know her?
Calypso nods slowly.
Calypso Bates: We used to use together.
Nancy nods knowingly. Dana almost starts shaking, tears welling up in her eyes.
Dana Irons: Is that really you, Cali?
Calypso moves in towards the blonde woman and squats down before her.
Calypso Bates: It’s me, D. I got some friends coming. We’re gonna keep you safe. If you got pissed now, how bad would it be?
Dana looks away in shame and Calypso nods knowingly, compassionately. She reaches out and takes hold of Dana’s shoulders.
Calypso Bates: Hey, hey, hey… it’s alright… no one’s turning you in here, D. Mumphrey shows his face, he’s not gonna like what he gets. I promise you that.
Dana looks her in the eyes.
Dana Irons: You… you do?
Calypso nods, smiling for her old friend.
Calypso Bates: So… what’s the baby’s name?
Dana hugs her baby and manages a small smile.
Dana Irons: Eric.
Calypso smiles, nodding her understanding of the significance.
Calypso Bates: After your daddy.
Dana nods back and Calypso’s phone chimes at her. She stands and hecks it.
Calypso Bates: They’re here. Brought the van. You want them out front or in the back?
Nancy Broadstreet: Out back.
Calypso nods and quickly sends the message.
Calypso Bates: Ok, we’re up whenever you wanna go.
Nancy smiles for Dana.
Nancy Broadstreet: Come on, Honey, it’s gonna be alright.
Dana stands and allows the other workers to lead her towards the back door.
Nancy Broadstreet: Some of them will stay?
Calypso nods.
Calypso Bates: No way the Black Sheep leave you guys unprotected.
Nancy can’t help but smile.
Nancy Broadstreet: Black Sheep? Sometimes that’s what we feel like here.
Calypso Bates: Well, I hope you keep eating all the grass because the world needs you.
They walk out just in time to see Calypso’s fellow Wolves of Óðinn helping Dana and little baby Eric into the van with Full Patch Nate “Demon” Odomes at the wheel. As Nancy and Calypso approach, the hulking figure of Sgt-At-Arms Adrian Murdoch turns to face them.
Adrian Murdoch: You ridin’ with them or you ridin’ chase on your bike?
Calypso Bates: Chase, I don’t trust Mumphrey to not fuck with my bike when he comes back here.
Adrian nods knowingly.
Adrian Murdoch: Me, Anse and Cain are stayin’. Demon’s gonna come back after gettin’ Cuda, Rav and Ram, maybe Salem and Spade. Half afraid to tell Therion, Oracle and Hadlee.
Calypso grins.
Calypso Bates: I mean…
Adrian nods.
Adrian Murdoch: Exactly.
The door closes and Adrian smacks the van.
Adrian Murdoch: Alright, mount up!
Nancy smiles at them.
Nancy Broadstreet: Thank you.
Adrian nods and motions at his two compatriots.
Adrian Murdoch: Now, Ma’am, if you would kindly direct us to the waiting area, we’ll stake out the front door for you.
Nancy nods and leads them inside while Calypso goes around to her bike. This was going to be an interesting afternoon.
