ALICE Ch 87

Faye does not read Polish, and indeed the stuff she’s talking about has nothing to do with Poland. Alice quickly realizes her mistake in asking for clarification.

“So that happened when they went to Davos,” Faye explains. “…for the World Economic Summit. And Eric said some things there that turned out to be quite problematic…”

Already drunk, Alice’s eyes glaze easily. But then she’ll turn a page and there’ll be a blonde hottie who wears white lingerie all the time, and suddenly she’s interested again.

“Tell me what her deal is,” Alice says, jabbing the page.

“Emma? Oh, well, that’s quite a bit, really…”

Faye seems happy, at any rate. She’s thoroughly animated when she’s explaining this stuff.

“Why’s he walking around? I thought this guy was supposed to be in a wheelchair. Patrick Steward was in a wheelchair. But James McAvoy wasn’t…” Alice frowns, squinting at the page. “And why’s he got that funny hat on?”

“Oh, that’s really important,” Faye begins excitedly.

This was a wasted trip. Faye is fine. Better than fine, really. Alice vaguely remembers all the assumptions she made before learning how Faye got her seat on the team. Maybe she’s not as fragile as she seems. As Faye chatters on about something called a “Master Mold”, Alice reflects that perhaps she too should try going to therapy.

“Do they ever get their boobs out in this?” Alice asks hopefully.

Faye hesitates. She’s already a little pink in the face. Now she turns red.

“Not really,” she replies, a little apologetically.

“Too bad,” Alice mutters, turning the page. Seconds go by. She reads without really understanding but enjoys the pictures. Every woman is perfect 10, even the one with blue skin. Indeed, especially the one with blue skin. The silence becomes noticeable; Faye was so bubbly a few minutes ago.

“I would pay good money for this blue girl to get her boobs out. You good?” Alice asks absently, turning another page.

“I’m embarrassed.”

Alice’s drunken brain considers that. She looks up with a frown. “About what? Comic books?” Then it clicks. “Oh. Oh. Jesus. Yeah. The race. What they did to you was so messed up. I’m sorry. I mean it.”

Faye cocks her head, puzzled. “No,” she says. “Not that. Before. You know.” She rolls her eyes. “What you saw.”

Alice thinks harder. She’s really pushing her intellectual limits.

“Oh! Right.” She nods slowly. “The… toys. And the… nudity. And stuff.”

Faye is now the color of Carlos Sainz’s car.

“Yes,” she says, pained.

Alice snorts and goes back to the comic. “Don’t be.” She chuckles to herself. “Doesn’t bother me any. I like seeing cute girls doing spicy stuff. It’s a perk for me. Besides, I don’t remember much.” She yawns, then hiccups. “You got any beer? Did I already ask that?”

Faye doesn’t answer.

“Faye? You OK?”