Treize Khushrenada woke up with a massive headache. "Uhhhhhh," he groaned as he held his head. I will never drink mixed drinks, ever again. I will only drink wine. All I remember is that last martini at the party and... He cracked open his eyes and thought, Where is this place? I'm not at home. He sat up suddenly, which made his headache even worse, causing him to shut his eyes again.
"So, how are you?"
He opened his eyes to see Sally in the doorway, wearing a long shirt and slacks. "I'm at your apartment."
"Yes. You were quite wasted last night and I didn't know exactly where you lived so... you spent the night here."
"We didn't... did we?"
"No, I don't think most women finding it very erotic to see a drunken man wobble then barf into the porcelain throne." Then she started to laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Everybody at the Academy thinks that you're going to be head of the army someday. Especially that pen pal of yours, um, what's her name? Una, Uno?"
"Une!" snapped Treize, who was still queasy and not in the best of moods.
"I'd like to know what they'd think of our 'glorious leader' if they were to see you hunched over like this." She waved an instant photo of him hugging the toilet, his hair in disarray.
"Give me that!" he snapped. "If you don't hand over any and all photos you've taken, I'll order your execution once I am the 'glorious leader!'"
She threw three instant photos to him. "Well, all I'm telling you is that you can't be too careful. That's all of them." She walked out of the room, then came back with a glass of red liquid.
"What is that?" said Treize.
"It's tomato juice with some spices mixed in it. Much of the headache of a hangover comes from being dehydrated. Once you've got some liquid into your system, you'll feel better. Take some aspirin with it." She handed him a couple tablets.
He took the aspirin and drank the tomato juice. He groaned. "I'm sorry I'm not at my best behavior at the moment. Thank you for letting me spend the night here." His headache wasn't quite so bad once he ingested both the pain medication and the juice.
"Well, someone had to and besides, I think the other girls would've taken advantage of you in your state."
"You always have something funny to say, don't you?"
"I try to. Once the 'glorious leader' has taken his shower, I will drive his illustrious butt home." She made an exaggerated bow, complete with hand motions.
"Sally, I appreciate your sense of humor most of the time, but right now, a herd of bison are trampling the plains of my forehead."
"All right." She reached into the drawer and pulled out a towel and a bathrobe. "Tell me when you're ready." She pointed out the way to the bathroom.
Treize nodded and made his way to the shower. Sally drank her coffee and continued to chuckle.
The End
(:./mk/leader)
