Chapter 51: Fight!

Zephram washes his hands after every activity. He washes them when he is nervous, when sees something violent on television, and when he smells something he doesn't like.

Before bed, he washes his hands in the kitchen sink, and then in the bathroom sink. He doesn't like the smell of soap and scrubs extra hard to get it all off, to be truly clean. On bad days, Zephram's hands bleed.

Not being mentally disturbed herself, Paz doesn't think she has anything to be worried about. But when nameless fear clouds her thinking, she goes running, and it melts away.

Paz does not always know where she's going. That's part of the relief, part of the thrill.

Paprika attends one of Sifton's social parties. Sifton's career in business is getting more or less political. 

In the kitchen, Paprika sneaks some of Sacha's special-cooked sushi, her favorite food. She's not sneaking the food (Sacha knew she was coming), but rather sneaking away from the other guests, who are snobby and annoying.

Dax was not invited. He's here to pick the pockets of the rich, and didn't count on Paprika being here to recognize him.

But instead of talking to him, she gives him the cold shoulder, and silently returns to the other guests. If he wants to pick through her grandmother's kitchen, he can face the vampire's wrath.

Dax follows Paprika outside, where she's now dancing with one of her uncles.

"So it's been a while," Dax interrupts. "Have you thought about it?"

"I don't want to talk to you here," Paprika says tonelessly.

"Then where do you want to talk to me?"

"Maybe she doesn't," Pavel suggests.

"Hey, you! Butt out, vampire! Nobody likes your kind. You pale abominations think you run this town, but you don't." According to the thought bubble Dax especially hates Shea, Roxie Lin's son.

Pavel rolls his eyes. "Can I arrest him for harassment, Paprika?"

But Paprika is already walking away.

Apparently brave tonight, Dax continues to lash out at the hated cop.

Pavel isn't one to abuse his authority, but Dax was more or less asking to have his teeth knocked out.

Arthur supplies dramatic fight music.

It was a mistake to challenge Pavel.

"And stop making my jacket style look bad, punk!"

Meanwhile, Melody and Martin are out at The Grind. Cruz babysits, and he's kind of a drag.

"Be good! Play nice!"

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Etc.: A mini-chapter. Special thinks to Dax and Pavel, who put on a marvelous performance even though I thought their dislike for one another was entirely fictional...

I initially had Paprika and Dax interacting, since he conveniently showed up at Sifton's party, but those pictures weren't very exciting. Then I got distracted with something Zephram was doing and when I switched back to Paprika, Dax and Pavel were screaming at each other.