That could have gone better...

After talking to Bri, Dorien was still too wound up to go back to the "Pharmaceutical" counter. He lit another cigarette and paced around the dimly lit hallway that led to the backstage area trying not to look worried.

Finally Misery appeared at the other end of the hall.

"Hey..." he said, "How'd it go?"

Misery looked a little dazed as she plucked Dorien's cigarette out of his hand and took a drag on it herself, breathing the cloud of smoke out slowly. "She asked me if I wanted to work with her on this new movie - the Shadar-kai one. So... I'm not fired? But I'm also not sure if I can do it."

Dorien's eyes widened.

"What?! That's incredible! Why not? I mean it's the chance of a lifetime..."

Misery's expression matched her name. "Because she said that if I was going to do it, I couldn't deal drugs anymore. That's why."

Dorien took Misery's hands in his and held them.

"Listen to me. We're going to find a way out of this. I'm not gonna let this pass you by. I promise."