It looked like humanity was going to be wiped out, once and for all. Not just by one great apocalyptic event, but by several smaller, seemingly insign...ficant events. Humanity was dying. It was for the better, really.Much to the despair of everyone this apocalypse did not have a happy ending. Humanity persevered like the cockroaches your landlord insists he hasn't seen at all and would you get off his back, please! Anyway, give or take a couple of centuries and we'll be right back to cutting. ”“That’s what you think,” said Kiki. “But trust me. I’m wilder than I was. And I’m wilder because I’m really only sleeping with people I know.”“Like Artemis?” Casey asked.“I got to know her first, but bad example,” said Kiki. “What I really mean is I’m not sleeping with men I don’t know. It’s really just Nick and Lev right now ... well ... and Dietrich. But, really, I’m only open to guys that Nick likes and ... really ... women I think he would like. Do you know why?”“Because you like Nick and. Taste wise, I mean, fashion type, age and of course I expect you ear a great deal more than she."Rosa chose to ignore Nicki's opening and said, "How is it you don't have any piercings?" And, when Nicki put a finger to an earlobe in reply, "Besides that. I mean, everybody has pierced ears."Nicki gave her that slight smile again and said, "The others don't show." Your nipples? You've done your nipples?" Would you like to see?"Once again there was the slightest smile on Nicki's full lips, and Rosa. Or at least, the bulk of it. I can always type it up on Sunday if I have to,” Katie said.“What are you going as?” One of the other girls asked. I couldn’t recall her name, sorry. Did I mention The Halloween Ball was fancy dress? Did I really need to?“A Bride of Dracula,” Katie said. “You know, like Chloe Goodman that year she got caught giving that guy a blowjob outside The Union?”“I remember that,” said the same nameless girl as before. “It was all over the papers. I couldn’t believe she’d do.