User:Nextoy/Farside Pub/Fairy Dust

“You’ve been popping up here a lot, haven’t you?”

The barkeeper spoke without looking up at who had just entered the room. Without seeing the man dressed in a suit that made him appear plainly overdressed in the roadside tavern he had found himself in. The long hair that falls upon his shoulders like fine, golden silk contrasts the more rugged look of many other patrons alone. Yet the one thing that does match is piercing eyes, hiding themselves behind a soft smile and fair skin.

“Whatever do you mean?” The man looked towards the barkeeper with those eyes, a tone fitting the rest of his face cooling them.

“Now I know a repeat customer. You may not come frequently, but you sure do come regularly.” The barkeep brings his own eyes up to match, showing no other response to the question asked.

“Even if that were so, what reason have you to bring it up?” The barkeep turned fully to face his customer as the two grew ever closer. One standing firmly behind the counter, and the other approaching with slow, long strides.

“Cause every time you show up, ya leave somethin’ behind.” The barkeep placed down a coaster as he spoke. Though he had no intention of leaving a drink, and his customer had no intentions of drinking. “Now, I take it you’ll have some fries and a water while watching the game, yeah?”

“It seems this place has a vivid memory of myself, despite I having no memories of it. But yes, that will be my order.” The barkeep already had it written down on his notepad, and gave a quick whistle as he tore it off. A small creature, maybe only a few inches in height despite being fully humanoid, appeared from the kitchen. Zipping off to take the paper with a tired grumble, she stops upon seeing who the customer is. A moment of silence is shared between the three before the small creature drops out of sight below the counter.

“Boss?” Is the only thing either of them hear from it. Though neither of the two men wish to state who they think she’s talking to, their eyes meet back together as the paper is handed below. One’s grin vanishes, showing a heart of fire, and the other remains like ice in it’s presence. Were this nearly any other bar the energy between them would be felt across all it’s patrons, but here very few noticed what was going on at the counter.

“What despicable guile.” The customer speaks, leaning forward onto the counter. The two were close enough that either one could whisper, if he so chose. “Is this what you assert I ‘leave behind’?”

“Yep. ‘N’ they aint got any place to go, really, so I give ‘em a job.”

“You dare tame my chil-” The man stops just before speaking the truth of the matter, his hair beginning to turn black and what was once a smile now baring fangs. Though nobody addressed the elephant in the room, nobody had to. Not because it was obvious the barkeeper already had his answer; but because the customer would never give one. Although with a deep breath and a sigh, what was once going to be a customer slaps down a $20 bill and walks off. No more words are spoken out loud between them, instead only one last exchange of glances. Instead the last words are spoken to the small, frightened worker.

“Well, since we’re at slow hours, how abouts you and yer sisters enjoy those fries he bought?” The barkeeper offered, hearing a cheer of celebration in the back despite only addressing the one in front. With a deep breath and a sigh, he then took back the coaster and begun to clean the counters.

Once the worker has fluttered into the back, the mood changed dramatically. They all saw the look on their coworker’s face. These were not the kind to stay quiet, so instead they started murmuring amongst themselves. “What happened?” “Do you think?” “Who did she see?” “Was he back?” “Is he here for us?”

Though her response to the flood of hushed voices was as small as her stature. “He got called out.”

“Called out?”

“Is the boss crazy?”

“Is he going to be the boss again?”

Again questions flooded in, and again the response was simple.

“I don’t know.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it.” Once voice spoke, sitting up on one of the shelves. “Way I see it, if he comes back for us the boss will take care of it.”

“How can you be so calm?” “How can you be so sure?” “What if he can’t?”

One of the few men of these small creatures looked down at the panicked bunch. Though he wasn’t the only one keeping his cool, his voice was spoken in isolation. “Because I’ve seen what happens here when people cross the boss.”

“Well it’s no secret you ditch work and leave everything to us.”

“Yeah, and I always return with something new about this place. Necro, Jacollo, the witch. Even that crazed hunter out back have either a respect or fear of the man. And he’s the only normal person here, far as I can tell. Except for maybe that security guy.” He didn’t speak over the crowd, nor did he speak at them. Instead they quieted down to listen. All except the dissenting voice from before.

Instead she floated up to him, arms crossed. “So what, this is your excuse for bailing on us? Information gathering?”

“Yep.” And with that, she slapped him across the cheek. Though his head moved with it, only his eyes snapped back. “What? All of you had it covered. Don’t you guys get interested? We’ve been here for six years now.”

“You and me have been here for six years. Not all of us. Besides, we have our own things we do when it’s break time. And we save it for break time.” She spoke, arms crossed again.

“Delilah-”

“Oh hush. You can share your stories another time. For now, we just need to prepare in case he comes back here.”

“In case who does?” A man asked as he walked into the back, a piercing gaze looking upon the kitchen staff as his black hair gives way to gold.