Gothic Barrkeeping Hour(s)

[ostro_goth]

Teja merely wants some tea when he approaches the bar this late afternoon; but he doesn't get any. Instead, he gets a small piece of paper cloth on which there is writing:

3 hrs break. You're the lucky patron chosen to tend bar for this interval of time.Teja sighs, and then spots the three rats that serve him, most of the time, standing by the

Comments

[regina_nivalis]

Her Majesty the Snow Queen sweeps downstairs in a rush of cold air and a trail of frosty footprints and seats herself on a barstool, her skirts falling into white drifts around her.

"Barman."

[ostro_goth]

Teja gives her a Look, but doesn't bother explaining who he is.

For the three hours, he is the barman. It is a fate that might, one day, catch up with this woman, also.

"Yes -- what do you want to drink, then?" he asks, calmly.

[regina_nivalis]

"Vodka, chilled very cold, and a dish of plain yoghurt, if you please."

Should she ever be 'tender, which is unlikely, queens don't serve, the drinks would all be very very very cold.

[ostro_goth]

"Phelim, get a dish of plain yoghurt from the kitchen," Teja says, and the pale rat hurries off.

There are cabinets somewhere, Teja remembers from the last time, where it's always cold inside. In the coldest, he finds a pale bottle reminding one of icicles, and labelled Finlandia Vodka. Thinking of the musicians that used to mention that land -- another group of people that have not returned -- Teja pours the woman a glass of that.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter looks at the list and gives a small smile,

"I don't remember the last time I had Atlantean."

[ostro_goth]

"Demeter!" Teja says, nodding his head in greeting. He s pleased to see her.

"Does that mean you wish for some, or does that mean you counsel against it?"

[wheatencrown]

"One small glass I think. You're looking well."

He's not angry at her which is a kindness.

[ostro_goth]

Teja takes the glass that the black rat hands him, finds Atlantean behind the bar, pours it, and puts it down before the goddess.

"I am much relieved," Teja says when that is done. "Clark found me, the day after we spoke, and assured me that Eirene had not been -- touched by impudent hand, as I had feared. Something happened which will be hers to tell or not, but neither that, nor has she been turned into a tree, as Medusa speculated."

[fiery_ring]

Backflip, and Carlotta lands on the bar in front of Teja.

[ostro_goth]

"Greetings!" Teja says, astonished.

It is the schoolgirl he spoke to, some days ago.

"One hopes your lessons of the Frankish language go better now?"

[fiery_ring]

"Not as such." Carlotta admits, springing down to the floor.

"Hallo your Highness."

[ostro_goth]

This greeting makes Teja smile a little.

"Would you wish for something to drink?" he asks. "One assumes, though, that none of what I wrote on the board would be considered suitable for a girl your age."

[callmemajor]

Lorne eyes the list with an amused smile. "Quite a list of specials you've got there," he says.

[ostro_goth]

"Greetings," Teja says to the new stranger. "I chose some that I thought would be acceptable to many; but women being what they are, two of my three customers so far chose things not on the specials board."

Pause.

"What would you have?"

[callmemajor]

"Well, we can't have all that work going to waste. I'll have a Guinness, please."

[ostro_goth]

The waitrat brings one of the typical curved Guinness glasses, and Teja draws it, slowly, filling the glass with thick black liquid, and a thin layer of pale, almost solid, foam, as he has seen men do it on Hibernia Day, or whatever that was called.

Then, he puts it down in front of Lorne.