Luigi was back the next night, exactly after closing. Brewster left the door unlocked, and was behind the bar when Luigi walked in.

"I had a feeling you would come in, coo." Brewster said as the man sat down. He opened a bottle without being asked, and laid it on the bar. As Luigi reached out to grab it, Brewster noticed the fresh bandages peeking out from under the long sleeves.

Thirty minutes and 10 bottles later, Luigi broke the silence.

"I'm… I'm sorry, Brewster. "He said.

"…For what?" Brewster said.

"For staying past curfew yesterday. And having the gall to the same thing today." Luigi said. He swallowed the last gulp of alcohol, and set the bottle to the side. "It feels nice, though ya know? "He said. "That stuff tastes terrible, but it makes it numb. Makes it a little bit better."

Brewster watched him."…Yes. You acquired quite a tab last night, coo."

Luigi grinned. "Yeah. I- I thought you looked impressed. Just add this to last night's tab; I'll bring some money tomorrow…" He paused and looked away. "uh…"

"…Night. Tomorrow night, yes, coo."

Luigi relaxed and smiled at Brewster. "T…Thanks." And then he looked away again, shoulders becoming tense. "I guess you wanna know why, huh?"

"That would be… pleasant, coo." Brewster placed another open bottle on the counter. Luigi took a long swallow before answering. He kept his gaze down at the bar.

"It's… nothing important, really. It's just been harder lately, you know? I'm fine, really, I just wanted some relief. "Luigi smiled in his direction, but wouldn't meet Brewster's eyes. The man took another swallow. "I'm fine, really. Life's pretty great, right?"

Brewster watched Luigi as he drew another bottle from underneath the bar, popped the top, and placed it on the counter in front of the man.

"I am here, coo." he said. "If ever… you need to talk. "

Luigi laughed. "Brewster, I am great. "He said, "And as a matter of fact, right now I don't want to talk, I just want to drink. How about setting up a few more beers on the bar? Let's see how many it takes before I can't move."

"…After this, you're cut off, coo." Brewster said. "You are a bit too heavy for me to carry back to your room."

Luigi snorted, and his hand jerked, letting some of the beer splash out onto the bar. "Come on, you gotta be stronger than you look. I bet you're ripped underneath those feathers."

Brewster smiled." Well, Luigi, I will bet that you're never get to feel and see, coo."

Luigi, in the middle of a swallow, choked and started coughing, forehead falling against the counter. "Fucking shit, Brew! "He gasped. Brewster just laughed.