o0o

4. Bar Chat

.

"Well, now, Merrill, fancy finding you here at this time of day."

"Oh, Isabela, hello, I didn't notice...Oh! This is your spot! I'm sorry; I'm in your spot. Should I move? I should move, shouldn't I..."

"Relax, Kitten, I'm fine anywhere."

"Or so the rumour goes."

"Comedy, is it, Corff? Don't quit the bartending job. And speaking of which..."

"Whiskey."

"Clever man. And another for my friend – what are you having, Kitten?"

"Stout...well, sort of, though it's rather thin and it tastes a bit like mildew...but I don't...I'm not fin-"

"Here you go."

"-ished...Oh, well, thank you."

"Aah... Keep them coming, Corff."

"Yeah, yeah."

"So, Kitten, what's on your mind?"

"I'm sorry?"

"You were miles away when I came in, and you have this big unhappy furrow on your pretty little brow, right...here."

"Oh. It's nothing, I...no, it doesn't matter."

"Come on, sweet thing, tell Isabela."

"I...it's just...well, it's Anders. Oh, it's just me, I let him get under my skin and I shouldn't."

"Hm, and what's our favorite not-an-abomination been and done?"

"He was on one of his, well, one of his rants earlier today, and do you know what he said to me?"

"Do tell."

"He said, 'No wonder the demons found you such easy prey.' He said that. To me!"

"He's a fine one to talk."

"Yes, exactly! I mean I know he's troubled, and I know he – well none of you agree with my kind of magic, and I pity him deeply, really I do, but it can be so frustrating and hurtful to be condescended to like that, especially when I'm not the one who's been voluntarily possessed by an insane uncontrollable Fade spirit that's utterly indistinguishable from a demon the way it pops out all glowing blue and tries to kill innocent girls when we're there to rescue them!"

Pause.

"Feel better?"

"No, not really, I...well, maybe just a little bit."

"Corff, what part of 'keep them coming' didn't you get? Thanks...aah. Listen, Kitten, you've got a perfectly good point and I don't blame you a bit for getting upset. Unfortunately, I don't see any chance of him changing."

"Oh, I know..."

"Ah, don't look so miserable, sweet thing. Just try to bear in mind old Abominanders is living up his own glowing blue ass and come blow off steam with me whenever you need it."

"Mah serannas, Isabela. You're a good friend, I...wait, 'Abominanders'? That's...pfft...oh, I mustn't laugh...that's unkind..."

"But accurate."

Pause.

"I can see you trying not to smirk, there, Kitten."

"...pfft...Abominashem...snerk..."

"That's my girl."