Sorry it's late. Also that it's kinda short. I hope you enjoy it anyways.
._.
As usual, the day started off strange. As Rin walked through the door, he was immediately hit with an awkward conversation about Meliodas having been tied up before he shared a bed with Elizabeth the night before. Joan just gave a sharp "hah!", like she knew something they didn't.
Rin could just imagine her thinking something along the lines of "you really think that will hold him?"
Then Ban walked in, demanding a drink.
"Isn't it a bit early to be drinking?" Diane said, peeking through one of the windows. Meliodas and Elizabeth had sat down already, eating some tasty looking food.
"Yeah, I agree," Rin said. A loud slurping made him look over at Joan, who was chugging a bottle of beer. He wondered where she got it from.
After sighing and setting the empty bottle on a nearby table, she smiled widely. "Yes, I totally agree."
Everybody stared at her for a moment before Elizabeth finally broke the silence.
"Yeah, why don't you come and join us for breakfast Ban? And you two as well." She didn't put down her silverware as she spoke, but she seemed to forget about the food.
"You really expect me to eat the Captain's terrible food?"
Meliodas chucked a bottle of Vanya Ale at Ban and grinned. "If you hate it so much, then make it yourself! Or, hey, Rin's pretty good, ask him to make you some food."
"Huh?" Ban looked back towards Rin and Joan, who shifted uncomfortably under his gaze before hiding behind Rin. "That kid is a cook?"
"Yeah, and i'm pretty good too!" Rin grinned.
"That's what I said," Meliodas said blankly.
"Whatever, i'll make food." Ban said as he opened the bottle of ale. Like a soda that was shaken up, the drink exploded into his face.
"We should figure out what well be doing when we get there in a few hours." Joan said as she peaked out from behind Rin.
Joan began tugging Rin towards the bar as the others started talking about the game plan. They would be at the town near the Necropolis soon. Ban and Rin would cook, Elizabeth would waitress, and Joan would try to ask around about the City of the Dead. Apparently nobody knew much about the place. Joan stayed behind the counter, obviously trying to stay out of the conversation.
"Joan." Meliodas said. She startled before turning towards him. Everybody stared at her. Rin felt a ping of pity at how she looked extremely uncomfortable. "What do you know about the place?"
She took a moment to look around towards the front door and windows.
"There is somebody here who can tell us exactly what we need to know. Ban should go and find them." She said, glancing to Meliodas then to the ground.
"Why Ban?" Meliodas looked blank again, with absolutely no emotion showing. She looked up at him and met eyes. it seemed like they were having a conversation telepathically, but they weren't. Meliodas blinked a couple times then looked at Ban.
"Well, you heard her! Once we get there, remember the plan. Until then, have some fun!"
Ban just sighed and laid his head down on the counter.
._. Ron's POV
I stared at Joan as she worked behind the counter. Her back was turned to me, but I could tell she was stressed. Every time she pulled a bottle off the wall to dust it with her rag, I saw how she gripped the alcohol so hard her knuckles turned white.
On her back she still carried my sword.
"Joan," I said. She started and nearly dropped the bottle.
"Yes?"
"I was, uh, wondering how you did that thing with the wind." i scratched my head as I spoke. She set the bottle back and turned to me and leaned over the counter towards me.
"In this world people have magic powers. Typically, they only have one that can be influenced into different attacks or defenses. Meliodas can reflect other's attacks, and Ban can steal strength from those around him. I, however, am not from this world, so my power is slightly different."
"How so." I began leaning in as well, slowly getting closer and closer to her without even noticing. She grinned.
"I have influence over the element of air, much like Diane can influence earth."
"That's...actually really neat."
She leaned back and began shuffling through her jacket pockets. From them she pulled her pocket watch out, along with a silver necklace with a strange charm on it.
The charm looked like a vial, which was about the size of my pinky and just as wide. Inside was bright blue liquid that turned gold when the sunlight passed through it.
"What's this?" I asked as she handed me the little necklace.
"It's an experiment. Put it on." I did as she told me. She pushed the pocket watch to me next and watched intently as I opened it. The hand continued ticking for a couple seconds then stopped in its tracks.
"The necklace should replace me, so now you'll be okay if we ever get seperated." she smiled proudly and tugged at a small bandage on her arm.
"What if I get arrested and they take it?"
She squinted at it, her lips parted only slightly as she mumbled something to herself. She shrugged. "Drink it, it'll remain inside you for about six hours. It can't make you ill either."
I stared down at the watch for a short while longer, wondering what she had put in the vial.
._.
Rin looked into the distance at the town filled with crumbling buildings.
"This isn't really what I was expecting," he said to Joan. She chuckled. "Shouldn't the city of the dead be more...I don't know, interesting?"
"This isn't actually the Necropolis, it's just the town nearest to it." Joan turned to look up at Rin's face before suddenly grabbing his arm and pulling him towards the bar entrance.
"What are you doing?" He complained, looking towards the others. They were obviously going to do something much more interesting than cooking.
"Into the Boar's Hat to start working. We've got a lot to do."
"I'm starting to get the feeling you're keeping me from something."
She gave a shaky laugh. "what? Bologna! Ha...haha! Come on, there's nothing going on."
She opened the door for him. After a moment of hesitation he entered. He headed straight for the kitchen to started cooking.
Rin remained oblivious to the world outside the tavern. It wasn't until Ban and the others returned with two young children that Rin's cooking was interrupted.
"What happened to your shirt?" Rin asked, staring at the ruined red leather.
An apron hit Ban in the face after Joan threw it across the room.
"Please cover up," she said before returning to dicing vegetables. Ban did as he was told, sighing as he struggled to tie the back.
"Some kid attacked me and ruined my shirt."
"That wasn't just some kid, it was King." Meliodas pointed out.
"Anyways. Rin, you got anything we could give to these two?" Ban waved towards the children, a boy and his younger sister. They both looked thin and wore clothes that were covered in dirt and dust.
"Yep! Take a seat."
While Rin busied himself serving the food to the hungry children, Joan stepped outside without anybody noticing. Or, at least, almost everybody.
"I'll be right back," Meliodas announced before stepping outside. Nobody seemed to care as he, too, disappeared outside.