Later that evening, after Shirayuki had a hot shower, she changed into some of the comfortable gray sweatpants Obi had bought her with a green tank top and her hoodie thrown over it. After tucking her hair away in the hood, she slipped on the pink fuzzy slippers Obi had also insisted she get and made her way downstairs to the living room.

Having a decent shower was probably the most heavenly thing she experienced after so many months of struggling to find a shower, period, let alone a hot one. Obi had insisted on the sweatpants and slippers ("Trust me when I say, Miss," he had said, "that you're going to want something comfortable too. Wearing jeans all the time sounds godawful. And those hardwood floors can get cold, and these slippers are on sale anyway.") She still felt awkward, out-of-place. Like she should probably just stay in her room, which was where she was most comfortable. Peeking her head around the corner of the bottom of the stairs, peering into the living room, she could see Obi settled on the couch.

He was lounged back, with his head resting on the back of the couch, looking up at the pad of paper he held in his hand overhead. An ink pen could be seen sticking out from between his teeth as he absentmindedly chewed on the writing utensil, his golden eyes scrutinizing the paper. In front of him, several receipts littered the coffee table, and his cell phone glowed where it rested next to his thigh on the couch. Shirayuki could hear him half-mumble things around the pen in his mouth, certain phrases sticking out like, "There should have been three cases," and "Why did I order so much grenadine?"

She didn't want to disturb him while he was obviously taking care of business, so Shirayuki turned and began making her way back up the stairs. Only three steps up, a stair creaked beneath her foot, just loud enough that she heard, "Miss?"

Knowing it was too late, she descended the stairs once more, appearing around the corner to face Obi on the couch. The tv displayed random images, but there wasn't much context and the volume was set low. A fire was lit in the fireplace again, the flames crackling happily against the chill in the air.

"Um, hi. Sorry, you looked busy so I didn't want to bother you," she said sheepishly, standing there a little awkwardly.

"Nah, you're fine," he reassured quickly, sitting up and setting the notepad and pen on the coffee table amongst the receipts. "Was just double checking everything. I wanted to talk to you for a sec, anyway. Come sit down."

"Oh. Of course." Shirayuki felt anxiety gnaw the inside of her chest, wondering what he wanted to talk about. Lately, she couldn't help but see everything as a worst-case-scenario. She moved forward and sat next to him on the couch, adjusting her hood slightly so she could see him from the side better.

Obi looked at her for a long moment, making her anxiety grow tenfold, until he finally reached forward and tugged her hood down, letting her hair tumble free. "You should really leave the hood off, more. At least when you're here. It's not like anyone can see you, anyway."

"You can," she argued before she could stop herself. She snapped her mouth closed, but it was already too late.

Obi laughed, shaking his head. "But, see, that's the thing, Miss," he said pointedly, giving her a side-smirk. "I've already seen your hair. I already know who you are. There's no point hiding it from me, then, right?"

Shirayuki deflated a little. "I… I guess I'm still a little paranoid. Sorry."

"Don't be sorry," he waved her off, sitting back and resting his head on the couch once more. "I get it. There's some habits that are hard to break. I just want you to be comfortable here. I'm offering you a safe, judgment-free zone, so I hope you'll eventually feel at-ease."

"Thanks. So, you wanted to talk…?" Shirayuki cocked her head to the side, trying to not let her nervousness show.

"Ah, yeah," he said, sitting back up and picking up the pad of paper once more. Flipping int to a clean page, he grabbed his chewed-up pen and uncapped it. "So, I know you really probably don't have a preference, and probably don't even care right now if you do, but I didn't want to really assume anything. So, first thing - When do you want to start working?"

"Oh." Shirayuki hadn't been expecting that. She was thinking something more along the lines of, 'So, Miss, since you've overstayed your welcome, I'd kindly like you to get out now.' "Right, um. Right away, I guess? I mean, I may need a night or two to refresh my memory since it's been a few months, but the sooner I start working the better."

"Bet," he said, scribbling a few things down on the notepad. "And do you have any nights that you prefer to work? New Orleans is known for its partying, so things can get pretty crazy on the weekends... And weekdays during Mardi Gras, but we're not going to talk about that coming disaster yet."

Shirayuki didn't know much about Mardi Gras other than what she had seen in the media about it, which was mostly about how people did obscene things for cheap, plastic beads that served no purpose. She did, however, understand the religious roots behind it, and she could respect that. "No. No preference. I may have lived in the Greene district of Tanbarun, but my bar was in the Juren district. I can handle a crowd." The Juren district was known for hosting numerous sporting events, and was home to several different arenas and playing fields. The after parties would get wildly out of hand after any event.

"Great!" he said, scribbling a few more things down. After looking at what he wrote for a moment, he looked back up at her and continued, "So, I'm pretty sure you've already figured this out, but there's no dress code. At least, I try not to have a dress code, unless you decide to show up in just your underwear. Then again, I'm sure my patrons would appreciate you in your skivvies much more than they did Fred."

Shirayuki huffed a small laugh at that, her cheeks warming slightly.

"I'm never really far away, you can usually find me somewhere in the building. I don't typically leave the first floor when we're open on the weekends. Since we're not directly on Bourbon, we don't usually have too much trouble, but if anything does happen then just let me know and I'll handle it. And I do mean anything. Don't let the customers harass you or touch you just because you think you need to be nice. Tell them to fuck off, and if they don't just let me know. A majority of my customers are regulars, so I trust most of them to at least keep an eye out for you too. Your job is as a bartender, not an entertainer, so that's all I ask you to do."

Shirayuki did her best to keep up.

"Also, and I'm pretty sure I already know the answer to this, but - do you have any kind of ID? Social security card? Birth certificate? Driver's license?"

Shirayuki shook her head. "Sorry. Someone stole my bag as I was getting on the train in Hattiesburg. I only managed to save my ticket."

"That's unfortunate," he said, leaning back as he scribbled a few more things on the paper. Looking at it for another moment, he asked, "So, would you like a whole new identity or do you just want your old stuff back?"

"What?" What the hell was that supposed to mean?

"Well, I get you're on the run, trying to keep a low profile. But I can't risk my business getting into trouble with the IRS for paying you under the table. I know some guys who can get you all the legal documents you need, I just wanted to know if you'd rather change your identity or keep your old one."

"Oh." Huh. That was actually an interesting question.

On the one hand, keeping her old identity meant she could still have access to some of her old life. She could take care of matters with the bar she had abandoned, and her home (not to mention she would get to keep that killer credit score she had worked so hard for). On the other hand, though, having a completely new identity would help her stay under the radar and hopefully she would never hear from Raj Shenezard ever again. She had no doubts that he had the means to track her using her information. In Ashville, she had withdrawn her last $400 before calling and cancelling all her card accounts. After that, she called and canceled her cell service, and then promptly trashed her phone before leaving town. With a whole new identity, she could maybe start some of her life back up without the fear that some petulant billionaire was going to swoop in and kidnap her.

"And you can always change your mind later, if you'd like to change your identity for just a little while. These guys are good. They can give you a new ID for every day of the year." He looked at her expectantly.

"Oh, well…" Shirayuki felt a lot better knowing she could change her mind later, making her decision easier. "Then, yes. A new identity would probably… Probably be best for right now."

"I think so too," he admitted, scribbling a few more things on the paper. "If the heir of Shenezard Technologies is after you, there's no telling the ways he has to track you. So, I think that's all I needed. You think you'll be good to start work tomorrow? Or do you still feel kinda sick?"

"I can start tomorrow," she said quickly, not even having to think about it. She felt that all this meekness and shyness she had been feeling would ease up once she didn't feel like such a parasite. Sure, she was never the most outgoing person, but she knew how to speak for what she wanted and what was right. If she could at least start earning her keep and pay him back for everything, she was certain she would start feeling better about things a bit more quickly.

"Good," he said simply, setting the pen and paper on the coffee table. "We open at 4pm and shut everything down at 2am. My employees like the ten hour shifts better since it gives them an extra day off, but I don't give a shit if anyone gets overtime as long as the work gets done. One of the employees only works two days a week so he's usually my backup for call-ins. Uhh…" He rolled his eyes upward, clearly trying to check his memory. "I think that's everything you really need to know. Do you have any questions?"

"Nervous?"

The knowing smirk Obi gave her made a light blush rise to her cheeks. Pulling her hoodie over the simple jeans and green t-shirt ensemble she was wearing, she gave him a timid smile.

"Maybe. It's been several months since I've willingly interacted with the public." Shirayuki bit her lip as she looked at her reflection in the hallway mirror. She was going to keep her hood off for the sake of making her job easier, but she made a point to tie her hair back into a tight bun to make it as unnoticeable as possible. She knew there was almost zero chance of being recognized, but it still didn't make her any less nervous.

"You'll be just fine," he encouraged, his warm golden eyes soft and understanding as he lightly directed her by the shoulders to the front door. "I'll work with you behind the bar for a couple nights so you can get back into the swing of things. If I have to leave for any reason then Geneva is also scheduled tonight so she can help out too."

Shirayuki allowed him to steer her to the exit. Up until that day, she had only used the back door, which led to the balcony with a stairwell down the back. Using the front entrance was new for her.

Obi went ahead first, indicating for her to follow him out the door and down the stairs. Once she stepped into the stairwell, it took a long moment for her eyes to adjust to the much dimmer light. After closing the door behind her, Obi made sure to lock it securely behind two different locks before leading them down the steps. They arrived at the landing to the second floor but they continued on down. After reaching the first floor, they walked out of the stairwell and into the open. Obi flipped a switch on the wall, lighting up the darkened bar. As the bar lights and neons flickered to life, Shirayuki stopped for a moment to take a look.

It was pretty standard for a bar. The walls were black, trimmed with red stenciling in the corners, and the floors were lined with a dark gray tile. There was, of course, the bar to the left of the front entry, which had several taps on the counter as well as several different selections of liquor against the back wall. She could see the occasional fleur de lis decorating a tap or ornament. Most of the neons were the usual, humming with their vibrant colors advertising the different brands of beer. Red LED lights lined the bar and the mirror backing the liquor shelves. The chairs were all upside-down on the bar and tables, the surfaces in the place actually looking pretty clean. A jukebox sat idly in the corner, the low glow from its back-paneling indicating it was in standby mode. Different signs littered the walls, as well as a dart board and a rack for pool sticks. The area to the right of the door was where the pool table itself sat, as well as a couple of video poker machines shoved into that corner. There were at least two TVs on each wall, and in the dark corner in the back by a hallway, she could see some kind of giant black box with a curtain that definitely looked like a photo booth, but it seemed really out of place in the otherwise nondescript bar. "It's nothing fancy, but it was Harold's. The least I can do is take care of it," Obi called back to her as he walked across the room, waving his hand to tell her to follow. She caught up to him, following him through a door he unlocked beside the bar.

On the other side was just a regular looking office, though it was much more disorganized than the one she'd kept for herself. Papers and documents littered the shelves and desk, and some stuck out from the half-open filing cabinet, too. The computer looked out of place, being a very recent up-to-date model with a sleek, black printer beside it. It clashed with how old the rest of the room looked. Another monitor could be seen on the wall, playing scenes from the rest of the bar in a real-time recording.

"This is the office. Again, nothing fancy. Just where I do my paperwork and make orders. I don't like spending a lot of time in here, for obvious reasons." Backing out of the office, he shut and relocked it before lazily indicating down the dark hallway. "Restrooms are that way and storage is on the second floor if we run out of anything down here. It'd probably be faster if you just ask me first before going hunting for anything, though. I… uh… My organizational skills are not the best, in case my office wasn't any indication."

Shirayuki laughed lightly. "It's not… too bad?"

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Okay, so it's pretty bad," she laughed again. "But it's salvageable. One of my only talents is organization, so I can help you with it, if you want."

"Ah, Miss," Obi said, giving her a lopsided grin as he gripped his shoulder. "I'm sure you have many, many talents." He gave her a wink, but she completely missed what he was trying to say. "But, yes, actually. Some help might be nice. I appreciate it."

"No problem. So, how do you prefer to open the bar?"

The night went as any other night at a bar would. There were innumerable patrons, gallons of alcohol served, and plenty of messes to clean.

Geneva showed up right at open, giving Shirayuki and Obi a brief greeting for getting to work pulling all the chairs and stools from the counter and table tops and helping set up for business. Throughout the night, Shirayuki focused on learning where the different alcohols and mixers were located, as well as learning the POS system. She had worked in a bar for so long, actually pouring and mixing drinks was second nature to her. All in all, she was surprised at how easily she seemed to pick things back up.

The night flew by in a whirl of "Who dat?!"s being yelled on a regular basis, alcohol streaming endlessly from the taps, and bar nuts being scattered as far as the eye could see. The occasional tourist could be seen flouncing around, identified by the Mardi Gras beads around their necks or wearing masks despite Mardi Gras being a month away. Geneva had to shoo away at least three couples making out in the photo booth, but rather than look annoyed, Obi always seemed fairly amused by those particular antics.

("Yeah, that's been here for about six years," Obi explained when Shirayuki asked about the photo booth. "Harold liked to go to storage unit auctions and that thing was in one of the units he bought. He thought it was 'nifty' so he shoved it in here. I kind of like it.")

Once all was said and done, Obi, Geneva, and Shirayuki cleaned and closed up shop for the night. Obi let Geneva out through the front door, and after locking up, he and Shirayuki headed back upstairs to his home.

"So, what do you think?" Obi asked as he handed her the amaretto sour he had just mixed in the kitchen. Settling on the couch beside her with a glass of whiskey, he continued, "Not too bad, right?"

"Mhmm." She made a sound of affirmation as she sipped her drink, only briefly making a face. It was sweet, like candy, but the sour part made her jaw tighten up a little. "I think the hardest thing is learning the POS. It's a lot different than the system I used."

"Good luck with that," he huffed out in a laugh. "I've had that system for almost two years and I still can't figure it out."

"So why don't you get a new one?"

Obi scratched the back of his head nervously at her question. "I'm kinda stubborn. In case you haven't noticed. I'm determined to figure it out one day."

Shirayuki laughed, her body warming from the sweet amaretto curling through her veins. Taking another drink, she reached up with her other hand to brush back the stray red hairs that had managed to escape her bun. "I'll help you," she offered, looking down into the swirling amber liquid of her glass. "I may not be the smartest when it comes to technology, but I'll figure out anything if it makes organization easier."

"You're just a regular neat freak, huh?" he asked, giving her a sly grin.

"I wouldn't say 'neat freak'. Just… organizationally motivated?" She hoped her embarrassment wasn't apparent on her cheeks.

He laughed at that, taking another drink. "Fair enough. So, any other concerns? I hope Beaux didn't make you too uncomfortable. He's a good guy, just gets a little weird after a few drinks."

Shirayuki giggled, thinking back to the eighty year old man who had hobbled into the building, sat down at the bar, and suddenly started dealing cards to her. "After a few drinks? The man immediately started trying to play strip poker with me as soon as he walked in the door."

"Well, yeah," he said with a toothy grin. "He'd already had a few drinks before he came in. Don't tell me you didn't notice?"

Shirayuki opened and closed her mouth, trying to get past her surprise to respond. "I… But… He… He's going to die drinking like that!" Shirayuki could feel the panic in her chest, rising up from the unsober thoughts. "I poured him several rounds. Oh my god. I'm gonna be responsible for that poor man's death!" She nearly spilled the tiny bit of her drink that was left, which explained her overreaction. She could not handle her alcohol well, and it was doubtful she would ever be able to. Why she accepted Obi's offer of nightcap after what had happened to her just a couple days before was beyond her.

"Calm down, Miss," Obi laughed, gently plucking the cup from her hands before she could spill it. "Beaux has been drinking at Juke's longer than I have. I appreciate your worry for my customers but I wouldn't recommend conveying your health concerns to them. This is New Orleans. There's not a sober person for forty miles in any direction."

He had a point, but Shirayuki's fuzzy mind was still upset. "But I… I don't…" Her face went a little blank as she struggled for words. The TV was turned off and there was no fire burning (hooray for central heating units), so she just kind of dazed off into space a bit before she realized it. "What… What were we talking about again?"

Obi slowly blinked at her bursting into hysterics, quickly setting the glasses he was holding on the coffee table before rocking back, clutching his sides as he heaved with laughter. Shirayuki leaned away, her expression uncomfortable as she watched him roll back laughing. It only took another moment of watching him before she could feel her own smile drift across her face, a shy giggle escaping her lips.

"Miss, I think you're gonna do just fine."

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