The Adventures of FireFox and BlackDog
Episode 8: The Canis Rex

The bar stools at Harry's were as comfortable as ever. Robin rested her arms on the empty section of the bar in front of her. She should have been on her way home at this time in the evening but she didn't feel like it. She watched her favorite bartender pouring drink after drink for his customers. It was strangely soothing. With some effort, Robin turned her head to look at Amon. He was sitting on the next stool over, running his finger around the rim of his glass.

"Are you two alright?" the bartender asked.

"We're fine," Robin answered. "We're just tired."

"Have you been busy?"

"No more than usual," Amon said.

The bartender nodded and turned to Robin. "Would you like a drink?"

"If you bring me a Margarita, I'll show you something," she said.

Amon shot her a look and she shot one back. The bartender looked from one to the other.

"Are you two not getting along?" he asked.

"He doesn't like me making my signature drink," Robin said.

"A signature drink?" the bartender inquired as he mixed the Margarita.

"It's not a signature drink," Amon said. "She burns the alcohol out of a Margarita so all that's left is funny tasting lemonade."

"That sounds interesting," the bartender said, setting the Margarita down on the bar.

"He's jealous of my creativity," Robin teased.

"It wasn't creativity that made that thing," Amon returned. "It was an accident."

Fire flashed in Robin's eyes and the drink in front of her blazed up with blue flames. It burned for a few seconds and then guttered out. She offered it to the bartender and he took a sip.

"It's not bad," he said. "If there's a story behind it, I'd like to hear it."

"There's a story," Amon said darkly.

"We were in New York City," Robin began. "We had no money and we were looking for work. I remembered all the things I learned while I was working undercover here. So I thought I could get a job in a bar. We found this little place called the Canis Rex. The bartender there was nice enough to give me a job, even though I was too young. She said she had no respect for the law. She showed me how to mix all sorts of drinks. I worked there for a whole week while Amon sat in the corner and watched the world go by."

"I was working too," Amon put in. "I restocked the bar every two hours."

Robin ignored him and went on. "On the second night, the power went out for an hour or so. I was trying to light some candles but I forgot that I wasn't wearing my glasses. I lit up three drinks that were sitting on the bar. I don't remember what the first two were but the third was a Margarita. It was the only one that tasted good with the alcohol burned off. So I decided it was my signature drink."

"It was a mistake," Amon said.

"You drank one every night we were there," Robin reminded him.

"So, what do you call this signature drink?" the bartender asked.

"It doesn't have a name," Robin replied.

"Well, that's no good. A good drink must have a name."

Robin considered for a minute, smiling to herself.

"Its name is… the FoxFire Special."
-

Well, that was episode 8. The Canis Rex is fictional. I've been to New York City twice and I never saw a bar by that name. But the name does mean something. 'Canis' is the Latin word for 'dog' and 'rex' is the Latin word for 'king'. So the bar's name means 'Dog King'. Appropriate, isn't it? FYI, the drinking age in the US is 21. You also have to be 21 to work in a place that serves alcohol. I AM NOT ENCOURAGING UNDERAGE DRINKING! Drinking alcohol at any age is stupid and pointless and should be avoided at all costs. That being said, a Margarita is basically alcoholic lemonade. Thanks to all the reviewers.