The Locked Tomb: Side Story?

(The required Arisugawa's Locket crossover)

Gideon Nav followed Harrowhawk (Harrow) Nonagesimus as they explored the Lyctoral labs beneath Canaan House. Not, it should be noted, because she liked Harrow. But her old sword master, Aiglamene, had spent weeks hammering it into her head that as a Cavalier, she had to be there to protect her mistress. Plus, being scolded by Palamedes had helped...

They came around a corner and stopped, seeing another door. Unlike the others they had encountered, it had a strange, glowing sign above it in a script Gideon couldn't read. Interestingly, Harrow seemed equally perplexed.

"Strange," Harrow muttered, both looking at the strange door and weird sign.

Gideon waited impatiently as she investigated, then finally said, "Why don't we just go in, dread master?"

Harrow gave her a LOOK.

"We're going to have to eventually, undead lord," Gideon noted, "there may be something important to Lyctorhood in there. And you want to know, admit it."

Harrow turnerd to the door, then tried the knob. It opened easily, revealing a hall. Gideon entered first, Harrow following as they advanced... entering a larger room filled with sound.

Gideon looked around, the redhead appearing confused. "How did this get here?" she wondered aloud.

Harrow frowned, the much shorter and thinner woman standing beside her. "Clearly it's another trial," she said.

"You have no idea, do you?" Gideon teased.

"Shut up, Griddle," Harrow growled.

The woman walking up to them was wearing the floofiest dress Gideon had ever seen. It had layers of fabric, and she was certain it'd be hell to move in.

"Welcome to Arisugawa's Locket," she smiled, "My name is May."

"Where in Canaan House are we?" Harrow demanded.

May still smiled as she answered, "I'm sorry, I don't know what that is."

"What is this place?" Gideon asked before Harrow could blow a gasket.

"It's a bar," May said patiently.

"Canaan House doesn't have a bar," Harrow growled, exasperated.

"Come on, night boss! Gloom mistress! Penumbral lady!" Gideon said to Harrow excitedly, "It does now!"

Harrow just scowled at her, then sighed. "We need to investigate this strange place," she calmly decided.

"Have fun" May waved.

Gideon got a good look at the people filling this 'bar' and gazed in shock. So many strange outfits! And women walking about nearly nude. And kissing!

"GRIDDLE," Harrow growled.

"Sorry, my tenebrous overlord!" Gideon apologized.

The lady at the bar also struck Gideon as odd. Admittedly she'd only been to the Ninth House, then Canaan, but she was sure people didn't have cat's eyes. 'Is she a construct of some sort?' she wondered.

"Hi, I'm Ryouko," the strange woman smiled, "all weapons need to be turned in at the bar for safekeeping.'

"Sure," Gideon turned over her rapier. She hated the weapon anyway, she'd rather be fighting with her longsword.

"What'll it be?" Ryouko asked/

"Water," Harroe said deadpan.

'Damn it, Harrowhawk, read the room,' Gideon thought, sighing.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Roughly an hour later...

"I saw you fawning over that... Dulcinea!" Harrow ranted.

Gideon waved her hands defensively, "What's got into you?"

"She wanted to try a drink, so I poured her a vodka," Ryouko explained, "it happened when you were in the bathroom."

"I don't think she's drank alcohol in her life," Gideon noted.

'Ah," Ryouko winced.

"Why don't you pay that kind of attention to me?!" Harrow demanded, swaying.

"What," Gideon blurted before Harrow dropped like a stone as the booze hit.

"Well shit," the other bartender, Mohoro, muttered.

"Hup," Gideon helped Harrow up, the woman leaning on her.

"May we be of assistance," May offered, the woman who had greeted them returning.

"I think I should get her back to our rooms," Gideon admitted, and was lead to the exit.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Harrow woke the next morning with her first hangover, and was extremely unhappy. Despite that, she insisted they go back down to the labs and find the strange 'bar' again.

(Thankfully Harrow didn't seem to remember what she had said yesterday. Gideon, wisely, didn't bring it up.)

Despite mapping their route and Harrow's excellent memory, they couldn't find the door with the odd glowing sign. Despite being extremely reluctant to ask, none of the other candidates seemed to have seen it either. It was a mystery.

Then things got hectic and they couldn't waste any more time on it...

End?

The Arisugawa Staff: May from Hand Maid May, Ryouko from Tenchi Muyo, and Mahoro from Mahoromatic.

The bar moves through time and space, so it just kind of 'popped in' to Canaan House, basically. As Harrow finds bland food 'too intense' I doubt she's ever drank, so one drink and out.

I MAY do a part two, with Ianthe maybe. I also want to see how the third book turns out.