The bar didn't look like much. There was a certain haze about the place that came from multiple smokers in the same general area, but the bar was equipped with a special air filter to keep it from becoming stifling while at the same time allowing those who smoked to enjoy their vice in peace. There were tasteful flowers placed in various places around the bar which added a pleasant scent to the air and added to the ambiance. The food was relatively cheap, very filling and was always cooked properly. There were even booths in the back where one could drink in peace...or more likely, hold a few discreet meetings and deals without being bothered by the other customers.
The back of the bar was lit up enough to highlight the special booze that was higher priced than anything under the counter, but at the same time was dim enough not to be overbearing. Everything was properly clean and tidy, and the air around the place was calm and relaxed. The background music was set at a volume where it could be enjoyed and heard properly, but was unlikely to drown anyone out if they spoke in a quiet voice. It was generally set to classical, rather than anything newer.
This was the sort of place people came to drown their sorrows in peace and without fear of being judged by anyone. Where those who made a living killing others could relax properly and just unwind.
It was little wonder that the place was considered an 'unofficial' mafia hot spot for the older crowd, where they could get a break from the hotshot idiots that liked the fast pace far too much and burned too quickly to be of any importance.
The Wolf's Den was considering the best place to have a quiet drink and just relax for the older mafioso, who didn't put nearly as much stock in flames as the younger generation did.
A calm figure shook a drink to order, before pouring it into a clean glass.
It was a young woman in her early twenties, with caramel-brown hair, warm amber-colored eyes, and features that hinted at a mixed heritage. She held herself proudly, but without arrogance. Her clothes were neat and clean, but not fashionable. She also wore an apron in the event of accidental spills.
She glanced at the bar and determined that the level of cleanliness was suitable enough before heading into the kitchen to check on them. As she passed by the booth nearest the kitchen door, she glanced briefly at the cloaked figure doing accounting.
The figure did not acknowledge the owner, or even look up from their books. Nor did they look up when the owner returned with a kettle of tea and a small platter of snacks.
The bartender quietly went back to what they were doing, allowing one of the strays that hung around the bar to go around collecting empty glasses, or brought fresh ones to the patrons. It was all quiet and very discreet, with very little word exchanged.
Rather, the patrons would leave money under the glass to indicate they wanted another and would tip the one collecting glasses appropriately if they were inclined.
The door opened, and a man wearing a black three-piece suit and black fedora entered. Behind him was an Asian man of roughly the same age wearing some traditional red outfit, long braid and calm hazel eyes.
The bartender went from peaceful and calm to annoyed.
"Sinclair, I have told you before I'm not going to sleep with you so why do you keep bothering my peaceful bar?" she drawled.
The Asian smiled with amusement at the irritated expression on Sinclair's face.
The two sat at the bar, and she turned to the long-haired man.
"Hello. What would you like to drink? We do offer some Chinese and Japanese dishes as well, if you're interested," she said politely in Mandarin.
The man's eyes light up with delight.
"Do you serve Mapo Tofu?" he asked hopefully in the same language.
"We might have enough for a few servings of that," she replied, enjoying the irritation Sinclair's face. "And forgive me for saying this, but you don't appear to be a complete heathen like this idiot. Would you like some tea? We have green, several varieties of black and I believe we still have some Oolong if Viper hasn't drank it all."
"I heard that," said the figure in the corner with a tea pot
"I know," said the woman with amusement. Viper grumbled, and bit into their food viciously.
"Mapo tofu and some oolong," said the man with delighted amusement.
"I am not a heathen."
"You practically worship ground beans. That automatically makes you a heathen," she shot back.
"At least I don't drink soggy leaves!" Sinclair countered.
"Yes, but humans have been drinking tea leaves for much longer than coffee," she hissed at him. "At least tea only needs to be dried, whereas coffee requires too much preparation to be usable!"
"Coffee is a sophisticated drink, tea is for plebians!"
The Asian watched the by-play with utter amusement on his face. He was not the only one.
"Actually Renato, monks have been drinking tea for thousands of years," he said. Renato shot him a look of utter betrayal.
"Besides, last I checked coffee never played a role in major incidents that escalated into wars," she added.
Seeing the confused expression on his face, she replied smugly "The Boston Tea party and the Opium Wars."
Renato sulked, having lost that particular argument while the man beside him chuckled with open amusement.
When the man started eating his meal, his eyes light up with open delight and he dug in with considerable enthusiasm.
"Where are my manners. My name is Fon."
"Are you sure it's not Feng?" said the woman with amusement.
His eyes brightened a little, mostly because she actually pronounced it correctly.
"Unfortunately Westerners are more inclined to mangle it. I've learned to tolerate being called Fon," he replied.
"I don't believe this. I bring you here to translate half those cryptic sentences she uses on me and you two hit it off like long lost friends!" scowled Renato sulking.
Seeing Fon's interest, the woman smirked.
"Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting," she said in Mandarin.
Fon couldn't help the laugh that broke out. No wonder Renato was becoming frustrated!
"Indeed, I find it far more amusing to win the battle before a the first punch is thrown. Though I am curious as to why you regard Renato as an enemy in the first place."
She chuckled darkly.
"Have you seen his bad habits regarding women? He's so used to being the wolf that he's having trouble dealing with the clever kitsune nipping at his flanks and denying him entry."
Fon chuckled, while Renato scowled.
"I'm afraid old friend that you have met your match. It would seem you have your work cut out for you in regards to this one," said Fon with fake sincerity.
She snickered at the put-upon expression on his face.
"I'm being ganged up on," he complained.
"But if we didn't tag team against you, then your ego would run rampant," she replied.
Fon was endlessly entertained by the woman. He could see why Renato continued to pursue her... he was so used to having women fall over themselves just to enter his bed that he had forgotten was a proper chase felt like.
Though he was able to confirm one thing that had bugged the hell out of Renato every time he heard it.
"So? What is it that she keeps muttering under her breath every time I frustrate her?" asked Renato as they left the bar.
"'Amaterasu, mother of all and origin of all that is good, grant me the patience to deal with this arrogant ass just a little bit longer'," translated Fon with considerable amusement.
"Who?" said Renato.
"Your bartender is Japanese and a Shintoist. She's praying to the primary goddess of the Japanese pantheon for patience," explained Fon.
"Shintoist?"
"The primary religions in Japan are Shinto and Buddhism, though the two had become heavily intertwined at this point. Shinto is more about honoring the gods and one's ancestors, rather than a singular god. There are quite literally hundreds of minor gods, but Amaterasu rules over all of them as the Sun Goddess," explained Fon.
Renato was fascinated.
"So what are you?"
"Buddhist," said Fon.
Either way, his interest had become piqued towards the bartender.
Though he had to wonder if Renato had realized she was unconciously courting him as a Guardian yet. It had taken him a few hours to figure out why the atmosphere was so relaxed, regardless of who entered...but when it did his jaw had almost dropped in astonishment.
Who would have expected an Active Sky to be content running a simple bar?
She smiled when he came in. He was unsurprised that she had sensed him... he had detected that underneath the Sky flame that had saturated the area was a strong undercurrent of Cloud. Clearly this was her territory, but unlike most Clouds she was open to the idea of allowing other actives in her area.
Fon smiled calmly in return. He had heard a few stories from Renato about how she had calmly thrown out troublemakers before any of the patrons had to get involved.
The woman had no idea that any number of her customers would happily "deal" with such idiots for her if asked. The bar was practically a sanctuary where one could go in and relax against the harsh realities of the world. The fact she took initiative and threw them out herself without asking for help just meant they respected her a bit more.
Considering the number of Skies he had contact with that relied primarly on their Elements for protection, it was a very nice change of pace. Particularly since she wasn't trying to force a bond that wasn't there.
"You know I never did get your name."
"That's because I never gave it. Not even Renato has managed to get it out of me. Everyone just calls me 'Boss', including the patrons," she replied.
Fon's eyes glinted with amusement.
"I would think 'princess' would suit you better," he said in Japanese.
She almost beamed at him for correctly guessing her nationality, likely from her usual prayer for patience whenever Renato tested her nerves too much...except the title caught her off guard.
"Why 'princess'?"
"Isn't that what you would normally call a Sky? I'll admit, it took me a bit to realize what I was sensing but when it did a few things fell into place. I am curious why you keep trying to drive Renato off when you're obviously courting him as a Sun."
She flinched slightly at that.
"The last thing I want is to deal with that. Not after what happened before. I will not be tied down by false bonds and broken honor twice," she said.
Fon winced. From the sound of things she had been forced to endure fake guardians, as the usual 'method' of obtaining them was more akin to a political marriage and less about actual bonds. It was why he detested Skies, outside of the fact that they rarely bothered to learn how to defend themselves beyond the minimum and were content to live inside a gilded cage.
"Broken honor?"
"My father's behavior and actions have destroyed what little family honor I had, long before I was forced to clean up after the mess of the previous generation. It took the assistance of two other Skies who happened to be friends of mine before I was able to slip out of the silk noose they had so 'kindly' put around my neck because they couldn't be bothered to train the egos out of the other heirs ahead of me."
Fon grimaced at that. It was clear that they had set her up as a puppet, only for her to slip out of the gilded cage they had trapped her in. If that was the case, then it was little wonder she didn't want her name getting out so easily, or any Guardians. She had likely been poisoned against the very idea of them from the trauma done to her flames trying to maintain a bond that simply wasn't there.
"Besides...I was a civilian until I was fourteen. Unlike the other heirs, I didn't grow up living off the hard work of others."
Well that explained quite a bit. A civilian wouldn't have the same ingrained beliefs about the 'roles' of a Sky and their Guardians. And considering she was making her living in a relatively well-to-do bar, rather than trying to create a new famiglia and recruiting people directly, it was clear she hadn't been born into money.
From the way she held herself, Fon made an estimated guess she came from a middle-class home, but not one that was stretched overly much for money.
"I am curious why you took to me so quickly, and why you're showing this much trust to an almost complete stranger."
"Mostly it's because you're Asian, but are on good terms with that heathen Renato," she admitted. "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find someone who appreciates tea properly, much less a proper bowl of rice? Never mind the fact we share roughly the same belief system and showed me far more respect than most of the people here do when they first find this place."
Fon inclined his head. Obviously she was feeling very homesick, so the fact that a fellow Asian had come into her bar was a breath of fresh air. Particularly since he showed her the same courtesys one would expect to find in her home country.
Besides...they had quite a bit of fun tag-teaming the cocky Sun and using subtle ways of talking over his head. It was rare to find someone who not only understood his hidden messages when he spoke cryptically, but was able to counter them with hidden messages of their own!
"Don't tell Renato, but I also own the rooms above me. I rent them out to customers who have had a bit too much and need a place to crash while they ride out the hangover. Feel free to borrow any of the empty ones whenever you wish, so long as you bring some new teas to share!" she said impishly.
Fon hid a smile behind his robe sleeve, eyes glinting with mirth. The young woman was quite the little devil, but he had to admit he thoroughly enjoyed her company.
"I will keep that in mind!" he replied in good humor.
The look on Renato's face alone would be worth keeping that tidbit quiet. Obviously she lived in one of the rooms above the bar, which meant she had ready access to her business without having to leave the building. It was only good sense to do so, after all.