Arisugawa's Locket's
The Bartender and Her Way of Life.
"She WHAT?" Nabiki Tendo blurted as they met in Juri's office.
"Tried to buy the Locket," Juri said dryly, "I told her no. Though I will admit to being rattled a little by how much she offered."
"Oh?" May asked, there as Juri's second in command.
"Several million American," Juri revealed.
Nabiki whistled softly. May's eyes widened noticeably.
"WHY tho?" May blinked.
"Ego, maybe?" Nabiki guessed.
"Yeah, maybe." Juri nodded seriously. She added, "And she did NOT look happy that I turned her down."
Juri wasn't HEAVILY worried about Sonomi Daidouji, but it was possible she might try to strike back at her. Hopefully not.
"Well, on the plus side there's not that much she can do," Nabiki noted. "Not directly."
"She could try to open a rival club," May noted.
"Without the time-space engine, I can't see how it would make THAT much of a difference," Juri observed.
"Okay, anything ELSE we need to be worried about?" Nabiki asked curiously.
"Thankfully that's about it," Juri agreed, "let's get ready to open."
Juri usually arrived an hour early, then every one else trickled in as they put chairs out, made sure the beer and soda taps were running and so on.
"Afternoon!" Minagi waved as she and Sasami arrived.
"How are things with Ryouko and the others?" Nabiki asked curiously.
"Pretty good," Sasami smiled, "we're having Tennyo and her wife Mutsumi staying over. She's very sweet."
Alpha arrived just after, as well as Amelia in her cowgirl clothes. "I'll get changed," Amelia offered cheerfully.
"You know the customers like that outfit," Nabiki noted.
"They like it a bit TOO much," Amelia chuckled.
"If anyone tries to grab your ass, we'll boot them," Cyber Six, their on and off bouncer, cheerfully volunteered.
"My hero," Amelia joked.
"Ok, everyone set? We're opening soon," May said briskly.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Kate Godwin was a superhero. Yes, really. Despite being in street clothes and wondering how she ended up here.
"I actually got my powers from sleeping with an alien hermaphrodite," Kate noted, grinning as she chatted with several heroines.
"Not the weirdest origin I've heard," Empowered noted, the pretty blond dressed in a skin tight black bodysuit.
"Calling yourself Coagula, tho? Really?" Sistah Spooky asked teasingly, her cloak partly hiding her face.
"Says the woman called Sistah Spooky," Kate laughed.
Ninjette waved a waitress down, "Another pitcher of beer!"
"Coming," Excel said cheerfully.
"Hey, America!" Empowered waved to a familiar figure.
America Chavez smiled as she strode over. "Hey, Emp, Ninj, Spooky," she nodded hello. She looked curiously at Kate.
"Coagula," Spooky introduced her.
"Just call me Kate," she quickly said. "Join us?"
"Sure," America sat down. "I saw Batwoman around earlier... is she still on the outs with Renee?" she asked.
"Yup. Don't bring her up," Empowered sighed.
"Relationship drama?" Kate asked.
"Apparently they were 'taking a break' from each other," Ninjette said cheerily, "but BOTH ended up sleeping around. And someone finding out."
"Batwoman with her police buddy Maggie Sawyer," Empowered dished the dirt, "Renee with her friend Huntress."
"Ouch," Kate winced.
"Yeah," America agreed. "I think they'll get back together eventually, but..."
"You don't get that level of pissed off if you don't still have feelings for each other," Spooky nodded firmly.
"Good luck to them both," Kate raised her mug in a toast.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"How did we...?" Menou asked, the pink-ish haired priestess looking around in confusion.
Akari smiled warmly as the black haired girl said, "What a neat place."
"Welcome to Arisugawa's Locket," May smiled, her maid uniform swirling around her.
"Wow, a real maid!" Akari blurted.
Menou just ignored that, "Excuse me, how did we get here? I was just taking my friend into a shop when we popped up here."
"This bar kind of brings interested people here," May explained, "if you want to leave, once you go out the door you'll be returned where you came from."
"Menou! Can we stay a bit! There's dancing," Akari said excitedly.
Menou hesitated, but couldn't see a reason to refuse. Especially since she knew they could get home whenever.
"Please," Akari pouted adorably.
"All right," Menou conceded.
"I'll escort you to a table," May said cheerfully, "I'm affraid we can't serve you alcohol, as you're both teens..."
In another part of the bar, Momo was scowling as she kept an eye on the two. "Argh, Boob Girl, stop standing so close to MY Menou!" the short, pinkette muttered.
"So you're here too?" an amused voice noted.
Momo turned to see a smirking Princess Ashuna. "Oh, it's Princess Poo," Momo sighed.
Ashuna grinned, actually PLEASED at the nickname, then the tall blond stepped closer. "Did you just appear here too?" she demanded.
Momo sighed, "Apparently."
"They actually made me leave my sword at the bar!" Asuna complained.
'Can you BLAME them?' Momo thought, but didn't say.
"Come!" Ashuna clapped her hand on Momo's shoulder, "Let us drink!"
Momo debated refusing, but she didn't want Ashuna to run into Menou and Akari. "Okay, sure," she sighed...
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"So your weapons are actually soul bonded to you?" Mahoro checked, the black haired woman frowning.
Flum and Cyrill both nodded, one woman in light clothing, the other in armor.
"And my sword and gear is cursed," Flum Apricot added. The redhead continued, "Even if I surrendered them, they might kill any staffer who touched them."
Mahoro decided that cursed, possibly deadly weapons were WAY above her pay grade. "Just don't summon the weapons in the bar," she said.
"Yes ma'am," Cyrill vowed.
Milkit was dressed in her usual maid uniform, the silver haired woman hanging close to Flum. Her very pretty face was partly hidden by bandages, due to her shyness.
"Thank you for having me along," Cyrill said a bit sheepishly. "And forgiving me."
Cyrill and Flum had been adventurers in a party, but Flum had been treated badly. At the time Cyrill had fallen under the influence of the scummy party leader, and didn't realize that Flum needed saving. Flum ultimately left them, various things happened, and Flum returned to meet Cyrill and was hugely more powerful...
"It was that bastard Jean," Flum patted her arm, referring to their former leader.
Cyrill smiled at her warmly, then noticed the jealous glare from Milkit.
Back in the party, she and Flum had been VERY close. Alas it wasn't until Flum had left that Cyrill realized her feelings might be more than friendly. And from the look Milkit was giving her to BACK OFF, it might be too late.
"Let's get some drinks," Cyrill decided to let it go.
To be continued...
The Staff: Arisugawa Juri from Utena, May from Hand Maid May, Nabiki Tendo from Ranma 1/2, Minagi and Sasami from Tenchi Muyo, Alpha from yokohama kaidashi kikou , Amelia from Trigun the Movie, Cyber Six from Cyber Six and Mahoro from Mahoromatic.
Our Cast this Episode: Sonomi Daidouji is from Card Captor Sakura, Kate Godwin is from Doom Patrol, Empowered, Ninjette and Sistah Spooky are from Empowered, America Chavez is from Marvel Comics, Menou, Akari, Momo and Ashuna are from Executioner and her Way of Life, and finally Flum, Milkit and Cyrill are from Roll Over and Die.
Notes: Yokohama kaidashi kikou is getting a North American release at last! You can pre-order it now...
Currently watching Executioner and Her Way of Life, very interesting twist on usual isekai stuff.
Coagula is a actual, canon comic character, AND was one of the first trans characters in comics.