Where Roads Mead

by Curiosity44

Sometimes people lose their way. Sometimes they can't find their way back. Sometimes they never figured out how to walk it in the first place. Sometimes...people just need someone to listen. Have a drink at Where Roads Mead, a bar that connects those who lost their way, and anyone else who wanders through its doors. AU WARNINGS. I CHANGE STUFF. Will add minor movies to the mix.

4. Dates, Drinks, and a Dastard

AN: Last chap for the weekend. Hope you all are enjoying so far. Let me know in the comments below if you want to see particular characters enter the bar. I got a plan, but suggestions never hurt inspiration.

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Chapter 4: Dates, Drinks, and a Dastard.

Two days later, on the morning of Dec 31st, Em followed through with her word and stopped by with an envelope of cash. "There you go Leon, 760 plus extra."

Leon grumbled at being woken up early after a long night and counted out the bills of twenties on the bar, pausing at a few minor blood stains and sending his cheery guest a look. "Business is rough, huh?"

Em smiled brightly and openly ogled his chest as he hadn't bothered to button his shirt after answering the door at seven in the morning. "Depends which side of the deal we're talking about."

Leon chose the high road and didn't comment as he placed the bills into his register. "I count a grand here Em, whats the extra for?"

She tapped on the counter with a freshly manicured finger. "I'm opening a tab."

"I didn't know I offered it."

"Do you?"

"I do now."

"Perfect!" Em leaned in and kissed his cheek with a smile. "Thanks Leon." Her gaze dropped to his shoulders with an amused look. "Are those snakes?"

He chuckled and closed the register. "Anytime Em, and yeah, I had them before you came here."

She hummed and traced a nail along his skin. "It's….fitting." The way she licked her lips as she said it had him playfully slapping her hand away with a laugh.

"Of course you would say that. Did you find a place yet?"

Em had done a one-eighty in energy from when she entered the other day as she visibly perked up and sat back in her seat with a knowing smile at his deflection. "I did. I found a nice two-floor flower shop with a big garden over on 81st street. It was a real steal."

Leon sent her an amused look. "I'm sure the owner was just dying to sell."

Her smile was downright devious. "Let's just say he had a few interesting connections and wasn't really selling flowers and leave it at that. Either way, I have my own place, a new shop, startup funds, a dozen statues to get things moving, and we're basically neighbors. I haven't had a friend to hang out with in….well, I don't remember how long."

She was so happy when she said it that it brought a fond smile to his own face. "I'm happy for you Em. You gonna focus on work full-time?"

She hummed and nodded with a finger to her chin. "Mostly. I thought about picking up an old hobby and trying sculpting with my hands. Before all this." She flicked a finger at her sunglasses. "I was learning sculpting from my temples head sculptor. He was a son of Athena and a damn good teacher before he turned on me and everything when I got cursed, of course." The way she was flippant about the whole thing told him she was less bothered by it than she was a few nights before. That or she was just in such a good mood that it couldn't bother her. "I couldn't really keep up with my lessons with all the snake features and fog clouding my mind, so my attempts have been sporadic over the years."

"Hm, well if you make something with your own hands, I'll be you're first customer."

Her cheeks flushed as she played with a strand of her light purple hair. "That's sweet of you, Leo. Can I call you Leo? It feels more natural somehow."

Leon shrugged as he tasted the name on his tongue. "Sure. I call you Em so I don't see why not."

"Thanks. But are you sure you don't want something sooner? I can offer you anything from my collection. The right statue could fit in very nicely here."

"I'll pass. I prefer my statue materials not to be flesh and blood."

"You sure? They can have some marvelous expressions sometimes. The market price for unique ones is quite high."

"I'm sure."

"Suit yourself." Em looked around. "This place could use a few decorations here and there."

"That's what I have that for." Leon pointed at the wall of empty picture frames. The very first one was filled out now, as the image of a smiling Em kissing him on the cheek with a Cosmopolitan on the bar top took up the frame.

Em giggled and playfully poked his arm. "I appreciate the slot, but that's not what I meant."

Leon shrugged. "It's enough for me, for now. You were my first customer and you even brought the camera for it." His eyes traveled to the side where the instant print camera sat under the counter. "I think I'm happy just filling out the frames as I go."

"You're first, hm?" Leon just winked at her teasing tone, and she laughed. "It seems I'm not the only customer anymore though."

Snakes had a keen sense of smell, and Em could smell the other lingering scents in the air.

"Yeah, after you left, I got a few curious customers that night. Some kind of werewolf, an air nymph, and a pair of demon hunters. What's with this city?"

Em laughed at his expression. "The worlds a big place Leo. It's a mixed bag of species, groups, pantheons, and creatures that lurk in the night." Her hair came up to form two hair snakes as she mock hissed at him. "You never know whats around the corner."

Leon chuckled as he eyed her gorgeous hair, the color drawing in his eyes naturally. "That's adorable. But it seems what goes bump in the night likes to drink, so I think I'll be fine. Although, does the mist cover everything? That werewolf that walked in here was in fully furry mode."

Em shrugged as she let her hair fall back down, idly noticing how his eyes tracked it with interest. "Who knows? It's less like a mist and more like a veil that exists around the world. It's been around long before I was born, and it seems to divide the mundane from the supernatural until the point where the two directly interact."

"You mean if a cyclops attacked a regular human or something?"

"Pretty much. If the two bumped into each other on the street, the veil would just fill in the blanks for the mortal, but if the cyclops directly attacked, the human might momentarily see through, if they didn't immediately die that is. It's touch and go really, but gods have rampaged plenty of times before and it just looks like storms or natural events to mortals. Clear-sighted mortals are the exception."

"Like me."

Em gave him a coy smile. "Like you, although, you're a bit more special than that. Perhaps you're a wizard in disguise?"

Leon scoffed and waved a hand. "Magic is cool but I'll pass on a wizard title. Too wand wavy for me."

"You're a wizard Leo."

"Buzz off woman."

The two shared a laugh as she went on. "You're right though. A wizard doesn't seem to fit, and you don't strike me as the math savvy type, so mage is out."

Leon cringed at the idea of math. Keep it to the business side, and he could handle it fine, but advanced math was not his strong suit. "Accurate."

"Thought so. Hm, yeah, you fit the warlock image.

"How so?"

Em raised her hand and counted off the fingers. "Mysterious, handsome, dark haired bartender, a strangely welcoming bar that can't be seen by mortals, very knowledgeable about drinks and a potion crafter. Yeah, the more I say it the more I see it."

Leon raised a brow. "Can't be seen by mortals?"

She looked taken aback at his confused expression. "Did you not know? There's a mortal aversion ward around the bar."

Leon blinked and rubbed his chin. "Huh, that would explain a lot. Let's put a pin in that for the moment, what kind of reference were you making with that warlock comment? I'm only really familiar with the Harry Potter books for magic references."

She chuckled and rested her chin on a palm, thinking his confused expressions were endearing. "It's not a Harry Potter reference Leo. Those categories are real, and while uncommon, warlocks are around. Mages have their organizations of fellow nerds with sticks up their asses, wizards and witches are kinda on their own with apprentices and a bit similar to the fantasy books, albeit with much smaller numbers, but warlocks are always solo and do their own thing. There are even sorcerers and sorceress's around, like Circe with her private island that even gods don't easily step into. Do you know any magic?"

Leon considered her points and thought over his ability. 'I haven't gotten to the magic path yet, but it's there.' He nodded to her. "Not at the moment, but I'll get there."

Em gave him a curious look but didn't push. "Then Warlock fits. It would help you as well if you had such a title. Warlocks aren't often bothered for the simple reputation of being one. A demigod might kill you with a blade, but that's the end of it. A warlock can keep you alive and make you suffer, not to mention having odd paths of magic that few utilize. It would be good to establish yourself with such a title."

"Is it that important?"

She shrugged. "I'd prefer if my first friend didn't get killed. So, unless you plan to make some examples out of people, you will get taken advantage of. It's just that kind of world."

Leon scratched his chin with a thoughtful look, noticing she was being genuine in her concern. "I'll consider it."

She chuckled and leaned back. "That's all I can ask for." She looked up at the clock at saw it was close to nine in the morning. "Oh, I need to get going. I want to do some shopping before the stores close early for new year's eve."

Leon reached for his cigarettes and froze as he beheld an empty case. "That might be a good idea." He sighed and closed it. 'I've got some funds now. It would be good to buy some essentials.' His one pair of clothes were wearing down fast after getting washed in the sink, and his fridge was slowly emptying of its contents with his food consumption and potion creation.

Em's eyes lit up at his words. "If you're going shopping, let's go together."

He shrugged, not seeing the harm in it. "Sure, I'd probably waste hours just wandering around looking for the stores on my own." He internally grumbled. 'It's not like I have a smartphone with google maps anymore.'

Leon didn't have much time to sulk as he suddenly found his arm trapped in an iron grip. He blinked and looked at Em suddenly by his side with her arm in his. "It's a date~!"

The way he didn't even sense her move around the bar had him internally sweat-dropping. "Er…sure. Let me just clean myself up."

She openly leered at his chest from his side. "Or don't." And got flicked in the forehead for her comment.

00000

The streets were less busy than usual as the cold drove most inside until the evening when the celebrations would begin. However, as its namesake would have you believe, New York City was still a hub of activity.

Leon and Em spent hours traveling between stores as they bought what they needed to fill their respective new homes.

Em was thankfully a quick shopper, contrary to Leon's past experiences with women, and she was a helpful second opinion for clothing shopping.

"Hey Em, do these jeans make my ass look fat?"

"…."

"Em?"

Em blinked and looked up into his eyes before flushing and coughing into her hand. "Mn, it's a good fit."

"Oh, thanks."

He walked back to the changing room to swap out and paused. 'She didn't exactly answer…meh, whatever.'

She had asked for his opinion a few times as well, and he was able to confirm a few things for himself. Namely, Em had a body that put most women to shame.

"Leo, what do you think about this top?"

"…."

"Leo?"

"Hm? Oh, sorry, it brings attention to your curves nicely."

"You think so? I'll take it then."

She returned to change and smirked as she felt his eyes on her backside. No one would call her out on it if she swayed more than necessary.

Leon got himself a few pairs of work clothes, some sweats, and a jacket to fight off the winter chill. Em played with his fur-lined collar as they walked along the street. "It's so fluffy."

"That's why I bought it. Although, if you like it so much why didn't you just get your own?"

She stuck her tongue out at him and leaned into his personal space. "Maybe I like playing with yours?"

He huffed in amusement and kept walking with his hands in his pockets. "Do what you want."

They stopped by a furniture store next. Leon only had around 1,300$ saved from two days of work and Em's order, so he kept it simple for the moment and just bought a nice mattress for five hundred, along with a frame and sheets that were discounted if purchased as a set for another hundred.

He internally marveled at his purchase as he filled out the shipping address for them to drop off the following day. 'That same mattress set would have cost me close to two grand in twenty years from now. Eat your heart out inflation.'

Em approached from the side and looked at him curiously as he chuckled. "Something funny, Leo?"

He signed at the bottom of the page and waved a hand. "It's nothing. You finish looking for what you wanted?"

"Mn, I went with that." She innocently pointed to a store section with a complete home furniture layout on display.

Leon tried to follow her finger unsuccessfully. "Which one?"

"All of it."

"….sorry?"

"I bought the whole set."

Leon's jaw locked up as he looked between her and the set several times. 'Did I enter the long line of business?'

He didn't get a chance to get really comment as the store's manager rushed over and began fawning over Em while ignoring Leon existed.

That seemed to be a mistake as Em's entire body language changed at the man getting into her personal space. She rose up like a predatorial snake, and the man seemed to realize his mistake as he shrunk beneath her ice-cold expression. She started issuing orders about how she expected things to be delivered until the poor guy barely stood.

Leon sweatdropped at the sight with an amused smile. 'Note to self, Em doesn't appreciate ass kissers.' She noticed his look and flushed from across the store.

The two left minutes later with a happily humming Em hanging from his arm, leaving the sweating and exhausted middle-aged man to collapse into a chair with a shiver.

"That was just mean."

Em giggled and leaned into him. "Couldn't help it. It's like seeing a fat mouse just begging me to toy with it. Besides, I don't like those types."

Leon huffed in amusement at the mental image of a cobra Em playing with a mouse-shaped manager.

The scent of lavender-scented shampoo drifted off her hair with the two so close, and he couldn't help himself from breathing in the pleasant aroma. "Your sadism is showing Em."

"Shush you, I saw you trying to hide your laughter in the corner."

"Maybe I was just thinking of a funny joke."

Em smirked and cuddled up closer to him as her voice dropped a tad in volume. "Or maybe, I'm not the only one with an Sssss side." Her tongue vibrated like a snake, brushing against his cheek with her last word.

The sight sent a shiver down his spine at how sinfully sensual it was on her face. His hand came around naturally to rest on her hip and pull her in closer as he matched eyes with her behind her sunglasses, idly wondering what color they would be beneath the covering. "Maybe."

A warmth spread between them at that moment as they leaned in, but the sound of a car horn snapped them out of it as they realized they had stepped off the sidewalk.

Leon coughed into his hand and waved a silent apology to the taxi as they got out of the way. The two looked away in silence for a moment before he redirected them. "Want to grab lunch?"

"Mn."

They resumed walking in silence as they both mulled over that moment, but neither pulled back from how closely each stood together as the two walked, not realizing how easily they fit together to not trip over the other with their proximity, and neither wanting to step away from that lingering warmth.

Lunch was a quick and pleasant affair. The two had found a café and ordered sandwiches and coffee while sitting next to each other at a table facing the street window, watching a light snow shower fall from the sky.

Em sipped her Latte with a happy sigh. "You know, you should think about offering food at your bar."

"You think so?" He hummed thoughtfully and people-watched out the café window. "I think my talents lean more toward mixing drinks. Besides, I work alone so I wouldn't have the time."

"Have you considered hiring more staff?

Leon snorted and sent her a dry gaze. "Should I include potential to be eaten in the work contract?"

Em pouted and poked his shoulder. "I said I was sorry."

"And I don't hold it against you. It wasn't your fault." He spoke those words with a firmness that surprised him, and she looked taken aback for a moment with a flush. "You were a prisoner in your own body, and I can look past that, but I can't expect that same acceptance from others. Besides, I think I'm doing just fine for the time being." He gave her a reassuring smile and returned to his people-watching.

"Mn." Em shifted in her seat and pushed their chairs a little closer so she could lean against him with his arm coming around her shoulders.

They stayed like that for nearly half an hour in peace before Em eyed the clock and sighed. "Ugh, I have to make a few more stops before the work day ends early." She reluctantly got up and started gathering her bags from under the table.

"Need any help?"

She smiled at him and leaned in to kiss his cheek. "I think I'll manage Leo, but thanks for the offer. You have a few things left to buy as well, right?"

He thought about it for a second and nodded. "Yeah, I wanted to grab some stuff for the kitchen, and get some groceries."

"Then we need to hurry; there's only an hour or two left to shop." Em looked for a waiter to waive over, but Leon shooed her away.

"I'll take care of it. I only have to walk a few blocks while you're heading to midtown. Go do your stuff, Em."

She frowned at him. "I can pay for myself Leo."

He waved a hand. "I know you can. But I have a running business and you have yet to open shop. So I'll get this one. Besides, chivalry is supposed to be a thing on a date, no?"

Em put down her bags to look at him with a curious gaze. "Is that what this was?"

He raised a brow at her. "Isn't that what you called it when we left the bar?"

She hummed and held her gaze. "I did, didn't I?"

"If it makes you uncomfortable, you can call it whatever you want."

"No." She bent forward and brought her face closer with a growing smile. "I think I like the sound of it."

Leon calmly raised a hand to her cheek and rubbed his thumb across the smooth skin there. "Then it was a date."

Her smile widened as she leaned in and pressed her lips to his own. Short, chaste, but meaningful.

Em pulled back with a bright look and rummaged through her purse for a piece of paper before putting it on the table. "Here's the address of my shop. Will you be at the opening in two days?"

"Wouldn't miss it." He made a show of putting it inside his jacket's inner pocket and enjoyed how it made her face light up. An adorable thing he was coming to see a good few times that day.

"I'll see you then, Leo."

"It was a pleasure, Em."

She turned to go but looked over her shoulder. "By the way, you remember what we talked about when we left the furniture store?"

Leon blinked at the sudden topic change and nodded. "Yeah?"

The look she sent him sent a pleasurable shiver down his spine. "I have a bit of an M side inside me too. Don't be afraid to take the initiative, ok?" She winked and didn't give him a chance to respond as she sauntered off with a sway to her hips only a lamia could pull off, and Leon found his mouth dry despite having just eaten.

He couldn't look away until the door shut behind her, and he snapped out of it with a chuckle. 'That woman is dangerous.' He sighed and sat there momentarily, smelling the lingering trace of her floral shampoo. 'Dangerous in the best ways.'

His finger tapped on the table as he thought about how strange his situation was. Three weeks ago, he was in a different world, one without gods, immortal creatures, magic, and all forms of the supernatural while being locked away in a cage. Then up until a week ago, he was a homeless bum a single step away from croaking on the streets.

The tattoo on his forehead pulsed with his thoughts, and he idly rubbed it with a finger. 'And now here I am, healthy in body, recovering in mind, and actually living. I just went on a date with Medusa. Life is so strange.' His amusement lasted a moment longer as he waved down an approaching waiter for the check. 'My old man would have flipped. Either trying to sleep with her himself or get me away from her, telling me it was stupid to risk getting a woman pregnant and screwing up my life.' He scoffed and paid the bill before pushing out into the frosty winter. The thought of his old man interfering with his new life ignited a spark of annoyance in him, doubly so when he considered how much he enjoyed Em's company. 'I'll do what I want now, old man. This is my life now.'

His back straightened unconsciously as his stirring will, trampled under by a more substantial mountain for his entire life, began setting the foundations of his own tower. His own person. One brick at a time.

00000

An hour later, Leon put his bags down in the bar's kitchen with a groan. "Damn, I really need to build up my endurance again. The potions helped heal me, not strengthen."

He cracked his back with a sigh and looked over his new purchases. 'Including the mattress set, I spent a good 1,100$ in only a few hours. But I managed to get Clothes, towels, toiletries, a set of pots, cooking utensils, food, and potion vials.' He eyed the bags filled with the last one with a chuckle. 'Well, maybe not potion vials, but they're close enough.'

He pulled out one of three boxes containing a dozen empty small four-ounce glass balsamic vinegar bottles. Usually sold individually, but they had sets in the back they sold to restaurants. They were short, round, and came with cork tops. 'Pretty damn close to what I imagine a potion bottle would look like.'

The kitchen stuff was tossed in the sink for a thorough cleaning before use, the food was put away, the vials lined up on the counter, and he took the rest upstairs to the loft. 'I still don't have drawers, but I can get things one piece at a time.'

He set his clothes up on the raised loft where he wanted the mattress to go when it was delivered the following day. Contrary to the wooden flooring of most of the loft, the raised platform was carpeted with a silvery gray color and had enough room for a king-sized mattress and a few pieces of furniture.

Leon eyed his place with a slowly growing fond look. 'This is my place. Well, not entirely mine, but it's not connected to my family in any way.' More than anything else, that thought brought him peace as he stretched out in the middle of the wooden flooring.

'I've got about an hour before sunset. Let's get a quick workout in, shower, and open up for the night. The streets will be packed until the balls drop at midnight.'

He considered seeing it himself but thought better of it when he recalled his past experience with it. 'It's nice to see it once in life, but why people make a big deal of crowding time square every year to see it is beyond me. There's barely any room to stand, let alone breathe in that mess of noise and body odor.'

The thought alone was the antithesis to his personality, much instead preferring the quiet. His body cracked and popped as he worked out the kinks after such a long time. 'My body still feels heavy. I fixed the damages, but I need to start from the beginning with training.' At his peak, his body had felt like a feather, capable of flipping around and lifting himself with ease.

He warmed himself up with some shadow boxing, imagining the training bag he spent years on in his gym when he was younger. His martial teachers wouldn't let up on him if he slacked off, and his early years were constantly getting up at the crack of dawn to work up a sweat.

He went through the old forms, feeling weakened muscles tense and flex as he went along, getting a feel for his bodies current condition.

Thanks to the potions, he was on its way to regaining the last inch or two of height he lost from all the damage, making him around six foot two with a bit more on the way, and with a weight of about a hundred eighty pounds, still a good dozen from where he was in the past. 'Slow and steady, Leo, that's the way to go.'

He blinked as he realized he had just called himself Leo in his head. 'Damnit, Em, you're confusing me.' Chuckles escaped his heaving lungs as he collapsed and thought it over.

'Then again, Leo doesn't sound so bad. Once upon a time, I was Leon Volk, the caged and beaten-down son of a Russian alpha wolf. That guy died recently. I should make my new life officially mine.' His mind went to the lion tattoo over his back, and a bark of laughter burst from his lungs. 'I already have the ink to go along with it, so why not? That old Peruvian lady who gave it to me must have been on to something.'

Another brick was lain into the tower of his identity as he pushed himself up with a groan and made for the shower. The sun was setting in the distance, and he had to open shop in an hour.

Beneath the hot water of his tiled shower, he stretched out his limbs with a groan. 'My muscles won't be happy in the morning. Less so the day after. Hm, I wonder if the Wiggenweld potion speeds up muscle recovery?'

The thought stuck in his mind, and he was too curious not to immediately find out the answer.

Dressed in only a towel and still dripping from his shower, he went down to the kitchen and got out the emptied liquor bottle holding his potion. 'I haven't made another dose of this type yet, so let's not waste it.'

He filled one of his new potion vials with exactly four ounces and marveled at the bright green coloring. 'Huh, it didn't look as impressive in a tinted glass bottle.' He downed it and immediately felt a tingling sensation traveling through his limbs.

The Wiggenweld potion had a minor healing effect on damaged areas. The first few times he took it, the damage it healed was all internal in his organs. This time, however, the damage was much closer to the surface, and he could almost feel the heat travel to the torn muscle fibers, removing lactic acid and speeding up the recovery period as microscopic cells repaired and rebuilt muscle strands to be stronger than they were before.

Leon shivered as the heat passed, only a minute into the process, and then groaned aloud at the profound soreness that spread through him. 'Oh god, it feels like I'm two days into the recovery period, pain day.' He looked down at the empty vial with shining eyes. 'One vial just gave me two days' worth of muscle recovery from a light workout in less than two minutes. I need to make more of this.'

He quickly poured himself a second vial and downed it, feeling the same heat spread through him again, although Leon noticed the length it remained in his system felt less than the first time. 'What the hell?'

His grimoire was summoned with a thought, and he quickly turned through the pages, looking for notes on consecutive potion use until he found a small mention at the bottom of the introductory page.

{All potions have a cooldown period of one hour. Continuous use without waiting will result in diminishing effects of 50%. Patience is a virtue.}

Leon snorted at the line. 'Yeah, a real virtue.' He eyed his recipes and ultimately shrugged. 'I've got no buff potions here, so I don't see the harm in it I guess. And I didn't really notice it with the antidote and Boil Cure potions since I took them before bed, but it's not a big deal. Diminishing effects or not, taking three still gets me 1.75X the effect, which works great for when I'm sitting down. Although, it would explain why I felt so tired afterwards. Maybe taking too many sucks the energy out of you or something? Food for thought.'

He flexed his hand and rolled his shoulder. 'Either way, two vials worth of healing just eliminated the recovery period.' The bottle of green liquid just became that much more valuable in his eyes. 'I can work with this.'

00000

An hour later, dressed in a proper pair of black slacks, a fresh white button-down shirt, and a dark gray vest, Leo welcomed his first guests for the night.

"Leon!" A bright, chipper voice called out as a gorgeous blond-haired woman walked in with a trio of others behind her. Leon chuckled and waved to the wind nymph.

"Hey Sylphy, welcome back."

"I told you I would be back. And I brought friends!" She waved a hand to the curious group of oddly colored-haired women behind her taking it all in. "Muse, Saya, and Kobory. Girls, this is Leon; he makes the best drinks!"

The girls waved and greeted him as he nodded. "A pleasure. Are they also wind nymphs?"

A scoff came from the ginger with ruby-red eyes. "Please, as if we're all airheads like this one. I'm fire."

Sylphy rolled her eyes. "You bitch." Her friend winked at her, and the trio filled into a booth as the wind nymph looked back at Leo. "Saya's a fire nymph, Muse is water, and Kobory is earth."

"Huh, you covered all the bases."

"We're a pop group! Have you heard of us? We're called the Elementario and we do shows at carnivals and stuff."

"Can't say I have, but I was never one for public events, sorry."

"Don't be! I wouldn't hold it against you Leon." She laughed airily and waved a and. "You can always make it to a future show."

Leo gave her a strained smile and deflected. "I'm actually going by Leo now, sorry for the confusion."

Sylphy blinked and tilted her head. "A mid-life crisis?"

Leo's brow twitched. "No Sylphy, I'm not that old. Just a fresh start is all."

The air-headed blond clapped her hands together. "Oh! That sounds exciting. Ok, I'll call you Leo from now on Leon."

"…."

"…."

"Right, well, I assume you want the same order as last time?"

"Yeah! Make it a surprise for everyone." Her eyes gleamed. "And make Saya's have that fun thing you told me about. I want to see her expression."

Leo raised a brow. "You know I charge extra for that right?"

She smiled evilly. "It's worth it."

Leo shrugged. "You're call. Any drink type requests outside your own?"

Sylphy put a finger to her chin and looked back at the booth. "Hey girls, are we doing shots?" Muse and Saya called back in affirmative, and Kobory sent a silent thumbs up. "Right, so make it a round of shots and a yummy cocktail surprise."

Leo hummed and tapped a finger on the bar. "Is it a party, celebratory, or relaxed night?"

The wind nymph tilted her head in confusion. "Um….celebratory I guess? Does it make a difference?"

Leo snorted in amusement at the airheaded woman. "Yes, yes it does. When it comes to shots, Tequila is for a party night or any night you want to forget. Vodka and Rum shots are great for mixing things up for a celebration with custom shots. And Gin is more for a quieter setting, although, Vodka can be good for such moments as well. In fact, you could…." Leo trailed off at the sight of literal steam leaving Sylphy's ears.

"Er…."

"….Go take a seat Syl and I'll bring over your drinks."

Sylphy didn't seem to get it, but she nodded with a smile. "Got it. Thanks Leon!"

His brow twitched as she left, and he whispered. "I just told you to call me Leo…." He sighed and looked up. 'Give me strength, Mr. H.'

He turned back to get to work, not realizing his prayer was heard as Hermes spit out his drink over Ares and laughed loudly in a strip club. The god of war was not amused.

Back at the bar, Leon looked over his collection with a calculating gaze. 'Four elemental nymphs, four different areas of flavors….I should keep to the theme here while sticking to a sweet profile. Let's make this fun.' His eyes gleamed at the challenge while his guests watched from their table.

"You were right, Syl, the bartender here is a great eye candy." Muse, the water nymph, commented while ogling the man working on their drinks.

"I know right! The first time I came here the other day, I just got lost in those blue eyes of his."

"Meh, I'm not really a fan of facial tats. I admit he's cute, though." Kobory, the earth nymph, commented in a faint voice.

"I don't know, I kinda like it. Adds a bad boy feel to him." Saya, the fire nymph, mentioned while resting her chin on a palm. "It's pretty….hot."

Her three friends groaned at the pun. ""Boo."" Syl and Kobory threw up thumbs down while Muse cringed.

"What did we say about element puns Saya?"

Saya rolled her eyes. "Oh shut it bitches. You know I was right."

"That's beside the point, it's about….." Muse fell into a classic lecture mode as the other three groaned. As the official leader of their group, it fell to Muse's dainty shoulders to set the girls straight on what the ground rules were.

Said lecture went on for minutes longer before the girls were saved by the timely arrival of Leo with a small tray for their shots. "Ladies, I have the first round for you."

"Yay!"

"Oh thank Zues."

"Saved by the stud, I like it."

Leo blinked in confusion at the reception while Muse huffed and crossed her arms. "Can we have our drinks please?"

Leo slowly nodded and put down the tray. "Right. Anyway, Syl told me to be creative so I tried to match something to each of you."

All four women's eyes lit up at that as they leaned forward.

"First, for fire." He put down a shot with a triple-color layered liquid before Saya. The fiery woman eyed the layers of mahogany brown, creamy beige, and golden yellow in interest before leering at the host. "So, you remembered this time?" She sent him a smirk and got a wink in reply.

"The hair gives it away." She laughed as he pulled out a match from the tray and ignited the top of the shot glass in a showy flame. "I give you a B-52. Equal parts Kahlua, Baileys, and Grand Marnier. Enjoy."

Saya happily played with the flame while he turned to Muse. "For water, I turned more to visual pleasure than taste. I didn't think you wanted something that tasted like salt water."

Muse accepted the shot glass gratefully and sent him an elegant smile. "You thought correctly."

Leo nodded and put her shot in front of her. "An Oil Spill. Three parts Goldschlager, two parts Jägermeister, and one part Blue Curacao."

Muse looked over her drink with a smile, silently marveling at the layers of ocean blue Curacao, clear Goldschlager with dancing gold flakes, and brown Jager to top it off. "An oddly apt name for what a real oil spill looks like." She brushed a hand against Leo's own. "It's very pretty, thank you, Leo was it?"

Saya rolled her eyes at the water nymph's easy flirting while Leo raised a brow.

"You overheard that?"

She covered her small mouth with a hand and giggled. "We all did. Syl is a bit special."

"Hey!" Everyone laughed as the blond fumed and stuck her tongue out. "Beh, see what kind of gift you get later, traitors. Leon! Don't take their side!"

Leo's eye twitched as Kobory patted the blond's head. "It's Leo, Syl. L-E-O. Drop the N."

Sylphy gave her friend a confused glance. "But if he's Leo, where's Leon? Oh! An impersonator! Don't worry Leon, I'll save you! And then you'll stare at me with those big blue eyes of yours…." The last line was said in a whisper, but everyone was right next to her and able to hear it.

Leo just silently stared at the three women face-palming. "It must be hard."

"""You have no idea."""

"Hey! Are you making fun of me again?!"

Leo decided to cut the girl off and place a creamy shot before her. "For wind, I went with a one to one ratio of Butterscotch Schnapps and Irish Cream Liqueur, topped with whipped cream. A Buttery Nipple for the blond beauty."

Sylphy gushed over her drink with excited eyes. "Aw~! Thanks Leon! My nipples do kinda look like the whip cream top. How did you know?"

"…."

"…."

"…."

"…Damn it Syl."

Leo's gaze involuntarily fell to the blond's blouse, where her generous bust pressed into her shirt enough to make the buttons have their work cut out for them. A kick to his shin under the table snapped him out of it as he met Kobory's dry gaze. "My drink."

"Right." He pulled the last shot out and put it before the dark brown-haired one of the group. "For earth, I wanted to pronounce some earthy flavors, so I went with A classic Rembrandt shot. Three parts Kummel, two parts Bols Vodka, and one part Becherovka herbal Liqueur. Enjoy, madam." He gave the most diminutive woman of the group a little bow and got a humored smile in return.

"Thanks."

Leo nodded to the women and took back the tray. "I'll get started on your cocktails, enjoy." He left for the bar under the gazes of the group, only for Kobory to break the silence.

"I changed my mind about the tattoo. I like it now."

Saya and Muse blinked while Syl nodded like she was the one who was right.

The fire nymph laughed and threw an arm around her friend's shoulder. "Well, look at that. It's rare for our little stone to find a man attractive."

Kobory flushed and pushed the redhead away. "He's charming."

Muse nodded at that with a smile. "And mysterious."

Saya scoffed. "Oh please, you couldn't help but flirt slut."

Muse flipped off her friend. "Like you were much better bitch."

"Like I said, he's…."

"Don't say it!"

"Hot."

"Saya!"

The ginger laughed and raised her flaming shot glass. "We can talk about riding the yummy bartender later. For now, happy new year's girls. Let's have another awesome year."

Sylphy was the first to respond and raised her glass, not hiding the fact from anybody that there was already whip cream on her lips. "Yeah! To a new year of concerts and fun!"

Kobory raised her own with a small smile. "To a productive year."

Muse huffed and raised her own at the expectant gazes of her friends and team. "You three already took the good lines. So, to us!"

"""To us!"""

The four downed their drinks in unison as a shiver of pleasure went through them.

Saya flushed with a satisfied smile. "Hot cinnamon spicy."

Muse put hers down with a distant expression. "Cold cinnamon sweet."

Sylphy licked her lips and put hers down with a bright smile. "Creamy sweet."

Kobory stared at her glass like she wanted more. "Fennel sweet."

The four women breathed out at once. """" Wow.""""

Muse put a hand to her cheek. "I think I just got wet."

"….."

The water nymph turned at the silence to see two shocked faces and an evilly grinning Saya. "Welcome to the dark side. We have cookies."

Muse blinked and realized what she had said as she hastily waved a hand. "Wait, wait! I didn't mean that as a pun!"

Saya's smile only got wider, and Muse slammed her head down on the table with a groan.

Only Sylphy took pity and patted the blue-haired woman's head. "See, aren't you glad I brought you here now?"

The replies were only positive.

00000

Leo mused to himself with a chuckle as he heard the women giggling away in their booth. 'I guess they liked their shots.' His chest filled with a pleasant feeling as he hid a smile behind a cigarette. 'Who knew making people satisfied with drinks could be so refreshing.'

The bar door opened with a jingle, and Leon turned to deal with the new guests.

The hours turned as the night got closer and closer to midnight.

The elemental nymphs stayed for two hours and enjoyed their cocktails, a mix of seasonal drinks he made to continue the theme. A Watermelon Margarita for summer, Apple Bourbon Fizz for fall, Spring Sangria for spring, and a Peppermint White Russian for winter.

And as Sylphy requested, Saya's drink had a little something extra in an ounce of Hair-Raising Potion. A potion that made the drinker's hair stand on end like a cartoon character touched an electric socket. The yelp of surprise from her matched the image as the ginger looked like she was ready to set the bar ablaze to get to the wind nymph.

Thankfully for all parties, an ounce of the potion only lasted five minutes, and her hair was back to normal in short order. But the war was on as Saya demanded Sylphy be given a surprise potion as well.

He had rubbed the back of his head with a bemused expression as the fiery ginger got in his face. "I want her to suffer."

"Don't you think you're overreacting?"

She grabbed his collar and leaned in while giving off a heat wave. "No one mess's with the hair."

His response was to poke her with it a new cigarette as it ignited. "First off, your hair is fine and sexy just as it was when you walked in. Secondly, thanks for the light, my lighter died. Thirdly, I only have one other fun potion unless you want her to pass out, forget the last 30 minutes of her day, or get a beauty treatment for her skin."

She huffed in amusement and let him go, although she didn't back away from his personal space as she gave him a curious look. "Red is the best color. But can you do those things? Kinda freaky knowing you just served me drinks."

He shrugged. "Never fuck with the person making the drinks. And I'm more of a pink or purple guy myself."

She smirked at that. "Maybe you just never tried red before, hm? And never fuck with, or never fuck? Different things Leo."

A chuckle escaped his lips as he gave her body a once over, seeing as she was basically asking him to, and he had to admit she really did put the flame in sexy. "Find out for yourself. Anyway, I got one thing I can give her, but I charge extra for potions."

Saya took his words as a challenge and leaned forward to give him a view down her shirt. "Can't you give a girl a discount?"

"No. And I'm not seventeen, flashing your girls won't work on me."

She clicked her tongue and straightened up. "Fine, how much?"

"How long you want the effect to last?"

"As long as mine did."

He raised a brow at her. "That's oddly nice of you. It was only five minutes."

"I want to get back at her, but I'm not actually angry. We fuck with each other all the time."

"Which kind of fuck we talking about?"

Saya smirked at him. "Why don't you come and find out? We're hitting up a club for new year's. You're welcome to join." She purred her words to entice him, but he waved it off.

"I appreciate it but I'll pass. The club life isn't for me."

She pouted but let it go seeing he was serious. "Shame. How much for the drink?"

"13$ for an ounce. Will last five minutes. Want to know the effect?"

"Nah, save it. I want to be surprised." She dropped the money on the counter along with a slip of paper. Leo eyed it and saw an address.

"For?"

She winked at him and turned to head back to her table. "In case you change your mind about the club."

Leo hummed and pocketed the paper, idly watching the fire nymph sway her hips and, rather than sit down, pull Muse into a sudden lip lock. Leo wasn't the only one in the bar to stop and stare; a werewolf couple even gave them an actual wolf whistle.

Saya pulled back from the flushed water nymph and looked over her shoulder to send him a smoldering look before she sat down like nothing happened and sipped her drink while Sylphy laughed and Kobory shot the woman a dry look.

It took him a moment to shake that sight off and blow out a cloud of smoke. "Damn." A Satyr sitting a few seats down gave him a silent thumbs-up, and they both looked away with a chuckle.

A new round of shots was given to the girls, and just as Saya asked, he spiked Sylphys drink with an ounce of Pompion Potion. Guaranteed to turn the drinker's head into an animated pumpkin that shared all the senses of her standard head.

Saya howled with laughter at the blond-haired pumpkin, and Sylphy didn't even seem bothered. Looking around in wonder.

The girls were the most excellent advertisement Leo could have asked for, as there were many more requests for drinks with potion additions after that.

Although, like he told Saya, there wasn't much more than the pumpkin head and hair-standing potions for entertainment.

Unfortunately, that didn't deter people from constantly asking what he did have, and after the fifth time he repeated himself, he got fed up and just went into the back and got a piece of cardboard to write on with a sharpie.

{Drink Add-Ons.

13$ = an Ounce.

50$ = a Vial.

Pompion Potion – Drinkers head will turn into a pumpkin. One ounce = five minutes.

Hair-Raising Potion – Drinker's hair will be electrified and stand on end. One ounce = five minutes.

Common Poison Antidote – Drunkenness Cure, Hangover Cure, Snake Bite cure. One ounce = decreased effects of poisons. One vial for a complete cure.

Forgetfulness Potion – Forget your woes. Enjoy five minutes per ounce of bliss without thought.

Invigoration Potion – A shot of stamina and pure energy. One ounce can temporarily cure ED. Has a rough burnout, but it works. }

The makeshift sign was displayed against the wall; whenever someone asked him, he just silently pointed at it.

Only some of his potions were included. With the brewing time slowing him down, he didn't have the chance to make all ten potions in his grimoire just yet. And of the ones he did make, he only had so much.

Dreamless Sleep Potion and Sleep Potion were recipes he had yet to get to. Wiggenweld and Satiety, he wasn't selling. The first because he needed it, and the second because Em bought everything he had. And as for Boil Cure, he drank it all to get pretty and had to make more.

The five he put up on sale, he had enough of to sell.

The first two were self-explanatory to anyone who read it. But it had to be seen to be believed in most cases.

He had enough antidote to go around as it wasn't necessary for him to go about his day, unlike the healing potion which he needed for his daily workouts to make rapid progress. Although, the concept of a hangover cure resulted in him running out of his stock in less than an hour, and most people took the drink in vial form.

The Forgetfulness potion was a unique one, almost like a drug, but without any harmful or addictive qualities. It put anyone who drank it into a trance, letting them forget all the baggage on their mind for a limited time. Many people drank to forget or drown their sorrows, and the potion would let those types experience a heightened state of that without the negative consequences of drinking themselves into a stupor. Leo had tried it himself, and while he had yet to move beyond his past, he was already trying to do just that, and the idea of forgetting what made him, him, didn't appeal to him anymore.

This was his life now. And he was enjoying it.

The last potion was like a supernatural Red bull. An energy drink that will flood you with a feeling of adrenaline and stamina, giving the drinker a kick and boost. Although, the drink only had minor stamina-enhancing effects. It mainly over drafted the body and caused it to crash hard when the energy passed. In one-ounce doses, the result was limited, but so was the crash. Mixing it with drinks allowed a drinker to get a small energy pump for all occasions.

The orders came one after another, and Leo didn't have a moment to rest as he had to combine drinks on the fly. Some potions had flavors, and it was hurting his budding pride as a bartender that he couldn't combine the flavors with the right drinks.

The customers didn't seem to mind, but Leo did. His grimoire never left his side as he worked and mentally added notes with every new drink he made, deciding if the flavors matched and brainstorming how to improve them.

And as a result, while he was lost in a world of recipes, those witnessing the floating ghostly grimoire twirling around him already began considering him a magic user of some kind. Building on the reputation discussion he had with Em earlier that day.

Bets went around between a Warlock and a Wizard, but the idea itself kept those a little too eager from trying to threaten him for more potions. Offending a magical user in their domain was never a bright idea.

By the time the clock struck eleven, Leo's shirt had clung to his skin with sweat as he wiped his face with a hand towel, idly waving to a trio of vampires speeding off into the night.

'Well, it seems my quest won't take as long as I originally feared.'

Leo's forehead tattoo flashed as he found himself standing in the familiar void, idly pulling up his quest status and smiling at the result.

[Quests:

Path of Craft: Novice Potions.

Sell 500 potions. 72 of 500 sold.

Reward: 1 Path Point.

Time Limit: None.

]

The innate curiosity for new and fun stuff, mixed with liquor, a holiday, and the free advertisement of four beautiful nymphs, all built up to an explosion of interest, and soon the bar was full of pumpkin heads of all designs and cartoon-electrified hair.

The laughter rang true, and the liquor ran freely until he found himself sold out on all fronts of potions. But that still didn't deter most, as they were already in a good mood, and he managed to sell more liquor than he thought he would have in a single night.

The funniest case was when a Werewolf ordered a peanut butter whiskey cocktail with an ounce of Hair-Raising potion. The guy became a glorified electric porcupine doggo and almost stabbed his friend in the eye with it.

Leo internally chuckled at the memory and took a minute to wind down, lighting a cigarette and checking out the night's results.

'I started out selling them at 13$ an ounce but kept increased the price every time I sold twenty drinks, so I ended with 16$ just for the addition. Add in 12$ dollar average for a cocktail and I was making close to thirty bucks per drink. That's insane.'

The numbers kept flowing through his head as his grimoire dutifully recorded the results. 'The quest counter didn't go up till I sold four ounces of a potion, meaning it only counts a full 'vial' toward the counter. But most cocktails are already four or five ounces of liquid, meaning I can't just dump in more potion without compromising the cocktails balance.'

He turned the idea over in his head before ultimately shrugging. 'Selling by ounce seems to work better for business. People enjoy things in short bursts. And I would hate to destroy a good cocktail just to make money. I have my own pride here.' That last thought alone was enough to bring a smile to his face. 'I have pride for something. I have something to be proud about. I like that.'

Another brick was set into the foundation of his identity, and the Four-Paths tattoo warmed slightly.

'Maybe Mr. H was right.' Step by step, he was discovering more about himself as he went along. And he was enjoying the journey. 'Although, it's only been a week.' A snort of amusement left his lips as he blew out a cloud of smoke and grabbed a cloth to wipe down the damp glasses on a rack.

A gruff older man strapped with enough cold weapons to look like he was heading to a Viking war got up from his seat and waved as he headed for the door. "Thanks again, Leo. I won't try to kill you next time." His deep bass voice rang out, and Leo casually waved back.

"Appreciate it Jeff. I'll have a Midori Martini ready with your name on it next time you come in."

The scarred warrior smiled brightly as he left.

Leo smirked behind his cigarette as one of his last guests filtered out. Jeff had internally amused him with his drink request, but he was a menacing teddy bear at heart.

His eyes tracked over his remaining guests, a couple of dark-winged angels that seemed to be flirting in a booth quietly over their drinks, and some kind of raccoon demi-human sitting with a dark look at the bar, having had a good few drinks at that point while muttering something about raiju's.

Leo kept his eye on that one and made sure to remove any empty glasses from his side. 'I don't know what pantheon you're from buddy, and this might be stereotypical, but I'm not taking a chance with you stealing my shit cuz it's shiny.'

Leo had a bad history with raccoons when he lived in the woods. The trash pandas would fight god to the death for half a bagel.

The bar grew quiet, with the soothing tone of jazz taking over the ambiance as Leo eyed the clock.

'Hm, just under an hour to midnight. Maybe I should close up early, I already made a killing tonight. I sold fifty-eight vials and three times as many drinks in only a few hours. A few bought the vials alone since it was cheaper, but the majority preferred the ounces. Mixing together the potions, cocktails, and shots, I must have made over three grand in a single night.' His gaze traveled to his liquor shelves and noticed the significantly reduced quantity.

'I'll need to find a supplier soon. I might have made a killing, but I still have to re-invest most of that into buying more liquor. Hmm, I should get a bigger stove too. I only have two burners on the one in the kitchen big enough to use for brewing potions, and I'm pretty sure potions will become a staple of this place.' The makeshift sign board was slapped with the bold words [SOLD OUT] beneath each potion option. 'Yeah, I guess that's going to end up the unique kick of this place. It's why I sold so many drinks tonight at all. Well, that and it's a major holiday, plus I had free advertisement from those girls.'

Speaking of the Elementario, the girls had a blast with the potions before enjoying their custom cocktails, getting him a matching review of how much they enjoyed their shots. He ended up shooting the breeze with the girls at the bar for a bit before they left for the clubs.

And if one of them approached him privately to tuck their number into his pocket, he wasn't saying anything. 'Who knew that short earth nymph could lick her lips that sensually. Damn, it's always the quiet ones.'

Leo chuckled and started stacking his clean glasses back on the shelves as one of his last guests, the raccoon demi-human, got up with a sway and left for the door without a word.

Leo raised a brow but didn't feel bothered. He had all kinds of creatures that night, from a raccoon demi-human to satyrs to a talking horse. If the guy didn't want to talk, Leo had no reason to bother him.

The raccoon man pushed open the door and almost ran head-first into a man walking in from the other side. "Wo, watch it there, little guy."

The demi-human growled. "Fuck off you little...-" The guy looked up and paled before scampering off like a bat out of hell as the new guest seemed to shrug.

"Guess he had somewhere to be."

The dark-winged angel couple in the back looked over at the slight commotion and froze like deer in headlights before they ducked under their table and vanished a moment with some kind of teleportation.

Leo could only raise a brow at their reactions and watch as his new guest walked in and took off his coat with a grumble. "Damn streets are packed like sardines in a can. I miss the times when the population was so much less." He put his winter coat on a rack by the door and looked around curiously. "Huh, nice place. You guys still open?"

Leo gestured to the bar stools. "Feel free to sit where you like."

The man was taller than Leo by an inch at least with a similar build. Blond and black hair fell from his head, splitting around bright violet eyes that seemed to exude a sort of charisma to those watching. And he wore a button-down dress shirt open at the top with a suit jacket over it.

He sent Leo a thankful nod as he plopped down in a chair across from him. "Thanks kid, I've been dying for a drink all night."

Leo hummed and put down a glass he was wiping. "Business or vacation?"

The man scoffed. "It should have been a vacation. Stupid Shemhazai and Baraqiel making me work on a holiday. It's new year's eve! No one works now. I shouldn't have too."

"Is that so?"

"Hm? Ah, well, bartenders don't count. Everyone needs a drink on holidays. That goes doubly so when it's not a holiday."

Leo chuckled at the logic and extended a hand; the man unknowingly echoed his thoughts from earlier that day. "I'm glad to see someone understands. Name's Leo."

The man met his shake with a companionable smile. "Azazel, the pleasures mine."

Leo blinked at the familiar name but pushed it aside. "Well Azazel, you're my last call for the night. What can I get you?"

"Your last? The ball hasn't even dropped yet. There should be another wave of drinkers after midnight."

Leo shrugged and pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "We got a bit too busy. I'll need to restock before the next time I open."

Azazel eyed the shelves with a whistle. "Damn kid, where's the party?" His gaze moved from the shelves to the makeshift potions menu. "Huh, guess I found it. You sell potions?"

"Kinda. Wasn't my original plan, but now I'm trying to mix them with drinks to make something new. It's been semi-successful."

Azazel dryly stared at the line of [SOLD OUT] lines. "Could've fooled me, you make them yourself?"

Leo chuckled and took down the sign. "I do. It was all about the effects tonight, but I'd rather make something that tastes good then selling a party toy. There's no excuse to ruin a good drink."

Azazel sat back and saluted him. "Well said. You seem like a bartender with his head on his shoulders."

"I try."

"Hm….want a challenge?"

"You do know I said you're my last guest for the night, right?"

"Is that a no?"

Leo narrowed his eyes at the smug look on the man's face. "What would you like to order?"

Azazel's lips twitched upward as he leaned forward and interlocked his fingers. "A Romas Gin Fizz."

"….You're a dick."

"Hahaha! You can't back down now if you want to save that pride kid."

Leo sighed and ashed his cigarette. "You realize this is a pain in the ass, right?"

"For sure. And make it something from the top shelf. I see a bottle of Spring Gin Gentleman's Cut up there."

Leo snorted at the man's request but complied. "You're funeral if you want to get smashed man."

"It takes something with a kick for me to even feel it, trust me." The way he said it with such confidence actually did make Leo believe him.

He grabbed the unopened top-shelf bottle and rolled it in his hand. 'At least I've finally got an excuse to open this.' The cork was removed, and Leo took a moment to appreciate its rich scent.

Azazel sent him a curious look as he watched. "You appreciate that like someone whose been drinking for years."

Leo hummed and got out a mixing glass. "I've been around. Can't be a good bartender if you can't appreciate good liquor."

"True. But that's usually something that comes with age. How old are you kid?"

Leo rolled his eyes and got the rest of his ingredients lined up. "I'm twenty four man, drop the kid shit."

"Heh, that's a baby to me."

"Oh yeah? And how old are you supposed to be?"

"A few millennia. You stop counting after a while."

Leo's hand paused mid-pour as he eyed his customer. "You don't look a day over thirty."

Azazel barked a laugh and winked. "I'll take the compliment, but I don't swing that way."

"Fuck off."

"I age well."

"Sure you do."

Leo decided to ignore the guy and focus on his job. 'Romas Gin Fizz….I only made this a couple times out of curiosity; hope I remember this thing.' He measured out his Gin and poured it into a shaker. 'Two ounces of Gin.' A lemon was cut and squeezed. 'Three quarters of an ounce of lemon juice.' A carton of heavy cream was taken out of the mini freezer. 'An ounce of heavy cream.' An egg was cracked. 'One egg white.' A liqueur was opened. 'Three drops of orange flower water.' An ice cube was lifted before his hand froze in hesitance. 'What am I missing?'

He thought over the ingredients and tried to remember what could go into it before a rueful chuckle escaped his lips. 'Right. Simple Syrup.' He measured half an ounce of the syrup and added it in.

Two large ice cubes were dropped in, and then the annoying part began. 'And now shake until all the liquid turns to froth and the ice cubes are broken into small chunks. Not too fast, not too slow. Follow the rhythm.'

He sighed and started shaking while Azazel laughed at his expression. "You got experience with that movement, eh?"

"My pride won't let me ruin a drink, but I can still charge you triple for it."

"Touche."

The sound of the liquid shaking rang out for over a minute before the guy opened his mouth. "Do you know the history of that drink?"

Leo kept shaking as he looked over. "A bit. Something about a guy in New Orleans making his guests shake the drink or something. No one actually orders this at a bar."

"I did."

"You're a freak. And its winter, this is a summer drink."

"I got bored and this is entertaining."

"Anyone ever tell you that you got weird hobbies?"

"Oh, you have no idea."

The two shared a laugh as the older man explained. "The drink was made in the 1880's in New Orleans by a man named Henry C. Ramos. How he came up with it was never said, but the man had a hobby of setting up the drink, and then passing it around the bar to let all the customers shake it until the ice was completely gone and nothing was left but froth."

"Hm, yeah, that's what I meant to say."

"….bullshit."

Leo ignored the commentary. "So the guy had a hobby of making people shake his shaker until white froth came out."

"When you put it that way, I kinda don't want the drink anymore."

"Give it to a homeless man for all I care, as long as you pay."

"That's quality Gin!"

"Homeless people like a drink sometimes too." The way Leo said that line lacked the humor of his last comments, and Azazel quickly noticed it.

"Hm? Had a rough time?"

"Something like that."

"How'd you end up here?"

"In the city?"

"Nah, in this dimension."

Leo's hands paused for a fraction of a second but continued without overtly responding. "No idea what you're talking about."

Azazel barked a laugh and leered at him. "I'm not using reverse psychology to make you spill something kid. And this isn't a random visit. I tracked you down as soon as my sensors caught you entering the dimension."

Leo silently kept shaking and blew out some smoke. "And?"

"And that's it."

Leo's brow twitched. "Why did you track me down?"

"I was curious."

"Right." Leo had enough of the guy and returned to silently shaking while Azazel's expectant smile dimmed.

"You're not going to ask why?"

"No."

"I'm glad you asked!"

"I didn't."

Azazel pushed through the denial to puff out his chest. "So you see, the Dimensional Gap is this big space of chaos in the center between all the dimensions of reality. These dimensions often overlap in area's and it's a big ball of insanity for the casual observer. But the Gap is the center and often considered the origin of it all. Some even say other realities exist beyond it. It's the place where those below the top twenty most powerful beings in this reality would die from being eroded away by the chaotic energies that exist there. A place only truly inhabited by two beings. You following so far?"

Azazel spoke patiently with a glint of a mad scientist in his eyes who was far too curious for his own good, and Leo ignored him to keep shaking the annoying drink that was nearing completion. "Uhu."

"Good! So a couple weeks ago, a rift into Earth opened from the gap, and anyone that's anyone felt the wave of chaotic energy that spilled from the gap. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was enough to send most into red alert. Only two beings would come from the gap, and whenever they appear, death and destruction follows. So everyone was up in arms for a bit, but amusingly, nothing happened. The energy dissipated rapidly, and anyone who searched found nothing at all. Every organization was walking on eggshells for days before they realized nothing was happening and the interest slowly dissipated. Only a few of the more observant and curious ones kept looking. Hell, I doubt there are more than five with the means and interest to actually find you like that ole one eyed bastard, but I'm one of them and I'm pretty sure I found you first."

Leo listened with half an ear and checked the drink to make sure the ice was broken up sufficiently before grabbing a highball glass. "And how does that make you feel?"

"Proud. I won."

"Is there a point to this?"

"Yeah, bragging rights. Also, I'm curious how you survived the Gap and what the hell you are."

Leo raised a brow and turned to the man in his first sign of curiosity. "What I am? I'm human."

"Bullshit. I thought you were one until I approached you and let me just say that I've seen enough homunculus bodies to recognize one. You have no energy signature whatsoever."

"You mean like mana or something?"

Azazel scoffed. "Or something. I could barely tell you existed before I saw you. Even now, you strike me as completely and utterly human. The only thing that gives me a weird vibe is that compass tattoo you got on your forehead."

Leo hummed at that. 'Would explain why mana always came from my tattoo when I made the potions. And why I couldn't ever seem to figure out how to use mana separately.' Outwardly, he just shrugged. He had no intention of sharing his life story a second time. "While that is interesting, I'm just a simple bartender without the answers you seek."

"Are you saying you don't know how you got here?"

Leo shrugged and strained the drink into the glass, letting out the pure white foam left over from the shaker. "Pretty much. Some higher being or some shit sent me over. I got no context and neither do I care for context. I'm a bartender, and I'm happy with that."

It surprised him that he was genuinely being honest with those words. After a few days on the job, he found that he genuinely enjoyed it and didn't care about the 'why' of his being there anymore.

Azazel rubbed his goatee in interest. "That's all? No dreams of building a harem? World conquest? Diabolical plans? Building your own faction? Anything?"

Leo gave him a dry look and sprayed seltzer into the drink. "Just what kind of expectations did you have?"

"I had plenty. Hell, I even thought you were one of those Isekai types from anime these days, ready to tear up the world with some bullshit power." Azazel laughed and slapped the bar top in humor. "But your remarkably boring. It's kinda refreshing."

Leo rolled his eyes and cut a peel of lemon skin. "I'm honored." He garnished the drink with the lemon slice and dropped in a straw before sliding it over. "One Ramos Gin Fizz. Finish it and get out."

"Now, now, no need to be rude to a paying customer." Azazel took a sip of his drink, and his eyes widened. "Especially when that customer just found his new favorite bar. Holy shit, this is well done."

A cloud of smoke left Leo's lips as he couldn't help but smirk in slight pride. "Your welcome."

Azazel didn't say anything until he finished his drink with a sigh of pleasure. "Everyone always over shakes it or under shakes it. It's hard to hit that perfect line. You got one hell of a talent kid."

Leo shrugged and went back to wiping down his glasses with a cloth. "When you like what you do, it's not work."

"I'd raise a drink to that one, but I drank mine already."

"That's 75$."

"For one drink?!"

"For the top shelf, plus labor, and the company."

"….Anyone ever tell you you're too blunt?"

"It's my charm. Now pay and get out."

"Hold up a second, let me order one more."

"I'm not making another Gin Fizz. It's twenty minutes to New Years and I plan on closing by midnight."

"Fine, fine, give me a Vieux Carré instead."

Leo raised a brow but didn't see the harm in that request. "You really love New Orleans huh?"

"Oh? You know the origin of this one?"

Leo's cigarette went out, and he ashed it before working on a new drink. "It's an old-school classic from New Orleans, tied closely to the origins of the Sazerac, Banana Foster, and Etouffee. As far as I know, it was invented at a bar at hotel Monteleone in the 1930s. With a heavy flavor and multiple spirits used, it can be tough to get the perfect flavor from this drink."

Azazel gave him an impressed look. "Well, you really do know your craft."

"I took a heavy interest in liquor for a time."

The older man hummed and said nothing to those words as he watched.

Leo got out a mixing glass and added the ingredients. 'Two dashes of Peychaud's Bitters. Two dashed of Angostura Bitters. A barspoon of Benedictine. Three quarters of an ounce of Rye. Three quarters of an ounce of Cognac. Three quarters of an ounce of Sweet Vermouth. Ice.'

Each one was added in calm harmony and slowly stirred together in the crystal clear glass. A lowball glass was brought out, and he dropped an ice cube inside before straining the mixture until just below the rim. A lemon skin slice was squeezed for its oils and garnished the drink, and it was complete.

"One Vieux Carré." The drink was slid over to Azazel as he eyed the glass and smelled it in appreciation.

"A damn good bartender."

"Hm."

Azazel took a slow sip this time and sighed in pleasure. "You want to come work for me kid?"

"I'll pass."

"Oi, you didn't even hesitate."

"You seem like a pain to deal with."

"Do you have any idea what I could offer you?"

"No. Neither do I care. I make drinks, I sell drinks, that's all."

Azazel huffed. "You really got no ambition in you, do you?"

The older man unknowingly struck a nerve in Leo with that line. "Is that an issue?"

"Not really." Azazel scratched his cheek. "Just off putting I guess. Everyone wants something. Money, fame, power, women, men if you swing that way. My species can get a sense of desires and your remarkably empty of them."

"I'm happy."

"I can tell. Even if you don't seem to smile much."

"You can thank my company for that."

Azazel barked a laugh and shook his head. "I think I'm coming to enjoy that blunt way of speaking."

"I don't swing that way."

"….I spoke too soon." The two shared a short laugh as Azazel sipped his drink. "You should find something to live for kid."

Leo hummed and cleaned up his workstation. "What makes you say that?"

Azazel twirled his drink. "Life's too short to live so….empty."

"I'm not empty. I'm content."

"Bah, same shit. I know what contentment feels like, to live each day with a smile thinking you're doing your best. Trust me on that." The older man's voice turned wry and tired. "And then one day, I woke up and realized how empty I was inside. A shell almost, devoted to something else without a life of my own." He took a sip. "You know what woke me up?"

Leo matched his eyes with the older man, who smiled genuinely. "Love. I fell in love and fell from righteousness due to it. And it set me free from my shackles."

Something about the man's words rang deep in him, and Leo couldn't help but ask. "What happened to that love?"

Azazel laughed softly. "She cheated on me. It broke my heart."

"Sorry to hear that."

Azazel waved a hand. "Don't be. She was mortal, it never would have worked out. But I don't regret falling in love. I became my own man because of it. Started from the bottom, alone, with only a little help from an unexpected source, I made my own path." The older man gave him a knowing look. "I sense that in you. Something that reminds me of me way back then."

Leo put away the final glass and lit up another cigarette with a smirk. "I'd rather not turn out like you old man."

"Ha! You wish you could be like me kid."

They shared another laugh as Azazel finished his drink and stood up. "If you're anything like I was, I get the feeling you won't be unknown for too long."

"I'd rather people didn't pay attention to me."

"It's the curse of the strong Leo, that's life." Azazel gave his forehead another look and winked. "You'll get there soon enough."

Leo sat back and stared at the older man, putting two and two together about the man's identity. "You're Azazel of the Grigori, aren't you?"

Azazel smiled wide. "Guilty as charged. Did you change your mind on working for me?"

"Didn't you fall due to lust?"

Azazel's smile dimmed. "Is that really your first question?"

Leo shrugged. "You talked about it first."

"Touche." A sigh left the older man's lips as he ran a hand through his hair. "The story has been embellished many times over the years, and my actions haven't exactly helped my reputation, but I fell for love kid. I embraced lust after that."

"Was it worth it?"

"Without a doubt."

Leo hummed at the man's confident look. "I see, thanks for answering. You still owe me 75$."

Azazel sweatdropped at the topic change and got out his wallet. "You Jewish or something?"

"Nope. But I was homeless for a while. Every dollar counts."

"Yeah, yeah. Wait, what about the second drink?"

"On the house."

Azazel gave him a long look and laughed. "You're a tsundere, aren't you?"

"Get out of my bar."

The older man just laughed harder and put down the money before eyeing the shelves. "You got a supplier yet kid?"

Leo put the money in the register and raised a brow. "Not yet, why?"

"I can help you out with that."

"….why?"

"Can't I invest in a good business?"

"I doubt you need the money."

"You're a good bartender."

"Professionals exist."

"Alright, sheesh, talk about paranoid. You interest me kid."

"I told you I don't swing that way. Take a hint."

"….you realize I could sneeze and you would die right?"

"And then you wouldn't get another drink from me."

"That's annoyingly good logic. I'm interested in your potential. I got no idea what you are or where you're going, and that's interesting in my book. You're a wild card on a chessboard much bigger than you can imagine."

Leo paused to think on that one and seriously considered the offer as his mind returned to his talk with Medusa about making friends. 'It would be good to have more connections.' Outwardly, he blew out a cloud of smoke and nodded. "Alright. What are you offering."

"I'll sell you bottles at market price plus 5% for delivery."

"That's generous of you."

"And I want free drinks."

"Never mind."

"Oh, and you got any of those potions left?" Azazel pointed to the taken-down potion add-on sign.

"Why? I doubt you need it, or that it would even do anything for someone like you."

"I'm a researcher."

"And a Dastard."

"A what?"

"A dark angel and a bastard."

Azazel's brow twitched. "Fallen. Fallen Angel."

"Fastard didn't come out right."

"….Can we get back to the point?"

Leo scratched his cheek and considered it. 'It's not like I'm worried about someone re-creating a Hair-Raising potion so I don't see the harm. Hell, I don't even know how I do it. Maybe he could shed some light.'

"I'll give you one if you share everything you find out about it."

Azazel gave him a curious look but nodded all the same. "I have no issue with that."

Leo reached under the counter to where a row of colorful potion vials sat. 'It's a good think I kept at least one vial of each in reserve despite telling people I was sold out. It's good money, but you never know when something might come in handy.'

He grabbed the last vial of Hair-Raising potion and tossed it to the older man. "I'm still charging you for that."

"We just made a deal!"

"And that deal said nothing about full potion vials. 50$."

The older man grumbled and pulled out a fifty. "You're worse than those bloodsuckers trying to get a bite."

Leo put the money away. "I'm efficient. Now, how can I order with you?"

Azazel reached out a hand, and an object flashed into it before he put it down. "Just send me a text or give me a call. I'll direct you to my secretary if you call me."

Leo eyed the device with a fire in his eye. "Is that a smartphone?"

"Oh? You know about it? It's new tech in the underworld. Can connect to the devil net from mostly anywhere. I left a hundred in the account, add more on your own time If you rack up charges."

"Fair. By the way, did you just pull that out of a dimensional pocket or something?"

Azazel gave him a funny look. "No. Well, I mean I could make something that does that. But once you reach a certain level of soul strength, you can just store stuff inside you. It's pretty convenient."

"How high do you have to reach?"

"Ultimate or minor god level in soul. So Tier 2 all things considered."

"Tier 2?"

Azazel sighed and waved a hand. "I'll send you a power scaling list later, don't worry about it, you're like tier 9 right now."

Leo shrugged at the comparison. "Alright. Think I could commission a spatial storage item from you?"

Azazel gave him a thumbs up. "I'll charge you for it."

"As you should."

"….I was making a joke. Sheesh, you gotta lighten up kid. I'll give you a solid discount on it, say twenty grand."

"...Thats with a discount?"

"Of course. You think they grow on trees? And I make quality work. There are very few magical engineers on the market at my caliber. Most of the mage organizations or devil corporations will sell you cheap knock offs. You could try with the Greeks but they only take Drachma."

"It might take me a while to get that kind of money."

"I'm sure you'll manage in time. Or you could trade for something interesting. I'm open to more potions."

Leo blew out a cloud of smoke and shook his head. "Tell me what you find on that first one and then we can talk."

"Why does that interest you so much?"

"Maybe I'm curious about it as well." Leo eyed the clock on the wall. "And there's less than ten minutes left till midnight. I'm closing up old man."

Azazel chuckled and made the potion vial in his hand vanish. "Yeah, yeah, I'm going. Thanks for the drinks kid. I'll stop by once in a while. I wasn't kidding about you making a good drink."

Leo smirked around his cigarette. "It will only get better if you find me new liquor to use."

"I'll hold you to that!" Azazel threw on his coat and opened the door, revealing a steady snowfall outside. "Till next time, Leo."

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out, dastard."

"So cold." Azazel laughed and left as the door closed behind him with a soft jingle.

Leo calmly stared at the empty glass Azazel left behind and ashed his cigarette. 'So I'm in DxD as well? First PJO, and now this. Is there anything else this crazy world wants to toss into the mix?' A chuckle left his lips as he took the glass to the sink to wash it.

He might have been more worried about raising red flags if he wasn't immune to fate.

The glass was washed, dried, and put away before Leo sighed in relief. 'The days finally over. I made a lot in one night.'

He took off his waist apron and put it down, idly catching the sound of paper crinkling and checking his pockets as he pulled out two slips of paper.

One read as the address to a dance club and the other to a shop near his bar.

'Oh yeah, the nymphs and Em.'

Leo rubbed them between his fingers and considered his options. 'I could just go to sleep. But those four girls are pretty much a guaranteed threesome at the least.'

Suddenly, his mind recalled Azazel's smile.

"The story has been embellished many times over the years, and my actions haven't exactly helped my reputation, but I fell for love kid. I embraced lust after that."

"Was it worth it?"

"Without a doubt."

Leo's gaze turned to Em's address as he recalled the date they shared that morning and the fleeting moment when time seemed to stop for them. 'I wouldn't call it love. But it was….nice to be around her.'

His mind flashed to her last words earlier that day.

"Don't be afraid to take the initiative, ok?"

He gazed between the two papers and made a choice.

Throwing on his new coat, he didn't even bother getting changed from his work clothes as he locked up and left. Walking quickly through the falling snow to reach the door to an unassuming shop a few blocks away, less than a minute from New Year's.

He knocked, and the surprised face of Em opened from the inside. "Leo?"

He held up the slip of paper. "I decided to take the initiative."

Em's surprised face morphed into a sly smile as she pulled him in. "At least you can take a hint." Her lips lunged for his own, and he met her back with equal intensity as he picked her up and pushed her against the wall, with the front door closing behind them to the sound of fireworks.

The New Year began with the sound of Em's laughter and moans ringing in his ears, and Leon Volk, newly named as simply Leo, couldn't help but feel his new life was off to a great start.

End.

AN: Thoughts?