Christmas Eve Happy Hour

[nita_callahan]

The holidays are a time for family -- nuclear, extended, and otherwise -- and Nita's been doing more than her fair share of holiday travel as a result. Thank the Powers for her subsidized gating privileges at the Crossings. This year, Milliways is her penultimate stop; she'll head back to Earth to spend the 25th with her dad and the Rodriguezes.

When she leans on the counter, she asks Bar wryly, "So, what dark powers are threatening us this year, huh?"

A napkin appears. "... Kidnapped Santa?" Another napkin. "Pox? ... Monsters, too, huh. ... Wow. But is that it? Really? ... No, I didn't mean it like that, it sounds bad. It's just, you know. Comparatively speaking. ... Well, I'm glad everyone's okay. ... Sure, yeah, if you need the break, but I don't know anything about alcohol. ... If you say so." She laughs softly and pats the counter. "Have a good nap."

Happy Hour Specials
Anything I don't have to look up the recipe for

First drink free if you helped save Christmas
First drink half off if you don't celebrate Christmas

"So, uh, what can I get you?"

Comments

[onceaviking]

He empties the mug and hands it back to her.
"I'd like one straight away," he says.

He needs it. And he might as well.

[nita_callahan]

She takes the mug, a little hesitant. "Same, uh, type?"

[onceaviking]

He nods .
"Yes. If there's more."

[nita_callahan]

"Yeah, I can do that."

When she returns with the mug, she has to ask:

"Who donates this stuff?"

[onceaviking]

He shrugs.
"Other patrons. I don't think I've ever spoken with any who's been doing so. Or if so, they haven't told me. Some prefer to - give directly, though."

He smiles.
No fangs.

[nita_callahan]

She tries, but fails, to suppress a shiver.

"Enough to keep the population going?"

[onceaviking]

His smile turns a little sour.
"We are hardly a population."

[nita_callahan]

"No? You're the second vampire I've -- I'm aware of around here."

Which, admittedly, not what you'd call a "population."

[onceaviking]

"Really? Who's the other one?"

[nita_callahan]

"I . . . don't know who he is. His name. I just know he was here feeding on patrons." She shrugs. "That was a few years ago, though. Hopefully he moved on."

[onceaviking]

"Well, I don't.," Eric replies.

"Unless they want me to. In which case, I happily do so."

[nita_callahan]

The happily earns him a look that's -- wary, but mostly uncertain.

"What's--"

What's in it for them? is actually not something she wants the answer to.

"I'm glad to hear it."

[onceaviking]

"It certainly makes my life here more tolerable," he says.

He rubs one large hand over his face.

[nita_callahan]

"Yeah, I'll just bet."

She glances down the bar at her other patrons, hesitates, and shakes her head.

"I'm going to go help those guys" -- and try to stop being uncomfortable and vaguely traumatized at him -- "but wave me down if you need a refill or want to pour out your sorrows to the bartender or whatever."

Is that a thing vampires do outside books where everyone has French names?

[onceaviking]

"Don't worry," he says, taking his mug.
"I wouldn't dream of it. So you won't have to - exert yourself."

He caught the uncomfortableness.

[nita_callahan]

He might catch the relief -- and surprise -- in her expression, too, then.

"Well, just let me know," she says, and moves off down the bar.