Hellmouth Slice Fic-Ladies' Night
I'm on a roll. This one shot makes two stories that I've posted within a couple of weeks. Rated G and only 940 words, it's set within Willie's Bar once again. Thank you to enigmaticblues for the read through.
Lady’s Night
Willie finished making the Pink Lady and stared at it critically, making sure it looked like it did in the Bartender’s Guide. Even though it was on the two-for-one Ladies night menu-thanks to constant lobbying by Bella, his waitress- no one had ever ordered it before now.
During their brainstorming session Willie had tried to explain that most demons had never heard of the drink and those that had wouldn’t drink it in front of their buddies.
Bella had countered with the explanation that buddy was the key word in that sentence. Most female demons and all of the human women who would show up for Ladies Night knew exactly what a Pink Lady was along with the other choices she’d strong-armed him into adding. And wasn’t that supposed to be the point? Ladies' Night. Ladies' drinks. And more to the point for him, the premium drinks would cost more than the usual fare to begin with, so even though he was giving them two drinks for the price of one, he’d make out like a bandit. Liking that idea, he’d ordered in the grenadine.
Placing the frou frou drink on the tray next to the no nonsense gin and tonic, he walked toward the two women sitting at the end of the bar. These two walk-ins were strangers and exactly the clientele he had hoped to attract. It was late on a very slow night and if he could bring in some extra quiet, well-heeled customers to help fill up the register, he’d just have to swallow his disgust and pour all the girly drinks they could handle. After watering them down a tad of course.
Taking care not to slosh, he set the violently pink drink in front of a curly haired brunette and placed the gin and tonic in front of a pretty blonde. Taking his time picking up the empty glasses in front of the seats around them and wiping away water rings he unabashedly tuned into their conversation. After all, it was a bartender’s prerogative to find out everything he could about new customers.
The blonde listlessly swirled the amber liquid in her glass. “I still don’t completely believe it. It’s like something out of a bad chick flick.”
Trying to coax a smile her companion replied, “Yes. As directed by Frederico Fellini.”
The blonde reached for her drink and a tiny smile appeared. “He did so love his circus people.”
The brunette laughed. “Yes he most certainly did.” Running a finger lightly around the rim of her drink she sobered. “I hate to say I told you so Anyanka, but I knew it was a mistake from the beginning. He was a mistake from the beginning.”
Willie filled a bowl of pretzels and passed them to the solitary Lofter demon down the bar. So it was like that. The blonde was living one of those country music songs played over and over on an old jukebox. Somebody had done the blonde-Anyanka- wrong. Tamping down the tiny twinge of commiseration he picked up a bar rag and moved closer. Just in time to hear her surprising response.
“Hallie, please don’t say that.”
The brunette raised an eyebrow. “Why ever not? It’s always a mistake to mix with humans, much less marry them.”
“But I loved him. And I was-still am-human. And humans should always marry other humans. See they have these wonderfully interlocking parts…”
Hallie cleared her throat and Anyanka closed her mouth abruptly. Willie decided then and there that he didn’t like the brunette. Less interested in helping her friend with her pain, she appeared more interested in scoring points.
“But you don’t have to be human any more. You’ve been given another chance, isn’t that correct?”
“I have. D’Hoffryn handed me a handkerchief and offered to rehire me.”
“How long before you must make a decision?”
“He’s given me until dawn.”
“There’s really no question of your response. Of course you’ll choose us. We’ve never failed you.” She waved Willie over. “Two more drinks for each of us, please.”
The blonde’s shoulders slumped. “That’s true. The failing was mine before. Just as it probably is this time.”
“I’m glad to see you finally understand your situation Anyanka. The bigger picture.”
Grabbing the glass from Willie’s hand she downed the drink in one gulp and handed it back, signaling for another. “I suppose it was a mistake to assume I could ever live happily as a human.”
“Exactly. They have such a limited lifespan. Why, there’s hardly even enough time to understand happiness as they see it before poof! It’s over.” Stirring her drink she added, “Which is why we have so much work these days.”
“You’re very busy?”
“I can hardly remember what day it is or where I’m supposed to be most of the time. But I still manage to fit a bit of sightseeing in.”
“I do miss the traveling.” She perked up.
“It’s one of the best parts. Seeing the world.” Hallie smiled brightly. “Maybe we can work together some, too. You know, while you get back into the swing of things.” She sat upright. “Anyanka, it’s nearly dawn now.”
Anyanka nodded firmly. “I need to speak with D’Hoffryn.” Digging some money out of her purse, she laid it on the bar. “Are you coming Hallie?”
“No, I’ll teleport out after I finish my drink. You go on, D’Hoffryn will be waiting.”
Willie picked up the empty glass. At first he thought Hallie was talking to him, but realized she was really speaking quietly to herself.
“That went very well. D’Hoffryn will be pleased.”
The End.
Lady’s Night
Willie finished making the Pink Lady and stared at it critically, making sure it looked like it did in the Bartender’s Guide. Even though it was on the two-for-one Ladies night menu-thanks to constant lobbying by Bella, his waitress- no one had ever ordered it before now.
During their brainstorming session Willie had tried to explain that most demons had never heard of the drink and those that had wouldn’t drink it in front of their buddies.
Bella had countered with the explanation that buddy was the key word in that sentence. Most female demons and all of the human women who would show up for Ladies Night knew exactly what a Pink Lady was along with the other choices she’d strong-armed him into adding. And wasn’t that supposed to be the point? Ladies' Night. Ladies' drinks. And more to the point for him, the premium drinks would cost more than the usual fare to begin with, so even though he was giving them two drinks for the price of one, he’d make out like a bandit. Liking that idea, he’d ordered in the grenadine.
Placing the frou frou drink on the tray next to the no nonsense gin and tonic, he walked toward the two women sitting at the end of the bar. These two walk-ins were strangers and exactly the clientele he had hoped to attract. It was late on a very slow night and if he could bring in some extra quiet, well-heeled customers to help fill up the register, he’d just have to swallow his disgust and pour all the girly drinks they could handle. After watering them down a tad of course.
Taking care not to slosh, he set the violently pink drink in front of a curly haired brunette and placed the gin and tonic in front of a pretty blonde. Taking his time picking up the empty glasses in front of the seats around them and wiping away water rings he unabashedly tuned into their conversation. After all, it was a bartender’s prerogative to find out everything he could about new customers.
The blonde listlessly swirled the amber liquid in her glass. “I still don’t completely believe it. It’s like something out of a bad chick flick.”
Trying to coax a smile her companion replied, “Yes. As directed by Frederico Fellini.”
The blonde reached for her drink and a tiny smile appeared. “He did so love his circus people.”
The brunette laughed. “Yes he most certainly did.” Running a finger lightly around the rim of her drink she sobered. “I hate to say I told you so Anyanka, but I knew it was a mistake from the beginning. He was a mistake from the beginning.”
Willie filled a bowl of pretzels and passed them to the solitary Lofter demon down the bar. So it was like that. The blonde was living one of those country music songs played over and over on an old jukebox. Somebody had done the blonde-Anyanka- wrong. Tamping down the tiny twinge of commiseration he picked up a bar rag and moved closer. Just in time to hear her surprising response.
“Hallie, please don’t say that.”
The brunette raised an eyebrow. “Why ever not? It’s always a mistake to mix with humans, much less marry them.”
“But I loved him. And I was-still am-human. And humans should always marry other humans. See they have these wonderfully interlocking parts…”
Hallie cleared her throat and Anyanka closed her mouth abruptly. Willie decided then and there that he didn’t like the brunette. Less interested in helping her friend with her pain, she appeared more interested in scoring points.
“But you don’t have to be human any more. You’ve been given another chance, isn’t that correct?”
“I have. D’Hoffryn handed me a handkerchief and offered to rehire me.”
“How long before you must make a decision?”
“He’s given me until dawn.”
“There’s really no question of your response. Of course you’ll choose us. We’ve never failed you.” She waved Willie over. “Two more drinks for each of us, please.”
The blonde’s shoulders slumped. “That’s true. The failing was mine before. Just as it probably is this time.”
“I’m glad to see you finally understand your situation Anyanka. The bigger picture.”
Grabbing the glass from Willie’s hand she downed the drink in one gulp and handed it back, signaling for another. “I suppose it was a mistake to assume I could ever live happily as a human.”
“Exactly. They have such a limited lifespan. Why, there’s hardly even enough time to understand happiness as they see it before poof! It’s over.” Stirring her drink she added, “Which is why we have so much work these days.”
“You’re very busy?”
“I can hardly remember what day it is or where I’m supposed to be most of the time. But I still manage to fit a bit of sightseeing in.”
“I do miss the traveling.” She perked up.
“It’s one of the best parts. Seeing the world.” Hallie smiled brightly. “Maybe we can work together some, too. You know, while you get back into the swing of things.” She sat upright. “Anyanka, it’s nearly dawn now.”
Anyanka nodded firmly. “I need to speak with D’Hoffryn.” Digging some money out of her purse, she laid it on the bar. “Are you coming Hallie?”
“No, I’ll teleport out after I finish my drink. You go on, D’Hoffryn will be waiting.”
Willie picked up the empty glass. At first he thought Hallie was talking to him, but realized she was really speaking quietly to herself.
“That went very well. D’Hoffryn will be pleased.”
The End.