~10 Minutes Later~
What could a bar possibly look like down here?
Lucen and Vonica continued walking down the road. Vonica looked to her left and noticed a lot of people lined up.
"Look. See those people over there?"
Vonica pointed to the large line of people that stood in front of a building. In front of the line, two large men dragged someone, forcefully. The man tried running back in but was knocked out and tossed.
"Is that the bar? You've got to be kidding me… Do we even have the time to wait in that long line?"
"Perhaps there is a way we can get in quick."
The two walked to the back of the line and stood there, observing everyone.
"Actually, while we are out here, we should ask someone if they have seen the stray."
"Good idea. Hey you." Lucen tapped the shoulder of the man in front of him and he turned around.
"Huh? What?"
"You seen a man in a red coat with a white star on it around?"
"Hmm. Think I saw someone like that ahead in the line earlier. They've already gone in by now."
"I see. Thanks."
"Seems like they are already inside. I still cannot sense their demonic energy though."
"Hey Vonica, you guys are pretty rich right?"
"Well, I would say so. Why?"
"Follow me." Lucen exited the line and walked ahead to the front, approaching the two large men guarding the entrance while Vonica followed behind.
"Hey back in line! You gotta wai—"
"Shh. Take this and let us in, buddy." Lucen swiftly slipped a 50 Virso Bill inside the man's pocket. The man pulled it out and took a look at it.
"F-Fifty Virsos?! Welcome on in!"
The man let Lucen and Vonica pass and the two made their way through the entrance curtain to inside the bar. A wave of commotion came from behind them, probably upset that Lucen and Vonica just skipped the entire line.
"So uhh, you mind paying me back for that when we return? I actually can't afford to be dropping that much money…"
Vonica chuckled. "Yes, of course."
Lucen and Vonica arrived inside the bar. Lucen looked around, observing everything. The bar had a surreal setting. Something akin to a tavern out of a medieval show. It was filled with a lot of people, sitting on wooden stools in front of small wooden circular tables. All of their cups were large wooden mugs filled with drinks.
"What the hell is this place…" Lucen said, taking in the environment.
"It is quite interesting, I must say."
"I'm not seeing the stray anywhere. I think that's the bartender over there. Let's go ask if he's seen our guy."
Lucen and Vonica walked over to the bartender, a man with dark brown hair and brown eyes with the look of someone in his late thirties. The two took a seat on the stools in front of the counter.
"Let me handle this." Lucen whispered to Vonica.
Heh, always wanted to do this.
Lucen hunched himself on the counter.
"I'll have… the usual."
"You've never been here—"
"The. Usual."
The bartender eyed Lucen suspiciously. "You look awfully young. You wouldn't happen to be underage now would you…?"
"Uhh…"
"Just kidding, hahaha. No one's regulating stuff like that down here. Here, I'll give you something good since you're new." The bartender walked to the back, picked up two large bottles and poured them into a bigger bottle. He shook the bottle around, tossing it up and around his back. He then set down two small wooden cups, tossed an ice cube in them, and poured the drink in.
"Enjoy!" the bartender said, pushing the cups forward.
Laura would pop a blood vessel if she saw me right now.
"Don't mind if I do!" Lucen said as he reached his hand out to grab the cup but Vonica swiftly moved it away from him. Lucen stared at the spot the cup moved from for a second before attempting to grab it again but Vonica moved it once again.
"Oi, what's the big idea?"
"Silly, we cannot drink right now. We have a mission to complete."
"You're right…" Lucen said defeatedly. Suddenly, he moved again attempting to grab the cup one more time but Vonica, once again, moved it over.
"Dang it… Fine. I'll give it to the guy next to me."
"If that is the case, of course. Here."
Vonica handed the cup back to Lucen and he immediately lifted it up, attempting to drink but Vonica quickly placed her hand between the cup and Lucen's mouth.
"You're good..."
Lucen, now completely defeated, slid the drink to the person on his right. "Free drink. On me."
"Um thank you…"
Lucen turned his attention back to the bartender. "Hey, you wouldn't have happened to see a man in a red coat with a white star on it in here, would you?"
"Yes I did. He just left not too long ago."
"Do you know where he went?"
"Not really. I don't usually ask my customers where they're going after they leave."
"Fair point… Guess we'll have to look around again."
"Well actually, he did mention something about being hungry. He might have headed to the food stalls not too far from here. Why are you two looking for him, anyway?"
"He's a friend of ours… Right?"
"Yes… He is an old acquaintance we are trying to catch up to."
"Uh huh… Well, it's not my business anyway."
"By the way, you're the owner of this bar?" Lucen asked.
"Yes I am. Nice place I've got here, right?"
"How did you manage to do this? In a place like District 8?"
The bartender sighed as he looked around. "Took a lot of work. When I first found this place, I was just alone trying to find some place I could sleep. This building was empty so I made it my new home. Eventually though, I figured I was gonna need some type of way to sustain myself down here. So I built everything myself using whatever I could find around this whole area, made buddies with those guys outside, worked with a lot of people, and eventually, made this place a reality."
"I see. Seems you got it figured out, huh. That's impressive." Lucen said, lightly clapping.
"To set up such a place here is quite admirable." Vonica added.
The bartender chuckled. "Thanks. Running this place down here has been my only source of joy."
"We had better get going if we want to catch that stray." Vonica whispered to Lucen.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot." Lucen got up and placed a 50 Virso bill on the counter.
"Hey hey hey… That's quite a lot of money for District 8…" The bartender said, shocked.
"Think of it as a tip. Anyways, we're off."
"T-Thanks… Looking forward to serving you again…"
Well, that was all of the money out of my pocket.
Lucen and Vonica walked out of the bar and made their down the street.
"So, Vonica."
"Yes?"
"I noticed, right as we were walking out, that your cup was empty.
"Hmm, I am not sure what you are talking about."
"You drank, didn't you?"
Vonica smirked. "Still not sure what you mean."
"You totally did, you hypocrite!"
"Woah. Is that who I think it is?" As Lucen and Vonica walked down the road, a voice suddenly rang from behind the two and they immediately turned around. Standing a number of yards away from them was none other than the stray devil they were searching for.
"She did tell me the Azaroth's might come after me down here but I had to see it to believe it, you know? But wait…"
The stray observed the two with a confused expression. "There's only one of you here and who is that guy? Don't seem to be a devil. You human? You might wanna get outta here. Things are about to get real dangerous here in a sec."
"Do not worry. I will handle this quickly."
Lucen backed up a bit as Vonica walked forward. She opened her hands and purple energy formed around them, materializing her flintlock pistols.
"To think there'd be a day where I'd be tangling with the famous Lady Violet of the Azaroth Family. Definitely looking forward to this– Hm?"
The stray eyed Vonica's pistols.
"Mind introducing me to your little friends there?"
"Since you are about to die, I do not mind. Allow me to introduce you to my Song, 2Violet."
"2Violet? Hahaha, I gotta admit, that's pretty fitting."
Song…? Where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, that's what Lia called that crazy scythe of hers right?
"Well, let's get started shall we–"
Suddenly, erratic, goblin-like noises filled the area. Behind Lucen and Vonica were at least a wave of two or more dozens of feral devils.
"Looks like these guys also wanna play, haha."
"How inconvenient."
"Hey Vonica, I'll take care of these."
"Wait, are you sure?" Vonica asked, a bit concerned.
"Yeah, I can handle myself. Especially against these tiny little things."
Vonica hesitated before reluctantly agreeing. "...Okay, be careful. If anything happens, yell out for help, alright?"
"Yup." Lucen said, cracking his joints and doing a few hops.
Why did I say that?! What is wrong with me?! I've only ever fought thugs and creeps, not whatever these things are even supposed to be! Ughhh! No no no. Wrong mindset, Lucen. Think of them as if they're basic idiots who can't fight, trying to hit on a cute girl and if I beat them up, I'll get the easiest date of my life. Yeah… Yeah!
Lucen approached the group of feral devils, mind steeled.
"Quite confident for a human. Interesting. Anyways–"
A purple energy beam blasted right at the stray to which he narrowly dodged.
"Hey, at least give me a warning!"
"Sorry, but I am here to kill you after all." Vonica said in a snarky tone.
"Fair point... Well then, let's tango!"