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"Are you sure...."

"Yes, Jericho. This is the most popular place in Crystaline." Angie said confidently. "I've been here with Hiro plenty of times."

I looked at the building once more. It looked like an old tavern in those adventure games and where the heroes would go to find quests. It had large rectangular windows that gave off a faint glow from the lights inside, and a wooden door. Above it, was a polished plaque. I had to squint to see what was engraved in the metal, "Nightshade 1500" I said aloud. The establishment honestly looked like it was from that time era. It stood out like a sore thumb next to the apartment complexes it was placed between. Something about this place gave me a bad vibe, I regretted leaving Lavender in the bag, he was probably asleep by now, and i dont have the heart to wake him.

"What's so special about this place, other than giving the older immortals nostalgia for the good old days." I asked, still looking at the tavern.

"Jericho." Angie chided, "Didn't you mother ever tell you to never judge a book by its cover."

I shrugged, "That's how I pick which books to read."

Angie just rolled her eyes and walked up to the door. "Let's just go already, I'm starved."

I should know better to go against Angie's judgement but something about this place... It just seemed off to me. I looked at Angie once more who was giving me a pleading look. She wouldn't go in if I refused to. I sighed and pushed aside my instincts. "Alright, show me why this place is so great."

  Angie smiled and entered the tavern, with me, right beside her.

  My jaw dropped once I entered. Despite the outward appearance, the tavern looked like a modern lounge on the inside. Near the back of the room stood a stage where a small band played soft jazz and beside the entrance was the bar, between them were small tables and black couches. Soft blue and violet lights lit the room. Immortals of different ages and species laughed and drank. No one took notice as we entered.

  I heard a small giggle beside me, "Still have a bad feeling about this place?" Angie teased.

"I'll back to you on that..." I was still processing what was around me.

Angie smiled smugly and lead the way to the bar where we took a seat. "Hey Marcus!" She said cheerfully. I slung my bag over the head of the chair, not wanting to disturb Lavender who still laid in there.

A door beside the array of drinks opened, probably leading to the kitchen I guessed, and a tanned boy with freckles appeared. He looked around my age, so he must be young for an immortal. He had short messy hair and wore a vest and button up shirt, but most strangely, he wore shades. I found no reason for him to wear them in this dim lit room, but I decided against asking him. He smiled warmly at Angie, he didn't even notice me.

"Marcus this is Jericho, the newest member to my team!"

Marcus only stared blankly at me, his face was unreadable, it was hard to tell what he was thinking. A split second later he smiled and held a hand open, there I noticed he wore white gloves.

Not wanting to be rude, I shook it.

"So Marcus, is Hiro here?"

He responded with a simple nod. He then motioned to the back room.

"Nah, let him finish what he's doing." Angie responded.

Marcus nodded once more. He then took out a notepad and pencil.

"Oh! Right, I'll have my usual, what do you want Jericho?"

"What."

"What do you want to eat?"

   "I, uhh." I didn't even know what they served, how was I suppose to order.

"You can order just about anything here, don't worry." Angie assured

"A salad then, sorry."

Marcus nodded and wrote on his notebook. He then smiled at us once more before leaving to the back room.

"Uhh, is Marcus-"

"He's not mute, he just isn't a person for small talk. He's a man of action as Hiro describes him."

"Right... Hiro... Does he work here?" I asked

She nodded, "Yeah, normally Keepers get paid a monthly amount like any other job, so most Keepers don't get a second one, but Hiro got in trouble here a while back and had to work off some damage. Once it was paid off he decided to stay here. I guess he enjoyed it."

I nodded, my mind elsewhere. What did Hiro do, and why did he decide to stay? My mind was filing through the possibilities when a large figure stood before me. I looked up to see a humanoid figure, covered in golden hair. The only thing visable through the thick mane was white piercing eyes. It held two plates. One had stake, drizzled with brown gravy and cooked carrots, the other was a salad, decorated with colorful vegetables. It had our orders.With a grunt the creature set down our plates and shimmied through the narrow bar, back into the kitchen.

"Thank you Sally!" Angie spoke as it left.

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"So, Angie." I stated. Our meal was finished and we were both given a sparkling red drink that reminded me of soda. So I thought it was a great time to question her for a bit as we wait for Hiro. "Why is this one of the most popular place in Crystaline?" I can see the draw to it. It was one of the better lounges he'd seen. I took a sip from the drink was was surprised when it tasted like a cheryl temple. Even stranger, my cheryl temple. I used to put cheery sourheads in them when I used to make it for my siblings. It would give it a sour, yet sweet taste that would just make your mouth water. I shook the thought away and continued my conversation.

"Well, for one, it's modern. Being in here gives some a taste of what's out there. Very few immortals leave the boundaries of the city." She took a sip of her drink and continued, "Then there's the owner, Marcus."

  I nearly coughed up my drink, "Really?" Sure he seemed nice, but I didn't really take him for a business type.

  She nodded and continued, "He's really respected in Crystaline. Take Sally for example. She and her son ran from her home after Dragons burned it to the ground." Her eyes darkened and she started to rub the braid in her hair again. "I don't know the specifics, but they were the last of their tribe. You see, when Sally came to Crystaline, it was difficult for her. Those who live in tribes instead of Sanctuarys aren't used to the diversity or how things operate. It didn't help that many shunned her."

  "Wait, why?" Anger started to raise in my chest, she was a refugee, "Crystaline is supposed to accept everyone."

  She rubbed the back of her neck, "Some of Crystaline's inhabitants think those who live outside of the walls savages and often think they side with the Dragons. Crystaline isn't as perfect as you might think Jericho."

I huffed and took another sip of my drink.

"Anyway, jobless and poor, she feared the worse for her and her son. She thought of joining the Keepers, but was afraid what will happen to her son. That's when Marcus steeped in. He heard rumours about Sally, and decided to investigate. Once he found them he offered her a job and a place to stay. She still lives on the second level of the building with her son and Marcus."

  I looked at the boy in shades, polishing the glasses, and my heart swells with respect.

"Marcus lets anyone in his lounge, and doesn't tolerate fights or those who wish to segregate this place."

"What do you-"

"WHAT, are you too doing here?" I jumped, almost dropping my drink. Hiro stood behind the counter, wearing the same uniform as Marcus, minus the gloves and shades.

Angie smiled softly, "We came here to pick you up, duh." She finished her drink and got up, "So, ready?"

Hiro looked between us and sighed, rubbing the side of his neck, "Ya, just, let me check in with Marcus."

"You mean flirt?" Angie teased. Leaning into the counter, smiling mischievously at Hiro.

"N-no!" His tailed fluffed and glared at the battle herald before leaving to talk to Marcus.

"Wait so...."

"Hiro had a huge crush on Marcus? Yea. The 'Reason' why he stayed." She made air quotes around reason.

I returned my attention to Hiro and I watched his posture change, he seemed relaxed. His tail swished from side to side.as he approached Marcus. There I saw how much shorter Marcus was to Hiro. Marcus came up to his chest, so he had to look up to him. I couldn't hear what Hiro was saying but Marcus just smiled and nodded. He then returned to his customers with a chipper smile. Hiro came back as if nothing had ever happened. "I'm ready. Let's go home."

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body div#devskin0 hr { }

"Are you sure...."

"Yes, Jericho. This is the most popular place in Crystaline." Angie said confidently. "I've been here with Hiro plenty of times."

I looked at the building once more. It looked like an old tavern in those adventure games and where the heroes would go to find quests. It had large rectangular windows that gave off a faint glow from the lights inside, and a wooden door. Above it, was a polished plaque. I had to squint to see what was engraved in the metal, "Nightshade 1500" I said aloud. The establishment honestly looked like it was from that time era. It stood out like a sore thumb next to the apartment complexes it was placed between. Something about this place gave me a bad vibe, I regretted leaving Lavender in the bag, he was probably asleep by now, and i dont have the heart to wake him.

"What's so special about this place, other than giving the older immortals nostalgia for the good old days." I asked, still looking at the tavern.

"Jericho." Angie chided, "Didn't you mother ever tell you to never judge a book by its cover."

I shrugged, "That's how I pick which books to read."

Angie just rolled her eyes and walked up to the door. "Let's just go already, I'm starved."

I should know better to go against Angie's judgement but something about this place... It just seemed off to me. I looked at Angie once more who was giving me a pleading look. She wouldn't go in if I refused to. I sighed and pushed aside my instincts. "Alright, show me why this place is so great."

  Angie smiled and entered the tavern, with me, right beside her.

  My jaw dropped once I entered. Despite the outward appearance, the tavern looked like a modern lounge on the inside. Near the back of the room stood a stage where a small band played soft jazz and beside the entrance was the bar, between them were small tables and black couches. Soft blue and violet lights lit the room. Immortals of different ages and species laughed and drank. No one took notice as we entered.

  I heard a small giggle beside me, "Still have a bad feeling about this place?" Angie teased.

"I'll back to you on that..." I was still processing what was around me.

Angie smiled smugly and lead the way to the bar where we took a seat. "Hey Marcus!" She said cheerfully. I slung my bag over the head of the chair, not wanting to disturb Lavender who still laid in there.

A door beside the array of drinks opened, probably leading to the kitchen I guessed, and a tanned boy with freckles appeared. He looked around my age, so he must be young for an immortal. He had short messy hair and wore a vest and button up shirt, but most strangely, he wore shades. I found no reason for him to wear them in this dim lit room, but I decided against asking him. He smiled warmly at Angie, he didn't even notice me.

"Marcus this is Jericho, the newest member to my team!"

Marcus only stared blankly at me, his face was unreadable, it was hard to tell what he was thinking. A split second later he smiled and held a hand open, there I noticed he wore white gloves.

Not wanting to be rude, I shook it.

"So Marcus, is Hiro here?"

He responded with a simple nod. He then motioned to the back room.

"Nah, let him finish what he's doing." Angie responded.

Marcus nodded once more. He then took out a notepad and pencil.

"Oh! Right, I'll have my usual, what do you want Jericho?"

"What."

"What do you want to eat?"

   "I, uhh." I didn't even know what they served, how was I suppose to order.

"You can order just about anything here, don't worry." Angie assured

"A salad then, sorry."

Marcus nodded and wrote on his notebook. He then smiled at us once more before leaving to the back room.

"Uhh, is Marcus-"

"He's not mute, he just isn't a person for small talk. He's a man of action as Hiro describes him."

"Right... Hiro... Does he work here?" I asked

She nodded, "Yeah, normally Keepers get paid a monthly amount like any other job, so most Keepers don't get a second one, but Hiro got in trouble here a while back and had to work off some damage. Once it was paid off he decided to stay here. I guess he enjoyed it."

I nodded, my mind elsewhere. What did Hiro do, and why did he decide to stay? My mind was filing through the possibilities when a large figure stood before me. I looked up to see a humanoid figure, covered in golden hair. The only thing visable through the thick mane was white piercing eyes. It held two plates. One had stake, drizzled with brown gravy and cooked carrots, the other was a salad, decorated with colorful vegetables. It had our orders.With a grunt the creature set down our plates and shimmied through the narrow bar, back into the kitchen.

"Thank you Sally!" Angie spoke as it left.

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"So, Angie." I stated. Our meal was finished and we were both given a sparkling red drink that reminded me of soda. So I thought it was a great time to question her for a bit as we wait for Hiro. "Why is this one of the most popular place in Crystaline?" I can see the draw to it. It was one of the better lounges he'd seen. I took a sip from the drink was was surprised when it tasted like a cheryl temple. Even stranger, my cheryl temple. I used to put cheery sourheads in them when I used to make it for my siblings. It would give it a sour, yet sweet taste that would just make your mouth water. I shook the thought away and continued my conversation.

"Well, for one, it's modern. Being in here gives some a taste of what's out there. Very few immortals leave the boundaries of the city." She took a sip of her drink and continued, "Then there's the owner, Marcus."

  I nearly coughed up my drink, "Really?" Sure he seemed nice, but I didn't really take him for a business type.

  She nodded and continued, "He's really respected in Crystaline. Take Sally for example. She and her son ran from her home after Dragons burned it to the ground." Her eyes darkened and she started to rub the braid in her hair again. "I don't know the specifics, but they were the last of their tribe. You see, when Sally came to Crystaline, it was difficult for her. Those who live in tribes instead of Sanctuarys aren't used to the diversity or how things operate. It didn't help that many shunned her."

  "Wait, why?" Anger started to raise in my chest, she was a refugee, "Crystaline is supposed to accept everyone."

  She rubbed the back of her neck, "Some of Crystaline's inhabitants think those who live outside of the walls savages and often think they side with the Dragons. Crystaline isn't as perfect as you might think Jericho."

I huffed and took another sip of my drink.

"Anyway, jobless and poor, she feared the worse for her and her son. She thought of joining the Keepers, but was afraid what will happen to her son. That's when Marcus steeped in. He heard rumours about Sally, and decided to investigate. Once he found them he offered her a job and a place to stay. She still lives on the second level of the building with her son and Marcus."

  I looked at the boy in shades, polishing the glasses, and my heart swells with respect.

"Marcus lets anyone in his lounge, and doesn't tolerate fights or those who wish to segregate this place."

"What do you-"

"WHAT, are you too doing here?" I jumped, almost dropping my drink. Hiro stood behind the counter, wearing the same uniform as Marcus, minus the gloves and shades.

Angie smiled softly, "We came here to pick you up, duh." She finished her drink and got up, "So, ready?"

Hiro looked between us and sighed, rubbing the side of his neck, "Ya, just, let me check in with Marcus."

"You mean flirt?" Angie teased. Leaning into the counter, smiling mischievously at Hiro.

"N-no!" His tailed fluffed and glared at the battle herald before leaving to talk to Marcus.

"Wait so...."

"Hiro had a huge crush on Marcus? Yea. The 'Reason' why he stayed." She made air quotes around reason.

I returned my attention to Hiro and I watched his posture change, he seemed relaxed. His tail swished from side to side.as he approached Marcus. There I saw how much shorter Marcus was to Hiro. Marcus came up to his chest, so he had to look up to him. I couldn't hear what Hiro was saying but Marcus just smiled and nodded. He then returned to his customers with a chipper smile. Hiro came back as if nothing had ever happened. "I'm ready. Let's go home."