"Lass, did you challenge Melissa to a drinking contest?"

"I was the one challenged, but yeah we're having a drinking competition."

"Uh oh!"

"Oh no..."

"Well looks like we won't be able to get drinks here for much longer... enjoy it while you can boys."

"Is it that bad?"

"Melissa has been running this bar for a decade and nobody has seen her drunk and not because she doesn't drink."

"Huh, Maybe we should've decided on what to do if the result was a stalemate..."

Melissa overhearing our conversation decides to speak up 

"Cocky much? Well if such a result occurs you'll still be welcome here, you'll just need to pay for your drinks. Sound good?"

"Fair enough."

We enter a lavishly decorated room with cushioned seats and a large table in the center of the room. Melissa and I take our seat across from each other.

"So what will we be drinking tonight?"

"How kind of you to let me choose the drink."

"Oh I'm just trying to be fair. You'll need every advantage you can get."

"And you said I was the cocky one. Well whatever, I'm not familiar with the cocktails around here so can you make some drinks using an ingredient from my nation?"

I pull out a jar from a travel pouch near my waist, put it on the table and slide it over.

"Oh?"

She catches and opens the jar, shakes it a bit then smells the contents. Her face relaxes into a smile.

"Oh that smells heavenly... what is it?"

"An exotic plant called vanilla infused in strong vodka for half a year to extract the flavor. We often use it in baking in the N'esk tribe as flavoring."

"So its flavored alcohol then?"

"Well I mean technically-"

"Then I see no reason we can't drink it straight. No need to experiment with cocktails that might turn out awful."

Her eyes give away how dead set she is on this matter. Fine.

"Sigh, we're gonna need a lot more of it then. One of you boys want to run out a quick letter to my lodgings?"

"""Yes, ma'am"""

"Chuckles, I'll have one of my staff get you pen and paper, AVA DEAR COULD WE HAVE SOME ASSISTANCE?"

A girl around my body's age comes out of a door labeled 'staff only'. She's a real looker, but she seems very familiar. Her face is weirdly similar to the head of the organization, Gormir. Its like someone genderswaped the guy and put them in one of the bar's uniforms. 

"Ava, could you get us a pen and paper, oh and while you're at it, some shot glasses too."

The girl, Ava, notices my stare and meets my gaze for a moment before nodding her head and going off to complete the tasks they've been assigned.

After getting the paper I jot down a quick note and hand it over to the boys and they quickly run off. Soon enough they're back with some of the snakefolk I brought with me carrying a few barrels of vanilla extract. Melissa takes the first shot and cringes a bit after downing it.

"Christ that's a strong flavor."

"Well yeah thats because its supposed to be mixed with other stuff which would dilute the flavor a bit."

I take my first shot and yeah that's vanilla extract alright. Garn you ready to use magic to get rid of my intoxication?

[At the ready, Sam.]

Looks like I got this in the bag then.

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Lavalivarus PoV

I lie in a room filled with other weapons while my master drinks in another room. Its so very dark. The gnawing silence scares me. Is this what its like to become nothing? No this can't be what nothingness is because I remain thinking. I must think to stop myself from being consumed by this stillness. It can be anything at all as long as I continue to think.

I think, therefore I am. I think, therefore I am. I think, therefore I am. I think, therefore I am. I think-

The abyss surrounding me grows eyes interrupting my thoughts. Then a mouth forms.

[You-]

[Are you afraid little one?]

[you're my creator aren't you? If so please answer me! Am I real?]

It smiles impossibly wide.

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Gormir's PoV

I throw the report back on my desk. It seems the three rats finally wizened up to our tricks. I was expecting this batch of assassins to finally do them in, but not only have they failed to report back, the backups seem to be M.I.A. as well. Tracking them is probably gonna be a bitch from this point on. 

Honestly raiding the Lily's Dew almost looks appealing now, but I can't. Ava is there now. I don't want to get her involved. Not as a spy or as a casualty. Hell she'd probably say quite a few harsh things if I tried to make contact considering how long its been. Well even though I can't say I've been there for her, I still care. Maybe I should send some more discreet help her way. Maybe then she'd be able to forgive me. However that'll have to wait. Work comes first and I have to come up with how to deal with those three theives.

I start coming up with a few plans and write out the orders.