Closing Time

Suggested music: Frank Sinatra - Blues in the Night

Traces of smoke lingered in the dusty bar, which had largely emptied. Even for the Grass-Spiders and their associates, it eventually came time to put down the bottle and retire (stumble) to one's quarters. Nevertheless, an unlikely inhabitant remained in the bar.

Midori Rizuka was the bar's lone remaining inhabitant, staring wistfully into a half-empty cup of tea. She idly stirred the small spoon resting in the tea, lost in her thoughts. She didn't visit The Training Grounds often, and had come in this night as most patrons were on their way out.

Nuadha O'Bannon had just finished cleaning out and hanging up a few glasses, and made his way over to the senior Grass-Spider. The bar was dark - most of the torches had been put out. Nuadha noticed that even in the dark, Rizuka's fair skin took on an almost green, pearlescent glow. Technically, it was past the bar's closing hour, but Nuadha wasn't about to throw out the oldest living member of the organization. Stopping in front of Rizuka's seat in the bar, he leaned forward, speaking gently to her.

"Can I get ya' something, ma'am?"

Although not startled by his polite intrusion, it was clear Rizuka was not fully paying attention to her surroundings. She looked up to Nuadha, smiling.

"No, thank you. I must be a bother, keeping you open so late. I'll be on my way shortly."

Nuadha shrugged, smirking sheepishly.

"No trouble, ma'am. My doors are always to the Grass-Spiders. If you need anything, you just whistle for me."

Deciding to leave the elder Dragon-Blood to her thoughts, Nuadha went back to cleaning up other areas of the bar. Fortunately, it was not difficult to stay busy - after the Circle With No Name visited, it was easy to think there were two hundred Grass-Spiders rather than two-dozen. Nuadha was a bit surprised when the door opened gently and an enormous form ducked carefully into the doorway. Iron Shatters Oak nodded to Nuadha on his way in, but appeared more interested in the woman sitting at the bar. He approached with a slight grin, taking a seat next to Rizuka. He stared at her for a few seconds, his grin persisting.

"Midori, this is not where I thought I'd find you."

She looked up from her tea, smiling to Oak and cheerfully inquiring, "Did you come looking for me?"

Oak laughed a little, shaking his head.

"You wish! Me? No, I came for a nightcap. You're the last person I expected to see... Is that tea? Really?"

Oak couldn't help but jeer at Rizuka's timid choice of beverage. She shrugged a little, still smiling.

"I wanted a change of scenery, Oak, not a hangover. I didn't come for the booze."

Oak shook his head in a disapproval that was at least half-serious, replying, "By the gods, Midori. Some criminal queenpin you are."

Rizuka, in good humor, defended herself.

"Oak, I don't come here to scold you about your late-night boozing. What gives?"

Oak, certainly the more crass of the two eldest Grass-Spiders, was ready with a counter-attack.

"And I don't come to a bar to drink tea with old women. But since we're both here anyway, how about you let me buy a girl a real drink?"

Rizuka rolled her eyes ever so slightly, shaking her head. She looked down into her tea for a moment, giving it a final stir before glancing up to Oak, simultaneously pulling out the stool next to her as an invitational gesture. Oak accepted her offer, taking a seat on her left. Rizuka slid her tea to other edge of the bartop and looked to Oak.

"You're going to be death of me, Oak. I didn't get to be this old by obliging every enterprising man who offered me a drink, you know."

Oak waved a hand dismissively to Rizuka as he tapped lightly on the bar with the other one, signaling for Nuadha. He replied to Rizuka, "Yeah, yeah, I know. Rice and tea, early to bed, early to rise, all that crap. Sounds like a blast."

Oak stopped his speech abruptly when the organization's beloved bartender had moved over to their seats. Oak looked up to Nuadha and placed their orders, deciding himself Rizuka probably did want a drink. He held two fingers up to Nuadha.

"Whiskey and a whiskey."

Nuadha nodded silently and went fishing under the counter for a bottle of his best - this was unspoken when dealing with senior members of the Order. Oak turned his attention back to the woman at his right. He shook his head slightly, smirking.

"Healthy or not, I can't see how you take any pleasure in that overblown piety of yours. I'd rather live another five years than die another ten."