Caritas, Sunday

[suitably_heroic]

The influx of old Fandomites was proving to be an ongoing reminder to Atton how middle-of-the-road his life had gotten.

And you know what? After years of ups and downs, he was kind of all right with it.

He propped up the specials board - FREE MARTINIS TO OLD FANDOMITES - and got behind the bar, humming contently to himself while he... made Tino wash the glasses.

[[ open! ]]

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[not_a_whiner]

In the far corner of the bar, a man in a blue shirt sat hunched over a drink. He had at least a month's worth of beard growth on his face.

He didn't look particularly inclined to talk to anybody.

If anything, he was wondering why he'd even come here at all.

[shutupandkillsomething]

Cade came limping into the bar. "Turns out that there's no such thing as a crocogator," he said.

[suitably_heroic]

"Did you try to steal something again?" Atton asked dryly. "Didn't we talk about that?"

You know, last time Atton helped him steal something.

[shutupandkillsomething]

"Did we?" Cade replied. "I don't remember. We didn't get a crocogator. Or an alligator. They move a lot faster than they should."

[suitably_heroic]

"We did get other animals," Atton pointed out. "That also didn't go so well."

[notconflicted]

As promised, Sia came into the bar tonight, and after looking at the specials she said, "Are martinis one of the cocktails you've mastered?"

[suitably_heroic]

"I'm not sure you can really 'master' the martini," Atton said, perking up at the sight of her. "It's pretty simple. But we can start you off on that, if you want."

[notconflicted]

"I'll trust your judgment, if you'd rather show off," she said, almost smiling.

[suitably_heroic]

Atton raised an eyebrow. "That's a dangerous thing to say, princess," he joked. "Hm. What're you in the mood for? Sweet, sour, bitter...?"

[notconflicted]

"Sweet and sour," she said. Because of course she had to make it at least a tiny more challenging.

[suitably_heroic]

Atton thought about it. "How about an Italian Sunrise?" he proposed, reaching for the limoncello.

[notconflicted]

"I have no idea what that is, so let's try it," she said. "I trust you not to give me something awful."

[suitably_heroic]

"That's a lot of trust," Atton said, amused. "Okay, so while I mix this, you have to tell me a story from the past year."

[notconflicted]

"I'm not sure how interesting any of it is," Sia said. "Most recently I had to sneak into the Fountain Palace on Hapes to establish contact with my relatives there. My people intercepted a transmission that I'd been spotted there, so I had to cut my time short and leave. Most of my stories involve some of those elements."

[suitably_heroic]

"Look, when I'm asking you for stories, I'm not looking for a spy holo," Atton sighed. He picked up a bottle of vodka. "I want to know what you've been doing."

[notconflicted]

"That's pretty much it," she admitted. "I spend most of my time working or training by necessity. But I have the other Imperial Knights so I'm not isolated, and it's hard to be too serious with a giant dog around."

[suitably_heroic]

"Oh please," Atton said, as he began pouring the ingredients into a shaker. "We could surround you with clowns and a really persistent Bith and you could be serious."

[notconflicted]

"Of course. That scenario sounds terrible," she said.

[suitably_heroic]

"Fine, something really funny," Atton said, giving the shaker a shake. "... Something you'd find funny. See? I can't even think of something."

Well, besides him being an idiot.

[notconflicted]

"You after a gremlin bite?" she suggested.

[suitably_heroic]

"Hurtful," Atton said primly. "And I've been really gremlin-proof, all right?"

He poured the concoction into a glass. "You're lucky I like you."

Still occasionally had dreams about her in a catsuit, like you, shut up.

[notconflicted]

"I am," she said, and look, there was an actual smile. "How has this year been for you?"

[suitably_heroic]

"Quiet," Atton admitted. He pushed the glass her way. "I got into a mess with Mical and everyone else last year, and I've been laying low since. Being a bartender and a teacher and a part-time Jedi... almost feels like retirement."

[notconflicted]

"Thank you," she said, taking the drink. "Is that good or bad, retirement?"

[suitably_heroic]

"I don't know," Atton said honestly. "I should probably be at the Temple more - they're rebuilding a whole Order. But I've shoved so much life into the past twenty years or so. Feels like catching my breath."