Devil's Nest, Thursday, November 5, 2020

[texted3times]

Eric was spending the evening going over the inventory lists with a small frown. "Why are we going through so much beer?"

Tiny rumbled an answer.

"Raccoons?"

Eric decided to just...not ask more questions. It was so much safer that way.

The Devil's Nest was open! And raccoon free, at least as far as Eric had checked.

[OOC: OCD free too!}

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[intraspective]

"Axes?" Iris asked hopefully as she sauntered on in. "An' Tiny, make me an Oatmeal Cookie."

[texted3times]

"Axes!" Eric confirmed, wandering over to remove the fiscus plants Lucifer kept putting in the way. "They are very fun. And sharp."

[intraspective]

"You know," she said, "if you ain't attached to those plants, we could stick 'em in front of the targets..."

She was cool with greenery murder.

"Or I could take 'em home. I like plants."

[texted3times]

"It would be absolutely terrible if they disappeared," Eric said, then grinned. "Tiny will assist you taking them home."

[intraspective]

"Wonderful," Iris said easily, her hair snaking out to help move one plant even as she moved another with her arms. "Then that'll solve the problem of hidin' the funnest part of this bar."

Sure, dancing and drinking was great.

Axes were better.

[texted3times]

"I'm sure he'll just acquire more, so you're welcome to take them with you as well when they show up," Eric said helpfully.

[intraspective]

Iris looked speculative at that.

"Think I should leave a list of plants I really like?"

Because, hey... free plants.

[texted3times]

"Do it, and I'll rewrite it to be a list of plants I hate," Eric said, winking, "and that might work."

[intraspective]

"I'll do that after axes," she decided, with a grin. "Over a drink or two."

[texted3times]

"And I'll sit here with my paperwork and pretend to be engrossed while secretly judging your technique," Eric said.

[intraspective]

"Or," Iris said, "you could throw them with me."

[texted3times]

"That sounds much more fun," Eric admitted, standing up from his chair and grinning.

[allie_vamp]

Allie entered the bar, noting the changes since the last time she been there. With a nod to Tiny behind the bar, she made her way over to Eric. After six years of dealing with vampire princes, Allie had thought Eric might be slightly less intimidating, unfortunately that was a no.

[texted3times]

Eric tilted his head to give her a good, long look. "Allie?"

[allie_vamp]

"Hi, Eric," Allie replied. "It's good to see you again." And it was she realized. He was intimidating, but he'd always been honest with her.

[texted3times]

"You too," Eric said, smiling toothily. "I was wondering if you'd run afoul of the school's library."

[allie_vamp]

"Fortunately no, Portalocity offered me an opportunity to get back to my world," she explained. "Getting back here was another story. It's been six years for me."

[texted3times]

"Well, you've missed quite a bit but also just the island being its normal brand of insane," Eric said. "Still need a shift at the bar?"

[allie_vamp]

Allie nodded. "I wouldn't mind having something to do at night. Do you have a night free?"

[texted3times]

"How's Saturday?" Eric asked. "We've added a few staff since you've been gone. And a co-owner."

Eric was less thrilled about that part.

[allie_vamp]

In Allie's experience campers were somewhat territorial. "A co-owner? How'd that happen?"

[texted3times]

Eric sighed--entirely for effect since he didn't breathe. "When you run a bar named the Devil's Nest and the actual devil arrives, you cut him in."

[allie_vamp]

Her mouth opened to say something, then closed. Allie shook her head. "I think I forgot how weird this island is."

[texted3times]

"His name is Lucifer and he'll probably stop in to complain eventually about how all the plants blocking the axe ranger are gone." Eric grinned. "Oh well."

He and Lucifer had been stuck in a fight about the axe range for months now.

[allie_vamp]

"Might not be a bad skill to pick up. Jackal's a big fan." Allie had actually started to miss her vampire big brother as the years passed.

[texted3times]

"Please do," Eric said. "The more people who use it, the more annoyed Lucifer gets."

Theirs was a very, very healthy relationship!

[allie_vamp]

"I'll keep that in mind." Not that Allie was looking to antagonize the Devil, but she felt she owed Eric a bit of loyalty for helping her out when she first got to Fandom.

Reaching into the pocket of her coat, Allie pulled out a dingy cloth bag. It was nearly full and if Eric listened closely he might recognize the sound of precious gems clinking together. "Do you think Pam can help me turn these into something useful?"

[texted3times]

"Pam excelled at all things," Eric said, taking the bag. "She'll get you set right up."

[allie_vamp]

"Of course she'll take an appropriate commission for herself." The baby vanp has learned how to negotiate in her time away.

[texted3times]

Eric flashed a quick grin. "And for knowing that, Pam will take only her due."

[allie_vamp]

"I appreciate that," Allie replied. "And since it appears that'll I'll be able to come and go back to my world without a problem now, there will be more in the future."

[texted3times]

"How is your world?" Eric asked. "Six years is a while."

[allie_vamp]

"Still controlled by vampires. We'll have to agree to disagree on whether that's a good thing," she said with a wry smile. "But there's a vaccine for the virus that causes rabids now. And if you're the one providing it, well, the Princes can be quite grateful."

[texted3times]

"Is that where the jewels came from?" Eric guessed.

[allie_vamp]

Allie nodded. "I remember you telling me to invest in property once. Since the last thing I wanted was to live under some Prince's thumb, this seemed like a good compromise. They're pretty much useless in my world, so the Princes thought they were getting a bargain. But I always hoped I'd end up back here where they'd be useful." Don't ask what she's going to do with most of the money Eric. You'll be very disappointed.

[texted3times]

"Well played," Eric said with a little smirk.

[allie_vamp]

She gave him a nod. "I had a good teacher."

[texted3times]

Eric's eyebrows arched up. "Me? Really?"

[allie_vamp]

"A little." Allie shrugged, "I listened and I watched when I was here. And when I was stuck dealing with a Prince who was pissed because he had to deal with Kanin's Daughter it was useful to think what would Eric do? Though if I'm honest, you probably would have taken a few more heads then I did."

[texted3times]

"Well, yes," Eric admitted, "but I was a Viking. It's in my blood."