TEND. THE. BAR! With nothing but a steadying breath to support you, you emerge from behind your catnapping cover and adjust your hat to an appropriately-gruff angle! They can’t see it, of course, but it makes you feel better, so…

Anywho, retrieving a glass from their table, you waste no time in getting to work polishing it! Problem, fellers? Startled by your sudden appearance, both parties forgo clobbering each other as they turn to face you!

“H-how long were youse’ standin’ there!?” Hisses Needo as he surreptitiously removes the knife from your table!

When you noticed trouble was brewin’, you reply, focusing your grizzle on the word ‘trouble’!

“F-forgive me, good sir,” Stammers the cloaked figure towering over you, “I’m afraid I don’t frequent establishments like these oft-”

“No trouble here, Mr. Co-owner...” Smirks Lido as he settles back into his chair! “Just directin' our new pal here to the exit…”

“Yea, das’ right!” Agrees Muuzi the Mzz’goe’virr with a dopey chuckle! “He gotta lil’ mixed up, is all! Askin’ about ole’ Fellick-”

“MUUZI.”

Lido invoking his crony’s name might spook the others, but you hold firm with a disapproving stare! Look, you grunt, if they wanna conduct that kind of business they can do it outside! Plenty of open land out there!

The freakishly-tall figure cocks his head to the side–a hint of yellow visible beneath his hood! “I… apologies, but I don’t follow-”

You don’t tolerate fighting in here, you explain, your tone straddling stoic AND understanding!

“What about dat’ fight over there?”

Following Peepers’ peepers across the bar, your heart takes the plunge into your stomach when you see who he’s staring at!

“That’s... That's MY food, darn it!” Volka snarls as a familiar pair of lime-green eyes dangles from her claw! “Get your own! M-Morook, make her spit it out! Morooooook~”

The ever-vigilant Morook doesn’t react–his glum expression evoking memories of being stuck in Summer School classes…

>CONTD.