"The Beast Lives..."

[lilyrose]

Lily walked back to the end of the bar and stood looking at the broken glass on the floor with hands on hips.
" Ok Skyler, in the absense of Kaden and Cassandra, I am employing you, on a temporary part time basis, as a General Factotum!" At his questioning look, she explained.
" General dogsbody! Your first job is to clean up that mess you made! You'll find cleaning materials in the cupboard over there!" She pointed to a cupboard at the side of the bar and back down to the floor.
" Come, on hop to it! We'll discuss rates of pay later!"
I hope I've done the right thing, she thought as she went to serve another customer. Kaden being a wizard and all!

[Skyler Canaan]

"Wait, what mess?" Skyler asked, snapping out of his daze. Then he looked down. "Damn," he swore, and got the mop. He didn't realize he would be put to work for a trip to the club.

[lilyrose]

Lily waited, hands still on hips, but was finding it increasingly difficult to maintain a stern look. She wanted to hug Skyler and offer to look after him, but she knew he'd run away screaming if she did. He'd been looking after himself, kinda, for a while by the look of it. How to help him without him realising? The only way she could, was to get him to accept the job. There was a small back room that was once Kaden's office, but was now empty. Perhaps Kaden would let Skyler use it to bunk down in.
" Well, what are you waiting for?" she said sternly. " Do you want this job or not?" She pointed again to the closet. " Either way, you get to clean up the mess!"
She paused to serve another customer.
" But we could really use the help. There's a lot of people in town at the moment and it's getting very busy in here!"

[Skyler Canaan]

"I'm getting there, I'm getting there," Skyler said, looking for the dustpan. He knew he wasn't of any use if he cut up his hands.

After cleaning up the glass, he pulled a couple bottles from under the counter and mixed a drink. He looked at a customer. "Wanna see something cool?" he asked. He then lit a finger on fire, and dipped it in the drink, causing it to flare up. He then put it in front of the customer. "Just blow on it to stop the fire," he said as he put the flaming drink in front of the stunned customer. He smiled over to Lily. "Anything you need me to take care of around here?" he asked, now psyched to get working.

[lilyrose]

"SKYLER!" Lily grabbed a cloth, grabbed the flaming drink away from the petrified customer, dunked it in the slops and grabbed Skyler.
" What do you think you're doing?" she hissed. She poured the poor man another drink and pointed him to a free table. " On the house," she muttered.
She let go of the youth and folded her arms, waiting for her heart rate to get back to normal.
" That kind of help we can do without!" she said at last, finally trusting herself to speak. " It was a neat trick, Skyler, but you scared the man half to death!"
She sighed deeply. What had she done!
" Look, what I meant was collecting glasses, cleaning tables, emptying ashtrays, stuff like that. Stay away from the drink. And no fancy tricks! Ok?"

[Skyler Canaan]

"So no fun that can get people scared or hurt. Got it," he said, heading to what (he hoped) was an empty table to start cleaning it up.

[lilyrose]

Lily watched him balance several glasses precariously and carry them to the bar. She gave him an approving smile whilst crossing her fingers behind her back. Phew, he made it! She shook her head and smiled. This is going to work out. Of course it is. Isn't it?

[narym]

Narym ran into the club, flanked by several other healers. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared around in confusion. Ok, so where was the fire and where were all the casualties? She banged her forehead with the heel of her hand. Idiot! What was she thinking? She had only just left here from the back door and here she was again, looking for a fire that she would obviously have seen earlier! She looked at her companions and shook her head ruefully.
" I'd say someone was having some fun here," she commented crossly, " except I'm not laughing!" She caught Lilys eye and waved. " Ok guys," she said, " panic over. I'll just have a chat with Lily. You might as well go on home."

She walked over to the bar and smiled at an astonished Lily.
" I take it there wasn't a fire with lots of casualties," she said wryly.

[lilyrose]

Lily gaped as Narym and several healers came rushing into the club. What was going on?
Narym came to the bar. Fire? Casualties? What?
" Who on earth said there was?" she asked astonished. Then an idea struck her. She looked over Naryms shoulder and saw a man slinking out of the door. Ah ha!
" Er yes, I mean no, er well, my new assistant over there had some fun with a customers drink and set it alight. It was only a tiny flame really and I put it out straight away!" She glared at Skylar as he innocently carried some more glasses to the bar.
" I guess the guy thought he'd get his own back!" And after I gave him a free drink and all! Oh dear, Kaden was not going to like this one bit!

[Skyler Canaan]

"Who did what now?" Skyler asked as he dropped off a few more glasses in the sink behind the bar. "Someone need to be taught not to mess with the bar here?"

[lilyrose]

Lily watched Narym walk tiredly into the back living quarters and sighed. Turning to Skyler as he spoke, she hurriedly answered him.
" No honey, just someone having a bit of fun at Naryms expense."
Oh gods, please don't do anything else! she thought. " We'll be closing soon, until this evening. Do you want some lunch? I could do you a sandwich or something?"
I just need to keep an eye on him, she thought. Then he'll be fine. Wont he?

[Skyler Canaan]

"Lunch sounds good. I'm starving," he said, looking for his bowl of nuts...

[lilyrose]

Absently passing over the bowl of nuts, Lily went to serve the last customer before calling time.
"Ok matey," she said to Skyler, "let's get to clearing these tables and finishing the washing up. Then I'll make you a nice fat sandwhich, you've earned it." Mostly. " And how about soup?" She started cleaning the table nearest to her. Narym's back there, she thought. Hope she's in the mood for company. Or maybe she's asleep. Hmm, asleep would be better, perhaps!

[Skyler Canaan]

"Soup is good. Food is good," Skyler said, not really feeling picky. "I'm easy to feed for the most part; as long as it's edible, I'll probably eat it."

Skyler looked around as he cleaned up a table, noting the difference between the rush and the deadness of closing time. "It's almost unreal, knowing how hoping this place can get and seeing it almost dead."

[lilyrose]

" Ah well," Lily replied, " they'll be back with a vengence this evening!"
She emptied the last ashtray and stood back to survey their hard work. " Well, I'm starving too now," she declared. " I'll just check that the kitchen is free and we'll see about some food."

She went through to the living quarters but was stopped from opening the kitchen door by the sound of voices. She could hear Naryms weary voice and Dyra and one she had not heard before. A man! Although dying with curiosity, she decided that maybe Skyler should be kept away from Narym, for a while at least! She went back to the bar. " Change of plan, Skyler. The kitchen's busy. So how do you fancy a late lunch at the cafe? My treat!"