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The water starts to bubble, rousing you from your half sleep.
Ah right, you’re out here for a reason.
The barkeep takes his hand away, shaking it as if he could instantly cool it off. With the other, he grabs the glass and sets it on the bar in front of you. It’s way too big. Then again, what would a teacup be doing in a tavern?
“Is there a reason why you came crawling to a tavern, of all places?” He doesn’t look at you when he asks. Instead he carefully pours the contents of the pot into your glass.
Your eyes fall closed again as you sigh to yourself. “Because I knew that you’d be here.”
It sounds illogical now, because it is, but in a way, you were thankful for the fog in your brain. “And here you are, making me tea.”
He grumbles something before looking you straight on. He’s leaning with his arms braced on the table. “How could you of- Ugh, listen, I’m only doing this because someone insisted on giving me this. I’d rather anyone drink it than for it to just sit here unused.”
“You could’ve brought it home y’know?”
“Hmph. Will you drink it or not?”
You pick up the glass, swirling it around like a glass of wine. “Mmmm, maybe.”
He huffs, turning around. “Don’t take your time, I was about to head home.”
You bring the cup up to your lips, giving it a tentative sip. It’s sweet, soothing. Nearly makes you forget how you even ended up in this situation. Emphasis on the nearly.
Regardless of your fatigue, you still have enough energy to stir a bit of trouble. After a mouthful of tea, you put the glass back down. Your eyes trace the wood grain, and your index finger follows along to trace it. With a playful hum you ask, “aren’t you curious to know how I got here? A poor ol’ adventurer, shivering from the cold. Even you, a stranger, can tell that I am usually so strong, but for the one time I failed, I was willing to place my safety in the hands of a grumpy barkeep.”
You can feel his exasperated sigh in your bones. It makes you feel a bit guilty, but you actually are curious to know his response. You stare at his back as he cleans up his side of the counter.
“Fine. Just make sure you finish the tea.”
You smile, straightening up in your seat. “I fell into Cider Lake.”
Despite his obvious reluctance, he was ready to listen attentively. How cute. You assume it’s why he tips his head in confusion. “That’s… it?”
“Yeah.”
Surprisingly, he doesn’t seem to be satisfied. “How did you fall? And what are you doing up so early?”
You take a sip of your tea. “Early? It’s midnight.”
He shrugs, “it depends on how you look at it.”
He turns to you, this time leaning his elbows onto the table. Turns out your brain still is a bit fried from your escapade, because you end up blankly staring at him. He gives off an aura of standoffishness, but he’s quite handsome. You don’t think you’ve seen anyone else with fiery red hair. Was it fate that he got a pyro vision?
It isn’t until he rolls his hand forward for you to continue that you remember yourself.
You clear your throat. He gestures to your tea, which you drink a bit too eagerly. After wiping the moisture off your mouth you continue. “Sorry. Anyway, I was commissioned by this guy to look out for monsters out by the water. His daughter couldn’t sleep at night because she saw them through the window, he said.”
“Then?”
“Well obviously I found something, accidentally fell in, and in my shivering delirium, my feet took me to your tavern.” You tip the glass in his direction before taking another drink.
He hums, bringing a finger to his chin. “Did you take care of all of them?”
You nod. “Of course!”
“Not bad.”
You glow at the praise. He may have backwards phrasing, but you’ll take it.
“Yup, and the day after tomorrow, I get paid.” In one big motion you finish your tea. “He still has to make sure there aren’t any more out there.”
He nods, taking the glass from you once you put it down. He goes to the sink to wash it, talking as he goes.
“What a story. Well, now it’s time for you to go.”
You jokingly pout, making your voice sound sad. “Kicking me out so quickly? I thought we made a real bond.”
He tries to hide it, but you see his shoulders twitch, as if he held down a laugh. “That’s what all the drunks say. However, a deal is a deal, you finished your tea. I would like to go home.”
You genuinely feel a bit sad to go, but before you give up, an idea pops into your head.
“Uh-uh, I don’t think that’s right.”
He turns to you in confusion. In his hands are your glass and the drying cloth. “What do you mean?”
“You still have a ton of tea leaves right? So that means you can’t get rid of me until I finish it all. And I have to keep telling you stories while I’m at it.” You smile triumphantly at him as you get up off your chair. “Thanks for the tea and the talk. I’ll see you next time, grumpy barkeep!”
You rush to the door, hoping you can leave before he objects.
To your surprise, all he calls out is, “my name is Diluc!”