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Sanctuary's tavern was, as it often was on Friday evenings, filled with the happy buzz and chatter of old friends and old rivalries unfolding as they always did at the stained and battered oak wood tables.
The air was warm and humid, and the sun outside was dipping below the horizon when a tall figure quietly opened the double doors into the front, unnoticed by all but the barkeep.
There were many sorts at this tavern. It is a well known fact that if you want to see a variety of types and statures, you just have to visit a nearby bar during the evening and keep an eye on the nightlife. As it were, there were many sorts from many cultures and nations, none of them really sharing a common heritage but all of them sharing a common joy: here, for tonight, we can raise our glasses to the setting of the sun.
At the bar itself, almost directly to the right of the front door, separated by a small hallway to the bathrooms, a small crowd took up most of the counters' 7 seats. Three in dark garb and the distinctive sigil of the Cove laughed loudly as they chugged, not making any trouble amongst any but themselves. Next to them sat two men who, from the easy chatter and banter they shared, appeared from the outside at least to have been friends for many years: one with skin of green, and one with a coil of rope and a crossbow at his hip.
The figure, having paused in the middle of the room momentarily to exchange brief words with someone sitting at one of the central tables, hopped onto the one remaining barstool at the end of the row, right next to the two surprised gentlemen at the end.
"I'll order in a minute, Eddie," he said with a smile to the barkeeper with long ears of a floppy greyish-brown. "I need some time to catch up first."
Eddie smiled in return, and went back to the back of the bar, polishing glasses and keeping an ear out for new orders.
"Pix!" exclaimed Fwhip with a huge grin and a punch on the shoulder. "Dude, where were you? It's been weeks! We were starting to think you just lifted into the air, Joel style."
"Oh, no, don't worry, it's nowhere near my time yet," said Pix with a laugh. "I just had to go back home for a little while to get my bearings and my belongings back in order. Don't worry. I wouldn't leave without at least a warning or perhaps a treasure hunt."
"I've had enough of treasure hunts," declared Jimmy from where he was sitting on the other side of Fwhip. "Ren's already given me enough trouble for a lifetime." He leaned forwards, eyebrows lowering. "Is that a haircut?"
"Yep," said Pix, running a hand through his (visibly far shorter) hair. "The ponytail was nice, but it's a bit too much upkeep now that I have access to actual showers again."
"And a new outfit too?" asked Fwhip in surprise, leaning back a little as Jimmy looked over his shoulder. "Dang, Pixl, you're a changed man!"
He looked at Pix closely, noting the more relaxed and worn outfit and the easier way he held himself. "It fits you," he decided. "You look way less stressed."
"Well, might just be me, but Pix with short hair just feels wrong," said Jimmy. He shrugged. "Glad to see you again, though."
Pix laughed, leaning back a little. "Good to know the council has reviewed my glowup," he said, opening his arms a little so that the other two could see the outfit better. "Yeah, it's been nice to finally sleep in an actual bed for once. My partner said I smelled like a horse, and they weren't wrong-"
"Wait, a partner?" interrupted Jimmy. "Like, a deputy partner, or...?"
"Nope. Relationship partner," said Pix. "As soon as I got home and slept off the jet lag, they practically threw me into the shower."
"Good," said Fwhip. "Sounds like they've got their priorities in order."
"They very much do, yes."
"Hold on, hold on," said Jimmy, still processing all of this information. "So you have... a partner. And a house that isn't here."
"Yes," said Pix, mildly concerned. "Jimmy, did you think that I just popped out of the ground fully formed one day holding a trowel and went 'oh well, time to dig!' or something?"
"Listen, okay," said Jimmy, going steadily redder in the face, "it feels like you've always been here. I never really thought about it."
"Dude, I'm a goblin and even I know that's not how humans work," said Fwhip incredulously. He glanced over at Pix. "You're human, right?"
"Last I checked," said Pix with a smile.
"Okay, well, at least now we know," said Jimmy. "If you didn't come out of a hole in the ground, then, where did you even come from??"
"College I work at sent me here on a research trip," said Pix. "They paid for the travel expenses and everything. I'm writing my PhD thesis on modes of storytelling and how tales shift over generations. There's a reason I was poking around you guys' empires with a notepad and pencil so much."
"Oh, yeah, that explains it," said Fwhip. "I was starting to think that you were up to something."
"Strictly speaking, I was," said Pixl with a shrug. "Just not the something you thought of."
"Sorry, hold on," said Jimmy.
"What incredible revelation have you had this time, Jimmy?" asked Fwhip, quite enjoying himself.
"You, be quiet," said Jimmy, pointing one finger in Fwhip's face. "You," he said, pointing at Pix, "have a degree?"
"Two, actually," said Pixl. "PhD in anthropology and a Master's in archaeology."
Jimmy gaped, and Pix smiled a bit as he continued. "And a quite rewarding job as a professor. It's incredible what one can learn about his friends if he asks them a few basic questions."
"You lot are horrible," said Jimmy decisively as Fwhip snickered. "Absolutely horrible to me. I might just up and leave early." He made to get off his chair jokingly, and Fwhip laughed as he pushed him back on with one hand. "Come on, you're not even gonna finish your drink first?" he asked.
"Reminds me, where's Eddie?" asked Pix, looking around. "Must be busy. Oh well. Anyways, Jimmy, where're you headed? A vacation?"
"I'm uh, leaving permanently actually," said Jimmy. "Tumble Town can manage itself. Norman can handle it, I think."
"It's been a bit of a crazy year for you, yeah," said Pix with a nod. "It's definitely deserved, though, for the best Sh- er, former Sheriff out there."
"I think it's been a crazy year for all of us," said Fwhip.
"Yeah," said Jimmy. "Also, thanks Pix!"
"Anytime."
"You both will be visiting, though, right?" asked Fwhip, looking at both of them and pointing in turn. "I might die of boredom without my favorite sheriff and my favorite history guy here."
"Oh, of course," said Pixl with a laugh. "I can't just leave you lot running around unsupervised. Besides, Sausages' empanadas are scary good."
"Definitely," agreed Jimmy. "Also, Hermes has started calling me their uncle and I sort of got attached."
"Oh! Baby fever!" Fwhip hooted gleefully. "Jimmy's got baby fever!"
"I do not," protested Jimmy.
Pix opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Eddie appeared at the top of the stairs in front of him, with Sausage in hot pursuit. "Pix!" he cheered, leaning over the counter for a hug. "Oh, we thought you were gone forever!"
"Nothing of the sort," said Pix with a grin. "I'll be around less, but I'll try my best to drop in as often as I can manage."
"Good," said Sausage, going to the back and opening the cabinets. Eddie had disappeared, presumably back upstairs. Sausage looked over his shoulder. "I'm running out of bedtime stories for Hermes. Have you gotten a drink yet?"
"I was about to order, actually," said Pix, fishing around in his jacket pocket for his wallet. "We really need a currency converter around here, that was another thing I wanted to mention, Fwhip. I don't know if you take British pounds...?"
"Oh, no," said Sausage cheerfully. "You get free drinks tonight because it's so good to see you again!"
"What about me?" said Fwhip. "You said I had to pay double because I smelled bad."
"It is less good to see you," said Sausage with a small frown that vanished as he looked at Pixl. "What can I get ya, Pix?"
"One small strawberry margarita, please," said Pix. Sausage nodded and went to make the drink, humming as he went.
"Ooh, letting loose I see," said Jimmy.
"Only a little," said Pix. "I figured I may as well treat myself to something before I go back into the field."
"Damn, back to work so soon?" asked Fwhip. "I'm starting to think we might not see you at all."
"A historian's work never ends," said Pix mysteriously. "Though it is nice to have a break every now and then. Yeah, I have a new place to visit, but hopefully it'll be less chaotic than-" he waved one hand in the general direction of the rest of the room- "this."
"Order up!" said Sausage cheerfully, sliding Pixl his drink.
"Thanks," said Pix, taking a sip. "Pristine as ever. Heard anything from Joel lately?"
"Oh, he's busy," said Sausage with a sigh. "Something about a godly council and a donkey. He does send me and Hermes letters though!"
"Tell him I ordered everyone in charge to not take down that 'Best Buds' billboard he put up," said Jimmy.
"Will do," said Sausage with a wink and a grin. He looked over his shoulder. "Oh, gotta go! Yes, hello? You were saying?"
As his voice faded into the babble and chatter of the room, Pix once again turned to Fwhip and Jimmy. "Well," he said. "I'm planning on being home by 2 at the latest. Got any hot topics to discuss?"
"I think that since we all have our drinks now, we should do a toast," said Jimmy. Fwhip nodded. "What to?" he asked.
"To the past, I guess?" said Pix. "Seems fitting, since things are finally winding down for the three of us."
"To the past!" cheered Fwhip, raising his glass.
"To the past!" Pix and Jimmy repeated before all three clinked their cups together and took a sip. Then, with no small amount of banter or mirth, they fell comfortably into conversation, laughing and drinking deep into the night.