Oh, the Misery - Arcane Male Reader Insert

VI: When The̶se Walls Come Tumb̴l̸ing Dow̷n̷

Music echoed through the closed bar, with no one but the bartender himself to listen to it

He smiled to himself while he cleaned a mug, humming. He enjoyed times like these when no one came around and it was just peaceful enough

Suddenly, the wind howled into the bar. It was strong enough to knock one of the doors open and startle the man

Once he realized it was just that, he went back to cleaning

Perhaps he should've checked twice

???: Chuck!

The bartender jumped back at the sudden presence. He turned to find none other than the boss's daughter, Jinx, taking over one of the seats

She was mindlessly rolling the gemstone on the counter. As soon as he got over his fear, he sought to correct her

Chuck (?): Thieram. Uh... My name's Thieram

Jinx stopped playing with the gemstone to look at him

Jinx: Nice try, Chuck

She tapped on the counter to signal for a drink, brushing some hair off her face

The man knew just what to serve her. The usual, the only thing she cared to drink

It was the same juice, served in the same cup she used all those years ago when she went by a different name

Jinx: What's all the hubbub?

Thieram reluctantly agreed to continue the conversation, afraid of what could happen if he didn't

Thieram: Uhh... boss wants us to grab someone up

Jinx rolled the gemstone to her other hand before lifting it between her fingers just as Thieram placed the cup in front of her

Jinx: Someone? Anyone? Who are you grabbing?

Thieram: Some girls and a guy. I mean, I mean not...I'm not grabbing girls...or guys

...and then he realized how bad that sounded. He placed a straw on the cup

Thieram: Oh-other than the... those ones... I guess

Jinx: Focus. Who are they? Why wasn't I invited to the party?

She rolled the gemstone on the edge of her cup and tossed it inside before she started drinking from the straw he served...while it was still inside

Thieram: Uh, I don't know. They... they got in a fight with Sevika. They did a number on her

She stopped drinking, the gemstone was pulled briefly by the straw before she dropped it back into the cup with a surprised expression

Jinx: Oh really? Which number?

Thieram: It's like a saying...

Without a warning, she grabbed Thieram and patted him in the back, not breaking eye contact

Jinx: You're doing great, Chuck!

She gave him one final pat and let go 

Jinx: Here, for your troubles

The blue-haired girl picked up her drink and finally decided to leave him alone. Before Thieram could even enjoy the silence, a new sound took over

The whirring of a machine

He gasped once he noticed it bitting on his back and braced for the worst once he failed to get it off

But when it exploded, there wasn't any fire or anything lethal, just a small display of pink glitter and smoke