Need to Want

Chapter 9: Ambivalence

Nighttime had fallen sometime after the group came back from the outskirts of the city and returned to the Castle to drop off the second robot they found this day. Eggman Nega was fast at work, and they knew they all had to come up with a new course of action right away. The dark clouds that had rolled over the city a few hours earlier had not let them be either. They brought rain though it was not extreme. The rain had died down now, and it was only a drizzle illuminated by the yellow tinted lights on the green colored street lamps that ran across the city's sidewalks in this nighttime.

The streets were getting busy again as it was only a drizzle now, but the group's nerves were frazzled a bit with the discovery of Eggman Nega operating right under their noses. To shake off the tension and relax a bit they all left the Castle and went to a nearby bar, one of the businesses that sat just outside the Castle gates, amoung many other businesses that sat near the Castle. The five of them inhaled the fresh scent of rain in the air as they walked on the soaked ground through and out the courtyard, out the gates, and to their right to the local tavern.

Promptly named: The Tail

The letters of the bar sat just above the entrance dressed in teal neon lights as the group walked into the tavern. As they walked into the tavern, a nervous looking male cat dressed in a long brown trench coat walked hastily out of it followed by a well dressed female. A few eyes fell on them once they were all inside. The usual odd stares came from a few patrons, but the bartender and others were too busy focused on their drinks. All females too, dressed in nice attire but alone in their seats or at their tables more interested in the drink in front of them. There were a few seats empty at the bar so they took five empty seats.

Honey sat next to Marine, who sat next to Blaze, who sat next to Sonic, who sat next to Tiara. Tiara had been on a roll being in such close proximity to Sonic these last few hours. Asking him questions and in general just teasing and flirting with him. On his end Sonic did his best to be courteous, but it only seemed to make her more aggressive. Blaze watched her and stepped in when she needed to every step of the way, though Tiara made sure she had a seat next to Sonic while they were in this tavern. Honey and Marine were exchanging things about their mentors while Blaze did her best to block Sonic from Tiara. The bartender, a yellow black spotted female cat dressed in nice black dress attire approached them.

She cleaned a shot glass with a rag as she raised an eyebrow "…Princess Blaze…how may I serve you tonight?"

This got everyone's attention and Blaze thought for a moment before she responded with a light frown "Three tonic's with piqmei."

"Oh I can't wait, their so yummy!" Marine said grinning.

The bartender then looked at Tiara "What would you like Mrs. Boobowski?"

"I'll have a cherry coke." Tiara said immediately turning her attention back to Sonic.

Sonic looked sheepish while Tiara sized him up and Blaze frowned as she sat next to him. The bartender looked down to Honey "And you miss?"

"I'll have some water." Honey smiled.

The bartender nodded and went to prepare their drinks while Marine looked curious "You sure you don't want to treat yourself?"

Honey shook her head giggling "I'm gonna keep my figure."

Marine and Honey then went into another conversation while Sonic felt like he was trapped between a rock in a hard place. Blaze spoke with a certain sternness in her voice as she watched Tiara "I thought Sonic might want to try the tonic while we had the time, The Tail has made it a delicacy around Arch City and other neighboring cities. The drinks are non-alcoholic of course."