Purgatory

A New Week

     Laus finishes brewing a cup of tea for the last customer currently in The Nocturne. This being was Ahmik, a stout and somewhat chubby minotaur covered in long shaggy cream-colored hair. In an almost absent-minded way, he slowly reaches for the cup.

     "Really? I feel like I always have to warn you that the drink and the cup are hot." Laus offers his words in a nonchalant way as he briefly recalls the last time Ahmik went for a hot cup and burned himself.

     "Come on Laus, are you truly going to underestimate the might of the Minotaur!? My kind has bested many beings, do you really think I'll be bested by a mere 'hot cup!?'" Ahmik shouts as he puffs out his noticeably riled up by Laus' words.

     "Yeah, you said something similar the last time, and that was right before you shattered the cup and nearly rampaged through here." Once more Laus remarks nonchalantly with a smirk.

     Ahmik was ready to respond when the thought of what happened last time flowed through his head. Having Layl put you in your place and completely ignoring your strength as if you were a child leaves an impression. Ahmik noticeably shakes his head as if trying to get the thought out.

     "Since you're in a rush," Laus grabs a coaster with a sigil etched in it. Pressing his finger against the sigil, activating it, Laus slides the coaster to Ahmik. "Since you don't want to spend any time with me today."

     "Come on, you know how annoying it is to get back to Beastkin territory from here." Ahmik gingerly takes the cup and places it atop the coaster. The sigil that was etched in the coaster was one that had a cooling effect, so once the cup was placed on it the drink quickly dropped to room temperature. "Thanks."

     "If the commute is so annoying then why not try getting a job there?" Laus responds almost unconsciously as he goes for a book of sigils he has on the countertop. Ahmik being one of The Nocturne's regular customers was the only reason Laus even did so. He felt no need to carry on in an overly professional manner or pretend to be busy.

     "I know you don't go over to that part of Purgatory often, but I thought you would've at least known that the best way to keep what you want safe is to do it on your own or with your pack. Respect meaning so much there." Ahmik beams seeing as he seemingly gave Laus a piece of information he did not know. He then takes a gulp of his tea before continuing on. "So, bodyguard work there tends to be almost non-existent, and the few ones available are death sentences since it paints a big target on the guard and the person who hired them. If your sister wasn't always around I'd ask to do security here."

     Laus looks up from his book with a smirk at the mention of his sister. Her monstrous strength being known by most regulars and others the siblings knew. Thinking about her made Laus realize it had been about a week since she went on her little excursion to vamp territory, and had yet to reach out to him. However, before getting to lost in thought on the topic a loud gulp accompanied by the sound of porcelain hitting the counter, breaking his concentration.

     "You know? You just may make the best tea in Purgatory!" Ahmik shouts as he arises from the counter stool. Even tough stout by Minotaur standards Ahmik stands about a foot taller than Laus when not seated.

     "Now if only compliments prevented my dishes from getting damaged," Laus speaks sarcastically as he gives Ahmik a quick side eye.

     "Sorry, your tea's just so refreshing after work. Here take this." In an act that can only be perceived as attempting to look cool, Ahmik flips a coin that emits a faint pink to Laus.

     As often as you come here you really don't need to be tipping me." With deceptively quick reflex Laus catches the coin out of the air and places it flat on the counter.