Of Angels and Demons

Chapter 10

Note: I don't exactly have experience with alcohol, but I did some research, kinda. So if I get something wrong, I'm sorry. Other than that, enjoy the chapter.
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"Woah woah woah." Eddie nearly shrieked as he snatched one of the shot glasses from Richie's reach, "Uh. Stan, I don't think he's ever drank before. I think we should start out small, huh? How about a light Sangria."
"Oh.. yeah, sure." Stanley smiled before heading back to the endless shelves of alcohol.
"Uh... what's wrong with that one?" Richie asked.
Eddie snorted, "Trust me. If this shit is strong enough to knock a demon on their ass first try, I ain't risking it with you."
Richie still looked confused, until Stanley returned with a new slightly bigger glass, slightly darker than Eddie's.
He looked at it before glancing at Stanley warily.
Eddie snorted again, "Don't worry. It ain't poisonous. Not really anyway."
Richie glanced at him, before carefully picking up the glass.
Taking a deep breath, he lifted the glass.
A few seconds passed and he had yet to pull back from his drink.
"Okay, Okay. Take it slow." Eddie said, resting his hand on Richie's arm, which made him pause, carefully laying the glass down.
He had his eyes squeezed shut, clearly struggling with swallowing the contents.
Part of Eddie was tense, another part of him wanted to laugh.
"Well?" He finally asked after a few minutes.
Richie shook his head, "Its... different."
Eddies grin widened, "Alright. Stan, bring us some water, and maybe we tune it down to a beer."
Stanley nodded, who was clearly trying to hide a smile.
Richie was still trying to get over the new flavor and for a second, Eddie was worried he was already drunk.
Yeah. Right.
Eddie then drank his own shot with one quick swig, before setting down the glass.
Richie watched him curiously, "How do you do that? Didn't you say that was strong?"
Eddie laughed, louder than he should have, "It took a few years to adapt to it, but, now it's more of a slap to the face than a punch."
He picked up the second shot that was supposed to be Richie's, before tipping it back, only drinking half of it.
"What is it?" Richie asked.
"They call it Devil Springs." Eddie said simply, glancing at him.
Richie's brows lowered as he focused on the shot glass.
"It's just vodka. Strong, but good. Don't worry, by the night's end, we'll find your destined drink." Eddie expanded.
Stanley returned, setting down a glass of water and a glass bottle of beer. "I'd recommend drinking the water first for a while."
Richie carefully took the glass.
Yep, he was clearly slowly coming around to the demon.
For a while, Richie drank his water while Eddie called for a shot of tequila, and they drank in silence for a while, except for the occasional small talk between the demons.
Suddenly, a figure appeared beside them, hands slamming down on the bar table, "Hey Stanley. How about some margaritas."
It pulled both angel and demon's attention to them.
"Yes, you're majesty." Stanley called back, sarcastically.
Soon, 3 more people joined her, sitting on stools that were a few paces away from them.
The red-headed female seemed to notice them first.
"Hey. 'Sup!" She spoke up, a polite smile on her face.
"Nothing much. Just teaching my friend here how to drink." Eddie said, pointing at him.
Beverly stared at him for a few seconds, before giggling, "Okay."
With that, she got up and moved closer until she was sitting next to them, "Then he has got to try the margarita. Not that... whatever that is over there." She pointed at the beer.
"Hey Stan! Add another margarita! On me." She called out.
As they talked, the other 3 people moved closer to join them.
"Bev. You have got to stop putting yourself in peoples business. Remember what happened last time?" A tall, tan man spoke up over her shoulder.
"Oh shush. She was a bitch." Beverly said.
The man behind her lowered his head, taking a deep breath, a smile still on his face.
"Hi. My name's Beverly. This stranger here is my husband, Ben. That's Mike and Billy." Beverly pointed behind her.
"Name's Eddie, and this is Richie." Eddie said, also pointing behind him.
After a couple minutes of shaking hands, Stanley returned with the drinks.
"So. How's life been Stan?" Beverly asked as she sipped her drink.
"Mmm. Live here mostly. Just your average bartender." Stanley said.
"Shut up, you're the best bartender." Beverly said.
She then glanced back at Richie, "What do you think?"
"I guess he is a good... bartender." He stumbled over the word, slightly confused by the term.
"No. Not him. The margarita." Beverly laughed, taking a sip of hers again.
Richie glanced down at the drink, the sweet but sour taste still lingered in his mouth, "It's... good."
Beverly nodded, "Nice. Nice."
Eddie felt a hand on his arm, and Richie whispered in his ear, "Do they know?"
Eddie turned to him, "Know what?"
"That Stanley is...-" He motioned towards the bartender, who was talking away with one of the other group members.
"No. I'd wager not. But hey, no need to worry. They seem to be good friends. Like I told ya, he's harmless." Eddie spoke softly to him.
"So where are you guys from?" Beverly finally asked.
Richie spoke up first, "I'm from heav-"
"Here!" Eddie broke him off, jabbing him in the ribs, "We're from here."
"Well, 'from here', how long you two been together?" Beverly asked.
Eddie nearly spluttered out his drink at the question. "Come again?"
Beverly giggled, "I mean... how long you guys been friends. You guys room mates or something?"
Eddie was silent for a few moments.
"He is here to help me with a mission." Richie finally spoke up.
Oh no...
"Uhh... what he means is... well... he's always wanted to see the world, that's pretty much how our friendship sparked. So, here we are, seeing the world. We just stopped by here because we haven't seen old Stanley here in a while." Eddie explained.
He was anxious as to if Richie would speak up again when he used the term 'friend'.
Were they? They obviously weren't enemies by now.
"Yes, which you will have to tell me all about. Where did you go off to so suddenly?" Stanley asked.
"Well. You know I'm a straggler, I just go wherever my feet take me, you know? You should try it sometime. Step away from the alcohol." Eddie said.
Stanley scoffed, but a grin remained on his face as he handed Eddie another shot of tequila, "Yeah right."
"Richie isn't much of a talker is he?" Beverly spoke up.
"Uh... he's shy." Eddie said, mostly as a joke.
He knew it'd spark a reaction.
"I am not." Richie spoke up.
"Alright. Tell us your story. What is your favorite place you've visited so far?" Beverly asked.
Richie remained quiet, and Eddie was really curious as to how he'd answer this one.
"Uh... I like the theaters... I like open plains away from civilization.. I like to look at the sky, where I belong." Richie ranted.
Eddies heart stopped for a few seconds, but had calmed down the more he talked.
He hadn't heard him sound so sincere and... interested.
Did he really like the places he'd been? The places Eddie showed him?
"Aww. That's amazing. You'd probably make a good poet, you know that?" Beverly said.
A small smile crossed Eddie's face, he probably could be.