Cam Ha Zel stood up, leaning against the wall along with Bie as they both waited for the remaining members of Bie's assigned group to arrive. The two exchanged a pleasant discussion, much to the surprise of a spying Lapil who looked through the window. Seeing the fact that they were being so familiar despite one being a mere fledgling and the other one of the most notable figures amongst the Guides, he was awestruck as his jaw hung open.
Before him stood a pale androgynous man with skin as fine as pottery, and big maroon eyes. His expansive dark barn red locks were tied up in a thick, slightly wavy mane of a long ponytail, and bangs lined his forehead, his cheeks, and fell level to the midpoint of his slender neck. He wore a black shirt with crimson stripes and a similarly long black tie that pointed down to a dark beige vest that was held closed with three dark, golden clasps, and his wrists were exposed with a black cufflink that was also held with the same-colored clasps. On his fingers were black gloves, and he held a clean rag and a long, metal cup, and his legs were hidden by black slacks that extended down into sleeky, shiny black dress shoes.
He put the now nitid cup aside and grabbed a similarly cylindrical glass, plopping in three sizable ice cubes inside while he grabbed two bottles from the shelf behind him. Pouring in the mixture into one metal cup as well as the juice of some colorful fruits, he shook the liquid inside with another cup for fifteen seconds before settling and pouring the final result inside the waiting glass, before pushing it towards Lapil.
"One Srelian Sunshine," The young man said, his voice methodical and pert. He then returned back to cleaning his cups, ready to mix whatever anyone asked, though most of the patrons of the bar were quietly mulling over their own drinks, not daring to interrupt the classy jazz playing in the establishment. Although the bartender didn't smile, he was quite pleased, liking his own place the best when people respected the ambience of the place.
Of course, some didn't. That was usually when he had to "escort" them from the premises, and "recommend" them to take their blood out into the parking lot or anywhere else.
"Thanks, Camilla. How much will it be..."
"Your Guide Rank is at?"
"Uh, Rank C Treader." Lapil pulled out a crystalline badge shaped like a full moon, with a half-moon affixed to a long cross insignia engraved on it, the top of it having a small C bolted on. Camilla nodded, accepting the proof.
"7 Sees. Congratulations on reaching Rank C." Lapil smiled before pushing small multicolored coins the size of a fingernail, withdrawing them from his checkered pockets as he slid them over the counter. Camilla didn't even bother to take them, knowing full and well that whoever decided to touch his coins in this establishment would face the consequences of him "helping" them out.
"It's nothing compared to you, sir. Being Part 6 of the Twelve Zodiacs is amazing! Laplace tells me about it all the time!" Lapil took small sips, savoring the contents within the glass as he started to become engaged in conversation. His minty eyes had a faint luster to them, and his rabbit ears flopped underneath his top hat.
"Right, Laplace was your mentor. Anyways, the Twelve Zodiacs isn't even an official faction, and on our own we're weaker than the Night District, the Midnight Church, and De Caelo. We're just twelve Guides who fit some sort of dumb theme and decided not to officially join any of them." Camilla explained as a matter of fact, leisurely wiping away at the cups as he began to yawn while grabbing three different bottles with honeyed liquid, soda, or reddened amber.
"Welcome, Dalcy and Frie. You've brought Gyuho and Wanxi with you, then?" said he, mixing up a concoction for the two Guides that had just entered, one leafy woman with orange hair and the other a greyish gangly man with dark lines under his eyes and a wide brimmed hat string to his back. One brought a surprisingly vitalizing aura around her, and the other slightly lit the air into a crackle as small lines of lightning occasionally shot from his pale fingers.
"Of course, that boy is relatively easy to handle. I just told him that he had to finish the second half of his introduction, and he gave me a simple 'okay.' and came over. What about you, Frie? How was Wanxi?" Dalcy giggled before bouncing in her seat, for some reason overjoyed while she reached for the glass that plopped itself right in front of her.
Frie had a mug instead, and he propped his head back as he took long gulps in an attempt to slake his thirst and ease his exhaustion. Sure, the dark lines under his eyes were characteristic of his race as a Limbo Wastrel, but they had become darker than many of his peers after years dealing with Wanxi's antics. He heaved his shoulder before lightly placing down the cup, leaning forwards while furling his fingers as he began to talk.
"It wasn't as hard as I figured it would be. I told her that the childe that beat her up in that tournament a couple days ago would be in her team, and that he was waiting for her in the Red Quarters. All of a sudden, she started badgering me to go as fast as possible, so I had to ride the Cloud Line to get here, since we were all the way in Emerald City."
"Honestly, I don't know why you insist on training her in the capital of the undead Guides. The Red Quarters would be fine for her too, and they have a lot more lakes?"
Frie looked at Dalcy as if she was joking, before calmly elaborating as he massaged his stubble. "It's because she's a War-Mer, so I figure she should get used to death as she's most effective in a fight. If I just gave her whatever she wanted, I don't think she would live very long."
The Tree Plal laughed, content with that answer and asking no more questions. Lapil, a mere seat away from the two, shrank in his barstool and tried to make himself as scarce as possible. He was sure they wouldn't be paying attention to him as long as he didn't make any eye contact, hopefully.
"Laplace's disciple is over there, if you wish to say hi." Camilla took the coins on the counter, before gesturing towards Lapil. The two mentoring Guides looked over, and their eyes were filled with surprise before Frie suddenly faded and reappeared beside him.
"So, you're the one who brought over Bie? How is he anyways, Wanxi has been talking nonstop about the childe ever since she got her *ss kicked."
"Yeah, Gyuho mentioned him like twice, so he seems to be pretty impressed! Lapil, spill the beans or we'll tell Laplace that you-"
"WAIT! Look let's not be too hasty here, I don't even have anything to say! I've only seen him attack once, so don't bully me! You can ask Atiche, and Dalcy, weren't you literally there to see him fight?"
"That doesn't tell me a thing because he didn't even use any abilities! Look, you're gonna spill the beans, or we go right to Lapil and told him you insulted his dress..."