Centshuu and Ripply looked at each other with concern on their faces and then from the few feet she had covered since leaving them, Bell said "What are you waiting for? I know I'm beautiful and all but I'm not getting any younger here. Chop chop, boys."
Ripply sighed and Centshuu who was expecting this exact behavior from the diva of a woman chuckled.
"You heard the lady or should I say, your friend." He joked.
Ripply frowned "Don't start with me" he said and Centshuu smirked.
"What? Just saying things as I see them" he said smugly then followed behind Bell, walking in steps larger than hers—because of the height difference— which meant that he caught up to her quickly, whereas, Ripply followed behind them and maintained a good distance.
Looking at Centshuu beside her, Bell said "So, where is this pug you were telling me about? What does he even look like?"
Centshuu scrolled his head in the direction of the bar where he saw Mosey passing Avery a cup filled halfway with a certain liquid and he pointed at him with his chin "Over there. The one wearing my jacket"
Bell quickly took her gaze to Avery, staring intriguingly as she moved, and changing the angle of her sight until she was able to see a side of his face just when they were about to leave the main hall.
"Hmm, he looks… delicious." She licked her lip
"I'm sure my girls will want to have a taste if given the chance," she said as Centshuu moved the drape out of her way so that she could pass before him and Ripply.
"Wait!" Centshuu said suddenly when he heard her comment.
"What is it?" Bell looked at him and asked just as she took her first step passed the pulled drape.
"Not him. You and your girls can have your way with us however you like but not the kid. He's too… innocent" Centshuu said and Bell's expression changed to one of surprise.
She quickly looked at Ripply "Is he being serious?" She asked and Ripply's expression, as well as demeanor, said all she needed to know.
Bell flicked her eyes to Avery once more, focusing more on the jacket he was wearing and she grunted before finally looking at Centshuu.
"Now I understand," She said and Centshuu creased his forehead.
"Understand? What do you understand?" He asked, sounding slightly hostile.
"I understand that for some odd reason, you see yourself in the pug. I might not know anything about the poor thing but looking at him reminds me of a poor little recruit Ripply had brought through my doors all those years back and we both know who I'm talking about." She said and Centshuu grunted.
"I don't know what you're talking about" Centshuu replied and Bell smiled.
"Sure you don't." She said then faced her front and walked through the pulled drape, continuing "Don't worry, I'm sure my girls will be gentle so as not to break the poor little thing."
Centshuu chuckled as he walked passed the pulled drape "What are you even talking about? With how much debt we're in, we can't even afford rooms for all six of us, without sharing, let alone any of your girls. Anything your girls have planned for him would have to be in the house" he said then let the drape fall.
Ripply glanced at Avery through the corners of his eyes and then sighed before he followed along. He pulled the drape out of his path as he walked past it, and with that, they were gone, headed to Bell's private room to have their discussion.
.
.
. Back at the bar where Avery, Mosey, Kove, and Shieve sat, Mosey was trying to force Avery to take a sip of the drink in front of him.
"Come on, drink this cup at least. I thought you said you were an adult so why are you acting like you've never had a taste of alcohol before?!" Mosey said as he and Avery struggled with the cup of alcohol.
Because of Centshuu's jacket and not wanting to stain it with the drink, Mosey refrained from being as forceful as he could be which is why Avery was able to fight him off for as long as he had.
"Umm, I don't know. Maybe it's because I don't remember much. Even if I did, I'm sure I'm not someone who likes alcohol. I mean, why would anyone drink something with such a sharp aroma—" Avery said but then froze, alongside Mosey who looked shocked too as both of them flicked their eyes to the scantly dressed bartender.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to insult your product" Avery apologized.
The bartender shrugged, giving him a warm smile while she continued to clean one of the cups.
Avery smiled back and then sighed with relief. He hadn't even arranged himself on his seat properly when Mosey resumed trying to force him to drink from the cup. A performance that made the bartender chuckle.
Her smile and gentle laugh were so captivating that Avery and Mosey paused their struggle for a moment to stare longingly at her. Unfortunately, before they could take in the sight to satisfaction, beside Mosey's left side, Kove interrupted.
"Hey, what do you guys think Centshuu and Ripply are talking about?" Kove asked, causing Mosey, Avery, and Shieve to take their attention his way.