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A surprise, ey? Still recovering from the shot, you drum your fingers on the counter as you consider what to throw at budding bartender Haulie-Paulie.
“C’mon…” He adds pleadingly, “Gimme a tough one!”
In that case, you reply with a daring grin forming on your face, you want something… <span class="mu-s">SCARY!</span> And make it a <span class="mu-s">DOUBLE!</span>
“Da’ hell does that even mean?” Stripes remarks with visible confusion on his face.
“<span class="mu-r">Who cares?! I wanna try!</span>” Adds Nats as you feel her presence shift around excitedly inside you!
“That, my boy, is for the bartender to decide!” Laughs Ike as he gives his ward a pat on the back! “Now remember, son, what do we say to an order like that, hm?”
“Errr, comin’ right up, doll!” Paulie exclaims with a cocky wink!
“Atta’ boy. Now use that head of yers.” Continues the mayor as Haulie-Paulie gets to work. While he slings bottles around, you take the opportunity to greet the only other human at the counter. Pete, you begin, the hell are you doing here?
“Ahhh, nothing too devious!” The old man replies with a light chuckle. “After the <span class="mu-r">CLAYTON BLACK</span> fiasco I thought I could use a change of scenery, so me n’ Ike here made the trip up to this here <span class="mu-g">DRIVE-IN!</span>”
“You shoulda’ heard him!” Guffaws Ike as he watches Haulie out of the corner of his eye, “He was moanin’ like a polecat with a burr in its paw the whole dern way–lamentin’ how much the old place had changed, an-”
“Enough about that!” Growls Pete as a flustered look suddenly pops onto his face! “Anywho, met the ringleader and a few other folks almost immediately and we got on like a house on fire!”
“Pete’s been helping out around the camp ever since!” Stripes explains as Paulie pours whatever ingredients he used into a tumbler and gets to mixin’. “Not dat’ we need it, of course, but-”
“But nothin’. You boneheads keep forgettin’ I’m about as old as you’d be if you were still kickin’.” Pete scoffs as Paulie places your beverage in front of you with a triumphant ‘<span class="mu-i">clink</span>’!
“And there you have it, kid!” Paulie declares as you watch the pale drink in front of you expel an eerie, faint fog into the air about it! “I call dis’ one <span class="mu-b">DA’ FUNKY PHANTOM!</span> Give it a try!”
The meeting with Cliff still fresh in your head, you’ll take any opportunity to unwind a bit! Taking the chilly glass in your hand, you give your server a thankful nod before taking a healthy sip!
<span class="mu-i">OH.</span>
As the drink trickles down your parched throat, you’re jolted back to reality by a series of icy fingers running down your spine! Despite going down smooth like butter, the mysterious drink’s lingering aftertaste has you alert and upright! Wow, you remark as you cautiously glance around you, what… what <span class="mu-i">was</span> that?
“Sorry, kiddo, trade secret!” Paulie laughs as he and Ike share a conspiratorial wink!
>CONTD.
