“That was brilliant” the redheaded Dragebarn enthused, “it really did remind me of a rytmeseksjon back home.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it Opal” Micky replied with a genuine smile, “they’re some of my favorite songs too.

Tanya climbed down from her stool behind him and joined the conversation with a grin for Micky before turning to face Opal. “Nice to see you again, April isn’t it? Didn’t I work with you a few years back? Can I get you a drink?” She offered, hoisting her own half empty mug.

There was a flash of annoyance in Opal’s eyes before she spoke, “yeah sure I guess, only one though, I’ve got work tomorrow, and gardening with a hangover is a special kind of torment” she replied shaking her head.

“Not to worry, I’ve got work as well” Tanya laughed, “Although I’m pretty sure this counts as overtime.” As she finished speaking Tanya wandered back towards the center of the bar, waving to get Marcos’ attention.

“Has she been helping you properly?” Opal leaned in a little closer to Micky to ask the question quietly, strands of bright red hair spilling over her ears as she did.

“Yeah, I’m not sure what Ma Duke said to her but she’s been like a different person since then” Micky replied

“I’m glad to hear that Micky. Ma Duke seems to love her, but she’s always seemed a little off to me” she continued.

“Was she your TRC liaison as well?” Micky leaned in closer to hear her answer over the bubbling conversations around them.

“Yes, but she didn’t work with me for particularly long, I pretty much had all the prerequisites for my class already, I just had to work on growing some things in Ma Duke’s front yard. Once I made it clear I didn’t want to do anything dangerous she pretty much left me alone. Honestly, I think some of the delving companies might have her on a retainer.”

Before Micky could reply Tanya’s voice crashed through the small moment of silence that followed Opal’s suspicion. “I leave you along for two minutes and there’s someone hanging off your arm.” Both Micky and Opal pulled back at pace and spun to face Tanya.

“Uh no it’s not like that, we’re just talking but the bar is loud so I was trying to hear what she had to say” stammered Micky waving his hands as if they could offer him some support.

“Hey singer boy, I’m not saying I blame you. She’s definitely cute. Here, catch” she tossed a small pouch at Micky who juggled it several times before securing the catch.

“What’s this?” He asked before examining the small cloth bag and its tight leather drawstring.

“I promised Ma there wouldn’t be any more surprises, so it's your wages from Marcos. Your drinks are on the house tonight too.” Saying that Tanya drained first one then the other glass she had been carrying.

“I’m gonna get out of here and leave you to it.” Turning a dark glance towards Opal she continued, “Blaes will want to see him in the morning about getting his class, so don’t keep him up too late.”

Without a single look over her shoulder Tanya wove her way through the crowd. As she strode through the door Micky and Opal looked on with on with slightly shocked expressions.

“So uh that happened” Micky said as he turned back to Opal. “How much of that do you think she overheard?”

Opal continued to glare at the now open door. “She was like that with me pretty much as soon as I said I wanted to work as a gardener rather than some kind of mad combat druid or something. I’m sorry if I’ve dragged you into whatever issue she has with me though.”

“From that reaction I’m guessing there’s more to it than that. I think you might be onto something with that retainer thing. That was when she spoke up so I’m guessing you hit a nerve.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Opal finally turned back towards Micky. “I’m sorry I spoiled your night, but I think I’m going to head out too.

“Ah you don’t have to do that” Micky said, “before her rather abrupt departure Tanya did promise you a drink, and apparently they’re on the house tonight. Let me grab you one before you go?”

“Are you sure, maybe I should just go. I don’t think I’m going to be much fun tonight” wringing her hands as her tail swept the floor in rapid, almost twitchy motions.

“I’m definitely sure” Micky reassured her. “The guy who found me when I arrived here is over there and I promised him I’d pop in for a drink later and his buddies look like a great time.” He gestured over to the booth Barrett was sat at, where an impromptu drinking game looked to be breaking out.

“That doesn’t look too bad at all” Opal smiled as glasses were hoisted over heads to roaring laughter.

“Not even a little bit, come on, let’s hit the bar.

After a brief struggle to catch the barman’s attention Micky led Opal towards the booth, pint glass in hand.

As they got closer to the table Barrett stood to welcome them with open arms. “Micky lad, grab a seat”, turning to his companions he adopted a victorious pose, “see, told you I knew the musician. You lot owe me a pint.” As the men grumbled Micky took a moment to observe them. It was a mixed lot, several humans sat amongst swarthy bearded dwarves and delicate, spider eyed o’rgimchak. There was even a hulking duine squashed into the corner, broad shoulders and thickset head rising above the high backed wall of the booth.

"This is th' jimmy ye fun in th' alley?” The duine seemed to chew the corners of the words, forming a broad accent.

“The very same, thought we’d kidnapped him and all” Barrett laughed, “Still I’d say he’s doing a bit better today than when I saw him last.

Settling into the padded booth with Opal beside him Micky nodded to the other figures before responding. “All I’m saying is when you wake up in an alley and there are two big buggers with sticks standing over you the whole thing feels very ransom-y.”

The table erupted in another round of raucous laughter at this, with more than a few digs being thrown at Barrett before he sat down.

“Anyway, if Barrett hasn’t told you, I’m Mickey and this is Opal.”

“That was a fine performance you put on young man” replied one of the o’rgimchak with the same cultured, precise tones as Blaes and the tailor. “It is always a pleasure to hear music from another verse. It gives us an opportunity to see inside a world and a culture we might never visit or experience.”

“that’s very kind of you to say” replied Micky. “I loved to sing in my home ‘verse and being able to do it here makes this place feel a lot more like being at home.

“I feel the same way about growing things” said Opal with a warm smile, her earlier irritation forgotten amongst the good cheer at the table. “Being able to care for and nurture something from a tiny seed makes this whole feel alive and real.”

“'n' barrett finds his ain joy in the bothering o' goats” rumbled the duine. “ ‘m Ainsley” he said offering a hand which could have completely encompassed a basketball.

Absorbed into the company of Barrett and his workmates Micky and Opal consumed far more than just the one drink she had mentioned to Tanya.

Several hours late,r and with the crowd dwindling Marcos joined them at the table with a shockingly blue bottle of what he called Morte azul. A number of shots followed and Micky was persuaded to sing one more song.

Weaving unsteadily towards the rack holding up the Vaixell Micky took several breaks to catch his balance. Talking a hold of the stool like a lifeline Micky lowered himself down gently. Bracing his feet in an ultimately futile attempt to stop the room from spinning he began to play. Unsteadily at first but then falling into a rhythm he started to sing, his voice lifting to meet the sweet of the music.

As I went home on Monday night as drunk as drunk could be

I saw a horse outside the door where my old horse should be

Well, I called me wife and I said to her, "Will you kindly tell to me

Who owns that horse outside the door where my old horse should be?"

Ah, you're drunk!

You're drunk, you silly old fool

Still you can not see

That's a lovely sow that me mother sent to me

Well, it's many a day I've traveled—a hundred miles or more

But a saddle on a sow, sure I never saw before.

As Micky rolled through the verses of Seven Drunken Nights he heard the laughter from the booth rising and falling in waves. Sometimes the high clear notes of Opal’s voice floated above the others only to be drowned by the deep booming bass of Ainsley’s guffaw.

The seventh and final verse crashed to its conclusion.

But a condom on a carrot, sure I never saw before.

The laughter at the booth rose to a fever pitch as Micky bobbed and weaved his way back to his new friends through the now empty bar. Greeted by claps on the back and another round of shots Micky settled in for a long night.