Donta smiled at Rhys and shrugged to say his mess was no big deal. He did notice the obvious buffer space the newcomer had put between Sain and herself, but didn't say anything. He noticed that Wolfcub was exiting the Kitchen with a plate of food before the woman spoke again.
"A refuge? I could use that for a bit I suppose. Nice place though. I would really love a scotch on ice. Is there any specific currency you take? Only thing I have is American money. If you take that currency then I would kill for a bacon, double patty cheeseburger. Haven't had the privilege of one of those in a long time," she requested.
With that, Wolfcub reached around the woman and placed her exact order in front of her, mere seconds after it left her lips. Donta was also prompt with sliding her preferred drink across the bar.
"We take any and all currency, Madame." He said with a smile, "I'm sure you'll find our prices quite reasonable." There was a menu on the end of the bar he gestured to which was standing upright, slightly open. Inside the laminated cardstock was a nearly blank page with a small note in the middle:
"Order anything you want. Pay what you think it's worth.
Sensing confusion, he explained, "With this place connecting to so many worlds and realms, the exchange rates would be a nightmare to keep track of. Most people know how much a burger should cost from their world and time frame. I leave it up to, and trust their judgement."
The woman introduced herself beforehand and Sain seemed kind of forgiving for her earlier apprehension, but he had accepted her hand and gave a short nod to accept her apology.
"Thanks, for I guess the Inn's really good timing," she said, chuckling a little bit to herself. Dusting off her hand after shaking it with the big man's, she watched with some amusement as he worked to quickly wipe up the soot mess he had made on the inn's bar. She was sure just by Donta's hospitality so far that the mess probably wouldn't bother him too much. "So if you two don't mind me asking, why are y'all here? And what happened to her?" she questioned the two men out of curiosity, nodding her head toward the girl on the couch.
Donta smiled, "As for most people, coming here is mostly unintentional and by pure chance. I find that this place seems to offer it's services to those who need it most." he began, "Sain, on the other hand has been here a few times before and came here on purpose using his key."
Sain smiled, "He lets me come back because I behave myself while I'm here." He joked.
"I gave you a key because you deserved it. And because you seem to overpay for your drinks." Donta replied with a smile.
Sain's attention was quickly directed over his shoulder and he pivoted on his bar stool, using the empty stool buffer room beside him for his wings to pass without hitting either of them. The girl on the couch was beginning to stir.
"The girl over there seems to be from a realm without magical beings. From her clothing, perhaps from a realm close to your own, Miss Gael. She could even be from the same, yet unfamiliar with the truth of your reality." Sain said as he stood up. He took a step and stretched his wounded arm and wing for moment and quietly approached the lounge area a few steps away where the girl lay.
"Ugh..." She moaned as she tried to lift her head, "Wha?"
"Sain, here." Donta said, pouring a cold glass of water. The glass lifted off the bar, began to float through the air and gracefully into Sain's open hand.
"Drink." He said, helping her to sit up, "Relax. You are safe."
Tanya sat up and tried to blink several times, her vision slighly blurred. She could make out a fuzzy face before her among a blurred mound of blackness and shakily reached out to take the glass of water. She concentrated on taking a few deep breaths as her senses slowly came back to her, and she looked up once more into the caring face of the man who helped her. She blushed quickly at the sight of him and thought him attractive, but it took a moment for her eyes to leave his face to focus on his dark robes, and the jet black wings on his back. Her senses seemed to waver as panic set in, but the man caught her shoulder firmly and she oddly felt a soothing warmth flow through her body.
"Easy now. It's alright. You are safe." He said, "Can you tell me your name?"
"Y-you h-have w-wings...." She stammered as she began to shake again.
"Yes. But try and focus here. That's not important. Your name."
"T-Tanya. M-Morrison." she stuttered.
"Well then Tanya. Let's try calming down so we can talk. You are having a panic attack. Please listen to me. Look around the room. Tell me five things you see."
"B-Bar, a c-cat thing...person, a b-big man, a-woman, and an um A-angel..." she blubbered.
"Now name me four things you can touch."
"L-leather couch, G-Glass of water, B-black robes, and um, a cushion." she said.
"And Three things you can hear?" Sain continued.
"A C-Clock, dripping water, and a clink of a glass." she said. Donta huffed and turned the faucet of his sink tighter to stop the drip.
"Now name me 2 things you can smell." Sain asked. Tanya took a deep breath, instantly feeling calmer.
"Beer and burgers." She said.
"And finally, one thing you can taste." He said. She glanced down at her water glass.
"Lemon." she said, swirling her ice.
"Now. Do you feel better? Have you calmed down?"
"Much better. Yes. Thank you." she said. Sain sat down across from her, leaning forward to fit on the leather chair.
"Now, you have questions." he said, "The one foremost in your mind must be this place. I'll save Donta from his constant repetition of the explanation and say that this is a Tavern, bar or inn, depending on what you want to call it. It exists between realities and worlds. The door you came through randomly connects to these worlds and allows passage here."
"Who are you?" she asked.
"My name is Sain Darkwing, an Avian from a different realm than yours. This is Gael and Rhys. Behind the bar is the owner of this place, Donta. His companion and waitress of this establishment is named Wolfcub. Besides Donta and Wolfcub who live here, we all come from different worlds, or perhaps even realities."
"Am I dreaming?" She asked. Sain smiled and chuckled for a moment.
"That is a good question. I have seen a few before believing such a think and acted accordingly. Some doing things they would not do in reality, then regretting it when they realize the truth. All I can say is that for myself, I know this is not the work of my own mind and thoughts and therefore must be real. As for yourself, you have only my word to go on."
"So I'm not dreaming?" She asked, "This is real?"
"Yes." Sain said.
"But you have wings. Like an Angel! How is that real?"
"I know not of what these 'Angels' are, but where I come from, or at least in my home city, it is common for everyone to have wings. It's the most prominent feature of my people." he advised, then leaned back slightly, "I believe the problem here is that you come from a world where things like other races, magic and the like do not exist. You must have an open mind to try and accept things that may not be ordinary in your world because of the existence of others."
"Keep an open mind, huh?" she muttered, "Wait, did you say magic?"
"Yes." Sain replied. Tanya's smile could not be contained. Everything she had ever wanted was all coming true at once. She had found a flying man who knew magic in an alternate reality, or a place between realities or something, supernatural races and dimensional travel. And she found all of this by luck. An extreme chance that the random door she fell on connected to such a place. The chances are so infinitesimal it was just as well to be impossible.
Yet it happened. She is now here looking this winged man in the eye. The epitome of her private desires and secret obsession was literally staring her in the eye right now. The excitement she felt could not be contained and she visibly started shaking once more. An obvious look of worry quickly crossed Sain's face as he saw her shaking.
"This is all real? You're really here? A magical being who's not human? Really?!!!" she excitedly said. Sain smiled and simply nodded.
"Yes, however, you must calm yourself lest you render yourself unconscious once more." he said, "Can I get you anything to eat or drink?"
"Um, no. Wait, do you have Coff...." she asked, but before she finished, Wolfcub had placed a mug and carafe on the coffee table between them and smiled. She turned to Sain and patted him on the uninjured shoulder.
"Don't worry. It's decaffeinated." she said.
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