“So? What can I get ya?”

The familiar voice arrived long before the owner did. Gliding from the other side of the bar to this one, eyes fixed on the new arrival.

“Nothing fancy tonight. Just the usual will do.”

“Ya sure?”

“Yeah. Had a rough day. I just need to power down a little.”

A short glimpse of disappointment passed the face of the barkeeper, but quickly made way for a more worried look.
Not taking her eyes of her costumer and friend she grabbed a bunch of bottles. Her tail swirled around a little before producing a glass from beneath the bar.

“Oh… and could you put it on my tab? I’m a tad short right now. Please?”

The routinely motion of mixing and pouring the drink suddenly froze. Slowly and delicately she put the bottles and glass down in front of her and put her head into the now free hands. With a faint smile she said:

“You do realize that ya didn’t pay that tab for about three months now do ya?”

An overly exaggerated look of surprise now entered the customers eyes as she buried her face firmly in her right hand.

“Ah shit. In that case, mind loaning me a bit of creds?”

“I guess I could maybe…”

“Dun’cha worry bout it! Your drink’en on house t’night!”

The voice boomed over a few tables and left a neat little empty line of sight onto a small Orc who, grinning like a happy idiot, raised his own glass in approval before returning to his own business.

“Thanks a lot C, I will pay you back later this week.” And with a quick smirk she turned back to the barkeeper. “You heard your boss. I got a free ride this evening.”

“Like that’s new.
We owe ya for last week anyhow.”

“Nah! Forget about that. Those punks had it coming to to them.”

“Still it’s good to know there’s an extra arm available.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

The barkeeper absent-mindedly finished two cocktails while poking the dark gray metal of the costumers synthetic arm.

Most other guest already left and those who didn’t were deep in conversation. After the last one left the Orc left his table and walked over to the bar where, by now, the two of them had collapsed into each other.
He carried his employee to her room in the cellar and the customer into the guest room. As far as he was concerned it could have also been called her room.
With a knowing smile he thought of how they would be feeling in the morning. Maybe he should prepare some soycaf just in case.

He had to enjoy evenings like this while they lasted after all.

Please don’t ask. This scene has been in my mind for far too long now. I know my storytelling ( especially dialog scenes )  sucks even worse than my usual writing, but I guess I could not help myself.