The bar at Fairy's end

 The first fairytales ended grimly. Often with blood or death... and yet they changed over the years. They became gentler and sweeter. However there was one spot where many stories came to rest. At the base of an old tree in an empty world two twins rested. The youngest one was the only one of the two who would leave that safe cradle at the base of the black roots and the safe shroud of the deep pink leaves above. Every night she'd return though and she'd lay her head in her brother's lap.

 "Would you like to hear a story again?" her brother would ask every night. Each night he'd tell her the story of one of the tiny lights nestled in the leaves of the tree. They were all each other had. Until one day... something followed the youngest home. Something with sharp blades of silver and torches. Nestled in the cradle of their tree the roots took on the color of the blood of a set of twins. Do you think our story ends there?

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  "A Bartender thats what I need" the man sighed clicking his tongue as his eyes narrowed at the lithe secretary almost curled up at her desk. Her eyes flitted from side to side as she gazed at the papers in her hands. She sighed softly a little breath escaping her lips.

  "Alright sir Mister... Shroud? ... um you had a rather odd list of requirements" the secretary sighed still hunched over her desk her thin fingers now twisting a pen around almost uneasy. Something about the man infront of her unnerved her. His smile felt too wide and the top half of his face was covered by a strange mask adorned swirling painted eyes all glowing on the porcelain surface.  His long dark hair fell forward a bit as he leaned in his fangs showing any time he opened his mouth. She felt a shudder run up her spine as she noticed something off with each and every glance at him. The longer she looked the more unnerving he seemed. It was only made worse by the fact she was the only person currently in the empty office. She wondered a moment if she should even continue offering him their company's services. His voice broke her out of her thought process a moment.

 "I need a very special bartender for the establishment I run" he said setting on of his clawed hands on the desk leaning forward. The shadows seemed to move like they were alive under his hand. The secretary swallowed a knot forming in her throat. She stopped hunching in her seat instead now trying to lean back as if trying to distance herself from the customer.

 "... ah one second let me look in our database" she said trying to find some excuse to give her more time. However as her eyes flitted to the glowing light of the computer screen, a profile somehow had already appeared of a bartender. She felt a shivver creep up her spine at the oddness of it. The appearance of the bartender that was rec commendeded certainly didn't match the customer. The young woman in the photo on the screen had big round eyes, the color of pink lemonade, paired with a small round nose, and a soft pleasant smile all on a rather round sweet face. Framing her round face was soft waves of cotton candy blue hair that faded into a shade of purple. It truly didn't fit the type of person she thought would fit the enigma of a man before the secretary.

 She tried to move her hand to search more but against her will almost like a puppet her hand began to slowly pull the pointer towards the print button. The machinery whirred to life and her eyes glanced up at the figure. Fangs... she could see the rows and rows of fangs as he smiled down at her. She could feel the shadows beneath her moving brushing against the skin of her arms and hands. Slowly the secretary stood.

 "... we've found you a match to meet" she muttered looking away from him trying to not focus on looking at him before she noticed something else wrong about him. As he stepped forward closer to her she swore she heard more steps than she should have. She bristled and immediately whipped around handing him the paper as fast as she could shoving it into his clawed hands.

 "Thank you.... just down the hall and I give the paper to the slot in the meeting room right?" he hummed his voice shifting changing in sound. The secretary nodded quietly and clasped her pen hard trying to process everything that was happening.

 "... I hope your little brother gets better" the man said with a final unnerving smile all the painted eyes on the mask blinking before he stepped through the door way leaving the secretary standing there almost aghast her back pressed against the printer.

 His feet clicked down the mostly empty halls as he made his way towards the meeting room with papers in his clawed hands. The secretary had lingered there a moment but she found herself following a bit. She had to monitor some of the visit still and make sure the proper papers were filled out still after all. The rest staff of the building found themselves unable to glance at him more than once as he passed. His cloak trailed the floor and it was almost like the shadows bowed to him as he passed. It would definitely probably be the discussion of many chats over lunch at work the next few days. He was never the sort of customer the corporation usually saw.

 However soon he reached the meeting room and slid in the appropriate papers. The door unlocked and he paused a moment glancing back at her.

 "Oh you must accompany?" he said his voice shifting and changing again as he spoke yet again. He gestured her to catch up and hesitantly the lithe secretary trotted up to their strange customer. She tried not to stand too close or step on the shadows around him.

 Slowly his clawed fingers curled around the door knob and began to slowly push it open. Awaiting them in the room was the dropzilla that was well determined to be the customer's best match. The secretary remembered the name on the profile for the young woman, Mari-rae. The secretary paused a moment as if gauging the reactions of the dropzilla in regards to the customer.

 Mari-rae had never met another customer before. She had only recently taken her current form as a bartender. It was odd but the job had felt like it had fit. Somehow she didn't see the same strangeness in the man before her others did. He seemed normal and his smile seemed oddly warm. She extended one gloved hand taking the man's clawed hand in hers and shaking it vigorously. Excitement bubbled up in her heart and showed in her every bouncy action.

 "Mari-rae! I'm Mari-rae! You're looking to hire a bartender right?" she chimed a big grin spread across her face. She wanted desperately to find a home already. The corporation had been good to her since she woke up but there was always something missing that made her chest hurt. Something that made every day feel lonely like she had forgotten someone who should of been there. She wanted to find her spot already.

 "Mari-rae I am Mister Shroud. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am indeed looking to hire a bartender. I run a place that many people visit." the man hummed "It is a place I made to collect stories. Afterall doesn't every visitor to a bar hold a story they tell or a story that is just beginning"

 Her fingers still held his gloved hand and she gazed up at his masked face. Stories... something about it felt familiar. Yet she couldn't place it. The idea felt like something that called for her. A place where she could belong maybe. Before the secretary could say anything , Mari-rae already had her answer.

 "I'll work for you" Mari-rae declared "I'm the best and only bartender for the job. Im sure of it". Her pink and gold toned eyes sparkled determination glittering in their depths taking both his clawed hand in her hands with a tiny excited hop. Mister Shroud let out a laugh another fanged smile on his lips.

 "I thought you'd be perfect" he said with a small nod as if he had already known how this meeting would go. Mari-rae hopped again with absolute joy her glasses almost falling off her round nose with the little movement. The secretary who had been watching the scene was confused a bit. She didn't understand how well quickly the agreement had happened.

 "... Ah mister Shroud we still need to do the contracts." the secretary muttered with a sigh. Mari-rae was by the woman's side immediately with big eyes glittering as if expecting the process to start right then.

 "lets get it out of the way then" Mari-rae cheered waving her hands a bit excitedly. The secretary clicked her tongue and sighed softly. She rummaged the contract out of her folder.

 "Mister Shroud. By signing this contract you are agreeing to the dropzilla program offered by Catpaw Corporation. You're agreeing to guide and treat the dropzilla under your care with the job of 'bartender' with respect and kindness. Should you break your contract and there is mistreatment of your employee, Catpaw corporation reserves the right to reassign your employee." the secretary said holding out the magical parchment. Mister shroud gave a nod and took her pen signing his name in a strange language she couldn't quite understand. The secretary's gaze turned to the dropzilla next.

 "Mari-rae by signing this contract you agree to do your job to the upmost of your ability and that from now on you're under the care of Mister Shroud in agreement with the dropzilla program" the secretary said offering the paper to Mari-rae. Mari-rae quickly and excitedly took the pen next and signed her name in print. The secretary raised a brow at the signature.

 "I can't write cursive" Mari-rae huffed as if picking up the slight judgment.

 "... riiiight. Now Mister Shroud you're responsible for Mari-rae. As for formality I will go over the specifics of the dropzilla program. Dropzilla are souls that were corrupted by sorrow who were given a new chance by the queen in the form of small inky animals in order to have the chance to experience happiness. Catpaw corporation devised a method to return these souls to a form close to their original form. However the method requires they be given a job. All jobs are given through contracts. As a contract signer you're responsible for guiding your dropzilla employee's new life to one that isnt tragic" the secretary rambled speaking a bit fast to get it over with and giving the contract to the man before her along with a pamplet. Mari-rae yawned a bit during the explanation glancing back at the contract. Mister Shroud took the final papers.

 "Let us depart young one" he chuckled and ruffled her hair after shoving the paperwork into his cloak. Mari-rae followed him out of the small meeting room a smile on her face. As they walked she kept up with him.

 "You should let me try to make you something to show you how good my skills are. I'll make you one of my drinks I practiced here. It'll wow the customers of your bar for sure" Mari-rae declared.

 "I'd like that young one. It is nice to have help now. I am told I do not have the face... for customer service" Mister shroud laughed.

 "Well then they must need glasses because its a nice face belonging to a kind individual! You keep calling me young one by the way how old are you?" Mari-rae declared with a nod to herself pointing to her glasses.

 "You are an oddity that is probably why you were a good fit. As for age... hmm I don't think numbers exist to express such a concept for me" he mumbled in response.

 "So old as the crypt keeper!!! Absolutely old! A relic of time! I'll have to give you a senior discount although you don't look that old." Mari-rae joked.

 "... your words wound me. I shall dramatically melt from sorrow now. How will I survive such a horrible wound to my immortal soul. An under travesty." he replied.

 "Now now don't ham it up! I'm teasing you dork" Mari-rae huffed but disolved into laughter wheezing a little between laughs.

 Their steps stopped at the building's entry way. A large fountain sat in the center of the room. Carefully without a word Shroud led Mari-rae to the edge of the glittering waters. Coins sat at the bottom. She always had wanted to reach down and touch the coins but they were wishes people made. Shroud held out his clawed hand while she stared distracted into the water. She tilted her head to the side a bit baffled by the small action but took his hand.

 In a swift movement he pulled himself and her into the fountain. She expected to feel the fountain's bottom beneath her feet but there was nothing there instead it was like being pulled into the sea. She held her breath at first with eyes shut tight feeling the water around them as they sunk. However slowly she opened her eyes urged by a small tap from her employer. All around them were glittering crystal waters filled with towering piles of coins and tiny lights like stars in the brilliant cerulean blue. Fish that looked like they had been pieces of the night sky darted around unbothered by the twos slow descent. She gasped. She had expected water to fill her lungs but if by some miracle. It was like magic. Something she had expected to see in one of the fairy tales she enjoyed. On what looked like the sea floor was a small door.

 As their shoes touched the sand, Shroud opened the door and it appeared to glow. Mari-rae glanced inside. Beyond the door stood the interior of a rather homey bar. Slowly Shroud led Mari-rae through the door.

 The interior was warm and welcoming with a light golden light illuminating the front room from the star shaped lanterns that hung from the ceiling. The tables were round with a small glass circle that showed the scenes of various seasons. She could see fish moving through the sea in one, and another held the pictures of cherry blossoms in bloom. The chairs were cozy too with soft cushions embroidered with glittering thread. Then at the back of the room was a bar made of red wood with pink leaves painted on it. Something about it made her feel... at home.

 "It doesn't have a name or menu yet" Shroud confessed as he followed Mari-rae to the bar.

 "Don't worry thats why Im here! How about the golden fleece? Like the story! We could make everything fairy tale and legend themed since we're collecting stories" Mari-rae hummed lifting up the board to stand behind the bar. She gazed at the shelves and shelves of drinks. She picked one of the glasses up then smiled seeing her employer take a seat.

 “That sounds like a fine name” Shroud replied watching the different colored liquids fill the glass as Mari-rae poured.

 “So what made you start a bar Mister Shroud?” Mari-rae asked as she stirred the drink with a brow arched. She couldn’t help being curious a bit.

 “Well it is a rather peculiar tale. I found a tree dyed red while I was searching in my younger years and the scene of a tragedy. Does this story sound familiar to you? Maybe youve heard something about such a place" Shroud muttered the eyes on his mask all gazing at her as if he was trying to determine something. A tree dyed red, why did it make her feel strangely sad. However she couldn't remember anything related to it. She felt discomfort ease in.

 "... I'm sorry I don't" she muttered wrinkling her nose and turning her gaze away as she slid the glass to Shroud.

 "Maybe one day you will and it won't be as sad" Shroud said a small frown on his face. He paused and took a sip of the drink letting the sweet yet spicy taste linger.

 "It's good. I think you should put it on the menu" Shroud muttered. Mari turned back to her employer and smiled adjusting her glasses which had slid down her nose.

 "Then I'll add it to the menu! I'll make sure our bar has as many patrons. If I do a good job then you have to tell me one of your secret stories" Mari-rae declared.

 "A fair deal. I mean you do also recieve wages, and a room as well as other benefits but if you desire a story every once in a while I shall indulge" Shroud laughed amusement obvious in his demeanor. His long dark hair seemed to move with his laughter almost wiggling like tentacles. Mari-rae felt nice for the moment. A small warmth growing in her chest. It was like home.

 "I'll do my best" she promised.

 "Then I'll look forward to your first day." Shroud replied ruffling her hair again.