The two walk over to an all-black building with an X marked on the side in what seems to be red spray paint.
"They really need to find a better location for the Black Owl," Dante says casually, strolling into the entrance.
A voice booms out behind the door. "Why don't you both fuck off and find a better bar." Alexander walks over to the closest stool to the young woman behind the bar.
"Awe, don't be like that, Cherr. You know he doesn't mean it. He's just in a bad mood." Alexander pulled off his white gloves and placed them on the table.
Dante sighed and plopped down on the stool next to him. Dante wills his second relic, the "cloak of midnight," to change shape into the form of a biker jacket. Dante pulls a hair tie from his pants pocket and pulls his dreadlocks back into a ponytail. His brown skin glows in the dark room littered with neon lights.
The woman standing behind the bar pulls out two whiskey glasses. "Speech or no speech, you talk shit about my bar again, Dante. I'm going to kill you," She says, pushing her bright red hair from her face and laying the glasses on the bar.
"Yeah, sorry, Valerie. I was just pissed off," Dante replies. "Well, I'm not the type to hold grudges," Valerie says, pulling a bottle of Jack Daniel's from the wall. She pours the glasses and pulls out two lemon slices. " So boys do you think there will be any promising kiddos to adopt," Valerie says.
Alexander Takes a sip thanking Valerie for her heavy-handed pouring. Dante sighs before taking the whole glass to the head. "I don't intend to take in any new members. Especially not some still wet behind the ears cubs". Dante says, slamming his empty glass to the table.
A woman across the bar looks over because of the noise. Dante smiles over at her, and she blushes before waving at him.
Valerie steps in front of him, blocking his view. "I'm tired of running missions with just the two of you. It's exhausting! Also, every other task force consists of at least five members, and it's safer and more productive." She says, exasperated.
"Well, I mean, those rules were intended for normal task forces," Alexander says, still sipping his whiskey. "In our case, we don't necessarily need five members. I mean, with our combat prowess and your healing abilities. I can manage tanking and support while Dante focuses on killing everything in our paths."
Valerie interrupts him, " I am tired of wasting energy healing injuries that could've been prevented with simple extra numbers."
Dante reaches for the bottle of Jack Daniel's and pours himself another glass. "We have a 100% mission completion rate, which is higher than any other team in the Retrieval corp."
Dante stands, grabbing his glass. "I don't want any new members, and we don't need any. End of discussion. Now, if you will excuse me, a gorgeous blonde needs a drink."
Valerie sighs as Dante walks over and sits beside the girl who waved at him earlier.
Valerie slaps the side of Alexander's head playfully " You were no help," she says jokingly.
Alexander rubs his head. "I'm sorry, love. He is hard to persuade once he has made up his mind."
Valerie slams her elbows down on the bar holding her chin up with her hands.
"It's alright, love. He will come to his senses eventually. He does recognize we can't go like this forever. He is still struggling." Alexander reached his hand out to run it through her bright red hair.
She smiled as his hand came down, caressing her face softly. " I know that he is grieving. But it has been almost three years, and now that he no longer has Monica. I fear he is going off the rails." Valerie says, pressing her face into his hand.
"It will take time. As his friends, we owe him that, at least for now." Alexander glanced over at Dante, who was now laughing and holding the woman around her waist.
" In the meantime, my love, you should stop by my lab for some experimentation and exercise." Alexander flashes his devilish smile.
She runs her hands vigorously through the top of his blonde hair.
Come on, lover boy grabbing Alexander's hand and leading him to her room above the bar. "your lab is clear across the campus, and this is closer."
Alexander smiles, following her upstairs.
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