Costa Del Drunk

[Dust]

Dust was left covered in dirt and holding his summoned ax while his friend and teacher bond. But despite the circumstances, he was glad to hear the two getting along. He leaves the wood cutting tool on the ground just outside the hut and lets the older men bond while he tends to the booze a bit. Like stocking his own bar Dust puts the bottles in the many hidden shelves of the newly formed hut. He found a cold station with ice and running water, anything they’d need to pass a safety inspection regardless if they used it or even received one. He was still working on it when he smelt the stomach gripping scent of wild boar on a fire.

It reminded him of his night with Illidan and Gil, roasting bear through the night and feasting on it while they got to know one another. He wondered what the dark elf was up to. Doing so though made the contractor remember poor Jak. He fished out his phone from his pocket by the jelly-fish that still dangled from his shorts.

He paused to watch the cell-phone ornament swing freely, his face turning warm as he remembered what happened on the beach. In a flash he was back on the surf, Desman picking Jak up off of Ash and the demonic woman standing up with a smile, brushing the sand off her body. She wasn’t carrying anything, how could she with so little clothing? Even her bikini wasn’t fit to be called such. He’d asked if he could exchange numbers with her so he could check on the little guy.

She took his phone and set it up to sync with whatever device she had, then put it right next to her temple. It was strange, but everything about her kind of came off as odd. With a smile, she returned his phone, and in his contacts was a name, number, and another way to get in contact with her. ‘Shock and Awe’ was her e-mail. He realized it was the only contact he had, now that he was staring down at it in reality and in his memory. ”Call me anytime, stud.” She had said, giving him a wink. ”Even if it’s not important..” She’d told him, then walked away shaking her hips.

Dust found himself staring at her even implanted picture, it was a close up of her mouth in a half-cocked grin. He wondered when she took it, how did it get on his phone so fast, and did that lip piercing hurt?

He thought about calling her right at that second, the trip out here took at least an hour. However, they might be sleeping now, how heavily toasted Jak was that was probably the truth. Instead, he tapped the wet screen a couple times to bring up the text message menu, then keyed in a quick message: ‘Hey, how is Jak doing?’

Hokori hit enter and then pushed his phone back in his pocket to keep it on his person. As he did he stared down at the last half of booze that needed to find its way to the shelves when something flickered just outside his vision.

Alert to danger even in a relaxed setting, Dust turned to face whatever it was that opposed him in a time of peace, ready to rake his claws across someone’s face only to find a peculiar… thing.

While it looked alien at its finest adjective, it was somewhat familiar to Volk. He has only seen a Doll at work once in his life, but it would never be forgotten. There in the shifting sands was a formless spector, translucent and hard to see if you didn’t focus on it properly. It looked like ghostly goo, a bulbous head lifting into the air about half a foot with three dark spots slowly moving in the center. It floated like air but looked like liquid. It was his Doll observing him. This was both strange and exciting.

A Doll’s job usually consists of information gathering or keeping tabs of the field. Like he used to be they were stripped of emotions but were often notoriously useless for anything that required self-action. While a contractor was limited in how they reacted, they were fully capable of thinking for themselves. Often it was for self-preservation purposes. That tended to mean a lot of different things. Dust learned quickly if he did not do as he was told, his Russian master’s would test how much his body could take. Often his punishment was brutal, and always it left him with more than one scar.

Between their brainwashing and what he had to do to do what they wanted, it was a wonder how he survived. Of course, he was young. Still. His body could take more punishment than most of the other soldiers who were in their 50’s or older.

Dolls had other functions, though what those could be were beyond him exactly. The only one he came in contact with before this one had given them a report on the situation before he and whoever was responsible for taking him out on a walk that night was sent in to do the dirty work. He didn’t know much beyond what he was exposed to. But he’d seen those kinds of spectators dotting the whole place.

Apparently, the mediums that the dolls use to send their amorphous spectors through could be just about anything. As long as they were in contact with the medium, they can watch a target from a surprising distance away... Lycan wouldn’t know what his medium was until he went out and found Hoseki, but he could only guess at the moment.

The alarming part was that he must be doing this on his own accord. That didn’t mesh well with the information he had. According to the past, they weren’t supposed to do that. He remembers his care-taker telling him not to bother talking to it because the Doll wouldn’t even respond. Did Hoseki want to keep track of him?

Not knowing what else to do, he waved to Hoseki and then turned back to the unfinished business.

Ookami had purchased a limited amount of variety. Mostly it was vodka, sake, and rum, but in multiple flavors. As well, different strengths. Dust didn’t know what his companions liked, but he guessed Takezo liked aged sake, and Gildarts could drink anything. And Hokori? Well, the only drinks he’d enjoyed were made by the bartender at that local bar. With some bribing and some begging, the tender gave him the recipes to his favorite drinks and now he was going to attempt to make them for himself and his friends.

He made sure to also grab some finely brew beer for the groups in the case that was someone’s preference.

He took the top of one of the crates, slapped a large plate on it, stacked three shot glasses on one side, a bottle of rice whiskey, a bottle of rum, and mixed three tropical flavored drinks according to the recipes he’d gotten from the bartender, then proceeded to balance them on the makeshift serving plate as he rejoined his friends. In his other hand, he carried a bottle of spring water.

The large man’s shadow loomed over the Tamsin-Doll who was touching the ground with both hands. When his jewel like eyes looked up, Hoshi handed him the water. “It’s fine, Hoseki. I’m not going anywhere.” He assured the kid, whether he understood or not was beyond him though. The silent boy took the bottle and then settled back into his place while his Contractor left him to mingle with the older guys.

He set the drinks on a nearby rock that had been unearthed, making it a custom table for their drinks. “Okay, first time making them, so be nice.” Dust offered a smile as he offered his teacher and friend the mixed drinks.

Takezo eyed the colorful layers, stopping to comment. “I am done with the civil tone crap, you are old enough for my honesty and will take it like a man.” He straightened Dust out with his words before sipping the drink. It was mildly sweet, tastefully so instead of overpoweringly like the marshmallows he spat out in the fire. It had an exotic taste of fruit, which was quickly taken over by the burn of alcohol.

“You’re friend is not joining us?” Gildarts asked, lifting his brow and lifting the drink to his lips. He got the same notes of pineapple and mango with the alcohol after taste, which left a confusing impression on his throat as the liquid was cold but the proof was hot.

Dust still had a pout on his handsome face from Takezo’s comment when his teacher cut in. The youngest of the adults had his own mixed drink in hand. They were served in the most simple cups, he figured presentation wasn’t that important to any of them, but he kinda missed the orange slice on the side. When his Doll came into the forefront of the conversation again, the younger male looked away like has done this whole time. “No. I think he’s too young to drink.” He muttered before taking a long drink of his own mixed drink. The amateur bar-tender stopped and pulled his glass away to eye the cup for a moment before smiling up at the two and licking his lips. “Hey! That’s almost as good as the old-man's.” Dust celebrated, effectively sidestepping the issue.

Gildart’s was willing to let it go while they’d been on the beach but now that he could properly teach the youngster a lesson he wasn’t about to let Dust escape his questions now. “What do you mean you think?” He kept his voice leveled. “He’s your secondary, isn’t he?”

SW-808 froze at the continuation of the conversation, and then took another long drink as he looked away. He knew he couldn’t outrun Gil all night, so he should give him some kind of answer. “He is... But he’s sorta mute. He doesn’t talk much..” He finally said. It was all true, as true as he could say without saying what he tried to avoid admitting. Dust’s dark gray eyes avoided Gildart’s.

But because the crash mage couldn’t see the difference between that and the truth, he let it go for now. It was true that some Primes accidentally summoned people, maybe that was the case. Maybe it was simple as that, Dust didn’t know anything about the single-braid boy because it wasn’t a familiar face. He let it go for now. “What’s his name? You should at least know that.”

Volk looked up sheepishly but nodded. “His name’s Hoseki.” He shared. But it was half truthful and half a lie. It was the only name the contractor had to give, but it was probably not the Doll’s real name. “Like... Gem. Or Jewel.” He translated.

Gildarts nodded but dismissed it. “Can we trust him.”

Dust pulled away from hiding behind his glass. “Of course we can.” He sounded offended... But why? This surprised even the Lady-Killer.

Silence hung in the air, only the fire crackling and the crickets chirping disturbed their pause.

The Strongest Prime finally nods and turns to enjoy his drink while he watched Takezo’s boar cook. After a couple of sips, he noticed the other things his student brought out. “What’s that?” He motioned to the oddly white bottle, Japanese characters in bold strokes formed the words that explained to Takezo and Hokori what it was, but if Gildarts did not read kanji he’d never know.

Takezo’s eyes light up when he see’s the bottle. “Sake!” He moved over to the pretend table and abandoned the tropical mix of rum and juice for a shot glass and the bottle. “Rice whiskey.” He further explained, then popped the cork out with his teeth and spit the stopper into the unknown before pouring a hearty shot. The liquid was just slightly amber in color and gorgeous in aroma. As soon as it slipped past his lips he was transported back.

To a room with paper walls, soft tangy music, the scent of tobacco and sage heavy in the room, smoke clinging in the air, and a gorgeous woman performing for him and him alone.

“Try it.” Dust offered, taking the bottle from Takezo and refilling his shot before pouring one for Gildarts. “It’s a local drink from where we are from. At least, where I was from originally.” He informed, his words stopping where it had sounded like he wanted to say more. His hand tipped the lip of the bottle back before he over-filled the shot. Gildarts watched him carefully.

What the two knew of the young man before them, it was strangely heartbreaking to watch his mood grow heavy so suddenly. Dust has consistently been in the best of moods and has worn a smile since meeting them both.

He must have noticed the two were staring because when he looked up he was wearing that signature smile. “Sorry about that!” He said, but offered no explanation, he only offered the shot. Then he poured himself one and held it up for a toast. “Kanpai! Cheers to our friendship!” Ookami exclaimed with some force and then the glasses clashed gently together before all three of them took the shot at their own pace. Dust threw it back uncharacteristically fast, the other two took their time.

Hoseki drank with them, but from his cheap plastic, flimsy bottle.