Alabaster opened the door of the pub and wide grin on his face. His white hair falling messily in all directions as it always was.

"Well 'ello there mates!"

He called in what could easily be described as the worst Irish accent ever heard. There was a groan among the regular customers who were familiar with Alabaster's visits. He laughed as he walked in.

"Relax me buckos I'm only here to pay a bit off my tab and to add a few more dollars onto it." He said grinning brightly turning to look over his shoulder at his guest.

"Come on Fede the company may not be grand but I bet very few of these guys have ever seen a lady that wasn't inflated." He said brightly as he strolled in, the comments only rolled off most of the attendants who knew Alabaster well enough to know that he didn't mean any of it, and that it was often worth it to put up with the strange young-looking man most nights when he was in a good enough mood to buy drinks for every patron.

Fede was surprised when no one even took a second glance. If she made a comment like that, well let’s just say it was good she was a girl. As they entered, she almost sheltered behind Alabaster. Some of the memories from this place weren’t too pleasant. She followed beside him as they approached the bar. Fede leant against it with her head down, the brim of her cap obscuring a good portion of her face, casting it into shadow. She guessed this would be another test for her abilities, trying not to burn the place down whilst dealing with Alabaster’s antics. He was very distracting.

"The usual for me barkeep and...say what did you say you enjoyed again?" Alabaster asked glancing around and finding Fede who was hiding in plain view. He grinned wickedly and placed the money he had gotten from the park onto the bar,

"Drinks on me!" he cried out and almost instantly the bar was in a uproar, patrons rushed to the counter to get their drinks before the barkeep could ask Alabaster how he intended to pay for them. Alabaster laughed as he was bombarded with pats on the back and hands ruffling his hair. He knew this would upset Fede but he had faith in the fact she could control her powers, besides most the people there weren't anywhere near her mostly crowding around him. He jumbled his way to Fede's opposite side with a wide grin on his face.

"Sorry for the little surprise but I figured if all warlocks were once evil why can't I have a little malicious fun every now and again?" he asked laughing.

Alabaster had far too much faith in Fede’s control. Her breathing was slow and precise. She took deep breaths of the smoke filled air and exhaled gently. Even as silly as it sounded, deep breathing helped Fede to calm down and exert some kind of control. After his little ‘drinks on me’ stunt, no one paid even the slightest bit of attention to her. That was how she liked it, the small shadow against a matt of black. She would have thanked Alabaster if she was a different kind of person.

By the time Alabaster had made his way through the jubilant crowd, Fede had already got her drink. It was an apple and cherry Breezer, probably something Alabaster would have found disgusting. She was still pretty much a kid on the inside and had quite the sweet tooth.
“Thanks for the drink.” She said quietly, almost shyly.
She took a sip and looked up from beneath her hat, a small smile crept across her lips.

Fudge had been sitting in a corner table tapping away on his laptop when he heard the familiar voice cry out for drinks on the house, he looked up and with his one good eye saw an old friend once again raising havoc in the small pub.

"Alabaster ye old snake in the grass!" he cried out standing from his seat nearly knocking it to the ground as he hurried to him.

"It's been being years since I've last been seeing yah." He said his accent as usual think and hard to understand as he placed a hand on each of Alabaster's cheek and kissed him full on the mouth. There was no romance behind it but that was how he used to greet true friends and weed out traitors 'back in the day' he noticed the girl sitting to the side and grinned.

"Oiy well what 'ave we here? another wee lass Alabaster? I do believe you were stating that you were swearing off women after that little fiasco with the shapeshifter." He said laughing. Strands of firery red hair that had fallen from his tie now falling over his face slightly as he punched Alabaster lightly in the shoulder a wide grin on his face.

"I do believe we 'ave quite a bit of catching up to do, since the last time we be parting ways." He said.

"No problem, enjoy it." Alabaster said before jumping at the sound of his name being hollered from across the room, he made a stance as though ready to make a break for it until he realized who it was. He smiled and began to open his mouth to greet his friend when the kiss caught him off guard. He stumbled back wiping his mouth off the back of his arm a shocked look on his face and a small blush creeping across his face.

He glanced around making sure no one else had seen what had transpired before quickly looking back up and glancing over at Fede quickly.

"No no it's not what you think Fudge, not what you think at all, Fede and I are friends nothing more!" He explained quickly hoping Fede wouldn't get the wrong idea about him.

"Yes yes we do have quite a bit to catch up on but please one thing at a time." he pleaded slightly before looking at Fede a strange almost embarassed smile on his face.

"Fede this is my friend Fudge, forgive him he's not used to this time yet." He explained quickly.

Fede’s first impression was shock, it wasn’t everyday one sees that. Then she shrugged, taking a sip of her beverage. She watched this Fudge character with shifty eyes, he hadn’t said a word but Alabaster seemed to know exactly what he was saying. A cheeky grin broke across her lips.
“heyeah, I really didn’t see you as one of them.” She said nonchalantly.
It wasn’t really any of her business, nor did she really care. Fede was very much a ‘live and let live’ kind of person. As long as stuff didn’t interfere with her, she didn’t care either way. If anything, it actually made her feel a little more at ease around Alabaster.

Alabaster shot a mean look at Fede and stuck out his tongue before saying.

"Fudge is the spirit of a four hundred year old pirate who gets reincarnated every few years only to die and start the whole process over again." He said shrugging.

"We're friends too nothing more." Alabaster added again looking over at Fede then over at Fudge simply.

"He's the one I was telling you about, the only one who could tell you what you are and all that and still talk to me without wanting to kill me a few seconds into the conversation." He said.

"We met because my ancestor was the one who put him in this mess and he managed to hunt one of us down...namely me." He said.

She grinned mischievously before taking another swig from the bottle.
“Hey dude, I’m not holding it against you. In fact, I think it’s great. Good for you.” Her grin widened into something comical.
She actually had quite a nice smile, it was just rarely used. That probably added to its splendor. This was possibly the most relaxed Alabaster had seen Fede. Drinking always helped her to relax and forget her troubles. Of course, that came with its own problems. She was more prone to bursting into flames. But she was quietly confident she could control it, at least for the time being.

She thought that had to be the most hilarious name for a pirate. She had so many jokes lined up it wasn’t even a challenge. She became far more serious, back to her old self if you will, when she heard he could tell her what she was. There was something about this that seemed like a cruel joke.
“R-really? He knows what I am?” She asked hesitantly, her voice quivered softly.

Alabaster narrowed his eyes at her slightly as she continued to make jokes, but then glanced over at Fudge slightly when he saw her grow more serious.

"Aye that he could." He said nodding then blinked a few times and shoved Fudge hard.

"Now you've got me talking like you!" he cried out before turning back to Fede.

"Yeah, Fudge is a mage, and although that doesn't account for much in the magic world. It means a lot in the way of information, while he studies new spells and rituals he studies up on different species. Like he knows the best way to destroy my kind. He has nowhere near the type of powers you'd need to do it but the point is he knows." He said nodding his head pulling up a barstool and sitting down.

"But I wouldn't worry about it Fede, information is best left to those who want it, and if you don't want it...what good is it? simple as that."

He said taking the shot glass that the bartender had sat down in front of him and drinking it down quickly, wincing lightly as it went down.

"Ugh a bit tart."

Fudge stumbled back when Alabaster pushed him then promptly dusted off his large red coat slightly and nodded grabbing a bar stool and making a small three person circle near the bar.

"There be nothing wrong with the way I talk." He said simply giving Alabaster a sidelong glance before adding.

"Aye Alabaster be speaking the truth for once, I may not know exactly what ye are know but I be having a few clues and could be finding out for ye very quickly."

He said smiling, hoping the reassure the girl but not appearing to be doing much good.

"By the way the name is not 'Fudge' it be only a nickname given to me by that white haired devil over there, claimed it was easier."

He said shaking his head. He was surprised Alabaster even remembered him, despite the numerous magical rituals they had practiced. But it good to see him again, even if he was still a bit hostile.

Fede smirked, almost laughing, as she watched these two interact. It was obvious to her that they went far back. She was a little envious of such a relationship. It must have been nice to have a friend for so long, someone to rely on and watch your back. If she made any friends, they were mostly more of a convince, discarded when they were no longer any use. It was easier that way, less chance of getting hurt. Fede raised an eyebrow before taking another swig of her Bacardi.


“So… what am I, Fudge?”
Fede knew what he had said and that he didn’t know what exactly she was. But it was shorter than asking about the clues that may lead to her heritage. She didn’t even know if this was a good idea or not. Sure, finding out what she was could have been a good laugh, even fun. But it may also be very traumatic for the young Fede. It’s not every day you discover you’re a demon.

"You be having some sort of fire power, probably mostly connected to emotions. Or something of the sort. I wouldn't be saying you be a demon but you definitely be awfully close." He answered nodding his head.

"Of course I can't be being too sure without me notes."

He said as the bartender handed him a bottle of beer. He screwed off the top and took a long drink. It wasn't the ale of yesteryear but it was close enough. He looked over at Fede wanting to gauge her reaction noticing that Alabaster appeared to be doing the same, this wasn't the first time Alabaster had brought someone to him for such things and he doubted it would be the last.

However this time seemed a little different, like Alabaster actually was worried about this one. Which was unlike anything Fudge had seen before in all his years knowing Alabaster.

Her eyes opened wide as Fudge mentioned a demon, they narrowed quickly. She wasn’t a demon, was she? Many images conjured in her mind. The demons in folklore were inherently evil and malevolent. She couldn’t be a demon, no – Fede wouldn’t believe that, she couldn’t. Her narrowed eyes slowly turned to Alabaster.

“Is this guy for reals?” She sounded shocked and rather angry.
There was something deep down in Fede that knew he could have been right. His assumption about her fire ability was quite accurate. The magnitude of her powers increased with her emotions. Anger and hate were very volatile emotions for her.

"He's as real as you and me, and why shouldn't he be? just because he said you May be something a lot of people consider evil? well demons aren't the only creatures considered evil by society...not by a long shot!"

Alabaster sounded annoyed himself. He paused only long enough to take another shot before adding,

"And besides I've known a lot of demons that would be willing to give you the shirts of their backs if you needed it."

Alabaster's voice grew a bit louder each time as his face grew flushed with annoyance. He was far from drunk but he could be quite opionated when he felt like it, and to hear something like what she had said offended him terribly.

"You know what? why don't you just face the fact that you just might be a demon? you certainly can act like the evil type you prejudice son of a-" He stopped and shook his head...he hated being angry his history of anger often led to bad things happening and instead he stood.

"I'll be back I need some fresh air."

He muttered stepping outside.

Fudge shrugged off her suspicious look, it wasn't the first time someone didn't like what he had to say. But he was more worried about Alabaster's reaction. In all the years Fudge had known him he knew full well that when misconceptions like that were said Alabaster could turn into a mean little bugger. Which Alabaster did, Demetri was the only one who knew the one thought that plagued his friend night and day. He waited until Alabaster had left before looking over at Fede.

"Please don't take whatever he says seriously...he doesn't mean any of it, he'll come in and apologize as soon as he cools off. I'm not surprised you didn't like what you heard but it's true...not all demons are evil."

He doubted that would bring any comfort to her but he had to say something that would calm her down...especially after Alabaster's outburst.

"He's just touchy about the whole evil thing, his ancestors have tried very hard to prove that warlocks are not evil, despite several bad seeds...I could say more but I think Alabaster would be a little annoyed with me." He said.

This was a very new and frightening world that Fede was stepping into. Just the idea that she wasn’t human was too much for her to believe, at least for now. Many of the children throughout Fede’s short life called her such things. Monster, demon, devil – they all blended into the same classification for her, and she convinced herself that she wasn’t one. Her view on these creatures was not a positive one. Of course she believed them to be evil, she drilled that fact into her own mind a long time ago.

The initial shock of Alabaster’s rant soon dispersed and her eyes narrowed on him. She was becoming more and more irate with every word. Her hands clenched into fists as Alabaster stormed out of the bar. The smell of burning filled the room. Even though she heard Fudge’s explanation, she wasn’t exactly listening and this was far from over. She slammed her bottle on the table and took after him. The bottle had become warped in the centre, crafted into a tiny hand. The heated glass sizzled on the cool bar and parts were still white hot. The liquid had vanished, completely evaporated. The bottle began to slowly melt, falling in on itself.

Fede stormed out of the bar after Alabaster.
“What the hell was that?! You got something to say to me?!” She shouted before even catching a glimpse of where he had gone.

Alabaster whirled around from where he had been standing under a street lamp, he already looked calmer but there was still an indignant fire in his eyes that seemed to set his usually sparkling aflame.

"I said my peace and I have nothing more to say to you. Go on and yell whatever you want at me I don't care set me ablaze if you're so damn sure of yourself but face facts you're probably a demon and here's a mind blower you're a nice demon or is such a thing impossible?"

He demanded, his voice was quieter now and he seemed less peeved, it was obvious he was still irked but at this point he didn't care. It was better then being furious, bad things happened when he got angry...evil things. But he was far from that point.

"You're a nice person Fede weither you're willing to admit it or not, but I never thought you capable of this."

Fede frowned, this was a little too much for her at this time and Alabaster was acting very strangely. She didn’t know what she was supposed to have done. Why was he so angry with her?
“Capable of what? I haven’t done anything yet?!” She snapped back with a frown.
In the end it didn’t really matter, she didn’t like this new Alabaster. He was turning out to be just like the rest, and that made Fede sad. Although she wasn’t going to show it.

Alabaster took a deep breath inwards calming himself. He was acting like an ass and he didn't like it. He let his shoulders relax as well as the other muscles in his body. He then lifted a hand and rubbed his eyes with his fingers slightly, already he was getting a headache.

"Fede...I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. You've done nothing wrong I just get so angry when I hear someone say that one particular group or species is evil. I don't think about the consequences or about the other persons feelings...You're a nice person Fede and I should've known better."

He said looking up at her, it was a rare occasion...him being sincere that is, especially when he was apologizing but he meant it. He had acted poorly to someone who had done no real wrong, and he was genuinely sorry.

"Listen Fede, I'll understand entirely if you want to take a shot at me, If fact I insist just pop me one right across the jaw."

He said tapping the side of his face slightly.

An apology, that was the last thing that Fede was expecting. She was ready for a war. Not knowing how to react to such a sincere apology, nothing was said for a moment. She didn’t like to think of herself as a nice person, nice people were weak and finished last. She didn’t want to finish last – she was always last. Shuffling her feet she stared up at Alabaster, waiting for the shouting match that would never come. Fede was frowning something awful and still appeared quite pissed.

Alabaster was partially right in his assumptions concerning Fede, she was a demon. She didn’t know she was one and hated the sound of it. She couldn’t be a demon, she couldn’t be. The others couldn’t be right about her. If there was an endangered species index of demons, Fede would be close to the top. Their lineage was very close to extinction – she could have been the last. Fede wanted to smack Alabaster and she would have done in on her own if he hadn’t told her to. But she wouldn’t hit him now, not after him telling her to.

She was still quite scared about all of this and it was a daunting experience for her.
“I’m gonna finish my drink…” She said quietly.
In her mind, this was over with, not to be mentioned again. She turned her back on Alabaster and walked slowly towards the bar, pushing the door gently as she entered back into the darkness and warm lights of the Irish themed pub. Fede glanced towards Fudge, but didn’t have anything to say, her face said it all.

Fudge held his beer up slightly and said simply.

"What I be telling ya? for all his posturing Alabaster is being nothing more then a harmless teddy bear, especially when it counting ye be a woman."

He took a long swallow of his beer and added.

"So ye be finally accepting the truth eh? 'tis nothing to be ashamed of but we could be just be leaving it at that, since any more info might cause the both of ye to erupt into another fight."

He shut his mouth after that, nothing more needed to be said. He ordered another beer and waited to be served, he would give Alabaster another five minutes and then go check on him. He had a nasty habit of wandering off by himself after such an ouburst and after that it was damn near impossible to find him unless he wanted to be found.

Wanting to change the subject he glared at him empty beer bottle slightly and said.

"I never be getting used to the way thing have been changed over these centuries, 'tis a crying shame to see the bar wenches having even little more sense and respect for themselves then before. And the ale itself is weak, but I be guessing I just be an old fashioned man in a new fangled word." he said shaking his head.

No, she was still far from accepting of the truth. It scared the hell out of her and she didn’t like it, but she would agree to leave it at that. Fede didn’t want an incident on her hands. The truth of the situation must have kept her true emotions at bay, if she was really, seriously angry, the world would have been in flames by this point. Maybe a part of her knew the truth. Her sad jade eyes feel to the deformed beer bottle that oozed onto the table. She sighed quietly and shook her head.

Fede pulled the bottle from the table with a subtle crack as the melted glass had fused with the lacquer of the bar. The grain of the counter could be seen in the warped glass along side a few pieces of wood. Thinking it best to hide something like that, Fede pushed it as far into her pocket as she could. She wondered where Alabaster had run off to, she could tell he was still angry with her.

She listed to how Fudge spoke, he did sound like a pirate. Maybe in a few hundred years she’d be speaking eccentrically as he was. It was quite humorous although she didn’t laugh. Laughing for Fede was very rare.
“So, centuries, huh?” She asked quietly.

"Aye centuries...unfortunately it be difficult to be learning the new ways people be speaking when you be in limbo waiting to be reincarnated. That be why I never be bothering to learn any other way of speaking."

He then laughed cheerfully.

"Let me be telling you...it make it all the more easier to dissuade men to be backing off when I be reincarnated as a woman."

He sat leaned back against the bar ignoring the warped wood, he had seen much worse done but he wasn't about to tell her that especially since they were having such a nice conversation about other things.

"And I also be telling ye...it be much harder now to be a pirate, all this technology and what have ye, damn near shameful but I be fast learning the ways and now it's like I never be working any other job."

It was a bit difficult for Fede to get past the way Fudge talked. She had to listen carefully to what he was saying. She wondered what it was like to live for so long, seeing so many people and knowing so much. Little did Fede know the extent of what her life would be and how long she’d live. She was still an infant.
“Yah, so… why do you have to be a pirate? I don’t think there’s many ships out there for you to raid. Doubt you’ve tried many other professions?” She asked with a quirky grin.

(ehh… sorry, running low on what to say here…)

"Nope...never be occuring to me about being anything but a pirate...mind ye I've had to change situation a bit due to technology but I be making due with what I be having, now I be a hacker!" he said grinning.

"Let me be telling you, it be a great day when you be finding something much more valuable then dubloons or gold."

He said nodding his head, "Pirating be in me blood, me mother and father were both being pirates back in the day needless to say they be disappointed to be learning I be doing anything else." He said.

"But I doubt they be minding me being a mage...it'd be interesting work. Also be adding a few elements of danger I be missing beforehand."

He muttered thoughtfully to himself, he then stood from the barstool and laid a few dollars on the bar.

"All right I be waiting long enough, time to be dragging Alabaster back inside... or else I be stuck paying his tab again."

“Ah, a digital pirate…” She said quietly.
It seemed that the world and pirates had changed a great deal since Fudge’s times. She flagged the bartender and got another drink, just a water this time. She didn’t think it would be a good idea to drink any more than she had already done. Fede twisted the plastic cap off and took a quick swig. She frowned momentarily as Fudge mentioned bringing Alabaster back inside. It would be uncomfortable to say the least.
“Right, he was out by the lamppost last time, don’t know where he’ll be now though. Maybe he took off?” She responded almost hopefully.

"Aye that be what I am."

He said nodding his head. Then added at her last comment.

"I would not be being the least bit surprised if he be running off, but he be seeming to be quite taken with you he did. Pity."

He said simply shaking his head slightly his fire red hair falling over his eyes slightly. He wondered where Alabaster would be headed if he had left. He certainly wouldn't go home, and probably not back to the bench. And probably not even to a few pubs, the only other place Fudge could think of was the homeless shelter but even that seemed unlikely since Alabaster hated being around there since he could only help out so much.

"Well, in any case I be giving him a few more minutes before I be going out there." he said shrugging.