After Dinner

"It's too bad it's raining but I rather like this,"

Dave smiled at Tink and nodded as they sat at the bar looking out into the courtyard area. "Yeah... this is nice." He watched her pull out her cigarette and lit it for her. They'd declared the bar and connected games rooms as the smoking friendly areas of their home. He even took a puff of the "fairyweed" when she offered as did Harley. "So according to Pepper we won some Characters."

Harley grinned. "I kinda always thought those things were a sham but I guess they really do happen!"

"Wonder who we got?" Tink said taking another drag.

Dave shrugged. "Who knows. As long as you sign up and make your purchases in the store you get a draw for each one. We didn't win the daily drawing so they're not that..." he tried to recall what character it was they'd seen. "Her... from that one series Black... Black something... hard drinking witch lady."

Tink rolled her eyes. "Vanessa Enoteca from Black Clover. Maybe you better not smoke any of this stuff."

Dave rolled his eyes. "Can't know them all and I knew. I just... drew a blank on the names is all. Anyway we would have gotten a call same day if we had so it's not going to be her."

Harley nodded. "So that means we either won someone creepy or a former teacher or student or both since we made a bunch of qualifying purchases at once?" She grinned at Tink. "Congrats Tinky! I'll keep my fingers crossed we get someone spooky fir ya!"

Tink grinned but shrugged. "That'd be great but who knows who we'll get? It's random though they do try to skew it towards a customers tastes. We bought nothing but ladies so it's likely a female but we could get stuck with anything. They like to keep them surprises! We could get Mistress of the Dark Elvira or we could get Edna Krabappel from the Simpsons."

Harley laughed. "Right? Maybe Dave will get a Annie Wilkes or Professor McGonagall!"

They both laugh and Dave rolls his eyes. "Hardy har har. Sooo funny. Anyway I doubt from our purchases it'll be an older lady but... yeah... it could be someone troublesome based on some of our selections..."

Harley laughed some more but Tink smiled and shrugged. "We also got a fair few "helpful" types and some sweethearts as well as androids... it's anyones guess, really."

"Glados!" Harley said laughing. "No no no maybe it's that spooky Ring chick!"

Dave rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah Harls or maybe it's that pyro Carrie or Ms Lovett. Glad you're amused, babe. Excuse me." He turned to the others. "Can I get you ladies anything?"

The others shook their heads as they watched Outlaw Star on the TV except for Hilda. "Might I have another glass of wine, please?" She caught his eye. "I'd rather enjoy some more."

Dave smiled and stepped behind the bar to take her glass. "Certainly!"

Dorothy blinked. "Shouldn't I be the one tending the bar?"

Dave smiled. "You can if you want to Dorothy but I actually like doing this. Besides you all should simply enjoy watching the show. Can you keep up?"

Dorothy nodded. "I reviewed all the earlier episodes at eight times the standard speed to catch up."

Dave blinked then smiled. "I see. You must have been looking forward to watching along with everyone then. I'm happy for you, Dorothy." The others smiled too listening to their quiet banter.

Dorothy paused. "Did I say that?"

Dave nodded. "You did."

Dorothy blinked. "I do not recollect having said so."

Dave smiled as he passed Hilda her refill. She like the others was enjoying Dorothy and Dave's repartee. But Dave had won this match.

Dave smiled and reached under the bar and placed a cat shaped drink charm on Dorothy's glass. "You said it very clearly Dorothy... with your actions."

Dorothy blinked and turned away having no rebuttal to that except to state. "I can easily identify my glass from everyone else's. I don't require a marker."

Dave smiled. "I know."

"Oh," said Melfina. "There he is again! Is he important? He's a bit... different."

Dave nodded. They were at that point in the space race where Professor Gwen Khan showed up again. Dave nodded. "He is. He's an... important periphery character to your story." He came out from behind the bar thinking and joined Tink and Harley. "Don't be alarmed but I think we have a minor problem..."

Tink raised her eyebrow and then nodded guessing. "Oh, that! Yeah how do you want to handle it?"

Harley blinked. "What the fuck you guys talking about?"

Tink sighed and turned her head back to the screen. "That."

Harley blinked. "The TV? It seems fine."

"No," Dave said. "What's on the TV, my love."

Harley watched the show. "The show? Melfina's handling it fine though even now that Gwen showed up- oh!" She got it. "Ooohhh yeah... that. That ain't good. Good catch! How ya wanna handle it?"

Dave stroked his chin. "It's probably an easy enough fix for us. We'll just take her to work and undo Gwen's override commands. In the meantime... Pepper. Can you override mute the scene's when Gwen Khan gives his shut down phrase order? No subtitles either. I don't want to take the chance if accidentally triggering Melfina."

(("Of course! That would be bad and I can easily do those things. Shall I compile a list of the top effective solutions for it from other owners for your perusal?"))

Dave smiled. "You're wonderful as always, Pep and read my mind. Do it! Until then no one use that exact phrase, ok? Infact lets avoid anything containing those elements."

Tink and Harley nodded. "It's not exactly something that would come up in normal conversation much now is it?" Harley said. "Do we even own any Mei- phmm?!"

"What did Dave just say, dumbass?" Tink said pinching Harley's lips shut.

"Sawwy," Harley said.

Tink let go of her lips shaking her head. "To answer your question we do have a set but they're in the boxes. They were in storage and we could left them there but the family sent everything so knowing 'trouble' they're in there." She downed her drink. "I think I'm going to try to locate it right now and write "do not open!" on it and seal it extra good."

Dave nodded. "Thanks Tink. You're the best but it can probably wait until later if you want?"

Tink shook her head. "Uh uh! No way! I'm not taking the chance!" She grabbed Harley's ear. "Correction... we're not taking the chance, right?"

"Ow! Tinky!" Harley said but she looked at Melfina and nodded. "Yeah she's totally right! Infact we aughta just get rid of them. They go for some bucks right? Maybe we can just sell 'em quick!"

Dave smiled and kissed them both. "You two are the best, you know that? I should come with-"

"No!" They both said and nodded smiling. "We got this," Tink said as Harley added, "Entertain the girls, 'kay? And pay attention to Hilda. She gave you a signal with that wine request incase you missed it."

Dave nodded. "Oh, okay! Understood." He watched them go then turned to look at the others. "Entertain them and watch for subtle signals. Got it."

[David Stark Pepper Tinker Bell Harley Quinn Melfina VSD02C Princess Hilda and R. Dorothy Wayneright

Will Return In

Entertaining the Ladies

Coming Soon]