From bad to worse

"For one, no more glory hole adventures, please. Two, I've seen you've been getting pretty friendly with some of the patrons, and I'd like you to dial that back too, just a little. Three, whatever you want to do after hours is fine, but when you're on the clock, you're on the clock, and that includes your breaks."

As she listened to Audrey's list of limitations, Eldwyn looked more discouraged with every additional rule she posed.

Audrey let out a long sigh and drew her fingers through her hair. "I know it's not what you want to hear, and I'm sorry, but if you keep it up, we could both lose our jobs."

"We can do our thing elsewhere, Eldwyn," Lucas said. "Plenty of bars in the city."

"I feel safe here, and you can't always be around," Eldwyn threw back, then her shoulders sank. "but I get what you're saying, Audrey."

"I don't like it any more than you do," Audrey admitted. "Like I said, business has been picking up lately, and you had a lot to do with that. It's obvious that the customers enjoy having waitresses around who don't mind if they get a little grabby sometimes."

"Well just have to accept it and make do," Lucas said. "It's not like we have a choice."

"There might be another option," Audrey began, but she looked uncertain.

"Come on, don't hold out on us," Lucas said. "If you have an idea, tell us."

"It's a bit of along shot, but... I don't think Heor is as interested in running a bar as he used to be. More and more, he simply accepts my suggestions without criticism, like he's just going through the motions. A couple of months ago, he even mentioned looking forward to retiring. He made it sound like a joke, but I don't think it was. At least, not entirely."

"How does that help us?" Eldwyn asked.

Audrey leaned in close and dropped her voice. "You can't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you! You have to promise."

"Of course," Eldwyn said.

"Lucas?"

"You have my word."

"Alright. I've... put some money aside."

"That's the big secret? You have some savings?"

"It's... not exactly my money."

Lucas raised an eyebrow.

"The bar has been doing well, very well. When Heor began losing interest, and I was doing all of the work, I started... well, holding back a bit of the profit, I guess."

"You stole it, you mean." Lucas said, deadpan.

She scowled. "Fine, yes, I stole it. I've kept sending Heor profit reports that detailed small profit increases, but the bar has been doing way better than he thinks."

"But what if you get caught?" Eldwyn asked.

"Then I guess I won't have to worry about rent for a while."

"I never thought you had it in you to be a hardened criminal, Audrey." Lucas said, grinning. "How much is it?"

"Nine hundred gold."

"Nine hundred!?"

"Keep your voice down!" Audrey hissed. "Yeah, something like that."

"And you're suggesting we use that to buy the bar from him?"

"Yes. Well, partly, anyway. Even with the deflated profits I've been reporting, the Fearless Hog is worth at least twice that."

"Maybe I could use my pension too."

"Take the lump sum, you mean? Doesn't that mean you lose out like a quarter of your total pension?"

He shrugged. "It's not like I'm doing anything with the money anyway. This seems like a good cause to me. I think I could come up with about three hundred gold."

"I could... ask my parents for some money." Eldwyn said with obvious ****.

"Send you crawling back to the people who disowned you, and then sharing ownership of this place with them?" Lucas snarled. "Fuck that. I'd sooner get a loan. If the bar is running as well as Audrey says, we'll pay it off in no time flat."

Eldwyn sagged with relief. "Thanks. I... I didn't really look forward to going back."

"Don't worry, we don't need them. In any case, I'd rather not have to deal with anyone else. So are we really doing this?" Audrey asked.

"Let's think it over for a little longer, first, "Lucas said. "We're not in a rush. Let's meet up again in three days and we'll make a decision then."

Audrey nodded. "Sounds good. Meanwhile, let's play it safe, though: no more slutty Elf shenanigans, you hear?"

"Yes, miss," Eldwyn said demurely.

"Good."