Salvador drank his juice box in a single gulp, and then the apple juice too. He couldn’t stand to pity himself and almost hated that the memories flooding back reminded him of such a burdensome loss. He needed some air to clear his head. And as he got closer to the nearest entrance of the tavern, he stopped. 

He could feel the warmth, see the ashes, and smell the smoke. But as he left out into the cold night of the nameless tavern, he saw no flames, no fire of any kind. Only the strange woman who had treated Ruka with kindness, and so Sal smiled as he approached. Something he did not think he could do at such a time. 

But wait…it was night out here? He could swear he had just been in the warm daylight of the tavern. There was no moon hanging in the sky, just colorful swaths of drifting clouds. He looked around, half hoping Ruka would appear again, but no such luck. This place was playing tricks with his mind that he did not like. 

He grumbled and found a tree stump to sit on, close enough to be within earshot of Gabriela. She seemed different.

“Hey. I appreciate the kindness you showed my daughter.” He said. “And I agree with her, you are very beautiful. But what brings you out here?”

Suddenly he noticed the difference like a big wet RED pool noodle slapping him in the face. “Nice coat.” He said, recognizing it as the one Omi had brought in and hung on the wall earlier in the night. 

He hesitated then said, “Just a minute.” As he lumbered back into the bar. Yep, still daylight in there. And he grabbed some alcohol from the bar and made a point not to pay or tip as he ran outside with it. Yep, still night. “There,” he said. “Now we’re both thieves. Common ground and all that.” As he began tipping back a bottle of whiskey. 

[@Blesses Blight]