fifth; video + action (give me a shot to remember and you can take all the pain away from me)

[bekommen]

[Nick is infinitely more sober than the last time she appeared on the network, though the location is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the same. The only difference is that this time, Nick is standing behind the bar, not sitting at it with a drink in hand. She appears slightly uncomfortable, no doubt due to regret over her past broadcast. She clears her throat and nods at the camera.]

So if you didn't already know, I'm working at the bar now. Delight asked me to help out, and it's what I used to do back in Chicago, so.

[She shrugs. Obvious connection is obvious.]

I know I said a lot of shit last time I talked to everyone on this thing, but as I'm sure you all noticed, I was pretty fucking drunk. [She sighs, rolling her eyes, mildly irritated with herself.] I didn't mean most of it, and I'm not gonna, like, poison anyone's drink while I'm working. I also don't drink when I'm on the job, so you don't have to worry about any more dumb bullshit like before. I'm a professional, OK? Just so we got that out there. And yeah, that does mean I'll cut you off if I see you acting like an asshole.

[She reaches over to kill the feed, then remembers she has one more thing to say.]

Oh yeah - leave your fucking pets or whatever at home. I know we don't got health inspections to pass or anything, but that shit still ain't sanitary.

[There, now she's done. She hangs up, but will respond to any replies in between serving patrons of Delight's bar. Perhaps you're even one of them?]

Comments

[hippocratical]

[His mouth works for a second, attempting to form words, before he finally manages a sentence that seems to come together.]

I love my job. It's very necessary and I'm very good at it. But I'm less good when we don't even have running water. I'm looking for anything that can be used as an emergency antiseptic, in case this keeps up. That's why I'm looking for grain alcohol.

[Although by the time this conversation is over, he could probably use a drink.]

[bekommen]

Oh.

[Well, that makes a lot more sense.]

Well, why didn't you just fuckin' say so from the start? Jesus.

[She turns to the assortment of bottles on the back wall, studying them, thinking about everything she's ever learned about different types of alcohol.]

No grain alcohol, I don't think, but there's vodka - that's pretty close, right? My ex used to make mouthwash with it, anyway. That's kinda like disinfecting.

[hippocratical]

I thought I was starting with the useful information.

[But okay, we can roll with that. A pleasant surprise, that she has an alternative to offer. Vodka he considers, frowning slightly.]

That could work, if it's distilled enough. Anything less than 80% alcohol by volume probably isn't going to be worth the trouble. Is any of it labeled?

[bekommen]

Dude, you come to a bar and start off by asking for the hardcore shit, you're gonna get questions. Or you should, if your bartender's worth a damn.

[Labels? Please. She quietly laughs at his question.]

Christ, you must be really new here. I don't even know how Delight makes all this stuff, and I'm pretty sure I don't wanna know, either. I mean, it's not like we got a brewery and a bunch of stills in the back room.

[Nick selects a bottle from the shelf and sets it in front of Simon, along with a small glass.]

You're just gonna have to taste test it, I'm afraid.

[She shrugs. Sorry she's not more sorry.]

[hippocratical]

[Simon gives both bottle and bartender a dubious look, but he's never been one to back down from a challenge. And one shot...okay, imbibing strange liquor in a strange place is asking for trouble, but for the name of science and his ego he'll slide into a seat at the bar, palms flat on the top as he heaves a small sigh.]

Well, I guess there's no better way than the scientific method, I suppose. Do the honors?

[bekommen]

'Swhat I'm here for.

[Nick gives him a half-shrug and a sideways grin as she opens the bottle and pours a shot's worth of the liquid into the glass and slides it in front of him.]

Bottoms up, Doc.

[hippocratical]

[He doesn't even know her and already he does not trust that grin. But here he is, and that look is definitely challenging, so...taking a deep breath, he downs the shot, trying and failing to repress a grimace.]

Gao yang jong duh goo yang, people actually drink this?

[bekommen]

[He's probably right to be wary - she laughs at his reaction. She wouldn't give him something truly terrible, and she wouldn't prank him with something dangerous, but this? This was funny.]

I only understood about half of what you just fuckin' said, but yeah, they do. Usually not straight, though.

[hippocratical]

[The look he gives her would probably be more scathing if his eyes weren't watering.]

I can't imagine why. Tell me that isn't all that passes for a decent drink in this place. For non-medicinal purposes, I mean.

[Not that he plans on drinking much, but if he's going to be treating people for alcohol poisoning...]

[bekommen]

Like I said - you mix it with something else that tastes better. People who ask for straight vodka are usually either Russian gangsters or some dumbfuck trying to impress a girl.

[Nick rolls her eyes and slides the bottle off to the side.]

Do you want me to make you something better? That's kinda my job, y'know.

[hippocratical]

Are there many of those here?

[Russian gangsters or dumbfucks trying to impress girls, either one. He pauses to consider her offer a moment, then shakes his head.]

Maybe later. I'm still on call, as it were. Maybe there's something that's shown up in the shops that I can use, peroxide at least, if not better disinfectants. If it isn't just coloring books and candy again.

[bekommen]

You must be new here.

[There's amusement in how she says it, no vitriol. Half-smiling, she shakes her head.]

Nah, not so far as I've seen. And I'm here pretty much all the time now. Saw a lot of the latter back in Chicago, though.

[She caps the bottle of vodka and slides it toward him.]

The only good thing about this kinda bullshit is it doesn't last.