Is Peacock One P Or Two? (Phae, peacock)

Phae was busy checking the wine cooler for completeness when he heard the front door open to admit the next lost soul in need of help. Finishing up his ‘inventory’ Phae could tell the person tentatively made there way across the floor in his general direction and with a resounding thump found their progress halted by the bar itself.

As he started to straighten and help his new patron Phae heard, “Oh waiter, a glass of your finest if you please and do be quick about it, I am fairly parched.” Yet before even a moment had passed the individual impatiently tapped on the bar with some unknown object and added, “I say, is there not a competent servant in this ghastly establishment that has wit enough to fulfill a simple order?”

Now thoroughly amused Phae made a show of straightening his 6’ 8” frame to its fullest extent, in essence suddenly appearing across the bar directly in front of…a peacock?

I was taken aback by the giant that unfolded before me and it left me stammering for words. “Ahh ahh…a dr…a drink please. Your finest port…if you don’t mind…my good fellow, and do make it a clean glass…if you please.” I hope I didn’t offend this giant of a servant, but a servant he is. I will need to treat him as such in order to keep him in his place.

“Mind your step young man or you may have need of a patch as well. Keep a look out for my other eye would you? I lost mine in here last week for leaving a scuffmark on the floor with my boots. The owner of this establishment makes me wear napkins on the soles now.” With that Alec leaned down and produced two dirty napkins from the bottom of his boots, lifting them with his branded hand so the boy could read the word. “Yeah, that to. The owner said that would remind me not to play the clown again in his bar.

These words were spoken to me by a ‘gentleman’ who appeared suddenly at my side. Before I could reply he had turned from me and was addressing the barkeep and the old man at the end of the bar.

Phae started to automatically move to fill the order, however his subconscious objection to the peacock’s manner pulled him up short. Through slight force of will Phae resumed his task. That of pulling a snifter from the rungs above his head, filling the vessel three quarters full of a vintage Shire brandy and capping it off with the Diablo remaining in Quint’s bottle. Phae graciously slid the concoction across the bar.

At least this barkeep was efficient and had fulfilled my request in an expeditious manner. Lifting the glass by it’s stem I took a sip looking forward to the smoky, savory taste of a fine drink, but instead I found myself gasping for breath, my eyes watering and convulsed in uncontrollable choking.

“Wha …wha…is this! You call this fine port? This is more like I would expect the afterbirth of a mare to taste. Take this nasty stuff away from me and bring me a flagon of ale, it will have to be more palatable then this rot. I certainly hope you don’t expect me to imburse you for this toxin. I will have you know this is the second time I have found myself in an awkward position in this establishment; I’m not accustomed to being placed in such demeaning positions. The first being the inadequate lighting which could be easily cured by a brace of chandeliers and now being forced to endure that swill. I demand to know what do you plan to do to correct this inadequacies.” There, that should show the brute that I am not intimidated by his size and that I still see him as only a serving man.

“My apologies good sir, that must have been one of the glasses used by the Leper monks, their last time through. I would be honored if you would please enjoy a sample of my finest stout…on the house of course, as is befitting a personage of your station.” With those remarks still ringing in the aire Phae deftly filled his largest flagon with a generous serving of Guiness and handed it to the peacock.

I was a complete lose for words and all I could mutter was “Yes, yes that will do just fine. Thank you” The words ‘thank you’ slipped in my duress and I severely reprimanded myself for the mistake; the laughter coming from the old man at the end of the bar just added to my loss of composure. I think now would be an opportune time for me to quietly sip my drink and revaluate my position.

Having witnessed the exchange in it’s entirety Alec decided it was time to settle up his bill. “Phae, it has been a pleasure and I am in your debt. You ever need anything, I’ll be around. I always can manage time for a friend and you, sir, I deem to be trustworthy as a friend. I hope some day you will find me to be the same.”

As a parting gesture he had Phae set everyone up with a drink on the house and left in a flourish of black leather and exited the same way he had entered, the Serendity portal softly jingling his passage.