Soon, they arrive at the base of the residential tower at the entrance to Lascie’s Bar, Grill & Starlight Cafe. Alyus is at a corner table and motions them to come sit.
The interior of the bar is hazy. Deep shadows cover tables in the corners as if to hide the inhabitants from unwelcome guests. There’s an oval counter in the center of the room where the barmaid or bartender serves the drinks from either side and cleans the glasses for the next patron.
A large amber tinted two-way mirror spans the length of the bar lined with glass shelves of drink after drink. Many drinks appear to be exotic specimens, collected or shipped from the farthest reaches of the galaxy. Some are soft, orange bubbly, while another is a purple liquor with white silky solution swirling deep inside. Yet another is clear and appears slightly unstable for a consumable drink. All in all, there is enough variety to keep patrons of all walks of life content.
A holoscreen plays the latest news from the net behind the counter. Current with up-to-the-minute sporting event tickers update across the bottom for the gambling patrons.
There’s a cluster of tiny square tables located left of center. The tables are bolted to the floor and surrounded by a dozen metal stools. The tables are piled high with leftover meals, half empty java juice glasses and tipped over clanker mugs. Crumbs of food and puddles of beverages litter the floor beneath the tables. Little slugs gorge themselves on the scraps as if they’re enjoying some magnificent feast.
A couple of loner-types are sitting off in the distance at their own table. A Zumarki, curious race, sits in the corner, head buried in a reading pad of some sort. Occasionally she glances up at a holo of some figures and drawings displayed in front of her, then back down to her pad as if furiously taking notes. She’s oblivious to the other patrons in the room. A slender shiny silver barista robot brings her a refill on her java, to which she waves a thank you and continues her in-depth study.
A humanoid couple, Yern by the looks of them, sit at another table gazing into each other eyes and arguing like lovebirds about who’s better looking or more special. The barista stops at their table and they seem quite irritated by the interruption as they yank their refresher refills from her and carry on in sickening fashion. The whole scene is gag worthy.
There’s a half dozen rounded tables to the right of center, also bolted to the floor. A couple rough looking groups sit casually around a few of these tables. Some are playing cards, others are placing wagers on the sporting events and tickers unfolding on the holoscreens, while others are loud and belligerent just for the sake of being obnoxious.
A bartender hurriedly mixes drinks and tops off strong liquors for the ruffian crowd. This bartender is not a robot. He’s a light teal humanoid with soft flesh. His large black eyes bulge out of their sockets. He sports a curly, well kept mustache and a fake grin with large buck teeth that he flashes at each patron. He has six long, slender arms that move at lightning speed as he works furiously to provide for his guests.
The scene is quite the colorful bowl of diversity. The one side for the more intellectual, uppity, pompous crowd. The other hosts more of the gruff, ruffian, loud and obnoxious type. All of this separated by the main bar in the middle.
Each far corner of the scene boasts a platform with a much larger table, cushioned benches and dim lighting. These host the more expensive, popular special guest parties.
The proprietor, Lascie, is an over-sized strong fur-ball of a being. Her hair is an orange so loud that it shouts beyond the dim lights and ambiance of the establishment. It is as soft as feather down. Her arms are built like two jackhammers, shaved up to the shoulders and sporting sleeve-length tattoos of various peculiar symbols. Her mouth is a large beak pointed downwards at the tip. Her eyes are metallic red that explode like a spreading fire and intensify when she’s angered or even slightly irritated.
She looks up from her glass cleaning and grunts in some sort of annoyed welcome. Johnny nods at her in response, then he and the group join Alyus at one of the tables in the corner at the back of the uppity side of the room.
As they join their companion at the table, she looks at Johnny with slight, measured concern.
***Stay tuned for more of the adventures of Johnny Pheryl – © Alan “Jedi” Zaugg 2018***
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