Claire stumbled a bit as they crossed the threshold unsure of her footing. "Gotcha." Merlynn said aloud catching Claire. "Thanks, I didn't know what to expect when I couldn't see through the doorway..." Claire thanked her trailing off as she stared in amazement at the elegant well-lit room, she now found herself in. The ceiling towered above her with gorgeous muraled marble. Stone gargoyles perched atop twisted white pillars cradling red silk curtains that draped to a jet-black flagstone floor. To their right stood an elaborate mahogany desk with a rough-cut crystal top. Atop the desk sat an open book with a delicate quill floating just above it. "Over here Claire." Merlynn mused with a waving gesture. With Claire's first steps she quickly realized a couple things then began blushing wildly. "What's wrong?" Merlynn asked with a giggle. Claire blushed even harder causing most of her pale exposed skin to bear a slight shade of pink. "Lynn...we are practically naked! Any chance we can...go change and come back?" Claire squirmed finally squealing as she reached her breaking point. "Oh...uh...my bad that totally slipped my mind!" Merlynn chuckled heartily scratching her head, which caused her chest to sway out of her coat and purple tank top to rise exposing her midriff.

"I got something a bit quicker, stand still though I don't incant too often." Merlynn smiled holding aloft an open palm. " Needle and stitch, hem and sew, sheild our bodies, hearthen the soul." Merlynn's voice echoed calmly with power thrice before decadent clothing appeared on their bodies in a rush of light and wind. "So beautiful..." Claire squeaked awestruck. "What?" Merlynn giggled then looked herself over. The incantation, albeit simple, had woven an elegant silk evening gown properly proportioned to her tall curvy needs. The gown was so dark it was like a void and when she moved little motes of light almost like galaxies would shimmer momentarily before fading away she settled. She reached up feeling new weight on her head to find her auburn hair had been curled, braided, and adorned with gemmed bangles. She then smiled brightly through a dark red rouge walking to Claire wrapping her in her arms. "You don't look too bad yourself." Merlynn chuckled seductively as she spun her in front of a mirror.

In the reflection of the mirror Claire saw the elegant snow-white ball dress she now found herself in. It was trimmed in gold and hemmed with precious jewels. It showed off her petite form yet effortlessly flowed, drifting as if a humble cloud. She then noticed the fragile jewelry that adorned where she assumed her neckline would be and a thread of a tear forming where she believed her eyes would have been. Then she saw Merlynn wrapped around her with a smile steeped in love. For a moment she motioned to turn away, nearing another breaking point when Merlynn reached out stopping her. "Wait..." Merlynn whispered as she flicked a spark of visible energy into the mirror.

The mirror rippled like water as the spark passed through it, slowly settling with something Claire had never seen before. For the first time in her life Claire looked into a mirror, and saw herself looking back. She suddenly moved closer staring intently at her eyes. She never knew how red they were, almost demonic she thought, but she noticed soft flecks of gold and silver that sparkled and swirled throughout her iris. She raised her straighted platinum hair off her slender neck turning to the side pushing her chest out then drew her attention to the sparkling blood diamond that daintly hung by a adamantium chain effortlessly resting on her soft white skin. She then giggled as Merlynn slid a warm finger along her blushing shoulder and cooed as she kissed her cheek. "I wanted you to see how beautiful you are." Merlynn whispered as she wrapped around Claire snuggling against her. They lingered in silence for a few more moments before being interrupted by the smack of a door and gentle rattle of bones.

As they spun in spooked shock they watched as a well-dressed skeleton silently walked behind the mahogany desk and rap a boney knuckle on the bare wall behind him. He then adjusted his tailcoats and tie turning to face the ladies as the wall spun slowly in on itself revealing a wall of assorted liquors in wildly elaborate bottles. "Wait...it's another bar?" Claire asked as more of the room changed in size and shape accommodating new tables and a full bar that stretched from the mahogany desk which now functioned as an end cap. The skeleton stared at them with awkward empty eye sockets as it polished an empty glass. "It's a lounge to be specific, but semantics. Welcome to the End of Time on Paradoxical Way." Merlynn bowed curtly as a big band roared to unlife as skeletal musicians manifested atop a lit stage.

"I'm beginning to see a trend with you and bars." Claire teased approaching the open book that had remained. The books pages lit in wonderous light as she watched the pen scrawl her name. "Elizabeth Claire Beauregarth the Second." Merlynn read aloud with a teasing giggle. "Better than...Merlynn...Anne...Gaius...Ulrich-Smith??? Thats a mouthful and what's up with the hyphen??" Claire read aloud sniggering as the pen wrote each word before striking through it and replacing it with her initials. "That in itself is a long story that I may share...another day...with sufficiently more booze." Merlynn dodged as she sat down on a stool spinning to face Claire.

"Have a drink with me." Merlynn smiled aloof reaching for Claire. Claire shrugged and joined her. "One, and you have to dance with me before we go." Claire demanded crossing her arms. "Deal!" Merlynn grinned when they heard the door from earlier swing open then an angry elven woman rush them swearing. "Oh now you show up! The damn nerve of you to make me wait this long! Its been two weeks Merlynn! Where the fuck were you!? What did you do to my home!?" Lori cursed Merlynn till she was red in the the face and out of breath. Merlynn eyed her up and down noticing she was wearing a similar outfit to the skeletal tender and band.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Lori...did you get a job here?" Merlynn asked with a dumbfounded look. "Seriously!? Don't ignore me! You come into my home, and drag in trouble like you always do, and for what? To get your butt kicked and rack up my repair bills. Did you manage to save the pieces? Or did you burn it to the ground this time?" Lori exploded seething in rage. "I won..." Merlynn managed to finally say aloud. "What..." Lori stopped in sudden shock. "You...won? As in you defeated that bastard or..." Lori asked with Merlynn promptly answering. "I killed him. Nothing survived Salamants attack, and nor would I if not for new friends." Merlynn answered with a debted tone. "Salamant huh? Yeah that would definitly do it. I didn't think you would really go through with it when you told me that you would have to be in the center of the attack to summon him." Lori affirmed sounding scholarly. "I had sent you here when I realized I wasn't strong enough on my own to stop him. I wasn't about to lose anyone else so it made since in then end. Not that I had any idea Cyrus would revive me let alone be able to. I still can't thank him enough for bringing me back though." Merlynn admitted somberly as she rubbed at her wrist. "Wait you died!?" Lori paled holding her hand over her mouth. "I don't know to be honest. I didn't see any Pearly Gates or anything like that, not that any god would have me mind you, well not perverse that is. Cyrus wouldn't tell me how bad I was and I haven't the clue especially seeing that there was nothing but ash left in a good radius after the fight." Merlynn answered trying her best to recall everything she could.

"I can't either, I realize that now." Claire spoke aloud interrupting her as she rubbed Merlynn's forearm and soothed her wrist. "Who's this?" Lori cooed with a smile. "This is Claire, she's my girlfriend." Merlynn beamed with pride. Claire melted a little bit then settled into her stool. "Claire, this is Lorilye." Merlynn spoke softly with a smile. "Oh it's nice to finally meet you, Merlynn told me what happened while she was away. I'm sorry you lost your home." Claire sat promptly and proper as if she had been molded into the posture. "I knew it!!" Lori exclaimed shoving her slender finger into Merlynn's nose. "Hey! I was going to tell you!" Merlynn exclaimed reeling back. "I will fix it! Just like I did the last time." Merlynn promply affirmed. "I don't want you too Lynn." Lori sighed aloud.

"I already had the feeling it was time when that asshole walked in. I knew months ago honestly. It was my father's inn, but it stopped feeling like a home long ago. Just a burden that kept me shackled there. So, despite our usual back and forth I had already accepted its fate." Lori admitted leaning onto the bar. As she seemed to get more comfortable the skeletal bartender tapped the bar twice with a loud thud on each tap. "Sorry Jonesy." Lori shouted promptly and bowed to the skeletal bartender who stared at her in deafening silence. "Can I get you ladies a drink?" Lori asked blushing in embarrassment. "Two Deviltinis please, one dirty." Claire piped in. Merlynn grinned in amusement raising an eyebrow to Claire. "Make that two, dirty." Claire giggled which infected Merlynn and Lori both who also erupted in laughter.

With their order placed the bartender swiftly and silently made the drinks then slid them down the bar without so much as a drop spilled. "Jonesy, can I have a moment with Lori? I won't keep her much longer." Merlynn asked swirling her drink and fishing out the olive with a miniature sword. Jonesy looked at her with his empty expression and barren eye sockets briefly before snapping to a bow before falling to pieces and rolling away, his uniform neatly folding itself then tucked away in a drawer behind the mahogany end cap.

"I've never seen him do that before..." Lori spoke in amazement. "Perks for being the Host. He won't stay gone long mind you, nor should we linger for too much longer either." Merlynn revealed showing off a glowing sigil below her wrist. "Lori, what would you like to do? Seeing as you don't want me to rebuild your inn, do you instead intend to stay here?" Merlynn asked seriously. "I would like to stay for now. Honestly i'm not sure what I want to do but I have gotten used to working here for the interm." Lori answered firmly. "Are you sure? After I leave there won't be a way out of here until I need to come back, unless you leave through another Host's door, of which I have a few, but the others...I have no idea who they belong to, nor whether they be benevolent or not." Merlynn asked one more time. "I'm sure. I've noticed this place moves at its own time and I have accepted what it potentially means. Don't worry about me though! It's not like I have any family or friends back home waiting on me." Lori smiled softly assuring Merlynn. "You'll always have me as a friend!" Merlynn beamed with a smirk. "And you'll know where to find me!" Lori teased sporting a grin of her own. "Where you headed to after this anyways? Settling down with missus maybe?" Lori teased with a smile. "Oh you know me...gotta go out and find some more trouble." Merlynn winked downing her drink and standing firmly. "Not before that dance!" Claire demanded tugging Merlynn onto the floor as tables moved away giving them room. The band struck up three different songs as the danced away their remaining time in the lounge. One of ending, one of beginning, and lastly one that embodied the unkown.