"How can you be so relaxed about all of this?"

"What do you mean?"

"After all that is happening you do seem rather unbothered Ted."

Ted stopped stirring the pot and scratched his chin. Trizel and Sid were bending various pieces of copper pipes next to him. Even Sid had a worried look on his face, as both of them looked at Ted who seemed completely unbothered. Like nothing had happened at all.

"If things go well, I think this will be a solid follow up. It will probably end up on the sweet side, but it should come out good. We just lucked out that Sentenza found those bananas he had forgotten about in his wagon." Ted said as he ignored their questions.

"Ted!" called out Trizel as he grabbed his shoulders and forced the two of them to be face to face. "I'm glad you are excited for this, but we are in serious trouble here. You most of all. Why do you not seem the least bit worried? That man not so subtly threatened all of our lives. Even Sentenza seemed shaken, and only ghosts really seem to frighten him."

"Perhaps it is their immunity to bullets that truly scares him," offered Sid. "Or maybe he remembers the man better than the rest of us."

"We never really owned this place. We just set up shop here since there was no one and nothing else around." sighed Ted as he tried to push Trizel's arms away, and immediately failed to do so. The difference in their strength made Ted helpless to push the giant away. "I guess I just figure why should I worry about it," lied Ted. "It won't change anything."

"Trizel, your angle for that pipe is incorrect," interrupted Sid. "The corner should not be at an exact fort-five-degree angle, but it should be a more gradual one. Otherwise, the steam will have trouble making it through, along with the integrity of the pipe being more easily compromised."

Trizel rubbed the bridge of his nose as he sighed. "Maybe you should handle this project alone then Sid. I do not think I could do things good enough for your eyes no matter how hard I try."

"It is not a matter of difficulty Trizel. This is more of a problem of accuracy. With enough time I am sure you will succeed."

"It is not. I just...look. I am going to head out for a walk. Maybe try and convince myself that those bushes out there are delicious enough to survive on alone." Trizel abandoned the two of them and morosely walked out of the kitchen. Shortly after the front door could be heard being slammed, and they knew he had left.

"Trizel," muttered Ted under his breath with his voice full of sorrow.

"He must have been a good king." Commented Sid.

"Where did that comment come from?" asked Ted.

"I thought that would be self-evident. Now, back to this project of yours. Explain to me the purpose again. I want to ensure I am using the correct measurements for everything."

"We need to talk about that compliment you gave to Trizel sometime, but alright. I'll humor you. You see, alcohol evaporates at a..."

----------------------------------------

Sentenza grunted as he pushed a log on its side. He let out a relieved sigh and wiped his brow. "Now, you're sure you know what you're doing over there?"

Bakade looked over at Sentenza and nodded before she snapped the large pine tree in half, as if it was nothing more than a rotten two-by-four. She carefully set the large tree on the ground and then got to work. Slowly, and methodically, she trimmed off every branch with her powerful claws and then added them to a pile.

"Even after seeing it a few times, it still surprises me how easily you can do that." commented Sentenza as he swung a splitting maul into the flat side of the six-foot log he had set there. "Almost makes me feel like I'm more a bit redundant."

Bakade turned towards him, raised her finger and started to open her mouth.

Sentenza chuckled and raised up his hands. "I know. I know. You appreciate the company. No need to say it."

She put her finger back down and despite her face being a fleshless skull, it almost seemed like she was smiling.

Sentenza sighed as he grabbed the sledgehammer nearby. With a smile he looked up at Bakade. "Trizel would be a lot more useful, but I bet he couldn't match my skill. Sure, he'd get it done quick, but this'll be a nice, flat bench when I'm through with it!"

Sentenza hit the back of the maul with the sledgehammer until the log started to split. Then, he used the opening to push in a wooden wedge. He moved to hammering that wedge, and when it was about halfway in, he moved down and put in another wooden wedge further down. He continued this process, until the log had split in half. It was quite the workout, and by the end of it he had not only taken off his hat and jacket, but he had rolled up his sleeves as well.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"There, huff huff, see? I got it perfectly in half." bragged Sentenza as he tried to catch his breath.

Bakade was carefully splitting the branches into smaller pieces as she looked over at Sentenza. The log had been split into two pieces, but it was definitely not evenly split. Both of them looked sturdy enough still, but one was clearly bigger than the other. Instead of commenting, she just shook her head and turned her attention back to her growing pile of tiny twigs.

"Hey, I saw that!" Sentenza called out. "What? You aren't seriously going to tell me this isn't the most perfectly split log you've ever seen in your life?"

Bakade turned her head up towards the sky and whistled non-chalantly. Or she at least tried to whistle. What actually came out was closer to the sound of a child crying.

"Oh ho," smirked Sentenza. "Think you're pretty clever, huh? Well, I'm not finished yet. You just keep your side up, and make sure there's another log this size, and eight short and stubby ones." Sentenza cracked his neck and grabbed a sheet of sandpaper. "After all, I'm just getting started darling."

----------------------------------------

Lightning without any thunder constantly filled the sky. No Sun illuminated the floating island they had all found themselves on, but with the glowing, purple core and the constant lightning, it was hard to tell the difference. Except of course for the lack of night. There was always light, except for one place. Deep in the pine forest that had sprung up with Bakade's arrival the canopy of trees was so thick that no light could get in. Tonight, Bakade had gotten them all to head into the forest. It was a surprise she had prepared for everyone. No one but Sentenza knew what was going to happen, but he had been helping her the past few days, so he deserved to be let in on the secret. Plus, with what he was doing, it would have been difficult to even try to hide it from him.

"We forgot a lantern again," commented Sid.

"You would think we would have learned from last time." agreed Trizel as he held a barrel under each arm.

"I mean, it's easy to forget." Ted said. "What with it being light out everywhere but the basement. That's why all the lanterns are down there."

"Hey, Bakade," asked Trizel. "Where is Sentenza?"

Bakade slowly raised an outstretched finger and pointed towards a glimmer of light in the distance. "Wwaaaaaiitinnng," she groaned as she turned to look at Trizel.

"What exactly is the reason for this excursion again?" queried Sid. "Our needs are quite adequately met within The Oasis."

Trizel grumbled. "I still say The King's Scabbard was better."

"Do not be so down Trizel," said Sid. "Our suggestions were both equally unpopular. All despite our knowledge that they were superior."

"Geez, if I knew you'd be so upset, I'd never have suggested The Oasis in the first place," sighed Ted.

"No no, you won fair and square...again," added Trizel as he shook his head. "I was a little worried that Nugget's suggestion would win. I figured her intensity alone would convince the others."

"Bawk?"

A small cry from behind him sent shivers down Trizel's spine.

"It seems her 'intensity' as you put it, has quite the effect on you." Sid pointed out.

As Nugget strolled casually behind them, Trizel gulped. He refused to look back, almost as if seeing her would cement that Nugget was actually there. "I know. Which is why my first vote was for her suggestion."

"A name is a name," sighed Ted. "Bakaw works just as well as The Oasis. Though I wish you had said The Broken Brew out loud Bakade. I think it would've convinced a few more people if they had heard you suggest it instead of just reading it on the paper."

Bakade started to fidget with the hem of her 'skirt,' as she looked down towards the ground.

"Well now, what took you all so long?" chuckled Sentenza as he walked out from between a pair of trees to greet them. "I almost got started on my own."

Sentenza moved back behind the trees, and as the others followed, they saw what Bakade and Sentenza had been working on. They had cleared a small area and set up a campfire. With four wooden log benches surrounding a big fire pit, it was quite inviting. The darkness, illuminated by the big fire, and the simple log sections seemingly haphazardly set in place, all came together to make a calming and rustic atmosphere.

Bakade was standing to the side and playing with the edges of her clothes. As she kept her face towards the ground. Sentenza sat down on the side on the smooth log bench, while Sid, Trizel, and Ted stood in shock.

Sid was the first to speak. "This is quite surprising, and very impressive. I would never have expected that this was your project."

"Oh? Didn't expect it eh? What? Don't think me and Bakade can handle stuff like this? That we can be creative and whatnot?" Teased Sentenza.

"What? That is not what I said at all. It just did not occur to me that this is the task that you two were undertaking."

"I'm only teasing you Sid," chuckled Sentenza as he patted the bench next to him. "Now come and take a seat. This setup is only the first part."

Trizel and Ted were still processing what they were looking at as Sid complied with Sentenza, and walked past the fire to sit next to him.

"This is astounding!" Cheered Trizel, much to Bakade's embarrassment and joy. "It fills me with a form of nostalgia, and I do not know why. This area just makes me feel, relaxed almost."

"Yeah, it's. Wow, just wow." Ted finally managed to say.

Bakade seemed to be experiencing a mix of emotions. But most of it was pride and embarrassment in equal measure. As everyone settled down onto benches, she knelt down and inspected several short sticks that had been placed around the fire. She seemed happy with seven of the fifteen and grabbed them. She placed them onto a small tray she had hidden out there and then pulled out a bowl of something white.

As she prepared them, Sentenza explained, "She's working on a treat. Said something about marsh mallows, but we didn't have anything like that. Anyways, I suggested this snake bread we baked around the fire, and she worked on some sweet filling for them."

"Itaaaliiaaaannn Meeeerrriiingue," Bakade explained. "Sssooooffft aand Ssssweeeettt."

As she spoke, she carefully forced the meringue into the holes the sticks left in the bread. When she was finished, the sweet meringue was oozing out of each side. Finally, she handed one out to each of them, including Nugget, who had claimed a bench all for herself.

"This is. Wow, this is so much Bakade, and Sentenza. I know I really appreciate all the effort you guys put into this." said Ted before he dug into the bread filled with sweet meringue.

"Truly, this is quite the spectacle!" agreed Trtzel.

"Bawk bakaw!" nodded Nugget.

Bakade seemed to be less embarrassed as she sat down and devoured her bread in one bite.

"Now, how about some drinks?" Offered Sentenza as he groaned and stood up. "Trizel, where did you set those barrels now?"

"Oh? Ah, just over here." Trizel was about to bite into his dessert, when he heard Sentenza. He got up and walked him over to where he had set down the barrels. Together, the two of them started to fill mugs.

"Any preferences?" asked Sentenza.

"Pine Beer for me if you please," Sid called out.

"Piiiinnneeee," agreed Bakade.

"Anything's fine for me," Ted threw in, not wanting to say he would prefer the Pine Beer since two of them already said they'd rather have that one.

"Bawk!" squawked Nugget.

"Didn't quite catch that darling." Teased Sentenza as he looked up at the hen. "Now which one was it you wanted? The Pine Beer?" as he pointed at the barrel she shook her head. He moved his hand over to the brown sugar and asked, "The pure brown sugar?" She nodded and with a shrug, he got some for her.

Ted, Nugget, and Sentenza had the pure brown sugar for their first round, while Trizel, Sid, and Bakade had the Pine Beer. For a little while they all relaxed as the fire danced between them. Simply enjoying their drinks with the sweet snacks that had been prepared for them. Ted did wish they had either marshmallows or hot dogs, but the fire roasted bread with sweet filling was nice in its own way.

"Now, I think we all know what we have to do here." Sentenza leaned forward as he spoke. There was a solemn and commanding aura around his words. As everyone looked to him, he slowly nodded. "Yep. We've got to tell some ghost stories!"

Several of them started to laugh as his serious demeanor had faded so abruptly.

"I'll have you know I'm actually not half bad at telling scary stories." bragged Ted.

"Oh are you now?" smirked Trizel. "Think you can keep up with someone who has seen actual ghosts?"

"I have a vast library of old stories that will be likely to stir up feelings of fear." Sid declared.

"Well, you two know a good story needs more than just a strong subject, right?" teased Sentenza. "In fact, I'd say how you tell it is far more important than what the story is about. Movement, tone, voices, shadows. All of these are tools a good storyteller needs to utilize around the fire!"

There was more discussion over how to tell a good story than actual stories being told. Still, Bakade's plan to help them all relax had worked. For a night they had all forgotten their worries, and simply had a fun time with one another. Just like when they used to drink together before the Smiling Man came crashing into their lives.