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Ch 52: Tips Please

The door to The Oasis flew open as Trizel flew back first inside. He crashed through the center table and didn't stop until his back slammed against the bar counter. Death was right behind him, and the skeleton quickly slammed the door behind them. Soon after, they could hear the hollow king banging his sword against The Oasis. With each strike, the entire building shook, but no matter how strong his attacks, they never made a single scratch on the building.

While the banging continued, Lulu peeked over the bar and down at Trizel. Then, her gaze shifted up to Death who was holding his left arm in his right hand. "You two look parched. Care for a drink?"

Trizel held his ribs before he turned his head and spat out a bit of blood from his mouth. "He is pretty tough," Trizel groaned.

Yeah! No kidding. sighed Death as he reattached his arm. He didn't look worn down at all from when Sentenza and I took him on.

"I appreciate you allowing me a chance to try without jumping in with your special moves," Trizel added as he looked towards Death. "We might have fared better, but even so I appreciate you letting me try."

Uh...yeah no problem. hah hah. Anytime bro. Death turned his head away as he put a hand behind his head.

"I'll just get you both a pine beer, how about that?" Lulu suggested as she turned around to pour two mugs.

Trizel seemed to finally notice her. He lifted his arm up and used the bar counter to lift himself up. He struggled but managed to pull himself to standing. Before he fell again, he managed to sit down on one of the stools he hadn't knocked to the side. "Are we sure that monster cannot enter here?"

I don't think he remembers how doors work. Suggested Death as he appeared in the stool beside Trizel. And he didn't break in last time. If he does, we could just hide in our rooms, or something.

"Here you go. Two cold ones for ya boys." Lulu winked as she placed the two mugs in front of them.

As Trizel reached for his drink, Lulu cleared her throat and held out the tip jar. She shook the empty jar in front of him, as the giant slowly lifted the mug towards his lips while eyeing her cautiously. As he slowly took a sip of the drink, she cleared her throat even louder and lifted the jar closer to him. As she inched closer, Trizel leaned back more.

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Death watched the display, but when he put his bony fingers around the mug's handle, Lulu turned her attention to him. She shook the jar in front of him and smiled.

Is uh...is there something you want? Death asked as he looked from the jar back to her.

"Really? Have neither of you been out drinking before?" She scoffed. "Like actual drinking, not just at someone's house."

"I drink all the time and have been since before I left on any adventure." Trizel bragged.

Not me. The first time I ever had anything was after appearing here without any clothes on. I mean, my shirt's missing, but at least I still have these shorts to protect my modesty. Death explained.

"Fair enough for you bonehead, but you big guy. Have you never tipped any of the bartenders that served you?" Lulu asked.

"Tipped?" Trizel asked. "I feel like there is some miscommunication going on here. As I do not think you mean to imply that I should physically tip them over."

Lulu shook her head as she set down the tip jar. "Wow, you really are uncivilized, huh?"

"Uncivilized? Hah!" scoffed Trizel. "As if you would know anything about real civilization."

"Oh ho ho. So you claim, and yet you know nothing of rewarding good service? No wonder Ted spits in your cup." sighed Lulu as she shrugged her shoulders.

"What? He has never done that." Trizel was taken back by her comment.

Really? Awe man. I wish I could help you out there buddy, but I'm afraid I can't really spit. Death pointed into his open mouth. No saliva after all.

"Don't worry there Trizel. Just listen to me, and I'll explain everything." Lulu cooed.

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As Lulu explained her view of tipping, the hollow king was still outside. He stood a few feet from the door and stared at it with the many eyes on his arm, and the spectral eye covering the space where his right one should have been. He gripped his sword and clenched his crooked teeth together. With a shift of his weight, he lifted the sword over him, and brought it down directly on the door.

As soon as the sword made contact, it bounced off, as if it had been caught and thrown back. He stumbled to catch his feet as the blade fell back to the ground. The hollow king paused as he stared back at the door again. He lifted his right arm and opened the eye on his palm towards the door. After nearly a full minute of standing still, he finally lowered his arm. The eyes still darted around, as if they were looking for any sort of structural weakness. But even that seemed futile as he slowly crept forward.

He dragged his sword behind him. But after he had moved few feet, he finally let go and the oversized blade crashed onto the muddy ground as he shambled forward. The rose on the pommel stuck up out of the mud, almost like a plant straining up towards the sky. The spectral body parts disappeared as he approached the wall of The Oasis. He slowly reached out with his left hand and stroked the side of the building.

The hollow King's head tilted to the side as his hand slowly went over the wood. He let out a low groan as his head drew closer, until there was a dull thud as his forehead hit against the wall. He let out a small sigh as the eyes on his right arm closed one by one. After a brief moment of silence, he turned around and rested his back against the wall. Slowly he sank down towards the ground, until he was sitting with his back still pressed up against The Oasis. He tilted his head forward limply as he raised his knee up and let his left arm rest on it while his right arm drooped down at his side. Slowly, he returned to his rest.