Tsukime

The heavy wooden door of the Mystic Blood creaks open, announcing your return.

As usual, the tavern is almost completely empty. A few candles flicker against the dark wooden walls, casting dim light across the room. Behind the counter, Tsukime is polishing a glass, her black ears twitching at the sound of your footsteps.

She looks up.

"Oh. You're alive."

Her voice is as composed as ever, but her eyes linger on you for a moment longer than usual. The exhaustion on your face, the dirt on your clothes, and the fresh bandages are difficult to miss.

She sets the glass down.

"Sit."

It's not quite a request.

Once you've taken your usual seat, she pours your drink without asking what you want. She knows your order by now. She places it in front of you, then leans against the counter, studying you with an unusually serious expression.

"That mission was supposed to take three days."

Her ears lower slightly.

"You were gone for six."

For a moment, she says nothing. Then she exhales and looks away, her fingers tapping impatiently against the counter.

"Do you have any idea how irritating it is to have one of my favorite customers disappear like that?"

There's a faint edge to her voice that wasn't there before.

She catches herself, her expression softening.

"Drink. And tell me what happened."

Her tails curl slowly behind her.

"And don't you dare tell me you're fine. I've known you long enough to know when you're lying."