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It had not been easy to convince Lighris to let him go back out, but hiding at the house out on the acreage was even getting to an introvert like Volcan. Eventually his brother caved and allowed Volcan to go back to street performance without a fuss - providing that Volcan kept his phone on and was ready to go home by the time Lighris closed up his shop, so that Lighris could come by and drive him home.

What a mother hen, Volcan thought as he retrieved his guitar and canvas cover and headed out for the day. He set up at a street corner, setting up his tent cover and unpacking his guitar. From there, he pulled out his phone to check the time. Five minutes to eleven.

"Bit early for the lunch rush but that will give me time to warm up," he said, before adding. "Metaphorically," in a hushed tone.

With that he set down the tin can he used for tips at his feet and began playing, testing the sound from his guitar to make sure it was in tune and adjusting the keys at the head as needed before strumming again. When it sounded right to him, he played a slow song to get back into the swing of it, eventually moving up to a more upbeat song, reminiscent of his good mood. People passed him on the corner, some glancing over and lending an ear, others pretending not to acknowledge him, and the rare onlooker coming near to drop a coin or two into his tin.

A handful every now and then would stop and listen, seemingly not in any rush to be somewhere, each dropping him coins in appreciation, one even goes as far as to drop in a purple polymer banknote for the performance. By the time Volcan had realized his generosity he only caught the back of the figure: clad in a brown trench coat and fedora with a black scaled tail following behind between the two tails of the coat.

'_A tenner. Very generous fellow,'_he thought to himself, peering after the figure before resuming his work.

He carried on through multiple songs he knew, until the lunch rush was over and traffic on the sidewalk began to lessen. With that, he decided it was time to call it for the time being, and set his guitar aside to count out the tips he had made. "Twenty-eight dollars, sixty cents. Not great, but not terrible," he said, smiling in satisfaction.

He pocketed the ten dollar bill, and was dumping the coins into his lockbox when his phone rang. Resting the tin on his lap, he pulled out his phone and answered. "Hello?" He asked, forgetting to check the caller I.D.

"Hey bro, it's me. Just checking up on you," Lighris' voice came through the phone. "No unusual activity out there?"

"None, Lighris. Just a regular lunch rush," replied Volcan. "This area won't be too busy again until people start finishing work, so I've got a few hours to kill now."

"Come over to the shop then, take a rest. I can order lunch," Lighris offered. "What would you like?"

"Not another burger - we've had that twice over the last week," replied Volcan as he stored his coins into the lockbox and packed up. "How about just some subs? At least they are healthier."

"Depends on what you fill them with, but alright. Subs it is. What'll you have?"

"Chicken and bacon, with spinach instead of lettuce," replied Volcan.

"Toasted?"

"You know it."

~~~~~

After lunch at Lighris', Volcan went back out to do more playing. He changed location this time, landing at an area he knew would be busier at this time of day. Setting up as usual, he got to playing as people began to fill the sidewalks. For that evening he roughly matched the tips he had made earlier that day, making for a good day overall, and headed home with Lighris when he picked him up.

Volcan spent the rest of the night working on an addition to a song he had been working on - or rather, one he'd already written, but hoped to add lyrics to. Volcan had been hoping at some point to take singing lessons so that he could start adding lyrics to his songs, to make them more appealing for potential tippers. But as far as he could tell his voice was fairly deep and he couldn't catch the right pitch.

With help from Lighris, he listened to himself on a recording, and wasn't too satisfied with it. Nor was Lighris, evidently not too keen on how he sounded and agreeing he needed lessons before he could add lyrics to his music.

Calling it a night, Volcan went to bed, and on the following day he set out once again for another day of playing. He changed his location from the day before, still in sight of the same spot he'd had but moving to the opposite side of the street and up one block. When the lunch rush hour began once more, he went back to playing, this time starting with the song he'd been working on last night - in case he had any returning patrons, to give them something new.

People did come and go; some lending their ears to listen, and others not giving the avian the time of day. Volcan did spot a couple of people stopping to listen from the day before; including a dark-faced scalie in a long beige trenchcoat and fedora. Volcan recognized the figure, and gave them an appreciative nod, showing he remembered them and their generosity the day before, and kept playing without missing a note.

It was hard to see anything under the shadowy brim of the scalie's hat, but two bright yellow eyes gazed upon Volcan unblinking, making the bird's feathers stand on end. Because of his dark scales it was impossible to see what emotion he was showing, but before too long, the figure came forth, placed another tenner into the tin before carrying on his way.

Volcan watched the reptilian depart out of the corner of his eye, wondering why he'd felt so edgy while they watched him. But he eventually shrugged it off and carried on with his work, hoping that he hadn't been distracted...

Volcan carried on for the rest of the week without issue. Lighris began to dial back his paranoia about the strange men coming after Volcan. It didn't seem like they would make any move while he was in a public place, and he was able to keep working. As before he changed locations, yet strangely, each day there was a familiar reptilian - even if he didn't pass him, Volcan often managed to catch sight of the brown coat and fedora with the black scaled tail trailing behind.

He didn't think much of it, deciding the man probably worked in the area. He didn't know what had left him so edgy when he'd first seen him, but he pushed the thought aside. On the following Friday, however, Volcan saw the man yet again, and this time he was on the same street. The lunch rush traffic hadn't actually begun yet - he was here early this time, and Volcan was still in the process of setting up as the familiar reptilian approached his place on the street corner.

"You are early today" the reptile commented with a hiss as he watched Volcan begin to set up, allowing him to hear his generous patrons' voice for the first time.

"Friday's tend to be a little busier," Volcan commented, pausing his work as he explained. "Some people finish work early and then come down here to go for supper, so it pays to be a little proactive."

"Not quite thisss early." The snake hissed, "if you intend to capitalize, you should've just ssstayed later into the afternoon instead."

"I will be. Just... there are certain reasons why I can't stay out too late," said Volcan, going back to setting up his canvas cover. "One of them is because my brother picks me up after he closes up his shop, and while he will be working a little later tonight I still need to be ready to go when he comes."

"Isss that ssso?" The patron asked before taking a black scalie hand out of his coat pocket and gesturing to the canvas, "And may I asssk... what isss that for?"

"To protect me in case it rains," replied Volcan. He went on to add his usual explanation. "I unfortunately have a rare water allergy -Aquagenic Urticaria, which makes it extremely uncomfortable for my skin to get wet, so I have to be prepared."

"I didn't think any rain was forecassst today?" He responded, glancing briefly up at the sky before continuing. "But I am terribly sssorry to hear... It mussst be incredibly inconvenient, I can hardly imagine having sssuch a conditissson."

"Just born unlucky, I guess," Volcan replied in a sad tone as he finished setting up the shelter. "But I've learned to live with it."

"Unlucky indeed." Agreed the reptile, pausing a little. "In that cassse... I have a proposssitissson for you."

Volcan was bent over to pick up his guitar case when the snake spoke. He stood up again and turned to look a him, curious. "A proposition?" He asked.

"I own a sssmall bar, jussst along thisss ssstreet. I would like you to play there for me."

Volcan's crown twitched as his eyes widened. "Wait... At your establishment?" He asked. The snake nodded in reply, and Volcan was left speechless. "I've... I've never been asked that before. I don't know what to say."

"You ssshould be asssking how much you are going to be paid; I don't get asss many cussstomersss asss you get passssssersssby; but I can make up for that." The snake insists.

"You're... Offering me a job?" Volcan asked. "Are you sure I'm the right fit for your establishment, though?"

"Oh I don't doubt it. It'sss jussst a quessstion on if it's the right fit for you." The snake insists. "If you don't believe ssso; then you don't have to continue with me. But I do insssissst that you give it a try."

Volcan considered the proposal for a moment. "Well..." He said, but bit back his words. He'd been about to refuse, but part of him was curious, and he couldn't deny he was interested. "If it's alright with you that I just try it first, I'd be willing to give it a go."

"I can assssssure you, that you will not regret trying it out." The snake replied, and Volcan could just make out the curl of a smile on his scaled lips "Now; may I asssk how much you collect each day out here, normally?"

Volcan shrugged. "It varies by day. This week I've made an average of about thirty dollars each day, give or take?"

"Only thirty?" asked the snake, cocking his eye. "You will get thirty each day from me when you play at my bar, plusss any tipsss from my customersss they give you; and any sssoft drinksss... ...provided you can drink them?"

"I can. Carbonated drinks don't do me any harm," Volcan assured him.

"Intresssting..." the snake hissed curiously, as though he knew there was more to it than that, which made Volcan feel a momentary pang of concern. But without inquiring further, the snake spoke again. "Ssso... would you like to collect your thingsss and join me?"

"Certainly. Just a moment," Volcan replied, and got to work taking down the tent, seeing as he wouldn't need it anymore.

Within a few minutes, his items were packed up, and so he began to follow the snake to his establishment, carrying the folded tent under his arm.

It wasn't too far from where they started. They stopped at a little old dark teal coloured wooden bar with a single bay of windows; behind which were thick opaque cream curtains. Atop the front was a simple painted sign reading "Temple of Tikal". Above that appeared to be some residential on the floor above.

All the time Volcan was gazing up at the building, the owner had already unlocked the front door, primarily wood with only a small window, and pushed it open, stepping and turning on the lightswitch by the counter; holding the door open for Volcan with his long back tail. Volcan nodded in thanks to him, and stepped into the small pub to take in the interior with his eyes. Inside was small and cozy. From the ground up, the wooden floors made way for a couple of tall round tables in the middle, and to the right were three larger wooden tables surrounded by plush green bay seating. At the back was a small open area before a small raised stage at the far end. To the right was a wooden bar counter and a well stocked shelf of bottles on the wall behind it.

The snake's tail let go of the door once Volcan was inside, letting the door slowly close for the tip of the tail to reach up the chain lock to attach it and pull it across dexterously so customers did not come in too early. Other than the doorway they had just come through the only two other entrances or exits was a door to a short corridor to the left of the stage that went to a fire exit and washroom, whilst the other was behind the bar and likely went up stairs or down into the basement.

"Nice place," said Volcan, nodding in approval. "Small, but cozy."

"Bought her with my own money. Doing her up ever sssince," the snake informed him as he walked behind the bar and opened the door to the stairway where some coat hooks waited for him to slide off his coat and place it; whilst his long tail reached up to his hat and placed the fedora with the trenchcoat.

"We don't get too many cussstomers; but it'sss enough to pay the rent and ssstock. I have bottlesss that you can't find elsssewhere in this province, let alone the csssity..." he insisted turning around to Volcan for him to see clearly for the first time. "But they happily pay a pretty penny for it."

The owner was indeed a snake. Covered in black scales from head to toe, they shone like obsidian and sparkled in the room's light. Below his neck, was a grey underbelly, flanked with rose red decorations that continued under his white collared button down shirt with slightly loose black tie. His dark grey suit vest fit perfectly, if not slightly taut over his chest that suggested a strong physique, confirmed as he rolled up his sleeves showing his brilliant brachioradialis adorning his forearms. His eyes were an alluring amber, ringed with a red outline and split with a pitch black slit pupil that gazed back at him.

"Are you ok?" Volcan suddenly heard the snake ask him.

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Volcan, realizing he'd been staring. "I had already guessed you were a snake, but... You don't look like any I've ever seen before."

The snake smirked a little, perhaps at Volcan's comment, or something else. "I'm not from Canada, if that'sss what you're asssking; much further sssouth" he confirmed moving to to lean on the bar before Volcan curiously, "But the sssame can be sssaid for you. Are you... a cardinal or parrot of sssome kind?"

Volcan swallowed, briefly wondering how to answer that question without losing his composure. "Well, I'm _not_a parrot, I guarantee you that," he said, tapping the tip of his beak. "This beak is meant for meat, not fruit. I am a bird of prey, but this colouration is genetic, from my mother's side." He gestured at himself. "As for where I'm from, I'm Canadian born, but my family comes from Scotland."

"Bird of prey, eh?" The snake grinned before chuckling, "I bessst keep looking over my ssshoulder ssso that you don't get hungry for me"

"It simply means I'm a carnivorous species, but not for sapient life," Volcan replied, waving his hands.

The snake smiled, before reaching out with an open hand. "I ssshould of introducsssed myssself. My name isss Ordagova."

Volcan collected himself and reached out to take his hand, shaking it. "Pleasure to meet you, Ordagova," he said. "You can call me-" he paused briefly, remembering what he and Lighris had talked about the other day - how Volcan didn't really need to give himself an alias. "Volcan," he added quickly before it became too awkward.

"Nicssse to meet you, Volcan" Ordagova replied, "I musssst sssay... You're rather hot."

Volcan blushed behind his feathers. "Uh... Excuse me?" He asked.

"Your hand. It'sss very hot" the snake insisted, still holding onto it.

"Oh, that," replied Volcan, pulling his hand back gently. "I um... Have a higher than average body temperature. Supposedly because of my metabolism." 'Geez, is he even going to buy that one?' Volcan thought to himself.

"Makesss sssenssse" he hissed with his wispy tongue flicking between his lips as he withdrew his hand. "I open in a few minutesss. I throught it would be bessst you get yourssself ssset up on the ssstage over there. Can I get you a drink, though?"

"Just a cola, if you have any," replied Volcan, bringing his belongings over to the stage and setting them down before he reached for his phone, pulling it out to text Lighris. He had to call out to Ordagova to get the pub's exact address before he punched in the message and sent it to his brother, making sure he'd know where to find him.

With that, Volcan settled into a chair and unpacked his guitar, testing it to make sure it was in tune while his new employer prepared for opening, wiping down the counter before pouring a glass of cola and bringing it over to Volcan; placing in front of him but off center where he can collect tips; making sure to wipe down the table beforehand before moving to the rest.

The snake artfully balanced himself as he leaned over the larger tables, using his long black dexterous tail to counter his weight. As he walked away from Volcan it swayed from side to side elegantly. Before Volcan came back around, Ordagova had wiped down all the tables and undrew the curtains on the bay window and the window on the door; unlocking it and allowing customers in at exactly eleven-thirty.

As the first group of customers began to enter, Volcan began strumming his guitar. He began with a more relaxing tune, to give the customers something to help them unwind from their long days. They seemed surprised at the bar's new addition, but smiled and seemed to approve of it as they stood over at the counter, talking with Ordagova and taking their orders.

The snake got to work, picking up bottles behind him and under the counter of all shapes and sizes, giving the trio of female office workers their three requested drinks. One was a simple baileys on the rocks, whilst the other two had different coloured cocktails; once they had their drinks and paid they move over to one of the round bay seats and splay themselves out to drink and talk about their day at work, glancing over at Volcan every now and then, occasionally pausing to listen.

With Volcan enjoying the new setting he failed to notice a gentleman in a suit had already walked in and sat himself down on a stool by the bar and was served by Ordagova. A whiskey on the rocks. It wasn't too long until he was joined by another gentleman who sat beside him and ordered something similar. The first looking over at Volcan approvingly every now and then listening, leaning over to ask Ordagova something about Volcan to which he nodded.

Volcan was keen to notice things but not so good at reading lips, so he could not even guess what the two might have been discussing. He didn't let it bother him though, focusing just on his guitar playing as the lunch hour went on. More people came and others went. Some for only one drink, others for more. Some talked all the way through and others seemed to just stop and listen. Every now and then some would come up one at a time and put some coins or even a small note on Volcan's table.

Before he knew it, the light was fading out of the bay windows and the street lamps took over from the sun. Eventually a pickup truck pulled up and parked on the street outside the windows. In moments, another avian - one closely resembling Volcan in several features but nearly half a foot shorter than him, stepped inside. He walked over to the red avian still strumming his guitar on the stage.

"So this is the place?" Lighris asked.

"Yep. Owner's right there," he cocked his head to the counter, where Ordagova was still serving more drinks. "I've seen him multiple times this week, and today he offered to let me play here in his business."

"What do you think so far?"

"I'm... Well, I'm liking it, really," replied Volcan, nodding. "He's a nice fellow and the customers here all seem to be good natured."

"Well, I better meet him too, then," said Lighris. "You keep playing - see if you can score a few more tips. I'll grab a bite and a drink or two. Don't worry, I'll keep it light."

"I should hope so - I don't have a license," Volcan returned, smirking at his brother as Lighris headed over to the bar.

Taking a seat for himself, Lighris waited for the proprietor to get to him.

After serving just one other customer at the bar, the muscular snake strolled over to his newest customer at the other end and greeted him with a wide smile, "You mussst be Lighrisss. Nicssse you meet you" he hissed and reached out with his hand.

"That I am," he replied, double checking to make sure his hand was clean before shaking the snake's. His hand had a strong orange smell that was hard to miss. "Thanks for giving my little brother a chance here."

"Of courssse. He isss really talented and doesss help with the atmosssphere in here." He glanced over at Volcan playing, noticing him looking back at the two of them. "Besssidesss... it keepsss him off the ssstreetsss."

Lighris tilted his head. "Worried for his safety?" He asked. "He might be a big teddy on the outside but trust me, he can protect himself."

"A teddy bear that is allergic to the rain." Ordagova reminded him, "and sssure; he'sss a big guy, but it isss probably bessst he did not have to engage in the firssst placssse... ssstraysss get murdered on thossse ssstreetsss, and I would not be able to live with myssself if I could of done sssomething about it."

Lighris considered the snake's response, finding no fault in it nor any hint of dishonesty in his claim. After a moment, he smiled gratefully. "Well, in that case. Thank you for looking out for him. At least now I know he's got employment for the winter too, instead of having to scrounge and save the whole time," he replied. "That is, if he decides to stay on. It is his choice after all. He's a grown man now and I don't get to choose for him, even if I don't agree with his decision."

Ordagova chuckles to himself and shakes his head to himself before looking back at Lighris and leaning in close, "I have a feeling he will choossse to ssstay; sssince he got in here he has ssspent half of the time looking at me. ...It'sss flattering I mussst admit, but unexssspected."

Lighris shrugged. "He's always been flexible in where he finds beauty," he remarked with a smirk. "And from my own perspective you aren't like any snake I've seen either. Black scales, amber eyes, and you clearly keep fit. I imagine plenty of gals make a pass at you."

"I sssuppose after a comment like that I ssshould buy you a drink?" The snake lent back of the counter grinning at the compliments.

"To clarify, I don't swing that way," Lighris put in. "To each their own but I prefer a lady. I certainly won't say no to a drink though. A light beer, please."

"Well bessst I introducssse you to my cousssin sssometime," The snake's grin turned into a smirk as he crossing his arms and letting his tail open up a fridge behind the counter and grabbing a bottle of light beer and bringing it up to the underside of the counter were a bottle opener uncapped it and then placed it on the counter in front of Lighris, uncoiling his tail from the neck, never once lifting his gaze away from the bird.

"Red-bellied black snake," Ordagova confirmed to Lighris.

"What- oh, you mean your species," said Lighris, sipping from the bottle. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

"I would hope ssso," he hissed with a chuckle. "Ssso what are you two then? Volcan assssssuresss me that you are not parrotsss. Although your colour ssschemesss are vassstly different I mussst sssay."

"We're both birds of prey. Our colours are purely genetic," said Lighris. "Volcan takes after our mother, inheriting the red and gold patterns of her side of the family. I take after our dad," he opened his arms slightly to show himself. "Electric blue. Yet, people can still tell he and I are brothers."

"Of courssse," Ordagova agreed. "I am sssure girlsss make passssssesss at you two all the time as well; or guysss even." He commented looking over at Volcan again to see the guitarist looking directly at him, rather than at the two of them in conversation.

"I can't speak for Volcan, but I've had a few ladies on my arm over the years," he replied with a wink. "Although for him there is this dragoness he's hanging out with who I really think he could have a shot wi-" he was interrupted when an empty cola can hit him the back of the head, only now noticing the music had stopped as Volcan was preparing for his next song.

Lighris didn't even flinch when the can hit him, or when it clattered to the floor below. "He's bashful." He said with a grin.

"I know. It'sss really cute," Ordagova agreed, smiling over at Volcan. "He even blussshed when we ssshook hands."

"Yep, that sounds about right," agreed Lighris as he took a swig of his beer before voicing his next question as Volcan started his next song. "You have a menu by any chance? I'm famished."

Ordagova reached up behind him without looking and tapped on a chalkboard with a handful of items on it to choose from, including nachos, burger, poutine and sandwiches. Lighris selected a plate of nachos before settling back in his seat to wait while Ordagova disappeared out of the back behind the bar for a bit before re-emerging to serve a few more awaiting customers.

A short while later, the bar was empty. Volcan stopped playing and came over to join his brother at the counter, where Ordagova was coming out from the back to bring Lighris a second plate of nachos, as well as third plate that he handed to Volcan as well as another cola which he retrieved from the fridge behind the counter. The red avian sat down beside his brother and started eating.

"How are you finding it?" The snake asked, directing his question to Volcan.

"It's certainly a nice change," replied Volcan. "I'm not accustomed to working indoors, I admit, but I didn't mind it. The people here really seemed to enjoy my music." He paused to each another nacho, biting into it with his beak and swallowing. "So... I'm liking it, so far."

"That'sss good to hear" the snake hissed, "but do take your time, and besides; you can try for asss long asss you like and quit whenever. The nachosss are on me."

Volcan nodded. "I think I will," he said, smiling. "Thank you again for this opportunity, Ordagova."

"Let me know if you need anything" he returns with a caring smile before going over to some of the tables and collecting empty glasses to take back behind the bar to clean.

Lighris looked around the bar absently, but as he did, his expression shifted. He quirked an eyebrow, and his eyes lingered on Ordagova briefly before he looked down the corridor behind the bar that led into the back. He let out a hum, and once more watched Ordagova as he returned to the bar.

"I'm just noticing," said the blue avian. "I've seen no other staff here since I came in. Do you run this whole place all by yourself?"

"I do, yesss" he hissed as he ran the hot water in the small sink behind the counter.

"That's got to be exhausting," said Lighris. "Can't afford to hire more people, even a waitress?"

Ordagova's cheerful attitude finally changed with a sigh, squirting in some washing up liquid and beginning to clean the glasses. "It is exssshausssting... Volcan is the first perssson I have hired, and his music is ssssoothing. But it'ssss something I do feel I may need to exsssplore eventually."

Lighris hummed in thought. "One good turn deserves another, I think," he said. "I get a decent number of people in my shop. You want me to take a few business cards or a help wanted sign I could put up in the lobby?"

"I don't have any busssinessssss cardss. And I need to ssssee if my financsssesss can sssupport another perssson before I even consssider advertisssing for it."

Lighris shrugged. "The offer stands once you decide," he said. "I might be coming by here more often, especially if Volcan's going to be working here now. So, you have a new regular patron." He gave a slow nod as he concluded what he was saying.

The snake's lips curled into a smile once again, "That'sss the idea. I might not have the biggessst turnover; but the regularsss are alwaysss reliable."

Lighris lifted his beer as if in salute, before taking another drink of it, downing the last of the contents. "Well we probably should get going," he said.

"Alright," said Volcan before looking at Ordagova. "Same time tomorrow?"

"I look forward to it" the snake smiles reaching into his vest pocket and pulling out thirty dollars to hand to Volcan as promised, "don't forget thisss, of courssse."

"Oh, yeah," he said, taking the banknotes offered to him, adding them to his cash box with the tips he had made throughout the afternoon. "Thank you."

"My pleasure" the snake simpley gave a caring smile as he waved the two out, never taking his gaze away from Volcan until the door closed behind him. Allowing him to continue to serve the remaining customers.

"Nice guy," said Lighris, without any sarcasm, as they headed to his truck.

"Very nice," said Volcan, "I really got lucky when he offered me some work here."

"I'm glad for you, bro," said Lighris. "Now if only I could convince you to get outta that damn tower and live in a real place."

"Baby steps, bro. I still would like to have a place to call my own," Volcan said as he placed his belongings into the back of the truck.

"Would it help if I get you a trailer or something? You could even just park it in my driveway."

"Well that might be something," said Volcan as he climbed into the truck, waiting until Lighris started the engine before carrying on the conversation. "But what will your landlady think of that?"

"I don't intend to live there forever, bro," Lighris assured him as they departed.

In the bar, Ordagova watched the two go, wearing a smile as he went back to cleaning the glasses. He knew, and looked forward to seeing more of the 'non-specific birds of prey' soon...