The Innkeeper

Lex watched with a troubled look as Gerard dramatically fished out the car keys. He wondered if it was such a good idea to let him do this. If the old fellow ever learned about the viscous power he wielded so easily, he may soon become the playboy of the Midnight Inn.

It was always obvious to him that Gerard liked racing. From the looks of it, the same was true for Lilith. If Gerard had, with great foresight, arranged for the gift to be some kind of bike, like maybe a heavy bike or a chopper or something along those lines then his instincts for this kind of stuff was absolutely lethal.

Lex did not mean to stereotype, but Lilith looked like the kind of girl who enjoyed riding bikes, so he didn't imagine there would be any issue there. He could already visualize the old man riding across the Inn, with Lilith hugging him from the back, holding him tightly as he drifted across all kinds of terrain.

A part of Lex wanted to start taking lessons from Gerard. If he had been half as suave as Gerard, he'd already be married by now - not that Lex wanted to get married or anything.

He could see the excitement in Lilith's eyes as she saw the keys. Really well played. At this point, he wouldn't be surprised if Gerard even had the bike customized - not that it was confirmed if it was a bike yet.

"Oh my, keys. How promising. What are they for?" Lilith asked, as she ran up to Gerard.

"I got us a bike," Gerard said as he handed her the keys. "One of our guests was talking to me about it. Apparently, back on earth, this was one of the fastest and most dangerous bikes on the road. I had Xeon make it for me. The poor fellow is constantly swamped with work, but still, he never says no."

"Where is it? Do we have to go to it?"

"Oh, no, all we need to do is…"

Gerard pressed a button on the key, and it began to transform. Lex was impressed for all of one second, before he became stunned. For all his experience as the Innkeeper, and all the surprises he had been through in life, he was absolutely not ready for what Gerard's key turned into.

In front of him, in all its three-wheeled glory, was a Tuk-tuk! Formally known as an autorickshaw, these death-vehicles were rampant on the streets of Thailand, and from what he understood, India as well. When he was young, he had the chance to sit in one, and he had to say they glided through the streets better than a jet could fly in the air.

They had skills that would put the pilots from the best movies to shame, and a fearlessness that would thwart any racing movie franchise with thirteen movies, and a plot no one can follow.

The light frame of the dreaded Tuk-tuk made it easy to maneuver, and all it needed was a total disregard for one's life since the only protection one could avail in one is an absolute faith in a higher being with a plan that did not involve them dying.

Did he see boosters on that thing? Did it even need boosters?

"Oh I can't wait to ride in it, but first, I need to fish as well. Did you prepare more options or do we need to add things to the well?"

"I prepared a few things, but if you wish to add something, you can just toss it in the well. It will automatically add it to the pile, and it will increase the randomness of the selection."

"In that case, let me just…"

Lilith walked over to the well and dropped a few things into the well before grabbing the fishing pole and taking her turn. She ended up fishing out a thin, black notebook that reminded Lex of a very famous anime he'd seen that would allow killing someone just by writing their name in it.

"It's a personal journal," Lilith explained, quenching Lex's worry. Just because she was a devil didn't mean she was evil, he told himself.

"Once you bond with it, it will automatically make an entry every time you have an experience you find worth remembering. In a few centuries, who knows how many small moments you'll forget, but with this, you can then look back in the book and enjoy."

Lex paused. That… actually sounded very nice. He made a mental note to get one for himself. He doubted he'd ever forget what it was like to swim through lava, but he might forget the feeling he got when he experienced something new for the first time. He didn't want all his good memories to be overshadowed by his traumas. This was something he really needed to get for himself.

"It's amazing, I love it!" Gerard exclaimed as he took the notebook and bound it to himself immediately.

Before he could even do anything, writing began to enter right in front of him, marking down the time Lilith gave him a wonderful gift. Since the book was open, everyone read it at the same time, and the memory was written in such cute words, it immediately created an adorable environment.

Lex pulled Cindy aside to the well, giving the couple a moment of privacy.

"Allow me to fish something out for you as well," Lex said as he walked towards the well.

"I thought we were just going to observe the two," Cindy said, though she made no move to stop Lex.

"We are, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves in the meantime. Besides, if I see anymore than I'm seeing right now, I might need to put up a parental advisory," Lex said as he looked towards Gerard and Lilith. They were still reading something in the journal, and whispering amongst themselves.

He turned his sight back towards the well, then dropped a few items in as well. He grabbed the fishing rod. It was time to see how his luck was.