Client Service: White Swan (Preview)

"Loosen up, sweetheart! You'll age twenty years if you don't."

"Yes, sure." Linda Blanc quietly said, awkwardly looking at the bar counter. This date had certainly been "going" as it were. The young woman had been asked out for drinks by a rather charming toon toucan. She had never gone on a date with a toon before, but between his general sweetness and her intrigue, she accepted.

But things had been going less than perfect. They didn't share a whole lot in common as it turned out. His energy levels and enthusiasm were a bit much to handle. Plus, the brightness of his feathers and form were hard on the eyes after a while. An hour in and she knew for a fact that this wasn't going to work out between them.

The toucan, simply named Sam, which he assured was a coincidence, seemed to be picking up on her mood. He was watching her closely, noticing how stiff she was being and how she didn't look him in the face anymore.

He took a sip from his glass, his beck bending and cartoonishly moving like lips to do so. He set his glass down and asked, "I see how it is. You're not having a good time, are ya?"

Linda felt guilty, feeling a cold chill in the room after he said that. Looking at him, he was frowning, looking absolutely down in the dumps. "I-I'm sorry. You're really nice, but I… I'm not sure if this is working…"

Sam smacked his hand on the bar, a lightbulb appearing briefly above his head and clicking on. "Oh! I know what this needs!"

He reached behind his back and pulled out a martini glass, setting it down on the counter. In it was a clear, brownish liquid with an intriguing aroma rising from it. He gently nudged it towards her. "For you, my lady."

The bartender, walking by, noticed what he did and interjected. "Hey, no outside drinks allowed in here."

"Awww, Jim! It's for happiness!" The bartender's gaze remained hard and harsh on him. "…okay, here's a little extra." Sam took out a twenty from his pocket and stuffed it into the bartender's breast pocket. The man looked at it and at the toon before sighing and continuing on his way.

Linda watched the curious scenario unfold before looking down at the drink presented to her. "Uh, what is this?"

"This is for you!" Sam explained, "I got this from some nice green ladies. They said this would be the perfect thing for tonight's date if things got too stiff and weird, ya know?"

Linda looked between the drink and him again. "Ah, what?"

"It's to help you loosen up… if you want." Sam frowned. "If you don't want to, I get ya. Thinkin' 'bout it, this does seem a bit peculiar to toss at somebody randomly."

He got that right. To Linda, this screamed suspicious. A person brings their own drink to give someone on their first date to help loosen them up? All of that raised red flags to her.

Sam's frown grew, a hazy, depressed mist appearing around his head. Pulling the drink back, he mumbled, "Sorry, just thought it would help you enjoy toons more."

"Oh, it's not that…" Linda quickly said. "I'm just not sure if we really click or not."

"It's okay! I get it… toons are just not your thing… or anybody's thing…" The mist formed into clouds, crackles of lightning heard from it. "No one would love a silly bird like me or want anything from me or-"

The woman frowned. He was being ridiculous and absurd! He had completely misjudged the situation… or was purposefully being a downer. It was hard to say, but it was getting to her a little. She didn't like seeing him or toons upset. They took it so hard.

"It's… it's… not… okay, fine!" Linda took the drink back from him against her better judgment. "It's fine! I'll try your drink and everything will be okay."