Rabbit Hole Carnival: A Family of Shields

“We’re here!” Cody said.

“Cody! Finally bring some friends over.” Cody’s mom replied. “This must be Cel, and… Susie?”

“Who are the other two?” Cody’s father asked.

“Renee.” Renee Replied. “This is Jojo, or Joshua.”

“The Occultic Five in my home.” Cody’s mom said. “It took you all long enough.”

“Well these two left us in the dark for a while.” Cel Said. “Come on you two. About time you had some of the shepard’s pie made in this house.”

“What is with them anyways, son?” Cody’s dad asked. “I know you said they’d be nervous, but this seems especially quiet.”

“Well Renee kind of vanished for a while, it took us ages to find her. Joshua was a lot louder with his exit.” Cody replied.

“I found her working at a bar with her uncle Nick.” Cel said. “She ran off one after getting slapped after waking up while her parents were arguing in the middle of the night. She still won’t say what they were arguing about, but whatever it was made her snap, I guess.”

“I’ve never told anyone that!” Renee said.

“No?” Cel asked. “The way Nick talked I would’ve thought otherwise.”

Renee looked away. “He promised he wouldn’t tell anyone… Guess he must’ve felt like I needed it.”

“Was that what you two were talking about?” Joshua asked. “I knew I should’ve interrupted.”

“We were talking about how often you’ve been there for a drink if you must know.” Cel replied. “Nick told me about how and when Renee came the first time I met him. I just kind of stumbled in after doing another search around town.”

“All of this,” Cody’s mother said. “Sounds like a talk for inside the house.”

“And sounds like it’ll need something stronger than tea.” Cody’s father said to Susie.

“Don’t look at me for that one.” Susie replied. “Renee is the one co-hosting a bar.”

“I thought the name Nick might be familiar.” Cody’s mom replied. “I suppose we’ll just have to taste test this evening.”

“We’re the Rabbit Hole Carnival, Amy.” Renee replied. “Every drink gotta be a festival.”

“That’s a new one.” Susie said. 

“Alright, inside all of you. You heard the missus here, and you can all call me Kyle.” Cody’s dad replied. “And I—”

“Don’t tell her.” Cody replied as ushered the group inside. “Everything got here, alright?”

“It better have.” Joshua replied. “Didn’t pay those—” Renee elbowed him.

“Come along, Jojo.” Renee said, grabbing his arm. “It’s rude to stand outside this long”

Most of the group sat at the bar table in the kitchen while Joshua looked over the place, and Renee looked over the ingredients.

“And that’s why Jojo’s a bit nervous.” Susie said, finishing her explanation. “It’s his first time recommending a place for a town hall, and he really needs it not to go south.”

Kyle patted his son on the shoulder. “You may the right call tell us to make sure it’s fancy so many times, son”

“But is he sure the drinks will be okay?” Amy replied.

Renee brought out a tray of 16 shot glasses, and two full glasses of water. “Take a swig of water after each one. You don’t get the full favor of each otherwise.” She stared at both for a few seconds before setting 2 glasses aside. “Amy's gonna love this one, and I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with Kyle here.”

“You know all the guests are gonna puke when they figure out these drinks are from a dusty old tavern, right.”

“Which is why I never told them where it was from.” Joshua replied. “I assured them the Rabbit Hole has hosted a number of fancy parties before, and nothing more.”

“Which is nothing, but the truth.” Renee said.