Rabbit Hole Carnival: Priceless

Renee yawned as she walked down. “Daddy it’s just him!”

“Got it!” Nick replied.

“Miss Shem.” A man replied as he adjusted his glasses. “You have an—”
“An alive father, yes” Renee replied. “Mike Shem. Just Mike, it's not short for anything.”
“Ned” Ned replied. “Short for Nethal.” he held out his hand. “It’s my job.. Even hate this part of doing it.”

“Ned.” Renee, shook his hand. “If you didn’t do what you do I’d like still stuck in the court system, because I left—”

“A week before you turned 18.” Ned said. “It’s in your file. Miss Shem.”

“Renee is fine.” Renee replied. “There is always someone every few years. I’m not supposed to offer you a drink, I know but it is probably your last case of the night?”

“I’m not supposed to take one.” Ned replied. “But quite frankly this is one of those cases where I wondering why anyone called at all. And given what Travis said, and showed me.”

“Oh Travis is back!” Renee said. “How is he doing?”

“He is as right, and as annoyed as he has ever been,” Ned replied. “What was it, he said? It was rather good.”

“Travis… annoyed… and me” Renee thought out loud before snapping her fingers. “Was it something about why are still bother this one girl for questioning a poisonous bloodline?

Ned slammed a fist on the bar table. “That was it! ‘Why are we still required to poison a girl who left her own poison’ I believe.”

“That's so like him.” Renee giggled. “He is running the place now, right? And Abby is gone?”

“That is also in your file, and yes she wasn’t supposed to do that.” Ned replied. “I’d want a Five Hunters, but since that is not available I’ll take a Black Sheep’s gift.”

“Daddy!?” Renee asked.

A door opened, and Nick walked out. “Yes? He need something?”

“He wants Five hunters.” Renee replied.

“Oh that’s fine.” Nick walked down the stairs, and behind the counter.

“It’ll be out in a few minutes.” Renee said. “So shall we get started?”

“You two do this often?” Ned asked. “Just randomly ask for things like that?”

“I.. Yeah I guess.” Renee replied, tilting her head. “I don’t make a Five Hunters, and Daddy doesn’t make a Shocking Apple. It’s says right there on the menu?”

“Yes it does, but why is that the case?” Ned asked.

“Well Daddy refuses to make a Shocking Apple for a lot of reasons.” Renee said. “It's the first drink I even made, and I worked really hard on it. It was my way of being close to him. Five Hunters… well it felt like my Shocking Apple.”

Ned took a swig, and signed a few of his papers before making a call. “Travis, sir? Yes we're just gonna call inspect complete… code phase, sir?”

“The sheep are priceless when you dye their wool black, Travis!” Renee said.

“I’m enjoy one now sir… yes first thing tomorrow.” Ned said, and then hung up the phone.