#askshi

           The Oil Joint had never been busier, and never so dry. Tonic simply didn’t have time to serve drinks; everyone who walked in the door wanted to talk to her. She felt like she had shaken the hand of almost every robot in the city and the verdict hadn’t even dropped yet. Even The Spider had sent his regards by postcard, much to her surprise.

           At least one radio had been brought in and placed on the bar. The verdict was to be broadcast live; public interest had grown too feverish for city hall to dampen. But right now the radio was turned down to a low grumble, the words mostly lost to the chatter of the assembled crowd.

           Tipsy was out from behind the bar, talking to a few people, when she saw them blink in surprise and back away. Then a hand slapped her on the back between her shoulders and Hare Becile rounded her side, all grease and smiles.

           “Speakin’ to your public, Tonic? Enjoyin’ the limelight?”

           “Like well wishes before a guillotine,” she said, placing a hand under her chin. She was honestly surprised; the Beciles, while regulars, generally avoided crowds. “Are you going to be taking bets on my fate?”

           “Thought about it. Lotsa bank to be made.” Hare grinned. Then he lifted his shoulders, as if shrugging off part of a persona. “Nah. I got standards. ‘S in poor taste to bet against a pillar a’ the community.” He paused, then his hand moved. “Catch.”

           Unbeknownst to Hare, the patrons of Tipsy’s original bar had made a game of throwing coins at her. So when he flipped the little disk into the air, she caught it effortlessly.

           “What’s this for?”

           “Good luck.”

           Tipsy looked at it. It was an Indian penny, dated 1899, predating her by a little more than two decades. There was grime ground into the crevices, but it looked like it had been polished recently.

           “I don’t imagine this is to keep.”

           “Smart gal.” Hare shrugged again. “Give it back when you got yourself the deed to this place all nice and secure. Consider it my investment in keepin’ this place open.”

           “Hefty investment.”

           “Luck’s real, Tonic. Even if you gotta push it around a lil’ bit.”

           Tipsy’s eyes glowed, and she slipped the coin into her vest pocket. She did not say ‘thank you’—Hare would’ve hated that—but she felt he knew it anyway. “I heard Melissa Etterson’s been having some bad luck today, speaking of which.”

           “Yeah, poor thing,” Hare drawled, eyes narrowing meaningfully. “Someone awful went and tore up all her tires. Took the radio and CDs right outta her car, too.”

           “What a monster.”

           “Well, you need a copy of Cher’s Greatest Hits, you let me know.”

           Meanwhile, Elijah was watching the front door. One particular ‘bot had yet to show his face, but she knew he would come. He had to. He wouldn’t leave wishing Ms. T good luck to a phone call. And she was right.

           Shi Carlton finally appeared, scowling at the packed bar. He pulled his hat down further and began to push his way in, only for Elijah to rise like a spitting snake between him and his path to Tipsy.

           They stared at each other, Shi’s eyes flashing through a few different colors as he sized her up.

           “I’m here to talk to Tonic, bug.”

           “I know,” she said, antennae stiff and upright. “And ‘m not gonna stop you, but, I gotta talk to you first.”

           Shi’s look darkened. “So now we’re back t’ talkin’, are we?”

           “I…” Elijah turned her head slightly in the direction of Tonic. “I… I gotta ask you a favor.”

           “Oh?”

           “Can we go outside?”

           Shi didn’t move for a moment, then he turned and began to shoulder his way back out of the bar. Elijah followed, wiggling her way through the crowd. Outside was far less crowded, though a few robots were standing around.

           “I can’t go with Ms. T to the court place,” Elijah said, ducking her head and glaring at the ground. “I wanted to the first time, but she wouldn’t let me go then either. Because someone needs t’ watch the bar and because I might cause a ‘disturbance.’ She added air quotes to the last word. “Like I care if some humans get nervous ‘cuz I’m bigger than them! … But that’s what she wants, an’… I’m gonna respect that.” She lifted her head. She wasn’t standing taller than Shi, though they both know she could if she wanted. Instead, she looked up at him. “But somebody needs to protect her, in case something goes wrong. And… and you…” Elijah turned her head with a small hiss. “You hurt her before, but—but maybe—maybe that was different. “’Cause she told me… she told me she forgave you a long time ago, and if she thinks that it’s okay, then…” Elijah’s head snapped to Shi. “If you make sure she gets there and back safe, I’ll forgive you! You have to prove it to me!”

           What Elijah didn’t know was that Tipsy had already asked Shi to come with her. He had accepted, though he was loathe to go anywhere near another courtroom. But he was her friend, he had gone through this before, and she knew she couldn’t go alone again. Especially not if the court decided against her.

           Shi stared evenly at Elijah. “I don’t got to prove a damn thing, bug,” he said. “But I’ll tell ya this. Anyone or anything that wants to get to Tonic is gon’ hafta go through me first. This ‘er any other day.”

           Elijah looked hard at him, but finally nodded. “Okay. You can… you can come back inside, now,” she said, and then quickly scuttled through the door herself, leaving Shi behind.

             “Cheers to our barkeep!” Someone called, inciting a whoop from the crowd as Tipsy returned from the back rooms, holding her parasol and purse. She would have flushed if she were human; instead, her eyes flashed and she held up a hand to her face in embarrassment. Today had been so much already, but… well, it was a lot nicer than the disdain she had expected from her news getting out. Shi stepped forward and she wrapped both her arms on one side around one of his and allowed him to escort her to the door. As she passed, almost everyone had something to say.

           “Chin up, Tonic.”

           “We’re rooting for you, girl!”

           “We’ll take care of the place while you’re out.”

           “Cheers, Tipsy.”

           She paused at the doorway. Shi looked down at her questioningly, and she turned to look at the crowd.

           “This bar is mine!” She called. “It will always be mine! So it better be in one piece when I get back!”