[Prompt] Mixology 101

He goes to the Rabbit Hole one night during closing for learning purposes. Tomoki’s excuse is that he would like to know how to make a drink in case he writes a character that’s a bartender. The actual reason is far more understandable than a writer’s curiosity. 

Rather, he wants to know how to make some of the recipes so he can have something to drink when he can’t sleep. It’s not something he would ever admit though. Tomoki can do that when he’s drunk. 

Regardless, he finds himself at the Rabbit Hole with anxiety in every bone of his body. To say that he loathes asking for help of any sort of an understatement. 

“Hey Hops,” he says with all sorts of mock confidence. “I was wondering if you’d teach me how to make one of those drinks of yours.” 

She perks up at that and invites him into the back of The Rabbit Hole, the back where there isn’t the same soft lights as the front, instead something harsher. Then he’s hit with the smell of all of the alcohol. There’s everything here. 

Vodka, rum, white wine, the list goes on. 

Then Hops turns to him, one of those looks on her face that tells him that he’s not getting out of this. Rather, he put himself here in the first place. 

“You look like you need a drink,” she remarks. “Bourbon or drabsinthe or maybe Gin and Tonic?” 

“Whatever will hit harder. I need a break and I’d like to know how to make it,” he replies, sheepish. “For harder days.” 

She laughs, one that rings through the room like a bell. “I’ll show you how to make the drabsinthe then. Fetch the absinthe, the sugar and a wine glass.” 

Tomoki blinks. There’s too many drawers here. “I don’t know where you keep anything, Hops.” 

Then Hops points at the drawers, the respective places where everything is placed. He does manage to find everything though, and nearly smacks his head on one of the shelves along the way. She cackles when he does and Tomoki supposes he could be shorter for additional benefits potentially. 

All the same, he manages to get everything on the table and places the glass in between them. 

Somehow Tomoki already knows he’s going to put too much sugar into this. 

“So, pour around half a glass of the absinthe into the glass,” Hops instructs. “Don’t overthink it.” 

He’s great at overthinking, thanks. It’s what Tomoki’s the best at but he does try to pour it accordingly. It is around half and he breathes as if he’s drawn a straight line with a ruler.

“Is that enough?” he still finds himself asking. “Or is it–” 

“It’s fine Tomoki. It looks good.” 

Then: 

“Add some sugar, just enough that you feel the flavour.” 

“How much is that?” 

She thinks for a moment. “Around a spoonful or so, maybe a little bit less.” 

Somehow he dumps slightly more than a spoonful into it but it’s fine. She grimaces when it hits the bottom of the glass before handing him the mixing stick. 

“Make sure you can’t see the sugar, it uh– may take a bit when looking at how much you put in.” 

He’s not really surprised as he mixes the drink. “I’ll get better with practice.” Which is the deflection of ‘I’m working on it’ that Tomoki says when he’s aware of his mistake but would rather not deal with it immediately. 

Then, when he concludes that it’s well mixed. Hops gestures at the drink, and then back at him. 

“Try it. You might like it.” 

Tomoki looks at the drink and then back at Hops before picking up the drink and downing it like a shot. 

Surprisingly, it’s not that bad. Maybe a bit sweet but he has a bit of a sweet tooth to excuse it. 

Then he turns to Hops. There’s a grin spreading on his face, alcohol is great actually. “Thanks for showing it to me. I’ll use this power for good.” 

She snorts. “And may your words flow, you funky writer. Come to The Rabbit Hole if you need more ideas instead of staying at home.”

“I will and you’ll hear all about all of the hijinks.”