[Gift] Cinnamon and Hellfire

Stella slowly stepped up the concrete stairs to large casino. Tilting her head up, eyes scanning the building as she read the big flashy sign. Then she looked down at the flyer she was holding in her hands, reading over the text. 'Classes Open!' It said in big bold letters at the top, the next few sentences explained how Hops had opened up some side classes for mixing drinks! That was new, fun, and exciting! Stella thought that it would be a very fun skill to learn, how could she turn it down. With a smile and newfound pep in her step she walked into the entrance of the casino. She already knew where the bar was as she had visited a few times before, how could she not! The Rabbit Hole was the most popular bar known to bun-kind! It was mid-day, and the bar was open, but things were slow. There was the sound of a soft beat playing over the bar speakers. A few regulars were sitting around, some at the tables and a couple at the bar. They all nursed some colorful looking drinks. The signature of this bar! The real business was a little more into the evening when all the party buns came out to play. With the slow pace of the bar it was the perfect time to sit and learn from the bartender Hops!

Stella skipped her way up to the bar, going to find a comfortable seat in one of the bar stools. She sat the flyer out on the bar counter and waited patiently for Hops. She had noticed the bar tender at the other end of the bar. Tending to a customer, and serving their drinks. They seemed to share a but of small talk before she hopped away. Hops then noticed the new comer at the bar, making her way over and smiling.

"Hello there! Welcome! What could I get for you today?"

The charming bun spoke. Stella smiled back up at her, then pushed the flyer over.

"I was out the other day and saw this flyer, was wondering if you still offered the classes?"

Stella asked.

Hops reached for the paper, her eyes scanning it as she reread the flyer she had made awhile ago. She set it down then, beamed at Stella.

"Well of course! Its pretty slow at the moment so you can come on around the bar and I'll show you some tricks!"

Hops gestured with her hand for Stella to walk around the side of the bar.

Stella excitedly got down from the bar stool and walked around the bar, she watched at Hops grabbed some ingredients and different glasses. Putting them on a tray and then leading her to the back. There was a kitchen, and Hops lead them to a empty prep table where she put the tray down and pull everything off. Sitting everything up neatly for the both of them.

"Right! Now, the first drink I'm going to show you is pretty simple, okay?"

Hops looked back at Stella, and the bun nodded, walking up to the table and looking over the things that had been set out for her.

"Gotcha."

Stella answered.

"So you're gonna grab some of our signature Whiskey. Locally made!"

Hops points to the bottle, then takes it as she grabs a shot glass and the shaker. She uses to shot glass to measure and pour in 3 of them into the shaker.

"Three parts whiskey. Can you do that for me?"

Hops looks up at Stella. Who nods back and follows her instruction. Three parts whiskey into the shaker.

"Good! Now we take some cinnamon sticks, I use two of them, and put them into the shaker as well."

Hops explains as she demonstrates what to do. Stella follows her, taking her cinnamon sticks and putting them into the shaker she had.

"Next, we use a little dash of liquid hellfire. Just a drop or two."

Hops then takes the little vial, dropping two drops into it. The liquid inside began to bubble and smoke.

"I'll do it for you this time, this stuff is strong."

Hops explains as she drops two drops into Stellas shaker.

"But you get the point."

Hops chuckles putting the tiny vial back where she had it.

"Now! You shake!"

Hops puts the lid on her shaker, lifting it up and shaking it to the side of her head.

"Go ahead, try it out!"

Stella then grabbed the lid to her shaker. Putting it on as she lifted it above her head and started to copy Hops.

"Now dont laugh at me if I look silly!"

Stella joked, the both of them laughing in unison. They shook their drinks up, and Stella could hear the feint sound of what seemed to be a fire crackling.

"Then you strain it out into your glass."

Hops spoke, grabbing the strainer, then pouring the liquid out into the glass. It seemed to burn just like fire. Flames coming up from the liquid.

"And you can set your cinnamon sticks in the drink, or on the side! Whichever you prefer."

Hops explains as she takes the cinnamon stick and sets them into the glass, leaning them over like how a straw would look. Stella nodded, then copied Hops. It was perfect or as skilled as the experienced bartender, but it still looked good when it was poured out. Stella then grabbed the cinnamon stick and laid them into the drink like Hops had.

"Woah.."

Stella mumbled under her breath. Reaching out for the glass and picking it up as she looked at her new creation.

"And there you have it! You just made yourself a nice, warm, Sinnamon Whiskey."

Hops smiles at Stella, and she returns with a proud smile.

"That was so fun! I can't believe you make a living doing this. I feel like I could do this all day!"

Stella laughed, sitting the glass down. She was very proud of what she had done.

"Well, I need to go check outside, but if you'd like I can show you a few more of my drink."

Hops offered and Stella nodded her head excitedly.

"Oh, I would love to learn more!"