From Beyond the Veil

Twilight greeted Rarity with a hug when she opened the door. Her purple mane was wrapped in a towel like she had just gotten out of the shower. I remembered my mom and sister doing the same thing with their hair after a shower.

"Twilight, dear! It's always good to see you!" Rarity said as she hugged Twilight.

I leaned against the wall beside the doorway, watching the two ponies interact. I never realized until I watched these two hug how flexible these ponies' arms were. They turned and rotated just like a human arm. Very interesting, to say the least. I then had an out-of-nowhere, very dark thought. I read a book on horses about the old days before Merlin on how horses had to be put down when they suffered a leg injury since they rarely healed adequately. Then, for some reason, I applied it to the ponies in front of me. The thought of it made me hate myself and caused my face to scrunch up in disgust and forced me to look away from them for a moment to burn those thoughts in a raging fire. The ponies continued the conversation while I purged that horrid thought from my mind. While also hating myself.

I turned my face back just in time to see Twilight gesturing to me with a hoof. "Of course, you must Remember Rileus from our meeting with the princesses, right Rarity?" she said, looking at Rarity and then back to me.

"Why, of course, darling! How could I forget such a fascinating creature? A pleasure to meet you again, young prince!" Rarity stuck out a hoof and gave me a wink. I cringed at the 'prince' remark. I see she never forgot I was royalty.

"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Rarity," I said, picking up on her high-brow demeanor. "But please, do call me Riley. And no more of that prince nonsense. I'm nothing but a feeble peasant in the presence of one as beautiful as yourself." I finished, taking a bow and kissing her hoof. I remembered such a greeting from when I first met the Elven royal family from the Forest Kingdom of Nakasha. Kissing hands was their most fond way of greeting other royals and certain higher-ups in the royal tiers, or a very personal greeting between two individuals. Plus, they all had a fancy tone of speech, like Rarity. I figured the same greeting would work here just as well. And I was right.

Rarity was taken aback at my sudden charming demeanor. I could see her blushing when I looked up at her face. "Oh my! What a gentle stallion! Er- I mean- gentle- something? Im sorry, I don't know what to say. It's been some time since I was greeted in such a manner. Not to mention, it's not quite the correct setting for such a greeting."

"My Apologies," I started sounding apologetic, returning to my upright posture. "You seemed to give off a different energy compared to most others. As such, I saw fit to grant you a much more personal greeting, one which is common within the elven Kingdom of Nakasha between royals and those of high stature."

"No, no, darling. You're quite alright. I was just startled, that is all. I really do appreciate it." Rarity seemed to regain control of herself after taking a deep breath inward. Twilight cleared her throat, reminding Rarity that she was still here and catching her attention as Twilight gestured toward the building. "Oh! Of course! How rude of me to keep my friends waiting on the doorstep! Do come in!" Rarity stated, trotting back inside.

Twilight came up beside me and gave me the look of "Really?" to which I responded.

"Don't worry. I was cringing really hard that whole time. That was just as bad for me to do as it was for you to watch, if not worse."

Twilight rolled her eyes and walked inside, and I followed behind her. Inside the boutique were all sorts of pony-like mannequins covered in dresses or suits made for ponies. Some coat racks held more jackets and thicker garments that had yet to be paired with their matching set. All sorts of display stages held more mannequins in all kinds of poses to show off their unique fashion statements. There was a smaller podium surrounded by three mirrors. I assumed it was a place where someone would stand to see if an outfit looked good on them. Like shoe stores back home that had mirrors at foot level to see how they looked on your feet.

There were a few more mirrors in the back towards a staircase that swung upward. The mirrors hung above a desk that had stools tucked underneath it. I presumed that those were for hair styling, considering across from them were some of those weird hair-drying bubbles that go over someone's head after they get something done to their hair. I remember watching my mother and sister use similar devices back home in Romulios whenever they went to a hair salon. I remember peeking my head in when I ran amuck in the streets when I was much younger and screaming, thinking my mom and sisters' brains were being sucked out of their heads by these weird bubble-like devices. I couldn't help but smile at the memory.

I turned my head and saw Rarity sitting on a padded seat in front of another desk and mirror to my right. The towel that was once on her head was now on the end of the desk, folded neatly, and was deeply brushing her hair. Slightly wincing with each brush as it sounded like she was ripping her hair with each brush since it looked so tangled. She was holding out her hair straight with her magic to try and make the job easier, but I could tell it was still hard and slightly painful. I knew my sister did the same thing and struggled as well with her long brown hair, especially in the early morning when bedhead was a real nightmare. I liked to keep my hair short, so I didn't deal with any of THAT bullshit, among other reasons.

I stopped for a second, realizing just how much this world reminded me of my family and my home. I told myself I'd leave my past and, in turn, my family there as well. It brought too much pain and sadness that needed to be replaced with focus and drive. I need to start fresh to get comfortable enough to not worry about whether or not I will eat tomorrow. Then I could worry about whatever issues I had lying around in my head. I was trying to be a new man. I was trying to be a better man like my father asked me before he sent me off in the same aircraft that sat outside my would-be home in a ruined state. But why did I keep being reminded of them when I was trying to move forward? It was like my own mind was fighting to drag me back to a state where I was lying on the ground crying in the back of the plane, wishing to join my family in the afterlife. Almost taking a gun to my head and repainting the wall with my own blood.

I felt my head pound into a headache. Like my mind was agreeing violently with my own thoughts. I shook my head, trying to shake off the pain but only causing it to grow worse and more violent. I held a hand to my head, jumped onto one of the nearby stages with a few mannequins atop it, and sat down on the edge, letting my legs dangle. Twilight noticed I was in obvious discomfort and trotted over to check on me.

"It's just a headache," I reassured. "Probably from the altitude change going from Canterlot to here. It happened a lot back home when I returned from the Dwarven Mountain Kingdom of Kursegroff back in my homeland. Don't worry; im sure it will pass soon."

She nodded, accepting what I said as she turned to face Rarity, who had gotten up from her seat and was trotting over, Several curls in her purple mane.

"So, dear Twilight, What can I do for you this evening?" Rarity asked, looking at her friend with dazzling eyes.

"Well, Rarity, We had originally come to get Riley some fresh clothes, so he's not wearing the same set every day. I told him about your work as a fashion designer, and he came with me to see for himself." Twilight Explained.

Rarity seemed touched or just downright shocked. She gasped and held a hoof to her chest. "You, a royal, came to ME for new clothes instead of all the designers in Canterlot? Im so honored."

"Well, Miss Rarity." I began, "Your work exceeds my expectations. The designs here on this stage alone, I will admit, are very impressive. Nothing like the ones back home. Then again, fashion was never my forte."

"But these aren't even my best works!" She countered, seeming to doubt her own abilities.

"All the more reason Im glad Twilight convinced me to come down from Canterlot. I would be honored if you would make me some clothing as your skill is the best I've seen in Equestria if these dresses and suits are anything to go by." At this point, I was just trying to be flattering. I always despised talking like this. It was too formal for me. But Mom always said, "if you plan to greet a royal, you must talk like a royal." Always a load of bullshit.

"Well, I must say I am incredibly flattered you would come all the way from Canterlot to seek me for fashion purposes. I suppose we could get you measured, and we could go from there?" Rarity said, smiling at Twilight and then looking back at me, floating a long single strip of measuring tape beside her.

"Sounds good. Actually, I think I have my Military Armor measurements saved on my wristband." I responded, flipping open my wrist pad to do a quick search through my personal data. And sure enough, there they were.

"Here we go. I'll jot this down quickly. Do you have any paper and pencil I could borrow?" I asked after fumbling around in my pockets.

"I do!" Twilight jumped in. Floating a small notebook with a feather sticking out of her mane.

"Huh?" I questioned, quite confused. "Why do you keep that there?"

"It's actually quite common to keep things in your mane. We have such big hair. It's just convenient storage without the need for saddlebags." Twilight responded, handing me the notebook.

"It's true!" Rarity chimed in. "I myself keep a spool of thread with a needle in mine. In case I need a quick patch for a garment of any sort. You should see all the stuff Pinkie has in her mane!" I heard Twilight giggle at Rairty's remark.

"Okay then," I said, trying not to linger on the thoughts popping into my head and moving on.

I opened the notebook and tore out a page from the seam so it wouldn't look bad. It was then I realized that the feather was actually a quill! By the Elements, ponies still use quills? Jeez.

My next words mimicked my thoughts. "Gosh, you guys still use Quills? I haven't used one of these things in YEARS. Probably since I had to use them in school." I said, holding the Quill, looking at it, and flipping it around in my fingers. Trying to remember how to use it.

"Oh, it's really easy here. Let me show you!" Twilight said, walking next to me.

"No, hang on. I got it." I said, waving her off. "Wasn't there a specific way you had to hold it so it wrote properly? Gosh, my memory sucks."

After fumbling with it for a few minutes, I got my measurements written down and handed them to Rarity. She read them for a few moments and cocke her head in confusion. "Well, I can't say I recognize your measurement style. Could I have some clarification?" She asked.

"Of course! My Apologies. I forgot just how different this interaction would be since, you know. Two different species and all that." I said and walked over next to Rarity, so we were both now looking at the sheet of paper.

"Let's start with this one." She started pointing a hoof to my pants measurements. "What does 32x36 pants size mean?"

Another few minutes passed as I explained the basics of human clothing measurements, along with the difference between long sleeves and short sleeves and pants vs. shorts. Thankfully, Rarity's already superb knowledge of fashion let her fill the gaps I didn't know quickly.

"Okay, I can figure things out for here. Thank you, Riley. Now comes material preference. What would you want these garments to be made from?" Rarity asked, writing down notes from the previous discussion. She also grabbed a pair of red glasses with pink-hued lenses. She said it helped her fashion sense. Whatever that means. But Elements dammit, now I really wished I paid attention to Mom. I didn't really know what my clothes were made out of besides my armor. That clearly wouldn't help here. I stood there, mouth agape. Trying to figure out what sweatpants were made out of that made them so comfy.

"Uhhhhh. I can't remember for the life of me what my old clothes were made of. I just remember the sweatpants were soft and kept in heat, and the shirts never rubbed my skin raw and felt like silk, But I know it wasn't silk. The shirts also did a good job of keeping in heat as well. Do you have any idea what im talking about?" I asked.

Rarity rubbed the underside of her chin in thought. She levitated a notebook out of a cabinet and began flipping through it with her magic. "Hm, felt like silk but was not silk and didn't irritate the skin along with thermal insulation..."

I perked up at the word Thermal. "YES, THAT."

Confused, she looked at me over her notebook while raising an Eyebrow. "Pardon?"

"That's what the shirts were called! Thermals! Very comfy and sold during winter as a 'base layer' alongside a heavy coat. Plus, you could wear them all year round since they looked good and kept a stable temperature no matter how hot it was." I stated excitedly, Thankful I remembered something that wasn't war-related.

"I thought you didn't know fashion?" She said, looking back down at the notebook and back to me with a smirk.

"I don't. I know armor." I corrected. "Thermals were standard issue layering for all suits or armor types. Its non-skin irritating Cotton Polyester fiber and temperature regulation made it a great fit for active duty-" I stopped, realizing I just casually remembered the clothing material off the top of my head. My facial expression mimicked my thoughts of shock and confusion.

Rarity put a feather in the book, closed it smiling, and tossed it to me. "Armorworking is just fashion with more metal, darling. You know fashion, just a different version of it," she said While getting up and opening a large closet filled with different rolls of fabric and began sifting through them. Setting the ones she didn't need outside the closet in an organized fashion.

I opened the notebook to the bookmarked page and found that the notebook was filled with different combinations of materials and weaves for said materials. All seemingly hand-written by Rarity herself. I looked at where the feather tip was pointing. I saw the exact same material I just mentioned, 'Cotton Polyester fiber,' but followed by a hexweave pattern. It seemed oddly familiar.

"Here." I heard Rarity say as she trotted back over with a roll of shiny light blue fabric in her magic beside her. "Feel this and tell me what you think?" She added as she floated the fabric in front of me and pulled a small bit of it out so I could properly feel it. I reached out my hand and felt the fabric, and I was shocked as it felt EXACTLY like a Thermal! It felt better, softer than I remembered, and a little stretchy.

"This is perfect! It feels just like I remembered! You sure know your stuff, Rarity!" I complimented her as she rolled up the cloth and set it down on the table with her sewing machine.

"You too kind, darling. But you know your materials well, even if you don't admit you know fashion. Most ponies call this 'The shiny warm stuff.'"

I gave a small chuckle, "I mean, they're not wrong, but still."

Rarity sat down across from me once more and took the book back with her magic. "Now that we have the top half figured out, now we must figure out the bottom half. Now, I am working a bit outside my normal field of expertise, considering im not working on a pony but a more... robust Individual. Not to mention one that stands on two legs."

"I get it, don't worry. Im surprised you aren't as stuck as I thought you'd be trying to figure out the ins and outs of what I would wear. Considering how you and I are so drastically different. You with pony limbs and me with my HuMaN LiMBs!" I said comedically, turning my arms to make myself look stupid. Causing both Rarity and Twilight to laugh. It was then I realized Twilight had been somewhat left out this whole time. But when I gazed over at her. She never even noticed me looking at her from whatever serious note-taking she did in her notebook. Occasionally, looking up at me and then back into the notebook.

"Believe me, darling, you're not like most customers. The ones I get stuck on order and pay for a very specific gown or suit despite my efforts to go with something more practical or just the better option. And end up disliking the product and either end up changing their minds or go with my original proposal. Or change the design three different times, trying to make it work only to settle for what I originally suggested." She said after she finished chuckling.

"Well, when it comes to something im not particularly familiar with, I generally let the expert do the essential things to make sure whatever it is doesn't fall apart. It's just common sense! Why would I, a person with no experience in this topic, tell YOU what should and should not be done."

"I like that about you, mister Rileus, you actually listen. Well, moving back on track. Considering your choice of fabric that I would normally use as an inner layer for my winter coats. I believe I have a choice of fabric for these so-called 'Sweatpants' you described earlier. It's processed, fluffier cotton that feels similar to soft fur." She explained.

"That sounds perfect! I am on board with your choice." I said.

"Hold on, Mister Rileus. Let's have you feel the fabric first before you say yes to anything," she said, floating out a roll of white and relatively fluffy materially. She unrolled it slightly, like with the last fabric, and It felt heavenly, like a Huskfroths fur from my homeland. I also noticed the underside was mostly flat, with the side I was feeling being more poofy and fluffy.

"I like it! It would feel great for a pair of pants, or shorts, for that matter." I said as she rolled up the fabric once more and set it next to the other roll on the table.

"Im glad you approve. If that is everything, I can get you wrung up for an estimated price. Depending on how many changes of clothes you wish to order." She responded, closing up her book and setting it back on the shelf nearby with her magic.

"Actually, there is one more thing I need, and it is a need. But it's a bit embarrassing to discuss, to be honest." I said, moving onto the topic of underwear.

"Oh, Im sure it's not that bad, darling. Im sure I've heard worse." She responded, waving a hoof in dismissal.

"For you, yes, most likely since you've probably had to compensate and discuss ones, privates, when making a more slim or tight suit for a male?" I said, dying inside of cringing so unbelievably much.

Rairty's eyes opened wide. "OH, yes, that. I was wondering about that, considering you didn't have a measurement for your crotch area that would indicate something like that. I was going to assume you kept it inside a flap or something like a dragon does."

I died of even more cringe upon hearing that. I curled up into a ball and tucked my head into my shirt while groaning while I slowly slid out of the chair and onto the floor like the embarrassed little blob I was.

"Nooo, we don't have that. It's just kinda all there, out in the open, very sensitive and very vulnerable. So much so we need a piece of clothing meant to separate it from the rest of the clothing, called underwear." I mumbled loudly from inside my shirt.

"Im sorry im making you uncomfortable dear. Um, but I do have to ask, is that what that one set of measurements that was named 'comfort zone?'" She asked, causing me to cringe even more than I thought I could.

"Yep"

"Well, thank you for telling me this. That will affect the current measurements, So im glad we got that sorted out. Any material preference?" She asked, sounding apologetic.

I popped my head back out of the neck in my shirt. "Merino wool."

"Oh wow, a very.... odd choice." She said, nodding and writing that down on a notepad.

"Personal preference, and Im very picky about what rubs against my balls." I blurted out, quickly punching myself in the face mentally out of embarrassment.

Rarity seemed unphased by the comment. In fact, she agreed with me, to my surprise. "As you should! This is actually the most common talk I have with stallions and some mares regarding garments for the rear part of their body. Chafing in a sensitive area is no joke. If that is your preferred material, then Merino Wool it shall be!"

"Eh, doesn't help me much in the embarrassment department, though." I said, still wallowing on the floor.

A sudden knock at the door caused Rarity's head to swing towards it, her eyes wide with a large grin on her face. "Oh?! Is that What I think it is?" She said excitedly as she got up. She set her fashion catalog on a roundtable as she trotted over to the door.

I felt like a turtle peeking out of its shell as I popped my head out the top of my shirt to look at the door. As Rarity opened it, there was a grey Pegasus mare with a yellow mane and tail flapping and what seemed to be a mailman, or mailwoman in this case, uniform. Flapping her wings, she hovered there with a package in her hooves. I felt my face contort in confusion as I immediately saw her wonky-looking crossed eyes.

She handed the package to Rarity and gave a salute before flying off. Rarity closed the door and went to a nearby table. "Oh, it is! Oh, how I have been waiting for this for over a week! I can finally finish that dress!"

Even Twilight was curious at this point. "What did you order, Rarity?"

Rarity smiled at Twilight as she began opening the extremely well package box. "Oh, just something a customer from Manehatten requested specifically for this one dress she ordered a little over a week ago."

She opened the box and lifted out a brilliant dark red gemstone bigger than both my hands put together. It was expertly cut and shined beautifully in the light. The main thing I noticed, however, was that it had a prominent source of Primal earth energy and Primal... fire energy? I got up off the floor after unfurling myself and began to walk over. Now curious about the gemstone myself.

I looked back to Rarity's face to find her facial expression had shifted to one of horror. "It's not ignited?!" She gasped.

Twilight almost whistled at Gem as she trotted over next to Rarity. "That's a Hearth-Fire Ruby! I've never seen one outside a book! These gems are so incredibly expensive! How were you able to afford it, Rarity!? Twilight asked in awe as she looked at the gemstone.

Rarity kept her horrified expression as she spoke. Turning over the ruby with her magic. "Well, my customer gave me the money to order one for the dress. But she specified she wanted an ignited Hearth-fire Ruby!"

Twilight's face also shifted into a shocked expression as her pupils went small in shock, and she whispered. "Oh."

Rarity dropped the Gem into the box filled with packing peanuts as she dragged a sofa from out of nowhere and collapsed on it dramatically. Throwing her hoof over her face. "NOW MY DRESS IS RUINED! I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE!"

I walked over to the gemstone and picked it up curiously as Twilight went to comfort her friend, who was now wallowing on a couch dramatically. The Gem was strangely warm to the touch. It was a comforting warmth, like sitting inside on a cold winter night, wrapped in a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa next to the fireplace. It was also a lot lighter than I thought, like the weight of a heavy softball.

"So, what exactly is it supposed to be like when it's 'ignited?'" I asked, turning over the Gem in my hands.

"I've never seen one outside a book myself. But they say it's supposed to be like a flame trapped in a crystal. Constantly flickering and dancing about within the gems walls." Twilight said before going back to comforting Rarity.

"Well, I can do that if that's the case," I mumbled to myself.

I cupped my hands together and let the Gem rest inside them. I conjured a sigil of levitation just below the Gem. The sigil began to rotate, and the Gem slowly floated upward, roughly an inch away from my hands as It bobbed in the air steadily.

"Okay, now I believe this is the next part?" I mumbled to myself uncertainly. Pulling my left hand out from under the Gem slowly, making sure I didn't break the levitation sigil.

I held my hand open above the Gem and conjured another sigil that hovered just above the Gem opposite the levitation one. The second sigil had four circles with a flame within them that rotated around the sigil's edge. I took in a breath as I focused and activated the sigil. The four sparks of flame descended like snakes from tree branches to snatch their prey. Swaying and moving as they slithered downward. Once they were at the halfway point of the Gem, they opened their maws like the fangs of vipers and sunk their teeth into different parts of the dark red crystal.

The flaming snakes released their fire-like venom into the gemstone as the dark red jewel glowed from red into light, firey amber. Throwing light like a lantern and emanating heat like a campfire. It glowed brighter and brighter as the vipers released more of their venom into it. I waited a few moments before I removed the hold on the top sigil, and the vipers flickered out of existence. A flickering flame danced from left to right inside the Gem like a campfire on a warm summer night.

I smiled, released my hold on the lower sigil, and let the Gem drop into my hand with a light smack. It was much hotter now and gave off a heated aura rather than just being warm to the touch. I looked the stone over for cracks that may have formed during the imbuement process, turning it over in my hands a few times. The flames swished and mixed like it was suspended in a liquid. I got entranced by it. Until I shook my head and turned to face the two ponies behind me. Who was clueless to my actions, considering Rarity was dramatically weeping with a hoof draped over her eyes with Twilight beside her with a face that screamed, "Im so over this."

"Hey, Rarity," I said, causing Rarity to look up from the pillow she was pouting into. "Catch!" I said, throwing the Gem to her in an underhand toss.

Rarity caught the Gem in her magic, and once she noticed the flame within, her jaw dropped.

"wha-? How did you-? Huh-?" She mumbled confusingly, in awe of the Gem's new appearance. Even Twilight was in awe.

"Hearth-fire rubies need hundreds, if not thousands of years, under heat and pressure to even develop a flame like that! How did you do it?!" Twilight asked in shock.

I threw up some jazz hands and said, "Primal Magic!"

"Wait, Your magic can cause natural events in nature to happen almost INSTANTLY?!" Twilight asked in shock. Rarity was still looking at the Gem in her magic with awe.

"Well, yeah! We had farming mages back home that could make crops grow in a day that would take a whole season to grow. We had mages turn stone to ore using heat and pressure spells. Hell, we had mages grow rubies and emeralds from rocks! We had actual farms for ores, rocks, and gems."

I suddenly was tackled into a hug by Rarity. Who pleaded and thanked me with overzealous joy for saving her most important dress to date. The embrace was awkward, for me, at least. But I felt good making her day. When she parted the hug, she gave me a thankful kiss on the cheek, which I felt a little over the top, but I didn't complain. She then walked over to a dresser and tucked the Gem very neatly into a drawer.

"So," I started. "How much would this clothing order cost me?"

"For you, my dear. Nothing at all! You just saved one of my most important projects to date! The extra revenue from that one dress alone would cover the costs of this order without a doubt." She said proudly.

"Thank you; your generosity holds no bounds, Rarity. But I can't morally accept an offer like that Like I literally can't. Give me an amount, any amount, and I'll have it to you by Sunday. I promise." I responded.

"I assure you, my dear, it's completely alright. It's no trouble at all!" She said, trying to wave off the issue.

"Rarity, im serious. I was raised as a descendant of Merlin, and we never took handouts. We earned our way and paid our dues without question. We don't take handouts. Let me pay for the clothes, even if it's half-priced or something. It's a really personal thing for me. It's how I was raised." I pleaded.

Rarity looked at me with an annoyed stare. As if she wanted me to drop it, but I held firm and stared back. Then I saw a smirk creep onto her face. "Well, I'd say you definitely earned these clothes, considering you pulled off what no 'pony' could. Igniting a heart-fire ruby is no easy feat, I imagine. We'll consider that as your payment, hm?" She said slyly as she walked away to one of her desks and began drawing out plans with a pencil she held with her magic.

I couldn't help but smile as I accepted what she said, as it made perfect sense. "You clever pony," I said aloud. She turned her head towards me and winked before returning her attention to her work. I can't believe this pretty white pony just turned my own logic against me so that I wouldn't pay. And I couldn't argue it because it made too much sense! ARGH!

On the train ride home, I felt relieved in a sense. I don't know if it was because I got a rather difficult chore done or because I made a few new connections today. Either way, I got to see more of this world, and that's fine by me.

By the time I got home, I had found myself staring at about a dozen little spider bots with repair tools skittering all over my ruined aircraft, welding, and putting things back together.

"ROMULUS!" I yelled, kicking the door open. "WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GET OVER A DOZEN GENERATION NINE REPAIR DRONES?!"

Romulus picked his head up from the sword handle he was working on and looked over at me. "Oh, I just went through and fixed up the ship repair systems, although only barely since it was pretty banged up. Got the nanites to fix it the rest of the way, and then the drones popped out and started taking care of the hull and exterior."

I rubbed the bridge of my nose in annoyance as I totally forgot about the repair drones that I added to the repair system sometime before our grand departure. I walked over to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of whisky stored inside. "I need a drink..."