Bud was making his way through the streets of New York trying to find purpose past just making money and beating people...for money. There had to be more to life for the time between money motivated activities. As he walked around the corner passing his New York Business "Bud's Booze and Sweets" there came a noise from the alley. Bud froze where he stood, unsure if the noise he heard was a city rat the size of a small child or an assassin looking to finally take him out. 

The sword slid easily out of its sheath before he peaked around the corner into the alley. There it was...a large...hairy...and threatening.....homeless man. What was this villain attempting to do? Rob his business? Murder him as he went on his leisurely walk? Attack Agatha who worked as the manager of his business? Whatever his purpose, it would be thwarted by Bud Knight, associate of the Orphans and defender of everything booze related. 

He jumped out to face this threat, "You have been caught fiend! State your purpose and prepare to die!"

The man said nothing as he approached in a zig zag manner which clearly identified how intoxicated he was. Before he could get too close Bud swung his sword to strike a killing blow. To the surprise of Bud.....the strike missed as the man zigged when he should have zagged. Once more he swung on the homeless man and once more he dodged. Now he was too close for the longsword to be effective and he swung out with his own unarmed strike caused Bud to drop the sword.

Out from the man's coat came a gun which found a new home just beneath Bud's chin, "You really should be a more effective fighter with all the alcohol you consume. Unless you're out here with no knowledge of the drunk monk fighting style. How sad. Perhaps it would be better if I just pulled the trigger." 

"Perhaps we should not be too hasty in our decisions." Bud said with a nervous chuckle. 

"Convince me." The homeless man said menacingly. 

This was clearly a life changing moment which would decide the fate of Bud and all the alcohol here in the Big Apple. As he was the protector and provider for the alcohol of this city. How would people ever know the sweet nectar of a bud light, a whiskey, of a fine wine if he were to secure his own demise in this moment. 

"I can learn. Teach me your ways. Then I will use them to defend myself, alcohol, and the great mafia families of New York City. Master of the Drunken Monk Style." Bud said with sincerity hoping that these statements would save his life.

"So shall it be. Now drink this whole bottle of whiskey." He held out a bottle of whiskey with no label and what was hopefully just a little bit of dirt on the outside of it.

With all his might he took the bottle and raised it up to meet his lips where he took it down in a matter of seconds. The feeling that washed over him was that of serenity and physical imbalance. It was a familiar feeling, but he knew he had to focus now even with all of this alcoholic strength flowing through him. 

"Now, watch my movements and recreate them as best you can." The homeless man began demonstrating his moves.

Attacks...

Dodges...

Counters...

They worked tirelessly, even as the sun went down over the city of New York. The alley way became a dojo in which master taught student. The rest of the world melted away as he learned to become one with his drunk nature. After hours they finally took a break from training to sit and chat.

"You now know the secret moves of The Drunken Order. We are the ones who protect booze across this city and the ones who consume it. Keep practicing these forms and you will become a mighty defender of those around you." The drunken homeless man said as he took out a couple of beers for them to share.

"Yes Sensei. I will practice these forms every day. They will make me a mighty mafioso here in New York." He clinked his beer bottle against his new masters.

As they sat there drinking, he heard the door of his business open and close with the jingle of a bell. Around the corner came Agatha and Minaxi who looked at Bud with some concern.

"This is where he was last time I saw him a few hours ago." Agatha said looking at Minaxi before going back to the shop.

Bud waved furiously at Minaxi, "Hello there! You should come here and meet the Master of the Drunken Order. We have been training for hours out here."

As he said all this, he pointed back down at the homeless man sitting across from him. To his surprise the man said...

"You got any spare change or alcohol you could spare?" 

In front of him sat a cup with some loose change in it and a sign that said, 'Will do anything for money'. 

Minaxi looked at the homeless man and then back at Bud before sighing and shaking her head, "So, how much alcohol have you drank today Bud? By the sound of things you've had quite a bit and I really hope none of it came from the homeless man sitting in front of you."

Bud didn't really have a response or an explanation at this point, but figured his new Sensei was just being secretive around an outsider. So he left it be and made his way out of the alley to where Minaxi was standing.

"So Minaxi....you have any work I could help you with? I'm dying for a fight or a chance to put these new moves to action." He said as he looked excitedly at Minaxi.

Minaxi watches Bud fumble back towards her, all swagger and great drunken confidence. She shakes her head before he even opens his mouth. “So,Let me get this straight,” she says, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow. “You just spent the last six hours in a back-alley, learning ‘Drunken Monk Style’ from a guy who asked for your loose change?” BudKnight beams like he’s conquered Everest. “Exactly. I’m now the Protector of Booze and Enforcer of Tipsy Justice.” She stifles a laugh. “Right. Well, Protector, we have a real problem. Some scummy punks are shaking down food trucks, trying to muscle in on our supplier routes.” His eyes light up. “Food trucks? Violence? Snacks?”

Minaxi rolls her eyes but can’t help the small grin tugging at her lips. “Yes, Budknight. Snacks and violence but with strategy, not swinging swords and quoting kung fu flicks.” He salutes her, almost toppling over, then skips alongside her as they head back into the hustle of the city.

Minaxi glances back at the alley where his mysterious sensei once sat. Now it’s empty! just the faint scent of spilt beer and whatever “enlightenment” that was. A sudden feeling of peculiarity washes over her.

Bud straightens up, clearly trying to look heroic, then wobbles. Minaxi reaches out to steady his elbow. “Alright, mighty protector, let’s see if those moves hold up in the real world. But first.......pretzels.” He grins, and off they went. Minaxi keeping him on task, him dreaming of the next fight, and both of them hoping this Drunken Order thing doesn’t get them all killed.

Pretzels....

Attacks....

Beer...

The moves he learned earlier were definitely getting a bit jumbled inside of his head as the thoughts of pretzels and drinking made their way into his thoughts. There was also something else he kept trying to remember as they headed to get these divine pretzels Minaxi spoke of. 

What was it again? He thought to himself as he tapped the lower part of his helmet which covered his chin. Creating a slight clanking noise as he did so. The noise was enough to grab Minaxi's attention as they waited to order their pretzels. She shook her head and pointed at the menu to make sure he was going to know what he wanted when they arrived at the front of the line. 

THE MISSION! 

He thought that he had that epiphany inside of his own head....but everyone around them looked over their shoulders at the large lurking man in shining blue armor. 

"Oh....sorry everyone. Continue enjoying your food and beverages. Dilly Dilly!" He said awkwardly as they all muttered amongst themselves and returned to their own conversations. 

After some time they were now sitting and enjoying their pretzels together...

"So this mission you spoke of Minaxi. Where are these ruffians that we must vanquish? Are they low level crooks? Are they another family entirely trying to move in on our glorious kingdom? Do they know hand to hand combat? I need to know all of the details." He said as they sat in front of a food truck that served large pretzels and beer.

As they stood beside the bustling pretzel truck with the scent of warm dough and cinnamon in the air, Minaxi was tempted by a pretzel, however, She wasn't too fond of pretzels herself but knowing her pal was and he needed to sober up a bit, she would join him anyway. After all, they had a mission to complete. Hooligans were taking over their local food trucks and being the muscle around town, they cannot let that happen. 

So there they are enjoying their delicious food while Bud is drinking his favourite beer. Minaxi had a waffle with chocolate sauce and strawberries. she dives right in and the conversation turned from toppings to something more serious. Well, as serious as it could get with Bud necking back beers like there will be no tomorrow. This plan was not quite effective, she can't see him sobering any time soon.

"Bud, are you listening?" He looks at her with intrigue. "Of course" he smiles with a mouthful. "right, well.. this is not just about protecting our own operations, it is about standing up for the whole food truck community. We've seen too many hardworking vendors lose their livelihoods to petty crime, and it has to stop." 

Bud is looking at Minaxi as she puts on her serious face. He puckers himself up and nods his head in agreement. She glares back then takes his beer and replaces it with water. "how about I give you a challenge? This is called the Hydration Challenge. No more beer today and only water." She chuckles. As if that will happen. 

Bud did his best to listen intently to what Minaxi was telling him as he enjoyed the pretzels and......water? This would be quite the challenge today as he would have to fight while being hydrated. He could feel some of his true power draining from him as he consumed the clear liquid rather than continue drinking the wonderfully delicious darker beverages he was so used to. There were tales of those who somehow survived on this clear liquid...

"They must be quite strong..." He muttered to himself. 

In that moment he snapped back to the conversation, "Ah, so we need to not only protect the trucks which help our operations, but stand up for those who cannot defend themselves? What an honorable mission you have asked me to accompany you on. I will begin cracking skulls at once!"

With that declaration he stood up, threw down what was left of his final pretzel, chugged the rest of the water, and began walking with determination towards a group of hooligans who were beating up on a food truck vendor. 

"Die fiends!" He shouted as he cracked the first one's head into the corner of the food truck.

The two who had been holding up the vendor finally let him go as they watched their compatriot collapse to the ground. Clearly the one who had been hitting the vendor was their leader. 

"Cut off the head and watch the body wither!" He said as he began pulling a blade from his back, but he was not as quick as Minaxi

Before he could even draw the blade he watched Minaxi come out from behind the other side of the food truck, pistol in hand. 

"You took the words right out of my mouth, Bud." She said as the muzzle flashed to life and the leader of this small group collapsed to the ground. 

Minaxi was quick as lightning as she dodged a swing from one of the other men. Before she could turn the gun on the other two, one of the men grabbed control of her gun hand, pushing it off in another direction. The two were attempting to overpower her for her gun. As if Minaxi would come prepared with only a gun. Bud began searching the pockets of the two dead men to see if there were any clues as to where or who their real boss was.

"Perhaps you could help..." Minaxi said as she was struggling a bit to fight the two men off, but she was still holding her own at the moment.

Bud found a matchbook in the pocket of each of the men with a business advertised on the front...."Miller's". Which was a local club that had recently opened up with drinks, food, and music. 

"Oh, of course!" Bud said as he turned back to the fight.

With one swift motion he pulled out his blade and it found a new home between the ribs of the closest man who had control of Minaxi's gun arm. He crumpled to the ground dead as his other crew members. Bud went on to search the man's pockets just to be sure he wasn't hiding any other clues. As Minaxi found herself now only dealing with one member and a free gun hand, she turned the gun and put on into the kneecap of the final guy who fell to the ground screaming in pain.

"We don't have long before the cops show up. So, if you want them to find three dead bodies instead of four, you'll answer my questions." Minaxi paused, "Nod if you understand."

The man nodded furiously...

"What's your bosses name and how many men should we expect him to have when we get to him at Miller's?" She said as she pressed the gun into the side of his head.

"I don't know. I'm....just a nobody...he recently hired to help with the food truck...operation." The man struggled to answer.

Bud provided some more motivation as he pressed his food onto the man's knee, "I think she was pretty clear about the number of dead bodies the cops would find."

"Okay! Okay! He usually has like seven to ten guys hanging around at any time. There is probably another crew out going after the other food trucks down the block too. Who knows when or if they'll head back since we were almost done here." He answered quickly hoping that the foot and gun pressing against him would both be removed. 

"I'd choose a new career path in a new city if I was you. Don't let us see you again." Minaxi told the young man as she put the gun back in her holster and began to lead to the way to their next destination.