"It's...it's not..." Niles wanted to protest. Explain that the old world Amsterdam wasn't there anymore. At least not in the same way. The redlight districts were a thing of the past. Just like earl gray, ice cream and horses. There might be something similar, some replacement, but it would never be the same.

He waves the bottle away, shaking his head. "You agreed," he said, his head feeling fuzzier. "One drink, then we go." Arguing against Gabe seemed harder than it usually did. Why didn't he just stand up and walk out, boots or not? He was stronger than his friend, wasn't he?