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Blade, the Bartender

  Dylan returns to their stolen car, Robert still waiting inside.

  Robert: How’d it go?

  Dylan: Well enough. I think I’ve found a good one.

  Robert: Dylan, please tell me they’re not a murderer.

  Dylan: A killer, not a murderer. Very different. They killed by accident.

  Robert: Did he, feel bad about it?

  Dylan: Eh, we didn’t really get to that. He’s a good one, though. I can tell.

  Robert gives a wry smile, shaking his head.

  Dylan: (apprehensive) I don’t know about this. I feel like I should be watching over you, better.

  Robert: No need! No need at all, just see what happens with my prospects, and you’ll be eating your words!

  Dylan: Don’t call him a prospect.

  Robert: Heir, then.

  Dylan: You can’t have an heir!

  They sit, waiting in the car for a while.

  Dylan: We should go to a bar.

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  Robert: Oh, my gosh. What for?

  Dylan: We’ll likely find some people down on their luck, who are just looking for a relief from their normal life, because they either don’t know how, or don’t want to do the things it takes to change themselves.

  Robert: (sighs) Okay, but I’m going in with you.

  Dylan: (positively) Go away! Or, come away, along. Whichever.

  They drive down to a bar. The inside is largely orange, and red.

  They both sit down, but the bartender (5lp) doesn’t seem to notice them. She simply stands there, her arms crossed.

  Dylan: Hey, aren’t you gonna serve us?

  Bartender: Not you two.

  Dylan: What? What did we do?

  Bartender: God-fearing folk.

  Dylan: (muttering) It wasn’t fearing them that got me in trouble.

  Bartender: Huh?

  Dylan: I just… I don’t get it.

  Dylan turns to Robert.

  Dylan: I’ve been loyal to Lucky all my life. And then I’m loyal in the next world. Why the heck isn’t that enough? Is everything seriously not enough?

  Robert: It wasn’t everything. There were about 6 different laws you broke all at once, according to the news.

  Dylan: Oh, you can’t trust the news, not even in the next life.

  Robert points at Dylan.

  Robert: There was some truth to it, I saw you let those degenerates in. They weren’t worth setting foot on our isle.

  Dylan: How are you so sure? You took one look at them, and decided for yourself without even meeting with them. I’ve lived with them. I knew those people. Yes, they were all criminals, in some form, but so much of it was petty shit. So little of it deserved punishing. You’ve gotta be kidding me, you as a judge is messed up, I don’t know how you got to be one.

  Robert: Believe it or not, no-one up there wants to let anyone new in. They like things as they are. Very old-fashioned.

  Dylan: So, how did I get in with just your word?

  Robert: I have no idea, actually. There’s supposed to be an investigation when things like this happen, but I haven’t heard any names.

  Dylan: Must be pretty bad, keeping even you in the dark.

  Bartender: Are you guys angels?

  Dylan: What’s it to you?

  Bartender: I just thought you were church-y folk, but it sounds like you’re like… a lot closer to the source, right?

  Robert: Hold on, we’re not some fountain of goodwill here, we’re not just gonna give you whatever you want without a little something in return.

  Bartender: What do you want?

  Robert: We want you to swear to be a loyal person. Now, and always.

  Bartender: I can’t do that.

  Robert: You’re going to have to. If you want our blessing.

  The Bartender thinks this over.

  Bartender: I’ll try it.

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