Sid : the Devil's secretary

3. Man in the red bow-tie

3. Man in the red bow-tie

Sid was looking for some action, something eventful to give his life a little more purpose and make it worth living. Then he came across a job advertisement from the new government saying Lucifer was looking for an assistant. This proved to be a suitable change of pace that Sid needed to change his monotonous existence. Making his way up the steps of the citadel from the congested streets below, Sid walked into the busy halls and offices of the Citadel, one of the most spontaneous places in the universe. Sid called an elevator to take him up to Lucifer's office on the top floor, but upon arriving, Sid found the floor empty, except for the open door leading across the checkerboard tiling to the king's office. Sid shuffled across the long hall, watched over by portraits of the royal family, before knocking on the large red door of the office.

"on time I see. people who are too early or late to these things are the worst, am I right?" a charming voice led Sid into the office, where a tall bearded man with a red suit, black hair and pearl white skin was waiting with a chair.

"maybe" Sid took a seat.

"so, Sid Adelaide. Alabamian, orphan, college graduate. Good credentials here. Living now out of an apartment complex in Sheol. Cause of death: murder suicide?!!!, damn!. Wouldn't expect something like that. I see you are into killing horrible bosses" Lucifer looked into a yellow file containing Sid's personal details.

"it varies" Sid shrugged.

"so why do you feel you want and or deserve this job?" Lucifer looked up from the file to his client.

"to be honest, I am just looking for a little respect and recognition. If I didn't get it in life, I should certainly get it in the next" Sid leaned in.

"you have balls. I like that. And I thought you were just going to be some dumb southern hick, served with a side of moonshine and racism" Lucifer edged back in his large desk chair, summoning a small cigarette into his hand and lit its bud with a small ember at the tip of his thumb.

"you need to expect the unexpected then" Sid took out the hip flask from his pocket for his swig at last. Judging from Lucifer's attitudes to discrepancies in the workplace, Sid felt more at ease than he had with the shrink.

"in times like these, everything is unexpected...well, I'm sold. I have a feeling that you are just the man I need. Congrats, you start Monday. Remember, if you screw up, we will both be royally fucked" Lucifer leaned back out of his chair and shook Sid's hand. Sid then left the room with a small grin on his face as he left the building. During his time in Hell, Sid had grown fond of the pistol that had seemingly followed him into the new realm, so much so that he had honed his abilities from regular visits to a large firing range near Vittorio's green in Absinthe. Wherever he went, Sid always carried his pistol.

 Following his trip to the firing range, Sid returned to his small apartment in Sheol overlooking Atro-city park. Despite the gray paint job and occasional hole in the wall from previous renters, Sid found the time to sit by a small kindled fire in his living room, drop the needle on a record and drink to his new job. It was as if he had a new lease on life, turning over a new leaf for something more. All his life, Sid had been on a quest for respect and recognition for the good work he did. He hoped this time, he would finally have a real chance.