Godless

CHAPTER 4

"Is this what you spend your days doing, when you are not working?"

"Yes"

The two sat there, at the edge of the bar table. Two skins of Machu Picchu malbec. It was Vincent's favorite because of his sweet tooth.

Behind the bar were rows and rows of liquor, you would be blessed to have lived long enough to try them all. As Vincient was taking his second glass, a male bartender interrupted him.

"War veteran, eh?"
The bartender says as he points to Vincient's bullet wound under his exposed collarbone.

He was old and his voice resonated low in his chest. But it would be poor, like the man had tar trapped in his lungs.

"What about it?"
He fixes his tux.

"'Tanks for yer service"

"Sure"

Then a loud chuckle. That startled Vincient, causing him to actually make eye contact with the man than stare at his glass.

"Who's that glass fo?"

"Oh"

He didn't have a good excuse. He also couldn't say, "some entity I had asked to be my life companion wanted a drink too".

"For my girl"

"Yeh? When she comin'?"

"I don't know"

"Ha! Good luck with that, sounds like she's playin' hard to get"

"Thanks I guess"

"When she heads over here, I'll help ya out"

"Huh, well I think I'll be fine"

Then white bearded man just sighed and picked up someone's abandoned glass and wiped down the area. After that he gave him one glance and walked other the other side of the pub, and started a conversation. He was talking to a man and his woman.

"Did you want a girlfriend?"
Inhjko asked, eyeing its finger as it dips in and out of the liquid in the second glass.

Vincent looks at him, disappointed.

"No, but I summoned a creature and they are the lamest thing I've met"

"What did you expect?"

"Something exciting, interesting"

Later a quietness. Ignoring the onomatopoeia of room.

"Do you miss war?"
Inhjko finally tries the drink, finds it repulsive, and pushes it aside.

Vincient leans into the bar counter. Laying his head down, and looks at the people standing near the bathrooms. Flirting. And the women further on the left laughing as they twist their hips. Side to side, a dance he doesn't recognize. Now the loudest of the men disrupted it, and the women gathered together broke up. Some leave, some visit the men at the slot machines, and then one looks towards him. Causing to retreat his gaze.

"What do you mean?"
He asks. Facing the liquor rows again.

"It was exciting, wasn't it?"

"I deserve some compassion, of course not, it was sickening"

"I see"

"You still haven't told me anything about you, who are you?"
Vincent looks at Inhjko, who was watching the people pick songs from the jukebox on its right.

"My name is Inhjko"

"I know that part. Tell me how old you are"

"I don't have an age?"

Pause.

"Having an age gives the idea that my life is finite, in which it is not"

"Fair"

"So what can I ask about you?"

"I find it funny you wish to ask me a thousand questions yet have not told me one thing about yourself"

"I figured you knew that already, speaking about the war and all"

"Human, I haven't once referred to you by name, since I don't know it"

"Vincient, that's my name… happy now?"

"Vincient, like a twist on the name Vincent?"

"Yes"

"It is nice to meet you, Vincient"
Inhjko gestures to him a greeting. So, Vincient smiles and nods at Inhjko.

"I guess I forgot my manners".
Vincient finishs his glass that he was taking sips out of.

Well, looks like I've gained an audience. He thinks to himself. The clanging of the glasses in the room still didn't hide his conversation with a creature invisible to all but him.

"Are you satisfied having been able to drink?"
Inhjko taps Vincient on his shoulder.

So, he turns to it.

"I would've like to have been drunk"

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