PURGATORY! workstories

Happy Deathday

"Happy deathday, Evan," Luke raised a glass to the silent man on the other side of the table, "here's to hoping you get found soon."

The group around the table cheersed, their glasses clinking together before they all took gulps of their drinks– all except Evan, who stared into his glass solemnly. His eyes flicked around the table at his coworkers, and then to his best friend sitting beside him.

Wildcat met his gaze almost immediately, smiling at him, "You alright, buddy?"

Evan pushed his glass towards his friend slightly.

"Hey, it's okay buddy, nobody will stare at you." Wildcat reassured his friend, then turned to the rest of the table to make sure of it.

"Hey, Brian, tell us that story of the old woman again," Wildcat pointed to Brian, then flicked his hoof up and down to usher him along to the story.

Everyone turned to look at Brian, "Oh, that story? Easily one of my favourites. I still wonder if I should have just taken the deal when it was first offered to me..."

"What deal? What happened?" Nogla asked, curious.

"Some old lady tried to bribe Brian with a blowjob," Marcel answered, chuckling.

"No way, really?" Nogla looked at Brian in shock.

"Yep. Thing is, it wasn't the first time. The same lady offered one to me back in '65. God, I miss the time before seat belts existed." Brian reminisced.

"Wait, so this lady died in a car crash, but you didn't reap her because she sucked you off?" Luke asked.

As Brian continued to tell his story and answer questions, Evan quietly pried open his mouth, stretching the wire as much as it would allow and testing the elasticity of his skin until it almost split open. Blood flooded his mouth, seeping out as it pooled, dripping down his chin. Tears welled up in his eyes, spilling out at the pain, he held his breath so as to not draw attention to himself, though a few squeaks of air escaped, creating a quiet, yet shrill sound. Finally, when his mouth was stretched open wide enough, Evan poured his drink into his mouth.

The alcohol mixed with the blood in his mouth, making it taste metallic and bitter, but the taste faded as he quickly gulped it down, another splash of the drink filling his mouth before more blood could. He drank as quickly as he could; the burn of the alcohol was nowhere near as painful as the wires in his lips. At last, Evan gulped down the last bit of his drink. The whole moment had only lasted a few seconds, but the pain made the glass feel almost endless. Evan's mouth shut quickly, the loosened wires sewn through his lips tightening back to their original, strict stitch as his lips shut. Evan wiped the tears from his eyes and the blood from his chin with a tissue, then looked around him to double check nobody was paying attention to him. Evan hated it when people watched him eat or drink.

"So, yeah, an old lady offered me head in exchange for her life." Brian finished his story that the entire table had been very invested in.

"Damn... was it good at least?" Marcel asked.

"Oh yeah, she was really good. I'm not into older women but if she still looked like she did in the 60s... I might have taken her up on the offer." Brian nodded.

"Not into older women, says the 300-year-old grim reaper..." Luke chuckled.

"Hey, I'm 409." Brian corrected.

"That's even worse," Luke added.

"I don't think you look a day over 203, Brian." Marcel smiled.

"Don't compliment him, he'll never shut up about it." Wildcat rolled his eyes in Evan's direction, trying to catch a glimpse to see if Evan was done. Upon seeing his empty glass, Wildcat made a satisfied huff, standing up from the table.

"Well, we've celebrated adequately, I think. Let's get back to our quarters and get some sleep..." He announced, Evan standing up alongside him.

"Already? It's barely been an hour..." Brian frowned.

"I'm tired. I'd like to go back to my room," Evan signed to Wildcat, who translated to the rest of the group.

"Sure thing man, see you in the morning." Marcel said, the rest of the table wishing goodnights as Evan and Wildcat walked away.

"I'll say it again, man, you don't need to be embarrassed. We all have weird struggles in the afterlife." Wildcat said.

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721 words