The bar was always crowded this part of the town. People couldn't get enough of burying their sins in their conscience.
Me , i kept them in front of my eyes, all the time.
Even if I didn't want to. Because i am at an age now when backaches and heartaches hurt the same, hard to oversee.
"Is that Nathaniel Kramer?"
"Yes, I heard his house is haunted "
" That old passed down palace? It most definitely is, no winder he lost his mind"
Whispers everywhere, churning, near the table where i am sitting, waiting for the bartender to refill my whiskey sour.
A certain amount of serendipity, knowing that you are known as the mad artist in this crumpled community where loose outlaws roam about freely in the nighttime. My thoughts are just about to go inti the crossfire when i hear a rustling voice in the air
" One scotch vanilla please, on the rocks"
I look up the same time as the bartender shouts " coming right up, Aloise"
Aloise. Warrior. I wonder if she's fighting something right now.
"Yes? " Oh, I didn't realise i said it out loud. She's looking up at me, with loose braided hair landing comfortably over her right shoulder, head resting at the side, turquoise eyes, just like the waves in a high tide, fiery, yes, definitely a fighter.
" My apologies, your name caught my ear, it's an unusual name, beautiful nonetheless "
"Thank you, my mom and dad sure knew what they were doing "
" Pardon me , but I've never seen you around here before "
" Ofcourse you haven't, I just moved in last week"
" Oh? Where from?" Her loose strands framed her face as she turned towards me , god, could brown be that many shades? Dark brown, the one dancing around her forehead, matching the freckles on her cheek, Lighter, ochre , around the back and at the ends peeking from under her teeshirt. It would feel like quicksand, if i moved my fingers gently to untangle them
" State" She said.
"To what do us dingy townside habitants owe this pleasure, if i may ask?"
" I work here, just arounf a the right of the cafe, in St. Jonas Library and Art museum "
" You're aj art student?"
" yes why?
" Nithing, you look too organised to be an art pursuer"
Laugh. Sound that can take up entire space in worlds, all consuming,