[SIDESTORY] Morbit Vignettes

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

Jesus' Cantina - 2021
Comorant
CW: Alcohol Mention, Mild Violence
A Sea Slug Finds a Place to Cool-Off.

 You are Mercury, part-time slug and full time troublemaker.

 You've caught the ire of the church on a hell of a regular basis. 

Can't be helped, cultists don't click with you and in their eyes you're a bit of a unholy abomination.

Can't say you care for them much yourself, the practices don't sit well with you. 

Right now though the last thing you want is for them to catch up, one mistake and you're getting ripped out of your flesh shell. Not that it was yours to begin with but nobody's using it. 

 You hop from rooftop to alley over and over, doing everything you can to get them off your tail. 

 It's a little harder this time, got nicked a few times during the scuffle. You'll live.

 Pretty sure it worked, no sign of them anywhere for now.

You still need to lay low to get the heat off of yourself.

 You're not too far from a regular spot of yours, a little cantina that knows you well at this point. 

 After wading through a bustling crowd of people, you manage to finally reach your spot and slip into a corner right in front of the bar. 

 Play it cool, feel the nice air conditioning, keep your wounds nice and covered to avoid attention. 

 The barkeeper looks over to you, he tilts his head for a moment.

 His vision isn't exactly the greatest. Give him a cheesy gesture in response.

 He approaches with a grin.

 Chuy: Hey! You're here earlier than usual, what's happening?

 Mercury: Laying low, you mind hooking me up with the usual? 

 Chuy: In trouble again?

 Mercury: Just a little.

 Chuy: Anyone tailing you? I can open up the backroom for you.

 Mercury: I managed to shake them off, wouldn't do you dirty like that. 

 Chuy: I'm asking so I know how to cover for you, I know you wouldn't. What's the damage like? Need someone to take a look?

 Mercury: Assuming I got hurt?

 Chuy: Don't play this with me, I know you. Let me see your hands.

 Mercury: I'm fine. 

 Chuy: Then I can't do anything for you.

 Mercury: I'm paying, my money's good. 
 He points to a sign; "Don't spread germs! Wash Up Before Ordering!"

 Chuy: Show me your hands, I can't do business without confirmation.
 You hesitantly hold up your hands, they're caked in both dry and fresh blood from your own injuries.

 Chuy looks at you with a big frown.

 Chuy: That looks pretty bad, still bleeding? 

 Mercury: A little.

 Chuy: Pain scale?

 Mercury: 'Bout a 6.

 Chuy: We'll get you to the back room, have someone patch you up. I'll get your order going in the meantime. Don't understand you though, you can't keep trying to walk off shit like this.

 Mercury: There's people who need treatment more than me and you only have so many supplies at any time. Not like I ever die from this sort of thing, right?

 Chuy: 'Cause you keep getting lucky, there's only so many times you can pull off this stuff- one moment!

 He's briefly interrupted by another customer signaling for an order.

 Chuy: I don't want you walking out and never coming back. 

 Mercury: Yet I do everytime right? The brain knows when you're about to die and right now it knows this isn't it. Not even sure I can anymore.

 Chuy rubs his temple. You stressed him out.

 Mercury: I... better leave, just brought you a lot of trouble today.

 Chuy: Don't you dare walk out on me like that.

 Chuy: I don't know what makes you think you're some kind of indestructible space cowboy or that you've got some freaky ghost sword stuff going on but you're allowed to ask for help. 

 Mercury: ...

 Chuy: You came here because you needed it right? Let me help you. I like you, the folks who work here like you. You pay for your food even when we tell you that you don't gotta and you've helped us out of some real bind in the past. Just...

 He takes a moment to catch his breath. 

 Chuy: For your own sake, be nice to yourself. I don't like seeing good folks die 'cause of their own recklessness. 

 Chuy: Just... make this easy today yeah? 
 You nod but can't look him in the eye. 

 Mercury: I'm sorry. Did my thing a bit there.
 You can't understand how he deals with you being a fuck up sometimes. Or anyone really. 

 Mercury: You still okay with me asking for all this? I got money but...

 Chuy: Don't worry about it. We'll get you set up real quick. What's your temperature at?

 Mercury: Cold, but that's pretty normal. 

 Chuy: Right... well you know where everything is by now. Make yourself at home, don't bother folks who are resting, rules are the same as always. It's a bit busier than usual today but we'll get to you as fast as we can.

 Mercury: Yeah.. thanks Chuy.

 Chuy: Don't sweat it, just promise me you won't walk out before you're actually good to go yeah? 

 Mercury: I'll get better about it.

 Chuy: Better, uncovered wounds attract you-know-what.

 Mercury: As long as I find a spot before dark I'm fine. 

 Chuy: Yeah well, tonight I'm offering a place here. Little late to go fishing for a hideout. 

 Mercury: You got one of your meetings on Mondays don't you?

 Chuy: They won't mind, you're not going to snitch. 

 Mercury: Couldn't pay me to.

 Chuy: Exactly my point. For real now though, scoot on over. I got stuff to cover here.

 Mercury: Appreciated, gonna have to pay you back one of these days.

 Chuy: I know you're good for it. 

 Mercury: I mean it, I-

 Chuy gestures toward the break room as he turns his attention toward the now piling mass of customers. Must've gone on for a good while.

 He's got it covered, probably.