𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙣𝙤 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚'𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙤𝙥.

bsky.app/profile/theb...

"Just... Lemme know if you find anything, okay? It means a lot to me... I mean, not just me, everyone, really, but, y'know."

The customer scratched the back of their head awkwardly.

"I'll see what I can do."

This was not well-circulated information. Not yet. But at that scale, it wouldn't stay a secret for long. Rarely much did, and he was almost surprised this tidbit fell through the cracks. But then again...

Still, here? Of all places? That's where he'd think to check, surely. There had to be another reason why they'd check this establishment over other places.

And he hadn't heard anything of the description the customer was providing.

"Is there any chance you've heard anything about 'em? Kinda, like, a huge deal in the city... I can't imagine nobody's heard nothing! Like, 'go missing and the world could end!' kind of a big deal, you get me?"

To be fair, they weren't exactly taking no for an answer, and they'd said a certain someone had led them to the spot; a sequence of events that were too interesting to turn down. So he'd lent them an ear, and a mocktail for their troubles.

The most unique feature he could make out were their roughened hands, covered in bandages, yet still leaving droplets of blood as they occasionally tapped them across the countertop.

It's true.

He still let them in.

The bartender sighed, lowering the wine glass he was drying off, giving his unexpected guest more of his attention. A person of rather average build, or as much as their baggy hoodie would suggest. A flimsy mask yet opaque mask covered their face.

"The bar's closed for the morning."

"You still let me in."

"And it's one of those 'word of mouth' invitational locations."

"You still let me in?"

"And you won't even provide an ID."

"Look, buddy, I'm desperate here - enough to even ask around in a place like this."

— rumor from the bruised.

— rumor from the stars.

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Definitely one of those 'worry about way later' situations, he figured.

"You sure you're not interested in a drink while you're here?"

Again, not even a ruffle from the customer. Nor so much as a stir as they stood up and left the bar, cool air drifting in as the door swung shut.

"And whoever has it right now?"

"For them to think about the repercussions... To us, it'd be worrying about lifeforms near microscopic. Existence continues on for them."

"And that's really a concern for this little bar?"

"In due time, it will unfold."

I cannot currently decipher their plans with it, but there is one thing that is evident: should that item fall into the possession of a less than kindly entity... Well, we won't have any time to do much about it. Rendered to nothingness."

"You will know."

Other bar-goers were trickling in - about that time of night that got busy.

"There's something of a core to this city, a rhyme or reason. A piece of that, became a piece on someone's board.

"No... Not to confirm, or to see with my own eyes. Consider it... Following a trail, and this bar was on the path of it. That, and to send along a message."

"To a particular recipient?"

The customer was silent for a few moments, clearly selecting their words carefully.

The bartender, for a moment, caught a flash from the customer's eye. Not the white of an eyeball, but... Something that made him pause. The customer continued.

"I didn't come here looking for information, only to confirm something."

He raised an eyebrow at them.

Not even the hint of a smile from his guest.

"If you're looking for information, there's other places to go to first. There is a rather well-known sorcerer, or perhaps..."

"Funny that you should say that, with the connection here..."

Cloaked figures weren't uncommon frequenters of the bar, but there was a different air to the one who sat down on the stool across from him.

No ordering. Strictly business.

Lips that shone as they moved.

"You know, cosmic word doesn't just rain down from the skies around here."

— rumor from the stars.

— reopening.

bsky.app/profile/theb...

bsky.app/profile/theb...

rumors, whisperings, murmurs & talk of the city. (solos)

He'd head home once they were finishing tidying up, and setting up the security system.

And then, the Bar With No Name would reopen.

Especially when he didn't even know what that name would be.

A bridge he'd cross if it came to it. Something told him, it wasn't an "if", but a "when".

Glasses clinked as he sorted the bottles behind the bar, lining them up neatly in an order he'd remember more easily.

"The day someone comes in and says your name... you're a goner."

Ominous. It'd sounded like some weird prophecy to him. Fate? Destiny? Something ridiculous like that. But they had been dead serious about it, so it was worth taking with a grain of salt.

One voice did speak up, breaking the heavy silence.

"It's your first week working the bar, ain't it?"

Only a head tilted to one direction as an affirmation of a response.

"Remember what I said, when you showed up here."

Well, who could forget that?

If any of the staff members made eye contact as they cleaned and rearranged the furniture, it was only for a moment, before gazes shifted elsewhere.

There was some questions on their minds. New management. New rules, new ways the establishment was being handled. Nobody had answers.