“Hey guys! Sorry I’m late,” the black smoke of Lucifer appears and takes the fourth seat at the table. The three welcome him and pass him one of the red drinks. “What have you all been up to?”
“Andy tried to arm wrestle me and now owes me anything I want,” Becky gloats with pride at tricking the poor human.
“You tried to arm wrestle an Oni, Andy?” Lucifer looks at the man who’s staring down into his drink in shame. “That was really stupid.”
“Yeah, I know.” Andy’s frustration over being mocked for his ignorance began to boil over. “But I didn’t know she was an Oni! You assholes didn’t brainwash me so how the hell am I supposed to know any of this?!”
The table is silent while the demons look at each other in awkward regret. Becky speaks up first, “Andy, we’re sorry. We just wanted to mess around with you, not hurt your feelings.”
Andy shakes his head and lets out a laugh. “No, no. It’s really fine. I was just a little frustrated.”
“Don’t worry about it, man. We’ll just make fun of you for your normal stupidity.” Greg smiles at his human friend who returns his smile in kind.
“You’re an ass.” Andy points at the fly.
Lucifer shakes his head and pats Andy’s shoulder causing a tingle to run across his skin. “You’re fine, Andy. But do watch your language.” The four laugh together and Andy scratches his head in shame.
“Now then,” Greg looks over at Becky with a curious expression, “what are you going to make the human do for you?” He gestures towards her with his mug before taking a long sip.
She leans her head to the side and looks up to the ceiling with a loud exhale. “Hmm… I don’t know yet.” Becky looks back down at her insectoid coworker with a grin. “Though, I think I’ll hold on to this until I can think of something really good.”
Andy sighs audibly. “Really? Can’t we just get this out of the way?” She shakes her head with an eager smile. Andy takes a hard swig before slamming his mug down in faux anger. He points at Greg with a scrunched nose. “I blame you.”
Greg puts his hands up in surprise. “Why? What’d I do? You’re the one who took the deal.”
“Yes, but you knew it was a bad idea and as my new best friend in Hell you owed it to me to warn me.”
Lucifer nods in agreement with Andy’s words. “He’s right. It’s best friend law. Though I will say I’m a little hurt you don’t consider me your best friend.” He playfully whines at Andy.
“Look,” Andy puts his hands out across the table to try and cover his own ass, “you’re all good friends, I’d say. It’s just that I spend all day next to Greg!” He shrugs in apology.
Lucifer laughs and his smoke waves around joyfully. “It’s fine Andy! I don’t actually mind.”
Becky mumbles something into her mug, thinking no one would hear her. Unluckily for her, Andy caught her. “Sorry? What was that?” He gestures to the others as an offer. “Want to share with the group, Becky?”
She purses her lips, closes her eyes, and shakes her head. “Nope. Not a thing.”
Andy scowls at her. “Uh-huh…”
“Ignore her, Andy.” Lucifer touches his shoulder to pull his attention away. “More importantly, I want Becky to know that she doesn’t have to worry about being around me. We’re off the clock so you’re welcome to be yourself.”
She laughs and downs the rest of her drink. “Oh don’t worry about that boss man! It’s Friday and I plan on relaxing.” She then proceeds to grab Andy’s drink and down the rest of his in one chug as well. “Woo! Oh, and no that doesn’t count as my favor, Andy.” She reaches over and taps his chin.
Andy hangs his head before turning and hopping off of his stool. A blast of sound hits him from the rest of the bar. “I guess I’ll go grab us another round.” Andy takes a few steps away, stops, stares forward for a moment, and then heads back to the table. “But first, what even was that drink?”
Greg laughs and stands from his stool. “Come on, let’s teach you about some Hell drinks.” The two men approach the bar top and Andy’s mind is immediately sent spinning at the long list of drinks chalked up above the wall of foreign liquors. The bartender, a five armed ogre-esque man, walks over to meet the two and gives Andy a shifty eye.
“Ain’t every day we get a human coming in. Don’t get me wrong, anyone is more than welcome here, just a bit odd.” The bartender shrugs two of his arms and uses a third to shake Andy’s hand.
Greg pats Andy’s shoulder and explains his presence: “He’s the first official human in the big office!” Andy nods in a confused and mildly intimidated pride.
The bartender raises his eyebrows and nods with a proud expression. “Well, congrats on the job! Here, this one’s on the house.” Without looking behind him, two arms grab a set of bottles and start to mix them. A moment later, the demon places a shot glass in front of him. The drink is crystal clear and Andy is shocked how it possibly could be and how it’s only a shot after watching all the multi-colored bottles being poured and mixed. He hesitantly grabs the small glass and eyes it.
“Well, I’m already dead… What do I have to lose?” Andy slams the drink back and instantly feels his mind exploding.
“That’s my boy!” The bartender slams the table with excitement. “That’s gonna set you up for the rest of the night.”
Andy doesn’t really register these messages as his vision starts to wobble and the sounds fly around.
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