Lucia

The toilet is still hung on the wall above the bar, a place of great honour -- a reminder of the Ceramic Panic of 83.

A bartender spy -- the perfect position to watch and ask questions. Her cover must be deep.

Her eyes don't settle on the carabinero even as he speaks to her.

Her eyes don't settle on the carabinero even as he speaks to her.

Well, she's the bartender from the Fogged Mirror.

Bartend.

Deliver drinks.

In the empty bar your attention can find no purchase. It slides from point to point as though across a greased countertop.

Mercifully not insisting on your name. She knows her audience.

Not her business, not her problem.

She makes a show of clearing her throat before your next question.

Take orders.

Wash up.

Wipe up.

With nothing else to do, your gaze naturally wanders to the multicoloured bottles behind the bar.

"Another one of your friends?"

"Hasn't given one."

"Have you barbacked before?" She glances over at the customers, then at you.

"Haven't you seen it all already? Thought you used to be a regular."

"Hello again. What'll it be?"

"Hello again. What'll it be?"

"I already told you..." She raises her fingers to count them off again. "The Bootleg Bazaar. Pitol Tract. Palace of Culture. And the Miracle Line."

"I saw you were talking to your friend." She nods in the direction of the man in the corner booth.

"Leaving again so soon?"

"Mostly drinking and fiddling."

"Safe travels." She doesn't look up from what she's doing.

"So. Here to meet your friend?"

"Tall, dirty blonde hair. An old regular. He said you were in the same line of work."

"Tall, dirty blonde hair. Lonely-looking -- no offense. He said you were in the same line of work."

"Thanks for fixing the TV. Very kind of you."

"The one you've 'never seen before'."

"Until the other guy showed up. Then he was huddling and talking."

"What'll you have?" Her voice echoes in the near-empty bar.

"You seem to meet a lot of strange men here."

"You're asking a lot of questions about this man."

"You're back." She eyes you warily.

"I'm familiar."

"Thought you said you were a regular once upon a time?"

'Miracle' Line -- like the card in PSEUDOPOD's pocket. It's a phone sex thing.

Over at the bar, Lucia has covered her ears with her hands. Every patron has turned towards you.