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    Azrael's Stop
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    Welcome to Azrael’s Stop, an experimental narrative project of serial fiction and transmedia storytelling. It’s the story of a mystical bar where people are led when they’re ready to die, and of the seventeen-year-old bartender who has seen too much death in his life. It’s a story of moving on from tragedy and dealing with a troubled past. This story is told through serialized pieces of microfiction -- just a small fragment of a scene, every day, in real time as the story unfolds. This continuous stream is augmented by other periodical entertainment media -- perhaps a short story, a piece of music, a game, or an audio play -- which enrich the story by expanding it beyond what microfiction can tell, though they aren’t necessary to it. And there’s lots to come -- wartime prejudices, misguided aggression, and the one thing that could bring Ceph out of his black despair, if it isn’t too volatile to last.

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    Welcome to Azrael’s Stop, an experimental narrative project of serial fiction and transmedia storytelling. It’s the story of a mystical bar where people are led when they’re ready to die, and of the seventeen-year-old bartender who has seen too much death in his life. It’s a story of moving on from tragedy and dealing with a troubled past. This story is told through serialized pieces of microfiction -- just a small fragment of a scene, every day, in real time as the story unfolds. This continuous stream is augmented by other periodical entertainment media -- perhaps a short story, a piece of music, a game, or an audio play -- which enrich the story by expanding it beyond what microfiction can tell, though they aren’t necessary to it. And there’s lots to come -- wartime prejudices, misguided aggression, and the one thing that could bring Ceph out of his black despair, if it isn’t too volatile to last.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial ShareAlike (BY-NC-SA)
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    11 views11 pages

    Azrael's Stop: Chapter 4

    Uploaded by

    Azrael's Stop
    Welcome to Azrael’s Stop, an experimental narrative project of serial fiction and transmedia storytelling. It’s the story of a mystical bar where people are led when they’re ready to die, and of the seventeen-year-old bartender who has seen too much death in his life. It’s a story of moving on from tragedy and dealing with a troubled past. This story is told through serialized pieces of microfiction -- just a small fragment of a scene, every day, in real time as the story unfolds. This continuous stream is augmented by other periodical entertainment media -- perhaps a short story, a piece of music, a game, or an audio play -- which enrich the story by expanding it beyond what microfiction can tell, though they aren’t necessary to it. And there’s lots to come -- wartime prejudices, misguided aggression, and the one thing that could bring Ceph out of his black despair, if it isn’t too volatile to last.

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    of 11

    Chapter 4

    Lorday, 4 Faenym, 1007 KR

    "People come here when they're ready to die." "You weren't ready, Rye," Ceph said. "Maybe I was. Maybe you weren't."

    Uunday, 5 Faenym, 1007 KR It was one of those days Ceph and Rye didn't speak. One of those days Ceph could barely look at himanother life he had failed to save. ~ Sunday, 6 Faenym, 1007 KR She was a regular at the Stop. Every night when she came, she asked herself why she did. Why she chose to surround herself with death. ~ Danday, 7 Faenym, 1007 KR Rye watched Ceph work, silent. His physical needs had died with his body, but not his emotional. Death could not stop love. But it was not to be, it had never been. Ceph wasn't fey, for one. But he was also broken, inside. He needed to be fixed, first. ~ Losday, 8 Faenym, 1007 KR "We're closed!" Ceph called. The knock repeated. He opened the door to let Rye inbut it wasn't him. It was Lona. He shut the door again. ~ Brenday, 9 Faenym, 1007 KR "...just like the Dawn War." "How do you know so much, Rye?" "I paid attention in class." "Oh, is that what we were supposed to do?"

    Byrday, 10 Faenym, 1007 KR "Ye hear there's an elven ship in port?" "Royalty, I heard." "What're they doin' here? Star-addled buggers. Throw 'em out, I say." Nael stumbled over a chord change, and took a break. A delegation in Theore. Times were changing too fast. Memories still too fresh. ~ Lorday, 11 Faenym, 1007 KR Nael dropped his guitar suddenly, fell against the wall. He could see them again. The elves, the blood. He could see them. ~ Uunday, 12 Faenym, 1007 KR Ceph sent Nael home. Told him not to return until the elven delegation had left town. He'd heard a regular mention the Twelve Day War. Nael must have been pretty young... ~ Sunday, 13 Faenym, 1007 KR Ceph didn't understand war. Didn't understand killing. Why fight when everyone will die anyway? When everyone faces the same journey?

    Danday, 14 Faenym, 1007 KR "The death of a friend is like the destruction of Castle Ward six years agojarring, but you move on. The world has changed, but you adapt."

    ~ Losday, 15 Faenym, 1007 KR The Stop seemed quiet without Nael. Ceph had come to rely on his music. He'd been rightto Ceph, it wasn't just music.

    ~ Brenday, 16 Faenym, 1007 KR Cessil's servant knows no borders," the elf said. "This is his bar, and so this is where I must be tonight." "No borders," Ceph said, pouring the wine.

    ~ Byrday, 17 Faenym, 1007 KR Nael's return was unheralded. He didn't speak of his absence. The music he played said everythingmelancholy, powerful, aching.

    Lorday, 18 Faenym, 1007 KR The crow seemed to watch Lona as closely as Ceph did. He wondered what it knew. Wondered who she was. Wondered why he didn't trust her.

    ~ Uunday, 19 Faenym, 1007 KR "You say death's the start of the next part of the journey," Lona said to Ceph as he poured her drink. "What's the next part?" Ceph looked at her. It may have been the most she'd ever said to him. "The myths say you wander the Shadowrealm under Zelda's rule." "Ever wandering, but ever at peaceyes. What if you don't make it there?" Ceph glanced at her, glanced away. "That'll be twelve greens." She couldn't knowcould she? Couldn't know that Azrael had come, but Cain hadn't? That every day he wondered why Rye was still here?

    ~ Sunday, 20 Faenym, 1007 KR "How do you know you're ready?" Ceph asked. "I have nothing left to offer," Old Tom said. "But how do you know?"

    Danday, 21 Faenym, 1007 KR

    The memory of his mother was an indistinct shade, the ghost of a smile, as she bundled him and his brother into her arms. Just that feeling.

    Losday, 22 Faenym, 1007 KR Glass shattered in the fireplace, Tom quivering, fist clenching and unclenching. Ceph gently touched his arm, led him to the stairs.

    ~ Brenday, 23 Faenym, 1007 KR That day, Tom didn't go out. He sat at the bar as Ceph poured him whiskeys. Both of them, silent.

    ~ Byrday, 24 Faenym, 1007 KR "Why?" Ceph asked, softly. Old Tom shook his head. "I've had a long life, Ceph. A long life. I've been waiting too long."

    Lorday, 25 Faenym, 1007 KR

    Rye watched them die every week or two with everyone else. Watched them pass into shadow, to the place he wasn't allowed to go. Not yet.

    Uunday, 26 Faenym, 1007 KR

    Ceph never realized how much time Rye spent nearbya ghost, invisible, watching from the edge of the world. Watching, yearning, loving.

    Sunday, 27 Faenym, 1007 KR The crow called, but their silent salute was disturbed by a glass crashing to the floor. "Damnit!" Tom yelled. "Why does she get to go?"

    ~ Danday, 28 Faenym, 1007 KR In six months, Old Tom hadn't died, and Ceph wonderedif he knew why, might he finally understand why he was here?

    ~ Losday, 29 Faenym, 1007 KR There were days when the last thing Ceph wanted to do was run the bar. But Death does not take days offand so the Stop was always open.

    10

    Brenday, 30 Faenym, 1007 KR

    That night at the Stop was quieter than normal. Tom had stayed in his room, needing some time alone, and things seemed more subdued without his boisterous presence. Ceph kept up his usual banter with the regulars, but even he seemed a bit more removed than normal. It was almost midnight when the hooded crow let out his call. Ceph dropped the glass he was holding, and was at the stairs before it shattered on the floor.

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