Omniopolis

Sometimes it feels like there’s only the City. I’ve lived here for a good few years now, and I don’t really remember what it’s like outside. I know there’s still parks, mountains, forests… shit, I haven’t even seen my folks in half a decade. Some days I forget people have families.  I should go visit, but there’s always something. Last month I was short on cash. Month before that, I had a huge job lined up, couldn’t take the time. Makes me wonder where the money from those “huge jobs” Richard is always sending me on goes. ‘Course, this scotch might be part of the answer to that one…
Fuck me, is it raining again? Did it even stop? Eh, not like the weather’s much nicer here with the sun out. Can’t hardly see it most of the day anyway. I think my coat’s still damp from yesterday… Fifteen minutes more and I gotta get going. Rick’ll be pissed if I miss this one. I really need to start asking that guy where he digs these cases up. Half the time it just blows up in my face and he’s coming back the next day, wringing his hands, saying how sorry he is it’ll never happen again you’re my oldest friend- just shut the fuck up.
If I knew anyone else worth knowing in this place, I’d have dumped him years ago. I guess I should get out more. The clubs, though. Can’t stand those places. Swear someone’s gonna slip me something everywhere I go and I’m gonna wake up without my favorite organs. Maybe my eye is old enough I’d get to keep that… Fuck it, anything to get another contact. I swear, if I see that suit-wearing fuck one more time I’m jumping off a bridge. Or pushing him, I’m flexible.
Yeah, that’s it. I still got a good wad of cash, I don’t need his job. I’ll just call it off, find something else. There’s always something out there for me to do, I can stop relying on his ass. I’ll call him up now…
Rick? Yeah, about that job… fuck it. Just… fuck it. I’m still bruised from the last shit-kicking you got me into. No, I don’t—fuck off, man. Look, you- no, you said that last time. Yeah, that too. No, I’m fucking done. Yeah, I’m sure, “I’ll never get another second of your time” after this. Your time was really, really fucking valuable to me. I’m really gonna miss those big jobs, man. That last one, hell, I’ll cry if I don’t get a chance to pull off a job like that again. Really, I will. Can’t hear the tears yet? Eh, fuck it. I’ll not be seeing you. Yeah. Yeah, hate you too, buddy. Bye.
Shit, I feel way better now. Where was I? Oh yeah, scotch. I think. Eh, wherever I was, scotch is probably where I was going. Going… oh right, going to see my folks. Well, not this month, dumbass. You just blew off your only real work. Might as well see what’s cracking downtown… Fuck, it really is pouring out there. Thank god for flasks. Alright, let’s see what’s what.
“The Alibi.” That’s a comforting name for a place. Might as well dive in. If they’ve got some cheesy fucker drink with a pun for a name I’m drinking it on principle. Fuck, I forgot how crowded these places are. Can’t see shit. Can’t hear shit. Can, in fact, smell shit. Figures. Okay, that looks mostly barlike, let’s see what they have. That is not English. Not even close to English. Fuck, three languages not enough for this city? You want me to pick up- well, pick up whatever the hell that is, too? Nope, balls to it. I can figure something out.
Hey, lady? Ma’am? Can I get a gin and tonic? No? A bomb? Sure, I’m up for it. Uh… I don’t know what’s in… any… of those. No, thank you, just pick your favorite. I’m sure I’ll like it. Thanks.
Well, it doesn’t smell bad. Bye, kidneys, sorry you’re getting cut out by thugs later probably. Damn. Daaaaamn. That went down too smooth. I’m getting another. Need a good walking-around drink, though.
Ma’am? Yeah, another of those and… whatever he’s having. Yeah, sounds good. Thanks.
Alright. One more for luck, and… good god, this tastes like a gutter. Eh, I’ve had worse. Let’s see who’s out and about. Yeah, this place isn’t seedy enough to get work in. Let’s take a walk further downtown, look for trouble for a while.
Still raining. Still. I need a damn vacation.