The Empty World | The Empty World Sequence [complete | rewriting]

Twenty-One

Jericho nodded as she operated the espresso machine. "It's the afterlife, you can work where you want, when you want to work. Someone will want to train you, if you need it, but things tend to come to you faster, here. Sometimes I work in a candle shop."

"How is that?"

Jericho held the small, metal pitcher to the steam wand, which made enough noise that she raised her voice to speak over it. "I like it! I get to bring others warmth. Help them light their way! I worked there a lot, when I was new here. For closure!" She'd been looking for a candle shop when they found her on Avenue A.

Jericho poured espresso into a mug, then spooned the foamed milk overtop. She slid the cup over the counter to Morpheus. Jericho wiped-down the machine, then stepped away to reach a saucer.

"Why don't you go set-up?" Jericho asked, when she returned. She tipped her head toward the vacant stage.

Morpheus scanned the interior. No one else looked like they were waiting for the stage, or preparing to use it. He could see some microphones on stands, with a few other pieces of equipment.

"I'll help him set-up," River said.

Morpheus boosted River onto his shoulder, then took his cappuccino in one hand, as he carried his guitar case in the other. He stepped onto the low stage, and set his cup on the top of stool there. River scampered down Morpheus' arm, then the legs of the stool. He started inspection of the gear.

Morpheus looked again to the various souls. "Excuse me, anyone mind if I take the stage?"

Some glanced, then went right back into their own conversations, a few raised drinking vessels in encouragement. One soul stood, apparently a young man in a sharp suit, though appearance here, as Jericho had reminded Morpheus, was largely projection. "Mind if I sit in?"

"If you like. I'm Morpheus," he extended his right hand.

"Traps." They shook.

"Shaken Iced Green Tea on a Saucer!" Jericho called.

"That's ours," Morpheus said.

"Ask the doll for a couple spoons, will you?"

Morpheus nodded, then left. As he approached the counter, the front doors opened. Morpheus sensed the Angelic presences immediately, but he would have known the couple on sight had they approached from a distance. Israfel led Raziel by a hand.

"Raziel!" Jericho said happily. "Israfel. How are you?"

"You've met?" Morpheus asked. He realized he hadn't greeted either of the highly ranked Angels. "Sar Israfel. Archon Raziel."

"Raziel introduced us," Jericho said, "Can I get you anything?"

"You don't have to be so formal, Dear," Israfel said. He patted Morpheus' shoulder, as he looked toward Jericho, "I'm doing well, Sweetie; Raziel makes sure I escape my keepers every now and then. I'll have a boiled coffee, medium sweet, cardamon and clove, with a splash of evaporated milk. Raz, what would you like?"

"I would like to play with the coffee engine," Raziel said, gesturing one-handed to the equipment on the counter.

"Oh! I have something you can play with," Morpheus said. He took his mobile from his pocket. "Is there a way to make this work here? I mean, make it get signals from Earth?"

Raziel's cyan eyes seemed to glow. He dropped Israfel's hand to take the device from Morpheus. He turned it over and back. "One of Jewel's telecomm gadgets." He tapped. "Running Facets." He swiped and tapped. "Pigeon Blood build for Dark Net."