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"If y'could, y'know, make it so it never happened, would you?"
Takato edged away from the drunk beside him. At least the man was too wasted to recognize him and demand an autograph. "Uh, what exactly?"
"My wife. Wish I'd never…She was cute back then, but now…" The man shuddered, drank some more and shook his head. "Wish I'd never met her. My life would be so much better. I'd be happy. Have more money. No, I'd have my money. Mine. Money I earned to spend how I like. No nagging, all the sex I want… So, what about you? I see the mark of a ring on your finger. Happy? Or do you wish…"
Hardly listening now, Takato focused on the doorway. Ah, there he was. Tall, smiling, his. "Excuse me. Good night to you."
Before Junta could walk over, Takato joined him, leaving the drunken man to stare at an empty glass.
"Sorry, I'm late. The photographer kept asking for one more shot." Junta glanced around as Takato urged him outside. "You don't want to stay here?"
"No. There's a depressing man complaining about his wife. Last thing I want to hear about."
"I guess, but is it reason enough to leave? We could sit where you can't hear him."
"I don't want to be anywhere near him."
"Huh? Why?"
I'm so happy it makes me feel guilty to see people who regret what they did. I've got you and I'll always have you and that's more luck than I deserve…
"Because he's two sips away from puking! Can we please go?"
One day, Junta would snap back and he'd faint with the shock. One day, but not this day. "You're tired, huh? Let's go home instead. Early night."
"If you mean get me naked, just say so!"
"I was planning to eat first, but if you want to eat naked, I won't stop you. If anything drips, it'll make clean-up easier. I'd love to lick—"
"Behave! There will be no licking! None!"
The bickering was inaudible inside the bar, but the drunk smiled sourly as if he'd heard every word.
Those lovebirds wouldn't help him meet his quota of souls to lure and trap with offers of history re-writes.
"Gah. I'm getting old. A century or two ago, I would've smelled it on him. True love? It stinks. All roses and moonlight. Give me some betrayal and deceit any day."
He tapped the side of his glass, refilling it with a flicker of magic. Time to cast his net again.
There would be someone looking to change their life. There always was.
Not everyone was lucky like those two.