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Abe paused before the bar’s swinging wooden doors, fidgeting with the hem of his amulet as he looked up at the colourful, hand-painted sign above the entrance. In sharp contrast to the surrounding grey buildings, the place was painted in vibrant purples and yellows, with murals of all kinds of creatures dancing across the walls. It looked…friendly, but Abe’s nerves kept him glued to the spot.
He wasn’t used to walking into places like this. Even back before everything, Mudokons like him weren’t exactly “bar material.” And now, after everything that had happened, he knew he was wanted. A troublemaker in the eyes of the Glukkons, a “terrorist,” they called him. Abe shuddered, taking a dizzy lungful of air. But he needed directions—specifically to find one of those blimps. Word was, it could take him, Alf and Toby all the way to Nolybab, where he could find…her.
Slowly, he stepped into the bar, wincing as the door squealed loudly as if announcing his arrival in the room.
Inside, energetic, upbeat music played from a small, handmade boom box in the corner. It had a catchy, electronic sound, a kind of music Abe had never heard before but somehow found refreshing. The bar was nearly empty, save for a few quiet patrons clustered at tables, and its warm lights cast a gentle glow over the colourful murals on the walls.
“Look at that,” a voice purred from behind the bar. Abe’s eyes widened as he saw the bartender: tall and sleek, covered in glossy, jet-black fur, with piercing yellow eyes that seemed to sparkle with mischief. A twitching tail, ears perked forward, and sharp, white teeth showed every time he spoke. Abe didn’t know what he was, only that he seemed to embody a strange, almost playful elegance. The bartender wore a vest in brilliant shades of purple and yellow, his shirt beneath splattered with colourful stains like someone had flicked paint all over him on purpose. His whole appearance seemed as if he’d stepped right out of the murals himself.
“Well, well,” the bartender drawled with a grin, leaning forward on the bar, “don’t see Mudokons come in here much…” He tilted his head, eyes glinting with curiosity. “So, what brings you here, blue?”
Abe swallowed, feeling his palms grow clammy. “Uh, hi, sir. I just want—I mean, I need some, uh, directions.”
The bartender chuckled, and Abe felt his face grow warmer. He wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or the strangely comforting warmth of the bar itself. The bartender didn’t seem hostile, just…curious.
“Directions, huh?” The bartender’s tail flicked lazily behind him as he tapped a clawed finger on the bar top, clearly enjoying Abe’s nervousness. “To where exactly?”
Abe cleared his throat, trying to steady his voice. “I, uh, heard there’s…blimps. Near here? I need one. To get to Nolybab. Important business, y’know?”
The bartender raised an eyebrow and let out a low whistle. “Blimps, huh? Bold choice.” He leaned back, crossing his arms as if sizing Abe up. “What, hoping to hitch a ride to go see the sights? I thought Mudokons usually kept to the ground.”
Abe stammered, fidgeting with his hands. “It’s, uh…more than that. I gotta get to Nolybab. Got someone waiting there. Well, sorta.”
“Oh, I know all about it,” the bartender replied, a teasing smile crossing his face. “Heard something about a Mudokon saviour. Some folks think he’s a hero, freeing his people, and toppling the big Gluks up high. Ain’t that funny?” He laughed, the sound echoing softly in the cosy room. But Abe couldn’t quite tell if he was just making a joke or genuinely recognised him.
Abe scratched the back of his neck, offering a bashful smile, his stitches stretching ever-so-slightly. “I—I mean, that might be me. People say stuff like that sometimes…”
The bartender smirked, reaching under the counter to pull out a small glass. He filled it with a light rose drink and slid it over to Abe, who looked down at it with wide eyes.
“Here,” he said, a hint of a purr in his voice. “Try it. No Moolah needed.”
“Oh! Uh, thanks!” Abe lifted the glass and took a cautious sip, his face lighting up at the unexpected sweet, tangy taste. It was strange, like nothing he’d ever had before—no sour aftertaste, no bitter bite, no minty sensation like the brew. Just smooth, pleasant flavours that made him relax, if only just a little.
As Abe took another sip, the bartender leaned on the counter, his sharp gaze softening. “So, Nolybab, huh? Sounds like you’ve got a bit of a journey ahead.”
“Yeah.” Abe nodded, feeling a little more at ease now. “I, uh…need to find someone. Someone important. To me and my people.” He looked down at the drink, swishing it around in the glass. “It’s…well, it’s kinda a long story.”
The bartender gave him a knowing smile. “I got the gist. Family business, right?” He gestured to the murals on the walls, some of them depicting Mudokon figures with soft smiles, others with sombre eyes looking off into the distance. “Lot of Mudokons used to stop by here, y’know. They painted some of these for me. Had stories to tell, too.”
Abe looked around at the murals, a gentle warmth growing in his chest. Somehow, seeing pieces of his people here made him feel less alone. Maybe this was what he needed—a reminder of what he was fighting for.
The bartender tapped his fingers on the counter again, pulling Abe’s attention back. “Alright, blue. If you really want to find a blimp to Nolybab, you’ll need to head out to the east side of town. They got a depot there with a couple of ‘em, waiting to ship goods. Sneak in, maybe get on one, and pray to whatever god ya got that you can pilot it.” He gave a lopsided grin.
Abe felt a surge of hope, a rare feeling these days. “Thank you, sir! Really! I didn’t think…well, I didn’t think anyone would help me out here.”
The bartender shrugged, his eyes glinting with amusement. “What can I say? I’ve got a soft spot for the scrappy types.” He pushed a small bowl of snacks toward Abe, who glanced at it in surprise. “Here—on the house, shy guy. And hey, I better see you in the newspapers soon, but it better not be your obituary, got it? You know how Glukkons are.”
Abe slightly cracked a wry smile, feeling a renewed determination as he finished his drink and grabbed a handful of snacks. “I’ll try, sir. I’ll try real hard.”
“Good.” The bartender leaned back with a wink. “Now, go make some headlines, Mudokon. And don’t get yourself killed.”
Abe chuckled softly, giving him a quick nod before heading back out into the street to go find Alf and Toby. The bright lights and lively music faded as he stepped outside, but for the first time in a while, he felt like he was heading in the right direction, no longer just running—but finally moving toward something real.