✨madiska✨

Gold surrounds us all while we are in the world of the dead. It drives someone crazy, someone to the grave, while others can only dream about it. The luckiest ones always carry gold with them all the time - in their hair, eyes or, most importantly, in their hearts. The golden shade is recognized as the embodiment of wealth, elegance and importance.

But in the world of the dead, this shade can take a completely different meaning for many. Painful and terrifying enough to wish for quick death again. Of course, not for everyone. Even in the afterlife, people continue to be divided into winners and losers. Domino wears gold cufflinks, and Manny trembles at night from the wave of pain and brightly golden light that blinded him in the same moment as he reluctantly opens his eyes.

The pack of cigarettes, which Hurley occasionally hands to his former colleague, also has a golden tint. Although it's just a fake to look richer and to make the buyer feel important - Calavera starts spitting and holding back the urge to vomit, which appeared on the back of his brain (if it's even still in his skull). It seems that if he ever goes crazy, he will only repeat one phrase, like the damned Frankenstein. Only the word "fire" will be replaced by "gold."

But Manny is not afraid of this or of death again. The former employee of the funeral bureau is terrified only at the thought of telling someone about it, that they may think he's weak. It's easier for him to die alone, leaving everyone in ignorance of where this pile of bones went. Although, he doesn't even pull on the heap – may be a small pile can accumulate due to a large skull. Therefore, he endures the daily glimpses of cufflinks and packs of cigarettes, smiling, trying to hide his disgust, diverting his gaze from someone's golden tooth, begin to breathe heavily and too slowly at the sight of a pile of gold coins lying on barrels, while his neighbors play cards on them, and politely refusing the invitation.

Gold causes pain. Remember that, Calavera.

Therefore, Domino, who visits him for hell knows why, causes the pain.

The initial goal is clear - to make fun of the fact that, again, his office is better, life is more fun, and the view from the window is more beautiful. That he's the golden boy again.

But now he calmly sits down next to the small bench near the wooden house, which has its own charm, unlike the neighboring houses. Manuel Calavera still has a sense of dignity, so both inside and outside the house, it looks more presentable than the entire pier put together. His frequent guest hesitated a few times, admitting this, snorting and flicking ashes into the water. Domino always offers him a cigarette or a drink, asks if his favorite scythe is dull, whether Meche has come. And he laughs less and less loudly every time he hears the answer "Of course not. As well as to you. What else did you expect?"

A couple of times, they caught themselves sitting too close, justifying it by coastal breeze. But they can't feel cold, right? At least not physically.

Something strange happens every day near the little house on the pier belonging to a funeral director.

The day comes when the glow catches Manny not in a dream, but quite openly, in front of the crowd. Although, can a couple of card players and, damn it, Domino be called a crowd? The latter frowns for a while, then grimaces with anger and throws an unfinished cigar at the fish feed.

"What jokes are these, Calavera?" he hisses, suddenly grabbing other's shoulder and squeezing it so hard that it could have left a bruise on the bone if it were possible.

"Go away, I'm not obliged to explain anything to you. I need to lie down… " the skeleton tries to stand up, but the stronger hand still holds him sitting on the bench, pressing so hard that it could break.

"No, you'll explain it to me. What the hell are you shining like a damn Christmas tree for?"

"You know what it means. Let me go, or I'll hit you," the tone suddenly changes from neutral to firm. Although, because of this, there is a hoarseness in his voice - being firm is also a difficult task for someone who is exhausted by pain.

"And you didn't need a reason before?" Domino chuckles, but in really strange, more in nervous than in smug way.

"Yes. I'm not you, I have manners" Manny’s shoulder nervously jerks, trying to save himself and his owner, getting out of bone, brightly white chains. It's almost done. But Domino just stands up and continues to follow him, cursing in Spanish.

Manny sits on the bed and sighs heavily, rubbing his eye sockets with his fingers.

"You irritate me. Get lost" he says in his native language, hoping that at least it will work. But this is not quite helping. An ex-enemy's body is still hovering over him.

"Oh, go to hell… You're pathetic and unbearable idiot."

Said without any hatred, rather with… Angry confusion? You’re losing it, Mr. Hurley, losing it.

However, you still know how to slam doors loudly. If there were, Manny would have raised four plates with the number 10. One for each limb. Maybe even took one in his teeth.

Domino doesn't come. Today, tomorrow. In principle, the whole situation seems strange and somehow… wrong. Even when they didn't think about behaving towards each other at least somewhat unfriendly - they had to be together. Or maybe it was a similar excuse to coldness?

But the tall skeleton appears in the same place a week later. They sit silently, not even lighting up cigars. The silence is broken by a firm question.

"How long?"

"I'm not obliged to answe-"

"I'm asking. How long?" Seems like they're going to argue again. Moreover, Manny does not even know why. Why did he ask him about this radiance? Is he afraid to get infected? He should have hammered into his dull head that it's not his business.

But his lips utter incoherent nonsense like "I don't remember, probably three months ago, who cares? Get lost".

White dots hiding in black dark eye sockets run all over the "sick" body from head to toe and unexpectedly approach strangers.

"Clunck".

"What do you allow yourself, damn it! Get out of here, you assh-"

"Clunck".

Sound from bone to bone was already too much to handle.

And then Manny gets punched in the ribs. Not strongly, but makes him grab slightly itchy bones.

"Don't get used to it, it's just because you'll die soon. Don't pretend you're doing it right now, I'm gentle. Besides, you have nothing to hurt there."

"Bones can be broken, imagine that! Although, yes, how can your narrow mind understand it" grumbles like an erecting owl undertaker, still suffering, "You bastard," he huffed with an incredibly mixed emotions in his voice.

"See ya tomorrow, Manny. Just try not to die" Domino gets up and is about to leave, but Manny boldly yeels at his back.

"Oh yeah, now I have a motivation!"

"Did you enjoy it that much?" the brows soar up a couple of times, mocking the stunned victim.

"No, so I can beat you with your own jaw" the grumbling becomes quieter, and mockery and playfulness in his voice increase with each word, "And then shame you for not being able to admit your gay nature until you found out that I am dying again" the smirk becomes crooked on both of their mouths.

"Shut up and remember, you answered me rather with enthusiasm for the second time. Also, I knew everything about myself for the long time, closeted bastard."

Brows twitch again, the last time - victorious. And the figure of a tall, towering skeleton moves away from the pier to its own house.

Manny thinks about it for a while, then buries his face in his palms and sighs loudly, trying to come to his senses.

Domino really comes the next day. Without cufflinks. Cigarettes are now in a black-brown package.

It is amazing that his former worst enemy now consciously doesn’t want to bring Manny pain. Almost the only one in this huge city.