another set of footsteps ; another person testing their L U C K ; another guffaw. yet, when a woman in a skintight RED dress sauntered into his space, standing so close he could feel every warm breath against his face, his laughter stuttered to a halt. cheeks grew RED, even redder than his unruly locks as a quick shove tosses the woman away from him. a scoff passes his lips. “ this ain’t no challenge, ” the boy brags to the other person even as his cheeks burn red hot. “ i’ll be outta sheol in no time at all. ” not that he was in any hurry to leave.

THIS WASN’T the most ideal way to spend one’s afterlife, but it wasn’t as if hanschen had much of a choice now. the boy was used to making the best out of even the worst situations, but he wasn’t entirely sure what he could possibly do to make this any better ( ernst would have known what to do ). the only thing that came to mind that might possibly help him cope with his new reality, if you could call it that, was a stiff drink. a weary sigh fell from his parted lips as he shot the individual who was seated next to him a look, “you don’t suppose that shitty little restaurant that we passed serves alcohol, do you?”

A flash, certain death. Bodhi knew it was the end before he felt the heat of the explosion. It was certainly over before he knew it. Of course it would be, he was in direct contact with the grenade. But the breeze against his cheek, the lack of salt water in the air, the lack of gritty sand against his skin, and the quiet told him all that was gone. Was this it? The afterlife? The Force? He opened his eyes and there was nothing to confirm what he thought. He was dead, that had to be sure. This was where you went? The place was curious, unlike anything he’d ever seen before. With shaking hands, he approached someone rather abruptly. It was obvious he was rather distressed. “Are you dead too?”

What a bitch. Melchior hadn’t expected much after he lost consciousness and everything went black. Honestly, he was expecting everything to stay black or that mystical fake God to be laughing at him as he threw him down beneath the earth. He didn’t think this was any better than the other two expected options. With a sigh, he decided to roam. Might as well scope out whatever town this was. Maybe he could find a bookstore -- maybe they would have Faust. He could only hope or it really would be Hell. He stopped someone with a gentle hail. “Excuse me, but do you know where I am or where I can find me a bookstore. I can already tell this place is definitely going to be... something.”