dead is dead.

alias walks into the bar.  it is taller now, older.  it walks
easier.

it talks about itself as if it were a thing and not a man.  it does
this and it is easy.

it walks up to the bar and Ratz looks up from his paper, looks up and
sees there is little work to do.  someone else has already done it.

"Whatchoo need artiste?"  he says.  cocking an eyebrow but not
looking.

"A drink my friend.  what else."

"I don't know artiste.  if i know whatchoo need i don't work a bar no
more."

"So just pour the drink then."

and he does.

alias picks the beer up and pours half it back at a gulp.  looks about
and says "The place is falling apart man.  Its dead in here."

"True, true.  but you come back anyways.  ain't dead all the way then
is it?"

"A man works where he can."

Ratz sits and stares at the paper, nothing left to say.  alias drinks
the beer and knocks the glass on the bartop.

"Another so soon?"

"And another after that."

"Dedication artiste.  is what i always like about you."

"What you like about me is i pay my tab."

and he pours another.  and another.  and another.

and life goes on.