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[goodnightjulia]

Some cities on Mars have parades for Halloween. Large ones, with crowds of people and giant balloons that take the effort of twenty or more handlers to hold down and move along the parade route. Even if you don't care about the day itself, they're always a good place to blend in and watch people

Comments

[notapreacher]

You never got to see Halloween in Blue Crow. Some ambitious group of people would dot the streets with costumed snow statues ever year, candy bags in their arms. I used to donate to the cause on my way to work: put something sweet in each bag.

I never knew who was reaping the benefit, but the statues were always gone by the next morning. A little different from the types of celebrations we had on Mars.

[goodnightjulia]

I'm sorry I missed it.

Most of the men I met there didn't exactly seem the type to go to that kind of effort.

[notapreacher]

I think it might have been the girls. Julius and her crew, but I never did satisfy my curiosity on that one.

[goodnightjulia]

Julius.

It could have been. They did seem to have free time on their hands.

[notapreacher]

You know, most men are so easy that making a living there turning tricks couldn't have been very lucrative. Sometimes I'd bring them food on my way home from work. Just a little bit, here and there, so they didn't get into trouble. Their pimp wasn't all that understanding about stuff like that.

Sometimes, I wonder how they're doing.

[goodnightjulia]

It's hard to imagine Blue Crow changing much.

I imagine Frank tending bar at the Rester House until he's old and white-haired and hunched over.

[notapreacher]

Frank told me once that his dream was to retire to Ganymede. He wanted a place with warm air. His bounty had more time left on it than mine, though.

I think the only way Blue Crow could change is if Callisto suddenly because a tourist attraction, and I can't really see that happening.

[goodnightjulia]

He always did have good taste.

I can't see it happening, either, but I'm sure most of the population of Blue Crow doesn't really mind.

[notapreacher]

No, most of them are in Blue Crow for some pretty good reasons. Although I hope Frank found himself another musician. There isn't much I can do about any of that, though.

It was a good gig while it lasted.

[goodnightjulia]

Did you know any other saxophone players there?

[notapreacher]

No, actually. There weren't so very many musicians there. I knew a keyboard player, a drummer, and two guitarists, but the Rester House was one of the few going concerns. Seems like no matter how poor people are, they still manage to find money to drink and I was lucky to have a job.

I'm lucky to have one here, too. Thank you for helping me with that.

[goodnightjulia]

You're welcome.

I'm sure it only would've been a matter of time before you found your way there on your own. It suits you.

[notapreacher]

Ishiah was really nice.

People just... leave this place all the time, don't they.

[goodnightjulia]

It seems that way.

[notapreacher]

Well.

Enough about that.

Who won the pool game?

[goodnightjulia]

I'm surprised he didn't tell you.

He did. It was a good game.