Ao Bing meets his mother (“Our Lady of the Underground”)
Prequel to this post (Part 2) Sequel to that post is here (Part 3)
All of Asuraville knew that the Lady's bar was a blessed place, where the wine flowed free and the seats never ran out. All the Lady asked was that the patrons break bottle caps instead of kneecaps.
The chipped sign in the crude shape of an arrow pointing down, "Step into my office."
Ao Bing stared at the haphazard, windowless establishment, filled with fold up chairs, bar stools, and makeshift tables.
This is where is his mother lived?
As they inched forward, Ao Bing tried not to fidget too much. He thought they were in the back, but he could still feel people flooding in. He glanced back, and was met with an ever-growing sea of faces. He hated packed crowds.
"Hey," a hand slipped into his. He whirled around. Yunxiang was staring at him. "You okay?"
Ao Bing couldn't feel his tongue, so he just nodded.
Yunxiang frowned, his brow wrinkled. "Yang Jian 大哥 dàgē," he turned to the demigod. "Are you sure this is the place?"
Yang Jian smiled and tipped his hand in place of nodding. He lifted a finger to his lips then pointed ahead, towards the "stage" (an elevated platform with a bar).
A woman stepped on stage, her pale blue hair tied into a braided bun in the back. Her sleeveless qipao was made of shimmering silk that rippled in the flickering lights.
"I don't know about you, boooyyysssss..." She grinned, swaying with the bellow. "But if you're like me, then hanging around this old manhole is bringing you down.
"Six-feet-under getting under your skin.
"Cabin fever is a-setting in."
Ao Bing felt someone click his jaw closed.
"You're stir crazy! Stuck in a rut!" The Lady reached behind to the shelf.
"You could use a little pick-me-up
"I can give you what it is you crave
"A little something from the good old days," she picked out some bottles, holding them up for inspection.
"I got the wind right here in a jar
"I got the rain on tap at the bar
"I got the sunshine up on the shelf."
"Allow me to introduce myself," She stood on the counter. "Brother, what's my name?" She lined up a train of cups.
"My name is..."
The crowd pounded their fists. "Our Lady of the Underground!"
The Lady grinned, pouring the line of cups. "Brother, what's my name?" The cups disappeared into the crowd.
"Our Lady of Ways!" Cups were making their way to the back. "Our Lady of Means!"
"Brother, what's my name?
"My name is..."
"Our Lady of the Upside Down!"
"Wanna know my name?" She grinned, leaning over the counter. "I'll tell you my name."
The crowd burst into hoots and cheers, pounding and stamping as they raised their cups. Ao Bing only saw the barest movement of her mouth, but missed the rest.
Sima gave a low whistle. "That's your mom?"
Ao Bing nodded. The woman on stage was lively, generous, and happy. It was a far cry from the mother he barely knew.
"She's pretty hot."
Ao Bing paused, his brain screeching to a halt. "What?!"
The Lady pulled an Rakshasa onstage. "Come here, brother," the Lady grinned. "Let me guessss..." She picked up a shaker.
"It's the little things you miss.
"Spring flowers, autumn leaves." She shook them together and poured a line of cups.
"Ask me, brother, and you shall receive."
A cup appeared in Ao Bing's hand. He swirled the amber liquid around, then took a sip.
Spring rain flooded his ears, and he heard faint chuckles in the back of his head. He felt warmth trickling up his spine.
"Or maybe these just ain't enough," the Lady shrugged, staggering to the side.
"Maybe you're looking for some stronger stuff.
"I got a sight for the sorest eye," she pulled a heavy rope.
"When's the last time you saw the sky?"
The ceiling opened up, revealing the night sky. The roof was a giant silk drape that ballooned up, revealing the asterisms composed of glass and crystal.
Yang Jian took off his hat, as did many others.
"Hey," Yunxiang knocked on his shoulder. "Look," he pointed up.
Ao Bing followed the finger. There were seven diamonds forming a canopy over the North Star. They were the brightest, the only stars joined by a silver string.
華蓋 huágài, Ao Bing felt the floor drop away.
"Wipe away your tears, brother." There were footsteps approaching. "Brother, I know how you feel."
The Lady stepped down, holding her hands out. "I can see you're blinded by the sadness of it all."
His mother was so close, he could reach out and touch her hand.
He stopped himself.
"But look a little closer, everything will be revealed."
The Lady turned, locking eyes with him for just a moment.
"Look a little closer, and..."
The music came to a halt.
"THERE'S A CRACK IN THE WAAALLLLL."