The night was alive with neon lights and the rhythmic pulse of bass-heavy music that made even the walls of the bar tremble. It was the kind of place where people came to escape their worries, leaving their troubles at the door along with their inhibitions. Tonight, though, something—or rather, someone—extraordinary graced the bar.
Archangel Gabriel strolled in with a smile that could light up the heavens. Dressed in a crisp white button-up shirt with the sleeves casually rolled to his elbows, dark jeans that hugged his legs in just the right way, and boots that clicked confidently on the floor, he looked like he belonged, even though he was anything but ordinary. His usually golden locks were a shocking shade of cotton candy pink, standing out like a beacon under the bar’s dim lights.
"Human fashion really is something else," Gabriel mused as he slid onto a barstool, his radiant blue eyes scanning the crowd. People couldn’t help but stare at him—not just because of his hair but because of the aura he carried. It wasn’t every day you saw someone who seemed to glow from within.
“Hey, Pinky, what’s your poison?” the bartender asked with a grin, clearly charmed by Gabriel’s unusual hair and dazzling smile.
Gabriel tilted his head, considering the question. “I’ll have one of those colorful drinks,” he said, pointing to a rainbow cocktail someone at the end of the bar was nursing. “It looks delightful.”
The bartender chuckled and whipped up the drink, sliding it across the counter to him. Gabriel took a sip and immediately beamed. “Oh, this is marvelous! It’s like drinking joy.”
Within minutes, Gabriel had become the center of attention. People flocked to him, drawn by his infectious energy and effortless charm and beauty. He told stories—heavily edited for mortal ears—about places he’d visited and people he’d met, his melodic laughter cutting through the din of the bar like a bell. He danced with strangers, his movements so fluid and graceful that it was impossible to look away. Even the grumpiest patrons found themselves grinning as they watched him.
Unbeknownst to Gabriel, a shadowy figure at the edge of the bar had been watching him intently. The figure leaned closer as Gabriel returned to his drink, slipping something small and shimmering into the glass when the disguised Archangel wasn’t looking…
