《The Bartender at the End of the Universe》Ch 227: The Benefits of Slacking Off
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"I think I prefer going slow."
Minabous looked over at Azrail and raised an eyebrow. "What are you even talking about?"
The muscular cow girl was drawing on the ground with a stick. Azrail had moved into place behind her, and simply watched.
In the background a deep bass was thumping in the air.
THOOM
THOOM
THOOM
It was almost like a heartbeat. The thumping was nearly silent, and more felt than actually heard. Like the bass was coming from their own body.
"I led a hectic life you see." Azrail explained. "Always going here and there. Another mission propelling me forward through the unknown."
"Is there a point to this?" She sighed.
Azrail sighed. "You're going too fast."
Minabous looked down at her scribbling. "What are you talking about? I've still got a long ways to go, I have to do it fast."
Azrail stepped past her. Seemingly without even reaching for it, he now had her small shard of wood in his own hand. He carefully bent down and slowly began to write himself.
"I feel stories explain things better than a simple answer. They hold so many lessons rolled up in so many less words." Azrail mused aloud.
"How is 'You're writing too fast,' more words than a dumb old story?" She said as she rolled her eyes.
"And yet, you don't understand it." Azrail nodded as he slowly wrote in the ground. "I gave you the answer, but with no context, or application, you don't truly understand it."
"Ugh, so dumb." She complained.
"You're rushing to the destination so you can rush to your next destination." Azrail continued undeterred. "You're missing most of your life simply hoping for the end."
"All that just to say it's the journey not the destination?" Minabous snorted. "Now you're really wasting time."
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As she reached for Azrail, the scrawny man slid away from her grasp as he continued to write.
"In a way, yes that's it. But more that sometimes it's good to slow down. The world moves so fast. Why not let go of your responsibilities for a while. And just contemplate the world." He mused.
She snorted even louder a she put her hands on her hips. "Why contemplate anything? If you want a real break, just do nothing. Let your brain rest too Why don't you?"
Azrail paused and smirked. He nodded softly and then tossed the stick back to her. "It seems you may grasp this better than I do."
Minabous let out a sigh and shook her head. "Idiot. Although, I guess I can take a bit of a break."
CRACK!
Like a clash of thunder, Harold was suddenly behind Minabous. He had snapped his yard stick against the ground inches from her hooves.
"Did I hear you correctly?" He fumed. "You're thinking of slacking before your punishment is finished!?!"
A bead of sweat rolled down Minabous's forehead. "Uh, of course not! I'm just getting ready to really take a crack at all of this! Ha...ha...ha..."
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