Mix(ology)tape

~bartender

52 minutes.

That's how long it takes me to commute from my appartement in the suburbs to the Midnight. I don't drive, I actually don't have a driver's license (that's a story for another time), so I take the train. And today, I realize I much I enjoy taking that train.

trains are perfect for contemplation. There's so much to look for. There's so much to listen for. Each station has its own story. It's own atmosphere even. There's a calming feeling when looking out the window. Well, do we really look out the window? Or are we looking inside ourselves? So many questions and yet, I'm too sober to tackle them properly. Hmm. What if The Midnight was a train all along? Taking us from a point in time to another one? I should talk about this with m15o...

In a not-so-distant past, I was commuting from the UK to France aboard the Eurostar. I was thrilled to take it: this train goes in a tunnel under water. Thinking about it, it's insane. You are in a metal box going hundreds of miles an hour under water. If that's not the future, I don't know what it is. And the best part is there's a pub within this train. And let me tell you, there's no bad time to start drinking aboard the Eurostar!

I nod as I see ~tffb come in, and proceed to start making a coffee. Two actually, since I could use some myself.

I was sitting there last night and I was thinking: "2020 is over. It's a year

that happened in history, and it will never happen again. Good!"

What what a crazy year it's been. I'm sure this one will be remembered. (Oh and by the way, hi if you are coming from the future looking to learn what happened in the crazy 2020's.)

I mean there were a few bright spots in the year, I suppose.

This. Right there. That's all we need. Some bright spots here and there. The good news is that at some point in the future, when all of this crisis will be done, the whole planet will have the time of it's life. I'm sure I will anyway.

Now (like in a flash) it is 2021. A vaccine is being rolled out, I'm still off social media, my blogging habits have only increased since the new year (if that's possible), and I'm at the lowest weight I have been since 2016. I have also been on again/off again working on a big web dev project (well, kind of big), and learning a lot along the way. 2021 may not be "MY year", but it has been better than 2020, so far, and I hope it stays that way.

You can be proud of what you've accomplished. It's hard to keep the head up but you've done so. I'm sure this year and the next ones will only be better and better.

I notice inquiry by the jukebox fiddle with what looks like a mixtape.

Darn. It's been forever since I've seen one. I'm afraid that jukebox doesn't play tapes... I'm sure brewed could help us here. Let's try to find them.

I head in the lounge, notice smudge as I get in and I find brewed.

I noticed nnix, gerwitz and tskaalgard as well, and I think they talk about Zork. A text-only adventure game that's on my todo list for a while now. I make a mental note to look at it after my shift.

"Hey brewed, inquiry and I are wondering if you could help us hook this mixtape to the jukebox?"

"Why would I know how to do that?"

"Haven't you installed pico-midnight in the arcade? You seem like you're the perfect person for the job"

Brewed chugs what remains of his pilsner, slams the glass on the table and says "well you're in luck." He moves to the entrance where ~dawn and a lovely lady are talking. He finds his coat and after searching produces a item that seems otherworldly - a walkman. "Really?!" I interject.

"They still work great" he answers.

"Now all we need to is to plug it to the jukebox's amplifier". Ok, there's no way we manage to do that.

"Would this help?" I turn around and see ~starbreaker holding a jake audio cable. Technology is beautiful.

Sound: check

Music: on

Let's enjoy our wednesday evening folks! I'll be at the bar, waiting for your orders!