Artist sat at the casino table wasted. His mini radio player spoke about the tragedy that was happening in Chicago. At approximately 9:33p.m Mafioso Time, shots rang out through the city leaving 26 dead in a span of fifteen minutes. Artist downed his entire drink. It wasn't too long ago when he witnessed the fall of South Philly. Since then, minutes felt like hours and days felt like weeks. He hadn't picked up a paint brush, he hadn't fucked any huzz, and believe it or not, he hadn't even ate. A man of expertise in the finest cuisines this was unbelievable.  

He sat back when out of nowhere a cat appeared. "Is this how the world's artist spends all his time?". The whiskey was definitely kicking Artist's ass making him think the cat was speaking to him. He reached for his holster. Empty. "Looking for this?" A man stood next to him offering to give Artist back the gun that he thought to be in his holster. "You came in so drunk you didn't even notice that you dropped it". The man sat next to Artist motioning for the dealer to start the next hand, and for the bartender to bring two drinks. The cat made its way to the man's lap as he spoke.

"I heard about what happened in Philly... it's unfortunate. But I've also been watching you the last two days since landing in Vegas. You're not yourself these days." He threw back the first drink then pushed all his chips in signaling for the dealer to hit him. "I'm not sure what you have planned moving forward, but stop by my place tomorrow. I want to commission you for a portrait of my cat Mr Snickums. Dealer, see to it that this man gets the proceeds of my hand." He put a business card on the table in front of Artist as he stood and walked away without looking at the card the dealer was going to give him. Artist said the first thing he'd said to the man all night, "but how'd you know if you won or not?"

The man paused and said without turning around, "it's because I never lose. Welcome to Vegas, Artist" then proceeded to walk out of sight. The dealer dealt the next card. It was an Ace of Spade. Artist looked at the two cards the man left behind. A King of Hearts and a 10 of clubs. Artist smirked to himself. He reached in front of him to see the name on business card. It read: Soseki

RIP TO THOSE THAT HAVE FALLEN OR RETIRED IN CHICAGO:

 

Jeffrey_Lebowski

Yurei_Iskra

Robinson

Sam_Hail

Shiesty

Allen-Andrade

sommer

Eileen_Backentoit

Sassafras

Susanoo

Phantom

Zlatan

Ghost-

Asmodeus

Starsky

Jack-Belmont

The-Custodian

Hideyoshi

Stoner-Gump

Guts

Savannah

Slade

Jazz

Vixen

Harper

Sneaks

Tussy-

Joseph_Clemente

 

Apologies if any names were left off there's a lot of fallen.

No honorary mention for Spike this time?

Shoddy artistry.