the future's future. part 1?

With a light mind but a heavy heart Clarence parked his '94 Toyota Tacoma under the on-again-off-again flashing bulb of the street lamp. Always wanted to go Detroit, he thought, as he locked the door and walked away from the car, but those Japanese know how to make an engine that lasts.  Can't argue with that. Gets the job done, too.

He crossed the mostly vacant lot to Crystal's Palace, on the outskirts of - insert generic American town name here - and entered the heavy door, nodding to the security guard as he walked by.

"Evenin' Clarence, welcome back.", the security guard said.
"Nice to see ya again buddy.", Clarence responded.

There was 3 other people there.  Clarence knew 2 of them.  Crowded for a Tuesday.

To the left of center stage sat Michael, Clarence's friend of old.  Michael and Clarence had gone to all boys Catholic schools together from ages 4 to 18.  They spent college apart, and then found each other again after Clarence moved back home and found a job at a local canning factory, and Michael, after a failed dint in architecture school, was now living off of his decrepit, but wealthy mother, awaiting his inheritance.

A couple of empty chairs down from him sat Alex, the man who'd moved up there from the city a few years back. He and Clarence had taken to each other rather quickly bonding over a fondness for culture, despair and whiskey they wished they could afford.  And the three of them had fallen into a lovingly off-kilter friendship.

Clarence smiled and nodded at all of them as he made his way towards the back of the room, including the stranger, who sat to the immediate right of the stage. Charity was working the bar that night, and by the time Clarence had reached it a drink was already waiting for him. 

He smiled, "Thanks doll cakes," he said, taking a sip through red the stirring straw and then giving the glass a swirl.

Charity smiled back. She and Clarence had an affectionate relationship. Clarence had always thought, or optimistically hoped, that this was more than the affection between dancer and client, and that his steady patronage may have bought him some dances at first, but it was more than that now. After all, they had exchanged texts of well wishes over the holidays. Surely that couldn't have gone to all of her contacts, he thought.

"Who's the newcomer so content in the shadows over yonder?"
"Dunno, some guy just got in from London. First time I seen him here."

Clarence noticed that, despite sitting right next to the stage, inches away from the dancer performing atop of it, that the man had not glanced up from his phone once since Clarence had arrived.

"Thanks for the drink, Char, see ya in a bit." Clarence walked over to sit between his two compatriots, but not before leaving an overly generous tip on the bar.

"Hey ho good buddies!" Clarence greeted Alex and Michael with his typical, unabashed jubilant candor.

"Hey man. How goes it?" Alex said.
"Ooff, Clarence!" Michael exclaimed with the same awkward excitement he had always shown Clarence.

After a bit of banter unworthy of being recorded, let's say about art, philosophy, money and tits, and a few more drinks and dances the man on the other side of the stage raised his eyes up from his phone.
The group of friends noticed this and shared in a moment of anxiety from their over-abundance of senseless babbling and chaotic laughter now suddenly in the presence of this stranger's gaze. The stranger put his phone in his pocket and then slowly, and calmly rose to his feet and walked towards the three friends.

"Sorry, I couldn't help but notice you all, and was wondering if I might join you." He said, in a deadpan voice.
"Of course, of course!" Clarence shouted out (always the first to speak for the group).
"Thank you.", responded the stranger.
"Welcome friend," Clarence said, "You're new around here?"
"Yes. I've just gotten into town, business."
"Char says you came in from London. That so?"
"Yes. Well, I'm from the states originally, but moved to London for school and never came back, except for the occasional visit."
"Well welcome welcome! How'd you end up at ol' Crystal Palace hehehe" Clarence asking, laughing in his maniacal yet innocent manner.
"They recommended it at my inn." The stranger answered.
"Mighty fine. Mighty fine. Place is best in town, and Char over there," Clarence nodded at the bartender, "Well Char's a sweetheart and a damned sassy bitch if I say so myself."
"Say," the stranger said, "I don't believe I caught your names."
"Oh! Where are our manners boys?!" Clarence shouted. "This one here is my old buddy Mike, and that tall drink of water sitting right there is Alex. He's pretty fresh off the boat too."
"I see." said the stranger. "I thought as much."

The stranger then rose from his seat and seemed to loom over the three men before him - boys, children before him. Without a word he turned and walked away. After two steps he stopped, turned, and drew a pistol from his coat pocket.