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czarb t1_je64o3w wrote

Today is the day. THE day. Everyone knew what was supposed to happen. Excitement for some. Apprehension for others. Who would go up? Who would go down?  What was the one thing that would tip the scale?

It's all just a crock of sh*t. I should know. I'm the only immortal stuck down here.

Come to think of it: which Earth am I on this time? 3? 5?

The TV remote dutifully turned on the flat screen across from my bed. "....and turning to our top story: the harbingers are expected to arrive in five hours. Experts still have Consuela Valdez polling ahead of Ayoub Beni for the first to be ascended.  If you will remember: Mr. Beni did rescue nearly all the children from the collapsed orphanage last summer single handedly.  Our analysis suggests however that the years of piety of Ms. Valdez will sway the angels.  Mr. Davidson, what in your opinion will happen later..."

Earth 4. Stuck right in the middle again. People jockeying for position. Betting on the outcome. Not too good. Not too bad. It also explains the hangover.  Good booze. Beer is the way that God shows He loves...

CRRRRACK

"JESUS CHRIST!  Dammit all. Why do you have to only do that when I have a headache?"

"Taking the Lord's name in vain is a sin."

I give the newcomer a crooked smile. "You really are a sanctimonious bastard Gabriel."

The light from his halo obscures the not quite smile. "Are you attempting to sway your fate with your blasphemes?"

"Me? God forbid. I was only startled by your presence. Forgive a poor sinner."

"It is not for me to condemn or forgive your transgressions. Only to convey your message. Do you have it prepared?"

"Yes yes. It's over on the counter. Take it and let me know where I place." He glides over to the kitchen as one of his kind can. "I bet my life I'm going up with that one."

Gabriel's lip curls just a bit before he disappears with my entry: Cain's March Madness Bracket.

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QuantisOne OP t1_je8gq4x wrote

Oh wow ! It’s funny in a way, of course Earth 4 would be the most similar to ours, with both good and bad things, and of course the Angels’ coming would be used as media material, with politicians trying to get a good image. I didn’t quite get the whole ending, even after looking up what March Madness was, but I’m guessing there is some kind of corruption here ? With the protagonist, who I assume to be either a fallen angel or Cain himself (the idea of inserting more biblical elements is very bold and interesting in itself), offering a list of sinners in exchange for his own guarantee to go up. A somewhat dark, but not dystopian take on the prompt.

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czarb t1_jeaoqwo wrote

Thanks for the feedback. I took the prompt as: this is normal to have promotion and relegation between worlds. Of course if people bet on end of season standings, wouldn't this be an ultimate fantasy betting pool? Couple that with: who would have some unique insight into divine judgement?

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