04/16/2024
Jesus pushes open the door of a cozy coffee shop, the aroma of roasted beans instantly lifting his spirits. He spots a familiar figure hunched over a corner table ā horns barely concealed by a red and black "Support Local Evil" beanie. It was Satan, radiating annoyance like a broken neon sign.
"Rough morning down under?" Jesus asks with a friendly smile.
Satan slams a crumpled napkin onto the table, nearly knocking over his untouched coffee. "Don't even get me started," he grumbles. "Apparently, there's a new app that lets sinners confess directly to you. Cuts out all the middle demons and the whole fiery brimstone sales pitch."
Jesus chuckles, taking a seat opposite him. "Sounds like progress. Less paperwork for you, less existential dread for them."
Satan sighs, the sound like wind whistling through a graveyard. "Progress? Maybe. But it cuts into my best business ā temptation! Used to be, folks had to weigh the risks and rewards, the thrill of the forbidden. Now? They just tap an app and p**f, guilt's gone. Where's the fun in that?"
Jesus takes a sip of his latte, the cinnamon sugar leaving a sweet warmth on his lips. "Well, chin up, old friend. At least you still have the free will market cornered. People can still choose the wrong path, temptations still exist."
Satan perks up slightly, a glint of mischief in his fiery red eyes. "True," he concedes. "Maybe I need to update my marketing strategy. 'Sinning Made Easy: The New App Economy' has a certain ring to it, wouldn't you say?"
Jesus raises an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Perhaps you should stick to the brimstone sales pitch, Satan. It seems to have a certain...charm."