>>5360416As the two slowly devolve into another lover’s quarrel, you deftly insert yourself between the two with another question! And, uh, you mutter, careful not to let slip about your most recent purchase from him, what about his, err, <span class="mu-i">magic</span> inventory?
“Oh, you me-I uh… yea, I know what ya’ mean!” Replies Paulie with a knowing nod! “Well like I said–a lot of that crap was just takin’ up space in my old warehouses, but funny thing–some of the stuff… well, it’s almost like it just <span class="mu-i">appeared</span> there.”
“What, like that comb ya’ sold me?” Asks Stripes with growing fear in his voice.
“No, dummy, I told ya’ dat’ was from <span class="mu-i">Japan</span>.” Groans Paulie. “Imported.”
So he doesn’t remember where some of it came from, huh?
“Nnnnot everything, no.” Shrugs the salesman behind the bar. “Some of ‘em, sure: I’d get some girl all wrapped up in a cloak, maybe, or some guy wearin’ a funny hat, but they never really made much of a fuss about it, an’ their money was always good.”
“So those duds of yers’...” Ly mutters as you shift a bit in your seat, “they coulda come from <span class="mu-i">anywhere</span>?”
You take another swig of your <span class="mu-g">KICK IN THE HEAD</span> and shrug. As long as it works, right?
“Haven’t had any complaints yet, so…” Paulie explains as his voice slowly trails off. “... unless they didn’t <span class="mu-i">live</span> long enough ta’ complain. Uh-oh.”
“Hey, you’ve got nothin’ ta’ worry about, sis!” Stripes intervenes, cheerfully slapping you on the shoulder! “Just don’t buy any weird crap from this con artist and yer’ fine!”
Y-yea, you laugh, tugging your <span class="mu-g">EVENING SANITATION COORDINATOR CAP</span> tighter to keep your <span class="mu-g">BUNNY EARS</span> hidden, all good!
Gulping down half of your drink, you can definitely attest that at long-last you’re finally feeling <span class="mu-i">something</span>--namely a lightness to your body along with a warm, bubbly feeling that makes you giddy! Giving your drink an appreciative nod, you take a moment to soak in the good vibes now that the atmosphere’s back to normal!
<span class="mu-b">DRINK STATUS: BUBBLY!
WHAT NEXT?</span>
>TALK TO IKE: JOPLIN’S MAYORTENDER!>TELL STRIPES SOMETHING ELSE!>HIT UP PAULIE A LITTLE LONGER!>CHAT WITH PETE ONE MORE TIME!>HEAD SOMEWHERE ELSE (OPTIONS TO FOLLOW)!>WRITE-IN! 