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And foam. Gelatinous orbs, like gigantic fish eggs, piles of colored foam on spoons, mysterious blue cubes. Curly strips of kelp, like the ones those Headspace employees were snacking on, only fancy. A dispenser of a suspicious beverage, containing a sediment layer of <span class="mu-i">more</span> orbs— these ones black. Is this what Management likes to eat, or is it a cruel joke on Mr. Kurz? And why is Gil popping a gigantic fish egg in his mouth? "Gilbert! You don't know that's—"
"I-I-It's okay! I-I-It's just sweet. Fruity. I-I-It tastes like your cocktail, but without the... aftertaste."
Gil proves his bonafides by not spitting the orb out. "There's no aftertaste," you say fussily, but take an orb of your own. You reluctantly place it on your tongue. "It doesn't taste like anything."
"You have to chew i-it. Unless you can absorb things through your tongue now, which... um, I-I'd believe it, I guess. That could count as a power."
You cast Gil a side-eye, unable to decide whether he's mocking you, but let it slide. He did successfully infiltrate the base of an enemy operative, after all. The orb, when you bite down, squishes more than it pops. And it is sweet.
>[+1 ID: 14/14]
"Is it a candy?"
"Goddamn i-i-if I know." Gil is stuffing his pockets with kelp crisps. "What?" (He's seen you looking.) "Are they going to miss these?"
"I didn't know you liked them so much," you say.
"Um, I-I-I didn't either. I-I mean, they're fine— they were fine. Back then. But I-I-I, uh..." He hesitates. "...you know, sometimes you start liking new things, and..."
"They're leaves."
"...Um, I-I mean, I wouldn't say they're <span class="mu-i">exactly</span>..."
"Gil."
"What?"
"Does it look like I care?"
Gil surveys your face, works his mouth, and returns to pocket-stuffing.
"Anyways, if you're stealing that, I'll steal these." You pilfer a cupful of orbs. "You're right, they won't miss them. And it's important to fuel our brains, um, for the trials and tribulations ahead. Speaking of brains, I was going to go search for clues— and secret hiding places, of course. Have you found any yet? Clues or hiding places? I don't want to double up."
"I-I-I haven't really been ground-level until now. Sorry."
"That's okay. We'll be fast about it. We already went through a penthouse once. You can remember that, right?"
"Mmhmm." Gil's mouth is full of kelp.
"Good! Then I deem us provisioned, and undoubtedly successful. We will be, I mean. I can see it now, Gil. We'll be back here, right here, and my rucksack will be brimming with—"
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