Quoted By:
>Questions and answers
"Fine," you say. Even if the doctor clothes are Teddy's idea, you can't afford to be identified— and he's your retainer, so it's basically your idea, anyways. "Whatever. Bring me the clothes. I don't want to— I'm not going to get up like this."
"Sure thing."
"And you better not look while I'm putting them on! Bring them to me then go stand in the corner, or, or whatever. If you can even see like that."
No reaction to the last bit from Teddy. Damn. "Believe me, your nudity makes me no—"
"I'm not <span class="mu-i">nude,</span>" you say heatedly. It's true! You're not! Thank God! You have some covering in certain places.
"Your near-nudity makes me no difference. Unless you're referring to the scars of your severing? Do they itch?"
"No." The scars of your what? ...The growths? They don't look like scars, really: they have the shape and feel of roots. They disfigure your chest, mainly, but branch up your neck and down your limbs. In some places they knot up and bulge out, like boils. You hate that Teddy brought them up. You hate that you're looking at them now. Doesn't he know retainers ought to be tight-lipped?
>[-1 ID: 6/14]
But if he must bring them up, you might as well ask. Not that he'd know, really, but he better reassure you. That's his job. "Do you think they'll... stay?"
"Why are you concerned? This isn't <span class="mu-i">your</span> body. You've only subjected an innocent woman to the raw contempt of the WYRM. I'm sure <span class="mu-i">your</span> body is unscathed."
You are subject to the raw contempt of Teddy. You bristle. "They were going to arrest—"
"And why were they going to arrest you? You went from one rash decision to another to another. You would still be stuck there if I hadn't done something."
"I would not! I, I had it under control! What do you know?! You're just some stupid, dead— you weren't even smart enough to not die, you insolent horse-ass! I should've exploded you!" <span class="mu-r">Y</span>ou can still explode him, but that'd be too much of a mercy. You should drown him again and make him feel it. Shove his face in the red water until he stops moving. Steal <span class="mu-i">his</span> clothes. "If you think what I did to <span class="mu-i">Virginia</span> was bad—"
Teddy is unmoved. You stop. (You... oh God...) "Get me my clothes," you snap, and sink back, and stare into the void where the arm tubes dangle from.
Teddy gets the clothes while you stew. The water would be kind of pleasant, actually, if it wasn't full of blood(?) and you weren't full of puncture wounds. And if you didn't just fantasize about drowning someone in it. You'll admit to yourself that this wasn't your finest hour— but do you deserve a lecture from your by-far worst retainer? When nothing bad has even happened yet? You killed all the lights, didn't you? You think that was you. You can't imagine why they'd make a room like this all spooky and dim if they had a choice. Unless Management can see in the dark? You're guessing they can see in the dark.... hmm.
(1/2?)
