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How does Gil manage to say so many things without opening his mouth? It was a mistake to bestow him with a body, that's for sure. "—by which I mean a— a state of vile, um— of foul— of <span class="mu-i">negative thinking,</span> which temporarily possessed me, and forced me to say many foul and vile things. Which was very distressing for you, I'm sure, as I am well-known for my heroic, erm, vigor. Therefore I would like to convey my apologies—"
"What are you <span class="mu-i">talking</span> about?" Gil says.
You freeze. "My apologies? Ahem. I shall henceforth pledge to ne'er slip up in such a horrible way again, and to improve on my levels of positivity, which should be easy, as I am at present feeling excellent—"
"Who gives a shit about <span class="mu-i">me?</span> You were—" His brows furrow. "Slip up?"
"Huh?"
"Are you saying it <span class="mu-i">wasn't</span> the evil gunk? You weren't just possessed? I thought you..." He trails off. "I mean, that wasn't really <span class="mu-i">you.</span>"
On account of your pure and honest heart, you are not a good liar. You shift your weight.
"Aw, geez, Lottie, I-I-I..." Is it too late to ship him back to Pat? "...You don't have to put something on for me, okay? I-It's not like I don't have my own shit going on, I dom't care if you— if you're not always <span class="mu-i">positive,</span> or whatever the hell that— I-I think it might be better for you if you weren't? Shoving it all down just, um... I mean, that's when you start drinking death water."
"I don't see how those two things are connected," you say officiously, "even if I <span class="mu-i">were</span> shoving anything down, which I— I admit I said some things I would not be saying under ordinary circumstances, but I hardly see how that's the same thing. It just means I practice discretion, that's all. I <span class="mu-i">filter</span> out... negative input, as any regular person would do. Ahem. Now, I was attempting, Gilbert, to issue my retainer an apology, which I was <span class="mu-i">planning</span> to extend to the outcome of our— er— embraceage."
"Our what?" Gil says.
"Our..." You scowl. "The hug. Which <span class="mu-i">you</span> broke off prematurely, and quite rudely, I'll have you—"
It's astonishing how rapidly Gil turns pink. Is it the goo? "Um, ah, about that, I-I-I-I— I-I-I-I-I've been giving it some thought, and it's okay if you want to lick me. I-It's okay. I-I-I just really want to be told about the licking, um, beforehand, so I can— so I can mentally prepare myself for—"
"What? Why would I lick you <span class="mu-i">again?</span>" You wrinkle your nose. "Gross."
Whatever response Gil had been envisioning, this plainly wasn't it. "Ah. Ah... hah. So why—"
"Because you were sweating all over me? But your skin wasn't <span class="mu-i">real,</span> so that was weird, and then I thought you smelled like lamp oil, so I was wondering if the sweat was oil! And it was! And then you—"
"Why didn't you use your finger?" he breathes out.
"Because my hands were <span class="mu-i">occupied?</span> Duh? What was I supposed to do, touch all over your neck? It's not my fault you noticed."
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