>>6331182You let the door close behind you, and stand there for just a moment. You calculate what you might say. How you might say it. You've no clue what this personality is like. The entire thing... It's very conflicting for you. You pity your once lover, and now best friend, and you respect him enough to not want to mistreat him when he doesn't know what he's doing. But this shit frustrates you, as well, it's all made up, it's just fantasy delusions that Vince <span class="mu-i">refuses</span> to confront for what it is. Or maybe he isn't capable. It scares you, too. You'd never say that, you've only barely admitted it to yourself. But it frightens you to watch him unravel. The things you've seen... The things that you've done. Far worse than what Vincent might entertain even in his worst moods - things that take a dire toll. Yet here you are, seemingly more intact than he is. Unsure how much longer that can last.
<span class="mu-g">"You gonna take a pic or somethin', cubicle-rat?"</span> He sneers, and while his face remains even with the mirror, you see him looking at you from the corner of his eye. Cubicle-rat, very nice, this personality has <span class="mu-i">personality.</span>
Your brow furrows. <span class="mu-g">"No, just looking for a friend."</span> You say, remaining steady.
The kid exhales and let's go of the sink, turning to face you. He pockets his hands and measures you with his eyes. Behind the veil, Vincent looks just like Vincent, but his eyes are shining distinctly more brightly, like a cat on the edge of the darkness. <span class="mu-g">"I'm just messin', you're Mr. Black, right? Vince and Sheila was talkin' bout you yesterday. He told me to find you here, he had to jet off for somethin', kept mumbling shit about thorns? Said if you wanted in on the ruby slippers you could meet him in a couple days at Caliente's near the old power station, should be round there about seven or eight."</span> He replies, his demeanor warming up a bit. It's eerie hearing someone else's voice coming from Vincent, but the kid doesn't have a trace of your friend's French to him. <span class="mu-g">"I'm Twitch, glad to meet ya. Vince said you two really used to swing back in the day. I can't say I see it, but then again, hardly see any other corpos coppin' drinks at a skuzz-hole like this."</span> He says.
You keep yourself from grimacing. <span class="mu-g">"Right. I'll call him later. Thanks. Good to meet you as well."</span> You reply.
He gives you an upnod. You decide to leave the bathroom, but as you open the door he speaks up again. <span class="mu-g">"Hey hold up just a beat. Can I, uh, do you mind if I ask you somethin'?"</span>
You pause, and turn your head to look at him again. You let the bathroom door close. <span class="mu-g">"Maybe. Depends on what you're asking."</span> You reply, terse and matter of factly.
>Cont'd 