>>5165921Eager to finish up, you ask the scientist what happened next–he didn’t ask her for her <span class="mu-i">NUMBER</span>, did he?!
“<span class="mu-i">N-n-n-NUMBER!?</span>” Denise squeaks with renewed panic in her voice! “<span class="mu-i">N-no! B-but he d-did ask what erm, ‘what the Hell I was doing ‘tarding around in an empty lab so late’! S-so I told him that I usually stay late since I d-don’t have much going on outside the lab…</span>”
And what did <span class="mu-i">he</span> say?
“<span class="mu-i">W-well he mentioned s-something about t-taking extra sh-shifts…</span>” Replies the scientist as her brow furrows in thought. “<span class="mu-i">S-something about his sick m-mother? A-anyways, a-after that w-we spent a LOT of t-time together! H-he’d help me cl-clean the labs, a-and I’d l-lend him an ear to sh-share his thoughts with… H-he was a g-good listener too…</span>”
Okay, you sigh with mild relief, so they were <span class="mu-b">PALS!</span>
“Why are you relieved?” Ly asks with piqued interest. Can he imagine if T was into… well, <span class="mu-i">her?</span>
“Good point. I’ll shut up now.”
Good!
“<span class="mu-i">I-It was nice having s-someone who actually l-looked forward to ch-chatting with me…</span>” Denise sighs, both hands once again cradling her rosy cheeks. “<span class="mu-i">S-so when Talbie d-didn’t show up one day, naturally it c-concerned me!</span>”
Let me guess, you frown, that’s around the time he signed up for some ‘<span class="mu-i">tests</span>, huh? Your prediction earns a solemn nod from the scientist.
“<span class="mu-i">O-one of the other researchers h-had promised a s-sizable fee if he agreed to, well, some ‘groundbreaking tests’... A-and b-by the time one of my c-colleagues had told me what happened, well…</span>” A fresh stream of tears trickles down behind Denise’s glasses. “I th-thought it w-was a vagrant I was working on… I didn’t realize it was… It was…”
Ohh, you mutter as the realization slowly dawns upon you, oh <span class="mu-i">shit</span>... Watching the girl bury her face in her hands, you stand awkwardly as you try to come up with something comforting that doesn’t involve <span class="mu-i">touching</span> her.
“<span class="mu-i">H-he w-wasn’t s-supposed to b-become a m-monster!</span>” She blubbers as she furiously rubs waves of snot and tears onto her baggy sleeve! “<span class="mu-i">B-but if s-someone had t-to t-take care of him, w-well…</span>” A barrage of sniffles barely keeps the tears at bay. “<span class="mu-i">W-why shouldn’t it have b-been me?</span>”
Just when you think you can get away without consoling her, Denise collapses into a sobbing heap on the floor! Hovering over her as she slowly floods the corridor, you look to Stanley’s perplexed fuzzy face for answers and receive none. What is she even good for?!
How do you deal with this, exactly?
>JUST WAIT! IT’LL PROBABLY BE OVER SOON!>GIVE HER AN ITEM! (WHICH ONE?)>SHOVE STANLEY OVER TO HER! MAYBE AN ANIMAL CAN CURE THOSE SNIFFLES!>SAY SOMETHING! ANYTHING CAN HELP, PROBABLY!>HUG HER! (WARNING: GROSS)>WRITE-IN! 