>>5127073You respond with a click of your tongue–he <span class="mu-i">DID</span> seem a bit more serious than the others even before he took over for Rocky…
“Well the thing is, sis, Cliff was <span class="mu-i">always</span> pretty serious.” Stripes replies. “Like, you an’ everyone else would be on, what, step 2?” The skeleton’s face scrunches up as he trips over his metaphor. “And… and Cliff would already be on Step 7. Always caught up in here.” He explains, tapping a bony finger against his skull.
Okay, you say, cocking your head to the side, but what’s different then?
“Wish I knew, kid. Wish I knew…” Stripes shrugs, letting the remains of his cigarette fall to the ground. “Guy just seems… <span class="mu-i">trapped</span>, I guess. Like he sees a train comin’, but he can’t get off the tracks, dig?”
Blinking at the explanation, you cross your arms and frown–no, you mutter, you <span class="mu-i">don’t</span> dig. Seeing your expression darken, Stripes stretches his arms out and lazily shrugs! “Aaaaah, don’t think about it too hard, sis–you’ll give yourself a headache! It’s just nerves, is all–once we have dis’ party and take down the big cheese, well-” The greaser pauses as he searches for the rest of his sentence. “... well, that’ll be that, I guess.”
Yea, you sigh, can’t friggin’ <span class="mu-i">wait!</span>
Stripes stares at you for a moment before fetching another cigarette from the pack in his breast pocket. “Yea,” he mumbles, “me neither…”
>CONTD. 