>>6154170<span class="mu-r">“I’m hardly an expert on the subject,” Red explains with another puff of his cigarette, “But something in that den of debauchery didn’t sit well with your person. Small though they may be, those things handed your head to ya’, fella.”
Your annoyance shifts into desperation! But… but there’s still time, right!? To not die?
“I ain’t gonna sugarcoat it, kid:” Sighs the cowpoke as he takes a seat next to you, “The way I see it? You’ll be deader’n a beaver in a beartrap long before that busty beaut notices anything wrong with ya.” Letting loose a smoky sigh, the well-dressed dude drums his claws on the back of your seat. “Unless…”
You lean in a little closer. Unless?
“It’s, well… it’s more of a THEORY than anything else,” Red begins, “But you know all too well what can be done with that sliver of power you have of mine.” Rubbing his chin in contemplation for a moment, the cowboy snaps his claw as an idea comes to mind!
“You let me take the reins, pard, and I’ll getcha’ out safe and sound!”
And what, pray tell, is stopping him from just holding ON to said reins, hm? Your bolo tie-wearing benefactor crosses his heart with a claw!
“On my honor I’ll hand it back to you as soon as we’re outside of the lounge.” He replies in a reassuring voice, “C’mon, kid, would I be offering you this deal if I didn’t want ya’ to live?”
That depends, you frown, what’s in it for him? What’s the catch, huh?
“Tch… <span class="mu-i">Catch…</span> Cynicism is alive an’ well, I see!” He scoffs, adjusting his hat to a more roguish angle! “You’re too clever for me, Ant, and I’d be a scurrilous scoundrel if I didn’t come clean about it: this bailout? Free of charge, no strings attached!”
You hold your tongue as you wait for the but. Not a ‘butt’, but-
“But I shall call on you down the line when things become, shall we say, a little <span class="mu-i">calmer</span>?” Adds the crimson cowpoke as he cocks his head to the side! “And I know what you’re thinking, and no: that offer will be completely optional as well! But who knows? Do right by me and you might find a little more power in your pocket, if’n you’re catchin’ my proverbial drift.”
You open your mouth to respond, but your jaw suddenly becomes sluggish! Red pulls out a ticking pocketwatch from his jacket pocket and tsks!
“Aw hells, time’s runnin’ out on us like a pack-a chuckwallas on a train track…” Turning his attention back towards you, you feel Red’s unseen eye burn a hole through your head!
“Whaddaya’ say, pard? Help me help you?”
>Yea, take the reins!>I’ll take my chances…>Write-In</span> 