>>6154169Your protest is cut short when the cowpoke wags a long, gnarled claw in front of your face. “Asked or not, kid, you used ‘em… and I do so <span class="mu-i">HATE</span> to be such a stickler for the rules, but, well… it’s like buyin’ a car: the minute ya’ drive it off the lot it loses value. Can’t roll back what’s already been spent, I’m afraid. Not without some divine intervention, at least.”
So what, you hiss, not realizing you had your teeth clenched, that’s… that’s it? He’s cashing in on, what, your SOUL or something? You’re… you’re not ready! You had so many plans!
You can’t see any eyes under Red’s hat, but you can tell when he’s giving you a long stare.
You PROBABLY had plans!
“Which is precisely what makes this such a waste, friend–and look: I know appearances are what they are,” He adds as he thumbs his bolo tie, “But I really am apologetic for all this mess, truly! I’m as mad as hell too about the whole consarned thing, really!”
Standing up to reveal his true, dizzying height, the cowboy flicks a spent cigarette butt into the abyss just as another poofs into his claw in a burst of flame! Can uh…
He responds with a theatrical slap of his forehead! “And where did my manners scarper off to? By all means, kid. An’ let me light that for ya…”
A matching cigarette appears in your hand–its tip popping into a fine cherry of smoke. Lifting the end to your lips, you take a long drag and relish the burn tickling the back of your throat!
“Never was one for filters–if they’re bad for ya’ then ya’ might as well get the full experience, that’s what I say,” Red says as another raspy laugh escapes his lips. “Which is why I’m here, Ant: I’ve been keeping tabs through your eyes–seen everything you’ve seen, heard everything you’ve heard.”
So why did he wait until now to say hi? The desperado shrugs.
“My… <span class="mu-i">pull</span>... in this world isn’t as powerful as I’d like. Far from it!” You can almost see a twinkle under his hat where an eye would be. “So I wasn’t able to sit you down for a friendly chat until you were tuckered out, so to speak.”
The swoos, you frown, what even happened there?
>CONTD. 