>>5342790Okay, you huff, so you had a bad day or two–still a whole lot better than, y’know, being hunted. By <span class="mu-s">SKELETONS!</span>
“Dunno, Stan… you were pretty bad.” Gus counters as you roll over the cracked pavement. “An’ that wasn’t even the worst part.”
What’s he smoking, anyways, you snap, jabbing your finger in his cheek? Is he saying your pizza and game nights were <span class="mu-i">lame</span>!? <span class="mu-s">IS HE!?</span>
“Nah, man, those were cool.” Replies the driver, cheek still poked. “But whenever we hung out you always seemed… I dunno…”
<span class="mu-s">DAZZLING?</span>
“... defeated, I guess?”
Your finger falls from the delivery guy’s cheek. What… what the hell’s <span class="mu-i">that</span> supposed to mean, huh? Has he been reading the last few threads? You only got defeated once, kinda, but you made it back! This writer’s a pussy!
“Whenever we hung out you were, like… resigned, y’know? Like you were always bitching about your job, but it was like you were never gonna leave.”
Uhhh, Earth to Gus: that’s <span class="mu-s">NORMAL</span>! People bitch about work all the time–it’s the American way! Your driver meets your explanation with one of his classic long, deep stares–the type that always makes you get all introspective.
You… you weren’t <span class="mu-i">that</span> bad, right?
“Yea, stuff sucks right now and all,” Gus continues as he turns his attention back to the road, “But you’ve changed, Stan. Maybe it’s the people, but I’ve never seen you smile this much, like… ever.”
Yea, well, you stammer, retreating deeper into the sidecar, you smile a <span class="mu-i">lot</span>, okay? You don’t need people keeping tabs on it!
“Whatever happens, I hope you stay happy, Stan. Really.”
And just like that the conversation ends as quickly as it began. Staring at the ruined city passing by, you can’t help but frown. Stupid <span class="mu-i">Gus</span>. Stupid <span class="mu-i">observations</span>. You’ll be miserable when you <span class="mu-i">feel</span> like it, damn it.
“<span class="mu-r">Are you alright, Stanley?</span>” Asks Nats in a genuinely concerned tone. Stupid <span class="mu-i">demon with your stupid positive qualities…</span>
Looks like you’ve got some more time before you arrive. Anything else you wanna address on what was supposed to be a calm drive?
>TELL GUS HE’S WRONG, DAMN IT! HE DOESN’T GET YOU!>ASK GUS HOW HIS FAMILY’S HOLDING UP!>INQUIRE ABOUT TRAITORS–SINCE HE’S SO OBSERVANT AND ALL!>CHAT WITH LY–YOU DON’T NEED ANYMORE INTROSPECTION, THANKS!>HIT UP NATS–BET SHE’S HAVING A BLAST SO FAR, HUH?>WRITE-IN! 