>>5412221So, you begin as you take a swig of beer, how’s she handling <span class="mu-r">POST-SKELETON LIFE,</span> huh?
“Huh? Wha?” She sputters as she snatches up a handful of napkins and frantically dabs the sweat off her body, “Say that again?”
You <span class="mu-i">SAID,</span> you repeat with a touch of irritation, how are you handling <span class="mu-r">POST-SKELETON LIFE!</span>?
“Alright, no need to YELL!” Snarls Stan in her usual small dog-esque voice! “It’s been… it’s been kinda <span class="mu-i">whatever</span>, actually…”
Her sudden despondent tone takes you by surprise. Wh-why?
“Well,” she sighs as she stuffs a few more potatoes into her mouth, “Itsh gud tr be done wif dr fiding n all…” She explains before mercifully swallowing her food, “And I got to reconnect with my big bro and I guess I’m gonna be his aunt or something now since he’s having a kid and all-”
Woah, you sputter, that’s AWES-
“I wasn’t <span class="mu-s">DONE!</span>” She growls before chucking a potato at your head! “And you’re right–I should be real happy, y’know? But…” Stan pauses to take another sip from her beer before looking at you with weary, albeit still enticed, eyes. “I’ve got my family, I’ve got my friends, I’ve… got <span class="mu-i">you</span>...”
Wait, what the <span class="mu-i">fuck</span>?! Are you not her friend?!
“But even with everything going back to normal…ish… I just feel… I dunno, <span class="mu-i">on edge</span>.” She concludes with a dissatisfied frown. “I feel like I’m being watched all the time… I freak out when I go to crowded places, even if it’s a dumb ole’ supermarket… and I can’t sleep at <span class="mu-i">all</span>, even at my own place! And it’s even worse when I’m <span class="mu-i">alone</span>....”
You nod in assent–you’ve never had a problem sleeping before, that’s for damn sure, but in the aftermath of everything you’ve definitely felt more guarded lately…
“Yea, you get it!” Stan replies with an appreciative smile! “And people say it’s gonna take time or whatever, but when I <span class="mu-i">DO</span> sleep…” She pauses mid-sentence as worry clouds her eyes. “... I get these… these <span class="mu-i">nightmares</span>...”
About… about <span class="mu-i">what?</span>
“... death.” She mutters as if she’s scared to say it too loud. “Mine. My friends. My parents. And dead people keep talking to me and… <span class="mu-i">and</span>...”
Now you’ve done it, you big idiot–she’s gonna cry at this rate! You’ve gotta say something to make her feel a little better… or at least focus on something else!
>THAT SUCKS… I’M SORRY, STAN…>I’M ALWAYS DOWN TO HANG OUT, EVEN AT NIGHT!>SHE’S WELCOME TO SLEEP AT YOUR PLACE–YOUR HOUSE HAS A BUNCH OF ROOMS AND SHIT!>WHAT DO YOU THINK IS CAUSING IT?>SAY NOTHING–LET HER VENT!>WRITE-IN!And we're back! I noticed there was an extra vote for 'HEAR FROM OTHERS' too, so I'll squeeze that into the next few updates too! Stay tuned!
