Quoted By:
>Normal conversation
"Got her up to speed on Ellery," Madrigal says, and forks a pear out from across the table. "Not much else... I think she just woke up, too. How are you—"
"Why do you keep a <span class="mu-i">bug</span> in your house?" you say.
"A bug? Hahaha! Ow." Earl winces briefly. "Buster's pretty <span class="mu-i">big</span> to be called a bug— what wall was he on?"
Madrigal points, and he shuffles off, returning shortly after with "Buster" cradled in his arms. It looks undoubtedly like a bug. "See?" says Earl, holding it out to you. "He's a big guy! Don't know what he <span class="mu-i">is,</span> exactly— I've been thinking a sort of lobster?"
"Dunno about that. No claws." Madrigal swallows the pear. "Too fat, too, I think."
"But he's got the shell, doesn't he? I keep meaning to ask Morris about him, but she's not really a... talker. Great lady, very reliable, not a talker. Would you like to touch him?" He's registered your gaze. "He's a sweetie! Doesn't bite, or sting, or—"
Do you want to touch Earl's bug? It's a stupid ugly bug— nothing at <span class="mu-i">all</span> like Annie, God rest her. There's no love in those beady little...
"I didn't raise you to be squeamish, Charlie." Richard rests his forearms on the back of your chair. "It doesn't seem likely to hurt you, and if it does it's easily repairable. Besides, think of what message you're sending to your friend Gil? He's 'bugs,' surely?"
He didn't raise you. And he doesn't call Gil 'Gil,' and he doesn't call him your <span class="mu-i">friend,</span> which— you— well— he's your <span class="mu-i">retainer,</span> which takes precedent over all states of friendship or non-friendship, and doesn't make any embarrassing assumptions about anything. But you're splitting hairs. More important than Richard's stupid trick are Madrigal and Earl's reactions, and right now they're staring you down. Patiently.
You touch the bug. It's smooth. Its feelers and legs wave about aimlessly.
"Easy to take care of?" Madrigal comments.
"Oh, yeah! He takes care of himself. Eats scum off the walls, whatever I throw him— hardy bugger. Guess you'd have to be, to come from Hell. Huh, buddy?" Earl coos at the bug. "Who's a tough—"
Something occurs to you. "Where'd the snake go? Madrigal, your—"
"Matches? In the alcove. Thing's in a tank, it's not going anywhere."
"Oh," you say.
"Put it up there <span class="mu-i">before</span> we started drinking, not to worry." She smirks. "Sorry you missed all that. His neighbor's shit is— I mean, it's some <span class="mu-i">shit.</span> Though with how you were feeling last night, I dunno, maybe Earl's bed—"
Richard leans in near your ear. "Charlie, you should apologize."
<span class="mu-i">Apologize?</span> (You definitely hate him.) He said he was fine with it, and nobody kicked you out, and it's not like there was a <span class="mu-i">sign</span> on the stupid—
"Just because people say they're fine doesn't mean they are. People lie, primrose." He's touching your hair. "And even if he <span class="mu-i">is</span> fine, it's still the proper thing to do."
(1/3)
