Quoted By:
You’re conflicted. On one hand every minute you have to converse or even <span class="mu-i">interact</span> with Rodney is like sticking your hand into the pizza oven!
Wait, nope, you’ve pretty much built up an immunity to that by now. Bad simile!
On the other hand, though, you <span class="mu-i">really</span> want that weapon. Like, <span class="mu-s">REALLY</span> bad!
Knowing all too well that Pepper will surely instigate some sort of squabble between you for her sick enjoyment, you take a steadying breath and put on the best smile you can muster when dealing with your ‘<span class="mu-i">Rival</span>’. This calls for a different tactic!
You know what, Rod? You can keep it, man!
The sunglassed simpleton stares at you as if you just transformed into a polar bear.
“I… I <span class="mu-i">can?</span>”
Well <span class="mu-i">sure</span>, you reply with a good-natured laugh as you give his stupid jacketed shoulder a friendly pat, why not? He doesn’t look convinced.
“But…” he mutters as he eyes you up and down like a dog guarding a chew toy, “But I thought <span class="mu-i">you</span> wanted it…”
“Yea…” Adds Pepper, clearly unamused by the lack of fighting, “What gives, sandcrab?”
“Don’t ya see, guys!?” Raj answers with a proud grin on his face, “They’re finally burying the hatchet after facing tonight together! Adversity’s made ‘em closer!”
Uh, <span class="mu-i">no</span>, you counter as you feel bile rise in your throat at the thought of being friends with Rodney again, you just know he’ll need all the cheap weapons and handicaps he can get… being, y’know, the <span class="mu-s">WEAKER FIGHTER</span> and all.
The delivery boy’s face goes through three stages in the span of three seconds: confusion, comprehension, and finally anger! “<span class="mu-s">WHAD’ YOU SAY ABOUT ME, D!?</span>”
It’s nothing to be <span class="mu-i">ashamed</span> of, you shrug as you expertly brush his anger off, Pepper saw it herself back when you fought in the woods earlier–it’s okay if he needs a little help-
Snatching the weapon out of Raj’s hands, Rodney drops the <span class="mu-s">TELESCOPING ZAP ROD</span> at your feet! “Y-yea, well… y-<span class="mu-i">YOU’RE</span> the one that’s gonna need the handicap!”
Whatever, dude, you scoff, now go start turning some of those valves!
“HAH! I’ll have ‘em all done before you can even finish <span class="mu-s">ONE</span>, prick!” Scooping up a handful of <span class="mu-s">VALVES</span> in his arms, Rodney scurries off to unseal the pipes cackling all the way!
“Gotta say, sandcrab,” Pepper remarks as the three of you watch him zip around the chamber, “You’re pretty good at manipulating the poor guy…”
Not really, you shrug, he’s just stupid!
>CONTD.
