Conversation · Andre

"Oh, so you met her? Good, good."

He's not as glad as he would like you to think. There's concern in his voice.

"I asked Noid to install a measure against more drifters wandering in. A padlock. It's a temporary fix. Just something to contain the situation."

"I had to do it in a hurry. Not my best work... But it should hold for a while."

"Right. Other questions." (Conclude.)

"Sure, man. Tell us what you wanna know, let's do it!"

"I changed my mind about the key. I'll look into the spookers for you. Just give it to me." (Get the task.)

"Brilliant!" He claps his hands. The air in the tent feels lighter. "Noid, the key!"

"Alright." The speedfreak dips into his belt pack and produces a yellow key. He then makes a sudden, cool-infused move, tossing it in your general direction.

Be the Cool Cop. Catch the key as it flies toward you!

You sense the trajectory of the little piece of metal and plastic. The object makes a small ringing sound as it approaches -- just the tiniest chime to your left.

Catch it.

Ka-ching! The key hits your palm. The speedfreaks nod to you approvingly.

Don't even look at them. You're that cool. [Leave.]

"Thanks, man." (Play it cool.)

The speedfreak nods to you.

A respectful nod. You proved something here.

Bask in the glory.

The young man with ribcage-shaped suspenders looks at you standing there -- with a goofy grin on your face.

The word august used as an adjective -- that's how cool it feels to be old and cool in the eyes of the young. Let's face it, you're near death yet bathed in the golden rays of stately grandeur. Like a late summer's day. Like a Daddy-O...

Like a Tequila Sunset.

No, none of this Tequila Sunset business. It's gotten me to death's door. There has to be more in this world...

Are you sure? It's probably too late to be a Tequila Sunrise now.

Damn right I am Tequila Sunset. Arriva!

Of course you are! It's too late to be a Tequila Sunrise now... there will be no sunrise, not for you.

Where did that come from? Why am I a Tequila Sunset?

Just felt right. Why, do you want to be a Tequila Sunrise? It's a little too late for that...

Feels nice. It would feel a whole lot less nice had you dropped them, or worse -- got hit in the eye with them. Good thing that didn't happen!

It's as if time has frozen somehow. You think you can sense the key moving in the air. Yeah, this is gonna be way cool.

Don't ruin the cool by overdoing it. Raise your hand in front of your face with minimum effort.

Blam! Straight in the eye. Straight in the old eye-orb. In the lookin' ball!

Man up! It's nothing. Pick the goddamn key up, put it in your pocket, and move on.

(With your hand on your eye, pick up the keys.) "I'm getting too old for this. Where were we?"

"My bad."

He looks like he's genuinely sorry he didn't throw them better.

[Leave.]

"We were talking about... the padlock I think?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." (Bend your face in mockery of his useless contrition.) "You almost eye-murdered me -- a cop! That's use of LETHAL FORCE!"

"I really am sorry, man -- just take this, okay?" He pulls out some black paper from his belt-pack.

Wow! Looks like there's quite a lot there...

"I don't need your pity money. Now where were we?" (Don't take the money.)

"The key..." He cautiously hands you the yellow keyring.

He is shifting in his spot uncomfortably, still feeling sorry for the mishap.

"That's the least you could do." (Take the money.)

"I hope that settles it... or wait..."

"Ouch! Goddamn asshole... what is WRONG with you?! Can't you see I'm in PAIN now?!"

"Man, I'm super sorry. That was totally my bad, I got overexcited. Threw them too hard. I'm sorry."

A stabbing pain. Tears stream uncontrollably from your right eye.

Let it fall to the ground, then pick it up. Like a normal adult person.

Noid watches you pick up the key with a smirk.

"What about the key?"

"Of course. Noid, give the officer the key."

"Only if he promises to look into the spookers in the church." He looks at you gravely.

"Officer, I apologize... Noid doesn't always understand the joy of giving for the sake of giving. I think it may have something to do with his childhood."

A pincer manoeuvre.

Dammit, take it, don't you just want to see what's in there?

"Okay, just give me the key." (Get the task.)

"You can't coerce me into taking this on. I don't need the key." (Not now.)

"Well, if you ever decide to change your mind, then we're here." He taps the wooden crate he's sitting on. "Just ask me about the door again."

"How long have those people been locked in there?"