Conversation · Cuno

"Lilienne is nice though."

"She's okay," the kid suddenly speaks with a high pitched squeak. "I mean... With all the fucking drunks and relics around, she's like the only one who isn't a walking shit hole. She's okay."

Sounds like the kid has a soft spot for Lilienne.

Does he have a little crush on Lilienne?

Just don't ask him about it. Boys in that age can be quite sensitive about such matters.

"What did you do there?"

"Cuno had some business ventures set up in the neighbourhood. Had money coming in... But not anymore." He punches an invisible target in the air. "Cuno's a straight-ass pig now."

He was probably collecting tare or stealing stuff that wasn't nailed down.

"Let's move!" [Leave.]

"What happened to your art thing?"

"Locust city?" He swallows. "Cuno dropped that art shit coz Cuno's fucking poor and has shit for brains."

A truly rare moment of self pity.

"You better not make Cuno fucking cry about his art-shit, okay? Change the subject, Cuno doesn't do that shit no more. Fuck that shit, fuck everything."

"Where is Cunoesse?"

"Cuno doesn't want to talk about this shit." There is a moment of thoughtful silence. He almost looks behind him.

That is a look of a man who knows he'll be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life.

"That toxic shit's behind Cuno now."

"I've had these weird shakes recently. And something like... visions? Sounds familiar?"

"Totally, pig. Cuno's in the same shit every time he's coming off speed." His tone gets parental. "You need to medicate that shit."

"Well, I have been partying a lot lately..."

"You gotta hit Magnesolam, when you get off the train, pig. I always hit it to get the mag back."

"Mag?"

"Magnesium, pig."

"No, it's more than that. It's like the city is speaking to me."

"Ah, Cuno's not into that hallucinogenic shit -- that's for pussies."

"No, I don't think it's actually drug related..."

"If you wanna take a real blasto, go down the coast to the old church, where the speedfreaks hang."

"Tell 'em Cuno sent you. They'll know what it means."

"A fucking giant stick insect..."

"Cuno is present on the scene." He looks around with his hands on his hips.

"Fucking island is spooky as fuck. Cuno never liked it here."

"Talk to Cuno."

"Okay, so, we've got the old fuck." The kid whispers, his eyes bugging out of his skull with excitement.

"We still need to get him back, but... yeah. We got our man."

"Makes you proud to be a pig," the kid says. "Oink oink."

"Do you think he did it?"

A crooked little smile. "Oh fuck, he's practically dyin' to big up how he did it. Just get him to cough it up. Cuno's got your back."

"How do you think the questioning is going?"

"Good." He nods. "I think it's going really fucking well." He leans closer. "Just cut it with the punching shit, alright? Makes us look like we got nothing."

You hear that? He thinks you're very close...

"I'm trying to get him to confess..."

"Yes, Cuno can see that. You got this. Think of like..." He rubs his nose. "... what other shit he's done too. Cuno can tell he's a killer."

"What can I put on him, to get him to confess?"

"He's into some ancient warrior shit. Hate shit. Pressure cook him. Push it on him, like -- motive shit. Pig style."

Of course -- why didn't you think of it?! Motive shit. Pig style.

"What am I missing? What haven't I done?"

"Also, the gun." The scratches his head. "Why you still haven't picked it up and used it against him is beyond Cuno."

Good. Talk to him, demonstratively pick it up, then push it along with the other accusations. This is a good idea.

"Well. There's the gun," he says, scratching his head... "Why you still haven't picked it up and used it against him is beyond Cuno."

"We can take another look in the mini-tower, where the bed was." He sniffs. "Let's check out where he shot my gimp. Ballistics shit. You should know that, pig."

Good one, Cuno. It doesn't have to hold in court. Just establish a line of sight and he'll do the rest himself.

"We never did that ballistics shit here." He sniffs. "Let's check out where he shot my gimp. You should know that shit, pig."

"I'm slapping myself to get ideas!"

"Yeah, Cuno can see that," the kid says seriously. "So can fuckin' murderoonie here. You should stop -- it's weird as fuck."

"Okay, let's do this." [Leave.]

"Cuno's in the game. Let's fucking do this, pig." he whispers, excitedly.

"Cuno's in the game. Let's fucking do this, pig." he whispers, excitedly.

Cuno doesn't say anything. Stares out the window. You're on your own.

Something tells you this is going to be a rough ride.