Conversation · Andre

"Oh, hey, man! It's good to see you." He dances over to you in an inexplicably soft-core manner. It's embarrassing.

Maybe everything isn't quite as you've been told? Take a moment to analyse.

"I've been meaning to ask you, what's with the hair?"

"It's to express my individuality."

Is that a bald spot? It's hard to tell for sure with the fused-together spikes, but it looks like he's balding.

"Is it important for you? To be an individual?"

"Of course it is, otherwise I'd just be another poor guy with no education and no money. General-issue, man. Now I'm all that -- and I have radical spikes."

"That's idiotic."

"Yes it is, man. Absolutely."

"Or is it because you're balding?"

"...or because I'm balding, yes. I want to fuse the remains of my hair together, before it leaves me."

"I wanna show my hair: I don't give a fuck how old you think I am. I'm twenty!"

"How old are you, Andre?"

"Not twenty."

"Fair enough."

He looks at the molten toothbrush. "Maybe it was a bad idea... anyway."

"What's the status of the church? I haven't gotten inside the building yet."

"What's the deal with Egg Head? I want to talk to him."

"He's a quiet man, mostly communicates through music... and by being a master of ceremonies."

"How do you communicate with him?"

"Well..." he shrugs, "...he's just kinda here, I don't really know how to communicate with him."

"Have you ever really talked to him?"

"Yeah, sometimes... when I, like, stumble and find my way into his centre. You have to hear a lot of 'hard core to the mega' first, though."

The man smiles mysteriously -- choosing to let the beat speak for itself.

I get it. He's a puzzle.

"Uh, what's a master of ceremonies?"

"You know, a host. A declaimer of slogans. He's a performer. Gets the people going."

Interesting, sire. A bit like you then. An 'MC', for short.

"Oh, that makes sense. Another question then."

"Yes?"

"About the church... I checked it out."

"Yes? What's the deal?"

"I'm making progress in the church, but it's slow going. There's a hitch in Soona's research."

"What kind of a hitch?"

"She's trying to catch an anomaly using a special microphone set up, but she can't hear the audio coming through her headphones."

"An audio shortfall, you say?" The other speedfreak points his thumb toward the speaker in the back. "Guess what, we've got speakers with massive low end. There's a good chance it can do it."

They've got one speaker. One. Uno. Un.

"I'm not really so sure it's about the lack of bass, but I'll see what Soona thinks."

"We've got some serious range on this baby." He nods. "It'll blast her shoes off, believe me."

"I think we have found a solution."

"Soona agreed with your nightclub plan, but I promised to help her with her project first. It's going to take some time."

"Alright. Do what you gotta do, man. We trust you." He looks at his posse, then back at you, smiling. "If you need any help, let us know."

"Nothing. I just walked around a bit. There was no one inside."

"Hmm... but you did see the machines, right? And the spooky water basins set up in a ritualistic circle in the middle of the church?"

"I tell you, they're in there... You just have to give it another go."

"I kicked the programmer out, she won't bother you anymore. Time to dance!"

"Really?" He smiles, happier than he's ever been before. "We are grateful, cop-man. You're a true ally and the augury of a new era of ANODIC DANCE MUSIC."

"You crazy motherfucker."

"And... what about the side business? Have you made up your mind?"

"Proceed with the side business, but I want a cut." (Allow them to set it up.)

"No." The one with the necklace stares at you coldly. "You don't get to squeeze out every drop of us after keeping us in the dark for so long."

"Noid!" Andre turns to his friend. "Let's be reasonable here! We could use a friendly face in the station." He turns back to you with a wide smile on his face.

"How about 50%? It's more than a fair deal. We good?"

"Hang on, I thought I'd get it right now?"

"Come now, it'll take weeks to get everything set up, start making the produce, and deliver it around to the needy. This is a lengthy process."

"Alright."

"Alright!" He grins. "It's going to take us a bit to move our stuff inside. A couple of hours, maybe. Come check back later!" Andre waves to the other speedfreaks. "Let's get moving!"

[Leave the tent.]

"You mean the drug lab? Yeah, that's not going to happen. It's illegal, you see." (Refuse to set it up.)

"Aw man, really?!" His smile wanes slightly. "You're a complete ballbuster."