Conversation · Horrific Necktie

"Why not, lieutenant?"

"Because it told me to."

"We're buds. Mostly just goofing around."

"Signs of some really hard core mental illness, Kim." (Point to your head.)

"I would assume, yes. Why did you put it in the bottle?"

"It teaches me about life, Kim. Sort of a father figure."

"I don't really know, but I'm eager to find out."

"That makes two of us." He shakes his head slowly. "Let's not waste any more time under this boardwalk. We need to clear this all up... somehow."

"In my family, you put a piece of clothing in some hard liquor and drink it for good luck. It's silly, but no harm done, right?"

"No harm? In drinking 98.7% alcohol with a god-knows-how-old tie in it? I wouldn't be so sure." The lieutenant tilts his head slightly. "However, I'm not here to judge. Let's go."

Feels good. Feels safe.

Necktie?

There is silence.

But that's too much fun.

Wait, right now? A woman just died and you think now is a good time to party?

Bratan, life and death are inseparable. There's a party when you're born, a party every year to celebrate that birth, and a party when you're put in the ground.

Yeah... what's the problem here?

Why shouldn't there be a party when you die? And, beside, this isn't even about that! You have no idea what this is about... this is gonna be so off the hook. It's gonna be off all hooks.

Wait, right now? Ruby's gone. I don't really think there's anything to celebrate here.

Hush-hush, bratan, now is not the time to celebrate, now is the time to get ready. Trust me on this. This is what it's all been building towards. It's gonna be off the hook. Off all hooks.

Okay, then tell me -- it is time for what?

Oh... you will see. (It feels like the tie is rubbing itself against your chest like a cat in heat.)

Time for what?