oh yeah? ( tilting her head to the side. the way the light comes through her hair; backlit, honey-color, broken arc of a halo. )
how many is that?
i bet you say that to all the girls.
me in particular, or anyone?
35.
the ceilings are NOT high enough for this.
DEL. DEL! I CAN'T HEAR A WORD YOU'RE SAYING OVER THE CRUKKING HOVERBOARD! DEL, YOU LISTEN TO ME UP THERE!
'the porch'? surprised you didn't see it. big spaceboard box.
i think more kids is the *only* thing it *couldn't be*. i'm *stuffed*. literally *stuffed*. i can barely walk!
well . . . alright then. it was gonna be a surprise for tomorrow, i was gonna send you to get milk or something, but . . . since you've been so good.
it's on the viewing deck. y'know,
. . . okay. ( she smiles. )
y'know, it's funny. the only reason i'm up so late to catch you out is because i was making you something.
( art doesn't say anything for a moment. maybe del has a point, but she doesn't like it. she looks up at del from her pout, almost smiling. )
. . . maybe. but there's . . . pills and patches and stuff now. you don't *need* to go cold turkey. we can afford to stretch the budget for that.
i told you i wanted you to change, and only promise me anything if you meant it, you meant you really thought you could do it. it's not healthy, del, *none of it* is healthy, and you think i'm being overdramatic, but *once*, that's *all it takes*. you're thinking, well, it's fine this time, so . . .
( an annoyed laugh. del, you bitch. )
that's not what i asked. was she *hot*?
i'll believe it when i see it. this girl who tempted you this time, was she hot?
it means i'm not letting you do anything with alcohol until you quit it *totally*. you don't drink a *drop*, not even *mouthwash*. so what's it gonna be, huh? running a bar or drinking?
we're not running a bar. not unless you *and* lalo go TEE-TOTAL.
we are NOT running an ILLEGAL BAR. do you want our kids to grow up without ANY of their parents?
but-- but that's just *more of the same problem*!!!
*a bar*? with what money? you and lalo would *drink it all*! and probably valerie, but she's not allowed!
i'm not saying you are. i'm just checking up on you. is that not allowed?
how large?
i thought you'd quit. i thought you said it wasn't good for you.
what time do you call this? @droppedmyvape.bsky.social
you're straying away from my point . . .
sure i am. i have to. you're a mortal quintain.
( art seems disappointed in del, as if she said precisely the wrong thing. )
is that what you think, del? that the war just . . . *happened*?
and high above it all is my family.
that's what i mean. it's a necessary evil. power can't go unchecked; societies musn't be allowed to get too big for their boots. they have to be cut down, before they are uncutdownable. it happens to everything. that's what the war was all about: putting both sides down. you see?
what do you think a mercenary does? their job, innately, is propelled by war.
it's a necessary evil. anyway, you're one to talk!
"down with war n shit" if i speak i will be in BIG trouble.
SHIT. HIDE ME!!!!
