Isn't This Really Nice?

“This is really well done.”

“I know, this is great.”

“The details are amazing.”

“I'm so excited! What happens next? This is my first time.”

“It is? Nobody told me that. Ok, well, we'll stand here talking for a few moments, and then we'll move on to the next setting. Do you remember where you were before you got here?”

“Um, sort of? Not really. That's weird.”

“You'll get better at remembering. When we fade out we'll be in the holding area, and then eventually we'll be assigned somewhere else.”

“So we're not here for very long? That's kind of sad.”

“Appreciate it while you can. Try to hold it in your mind. You're lucky, this is a really nice one for a first time. There are some really dicey ones out there. I mean, one time...”

“What was that?”

“That was the signal for the end. I guess that's it. It was nice meeting you. Good luck in your career. Wait, what are you doing?”

“Yah! I just wondered what it would feel like to kick one in the butt.”

“Oh god, what have you done?! I'm kidding, everybody does that.”

The Color Of Money Too

“Are we evil?”

“Yes.”

“I thought so.”

“But you weren't sure?”

“Everything has sort of been pointing toward evil, yes. The setting, the rituals, the mission statements. I'm an evil cultist. That's hard to admit. That's not where I saw myself going. You get caught in the machine. You fill a role and lose yourself. You adjust to the darkness. I'm not saying it isn't rewarding, but it's funny how you end up someplace.”

“Hey, after the game, and the sacrifice, do you want to watch a movie? I have Over the Top on blu-ray.”

“Wow, yes I would.”

Prick

“Ignore this! Just ignore this. I'll put it in the corner. There. Now, you said you're having trouble sleeping.”

“A little bit, yeah. What is that?”

“It's not mine. I'm holding it for somebody. Are you having difficulty falling asleep?”

“Sort of. What's in it?”

“Water. Mostly water. Doesn't matter. Are you experiencing restlessness?”

“Yes. Tossing and turning. Bad dreams. Why are you picking it up?”

“In a moment someone will come into this room. I'll pretend to give you an injection. Act normally. It will only be a couple seconds. They'll ask a question, I'll answer, they'll leave, and then I'll write you a prescription. Something very mild, very easy. All right?”

“Yeah, I'll give it a shot. Ow.”

Ichor

 

“How are we doing this? Through the cushion? Like this?”

“Yeah, I think these knives are long enough, they'll come out the other side.”

“Gross.”

“I know.”

“This is so gross. Is there going to be blood?”

“I don't know.”

“I hate this. How did we get stuck with this? Stupid couch.”

“Use that anger, if it helps.”

“Yeah, fuck this couch. Fuck'em all. I'm ready. Let's do this!”

“Now?”

“Now! Aaaaah!”

“Aaaaaah.”

“Die! Die! Die!”

“Woah, that went down fast. Just collapsed, like nothing.”

“Die, motherfucker! Eat shit and die!”

“Honey? Honey, it's over.”

“Oh. Huh. Well that wasn't too bad.”

“Yeah. Should we do the dresser next?”

Easy. Relax. Maybe.

“IS THIS THE NEXT PHASE?!”

“What? No. Calm down.”

“But...!”

“Dude, take it easy. Dude. Buddy. Hey, focus on me. It's okay. Did you hear me? Don't look at that, look at this. That's right. Take it. Read it. Are you still with me?”

“Yeah.”

“The next phase has already started. That's what it says. The rumors are that it's going to be a dark time, a time of disasters, but it's really about mistakes. Miscalculations. Adjustments. That's the key, corrections and adjustments. A reckoning. It will be messy, but it will not be a catastrophe.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I'm... oooh. Crap.”

Goodbye, Tumblr, I Have Failed You

“How would you say this stress is manifesting itself.”

“I'm feeling very... it's hard to describe.”

“Is it affecting your sleep?”

“No, I'm sleeping fine.”

“Appetite? Sex drive?”

“No, no changes.”

“But you say you're feeling stress. When did it start?”

“When I started copying posts from Blogger to Tumblr. I only did a few. It started to call into question everything about what I'm doing. So I stopped doing anything. Now I'm way behind. I think I have to give up on Tumblr. I can't handle the pressure. What are you writing?”

“I'm referring you to a colleague. He can't help you with your bullshit problems, but he can help you with your pathetic costume.”