54. [Audio]

[justcautious]

[Chris doesn't sound sad so much as he sounds weary. And maybe a bit drunk: he was at Ken and Mara's party.]

Been 'ere a year, or sommat like. A year an' now Penny's gone.

[The following silence is decidedly pregnant. He wants to affirm that he's sure she's in heaven, or that she'll be back for Christmas. Also, the fact that he's pretty sure he

Comments

[manofgnee]

[Hanna hasn't taken this well either.]

...I'm real sorry, Chris...

[justcautious]

She might come back for Christmas? Or maybe she'll be back after Christmas. That could be why she's gone: jus' the City bein' awful, yeah?

[manofgnee]

Yeah...yeah, I hope so.

[justcautious]

Wish I could just expect things for once, here.

[manofgnee]

...hey, man, let's go get a beer. You an me.

[justcautious]

Okay. You got a place in mind?

[manofgnee]

Nah. Nothing in particular...but hey, let's just go and wing it.

[justcautious]

Okay. You at yours? Where do I find you?

[manofgnee]

Yeah, I'm at home right now. Doing some more decorating and trying to not break off any limbs...

...oh, but we gotta be sorta quiet when you get here. Conrad is sleeping, and he gets cranky when he wakes up.

[justcautious]

Conrad?

[manofgnee]

Conrad! He's my friend from home. He's a vampire.

[justcautious]

S'that the one who don't like blood packets but doesn't want t' bite folk neither?

[manofgnee]

Yeah, that's him! Heh, don't tell him I said that about him, though.

[justcautious]

He touchy about that?

[manofgnee]

Yeep.

[justcautious]

Then I'll keep mum.