Lazarus

[cherry-ier]

Your family is so welcoming. I wonder where you got your rotten manners.

…what the fuck?? What the hell are you talking about?

[four-days-undead]

It’d be a shame if something were to happen to them. They seem to mean a lot to you.

[four-days-undead]

Human children are so fragile. Christine fell today and cried for half an hour. It was barely a scrape, yet she sobbed.

I can see it runs in the family.

[spec-tacle]

Tell me, Lesley. How is your employment with the Department?

You’re behaving yourself, I’d hope?

I’m not a dog. It’s going…fine, thanks for asking. Keeping a low profile is one of the only things I’m good at.

[four-days-undead]

Watch your tone, you may as well be.

That’s good. Keep up the good work. And tidy up in here, it’s filthy.

[four-days-undead]

You get AWAY from the baby!!!

I’ll take good care of her.

[four-days-undead]

Mrbscdsxk.

..rww? Gry’c drobo?

….

..rovvy?

Nyx’d lo kpbksn. S’w xyd qysxq dy rebd iye.

Wyw? Wyw!

Nyx’d.

S’w cmkbon. Gry kbo iye?

Iyeb swkqsxkbi pbsoxn.

….

Mywo robo, Mrbscdsxk. Sxdy dro rkvvgki.

S nyx’d gkxd dy. S’w cmkbon. Sd’c nkbu.

Iye nyx’d rkfo dy lo cmkbon. S’w xyd qysxq dy rebd iye.

Yuki.

Drkd’c sd.

…

Tecd k pog cdozc pebdrob.

[four-days-undead]

Zyz qyoc dro gokcov.

[four-days-undead]

Round and round the mulberry bush

The monkey chased the weasel

The monkey thought it was all in fun..

[four-days-undead]

Half a pound of tuppenny rice

Half a pound of treacle

That's the way the money goes

Pop goes the weasel..

[four-days-undead]

Found you.

[spec-tacle]

The guilt swimming inside you is simply delicious. I do hope you don’t regret your decisions.

We both know it’s too late for second thoughts.

@four-days-undead

I know that, thank you. I was aware of…potential consequences when I made that choice. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

[four-days-undead]

You know very well what I’m talking about.

[four-days-undead]

Christina Manoja. San Francisco.

Surely this can’t be that hard. I’ve uprooted harder-to-find people.

[spec-tacle]

You have to focus. Rid him from your mind, Les. He’s dead to you now.

@four-days-undead

That’s easier said than done.

…but, you’re right. I don’t have time for second thoughts. Are you…planning to “take the wheel” again?

[four-days-undead]

I’m hoping we can get along without that. I only do that when I have to, so as long as you listen to me, we’ll be just fine.

I need you to get a job with the department.

[spec-tacle]

The department?

It’s out of my element, but—I’m sure it’s for a reason. I won’t question it.

…I’ll get to filing an application, then.

[four-days-undead]

Your fabricated qualifications will get you a job, as long as you take the interview seriously. I trust you can do that.

You seem like a very smart cookie, Les.

[spec-tacle]

You have to focus. Rid him from your mind, Les. He’s dead to you now.

@four-days-undead

That’s easier said than done.

…but, you’re right. I don’t have time for second thoughts. Are you…planning to “take the wheel” again?

[four-days-undead]

I’m hoping we can get along without that. I only do that when I have to, so as long as you listen to me, we’ll be just fine.

I need you to get a job with the department.

[spec-tacle]

Wake.

[The space they stand in is pitch black, and cold.]

Your core handled it well. I piloted us exactly where we need to be. Now all we need to do is wait. And we’ll have you an apartment.

[Les returns to consciousness—immediately finding a corner to vomit into. They cough while minimizing the mess.]

That was—

—an experience. I suppose I’ll have to get more accustomed to waking up like that. Sorry.

…where exactly are we? If you don’t mind me asking.

[four-days-undead]

Your new apartment. I did say I’d set you up nicely, didn’t I? The only problem is, the current tenant isn’t alone. So, we’ll bide our time in the attic until they are.

..

I haven’t been entirely honest with you, Lesley. But I think since we’re friends now, I may as well come clean. I’m in a far worse state than I seem.

Don’t turn on the light.

[spec-tacle]

I wasn’t planning to, rest assured. The last thing I need is to piss you off.

[four-days-undead]

Oh heavens no. You and me? We’re friends, now. Rest assured, that advice is more for your benefit than it is for-

..me.

[spec-tacle]

Wake.

[The space they stand in is pitch black, and cold.]

Your core handled it well. I piloted us exactly where we need to be. Now all we need to do is wait. And we’ll have you an apartment.

[Les returns to consciousness—immediately finding a corner to vomit into. They cough while minimizing the mess.]

That was—

—an experience. I suppose I’ll have to get more accustomed to waking up like that. Sorry.

…where exactly are we? If you don’t mind me asking.

[four-days-undead]

Your new apartment. I did say I’d set you up nicely, didn’t I? The only problem is, the current tenant isn’t alone. So, we’ll bide our time in the attic until they are.

..

I haven’t been entirely honest with you, Lesley. But I think since we’re friends now, I may as well come clean. I’m in a far worse state than I seem.

Don’t turn on the light.

[four-days-undead]

John 11:38

Tyncpotmwp hzcv, Wpdwpj.

T nlyyze szwo estd qzcx qzc wzyr, dz hp xfde mp sldej. Ecfde t htww opwtgpc zy xj pyo zq estd oplw. Mfe jzf xfde wplgp esp hzcv ez xp, yzh.

Ozy'e decfrrwp. Ufde dwppa.

@spec-tacle

[spec-tacle]

…will it hurt?

[four-days-undead]

That depends on you.

As I said. Sit still. I’ll wake you when it’s safe.

[four-days-undead]

John 11:38

Tyncpotmwp hzcv, Wpdwpj.

T nlyyze szwo estd qzcx qzc wzyr, dz hp xfde mp sldej. Ecfde t htww opwtgpc zy xj pyo zq estd oplw. Mfe jzf xfde wplgp esp hzcv ez xp, yzh.

Ozy'e decfrrwp. Ufde dwppa.

@spec-tacle