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[throughbamboo]

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[doggonemad]

Image is everythin' with the Arias. I've made mine exactly the way I want it fer my own reasons.

[throughbamboo]

Mmm, ya said that yesterday 'bout yer image. Figured that went for physical, too.

[doggonemad]

Mm-hmm.

[ another sip. ]

Image is powerful. Allows me to stay in control. For example, if shits like Friday are too focused on mine, they're not lookin' elsewhere.

[throughbamboo]

[he nods slowly, taking a sip]

Sounds stressful, honestly. Worryin' 'bout that kinda thing all the time.

[doggonemad]

Nah, s'like a game to me. Which mask am I wearin' today? What's up my sleeve now? No one'll ever know.

[throughbamboo]

[he makes a brief face, but he is clearly thinking it out]

Y'don't get tired of doin' that?

[doggonemad]

Nah. It's my job.

[throughbamboo]

Job's different, though, ain't it? Everybody kinda has to. Sure as shit don't act or talk like this in the classroom, y'know?

[doggonemad]

Eh, it's an Arias thing.

[throughbamboo]

Hmm.

So are ya wearin' one now?

[curious, not judgemental]

[doggonemad]

Who can really say?

[throughbamboo]

[he makes another hmm noise in understanding, thoughful, then takes a sip of his drink]

[doggonemad]

. . . but, yeah. Sometimes it gets tiring. Sometimes.

[throughbamboo]

Mmm . . .

[another sip]

Whatever mask yer wearin' today, s'more relaxed than the usual ones ya got.

[doggonemad]

Good company'll do that.

[throughbamboo]

[oh. That gets a surprised little smile out of him]

Yeah?

[doggonemad]

'Course it will.

[throughbamboo]

'M glad. [he gestures with the glass] Ya should get to relax doin' stuff like this.

[doggonemad]

Until there's a fire I gotta put out, sure.

[throughbamboo]

Well, hope there ain't one anytime soon.

[doggonemad]

Right—

[ as if on cue, his phone buzzes. he frowns, taking it out and reading a text, raising an eyebrow. ]

[throughbamboo]

[he also frowns a bit, nodding to the phone]

Did we jinx ya?

[doggonemad]

Yup.

[ downs the rest of his drink, then sighs. ]

I'm bein' summoned for some shit they're puttin' on . . . for Forge.

[throughbamboo]

[he moves to do the same, but pauses]

Haah? For Forge?

[doggonemad]

Apparently. I got nothin', that's just what the message said.