Author's note: Please forgive any odd semicolons or strange breaks in paragraphs or lines. I've been driving myself insane for two hours trying to get rid of them but they keep reappearing every time I edit on-site or re-upload the document. They do not appear in the original file.
EXCERPT [#SYNCHRONICITY]
"You're too full of pride."
"All I want is-"
"Sweet, sweet..."
"...Serenity."
"...The best of luck to you."
The sheets were wet, crumpled and twisted around an unmoving fetal form. If one had the eye for it, they could see the occasional twitch. But that's assuming there was anyone to see.
"Its possible."
The Unknown had made a goal today, he didn't share it with anyone. He needed those extra seconds to convince himself of this.
"Out to lunch" said the sign around the woman's neck. The Unknown strode past, he felt a twinge of pity for the sign. It was obviously confused. But he was soon to find the owners were too. The Unknown perused the aisles, hoping the canned music pipping through the store speakers wouldn't become any the wiser to his presence. An alarm went off within him and the Unknown knew what had begun. He crumpled, folding onto the floor as the pain squirmed up his leg. It was a joke, he knew, meant to bring to light his existence. A few bulbs had lit already but the Unknown deftly extinguished them. He recited an incantation from memory, in this right the culture served him well.
He then rose, putting on the Mask of Comedy to make the ritual complete. And it was.
It was an accomplishment in name only, The Unknown took but minutes to fade into memory.
Continuity /Refrain/
The world, as a thought, is broken. Not the governments or those with the power to bring about change. The world is fine and whole, thank you very much, and takes something close to amusement that you would think otherwise. Its not the world's fault you can't account for the actions of every creature upon it but wants to remind you they're there. Just as broken and whole as you are. Well, some aren't but thats got nothing to do with you.
You've got too much on your plate and not enough gray matter inside your chemically brined scalp to even know what that is. So lets make a deal with yourself, because even SCANALYZER knows China has a better shot at becoming a paragon of human rights before you'll deal fairly with you. It's a simple trade. You'll be happy, and in return you have to stay alive and awake. Here's the paper,just sign your name twice at the bottom. Signatures only.
Chad C. Mulligan- The Happening World: And why you were never part of it to begin with
{CONTEXT} \RETURN
"Where is Lunch?"
"Out. Last I heard."
"That woman takes too many breaks...why aren't the speakers working?"
Sarah reliazed she was late for an important date. Well, it HAD to be important to someone anyways.
Lainy laid listening to the slow, rythmic breathing next to her and gripped the pillow tightly. She wondered for the dozenth time how long it would take to make the noise stop. She didn't know why. The hallucinogens being pumped in through the vent ensured the audience would know at least.
INSERT a href=IMAGE A beach at sunset, possibly along the Atlantic Ocean. A couple leans back in their beach chairs, smiling and at ease. FADE TO LOGO "Serenity" Large, bold font, cyan colored against a white background. CUE JINGLE: "All you need..." INSERT a href=VIDEO An older couple walk up under a large oak, the camera zooms in as the two stand side by side, facing the trunk. As the viewer creeps over their shoulders they see two initials carved into the bark.
JINGLE: "Is sweet, sweet..."
INSERT a href=SLIDESHOW A set of sepia and black and white pictures cycle on screen. Different wonderful moments the couple shared in their youth with the tree.
JINGLE=FINISH DURING SLIDESHOW "All we need. Is\...sweet...sweet\Serenity."
FADE TO BLACK-->;;;
RUNTIME ERROR
CYCLEDOWN FAILURE TIMED_OUT----->;;;
UNEXPECTED ERROR ENCOUNTERED->;;; \help
UNRECOGNIZED COMMAND...
SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN\...sweet\Serenity\serenity.exe
Excerpt [#SYNCHRONICITY]
There were no lights and colors and all the happy feelings stopped dancing through Dean's head. It was hard to run a charity, and everyone had to disconnect. Some more than others. With the Net down he had only one recourse and he already had the tube in hand. The new 300 series would provide all the entertainment he needed, all thanks to Serenity. "All we need.." he quietly sung, massaging his forearm, "Is sweet, sweet Serenity" Soon he was happy, rising up and down within the waves of peace and tranquility. Orphaned children were a sad thing. A sad, sad thing. But cupcakes were the opposite, they were a happy thing, Dean realized. And he knew, everyone needed cupcakes. But not the sprinkles, those were Dean's.
It was hard to run a charity.
The Unknown faced the lights, only to find they had fled. He knew they were there, they were always there and this deception would not work again.
The screen was black, he knew it was a ruse.
The screen was black, The Unknown refused to let it win.
The screen was black, The Unknown knew it wouldn't be. He looked out the window, the sun still shone and, he knew, so should the screen.
The Unknown was losing, but so was the screen. Soon he had a plan of attack, the Unknown had discovered his adversary's real weakness.
The Unknown depressed a button, then walked outside.
It bent reality, twisting light and perspective whilst throwing your innards into your shoes as you're left weightless and floating.
This T-Cream was the strongest he'd yet tried.
"One hundred for half the tube." Oscar announced.
"One twenty." The snake faced trader countered.
"So that's false advertising?" Oscar pointed at the "$200 a tube!" painted hastily on a piece of plywood.
"Handling and processing fees." the man pointed to an asterik sitting to the left of the dollar sign.
"Crank doctor." Oscar found no fine print, flashed a half-moon grin and then chuckled as the trader stiffened in rage and snatched the money from the table. His change was dropped heavily and the grin was returned.
"Tit for tat." Oscar blew off the gesture, and turned in stinging anger. They both knew that next week they'd go through the same process again.
Nearly everyone that bought from Father Pat couldn't quit The Paste even if they wanted to.
"An eye for an eye." Oscar greeted his room-mate.
"And the whole world goes blind." Jake grinned widely as he returned the greeting, giving it a friendly inflection. "So?"
"Half a tube, usual payout. Pat is still a happy blighter."
"Always is." Jake quickly chuckled in amusement, eagerly accepting the uncapped tube from Oscar's hand. “Must be cheaper in the countryside.”
“What countryside? The suburbs? They don’t even have any of it, doesn’t make it that far before everyone’s traded it for bucks anyways. Why else are we here?” Oscar watched his roommate intently, unsure as to why.
“Serenity?”
“Why are they so interested in switching capitols? Has anything been mentioned to you yet?”
“It has something to do with money, that’s for sure. No word what exactly. I bet there’s some pretty contracts offered by the city if they get it moved.” Jake replied as he rubbed his arm vigorously. “Oscar, what gives?” He held up the tube “Is this expired? I’m not feeling a blessed thing.”
“Ho! That’s my moisturizer!” Oscar swept the tube out of his compatriots hand and quickly replaced it with another.
“When did the company start making moisturizer?” Jake gave him a confused look.
“My trick tube.” Oscar smirked “You wouldn’t believe the trashy blighters that beg for a dollop of paste over a bowl of food. Sometimes all they really need is a placebo.”
“You think I wouldn’t know? They’re on every subway car and in every restroom. I wish there was some real help for them.”
“Salt Lake has some of that left. They just keep housing the homeless!”
“Damned strange thing to do.”
“They keep it up for too long and there won’t be a homeless problem left to solve! Then what will there be to do?” Oscar raised a hand, palm spread out, before taking a seat in his favorite recliner. “Just the addicts and abusers left to fret over.”
“And all those poor people will be without a feel-good cause to champion. They may have to become environmentalists! And if Salt Lake keeps doing what they’re doing then how is anyone going to know if they’re homeless or not? Could lead to some mass confusion.”
“Careful now, that might get congress to act.” Both snorted, turned on the tv, and then remembered there hadn’t been cable in over five years.
“Damn internet…”
{CONTEXT} \RETURN
Albany, the Capitol of New York, has less than 100,000 people in it. Has anyone mentioned this yet? Did you even know that was true? …BUT… Doesn’t New York City make more sense to say? It does with Serenity.
Serenity, its all you need.
*paid for and advertised by Serenity Labs Inc. and the Campaign to Simplify New York
INSERT a href=VIDEO A typical Mr. Everyday sitting in front of his computer, a look of mild frustration dawning on his face. ANNOUNCER: “Are you tired of being punished for a slow connection?”
Mr. Everyday turns to the camera “AM I! This is the third time I’ve had to sit through this commercial, all because I keep getting timed out when the video tries to load!”
ANNOUNCER: “Do you wish there was an easier way to watch your favorite videos online? Commercial free?”
Mr. Everyday smiles wide, a look of relief “Do I!”
CUE JINGLE: ANNOUNCER: “We all do, Mr. Everyday, that’s a fact, and that’s why we here at CYBERSPEED want to help make your adventures in the Happening World, HAPPEN. With our new NET-SPEED service we pay the advertisers to go away for YOU! Freeing up more bandwidth so you too can go out there and make your dreams a quicker reality today!
“Sign me UP!” Mr. Everyday exclaims excitedly to the viewers, looking to them as if saying ‘What are you waiting for?’ before he quickly pulls out his smartphone and begins tapping incessantly. Insinuated he’s heading to sign up for CYBERSPEED’s new NET-SPEED service.
ANNOUNCER: “Now you too can feel the freedom of unbridled net connection! Take it from FULL SPEED to CYBERSPEED TOday when you bundle NET-SPEED with our phone and internet package for only *139.99!”
INSERT a IMAGE=FINEPRINT *before taxes and installation fees. Fees may vary state-to-state. All claims made in this advertisement are opinion only and do not reflect upon actual service of CYBERSPEED’s NET-SPEED package. Any questions or concerns can be asked or answered at http://cyberspeednet.com/FAQspage/commonquestions _XFpgYYhEuc
“At 2 poppa momma this afternoon a parsing error shut down the Happening World for most of the day on the east coast. We’ve just been informed the incident has been fixed and we will bring you the highlights from today’s Patriot’s game once New England is back online!”
Waiting for http:/Newsgrind.com\home…
WHATS HAPPENING IN THE HAPPENING WORLD? More than you can keep up with, with that 11-7, 9-5 working-(Wo)man’s grind! That’s why Newsgrind(.com) is here for you! No ads, only adverts. No news, only what we grind down for you to digest! Enter your email below to get the latest headlines directly to your phone and let us make your world.
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Janet knew what was what, she had a finger on the pulse of the world. Always at her fingertips, in her ears and on her lips Janet is the Modern Woman on the Go. For how much she’s in the know it came as quite a surprise when Janet realized her daughter had left on the Jetty Train for California a week ago.
It should come as no surprise in this day and age that parents are more concerned about their children’s health than ever before. In part due to the overwhelming information available online today and parents not knowing what is worth listening to. Nothing proves this more than the recent outbreak of measles, of which the death toll topped 1,500 today. Families frantic to come through unscathed have organized to protest local doctor’s offices for refusing to treat their sick children.
Are the drugs we’re prescribing our children causing massive synaptic overload? Are you prepared to handle that? Probably and no.
Excerpt [#SYNCHRONICITY]
The Unknown walked along a corridor of concrete and light, passing by reliefs of joy and consternation. He knew they moved, felt, each a story to tell. For each a voice lost amoung the waves, another would crash over the chorus. Each swell of story enveloped within the next, a running narrative of many voices excluding none and forgetting all. The Unknown understood the nature of these things, his own narrative attaching context to the words of life. It took shape, went ahead to prepare his way and The Unknown followed.
It took a moment to focus, so much to take in. Bryson blinked, and once again, but the cityscape below refused to coalesce into a concrete image. He leaned back in the chair, lifting elbow from knee before facing his desk. The 40th floor view was something he wasn’t sure of yet, he hated looking down and seeing the tiny figures moving to the thrum of traffic and stoplights. It made him think of ants, and people weren’t ants. He wanted to see their faces, learn their stories.
With a sigh he picked up his work phone and opened the planner app, he already knew he had a lunchtime appointment with the CFO of Serenity’s west coast marketing division. LA was a world within itself and required a different approach than the rest of the coast. The only ones Bryson pitied were the team in SF, if LA was a world than San Fran was it’s own dimension.
“Bryson, please. Sit.” Arthur Wright motioned casually to the armchair before his desk. “Thank you for meeting me, I’ve already got Grace on the phone with Bouchon, my treat. You’re a porkchop man right?
“Every time.” Bryson smiled cordially, smoothing down his tie after sitting, “Thank you Arthur.”
“I like to know my co-workers, better we all get along than bicker and not get paid.”
“Fully agreed sir.”
“That’s why I balked when I heard the news.” Bryson tiled his head slightly to the side when his boss said this. “You’re being reassigned to New York.”
“What am I needed for. And what of the TRIP-TIK project?”
“Pot sells itself, especially out here. I just needed to give them some reason to let me bring you on board out here. But now they say we really need you on the Campaign to Simplify New York. Your ‘Sweet Serenity’ jingle has boosted our brand recognition higher in three months than the last few years. Not to mention the Board is ecstatic it didn’t cost them millions like the last failure.”
“I never did believe in native advertising. Had I the chance I would have told the net guys why it was a bad idea.”
“We’re in the minority on that one Abbadi.” Arthur grinned wryly and rapped the desk twice with his right hand knuckles. “But if you can bring to this campaign even half of the success you’ve brought the brand as a whole I imagine an ear or two will be inclined our way.”
“I understand, sounds like a challenge. Does this mean I’ll find out why we’re so interested in removing Albany as the state capitol?”
“To some extent.” Arthur passed a non-disclosure form across the table. “You’ve earned some trust from someone. I didn’t get one of these so I imagine you’ll be filled in on arrival. Don’t worry.” He noted the veiled look of shock in Bryson’s gaze “It’s different, but a need-to-know basis isn’t anything unusual.”
CONTINUITY /REFRAIN/
When I say the word ‘Humanity’, what comes to mind? Don’t answer, you’ll be wrong anyways. You missed the point long before I even brought it up.
Chad C. Mulligan- The Happening World: And Why You Were Never Part of it to Begin with
“They said to me, ‘You have to leave here’. Where am I to go? I asked. ‘To your country.’ …what country man!? I don’t have a country to go back to! It’s a killing field there man! Not a country. It’s where my family was killed, its where I’ll be killed! 37 countries have tried to control Afghanistan and not one can. Not the UN, not anyone can control those people. I have been a refuge in Turkey! I have been a refuge in Greece, Italy, Bulgaria! I don’t want anything from you man. I don’t want your edibles. I don’t want your clothes. I want to live! I just want you to let me live man!”
"Happy accident?"
"Feels that way." Kyle started lifting a cigarette to his lips, slowly letting a blueish cloud envelop him.
The scene was expanse, from their viewpoint. A balcony seat to the end of the world. Smoke and jet contrails marred the sky, making sightless the indistinct screams, explosions, and small arms fire of the thrust into Damascus.
"What’s it been?" Eric lifted his index finger, lazily waving to the skyline.
"Here?" the cancer man exhaled a thin stream of smoke.
"Overall."
A display monitor to Kyle's left chirped irritably, flashing purple. "We're losing." He grinned at the computer. "Well...shall we say eighteen years then?"
"I'll ask you next year."
"So this is how World War Three went down, us and the Russians were getting into verbal scrapes over the Ukraine for awhile until someone decided to escalate that situation quickly. That was our 45th president and the military, pleasant blighters. Thing was any true funding for our country's missile silos at the time had been severely cut for decades, the missiles themselves were easily pushing seventy. So of the three that were fired, one detonated over a public beach in Los Angeles, another close to New Haven, Connecticut and one refused to fire at all. After witnessing this ultimate failure Russia and the other UN nations replied with aid and the arrests of nearly every top tier govie we had. Twenty million have died overall from the Five-Minute War...We've been near a third world nation ever since, disarmed and disgraced...fun fact though, someone in the Happening World determined through IEarth that the one in New Haven landed directly on a cow. "
{CONTEXT} \RETURN
Loading http://NewsGrind.com/recentheadlines…
CONFLICT REFUGEES
With most of the European Commonwealth attempting to stem the tide of refugees from the Afrikan and Arabic territories politicians in most member countries have vowed to halt the so-called ‘March of Islam’. Proponents of closing the borders see it as an effort to preserve the moral and cultural values of Western Society. With many opining the flood of immigrants would do themselves and the world better to take care of the problems in their own countries instead of running to us. It is in this journalist’s opinion that said proponents could do themselves and the world better by shoving such whaledrek up their asses and start helping these people. Its this type of sh….
[Tap here to read the full story]
AS CASUALTIES RISE, OFFICIALS SCRAMBLE
The death toll continues to mount in the Manhattan Measles Outbreak as parents of unaffected children feel mounting pressure to choose between…
[Tap here to read the full story]
ALBANY? WHERES THAT?
Recently, the citizens of New York State have become aware of a campaign gaining motion to move the state Capitol from Albany to New York City. Though while many wonder what the drug and pharmaceutical company Serenity Labs Inc, known for their consumer grade ‘relaxants’ commonly known by The Happening World as ‘Paste’ and the highest grade marijuana yet produced in the world, hand in such a move is. Most do agree that such a change does make sense when you think about it.
[Tap here to read the full story]
IS THE NEW POPE GAY?
Though committed to a vow of celibacy some in the Vatican have begun to pay attention to where the Holy Father’s gaze actually lands. Such insinuations have led to a heated outcry from Catholics and the Christian community at large with some thinking it could lead to an Episcopalian-like…
[Tap here to read the full story]
TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE EAST/WEST COAST BOUND JETTY TRAIN
Earlier this week a video posted by nationalist militia members on Swallow claimed responsibility for the recent bombing of an East/West coast bound Jetty Train killing all….
[Tap here for the full story]
EXCERPT {#SYNCHRONICITY}
“Today we are gathered to honor the memory of a true champion of human thought. It warms our hearts to see so many continue to show their love and support for this amazing man and those who knew them. It was right here in this small apartment that one of the greatest minds of our generation passed five years ago. Let us raise our voices and remember his eternal words…”
As one, the crowd raised their faces and exclaimed, “Christ! What an imagination I’ve got!”
The Unknown knew he had found his way, the narrative lead him here. The singular drive that had pushed him was now exhausted. But The Unknown had developed a direction of his own. He felt his beat fall in line with the stars around him as his mind rose into orbit, and it was there he stayed until morning.
“Why are we here?” Oscar turned to Jake after a few moments silence.
“Why not? What are we to do, watch another commercial?” Jake took off with a start down the track, forcing Oscar into a sprint to catch up.
“How do you do this?” Oscar began to lose breath, and slapped a hand onto Jake’s shoulder to slow him down.
“Don’t you see the wind when you run?” Jake grinned, his dilated pupils attempting to focus on something just above Oscar’s short, upturned nose. Most likely his eyes, but Jake couldn’t be sure.
“I just feel it.” Oscar replied flatly.
“Too much paste man, you gotta slow down so you can speed up.”
“You’re probably right.” Oscar chuckled, “You keep going, I’m going to grab a breather.”
“Perfect timing, the air just turned orange.” Jake turned on the spot and sprinted off down the track, jumping back and forth over the track lines as he went.
With a sign Oscar slumped onto a nearby bench upon reaching it. His burning lungs told him he needed to quit smoking and he heard the sing-song voice of Beatrice in his mind “Cigarettes?? That’s soo last century. Why would you smoke something that kills you if it doesn’t even get you high? Why do they even still make them?”
He still couldn’t answer except for the last question, Asia loved their Virginian blends. But he liked being able to smoke something that didn’t ruin his train of thought or take him into orbit for a few hours. Oscar liked to keep his feet on the ground, Lord knew you couldn’t go through this world blitzed and come out unscathed.
Taking a draw from his water bottle, he wondered how his ex-wife was. They had parted and stayed on good terms after the divorce and it had been a few weeks since he’d heard from Beatrice and Mark. He’d enjoyed the double date they’d gone on last time with Grace and him, it was the last time he’d gotten out that hadn’t just been with Jake or Grace. Oscar loved group outings but they were few and far between.
If it wasn’t a second job taking everyone’s time then it was typically due to being too tired. He was lucky, most everyone nowadays had to put in 70 or more hours a week just so they could keep working, typically in jobs that provided services to people like him and Jake.
He always looked at society as a human drawn chariot, the many pushing along the weight of a few, all clamoring for a place to rest, losing grip and falling back into the crowd below as fast as they ascended out of it. But he had seen a shift in the last decade, the crowd below had swelled in size as those who could seek rest dwindled down to a trickle. He felt and saw the major force of humanity unmoving, no longer ascending the chariot they had once fought to find peace upon.
Oscar had an idea formed in his subconscious as to why, but it only tickled and teased his conscience mind. “If it hadn’t been for Serenity…” he whispered to himself, leaning forward and feeling a shiver of fear at what his life might have been otherwise.
"Damn nice of the world to let us keep our country." Jared said after the newest wave of gunfire fell silent, peaking his head from behind a dented and rusting dumpster.
"It's a brave new world." Allen replied, huddled against a wall outcropping to Jared’s right.
"An eye for an eye…."
Both gripped their rifles and prepared for the next round.
CONTINUITY /REFRAIN/
"Whose the economic superpower these days...the Chinese? Russians? European Commonwealth? Who in the mighty cares? We have the Paste man! Us, Some, Anyone of nothing here in the Northern Hemisphere. It's our main export, jigg? One of the 'benefits' those grinners from the UN gave us to help the e-Con-o-Me recover. Why drugs? You ever let a thought like that drift through your hollow bonebox? What do you see most of the poor, most of everyone do for a half-living?
"Exit reality..."
"From the bottom up."
“Now!” Jared roared, both brought sights to bear upon the small group in front of the alleyway. But they didn’t fire, all seven froze. Gazes locked, trigger fingers lightened, within seconds people were people. No one wanted to kill a person. Much less one as scared and tired as them. And no one did.
“…Sweet serenity…”
{CONTEXT} \RETURN
“An eye for an eye…”
“…And the world never stops bleeding.” (“And the whole world cries”) (“[Just] Ensures the whole world dies”)
There were rows and rows of peaceful, sleeping newborn infants. She walked slowly between the lines, pausing at each crib to massage a small amount of T-C117 onto each baby's forehead. "Now you'll grow up big and strong." The nurse whispered shakily into each ear.
"It works like this, hear and listen, the numbers have meaning ok? The hundreds are low, something to give you a nice buzz. Two hundreds? That’s where most users keep the line at. Exit reality and all that craze, but you can come down eventually, jigg?"
"So what’s new?"
"The recent chant going around is that the 300 series (Triple the power at twice the price!) is going to show up on the market soon. About damn time I would say! The Steadies, long term users like me, can't get the same kick you newbies do from the 200 range. But apparently the Up and Ups have been taking privie to it for a good long while now. Like just the other day I heard of a pleasant blighter who spun himself around a pole like water goes down the drain, his system was jacked full...can't wait to get my hands on some."
Loading http://NewsGrind.com/Archives/Interviews/interview_Serenitypaste_Ev3wx=ecj6fd...
NEWSGRIND EX-CLUE-SIVE!
Interview with Stephen Hotsh, Serenity Inc. Head PR Officer Appalachian Territory Branch
SH: "It's essential for the mix to be JUST right."
NG: "But even down to the individual atoms?"
SH: "If we don't uphold a consistent standard of reliability we may lose buyers, then profits. It's a competitive market nowadays, I doubt anyone thought a decade ago it could grow so large."
NG: "Many in your industry have already been asked, I'm sure. But what is the corporate stance on your product being known in The Happening World as "Paste" or "The Paste"?
SH: "Industry professionals consider it an unbecoming phrase." {Serenity's PR man relaxed his shoulders at this point, adding an inflection of finality to the answer.} "As the T-C product line is one held to the upmost of quality and safety testing."
CONTINUITY \REFRAIN
"Paste!" Malcolm snorted, giving his wife a sidelong look, right eyebrow raised in indignation.
"Dreadful." Marietta blankly replied in agreement.
"Degenerates and thieves, those users!"
"Very unbecoming."
A silence stretched as both listened intently to the pipped jingle of a donut commercial on their tablets. "Now," Malcolm pulled a small, wooden box from it's hiding place under the couch, "Something worthy of consumption!" He retrieved an ornate silver box from within full of a fine, white powder with flourish and made two neat lines before burying his face and inhaling deeply.
"Undeniably." Marietta concurred, sitting up primly while accepting the container from
Malcolm and following suit. It was soon after another jingle began to play.
"Why is it legal?" Roger lifted his chin in shame, viewing the scene before him with mild contempt. There was no need for an investigation, he had seen it all. Miles Ulfrik, heir to the HIT TRIP Corporation, had tied one end of a rope to the main atrium column, the other to his neck, then had made a running sideways jump, wrapping his soon limp body around the column like a macabre tether ball. For a few seconds Roger had been apprehensive Miles' body was going to detach from his head, sending it flying like a bullet. But that didn’t happen till he had come to the bottom. What surprised Roger the most though was the piece of femur lodged in the side of a wooden flower box like a too-white splinter. It neatly gleamed in the sunlight, small flecks of crimson red sparkling over the surface.
"And do you know what caused this suicidal behavior?" the Officer asked when Roger has finished his retelling.
"It wasn't suicide." Roger stated, re-engaging eye contact with raised eyebrows "My
former employer seemed to literally believe he was a tether ball, and that by doing this
he would be reunited with the destiny he was meant to lead.."
"Of course..."
"Paste Officer, the sire enjoyed T-C321 specifically."