Unhappy Spy is a dangerous Spy.

[not_onyourside]

I do not like zhis place anymore. Take me back to zhe ozzer one. Zhat was better. Everyone here ees cranky and irritable.

And zhey keep secrets from me. No one keeps secrets from me.

No one.

Comments

[not_onyourside]

Oh.

[HE HEARS THAT UNSPOKEN CRITICISM.]

And were you?

[hasstandards]

[He turns red and snorts angrily, shooting Spy an incredulous look.]

[not_onyourside]

I cannot tell eef zhat ees a yes or a no, mon ami.

[hasstandards]

No! What, you think I'm like that, too?

[not_onyourside]

I do not know what you do een your relationships! I am just asking, do not be mad at me for zhis.

So you were not unfaithful and she had no reason to worry. You could not convince her of such?

[hasstandards]

[And now he's all worked up.]

No. She stormed out on me, burned down half the bloody city, and died. And she respawned, and she doesn't bloody remember me, and everything is just fine!

[not_onyourside]

She -- And ---

What do you mean she does not remember you?

[hasstandards]

I said it's fine!

[Turning his back to you now, bringing a hand to his face as his entire body stiffens, tension building in him.]

[not_onyourside]

But -- but eets not.

[Spy doesn't know what to do. He's positive a hug won't fix it, but that's pretty much all he has. So have a gentle hug.]

I am sorry Sniper.

[hasstandards]

[Sniper attempts to shove him off on reflex alone, his body shaking as he buries all he's feeling.]

I deserved it anyway, didn't I? She'll be happier this way. In fact, we both will be. Now I can do all the hunting I want and not think about how I'm worryin' her or leavin' her alone.

[not_onyourside]

[He lets himself be pushed off, sinking to the floor and sitting cross-legged while he thinks about this.]

You did not deserve eet. Und she ees not any happier eef she does not know why she should be happier.

[hasstandards]

[Sniper stops shaking after a few good breaths.]

She'll be better off. She won't know it, but... she will be. It's better this way.

[not_onyourside]

Why?

[hasstandards]

Because I won't be there to muck things up for her.

[not_onyourside]

But you still live --

Very well. Eef zhat ees what you zhink ees best.

[hasstandards]

It is. Everything's fine.

[But for all his talk about how much happier she'll be, he doesn't look like he is.]

[not_onyourside]

You do not look like everyzzing ees fine.

[hasstandards]

[He takes another breath to calm his nerves, but it just rattles into him, the sound making it apparent he's shaking again. He takes his glasses off and rubs at his eyes, never turning around.]

Because it's not, for me. Not yet. I—

[He chokes something in his throat before it escapes, curling inward on himself, crumpling his hat over his face.]

I... I still love her, mate. I don't know how to fix that.

[not_onyourside]

So you are doing what ees best for her?

[His eyes fall on the ground, unsure what to say. He's never been in this situation, and wasn't likely to ever be in something remotely similar.]

Love doesn't just end. I do not know what to tell you. But eef you need somezzing --- If you need anyzzing I will help you.

[hasstandards]

I don't think there's a thing you can do, mate. Not unless there's a way to make me forget, too.

[And frankly, he's not sure he wants that, either. He pauses, finally replacing his glasses on his face and fixing his hat, eyes still on the ground though he's mostly regained his composure.]

... But thanks, mate. I mean it.

[not_onyourside]

I cannot, and eef I could, I would not.

[He nods. Still unsure what to say, he hates being helpless.]

[hasstandards]

Right. Probably best ya wouldn't. My judgment ain't what it used to be some days.

[not_onyourside]

[Hey, you're not threatening to commit suicide, that's a plus.]

Well I can help een taking your mind off eet at least. We can go shooting zhings. And you can laugh on zhe off chance I actually hit anyzzing.

[hasstandards]

[He just wants to run into the woods and hunt until he's numb this time. Hey, it's an improvement.]

You... want to go hunting.

[not_onyourside]

I meant at targets on zhe range. Hunting? You mean like animals?

[This is the guy who has a pet jackrabbit remember.]