Joe Barbaro from Mafia II. Trying to get an old muse's voice back.

[thingcalledjoe]

So now you're interested in me again, eh?

Look, sweetheart, this on and off shit's gonna quit, ya know what I mean? If I'm gonna fuckin' stick around I wanna stick around for more than once every couple'a months. I know ya like me, an' I like you too. But tell me I'm gonna be around a little longer this time, a capiche?

Comments

[mutagenic]

Sounds like somebody needs a more reliable partner.

[thingcalledjoe]

You're telling me, lady--what the hell are you.

[mutagenic]

Now, that isn't very nice to ask, is it?

[ her neck-- that is her neck, right?-- stretches so the white orb that might be a face is much closer, like she's peering at him curiously. as much as one can without visible eyes. ]

I'm Inque. Hello.

[thingcalledjoe]

[HOLY FUCKING CHRIST. Joe backs the FUCK up, wide-eyed and confused as hell.]

Jesus H. Fuck!

[mutagenic]

Oh, don't be so jumpy. I don't bite.

[ her neck pulls back towards her body and her liquidy form does a strange thing where it just ripples and shrinks back, revealing a woman underneath.

a touch mockingly: ]

Better?

[thingcalledjoe]

[And Joe just stares the whole while.]

... Lady, I don't know what the hell you just did but I repeat: what the fuck are you.

[mutagenic]

Trade secret. [ she waves a hand dismissively. ] I'd share it with you, but I hardly know you.

[thingcalledjoe]

Joe Barbaro, for one.

[mutagenic]

Hello, Joe.

Like I said, I go by Inque. I'm for hire.

[thingcalledjoe]

For hire for what? Being a freaky broad doing... whatever the fuck that was?

[mutagenic]

Sabotage. Murder.

[thingcalledjoe]

I can respect that. I do a little 'a that myself.

[mutagenic]

The old fashioned way, I suppose. You seem a little outdated.

[thingcalledjoe]

The fuck's that mean now, eh?

[mutagenic]

It means you've obviously never seen someone use mutagen before. Someone like me.

[thingcalledjoe]

So that's what it's called?

[mutagenic]

That's right.

But I wouldn't get any ideas, if I were you.

[thingcalledjoe]

I need a clue about what it is before I start gettin' any ideas. But now I'm startin' to think I drank way too damn much last night.

[mutagenic]

[ she comes closer, reaches out to lightly pat the side of his face. ]

Oh, I'm real, Joe. Very real.

[thingcalledjoe]

[okay getting touched now he's pretty sure he's not hallucinating. this would be kinda hot too if he knew what was happening.]

... Okay. Got it. You're real.

[mutagenic]

[ it might be a little mocking when she responds mildly: ]

Look how fast you catch on.

[thingcalledjoe]

[He notices that, but other than raising an eyebrow he leaves it alone.]

So do I get to know whatever that voodoo shit was that ya did, or is that on another need to know basis?

[mutagenic]

Voodoo? You mean this little old trick?

[ she does that thing where it looks like she ripples again, and suddenly she's all sleek black, like ink, with only the white sphere of her face to make her appearance more humanoid. ]

I suppose that's just a side effect of me being-- what did you say? Oh. Yes. A freaky broad.

[thingcalledjoe]

[AHAHAHAH WELP EYES GETTING KINDA BIG AGAIN. He takes a small step back.]

... Yeah. I'd say so.

[mutagenic]

[ and she stretches so that the small step back doesn't put much space between them. ]

Don't look so scared. You're a big boy, aren't you?

[thingcalledjoe]

Fuck, this is weird... [FUCK IT, HE'S GONNA TRY TO DEAL WITH THIS though it's still pretty obvious he's weirded out.] Hey, hey hey hey. I'm plenty enough of a man if that's what you're gettin' at.

So... uh--what, this mean you're gonna do somethin' to me or some shit?

[mutagenic]

If I were going to do something to you, it wouldn't be anything very nice.

[ she tilts her head. ]

So, you tell me. Should I do something to do you?

[thingcalledjoe]

I'm good, sweeatheart.

[mutagenic]

Oh, aren't you a smart cookie?

[thingcalledjoe]

Bet that tush I am.

So uh... what's your story then, eh? [WOW HE'S GETTING THE HANG OF THIS]

[mutagenic]

Now you're getting personal.

I'm strictly business.

[thingcalledjoe]

Oh yeah? So what DO ya know? You know, so I got somethin' to talk about.

[mutagenic]

Enough about me. What about you?

[thingcalledjoe]

Heh, well. Lucky for you, I'm the opposite. All personal, no business talk.