CYOA Page 38
Sep. 15th, 2013 12:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lumy12You pull Joel aside -- not aside enough to be able to use much physical persuasion, unfortunately, so your tools are limited. "Joel, just for a little while. He obviously needs more time."
"More time ain't gonna fix anythin' for him. He's already been out here for... what, a few weeks? Longer? He's just tryin' to run away from his problems. An' you know that don't work." He gives you a pointed look.
"Hey, I'm not the only one who used to do that," you retort. "Do you think I can't handle him by myself? That I can't... keep us safe? Take care of things?"
"I'm sure you're perfectly capable." Joel's response is measured... and he takes a moment to think of what he wants to say next. "It ain't about that. It's about me."
"You?"
"I can't... not know that you're all right. An' if anything were to happen--"
"What would happen? There's no one--"
"If anythin' were to happen," he repeats, "I would never..."
You wait for him to finish that, even though you get the idea... but he is apparently deciding to change tactics.
"We're both doin' this job," he says. "It ain't like you're just along for the ride. I need you to watch my back. How would you feel if somethin' were to happen to me?"
"A guilt trip, Joel? Really?" You're almost impressed. Maybe he's been learning stuff from ME like I am from him!
"No trip. It's a serious question."
You sigh. "I'm sure you'd be fine..." Although you don't feel sure. Because stuff has happened to him before...
"Maybe I would. But you wouldn't know. For days. What if I don't come back?"
"Joel, don't-- uggghhh," you groan. You don't want to think about shit like that. You can't.
He looks at you triumphantly. "How you're feelin' right now? That's how I'd feel bein' apart from you, out here. We have to stick together."
You nod in resignation; you know he's right. In fact, you would probably be chasing after him within five minutes of him leaving, because you already wouldn't be able to stand it. "Okay. Let's go tell Zack he has no choice."
Continue to page 41.
Carlos
Date: 2021-02-24 12:46 pm (UTC)RE: Carlos
Date: 2021-02-24 01:21 pm (UTC)