un:antigoneiguess | audio

[rudelanguage]

S...that's fine, yeah. This'll...this'll be great. [beat.

oh.

oh fuck we're on! Antigonevoice GO]

Oh! Uh! Hhhhey! Heyyy, so uh. Did anyone get offered to, uh...buy a guy? During the fog stuff?

Quick yes or no works.

[...]

That's all.

Comments

Un: TerribleTinkerer | Audio | Private

[badnewsandshitlist]

"Hello. I assume you know who this is."

[A beat. He exhales through his nose, a faint, nervous laugh.]

"I'm calling about the transaction. The one where I apparently sold myself. To you."

[Silence. He presses on, voice taut with restrained horror.]

"I wasn't quite myself at the time. Or rather, I was a version of myself who thought it terribly clever to test what a man is worth when he stops valuing himself. Turns out the answer was a candy bar."

[He winces audibly, the humor brittle.]

"I would like to say reverse it, but I doubt that is how these things work. I am not here to threaten or bargain. I would just prefer not to be owned. Not even ironically."

[A pause. He forces a thin laugh.]

"I understand it was a fair trade at the time. But now that my head is clear, I would like to buy myself back. For a little more than sugar and shame."

[He exhales, the wryness returning in quiet defeat.]

"Perhaps we could negotiate. I could offer a better candy bar. Or a favor. Something a touch more dignified than being traded for nougat."

[rudelanguage]

...

[...]

...

[...]

Bottlecap.

[badnewsandshitlist]

[A pause. He laughs softly, too tired to pretend surprise.]

“…A bottlecap. How perfectly humiliating. I accept.”

[Another pause. His voice lowers, steady but thin with pride.]

“And… thank you, for not naming me. I would prefer to keep it that way. Etraya has enough gossip without my contribution.”

[A faint, rueful smile in his tone.]

“Besides, my wife still believes I have a trace of sense left. If she learns I sold myself for confectionery and scrap metal, she will never let me near a marketplace again.”

[He exhales, quieter now.]

“So let us leave the story untitled. A secret is safest in indifference, after all.”

[rudelanguage]

[again, another lengthy pause while Knife is processing.

then:] How was I gonna name a guy whose name I didn't know?