Written in 365 Parts: 82: A Manifest Bastard

“Aren’t you supposed to be dead?”

“Apparently so.”

“Then maybe I need to say encore?”

“Well it would be within the range of expected responses for you. I have come to accept that no matter what others might say, you will have something along a different dimension of conversational practicalities to digest.”

“I am not sure if that is intended as a compliment, or an insult?”

“I rarely insult in a casual fashion, and compliments I reserve for those that crave such pleasantries. Do I usually classify you as either craven or worthy of contempt? I have a lot more respect for you than that.”

“Your conversation is refreshingly complex which indicates there’s no immediate brain damage, though you took an awfully long time to come out of the coma.”

“How tardy of me, I really should be admonished for such errant behaviour.”

“Well if you insist.”

“Tell me, since I have no real interest in opening my eyes as yet, and I do not feel quite comfortable enough to link to system, are you really here? Are you in punching distance of someone proficient in such matters? Can I persuade them to hit you for getting myself involved in this whole sorry mess?”

“Yes. Yes. And they’re not that stupid.”

“I pay well.”

“I come with a bad reputation. Well, strike that, it is actually a good reputation, for being a magnificent bastard.”

“I have certainly heard you called worse, though I would never seek to use such profane monikers.”