[Image Description: Three fake screenshots using the Disco Elysium text format. It is set in a small apartment, and instead of Harry and Kim are Billy (who has pale skin, short black hair, and looks exhausted) and Thaddeus (similarly pale skin, white hair and a beard). Each screenshot progresses the text on the right, as follows:
THADDEUS - "I just... I feel like anybody else would have done better."
EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - His voice was soft, like he doesn't want to admit his weakness out loud. It wasn't entirely what he meant, anyway. It was less that anybody else would have done better, but anybody else would be better.
YOU - "Here's to being alive." You take a longer drink as you contemplate how to respond to Thaddeus's last statement--
PENDRAGON - Stick your hand down his pants.
- That's a GREAT idea.
- I beg your pardon? (Selected)
PENDRAGON - Put down the fucking glass and stick your hand down his pants. He'll probably yell at you or something, but it'll definitely shift the mood.
- He's right. Do it immediately.
- I could do more than stick a hand down his pants.
- No! No. What the fuck. (Selected)
YOU - You sit up and place the glass on a table so you don't break it or something, before settling back into position. Scrub a hand across your face.
PAIN THRESHOLD [Medium: Success] - Shift your left arm for a moment, rolling your shoulder, because god it ached but also the pain was clarifying.
YOU - "It doesn't matter what anybody else would have or could have done. Do you know why? They weren't there. You were there, and you did what you could, and it made a difference. Maybe not the difference you wanted, but god, I wish I'd done things differently, too--"
THE HANGED MAN - Honestly, the pants thing isn't Pendragon's worst idea.
- "Oh my god, why is everyone so talkative suddenly?" (Selected)
- No, you've fucked it. Hand. Pants. Now.
CAJETAN - Because they want to you to ask Thaddeus out and they're both very bad at subtlety. Don't stick your hand down his pants, mind. But maybe ask him out for coffee.
- [Composure - Difficult] Ask him out for coffee. (Selected)
- Stay quiet. Now's not the time.
- HAND. PANTS. NOW.
COMPOSURE [Difficult: Success] - You take a moment to compose yourself, mutter something about your brain being made of bullshit and duct tape, then shift to look Thaddeus more directly in the eye.
YOU - "Look, I realize I'm an idiot, but would you like to go out sometime?"
reading a thread by @king-of-the-dots and another mutual thread and it just. fit too fucking well