"Eh," Kugrash's shrug is a full body one, keeping even pace with Neal as they take a casual stroll.
"Between you and me, I don't think he's ever been okay a day in his life." Maybe that's projecting, either way. "I kinda worry about that kid. Knew someone back home that acted an awful lot like him. Great kid, good facade, but that's all it was for a while, you know? Kinda like you, too, I guess. More drugs though. I saw him pull, like, six bricks of cocaine out of his trenchcoat at one point. Not Jeff--my guy."
Neal snorts softly at the first declaration. "I don't think you're entirely wrong."
Neal glances sharply Kugrash's way when he blithely points out Neal's own defense mechanisms, smothering a little twinge of annoyance at the bluntness of it. The mention of drugs, though, and the similarities the stranger has to Jeff--those are more of a priority.
"A while back, when the music was all over town, making people fall asleep... I stopped him from walking into traffic. He thought I was his brother. He said he messed up, badly, that he didn't think we could fix it when I said we could try."
He lifts one hand to nip at a hangnail on his thumb. "I haven't been able to get that out of my head, but I don't know how to bring it up."
Kugrash watches Neal for a moment as they step into the lights, shrugging lightly for a second time. It's a habit. He's a shrug-y guy.
"Hey, uh, you probably don't want to hear this, but have you tried just asking about it the next time you two are alone instead of worrying about waiting for the right moment?" It's blunt, and crass, but Kugrash doesn't look annoyed at all. Just tired.
"Life's too short to pussyfoot around if you're worried about someone. You never know what's gonna happen next month, especially in this fucking place. Don't think it's really a good idea to be tactful."
And, with a grin: "You're gonna regret it when he goes, you know?"
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"Yes." He studies Kugrash's human-glamour-face, trying to guess what's going on. Feeling a little queasy at the possibilities. "What's going on?"
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"Between you and me, I don't think he's ever been okay a day in his life." Maybe that's projecting, either way. "I kinda worry about that kid. Knew someone back home that acted an awful lot like him. Great kid, good facade, but that's all it was for a while, you know? Kinda like you, too, I guess. More drugs though. I saw him pull, like, six bricks of cocaine out of his trenchcoat at one point. Not Jeff--my guy."
no subject
Neal glances sharply Kugrash's way when he blithely points out Neal's own defense mechanisms, smothering a little twinge of annoyance at the bluntness of it. The mention of drugs, though, and the similarities the stranger has to Jeff--those are more of a priority.
"A while back, when the music was all over town, making people fall asleep... I stopped him from walking into traffic. He thought I was his brother. He said he messed up, badly, that he didn't think we could fix it when I said we could try."
He lifts one hand to nip at a hangnail on his thumb. "I haven't been able to get that out of my head, but I don't know how to bring it up."
no subject
"Hey, uh, you probably don't want to hear this, but have you tried just asking about it the next time you two are alone instead of worrying about waiting for the right moment?" It's blunt, and crass, but Kugrash doesn't look annoyed at all. Just tired.
"Life's too short to pussyfoot around if you're worried about someone. You never know what's gonna happen next month, especially in this fucking place. Don't think it's really a good idea to be tactful."
And, with a grin: "You're gonna regret it when he goes, you know?"