The Stowaway/The Diplomat - The end?
It was deeply unfortunate that the other man left her alone. Connection. Missing connection. The new voice was getting stronger.... or maybe it had always been there and he’d simply missed it all this time. The monster’s voice - it hissed and growled even now, it didn’t seem to like the newcomer - in his head spoke far too often for much else to be allowed in his head aside from it and his own thoughts.
Duke opened their mouth to speak again but the man beside him had already said his piece - what he didn’t know about Duke’s evening affairs with booze and ladies and men and dancing - wait dancing? Men?! - he did enjoy dancing but...
Being a crime lord by night and a diplomat by day was exhausting.
The other disappeared and Duke hummed thoughtfully to herself. Himself? Their self?
The other thing his mask of speech - Your mask sucks - accomplished rather regularly was allowing him insight to the people he spoke with. Yes, his speech was meant to baffle but how people reacted to it? It told him everything he needed to know about who the other person was.
We need a plan. People need help.
“Mmm, that we do.” Duke responded out loud to the female sounding voice in his head, this night was going sideways from every direction. He leaned against the rail again, feeling the mechanical movements of the train parts. Doors sliding open and then shut, the adjustment of levers in the engine cabin, the machine was still moving, even if it’s passengers were not.