NO MERCY!

dialogue prompts from so far gone by jess walter.

i'm not selling anything. i'm your ______.

i am not a recluse.

i did not cut off contact. it was complicated.

you still have a way with words.

let's just try to be a normal family.

kids don't drink coffee, right?

can you take care of _____ for a while?

i feel like the whole world is a shirt i've outgrown.

you really do have a way of describing things.

who knew quiet has its own sound?

i like to read whole series. if there's just one book, it makes me sad when it's over.

we live only as long as someone remembers us. only as long as someone cares.

why did you drop out?

i felt like the world was drifting in one direction, and i was going the other way.

i don't know a single number by memory anymore.

i'm trying this new 'honesty' approach.

maybe you should mind your own damn business.

you don't get to take back what you said. you were on the record.

how do you know when it's really love?

if it's the real thing, you start to want your happiness more than their own.

alcohol makes people do funny things. loneliness does, too.

i can't small talk like this.

technically, i think once you've fucked everything up, the only way you can fix it is to fuck everything down.

we're on the border of bizarroland, out here.

it seemed like a good place to disappear.

i genuinely thought no one would miss me.

i always pictured you different.

filing a police report is about as helpful as tossing a coin into a fountain.

be more like me: such a bad parent, your kids don't bother you with their bullshit.

we can do this. i'm with you.

it takes more than a bullet to slow me down.

i'm no hero. we just did what had to be done.

can i ask what you're thinking right now?

i'm sorry. i'm out of practice talking to people.

have you thought about coming back?

good plan. be a dick to the one person willing to help you.

it's not a lie if no one asks.

i had this insane idea that i was rescuing you. that you needed saving.

i am not disappointed in you. i'm sorry i gave you that impression.

if i change my mind, you'll be my first call.

how do you think that would make a mother feel?

all cruelty springs from weakness. seneca said that. along with 'ignorance is the cause of fear.'

i'm not helping you with this, but i'm not stopping you, either.

i've made it this far in life without killing anyone. be a shame to start now.

you might be the best _____ i've ever seen.

i don't know if i believe in god.

i heard you crying. i didn't know if i should say anything.

i can't be your little buddy anymore.

you did your best.

ㅤㅤTaste is usually acquired with experience, but there has to be a willingness to open one’s mind in order to fully embrace the smorgasbord this world has to offer, a feat that not all are entirely prepared to do. Set down a nice meaty steak with all the fixins, and Snake would probably be perfectly content regardless of the grading of the beef itself - whether locally sourced and pumped full of USAD approved nutrients, or grass-fed and shipped across the world from Queensland, a true gourmand would know that a good peppercorn sauce can shift opinion within an instant for the undiscerning palate of those not particularly concerned about what they put in their body  (  unfortunately he’s had to be careful in recent years  ).  “ That bad, huh? ”  There's a sharp tut, the sound alluding to how times seemed to have changed, noting how this was undoubtedly a deterrent to stop re-offenders from circling back into the system, the promise of a decent meal seemingly ample for those unfortunate enough to consider the big house as a viable lifestyle choice.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤWhy anyone would want to go back was beyond him, yet Silver can think of far worse reasons, none of which were particular appetising for someone whom had evaded jailtime a selection of times. Analytical eyes trace over the other’s shifting mien when family comes into question, the addition of the child on the team a means to an end in the grander scheme of things - they had far stronger students in their midst, and from the elderly man’s perspective, Felix was never intended to make an impression given the others’ proven fortitude  (  nepotism can only get you so far, regardless of hardwork  ).  There’s an acquiescing nod with the topic, but an unimpressed stream of air is expelled, chin raising as gelid eyes sharply poise upon the other’s gaze - there was always a minor element of friction between Snake and Dennis, a factor Terry often took advantage of in order for the duo to meet elevated expectations their sensei held just out of reach—  but this tournament was  important, the last thing needed was for them to start a dick measuring contest while losing sight of  their  his goals.

"they  ain't  exactly  serving  criminals  five  star  meals."      words  are  more  a  casual  confirmation  rather  than  any  real  grievance.  snake  made  his  bed;  he  knew  how  to  lie  in  it.  some  might  mistake  such  resignation  as  defeatist,  but  the  strange  truth  is?      —      a  man  of  his  simplistic  nature  found  a  semblance  of  peace  in  prison.  there  was  routine  to  be  found  there  that  couldn't  be  sought  in  an  otherwise  chaotic  life  full  of  wrong  decisions.  freedom  was  the  real  challenge:    adapting  to  change      /      fighting  for  scraps.  it  became  noticeably  harder  after  every  sentence.  maybe  that's  why  he  always  inevitably  finds  himself  back  here,  tempting  fate.      "last  one  i  had  there  was  a  very  fuckin'  questionable  lookin'  casserole  and  three  day  old  rice."      he  doubts  terry's  offer  comes  from  a  place  of  wanting  to  improve  his  palate  anyway.

it's honestly nothing. i can deal with it myself.

next time something like this happens, you have to promise to tell me.

you're making a big deal out of nothing. i'll be fine.

how long have you had that?

i'm good at this, you know. patching up wounds.

would you cut it out? i'm trying to help you.

why didn't you tell me you were bleeding?

you didn't have to take that hit for me.

what are you hiding from me?

it's not the worst injury i've ever seen, but it's pretty bad.

how long were you going to hide this from me?

at least let me look at it.

there. it looks much better.

this will help with the pain.

i'm forever in your debt.

i didn't have anywhere else to go.

this wasn't supposed to happen.

is that your blood?

i've patched up nastier wounds than this.

stop squirming! you're going to be fine!

this is bad. this is really bad.

i just need a band-aid and a nap. i'll be fine.

we need to get you to a hospital.

how does it look? be honest.

keep your eyes open, okay? keep looking at me.

it doesn't hurt that bad.

give me your hand. let me look at it.

who taught you how to patch a wound like that?

it's not as bad as i thought it would be, that's for sure.

would you just let me help you? please?

you saved my life.

let me go find my first aid kit. it's in here somewhere.

i'll take care of it. you just sit and rest.

see? that wasn't so bad after all.

i've seen worse.

take two of these and drink some water.

ow! that really hurt!

i've got you, okay? everything's going to be fine.

you're gonna have to take your shirt off.

well... it could have been worse.

it looks worse than it really is, i swear.

roll up your sleeve a little, will you?

does that feel all right?

i didn't even realize i was bleeding.

you could have been killed out there!

give me a second to patch this up.

don't close your eyes. you hear me? stay with me.

i'm not giving up on you just yet.

you still need some time to heal.

i'm right here. i won't leave your side.

thank you for taking care of me.

if you can still hear me, help is on the way!

just squeeze my hand when it starts hurting.

how long have i been out?

let me check for a fever.

did you patch this up?

i've had worse injuries than this.

where did you learn to do that?

take some deep breaths for me.

look at me. you're going to be fine.

hold still! stop moving around so much!

i'll take care of you.

what the hell were you thinking?

where does it hurt?

i'm so used to doing this myself.

lift up your shirt a little so i can see.

lay back down. you're not healed up yet.

you never should have put yourself in harm's way like that.

looks like i've got myself a really good nurse.

will you stay with me while i sleep?

no one's ever helped me like that before.

i would have died had it not been for you.

don't you get it? if you don't let me help you, you'll die.

we have to be quick about this.

stop following me!

get out of here.

get some rest.

kiss me.

cool it.

shut your mouth.

get off the computer.

walk back out the way you came.

stay low to the ground.

hold this for me.

stop doing that!

hang this up.

fill this up.

don't you dare.

don't look at me.

make your bed.

say something!

keep it clean.

go find someone else to bother.

get back or i'll shoot!

quit doing that.

go to bed.

turn around.

tell me the truth.

trust me on this.

stay here.

get your hands off me.

eat this.

try this and tell me if you like it.

hold me.

get lost!

don't ever speak to me again.

head down this road.

stop the car!

don't say that to me.

stop it right now.

get over yourself.

quit talking.

hide with me.

throw this away.

be here by nine.

get this to me as soon as possible.

don't delay.

tell me how you feel.

talk to me.

touch me.

clean that up.

go date someone else.

hold my drink.

tie this for me.

go take a shower.

wrap yourself up with this.

be here early.

tell me you're lying.

pour me another one.

take my hand.

put your phone down.

go to hell.

stay close to me.

get back here.

shut the door behind you.

stay away from me.

go cool off.

talk to me.

turn left here.

stay the night.

don't do this to me.

leave and never come back.

don't say another word.

pick that up.

speak to me!

clean yourself up.

sleep if you need to.

turn that off.

put that back.

do you remember what i told you last time?

have you been doing well since i saw you?

that's not what you told me back then.

when was the last time i saw you?

you were shorter then.

i'm picking the restaurant this time.

we've known each other since we were children.

always knew i could count on you.

that time was different. this is worse.

you're not going to let me live that down, are you?

i seem to remember a conversation we had back then.

so you changed your mind about it?

do you remember our encounter in paris?

you should know me by now.

am i the only one that knows the truth?

we had a lot of help back then.

your mom told me to look out for you.

you just love bringing that back up to annoy me.

maybe don't mention my past indescretions?

this was never going to work out between us.

i told you not to get attached.

i know more about you than you think.

i was there, remember?

i'm not about to forget all the shit you put me through.

you told me you were going to try and make this work.

remember what i said to you?

the last time i saw you, things were good between us.

you never mentioned this before.

that was the longest flight of my life, and you made it worse.

can i still trust you after all that?

at least we tried to make something work.

we never discussed what happened between us.

okay, but i'm driving the car this time.

i haven't forgotten what you said last week.

i'm still thinking about your comment.

i didn't realize it was you when i first saw you.

you seem to make a lot of enemies around here.

there's not much for us to talk about.

we worked it out last time.

i know you far better than you know yourself.

we have a long history.

is that the shirt you were wearing last time?

what don't i know about you?

i haven't told them about us.

you were the only person i could go to.

you know me.

this is bigger than both of us.

i can't stand your driving.

are you taking me to the place we had dinner last time?

that's not at all what you said.

didn't we agree on that?

i thought i made it very clear where i stand.

are these the same people that came after you last time?

are you still going on about it?

can we talk about it?

staying silent about it won't help.

you're the only person who knows the real me.

ㅤㅤWell well well, someone looks pissed - even the large pair of sunglasses  shielding the man’s eyes from the sunlight  covering the embedded bruises about Silver’s visage doesn’t detract from an overt look of aggression from the elder Payne sibling, the former sensei looking him over with a curious raise of a brow  (  motion stunted due to a sharp ache about his temples  ).  While he admired Kenny’s dedication and ability to pick up their teachings so readily with such innate speed, the boy was still of a much smaller stature when compared with some of the other kids, a factor that contrasts so drastically when Shawn enters the picture. The elderly man’s had a number of in depth conversations with the younger brother, topics varying from an isolated home life, to an absent father bravely dedicating his life for his country, and to some of the trouble the other had gotten into.

it's  a  sorry  fucking  state  of  affars.      —      released  from  juvenile  detention  to  find  his  baby  brother  mixed  up  in  karate  hell,  the  flames  of  which  he  sent  him  straight  into.  against  his  better  judgement,  and  in  spite  of  their  fractured  past,  shawn  put  trust  in  robby  keane  when  he  sent  kenny  to  him.  he  thought  he  could  help    [...]    should'a  known  better.  believing  people  ain't  ever  ended  good  for  him  before.  now  he's  got  a  kid  at  home  he  barely  recognises  spouting  bullshit  beliefs  of  'no  mercy'  and  high  hopes  crushed  because  the  old  man  he  looked  up  to  turned  out  to  be  a  lie.  this  never  would've  happened  on  his  watch.  that's  what  he  tells  himself  anyway;    an  attempt  to  ease  his  own  guilt  over  being  gone.  if  big  brother  was  watching,  maybe  it  wouldn't  have  gone  this  far.