ghosts of time gone

Good question. Maybe out of a deluded sense of hope? — What is the hourly rate for a private investigator anyway?

Seems to be a lot of that on this campus. Do you really want to know?

I can only presume out of desperate need of your services.

Doesn't mean I run a charity.

A PI? You’re a private investigator? That’s impressive. You’re awfully young.

So I keep on hearing. I try not to focus on the whole age thing. Always comes with a tone of condescension.

Good enough for me.

Seems like you're trying for a charmer sort of bit.

I suppose you’re good at what you do. Is that not enough to help somebody out?

Not with the equipment I need. And the gas. The job doesn't come cheap.

I guess they’re hoping you’ll decide to be charitable. 

It would be nice, but it doesn't come with the territory. That's how you get taken advantage of.

Desperation. It’s quite the driving force.

The ones who can't afford it are usually asking for stupid shit. Find the dog I lost when I was seven, track down that frat guy I didn't get the name of at that one party. And on and on.

Licia – am I going to have to hire a PI to figure out why I haven’t seen you in the last few days?

I have a case - an important one. And it's nice to feel useful.

They’re probably hoping that they can talk you into giving them a deal if they bother you long enough.

When did I gain the reputation of being a pushover? That would be news to me.

"So a mushroom walks into a bar— and the bartender said ‘We don’t serve your kind in here’ and the mushroom replied ‘Why not? I’m a fungi.’—”

I was going to go for a slow clap, but you did manage to get a chuckle out of me.

Well I was trying to end this conversation, but you clearly missed that point as well. 

'Kay then. Off you go.

It becomes a legitimate issue when you can’t separate the arguments you’ve engaged— and evidently trounced—in person regarding social issues verses the disputes you find yourself having with people in a dream. Did I just defend the right of turkeys in relation to their conditions in Missouri or has the Sandman visited me mid-shift once again?

What the fuck are you babbling about?

Well, I don’t know about anyone else but I know what I’m doing tonight.

Pass that along, sweetie.

Whatever floats your boat, sweetheart. 

Sorry, is there a point to this? Do you have someone more submissive that you can go mouth off to?

Why is it every time you need just that ONE thing from the store… they are out. How frustrating. 

Yeah, frustrating that there's only one store in this entire city.

"Well, it was only number two of the four Ivy League colleges I was kicked out of, so I guess I had some leeway. My name had that prestige once upon a time.”

Are you trying to impress me, or something?