𝐃𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐙𝐄𝐔𝐒.

And they say drinking never solves anything.

I don't know why I'm telling you this. Sometimes it feels like you're the only person I can trust.

I have already failed where it mattered most.

You always were a heartbreaker.

Do I look like the leader of this merry band of misfits?

I'm sorry. I feel like such a fool. All I wanted was to be happy… just for a little while. Forgive me.

When in doubt, run away, and let me handle it.

I should have known better than to let you get so close.

If we had a rock to push uphill, this would perfectly sum up my life.

Is that all you do? Dwell on the negative?

I just wish this wasn't necessary.

You betrayed me!

You sound like you're about to ask for a loan.

Anything could happen. You'll protect them, though. It's what you do.

Come on, haven't you ever wanted to slap me? Just a little?

Are you going to hold that over me forever?

It feels like something is ending, doesn't it?

We do a lot of walking, don't we?

Does this stuff have side effects?!

We stand upon the precipice of change.

Don't worry. Helping people and killing people are what I'm best at.

Now, this needs to be convincing. And you'll need to get creative—call me names, even hit me.

I am getting truly sick of looking at stalagmites. Or is it stalactites?

I was looking for someone with your… "special talents"

In about ten seconds, I'm just going to smash everything in sight.

You know I hate it when you do that.

I'm worried about you. You're enjoying this a little too much.

I will never, ever be clean again.

It's too late! The images are already in my mind and they will never, ever go away!

Don't wave that around! I mean… thank you for returning this perfectly harmless item to me.

Well, if that's what you're planning, perhaps I should join you after all.

What aren't you telling me?

It'll be nice to have the law on my side for a change.

Don't be silly. A dowry would only matter if you were courting him.

verso  shrugs.  ❝  you  haven’t  seen  how  annoying  i  can  be  yet.  ❞  is  the  last  note  he’ll  give  the  topic  of  their  hypothetical  hatred  of  him.  let  it  be  known  that,  beyond  his  swordsmanship  and  (subjectively)  good  looks,  verso’s  greatest  skill  is  earning  the  absolute  ire  of  just  about  anyone  if  he’s  left  alone  with  them  for  too  long.  the  good  lord  himself  might  have  cursed  him  out  if  the  two  were  locked  in  a  room  for  any  more  than  thirty  minutes.  

his  nose  scrunches  and,  behind  his  glasses,  his  eyes  squint  with  reflexive  DISGUST  at  the  mention  of  one  PERCY  JACKSON.  he  taps  ashes  off  from  the  end  of  his  cigarette  with  a  touch  more  force  than  needed.  

  ❝  di  angelo  is  WEIRD.  capital  W.  jackson  is…  jackson’s  a  WHOLE  other  ballfield  of  strange.  i  heard  he  blew  up  some  archway  or  something  while  fighting  -  shit,  what’s  her  name  -❞   he  snaps  his  fingers,  trying  to  recall  the  name.    ❝  enchiladas.  the  monster  lady.  HER.  ❞  if  it’s  the  right  calling  card  for  a  literal  monster  or  not,  he  really  doesn’t  care.  respectful  as  he  is  to  people,  THAT  THING  isn’t  exactly  a  person.  

maybe  one  day,  they  could  open  THOSE  cans  of  worms.  for  now,  it  would  be  laid  to  rest  with  that  agreement,  buried  under  the  soil  for  children  of  the  sky  to  lay  to  rest.  

her  eyes  roll  at  the  dramatic  nature  of  which  he  disses  the  other  children  of  the  big  three.  her  soft  spot  for  the  ghost  king  feels  rubbed  open,  wanting  to  defend  his  weirdness  once  more,  but  she  thinks  better  of  it,  and  thank  the  gods  she  does,  because  his  nickname  for  the  monster  percy  fought  makes  her  outright  cackle.  

it’s  an  ugly  laugh,  though  thalia  has  ALWAYS  been  told  they  had  an  ugly  laugh.  but  it’s  genuine,  and  it  is  hers.  

doubled  over,  hand  barely  gripping  onto  that  cigarette  as  she  tries  to  withhold  the  stray  giggle  that  just  won’t  stop  spilling  out  of  her  lips.  “you’re  no  better  than  jackson,  you  know  that?”  she  gets  out  between  the  stray  giggle  or  two,  wiping  her  eye  with  her  free  hand.  as  she  flicks  ashes  off  of  the  cigarette  that’s  dwindling  quickly,  her  lips  remained  quirked  upright  into  something  dangerously  close  to  a  fond  smile.  

that's how i'll know that i've been sent to fucking hell.

to me, this is like a great moment in my life.

how many times have i been on the other end of that fucking phone?

did you rat me out?

say it to my face, if you're gonna do this.

sweet dreams, angel.

listen to me, you cocksucker, i'll eat your fucking balls for breakfast.

what's it look like i'm doing?

that's a beautiful thing.

let me talk to this fucking guy for a second.

i'm so disgusted with you, you know that?

we could be cops.

we ought to hijack an oil tanker, there's a lot of money in oil.

he could have got whacked out just for that, for your information.

you understand? i'd die with you.

you know what you did, pal.

i want my husband.

hey, i'm talking to you now.

you ain't got no fucking idea, my friend.

the whole society's going down the tubes.

my ex-wife lives in this building.

i don't want to have to come looking for you. you hear me?

you're getting senile.

you want me to help you out?

why don't you go to the bar and have a drink?

i'll be in the kitchen if you need me.

if he gets in touch with you, you have got to try to talk sense into him.

ain't no way you can say to me a lincoln is better than a cadillac.

i guess you didn't ever think of paying these guys off, did you?

who's that over there?

keep your nose clean, be a good earner, follow the rules, and who knows, maybe one day when they open the books, you get straightened out.

i didn't know that.

that's something i don't forget, something that i will never ever forget.

from now on, i'll deal out the cards,

why'd you pay for that drink? a wise guy never pays for a drink.

i said i knew him, i didn't say i fucked him.

this guy is going to fucking kill you.

get me the fuck out of here!

okay. i'm sorry. i gotta go back to sleep.

it's not even a debate, it's a better automobile!

who's this guy?

you think i hate you?

i spent all these years trying to be the good guy.

what makes you think we're wise guys?

i got to have three spritzers afterward just to calm down after i see her.

you vouch for this guy?

you're on my side because i say you're on my side.

what? i'm freezing here!

i'm gonna show you something, i want you to look at it very carefully, and then i want you to think very carefully about what you say to me.

got a girlfriend?

were you asleep?

i just shit in my pants, right?

you're not the only one out there risking your life, bud.

i'm freezing my balls off.

what do we got to be standing outside all day in the cold for?

don't get on your fucking high horse.

did you ever once ask yourself how i make it through my days?

honey, don't wait up for me tonight.

a lincoln is better. it's a better automobile.

bing-bada-boom, it's done.

i'll bet you $20 that you can't get through this entire meal without saying three words.

don't ask so many fucking questions.

how about if i fucking whack you right here and now?

this is life or death.

what the fuck am i gonna do with razor blades?

i'm out here, worried to my fucking death.

you want to check in with me tomorrow?

go home, you miserable bitch.

we're gonna have to wash your mouth out, bud.

i don't want to come down here and iron anything out.

that's for the fucking drinks, pal.

you love control, don't you?

he got me so fucking aggravated.

forget about it.

the bureau wants your autograph.

fuck you, it's not over. i'm not coming out.

i'm checking my lipstick.

you think i'm fucking stupid?

i was working. nothing i could do.

you understand what i'm saying?

it's a nice fucking bluff, huh?

i can get these real cheap and i got a guy who can move them.

you have no idea what you're talking about.

i ain't running from nothing.

one day, i'm gonna die.

i want a divorce.

the meek want to inherit the earth, they're gonna have to get in fucking line.

i'm known all over the fucking world.

where are you going? wait in the car.

want to tell me where we're going?

don't you fucking call me cocksucker.

you think i got a wire in my car?

he ain't got no fucking respect.

you think i don't know that?

go back to sleep. i'll call you tomorrow.

am i getting the silent treatment?

no man of mine is gonna be alone on christmas. come on in here.

i'm doing the best i can.

you'd better fucking kill me.

just give me half a second, would you?

in all the five boroughs, i'm known.

i tell you right now, we better start earning or somebody's gonna get clipped.

you stabbed the wrong guy in the back, my friend.

you're starting to repeat yourself.

you a cop?

you know what happens when you get there, don't you?

i know you. you don't say nothing unless there's a reason for it.

this is a fucking deformed creature from the black lagoon‘s claw i got here.

sometimes you don't make no fucking sense.

we got about two minutes to figure a way out of this thing.

what the fuck are you doing down there?

i live with that every day.

don't start this shit now.

what the fuck are you talking about?

give it back to me, okay?

just stand there and look dangerous, friend.

i did what you asked.

come on, give me a hand with this.

you're pissing up the wrong fucking tree.

i'll cut your fucking throat, understand?

you're not saying things that mean anything.

you belong to me now.

i'll take care of it.

are you kidding me?

i got bruises on my hands.

i want to eat sometime tonight.

i want to know what you're up to.

congratulations. come here.

do you know another man that vacuums? it's abnormal.

this job is eating me alive.

fuck you, i'm getting my own room.

you know what i did yesterday?

ask him why this place is such a fucking dump.

it's a misunderstanding.

he does look dangerous, don't he?

are you married?

could you spot me a couple hundred?

how else am i supposed to open this?

keep your eye out for your balls.

i never said you was a rat.

wow. look at this.

you know that i wouldn't do this to you if i didn't think you could handle it.

you're gonna walk out on me? you don't walk out on me, i walk out on you.

i don't got a family.

i need a steak, medium rare. couple bowls of chili, extra hot.

one of you has got to be wrong.

how am i supposed to know if you don't explain it?

i'll show you a fucking picture.

if i vouch for the guy, i could wind up dead.

you know i'm sorry.

the good news is my dick is now a popsicle.

quit riding the fucking brake.

he'll never know what hit him.

you don't make no fucking sense.

look how beautiful you look.

just go away. stay away.

i don't want to die.

there's got to be a snitch here.

you're here for my dad?

i'm sorry.

i wanted to be alone with you.

what kind of people are gonna take another man's property right off the street?

i don't even want to look at you.

ain't that something?

you looked at it for two seconds.

are you trying to get me killed with that fucking suit?

i'm telling you, i'm freezing to my fucking death.

what? you gonna leave me?

hey, i got a fucking black belt, pal.

why don't you just shut the fuck up?

he was a friend of mine. broad daylight. i can't believe it.

come on, i'm gonna get a candy bar.

what are you talking to him for?

a wise guy don't carry his money in a wallet.

i'll break your fucking head.

no, i didn't hear a fucking thing.

what's the big deal?

hey, pal, you want to see something?

you got to get rid of that mustache 'cause that's against the rules.

a lincoln's like driving a fucking water bed, for christ's sakes.

you took away your wife's ring?

why don't you give it to your wife?

a wise guy's always right; even when he's wrong, he's right.

it's over.

i'm so tired.

wise guys? what are wise guys?

christ, i think i shit my pants.

what would i do without you?

did i say that? did i say you got a wire?

well, well, i've got to school you, my friend.

i pretend you're dead, that's how my life makes sense to me.

i got some things i got to take care of.

you're right. i misunderstood.

i'm not gonna do it anymore.

put the phone on your pillow, i want to listen to you breathe.

i was up here. i had a few things to care of.

don't you tell me what i know.

you never hear from the boss until he gets whacked and then your life gets turned around.

you know how fucking embarrassed i am?

what do you want me to do?

god, why do you hate me when i love you so much?

you keep your mouth shut about me.

how do you find anything in here?

since when does she have a boyfriend?

i didn't mean no disrespect.

that's a tiffany fucking diamond.

if you knew what i was doing today..

it's fucking cold. why is it so cold in here?

i don't want to be stepping on nobody's toes.

you're becoming like them, you know that?

if this is your family, then this is your family.

i came here to be with you.

what do you want me to say?

you don't talk until i talk to you.

whoa, you don't fucking call me that.

i'll blow his brains right there.

no, hold on. wait. i gave you the diamond.

a guy like you doesn't touch a made guy.

i'm getting fucking cancer over here.

you know what i'm saying?

he's a stand-up guy.

your father is so proud of you.

what happened to him? is he gonna be all right?

do what you're told.

seven days a week, i'm out there busting my ass, and this is the shit i come home to.

come on upstairs.

sorry ain't gonna do it.

the problem is that you think that he's helping you, but he's hurting you.

you, wait in the car.

when i introduce you, i'm gonna say, "this is a friend of mine." that means you're a connected guy.

come here. don't mess around with me.

jesus christ couldn't touch you, because i represent you.

a wise guy carries money in a roll, like this. see?

let me tell you something, i hope he crossed over.

you want to go embarrass yourself with this thing..

you don't know the worries i got.

you scared that guy, though.

will you fucking stop that?

you got a car?

is that your way of saying you're sorry?

you're taking the whole fucking thing apart.

i don't know how long i'm gonna be.

you're sorry? shut the fuck up.

hey, you. come here!

you owe me $8,000.

what do you know?

all i'm saying, i'm saying they don't appreciate you, is what i'm saying.

take off your shoes, or i'm gonna chop off your fucking feet.

you don't mention his name, all right?

where you going? sit down there.

come on, honey. come home.

you said it was gonna be three months, it's going on two years.

give me the keys.

all that fucking money you owe downtown, you'd have to lay off a fucking brink's truck.

i was hoping we'd get off on the right foot here.

i got a girl out there in california.

i want to help you out.

that's really nice of you.

sometimes i think, in that orphanage, they dropped you on your fucking head.

nobody else gave a fuck.

all i want from my end is $8,000.

forget it, i ain't taking my fucking shoes off.

the army? it ain't nothing like the army. the army is some guy you don't know sends you out to whack some other guy you don't know.

that's good, babe.

what were you doing last night?

what do you think you're running from?

i think you owe me an apology.

i'm gonna show you something.

i got 26 fucking hits under my belt, and you're the one he's scared of.

a cadillac's got more acceleration, it's got more power.

you think that's funny? i don't think that's so funny.

where the hell am i gonna get money to go bribing cops? nobody authorized that.

we're getting what we want. fuck him.

you losing your marbles on me or what?

give him a smack in the mouth once in a while.

you don't got a family?

you gonna break his legs?

nobody can touch you now. i'm your man.

what's that, you want me to sign it?

what kind of car do you drive?

a son should respect his father, capisce?

are you okay, honey?

i'm gonna be right here. all right?

where we going?

it was the only thing i liked about this job.

they're gonna kill him, because he vouched for me, because he stood up for me.

i put a bet on a horse, that horse don't do what it's supposed to do, like every fucking thing else in my life.

what do you want? $100?

i said that?

you don't have to be fucking einstein to understand this.

come on. i was just bullshitting around.

pull over. i've got to do something.

please calm down.

can you believe those fucking guys?

this ain't a fucking rodeo.

i'm your best friend.

he looked after me when i was in the can.

where the fuck do you get your ideas?

i ain't married.

just shut up, please. leave me alone.

you think i don't know how a hit gets set up?

we never had this kind of a problem when nixon was around.

i'd like to put a dent in that guy's head.

that's the same thing as if i put the bullet in his head myself, you understand?

this place is a goddamn palace, for christ's sake.

i didn't rat you out.

i demand that you tell me where my husband is!

i brought this by for you, it's a little christmas present.

let's go get your car. come on.

i don't hate you.

you know who you're talking to, my friend?