#cardinal;

Cardinal Sentences, Condensed

(Sentences from Cardinal (2017-2020) and related stories. Adjust phrasing where needed)

"If I make you the lead on this, I need to know that you're not going to drift."

"When were you planning on sharing this?"

"I don't know how you stay so patient."

"What am I missing here? I can't do my job if you leave me in the dark."

"You know not to come here. We shouldn't be seen together."

"Whatever you're looking for, there's nothing to find."

"Do you really want to make an enemy of me right now?"

"Did you hear the screaming last night?"

"The problem with most people is that they don't understand that to survive, you have to find meaning in suffering. There's power in pain."

"You know you're going to have to face this eventually. It might as well be today."

"I'm fine! Why can't you see that?"

"You try, and try, and try, but some people just can't be saved."

"You're nothing special. You're just another killer."

"People always look better in pictures taken by people who love them."

"I won't ask how you're doing, but I do want to offer my help."

"You could have come to me. I know what you're going through."

"If you're going to do this, then do it quieter. We can't have you being suspended, understood?"

"Do you know why I chose you? I chose you because you've seen the worst of people and you're still standing."

"I promise you, I'm not going to ask you to do anything you're not ready for."

"You were right to doubt me."

"Can I stop worrying about you?"

"What happened wasn't your fault. None of it's your fault."

"Did you put him there to protect me or to watch me?"

"You said you could keep me safe."

"You said you wanted to retire, but you keep doing this job that grinds you down and makes you shut everyone out. Why can't you just stop?"

Cardinal Sentences, Vol. 1

(Sentences from Cardinal (2017-2020) and related stories. Adjust phrasing where needed)

"If I make you the lead on this, I need to know that you're not going to drift."

"Do me a favour and keep this between us?"

"When were you planning on sharing this?"

"No judge will grant this warrant!"

"Since when do you want to meet my family?"

"I don't know how you stay so patient."

"What am I missing here? I can't do my job if you leave me in the dark."

"You know not to come here. We shouldn't be seen together."

"Do you know how stupid it is to come here?"

"Do you even know how to use that thing?"

"Whatever you're looking for, there's nothing to find."

"Do you really want to make an enemy of me right now?"

"Is this a dream or a memory?"

"It'll only be two days. You don't need to worry."

"I have to prove I'm okay."

"Do they think that I'm dead, or are they going to try again?"

"Did you hear the screaming last night?"

"Do you have to follow me?"

"The problem with most people is that they don't understand that to survive, you have to find meaning in suffering. There's power in pain."

"And you expect me to give you that information without a warrant?"

"You know you're going to have to face this eventually. It might as well be today."

"I'd offer you a beer, but you probably shouldn't drink right now."

"I'm fine! Why can't you see that?"

"You try, and try, and try, but some people just can't be saved."

"You're nothing special. You're just another killer."

Cardinal Sentences, Vol. 2

(Sentences from Cardinal (2017-2020) and related stories. Adjust phrasing where needed)

"I won't ask how you're doing, but I do want to offer my help."

"Can we maybe hang out for more than an hour together at some point?"

"I'm sick of being on leave. I need to be busy."

"I hope this isn't weird, but you smell really good."

"You could have come to me. I know what you're going through."

"If you're going to do this, then do it quieter. We can't have you being suspended, understood?"

"Do you know why I chose you? I chose you because you've seen the worst of people and you're still standing."

"I promise you, I'm not going to ask you to do anything you're not ready for."

"How did you get this?"

"You were right to doubt me."

"Can I stop worrying about you?"

"Are you okay to drive like this?"

"Are you going to talk me out of this?"

"What happened wasn't your fault. None of it's your fault."

"I have no more reason to speak about you than I have to speak to you."

"I've given up guessing what people might be capable of."

"It's my money, so it's my rules."

"Did you put him there to protect me or to watch me?"

"You said you could keep me safe."

"I've never seen you scared before."

"You said you wanted to retire, but you keep doing this job that grinds you down and makes you shut everyone out. Why can't you just stop?"

"I'm sorry you had to grow up so fast."

"We both know I'm not walking out of these woods again."

"I think I have a cracked rib. I need to get it checked out."

"What are you going to do when she's gone?"

When I told you some about my past, I hoped I wouldn’t scare you off. I felt like I could talk to you about anything and maybe that’s why my fingers feebly typed the messages and waited for the imminent rejection that would come with telling someone too much and then once again being a burden.

Imagine my shock when you kept talking to me. Imagine my shock when you admitted something bad had happened to you, too. Sure you didn’t elaborate but it meant a lot to me that you would trust me to even know that you did. So, I did you the favor of not pressuring you because I wanted to be a good friend. When we hang out, I hope that it’s just as easy. I hope that you look at me and you don’t see something broken. I hope that you see someone that wants to be there for you and wants to be your friend. If you need a hug, I’ll give you the biggest hug that I can and if you need silence, then we could just sit in silence.