#pepsiverse

Jason pulls out a cigarette, offers Stella one but she declines. He didn’t always smoke, but Grayson had gently suggested that it was a better alternative to killing someone. So every time it gets bad again, Jason follows a routine.

Step one: Walk down to the art gallery by his apartment. Eight minutes. A right. Walk a couple blocks. Turn right again, and he’s there. He doesn’t care for most of their pretentious displays, and grumbles every time he has to cough up five bucks to The Man to go look at pictures he could see for free online. But they have a youth arts display year round. Damian submits something new once a month, always under a different name, but Jason can tell which ones are his without even looking at the label. When he does read the names, he always finds himself smiling. Mike Oxlong. Gabe Itches. Ben Dover.

Step two: If the swell of pride he gets from teaching his freak of nature little brother dirty jokes isn’t enough (and it often isn’t), Jason peruses the used bookstore next door, occasionally picking up something, but usually just going in just to smell the leather and paper.

Unfortunately, steps one and two are only possible Monday through Saturday between the hours of nine and five. And Jason needs them the most when it’s dark out.

Step three: Smoke.

Step four: Kill someone anyway because that’s who you are.