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Agnese also told me that the humans' carnival is lots of fun, and how I can be happy and free in the city, just like out in the wilds...

Sounds like she taught you a lot. You lucky. The other Fangs don't got a chance to learn all that.

The other Fangs...

I met the rest of the pack n' their Fangs. You listen to one word coming out they mouths n' you lose it.

*sigh* Tell you the truth, Agnese, if it wasn't for all this urgent business, I wouldn't wanna have nothin' to do with you 'Signori dei Lupi' or whatever you call yourselves.

I know, I know, that wolf pack's a bunch of stubborn, savage losers, but there ain't no gettin' out of this family reunion for the two of you.

Agnese's family...

'My will is not enough to avert the entire pack's gaze...' The hell you talkin' about, Agnese? What happened to all that 'breaking free from this road' n' 'starting a new life'?

'The game is the collective decision of the pack. Before it ends, we cannot be distracted by other matters. This is our nature...' Why're we back at that boring-ass game of yours?!

'To go against our nature is an endless climb...' Talk about a pain in the ass! Seriously, I don't wanna talk to y'all ever again. I try n' have a normal conversation, but you always gotta bring it back to 'nature' or whatever.

Agnese said 'this game must have a winner'.

You dumbass mangy mutt, I take back everything good I ever said about you!

Forget it. You taught this kid so much about the outside world. Don't tell me you still thinkin' about sendin' her into a deathmatch with the other Fangs? You didn't ask me to get her to Rhodes Island just so she could die today, did you?

If you so worried about keepin' her safe, then get her ass back to Rhodes already. Sheesh, y'all keep runnin' around for no good reason!

Rhodes Island...

Whoa! When the hell did these tuskbeasts come? Who're you tryna scare, flashin' your grills like that?!

They're scared. They can smell the Fangs.

I smell them too.

The wolves are here.

<p=2>November 5th, 1100 4:05 P.M.</>

Hey, what the—! What's the big idea, shoving that freezing can of salt soda in my face?! Scared the crap outta me!

You get way too into Lyudmila's stories.

So, what happened next?

This Talulah lady, did Crownslayer manage to kill her in the end?

No. Crownslayer didn't kill her.

Shame. Imagine staying by Talulah's side the entire time but never realizing your so-called leader was an evil dragon spewing lies... A lot of lives could've been saved.

Say, if this Crownslayer didn't kill Talulah or the Emperor of Ursus, why take that name?

Easy for you to say. We're talking about an emperor and an evil dragon here. You ever killed anyone, Romi?

Wait, you couldn't have, could you? I mean, when you worked for the Borgias...

I've never done any of the sort.

I was just their night driver. They're not gonna ask a guy like me to kill someone.

Considering how crappy your driving is, would the dons really have picked you to drive them around at night?

Night driving... This some sort of famiglia lingo I don't know?

It means exactly what it sounds like, driving at night! You're talking like a police officer! I'm tellin' ya, it's all in the past now.

Now that you mention it, Romi, you've been getting more tickets than usual lately.

It's Carnevale. The whole city's packed full of both people and cars. You know that, man.

And just so you know, I used to drive around a nomadic city full of ruins while trying to hide from a Catastrophe!

Still stuck in one of Lyudmila's stories, huh?

Speaking of, those stories are just ones you heard while in Ursus, right? You go into so much detail, it's almost like they were actually about you...

Look at you guys, drinking the soda she bought you, listening to her stories, and now bothering her with questions. Didn't your mom ever teach you manners?

Got me there, Sommer. Sorry, Lyudmila.

It's fine.

You know you don't need to treat us every week, right?

How long has it been since you came to our camp? Three months? Four?

Not too sure myself, but it's been a while now.

We pay you a wage, but you always end up giving it all back to us. Why not listen to my advice, save some for the future so you can start a business?

You've all got families to feed. Me? I'm flying solo. Don't have anything else to spend that money on anyway. Besides, I'm one ragazza sfortunata. Even if I save it all, it's likely to sprout wings and fly away.

Oh, don't be like that...

Look, it's just two crates of salt soda.

I actually wanted to treat you guys to some beer for the weekend.

But since you guys will be busy with that film shoot at Court Square tonight, you'll just have to make do with soda.

If you're still thirsty, feel free to take more.

I'll have a couple more, then!

Here. Not gonna try one yourself, considering you're the one that bought them?

Oh, didn't realize you haven't had one yet...

Just how many bottles are you trying to have, man?!

Alright, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

...I'm good.

Look, everyone knows, Lyudmila.

Though I wouldn't say we don't completely mind. To tell you the truth, when I took off your mask... It scared the hell out of me.

We just understand that... as an Infected, you're probably more worried than us about it spreading around.

Don't blame Romi and the others for pestering you with questions. They don't mean anything bad about it. They just want to get to know you a little better.

Don't be a stranger, Lyudmila.

The setting sun dyes the grass of the camp and the drivers' faces a deep red. Sommer leans against the back of his truck, stretching his hand out to her. The other drivers look at her, nary a hint of wariness on their smiling faces.

Can you get drunk off salt soda? The Reproba wonders as she furrows her brow.

After a short moment of silence, she lowers her mask and takes the proffered bottled of soda from him.

Alright, it's nearly showtime. Time to pack things up and drive over to Court Square.

Eirene was real clear about how strict the filming schedule is, even stricter than our dispatch timetables. We can't be late, or we'll be causing City Hall a whole lot of trouble.

What about Eirene herself?

Said she wanted to go talk with Judge Lavinia about qualification audits for new drivers.

Oh...

Oh yeah, Sommer, you're really not coming along?

It's easy, you just need to drive your truck and follow along, make a big scene. City Hall's even paying us more than a day's wage to do it.

I-I've been driving a little too much lately. Now that I've finally got some spare time, I wanted to catch up on some Zs.

How 'bout you, Lyudmila?

I've got something to take care of, so I'll be hanging back too.

Suit yourself. We'll be off then.

*phew* Finally...

Once the convoy of trucks has left and night slowly washes over the camp, Sommer, all on his lonesome, goes to his own truck.

He starts the engine, but before he even closed the door, a figure was already sat in the passenger seat, seat belt fastened and all.

L-Lyudmila...

Thought you were going to catch some Zs?

I...

Not much of a night drive with an empty passenger seat, yeah?

Lyudmila, I really...

What was it you said again? Don't be a stranger, Sommer.