#honestly they're better off dead. someone mercy kill this conversation.

[saltedearths]

Lie. Either he's stepped in it or Luke suddenly had a craving for theatrics. Judging by his demeanor and prior conversation, he assumes the former, and simply resolves to try to not ask any more questions—Ari had the charm of the two of them, and that was saying a lot. He hates reading the man like this, as if he were an open book, or a fucking poster sign, but short of violating several traffic laws, he just has to grit his teeth and bear it.

"Born in Austin, Texas. Lost the accent, kept the cowboy hat." He tries for a joke, to lighten the mood, but curiosity gets the better of him, and that resolve crumbles underfoot. "But what do you mean this town didn't seem creepy when you were a kid?"

Jesus, the last thing Luke wants Dante to do is give him notes on the forensics, or notes on any of the abysmal material that ends up on his pages... It's bad enough he has to read it, he doesn't need to discuss it. "Oh, kinda like a consultation. I'd like that," Luke lies, and it's pretty obvious by the synthetic brightness that pulls his tone up. "Bet you've seen some pretty, uh...pretty bad stuff."

Luke nods as Dante speaks, leaning on the window with a hand absently scratching at his stubble. "Yeah," he says with a bit of a scoff. "Y'know, when I was a kid, this town didn't seem so creepy. Creepy people, that sorta thing, but not so dangerous. You grow up here, doc?" Wait... was he about to say 'inspiration'...?