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“Well, this is not what we needed today...”

In a situation like this, you're nothing more than a sitting duck. Prosecco intends to tow the Maribelle all the way to Kingpin Dong's front door, and you doubt he's going to accept a simple refusal. Not to mention that if you tried to fight back, you'd most assuredly lose. Not only did Prosecco's ship get the drop on you, his ship is simply more advanced and more heavily armed than the Maribelle. From his position, if you run you'll be caught, and if you open fire he'll tear you apart.

Crooks goes to move to the cockpit out of impulse, but the hologram of Prosecco speaks once more. “I wouldn't try moving if I were you. I understand you're an ace pilot, but I assume that means you know this is a hopeless situation?”

“You and your gang have been a real pain in our ass these last couple weeks,” you mutter.

“Matt-Matt!”

“Other than you, obviously.”

Prosecco stares at you, smoking on his cigarette. “Well, you have proved a tricky one.”

“I know,” you reply. “I just wanted to remind you of what happens to pains in our asses. Where's the rest of your crew? I honestly thought by this point you would have given up.”

“Do you have a point?” Prosecco asks.

>I'm just wondering why you're so desperate for this bounty.
>I'm saying you should have given up.

>>2549437
>I'm saying you should have given up.

>>2549437
>>I'm just wondering why you're so desperate for this bounty.
Seriously is it worth losing 3 gang members

Like you even convinced them to follow the fucking theme naming how hard was it to find people who would do that

>>2549437
>>I'm just wondering why you're so desperate for this bounty.

Calling for
>I'm just wondering why you're so desperate for this bounty.

Writing now.

>>2549437
>>I'm just wondering why you're so desperate for this bounty.

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>I'm just wondering why you're so desperate for this bounty.

"Is it really such a wonder?" Prosecco asks, as he pours himself a small glass of champagne. "You're worth quite a lot. And I'm a man accustomed to the finer things in life."

"Well, that's a really cheap bottle of champagne!" Krista points out with a smirk. She's good at picking up things like that... exclusively when it comes to food and drinks.

You smirk. "Seems more like you're longing for the finer things. Hurting for cash?"

"Not for much longer," Prosecco replies. "Kingpin Dong raided my family's business, turned me into a subordinate. But completing this bounty... it'll be my first step in rising back to the top. Now, just sit tight and I'll take you straight to Dong."

"We're caught in his ship's magnetic field..." Dot notes as Prosecco's hologram disappears, ending the communication. "We're not able to move. Crooks, what are you still doing in the cockpit? It's no use."

You hear a laugh as Crooks steps out of the cockpit and back into the communications area of the Maribelle. "You think I'm stupid, Dot? This isn't my first rodeo. I wasn't planning on piloting this ship away, I'd be crazy to try it."

"Then what were you doing?" you ask.

"Simple, while he was rambling on with his speech like his was the villain in a holotape, I started siphoning his fuel supply."

"Clever..."

"His ship is just him, so he probably won't even notice until it's too late," Crooks points out. "He won't make it to port in time, and his ship will be trapped. We're still caught in the magnetic field, but he'll have no choice but to hop aboard our ship or bring our mechanic aboard his to help him out. From there, we can fight back."

Krista throws her hands in the air in celebration. "Nice one, captain!" She then places a finger to her chin. "Although..."

"What?" you ask. "Something on your mind?"

Krista pauses. "Weeeeeell... if he's taking us to Kingpin Dong... that might mean my mother will be there! We could help out my mom, right? So what if... we let him take us to Dong and then escape from there?"

>You're really worried about your mom, huh? I like the sound of that.
>I'm sorry, Krista, but if we're taken to Dong we'll it'll be hopeless. We're still going to help your mom, but only when we're prepared.

>>2549491
>>I'm sorry, Krista, but if we're taken to Dong we'll it'll be hopeless. We're still going to help your mom, but only when we're prepared.
yeah no thats suicide

>>2549491
>>I'm sorry, Krista, but if we're taken to Dong we'll it'll be hopeless. We're still going to help your mom, but only when we're prepared
Sounds like something a TRAITOR would suggest

>>2549491
>>I'm sorry, Krista, but if we're taken to Dong we'll it'll be hopeless. We're still going to help your mom, but only when we're prepared.

>>2549491
>I'm sorry, Krista, but if we're taken to Dong we'll it'll be hopeless. We're still going to help your mom, but only when we're prepared.

As much as I am for supporting Krista to gain affection points, that is just dumb.

Calling for
>I'm sorry, Krista, but if we're taken to Dong we'll it'll be hopeless. We're still going to help your mom, but only when we're prepared

Writing now.

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>I'm sorry, Krista, but if we're taken to Dong we'll it'll be hopeless. We're still going to help your mom, but only when we're prepared

Krista frowns slightly, as you place a hand on her shoulder. "I understand..." she mutters. "I'm just worried about my mother, that's all."

"We'll save your mom, I promise..." you smile, as she smiles as well when your eyes meet.

Crooks groans. "Get a room, you too."

"Hey!" Dot protests. "They're being sweet! Anyway, I guess it's a matter of waiting until Prosecco's ship stops moving."

You and the others wait around the ship as you're pulled through space by the bounty hunter. Crooks sits, staring at his fingers. No doubt he's eager to unload his biochip powers on the last remaining member of the soda gang.

After a while of waiting, an incoming call comes in from Prosecco. No doubt, his fuel supplies are low, and he's set to stop any moment now.

Answering the call, an irate Prosecco appears at the other end. "I don't know what you did," he replies. "But my fuel is fading fast. You're still in my clutches. This won't help you."

"I don't know..." Crooks points out. "We probably have more food on board than you do. We can wait you out."

"No, you can't," Prosecco replies. "I've already made a call to another gang who'll be more than willing to meet up and pick us up."

"Another ship? With a crew of... what?" Dot points out. "Six or seven at the very least. Probably much more. It would really suck to have to split your reward that many ways, wouldn't it? That is... if the oncoming gang even wants to share anything with you, and not just shove you out."

Prosecco pauses, thinking it over. You can see the frustration build on the face of the bounty hunter before he speaks. "You. You're a mechanic. Repair my ship."

"Sure thing," you reply. "We'll come aboard and-"

"No. No we. Just you," Prosecco repeats.

>Sorry, no deal. All of us, or none of us.
>Alright, alright... bring me aboard.

>>2549591
>Alright, alright... bring me aboard.

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>>2549591
>>Sorry, no deal. All of us, or none of us.
Hopefully, we're not this dumb to trust him
right guys?
right...?

>>2549591
>Sorry, no deal. All of us, or none of us
Is a shame about Krista mom but we are not ready to face Dong.

>>2549591
>>Sorry, no deal. All of us, or none of us.
STARVE FOOL

Calling for
>Sorry, no deal. All of us, or none of us.

Writing now.

>>2549613
Unlimited Fruit and Vegetable Works.

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>Sorry, no deal. All of us, or none of us.

"You don't have as much weight to negotiate as you think," Prosecco replies. "I just told you another gang of bounty hunters are on their way. I know you think you can handle me, but you won't be able to handle them. We both know that."

"I'm still not moving on my own," you reply. "My crew comes with me. I'm not going anywhere without my captain. Or my doctor. Or my cook."

"You people really are difficult," Prosecco sighs. "Fine, a compromise is in order. You may bring... one crewmate with you. And only one. The doctor. I've seen enough of your biochip abilities to know that she can't fight."

"I get to choose," you demand.

Prosecco pauses. "Fine... just hurry up."

The call ends, and you turn to the rest of your crew.

"If his gang all had biochips..." Crooks points out. "Then there's no doubt he's hiding one of his own. He might be dangerous, Matty."

"But we don't know what that chip could be..." Dot mutters. "Without knowing that, we don't know who best can counter it with their own. It's a complete guessing game."

Krista sighs. "He always kept everything so secret... I have no idea..."

Krista lets out an annoyed whine as you think it over. Regardless of what his powers are, it's good to have one of your crew at your side. Now it's a matter of choosing one.

>Crooks
>Dot
>Krista

>>2549650
>>Dot
In the end shields are best for learning what an enemies power is without taking it head on.

>>2549650
>Krista
He wanted Dot whatever he has is probably a counter for her and even if Krista doesn’t know his powers she probably knows the ship layout and we need Crooks on the ship for a quick get away when shit inevitably hits the space fan.

>>2549650
>>Crooks
Power through with father son powers and he wants us to bring Dot so that's out.

>>2549650
>Crooks

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>>2549650
>Crooks
what could go wrong?!
>inb4 we roll a 1

>>2549650
>>Crooks

Calling for
>Crooks

Writing now.

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>Crooks

"Crooks?" you turn to your adoptive father, who gives a confident nod.

"When in doubt," Crooks smirks. "Go with the guy with all the bullets. Sit tight, girls. We'll need to make a quick getaway if there really is another ship with our location. Come on, Matty. We need to deal with him quickly."

A docking bridge extends from Prosecco's ship and connects with Maribelle. You and Crooks step out and meet Prosecco on the other side, awaiting you with a glass of champagne in his hand. "I'm waiting."

You can tell from his tone that Prosecco is the type of man who has grown used to be waited on hand and foot. You're not surprised that Dong's influence extends to the point where he can take a man like that and lower him to a rough bounty hunter.

"The fuel reserves are towards the back of the ship," Prosecco replies. "Fix it, and I'll take you to Dong. In fact, I'll remove the connection with your bucket of bolts and take you to Dong directly. Your two female friends will be free to go. Doesn't that sound preferable?"

"Don't you dare call my Maribelle a bucket of bolts..." Crooks mutters, as he points to Prosecco while his back is turned. Crooks doesn't hesitate to fire, not wanting to waste time, but Prosecco dodges aside, the bone bullet piercing through his glass as the champagne spills to the floor among shards of glass.

"You don't even wait to take me off my guard?" Prosecco asks. "How foolish."

Crooks immediately fires again, but it misses as Prosecco... disappears? Crooks looks around the corridor before turning to you. "Where did he go?"

"I-I don't know!" you reply, confused. "He was here... then he wasn't! He vanished into thin air in an instant. Is... is this his biochip power?"

"Must be..." Crooks explains. "Whatever it is, let's take this time and hurry to the cockpit. We can free Maribelle."

>Right, let's go.
>No, we should look around for Prosecco some more before we move.

>>2549713
>>Right, let's go.

>>2549713

>Right, let's go.

>>2549713
>>Right, let's go.
Teleporation?
Turning into air?
Just normal invisibility?

>>2549713
>Right, let's go.

Calling for
>Right, let's go

Writing now

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>Right, let's go

You and Crooks make your way up the corridor of the ship, searching around for the cockpit. The layout of the ship is unfamiliar to you, and you're left looking over your shoulder constantly in search for Prosecco. His biochip ability baffled you... how could he just disappear like that? You're very attentive of your surroundings at all times, so there must be something there. Something you just didn't notice... but no matter how many times you relay the events, you can't figure it out. He just vanished.

Finally, you can Crooks find the cockpit of the ship, as Crooks slides into a chair at the control panel. "Let's see, let's see... ah, here we are! Goodbye, magnet field."

Crooks pulls a lever and you hear a low hum, as the ship's magnetic field turns off. Crooks stands up and looks to you. "Come on, let's get back to Maribelle and out of here."

You and Crooks make your way back down the corridor, towards the airlock where the initial confrontation with Prosecco occurred. "No idea where that Prosecco guy disappeared to," Crooks mutters. "Maybe he just turned tail and ran like a coward-"

Crooks is interrupted as the drops of champagne begin to move, springing up and piercing through Crook's shoulder.

"Dad!" you call out as Crooks winces in pain and shock. The champagne swirls as it lands on the ground, forming into... Prosecco.

"You really thought it would be so easy?" he asks. "Pathetic."

Ah... you get it now. So this is his biochip.

Name: Prosecco
Biochip Class: JUICE

Prosecco's Biochip allows his body to mold into liquid, joining with any kind of liquid in the nearby area instantaneously.

POWER: C
SPEED: A
DURABILITY: A
PRECISION: C
RANGE: B
POTENTIAL: E

Dammit... that's a powerful ability. You should have figured he'd be a real threat, a reason why he's the leader of the soda gang. You and Crooks are in trouble.

>Crooks, run! We need to create distance!
>Attack him with vines.

>>2549782
>Attack him with vines.
Absorb his ass

>>2549782
>>Crooks, run! We need to create distance!
LIQUID INCLUDES BLOOD FUCK RUN

>>2549782
>Crooks, run! We need to create distance!

Shit, maybe Dot would've been a good match here. She could have contained the liquid. Maybe we can find something to freeze him with, or else to vacuum up or absorb the liquid.

Calling for
>Crooks, run! We need to create distance!

Roll 1d20, Best of 3.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>2549825

>>2549782
>Crooks, run! We need to create distance!
Should have brought either Dot or Krista, liquid man seems a hard counter against Crooks projectiles.

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>2549829
Let’s run away
>>2549829
And try not to trip.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>2549825
Weee

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>2549825

>>2549847
YEEEE BOIS

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>Rolled 19 (DEFINITE SUCCESS)

You grab Crooks by his uninjured arm and pull him down the corridor. Now that you know the biochip ability of Prosecco, this is your time to formulate a plan, a counterattack to the bounty hunter's powers. But you need to clear some distance between yourself and him before then.

You and Crooks begin to run, as you look back to see Prosecco disappear again. "Okay, we have to stay away from any liquids," you point out. "He can move instantaneously through them. Like teleportation."

"Uhh... kiddo?" Crooks points out. "We'll have a problem there..."

You look towards Crooks' shoulder, which is dripping with blood after he was pierced by the water. "Dammit..."

With an exposed wound like that, he can teleport through the blood. And if he takes his full form again while infused with the blood in Crooks' shoulder... the results will be explosive and gory. This is bad...

You try to think of a quick solution... but crooks beats you to it. He tilts his head forward and buries it into his shoulder, sucking in a mouthful of blood before spitting it out. It flies through the air and reforms as Prosecco. Crooks proceeds to jam his finger into his own shoulder, covering up the wound as he yells in pain. "Matt... we need to get to Dot and clean this wound up. I can't exactly keep it covered for very long."

Prosecco stands before you, as Crooks also hides his bloody fingers caused by his two shots fires up earlier, hiding his hand under his armpit. "Like I thought," Crooks mutters. "He has to be able to reach the liquid. Even as fast as he moves, if there's something in the way, he can't join with the liquid."

Is that so? If he can't move through anything to fuse with the liquid... then he can be contained.

Crooks spits at Prosecco, who quickly dissapears again. You notice the spit move through the air, back from where it came, flying at Crooks, as you spring into action.

"Wonder of the world!" you call out the name of your biochip, a mental trigger you've noticed helps unleash it's powers. You reach out your hand, and soon the moving saliva comes into contact with a small cactus you sprouted.

"Huh?" Crooks raises an eyebrow.

"In the old world, Cacti populated the deserts and driest areas. They're pretty good at absorbing moisture."

"Good thinking..." Crooks mutters. "That'll keep him at bay. Let's get back to the girls and blow this joint while he's struggling."

>You got it. They'll be able to help us out too.
>Wait, there might be a more decisive way to capture him...

>>2549949
>>You got it. They'll be able to help us out too.
YOOOOOOOOOOOO

>>2549949
>>Wait, there might be a more decisive way to capture him...

>>2549949
>You got it. They'll be able to help us out too.

>>2549949
>>You got it. They'll be able to help us out too.

>>2549949
>You got it. They'll be able to help us out too.

Calling for
>You got it. They'll be able to help us out too.

Writing now.

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>You got it. They'll be able to help us out too.

You and Crooks nod to eachother as you rush to the airlock. You push through back into the Maribelle, where a concerned Krista and Dot are waiting as you step through the sliding door.

"Crooks!" Dot calls out in concern as your captain limps into the ship, as she immediately begins to treat him with White Angel. "Are you okay?"

"I've dealt with worse," Crooks jokes as Dot tends to him. "It's cute that you're fussing over me."

Dot shakes her head. "Nothing cute about it..."

"Matt-Matt!" Krista tackles you with a hug that takes you to the ground. "You did it!"

"Yeah... but we're not out of the woods yet," you point out as you break away from her. "We gotta get out of here. We only kept him at bay but now we have to take off before his ship catches us again."

"You didn't take him out?" Dot asks, as the newly healed Crooks makes the move for the cockpit. Crooks slides into his chair as he begins to power up Maribelle's thrusters. He leans back, taking a deep sigh of relief, before reaching for his cup of coffee that's always at his dashboard... his cup of coffee...

"Crooks, look out!" you call out, and sure enough... the mug shatters into pieces as the full-sized Prosecco forms from the coffee, wrapping his hands around Crooks' throat, strangling him. Dammit, the drops of blood created a trail that he could follow silently, allowing him to reach the cockpit of the Maribelle without you noticing. This guy is smart.

Crooks fires at Prosecco, who disappears yet again. To where, you don't know. The way he can move from liquid to liquid... it's the fastest Biochip you've seen thus far...

"Did he just come out of a coffee mug?" Dot asks. "What a strange power..."

He's on your ship, and you can't find him. He can strike any of you down in a second if he gets the chance. You need to come up with a plan... once you draw him out and know his location, the rest is easy...

>Time to turn up the heat on this ship. It'll be uncomfortable, but it'll severely limit his options.
>Lure him out with a pool of liquid that he can't pass up on.

>>2550086
>>Time to turn up the heat on this ship. It'll be uncomfortable, but it'll severely limit his options.
THE SUN

>>2550086
>Time to turn up the heat on this ship. It'll be uncomfortable, but it'll severely limit his options.

>>2550086
>Time to turn up the heat on this ship. It'll be uncomfortable, but it'll severely limit his options

>>2550086
>>Time to turn up the heat on this ship. It'll be uncomfortable, but it'll severely limit his options.

Calling for
>Time to turn up the heat on this ship. It'll be uncomfortable, but it'll severely limit his options

Roll 1d20, Best of 3.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>2550111
It's getting hot on here

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>2550111

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>2550111
I believe this is some kind of
DISCO INFERNO

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>2550111

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>2550111

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>18 (DEFINITE SUCCESS)

"Guys, be prepared," you note. "It's about to get real warm in here."

You move towards the back of the ship, ready to get to work. It's not a matter of simply raising the thermostat aboard the ship. You need to really warm the place up. You head to the engine room, and begin tinkering around with the core of the ship. It's dangerous to remove all these parts, but you know what you're doing, and as long as you make quick repairs after dealing with Prosecco, you'll be fine. But man... this is going to be uncomfortable.

The heat aboard the ship increases dramatically and quickly. You lay back, as a lot of the energy begins to drain from your body, your entire body overheating as you have to drag yourself along the floor at first before rising to your feet. Anything liquid in ship is being reduced to steam, a form Prosecco cannot travel through. You shamble through the ship, your body dry and your insides feeling like they're possessed by the sun, as you see the bounty hunter laying across the floor, his body dehydrated and withering.

"It's over..." you mutter as Prosecco groans in pain.

"No..." you replies as he reaches into his coat, pulling out a small blaster which he point at you... before being taken out by a bone bullet piercing through his skull. His head plants onto the ground, dead, as you look over to Crooks. He and Dot stand over a passed out Krista, as you rush to repair the heating aboard the ship and inspect your crewmate.

"What happened?"

"Krista was worried we wouldn't be able to handle the heat and fight him," Dot explains. "So she layed her hands on us to give us a cooling sensation that didn't stop us from drying up, but it kept us awake and conscious. She fainted from the heat towards the end, though..."

>Is she okay? Does she need mouth to mouth?
>That was good thinking of her. We should thank her when she wakes up.

>>2550195
>>That was good thinking of her. We should thank her when she wakes up.

>>2550195
>That was good thinking of her. We should thank her when she wakes up.

>>2550195
>Is she okay? Does she need mouth to mouth?

>>2550195
>That was good thinking of her. We should thank her when she wakes up.
outh to mouth for dehydration? Is Matt stupid or just horny?

>>2550195
>>That was good thinking of her. We should thank her when she wakes up.

Nighty night, soda bro

>>2550195
>>That was good thinking of her. We should thank her when she wakes up.
>>2550219
the answer is always both

>>2550195
>That was good thinking of her. We should thank her when she wakes up.

>>2550195
>>That was good thinking of her. We should thank her when she wakes up.
>Is she okay?

Calling for
>That was good thinking of her. We should thank her when she wakes up.

Writing now.

>>2550195
Is she okay? Does she need mouth to mouth?
Not voting to give her mouth to mouth

>>2550327
She's dead anon

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>That was good thinking of her. We should thank her when she wakes up.

Dot nods with a smile as Crooks breathes heavily. "Dammit, my head is splitting..."

"We're all dangerously dehydrated right now," Dot replies. "Luckily, Krista owns a lot of canned drinks."

You and Dot retrieve the canned sodas from her and Krista's room and return to the cockpit. You all drink with haste to hydrate your bodies after being subject to that insane heat and you use your biochip to produce Aloe Vera to treat any heat rashes. Dot pours some over Krista's face as the young woman springs awake. You're not sure if she was awoken by the hydration, the sudden cold wetness on her face, or simply the smell of sugar piqued her interest, but you're happy to see she's okay.

"I don't ever want to go through that again..." a sweating Crooks gasps for air.

"If we ever see a biochip user like that again, we just run," you reply with a small laugh.

"Guys..." Dot mutters. "I hate to break the bad news so soon, but..."

Dot points out towards the vast expanse of space before Maribelle. The other three of you look out to see another ship approaching. Oh no...

"Aw nuts!" Krista groans. "The other bounty hunters!"

"Welp, we're screwed..." Crooks mutters. "What a load of good that fight did us..."

Wait... the ship approaches the Maribelle... but it's not the only one. And it sure as hell isn't the biggest one.

A massive fleet ship appears before you, steamrolling through the bounty hunter ship.

"Who the hell?" you ask. "Shinto? Athens?"

"No..." Crooks mutters. "Shao. That's Marco Shao's private fleet."

The massive fleet moves beside Maribelle, as Crooks hesitantly takes the controls and docks within the main ship's dock... where a large group is waiting for you. A small personal army of bodyguards, surrounding a young looking man in an affluent white suit. As you and the crew step off the ship, he steps forwards and takes a look at you. "It's good to see you," Marco Shao, the closest living relative to the former emperor in the days when humanity was united, speaks. Your cousin. The only blood relative you have in the universe. Seems he finally found you.

"Heh, should have figured you'd be tracking me down..." you comment.

Marco Shao, the richest man in the galaxy, tilts his head. "Oh? Well... yes, my cousin. We'll speak later... but I wasn't addressing you. Sorry."

"Then who-"

"Hi..." Dot gives a weak smile. "Uhh, guys... this is Marco... my husband."

END OF CHAPTER 6

>>2550356
hahahahahahahahaaaaaaaa fuck

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>Ending Theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRcPA7Fzebw

>Archive
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Kingdoms%20in%20the%20Stars

>Twitter
https://twitter.com/bookerman32

>Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/BookerMan

Thanks for playing! Next thread will be coming early next week, plus there'll be a bonus scene coming later tonight! Follow the Twitter for any updates!

>Player Question
And so we interact with our first major figure in the galaxy, the independent Marco Shao. What do you think he will be like?

>>2550390
Nice thread Booker
He seems cool and has a nice taste in waifus, he already knew about Matt and he doesn’t seem to care so he probably doesn’t think of Matt as someone who needs to disappear.

>>2550390
>PQ
IS HE A DOUCHE OR NOT I DONT KNOW