S015-Gwendolyn "Wendy" Kennedy-Start!
Wendy woke up on a bed. That seemed normal. However, what wasn't normal was that she had woken up on the bed of an unfamiliar room. Her room was painted pink, had posters of her favorite games and anime, and her bed wasn't so smelly. Looking around, Wendy noticed a desk and a chair, a table, and the unkempt state of the room. Her eyes were widened in fright.
"What's going on? Where am I? Why am I in this room!? This isn't my room! This is--"
Then she remembered that orientation. The teacher's head getting blown off. Another teacher getting their head shot. That video of a boy killing a girl.
Wendy started to cry and whimper. She remembered why she was here and the exact situation she was in.
Survival of the Fittest.
The reality of the situation came crashing down on her like a ton of bricks. There was no way someone like her had a chance to make it off a deadly game like this, she thought. She was short, chubby, and not athletic in the slightest.
That was shen she noticed the tan duffel bag resting next to her. Frantically, she opened it up, hoping perhaps there was something she could use to contact her family. But she quickly realized those terrorists wouldn't leave the students their phones or anything like that. All she found was some bread, energy bars, some water bottles, two tins, a first aid kit, an extra jacket, a flashlight and...
Some kind of weird shield/gauntlet/sword hybrid. Was this her weapon? There were instructions included with the weapon, but Wendy was confused all the same. She set her weapon aside and cried some more.
Little Lost Bunny
Starting Point of S015 (OPEN)
There’s a dead body nearby.
Was that... Crying?
((Shawn Bellamy continued from Beyond figure out))
Sure enough, Shawn didn't have to spend long looking before finding a staircase heading upstairs, slowly and cautiously making his way up one step at a time.
He'd eventually find himself standing at the end of a long corridor, about the length of the entire building he reckoned, with doors either side. As he slowly made his way down, taking care to not be too loud with his footsteps, he'd peer into the first open room he happened across to get a better idea as to what exactly this space was for.
Judging from the bed, and the fact that there was a dining hall downstairs, it wasn't much of a stretch to assume this building to be a barracks of some kind. Was this place a military base then, perhaps? Maybe somewhere out in the Bering Strait, or north of Canada? There was definitely an American presence, what with the Coors beer bottle he had on hand, though now that he was paying more attention to his surroundings he couldn't help but notice some of the signs appeared to be in a language he didn't recognise. Some Scandinavian dialect, maybe?
He'd have to speculate some more later, as a few steps further down the corridor he couldn't help but pick up the unmistakable sound of someone crying. Well, just as well he decided to take a look then, his hand gripping the neck of that bottle and slowly pulling it from his jacket pocket, cautiously making his way along to investigate further. He wasn't exactly sure what he was planning to do with it, but better to be safe than sorry.
He would eventually reach the room where the crying was originating from, the door just barely ajar, not giving him much means to peek in without revealing himself. He would pause for the moment to start considering his options, startling the girl could end up going deadly very quickly if she was the jumpy type, but neither was he keen on announcing his presence to a potential threat.
It didn't exactly help that there was something about this scene that rubbed him the wrong way. Like there was something off he hadn't picked up on yet, like a smell or a presence, a slowly growing sense of dread that there was something amiss about it all.
A bead of sweat dripped from his brow.
((Shawn Bellamy continued from Beyond figure out))
Sure enough, Shawn didn't have to spend long looking before finding a staircase heading upstairs, slowly and cautiously making his way up one step at a time.
He'd eventually find himself standing at the end of a long corridor, about the length of the entire building he reckoned, with doors either side. As he slowly made his way down, taking care to not be too loud with his footsteps, he'd peer into the first open room he happened across to get a better idea as to what exactly this space was for.
Judging from the bed, and the fact that there was a dining hall downstairs, it wasn't much of a stretch to assume this building to be a barracks of some kind. Was this place a military base then, perhaps? Maybe somewhere out in the Bering Strait, or north of Canada? There was definitely an American presence, what with the Coors beer bottle he had on hand, though now that he was paying more attention to his surroundings he couldn't help but notice some of the signs appeared to be in a language he didn't recognise. Some Scandinavian dialect, maybe?
He'd have to speculate some more later, as a few steps further down the corridor he couldn't help but pick up the unmistakable sound of someone crying. Well, just as well he decided to take a look then, his hand gripping the neck of that bottle and slowly pulling it from his jacket pocket, cautiously making his way along to investigate further. He wasn't exactly sure what he was planning to do with it, but better to be safe than sorry.
He would eventually reach the room where the crying was originating from, the door just barely ajar, not giving him much means to peek in without revealing himself. He would pause for the moment to start considering his options, startling the girl could end up going deadly very quickly if she was the jumpy type, but neither was he keen on announcing his presence to a potential threat.
It didn't exactly help that there was something about this scene that rubbed him the wrong way. Like there was something off he hadn't picked up on yet, like a smell or a presence, a slowly growing sense of dread that there was something amiss about it all.
A bead of sweat dripped from his brow.
Wendy noticed a camera in the corner of the room. This game was going to be broadcast, wasn't it? She didn't know if her family was aware of her current location or predicament, but she wanted to at least talk to them, somehow. Wendy got up from the bed and turned to address the camera.
"Hi Mom, Dad, Mel, Cass," Wendy began, "It's me Wendy. I'm-- I don't know if I'll be making it home."
She sniffled. This could be the last thing her family hears. She had to make the most of it before it was too late. She took a deep breath and continued.
"I hope you liked the gifts I gave you. I hope you make good use out of that Nintendo eShop card, Cass. And Mel, I hope the necklace I got you looks good on you. Mom, Dad, I hope you like the gift we pitched in to give you, too. I think you'll love it."
Wendy paused, and thought about what to say next. If this was going to be the last thing she said to her family, she might as well come clean about this next thing.
"What I say next might come as a shock to some of you," she continued, "but I've been keeping this a secret for a long time. I was planning to tell you once I graduated, but I guess that's not an option anymore. I am a bisexual."
Wendy paused again and inhaled.
"Yeah, I, uh, I like girls too," Wendy said awkwardly, "I hope that doesn't make you love me any less."
Wendy sniffled. She looked back towards her duffel bag and her weapon, then back at the camera.
"If I somehow make it back," she said, "it's because I might have done something I never wanted to do. Do you remember Survival of the Fittest?"
Wendy went quiet. The thought of killing someone to escape made her blood run cold.
"I really hope it never comes to that," she said.
Wendy removed her glasses and wiped her eyes with her coat sleeve. As she gathered her thoughts, Wendy looked at the camera with tear stained eyes once more.
"I just want to all to know that I love you all so much," Wendy said, her voice cracking, "And thank you all for being such a great family. I'll miss you all so much."
"Hi Mom, Dad, Mel, Cass," Wendy began, "It's me Wendy. I'm-- I don't know if I'll be making it home."
She sniffled. This could be the last thing her family hears. She had to make the most of it before it was too late. She took a deep breath and continued.
"I hope you liked the gifts I gave you. I hope you make good use out of that Nintendo eShop card, Cass. And Mel, I hope the necklace I got you looks good on you. Mom, Dad, I hope you like the gift we pitched in to give you, too. I think you'll love it."
Wendy paused, and thought about what to say next. If this was going to be the last thing she said to her family, she might as well come clean about this next thing.
"What I say next might come as a shock to some of you," she continued, "but I've been keeping this a secret for a long time. I was planning to tell you once I graduated, but I guess that's not an option anymore. I am a bisexual."
Wendy paused again and inhaled.
"Yeah, I, uh, I like girls too," Wendy said awkwardly, "I hope that doesn't make you love me any less."
Wendy sniffled. She looked back towards her duffel bag and her weapon, then back at the camera.
"If I somehow make it back," she said, "it's because I might have done something I never wanted to do. Do you remember Survival of the Fittest?"
Wendy went quiet. The thought of killing someone to escape made her blood run cold.
"I really hope it never comes to that," she said.
Wendy removed her glasses and wiped her eyes with her coat sleeve. As she gathered her thoughts, Wendy looked at the camera with tear stained eyes once more.
"I just want to all to know that I love you all so much," Wendy said, her voice cracking, "And thank you all for being such a great family. I'll miss you all so much."
The dead body's head peeked out from under the bed, and then retreated back.
Well now, ain't that convenient.
Shawn listened to Wendy's confession, using the opportunity to pick up as much as he could about her in advance. The name rang vague bells about a short girl with glasses, but otherwise he didn't have much to work off of.
He listened to her address her family, talk about a bunch of gifts she'd saved up for them, yadda yadda. As if the yahoos running this shitshow would think she was worth highlighting. As far as Shawn was aware they weren't planning to screen every waking moment, just cut to the good stuff.
He couldn't help but lower his bottle slightly and tilt his head when she made her little reveal. Really? Were people still making a big song and dance about that kind of thing, in Massachusetes of all states? Seriously, who was still hiding in the closet in 2021?
God, I wish Matthew was here right now...
But, whatever, good for her. He'd raise his bottle again when she brought up doing something she doesn't want to do, three guesses as to what that was, but he'd then breathe a sigh of relief when it sounded like she had no intention of doing that sort of thing on a whim. He'd heard enough at this point to judge that she probably wasn't a threat, not yet anyway, but that still begged the question of what his next course of action ought to be.
There was... The obvious. The caveman option, as it were. At a push he could probably pull it off, especially if he got the jump on her, but there were a lot of unknown variables. To what end though? Andrew was just downstairs, and he didn't care much for the idea of outing his intentions to the rest of the island right off the bat. That pretty much ruled out taking any of his competitors out unless he had no other choice, at least not until he was closer to the end anyway.
Just as well, really. He wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea of getting his hands dirty just yet.
He could take a more indirect approach. Lock her in her room? No, not much point really, nor did he really have any means of doing so. Rob her? Again, Andrew downstairs complicated things. Try to convince Andrew she was attacking him, or vice versa? No, too risky, too many ways that could go wrong.
He could always just ignore her, but if this building was a barracks then it was safe to assume it was the only space in the area with decent bedding, and thus an ideal spot to hold up. As far as he was aware this might be the best accommodation for miles around, not the kind of place you really wanted to give up on without good reason. That meant they were going to bump into each other one way or another, in which case...
That left him with only one practical option.
With his back against the wall, and bottle by his side, he'd tentatively reach around and knock lightly on the door. "Hey, sorry to interrupt, but uh..." he'd begin, pausing to clear his throat as he struggled to think of what to say next.
"You doing... Alright?"
Shawn listened to Wendy's confession, using the opportunity to pick up as much as he could about her in advance. The name rang vague bells about a short girl with glasses, but otherwise he didn't have much to work off of.
He listened to her address her family, talk about a bunch of gifts she'd saved up for them, yadda yadda. As if the yahoos running this shitshow would think she was worth highlighting. As far as Shawn was aware they weren't planning to screen every waking moment, just cut to the good stuff.
He couldn't help but lower his bottle slightly and tilt his head when she made her little reveal. Really? Were people still making a big song and dance about that kind of thing, in Massachusetes of all states? Seriously, who was still hiding in the closet in 2021?
God, I wish Matthew was here right now...
But, whatever, good for her. He'd raise his bottle again when she brought up doing something she doesn't want to do, three guesses as to what that was, but he'd then breathe a sigh of relief when it sounded like she had no intention of doing that sort of thing on a whim. He'd heard enough at this point to judge that she probably wasn't a threat, not yet anyway, but that still begged the question of what his next course of action ought to be.
There was... The obvious. The caveman option, as it were. At a push he could probably pull it off, especially if he got the jump on her, but there were a lot of unknown variables. To what end though? Andrew was just downstairs, and he didn't care much for the idea of outing his intentions to the rest of the island right off the bat. That pretty much ruled out taking any of his competitors out unless he had no other choice, at least not until he was closer to the end anyway.
Just as well, really. He wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea of getting his hands dirty just yet.
He could take a more indirect approach. Lock her in her room? No, not much point really, nor did he really have any means of doing so. Rob her? Again, Andrew downstairs complicated things. Try to convince Andrew she was attacking him, or vice versa? No, too risky, too many ways that could go wrong.
He could always just ignore her, but if this building was a barracks then it was safe to assume it was the only space in the area with decent bedding, and thus an ideal spot to hold up. As far as he was aware this might be the best accommodation for miles around, not the kind of place you really wanted to give up on without good reason. That meant they were going to bump into each other one way or another, in which case...
That left him with only one practical option.
With his back against the wall, and bottle by his side, he'd tentatively reach around and knock lightly on the door. "Hey, sorry to interrupt, but uh..." he'd begin, pausing to clear his throat as he struggled to think of what to say next.
"You doing... Alright?"
Footsteps echoed from the flight of stairs that Shawn had come from. A stride upwards from below that had previously inhabiated the dining area, and up until now had been content to stay there, making its way up towards the corridor.
The steps only stopped at the last flight of steps for a shoulder crack with his left shoulder before making his way into the corridor, standing at the end and gauging the amount of doors there were.
"Hey." He said when he saw the figure down the hall.
The steps only stopped at the last flight of steps for a shoulder crack with his left shoulder before making his way into the corridor, standing at the end and gauging the amount of doors there were.
"Hey." He said when he saw the figure down the hall.
Wendy turned around quickly and saw a boy at the door.
"Ah--uhh, I-I-I'm... okay, I guess?," Wendy stammered.
The sudden appearance of another person caught her completely off guard. If she wasn't more careful of her surroundings, she could end up dead! But, this boy had the decency to knock and ask if she was okay. So, maybe he didn't intend to cause harm. Wendy took a deep breath and spoke.
"Did you, uh, hear any of what I just said?," she asked.
Suddenly, she heard another voice from down the hall. Seems the boy wasn't alone.
"Is that your friend?," Wendy asked him.
"Ah--uhh, I-I-I'm... okay, I guess?," Wendy stammered.
The sudden appearance of another person caught her completely off guard. If she wasn't more careful of her surroundings, she could end up dead! But, this boy had the decency to knock and ask if she was okay. So, maybe he didn't intend to cause harm. Wendy took a deep breath and spoke.
"Did you, uh, hear any of what I just said?," she asked.
Suddenly, she heard another voice from down the hall. Seems the boy wasn't alone.
"Is that your friend?," Wendy asked him.
This dead body still lay there, waiting. It assumed the rot would set in quickly, flies festering in the open wounds within its body. The maggot that would have been laid there would then eat its inside, continuing this cycle of eating and vomiting until only bone remained.
Well, if it was a warmer climate.
The dead body wasn't sure that it'd rot. It waited under the bed. It couldn't be spotted until the last moment. It didn't want to show its face to the cameras.
Well, if it was a warmer climate.
The dead body wasn't sure that it'd rot. It waited under the bed. It couldn't be spotted until the last moment. It didn't want to show its face to the cameras.
"Uh, good! Good..." Shawn replied, taking the opportunity to cautiously step into view to get a good look at the girl.
Yep, it was pretty much the same Wendy he was expecting it to be. Nobody he had to particularly worry about, though he did take an errant glance at her peculiar weapon, a shield-gauntlet... Thing, that looked like it could be do some real damage in the right hands. Perhaps a bit too theatrical for his liking, he'd much prefer to get his hands on something simple but efficient. Then again, beggars can't be choosers...
"I only caught the tail end, don't worry about it..." he lied, casually. He was about to lie some more when he heard Andrew address him, stepping away from the door frame to turn to him.
"Hey" was the response he gave, before gesturing with his thumb and a head tilt that there was someone in the bedroom, after which he'd return his attention to Wendy. "Yeah yeah, he's with me. We were just poking around to see if there was anyone else holed up here, so far I think it's just the three of us...'
Of course, he was blissfully unaware of the supposedly dead body hiding underneath Wendy's bed. Or the fact that there was a girl in the kitchen just below them.
The loud scream from downstairs was a bit of a giveaway, however.
"JESUS SHIT, what the fuck!?!" Shawn exclaimed as he lept out of his skin, almost dropping his bottle onto the floor before turning to Andrew. "What the hell was that?!? What did you do?!?"
Yep, it was pretty much the same Wendy he was expecting it to be. Nobody he had to particularly worry about, though he did take an errant glance at her peculiar weapon, a shield-gauntlet... Thing, that looked like it could be do some real damage in the right hands. Perhaps a bit too theatrical for his liking, he'd much prefer to get his hands on something simple but efficient. Then again, beggars can't be choosers...
"I only caught the tail end, don't worry about it..." he lied, casually. He was about to lie some more when he heard Andrew address him, stepping away from the door frame to turn to him.
"Hey" was the response he gave, before gesturing with his thumb and a head tilt that there was someone in the bedroom, after which he'd return his attention to Wendy. "Yeah yeah, he's with me. We were just poking around to see if there was anyone else holed up here, so far I think it's just the three of us...'
Of course, he was blissfully unaware of the supposedly dead body hiding underneath Wendy's bed. Or the fact that there was a girl in the kitchen just below them.
The loud scream from downstairs was a bit of a giveaway, however.
"JESUS SHIT, what the fuck!?!" Shawn exclaimed as he lept out of his skin, almost dropping his bottle onto the floor before turning to Andrew. "What the hell was that?!? What did you do?!?"
Shawn gestured to the room he was sticking his head into; someone else was in there, it was either that, or he was really into the decor of the place and needed a look. Andrew took some steps closer down the hall, close enough that he could discern more about the other voice; it was more feminine sounding, so he could hazard a guess that Shawn was talking to one of the girls in the class, but he couldn't place the voice exactly.
A scream bellowed from below, where he had been just a while earlier. Andrew had a small jolt upon hearing, and almost another when Shawn blurted outloud if he did something.
Andrew narrowed his eyes and scowled at the boy, crossing his arms while doing so.
"...The hell you think I did? I followed you." Good thing he bailed up here if, say, Spike made his way over and is busy mangling somebody down there with his teeth. Although, if Shawn was going to use it for some nefarious means to make him look bad to whoever was in there, then there were gonna be words about this shit.
A scream bellowed from below, where he had been just a while earlier. Andrew had a small jolt upon hearing, and almost another when Shawn blurted outloud if he did something.
Andrew narrowed his eyes and scowled at the boy, crossing his arms while doing so.
"...The hell you think I did? I followed you." Good thing he bailed up here if, say, Spike made his way over and is busy mangling somebody down there with his teeth. Although, if Shawn was going to use it for some nefarious means to make him look bad to whoever was in there, then there were gonna be words about this shit.
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RetroVenus
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2019 3:00 pm
- Location: isekai'd
((Adam Lader continued from POP QUIZ, HOTSHOT))
…And by heading to the campground, he meant that he would end up at the research station. Of course. The campground was probably too crowded anyway.
“Fucking snow,” Adam muttered by the time he finished his jog westwards. His feet hurt, his hair was a mess, and the windbreaker was doing nothing to starve off the cold.
If I don’t get out of this fucking weather soon, I’ll get sick. That’d be a shitty way to die, wouldn’t it?
He made his way to the middlemost building, opening and shutting the door as quietly as he could. It was dark, with the only source of light coming in through the windows, but from the tables and chairs it appears he was in a dining area. And lucky for him, he was the only person in the room.
Except he wasn’t. He saw the footsteps outside and the one misplaced chair. Someone else was in the building.
Adam pulled out his weapon list. There was a door leading to the kitchen, and a stairwell leading to…what, the sleeping quarters? He’ll try there first.
Making his way up the stairwell as silently as he could, Adam paused when he heard conversation. A few more steps showed Shawn and Andrew standing at one of the doorways, talking to someone inside. Shawn got dowsing rods, while Andrew got a suicide pill. So they’re fucking useless.
Adam tucked the list back into his bag, then turned on his heels. Maybe one of the terrorists was careless and left the knives in the kitchen…
A scream from somewhere downstairs caused Adam to stumble, his left foot sliding against the landing hard enough to make a loud scruffing sound.
…And by heading to the campground, he meant that he would end up at the research station. Of course. The campground was probably too crowded anyway.
“Fucking snow,” Adam muttered by the time he finished his jog westwards. His feet hurt, his hair was a mess, and the windbreaker was doing nothing to starve off the cold.
If I don’t get out of this fucking weather soon, I’ll get sick. That’d be a shitty way to die, wouldn’t it?
He made his way to the middlemost building, opening and shutting the door as quietly as he could. It was dark, with the only source of light coming in through the windows, but from the tables and chairs it appears he was in a dining area. And lucky for him, he was the only person in the room.
Except he wasn’t. He saw the footsteps outside and the one misplaced chair. Someone else was in the building.
Adam pulled out his weapon list. There was a door leading to the kitchen, and a stairwell leading to…what, the sleeping quarters? He’ll try there first.
Making his way up the stairwell as silently as he could, Adam paused when he heard conversation. A few more steps showed Shawn and Andrew standing at one of the doorways, talking to someone inside. Shawn got dowsing rods, while Andrew got a suicide pill. So they’re fucking useless.
Adam tucked the list back into his bag, then turned on his heels. Maybe one of the terrorists was careless and left the knives in the kitchen…
A scream from somewhere downstairs caused Adam to stumble, his left foot sliding against the landing hard enough to make a loud scruffing sound.
Wendy’s heart jumped at the sound of the scream. It sounded like it came from below. Wait, does that mean she woke up on the second floor of this building? More importantly, why was there a scream? Were they being attacked? Did they see something horrible? Did they just wake up?
Suddenly, the boy started shouting at his friend.
“What's going on!? Who was that!?," Wendy shouted in surprise.
Wendy was petrified with fear, until she noticed something under the bed. Was that... a dead body!?
"OH MY GOD!!!," she shouted.
She fell to the floor and cried some more, covering her face with the palms of her hands. This was too much to take at once.
Suddenly, the boy started shouting at his friend.
“What's going on!? Who was that!?," Wendy shouted in surprise.
Wendy was petrified with fear, until she noticed something under the bed. Was that... a dead body!?
"OH MY GOD!!!," she shouted.
She fell to the floor and cried some more, covering her face with the palms of her hands. This was too much to take at once.
This dead body didn't move.
Because dead bodies didn't move, unless they were in movement when they died, or like falling from a building, or sucked in a vacuum.
There were many ways a body could move, but this body didn't. It didn't move, and wouldn't move again. Or at least, the dead body hoped that would be the case, because it was silent and quiet and unmoving. It had to wait.
It had to wait.
Because dead bodies didn't move, unless they were in movement when they died, or like falling from a building, or sucked in a vacuum.
There were many ways a body could move, but this body didn't. It didn't move, and wouldn't move again. Or at least, the dead body hoped that would be the case, because it was silent and quiet and unmoving. It had to wait.
It had to wait.
"I don't fuckin' know, man! I thought you..." Shawn began, stopping as he heard a loud scruffling sound further down the corridor behind Andrew.
His heart stopped as he caught a glimpse of pink hair, before whoever was down there shifted out of view. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together and realise whoever it was, they were likely the cause behind that scream downstairs, and therefore a significant threat. Shit. Shitshitshitshitshit...
He'd quickly turn back to Wendy, his hand raised as the other held tightly onto his beer bottle. "Heyheyhey, don't worry, we've got this under contr-Oh Jesus!"
It was at that point that Shawn finally spotted the body under the bed, stumbling away from the doorway with his hand covering his mouth. He'd never seen a real life stiff before, only in documentaries and news broadcasts and such. His gaze didn't linger on it, instead turning to Wendy with suspicious eyes. He was about to start throwing accusations her way until it quickly dawned on him that she was just as shocked as he was, and if she was trying something funny it didn't make much sense for her to draw attention to the body like that.
Either way, the answer behind that particular question had to wait, not when there was a potential killer hiding by the only way off this floor that didn't involve jumping through a window.
"Okay, look-look, my friend Andy here... He's gonna go check that noise out and make sure everything's cool!" he'd say, before turning to look Andrew in the eyes. "Isn't that right?"
His heart stopped as he caught a glimpse of pink hair, before whoever was down there shifted out of view. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together and realise whoever it was, they were likely the cause behind that scream downstairs, and therefore a significant threat. Shit. Shitshitshitshitshit...
He'd quickly turn back to Wendy, his hand raised as the other held tightly onto his beer bottle. "Heyheyhey, don't worry, we've got this under contr-Oh Jesus!"
It was at that point that Shawn finally spotted the body under the bed, stumbling away from the doorway with his hand covering his mouth. He'd never seen a real life stiff before, only in documentaries and news broadcasts and such. His gaze didn't linger on it, instead turning to Wendy with suspicious eyes. He was about to start throwing accusations her way until it quickly dawned on him that she was just as shocked as he was, and if she was trying something funny it didn't make much sense for her to draw attention to the body like that.
Either way, the answer behind that particular question had to wait, not when there was a potential killer hiding by the only way off this floor that didn't involve jumping through a window.
"Okay, look-look, my friend Andy here... He's gonna go check that noise out and make sure everything's cool!" he'd say, before turning to look Andrew in the eyes. "Isn't that right?"