I think it's entirely possible to have a conversation about the efficacy of a mask outside, or in your own car. Happy to discuss it. But if you are very sick, if fluids are just… erupting out of you, in an endless torrent, and you're on an enclosed cylinder this isn't a COVID paranoia thing. We aren't even talking about COVID. I don't know what the fuck you brought in here. This is a you being an asshole thing.

The people I was next to on the way down were of the sort who sees a buffet as an opportunity to "beat the house," to "make" more in calories than they paid for, only they were doing this for alcohol. I am no stranger to the devil's liquor, but even for free I can't drink on planes because it makes me sweat, pant, and vibrate in the seat. They did not have that problem. They had twelve drinks apiece, and his overall flow became more creamy and frequent as a result. Don't ask me about my Codex, Pestilent. Don't point your viral spigot at me for any reason.

On the way home, the guy next to me was coughing deep, working up rich, aged material from the depths, whenever he wasn't trying to discuss politics. Pal, I don't want either of these things from you. Given the preview he offered, I consider these things to be in roughly the same category.

I thought maybe I had succumbed to one of these onslaughts on the way in, but my body was just ravaged by the demon pollen they have down there. Melbourne has some controversial tree along the waterfront that makes you feel like your eyes have the kind of peel-away coating you'd find on a new flatscreen. And then it gets into the rest of your shit and just sets up shop, distributing its grim puddings broadly. I just read an article with quotes from an arborist about how the trees aren't that bad, but the only thing we really know about this guy is that he likes trees too much. Right? We know what team he's on.

(CW)TB out.