I sat at the top of the play structure at the park, awaiting the person I had called out. With the lowest level of my Dragonborn sight active, it was impossible for any mortal to sneak up on me, even a high-level thief like him.
As I sat there, I sensed a presence behind me. I turned to face the fellow of my class, silently greeting Craig Tucker as he approached me. He nodded in return, looking slightly uncomfortable (meaning, of course, that he was VERY uncomfortable).
"You summoned me, Commander Douchebag?" he asked, his monotonous voice hiding his inner anxiety.
I nodded, allowing my eyes to glow as I glared at him. He recoiled, feeling the heat of my gaze. He knew precisely what this was about.
"Tweek…isn't doing well, is he?" Craig practically whispered, his voice cracking with guilt. I simply shook my head, my glare not wavering.
"…look…I'm only on Clyde's side because he's my friend…and he has the Stick." he said quickly, trying to justify his decision. I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow at him.
"What's that look for? Of course I care about Tweek!" Craig yelled indignantly at my expression's implied accusation. His voice softened as he asked, "Where is he now?"
I held up my phone, showing him the message I had sent to Butters' dad arranging his sleepover with Tweek. Craig sighed with relief.
"He's in good hands." the thief said, leaning against the railing on the outside of the play structure. He tensed up again when he saw that my eyes were still glowing. He sighed. "Okay, what do you want from me?"
"Answers." I replied, letting him hear the venom in my icy voice.
Craig shuddered at my ferocity. "I already told you, Clyde's my friend. He's been my friend ever since we were in kindergarten. We're always on the same team."
"And Tweek?" I asked, causing him to shudder again.
"I love Tweek. More than anything." Craig replied, tears forming at the corners of his eyes, "I tried to get him to join us, but the thought of being a traitor scared him. It's not like I WANTED to leave him!"
"Then why did you betray us at all?" I asked, my own monotonous voice chilling the already-frozen air around us.
"Because Clyde has the Stick! So he controls the universe!" Craig yelled at me, his guilt overwhelming him, "He actually gives me a title worthy of my skills!"
"A title?!" I asked incredulously, "You abandoned Tweek for a title?!" I had finally snapped.
"I didn't abandon him!" Craig barked back, "Once the Dark Army prevails, I will make sure he gets a good position! I would never let anyone hurt him!"
"You don't get it, do you?" I growled dangerously, "You've hurt him more than any opponent ever could. Even the underpants gnomes haven't scarred him as much as you have."
Craig almost fell off the play structure, my comment burning him to the very core. His voice trembled as tears streamed down his face.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" he cried in a half-hearted attempt to retort, "This conversation is over! Once you see the true power of the Dark Side, you'll have no choice but to bow down before us!"
"I'd sooner die." I said as the traitorous thief disappeared. I took a deep breath, calming myself as the glowing of my eyes dimmed. With their heat gone, the chill from the air sent shivers throughout my entire being. I looked around at all of the buildings around the park, their windows dark and absent. I then took in the sight of the deserted park, an aura of loneliness darkening the dimly-lit area.
Raising my head to gaze at the stars, I inhaled deeply the nighttime mountain air, closing my eyes as the icy wind blew through my hair. Losing myself in the frozen air, I cooled my heated spirit, knowing that I would need my strength for the upcoming battle. Then, with my spirit settled, I, too, disappeared from the silent park. However, rather than return home, I headed into another part of town, where another meeting was set to take place.