SOMA | The Meme Dump
Nick rubs his throbbing leg.
NICK
No.
LEVON
A narc? Those look like narc muscles.
NICK
I’m just a patent trader. A corporate patent trader. I lift because it’s desk work, and deskworkpeople get soft and die.
LEVON
The muscles are your hobby?
NICK
Not dying is my hobby...
LEVON
You look like a bouncer or something…
Levon stretches and releases the band of his slingshot as he thinks.
NICK
Can you put the weapon away please?
LEVON
Sorry. Sorry. Peace.
Levon drops his ball bearings in the dirt and puts the sling shot into the waistband of his pants.
NICK
You on edge there, buddy?
LEVON
People don’t want me walking dogs here. I thought you might be one 15
SOMA | The Meme Dump
of the condo guys, come to kick me out…
The dog pack barks in the distance. Nick stands up. He’s a much larger man than Levon. The dog walker backs away. Nick kicks at the ball bearings and scatters them. He leans over and looks at his injured leg.
NICK
Fuck. I’m bleeding a bit. You’re a crack shot, LB.
Nick rubs the blood between his fingers as if he's never seen the substance before.
LEVON
I just meant to scare you. Those muscles are just for show?
NICK
Search my name if you're still suspicious. I’m Internetfamous.
The muscular man pecks at his phone. An onscreen message reads,
“Auto upload recent images? ” Nick punches the “Yes” key and swipes the menu away. He hands Levon the phone.
Levon sees Nick's personal website. He thumbs through photos of Nick posing happily with politicians, celebrities and his English bulldog, Deltoid. Last is an image of Nick performing at an amateur wrestling event. He is centre ring, flexing his muscles, naked save for a Black fedora, bikini briefs and a sequined Michael Jackson glove. Steib is painted head to toe in sprayon tanner.
LEVON
Holy shit! You're, orange!
NICK
That was a charity event my company put together.
LEVON
You’re a wrestler?