ggj2020

You, the Dude, and your best bro, the Bro, are hanging out at the bar. It's like the good old days: just the two of you best mates talking about -you know- the things that cisgender straight white guys usually talk about. [[Two long time friends just keeping it real.|inicio_2]]

Dude> The one from the gym? Bro> No, man, that one, Big Pete's sister. [[Dude> Yeah, you bet.|Yeah, you bet.]]

Dude> That secretary from the office? Bro> No, man, that one, Big Pete's sister. [[Dude> Yeah, you bet.|Yeah, you bet.]]

Dude> That receptionist at the football? Bro> No, man, that one, Big Pete's sister. [[Dude> Yeah, you bet.|Yeah, you bet.]]

Dude> Yeah, you bet. Bro> Yeah. Speaking of that... Jessica, man. Dude> What about her? Bro> ... Dude> ...no way! Bro> Yeah, dude. At the gym's shower. Dude> Fuck yeah, duuuude! Man, that's one fine piece of ass. Bro> Dude, don't tell me you've also... [[Dude> No, man, I'm actually jealous because she's also a really cool girl.|shes cool]] [[Dude> No, I'm actually a bit nervous around her. I kinda like her, I guess.|i like her]]

[[Well... sort of.|inicio_3]]

Bro> Man, that girl Barbara's so fucking hot these days. [[Dude> The one from the gym?|The one from the gym?]] [[Dude> That secretary from the office?|That secretary from the office?]] [[Dude> That receptionist at the football?|That receptionist at the football?]]

Dude> Sorry to break this to you, but she's a real slut. Bro> Humm... yeah, whatever. Dude> That ship has been to too many docks. [[The two of you laugh]]

Dude> No, thanks, I've had my share of needy ones. Bro> She's the needy kind, then? Dude> From what I've heard from George and David... Bro> Who are those? Dude> The exes, what else? Bro> Fuck... guess I'll be needing a new gym. [[The two of you laugh]]

Oh, little things compare to the simple pleasures of asserting one's masculinity through trash talk. [[Dude> Man... I've missed this.|Man... I've missed this.]]

Dude> Man... I've missed this. Bro> Well… I needed a little bit of time. To process things. Dude> Process? Process what? A weird silence settles. Bro> Dude, I've been mad at you for a while. [[Dude> What? C'mon, bro...|C'mon, bro...]]

Dude> What? C'mon, bro... Bro> Actually, dude, I still am. That's why I came here today. We need to talk it out. [[Dude> Man, that's new… But hey, man, you're my brother, Bro. Whatever it is that is bothering you, I'm sure we can work it out.|you're my brother]]

Dude> Don't be such a pussy. Tell me what's wrong. Bro> I Shouldn't have to explain to you how it is to be a good friend. [[Dude> You have been avoiding me... how could I know?|avoiding me]] [[Dude> I honestly don't know what I did.|i don't know what I did]]

Dude> Oh. *I've* been a bad friend. When you're the one who disappears. That's funny. You don't answer my messages, you don't comment on my posts... Bro> You missed my father's funeral. [[You stare in silence for a second]]

Dude> Bro, I'm not a mind reader. You gotta tell me what's going on. Bro> I don't know what's worse, that you avoid recognizing your mistake or that you truly don't think it was a big deal to miss my father's funeral. [[You stare in silence for a second]]

Dude> Shit, man, that was long ago. Bro> Does that change anything? [[Dude> No, it doesn't...|No, it doesn't...]] [[Dude> It's hard to recall my reason for not going, but there must have been one.|don't rember my reasons]]

Dude> Yeah... I, mean, of course. Bro> What, dude? what's the difference? [[Dude> ...|don't rember my reasons]]

Dude> ...I mean... I can't even tell you why I didn't go. I don't remember. Bro> Try, Dude. For the sake of our friendship. [[Dude> Man, I don't think that is fair. I had my reasons.|i had my reasons]] [[Dude> Man... it's fucking death. I loved your pops, bro, and it pains me deeply that he is no longer with us. I just can't cope with it, and going to the funeral would only worsen the pain.|it's fucking death]]

Dude> Dafuck... shit just got super creepy. Thought we were gonna talk about chicks or whatever. Bro> That's the thing, dude. You're a good friend when it is time to party. But when push comes to shove... when I actually needed a friend... where were you? [[Dude> Then you should have said something.|Then you should have said something]] [[Dude> I was afraid, bro.|I was afraid, bro]]

Dude> There's no reason, man, I just didn't think it would actually mean that much to you. I find it all so... you know... like crying over spilled milk. Bro> That was actually quite insensitive. Man, you're selfish... [[Dude> Wow, no need for that. I'm here, I'm listening.|I'm here, I'm listening]] [[Dude> Shit, you really think that? Sorry, guess I could do better...|guess I could do better]]

Dude> I didn't know you needed me. You need your man here, you call your man. Bro> Well, we have different standards then. [[Dude> Fuck.|fuck]]

Dude> Bro, is it for real that you buy into any of this ritualistic shebang? Bro> It's not the ritual, man. It was a very dark phase of my life. And you simply disappeared. [[Dude> I did not|I did not]] [[Dude> Yeah... sorry, man, I'm just a scared little boy. Trying to hide behind my own biceps.|I'm just a scared little boy]]

Dude> I was right here. I loved your man in his days. I payed my respects to him the way I think is worth it. Bro> You still don't get it? You shouldn't consider the validity of the funeral or the olden ways. I'm-your-best-fucking-friend. [[Dude> Fuck.|fuck]]

Dude> Well, I'm here now. Bro> Yes. Now that we're having a beer. Talking about chicks. [[Dude> Fuck.|fuck]]

Dude> Dude — I mean, bro —, chill. Don't take it personally. Bro> I'm really not. I'm merely judging you. [[Dude> Fuck.|fuck]]

Dude> Bro, sorry if I have my ideals. Bro> Suddenly Mr. Ideals. [[Dude> Fuck.|fuck]]

Dude> Fuck. Bro> Yeah, fuck. Silence. Bro> Dude. I know it is no easy thing. I know it ain't what we're trained for. [[Dude> Feelings scare me, man.|I guess no one is.]] [[Dude> If I'd known you'd be that upset, I would have been there.|I'm sorry, man, I guess]]

Dude> I guess no one is. Bro> Still. My thought is that it would be your duty to, as a friend, try and be by my side. Heck, at least you should know that by having failed to do so you have failed as a friend. Doesn't mean it's too late or whatever. But I guess an "I'm sorry" would be fine. [[Dude> I'm sorry, man. I love you.|lov u]]

Dude> I'm sorry, man... I guess. Bro> Then we're cool, I guess. You guys shake hands. It feels a little weird though. Like something is broken beyond repair. You ask the waiter for something stronger. THE END

Dude> I'm sorry, man. I love you. You guys hold hands — but, you know, in a best bros' handshake kind of way. It might look a little weird to the innocent bystanders. But it just feels right. Bro> Bros for life. Rough ride, but Dude and Bro managed to save their broness. See? A little humility goes a long way... THE END

Straight Talk. An interactive story about toxic masculinity and broken relationships by *Renato Baroni* and *Thiago Baptista* for the 2020 edition of the Global Game Jam. [[Start|inicio]]