[week three - wednesday]

[hypertoxic]

[ Why is life this way.

Everyone bitches and moans about how life is precious and they all need to work together to stay alive and then six people stumble out of the jungle mostly dead and three more wash up on the fucking beach for some god damn reason.

To say Vriska is mad is honestly an understatement of the issue.

Dealing with everyone missing significant pieces of their bodies has drained her quite a bit, especially as it meant she ended up having to skip sleeping today. So at least she's simmered down to a low boil by that evening.

Which is roughly when Lief will find himself joined at the campfire by a troll whose face seems to be stuck in a permanent expression of flat irritation. ]

You want to tell me what the fuck you were thinking, or should I just keep assuming you have a death wish you wanted fulfilled more quickly than having to wait for a Thursday night?

Comments

[reidentify]

[Blankly, he watches her as she does her thing, before shrugging with his good shoulder.]

And tell me, how should I act to change it?

[Other than be perfect in everyone's eyes, apparently, and he's tried that for years with varying degrees of success.

Honestly, a part of him just wants to disappear—to not have to exist. But he knows that that can never be an option. Not as long as he is who he is. Idly, he thinks of his conversation with Magilou, and again, he's reminded: no matter how much he might desperately wish for those days back, the time when his life was his own has long since passed.]

... I wish I had a role, like with the items, or at least knew someone who did. Perhaps then it would be obvious what I could do in this place.

[In ways that don't involve throwing himself into danger.]

[hypertoxic]

Pff. You want me to tell you how to fix all your shit? Get a fucking pen.

[ A sigh through her nose. The look she gives him when he says that is sharp. ]

Careful what you wish for, Lief. If you're really, truly unlucky, the Chiefs might just overhear you and switch things up because I'm sure they'd find that hilarious. Besides, "a role" could just as easily mean a killing role, and what the hell would you do then? Let it go. There are better ways to take charge of your destiny.

[reidentify]

I hope your solution is not "catch all of the murderers" because in case you have not noticed, I have already been trying.

[hypertoxic]

{ sNORTS and then cackles ]

Sometimes I genuinely can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not. But if that was sarcasm just now, it was pretty good!

[ sighs again and settles down. ]

I mean, I'd make the point that you can change it by not doing dangerous shit, but I think you got that point already. What roles even exist besides the item role and the killing role? We still haven't figured that part out, even if it's pretty logical to conclude there are other roles. So, like, what, you'd help out the item role in some vague fashion, or just execute the killing role on the spot? Pretty lofty dreams.

[reidentify]

Oh, I do not actually want a role or anything like that. I merely wanted to see how you would react if I said that.

[hypertoxic]

[ blinks.

and then smirks at him. ]

Aren't you full of surprises today! Trying to pull a fast one. What were you expecting, anyway? [ falsetto ] "Oh, Lief, I have a role, please help me!"

[ mimes dramatically from her spot on the ground before dissolving into cackles ]

[reidentify]

[He smiles wryly.]

No, for I cannot imagine you saying "please" or asking for my help.

[hypertoxic]

[ again she cracks up laughing, delighted. ]

You're damn right!

[ well. however much he means it, it isn't the worst thing to see him smile. ]

[reidentify]

[He's a little too tired for it to be completely genuine, but.]

You are rather proud of that.

[hypertoxic]

[ Her mirth cools into a close-lipped smile. She'll rearrange herself on the sand, her anger by now clearly drained. ]

I'm used to being self-sufficient. When I was younger I definitely considered a point of pride that I never asked anybody for help with anything!

[ ...

tilts her head. ]

But you're wrong about one thing. I might not say please, but I wouldn't be opposed to asking you for help, Lief. I just want you to understand it goes both ways.

[reidentify]

... Thank you, Vriska. I will keep that in mind, though truly, in that context, I have nothing to be helped with.

[hypertoxic]

You just seem like you are under a lot of pressure. [ Gives him a measured look. ] If you're feeling frustrated enough to risk your safety, I want to be able to help in some way!

[reidentify]

[He blinks, a little surprised considering how different this is from earlier, but he won't complain.]

I assume you are not likewise volunteering to risk your safety.

[hypertoxic]

Nope. [ blunt as hell. ] We're going to run out of people who can cauterize all these lost limbs if any more of us get totaled! So no, I am not going to go charging into the jungle. But whatever else I can do, I will.

[reidentify]

Then as I said, I will keep that in mind if there is anything. Thank you.