[week five - wednesday]

[hypertoxic]

[ There aren't many people left on the island that Vriska really wants to associate with. Not that she dislikes most of the remaining villagers; far from it. For better or for worse, the tiny group that remains has become something of a unit. People she's familiar with, people she'd by and large call her friends. But she doesn't really want to talk to any of them right now.

She's tired. She's done everything she can. Events are in motion that cannot be stopped, and now, all she can do is wait and watch.

Hiro, though, strikes her as not so bad to talk with. She's been keeping to herself since Sunday, scarce though visibly around unlike last week, not really wanting to be subjected to the presence of others. Hopeful, scared, bonded.

Bonds. What a joke, right?

But Hiro probably won't annoy her, so that's something.

Have Vriska dropping out of a tree wherever you're going, buddy. What is it with her and trees? ]

Hey, Hiro.

Comments

[zerotohiro]

[He looks up, not at all surprised by the sudden flurry of snow and a spider-girl dropping from the trees. His expression is dejected at best and irritated at worse, far too tired of this stupid game to really have hope.

But at the same time, how do you tell people that? How do you tell someone you don't believe in heaven, that this is just the way it goes? He has some hope, but at the same time...

"Don't give up." He's never been a quitter, but that option is tempting.

Still, there's Vriska and he doesn't startle in surprise like he would. Instead, he gives her a half-closed-lipped smile.]

Hey. Hiding out again?

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska mirrors his smile, her brows drawing up and together just a little. Hiro looks as tired as she feels. ]

I'm up to no good, Hiro. Just like always.

[ Shoving her hands in her pockets, Vriska will hunch her shoulders against the cold. ]

Why don't we walk for a bit? It's better than standing around in this freezing ass weather. I hate this island.

[zerotohiro]

Should've known. [There's a small huff, not entirely amused as he mirrors her stance and bows his head.]

I hate snow. Lead the way. I'll follow...as usual. [A walk is fine? He's wearing sneakers it's too cold for this bullshit.]

[hypertoxic]

[ That makes her laugh, but she will go ahead and start them trudging through the snow. ]

You have never struck me as a follower, Hiro. I've always thought you had the makings of a leader! Not that it really matters now.

[zerotohiro]

You know. I did, too. And I always thought I was, but sometimes people on this island...[He shakes his head. It doesn't matter.] Somebody once said "I don't think deciding to make a team makes you the leader. It's about if they trust you and look to you for what to do."

I had a team back home. But it doesn't mean much here, I guess. [He misses them desperately, he's realized. It's not something he wishes to think on, but it's there.]

Everybody keeps saying that we can't give up and we can't lose hope, you know? And look. There's snow. [But he draws in a breath.] So what kind of no good are you up to this week?

[hypertoxic]

[ ................. ]

That is solid advice, [ Vriska says, and there's something weirdly nostalgic about the way she says it. ]

All of the no good, Hiro. Aaaaaaaall of it! I put my final plans into motion days ago. The rest of this is out of my hands! All we can do now is wait and see what happens. But if I did everything right, and I'm at least pretty sure I did, this game should be coming to a close soon.

[zerotohiro]

Maybe it is. But who knows if I'll follow it. [There's a slight smirk. There's a lot on his mind, but for once his team is on the backburner. If he doesn't get home, there will be no reason to get to his team.]

You've always been kind of a schemer, haven't you? Must be nice to watch the rest of us scramble for leverage. You sure whatever you did it is leading us to the right ending, Vriska? Or is it another game of chance?

[hypertoxic]

[ The smile she gives him is broad and full of fangs. ]

Hey, that's hurtful! What do you take me for, some kind of slack-jawed idiot like the other total buffoons running around on this island? Don't make me laugh. Do you really believe I wouldn't win this game in the way it needs to be won? I'm a gamer, Hiro. The best! And I always win.

[zerotohiro]

"And the real winners cheat." [He's just throwing those words she said to him long ago right back in her face.] I'm not an idiot either!

[Probably. But oh. ...oh shit.] Vriska, what the hell did you do?

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska cracks up laughing, though it isn't as mean-spirited as it could be. ]

Didn't you hear me? I did eeeeeeeeverything. The extent to which I've been manipulating this game from the very beginning is kind of unreal! Soon you'll all see. I was always going to make good on my word, Hiro! I was always going to do whatever it took to send everyone home.

[ Vriska taps a finger on her lips, suddenly thoughtful. ]

You may not see me after tomorrow. If everything goes right, anyway! That is actually the reason I wanted to talk to you. This will likely be the last time we speak before the end of this dumb game!

[zerotohiro]

[His eyes narrow because. Uh. The fuck tho.]

That explains absolutely nothing and you know it. [Don't give him that shit, Serket!!!] I would definitely buy that you've been lying and manipulating the game and everyone in it to see an end to it, but I don't know how many people you're dragging down with you.

[But he pauses then, giving her a vaguely alarmed look.]

...so...what? You came to find me to say goodbye? [It's not the same sort of discontent he felt earlier, but it's something weird and unsettling all the same.] Explain something to me, if you can. If you get yourself killed or run off into hiding or whatever it is you're doing, how do you know your plans will go off without a hitch?

[hypertoxic]

Dragging down with me? Haha, wow! You've got a really high opinion of my tactics, don't you? I mean, if I was you, I'd have complete faith in me too! Because I'd know you were smart and great and totally awesome at this shit! Because you'd be me.

[ Vriska flaps a hand, a careless motion. ] Something like that! The goodbye thing, not the rest of that lame shit. Don't worry, Hiro. It's all been handled. The things that have been set in motion can't be undone now! Either we're going to succeed at this thing, finally, or we're going to crash and burn hard. But no one is so incompetent they could fuck up the incredibly simple to understand plans I've laid out, so there's no way something like that'll happen!

[zerotohiro]

I'd rather be underwhelmed than blindsided, Vriska. I've had more than enough experience with that. Also...stop. Just stop that.

[He rolls his eyes.] You know we're on Moron Island for a reason, right? I'll believe it when I see the plans go off perfectly. It doesn't matter if it was simple. Do you not remember what happened with all of the Jacks? [Grumbling.] Unless you're being hilariously sarcastic right now, then I guess I'll strap in for the ride.

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska bites her lip, failing to look anything less than kind of delighted, tapping her fingers on her cheek. ]

You really believe that, don't you? You honestly, sincerely believe there's anything about this game I don't know, and that I'm bumbling into some kind of trap like a real chump. I thought you had more faith in me than that!

[ But, fine. He asked her to stop, so she'll stop, the smile sliding from her face like it was never there. ]

If that's how you want to play, then fine. Hiro, I have done everything I can. I have set these people up for total victory in the most exhaustingly, pointlessly thorough way I know how. At this point there is no way they can fail unless they actively conspire against themselves. Which is possible, with this group!

[zerotohiro]

Don't take it personally. [It's minor, quiet and unsettled.] I don't have faith in much anymore. Do I think I know what you're doing? Yes. Do I think you have failsafes in order? Yes. Am I comfortable going into this completely blind to what you're doing? No. So there's suspension of belief solely so I'm not caught off-guard.

I think you know what's going on maybe more than the rest of us. And I think I'm just tired of this game messing with everyone including you. So. Prove me wrong.

[...] That was my point, by the way. People get desperate and when they think they have a surefire plan, they can actively sabotage themselves. I don't know who you trusted, I don't know what you're doing or what's going on, but I just...

...you know what. Never mind. I know you've been busy and I guess...what do you want from me? A thank you? My help? A goodbye and me saying "I hope things are okay for you whatever happens"?

[Hiro Hamada has too much information. This is when he's at a loss.] Either way, I appreciate the heads up. And I'll still be at the trial on Saturday waiting for everything to come to a head unless somebody kills me tomorrow.