hypertoxic | CONSIGNMENT; inbox

[There's a delay before he answers. He knows the network is monitored, and he doesn't want to show weakness on it. He doesn't want anyone feeling gratified or smug because he's angry. Wounded, feeling backed into a corner, in pain. They did this to Tali. They did this to Noh-Varr, to Tsuna, to Terra, they did this to some of his Leapfrogs.

They'll pay.

But not today. Today, he'll offer comfort even at the cost of some of his shielding.]

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

Because some of your friends are hurt and hurting. It's the cost of friendship, sometimes. Empathy. Caring.

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

It's the mark of a good friend, Vriska. Or internal bleeding, apparently.

[Because he needs to put a little joke in there, needs it more than he can say.]

[ Vriska, on the other hand, is doing this deliberately. She knows Ghost reads the network. She knows most everything gets back to Mothership. And she does want them to know she's in pain. That they're all in pain. Because this was wrong. Wrong and unfair. The instructors probably already know that. Passive aggressively rubbing it in their faces won't get her absolutely anywhere. And she just doesn't care. ]

FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org

Pff.

FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org

I think you're right. It's definitely internal 8leeding. I will have to get that checked out.

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

I'd recommend the medical stylings of Kirstein and Yamanaka. They seem to know what they're doing when it comes to that.

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

Or I can check. Henge taught me how. If you swing by my rover I'll make sure you're not about to bleed out.

FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org

Hahahaha. Oh man, how can I ignore a recommend8tion from a 8ona fide doctor? I guess I will have to come over so you can make sure I'm not dying. ::::P

FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org

You'd 8etter 8e there right now, 8ecause I might 8e critical!

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

Wait, are you telling me there's a time when you're not critical?

[It's the first joke he's made and felt all day. Sure, he's cracked a few, but they've been exhausted attempts at normality. It feels very good to tease.]

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

I'm here, Vriska.

[ She'd needle for hours if it'd help him feel a little better. ]

FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org

Cute. Hilarious, even! Fuck, I think I just 8roke another ri8 from laughing so hard. Now I'm going to need even more medical attention! Talk a8out careless.

FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org

Now it's your responsi8ility to ensure I recover completely! So I will see you soon.

[ An excuse for company? Never. But the conversation is making her feel a little better, too. It'll be nice to see him. ]

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

Damn, ribs are bad. I don't know how to fix ribs. Except the kind you cook, those I can fix.

[The teasing had gone over well, too. It's a weight off his shoulders to have this in this moment.]

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

I'll find a way to apologize to you for breaking you. And then I'll find a way to apologize to Kyouya. Already have an idea for apologizing to Noh-Varr.

[ The texts make her smile - and the comment about Noh makes her shake her head - but she holds off on replying for when she sees him, instead. It takes her a little longer than it might usually, because he isn't the only person she's texting, and she's also very tired. But she makes it there eventually, knocking on the door. Her hair is still bound back in a ponytail - she never took it back down after dealing with Hibari - but her face and her hands are clean of tears and blood. ]

So what's the verdict? [ The medical verdict, she means, once he opens the door to see her. ]

[He tilts his head, looking her over.]

Mm. I think you're not in critical shape. You might just make it, Serket.

[Garrus' voice is hoarse and his subharmonics are ragged, but at least he's upright.]

Coming in? We've got... chairs. It's about all I can offer.

[ He's upright, and he's managing to joke around with her. His efforts get a friendly nudge as she nods and takes his invitation to come in. ]

Phew! That's a relief. It would really suck to double die! Especially in such a dumb and undignified way. Anyway, who needs chairs when you're a ghost? Seriously, Garrus, it's like you don't even remember who you're talking to.

[ But with a sigh she gives him a little smile that's genuine. ]

Stupid question, probably, but how are you holding up now?

[Stiffly he manages to close the door behind her, shaking his head as he moves to take a seat of his own.]

Died once and I still need a chair, so who am I to judge what dead people need? And I'm... I'm alive, Vriska.

[He wishes there was better he could say. They hurt him, but worse, they hurt people he cared about and it's not something he can let go of. Garrus glances down.]

Not double-dead yet. It's something.

[ That veered serious so fast she got whiplash. That's what she gets for asking. ]

You've alive, [ she agrees, suddenly and uncharacteristically serious. ]

All you can do is fight, Garrus. You're pretty good at that.

[She did ask. He looks back up, at her.]

And what about the people who aren't so good at fighting? The ones who were working and trying, and they aren't ready to carry this? I'm fighting. I'll keep fighting. But this was sloppy. This was a mess.

[And he's angry. Hurting and angry. A part of him wonders how she seems so calm when they've hurt people close to her - Noh-Varr and Kyouya.]

And the lack of explanation is varrenshit.

CONSIGNMENT; inbox

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