[week one - monday]

[hypertoxic]

[ It is godawful o'clock when Vriska goes looking for Raven. We're talking like 3, 4 AM. What's sleep? For the weak, that's what.

Besides, chances for a truly private conversation are best when absolutely no one else will be around, and Vriska is very aware that humans are diurnal. Being nocturnal has some benefits, even on an obnoxiously sunny tropical island.

Anyway, hey. Looks like we're going to chill out by the campfire and chat, because when Vriska finds Raven there staring into the flames, she'll settle down in a chair beside the other girl. ]

Hey you.

[ Stretches her arms up over her head, leaning back in her chair to stare up at the oh so starry sky. ]

So what do you think about all this? Like, personally, without any other idiots around to bug us.

Comments

[hydrazine]

I think I've had worse.

[Those are the first words out of her mouth, of course. Sure of herself as ever, she doesn't hesitate, even if Vriska is asking for a higher degree of honesty than she's shown the others. Cupping her face in her hand and bracing her elbow on her good knee, she turns towards the other girl.]

Both as far as the overall situation goes, and as far as what he's expecting of the five of us. What about you?

[hypertoxic]

To be honest, I am pretty much the same.

[ Vriska will curl her body up, hugging her knees to her chest. It's not a guarding gesture of any kind; she's just getting comfy. ]

Since we are now in this thing together, I figure I ought to at least tell you a few things about myself. Things that are relevant, anyway.

[ A beat, and she tilts her head to stare into the fire instead. ]

Unlike what I have been telling everyone who asked, the so-called crime I was sacrificed for is not an exaggeration by any means. I have definitely committed the equivalent of genocide, more than once.

[ It does not strike her as particularly dangerous to divulge this information. They're both Sirens, now. If they spill each other's secrets, they jeopardize the whole operation. They could die, and bring everyone else on this island down with them. So, may as well be honest about her real skill set. ]

[hydrazine]

[It's not the act itself that shocks her; it's the sudden honesty. After all, two of her closest friends have committed the same act, but she can't picture either Clarke or Bellamy stating it so plainly or easily.

Raven is different than the both of them, though. She's never seen the logic in blaming herself for acts she couldn't control. Accordingly, the plainly stated information is met with a pause that's respectful and interested, with no trace of judgment.]

Never gone as far as genocide myself, but I've watched it happen, and I can't say I feel too bad about that. I have killed much more than 40 people at one time, though. This shouldn't be a problem.

[She takes the talk about murder and multiple genocides in stride, but:]

There's just one thing I'm going to need from you.

[hypertoxic]

[ The way she laughs is just a quiet huff, a far cry from her regular bravado. It's all very straightforward and matter of fact. Though it feels like a long time ago now, Vriska had been roughly this straightforward with John when she'd explained her bloody, horrible life to him. It'd been a little harder with someone whose hands were so clean, but the principle was the same.

Even so, she can't deny to herself the twinge of relief that Raven does not call her a monster.

Vriska will look at the other girl again, her expression reflecting Raven's own respect and interest. ]

Glad we're on the same page. I kinda thought we would be, to be honest with you. Anyway, sure, what's up?

[hydrazine]

I'm glad we're not all like Battler.

[While she's certainly capable of doing this alone, it's a relief that she won't have to.

What she says next comes calmly enough, but her tone doesn't indicate anything but certainty and sincerity. She honestly means what she's about to impart.]

Bellamy's off the table. If any of you hurt him and I know it was one of us, I will tell the entire island all of our identities.

[It's not that she's particularly excited about that prospect. She acknowledges the risk it'll bring to every single person here. But, truth be told - she puts his wellbeing above the safety of every other person here combined.]

[hypertoxic]

[ Just stares at her for a second, mildly surprised.

Then she'll crack up laughing, though as before, it's not her usual loud, brash sound. It is somewhat humorless. ]

You don't need to threaten me, Raven. Remember that thing I said about cooperation and trust? That's going to be hard to establish if we start murdering each other's besties or whatever! I don't know about Fie and Serph, but I feel fairly sure they won't have any objections as long as Bellamy doesn't personally come after any of us. And who gives a shit what Battler thinks.

[ Tucks her hair behind her ear. There is a much more active interest in the way that Vriska looks at her now. ]

You're from the same place, huh. Is he the ex?

[hydrazine]

[There's a short breath out, and an expression that seems to relax somewhat. She isn't sure how she expected this conversation to go, but it's easier than she imagined. She's spent so long fighting to keep their entire group alive, to keep him alive - it's almost remarkable to her that they've seemed to reach an agreement so easily.]

I'm going to talk to them about it, too. And... Thank you.

[For not objecting. She shakes her head slightly, though.]

We're from the same place, but... No. My ex's name was Finn.

[Was. With how honest Vriska has been with her in the past few minutes, Raven figures she owes her that ounce of honesty in return.]

[hypertoxic]

Bluh. Look at all this genuine sentiment! So heartwarming. Just let me know if the others give you trouble.

[ Waves a hand, but despite that, she can't quite mask how seriously she herself is taking all of this. Raven's gratitude means something to her. She won't easily let that get ruined.

Anyway, hey. Look at that. More honesty. Vriska does not miss the significance of the way that's said, and her mouth pulls to one side in a grimace that's sour, and oh, oh so slightly sympathetic. Sympathy is tough for her. But she too has watched friends die. Some of them she killed herself. Some of them she tried so, so hard to keep alive. ]

No wonder you didn't want to burn it, [ she offers, a little dryly. She's referring, of course, to the necklace. ] Look, I'm not, like, great at this whole friendship thing? Or being honest with my emotions, or ... things like that. But I get it.

[hydrazine]

[She gives a small nod to what Vriska says first, apparently not knowing exactly how to respond to what she's said. They're both allergic to genuine sentiment, evidently.]

Besides, the edges are sharp. Could make a good weapon.

[It's a quip used an excuse to move away from something that's still so painful and raw. The sight of the blood soaking the front of his shirt, the way his head hung down, and the knife held tight in Clarke's hand - she will never forget it, but she will move past it. So she just gives a nod.]

I'm getting the feeling most people here might get it, too.

[hypertoxic]

[ snort. ] I bet you could blind someone with that thing! Could make a fun surprise.

[ yes. "fun." quips! quips and barbs and let's definitely stop talking about our emotions.

Vriska will wriggle around in her chair, turning her hair into an absolute wild nest of inky black that spills all around her relatively diminutive form. ]

No kidding. The Sirens might be Shithead City, but the rest of the people on this island are their own band of misfits and freaks! I have already lost track of the sad and traumatic backstories. We are one hell of a motley crew. There is an actual five year old here?

[ She means Laphicet. ]

The Chiefs sure know how to pick 'em.

[hydrazine]

I've been wondering if I could hit hard enough to puncture someone's jugular with it.

[Normal things normal people think about.]

I'm willing to bet most of them are just as messed up as we are. We're just better at what we do.

[Not that it'll be much of a consolation.]

[hypertoxic]

[ snort. ] You can do anything if you just believe in yourself, Raven! [ a knife-sharp smirk.

aaand then she huffs a gusty, loud sigh. ]

Honestly? Probably. But I actually meant what I said earlier. About the people here having hopes and dreams or whatever. Futures! Futures that it is now our job to protect. If I have to be really, reeeeeeeeally good at "extremely violent" [ air quotes! ] murder to make sure they can all go home, then fine, I will do it.

[ .... very quietly: ] Maybe for once I can do something right.

[hydrazine]

Overabundance of ego, remember? I think I can manage that.

[She nods, letting out a noise that in any other circumstances might sound half amused.]

Well, you're already making it sound a lot kinder than just "murder a bunch of people", so I'd say you're on the right track already.

[hypertoxic]

Kinder. Haha! That's pretty funny.

[ Hunches up in her chair, a tightly curled up ball of misery. ]

Don't get the wrong idea. I am not a nice person. I am a monster. And if I have to be a monster to save these people, fine.

[hydrazine]

Kinder than letting them all get killed by molten lava, probably.

[She's pretty firm in that belief.]

I might not know what kind of shit you've been up to back home, but doing what you have to do here doesn't make you a monster.

[hypertoxic]

Haha. Yeah, probably.

[ Vriska will try and tame her mass of hair, but with mixed success. She ends up getting a hand tangled in it and hisses a curse. ]

Fuck, whatever.

[ Stops trying and just. leaves it. ]

... it doesn't matter. In fact, forget I brought it up! Man, that was dumb and melodramatic of me. Maybe I need to learn to shut my fucking seed flap! Bluh.

[ ... ]

As perverse as this sounds, I am glad I'm not alone in doing this.

[hydrazine]

[There's a pause that's lengthy for Raven, who normally thinks quickly and speaks immediately.]

I'm not going to force you to talk about it, but you don't have to stop yourself from talking about it, either.

[Just so she's aware.]

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska answers with her own long pause. She sounds tired when she responds. ]

It is kind of you to offer, but I'd rather not. We have a job we need to focus on doing. That seems like a more worthwhile use of my energy than bitching and moaning about things in my past that I can't change.

[hydrazine]

Fair enough.

[She won't push any further.]

You think it's going to be as easy for the other two as it will be for us?

[Fie and Serph, she means, because she's already counting Battler out.]

[hypertoxic]

I don't know. They're pretty quiet! And sort of tough to read. I don't think they're happy about the situation. I guess we'll see when it comes time for somebody to die.

[ Shrugs a little and tilts her head to watch the other girl. ]

I am most concerned about Battler. He's going to have an extremely hard time swallowing all this.

[hydrazine]

...Even people who think they couldn't do something like take a life can adapt to their circumstances. I've seen it before, when the stakes are high enough. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes around to our side over time.

[But she can't be certain about that, either.]

[hypertoxic]

That's what I'm hoping for. Which I know is fucked up! I know it is. But I think he has valuable experience that could help us, and this will all go a lot more smoothly if he contributes.

[ ... huff. ]

There's no telling right now. We will see how he feels when we have to pick our first real kill.