[WEEK 3 SUNDAY, POST-EXECUTION: Vriska]

[spinatalltale]

[Vriska is probably still angry. not that Magilou can blame her, honestly. it's been one heck of a weekend. and Vriska had thrown one heck of a gauntlet at the end of the execution. it was pretty impressive, actually! and Magilou-- being Magilou-- loved to see that kind of fire in a person's soul]

[so it's no wonder that she seeks Vriska out some time after the execution is finished]

. . . I'm kind of impressed.

Comments

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska is indeed still angry. But when Magilou finds her, it seems like she's banked the embers of her rage deep inside her soul; outwardly she appears calm, even if her expression is very deadened. Sitting on the edge of the oasis pool with her legs dangling in the water, still covered in Battler's blood, she will not look up when spoken to. ]

By what, my apparent suicidal insanity or how great I am at putting on a ridiculously dramatic show.

[spinatalltale]

[BUDDY. . . don't you wanna wash that off, Mags has long since cleaned away Keith's blood]

I wouldn't call it suicidal insanity. But as far as shows go, it was pretty great! I'd like to see an encore one day.

[she approaches, flipping a book open in her hand as she does so, idly turning the pages]

[hypertoxic]

[ nah. ]

Pff. I don't think I'll be doing repeat performances, but at least I know there's someone around here who appreciates my craft! [ She smirks, sharp as a knife.

Whatever Magilou is doing, Vriska sees it, but does not react. ]

[spinatalltale]

[#aesthetic]

On an island filled with killjoys and party poopers, there has to be at least one!

[she's casually flipping through a book it's nbd!! until she gets to a certain page, which she then. . . rips out of said book, and folds neatly in her hand, before handing to Vriska]

Here. A little birdy told me this might come in handy. ☆

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska cocks a brow at her, then reaches out to take said slip of paper--

... pauses, dries her hand off on her shirt ....

--and then takes the paper.

And unfolds it. ]

And this is...?

[spinatalltale]

[. . . that was probably a wise course of action, yeah]

[when she unfolds it, she'll find a simple autograph on the page, a name that takes up most of it: Pal. IT'S PAL'S AUTOGRAPH. or his signature!]

[and before Vriska can ask--]

I've already compared his autograph to the handwriting on the public rules board. The handwriting that varies slightly from rule to rule seems to come from a similar person, but it's as if that same person is writing each rule with a different hand. Simply put! Assume Pal is the left hand, and Hal is the right.

[. . .]

Well! I don't know how helpful this'll be in the grand scheme of things. [¯\_(ツ)_/¯] But I don't think I need to tell you what else can be done with it.

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska's eyebrows will shoot up into her hair.

And then her gaze sliiiiiiiides to Magilou's face, unblinking. ]

I'm sure I can think of something.

[ The note will be slipped into her pocket, for safekeeping. ]

... are you just feeling especially kind and giving today, or are you looking for something in return?

[spinatalltale]

[. . . truthfully, she didn't come here looking for anything in return. not specifically. and when Vriska asks that question, a couple of options pop into her mind-- the potential safety of those she's grown fond of, more information to add to her novel, her own safety. . . but. she doesn't ask for any of those things, because in reality? after three weeks, there's only one ending she wants to see to this poor excuse of a game]

Figure it out.

And rip this game to shreds.

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska's sudden smile is bright as the blade of a knife and a thousand times as vicious. It lights up her face and shows off all her sharp fangs. ]

Magilou, it will be my pleasure.

1/2

[spinatalltale]

[it draws a similar grin from Magilou, her features sharp, though perhaps her smile is less vicious and more like a cheshire cat's]

Wear that smile while you're doing it, too. Let them see your triumph and your satisfaction.

[spinatalltale]

[ah, but that wasn't the only reason she came here]

You were friends with that redheaded kid, right? Battler.

[her nose is back in her book, quill pressed against a blank page]

Can you tell me more about what kind of person he was?

[hypertoxic]

[ Ah.

The change in topic gets Vriska's expression to blank out, and she'll end up looking away again, bracing her hands on the damp rocks beneath her as she stares unseeingly into the waters of the oasis pool. ]

... Battler was ...

[ ... ]

... an idiot. Impulsive, moralistic, a huge pain in the ass, and a gigantic crybaby! He bitched and moaned about everything. Getting him to do anything was exhausting! He was irritating, selfish, not to mention a total pervert! A colossal fuckup in every way.

[ ........ ]

But he was also a good person. Maybe one of the best people I have ever known. He was kind, and I don't just mean the fakey fake kind of nice! Actually kind, plus intelligent and resourceful! And even if he struggled with it, he was almost bizarrely accepting. Trolls, as a species, don't really have any concept of a family. It's just not how our biology or society works! All I understand about it is what I have been told. But based on that understanding ... Battler might have been something like family to me.

[ Though her expression does not change, her fingers curl, digging painfully into the rocks. ]

[spinatalltale]

[she writes down every word, of course. maybe taking a few liberties with the description here and there, for dramatic effect. but it isn't until Vriska is finished that she looks up, the sharpness of her earlier smile having faded for her usual languid expression]

Regardless of his role on this island, I'll make sure he's remembered. Through your words, and my own impressions.

He deserves that much.

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska will smirk down at the water, the expression gentler than she probably wants to admit to herself. ]

What, through a one-woman comedy show? Can't wait to see it, Magilou. I'll make sure to boo the loudest.

[spinatalltale]

Hey, trust me! When you see it, you'll love it. It'll do him way more justice than you think!

[hypertoxic]

[ just rips a snort ]

I'll believe it when I see it!

[spinatalltale]

[GROOOOAN]

Nobody has any faith in me! That slander from my profile has ruined my comedic reputation!

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska bursts out laughing, and there is something relieved in the sound. She'll rub at her face, grinning crookedly at Magilou. ]

I have not met many people like you, Magilou. It's a refreshing change!

[spinatalltale]

Heee~y, that just means I'm one in a million. There's no greater honor than standing out and being your own person!

[hypertoxic]

It's just that when we met, I thought you were all talk, you know? Just putting on a big pointless hollow show that would fall apart as soon as the heat was on! But I could not have been more wrong. You've held it together better than pretty much anyone else I've seen. If I had to guess, I'd say you've been through some real shit to get a pokerface that good. I should have asked you this weeks ago, but seriously, what is your deal?

[spinatalltale]

[ah. . .]

[she's quiet for a moment, her gaze suddenly becoming distant. despite that, her answer is flippant]

I wasn't loved enough as a child. That's my secret.

[hypertoxic]

Clearly. [ deeply sarcastic. ]

I'm aware that's actually a pretty personal question, so you don't have to answer it. I guess I am just curious. Like, out of everyone who has found out I'm a Siren, you might be taking it the best.

[spinatalltale]

[the funny thing is, that's partially the truth]

I never really considered the Sirens enemies, even before we knew who they were and what their role asks of them. I figured if they were told to kill, it was for a higher reason.

If Battler is telling the truth, I was right about that. You're just a bunch of do-gooders stuck between a rock and a hard place.

[hypertoxic]

Playing the long game. Smart. Smarter than most people here, anyway. You were right about that, of course. All of the Sirens were killers--

[ a beat. ]

Well, except Battler, that lame sentimental softie. No, the other four of us were all seasoned killers, but that didn't mean we were homicidal maniacs! All of us only agreed to the whole Siren thing in the first place because we thought it was in the best interests of everybody else.

[spinatalltale]

It'd be too easy for this game to make all of you actual villains. The anti-hero route is far more "entertaining."

[air quotes around "entertaining," for sarcasm]

At any rate, the next step is to make sure our reckless mob mentality isn't your downfall. The people here aren't too great at coming together.