[W5 Post-Investigation]

[zerotohiro]

[It's snowy and cold and he's wet and he's furious and he's running as fast as he possibly can. His feet are slipping on icy patches and his bangs are plastered to his forehead but.

But.

There's an agenda to follow and something to do and he left behind everyone else at the beach. He runs deep into the jungle and eventually he stops under a semi-familiar patch of trees.]

I know you're up there. [He sounds borderline cold and angry and yet he's still trying to exude calm.] Am I coming up or are you going to at least have the decency to come down to me?

Comments

[hypertoxic]

You asking me that implies I give one single shit about what you think, [ she drawls, not moving from her tree branch. She's on her back, legs dangling to either side of the branch she's semi-straddling as she stares at the sky through the canopy. ]

[zerotohiro]

[There's a sudden whoosh through the air as he roundhouse kicks the tree? It doesn't do much, maybe shakes it a tiny bit but it's enough.]

I can tell you don't give one single shit about what I think considering what just happened. What the hell was that about, Vriska?

[It's like this. Jinah killed herself and it wasn't a murder. Fie's dead but Fie was a Siren. So Yona was...the Siren target. It makes his ears ring and suddenly he jumps to haul himself up into the tree like some kind of monkey before he pops up on a branch opposite of her, shivering harder than before.

....or he's shaking partially because he's mad. One of the two.] Was this part of your grand master plan? Just answer me that.

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska doesn't even move. Doesn't react at all as he storms and huffs and kicks a fucking tree like a true champ. She won't even look at him when he climbs up in the tree. She just lays there, hands folded over her stomach, staring at the sky. ]

No, Hiro. It was not. Jinah's suicide took me by surprise.

[ She'll hold up one of her arms, twisting it this way and that as she examines the scratches. ] Man. This was totally pointless. What a waste of a good plan.

[ drops her arm, flapping her hand before she settles it again on her tummy. ]

You're here because of Yona. And honestly, that was the intent! That is why I killed her. I was doing my very best to get everyone riled up. And now it won't even matter! Haaaahahaha. Incredible.

[zerotohiro]

...you did an awesome job with that. [He'll admit that, at least, because yeah. He's upset about Yona. Most of the island's upset about Yona.] But hey. Remember what I said about people messing up plans?

[This was definitely a wrench in the plan.] So...what, were you hoping people would catch on you were Yona's killer and vote for you to execute one more Siren? Explain to me the thought process of the great Vriska Serket.

[Most of the anger fizzles out, mostly turning into a calm sort of acceptance. He's going to die in a few days anyway. Might as well.]

[hypertoxic]

Yes.

[ Now she holds up both her arms, staring at them blankly. ]

I killed Yona in order to frame myself for her murder. The intent was to get everyone in the village to finally let go of whatever positive feelings they have towards me for some fucking reason! I needed to make them hate me to guarantee they wouldn't fuck it up again. And let's be real, it would have worked.

[ She'll laugh again, a quiet chuckle that's a shadow of her hysterical laughter from the beach. ]

Fucking, fucking Jinah. I never should have told her shit.

[zerotohiro]

That's the thing about charismatic people, Vriska. They're going to like you and defend you no matter what. You had the right idea. Doing the unspeakable, making things worse so there was no taking it back. It would have worked. By taking out Yona you rocked the entire village.

[He doesn't mention himself. And he recognizes hysteria briefly and though he's a little alarmed he doesn't react outwardly.] But then something went wrong. What exactly did you tell Jinah anyway?

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska sighs a long sigh. ]

I told her I was a Siren. I thought she deserved to know. She got really upset, we didn't talk for two days, and bam, she's fucking toast. I can't believe her. I just...

[ With a soft sound she drives the heels of her palms into her eyes. ]

I'm a real classic fuckup, Hiro. Jinah is the only person I swore I'd protect! And in the end, she killed herself because of me. How's that for irony, huh?

[ Her voice shivers, but only a little. ]

And now I can't be killed for the crime I actually did commit. I am just so beyond fucking sick of this place I could scream.

[zerotohiro]

...you're doing a really, really bad job at making sure I don't feel sorry for everything that happened to you. You know that?

[He shakes his head slowly, drawing his knees up to his chest and trying to retain some warmth while he can.] You didn't know. You didn't know how she would react, kind of like we didn't know how the dead's been watching us for who knows how long. Partners are supposed to trust each other. And now she just sentenced both of you to death anyway.

And you don't think I get it? I promised Yona that we'd see this through to the end. Do you have any idea how much I worried last night when she didn't come back from Nanashi's? And...I thought it was fine when I saw her on the beach. I thought she just slept over there, that I overreacted. Yona could take care of herself, but it was our first Thursday apart and I...I don't know what happened. I don't want you to tell me and I don't think you're going to tell me anyway because I already know the end game. You killed her and that's that. And now we're all going down.

[...there's a long pause.] ...I saw Fie not long after I saw you on Wednesday. She got a message from Serph she needed help translating. And that's how I found her. I couldn't protect her, I couldn't protect Yona, and I shouldn't protect you. But why is this game designed in the stupidest way possible? And better question. What are we supposed to do next?

[hypertoxic]

... don't feel bad for a killer, Hiro. [ Quietly. ] That's all I am. That's all I'll ever be.

As for what happens next? We win the game. As long as we don't royally fuck up the trial... we should be fine.

[zerotohiro]

[There's a lull before he looks away.] Some things you brought upon yourself. And some things were thrust onto you without warning. I can feel bad about some things, but I don't have to feel bad about others.

I may not be able to vote for you tomorrow, but we're ending this the right way. I don't know how much more we can screw up than we already have, but...[There's a shrug.] Between you and me, I'm sure something will go wrong. I want to believe it won't, and I want to have hope we're getting better, but we have too many people and too many factions that aren't working together.

You'll probably hate hearing this, but I'm on your side for one more trial. Just to get us through this. And that side ends in you dying and us winning, so...I'll do what I can to guide people in the right direction.

Are you staying out here for a while?

[hypertoxic]

[ For the first time, Vriska will sit up, actually looking at Hiro properly. She braces her hands on the branches that are supporting her, and just kind of looks at him for an extended moment.

She does not smile, but her expression softens. ]

Make sure I die, and make sure we keep more than seven people alive, and we're golden.

Anyway, yeah, probably. Can't really say I want to see anyone right now, you know? I owed it to you to let you talk to me, but no one else has that claim right now.

[zerotohiro]

[His own expression remains blank, but there's another nod.]

I'll do my best. I can't guarantee everyone will listen to me, but I can at least help make seven people stay alive and we get to a place you die.

I'd say you didn't owe me anything but...no, you totally did. [There's a small smirk, though it doesn't last long.] I don't want to talk to anyone else either, but there are a few people I think I should check in and make sure they know one or two things. And drying off is probably a priority.

[With that, he's moving to another branch.] ...I'll see you tomorrow? First thing.

[hypertoxic]

There are already some things I can't say! I don't think that will change. I will need you to help me tomorrow, Hiro. You'll be fine.

[ Vriska will nod, settling back on her branch. Once again staring up at the sky through the canopy. ]

Tomorrow. We end this once and for all. Go get some rest, Hiro. It's going to be a long day.

[zerotohiro]

You got it. Don't stay out here too long.

[There's a sharp nod and then he's moving again, down out of the branches and dropping to the ground. There's another glance up to the tree above now before he turns and races off. Good luck, Vriska.]