Week 1 | Jinah and Vriska's hut | Sunday evening

[sasetai]

[ So here they are in their sad little hut. The ocean is far too loud and the day has been far too long. The Chief says they can do little more than wait for judgment to be passed and that's probably the worst of the news-- she hates waiting. ]

Do you think you could do it? Kill someone, I mean.

[ It's the only thing on all their minds she's sure. It's the only thing that's on her own after all.

Well, one of the only things. ]

Comments

[hypertoxic]

We'll figure it out. You've got me on your side now! [ flashes Jinah an abrupt grin ] I won't let anything happen to you.

[ Oh she's gonna pry, alright. But in interest of not being a huge bitch, she figures it's fair to make it an equivalent exchange.

So she'll shrug and move over towards her own trunk. After digging through it, she'll pull out, uh, some weird house shaped thing and toss it onto Jinah's bed. Except her version isn't glowing. It's just a dull off-white and sits there pointlessly. ]

That. Believe it or not, it's a weapon, except for the part where it's completely useless now.

[sasetai]

[ She pokes her head up and watches Vriska throw the mysterious object over to her, before reaching over so she can poke at it (quite literally, one finger, just once-- poke. ]

Well.. at least it's not a liability right? [ She doesn't feel any safer with a knife at the foot of her bed after all. It's a sobering thought; to realize that from here on out she'd have to be careful about everything. ]

Um, what you said before. I know that you have to care because we're on the same team, but you've been really nice-- more than you have to be!

[ She stands up and clasps Vriska's hands much like she did in the Longhouse. ]

I really mean it when I say I hope that you can depend on me! And that if you need anything that you'll come to me for help.

[ There's an awful lot of determination in the way she says it. She doesn't even care if Vriska yells or calls her stupid again. ]

[hypertoxic]

[ Vriska ends up staring at her when she ends up going off again about how nice she's being. She seems to be trying to formulate a response when Jinah stands up and comes over and grasps her hands.

Again!

There's a mix of horror and revulsion on her face, though she doesn't immediately snap. She just lets Jinah say her piece and kind of keeps on staring at her like she's maybe never seen anything like her before.

For what it's worth, she doesn't break Jinah's grip. Vriska curls her fingers slightly and stares down at the floor and all in all actually just looks ... horribly unhappy. ]

You deserved a better teammate than someone like me, Jinah, [ she says to the floor, her voice a quiet mutter. ] You deserved someone nice. Someone who could actually take care of you.

[ And then, with a deep breath, Vriska squares her shoulders and looks up at the other girl with an angry sort of determination.

And she'll actually grip Jinah's hands in return. ]

But you got me. So I will have to do my best to be that person for you.

[ She swallows, suddenly awkward in her own skin. ]

I'll, uh... sure. Rely on you too, or whatever.

[sasetai]

[ It takes every bit of patience she has not to immediately interject. Vriska had listened to her without yelling this time, this is the least she could do in exchange.

But when all is said and done she grips her hands a little tighter and she frowns a pouty sort of frown. Because she is concerned, because she is sad. ]

You don't need to explain yourself or apologize for anything. You are nice! I mean you can be really mean sometimes! But you're still nice when it matters.

[ She has some mercy and frees Vriska from her vice grip. Her own hands fall at her sides, and after a moment she smiles just a little bit. ]

I'm not a baby, you don't need to take care of me. And if you want to take care of me then I'm going to take care of you too! You can yell about it all you want but that's just how it's going to be.

[hypertoxic]

... pff.

[ Somewhat despite herself, Vriska will smile. It's a vulnerable, private thing. Usually her smiles are big and loud and full of teeth, but this one is as quiet as her mood seems to be. ]

Whatever. You don't know shit. But I am starting to think maybe my luck was holding out when they assigned us together, or ... you know, whatever.

[ Once Jinah frees her she'll move away and dive onto her bed, landing face down with a groan that's like "hnnngngnhnhngngn."

And then she'll fold her arms and use them as a pillow for her head while she stares at Jinah. ]

You're so nice. Seriously, what gives? No one is this nice. Sometimes I think you're just bullshitting me.

[sasetai]

[ Her chest closes with a quiet creak, when the knife is put away she feels like she can rest easy again. She sits back on top of it, feeling safer when the whole of her weight is keeping it shut.

She's been listening the whole time-- she's got a sort of confused look on her face.]

I can be mean, and I've done bad things before. But I don't have any reason not to be nice to you.

[ Good people, bad people, no one was ever the sum of their capabilities at face value. She's never been able to think of anything, let alone a personality in absolutes. ]

Oh, but I also have no reason to lie to you. You're my friend! And you're a girl! So you can trust me and I can trust you.

[hypertoxic]

... haha. It's not that I don't believe you're capable of those things! That actually doesn't surprise me to here. It's that you're still a nice person anyway, which says a lot about you.

[ Things Vriska could never say of herself. She internalized awfulness and gave the world back awfulness in return, because that's just the kind of person she is.

The "you're a girl!" catches her attention, though. As opposed to...? Does Jinah have some kind of general problem with boys? Time to file that away to casually bring up later in an attempt to pry. ]

I know, Jinah. I trust you. We will be a real team. [ a small smile. ] Now can you maybe like shut up and get some sleep? It's pretty late!

[sasetai]

[ She rolls her eyes a little but she smiles nonetheless. There are many uncertainties about this place and what will come, but at the very least in the confines of this shabby little hut, she feels safe. ]

Okay, okay, but I mean it. So don't try and keep anything from me.

[ She does not expect to sleep, but for Vriska she'll try. ]