week 2; tuesday w/ steph (post-ion)

[alchemenace]

[ so anyway after this drama and. all the other. drama. here steph and varian are, ready to talk about what happened

which is to say varian and steph are just both sitting down somewhere because walking is hard when you a) have a crushed leg or b) were stabbed multiple times today or c) both. steph. ]

Stephanie, I... I'm sorry.

[ he's got nothing else to say right now. he's just. sorry. ]

Comments

[vigilantics]

[ this day has been exhausting from start to finish. of course as soon as they got back to the castle they were assaulted by questions and stephanie doesn't blame them. but it meant that she had to act like it wasn't as terrible as it looked, when it was, and she kind of feels like dying?

there's no point in pretending it's not that bad with varian though. he was there. they're both dying. ]

No, it's... if it wasn't us, it would have been someone else.

[alchemenace]

... Would it? You only came because you wanted to protect me, didn't you.

[ he didn't want to admit it, but between the pain and the... everything else, it's hard to ignore the facts. This whole thing was Varian's... ]

[vigilantics]

And look at what good that did.

[ they both still ended up... she closes her eyes, rubbing at her temple. steph should have been able to get them out of there. they shouldn't have just followed the feathers like that. ]

I should have done more to convince you not to go.

[alchemenace]

My dad couldn't convince me not to do things, and trust me, he's a lot more intimidating than you are.

[ if Varian knows one thing about himself is that stopping while he's ahead is not part of his vocabulary ]

I was so sure there would be something in there, and now you, and, and Ion... No wonder no one trusts me to do anything.

[vigilantics]

[ it's a little startling, hearing that kind of thing from another person. it's a feeling that steph knows pretty well; people always telling you no but you go and do it anyway. it's mostly why she didn't stand her ground more when varian first told her about the plan-- she knew if the roles were reversed, she still would have gone, too.

well. she did, actually. a lot of people told her not to do anything dangerous. ]

Everyone makes mistakes. You did, but so did I. We just have to try to make up for it.

[alchemenace]

[ he makes nothing but mistakes, but let's not go into that. ]

Yeah... I guess you're right. But. How?

[vigilantics]

Now that's the question of the century.

[ she rubs at her eyes. it's mostly to double check that she isn't crying, because seriously this shit hurts. ]

We show everyone that we're not liabilities. Keep helping out in trials like you already do.

[alchemenace]

[ he nudges her a bit with his (good) shoulder ]

I don't... I don't think you could ever be a liability. You're a good person, Steph. [ he sighs and tries to rub at his face with his other hand and-- hm. oh. hm. ] I'm sorry I dragged you into this.

[ it bears repeating. also he's just going to. stare at his own arm. problematic ]

[vigilantics]

I wasn't going to let you do that alone.

[ she knows that a few people would think that she should have only been concerned for herself and not varian while they were in there. you should only be concerned about yourself and your partner.

which is bullshit. ]

I don't regret going with you. I just regret letting you get hurt.

[alchemenace]

"Letting" is a big word. I doubt either of us could've seen the giant evil house with chicken legs coming.

[ which. uh. ]

What was that, anyway?

[vigilantics]

I... have no idea. We should probably try to find it in the library.

[ whatever it was, it gave her trauma. ]

[alchemenace]

Yeah. But maybe not... tonight.

[ he's tired and he's hurting and he can't imagine steph feels much better. though speaking of feeling: ]

How's your leg?

[vigilantics]

Uh...

[ she looks down at it. we have decided that they managed to do a makeshift splint job that should probably be redone later, so i am going to mention it here so it is official game canon. ]

I don't think this is going to heal any time soon.

[alchemenace]

You... are probably right. Unless we get an infirmary next week?

[ please give us a clinic. ]

Not that it'd make the healing go any faster, actually, your leg was... pretty... awful looking, but it might help to have. Real bandages. Or real anything.

[ this is helping, right? ]

[vigilantics]

[ she winces. ]

Yeah, I... well. [ she stares at it before looking back at varian. ] I'll figure something out.

[alchemenace]

I can try to make some of that healing potion again if there's enough left in the lab...

[ if. ]

Though... Um. Promise not to tell Ion? Or. Or anyone.

[vigilantics]

I won't. I... well, I'd be worried what people might start accusing you of if they knew you could make those things.

[ people were already claiming that the ions could switch places and commit murder that way before cute ion started going on his healing vendetta. ]

[alchemenace]

Oh, not that. Fane taught me those, and he... [ how does he diplomatically say this ] He's Fane.

[ nailed it. but. ]

I mean don't tell anyone because I ... can't move my wrists and fingers.

[vigilantics]

Ah. Fane.

[ she is very aware at this point. ]

... but okay. I know you wouldn't want to worry them, so come to me if you need anything?

[alchemenace]

Heh, nah, it'll be fine? I've got... one hand that's working. That's all you need.

[ this is inaccurate. ]

Hey, hey, between the two of us, we almost have enough limbs to function!

[ he's trying so hard ]

[vigilantics]

[ oh my god ]

... okay so if you need anything come to me.

[alchemenace]

[ :( ]

...yeah, alright.

[ he doesn't wanna bother her he feels.... bad ]

[vigilantics]

Thanks.

[ she smiles. ]

Sometimes you have to depend on other people, whether you want to or not.

[alchemenace]

[ Varian thinks of trying to depend on other people and :) hates Rapunzel more :) ]

No, I, I know. I just... like knowing I can do things on my own.

[vigilantics]

Trust me. I... am very aware of that feeling.

[ steph may have done some things wrong. ]

[alchemenace]

[ varian clearly hasn't? ignore all those attempted murders. he laughs weakly ]

Heh. We... are two peas in a really injured pod, aren't we?

[vigilantics]

It looks like it. Guess we really are a team then, huh?

[ a badly injured team. ]

[alchemenace]

We can be Team Reckless. But if anyone asks, we're team "thinks things through at all times". It's not as catchy, but hey.

[ jokes to get over their future horrible nightmares ]

[vigilantics]

Hey, it works! We can come up with a design and everything for our logo.

[ it's how they cope ]

[alchemenace]

[ no one indulges him on this Steph is his new fav :/ ]

A "no" sign over a blood bag? To prove we don't need any healing.

[vigilantics]

[ man it sure would be nice to have blood bags. they lost so much blood. this is terrible. ]

With crossbones under it?

[alchemenace]

[ having anything would be nice. how are they even alive ]

Perfect. Good plan. We'll look like bizarre pirates, and you've already got the wooden leg. [ he gestures to his curled up fist that he cannot fuCKING MOVE ] And this is hook-like, right?

[vigilantics]

It practically is. Too bad we both have both our eyes.

[ she shrugs. ]

Oh well. That might be trying too hard.

[alchemenace]

That, or we'd need a third person, and this is an exclusive team.

[ at least he's happy even though he has no idea how either of them will get up. ]

[vigilantics]

[ they may be trapped here forever, but at least they managed to cheer themselves up, and that's what counts. ]

True. I have pretty high standards.

[alchemenace]

[ beams ]

Thanks. [ wait ] I mean, uh, me too. Obviously.

[vigilantics]

[ that makes her laugh. ]

Obviously.

[alchemenace]

Because we're an elite duo. Obviously.

[ who can't move ]

[vigilantics]

[ she holds her fist out for a fist bump

does he know what that is ]

[alchemenace]

[ i can't remember if they fist bump in tangled or if i wildly hallucinated it but i'm going with yes because it's cute

fist bump!! ]

[vigilantics]

[ this is their team now. ]

I have no idea how either of us are going to get up.

[alchemenace]

Haha, yeah... I have been trying not to think about it.

[vigilantics]

[ she looks around. there is no one here. ]

It's pretty comfortable down here.

[alchemenace]

... Won't Hikage get mad if you never show up? [ hm ] Madder.

[vigilantics]

He's always mad.

[ it's not a lie? he's tsun. ]

And I'll show up eventually. Just... not as soon as I normally would?

[alchemenace]

[ he just... laughs ]

Yeah, yeah. Okay. Resting for a couple of hours does sound good.

[ let them die in peace]