020 ♪ audio ♪ how can they possibly know that

[chosenfake]

[The communicator clicks on, and at first, it seems incredibly innocent. Just the sound of a bath. But then there is a shaky and familiar voice pleading over the water.]

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Just make it stop.

[For those inside of his apartment, there's a pretty evident trail of red leading from Luke's room to the bathroom-- so thick in

Comments

[craaaaaaaazy8s]

Luke?

[chosenfake]

Egh-- [Some splashing, and then awkward silence.] ... Vriska?

[with some effort] I didn't know this thing was on.

[craaaaaaaazy8s]

Yeah, it's a thing that they do, turning on like that.

You sound like a wriggler. What's going on?

[chosenfake]

[He's pretty much beyond the point of pretending there's nothing wrong, but...]

It's just a curse. I'm okay.

[Points for trying.]

[craaaaaaaazy8s]

Turn on your viewport, Luke. Let me see.

[Doesn't believe you at all. 8888|]

[chosenfake]

[Luke doesn't say anything, but just when it seems like he might have ignored her, he speaks again. This time, quietly.]

Hey... remember the first time I came over?

[craaaaaaaazy8s]

[She's quiet for a few minutes. Oh. She tries not to think about that.]

So you're covered in blood, is that it?

I'm coming over, make sure your hive is unlocked!

[chosenfake]

It's open, but... you don't have to. It's okay. I'll be okay.

[and no one was convinced]

[craaaaaaaazy8s]

[Nope, not convinced at all. She's hurrying over to his building and through it until she's barging into his hive.

Oh wow there's trails of blood. This looks so familiar, but with less color.]

Luuuuuuuuke, I'm here!

[chosenfake]

[Luke shuffles to the threshhold between the hallway and the living room with a bloody towel in his hands, his signature coat absent, his exposed arms and stomach smeared with both dried and fresh blood. The towel is ruined but at least he's not dripping on the carpet anymore. His expression is terrible and pathetic and weak, as if he's holding on by a thread; it's times like this when he seems like he's younger, even though he's taller and supposedly more mature.

No. He's killed just as much. And technically, he is the child in here.

His bottom lip trembles for a moment. He murmurs:]

You didn't have to come.

[craaaaaaaazy8s]

Don't be stupid, I couldn't be indebted you for that one time.

[That's not why she came, but she feels like she needs to say it, probably more for herself than anything. Because as a troll she's being weak now, worrying and carrying for humans too much.

She shakes the thoughts and moves toward him. She's never seen so much of that mutant candy red blood. Not even when John had died.]

That sure is a lot of blood.

[chosenfake]

[His fingers tighten into the towel. The blood is all over him and it just won't wash off. He's covered in it... and it smells so sharp that even if he closes his eyes, he can /see/ it. He focuses on Vriska's face instead, or tries, though his eyes keep slipping to her outfit, her wings. Anything's better than looking at his hands.]

Sorry.

[He takes a step back and glances toward his room. He might do the same thing she did and confine himself til this is over.]

I shouldn't stand out here too long, so...

[craaaaaaaazy8s]

[There's a moment of hesitation before she reaches out and tries to scrub some blood off of his face. She's know it won't help but maybe it will be reassuring, or something. She doesn't really know what would help a human at a time like this.]

Then we can go to your respite block. But don't think I'm leaving! Okay?

[chosenfake]

[Luke's eyes widen as she touches his face. It's an innocent and gentle gesture, and one he might have expected from Natalia or Guy or maaaaybe even Tear, but not Vriska. She didn't raise him or pledge to watch over him, after all. She has even less of an obligation than they do.

And yet she's trying. Just like he tried so hard back then, she's trying now. He knows this is probably hard for her considering the way troll society seems to look down on humans. But she came anyway. He manages a smile despite the gravity of the situation, despite his flushed cheeks.

It hurts.]

... Okay.

[He turns and shuffles into his room, mindful not to walk through the blood

[craaaaaaaazy8s]

[At first Vriska plans to sit on the human sleeping square, but then she thinks better of it when she remembers back to what John always does. He always sits next to her when she's upset about something, and that usually makes her feel a little better. Though that could entirely be her feelings for him, but it's still worth a try.

So here she goes, sitting down next to him and bumping her shoulder against his.]

If it would help to talk about it, you can do that. I don't really mind.

[chosenfake]

[He watches Vriska sit next to him. At least he's not inhaling fairy dust like before. The shoulderbump isn't completely alien to him; in fact, it's rather comforting. He always got that kind of teasing warmth from Guy when he was feeling down, and the reminder brings another bittersweet smile to his face. It's sweet and short-lived. Kind of like him. He squeezes his eyes shut briefly.]

I guess I can't hide it when I'm like this.

[He wrings his hands into the ruined towel.]

I've killed a lot of people. [He begins to shake, takes a deep breath to steady himself. It doesn't work. He tries to keep it in, but it all tumbles out in a breathy, tired rush. He's so tired of everything.]

When I wanted to stop-- when I wanted to atone for it-- I couldn't give up fighting. And more and more people died. It's so backwards. You shouldn't have to take lives to save them, but I had to. A-and then, to stop the fighting once and for all, I had to kill someone I cared about. He taught me how to fight. He gave me a purpose when no one else would,