towerofanimus | the storm finally found me

Characters: The Summoner and YOU
Setting: Between the thirteenth floor and the infirmary
Format: I will follow!
Summary: The Summoner really needs a hug except for the part where his ribs are broken
Warnings: Mentions of violence and blood?? Rampant self-loathing??? Various existential and emotional crises?????

[He stays where he is for a long time after the Highblood leaves, staring rather blankly into the air. He has not felt this low since he was a child. Since before he met Pyralsprite, and that thought is… absolutely hysterical to him. He has fought his whole life and it took a week and two trolls to bring him back here, where he questions every single one of his thoughts, his movements, everything. He does so much wrong, how could he have forgotten that]

[So he laughs because what the hell else is there to do. He wants nothing more then to sleep the rest of forever away, but he can’t as his body is quick to remind him. He’s coughing violently into his hand before long, unsurprised when after the fit has ended there are speckles of blood on his palm. Fuck. He wanted to skip the trip to the infirmary, but if his lungs are punctured…]

[The climb to his feet is truly agonizing, and he knows walking will be worse. There are little things in him muttering that he deserves it and he just can’t bring himself to argue with it. Yes. Of course he deserves it. Whatever. How many flights is it to the infirmary? He should’ve paid better attention in the past]

[Ah well… The first push off is the worst, and then he’s moving out of the cathedral and down the halls, one arm wrapped around himself while the other uses the wall for support. He’s tired. Let’s get this over with…]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You got your precious red-blood on the throne. I'd say on the scale of getting what you wanted, you've banked quite a few hundred thousand points there.

[And she's not even going to pretend she's not bitter. It's his fault she's half-blind, more than it is anyone else's, and even if she's not Mindfang she's indignant at her ancestor's treatment]

[Man if... ellipses could make sounds, there would be a giant DOT DOT DOT rolling around in this silence here. He is so confused, jesus]

What.

You are the Summoner, yes? The one who seduced and tricked Mindfang into helping you tear down the social order only to turn on her when she was no longer of use to you?

[Part of her knows she shouldn't be so bold. This isn't Tavros, this is someone much more dangerous, but she can't help herself. How often is she going to get this chance?]

Mindfang...? [That woman he met the other day? Why would he ever...]

[Wait... WHAT. NOPE. That doesn't sound like him at all what in the everloving fuck is she talking about]

Look, I uh... am the Summoner, yes. But... I think, probably you've got your. History wrong. [He's just utterly bewildered by this blueblood girl coming out of absolutely nowhere with this and oh... actually excuse him, he needs to cough again. Welp]

[And that earns him a scowl]

I think I got my history just fine, thanks. Hard not to when you have it shoved down your protein chute all the time just in case you start getting ideas about acting out.

[Even she finds it hard to believe she's been treated the way she has for shits and giggles]

[...well. He'll give her points for being passionate about this weird fantasy world she's talking about]

Well that's... nice. But uh. [khhh, minor pained sound. He would like to get moving again, sometime... ever... Get out of his way would you )'8] Even if, I did do... what you uh, said... I don't. Want to install another, empress to rule everything. You, have the wrong guy.

[Vriska stares at him a moment longer before relenting]

I get it. This is the tower throwing out weird alternate-reality versions. Suppose it thinks its cute, playing out what might have been.

[Watches her, rather carefully. He doesn't know what's going on, really. Sure, alternate realities are an easy explanation but... the war is still young from his perspective. What if, in time, he does begin to think it's okay to manipulate people emotionally. The very idea of it is disgusting to him now, but... if it was for the revolution...? Hm]

Maybe. [Well this is a disconcerting feeling...] Will you, let me through now?

[She moves back a little at that, unable to resist a slight mocking bow mostly because that's what she sometimes does with Tavros to make light of their social positions]

Sorry to have kept you, your Lordship.

[Wow nope. Just gonna stand here and stare at her some more. He has never been bowed to in his entire life holy shit. Not even his subordinates in the cavalreapers bowed to him, but he still... recognizes that one. The little mocking bow. He's done that before. It doesn't suit a blueblood if he's perfectly honest]

Uhhhhh... I think I would, prefer it if uh... you didn't mock me... [...] Or call me that, actually.

[Is he for real? Vriska's starting to find it hard to believe any version of this troll could have outsmarted Mindfang. The Summoner of legend would likely have made her pay for her remark; Tavros would have taken it as the joke it was intended as.

Now she just feels awkward]

Bluh, fine. Excuse me for trying to show a little respect here.

["a little" being the operative phrase]

[hhh Vriska. You shouldn't make assumptions about people when they are meandering rather slowly towards choking to death!! He is not exactly at the top of his game okay okay]

[But good. Yes. You should feel awkward, because he feels pretty damn awkward too. Highbloods don't show him respect, even if it's only 'a little' and about as mocking as respect can possibly come. He keeps expecting her attitude to change suddenly. Maybe she's got a weapon tucked away somewhere, and she's just waiting for a chance to use it on him. This is just too surreal, oh man]

[He gives her another long, confused stare before just... shaking his head faintly and moving past her. Goodbye... He has an infirmary to find...!!]

[Goodbye indeed, for now, but Vriska hasn't let this go. She's determined to keep poking and prodding until she finds what it was about this one that made so many fall to his command and what it was that left Mindfang so willing to do his dirty work for him]

the storm finally found me

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject