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@fuckthis (text)

hey
so me and wash and gene were gonna go on an adventure in the woods
see what we can find, you know?
but we're looking for a couple of people to bring with us
maybe two or three
gene's a medic, wash is a marine, and i'm a wizard with experience dealing with monsters and nasty magic
anyone that thinks they could round that out would be great
but no serial killers or anyone that would like
murder us in our sleep
and sorry, but no kids yet
i know some of you are gonna argue that, but we have no idea what we're dealing with and we don't want that on our consciences
anyway, let us know
thanks

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( well, fair. )

I'm failin' to see why that's a bad thing. It ain't a matter of competency, we ain't questionin' that of any'a y'all. With you especially, I know better.

( no one exudes danger like that what ain't fit for a fight. an' whatever killed him must'a been a thing of no small scope indeed. an' it scares gene, it truly does, that there's somethin' like that out in the woods. but the only thing to be done with fear is face it. )

[ It's strange, because— it isn't that he dislikes Hicks. Not the way he rails against everyone else he interacts with, anyway; but he thrives off of this sort of strife. Flayed open as he's been by what happened— he can't stop going for the jugular for some sense of normalcy. ]

Then what is it, doctor?

Afraid of seeing us die? Afraid you won't be able to do anything about it?

( his voice is soft. )

Yeah. Reckon that's a decent chunk of my reasonin'.

[ Vanitas, by contrast, snarls: ]

You aren't protecting anyone. You're just pretending like it isn't happening.

And it isn't going to stop it, either. It's not going to stop you from watching it happen to your friends when you all go out there thinking the kids didn't have anything to offer.

( that does sting some. he ain't ever had a choice about turnin' a blind eye to anythin', because ghosts don't care about sparin' your sensibilities. they roll up on you in the dead of night demandin' that you pay your respects. plenty of dead kids in vichy france. plenty in holland, too. last thing he'd ever do is pretend. this war has been one step after another walkin' backwards into hell with eyes wide open. )

You show me where I said that, Vanitas, an' then I'll agree I deserve the reprimand.

( softer, )

I'd've gone with you too, if I'd known or you'd asked.

[ He says it so softly that Vanitas can almost feel the moment he woke up in the church and the doctor was there, when nobody else ever had been. It makes him angry, because he doesn't understand the flush of feeling (guilt) it brings with it. Coincidentally, it succeeds in derailing him almost entirely.]

Shut up. I don't need you.

Just go out there and get yourself killed if you're so eager to do it.

It's all right to say you're worried, y'know.

( he can read between the lines well enough here. )

[ Vanitas lets lose a high, manic laugh. ]

I didn't know you liked to flatter yourself.

( he makes a soft, considering noise. sort of a 'hm'. )

I call it like I see it, son.

You wanna come with me on the next one?

Oh yeah? You want to change your mind, now?

Forget it, doctor.

You should have thought of that before deciding the kids weren't worth the trouble.

I didn't say I was changin' my mind about this one. I said the next one.

( he ain't quite so petty as to add 'as in, the one that follows after', but. it's a passing thought. he doesn't think vanitas would appreciate the sass. )

I've given you my reasons. Either you can stand 'em or you can't. An' if you think it's a big enough divide in opinion to say your peace an' go, then I'll understand. But I'd miss you. Who else am I gonna ramble about Alabama to, huh?

[ Vanitas feels his whole body flush with something like embarrassment and doesn't even answer this, just shuts the whole tablet down and literally walks away from it.

But hey congrats on getting him to shut the hell up, Gene. ]

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