[Caitlyn has been around Vi enough by now that she sees through her. It's been obvious that Vi has been acting off, and now she's trying to put distance between them? Caitlyn isn't fragile, but they've been through a lot of shit here, so she gets Vi wanting to protect her, but this doesn't seem like just being overprotective.]
Last time? You mean when you were possessed, before I got here, don't you?
[She was afraid this was similar to before, but she hadn't witnessed it the first time around. Only heard stories second hand.]
You can't be serious. I'm not locking myself inside. If it's like before, that means there's a monster out there that needs to be taken down, we just have to find it.
It's already affecting you, isn't it? I can't think of another reason why you'd actually back down from a fight.
[Vi never backed down. Well, except once. When faced up against the impossible odds of convincing the Council to help them stop Silco. But this was different. She was...scared?]
No. I'm not letting you push me away and claim it's to protect me. And I'm not just going to stand by while this thing is out there harming you. I'm just not. You've done so much to keep me safe since I got here, and now it's my turn.
[Even if she doesn't yet understand why she isn't being affected, but as the corruption grows, it's all she's been able focus on.]
oh my god Cait please just listen to me! this one time!! this shit is so much bigger than us, these sorts of monsters i can't just punch through, even if i had my gauntlets! some of the small bitches maybe, but... please.
i freaked out and fucked up in the maze and i know Jinx is out there getting herself in trouble right now, so i need one of you guys to just. stay. put. until this is all over.
[Sometimes Vi makes her so mad!! They've been through how much shit together now, and she wants to lock her away so she doesn't get hurt? Hasn't she learned by now that she's not going to stand around and let things happen? Isn't that Vi and Jinx's biggest complaints about the Enforcers back home? That they talk shit but do nothing to help people?
That isn't Caitlyn. She's going to figure out what's happening and how to help everyone, whether Vi likes it or not.
But before that, she sure is going to march over to Lupin anyway, despite Vi's protests. Don't mind her, stomping straight up to Vi, grabbing her by her arm, and pulling her aside. She's trying not to make a scene, but given how much more crowed Lupin is, it's impossible to go completely unnoticed.]
How bad is it? Don't lie to me, Vi. How bad is it affecting you already?
[Because that's what the problem is, isn't it? Vi pushed her away when things seemed hopeless back home, and now she's trying to do it again. But Caitlyn isn't going to accept that. Not after what they've been through. Not after falling for her so hard.]
[Vi knew from the silence that Caitlyn was on her way. she had really, really hoped that she'd take her advice for once... but that was too much to hope for.
she can only wait for her to come, and she's momentarily distracted by her work when Caitlyn grabs her out of nowhere. normally someone who grabbed her out of nowhere like this would get punched in the face, but she was expecting it. kinda.
she just looks at Caitlyn for a minute, and then sighs. she unwraps the bandages from one of her hands and arms to see that from the tips of her fingers and up her forearm are streaks of black.]
[Vi isn't one to get scared easily. Seeing her like this? It's hard. It's hard to see her so frightened and afraid.]
I know I wasn't. But I'm glad Dazai was able to keep you out of trouble. Now it's my turn.
[And Caitlyn wasn't the only brain on the case, this time. She tries to smile reassuringly at Vi, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the strange, glowing stone. She wasn't the first to figure out the stone's powers against the corruption, but now that she's been enlightened to it's power, she's taking full advantage, and now drops it into Vi's hand.]
[Vi looks down at the stone in her hand. the feelings that's been trying to consume her has started to ebb now that it's in her hand, and she sighs quietly in relief. it's not everything, she can tell, but it's something.
and she's tired of fighting with Caitlyn about this. especially since they both know she's going nowhere. so she curls her fingers around the stone, and gives the other woman a half hearted smile.]
Just... don't let me hurt you, okay? Can you promise me that?
[Caitlyn has to believe that if this corruption did get that bad, that if Vi really wasn't herself, that she'd be able to fight it enough. But Vi definitely had speed and strength on her side. If it really came down to it, she wasn't sure she'd be able to hurt Vi, even if she had no choice.]
Keep that stone on you. It helps. And hopefully it'll be the answer to stopping all of this, too.
[She already got more, since she learned of it's power against the corruption. She's been playing with manipulating them into usable bullets, too, once they find the monster for her to take a shot at it.]
[Caitlyn doesn't care if she's risking getting the corruption by touching Vi, but she cups her hands on the sides of her face. She kisses her forehead, just trying to further reassure her.]
You are so strong. You have such a good heart. You're better than whatever this corruption is trying to make you.
[Now that brings a bit of a smile back to Caitlyn's face.]
You are extra grumpy.
[But if Vi was trying to push her away for her safety, Vi must expect it to get worse. That just meant Cait had to work extra hard to make sure nothing worse happened to Vi.]
[Caitlyn can't help but pause at that for a moment.]
If I'm completely honest? It's because the alternative is letting this place get to me. It seems like we jump from one hell to another, and it's....exhausting. But we can't let it win. If we stay strong, and fight back, then we can survive this.
[She had to believe it. If she didn't, she might just fetal position in their house and never leave it again. But that wasn't who Caitlyn was. She wasn't one to back down, and just let the bad win.]
[that's... so true. but it's hard. it's really, really hard... and she doesn't know if it's this stuff that's starting to crawl all over her or not that makes it harder to see the good side of things.]
[Vi wasn't the optimist that Caitlyn was on a good day, but even this was extreme negativity for Vi. She wished she had a magic fix for this stuff dragging her down. The stones helped temporarily, at least, but she just had to keep hoping and praying they'd find a cure and a way to fix this soon.
But Vi's attempt to fight it brings a smile to her face.]
Exactly. We've already survived so much. What's a few more trials and tribulations?
[It's a tease, and she nudges Vi with her arm as she says it, not even thinking about the tender spot of the fresh gunshot wound to her upper arm. She winces at the pain that shot through her arm at the contact, but recovered quickly, hoping Vi didn't notice.
It was from Jinx, of course. She knew that without question. But she hadn't exactly run to Vi to tell her about the injury she sustained from her sister. Oops.]
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Last time? You mean when you were possessed, before I got here, don't you?
[She was afraid this was similar to before, but she hadn't witnessed it the first time around. Only heard stories second hand.]
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yeah. so... stay inside. don't let anyone in, even me. okay?
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this thing is way out of our league. please. just... i'm serious this time.
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[Vi never backed down. Well, except once. When faced up against the impossible odds of convincing the Council to help them stop Silco. But this was different. She was...scared?]
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[Even if she doesn't yet understand why she isn't being affected, but as the corruption grows, it's all she's been able focus on.]
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i freaked out and fucked up in the maze and i know Jinx is out there getting herself in trouble right now, so i need one of you guys to just. stay. put. until this is all over.
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That isn't Caitlyn. She's going to figure out what's happening and how to help everyone, whether Vi likes it or not.
But before that, she sure is going to march over to Lupin anyway, despite Vi's protests. Don't mind her, stomping straight up to Vi, grabbing her by her arm, and pulling her aside. She's trying not to make a scene, but given how much more crowed Lupin is, it's impossible to go completely unnoticed.]
How bad is it? Don't lie to me, Vi. How bad is it affecting you already?
[Because that's what the problem is, isn't it? Vi pushed her away when things seemed hopeless back home, and now she's trying to do it again. But Caitlyn isn't going to accept that. Not after what they've been through. Not after falling for her so hard.]
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she can only wait for her to come, and she's momentarily distracted by her work when Caitlyn grabs her out of nowhere. normally someone who grabbed her out of nowhere like this would get punched in the face, but she was expecting it. kinda.
she just looks at Caitlyn for a minute, and then sighs. she unwraps the bandages from one of her hands and arms to see that from the tips of her fingers and up her forearm are streaks of black.]
There. Happy now?
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Of course not.
[She doesn't dare touch her hands, since there's so much they don't know about it, so instead she cups her hand on the side of Vi's face.]
You should have told me. We're a team. I can't help you if you don't talk to me.
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she wraps her arm and hand back up, effectively covering up most of the stuff.]
I know. But... Dazai was the only person who kept me out of the way of hurting someone by accident last time. You... you weren't here to see it all.
[she doesn't want to admit it... but she's scared as fuck.]
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I know I wasn't. But I'm glad Dazai was able to keep you out of trouble. Now it's my turn.
[And Caitlyn wasn't the only brain on the case, this time. She tries to smile reassuringly at Vi, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the strange, glowing stone. She wasn't the first to figure out the stone's powers against the corruption, but now that she's been enlightened to it's power, she's taking full advantage, and now drops it into Vi's hand.]
It's going to be okay this time. I promise.
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and she's tired of fighting with Caitlyn about this. especially since they both know she's going nowhere. so she curls her fingers around the stone, and gives the other woman a half hearted smile.]
Just... don't let me hurt you, okay? Can you promise me that?
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[Caitlyn has to believe that if this corruption did get that bad, that if Vi really wasn't herself, that she'd be able to fight it enough. But Vi definitely had speed and strength on her side. If it really came down to it, she wasn't sure she'd be able to hurt Vi, even if she had no choice.]
Keep that stone on you. It helps. And hopefully it'll be the answer to stopping all of this, too.
[She already got more, since she learned of it's power against the corruption. She's been playing with manipulating them into usable bullets, too, once they find the monster for her to take a shot at it.]
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[she sounds dejected, and closes her eyes briefly. the fight just left her all of a sudden in her exhale.]
Why do you always believe the best of me?
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[Caitlyn doesn't care if she's risking getting the corruption by touching Vi, but she cups her hands on the sides of her face. She kisses her forehead, just trying to further reassure her.]
You are so strong. You have such a good heart. You're better than whatever this corruption is trying to make you.
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It's not trying to make me anything, yet. At least, nothing other than being grumpy.
[. . .]
More than usual.
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You are extra grumpy.
[But if Vi was trying to push her away for her safety, Vi must expect it to get worse. That just meant Cait had to work extra hard to make sure nothing worse happened to Vi.]
It's going to be okay, Vi. I mean it.
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How do you stay so positive...? Even when you don't actually know what's going to happen?
[she's so much.]
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If I'm completely honest? It's because the alternative is letting this place get to me. It seems like we jump from one hell to another, and it's....exhausting. But we can't let it win. If we stay strong, and fight back, then we can survive this.
[She had to believe it. If she didn't, she might just fetal position in their house and never leave it again. But that wasn't who Caitlyn was. She wasn't one to back down, and just let the bad win.]
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Maybe. I mean... we've been through worse, right?
[she's. trying...]
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But Vi's attempt to fight it brings a smile to her face.]
Exactly. We've already survived so much. What's a few more trials and tribulations?
[It's a tease, and she nudges Vi with her arm as she says it, not even thinking about the tender spot of the fresh gunshot wound to her upper arm. She winces at the pain that shot through her arm at the contact, but recovered quickly, hoping Vi didn't notice.
It was from Jinx, of course. She knew that without question. But she hadn't exactly run to Vi to tell her about the injury she sustained from her sister. Oops.]
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... What's wrong? Is there something wrong with your arm?
[aaand she's going to be gently grabbing that arm, albeit way lower down than the bump she'd received from her.]
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[Of course Vi isn't going to believe that. Vi's already grabbing her arm, lower than the injury, so it's not like she can exactly hide it.
Sigh.
She's the one avoiding eye contact now, and she slowly and carefully slides her sleeve up to reveal the bandage to her upper arm.]
It's fine. Really. I didn't want to worry you. Not with everything else going on.
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