on epic mafia shenanigans

[skirtcladgunner]

I'm serious, mun--knock it off. The only thing I'm happy with you about is that you plan to let me tell him how much of an ass he's being and what exactly he's done. It probably won't do much good though, considering how stubborn he is about his own feelings. ...I'm not the same way!

As for your other plan... while I wouldn't mind Riddler knowing about that, I've done so well in keeping it a secret from everyone there. ...I've done so well in keeping a lot of things secret. ... That doesn't mean I'm being stubborn like Yuan! It means that... it means that I'm scared. Are you happy now?

By the way, just because you've decided Jeb and I have allowed our relationship to be more open-ended due to how these games have affected us doesn't mean you're going to get worse where things with a certain prick stand, right? ... ... ...I should have known, but don't you dare make Jeb put up with him there too! I don't mind the troll kid flirting with Jeb because he's nice to him, but that blond ass would just be cruel to him. Jeb doesn't deserve that.

Comments

[fortunefail]

[What. Tori, what even. What is he reading here. "Exactly what he's done"? It's worrying, but Yuan will be Yuan.]

I keep telling you, it's none of your business.

[skirtcladgunner]

It is my business. Your bullshit affects someone I care about. Deeply affects, whether you notice it or not. So guess what that makes it, Yuan? My business. And if you weren't such an infuriating, stubborn idiot? It wouldn't be happening anyway.

But thank you for replying. ♥

[fortunefail]

[Tori, your attitude is not helping. Whatever implications you were trying to make about the Riddler's condition are lost in the insults.]

Who are you to judge me? You've only heard his side of the story, and quite frankly, I don't plan on sharing my point of view on the matter. It's only "bullshit", after all.

[skirtcladgunner]

Are you serious, Yuan? Really? Even if I didn't think it was bullshit, you wouldn't tell me anyway. [Because unlike the Riddler, Tori's always been convinced that Yuan doesn't care at all about her--but beyond all expectation, she didn't mind that. She was all right with being the only one between her and Yuan gave a damn... until he hurt Riddler.] So don't give me that. Don't even give me that, Yuan!

Besides... [Oh, what the hell. Neither of them will remember this once they're in the games anyway:] he wasn't the one who made you cry. It's absolutely frightening to have someone who smiles and laughs all the time break down, do you know that? Maybe I don't know how you feel, I guess that's true enough. But that means you don't know how he feels, and you sure as hell don't know how I feel.

...if you opened up, I would have listened. We care about you. He cares about you. I care about you. Why can't you understand that?

[fortunefail]

[That whole first paragraph is basically ignored. It's true that he wouldn't tell Tori either way. Again, it's none of her damn business. Part of him believes that it's not even the Riddler's business.

But the next bit makes a look of surprise wash over his face. He's not even entirely hearing what comes after the words "break down". Normally, he'd call such claims ludicrous. Grown men don't cry. Not because of people like Yuan, anyway.

But this is the Riddler, they're talking about. It's pretty damn evident that he has some severe emotional problems that could give Mithos a run for his money.]

...

[skirtcladgunner]

[She stares at Yuan, waiting for him to say something. Anything.

Just like she typically does.]

...

[fortunefail]

[What is he supposed to say to something like this? Clearly he needs to have another one of those talks with the Riddler soon, but... Hell, he won't remember this conversation when the next game starts. He'll go back to being blissfully ignorant and he may cause even more damage that way.]

[skirtcladgunner]

[Well, she's going to remind you. So really, it all works out in a terrible way.]

...can I tell you something? [Her voice is a lot more gentle now, probably because the guilt of telling Yuan all that is settling in.]

[fortunefail]

[Yeah, you'd better feel guilty. As if Yuan didn't have enough shit to deal with yet. He just keeps hurting people who care about him, but he can't stop himself. It's like a self defense mechanism that ends up causing more harm than actual protection.]

... What?

[skirtcladgunner]

Maybe all of this bothers me so much because... because the times I've been around you two are some of my happiest.

[Oops, that probably will just make him feel more guilty. But it's something she feels she has to say. She has a lot of concerns of her own, concerns that have nothing to do with neither Yuan or the Riddler.]

[fortunefail]

[It makes him feel so much more guilty, yes. He just can't fathom why anyone would be so happy to be with him. He could understand getting along, but actual happiness? What does he ever do to invoke feelings like that?]

... Then you should stick close by the Riddler's side.

[skirtcladgunner]

[The small things you've done, the things that give her hope that you actually care about her are enough for Tori, Yuan. That's what.

But that response troubles her. A lot.]

...Yuan...

[fortunefail]

[Sorry Tori, he's got nothing more to say to you. Better catch him before he leaves.]

[skirtcladgunner]

[You better believe she will.]

Wait, Yuan. Just. Wait, will you?

[fortunefail]

[He stops walking and turns his head towards her, but she won't have his attention for long.]

What?

[skirtcladgunner]

You know it's not just his side I want to stay close to. Maybe I don't understand a damn thing... but that doesn't mean I don't want to.

[fortunefail]

I keep telling you, it's none of your business. [By which he means the finer details of the issue, not the issue itself.]

Let's just say things aren't as simple as they appear and leave it at that.

[skirtcladgunner]

[Sigh.]

Then just... don't leave. Please?

[fortunefail]

What else do you expect me to do?

[skirtcladgunner]

To stay. You don't have to tell me anything, just don't leave. [That tone is suddenly much more desperate.]

[fortunefail]

... What's the point? [Being here just for the sake of being here sounds like quite the chore.]

[skirtcladgunner]

...I guess there isn't one, but does everything need to have a rational, logical point?

[batmobilethief]

Heeheeheeheehee!

Tori, my dear girl, is there something I should know?

[skirtcladgunner]

What do you mean? [She feels horrible for playing stupid with the Riddler, but...]

[batmobilethief]

[He grins at her, holding out a hand in her direction.] You're planning to tell me something. And I have to admit, I'm terribly curious-- though I suppose I can't fault you for not revealing it to me. "What can you no longer keep after you share it?"

[skirtcladgunner]

[Looks downward.] ...it's about stuff back home. You know, it's funny how I thought if I lied to myself long enough, the problems would go away.

[batmobilethief]

[... Ah, dear, sweet Tori...

[He takes your hand and tugs you close, pressing a kiss to your hair.] It's a common failing of humans, my darling. I can hardly fault you for it.

[skirtcladgunner]

[She supposes not. It's not exactly easy to just come out and say "my father doesn't care about me or my siblings" or "I'm pretty certain I'm going to end up dying soon," after all. Is that why she's taken everything so much more personally lately? To make people realize she cares about them in case she doesn't come back? In case she...] I'd be lying if I said I didn't appreciate that~

[batmobilethief]

[He giggles, and wraps his arms around her.] Perhaps you should borrow another half-cup of crazy, my dear girl? It might help you with whatever it is that's troubling you.

[skirtcladgunner]

Well... maybe, but we both know what happens when I borrow too much. [Laughs a little, though it seems slightly forced. She sincerely appreciates the effort, though.]

[futurehope]

Your mundane wants to put Jeb with a troll? [Which one, Tori. He's also not talking about the other stuff, because it's not his business.]

[skirtcladgunner]

She'd at least like to see their "CR" strengthen. She apparently thinks they're "cute." [But she seems to find this more amusing than anything else...]

[futurehope]

Hopefully it's not one of the usual trolls we deal with. [You know who he's talking about.]

[skirtcladgunner]

I did say this one was nice to Jeb, didn't I?

[futurehope]

Yeah, so then it's not Terezi or Vriska. [Hmmm, is it Nepeta? Or Kanaya? ...No, it couldn't be Eridan, could it?]

[skirtcladgunner]

Nope. Remember, I said "he."