weight of her contribution | viper + abel | bouquet car

Viper

Viper had contributed all she needed to, of course. There was nothing more she needed to add. She had gotten bored of standing around in the flower shop watching the others trying to figure out the friendship puzzle and so had instead chosen to head outside. It was so hard to be this cool and edgy, it took sooo much out of her.

But it’s as Viper is turning the corner on the way to the gazebo that she almost walks face first into Abel. Instantly jolting backwards, she fixes him with a glare and her expression sours. Yeah, she’d made amends with Matsukaze, she’d been comforted by Haruka, but she was still uncertain on her feelings toward Abel. She… wanted to make it up to him. But at the same time….

She was still mad at him.

Abel Lazarus

Abel startles when bumped into. Not only because he didn’t expect it- but also.

Well even if he knows Viper in her right mind wouldn’t beat him like that. It still. Occurred. It’s still a traumatic experience.

Even if he does think he Definitely deserved it.

He fidgets while she glares at him- trying to. Get himself together enough to speak. He needs to apologize. He knows that. He knows that. It’s just. Hard to do. This isn’t how he really wanted to go about it. Either way he… Can’t imagine trying to put it off now.

Especially since. They’ll never leave this car if he can’t Also convince Viper to do a certain other contribution at Some point. So even if it isn’t the drive in his apology- it makes it pretty clear it’s now or never.

“I’m. Sorry. Viper.” Definitely stiff and strained- not because he doesn’t mean it but more because he’s… Himself. And emotional vulnerability is. Rough. “I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t have hit you. I get it. I don’t really blame you for…” He trails off. He’d rather not… Say exactly what but surely she can tell what he means. “… You uh. Don’t. Need to forgive me or anything. I don’t expect you to.” He also… Doesn’t really expect her to apologize for… Sorta trying to kill him. He doesn’t expect anything. Except maybe getting yelled at.

Either way- he won’t meet her eyes. He just. Looks pathetic.

Viper

At first, Viper bristles somewhat, like she’s expecting Abel to lash out at her. Perhaps because she herself lashed out at people so much…

“Yeah, you, like, totally f-ckin’ should be.” Viper sniffs, snapping her gaze away from him and crossing her arms in an act of closing herself off. “After I told ya about the fact I been ambush attacked ‘fore and everythin’.” He… had at least given her warning. That made it marginally better.

“But… yeah. Sorry, or whatever. Feels like it ain’t really enough for what I did, but…” Viper shrugged, trying more than anything to be as blasé as she always was about everything. No emotions needed. No hard feelings. No looming anxiety of a flower variety.

None at all.

“….Ya look like ya wanna ask me ta do somethin’. Spit it out.”

Abel Lazarus

Viper “After I told ya about the fact I been ambush attacked ‘fore and everythin’.”

… Yeah. He knows that. He deserves that. “I didn’t. Think about it at the time.” It’s quiet. “But I should have.”

Ugh he feels like shit.

Viper “But… yeah. Sorry, or whatever. Feels like it ain’t really enough for what I did, but…”

“You don’t need to apologize. I started it.” Which… Maybe so Abel but. Come on Buddy. “You… Um. I.” He stumbles for a moment figuring things out. “… Sorry I’d been planning to do this. When there’d be somewhere a bit less… Out in the open but. I’m sorry.”

But he’s not exactly about to try to talk about his emotions on top of that. It’s not the time and he doesn’t. Want to. He just needed to apologize to her.

Viper “….Ya look like ya wanna ask me ta do somethin’. Spit it out.”

… “Uh. I know you. Probably won’t want to do it in front of anyone so.” He fidgets with his rings. Spinning them. “I… Wanted to offer an alternative to. Finish the 6th bouquet.” He doesn’t really clarify but he can if she needs him to. “… You could. Claim you just pirated some things or. Pretend you have some tie to. The mafia I’m inheriting or whatever- so you don’t. Have to talk about it. Or. You could give me one of your roses and I can. Place it last so we can leave right after if you’d want.” He’s in that bouquet himself. It’s It is what. It is. He’s already admitted to his crime ties. No point getting sheepish now. “… I also. Grabbed you this last car. You don’t have to take it but I thought you’d like it.”

And he hands her a little Smiski mystery box. Since. Well it’s sorta anime figure adjacent, right?

Viper

Abel Lazarus … Yeah. He knows that. He deserves that. “I didn’t. Think about it at the time.” It’s quiet. “But I should have.”

“Yeah, ya should have.” Viper scoffs, and it’s clear that… it did hurt her more than she let on, judging by the way her eyelids drooped somewhat at the realisation that yeah- he in fact didn’t think about her trauma when he lunged at her. But equally, she hadn’t thought about his in return. They were even, at least.

Abel Lazarus “… Sorry I’d been planning to do this. When there’d be somewhere a bit less… Out in the open but. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, well… thanks. Or… whatever…” Viper waves her hand dismissively, beginning to feel almost as awkward about this exchange as Abel himself

Abel Lazarus … “Uh. I know you. Probably won’t want to do it in front of anyone so.” He fidgets with his rings. Spinning them. “I… Wanted to offer an alternative to. Finish the 6th bouquet.” He doesn’t really clarify but he can if she needs him to. “… You could. Claim you just pirated some things or. Pretend you have some tie to. The mafia I’m inheriting or whatever- so you don’t. Have to talk about it. Or. You could give me one of your roses and I can. Place it last so we can leave right after if you’d want.” He’s in that bouquet himself. It’s It is what. It is. He’s already admitted to his crime ties. No point getting sheepish now. “… I also. Grabbed you this last car. You don’t have to take it but I thought you’d like it.”

….Viper does bristle at that, and her expression only sours further.

“I ain’t got nothin’ to admit to, nothin’ ta hide an’ I ain’t gonna be tellin’ any’a em anythin’.” Viper seems to have forgotten she told him she was a criminal. Criminal was borderline an understatement at her peak, even.

But… then Abel hands her a gift. Oh. Oh this…

“…Okay. Maybe I can, like, appreciate that…” She opens the little guy mystery box with MUCH enthusiasm… oh. What a delightful little guy!!!!!!

Abel Lazarus

Viper “I ain’t got nothin’ to admit to, nothin’ ta hide an’ I ain’t gonna be tellin’ any’a em anythin’.” Viper seems to have forgotten she told him she was a criminal. Criminal was borderline an understatement at her peak, even.

He kind of. Doesn’t really know what to do about that. He doesn’t want to push her on it- but they’re also. Never getting out of here without it. He shifts on his feet while he thinks about it.

Viper “…Okay. Maybe I can, like, appreciate that…” She opens the little guy mystery box with MUCH enthusiasm… oh. What a delightful little guy!!!!!!

Huh. He didn’t realize how much of a relief that was. Seeing her be happy.

…

God he really is such a fuck up, yeah? Don’t wallow in your self pity now, but you knew this was inevitable Abel. You always ruin things. There’s a hallow pit somewhere in him and maybe it’s growing but now’s not the time.

Maybe it never will be the time.

He’d… Probably best do her a favor by leaving her alone.

“… Okay. If you. Want to come up with something later then we can. Or… Just have me place it. I’m not. Going to make you talk about it.” Like he told her before- he doesn’t think less of her for it. The puzzle has to get solved at some point. He can and will do it for her if she’d like- but he’s…

Well. She’d probably prefer Jack did it for her or something. Which is fine and not something he’s still sore about he promises.

“I’ll. Get out of your hair, Viper.” And unless she stops him he’s going to pass her and wonder somewhere else to… be the miserable little guy he’s always been.

Viper

Abel Lazarus “… Okay. If you. Want to come up with something later then we can. Or… Just have me place it. I’m not. Going to make you talk about it.” Like he told her before- he doesn’t think less of her for it. The puzzle has to get solved at some point. He can and will do it for her if she’d like- but he’s…

Well. She’d probably prefer Jack did it for her or something. Which is fine and not something he’s still sore about he promises.

“I’ll. Get out of your hair, Viper.” And unless she stops him he’s going to pass her and wonder somewhere else to… be the miserable little guy he’s always been.

Viper didn’t expect it to sting. When Abel said he was going to just get out of her hair. Her stomach twists, her head spins and her mind whirls.

If she were a ship and the ocean were her emotions, she was about to capsize. Repression was one of her less strong talents, and a toxic cocktail brewed in the very pit of her stomach. Yeah, she was still mad at Abel, but why should he be the one apologising? Why should he be apologising when she was the one who almost killed him?

It was pathetic. She turned tail and ran every time she had to face the consequences of her decisions. Every time she was forced to think about what she did in her teens she wanted to turn tail and run, but—

“Don’t go, Abel.” It’s weak and pathetic, the way she says it. Viper reaches out and grabs onto his sleeve. Her arm still ached dully with the stab wound, a distant pain in her side throbbed and her lip also hurt so bad her eyes watered. She wasn’t crying, no way.

She didn’t even have time to stop herself before she hugged him, clutching him so tightly as if she feared he may disappear. Her face pressed into his chest, and she tried to stop the shaking that wracked her entire body as she fully capsized under the weight of her own actions.

Abel Lazarus

Viper She didn’t even have time to stop herself before she hugged him, clutching him so tightly as if she feared he may disappear. Her face pressed into his chest, and she tried to stop the shaking that wracked her entire body as she fully capsized under the weight of her own actions.

Abel was surprised. Certainly.

But he wraps his arms around her as best as he can with his sling. He’s going nowhere. Like a lighthouse in a storm Abel is ever constant. Resistant to change, and while that can certainly be among his worst traits to never let things change- sometimes issues can be fine for just a little while.

It takes… A little longer for Him to start crying too. Not too much longer, really, but he’s definitely Several Levels of emotionally backed up when it comes to showing any emotion and Really crying is… Fairly new to him. Strange. Gross. Yet, reliving.

He doesn’t really enjoy how out in the open they are for this- but it really doesn’t matter.

He just holds her.

Viper

Abel is her crutch, even when she’s done things that she feels he should not forgive her for, he finds it within himself to do so. She’s aware that… perhaps it’s his fear of losing her that drives him to do so, but there’s… a level of appreciation for the fact that he does. Viper knows this feeling of unconditional love well. It… was the same love Kanna shared with her. But acknowledging it only made her heart hurt more.

“I-…” She started, her voice cracking with the emotions she’d been trying so long to hide. “Let’s…” Viper tugs at his good arm, breaking the close hold to pull him behind the gazebo, in the hopes of stopping prying eyes. She too doesn’t enjoy the openness, it seems.

Perhaps it was the subject matter.

“I…” Once they were behind the gazebo, Viper slides her arms around him once more, her face buried in him and returning to simply holding him tight. “I…” It’s hard for her to admit this. To talk about it.

Not even her parents know.

But after what she did to Abel, he deserves to know.

“…Once, I was… a criminal. Like, wanted criminal type…deal.” It’s somewhat hard to follow through the tears that slid down her face. “When I was- a teen, I, like, used to… find exploits on…sites…like government…security, and, like, stuff…and…sell them…to people… on-” She trails off.

Viper takes a deep breath, her hands shake, her brain is begging her not to say anything. Not to do it. “People- used my code…to attack the government, hospitals, you- like, like, you name it- I… just… did it all for…fun…I guess…”

It felt so pathetic. Admitting that she used to sell things that caused real harm for fun. That the money she used went to her hobbies, like anime. “…Got…a lotta money. Still…got it. ’s what I got attacked for. Like…I… pissed off the wrong guy, I guess…” She trailed off, before a sob escaped her, and she squeezed Abel.

Regret, shame, fear… every emotion blended together and was so obvious on her face when she looked up at him. Whilst she knew he wouldn’t hate her for it, she couldn’t help but say…

“…Please. Don’t tell anyone. I…think you…deserve to know, but….”

Abel Lazarus

Viper Abel is her crutch, even when she’s done things that she feels he should not forgive her for, he finds it within himself to do so. She’s aware that… perhaps it’s his fear of losing her that drives him to do so, but there’s… a level of appreciation for the fact that he does.

While that’s CERTAINLY a contributing factor- He also… Well listen I’m not ever going to claim his morals make sense or aren’t hypocritical. He’s inheriting a Mafia branch. He himself is going into Crime- Consciously. He knows he will have to do Terrible things to RUN a group like that.

So perhaps he can SOMETIMES not be a raging hypocrite and understand he’s not in any position to Judge Viper for past mistakes.

Also he believes he’s like WAY worse than her so.

But Abel listens to her get it off her chest. It’s definitely seeming important she does so- and. He cares about her.

Viper “…Please. Don’t tell anyone. I…think you…deserve to know, but….”

And here.

He just holds her tighter.

“I’m not telling anyone, Viper. It’s okay. You don’t have to tell anyone else if you’re not ready to.” Because he isn’t really going to be the sort to pressure her to not keep it close still. That’s not his business. When she chooses to share- what she chooses- “… It’s. Okay to not be there yet.” Straight out of a therapists mouth! Though usually followed by, ’as long as you’re trying to get there.'

That’s fine by him. He’s just glad she trusted him to know.

“… I’m sorry.” Because he feels Worse knowing this is what he’s brought her back to- but still. He just holds her. So she knows he’s not Going anywhere. He feels. Silly for his Huge over reaction leading to this. For being so… Impulsive. and Selfish.

“… Like I said. We can lie about why your rose belongs in that bouquet. Tell them I offered you… some job with the mafia or… I don’t know. As long as you don’t expect me to tell the lie anything works.” He gives a slight half smile. A twitch at the corner of his mouth. “… No one really needs to know the reason- but I don’t think you’ll want to stay in this car forever.” After all- people might start suggesting to trial and error each bouquet- which would be a give away whether she refused or just did it. At least this way she can take back any of the control in what people know about it.

“… It’s okay, Viper. It’s alright to. Make amends with yourself.”

Viper

Abel Lazarus But Abel listens to her get it off her chest. It’s definitely seeming important she does so- and. He cares about her.

It’s certainly important. Something that’s been eating away at her for the past ten or so years. Constantly looming in the back of her mind like a stormcloud, threatening to strike when she least expected it. She had to tell someone else, eventually. It was… a huge weight off her shoulders.

Abel Lazarus “I’m not telling anyone, Viper. It’s okay. You don’t have to tell anyone else if you’re not ready to.” Because he isn’t really going to be the sort to pressure her to not keep it close still. That’s not his business. When she chooses to share- what she chooses- “… It’s. Okay to not be there yet.”

“O-Okay…” Viper bit her lip, to try and stop the wobbling. It was clearly futile, as her lip only seemed to tremble more as soon as she tried to stop it. “I am not. That person any more. I don’t… want…to be.” Luckily for Abel, Viper’s never personally visited a therapist, and therefore she has no point of reference for whether these are the direct words of a therapist or not!

Abel Lazarus “… Like I said. We can lie about why your rose belongs in that bouquet. Tell them I offered you… some job with the mafia or… I don’t know. As long as you don’t expect me to tell the lie anything works.” He gives a slight half smile. A twitch at the corner of his mouth. “… No one really needs to know the reason- but I don’t think you’ll want to stay in this car forever.”

“Could you… put it in for me? Hide it in…. the other flowers, if you can?” Viper’s voice is small as she asks it. Her hands pick idly at Abel’s back, it feels so pathetic, so weak to be asking this of him. That she couldn’t just face the others and admit something that probably seemed so obvious by now.

Abel Lazarus “… It’s okay, Viper. It’s alright to. Make amends with yourself.”

“I…know.” She leans her head into his shoulder, her eyes welled up with tears. “…It’s not… me. So much. It’s my parents. My…dad mainly. He…taught me, like, how to code…and…like, I think…it’d like, break him…if he knew.” She sounds so… weak. So, so weak.

After a couple moments, she mumbles bitterly, “Like cutting ’em off didn’t do that already…”

Abel Lazarus

Viper “I am not. That person any more. I don’t… want…to be.”

He squeezes her again. Offering Some comfort at least.

Viper “Could you… put it in for me? Hide it in…. the other flowers, if you can?”

“Yeah. I’ll do my best to hide it in there. You’ll just have to color a Rose for me.” There’s already four roses in there. It’ll probably be easy enough to Try and hide. Especially amongst the leaves maybe? Greens and all.

Viper “…It’s not… me. So much. It’s my parents. My…dad mainly. He…taught me, like, how to code…and…like, I think…it’d like, break him…if he knew."

And that. Well. He gets that in a way.

He gently pets her back for a quiet moment while he thinks about what to say- Really not wanting to screw this up.

“… Maybe, but. They’re your parents, right? They love you?” Perhaps Abel can’t understand a parent loving you unconditionally, but he’s hit Aiwa where it hurts before and his dad is still there, isn’t he? Maybe there’s some distance, but he didn’t give up, did he?

… Viper hasn’t really described her parents being like his. In fact- She’s described them as. Good parents.

He has to trust that.

“… You should try. If. You want I could come with. When we get out of here.” Because he promised her that. He promised they’d both get out. “They love you. It’s. Better to at least try to bridge that gap. To know. It would. Be a good place to start.”

He sighs softly. “You deserve a chance to heal, Viper.”

Viper

Abel Lazarus “Yeah. I’ll do my best to hide it in there. You’ll just have to color a Rose for me.”

“…Yeah. I’ll…do that. Soon.” Viper thinks she can easily go in there, get a rose and leave without being too suspicious. Most people would probably just assume she was being her normal chaotic self again anyway.

Viper just leans into the comfort all the more, he’s there for her, and that’s what matters right now. He’s right. Because her parents do care. They do love her. Perhaps… too much. More than she deserves, with how she’s treated them. To be honest, the train made her wish she had been strong enough to reach out to them. “Before… I got on the train, I was goin’ to say hello to ’em.” She mumbled, her voice muted as ever.

“I…Know they love me. They do. They really do. Kanna keeps in contact, but it’s…not th’ same.” Because your best friend telling your parents you haven’t died in a ditch yet was always such a fun thing to think about. Absolutely.

“I know…as well. Ya promised we’d go together. We’d get out…but…'f I don’t. Can ya… tell ’em what happened ta me. Kanna too.” Viper narrows her eyes, and exhales sharply through her nose. “Kaori and Masaki Yamabe. My parents.” She looks down at the floor. “Kanna Kurashiki. I’ll… give ya their addresses…uh…” She pauses. “I know…I don’t want ya ta think I’m gonna die on ya or somethin’ but…jus’ in case. I…want ya ta be the one ta do it. I…Kanna…she…” Viper swallows. “She’ll need someone ta be there for her.” She didn’t want to think about how poorly Kanna would handle her death.

“…They prob won’t trust ya- Kanna won’t…unless ya give ’em my name. Parents don’t know me ’s Viper either. So, uh…” Viper’s cheeks redden as she lowers her voice even more.

“…Miki. Miki Yamabe.” She gives him a bit of a Look. Almost like she’s saying- ’Don’t you dare call it cute!' “Or if ya want Kanna ta trust ya quicker…. Mimi. But, like, don’t ya dare call me that. Ever.” That seems to be a reserved-for-Kanna nickname, huh.

Abel Lazarus

Viper “I know…as well. Ya promised we’d go together. We’d get out…but…'f I don’t. Can ya… tell ’em what happened ta me. Kanna too.”

Abel’s voice catches in his throat. As much as he’d like to stop her from even suggesting it he always gets so weird about the deaths of people he cares about.

It’s hard to speak. To stop her. To insist she’ll be fine.

He looks at her silently for a moment after she finishes the request- and he can’t even decide what he wants to say. Surely it’s just for her peace of mind? Not expecting anything to happen?

Viper “…Miki. Miki Yamabe.”

God he gets it he does but the idea of Viper dying is absolutely panic inducing and it’s taking most of him to not fixate on it.

“Okay.” It’s hard to get out. “But please. Don’t die.” As if it’s really up to her.

… “But you have to… Promise to do the same. If. If I die you have to find my Uncle and Cain and tell them. They’ll. Believe you if you bring… My cross.” He touches it around his neck. Holds it so tight it imprints into his hand.

“I can’t. Leave them… Not knowing.”

But he can’t say much more. It’s too… Upsetting. Thinking about the inevitability death brings.

“… Do you dislike getting called Miki?” A topic change! Needed. To calm himself down somewhat from all THAT.

Viper

Viper knew she’d upset him. She’d scared him with the thought of her dying, but when it was such a real possibility, she wanted him to know. To know what she wanted him to do if she did die here. Her hand gripped at his, smoothing her fingers across the back of his knuckles, as she looked up at him apologetically.

“Yeah. ’Course.” She squeezes his hand. “I ain’t gonna die, Abel. I ain’t gonna die without fightin’ so f-ckin’ hard ta live.” She reaches into her pocket for a moment, flashing the glint of a blade at him. “Picked ‘dis up in th’ mall. Gotta protect m’self.” She hopes it’s reassuring that she’s… going to try. To try and stop herself being a victim.

“…Yeah. Kinda.” Viper winces. “…I mean, more trouble ’den it’s worth when my name’s out there on like… police records an’ all.” If the wrong person knew… “…'Sides. Never know who out ‘dere is associated wit’ my stalker. He never got arrested, so…. like… dunno. Personal safety reasons. Only people who’re allowed…. Kanna, Hiro… and… my parents, an’ Kanna’s parents.” She blinks. “Hiro’s family too…” She leans her head against his good shoulder.

“Jus’… kinda guess it feels more like th’ me I wanna be, too.”

Abel Lazarus

Viper “Picked ‘dis up in th’ mall. Gotta protect m’self.” She hopes it’s reassuring that she’s… going to try. To try and stop herself being a victim.

Perhaps on some level! There’s a concern she might end up killing someone instead but hey he won’t voice that.

Which. He also picked up a knife so. Perhaps it’s his own concern regarding… Having one in his clutches again. Just. Projected.

He does show her his own in his bag, though. To let her know he’s also planning on living.

For whatever that’s worth.

Viper “Jus’… kinda guess it feels more like th’ me I wanna be, too.”

“… I get it.” He looks down at his lap for a moment. “… I can help you. Clear your name. At least for your parents sake, you know? With the right money and the right lawyers. It wouldn’t be too hard. I could… Hire people to look into your stalker too. Make sure they’ll leave you be.”

Money can do a LOT after all.

“… Give you a chance to be the you you want to be. Free to. Start over. It won’t erase it- and you’ll have to talk to people about it still- but at least… You have a chance. without the threat.”

Viper

Abel Lazarus Perhaps on some level! There’s a concern she might end up killing someone instead but hey he won’t voice that.

Hey, who knows! Maybe she’s just gonna keep the knife for some fun friendly knife fights with everyone’s favourite knife-wielding Jack! She’s relieved, however to see he had also picked up a knife. Good. They both had plans to live, that was so important to her.

Abel Lazarus “… I get it.” He looks down at his lap for a moment. “… I can help you. Clear your name. At least for your parents sake, you know? With the right money and the right lawyers. It wouldn’t be too hard. I could… Hire people to look into your stalker too. Make sure they’ll leave you be.”

Viper breathes in sharply through her nose. A chance to clear her name. Surely it wouldn’t be that easy? God knows a lot of the evidence was already lost to time, but… reaching into her bag, she pulls out the USB that the gacha machine had given her. She looks down at it, and her stomach twists, and she feels nauseous.

“I… would like that. I think. After I…own up ta my parents.” She looked up at Abel. “…This… USB contains everything from back then. My…‘products’ so… ta speak. I…guess I dunno what ta do with it. ’Cause might be useful for… if I wanna clear m’name…but lookin’ at it makes me feel sick.” The mention of looking into her stalker perked her up though.

“…Never reported it at th’ time…but, like, I….could probs still memorise his screenname an’ his bitcoin ID off by heart if ya ever needed it.” Viper holds him so tightly. She’s getting weepy again, judging by how she buries her face in him once more. After a couple of moments of silence, and a couple soft sniffles from her, a soft voice says-

“…Never thought I’d have a chance ta…stop bein’ this scared ‘f facin’ th’ cops..”