Somehow, the adult is Worse | Daycare Car | Vinzent + Viper

Viper

Somehow, with every single car that came along, Viper only got more and more confused, and found herself wondering just what the motive of this train was. If it wanted them to get along and have fun happy times spinning in circles together, this was not the way to do it.

Watching her weird… flour-sack doppelganger from afar was fine. But as soon as that kid spoke to her, she realised what an awful thing it was for her to exist out here. For one- she had a name, and it Wasn’t Viper. Two, she kept talking about things that made Viper want to hide away and cover her ears.

Why did she have to be such a loser back then? Viper stared at the Flour-Viper as she coloured in a picture on the floor, her legs in a V shape, the paper between and leaning forward with such a look of concentration she was about to fall over.

Viper made no move to stop her. The scrappy young flour-girl was covered in bumps and grazes, a band-aid across her nose, and the same scruffy and messy brown hair that covered the majority of adult Viper’s head. She had just as much of it, too. Viper didn’t want to be here. She was just trying to decide… what she could do. Just what could she do to get out of this situation, huh?

Her hand gripped at her pocket.

Vinzent Mayer

Vinzent has been, frankly speaking, a little unsettled. This has been tugging him around in his feelings. The… Envy of FVinzent’s normalcy. Before he lost it later on. The innocence.

But Vinzent isn’t mad. No, he’s just… Melancholic. But then, he noticed another kid nearby. Brown hair. Not many of them had brown hair, so if he had to go by guesses… This was Viper’s kid self, right? But how true is it? How much of it is fabricated? Or not at all?

He… Saw how Viper was reacting. It’s not… He isn’t sure how to gauge her actual feelings. If anything, he should worry, right?

This woman is unpredictable. He’s a little mad at her but, mostly concerned.

“… Hey, Viper?”

He tentatively approached her while keeping his distance. He did want to talk to her kid self but. Hm.

Viper

It’s a valid concern, because the way Viper is staring down FViper is something… perhaps a little menacing. There’s no real… love there. No appreciation for this flour kid who had done nothing wrong.

Viper seems to be jolted from her thoughts by Vinzent speaking, and stares at him with narrowed eyes.

“…Ya come ta judge me or somethin’?” She half-sneers, rolling her eyes. “I ain’t got time for ya dumb ‘be a good person’ sh-t.” Viper fiddles with her pocket, looking away.

Her snarky response earned the attention, however, of the little flour kid sitting and minding her own business colouring. The bright green eyes and pale, freckly face made it unmistakable who this kid was. Her colouring is quickly abandoned- for she was far more distractable than most kids, and she looked up at Vinzent.

Her large eyes blinked a few times, and she tilted her head.

For who she would have turned into, this kid seems…remarkably normal.

“Hi there, who are you?” FViper speaks so… politely, too.

Vinzent Mayer

Vinzent was put off by how current Viper is acting. But he shook his head.

“What’s… Going on? I don’t. See the need to tell you whenever to be a good person or not… Because you’re volatile.”

And rude. Jesus f-ck. First, Viper hurts Abel two cars ago, then she looks at her past self with such animosity now. What has happened between then and now?

But FViper speaking so politely with a question at the man. It’s so ordinary, it puzzles Vinzent far more than normal. He wants to know what went wrong. He wants to know why current Viper is… The way she is.

Carefully, still eyeing current Viper in case she tries anything funny, he answers the kid’s question with a soft smile.

“I’m Vinzent.”

Normally, he’d ask her name. But… Isn’t that over stepping the boundaries? Current Viper would very probably harm him. Or threatening him. It wouldn’t surprise him. In fact, he was wary. So he left it at that. For now.

Viper

Viper remains quiet, simply glaring at Vinzent and the child version of herself.

FViper on the other hand, gives the biggest, widest smile- showing that she’s got at least one gap in her teeth, offering her arms up to be lifted. She was so… innocent. How did it all go so horribly, horribly wrong?

“Hi, Vin-zent!” FViper seemed to struggle a bit to say it, perhaps it was the fact her grasp of non-Japanese names wasn’t the best back then, but she gets it close enough. “I’m Miki.” …Yikes, FViper.

Viper bristled, standing up quickly and her hands shook as she grabbed at her pockets, clearly trying-and failing, to keep herself calm. There was a time where maybe she could have appreciated this kid version of herself, but that time was long gone. Long gone with the realisation herself that something had gone very, very wrong along the way.

“SHUT UP!” She snaps, her face more a snarl than anything else. “Stop TELLING people that!” I’m… placing this before the Viper/Fabel & FViper/Abel thread timeline wise (Reason why will become known eventually <3)

Viper may be angry, but deep down, in her eyes, there’s a definite fear.

Vinzent Mayer

Oh Viper, he can feel the glare very much so.

Normally, if current Viper wasn’t around, Vinzent would be happy to lift child Viper up. He might be weak, but lifting up a kid is usually fine for a few minutes. She looked so happy. What went wrong, indeed? Vinzent then caught wind of her real name.

Oh boy. That and overhearing Viper’s last name two cars ago… Oops. He shouldn’t. Mention it at all. But he has now put together that Viper’s full name is Miki Yamabe, right? But still… Now that he knows, he has to pick his words wisely because…

The current Viper’s reaction was, uh. Hm. Yeah. Jumping at the reaction, Vinzent instinctively went to shield the flourgirl from her adult self.

“I’m not going to say anything about that. I’ll still call you Viper. How about that? Why are you… Look, I know a lot of things has happened between then and now. I know you vaguely told me stuff before, I think but… Whatever it is, I have no interest in causing issues with that topic right now.”

Maybe now would be the right time to ask a question. Because it bugs him so much. The flower car got him to ignore Viper’s bullshit, but here? Boy, he can’t ignore that anymore. Especially…

“What I wanna know is why do you always choose violence or being erratic when dealing with stuff? To be frank, I’m sick of that.”

He was close to ask about the incident with Abel two cars ago, but he shouldn’t. He didn’t… Want to involve the man in this fight for nothing. It’s not… Abel didn’t need any more problems right now. He’s dealing with enough at the moment, and Vinzent isn’t keen on dragging him through another round. So he left his name out. But boy is he a little mad at this incident. Especially after hearing it from Matsu briefly.

But he knows, that something happened to Viper for her to change. He vaguely remembers Viper telling him she was attacked but… It’s been a long time. Still not justifying her violent tendencies at seemingly random times. He had no idea what exactly happened in the mall car. But still… That was too far.

… Honestly, he’d be willing to listen to Viper only if she wouldn’t be so violence inclined. That is scary.

Viper

Vinzent Mayer “I’m not going to say anything about that. I’ll still call you Viper. How about that? Why are you… Look, I know a lot of things has happened between then and now. I know you vaguely told me stuff before, I think but… Whatever it is, I have no interest in causing issues with that topic right now.”

“You know what I’ll do to you if you do say something, don’t you?” There’s a flash of silver, and the knife is back in play. What a familiar sight, Viper brandishing a blade at Vinzent. What happened? They had got along so well at one point! God forbid it be because someone can’t keep herself under control.

Vinzent Mayer “What I wanna know is why do you always choose violence or being erratic when dealing with stuff? To be frank, I’m sick of that.”

“Give me one good reason I should even bother answerin’ ya.” Viper glared, pupils dilated, as looming resentment mingled with the painful reminder that she was a failure, such a failure. Abel was wrong, her parents wouldn’t be proud of what she’d become. She could see the way her father’s face turned to a scowl as she told him of everything she had done until now, her mother openly weeping and holding him, begging to know where their sweet daughter had gone.

Her grip on the knife tightens, her breath feels tight in her chest and her breathing slows to a rasping heave. Her pupils fully dilate as her hand starts to shake, but she keeps the knife pointed outward.

FViper clutches at Vinzent’s leg, looking up at him.

“I don’t… think she wants to hurt you.” She mumbled, her polite yet confident voice such a stark contrast to the vile vitriol Viper spouted. “It’s okay. If she wants me to go away, I can go away.” What happened to make her that way, indeed.

Vinzent Mayer

Viper “You know what I’ll do to you if you do say something, don’t you?” There’s a flash of silver, and the knife is back in play. What a familiar sight, Viper brandishing a blade at Vinzent. What happened? They had got along so well at one point! God forbid it be because someone can’t keep herself under control.

“Haha…” That was dry. Humorless. Mostly… Terrified. “I’m not an idiot. You’ll happily harm me, won’t you. I’ll keep it buried. Viper. I have literally no reason to tell anyone. You choose when to tell it and who to tell it. It’s not an information that I’ll use. There’s nothing to gain from this, and I’m aware.”

Worst moment to have most of his skin out in the open, so he pulled back his jacket together to shield himself. A layer of cloth isn’t gonna protect himself from a blade. But… Better than having his bare waist be out in the open right away.

Viper “Give me one good reason I should even bother answerin’ ya.”

“… You almost killed someone not too long ago. That’s too far, isn’t it.” He almost wanted to say Abel. But she knows, doesn’t she.

He… Stares back at Viper, not defiantly but… He doesn’t want to run away. In case she swings her blade at him. She should… Be stopped. But how?

FViper’s words… The temptation to ruffle her hair was strong, but instead, Vinzent spoke with such softness, that despite warily looking back at current Viper, he was clearly adressing the flourgirl. He wasn’t sure about the former statement but the later…

“… It might be best if you go somewhere else, okay?”

God, what the fuck did he stumble upon right now. He did NOT want a fight in this daycare car, this would be so stupid.

Viper

Vinzent Mayer “Haha…” That was dry. Humorless. Mostly… Terrified. “I’m not an idiot. You’ll happily harm me, won’t you. I’ll keep it buried. Viper. I have literally no reason to tell anyone. You choose when to tell it and who to tell it. It’s not an information that I’ll use. There’s nothing to gain from this, and I’m aware.”

“Glad ta see ya makin’ a good choice.” Viper spins the knife a couple of times in her hand before pocketing it again. Whilst she makes no move away, she doesn’t make a move toward him either. Seems they’re at a standstill.

Vinzent Mayer “… You almost killed someone not too long ago. That’s too far, isn’t it.”

Her nostrils flare. Like a spring winding up, Viper prepares to launch. How could Vinzent understand?! How could he get it?! He doesn’t even know the smallest thing about what happened! And yet, the way the colour drains from her face shows she’s wondering just how much he does know.

“He STARTED IT!” Viper snaps, flinging herself at Vinzent. She grabs him, her grip falters for a moment but she’s able to pin his arm behind his back, the other of her arms wrapping around his head and putting him in a headlock.

FViper scatters backwards, looking on in horror at the sudden violence. But following Vinzent’s words, she flees.

Viper, on the other hand, grips at his neck with her arm, glaring down at him, trying to ignore the wetness in the corners of her eyes.

Don’t cry here, idiot! She chastised herself, “Ya think I WANT ta kill people? Huh? Ya think I want ta die on this stupid goddamn train? I’m not that much of an idiot! I’m f-ckin’ tryin’ ta protect m’self, but sure, whatever, think I’m a f-ckin’ monster all ya damn like.”

Vinzent Mayer

Vinzent was prepared to try running away. Still he listens…

And he has gone too far. Just like before. Say one wrong thing and get consequences. It’s no different here. His reflexes has been usually decent, but right here. Right now… It has flew out of the window.

Because now, even after he heard her words, Vinzent hadn’t time to react, as he got his arm twisted behind, just like before. Then a yelp of pain. And soon enough he got put in a headlock, just like before.

“GH-”

don’t move don’t move don’t move. be wise.

He started it. Unfortunately, Vinzent’d believe it. But it still doesn’t fucking justify the attempt? Not getting the full story lend to this right now.

It hurts, it hurts, it hurts. God. It hurts. He hoped it wouldn’t happen again, but here he was, this time of his own design. He fucked up.

Viper Don’t cry here, idiot! She chastised herself, “Ya think I WANT ta kill people? Huh? Ya think I want ta die on this stupid goddamn train? I’m not that much of an idiot! I’m f-ckin’ tryin’ ta protect m’self, but sure, whatever, think I’m a f-ckin’ monster all ya damn like.”

“I-I… I don’t think you’re a monster. But you clearly- Need to- Ah- Gh-”

He needs to breath. Needs to go away. Oh he is going to die here. He’s… Going to fucking die in here. In front of the kids. Good job, young man, you really fucked it all up. But mostly, right now, Vinzent’s clearly in a panicked state. He doesn’t know what to do. He just needs to go away. To get himself free. The memories crept up in his mind.

This is highschool all over again.

Abel Lazarus

Viper she flees.

Certainly she flees- right into Abel. The little moment of noticing her before she scurries off again makes him look around to see why she’s running- if it’s just a game that’s that but she looked a little-

Oh Viper has Vinzent in a headlock. Oh Bad. Oh Bad. He finally leaves little him alone- much to Fabel’s delight- heading right for the fight to break it up.

“Viper. Let Go. Now.” His voice is… Intense a little. He knows Viper isn’t going to be proud of herself for this- he. Also knows that Vinzent is definitely going to be having a Particularly Bad Time with this. It’s all… It’s all… Ugh.

He can’t attempt to separate them Easily- Shoulder be damned- but he can still Try to make Viper let Go.

He has no idea what’s transpired. What has upset either of them. Any of the context of any of this. He just knows he can’t let Viper make this mistake again- and he can’t just Let Vinzent be Retraumatized. Especially with his child self around.

Viper

Abel Lazarus “Viper. Let Go. Now.” His voice is… Intense a little. He knows Viper isn’t going to be proud of herself for this- he. Also knows that Vinzent is definitely going to be having a Particularly Bad Time with this. It’s all… It’s all… Ugh.

Like a dog that latches in defense of its master, Viper lets go at the sound of Abel’s voice, her head snapping to alert, and Abel can certainly see the realisation click in her mind. To say she wasn’t going to be proud of herself was an understatement, judging by how Viper heaved a few shaky, strong breaths in, and hurried away a few paces. She crouched down, hugging her own knees and burying her face in her legs. Those with more acute hearing might hear the muffled half-scream eminating from her as she bit her pants leg and cussed into the fabric.

She’d done it again.

Viper was a ticking time bomb, and every moment she ticked ever-closer to bursting, and taking someone down with her.

Viper was a danger, just how long before truly everyone realised it?

Or was it not too late, and she could be offered salvation from the inevitable?

Vinzent Mayer

[bullying cw in memories, panic attack.]

Right. Away.

When he thought he was going to die. Abel arrived on time.

It… He’s… As if on… Instinct, he awkwardly crawled away from Viper, closer to Abel. He has been his immediate choice to get nearer. Not to latch onto him, no. But. Just to get a direction to go to. To be away from Viper. She’s… Really…

Vinzent has liked her less before with the uncertainity, the conversation in the mall car was maybe one of the final chances. And now? He isn’t sure the term friendship exist anymore. After what she did to Abel. After what she did to Vinzent just now.

With ragged breathing, he warily looks back at Viper, his expression going from genuine pure terror to a mix of terror and anger. He had enough. Enough of being used as an emotional plaything to be thrown away. It’s just like before. The times where he would get his arms twisted, the times he’d get punched… Until someone tell his bully off. And it repeats.

Repeats.

Repeats.

Reaching his neck to… Be sure he is breathing just fine (He isn’t, but this is more thanks to the induced panic), Vinzent patted it. Carefully. Then back to warily watching Viper from a distance. Carefully, he looked at Abel.

A mix of guilt, and gratefulness hit him. His close friend… Will it stay that way? Will Abel leave him if he learns of what Vinzent knows? He opted to look away from the redhead after a few seconds.

Will he end up lonely? It’s all he’s good at, huh. Ruining things of his own design, then everything else crumbles around him. Saying things he shouldn’t, then reaping what he sowed.

Vinzent doesn’t even try to look at Abel again, instead letting his hair hiding his face as he hung his head. His breathing was still not regular but, he seemed a little… More calm now. Even if he wasn’t.

…

Oh, he wasn’t.

Teardrops fell on the floor. One by one. Because… After this roughing up. What happened after in his mind… Were more memories dredging up. At least, neither Abel nor Viper can see that. But…

You’re so funny like that!

Shut up.

Oh my god, look at this fucking loser, trying to get his beloved stuff books back!

Shut up, shut up, shut up.

Look at him, getting choked! That’s what you get for talking so much, Vinzent!

SHUT UP.

Hey, I was just playing a bit with him! He’s just overreacting, that’s all.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SHUT THE FUCK UP.

Will it just haunt him forever? Will it just… What would his kid self say if he saw what Vinzent was thinking? What Vinzent is feeling right now? What would his kid self say if he saw everything that has happened to him when he was in highschool?

… Maybe he needs help. Something. Anything. He’s falling. Again.

His kid self… Was a great distance away. Made no attempt to get close. This was terrifying. Very much so.

Abel Lazarus

Abel isn’t liking this. Not One Bit. Now torn between Damage control with Viper and Calming Vinzent down… Well obviously he’s going to try and calm Vinzent first but now he’s worried About what Viper Might DO.

What. What does he do?

“Vinzent-” He starts slowly, trying to help him somehow. Help him up- Help him? Away a little? He doesn’t. Really know the first thing about. Any of this. “It’s okay, you’re okay, you’re safe-” He glances at Viper for a moment. This will have to be dealt with…

Carefully.

The sort of careful Abel… Doesn’t know if he knows how to Do.

But he’s. Trying.

“Both of you- what. What’s going on?” Because he has nothing to go off of. No Context- Nothing. Just. Emotion. He sounds the slightest bit frazzled but really it’s just the consequence of…

Lack of any ability to fix any of this.

“Let’s… Breathe Vinzent.” Which! Unhelpful perhaps- but he just… Is not equipped for Any of this.

Viper

To be quite blunt, Viper doesn’t care how Vinzent feels.

She didn’t enjoy fighting- not like this. A friendly sparring match was different, but this was pure rage. Years of pent-up anger, not just at others, but at herself. She was lashing out, except she lacked the boundaries that many people did which stopped them going this far.

Viper had never had to consider boundaries in fights before. Normally people had run away before she got this far. And she’d never hurt Kanna or Hiro back home. No matter how much they annoyed her.

Abel Lazarus “Both of you- what. What’s going on?”

Her chest heaved as she was forced to dredge up the thoughts again.

“…*She*, She told him- Told him my name- I needed him to- not- talk- He brought up what I did to you- I couldn’t control it-!” Viper’s voice is small, squeaky, as she rushes to get the words out.

Vinzent Mayer

Abel Lazarus “Vinzent-” He starts slowly, trying to help him somehow. Help him up- Help him? Away a little? He doesn’t. Really know the first thing about. Any of this. “It’s okay, you’re okay, you’re safe-” He glances at Viper for a moment. This will have to be dealt with…

Panicked, he still was. But hearing Abel’s voice… It soothed him a bit. Even if it didn’t wash it away. Even if it didn’t remove any of the guilt he felt about the man. Any… Of his feelings. Well. He knows he still cares a great deal about Abel. Enough… For this to happen. D-mn it.

Either way, it took him a while but… Slowly…

Abel Lazarus “Let’s… Breathe Vinzent.” Which! Unhelpful perhaps- but he just… Is not equipped for Any of this.

Slowly… He’s trying to listen to Abel, to breath. It is helpful to have a familiar face around. Someone Vinzent can trust enough to listen.

…

But something…

Viper “…She, She told him- Told him my name- I needed him to- not- talk- He brought up what I did to you- I couldn’t control it-!” Viper’s voice is small, squeaky, as she rushes to get the words out.

She? Viper lost him. Of course, he wasn’t going to bring up that it was Matsukaze who told him of the incident, but only briefly.

She couldn’t control it… Yeah, he can see that. He can f-cking see that. And that’s what enrages him, internally. Why is Viper f-cking unable to have a normal, serious conversation without resorting to violence immediately? He expected yelling or something like that, but… Not this.

…

“… Who, she?” His own voice was even smaller, maybe Abel might not even hear it well. But, really. He… Started to regret to have brought it up, but… One way or another, Viper HAD to be held accountable for her actions. What if she really kills someone? The very real possibility of Abel dying at Viper’s hands thanks to her inability to control herself… It scared Vinzent.

Right now though, he was both still pissed off as hell and terrified of the woman in front of him. He needed to calm down for good, but… He wasn’t able to.

Abel Lazarus

Viper “…She, She told him- Told him my name- I needed him to- not- talk- He brought up what I did to you- I couldn’t control it-!”

Abel’s only guess is that she might be referencing FViper- considering her mad dash away from this fight. Ah yeah. Okay he’s… probably gonna try to talk to the kid later- minimize the… issue a little. Somehow.

But. He’s not really. pleased Vinzent decided to talk to Viper about that For him- especially since he hasn’t really. Talked to Vinzent about it. He feels like that’s His issue to Solve.

But he has the awareness to know nows not the time to Mention that’s how he feels about that.

“Okay- okay. Both of you need. A moment Apart.” Is that right? Is that what he needs to do? “Viper- we’re going to talk about this, okay?” He’s trying to not sound like he’s scolding her- which is accomplished only by his overwhelmed feeling making him instead sound a bit more… like nothing?

“Vinzent- come over here. It’ll be easier to calm down away from her for now.” Just. Figuring this out. Somehow. “Let’s get you some water, okay?”

Viper

Whilst rationally, Viper knows she hasn’t disappointed Abel per se, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt like absolute hell. And hearing Abel comfort Vinzent so much and tell her that they needed to talk about it… she could only curl herself up into a tighter ball on the floor and scream into the leg of her pants again. Every time she got even slightly better, she just got worse again instantly.

Vinzent Mayer

Guilt washed over Vinzent as soon as well. That wasn’t smart of him to approach Viper in that state. But somewhere in him, he had enough of her bullshit. Enough of tolerating her continuing to hurt him in more than one way.

…

He started to wonder if Viper is doing it on purpose. To piss him off for good. To make him regret even speaking up about problems. Because normally, there was so much more he could have said to her. The tape incident. She didn’t say everything to people but admitted to Vinzent that she had thought about selling it. The trial nonsense.

And now… That incident that Vinzent tried to bring up but now is not the smartest move of all.

He’s tired. And he almost fucking died in a room full of children.

At Abel’s request to go to him, well… He did. Because the secretary asked him. Part of him still felt guilty about the situation but part of him… Is glad Abel is here. For him.

But… How long until Vinzent loses people he cares about because of his few wrong actions? He was scared. If Viper can do so much bullshit and still get away with it until there’s a limit… And Vinzent messes up once and it’s at standstill… Well what he considered to be standstill until he fixed it with the letter. Until he tried everything to fix his own wrongs. To not do it again.

He doesn’t want a repeat.

He doesn’t want to end up alone for real. It hurts.

It’s lonely.

Abel Lazarus

Vinzent Mayer If Viper can do so much bullshit and still get away with it until there’s a limit… And Vinzent messes up once and it’s at standstill… Well what he considered to be standstill until he fixed it with the letter.

While it can certainly Look like that from Vinzent’s point of view- Abel did have Viper at the same stand still until last car. The difference fell in Vinzent being proactive in reaching out while Abel had instead… Started a fight with Viper and by force had to leave the situation until he was ready to be the one to solve it.

Abel leads Vinzent somewhere quiet but softer. Somewhere to sit and talk to him. Once he gets him calmed down he’ll talk to Viper later too.

He’s… Not very sure how well this will go.