Minecraft Speed Run | Abel + Viper | Daycare Car

Abel Lazarus

Once Vinzent was calmed down after the fight- Abel had two things left to do to… Help out. Talk to Both Vipers.

But- to take control of future fights before they even happen- he decides he should… talk to FViper. It’s best he… convinces her to NOT tell people her name!

Finding her took a while- but once he does he approaches her and… Gets ready to do his best!

“Hey, Miki, right?” Feels strange to say Viper’s Other name- but he’s not sure this kid Knows Viper could refer to her yet so- best to start slow. “All… Of that fighting before was kind of scary, yeah? Do you… Want to talk about that?”

…. He’s wholesale quoting a therapist because he doesn’t know how to start this. Abel. Seriously?

Viper

FViper- Aka. Miki, looks over at him from where she had decided to take to hiding among a bunch of blankets she had “borrowed” from the designated naptime area. The small pile of blankets shifted, the fluffy brown mop of hair sticking out from it lifting up until big green and definitely terrified eyes looked up at Abel.

“…Uh huh…I….okay…” Crawling out from the blanket nest, she fiddled idly with her own hands, feeling herself still a little shaken up by the fact that she had witnessed so much violence- and enacted by herself too.

“Um…it was… scary. Is…everyone…okay?” She asks, voice feeble, and not at ALL like the Viper Abel knew and loved.

Abel Lazarus

Viper “Um…it was… scary. Is…everyone…okay?”

Abel sits down near the pile of blankets- hoping that being… Not so tall might make him not accidentally scare her anymore than she already is.

“Everyone’s okay! I made sure.” He gives her a slight smile. “Vinzent was a little shaken up but he’s okay. I’m going to talk to big you in a little bit too- but I wanted to check on you first. Is that okay?” He’s winging this SO hard.

“I know you don’t know me, but my name is Abel. I’m… Really close friends with big you.” Because 1.) He can’t lie 2.) He’s never been the one to push the lie- just… really bad at not reacting in a way that implies it’s true when Viper Tells The Lie. “… So I wanted to make sure you were doing okay. What all happened?”

Viper

FViper nods. She was relieved Vinzent was okay. The little Viper reaches for Abel’s hand, seeming she wanted to hold it. She played awkwardly with his fingers, before looking up at him once again. She felt… so lost. And confused. Is that violent woman really who she became…?

“…Hi, Abel!” She greeted, a little more lively as he introduced himself. “…So you…like big me? When she…hurts people like that?” In almost true cinematic parallel to the Fabel and Viper thread, she seems confused and concerned that Abel was able to like her.

“…Um…I was just saying hello to Vinzent. And I told him my name. And she got really, really angry…and…threatened…Vinzent with a knife. And then…he…mentioned that she almost killed someone, and then she…grabbed him like that… and then I ran away.”

Abel Lazarus

He lets her mess with his hand if she wants- kids find comfort in weird things and he’s not going to stop her from doing whatever’s helping.

Abel… Did Not realize Viper had threatened Vinzent with a knife. That hadn’t really been said directly and he hadn’t witnessed it- but hearing it…

Sigh Viper…

He doesn’t… really know what to do and he… He can’t lie. Even if he wants to- but he can try to… Tell half truths about… The violence.

“… Can I tell you a secret?” He holds his pinkie out- so she can pinkie promise him.

“Big you… Isn’t a bad person. Sometimes we make bad choices- but that doesn’t make us bad people, you know? That was a really bad choice, but… You grow up to be a very caring person. She’s just… Having a hard time with something she doesn’t want people to know about.” It’s… Hard to navigate… “There’s… Something happening with the grown ups- and sometimes we’re not… making the best choices about it.”

He ruffles her hair a little, something he’s done with grown up Viper. “… I’m doing my best to help her- because she’s helped me a lot. She’s helped me and some other people a lot- And she cares about people very passionately. She… Wants to protect her friends.”

Viper

FViper begins spinning Abel’s rings as she fusses with his hands, clearly finding great sensory output from doing so. It was… soothing. Relaxing. Unfortunate for Viper that FViper had just gotten her into more trouble, but hey- she didn’t know Abel didn’t know!

Abel Lazarus “… Can I tell you a secret?” He holds his pinkie out- so she can pinkie promise him.

Her eyes light up. FViper loves secrets! “O-Okay!” She links her pinkie with Abel’s without hesitation.

Abel Lazarus “Big you… Isn’t a bad person. Sometimes we make bad choices- but that doesn’t make us bad people, you know? That was a really bad choice, but… You grow up to be a very caring person. She’s just… Having a hard time with something she doesn’t want people to know about.” It’s… Hard to navigate… “There’s… Something happening with the grown ups- and sometimes we’re not… making the best choices about it.”

Her brow furrows- not at all unlike Big Viper does. It’s the same wrinkle in her forehead- hardly visible under all the hair, mind you, and the slight crinkling of her nose that shows just how… like her this flour clone is.

“So… something… happened to big me? And she…is scared? Of other people knowing about it?” That… made sense. FViper wasn’t stupid- she was smart for her age. The hair ruffle makes her giggle, and she almost topples backward with the force of the high-pitched laughter bubbling out of her.

“…Okay… I…I think I get it…” FViper nods. “So…I…need to… not tell people my name? I should… call myself her name?” Looking up at him, she’s clearly seeking his approval on that. “Because she… freaked out when I told Vinzent my name, so…it must be that that’s…bad, right?”

Abel Lazarus

Viper “…Okay… I…I think I get it…” FViper nods. “So…I…need to… not tell people my name? I should… call myself her name?” Looking up at him, she’s clearly seeking his approval on that. “Because she… freaked out when I told Vinzent my name, so…it must be that that’s…bad, right?”

Abel gives her a small smile when she giggles- but his expression gets more serious when she finishes what she’s saying.

“It’s not bad… Just complicated. You didn’t do anything bad because you didn’t know- but. Just imagine you’re playing a game of… Code names. And your code name is Viper.” He hopes… Framing it as a game will help her adjust. “… I’m sorry everything’s… So complicated- but it’s okay. You’re not doing anything bad.”

“If anything else happens with big you, come get me okay? I’ll make sure to help. I’ll take care of her- but if anything else scares you too- you can come get me, okay?” He’s trying his best but man there’s only so many ways to wing trying to interact with kids. “Is there anything else scary that’s happened that you want to talk about?” Come on kid. Snitch on Viper if she’s done anything else.

“… Everything… will be okay.”

Viper

FViper is nodding along, and the concept of it being a game seems like it was absolutely the right call when her face lights up like a Christmas tree. She nods even more enthusiastically when Abel suggests it, and a look of utter determination crosses her features.

“…Codenames! I can do that! I love playing games!” Abel just got so many cool points in FViper’s books. She didn’t even think such a serious looking guy could make such a fun game!

Abel Lazarus “If anything else happens with big you, come get me okay? I’ll make sure to help. I’ll take care of her- but if anything else scares you too- you can come get me, okay?” He’s trying his best but man there’s only so many ways to wing trying to interact with kids. “Is there anything else scary that’s happened that you want to talk about?” Come on kid. Snitch on Viper if she’s done anything else.

“… Everything… will be okay.”

“Um… I don’t think there’s anything else! But… thank you. I’m glad you’ll take care of her. Because she’s really important to you, I can tell.” FViper’s eyes are so innocent when she says it. “You…care for her lots, don’t you? Really really a lot.” She hugs Abel, smushing her face against him.

“…Thank you…”

Abel Lazarus

Viper Abel just got so many cool points in FViper’s books.

At this rate Abel can at least count on the kids to think he’s not insufferable!

Viper “…Thank you…”

Abel didn’t expect to get hugged- so it takes him a second to wrap his arm around her too. “… No problem.” He pats her back softly. “I’ll take very good care of her.”

He lets her hug him for as long as she might need- after all she’s been scared Very recently- But when she eventually lets him go he bids her farewell-

Before heading off to find big Viper to have a conversation about… All of that.

Viper

Big Viper was still…practically where he had left her. At the very least she had stopped shrinking in on herself and hugging her knees to curl up in her own shame, but she was still…sitting there. Looking almost dazed as she was still processing what had happened.She’d done it again.

Viper was a danger to everyone here, surely. She’d choked Vinzent out- but… she felt like this time she would have stopped. Her intent hadn’t been to kill, it was… to punish. To punish Vinzent, she supposed, for pushing her buttons.

Maybe it would be easier to live with herself if she thought of it like that.

Abel Lazarus

Abel… Can’t say he’s really surprised Viper stayed right where she’d been. Maybe part of him expected her to find somewhere less in the open- but staying in place made him finding her easier at least.

He sits down next to her and gently touches her shoulder, hoping to not… Startle her? She seems a little… Out of it. Deep in thought.

“Viper, let’s talk, okay? Do you want to move somewhere else, or would you rather we talk here?” He squeezes her shoulder softly. “It’s fine either way. I’m not mad.” Upset? Yes. But telling her that isn’t going to help him get to talk to her- so he at least needs to make it clear to her he’s not about to chew her out and ditch her. Just… Chew her out a little bit and stay.

Viper

Viper does jump somewhat as Abel’s hand touches her shoulder, being jolted from her thoughts almost unceremoniously. She blinks herself back to reality, before relaxing once she realises who had touched her.

“Here is…fine.” Her exhale is shaky. He’s definitely mad. Viper’s throat feels dry, with an anxiety she’s scarcely felt before. “I’m sorry- I-” Viper’s protesting before she can even give Abel a chance to speak again.

“I’m sorry- I did it again- I need to- I-” She’s…getting worked up. Her breath hitches and her hands start to shake, hot tears welling up in her eyes. “I couldn’t stop- I- I- I couldn’t stop-” She’s stuck on repeat there.

Abel Lazarus

“Viper.” He voice is quiet- hopefully… comforting? He wraps an arm around her carefully.

For a moment he just holds her. Hopes that says what he’s trying to say for him- at least a little.

“It’s okay. I understand.” He pets her hair as he speaks, “I’m not going anywhere, okay? We need to talk, but we’re still going to be okay after, alright?” He doesn’t know how this is going to go- but he can only hope he can… Help? “It’s going to be okay.”

“You’re safe. I promise.”

Viper

Despite herself, Viper leans into him, her head resting on his shoulder. She focuses on getting her breathing under control, and it takes a good few moments after Abel has finished speaking for her to stop herself borderline hyperventilating.

“I’m so sorry,” She sounds… defeated. Pathetic. “I jus’ keep…. doin’ this.” She wasn’t just sorry to him. She was sorry to Matsukaze, to Kanna, to those who had decided that maybe, just maybe, they could care about her.

Every day, it became more and more real and convincing that she would probably end up getting herself killed for her actions.

She wouldn’t blame someone for killing her.

Abel Lazarus

Abel… knows a little too well that feeling. He certainly… Didn’t think he could blame Viper for nearly killing him. It’s… Hard to be the one to change someone’s mind when you’re being a hypocrite.

“… It’s okay, Viper. You’re not a bad person for messing up.” He squeezes her for a moment. “I know… What it’s like to get… In that spot.” Jack fight… Asuka fight… The Last Viper Fight… “Sometimes things… Just end up happening when you don’t want them to.” Cain…

“I’m here to help. To help you… Figure that out.” The way she helped him. “Let’s talk about it, okay?”

Viper

“'S so hard ta believe that.” Viper rubs at her eyes stubbornly, as if it’d stop the tears from flowing. It… didn’t. Not one bit. Viper scrubbed harder as tears started to flow freely down her cheeks, but she nodded at least to what Abel said.

“Y-Yeah…he- he… he- pushed… me too far….and…I snapped…” Yeah, that’s right Viper. Blame Vinzent. Then Abel can’t be so mad at you. He can’t be disappointed. He can’t be disappointed you’d gone the opposite way to what you should have, and almost got yourself hurt as a result.

“….Okay…” She’s so small. So pathetic.

Abel Lazarus

“… You two won’t get along, that’s fine- but I think… I think you both just shouldn’t talk to each other anymore. It would be better to remove yourself if you can next time, okay? He isn’t going to hurt you- but I… Understand how it can still feel that way.” Trust me he gets that…

But he’s… He’s definitely in a strange spot. He doesn’t want her to think he… Approves of what she did- but he wants to make it clear he knows what… She’s feeling. Maybe not exactly, but.

“He isn’t… Going to do anything with your name, okay? He won’t tell anyone.” He needs her to Know that. To know she’s safe. “I’m… Sorry he brought the fight up to you. I. Explained to him that I was in the wrong for that fight- So. He shouldn’t bring it up to you again.” Skirting around admitting he thinks she was Justified in nearly killing him personally- because if he’s asked about the hypocrisy in thinking Vinzent Didn’t Deserve it while he personally did he’d combust.

Viper

Oh boy, this really is the feelings car isn’t it gamers?

I mean, to be expected, really, when you’re stuck around sentient flour sack versions of your child selves.

“…I… I… I know…I…It’s just so… it’s terrifying. Ta know someone knows that. And ’cause they don’t like me, they could drop it at any second- an’ it could get back ta th’ wrong person, ‘n suddenly everyone knows what my deal is, an’ knows that I ain’t trustworthy, or even still- they know- they- they know him an’ they tell him…somehow… where ta find me-” It’s clear that it’s something she’s been terrified of for so, so long now. It’s weighted her down like a sand-bag.

“…Th’world would be safer for me if that guy was dead. Den I wouldn’t haf’ta hurt people who knew too much.”

Abel Lazarus

“You are trustworthy Viper. I trust you. I know and I still trust you.” Should be considered he’s also generally an outlier in terms of Normal responses, however, they don’t need to think about that now <3

“Viper, I’ll protect you, okay? Even if someone snitches- I’ll take care of that guy, okay?” He’s coming for you Dexter /j

“… Just stay with me, okay? I’ll protect you- and… I can help you. I want to help you, Viper.” Helping her… In a way helps him of course- but he also just. Cares about her. He wants her to be proud of herself the way he’s often proud to know her.

“Maybe… Maybe some people won’t like it but even if it gets out I’m going to be right here. I know… You want to be better. I know you’re not a monster.” Because if she can believe he isn’t one… How could she be one?

Viper

Abel’s belief in her was so heartwarming. He truly, deeply believed what he was saying. She could tell. As she looked up enough to meet his gaze, she saw reflected back in his eyes, the image of her. Her, in all her pathetic, sopping wet cat state. But she also saw the unconditional love Abel had for her. The fact that no matter what, he’d be there. He’d support her. He’d protect her.

How could she have ever hurt him? How?

Viper’s arms looped around his neck and she was leaning against him, burying her face in him, and just trying to hide from the gripping reality once more.

“Thank ya….thank ya so much, Abes…” She hiccupped. “I don’t think I deserve ya. I’m sorry for puttin’ ya through all this…I jus’ miss home so damn much…”