Everything Falls | Viper + Abel + Vinzent + ... | Library Car

Viper

“I hope so, just a little…I guess…I jus’ wanna know a bit more ‘bout Jagal.” Viper looks down at him. “He jus’… seems so… on edge? All th’ time? Refuses ta sleep or anythin’ until… he quite literally collapses. I’m jus’…I dunno. I worry ’bout him. Is it ’cause of your deaths, do ya think?”

It’s blunt, forward and risky to ask so openly about these things, but she feels like… Mathias is the type of guy to appreciate the directness instead of being wishy-washy about it.

“He refuses ta trust any’a us. He stabbed me, bit Abel’s nose… which were both kinda deserved, but… Jus’ kinda wanna try’n get some insight inta his mind.”

Abel Lazarus

Viper “He refuses ta trust any’a us. He stabbed me, bit Abel’s nose… which were both kinda deserved, but… Jus’ kinda wanna try’n get some insight inta his mind.”

Abel gives Viper a look Immediately. I’m Sorry did you think he’d LOVE to tell people who apparently beat his son up information???? Hello?????

“Hold on- Speak for yourself. I fought Jac-Jagal for stabbing you I did not deserve to get bit and you did not deserve to get stabbed!” He looks at Mathias, ready to attempt to salvage this. “It was a while ago and since then we’re acquaintances- and have Not had any further physical altercations.” Jack has tested Abel on that, though. Admittedly.

“Viper almost bled out and I fought him in defense of her. That’s it.” Well… Okay maybe it’s not better to admit to him his son could have killed someone, but. You know. “The fight also didn’t lead to… Anything more permanent than my nose.” He rubs his nose clearly not very happy with these turn of events- or with Viper bringing it up. Hopefully he gets some pity points for being a poor meow meow with his arm in a sling so Mathias doesn’t figure out how to shut his own book to get away from these A**holes (and Vinzent).

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack From some of the details it’s pretty clear his new family was dirt poor by his first-world standards, but there was no convincing Amira to leave her home behind. Still, all was fairly well until the illness struck. There weren’t many pages after that—seemed he very quickly wasn’t lucid enough to do much.

Hm. He sees. Well, for now, he’ll let the book open, until either Viper or Abel tell him to close it. He doesn’t… Really care anymore. He isn’t gonna be petty. It’s not about them. It’s about Jagal after all.

He looked at the ghosts with a small concern before…

…

Did he expect anything?

Viper “He refuses ta trust any’a us. He stabbed me, bit Abel’s nose… which were both kinda deserved, but… Jus’ kinda wanna try’n get some insight inta his mind.”

He definitely remember the stabbed one. And the nose bite… Uh. You two? But… Unfortunately, Vinzent agreed with Viper on one thing: He too wanted some insight in Jagal’s mind.

Abel Lazarus “Hold on- Speak for yourself. I fought Jac-Jagal for stabbing you I did not deserve to get bit and you did not deserve to get stabbed!” He looks at Mathias, ready to attempt to salvage this. “It was a while ago and since then we’re acquaintances- and have Not had any further physical altercations.” Jack has tested Abel on that, though. Admittedly.

Okay, yeah. He vaguely recall something like that based on his past memories of what Abel told him. Not word for word but… The context. And what he witnessed.

And when Abel continued, Vinzent nodded to himself. Yeah, that’s about what he recalled too. Based on what was said to him. Sigh, that’s what happen when he only gets words and not the fuller story. He isn’t even mad, just a little disappointed.

Anyway, hopefully Mathias will still continue to talk to these two, that’d suck if he refuses to continue the conversation further just because some past things unrelated to Mathias’s family has been brought up.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Viper “I hope so, just a little…I guess…I jus’ wanna know a bit more ‘bout Jagal.” Viper looks down at him. “He jus’… seems so… on edge? All th’ time? Refuses ta sleep or anythin’ until… he quite literally collapses. I’m jus’…I dunno. I worry ’bout him. Is it ’cause of your deaths, do ya think?”

Hoogh. Mathias’s brow furrowed pretty thoroughly at all that, but he didn’t seem especially shocked, either.

“Well, he certainly couldn’t have taken them well.” He let out a frustrated breath. Good job being there for your own family like you were always so adamant about doing this time, guy! Now look what happened.

It’s clear his mood wasn’t directed at Viper, at least (for now), but it still wasn’t a pleasant subject. “Sleep specifically I’m not sure, but… He’s always been a nervous child, so I can see how that could’ve gotten out of control with less reassurance. Did Amira…”

He didn’t want to ask, but he was clearly braced for the worst. If he didn’t make it, then…

Viper “He refuses ta trust any’a us.

All right, well, undoubtedly Jagal had had to be a bit more cautious without one of the few adults in his life to vet people first.

Viper He stabbed me, bit Abel’s nose… which were both kinda deserved, but…

…What.

Abel Lazarus “Viper almost bled out and I fought him in defense of her. That’s it.”

Mathias continued to listen, but this very quickly devolved into complete nonsense. His boy? Stabbing? Biting? No no no. Just look at him sleeping there, he’s a perfect little angel. He must have had a rough time of it, sure, but he wouldn’t have gone around stabbing people all of a sudden. He could barely work up the nerve to talk to them half the time. Mathias wasn’t sure what the point of lying about this would be, but it couldn’t have been true.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m… sure there’s been some kind of misunderstanding.” Had they somehow misidentified their opponent completely? Or maybe it had been an accident? That would explain the biting much better. Clearly someone had gotten that poor guy. But Jagal? On purpose? No. Ridiculous.

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack Did Amira…”

Abel awkwardly glances at her book on the floor and decides he’s not going to be the one to answer that.

Roadie 🪶Jack “I’m… sure there’s been some kind of misunderstanding.”

Haha. Hahahahaha. Oh sure! It’s not like Jack’s face wasn’t Right in Abel’s in order to accomplish the task of biting his nose or anything!

… Abel you really did deserve that, though.

“… It doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about that.” He nudges Viper to tell her to stop on that topic. Keep it to yourself! You’re the one who Can Actually Lie Here! “Jagal… I think just… Wasn’t having a good day.”

Yeah??? That’s your verdict? Abel be quiet.

He looks back at Ibah’s book- reading more of the time following his parent’s death’s to see if his personality is more in line with Mathias’s version of him or the version Abel knows. Sounds better than trying to keep that whole… thing going.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack It’s clear his mood wasn’t directed at Viper, at least (for now), but it still wasn’t a pleasant subject. “Sleep specifically I’m not sure, but… He’s always been a nervous child, so I can see how that could’ve gotten out of control with less reassurance. Did Amira…”

Oh man. That sucks.

Vinzent still didn’t comment on anything, but yeah sir, your son… Has Sure Been Causing Problems In The Present-

Abel Lazarus “Jagal… I think just… Wasn’t having a good day.”

No more comment on that. Just. Yeah. So much happened, huh! Not that he has seen anything (he didn’t) but oh well.

While no more need to fiddle with Mathias’s book, Vinzent simply made sure to let it open by dividing the pages so it doesn’t accidentally close itself- At least it was the second thickest book!

Viper

Roadie 🪶Jack It’s clear his mood wasn’t directed at Viper, at least (for now), but it still wasn’t a pleasant subject. “Sleep specifically I’m not sure, but… He’s always been a nervous child, so I can see how that could’ve gotten out of control with less reassurance. Did Amira…”

Viper takes the chance, since nobody else seems to want to, and opens her mouth in response to this.

“Y-” Is all she manages to get out before she’s very quickly shut up by Abel. He takes over, and she narrows her eyes at him, squinting as if being grumpy about the fact that he had denied her the chance to so normally and nicely tell Jagal’s father that not only had his daughter died, but his wife too.

Roadie 🪶Jack Mathias continued to listen, but this very quickly devolved into complete nonsense. His boy? Stabbing? Biting? No no no. Just look at him sleeping there, he’s a perfect little angel. He must have had a rough time of it, sure, but he wouldn’t have gone around stabbing people all of a sudden. He could barely work up the nerve to talk to them half the time. Mathias wasn’t sure what the point of lying about this would be, but it couldn’t have been true.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m… sure there’s been some kind of misunderstanding.” Had they somehow misidentified their opponent completely? Or maybe it had been an accident? That would explain the biting much better. Clearly someone had gotten that poor guy. But Jagal? On purpose? No. Ridiculous.

“Oh no, I don’t th-” The nudge from Abel has her grumbling and trailing off in an instant, and instead she shrugs. “I dunno. Maybe he was just havin’ a bad day, yeah.” Try telling that to your arm and Abel’s nose, Viper! She didn’t really know what to ask now, without sounding like the world’s biggest jerk. Instead, she settles on.

“…Yeah, he did… seem pretty nervous and flighty as a kid. We… met a younger version of him, cute kid. I guess we’re jus’ tryin’ ta figure out what, like, happened? Did he ever seem… neurotic? Whilst ya guys were alive?” Just what could she ask that they’d have more insight on…

“Ever struggle with any kind’a… visions…? Hallucinations? General paranoia outside of the chronic shyness?” She’s doing her best.

Roadie 🪶Jack

(cw hand trauma)

A bad day? That explained absolutely none of this.

Abel Lazarus “… It doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about that.”

Easier said than done, but Mathias had enough on his plate right now, anyway. He would simply not be entertaining the possibility that his son had devolved into some kind of violent feral being in his absence.

Abel Lazarus He looks back at Ibah’s book- reading more of the time following his parent’s death’s to see if his personality is more in line with Mathias’s version of him or the version Abel knows.

Well—a little of both. Really no sign of violent tendencies at first, unless you counted continuing to constantly chafe his palms raw making rope (naturally Ibah was forbidden from helping out while she still had a fever, though she’d tricked him into sleeping and secretly contributed more than once). Only months later, after Ibah’s short-lived recovery spurred them to pack up and find the right doctor, did his personality start to shift from “overprotective big brother” to “paranoid big brother (with a knife)”. Apparently, despite few mentions of any sorts of firearms in the area, the roads and alleys of Azgiran weren’t particularly safe for a couple of stray orphans. There’s even a detailed account of Jagal’s first kill(s), meaning Ibah was right there to witness it all, at the age of 12. Fantastic.

Viper “Ever struggle with any kind’a… visions…?

Like from God??

Viper Hallucinations? General paranoia outside of the chronic shyness?”

…Okay that made more sense. Mathias just frowned further. Were there any less concerning remarks they had in regards to his son? “No, nothing of the sort. No family history that I know of, either.”

Abel Lazarus “I’m sorry, sir… It seems she did die around when you did. I’m very sorry.”

Of course she did. Around the same time, even? G-dd-mmit. He kneaded his forehead, as if it would remotely do anything to help him. At least he was good at keeping up a public face.

Abel Lazarus “… Her book is here too if you’d like to see her.”

“…….” Hard to say if that was a good decision or not. Might need to mourn a bit before jumping to the ghost conversations.

Abel Lazarus

Viper “Y-”

Nuh uh. NOPE. Viper is not the one to deliver this news.

“I’m sorry, sir… It seems she did die around when you did. I’m very sorry.” He’s a little awkward about it but. You know! Of the (awake and alive) group of people here he’s the most versed in death.

So… Yeah of course it would end up him huh?

Sorry Viper. He just doesn’t think this is in your wheelhouse.

“… Her book is here too if you’d like to see her.”

Vinzent Mayer

Vinzent once again is content to observe.

Abel interrupts Viper. Normal Conversation. Nothing wrong here. Some corrections there and here.

Viper She’s doing her best.

She is! Vinzent is. Lowkey glad he is not the one asking questions, who knows how people would react to him. He just… Exists. His One (1) contribution is right there.

The bits and traces of information he could get were there, but really. Did he have anything else helpful to do? To say? Hardly.

Really… He will wait. For anything, even just a gesture to close the book aimed at him would be enough.

Poor Mathias, having to deal… With all of this.

Viper

Hmm… Interesting, interesting… Viper seems satisfied with the answers to her questions and nods slowly. Seemingly her conscience suddenly catches up with her, because she looks at Mathias and frowns- not to him, but to herself.

“I’m sure this is… a lot to take in! But… We’re trying our best to understand Jagal so we can help him.” Kind of true? She wasn’t just being nosey, but it was a big part of it. “I’m assuming he learned his survival skills… from yourselves? Or was it something he just picked up himself?” She’s running out of questions to ask, really…

Roadie 🪶Jack

Viper “I’m sure this is… a lot to take in!

Sheee wasn’t wrong! But Mathias was doing his best here. Not like he’d ever had bad news in his life. Just… nothing like this.

Viper “I’m assuming he learned his survival skills… from yourselves? Or was it something he just picked up himself?”

Survival… At least one of them had managed it? Hah. Mathias rubbed his forehead. “Some normal things, I suppose. A… Amira was adamant about self-defense lessons, but it was fairly basic. He was still only a child.” He shook his head. “I imagine most of it he would’ve had to pick up himself.”

Vinzent Mayer

Viper We’re trying our best to understand Jagal so we can help him.” Kind of true?

Technically not wrong! Vinzent would agree with it… To a degree.

Some self defense lessons, then mostly picking it up himself… Vinzent wasn’t surprised, really. It does make sense.

Abel Lazarus “… Sir…” To be polite. “… Your son has been through a lot. You probably don’t need me to tell you what to do exactly but- I think it’d be pretty important to him if… You tell him you’re proud of him. When he wakes.”

Well, he has a point! Maybe Vinzent should let the book open? Close it again for Jack to open later? What to do, he sure as heck doesn’t want to be spotted snooping around in Jack’s private life! Maybe he should close it soon but. He’ll wait for the moment to do so. Vinzent is sure it will comes up soon.

He’ll still say goodbye to Mathias to be polite and not rude but jeez. Vinzent just did not talk for the entirety of this digging around to understand Jack more.

~~Mainly because Viper was around~~. Otherwise, he’d have asked a few questions himself.

…

What a coward he is.

Abel Lazarus

Roadie 🪶Jack “I imagine most of it he would’ve had to pick up himself.”

Well- if anything Abel has heard about Jack made sense about him this would definitely be among that. Jack seemed resourceful.

Begrudgingly he admits that.

Perhaps he’s a bit too overt on his cons but perhaps Abel is just perceptive enough to avoid his hands in his pockets when he doesn’t want them there. That or Jack realizes that beyond the money Abel has- most of his belongings would be so nerdy they wouldn’t really interest him beyond… the emotional turmoil them missing might Cause.

Though Melvin did perhaps have a point about Jack potentially stealing his gold- however the more important pieces of his are harder to take without his noticing. Evens all the concerns right out.

But he had to be resourceful, right? He’s been on this train this long. His number is that high- it slots in perfectly.

“… Sir…” To be polite. “… Your son has been through a lot. You probably don’t need me to tell you what to do exactly but- I think it’d be pretty important to him if… You tell him you’re proud of him. When he wakes.”

Well what’s all that, Abel? Perhaps he’s thinking about the fact he’d like to hear that Marius is proud of him- especially if he’d lived a life this… Desperate to survive.

And perhaps he knows Viper would approve of him saying it- and he’s sort of trying out this being a better person thing (or whatever.) Perhaps it’s pointless but he owes Jack for the information that might take him home. Maybe this is good for him.

Or maybe he’ll be distressed by it! Out of his hands now!

Roadie 🪶Jack

Abel Lazarus “… Sir…” To be polite. “… Your son has been through a lot.

Apparently!! Mathias couldn’t imagine what could’ve happened at the shop to necessitate… any of that. Or imagine Jagal doing anything but continuing to run it dutifully despite marked reluctance. And then Ibah’s passing… At some point he didn’t even want to know anymore. Just how badly things had fallen apart because he hadn’t had the decency to recover.

Abel Lazarus You probably don’t need me to tell you what to do exactly but- I think it’d be pretty important to him if… You tell him you’re proud of him. When he wakes.”

His lips twitched into something a little too genuine to count as a smirk. “Why wouldn’t I?” Maybe the issue of stabbing and biting people, but Mathias wasn’t dealing with that anyway! He’d certainly put his trust in his son’s integrity over supposedly decent motives from complete strangers.

Vinzent Mayer He’ll still say goodbye to Mathias to be polite and not rude but jeez. Vinzent just did not talk for the entirety of this digging around to understand Jack more.

The silent did at least get a brief look from Mathias, but eh. Not like his daughter liked to talk much, either. No sense calling anyone out for perfectly reasonable behavior.

“…Thank you for your time.” Or concern, maybe, but this phrasing came easier.

Vinzent Mayer

Roadie 🪶Jack “…Thank you for your time.” Or concern, maybe, but this phrasing came easier.

I Am Writing Again-

Vinzent gave a little nod of acknowledgement to Mathias, before muttering a polite goodbye and closing the book, seeing as neither Abel nor Viper have more questions to ask.

…

…..

Aaaaaaaaaaaand he’s off before Jack wakes up any time now.

Thanks f*ck he’s a speedy runner.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Vinzent Mayer Vinzent gave a little nod of acknowledgement to Mathias, before muttering a polite goodbye and closing the book,

As usual, the spectre vanished upon the book’s closing. See you space cowboy.

Vinzent Mayer Aaaaaaaaaaaand he’s off before Jack wakes up any time now.

Huge nyoom! Though it didn’t seem like there was a lot to be worried about, since Jack had yet to show even the smallest twitch of the eyelids. But better safe than sorry.

Viper Once the other ghosts were successfully back in their books and not at risk of fighting with the woman who had scared their other little friend, she opens Elucia’s book.

“…Heyyyy, sorry ’bout randomly shutting ya back in earlier.” She greets, “That was like, real rude of us.”

Elucia rematerialized, still with green hair and still 41-ish. She didn’t seem to be taken as off-guard as before, though.

Wow, an actual apology! Maybe she’d have been impressed if she was someone else entirely. Instead she scoffed. “Guess I’ve seen ruder.” She gave Jack’s body a pointed glance before folding her arms. “Fishing for a discount or something?”

Viper

Viper was relatively quiet up until Vinzent skittered away. Huh. Jack was still sleeping, so… they still had time. She glances over at Abel, before reaching toward one of the books that she had closed again earlier. She reaches for Elucia’s book, with the kind of look that a cat gives you when they’re doing something bad, directed right at Abel.

Once the other ghosts were successfully back in their books and not at risk of fighting with the woman who had scared their other little friend, she opens Elucia’s book.

“…Heyyyy, sorry ’bout randomly shutting ya back in earlier.” She greets, “That was like, real rude of us.”

Abel Lazarus

Viper the kind of look that a cat gives you when they’re doing something bad, directed right at Abel.

More than anything he wishes to spray her with a water bottle right now but he can’t say he isn’t curious.

“Just be mindful of what you say this time.” He looks annoyed but it’s fine.

She opens the book and he just looks at the woman. His turn to be a quiet observer for a little. He nods in agreement with her apology but stays silent for now.

Viper

“Discount? Nah.” Viper waved her hand dismissively. “I got ’nuff ta pay ya well.” She hoped that maybe, just maybe, she’d be more inclined to talk if she didn’t think Viper was trying to get a discount out of her.

“I jus’ wanna know more about Jagal, about ya home… I ain’t been there ‘fore an’ from what I hear, sounds like there’s, like, some appealin’ things there ta go see.” Shes at least trying her best to not completely shoot herself in the foot this time.

Roadie 🪶Jack

Viper “Discount? Nah.” Viper waved her hand dismissively. “I got ’nuff ta pay ya well.”

Elucia just huffed, like it was a joke. Well, considering she was dead… Yeah. Pretty much a joke.

Viper “I jus’ wanna know more about Jagal, about ya home… I ain’t been there ‘fore an’ from what I hear, sounds like there’s, like, some appealin’ things there ta go see.”

Jagal, huh. Hadn’t heard that one in a while. “What’s there to know about him that you can’t figure out at a glance?” She peered over at his lifeless form. “Worthless lackadaisy, can’t follow directions, and what is that hair stripe about? Ya look like one of them email boys, or whatever.”

She waved him off—as if he’d remotely responded in any way—and squinted back at Viper.

“I sure hope ya haven’t been to my home. Look like you’d rob the place.” Especially if she thought there were things to see.

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