Viper Dunno if he’s told you ’bout what he did ta me. ’Side from basically expose shit so deep in my past that it’ll get me killed or tortured ’f it gets t’th’ right people.
Melvin can’t help but notice that this is not pushing the button. This is in fact more Absolutely Insane Bonkers Nonsense, so it sure sounds like Viper is now also on the list of People Who Have Killed alongside Jack For Sure, Dexter Maybe, Abel Maybe. Anyone he’s missing? Don’t answer that. He doesn’t want to know! Knowing things is terrible! He liked being ignorant and stupid better!!!
It sounds like he is so very dramatically out of his depth here. Again. And you know what? Fuck it. The specifics actually so do not matter to him at this exact moment. He’s not entirely unsympathetic, but he can’t muster caring about either of their tragic pasts right now, because they’re currently causing him and themselves and everyone else a tragic present.
He exhales sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose, using all of his willpower to remind himself he has to be the adult here, because the goddamn kids are fighting again. His already negative observation stat isn’t lending itself well to picking up on her trembling right now.
“Okay, so your shit’s exposed. That sucks. Really. It does. I’m not saying it doesn’t suck. I don’t know what you’re talking about and I don’t want to. Just, y’see. You haven’t exactly been tortured more than anyone else here far as I can tell, so maybe Vinzent isn’t one of the wrong people?”
She said right people, but whatever. They do seem to be tormenting each other to a point that either of them would almost certainly love to call it torture, but Melvin doesn’t see any god damn Saw traps around here.
“Whoever you’re worried about can’t get you here and Vinze can keep a secret. He’s good at it. Once you’re outta here it’ll be like he never even found out. Hell, the only reason I know this much is because you’re both still fucking on about it. If he was actually gonna hurt you over whatever it was… maybe he already woulda?” Just a thought! Just a Hypothetical Thought!!! He’s just going to Put That Out There!!!
So help him god if he finds out about Vinzent’s thought process in that other thread. He’s running out of friends who haven’t at least considered murder.
He knew this kind of reaction was a possibility, but, yeesh, the unfettered annoyed hostility sure Was Something. He doesn’t have a happy place to go to, but he does have years of experience weathering dumber customer complaints than this. His rude customer place. The sooner they’re appeased, the sooner he can get back to work - a notion which, for once, he doesn’t find himself completely dreading.
Go to your rude customer place, Melvin. This would genuinely be easier to deal with if that was just directed at him instead. He’s used to letting these things roll off his back outwardly, but really, Viper? Really? Come on.
“Vipes, you can’t say you’re entitled to respect and then say shit like that. Not cool.”
He’s not even mad right now. Just exasperated and perhaps the slightest bit disappointed. He almost thought they were making progress for a second there. Why did he think he would be able to help again? God. Why bother. Why bother!! He was gonna get Vinzent’s stupid hand cleaned up and get back to work on the stupid wall and after that he was never going to bother trying anything ever again. That’s the resolution he swears, one which he is going to forget about within the next ten minutes. It’s fine. He didn’t really mean it.
