Donner sa langue au chat | Vinzent + Melvin | Masquerade Car

Melvin Greene

You know, every day here really was a new adventure in being careful what you wished for. Tired of stretched out minecraft rations? Here’s all this expensive stuff you could 1) never hope to afford 2) better hope you can eat Correctly or… well. They had been very vague on the ‘or’ but considering the recent decommissioning of R.N.A, it was probably for the better if nobody found out the hard way. I’m like 85% certain that he doesn’t even recognize most of this stuff.

Oh god Vinzent and Viper were going to have to be civil with each other and so was everyone else. They didn’t have a peacekeeper robot to gently loom over them and maybe vaguely try to keep them in line anymore. Just a warmonger robot to harshly stare up at them and definitely explicitly try to get someone to kill. Then again, being mercifully oblivious to the phenomenon that was *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧Murder Mystery Dinners✧ﾟ･:*✧ﾟ･:*, Melvin didn’t have any reason to think there was a threat beyond the Denizens in here. As long as everyone could behave, they’d probably get through it fine. That thought did not really inspire much confidence either.

How the hell does one even snack classily? That’s not a real thing. Someone made this up arbitrarily. You could not convince him that anyone liked these stupid rules of conduct. Oh thank god Vinzent’s here to distract him before he can slip too far down the spiral of how much he hates this. It still takes him a good couple moments of just Staring at Vinzent before he actually speaks, uncertain of if he still needs to be mindful of what he says just in case any of it would wind up overheard.

“… Vinzent,” he acknowledges him with a stiff nod. “Taking a break from all the…” oh no don’t call it ‘bullshit’ what’s a good word that won’t get him killed “… excitement?” His attempt at a polite smile comes off as more of a grimace. Help.

The manner of speaking alone sounds completely unnatural coming from him. It’s a miracle the delivery alone hasn’t gotten him caught by itself, nevermind paired with the fact that he’s still visibly a little very tense by the standards of anyone who knows him.

Vinzent Mayer

Vinzent is doing everything in his power to absolutely ignore Viper’s existence when he can. After his big crisis in the previous car, and everything else that happened… Yeah, unfortunately, ignoring her and taking his distances really was the best course of action.

Melvin Greene You could not convince him that anyone liked these stupid rules of conduct.

Vinzent found that absolutely stupid. That said, having been raised to be a polite boy for the most part, he can manage to survive on these stupid rules if it means saving his own skin. Because, after all, deep down, Vinzent’s rebellious, angry nature will never die, even if it is decisively tamed right now. It’s a matter of keeping himself in control right now.

Melvin Greene It still takes him a good couple moments of just Staring at Vinzent before he actually speaks, uncertain of if he still needs to be mindful of what he says just in case any of it would wind up overheard.

“… Vinzent,” he acknowledges him with a stiff nod. “Taking a break from all the…” oh no don’t call it ‘bullshit’ what’s a good word that won’t get him killed “… excitement?” His attempt at a polite smile comes off as more of a grimace. Help.

Honestly, he can’t fault Melvin for not being used to the high standards of the car. Going from broke pizza boy to pretend to be a rich man at a fancy dinner? It is a lot to ask. And truthfully? Vinzent was keeping himself from swearing as well, even if he knows Melvin wouldn’t give a damn about it. Why Do They Have to do this!!!

“Melvin..! Yeah, as… Much as this is quite strange, and not in the good way. …Is there anything you need my help with? I’m not one for fancy dinners usually, but I know a bit of stuff there and here. A tiny bit.”

There’s decisively one area where he’d fit in comfortably in this setting. Maybe ironically enough.

Melvin Greene

Vinzent Mayer “Melvin..! Yeah, as… Much as this is quite strange, and not in the good way. …Is there anything you need my help with? I’m not one for fancy dinners usually, but I know a bit of stuff there and here. A tiny bit.”

Melvin tenses at the asserted assumption, which is thankfully concealed by the fact that he was already tense to begin with. Sure, the Literal First Thing he did was practically plead with Abel to give him pointers for the Friendship Puzzle Task, and it was obvious to literally anyone who looked at him, but it still stung a bit to be asked point blank. He exhales, forcing himself to relax - just let it go. Vinze was just trying to help someone who was obviously helpless. Feeling hurt about getting called out could wait until there wasn’t a major risk of grievous bodily harm for stepping out of line.

~~Only knows a tiny bit but still offering because he clearly still knows better, huh.~~ At least it could still be worse.

“Better hope this isn’t one of those things where they got a hundred forks to keep track of, then.”

This was going to be one of those things where they had to keep track of multiple forks. Still. He looks over the Funny Fancy Snacks table nearby, eyeing it almost suspiciously. Not that he didn’t trust it or anything, just…

“… You got a clue what any of this, uh, is?” And if there were any stupid arbitrary rules for eating it?

Vinzent Mayer

[eating disorder cw mention]

Melvin Greene Only knows a tiny bit but still offering because he clearly still knows better, huh.

I, THE NARRATOR, AM SORRYYYY-

Melvin Greene “Better hope this isn’t one of those things where they got a hundred forks to keep track of, then.”

“The… Huh. What.” Okay you lost him for a second. Vinzent had to take a moment… Oh. Ohhhhhh. Fuck.

Melvin Greene “… You got a clue what any of this, uh, is?” And if there were any stupid arbitrary rules for eating it?

Clue… The game. While it was unintentional from Melvin himself, it dawned on Vinzent what this car meant. Shit, man. Don’t panic, breathe.

“If this is what I think… This isn’t any good. I believe my best advice is trying keeping an eye for anything that might seem out of ordinary after a while…? Like if there’s anything notably missing or not where it should be.”

… Is it really going to apply to food here too? He has already eaten a bit, it’s. It’s going to be okay, right. He’ll be fine, right. Why making him eat limited rations in the previous car only to have plentyful of food in here…? Vinzent hoped he didn’t fuck up for himself along the way. He’s been used to not eat much out of paranoia, then losing control at one point… Don’t make it happen here once again, please.

“I’m not sure, but… I don’t… Have a good feeling. Be careful.”

He won’t mention food being a risk yet, but… If Melvin asks, Vinzent will elaborate.

Melvin Greene

What? Fancy rich people dinner had like, a hundred different utensils to keep track of, right? Maybe Vinzent wasn’t kidding when he said he didn’t know much at all about these things.

Vinzent Mayer “If this is what I think… This isn’t any good. I believe my best advice is trying keeping an eye for anything that might seem out of ordinary after a while…? Like if there’s anything notably missing or not where it should be.”

“… You’re asking me to figure out if anything’s out of place here?” Melvin likes Vinzent, but that was a bit of a silly request. First you come up to him and insist to help him navigate the rich people event, then you assume he also knows enough and is observant enough to pick up on things that are out of place at the rich people event? It’s not happening.

He’s also not picking up on what seems to have Vinzent so freaked all of a sudden. His eyes widen under the mask as he casts a glance over his shoulder, suddenly concerned that they’re being scrutinized for… something. Doesn’t look like it. Huh.

Vinzent Mayer “I’m not sure, but… I don’t… Have a good feeling. Be careful.”

“Careful? About what?”

He lifts a hand to feel for any secret cracks that might have popped up on his mask without him noticing. Felt like it was still intact. It’s a little hard to read his full expression under it, but he’s completely befuddled as to what Vinzent could possibly be talking about. Guess he’ll have to think about it while enjoying one of these unbearably fancy canapés. There aren’t any utensils provided for them, so you’re probably allowed to just take one? Yeah. Okay. Seems like that works.

Vinzent Mayer

[CW: eating disorders in detail somewhat, emetophobia]

Melvin Greene Maybe Vinzent wasn’t kidding when he said he didn’t know much at all about these things.

Having that many things and keeping track of said things are two different things in his mind.

What’s with him, indeed.

Melvin Greene “… You’re asking me to figure out if anything’s out of place here?”

“… Well.. Not necessarily asking that of you, I don’t. I’m sorry. Just… This whole thing seem… Off to me. But I don’t… Know why.”

He’s not making sense right now, and… It seems Vinzent is a bit aware of his own contradictions as he stumbles on his words.

Melvin Greene First you come up to him and insist to help him navigate the rich people event, then you assume he also knows enough and is observant enough to pick up on things that are out of place at the rich people event? It’s not happening.

As a narrator? I agree! It’s not happening! Vinzent however, still isn’t making much sense in his own mind, as he was unsure why exactly he’s so tense.

… Is it because suddenly, going from not eating for a while (something he was used to, to weasel out of conflicts in the past, with zero success), to having a mountain of food right there for him to eat as he could wish, it was tempting him? Tempting to just… Completely disregard the rules of this car to satisfy whatever fucked up cravings he has? To eat so much until he’d puke anyway?

… Calm down.

“… I just… It’s staggering how… We did go from limited rations not long ago to… A buffet and, it’s… Fu- Messing with me. I’m not much of an eater out of a bad habit that I’m attempting to break, and that… Seemed. Like it’s… Going straight for me.”

To lose control and regret it later. Or incidentally, what if it was tainted? It seemed like this car and the previous one knew what’s wrong with him and decided that it was the moment to do just that.

He’s trying to not break off his composure. Maybe this was enough hint to Melvin, that uh, something is most definitely wrong this time with Vinzent again, and right there is the context of why.

Melvin Greene

[cw for continued eating disorder discussion, mostly in quotes]

Vinzent Mayer “… Well.. Not necessarily asking that of you, I don’t. I’m sorry. Just… This whole thing seem… Off to me. But I don’t… Know why.”

“Okaaay? I….. see.”

Even behind the mask, it’s easy to see Melvin is getting a Little Concerned about this. Vinzent’s acting… he doesn’t know. Weird. He’s not the Greene sibling who understands this kind of shit. Far as he can tell, Vinzent’s kind of making a big deal over nothing here. Still beats trying to converse with the glass, at least.

Vinzent Mayer “… I just… It’s staggering how… We did go from limited rations not long ago to… A buffet and, it’s… Fu- Messing with me. I’m not much of an eater out of a bad habit that I’m attempting to break, and that… Seemed. Like it’s… Going straight for me.”

… Going straight for him, huh? It’s a damn good thing Melvin doesn’t have the brain cells to put together that ‘hey the train was targeting me’ has historically led to people getting shot.

Vinzent Mayer Maybe this was enough hint to Melvin, that uh, something is most definitely wrong this time with Vinzent again, and right there is the context of why.

[LOUD INCORRECT BUZZER NOISE]

He completely misses the mark on this one.

“You think they wanted us to, uh… be hungry enough to fill up on it? Not sure why they’d crash their own party like that.”

Still. Vinzent thought the food might be tampered with (he assumes)? That would have been cool to know before he was left awkwardly holding one. Thing is, they know the denizens will ‘broker no mercy’ if they’re found out, and there’s only suspicions about the food, so he’s just gonna have to take his chances with it.

Vinzent Mayer

[Eating disorder cw cont., including the admission, emetophobia]

It’s not something Vinzent wanted to spell out to Melvin, but…

The more he attempts to listen to Melvin and see if he gets it, it seemed that Melvin really… Didn’t.

Being cryptic to avoid touching the topic that upsets Vinzent directly was benefitting no one in the end.

It is by no means the delivery man’s fault at all for misunderstanding but…

Melvin Greene “You think they wanted us to, uh… be hungry enough to fill up on it? Not sure why they’d crash their own party like that.”

Still. Vinzent thought the food might be tampered with (he assumes)? That would have been cool to know before he was left awkwardly holding one. Thing is, they know the denizens will ‘broker no mercy’ if they’re found out, and there’s only suspicions about the food, so he’s just gonna have to take his chances with it.

… Yeah. Maybe. Vinzent should make an effort.

“No. What. I meant… Is. Okay. I have anorexia. Mostly. That has been… I thought I got over the illness after the therapy I got at the hospital ten years ago. But… Over time, after that. I… Uh… Did occasionally binge on food and puke it whenever I was in a horrible mood. And I… Well… I usually avoid going to buffets specifically to not slip up and just screw over my progress. But… The past train and this one, I’m sure it’s made to specifically mess me up. By restraining me from eating scraps of whatever food left to then have a mountain of food right there for me to eat endlessly?”

He steps back, specifically from the buffet farther, as if he was afraid it’d draw him in further and fuck it all up.

“I’ve been there before, I don’t want to do this again and just screw over the whole thing. … I’m sorry, it’s not… Something I’d be willing to talk about for a long while because it’s just messed up. But uh… Does that explain…? I don’t… I hope the food is not tampered with, and if it’s not? That’s a relief. But the food situation is… Mostly an personal issue. That I… I’m not…”

A pause.

“I thought I got over it. But I haven’t. But I’m trying.”

He hoped that Melvin got what he meant by that now. Vinzent wasn’t aware that some people aren’t always getting the subtext of what he usually says whenever upsetting topics like that one came up. And weaseling himself out of it… Was Not The Ideal Option, Clearly.

Melvin Greene

[continued ED discussion, other terminal illness mentions]

Yeah, see, there’s a particular Thing about Melvin that is really important here right now. He doesn’t really get the whole ‘mental health’ thing. Not in the sense of not believing in it, per se, more of a general-purpose ignorance towards their existence. It wasn’t something he ever saw any need to concern himself with, being so obviously Fine and Typical. So even when Vinzent takes the time to explain something so personal more in detail, he doesn’t quite understand the specifics still. But it’s not anything good, he can gather that much.

Vinzent Mayer Mostly an personal issue. That I… I’m not…”

“… Jeez, man. I’m, uh. Real sorry to hear about all that. You don’t gotta- uh, you don’t have to get into all that with me. Sounds pretty personal.”

As far as he can gather, Vinzent is describing is some kind of particularly nasty and chronic stomach condition, if not one of those really niche… cancers? He’s gathered how nasty that is from it being one of the more visible conditions out there, and the fact that you can’t really smoke anything without being warned about it. That shit ruins your ability to eat, right? And to think he had no idea this whole time.

Vinzent Mayer “I thought I got over it. But I haven’t. But I’m trying.”

“We’ll be outta here soon enough. I’m sure you’ll get through it alright. You’ve been doing fine so far, so just… uh, you wanna get away from the food table if it’s got you that worried?”

No crack, at least, so he does believe what he’s saying. Even if he still doesn’t Quite comprehend the situation.

Vinzent Mayer

[ED ment cont + terminal illness mention]

Melvin Greene “… Jeez, man. I’m, uh. Real sorry to hear about all that. You don’t gotta- uh, you don’t have to get into all that with me. Sounds pretty personal.”

“… Thanks for understanding.”

Melvin Greene As far as he can gather, Vinzent is describing is some kind of particularly nasty and chronic stomach condition, if not one of those really niche… cancers? He’s gathered how nasty that is from it being one of the more visible conditions out there, and the fact that you can’t really smoke anything without being warned about it. That shit ruins your ability to eat, right? And to think he had no idea this whole time.

Well, Melvin’s…. Wrong! On the cancer front. Had he voiced it, Vinzent would’ve corrected it really quick. But alas. Guess that’ll be for another time. If there’s a next time.

In any case…

Melvin Greene “We’ll be outta here soon enough. I’m sure you’ll get through it alright. You’ve been doing fine so far, so just… uh, you wanna get away from the food table if it’s got you that worried?”

“… Yeah. That’d be ideal.” And farther from the tables he steps away, until it’s out of his sight.

Once Vinzent is far enough from the table, he took a few deep breathes to try to calm down for good.

“… Sorry. I’ll be fine… Eventually. But uh… Putting that aside, is there anything you’d rather talk about…? Just to change the topic whatever, I’m good with anything.”

Honestly, he’d rather move on fast from the source that upsets him. Even if Vinzent’s a typical worrywart, making people panic or worry about just because he’s uneasy is not a good idea at all. And… Keep up the act, as they say.