Where did I put that hole?

VRISKA: Yeeeeeeeeeah, okay, wise guy. It was a figure of speech!

Seriously, you’re just trying to enjoy the apocalypse. You’re not about to get caught up on technicalities about whether or not you can actually tell what’s going on. You sigh and dramatically roll your eyes.

He feels silly, verging on stupid.  Maybe he can blame the alcohol for that in the morning, if he makes it that long. His eyes returned to staring down at his shot glass.  Between the havoc outside and the alcohol in his blood, he couldn’t seem to settle. He should have eaten something first, that was probably half the problem.

Henry’s animals; he hardly thought about them. Only the Receiver of Wisdom was worth his time. That did not include any badly named pets.

“This beach, if possibly temporary, should be a relief from recent events. I trust you remember the other city; even now a trace of their presence resides in the sky.” Some had even started to gain memories from their other selves. At least the only real difference between both Walters was an increase in blood-lust.

Okay, that sounds horrible, but it was only a slight change. Others weren’t that lucky.

“We both know you prefer to confine yourself, but in this heat what will such a thing accomplish? More death and horror will inevitably come. Best to distract yourself now.” From any other person, this might  seem like he was trying to be nice. Emphasis on the word trying.

This didn’t occur to Henry in full, but he did pick up on that one detail: that Walter had dragged them both out here for his benefit, not Walter’s.  That warranted some silent staring from one man to the other.

“Are… you feeling okay…?”  He looked at Walter out of the corner of his eye as they walked along.

She frowned at the thought – people were such weird things. Of course she could see the merit in a good map, but a hobby? What sort of person was he if he actually enjoyed that?

Nonetheless, she took the one he extended and looked it over. It did seem to have some experience hehind it – markings here and there, more or less consistent scale, lines that weren’t too wobbly or too thin. There wasn’t much to complain about, really. But that didn’t mean she was exactly happy.

“Yes, I think that’d work just fine. A layout of these tunnels would be of good use if I ever need to come back through here. Of course, I don’t intend on staying here longer than I need to.”

At the suggestion that she even wanted help, Jyotsna frowned at the man. With her, it held the implication that she couldn’t do something on her own, that she was somehow incompetent, that she was not worthy of respect. Of course, she’d quickly shoot down such a thing.

He watched her take his map with some anxiety, manifested in an awkward half-lean to look at the map as she did.  While she seemed to approve at first, he could feel the creep of ice at the back of his neck with her frown at his question.

VRISKA: Ummmmmmmm, why are you apologizing?

Weirdo. You shrug and drain the rest of your drink before ordering another of the same. 

VRISKA: Man, they’d 8etter! I mean, I wouldn’t go out there even if I wanted to.

VRISKA: What’s the point of helping? Whatever happens is going to happen anyways, and there’s so much chaos that no8ody will remem8er the heroes. 

“I… I’m not sure.”

“We, um… can’t really see much from in here, though.” Although they can hear plenty; it is nothing but not loud outside.  It’s something of a mystery why the bar is even open, even with the clear call for business from people who’d rather drink themselves to death than find it in other ways.

The Receiver of Wisdom usually preferred to stay indoors; a sense of isolation once shared by Walter. But in his case, such a lifestyle had been forced upon him. Both men had lived in this city for a very long time, and it opened new avenues for them.

With the creation of a beach ‘coincidentally’ as air conditioners throughout the city broke, nearly everyone flooded into the place at once. Like a sinners version of Noah’s Ark; the idiotic masses of this city getting on the beach two by two.

Such depravity was an event that needed to be witnessed and judged by someone who was far above them. Walter was that man, and even if Henry had no plans to visit the beach he would have been forced soon enough.

So now they stood having entered the beach, the killer especially sticking out like a sore thumb. Compared to most who had gotten into bathing suits, his trench-coat outfit stayed on.

VRISKA: Maaaaaaaan, I don’t even care. 

VRISKA: They say the respawn system’s malfunctioning, 8ut I’ve 8een here long enough to guess that it’ll 8e fixed. Everything will pro8a8ly go 8ack to normal, and everyone will sigh with relief or something.

“S, sorry,” he apologizes, putting a hand over his own mouth, embarrassed over that little escaped morbidity.

“It’s… not the first time the system’s gone down, no… But it’s sort of sad that this is all we can do.”

He looked towards the door.  Walter was probably out there somewhere, watching, waiting… It was enough to have him wave the bartender over to order another drink – something stronger.

“Yes. Do so. I’d wager any maps that already exist are horribly outdated or belong solely to the scientists. A recent one would be useful.”

How long it’d be useful, though, was another matter. Tunnels collapsed every so often, and new ones opened up in the debris. It would be nice, though. At least for a little while.

“Do you have a habit of mapmaking?”

“Once these dry, I can make some photocopies… I, if you’re still interested.”

He looked back up to the collapse that had nearly dropped her on him.

If only he had looked at his own relationship with Henry in the same way, then he would realize it was abuse. And that his own behaviour was not better, if possibly worse. But he was too stubborn and set in his own ways to even consider it. The raven was demonized, and perhaps rightfully so, but the Holy Assumption’s own actions were conveniently swept under the rug.

“So the pin finally dropped, then? I had been waiting for you to realize it for a long time now.

Numbers hold no place in this city, Receiver. Even if mother somehow was summoned… Her effects would only be temporary. This place would ignore her majesty, deciding to move on. I could never disrespect Her like that.

It was never going to end.

At last he found his voice as the despair started to set in. Wasn’t everything supposed to be for Walter and Room 302?  What was going to happen now?  Were they going to exist in perpetuity here?

VRISKA: Yeah, you got that right.

VRISKA: Anyways, I’m Vriska.

You stare at his hand for a moment before giving it a shake. You’re feeling a little more open than usual. Maybe you’re bored, or lonely, or just feel like bothering this guy, dammit. You don’t need a reason to talk to someone, geez!

He returns to his drink after shaking her hand.

“Or… trying not to think about how I’m spending the apocalypse drinking instead of helping.” It seemed like most of the fighting was being carried out by people with superhuman or supernatural abilities, anyway; not people that could be stopped by a gunshot.  Even then, the thought of ending the life of someone living…  He needed another drink after that.

“There is nothing else for me. Only the idea of mother, and you.” A voice would say seemingly out of nowhere, before Walter would finally make an appearance.

“… I think it’s better that way.  He… wasn’t what I thought he was.”

“Jyotsna. You will address me as Akazome for the meantime. Or Ms. Akazome if you so prefer. My given name is reserved for friends.”

Of which she had a resounding zero.

“…Hm. Maps. Odd, but I can see the use in that. This place is, odd itself, not to mention disorienting. I’ll allow it. As for myself, I believe I told you, didn’t I? I live in this mess.”

“It’s, um... It is a little odd…  But at least it’s quiet?” Or it was nowadays.  At least, he hadn’t heard anything about monsters or pariahs coming up out of the depths of Alpha recently.  Although having to live down here, in the dark…  Thinking about that did make his skin crawl just an inch.

VRISKA: Yeah, 8ecause eeeeeeeeveryone know Terezi Pyrope. 

You exhale a derisive puff of air. 

“I think everyone does know Terezi… it’s hard not to, isn’t it?”

“But… I don’t know you yet.  My name is h, Henry.”