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Loud footsteps and some fainting noises.
It was all Ancom could hear since they all started running up the hill nearby the headquarters.
Of course this idea of training before the Centricide had to be Nazi's… Qi believed she did this on purpose just to spite quem.
Well, if qi really thought about it the culprit of all of this was Commie. The woman seemed weirdly motivated to make Team Extreme a reality since she entered the Centricide, and she proposed the idea of making group activities to bond more. The stupid Nazi then proposed a training session and she liked it, and so it came to be.
Of course, the anarchists didn't have a say in all of that. Not even in brainstorming activities. Guess all of them having a group orgy with the aid of LSD wasn't a good enough plan for the bootlickers. Bunch of repressed homophobes.
In reality, qi didn't mind all the running that much, the anger was more about not letting quem decide another plan for the group. The hill they were on was filled with life, from the colorful flowers to the rabbits frolicking around, it was a nice place to exercise and spend time on. And the exercise itself wasn't really a problem as well. Qi wasn't the best athlete nor the most fit, all the drugs qi indulged in daily certainly hindered quem, but at the same time all those riots and street smarts have made quem develop some kind of athletic endurance qi was exploiting at the moment.
That endurance, however, was starting to fade away by the time they were 15 minutes into the exercise.
But qi could be worse. Qi could be practically fainting like Ancap, who was struggling to walk behind quem and at the brink of falling off the ladder.
Which was… Expected. Ancap hits as hard as quem with none of the physical activities derived from praxis like qi does.
'Cappy, are you okay?'
'No… No I'm not…I should have snorted two lines before doing this…’ - qi laughed at that statement. - ‘Such a pain… My legs are getting stiff, my Supreme® shirt is getting drenched in sweat and I can’t even pick up the phone… I could be LOSING money right now!’
‘Come on, you’re doing great. We can stop and drink… Something if you need it.’
‘But you know what’s the worst thing, Ancom? Commie and Nazi already know I'm not used to running, or walking, or doing things that are not sitting down with a computer! These statists don't care about our wellbeing at all! I don't think they're even paying attention to us… They don't let us propose our plan for an amazing orgy earlier on and now… This…!' - she complained as her whole body was getting numb and the strands of black hair were clogging her dried mouth.
Ancom looked at the authoritarians, way ahead of them, their more athletic figures almost blending with the background.
The one that stood out the most was obviously Commie, standing at an astonishing 1.90 and wide as a doorframe, her presence could be felt all around the place. The other statist stood next to her, a tad shorter and smaller but still keeping up with the pace surprisingly well. Her long ponytail hopped around in all directions, perfectly in sync with her hips.
Qi had the misfortune of locking eyes with the latter woman, who decided to turn back at that moment to see how the anarchists were doing.
She chuckled at the pathetic sight behind her and turned her head to face Commie, purely focused on the horizon and breathing evenly. She was partially sweating, but it was probably due to the fact that she was wearing that stupid hat even while running. Why did she do that? Fucking Slavs.
'The anarchists are so weak, Commie. They aren't even halfway from us! Such a waste to our race… That's what not having compulsory military training and gorging in drugs does to our men. They don't even have proper sports clothing…! Just plain shirts… And don't ask me about not combing their hair…'
'We need to train them more. And harder.'
'Your Anarkiddie is doing a lot better than Ancap, though. I guess that little degenerate will last more than her.'
'Anarkiddie is good at close combat. But qi needs to learn how to shoot, because if the centrists are armed, they will kill quem in no time.'
'Well, I know for a fact that Ancap at least knows how to shoot. But she's a puny coward, that stupid NAP thing is a facade… She’s just too afraid to get his hands dirty.'
'In true capitalist fashion, she wants the work delivered for her at the cost of the workers. But this time she will have to kill. Or she will die.'
It was definitely cold blooded of them to speculate how long the anarchists would last in the Centricide. However, they had this lingering sensation that this war would be reduced to them. After all, why wouldn't they? During all history, conflicts have always ended up with both of them.
The left and the right. The Nazis and the Reds.
Eternal enemies, but now unusual allies.
It didn't take them too long before they started the awaited military LARPing.
'Perhaps if we organize a line of attack against the centrists as our first strategy, we will have a chance. What will be your weapon of choice this time, Commie?'
'Fists. They cannot fail me.' - she huffed and tried to catch air as she thought of battle strategies.
'Very smart choice…Then we can make an attack front. Leftists at close range, rightists at the distance. If one of the anarchists fails, one of us will replace their place.'
'A team attack is the ideal situation, but the centrists must know this. They will try to divide us at first, Nazi.'
'Yes… You may be right.'
'And besides, you should not leave your comrades behind like you are suggesting. These anarchists may not be the ideal allies, but no one is at first. We have to turn them into that with teamwork, discipline and comradery. I will try my best to make them fall in line.'
Nazi laughed. 'Oh, Commie… How many times have I told you that your compassion for the weak will kill you in the long run? You could be so much more if you associated with the right people… Like me. Look at how well we are doing without them already! I get that you don't trust me, we have always fought against each other… But I secretly admire your ways. Your gulags, your secret police, your censorship... I wanted to work with you for so long, Commie. And now that we are associates, I want to show you how much better you can operate with someone of the superior race.'
Commie rolled her eyes at that monologue. She knew that being compliant with Nazi brought a darker, colder side of her she frankly disliked, but she had to cut her some slack if they had to be working as a team. No matter how much she wanted to tell the fascist to Оставь меня в покое.
'We will see. I'm going to check out on them for a second. I will be back soon.' - Commie slowed down her pace and catched up with the other two in a minute.
'Oh.. H-hi Tankie!' - the sight of qir rather imposing leftist comrade made quem subconsciously run with more enthusiasm.
'How are you two doing? Everything fine? Do we all need to stop?'
'I… I think I might not make it out of here…' - Ancap wheezed and quickly stopped to get some needed air.
'Hey Nazi! Stop!' - Commie shouted, her strong voice and accent echoing through the hill reached the white identitarian.
'Holy shit, really?' - she scoffed and ran back with the rest of the group. - 'What a bunch of pussies… Who is it now?'
Ancap fell to her knees and began coughing.
'Shit… Aghh… My chest...'
'Oh, for fucks sake! Of course it had to be you. Come on, Ancap! You know how to run, right? Just do it then. It's not THAT hard, even a Jew can do it.’
'Guys… I think she is out of breath.' - qi knelt in front of her and pulled out a bottle of water from qir backpack, slowly pouring it on her face.
'Ah…' - Ancap quickly drank whatever droplet she could and began to feel her legs again. 'Ancom, where… Where did you get the water...?'
'I… I bought it, Ancap. I really did… It was very expensive as well.' - qi tried to comfort her by lying about the origin of the tap water she just drank. - 'I lost all my money, I will have to take out a loan to pay you for yesterday's shrooms…'
Ancap smiled with contempt.
'Thank god… At least one of the six multinational corporations that control all food supplies profited off of this moment…' - she sighed with relief as her breath began to stabilize.
'You make me SO sick kulak.' - Commie muttered to herself.
'Well, I'm glad you aren't dead and all of that, but we still need to go all the way up for the shooting exercise, so I think it's time to say goodbye…' - Nazi sighed and waved her hand to the other rightist.
'Seriously, Nazi? Are you just going to leave her here?! She's part of our team! Don't you like comradery?'
'Ancom. YOU. DON'T GET TO CALL ME NAZI.' - she hissed menacingly, being tempted to use the gun on quem. - 'Aren't you all about respecting people's names and identity? Respect mine or you will die.'
'Okay, sure, whatever. Look, White Identitarian, all I'm saying is that we shouldn't leave her behind!'
'I wouldn't mind if Kulak got lost here, actually.' - Commie thought out loud. 'But we have to work together and unite as a team. Come on, Nazi. She is… She is ethnically white, after all.'
The cringe could be felt from the leftists' expressions, contrasting with the race realist's sudden realization of the capitalist's race.
'Сука блять, the things I have to say for unity…' - she scoffed and looked at an equally disgusted Ancom.
'Fine… A weak compatriot is still a compatriot… But someone will have to carry her all the way. And I'm not doing it myself. That's for men to do.'
'Well, Ancom is too small to carry… Oh, дерьмо…' - the communist grunted when she realized who was going to have to carry Ancap.
'See, Red? Associating with a lanky druggie will get you in situations like these! What a shame… But we have no choice.'
She reluctantly bent down and sighed. 'Come on, Kulak. Climb.'
'Climb?'
‘Да. Climb. Do not make me repeat myself.'
'Ohh, this is… Unexpected. Must suck for you... Are you having flashbacks to your times before the Revolution?' - Ancap raised an eyebrow and climbed up her back.
'If you speak in any part of the whole journey I will throw you off hill. Like I did to former Kulak when the Revolution started.' - she slowly threatened her opposite.
'Fine, fine… The left these days, geez…' - she rested her head on the shoulders of the enraged communist, at the edge of having a mental breakdown.
'Are we ready to go now? The plateau is nearby and the prey won't be there in a few hours.' - Nazi streched her arms impatiently.
'The… Prey?' - the anarchist shuddered.
'Yes. We are going to hunt, Ancom. Your leftoid comrade needs some prey to cook her Slav stew, since she apparently is going to cook everyday. And you need to learn how to use a fucking gun. So, two birds in one stone.'
'I… I'm not going to. That's fucked up! And… I'm a vegan.'
'UGH! THE SOYGIRL HAD TO BE VEGAN AS WELL! Well, you will shoot them nevertheless and cope with the pain by popping some pills later like you already do, retarded cunt. Commie and I spent the whole day prepairing this training session and it will not be going to go to waste because your other junkie friend blacked out and hunting hurts your queer feelings!'
'You prepared all of this just to show off how strong and threatening you are, fascist! We all know that… Let me guess what's next after hunting, a Call Of Duty tournament? You're so full of shit the toilet's jealous! We are not doing close combat because you know FOR A FACT that Commie and I would beat the shit out of you.'
'You? Beating me up? Try to be at least MY same height before talking about a hypothetical battle, you fucking bitch.'
'OOHHH… Mark my words. I WILL beat you up. Wanna bet, huh? Tankie has seen me in action, she knows how much I can endure… What do you think, Tankie? Should I break her legs, or her skull first?’ - qi took the bat from qir backpack and swung it around menacingly.
Commie looked at both of them with a disappointed expression, whereas Ancap looked to be on the brink of hibernating .
'I think you should shut up and climb. Nazi should do that too.' Commie said in a low voice before running her way up to the top.
‘Goddammit! Hey, we need to plan the tactical formations more!' - Nazi yelled, running to catch up with the taller woman.
Ancom sighed as qi watched the other three, drank some water before starting to run with more energy, it was going to end in no time, so why not give it a last shot?
It was only a matter of time before they all reached the top of the ladder. Nazi and Commie were the first ones to arrive.
The ethnostatist sighed and stretched for a while, the views were beautiful here. She thought about pulling the camera and snapping some quick pics, and she started doing just that.
The communist stopped her pace and abruptly dropped Ancap on the floor, feeling a sadistic pleasure in her exaggerated reaction.
'AH! MY GOOD LORD! That's an NAP violation right there, what the fuck is wrong with you?! My head… My body… You're even more evil than I first thought! Now I'm not only going to be able to move for TWO GODDAMN BUSINESS DAYS, but I'm going to get bruises as well! BRUISES!!! And not made by consensual sexual activities! Fuck you, Commie! You hear me?!'
'That was for all the proletariats you mercilessly exploit everyday. Next time you mess with me or any of them, you WILL get the bullet' - she smiled triumphantly. After finally getting the personal revenge she wandered downwards, looking for the Anarkiddie.
Luckily for her, qi showed up in no time.
'How did it go?'
'Well… I think you might have to carry me back downwards, I don't think I will be able to run again…' - qi gasped and stopped running.
'Fine, I'll do that. More training for my arms.'
'Are we really going to shoot for real? I don't want to… Animals are comrades, I can't hurt them.'
‘Нет. You won't shoot. Just lay down on the field. I will talk to Nazi.'
Accepting Commie's help was very hard sometimes, she has always been rather overprotective towards quem and qi was annoyed at that display of obvious condescension most of the time. Qi wasn't a fucking kid, qi knew what qi was doing 99% of the time.
Accepting that kind of help would mean losing some agency, and when you give a tankie an inch, they will take a mile. But this time, qi had to. Qi couldn't kill an animal.
'Okay. Thank you, Tankie.'
'It's nothing, comrade. And do not worry about not learning to shoot today, I will teach you with cans another day.'
'Right…'
The leftists walked up to where the rest of the group was. Ancom decided to vent a bit more to the M-L, since qi could feel she was in a good mood from exercising.
'Aw, can I be honest with you? I feel like such a weakling seeing you both run so fast… I look like a lanky toothpick in comparison with you two as well…'
'Body type is not important, Anarkiddie. As long as you are healthy and fine, your shape is irrelevant. And you are pretty strong already, you smash fascists like it's nothing!’
‘Yeah… Yes I do!’ - qi began to feel a bit more confident.
‘And now that I have decided that I will be the one cooking for all of you, I will make sure you eat proper and nutritious meals everyday. In fact, I am looking more into vegan food, I want to feed you properly. Under my culinary regime, you will get in better shape.’ - her motherly side surfaced as qi rolled qis eyes. - 'When was the last time you exercised like this?'
'Well, there was this riot I attended and I had to run super fast for like… three minutes to avoid the tear gas. It happened… Last month. But I never tried tried sport.' Qi admitted.
'You did well then. It is your first time trying… The more you run, the faster you will go and the more you develop your body, a question of practice. I go for a jog every morning, you are welcome to join me whenever you want.'
'Yeah… I'll think about it. Huh? Is Nazi… Taking pictures?' - qi turned qir head and looked at a surprisingly relaxed Nazi taking pictures of Ancap, still on the floor.
'Take off your glasses, come on! They clash with the background.' - the woman in question requested. - 'Don't make me pull the gun on you.'
'Fine, fine! Just… Stop looking at me like that! You’re creeping me the hell out!’' - Ancap took her glasses off, face looking like a flustered mess.
‘Great… Your face and bruises make the photo much better.’ - Nazi crooned as she quickly flashed the camera.
'What…?! Nazi…?' - the capitalist trembled.
'Oh, holy Marx. She is doing photos again.'
'Since when was Nazi into something not related to being a fucking nazi?'
'Oh, I forgot you barely know Nazi. She loves realistic paintings, but got into photography when art began being more abstract and thought it was ‘degenerate’ and void of any meaning. She even went to art school like her idol. Right now Nazi photographs injured people and uploads them to those deep web pages she visits so often.'
'What the fuck… She… Went to art school?!'
'О да.'
'Oh… Wow… Uh… Weird. I'm going to just… Stay here. Okay?'
Commie nodded and went to see the rightists, now standing up and preparing the guns as if that awkward hostage-photography moment didn't happen.
'Hey Commie. Are you ready to shoot? We already got our eye on some animals.'
‘Да. Anarkiddie is not going to do it though. Qi will shoot with me another day.'
'Whatever, I don't care anymore. If she dies in the Centricide, she dies in the Centricide. I want her dead anyways! Don’t care about her pronouns either.’ Nazi cocked the shotgun and focused on a white rabbit. She bit her lip as she fired, killing the prey instantly. ‘Pefect. Ancap, you're next.'
'Hmph, easy. Watch this!' - the capitalist closed her eyes and shot into the air, surprisingly killing a pigeon. ‘Take it Commie, try to outdo THAT.’
Commie ignored her. 'Grab the pigeon quickly, don't tempt me to shoot you.' - she got her hands on the shotgun and breathed deeply. She found another rabbit. She quickly fired- another prey for the stew.
'Nice one. You don't miss.'
'Just like in the war.' - she smiled with unvanquished pride as she lent the weapon to the race realist.
'Let's hope you make us win this war as well.' Nazi laughed and looked at the capitalist. 'Same goes to you.'
'Only if they violate the NAP, mind you. I'm not a fighter! I'm the one who sells the weapons!'
'Oh, now that we mention that. You better not sell weapons to those filthy centrists, Kulak…' Ancap pretended not to hear that and shot another prey effortlessly. She was going to do whatever she wanted, and the stupid commie wasn’t going to stop it.
'Guess those rabbits are violating some kind of NAP in your mind.’ Nazi rolled her eyes ‘Just pretend that the centrists are rabbits and you’ll be fine.’ She turned to Commie. ‘Well, we got five of them and one pigeon. Do we have enough stock for your stew yet?'
'We do.'
'Wunderbär.' - the race realist pulled out her knife, a sadistic grin playing on her face. - 'Hey Ancap. I'm going to show you how to skin them…'
'What?! I-I don't want to see that!’ She squealed. ‘You’re insane! Please… Please don't…'
‘How do you think your expensive coats get made, huh? It's very easy, really. You just pull the skin like this.’
When Ancap started screaming, Commie slowly backed away to her comrade, who laid on the field and looked shrugged off.
Was qi okay? Perhaps all those bullet noises implying the death of the animals were too much for quem.
She approached quem slowly only to find a beautiful sight: the anarchist was holding a little brown rabbit, one of qir hands gently stroking its head and the other one surrounding the animal.
'Aw… You're so cute, Anarbunny…' - qi whispered with absolute peace of mind, only to scream like a scared cat when qi realized qi was being watched.
'Something wrong?'
'SHIT! Tankie, you… You scared the living shit out of me… No, no! Anarbunny, stay here with me!' Qi managed to calm the stressed rabbit and returned to caress it.
'Oh, sorry. I came to see you, that was all. I see you have already made a friend.'
'Yes! Look at this cutie… I named them Anarbunny.' Qi beamed
'Aw… Hello, Anarbunny!' - the communist reached her hand and slowly stroked the rabbit. - 'What a small fluffy friend!’
'Oh, wow…”
'What is wrong? I like animals too.'
'I thought you were going to scare them…' - Commie chuckled.
'Oh, little Anarkiddie, I am not scary. That bias you have of me is just CIA propaganda working. See? Anarbunny isn't scared. You should not be either.'
Qi was not so sure about that blatant statement, seeing her influential regimes and constant vigilance of quem at all times were, objectively, quite scary.
Qi wasn't all that sure about the whole 'Leftist Unity’ thing Tankie was trying to push since they met again here either. Wasn't that just another way for the authleft to control all leftist conversation?
Sure, she was a comrade after all, but she should just… Leave quem alone sometimes. She wasn’t qir fucking mother.
'You don't scare me, Tankie. You just… Overwhelm me. That 's all.'
'I just want you to be okay. War… War is scary and cruel. War changes you. And I don't want you to change. Perhaps you don't understand it now, but you will do it when the Centricide begins. I want our relationship to be certain. Stable. Just something to hold on to.'
Ancom smiled. 'You don’t have to baby me. I get the feeling.’
No. No qi didn't.
‘No matter how much you believe in your principles, Ancom. War takes so much and leaves you with so little… I cannot sleep properly ever since the Revolution up to this day. I want to leave this war with something this time.’
‘You… You can’t sleep?’ - Ancom looked worriedly at her.
‘Нет. And that is why I don’t want the same thing happening to you. Because it will happen. Especially if you… If you value life so much that you cannot kill a rabbit. Just… Trust me. Please. It will be different this time.’
Why would qi trust her? God, these authoritarians just think that trust is just so easy to give. Especially after the last ‘leftist revolution’ qi collaborated with, where qi got shot by Commie herself when all the fuzz ended.
Perhaps that’s what she meant by ‘different this time’.
Did qi believe her?
Somewhat, qi was all about rehabilitation, she could have changed from last time, realizing that perhaps she got a bit too powerful for her own good and needed a callout.
But qi wasn’t going to trust her right now and there.
‘If you want unity, you will have to regain my trust, Commie. With actions.’
Commie silently nodded. Even though she despised qir angsty attitude, she respected when qi held to qis principles. Such a strong will… That’s how the best revolutionaries were made.
Sometimes she could picture quem wearing her war uniform, armed to qir teeth and ready to burn down everything that stands in the way for a new beginning. Qi is convinced, determined to achieve the cause.
Qi has no doubts, all the leftist theory qi read cleared all of them out. Qi now believes in the dictatorship of the proletariat, still not totally convinced by Stalin's interpretation but willing to give some of his ideas a try, and shines a faint but beautiful red.
That… That was obviously a reach that wouldn’t happen.
But fighting alongside quem as Ancom was also so satisfying...
If only qi saw what she sees in quem.
‘I will make you trust me. We will fight together, eradicate the centrists, and achieve something great after.’
‘Great. I hope this time it’s for real.’
‘It will be. Ancom, I…’
The other two extremists came back to where they were and interrupted their conversation, Nazi looking visibly bloody and Ancap looking visibly paler.
‘Look, Commie! Ancap skinned this one! So impressive for the first time…! She might be a better extremist than I thought.' Nazi wiggled the dead rabbit happily to the dismay of Ancom.
'Get that away from me!!' - qi hugged the bunny and buried qir head deeper into quemselves.
'Are you scared, Degenerate? Of a dead rabbit? Oh.. You got one on your lap. So puny. Let me hug it.' - the race identitarian tried to approach the rabbit, but got blocked by the communist.
'Do not harm the rabbit. We already have enough.'
'As expected.’ - Nazi sneered. ‘Your love for the weak is making you act up again. Well, we should leave soon, the sun is setting down. What are you going to get us for dinner today, Commie?'
'I was planning to order takeout from my favourite Chinese restaurant, the one with the poster of chairman Mao at the front. You can come by if you want.'
'And mixing up with Chinese people? Hell no. I already have too much of my culture mixing by hanging out with you, Slav.'
'I will think about it…' - Ancom muttered and looked at Tankie, who smiled back at quem.
'Great, let's go then. I need to get some WiFi soon…' - the rightists began running back down.
The anarchist slowly stood up and left qir new friend on the ground.
'Are you leaving Anarbunny?'
'Yeah…'
'But, you like them.'
'That's precisely why. You have to let go of the things you love sometimes… Besides, if they like me back they will come back. Rabbits are smart! Bye, Anarbunny!’ - qi stroked the rabbit one last time before beginning qir walk back to the headquarters.
The M-L stood there for a moment, thinking about what qi just said. Ancom could actually be very intelligent and thoughtful when qi is not hyper and/or high.
Was she really smothering quem that much?
Seeing quem back after they split due to ideological differences made her so unbelievably happy, qi finally became an incredible force to be reckoned with and an ideology of qir own, stopping being the angsty teen she first knew (sort of). Qi accepted communism as well, and that filled her with pride.
Sure, qi may be a bit of a dreamer and too emotional for qir own good. And a drug addict. And an impulsive, careless person.
But the constant threat of the war coming ahead made it so difficult for her not to think about these times being the last ones they would have together, and wanting to prevent the inevitable. It's not like qi wasn't a great fighter or that qi was weak, but qi lacked the knowledge of all that was going to happen. That’s why she was babying quem so much.
Qi obviously didn’t understand. If only qi knew.
She glanced back at the rabbit once more before making her way back alongside Ancom.
‘I really hope you do not die as well, please.'
---
'My god, these statists are just the worst…!' - Ancap moaned as she reached for her juul and gave it a hit. - 'First we go up the hill with no copter, causing me to collapse and almost die. Then Commie lifts me up and right when I’m getting comfy the bitch drops me like I'm some kind of fucking sack of grain. Then the Nazi starts to PHOTOGRAPH me when I looked like shit and act like a psycopath, as well as forcing me to skin a rabbit as if I were POOR? They're insane! This is literally 1984!’
'I get you, Cappy… They are… Too much sometimes.' - Ancom muttered as the LSD began to hit. - 'Shitttt… You have to try this tab. It's so fucking good, I'm seeing stars. Like really pretty stars. Wonderful stars… Stars are so cool.'
'Oh really? I'll have it after the painkillers…' - She popped a small orange bottle and swallowed all the pills from it.
'Are you sure those were painkillers?'
'I don't know, I mix them. But there were a few at least.'
Ancom laughed and leaned over her. 'You're so funny… So so funny... Mind if I hit the juul?'
'10$.'
'Aww, I'm in debt… But I really want it…’
Ancap simply stared until qi couldn’t resist the temptation.
‘Ugh, fuck it.' - qi handed her the money, making the capitalist smile.
'Here, you can have it for tonight!'
'Thanks.’
Qi quickly smoked from it, creating smoke rings as the chocolate-flavoured air left qir lungs.
‘Oooooh… You know how to do tricks. Watch this!’ - Ancap took the juul again and laughed as she took a hit and smoke started to go out her mouth, forming circles that overlapped between each other.
'Damn… Those tricks are like, so cool… Show me how to do them! Pleeease!!'
'Well, try and roll your tongue like th-’ she was quickly interrupted when qi kissed her in the mouth.
'Gotcha!’ -the anarchist giggled. ‘I couldn’t help it, sorry. I love you so much, Ancap, you're a great friend and I love you so much, so much so much...'
'Aw… I love you too, Ancom.' - Ancom always had this moment during a high when qi got quite affectionate with everyone around quem. Ancap went along with it and rubbed a hand against qis shoulder. A glaze went over Ancom’s eyes.
'We should like… Make out right now… I just love you so much... We can do that thing you really like where I roleplay as a worker and you strip away everything from me....' - qi laughed again and tried to unknot her tie.
It was not the first time this scenario has happened before; in fact they already made out and fucked lots of times while high (most of them even were for free, the horror); but Ancap felt a little bit awkward today now that she wasn't really stoned like her anarchist counterpart was. It felt like she was taking advantage of quem in this scenario.
There was also no monetary transaction involving consent in this dubious situation, another big red flag for her.
'How about we just hug each other? For now, at least. My body still hurts…’
'Sounds cool to me, come here!' - qi leaned over and hugged her tightly.- 'Ahh… My anti-authoritarian friend…'
'Mmph, Ancom… Can I be honest with you?'
'Of course, you're my best friend, I love you so much!' - qir expanded pupils looked at her. - 'Tell me!'
'Well, I don't really like this Centricide idea. Not only because of the statists, but because of that Jreg…'
'Huh? What..? Sorry…'
'Oh, nothing. Just, suspicions from my part. I think he has other plans in mind apart from killing centrists, but perhaps I might be a bit out of it.'
'No, no! I get how you feel, you might be right... Why did you decide to join us then?'
'Well, I might have thought about profiting off this war- Come on! Don't look at me like that! I'm not a woman of war!'
'No, no, I'm not judging you, I’m not even paying attention… I'm looking at that cool poster... What's a wolf doing on Wall Street? Why would anyone make a movie about it?'
'Well… He… He trades.'
'Wow… That is such a cool movie… I didn't know you were a furry…'
'Wha- I'm NOT!' - she gasped and took away the jull from quem.
'I know, I'm just playing~ But I don't blame you for not knowing why you're with us. I came here to change the status quo, but I think I might be regretting it...' - qi sighed. - 'Tankie just keeps telling me how awful war is and how bad I'm going to be after it, and I don't know anymore. What if I die? I'm not ready to go...'
'Ancom, she's just trying to make you feel small and dependent on her. The usual authoritarian shit.’ - she said, drawing in another breath from the juul.
'I mean. Yeah, she kinda likes to parent me a lot, but the way she told me about it… It felt like advice… She knows what she's saying, she has always been in tons of wars…'
'And what are you going to do about it? Ancom, she wants to dilute your ideals to fit in that weird concept of unity she so desperately wants! You have to set some kind of boundaries with her.'
'It's not that easy…'
‘Who said? It is very easy! You know what I told Nazi when she proposed a rightist unity? That I would join it the second she gave me a good answer about why I shouldn't profit from minorities. She hasn't answered me yet.'
There was something so… Admirable about Ancap in Ancom's eyes. Sure, she was a manipulative and gaslighting woman who only seemed to find pleasure in the size of her profits margins, but she always seemed to have a firm stance on her (questionable) moral code. She didn't let anyone boss her, or feel bad for her ideas while Nazi scolded her.
She wasn't really an anarchist, but she was the most anarchist of both of them at the same time.
Qi wished qi had her attitude more often.
'Yeah, I could give her some kind of boundary like that. But I don't know… I think I might have a crush on Commie and that’s what’s making this so difficult.'
‘Commie? Reaaally?’ - even though her gaze was covered by those tainted glasses, qi could tell her eyes were popping out of her sockets in shock.
‘Yeah. I mean, you wouldn’t get it, but there’s something about her… when she tells me bedtime stories about Lenin, when she cooks me dinner at 2 am when I come back from hanging out with the polycule, when she picks me up from riots and patches me up when I need it… She is just so… Caring and nice. And handsome. And smart. And hot…’ Ancom’s face flushed. ‘Oh god, I guess I really am a bootlicker.’
‘Sort of… But whatever your feelings are, you have to keep being yourself and you have to let her know. Don’t let her tread on you. You are an individual first, and she has to respect that, that will show whether she cares about you or about the hypothetical person she thinks you are.’
‘Aww… Shit, that was the best advice ever, I love you so much you’re my best friend ever... I think I don't say it enough but you really are…!’
‘It’s nothing.’ -she waved her hand. ‘Damn, I think I might have overdosed a bit on the pills… You still got the LSD? I’m craving . I'm starting to… Feel… Weird.'
‘They’re in my room. Do you need me to stay just in case something happens?’
'Naaah, these won't kill me, I’ve had worse pills in cocktails in business meetings. Go to your room. Be careful though, Commie might be guarding your door like she always does. If she catches you and you look high, she's going to get all pissed and high mighty with both of us…'
'I think she went to talk to Jreg after dinner, but I will. Try and be more cautious just in case. How about you put on some Drag Race so we can watch it later?'
'Great idea! We have to catch up with the new season… Good luck!'
The anarchist left the room and tumbled across the hallway, surprisingly empty. Qi quickly opened the door to qir room and searched for qir drug stash in the closet.
Soon, steps could be heard around the hallway. Fuck, they were Commie's.
Qi quickly hid the tabs under qir hoodie and got out of the room only to find her mid hallway.
'Anarkiddie, why are you up so late?' - she answered in a tired but still intimidating tone, while sipping from the cup of tea on her left hand.
'Why are you up so late?!’
'I am trying to fall asleep.' - she began to look at qir eyes with her judgemental gaze. - 'What were you doing right now?'
'I was… In the middle of watching something with Ancap.' - qi tried to be halfway honest, only making her sigh with disappointment.
'And... What are you ON right now?'
'Why do you care?' - qi mumbled.
'Let me guess… You do not even know. Just like the other day when you took a pill from the floor. If you are going to fry your brains out, you should at least know what you are using, Anarkiddie!'
'I know what I'm consuming right now. Look, LSD.' - qi showed her qir tongue, making her roll her eyes.
'What did I tell you about recreational drugs?' - her condescending tone came again, irritating Ancom.
'Stop trying to baby me, I know what I'm doing and I know the limits! Drugs are fun and make me and my surroundings feel better. You will be more bearable if you took some of this too, that's for sure… You fucking control freak.'
'You don't even know what you're saying right now, are you?! - she let her anger control her for a second, but decided to stop and calm down instead. Upsetting a volatile drugged person like Ancom was a bad idea. - 'Sorry about the tone… Look… Before I go to bed. I need you to come to my room, I have to show you something.'
'Please, don't even TRY to read me the Manifesto right now… I'm so tired.'
'I am not going to read you anything… Just come in. Trust me.'
'Fine, fine… But it better be fast.' - qi reluctantly walked towards the red door to qir comrade's red and cozy room.
'Come on, come out...'- the communist gently whispered and lifted a red shirt to later smile at the little rabbit popping out of it.
'Anarbunny!' - qi quickly went to the bed and lifted the animal, giving it a soft kiss.
'I found it in the front yard when I got takeout. I think it might have followed you here.'
'Aw buddy, you missed me! Don't worry, I'm going to smooch and take care of you all night long!' - qi laughed as the small rabbit smelt qir hand and quickly leaned towards it after recognising the scent.
'I gave comrade Anarbunny my Guevara shirt to have as bed, and some nuts earlier as well. It looked hungry.'
'Aw… Thank you so much, Commie. You didn't need to do it. Especially that shirt, you really liked it… '
'It's nothing… I have too many shirts these days.’ - she sat next to quem and sighed.
Qi grazed qir fingers the rabbit's fur several times and turned to face Commie only to see a rare and genuine smile.
Qi then realized that qi never saw her being this way. That smile had a beautiful softness coming from someone as hardened and rough as a rock. As if she were truly content.
'How was the… The meeting with Jreg? You went out for that, right?' - qi asked.
'Oh it was fine. We thought it would be best if each one of us tries to make our ideological Moderates join us in the Centricide. The more we unite, the better it will be.'
'I don't know about that one… The Moderates are kind of meh.'
'I don't like them either, but we can't have them join the Centrists. You know how I feel about unity.'
'Yeah…'
'You will have to persuade Progressive. I know you will do it well, we lefties are very good at railing people for a cause.'
'Yeah… Aw, Anarbunny is looking at you!'
'It is! Aww…' - she began to scratch the rabbit's ear as their hands got closer.
'Umm… Tankie. Do you think… Do you think I'm weak?'
‘Не-а.' - she answered quite quickly.
'Oh… Really?'
'Of course! You're an amazing fighter, albeit a bit reckless for my liking sometimes… But do not worry. I know you would do great on your own.'
'You… Think so?'
‘Да, правда. I thought about what you said on the hill earlier. Perhaps my protection is hindering you too much. When I saw you back here, I was amazed about how much you matured without me. I should leave you by yourself more often.'
'Yes, yes exactly!' - qi held her hand and smiled. - 'Let me fight by myself for once… I will be fine.'
'I… I will trust you to make good choices, Ancom.' - she felt a rush when she noticed they were holding hands.
'I'm glad you understand! I… I will try to do my best.' - qi leaned qir head on her shoulder. - 'I was so mean to you earlier… I'm sorry… You're not a control freak, you just like things to run properly. And you're right about worrying about my drug use as well… I just don't know how to stop it, I'm starting to crave heroin again and I'm scared…' - Commie sighed and pulled quem closer.
'That won't happen. I won't let you.'
‘I’m sorry.’
'It doesn't matter, Ancom, I know it's because of the drugs….' - she rubbed her fingers on qir hand and sighed. - 'Your hands are very small.'
'Do you like them?'
'I do…'
'I like yours as well. You're very strong. Very, very strong…'
'As strong as my state you seem to hate so much.'
'Yeah…' - qi began to close qir eyes, feeling incredibly sleepy.
'Good night, Ancom.'
'Night…'
The communist sighed as she gazed at quem.
Nazi was right, the little anarchist was going to be the death of her.
Qi was so strong, yet qi insisted on making quemself so weak with all of those substances.
But she just loved quem so much. And at least she managed to get quem off heroin for some months.
She laid quem down slowly on her bed, careful not to scare the little rabbit. Once qi was on the bed, she slowly opened qis mouth, revealing the tab qi was having.
With precision, she snatched it out of qir tongue and pulled out a blanket on quem. She then glanced at the small rabbit, who managed to find its way between Ancom's arms again.
She couldn't help but coo at the sight. It was worth it. Preserving all of this was worth it.
No matter what this war would bring to them, she would make sure that Ancom would walk out of this alive and trusting her.
Even though that sinking, empty dread reminding her of the other conflicts she took a part in was telling her otherwise, she wanted to trust the team. She wanted to love Ancom. She wanted to let quem go so qi could love her.
And she was going to do that this time.