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You are John Egbert, currently making a small celebration for your girlfriend, Vriska Serket, on her soberversary of 8 months.
You had everything you had in mind prepared: big balloons that represented her colours, a big banner above the couch saying ‘8 months clean!’, a gift, and heck, even a small cake you baked just for her! Gog, you are smitten for this troll.. You knew what you were getting yourself into from multiple resources given, but still fought against them. Yeah, Vriska can be a whole lot; mood swings she would sometimes let out on you, the clinginess that sometimes feels like you are on a leash, the snoring that sometimes makes you lose sleep, but you knew it was all worth it. Worth it to make her less destructive to herself.
You know this whole ordeal is cheesy, and you just had a gut feeling Vriska would laugh at your face for all of this, but seeing her make that genuine smile is your goal for today.
You were mid-finishing the final touches, throwing a golden trail of confetti, until you heard the door unlock itself. Crap! It can only mean one thing—
“Hellooo immm baaack.” Vriska’s voice calls out as she steps into the apartment. A trail of her undressing her winter wear could be heard as you hurried to greet her. You came out with an awkward smile. Instead of your usual t-shirt and jeans, you dressed up in Vriska’s outfit choice for you during the duration of Sgrub—the time where you didn't really know her, truly know.“What's with the outfit? Feels like forever since that shit.” Vriska adds as she puts her bag on the vanity, eyeing your choice of clothing ever so slightly. You knew it was a bit tight as you did grow about an inch or so taller, along with some weight. It wasn't enough to be too noticeable, in your eyes at least.
“Well, yeah, there is something..” You start, and she gives that glare. You knew she hates not knowing about something.
“..Just! Close your eyes.”
“Pfttt.. ‘close my eyes’ my ass. ”
“Please, Vris! I promise it's good!”
She complies, and you feel a beat of excitement. You went behind her to close her eyes under her glasses. You trust her with your entire being, but she has a tendency to be sneaky from time to time.
“You know what day it is?” You ask as you start to prompt her into the living room.
“I think.. whatcha macall it? Our day—whatever it is?” Vriska mutters as she wraps her cold fingers around your wrists. It still gives you chills whenever she does it.
“Anniversary, but no. Close though! Well, kinda .. not really if I think about it.” You trail off a bit as you turn around the corner. You feel her eyes trying to look through the spaces between your fingers, but you caught her just in time to stop; you still got it.
“Kay, you can open now.” You instruct before guiding her hands along with yours down.
She looked almost in awe as she took in the messy yet made with love scene; her lips were slightly parted to reveal her fangs, and her usually sharp eyes softened. The whole setup you got wasn’t even much, but from all the shit she had gone through before and even during Sgrub. You, in a way, knew she was feeling this a thousand times harder than it should have been. She turns to you ever so slightly.
“This shit’s for me?” Vriska managed to muster up, and you took her hand to give a gentle squeeze.
“It is.” You counter as you sit her down at the cake. She makes a snort and a grin, but it wasn't as ... how do you say it? Cocky? As usual, at least.
“In Alterina, we never really like.. did this type of shit.”
“Not even your birthday— I mean! Moon sweeps stuff?”
“Eh, not really. Especially with my Lusus.“ Vriska fixes her glasses to get a better glance at the cake. The messy black icing of the text and the blue melting doll drops on the side of the cake, it was a sight like no other for her. Well, you hope.
“What did I even do, huh?” Vriska looks up at you; you can tell she is slightly doubting this—at you. It’s understandable why, but damn, did it still hurt.
“Exist.” You replied without hesitation. Some trolls would argue with you, saying you were doing too much for someone who caused so much pain, but that was in the past. A past you can tell that she is trying so hard to crawl out of, and even then, she is hanging on by a thread.
You remember the situation as if it were yesterday. It was a time when you two still lived in separate places, yet were in close proximity. The sight of Vriska that day was ingrained in your mind; her thighs, a cerulean mess with blunt burns on her wrists. You were seconds away from calling the ambulance, but with how unhinged she was being, you were distracted by calming her down, bandaging her, giving gentle touches, and encouragement— it felt as if you were maintaining a mistreated cat, but you knew deep down, it was emotions she needed to spill out in the moment. You were willing to give that treatment she so desperately needed from the years of being alone in the wild.
“I still kinda feel bad about that, you seein’ me like that. You know that, right?”
“Yeah, but.. It's good to celebrate the aftermath, too.” You spoke and made your usual buck-toothed smile. “Oh, wait! Almost forgot, I got you something!” You didn't hear her reply before going to get the gift you double-checked for earlier.
It was a small dark blue box with a sticky note, reminding yourself it was for Vriska. You come back to her with a small push for her to open it.
“Can't let a girl wait, huh? Pushy much.”
“You're pushier.”
She rolls her eyes in protest and proceeds to open the compartment.
In it, a simple bracelet was revealed, and attached to it was an orange coin with a triangle that had ‘8 months’ engraved on it. She turned the coin to the other side —the part that you think is the most special part about this.
‘CONGRATS ON YOUR LUCKY SOBER 8 VRISKA, I’M SO PROUD OF YOU.’
There was a small pause between you and the troll.
“What’s this?” Vriska started; her fingers brushed over the metalish text. You gave her a confused glance before realizing trolls don’t celebrate things like these. She literally told you that not that long ago!
“Um, a sobriety coin? It's a thing that tracks your progress; they are mostly for AA— Alcoholics Anonymous stuff... I figured it still counts for you, too.”
You had a small feeling that she didn’t like it, but instead, she wrapped her arms around you. Her hands go on your back, the bracelet still in her hand. You did not expect this sudden affection from her, as you usually initiate the touches first, but you were not complaining at this sudden switch of character either.
“Thank you…” she mutters, her voice faint like a supernatural, trying to communicate against your ear. It was as if she didn't want to admit that all of this meant something for her. The built-in walls were turning into glass at this point.
”Just to get it.. like out there, you do get that I don't exactly deserve any of this party— thing, whatever.” Vriska mutters as she pulls away after a while of holding that position.
“Of course you do, Vriska. It’s 8 months of trying— of you trying.” You return. Your hand lingers on hers, reminding her that you're still here for her. Your aura was judgment-free and understanding; the true reason why Vriska had a connection to you like no other. “You wanna like.. dig in? I made it just for this.” You add on, and she snaps out of whatever state she was in. Vriska turns back to you before her expression does a complete 180.
“Oh righttt, for me hmmm? Why, how generous of you, Egbert.” There was that choice of words you first noticed about her. It was obnoxious and sly, but you knew from her multitude of breakdowns that it was just her way of copping. You took your phone out of your jacket pocket and... shit, you almost forgot.
“You okay with this, right?” You exaggerate the phone in your hand, and Vriska responds with a smirk that can make your knees buckle instantly.
“Obviously, you would want to record; I did think I was hot today.”
“Well, you always are, not just now.”
Pause. Huge pause.
“Is that like too much or—“
“Jegus John, no, just— just start recording or else I’ll start to consider changing my mind.”
“Alright, alright, got it.” You mumble to yourself as you start to record with one hand while the other lights up the eight candles on the cake. Vriska bats her eyes at the camera like if there was someone looking through it. She looked as if she wanted to look pretty for the person viewing, and that someone was going to be you; yeah, definitely you.
“You uh.. can blow now.” You managed to let out as you pulled back to capture your girlfriend better in the camera’s view.
“Happy sobriety day for moi!” She blows out the candles with a grin— a bright one. One that can be compared to fireflies, to the sun— why she was called ‘The Thief Of Light.’; Light.. You knew that wasn't the main reason why she got the title; however, in your mind, that's how she earned it. You snort at her confidence.
“Soberversary Vriska.”
“Thats what I said.”
You roll your eyes affectionately; you knew better than to argue with her anyway. You take your seat beside her before wrapping your arm around her shoulder.
“I'm proud of you, Vriska. Always will be.”
click