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==> TO BE THE ONE AND ONLY VRISKA SERKET.
You are Vriska Serket, and you are dead. Furthermore, you haven’t been feeling particularly unique lately. Not just because of the obvious fact that you’ve seen countless dead versions of yourself here and there, but because you haven't felt like yourself for a long time. Specifically, not since all your friends and crewmates abandoned you. Even Tavros. (How is that even possi8le?!!!!!!!)
Everyone except Meenah.
You are giving her some TOO0OTALLY wicked pigtails right now. It’s a habit you’ve kept up since you became… Matesprits? You don’t really know if that’s what you are. Sure, you kiss often and you’re certainly not kismesis but… you don’t know. Lately, you don’t know anything. You never imagined you’d actually need one of Karkat’s lectures on romance. (Or that you’d actually miss them.)
You put the finishing touches on her hair.
Vriska: And... done!
Vriska: You look gorgeous now!
Meenah: you sayin i didnt look fine before shrimp?
Vriska: One can always look 8etter ::::)
She laughs and stands up, immediately moving behind you to undo your own pigtails only to redo them herself.
It’s actually not a bad habit she’s imposed. Simple and mindless, it almost reminds you of your brief fling with John. That was a good stage of your life Post-life... during the first few weeks, anyway. You admit it was mostly your fault things didn't work out, just like it was with your grand plan to kill Lord English—that plan that caused ANOTHER John, a living one this time, to abandon you... Everyone abandons you because of who you are. Everyone except Meenah, for some reason.
Vriska: So...
You start to say, hoping your voice doesn’t sound as shaky as it feels.
Vriska: Do you like people like me?
Meenah: mmm?
Meenah: whatchu mean?
Vriska: You know.
Vriska: ........
Vriska: "Young."
She stops, and the most awkward silence of your No-life takes over the room. You hold back the urge to punch yourself.
You feel Meenah playing with your hair.
Meenah: nah
Meenah: i mean... aint like you literally a kid
Vriska: ...
Meenah: ...
Vriska: I'm 6 sweeps o—
Meenah: i know!
She lets go of your hair and throws her hands up with exaggerated flair.
Meenah: i know how old you are!
Meenah: im just sayin it dont matter much right
Vriska: What do you mean?
Meenah: i mean that you...
She points a finger directly at your face while her characteristic smirk slowly forms. You take the moment to observe her features: that sharp jawline, the eyes that always hold a hint of mockery, and that brazen confidence that follows her everywhere. You wonder if you used to look like that.
Meenah: you way too cool 38)
You think you’re blushing and you hate it a little.
Vriska: I-I
Meenah: im serious. you easily one of the fliest people i know. way better than my old session mates.
Meenah: imagine meulin tryin to cook up your plan to kill english.
Meenah: or horuss havin to do half the stuff you did to survive alternia.
Meenah: or kankri doin... anything.
That last bit makes you laugh while she drapes an arm over your shoulder. You shiver at the contact, but you don't say anything so you don't ruin the mood.again.
Meenah: where that dumb question come from bait
Vriska: Mmm, nothing. Just been thinking, I guess...
Meenah: you always thinkin lately.
Vriska: Yeah, well, there’s this thing humans call a "brain," maybe you’ve heard of it.
Meenah: oh shut it!
She steals a kiss and you shiver again. Her lips are different from John’s or Tavros’s; they are decisive and firm. You like to think you kiss like that—or at least, you used to. God! Have you become one of those losers?
You decide to anchor those thoughts before they sail away. Now is not the time to act like a little girl, Vriska. You’re too cool for that.
Your lips part.
Vriska: ...
Vriska: Can I ask something else?
Meenah: you askin for permission now?
You roll your eyes as she goes back to playing with your hair.
Vriska: Whatever. I just want to know if...
Vriska: In a hypothetical case.
Vriska: If someone "cooler" than me showed up... what would you do?
Meenah doesn’t answer immediately, looking over your hair and face once more. These seconds feel eternal while anxiety embeds itself in your blood-pumping organ. Stupid! Didn't you say you don't have time to be afraid like a little kid? You need to be cool!
Meenah: afraid aranea might come back for a piece of peixes eh? 38)
Vriska: Jesus, no!
Meenah: who is jesus?
Vriska: Never mind. Forget everything I said.
She laughs again before giving you another kiss and letting you lean on her shoulder. You have to crane your neck to manage it; you assume it’s normal—the Condesce is a giant, so her alternate version should be tall too. You tell yourself that so you don't have to think it might be because of the age gap.
Both stay in silence, watching the destruction of existence by LE in the distance. There’s a bit of beauty in the end of everything.
You ignore the fact that she didn’t answer your question. But it’s okay. She already said you're the coolest person she’s met, and to be fair, you think she’s right. Everyone else in the dream bubbles is pretty pathetic to one degree or another. Maybe there’s an alternate you out there who’s cooler, but you doubt it. You relax your body as you lean on her once more.
For now, you are her one and only Vriska Serket, and you hope it stays that way forever