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[vecna]

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[vecna]

[Alas, as a human he actually has to sleep these days, so the text wakes him up. Henry squints at his screen, but to his credit, it doesn't take long to reply.]

Maybe no one expected you to die so quickly. You just got here.

[Vox??????]

Is this your way of telling me you need a pickup?

[bsod]

not my fault my stupid burden sent me into a deathtrap





yes

[vecna]

[Burden, huh? Henry's only ever gotten perfectly harmless ones, but he supposes it was a matter of time before someone on Pride... did not.

Well. He can ask more questions later.]

Pleasant.
On my way. Hang tight.

[Not that he has a choice.

Give him a bit. He's going to make his way over to the morgue, and when he arrives he opens up the mortuary cabinet that is presumably making some noise. It slides open with a metallic creak.

ya in there buddy]

[bsod]

def not going anywhere thx

[ He sure is in there. It's probably a very big drawer to accommodate his stupid proportions. He blinks a couple of times, squinting. Blue sparks run up the side of his head. ]

About time.

[ He means "thanks." ]

[vecna]

[Yeah, he totally meant thanks, that's why Henry responds with a smile and a-]

You're welcome.

[He blinks at the sparks, though, which light up the gloom and doom of the morgue. Given the time of day, it's particularly spooky in here, but to his credit, Henry seems pretty unbothered.

He steps away to give Vox some room to get his bearings and stand.]

Diving right into the Shadowpeaks experience, aren't you.

[bsod]

[ It is spooky here. Normally Vox wouldn't be bothered, but the events at the pizzeria have him a bit on-edge. He's quick to sit and swing his legs over the edge of the drawer to get to his feet.

He straightens his tie, smooths his coat. ]

Apparently. Let's get out of here.

[vecna]

[If he notices that tension, he's kind(??) enough not to say anything about it right now. (See: yet.) So Henry nods, gesturing at the way out, and leads on. Their footsteps echo in the dreary, run-down building.]

So what was your burden, exactly? What happened?

[bsod]

[ Vox's face is at least enough to light their way by as they go. He turns to glance at Henry, like he's debating answering. Finally, ]

I had to go into the pizzeria at night and fix something.

[ The what isn't important. ]

The singing animatronic band gets murderous when the sun goes down.

[vecna]

[Oh. Well... duly noted. Good thing he's not had any desire for pizza before now.]

And so they came to life and killed you? Or did something trigger their violence?

[He likes details!]

[bsod]

They just came to life. Or possibly they were already alive when we walked in.

It seemed like they wanted us dead from the word "go."

[ And then he made the situation way worse by calling Pixie an antique. ]

[vecna]

[Ah, so Vox wasn't alone. He assumes that was probably part of the burden, too.]

Like a lot of things around here. I hope you and your companion at least up put up a fight. And more importantly, completed your burden beforehand...?

[bsod]

[ He won't comment on the former, but as for the latter...

He lifts a hand, arcs of blue electricity start jumping between his fingers. ]

[vecna]

[Ah. That’ll be helpful. Henry looks impressed but maybe adjusts his distance a foot or two farther away as they walk.]

Good. I’m glad for you.

[That’s sincere enough, anyway. It’ll be good for the team.

But if he thinks Henry’s not going to pry…]

You did put up a fight, right?

[bsod]

[ what u doin over there bud ]

Don't mock me. Of course I did.

[vecna]

[don’t worry about it]

I’m not mocking you. [It’s a real question!] You seem on edge.

[bsod]

[ He goes still a moment, electricity lancing up his body. You're going to have to get used to that, Henry. ]

On edge? I was just sta̷̠̔l̴̢̿k̷̨͆ed through a p̸̨̀i̸̘͒z̵͈̾z̸̳̑a̶̱͠ ̸̡̄p̴͙͠a̸̢͐r̸̲̈́l̷̠̆ö̸̭r̶̻͐, captured, tortured, dismantled piece by piece to the sounds of pop music and c̸̪͗a̸̪͠t̵̲̂ ̷͓͂p̶̱͌u̴̱̽n̶͎͗s̸̙̈. Why would I be on edge?

[vecna]

[Yeah, no thank you. When he goes still, Henry pauses, too, just clasping his hands behind his back. He tilts his head slightly.]

No. It's not that kind of "on edge." You seem like the kind of person who wouldn't let death get under your skin. Angry about it, yes. But bothered? ...I'm not so sure.

[This is his way of asking: is something bothering you?]

[bsod]

I'm. Fine.

[ That's awfully final. ]

[vecna]

[Hmm.]

You know, I'm very good at keeping secrets. If you change your mind later.

[bsod]

Don't count on it. And don't get chummy with me.

[ He's walking again, a bit more purposefully this time. ]

[vecna]

[Well, trailing behind, then.]

We're teammates. I have to check and make sure.

[bsod]

[ There's another pop of electricity at that statement, but Vox doesn't offer anything else. He keeps heading for the exit.

He's probably going to go shut himself in his room for a bit before appearing in the garage like nothing happened. ]

[vecna]

[Henry won’t push anymore. Ah, if only he had the full extent of his powers back…

But make no mistake. He Will Remember This for later.]