☣️ midwestern mayhem inbox.

[vecna]

TEXT | VOICE | CRAPPY FLIP PHONE VIDEO | ACTION | WHATEVER YOU WANT

Comments

[vecna]

[The way this is an unexpected text and yet the response comes immediately-]

Henry: Are you saying that this is something that actually exists?

[aididitmyway]

Ruby: yes
Ruby: i already picked up a jar for you!!!
Ruby: a bunch of articles said it had spider pheromones or whatever in it

[vecna]

Henry: I'd love to try it. Thank you, Ruby.

[Clearly a normal reply.]

Henry: You should hang around to see the results, too.

[aididitmyway]

Ruby: i knew you were going to say that
Ruby: i will but only because it's you
Ruby: i'll bring it over!

[vecna]

Henry: :)
Henry: Great, how about you meet me at Pride's greenhouse, then?
Henry: We'll have all the spiders upon us in no time.

[aididitmyway]

Ruby: sure.................................
Ruby: see you in a few minutes
Ruby: i am not putting it on though
Ruby: that's all for you

[vecna]

[Well, he didn't expect her to volunteer, anyway, but now he has to tease.]

Henry: Are you sure? You'll be missing out on so many new friends.

[aididitmyway]

Ruby: positive
Ruby: i can make friends from a respectful distance

[vecna]

Henry: Well, all the more fun for me.
Henry: See you soon!

[aididitmyway]

[It's not long before she shows up to Pride's greenhouse, carrying a jar of the alleged spider pheromone cream.]

Henryyyy~

[vecna]

[He crouched down amid a few leafy plants, the same spot that he showed her when she helped him catch a couple of spiders. Henry rises with his hands clasped behind his back, to greet her.]

Ruby. Over here.

[Waves her over.]

[aididitmyway]

It's not gonna attract spiders you've already caught, Henry.

[But, she heads over, and then holds out the jar.]

Sorry for the weird text, I just remembered the articles when I found this thing while I was trying to find my whole skincare routine.

[vecna]

But it might attract spiders I haven't found yet.

[Get with the program, Ruby!

But he just smiles as she comes over, and he takes the jar from her, holding it up and examining it curiously.]

So it actually works? This is something that's happened to people in the past?

[aididitmyway]

Lots of people claim it did! I don't know if it actually does or not. But if it actually does, you can take care of your dry skin and get more spiders.

Your skin kinda needs it, so I hope it works.

[vecna]

[WOW]

...My skin needs it?

[aididitmyway]

It looks really dry.

But don't worry, this'll help fix it.

[vecna]

[rip his complexion]

I see. Well, I'll just take your word for that.

[He unscrews the lid.]

So, I just put it on my face, and the spiders will show up? That easy?

[aididitmyway]

It's more of a lotion, so your body might be better than your face.

[vecna]

Oh, okay.

[Well, he just rolls up his long sleeves and begins to apply the cream, rubbing it in like lotion as directed. No hesitation. Has Ruby seen his 001 tattoo on his wrist, right next to his Pride emblem? Well, it's probably in clear view now, as he works to get the spider cream on!]

[aididitmyway]

[She has not, and she can't help but stare for at least a moment in confusion, because tattoos aren't all that common in Japan and usually only criminals tend to have them.

And then, because she's nosy:]

... 001?

[vecna]

[Ah, well, he glances down at it, briefly, before moving his gaze back up to Ruby. It's nothing that he needs to hide here, nothing that needs to be some grand secret. Sometimes that's still strange, but it's freeing in its own way.]

My test subject number. From my time in the lab.

[aididitmyway]

Test subject. . .

[She looks concerned.]

I'm gonna guess it's not just something nice like testing out some makeup or something.

[vecna]

[He huffs a little at that as he puts the cream on his other arm and hand.]

If only. No, it was for my powers. Where I’m from, people like me are rare — and therefore worthy of study by the government, or so they think.

[aididitmyway]

[She makes a face, ugh.]

... I'm sorry. That's—... I've only ever heard about it happening in movies, but I guess it's not like I'm a government official or anything. But people shouldn't be experimented on because of powers or whatever.

[vecna]

When it comes to using people for power, most humans are the same, no matter what "morals" they pretend to abide by.

[Well, he has the cream on him now, and he squats down low in the plants to see if he can attract any spiders.]

It's fine. They're going to pay for it eventually, anyway.