[ PSL : A Vampire Hunter(?) & A Witch Finder ]

[madenomistake]

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[antichthonia]

What, no trust?

[handing it back easily]

[madenomistake]

No? Not really!

[ He takes it back, but turns on his heel to go back to pacing as soon as he gets it. He's gesticulating in a way that is dangerous to do whilst brandishing a blade. ]

Why? Am I supposed to? We're a bunch of people picked off— not even the streets! A bunch of people who are willing to work for vampires, who got handed weapons, and we're supposed to do random violence! And they didn't even make sure we're good at violence! I don't think any of us are that vetted! Or vetted at all! And I'm not going to trust people who work for vampires!!

[antichthonia]

[remus watches . . . not really with judgment, not even amusement, just kinda tired]

Rhetorical question. What's with the fucking theatrics? Take it easy. You'll drop that again.

[madenomistake]

I'm!! I'm!

[ he folds back into himself, hunching his shoulders and putting his gesturing blade down at his side. Flat: ]

No, you're right. I'm making a big fuss over nothing. There's nothing to be upset about. This is all normal, right?

[antichthonia]

No. But you need to pace yourself. If you lose it right at the beginning, it doesn't do you any good. Right now we're just walking. Okay?

[madenomistake]

. . . okay.

[ he'll fall into pace, a step behind him ]

[antichthonia]

You don't have to trust me, but I can probably make this easier for you if you want.

[madenomistake]

[ muttering because if he doesn't keep it locked down he'll start shouting again ]

I don't want easy. What's that even mean, anyway? Get good at this and keep my head down?

[antichthonia]

I mean . . .

I don't know. I can do most of it for you. When that's possible. You shouldn't even have been picked, so—

[madenomistake]

Yeah! I shouldn't have been, but no one should be! You do understand, right? What they are, what we're working for?

[antichthonia]

Sure. I'm afraid to die just the same as you. We're both here for that, aren't we?

[madenomistake]

. . . Dying wouldn't do any good, at least. I think it's the being brought back part that scares me more.

[antichthonia]

Correct. Maybe dial back the righteousness, then, so long as we're both in exactly the same position and I'm offering to try to make it easier.

[madenomistake]

[ huffs, looking down and away, without apologising. ]

Right. I know.

[ he goes quiet but it doesn't last ]

Why are you offering, anyway? How. . . how long have you been working for them?

[antichthonia]

Couple weeks, maybe? I'm offering because I never enjoy seeing your type pushed into work like this.

[madenomistake]

I'm not useless. I'm really not. You don't need to worry about my type.

[antichthonia]

I didn't say you're useless. I mean it'll shake you up a lot worse than it does to me. I can tell.

Up to you, though. I won't argue with you about it.

[madenomistake]

. . . I used to be a hunter.

[ . . . that's not really believable so after a moment he clarifies, looking down to check he's still gripping his blade correctly ]

Hunter's assistant, anyway.

It's not the violence— even if I'm bad at that. It's just the... everything else.

[antichthonia]

[openly surprised]

Really? What do you mean, everything else?

[madenomistake]

[ he can't really blame him for the surprise but if anything he seems even more put out ]

I made weapons and did logistics. For hunting vampires and helping protect people from them. So this all is . . .

[ he is not the best at words. Settles on: ]

Bad? A really intense shade of bad?

[antichthonia]

. . . Yeah.

All right. We don't have to be the best employees on the roster here, do we? At least there's that.

[madenomistake]

Yeah. That's... my plan? As far as I have one.

How about you?

[antichthonia]

Keep either of us from dying while we fail to be the best employees?

[madenomistake]

Oh, no. I meant. . . what did you do. Before this? I'm still. . . I can't understand why me. But I guess it doesn't matter. Keeping our heads down before they get tired of whatever sick game this is might matter more.

[antichthonia]

Back home? I was a witchfinder. So it makes perfect sense.

[sounding so tired, not a trace of pride]