buttfaces | I HATE EVERYTHING aka SNOWHELL VOICE TESTRAVAGANZA

I HATE EVERYTHING aka SNOWHELL VOICE TESTRAVAGANZA

[ Angel is pretty sure she's never going to get used to Norfinbury's level of cold. It isn't as though she's never seen snow before or anything - she's seen the vault hunters dealing with it plenty of times, and if she concentrates really hard she can even dredge up a vague memory of playing in it as a child. Making snow angels, if she's remembering right. Laughing a lot, too. Cute.

There's no temptation for her to do that right now, though. Largely because it's just too gosh darned cold. Her clothing isn't exactly great for dealing with these temperatures, and while she's grateful for the coat she woke up with it doesn't keep the awful freezing ache from seeping into her bones. It's almost - almost - at the point where she's starting to miss the eridium burning in her blood. At least that would keep her warm, right?

Stupid blizzard. Darn it to heck.

By the time the hospital comes into view, she's a shivering sodden mess. Angel runs the last few metres to the entrance, practically diving inside and shrugging her dripping coat off onto the floor.

After a moment, she reconsiders and hangs it up on a nearby door handle. Well - there's no need to be slovenly, is there? She's not an animal. Which sucks, because at least if she was she'd be able to shake herself dry and be done with it. With a sigh, she raises a softly glowing hand and starts squeezing the water out of her hair. ]

Shit.

[ Look, if she can't use her newfound liberation to mildly curse about being soaked to the skin in snow hell, what can she use it for?

And besides, it's not like anyone's around to hear her. Surely. ]

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[The hospital isn't exactly ideal as far as shelter goes, but then nowhere in Norfinbury is. It beats freezing to death, but Jack still loathes it - he got rich so he and his family would never have to live like this again.

Speaking of family...

He'd settled down for the night in a room close to the entrance precisely so that he could hear if anyone else comes in. At the sound of the door opening and closing, he's up on his feet and on his guard, ready for whatever bandits he might have to deal with -

And then the sound of that voice freezes him on the spot. He's been trying to find her ever since finding out that she's here, alive, but she hasn't made that particularly easy. If he believed in any powers higher than himself, he'd be thanking them on his knees right now for the stroke of luck that's led the two of them in the same place on the same night.

Taking a deep breath to brace himself, he steps out into the corridor. It's a shame that he doesn't have his mask - she shouldn't have to see him like this - but that just can't be helped.]

Watch your language, young lady.

[Priorities.]

Oops - sorry - shoot.

[ The response is mumbled, automatic, and accompanied by a guilty look. It's hard to break the habit of a lifetime, after all, especially when you're tired and wet and your guard is down.

Still, it only takes Angel a second or two to herself and her situation. Namely that she is free, and this is not okay.

Wait, wait, no, she has one better: this is skagshit. Thoughtcrime, ho! ]

I mean - no.

[ Furious with herself for her momentary lapse, she turns on her heel and snatches up her coat. Screw it. She'll deal with the blizzard, she's not staying here.

You know, unless the building has locked down since she stepped inside. Gosh, that would be unfortunate as heckie. ]

Angel.

[He's not expecting her to be stopped by the firm tone - clearly this rebellious attitude has gotten too far out of hand for that. But perhaps it'll slow her down enough.]

You can't go out like that. Here -

[He's shrugging off his coat as he speaks and holds it out for her.]

At least take this.

[ It does stop her, dead in her tracks. Because how dare he? How dare he stand there with his ruined face, looking like the pathetic monster that he is? How dare he act like he's concerned? Like he's not the worst father imaginable?

It's a game, she reminds herself. One of his games. Don't listen. ]

No. I don't want anything--

[ She tries to open the exit door, only to find that it's stuck fast. What are the chances? ]

... from... you.

[ Her heart sinks. Great. Now she looks - and feels - like a powerless, petulant child. Cool. ]

[Success.]

Well, good thing it doesn't look like you'll be needing it then.

[He pulls his coat back on and steps up to her, grasping her shoulder.]

Now, how about you calm down and stop acting like I'm the bad guy here?

[He just wants to look out for her, and she knows that perfectly well. So ungrateful.]

Calm down?

[ She glowers frostily up at him as she tries to shrug her shoulder out of his grip. It doesn't really help with the whole petulant child thing, but it does make her feel a little better.

She can deal with one night trapped here with him. Just like old times, right? ]

Of course. I'm sorry, sir.

[ If she can't put physical distance between them, she'll do it with her words instead. ]

[For a moment anger flares up inside him, and it takes all of his self-control not to lash out. How dare she act like this? How dare she take that kind of tone with her own father? He should -

No. Giving more to rebel against isn't going to be any use here. If they were back home, he could just quash it and make her be reasonable again, but here too many things are out of his control.

It's frustrating as hell.]

This is how it's gonna be, huh?

[He sighs mournfully and takes a step back. See, he's giving her space! He's being so generous and accommodating, even though she doesn't deserve it!]

It's the first time we're getting to see each other for real again, doesn't that mean anything?

Yes. It means I'm the unluckiest son of a-- son of a gun on this side of the galaxy.

[ He's being nice. Almost reasonable. Angel doesn't know what to do with it. A lot of things could have happened since her death - maybe he's changed? Learned his lesson? What if he wants to make amends?

Again she has to forcibly remind herself that that doesn't matter. He's a monster. She doesn't owe him anything. ]

You don't really mean that.

[It's automatic - of course she doesn't. She loves him, he knows she does. She's just acting up, the way children do.]

I'm glad I got to see you again, sweetheart. I missed you.

[The way his voice softens is entirely calculated, of course, but he does also mean it. Her being alive makes every shitty thing this place can throw at him worth it.]

Yes. I'm sure you did.

[ He'd needed her, after all. She can't imagine that his plans with the Vault had worked out all that well without her around. Of course he'd missed her. ]

Don't think this is how things are going to be here. As soon as those doors open again, I'm leaving.

[ Asserting herself. Yes. Good. If she can keep this up, maybe this won't be so hard after all. ]

Leaving where, exactly? You're just gonna keep wandering around this dump?

[His patience is running out, and his tone sharpens to prove it.]

You know it's not safe out there for you. If the cold doesn't get you, the monsters or the bandits will.

[Just the thought of her out there makes his skin crawl. Of course, it's not like he has anywhere safe to keep her, but at least he can try to get some control on things.]

They aren't bandits. They're just trying to leave, the same as we are.

[ It's not "we." It's not "we." She sets her jaw, frustrated at herself yet again. ]

I'd rather take my chances out there than stay here. I know a little about living with monsters.

[ This might be upsetting and difficult, but goddamn is she still a little proud of that ice burn right there. She's a little disappointed that nobody else got to hear it, to be honest. What a waste. ]

You can't trust anyone, Angel. Thought you'd have learned that by now.

[Anyone except him, of course, but that goes without saying.]

But hey, who cares what I think, right? I- I mean, all I ever did was raise you and protect you your whole goddamn life!

[And there goes the fuse. It's not the insult that does it - he's used to hearing far worse - but the stubborn, ungrateful contrariness she's showing. Why won't she understand that he knows what's best for her?]

[ She can't help but flinch as he raises his voice - but instead of chastising herself for it, she decides to welcome it. Let him see. Let him see what his child thinks of him. ]

You didn't protect me, you used me! You made me so dar-- damned miserable that I took the only measures I had to escape you! And you want me to stay with you?

[ She doesn't laugh - when does she ever, really? - but she gives him an incredulous look. How far gone is he that this makes sense to him? ]

[He sees her flinch, but only as a sign that she knows she's wrong. She's just arguing for the sake of it.

It just makes him angrier.]

Don't you dare talk to me like that when you clearly have no idea what the hell you're talking about. All I ever wanted, all I ever did was to keep you safe!

[He's not going to accept that she wanted to die, because that would make it his fault. It can't be his fault, because he's the hero. Heroes don't make their daughters want to die.]

[ She takes an involuntary step backwards towards the door. Does he genuinely believe it when he says things like that? She's never been able to tell for sure. ]

It didn't feel like you were keeping me very safe when I died. Because I was cut off from the eridium you made me dependent on!

[ She's probably going too far, but what's he going to do? Ground her?

Oh geez, she hopes he doesn't try to ground her. That would just be embarrassing for everyone. ]

[Oh, he believes it. He completely believes that he did nothing wrong. Almost nothing.]

I tried to save you, but there was no way I could get there before those bandit pieces of shit murdered you! I should've killed every last one of them before they even set foot on Pandora, but...

[But the Vault Hunters killed him instead. That... that stings a bit.

He's still angry, but uncharacteristically defused. Being defeated so thoroughly is still something he's having trouble dealing with.]

You're not listening to me! If you hadn't done what you did...

[ Why is she bothering? It isn't like he'll listen now, either. ]

Ugh. I hope they beat you.

[ She's pretty sure they must have. Why else would he be here? Especially without his mask.

She moves to stalk away past him. Maybe if she finds a place to sleep in here away from him, it'll be easier to escape in the morning without him stopping or following her. ]

They did, actually.

[He steps in her way so that he can look her straight in the eye.]

They killed the Warrior, and they killed me. They took away what little hope there was left for that godforsaken planet.

So I hope you're happy, Angel. The bad guys finally win.

[His voice is oozing with bitterness. Good job, you helped the villains murder your father! Aren't you proud?]

[ Returning his gaze is difficult, but she manages it. Just about. Angel can't afford to back down or feel sorry for him. Not now.

The fact that he woke the Warrior is a surprise, though. How did he charge the key? Did he take Maya? Lilith? She should have expected that. Of course he'd use them like he'd used her. Foolish. ]

They're not the bad guys, you are. Were. Exc-- get out of my way.

[ She'd like to just push past him, but doesn't quite dare. She's not looking him in the eye any more, either. ]

[He's heard the whole "oh it's you who are the bad guys, Jack! YOOOOUUUUU" spiel a million times. Coming from anyone else, it wouldn't even register.

But Angel's his daughter. She's the one person he could trust, the one person who was on his side.

Was.

He should have seen it coming, really. You can't trust anyone, no matter how close to you they are, or you'll get stabbed in the back. It was only inevitable.

Doesn't make it hurt any less, though.]

Don't do this, Angel.

[He knows he's already lost her, in a way just as final as her death, but a part of him still wants to believe in his baby girl.]

[ She remembers. He was there, in the snow memory. Making snow angels alongside her and laughing, too.

Funny how things like that come back to you when you least want them to. ]

I'm... I'm not the one to blame here.

[ She isn't moving. Why isn't she moving. She's not going to fall for this, not after everything. ]

I didn't do this, you did.

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I HATE EVERYTHING aka SNOWHELL VOICE TESTRAVAGANZA

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