April 17, 2022

Venti runs into the room, looking for the R053 pill Lucille sent for Alder. They find it and attempt to go to the bathroom to flush it down the toilet.

Amos grabs Venti's wrist. "Hey, V."

Venti is shaking and stares at him, "Let me get rid of it-"

"You don't want to do that."

"Why not??"

"Because I said so."

"I can't let you kill him-" Venti struggles.

"I'm not going to kill him, Venti, he can't die."

"Rose would erase who he is! He'd be a completely different body. The Alder you know would be fucking dead."

"Why do you care?"

"Because I dont want anyone to fucking die! Obviously!"

"I need you to stop what you're doing right now." Amos' eyes flicker from bright green to hazel for a moment.

"Me?? Or what? You'll beat the shit out of me again? You'll rose me?"

"Or else I will send someone to worry your mother."

Venti growls, "Roxy will protect her."

Amos smirks. "Fiesty. Now, I suggest you give me the pills before your mother isn't the only one I have to worry."

"What are you implying??" Venti looks to the toilet.

"You won't have to know if you give them to me."

"You can't rose him-" Venti's breathing is erratic as they clutch the pill, trying to decide.

"Why not? Why does it affect you?"

"Because he's nice! You're just giving Lucille someone else she can control!"

His eyes flicker again, "You... Need to stop. Now."

"Alder is a cool person and has always been nice to me and he deserves better!"

"Well, now you're just-" Flicker, "Triggering his... ego."

"Good! He deserves a chance to fucking live! Outside of Slender's influence, outside of this stupid mansion!"

"He doesn't deserve shit!"

"HE'S A CHILD!" Venti throws the pill into the toilet and flushes it.

"You bitch!" Amos screams.

"I'm done doing what you want!"

"I've never made you do anything!"

"You made me shoot Max!"

"You wanted to!"

"No I didnt!" Venti yells, "Let go of me!" Amos tightens his grip. Venti struggles, trying to kick at him.

"I need you to listen to me-" The color in his eyes fades. "Venti?"

"Alder?" Venti stops fighting.

"What are... What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to save you!"

"I-I'm sorry, I don't think I get what you mean..."

"He wants to make you take a drug that will erase who you are as a person," Venti explains.

He lets go of them, forgetting Amos's strength. "Oh... Th-thank you, I guess..."

"No problem..." Venti holds their wrist, "He's gonna hurt me when he comes back isn't he..."

Alder's expression turns sympathetic. "He hurts you?"

"Sometimes..."

"Venti, I... I'm so sorry, I didn't know..."

"It's fine..." Venti looks away.

"Do you... need anything?"

"I dunno. I just... I can only imagine what's gonna happen when he comes back..."

"I'll hold him back for as long as I can."

"Thank you..." Venti says. Something crashes through the fucking window and it's HER. Roximilus the Bold... she's curled up in a ball and threw herself through the window!

Roxy unscrunkles herself as she gets up, smiling smugly, "Hi." Venti sees her and grins, running over to her and tackle hugging her.

"JÉSUS CHRIST-" Alder yells.

"AA- Hey cutie," Roxy smiles, blushing and hugging Venti back.

"What are doing in my house?" Alder asks.

"Yeah," Roxy makes a heart shape with her hands. Venti's fucking clinging to her, taking her in, how she smells, feels, everything. As if she could be gone in a moments notice. Roxy's smiling like a goof, hugging them back. Holding them so close yet so gentle. They bury their face in her shoulder.

"Sorry to interrupt, but... Uh, my window is broken." Alder says.

"Skill issue," Roxy pets Venti's hair.

"...Right." He backs away.

"Homophobe," Roxy says.

"Homophobe," Venti mumbles, "We should go to my room,,"

"Bet," she smiles.

"Good grief..." Alder sighs.

"Good gruff," Roxy replies.

Venti's still clinging to her, "Carry me?"

"Sure, up we go," she says, picking Venti up bridle style, and walking out of the room. Venti's still clinging to her as they enter their room..

"I'm so fucked when Amos comes back...." Venti says.

"He doesnt have to know," Roxy whispers, sitting on the bed, still holding them.

"I mean before you came over I flushed the rose pill... we were arguing and shit..."

"Oh,, I see"

"Yeah... he threatened my mom and stuff."

"Don't worry.. I'll make sure they're safe, okay?"

"Okay... thank you..." Venti curls up in her arms, trying to be as small as possible, "Would you still love me if I was a wormmm.."

"Of course I would, my sweet princess," she says softly, holding them close.

Venti tears up, hugging her close, "I can't believe this is real..."

"I wish I could keep you safe forever,,"

"Same..."

"What the fuck." Mya says from the doorway.

Venti jumps and looks at Mya, "What??"

"I thought she was dead. I thought she, like... How is she here?" Mya asks.

"I am dead thats literally my whole gimmick," Roxy says.

"I thought she was dead too but apparently she just teleported somewhere where she didn't have service..." Venti explains. Roxy continues petting Venti and holding them close, purring slightly. Venti clings to Roxy, rubbing their head against her. Roxy plays with Venti's hair, sighing happily.