VR   You stupid piece of shit -

VR   Stop wriggling around! Sit still!!!

You slap down the bandage hard, earning a pained grunt.

EM   >> i told you - i dont need medicine!

EM   >> let go already!

VR   You. Are.

VR   The dumbest goddamn man alive.

He makes a point to lean towards you and sneer.

EM   >> the toughest, you mean.

VR   Oh yeah. Big, strong man.

VR   That's exactly how you got yourself into this, isn't it?

VR   Pipe the fuck down.

EM   >> make me.

You push him back onto the headrest of the chair.

EM   >> oof.

EM   >> low blow.

VR   Hardly.

EM   >> arent medics supposed to be nice and shit?

VR   Not when you act like a fuckhead.

VR   Walking around like you have poison resistance.

VR   You know you can’t flex your way out of a gastro-intestinal disability, right?

EM   >> shut up.

How is he still strong enough to fight back? You try putting him in a headlock with one arm as you grab the bottle with another.

VR   You can't fight your way out of bare-minimum treatment, either!

EM   >> hands off!

EM   >> youll probably make the poison worse.

VR   How.

EM   >> with your... your snake powers.

VR   Snakes are - oof - venomous, dumbass.

VR   They spread it through scratches and bites.

EM   >> huh. didnt think about it like that.

EM   >> well, if youre going to bite me, can i pick where youll-

You take the opportunity to shove a spoonful into his mouth.

EM   >> hack - you bitch - !

Medicine splashes out, landing on you and the floor. You almost smack him just for wasting it.

VR   You know how grateful you should be?

VR   For me to come out of my way to do this, nearly every time?

VR   God, I should just leave you to die, wouldn’t that be the day!

VR   Then, I'd be spared from having to save your ass!

He opens his mouth to say something, but you quickly put another spoonful in. And this time, you keep your hand locked.

VR   Swallow.

EM   >> mmprhph.

VR   If you don't, I'm shoving it down your throat.

VR   Spoon, fist. Everything.

VR   I don't care.

EM   >> ...urgh.

You remove the spoon. When he coughs, you pick up a cup of water from the table.

VR   Now drink.

VR   I mean it. I swear.

He takes the cup and, to your relief, takes a hearty swig. It's actually quiet for a moment, save for his mouth noises. A rare moment of peace with the harbinger of war.

VR   You know...

VR   You’re not supposed to down it raw, but you gave me no choice.

VR   Isn't that a perfect metaphor?

VR   You could've done it the easy way, but nothing's ever easy with your dumb ass.

VR   Brute force or nothing.

VR   Your way and the highway.

VR   I can't stand it, sometimes.

VR   And you can't even blame it on something like honor, because look at you.

VR   You don't have a goddamn moral bone in your body.

VR   Ugh.

VR   ...

VR   Say something, asshole. It feels weird just talking by myself.

After downing the whole glass, he smacks his lips.

EM   >> good thing i dont mind doing it raw -

EM   >> oww! fuck!!

EM   >> one? you cant give me one??

VR   No.

You sequester your whip as he grumbles like a baby.

EM   >> dont i get special treatment if im almost dying?

VR   You’re always almost dying, you useless soldier.

EM   >> i know thats right.

VR   Don't be proud.

EM   >> i cant help it! its the best way to live, duchess.

EM   >> its not like you dont get it.

VR   Get what?

VR   Don't you dare say something rotten.

EM   >> no.

EM   >> just… you know.

EM   >> fighting.

EM   >> spilling blood. breaking and bruising shit.

VR   Thanks for clarifying.

VR   No, I don't get it.

He groans.

EM   >> the - the one on one! even when youre outnumbered.

EM   >> its the rush.

EM   >> you feel like youre invincible.

EM   >> hell, it makes you feel like a fucking god.

EM   >> its what were made for.

He mimes some punches and smirks to himself. You're numbly astonished by how much energy he has, even now.

EM   >> man.

EM   >> its the best. its everything.

EM   >> no better high like it.

VR   Adrenaline is a hell of a drug.

EM   >> you know it.

VR   Sure. Maybe.

You cross your arms and look out, reflecting on all the battles you've witnessed throughout your life - from schoolyard brawls to the international wars. Funnily enough, Emil's been present for many of them. And you've seen how those turn out.

VR   You make it sound like you're some sort of grand warrior.

VR   But you know you're the one bleeding out half the time?

He barks out a laugh.

EM   >> fuck. thats the best part.

VR   Perv.

EM   >> cant deny it.

VR   Do your enemies know they're playing into your sick kinks?

EM   >> hey, its more than just getting my rocks off.

EM   >> its about facing against something that puts up a fight.

EM   >> pushing yourself to the limit.

EM   >> your bodys barely there, and youre feeling, seeing, proof of it.

EM   >> but you survive.

EM   >> you live, because you have to.

You glance at him, expecting to see something ravenous, depraved - instead, his eyebrows are furrowed in thought. As if he’s organizing his thoughts right in front of you, un-twisting them from the mess of dirt and fury they’re covered in. It almost makes you forget what you're doing in the first place.

EM   >> and man, when i fight you...

VR   When you incite violence out of me, you mean.

EM   >> dont pretend like you dont enjoy it.

VR   ...

VR   Your point?

EM   >> i live for this shit, man.

Thoroughly exhausted by this conversation, you sigh.

VR   You are so damn weird.

EM   >> hey man. im communicating freak-to-freak, here.

EM   >> i wouldnt be going all in if i thought you wouldnt get it.

EM   >> ...

EM   >> you do, right?

VR   What, you need my validation or something?

EM   >> fuck no.

EM   >> just, yknow.

EM   >> you get it.

VR   ...

VR   No excuse to get poisoned, though.

He sighs and shakes his head.

EM   >> whatever.