#Fiver:Alice

[springbandit]

"i don’t remember asking for this... but somehow, my life has been rewritten." (Fiver & Alice)

Fiver's nose twitched as Alice's words lingered in the air, his gaze fell to the floor for a moment, overwhelmed by the flood of sensations clawing at his small frame. Phantom aches that gnawed at him, clouded visions of something he can't quite understand, but knows its severe. He shook physically, as if trying to free himself, but, it didn't do anything for him. Not really. "I...I didn't mean for it to happen like this." his voice was small and fragile, unsure how to explain what he's feeling or seeing without making things worse, if that's even possible. "Rewritten?" he shook his head. "Maybe for you...But.." he looked up at her, eyes wide with worry. "I just wanted to help the sheriff...I didn't want for any of this."

@fcrafcrtnight

[springbandit]

Fiver felt a knot tighten in his chest as Alice spoke. Was she really thinking she could just walk away from the sheriff after all this? That thought was terrifying. He couldn't let that happen. He took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself. "I know you're scared," he began softly, "And it feels like...like things have gotten so bad that maybe facing him is the hardest thing you could do right now. But..." he swallowed, forcing himself to keep going despite his lips trembling. "But, he's not safe. I don't think he's ever been this...not...safe. And-" his voice cracked, and he quickly caught himself, looking down at his feet for a moment of security before trying to continue onwards. "There's a great sickness, and whether you're supposed to know about it or not, I can't just let you walk away. Not after everything we've been through." He fidgeted, guilt building up inside him as he realised he was putting even more pressure on her when she was already struggling. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier...I'm still learning a lot of things about humans. I just thought...I don't know. I was desperate to say something helpful, and my mother had so many children I don't think she even noticed when I left." He chuckled, dreadfully uncomfortable, knowing he wasn't saving himself at all, and likely just digging a bigger hole. "But, what I do know is that we can't just walk away from this. Maybe he'll remember your son every time he sees you, but, he'll also remember you. And that you're still there. That you haven't given up on him, and maybe that's what you both need to remember to keep going." His breath hitched and he added, "Please don't make him face this alone. I don't know if he'll make it." Fiver's gaze softened, his heart heavy but determined. "I'll stay here for as long as I'm useful. I don't have the answers, but, I have enough to start looking for them. You have to talk to him, Alice. You have to try."

@fcrafcrtnight

"OKAY. OKAY. I'M NOT GOING TO DIE. OKAY, THAT'S.. THAT'S A GOOD THING. I THINK? I WOULDN'T KNOW, I.. MY HEAD'S A MESS RIGHT NOW." laughing nervously, as she ran a hand through her hair. right now? alice didn't know what to think and there was a part of her that was just so damn tired. she couldn't remember the last time where she had not been close to breaking down, could she? it was close to that and right now, she knew that. right? her hands were still shaking and no, she didn't know how to make any of it better. did she? no. "together. that would involve going to see him again. that would involve facing him after all of this. i don't know how to do that. any of it," for a moment, she found herself glancing at him, while snorting. "i.. i think i'm a little too old for that by now, but.. THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTION?" no, she wasn't taking it the wrong way. why would she, when he was trying to help her? "i want to, but.. have no idea how," glancing at him. "i quite do like having you around, yeah. do stay."

[springbandit]

“I prefer watching from the sidelines to participating.” (Fiver & Alice)

Fiver glanced over at Alice, feeling a strange wave of familiarity he couldn't quite place. Her words resonated with him, he often struggled to feel part of the crowd, even back home. "Yeah, I get that." He replied, voice quiet but thoughtful. "Sometimes it's easier to just watch, take it all in without getting too involved or risking anything." He shifted slightly, fleeting images and sensations already beginning to toy with him. "But...maybe that's why we're here." He mused, almost to himself as much as to Alice. "To stop watching and actually...figure things out." He looked around at all the masked figures, none he could recognise. But, something about them felt significant, even if he didn't understand exactly as to what. @fcrafcrtnight

[springbandit]

Fiver could feel the tremor of Alice's emotions ripple through him. He took a step closer, though unsure if he should reach out, and if he should, how to even go about it. Comfort wasn't something he was used to offering, especially not as a human, but, the desperation in her voice made him want to try. "I...I don't know know exactly what's wrong." He swallowed, remorseful that it just didn't work like that. His visions came in snippets, flashing imagery, pains or feelings, but, he didn't know enough about Alice or her family to even begin to make guesses. He debated asking to look around their home to see if anything put the pieces together, but, he decided against it. "But, it's something. I don't know what, but, I feel it." His hands shook slightly, mirroring Alice's own fears. "You have to talk to him. Before it's too late. These secrets could be what's tearing you apart. If it isn't..." He shook his head, dismissing himself. They didn't have time to be incorrect. "I don't think you can afford to lose anymore than you have. Not when everything's already so close to falling apart."

"I DIDN'T. I WOULD HAVE NEVER HURT OUR SON, BUT HE.. HE WAS GOING TO HURT THEM. MY DAUGHTER, MY GRANDCHILDREN. HOW COULD I HAVE LET THAT HAPPEN?" shaking her head and right now, she hadn't even realised that her body was shaking with the sobs. what was it? perhaps.. perhaps alice had gotten tired of being strong for so long and now, she was feeling herself break. thinking about charles? it was enough for that to happen, wasn't it? "fp. there's only him. what's.. what's wrong?" @springbandit

[springbandit]

Fiver flinched, but didn't back down. He was growing accustomed to how she reacted to things, even if he didn't like it. "I didn't come here to mess up your life. I came here because I know what's coming and I can't just stand by and watch it happen." His voice wavered, but he managed to steady himself. "Look, I don't have all the answers, I wish I did. But, I don't even know anything about either of you." He didn't want to start making uneducated guesses for worry he'd make things worse, or even just waste time. "But, you can definitely change something. Not everything is set in stone. You've got to talk to him, Alice. He needs to know the truth...or...or maybe he already does...but...if you do too? Maybe then, he'll fight." He swallowed hard, the words sticking to the back of his throat. "I can come with you. I can...look around your home..see if something..I don't know...if something sticks out." He was grasping for straws now, but, he didn't want to just tell her everything was horrible and not at least offer to help try and remedy things.

@fcrafcrtnight

"NO? IT SURE AS HELL LOOKS LIKE YOU DO WANT IT. THAT YOU CAME HERE TO MESS UP MY FUCKING LIFE!" alice knew that she shouldn't be this angry. she knew that being this angry wasn't going to help with anything and that it was just going to lead her into more trouble, more problems, more of the whole fucking lot and yet, she couldn't stop it. of course she could not. "not fate? you just told me that the man that i've loved since i was a teenager is going to die! what the fuck am i supposed to do about that?" taking a deep breath. "okay. okay. how can i stop it?" @springbandit

[springbandit]

Fiver could feel Alice's breathing slow, and a sense of relief washed over him. He held onto the hope that she was at least beginning to calm down a little. He was desperate to keep her grounded, even if he didn't have all the answers to her questions. "I know it feels complicated right now," he started, voice soft and steady. "And, I'm not saying it'll be easy...but, you're not going to die. Not tonight. Not anytime soon. There's no signs of death in this room, not even close." He hesitated, eyes quickly glancing to the doors that lead to the main ballroom, but, he returned his focus to Alice, to keeping her steady. "I...I don't know how you can move on from it either," he admitted, his heart sinking that he didn't have the answers she wanted. "But, I think the only way you can move forward is together. You can't deal with any of this on your own, and neither can he." he paused, fumbling with his words, his mind scrambling for something comforting, something that could make this easier. Then, before he could stop himself, he blurted out. "Maybe you could...I don't know...have another baby?" The second the words left his mouth, his cheeks burnt a painful red. "I mean, no. That was stupid - I'm sorry...I just-" he stopped himself, taking a breath to try and regain control. "What I'm trying to say is, whatever happens next, you two need each other. You can't face this alone. Neither of you will survive it. You need to lean on each other. Be open and honest, even if that's not happening fully right now." Fiver looked down, still embarrassed, but trying to push through it with the determination to fix this and ultimately save the sheriff. "Whatever you decide, I'll help. I'm not going anywhere and nobody will miss me if I spend more time here."

@fcrafcrtnight

"I'M NOT.. I'M NOT GOING TO DIE?" for a second, it was as if alice's breath was just slowly down and as if she was calming down. did she think that would be permanent? seeing as she.. seeing as she felt as if she was constantly on edge? NO AND YET.. IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE SOMEONE SAY IT. IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR IT. she allowed herself to calm down, feeling her heart slowly resume it's normal beating. or.. at least, she thought it was close to normal. was it? no. hugging him had been a moment of weakness and yet, she thought that she had needed it. perhaps she had needed it more than she allowed herself to know. "i'm not sure if it's that simple. whenever he looks at me now, he's always going to remember our son. what happened. what i did and didn't do. it's all messed up now." glancing over at the other. "and how do i move on from all of this? i don't.. i don't know.." @springbandit

[springbandit]

Fiver's breathing hitched, but he stood his ground, even as Alice's anger flared. "I don't want this anymore than you do." He answered quietly, voice cracking under the weight of just about everything. "I can't make you listen, but, you need to hear me. This isn't just fate. I'm not talking about the inevitable. It's different, I know it's different." He locked eyes with hers, trying to plead for her to at least calm down enough to consider what he had to say. "You don't 'allow' death. It goes where it's told. But, it does no more than its appointed task. If you're not going to help me try and alter that path then...then be ready for it."

@fcrafcrtnight

"PEOPLE DIE EVERY SINGLE FUCKING DAY! THEY ALWAYS DO AND YOU? YOU CAN'T STOP IT! NO ONE CAN FUCKING STOP IT! WHY DON'T YOU SEE THAT? WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT SEES THAT?" angry? angry did not begin to cover what she was feeling right now and maybe, being angry was better than everything else. the anger was an old friend and alice.. alice was beyond used to it at this point. it was better than the rest.. right? "what the hell did you just say? die? he's not going to fucking die! i won't allow it!" @springbandit

[springbandit]

Fiver froze for a second as Alice wrapped her arms around him, the unexpected contact sending a wave of awkwardness and instinctual fear through his body. He wasn't used to touch or any kind of physical closeness. It just wasn't much a thing where he came from. But, the desperation in her voice cut through all of that. Slowly and carefully, he brought his arms up and hugged her back, albeit a little stiffly at first, his hands awkwardly resting on her shoulders. "Listen," he murmured, trying to keep his voice quiet and steady. "You're not going to die. I'd know if you were. Trust me, I see it, when death is close. And, right now, I don't see it. So, you're safe, okay?" This wasn't strictly true, but, he wanted to do anything he could to help her calm down. He tightened his grip just a little, feeling her tremble against him. Though he found hugs uncomfortable, something inside him softened. She needed this, and maybe, in some strange way, so did he. "He doesn't hate you," he added, his voice softer now. "I saw him at the bar. He's not mad. He's...he's talking with someone. But, trust me, he's not angry with you. He's just...dealing with a lot. But, he's still yours. He's in there waiting for you, and he's not going anywhere." He finally pulled back slightly to meet her gaze, offering the faintest of smiles, despite himself. "You're not alone in this. You have people in your corner and we can figure it all out together. Just...Just don't give up yet. Not when you've got people who still care."

@fcrafcrtnight

"YOU MEAN.. OR I'D BE DEAD? YEAH. I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN FURTHER AWAY FROM THAT." was alice panicking? yes and.. perhaps, it was because she knew very well that would have been what she deserved and more. right? it should have been her all along. it should have been her all along and not charles and right now, she would have been lying if she said she didn't despise herself. "he will never forgive me. i told him the truth. i told him the truth and.. now, he's.. he probably hates me. what do i have to stand here for?" what happened next surprised even herself. she found herself moving forward, wrapping her arms around him. "please.. please don't leave me?" @springbandit

[springbandit]

"I-I don't think.." Fiver stammered, his voice soft but steadying the more he spoke. "I don't think the host would have accepted that. The sickness, I mean. It wouldn't be any use to him, would it?" He was sure he was right, but, he wanted to try and stop Alice from blaming FP for not thinking of that, if it had even been a possibility in the first place. He swallowed hard, trying to answer her difficult questions without lying or being evasive. "I think...maybe the sheriff refuses to see it. Or doesn't want to admit to how bad it is. That's why it's still inside him, why it's still hurting him. He can't let go of what he doesn't understand. Like a snare, it's no use trying to bite the wire yourself. You need someone else to dig the peg out." His features softened, eyes full of both worry and a deep connection to the family as a whole at this point, both from sheer proximity and a lack of memory of his life before them. "Your home...Yes, that might help. If I'm there, maybe I can figure out more. I'll say I hurt my leg at the ball, and my own place is too far to walk for one night. If that's okay with you?" His hands fidgeted nervously before he plunged them into his pockets. "I don't know how to fix this yet, but, I promise I'm going to keep trying. I won't leave you while there's still hope."

@fcrafcrtnight

"GODDAMN IT. SO.. IF HE KNEW, HE COULD HAVE GIVEN THAT AWAY. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH BETTER OFF, BUT.. HE'S EITHER REFUSING TO SEE IT OR HE DOESN'T KNOW AT ALL. GODDAMN IT." alice wanted to kick something. she had been relaxed and she had been herself again and yet, with this? she had gone right back to being on the verge of having a breakdown and god, she hated that much. didn't she? yes. "our home? would that be close enough? we'd have some strange explanation to do, but-" she'd figure it out. she always had and now, she could do it all over again, too. "i'm not about to let either of you drown. alright?" @springbandit

[springbandit]

"If I just 'get over' this feeling, someone's going to die! It's not just a bad feeling - there's something real behind it. I didn't know who or what at first, but, talking to you, it gets worse and worse..." From there, Fiver paused, knowing he was only furthering her anguish, but, knowing also that he simply had to continue onwards. "Oh, tell him about your son or don't! I don't think it'll make him die any less." He began to tremble, his heightened emotions only serving to exacerbate the very symptoms he was trying to explain. "You think I want this? That I enjoy being berated by you?"

@fcrafcrtnight

"SO YOU GET A BAD FEELING. OH, KID, GET FUCKING OVER IT, WILL YOU? WE ALL GET BAD FEELINGS. IT HAPPENS." was the case? always had been and right now, she could feel her hands trembling. how was this fair? how was any of this ever going to continue to be fair, she wondered? she had finally gotten her life back on track and now, she was here. trapped, it seemed. fucking hell. it seemed as if she was never going to move forward and right now, that made her stomach turn. "AM I SUPPOSED TO TELL HIM, THEN? THAT OUR SON MAY BE DEAD BECAUSE OF ME? TRULY DEAD?" @springbandit

[springbandit]

Fiver's heart clenched at Alice's words, and he felt the weight of her panic pressing down on him like a tonne of bricks. He kept his hand on her shoulder, hoping to ground her even though his own nerves were frayed. "It's okay. Alice? It's okay. We'll figure out where you're hurt. It...It can't be too bad, or it would be obvious, right?" his voice was low and gentle, trying to break through the fog of fear that was ensnaring them both. "Nothing's going to come back, alright? I'll make sure of it. I'll talk with the Black Rabbit himself, if I have to." He squeezed her shoulder lightly. "I know it feels like everything's falling apart, but, you do have a family. You do. They're in that other room back there waiting for you. You know, the sheriff? You just have to hold on a little longer and then you can go right back in there. And, for what it's worth, I'm not going anywhere neither." Even though he could sense her isolation, Fiver was sure there was still a way back for her. She wasn't truly alone. But, he was. And maybe all the theatrics were a welcome distraction.

@fcrafcrtnight

"HOW CAN I? I'M BLEEDING AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE IT IS FROM!" was alice panicking? she absolutely was and right now, she didn't see that changing anytime soon. she was hurt and she didn't even know where that had come from and how the fuck had that blood gotten in her clothes and.. what the fuck was this? what the fuck was happening right now? the blood was all over there, the panic was all over there and she had no idea how she was supposed to react. "what if it comes back? what if it gets to you too?" why was she worried? she had been annoyed at the kid in the past and yet, right now, she was.. nervous? "my back.. i think.. i.." alice shook her head. "i don't have a family anymore.." @springbandit

[springbandit]

Fiver froze for a moment, trying to process everything she'd just said. He didn't know Charles or FP, but, the way Alice spoke about them made something inside him twist uncomfortably. He could feel the weight of her secret. "I don't know how to change the past. None of us do. But, you did what you had to to protect someone you love. It doesn't mean you're beyond forgiveness. Not from FP, and not from yourself." He hesitated as she asked him such a direct question. A question he wasn't sure he was confident giving out the answer to. "I think...A man in your life. Definitely, a man." He didn't know how to explain the feeling crawling up his spine, the images that flickered across his vision of people he could swear he'd never laid eyes upon. "If you give up now, it'll cost you. Both him and you. You'll-You'll lose a lot. You have to change things. They can't go on the way they are, with secrets and hiding."

"MY SON.. CHARLES... I DON'T THINK THAT FP KNOWS, BUT.. HE BECAME.. HE WAS A SERIAL KILLER. he hurt people. and one day, he came into our home and he.. he tried to hurt my daughter. and i... i shot him. accidentally, but.. i don't know if he made it after that. if fp knew? he would never forgive me." looking down at the ground and at her hands, because that was not something that she found herself wanting to admit anytime soon. if he had known? he probably wouldn't forgive her and who was alice kidding? she wouldn't forgive herself anytime soon either, as far as she was concerned. of course not. "like what? something horrible has already happened. i don't know how to change it." could she? she had absolutely no idea as far as she was concerned, right now. did she? "who?" @springbandit

[springbandit]

Fiver's breath quickened, Alice's words only adding to the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions spinning inside him. "I-I don't know what he gave up." he stammered, his voice breaking slightly. "But...I know the poison isn't gone. I can still feel it." his gaze darted around wildly, the presence of so many people clouding his thoughts, making it harder to focus on what he needed to. "Is there-" he hesitated, voice small and unsure of himself. "-Is there anything of his? Something I could hold? somewhere I could go? It's hard to focus...I think maybe if I could get closer to the problem, I could see it more clearly. Maybe then..." His eyes were wide with desperation, wanting to provide answers he just didn't have. "Not for much longer." he repeated. "It's like I'm drowning in it too, like we come from the same bad soil."

@fcrafcrtnight

"FP. HE... BY ANY CHANCE, YOU WOULDN'T TO KNOW WHAT HE.. CHOSE TO GIVE UP IN THIS SO CALLED PARTY, WOULD YOU? he's been different ever since but he looks better and i.. can't help it but to wonder if that's not going to be a good thing. in the long run. perhaps he can let go of that burden like i did?" that wasn't ever not going to be a good thing, right? she felt more like herself than she had in ages and now, she wasn't held back by anything anymore. "we can figure it out. we'll figure it out. all of us. this poisoning.. do you think.. someone's doing it to him? if they ever hurt him, they'll have to go through me." did she mean it? oh, she absolutely did. "NOT FOR MUCH LONGER, OKAY?" @springbandit

[springbandit]

Fiver flinched, as if the intensity of Alice's anger might wash him away when it hit. His face pale and trembling, both angry and regretful to be in the position in the first place. He didn't like hitting such a raw nerve, but, her fury was only confirming what he'd already sensed. "I'm...I'm not trying to be a hero." He voice was quieter now, softer. Still trying to get through to her despite the obvious tension. "I don't know much about your life, Alice. I can only feel these things, and when I think about your...partner, I get this awful pain in my stomach. It's like a warning, and it's getting worse every time I happen to see you." He sighed, unsure what to do with the information he had beyond simply deliver it to her and hope she made sense of it before it was too late. "I'm not asking you to risk everything, but, you can't pretend everything's fine. I don't want you to lose everything when there might still be a chance to change things for the better."

@fcrafcrtnight

"GREAT, SO YOU'RE A LOCAL HERO. HOW SWEET. is that supposed to make me feel any fucking better? you don't know the first thing about my life, kid. about how difficult it has been and now, you want me to give up the only thing that's been making it better?" because fp wasn't ever going to forgive her for something like that, was he? no, he was going to be angry and she would deserve that much. right? "what the shit? YOU DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT MY FAMILY!" and now, that had done it. was she angry? yes, she absolutely was. fuck. "what am i supposed to do? risk everything? lose everything?"

[springbandit]

Fiver's eyes darted around the room, his heart pounding as he tried to make sense of what Alice was saying while also trying to figure out what to do next. He could see the fear in her, and it only made his own panic bubble up even more, which was already coupled with the problems he was having before he'd found her in the first place. "Okay, okay, just...take a breath." he said softly, crouching down beside her. "Whatever hit you...it's not here now, alright? You're safe for the moment." He swallowed hard, trying to force himself to stay focussed. "Okay, you got hurt. Where? Where does it hurt?" His voice was shaky, but he reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder so he could keep her attention. "I won't let anything else happen to you, okay? Just breathe, and we'll get through this together. You'll be back with your family in no time."

@fcrafcrtnight

"I DON'T.. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M HURT. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF ANYTHING, I.." alice did feel as if she was close to having a breakdown. right now, she felt as if her hands were shaking and no, she didn't see that going away anytime soon. what was this? what was happening? she didn't know and it scared her, yes. it had been a long time since she had been this scared and right now, her hands were SHAKING. "i don't think so. something hit me from the back and i.. i was trying to see past the darkness, but.. i wasn't able to. I GOT HURT IN RETURN." @springbandit

[springbandit]

Fiver's eyes widened at Alice's pain, the intensity of it cutting through him as if it were his own. He took a small step forward, cautious but resolute. "I...I think I can maybe help you." he said quietly, rubbing at his arms again, trying to ward off the creeping chill. "I've seen them...not clearly, but, enough. Faces, images...I think I know what they look like, and, I can help you find them." His voice wavered, but, there was conviction behind his offer. "It's not enough yet. If you stop now, if you give up...I feel like something terrible is going to happen." He thought back to the images he'd seen, the suffering, the blood, the snake. His hands instinctively moved to his own side, as if he could feel a toll of the aftermath on his body. "There are things happening that you can't control. But, if you don't keep fighting, someone might not make it. People need you." He hoped he wasn't scaring her, but, the urgency in his voice was hard to stifle. @fcrafcrtnight

"HOW COULD YOU DO THAT? ALL I WANT IS TO FIND MY CHILDREN AND THEY'RE NOT HERE. THIS IS.. THIS IS ALL MESSED UP." more than anything that had ever happened in riverdale and that was clearly saying something, because she had no idea of how she had ended up here alone. of course, she had fp, but.. it wasn't as if he wasn't going through his own struggles, was it? and she didn't want to hurt him even more than she had in the past. "i know, but.. i've hurt them enough in the past. when is enough.. enough. you know?" @springbandit