My characterization of Skullslice-era-Chip and Reuben come down to legit like. one thing.
Reuben needs to be wanted and Chip needs to be loved.
THEY FUCKING FEED INTO EACHOTHER SO BAD. Reuben gives Chip the love he craves if he sticks around no matter what and doesnt abandon him, and Chip refuses to leave Reuben because he's afraid of what happens when he's unloved and alone. Doesn't matter if Reuben gets worse, violent, aggressive, paranoid, afraid, power-hungry; different than the boy he used to be, changed by all his faults. Nothing matters because they both get what they want at Chip's expense, so they stay together.
staggering dazed and smiling
to her poppy petal embrace
injected opiate melody, to flood
my blood with her kisses and prayer
hair at the edge of seventeen
all words promises of connection
a rabbit hunt of vast proportions
no holes too deep to burrow
that white blinding heat to sear
all wounded dreams to action
no withdrawal from me, never
i shake for you, my lovely
and i crave for you
no lonely night masquerade but
shared needle marks weeping
we blur into the mend
i fade into you
my heroine