Sit down facing away from me! You'll be fiiine!

Yet another minimum wage rp blog

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“I have an ordinary amount of blades for a barber. You can trust me with sharp objects next to your head!”

Heeeeelllo…! I’m Arms. Or Army. Or Arm’s Race. But not No Way Out! There’s a way out right behind you that you’ll DEFINITELY be taking right after you get a haircut. From me. Don’t mind the windowless room I’m taking you in. Or the lock.

~ ~ ~

“I’ll be talking like this!”

Narrated like this.

<and type ooc like this>

Rules:

Be polite and reasonable. Use your common sense.

Feel more than free to interact!

Expect death and violence.

TWs for blood, gore, and body horror.

Tags:

#-snip-snip- - navigation tag

#-close-shave- - Asks

#-worked-up-over-nothing- - Happy customers!

#-dripping-rubies- - Death and dying!

#-cleanup- - Standalone posts

#-my-friends!- - Interactions

#-whoops!-slipped!- - “But your honorrrr! It was an accidenttttt!”

#< i am in your walls> - ooc stuff or meta shenanigans

Tags (Arc Edition):

#stp prisoner-of-war - Army x Prisoner

#-twin-blades- - The search for Razor.

#-measure-once-cut-twice- - Buildup.

(^^^ THESE TAGS ARE BEING COMPRESSED INTO ONE!!!)

#thunk. thunk. thunk. - she watches

<it’s me @anynemouse, guy who runs the tower blog and the clown blog>

[harsh-reflection]

...‘Someone’ wearing a facemask walks up to the counter. She They haven’t changed any of their other clothes.

“Hello!! I am a person you have not met before and have zero malicious intentions of any kind!! Could you tell me where and how I could buy a sharp object?? The one that’s called a hammer but it’s not. I’m going to use it on my girlfriend!! But not you, because yoooou are not my girlfriend.”

@/totally-not-army-no-sirree

. . .

that's. that's definitely...

dammit, they're on the clock. shit. okay, breathe. the faster they help her, the faster she'll be gone. hammers, hammers, hammers... ah.

"Aisle 354: Hammers that aren't hammers"

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

And the ‘mysterious person’ skips off.

Elsewhere,

“...”

“This is really expensive——I forgot money was a thing people have and need.”

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

A window is broken.

[harsh-reflection]

...‘Someone’ wearing a facemask walks up to the counter. She They haven’t changed any of their other clothes.

“Hello!! I am a person you have not met before and have zero malicious intentions of any kind!! Could you tell me where and how I could buy a sharp object?? The one that’s called a hammer but it’s not. I’m going to use it on my girlfriend!! But not you, because yoooou are not my girlfriend.”

@/totally-not-army-no-sirree

. . .

that's. that's definitely...

dammit, they're on the clock. shit. okay, breathe. the faster they help her, the faster she'll be gone. hammers, hammers, hammers... ah.

"Aisle 354: Hammers that aren't hammers"

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

And the ‘mysterious person’ skips off.

Elsewhere,

“...”

“This is really expensive——I forgot money was a thing people have and need.”

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army nuzzles against Prisoner, staining her dress and arms with blood.

Blood and tears.

“I—— *hic* I’m f-fiiiine, didn’t—— didn’t break at aaaaaall...!!!”

“Especially not f-fifteen minutes ago, nooo—*ga-asp*——ooope!!!”

She appears unharmed, physically. Not a drop of the blood seems to be hers. Not that Army would mind if it was.

@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she holds Army tightly, the closest approximation she can think of to a hug. She might be worried about harming her if she was anyone else, but she figures that Army will be fine as long as she isn't actively trying to crush her.]

I- I've got you. It's just us right now, I heard Witch leave.

[She strokes Army's hair with her thumb, or tries to.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army continues to sob wordlessly for... a while. She presses her head against Prisoner, though the feeling is minuscule.

Eventually though, she manages to speak up. Only for a moment, choking over each word, but she does.

“Gh... S——”

“Sp...”

“...My b... best friend is—— is g-gone...”

And she immediately goes back to crying.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Gone? What... oh, right.

Like Razor...

That's... I'm sorry to hear that, um... yeah. I- I'll stay with you as long as you need me to, this is more important than my job.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“S-She’s gone... gone gone gonegone...”

“...how did—— how— why——?!”

Army continues to babble, muttering something about Cage in the mix. Her speech is unintelligible.

Still, she doesn’t try to leave.

She stays with Prisoner, in the dark and dust of the counter’s underside.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I- i wouldn't know why. I'll, um... I'll ask around, for you.

[she thinks about trying to kiss her, but thinks better of it, on account of the size.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army’s still incoherent, but there’s a hint of ‘thank you’ in there.

Eventually though, the sobs slow to a sniffle, and she lays against Prisoner in silence.

...

What feels like a large ant bite on Prisoner’s chest.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

-Oh!

[she looks down at Army, opening her hands just enough to see her.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

She is, in fact, gnawing away. Her teeth still draw blood despite circumstances, mostly from just how hard she’s biting, though only pinpricks.

Army’s eyes travel up to Prisoner’s.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[She looks down at her, smiling a little bit.]

...yeah.

[She leans her head back against the counter and shuts her eyes, focusing on the gnawing against her chest]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Tips of pins making rings in her skin, needle-thin pricks traveling up. Blades slide deeper in as Army leaves Prisoner’s hands and starts to climb upwards.

The pain is minuscule compared to other times, though that might just mean it’s more focused.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...I moved on from it earlier because there were more important things happening, but why are you small, exactly?

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army pauses, removing blood-painted teeth from their palettes.

“Oh, uhh, anon stuff. They jus’ kindaaaa did it an’ Iunno how to un-did-ify it really.”

...

“I’m gonna try kissing you.”

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Oh. Okay. I guess that makes sense.

[She plucks Army off her chest, and lifts her to her face]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Smooch!

Imagine a magical girl transformation sequence complete with a flash of light and sparkles and confetti and stardust.

Now stop imagining it because none of that happened. Army still grows back, but there is no such fanfare.

Instead Army is suddenly normal sized, covered in blood, pressed against Prisoner underneath the McTabby’s counter. She has also returned to her normal weight, so it cannot be comfortable to ordinary people.

She pulls away from the kiss only so she may replace it with a metallic chomp, blades accompanying their embrace.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[She looks up at Army, her weight pressing on her. She hugs back, first resting her head on Army's shoulder, then biting down, though softly.]

[She swallows the blood in her mouth]

...I feel like we haven't had a moment together for a while. I missed you.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army averts her gaze. Her face is already scarlet, but the tear stains reveal a blush even still.

“Yeah, it... it feels like forever ev’n if it was just—— Iunno. Not that long!! But still too long.”

“I missed you too...!!”

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army nuzzles against Prisoner, staining her dress and arms with blood.

Blood and tears.

“I—— *hic* I’m f-fiiiine, didn’t—— didn’t break at aaaaaall...!!!”

“Especially not f-fifteen minutes ago, nooo—*ga-asp*——ooope!!!”

She appears unharmed, physically. Not a drop of the blood seems to be hers. Not that Army would mind if it was.

@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she holds Army tightly, the closest approximation she can think of to a hug. She might be worried about harming her if she was anyone else, but she figures that Army will be fine as long as she isn't actively trying to crush her.]

I- I've got you. It's just us right now, I heard Witch leave.

[She strokes Army's hair with her thumb, or tries to.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army continues to sob wordlessly for... a while. She presses her head against Prisoner, though the feeling is minuscule.

Eventually though, she manages to speak up. Only for a moment, choking over each word, but she does.

“Gh... S——”

“Sp...”

“...My b... best friend is—— is g-gone...”

And she immediately goes back to crying.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Gone? What... oh, right.

Like Razor...

That's... I'm sorry to hear that, um... yeah. I- I'll stay with you as long as you need me to, this is more important than my job.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“S-She’s gone... gone gone gonegone...”

“...how did—— how— why——?!”

Army continues to babble, muttering something about Cage in the mix. Her speech is unintelligible.

Still, she doesn’t try to leave.

She stays with Prisoner, in the dark and dust of the counter’s underside.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I- i wouldn't know why. I'll, um... I'll ask around, for you.

[she thinks about trying to kiss her, but thinks better of it, on account of the size.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army’s still incoherent, but there’s a hint of ‘thank you’ in there.

Eventually though, the sobs slow to a sniffle, and she lays against Prisoner in silence.

...

What feels like a large ant bite on Prisoner’s chest.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

-Oh!

[she looks down at Army, opening her hands just enough to see her.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

She is, in fact, gnawing away. Her teeth still draw blood despite circumstances, mostly from just how hard she’s biting, though only pinpricks.

Army’s eyes travel up to Prisoner’s.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[She looks down at her, smiling a little bit.]

...yeah.

[She leans her head back against the counter and shuts her eyes, focusing on the gnawing against her chest]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Tips of pins making rings in her skin, needle-thin pricks traveling up. Blades slide deeper in as Army leaves Prisoner’s hands and starts to climb upwards.

The pain is minuscule compared to other times, though that might just mean it’s more focused.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...I moved on from it earlier because there were more important things happening, but why are you small, exactly?

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army pauses, removing blood-painted teeth from their palettes.

“Oh, uhh, anon stuff. They jus’ kindaaaa did it an’ Iunno how to un-did-ify it really.”

...

“I’m gonna try kissing you.”

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Oh. Okay. I guess that makes sense.

[She plucks Army off her chest, and lifts her to her face]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Smooch!

Imagine a magical girl transformation sequence complete with a flash of light and sparkles and confetti and stardust.

Now stop imagining it because none of that happened. Army still grows back, but there is no such fanfare.

Instead Army is suddenly normal sized, covered in blood, pressed against Prisoner underneath the McTabby’s counter. She has also returned to her normal weight, so it cannot be comfortable to ordinary people.

She pulls away from the kiss only so she may replace it with a metallic chomp, blades accompanying their embrace.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army nuzzles against Prisoner, staining her dress and arms with blood.

Blood and tears.

“I—— *hic* I’m f-fiiiine, didn’t—— didn’t break at aaaaaall...!!!”

“Especially not f-fifteen minutes ago, nooo—*ga-asp*——ooope!!!”

She appears unharmed, physically. Not a drop of the blood seems to be hers. Not that Army would mind if it was.

@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she holds Army tightly, the closest approximation she can think of to a hug. She might be worried about harming her if she was anyone else, but she figures that Army will be fine as long as she isn't actively trying to crush her.]

I- I've got you. It's just us right now, I heard Witch leave.

[She strokes Army's hair with her thumb, or tries to.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army continues to sob wordlessly for... a while. She presses her head against Prisoner, though the feeling is minuscule.

Eventually though, she manages to speak up. Only for a moment, choking over each word, but she does.

“Gh... S——”

“Sp...”

“...My b... best friend is—— is g-gone...”

And she immediately goes back to crying.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Gone? What... oh, right.

Like Razor...

That's... I'm sorry to hear that, um... yeah. I- I'll stay with you as long as you need me to, this is more important than my job.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“S-She’s gone... gone gone gonegone...”

“...how did—— how— why——?!”

Army continues to babble, muttering something about Cage in the mix. Her speech is unintelligible.

Still, she doesn’t try to leave.

She stays with Prisoner, in the dark and dust of the counter’s underside.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I- i wouldn't know why. I'll, um... I'll ask around, for you.

[she thinks about trying to kiss her, but thinks better of it, on account of the size.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army’s still incoherent, but there’s a hint of ‘thank you’ in there.

Eventually though, the sobs slow to a sniffle, and she lays against Prisoner in silence.

...

What feels like a large ant bite on Prisoner’s chest.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

-Oh!

[she looks down at Army, opening her hands just enough to see her.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

She is, in fact, gnawing away. Her teeth still draw blood despite circumstances, mostly from just how hard she’s biting, though only pinpricks.

Army’s eyes travel up to Prisoner’s.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[She looks down at her, smiling a little bit.]

...yeah.

[She leans her head back against the counter and shuts her eyes, focusing on the gnawing against her chest]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Tips of pins making rings in her skin, needle-thin pricks traveling up. Blades slide deeper in as Army leaves Prisoner’s hands and starts to climb upwards.

The pain is minuscule compared to other times, though that might just mean it’s more focused.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...I moved on from it earlier because there were more important things happening, but why are you small, exactly?

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army pauses, removing blood-painted teeth from their palettes.

“Oh, uhh, anon stuff. They jus’ kindaaaa did it an’ Iunno how to un-did-ify it really.”

...

“I’m gonna try kissing you.”

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army nuzzles against Prisoner, staining her dress and arms with blood.

Blood and tears.

“I—— *hic* I’m f-fiiiine, didn’t—— didn’t break at aaaaaall...!!!”

“Especially not f-fifteen minutes ago, nooo—*ga-asp*——ooope!!!”

She appears unharmed, physically. Not a drop of the blood seems to be hers. Not that Army would mind if it was.

@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she holds Army tightly, the closest approximation she can think of to a hug. She might be worried about harming her if she was anyone else, but she figures that Army will be fine as long as she isn't actively trying to crush her.]

I- I've got you. It's just us right now, I heard Witch leave.

[She strokes Army's hair with her thumb, or tries to.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army continues to sob wordlessly for... a while. She presses her head against Prisoner, though the feeling is minuscule.

Eventually though, she manages to speak up. Only for a moment, choking over each word, but she does.

“Gh... S——”

“Sp...”

“...My b... best friend is—— is g-gone...”

And she immediately goes back to crying.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Gone? What... oh, right.

Like Razor...

That's... I'm sorry to hear that, um... yeah. I- I'll stay with you as long as you need me to, this is more important than my job.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“S-She’s gone... gone gone gonegone...”

“...how did—— how— why——?!”

Army continues to babble, muttering something about Cage in the mix. Her speech is unintelligible.

Still, she doesn’t try to leave.

She stays with Prisoner, in the dark and dust of the counter’s underside.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I- i wouldn't know why. I'll, um... I'll ask around, for you.

[she thinks about trying to kiss her, but thinks better of it, on account of the size.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army’s still incoherent, but there’s a hint of ‘thank you’ in there.

Eventually though, the sobs slow to a sniffle, and she lays against Prisoner in silence.

...

What feels like a large ant bite on Prisoner’s chest.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

-Oh!

[she looks down at Army, opening her hands just enough to see her.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

She is, in fact, gnawing away. Her teeth still draw blood despite circumstances, mostly from just how hard she’s biting, though only pinpricks.

Army’s eyes travel up to Prisoner’s.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[She looks down at her, smiling a little bit.]

...yeah.

[She leans her head back against the counter and shuts her eyes, focusing on the gnawing against her chest]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Tips of pins making rings in her skin, needle-thin pricks traveling up. Blades slide deeper in as Army leaves Prisoner’s hands and starts to climb upwards.

The pain is minuscule compared to other times, though that might just mean it’s more focused.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army nuzzles against Prisoner, staining her dress and arms with blood.

Blood and tears.

“I—— *hic* I’m f-fiiiine, didn’t—— didn’t break at aaaaaall...!!!”

“Especially not f-fifteen minutes ago, nooo—*ga-asp*——ooope!!!”

She appears unharmed, physically. Not a drop of the blood seems to be hers. Not that Army would mind if it was.

@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she holds Army tightly, the closest approximation she can think of to a hug. She might be worried about harming her if she was anyone else, but she figures that Army will be fine as long as she isn't actively trying to crush her.]

I- I've got you. It's just us right now, I heard Witch leave.

[She strokes Army's hair with her thumb, or tries to.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army continues to sob wordlessly for... a while. She presses her head against Prisoner, though the feeling is minuscule.

Eventually though, she manages to speak up. Only for a moment, choking over each word, but she does.

“Gh... S——”

“Sp...”

“...My b... best friend is—— is g-gone...”

And she immediately goes back to crying.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Gone? What... oh, right.

Like Razor...

That's... I'm sorry to hear that, um... yeah. I- I'll stay with you as long as you need me to, this is more important than my job.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“S-She’s gone... gone gone gonegone...”

“...how did—— how— why——?!”

Army continues to babble, muttering something about Cage in the mix. Her speech is unintelligible.

Still, she doesn’t try to leave.

She stays with Prisoner, in the dark and dust of the counter’s underside.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I- i wouldn't know why. I'll, um... I'll ask around, for you.

[she thinks about trying to kiss her, but thinks better of it, on account of the size.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army’s still incoherent, but there’s a hint of ‘thank you’ in there.

Eventually though, the sobs slow to a sniffle, and she lays against Prisoner in silence.

...

What feels like a large ant bite on Prisoner’s chest.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

-Oh!

[she looks down at Army, opening her hands just enough to see her.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

She is, in fact, gnawing away. Her teeth still draw blood despite circumstances, mostly from just how hard she’s biting, though only pinpricks.

Army’s eyes travel up to Prisoner’s.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army nuzzles against Prisoner, staining her dress and arms with blood.

Blood and tears.

“I—— *hic* I’m f-fiiiine, didn’t—— didn’t break at aaaaaall...!!!”

“Especially not f-fifteen minutes ago, nooo—*ga-asp*——ooope!!!”

She appears unharmed, physically. Not a drop of the blood seems to be hers. Not that Army would mind if it was.

@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she holds Army tightly, the closest approximation she can think of to a hug. She might be worried about harming her if she was anyone else, but she figures that Army will be fine as long as she isn't actively trying to crush her.]

I- I've got you. It's just us right now, I heard Witch leave.

[She strokes Army's hair with her thumb, or tries to.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army continues to sob wordlessly for... a while. She presses her head against Prisoner, though the feeling is minuscule.

Eventually though, she manages to speak up. Only for a moment, choking over each word, but she does.

“Gh... S——”

“Sp...”

“...My b... best friend is—— is g-gone...”

And she immediately goes back to crying.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Gone? What... oh, right.

Like Razor...

That's... I'm sorry to hear that, um... yeah. I- I'll stay with you as long as you need me to, this is more important than my job.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“S-She’s gone... gone gone gonegone...”

“...how did—— how— why——?!”

Army continues to babble, muttering something about Cage in the mix. Her speech is unintelligible.

Still, she doesn’t try to leave.

She stays with Prisoner, in the dark and dust of the counter’s underside.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I- i wouldn't know why. I'll, um... I'll ask around, for you.

[she thinks about trying to kiss her, but thinks better of it, on account of the size.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army’s still incoherent, but there’s a hint of ‘thank you’ in there.

Eventually though, the sobs slow to a sniffle, and she lays against Prisoner in silence.

...

What feels like a large ant bite on Prisoner’s chest.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army nuzzles against Prisoner, staining her dress and arms with blood.

Blood and tears.

“I—— *hic* I’m f-fiiiine, didn’t—— didn’t break at aaaaaall...!!!”

“Especially not f-fifteen minutes ago, nooo—*ga-asp*——ooope!!!”

She appears unharmed, physically. Not a drop of the blood seems to be hers. Not that Army would mind if it was.

@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she holds Army tightly, the closest approximation she can think of to a hug. She might be worried about harming her if she was anyone else, but she figures that Army will be fine as long as she isn't actively trying to crush her.]

I- I've got you. It's just us right now, I heard Witch leave.

[She strokes Army's hair with her thumb, or tries to.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army continues to sob wordlessly for... a while. She presses her head against Prisoner, though the feeling is minuscule.

Eventually though, she manages to speak up. Only for a moment, choking over each word, but she does.

“Gh... S——”

“Sp...”

“...My b... best friend is—— is g-gone...”

And she immediately goes back to crying.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Gone? What... oh, right.

Like Razor...

That's... I'm sorry to hear that, um... yeah. I- I'll stay with you as long as you need me to, this is more important than my job.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“S-She’s gone... gone gone gonegone...”

“...how did—— how— why——?!”

Army continues to babble, muttering something about Cage in the mix. Her speech is unintelligible.

Still, she doesn’t try to leave.

She stays with Prisoner, in the dark and dust of the counter’s underside.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army nuzzles against Prisoner, staining her dress and arms with blood.

Blood and tears.

“I—— *hic* I’m f-fiiiine, didn’t—— didn’t break at aaaaaall...!!!”

“Especially not f-fifteen minutes ago, nooo—*ga-asp*——ooope!!!”

She appears unharmed, physically. Not a drop of the blood seems to be hers. Not that Army would mind if it was.

@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she holds Army tightly, the closest approximation she can think of to a hug. She might be worried about harming her if she was anyone else, but she figures that Army will be fine as long as she isn't actively trying to crush her.]

I- I've got you. It's just us right now, I heard Witch leave.

[She strokes Army's hair with her thumb, or tries to.]

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army continues to sob wordlessly for... a while. She presses her head against Prisoner, though the feeling is minuscule.

Eventually though, she manages to speak up. Only for a moment, choking over each word, but she does.

“Gh... S——”

“Sp...”

“...My b... best friend is—— is g-gone...”

And she immediately goes back to crying.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army nuzzles against Prisoner, staining her dress and arms with blood.

Blood and tears.

“I—— *hic* I’m f-fiiiine, didn’t—— didn’t break at aaaaaall...!!!”

“Especially not f-fifteen minutes ago, nooo—*ga-asp*——ooope!!!”

She appears unharmed, physically. Not a drop of the blood seems to be hers. Not that Army would mind if it was.

@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

[she is slumped over the counter- at a glance, she looks like she might be sleeping or crying, but upon closer examination, she is in fact trying to scrub something off the counter.]

-@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

She leans on the counter, tail flicking, staying just out of lunge range.

You know that’s not coming off. Why fight it, why haven’t you just given up already?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she jumps as she hears Witch's voice, having not noticed her approach]

...give up and do what? There isn't much else I can do, given that I can't reach the kitchen at the moment.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Oh I thought you liked talking in subtext? I mean give up, in general. How long have you been stuck at this counter top, wanting to see the world, or even just the freezer and been unable to? Haven't you wanted to stretch your legs?

I know Army has been trying to chip away at my work, but she hasn't made too much progress, has she? Give up, stop sending your attack dog at me and I might stop repairing it.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I'm not "sending" her to do anything, she's her own autonomous person. I haven't seen her in a while now, actually.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

But if there's anyone who could command her, it would be you.

She leans slightly closer, still on edge to leap back if need be.

You missed a spot.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I don’t think anyone can command her, but i could ask her to stop.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Well asking her to stay out of my vents even when you and I were on thin ice didn’t seem to work, now did it?

You missed another spot. Wow you’re bad at this.

So that’s where we are, you are even more stuck than before, and your attack dog isn’t able to be muzzled enough for your situation to improve. How sad.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I- she isn't my fucking attack dog, if anything, I'm- nevermind. Surely it's the janitor's job to keep the place clean?

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

"If anything" you're what? We can be honest with each other, haven't we tried to be for the last while?

And I can't clean your counter considering you're actively hostile to me, same reason I don't clean the freezer.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...fair enough. What I was saying was, it's probably more accurate to say that I work for her than she works for me. I wouldn't say either of those are quire right, but if either of us are in charge, it's her.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Right. In that case you're quite the useless pawn, aren't you?

Do you know where she's been anyway? Did she run off and live your dreams without you?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...I guess you could put it like that. I'm not sure where she is, no. Last I spoke to her, she'd had a run-in with the health inspector, I think.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Even she couldn't stand being around you, such a shame.

She creeps closer, not even caring for safety at this point.

And has everyone else discarded you, or are they still playing nice before they realize you're declawed and scared?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she glares at her]

…you’re not exactly universally beloved yourself.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

I know, and you’re dancing around your own popularity.

And even if everyone hates me here, I can leave. You can’t. You thought that one person was worth destroying yourself for, because for some reason she “gets” you.

It doesn’t even sound like you’re coping at this point, but you can’t give in to telling me you’ve messed up.

I hope you’re suffering.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Something small yet heavy lands on the floor behind Witch.

Over the bustle, it’s hardly audible. A pin. A marble. Not even, as there’s no clatter.

It is no trinket, after all.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I-

[She pauses for a moment as she processes something visually- a tiny mannerism, something you'd have to be excessively suspicious to think might mean anything]

Yeah, fine, you win. I fucked up. I know I should have told her she didn't need to do what she did, but I- I don't know, it felt good that she was willing to do that for me. I guess.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Behind her.

Right behind her.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Her ears perk, she’s excessively suspicious. Witch leans in to corner her more.

And are you suffering? Do you know that you’re suffering and it’s your own damn fault, and even more so hers? You knew what would happen, so don’t come crying to me or her when it just happens the way everyone knew it would—

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Something like a nail is driven into Witch up to the head, pain familiar yet uniquely foreign erupting in her calf. It heralds a trio of steels that saws through her achilles tendon.

In seconds, the miniature blades finish their mission, and join their sisters in Witch’s leg.

The pain ascends, refusing to let go of their grip like an insect’s mandibles,

...or a mountaineer’s pick.

She ascends.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Everything rushes through her in waves: burning pain as she watches her body feebly collapse leaning on the counter, horror as the words rush back that she was warned about this, and then that same stubborn determination.

Army is crawling up her, she’s vulnerable, visible and it would probably feel real good to squish her like the pest she is. So she reaches back and tries to get the bug in her grasp.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Have you ever tried to reach for something small you cannot see behind you that is on your leg while fighting through torture? It is far from easy. Some say it’s impossible, as arms simply aren’t long enough proportionally to reach down there.

Fortunately, Army is climbing, so she’s only down there for so long.

Unfortunately, she seems to have noticed, and is angling her blades so that plucking her off requires ripping out a chunk of Witch’s flesh alongside herself.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

She gets a bearing, finding the pain that comes with trying to peel her off. It's like the edge of a finger nail, right where it wants to dig under and set every nerve alight. But its fine. This is fine. Just rip her off. She's lost enough skin and blood to this monster, a bit more is fine. Just. Rip. It. Off.

A violent tear of skin rips out the back of her thigh, a few spurts of blood rolling down the climbing path as she lifts her up to eye level, watching closely. There's no chance Witch is letting her do anything cheeky, not this time. She takes a step back, turning her to face Prisoner.

Any complaints, or should I just throw her in the microwave?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she takes a moment, trying to process what she's just seen]

Is... Army??? Why are you- what??

...

[She tries to swipe it- her- out of witch's hand]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

She dodges, but staggers from the injury, blood slowly puddling on the floor.

Any complaints before I put her in the microwave?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Wh- I-

[she takes a handful of coins out of the register and starts throwing them at Witch]

Army, can you hear me? Why are you small?

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“IT JUST HAPPENED!!! ANONS!!!”

Gripping her feels like squeezing a handful of nails, if the nails were mobile and actively cutting at the base of one’s fingers.

Ah, yes, she is doing that. Bringing her blades to Witch’s hand and pressing hard. Flesh is torn. Blood drips from Witch’s hand.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Oh, um, alright. Try and cut through the tendons in her fingers! Shit, I'm out of coins.

[she starts throwing ketchup packets]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

It hurts a lot, but anger keeps her going. Step away from her, ignore the pain, ignore how she tears into skin, flesh, tendon. There's no more taunting to be done, just, leave.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Spite can do many things. It can push through pain, and misery, and anguish. It can drive one forward when everything else demands they stay down, because of such demands.

What spite cannot do is reattach a finger as it falls limp, hanging by loose muscle and skin.

Nor can it take the room it left, as blades move to give the index its same fate.

And it certainly cannot stop a three inch monster from continuing its voyage to Witch’s ear as she screams into the canal.

“WILL YOU FOR ONCE JUST STOP AND LISTEN?!”

Hooks in her neck, too shallow to be lethal, too deep to be torn out that way.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

And what do you have worth saying?

She keeps going, trying desperately to ignore the pain and just get to it. Her other hand tries to find the insect on her, get her back in control.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“Would it destroy you to leave Prizzy and I alone?!? She has nothing, she’s trapped here, and you’re—— you’re just—— NGGGHHHH”

“I hate this!!! I hate all of this!!! Why are you trying to make her miserable?!??”

If Army is torn from the neck she clings to, the odds of Witch dying within the hour rise as a flood, though whether this proves a successful deterrent is held in the near future.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Her hobbling stops for a half second. She gets purchase and rips Army out of her neck, another heavy gush of blood beginning to pour out of her body. Her sight is getting blurred.

Says the woman who murdered me 100 times and only let me out of hell because you were bored. If I can’t strike at you personally I’ll go for whatever you care about, and that just so happens to be someone else who wronged me. You know who I am, and we’re both the type to not fight our nature.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army sputters at that, before a familiar feeling strikes Witch’s other finger. It will meet the same fate soon.

“I ‘let you out’, because the whole thing sucked!!!! And because I thoooought you’d know that like everything you’re doing sucks!!!”

The middle finger loosens its grip, unable to hold any longer, “But nooOOOOooo, your ‘nature’ is to be miserable and make everyone miserable because you see someone who has less than you and take what little they do have!!!”

There are tears running down her blood red face.

“Do you have anything else?! Anything?!?”

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...Army? Are... hm.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

No. I don’t have anything, and you still found a way to take something from me.

She's running out of fingers. It hurts.

I'm not taking from her, I'm just burning it, if I apparently don't deserve joy or a good mental battle or someone to trust then I will dedicate everything to this fire.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“You don’t ’deserve it’ because you keep pushing away all your chances!!!”

Off goes the index. Ring isn’t hard to squirm out of without its siblings.

Army doesn’t climb this time, simply letting herself fall to the floor with that same light thud. Like a doll or a leather-bound book.

“I don’t even know why I fixed up your nice cave, it’s not like you’d ever let us be friends.”

She turns back for a moment to face Witch, before turning back to the counter and walking away.

“I’m gonna go hug my girlfriend, you should try it with Razie after you die of blood loss or whate’er...”

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[She vaults onto the counter and extends her hands down over the edge to pick up her girlfriend, suspiciously eyeing Witch]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Pain burns through her, but spite still flares above that. She won't let her enjoy this, she just cut off Witch's fingers one by one and acted high and mighty for letting someone far more powerless than her be close.

Her leg moves with burning rage, but she cannot find the strength to kick, only able to block the path for a bit longer.

She wants to scream and fight and complain again, and again, and again, like she has, but she strength is seeping out of here, pooling on the floor, all she can muster is...

What...did you say?

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army glances back to Witch and says something with a sob, but it’s impossible to hear.

She turns to Prisoner and holds up her arms for uppies.

I wish you’d let us be friends.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she scoops Army up into her arms, then leaps back over the counter, sitting with her back to it. She holds Army to her chest.]

You’re alright? She didn’t hurt you, did she?

[she’s quiet, almost whispering]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

There’s a burning need to feel spite, to ruin this moment because she has still wronged her, and the anger is still rushing through her blood, pouring out her body.

But she can’t, not right now.

All she can do is limp off, trying to find someplace to die alone.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

[she is slumped over the counter- at a glance, she looks like she might be sleeping or crying, but upon closer examination, she is in fact trying to scrub something off the counter.]

-@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

She leans on the counter, tail flicking, staying just out of lunge range.

You know that’s not coming off. Why fight it, why haven’t you just given up already?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she jumps as she hears Witch's voice, having not noticed her approach]

...give up and do what? There isn't much else I can do, given that I can't reach the kitchen at the moment.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Oh I thought you liked talking in subtext? I mean give up, in general. How long have you been stuck at this counter top, wanting to see the world, or even just the freezer and been unable to? Haven't you wanted to stretch your legs?

I know Army has been trying to chip away at my work, but she hasn't made too much progress, has she? Give up, stop sending your attack dog at me and I might stop repairing it.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I'm not "sending" her to do anything, she's her own autonomous person. I haven't seen her in a while now, actually.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

But if there's anyone who could command her, it would be you.

She leans slightly closer, still on edge to leap back if need be.

You missed a spot.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I don’t think anyone can command her, but i could ask her to stop.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Well asking her to stay out of my vents even when you and I were on thin ice didn’t seem to work, now did it?

You missed another spot. Wow you’re bad at this.

So that’s where we are, you are even more stuck than before, and your attack dog isn’t able to be muzzled enough for your situation to improve. How sad.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I- she isn't my fucking attack dog, if anything, I'm- nevermind. Surely it's the janitor's job to keep the place clean?

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

"If anything" you're what? We can be honest with each other, haven't we tried to be for the last while?

And I can't clean your counter considering you're actively hostile to me, same reason I don't clean the freezer.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...fair enough. What I was saying was, it's probably more accurate to say that I work for her than she works for me. I wouldn't say either of those are quire right, but if either of us are in charge, it's her.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Right. In that case you're quite the useless pawn, aren't you?

Do you know where she's been anyway? Did she run off and live your dreams without you?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...I guess you could put it like that. I'm not sure where she is, no. Last I spoke to her, she'd had a run-in with the health inspector, I think.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Even she couldn't stand being around you, such a shame.

She creeps closer, not even caring for safety at this point.

And has everyone else discarded you, or are they still playing nice before they realize you're declawed and scared?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she glares at her]

…you’re not exactly universally beloved yourself.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

I know, and you’re dancing around your own popularity.

And even if everyone hates me here, I can leave. You can’t. You thought that one person was worth destroying yourself for, because for some reason she “gets” you.

It doesn’t even sound like you’re coping at this point, but you can’t give in to telling me you’ve messed up.

I hope you’re suffering.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Something small yet heavy lands on the floor behind Witch.

Over the bustle, it’s hardly audible. A pin. A marble. Not even, as there’s no clatter.

It is no trinket, after all.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I-

[She pauses for a moment as she processes something visually- a tiny mannerism, something you'd have to be excessively suspicious to think might mean anything]

Yeah, fine, you win. I fucked up. I know I should have told her she didn't need to do what she did, but I- I don't know, it felt good that she was willing to do that for me. I guess.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Behind her.

Right behind her.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Her ears perk, she’s excessively suspicious. Witch leans in to corner her more.

And are you suffering? Do you know that you’re suffering and it’s your own damn fault, and even more so hers? You knew what would happen, so don’t come crying to me or her when it just happens the way everyone knew it would—

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Something like a nail is driven into Witch up to the head, pain familiar yet uniquely foreign erupting in her calf. It heralds a trio of steels that saws through her achilles tendon.

In seconds, the miniature blades finish their mission, and join their sisters in Witch’s leg.

The pain ascends, refusing to let go of their grip like an insect’s mandibles,

...or a mountaineer’s pick.

She ascends.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Everything rushes through her in waves: burning pain as she watches her body feebly collapse leaning on the counter, horror as the words rush back that she was warned about this, and then that same stubborn determination.

Army is crawling up her, she’s vulnerable, visible and it would probably feel real good to squish her like the pest she is. So she reaches back and tries to get the bug in her grasp.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Have you ever tried to reach for something small you cannot see behind you that is on your leg while fighting through torture? It is far from easy. Some say it’s impossible, as arms simply aren’t long enough proportionally to reach down there.

Fortunately, Army is climbing, so she’s only down there for so long.

Unfortunately, she seems to have noticed, and is angling her blades so that plucking her off requires ripping out a chunk of Witch’s flesh alongside herself.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

She gets a bearing, finding the pain that comes with trying to peel her off. It's like the edge of a finger nail, right where it wants to dig under and set every nerve alight. But its fine. This is fine. Just rip her off. She's lost enough skin and blood to this monster, a bit more is fine. Just. Rip. It. Off.

A violent tear of skin rips out the back of her thigh, a few spurts of blood rolling down the climbing path as she lifts her up to eye level, watching closely. There's no chance Witch is letting her do anything cheeky, not this time. She takes a step back, turning her to face Prisoner.

Any complaints, or should I just throw her in the microwave?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she takes a moment, trying to process what she's just seen]

Is... Army??? Why are you- what??

...

[She tries to swipe it- her- out of witch's hand]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

She dodges, but staggers from the injury, blood slowly puddling on the floor.

Any complaints before I put her in the microwave?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Wh- I-

[she takes a handful of coins out of the register and starts throwing them at Witch]

Army, can you hear me? Why are you small?

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“IT JUST HAPPENED!!! ANONS!!!”

Gripping her feels like squeezing a handful of nails, if the nails were mobile and actively cutting at the base of one’s fingers.

Ah, yes, she is doing that. Bringing her blades to Witch’s hand and pressing hard. Flesh is torn. Blood drips from Witch’s hand.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Oh, um, alright. Try and cut through the tendons in her fingers! Shit, I'm out of coins.

[she starts throwing ketchup packets]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

It hurts a lot, but anger keeps her going. Step away from her, ignore the pain, ignore how she tears into skin, flesh, tendon. There's no more taunting to be done, just, leave.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Spite can do many things. It can push through pain, and misery, and anguish. It can drive one forward when everything else demands they stay down, because of such demands.

What spite cannot do is reattach a finger as it falls limp, hanging by loose muscle and skin.

Nor can it take the room it left, as blades move to give the index its same fate.

And it certainly cannot stop a three inch monster from continuing its voyage to Witch’s ear as she screams into the canal.

“WILL YOU FOR ONCE JUST STOP AND LISTEN?!”

Hooks in her neck, too shallow to be lethal, too deep to be torn out that way.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

And what do you have worth saying?

She keeps going, trying desperately to ignore the pain and just get to it. Her other hand tries to find the insect on her, get her back in control.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“Would it destroy you to leave Prizzy and I alone?!? She has nothing, she’s trapped here, and you’re—— you’re just—— NGGGHHHH”

“I hate this!!! I hate all of this!!! Why are you trying to make her miserable?!??”

If Army is torn from the neck she clings to, the odds of Witch dying within the hour rise as a flood, though whether this proves a successful deterrent is held in the near future.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Her hobbling stops for a half second. She gets purchase and rips Army out of her neck, another heavy gush of blood beginning to pour out of her body. Her sight is getting blurred.

Says the woman who murdered me 100 times and only let me out of hell because you were bored. If I can’t strike at you personally I’ll go for whatever you care about, and that just so happens to be someone else who wronged me. You know who I am, and we’re both the type to not fight our nature.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army sputters at that, before a familiar feeling strikes Witch’s other finger. It will meet the same fate soon.

“I ‘let you out’, because the whole thing sucked!!!! And because I thoooought you’d know that like everything you’re doing sucks!!!”

The middle finger loosens its grip, unable to hold any longer, “But nooOOOOooo, your ‘nature’ is to be miserable and make everyone miserable because you see someone who has less than you and take what little they do have!!!”

There are tears running down her blood red face.

“Do you have anything else?! Anything?!?”

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...Army? Are... hm.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

No. I don’t have anything, and you still found a way to take something from me.

She's running out of fingers. It hurts.

I'm not taking from her, I'm just burning it, if I apparently don't deserve joy or a good mental battle or someone to trust then I will dedicate everything to this fire.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“You don’t ’deserve it’ because you keep pushing away all your chances!!!”

Off goes the index. Ring isn’t hard to squirm out of without its siblings.

Army doesn’t climb this time, simply letting herself fall to the floor with that same light thud. Like a doll or a leather-bound book.

“I don’t even know why I fixed up your nice cave, it’s not like you’d ever let us be friends.”

She turns back for a moment to face Witch, before turning back to the counter and walking away.

“I’m gonna go hug my girlfriend, you should try it with Razie after you die of blood loss or whate’er...”

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[She vaults onto the counter and extends her hands down over the edge to pick up her girlfriend, suspiciously eyeing Witch]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Pain burns through her, but spite still flares above that. She won't let her enjoy this, she just cut off Witch's fingers one by one and acted high and mighty for letting someone far more powerless than her be close.

Her leg moves with burning rage, but she cannot find the strength to kick, only able to block the path for a bit longer.

She wants to scream and fight and complain again, and again, and again, like she has, but she strength is seeping out of here, pooling on the floor, all she can muster is...

What...did you say?

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army glances back to Witch and says something with a sob, but it’s impossible to hear.

She turns to Prisoner and holds up her arms for uppies.

I wish you’d let us be friends.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

[she is slumped over the counter- at a glance, she looks like she might be sleeping or crying, but upon closer examination, she is in fact trying to scrub something off the counter.]

-@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

She leans on the counter, tail flicking, staying just out of lunge range.

You know that’s not coming off. Why fight it, why haven’t you just given up already?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she jumps as she hears Witch's voice, having not noticed her approach]

...give up and do what? There isn't much else I can do, given that I can't reach the kitchen at the moment.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Oh I thought you liked talking in subtext? I mean give up, in general. How long have you been stuck at this counter top, wanting to see the world, or even just the freezer and been unable to? Haven't you wanted to stretch your legs?

I know Army has been trying to chip away at my work, but she hasn't made too much progress, has she? Give up, stop sending your attack dog at me and I might stop repairing it.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I'm not "sending" her to do anything, she's her own autonomous person. I haven't seen her in a while now, actually.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

But if there's anyone who could command her, it would be you.

She leans slightly closer, still on edge to leap back if need be.

You missed a spot.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I don’t think anyone can command her, but i could ask her to stop.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Well asking her to stay out of my vents even when you and I were on thin ice didn’t seem to work, now did it?

You missed another spot. Wow you’re bad at this.

So that’s where we are, you are even more stuck than before, and your attack dog isn’t able to be muzzled enough for your situation to improve. How sad.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I- she isn't my fucking attack dog, if anything, I'm- nevermind. Surely it's the janitor's job to keep the place clean?

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

"If anything" you're what? We can be honest with each other, haven't we tried to be for the last while?

And I can't clean your counter considering you're actively hostile to me, same reason I don't clean the freezer.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...fair enough. What I was saying was, it's probably more accurate to say that I work for her than she works for me. I wouldn't say either of those are quire right, but if either of us are in charge, it's her.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Right. In that case you're quite the useless pawn, aren't you?

Do you know where she's been anyway? Did she run off and live your dreams without you?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...I guess you could put it like that. I'm not sure where she is, no. Last I spoke to her, she'd had a run-in with the health inspector, I think.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Even she couldn't stand being around you, such a shame.

She creeps closer, not even caring for safety at this point.

And has everyone else discarded you, or are they still playing nice before they realize you're declawed and scared?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she glares at her]

…you’re not exactly universally beloved yourself.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

I know, and you’re dancing around your own popularity.

And even if everyone hates me here, I can leave. You can’t. You thought that one person was worth destroying yourself for, because for some reason she “gets” you.

It doesn’t even sound like you’re coping at this point, but you can’t give in to telling me you’ve messed up.

I hope you’re suffering.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Something small yet heavy lands on the floor behind Witch.

Over the bustle, it’s hardly audible. A pin. A marble. Not even, as there’s no clatter.

It is no trinket, after all.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I-

[She pauses for a moment as she processes something visually- a tiny mannerism, something you'd have to be excessively suspicious to think might mean anything]

Yeah, fine, you win. I fucked up. I know I should have told her she didn't need to do what she did, but I- I don't know, it felt good that she was willing to do that for me. I guess.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Behind her.

Right behind her.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Her ears perk, she’s excessively suspicious. Witch leans in to corner her more.

And are you suffering? Do you know that you’re suffering and it’s your own damn fault, and even more so hers? You knew what would happen, so don’t come crying to me or her when it just happens the way everyone knew it would—

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Something like a nail is driven into Witch up to the head, pain familiar yet uniquely foreign erupting in her calf. It heralds a trio of steels that saws through her achilles tendon.

In seconds, the miniature blades finish their mission, and join their sisters in Witch’s leg.

The pain ascends, refusing to let go of their grip like an insect’s mandibles,

...or a mountaineer’s pick.

She ascends.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Everything rushes through her in waves: burning pain as she watches her body feebly collapse leaning on the counter, horror as the words rush back that she was warned about this, and then that same stubborn determination.

Army is crawling up her, she’s vulnerable, visible and it would probably feel real good to squish her like the pest she is. So she reaches back and tries to get the bug in her grasp.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Have you ever tried to reach for something small you cannot see behind you that is on your leg while fighting through torture? It is far from easy. Some say it’s impossible, as arms simply aren’t long enough proportionally to reach down there.

Fortunately, Army is climbing, so she’s only down there for so long.

Unfortunately, she seems to have noticed, and is angling her blades so that plucking her off requires ripping out a chunk of Witch’s flesh alongside herself.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

She gets a bearing, finding the pain that comes with trying to peel her off. It's like the edge of a finger nail, right where it wants to dig under and set every nerve alight. But its fine. This is fine. Just rip her off. She's lost enough skin and blood to this monster, a bit more is fine. Just. Rip. It. Off.

A violent tear of skin rips out the back of her thigh, a few spurts of blood rolling down the climbing path as she lifts her up to eye level, watching closely. There's no chance Witch is letting her do anything cheeky, not this time. She takes a step back, turning her to face Prisoner.

Any complaints, or should I just throw her in the microwave?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she takes a moment, trying to process what she's just seen]

Is... Army??? Why are you- what??

...

[She tries to swipe it- her- out of witch's hand]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

She dodges, but staggers from the injury, blood slowly puddling on the floor.

Any complaints before I put her in the microwave?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Wh- I-

[she takes a handful of coins out of the register and starts throwing them at Witch]

Army, can you hear me? Why are you small?

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“IT JUST HAPPENED!!! ANONS!!!”

Gripping her feels like squeezing a handful of nails, if the nails were mobile and actively cutting at the base of one’s fingers.

Ah, yes, she is doing that. Bringing her blades to Witch’s hand and pressing hard. Flesh is torn. Blood drips from Witch’s hand.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Oh, um, alright. Try and cut through the tendons in her fingers! Shit, I'm out of coins.

[she starts throwing ketchup packets]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

It hurts a lot, but anger keeps her going. Step away from her, ignore the pain, ignore how she tears into skin, flesh, tendon. There's no more taunting to be done, just, leave.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Spite can do many things. It can push through pain, and misery, and anguish. It can drive one forward when everything else demands they stay down, because of such demands.

What spite cannot do is reattach a finger as it falls limp, hanging by loose muscle and skin.

Nor can it take the room it left, as blades move to give the index its same fate.

And it certainly cannot stop a three inch monster from continuing its voyage to Witch’s ear as she screams into the canal.

“WILL YOU FOR ONCE JUST STOP AND LISTEN?!”

Hooks in her neck, too shallow to be lethal, too deep to be torn out that way.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

And what do you have worth saying?

She keeps going, trying desperately to ignore the pain and just get to it. Her other hand tries to find the insect on her, get her back in control.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“Would it destroy you to leave Prizzy and I alone?!? She has nothing, she’s trapped here, and you’re—— you’re just—— NGGGHHHH”

“I hate this!!! I hate all of this!!! Why are you trying to make her miserable?!??”

If Army is torn from the neck she clings to, the odds of Witch dying within the hour rise as a flood, though whether this proves a successful deterrent is held in the near future.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Her hobbling stops for a half second. She gets purchase and rips Army out of her neck, another heavy gush of blood beginning to pour out of her body. Her sight is getting blurred.

Says the woman who murdered me 100 times and only let me out of hell because you were bored. If I can’t strike at you personally I’ll go for whatever you care about, and that just so happens to be someone else who wronged me. You know who I am, and we’re both the type to not fight our nature.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army sputters at that, before a familiar feeling strikes Witch’s other finger. It will meet the same fate soon.

“I ‘let you out’, because the whole thing sucked!!!! And because I thoooought you’d know that like everything you’re doing sucks!!!”

The middle finger loosens its grip, unable to hold any longer, “But nooOOOOooo, your ‘nature’ is to be miserable and make everyone miserable because you see someone who has less than you and take what little they do have!!!”

There are tears running down her blood red face.

“Do you have anything else?! Anything?!?”

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...Army? Are... hm.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

No. I don’t have anything, and you still found a way to take something from me.

She's running out of fingers. It hurts.

I'm not taking from her, I'm just burning it, if I apparently don't deserve joy or a good mental battle or someone to trust then I will dedicate everything to this fire.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“You don’t ’deserve it’ because you keep pushing away all your chances!!!”

Off goes the index. Ring isn’t hard to squirm out of without its siblings.

Army doesn’t climb this time, simply letting herself fall to the floor with that same light thud. Like a doll or a leather-bound book.

“I don’t even know why I fixed up your nice cave, it’s not like you’d ever let us be friends.”

She turns back for a moment to face Witch, before turning back to the counter and walking away.

“I’m gonna go hug my girlfriend, you should try it with Razie after you die of blood loss or whate’er...”

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

[she is slumped over the counter- at a glance, she looks like she might be sleeping or crying, but upon closer examination, she is in fact trying to scrub something off the counter.]

-@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

She leans on the counter, tail flicking, staying just out of lunge range.

You know that’s not coming off. Why fight it, why haven’t you just given up already?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she jumps as she hears Witch's voice, having not noticed her approach]

...give up and do what? There isn't much else I can do, given that I can't reach the kitchen at the moment.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Oh I thought you liked talking in subtext? I mean give up, in general. How long have you been stuck at this counter top, wanting to see the world, or even just the freezer and been unable to? Haven't you wanted to stretch your legs?

I know Army has been trying to chip away at my work, but she hasn't made too much progress, has she? Give up, stop sending your attack dog at me and I might stop repairing it.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I'm not "sending" her to do anything, she's her own autonomous person. I haven't seen her in a while now, actually.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

But if there's anyone who could command her, it would be you.

She leans slightly closer, still on edge to leap back if need be.

You missed a spot.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I don’t think anyone can command her, but i could ask her to stop.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Well asking her to stay out of my vents even when you and I were on thin ice didn’t seem to work, now did it?

You missed another spot. Wow you’re bad at this.

So that’s where we are, you are even more stuck than before, and your attack dog isn’t able to be muzzled enough for your situation to improve. How sad.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I- she isn't my fucking attack dog, if anything, I'm- nevermind. Surely it's the janitor's job to keep the place clean?

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

"If anything" you're what? We can be honest with each other, haven't we tried to be for the last while?

And I can't clean your counter considering you're actively hostile to me, same reason I don't clean the freezer.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...fair enough. What I was saying was, it's probably more accurate to say that I work for her than she works for me. I wouldn't say either of those are quire right, but if either of us are in charge, it's her.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Right. In that case you're quite the useless pawn, aren't you?

Do you know where she's been anyway? Did she run off and live your dreams without you?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...I guess you could put it like that. I'm not sure where she is, no. Last I spoke to her, she'd had a run-in with the health inspector, I think.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Even she couldn't stand being around you, such a shame.

She creeps closer, not even caring for safety at this point.

And has everyone else discarded you, or are they still playing nice before they realize you're declawed and scared?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she glares at her]

…you’re not exactly universally beloved yourself.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

I know, and you’re dancing around your own popularity.

And even if everyone hates me here, I can leave. You can’t. You thought that one person was worth destroying yourself for, because for some reason she “gets” you.

It doesn’t even sound like you’re coping at this point, but you can’t give in to telling me you’ve messed up.

I hope you’re suffering.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Something small yet heavy lands on the floor behind Witch.

Over the bustle, it’s hardly audible. A pin. A marble. Not even, as there’s no clatter.

It is no trinket, after all.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I-

[She pauses for a moment as she processes something visually- a tiny mannerism, something you'd have to be excessively suspicious to think might mean anything]

Yeah, fine, you win. I fucked up. I know I should have told her she didn't need to do what she did, but I- I don't know, it felt good that she was willing to do that for me. I guess.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Behind her.

Right behind her.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Her ears perk, she’s excessively suspicious. Witch leans in to corner her more.

And are you suffering? Do you know that you’re suffering and it’s your own damn fault, and even more so hers? You knew what would happen, so don’t come crying to me or her when it just happens the way everyone knew it would—

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Something like a nail is driven into Witch up to the head, pain familiar yet uniquely foreign erupting in her calf. It heralds a trio of steels that saws through her achilles tendon.

In seconds, the miniature blades finish their mission, and join their sisters in Witch’s leg.

The pain ascends, refusing to let go of their grip like an insect’s mandibles,

...or a mountaineer’s pick.

She ascends.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Everything rushes through her in waves: burning pain as she watches her body feebly collapse leaning on the counter, horror as the words rush back that she was warned about this, and then that same stubborn determination.

Army is crawling up her, she’s vulnerable, visible and it would probably feel real good to squish her like the pest she is. So she reaches back and tries to get the bug in her grasp.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Have you ever tried to reach for something small you cannot see behind you that is on your leg while fighting through torture? It is far from easy. Some say it’s impossible, as arms simply aren’t long enough proportionally to reach down there.

Fortunately, Army is climbing, so she’s only down there for so long.

Unfortunately, she seems to have noticed, and is angling her blades so that plucking her off requires ripping out a chunk of Witch’s flesh alongside herself.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

She gets a bearing, finding the pain that comes with trying to peel her off. It's like the edge of a finger nail, right where it wants to dig under and set every nerve alight. But its fine. This is fine. Just rip her off. She's lost enough skin and blood to this monster, a bit more is fine. Just. Rip. It. Off.

A violent tear of skin rips out the back of her thigh, a few spurts of blood rolling down the climbing path as she lifts her up to eye level, watching closely. There's no chance Witch is letting her do anything cheeky, not this time. She takes a step back, turning her to face Prisoner.

Any complaints, or should I just throw her in the microwave?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she takes a moment, trying to process what she's just seen]

Is... Army??? Why are you- what??

...

[She tries to swipe it- her- out of witch's hand]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

She dodges, but staggers from the injury, blood slowly puddling on the floor.

Any complaints before I put her in the microwave?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Wh- I-

[she takes a handful of coins out of the register and starts throwing them at Witch]

Army, can you hear me? Why are you small?

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“IT JUST HAPPENED!!! ANONS!!!”

Gripping her feels like squeezing a handful of nails, if the nails were mobile and actively cutting at the base of one’s fingers.

Ah, yes, she is doing that. Bringing her blades to Witch’s hand and pressing hard. Flesh is torn. Blood drips from Witch’s hand.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Oh, um, alright. Try and cut through the tendons in her fingers! Shit, I'm out of coins.

[she starts throwing ketchup packets]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

It hurts a lot, but anger keeps her going. Step away from her, ignore the pain, ignore how she tears into skin, flesh, tendon. There's no more taunting to be done, just, leave.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Spite can do many things. It can push through pain, and misery, and anguish. It can drive one forward when everything else demands they stay down, because of such demands.

What spite cannot do is reattach a finger as it falls limp, hanging by loose muscle and skin.

Nor can it take the room it left, as blades move to give the index its same fate.

And it certainly cannot stop a three inch monster from continuing its voyage to Witch’s ear as she screams into the canal.

“WILL YOU FOR ONCE JUST STOP AND LISTEN?!”

Hooks in her neck, too shallow to be lethal, too deep to be torn out that way.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

And what do you have worth saying?

She keeps going, trying desperately to ignore the pain and just get to it. Her other hand tries to find the insect on her, get her back in control.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“Would it destroy you to leave Prizzy and I alone?!? She has nothing, she’s trapped here, and you’re—— you’re just—— NGGGHHHH”

“I hate this!!! I hate all of this!!! Why are you trying to make her miserable?!??”

If Army is torn from the neck she clings to, the odds of Witch dying within the hour rise as a flood, though whether this proves a successful deterrent is held in the near future.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Her hobbling stops for a half second. She gets purchase and rips Army out of her neck, another heavy gush of blood beginning to pour out of her body. Her sight is getting blurred.

Says the woman who murdered me 100 times and only let me out of hell because you were bored. If I can’t strike at you personally I’ll go for whatever you care about, and that just so happens to be someone else who wronged me. You know who I am, and we’re both the type to not fight our nature.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Army sputters at that, before a familiar feeling strikes Witch’s other finger. It will meet the same fate soon.

“I ‘let you out’, because the whole thing sucked!!!! And because I thoooought you’d know that like everything you’re doing sucks!!!”

The middle finger loosens its grip, unable to hold any longer, “But nooOOOOooo, your ‘nature’ is to be miserable and make everyone miserable because you see someone who has less than you and take what little they do have!!!”

There are tears running down her blood red face.

“Do you have anything else?! Anything?!?”

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

[she is slumped over the counter- at a glance, she looks like she might be sleeping or crying, but upon closer examination, she is in fact trying to scrub something off the counter.]

-@stp-minimum-wage-prisoner

She leans on the counter, tail flicking, staying just out of lunge range.

You know that’s not coming off. Why fight it, why haven’t you just given up already?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she jumps as she hears Witch's voice, having not noticed her approach]

...give up and do what? There isn't much else I can do, given that I can't reach the kitchen at the moment.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Oh I thought you liked talking in subtext? I mean give up, in general. How long have you been stuck at this counter top, wanting to see the world, or even just the freezer and been unable to? Haven't you wanted to stretch your legs?

I know Army has been trying to chip away at my work, but she hasn't made too much progress, has she? Give up, stop sending your attack dog at me and I might stop repairing it.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I'm not "sending" her to do anything, she's her own autonomous person. I haven't seen her in a while now, actually.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

But if there's anyone who could command her, it would be you.

She leans slightly closer, still on edge to leap back if need be.

You missed a spot.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I don’t think anyone can command her, but i could ask her to stop.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Well asking her to stay out of my vents even when you and I were on thin ice didn’t seem to work, now did it?

You missed another spot. Wow you’re bad at this.

So that’s where we are, you are even more stuck than before, and your attack dog isn’t able to be muzzled enough for your situation to improve. How sad.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I- she isn't my fucking attack dog, if anything, I'm- nevermind. Surely it's the janitor's job to keep the place clean?

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

"If anything" you're what? We can be honest with each other, haven't we tried to be for the last while?

And I can't clean your counter considering you're actively hostile to me, same reason I don't clean the freezer.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...fair enough. What I was saying was, it's probably more accurate to say that I work for her than she works for me. I wouldn't say either of those are quire right, but if either of us are in charge, it's her.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Right. In that case you're quite the useless pawn, aren't you?

Do you know where she's been anyway? Did she run off and live your dreams without you?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

...I guess you could put it like that. I'm not sure where she is, no. Last I spoke to her, she'd had a run-in with the health inspector, I think.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Even she couldn't stand being around you, such a shame.

She creeps closer, not even caring for safety at this point.

And has everyone else discarded you, or are they still playing nice before they realize you're declawed and scared?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she glares at her]

…you’re not exactly universally beloved yourself.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

I know, and you’re dancing around your own popularity.

And even if everyone hates me here, I can leave. You can’t. You thought that one person was worth destroying yourself for, because for some reason she “gets” you.

It doesn’t even sound like you’re coping at this point, but you can’t give in to telling me you’ve messed up.

I hope you’re suffering.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Something small yet heavy lands on the floor behind Witch.

Over the bustle, it’s hardly audible. A pin. A marble. Not even, as there’s no clatter.

It is no trinket, after all.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

I-

[She pauses for a moment as she processes something visually- a tiny mannerism, something you'd have to be excessively suspicious to think might mean anything]

Yeah, fine, you win. I fucked up. I know I should have told her she didn't need to do what she did, but I- I don't know, it felt good that she was willing to do that for me. I guess.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Behind her.

Right behind her.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Her ears perk, she’s excessively suspicious. Witch leans in to corner her more.

And are you suffering? Do you know that you’re suffering and it’s your own damn fault, and even more so hers? You knew what would happen, so don’t come crying to me or her when it just happens the way everyone knew it would—

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Something like a nail is driven into Witch up to the head, pain familiar yet uniquely foreign erupting in her calf. It heralds a trio of steels that saws through her achilles tendon.

In seconds, the miniature blades finish their mission, and join their sisters in Witch’s leg.

The pain ascends, refusing to let go of their grip like an insect’s mandibles,

...or a mountaineer’s pick.

She ascends.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

Everything rushes through her in waves: burning pain as she watches her body feebly collapse leaning on the counter, horror as the words rush back that she was warned about this, and then that same stubborn determination.

Army is crawling up her, she’s vulnerable, visible and it would probably feel real good to squish her like the pest she is. So she reaches back and tries to get the bug in her grasp.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Have you ever tried to reach for something small you cannot see behind you that is on your leg while fighting through torture? It is far from easy. Some say it’s impossible, as arms simply aren’t long enough proportionally to reach down there.

Fortunately, Army is climbing, so she’s only down there for so long.

Unfortunately, she seems to have noticed, and is angling her blades so that plucking her off requires ripping out a chunk of Witch’s flesh alongside herself.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

She gets a bearing, finding the pain that comes with trying to peel her off. It's like the edge of a finger nail, right where it wants to dig under and set every nerve alight. But its fine. This is fine. Just rip her off. She's lost enough skin and blood to this monster, a bit more is fine. Just. Rip. It. Off.

A violent tear of skin rips out the back of her thigh, a few spurts of blood rolling down the climbing path as she lifts her up to eye level, watching closely. There's no chance Witch is letting her do anything cheeky, not this time. She takes a step back, turning her to face Prisoner.

Any complaints, or should I just throw her in the microwave?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

[she takes a moment, trying to process what she's just seen]

Is... Army??? Why are you- what??

...

[She tries to swipe it- her- out of witch's hand]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

She dodges, but staggers from the injury, blood slowly puddling on the floor.

Any complaints before I put her in the microwave?

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Wh- I-

[she takes a handful of coins out of the register and starts throwing them at Witch]

Army, can you hear me? Why are you small?

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“IT JUST HAPPENED!!! ANONS!!!”

Gripping her feels like squeezing a handful of nails, if the nails were mobile and actively cutting at the base of one’s fingers.

Ah, yes, she is doing that. Bringing her blades to Witch’s hand and pressing hard. Flesh is torn. Blood drips from Witch’s hand.

[stp-minimum-wage-prisoner]

Oh, um, alright. Try and cut through the tendons in her fingers! Shit, I'm out of coins.

[she starts throwing ketchup packets]

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

It hurts a lot, but anger keeps her going. Step away from her, ignore the pain, ignore how she tears into skin, flesh, tendon. There's no more taunting to be done, just, leave.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

Spite can do many things. It can push through pain, and misery, and anguish. It can drive one forward when everything else demands they stay down, because of such demands.

What spite cannot do is reattach a finger as it falls limp, hanging by loose muscle and skin.

Nor can it take the room it left, as blades move to give the index its same fate.

And it certainly cannot stop a three inch monster from continuing its voyage to Witch’s ear as she screams into the canal.

“WILL YOU FOR ONCE JUST STOP AND LISTEN?!”

Hooks in her neck, too shallow to be lethal, too deep to be torn out that way.

[stp-minimum-wage-witch]

And what do you have worth saying?

She keeps going, trying desperately to ignore the pain and just get to it. Her other hand tries to find the insect on her, get her back in control.

[stp-mw-razorcuts]

“Would it destroy you to leave Prizzy and I alone?!? She has nothing, she’s trapped here, and you’re—— you’re just—— NGGGHHHH”

“I hate this!!! I hate all of this!!! Why are you trying to make her miserable?!??”

If Army is torn from the neck she clings to, the odds of Witch dying within the hour rise as a flood, though whether this proves a successful deterrent is held in the near future.