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Griefer was angry. He didn’t know why, he just was. It was an all consuming feeling for him. Sometimes he would be set off by the littlest things and just rush off. He didn’t want to be angry but sometimes it was the only thing he could feel. All this anger only hurt his friends, and his family, and everyone he knew and cared about.
Sure he had anger issues before trying to get the Venomshank, but after he started his “quest” to obtain it the anger got worse. He wanted to do nothing but scream and fight and be mad. He was a ticking time bomb, ready to set off at any moment. With every toxic word that came out from his lips he reached closer to his limit.
It eventually came to a head in an eventual final battle with Player. He didn’t even feel in control during those last few minutes. He was an observer stuck in his own body. And he hated it, more than the ache in his muscles that came after every battle, more than being constantly fuming with rage, more than anything else.
He despised lacking control.
But… it faded away. After he stabbed himself, became the Bubonic Plant, and got turned back to normal. When his dad fed him whatever actually cured him… he felt something that wasn’t anger. It was confusion and fear. But, that lead way to a feeling of being grateful. Player had gone out of their way to find the stuff to cure him of his condition. And they seemed so genuine in their care for him. Sure they obtained something rather useful when they cured him (an admittedly strong ally in battle) but it didn’t even seem like that's what they were after.
Player appeared to be after Griefer himself. They wanted to see him safe and sound and normal. Or well, as normal as he could be after being turned into a literal plant.
“You know, it's not your fault you were so angry all the time right?” He snapped back to the current moment. Was he… was he talking about his feelings? He must’ve been, its not like Players a mind reader. They were sitting with Griefer's head laying on their stomach. Their soft hands raked through his hair, being careful not to tug on the thorns interwoven with the hair strands.
“1 m34n l0g1c4lly 1 kn0w but… 1ts h4rd t0 n0t bl4m3 mys3lf.” Griefer responded, looking off to the side in remorse. His anger is what caused him to hurt Player as badly as he did. He had seen himself how many scars and bruises he left. But… Some of those scars were much older. From what Griefer understood Shedletsky's quest was rather dangerous so it was expected that they would get hurt and sometimes the pain would leave physical marks but, Griefer didn’t expect it to the extent he saw..
There wasn’t a part of Players skin not marked with something. Whether it be freckles or scars or something adorning it. But Griefer really didn’t mind. It didn’t make him see them as ugly or anything along those lines.
“Well… I don’t know exactly what to say to make you feel better about it all. But I forgive you.” The words… struck Griefer in a way he couldn’t quite articulate. He just turned his head to cover his face with Player's stomach. Which they responded with a laugh and gently cupping Griefers head, turning it back around. “Come on… don’t hide from me”
They had such a genuine smile on their face. It was… weird. This didn’t feel right. He still had those lingering feelings of not deserving nice things but Player had already made it very clear that they were going to give him what they thought he deserved despite his protests. And the way they treated him was so nice and gentle and loving and- It was hard to believe he didn’t deserve it when being told the opposite so firmly.
Griefer let out a grumble and pouted slightly, which made Player laugh more. They brought him up to their chest and planted a sweet kiss on his forehead. Making him melt instantly. Player was able to figure out his weak points so easily and he hated it. He didn’t want them to know him like this, he wanted to push them away. But… he couldn’t bring himself to do it unfortunately.
“... 4r3 y0u sur3 y0u d0n’t h4t3 m3-?”
“Very sure, haven’t been more sure of anything else in my life, even.”
He needed the constant reassurance. Despite how much he hated that he did. Griefer had so many issues, some he couldn’t even fully verbalize but Player didn’t mind.
“...... Y0u’r3 n0t pl4nn1ng 0n l34v1ng m3 4r3 y0u-” He wanted to curl up into a ball and die right here and now.
“Not for as long as you’re willing to keep me around.” They said they were going to stay. And they were stubborn, when they said they were going to do something they were going to do it. Despite how bad of an idea it was, they were planning on staying. This brought a smile to Griefers face. Player sometimes had this weird calming effect on him, he couldn’t quite explain why but he wasn’t going to complain. Hell he was pretty sure he needed it.
“Th4nk y0u, r34lly. 1 d0n’t s4y 1t 3n0ugh.” Griefer let a dry chuckle out. Players hand shifted to Griefers and they intertwined their fingers with him.
“Theres no need for you to thank me verbally, you show it more than enough through your actions… even if you don’t think you do.” Players voice was natural. As if the words slipping out of their mouth were the easiest things to say in the world. Just like saying how the sky was blue or that grass was green.
Griefer felt himself relax at this. Sometimes things didn’t need to be spoken to be true. But having things confirmed via words is still nice. But for now, he knew that Player cared about him just as much as he cared about them.