Scissor Damsel: Chapter One
Tori Vega sat at the small desk in the corner of her bedroom, tapping her pencil against her math textbook. The glow of her laptop screen in combination with a pink desk lamp kept just enough light in her room to work on homework while giving anyone who passed her door the impression she may already be in bed. This was the best way to limit interruptions from her obnoxious sister, Trina, or her overprotective parents. She was three problems away from finishing for the night, but she kept getting distracted by thread updates on her favorite forum. Nobody from her school understood why she was so obsessed with television, so this was her only way of venting her fan girl frustrations with people who wouldn't attempt admitting her to the nearest psych hospital.
There was a particular topic buzzing tonight, because the new episode of American Terror Legends featured a controversial character death. She was currently in the middle of a debate with a user she noticed spending almost the same amount of time posting on the forums as she did. One of the admins got in the middle of their conversation and told them to take it to a private message if they had more to say. Her nerves crept up as she realized the other user was choosing to take this advice as her inbox lit up for the first time.
From: xxScissorSlayerxx
To: DrowningDamsel
DroDam,
I think it is naïve to believe the writers won't bring Charlotte back. Her death was not even gruesome like the others. If her body is in one piece then what stops them from reviving her? She is one of the few characters with any real plot attached to her. If she stays dead how will they continue the season?
-SciSlay
Tori read the message over twice, and her fingers tingled with desire to continue engaging with this other fan, but she really needed to be in bed soon. She closed the laptop and tried to focus back on algebra for about 15 minutes before she made up showing her work and just looked in the back since the answers were odds. Rather than get into bed after brushing her teeth, Tori opened her laptop back up and prepared a reply to the forum message.
From: DrowningDamsel
To: xxScissorSlayerxx
SciSlay,
I don't see the point in offing Charlotte in the first place if she is really so important to the plot. Maybe it's just a fake out that they've kept so many other characters in the background. We probably looked over someone who will take over the spotlight now that she is out of their way. She was too easy of a target. They wanted us to believe she was in charge only long enough to kill her for a shock factor. The worst monster hasn't come to light yet.
-DroDam
Once Tori felt satisfied with her response she clicked out of her message box and did a quick browse of the forums to see what else people were talking about. Just when she was getting ready to sign off for the night, she saw another message had popped up in her inbox.
From: xxScissorSlayerxx
To: DrowningDamsel
DroDam,
Just because a worse monster is potentially yet to be revealed doesn't mean Charlotte can't be revived as their prized minion. I happen to know this particular screenwriter has a zombie fetish and I'll be damned if I lost a bet on his intentions for Charlotte's character.
-SciSlay
Tori rolled her eyes. This fan would not back down for anything. She clearly did her research though. Tori hadn't bothered to know the writers' names, let alone their habits. Maybe there was hope for her after all if hardcore fans like xxScissorSlayerxx existed.
From: DrowningDamsel
To: xxScissorSlayerxx:
SciSlay,
I'd love to continue this discussion but I really don't think we are going to agree, and I have to get enough sleep for school in the morning. Also, how do you know so much about the writers? We'll have to wait for more episodes to know who's right anyway.
-DroDam
Tori tried to wait a couple more minutes for a reply but found herself nodding off, so she shut down her computer and went to bed.
In a different part of Los Angeles, Jade West sat in her father's abandoned den typing away furiously on the same forum as Tori Vega under the handle xxScissorSlayerxx.
From: xxScissorSlayerxx
To: DrowningDamsel
DroDam,
It is my job to know the habits of the screenwriters, because I study the craft and intend to become a professional myself. I drink coffee to avoid needing as much sleep. It allows me more time to immerse myself in the material for my future career which also happens to make up most of my homework.
-SciSlay
Jade felt satisfied with her reply and hit send, knowing the recipient would likely not be reading it until the next day. That was all the better since she needed to finish writing a song for one of her classes anyway. The downside to studying at an arts school is being forced to take courses in the arts that don't necessarily correspond with your strengths or highest interests for the sake of being well-rounded. If she could, she would only attend script-related lessons and ignore everything else. But she'd have to make it into the business for real before that would be possible. Wherever DrowningDamsel went to school, she was certain it was less impressive.
Tori got online as soon as school let out and she had the chance to grab a snack from the kitchen. She was very curious to know about the reply to her last message, feeling confident there would be one. As expected, there it was, the reply sent the night before by SciSlay. Tori shook her head upon reading the message. She should have known this girl was a snob from some uppity arts school. Her sister went to one, so she knew what those guys were like.
From: DrowningDamsel
To: xxScissorSlayerxx
SciSlay,
I admire your dedication to your craft, but if it was your intention to impress me, you'll have to do better than that to calm my urge to continue debate with you about future episodes. My sister also attends a school for the arts and she is quite talentless, so I question what really gets anyone into those programs. Not to say I doubt your abilities, but I know some slip through the cracks that shouldn't.
-DroDam
Tori felt a bit sassy about the response but hit send anyway, after all, it's not like this girl's credentials were verified. She could be all talk.
Jade, also home from a long day at school, logged back into her laptop and checked the forums first thing to find a new message. She felt immediately defensive about what she read.
From: xxScissorSlayerxx
To: DrowningDamsel
DroDam,
Do you have Snype? I want to prove to you I'm the real deal.
-SciSlay
Jade was suddenly regretting sending this request. She hadn't Snyped a stranger before, let alone shared her work with one. But she was determined to do this for some reason. Tori similarly read the message and paused. Should she let this random girl know her Snype? Only friends from her school knew it so far. She eventually channeled the courage to go for it.
From: DrowningDamsel
To: xxScissorSlayerxx
SciSlay,
My Snype username is ToriV.
-DroDam
Tori waited only a couple of minutes before a chat request flashed on her screen: "JadeW has requested to add you as a contact on Snype." Tori accepted the request and waited for the other girl to type something. She could tell SciSlay was about to start the conversation because the words, "JadeW is typing…" appeared on the chat screen.
JadeW: Do you have your Snype set up to allow file sharing?
ToriV: I think so. If it's the default setting.
*JadeW has requested to share a file with you: ClownsDontBounce *
*ToriV has finished downloading ClownsDontBounce *
ToriV: This isn't going to be a virus, is it?
JadeW: Shouldn't you have thought about that before you clicked to accept the download?
ToriV: Too late now. I may as well open it.
JadeW: If I find this uploaded online anywhere I swear I'll figure out where you live and…
ToriV: Let me guess, you'll scissor me to death?
Jade smirked as she read the last IM from ToriV, wondering if she even realized the easy misinterpretation of her own words.
JadeW: I think you misread my username. I'm a slayer, not a succubus.
Tori blushed upon reading JadeW's response. Obviously she had meant to accuse this girl of having a fascination with stabbing people using scissors. Instead she took a nosedive into something implicitly sexual.
ToriV: You know what I meant.
JadeW: How can I be so sure? We're perfect strangers. You could be a pleasure-seeking deviant by night, American Terror Legends fan by day. They'd go perfectly hand-in-hand if you really think about it.
ToriV: No wonder you enjoy writing scripts, your imagination is out of control.
JadeW: Your accusation seems a bit premature. Have you even started reading my play that I sent you?
ToriV: No, I'll read it after I finish my homework. How late will you be on?
JadeW: Judging by last night, much later than you will be.
ToriV: Okay, I'll read a bit later then let you know what I think.
JadeW: The threat still stands. If that script reaches anyone else's eyes, it will be the last thing either of you see.
ToriV: Maybe they should make you a character on American Terror Legends.
JadeW: Not even 10 minutes on Snype with me, and already tapping into my fantasies. You waste no time, ToriV.