Vriska walked away from her computer in frustration. She was having the worst luck as of late, and Gamzee's advice only angered her: "just imagine your bad luck going away somewhere". Even if she was graced with that "miracle", where would she be redirecting her curse?

She looked out her window towards her neighbor's house. With her eight-fold vision she could see Equius fighting another slew of his killbots. She couldn't possibly curse him.

Vriska was gradually being distracted by watching Equius fight. At four sweeps, he was already stronger than most trolls twice his age. He could easily rip his killbots to shreds. He was so handsome…

Maybe if she gave Equius her bad luck, he would falter in his fighting and she could rescue him from his killbots! And then Equius would finally has red feeling for- This was a stupid idea.

Vriska made sure no one would see her actually trying this. She closed her eyes and imagined her bad luck slowly lifting from her and racing towards her neighbor. Just before the black mass reached him she heard Equius scream in pain.

She bolted out of her house and sprinted to Equius's respiteblock. She couldn't focus her vision long enough to see what was wrong. The strong troll's scream was rattling her think pan. What had she done? Why had she taken that stupid clown's advice?

She ran up the stairs two at the time. Vriska kicked open the door to Equius's respiteblock. Aurthour was trying to protect Equius from the last killbot. Vriska kicked it in the head and finished it off with a sucker punch. She turned to Equius and knelt down beside him

"Oh fuck," Vriska groaned. She gingerly picked up the broken horn. It made her own horns ache just to look at it. She shoved the small chunk into her jacket pocket.

She touched Equius with trepidation. His cries of pain quieted to sobs. Vriska couldn't even comprehend the pain he was in. She wiped his tears with her sleeve.

"It'll be okay…" she assured Equius while she stroked his hair.

"I'll never have a matesprite now!" he sobbed, "I'm going to be culled!"

"Don't say that!" she snapped.

"Now I'm even more of a freak…" he moaned as his sobs subsided. He sat up slowly and tried to massage the base of his broken horn.

"You're not a freak at all," she assured him. She was surprised to hear that bit of self-laothing, especially out a high-blood. Equius stayed silent and continued to massage his scalp.

"Let me help," Vriska started to reach for his horn, but her hand was swatted away by a disapproving Aurthour. She blushed deep blue, "I- I didn't mean it like that! I wasn't trying to…" she was sweating, she was blushing so much.

"Oh, o- of course," Equius muttered as he stood up, "Oh gosh that hurts."

"Aurthour," Vriska said, "isn't there anything you can do for him?" Aurthour gave her a distrusting look and trotted out of the room.

Equius walked to his workbench and sat down in his chair. He stated with his heads in his hands, "I apologize for my behavior earlier."

"No apology needed-"

"Still I-"

"You're really into robotics, aren't you?"

Equius did not like the change of subject, but he obliged her, "Yes, I enjoy it immensely. If you ever need anything built, I would be happy to do so."

Vriska started to walk towards him, "I'll keep it in mind…"

Aurthour canter into the room, between the two. He started to bandage Equius's horn, making sure to stand directly in front on Vriska.

"So what are you working on now, Equius, more killbots?" Vriska asked as he tried to peer around Aurthour.

"I am trying to make a robot that perfectly resembles a living troll. One with blood that could grow, feel pain, and- uh-" he looked at his hands, "do everything a troll needs to do."

Vriska raised her eyebrows, "That's a pretty lofty goal. Even the great Darkleer wasn't that good."

"It would be a great honor to surpass him," Equius grimaced and sighed, "Aurthour says you should go home," he looked at Aurthour and added, "Your lusus must be worried for you."

Vriska rolled her eyes, "I guess if I have to, but," she smiled warmly at him, "If you need anything, don't be afraid to ask me."

Vriska walked home and sat in front on her lusus's web. She knew her Spidermom would have no advice for her, only contempt. She liked to imagine how the conversation would go.

"I don't know how to tell him I like him."

"Just say it, dear."

"But what if he doesn't like me back?"

"You should more scared of letting him get away."