Things began to move along fairly naturally between Vriska and John. They messaged each other a lot when they were not at school, and enjoyed each other's presence even more than usual in their shared classes and during lunch periods. Apparently things were becoming too obvious, as the topic got uncomfortably broached by Vriska's mother at their attempt of a family dinner. Vriska could feel her mother's eyes on her, but tried not to acknowledge it, staring at her plate and eating as fast as she could. But before she could escape back to her bedroom, Suzanne spoke.
"You've been talking to a boy, haven't you?" Vriska froze. "You're different lately. Soft. I can tell."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Vriska answered, without even turning around.
"Number one way to get hurt in this world, baby girl, is letting yourself be vulnerable. You get too emotional with this kid, he's gonna break your heart."
"Yeah and since when do you care if I get my heart broken?" Vriska turned on her heel and glared at her mom, watching her eyes narrow in rage. She'd never seen someone move that fast, but in a flash, Suzanne was up from the dinner table and halfway across the room, holding Vriska's wrist in a vice grip.
"Listen, you little shit. I am your mother. You will not talk back to me like this. You will respect me. And you will do as I say. You should be grateful I'm even trying to tell you about the world."
Vriska squirmed and winced. Her mother had never gotten physical with her, but was certainly emotionally abusive, and Vriska knew it was better to just play along, because continuing to enrage her would only escalate things. This was how she really learned to not be soft and emotional. It was because being open, being too sad or too happy or even too angry just resulted in more harsh words and frustration and gaslighting. So she just pushed it all down. In front of her mother, in front of her sister, and in front of her friends. "Sorry, Mom," Vriska conceded. Suzanne didn't say anything, just sneered and tugged Vriska up the stairs and into her room.

"Yeah, you're not gonna see him for a bit. You'll be coming home right after school every day this week," Suzanne said, only after shutting the door behind her. Vriska sank against the walls. At least she was alone for a bit. She wanted to drive her fist into the wall, but that would be another ordeal in which she'd get yelled at for the damage, so instead she just started throwing pillows.

"God, my mom is such a biiiiiiiitch!" she yelled, trying to do something cathartic about all her pent up aggression and anger, and when the anger subsided, Vriska's face withered. She ran both hands through her hair, tugging it in her fists. The muscles under her empty eye socket twitched, and she began to cry a bit. She sobbed for a moment, and then a moment longer, and then began to simply sniffle. Aranea would never know how lucky Vriska considered her to be; Aranea got to leave in a few months. Vriska was going to be stuck here. But… there was John. No matter what her mother said, Vriska was going to continue to spend time with John. Because he somehow made things feel less terrible without even trying. He was a little oblivious about things that seemed pretty apparent, and he wasn't the most tactful person, but he was sweet and kind and cute, and Vriska couldn't help but wonder if she might be the same way if she'd grown up with a family like his. She hadn't met Mr. Egbert yet, but she knew John loved his dad. She wondered what it would be like to grow up with a family who actually loved her. Aranea tried, but it was more out of obligation. Or at least, that was the sense Vriska always got. Their dad was MIA and Mom was… well, she was a piece of work. Vriska let out a long sigh, dragging a hand across her face, wiping her tears away. Crying wasn't something she did often, but sometimes things just overflowed. As long as nobody ever saw that side of her, everything would be fine. She stood up and crossed the room to her desk, sliding into the chair and pulling her laptop open. There was a message on Pesterchum waiting for her.

caligulasAquarium [CA] began pestering arachnidsGrip [AG]

CA: vris i know we havent talked much one on one since you ended things
CA: but theres somethin i gotta come clean about
AG: Oh?
AG: Consider my curiosity piqued.
CA: well
CA: been talkin to kar and been thinkin about how i am as a person
CA: and how i try to excuse it
CA: basically i know im an asshole but im an asshole because im so terrified of this secret coming out
CA: and kar told me i cant keep using this… thing… as an excuse
CA: of course hes right he gives freaky good advice
CA: especially with romance even though hes shit at dealing with his own romance
AG: Eridan you're rambling, can you please get to your fucking point?
AG: I'm having a really shitty day to be completely honest.
CA: ok well the point is that i decided to just
CA: be honest about stuff
CA: at least with you guys
CA: because maybe if you all understand what im dealing with and i dont have to worry about hiding it…
CA: i dont really know i just thought it would be a good idea to tell everyone
CA: uh vris
CA: im…
CA: im trans
AG: You're a girl?
CA: no
CA: well i mean
CA: biologically speaking
CA: but i mean im a trans guy
AG: I mean it doesn't make a difference to me, you're still just as insufferable.
CA: yeah… i know
CA: but it feels good to say
AG: Who else knows?
CA: fef
CA: shes known for years
CA: cro but hes a jerk about it
CA: kar found out at the halloween party
CA: kan probably knows because she helped me with homecoming
CA: rose because her sister hacked my school files
CA: so at least teachers arent deadnaming me
AG: Deadname?
CA: yeah my uh…
CA: my birth name
AG: Wait, so your parents didn't name you Eridan? What is it?
CA: are you fuckin kiddin me that is so baseless and rude
CA: you cant just ask someone what their deadname is vris
AG: Okay, sorryyyyyyyy!
AG: I don't know the rules here, I'm trying to understand.
CA: okay well im still eridan
CA: my dead name is just
CA: the one my dad still uses because im too chicken shit to tell him im not a girl
CA: the one that causes me to fuckin hate myself and my body
CA: and my dad would never understand
CA: hed probably disown me
CA: or out me publicly
AG: Your dad isn't that terrible.
CA: my dad is a pretty atrocious person actually
CA: and even if he wasnt he certainly has more traditional views
CA: ive been a junior debutante for two years already
CA: and hes always telling me to wear more skirts and dresses and not be such a 'tomboy'
CA: i go to feferis house before school every day and change into my boy clothes just so he doesnt give me a hard time when i leave
CA: god sorry i dont even know why im dumping all this on you
CA: i just wanted to start telling everyone
CA: and i figured since you and i dated
AG: Yeah… I mean I also understand what it's like to have shitty parents.
AG: At least you have both of yours.
AG: Ha, my mom just locked me in the room for talking back.
AG: When she was giving me a hard time for actually having feelings.
CA: she sounds harsh
CA: like you
AG: There's a reason I come off as harsh, Eridan.
AG: She's taught me that emotions are bad. Vulnerability is bad. And she got upset with me for opening myself up to John and locked me in my room and grounded me for the rest of the week because I challenged her.
CA: vris i think thats the most raw and honest youve been with me and i was your fuckin boyfriend
AG: Yeah, well, I'm on a learning curve here.
AG: But, don't tell anyone, ok?
CA: only if i can ask the same from you
AG: Listen I know I'm a bitch but I'm not gonna out you.
AG: Christ, what do you take me for?
CA: i just
CA: am in the process of telling everyone
AG: Are you gonna tell your dad?
CA: maybe
CA: maybe ill just stop letting cro blackmail me
AG: Why is your brother such a skeeze?
CA: hell if i know
AG: Didn't he cheat on Kankri?
CA: yeah
CA: and hes always threatening to tell dad about me if i dont cover up for him
CA: the whole arrangement is shit
AG: Do you think he'd follow through on it?
CA: dunno
CA: sometimes i hope so because it would be easier than telling dad myself
CA: anyway vris i just wanted to get that off my chest
CA: i mean i also wanna get my CHEST off my chest so maybe that was a poor choice of phrase but you know what i mean
AG: Yeah.
AG: I mean if you need someone to talk to about the whole family situation…
CA: youre so soft right now wtf
AG: I'm trying to be a better person you asswipe!
AG: And also I think I understand shitty family situations more than most of our little crew.
AG: Feferi's had everything handed to her for years and Karkat has his huge supportive family and I know those are typically your go-tos when it comes to airing things out.
CA: yeah well i appreciate the sentiment
CA: i gotta go though and talk to some other people
AG: And do the whole coming out thing again.
AG: Why not just do this in the group chat?
CA: dunno
CA: seems impersonal
AG: Okay well good luck.
AG: Though I don't think anyone in the friends group is gonna disown you or anything.
AG: Well, not about being trans.
CA: yeah its not really them im worried about but its still hard to say
CA: bye vris

caligulasAquarium [CA] ceased pestering arachnidsGrip [AG]

Vriska ran a hand through her hair. Everyone seemed troubled lately. Or maybe she was just beginning to notice more, and not be such a self-absorbed bitch.

She was thinking about all this in class the next day, pondering over everything she'd done and said and how hard it was to be a good person. All she'd ever wanted to do was make her friends stronger and better but they seemed to resent her for it. They all wanted her to change. Maybe they were right, and maybe it would be for the better, but she also knew her mother would never understand why she wanted to reconnect with other people.
"Vriska." She sat up in her seat a bit at Terezi's sudden appearance.
"Oh, we're speaking?"
"Yeah, I think I… I think we should." Vriska looked up at her coldly. Her best friend, her 'Scourge Sister' who'd abandoned her when things got too hard to deal with.
"Finally decided to apologize, then?"
"I! No! I don't think I have anything to apologize for, Vriska. I cut you out because I thought our friendship was toxic. But… it seems to me that you're becoming more aware of yourself."
"I… uh. Okay," Vriska said. That wasn't the answer she expected.
"Listen, Vriska, you and I are best friends. I don't think there's any denying it."
"I agree, but you're the one who decided to leave."
"Yeah, but… like I said. It was about how you treated other people. And now I think you're at least trying to be better."
"So… you forgive me?"
"I don't know if 'forgive' is the word I would use. More like… I am willing to acknowledge your past as your past. I just… miss you."
"Ter, that's the gayest thing you've ever said to me. But…" Vriska pondered for a moment. "You wanna get the Scourge Sisters back in action?"
"Yeah…"
"Well… I miss you too. So let's just make amends already! Besides, someone's got to keep you from making terrible romantic decisions."
"What!"
"Let's be real, you have terrible taste. Karkat, Dave…" Terezi's face withered, and Vriska decided not to push it, especially since John would be showing up in class any minute. If nothing else came out of that day, Vriska had her best friend back.