#and while I'm motivated to write there's been a clash between time and energy

[blametheeditor]

A Song Without Its Lyrics

Prompt Roulette By Title

Character A's best friend, Character B, is mute. That sure as hell doesn't stop Character B from somehow being the brightest, most expressive person starring in Character A's life.

Content Warnings: Cursing. Mentions of treating others as lesser than. Mentions of calling others 'pests'. Mentions of select mutism. Mentions of death and murder. Mentions of being apathetic

_______________________________

“If you just listen for two seconds-” 

“Why should I? Everything you’ve said up until this point has been worthless.” 

Vincent almost wants to yawn, watching the conversation between Scott and David go in yet another circle. Not that he cares if an agreement is made tonight. No one knows he’s even here, and he wouldn’t have bothered to show up if William hadn’t commanded him to make sure the negotiations didn’t get too out of hand.

Literally. The owner of Fazbear Corporation might be worried a certain egotistical employee will abuse the fact he’s a giant and therefore grab a certain ‘supervisor’ who’s small enough to fit in the palm of his hand in the heat of the moment, but Vincent knows that wouldn’t happen. Not when pests don’t deserve to so much as even look at him, none the less have the honor to be held by him. 

Though, ‘negotiations’ is a bit of a stretch. Scott has been negotiating and trying his hardest to get David on the same page. It’s David who refuses to budge, finding every excuse imaginable to disagree with something he might have even thought of but refuses to give in solely based on principle. 

It’d be admirable and entertaining if it wasn’t so childish. To be honest, Vincent’s unsure what they’re even discussing currently, nor the original reason why Scott, Eggs, and David met up at Freddy Fazbear’s. 

Personally, at this point, he’d take Eggs out of timeout to contribute to see if anything can get done tonight, even if it’s something as simple as setting up a schedule for every restaurant on when the mechanic can run diagnostic checks and fix anything that’s needed. It might not even be part of the agenda, but at least it’d be something. 

“Look, we need to work together on this, and-” 

“I don’t want to hear another word,” David interrupts yet again. Which is a bad look all around, using the fact his voice can overpower Scott’s effortlessly to gain complete control over the situation. But Vincent isn’t here to be a babysitter, or report to William the man that was hired partly for PR is nothing but a bully behind closed doors. If Scott can’t handle such petty tactics then he’ll need to learn how. “William might listen to your idiotic suggestions, but it’s clear you have no idea what you’re doing considering I’m here. So shut up and let me work.” 

Despite being several feet away from where Scott stands on a table in order to be on an ‘equal level’, though the attempt is completely ruined by the fact David’s standing to ensure his shadow is cast over the miniscule figure, Vincent can see the sandy haired man’s expression clearly. Every shift as the look goes from fear, to anger, to despair, finally landing on determination. 

I’m not going to shut up. You are going to sit down and we are going to converse like God damn adults.

It’s only when David doesn’t respond with confusion written all over his face does Vincent realize Scott had signed the words rather than say them out loud. 

And then Vincent isn’t hiding in the shadows at Freddy Fazbear’s, waiting for the business man to react. Instead, he’s sitting at a table. In a different though similar restaurant. With a much younger Scott Cawthon sitting beside his hand. One that isn’t purple. Without a single look of trepidation aimed toward it. 

...it’s been a while since he thought about his life before William. 

“Did I do something to earn the silent treatment?” he had asked. Gently poked Scott in the attempt to get some kind of reaction. Because it was the first time his best friend wasn’t ranting about how a mother blew up on him even though her ire was directed toward another coworker. Or excitedly discussing the fact their bosses were working on a new project and they’ll be one of the first ones to see it. 

It concerned him. Scott was the only one who saw Vincent’s words and actions as more than just him being an annoying asshole. And he didn’t want to lose the human’s friendship if he crossed a line somewhere. 

He was glad he didn’t receive a glare or a yell for demanding attention when it clearly didn’t want to be given. But even though the headshake given was immediate and decisive, nothing was said. Which meant he was still worried, just for different reasons. 

The worst part was the fact Scott looked so upset, panicked, and yet still not a single word was spoken. 

“Has the free food left you speechless?” Vincent mused. “We have it, what, a minimum of five times a week if not more? But this time it managed to blow your mind how amazing reheated frozen pizza can be?”  He hadn’t thought about it before, considering it’s not something you really focus on, but it was then he realized just how expressive Scott was. Maybe because he’s human, and being around giants has you unconsciously doing everything in your power to always be heard or noticed. It meant Scott should never play poker or else lose all of his money, but it also made it easy to see the relief that Vincent wasn’t upset. As well as the cautious hope that slowly began to appear. 

Vincent was happy to continue. Tapped his chin as he hummed in thought. “Going for a world record, then? Longest without saying anything?” 

Scott rolled his eyes dramatically with a look of ‘really?’. 

“Hey, I won’t judge. But don’t expect me to help, you’ve got to time it yourself.” 

It was so brief, a blink and you’ll miss it moment, and it didn’t help just how small the human is. But Scott looked hurt by his words. 

Which meant Vincent swept him up. There wasn’t even a yelp, but a finger was hugged in order for Scott to steady himself from the sudden action. Looked up at the giant with worry. 

“We’re watching a movie at my place.” 

“I’m sorry,” had been the first thing Scott said to him the next day. 

It pissed Vincent off his best friend felt the need to apologize for something that seemed out of his control. Wanted to find whoever put the idea Scott should be ashamed of it and punch them in the face. “What for? I thought we had a great time of you silently agreeing all of my opinions are correct and should never be challenged.” 

There was a wince, but there was also a smile. “I, uh, kn-know it’s annoying.” 

“Annoying?” Vincent asked. “Unless it’s annoying for you, it’s anything but annoying for me.” 

“You weren’t, but I, I couldn’t-” Scott sputtered, looked genuinely confused. “H-How?” 

“Adds to your charm, Scotty,” Vincent smirked. “Like your stutters.” 

He didn’t ask why. And Scott didn’t tell him. 

But the next time it happened several months later he sat the human down. Forcefully. Because Scott avoided him for as long as possible before the giant managed to snag him. “Do you know ASL, Scotty?” 

That stopped Scott from running away. Which was best for all of them considering all Vincent had to do was pin him without any effort. 

He was suspicious, uncertain why that was the first thing asked, but shook his head no. 

“Then you and I are going to learn it.” 

Because even though Vincent knew how to sign and read important phrases, and could go through the very tedious process of conversing by spelling every single word out, he was far from fluent. But he would like to be. He wanted to for a while ever since he learned in order to make sure every child could be included whenever the band started to play. Giving Scott a voice when his own didn’t work was just the last push he needed. 

To be honest, Scott would’ve been fine on his own without learning any sign language. It’s impossible to misinterpret what the human was saying considering just how expressive he was, but there would be scenarios when being able to say what you mean and want would be crucial. 

And there did come a time when Scott’s only words was strictly through signing. When William came into their lives. When the human could no longer express any kind of emotion. 

When Vincent finally realized what took his best friend’s voice away. 

That’s why, for the first time in years, Vincent feels a wave of protection grip him with an iron fist as he fully registers why Scott is suddenly signing instead of speaking despite the fact David wouldn’t be able to read it. Because his voice has been stolen away. And this is the only way to say what he wants to. 

A far cry from before when all he could do was obey without a way to fight back. 

Vincent’s body is moving before he can tell it to, stepping out of the shadows with the intent to kill David where he- 

“Oooooh, are you gonna take that, David?” Eggs suddenly asks, looking up at the giant with a wicked grin. Manages to freeze Vincent in place by words alone. 

“Take what?” the business man demands. 

“Scott telling you to sit down and stop being an asshole!” 

Vincent feels the pounding rage slowly subside until he’s backing into the shadows again before any of them manage to spot him. Stares at the blond human who was able to make sure Scott was heard. 

“No I’m not going to take it. He knows nothing about keeping a restaurant running properly.” 

I’m not saying I do, I’m saying there’s things you should know about the building Afton hasn’t told you about.

Scott started signing halfway through David’s growl, but Eggs had been watching to listen to both. “Scott’s got a good point, though. William might have trap doors lying around.” 

David stares down at them. “What the hell are you talking about?” 

“Sit down and Scott’ll explain!” 

Surprisingly, the giant does. Grumbling all the while, but he does. “Explain about the possibility of trap doors.” 

No trap doors, but it’s worse than that.

“The vent’s were replaced with snakes!” 

No.

Vincent ignores the rest of the conversation. Feels his entire body finally relax. Left to try and understand what happened, and why there’s a small piece of him that hadn’t been there before that’s still wanting to go to Scott’s side. 

With it clear Eggs is acting as a mediator, the purple man quickly makes his way out of the building before turning down the sidewalk leading to William’s office. Knowing that in a few hours, Scott will join him to report what was able to get accomplished. Because nothing has changed. William’s word is law with Vincent and Scott his messengers to obey every word said to them without hesitation. 

So why does it feel like he’s losing his best friend. 

[royaltealovingkookiness]

(Pt.1) *talks about meta you posted over 2 weeks ago because that's how I roll* I've recently been thinking about the pacing of Book 3, since that's one of the biggest issues people point out with the Book. And what you mentioned in this meta here (/ post / 182754515366 / emletish-fish-royaltealovingkookiness) gets to some of the issues I was thinking about. I'm wondering if B3 would have been less wobbly if "The Day of the Black Sun" hadn't happened at e10, but earlier in the season.

(pt. 2) Like, what if only the really plot-relevant episodes happened before TDotBS, while the character-exploration pieces like The Headband, The Runaway, and The Painted Lady happened later? That would give the Gaang more time with Zuko, and also give Zuko more time in the non-super-rich parts of the Fire Nation (also because I really wanted Zuko instituting reforms throughout the Fire Nation as part of his redemption arc in B3, but that’s just a personal preference). Anyway, thoughts?

Oh, that is a really good question. Here is the original meta. I think nobody would have complained if Zuko joined the Gaang a bit earlier, because it adds so much emotional energy to the group, the potential story-lines are endless, and those episodes are probably the most beloved by the fandom - for good reason. 

I think that definitely one way would have been to have the TDoBS a little bit earlier. I don’t know if it would have been possible to put The Painted Lady, or The Runaway after the invasion though - as once they are revealed to be alive, Team Avatar would be hunted by the Fire Nation, not to talk about Zuko, who certainly had a blood-price on his head once he walked away (and a very recognizable face to boot). But there was a lot of fat to cut, so 3A could have been shortened.

The other option would have been to leave 3A the same length, but put more focus on Zuko, Azula and the Fire Nation system itself (4 episodes have absolutely no Zuko or Azula in it, in an arc that’s supposed to be about the Fire Nation)

I think the main problem with 3A is the narrative. They should have decided what stories they wanted to tell  (the bored, privileged Fire Nation high school kids one didn’t work, because that’s not how the FN rolls, if we know one thing about both Zuko and Azula that they have a drive and work ethic of manic proportions) and then carry it through:

- On the Gaang side the story definitely should have been (and was more or less) about them discovering that the Fire Nation regular people are just that; regular people - no better or worse than other nations. There are kind ones and bad ones. It would have been also an opportunity for Aang to remember what the Fire Nation was like before the war, and how the war machine affected them too (and this is why the Kuzon-story would have been important to tell). 

- On Zuko’s side - and this is where the narrative focus was completely off - the story should have focused on three things to build the moment where he says - “this is not me”

1. how Zuko tries to be the “perfect prince” - the son of his father and how the tension grows between that image and who he has become in Book 2. We don’t even see the War Council until the finale, and there is really no story told on what are the expectations placed on him. I think he should have seen that if he stays as a cog in the war machine, he would have had to make soul-destroying compromises and still not have had much impact. Because the system as a whole is corrupt. It could have been an exploration of governance with no opposition, no checks and balances, based on fear and oppression and a nation fed by a propaganda machine (and Book 4 could have been him trying to change the system and show how hard it is). This story could have been inter-woven with the Gaang’s storyline the same way Book 2 did.

2. How the home he dreamed of during his banishment is an illusion - this doesn’t exist anymore and never will (and parts of this story they told with The Beach but very little) and how alienated Zuko feels because even the people closest to him cannot understand his experience (except Uncle, but he’s not talking to him). I think there could have been also more focus on Zuko and Azula’s relationship as they are both trying to adjust living together, trying to figure out the other’s true motivations, oscillating between wanting to be closer, but being unable to trust each other and perhaps clash their very different visions for the Fire Nation.

3. Zuko realizing slowly how everything Iroh taught him was true and how the love he gave him was real compared to Ozai’s self-serving vision of his children. This would lead to his anger at himself and the desire to reconcile with his Uncle. 

4. They should have decided what they wanted to do with Maiko. The lack of direction in the writing room really comes through and I can see at least 3 different types of Maiko (one which is a superficial teenage romance more about status than feelings, one where both sides try to support the other, but just are not emotionally equipped to do so and lack full trust, and a real love story). Since this ship was the main focus of Zuko’s home experience, the lack of clear narrative purpose made those scenes really frustrating (and I’m saying this as someone who loves both Mai and Zuko as characters and believes that this relationship could have been told really well, giving depth to both characters, whichever option you go for)

With this narrative you would have the contrasting arcs between 3A and 3B:

3A: Zuko tries to emulate Ozai  - 3B: Zuko emulates Iroh

3A: Zuko tries to make a difference from inside - 3B: Zuko knows the system is rotten and has to come down

3A: Zuko realizing his childhood home is gone for good - 3B: Zuko finding a new family with the Gaang and his Uncle

3A: Ozai’s conditional approval - 3B: Iroh’s unconditional love

But I’d definitely slide TDoBS 1-2 episodes earlier, so there is time for a field trip with Toph and I agree that either as part 3A or 3B, Zuko should have been confronted with the Fire Nation country-side and how his own people are affected and suffer from the war. After all, his entire arc started with wanting to stand up for the regular people. 

Imagine a storyline where he visits the families of his dead crew-members trying to bring them some money, or he is sent to oversee the capture or imprisonment of army defectors? Or he visits a school and hear the lies they teach to children?So many possibilities…