Assistance Required

Intervention

TW self-deprecation, mention of self-harm, cursing

Wed Nov 18

It didn't take long for Roman to show up. He didn't waste much time in picking up Virgil and carrying him away. Virgil yelled and hissed at him and tried to escape, but he knew he couldn't get far without the crutches Patton was holding behind them. They walked into the dining hall, Patton pausing to pay the desk for the extra person. Everyone turned to look at them as Roman sat Virgil down in a seat. Janus snickered and covered his mouth with his hand. Virgil sighed and buried his face in his hands. A few minutes later, he heard a plate slide in front of him. He looked up to see Patton sitting down.

"You need to eat," Patton said.

"I told you I wasn't hungry," Virgil muttered.

"That's a lie," Janus said. "Now eat your fucking potatoes."

Virgil glared at him before stabbing a potato with a fork and taking a bite.

"Happy?" he said after he swallowed.

"Getting there," Roman said.

"What happened?" Thomas asked. "Why is there all this fuss?"

"Virgil's obviously upset about something but he won't talk to me. He's been avoiding the dining hall all week and he isn't wearing his bracelet anymore."

A few of the others gasped.

"Ooh, you took off Patton's bracelet!" Remus said.

"I just forgot to put it on this morning," Virgil said.

"I thought you slept with it on?" Logan said.

"Not last night," Virgil muttered.

"So then, why'd you take it off?"

Virgil rubbed his arm while he stared at his plate. What was he supposed to tell them?

"Virgil... did you...?" Roman trailed off.

He didn't look up from his plate.

"Virgil..." Patton said sadly.

"Is this because of your dad?" Janus asked.

Virgil shook his head.

"I don't know," he said quietly. "He certainly doesn't help. And after everything that happened at the cafe and the bills... I just don't know anymore."

"You can't blame yourself for what happened. It wasn't your fault."

Virgil slammed his hand down on the table.

"None of this would be happening if it weren't for me! You guys would be fine without me! All I've done is give you extra work. Hell, you'd be eating peacefully right now if I wasn't here! It'd be so much easier on everyone if I was gone!"

Roman placed a hand on Virgil's arm.

"Don't say that. Please don't say that. You were happy this morning, what happened?" Roman asked.

"Nothing happened. Just... just leave me alone."

"Virgil... you don't want to die, do you?" Logan asked hesitantly.

"I mean... I'm not actively looking to die but if death came knocking at my door, I wouldn't try to fight it."

"So, not exactly suicidal, yet?" Joan asked.

"No," Virgil said.

"Wait, did you find the pocket knife? I don't even have it in my room anymore!" Logan asked.