TW strangulation (people on tumblr were all over that), vomit

Thank you to on Quotev for the fanart! It was super cute!! (can't link it on Wattpad because it doesn't let me add links)

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|| If a conversation was a dance, then 035 was certainly the most dangerous partner you've ever had. ||

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You got your watch.

It was a nice watch, nicer than you were expecting. You had requested one since it would be easier for you to keep track of how much time rewinded after your death. It'd be much more convenient than guessing. And who knew, maybe it'd help in your upcoming meeting with 035. Probably not though.

You didn't know when the meeting would take place but you assumed it would be relatively soon. As it were, the day after your interview with Glass, Smith told you that the meeting was set for two days later. That meant you had two days to prepare for said meeting. Naturally, you ignored the topic of the meeting, went through half a breakdown, and proceeded to pretend you were going to be fine.

You weren't, you knew that, but pretending was easy.

The meeting was to be held before lunch which seemed to have become something of a trend. Maybe you'd live long enough to get to 1 PM. Likely not though. You had contemplated sleeping through the meeting time but you were pretty sure they would wake you up for it. Besides, you were much too anxious to sleep the previous night anyhow.

On the day of the meeting with 035, Smith came to pick you up as they typically did. You decided to wear the jacket with your SCP number on the back for the meeting. Evidently, Smith was guiding you to 035's containment cell for this. It would be far too dangerous to move 035 elsewhere, especially when he had a host.

The doctor had a frown on their face the whole way there. You could guess why.

Sooner than you would have liked, the two of you arrived at 035's containment chamber. The room in front of the actual containment area had another doctor, two guards, and an unfortunate D-Class. The D-Class eyed you, then your blue jacket, then looked into your eyes. You didn't think you'd ever seen anyone look away from you as fast as he did.

Was there something wrong with your eyes or something?

"They couldn't have done this before I got here?" you probed at your doctor.

"They were afraid 035 would get impatient," they murmured back.

"I still think this is a bad idea."

"You aren't the only one."

"Then-"

You were interrupted as the other doctor announced that "everything was set". The guards pushed the D-Class to the door. Clearly, they had transferred 035 to this new containment chamber after the containment breach. The new one had a door that was on the right of the control panel rather than all the way around to the left of the cell.

Smith pressed the button to open the door.

"Step back into the containment cell or I will shoot," a guard ordered as the D-Class held his hand up.

"Help," he mouthed to you, eyes pleading. You noted his lack of acne.

You impassively watched as he entered and the door shut. It was over for him the moment he entered. Looking into the cell, there was a table and two chairs for you and 035 as well as a glass case that held said mask. A spotlight shone on the mask.

"Can't you let me out," the D-Class begged, leaning against the door. "I've seen it, I've seen it! Let me out!"

No one said a word. He aggressively hit the cell door. "Please, please, please, open the door! Let me out! I don't- I-"

Slowly, the hits grew weaker before stopping. Then, he turned around to look at 035.

"I- I-" He crept closer to the glass case. "It's so..."

Lifting 035 out of his case, the D-Class admired him for a little. Moments after lifting the mask out of his case, he placed 035 on his face. You sighed. Hook, line and sinker. The lights flickered wildly as the body jolted. Then, everything settled as 035 stood up. Laughter echoed.

"I would have never expected you to give me a new host so soon," he purred. "Thank you."

"I believe it's time you go," Smith said. "Don't let it touch you."

"I'll see you if I make it out," you answered.

The door opened up and you stepped in. The lack of blood on the walls was nice. Maybe your standards were a bit low for "nice". 035 had settled into the chair across from you and his face remained as a comedy mask as the corrosive liquid seeped from the eye and mouth holes. You pulled out the chair you were meant to sit in as the door closed behind you. It was just you, 035 and the table between you.

"Long time no see," 035 said, holding his hand out, "How've you been?"

"Could be better," you answered. "Put your hand down, fool."

Dramatically, he placed his hand near his (not his, just the corpse's) chest. "So cold. I see you haven't changed since last time."

"Of course not." You crossed your legs. "Nothing's changed except a pretty new number."

"Ah yes." He glanced at your jacket. "Care to introduce yourself? Seeing as how you already know everything about me."

"Please, don't flatter yourself." He wasn't the only one you knew about. "(Y/n) or [----], either is fine."

035 repeated your name. Your real one, not the number. "Has the interview ban been lifted then? This is the first they've sent another SCP."

"I think they want us to socialize, chat, talk." You hummed. "They're curious, you know? From the containment breach. They think that if they make me talk to you, they'll find out more about me or you. Maybe they're hoping you'll kill me."

"And why do you think I want to talk to you?" He leaned against his hand.

"You? I think you want to tear me apart. Pick at my brains, figure out who or what I am. I wonder... Just what will be left of me afterwards?"

"You're such a pessimist, sweetheart. I'm not a brute, you know?"

Generously, you ignored him calling you sweetheart. "Of course, but politeness has nothing to do with wanting to know what makes someone tick."

A beat passed between the two of you.

"... Absolutely right," he agreed.

"Glad we agree."

"So, you've read my file and yet you still decided to visit me during the breach?"

"I just happened to cross your containment chamber before finding the gate." You shrugged. "It would've been a shame to not visit."

035 looked pleased. "Came to gawk at the exhibitions?"

"You know I'm also an exhibition now," you told him. "Also, it was less gawking as it was morbid curiosity."

"Well, were you satisfied by what you saw?"

"Not yet," you hummed. "Tell me, what is your favourite story to tell?"

"Oh?"

"If you could spin any story you liked about yourself, which would you tell?" You clasped your hands together, letting them rest on the table. "Gods, monsters, creation..." Looking straight into 035's mask, you said, "Or, perhaps, Alagadda."

"And what makes you think I know of SCP 2264?" 035 prodded.

You almost rolled your eyes. It seemed Alagadda was canon in this universe. How nice. Given that 035 mentioned the place by its SCP name and that he didn't seem to react when you called him "fool", it was confirmation that it existed. Which probably meant that 035 was indeed "The Anguished Lord". Probably. Did the foundation know about 035 being from Alagadda?

"Why not?" You tilted your head. "History is much better when it's playing out right before your eyes, isn't it?"

035 leaned closer over the table.

"Besides, you haven't denied knowing Alagadda, 035. Or are you still upset by the 'political scandal' that you don't want to talk about it, Black Lord?" you crooned, knowingly sealing your fate. It was too late to go back anyhow.

The lights flickered as the eyes of 035 flashed violet. He stood up slowly from his chair, leaning closer to your face. You leaned back on the hind legs of your chair. Abruptly, he leaped over the table, hands closing around your neck, causing you to lose balance. The chair clattered to the floor as your back throbbed.

"You're so cute when you confront people," 035 cooed, the corpse's hands tightening around your neck.

You gasped, dots appearing across your vision. Your hands reached up to grasp 035's wrists as you wheezed. Asphyxiation was not fun, nor was oxygen deprivation. You knew you weren't going to make it through this alive. There was some shouting from outside the cell but your hazy mind couldn't figure out what it was.

"I have to wonder how you know. I can't wait to take everything you know," said 035 as your world spun. "It's almost a shame to have you die here."

'You're the one killing me!' you wished you could say but alas, the only thing that came out was a choked breath.

The lack of oxygen made your head hurt. Panic had long since settled into your body, adrenaline pumping through your veins. Not that it helped. Your numb fingers clawed at the hands around your throat to no avail. The spots across your vision spread. The last thing you heard before the world sank around you was 035's laughter. Then, you were falling, falling, falling.

And you sank into death's embrace once more.

Death was serene, odd, considering you did not die serenely. It was empty as it usually was but you still reached out to nothing. After the first few times, death wasn't as odd as before. You were simply dead. Nothing more, nothing less. You could stay here forever, just simply sinking into nothingness.

It felt like drowning.

It would be easy, wouldn't it? To just relax and let your mind drift. You would never have to live again. It would just be an eternity. That was what humans have always longed for, was it not? How quaint. It was almost a shame you were not so easily swayed. Death was serene but you were never one for peace.

And so, you lived once more.

Your neck hurt a little, you thought to yourself as 035 said, "Well, were you satisfied by what you saw?"

You opened your mouth and said, "No."

You wondered how far you could push 035 about Alagadda. You had only tried once so far so surely you could get your information the next few times, couldn't you? 035 wouldn't break, he was much too powerful to do so. But you wouldn't break either.

It took three more deaths for you to stop messing around.

You would admit to enjoying seeing the look on 035's face (mask?), to really say you regretted it though. It was funny the way manipulators acted when confronted. He deflected questions the most often. You knew you had said he would want to pick you apart but you would admit that pulling him apart was equally as fun. Your morals seemed to have taken quite the dip during your time at the foundation.

When 035 asked for the fifth time of the day, "Well, were you satisfied by what you saw?", you finally said, "Sure."

"Already?" 035 asked, a patronizing tone dripping off the word.

You shrugged. "I've already picked at what I want to know already."

"But we've barely spoken," he said coyly.

"I think we've spoken plenty."

He dramatically fanned himself. "Were you this cold to the others?"

"Depends on your perspective."

"You're just like 049," 035 sighed. "So focussed on your goals and caring so little for others."

You were pretty sure 049 would have disagreed with him. Perhaps he would have said something like how you were like 035. Playing with others' feelings for fun, messing with people, a little manipulative maybe.

"Now that just sounds an insult to 049," you told him out loud.

"Did you meet the good doctor?"

No one here was a good doctor.

"I did," you confirmed.

"And how was he?"

"He seemed well. Talked about the pestilence." You gestured vaguely into the air. "The usual."

"A shame he didn't visit," 035 commented.

"Any particular reason why?"

"I'm sure you remember my offer of escape."

"Would your host's body even last until you made it out?" you replied.

"Are you suggesting you know a fast way out?"

"Why? Interested in leaving, fool?"

Abruptly, gas filled the room. Alarmed, you stood up from your chair, turning around to the glass window.

"What are they-" you coughed, cutting yourself off. "-doing."

Behind you, 035's host croaked, experiencing the same symptoms as you. Your eyes burned and watered as you wheezed. Why did they turn on the gas? Panicked screams came from where the doctors were.

"I can't- I can't-" Your throat closed up. You clutched your throat as your body to the floor. Angry blisters covered your skin. Your head throbbed. Burning. Everything burned. The floor spun and spun and-

The taste of vomit passed your lips.

You hunched over the ground. There were chunks of food from your breakfast laying in the bile you thought you saw. If you were any more coherent, you may have thought of it as gross but no, you were busy dying. You coughed once more, your body giving out from under you, causing you to fall right beside the puddle of vomit.

Finally, your consciousness fell into darkness.

You were never more glad to be able to breathe when time turned back. You were almost thrown into a coughing fit when you returned to the clean room, devoid of gas or bloodied walls. Absently, you rubbed your neck. It seemed life had a problem with you breathing today. Why the heck did the doctors turn on the gas valve? Your expression soured a little.

035 paused in the middle of his sentence.

"Is something the matter?" he asked.

"Just hold on for a sec." You sighed and turned around to face the glass window. Even if they didn't know why they turned on the gas, you wanted answers. Besides, what could've happened in the 30 seconds before your death. You took a deep breath and started to speak.

"Why the f*ck did you guys turn on the gas valve," you, quite bluntly, demanded.

Quiet murmuring erupted around the doctors.

"We didn't though?" Smith said.

You gave them a very flat look and the doctor made an "oh" sound.

"It was probably an accident," a different doctor answered.

"I don't care," you told them. "Just don't do it again."

"Alright."

You exhaled and turned back to 035 who stared at you with interest.

"I think it's about time to end this interview," you grumbled.

"I agree," 035 said, surprisingly.

"Your host has already started falling apart, I suppose?"

"How perceptive of you. I've always liked the smart ones."

You... didn't know what to say to that. Awkwardly, you mumbled, "That's nice."

"I do hope we'll talk again soon," he hummed. "It's been a pleasure."

If a conversation was a dance, then 035 was certainly the most dangerous partner you've ever had. If you were lucky, you would never dance with him again. Unfortunately, you were never that lucky. As the doctors ordered you to begin exiting the containment chamber, the corrosive liquids from 035 dripped onto the ground. You didn't look back as the door opened and the guards kept their guns trained on 035's host.

Behind you, the mask's laughter echoed.

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New SCPs in this chapter:

N/A

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Published: October 31, 2021

Word count: 2,579

Death Counter: 12

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Happy Halloween or late Halloween to people in different time zones! Letting people run wild on Tumblr has been fun. Smith's first name is Blair by the way since someone asked on Tumblr. Thanks for reading!