[INTRO]
[Radio static. Vesper comm channel:]
[Snail:] "V.IV. Status report."
[Rusty (Vesper voice):] "All quiet. Nothing to report."
[Static glitches. Rusty's true voice whispers:]
"...Not yet."
[Beat drops.]
---
[VERSE 1 — Vesper Voice]
They see a Vesper in the white and gold
A loyal hound who does what he is told
I play the part, I wear the smile
I climb their ranks, I walk their aisle
V.II thinks he knows my name
I take their missions, take their pay
And smile while I plan their grave
---
[PRE-CHORUS]
But when the sun sets on Rubicon
And the Coral lights the sky
I remember who I was before
I remember why I fight
---
[CHORUS]
I am the steel haze in your blind spot
The hand that pulls the trigger you forgot
You think I'm yours? You think I serve?
I'm just a mirror showing what you deserve
I walk the line between the masks I wear
A friend, a foe, a ghost that isn't there
You'll never know which version is the truth
V.IV was never yours to use
---
[VERSE 2 — Dual Voices]
[Vesper:] I joined their ranks to watch them fall
[True:] I joined to build a world where none of them can crawl
[Vesper:] They gave me steel, they gave me fame
[True:] They gave me nothing but a target and a name
[Both:] Rusty's the only part of me that's true
---
[PRE-CHORUS]
And when the sun sets on Rubicon
And the Coral calls my name
I'll show them who I've always been
I'll show them all the same
---
[CHORUS]
I am the steel haze in your blind spot!
The hand that pulls the trigger you forgot!
You think I'm yours?! You think I serve?!
I'm just a mirror showing what you deserve!
I walk the line between the masks I wear!
A friend, a foe, a ghost that isn't there!
You'll never know which version is the truth!
V.IV was never yours to use!
---
[BRIDGE]
[Pulls back. Clean guitar or piano. Vulnerable.]
I didn't choose this war
It chose me when I was young
I watched them burn my home
And I swore by the Coral's tongue
That I would tear it down
From the inside, brick by brick
Even if it means
That I don't make it back
I was never theirs to keep
I was always—
---
[FINAL CHORUS]
[Explosive. Full confession. Ends abruptly.]
I AM THE STEEL HAZE IN YOUR BLIND SPOT!
THE HAND THAT PULLS THE TRIGGER YOU FORGOT!
YOU THINK I'M YOURS?! YOU THINK I SERVE?!
I'M JUST A MIRROR SHOWING WHAT YOU DESERVE!
I WALK THE LINE BETWEEN THE MASKS I WEAR!
A FRIEND, A FOE, A GHOST THAT ISN'T THERE!
YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHICH VERSION IS THE TRUTH!
V.IV WAS NEVER—
[Cut.]
---
[OUTRO]
[Radio static. Snail's voice:]
[Snail:] "V.IV. Status report."
[Pause. Rusty's Vesper voice, calm:]
[Rusty:] "All quiet. Nothing to report."
[Static. Whisper:]
"...Not yet."
AsheTheHyena
