001 ♋ Closed to ♒ & ♊

[papshooshing]

[ okay, so quite frankly they have been here for a few days and Karkat is no less irritated than what he had been before the start of this shit. the pile that he and Sollux had made in their room helps take the edge off of everything, but this is stupid. it's pretty apparent to Karkat that they are not stuck in the goddamn City anymore and that pisses him off as well. they are not some wigglers that can be -fied around by whatever fucking wants them next. they have things to do, missions to complete! Karkat has a responsibility back on the fucking meteor and goddamn it all if he's stuck trying to figure out some new place. this isn't fair. why do all of the universes have to shit on him? PICK SOMEONE ELSE.

another day of exploring and he has shit to offer. so Karkat comes back, still trying to figure out the biggest problem: fixing Eridan. he has been avoiding contact with any of the others in the castle until this problem can be resolved. Karkat doesn't want to run the risk of someone following him back and seeing Eridan. not like this. Eridan probably isn't doing too well either, being cooped up for long doses of time. but Karkat has an idea. he happens to have noticed something that would potentially make the sea dweller feel a little better. maybe. hopefully. ]

Hey, Captor. The shitty sea dweller needs a goddamn bath. He's starting to reek.

Comments

[thekidsare0kay]

[Sollux had to work to extricate himself from the limpet that was known as Eridan Ampora, but he managed it. It had been almost impossible to have a private conversation with Karkat since they arrived, but they're here in the hallway, with Eridan locked inside the room, finally getting a chance to discuss this.]

You're tho right. Do you think maybe a bit of water would help at all?

[He's dubious, but anything's worth trying]

[hopelessprince]

[Eridan is beyond miserable, and sulky. He wants both of them ALL the time. He doesn't want them EVER leaving, and he doesn't understand why either of them ever feel the need to leave for any reason whatsoever. He needs to be talked to and paid attention to and held always. It's just what he needs. It's just what he intrinsically knows he deserves.

He blurs unhappily, and leans his full body mournfully up against the door.]

[papshooshing]

[ Karkat sighs and rubs his neck. Eridan is probably getting anxious on the other side. it's like dealing with a grub. ]

I found this spring, so I don't know. Do we really have a fucking choice? True, he is a sea dweller that didn't live in the fucking water, but he's acting on his instincts. That much is pretty clear as crystal. So maybe it would make him relax a little more?

[thekidsare0kay]

Yeah, it's worth a try.

[He leans in and paps Karkat's cheek]

Don't worry, we'll figure thomething out, kk. Your matethprit will be back to you, thoon.

[hopelessprince]

[Making a sad noise, Eridan slides down the door and puddles in front of it, like a smokey sort of cat. Maybe they don't want him now. Maybe they worked out he's horrible. Maybe they've locked him in here forever and they're never coming back.]

[papshooshing]

[ he presses his forehead against Sollux's, breathing a sigh. ]

And your kismesis. Don't forget that you moron.

[ and Karkat gives an affectionate nuzzle, then hears Eridan on the other side. ]

I guess we should get him out now. Fuck, I don't like treating him like some grub or a pet.

[thekidsare0kay]

I'll never forget that. [Sollux nuzzles him back and then sighs and draws away] Yeah, let'th hope thith workth, becauthe I can't take all thith moping. He'th worthe than he ever wath!

[He reaches out and opens the door]

[hopelessprince]

[And naturally, Eridan is there on the floor right in front of them, curled up in a ball. He looks up, nervously, when the door opens.]

Wwhere wwere you?

[papshooshing]

[ and Karkat crouches, putting a hand on Eridan. ]

I went exploring, Eridan. There's this place we're going to take you so that you can get your fucking swim on.

[ hopefully that is a good thing. sea dwellers and water... ]

[thekidsare0kay]

I wath right outthide the door, for fuck'th thake.

[Sollux sighs and watches as Karkat paps him]

Come on, we'll go together.

[hopelessprince]

[Sollux can't swim. He knows that. Karkat can't either. Does this mean they're trying to put him somewhere they can't access? He reaches up to touch Karkat's hand.]

Are you gettin' rid a' me?

[papshooshing]

No, Eridan. [ and back to leaning down to nuzzling. ]

We're not getting rid of you, fuck stick. You're a sea dweller and we're trying to respect the fact that you play around in the water. We'll be right there, dangling our feet over the side or wading. If one of us slips in, though, you'll have to fucking save us. We're trusting you with our lives by doing this for you.

[thekidsare0kay]

Right. No dragging me under, and I don't think there are any caveth. It'th pretty thmall.

[He reaches down and slips an arm around Eridan]

Come on, pull yourthelf together. We're jutht going for a walk and a little thwim. You can even teach uth how, intthe shallowth, if you want.

[hopelessprince]

[Ok. It's probably ok. Maybe they just wanted to surprise him. They want to spend time with him now. He nods, nuzzles Karkat back, pats Sollux's arm, and then clambers to his feet.]

Ok. Yes. Wwe'll swwim.

[papshooshing]

Yeah. We're only really thinking about you here, idiot.

[ once Eridan is up, Karkat takes one of his hands. man, this sure is hard! ]

[thekidsare0kay]

[Aaaaand Sollux takes his other hand, and together they tow him out of the room and down the hall.]

Right, jutht you...

[hopelessprince]

Good.

[Eridan has a kind of vague, pleased look on his shadowy face now. They are going somewhere together where they will trust him. Everything doesn't suck!]

[papshooshing]

[ and thus Karkat will start leading them to this spring that they found. it's a bit of a walk, but Karkat can do it mostly in silence. ]

[thekidsare0kay]

[Sollux is also quiet as they walk, looking around contentedly until they reach the spring. He pauses at the edge, then glances at Eridan.]

Well, hop in, I guethh. It lookth nithe.

[hopelessprince]

[The spring looks nice, but it also feels kind of like he shouldn't go in it. He looks anxiously between his two friends.]

Is it safe?

[papshooshing]

[ Karkat rubs Eridan's back, trying to soothe him over. he nods, then kicks off his shoes. ]

I'll even test it.

[ off come his socks and he pulls up his pant legs, just to stick his feet in. ]

See?

[ might be looking to Sollux to give Eridan a psionic shove if this doesn't work. ]

[thekidsare0kay]

[Sollux eyes Eridan with a faint smirk] You thaying that the big bad thea dweller ith afraid of the water, while the land dwellerth are fine with it? Jeeth, ED...

[hopelessprince]

[Eridan actually turns to scowl and flip the bird at Sollux.]

I thought it wwasn't safe. It felt not safe.

[He leans down and goes through the motion of taking off his shoes and socks, even though it doesn't work. They're all the same shadow as he is.]

Fuck you.

[Vague motions around his neck to not take off his shadow scarf and cape, and then he runs and jumps in.

At which point, he sounds like he's sizzling, and he falls over, into the water.]

[papshooshing]

[ Karkat has a momentary chuckle and smug grin at the exchange between the two. some things are not likely to change no matter what. personally? he feels fine. just fine.

but then Eridan falls over into the water, and Karkat can't ignore the sound. ]

Eridan!?

[ let's just conveniently forget you can't swim Karkat, because he is just going to start splashing forward towards the fallen troll. despite the fact he cannot swim. ]

[thekidsare0kay]

[Sollux grins as well as Eridan swears at him. It's nice to see him reacting something like normal.

But when he falls over, Sollux doesn't react much differently from Karkat.]

Eridan!

[With that shout - which he might look on with embarrassment later - he jumps into the pool, shoes and all, and splashes deeper, following Karkat. His eyes spark, preparing to grab Eridan and pull him out if he can find him]