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 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]

[hopelessprince]

[As Eridan goes under, he reforms: all his solid, grey flesh, coming into being again. Alive for the first time in months, he tries to breathe with both his gills and lungs at once, and bursts out of the water, coughing and bedraggled, his hair dripping into his face and his cape a sodden mess around his shoulders.

At which point, he sees Karkat and Sollux coming towards him, and he glares, and starts shouting.]

Wwhat do you fuckin' think you're doin', tryin' to kill yourselvves? I can't rescue both a' you simultaneously if you're set on drowwnin' your wway ovver to me!

[He stops yelling to cough some more.]

Both a' you, back the fuck up, I'm comin' to you.

[papshooshing]

[ the reason that Karkat stops in his tracks isn't because of Eridan's words. it's because Eridan is... is Eridan. as in all husk, bones, and blood. none of this shadowy shit. seeing him like he should be again roots Karkat to the spot, mouth half opened in surprise. ]

[thekidsare0kay]

[Sollux is just as shocked. He stops dead and stares, water soaking into his pants to the knees]

[hopelessprince]

[Eridan stands up, realises he's not as deep as he thought he was, and starts in wading back towards Karkat and Sollux.]

I thought I took off my fuckin' cape. Wwhy didn't either a' you say anythin'? I'vve probably ruined the bonin' in the collar. [He walks a bit further.] And my shoes, it feels fuckin' strange. If the dye's run I'm not gonna be too pleased.

[They're staring at him. Why? Self-consciously, he tries to fix his hair. It doesn't really work.] Wwhat?

[papshooshing]

You're such a fucking arrogant prick of a shit head!

[ how dare Eridan be all haughty and fussy after they've had to deal with his attitude the last few days. then Karkat doesn't give any fucks because he's growling and tackling Eridan.

with a hug and angry red tears. ]

Grubfucking son of a bitch!

[thekidsare0kay]

[Sollux rolls his eyes, but he trots forward and gives Eridan a punch in the arm, before putting his arms around both of them. Karkat because he's his moirail and he's crying, and Eridan because, well, it is nice to see him back]

You're alive, you thtupid douchebag. I think you're really alive!

[hopelessprince]

Wwhat?

[Eridan isn't sure what he did right, or wrong. Why is Karkat crying? It's ridiculously pitiful, but it's still confusing. He puts his arms around Karkat, looking bewildered, in time for Sollux to come up and punch and hug him.]

Wwhat do you mean, I'm alivve?

[papshooshing]

Alive?

[ wait a minute.... alive? but Eridan's... Karkat pauses in his stupid emotional fit to reach up and feel for Eridan's pulse. yes, yes it's there. and that is kind of enough to make more tears. ]

Holy shit... You're alive. Eridan, you have a fucking pulse.

[thekidsare0kay]

Thee? You never would have coughed before, becauthe you didn't need to breathe!

[He leans in and lightly bites Eridan's fin]

No more whining about uth growing up and leaving you behind.

[hopelessprince]

[Eridan stares at both of them dumbly.]

Oh.

[He rests his weight a little bit more on the other two.]

Neither a' you mind or nothin'? I mean, you're ok wwith it? I mean, it kinda...wwell, it undoes Kan's revenge, an' anythin' that wwas just about it, I guess? [He swallows, and eyes Karkat.] Does it mean you're gonna stop pityin' me, noww?

[papshooshing]

Woah, woah.

[ Karkat is first going to pap Sollux away from that fin. don't do something so sexual, god! ]

What? Me stop pitying you because you're alive? Fuck no. You might have deserved it, but that doesn't mean I wanted you dead in the first place, grubfucker. But what the hell, man? You were worried about not aging?

[thekidsare0kay]

Yeah, ageth ago he thaid I'd probably get tired of him when I wath an adult and he wath thtill thikth thweepth.

[Let Eridan explain it? Nah. He nuzzles into Eridan's neck and gives them both a squeeze, smirking at Karkat from that vantage point.]

Well, I'm not going to thtop hating you becauthe of it, tho I guethh it'th fine to me. I never liked you being dead, anyway. It wath thtupid and weird.

[hopelessprince]

[Eridan gives Sollux a dirty look that he can't see from his neck area, and then nods.] Wwell...there'd be no reason for you twwo to be interested in a six swweep old... You'vve gotta admit that. [He pauses.] Sometimes I think it wwould a' been easier if you'd died along wwith me in the City cos at least then I wwouldn't havve to lose you later on either.

[He shifts a bit.] Do you think this place makes any allowwances? I mean, Kar, howw long is a redblood gonna livve...? Fuck.

[Now he can't even think about being happy to be alive. Everything ever is ruined. Everything always.]

[papshooshing]

As my ancestor was murdered, gee I don't know. What the fuck does it matter how long I live or not? Shouldn't you be appreciative of the time you have instead of the time you don't? Whining about it only takes up MORE of that fucking precious time anyway.

[ and a squeeze for Eridan. because he can and bites his lip when looking at Sollux. they have Eridan back and all for the better, but now they have to deal with this side of him. ]</small.

[thekidsare0kay]

[Sollux rolls his eyes back at Karkat. Yeah, sometimes he does pity Eridan a bit too much, but then he does things like this and he feels comfortable hating him. Maybe it's worth wondering if there will be times Karkat waxes a little black for his fishy matesprit.

He straightens]

My pantth are fucking thoaked. Let'th get out of thith thtupid thpring.

[hopelessprince]

This's important, though, Kar, cos I do appreciate you but wwhat if you only livve 10 swweeps an' I livve hundreds a' swweeps?! Wwhat am I gonna do then? It's not fair that both a' you are gonna leavve me alone wwhen I'm only forty or somethin'! Wwhat am I supposed to do wwithout you?

[papshooshing]

[ he sighs, pulling away to take both of their hands. since Eridan is going to ignore Sollux, Karkat better not. Karkat will take them both out and away from the spring. ]

I'll live longer than that, shit head. Stop worrying about it.

[thekidsare0kay]

You'll probably have all kindth of thea dweller bitcheth by then, anyway, and you'll have forgotten all about uth.

[He isn't even sure if he means it, but whatever. He takes Karkat's hand and starts heading for the edge of the pool]

[hopelessprince]

Don't fuckin' mock me! A' course I'm not gonna find anyone else. I don't evven knoww howw I found YOU.

[He lets himself be led by Karkat, irritably.]

[papshooshing]

Not to sound like some sentimental sap, Eridan... But you DID kind of fucking win me over. I don't know about Captor over here, but...

[ yeap. that's kind of how things fell. ]

[thekidsare0kay]

Yeah, you've won me over, too, much ath I hate to admit it. It'th not jutht about FF and everything, now.

[Sollux side-eyes Eridan] Think about it, dumbathh. You've got two quadrantth now, and you and I have been together for quite a while. You have to admit that it'th been pretty good tho far, right?

[Just a tiny bit of doubt in that last word...]

[hopelessprince]

[Eridan hunches his shoulders as he squelches onto the shore, his shoes brimming with water.]

Yeah, but I don't WWANT anyone else as my quadrants. I mean, except the other ones. But I don't wwant to change either a' you.

[This is probably true. After all, Feferi was never really an option.]

[papshooshing]

Oh you don't know that. Fuck, we don't even know what's going to happen Eridan. If we get out of this, we could go back to the City. Then if it's really just that fucking important to you, make another deal.

[thekidsare0kay]

Yeah, that'th thweepth from now, fuck. Look at how much hath changed in lethh than a thweep already. Thtop obthethhing about thingth you don't know anything about, and enjoy what you have, like kk thaid, okay?

[Ugh, why did he do something so stupid? His pants are sticking to his legs and his shoes are squelching. Water is annoying]