Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

apocalypseArisen [AA] began trolling clandestineAmicability [CA]

AA: eridan
CA: Dia
CA: Tonight's the night huh
AA: yes
AA: t0night is the night
AA: the game is ab0ut to begin
CA: I'll contact Fef then, get evverythin ready on my end
CA: Dia
AA: yes eridan
CA: I'm sorry I couldn't prevvent your death
AA: there is n0 need f0r ap0l0gies f0r my death was inevitable and required
AA: and its n0t like y0u were the reas0n i died anyway
CA: I know, howwevver it still wwasn't fair to you Dia
CA: This'll be wweird to say but thank you Dia, for evverythin you're goin to do
AA: y0u are a strange tr0ll eridan
CA: Don't I know it
AA: will y0u keep t0 y0ur pr0mise 0f telling me h0w y0u kn0w ab0ut the game and everything else in the near future?
CA: Of course, wwhenevver wwe're not both busy troll me, or just find me, either or really
AA: just wanted t0 c0nfirm it
AA: i must g0 n0w
AA: the v0ices are getting impatient
CA: Okay, I'll see you later then Dia, good luck

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling apocalypseArisen [AA]

twinArmaggedons [TA] began trolling clandestineAmicability [CA]

TA: yo ED!
TA: remember that game AA and ii were talkiing about? ii fiinally fiinii2hed codiing iit.
TA: got iit all compiiled and 2hiit 2o now we can play.
TA: hold your applau2e plea2e.
TA: ED?
TA: dude ii can 2ee youre onliine.
CA: Hold your hoofbeasts Sol I wwas gettin somethin to drink
TA: p2h whatever.
TA: anyway yeah game2 done, all coded and fiinii2hed,
CA: Sgrub right?
TA: 2o you HAVE been payiing attentiion two my me22age2, good.
TA: well miine and AA2 atlea2t
CA: Of course, I pay attention to all my friends
TA: except 2erket
TA: you 2tiill have her blocked riight?
CA: Perhaps
TA: hehe
TA: anyway here

twinArmaggedons [TA] sent file SGRUB.ziip

TA: ju2t unziip iit and youre good two go
CA: Fantastic!
CA: The fact that you translated, compiled and made this from the those weird hieroglyphs from the ruins that Dia found wwill nevver cease to amaze me Sol
TA: iit wa2 nothiing
TA: well, that2 a liie, no one el2e could do iit but me 2o yeah ii am pretty awe2ome arent ii
CA: Vvery B)
TA: uh
TA: anyway!! here2 the 2iitch on thii2 biitch!!
TA: the biitch meaniing the game team2 and whatever
TA: there2 goiing two be two teams, red and blue. both you and ii are on the blue team along wiith NP, AA, zahhak and
TA: FF
TA: and on the red team ii2 everyone el2e. iin the ziip fiile ii 2ent you are 2ome fiile2, iit doe2nt matter whiich one you download fiir2t a2 long a2 you have iit by the tiime your 2erver player connect2 two you
TA: youre NP2 2erver player whiile FF ii2 your2
TA: there2 thii2 whole arrangement beiing made on who goe2 fiir2t, ii put in a text doc iin there 2o you can 2ee the order and 2hiit
CA: I see it and I'm dowwnloading the files noww as wwe speak
CA: I'll be ready in no time to connect to Nep and Fef wwhenevver it's time
TA: riight
TA: oh yeah the team leader2 are zahhak and KK for each team, TZ and ii were 2uppo2e to be the oriigiinal leader2 but both of them iin2ii2ted on beiing leader2 2o iit2 whatever
CA: Got it, thanks for letting them be leaders then Sol
CA: Especially Equi, I'm sorry if he was being obnoxious about it though, I know how he can get about stuff like that
TA: iit2 no prob ED
TA: hone2tly iit 2ave2 me from doiing a ton of work 2o iit work2 out lol
TA: 2o ED
TA: got any que2tiion2 for me? any reque2t2?
CA: Questions or requests?
TA: liike the order of the 2erver connectiion2 and 2tuff, want me to 2huffle you around or 2omethiiing, make FF be NP2 2erver player or 2omethiing liike that
CA: Oh, it's fine! I don't havve any questions or requests that I can think of right noww but thank you for the offer Sol
TA: aiight
TA: cool
TA: okay iim gonna go and tell everyone el2e about thii2 2hiit, get everyone on board and all that
CA: Havve you talked to Nep, Equi and Fef about this already?
CA: I'd especially like to talk to Equi about the game and his upcoming leadership role and such
TA: yeah two both NP and zahhak, 2o go on about that though ii havent talked two FF about iit yet
TA: wa2 goiing two talk two her about it after you
CA: Alright, thank you for the information and again for the offer! I'm going to go talk with Equi about the game, I'll talk to you later Sol! See you in the game

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling twinArmaggedons [TA]

TA: riight 2ee you ED
TA: 2iigh
TA: you obliiviiou2 ba2tard

twinArmaggedons [TA] deleted the last [2] messages
twinArmaggedons [TA] ceased trolling clandestineAmicability

clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling centaursTesticle [CT]

CA: Hello Equi, Sol just messaged me earlier and congratulations on becoming leader of the blue team!
CT: D --> Eridan, hello
CT: D --> Yes, there was no doubt that a STRONG b100100d as myself would have been the leader of a team representing his own caste
CT: D --> Although
CT: D --> If you, perhaps, have any thought of leading instead of me
CA: No thanks Equi, I don't havve any leaderly thoughts or anythin
CA: I'm hardly leader material, I'll gladly defer to you as leader of the B100 team
CT: D --> Of course
CT: D --> Then I will most STRONGLY assure you that I will lead B100 team into glorious victory
CA: Well then, noww I knoww wwe're all in good hands heh
CT: D --> However if you ever want to take the reign Eridan, know that you have my full permission to do so
CA: Aw thanks Equi, though I doubt I'll be doin that any time soon
CA: Like I said, I'm hardly leader material
CA: Just because I'm a seadwweller doesn't mean I can do stuff like that remember?
CT: D --> You have the potential to, you are an amazing seadweller Eridan
CT: D -->You are the greatest Orphaner of our generation!
CA: Equi…
CT: D --> Ah
CT: D --> Right, you do not find that as an accomplishment to be proud of. My apologies Eridan, I forgot and misspoke.
CA: Apology accepted Equi
CA: Anyway, enough of that. How are you Equi? I know you've been busy with Dia's body, but please tell me you remembered to take breaks this time. Or listen to Arthours reminders to take breaks at least.
CA: STRONG troll or no, it doesn't excuse you for letting your health slip from working too much!!
CT: D --> I admit that I have been a bit fatigued with my recent project but rest assured that I have been wary for my health and Arthour has been reminding me to take my needed breaks as you've instructed him to Eridan
CT: D --> I am perfectly fine and e%tremely ready for the game
CA: Good
CT: D --> <>
CA: <>
CT: D --> Speaking of the game, have you been told who your server and client players are?
CA: Yes I have! Nep is my client player and Fef is my server player
CT: D --> Oh
CT: D --> That is
CT: D --> E%cellent then
CA: Heehee
CT: D --> What
CA: Oh nothin
CA: Fef is trollin me noww, and I talk with Nep after that
CT: D --> Ahem
CT: D --> Yes, of horse
CT: D --> COURSE
CT: D --> Of course
CA: Seein you flustered is alwways an adorable treat Equi <>
CT: D --> FALSEHOOF
CT: D --> FALSEHOOD
CA: Towwel Equi
CT: D --> Thank you Eridan
CT: D --> <>

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling centaursTesticle [CT]

cuttlefishCuller [CC] began trolling clandestineAmicability [CA]

CC: )(---E---EY --ERIFIS)(~!! 38DD
CC: Glub glub glub!!
CA: Hiya Fef, glub glub
CA: Sol fill you in on wwhat's happenin?
CC: Yup!! O)( I'm so --EXCIT--ED TO PLAY!!
CC: I'm going to be t)(e B---EST S)(OR--EV--ER PLAY--ER --EV--ER!! Just bait and sea --Erifis)(! 3>8D
CA: Of coralse Fef, I'm shore you'll do wwonderful
CC: )(eee)(eee)(ee!! Anemoneway! )(ow )(as your night been -Erifis)(?
CA: It's been fin Fef, a bit antsy noww because of the game but fin! By the wwavve Fef, wwe should probubbly feed your lusus before wwe start the game.
CC: O)(! 38O!!
CC: You're absailutely rig)(t! Thanks for the reminder -Erifis)(!
CA: No probubblem Fef, alwways happy to help. I'll get SeaDad and go find somefin big to satisfy her for the meanwhale.
CC: Ocray 38D

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling cuttlefishCuller [CC]

Sighing, he left his grubtop alone to finish downloading the two programs from the file he recieved from Sollux. He rubbed his eyes underneath his square-cut glasses and stood up, stepping away from his desk. He made sure he had his palmhusk in his sylladex before making his way out of his hive.

It's been years, and there's still a small sliver of discomfort of calling this broken ship 'his' hive. He's gotten used to it of course, but he doesn't think he'll ever be fully comfortable with it.

Just like everything else since he's woke up here.

'Woken up', he'll get to that later.

His name now was ERIDAN AMPORA, a VIOLETBLOODED SEADWELLER living on one of the most vicious planets he's ever known, ALTERNIA. He was now SIX SWEEPS OLD, he has several interests such as STUDYING THE HISTORY OF MANY RACES, including TROLLS as well as MILITARY HISTORY and has an ARTISTIC SIDE of MUSIC. He has a rather impressive WEAPON COLLECTION, SEVERAL NOTEBOOKS FILLED WITH SONG LYRICS and other hobbies and interests that he has no time to indulge in currently. He was in a bit of a hurry so there would be no introduction shenanigans, he has a gigantic eldritch lusus to feed.

Also, for the record, he does not have a GENOCIDE COMPLEX or hate LANDDWELLERS.

Although, he's not very comfortable with most trolls, sea or landdwellers alike, but he definitely doesn't hate them to the point of genocide like certain other seadwellers.

How can he be not comfortable with his very own species, one may ask?

Well for one, he's lived a life as another species for far longer than he's lived a life as a troll, he's pretty sure about that. He wasn't always Eridan Ampora, he'd been human once. He doesn't remember a lot of details of his past life, anything personal was lost to him- he doesn't even remember if he'd been male, female or other! But in this life, he was male, Eridan Ampora was a male troll from the webcomic so he'll stick to that.

Reading about trolls from an old webcomic, Homestuck it was called, was one thing, waking up one day as one was a whole other thing. There had been a lot of panic and more than a handful of breakdowns that day and beyond, but he's gotten used to it, he's accepted it now.

It took a long way to get here after all, plus, what else was he supposed to do?

Speaking of Homestuck, today was the day. The day where SGRUB started, triggering a series of events that ranged from Alternia's doom to the creation of a universe.

A couple of universes actually.

It's been so long since he'd read the original comic, and he faintly remembers that it had been a year since the comic had officially ended and just a few months before Hiveswap, a game connected to the comic, was coming out. Obviously he never got to play the game.

One moment, he'd been rereading Homestuck in its entirety for the sake of nostalgia and to prepare for the game, the next, he was trying to break out of a cocoon, gasping for breath, naked and there was a strange floating giant seahorse nearby.

Safe to say he freaked the fuck out at that.

Somehow, someway, he'd been shoved into a newly pupated, toddler Eridan Ampora. Barely 2 and a half sweeps, and in the bloody, violent world of Alternia.

"SeaDad? SeaDad! Wwhere are you?" Eridan called out as soon as he was outside. The salty air of the sea was carried by a cold breeze, he adjusted his striped blue scarf around his neck a bit tighter.

Canon Eridan had been wearing the same scarf and black sweater he was wearing hadn't he? Although that, as well as the strange, purple patch of locks on his head (an acceptable mutation trolls could get apparently), were the only similarities that he and Canon Eridan had. He didn't wear the ridiculous purple cape the other had, nor did he wear any jewelry other than a silver necklace with a small silver seahorse on it. A gift from his moirail a sweep or so ago. He wore dark grey pants and indigo sneakers, apart from that? Nothing else.

His hair was a bit longer than Canon Eridan's, and was he styling it in the same hairstyle. He actually had enough hair to tie it in a small ponytail usually, which he was doing right now with a nice blue hair tie, another gift from Equius.

Whenever it was a particularly bad day though, and his dysphoria came back, he'd wear a dark grey cloak that would cover him entirely. He wore it a lot when he was younger, when he had breakdowns whenever he saw himself in the mirror or felt so uncomfortable in his own skin. It still happens from time to time, but not nearly as much back when he first became a troll, became Eridan Ampora.

He smiled as he sees the approaching white seahorse flying atop the ocean. Over the sweeps, he'd grown fond over his new custodian, his guardian. The lusus had been by his side the whole time, and despite being unable to talk, still offered comfort whenever it was needed. It had been a trying time, those first few weeks, and the sweeps afterwards weren't easy, there were problems and trials that he had to face with the major change of life he'd been shoved into. He had to adapt from being a diurnal mammal to a nocturnal troll and so much other stuff.

He was very thankful that the lusus was so patient and caring, he wondered and hope that Canon Eridan felt the same with his custodian.

Beckoning his lusus closer, he told SeaDad that they were going on a hunt. The seahorse lusus nodded briefly before floating close enough for Eridan to grab the saddle and reins from his sylladex and equip his custodian with them, expertly hopping on the saddle as soon as it was done. Soon enough, they were in the air, on the hunt for Gl'bgolyb's next meal.

His palmhusk pinged as they flew and his brow furrowed as he went to check it.

grimAuxillatrix [GA] began trolling clandestineAmicability [CA]

GA: Good Evening Eridan
GA: I Hope You Have Been Having A Nice Evening Tonight And Pardon My Intrusion And My Question But Would You Be Willing To Unblock Vriska For A While
GA: ?
GA: She Wants To Speak With You About The Game
CA: Sorry Kan
CA: Kinda busy at the mome here, I'm huntin for Fef's lusus
GA: Ah I See
GA: My Apologies For Interrupting
GA: I Shall Wait Until Youre Free
GA: Perhaps You May Even Use This Opportunity To Think About My Request
GA: ?
CA: Wwe'll see Kan
CA: I'll talk wwith you later wwhen I'm back in my hivve
GA: Of Course
GA: See You Then Eridan

grimAuxillatric [GA] ceased trolling clandestineAmicability [CA]

Eridan sighed, shaking his head at Kanaya's request, however, he probably would have to end up unblocking Vriska in the end. They were going to end up seeing each other more often in the Medium anyway, he wouldn't be able to avoid her forever anyway.

He just hopes that Vriska got over her pitch feelings for him, though he had some suspicions about those feelings...

Shaking his head again, he shoved those awkward thoughts aside in favor of focusing on hunting. He had to feed Feferi's lusus or else she'd get cranky.

He hates that he has to kill other lusii to feed her, it was one of the things he bonded with Feferi when they became friends. However, if he didn't, then the rest of Alternia would have had to suffer from Gl'bgolyb's horrible glubs, and as her best orphaner, it was his duty to feed her most of the time.

It was both a blessing and a curse to have found Ahab's Crosshairs…

He still feels guilt whenever he kills a lusus, making a troll somewhere out there an orphan possibly, but he's learned to hide and reign in his guilt lest he ends up killed on Alternia. Showing guilt was a sign of weakness, especially for other pompous violetblooded seadwellers.

Having Equius as a moirail helped a bit as well, even though his moirail doesn't really understand his feelings much. He still made the effort to comfort him during their feelingjams and piles, which were different in real life by the way. Way more comfortable and pleasant than he'd ever expected.

Another thing, unlike Canon in the webcomic, was the fact he and Equius were moirails, not Nepeta and Equius. He hadn't even intended to become moirails with Equius! Or anyone for the matter of fact, but somehow, Equius had made a STRONG case and before he knew it, they were moirails. Very good and STRONG moirails, as Equius puts it.

(Maybe someday, he'll tell Equius the truth of how he wasn't supposed to be moirails with him. Tell him the reason why he wore his cloaks, why he felt so guilty and uncomfortable, and the game and so much more. Someday, but not now.)

Although Nepeta and Equius weren't moirails, they were still close. Equius wouldn't admit it right now, but he has quite the flush crush on Nepeta, however he also has one on Aradia, who, unfortunately, he hadn't been able to save from death. He tried, he really did but…

There were some things he just couldn't change, especially not without a certain Man on the Moon overseeing everything.

Ping

Eridan frowned as he checked his palmhusk again, his frown darkened when he saw who it was; speak of the devil…

Doc Scratch began talking with clandestineAmicability [CA]

And so I shall appear.
Hello Aquarius.
CA: Scratch
CA: Wwwhat the fuck do you wwant
Now, now, Eridan, language. I simply wanted to stop by and wish you luck with whatever you're planning to do.
Of course, you won't be able to do much as I've said before; you may have changed a few details but the outcome will always stay the same.
CA: You can fuck right off Scratch
CA: I get it, I havve been for fuckin YEARS noww
CA: But just because I get it doesn't mean I'll quit tryin
I know, however a little reminder never hurts.
For me at least, hoohoohoo.
Farewell Aquarius, and once again, good luck. You might need it.

Doc Scratch ceased talking with clandestineAmicability [CA]

CA: Cueball headed fucker
CA: Fuck

Shoving his palmhusk back into his sylladex, he growled before taking a deep breath. He's lucky that the fucker only stopped by for a minute, he sees a giant whale lusus nearly hidded by some clouds.

He mentally apologizes to whoever he was about to orphan, 'But Fef's horrorterror lusus needs to be satiated. Not like it's going to matter, evveryone else on this planet is going to fuckin die soon… I'm so fuckin sorry, I wwish I could'vve done more. ' Was all he could think as he grabbed Ahab's Crosshairs from his stride deck.

Flying had been terrifying at first as a troll child, and he was pretty sure he was afraid of heights when he was human, but now adrenaline seeped into his body as he and SeaDad prepared to corral the huge flying lusus into Feferi's area.

He hates killing lusii, hates orphaning other trolls, but he won't lie and say he hates flying or hunting.

It's easy to chase and bait the whale further out into the ocean, it even chases after them a little while and soon, they're right above Feferi's hive area and the deep, deep depths of where Gl'bgolyb dwelled.

It seems to realize just where they were, and attempts to flee. It realized too late though, he fires and shot a hole right through the poor thing, the laser from the ancient and legendary weapon pierces right through the creature easily like hot knife through butter and he watches with another tally to his guilt, as the whale falls into the ocean.

Falls right into the waiting net of Feferi.

Eridan and SeaDad drift down close enough to the ocean to see and hear Feferi, who pops above water with a beaming smile. "THANKS ERIFISH!" She shouts, waving frantically at him.

He smiles and shouts back while stowing away Ahab's Crosshairs, "You're wwelcome Fef!"

And with that, the hunt is over.

He flies back to his hive on SeaDad while Feferi goes to feed her lusus.

They haven't even started the game, haven't even connected and he already feels tired.

It doesn't take long to arrive back at the broken ship that grub Eridan claimed as his hive, SeaDad is one of the fastest lusii out there.

"Thanks SeaDad, stick close okay? I'll see you soon." Eridan murmured to his lusus as soon as they land, hopping off and removing the saddle and reins. The lusus whinnied and nickered, nipping at him softly before floating off somewhere else.

Eridan takes in a deep breath as he entered his hive and headed towards his respiteblock, craning his neck and stretching slightly while entering his block, he sees the client and server programs fully downloaded on his computer and ready to go.

"Okay." He sits down at his desk, opens trollian and trolls Nepeta. "Here we go."

It was going to be a long night ahead.

Chapter Text

clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling arsenicCatnip [AC]

CA: "Hello Nepeta." He says into the cavve, just as he arrivves
AC: :33 < *the huntress purrs as a dear furrend visits her cave! that dear furrend is also her serfurr player or so
she was told by a certain b33 who visited her purrior!*
AC: :33 < *the huntress is furry excited to play with all her furrends!! especially erifish and equihiss!*
CA: I'm gonna havve to cut the roleplay extremely short for noww Nep, sorry
CA: But I'm glad to see that Sol told you about the game
CA: I'm excited to play wwith you too Nep!
AC: :33 < aww okay but yes!! this is going to be so much fun!!
CA: Just because I'm not roleplaying doesn't mean you can't Nep
AC: :33 < i know but its more fun when we both do it :33
CA: That's fair
CA: Nevver change Nep
CA: Anywway, havve you dowwnloaded the files and programs? I'vve already dowwnloaded mine and I'm ready to connect wwhenevver you are
CA: Fef should be connectin to me any moment now too
AC: :33 < yep!! it's almewst done downloading
AC: :33 < it's done!
CA: Here wwe are
AC: :OO < can you s33 me erifishy? *the huntress looks around curiously*
CA: Yes I can dear huntress, I can see you just fine
CA: I don't think you'll be able to see me though
AC: :33 < *ears droop in disappointment* aww *her ears perk back up in excitement!* now what do we do?
CA: Wwell, I'll be putting machines around your hivve but I don't think I can fit it all in, can you make some space so I can put a few down?
AC: :33 < i'm on it!! *the valant huntress says with a *lot* of determination*
CA: Valiant Nep, you forgot the i
CA: But good! Fef is dowwnloading hers so she'll be connectin to me soon
CA: Here wwe go
AC: :// < these look kinda complickated erifishy, how am i suppose to use them?
CA: Don't wworry Nep, Equi and I will help you wwith that
AC: :DD < *the huntress smiles brightly at her furrend! pay no attention to her green face!!* okay!! thank mew erifishy!
CA: Anytime Nep, noww, let's get this started

==> Sweeps In The Past

He woke up slowly, like he usually did on Sundays. His first cognizant thought was, Wasn't it Thursday yesterday? Is it Friday already?

The only reason why he didn't immediately wake up in panic was that the following thoughts of how he hadn't planned for anything on Friday, fairly sure he could sleep in for the morning at least. Or he might be misremembering and he would panic later when he was more awake.

Drifting in and out of consciousness, gradually sensation came back to him, strangely though.

He felt, constricted? Heavy? Yet, somewhat floaty. He couldn't tell if he was lying on his side or his back, he couldn't even feel the bed. Just something… encompassing him… He tried to move, to shift his position but it felt slow. Like he was wading through molasses or something.

And then it hits him all in one, he's not laying down somewhere. He's suspended, in something that was definitely liquid. Heavier than water.

Water? Liquid? Was he going to drown?

Fear and instinct fuels his thrashing, now fully awake and panicking over what was happening. Originally, he'd been curled up but now he was fighting to stand up, fighting to get out of whatever was keeping him in liquid. It felt almost rubbery, but at the same time, fuzzy, it scared him even more as he clawed at his prison.

He tried opening his eyes, even just a bit even though he was still in liquid, but it didn't seem any different. Just a darkness that made him doubt he even opened his eyes in the first place, then all of a sudden. Pain.

Centering around his torso, his chest and neck and he couldn't breathe. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't breathe—ohgodLET ME OUT —

riiIIIP

Tearing.

Light.

He instinctively gasps for air the moment he falls out of whatever he was in but coughs as the thick liquid comes down his throat instead, he lands heavily on the floor with a heavy wet thud. He gurgles in pain, blinking his eyes rapidly and trying to regain his sight. Hair sticks to his face and he's covered in whatever he was in.

He tries to wipe the liquid away, scratch at his hair and adjust his sight as his lungs burn in his chest. For a brief moment though, everything stops as he blinks, his hands clutching at something on his head. Each hand clutching around something on his head, jagged, thick and solid but connected to his head.

What.

He makes the mistake of tugging at the- the horn- OW- definitely connected to his head! His sight is finally clear enough that he begins to comprehend what he was seeing. A strangled sound escapes his mouth as he finally sees the liquid he was in, it was purple. Or violet? It was hard to tell, but he was covered in the liquid, the goo. His hair, his skin- his skin was grey. His skin was fucking grey!

It takes another quick moment to realize that the strangled noise sounded nothing like a human, too high pitched, too chittery. Now he's making more of the noises, flailing about with his grey grey hands and feet and claws and horns oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck.

A loud huff gains his attention and he looks up.

A distressing keen escapes him that distresses even more because he hadn't meant to say anything and all he can think is ' oh what the fuck, oh no ' as he stares, wide-eyed and disbelieving at the creature before him.

White, gigantic and floating, it looked like a seahorse almost. But- just what he described; white, gigantic and fucking floating inches off the ground!!

It peered at him with its eyes, seeming to look straight into his soul and all he could do was whimper which seemed to trigger something, making it float forward. He flinched back, making another whimper that sounded strained this time, not that he noticed. No, what he did notice was how dry his throat to be, and that the burning in his lungs seemed to spread to his sides and his neck.

The creature stopped in the air, finned, scaled ears flicked and it looked at him with some- concern? No, it couldn't be- it wasn't possible but- there was something familiar about the creature. Something niggling in his brain, unfortunately it wasn't really something he was focusing on as the burning turned into sharp pain .

He keened, flopping down on the floor, feeling both exhaustion and pain bearing down on him as he struggled to breathe - no please not again - and he felt so hot, so tired, so dry-

Something wrapped itself around his waist, careful but quick, seemingly knowing to stay away from his chest area and sides as it picked him up into the air. He panicked, flailing slightly and realized that the white floating seahorse was using its own tail to pick him up gently in the air. He wheezed, wondering what it was going to do. Was he going to die?

No, it was putting him down in a large tub container that was filled with something. That something, he immediately realized as he was carefully placed into it, was water. Thank fuck, at least it was water and not some other type of goo.

He was dunked underwater, and immediately he felt cooler. No longer dry and he took in a breath of relief.

He…

He took in a breath of relief?

He was breathing underwater? Panic immediately filled him and he tried to get out of the water, to pop his head out into the air, only to flinch back when a loud whinny, loud enough to be heard underwater, sounded and a large white scaled snout sternly pushed him back deeper into the tub. He realized not only could he breathe underwater, but his eyes could see perfectly fine as well.

The seahorse somehow was giving him a stern look, how the fuck he doesn't know, but it gives him that look and he shrinks back. Feeling chastised like a child.

It huffed before bumping its snout against his cheek gently and left him in the water.

He's tempted to do it again, but he feels a little calmer now so he doesn't. He stays underwater.

It's weird, being able to breathe underwater. And after a moment of mentally recuperating himself, he finds how he's breathing underwater. There's gills on his sides and neck, he struggles to look at them properly but he has them. The burn in his lungs is fading with every watery breath he takes. He still feels tired though.

He thinks there's a hint of violet between the slits of his new gills, but exhaustion was taking its toll and he was slowly drifting away back into unconsciousness. That niggling thing in the back of his brain was back, but he was just too tired to think about it, too tired to even panic now. So he closes his eyes and rests.

He'll panic again when he wakes up…

Up above, over the tub of water, a concerned lusus watches its old-grub-now-juvenile-troll finally settle into sleep in the cooling water. Too young for sopor slime, just out of its first molt, so dayterrors would not plague it yet but needing a safe place to sleep. Luckily, it was a sea creature like itself, so water would do until the dayterrors struck and its weak gills and immune system was stronger.

It was concerning though, that the new-juvenile hadn't immediately crawled to the ablution trap it prepared for it. It had not gained its bearing like a normal sea juvenile troll, it had actually seemed afraid when it came out. Even more when the lusus came forward to help its charge. It had nearly dehydrated itself out of fear, and the lusus was worried that its instincts had somehow dulled.

It has raised other sea grubs before, and its old juveniles had never acted the way this juvenile did out of their first pupation and molt, it had keened, cried out so helplessly that it had to come forward and help it! And it was so quiet and calm- afraid, but the others had been aggressive and near violent when they had gone into the ablution trap.

It called out for it, yet seemed scared of it. Couldn't get into the trap on its own…

The sky-seahorse lusus didn't know what to do, but it would do its best for its grub, raise it to be a fine adult like the rest of the grubs it had picked before. This grub reminded it of another grub it had raised so long ago, not only looking like that grub but also appearing the same way; in a smoldering hole outside of the brooding caverns.

That violet sea grub had grown to be very strong, one of the best grubs it had raised. It does not remember what happened to that grub, but seeing the grub in the hole reminded it of that very old grub so it claimed it.

This was its grub, and it would be its lusus.

So with custodial determination, the floating seahorse gave one more glance at the sleeping juvenile before leaving the respiteblock. It had to prepare nutrition for when the young troll woke up

Neither would have any idea of the future was in store for them, nor of the hardships, especially the 'young troll' sleeping inside the tub.

==> Sweeps in the Future

CA: FUCK
AC: POUNCE
AC: NOOOO
CA: I'm sorry!! Nep I'm so sorry, it wwas an accident!
AC: 33: < pounce…
CA: I'm so sorry, Fef startled me and I let go fo the mouse
CA: I'll make it up to you
AC: 33: < its okay erifishy it was an accident…
CA: Nep, please listen I need you to find the heavviest thin in your cave and smash it against the covver of that cylinder on the machine I just put dowwn
CA: Pounce De Leon can come back I swwear
AC: 33: < okay

Eridan groaned, rubbing at his face and taking off his glasses for a moment. Another thing to feel guilty in the department of 'killing' underneath the branch of 'lusus'... It felt worse too, because this was Nepeta's lusus. Nepeta was a good friend!

And although he knows that every lusus was going to be killed one way or another, doesn't make it any better. Damnit, he's not ready for SeaDad to die, if only briefly.

The only upside to these deaths was that they could talk to their lusus after it.

Still, death in the Homestuck comics and death in real life were different things. The comic at least, downplayed death a bit, and there was this wall between the reader and the world because it was fiction but now… Now it was his reality. It was Eridan Ampora's reality.

He hadn't realized just how truly vicious and hard Alternian trolls lives were, regardless of caste, and Eridan was forced to kill lusii pretty much daily with the unfortunate occasional troll. Living his life… He could definitely see how Eridan turned out to be himself in the comic, if he hadn't known, if he hadn't lived a more peaceful life before or knew… He probably would have ended up the same, or possibly worse…

The sound of cheering making him open his eyes and put his glasses on, he smiles in relief at the sight of Nepeta celebrating her lusus' revival via the kernalsprite. Pouncesprite twirled around her, roaring happily with her.

AC: :DD < it worked!!! erifishy you were right!
AC: :33 < s33 s33?? she's alive!!!
AC: :DD < and she can talk too!! this is great!!
CA: It definitely is great Nep!
CA: I'm sorry again for killing Pounce
AC: :33 < its okay eridan! it was an accident and you helped me get pounce back! and now she can talk :33
CA: Still, I'd like to make it up to you wwhen wwe meet in the medium, okay?
AC: :// < if you insist erifishy
AC: :33 < as long as you stop saying saury!!
CA: Haha
CA: Perfect, noww, let's get you into the game

Chapter Text

CA: Sorry I couldn't talk wwith you as soon as I got to my hivve
CA: Had to connect wwith Nep, get her into the game and then be connected to Fef
CA: It has been
CA: Harrowwing to say the least
GA: That Is Understandable
GA: It Is A Very Busy Night For All Of Us
GA: And I Imagine It Will Get Busier Further On As We Progress
CA: Indeed
GA: Now
GA: About The Possibility Of You Unblocking Vriska
CA: Right, that
CA: Sigh, I'll unblock her
GA: Splendid
CA: AFTER wwe're all in the Medium
GA: Ah
CA: I don't see the point of talkin to her right noww anywway
CA: You'd think, noww that the game is finally startin she'd be too busy to talk to me but no
CA: There's more important thins to do right noww instead of hecklin me or wwhatevver she wwants to do
GA: You Raise A Fair Point
GA: Focusing On Entering The Game Is Very Important
GA: I Will Relay That To Her
CA: Thanks Kan, and good luck
CA: Also, sorry about your lusus, she was great
GA: I
GA: Have Yet To Even Talk To You About That
GA: I Must Wonder How You Are Able To Know Such Things When You Are Not A Prospit Dreamer Eridan
CA: Gah I WWISH I wwas a prospit dreamer kan, I'd take prophetic clouds and bright ass colors ovver the monstrous dark sky of derse
CA: Clouds are so much better than eldritch horrorterrors and assassin dersites
GA: I Would Imagine So
CA: Speakin of wwhich, I should check on evveryone soon after wwe enter the Medium, last time wwas too close for comfort
GA: After You Speak With Vriska
CA: After I speak with VVris, the things I do for my friends sometimes…
GA: It Is Very Appreciated Eridan
GA: The Thing You Do For Your Friends
GA: But Back To The Point Of You Somehow Knowing Things
GA: I Don't Suppose You Know Anything About A Strange Website With A Compelling Guide To Sgrub Created By A Chivalrous Author
CA: Hm? A wwhat?
CA: No, no I don't think so
CA: Wwhat is this strange wwebsite and guide and chivvalrous author business?
CA: Perchance, is the author called Rosemary?
GA: Rosemary
GA: ?
GA: That Is A Strange Name
GA: Lovely Though
GA: But No That Is Not The Authors Name
GA: They Go By The Tentacletherapist
GA: Do You Really Not Know About This Guide
CA: Nope, wwhatevver guide you knoww about I don't really knoww much
CA: FUCK
GA: What
CA: I gotta go Kan
CA: SeaDads dead
GA: Oh No
GA: My Condolences Eridan

==> Sweeps In The Past

He stares at his hands, his small, chubby, child-like hands.

Those hands clenched as he corrected himself with slight hysteria, they weren't just child-like, they were literally a child's hand.

His hand.

He was-

He was a child again. A toddler.

Not a human toddler though no, he was a troll toddler. A seadweller, troll toddler, with slight violet webbing between his tiny, tiny fingers. He was a fucking troll.

Troll, the fictional species from Homestuck troll. The one with grey skin, candy corn striped horns, a rainbow of blood colors and a planet almost entirely run by children and actively advocated and encouraged casteism and violence.

He was on Alternia.

He was on fucking Alternia.

He was a a fucking troll kid on fucking Alternia.

And not just any troll kid too!

He finally realized why the white seahorse- the lusus, seemed so familiar. Why the niggling at the back of his head was so insistent. It fully clicked when he found his reflection in a mirror within the room.

Lightning-shaped horns, fin-tipped ears and a dark violet streak standing out on a head of black hair. He was Eridan Ampora, one of the beta trolls from Homestuck.

The egotistical, genocidal asshole who died via chainsaw by a rightfully angry troll vampire.

Kanaya Maryam would kill him in the future.

Oh god, he was going to die - maybe not even by Kanaya! Who fucking knows about this timeline he was in? Was he in a doomed timeline? Was he doomed just because he essentially replaced the original Eridan Ampora? Hell, was he going to die just trying to survive on this fucking planet?!

And what even happened to him? Before he was shoved into the body of a troll toddler, what had happened? Had he died? He doesn't remember anything dangerous, all he remembered was- was- why couldn't he remember what he'd been doing?

Why couldn't he remember his own name?

Harsh, quick breaths built up in his throat, but somehow he was having a hard time breathing. Again. His mind whirled with questions that went round and round in his head, each spin causing more panic to appear which didn't help his breaths at all.

The room around him blurred into nothingness as he clutched at his arms, "No." He slurred, his tone and pitch wrong. A new accent at his throat, as he struggled to breathe, to talk, to do anything. "Th-Thish cah't b' hapeni' " He can't even remember how old he'd been, but he was sure he'd been older than this. His voice had been deeper, hadn't it?

He could barely string his words together, his mouth felt foreign, his tongue brushing up against small, pointed teeth. His ears pinned back, he could feel that, he could feel them move. His horns throbbed, his head throbbed, he could feel the horns too.

He could feel everything on his body.

On this body.

His gills, both on his neck and side, flared and they brushed uncomfortably against his shirt alongside the other, small fins along his back, his elbows and his legs. He could feel that oh god he could feel it.

He doesn't know when he'd collapsed on the ground in tears, sobbing through broken words and scratching at his now violet-tinged skin. Deep in his panic, his breakdown, he couldn't hear the panicked-sounding whinny coming from somewhere.

He did notice something wrapping around his waist, and the hysteria he was feeling made him thrash against it. Lashing out with his claws against a thick scaled something, screaming all the while. It doesn't seem to do anything as he's lifted off the ground and taken somewhere.

Cold water splashed against him, and he shivers before relaxing. He felt so tired and everything hurt.

He closes his eyes, letting himself slip into sweet unconscious bliss. He hoped he'd wake up back in his bed, in a home he doesn't remember anymore.

Above him, a lusus watched the juvenile troll finally stop screaming. Stop scratching at itself and going to sleep. It does not know what happened, all it knows was that it had left to retrieve more food for its charge and returned to it crying on the floor, lashing out on the ground and itself. Its arms were covered in claw marks now, and the blood that seeped out was starting to tint the ablution trap. At the very least, it avoided clawing at the small fins it would need to swim properly in the water, although the lusus did not count that it would avoid it forever.

It would need medicine, bandages, to heal its charge.

Its charge had changed ever since it molted from its grubhood, as was expected. Every grub tended to change when it first pupated, but this? This was something it has never experienced before, not even other sea grubs acted that way, intentionally hurting themselves and crying so painfully for no reason.

It could not decipher what made it that way, it looked very similar to an old grub it once had and it had planned to raise it the same way it had before as that grub had grown to be very strong however it might have to raise it differently.

==> Sweeps In The Future But Minutes In The Past

CC: Alrig)(t! Nepeta's in t)(e game now rig)(t?
CA: Thankfully yes
CC: CRAT--E! Now I can )(elp you get into t)(e game too!
CA: That's right
CA: Is Sol gettin started on your end? You're next after me
CC: No! )(e )(asn't done anyfin! )(e )(asn't even connected wit)( me yet 3>8[
CC: )(e's not answering any of my messages!
CA: Oh, that's not good
CC: No it's not! Ug)(, )(e's suc)( an insufferable prick! 3>8P
CA: Maybe he's just busy at the moment?
CC: Maybe but I wouldn't be surfprised if )(e's being an ass)(ole like usual!
CA: Y'knoww Fef, I remember a time wwhen you and Sol got along pretty wwell wwhen wwe wwere younger
CA: Wwhat changed?
CC: W)(ale t)(at was w)(en we were practically grubs -Erifis)(, t)(ings are different now 38/
CA: Different howw??
CC: Just different!
CC: Glub glub glub! 38)
CA: I heard you'vve been arguin wwith each other a lot lately…
CC: Oh don't worry -Erifis)(, S)(oallux and I are still kinda friends!
CA: Kinda friends?
CA: Nevvermind, if you say so Fef
CA: I'll try and troll Sol, see wwhat's goin on on his end, wwhen push comes to shovve though I knoww he's not goin to let any of us dowwn so hang tight Fef
CC: Ocray!
CC: Also you mean, )(ang ten? 3>8)
CA: Heh shore Fef, hang ten

clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling twinArmaggedons [TA]

CA: Sol?
CA: Sol you there??
TA: s0llux is currently unavailable
CA: Dia
TA: eridan y0ure up next t0 enter the medium
CA: I am
CA: Is Sol alright?
TA: yes
CA: Sigh, if you say so
CA: I doubt he's goin to like wwakin up to a mouthful of mind honey
TA: no i supp0se n0t
TA: th0ugh i have t0 w0nder h0w y0u kn0w ab0ut the mind h0ney eridan
TA: al0ng with 0ther certain things
CA: I did promise to tell you wwhen wwe wwere both in the medium Dia, wwhen evveryone's settled
TA: y0u did 0_0
TA: that will happen s00n
TA: equius is d0ne with my b0dy s0 we w0nt have t0 talk in tr0llian
TA: i will be meeting him s00n 0n my planet
CA: He is?
CA: Crap
CA: I need to talk to him about something
CA: Uh
CA: For the sake of things, if it goes to shit; I'm sorry
CA: I just hope he didn't do wwhat I think he did
TA: w0w
TA: and 0thers th0ugh i was cryptic
CA: I try not to be, I really do but
CA: Certain circumstances and outsider forces leavve me no choice sometimes
TA: i see
TA: we can discuss this m0re later y0ur mete0r is c0ming
TA: later eridan
CA: Later Dia
CA: Again I'm so sorry about
CA: Nevermind, you'll figure it out soon
CA: Actually, hopefully not
TA: 0_0

==> Sweeps In The Past

It's been a few weeks since… Well, since he's been shoved into Eridan's body.

And slowly, he was being forced to accept that. To accept that he was now… Eridan Ampora.

There wasn't much else he could do about it, aside from consistent breakdowns and panic attacks that left him feeling more and more pathetic and frustrated in the end.

He wants to move past that, to get over it as soon as he can, he really does! But his brain didn't seem to get the memo, and sometimes when he sees even a hint of his own reflection, he's sent spiraling and feeling so very uncomfortable in his own body.

A severe case of body dysphoria.

He doesn't even fucking remember if he experienced it before, he doesn't remember his own gender from when he was human. He's been sticking to 'he/him' for the sake of his own sanity, because Eridan Amproa was a male troll in the comic and that was something he can use. Something he can stick by.

He doesn't know why he can remember the webcomic yet personal details like his age, his gender, his fucking name escape him, any friends and family members. Each memory about it seemed so tantalizingly close but always seemed to slip away whenever he tried to catch it, and forcing himself left him in tears and throwing a tantrum which always ended with him feeling extremely and embarrassingly childish. His adult mind warred with the young instincts of his new body, and he hated it.

The first time it happened he had felt so mortified, but he can't do shit about it, his body is what he can only approximately assume and guess to be like- 4 years old? It's hard to tell, he has yet to see a calendar and any books he does have are all in Alternian. The troll language from the comic, he faintly recalls trying to learn Alternian back when the comic was running.

Someone had a translation sheet and like most fans, he had briefly tried to learn it before giving up.

He wishes he hadn't given up then, or at least tried a bit harder, maybe it would help him learn the language now that he was pretty much required to learn it.

He was going to have to learn Alternian, learn about Alternia and everything. If he wanted to survive, to live. He had no choice.

He couldn't go back to his old life, he didn't even know how he ended up as Eridan so how the fuck would he know how to go back? He desperately wanted to though, he wanted to be back in an adult human body. Eridan's seadweller body was too much sometimes, the new senses, sensations and instincts were some of the reasons why he kept panicking, kept spiraling.

It was only because of the seahorse lusus, Eridan's lusus, that he hadn't end up dead, he's pretty sure. Because sometimes during his panic he kept scratching at his skin, which caused him to bleed violet, which caused him more panic and he'd end up a bloody mess until the lusus would typically pick him up and dunk him in the bathtub of water he was still sleeping in.

He thinks he used to hate cold water as a human, but now as a troll he's learning to love it a bit. The coldness helped shock him out of a spiral, and the water itself felt good to him. It was still somewhat weird that he was able to breathe underwater, but for some reason, the act of it, the feeling of his gills and lungs breathing in water was soothing alongside the feeling of being submerged in water.

Surprisingly, being cared for by a giant floating seahorse was also quite soothing. Lusus Naturae had always seemed somewhat intelligent in the comic, even before prototyping, and they at least, had to be smart enough to actually, successfully raise grubs but he was still taken back just how smart the seahorse was.

It could understand him, it understood his needs, its surprisingly prehensile tail did more than enough to pick him up, pick other things up- it could even bandage him pretty efficiently. He was starting to think they were less 'smart creature' to 'sentient animal'. Or was it sapient?

He couldn't remember, but point was; the seahorse lusus was a good caretaker.

It, he? She? He really cannot tell so he'll stick to either it or he? It actually seemed worried about him, it was starting to stick close by and keep an eye on him whenever it was around. And at the first sign of panic, it would pick him up and take him to the bathtub again. It never seemed angry whenever it was bandaging his wounds, just diligently cleaning him and his injuries up before wrapping them up.

Lately, it even started covering the mirror in the room with a blanket. Noticing just how much his reflection seemed to bother him, sometimes to the point of spiraling.

In any case, it was difficult for him to accept his situation but he was going to have to since it was clear there was literally nothing he could do about it.

He was just going to have to accept that he was a troll now. That he was… Eridan Ampora. He was going to have to use his name, going to have to live his life and…

Oh fuck, the game was going to happen in the future.

Oh fuck, would the game happen in the future? He didn't really have a way of confirming it unless… Unless he tried waking up his dream self in Derse. There was probably another way, but he couldn't think of anything else. New question was, how the hell was he supposed to do that?

Its charge was moving around its respiteblock, making small noises and seeming to get frustrated. It kept its gaze at it, watching the small juvenile move back and forth across the block, just in case it would end up hurting itself like a few times before. The last one had just been yesternight, but thankfully it just scratched itself and the scratches were small.

It really did not know what was wrong with its charge, to be so self-destructive and being triggered by its own reflection. Other grubs, especially sea grubs, were lashing out at their environments and even their own lusii, but its charge had aimed all that violence towards itself and it did not know how to stop it. It was a little worried that instead of having those black and gold creatures cull it, it would cull itself from its violent self-harm.

It had yet to do anything but harm its limbs, but it thinks it was only that because it mostly catches it harming itself in time before moving on to its fragile fins. Putting it in the ablution trap is at least, the safest and consistent solution. However, soon, it might have to switch to sopor with how often it injured itself. The healing properties of sopor would help, although having its charge change from water to sopor to sleep within so soon was somewhat risky.

It would have to keep an even closer eye on it to make sure it would not consume the slime, make sure that the young juvenile understood that it was not for consumption, but for slumber.

Perhaps it should start its education as well, obtain the materials to keep it busy. Perhaps the education would even distract it from harming itself. Yes, it would do that.

==> Sweeps In The Future Presently

CC: O)( COD I'M SO SORRY!!!
CC: I didn't see )(im -Eridan I swear!! I didn't mean to
CC: I'm so sorry 38((
CA: Fef
CA: It's okay, it wwas an accident
CA: Sides wwe can bring him back, it'll be fine
CC: O)( -Eridan 38(((
CC: Nooooo
CC: -Eridan I'm sorry!! Please don't cry!!
CA: Shit
CA: Sorry
CA: I'm fine
CC: Don't apologize!!! I'm t)(e one w)(o s)(ould be apologizing and I am!
CA: Wwe can bring him back, I shouldn't be cryin like this
CC: You're upset -Erifis)(, and you genuinely loved your lusus like I do and even if we can bring )(im back )(e still died and it's okay to be upset!
CA: You're right
CA: Thanks Fef, you're a great friend
CC: Yea)(
CC: I'm suc)( a great frond
CA: Fuck, the meteors gettin closer wwe don't havve time
CA: Quick, get the cruxtruder, I'll get my lusus
CC: A)(! Righ)(t!!
CC: Ocray, let's do t)(is -Erifis)(

The sight of his dead lusus genuinely caught him off guard. What little hope he had in thinking that he could prevent the lusii, especially his , was gone. An unreasonable hope, especially since he knew they were going to die, that they were essentially required to die.

He knew he wouldn't like seeing the death, but he wasn't as prepared as he thought as the grief that slammed into him the moment he saw the collapsed, bleeding form of SeaDad made his knees weak and he almost collapsed in place. Instead, he ended up crying in full view of his server player.

Firmly, he reminded himself it was temporary, that he would see his SeaDad again. The grief doesn't seem to lessen at the thought, and seems even heavier as he clears the debris of his broken hive off the lusus' corpse and lifts it in his arms. He gives in for a moment, burying his face against the scales. Mourning for a moment, for the loss of his father.

SeaDad was the only father he could remember in both lives. And now he was dead.

He hears a loud thud and looks up to see the kernalsprite finally freed from the cruxtruder. But not for long .

With a heaving shout, he throws his lusus' body into the sprite, which catches it with a flash of light. It blinds him for a moment, before a new yet somehow familiar voice to speak to him.

'Eridan.'

Opening his eyes, they watered with translucent violet tears once more at the sight of his father alive once more. "Hi Dad." He whispered with a relieved smile, the grief finally lifting slightly as the sprited lusus leaned down to nuzzle his head with his snout in comfort.

And for a short while, all was right in the world.

Chapter Text

All was right in the world, only for a short while.

The snout that was nuzzling him quickly nudged him, urgency filling the new voice of his lusus. 'Quickly Eridan, you must enter. The meteor is coming.'

==> Your father is right

"Right!"Eridan sucked in a breath and nodded, determination replacing his grief and he rushed off towards the other machines.

The time shown from the cruxtruder steadily ticked down and Eridan sprinted all over his hive between machines, grabbing the cruxite from the cruxtruder, grabbing the punch card that Feferi provided, shoving the cruxite and the card into the totem lathe and impatiently waiting as the air began to get hotter and hotter, and the sky, brighter and brighter with the incoming meteor.

He wasted no time when the lathe was done, grabbing the carved cruxite and heading outside where the alchemiter was and he hissed in discomfort when the heat bore down on him. Eridan didn't let that stop him though as he slammed the cruxite on the alchemiter's pedestal, creating his entry item.

He climbed onto the stage of the alchemiter where the item appeared in a flash of light, but froze as he saw what it was before him.

A glossy violet mirror stood before him, and its reflection was the blank face of Canon Eridan. In Canon Eridan's hands was a glowing, magical wand that gave off smoke and sheer power. Dark yellow, jade, and fuchsia blood stained his clothes, but his midsection was ripped apart and stained violet. His face was completely blank, void of emotions but his eyes bored into Eridan with an accusatory stare.

Eridan faltered, taking a step back, the sweeps he's spent living as Eridan Ampora threatened to drown him all the while Canon Eridan stared from the mirror's reflection-

'Eridan! Eridan, the meteor, we must go!'

SeaDadsprite's shout snapped him out of his spiraling fugue, and he gritted his teeth, he gave the reflection an apologetic look mixed with defiance, he grabbed a spear from his strife specibus and swung it at the mirror, shattering the violet item.

==> Eridan: Enter

For a moment, Eridan thinks he sees blatant shock on Canon Eridan's face before his vision turns entirely white.

His vision starts to return thanks to his rapid blinking and rubbing at his eyes, the heat of the meteor no longer threatens to roast him alive and there's a relievingly cool breeze that helps cool him down. Shaking his head, the moment his vision returned fully, his eyes widened in shock at the sight of his land, a bit of nausea pooling in his stomach.

Gothic cathedrals and spires covered the land, densely packed and bathed in a near, blindingly white sky.

It was Eridan's planet alright, another testament to just how little Eridan had managed to change compared to the webcomic. He had hoped he would have a different land compared to Canon Eridan.

His SeaDadsprite came to float beside him, 'Welcome, Eridan, to your Land.' SeaDadsprite said, motioning to it with his new, ghost-like tail. 'The Land Of Wraiths And Angels.'

Eridan frowned but paused, "Wwraiths? Not Wrath?" A little hope bubbled underneath the nausea, it was a small change but he would take it. Although… It didn't sound good in retrospect.

'No, not wrath my grub. Wraiths are… The main enemy of your planet, Eridan. You must be wary of these creatures. They are similar to your Angels but ultimately different.' SeaDadsprite answered him.

"Angels…?" He questioned, before it hit him all at once. Both the memory of the planet's angels and the actual arrival of said angels. Sounds of loud, incomprehensible shrieking came from all around him as a flurry of white, glowing creatures appeared from the planet below. Flying up, up, and up , all the while screaming horribly. "WWHAT THE FUCK?! " Eridan shouts, covering his ears from the terrible noise before instinct had him brandishing his spear at the incoming white winged beings.

==> Do not harm your consorts Eridan

'No! Calm yourself Eridan, it's alright.'

He almost switches his spear for Ahab's Crosshairs when SeaDadsprite stops him, wrapping his tail around the spear's shaft and forcing Eridan to lower the weapon. 'It would be a very bad idea to harm your consorts my grub, a very bad idea.' He told him sternly, which is very stern for a flying aquatic white now slightly violet-tinged seahorse. Eridan will never get over just how parental lusii can be, especially his SeaDad.

Still, the cacophony from the angels was loud. Too loud for him. He dropped his spear to press his hands against his pinned earfins in an attempt to muffle the noise. "They're so loud!"

'They're excited. They've awaited a long time for you, perhaps you should ask them to tone down their voices.' His lusus suggested and Eridan smiled his thanks at him for it.

The chaotic choir of angels finally reached his hive, swirling around and screeching in 'excitement', flying around Eridan in droves. Eridan shivered at their close proximity, and clamped down on the instinct to bare his teeth and attack at these things.

He has spent so many sweeps trying to control himself, control his urges, his instincts and reflexes as a troll- he was not going to lose it now. It certainly tested it though.

There were so many, but Eridan thinks there might be even more around the planet, which is terrifying to think of but right now, he would have to deal with the flock that greeted him now.

.:!!!! !!!!! !!!!!!:.

Even with his ears covered, it was so loud. However, through the shrieks, screeches and screams, he thinks he could hear actual words intermingled with it. Covered by the noise that was just. So. Loud.

"Excuse me?! " He practically has to roar to be heard over their sounds, and immediately, it all goes quiet.

It was unnerving, the silence. What was even more unnerving was the fact all the angels had stopped in place. Giving him the chance to finally see them all properly, up close. All in varying sizes, white with a few shades of very light grey, no eyes whatsoever and toothy mouths that spanned half their heads. A pair of wings were their only limbs, the rest, a snake-like tail dotted with feathers.

Despite being eyeless, Eridan could clearly feel their stares.

Swallowing his nervousness, he gave them an apologetic smile. "Thank you, I'm uh, I'm sorry for shouting but you wwere all being vvery loud and uh, talkin? All ovver each other, I couldn't understand you all, or evven hear myself think." He muttered the last part to himself, shaking his head, he continued. "I think I can understand you all but uh, can you- can you please talk a bit quieter? And not all at once?"

Thankfully, his request was granted and only a few angels spoke this time. Garbled, broken, practically whispering compared to before but thankfully more manageable and understandable.

.: Our hope, young hope. Young young hope. Waited, we waited, long for you and others. Here. Here. The inciphisphere:.

Their creepy whispers were just as unsettling as their screams but at least it wasn't damaging his hearing so it would have to do. Besides, he was used to whispers. The horrorterrors always whispered to him when he woke up on Derse.

Eridan smiled at them gratefully, nodding, "Thank you."

Almost immediately a few of the smaller angels crowded him, flying circles around him, whispering things in their eerie quiet voices. He almost prefers their shrieking. Almost. Also, he was getting a bit dizzy with how much they were circling him.

Ping

Went his palmhusk and he's suddenly reminded that he had a server player; she had probably seen everything that had happened! Looks like she'd been trolling him from the very beginning, but he'd been a little too preoccupied to notice and answer.

CC: )(OORAY!!! W--E DID IT --ERIDAN!! 38DD
CC: I'm so glad you made it!!
CC: And as soon as S)(oallux finally gets )(is off )(is ass, I can join you in t)(e game! T)(is is going to be SO exciting!!
CC: -Erifis)(? )(ellooo??
CC: O)(! You're talking wit)( your lusus, talk away!
CC: Wow -Eridan, your land is reely lacking some colors t)(ere, )(a)(a
CC: Is somefin wrong -Eridan? 38?
CC: U)(
CC: I'm )(earing somefin bad -Eridan and it's coming closer…
CC: !!!!!!
CC: --ERIDAN!
CC: W)(at are t)(ese t)(ings?!?! Are you okay?!
CC: It doesn't seem like t)(ey're )(urting you but
CC: T)(ey sound )(orribubble!! And t)(ey look terrifying!
CC: O)( t)(ank goodness, t)(ey got quiet!
CC: -Eridan, are you okay? W)(at are t)(ose t)(ings around you??
CA: I'm fin Fef! Don't wworry, these are my consorts
CA: They livve on my planet and they wwon't hurt me, they're called angels
CC: Angels? Like in t)(e myt)(s? And t)(ey live on your planet??
CA: Yes
CA: Somewwat, they're rather pleasant compared to the myths though
CC: O)(...
CC: W)(ale at least t)(ey're not attacking you so t)(at's good!
CA: Sorry for wworryin you Fef
CC: It's fin!!! Don't apologize for somefin like that! I just didn't know w)(at was going on was all!
CC: )(onestly -Erifis)( you're t)(e only troll I know t)(at apologizes for so much! Sometimes unnecessarily so!
CA: You might havve a point there, I wwas just about to apologize for it haha
CC: Sea!!
CA: Anywway, to reply to your prevvious message I take it Sol still hasn't replied to your messages?
CC: Nope! )(e S)(ore is taking )(is sweet ass time!! 3>8/
CC: Do you t)(ink t)(ere's a way to )(ave you be my s)(orever player instead? I know you're Nepeta's s)(orever player but it doesn't look like S)(oallux is doing anyfin!
CC: Is )(e even playing t)(e game he made?
CA: He wwill, don't wworry Fef
CA: Just havve some patience okay Fef? He'll pull through in the end and send you into the game
CA: I believve in him
CC: )(mp)(, if you say so -Erifis)(
CA: Oh, excuse me for a moment Fef, Equi is trolling me
CA: Just put some more faith into Sol, okay Fef? I'll troll you later
CC: O)( alrig)(t 3>8P
CC: Bye --Erifis)(!

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling cuttlefishCuller [CC]

centaursTesticle [CT] began trolling clandestineAmicability [CA]

CT: D --> Eridan
CT: D --> Please report that you've safely landed in the medium
CT: D --> There are
CT: D --> Certain matters I wish to speak with you about
CT: D --> Eridan?
CT: D --> Please reply with e%treme haste
CT: D --> Are you okay?
CA: Calm dowwn Equi, I'm fine
CA: Fef got me into the game in the nick of time so yes, I'm here
CT: D --> E%cellent news
CT: D --> Are you unharmed
CA: I'm fine Equi, not a scratch on me
CA: Noww, wwhat do you wwant to talk wwith me about?
CT: D --> Ahem
CT: D --> Yes
CT: D --> The matters that I wished to discuss with you involves
CT: D --> Uh
CT: D --> A certain
CT: D --> Rustb100ded individual, who may or may not now have majestic and superior b100b100d running in her mechanical veins instead of her old
CT: D --> Filthy and inferior rustb100d
CA: Oh Equi
CA: Don't tell me
CA: Equius please don't tell me you ACTUALLY wwent ahead wwith that stupid little program you made??
CA: I told you not to do that!
CA: And I thought you liked Nep better than Dia? Evven wwithout the wwhole stupid caste thing, you clearly enjoy Nep's company better than Dia's!!
CT: D --> It was
CT: D --> An impulsive last minute decision I made prior to the delivery
CT: D --> She was just so graceful and proper even back when she was a lowly rustb100d! She was clearly destined for more, destined to be more! And I thought
CA: Equi you stupid stupid horse
CA: Wwe talked about this! I explicitly wwarned you about something like this!!!
CT: D --> You have and
CT: D --> I am ashamed to admit that I gave into my intrusive impulse
CA: Dia found out didn't she, and she didn't like it
CT: D --> no
CT: D --> She kissed me though but it was so confusing it felt a mix of black and red and I just
CT: D --> And then Nepeta she
CT: D --> She blocked me
CT: D --> Without e%planation
CA: She saww the wwhole thin
CA: Equi did you evven remember that Nep was Dia's servver player wwhen you did this??
CT: D --> It might have
CT: D --> Slipped my mind
CT: D --> Although I do not know why she blocked me
CA: Oh Equius…
CA: Does it not occur to you that perhaps, she too, had flushed feelins for you?
CT: D --> I
CT: D --> oh
CA: Yes, 'oh' you fuckin oblivvious horse
CT: D --> Eridan, such 100d language is uncalled for!
CA: Don't you start Equi, I think I havve evvery right to use '100d language' in the face of the shit you just pulled! Just look at this emotional mess!
CA: I'll try to get to your planet as soon as possible, your gate is wway abovve me and I havve to build up Nep's hivve and ask Fef to do the same to mine
CA: Wwhich might take some time but don't think you can get out this feelinsjam!
CA: Wwe are goin to resolvve this emotional mess once and for all, and no matter wwhat in the end, you are goin to apologize to both Dia and Nep, are wwe clear?
CT: D --> Uh
CT: D --> Yes
CT: D --> I think a feelingsjam would be appropriate
CT: D --> Although it might take less time if I simply just go to your planet
CT: D --> The game is also far above however I think I can reach it with a few STRONG jumps
CT: D --> If not then I can simply use a jetpack, I believe I have the code for one
CA: No! Do NOT come to my planet Equi!
CA: First off, you'll havve to go to Nep's planet before you come to mine and wwe both knoww THAT is a bad idea right noww and second off;
CA: Trust me it's just as bad of an idea, I don't think anyone should come to my planet for the foreseeable future. Not until I knoww wwhat's fully goin on here, I'vve got a bad feelin about it…
CT: D --> How dangerous is your planet? It surely cannot compare to my STRENGTH, I have already defeated giant enemies that easily fell to my punches
CT: D --> In fact if you are so concerned it gives me all the more reason to come to your planet
CA: No, Equi I need you to listen to me
CA: Do not come to Lowwaa
CA: I'll be fine, the angels seem to like me but I don't knoww howw you wwill react to each other plus I havve SeaDadsprite wwith me to help so again, I'll be fine
CT: D --> Angels? Those horrible winged creatures of myth? You have them on your planet??
CT: D --> I am coming soon
CA: No!!!
CA: Dammit Equi listen to me!
CA: The angels are my consorts, they wwon't hurt me! I'm more wworried of you hurting each other! And that's only the Angel part of my land, I havve no idea wwhat the wwraiths are
CT: D --> I am increasingly and e%tremely concerned about you and your planet Eridan
CT: D --> I'm going
CA: I didn't wwant to do this
CA: Equius Zahhak, as a higher troll on the caste I ORDER YOU to NOT come to my planet at all under any circumstance unless I say or order otherwwise
CA: Please
CA: Equius?
CA: Did you get that?
CT: D --> yes eridna
CT: D --> i submit to your order
CA: Shoooosh
CA: Get your towwel Equi, I knoww you're swweatin a lot
CA: Sigh, you knoww I hate doin that Equi but I can't let you come to my planet yet
CA: It doesn't seem safe for anyone else yet, I'll change that but for noww please trust that I'll be fine
CA: If anythin happens I promise I'll contact you about it, okay?
CT: D --> Very well
CT: D --> I won't come to your planet but please, be careful
CT: D --> If anything happens
CA: I'll troll you, I'll be careful
CA: I'll even keep you updated on wwhat's goin on okay?
CT: D --> Okay
CT: D --> Be safe Eridan <>
CA: I will <>

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling centaursTesticle [CT]

Eridan sighed, stashing away his palmhusk, he contemplates whether to alchemize it with his glasses now or alchemize his computer instead. "That was Equius, I told him to stay awway from my planet for noww." He told SeaDadsprite when he floated nearby. Most of the angels had dispersed with only a few, smaller ones staying behind, still flying around him. He's surprised he'd gotten used to them in such a short time.

'Your moirail. ' SeaDadsprite noted, huffing in apparent approval, 'A wise decision, not every grub has the same restraint that you have my grub. The angels would keep a grudge if they were attacked, not only that, your base is very vulnerable right now, vulnerable to them. We must do something immediately. '

"'Them'? Wwho's 'them'?" He questioned warily, already tense from the ominous words his father sprite just said to him. "Is- Is it- You said this was the Land of Wwraiths and-" He shut his mouth as the angels around him hissed at the word 'wraith.'

'I did. There are technically two species of consorts on your planet Eridan, but only one side is your true ally. Wraiths, they are vicious and vile creatures, the counterparts of your angels. They are strong my grub, and not only that, but your planet differs from the others. No imps and weaker underlings shall appear, and even then, the stronger underlings will rarely appear here. The wraiths will be your main enemy here.'

Eridan was taken aback, he had no idea just how much change one letter to a word could bring it seemed. Canon Eridan had never had to deal with wraiths in the comic, only angels. And even then, it was clear that the seadweller had brought the angels upon himself for recklessly attacking them when they could have been his allies.

He wasn't making that mistake thankfully, and now the angels were on his side. His determination solidified before the small group of angels around him shrieked once more, he winced, his instinct to stop their shrieking via violence is heavily curbed by him focusing on the tone of their incomprehensible voices.

Dismay, panic, fear, animosity, h a t e .

The last tone sends shivers down his spine and he's immediately equipping Ahab's Crosshairs into his arms. That last tone was not from his angels, no.

It was from something far worse.

It was from one of the nearby cathedrals, the larger ones that almost reached his hive. From the shadows of the gothic architecture, something slinked out of the darkness. It crawled, into the air, through the air. It did not fly like the angels, it crawled.

His angels had already been terrifying, but this? This was something entirely different.

It was twice the size of his sizable SeaDadsprite, with wispy tendrils of grey and black darkness that acted like a cloth in the wind, a continuously blown flame, or something silky moving through the water. All at once. It was vaguely humanoid in shape, and he emphasizes on vaguely here. The joints of its 'arms' were protruding from the cloth-like darkness that shifted incomprehensibly, bits and tears of the 'cloak' falling off yet it remained whole.

The 'head' was covered with said darkness, showing no face whatsoever, but it had eyes. So. Many. Eyes. Small ones, folded into each other at every crease and shadow on the 'cloak', appearing and disappearing, blinking , whenever the 'cloth' moved in whatever invisible wind that kept it moving. It had now hands, no legs, no feet. And yet, it still crawled like it had arms.

It was one of the most terrifying thing Eridan had ever seen.

It stopped, meters away from them, seemingly observing them with its not-so hidden eyes that shifted with every movement. The small angels that were circling Eridan were now edging away from the wraith yet trying to stay by Eridan's side at the same time, SeaDadsprite hissed with them, a braying whinny erupting that ended in a low snarl.

'That is a wraith.' SeaDadsprite spat, protectively hovering between Eridan and the now trembling wraith, behind him, Eridan kept his crosshairs aimed at the creature. 'Be wary my grub, it is strong, but thankfully not an elder wraith else I would force you to abscond.'

"Elder wwraith? Wwhat's an elder wwraith?!" Eridan gripped Ahab's Crosshairs tightly, perhaps he shouldn't have asked though as soon as he did, the wraith's form seemed to flare and shot forward so quickly, Eridan and SeaDadsprite barely dodged its attack, jumping away as the dark cloth hit the ground. Impacting heavily unto it, yet the ground did not crack, it sounded more like heavy fabric than an actual creature hitting something but it spread across the floor, like spilled water but alive.

A small, unfortunate angel was its nearest and easiest target, and the torn edge of the 'cloth' caught its tail, pulling it from the air and seemingly devouring it even though it had no mouth, tearing into the poor thing with its deceptively soft yet impossibly sharp cloth surface and spilling white, glowing blood. The dying shriek of the angel made Eridan gag as the white carcass and blood lost its color, turning into grey and black sludge that was absorbed into the fabric of darkness.

The wraith had been entirely silent the whole time, but only after devouring the angel did it make a noise. A piercing, dark and heavy rumble that shook Eridan to his core.

"Oh swweet merciful Dolorosa." Eridan whispered in horror then flinched back at the panicked cries of the rest of the angels, they fled, the death of one of their own signaling their retreat. The wraith entered a frenzy, shadow fabric-like appendages expanded, trying to catch them and one particular one reaching for him . Immediately he pulled the trigger of Ahab's Crosshairs, releasing a control, but powerful laser towards it.

It hits true, burning the limb and forcing the wraith to flinch back and howl in clear pain.

==> Defend yourself Eridan for this is only the beginning

It turned its entire attention to Eridan and its entire body trembled, either in pain or rage it didn't matter. All that mattered, was that it was looking at Eridan with rage and hunger.

Chapter Text

Although Eridan had been entirely ready to strife the damn wraith, someone else wanted to act on his behalf.

BANG

Out of nowhere, his fucking fridge slammed into the wraith, crushing the thing underneath its heavy weight and from the force it had been slammed into it. Stunning him and his sprite lusus as the inanimate object was then slowly lifted to reveal the crushed wraith underneath.

It twitched—

BANG BANG BANG

Eridan flinched back as the fridge smashed against the wraith again, and again. Continuously until the wraith finally stopped twitching, instead, it seemed to be dissipating into dust.

Ping

Once again, he originally had been a bit too preoccupied to notice a certain server player of his trolling him. He retrieved his palmhusk to see the messages that he had missed.

cuttlefishCuller [CC] began trolling clandestineAmicability [CA]

CC: )(ey -Erifis)(! I know you told me to be patient and all t)(at but t)(e rest of t)(e red team is already in t)(e game! S)(oallux STILL )(asn't said anyfin yet!
CC: Ug)( I wonder w)(at's )(is deal rig)(t now? W)(ere t)(e glub is )(e 3>8/
CC: )(elloooo? -Erifis)(??
CC: You look tense on my screen, w)(at wrong? W)(at is it t)(is time?
CC: Glub?
CC: U)(
CC: W)(at t)(e )(eck is t)(at?
CC: It doesn't look like t)(e angels, in fact it looks even creepier t)(an t)(em some)(ow!!
CC: Speaking of t)(em, t)(ey don't seam to pike it…
CC: UMM
CC: )(OLY MACK--ERAL!!! W)(AT T)(E FUCK IS T)(AT T)(ING?! IT JUST AT---E ON---E OF YOUR ANG---ELS!!!
CC: --ERIDAN LOOK OUT!!
CA: Holy fuck Fef
CC: --ERIDAN!!!
CC: T)(ank glub you're ocray!!
CC: W)(at was t)(at t)(ing???
CA: Thanks for defeating it Fef, my poor fridge though…
CA: It was called a wwraith, apparently they're a special enemy on my land
CA: Don't wworry, they wwon't be anywwhere else BUT my planet
CC: T)(at's not w)(at I'm worried about -Erifis)(!!
CC: Are you going to be ocray )(ere??
CA: I wwill, SeaDadsprite said that there's wways to make sure my hivve wwon't be attacked by those thins
CA: I'm gonna need your help wwith that
CC: You can leave it to me -Eridan!
CC: W)(at do I )(ave to do?
CA: Help rebuild my hivve, I'm open cull bait for these thins wwith all these holes and shit
CA: Gotta make my hivve defensible for me and anyone else wwho comes here
CA: Though I'm gonna wwarn evveryone not to until I'm sure it's perfectly safe
CC: Got it!
CA: SeaDadsprite says that I'll need some angels to help me wwith that as wwell, they can make sure those thins don't go anywwhere near my hivve so please if you see any of them try not to mess around wwith them or wwhatevver they end up doin
CC: Ocray!!
CC: O)( w)(ale you look at that!
CC: It seems like a certain bee boy is finally getting off )(is lazy bass and putting down my mac)(ines!
CA: Sol finally connected wwith you?
CC: Looks pike it!
CA: That's good!
CA: Wwait
CA: Shit
CC: W)(at's wrong -Erifis)(?
CA: Sol is about to send you into the medium
CC: Yea)(, finally!
CA: Sol is the last one to enter the medium right after you
CC: Yes?
CC: Wait
CC: S)(it
CA: Gl'bgolyb
CC: My lusus
CA: Shit okay
CA: Focus on enterin the game first
CA: Wwe can wworry about revvivvin Sol afterwwards

==> Sweeps In The Past

It's been a few months since he first woke up in Alternia, and past the breakdowns and spiraling panic attacks, Eridan had to admit that it was fascinating, learning about another culture. An alien culture at that.

Although right now, he was still learning the entire Alternian language first before he could try and learn anything else. It was probably because of his young body paired with a young brain but he was surprised at just how fast he was learning it.

At the same time, he was both equally surprised and not surprised just how much propaganda was in his learning material. Most of it talked about how superior violet and fushciabloods were compared to other castes, it praised The Condesce and talked down on the 'landdwellers', even more so for those bloods below indigo.

It was no wonder Canon Eridan thought he was hot shit, it was something he learned because it was the basic education he was given as a child. He was taught that he was superior to everyone else aside from fuschias. Eridan was lucky he had enough memories of his life as a human to think otherwise, both about the webcomic and in general.

He was curious though, the material he'd been given to learn was clearly for seadwellers, for violetbloods specifically. Did that mean other castes had their own education materials? Specifically for their castes? He would have to find out at some point, he wrote it down in both English and Alternian to remind himself in the future.

Which he did find out in the future; and the answer was yes. Each caste was given similar yet differing education information, from rusts and bronzes that informed them they were nothing but fodder to purplebloods who were taught about Mirthful Messiahs while they were learning to read.

But that was for another time.

Currently Eridan was enamored and fascinated over his newest toy. Well, not exactly a toy , but it was something he's always wanted to have even back as a human.

A sylladex.

He'd been given a sylladex from his lusus, the seahorse must have noticed how he kept toting around several notebooks and pens all over the place. His panic over temporarily losing one of his notebooks might have helped, but to be fair, it was the most important one among his other notebooks.

It was a notebook completely written in English and it was full of information about his past life. Information of what little he could remember of his personal life, about being human and other human things. More importantly, it had information about the webcomic, what he could remember of it. He couldn't remember everything about the comic, he had been rereading because of nostalgia and to remember things after all.

Afraid that he might forget things as time passed, he wrote it all down in a single notebook. To be honest it was kind of a mess, and he would have to revise it. Later though, for now, that notebook held every single important piece of information he had, it was something he could try to rely on in the future, and honestly, it was one of the only things he had about his past life.

So losing it would have been devastating.

And now it would be safe in his new sylladex.

He'd been given a Fishing Fetch Modus, any item he stored in a card, would turn into a fish that would swim in a small pond and if he wanted to get something, he would have to fish it out with a fishing mini-game. This modus was probably for beginners on account of how small his inventory was, and how easy it was to fish out items.

Either way, he had way too much fun messing around with it.

It was honestly the most fun he's had ever since he woke up in Alternia.

Alongside his new sylladex, he'd also been given a sizable dark grey cloak from his lusus. He was still getting used to how parental the seahorse was, not only that but both the sylladex and cloak truly proved how observant and intelligent it was as it noticed him sometimes using a blanket (or a 'snuggleplane' according to his troll baby books) to cover himself some days when even just existing as a young Eridan Ampora seemed a bit much and he felt like hiding from the world underneath a blanket like a child.

Which he was, and he still hated that but he won't deny that having something covering him had helped. He couldn't always retreat into water after all, even if he wanted to.

The cloak was a better option, since it had holes for his horns which always did feel slightly uncomfortable underneath the blanket for long periods of time.

After immediately putting it on, he gave the seahorse, now dubbed 'SeaDad' on account of its excellent parenting skills despite being a floating seahorse, a grateful and appreciative hug. Which then led to an hour of cuddling he didn't ask for but didn't complain about.

Giant seahorses were surprisingly great cuddlers.

Eridan would say it was a lusus thing, but he remembers a couple of bad lusii from the comic. I.e. Vriska's spider mom and Gamzee's goatdad.

Speaking of the other trolls, he hasn't met them yet. For one, he hasn't even set foot out of his hive and for the other, he doesn't have access to anything technological except a sylladex yet. Which is fair considering he was a toddler, but at least it gives him time to think about what the hell he's going to do with the others.

He was Eridan Ampora now, and he was early enough in the timeline that he could change things from the comic right? Assuming it was going to be like the comic, he doesn't even know if the game was going to happen and he didn't have any means of finding out right now…

Perhaps I could help.

Eridan's eyes widened with fear before—

Snap

It's nap time for little troll toddlers, hoo hoo hoo.

==> Eridan: Wake Up

The walls are dark orange.

His pajamas are bright violet.

Everything outside is a bright. shade. of violet.

The sky outside is darker than night and just like his walls, the architecture below his high view point is varying shades of violet and purple with hundreds of black-shelled chess people going about the place.

Eridan sits on the windowsill of his tower with a numb kind of shock that has him staring out into the distance.

He's on Derse.

==> Months In The Future But Sweeps In The Past

He's been trying to keep count of the time that's passed, it's more than half a year since he's become Eridan Ampora. A little hard to tell since the first few weeks had all blended together as he struggled to comprehend and adapt to his new situation.

It's been… better to say the least.

He's coping.

It's also been a few months since he started dreaming of Derse. Every time he went to sleep now, he would wake up in his purple tower. Surprisingly he didn't fall into panic like he did whenever he was awake, somehow he felt… mellow? Numb? Subdued? It was hard to describe, he still panicked a little but then it would subside after a while and he didn't end up feeling as bad whenever he was awake.

His memory whenever he was 'awake' as his dream self wasn't as good when he was awake, he tended to forget a few things he knows he remembers when he's awake, hadn't Jade's dream self also seem a bit forgetful? Speaking of Jade, and thinking more about it, Kanaya as well, he never thought he'd be able to relate to them in such a way before- especially as Eridan Ampora.

He was the only troll awake on Derse, and he'd been so cautious at first those first few dreams 'awake'. He stayed in his tower, he observed the dersites below, keeping an eye out before curiosity finally won over his cautiousness and he worked up the courage to fly over to the other towers.

Flying came naturally to his dream self, it was wonderful actually, to be able to fly. Yet he thinks he still prefers swimming to it, it was a close second.

He finally 'met' the other trolls of the comic. Four others at least.

Sollux, Nepeta, Equius and Feferi.

Aradia was somewhere deep in Derse, but he didn't dare try and find her yet.

It was bizarre, seeing the others in their towers. Slumbering away without a care. He finally knew what they looked like as kids. Just, actual troll kids, younger than they were in the comic. They were all so cute!

And yet, as the dreams passed, each time he awoke in Derse he found himself…

Lonely.

This what he meant when he said he related to Jade and Kanaya; he felt lonely being the only waking troll on Derse. Although, he can't remember if Kanaya implied she'd been as lonely as Jade was...

Ever since he became Eridan Ampora, his only companion to speak to was his lusus. And caring as the custodian was, he wasn't exactly a great conversationalist. So he found himself feeling very lonely both when he was awake and in dreaming. This must been how Jade had felt, seeing John asleep every time she woke up on Prospit.

He was tempted to even start interacting with the dersites, they knew he was awake. He tried to be as stealthy as he could be when visiting the others, but he wouldn't be surprised if a few saw him awake.

However he was still cautious over them, especially certain Dersite Agents.

The Midnight Crew-to-be.

Eridan did not want to face them, sure it was highly unlikely they would kill him so soon before the game but… He didn't want to chance it. Not to mention, they were still pretty intimidating carapacians.

So he kept visiting the other trolls as they slept, and tonight, he was in a certain fuchsiablood's tower.

The room was what he assumed to be a near-perfect copy of Feferi's current room as usual. Although colored in bright green instead.

Feferi slept in a grand dark velvet recuperacoon. Tiny and smiling as she slept peacefully within the slime.

Eridan had also recently moved to sleeping in a recuperacoon, it was very weird at first and still technically was but it was surprisingly a lot more comfortable than he would have ever expected. Probably because he was a troll now and sopor slime was designed for trolls.

He tried not to snoop around the tower rooms his future teammates slept in, it would've been invasive and kind of creepy to do so. But boredom eventually won out in the end and he ended up doing it anyway. He tries to stick to whatever books they had in their rooms only, avoiding personal things as he wasn't that bored yet.

Though, as much as he doesn't want to be creepy, sometimes he ends up staring at the slumbering trolls as they slept. Wondering if he was going to be the only one awake until the game started, the comic never really said when the others' dream selves woke up aside from Sollux.

Sollux's dream self would only wake up when he dies from the Vast Glub, awoken and revived by Feferi's kiss.

Sollux and Feferi… He spent more time in their rooms than he would like to admit, it made him feel very creepy but he couldn't help it.

Canon Eridan had blinded and injured Sollux, and then he killed Feferi.

Eridan floated above Feferi's dream recuperacoon, nervously fiddling with his derse pajamas. "I wwon' kill 'ou." He ends up saying, feeling a bit embarrassed by his childish voice, weird new accent, and the fact he was talking to someone asleep. At least his speech was better than months ago when he first tried to speak, "I wwon' blind Sollux ei'her, I'm- I'm gonna be dif'rent from 'he comic Eridan. 'm gonna try and change thin's, make thin's be'ter."

He already knew he was going to change things, but seeing them all asleep?

They were just kids.

They were all just kids.

==> Eridan: Wake Up

When he wakes up this time, Derse is far more active than it had been in the past couple of sweeps. Carapacians are hurrying everywhere, most now wearing new clothes that reflect the prototypings of everyone's sprites.

Eridan watched the dersites scurry about below before looking up at the sky. The only source of light he could see was the slight glimpse of Skaia past the ring of meteors that would, at some point in the nearing future, shoot towards Skaia and then into Alternia because of The Reckoning.

He looks towards the towers, soon the others would wake up as well. Speaking of waking…

A flash of blue and red caught his attention and immediately he flew towards it, a grin on his face as he saw the annoyed and angry Sollux telekinetically punt a certain short carapacian away in a rage of blue and red electricity.

Finally, someone else was awake!

"Sol! " He shouted, wanting to catch the troll before he blasted off. He was glad to see him, Feferi must have revived him, which is great! He was almost a little worried there.

The goldblood whirled around, bearing his teeth before he realized who called his name. "ED?" Any anger he had seemed to be wiped away and he flew to meet Eridan half-way. "Oh thit, hey."

"Hey yourself." Eridan laughed, delighted to see Sollux finally awake. Even if it was at a cost. "Wwelcome to Derse. Glad to see you awwake."

Sollux blinked, coughing lightly before shoving his hands into the pockets of his pajama pants. "Derthe huh? I thought I wath a Prothpit dreamer? Kanaya told me thhe wath looking forward to theeing me wake up there."

"Really noww? You havve a dreamself on Prospit?" He feigned confusion but then shrugged, "Guess you havve twwo dreamselvves then. Aren't you lucky? I guess this appeals to your obssession wwith twwo's and pairs and wwhatnot." He teased, laughing when Sollux seemed to roll his eyes.

"Whatever, it doeth work in my favor at leatht. Got an extra life- well, I had two before then I died." He frowned, "Wow, jutht hit me, I fucking died for a moment there. I jutht remember thith horrible noithe and…"

Eridan gave him a sympathetic look, "It wwas the Vvast Glub Sol, Fef's lusus didn't react lightly to dyin'." He folded his arms, hugging himself slightly in discomfort at the thought of the genocide of their species. "I- I guess evveryone on Alternia is dead noww. Evvery troll, not only on the planet but just- evverywwhere else… 'Course The Condesce is probably still alivve." He muttered somewhat bitterly.

"Oh. Well that thuckth. Guetth were the only trollth left?" Sollux questioned, scratching his cheek awkwardly.

He nodded, "Looks like it, but wwe wwon't be the only ones left for too lon'. Kan's got a matriorb from her lusus. So repopulatin' is a possibility of the future at least."

"Oh! Well that thuckth a bit lethh? Repopulation huh…" Sollux trailed off, color slowly seeping into his face.

Eridan's front pocket in his pajama pants vibrated and he glanced back at his tower, "Wwell, it wwas nice to see you awwake Sol. Say hi to Fef for me wwhen you get back to your planet."

"Feferi? Uh, why would thhe be on my planet?" He questioned, blindsided at the mention of the fish princess.

Eridan gave him an awkward smile, "You died Sol. A wway to revvivve someone if they still havve their dreamselvves is to uh- kiss them to wwake them up." He hadn't been too sure if he had talked to Feferi about that when he was awake, but apparently he did and he was glad.

Sollux blinked behind his glasses before his face burned yellow, "Kitth thomeone?! FF kitthed me?! "

"She had to havve if you're awwake noww. She wwas the only one to havve been able to reach you in time at least." Eridan looked down at Derse, noting the slight gathering of Dersites who clearly noticed them. Eridan frowned and looked back to the still blushing goldblood. "Sol, you should probably go to your planet noww. Wwe still havve a game to beat."

That seemed to snap him out of whatever he was thinking, the psionic coughed and nodded, his face still slightly colored. "Right, fuck. Okay I'm going." His red and blue psionics covered him and Eridan smiled, waving at him before flying off back towards his tower.

"Hey ED! " The shout stopped him midflight and he turned back to Sollux who was way higher now, "We thould totally hang out thometime thoon, okay?! "

Eridan's smile widened and he shouted back, " Sure! Wwhen wwe havve the time! " He thought for a moment before he continued, "Wwe'll havve to do it on your planet, mine is a little dangerous right noww! "

"Wwhat? Dangerous howw?! " Came Sollux's reply.

"I'll explain in a memo! Just go noww Sol, I'll see you later! "

"Fine! Later ED! " Eridan waved at him as he flew off before quickly returning to his tower. The device in his pocket vibrated again, it had been the whole time he'd been talking with Sollux. He was only slightly annoyed, but over all, he was just exasperated.

As soon as he returned to his respiteblock atop his tower, he sat down and took out a sleek, pink phone unlike his waking self's palmhusk.

clandestineAmicability [CA] is no longer idle!

CA: Stop spammin me
CA: Yes I'm in the game noww
CA: I think evveryone's in the game noww so this is goin to be a bit hectic for a bit
CA: I'll be a bit busy for the time bein so I might not be able to message you both for a wwhile
CA: Sorry about that
TG: awwwwww no comstna trollig from our fav troll? :(((9(((
TT: Its fine Eridan
TT: Just be careful alright?
TG: *constant *trolling
TG: yeah b carful bb fish
CA: I wwill

Eridan smiled fondly at his palmhusk before gripping it tightly with determination.

Things will change.

They have to.

Chapter Text

CURRENT clandestineAmicability [CA] opened public transtimeline bulletine board LOWWAA STAY AWWAY

CCA: Alright, this is just a public memo that I wwant out there to wwarn evveryone about my planet
CCA: Currently my planet, The Land Of Wwraiths And Angels, is EXTREMELY dangerous so please do NOT come here for noww until my sprite and angels havve properly put up the defenses for my hivve
CCA: There aren't a lot of underlins here on Lowwaa anywway, mostly just angels and wwraiths
CCA: The wwraiths are the main enemy of my planet and they're pretty fuckin horrifyin
CCA: I also don't knoww howw you guys wwould react to the angels and vvice vversa so please do not come to Lowwaa
CCA: Or at least troll me if you are

CURRENT centaursTesticle [CT] responding to memo
CURRENT arsenicCatnip [AC] responding to memo

CCT: D --> Are you alright Eridan? Do you need assistance?
CAC: :00 < purr my gosh erifish are mew okay?
CCA: Yes you twwo, I'm fine and no Equi I don't need assistance right noww
CCA: Fef wwill be helpin in buildin and fortifyin my hivve wwhile the angels do the rest
CCT: D --> I see
CCT: D --> Still, I do not wish to leave you there alone on your own
CCT: D --> I shall send a code for you to achemize Eridan, so you may reach the gate to my planet with ease
CCT: D --> It is a jetpack
CCA: Oh! That wwould be wwonderful Equi thank you
CCT: D --> Nepeta
CCT: D --> Would you
CCT: D --> Want the code as well?
CAC: :33 < nope
CCT: D --> ah
CCT: D --> Well if you ever change your mind
CAC: :33 < i'll just ask erifish!!!
CCT: D --> Oh
CCT: D --> Okay
CCA: Wwell
CCA: Anywway
CCA: Thanks Equi, I wwas gonna ask Fef to build me a quick wway up but this is better
CCA: Fef wwasn't answwerin my messages too
CAC: :?? < she isnt?
CCT: D --> That is
CCT: D --> Somewhat perple%ing
CCA: Last I recall, she wwent to Sol's planet to revvivve him and I havven't heard from her yet
CAC: :00 < oh right!! pawllux died didn't he? from fefurrys lusus? is he okay 33:
CCT: D --> It w001d be most unfortunate to be down a player this early in the game
CAC: 3:< < pawllux is a friend! not just a player on our team!!!
CCT: D --> He is
CCT: D --> A powerful psionic troll
CCA: Sol's fine, I met wwith him earlier on wwhen I wwas asleep
CCA: Fef successfully revvivved him and wwoke up his Derse dreamself
CAC: :33 < yay! thats grreat!
CCT: D --> Well, it is fortunate that Captor is alive then
CCT: D --> That still begs the question where he and the heiress are

FUTURE cuttlefishCuller [CC] 2 HOURS FROM NOW responded to the memo

FCC: --EX-)(eiress!
FCC: I am no longer t)(e )(eiress to Alternia -Equius, it's a bit weird boat it's been very freeing so far 38)
CCT: D --> Ah
CCA: Fef!
CAC: :33 < fefurry!!
CCT: D --> Miss Pei%es, it is good to hear from you
FCC: -Erifis)(! )(i! Saury to worry you t)(ere, I was
FCC: A little busy
CCA: It's fin, Fef, just glad you're alright
FCC: 38D
CAC: :33 < busy doing what fefurry?

FUTURE twinArmaggedons [TA] 2 HOURS FROM NOW responded to the memo

FTA: bu2y gettiin her ba22 kiicked that2 what
FTA: 2hiit waiit
FTA: *a22
FCC: YOU S)(UT UP!
FCC: Wait
FCC: PFFT)(A)(A)(A)(A!! WAS T)(AT A FIS)( PUN??
FTA: you 2hut up
CCA: Um
CAC: :00 < !!!!
CCT: D --> E%cuse me?
CAC: :33 < *ac takes a sniff in the air, can it be? is that?* is that a new ship i smell?!?
FTA: you miight certainly bee sniiffiing 2omethiing NP
FTA: iit2 probably ju2t friied fii2h though
FCC: 3>8(
FCC: I fink s)(e's smelling a stinky bee!!
FTA: joke2 on you
FTA: bee2 dont 2tiink dumba22
FCC: Well YOU certainly do
FCC: W)(en did you even last s)(ower??
FTA: how the fuck am ii 2uppo2e to know when my dream2elf la2t 2howered
FCC: I'm talking aboat your original dumb body STUUUPIID
CAC: >:3 < so it's true?! you and pawllux are now kismesisses?
FTA: yeah NP fii2hbiitch and ii are piitch now
FCC: )(--EY
FCC: )(e)(e, I notice you didn't answer my question there Captor!
FTA: fuck you ii 2howered
CAC: :33 < 333333333333!!! *ac squeals and bounces in excitement!! she 33gerly goes to her shipping wall!!* i n33d to update my shipping wall!!
CCA: Oh, wwell congratulations you twwo
CCA: I'll admit I'm a bit surprised, I kneww you both didn't get alon but I didn't think you hated each other like that
FCC: W)(ale we do -Erifis)(, we are now kismefis)(es!
FTA: gag
FTA: kii2mefii2he2??
FTA: really?
FCC: Fuck you 38D <3<
FTA: 2uck my bulge priince22 <3<
FCC: )(A)(! You WIS)(!
CCT: D --> wh
CCT: D --> but
CCA: Equi
CCT: D --> your highness he is a filthy mustardb100d! unworthy of your caste!!
CCA: EQUIUS
FTA: wow thank2 for the remiinder zahhak 2o kiind of you to do 2o
CCA: EQUIUS FUCKING ZAHHAK
FTA: oh thii2ll bee good hehehehe
CCT: D --> Uh
CCT: D --> Fiddlesti%s
CCA: Equius wwhen I get to your planet you are in SO much trouble!!
FTA: fuck yeah ed get hii2 a22
CAC: :33 < whoo!! go erifishy!!!
CCT: D --> I
FCC: W)(ale first off -Equius; I said it before and I'll say it again. I'm not t)(e )(eiress of Alternia anymore so please don't reefer to me as 'your )(ig)(ness' 't)(e )(eiress' and all t)(at dumb carp.
FCC: And second; I don't reely care if S)(oallux is a goldblood or on the lowend of the )(emospectrum! )(e's my kismefis)( now so deel with it!
FCC: Also t)(e )(emospectrum doesn't reely matter anymore since it's just t)(e twelve of us in t)(e game, so it )(as no effect!!
FTA: haha
FCC: O)( fuck I fed into your dumb 2 t)(ing by putting you second didn't I?
FTA: yep
FCC: UGG)()()(
CCA: Equi, she has a point
CCA: The hemospectrum was a dumb fucking system anywway
CCA: Noww go get your towwels and wwhen you come back you are apologizing to Sol
CCA: I'vve used the jetpack code and combined it wwith one of my old surf boards
CCA: It turned into a rocket board so noww I'm headin ovver
CCA: By the time I'm there you better be there and you better havve apologized
CCA: I'm sorry about Equiu you twwo
FCC: It's fin -Erifis)(!
FTA: iit2 all good ed
CCA: Nep, can wwe talk later?
CAC: :33 < i dont s33 why not! sure erifishy!
CCA: Okay, I'm goin off noww, I'll talk to you all later

CCA has left the memo

CCT: D --> I have returned
CCT: D --> I seem to have missed my moirail
CCT: D --> Still I shall do as he says and apologize so
CCT: D --> You highness, Captor, I am sorry for my e%tremely rude words
CCT: D --> I have no right to delegate or interfere with your quadrants
CCT: D --> When Eridan arrive, I shall apologize to him as well
FCC: )(mmm, apology accepted!
FTA: eh
FTA: iill take iit
FTA: hold up
FTA: where2 AA

CURRENT apocalypseArisen [AA] responding to memo

CAA: im here
FTA: alriight everyone2 iin the game now
CAA: ribbit
FTA: okay?
CCT: D --> Hello
CCT: D --> Aradia

CAA has left the memo

CCT: D --> Oh fiddlesti%
FTA: huh
CAC: you deserved that
FCC: 38?
CAC: :33 < the shipping wall has apropurriately been updated!
CCT: D --> Nepeta I w001d like to speak with you
CCT: D --> If I may
CAC: :33 < nope!
CAC: :33 < im gonna go and explore my new land! s33ya guys!!

CAC has left the memo

FTA: ???
FCC: 38???
CCT: D --> fuck
FTA: holy 2hiit
FCC: 38:0!!

CCA has left the memo

FTA: what the fuck wa2 that all about
FCC: You know I )(ave no idea
FTA: riight ii 2houldnt have a2ked you iin the fiir2t place
FCC: And w)(at is T)(AT suppose to mean bass)(ole??

FUTURE clandestineAmicability [CA] 6 HOURS FROM NOW responded to the memo

FTA: ED
FCC: -Eridan!
FCA: Hello you twwo
FCA: Wwith evverythin that happened these feww hours I just remembered I forgot to close this memo
FCA: It wwas suppose to be a wwarnin for evveryone about my planet and it kinda got off the rails there
FTA: 2peakiing about your planet
FTA: diid you manage to make iit 2afe for vii2iitor2?
FCA: Not yet, like I said, it's been a bit hectic
FCA: But I'm plannin to do it noww that I'm free
FCA: Fef wwill you be free in a feww hours to help me?
FCC: Of coralse I'll be free -Erifis)(!!!
FTA: yo you need any help?
FTA: any more help ii mean
FCC: 3>8/
FCA: No it's fine Sol, thank you for the offer though
FCC: 38D
FTA: well we 2tiill good to hang out afterward2 though
FCA: Sure
FTA: fuck yeah
FCC: 3>8T
FCA: Okay, I'm closin this memo noww
FCA: Bye
FTA: later ED
FCC: Bye -Erifis)(!

FCC has left the memo
FTA has left the memo

FCA closed memo

==> Eridan: Feelinsjam Stupid Horse Moirail

"Equius, this is gettin' ridiculous. Not evven the funny kind." Eridan told him after he parked his stupid horse-obsessed moirail on to the small pile of robots and parts for a long needed feelingsjam. The blueblooded troll had only protested slightly before he gave in and let himself be parked unto the impromptu pile. "Wwhat you did wwas horrible . And evven if wwe shovve that aside, you can't havve both in the same quadrant wwhen one of them isn't evven interested in that quadrant! Hell, she might not evven really be interested in any of your quadrants and is just feelin' angry at wwhat you tried to do! Wwhich wwas and still is, fuckin' terrible Equi."

Equius cringed, sweating profusely as he shrunk into himself, guiltily fiddling with a robotic limb's wires instead of replying as Eridan was just getting started. "Of all the times for you to ignore my advvice, to go against your stupid 'let's listen to the higherblood' bullshit— shoosh! I have the right to use such language when I'm this pissed! I told you to delete the program, I knoww I did. Wwhat the fuck Equius?"

Equius winced at the incredulous and slightly hurt look Eridan sent him. "I… I had two programs, a prototype program and the finished product. I… deleted the finished product and kept the prototype, which I used when I made my impulsive decision…"

The seadweller looked speechless before he let out a sigh and took off his glasses so he could pinch the space between his eyes in frustration. Equius had long learned that Eridan taking off his glasses was a serious sign to his emotions, and winced again, setting down the wires he'd been nervously fiddling.

"I am… so sorry, Eridan. For not heeding your warning and for betraying your trust in me. I am- I-" Equius was struggling to put his feelings into words. "I am very selfish." Was all he ended up saying, taking his own glasses off and slumping forward in shame.

Eridan couldn't keep his frustrated look on his face, and he walked forward, finally sitting down besides Equius on the pile.

He never would have thought he'd end up here, in a pile with Equius Zahhak, firmly in each other's pale quadrant.

He never wanted to be in any quadrants, truthly speaking. He had full intentions of being 'celibate' in all quadrants, rejecting the thought of troll romance. Curious as he once was about it, he didn't want to end up in the same shoes of Canon Eridan in the webcomic, that had been the point of trying to be different from Canon Eridan.

Equius and Nepeta had been 'meowrails' in the comic, many seeing it as the moirail pairing among the trolls. And he never had the thought of becoming anyone's moirail, much less Equius'. Somehow though, Equius had managed to trot his way into the diamond quadrant with Eridan in tow and stay there.

Young Equius a few sweeps ago was a bit more outgoing than the Equius of today, and Eridan had become friends with him and then one day after a very bad encounter with some other trolls which led to Equius' horn being snapped off and Eridan… losing control. It ended with Eridan embarrassingly sobbing in front of Equius, both of them covered in blood.

Then Equius was suddenly announcing they were moirails and Eridan had been knocked over with shock when he found that he didn't want to push Equius out of the pale quadrant. He had tried, pathetically he had tried, but in the end, he became moirails with Equius.

And it was- it was strange . Being moirails with someone, feeling pale for them. As in, actual troll pale. It was like, being best friends but not? Being close family, but not. It was reigning in a wild horse and keeping it calm, while that horse did the same to you. (the sweeps being Equius' moirail influenced that clearly) It was romantic but not the romantic that Eridan had known or thought of as a human.

Even in the original intent of pacifying a troll, as the comic had described, it was somehow a lot more intimate than he had ever expected.

And when Nepeta finally came into the picture, he had been bothered by the idea of Nepeta and Equius being together like in the comic. By all means, he should have broken up with Equius by then, an equal amount of guilt for taking Nepeta's moirail from her but he just couldn't do it.

It worked out in the end though, because somehow, someway, instead of being pale for each other they now had flush crushes instead.

Which led to now.

"... It's okay to be selfish, Equi." Eridan said, leaning on his shoulder, ignoring the sweat with barely a grimace. He was used to it. "Bein' a little bit selfish isn't a bad thin', it's wwhen that selfishness gets outta hand that it becomes a problem. Equi, I get you're flushin' on twwo awwesome and amazin' trolls but the wway you're goin' at it? They're gonna slip awway from you if you keep goin' the wway you're goin'." Equi stayed silent and Eridan continued, "Equi, betwween the twwo of them, only one of them saww you in any positivve light before noww. She wwas your friend, she liked you for you evven if she didn't approvve of some of thin's you said or did. She had a crush on you! Pale-wwise and noww, flush-wwise."

Eridan laughed softly at the bluish tint slowly overcoming his moirail's face. "I'vve got some grovvelin' of my owwn to do wwhen she finds out I told you about her crush… But back to it; Nep lovves you Equi. Dia on the other hand? Equi, she didn't like you evven wwhen she wwas alivve! She definitely isn't flushed for you noww you tried to make her flushed wwith that program- wwhich wwouldn't havve been real anywway! It wwas bad enough you changed her blood wwith the robot, but the program? That wwas too far Equi."

"But her elegance did not befit her blood! I merely tried to help-" Equius tried to explain but was quickly shut down by the stern look Eridan gave him.

"Equius, any caste can be elegant. And for the last time, blood doesn't matter. It nevver did and it certainly doesn't noww. And it doesn't excuse wwhat you did to her. No one should force another person to feel the same thin' the other wwants them to feel. Equi, if you tried that shit wwith me I wwould'vve been just as pissed!"

Eridan tried not to feel too satisfied at the sheer horror Equius showed at his words, "I w-would never! Eridan, I would never try to- Oh. Oh ." Equius slumped further into the pile, "Fiddlesticks… Apologies for my language."

Eridan chuckled, "I'll let it slide this time…" His smile drops and he reaches over to hold Equius' hand in a firm grip. "You need to get your thoughts and feelin's straight, Equi. I'vve pointed out the facts and wwhile I am biased on this wwhole thin' I'm not gonna tell you wwho to choose as a matesprit. I'm your moirail but I wwon't decide wwho you wwant in your squares, I'll advvise you, I'll try to help but all I wwant is for you to be happy. 'Course I'll intervvene if you end up hurtin' yourself and those around you."

He spread Equius' fingers, interlacing them with his own, smiling at how Equius was in returning the grip. He wasn't as STRONG as Equius, but he was sturdy in his own right, still the blueblood liked being cautious. "You don't havve to decide noww, wwe'vve got time. Just don't take too long or you'll be too late."

Equius finally lifted his head, taking off his own glasses to give Eridan a genuine, grateful and charmingly crooked but awkward smile. "I- thank you Eridan, I will think marefully about this."

"Marefully?" Eridan playfully pointed out and Equius huffed.

"Carefully. I will think carefully about your words and my… quadrant situation." Equius leaned forward, gently bumping his head against Eridan's. "Pity you, Eridan."

Eridan nuzzled back, holding back his embarrassment, "Pity you too, Equi. And you're wwelcome."

He wasn't embarrassed of being moirails with Equius, no, he was embarrassed at the way moirails said 'I love you'. Because that was usually red-tinted, and reserved for flushed relationships. It's strange but he's gotten more used to it as time went by with his moirallegiance with Equius, who was surprisingly, the more forward half of their relationship.

Like now, he was the one to lean forward and he was currently pulling Eridan closer so they could cuddle on the pile. The content, clicky purr they both let out always had Eridan blush slightly but it was ultimately a wonderful and nice thing.

Of course Eridan often disliked making such noises, and outside of piling, it was rare for him to make such noises so Equius was satisfied and even proud every time he heard Eridan's purrs. Eridan was a strange, strange troll. Always holding himself back, having a tight grip on his instincts- he had once swore of quadrants, he had said so and Equius had been so confused by that, even a little disappointed and hurt as the beginnings of a pale crush had been there. Especially on Eridan's side, the seadweller had been so obviously pale for him and yet made no move until much, much later. He'd come to learn that his moirail was oblivious sometimes to even his own feelings.

Equius was thankful for his stubborn, younger self who managed to win Eridan over as a moirail. Granted, it was through unfortunate means and timing but a broken horn was worth the moirallegiance that he now cherished.

clandestineAmicability [CA] unblocked arachnidsGrip [AG]
arachnidsGrip [AG] began trolling clandestineAmicability [CA]

AG: F8NALLY!!!!!!!!
AG: It's a8out time you un8locked me Eridan!
CA: Don't test me Vvriska, I only unblocked you because I promised Kan that I wwould
AG: Well you sure took your time to do so.
CA: I told her I'd do it wwhen evveryone wwas in the game
AG: That was hoooooooours ago! What the hell were you doing meanwhile?
CA: Dealin wwith more important stuff than you
AG: Hah! As if!
CA: My mouse is hovverin suspiciously close to the block button
CA: It might just click it accidentally
AG: 8luh alright! Alright! Geeeeeeeez, you used to 8e more fun when we were younger.
AG: Do you remem8er those times? We were Mindfang and Dualscar! The most ferocious gam8lignants on the seas!!!!!!!!
AG: If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have Aha8's Crosshairs y'know. I never got a thanks for that.
CA: Than you havve my thanks noww
CA: Is that all?
AG: Uuuuuuuugh! That's not the point!!!!!!!!
AG: What happened Ampora? We used to have so much fun together! We p8nted the seas miles of our enemies 8lood! Got so much tr8sure!
AG: All the tr8sure.
AG: All of it :::;)
AG: 8ut then soon after we found our ancestor's crypts and legendary weapons, you just quit FLARPing all together!
AG: What the hell man????????
CA: I wwent into FLARPin wwith the clear intent of gettin food for Fef's lusus, you knoww this
CA: Wwe had a deal, you got the livves of the losin team to feed your lusus and I got their lusii to feed Gl'bgolyb
CA: It wwas easier that wway
CA: And then I got Ahab's Crosshairs and FLARPin wwasn't really necessary anymore
CA: I got busy, I wwas suddenly risin through the ranks of other Orphaners and I wwas suddenly in charge of feedin Fef's lusus
CA: Not only that but I had to fend off the other Orphaners wwho wwere jealous of me for vvarious reasons
AG: You can't tell me you just saw FLARPing as a way to feed the horrorterror of the sea! You had fun, admit it!!!!!!!!
CA: Fine, I'll admit I did havve fun
AG: AHA!!!!!!!!
CA: But in only specific parts!
AG: You still had fun though
AG: Was it the tr8sure hunting? I 8et it was the tr8sure hunting.
CA: It wwas the treasure huntin
AG: Fuck yeah >::::D
AG: Okay, I can get you were 8usy and all that shit 8ut you 8arely talked to me after you left!
CA: Gee, I wwonder wwhy
CA: Vvriska, let me finally point to the long-nosedtuskbeast in the block
CA: You wwanted a kismessisitude betwween us, somethin I specifically said I wwasn't interested in from the moment wwe read Mindfang and Dualscar wwere in one in her journal
CA: Although it wwasn't often, you did keep flirtin wwith me and tried to convvince me otherwwise evven though I was vvery clear on wwhere I stood on concupiscent quadrants
AG: Psh, I wasn't that 8ad! I 8arely flirted with you at aaaaaaaall! And when I did, it was to fit our characters we were FLARPing as.
CA: And the times you flirted outside the FLARPs?
AG: Didn't happ8en at 8ll!!!!!!!!
CA: Look Vvriska, I get you admire Mindfang and all and you want to model yourself after her is fine
CA: But tryin to copy or mimic a relationship our ancestors had is fuckin wweird
CA: Like, do you evven feel that wway for me? Like genuinely?? Or are you just tryin to do it because your ancestor felt that wway
AG: 8LUH!!!!!!!!
AG: It's not weird, YO8'RE W8IRD!!!!!!!!
AG: Normal trolls would 8e falling over themselves to 8e MY kismesis!
AG: Not to mention your weird 'swwear off concupiscent quadrants' thing! You even tried to swear off 8LL quadrants! Who does that????????
CA: Don't use my quirk Vvriska
AG: S8RI8USLY! Like dude, what even the fuck?
AG: You don't go on 8lood rages, you don't like violence or gore, you like landdwellers even though you're a fucking seadweller, you hold yourself 8ack in shit and you're just so
AG: F8K8NG NIC8!!!!!!!!
AG: I don't get you Eridan! Aren't you tired of 8eing nice?
AG: Don't you just wanna go apeshit????????
CA: No, no I don't wwant to go apeshit
AG: Like I said, so fucking we8rd! And pro8a8ly unhealthy!
AG: Even Feferi goes on more rages than you, and she's the nice prissy little princess!
CA: Ex-princess
AG: Whatever!
CA: I don't care if you consider me 'wweird'
CA: I'm perfectly fine as I am
AG: So you say but I 8et even Equius would agree with some points.
CA: I thought you wwanted to talk wwith me about the game, that wwas the wwhole point of wwhy I listened to Kan and unblocked you
CA: If you're just goin to go on about howw wweird I am as a troll then I havve better thins to do wwith my time
AG: 8GH FIIIIIIIINE
AG: I wanted to ask you shit, mostly on the fact that you knew a8out the game way 8efore anyone else did.
CA: And howw did you get to that conclusion?
AG: Little bits and pieces that I've picked up over the sweeps
CA: Did Kan slip that I kneww about the game too
AG: Maybe, maybe not
AG: I know Kanaya was awake on Prospit and she has an inside source there, but she said you aren't on Prospit so she has no idea how you know the things you do.
CA: I'm a Derse dreamer, of course I'm not on Prospit
CA: As for the thins I knoww
CA: Wwhat makes you think I'd evven tell you?
AG: Hmph, fine, I'll figure it out myself
CA: Is that all? Are wwe done here?
AG: No, we're not done here.
CA: Wwhat is it this time?
CA: Vvriska?
CA: I'm goin to leavve if you're not going to say anythin
AG: Look
AG: I know shit between us is
AG: Complicated, to say the least 8ut
AG: Would you like to go adventuring again? Like our old FLARP days?
AG: Minus the gore and violence of course
AG: Well, violence against trolls, the underlings are fair play aren't they >::::)
CA: You knoww this is just one wwhole session?
AG: I suspected as much but you confirmed it~
CA: Dammit
AG: >::::)
AG: So?
AG: What do you say old pal?
CA: I'll think about it
AG: That's not a noooooooo
CA: I said, I'll think about it
CA: I havve to go
AG: Well think quickly okay?
AG: Gotta admit, I miss our tr8sure hunting days Dualscar :::;)
AG: L8er

arachnidsGrip [AG] ceased trolling clandestineAmicability [CA]

clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling arachnidsGrip [AG]

CA: Don't fuckin knoww wwhat I'm thinkin but
CA: Goin on treasure hunts wwith you really wwas fun
CA: So fuck it, sure wwhy not
CA: BUT
CA: Wwe're goin to make thins clear here
CA: No flirtin
CA: Wwe only hunt on your planet
CA: No callin my ancestor The Prisoner
CA: You apologize to Tavv, Dia, Rezi and Sol for wwhat you'vve done
AG: W8 what
AG: I'm not gonna flirt with you 8ozo, I'm so totally over you now!!!!!!!!
AG: Considering my planet is the Land of Maps and Tre8sures that's pretty par for the course, though I'll admit I'm a 8it curious a8out your planet.
AG: Fine, you never liked me calling him that anyway.
AG: I already apologized to them and they have totally forgiven me!!!!!!!!
CA: Wwell, apologize again.
CA: This time, in person wwith me there to wwitness it.
AG: Whaaaaaaaat that's so lame!!!!!!!!
CA: Wwell, wwe're not goin on a treasure hunt then
AG: W8 w8 w8
AG: Fiiiiiiiine, I'll do it
AG: May8e I can pull Terezi into our hunts too
AG: Get the Scourge Sisters back together to 8oot
AG: What a fantastic idea! We need more trolls for a proper crew, so might as well!
CA: Sigh
CA: I hope I don't regret this
AG: Oh please! You won't regret this at aaaaaaaall Dualscar >::::D
CA: Wwhatevver
CA: We can go treasure huntin at a later time, for noww
CA: Wwe need to focus on the game

Chapter Text

~ On the 12th 8ilunar Perigee of the 2nd Dark Season's Equinox ~

Orphaner Dualscar, I have written a8out him 8efore in past journals 8ut this shall 8e his first entry in this one.

The Orpaher poses a caliginous riddle like no other I've met. I have met other potentially caliginous rivals in the past 8ut the Orphaner surely takes the top. His stoic arrogance and 8latant disregard of my forces, of my power, and his dismissal over all makes my 8lood 8oil like the dangerous star our planet swerves around. It never fails to keep me enamored.

In truth, I was quite surprised when he accepted and eventually reciprocated my 8lack courting. Rumor goes that he disregards both concupiscent and conciliatory quadrants which is entirely unheard of. I assume correctly that his caste and position as top Orphaner to )(er Imperious Condescensions horrorterror of a pet lusus, keeps him quite safe from the drones that would have had his head for failing to fill his… o8ligations.

Dualscar is an enigma, a curious sort. He is the most calm of his 8loodcaste and certainly the most interesting. I first heard of him as a young gru8, and continued to hear a8out him throughout my juvenile sweeps. A rising and now, prime leader to other less interesting and less dangerous orphaners that upheld the duties of feeding Gl'bgolyb. Our first meeting planted the 8lack roots of a surprisingly 8lossoming kismessisitude that I had once feared to 8e unfortun8ly one-sided on my part. As I said, it seemed like Dualscar had no interest in quadrants and for many, many sweeps showed that disinterest to countless other trolls that 8egged for his attention in any of his squares. They 8egged and pleaded, even threatened and swore, and yet Dualscar did not 8udge and for sweeps on end, no troll occupied his quadrants.

That is, until I came around.
8ut of course, that is to 8e expected. He was no ordinary troll, and I certainly was not.

Orpahaner Dualscar is a violet8lood shrouded in mystery. I intend to uncover that shroud and pick apart every single detail that is hidden for me to find. He is lucky to 8e of such a high caste, for it would have 8een too easy to parse through his mind, seek out all his secrets. Although, some part of me loathes to think, yet cannot help it all the same, that even then it wouldn't 8e as easy as I thought it would 8e. In fact, I dare to imagine that even as a lower caste, indigo perhaps? Or shall I dare presume even lower? That he would have gained my interest in a more cre8tive way.

Nevertheless, as of writing this now, he is yet to 8e my proper kismesis. I intend to change that soon enough though. If I remem8er correctly, our paths are to cross yet again in my next r8d. I shall use that opportunity to serenade my soon-to-8e-8lack lover.

I do have to wonder though on what would come when I win his spade? Will our rel8ionship 8e as 8lack and deep as I imagine it? With our rivalry spreading colors along the watery depths of the sea? Or will it sour, my expect8ions shattered 8eyond reprieve and fail to please? I would hope not.

I can only look forward to our future repartees, to the future my dear kismesis and I hope it will not fail to please for the 8oth of us.

~ 17th 8ilunar Perigee of the 3rd Dark Equinox ~

Word has spread of the 8lackened 8ond 8etween Dualscar and I, and I have faced no less than 8 trolls that seek out my replacement in The Orphaner's spade in the last perigee alone. Some of which were from royalty themselves, Dualscar's 8lood who amusingly are 8othered 8y 8itter jealousy and find disgust at the fact that he has taken in a cerulean like myself as his kismesis after rejecting them.

It is as amusing as it is an annoyance, however their appearances never fail to remind me that my dear 8lack lover was very much the sought out 8achelor of the sweeps and that I am the envy of many a troll of various castes.

Dualscar at least, feels the same, though he was more entertained than annoyed 8y the constant interruptions of these quadrant-8eggared ilk. Callously, he throws them my way and 8lackens our rel8ionship as he watches me deal with them instead with a smug smirk and an unimpressed stare near the end of each scuffle, leaving without so much as another word 8efore I can even speak with him again.

Oh how I 8urn charcoal for this infuri8ing man, it is impossible to stifle this scowl even as I write.
This kismessisitude 8etween us is fresh and newly 8lossomed, for now, Dualscar has the upper hand as he leaves me with 8reathless rage and a renewing sense of h8. That will simply not do.

It is at this time, I would normally consult an… outside source for possi8le assistance. In the end, it would ultimately 8e useless. Nonetheless, I shall endure this em8arrasment and eagerly aw8 the next dalliance 8etween my kismesis and I.

It is almost drone season, and I aim to corner my kismesis and show him who truly has the upperhand >:::;)

==> Dualscar: Be Shown The Upperhand

The fuck is that suppose to mean?

Nobody has the upperhand.

Unless you count the fact he's been hiding from everyone else in these damned bubbles with pretty good success then sure, he has the upperhand.

"Cronus? Cronus?! Of all the times to disappear- Cronus! For once I wish to speak with you!"

'That'th pretty rude, 'for onthe'. Thtill, lookth like your little plan didn't work out ath well ath you thought it would huh bud?'

Dammit, can't a troll brood in silence in peace?

'Apparently not!'

Cronus cursed silently, running a claw through no-longer gelled hair with annoyance as he kept to the shadows of the bubble he was in. Hiding from the cerulean girl who was calling out for him. Before, he would have been 'elated' at the attention he was getting, pretending to preen and thrive in it.

But he was just so fucking tired and all he wanted was to be alone.

" . . . c o m e . . . "

'Oh thhit, what doeth the douchebag want now?'

He winced as a sharp pain echoed into his head, gritting his fangs, he instantly knew who it was in his head and why he was calling. The timing between this and the newest fad among his old teammates about the new scratched universe? He had an idea of what the old coot wanted from him.

" . . . c o m e . . . "

Wincing again, he snarled, "Alright, alright, I'm comin'!" He snapped to thin air, inadvertently alerting the girl of his presence. "Shit."

'Timeth up! Abthcond, fithh boy!'

"Cronus! There you are! I believe we- Wait! " Aranea called out, shocked to see the seadweller fleeing from the bubble with such swiftness- usually it was the other way around. "Cronus, come back here! There are some important things we have to discuss!"

Important to her? Sure, to him? Not so much.

As he exits the bubble, he mutters something to the nearest horrorterror. It squeals something fierce in a near-inaudible way and nudges Cronus to land somewhere else, subtly move the bubble away from his direction. Aranea would attempt to follow Cronus into the next memory, only to have lost him entirely somehow despite being right behind him. Cronus in the meanwhile, grumbles his thanks to the horrors and makes his way to a certain bubble. A memory but not. Disconnected from the realms, but contained in a space accessible only to a few.

Cronus was one of these unfortunate few.

He enters the bubble and emerges into a dark violet cavern, pillars of serpents holding the ceiling high. Dark green speckled the dark violet crypt, until dark green entirely enveloped the tomb. Cronus continues his somber march forward, routinely ignoring everything in the crypt in favor of getting to the very center of the bubble.

'We've been dead for tho fucking long and thith plathe THTILL THUCKTH ATHH!'

Ignoring, the splotches of violet and yellow that were at nearly every corner. 'Yeouch.' Ignoring the figure that floated after him that no one else could see. 'Ruuuude!' It quipped at him, trying and failing to lighten up the mood.

Each step forward felt just as heavy as the first steps he mistakenly took into the tomb. It always felt like that, heavy, dark and tense.

Masterfully, he ignored it. Ignored him. 'Cronuth.' It took centuries, but he no longer winces and shivers with regret, grief and more with every step he took to the one who held his leash. 'Cronuth!' It seemed to tighten the closer he got to the center, feeling more like a noose than the collar it really was. The figure's already transparent body fuzzes at the edges, turning even more see through the closer Cronus got to the doors.

'Oh Cronuth...'

Cronus stops before a set of gigantic stone doors, elaborately carved with symbols and shapes that once held awe and wonder in his innocent little bloodpusher. Back when things were simpler, he was smaller and magic was wonderful and he had friends.

'...'

A best friend even.

'I'm thtill your friend Cronuth...'

He shook that thought away and pushed through the giant stone doors, they were heavy but not nearly as heavy as they looked. Mostly because the one behind it wanted him to come in, so they opened with relative ease.

'I'll alwayth be your friend.'

The figure disappears as he enters.

Cronus took out a cigarette as the doors closed behind him, despite him saying it was a prop to others, it was actually a real cigarette. He just didn't like smoking in front of others, it felt better to smoke alone. The cigarette lights up and he puffs a smoke, continuing his march to the very center of the giant room.

The old bastard wouldn't talk to him unless he stood on the fucking pedestal in the middle that was at the center.

As soon as he stepped on the pedestal, the old creature finally turned towards him and he looked back with irritated dead eyes. "So? I'm here, vwhat the fuck is it this time." He drawled, ignoring the instinct to look away as the fucker looked back at him.

Unwanted memories of thepastthEPASTtHEPAINPLEASEpLeAS—

Firmly, the troll shoved those old yet stingingly fresh memories away. Fins flared, he glared at the denizen and listened.

" t h e t i m e h a s c o m e , g o . f i n d t h e b u b b l e a n d k e e p a n e y e o n i t s p r i s o n e r . . ."

Cronus frowned, "And hovw exactly am I suppose t' find the bubble in the first place oh mighty one?" He snarked dryly, "Vwhich one? I dunno if you'wve noticed but there's about an infinite amount o' bubbles out there. Give a guy a fuckin' clue at least."

The green serpent-like creature ignored his question, because fuck him apparently and continued. " i t i s t i m e t o p r e p a r e . g o , b a r d . " The denizen leaned forward, the sharp tip of his beak nearly piercing his chest and Cronus couldn't help the flinch as he knew exactly how sharp that beak was and how easy it could pierce him. " f i n d i t b e f o r e m y b r o t h e r a n d h i s c h a m p i o n d o e s . o r e l s e . "

Pain pierced through his head and Cronus hissed, dropping his cigarette to clutch at his head. "Fine, fine! For the lowve of stars just fuckin' stop! "

Almost instantly, the pain receded, leaving Cronus panting as he tried to recover from the sudden influx of agony. You'd think being dead would prevent someone from feeling pain but no, there were still ways to inflict it upon the dead. Cronus blinked rapidly and found himself outside the gigantic stone doors, the tomb was sealed shut once again as the denizen went back to sleep.

Good.

'Welcome back buddy!' The see-through Captor greeted, reappearing now that he was outside the denizen's chambers. 'Man, the old fuck ith ath cryptic and atthole-y ath ever huh?'

Cronus ignored him causing the phantom to pout as he massaged his head in an effort to relief the lingering phantom pain from the bastard's mental bullshittery- on the bright side on that mental bullshit is that it left him immune to Kurloz's equally bullshit chucklevoodoos. Well, 'immune' was stretching it, the clown's psychic fear powers were a far cry to a denizen's psionic powers.

He just had a better pain tolerance, though Kurloz had tried to break that once, sweeps ago.

'Yeahh, I thtill don't know how the fuck Kurloth ended up tho- tho fucked in the head like that. I'm thorry Cronuth.'

Speaking of the clown, the fucker had been busy doing his own stuff instead of hounding him for answers again. Which was great, and with this new order or mission or whatever, he could now avoid both the clown and everyone else.

'You need thome time away from them attholeth anyway, jutht gonna be me and you for a while! Let'th go! WHOOO!'

There was a tiny bright side to it all he guessed, it was fucking small but he'll take it. Not like he had a choice otherwise. The hallucination of Mituna, Brain Ghost Mituna? pouted at him before abruptly making a wild and gross expression on his face. He coughed.

'HAH! YOUR MOUTH TWITCHED! I THAW THAT!'

Saw what?

Anyway, time to go bubble hunting.

'ROAD TRIIIIIP!'

Aranea let out a sigh of frustration. If someone had told her that she would be chasing after Cronus of all trolls a few sweeps ago, she would have laughed- politely of course, and suggested the speaker to stop such jokes and focus on more important things.

Although apparently those more important things involved Cronus Ampora, of both scratched varieties.

Though the dreambubbles were timeless and eternal, it was only recently that the new scratched universe had finally shown itself and with it, their post-scratch selves.

Aranea had been following the lives of their post-scratch selves closely, though she will admit that she had followed some lives closer than most. Like Kankri's post-scratch self, The Sufferer, whose tale was tragically short but left a deep impact with her and many other trolls.

She even took to wearing his sym69ol around her neck, fancying herself as a follower of his teachings. Or at least, a dedicated historian that would remember him when Meenah's scratched self, )(er Imperious Condescension, had him and his teachings disappear after his tragic death.

Not long after his death though, did she finally turn to her own Post-Scratch self, The Marquise Spinneret Mindfang, a pirate gam8lignant of Alternia's treacherous seas and someone she deeply admired.

It was through Mindfang did she find out about the curious case of Orphaner Dualscar, Cronus' Post-Scratch iteration.

She had been quite shocked to find her scratched self in what seemed to be a stable kismessisitude with Dualscar, having stumbled upon a memory where both trolls fought side by side against a common enemy, their banter had been swift, playful yet barbed with dark intentions that left her flustered by the end. She sought out more of those memories and recently stumbled upon a memory that let her take a copy of Mindfang's Journal.

And from there, she learned more about her post-scratch self and found a mystery surrounding Cronus' post-scratch self who acted vastly different from the Cronus that she knew of. Dualscar was cold, aloof, and was not interested in quadrants, so unlike the attention and quadrant-obsessed Cronus who had mysteriously vanished the moment Alternia was available for viewing among the bubbles.

No one had realized it at first, merely enjoying the peace that came along with the excitement of viewing their scratched lives on Alternia.

But it became precedent and obvious when multiple trolls, including Aranea, wanted to speak with Cronus about his Post-Scratch self.

The Bard of Hope had pulled a disappearing act and was scarcely seen by anyone in the bubbles, not even the doomed timeline ghosts of him were found. They had all gone into hiding and no one could find him.

Well, sometimes they would, from a distance and just like earlier, he would flee the bubble and escape somehow.

Aranea clicked her tongue, scowling to herself before she sat down on a random chair that came with the memory she was in. It was a merged bubble, the scenery and environment was made of multiple memories and was thankfully not playing any existing memory.

She retrieved Mindfang's Journal and flipped to the last page she had left off. She hadn't finished reading the entire book yet, she had been in the middle of reading before spotting Cronus from the distance and attempted to pin him down for a proper talk about what the fuck was going on with Dualscar. It made no sense, the differences between them were too much- she knows that scratched iterations were different because of their differing lives but at the core, there were unchanging similarities.

And yet Dualscar seemed to be an odd one out, and that was excluding the fact that somehow, Dualscar was obfuscating the white oracle orb that Mindfang had! A magic all-seeing, omnipotent cue ball that Aranea once had! She had found it during the game, and used it to find out why their session was doomed and what they should do.

It led her to Echidna, and thus the Scratch happened with Meenah killing all of them to preserve their consciousness in the afterlife.

She hadn't used the oracle on Cronus during the game and she wondered if the same effect would have happened. Unfortunately, she no longer had the magic cue ball and there was little chance she could find one, even in memory.

It still didn't make sense though, the Bard of Hope should not be capable of obfuscating such a powerful oracle. Though perhaps his Bard class was doing the work? The matter of Dualscar being capable of using his classpect in such a way despite being scratched isn't too surprising in retrospect, if only because of The Sufferer's ability and vision.

Aranea reread the page she had been reading, going back to the start.

~ 8th Perigee, 2nd Dim Season's Equinox ~

As of late, my luck seems to 8e changing, it has yet to 8e clear if that change is good or 8ad. Weary and unfortun8, I cannot say I can percieve the pattern of my shifting luck, it is as random as the ocean 8reeze. No matter, that will change soon enough and my luck will finally sta8ilize with the hand in my favor. Although I cannot see my shifting prosperity I do know of when exactly it shifted; my last encounter with Dualscar. To my gr8 shame and em8itterment, I will admit reluctantly that he 8ested me and cl8med my most prized possessions. An oracle or8, once 8elonging to the foolish milktongued Doctor who called himself my mentor.

It is a rare tr8sure that I seldom use with gr8 caution, lest the dou8lespeaking man on the moon finally see the wherea8outs of his little or8. Typically this oracle is stashed away, hidden from sight in the rare pockets of void I know the Doctor is una8le to see.

Hindsight has me lamenting that I should have avoided 8ringing my oracle with me for this r8d, alas, it is too late to contempl8 on should haves. Instead, I must plot to retrieve my tr8sure from my dearest kismesis.

I have mentioned 8efore tha I would have consulted an outside source to deal with my kismesis, if it is not o8vious 8y now, that outside source would 8e that very same or8 he currently has with him. I have to wonder why he chose to take that with him for it is useless to him, he cannot peer into it like I can with my vision 8fold, perhaps he mistook it as a giant pearl?

I jest, 8ut curiosity still lingers on if he even knows what he took… If he could see into it, what would he ask? What would he see?

One of the reasons why he sparks such curiosity from myself is 8ecause of the peculiar effect he has on it. For whatever reason, the oracle is utterly 8lind to Dualscar's presence. Unlike a certain other 8lindspot though, it is a different type of 8lindness that caught my attention. It is una8le to get a perfect, accurate read on Dualscar, una8le to whisper a single understanda8le prophecy or fact, una8le to track or predict his movement.

Half the time, the answers were in an unreada8le script that I cannot decipher. I have searched for languages that may 8e similar to the answers, 8ut no such luck in transl8ing the text. And some times, it even 8linds me as the answer would just 8e a 8rief flash of white light and I would have to aw8 my vision 8fold 8ack from the sudden flash.

I once asked the Doctor a8out him when I was young, and for once, he gave me no answer and told me not to ask again.

A mystery veils my kismesis, and though I have peeled 8ack a few layers of Cronus Ampora, I know I am just scratching the surface of it.

Dualscar is, as I said, a most interesting seadweller. He exudes a cold, emotionless exterior and is indeed prideful and yet underneath that he is…….. Unnaturally kind. I have known him long enough to see 8eneath the calculative and cruel persona he plays around others, around strangers, 8ut i have seen his treatment of his crew, to the 'slaves' he keeps on his ships. He treats them 8etter than any other seadweller I have ever seen.

A high8lood of his stature, his status, 8eing so sympathetic and kind to 8loods lower than his own and not within his quadrants? I almost could not 8elieve it, yet I myself, experienced his kindness. It is with a heavy spade that I admit that some moments of our kismessisitude may have fallen a tad paler than one would expect in the few moments we shared over the sweeps of our rivalry. Scandalous, I know however, those sweet pale-like moments just seem to add a little spice to our 8lack rel8ionship.

Cronus is an anomaly. He has a reputation to uphold, and he may pretend to support the hemospectrum; the truth is that he does not. He is su8tle a8out his kindness, keeps it hidden underneath a veneer 8efit his caste and position. It took several perigees of close o8servations for me to even have noticed, although it turned much easier as I find that Dualscar is surprisingly quite an emotionally, if usually happy drunk.

His ship 8ecomes quite lively once the alcohol drained down everyone's throats, and Cronus is quite the songfeather8east once he's drunk enough and his true character reveals itself with it. I am actually impressed 8y his skill in song un8othered 8y his ine8ri8ed state, the shanties he sings of are quite amusing as well.

Truly, underneath his 8ig 8ad and stoic face, is a soft troll who cares for others.

Though that does not mean he is weak, I made the mistake of thinking that myself for a 8rief moment 8ut I find that he is truly ruthless and dangerous when it came to it. He does have a reput8ion and he is the top Orphaner for a reason, and our kismessisitude stands strong despite the truth of his character.

The a8duction of my oracle proves that, and I continue to 8urn 8lack for his infuri8ing face and I will enjoy uncovering the rest of his secrets and revel as he 8urns 8lacker for me 8ecause of it.

For now though, I would like my oracle 8ack.

This is what she meant, just what was up with Dualscar?

How could he be so different from Cronus? Cronus could barely hold a tune but Dualscar could sing songs like he was hatched for them. Aranea would know, she had the fortunate luck to enter a bubble where a memory of Dualscar was singing a very catchy shanty.

Was Cronus Ampora, the Pre-Scratch version, hiding who he was from them? Why else would he be literally hiding from them right now?

Aranea had so many questions.

She turned the page, continuing her read.

Minutes later, she was throwing the journal back into her sylladex with a screech. "PORRIM! " She practically flew off the chair in a near-manic search to find the jadeblood, she simply must tell her the latest entry!

~ On the 12th Perigee, 2nd Dim Season Equinox ~

My dear kismesis seems to have made quite the mistake, leaving a ship with too many of his slaves and not enough of his crew which consisted of a 8rown8lood, a rust, some teals and a surprisingly weak minded indigo. The ship was alone on the seas, presuma8ly heading towards Dualscar's nearest 8ase, such a shame that an unexpected storm 8rewed and charted their ship off course and directly into my grasp. My fortune has shifted favora8ly in light of this.

As I have written a8out 8efore, Cronus is a soft-pushered troll when it came to the inha8itants of his ship. Un8elieva8ly enough, that extended towards the 'slaves' that he 8ought and kept alongside his crew. Quotation needed as he 8arely treats the slaves as such, and even merely ignores them when in the presence of fellow high8loods. I even have watched him dexterously shift those high8loods attention away from his low8looded slaves to save their lives, so I know I have a good 8argain to o8tain my oracle 8ack.

Although, the amount of hostages that I have calls for more than just my own tr8sure returned, perhaps I shall partake a sizea8le amount of his riches for myself. Yes, that will suffice nicely, wouldn't it Dualscar?

Hm, there is a slight tempt8ion to keep a few of these slaves for myself. I've kept an eye on a few of them since my last visit8ion a8oard Dualscar's vessel. They would do well on my own vessel with their skills, and quite a few of them are easy on the eyes. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing them work on my ship.

Alas, that is a convers8ion 8est saved for another time when my oracle is 8ack in my possession and Dualscar in a 8etter mood for no dou8t this theft would surely make him grum8le. This paired with the knowledge of my kismesis dealing with another violet8lood, a particularly annoying one that is a thorn to 8oth our sides, I can already see the scowl on his face when he comes to me for negot8ions.

I hope he deals with the pest soon, the arrogant finned fool that thinks themself worthy of our time. Of his, I worry not of the amusing 8ut ultimately false possi8ility of that fool gaining Dualscar's 8lack sight, as he is not interested in any other troll in any other way.

I am the one who holds his spade, the only one to have earned the right to 8e in his quadrant and I am confident that shall remain truth for sweeps to come.

~ Addendum ~

I……… was very foolish to think my st8ment a8ove to 8e unerringly true.

Had I known what I had in my grasp was an extraordinary troll, perhaps I could have prevented the tragedy that has made a splinter in the 8ond I share with my kismesis. I should have known for she did seem quite the troll underneath my control, and your crew had made quite the fuss when I took her will 8efore I took theirs.

With the knowledge that I have now, I am only filled with regret. I wish I had gotten to know her, see for myself what you saw in her that you did not see in countless others that 8egged for your attention. What you saw in her that made you……..

In all the time that I have known you Cronus, I have never seen nor heard of you shedding a single tear for anything. Or anyone. Nor have I heard you sing so som8erly for a single troll, a song 8etween moirails. She truly must have 8een extraordinary for you to w8l and mourn into Alternia's night, I truly regret

I am sorry, Cronus.
I am sorry, Porrim.

Porrim Maryam, I shall inscri8e your name into this journal, to 8e remem8ered as the troll who won my spade's diamond. I wish you congratul8ions for having the infamous Orphaner Dualscar fall pale for you. And I wish you a peaceful afterlife……..

Had things 8een different, would we have 8ecome closer as fellow quadrantm8es with dearest Cronus Ampora? I would like to think so. Unfortun8ly, that opportunity has regretta8ly, tragically, come to pass.

Whomever reads this, I can sense your confusion. I have transcri8ed what happened in a further page. I rarely add any addendums to already written pages, however I thought it prudent to this one, to remind myself of how foolish I was to think that I alone, could 8e capa8le of catching Dualscar in a quadrant. It was only a matter of time, and with our kismessisitude, one of us would have gotten a permanent moirail soon enough.

Although, I fear that Dualscar will never fall pale for anyone else again……..

Chapter Text

apocalypseArisen [AA] began trolling clandestineAmicability [CA]

AA: ribbit
CA: Oh, hello Dia
AA: i think ive been patient l0ng en0ugh eridan
AA: we need t0 talk
CA: I suppose wwe do
CA: I do havve thins to tell you
AA: g00d
AA: but n0t here
AA: c0me t0 l0qam
AA: ribbit
AA: well talk in pers0n
CA: Vvery wwell, givve me a feww minutes and I'll be on Loqam

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling apocalypseArisen [AA]

"Equi! I promised Dia that I'd talk to her, so I'll be goin' to her planet." Eridan called out as he exited his moirail's ablution block. The undamaged one with a still working ablution trap, Aradia had broken Equius' main one. Thank goodness he had multiple other ablution blocks.

He had taken a brief shower to wash away the smell of metal, oil and sweat. Equius' sweat. He usually didn't mind Equius' sweating when they piled, he'd gotten used to it and actually found it endearing in a way but it was entirely unhygienic to keep being covered by sweat and letting it dry.

Towels could only go so far, and honestly, Eridan needed that shower. Something tells him that he won't be swimming in water for a while.

"O-Oh? May I ask what exactly erm, you two will be discussing?" Equius questioned as he set aside his newest alchemical creation; a rather striking metallic sculpture of a musclebeast. Very striking. The muscles almost hypnotize Eridan until he looks down and he abruptly looks away- not the time to appreciate 'highclass blueblood art'! After sweeps of being moirails with Equius, you'd think he'd gotten used to his taste in 'art' but sometimes it still catches him off guard!

Eridan coughed, keeping his eyes away from the sculpture and steadily on Equius instead. "I promised I wwould tell her about some important thin's. Don't wworry, wwe wwon't be talkin' about you, unless you wwant me to ask her what she thinks about you? Get some clarification?" He suggested dryly and Equius let out a strangled 'hrk'.

"No! Uh, perhaps? I- I am conflicted." Equius admitted, "I do not wish to exacerbate her current… emotional situation while you talk. Although perhaps she might still keep to a professional discussion, she is capable of focusing on the more serious matters and be quite calm but that was before when she was still a- a ghost. It seems that her emotions have come back to an extent, she is at least exponentially more aggressive than when she was uh, dead."

Eridan nodded in agreement, having both seen and heard how angry Aradia had been with Equius. Both in the comic and by Equius himself while they jammed. "I'll keep that in mind, so I'll guess I won't ask her about you. Probably for the best, you still need to apologize to her for what you did."

Equius cringed at the reminder and started perspiring, "Y-Yes. I should, and I shall. Later. I… would like to think about things while you're gone. By the time you return…" He sweated a bit more, "I think I shall have decided what I want, what I will do. And how to apologize to both Aradia and Nepeta properly."

The seadweller beamed, smiling with approval at his moirail. "That's good! That's great Equi! I'm lookin' forwward to that, also, here, towwel." He offered a freshly alchemized clean, violet towel. Equius thanked him quietly with a small smile, automatically wiping himself from his sweat. As soon as his face was free of it, Eridan leaned over to press kiss against his cheek and Equius' smile grew. "I'll be back Equi."

"Alright, be safe, Eridan." Equius bade, watching his moirail jump out of the hole in the wall and fly off into Equius' gate that connected his planet to LoQaM. He felt a little disappointed at his departure so soon, their pile had been brief to deal with Equius' quadrant dilemma before they decided to alchemize a few things together, Eridan had enough of the smell of dry sweat and went to shower and that was it.

He had wanted to spend a bit more time with his moirail, having been a perigee since they actually hung out together. It was fine, they would have plenty more time to share in the future, there were a few important things to focus on.

Like figuring out a proper apology to both Nepeta and Aradia for one.

Equius sighed and sat down by his alchemiter, wondering what he could do to show his sincerest apologies to both girls. As he sat down, he brushed against a stray sylladex card, it was already punched and for a moment he wondered what it was before he remembered.

This was a punched card that was made with the code of his moirail's STRONGEST weapon, Ahab's Crosshairs. Eridan had made it for him to do as he pleased, granted he couldn't exactly make anything with the card yet as naturally it would be extremely expensive and would need a lot of grist to create. Yet Eridan still gifted him the code and card.

He smiled, taking the card in hand and promising to make something with it later when he had the chance. Perhaps a bow?

His thoughts started to wander and eventually he came back to thinking about Eridan and his legendary weapon. Eridan had mostly used the weapon to hunt lusii for the heiress' horrorterror lusus, citing that it had made things so much easier for him, rarely did the seadweller use it in anything else. Not even to threaten the other foolish violetbloods that coveted his position and prowess.

It is a rare case that Equius would call other highbloods, violetblooded seadwellers at that, as foolish. Yes, he upholds the hemospectrum, but after witnessing and hearing Eridan's caste had called him and his ancestor- he finds that he dislikes other seadwellers, making obvious exceptions with his moirail and the heiress.

Throughout his moirail's wrigglinghood as a juvenile, he'd been an outcast to his own caste. Mocked by fellow seadwellers and other highbloods, all because of his ancestor. They made things difficult for Eridan, especially when he'd been forced to uphold his duty and became an orphaner.

Not long after Eridan acquired Ahab's Crosshairs and was steadily rising through the ranks.

It was around that time that Equius had correctly assumed Eridan was crushing pale for him but was somehow oblivious to his own feelings. That and Eridan had said that he personally had no interest in quadrants whatsoever in both halves of the square, so Equius was hesitant to confront Eridan about his feelings and was still figuring out if he was truly pale for the seadweller as well.

And then it happened.

Equius reached up, carefully prodding his broken horn. The one moment that had Equius falling pale for the seadweller.

Eridan, highly unusually restraintful Eridan, completely went mad and entered a bloodrage during a sudden ambush from a group of highbloods that sought out to punish Eridan for daring to rise through the ranks of orphaner. Equius had the unfortunate luck to be there when it happened, and though he had tried to help, to defend Eridan's honor and person- well, although he had been freakishly STRONG for his age, the other trolls were far older and much more skilled at strife and violence than he had at the time. They snapped his horn off and with it, the last restraint of Eridan's rage had gone as well.

Equius had watched frozen, as Eridan, composed and amicable Eridan, tore into the attackers with teeth, claws and eventually crosshairs. He had culled nearly every troll in the ambush, those that survived had been greatly injured, but the ones who had laid a hand on Equius were ultimately dead.

Pain throbbed through his body, especially his head. Blue blood poured out of his horn, over his eye and cheek, he could taste his own blood in his mouth.

He could taste the blood in the air.

Purple, violet and indigo smeared across the ground, the agonized howls and strangled pained groans from those left alive. The smell of burnt flesh and concrete wafted the air alongside the scent of blood.

Hunched before him, the bruised, battered and injured figure of his friend, his savior , stood among the fallen. Color splashed onto the once pristine grey cloak he wore. Panting, he growled at the air, still lost in the throes of rage and exuding danger beyond anything Equius had ever experienced.

"E-Eridan?"

Red eyes snapped his way and with memories of anger and rage fresh on his mind, Equius reached out and papped him. He should be afraid of the angry seadweller before him, but this was Eridan, one of his closest friends. And he had gone into a bloodrage for him.

A stirring sensation emerged from his pusher, from the diamond section of his sqaures as he papped Eridan's face again and again. Shooshing him when the seadweller mindlessly growled.

Eventually, sanity and reason returned to his friend- no, his moirail and the seadweller sobbed.

"I'm sorry- they hurt you, they hurt you, your horn—"

Arthour finds them, finds him comforting his sobbing moirail and takes them back to Equius' hive.

It was the most dangerous yet romantic moment of his entire life.

Of course, Eridan had tried to reject him when he told him they were moirails, his younger self stubbornly insisted and ended up winning over Eridan despite his strange insistence of rejecting quadrants as a whole.

And here they were, moirails with a STRONG bond, just as STRONG as it once started and he wouldn't have it any other way.

Although, he does know Eridan has been keeping secrets from him. He did notice that Eridan did not answer his question about what he and Aradia were discussing and by all means, he should be suspicious. He should demand to know what it is.

Yet he doesn't, for he is patient and he trusts his moirail.

He will keep his silence for now, for he will not endanger his moirail.

Not again.

==> Eridan: Meet with Aradia

The Land Of Quartz and Melody was an ethereal and beautiful land, with a purple sky adorned with aurora-like lights that came from crystalline mountains of the environment, a creepy tune seemed to whisper in the air created by the brass structures that looked to be pieces of a broken music box.

Standing out on the quartz landscape, were the ruins of a very old hive. Eridan instantly saw it the moment he emerged from the Equius' gate, leaving behind his moirail's eerily silent planet.

The broken hive was teeming with unmanaged wildlife, and at the edge of the yard, Eridan could even see the graves he had made for Aradia and her lusus.

Eridan lands on the grass, looking around for Aradia, "Eridan." Only to whirl around and see her floating behind him, grey metal glinting underneath the aurora sky, blue accenting the body in his moirail's familiar way of building. Equius had made her a very life-like and admittedly beautiful body, extremely similar to how she looked when she was alive but despite what he might think, blue was just not Aradia's color. It never was, and this robotic body just felt wrong to Eridan.

He couldn't wait for her to godtier, and wondered if he could trigger it early. He's only managed to sneak down to her quest slab in the center of Derse once over the sweeps, could he do it again?

Could he even think of killing her though? Even with the knowledge that she might come back?

"Hello Dia," Eridan greeted politely, offering a smile, "Glad to finally see you, not in the flesh but- it's close enough… And uh, about wwhat Equi did…" He hesitated, wincing at the scowl that comes on blue-painted lips. "Nevvermind, probably not the best time to mention it. Anywway, I promised to tell you wwhat I can so, ask awway."

Aradia stayed silent for a moment, then she spoke. Her voice, cold, metallic, it made Eridan shiver slightly at the uncanny robotic voice Aradia now had. "You always seemed to know things, even from the beginning. The voices avoid mentioning you, and that man, he knew you. And you, him. You had knowledge about the game before I could even disclose it, you're not a Prospit Dreamer like Kanaya but you've mentioned before that you can't hear the horrorterrors on Derse."

It surprised him too, to find out that he couldn't hear whatever the horrorterrors were saying back when he first woke up on Derse. As he grew, that continued, he never heard a peep from them and honestly he thinks that's for the best.

"Kanaya has a source about the game aside from her clouds, do you share it with her?"

"No, Kanaya's source is entirely her owwn. I… don't evven knoww howw to begin to explain howw, wwhy and evven wwhat I knoww Dia." Eridan admitted, struggling to find a point to start. "And I'll admit, I don't evven knoww if I can answwer, not because I don't wwant to, I really do but I fear there are more forces than just the dead and horrorterrors at wwork here. I'vve already struggled to change wwhat I'vve already knowwn wwith vvaryin' results, and the changes I do wwant to make don't… They don't tend to happen."

It's a testatment to Equius' craftsmanship and engineering at the fact that Aradia can even narrow her artificial eyes at him, her expressions both life-like yet contradictory robotic. "Changed? What you're implying is either precognition or time travel, you're not a Seer nor are you a Time Player… You speak of forces beyond the voices and terrors- are you talking about the guy Terezi and I saw? Is he the one who keeps you silent? The one you fear, even now?" She asks and Eridan flinches, fiddling nervously with his scarf.

"... How do you know? What do you know? When and where did you acquire this knowledge and do you really know about the future? The path that we are on?"

Eridan took in a slow breath, exhaling just as slow as he gathered his wits. "I don't knoww howw I got the knowwledge Dia, I just- wwoke up, right after pupation wwith it in my head." He told her, hesitating to tell her everything. And he means everything, he's only done it once before, but that was a different situation and his lips were looser when he was asleep. "Suddenly, I kneww wwhat wwas goin' on, I kneww about the game, you, evveryone else. I had an entire future in my head, didn't evven knoww it wwas real or not because- because wwho just expects it to be real, y'knoww?"

"And then, I find out out that yeah, it is real. Wwoke up on Derse, so the game wwas real. Met Equi soon after, so you all wwere real, and since I kneww the future and I saww so many bad thin's in it, wwhy shouldn't I change the future? So I tried, and it wwas… Somewwhat successful, enough that I'm not too sure wwhat exact path wwe're on Dia, I'vve got my suspicions, my theories and thoughts but to knoww for sure? You're right, I'm not a Seer. Or a Time Player, wwhich is wwhy I'm here, wwhy I made this promise wwith you." Eridan kept shifting in place, eyes darting around nervously, as if he was expecting something to happen.

Or someone to appear.

When it was clear nothing was happening, he finally continued. "But evven noww, I'm fuckin' terrified to tell you evverythin'. I'vve done it before, and it- it didn't really end wwell for me." He said quietly, grasping his shirt and lifting it high enough to show his abdomen and side.

Alternia was a dangerous place, and scars were par for the course for the average troll. Be it large or small, especially for those who either FLARPed or had dangerous duties to uphold like Eridan being an orphaner. Surprisingly enough though, there was only one instance that Eridan had been so close to death, and it scared his moirail so much that he never asked for answers to the secrets that Eridan had.

Aradia observed the scar, noting its impossibly precise and perfect scar. Circular, the size of a fist or a cueball, worryingly close to his gills on his left side. The scar was a burn mark, a brand more like, and being so close to his gills- it must have been agony for him to acquire.

"I'm wwillin' to do it though, 'cuz I can't be too sure about the future itself. And I'm scared, not just for me, but for you, an' Equi, and Nep- Evven Vvriska. I need help Aradia, I-"

A flash of light gained both their attention, and nearby, another Aradiabot appeared. But she was covered in blood, in nearly every blood color that consisted of their friends. In her hands, she held a tome, a book, a very stained book that had Eridan's eyes widening. Though, that wasn't the only reason why.

Not long after the other Aradiabot appeared, another troll appeared right behind her.

Aradia has heard whispers about her, not just from horrifying legends, but remnants of old voices, far older than her that had lingered on Alternia.

The adult troll was tall, black-skinned, horns curled like rams, like Aradia's , rust red colored her lips and lashes and a green dress adorned her figure, a pair of white sticks- wands? held tightly in her hands. Immense psionic energy practically poured out of her body, leaking from her half-lidded eyes like liquid only to disperse sharply in the air with pops like firecrackers.

She has never seen her before, but she knows who exactly who she was.

The Handmaid.

=+.?//? @6^12ERrORroRRE13x4

clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling carcinoGeneticist [CG]

CA: fuck
CA: Kar
CA: Kar
CA: KARKAT
CA: answwer
CA: PLEASE ANSWWER
CG: WOAH WOAH WOAH!
CG: YOU OKAY THERE ERIDAN?
CG: I'M KINDA IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING HERE
CA: Wwe dont havr tiem for wwhatvver movvier youre wwathcing!!!
CG: WHO SAYS I'M WATCHING A MOVIE???
CG: NO WAIT, NOT IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW
CG: ERIDAN, WHAT'S GOING ON? ARE YOU OKAY??
CA: you need to hide
CA: you need to hide right fuckin noww
CA: Gamzee's gone insane
CG: WHAT??
CG: IS THIS A JOKE ERIDAN? I DIDN'T REALLY EXPECT IT FROM YOU OF ALL TROLLS BUT IT'S NOT FUNNY TO JOKE ABOUT THAT!!
CA: IT'S NOT A FUCKIN JOKE
CA: GAMZEE KILLED TAVV VVRIS AND FUCKING FEF
CA: YOU NEED TO HIDE
CA: EVVERYONE NEEDS TO HIDE
CG: FUCK YOU'RE ACTUALLY SERIOUS
CG: OH FUCK OH FUCK
CA: kar i need you to do somethin
CA: it's extremely important that you listen to me
CG: SHIT
CG: WHAT IS IT?
CA: remember the ~ath book you and sol got?
CA: burn it
CA: destroy it
CA: wwhatevver you do, make sure he doesn't get it
CG: MY ~ATH BOOK?
CG: WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW??
CG: WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT OF THIS DUMBASS FUCKING CODE BOOK THAT APPARENTLY HAS GAMZEE SALIVATING OVER IT LIKE A BLUE PURRBEAST AFTER A BROWN SQUEAKBEAST?
CG: ERIDAN?
CA: destroy the book kar
CA: and tell equi that i love him, please keep him and nep safe
CG: ERIDAN???

clandestineAmicability [CA]'s shades were destroyed!

CG: OH FUCKING HELL

carcinoGeneticist [CG] ceased trolling clandestineAmicability [CA]

"Y'KNOW WHAT MY INVERTIBROTHER!? We should'a just up and talked more." Eridan could barely see through his bloodied eyes, the smashed pieces of his computershades digging into his skin, glass shards miraculously missing his eyes themselves but the blood was beginning to blind him.

Gamzee had such timing, appearing out of fucking nowhere and smashing those shades just as he sent Karkat his last message. Eridan had stumbled back, cushioned from his fall thanks to a few of his angels.

Eridan threw away his shades, not even bothering to switch to his glasses as he tried to wipe the blood from his eyes with gritted teeth. "Wwe really should havve, unfortunately, it just couldn't happen." He took several steps back, "You don't wwant to do this Gamzee. I don't wwant to kill you, but I wwill if I havve to." He took out Ahab's Crosshairs, letting his angels help his aim.

Gamzee laughed from across the corridor, adorned with brown, cerulean and fuchsia blood."AIN'T THAT A LITTLE BIT HARSH ERIDAN? Though you didn't like killing trolls, SUCH A WEAK MOTHERFUCKER YOU ARE, to care for shit like that." He lightly juggled a blood-stained club, newly decorated with violet, in one hand. The other was caressing a sinister creature that had Eridan and his angels hissing in agitation and fear.

An elder wraith, from Eridan's very own planet. Its eyes glowed purple, the same purple that Gamzee's eyes were glowing. Chucklevoodoos.

He had no idea how Gamzee managed to tame such a creature with chucklevoodoos, but it was obviously not good for him to do so.

"I wwish things ended up differently Gamzee." Eridan admitted quietly, and Gamzee's insane smile disappeared. "But I'm not lettin' you kill the others." He was going to die, he hoped he wouldn't but odds are, he was going to die. But he wasn't going to go down without a fight.

He just hoped the others found somewhere to hide for now.

Gamzee's blank face curled back into that damned, insane smile. Teeth sharp and stained with paint and blood, "REALLY? WE'LL FUCKING SEE ABOUT THAT BROTHER! LET'S FUCKING PARTY TILL WE DROP! honk HONK! HAHAHAHAHAHA! "

Between the Rage and Hope Player, only one would be victorious.

"Erida—" Whatever the other Aradiabot was about to say, she never got to say it. Her head flew cleanly off her body with a psionic slash coming from the white wands of The Handmaid, spilling blood and oil across the quartz-made ground. The bloodied book in her hands fell towards the ground and instinctively, Eridan leapt to catch it only to be pinned down by a majjykal force.

Fear flooded his senses, but he screams. "THE BOOK DIA! "

Aradia's growl sounded like gears grinding together, and she attempted to use her telekinesis to pick up the book. She was partially successful, the book flying towards her before The Handmaid raised a wand towards it and a much more powerful telekinetic power overtook hers.

Despite it, she strained to grab the book with her own powers, even summoning other Aradias- who all ended up like the first Aradiabot, destroyed and in pieces but she, herself, was left alone as The Handmaid successfully tugged the bloodied ~Ath book to her.

The Handmaid said nothing before she disappeared in a flash of strobing light and the sound of a ticking clock.

"... That happened…" She looked around to see the dead bodies of her doomed selves, she had summoned only five and their combined might was nothing compared to The Handmaid's prowess. It would be awe-inspiring if it weren't terrifyingly annoying. She shook his head and turned towards the seadweller on the ground, "Eridan? Are you okay?" An undertone of concern finally showing through her robotic voice.

Eridan was shaking, his claws digging into the grass underneath him. "I- I didn't knoww she could get into the game. I should'vve knowwn, I should'vve knowwn." Fear was still in his system, and it was palpable in his words. He was breathing concerningly quick, Aradia wondered if he was going to pass out in panic. Which would be bad for him, but Eridan seemed to reign himself in and take in deeper breaths. He finally pushed himself off, he was still shaking and unsettled, but at least he wasn't passing out. "I… I'm sorry Dia, I don't- I don't think I can tell you evverythin'. Not right noww. Not wwhen she might be-"

"It's fine." Aradia interrupted him, frowning. "Annoying but fine, I have my suspicions on what might be going on. I will ask another time."

Eridan nodded, shakily getting to his feet. "Right. I-I still promise to answwer your questions, just- yeah. Another time." He took in a deep breath, and turned back to Aradia. "I'd still like the help though. All I wwant, is for evveryone to be alivve an' happy in the end. That's all I wwant."

"...I don't understand the game's decision in labeling you as Prince of Hope Eridan. You don't seem very destructive, but you are Hopeful. I will do what I can to help, that's all I can promise you."

Eridan smiled, sad but hopeful.

"That's all I need, really… I do havve a favvor to ask though, not noww. But much later, after wwe wwin."

Chapter Text

==> Sweeps in the Past

Eridan made sure his cloak was secure as he sat on top of his lusus, hanging firmly on so he wouldn't fall off. Feeling extremely uncomfortable as they flew underneath Alternia's two moons. He'd been forced to leave the hou-the hive (he needs to get used to troll vernacular) at the behest of his lusus who was going out for grocery shopping and Eridan had been staying inside for far too long and sleeping way too much.

He tried to stay behind, even tried throwing a tantrum- tried being the keyword here. He couldn't, not on purpose. He felt too embarrassed to actually throw it, even if it probably could have worked? Or maybe it wouldn't and he would've been dragged out of his hive anyway. 

He had to ride on the flying seahorse's back to leave the hive because either the seahorse or grub Eridan had chosen to live in a wrecked ship on a small island- it wasn't even an island, it was technically an islet and it was in the middle of nowhere in the sea! 

He thinks he's somewhere near Feferi Peixes' area, but he has yet to meet her. Mostly because he'd been staying inside and on the islet. Which brings back to why the seahorse was forcing him to accompany him out into Alternia society.

The floating seahorse's flight speed was quite fast, and in about, ten minutes or so? They finally reached what he assumed as the mainland. He doesn't know how far his hive is from it, but in another five minutes, they've reached a city. 

It was-

It was a troll city, almost like a normal human city but the architecture was different. Blocky, hexagonal? It was a bit more colorful than he'd expected, and there were so many other trolls and lusii around. More trolls than lusii actually.

And looking at the crowd of trolls, he remembers the fact that Alternia was almost run entirely by children. Children and teenagers who were forced to grow up too fast, living in a world where violence and war was encouraged among them and death was normal. 

They were all children. 

God, Alternia is so fucking fucked up .

Good news; he hasn't seen anyone die yet.

Bad news; he now knows what actual drones look like and they're fucking terrifying.

There were a few drones stationed at the market area where his lusus took him, they were gigantic things. Easily towering him and his lusus, and though they had done nothing but just- stand there . There was just something so off about them, and they looked much more intimidating in real life than in the comic. 

He'd been caught off guard, the last time he saw a drone in the comic it had been completely red, but the drones he saw in the market were black, gold with fuchsia highlights. And it hit him, this was before The Condesce became Betty Crocker, so of course the drones weren't red.

The small epiphany did little to assuage his fear of the things, and he kept to his lusus' side at all times whilst hiding underneath his cloak- mostly for personal comfort. So far, nothing happened and it was going surprisingly well considering he was on a death planet with normalized murder.

And then his lusus decided to drop him off at a nearby park.

"Wwhy can't I stay wwith you?" Eridan asked desperately, "I'll be good! Promise, I don't-" The lusus whinnied, firmly rejecting his plea with a shake of its head.

It was around this time did juvenile trolls began to socialize, become more active- its grub has been preferring to stay inside and sleep even with the moons high in the sky which would not do at all. Not only was it not healthy, its grub needed to get over its problems with the outdoors. It had been hopeful when it had gone out to swim sometime ago, but it had apparently been spooked by something and refused to go swimming into the sea or even go outside, again preferring to slumber.

So it will leave it here temporarily, to speak with its own kind while it was away. There was a slight chance it would die, but the grub seemed smart enough to handle itself and not die, or at least survive. And if it did die...

Eridan was nudged forward through the gate of the park, "I-I- fine. O-Okay, just- come back soon?" The lusus grunted, its snout landing on his hooded head once before it flew away. Leaving the young now-troll alone at this park with other troll children and teenagers, leaving him alone in public for the first time. Eridan sucked in a calming breath before warily looking around, his heart immediately dropping as he sees a particular group of trolls he definitely wanted no contact with.

Another reason he was so anxious of going outside was because of this group of trolls, this caste of trolls that followed a certain religion fervently.

Purplebloods, would-be subjugglators who other highbloods, even seadwellers, were cautious about. Gamzee's caste.

There was a group of them of varying ages- or at least varying heights, and they seemed to be surrounding a poor troll whose blood Eridan couldn't really tell from where he stood. It didn't matter though as he immediately turned the other way and quickly, but stealthily, fled the scene. Fleeing into the more wooded area of the park for cover and a place to hide. It was a safer area. Probably. He hoped at least.

He doesn't think that even other violetbloods would blame him for staying away from the purpleblooded trolls, though they probably would disapprove of the fact he was hiding. What would he care though? He was currently a child, he had high self-preservation instincts, and he was scared out of his wits! Although even if he'd been a bit older, or still human, he definitely would have still fled and hid.

He kept his distance from other trolls and lusii in the park as he headed for the woods, trying to maintain a 'wallflower' mindset. He wasn't actually there, he was just in the background, harmlessly doing nothing! Nothing to see here...

A shout of pain came from the direction he was fleeing from and he booked it into the woods, diving into the shrubbery and finding a solitary place to calm his thundering heartbeat. Eventually, he found a stump in the middle of the woods with seemingly no one around. Cautiously, he approached the stump, looking around and trying to see or hear if anyone was nearby. When it was clear no one was near, the exhale of relief nearly made him dizzy and he finally took a seat on the giant blue stump.

Tucking himself into his cloak, he took a moment to calm down. Focusing on the natural sound of nature that was thankfully free of screams or the sound of something alive breaking. Dying. Since he was on Alternia, since he was Eridan Ampora, he knows he needs to- to get used to hearing or seeing it for himself. He was supposed to be an Orphaner after all but still, he hated knowing that fact. Hated that he would have to get used to constant death, that he would be committing those deaths in the future. Be it troll or lusii. 

Was it bad that he was really hoping he'd only kill lusii? It probably was, it felt even worse as he thought back to the seahorse lusus taking care of him.

Shaking his head, he shoved those upsetting thoughts away for a moment and looked around instead. Focusing on the flora that surrounded him, the violent nature of Alternia aside, the environment absolutely breathtaking. The forest he was had those same trees from Terezi's forest in the comic, only smaller and the shade was different. Or maybe it was really this color in real life? To have a blue trunk and roots then bright pink leaves that weren't flowers but just, actual leaves- it was pretty to look at.

Alternia was beautiful, both on and off land. There was a coral reef near his islet hive, and the few times he had went there had him in awe with it. So vibrant and lovely, and much healthier than the reefs on Earth no doubt since there were seadwellers in the ocean- kind of the reason why he hadn't returned to the nearby beautiful reefs in the first place. During his last outing, he had seen a couple of older seadwellers at the reef and he had not been prepared for seeing or actually meeting another troll. Much less another violetblood!

Plus, the two were apparently fighting. Or making out, it was hard to tell since there was blood and he was hiding then had fled as soon as he could. He stayed home and slept as much as possible to forget and calm down from the near encounter of the seadwellers.

Honestly he doesn't know if he could handle meeting other trolls aside from the ones he already knew, as far as he knew other seadwellers were kind of like Canon Eridan? Aristocratic, violet sea trolls who were apparently genocidal against landdwellers and so very prideful. Speaking of Canon Eridan, he's been thinking on what he's going to do in the future, what changes he could do. What changes could he possibly do? It was one thing to decide to change things, but to actually do them when he didn't know where to start?

Hell, he didn't even know when he was going to meet the others! How was he even going to interact with them? At the very least though, he wasn't going to pretend to be Canon Eridan and act like him, he'd rather be himself.

Granted, he doesn't remember a lot of himself. It was frustrating, trying to remember who he was as a human only to end up with fragmented pieces and clues of who he might be. He doesn't remember personal details like his name, what he looked like, his gender, his family and friends but he remembers a lot of other things in turn. Like the webcomic itself, the lyrics to various songs so he knows he liked music before hand, other fandoms he'd been part in. Some games, random snippets of events and news, and other information that aren't exactly helpful to him right now.

Despite it though, he always wrote down what he could remember, still afraid he would forget it in the future. He's started to organize his notebooks at least,  rewriting information to its own dedicated notebook like song lyrics and what he could remember of the comic, etc. Those were still firmly in his sylladex even now. After a moment of thinking, he opened his sylladex and looked for one of his notebooks, playing the little mini-game to retrieve it from the card. He does it again to retrieve a pencil.

Its title was Songs I Remember, and it held every song he could remember. As a human, he might have been a musician, because he could easily write sheet music and there were a lot of songs in his head that he remembered. He's almost finished this notebook, he'll need to get another one soon, but for now, he wants to write down a song that's been at the back of his head for a while now.

Humming its tune, he writes the lyrics down first. Then, to make he remembered correctly and mostly to soothe himself, he sang the lyrics. "On the first part of the journey-" He starts, happily indulging in his childish urge to sing to himself. He can't remember if he'd been a singer before, he only suspects he was a musician, or was really into music as a hobby, for how else could he expertly write sheet music? Singing on the other hand, It was something he was quickly growing fond of doing.

The vocal chords of a troll were surprisingly flexible, and though he was still working on his words, not to mention he had an accent and could click, chirp and make other inhuman noises- well, normal troll noises? He found that singing came easily to him and he was enjoying that immensely. He liked to think that singing was helping his speech a bit, and sure he fumbled with a few words but he was finally having fun today and enjoying himself.

And the story it told of a river that flowed
Made me sad to think it was dead~

He hummed, erasing a few words to fix a few flaws he had written down. He would focus on writing the song's sheet music after singing it the first time, singing multiple times helped him remember the song and its music better. He doesn't remember if Alternia had any musical instruments but at this point, he was willing to try and learn one just to be able to play music himself.

You see I've been through the desert
On a horse with no name~
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert, you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain!
La, la, la—

Crash!

"—ah!" Eridan's music turned into a squeaky shriek, his song interrupted as he was startled by the loud sound of something breaking. Something metallic breaking.

A young voice cursed out soon after his shriek, "Oh fiddlesticks!" The bushes from the side were rustling and Eridan stared at them with barely hidden anxious fear, clutching his notebook and pencil to his chest.

He swallowed that fear down, cautiously calling out. "W-Wwho's there?" He shifted in place, making sure he wasn't pinning his cloak down and getting ready to run if he needed to. Although... Who the hell says fiddlesticks? On Alternia to boot? No, wait, wasn't there someone? Who said fiddlesticks... before...?

"A-Ah, um. Excuse me." The young voice said before the owner of it emerged from the shrubbery.

In the comic, there had been one troll who had said that incredibly silly word, fiddlesticks before.

Equius Zahhak emerged from the shrubbery, both horns in tact and with small pink leaves stuck to his head. He wore a black shirt with indigo overalls and his sign stitched into the front. In his hands was some sort of metal contraption, a broken metal contraption. The young troll looked at him awkwardly, face flushed with apparent embarrassment. "My- ap- apologies? Apologies. I had not meant to, in-int- stop you from singing. I was just... curious. I ack-a- I broke my uh, my project." He said, looking at his broken contraption with a forlorn look on his face. He muttered something underneath his breath, Eridan couldn't hear all of it but he heard the word 'STRONG' that had been emphasized, though it could have been 'STRENGTH' instead.

Eridan stared at the blueblooded young troll in front of him, taking a moment to process the fact that he was in front of him. Awake. Not only was he one of the main trolls of the webcomic, but this was the same troll he'd seen asleep on Derse! Oh fuck, this felt so incredibly awkward for him because he has seen Equius asleep, he's seen the other's room! Er, block! It might not have been the perfect replica, but it certainly seemed like it!

And Equius heard Eridan sing!

No one, other than his lusus, had heard him sing!

What the hell was he supposed to do now?

==> Be Equius

What the heck was he supposed to do now?

He hadn't meant to secretly listen to another troll singing, he just wanted to work on his little project in peace! Everywhere else in the park was- was noisy and had other trolls that he didn't really want to int- inter- interact? Was that the right word? He just wanted to be alone and mess with the interesting device his lusus, Arthour, had gotten him. It was supposed to be a puzzle of some kind, and also a test.

A test of his STRENGTH!

A test to properly control his STRENGTH at least, he was a very STRONG troll for his age. He has broken so many things in his hive, even some walls that Arthour keeps fixing. Repairing, that was another word for fixing. He was a smart troll for his age too, he knew complic- complicated? Complicated words!

Anyway, he went to the wooded area of the park so he could focus on his puzzle project. Carefully considering his immense STRENGTH with the pieces, it kind of made him nervous. Trying to do the puzzle so carefully, and whenever he was nervous, he started to sweat. Arthour made sure he packed plenty of towels though in his sylladex so he didn't have to worry too much and he was free to do his puzzle test on his own.

Or so he thought, as he noticed the quiet sound of someone's voice. It annoyed him that he wasn't as alone as he thought before he realized the voice was actually singing, and their singing was kind of nice actually.

In all honesty, he would have just stayed where he was, he promised but then the voice sang "On a horse with no name~" And immediately he stood up and tried to find the voice because it was a song about horses! Hoofbeasts! He wanted to hear more of the song because it involved such mag- magifcant? Magnificent! Magnificent beasts! Who wouldn't want to listen to the song?

He found the voice, the troll who was the voice, pretty easily. "Made me sad to think it was dead~" Was the hoofbeast dead? No! It couldn't be- no wait, he might be wrong. It was about something of a river? He didn't know, he just hoped the hoofbeast was okay in the song.

He found the singer of the hoofbeast song sitting on a stump nearby, they were writing something in a notebook and covered in a grey cloak. He frowned at it, unable to see the other's sign or blood caste. They were- what was the term again? Hemo-a-nony-mous? The strange trolls that hid their colors for stupid, unknown reasons. Still, it might be a fellow highblood like him! He'd learned all about the hemosystem and he knew that only highbloods like him tend to use the arasto- arista? Highblood term of 'horses' instead of hoofbeasts.

Admittedly, he secretly preferred the basic term of hoofbeast because it was fun to say. Hoofbeast. Hoof. Beast. Heh, hoofbeast!

Ahem.

Anyway! The other troll had to be a blueblood like him, or someone on the high-end of the hemospectrum. But if they weren't... Then- then they better treat the hoofbeast in the song with care! Or he'll be very angry! And also stop using the word 'horse' because that word was for highbloods, not lowbloods...

You see I've been through the desert
On a horse with no name~
It felt good to be out of the rain

Or maybe not, because 'horse' seemed to fit so well in the song. Though he was confused about the mention of the desert, and rain and- sun? They sang about the sun and skin turning red? Was the story about a troll burning in the sun in the desert on their hoofbeast lusus' back?

In his confusion, he had forgotten to control his STRENGTH and ended up crushing! his puzzle!

'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain!
La, la, la—ah!

And he scared the singer!

He cursed, "Oh fiddlesticks!" Properly, because highbloods should be proper according to his books. Swearing foul language was for purplebloods and lowbloods, whatever that meant.

The singer moved a bit on the stump, holding the notebook and pencil they had tightly. "W-Wwho's there?" They asked and Equius' face flushed slightly in embarrassment as he resolved himself on what to do. In the end, it was his fault for startling the singer. Or maybe it was the singer's fault for making him lose control of his STRENGTH? No, he should apologize first in case it was someone like him, or maybe even higher. Purple maybe? But they didn't seem like the other purples he had seen... But it could explain the cloak? 

He should be careful. "A-Ah, um. Excuse me." He finally got out of the bush that he was in, taking a few steps forward to face the singer.

If it was a lowblood then it was their lucky day, it could be taken as thanks for singing a song with a hoofbeast in it. "My- ap- apologies? Apologies. I had not meant to, in-int- stop you from singing. I was just... curious. I ak-accidentally broke my uh, my project." He sighed, mumbling out, "I sometimes curse my STRENGTH, it's a bit much sometimes..." Now that he was out in the open, in the small area with the singer, he could finally get a closer and clearer look at this mysterious troll.

They were small, probably the same age as he was and wore a big grey cloak that covered them all over, the hood was low enough that it kinda hid their face. Their horns poked through the horn holes of the hood and he thinks they're shaped like- maybe like lightning? The shape reminded him of the symbol of electricity in some of his books about robots. He still couldn't see the other's sign or what caste they could be, were they really hemoanonymous? Hiding their blood like that was suspicious. Still, at least they had a nice singing voice.

"Oh, that's- um- that's okay? I guess?" The singer told him, setting down their notebook and fiddling with their cloak. "I'm uh, sorry about your project?"

"I lost control of my STRENGTH, I should have just- focused on it." Equius looked down to the broken puzzle in his hands, "I was trying to finish the puzzle when I heard you singing, it was about hoofbeasts so I- I came to listen to it better." He finally admitted, the shame and embarrassment over the situation was making him sweat again though he finally realized something. "Ah! I'm- my manners, I'm being rude! I am Equius Zahhak, who might you be?" Manners were important for highblooded trolls. Or any troll really, but he should be setting an ex-ample to others as Arthour taught him.

"Oh! Uh, it's nice to meet you Equius. I'm... I'm Eridan Ampora." The singer, Eridan, greeted back with a nod. How polite! Maybe this was a fellow highblood, or at least, a lowblood with manners. "You... You came to listen to my song because it was about horses? Er, hoofbeasts?" They asked awkwardly and Equius beamed at the mention of his favorite creature.

"Yes! Hoofbeasts are amazing creatures! They're STRONG and graceful and fast- they're mag-ni-fi-cent!" He said excitedly, making sure he was saying the word 'magnificent' correctly. "You were singing about them, correct? Also about the sun, for some reason which I do not understand why. Were you singing about a troll burning on the back of their hoofbeast lusus? Is the hoofbeast lusus okay? Why does it have no name?" He could finally ask the questions that were in his head the moment he heard the song, curiosity overriding his initial caution over the singer.

Surely someone who sang about hoofbeasts and called them horses, was someone to interact with or maybe even, befriend?

==> Eridan: Go Home

Toda-night- Tonight wasn't as bad as he thought it would be, or would have been.

Eridan had left the hive, anxious and fearful to hell on the back of a flying seahorse and he was returning to the hive on the same back of a flying seahorse yet calmer than he had left. And with a promise to meet with a certain, blueblooded troll in the near future.

Equius Zahhak was nothing he had imagined as a troll, much less as his younger self. Well, he had expected Equius' interest with horses. Hoofbeasts, as well as his strength and intellect. The boy had broken a metal puzzle with barely a thought! And then asked questioned about his song simply because it had horses in it. Eridan had ended up answering those questions, making up most of it on the fly.

No, it wasn't about a troll burning in the sun on the back of their hoofbeast lusus. He had forgotten that for most trolls, including himself, the Alternian sun was a deadly star and the desert an even deadlier place for a troll, so he just ended up telling Equius that the sun in the song wasn't as deadly and that the troll was just riding on a hoofbeast with no name for the sake of fun or something. And the horse had no name because- because.

Equius had seemed to think it weird before dismissing it as a imaginative, childish song that Eridan made up. And he, Equius had also asked for pronouns and told him his own pronouns, couldn't exactly say that he didn't make the song himself? Well he could tell the truth but Equius wouldn't believe him that a whole other species called humans who were in a band originally made the song now could he?

Actually, thinking further on it, could he have told the truth? Or at least, somewhat? Alternia was a conquering race, an intergalactic empire! It surely conquered other species and races so, he probably could have said it was made by aliens... Only he didn't because he hadn't thought of that at the time and guiltily admitted that yes, he wrote the song. Guiltily as he disliked gaining credit for 'writing' such a good song when it was made by someone else...

Later on, he would find out that that explanation wouldn't have explained it as he finds out that Alternia barely allowed anything made by any other species to be shown to trolls. Much less music and song created by aliens. At least on-planet, it might be different off-planet but he would never get to see that.

Anyway, he and Equius ended up just- hanging out the entire time they spent at the park. Equius had shyly requested Eridan to sing the song once more, from the top to the end and seeing his adorable plea, Eridan caved in and sang 'A Horse With No Name' all over again. It was embarrassing but only a little bit, surprisingly he wasn't too bothered at the fact he was singing with an audience, maybe because it was only Equius? But he ended up singing the entire song without much problems other than his own voice messing up a couple of the pitches and tones but it still sounded good as far as he could tell.

Equius certainly enjoyed it, clapping his approval with a smile.

And from there, they just got to talking. Eridan asked Equius about his puzzle, which led to Equius explaining it and they just continued to talk. And before he knew it, his seahorse lusus was back. It had somehow found him in the forest and seemed to say it was time to go without actually saying it. Eridan was actually a bit disappointed to leave, he finally had someone else to talk to, and the dreaming part of himself was ecstatic to see his fellow Derse dreamer awake.

Awake in real life at least, he doesn't know when Equius would wake up on Derse.

The thought was even more lonelier than he expected.

His disappointment didn't last long as Equius asked Eridan if he wanted to meet again and Eridan, realizing how starved he actually was with social interaction, accepted without much thought and left in higher, calmer spirits than he arrived in the park.

And from there, he and Equius would meet at the park semi-regularly. There had been a bit of a problem when Equius finally realized that Eridan was a highblood, a violetblood seadweller at that but it worked out in the end.

When they finally got their hands on personal devices like palmhusks, computers and such and had access to Trollian- they exchanged handles.

Eridan would never had expected his first encounter with Equius Zahhak would end up becoming so much more in the future. For now though, he was a little less lonely in real life.

And shortly after a few months...

==> He would be less lonely in his dreams as well

Eridan blinked at the bright pink device that was sitting on the table.

He was in Equius' tower tonight, doing his routinely check up when he spotted the out of place slice of a brightly colored pink phone that was on Equius' dark grey desk. Its neon color having caught his eye the moment he came through the window. It hadn't been there before, and briefly, he wondered if Equius had somehow acquired it. No, Equius would never buy something so... pink, not to mention the design of the device. It looked less like a troll palmhusk but a... human... phone...?

Ping

Eridan jumped mid-air when he heard the noise and blinked incredulously at it. He glanced around the block, Equius was fast asleep in his recuperacoon like always.

Ping

He gnawed on his lip before sighing and floating over to the desk to grab the phone, which had been laying face down on the desk. It was already open and on Trollian? His eyes widened and his grip tightened on the phone.

timeausTestified [TT] began pestering clandestineAmicability [CA]

TT: Sup boo
TT: Gog you must be so tiny right now
TT: I can only imagine the shock thats on your face Eridan
CA: Wwhat
TT: Strap in bucko youre in for a ride

==> Eridan: Alchemize

Chapter Text

==> Eridan: Alchemize

Truth be told, he hated Ahab's Crosshairs, hated having to use it to kill lusii and even other trolls. But having the legendary weapon made feeding Feferi's lusus easier, and at least made the deaths he caused relatively painless and instant wherever he aimed and pulled the trigger.

He hated being an Orphaner, especially so in the early days without Ahab's Crosshairs.

And though he loved his lusus now, there was a time he hated him for handing him that harpoon gun and training him on how to use it. And a part of him still did.

Using a simple, if efficient and technically high-standard harpoon gun to hunt lusii had been horrible. Using it to kill unfortunate trolls was even more horrible, their death rarely was instant and he could see the emotions in their eyes as they died. He probably didn't kill as many as Canon Eridan did, but those deaths still haunt him the worst and on quiet days on Alternia or solitary waking dreams on Derse, he wondered if they haunted Canon Eridan as well.

He hated Ahab's Crosshairs and hated riflekind, associating it with hunting down lusii and killing trolls.

It was before they became moirails when Equius suggested learning other weapons when Eridan admitted his hate for his strife specibus. And it was there that he learned a new interest and hobby that was born in this life as Eridan Ampora; weapons. He doesn't think he had such an interest in weapons like spears, halberds, swords and such as a human. Probably a cursory interest, thinking they were cool but it was as a troll, as Eridan Ampora was his interest deeper than that.

He could see why Canon Eridan had his own weapon collection, if only somewhat, but unlike Canon Eridan who preferred using riflekind and Ahab's Crosshairs. Eridan found that he preferred pole-arm weapons like spears and halberds, spears especially. Spearkind became his favorite strife specibus, and on old FLARP campaigns with Vriska, he used spearkind more than riflekind much to her chagrin, though only after she found Mindfang's journal and yeah, that lead to him obtaining the legendary weapon Ahab's Crosshairs. She pestered at him to use swordkind or riflekind, but he put his foot down and said he would use whatever weapon he wanted.

In the comic, Canon Eridan never seemed to use any other weapons other than Ahab's Crosshairs until the meteor, switching out to the Wwhite Wand of Science! and... and murdering Feferi, Kanaya and blinding Sollux.

It was one of the main reasons why he avoided the stories of wizards as he grew as Eridan Ampora. He still liked magic but... He didn't like wands and wizards, no matter the fact Canon Eridan seemed to abandon his like for them in favor of 'science'.

He would never wield a white wand.

Instead, he was going to use spears, halberds, literally anything else.

Alchemy was an amazing thing, be it in or out of Homestuck. Although SBURB/SGRUB alchemy was something he was currently in awe of, he could create so many things! He'd already created a series of cool spears and other items that would help in the game! Canon Eridan was definitely missing out!

"Purr you're sure you want to share your legendary weapaw-n code with me Erifishy?"

Eridan sent Nepeta a reassuring smile, "It's fine! Besides I'm goin' to be sendin' the code to practically evveryone Nep, if it can help them make STRONGER wweapons then good!" He emphasized stronger for the pleasure of his moirail who smiled happily at him.

They were on LoLCaT, Nepeta's planet. And mere hours ago, he and Equius journeyed there to meet up, a day had officially passed since they arrived in the session and though it had been hectic, it seemed that everyone was getting the hang of it and playing the game. Kind of, for Equius, he just had a rather harrowing conversation on a private memo with both Aradia and Nepeta even more hours ago, expressing his regrets and apologies and confessing to the feelings he had to them both.

Eridan had watched the rather emotional conversation at the sidelines by Equius' side, having returned to his moirail's planet after the incident on LoQaM with... the doomed Aradiabot and The Handmaid.

Anyway, the conversation that pursued had left their emotional mess- resolved? Somewhat, Equius and Nepeta were tentatively going to become matesprits while Equius and Aradia... Aradia was going to keep her distance for now, unsure of her own feelings but they definitely weren't flushed that was for sure. After that, Equius and Nepeta had an even more emotional heart to heart, with him reassuring her that he was not 'settling for second best' and that his feelings about her were genuine and he was just a mess.

By all means Nepeta had the right to reject Equius and be mad at him, even at Eridan for revealing her secret feelings for Equius but the wonderful, wonderful girl decided to give them both a chance. Well, Equius more so obviously, but it left the indigo ecstatic and he seemed very eager to prove that the chance would be well-earned.

Which led to them visiting Nepeta for their little alchemy session.

"If you say so! But it looks like I can't alchemewze anythin' with it yet, too expensive!" Nepeta pouted, checking their grist cache. Right, they technically just started playing the game. They didn't have a lot of grist yet to spend.

Equius hummed, "Then perhaps we should go hunting for more grist then, the current weapons you alchemized shall suffice for now. We can upgrade later when we have the resources." He concluded and Nepeta beamed at the mention of hunting. Her newly alchemized rocket claws seemed ready for anything, same for Eridan's newly alchemized spear- Arrow Point.

An arrow-themed spear that was specialized in thrown attacks, he had created it with one of Equius' custom metal arrows. "Sounds like a plan." Eridan agreed, grinning as he tested the weight of the spear.

It was time to play SGRUB.

==> Eridan: Fortify Home

Fortifying his home was a bit simpler than he thought with the help of his angels, yes, his angels. He's officially claimed the strange creatures as his own. They swarmed his hive, biting at walls- at first he tried to stop them- his hive had enough structural damage from both the meteor and Feferi thanks! Although Feferi was doing a very good job fixing the damage she'd cause and was building his hive up accordingly.

Anyway, his angels bit at his walls but at very specific places and only the small ones left the marks there. It turns out they were setting up Eridan's hive as angel territory and those bite marks were proof of it, there was also an underlying magic to it that Eridan didn't really understand and just chalked it up to 'Angel Majjyk' and left it at there. At the very least, his hive wouldn't be bothered by wraiths nearby. It wouldn't hold out to an elder wraith but thankfully those were rare and were in deeper, more dangerous areas of his planet.

By the third day in the game, his hive was deemed safe enough for visitors although he had to make sure his friends had as little contact with most of his angels. His initial reaction and instinct to attack the angels wasn’t limited to him, there was just something about the angels that triggered a fearful reaction from the troll species. 
He had to move between his own moirail and his angels when Equius immediately asked permission to visit the moment he found out that Eridan’s hive was properly fortified and the ensuing chaos that happened led to multiple broken walls and his angels holding annoyance against the blueblooded troll. Not a grudge thankfully, but Equius had special privileges because he was Eridan’s moirail.

Equius furiously apologized, both to him and reluctantly to the angels he had attempted to punch. “There is just something so… unnerving about them Eridan. I feel fearful, yet aggressive to a large amount of these- angels. It does not help that I connect these beings to the destructive mythos, grim fairy tales and dark legends about these demons.” Equius admitted to him once things calmed down.

Eridan couldn’t blame him for he was the same, though not exactly. His angels were loud and excitable but so far they haven’t exactly done anything actually destructive towards him or even around him. Their bite marks on his walls didn’t exactly count as they did it for his benefit.

If anything, they were just trying to help him. And past their clearly disturbing traits of eyeless heads and wide, sharp mouths, Eridan was beginning to grow fond them. He even started to find them cute, much to the bemusement of his team and eventually the rest of his friends.

It actually made him quite sad when he thought of how Canon Eridan just killed the angels on his LoWaA and effectively severed ties with quite possibly his best allies in the game. 
Although if there was one thing he envied Canon Eridan’s LoWaA was the fact Canon Eridan didn’t have to deal with wraiths whatsoever. Hell, wraiths weren’t even a thing in Homestuck! They were something entirely new that Eridan himself somehow caused, and was one of the biggest proofs that he had managed to change and divert things from the comic.

Yet he didn’t really find pride in it as the wraiths were fucking terrifying, even more so than the angels. And any visitor coming would see why he put a temporary ban for anyone to visit his planet until he managed to fortify his hive as a complete safe zone.

==> Expel the Thief from your planet

“What the fuck Ampora?!” Vriska hissed at him shortly after she finally arrived at his planet, insisting to see it and initially scoffing at the idea that she would be scared of the angels and wraiths. He would give credit to where it’s due, Vriska somehow managed to handle herself well and avoid attacking his angels.

The wraith that ambushed them on the other hand was easily and unapologetically attacked by both of them. “I told you Serket, my planet isn’t exactly a good place to advventure in. There’s a reason wwhy I insist on goin’ treasure huntin’ on your planet aside from the fact it’s a planet literally intended for treasure huntin’.” Eridan told her as they took refuge in one of the many, many cathedrals on his planet.

A few of his angels were merging with the walls, acting as look outs. They were close enough to his hive that he wasn’t too worried about being attacked all too much but even being outside it had his guard up. He clutched his new weapon, Aristocrat's Rachis in his hands and cautiously looked around. Aristocrat's Rachis was something he got from combining a brain code from Sollux’s planet as well as Feferi’s Ψdon's Entente with one of his halberds.

Despite mainly switching to spears in the game, he didn’t want to get rusty with the rest of his strife weaponkinds, so during his brief outing with Vriska on his planet, he switched to halberdkind and used Aristocrat's Rachis. A dark red halberd with a spine-like pole and handle and a realistic brain carved at the base of the blade.

“You saww my planet, you saww my consorts an’ enemies. Wwe’re leavvin’ Vvriska, I gotta go to Nep’s planet right noww anywway.”

“Ugh, fiiiiiiiine! Your planet is such bullshit, I doubt we’d even find any good loot! What’s also bullshit is just how freaking scary cool your consorts are! How come you get legendary demon creatures while I get lame alligators?!”

“I think your alligators are nice.”

“Are you willing to trade them for your angels?”

“As if my angels wwould wwant to followw you around Serket, I think your alligators are nice but I’m keepin’ my angels.”

“Boooooooo.”

==> Eridan: Explore The Planet

Despite his initial wariness over his own planet and his original plans of just, avoiding it entirely. He does end up exploring his planet like everyone else. Most of his excursions, he was on his own since none of his friends seem to be comfortable with fighting alongside his angels, not a large amount of them anyway.

But right now, he was spending time with his two favorite trolls; Equius and Nepeta.

His moirail wanted to join him a few times whenever he went to explore his planet to complete the land’s puzzles and just, y’know. Play the game like everyone else. Eridan tried to insist that he was fine in exploring the land on his own, but when Nepeta joined in he was quickly outvoted and overwhelmed by the both of them.

Whenever either of them were around, or anyone else for the matter, he asked for the most of his angels to hide or fall back and only allowed a few of the smallest angels to stick around and join them as they went out to explore LoWaA. 
They were useful for the most part, with their small sizes they were agile and relatively quiet so they were great look outs.

“Your planet sure is scary Erifishy.” Nepeta told him when they took a break a room underneath a cathedral far from his hive but close enough to a gate that they could retreat if needed. “And so- so… What’s the word furr um, both black and white?” She asked Equius who immediately answered.

“Achromatic, the word you are looking for is achromatic, dearest Nepeta.” 
Nepeta smiled and Equius visibly melted at it, “Thank you Equihiss! But yeah! It’s all monotoned and stuff! Very gloomy and dark.” She hummed, pawing at her chin thoughtfully. “My pawnet’s covered in sugarcubes and giant tea kettels and cups and it has mewre collar than your pawnet!”

Chuckling, Eridan nodded as he sipped his own tea cup. Speaking of tea…

“Oh! Do you want mewre chameowmeow Erifishy?” She asked, noticing his now empty cup after setting it down.

“If you wwould Nep, thank you.” He thanked, watching her carefully pour the tea. 
It was surprising to how much Nepeta took to tea when she had never even had any before the game. Her planet’s questline had a lot of tea and tea etiquette, and she took to it surprisingly fast and honestly made one of the best cups of teas that he has ever had in both his lives. Though it just might be his bias for her and also his lack of memories that has him saying it.

Equius was probably in the same boat, or on the same horse carriage? As he also found Nepeta’s teas and tea etiquette adoringly charming and always accepted Nepeta’s growing fondness for tea parties. The only downside though was…

crack

“Oh fiddlesticks!”

Equius’ ungodly STRENGTH that had him cracking his teacups on occasion. Eridan had tried to help Equius with his control over his unnatural STRENGTH with varying results over the sweeps, mostly positive as Equius could actually shoot arrows with unbroken bows- half the time at least. But it was progress! Eridan actually suggested Equius to learn to shoot crossbows and although he could shoot crossbows and had the specibus for it, Equius still favored the bow.

Anyway, even with the control of his STRENGTH, it was still a bit too much on the dainty porcelain tea cups he drank from. “I apologize Nepeta, I have broken another one of your beautiful tea cups.” Equius said mournfully, more upset over Nepeta’s broken tea cup than the fact he’d spilled tea over his clothes. Nonetheless, Eridan offered a towel, to which he thanked him for.

“D’aww, it’s okay Equihiss! I can always get mewre with my alchemeowter rememfur?” Nepeta giggled, waving it off. “Maybe I should alchemize my next set out of STRONG metal fur you.”

“In hindsight, perhaps wwe should havve done that the first feww times your cup broke, Equi.” Eridan teased, laughing with Nepeta at the blue-ish flush that dusted his moirail’s face.

“Perhaps so… Still, I will make it a goal of mine to train my control over my STRENGTH even more so I may able to use your tea cups without breaking Nepeta. They are very beautiful after all, like you.” It was Nepeta’s turn to blush slightly as she shyly stirred her cup with a charmed giggle.
Eridan hid his wide grin with his newly filled tea cup, enjoying how Nepeta and Equius were growing closer. They would soon be matesprits in no time! Equius was definitely proving that he had earned the second chance and Eridan was cheering him all the way.

.:Hope:.

Both Nepeta and Equius flinched at the angelic whisper that came from the ceiling. A small angel emerged from the stone to flutter towards Eridan, landing on an offered hand.

.: Dear Hope you must leave danger danger comes so many be careful our Hope be careful:. 

Eridan frowned and sighed, “Tea time is ovver unfortunately, there’s a lot of wwraiths on their wway or around somewwhere.”

Though disappointed, both trolls nodded and quickly started cleaning up their impromptu tea party break. “It still awes me by how unaffected you are to… your angels Eridan.” Equius admitted quietly, watching the way the tiny white terror -by his and everyone else’s standards but apparently not his moirails- curl up in his moirail’s palm with a satisfied but chilling churr. He pities his moirail, he does, but he cannot believe that he thought these things were cute. “I am not surprised though, your control over your instincts has always been- concerningly strict.”

Eridan gives him an exasperated smile, “I just- I don’t like losin’ myself to my instincts. I don’t like bein’ vvery angry to the point of havving a bloodrage. I like havvin’ self-control, besides, I also almost hurt my angels in the beginnin’.”

Nepeta pounced unto Equius’ shoulder, one of her favorite things to do as Equius easily kept her aloft and bore her weight. She liked feeling tall was all she said when Eridan asked her about it. “Equihiss is right to be concerned Erifishy! You’re purrobably the meowst self-controlled highblood to efurr exist! I think Karkitty, Pawvros and Kananya have had mewre bloodrages than mew!” And that was saying something considering they were the calmest trolls in their friend group! Well, ‘calm’ wasn’t exactly one would associate Karkat Vantas but the truth still stood.

“Also! I don’t furrink that counts as losing self-control. Oh! Also, also! Gamzee defurnitly doesn't count beclaws he eats sopor and is like- purrmanently chill or something.” Among the highbloods, when it came to self-restraint, Eridan seemed to take the cake.

Eridan just shrugged, unable to refute that. He awkwardly fiddled with the striped blue scarf that Equius had gifted him sweeps ago, something to celebrate their new moiraillegiance. “Like I said, I don’t like bein’ angry that much.” He muttered lamely, which was somewhat the truth. He still got angry, that was a natural emotion but what wasn’t natural was the fact that too much anger would lead to a bloodrage or just a destructive fit.

Well, that was normal for a troll but for a former human? He doesn’t think he was ever that destructive as a human, and it honestly scared him. Losing his grip on himself, blacking out in a literal furious red-hazed way and then waking up having broken something, hurt someone and just…

He could count how many bloodrages and very destructive fits on one hand, and sweeps ago the biggest and most major bloodrages he’d ever experienced was created out of protective instincts sure. He had no regret in saving Equius from those highbloods, and a dark part of himself that still terrified him to this day, still reveled in the fact that he had made those highbloods pay for breaking Equius’ horn and hurting him.

But when he had came back to himself after the rage, after the haze was papped away from Equius- he’d been covered in so much blood. Blood that wasn’t his, and there were bodies around them that he wasn’t even sure were dead or not… The breakdown he experienced that day was one of the worst ones of his life, only mitigated and comforted by Equius’ who decided to become his moirail because of his bloodrage.

He doesn’t regret it, but it still scared him to present day.

His train of thought was interrupted by Equius and another small angel coming into the room, “Eridan? Are you alright?” His moirail asked, doing a great job in ignoring the newest angel’s whispers.

.: Danger danger horde small horde horde grief Hope careful :.

“I’m fine Equi.” Eridan replied reassuringly before equipping his newest spear, something he had been aiming to create from the start but couldn’t because of the expense. Although he hated Ahab’s Crosshairs, he cannot deny its power and the weapon series that came from combining it with other weapons were top notch.

Ahab’s Harpoon gleamed in his hands. And elegant spear with a dark blue metallic pole with carved waves along its shaft, the spear blade itself was diamond-shaped and looked to be a more elongated and sharper tip than Ahab’s Crosshair’s glowing barrel end where the laser came from. Ahab’s Harpoon could also shoot lasers but not as powerful or as big as Crosshair’s could, but what it lacked in long-range power, it made in the glowing blade that could cut through anything like smooth butter.
Anything, like wraiths.

“Wwe’vve got a small horde comin’, Equi, suggestions?” Eridan turned to his moirail who straightened and nodded seriously.

“First let us go somewhere else, fighting in an enclosed space would end extremely badly for us. Nepeta, are you ready?”

Nepeta’s pupils turned to slits and she smiled predatorily, her claws extended and she cheered. “Ready furr anything Equihiss! Let’s go!”

Eridan cheered with her, laughing when he sees Equius swooning over Nepeta’s confidence.
He hoped they made things official soon enough.

==> Eridan: Open Memo

[==> Enter Passwword]

FUTURE grimAuxiliatric [GA] 7 HOURS FROM NOW opened public transtimeline bulletin board TEAM ADORABLOODTHIRSTY

FGA: I Would Like To Ask The Assistance Of Our Resident Seadwellers In My Planets Quest To Breed Frogs
FGA: Karkat Is Already My Main Assistant However Some Frogs Are Quite Deep Within The Waters Of My Planet
FGA: It Is Just Occurring To Me What Karkat And I Could Have Alchemized Some Sort Of Breathing Device That Could Help Us Get To Those Frogs
FGA: But I Shall Still Ask Nonetheless As I Feel Having The Help Of Two Trolls Who Can Breathe Underwater Will Be Easier And Faster Than Two Non Water Breathing Trolls Using Breathing Devices 

CURRENT clandestineAmicability [CA] responding the memo

CCA: Sure, I'll help wwith the frogs
CCA: Just troll me wwhen I'm suppose to come and help! 

CURRENT cuttlefishCuller [CC] responding to the memo

CCC: O)(! 
CCC: Of coralse we can )(elp you Kanaya! 
CCC: It'll be so muc)( fun, won't it -Erifis)(? 
CCA: Wwe’ll sea Fef
CCA: But yeah, just troll us Kan and wwe’ll be there
FGA: Wonderful 
FGA: Karkat And I Shall Troll You Both Soon
FGA: Relative To My Time Of Course

CURRENT twinArmeggedons [TA] responding responded to the memo

CTA: hey
CCA: >8(
CCA: Hello Sol
FGA: Sollux
CCC: And w)(at t)(e s)(ell do you t)(ink you're doing )(ere? 
CCC: Kanaya asked us S-EADW-ELL-ERS for )(elp!
CTA: duhh ii wa2 ju2t curiiou2 a2 two what you were doiing fii2h for braiin2
CTA: youre ju2t 2iittiing there 2miiliing at your palmhu2k
CTA: ever thiink of gettiing 2omethiing better than your diinky liittle palmhu2k there priince22 or are you ju2t goiing two keep u2iing iit throughout the 2e22iion 
CCC: DINKY LITTL----E PALM)(USK!?!? 
CCC: I'll )(ave you know t)(at t)(is was a GIFT from -Erifis)( )(imself! W)(y would I want to replace it?! )()()()()(MMM???
CTA: waiit really
CCA: Oh, you kept it? 
CTA: 2hiit
CCA: I gavve it to her a feww swweeps ago, another vvioletblood got sneaky and bold and snatched her old one durin a seadwweller party wwe attended
CCA: I think he wwas tryin to get Fef's handle evven though she told him no
CCA: I noticed it and tried to get it back but I ended up breakin it so I got her a neww one
CTA: ah
FGA: That Makes Sense
CCA: I can't believve you kept it though, it's been swweeps! 
CCC: O)( -Erifis)(, you didn't break my palm)(usk! It was t)(at seadweller's fault!!
CCC: And of CORALS-E I'd keep it! You gave it to me after all 38D 
CCA: I thought you wwould’vve swwitched to the newwer models by noww though 
CCC: Nope! 
CCC: I didn't because t)(e one you gave me still works pierfectly fin! 
FGA: Yes That Should Be The Main Reason Why You Kept Using It 
CCC: 38) Kanaya
FGA: My Apologies I Did Not Mean To Interrupt
CCC: But anywave yea)(! I don't need a new palm)(usk OR alc)(emize a new device, my current palm)(usk is doing just fine! 
CCA: If you say so
CCA: Although I am wwith Sol a bit about gettin a neww computin devvice
CTA: hah!!
CCC: 38[ 
CCC: W)(y is t)(at -Erifish?
CCA: You can still use it if you'd like but I think you should make another devvice as back up or somethin
CCA: Multiple in fact, you nevver knoww wwhen you need a computer or a communication devvice on hand
CCA: WWhat if you lose your palmhusk somehoww? 
CTA: hehehehe yeah 2ee? ED get2 iit
CCC: 3>8T
CCC: Fiiiiin, I’ll get anot)(er communication device.
CCC: Only because I don’t want to lose my palm)(usk

CCC’s palmhusk exploded!
CCC left the memo

CTA: HOLY 2HIIT
FGA: Oh Dear
CCA: FEF???
CCA: Sol wwhat happened?!
CTA: an underliing 2nuck up on u2 and attacked u2! 2he dodged but her palmhu2k wa2nt 2o lucky
CCA: Oh no
CTA: waiit what ii2 2he doiing
CTA: WHY II2 2HE ATTACKIING ME??!!

CTA left the memo 

CCA: oh no

CCA left the memo

FGA: Oh Dear
FGA: I Know They Will Be Alive As I Have Spoken With Them In My Time But
FGA: I Still Hope They Will Be Okay

Future grimAuxiliatrix 2 [GA2] 600 HOURS FROM NOW responded to the memo 

FGA: Um
FGA2: They Will Be Fine
FGA2: For Now
FGA: That Is Ominous
FGA2: It Was Intentional
FGA2: I Dont Even Know Why I Returned To This Memo Aside From The Fact I Remember My Future Self Responding To It
FGA2: I Feel As If I Now Have A Little More Understanding To What Karkat Feels Right Now About Visiting Past Memos And Seeing The Seeds That Shall Bloom Later On In The Future
FGA2: If I Was In A More Better Mood I Would Perhaps Describe It Other Than
FGA2: Something Something Dangerous Flowers Etc
FGA: Uh
FGA2: Either Way It Is Time To Close The Memo 
FGA2: Go Breed The Genesis Frog
FGA2: I Would Wish You Luck But Frankly You Wont Need It 

FGA2 left memo

FGA: Alright Then

FGA closed the memo

==> Eridan: Participate in Operation Regisurp

Prospit is as beautiful as Derse was, if only because it was an almost exact replica of the planet but instead of being shades of violet, purple and black, it was all shades of yellow, gold and white.

Eridan doesn’t mean anything when he calls Prospit an ‘almost exact replica’ of Derse, it’s just that the architecture is similar but that was one of where similarities ended. For

Prospit was so much different from Derse, the prospitian carapacians were more open, kinder and welcoming whereas most of the dersite carapacians were closed off and rude. 
Another difference was that on Derse, Eridan would have never set foot anywhere near the royal palace of Derse much less talk to the Black Queen or King. He avoided them as well as the other Agents/Future-Exiles, but here? He was a little bit excited to meet with the White Royalty of Derse.

Operation Regisurp was in full swing, however part of it required them to acquire the White Queen’s ring- mostly to throw them into Kanaya’s volcano for the Genesis Frog. Kanaya was picked as the negotiator since she was on good terms with the White Queen ever since she awoke early in her golden tower. 
Curious about the planet and its residences, Eridan volunteered to come with her, admitting that he’s always wanted to see Prospit with his own eyes and this was just the perfect chance for it. Sure, he had to ride his rocketboard all the way to Prospit just to meet with Kanaya but as he stood there in the golden palace overlooking the bright city, it was worth the trip.

“Wwoww Kan, Prospit is beautiful. Again, I wwish I wwas a Prospit Dreamer rather than Derse, the carapacians are so nice here!” He exclaimed as they walked towards the main throne room where the White Queen was awaiting them. “And you probably don’t havve to wworry about Agents spyin’ or tryin’ to assassinate you.” In his normal but dark clothes, he certainly stood out among the bright environment.
Kanaya, dressed in Prospit pajamas as she was dreaming right now, chuckled. “The Prospitians are very kind folk, very welcoming... Have you really had to deal with assassinations on Derse?” She asked with concern and Eridan gave her a reassuring smile.

“Nothin’ too serious, a feww attempts here and there but they knoww that if they kill the Dreamers before they evven wwake up and play the game, there’ll be consequences and shit. Doomed timelines I think, but still, pretty dangerous on Derse.” Eridan sighed, remembering the few times he found a bomb in his tower. 
He could only assume Jack got bored and decided to fuck with the only awake Derse dreamer for entertainment, he wouldn’t be surprised with the asshole.

“I certainly wwouldn’t havve asked the royalty there for anythin’... Do you think the White Queen will just- hand it ovver?” He asked quietly. The answer was obviously yes considering that they made the Genesis Frog in the webcomic, but he can’t remember if Kanaya had to negotiate it with a deal on the line or the Queen just gave it to her.

==> Worry not Eridan

“The Queen is as kind as her people, but she is also intelligent and pragmatic. If we explain the plan to her, then she will give us her ring. We might not even need to as she might know that we require it to light the Forge.” Kanaya replied confidently, self-assured and honestly that’s enough for him to feel as confident as she was about it. 
It didn’t take long for them to meet with the White Queen.

The start of the meeting was... interesting to say the least; Eridan hadn’t exactly forgotten the fact that the Queens and Kings of Prospit and Derse underwent prototypings as players and their prototyped sprites were brought into the game. He remembers it because the whole point of Operation Regisurp was to dethrone and exile the Black Queen who refused to wear the ring because of Aradia’s frog prototyping because she just hated frogs that much to reject all the power the ring would grant her.
It just somehow slipped his mind that the White Queen would feel the opposite as Prospit worshipped and respected frogs in contrast.

Meaning, he and Kanaya met the fully prototyped White Queen in all her messy yet somehow still kind of elegant glory. 
She could barely fit in the throne room she was situated in as Gl’bgolyb’s size and tentacles had certainly forced her to grow beyond expectations. Not to mention the other large lusii that added to her growth. It was- honestly mind-boggling meeting her as such.

Still, Kanaya and he moved in, politely introducing themselves before explaining the purpose of their visit. 
The White Queen patiently listened, and as expected in the end, she gave them her ring. Admitting with slight humor that she missed being her original tall size and being able to walk around.

==> Being so large was rather cumbersome but being part frog was rather pleasant ignoring the other creatures

“Thank you very much your highness.” Both he and Kanaya said gratefully, bowing and curtsying accordingly.

Just as they were about to leave though, Eridan hesitated and stayed back for a moment. “Your highness, are you awware that Prospit is destined to lose? No disrespect Ma’am! But...”

The White Queen tells him quietly that yes, she knows Prospit is destined to lose.

“Then- then maybe you should evvacuate early? Find somewwhere safe until the Reckonin’, you, the King, your citizens..."

==> Your kindness is appreciated Eridan

==> Sweeps In The Future...

“Please, at least make sure to leavve before the Final Platform appears? Or before the Genesis Frog appears, please. It’s- somethin’ vvery dangerous wwill appear not too lon’ after the platform appears. I can’t tell you wwhy I knoww this or howw, but I- please believve me wwhen I say that you and your people need to be gone from Prospit before it’s destroyed.” The young troll on the screen pleaded with her past self. 
She watched herself cross her arms, warily suspicious over his words. She wishes that the console could communicate with not just the Players, but her past self as well. Unfortunately, it could not for that was not its purpose. 
She types.

==> Unfortunately I did not take the warning too seriously

A WIDOWED QUICKSTEP stands in a room in front of a large, twelve-segmented monitor. A series of devices, unfinished and unrefined, lay around her as well as a thick book that she has been studying from for the past decades or so. A new purpose given to her, by a strange man.

She watches forlornly as the young troll, Eridan, leaves her past self in the throne room. Although the monitor follows Eridan, she knows that the White Queen would only take the warning as half-serious. Her slight prejudice against Derse was connected to its Dreamers as well even though she logically knew that they did not truly side with the dark kingdom. 
Still, if only she took the warning just a bit more seriously... then perhaps her husband would be exiled with her instead of dying to the Winged Demon that destroyed Prospit as young Eridan had forewarned.

Alas, she was now the Widowed Quickstep instead of the White Queen.

And she had several jobs to do.

One of which was to guide the Hope Player, Eridan Ampora.

She watches him rejoin the Sylph of Space, Kanaya Maryam on the streets of Prospit. Seeing it again after all this time was a nostalgic heartache but it also reminded her just why she was here in the first place. She reaches towards the console, typing out as Eridan watches with horror alongside his teammates the Sylph and Seer as the Thief of Light was slowly covered by her own blood and screaming in apparent distress and agony.

==> Do not worry for the Thief Eridan

When one god tiers, it is preferable to die quick and instantly.

==> She will Rise Up

==> Eridan: Check on Vriska

Chapter Text

==> Eridan: Check on Vriska

"AUGH!!!!!!!!"

"Oh shit! Vvris, are you okay?!"

"I'm fine! Just- Ugh, I slid down a hole. Also! It's Mindfang, Duuuuuuuualscar!" Eridan rolled his eyes as he carefully followed after her along the giant rocks. They were at a specific beach, the shoreline filled with giant rocks and multiple crevices. "Hey, I think I found the tunnel! Come down here Dualscar, I think I found it!"

That caught his attention and he climbed down the rocks a little bit faster, "Comin' Mindfan', just- just wwait up!"

"Hurry up! Let's go go go go!!!!!!!!"

"Hold your fuckin' hoofbeasts, I'm comin'!" 

Vriska was grinning impatiently as he arrived at the tunnel entrance hidden among the rocks, a curtain of moss and vines had kept it out of sight. She looked excited but frowned when she noticed that Eridan had taken off his cape. "Where's your cape? The Great Orphaner Dualscar has to wear a cape!" She insisted, pouting at the cloth's disappearance.

"It was gettin' in the wway as I climbed!" Eridan replied, he sighed when he saw her pout and pointed eyes. "Fine! I'm puttin' the stupid cape back on..." He fished it out of his sylladex and fastened it over himself, feeling awkward in it. He was more used to a cloak than a cape, at least the cloak covered his body. He doesn't like it but he only wore it to appease Vriska and stop her from bugging him about it.

Vriska's pout turned into a smug smile, nodding with satisfaction. "Much better, you can ditch the cape after we find our ancestor's treasures and legendary weapons! I think he stopped wearing it after uh, y'know." Her confidence took a nosedive, turning a touch bit awkward at the end. Eridan grimaced at the reminder, "Anyway! We're so close! I can just feel it! This tunnel should lead us where we need to go next! All we need to do is find our ancestral symbols and we'll hit the jackpot!" She exclaimed excitedly, grabbing Mindfang's Journal from her sylladex.

Eridan looked at the journal in her hands, observing the worn cover and the Scorpio symbol on the cover and wondered just how it led to this in the first place.

The story of the troll's ancestors was interesting, and something he remembers clearly enough. In the original comic, Eridan's ancestor, Cronus Ampora aka Dualscar, was a feared seadweller of the seas. A favored Orphaner, The Top Orphaner of his caste at the time he was alive.

And in this world that Eridan awoke to sweeps ago, it seemed like it was the same.

Seemed, being the keyword here.

For some reason, the original story of Orphaner Dualscar was different. Whereas in the original, Dualscar had died from the Grand Highblood's hand for not telling a good joke while trying to incriminate his ex-kismesis Mindfang here it was different. Much different.

He wished he hadn't had to find out via the scorn of his other seadweller trolls, he didn't even know why they outcasted him at the beginning until he learned what happened to Dualscar.

Or, as the other violetbloods would snidely call him, The Prisoner.

Orphaner Dualscar had, at some point, done something considered treasonous enough to become The Grand Highblood's personal prisoner. Stripped of his orphaner duties and titles, they branded him The Prisoner even after Mindfang and The Summoner broke him out of The Grand Highblood's custody.

Though he only learned about the last part from Vriska herself when they first met. She had heard about him not long after she started reading Mindfang's journal and reached out, and from there, it led to him FLARPing with her and occasionally Terezi.

Eridan also found out more of just how different Dualscar had been compared to the original and it made him wonder of the small chance that somehow, he wasn't the only Ampora who had memories that they shouldn't have...

If only he could have met Dualscar to confirm it, or if only Dualscar had left behind a journal of his own for Eridan to peruse and find clues in.

Alas, he didn't and all Eridan could rely on for information about Dualscar (he was not going to call him The Prisoner) was the journal Mindfang left for Vriska.

And even then, there were so many questions left unanswered.

Like, how the hell did Dualscar fall pale for The Dolorosa anyway?

==> Centuries in the Past
==> Be The Dolorosa

Her title had long been stripped from her, she was no longer The Dolorosa, no. She was usually referred to as 'Slave' or 'You' or whatever else unpleasant, derogatory words used to degrade her while addressing her by her masters. They weren't her name, nor the monikers she would prefer, not that it would matter to them.

What did matter was what others would call her, others in the same circumstances as her, that understood her plight and would call her by her wiggler name.

Porrim Maryam, she who was once The Dolorosa.

Long ago, she had been one of the most respected trolls of her cloister and she had abandoned it in favor of a single mutant grub. That mutant grub once called her 'Mother', a beloved moniker she wore with pride as she watched the grub she raised become a handsome troll with a heart too big to match his ambitions and wishes for Alternia and the troll race itself.

That grub, others had once called him The Signless. Others would call him The Sufferer, much to her loathing. But she? She had named him, Kankri.

Kankri... She missed him. And Meulin and Mituna.

"Get on the fucking stage you lowlives!" A voice barked and Porrim grunted as she was shoved forth on to a stage to stand with other, chained lowblooded trolls. Although she would be the highest among them, it didn't matter though.

They were all slaves in the end.

"Gather 'round! Gather 'round! New slaves on sale today!" The teal salestroll exclaimed, gaining attention to the crowd around him in the market area. Porrim watched through half-lidded, dull eyes as the crowd gathered to ogle and watch them on stage. Uncaring of the air of misery that surrounded the slaved trolls in chains, some even laughing when a young goldblood began to sob and weep, trying to hide her face into shackled hands.

Porrim tuned it all out, stone-faced and tired, she had been through this vile process before. Three times in fact.

First time, she had been fierce. She fought against her handlers, her heart still blazing with passionate anger. They even had to sedate her for her anger at them, at Alternia, The Condesce. Unfortunately her 'feisty' nature caught the attention of a seadweller who wanted to 'tame' her, especially after hearing that she was a rare jade on the surface instead of in a cloister. She'd been horrible, and it was a relief when she died. At first at least, because with her death came the slavers once more. She had tried to escape of course, but was caught in the end.

Second time on the stage, she'd been too hurt by the sweeps of servitude and a foiled escape attempt but still angry. She kept silent though, glared and snarled but kept to herself. She didn't want to be sedated this time. Her second master was an indigo troll who feigned kindness, badly at that. She never let her guard down around him, but it seemed that he only wanted her for her rarity and his tastes were of... lower colors. Disgusting troll. He ended up selling her and other trolls not long after, proclaiming 'boredom' but she knew he had gambled too much away and needed the money.

Third time, she was completely silent. Mostly because of exhaustion and starvation at the hands of her second master but the sweeps had passed and all her experience had led to the fire in her chest dwindling to embers. Her third master was another violetblood, but like her second, all they wanted was the prestige of having a jade as a slave. She was treated as a doll, dressed up in clothes and such- she still got punished though, and the clothing the seadweller chose for her were awful, awful things. Garishly clashing and had horribly designed.

She was sold again, mostly because her third master got bored and found a new doll to dress. Apparently Porrim wasn't the only jade who abandoned the caverns, she only wished the new jade doll good luck.

And now here she was, a fourth time.

She wonders if she will finally die this time, finally join Kankri in the afterlife... The trinket, hidden on her person feels heavy and she strays away from that thought...

"-nd sold! Please come forth, claim your new slaves!" Ah, it seems like she'd been sold already. The teal troll motioned to the handlers and Porrim pursed her lips but did not fight as she and several other trolls were pulled off the stage to be gathered and given to their newest master.

Another seadweller, vaguely familiar almost.

The seadweller was flanked by two lowbloods and two olives. Both slaves telling by the silken collars on their necks and the iron bands around their wrists, a purple band with white and black waves stitched into the fabric. Later on, Porrim would think about those silken collars, wondering why they were made of silk but for now, all she sees are more fellow slaves and a new set of sweeps filled with misery and probable torture.

"That's five hundred seventeen thousand caegars my friend, for these slaves." The tealblood told the seadweller, "A hundred three thousand caegars each, with the exception of the, lovely lady here. She my friend, is two hundred eight thousand, she's a rare one." He leered and Porrim's lips curled in disgust, "Jade. Rare one right out of the brooding caverns." That was an obvious lie, she had been out of the caverns for sweeps and one could tell just by looking at her current state that she was not 'right out' of the brooding caverns.

The seadweller said nothing and gave the tealblood a blank look. There was an unnerving silence between the two and Porrim used that to observe the violetblood that wanted to buy her. 

They were tall, taller than her at least. Their horns were jagged like lightning that swept back slightly, their hair was well groomed and slicked back. He wore violet, black and gold of course, like all the other of his caste. They wore some sort of lightly armored chest plate, segmented in the form of their sign in a rather stylish way, that too seems familiar. Judging from the outfit, this violetblood was an orphaner. Her third master had been part of it, while her first master had not been, perhaps that was why she died. They wore a large, imposing cape with flared ends that contributed to the seadweller's intimidating figure.

Though the most eye-catching feature of her new master were the twin scars that covered their face. Coming from right to left, it started at the hairline before crossing over to their left cheek. It was a wonder how the seadweller kept their eyesight from the facial injury, though it might just prove how tenacious and hardy they were.

The silence between the teal salestroll and the violet orphaner dragged on, and the teal was starting to visibly sweat. Suddenly, the blank look turned to disgust and they turned in place, cape flaring slightly as they addressed their rustblood slave. "Pay them, Vwe're leawvin'" They drawled, and the rustblood nodded concisely. They had a wavy accent and a deep voice. "Zephyr, Steadfast, get them to the ship, I hawve more business to attend to, Adamma, Reartome come vwith me. Hawve Steadfast acquaint them to the ship and the others as soon as she can before vwe leave for the vwaters."

"Of course, Master Dualscar." A burlap sack appeared in the rustblood's, Zephyr's hands, it jingled heavily with numerous ceagars and they offered it to the tealblood who beamed. Exchanging the sack of coins with the keys and proof that Porrim and her fellow slaves now belonged to the violetblood. The taller olive, Steadfast, accepts the keys and just like that, it's done.

She now belonged to Master Dualscar.

It is right then and there that she finds the reason why the seadweller looks familiar, why the symbol on the orphaner's chest seemed familiar. This was The Orphaner Dualscar, head and top of all the orphaners among his blood caste. A gamblignant as well, feared on land and sea.

All three of her previous masters had mentioned him various times, she heard about him most from her second and third masters as her first had dismissed and mocked him out of platonic dislike and hate, her third master did not have such platonic feelings. They had ranted in front of her how they were more suited to be Orphaner Dualscar's kismesis, not the lowly cerulean Marquise Spinneret Mindfang, hatefully enamored with Dualscar. Her second, indigo master was also enamored with Dualscar although he was also interested in Mindfang as well.

Both Zephyr and Steadfast were silent as they guided them towards the port away from the market area, and soon, they arrived at a gigantic black and violet ship. There were plenty of trolls on deck, both crew and slaves alike, working in tandem on board to stock, clean and fix the ship. Steadfast stood behind them as they all boarded the ship, curious eyes following them that made Porrim tense, and yet she could not help but notice that the slaves on the ship seem to be smiling at them In fact, they looked healthier than Porrim and the others were.

"Welcome, to the Wrathful Angel." The rustblood announces as soon they were on deck. "Follow me please, I'll show you where you're staying."

Porrim shared a look with her fellow slaves. Two rusts, and a goldblood who didn't have the psionic mutation as their eyes were not filled with color, perhaps resulting their capture to slavery.

They were ushered into the lower levels of the ship, lead through hallways and into a room. They passed numerous trolls who seem to be preparing to leave, and all the slaves they passed had silk collars and free wrists and ankles. They looked... happy, and were conversing with the crew easily as if they were comrades and not trolls forced into the life of servitude. They wore neat clothes instead of rags and she had even spotted a troll with a silk collar snacking on a fruit!

Zephyr, she also noticed, was smiling widely, unlike his blank face when they first met. He looked relaxed even as he started greeting everyone, slave and crew, that passed by and receiving greetings in turn. They ended up in a room with loungplanks that were clearly filled with sopor slime, it couldn't compare to a proper recouperacoon but it was still better than nothing for a slave.

The rustblood turned to them, smiling wildly. "Alright! These here are your quarters from now on! C'mon Steadfast, let's get those shackles off these guys and get them something proper to wear!" He exclaimed and Porrim watched with widened eyes as Steadfast laughed, tossing half the keys that she had to Zephyr and turning to Porrim.

Thankfully she wasn't the only one stunned by their actions and attitudes.

Porrim couldn't help but relish in the feeling of her wrist freed from the iron shackle that bound it. She did the same for her neck, though she paused at the feeling of silk underneath her fingers and around her neck. It reminded her that despite having the irons off of her limbs, she was still a slave, serving another seadweller master. Although, there were just a few things off with this... She glanced at the three other trolls that had been bought alongside her, two rusts and a goldblood. Their shackles were also gone, and for a fleeting moment, she thought of escape.

The moment passes quickly for she remembers the fact they were in the bowels of a highblood violet ship that had countless other trolls, slaves and crew alike, onboard. Having their chains freed was a pleasant surprise though, usually it wasn't until something important happened did the chains come off like when Porrim was dolled up and the shackles got in the way or something, and even then the action was usually not even bothered as she spent her first master's servitude with the irons on.

Steadfast and Zephyr had left them alone in the room once they freed all four of them and given them silk collars, advising them to wear them immediately and stay in the room for now instead of immediately putting them into work.

It was all very baffling.

When the awkward silence became too much, they started introductions.

The youngest among them was Nemdei, the younger rust. Just like the rest of them, their signs and titles, if they had any, were stripped once subjugated into slavery but he used to be an Arrius. He'd been turned into a slave just a couple of sweeps ago, and was sold only once so far. This was his second time being sold.

The older rust, and second oldest among them was Lissof, his previous sign was Aro. He was nearing the end of his caste's typical lifespan, it was already surprising to see a rustblood so old. He was a tired, scarred man, low-spirited and it was with reason as this was his seventh time being sold. Porrim could sympathize and a little awed that he'd managed to survive for so long, yet, platonic pity paired with her awe as that just meant he had suffered for so very long.

Next came Ponkoi, the goldblood, he'd been a Gempio before slavery, and this would be his third time being sold.

Porrim was last, and they were certainly surprised to find out her old sign, Virgo, and her bloodcaste. She knew how rare it was for a jadeblood like herself to be above ground, away from the brooding caverns and the mothergrub.

"This is- this is my first time being bought by a violetblood." Nemdei admitted shakily, anxious of what was to come. Ponkoi shivered, nodding in agreement with him as this was also his first time being sold to a violetblood.

She and Lissof shared a grim look, it seemed that he also had experience to being bought by a violet aristocrat as well. Despite her diminished ferocity against her masters, her caring nature had yet to disappear and she promised to help these young trolls the best she could just like every other young slave she had met before. They would have to keep their heads down, pay close attention to the dynamic on the ship, be as uninteresting as possible and really just hope for the best.

It was all they could do at the moment.

Nemdei suddenly brightened slightly, "B-But Zephyr, and the others we saw- They seemed- okay? Maybe, maybe master um- Dualscar? Dualscar, won't be so bad?" He suggested weakly, despite suggesting it himself, it was clear even he didn't really believe what he was saying as he wilted when both she and Lissof simultaneously snorted with blatant disbelief. Porrim felt a bit bad seeing the youngest tear up slightly, however she doubted that Orphaner Dualscar was any different from her previous seadweller masters. Difference in how badly he would treat them perhaps, but both her old masters and however many Lissof's seadweller masters had been high maintenance and cruel. If anything, as the top Orphaner and having an infamous reputation, he would be the cruelest master they would have and the possibility of death was higher than ever.

And yet, Nemdei had pointed out Zephyr and the other lowblooded servants that they had passed. They had seemed- pleasant, happy even, it didn't seem like they were faking happiness as far as she could remember them...

The door creaked open and all four of them jolted, postures straightening as Steadfast and Zephyr returned to the room. They were holding towels, clothes, and ablution items. Steadfast grinned at them, "We're back! I'm Steadfast, but when we're below deck just call me Beldum if you want. Here, some clothes, soap, shampoo- you guys should get cleaned first and foremost. There's an ablution block for servants down the hall, past a couple of doors. You won't miss it." She said, giving them the clothes, towels and items before motioning them to follow her outside and pointing to where the ablution area was. "Go on! Go get cleaned!"

There was clear hesitance before they all made their way to the ablution area, it was a large block with multiple small cubicles with separated showers and such. It was surprisingly clean and spacious for an area for slaves. And there were actual showers instead of a container of cold water or a hose- and the water. The water was warm, not scalding hot or frigidly cold, but actual comfortably warm water. Porrim was stunned as she showered, and she's sure she wasn't the only one.

How long had it been since she had showered in warm water? Bathed with actual pleasantly smelling soap or lathed her hair with shampoo instead of scraps of soap or just water?

Porrim wasn't complaining, she could never, but she questioned it all. Why? Why bother giving 'lowly slaves' the privilege of warm water? Soap, shampoo, non-ragged clothing and freed limbs?

The only sign that they were slaves aside from the scars that marred their bodies, was the collars around their necks. Soft, silk and barely noticeable compared to the iron collars that they once wore.

They had even given them multiple choices in clothes! Granted, the long skirt that Porrim chose from the bundle wasn't dyed or anything but between the pants, shorts or even short skirt that she had been given, she was able to choose which clothing she wanted to wear.

When they returned to their assigned block, much cleaner than either of them had been in sweeps, they returned to only Zephyr within the block and baskets of food on their loungeplanks. "Here you go! I know those fucks probably didn't feed you guys before we got you, so here! The baskets are yours, and if you need more, either go to the mess block or galley. Or y'know, just ask me. Either or!" Zephyr exclaimed, smiling and seemingly oblivious to the wide-eyed stares he got as he gestured to the food.

Tentatively, they each got their basket from their respective loungeplanks. It was mostly loaves of bread, jerky and dried fruit but it was more than they'd ever gotten all at once ever. Porrim sniffed at the food, unable to sense anything wrong with it. Just that it was- it was food. Her stomach growled and she flushed, thankfully she wasn't the only stomach that growled. She finally caved to the her stomach's demands and ate one slice of bread, restraining herself from fully consuming it all. She knew better than to do that for various reasons.

"Okay, before I go, I just want to say something important. So you all have to listen." Zephyr said and immediately had their attentions, "You might have already noticed things being off here. You have lots of questions, and I know you won't trust whatever I'll say right away. I was- I was like that too at the start. So all I'll say is that, you'll see why everyone looks so happy here on the Wrathful Angel. Under Master Dualscar. From the crew, to us slaves! Servants. You'll see it for yourself, but there's a couple of rules you need to know. To remember." He said, starting out soft and excited before turning serious.

"Never take your silk collars off on deck or around outsiders. When other trolls are on board, keep your heads down, no smiling, no nothing. Just- just keep busy, don't do anything to attract attention. When you hear whistles and bells, go back to your block and stay in your block until you hear the whistles and bells again, got it?"

Confused by his rules, they merely nodded and Porrim contemplated Zephyr's words as he bade them farewell, telling them that they would start their new 'jobs' tomorrow night. Was it sunrise already? The market had set up rather late...

As she laid down on her new loungeplank, feeling the slime underneath the thick fabric. She pondered. Freed from irons, silken collars, clean ablution areas with warm water showers, more than one set of clothing that she could choose from, a basket of food, loungeplanks with sopor slime, a ship of happy slaves...

It alludes to a 'kind' seadweller master, something she hadn't thought possible. And yet, the signs were there.

You'll see why everyone looks so happy here on the Wrathful Angel. Under Master Dualscar. From the crew, to us slaves!

Zephyr's words chimed in her tired head as she closed her eyes. Indeed, she would just have to see for herself.

The worse outcome was only death, after all.

"Miss Porrim! Miss Porrim, look! I did it!" Nemdei beamed, eyes sparkling with excitement as he showed her the shirt he'd been fixing. Porrim hummed, eyeing the shirt before nodding. Not a stitch out of place or to be seen.

"I can't see the stitch, you did a good job Nemdei." She praised, smiling as the young rust cheered quietly to himself before carefully folding the shirt and putting it on the stack of finished clothes at the side. Porrim chuckled as she watched him sift through basket of torn clothing for another piece of clothing he could fix. Nemdei was certainly taking to sewing well, having good hand-eye coordination unlike Ponkoi who had struggled even when he'd brought his face as close as he could to see his stitching.

He ended up joining the trolls in the galley in preparing food for every troll onboard instead, his culinary skills having impressed some of the galley workers.

Lissof was somewhere cleaning as always, or so he would proclaim. She thinks he's been gossiping with the older trolls on the ship, being awfully chipper for an old troll at his age.

Life on the Wrathful Angel had been... strange, to say as an understatement.

A couple of perigees had passed since Porrim and the others had been sold to Orphaner Dualscar and the anxious wariness seemed to finally be fading away with every night and day that was passing them by.

Porrim hadn't understood why the lowbloods and crew she had passed the day she'd been sold had been so happy and healthy looking, but now, she had gotten a good idea why and it was baffling to say the least. Her original doubts of a kind seadweller master was slowly being proven otherwise, because apparently it could exist though she was still somewhat struggling to understand it.

Orphaner Dualscar was rumored to be a cold, calculative seadweller. A violetblood that had climbed up to the top of the echeladder of Orphaners, ruthlessly culling trolls and lusii left and right to get to the top and stay there. By all means, he should be cruel, he should be a tyrant among trolls, he should be.

And yet, he isn't.

Not really?

Not to the trolls on his ship at least, not when there were any 'outsiders' around, and it certainly seemed so at first glance. Dualscar was stoic and aloof, standoffish to the average troll. For the first few weeks on the Wrathful Angel, she had taken him as he was. A stoic and cruel seadweller, and yet his crew was happy. The servants under his servitude were happy. They were all treated well, every troll had been given food, clothes, items- they were allowed to keep or even gain personal items.

Nemdei had a small, but growing collection of books that he was sharing with Ponkoi- although the goldbood was more interested in the recipe books that the rustblood had. Ponkoi was allowed to grab food from the galley, so long as he made sure to tell the troll workers there. Lissof had a few tools underneath his name, he didn't even have to steal them, they were freely given.

And Porrim, she herself was collecting little scraps of pretty cloth and thread. And she had access to the ship's supply of fabric and sewing material. She had once been a regular servant, her tasks were mainly focused on cleaning but when the ship found out that she could sew and do it well? Her tasks completely changed and she was set to mend salvageable torn clothes or even occasionally, create clothes alongside the few other trolls who could sew.

She still had cleaning chores from time to time of course, nearly every troll had to. But her main one, was to sew, mend clothes, and she was allowed to take small supplies from the stock so long as it wasn't in use or needed.

She hadn't trusted it at first, but then she saw the trolls she worked with taking a few cloths, a spindle of thread, a couple of needles with no repercussions. She's even had a few of the crew thanking her for mending their clothing, when was the last time someone thanked her for sewing a tear? When was the last time she'd been thanked as a troll and not a slave? She spent days awake sometimes, holding to the last remnants of her past, the one thing she kept safe no matter what, in her hands as she processed everything.

The crew were lively, outgoing, boisterous yet kind. They didn't treat the 'slaves' as beneath them, they were treated with respect even. Treated as if they were also part of the crew on the ship. On top of all that, despite being slaves, despite having been bought to labor for the rest of their lives, they were also paid for their work! Granted, it wasn't as much as the crew, but the fact that they were paid at the end of each perigee was- was mind-boggling. It didn't make sense, and yet it was happening!

Life on the Wrathful Angel was almost like a dream, she could almost forget that she'd been sold as a slave.

Almost.

She would never forget it, and neither would everyone else on the ship.

Nor would anyone else off the ship.

"Oh, hello~" A voice had greeted her one night as she carried a basket of cloth towards the laundry block of the ship. The voice was familiar, so very familiar that she froze on the spot. Dread crawling up her throat and staying right underneath her tongue. "Aren't you familiar?"

It was them.

Her third master, The Hedonist.

"Aren't you the old jade I threw away? Hm, face me. All you other slaves, go away, leave us alone. Now." They ordered sharply, Porrim couldn't help but follow, remembering her cruel time under their hand while the other slaves around absconded, leaving them alone. She sees Lissof hesitate but she sends him a look and he leaves easily after that. She gripped the basket tightly, keeping still, keeping quiet. The Aquiborn violet circled her, a scowl on their face as they observed her. "Look at you, doing well under Dualscar hm? Heard all about him so you decided to beg to serve him? Hm?" They growled and she gritted her teeth, successfully holding back her flinch.

"Tch, pathetic. Pathetic, so fucking pathetic. How lucky you must be, to server Orphaner Dualscar. You've always been a pretty bitch, maybe that's why he took you in." Disgust roiled in her chest, as well as anger at the mocking implications. Dualscar was infamous of keeping his quadrants bare with the exception of his spade, he wasn't interested in her like that. They had hardly even interacted! Hedonist was misplacing their jealousy on to her merely because they saw her again in the custody of the troll they were pitchly enamored with. And that annoyed them.

The Hedonist sneered, "Ugh, just look at you." They started, about to insult her more, or worse, when—

"And look at you." A low voice growled from the side, startling both trolls. Orphaner Dualscar stood with a glower on his face aimed entirely at The Hedonist. "Hawvin' the gall to sneak dovwn belovw my deck vwhen I specifically told you to stay the fuck vwhere you vwere." He snarled at him, and though it wasn't aimed at her, Porrim still flinched back at the undertone of anger that Dualscar had in his throat.

The Hedonist shivered, but there was an excited gleam in their eyes as they replied sickly sweet. "Oh Dualscar~! I'm sorry, I must have taken the wrong turn- I needed the ablution block was all and then I found my old doll! Right here, in your ship. Isn't that a coincidence~?" They purred, casually looping an arm around Porrim's waist and she strangled a sound of dismay-

THWACK

The sound of dismay escaped her, though she wasn't the only one as The Hedonist squealed in shock as a cutlass sword embedded itself between her and The Hedonist. Its sharp edge facing The Hedonist's face. "Enough games, Hedonist. I knovw your angle, and I ain't playin' shit. I'wve only got one kismesis and it ain't you." Hedonist's face colored as they visibly fumed, "Get the fuck off my ship, novw." Another weapon appeared in his hands, a curious but clearly dangerous blue rifle with a glowing pointed end. It wasn't pointed at The Hedonist yet the seadweller paled all the same and quickly scurried off.

Porrim stood there, frozen. She watched her old master flee, and her new one stalk over to her after putting away his rifle. She holds her breath, staying still as he came closer. He doesn't say anything to her, doesn't even look at her. All he does it grab his sword from where it was embedded in the wall, grumbling underneath his breath about the hole it left behind. He turns his back on her and she finally lets herself breath.

"... You okay?" She blinks twice in shock, he's still not looking at her. "Are you hurt?"

"A-Ah, no?" It ends up as a question, she clears her throat, straightens her posture and reaffirms firmly. "No, Master Dualscar. I am uninjured, I am fine." She watches his back and sees one ragged earfin twitch, now sees the tension in his shoulders abate slightly.

"Good." He audibly huffs, "No, outsider piece of shit bothers my trolls on my ship." He glanced back at her, glancing away when their eyes meet. "Novw get back to vwork." He barks, looking forward before marching off.

Porrim watches him leave, confusion swirling around her but she feels like-

She feels like she's starting to understand him a bit more now.

She took to observing Orphaner Dualscar a little closer after that.

"Cap'n Dua'scar." Greeted an old bronzeblood, twice as old as Lissof to the point of needing a cane to properly walk. He had walked right up to Orphaner Dualscar as the captain was talking to one of his crew members. "Cap'n, I'd like ta join tha crew 'n shore nes'top. Got me oc'lar sp'res on sum tools tha' we migh' need soon." He drawled, smiling patiently at the seadweller who had paused in his conversation to listen to the lowblood.

Dualscar scoffed, "Do as ya fuckin' please, old fuck. I told ya to bother the ship's treasurer i'stead of me! Stop cravwlin' to me for ewvery single thin' you need." He told him coldly, flicking the lowblood's forehead and stalking away, barking at the crewmember he'd been talking about to follow him. In the past, Porrim would have felt rather angry seeing something like that, she wouldn't do much about that anger as she couldn't possibly fight back against someone like Dualscar.

But now? She can see the brownblood grinning wide at Dualscar's back, a few of the other nearby crew and servants chuckling as they watched from afar. The old bronze shook his head and laughed, hobbling away and hollering, "Than's Cap'n!"

In the present, Porrim could see the little details her more sullen self wouldn't have noticed had she not stayed on the Wrathful Angel for perigees.

Dualscar hadn't opposed to the old troll's request, if anything he agreed. Although his words were harsh, they could have been much, much worse. And Dualscar hadn't punished the brownblooded troll for anything, not for interrupting his conversation or brazenly asking to accompany the crew next dock. The flick to the forehead was barely a punishment, it had been gentle- she knows it was gentle as the bronzeblood hadn't even rubbed at his forehead and Dualscar was capable of inflicting more damage than that.

Dualscar, Porrim finds, was a kind troll.

Kind to the trolls on his ship at least.

This was not the first time something like this had happened, she has seen other times where Dualscar was unerringly kind. Though that kindness was thinly disguised as something rough, but never malicious. He kept the trolls on ship healthy and happy, and though he snapped at them from time to time, the trolls seemed to know that he didn't mean it.

What really cemented the fact that Dualscar was kind was when Nemdei himself accidentally bumped into Dualscar, too engrossed in his newest book to notice his approach and no one warned him. Porrim was ways away from them, and a jolt of fear had ran through her, she was about to run interference, take whatever anger Dualscar might have for the transgression for herself when an olive servant, Ulypse, stopped her with a teasing look in her eyes and gestured to look at Dualscar and Nemdei again.

Rather than getting angry for being bumped into like a normal seadweller would have, Dualscar peered down at the fearfully frozen Nemdei who had dropped his book in the incident. Porrim watched with wide eyes as Dualscar bent down, picked the book up, hummed at the cover before pressing it back into Nemdei's hands. The young rust could do nothing else but accept his book back, "Good book, 's got a sequel you'll like. Ask Steadfast for it." Dualscar told him blankly before walking off the other direction, leaving two stunned trolls and three amused ones.

The other trolls swarmed him, laughing and jostling Nemdei lightly. "I thought I was going to die." Nemdei whimpered, clutching his book.

"Nah, Master Dualscar's too soft to kill one of his own!" Ulypse exclaimed brightly, dragging Porrim with her to join Nemdei and the others. "Any outsider might got problems, but even then! If a rustie like you accidentally bump him, he'd just growl and leave!"

"Why?" Porrim blinks at the question, realizing that she had said it aloud. She gained their attention swallowed, "He's- Why is he so... not like the other violets?"

Ulypse shared a look with the other servants, and a teal shrugged, "No idea. He's just- he's just like that. He's soft, pale for everyone—" The other olive hits the upside of her head.

"He ain't! He doesn't do other quadrants, remember, idiot? Only Mindfang's got a square, and they're a healthy black! Don't even need an auspice." They turned to Porrim and smiled, "He's not pale for everyone but she's right 'bout one thing though. He's just like that. I think he likes happy trolls on his ship, considers us all his crew, no matter where we came from or what we are. He treats us as- well, trolls. Doesn't bullshit, he acts like a prick but he's one 'f the kindest trolls we've ever known, actually like that and not pretending and stuff. 'S why we stay, why we continue wearing these things." They tapped the silk collar and Ulypse and the others nod in agreement.

Nemdei and Porrim thought back to Zephyr's words, the night they'd been sold.

You'll see why everyone looks so happy here on the Wrathful Angel. Under Master Dualscar. From the crew, to us slaves!

He'd been right.

They were seeing it, they were experiencing it.

For once in a long, long while.

Porrim felt safe, happy even.

It's unbelievable but it's true.

She doesn't stop observing Dualscar though, for she has more to learn about him.

Her time on the Wrathful Angel is a happy one, but it wasn't always safe.

Master Dualscar was an Orphaner after all, and a gamblignant. A pirate of the sea, so danger was always capable of showing up at the most unexpected times.

Like earlier that night, Master Dualscar's kismesis, the illustrious and infamous Marquise Spinneret Mindfang, had shown up to mess with Dualscar.

Porrim has never met the Marquise, never even seen her as she was always below deck with the others whenever she or another dangerous troll came. The whistles and bells alerted her and the others to abscond into their blocks, to lock the doors and stay there until the whistle and bells sounded again for safety this time.

Tonight was a night of celebration, apparently.

She's experienced it a few times before, some special occasions, a victorious celebration- a time where everyone was seemingly on deck and enjoying the jubilation.

The trolls of the Wrathful Angel had a connection to music, it was something she learned early on. Music was always around, in the form of humming, tapping, drumming, musical instruments played or even singing. And there was a reason for that, Dualscar was a singer, or so it had been whispered to her from other trolls.

That was something she hadn't experienced yet, apparently the previous parties on deck, Dualscar refused to sing himself. Remaining sober enough to refuse, insisting on simply laying back and enjoying the festivities.

Not tonight though, he was fully drunk. She could tell from the violet flush on his face and the fact he was smiling.

Porrim had never seen Dualscar smile, not fully at least. Always serious, always stoic, or pleasantly blank. This was the first time she had ever seen him smile and laugh and she couldn't look away.

A small band from the crew played music, fire blazed in the burners as drink and food was passed around. Dualscar was laughing uproariously, an arm around a joyous indigo who laughed with him. No longer dressed in his Orphaner light armor, he had a loose light violet shirt with frills, a pair of black trousers and a cerulean sash around his waist. He looked so much better, with a smile on his face, Porrim thought idly to herself before realizing what she thought and boggled at it. Wondering why she was thinking that, and yet, she couldn't refute it.

Dualscar's toothy grin was infectious, spreading all throughout the ship. His laughter pulled in more laughter from the crew and servants, and although his voice slurred, it was mesmerizing to hear it in such a joyous inflection. He wasn't just a stoic troll, dangerous for sure, but here, the joy and clear kindness softened his scarred face.

"Enjoying the view, Porrim?" She jolted at Lissof's words, the old rust sitting down besides her with an infuriating knowing smile on his face.

Porrim coughed, "It has been- a wonderful night." Jade colored the tips of her ears as she looked down to her mug of some sort of fruity wine.

"Sure has been." Lissof cackled, wheezing slightly at the end and sighed. "... Never thought it'd be like this, y'know? Spent all my life, going from one master to another and somehow found someone I don't mind staying with." He says softly and Porrim takes in a shaky breath.

"It's... It's unbelievable."

Lissof chuckled, "Yet here we are..."

"Cap'n!" A voice hollered over the noise, old bronze Bookio raised a mug to Dualscar, "Sing us a song Cap'n!"

The troll crowd beamed and talked over themselves, agreeing with him. "Sing! Sing! Sing! Sing!" They chanted and in previous nights, Dualscar would have scoffed and said no, rolling his eyes at the disappointed whines he'd get.

Tonight though?

Dualscar beamed and laughed, "Alright! You fucks vwant a son'?! Vwe're doin' Drunken Sailor then!"

The cheers were thunderous as Dualscar snapped his fingers, pointing at the musical trolls who were playing instruments and immediately they began to play a jaunty tune. It seemed like every troll on the ship knew the beat of the song, some stomping to the rhythm, some clapping, tapping the wood of the ship or table, chair or barrel. Music played as Dualscar sang out, starting slow with the music, his accent dimming, his voice strong and the tempo picked up, there was a gleam in his eyes that had Porrim gripping her mug tightly.

What, will we do, with a drunken sailor?
What, will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
Earlye in the evenin'!

Immediately the rest of the trolls sang up afterwards.

Way-Hey! And up she rises!
Way-Hey! And up she rises!
Way-Hey and up she rises!
Earlye in the evenin'!

Dualscar took over, the others turning quiet as he took steps forward, beginning to dance along with the beat as he continued singing. A few trolls joined him, gleefully stomping to the beat.

Shave his belly with a rusty razor!
Shave his belly with a rusty razor!
Shave his belly with a rusty razor!
Earlye in the evenin!

The chorus started again, more trolls joined the song. The deck's floor shook underneath the stomps as more and more trolls joined in and Porrim watched in awe as Dualscar danced with them.

Way-Hey! And up she rises!
Way-Hey! And up she rises!
Way-Hey and up she rises!
Earlye in the evenin'!

It was Dualscar's turn once more, singing another verse to the strange but very catchy shanty. He grabbed a random mug of liquid and raised it, uncaring he was sloshing the insides as he continued dancing and singing without a care in the world.

Put him the scuppers with a hosepipe on him!
Put him the scuppers with a hosepipe on him!
Put him the scuppers with a hosepipe on him!
Earlye in the evenin!

He toasted with Ponkoi who had been nearest, the goldblood joyously singing the chorus with Nemdei who dragged him into dance. Not even Lissof was spared from being included, and naturally, Porrim wasn't excluded either.

Way-Hey! And up she rises!
Way-Hey! And up she rises!
Way-Hey and up she rises!
Earlye in the evenin'!

It continued on, Dualscar singing the verses on his own before the whole of his crew sang the chorus in tandem afterwards. Nearly all of them engaged in dancing joyously among themselves, no one danced alone, always accompanied by someone else. And somehow, someway, Porrim found herself dancing with Dualscar personally. The both of them lost in the throes of music, Dualscar's flushed, drunk face beaming at her and her own flushed, nondrunk face, beaming back.

This was the first time she had danced in sweeps at such a celebration, and the loudest she ever sang. The last time she had been like this, she was celebrating Kankri's wriggling day with Meulin and Mituna, all four of them dancing into the night on their own. A little party to themselves.

This party was not so little, and she was not around her grubs, but she was among companions and she felt more alive than she had ever been since Kankri's death. It hurts to think of it even now, but it somehow doesn't ruin her elation and joy as she and Dualscar danced on the deck on top of a table as he sang out the last verse of the song.

That's what we do with a drunken sailor!
That's what we do with a drunken sailor!
That's what we do with a drunken sailor!
Earlye in the evenin'!

Dualscar looped an arm around Porrim's waist, leaning into her with a drunken laugh. "One last time!" He bellowed to his crew, and Porrim laughed as she joined in the last chorus while trying to support Dualscar's weight.

Way-Hey! And up she rises!
Way-Hey! And up she rises!
Waaaay-Heeeey and up she riiiseees!
Eaaarlyeee in the eeeeveniiin'!

Everyone cheered as the final notes of the song died down and Dualscar cheered with them, still leaning against Porrim who carefully led the drunk seadweller down from the table. Somehow during the dancing, Dualscar had continued drinking so he was even drunker than earlier on. Impressively enough, it didn't really effect his singing skills.

"Cap'n's drunk too much again! Set him down somewhere, won't ya Maryam?!" Bookio called out, jeers and laughter following after his words as they insisted Porrim sit Dualscar down. Which was fair considering the seadweller was laughing nonsensically with them. She sighed but smiled and led Dualscar to sit somewhere a little more quieter, and the seadweller let her, stumbling only once but unbothered by it, snickering to himself.

She passed by a whispering Lissof who was talking with one of the indigo crewmen and Steadfast.

She found an unoccupied seat in a suspiciously emptyish area of the deck, away from the ruckus and the crowd and sat the captain down. Dualscar grunted as he sat down but beamed at Porrim, "Avw, than's, much apprecia'ed. Drank more than I shoul' durin' the son'." He laughed, leaning back and relaxing against the chair. His hair askew, his clothes disheveled and still smiling openly.

"It's nothing Master Dualscar-" Porrim started, only to be interrupted.

"Cronus!" He exclaimed, leaning back towards her with an easy grin. "Don'- don' call me tha' mas'er shit, call me Cronus! 'S my vwiggler name." Something in her chest fluttered and she coughed.

"I- don't think that's appropriate-" "Bah!" He interrupted her again, waving off her concerns. "Newver really co'side'ed myshelf apro-pri'te. Hate it! Hate th' bullshit hem'spec'um, hate bein' part 'o it." He muttered, his smile finally slipping and for some reason, that pained her a bit. "Bu's no' like I can do shit 'bout it. Fuckin' pink bi'ch in charge's fuckin' there, gotta- gotta fee' h'rrorterr'r lusus..." He mumbled, leaning to the side, "...m'n 'n th' moon.... fuck'n bullshit..." It seemed like he was going to fall asleep.

"Master Dualscar?" She reached out to shake him lightly, to wake him, he shouldn't fall asleep on the deck in a chair after all. "Master Dualscar!"

Dualscar blinked blearily at her, "Wh're'ou?" He mumbled, squinting at her with tired eyes.

"I- Porrim, Master Dualscar. Maybe you should retire to your coon."

Dualscar squinted at her then smiled, her bloodpusher skipped a beat. "Porrim, tha's a nishe name. Call- call me Cronushhh..." He yawned, closing his eyes as he leaned back against the chair with a smile on his now, sleeping face.

Porrim's face colored a bright jade, and a chuckle from behind got her attention. Lissof stood there with a couple of crew members. "Need some help getting the captain to coon there Porrim?" Her blush worsened at the teasing looks she got. She glared at them and huffed before nodding, she wouldn't be able to carry Cronus on her own after all.

The next day, she was pleasantly surprised when she met with Du- Cronus, entirely on accident, bumping into him. He steadied her and seemed to have remembered her name, as he told her to be careful. Before she could even reply, Cronus' face tinged violet and he left in a hurry that had her dumbfounded, watching her usually aloof captain stride away faster than normal.

Cute, she would think and a wave realization would hit her there and then.

Did... Did she have feelings for the seadweller?

Oh.

Another wave came over her- only this time, it felt more like exhaustion. She had felt so tired since the party yesternight- it must be nothing.

For the record; it wasn't nothing.

'Stupid fuckin'— You're not suppose to feel that vway for her, idiot!' Cronus fumed to himself, cursing underneath his breath as he slammed the door to his block. Tiredly, he sat down on a nearby chair, slumping backwards into it and staring at the ceiling.

'You're not allovwed to feel that vway...' He took in a shaky breath, 'And I don't. I don't feel that vway. I really don't.' He thought to himself determinedly, his fists clenching as he gathered himself. He got up, standing still for a moment before heading towards the mirror in his personal block. He stares at himself, taking in the dark skin, the scars, the horns, the teeth and the eyes.

Cronus Ampora, Orphaner Dualscar.

Ancestor to Eridan Ampora.

That was what he was, and he had a role to play.

The scar on his back and the pair on his face twinged as a reminder and he scowled, "You can't change shit, just- just get owver it." Ignoring the twinge in his chest, he composed himself and left the block. Standing tall, stoic and blank as he then continued on with his night.

...

The next night he's carrying a passed out Porrim into his personal quarters because she had a fucking fever.

==> Porrim: Awake to a Melody

Chapter Text

==> Porrim: Awake to a Melody

...stand there. Tries it was true...

There was something soft and cool on her forehead, and a melody played in the background. Her senses were muddled, her body in slight pain with a hot sensation that seemed to run hotter than the sun. It shouldn't make sense, she was one of the rare few who could stroll underneath the scorching star without feeling pain. She felt faint, exhaustion weighing her down- though there was something else weighing her down. A soft something, drier than the one on her forehead.

She felt hot, but comfortable, she could barely stay awake.

She struggled to keep herself awake, if only to continue hearing the soft song that was in the air. Too tired to recognize the words, but even in her fevered state, she could hear the sorrow behind the beautiful lyrics. The voice singing was familiar, deep. The soft and cold thing on her forehead disappeared, leading discomfort as heat rushed to replace the sensation. She murmured something wordless, groaning, something shushed her and the soft something returned, no longer cool but cold.

...hm hm... hm hm... run... to you...

She doesn't remember drifting off, but she does in the end. Falling asleep to the sad melody.

"Exhaustion partly took her down Master. She's healthier than she was when she came on to the ship, but certain... extraneous activities compromised her stamina, but there's another reason why she's got such a high fever for a jade."

"Vwell? Vwhat is it?"

"She's starving."

"Vwhat? No, that's impossible. I feed ewveryone on my ship-"

"You do, and from what I've heard, she's eaten as much as the others sir. But this starvation is caused by another reason; have you heard of rainbow drinkers before Master Dualscar?"

"... Shit."

The next time she comes to, second that she remembers anyway, the melody was gone. She doesn't know why she notices that first hand, though she knows why she feels disappointed. The song was beautiful, even if she couldn't remember the words but the tune was stuck in her head.

She still feels tired, exhaustion nips at her mind but she doesn't struggle as much to stay awake, her eyes still felt so heavy though.

There was a water-soaked cloth on her head, cold to the touch and battling the heat of her fever. It took her a few moments to realize that she'd been tucked into a horizontal loungeplank, one of the softest she's ever had the chance to experience. A blanket cocooned her on the platform, keeping her stationary and warm, a different kind of warmth compared to her fever's heat.

Her senses were still muddled, and from sleeping for however long it was, her vision was bleary. Colors blurred together and even then, she couldn't keep her eyes open for too long. Frustration bubbled illogically from her weakened state.

It felt worse as she suddenly realized just how parched and hungry she felt. A groan tried to escape her throat but ended up as a pathetic whimper instead.

A familiar hunger, one that she's kept restrained all this time, swirled with the thirst. Too distracted with the frustration, the thirst and hunger, she doesn't hear the incoming footsteps. Doesn't even notice the added weight to the loungeplank as someone sits on her side. But she does notice the gentle hand sneaking its way underneath her head, carefully lifting it from the soft pillow and cradling her. Something cold was pressed against her lips, her fangs colliding against it with a slight clink.

A glass of deliciously cold water, she realizes as she opened her mouth slightly and tentatively sipped from the offered glass. There was something else mixed with the water, something familiar but different, like metal in a way but edible and delicious.

She drinks as much as she can, though her hubris comes in a cough and the glass is immediately taken away as she continues coughing into a fit. "Careful, careful there..." A familiar deep voice chided her softly, and if it weren't for the fever already coloring her face, embarrassment would have colored it as she feels drool and spit leave her mouth as she coughed. It spiked as a soft cloth gently wiped at her mouth when she was done.

Porrim wondered just who was taking care of her, who was being so gentle with her, who the familiar voice was. Her mind too muddled to make any real connections and her eyes still too blurry and tired to properly see her caretaker. All she could see was a foggy haze of colors swirling together between brief blinks. This was possibly the worse fever she's ever had, she couldn't, for the life of her, recognize who her caretaker was.

The wet fabric on her forehead was taken away but was quickly replaced a freshly soaked cloth on her brow. A sigh of relief came from her and she distantly could hear a low chuckle. She wanted to see who it was, know who it was.

She strained to open her eyes, trying to free a hand to help clear her vision or reach out to her caretaker who was being so vigilant in tending to her health.

"Close your eyes and rest Porrim, rest."

She let out another nonsensical mumble, causing her caretaker to chuckle once more. Exhaustion weighed down on her once again and she gave up, letting her eyes close with a small huff.

Just as she slowly starts to drift off, unable to keep awake any longer, it comes back. The melody that she so faintly remembers. There were no lyrics this time, just a tune that was being hummed. She sniffled, tears prickling her eyes for some reason and she felt something brush against her face as she finally drifts off into her dreams. Her memories.

She dreams of gentle hands, of her beloved Kankri, of Meulin and Mituna.

"As she slowly gets better, dilute less of the blood, perhaps mix it with soup instead of water... Master Dualscar, you could have asked for other trolls for their blood to feed Miss Maryam."

"Vwe're keepin' the fact she's a rainbovw drinker a secret, remember? Can't exactly ask 'em to giwve blood vwithout reason."

"They wouldn't need a reason, they trust you sir. We trust you."

"For some fuckin' reason but no, anyvway it vwas my fault she ended up like this. I'll take care 'o her."

"... If you say so, Master Dualscar."

"Shut up."

"I said nothing."

"Your face says ewverythin', Steadfast."

The third time she wakes, she feels better. She was still ill but her fever seemed to have dropped significantly and her skin didn't feel as hot as before, her vision was also clearer than last time, somewhat blurry but she could see things properly this time and trying to open her eyes didn't feel as cumbersome.

Porrim used that to her advantage and finally looked around her surroundings, to find out where she was and possibly who her mysterious caretaker was. She ignored her parched throat and the feeling of hunger in her stomach, she squinted at the block she was in.

The walls were dark purple with varying shades in a design she couldn't see with her blurry vision, she was at least still on the ship. Most of the ships walls and blocks were dark purple. The block she was in was dark, no light other than the slight ray of Alternia's night peeking between dark curtains, how long had she been ill? How long since she collapse? The last she remembered was Lissof, Nemdei and Ponkoi asking if she was okay before it all went black. Though anything before that was quite the blur. 

She tried to sit up, to see the rest of the block she was in- it was large. Larger than the block that she hared with Nemdei, Lissof and Ponkoi. Larger than a few blocks on the ship, actually. Where was she? She fell back on the loungeplank with a tired groan, she wanted to see more around the block but she didn't feel strong enough to sit up much less walk. She blinked at the ceiling, the thirst she'd been ignoring was getting too much to bear, her mouth felt so dry, yet somewhat sticky. She felt disgusting.

The hunger was the same, but she had more than enough experience ignoring the hunger, that type of hunger usually- then again, having actual food helped a lot...

Porrim looked to her sides, and on her right, she was relieved to see a ceramic cup and a pitcher of what she assumes to be water on a table right besides the loungeplank she was tucked in. She struggled to reach for it, turning to her side and stretching out, she hated the feeling of how weak she felt just trying to get a cup of water. A wet cloth fell from her head as she struggled for water, it shocked her for a bit before she ignored it in favor of getting something to drink. She manages to pick up the pitcher with one hand, and with it, she fills the cup. If a bit clumsily as some water spilled much to her displeasure.

Her arm felt so tired when she set the pitcher down, but she wasn't done with it yet. She still had water to drink, which she did.

She drained the cup, fulfilling her thirst. She set the cup aside, laying down on her back once more with a relieved sigh. That was her thirst satiated... Her stomach growled and she groaned, now if only she could deal with her hunger... She moved her head and her cheek came into contact with the wet cloth from earlier, she was just about to move it back on her head when she heard a door creak.

Feeling too tired to lift her head, she instead craned her neck around to try and find the door. "You're avwake? Good, good." That voice... Her mysterious caretaker!

She couldn't see where he was, which door he'd emerged from. But she hears the heavy footsteps and soon, a blurry figure came into her vision, carrying a tray of something to the table where the pitcher was. "You drank some vwater, that's good, you hungry?" Her caretaker asked as she squinted at him, she heard a faint click, and the dark block filled with more light as a nearby standing lamp was lit.

If she wasn't so tired, so weak from her illness, she would've gasped with shock or even sit up with surprise as the identity of her caretaker was revealed to her.

It was Dualscar, it was Cronus! Her mysterious and gentle caretaker was- it was he! In... in retrospect, looking back to her muddled thoughts, it was obvious. The block was too big to belong to just anyone on the ship, even the crew had smaller blocks. Not to mention this loungeplank was huge and too comfortable to be considered normal. His voice had been so familiar, and the melody...

"Porrim? Porrim, don't fall asleep yet." Cronus' voice snapped her out of her dazed, shocked thoughts and she sees his concerned face. He looked weary, tired, probably from the fact he's been personally tending to her health alongside his other duties! On the tray he set down on the table, he had even brought soup! "You need to eat somethin', do you think you're vwell enough to eat on your ovwn?"

Perhaps there were some slight perks to being sick. Her face was already flushed thanks to the fever, so any embarrassment she had didn't show. Porrim took in a deep breath and shifted, unable to stifle her groan as she tried to sit up. Cronus immediately assisted her, helping her sit up and even rearranging some pillows so he could lean against the platform's board for support while feeling comfortable. Although the instant she settled against the pillows, a series of coughs violently came from her throat.

While she was coughing, Cronus grabbed the now discarded cloth and filled the cup with water once more. Waiting for her coughs to stop, and offering the cup to her afterwards. Porrim accepted, the water was cold, soothing her aching throat. Her stomach growled and Cronus asked again, "Do you think you're vwell enough to eat on you ovwn Porrim?"

"I-" Her voice was raspy, quiet. "I think so." She wanted to try at least.

Cronus nodded, waking the bowl of soup from the table, summoning a smaller table from his sylladex to put on the bed and set the bowl in front of her.

She took the provided spoon and sniffed at the soup, with her sickness, she could barely smell anything but even the faintest hint of it was enough to spark the hunger she had. And so she ate, slowly of course as she was still ill but it gave her the chance to savor the delicious broth. It was thicker than regular soup, with a strange tinge and taste to it that seemed all too familiar. But with each spoon of soup, her hunger was satiated, although she couldn't finish all of the soup to her disappointment. She was already full and the fullness was egging on her tiredness.

If she took any more, she might heave and waste the soup. It was a shame, for the thick broth really was delicious.

"Can't eat anymore?" It was only then that she seemed to remember that she was not alone in the block and glanced at Cronus, embarrassment fueling her blush once more. He'd been silently watching her, a ghost of a smile on his face and she felt mortified. She nodded, attempting to thank him.

"Th..thaan-" The words stuck at her throat, and she was sent into another coughing fit this time accompanied by a dizzy spell that made her feel like the block was spinning around her. Her head lolled and she slumped against the pile of pillows and the loungplank board.

Firm hands steadied her gently, "Vwoah there!" The small table on the bed disappeared alongside the bowl of soup and the spoon. She was slowly led back to lay on the bed properly. The action caused a different kind of warmth to spread throughout her body, different from the fever, it wasn't an uncomfortable or felt as sickening- it was a nice feeling that continued and even lingered after the captain of the Wrathful Angel carefully tucked her back in the platform. Meticulously arranging the pillows for her comfort.

"Rest Porrim, sleep vwell."

Her eyes fluttered shut, and it felt like Cronus' hands brush her disheveled bangs away from her face and a cold, wet cloth settled itself on her forehead once more. She tried to murmur her thanks, she doesn't know if she succeeded. She thinks there's something dripping in her mouth, it tasted even more familiar, and she unconsciously licked her lips and drank whatever it was right before she slipped into unconsciousness once again.

Later in the day, with a clearer head, did she realize what that warm feeling was as she caught herself recalling how fondly Cronus took care of her, how gentle he was, meticulously caring and sweet-

She was falling, falling pale for him.

Her face heated, this time not caused by the fever at all.

Before it paled as she tasted something metallic in her mouth, something she was healthy enough to recognize now, something she hasn't tasted in sweeps.

Blood.

And it wasn't hers.

"You've been feeding me... feeding me blood."

Cronus paused from his place at her side, a book in his hands that he was about to read while she ate. Porrim stared at the bowl of thick broth soup in front of her, one of the ingredients of the soup identified as now that she was clearer of mind, now that her senses were better and she could recognize the smell and taste of blood. She looks at it and it sparks hunger, a hunger she had kept under control for sweeps even before her enslavement.

She hadn't realized just how hungry she'd been, relying on other foods to fill that hunger instead. 

"I hawve." Cronus confirmed casually, as if knowing that she was a creature who consumed blood wasn't that important. "I'wve been told that the blood vwill help you heal better, faster than normal. Or it vwould vwith continuous consumption... I don't like trolls starwvin' on my ship, Porrim." He told her seriously and her bloodpusher pulsed.

She took in a shaky breath, "You don't seem to care... that I'm a- a rainbow drinker." There was a reason why she kept it a secret, even after enslavement. At first, it was through fear. Rainbow drinkers weren't exactly seen in a good light, not even the cloisters accepted rainbow drinkers. That fear continued as she raised her grub Kankri, doubling with the dreaded discovery of his mutation and then his beliefs. She had fed lightly during then, she didn't have to subsist on blood alone thankfully, but there was always a small part of her that hungered for blood. Something she controlled tightly.

And when her beloved Kankri died, she thinks- no, she knows, something within her broke. It wasn't her control, but it had been hanging on a thread there. But shortly after his death, after Meulin's escape and disappearance, after Mituna's capture and helming. She broke. Her rainbow drinker side seemed to have faded, and her ability to glow had died alongside her grubs.

(Meulin and Mituna were most likely alive, but were they truly living? In Mituna's case, death was probably better. If Porrim had been sold to any other troll, she would have continue thinking so for herself as well.)

But the hunger lingered, and nearly overcame her when she first fought back against the slavers even as she never glowed like she used to. Unfortunately she'd been sedated, and the hunger died down to a dull background noise she'd gotten so used to. She had almost forgotten about it.

"Can't say I care, no." Until now that is. "The only other one vwho knovws about you is Steadfast, and he vwon't say a vword."

Porrim looked at him, lips thinned and hands worrying at the blanket that covered her. "But-"

"Porrim," She went silent, wide-eyed when Cronus levels a steady but kind look at her. "I don't care that you're a fuckin' rainbovw drinker- surprised, sure. You're one of my trolls, my responsibility. And on my ship, no one goes hungry. Not evwen rainbovw drinkers. Novw eat, the soup's mixed vwith blood and nutritional soup. I'll giwve you a little bit of ravw blood aftervwards." He told her sternly, leaning back against his chair and putting his attention back to his book.

Her bloodpusher pulses harder and the warm feeling is back, she knows it now. Pale. Pale. Pale. Taking care of her, staying by her side as she ate, feeding her blood when he didn't have to-

Wait.

"M-May I ask, whose blood I am consuming?"

Cronus says nothing for a moment, but she watches with shock as violet tinged his face, traveling all the way to his earfins. "Like I said, you're my responsibility. And, it vwas my fault you got fuckin' sick in the first place." At her inquiring, confused noise, he awkwardly scratched his cheek and explained stiffly. "I- forced you to dance an' sin', 'pparently you got shit stamina plus bein' blood starwvin' didn't help so- my responsibility to help ya get better... Also I didn't think you'd vwant others findin' out about it. So, my blood." He rolled up one sleeve to show it bandaged before rolling his sleeve back down.

Shocked was an understatement, but the warm feeling flooded back and she couldn't help the grateful smile aimed his way. "Thank you then, Cronus." Ah, she had mistakenly used his wiggler name instead of his title, she was about to correct herself when Cronus let out a strangled noise before burying himself into his book, she could see his earfins earfins twitch violently.

"It's fuckin' nothin'! Eat your damn soup Porrim!"

Charmed and amused, she did as was told and happily ate her soup. She managed to finish more than before, and Cronus provided her a small vial, no bigger than her finger, with a small amount of his violet blood within. She thanked him again and watched with a small amount of glee as he barked at her to shut up and drink before leaving the block with the claim he had work to do.

She laid back down, content and happy and the continuous pale pale pale warmth stays with her until she sleeps again. The only thing she's disappointed, is that she doesn't hear the melody that's been on her mind these past few days.

But your heart drifted off,
Like the land split by sea~
I tried to go, to follow
To kneel down at your feet... 

Porrim stayed as still and quiet as possible, feigning sleep to finally, finally listen to the melody, the song that Cronus was singing softly. She had slowly awoken a little while ago, feeling better than the night before. For once, her throat was not parch and her hunger was still satiated, but she still felt tired enough that she stayed laid down on the loungeplank.

Just as she woke though, she heard Cronus walking across the block, mumbling to himself and she laid still. Not wanting to interrupt whatever it was he was doing, it was late in the day and Cronus was still awake. He must be busy with something, of course he was; he was still captain of the Wrathful Angel. Still Orphaner Dualscar, he had duties, obligations and responsibilities to uphold.

Yet he still made time for her.

The thought had her hiding her smile underneath the blanket as she feigned sleep. She was ready to go back to sleep when she heard it. A familiar melody that had her frozen still, a song that kept haunting her dreams throughout the time she'd been ill in Cronus' block.

It wasn't the first time Cronus hummed or even sang in his block, not even the first time Porrim had awoken to him singing or humming and feigning sleep just so she could listen to the song for as long as she could before slumbering off. But those songs were not this one. This song... Something about it called to her, in a way. Its tune and melody, the small pieces of lyrics that she had heard and barely remembered had stayed in her head the entire time she'd been plank-ridden. She wanted to ask Cronus about it, but feared that he would react badly to the question- he didn't like singing around others unless he was drunk after all. So asking him about it...

It reminds her of her loved ones. The song. It brings forth memories, dreams, it seemed like every time she was reminiscing about her beloved young grub Kankri or darling Meulin, or dear Mituna, the song was there to taunt her. To soothe her. To remind her of the life she lived, raising Kankri and meeting Meulin and Mituna.

I have broken bones and tattered clothes
I've run out of time
I'll run, I'll run
I'll run run to you~
I'll run, I'll run...

A part of her wishes she could, a large part of her very much wishes she could run to them.

Run to the past, run away to her Kankri, to their precious little group of four, how a part of her yearned to do so.

But a part of her did not want to leave Cronus behind. Did not want to leave behind this kind man that reminded her of— Kankri.

Cronus reminded her of Kankri, he reminded her of the strange visions he had. Of trolls being kind, of co-existing with one another in happiness and without needless violence and bloodshed. Cronus was kind, for all he may pretend to be otherwise, he was kind. Like her Kankri, like Meulin and Mituna.

Over the sweep- had it already been a sweep? - she had so happy, content and safe. And it was thanks to Cronus. He had bought her and her friends, had treated her and the others, all the trolls on his ship, as trolls and nothing else. He had smashed her cruel expectations as he care for the happiness and safety of all of his crew, all the trolls on his ship, in his fleet. He disregarded the hemospectrum despite being one of the highest, he listened to every lowblood troll on the ship and even discreetly protected them if somehow, a highblood had their sights upon them- she'd seen it. She'd experienced it.

And she had fallen pale for him because of it. She pitied him as much as her own grub had pitied both Meulin and Mituna, although her pity was more of the pale kind rather than her grub's transcended feelings. She had no wish to be concupiscent with Cronus, her feelings were entirely conciliatory. And wouldn't it when Cronus was just as pale for her? He didn't have to personally take care of her, he could have let Steadfast take care of her instead but no. He personally oversaw her health, gently tucking her into his loungeplank, helping her sit up to drink or to eat- he gave her his blood after finding out she was a rainbow drinker.

She knew he was pale for her, the real question was, did he know?

Hmm take my heart 
And I'll lay down my weapons
Break my shackles to set me free~
I'll run, I'll run
I'll run run to you...

Cronus had such a lovely voice, she wondered sometimes if Alternia had been more peaceful, would he have become a singer? A musician? Someone that brought emotion through song and dance? She could see it. He had the skills and talent for it, even when he was drunk his singing was amazing. Although, compared to his joyously drunken singing, his voice was rather somber and lonely in this song. Questions came to mind about him, about the song. Who was the song about? How did he know it? Did he create the song, if so, for whom? It seemed fit for a flushed relationship but... The song took her back to her memories of her little Kankri, to happier times of watching him grow and meeting his loves, such happy times. It doesn't last though as the song takes her further through her memories, of their capture and condemnation, of Kankri's execution, of Meulin's disappearance and to her and Mituna's enslavement. Only Mituna's situation was far worse than hers.

It take her through those memories and leaves her teary-eyed and weeping.

She was tearing up even now as Cronus sang, low and sad. Translucent jade tears gathered in the corner of her eyes, and she was glad to be facing away from Cronus and hiding underneath the blanket. He would have stopped and check why he was crying, and despite the pain, she didn't want him to stop singing. Didn't want to stop the memories that came about her scarlet-grub Kankri, so very little, growing to something larger than life and hung down by burning shackles—

KANKRI! KANKRI! NO, LET ME GO, STOP IT- KANKRI!

Despite the pain, despite the sorrow, she keeps quiet in her tears as Cronus finishes the song, merely humming now.

Mmh-mmh mmh-mmh mmh-mmh mmh..." 

His humming came to a slow stop, having gone quieter and quieter until there was nothing but silence in the block. Porrim slowly opened her eyes, shifting to subtly wipe the tears that fell from them. She listened for movement and heard nothing but soft breathing. She waited a few more moments before taking the risk and turning her head to look at Cronus.

The seadweller was sat at his desk by the window, the specially tinted glass protecting him from the sun's deadly rays as it was high in the sky. Cronus was leaned back against his chair, eyes closed and breathing softly as he slept. Even from where she was, she could see the bags underneath his eyes.

Something serious must be going on outside of her sickness, she had yet to ask what it was, mostly asking about the status of the ship and the others. They were doing fine of course, concerned about her but ultimately fine. They had even visited her once on a good night, though she had to suffer underneath the teasings they made of her situation the moment Cronus was out of the block.

She hoped that whatever stressful thing that was keeping Cronus awake would end soon, was Cronus stressing about her health even? What a sweet, if concerning thought but she was getting better. Perhaps it was highblood matters, Cronus disliked those as he had said during their brief talks. Or maybe it was matters with his kismesis? Marquise Spinneret Mindfang, she had never met the troll. Seen her somewhat from afar, but nothing else.

Cronus usually faced her alone or on another ship, and whenever she was on the Wrathful Angel, Porrim had been busy.

What she knew of the woman was only from the ship's gossip and stories. Stories of how infamous Orphaner Dualscar had been a bachelor in all quadrants for sweeps before Mindfang came around, stories of how it was hate on first sight for her and that she had to make the effort to present herself as a worthy rival and hatemate to Dualscar. The older trolls of the ship had expected her to be like the rest of the trolls, to be rejected by their captain but something about her was different, they said. Different enough that Cronus's attention was achieved and eventually, their kismesiship was born from mutual hate. Hate that lasted for a few sweeps now.

The fact that Cronus had a kismesis filled her with a strange sense of relief. Had the man still be a bachelor in all his quadrants, she would have hesitated after hearing so many stories of past confession attempts that ranged from all four squares from the older trolls of the ship. The ones who had been with Cronus the longest in his tenure as Captain Orphaner Dualscar. She would have thought that Cronus had swore off quadrants entirely, or somehow, someway, did not feel like normal trolls felt like her grub, only he wouldn't feel or reciprocate any romantic love.

She had witness love transcendental from troll quadrants with Kankri, Meulin and Mituna, the possibility of someone being the opposite was something she could consider. Something she would respect if that was the case with Cronus and would simply pine from afar, keep her emotions to herself. 

But she knows he was capable of reciprocating troll quadrants, he was in a healthy and long kismesissitude with Marquise Mindfang after all, so there was a good chance her feelings would be returned.

The only obstacle in the way would be Cronus himself, and whether or not he even notices his feelings about her or she, him. Bookio and the other older trolls told her stories of past pining trolls that were so obviously emotional about him, each in varying squares but Cronus had either ignored them or was flat out oblivious to their feelings over all. A few times he'd been visibly shocked by the confession as if he truly had no idea, even Bookio himself had admitted that he had been pale for Cronus in his youth and confessed right to his face, and the look of boggled shock had stayed with Bookio for sweeps.

He, and other trolls on the ship who confessed, were let down gently. Saying that Cronus did not reciprocate their feelings, but thanked them for the confession and assured them they would find someone else. They eventually did, or their feelings would change, but they all admitted they were still very fond of their captain of course.

Porrim was a little scared her assumptions of his feelings were wrong, that he would reject her but she would always remember how gentle he'd been in taking care of her and a newfound sense of determination would come.

At the very least, she should try. She feels like she would regret it if she wouldn't.

Seeing Cronus asleep at his desk, Porrim sat up from the loungeplank, finally feeling well enough to do so and more. She gathered the blanket that used to cover her and quietly padded over to the sleeping seadweller, draping the soft fabric over Cronus with a small smile. Now that she was closer, she observed the sleeping seadweller. He was dressed similarly as to when he'd been drunk during the last celebration. Loose shirt, black pants, boots, only his sash was violet now instead of cerulean.

He looked so peaceful asleep, even with the tired eyes...

Porrim never would have thought she would fall pale to a strange, kind violetblood. Then again, she never thought she would raise a mutantblooded grub. And though it had been painful in the end, she had no regrets in raising Kankri. Only regret on how it ended. If given the chance, she would have done it all over again.

Cronus grumbled something in his sleep, shifting slightly and she froze. Waiting for the moment he woke up, he never did to her relief and she sighed. Seeing his disheveled hair, she hesitantly reached out to tuck it behind a finned ear. It flicked at the touch and Cronus mumbled something again but ultimately stayed asleep. Porrim smiled, a soft blush on her face before she finally turned away and walked back to the loungeplank.

She started humming to herself, the song he sang still stuck in her head. Although she had only heard the full song once, the lyrics were already memorized in her head. She yawned slightly, glancing at the midday sun outside the window before laying back down on the loungeplank, still humming. At some point, she drifted off back to sleep.

The next time she wakes up, the blanket she gave Cronus was back on her again though the seadweller wasn't around. She couldn't help but be disappointed slightly before smiling at the fact he still thought to tuck her underneath the blanket before he left.

A violetblooded troll paced in his office block, cursing heavily as he did so.

Abruptly he stopped and looked up to the green moon in the sky outside his window, fists clenched. He tore his gaze away and sat down on a chair and raised a hand to his face, shakily tracing the scars that were permanently etched there.

Get owver it in-fucking-deed.

==> Sometime Later

Chapter Text

==> Sometime Later

"You can pale ogle Captain Dualscar later, Porrim. After you've actually cleaned the windows."

Porrim startled, jade tinging her face at Lissof's teasing remark. "I-I was not ogling!" She hissed indignantly, glaring at him she sees him roll his eyes with clear disbelief. "I wasn't!"

"And I'm not a rustblood." Was his deadpanned retort, his face smirking while Nemdei and Ponkoi giggled at the side. "Please, Porrim, everyone on the ship knows you're pale for each other, you're just dancing 'round the square now. We're all waiting for you to settle down the square any night now, best get to it as soon as possible." Lissof told her cheekily and Porrim sputtered, waving her rag at him in stammering, embarrassed rage.

"That, Lissof, is none of your business!" Porrim finally replied with a huff. She was starting to miss his brief, sullen and quiet self. He'd become far too forthright when he started gossiping with the others on the ship! And very nosy in the subject of her quadrants. Still, she pauses and shyly asked him, "Is it really that obvious?" Her face colors a deeper color as all three of them nodded immediately after she asked.

"Very! At least on your end, you keep staring at him Porrim and smiling!" Nemdei exclaimed mischievously, snickering at how jade she was in the face. "Master Dualscar on the other hand- still kind of obvious but not really? He stops whatever he's doing to listen to you but then leaves so quickly afterwards! Plus, I hear some of the others have seen him smile a few times, like! Actually smiling, lips turn-up!" He emphasized, smiling and using his fingers to make his smile even wider.

Porrim couldn't help the giggle that escaped her, both at Nemdei's face but also at the thought of Cronus' smile shocking the crew but then again, she was a bit shocked herself.

"He lets you call him his wiggler name Porrim! No one but Mindfang calls him his wiggler name. You're practically moirails already!" Ponkoi added, glancing out the window to see their illustrious Captain and master standing on the dock and talking to some indigo.

Porrim glanced out as well, a longing sigh escaping her. "Unfortunately we're not."  Not yet at least, she thought to herself.

It's been a week or so since she completely recovered from her illness and returned to to slumber in her shared block with Lissof, Nemdei and Ponkoi. All three of them were glad to see her well, and it was a good amount of time before the teasing came, and not only them. It seemed like the whole crew knew of the pale feelings she held for Cronus, and during the most inopportune times, she would be teased or prodded for information about her stay in Cronus' personal block.

She was surprised at the amount of support she had gotten from the crew members, not to mention the fact that no one seemed to be really jealous at how close she and Cronus had become- despite Cronus' attempts to revert to his aloof persona around her, he was visibly softer to her now and more than one crew member caught their Captain's face blushing as he stalked away from Porrim after their conversations.

When she asked about it, Bookio answered her. "'twas only a matter o' time b'fore Cap'n finally found a moi'ail, lass. 'onestly, we're jus' glad he'd finally found one 'fta all these sweeps. You ma'e 'im 'appy, you ma'e 'im soft. He's smiles more wit' you 'round, we dun' get 'ose smiles outsi'e o' 'im bein' drunk off his arse or by 'is kismesis. Cap'n Dua'scar 'as ma'e us happy for so dam' lon', we wanna see 'im be mo'e happy fo' once." There'd been unanimous nodding and murmurs after Bookio told her that.

"Of course, some of us are a bit jealous Porrim." Steadfast admitted to her, "But like Bookio said, we want to see the captain be more happy. Smile more often. He does a lot for us, and if you make him happy then who are we to complain about it?" Once again, agreement was done with nods or murmurs had Porrim nearly tearing up at their admission.

This seemed like the world that her Kankri would have wanted, where jealousy didn't resort to violence and trolls wanted other trolls to be happy with each other. Cronus had somehow made an environment on his ship where trolls could be like that, where blood didn't matter and trolls were living amongst each other near-harmoniously and in happiness. He kept meticulous care of it though, careful not to show it to the world outside his personal ship and she could understand why, experienced why.

Alternia wouldn't have liked it, The Condescension wouldn't have liked it. Would have him cut down just like her Kankri.

So Cronus hid his kindness away, hid all the happiness on the ship whenever there were outsiders onboard or nearby.

"Just be sure to do it soon, I got a bet to win. Set it for sometime within this perigee, Porrim." Lissof told her, interrupting her thoughts. It took a moment for her to realize what he said and baffled indignation rose once again.

"You made a bet?!"

"Two weeks, two weeks! And you're still not moirails! Porrim! Porrim, tell us, why aren't you moirails yet?" Ulypse stressed to her during their mending session, taking her current project with her to sit closer to Porrim who blushed and tried to focus on fixing one of Cronus' shirts. It had been entirely unintentional and completely coincidental that she had picked up one of Cronus' torn shirts to fix, she swore it, yet none the other sewing trolls believed her. Especially Ulypse.

Porrim groaned, swatting away Ulypse's incessant stub pokings and yelped when she felt the sharp needle instead of a hand stub poking her. Not enough to cause blood thankfully, but enough to be an annoyance. "Quite frankly, as I've told Lissof multiple times by now- it is none of your business!" She huffed and fussed over her stitches, trying to find if she'd made a mistake thanks to Ulypse's nosy needle prick.

"It's our captain, of course it's our business." A sassy teal among their group replied. "Plus, seeing you both tiptoe around the grid is painfully sweet and embarrassing. One of my fangs might rot from the sweetness and my brain might die from second hand embarrassment."

Porrim's face burned, "May we please focus on mending the holes and tears of these garments? We have plenty of work to do!" She exclaimed, wanting to talk about literally anything else other than her quadrants.

Was she a bit disappointed that nothing else had happened between her and Cronus? Not exactly, she saw him more than she used to, he still smiled at her or because of her, and the fact that he was still supplying her vials of his own blood showed that he still cared. Steadfast had privately admitted to her that Cronus was adamant to being her main provider of blood until Porrim asked otherwise, which she found was very sweet. He was still keeping in mind her desire to keep her rainbow drinker status a secret.

So seeing him try to be mean to her was a bit hilarious, try being the emphasis here as he failed. Not when she knew the truth, she couldn't go back to seeing him as the aloof and stoic seadweller he was at the beginning.

She sighed, trying to focus on her work but a stray comment made by someone in the group made her freeze. "Maybe he's not actually pale for her or something-"

A spark of anger ignited, but not enough to do anything else but glare at the one who made the offhand comment. Thankfully she wasn't the only one, and the nearest troll to them smacked their shoulder, "He is! He's totally pale for her, why else would he have personally taken care of her when she was sick!?" Porrim huffed her agreement, only to jump when Cronus seemed to have materialized out of nowhere- actually no, he just opened the door to the block while they were too busy with their gossip.

"Maybe because I didn't vwant anyone else gettin' sick on the ship?" Was Cronus' dry reply and immediately everyone in the block shrunk into themselves, embarrassed to have been caught gossiping about him. Muttering apologies and finally focusing on their work on fixing tears and holes in the piece of clothing they had in hand. Though the most obvious question was why Cronus was in the block in the first place.

That question was soon answered when Cronus looked at Porrim, "Porrim, there you are. Did you fix my sash?" During her last visit to Cronus' block to pick up some vials as Steadfast had been too busy to pass on the vials to her that night, she found Cronus holding on to a torn, cerulean sash with a scowl. It had gotten damaged in his encounter with The Hedonist, who had become more and more aggressive as time went on, Steadfast said it was one of the reasons why he'd been so tired while taking care of her. Seeing it, she immediately offered to fix the damaged sash and after a moment, he gave it to her. "I vwant to vwear it vwhen I meet vwith Mindfan' tomorrovw night."

Porrim smiled, nodding at him, "Of course, I was about to give it to you later." Primly, she set aside her current work and uncaptchalogued the newly mended sash. Cronus has provided a basic sylladex to every troll on the ship with a few cards for easier use. It had been so long since she had one, one card was reserved for her most precious possession, the one thing that she had left that reminded her of Kankri. "Here you go." She offered the sash.

Cronus nodded back, face carefully blank as he accepted it back but paused when he spotted the new additions to the sash that hadn't been there a while ago. "... You embroidered some seahorses on it?" He seemed dumbfounded and Porrim couldn't help the blush of embarrassment as he traced the small violet seahorses that were now at each ends of the sash. It was easy enough to fix it, but during her time in Cronus' block she had noticed quite a few seahorse-themed items. Thinking about them had led to her old, wiggler interests in fashion and garment creation convincing her to do the small embroidered seahorses to spice up the sash just a little bit.

And a tiny part of her wanted to show off her skills to Cronus. Just a bit.

"You erm, seem to like them and I thought it would be nice to add them to the sash." She replied quietly, hoping that she hadn't overstepped. Had she overstepped? Maybe she should have asked first, oh dear maybe this was a mistake— "Perhaps I should have asked first, I could remove them if you'd like-" She started nervously, reaching out to take the sash back but was surprised when Cronus jerked away, violet dusting his face with a slight look of panic.

"No!" He seemed to realize what he was doing and quickly recomposed himself, his face blanking but the violet on his face tinged a deeper color. "No, this is- it's fine. My lusus vwas a seahorse so- this is- nice." He captchalogued the sash, giving her a tight nod. "Thank you Porrim..." She nodded back, a smile back on her face. Thank goodness he liked it! She'd been more than a bit worried there.

Porrim was about to return to her spot and continue mending clothes when Cronus stopped her, "Porrim, vwait. Here." He gave her a small bag full of ceagars. "For your vwork, also adwvance payment for the perigee." Before she could even try to refuse and return the money, Cronus had quickly left. And as soon as he was gone, the others swarmed her as she stood there, befuddled.

"'Not actually pale' MY ASS! Did you see that? Did you see his face?"
"This is better than any romance novel, so much better than 'Two Indigos Fighting Over A Teal—"
"Porrim! Porrim! You sly woman!"
"Advanced payment? Hah! You just got paid yesternight!"
"How much did he actually give you?"

At the last question, she hesitantly looked into the small bag and saw the amount of ceagars that was in it. It was more than thrice in what she usually got, it was- it was a little over the amount of what the usual crew members got! Also, sewn on the bag was Cronus' sign- had he given her some of his personal money? The trolls around her squealed at the sight of the sign.

Ulypse clapped a hand on her shoulder and leaned over to tell her simply, "If you aren't moirails by the end of the sweep, I am going to lose it."

Cronus was sat down on his chair, a certain cerulean sash in his hands. His thumb traced over the small seahorses embroidered into the edge of the sash. "You can't do this to yourself Ampora." He whispered to himself, clutching the sash tightly. "You can't- you're supposed to kill her, don't- don't torture yourself vwith this more than you hawve to." For once in a long while, tears gathered in his eyes but he refused to let them fall. Instead, he threw the sash down on the ground and hugged himself tightly, clawing at his sides, nearly tearing into his clothes in frustration and restrained grief.

"You can't change it, can't change anythin'."

He'd tried to, once upon a time. Long ago, when he was much younger. And it ended with...

A glowing woman floated before him, power roiled off of her and the two white wands in her hands. One moment, they were white, the next they were stained violet as Cronus screamed, clutching his face.

His scar tingled, the other scars on his body itched and he threw the cerulean sash down.

He never asked for this.

He never asked for any of this.

Cronus had simply woke up one night, fresh from his molt, with semi-jumbled memories of an alien life with memories that depicted the future. Sourced from a fucking webcomic. His time on Alternia was different from Hivebent as adults were still around, he was far from the time where The Summoner was hatched, he was even before The Signless had hatched! He'd been all alone, a human in troll's skin forced to adapt, forced to kill, forced to grow into Orphaner Dualscar.

His future was set in stone.

He was supposed to die because he told a bad fucking joke to a capricious crazy clown.

Of course, he didn't want to die like that, didn't want to kill trolls or lusii or be part of the fucked up society of Alternia.

He tried to avoid it, he got a scar on his back. He tried to run away, he'd been dragged back with a busted ankle and a dislocated shoulder. He even tried to k—

Cronus closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. The scar on his back, the one closest to his gills, burned as a reminder. Not literally, but the phantom pain of it always returned.

He opened his eyes and looked down at the sash, a complicated look on his face. He picked it up, looking at the small seahorses on it embroidered by Porrim.

He wears it during his next meeting with Mindfang.

~~ 5th 8ilunar perigee of 1st Dim season's equinox ~~

I come 8ack from a successful drone season spent with my dearest kismesis, who has 8estowed me his wiggler name. Cronus Ampora, an annoying name 8efitting my infuri8ing kismesis. Not to 8e shown up, I have of course given him my wiggler name in turn and made sure he remem8er it thoroughly throughout our day together.

I am quite sure I succeeded :::;)
However, I returned more irked than I would like to admit. And not for the reasons one would expect.

I was not irked 8y my kismesis' gentle disposition after our coupling, he is somehow naturally kind and was quite affection8 afterwards. If anything, it gives me something to hold over him as I find that he dislikes 8eing teased a8out his gentle nature and I have finally seen a face unlike his usual stoic nature; a 8lushing furious face that suits my kismesis so adora8ly. I finally have the upperhand that I wanted, I would not 8e irked 8y that.

No, what 8others me is what I found on my kismesis during our throes of the season.

Cronus has lived a long life, and no dou8t he has encountered numerous of dangerous occasions. I have yet to gain the stories of his scars, especially the ones that mar his face. But there is one story I would like to hear, just so I can find out who gave him that hideous scar and ensure they were dead.

On the 8ack of my 8lack lover, right near his delic8 and sensitive gills and gru8marks, is a scar depicting some sort of skull. It is a distur8ing mark, sweeps old and its implications are not ones that I would like. I call it a mark, 8ut the truth is no dou8t it is a 8rand. A lasting 8rand from whoever it was in Cronus' past. He doesn't wish to speak of it, and I will let it slide for now.

The origins of the 8rand will 8e another mystery I shall eventually unveil with time and pati8nce. Although I can't help 8ut wonder whether or not it came from a previous rel8ionship in Cronus' far past, as much as I would h8 to admit it 8ut I am unlikely his first and only kismesis.

However I am his current one now, and I am very possessive over what I consider is mine.

So whomever it was to carve that mark on my kismesis, it would 8e good luck on their part if they have already passed.

The meeting with Mindfang went well- for him anyway. He had sneakily stolen some treasures from her. Nothing too serious, just enough to make her annoyed and strike back if she wanted.

He stores the treasures away in a chest, and leaves the block with a smirk on his face.

He doesn't notice the green flash of light that appears in the chest.

A certain fuming, ceruleanblood does notice the disappearance of her oracle though and starts to scheme.

The ship rocked violently, the sounds of explosions and screaming were clear even through the thick walls of the block. Porrim held on to her loungeplank tightly as the ship shuddered and shook from whatever was happening out there.

Nemdei whimpered, holding on to Ponkoi on his loungeplank, "Ponkoi, I-I'm scared..." He whispered, hiding his frightened expression in Ponkoi's arms who tightened his grip around him. Lissof and Porrim grimaced as they looked away as Ponkoi shooshed and papped Nemdei, trying to keep him calm. They only felt a little shame and embarrassment at the blatant display of pale affections by the two, used to it but also because there wasn't they could do to provide the two of them privacy. Not when they were locked in the block together during this attack.

It had happened so suddenly, one moment, they were all on the surface. On the deck with her friends and enjoying the night with the crew before the bells and whistles sounded off and they were all ushered to the lower decks, ordered to stay inside their blocks no matter what. As they left, Cronus- no, Captain Dualscar had been barking order after order as they all scrambled to their places. The servants and non-combative trolls sent to their blocks to safety while the crew handled with the sudden ambush from an enemy fleet.

This wasn't the first time it had happened, as the Head Orphaner and a gamblignant of his own right, there had been attacks during her stay on the Wrathful Angel. Not to mention his kismesis Mindfang liked to ambush Dualscar just to pick a fight, yet this didn't seem to be a kismesis coming in to mess with their mate. No, this was different.

This attack was much more violent compared to others. Those times had also been tense, but this one, this one felt different for some reason.

The ship rocked again, and they desperately held on to their respective loungeplanks that had thankfully been bolted to the walls to keep them firm and from shifting on violent waves. And enemy attacks.

"It's going to be alright Nemdei, I'm here. We're here. We'll be fine. We were fine the other times, this time will be no different!" Ponkoi reassured the terrified rust, reassured himself.

CRASH

They all flinched as they heard the loud noise, it sounded like something being broken open. A new type of scream erupted from the cacophony of noise, screams of terror. Of fear.

BANG BANG 

Enemies had infiltrated the lower decks. Someone was at their door, trying to break it down.

BANG BANG CRACK

Nemdei shrieked as the door cracked, a colorfully stained battle-axe piercing through the hardwood. Porrim and Lissof stood instantly, wobbling from the ship's unsteady movement but they still, they stood protectively over the younger pair of trolls as the axe hacked away at their door. They didn't have weapons on hand, merely cleaning items like brooms and mops, Porrim wished for her old saw weapon and her strife specibus but she held the pole of the mop tightly. It would have to do.

CRASH

The door split open, revealing the enemy troll who was attacking them. A snarling, hulking blue indigoblood, brandishing the axe and ready for attack. She and Lissof tensed as the orange-eyed highblood sneered at the four of them in disgust and rage, still for a moment as screams continued outside the block.

"P-Porrim—" Ponkoi whispered fearfully, breaking the silence but was interrupted by the blueblood's swing of his axe. He and Nemdei screamed while Lissof and Porrim dodged the first swing, it hit the ground with a crack, splintering the floorboards. Lissof managed to grab onto Ponkoi and drag him and Nemdei away from the blueblood who set his sights on Porrim. "Porrim! Porrim loOK OUT!"

Porrim ducked underneath the axe's swing, the weapon hitting their loungeplanks and destroying them in its wake. She trembled slightly, the indigo reminded her too much of the man who executed her grub. It scared her. It angered her.

For the first time in sweeps, she snarled at the highblood, fury of old memories overtaking her panicked state and. She. Glowed.

The indigoblood was taken aback by her sudden shine of skin, and that gave her the advantage to attack. Lunging at the highblood and breaking the pole of her mop on his head, splintering it completely as in the end; it was still a cleaning tool and not a weapon. The indigo growled, his eyes turning a darker shade of orange for her action, however just before he could try to attack her again, he screamed in pain as splinters dug themselves into his face.

It was Porrim's turn to be taken aback, she turned to see Lissof with his hand raised, his eyes glowing slightly but panting heavily. The rustblood had been enslaved for his weak psionics, she remembered and they must be truly weak if mere splinters had him panting so much but Lissof's old age was also a factor to it. There was no time to dwell on it however as the troll whirled around to face Lissof with an angered shout, Porrim immediately jumped on his back, wrapping an arm around the other's neck tightly in a choke, using all the recovered strength she had as a rainbow drinker to keep her grip. "Go! Take Lissof and go!" She shouts at the Nemdei and Ponkoi who were supporting a gravely exhausted Lissof.

"But P-" "Get out of here NOW!" She ordered, struggling to keep choking the blueblood who flailed, Nemdei and Ponkoi could do nothing else but follow her orders and fled the block as Porrim struggled to try and stab the broken end of the mop handle into the blueblood- she ends up stabbing his chest from the back and he howled. Immediately he rammed himself against the wall and Porrim was forcefully smashed through the wall and into the hallway outside. She wheezed in pain, her glowing skin sputtered as she finally let go of the troll, laying painfully on the ground and debris of the wall.

The hallway was chaotic, enemy trolls were fighting against crewmembers in the lower decks now- shit, she shouldn't have sent Nemdei, Ponkoi and Lissof out of the block, where were they? Focus, she couldn't think of them right now as she had an angry blueblood looming over her. His eyes tinged with red, he pulled out the mop handle, indigo spraying out of the wound but he didn't care. Instead, he grabbed Porrim's throat and lifted her up.

She choked, clawing at the hand that held her aloft in the air.

The indigo sneered at her,"You will pay for that monster, you and the lives of every filthblood on this ship!" He snarled and she gasped for breath. She had survived death once before and became a rainbow drinker, but she didn't know if she could survive another. She didn't want to die. His grip tightened further- she didn't want to die yet.

Her vision blurred and her strength was failing her, she'd spent too long without blood before Cronus fed her. Jade tears gathered in her eyes and she choked out, "Cro-nu-s..." She didn't want to die without telling him her feelings, she had finally found something else to live for in this wretched world!

Something in the distance caught her blurry eye, unable to see properly as black spots formed from the lack of air. A scream of rage, thundering footsteps and-

"DON'T YOU TOUCH HER." Her vision nearly blacked out as she fell to the floor, as she could suddenly breathe, she greedily took in a deep breath but coughed from the effort. Her vision swam, her ears hearing a dull ringing. She tried to gather herself as quickly as possible as the ringing abated and all she could hear was the sound of growls, snarls and enraged screaming. She looked up and let out a shuttering gasp, Cronus.

Cronus had come to her rescue, yet relief did not fill her. Only anxious concern as she sees him in his enraged glory. She had never seen Cronus so angry before, his eyes were a complete red, and he was covered in blood of various hues and colors. One of them being violet, she can see some of his injuries so that may have contributed to it but she doesn't know the extent of his injuries.

He was using his cutlass against the indigo that had attacked her, against some other enemy trolls that tried to back that indigo up and go against her enraged captain but Cronus merely sliced through them regardless if he became even more injured from their incoming attacks. A few had managed to hit Cronus' chest much to her horror as violet blood began to spread over him, nonetheless, the enraged violetblood merely roared back with contempt.

Cronus had fallen into a blood rage.

A high-pitched sound pierced through the air, that seemed to be a signal of sorts and the enemy trolls began to abscond. The survivors were fleeing, the indigo that had tried to kill her and her blockmates was dead on the floor, but Cronus didn't seem to notice. Didn't seem to care, mindlessly hacking away at the corpse with vicious snarls and angry, guttural growls more fit for a beast than a troll.

"Porrim? Porrim! You're ok-AH!" Nemdei appeared from one of the blocks, his relief turning into shocked fear as Cronus whirled to face him. His mind still lost in his blood-fueled rage, the rust shrieked at the threatening hiss that came from the normally composed seadweller.

Porrim didn't hesitate.

She threw herself towards Cronus, wrapping her arms tightly around the feral troll who immediately tried to struggle only to freeze at the reassuring croon that came from her chest. She whispered her reassurances to him, shooshing the little growls and chitters that came out of his throat and gradually, her violetblood's blood rage seemed to cease. The red anger in his eyes fading to dazed, confused orange and the moment his eyes turned yellow, they rolled into his skull and Cronus collapsed. His blood-covered cutlass clattered to the floor as Porrim buckled underneath his weight, she couldn't lift him completely and instead softened his landing with herself.

Her body ached painfully, and the smell of blood was equally nauseating as it was appetizing.

Still, she ignored it in favor of desperately ripping apart her own skirt to try and staunch his injuries, bandage what little she could.

She had refused to die in the hands of that indigoblood, and she refuses to let her moirail die due to blood loss.

Elsewhere, the survivors of the ambush report to their employer.

The information is distressing, and they too, start to scheme.

He drifts in and out of consciousness, never staying awake for long.

I've been settling scores, I've been fighting so long...

He remembers bits and pieces of those moments, some are silent, some have distant murmuring and some... have a familiar tune that he cannot place. It lingers in his head as he dives and out pained slumber. Some times its faint humming, sometimes its someone singing and the voice is familiar. The voice is beautiful and with it, accompanies a gentle touch, a caring hand that cards through his hair or doing something else he couldn't fathom at the moment.

It's nice though, and for once in a long time; he feels at peace. A gentle calm that has him relaxing into where he was, and the pain, the stress, the fear- it all slowly ebbs away...

A thousand angels are waiting for me. Ooh take my heart, and I'll lay down my weapons...

One moment of coherency had Cronus take hold of whoever's hand was on his head, they jolted in surprise but he kept a lose grip. It's warm, he's warm, and he's already slipping back under unconsciousness. He thinks he whispered something, he can't remember it. The gentle hand grasps his own, and another rubs his cheek right before he slips back under and the humming follows him down, he feels inconceivably warm and happy.

Mmh-mmh mmh-mmh mmh-mmh mmh~...

He's content and hopes the feeling never goes away.

"Will he be alright? It's- it's been a few days."

"He'll be fine, he's suffered through worse believe it or not."

"I do, and it's unfortunate."

"Nonetheless true though, but that aside. What about you? How are your injuries?"

"I'm fine, just extremely bruised from the whole ordeal... Before you ask, I'd rather not consume any offered blood. I still have a few vials of Cronus' blood and that shall do for now."

"What, lowblood not good enough for you Porrim?"

"No! No, I just- I'm so used to Cronus but he's unconscious and-"

"It's a joke Porrim, it's fine. I think I get it, but know that if you need some blood, you have more than one willing donor. None of us care that you're a rainbow drinker, not after calming our Captain like that."

"I... thank you, Steadfast. I'll keep the offer in mind."

The first time he manages to wake up and stay awake for extended periods of time, he's alone and in pain. It's manageable and he can ignore it to an extent, but the warmth is gone as he laid there in his bed. Or, horizontale loungeplank as most of Alternia called it. He knows he's in his personal block, the loungeplank is soft and he recognizes the ceiling. He can't really tell the time as much as the window curtains were drawn shut and there was only a single lamp, dimly lit on his desk on the other side of the block. There's a stack of papers there and he wonders how long he's been out, and what happened while he was unconscious.

His crew, although rowdy and mischievous at times, were disciplined enough to know what to do while he was gone or down for the count. Steadfast at least, would be spearheading whatever was happening as his second in command, still, he should try and find them and find out what's been happening. He tries to sit up only to hiss as his body vehemently denied him of that, finally he looked at himself and found his torso and limbs wrapped in bandages and patches. There were a few violet stains but he doesn't think he pulled anything or re-opened one of his wounds.

Cronus sighed and resigned himself to recuperating on his loungeplank despite him wanting to move around. He had things to do, he needed to know what happened to his crew, the status of his ship, his fleet and—

His eyes widened as he sees an indigo fucker in the distance, holding Porrim up by the neck, chocking he—

Porrim.

His body jerked as he tried to sit up again with urgency but he groaned as he was once again denied the action, he gritted his teeth as the pain he'd been ignoring flared and he was forced to lay still unless he wanted to actually reopen the stitches underneath the gauze bandages. Which he didn't, he wasn't fucking stupid, plus it would waste whoever made the effort to patch him up. Fuck though, it hurt just trying to breathe- not in his lungs thankfully, his chest just fucking hurt. He powered through it, trying to calm his breath, his heart, himself. He tried to recall what happened.

Seeing Porrim held aloft by that blueblooded fucking TRASH- it made him so unbelievably angry. Why? Because she was part of his ship, his crew, his trolls. She was underneath his protection and responsibility, the fact someone dared to put their hands on her neck- of course he was angry! He would've been angry if it were anyone else, right?

...

Right?

He closed his eyes tightly and huffed. The pain was getting bothersome to ignore completely, and he was starting to have a headache. His mind started to slow as he began drifting back into the darkness, right before he did though, he thinks he heard someone coming. Footsteps, light and fast and then the warmth came back. Gentle hands he didn't know he missed returned to him, and the pain disappears as he sleeps.

A plan is made, two different schemers with two different plans.

It would all converge to one moment though, one truly, devastating moment.

A moment that I had the pleasure of orchestrating. Our anomalous guppy hoped to change things, did he not? Time and time again, we told him otherwise, we even let him build his little sanctuary on his ship but that isn't enough for the greedy little thing.

"... かつては愚かな少年だったが、今は愚かな男だ。彼が望んでいた変化は、彼が望んでいた変化ではありませんでした。[Once a foolish boy, now a foolish man. The changes he hoped for are not the changes he wanted.]"

Well said, and oh, how entertaining it will be for him to find out.

A song graces his ears the second time he wakes up. It takes him a minute to recognize it and the moment he does, he freezes in place on the loungeplank but doesn't open his eyes just yet as he listens to the familiar voice sing the song. There is only one person who might have had the chance to hear the song and that was...

But your heart drifted off
Like the land split by sea
I tried to go, to follow,
To kneel down at your feet~

He finally opens his eyes and silently turn in the loungeplank to see the source of the voice. Porrim. Porrim Maryam was singing Run To You. One of the songs that somehow survived in his memory in the sweeps he'd been alive on Alternia. She was sat on a chair, in his chair, by the window, sewing up a torn shirt in her hands. His torn shirt. She didn't seem to notice he was awake, more concentrated in sewing and singing.

I'll run, I'll run
I'll run run to you~
I'll run, I'll run
I'll run run to you...

Something in him tightens, he can't tell what it is but he can't take it anymore. "..Vwhere did you hear that..." He rasps aloud, coughing slightly. It startles her, and she finally looks and notices he's awake. And coughing. She immediately stood up, the torn shirt, thread and needles disappearing into her sylladex as she hurries over to his side, pouring the pitcher of water into a glass to offer it to him.

"You're awake! Thank goodness, here, your mouth must be parched-" Porrim says, as she offers him the glass but he grabs her wrist instead.

"Vwhere did you hear that song." He already know where she's heard that song, maybe he's asking for the chance of denial. A chance for her to say something else, to assuage his worries, his fears, his feelings. She stares at him, wide-eyed and confused before it softens and he can't-

She smiles at him and he lets go of her wrist. "I heard it from you, you sang it often while you took care of me. You sang many songs but this one- this one you sang the most, and something about it... resonated with me I suppose, the melody was stuck in my head and when I had the chance to hear all the lyrics, I made sure to memorize them." She told him, offering the glass once more.

He stares at it, before he makes the effort to sit up. Porrim sets the glass aside to assist him, he lets her- he shouldn't he shouldn't - and he's sat up against the headboard of the loungeplank with a now empty glass of water in his hands.

"It's a lovely song, and perhaps you already know this but you have a lovely voice. It suits the song well." He grips the cup, still looking at it intensely to avoid looking at her.

You can't, you can't. He reminds himself firmly, despite the warmth in his chest that he knows now to be- You're suppose to kill her, you're her murderer you can't you can't-

"Thank you," He snapped to look at her in confusion, he can't help it, it came out of nowhere. She smiles at him and something in him trembles. "For saving me. And though I've thanked you before, thank you for taking care of me while I was ill."

Please, he thinks desperately to himself. Don't. Don't, please, stop. He opens his mouth to say it, to say something but it stops in his throat. He can't say anything, he only grunts and looks away as something in his chest clenches and trembles.

"Yes-" Porrim starts again, there's humor in her voice and all Cronus can think of is murderer murderer murderer. "I know that you say you simply didn't want anyone else sick on the ship, and that you found me as your responsibility and such. Regardless of why, you still took care of my health even beyond that by providing me with your blood. You did not have to, and now you've saved my life so once again, I say thank you, Cronus." She has said his name before, a few times and each time was a pleasant moment that he tried his hardest to ignore.

This time, for some fucking reason, he can't.

He feels warm, his pulse quickens and the feeling in his chest- it's not coming from his heart, but his diamond, and he just- he can't.

He stays silent, just offers the empty glass back and lays back down. She helps him again and he keeps looking away from her. Avoids looking at her directly, she says nothing of it. Instead, she hums that stupid fucking song that was stuck in his head multiple times while he took care of her to the point he just started singing the song from time to time. He never intended for her to hear it, never intended for her to know- it was just a song that he heavily associated her because of that stupid fucking lyricstuck video and yet—

He sang it, hummed it as he took care of her. Now she sings it, hums it as she takes care of him.

Murderer murderer murderer murderer—

He wants to strangle the warmth in his chest, shatter the diamond that's starting to beat alongside his spade, stomp it away because he can't, he can't do it.

He's scared.

She's wonderful.

Please.

He can't.

He can't do it.

He can't kill her.

"How long have either have you known Cronus?"

"I used to be on the crew of another violetblood, he killed my old captain and let me join when I asked."

"'nown 'im almos' me whole life, lass. Cap'n culled me lusus an' I tried to take revenge."

"Ah, well, I suppose that didn't work out for you did it Bookio?"

"Nah, cap'n said 'e was sorry an' saved me life an' I decided I 'ad a debt to 'im. 'e told me that I didn't an' I was free t' go, didn't believe 'im an' stayed, now 'm so old I gotta use a fuckin' cane."

"No one on board knows him so far back when he was a wiggler Porrim, not even the indigos of our crew knew him that long I think. He's been around for a long, long time."

"Yes, I suspect as much... I just can't help but wonder sometimes, on what happened to him before. He looks at me with such complicated expressions, I will admit that one such expression shook me to my core. I don't think he knew I saw him looking at me with such... devastation before."

He doesn't speak to Porrim much as she stays dutifully by his side, aiding his recovery. She doesn't mind for some reason though, and just stays calm and composed but she speaks for the both of them and talks casually. She calls him by his wiggler name and he can't stop her. Technically he can, he could order her away, get someone else to take care of him or give her a reason to stay away, he could-

He doesn't.

He can't.

As he heals and she's there, smiling all the while humming, the stone walls he's made for himself are crumbling. The foundations are softening underneath her care, and he just... can't do anything about it.

Doesn't want to do anything about it.

And yet, he really, really should.

She hums whenever she's not speaking, sings sometimes too but the only song she really knows from him are the Drunken Sailor and fucking Run to You because she apparently can memorize songs she's heard only once. Underneath his complicated feelings about her, he's suitably impressed by it. But Run To You haunts him throughout his recovery period because it's her favorite song, the song he sang and hummed to her when he thought she wasn't listening or asleep.

It's a damning song but as she sings, it relaxes him despite everything about it. Behind it.

He sang, she listened and now she sings and he listens.

This wasn't how things were suppose to go, this wasn't in the webcomic.

Whenever he's finally left alone, he tenses and waits. Waits for her to show up on the punishing orders from him. To relay critical warnings from her master, to relay a miffed message from the damnable puppet on the green moon that mocks him every time he sees it. It mocks him now as he sits at an armchair that was facing the window and glare at the green moon that loomed over him in the sky, knowing exactly what he was doing.

They always did.

And yet... nothing.

Not a word, a glimpse, she doesn't show up and he's left on his lonesome. Left to stew in his thoughts, in his feelings.

At the thought of his feelings, of her, something in his chest blooms and pulses. Something diamond shaped and pale, he realizes he's smiling and that terrifies him beyond belief of what was going to happen. To him, to her, to his ship and crew.

To the future.

A knock at his door and he hesitates before calling them to come in. "Cronus, it's me. I have brought dinner." Of course it's her, and of course she brought dinner. "Come, sit at your desk, you must eat." He says nothing, giving one last contemptuous glance to the green moon before grunting and carefully getting up from the arm chair. He wasn't fully healed yet, and it was only recently that Porrim and Steadfast allowed him to move around on his own. He makes his way to his desk where Porrim already set his dinner.

He sits there, looking at his food for a moment before he finally looks up at Porrim. She seems surprised at his sudden look but give him a confused smile, and before she could say anything, "Thank you, Porrim. For ewverythin'." He says quietly, and he watches her face light up, looking unbelievably happy just because he finally thanked her. It makes him feel guilty in his attempt to ignore her, makes him feel worse because he's still so scared for her, and yet at the same time the warmth in his chest spreads and he just wants to keep her happy forever. To keep that smile on her face.

"You're welcome Cronus."

He looks back down to his dinner, ignoring the heat on his face as he finally digs into the plate of food. It's delicious, his cooks are doing a great job as always. Porrim talks to him as he eats, telling him of what's been going on on the ship, of how Steadfast and his screw were handling affairs and important things. How the repairs were going, which were going fine and how everyone was handling.

The ambush had injured a lot of his crew and even killed a few trolls on his ship, and just the thought of the lives that he lost filled him with anger and grief. Thankfully, the enemy had lost even more than them. He knows who set up the fucking ambush, and they will fucking pay as soon as he's healthy enough to carve the fucker down himself. The Hedonist' nights were numbered, and he was going to count them gleefully.

His kismeses, Aranea, had been suspiciously silent as of late. Probably preparing retaliation to the fact he stole from her treasure under her nose. So he would have to prepare for that, as the only reason she hadn't done anything was probably the fact he was injured. Despite being a gablignant and a cheat at times, whenever it came to him, she at least retained a sense of honor of not attacking him while he was healing. She excused it as it not being fun if she hadn't injured him in the first place, though she would probably taunt him the next time he'll see her.

The thought of his kismesis was a complicated one, at least, in the beginning. He definitely wanted to avoid becoming kismesis with her at first, though soon that translated into him hating her in a surprisingly pitch way. He just, found her so annoying at times and found amusement in annoying her in turn. It was at least, definitely different compared to the relationship depicted in the webcomic. More stable and even healthy, or at least healthy to him anyway. Who knows what Alternia considered a healthy kismessisitude.

That was one of the few changes he had been "allowed" to make, another being- well, the environment on his ship. His treatment to his crew and the 'slaves' he kept. Oh how he hated the fact slaves were still a thing, but even as Head Orphaner now, he couldn't exactly call for the abolishment of slavery. He had enough power to keep himself and those in his power, safe. He wishes he could do more, but he was only one troll and even then, he definitely wouldn't be allowed to.

...

So why is he being allowed to feel pale for Porrim?

The question lingers in his head hours after dinner, where he's back in his bed pretending to read a book while Porrim sits in the armchair by the window. Sewing once more, she's already fixed most of his torn clothes and each article have little signs of her work. A small embroidered seahorse there, his own sign stitched into some patches in a way that looked purposeful and quite fashionable- it's impressive. Her skills in sewing, but it's not a surprise considering who her descendant is. Kanaya made such beautiful clothes and fabrics in the story, and her dancestor self had knitted dancestor Kankri a nice red sweater.

She's humming that damn song again. He never thought she'd get attached to that song, a song he first heard from that lyricstuck video. He doesn't remember the band who made it, there's a lot of the past he doesn't remember anymore, but songs, songs like Run To You were things he could remember clearly alongside the webcomic.

He shouldn't have sang it, shouldn't have sang at all while she was sick but- seeing her there. Laying sick on his loungeplank, the song came to the forefront of his mind and he vaguely remembers the video. Remembers the sadness he felt watching it. It stayed stuck in his head and no matter what he thought of, it was there, and eventually he gave up and ended up humming it, singing it in an effort to get it out of his head. He thought he'd been alone when he sang that song, and the other songs as well, but no. Porrim had heard, and ended up besotted with the song despite its sorrowful nature.

Also, her singing voice? It was really nice, and again, her ability to remember song lyrics? Very impressive.

He glances at her but quickly looks back to the book he's reading -Alternian literature was mostly full of propaganda but it was interesting if you ignored the propaganda- before she could notice. He's pale for her, it's undeniable at this point. He knows what he's feeling for her, he knows what pitch feels like with Aranea, and from his vague human memories he knows what red feels like and that wasn't what he felt for her, ash is connected to pitch so it's definitely not that so obviously; he pitied her pale.

He was pale for her, and as much as he wanted to deny it- continue denying it, he knows he's been feeling this a while now but this was the first time he's actually confronting what he's feeling - he can't. He can't deny it any longer.

Murderer.

...

He doesn't want to be that. He can't be that, and even then, he doesn't want her to die.

Question; how does The Dolorosa die?

Answer; Orphaner Dualscar kills her in a jealous rage because of Mindfang.

There's a problem with that answer though. He doesn't feel jealous of Porrim, and he definitely doesn't want to kill her.

In the original webcomic, the relationship between Mindfang and Dualscar was far different from his and Mindfang's here. He remembers that in the comic, Dualscar hated the way Mindfang kept lowbloods in her quadrants, that was one of the reasons why he and Mindfang were pitch if he recalls correctly. It was one of the ways Mindfang kept Dualscar's pitch attentions on her.

Here though, he doesn't give a squeakbeast's ass about whoever Aranea keeps in her quadrants. He hates the hemospectrum so he probably would have applauded her for having a relationship with lowbloods, in fact, he did do that when Aranea tried that herself early on in their relationship, probably with the same mindset the original Mindfang had thought about Dualscar. Unfortunately for Aranea, he didn't fucking care.

So she dropped that and instead did other things to gain his ire, earn his spade as she might say. She taunted him relentlessly, made fun of the fact he was soft, made fun of the songs he sang, interrupted his hunts for lusii for fucking Gl'bgolyb (she never really stopped him because she knows the consequences if the eldritch lusus went without food) and found every other button to press to make him hate her.

The Mindfang in the webcomic didn't do that though, as far as he had known. And the only reason Porrim had ended up in her care was because she stole her from Orphaner Dualscar so she could antagonize him. Aranea knew he cared for those on his ship, she wouldn't really do that herself unless something else happened so technically... Doesn't that mean...

He doesn't have to kill Porrim?

The book drops from his hand, and he stares at it as the incomprehensible thought lingers in his head. The possibility, the small chance that he doesn't have to- There wasn't really a point to kill Porrim was there? All he had to do so far, was to be Aranea's rival, her kismesis and- fuck, he might have to betray her and alert the subjugglators but in truth. Porrim didn't have to die, she didn't.

He was the one who had to die in the end.

Not Porrim.

"Cronus?"

He startled at the concerned call from Porrim, but his bloodpusher was pumping so fast like he was running a marathon. Quickly, he waved off her concern, "I-It's nothin'. It's nothin'."

For Porrim to live, he just needs to kill himself by telling The Grand Highblood a bad joke.

Sounds easy enough to do.

[S] ==> Sing in a Duet

Chapter Text

[S] ==> Sing in a Duet

A light in the room
It was you who was standing there
Tried it was true
As your glance met my stare~
But your heart drifted off
Like the land split by sea
I tried to go, to follow,
To kneel down at your feet~

There was warmth in her chest, spreading fast from her bloodpusher. She was smiling and it felt like she could keep it on her face forever, something she hadn't felt like could happen since her nights with Kankri. She almost couldn't believe what was happening right now.

The night had started out normal enough, she had woken up early as the sun began to set and did her daily chores before she would go and oversee Cronus, take care of whatever needs he might have and check on his recovery with Steadfast. She withstood whatever teasing she got from the others on the ship, still somewhat boggled at their casual acceptance to not only her pale feelings and possible relationship with Cronus, but also at the fact they knew she was a rainbow drinker and had no problems with it whatsoever.

Porrim had slightly dreaded the fact that ambush had forced her to reveal herself as a rainbow drinker in an effort to protect her blockmates, she had hoped to intimidate the indigo from attacking her, having done so before in the past when Kankri was young. But unfortunately it didn't work, and she had forced to strife the enemy- her old strength as a rainbow drinker had withered considerably, probably from the years of starvation she put herself through and also the death of Kankri, the disappearance of Meulin and both hers and Mituna's capture had affected her greatly.

Cronus' blood had helped her slowly regain what she lost, but it was still slow in the end. Not an immediate recovery, but at the time, it had been better than nothing.

She had been scared that they would find her as monstrous as the indigo had, as so many other trolls had, but perhaps she should have expected otherwise from the trolls that were underneath Cronus' influence as they thanked her for wrapping Cronus' injuries, for doing what she could for him. Some were hesitant at first, but her blockmates were adamant that she had saved them, Lissof exaggerating what happened only to be corrected by Ponkoi. They as well as Nemdei thanked her for her bravery, for protecting them- Ponkoi was, in fact, the reason why Cronus had even come down to the lower decks.

He had left Nemdei and Lissof with Steadfast before dashing over to Cronus to alert him of what was happening.

She had to thank him in turn, because she was quite sure she would have been dead otherwise.

Steadfast had also helped in explaining to the crew of Porrim's rainbow drinker nature, any fear that may have lingered transformed into relentless teasing that she got nearly nightly whenever she was away from Cronus.

I'll run, I'll run
I'll run run to you
I'll run, I'll run
I'll run run to you~ 

It was Steadast who assigned her as Cronus' caretaker, sighting that he would be busy with handling everything else on the ship while Cronus was down so he would be too busy to look after their injured captain. Also, he trusted Porrim, she was grateful. A bit less so when he teased her that this was her chance to fully capture the captain into the diamonds quadrant- okay, so she was also grateful for that as well since it led her to her current situation.

A duet with Cronus. She was singing with Cronus, just the two of them and it was the song whose name she finally knew now; Run To You.

She had finally asked a while ago what the name of the song was, and was humored to find it so obvious and simple.

And tonight- tonight was supposed to be the night she would retire from being Cronus' caretaker. He had healed from most of his injuries, enough to take up his responsibilities and duties once more. It was somewhat saddening to think she would no longer be by his side nightly, personally assisting him or just- simply spending time together. She was glad that he was well now though.

Lately, she feels like whatever walls Cronus had put up were gone now. Before, Cronus would simply stay silent for most of her time there, she didn't mind. He seemed to obviously be dealing with things, things from his past she thinks. How else could she explain the strange behavior and denial he was portraying? It was one of the reasons why he asked the oldest trolls on the ship if they knew what happened in his pasts, something must have happened to make him so hesitant to get into the pale quadrant.

It angers her to think so, and it's the reason why she didn't mind the silence. And then, he stopped ignoring her and simply started talking with her. He'd still been hesitant, but she'd been ecstatic nonetheless. And from there, it wonderfully escalated and whatever Cronus was hesitant about, seemed to had faded away.

Tonight, though, tonight they were singing.

I've been settling scores
I've been fighting so long
But I've lost your war
And our kingdom is gone
How shall I win back
Your heart which was mine
I have broken bones and tattered clothes
I've run out of time~ 

She'd started humming as she embroidered Cronus' sign on one of his shirt- at his previous request yesternight. As she did, she starting quietly singing to herself, quietly as to not disturb Cronus who was overlooking some papers at his desk, while she stayed in the armchair by the window. It still surprised her just how attached she had become with this single, simple and sad song. But she had, and it felt like she would never tire of it. And despite it all, despite the original shock, Cronus never asked her to stop singing even though she knows, he knows, she would stop if he asked. He never did.

She had fully expected her last night as Cronus' caretaker to be as casual as the night before, in her highest of hopes, the night would end with Cronus requesting her to come back. Regardless of his health.

So imagine her surprise when halfway the first verse, a second voice joined her.

She had stopped in shock, looked up to see Cronus still looking at the papers but obviously singing. When he glanced at her and his voice pitching down, she immediately continued. Fearing that he would stop, and that she would miss this opportunity to sing with the one she was pale for.

And now here she was.

I'll run, I'll run
I'll run run to you
I'll run, I'll run
I'll run run to you, oooh-

It was a miracle as to how her voice was still so steady when it felt like her bloodpusher was trying to jump out of her chest. Cronus had finally put down the papers, but he still wasn't looking at her, but his head was tilted her way as he leaned against his desk. She had never minded him looking away from her before, not once. And yet, seeing him still not look at her as they sang together, when it sounded like they were singing with genuine feeling- it hurt, just a little bit.

The hurt became worse though, during this next verse of the song, because it always, always, reminded her of Kankris' execution. And this time, the memories came rushing back.

I will break down the gates of heaven-

She could see it clear in her head, and all she wanted to do, was to run to—

A thousand angels stand waiting for me-

Too many troll, she had to get to Kankri. Kankri-

Ooh take my heart- Porrim?

She'd do anything, please, anything-

And I'll lay down my weapons- Porrim?!

No! Put down the bow! Please! Please, no! Kankri-

Break my shackles to set me freeee! Porrim!

Two, calloused but gentle and warm hands take hold of her face and she gasps, blinking through her tears in confusion, her voice strains as she realizes she's singing. Still singing and- and Cronus was kneeling before her, looking so concerned as he held her face so very gently. He'd noticed her distress, lost in the memories and the song and stopped singing. He got out of his chair, away from his desk just to get to her. To hold her gently.

His eyes, were so kind. So full of concern, he doesn't say anything but she knows his question anyway. Are you okay? His eyes ask.

And she takes in a shaky breath, leaning into his hands, a shuddering exhale escapes her as Cronus tentatively, carefully, wipes the tears from her eyes.

"... I'll run..." She starts again, she wants to finish the song. She wants to finish the song, together, as Cronus is finally. Finally, looking at her.

He still looks concerned, but he joins her anyway. "I'll run..."

They're singing together once again.

I'll run run to you
I'll run (I'll run), I'll run (I'll run)...

Slowly, the moment was coming to an end.

Slowly, the song was finishing.

And slowly, Cronus stood, still cradling her face in his hands. She reaches up, to cradle his hands.

I'll run run to you~ 

Porrim finally smiles, it's shaky, and sad but there's some delight as Cronus gives her his own smile. One of sadness, guilt and mostly reassurance.

Mmh-mmh mmh-mmh mmh-mmh mmh... 

They hum the last notes together, and silence permeates the room. Porrim closes her eyes, keeping Cronus' hands on her face, in her hands just for a little while longer. She only opens them when Cronus finally asks her.

"Are you okay?"

Porrim takes in another breath, less shaky this time and nods. "Yes. I am." She replies quietly, reluctantly letting go of his hands. "I, apologize for the unsightly moment there. I was merely... overcome with old memories is all." He says nothing and it is with dread that she sees his searching look on his face before he turns around and walks back to his chair at his desk, and for a forlorn moment. She thinks that's it, Cronus will not ask more, will not acknowledge what happened and return to his papers but, much to her surprise and delight.

He doesn't.

instead, he takes his chair and drags it over to her. Situates it beside the armchair, and sits down. "Don't apologize for that." He tells her as soon he's sitting down. "Those vwere some pretty intense memories then, Porrim."

Her pusher flutters palely from the look of understanding Cronus gave her, "They were." She agreed, smiling lightly and faltering as she contemplated on what to do. "I..." Should she tell him? Tell him her past? What happened to her? Of Kankri? It would endanger him though, she knows that that horrible witch The Condescension has forbade any mention or knowledge of her beloved Kankri. That if trolls were somehow to obtain the knowledge, they would suffer whatever horrible consequences she had in store for them.

She doesn't consider the fact that Cronus might not want to know about Kankri. Not when he was so openly- well, semi-openly kind to the trolls on his ship. Her Kankri and Cronus shared views, and it was a shame they had never met.

"You don't hawve to tell me." Cronus interrupts her thoughts. "Not novw if you're not ready, not ewver if you don't vwant to."

Porrim gave him a small smile, "But I want to, I'm just... concerned, as to what might happen afterwards..." It occurred to her that there might be a chance that Cronus might have known about Kankri, her grub's execution had been... unfortunately a big deal. "Do you..." She took in a deep breath and uncaptchalogued her trinket. Her necklace. It lands in her cupped hands and she shows it to him. "Do you know, what this is?"

A necklace, bearing the 'symbol' of her grub. Once, Kankri had been The Signless for he had no sign. She had none to give, but he didn't care, he never wanted one. All he wanted, was for Alternia to be a kinder place. He ended up getting a sign in the end, and a new title. The Sufferer, how she loathed the title. How she hated the sign she held in her hands, shaped exactly like the hot irons that burned her grub's wrists and kept him chained to the flogging jut. She hated that it had become his sign, and even hated the fact she'd been given a necklace bearing it.

And yet, it was one of the only things she had left of Kankri other than her memories.

And so, this cursed iron necklace became her most treasured possession. Something she kept on her at all times and went into great lengths to hide away from her old masters and the slavers just to keep it with her.  Had they found out, they would have taken it away from her, destroyed it and then killed her for sure. For they were cruel, cruel people. She did not fear death, but could not bear the destruction of her necklace.

But here she was, showing it to Orphaner Dualscar. The Favored Orphaner of the bitch that killed her grub.

"... I do." Cronus replied quietly, his face, his voice, filled with so much complicated emotions that she could not decipher them completely. But she picked up sadness and regret the most from his eyes. "You... follovwed The Signless."

Any worry she had fades from his answer solely because he referred to Kankri as The Signless instead of The Sufferer.

"I did." She had been so much more than a follower, but she wasn't ready to say it to him just yet. "I still am." To the best of her abilities, she tried to stick to what her grub had preached. And though, she had failed for so long, she was finally in a place where her grub's teachings would have thrived.

It ached for her to think of the possibility of what might have been, had Cronus found Kankri and herself first instead of those monsters.

Cronus didn't say anything at first, before he reached over and made her close her hands over the necklace. "I hawve no vwords to describe the foolish trust that you'wve put in me, Porrim." Foolish? She wants to ask but Cronus continues, "Hide this avway, ewven on my ship, it is not safe to brin' out."

He has a point, but the fact he doesn't do anything aside from telling her to hide her necklace fills her with a strange sense of happiness. "Thank you." She ends up saying, much to her own surprise alongside Cronus.

"For vwhat?"

It takes her a bit to consider, "Everything. Anything." She holds his hands, smiling sincerely at the now flustered seadweller. "For being kind. He would have liked you, you know. The Signless, he would have loved the atmosphere on your ship. The comradery of your trolls, the treatment- it's nearly everything he's ever asked for from this cruel, hostile world. And somehow, you've managed it." Her eyes begin to water once more, "I wish he could see this, that the world that he wished was possible all along."

Something pale escapes Cronus, and it flusters the both of them, at least it flusters the tears out of her eyes as Cronus cleared his throat. "I-" He starts but falters his embarrassment turning into something somber. "The world he vwishes for isn't possible Porrim, not novw, not vwith The Condescension at the helm and certainly not vwith-" He cuts himself off, glaring out the window at the sky, she follows his gaze towards the green moon of Alternia. "It took a lon' time. So wvery lon' for me to- It took nearly the entire time I'wve been an adult, the entire time I vwas an Orphaner and it vwasn't easy, ewven vwhen I became Top Orphaner. It newver is in this fucked up vworld of ours... An' it's newver fair..." 

It's an unfortunate truth, it wasn't easy nor it was fair. Her grip on his hands tighten slightly as the frustration builds.

"I'm glad though." Cronus adds in after a moment, and she looks at him. "That you think that. That he'd like vwhat I did... I vwish I met him too, Porrim. Met you both earlier and-" He stopped, shaking his head. He was about to say something else but was interrupted by a firm knock from his door.

"Captain Dualscar! It's time, we've arrived at the port." It was Steadfast, reminding them that Cronus had work to do now that he was recovered enough to do them.

"Get thin's ready then! I'll be out soon." Cronus called out, Porrim felt her hands being squeezed slightly before he let go of them. "Stock up on shit vwe need, then chart a course for the Sky Vwhale huntin' grounds! I'wve been on my ass lon' enough, can't let the other orphaners mock me for not bein' able to feed the fuckin' eldritch lusus for so lon'" He commanded as he stood up, using his sylldex to change out of his casual clothes to a more professional set of Orphaner's clothing.

"Aye, aye captain!"

Porrim watched with some lingering disappointment that she put away. Their conversation cut short but for good reason, Cronus still had duties to fulfill as Orphaner and as Captain. She stood up, intending to leave right after Cronus as she too, had work to do with the other trolls. Before Cronus opened the door though, he turned to her. Confusion turned to shock as she felt a hand gently pat the space between her horns and she heard him say, "Thank you Porrim, for takin' care of me."

And with that, he left, his cape giving a slightly dramatic flap as he stalked away. She had glimpsed a slight tinge of violet on his face and her shocked face turned into a delighted, besotted smile.

She had successfully gotten closer to Cronus.

"You okay there Captain Dualscar? Your face is completely violet."

"Not a fuckin' vword, Steadfast, Bookio."

"What word? I'm merely concerned for my illustrious captain! Nothing else!"

"Are ya finally moira'ls wit' Maryam Cap'n?"

"I'm goin' to fuckin' throvw both of you off my fuckin' ship, I svwear."

"I'm too useful to throw off the ship captain."

"HAH! Should'a done tha' when I trie' ta kill ya! Missed yer chance, Cap'n!"

Looking at his half-assed and frankly, terrible plan...

Yeah, he doesn't know what he was thinking. At the same time though, he can't really think of any other solution.

A week has passed since- since The Duet and he's been so fucking busy. It always ended up being this busy whenever he gets injured to the point of being plank-ridden, usually his absence from the orphaning scene has orphaners and other trolls 'checking in' on him just to make sure he doesn't croak, or hoping that he did. Thankfully his crew, mostly Steadast, have managed to make sure that there weren't any surprise visitors while he recovered, all the while searching for the fucker that was the main cause to his injuries in the first place

The Hedonist is strangely missing, and despite the efforts so far; he is unable to be found.

But not for long, he won't.

In the meanwhile, aside from being busy, it was... pleasant to say the least.

He had a sort-of-moirail now, Porrim. The Dolorosa.

And he's recently been made aware of how frustrating yet somewhat sweet it is to his crew to watch him and Porrim continue their 'ballet around the fucking grid' and they want nothing else but for him to just finally make things official and declare Porrim his moirail.

They already spend plenty of time together outside of their respective works, he allows himself to smile more freely thanks to her presence and he's just- so unbelievable soft for this woman it is fucking unreal.

And yet.

He hesitates to make it official, to say anything blatant, to show his feelings in full and in truth. Merely skirting around the subject, at the very least Porrim didn't seem to mind. She was so patient and kind, which makes him hesitate all the more.

From the time he's woken up injured, to the week where he has returned to his work, nothing happened.

Nothing.

No sight or sound of them, not even the glimpses of her nor a word from him.

He doesn't trust this silence, and yet some part of him can't help but hope-

Hope that he is finally able to do something significant, change a part of his fate, a part of the future.

Because it would mean Porrim would get to live, and she deserves it. Deserves it, far more than he did.

He's thought of his suicidal plan, and there's no other way to describe because he would be willingly handing himself over to die. He's been told, time and time again, his death would be because of The Grand Highblood. He would help facilitate his kismesis' future, become the reason why she loses her eye, her arm, and why she meets The Summoner and the future of Alternia would be left to the hands of children. Just as the original comic intended.

He wants to change that too, he really does, but he actually can't.

He might be able to change this though.

Porrim would do great with Mindfang and The Summoner, he would leave everything he could to her before he dies. His crew- Mindfang would take them in, he would have to leave her a note, a will- trolls didn't have wills. But he'd leave one for her, for Porrim, and for the rest of his crew.

First though, he had matters to take care of.

The Hedonist had no place in Porrim's future, not anymore.

"Cronus." She calls to the seadweller sat at his desk, she was once again sat in the armchair. It seemed that this was now Porrim's armchair and it never failed to make her ridiculously happy at the thought of it.

It has been a wonderful week and despite her worries, Cronus hadn't avoided her at all during the week, he gave her a bit of his time whenever she went to greet him or speak to him between chores.. He even gave her express permission to come to his block or office whenever she wanted, and stay even if he was doing work and didn't mind the company. Which is what she was doing now, accompanying him in his work while perusing and reading one of his books.

Cronus hummed with acknowledgement from his desk, writing something down and sifting through other papers. She never imagined orphaning work as well as being captain would involve so much work with paper but she digresses. "You sang other songs while I was ill, did you not?" She questions, thinking back to when she was sick and remembering hearing snippets of other songs.

She smiled as she sees violet overcoming his face, "... Yeah, I did." He answered gruffly. It never failed to charm her at how easily embarrassed her moirail captain could be when it came to certain topics. Mention his music or singing to him and he'll blush violet all the way to his earfins.

At the very least though, he was becoming more open to his musical abilities and his songs. They haven't sang together since The Duet, nor has she heard him sing in a while but it was understandable considering he was still busy with the backlog of his duties. "What were they called? The songs you sang." She doesn't ask for him to sing them now, Cronus had work to do after all, but she wanted to know their names.

"... Home, Pompeii and-" He paused, hesitant before continuing. "Izbela's Lullaby."

All three names were intriguing, but the one that intrigued her the most was the last. "Izbela's Lullaby? I presume, it's a lullaby created by someone named Izbela." She wondered who she was to Cronus, someone important from his past? "Which one was it?"

"I, yes, she made the song. I think, it's been wvery lon' since I'wve thought about vwhere the son' came from." Cronus admitted quietly, looking almost nostalgic but a bit pained before shaking his head. "It vwas the one about dreams, though I don't knovw if you heard the entire son'." He hummed the tune and it was indeed familiar.

"I think I only heard a few words of it. In my early nights of sickness." A spark of mischief inspires her to ask, "Will you sing it for me?" She watches, hiding a smile behind her hand as Cronus flusters and makes excuses about work and being busy- "Not now of course, or not ever if you'd like." She didn't want to force him to sing if he didn't want to, but teasing him was such fun sometimes! Also, one would think after singing The Duet, he would be more open to sing in front of a conscious troll while sober.

Apparently not.

Cronus squints at her, a scowl on his face. Although it's a very soft scowl, one might say it might even be a pout but then they'd be scolded and corrected by Cronus himself if he heard it. "... Not novw." He mutters and Porrim beams and accepts his word, looking forward to whenever it was he would sing the lullaby for her so she could hear the full song.

It was fine, she was already patiently waiting for him to officially become her moirail, she could wait for the song as well.

Perhaps though... maybe she should have been a bit more impatient.

"Captain, I think we know where they are. At the very least, we know where their base is."

"Good, start the preparations. Ewvacuate the others to another boat, hawve them go tovwards my island. Vwe are goin' to take this fucker dovwn, no one kills my crevw on my fuckin' ship."

"Aye, captain!"

"I'd like to come with you."

Cronus pursed his lips as he glanced to the jadeblood besides him, they were overseeing the entire ship. Watching the non-combative trolls and injured trolls, crew and servants alike, slowly transfer unto another ship. "No, you're goin' vwith them."

"I want to stay by your side." Porrim insisted, her hands clenched in front of her.

Cronus turned to her fully, "Porrim..."

"You've gifted me a strife specibus, I can use it." She points out to him, taking the saw from her strife portfolio into her hands. "I can fight. I'm a rainbow drinker, let me stay."

"I knovw you can fight, I knovw you're a rainbovw drinker, but I'd rather hawve you safe and aliwve in another ship than injured or dead on mine." He told her seriously, he takes out a certain rifle. She knows its name now, Ahab's Crosshairs. "This is just a precaution, I don't vwant vwhat happened before to happen again. I vwas arrogant, and that led to them dovwn into my ship, hurtin' you and ewveryone else. That's not goin' to happen again. I'll be usin' Ahab's Crosshairs for this, I'm gonna take that fucker dovwn one vway or another." He promised darkly with a scowl.

"The Hedonist is gonna fuckin' pay for vwhat they did." To you, to my crew, to my ship.

Cronus and Porrim stared into each other's eyes, trying to will the other to back down. There's a glint of desperation in his eyes, and it's enough for Porrim to fold, stowing away her saw. "Promise me you'll come back." She whispers and Cronus gives her a reassuring smile.

"I vwill, I promise."

Porrim looks between him and the ship she was about to embark on before looking down to her hands. She uncaptchalogues something from her sylladex and takes Cronus' hand into hers, pressing the necklace into it. "Come back safely."

Cronus looks down at their hands in surprise, he tries to press the necklace back into her hand but she shakes her head. "A good luck charm, and a promise. You have to come back to me. To the rest of us."

He clenches his fist around the necklace, captchaloguing it into his sylladex without another word. "I'll come back, I vwill. After all this is done, I'll run to you, as soon and as fast as I can." He leans forward, surprising her as he bumps their foreheads together in a blatantly pale way. Porrim couldn't help the chirrup that escaped her from the action. "After this, after this, I vwant to talk to you." He smiles at her jade tinted face and leans into the hand that comes up to cup his cheek. They stay that way for a moment, and then he leans away from her forehead and her hand.

"Novw, get on the ship Porrim. That is an order from you captain."

Porrim had no other arguments, a bit dazed from the first obvious and blatant pale action she's ever, purposefully received from Cronus. It lasted until she boarded the new ship and she watched the Wrathful Angel sail away. Sail forth to battle.

Ulypse finds her, "Oh my, Porrim, are you finally moirails with Master Dualscar? Did he become your moirail just as he goes off into battle?"

She flushes at the teasing tone the olive had for her, "Quiet, you!"

There was laughter shared on the ship, "Like I said! Better than any romance novel one could read!" Someone exclaimed and Porrim glared at the amused crowd of trolls.

"Let's hope this doesn't end in tragedy though, like the one scene where the matesprit or moirail goes off with the promise of coming back only to die."

"It won't!" Porrim instantly replied, the humorous air taking a slight somber tone from the comment but she refused to entertain the thought. "Cronus will come back, he won't die."

And she was right.

Cronus wouldn't be the one to die in this tragic, romantic tale.

Despite his long lasting life as Cronus Ampora and the faded past life of his human self, despite the experience the years and sweeps had given him, he still made the occasional mistake or two. He was only mortal after all.

One of his biggest ones would be his usual dismissal of his kismesis' absence over the time he'd been recovering, he had heard nothing particularly important pertaining Aranea as he plotted to destroy The Hedonist and planned his future demise. He didn't even bother to check the treasures he had stolen from her, perhaps if he had, he would had the sense to turn the ship around.

He had gotten too used to dismissing Aranea's tricks and plots, too arrogant to check his stolen treasure, and too hopeful for the future to really see the bigger picture.

He shouldn't have turned his back to the moon.

She was forgetting something, something important. It didn't really matter though, didn't matter she couldn't remember. All she had to do, was stay there and look pretty.

The original plan was to sail towards Dualscar's island, where they would stay in a safehive until the Wrathful Angel came back and picked everyone up. They were mostly a ship filled with noncombative trolls, from servant trolls to injured ones. Of course, there were a few of the stronger crew around to protect them should anything happen. Also, one of Dualscar's fleet ships should have met up with them to provide further protection to their journey.

Everything was fine. Wasn't it? Then why were there bursts of concern, worry, happiness and sadness coming from time to time? There was no need to worry, no need for further thought. All she had to do, was w8. As she waited though, there was a longing in her chest, for something familiar she could not remember. Something... violet?

It was to be a simple trip, it wouldn't have taken that long actually, and it was suppose to be safe because they had a fleet ship following them to ensure that. It should have been simple, safe, it should have been fine and it was. Everything was going fine. Until it wasn't.

Sometimes, moments of memory and coherence would come back. And she would instantly struggle, instantly move- Feisty wasn't she? That was a good tr8t, it would 8e a shame though to hurt such a pretty face. And the memories of her ship, her friends and crew would just 8lur away. Hazy and dreamlike. The longing lingered even as she was told not to worry, for something red. For something olive. For something yellow. And for something violet.

A storm brewed unexpectedly, as if summoned by something other that could not be explained. One moment the skies were clear, and the next, thunder clouds appeared. One crewmember even swore they saw someone in the sky, eclipsed by the green moon. That was quickly forgotten as the seas roiled with the storm, and they were knocked off course, separated from the fleet ship escorting them and instead, bringing them to another fleet. Someone familiar, cerulean ships intercepted their path with Marquise Spinneret Mindfang at the helm. They were relieved.

Oh and what is this? Not only are you a jade, but also a rain8ow drinker? My kismesis has 8een hiding you from me hasn't he? What a surprise! You were already such an interesting woman, 8ut now? I must ask Cronus for you, perhaps, a shared custody? Cronus. Cronus? She knew that name. Where did she knew that name? She liked the name, she wanted to be with the name. You and every other troll around him, darling.

They were relieved, until they weren't as Mindfang took control of every single troll on board. She grinned victoriously as she claimed the ship and its trolls for herself, to be used in a future bargain. Elsewhere, the fleet ship that was supposed to be escorting and protecting the ship Mindfang had claimed, was attacked by the very troll that Dualscar had set out to destroy.

I hear my kismesis f8led to deal with the fish pest that attacked him, what a shame. Still, what glorious ammo it provides me when we meet and negoti8te for the tr8sure that he stole from me. Wait a little longer little pawns, my revenge towards Cronus comes close to an end and I will have my oracle 8ack. This is my victory, Cronus.

He should have known. 

He should have known that something was bound to happen, he should have known.

They'd been fed false information somehow, and The Hedonist hadn't been anywhere in his damned hiding place. He had razed the entire thing to the ground and yet nothing. And if that wasn't the worse part, his kismesis had kidnapped his fucking crew. She had kidnapped Porrim as well.

This was low, this was beyond low- what was Aranea even fucking thinking?  What exactly had he done for his kismesis to do something like this? All he had done from their last meeting was their usual banter, and steal treasure he had been sure wasn't that important, at least not important enough for this...

"Mindfang." She seemed taken aback by his icy greeting, and the outwardly seething look he had on his face. Her surprise turned into something pleased, and it made him fume all the more.

They met in the open seas, on a small isle with their respective ships nearby. He had gone immediately towards the sent coordinates, not bothering to stay and be fully patched from his failed excursion against The Hedonist. He wasn't as injured as the last attack, but he had scrapes and scratches that he hadn't bothered to clean up. "Dualscar." Mindfang greeted back easily, eyeing his injured form with a condescending smirk. "I hear you failed to actually kill that violetblood, what was their title? Ah yes, The Hedonist. Although we should call him The Pest really, or perhaps, The Escapist? They seem to flee from your wrath in an almost impressive manner." She mocked, finding amusement that for once in a long, long while. Her kismesis had failed to kill someone he sought out to kill. Her rival was strong but, it proved that he too, had unlucky and bad nights.

It also somewhat irked her, for there was only one troll Dualscar was allowed to lose to; her. However Dualscar hadn't truly lost to The Hedonist, the coward had fled and was in hiding. So it wasn't that irksome, for her victory was soon to be in her grasp.

He scowled at her, "Vwhat do you vwant, Mindfang. Name your price." He said with a low growl, one that sent a shivering thrill down her back.

She smiled sweetly at him, "How forward my spade~ Where is our smalltalk? Our banter? Do you not wish to speak with me?" She questioned innocently, it lost its innocence as she motioned to a small group of trolls behind her. Bookio, Ulypse and Ponkoi being among them. "After all, I'm sure you're curious to know about my newest recruits yes?" Her smile turned into a sharp smirk, as he took in their blank expressions, the way they swayed idly while standing.

His expression tightened as he searched through the rest of the small group and he held back a louder growl as he didn't see Porrim, "And the rest?"

"Safe dearest spade, in an undisclosed location." Mindfang cooed, "Your old age must have dulled your tactical planning Dualscar, you should have thought of a better plan! A ship full of lowbloods, slaves, and so little crew? It was just begging to be taken over the moment they were knocked off course and right into my hands. Then again, you get so focused on your hunts that you barely care to think of anything else." She laughed and he's had enough.

"Aranea." She froze at the use of her wiggler name, at the tone he used it in, at the face he was showing her. "Name. Your. Price." He practically hissed, gripping Ahab's Crosshairs tightly in his hands. The rifle was pointed solely to the ground, but Aranea eyed it, and him, warily. She could finally see the fact that for once, Cronus was an open, furious book. She may have underestimated the fury he might feel at her theft of his trolls, but really it was on him for stealing her oracle.

The Marquise narrowed her eyes but named her price, "The treasures you stole from me, with the surplus of half of your treasures for your trolls back." She said, ready to bargain for her oracle back. What she wasn't ready for, was her kismesis' response.

He swiftly agreed, "It's a deal." There was something burning in his eyes, determination? And with it, a different kind of hate that had her reeling back. A platonic hate that had her worrying that perhaps, she had gone too far. Her usually composed and aloof kismesis was showing such intense emotion-

Did he really care that much for the slaves and lowbloods on the ship? Were they really that valuable to him? She couldn't understand.

"Vwe meet here again in tvwo days time, I'll giwve you vwhat you vwant so lon' as no one, and I repeat, no one is harmed or controlled. You giwve me back everyone you took and you newver do anythin' like this again, Aranea." Cronus snarled at her before facing away and marching off back to his ship. He's shouting orders to set sail, and Aranea is left feeling more than offputted by his attitude, his emotions. It nearly wavers her control from the trolls shes kidnapped, but she keeps a tight rein on it.

Mindfang frowns as she watches Dualscar leave, irritation building up to smother the guilt that she felt. It was too late to regret or take back her actions, all she could do was make a note to herself and her journal not to repeat this endeavor. It wouldn't do if she lost Dualscar's spade due to this, and although he had started it by stealing her orb, she will admit that she had been unprepared for just how protective the seadweller was over what he considered his.

The gamblignant captain turned towards her own ship, all she could do now was to wait two days' time for the exchange. She might not be able to ask Dualscar for custody of some of the trolls she has in her grasp, especially that pretty jade rainbow drinker he has. A shame, perhaps she will ask when her kismesis was in a better mood, and maybe earn his forgiveness through finding that coward seadweller.

At the very least though, she would have her oracle back. And with it, perhaps finally a glimpse into Cronus' state of mind? He had been quite emotional after all, perhaps that might affect the orb's ability to retrieve answers.

When the time came however, she would find that it wasn't worth finding out anymore.

He found the reason why his kismesis had kidnapped his trolls.

The fucking cue ball was in his chest.

The strange fucked up magic cue ball belonging to a certain man in the shitty green moon.

They must have appearified the fucking thing into his chest after he stole Mindfang's treasure because he damn well remembers not stealing the thing. He hadn't even known she had it on her ship the night he stole from her.

He held the orb in his hand, looking at the white surface of it. He can't look into it, nor does he even want to regardless of whatever answers it could give him. His previous identity, the memories he lost, the reason why he was Cronus Ampora- he didn't care anymore and besides. Bad things always happen associated with this cue ball, with any magical white cue ball. He wants to throw it off board, get rid of it as soon as possible but this tangibly the only thing that could get his trolls back. Get Porrim back. The other treasures both he and Mindfang clearly didn't really care about, it was this that she wanted the most.

She could have it. She and Vriska far off into the future. This would be the one and only time he would have it in his possession.

"... If you think I'm just gonna accept the shit you'wve decided for me Scratch, you're vwrong. You and your damned Lord." He hissed towards the green moon, seething as he gripped the cue ball tightly. He threw it down to the ground, hard enough that it cracked his floorboards. The cue ball is unscathed though, to no surprise. It makes his frustration spike. "I'm newver goin' to kill her, you hear me?! Newver! Do your vworst to me, I don't care!" He glared at the moon defiantly, tense and anticipatory, awaiting for something, someone.

But no one came.

And somehow that's worse.

He spends the next two days awake, not sleeping a single wink. He's weathered through worse conditions, stayed up for far longer, besides he would just be haunted by dayterrors anyway so there was not point.

He gathers the treasure that Mindfang asked for, stuffs the magic white cue ball in a dark blue bag and waits.

In the brightest time of the day, where the Alternian sun was high above the sky, he sat in his- no, in Porrim's armchair. Holding her necklace tightly, to the point he might get a permanent indent in his palm.

He waits, and waits, and waits and waits and waits.

Still, no one. The Handmaid does not come, no note from the moon, not even a terrorized glimpse of a green skull of the fucking demon.

It fills him with equal parts hope and dread, thoughts filing his head. No sign at all, was he finally free? Could he make changes now to the future? To the story? Make a difference, finally have a chance at true happiness? He doesn't a give damn anymore about dying to the clowns, it's all second-hand until he gets everyone back. Gets his moirail back.

He should have made it official sooner, should have told her what he felt- she may have suspected or even known, but he should have said it to her all the same.

He's worrying the rest of his crew with his anxious waiting, Steadfast sticks close to him and he knows the oliveblood doesn't mean anything bad. Anything other than genuine concern but he tightly holds onto the irrational part of himself that wants to tell him to back the fuck up.

It was a harrowing two day wait.

But finally, the time came.

~ 12th perigee, 2nd Dim season's equinox ~

........

Things did not go as planned, and here I write in the aftermath. Unfortun8tely hum8led 8y the events that I am a8out to scri8e down into this journal. Events that end in tragedy with an underlying dark mystery.

It frustrates me as I write, for tonight it was supposed to 8e my victory. A victory over my spade, Dualscar. Cronus. I would have won over more tr8sure than he stole from me, retrieved the oracle and feel ecstasy in my well-earned triumph. Granted, my rel8tionship with Dualscar may have wavered 8ecause of it as I originally thought he valued the trolls that I stole from him so much to the point that he would have 8roken our spade in light of my actions.

How was I to know that I had such a precious gem in my grasp among them? That the true reason he had 8een so furious with me, was 8ecause I stole away his diamond to 8e?

It started out seemingly well as I aw8ted my kismesis to arrive on the island that we agreed to meet upon, all of his trolls that I had captured standing 8ehind me. His ship, the Wrathful Angel coming just over the horizon. Rife with anticip8tion, I indulged in some entertainment as Dualscar came ever so closer. I lightly allevi8ted my control over the minds that I kept sed8ted, enough for them to 8e aware of what was going and realize once again what had occurred. The more strong willed trolls immedi8tely tried to 8reak free from my control, they couldn't of course 8ut they certainly tried.

Among them, I have written a8out her in previous entries. The jade8looded rain8ow drinker that my kismesis had hidden from me, a unique tr8sure all on its own. She'd 8een one of the most interesting among the others, the pretty woman was a jade out and a8ove the 8rooding caverns after all. I had wondered how and why she was here, as a slave, had she a8andoned her duty as a caretaker for the mothergru8s for a life more exciting than that? Just what nefarious crime did she commit to 8ecome a slave in the first place? And just how did she 8ecome a rain8ow drinker as well? For whatever happened, she ended up in Dualscar's care on his ship, a rather lucky outcome for her considering his treatment of his 'slaves'.

Her mind is mallea8le, and I was tempted to take her as a red lover 8ut since she was one of Dualscar's trolls, I would have at least the courtesy to ask him a8out her. And a few other talented crewmem8ers that I had seen in the past, although that was 8efore he made it clear he found my theft of those underneath his care a line not to 8e crossed ever again.

As I write now though, I dou8ted he would have let me anyway as for you see she was not only a unique troll 8ut........

Once upon a time, I so arrogantly thought that only I would have had the pleasure of holding a quadrant from my illustrious and esteemed quadrantm8. That I, and only I, would have earned the right to do so. How foolish I was to think that truth. I recall writing that in a previous page, I shall make an addendum to it when I am finished with my tale.

The jade8looded rain8ow drinker was Cronus' moirail, or rather, she was supposed to 8e. She was his intended palem8, and hindsight strangles me as I look 8ack to the signs that should have pointed me to that fact. She was already intriguing as she was, 8ut now? She was a diamond hidden in plain sight, and had somehow capture Cronus' pale ador8tions and affections.

Affections that will never 8e fulfilled now as Porrim Maryam, the jade, is now dead.

In 8oth mine and Cronus' hu8ris, we turned our 8acks to the thorn that had 8een at our sides. The island should have 8een secure, should have 8een safe for the 8oth of us to meet.

8edlam is the only word I could descri8e the moment the violet pest revealed themselves to us just as Cronus arrived on the island. The Hedonist had somehow hid from my scouts, either that or I had a dirty tr8tor on my hands, I will thoroughly search through the minds of my crew after this just in case the cowardly wretch had somehow survived the am8ush. Gunfire, explosions and metallic noise erupted as violence spread throughout the island.

Anger courses through me as I reveal to you reader that despite my mind control a8ility, I could not, for some reason, control ANY of the enemy trolls. From the low8loods to the weakminded higher ones. Although I could not control the violetblood that dared attack us, I should have 8een a8le to take the wills of their trolls instead, however something 8locked me. Something familiar, yet I still cannot figure it why. A powerful psionic hidden among them? A fellow cerulean with similar powers that dared to contest me at my own 8dvant8ge? Or perhaps something far more sinister........

Regardless though, it kept me off 8alance throughout the fight and during it, I released any control I had in an effort to mentally 8attle with whoever it was that was preventing my mental control from working properly. Tried to take control of any of the other trolls attacking. It did not work, and I was and still am 8eyond furious.

In the chaos and the violence, I hear my kismesis shouting order after order as he fought with his sword. We were all too close together for him to use Aha8's Crosshairs and he knew it, hated it perhaps. I certainly did during the moment as I wanted nothing else 8ut for my kismesis to 8last the 8lithering seadweller into something even less than ashes. He would have risked too many of his own trolls in the crossfire though and he would never risk the lives of his trolls.

Especially if his moirail was among them, not that I knew that at the time.

With the com8ined strength of 8oth our crews, it would 8e clear that we would 8e victorious in this am8ush. And in the moment that puzzled me, for The Hedonist truly couldn't 8e that daft could they? They knew that if they tried to am8ush 8oth of us, our num8urs and superior strength would have crushed them in the end. It didn't seem like they cared a8out that though, so focused on something else.

We found out their true goal right 8efore the 8attle ended.

It had been far too long since she had fought with a saw, too long since she found herself snarling and tearing through trolls with her weapon. It hadn't happened often as they had been so careful, but sometimes careful wasn't enough to hide the mutated blood of a young grub.

The last ambush had her near-helpless in terms of strength and weaponry, but here she was. Stronger than before, most of her rainbow drinker strength restored and a bloody saw in her hands.

Although she was fighting, her main priority was trying to find- "Cronus! CRONUS!" She called out, seeing her moirail in the distance.

The seadweller heard her call, and his furious yet tired face lit up as he saw her. "Porrim!" He shouted back, relief and joy potent in his voice. She smiled brightly and was about to run towards him, to stay by his side when-

She screamed as something was stabbed into her abdomen, something hot and burning. Pain quickly spreading as jade dripped from her stomach, it intensified as something burst from her back, a white hot pain that made her cry out again. The Hedonist laughs from where they stood, holding a jade-covered glowing white stick. She collapsed to her knees, holding her bleeding stomach as a furious scream sounded the air.

It seemed that their primary target was Porrim herself, and even now I confess to more confusion and frustr8ion as to why they targeted her in the first place. Was it plain jealousy? Fear of her for what she was, a rain8ow drinker? I would have asked them had Cronus not fallen into a 8loodrage and carved The Hedonist down into minced meat.

With the death of their leader, the rest retreated into the forest. I sent my crew after them 8ut stayed as I watched my kismesis, my composed and stoic kismesis, savagely tear into the now dead seadweller. Worry started to seep in as I considered the fact that calming Cronus would not 8e an easy matter, it is extremely difficult to calm a 8loodraging troll, especially high8loods without their moirail involved.

However wonders never cease and with the remaining strength she had, Porrim merely clutched at Cronus' clothes as he repeatedly sta88ed the unmoving corpse of a long dead pest, and instantly it was as if the rage never existed. Instead, panic replaced the fury as he shouted for medicullers to come and help the poor woman.

Whatever weapon The Hedonist used, it had 8een deadly. And I suspect it was only 8ecause of Maryam's rain8ow drinker nature that she survived as long as she did with a gaping hole in her a8domen. Cronus cradled her gently, slitting one of his wrists to drip his own 8lood into her mouth, pleading her to stay awake. To stay alive as the medicullers tried in vain to help her.

Whatever it was that used upon her was fatal though, as it seems that her rain8ow drinker nature was slowly fading away. And with it, her life.

"No, no no no no, please. Porrim, please, come on. Drink, drink. You're goin' to be fine, you hear me? You'll be fine."

Aranea watched with something blocking her throat as she watched her rival, who faced Gl'bgolyb at a regular basis with a blank face, plead with transparent violet tears in his eyes. Falling down his face as he held the dying jadeblood in his hold, pressing a bleeding wrist against her lips. The glow of her skin, dimming with each passing second.

"Cro- Cronus—" The jadeblood, Porrim, gasped, turning away from Cronus' wrist to look at him. "Stop, I can't- I can't drink..." Even from where she stood, she could hear the life fading from her voice as it slowly quieted to a whisper. "I'm- I'm sorry Cronus... I'm so... tired now..."

"NO! No, stay avwake, stay vwith me. Stay vwith me Porrim- STEADFAST! DO SOMETHING!" The injured oliveblood by their side, bloodied with jade hands could only give his captain  a look of sorrow. The devastation on Cronus' face would stay with Aranea forever.

"Cro... nus...?" She whispered, gaining his attention as she reached up to cup his cheek, he immediately held it with his still bleeding hand. "Will... will you sing... the lullaby? Iz..bela's... lullaby?"

Aranea could practically see the diamond in Cronus cracking as he sucked in a breath, reluctance and ruination plastered on his face. Still, she knew he would comply to her dying wish.

Her kismesis, for the first time she has witnessed, opened his mouth and sang. Completely sober, and his voice which hadn't wavered once when drunk, was shaky, stuttering almost. "L-Let me sing a lul-la-by, as you c-close your eyees." Her eyes were drooping, and Cronus cradled her closer to him, his usually strong voice, cracking, straining, in pain yet he continues all the same.

And a-as you're drifting off to s-sleep
How I hope that the dreams that you find are bri-ight

Trolls gathered round, watching as Cronus kept her close, swaying back and forth with her in his arms. As if to rock her to her eternal sleep.

Lo-ve, can we meet again soon in the bluest of ski-ies?
Where a tomor-row waits for you a-nd I
So h-hold me tight one more time but don't kiss me go-odbye
Cause I know that I'll s-see you on the other si-de

He buried his face into her head, breathing heavily, her eyes were drooping and the glow of her skin was near-nonexistent. So faint underneath the twin moons of Alternia.

I will thi-nk of our s-song when the nights are too l-ong

The glow disappears.

I'll dre-am of you, for that's where I be-long
Love can we meet a-again soon in the blu-est of skiies?

Her hand goes limp.

Only in my dreams do we meet again...

Both of them are still, there is not a sound in the air and not a single dry eye watching, until Cronus screams.

In all my time knowing Cronus, knowing Orphaner Dualscar, I have never heard nor seen him shed a tear for anyone. And yet, even 8efore she succum8ed to death, tears fell from his face. In the same time frame, I have never heard my kismesis sing for one troll and one troll only. And yet, he does so at her request.

His devastated face and despaired scream may haunt my dreams for sweeps to come. I have never seen nor heard someone so 8roken as he was, so defeated and wracked with grief. No one would 8elief to see that this grieving man was the emotionless Orphaner. The ruthless captain of the Wrathful Angel, and a sought out 8achelor.

Winning one of his quadrants was a known honor and privilege among the trolls that knew him.

Winning his spade had 8een one of the greatest pleasures and achievements in this lifetime.

Winning his diamond... Porrim Maryam may have 8een a slave, a rain8ow drinker yet she was a woman equal to, if not worth more than Cronus and I.

8ut just as she had won it, her death had 8roke his diamond.

A portion of this journal and a larger portion of Dualscar's quadrants shall forever 8e dedicated to you Porrim Maryam, for the feats that you have achieved in life. Had you survived, you could have healed the unspoken wounds that my oh so pitia8le kismesis had. Perhaps unravel the mystery he held faster and 8etter than I ever could. 8ut in your death I fear those wounds have worsened, though no 8lame shall 8e put on to you. I worry for my kismesis now, his mentality going forward. Currently he is on my ship, unresponsive. He has yet to let go of your 8ody and any attempt to do so results in 8rief moments of barely restrained anger. I think he only calms down when he's reminded he's holding precious cargo in his hands, and does not wish to jostle your body.

He plans to personally 8ury you somewhere, on a remote island. I shall 8e accompanying him.

I have many regrets for this night, 8ut one that stands out among the rest of my regrets was that I had not stopped Cronus from killing the pest. Merely so we could gain information on just who set him with that mysterious weapon that fatally injured a rain8ow drinker, I did not find any weapon that could create the wound that Porrim had. It simply disappeared,along with whoever it was that prevented my mind control from taking the wills of the enemy. I have no dou8t they were still alive, for it would 8e far too convenient to think they died, not to mention the timing of their am8ush just as I was a8out to negoti8e with my kismesis...

This reeks of a manipul8or at work.

Porrim wakes up and immediately knows something is wrong.

Pain no longer permeates her body, but she'd been sure she had been feeling it before she woke up.

Actually, shouldn't she be... dead?

"Cronus?" She asks aloud, sitting up, finding herself surrounded by colorful blood puddles and stained weapons but ultimately alone on the island beach where she had died. She looks down on herself, the deathly wound that had somehow killed her still there at her abdomen, staining her shirt jade and leaving a jade pool around her. Confusion was an understatement to her current predicament, and she blinked as suddenly, the wound was gone. As if it never happened. "What..."

"Huh, you're finally here." Her head whirled to the source and to her ever growing confusion there stood a familiar violet seadweller. But... different.

She recognized his young face although somewhat different, recognized those horns, and that sign he wore. His eyes were completely blank and white though. "Cronus?" She asks warily, eyeing the seemingly younger version of the troll she was pale for.

The young Cronus snorted, smiling crookedly at her. "Yes, but no. I'm Cronus Ampora, but not the one you knovw." He tells her and she gives him a clear look of confusion that has him snorting again. "Come on, stand up Dolorosa. You'wve got somevwhere to be." He says before walking off, he doesn't even wait for her to stand up or look back to check if she's following her.

Which she does, she quickly gets to her feet and follows after the strange, eyeless, younger version of her captain. And in the reflection of a shield on the beach, she sees that her own eyes are just as blank and white as his were.

She's starting to understand a little of what was happening, she was indeed dead but that didn't explain the... younger ghost version of her moirail? She quickly followed after him though, wanting to know where he was going, where he was taking her.

"You- you said you were Cronus Ampora, just not the one I know of. What do you mean by that?" Porrim asked before it occurred to her that he had called her by her title, "You- you called me Dolorosa. That's-" She was cut off as she sees the environment around them change, shifting from the beach to a... familiar campsite. One from an old, old memory of hers.

Young Cronus spoke to her, gaining her attention once more. "If you vwant ansvwers to vwhat's happenin', go ask someone else. I'm just here to do my otherself a fawvor." Other self?

She had no time to question him further as from the forest around the campsite, she heard a voice she never thought she'd hear again.

"Mother?" "Purrim!" "Rotha!!"

Porrim doesn't realize her clothes change as she sees them, them, Kankri. Meulin and Mituna. Her plain dress from her time on the Wrathful Angel shift from rags, to the outfit she wore as The Dolorosa. Behind them was another young troll, but she had red wings but she wasn't what she was focusing on though. They emerged from the forest looking as shocked as she was. Her eyes teared up, "Kankri? Meulin? Mituna?" She stumbles as she reaches out to them and in no time, she's tackled down by three of her most beloved trolls. They're all laughing, crying, a combination of the two.

She almost forgets about the young ghost Cronus, but by the time she remembers, it's too late. He's gone.

And so was that young winged troll.

Her name, as her children told her, was Aradia. Aradia Megido.

And much later on, she would find out that Aradia had been trying to find the juvenile ghost Cronus for a long, long time.

But that was much later, for now, she was reunited with her family.

And she had much to tell them.

==> Be Eridan

Chapter Text

==> Be Eridan
==> Catch Frog

"It's coming your way, Erifish! Get ready!" Feferi cried out as she chased a certain frog his way. Eridan readied himself, before lunging towards it as soon as it was in range.

"Aha" Eridan exclaimed with triumph as he caught the tangerine-colored frog in his hands, it squirmed in his grip but he kept a tight enough grip on it to make sure it stayed put. He waited for Kanaya's message to-

GA: Alright
GA: We Have Successfully Got That One
GA: Please Hold While Karkat And I Find The Next Frog

Eridan huffed slightly before finally letting go of the frog. It immediately swam away, "There wwe go, another frog dowwn. Kan and Kar are lookin' for the next one noww." He told Feferi who swam closer with a grinning face.

"Great! Hopefully the next one isn't as tricky or fast as that last one was." She shared a laugh with him as they bobbed within the water of Kanaya's planet.

The Land of Rays and Frogs, an oceanic planet covered with water and the only sources of land were small isles that included Kanaya's hive situated on alongside the volcano. As promised to an earlier memo, Eridan and Feferi had come to help with the underwater aspects of frog breeding; i.e. swimming after frogs, catching them, then letting them go. A cycle to be repeated as both Kanaya and Karkat worked to breed the genesis frog. 

Honestly, Eridan somewhat wished he had Kanaya's lands. If only because it was covered in water, the water on Kanaya's planet was wonderful and had beautiful coral reefs underwater. And it was one of the safer planets that contained water that was crisp and clean enough to swim in, sure there was the occasional underling but most of the stronger underlings were underground in the vast cave system that the planet held like most other planets.

Eridan chuckled as Feferi swam circles around him, if he didn't know any better he would've thought she was showing off her swimming skills at him. (Read: She totally was.) As fish and frogs swam by them with rays of light peeking through hidden cracks in the ground, he had to wonder if Feferi had helped Karkat and Kanaya in the original comic. If they had asked Canon Eridan as well, there wasn't any mention of it though.

It probably didn't happen but he hoped it did, if only because he wanted Canon Eridan to be able to swim. When was the last time the guy had even swam in water in the original comic? In fact, he'd never really seen Canon Eridan swim in water... Just another thing he has to wonder about his original counterpart.

"Eriifiiish! Helloooo? LORAF to Erifish!" He blinked as suddenly he was facing Feferi who grinned down at him. "THERE you are! You kinda just, stared off into the distance there Erifish! Water'you finkin' a boat hmmmm?" He snorted at the fish puns, leaning away from Feferi who had leaned closer to him while asking her question.

He gave her a reassuring smile in turn, "Nothin' too complicated Fef, just- just wwonderin' a boat stuff. Personal stuff." He added as he predicted she would ask him to specify what he was wondering. Personal stuff always equated to him keeping it to himself or speaking with Equius, not her. She pouted at him but perked and beamed, reaching out and grabbing his hand, tugging him along.

"Ooo! Karkat messaged me the coords of the next frog! C'mon Erifish! Let's gooo!" She exclaimed, swimming with him in tow. He yelped but did his best to match her speed.

She only stopped when they finally arrived at the next area within the reed, more frogs and fish darted in and out the area and around them. "S-Steady on Fef! Wwheww, okay, okay, what does the next frog look like?" He asked, keeping a close eye to the nearest group of frogs.

"Same size as the last one, but red with sharker red stripes! Oh! And big ol' ruby eyes! You can't miss'em!" Feferi said, looking around with him, tense and anticipatory towards the specific frog they'd been sent to catch.

"I found it! There it is! Quick Fef, let's get it cornered somewwhere!"

He was extremely glad for the opportunity to be able to swim again in the game, and catching frogs with a friend was fun if a bit frustrating at times, but boy were he and Feferi tired after chasing, catching and letting go of frogs for a few hours nearly non-stop. It's been a while since he'd swam for so long and so vigorously, he was just glad Feferi was there to pick up his slack!

"Hey Erifish." Feferi said as they were heading back towards Karkat and Kanaya, "Wanna hang trout after this? We can swim over to my planet! I think I need your kelp for a few puzzles there." That was kind of a lie, she definitely needed some help with a few of the puzzles on her land but it didn't have to be Eridan. Still, she wanted it to be him. She brightened at the smile she got from the violet seadweller. 

"Sure Fef, wwe havven't hung out in a wwhile since the game started huh? After helpin' Kar and Kan, I'll come help you out on your planet." He agreed and the fuchsia seadweller cheered, inwardly feeling smug and she swam a bit faster so they could head over to her planet, LoDaG, Land of Dew and Glass, as soon as possible. Sollux had his turn to hang out with Eridan, now it was hers!

They arrived back to where the frog breeding platform was, situated on the beach of Kanaya's hive. The two seadwellers arrived to see so many frogs hopping about, and tanks filled with differing tadpoles, and three trolls by the view monitor and console. At the sight of the third troll, Feferi's good mood plummeted to an annoyed scowl.

"Welcome back, thank you once again for your assistance." Kanaya greeted them both as they arrived, Karkat was in the background, cursing as he tried to corral the latest batch of grown frogs into a penned area.

"Don't mention it Kan, the genesis frog is important so of course we'd help." Eridan replied before turning to the third troll, a certain goldblood who was leaning against the console who grinned at the sight of him. "Hey Sol, wwhat are you doin' here?"

Before Sollux could even answer his question, Feferi jumped in, "Yeah Shoallux, water you doing here anywave? Kanaya asked for us, seadwellers for help. Plus! You're late to the pierty anywave, Erifish and I are done!" She couldn't help the smirk on her face as she continued, "We were just aboat to go to my planet to hang trout!"

Sollux's grin turned into a scowl, "That wath way too many fitthh punth in one fucking go printhethh, dial it down will you!? Altho, I jutht wanted to check out the genethtith frog progretth and thtuff, cauthe you know, it'th imporant for uth to win? Duh?" He aimed the duh to Feferi who glared at him. "Altho I wath bored tho I dethided to vithit in perthon, maybe offer my help if they needed it."

"Hah! How could you kelp? You can't swim for shit!" Feferi laughed in a mocking kind of way. "Also fuck you, don't call me princess and my puns are fintastic! Erifish enjoys them!"

"I could thtill help in other wayth dumbathh! Altho, if I can't call you printhetth then don't call me Thhoallux! And ED liketh all punth, not just fitthh punth!"

"Snrk, you can't even pronounce Shoallux-"

"You shut up-"

The two of them glared at each other before Eridan finally decided to step in, "Alright, alright, that's enough! No fightin' on the frog breedin' platform! You can flirt another time, but not here or noww!" He exclaimed, putting himself between the two of them. They reared back at his appearance and huffed, looking away from each other while muttering underneath their breaths.

There was a new tension between the two of them, mostly stemming from the moment Feferi's palmhusk had been destroyed by an psionic imp. She had been distraught that her sweeps-year old palmhusk had been destroyed by the imp and put misplaced anger on Sollux for it, blaming him and his prototyping of his lusus for the act. When Sollux defended himself and made barbed replies instead of trying to get her to calm down, the fight escalated and by the time Eridan had arrived, Feferi was using Poseidon's Trident, an Ahab series weapon created by merging her 2x3dent with Ahab's Crosshairs, to blast a gigantic beam at Sollux who retaliated with his eye lasers.

He managed to stop them from escalating any further and it's been tense ever since. It seemed like their fights would just continue to escalate at this point if they were left on their lonesome. The thought would linger in his head for a while, and it would lead him to making a decision later on.

"Bye, Kan, Kar! if you need anythin' troll us! Wwe'll see you later!" Eridan bade before he, Feferi and Sollux left. Sollux inviting himself over to hang out with them much to Feferi's chagrin and displeasure. Still, she sent Sollux a smug look as she hugged Eridan close from behind when they boarded his violet rocketboard, she hadn't alchemized any rocket devices herself after all. Sollux's brow twitched he sent Feferi the middle finger in return.

The Knight of Blood and Sylph of Space watched all three of them leave before Karkat let out a repressed snort. "Fucking hell! They're so red for him, it's embarrassing." He finally let out a cackle. Kanaya shared his mirth but merely smiled instead of full on laughing.

"Eridan used to tease me about my... flushed feelings for Vriska before, well, before." She held back a scowl as she remembered the exact time those feelings became irrevocably hurt by Vriska's careless actions. "But he is rather ignorant to the red solicitations of others, isn't he?"

"He fucking is, the guy can't see quadrant-intent feelings in front of him unless the poor fucker actually confesses or just straight up tells it to his face!" Karkat exclaimed, he leaned to Kanaya to whisper to her, "I heard from Nepeta who heard it from Equius, Equius had to fucking tell Eridan they were already in a moirallegiance after he straight up papped and shooshed his ass down from a bloodrage. Even then! The finned idiot didn't even believe him at first! Kept denying it even!" 

Kanaya gasped at the admittedly juicy information, "Oh my!" She wondered for a moment if she should share information in turn, but this was a rather humiliating moment Vriska had experienced back then... only to remember Vriska's actions and throw that wonder out the window. "During the old FLARP sessions with Eridan, Vriska had tried subtly courting Eridan black, when it became clear he wasn't understanding her intentions, she finally just told him she was flirting pitch with him. And when he rejected her, she tried to say ut was all pretend, that the flirting was only roleplay and non-serious." A part of her felt guilty for sharing the information her moirail- no, ex-moirail at this point, had told her but another part of her felt vindictive and satisfied with it.

Karkat cackled again, grinning at the gossip. He had to hold on to the console to prevent himself from toppling over from his laughter, he had to stop when he nearly stepped on one of the poor frogs around them. They really needed to corral these little things into proper areas and prevent them from just hopping around.

"Hm, speaking of pitch, I will admit it did somewhat surprise me to find Feferi and Sollux entering a kismessisitude- I recall that they had once been amicable friends, were they not?" She questioned aloud as she remembered their younger sweeps. "Then again, I recall during that time that Sollux had been quite weary of Eridan and disliked him as well."

Karkat hummed in thought, picking up frogs from the ground. "Yeah... That all changed after well, y'know, the Charge and Scourge bullshit that happened." She frowned but nodded along to Karkat's words. "Don't fucking know what happened between Sollux and Eridan, but after that whole damn debacle he changed his mind about Eridan- completely at least, he was already coming round to liking him but he stayed that way because the asshole likes to do things out of spite. Around that time I guess he turned flush for Eridan which clashed horribly against Feferi's already standing flush crush on him."

"You know, I asked him about it when news about their new blackrom came out. I asked him if he really was just going to go pitch for Feferi just because they were crushing on the same guy and he told me that he probably still would've been pitch for her anyway without Eridan around."

The jadeblood blinked, a look of confusion and slight doubt on her face. "How so?"

"Dunno, he fucked off after that, saying it wasn't any of my damn business- which is kinda fair but he did say something that he didn't like the plans she had for like, the new troll world I guess? Said they were stupid and shit, whatever that meant." Karkat waved off, dropping more frogs into the pen area of the platform only to shriek when a few frogs leapt at him.

Kanaya didn't have time to contemplate what he said, instead rushing to help Karkat deal with the rowdy and hopping frogs on their platform.

She would remember this conversation far, far into the future after meeting a set of trolls and learning of a world beyond hers.

==> Eridan: Enjoy some free time

"I cannot believe I am doing this." Equius said, staring at the pair of maracas in his hands. They were specially reinforced maracas alchemized so he wouldn't break them as easily.

Both his matesprite and moirail snickered at him, "You wwere the one to agree with Nep on this Equi!" Eridan told him as he and Nep got their own instruments ready, Eridan would be using a drum while Nepeta- well she didn't exactly have an instrument but she had a microphone in her hand that she was fiddling with. "You wwanted Nep and I to sing together, wwe are singing together. All three of us!"

"I did not mention myself when I asked for a song from you both."

The oliveblooded troll stretched over and nuzzled him, "Oh don't be such a sourpuss Equihiss! This'll be fun! We're going to be so busy soon anyway, so let's do this! Besides, you won't be singing any actual lyrics, just- the made up ones that Erifishy wrote! It'll be easy since it um... It repetitive? Is that the right word?" She beamed when both highbloods nodded, pumping her fist in victory. "Yeah! Repetitive!"

"Eridan, diamond, you make wonderful songs but sometimes the words you create are nonsense." Equius told Eridan who gave him a lopsided smile, yeah he 'made' and 'created' the song and words of the lyrics...

Eridan shook his head, "It's fun though! Okay, just followw my rhythm Equi and you'll do fine. You too Nep, you'll do great."

"Are you sure I should uh, lead? Lead the song? I really, really like the song Erifish don't get mew wrong here but you're the one who wrote it and you sing mewre than mew!" She fiddled with the microphone again, feeling a bit nervous with it in hand. She liked singing too, but she wasn't very confident about it, Eridan sang great! She's heard so many songs from him and his voice was amazing!

Eridan gave her a reassuring smile, "You'vve got a great vvoice Nep! You really do! I'll be takin' over for one part, but it'll mostly be you! Plus, I can't really reach certain high notes needed for this son'. And evven if you don't hit them, just havve fun Nep! That's the wwhole point of music, to me at least. Just- sing and havve fun."

"My moirail is right dear Nepeta, you have a lovely voice, it is entirely why I requested a song sung by you as well as Eridan. In fact, I am even more delighted that you will be the one mainly sing here." Equius told her with a loving smile that had her blushing, but it instilled more confidence in her.

Nepeta took in a deep breath but nodded, "Okay! Let's do it then! Befur I lose my nerve."

"Okay! Here wwe go!" Eridan exclaimed as he started a funky rhythm with his drum before singing out loud. "Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away~" He was so fucking excited to sing this with them both. Equius shortly began shaking his maracas, trying to match Eridan's beats as he continued.

Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away~!

Equius almost didn't start singing until he caught Eridan's eye and braced himself, his face flushing for the nonsense about to spill from his mouth.

Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh

Nepeta was right though, at least it was simple and repetitive. Speaking of her, she shortly began singing at Eridan's signal after Equius' forth repetition.

In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lioness sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the quiet jungle
The lioness sleeps tonight

Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away~

Equius suddenly found himself minding less about singing if it helped set up Nepeta's part of the song, he had listened enraptured by her higher-pitched voice compared to his moirail. Eridan continued to give background vocals to support Nepeta after she sang. He didn't need Eridan to look at him for him to continue singing after Nepeta.

Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh

Nepeta had wavered the first verse, but her second came out STRONG and more confident as she became comfortable with singing in front of the two of them. Emboldened by their bright faces and the look of general awe from her matesprit.

Near the village, the peaceful village
The lioness sleeps tonight

Eridan quickly took over for her as planned as Nepeta sang out the needed background high note.

Near the village, the quiet village (Woooahhhhh!)
The lioness sleeps tonight (Woooahhhhhhhhh!)
Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away~

Nepeta winced as her throat strained at her high singing, but she managed it, grinning brightly at the two as Eridan joined Equius in his winging.

Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away~
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh

Hoooooaaaoooo~
HooooooAAAOOOO~
Hoooooaaaoooo~

Nepeta stopped singing for a moment to prepare herself taking over the song once more, but mischief sparked in her heart as she turned to her matesprit. She sauntered over, singing with a purr-like undertone that had Equius completely blue in the face.

Hush, my darling, don't fear, my darling,
The lioness sleeps tonight
Hush, my darling, don't fear, my darling,
The lioness sleeps tonight

Equius' maracas cracked when Nepeta kissed his cheek and gave him a wink afterwards as she sang. Eridan and Nepeta were barely able to keep their laughter at his completely blue face. Eridan took over as Equius gave up, dropping the broken maracas and spilling the beads that were inside all over the floor so he could cover his face. Nepeta gave up restraining herself and laughed as Eridan finished the song.

Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away~
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh...

When he finished the song, he finally joined Nepeta's laughter. "You're right Erifishy! This was soo meowch fun! Right E-qui-hiss~?" She purred, coming over to nuzzle the still heavily blushing blueblood.

"Told you!"

==> Eridan: Complete Loop

Eridan looked at the newly alchemized item he had in his hands, a very familiar bright pink phone that has staved off much of the loneliness whenever he was awake on Derse. It was strange seeing it away from Derse, but he was glad to have it. In the beginning he'd been confused as to how it got into Equius' tower, and where exactly it came from, but over time he had began to suspect as to its origins and how it ended up on Derse. And today, his suspicions, his plan really, would come to fruition.

CA: Ready?
TG: totes redy babe
TG: *ready
TT: More than ready
CA: Alright, I'm contactin Dia

clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling apocalypseArisen [AA]

CA: Dia I knoww I said I'd wwant a favvor from you after wwe wwin but I'd like to cash it in noww
CA: I need some help in completin a loop

"And what loop would that be?" Eridan let out a yelp of surprise, nearly dropping the pink phone before whirling around to see Aradia behind him.

He clutched at his shirt, wheezing slightly. "I'm startin' to think you like usin' time travvel to just appear out of fuckin' nowwhere! Dia, tell me the truth, do you enjoy doin' that or do you just like scarin' the shit out of me?" He asked her, trying to calm his racing heart.

He swore Aradia's metallic lips twitched up a bit, "No comment." Was her reply, "Does completing a loop involve that?" She motioned to the pink phone he had in his hands. It seemed similar a troll's palmhusk but something about it seemed... different.

"Yes, actually." He nodded, "I need you to time travvel to a specific date, you havve to leavve this in Equius towwer on Derse. It doesn't really invvolvve wwith my knowwledge if that's wwhat you're thinkin' but it's important to havve my past dream self to find it." He offered the phone to her, it was already open and on Trollian. There were only two handles on it though and she peered at it, intrigued.

"I'll tell you more about it later alon' wwith evverythin' else."

Aradia's hum was synthetic, but there was a clear tone of curiosity to it. "Alright." She agreed and took the offered phone before disappearing with the tune of her quartz-music box time travel device thing. He doesn't know if she'll talk to his friends with it, but the fact the phone appeared in Equius' tower meant that she fulfilled his request. Also, she didn't say anything about the fact she had to leave it in Equius' tower, which was good, he thinks? She hasn't exactly interacted with Equius much since she got her body, but she answers messages so she was still staying in touch and obviously progressing in the game.

Speaking of the game, it was almost time to face the Black King. Operation Regisurp was already completed, but there were still some other tasks to do, like facing their respective denizens to release the grist hoard for the genesis frog.

He reached into his sylladex, taking out an older version of the pink phone he had just alchemized. He had brought it with him when he came back from Derse after being revived, the circumstances of his death was... something he'd rather not think about right now.

CA: I sent Dia off wwith the phone
CA: The loop is complete and wwe should be fine noww
CA: Howw's talkin to past dream self me Dirk?
TT: It's a fuckin hoot
TT: Lil you is so gogdamn confused
TT: It's great
TG: lmao i bet it is
TG: ok
TG: i am now
TG: semding the ptogam
TG: *sending
TG: *program
TG: lil u will b talking 2 lil dirky in 3
TG: 2
TG: 1
TG: blast offff <3333
TT: What a fucking shit show that was huh Eridan
CA: You're tellin me
TG: :(((9((9
CA: Wwhat's wwrong Roxy?
TG: im jus so jelly of u guys
TG: i dont get 2 talk to lil eribabe til i get my rosey
TG: so unfaiiiair
TT: That's what you get for being a void player Rox
TG: damn voidy pweoers
TG: dirky gets like
TG: a fuckin 4 year headsfarf 2 talk to u eri
CA: Honestly I needed that 4 year head start
CA: Dirk wwas a stubborn lil shit
TT: And you're a persistent lil shit but thank gog for that I suppose
TT: Also being raised by a possessed puppet is hard
TT: Its hard and neither of you can understand
CA: As if you wwouldn't still be a stubborn lil shit wwithout Cal
TG: lmaooo he got u there dirky
TT: I am being unfairly slandered by my own best friends
TT: Woe is me

Eridan rolled his eyes at that before he finally noticed the time. He should get going.

CA: I havve to go
CA: It's time to face my denizen
TG: aw shit
TT: Be careful
CA: I wwill

He had questions for the denizen, the most important one being; why didn't he have a quest bed on his planet?

[==> P4SSWORD]

==> Hours later

"Eridan!" Equius exclaimed happily as his moirail entered his hive, having promised to come back as soon as he dealt with his denizen. His happiness turned into severe concern when he realized his highblooded moirail was wearing his dark grey cloak, even pulling the hood over his head and over his horns. He had his head bowed, hiding his face in the shadows of his hair and hood. "Eridan? Eridan, what's wrong? Are you overwhelmed again?"

"E-qui-us-" He froze and a shiver ran down his spine at the whispery voice that came from the seadweller. "I-I think I- m-made a- mis-take."

Finally, Eridan looked up and Equius had to force himself to stand still as instead of his moirail's eyes, he saw nothing but pitch black. Any fear he felt was abated by the translucent violet tears that were streaming down his face. "I'm so-sorry E-qui- I-I'm- I'm- I-" The tears continued to fall and Equius threw away his fear, forcing himself to walk forward and take his distraught moirail into his arms. Shooshing him when he began to sob.

"My- an-gels ar-e gone! Th-e wra-iths too! They-re gone bu-t st-ill h-ere! I can fe-el them, E-qui- I fee-l w-rong!"

Despite the dread that came instinctively to him at the sound and sight of his moirail, Equius could do nothing else but comfort him.

Eridan clutched at his cloak, trying to keep himself in control as so many whispers and so many howls were in his head it felt like it could burst. Fear interlaced itself with the pain as the denizen's dying words haunted him.

L E T U S S E E H O W L O N G Y O U L A S T A N O M A L Y

Anomaly.

It knew he didn't belong here.

It knew he wasn't supposed to be Eridan Ampora.

He should have killed it the moment he saw who his denizen was.

It didn't matter that he gained a new power that could rival god tier, it didn't feel worth it whatsoever.

==> Eridan: Open Memo

CURRENT carcinoGeneticist [CG] opened memo on transtimeline bulletin board TEAM ADORABLOODTHIRSTY

CCG: OKAY SHIT SPONGES.
CCG: THIS IS IT, THE FINAL BATTLE IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS! SO YOU ALL BETTER BE READY TO KICK ASS LIKE YOU'VE NEVER KICKED ANY ASS BEFORE, REALLY GIVE IT YOUR ALL AND MAKE SURE THE KING'S GIGANTIC BEHIND IS DESTROYED UNDER A FURIOUS FLURRY OF SKYWARD STOMPS HARD ENOUGH TO REACH HIS ROTTING SPONGE.
CCG: WAIT SHIT THE KING HAS TWO HEADS NOW SO HE PROBABLY HAS DOUBLE THE ROTTING SPONGES SO WE MIGHT HAVE TO DIVIDE THAT STOMP ASS KICKING.

FUTURE carcinoGeneticist [CG] 6 HOURS FROM NOW joined the memo

FCG: OH MY FUCKING GOG!
FCG: STFU AND GET TO THE POINT ALREADY!!!

CCG kicked FCG from the memo
CCG banned FCG from the memo

CCG: SHUT THE FUCK UP FUTURE ME! YOU ARE NOT RUINING THIS FOR ME!
CCG: BUT SURE YOU KNOW WHAT I'LL GET TO THE FUCKING POINT, THE POINT IS;
CCG: IS EVERYONE FUCKING READY TO KILL THE BLACK KING?

CURRENT arachnidsGrip [AG] joined the memo
CURRENT gallowsCalibrator [GC] joined the memo

CGC: D3F1N1T3LY R34DY TO K1CK SOM3 C4R4P4C14N BUTT >:]
CAG: Ready as I'll ever 8e >::::D

CURRENT grimAuxiliatrix [GA] joined the memo
CURRENT twinArmageddons [TA] joined the memo

CGA: I Am Ready
CTA: fuck iit yeah iim ready
CGA: Id Like To Point Out However How Reckless It Was To Speed Up The Genesis Frog Breeding
CCG: I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO IT! THE RECKONING LITERALLY STARTS IN A COUPLE OF HOURS KANAYA!
CCG: BESIDES IT'LL BE FINE! THE GAME WOULDN'T ALLOW A SPED UP BREEDING PROCESS IF IT DIDN'T WANT TO.
CGA: Still
CAG: Oh lighten Kanaya, for once our illustrious leader has a point! If you can speed up something in the process why wouldn't you?
CCG: YOU CAN TAKE YOUR 'FOR ONCE' BULLSHIT AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR SEED FLAP SERKET, I'M ALWAYS RIGHT.
CGC: 4LW4YS R1GHT HMMMMM?
CCG: OKAY SO I MAY BE WRONG SOMETIMES BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT!
CGA: Hm
CTA: iim wiith KN on thii2
CGC: G3NU1N3LY OR ONLY B3C4US3 VR12K4 1S S4Y1NG SO
CGC: >:?
CTA: why cant iit bee both?

CURRENT cuttlefishCuller [CC] joined the memo
CURRENT adiosToreador [AT] joined the memo

CCC: Cause it can't always be bot)( stuuuupid! You )(ave to c)(oose one or t)(e ot)(er at some point!
CAT: uH,,, iM rEADY,
CCC: O)( yea)(! I'm ready too!
CAG: Miracle of miracles, even the wimp is ready!
CAT: }:/

CURRENT terminallyCapricious [TC] joined the memo
CURRENT apocalypseArisen [AA] joined the memo

CTC: DiD SoMeBoDy SaY MiRaClEs?
CGC: DONT C4LL H1M 4 W1MP VR12K4
CAA: d0nt call him that
CAG: Hey I just call it as I see it
CAT: uhh, yEAH SOMEONE DID SAY MIRACLES GAMZEE,, jUST PROBABLY NOT IN THE GOOD WAY YOUD EXPECT,,,,
CTC: :o(
CTA: ii can choo2e whatever ii want and iif ii want two choo2e both then ii choo2e both
CTA: al2o 2up AA
CCC: 3>8( Ug)()()()( t)(at's not )(ow it works!!!
CAA: hell0 s0llux
CTA: 2ay2 who
CCC: Logic, duuu)(!
CCG: NO PITCH FLIRTING IN THE DAMN MEMO YOU TWO! DON'T MAKE ME GET ERIDAN!!
CCG: ALSO GAMZEE ARE YOU READY FOR THE FIGHT?
CTA: damniit
CCC: Fin! Just don't get -Erifis)(!
CTC: Im AlL Up AnD ReAdY KaRbRo
CTC: So FuCkInG ReAdY HeLl YeAh
CTC: WhAt ArE We FiGhTiNg AgAiN
CGC: TH3 BL4CK K1NG G4MZ33 W3 4R3 F1GHT1NG TH3 BL4CK K1NG
CTC: Oh RiGhT
CAG: Speaking of Eridan, where the fuck is he?
CCG: WHERE THE FUCK IS NEPETA AND EQUIUS TOO?

CURRENT arsenicCatnip [AC] joined the memo
CURRENT centaursTesticle [CT] joined the memo

CAC: X33 < we're here!!!
CAC: :33 < sorry for being late we were doing some last mewnute prepurrations
CCT: D --> Indeed, our apologies for our tardiness
CCT: D --> We simply had some important things to address before we go and e%ecute the black king
CCC: Wait w)(ere's -Erifis)(?

CURRENT clandestineAmicability [CA] joined the memo

CCA: I'm here
CCA: And I'm ready
CCT: D --> Are you alright Eridan?
CCA: I'm fine
CTA: you 2ure about that?
CCA: Yes
CCA: I'll see you all on skaia

CCA left the memo

Eridan looked into the mirror, his eyes weren't pitch black and his hair was normal. His skin wasn't a shade darker, and his clothes were at the right colors. Still, he had the urge to wear his cloak again, but he shouldn't. Not now, not when they were about to fight the Black King.

The whispers and shrieks were died down, nearly unnoticeable. Nearly, he could still hear them if he concentrated, but he didn't. He had to keep himself in control, had to keep them all in control. He took in a deep breath before he exhaled and narrowed his eyes, he finally turned away from the mirror and looked at his empty, empty hive.

No more angels.

He walked towards his rocket board.

No more wraiths.

He exited his hive.

No more SeaDad.

The shrieks became a little bit louder at the thought of his dead lusus and he clamped down on it, gritting his teeth and taking off into the air, heading towards skaia.

It was time to fight the Black King.

==>[S] Rex Duodecim Angelus 

The Battlefield had morphed into its final state within Skaia, and the bastardized version of a twelve-times prototyped Black King stood on the black and white grounds of the planet. Gigantic and menacing, a true behemoth and monstrosity.

The King was disgusting to look in real life, an unholy fusion of all their custodians and it angered Eridan that somewhere in there, were remnants of his lusus. It was disgusting how dARE HE— calm. Remain, calm. He took in a deep breath as Karkat took point on the lily pad they were all on.

"Alright you fucks! This is it! This is where it all ends, everything we've done, everything that happened- it all leads to here and now." Karkat said, a scowl painted on his face. "Everyone ready?!"

A chorus of agreement and as the meteors started to fall, as the Black King finally noticed their presence on one of the lilypads in the air. Around them various Aradias from various doomed timelines appeared, The Reckoning had begun and meteors were being flung towards Skaia and The Battlefield. They needed to kill the King before it was too late, and not only were they suppose to deal with the gigantic King, but his army as well, ships from Derse containing dersite carapacian soldiers arrived. Taking to arms at the command of their leader, jumping out of their ships, landing on nearby lily pads and encroaching closer with each passing moment.

There was no Prospit ship in sight, Prospit had lost. He didn't know what happened to the White King, but he had warned the White Queen and Eridan could only hope that she had heed his warning and evacuated Prospit or were in the process of evacuating.

As more and more dersite soldiers came, mostly pawns but there were various others coming, Bishops, Towers, Knights- the entire chess set was coming to stop them.

It was now or never, and although this wouldn't be the final battle as Karkat had said, it certainly felt like it.

Eridan could almost hear a familiar song. He almost can't remember the name, but as he stood among his team- no, among his friends, among everyone as the divide of Blue and Red no longer mattered in this final fight, he remembers the name.

Ah yes, it was Rex Duodecim Angelus.

"ATTACK!"

And just like that, the battle begun.

It was near chaos as they all delt with the pawns first, Karkat cleaving a dersite in two with his sickles, Terezi jumping on a group by herself. Kanaya going against a Bishop that snuck on their lilypad with her demonic-looking chainsaw and dressed impeccably for the occasion, Sollux blasting several dersites off lily pads with his optic-psionic lasers. Gamze- he was just throwing sopor slime pies at his opponents but it was somehow super effective. Feferi was leaping between lilypads and skewering dersite after dersite her 2x3dent, saving Poseidon's Trident for later, Equius favoring fistkind and punching soldiers and BIshops alike, wrestling with a particularly big one and throwing it into a group of dersite soldiers.

Nepeta was nearby, weaving between soldiers and pouncing on her prey like the predator she was, viscerally dismembering them with her claws as Tavros zoomed by with his rocketchair and lance in hand, impaling several soldiers at once. Vriska stealing as much luck as she could from the enemy, causing misfortune like a stray meteor striking a Bishop down. Aradia, their Aradia of this timeline, was using her psionics to beat the dersite soldiers into the lilypads and throwing them around like garbage while Eridan himself, was using Ahab's Crosshairs to shoot down dersite ships in the air so they could focus on the Black King better.

This would be the last battle he would use Ahab's Crosshairs.

With most of the dersite soldiers taken care of, and almost all their ships shot down from the sky, Karkat grinned victoriously as they focused on the Black King- "Look out!" Tavros shouted, a singular large tentacle came to try and crush them all on the lilypad. Thanks to Tavros' warning, they all managed to dodge the large limb.

The King roared- actually it was more of glub, The Glub, unleashing a psychic wave that would have dealt a heavy blow to them all if it weren't for the various Aradias. They worked together to quell and resist the wave, using their own powers to keep it at bay. For now. Still, the sound of the glub disoriented quite a few of them.

The tentacle was still on the lilypad, Karkat recovered quickly and took advantage of it, latching on to the limb with his Clawsickles, hanging on even as it began to life upwards. "Karkat!" Terezi shouted after him, jumping to do the same wih her cane-swords. "Come on guys, get up and fight!" She yelled at the rest who were still slightly disoriented, it snapped them out of their daze.

Sollux immediately blased off into the air, Tavros followed after him with Gamzee splayed on his rocketchair. Vriska wasn't far behind, saluting to a disgruntled Eridan, "Later losers!" She laughed as she rocketed off with her boots, purposefully overtaking Tavros and Gamzee, nearly clipping them much to their, mostly Tavros', chagrin.

Eridan rolled his eyes, about to deply his rocketboard only for Feferi to stop him, "This way Erifish!" She poitned to the lilypads that were spiraling upwards. Equius and Nepeta were taking the route and waved at both of them to follow, "Come on!" She grabbed his wrist and he nearly stumbled trying to follow her. Kanaya noticed their movement and the five trolls jumped from floating pad to pad, closer to the King.

Terezi and Karkat were brought up and came face to face to one of the King's scowling faces, growling menacingly and tried to shake both of them off the tentacle. Terezi managed to hang on, but Karkat was flung off, landing on a nearby lilypad with a grunt. He quickly got to his feet and hurriedly dodged an onslaught of tentacles, the Cancer-signed troll made quick work with them, slicing through them with his sickles. He noticed an incoming attack, something that required him to dodge, a giant black crustacean claw that had him snarling, angered at the sight of what used to be part of his lusus.

The lilypad he left was smashed to pieces from the impact but he used a stray tentacle from the king to launch himself to the a tilting lily pad, adding to his momentum as he tried to make his way back to the giant dersite king only to be knocked aside by the King's crab claw. He managed to land safely on another lilypad and swiftly cut down an offending tentacle that tried to sneak up on him while he was down. Another wave of the things came and he growls, "Enough with the gogdamn tentacles!" He sliced through them with ease before he jumps and sprints up on one of the Black King's largest tentacles. Dodging more on the way, he jumped off the tentacle, managing to get at least shoulder level of the king.

With a battle cry, he jumped towards the King's shoulder, using his sickle as leverage as he slid down at a slant, leaving a red trail of carapacian blood in his wake as his sickle dragged down the King's torso. He jumps away from the King's body to dodge the incoming hand that tried to swat him, unfortunately a tentacle gets in his way and he's once again knocked unto a lilypad without sticking the landing this time. He ends up on his side, "I'm getting real tired of this bullsh-DOOF!" Terezi at some point had jumped off the tentacle and was purposefully and literally walking over him with a sharp grin. "Dammit Terezi!"

Karkat was definitely annoyed by her actions, even moreso when he saw that she was acting as a 'helpless' little blind troll when he and everyone else knew she was far from helpless. The teal didn't care though, because what was a battle without a little personal fun? Her cane jabs against a tentacle and she gasps in faux-shock, knocking against the tentacle again, "Oh my! What in the world is this?" She asks sarcastically, ignoring Karkat's swears aimed at her and her act. The Black King doesn't seem to appreciate her drubbing her cane against her tentacles and sends more her way.

Terezi acted surprised and distressed by the attack, but quickly drops into a smirk and brings out one of her grand prized possessions; her scratched coin.

She knows what to do, the outcome is already in her mind's eye and she tosses the coin in the air before quickly slicing through the horde of tentacles with her cane sword, jumping on to a bigger tentacle and making her way up it. She even used a stray tentacle as a boost to launch herself into the air, practically flying with both her swords at the ready. She's blind but she knows exactly where she's going, she stabs right into the Black King's single giant eye, weight and gravity pulling her down which makes the blades embedded in the eyes get dragged with her, making the eye-wound even more painful.

Back on the lilypad, her coin lands with the scratched side facing up, just as she expected.

She dislodged her swords, jumping away from the gigantic black hand and landing safely on a lilypad, feeling quite smug and satisfied as she smelled the sharp iron cherry scent that stained her blades and at the fact she had pretty much ruined the Black King's cyclops eye. She was beyond please, "Justice has been served."

The others had been dealing with more dersite soldiers and they all reconvened to a singular lilypad, however that gave the Black King the opportunity to somehow shoot a layer of spider silk webbing on them. Covering them with its sticky strings that slowed their movement and stuck them to the lilypad. "Eugh, grooooooooss!" Vriska complained although this trait came from her lusus, they struggled a bit to get rid of the webbing on them.

"This is unsanitary." Equius grumbled, looking at the web that covered him with disgust but was easily able to rip it apart. He was about to help Nepeta when she easily freed herself with her claws, that just left- "Eridan! Are you alright?" He looked over to his moirail who was covered in spiderweb, he looked equally disgusted but was wincing as he held his head which sparked concern in the indigo. "Hold on, Nepeta and I are coming to assist you!"

Eridan shook his head, "I-I'm fine! Focus on the battle, Equ-" He tried to reassure him only to be interrupted by Kanaya's cry of "Dodge!" A crab claw came down, and though the trolls in the middle had managed to dodge, some were still stuck from the webs and that was a problem as the lilypad was split apart and started to fall. The closest trolls saved who they could, with Terezi equipping her rocketwings to save Karkat, Vriska had experience with getting rid of webs and had equipped her rocket boots, Tavros managing to save Kanaya and Gamzee, Sollux and Aradia had freed themselves long ago, Equius had grabbed Nepeta out of instinct and jumped to safer ground which left Feferi and Eridan on the falling platform.

"Eridan!" Equius cried out in concern. Eridan and Feferi struggled to get out of the web, Eridan even tried to get his rocket board out, but it quickly stuck to the web and didn't help at all.

Before Sollux could even try and save Eridan, Vriska had intervened, tearing Eridan out of the webs and dragging him out by his scarf, making him choke slightly on it. Sollux was left to save Feferi, who huffed at him much to his annoyance. He wasn't too gentle when he dumped her on another lilypad. Both their annoyances would soon be turned on Vriska when they saw her lugging Eridan around by the scarf, the seadweller looking pale and an unhealthy shade of violet from the lack of air as he tried to hold on but also breathe.

"V-Vriska!" He choked out through gritted teeth. He doesn't even know if she was doing this intentionally, he wouldn't be surprised if she was.

"Hold- still- oh shit!" Vriska yelped, her pathway blocked by a wall of tentacles. They crashed together into the wall, becoming entangled among them. "Fuck!!!!!!!!" They struggled, and Vriska managed to free an arm to throw her dice on the lilypad below them and Eridan cursed when she rolled 'A Weal of Unusual Size'. "Oh gogdammit!!!!!!!!"

The seadweller struggled before shouting to Equius when he saw his moirail coming to help him, "I'm fine! Focus on the fight Equi!" The indigo hesitated but something in Eridan's face must have convinced him as he put on a look of determination before facing the Black King and equipping Ahab's Bow. One of his strongest bows and created obviously with the code his moirail provided. The bow was dark blue and sleek with a light purple string, he drew it back and an arrow of blue and violet light appeared in his hold.

He took in a deep breath, and let go, absolutely nailing the Black King's right shoulder- he'd been aiming for his left one where he held his scepter but that was still a win! "Yes!" He cheered at the sight of the burnt gash on the carapacian King's shoulder. Unfortunately in his excitement, he gripped the bow too hard and it snapped in half. "Oh Fiddlesticks- DOOF!" He wheezed as he was suddenly knocked aside by the Black King's tentacle, enraged and in pain.

Tavros saw Eridan and Vriska struggling to free themselves from the wall of tentacles and rushed in to help, gripping his lance, he managed to somehow slice through the tentacles and freeing them both. "Thanks Tavv!" Eridan shouts at him while Vriska scoffed, shouting "We didn't need your stinkin' help Nitram!" He ignored Vriska's shout and instead grinned at Eridan before looking up to the enraged Black King. The sight of his bloody and giant stature briefly intimidated hi, but he took in a deep breath and narrowed his eyes in determination. He'd become stronger than he was before, Eridan had helped him, and had told him that Rufioh was in a sense, real someway and to ignore Vriska's mockery. He had to have confidence in himself! And here was his chance!

The bull-horned troll zoomed through the air, expertly dodging incoming tentacles and the crab claw but unfortunately couldn't completely dodge the King's fist. It clipped his rocket chair and Tavros screamed as he fell, fortunately, a certain jadeblood had been nearby and rescued him. "T-Thank you Kanaya." Tavros sighed in relief, looking up to his savior. She looked pretty in her jade and whtie flowery dress. Kanaya looked back at him once before taking her lipstick out. She applied the jade side to her lips before changing both the lipstick and her dress her Demonbane Ragripper chainsaw and a lovely pink dress.

Tavros uncaptchalogued a new rocketchair, thankful he alchemized extras. Climbing into it, he was bakc in the air as Kanaya revved her chainsaw. Roaring with it as she leapt and soared throught the air, ripping right through an incoming tentacle in half. She kept her momentum, jumping once more and cut the King's crab hand right off. A great accomplishment for the well-mannered jadeblood as well as an advantage for the trolls as a whole.

She lept back, passing a certain matesprit pair fighting side by side. Equius was still distrssed by the destruction of Ahab's Bow, luckily, he had tentacles to take his anger out on. Each tentacle explded on impact from the force of his punches, he was not holding back. "How could I been so foalish! I should have been more mareful!" He didn't have any time or thought to correct himself of his accidental and emotional puns. "I did not even alchemize an extra Ahab's Bow!"

"Aww, don't furry Equihiss! We'll alchemewze a new one after the battle! Besides! You're doing amewzing right now, so STRONG!" Nepeta exclaimed, slicing the tentacles that came her way with her claws. She ends up back to back with her matesprit, grinning widely as more tentacles came, an idea was starting to spark in her head as she glanced at the Black King.

"I appreciate the compliment Nepeta, but still!" Equius grunted, glancing back at his matesprit. "I thought I had gotten better with my control!" He ducked when Nepeta leapt over him, giving her leverage so she could reach the tentacles before it reached them.

"And you are! But can we continue this later Equihiss?!" Now wasn't exactly the time to chat, especially with the Black King taking notice of them with a scowl before opening one of his head's mouth to lash out with his frog-like tongue.

Equius snarled, catching the slimy tongue with a disgusted look of anger. "Fine!" He roared, more out of exertion rather than actual anger, he could never be angry at his matesprit. Only at himself for his foalish lack of control in his strength, his anger abated slightly when the Black King reeled back with a pained cry.

The oliveblood giggled, pouncing onto Equius' back and balancing on his shoulder. "So strong!" She praised with a purr, nuzzling his head.

Equius blushed a the praise, "Thank you dear heart."

"Mhm! Now, throw me." Equius was taken aback, Nepeta shifted, equipping her rocket claws with a devious look in her eyes. "C'mon Equihiss, throw me!" He quickly understands what she wants to do and complies, he lets Nepeta climb to his hand and grunted as he sent his matesprit into the air. She let out a delighted roar as she soared and before she lost her momentum, she activated her rocket claws and scraped the blades against the Black King's torso, mirroring the cut that Karkat made earlier with his clawsickles and creating a gigantic red 'X' on the King's chest.

She quickly retreated, dodging through tentacles and landing on a lilypad in a slight roll. Passing two certain seadwellers in the process, "Hi Erifishy, hi Feffury!" She greeted when she skidded into a stop.

Eridan looked back, smiling at her, "Hello Nep. Get back to Equi please, it's our turn, right Fef?" He looked towards her and she beamed, nodding eagerly as she equipped Poseidon's Trident.

"Shell yeah it is!"

Nepeta giggled, hopping off the lilypad with a, "Good luck!"

The fuchsia seadweller grinned eagerly at the tentacles, contributed by her lusus. She never really put much thought into how many her lusus had, but seeing the innumerable tentacles the Black King had really put it into perspective. With Poseidon's Trident and Ahab's Crosshairs, they blasted through the tentacles and made their way closer to the king.

Unfortunately, the Black King flapped his large wings hard, blowing everything back and causing a huge draft that sent things flying. Both Ahab's Crosshairs and Posidon's Trident slipped through each seasweller's hands. Eridan was shocked but wasn't too affected by it, he was done with the rifle anyway and he still had the code for it. "My trident!" Feferi was more distraight than he was to lose her Ahab's weapon.

"Wwe need to deal with those bothersome wwings of his!" Eridan exclaimed, taking Ahab's Harpoon in hand while Feferi defautled back to her 2x3dent. "I'll take left, you take right?"

Feferi growled and nodded, "You don't have to ask me twice Erifish, I'm on it! Let's go!" They split, climbing lilypads to head towards the Black King's wings. Feferi snarled as she put all her strength into swinging Ψdon's Entente at the King's right wing, "GrrAAAH!!" She cried out, ripping the right wing apart just as Eridan ripped the left with the glowing edge of Ahab's Harpoon. Concidentally, Sollux had been nearby the right wing, redirecting meteors away from his teammates and into dersite ships, he barely managed to dodge the incoming swing and snarled at the ex-heiress.

"Dammit Peitheth, watch where you're thwinging that!" He spat at her, sparking when he saw the middle finger she gave him as she fell towards another lilypad. He was tempted to zap her but was distracted by the pained roar the King let out.

At least the Black King's wings were dealt with.

The battle continued as the gigantified monarch moved foreward, they all continued to fight against him and moving backwards on floating lilypads. The Black King called for his servants, amalgamated black creatures coming from below, monsters of various kinds came up to attack the trolls and aid the King.

Although he had lost Ahab's Crosshairs, Ahab's Harpoon was still a formidable laser weapon and with his master marksmanship, he turned a sharp eye towards the incoming monsters. Shooting and slicing down all the incoming monsters with ease, but careful not to aim for his friends and teammates. Sollux grinned at the sight of Eridan sniping each monster out of the fucking sky, even performing an awesome backflip to dodge a particularly fiesty one. He looked fucking amazing doing that.

"Sollux." Aradia's robotic voice caught his attention and he flushed mustard at the look he got from her, she may be robotic but they'd been moirails once and even with her strange new body, he could tell the deadpanned yet exasperatedly fond look she gave him. "Please focus on the fight, the bigger meteors are coming soon, we should be using those." Her painted blue lips smirked, "You can ogle Eridan at a later time."

"AA! I wasn't ogling!" Sollux hissed, taking back the apology he was about to say. He turned back to the fight, and kept an eye out on everyone before looking for the incoming meteors as Aradia said. It was up to him and Aradia to keep their team safe from stray meteors after all.

The rest of them focused on the creatures, trying to get them out of th way so they could get back to mainly attacking the Black King.

In a mistake that would almost cost him his life, Karkat somehow lost his crab-clawsickle. He cursed severely as he tried to look to where it landed, almost not noticing the incoming humongous hand that was reaching for him, thankfully Equius intercepted the hang, giving it a STRONG punch, he was displeased to see it in tact though. The King's hands were much stronger than his tentacles.

Karkat was both shocked and relieved to see the blueblood save him, "Thanks Zahhak!" He wonders though, if Equius would have still saved him if he knew Karkat was a mutant.

"Don't mention it." The only reason he saved Karkat was because both his moirail and matesprit saw the hemoanonymous troll in a good light for some reason, and if he died then they would both be upset. It's not like he was starting to respect Vantas for having taken charge over their teams and having successfully orchestrated Operation Regisurp. Not at all.

Karkat managed to find his clawsickle, "Karkat! Terezi!" Tavros called from above, using his communion powers to gather a bunch of the amalgamated black chess piece creatures nearby. Terezi and Karkat shared a knowing look, and they worked together to take the mentally controlled group down.

Up in the sky, way above Tavros and the others, Aradia and Sollux saw a gigantic meteor coming from the sky. "Sollux."

"I thee it!" They combined their psionics, taking control over the giant meteor and directed it towards the Black King. The transformed carapacian king roared in slight pain but managed to hit the flaming mountain-sized rock away from him. Undeterred, both psionic trolls concentrated their powers and controlled the incoming meteors to flow around the lilypads and barrage the King.

Terezi managed to find Gamzee casually sitting on a lilypad, not contributing to the fight anymore and merely eating his sopor pies. "Dammit Gamzee, get your ass off and help us with the fight here!" She shouted, scowling when the clown just gave her a dazed look, his mouth covered in green slime. She growled before noticing an empty pie tin, an idea lit up in her head and she grabbed it, concentrating on the tin with her Mind Powers- something she hadn't really done much during the session at all surprisingly before throwing it at Gamzee's head.

The purpleblood's head bobbed from the impact and instantly, the relaxed smile that he wore changed into a blood thirsty grin. His eyes shifting from a glazed yellow to a dangerous orange. Eridan who'd been nearby, froze as Gamzee looked at him with an insane giggle and a menacing honk. "Oh fuck." He quickly retreated to Terezi's side as Gamzee's gaze shifted to the Black King, fidgeting in place before quickly jumping from lilypad to lilypad. Bounding towards him with unreal speed.

"Terezi, wwhat havve you done?!"

Terezi shrugged, hiding her perturbed reaction at the sudden shift she had caused in Gamzee. "I just gave him a little bosst is all, he needs to help out with the ba—"

It happened too fast to truly comprehend what happened, one moment, Gamzee was laughing and grinning insanely as he jumped at the Black King and for once, the King looked utterly shocked and terrified by the currently psychotic Bard of Rage and then the next? One of the Black King's heads was gone, blood erupting from the stump where it once was like a volcano and caused a wave of red liquid to rain down on them for a few seconds. Gamzee had landed back on a lilypad, right besides Karkat, his eyes no longer orange but back to the chill yellow they had been before. The mutant was gaping, and fear froze him in place.

Frankly it froze everyone in place, and Eridan stared at Gamzee with a sense of dread.

A roar of pain snapped them out of their fear as the Black King finally registered what happened and was entirely enraged by it, no longer afraid. The monarch lifed his Skaian Scepter, bringing it down quickly to cause a wave of destruction.

Karkat immediately moved, "Everybody get the fuck out of the way!" Despite his initial fear, he pushed Gamzee into running.

Nepeta landed on the lilypad with Terezi and Eridan, "C'mon you two! Let's go!" She grabbed their arms and they were off, fleeing from the Black King who marched forward even faster and angrier than ever.

Eridan glanced back and saw the Black King's eyes turning red and blue. "Blast incomin'!!" He shouted, trying to warn everyone of the incoming attack.

Sollux snarled at the familiar sight of psionic power being used, "Oh no you fucking don't!" He flew up to face the King head on, taking off his bicolored glasses, his own eyes alight with power. Their eye lasers met headon, but unfortunately for Sollux, his lasers were smaller compared to the King's. He tried to push back despite his instincts and mind crying out a reprieve, but the Black King's psionic power, backed up with the powers of other lusii prototypings, was too much for him and he was pushed back. "SOLLUX!"If it weren't for one of the Aradias pushing him out of the way, he probably would have lost his life there. "AA! No!" It was one of the doomed Aradias, he knew that, but seeing his once moirail sacrifice herself for him- it brought back some bad, bad memories.

Tavros was barely able to dodge the laser beam that destroyed the doomed Aradiabot. The others had thankfully managed to move out of the way.

The Black King reared back and glubbed, releasing a harmful psionic wave. Unlike before, there wasn't enough Aradias from doomed timelines to fully contain the psychic energy wave, some even exploded from the force of it. The wave that came wasn't lethal, but it did blow away most of the trolls unto further lilypads.

Most of them, but two.

Vriska and Eridan stood side by side on a lone lilypad before the Black King. Bravely standing their ground together. Eridan was briefly worried about the others, but he knew they'd be fine in the end. Right now though, it was just him and Vriska against the King.

Enough was enough, the King needed to die, now.

Vriska brandished her dice, grinning widely. "Ready, Dualscar?" A multitude of tentacles began to surround them.

Eridan gripped Ahab's Harpoon tightly, in his focus, he couldn't help but indulge her for the moment. Forgetting the fact he should be mad at her for what she's done, what she might do. "Are you, Mindfan?" The double-edged sword laying underneath his skin called for him to use it, to unleash them. And he would, he had to, he needed to. But once he did, there was no going back. "Are you feelin' lucky, Vvriska?" He aimed his spear at the tentacles.

"Very lucky! What about you Eridan?" She cackled but wouldn't get a reply as the tentacles converged on them, only to be blasted away as Vriska finally let herself become God Tier, finally adoring her godhood and using her powers and flying up. Eridan stayed on the lilypad, clutching his spear, Vriska looked back down at him with confusion but yelped when she was caught by more tentacles. She dropped her dice on accident and it was at that exact moment that they both used their trump cards.

Aradia would later deny it, but it seemed like time slowed down as the ten other trolls watched on with trepidation.

Vriska used all her stolen luck to make an almost impossible roll while Eridan simply, let. go. A black flame spilling from his chest to wrap around him.

In a flash of light of blue light and a flare of black flame, both trolls began to change.

No longer was the cerulean spider troll wearing her bright orange godhood begitting of the Thief of Light. Now she wore a black pirate coat with cerulean blue trimming, her skirt was the same color but with a webbed design. her orange boots turned bright red and in her hand was a glowing, blue sword. A bright blue aura erupted around her, encompassing her as she achieved the roll; Ancestral Awakening.

In contrast, Eridan's attire hadn't changed at all. His transformation was more physical, a dark grey flame encompassed him as his skin and eyes turned completely pitch plack. His horns turned completely white and his hair mimicked the dark grey flame that surrounded him, even his violet hair mutation seemed to flicker and move like fire. From his back emerged two light grey wings, almost like his angel's wings but ragged and ruined, and in the folds of the 'wings' were various white eyes that peered up maliciously at the Black King.

Out of the two, Eridan's transformation was more intimidating, more terrifying. There was something fundamentally wrong with him, and they all knew it.

"Oh, Eridan..." Equius whispered from his place with Nepeta, the chill of dread, horror and terror brushed down his spine as his matesprit clutched his arm tightly. Nepeta couldn't help the instinctive hiss that escaped her at the sight of her dear fish friend.

Sollux dropped from the sky, landing right next to Feferi, staring at Eridan with wide, horrified yet awed eyes. "Holy fuck." Feferi said nothing, staring at Eridan with wide, incomprehensible eyes.

Vriska eyed Eridan and scoffed, clutching the sword in her hands and as casually as she could, swinging it to cut a wave of tentacles that had tried to reach them both. "Better not slow me down Ampora." She held back a shiver at the wordless, unnatural hiss that she was given back as a reply.

"Let's do this!!!!!!!!"

Eridan let out a shriek, eerily similar to the shrieks his angels had. He threw himself into the air, following right after Vriska.

Rose had Grimdarkness. Jade, Grimbarkness.

Eridan?

Equius dubbed it, 'Wraithful Mode'.

The King didn't stand a chance.

clandestineAmicability [CA] is no longer idle

CA: we did it
CA: we won
TG: AAYAYAYYYYY confratsulations eribaby!!!!
TG: *congrats!!!!!!!!
TT: Are you okay?
TG: oh shit wait yeah
TG: hru
TG: did u use ur new spoopy powers??
CA: I did
CA: I nevver wwant to use them again
CA: Equi at least managed to brin me back to normal
TT: The power of love
TG: troll pale love to be speififc
TG: *speific
TG:*no i after e
CA: I thought usin them wwould abate the noises
CA: It didn't, they're just louder noww
TG: DD:
TG: eridan noo :(((
TT: Thought so

timeausTestified [TT] sent file calmyourdarktitsbro.mp4

TG: distri to the erscuee!
CA: Thank you Dirk
TG: *rescue
TT: Anytime Eridan
CA: It's almost time
CA: Wwe're headin to the final platform

This was it.

It was almost time.

A THIRTY YEAR OLD MAN sat on the roof of a HIGH RISE APARTMENT COMPLEX. He is not only looking over the series of buildings that surrounded his apartment, but also at the chat application in his shades. He was currently engaged in an IMPORTANT CONVERSATION with TWO of his BEST FRIENDS. One of which he has known for more than HALF HIS LIFE.

This imporant conversation is the byproduct of YEARS of CHATS, PLANS and other TEXT SHENANIGANS that have resulted in MUCH DRAMA on all three sides of the conversation one way or another.

Mostly on his and his longest friend's side. The drama between them both have been... harrowing to say the least.

His name was DIRK STRIDER, however he told most people to call him BRO instead. And in a couple of days, his younger brother slash ecto-biological son would soon play a world-ending game. And contrary to a webcomic's tale, he and his friends had plans to change nearly everything about the future they know of.

It took a long time to get here, and it would take even longer to finish it.

But one thing's for certain;

He was going to live through Sburb and finally meet Eridan Ampora face to face.

==> Be Past Dream Eridan

Chapter Text

==> Be Past Dream Eridan

timeausTestified [TT] began pestering clandestineAmicability [CA]

TT: Sup boo
TT: Gog you must be so tiny right now
TT: I can only imagine the shock thats on your face Eridan
CA: Wwhat
TT: Strap in bucko youre in for a ride
CA: Wwhat the fuck is happenin right noww
TT: A plan is in the works is what the fuck is happenin right now
TT: Well that plan will be in the works once you get my stuck up distant lil shit of a younger self into your ring
TT: Your ring being your side on the shit here
CA: Wwhat
CA: I don't
CA: wwhat
TT: Your confusion about the situation is somethin I am goin to cherish
TT: Okay I don't actually have a lot of time to talk with you since Roxy is gettin her program all up and ready
TT: Just know that we both know who and what you are Eridan and we're here for you
TT: Stick with lil me, do what you want, just be there and it'll be okay
TT: Also random thought, record some music on the phone will you, lil me is gonna appreciate it
CA: Wwait wwait
CA: Wwhat do you mean you knoww wwho and wwhat I am????
TT: If you need more advice just check the notes app of the phone that Roxy is going to put in
CA: Hold on
TT: Later dude

timeausTestified [TT] ceased pestering clandestineAmicability [CA]

clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling timeausTestified [TT]

CA: I said hold on!!!!
CA: Hello??
CA: Dirk??
TT: What.
CA: You havve to tell me wwhat's goin on!!
TT: Who the fuck are you?
CA: Wwhat?????
TT: How do you know my name?
TT: How the hell did you get my handle?
CA: You wwere the one to
CA: Wwait
CA: Fuck

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling timeausTestified [TT]

Eridan closed Trollian on the phone, pacing in place as he tried to process what the fuck just happened.

Somehow, someway, Dirk Strider managed to contact him? Through a pink phone, that suddenly just appeared in Equius' dream tower.

Not to mention, Dirk Strider had mentioned Roxy and-

TT: If you need more advice just check the notes app of the phone that Roxy is going to put in

He stopped pacing, looking down to the phone in his hand.

It was a genuine, human phone as far as he could tell- it was a bit thicker than the palmhusk he just got, and not to mention bright pink. Pink was reserved for tyrians, fuchsias and even then, bright pink was an unnatural color on Alternia.

Bright pink was usually associated with Roxy Lalonde in Homestuck.

Eridan sat down on the ground, looking at the phone. There was a picture of a black cat in a suit, laying on a tomb. Jaspers? It was a picture of Jaspers in the Mau- Meowsoleum? Morbid but, it must be a clue as to when this phone was made? And who exactly made it.

There weren't many apps on the phone, there was Trollian, a notes app, a recording app, a camera app, a music app and some other miscellaneous apps. The phone didn't show any time or date, then again, what would be the point of it on Derse? He opened the notes app, and there were a few notes prewritten. He clicked on the first one.

omg hiii lil bby eriii

its me!! roxy :DD
well u probs already know its me, u got taht weird future knowlege in ur head (we know dude dwboutit()
wat u totes DIDNT KNOW THO is that im not teh roxy u first thot i am DUN DUN DUN
lmao thot
im just gonne keep every typo n shit, too laxy to corect myself here haha
but yea!! tis i, glorious sexy mama beta roxy wink wonk ;))))
and yea the dude in orange is beta dirky bro strider
thers like
so much to tell u but also not much at all bc time shenanifans and all that kjazz
so yea this phone is 2 help u contact us (mostly dirky at first (SO FCKIN JELLYYISTG)) n also make sure u dont go insane in the membrane w loneliness!!!
now u can check on ur frosnd AND talk w someboby on derse!
n e way trollian is sset up to our universe + u can view us w the timeline featrure
un4tunaly u cant talk 2 OR see me untl i get my rosey :((( (again SO JELLY OF DIRK ITS SO UNFAIR)
tho my adivce on like, talkingf n stuff is to keep soemwhat linear???
dont skjip ahead 2 much or go back n forth idk im not the time poayer here
but yeah!!! gluck w the whoel thing eridan
cant wait for yoguner me 2 meet u :DD
p.s. espiclaly gluck w dirk i, hes p stubborn as a teen but were all bffses now so i kneow u can do it <333
p.p.s. cal is in box jail rn btw thoot u shoudl know

This.... explained things a bit more, but not all of it? At the very least, he had an inkling on what was happening.

It still surprised the fuck out of him though, and he sat there, staring at the note for a bit, just trying to comprehend everything here.

He could talk to Beta Dirk and Roxy, aka Bro and Mom of the Beta Session. He had a very early access to the human universe despite it not existing at the current moment? It was... a lot.

Eridan closed the notes app, he would read the other notes at a later time. Right now, he needed to open Trollian and figure out the timeline feature. Safe to say though, this was definitely a different type of Trollian that he had when he was awake- he doesn't remember seeing the 'Timeline' tab that was so blatantly just there in the app. There weren't any other handles on his list aside from Dirk and Roxy, though he had to note that Roxy's handle was greyed out.

He tapped the timeline tab and was taken to screen with two lines on black, orange and pink. Curiously, the tapped the start of the pink line, it opened a view of... nothing. He couldn't see a damn thing, which definitely made sense considering Roxy's classpect. Also Roxy had implied it in her note. He exited the view before switching to Dirk's timeline.

He saw Dirk's landing on Earth, appearing in a meteor crater with... Cal. He looked at the puppet, knowing exactly what it was, what it held, who it held. Eridan frowned, if he, Dirk and Roxy were 'bffses', in her words, and Cal was in box jail... Did he manage to convince Dirk that the puppet was bad? That it was possessed and would lead to many misfortunes and also probably caused him to grow up to be a heavily implied abusive bastard in the original comic?

Eridan yelped, dropping the phone and skidding away a bit.

It had been abrupt but he swore Cal had looked at him through the phone. Its puppet eyes had moved to look right at him.

He took in a deep breath, taking a minute to calm himself down. He honestly, shouldn't be surprised. The beta universe Cal was haunted from the get go, he knew this, he knew it and it still surprised the fuck out of him when the puppet moved... Actually no, what he was really scared about was the fact Cal seemed to be aware of him, or at least knew someone was watching Dirk?

Either way, he couldn't let it get to him.

It was clear that despite his fears and worries about that damn puppet. He would have to put it aside in favor of talking to Dirk and eventually convincing him that Lil Cal was bad news.

Alright, sounds easy enough.

He inched back to the phone, cautiously picking it up. In his panic, he had closed the viewing screen of Dirk's timeline. He went to another point of Dirk's timeline, more into the future to when he was just a kid.

It looked like he'd been taken into a home by then, a foster home? There were other children around. None of which he could recognize... He winced when he sees a child tugging at Cal who was wrapped around tiny Dirk's shoulders and Dirk immediately shoved them away, causing the child to cry out. He had... never really known Di-, no, Bro Strider's childhood and backstory.

It didn't look like he was involved with Jake Harley unlike Roxy and Jane, he'd just been found in a crater as a child and immediately sent into the system. Throughout his childhood, he had nothing else aside from Lil Cal to cling to and was a rambunctious, difficult child. Especially if someone tried to take Cal away from him. He moved from foster home to foster home, and got into fights.

Eventually he found his shades somewhere, Eridan didn't know where exactly since he was just skimming Dirk's childhood, tapping along the timeline and watching moments of Dirk growing up. He'd look more into it at a later date but soon enough, he was at a timeline where he had trolled Dirk it seems. He was at a boxy computer, scowling at the screen, his patented Strider Stoicism hadn't been perfected it seemed. Lil Cal was draped over the back of his chair, looking over Dirk's shoulder. He gulped, waiting a moment but it didn't seem the puppet was looking right at him, just focused on Dirk and the screen.

There was another feature to this mobile Trollian on the phone, he could keep the viewport open while trolling someone. He could see their reactions as he typed.

timeausTestified [TT] began pestering clandestineAmicability [CA]

TT: Don't think you can just run away like that, you haven't answered any of my fucking questions asshole.

clandestineAmicability [CA] is idle!

TT: I know you're online CA, fucking answer me.
TT: How did you get my handle and know my damn name?
TT: I just made this handle, I didn't have anyone on my list.
TT: Stan is this fucking you?
TT: Are you fucking with me?
TT: I swear to god Stan, the next time I see you, you're dead.

clandestineAmicability [CA[ is no longer idle!

CA: Not Stan
CA: I don't evven fuckin knoww wwho that is
TT: Then who the hell is this?
CA: A future friend?
CA: Hopefully
TT: Bullshit.
TT: You're dead meat the next time I see you Stan, you hear me?
CA: I'm tellin you I'm not Stan!
CA: You're just goin to end up beatin up an innocent guy
TT: Innocent, yeah right.
TT: I'm done here.

timeausTestified [TT] ceased pestering clandestineAmicability [CA]
timeausTestified [TT] blocked clandestineAmicability [CA]

Eridan scratched his cheek. Well, that didn't go too well? He had no idea who this Stan was, but he severely apologizes for the future beating he had accidentally set upon the guy...

Skipped ahead just a bit, to what seemed to be the next day? He seemed to get the timing perfectly as he's suddenly shown Dirk Strider in a fight with some other guy and he seemed to be winning. The were other preteens around, seemingly chanting and encouraging the fight. Dirk had managed to knock the boy down, they seemed to be talking and Dirk looked surprised then he scowled. Eventually a teacher interrupted, screaming at both boys, especially Dirk. Eridan winced before moving forward a few hours later. Dirk was back in his room.

Dirk both had a bruise and a dark frown on his face, Lil Cal was splayed on his bed, thankfully just face down.

clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling timeausTestified [TT]

CA: I told you I wwasn't Stan
CA: Assuming that's wwhat you wwere askin the kid wwhen you knocked him dowwn anywway
TT: What the fuck.
TT: I blocked you, how are you messaging me?
CA: Do you believve that I'm not Stan noww?
TT: Ugh, I do.
TT: Asshole didn't even have a computer, didn't even know about pesterchum.
TT: You didn't answer my questions, who are you, how are you talking to me when I blocked your ass, and how the hell do you know my name and handle?
CA: Questions to be answwered at a later date
TT: Later date my fucking ass, you are answering them now.
CA: Or wwhat? You'll kick my ass?
CA: You don't actually knoww wwho I am
TT: I'll find out, you saw me fighting Stan.
TT: You're a kid at my school aren't you.
TT: I'm going to find out who you are and make you answer me.
CA: I don't go to your school, and I vvery much doubt you can find me but I applaud the convviction
TT: Stop that.
CA: Stop wwhat
TT: That.
TT: You're doubling your 'vs' and 'ws', it looks stupid.
CA: To you maybe, also I don't think I'll stop any time soon
CA: It's called a typin quirk and I'm quite comfortable wwith it
TT: It looks fucking ridiculous.
CA: And I care about that wwhy?
TT: I've had enough, I'm done here. This is wasting my time.

timeausTestified [TT] ceased pestering clandestineAmicability [CA]
timeausTestified [TT] blocked clandestineAmicability [CA]
clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling timeausTestified [TT]

CA: Yeah that's not goin to wwork
TT: What the actual fuck.
TT: How the HELL did you unblock yourself?
CA: Magic
TT: Fuck you
CA: No thank you
TT: Fuck off!

timeausTestified [TT] ceased pestering clandestineAmicability [CA]
timeausTestified [TT] blocked clandestineAmicability [CA]
clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling timeausTestified [TT]

CA: You can block me all you wwant but I'll still be able to reply no matter wwhat
TT: You're a hacker, that's what this is isn't, you fucking hacked my computer.
TT: The moment I find you, your ass is grass.
CA: Hahahaha
CA: You couldn't be farther from the truth my friend
CA: Also ass is grass??? Oh my gog
TT: Shut the fuck up.
TT: Also you're not my friend, you're just a weird ass hacker that has nothing better to do than troll others.
TT: That explains the weird messaging notification, pesterchum doesn't use 'trolling' for its messages.
CA: One day, this wwill all makes sense, by then wwe'll actually be friends
CA: I think wwe'll share some laughs ovver it unbelievvably enough
CA: For noww, I think I'm the one wwho's goin to be laughin for a bit
CA: This is kinda fun actually
CA: You are surprisinly easy to rile up Dirk
TT: Eat.
TT: Shit.

timeausTestified [TT] ceased pestering clandestineAmicability [CA]
timeausTestified [TT] blocked clandestineAmicability [CA]
clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling timeausTestified [TT]

CA: Okay, okay this'll be the last time I troll you for noww
TT: For now?
CA: Definitely goin to do it again, yeah
CA: I meant it though
CA: I'm plannin to be your friend noww
CA: You're not goin to get rid of me that easily
TT: So.
TT: Fucking.
TT: Dead.
TT: We are NEVER going to be friends fucker.
CA: Wwe'll see about that.

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling timeausTestified [TT]

Eridan couldn't smother his giggles as he watched Dirk visibly seethe on his screen, he stood up from his chair and went to flop on his bed. Using Cal to cover his face and presumably scream, he couldn't exactly hear through the viewport. He doesn't know if its on mute or just didn't emit any sound, he'll figure it out more later but wow! That had been very entertaining! Very fun!

He kind of got why the trolls trolled the humans in the comic, aside from trying to get 'revenge' or something. Being able to see them react in real time was very funny, and honestly this was the funniest thing he'd ever done since he woke up on Derse.

He remembered Roxy's note, on how this phone was supposed to help stave off his loneliness and he smiled.

Eridan would have to thank her in the future, Dirk as well if they really did end up as friends. Seemed like it when future Bro had contacted him.

He was tempted to contact that future now but Roxy had given him the advice to stick with somewhat linear messages so, he'll do that for later?

Either way, he had something to do whenever he was awake on Derse now aside from checking his friends and just, waiting for the game to come.

He looked around Equius' block, towards the coon that the young blueblooded troll slept in. He stood up and went towards the window, pocketing the phone and looking out to Derse. He looked up at the skies, which were filled with Horrorterrors yet he couldn't really see or hear them, leaving him in a peaceful yet eerie silence.

Leaving him alone with his thoughts.

And now, with his phone.

He really needed to think of a way to thank Roxy in the future.

==> Be someone else for a change

apocalypseArisen [AA] began trolling twinArmaggedons [TA]

AA: s0llux!
TA: hey AA
AA: hey
AA: h0w are y0u s0llux?
TA: eh doiin alriight
TA: 2urprii2iingly alriight even, iit2 one of tho2e rare niight2 where the voiice2 of the damned arent that bad actually
AA: i kn0w!
AA: its great isnt it?
TA: what about you, how2 iit goiing on your end
AA: 0h!
AA: its been g00d actually, my lusus t00k me t0 the t0mb i t0ld y0u ab0ut and i met s0me0ne there!
TA: met 2omeone? who? another archeology nerd like you?
AA: hush y0u
TA: hehehehe
AA: n0 n0t really
AA: he was m0re interested in the 0ld weap0ns that might be in the t0mb rather than any 0f the f0ssils 0r 0ther dead stuff in it
TA: weapon2 huh
AA: yeah
AA: actually finding that t0mb wasnt even s0mething he was planning t0 d0 t0night he just did it because he bailed 0n a bad flarp session
TA: bad FLARP 2e22iion huh?
TA: diid you a2k what happened?
AA: i did!
AA: his flarping partner wasnt s0me0ne he liked and the wh0le campaign was pretty stupid hearing it myself
TA: well between the two of u2 youre the only one who liike2 or even doe2 FLARPiing 2o iill tru2t your judgement there oh wii2e FLARP ma2ter megiido
AA: y0u kn0w its never t00 late t0 get int0 flarp
AA: i c0uld send y0u my flarp b00ks t0 help 0ut even!
TA: nah iim good
TA: iim more iintere2ted in viirtual game2 and codiing
AA: y0ur l0ss!
AA: anyway we talked ab0ut the t0mbed and we kinda just teamed up to expl0re it
AA: it was s0 interesting s0llux! it had s0 many weap0ns and c00l stuff like 0ld b0nes and even a few fully intact adult skulls :D
TA: it certaiinly mu2tve been 2omethiing two get you two emote liike that lol
AA: hush! i find that the em0te was necessary because 0f my great haul fr0m the t0mb!
AA: i t00k the b0nes and 0ther treasures while eridan t00k the weap0ns and a few carvings
TA: eridan?
AA: ah thats his name
AA: eridan amp0ra!
AA: he is 0ne 0f the nicest tr0lls ive met
TA: biig claiim there AA
TA: you never know, he miight ju2t end up actually beiing a ba2tard
AA: hes n0t!
AA: it turns 0ut i already s0rt 0f kn0w him already via a friend 0f a friend
TA: oh?
AA: yeah! hes tavr0s 0nline friend ca!
TA: waiit really
TA: ii2nt he the guy that paiid lot2 of ceagar2 two TV for hii2 adviice on 2iick lu2ii
AA: yeah! him!
AA: they stayed in t0uch afterwards and they like t0 talk ab0ut fairies and stuff
AA: tavr0s says hes 0ne 0f the nicest tr0lls he kn0ws and im inclined t0 believe him
AA: he didnt make fun 0f my arche0l0gy interest and he was s0 p0lite!
AA: he didnt even make fun 0r l00k d0wn 0n me f0r my bl00dcaste
TA: why would he make fun of your bloodca2te?
TA: ju2t how much hiigher up ii2 he two look down on you for that??
TA: huh
TA: TV never diid mentiion hii2 ca2te
TA: ii2 he liike
TA: a tealblood or 2omethiing like TZ
AA: n0pe!
AA: y0u might n0t believe this s0llux but
AA: hes a seadweller
TA: what
AA: hes a vi0letbl00d s0llux
AA: but hes like
AA: a nice 0ne?
AA: like actually nice!
AA: its kind 0f strange and weird i kn0w but hes actually nice s0llux i pr0mise y0u that!
TA: yeah ii dont buy iit
AA: s0llux!
TA: AA we both know there2 no 2uch thiing a2 'kiind 2eadweller2'
AA: but hes genuinely nice s0llux i swear!
AA: remember the bad flarp sessi0n i menti0ned?
AA: he left because he was upset because 0ne 0f the 0ther teams 0f highbl00ds like him were bullying and culled a team 0f l0wbl00ds
AA: they even made fun 0f the partner he didnt like and culled her t00 even th0ugh he didnt like her he was still pretty upset ab0ut their death 
TA: 2tiill not buyiing iit
AA: s0llux his partner was a br0nze like tavr0s and the 0nly reas0n he didnt like her was because she was being a genuine bitch and making stupid decisi0ns in the campaign
TA: 2ure 2ure that2 totally why he diidnt liike her
TA: AA he2 probably ju2t actiing niice to eventually triick you and TV
AA: hes n0t!
AA: he was genuinely upset, i c0uld tell he actually cried bef0re he met me
AA: als0
AA: the gh0st 0f his partner was lingering ar0und him and they c0nfirmed it with me when i asked them in private
TA: the fuck
AA: they even asked me t0 say s0rry t0 eridan bef0re i left
AA: i think eridan started crying again when i t0ld him
TA: that
TA: ii2 fuckiing weiird
TA: ii 2tiill dont tru2t iit though
TA: you and TV have got to 2top talkiing two hiim, he2 ju2t goiing to end up hurtiing you two
AA: s0llux y0ure being needlessly paran0id and its ridicul0us
TA: iim not fuckiing paranoiid AA
TA: iive 2een 2o much 2hiit on the iinternet AA
TA: iive 2een a few po2t2 from 2eadweller2 of them jokiingly beiing niice to lowblood2 before ruiiniing theiir liive2 or ju2t takiing iit
AA: 0kay s0 y0ur l00king 0ut f0r us i get it but still!
AA: eridans a g00d tr0ll! ive g0t a g00d feeling ab0ut him
AA: here why d0nt y0u talk t0 him and find 0ut y0urself
TA: wtf do you mean??
AA: i g0t his handle while we were expl0ring the t0mb
AA: its clandestineAmicability
TA: even hii2 handle ii2 2hady AA
TA: do you not know what iit mean2??
AA: cgs handle is ab0ut genetics but he isnt interested in it
TA: ughhh
TA: ii am not talkiing two a hiighblood 2nob AA, no matter iif you or TV 2ay he2 'niice' or not
TA: hiighblood2 are pretentiiou2 arii2tocratiic a22hole2 who flaunt theiir 2tupiid blood and brag about beiing at the top of the hemo2pectrum bull2hiit whiile e2pou2iing how blood2 lower than them 2hould lii2ten to every damn word they 2ay liike the alterniian moon2 are 2hiiniing from their rectum2
AA: thats gr0ss s0llux
TA: ampora ii2nt goiing two be any diiferent, he2 ju2t actiing niice and then hell throw away the act and probably 2tab you iin the back or 2omethiing
TA: both liiterally and fiiguratiively
AA: uuugghhh
AA: hes n0t like that!
AA: y0u havent even met 0r talked t0 him yet
TA: and preferably ii never wiill

Sollux leaned back against his chair, rolling his eyes as Aradia tried and failed to convince him to change his view on the mysterious highblooded fucker Eridan Ampora.

Ampora was just another seadweller snob that was just acting nice to pull everyone into a false sense of security. He's seen it happen, on the internet anyway. He wasn't the only troll to try that cruel tactic, there was pretty infamous blueblood that pretended to be nice to lure trolls and force them to work for him. Thank fuck that creepy asshole was finally being conscripted and would be booted off planet, just reading the stories from the ones who survived had his skin crawling.

Most highbloods were aristocratic fucking snobs that had their damned heads shoved up both their nooks and ass. Thinking that Alternia's moon shone out of them and everyone should just kiss up to them, ugh. Good highbloods didn't exist. He paused then slightly amended that thought, good highbloods didn't exist unless they were high as fuck like on sopor slime or something. Even then, they were annoying to deal with. Case in point; that weird purpleblood his online friend carcinoGeneticist, CG, had introduced to him. terminallyCapricious.

TC was a suspicious troll at first, but then Sollux found out that the guy's lusus was never around and he ended up eating sopor and starting baking the slime into fucking pies. Wild, and he didn't even really believe it until given proof from TC himself. The guy was so high off his ass most of the time, he never took things seriously. And even then, he was still pretty wary of TC because he was a purpleblood. And purplebloods were crazy as fuck and damn unpredictable, high or not.

At any rate, Eridan Ampora was a violetblooded seadweller. Those shits? They weren't nice, they were the most self-absorbed snobs he has ever had the misfortune to meet- mostly online thankfully. Demanding, arrogant, thinking just because they had fins and long lifespans and all that crap, they deserved to have the whole spectrum eating out of their claws with the exception of the only color above them. Fuchsia, whom they undoubtedly kissed ass for, for the sake of their own gains.

And don't get him started on the privilege fuchsias had...

He didn't really know the current heiress who coincidentally was around his age, but he's seen past reports, online stuff of the heiress that came before her. Just reinforced that seadwellers and highbloods were just bad news all around.

Aradia, or even Tavros' insistence that Ampora was a nice troll wasn't going to work on him. He would laugh and tell them 'I told you so' after he made sure their asses were safe from the seadweller.

He scrolled back up to where Aradia told him Ampora's handle, he frowned before noting it down- just so he could check the fucker out later. He wasn't going to actually talk to the violetblood, but knowing his handle might come in handy in the future. It would give him a lead if he ever wanted to hack the guy to make him regret messing with Aradia and Tavros when, and it would be when, he dropped the 'nice guy' act.

Hopefully the seadweller would just get bored and leave them alone, it was either that or get a face-full of painful psionics from one pissed off goldblood. Consequences be damned.

Past Sollux would be understandably shocked when his thoughts about Eridan Ampora were wrong and Future Sollux would be so embarrassed by his previous thought process.

But that is neither here or now.

clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling timeausTestified [TT]

CA: You need to stop goin after kids you think are me
CA: NONE of them are me Dirk
CA: It's been three days, by noww it should be clear that you're not goin to find me because I don't go to your school! You need to stop before you get expelled or somethin
TT: Fuck you.
TT: Fine, you don't go to my school.
TT: But you're nearby.
CA: Sigh
CA: Yeah sure wwhy not
CA: At any rate, can wwe at least movve on a bit from this back and forth and do somethin a bit more productivve?
TT: Like you telling me who the hell you are and how you got my handle and shit?
TT: That'd be productive.
CA: Y'knoww wwhat
CA: Fine
TT: What
CA: I'll tell you wwho I am
TT: After three fucking days of you just fucking with me with this bullshit, you're just going to tell me just like that?
TT: Are you even going to tell the truth about who you are?
CA: Wwell you don't knoww if I'm tellin the truth but I'm tellin you about it all the same
CA: My name is Eridan Ampora
CA: I don't go to your school
CA: And I wwant to be your friend
TT: Why?
TT: I don't fucking know you, you didn't even tell me who you were at first and you STILL didn't tell me how you know my name or got my handle.
CA: If I did, you wwouldn't believve me
CA: Not yet anywway
TT: Try me.
CA: No, I'm not gonna tell you just because you said 'try me'
CA: I wwant us to be at atleast better terms than noww before I spill anythin
TT: Fine, don't say shit.
TT: I'm still going to find you and find out who you are, Eridan.
TT: If that's even your real name.
CA: It is
TT: Whatever.
TT: I'm done now, don't hack your way into messaging me again after this because I got shit to do.

timeausTestified [TT] ceased pestering clandestineAmicability [CA]

He was almost tempted to message him again, just to annoy him, but he knows Dirk actually does have shit to do. Mostly homework.

Eridan had retreated to his own tower after a couple of hours talking to Dirk. It was weird how Trollian and the webcomic's time shenanigans could happen like that, to Dirk, he's been a couple of days but for Eridan, it's only been a couple of hours since he started trolling Dirk. Both in the messaging sense and the messing with him sense. It was entertaining certainly, but some of that entertainment dropped when Dirk started going after kids at his school who he suspected were Eridan.

He didn't want Dirk to end up expelled for fighting other kids so much. Getting into fights three days in a row? Not a good thing.

Another reason why he didn't want Dirk to fight more kids, other than the fact he was essentially bullying them and stuff and that was wrong, was because Dirk's current custodian- er, guardian? Foster parent? Well, they were getting fed up and threatened to take away Dirk's computer if he continued with his violent behavior. And without the computer, he couldn't talk to Dirk in the past. 

Also, he finally managed to figure out how to unmute the viewports. It's how he heard Dirk's guardian's threat, but he usually lets it stay on mute to give Dirk a semblance of privacy. Eridan was already breaching it by watching him on his phone... Man, that was creepy wasn't it? Still, it's not like he could do anything else. He could close the viewport, and he will, at some point he just...

It was nice, seeing humans again. To see Earth in this, limited view point. Even if it wasn't his Earth.

==> Be someone else again

She frowned, tugging at her skirt slightly as she adjusted herself on her 'throne'. It was an opulent one, gold and shiny and fuchsia, pretty nice but- it felt so awkward, sitting there while the other highbloods stood around her or in different chairs than her. It made her feel... kind of lonely, or at the very least, like she was just something to look at.

"Do you want another pillow Heiress?" A nearby seadweller questioned, having noticed her squirming. Immediately, attention was back on her as they asked if she was comfortable, if she needed anything, etc. etc. She felt less isolated, but more crowded now.

Feferi quickly waved them off, "No! No thanks, but I'm fin- just getting, comfortunable." They laughed at her puns, but even she could tell those laughs weren't really that... genuine? It was the same laugh they used when they found out she wanted to change the meaning of 'culling', from something so horrible and violent to something more caring and nice. It was a recent decision, she just hated how lowbloods were culled.

They were kids just like her! And most highbloods just want to bully them, she doesn't understand why. They're on the lower end of the spectrum, they should be helped instead of bullied! Unfortunately it didn't seem like the highbloods around her agreed with her views, she heard the scoffs and whispers they do when her back is turned or they think she's not listening. They don't believe her, they don't believe in her ways- she's just another Heiress slated to be defeated when it was her time to face The Condesce.

They just wanted to kiss her ass and stay on her good side for as long as she's alive for the sake of their own goals, their egos and- she hated it.

Hated that she had to attend this highblood party, mostly consisting of the seadwellers that were part of the orphaning forces that assisted in keeping her giant horrorterror custodian fed and sated. She was a bit young to help yet, so they were pretty much in charge of making sure trolls didn't die from Gl'bgolyb's hunger. And she thought- well, surely someone among them had to have the same views she had? They were essentially protecting every troll in existence by helping her feed her lusus!

Her hopes were pretty much dashed when they laughed in her face after she thanked them for helping and told them about her views. She'd been so disappointed, she almost teared up but- she was the Heiress! She couldn't afford looking that weak in front of her subjects, they wouldn't respect her otherwise- or so she was taught and told... Either way, the party wasn't going as well as she'd like, not for her anyway.

And that was like, two parties ago! This would be the third she'd be in attendance, hopefully the last since she was finally old enough to try and help feed her lusus, keep her in control and all that. She'll need some help from the orphaning squad though, to get more lusii for her custodian. Which meant probably picking one of the seadwellers around her as her 'Favored Orphaner' or some carp. 

That was probably why they were trying to be so nice to her right now, the 'prestige' of being her Favored Orphaner was too much to pass. And ugh, she didn't want to talk about the other seadwellers who wanted to be quadrantmates with her.

"You'll need to do so much better if you want to climb the ranks as an Orphaner!" Some seadweller exclaimed, preening underneatht the awe of the younger violets that surrounded them.

Another reason the party was happening was to convince a few younger violetbloods into becoming Orphaners, telling them it was their duty to feed Feferi's lusus and that there would be privileges. They needed seadwellers to replace the ones who were molting and would soon be conscripted off planet after all, it was a system that existed long before she'd been hatched. One of the more useful ones that she kind of appreciated since it helped with her lusus.

Still she found the Orphaners pretty snobbish most of the time.

Unfortunately she'd probably have to choose some of these snobby seadwellers to help with her lusus, she can't really choose an older seadweller near conscription, nor could she really choose a new Orphaner because well, they were new. Not as experienced, she'd have to choose a few until she found someone she could at least tolerate.

She lasted a few more minutes on the throne before excusing herself- she just couldn't take sitting on it any longer! She needed to walk around and maybe find a place alone so she could just gather her thoughts. She needed a break from all these snooty fishes! After making sure no one followed her, she started to walk around the edges of the party.

Despite being the Heiress, it was kind easy to just, sneak around a bit without anyone noticing. They were all preoccupied with themselves enough that if she was quiet and kept to herself, she'd be left alone. And if they did notice her, well, she'd politely tell them to back off and leave her alone with her thoughts, that might work.

Feferi sighed quietly, hoping the whole thing would be over and done with soon.

It was somewhere at the back of the party that she heard it, heard them.

"Tch, who invted him here?"
"He actually came? Ugh, seriously?"
"Loathe as I will admit, he is still a violet like us."

Snide whispers and snearing tones had her pausing and hiding slightly nearby a trio of seadwellers. She wondered what they were talking about.

"He's nothing like us!" A violet protested, "He comes from the slurry of that traitorous bastard ancestor of his!" Hm? Traitorous what now?

Their fellow violet sigh, "Well before he was a traitor, you have to admit he was one of the best Orphaners of his time. He was The Orphaner after all... It's such a shame he threw it all away for some awful reason. It's a waste of skill! Why would anyone of our caste defect from our glorious empire?"

"Serves the bastard right, he deserved to becomg the Grand Highblood's little toy!" They shared an obnoxious laugh, obviously looking at someone else.

It clicked to her, were they talking about The Prisoner?

"I heard The Prisoner spent sweeps in the hold of the subjugglators before he died, if only the Grand Highblood were here now! He'd be ecstatic to find the descendant of his favorite toy here. He's just as pathetic as his ancestor! Did you hear? Back when he started, he cried after culling his first troll and lusus, he even cried for a lowblood scum during a FLARP session!" The trio of violet gasped and tittered to themselves. "What a disgrace to our bloodaste! He shouldn't have become a violet, if he loved lowbloods so much, he should be one!"

Most lowbloods think that 'ancestors' were a bunch of highblood propaganda or something. But that was only because of their pitifully short lifespans that they did not realize the truth; every troll had an ancestor they would be closely tied to. Feferi's ancestor was the Condesce herself after all, they shared a sign, a lusus, she'd even been told that she looked a lot like her.

The Prisoner was an infamous ancestor among the seadwellers, before adults were exiled from the planet, the scandal of Orphaner Dualscar. Someone who should have been the epitome of their caste, one of the most feared trolls on the land and seas, The Orphaner of his time, betraying the empire and his own caste had caused quite the scandal that lasted long after the adults were exiled. Although he'd be referred to as The Prisoner for his crimes against Alternia.

Most of the official records were wiped out, but it was passed down word of mouth from generation to generation. A tale of warning and disgrace that persisted solely to torment whoever would end up with The Prisoner's sign.

And someone did?

Feferi's curiosity was peaked and she tried to find where The Prisoner's descendant was. It was quite easy, since he was the only seadweller on his own and was obviously outcasted by the others.

He was clearly different because unlike other seadwellers who were dressed in various jewelry and gold and facy dresses and outfits, he wasn't dressed like that. He didn't wear anything gold, the only precious metal on him seemed to be silver? He was dressed in a black suit with a vested tail coat and matching black and violet dress pants and leathe shoes. The Aquarius sign was stitched elegantly on the breast of his pocket of his vest and he wore a dark blue button-up shirt with black and silver cuffs. He didn't even wear a bow tie or tie. The only jewelry he was wearing was a ring on his hand and a wavy bracelet on the other. He also had square-ish glasses on, and had his hair combed back. He had a small genetic mutation, the one where his blood color seeped into parts of his hair, mostly his bangs but that type of mutation was accepted in their society.

Compared to everyone else, he looked 'poor' and already she could hear the trio of violets making fun of his attire. Nevermind the fact that it still looked great on him.

He was interesting.

He cringed away from other seadwellers and kept to himself. He ignored the way other seadwellers and highbloods sneered at him, ignored how the trio was making not-so-quiet jabs at his attire, his personality, his sign- he ignored it all and just stood there. Awkwardly.

When it was clear the trio was coming his way, he finally moved. He moved away from them, trying to keep his distance and that interested Feferi all the more. She decided to meet him in person, not now though. Too many trolls around, and it seemed like he already had his hands full with avoiding everyone. She would have offered to help, but it seemed like he was already doing an okay job with it.

She finally had her chance to meet with the Aquarius after the party. Most of the trolls were already beginning to leave as it was late at night, and morning would come in a handful of hours. And luckily enough, the Aquarius hadn't left yet.

Unluckily enough for him, neither did the trio of seadwellers that have been following him throughout the party.

"What are you doing here Ampora, this event is for the privileged and worthy, not a filthy traitor." One of them sneered, arms cross and chin high with a look of superiority on their faces. What was their name? Feferi couldn't remember, just that their sign was Aquiborn.

'Ampora', last name? just replied, "Please leavve me alone, I havven't done anythin'. I didn't evven wwant to be here anywway, I just came because my lusus insisted me to come." They sneered at him, calling him names, taunting him, insulting him but Ampora bore it all with a blank and tired face. He just ended up looking away and sighing to himself, a wrong move apparently as the Aquiborn and their friends were angered by his 'insolence'.

"Pompous little shit aren't you?" Snarled a particular angry troll, taking out a spiky ball-and-chain from his strife specibus. 'Like your one to talk bubbly.' Feferi thought privately to herself as she moved forwards.

"And just what is going on here?" She demanded, grabbing the attention of all four violetbloods, all of their eyes widening, even Amporas.

"Oh Heiress! Don't mind us, we're just having a conversation with this gentletroll." Someone quickly said, the angry troll instantly shoved his weapon back into his strife specibus. Seemed like he remembered what she had ordered at the beginning of the party, and even though it was near the end, the party was still going on and she didn't look too impressed at the moment.

Feferi raised an, what she hoped to be an elegant brow, "A conversation that required the use of a weaprawn when I ordered that there would be no fighting watersoever?" 

Ampora hid his snort, hiding his lips that twitched upwards as the seadwellers were quick to apologize and automatically went back to kissing her ass. The Aquiborn had heard his snort and sent a seething look his way, Ampora kept his mouth shut. It took some time, but she managed to shoo the trio away, having them leave before she finally turned to the Aquarius she'd been looking forward to talk to for a while. He had stayed silent throughout the whole ordeal, but was looking back at her with curiosity, though he made no move to try and speak with her or even try to appeal to her, he just stood there. Watching her.

"Are you ocray?"

Finally, Ampora moved, nodding and giving her a small grateful smile. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you, Heiress, I thought I wwas goin' back to my hivve in a ruined suit. Both my lusus and friend wwouldn't havve liked that." He answered, looking down to his suit with slight relief. He was polite, but not blatantly kissing up to her in an effort to gain something, not yet at least? But at least he was far more polite than some other seadwellers so that was a plus.

"That's good." She smiled back before offering her hand, "You probubbly already know, but I'm Feferi. Feferi Pexies." She introduced.

Ampora hesitated before taking the hand, shaking it slightly. "Eridan Ampora, it's nice to meet you Feferi- er, Heiress Pexies?"

She waved off his formality, "Just call me Feferi! It's nice to meet you too Eridan!"

And just like that, she met one of her closest friends. Eridan Ampora. He stayed with her for the rest of the party, keeping her company and not once did he try to convince her of anything or try to get in her squares. They just- talked, and had a little bit of fun before they had to leave the party. They exchanged trollhandles that night and Feferi would find herself crushing pale for Eridan.

She was too late to do anything about those pale feelings as an indigoblood named Equius Zahhak became Eridan's moirail instead. It hurt, but then her feelings shifted a shade and she found herself crushing flush instead but tragically, for some reason, Eridan was adamant of not having any concupiscent quadrants. She didn't know why, but that wouldn't stop her!

Annoying enough, she would get a rival in a goldblood named Sollux Captor. They had started out friends, believing each other to be alright considering they had Eridan as a mutal friend, but then Sollux gained a flush crush on Eridan after Aradia died, not that they knew she died at the time.

She was annoyed by him, and only truly became pitch when he told her her views for a new Alternia were stupid. That her methods of changing the meaning of cull were extremely stupid, and she hated the bee puns he made.

...

Future Feferi would look back at the past with somber eyes, and wondered where it all went wrong and just what led up to her nearly killing her kismesis, hit her flush crush, killing a friend and destroying the matriorb.

She blamed the horrorterrors and her own loneliness.

timeausTestified [TT] unblocked clandestineAmicability [CA]
timeausTestified [TT] began pestering clandestineAmicability [CA]

TT: Who
TT: The fuck
TT: Are you?
TT: Three weeks.
TT: Three weeks of trying to figure out who the hell or where the hell you are. And fucking
TT: Nothing.

clandestineAmicability [CA] is idle!

TT: Don't give me that shit CA.
TT: Eridan.
TT: Whoever the fuck you are.
TT: You're a chronically online piece of shit of a stalker that always bothers the hell out of me the moment I come back from school.
TT: Even when I wake up and check the damn computer, you're fucking online.
TT: Enough mind games and just fucking face me like a man you damn COWARD

clandestineAmicability [CA] is no longer idle!

CA: i want to go home
TT: What
CA: i dont want to be here anymore
CA: this place
CA: i hate this
CA: i hate everythin
CA: i done want to be here
CA: im not supposed to be here
CA: im not supposed to be him
CA: i want to go home
CA: but i cant even remember where that is
TT: What the fuck are you even talking about?
CA: i killed someone today Dirk
TT: What the fuck

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling timeausTestified [TT]

Eridan sobbed, clutching the blanket he had over himself. He had discarded the pink phone after answering Dirk, it was on the ground as he huddled into the corner of his tower, crying to himself.

He couldn't even escape his guilt into his dreams, he was awake on Derse and though the details of his waking life was a bit muddled, he remembers what he did.

It was his first night as orphaner, he knew it had been coming. From the moment he comprehended just whose body he had been shoved into. Whose life he'd begun living as. The fucking planet he was on, the lives that were on it. The moment the seahorse lusus had handed him a harpoon he had been dreading it.

Dreading his orphaner duties.

His first night as orphaner, he'd been forced to join other seadwellers in hunting for lusii for Gl'bgolyb. And he ended up stumbling over a young troll with a bumblebee-like lusus. They'd been the same age. And he ended up killing both the troll and the lusus. He ended up crying on the spot, and it was only because of his lusus that he had managed to drag the dead custodian to the other seadwellers.

They scorned his show of weakness, ignoring the few other seadwellers who had teared up as well for some reason.

No, he'd been an outlier the moment he appeared.

And he hated it.

==> Be someone else yet again

"Are you alright Eridan?" Equius asked him quietly, observing the way Eridan was slumped against the stump.

They were in the park again tonight, one of their many reoccuring meeting places mostly because it was where they first met. And though they also had each other's handles, Equius found it more... satisfying? Meeting together in person like this.

Eridan looked up at him, his face, shrouded slightly by his cloak. Equius doesn't understand why Eridan feels the need to hide himself when he was a seadweller, but that is something best saved for moirails and although he has suspicions about Eridan's feelings towards him, they were not moirails. Just good friends, future allies for when they would be older? Eridan would inevitably become his commander, his superior, someone who would take charge as befitting of is caste.

The seadweller gave him a wane smile, "I'm... I'm okay Equius. Just... tired, havven't really been sleepin' too good. And my neww-" He makes a complicated face, "Duties as orphaner are... vvery tirin'." He goes back to being slumped against the stump, hiding his face in his arms.

A pang of pity strung itself in his chest, not that he really noticed. Instead, he hesitantly spoke again. "Do you... Do you wish to go back to your hive? We could meet, another night." If Eridan was not getting any sleep, then he shouldn't be out of his hive, he should be trying to get more sleep instead of meeting with Equius. 

"Hm? No, no it's fine! It's been- it's been a wwhile since wwe hung out in person Equius and you wwere lookin' forwward to my next horse son' right?" Eridan said, looking up at him with a more energetic and reassuring smile. "Speakin' of wwhich, I think you'll like this one Equi, it's- of course, about horses." He laughed, and though he still seemed tired, he was considerably brighter than earlier.

Equius squirmed, torn between concern and delight. He ended up feeling more delight, eager to hear another song about horses from Eridan who was, as far as he was concerned, a musicla and lyrical genius. He had so many songs written in his song book, and had plenty of songs about hoofbeasts! "Most excellent- though, if you are feeling more tired. Please do not hesitate to say so, we could always meet again next time. I do not mind our virtual chats."

"Haha, alright, alright... Noww, the name of the this son' is 'The Horse That Nobody Could Ride'." Equius instantly had questions, like he usually did whenever Eridan had a song about horses. Or frankly, a song about anything but hoofbeasts especially. He saved those questions for later though, after Eridan was finished was singing.

She was a wild young Mustang, no bridle, no reigns
Full of fire and spirit inside
The last of a rare breed, born to run free
The horse nobody could ride

Ah, this song had a slow and soothing tune to it. One that had Equius leaning against the stump, mesmerized by Eridan's steady and slow voice. Already the lyrics had him taken, and he simply wanted to know more about this 'Mustang' hoofbeast.

The song continued, and it was another song that was laid in the imaginary non-lethal sun that Eridan liked to sing about in some of his songs. Equius does not understand why Eridan would think of such a thing, they all learned from a young age that the sun was a deadly star to almost everyone with the exception of a scant few that could withstand its deadly rays.

Regardless, the sun Eridan sings about seems nice. And at least, is a nice thing to hear about in the lyrics.

Equius does not understand what a 'Cheyenne' is, but whatever it is, they produced quite the troll! Although seemingly weak and shy, he at least attained the noble hoofbeast's trust! And the Hoofbeast that nobody could ride finally had a respectable rider!

By the end of the song, Equius was eagerly asking Eridan question after question and Eridan answered to the best of his abilities.

It's when he starts fussing over Eridan's tired state that he realizes that perhaps, he has some feelings about the seadweller? He does not get to think further as next meeting, he hears Eridan's ridiculous claims in rejecting quadrants as a whole. It is confusing as it is a bit disappointing.

Then Eridan meets someone named Vriska Serket.

And then they both find legendary weapons from their ancestors.

And things just, fall into place.

clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling timeausTestified [TT]

CA: Hello Dirk!
CA: Sorry for the last time I spoke wwith you, that wwas just
CA: An untasteful joke
TT: Who did you kill.
CA: An unfortunate jape
TT: Who did you kill.
CA: A horrible ruse
TT: Who did you kill.
CA: Please stop askin that
TT: Who the fuck did you kill.
CA: I didn't kill anyone, it was a fuckin horrible attempt to troll you
TT: Is this how you choose your victims?
TT: Just stalk them then message them then try to 'befriend them' and then fucking kill them?
CA: No
TT: That was a quick answer Mr. Murderer.
CA: Don't call me that
TT: What, a murderer? After you killed someone?
CA: Stop
TT: Or what?
TT: You're going to kill me?

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling timeausTestified [TT]

Hi Eridan,

Obviously it's Dirk from the future.
I'm sorry about the whole
Y'know, thing you probably just went through.
I was more than just a lil shit back then, I was a major asshole and I'm sorry about that.
Got frustrated over you and your messages, took it out on you the moment you showed 'weakness' about something.
Honestly, I don't blame you if you stop talking to me for a bit, or forever. There's probably a good amount of timelines where you stopped right then and there and I would've understood completely.
You're probably wondering how you managed to turn the piece of shit you see on your phone, to the guy writing you an apology and shit. Sometimes I wonder that myself, but then the answer will always just come back to just; you being you.
Don't understand? Well, tough luck, I don't really understand it either.
Just know that, things will get better Eridan.
If you wanna get a little revenge on asshole tiny me, or at least get him to take you a bit more seriously and eventually have him come around; drop hints about the game. Mess with him a bit more, yeah he'll bite back, he'll keep trying to mess with you in turn, keep trying to make sure you leave him alone. Don't let him. It'll work out eventually I swear, just look where I am now haha
Roxy was right, I'm shit at doing stuff like this.
Anyway, good luck with mini me Eridan.
You can do it
P.S. The killing will never get better, it'll get easier and you'll hate it. You'll have support though, you're not alone in this, not for long anyway.
P.P.S. To really grab his attention just say shit about Cal, say that he was right about the end of the world, I had lots of dreams of Cal talking to me about it, you can figure shit out from there

clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling timeausTestified [TT]

TT: Well, well, look who the cat dragged in?
TT: Killed anyone else while you were away Mr. Murderer?
CA: I could be a girl for all you knoww so I could equally be Ms. Murderer
TT: What, so you're admitting that you killed someone now?
CA: Wwhat are you going to do? Call the cops on me?
CA: You don't evven knoww wwhere I am much less wwhat I did
TT: You fully admitted that you killed someone, I could hand that over as evidence to the cops.
CA: As if they'd believve you, no one else believved you about Cal
TT: You stalking piece of shit.
TT: They might not believe me about the murder but they'll believe me when I say some old man has been stalking me.
CA: First; again I could be a girl as far as you knoww and second; you might not believve it but I'm currently younger than you asswwipe
TT: Bullshit.
CA: Call me a murderer all you wwant, it's not goin to effect me anymore
CA: You can't drivve me awway Dirk
CA: You're fuckin stuck wwith me
CA: And before you can say you'll just ignore my messages
CA: You really might wwant to reconsider not bein my friend
CA: Wwho else wwould believve you and Cal about the end of the wworld?
TT: How the fuck
CA: Your dreams havve merit Strider, they alwways havve
TT: What do you know.
CA: A lot of thins
CA: Cal isn't a normal puppet
CA: And you aren't a normal child
CA: You'vve got a purpose Strider, and he'll be comin to you in a feww years from noww
TT: Who is he.
TT: The kid in my dreams.
CA: He's a Knight
CA: I think that's enough cryptic bullshit for noww
TT: Wait
CA: I'll see you later Strider
TT: Wait a fucking moment!

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling timeausTestified [TT]

"It gets better." Eridan whispered to himself, rubbing at the tears in his eyes as he sets aside the phone. "It gets better, you're not alone." He repeats, hanging on to the words Dirk had left him.

He had to keep at it.

He had to.

==> Be someone else one last time

grimAuxiliatrix [GA] began trolling arachnidsGrip [AG]

GA: Vriska
GA: It Has Come To My Attention That You Have Been Making A Certain Few Trolls Uncomfortable And I Was Requested To Convince You To Cease Whatever It Was That Was Making Them Uncomfortable In The First Place
AG: Whaaaaaaaat?
AG: Me? Making someone uncomforta8le? Hah! Perish the thought!
AG: Who ever would come to you saying that?
AG: Was it Tavros, that wimp is always uncomforta8le no matter what I do so that's a moot point.
GA: Tavros Is
GA: One Of The Trolls That Reached Out To Me But Surprisingly Not As Much As The Other One
AG: Other one?
AG: Hold on
AG: Is Eridan the other troll you're implying here?
GA: Perhaps
AG: Ugh, is this a8out the whole 'I'm not interested in the concupiscent half of the quadrant' 8ullshit? If so, this is a HUGE misunderstanding Kanaya!
GA: Is That So
AG: Yeah! Okay so I may have gotten TOO into character as Marquise Spinneret Mindfang during our last session and honestly it wasn't even that 8ad!
AG: He's making a mountain out of a dig8east hill!
AG: Mindfang is supposed to 8e The Prisoner's kismesis after all.
AG: Whoops! Sorry, I mean Orphaner Dualscar, darn I keep forgetting he h8s me referring to his ancestor as that.
GA: I Think You Were The Only One To Agree To The Fact That Mindfang
GA: Your Character In Flarp Mindfang
GA: Is Kismesis With Orphaner Dualscar
GA: Eridan Was Quite Adamant Otherwise But Just Relented After Your Insistence
AG: Well he still agreed anyway, and if he really had a pro8lem with it he could have made more of a fuss!
AG: I am a generous and listening soul after all Kanaya, if he really didn't want to our characters to 8e kismesis, he should have 8een more o8stinant of the decision.
AG: I would have totally listened to him otherwise!
GA: Vriska
GA: In All Seriousness I Dont Think Trying To Imitate Your Ancestors Admittedly Amazing Pitch Relationship Is A Good Idea
AG: I'm not trying to imit8e anything!!!!!!!!
AG: Look, I genuinely h8 the guy!
AG: I am very sure that even if I hadn't read my ancestor's journal I would have definitely h8 Eridan Ampora in a very nonplatonic way!
AG: Have you met him Kanaya? He is totally infuri8ing!!!!!!!!
GA: I Have Not Met Him In Person But From Our Previous Chats I Find Him Pleasant And Polite
GA: And If You Genuinely Are Nonplatonically In Hate With Him Then Why The Pretense With The Role Playing And Insistence That It Is Not That Serious
GA: Why Not Simply Flirt With Him Outside Of Your Campaign Sessions
AG: Ugh, he 8arely talks to me as it is without the FLARP campaigns.
AG: I
AG: I don't think he really like to talk to me outside of our FLARPs and 8eing Mindfang gives me more chances to talk to him, y'know?
GA: Ah
AG: Also if I was really trying to imit8e my ancestor I would have tried to set him and you up as moirails!
AG: Minus the tragedy of course.
GA: Of Course
AG: 8y the time I even considered that you were already pale for me and Eridan 8ecame moirails with Zahhak instead so, eh ::::P
GA: Vriska
AG: I'm kidding! I'm kidding!
AG: May8e
AG: Hehehehehehehehe
GA: Sigh
AG: Okay for real, I was joking.
AG: I just
AG: Don't get him.
AG: You've seen how he is Kanaya, heard his ridiculous views
AG: I mean really, forgoing Quadrants all together? 8eing so nice and kind to others? It's so weird!
AG: We almost never hear a8out him going crazy or 8eing like other seadwellers!
AG: There's a mystery around him Kanaya and I want to find it out!
AG: Also that thing a8out his quadrants? Always knew it was 8ullshit, just look at him and Zahhak 8eing moirails now!
AG: If he can take 8ack not 8eing interested in a quadrant like moirallegiance then he can easily take 8ack not 8eing interested in kismessisitude.
AG: I have equally a chance of 8eing his kismesis just as the fish princess wants to 8e his moirail.
AG: Oh wait, she can't 8ecause Zahhak is Eridan's moirail now.
AG: Awkwaaaaaaaard. 
GA: Please Dont Involve Feferi In This
GA: Although I Will Admit That The Knowledge That Feferi Wanted To Be Moirails With Eridan Only To Be Rejected Then Find Out He Became Moirails With Another Is Rather
GA: Awkward
AG: Hahahaha I know right?
AG: Knew it was going to 8e entertaining with Ampora around!
AG: Even 8efore the journal >::::)
GA: If
GA: Had You Really Found The Journal Before We Met And Tried To Set Up Eridan And I As Moirails
GA: Would You Really Have Done It
GA: Would You
GA: Have Considered Me In Another Quadrant
AG: I don't know may8e????????
AG: I just thought a8out it earlier on to make my point and now that I'm thinking a8out it?
AG: Eh pro8a8ly? 8ut not now or anymore or something, I can't really see you as anything else as my moirail now Maryam so tough shit for Eridan!
AG: Guess he's missing out on prime Maryam moirallegiance!
GA: I
GA: I See
GA: I Believe I Have Some
GA: Other Things To Do At The Moment
GA: Please Excuse Me
AG: Hm? Okay?
AG: See you later I guess Kanaya.

grimAuxiliatrix [GA] ceased trolling arachnidsGrip [AG]

Well, now that Meddle McFussyfangs was now suitably distracted and has gone away, she can plot out on what else to do concerning- well, Eridan and she guesses Tavros?

Ugh, hard to believe that their ancestors were such cool guys. Well, she could kinda see it in Eridan, if he wasn't so uptight and unnaturally restraintful. Like, seriously the guy could use some time loosing up that tight ass of his and just chill or something! Or you know, go on an absolute rampage. Nitram on the other hand? She couldn't really see it, she really couldn't but she would soon make the effort to transform the dullard into something awesome! Something respectful for a troll! Someone strong and all that!

She just needed to work on Eridan a bit more, convince him to lighten up once in a while.

Maybe him finally getting a moirail will help? Even Zahhak should know how unhealthy it was for a seadweller like Eridan to be so... himself? Restraintful? Repressed?

Yeah, repressed.

Or maybe Kanaya really would have been a better moirail for him. Her ancestor had managed to leave an impact on Mindfang and The Pri- Dualscar. But the thought of Kanaya being moirails with Eridan after becoming moirails with her is... more uncomfortable than she'd like to admit.

Vriska thought back to Kanaya's question, if she had found her ancestor's journal before she met either of them... Yeah she probably would have tried to set them up, it worked for their ancestors didn't it? And- well, she kinda lied to Kanaya about not thinking of her as anything else than her moirail. Maybe her matesprit like Mindfang considered Porrim, but now?

Eh, it doesn't matter in the end. The relationships that they all had were fine, but it could be better. Or it could be worse! Mostly better, but yeah.

Vriska eagerly got her journal out, sifting through the pages to reread some of her favorite logs from her ancestor. She had finally found the map that was hidden in the journal and would soon embark on an epic journey with her FLARP partner and soon-to-be-maybe-kismesis Eridan Ampora! Soon, their characters would truly be complete with the same legendary weapons their ancestors once wielded.

Surely nothing could go wrong with this adventure.

clandestineAmicability [CA] began trolling timeausTestified [TT]

CA: Dirk
TT: Eridan.
CA: Finally usin my name?
TT: It's the only one I can fucking use for you, still don't know if it is your actual name or not
TT: I've only got your word on it
CA: Technically, I think I also got Cal's wword on it
CA: If he evven said anythin about me anywway
CA: I havve no idea wwhat goes on in that fuckin thins head
TT: Don't talk shit about Cal.
TT: But yeah, he mentioned that I should at least hear you out
CA: He did huh
CA: Wwonderful then
TT: So.
CA: So
TT: What happens now?
CA: Noww wwe start ovver, I think wwe've trampled on each other's foot enough times noww
TT: You did more than just fucking trample on my foot, jackass.
CA: Starin ovver noww
CA: Hello, my name is Eridan Ampora. I messaged you wwith the sole purpose of becomin your friend and helpin you wwith the end of the wworld
TT: You already know my name, I am helpless victim to whatever the fuck is going on here and you should have said you wanted to help with the end of the world in the first place.
CA: You can't see it but I'm rollin my eyes at you right noww
CA: Maybe I should havve but I didn't so I can't do shit about that noww
TT: Whatever.
TT: Hey
TT: Eridan.
CA: Wwhat?
TT: Did you actually kill someone?
CA: I
CA: Yes
TT: Huh.
CA: You either aren't convvinced or surprisigly acceptin that someone on the internet admitted to killin someone.
TT: Mostly the former, you don't seem the type to kill someone.
CA: You don't really knoww me?
TT: But am I wrong?
CA: ...
CA: In normal circumstances, I wwould nevver kill someone
TT: So why did you?
CA: I had no choice
TT: Really?
CA: Wwell I suppose I did, but that wwas betwween choosin to avvoid killin but then turnin up dead myself or just
TT: Kill and survive?
CA: yes
TT: Hm.
TT: You're a miserable jackass who might just be lying to get my attention.
CA: Wwoww
TT: But I guess I'll tolerate you for whatever information that might be useful for the end of the world.
TT: Speaking of which, tell me about it.
CA: For callin me a miserable jackass and sayin I'm lyin to get your attention? Howw about
CA: No
TT: I thought you wanted to help me with the end of the world?
CA: Wwe'vve got plenty of time before that happens
CA: I need to go soon anywway
CA: I can feel myself wwakin up
TT: Hey, what the fuck does that mean?
CA: I'll see you later Dirk
TT: Oi, don't just fucking go you bastard!

clandestineAmicability [CA] ceased trolling timeausTestified [TT]

TT: Dammit Eridan, come back here right now!

clandestineAmicability [CA] is idle!

TT: You're not even offline you dick!
TT: Are you just leaving your computer on constantly or fucking something?!

clandestineAmicability [CA] is idle!

TT: Ugh
TT: Pretentious bastard.

timeausTestified [TT] ceased pestering clandestineAmicability [CA]

A young THIRTEEN YEAR OLD BOY leans back in his chair with a frustrated growl. His frustration grows over the fact he is frustrated in the first place- he's supposed to be cool as fuck. Stoic, ice cold kind of cool. He shouldn't be reacting to this kind of shit. But someone, CA or Eridan or whatever, was just messing with him and making him- uncool.

At the very least, Cal wasn't really judging him. He seems to understand his frustration over this fucked up stalker of his, even though he was the one to tell him to be cool in the first place but then told him to give Eridan a shot.

Cal was too generous sometimes, and odd, but he's his best friend and has been with him his entire life. So if Cal told him to continue talking with Eridan, so be it.

Plus, the guy knew of the dreams he had, about the end of the world, of the fact that Cal wasn't just some 'creepy' normal ass puppet- which, by the way, he wasn't creepy or normal at all. He was cool as fuck, Lil Cal was the shit. Everyone else be damned.

Eridan knew about the kid in his head.

The one who looked like him, but not. He didn't know who the fuck he was, but now he had a clue.

The Knight.

Seemed to fit the kid perfectly, though he was missing something, so Eridan at least had some credit to his information.

So Dirk was going to strangle out any information he could get from the bastard.

They weren't going to be friends, just- potential allies with an information connection or some shit. Whatever, he was tired. Might as well go to bed.

Future Dirk, who now went by Bro, would look back on this and snort. His past self would definitely balk over the shit that just happened. Either way, Dirk Strider and Eridan Ampora were now exchanging messages throughout time and space, not that Dirk knew it at the time.

End of Act I
==> Begin Intermission

Chapter Text

==> Intermission Begins
==> Be Cronus
==> Cronus: Do Yourself A Fawvor

Hm?

Oh, he already did that.

Post-Scratch Porrim, aka The Dolorosa, was now reunited with the trolls she cared for the most.

Most of them anyway, there was someone obviously missing but unfortunately that couldn't be solved right now. How could he reunite him with his other self when he didn't even know where the hell he was?

'Hey, did you thee my potht-thcratch thelf back there? I look AWETHOME! Glad to thee that I managed to die and y'know, turn up pretty early in the bubbleth.'

It was certainly surprising to see the Psiioniic reunited with The Signless and The Disciple so early, hadn't he just died? Or yet to die? Wait, why was he even contemplating this? The dreambubbles make no sense in time and space, the fact he arrived early made sense that way. There was no need to think of how surprising it is because it's really not a surprise. At least The Dolorosa can enjoy it along with the others.

Speaking of others, he doesn't think the others, his unfortunate others, the trolls he once considered his teammates and shit knew that the Alternian Ancestors were in the bubbles now. If they did, there's be more of a commotion, and they would probably finally stop looking for him.

'You think them being in the bubbleth dethpite not being playerth anymore ith becauthe they UTHED to be playerth? They get the privilege of y'know, becoming ghothtth becauthe of that. Cauthe I thought the bubbleth were for uth playerth only from like, doomed timelineth and thtuff.'

The Captor hallucination 'I am a ghotht jutht like you are Cronuth!' had answered the question that Cronus hadn't really thought to ask. It was a highly likely chance that was the case. 'Of courthe, I am the thmartetht fucker not really alive!'

Sure, hallucination Mituna. Sure. 'Hey!'

Dammit, he needs to stop indulging himself in this- this farce. 'Hey...' Cronus held back a growl as he stomped through the bubbles, keeping himself hidden from any potential ghosts that were in there. Nobody that he wanted to be seen by or bothered with, he still had a fucking job to do! He looked around as he reached the edge of a bubble before jumping out of the memory.

Falling into Paradox Space.

'WHEEEEEEEEEE!'

Horrorterrors surrounded him on all sides, his body less solid now that he was outside the bubble. Ghosts were not meant to be in the void of Paradox Space, the bubbles were conjured for a reason. And as tempting as it was to dissipate into the void-

A white outline appeared over his body, keeping his body as solid as can be.

He wasn't really allowed to end up double dead, not by his own terms.

There's a bubble below him, a big one at that. He aims for the edges, not wanting to meet whoever might be at the very center of the bubble and memory. 'Aaaand-' He slips through the semi-delicate bubble shell and lands on Derse. Or at least, an amalgamated part of Derse, he could see different structures, skies and land from Derse off in the distance of the new memory he was in.

'NITHE LANDING! You got thome unreal air there dude! High five Cronuth!' He does not high five the hallucination. 'Aw....'

A similar yet ultimately different nasally voice screamed from the side, and Cronus froze, "NITHE LANDING!"'Oh hey it'th broken me! Hi broken me!'

"Don't call him broken." He snapped, but immediately regretted.

'What.'

"What."

"Vwhat."

Both Mitunas stared at him blankly and he cringed away, dammit. He just said he wasn't going to indulge his selfish desires! He wasn't suppose to entertain this hallucinatory version of- of him. Of Mituna, but not...

'Broken?'

Cronus swallowed the harsh reply he wanted to say and just shook his head almost violently. "Gog, I'm so fuckin' tired of this shit." He muttered to himself, turning on his heel and starting to walk away.

"Hey! HEY WAIT- GAHBLARGHABAFUCKFUCKFUCKFFFF—" He couldn't help but look back and stopped to see Mituna writhing on the ground, cursing nonsensically as he tried and failed to untangle himself from his godhood. "HAAALP!"

He looks around and is distressed to see that there was no one around, nobody else but him. 'Aww, you thtill care for me Cronuth, after all thethe thweepth!' Captor swooned in the air as Cronus walked back towards Mituna, trying to help him get untangled from the unnecessarily long hood of his godhood pajamas. "Mituna, Mituna stop- stop fucking squirmin- Dammit Tunes!" All three of them froze as the old nickname came from his mouth.

He flinched back, a harsh pain erupting from his chest that has him reeling back away from the tangled dead Mituna. 'Cronuth! Thhit, are you okay?!' He ignored Captor's fussing, instead just took in a deep breath. Mituna stared at him blankly through his visor, mouth open agape. "Tuneth." Was all he said, "That wath- that wath me right? I wath... Tuneth... Like- like muthic..."

Cronus said nothing, simply standing up and brushing himself off. Acting as if nothing had happened. "Mituna. Svwitch out of your godtier, that should untangle you." Mituna made an inquiring noise and he sighed heavily, "Svw-Svwitch out of your godhood Captor, use your sylladex and change clothes." He switched his shirts around with his sylladex as a demonstration.

"Ooooh.... Okay!" Mituna fumbled a bit more but managed to switch from his godhood to his regular bodysuit. "I'm FREEEEE!" The goldblood cheered, getting to his feet a bit too quickly and ended up back on his ass. "OW! I'm okay!"

A ghost of a smile crept on Cronus' face, "That's... That's good Mituna. Go- go find Latula or somethin' novw." He'd helped Mituna a bit, he can just- go now. But he stopped when he felt something, someone holding on to the back of his shirt.

It was Mituna, because of course it was him. "Wait." He seemed anxious, "Come with me? I- don't wanna get lotht finding Tula." His grip was tight, and Cronus was at a lost on what to do.

The others might have noticed, or maybe not, but Cronus has spent his entire time in the Afterlife trying to avoid Mituna. Any Mituna. He doesn't try to talk to him, doesn't try to seek him out, whenever Mituna is around, Cronus focuses on someone else instead of him when he was doing the whole 'Asshole Greaser' thing. He couldn't find it in himself to be a jerk to Mituna, to try that horrible persona on him, not after- not when he was the one to-

He just couldn't.

He rarely ever meets with Mituna on his own. "I can't." He told him, he can't stay a moment longer. He had a mission to do- hell, even if he hadn't had a mission to do, he just- He can't stay around Mituna. "You can find Latula on your ovwn."

"Thtay. Pleathe? I don't- I don't-" He seemed to be struggling to say something, and was getting frustrated on how he couldn't say it. "You're- I know you, I know you, I know you I know you I know you-"

Cronus can't take it anymore, he forced Mituna to let go with him and he flinches when the goldblood cried out- not in pain but still. Surprise? He'd descended into mumbling 'i know yous' underneath his breath and Cronus can't stay any longer. For more than one reason.

"Mituna! Mit-There you are! Oh shit, is that you Cronus?!"

The jig is up, time to go. "Latula's here Tunes, you'll be fine." Cronus quickly said, absconding from the scene.

"Cronus Ampora! Get your ass back here!"
"Cronus! Please, there are many things that need to be discussed with you! I have many questions that direly need to be answered!"