This wasn't part of the plan...

[chronomancer]

Characters: Eridan and YOU.
Setting: Room 1-10; Dormitory Hallways, attmepting to head towards the cafeteria.
Format: Starting with Action tags, but I'll match your preference.
Summary: In which Eridan wakes up and Is Not Dead, followed by a self-pity storm, followed by a bit of exploration. And oatmeal.
Warnings: Ridiculous amounts of self-pity. Additional warnings will be added as necessary.

Room 1-10.

[Eridan was not having a good day. For one thing, he was having a day in the first place. Which wasn't supposed to happen. He knew that much. For another, looking into the trunk at the feet of the bed he'd woken up in - his? - he found his Time Reels. Completely unreeled. So he's trying really hard not to go into meltdown at the whole situation by carefully trying to fix his damn reels back as they should be. Which wasn't really working out all that well.

So there he is, sitting on his own bed, tangled beyond hope in what seems like miles of film, trying to carefully reel it all back in place. And very casually hyperventilating at the fact he was alive. He really wasn't supposed to be, dammit.]

Dormitory Hallways.

[Having given up on fixing his reels - right now - Eridan chose to explore a bit and see what kind of people were around. He walks around the dormitory hallways, with this defensive, "I have no fucking idea where I am" expression on his face, feeling unnerved and lacking in weapons or defenses.

But he's hungry and the letter said he could find food at the cafeteria, which is where he's hoping to go. At some point. When he stops being hopelessly lost and jumpy about every shadow in the corridors.

Hey, he's not the Hero of Space, alright? Cut him some slack. ...please?]

Comments

[guiltapalooza]

... Yeah. That happens. [There's a soft understanding to her tone. Willow knows all about things that seemed fun going very, very downhill.

But he seems down enough without her adding to it, so she heats up some water in the microwave and turns back to face him.] Maybe while you're here you'll get to do something not, well, doom-related? I've been kind of taking the opportunity myself; when I left home we were in the middle of another end-of-the-world situation.

[chronomancer]

Maybe.

[He looks dubious at the idea, but at least he doesn't outright reject it.]

It... doesn't seem like a vvery happy place though.

[guiltapalooza]

You know, Eridan, [and gosh isn't it strange to call someone not her boyfriend that,] I've learned something pretty important over the past seven years. Uh, about three sweeps.

I've learned that the universe isn't ever going to be a happy place; you have to grab it for yourself when you can. [The microwave beeps, and as she reaches up to remove the bowl of heated water, she glances over at him and smiles, at ease with herself.] If you can do that, it makes all the times you have to fight a fight you can't win... well, it makes them worth it.

Not to get preachy on you.

[chronomancer]

[He watches her move about, always observant, but doesn't say anything right away. She must have been friends with some of the others for a while to pick up on certain things, like years and sweeps. Maybe that's why she's so friendly with him, then. It doesn't make it any less awkward, but at least it takes away some of the tension lurking. Just a little.]

...I suppose you're right.

[guiltapalooza]

[Although a quick study in her own right, Willow has long become used to dealing with other species on a casual, every day basis. Most of the time she's fighting them, but there are some huge, glaring exceptions to that, and it means she adjusts easily to the idea of different rules and terms.

In short, after a couple months of befriending trolls it doesn't even occur to her to act differently around them. She takes out a paper packet of instant oatmeal, tears off the top, and dumps it into the bowl.

Then she glances up, and smiles.] Of course I'm right, [she teases.] Keep your chin up and it won't be so bad here, I promise.

[Stirring done, she picks up the bowl and holds it out to him.] There you go, one bowl of official newbie oatmeal. You have to let it sit for a few minutes first.

[chronomancer]

I'll try.

[The promise didn't have much confidence behind it, but he nodded nonetheless. When she offers the bowl of oatmeal, however, Eridan gives her a blank look.]

...thank you?

[guiltapalooza]

Take it, silly. [An amused look.] You just got here, I can't make you do everything yourself until you're at least, oh, two hours in.

[chronomancer]

That's... nice of you.

[AWKWARD.]

Thank you.

[So he'll just. Stay there, holding a bowl of oatmeal and looking at her just a tad oddly.]

[guiltapalooza]

[matter-of-factly,] You don't talk to people a lot, do you?

[chronomancer]

...not really no.

[He winces a bit, looking sheepish. HIS LEFT HORN FOR PESTERCHUM, GOD.]

Sorry.

[guiltapalooza]

Hey, no worries! We'll get you used to it.

Aside from a certain someone, everyone here's been pretty friendly. It's not a bad group.

[chronomancer]

...wwe?

[Oh wow, that's a record amount of trepidation in a single word.]

[guiltapalooza]

We, collectively, in the tower?

[Peers at him.] Don't look so mortified. I'm not going to put you through socialization boot camp.

[chronomancer]

[Eridan can't help it, he looks down at the oatmeal, as if to reply to that. But then he shrugs.]

I don't think I wwarrant the efforts a the entire towwer.

[guiltapalooza]

I'll let you pick who it warrants, how about that?

[Encouraging smile.]

[chronomancer]

That'd... be nice.

[He can handle that, yes. He smiles back, just a little.]

[guiltapalooza]

See, doing better already! I was starting to feel like a scary grandmother, [she jokes.] Usually I do pretty well at cheering people up.

[chronomancer]

I'd believve that.

[He peers at her curiously, then drops his eyes to look at the bowl of oatmeal he's still not sure he wants to eat.]

You seem to havve a lot a practice.

[guiltapalooza]

[He so wants to eat that oatmeal, don't even. It was made with overly enthusiastic love.]

I do, actually. I try to be supporto-gal whenever my friends are down, and considering how freakish our lives are, that's pretty often.

It's a relief that my cheer up powers extend to aliens half my age.

[chronomancer]

[Ew, isn't that like. Toxic or something?]

Yeah, those are some vvery effectivve powwers.

[guiltapalooza]

[No insulting Willow's cooking or she'll have to pull out her secret weapon: apologizing to him in game instead of just in memes.]

Which, is good. Cause if you need anything while you're here, you should totally come find me, okay? Our names are on plaques next to our rooms, so just look for Willow Rosenberg. There's only one of me!

[chronomancer]

[And thank god for that, he doesn't say, and nods, feeling a little helpless inside just at the thought of another Willow running about. It'd be exhausting.]

Alright, I'll look for you if I need you, promise.

[guiltapalooza]

[To be fair, she'd felt the same way when vampire her was running around, back home. Granted she'd been a skanky, homicidal version of her, so it wasn't exactly the same...]

I'll hold you to that, [she says, nodding firmly.] I guess I should... leave you to your oatmeal? I don't want to just abandon you.

[chronomancer]

Oh, you're not abandonin me, don't wworry.

[He offered her another encouraging smile, trying not to look too eager for her to leave.]

I'll be fine... I mean, I evven have the oatmeal an all. And it's not like wwe're nevver goin to see each other evver again, right?

[Sob.]

[guiltapalooza]

That's right! [Wide smile back, totally unsuspecting.] You might have some friends here already, so I should let you find them.

It'll work out, you'll see. Don't worry too much.