[OPEN][BACKDATED] Hold out I'll give a little piece of me

[chronomancer]

Characters: (Jade!)Eridan('s blood) and you!
Setting: Fleeing from the infirmary and up towards the dormitory, so stairways because Eridan's not reasonable when he's freaking out this bad.
Format: Action but I'll match your preference.
Summary: BACKDATED to Valentine's day. Eridan managed somehow to escape Dualscar's... "attentions", but not unscathed. So now he's leaving a very obvious jadeblooded trail as he flees towards his dormitory so he can hide under his bed.
Warnings: Lots and lots of jade green and it's not grubsauce. Will add more as necessary. Feel free to add chocolate shenanigans too if you want.

[Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

Eridan stumbled as fast as his legs could take him, which didn't seem to be enough. Maybe running after losing an arm, still bleeding from losing an arm, wasn't the brightest of ideas, no. And maybe if he had been thinking straight, he'd have headed for the elevators, rather than the stairs.

But fuck rational thinking, he's going on the sheer terrified certainty that if he stops moving, if he lets Dualscar grab him again, he's going to die.

He might still die, as it is, what with the blood loss that's also painting a very convenient trail behind him, or the cuts on his throat and his face. But the single important thing is that he's not going to die at Dualscar's mercy.

Fuck that. If he's going to die, he's going to find a nice, cozy corner and then kick the bucket die on his own damn terms. Which at the moment seem to be anywhere but here.]

Comments

[chronomancer]

No!

[God, why does everyone want to drag him back to that stupid floor? Eridan flinches at the shrillness of his own voice.]

I mean. No. It's okay. Really.

[What does he have to say to convince you? Oh!]

It just looks wworse than it feels.

[verymuchalive]

[Yeah, she doesn't look convinced. But she does get the hint that whatever he's running from is in the direction of the infirmary. Time for plan B.]

That's not true and we both know it. But okay. Maybe there's something in the workshop we can use to stop you bleeding for now.

[chronomancer]

...wwell, not okay. But--

[Lyyyyyyyyyyyyyyying, he's so good bad used to it.]

You don't havve to. I don't wwant to be a bother.

[verymuchalive]

You're not being a bother! Now, come on. There'll be no dying on my watch.

[And now she's reaching to take his arm so she can guide him to the workshop. Not ideal by any means but a temporary fix is better than none at all]

[chronomancer]

...'kay.

[He lets himself be dragged away, docile. Because really, no point in arguing is there?]

...sorry.

[verymuchalive]

[Not really. Aradia can be pretty stubborn when she wants to be]

What are you apologising for?

[What she wants to ask is what happened but even she has a sense of priorities. Workshop first, then details]

[chronomancer]

[Eridan blinks a little, staring at her in fascination before he shrugs. And winces, because shrugging hurts. Oh fuck, there goes his main form of communication...]

Just feel I should.

[verymuchalive]

Well, you don't have to.

[They're soon at the workshop level and Aradia casts about for any stray scraps of material she can use to stop the bleeding]

[chronomancer]

[Eridan just. Sort of stands there, looking at his feet, hand clutching his shoulder.]

... I havve a lot to apologize for.

[verymuchalive]

Such as?

[She returns with some material scraps, attempting to swat his hand aside so she can treat the wound. Well, wrap it and hope for the best as the case actually is because Aradia's not exactly first aid trained]

[chronomancer]

Lots of things.

[Even so, he can't really bring himself to say it. But hey, he deserves this. Trust him on that one. Okay.]

[verymuchalive]

[Aradia just rolls her eyes]

Okay, you're starting to sound like Sollux now. Lots of things isn't an answer.

[She finishes wrapping the wound before moving to face him head-on]

What happened?

[chronomancer]

[Eridan ducks his head further, unconsciously trying to make himself small.]

...I fucked up.

[verymuchalive]

Better, but still vague.

[She's going to try and maintain face-to-faceness, even if that means she has to drop to her knees to look up to him]

Who did this to you?

[chronomancer]

[They're both going to end up with cricks in their necks then...]

No one.

[Lyyyyyyyyyyyyying through his teeth.]

[verymuchalive]

[Right now she doesn't care]

You didn't do this to yourself. Who was it?

[chronomancer]

[Eridan refuses to meet her eyes. Goddamn it, the least Dualscar could have done was let him have his shades. It's a lot easier to be a distant asshole when no one can see your eyes.]

No one. It. It wwas an accident.

[verymuchalive]

[Man, he's worse than Sollux. Shame Aradia's used to being patient about these things]

I don't believe you. Eridan, if someone's after you then maybe I can help.

[chronomancer]

[...if this turns into a waiting game between these two, we're gonna be here forever. XD]

A course you don't believve me, no one evver does.

[Eridan snorts, but he looks more hurt than bitter about that. Again, it's probably the lack of sunglasses. They have a +120 Asshole rating.]

[verymuchalive]

[Damn Time heroes and their disregard for time!]

I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that you don't have to protect whoever it is.

[chronomancer]

No one really needs me to protect them.

[The I'm shit at it anyway doesn't even need to be voiced to be loud.]

[verymuchalive]

Eridan, stop.

[Her tone's just the tiniest bit sterner than it has been because damn it, she's not well of limitless patience here. She has a lot, yes, but she also has her limits]

That's also not what I meant, so could you please stop trying to turn my attempts at help into personal attacks?

[chronomancer]

[Eridan scowled, giving her a very dark look.]

So you call me liar an it's okay. I tell you the truth, an it's a personal attack.

[Acidly.]

Good to knoww.

[verymuchalive]

[Wow, okay, Aradia's going to be standing up now]

I didn't say you were attacking me. But your twisting my words and that's not fair. And maybe I wouldn't imply you were a liar if you hadn't lied to me.

[Funny how that works, huh?]

[chronomancer]

I'm not lying.

[Except he totally is, but he's a consummated actor, let him pretend. It's about the one thing he does well.]