[OPEN/CLOSED] A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes

[chronomancer]

Characters: [AU1] Eridan Ampora, [AU1] Equius Zahhak and YOU!
Setting: First dormitory floor showers [CLOSED to Equius], Forest floor.
Format: Action, but I'll match you.
Summary: Eridan emerges from a month of hermithood with the firm conviction that he's not gonna fuck shit up again and the certain knowledge that he's definitely going to fuck shit up again.
Warnings: Sad, stupid boys being sad and stupid and maybe angry, too. Standard Eridan warnings apply: make him angry and he'll shoot you in the head.

[Showers]

[The one thing... one of the things Eridan really liked about the Tower - for some values of "like" anyway, was the free access to water and the showers. The showers were nice. Helped one think and keep thoughts in order, or at least put those thoughts in some semblance of order, anyway. It was relaxing, was what he was getting at. And for the past month, he'd worked very hard to relax.

He'd also spent most of the past month murdering things and avoiding people, out of fear of what he could do to them if he didn't. Which meant a lot of showers to get rid of grit and grime and monster innards at the end of the day, even if the day wasn't the real day he was supposed to be in. He was tired though. He was tired of running away and trying to purge the violence only made him realize the pit in the back of his mind was deeper than he originally thought, because he just didn't run out of will to kill shit. He didn't stop feeling angry. He can't hide away forever though. Can he?

Of course he can't, that'd be stupid.

So now there he is, muttering to himself - hot words being Equius, sorry, care and sorry - as he towels himself dry and starts getting dressed. He really... needs to talk to Equius, doesn't he? He does. He owes him an apology for snapping at him like that. An apology for a lot of things, really. Since there really doesn't seem to be much activity around this time, Eridan walks out of the stall shirtless and toweling his hair, wanting to use the mirror by the sinks to study a gash on his back that he got about a week ago. He's not expecting anyone else to be around, clearly, it shows on his posture.]

[Forest floor]

[If you're walking about the forest floor, you might notice a long, long grey scarf hanging from a tree about eye level. And if you follow it up, you'll find a taciturn troll sprawled on a branch with a riffle on his lap and a bunch of carrots. That's he's eating. Raw. Just chilling out there, occasionally flicking a bit of carrot at a squirrelly forest creature. No biggie.

Eridan's taking babysteps to relearn this whole social interaction thing, okay. Baby steps. Someone knock him off the stupid tree, please.]

Comments

[chronomancer]

[Eridan startles a little, before looking down. It takes him a moment before he blinks and offers a small, wry smile.]

Kazumi. Yeah, it has been a while.

[starofpleiades]

How have you been? I hope you weren't sick last month...

[Guess who was...]

[chronomancer]

[He chuckled a little at that, but it didn't sound like he was amused.]

Nah.

[He's been sick for a while longer than last month, hasn't he? Probably since the day he hatched, and he's just noticing now.]

I've been... fine. Kinda. And you?

[starofpleiades]

Have you...? [Kazumi's worried look isn't convinced]

I've been... okay, I guess. I got one of the weird sicknesses last month, but at least I didn't hurt anyone else and I was fine afterward...

[chronomancer]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[Even though he's trying to sound sincere, it comes out a little too flat.]

Hope you didn't get hurt, though.

[starofpleiades]

I, yeah. Nothing lasting, anyway.

Um, are you sure you're feeling okay?

[chronomancer]

That's good.

[He shrugs.]

As good as I can be, anyway. Don't worry about it.

[starofpleiades]

You sure...? If there's anything I could do to help out...

[chronomancer]

It's alright.

[He offers another of those weird not-quite-there smiles.]

If there's something to fix, I ought to fix it myself, I guess. But it's nice of you to offer.

[starofpleiades]

Hmm... alright... [She sort of knows the feeling] Just know that if you ever want help, or someone to listen, or maybe just a hot meal and moment to relax, you can count on me!

[chronomancer]

That's very nice of you.

[He smiles, a little worn around the edges, but gentle enough.]

I'll keep it in mind. And... you know, if you need anything either, I can help too.

[Can he? He's not sure, but he's used to offer.]

[starofpleiades]

Mm! That's what friends are for, right?

[WE ARE FRIENDS, RIGHT?]

[chronomancer]

[...you are. Hitting so close to home, right now, it's almost not fair. Except he probably needs it anyway. His smile softens.]

Yeah, that's right.

[Does he even have friends anymore?]

[starofpleiades]

Mm! So, um... are you going to keep staying up there? It's really cold out here...

[chronomancer]

I've been colder.

[He offers a little sardonic smile, because at least he's not freezing anymore. It takes him a second, before shrugging.]

...we can go somewhere else, though. If you wanna keep talking.

[starofpleiades]

Yeah! I mean, if you're okay hanging out with me? I don't want to be a bother if you'd rather not...

[chronomancer]

's alright.

[He offers a small smile before sliding down that branch with relative ease.]

I could use the company.

[starofpleiades]

Heheh... so, hungry? We could go grab something.

[Kazumi always is]

[chronomancer]

Sure.

[Eridan's gotten too used to starving himself. So he should probably eat more.]

At least it's not the damn bars anymore.

[starofpleiades]

Mm, yeah! I'm glad we have food again... it's a bit ingredient-centric at the meals, but between the three of them, there's a good variety of things to work with in the kitchen again!

[chronomancer]

[He shrugs a little.]

I wouldn't really know, I'm not all that good at cooking.

[And being picky about food doesn't help either. Seriously, vegetarian trolls. What the fuck were they thinking?]

But I can help if you want.

[starofpleiades]

Heheh, you don't have to, but if you like...

I'm more than happy to cook for you though! Just tell me what you like.

[chronomancer]

Uh. Food?

[Awkward turtle, move over, here comes Eridan Ampora to take over the kingdom of all things awkward.]

Preferably not sweet, if that's not a big problem.

[This is one kid who doesn't need to be coerced into eating his veggies.]

[starofpleiades]

[BUT SHE DOESN'T KNOW HE'S VEGETARIAN]

Hmm, well, I think I can definitely accommodate that!

[She smiles as they tromp through the snow towards the stairs]

[chronomancer]

I mean, if it's not too much toruble, I don't want to be an inconvenience or anything.

[Off they go towards the stairs.]