The light crept through the slot between the drapes and the sill, filtering through the dark room almost as if it was afraid to shine. It dully glinted off the metal lid of Sollux Captor's laptop, the computer pieces scattered across the floor, and the rest of the matte metallics in the room. Strewn amongst the technology was clothing, bottles, and several game DVDSs. Curled up beneath a red and blue honeycomb pattern bedspread, Sollux lay, hands twitching in restless sleep.
The messy room and it's occupant dwelled in unkempt placidity until a harsh alarm buzzer sprang to life. A thin hand snaked out from under covers and blindly entered the passcode to open the phone and shut off the alarm. The rest of the body attached to the hand stirred, and eventually sat up, stretching once before Sollux threw himself out of bed. His fingers raked through a layer of clothes on the floor, eventually pulling out a pair of jeans which he then yanked on and stumbled out of the door fastening. He shoved his feet into a mismatched pair of black and white sneakers, and pushed his way outside, dragging a tattered backpack and computer bag behind him.
The border of lights ringing the mirror blared brightly, adding to the light already pouring out of the room. It flashed upon the shining mirror decals upon the wall and leapt off of rings and other assorted jewellery piled onto a dresser top. The closet door hung open slightly, with rows of clothing jammed inside. Two large bookshelves towered in the corner, holding rows of books and trinkets. Leaning over the counter in order to get his face closer to the mirror, Eridan Ampora methodically pushed a comb through his hair.
Finally seeming pleased, he made a self-satisfied moue and sprayed mousse all around his head. Nodding, he put down his products and swung himself out of the bathroom. At his dresser, he selected three rings and slid them on, flexing his fingers with approval. He surveyed himself once more, double-checking that the sunflower yellow shirt was cheery and not garish. The sun emblem on his chest almost seemed too much, but he evidently decided not because he draped a scarf about his neck and slid a satchel over his shoulder, strutting out of his door and to the outside.
The clouds were scattered thickly across the Boston skyline this morning, and Sollux was distractedly grateful that the low light meant he could see his phone easily without bringing the brightness up. He slid his feet through the early fall leaves littering the ground, and yawned. Class was in ten minutes, but hopefully the elevator would be working this morning. As he crossed the street, he looked up only to blink in surprise. His feet pushed him up onto the sidewalk and he stared in bewilderment at the boy sipping something and adjusting a scarf. His eyes dropped to the boy's shirt, he seemed almost mesmerised by the symbol in the middle. His teeth grabbed at his bottom lip before his phone buzzed insistently and the spell was broken. Shaking his head, he hunched his shoulders and pushed open the doors to the tall building, nodding at the doorman. "Hey, TV."
"Oh, hey, Sollux, how are you doing with things?" Sollux shuddered for a moment and then shrugged. "Tired. How else?" He jabbed at the button for the elevator and slumped against the wall to wait, slinking inside the elevator and then slamming his eyes open as he saw the bright yellow once more just before the doors slid shut.
Eridan strode along the sidewalk, taking in the sight of the park this morning. He generally enjoyed a sunnier dawn, but he tilted his head to appreciate the trees and skyline nonetheless. Walking through the paths of the grassy central area was a familiar experience to him. He stopped at a favoured café to grab a cup of Earl Grey, and sipped it as he stepped outside, redraping the scarf about his shoulders, and he looked up to see a boy almost dash away from him. Pursing his lips, he raised his eyebrows indignantly. Eridan rolled his eyes and then strode to the doors, stalking past the doorman without a second glance. He walked to the elevators only to swear irritatedly as the one in front of his slid it's doors shut and was gone. He swept his fingers over the up button, and tapped his foot impatiently.
Sollux snickered to himself as the elevator moved upwards, remembering how Feferi had once compared it's cheery robotic noises to the way Wall-e said his name. He tipped his head back until it rested against the walls, trying to let himself focus on something productive or at the very least positive. For some reason his mind kept centring on the boy with the sunny shirt, like a magnet that he was powerless to change or deny. Thinking to himself, Sollux allowed himself to indulge in a rare moment of poetic contemplation.
"It was like…a vision…" he mumbles, immediately shaking his head and shutting himself up. He rolled his eyes at his own frivolity and took a deep breath, stepping out onto his floor and making his way into a room with an elaborately configured news station set. He wove his way through the various cameras, along with the equipment placed around it, taking his seat at a computer desk, nodding at the bubbly looking anchor.
When the doors finally slid open once more, Eridan strode in, pressing the button carefully and checking his reflection in the shine of the metal. He pursed his lips, thinking back to earlier when he'd seen someone practically trip over the sidewalk across from him.
"What an idiot." He murmured to himself. Spinning on his heel as the elevator whooshed open, his boots clicked on the floor as he made his way along the corridor. Entering a classroom, he carefully took a seat in the third row and began to carefully arrange his notebook, pens, phone and other accoutrement.
"And be sure to join us tomorrow for another follow-up of the election! This is Feferi Peixes, see you soon!"
Sollux reached up to slide his glasses back into place on his nose, finishing up the broadcast.
"Nice work, FF." She smiled brightly, hopping off of the stool behind her desk, and shooting a grin to the camera operator. "Thanks, Sollux! You did great too!" He quirked an eyebrow. "You know that all I do is push buttons, right? It's not like it's difficult."
She shook her head firmly. "Everyone has an important job and we're all talented people!" Sollux nodded slowly, his face a mix of fondness and exasperation. Slinging his bags over his shoulder, he flipped the machinery off and gave Feferi a sarcastic salute.
"Are you going so soon?"
"Yeah, I want to grab lunch before heading to the lab." He walked out, sliding his headphones up around his ears and pulling his phone's music app up. Slinking down the hallway and out the door, he slid the zipper of his hoodie up and down in an absentminded, vaguely nervous tic.
"For Monday, please finish your compositions on a cultural movement in Europe, and do not neglect proper formatting when creating your citations. Enjoy your weekends, all, and be responsible!"
Eridan carefully slid back in his chair, neatly gathering his materials from his desk and slotting them methodically into his bag. He lingered by his desk to input the homework in his phone. Opening the front facing camera, he became distracted checking on his reflection.
"Eridannnnnnnn, could you be any MORE self-absorbed?"
He twisted to sneer archly at the classmate responsible for the snarky comment. "I suppose I could start emulatin' you, Vris…"
She scoffed, stalking out and tossing dyed-blue hair behind her. Eridan rolled his eyes and raked his hand through his bangs once more, smoothly making his way out of the door. As he carefully strutted down the hallway, he gently placed earbuds in, cautious not to tangle his hair. Tracing the line of his wire down over and over, he stepped into the elevator once more.
Sollux stepped out into the sun again, blinking in irritation at the sudden brightness. He slid his hood up, manoeuvring it around his headphones and ducking his head to let the fabric block the shine. Peeking his eyes out to check the 'walk' sign he was met with a sudden burst of yellow and collided into someone.
Eridan flung the doors open and strode into the light, breathing in the rays of the sun and the aromatic scent of the coffee shop next door. He turned his face up, stretching his fingers out, akin to a cat luxuriating in the warmth. Spinning on his heel, he began to glide fluidly toward the crosswalk, when out of seemingly nowhere a tall, hooded figure slammed into him.
"W-what?!"
"The FUCK?!"