Cronus panted as he watched (_ _ _) run her hands up and down her supple body teasingly. She giggled before she moaned the blushing sea dweller's name. He gulped as he watched his human flush crush slip her hand passed the waistband of her jeans. And he let out a guttural groan when the frisky human started toying with herself. Sweet, feminine moans filled the air of his bedroom and Cronus bit his lip as he watched. He could sparsely believe this was real. But suddenly the sea dweller's vision blurred as he heard a loud noise. But the noise was muffled somehow. A second passed and it went away so he ignored it. Then it came back louder than before. *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* Cronus jolted awake in his recupercoon before sighing in realization. He sunk back in the slime with a pitiable groan of disappointment. It had all been a dream! "Wvell fuck." he mumbled in a sulky manner. But the knocking at his hive door continued. He growled as he hurried to get out of his pod and dry off. He threw on a shirt and pajama pants before he looked at his bed. He'd gotten the thing so he could try sleeping like humans do. It hadn't worked out. He'd forgotten that humans aren't plagued with the nightmare visions trolls were when they slept. And after that first disastrous night he'd begun using it as a glorified couch. He used it to lay on so he could watch his movies, write song, and generally laze about.
Though now he was triple glad he'd gotten it. Because now (_ _ _) used it to sleep on. For the first few times she'd left the dream bubbles her whole body had simply faded away completely. And when she came back she'd simply fade into view in random places before she got up to find him. But then one day that changed. It had started normal. Where she faded into view and then searched him out. And they'd spent all day hanging out and exploring the bubbles before they went back to his place to watch movies. But when (_ _ _) said it was time for her to go she seemed to fall asleep. She didn't disappear like she usually did but instead her body slumped forward unconscious. He tried waking her up but she wouldn't. He didn't know what to do so he just picked her up and carried her to his human bed. He laid her down, pulled back the covers, then tucked her in and let her sleep. He was so worried something was wrong because this had never happened before. But then some time later (it was hard to tell time in the dream bubbles) she woke up. She sat up and stretched before looking around. She smiled when she spotted him and he knew everything was okay. And when he told her what happened she just shrugged and said she felt the same as before. And that was all that was said on the subject.
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* "Okay! I'm coming! Jeez~" he yelled angrily as he stomped downstairs to the front door. He knew no matter how loud he was he wouldn't wake (_ _ _) up. When she was out she slept like a rock. Cronus got to the first floor and rushed to the door before wrenching it open with an angry "Wvhat?". There stood Kankri in all his red sweater glory. Cronus was kind of surprised that someone was here at his hive. Usually he had to go search his 'friends' out if he wanted any social interaction. Nobody ever came in search of him. But the violet blood supposed there was a first time for everything. "Ah, good day Cronus. Pardon my intrusion on any of your current activities. #curiosity #unexpected visit #possible intrusion of privacy. But I came to inquire of your well being. I hope my curiosity doesn't trigger you. But neither I nor anyone else has seen you for quite some time. And though most did not seem to be upset I myself became worried. I usually see you at least every other day. But it has been almost two weeks since you last attended one of my sermons." Cronus sighed and patted the pockets of his pajama pants in search of his pack of cigarettes. He pulled them out and popped one in his mouth and let it casually hang from his lips like he usually did. Then he looked back up at his friend. Or the closest thing to a friend that Cronus felt he had anyways.
But Cronus didn't want to focus on any poisonous thoughts today. Instead he just chewed on the end of his Tabaco stick and asked, "Is that the only reason you're here Kankri? You missed havwing someone listen to your sermons?" Kankri's jaw dropped a bit before he frowned and replied, "I find that statement very triggering Cronus. Not only did you fail to tag your triggers but you didn't check your privilege. Plus I was genuinely worried about you. But I see now that my worry is unwanted. I'll cease this conversation now to spare you any further unpleasant communication between us." Cronus rolled his eyes at the candy red blooded troll and said with a sigh, "Don't get your tights in a bunch Kankri. I'm just wvondering wvhy you're here is all. It's not like any of you guys havwe cared to visit me before. And by the wvay, howv did you evwen knowv wvhere my hivwe wvas? Like I said, none of you guys havwe been here before." Kankri coughed awkwardly into his fist and said, "Well I asked around but nobody knew where your hive was. Which is dangerous by the way Cronus. What if something happened to you? Nobody could come to your aid! What then?" Cronus looked nonplussed and replied in an almost...dead tone, "I can't imagine anyone would care Kankri."
Kankri froze at the macabre statement. Cronus must have been serious. He didn't bother using his quirk. "Cronus, I hope you weren't trying to be humorous. Because I found that to be in no way funny. As a matter of fact I found it to be in bad taste and rather trig-"the smaller troll was inexplicably cut off when the sea dweller barked, "Yeah triggering, I knowv! I wvasn't trying to be funny Kankri. I knowv for a fact that if I wvere to double die right nowv, none of you guys wvould have evwen noticed! None of you care about me so stop pretending you do! You didn't care wvhen wve wvere alivwe and you don't care nowv!" Kankri couldn't believe what he was hearing. Of course he cared about Cronus. They've known each other since before their session began and ended all those sweeps ago. He knew Cronus before he settled on his Greaser look and slicked back hair. Back when he used to wear his cape and glasses, and carry around his magic wand. "Cronus! #raised voice #flurry of emotions #disbelief #loud argument. I can't believe you think that. Of course I care. I've always cared! You're the one who began distancing yourself from me! Just one day out of the blue we weren't the same anymore!"
Cronus was surprised that the usually level headed troll had actually started yelling but he wouldn't be swayed. He was not in the wrong here. And he refused to bow anymore. The violet blood grit his sharp teeth together and yelled back, "OF COURSE WE WEREN'T THE SAME! Kankri, you say you cared but you were never there for me! Through all the shit I went through and you never once tried to pull me out of my depression! And yes! I was depressed! I was fucking drowning and nobody tried to help me! Some days I couldn't even be bothered to crawl out of my recupercoon!" The sea dweller choked on a sob and ran a rough, shaking hand through his messy, gel free locks. He was close to tears but he didn't care. He'd been bottling these feelings up for so long. He was surprised he hadn't cracked before now. But he guessed that this little conversation was the straw that finally broke the camel's back. Cronus looked up into the milky white eyes of his 'friend' and let slip something that he hadn't told anyone before. Alive or dead, nobody knew until now.
"And you know the worst part of it? Remember when I threatened to kill myself during the game? You probably don't. You probably just pushed that insignificant memory out of your think pan right? Yeah well, at that time that was me crying out for help! And NONE of you tried to stop me! Not even any token resistance. You all treated me like a fucking joke! But ya wanna know the real kicker in all this? Two days after you all basically abandoned me, Meenah killed us all anyways! She beat me to it! The morning of the day we all died together I was seconds away from slitting my throat open when she hit me up on Trollian and demanded we all meet up! I didn't even want to meet you all after what you all did to me! But Meenah, that bitch, she fucking bullied me until I finally gave in and came. And then she fucking blew us all up!" Cronus finally broke down into tears. Full body wracking sobs shook through his frame. His shaking body fell sideways against the door frame so he stayed propped up. Kankri couldn't believe what he was hearing. He did in fact remember when Cronus threatened that he would kill himself.
Kankri remembered they were deep into the game. And things weren't going well, quite the opposite really. Things were going to hell. What with Meenah pushing Damara over the edge and the red blood troll going crazy and initiating the scratch. And Kankri felt like a bastard to remember it, but at the time nobody wanted to deal with anymore drama. So they all callously brushed the sea dweller's suicidal declaration off. But Kankri didn't think Cronus had actually meant it. He just figured Cronus needed more attention. But apparently he'd been wrong. Horribly wrong. His friend said he was going to kill himself and he did nothing. How could he do that and still call himself his friend? He recalled Cronus always being there to listen to him vent after his failed sermons. Always there to lend an ear and never asking for anything in return. He didn't even ask for one of his quadrants like he usually did with people. And then when he did finally ask for something, which turned out to be just a little emotional support, Kankri turned him away.
"Oh Cronus, I am so sorry. I hadn't known. I didn't think you were serious." The shorter candy red troll felt tears well in his eyes before they dripped down his cheeks. He stepped forward and reached a hand out to the violet blood. But the minute his yellow clawed, grey hand came into contact with Cronus the sobbing troll lurched back like Kankri's hand were fire. Cronus used the heel of his hand to harshly rub his violet tinted tears away and hissed, "Don't fucking touch me! Don't. Just...don't touch me. You're a couple fucking centuries too late to be trying to comfort me you asshole. And you know what? Just leave. Get out of here. Just run back to Porrim and don't bother me ever again!" Kankri watched in shock as the very angry Cronus stepped back into his hive as he yelled at him. Then once he was done yelling he slammed the door shut in the smaller troll's face. Kankri could do nothing more than stand there in complete shock. Once the numbness set in he stiffly turned on his heel and began his journey back to his own hive. He knew pressing the issue would do nothing but worsen the current situation. And he had a lot to think about right now. The candy red blood had absolutely no clue where to even think about beginning. He was lost. But distantly he thought maybe Porrim could help him try and figure this all out.
Meanwhile back with Cronus. After he slammed the door closed he fell against it and cried. He slid down the wood before landing in a heap on the cold ground. The many, many sweeps of torment, verbal and physical abuse, shunning, mockery, neglect, and overall hate were coming out at this very second. And there was nothing the violet blood could do to stave off the tears. He actually started sobbing so hard that he slipped into a coughing fit. As he choked on his tears soft footsteps descended the stairs... You watched the unaware sea dweller from your place at the bottom of the stairs. Unbeknownst to Cronus, you'd woken up about the same time he'd started stomping down to the first floor. You'd wondered who could have been knocking because in the time you've been visiting this place nobody has ever come to the sea dweller's house. Or hive as he admitted they were commonly called. But when you'd gotten up to follow after him you heard the beginning of the argument he had with Kankri. You froze near the corner of the stairs that wasn't visible from the doorway. You heard everything. And you couldn't believe it at first. Cronus just didn't seem the type to try and commit suicide. But you supposed everyone had their limits. And then he let slip the bit about Meenah blowing them all up. Now that you could believe. That weird gilled girl always seemed a tad too off for your liking. Plus she seemed irrational enough to try something so ballsy. But you were broken from your thoughts by the sound of the door slamming. Then loud sobbing.
You followed the noise and found Cronus in a heap by the door, crying his milky eyes out hysterically. You went over to him and kneeled down so you were sitting in front of him. You cautiously reached a hand out to him and said softly, "Cronus?" The 50s styled troll's head whipped up and he looked at you with wide eyes. You gave him the gentlest smile you could form and held your arms open for him if he wanted to hug. You didn't wait long before you had a lap full of Cronus. You wrapped your arms around his waist while his went around your neck. He clung to you for dear life as he continued his break down. You maneuvered his head so it was nestled in the crook of your neck, careful of his horns. You rocked him back and forth and started humming some nonsensical tune, you couldn't recall the place you'd heard it. But that was trivial stuff that could be thought of later. All that mattered right now was Cronus. He was hurt and he needed you. You seemed to be all he had. You let him cry and cry until he wore himself out. He passed out exhausted in your arms and when you tried to get up he whined in his sleep. You gave him a fond smile and let him resume his clinging. He deserved to cling as much as he wanted. So with that in mind you just tipped yourself to the right and laid on your side with Cronus cuddled against you. Sleeping on the floor probably wasn't the smartest thing to do but you didn't want to move right now. So with a yawn you closed your eyes and settled in for a short nap.
