Vriska sat on her front steps and stared up at the moon, shining brighter than ever and gazing down at her with sympathy. The way it illuminated her face just seemed to say 'it'll be ok, stop being a little bitch' and that sentiment was enough to bring a small smile to the spider trolls face. Phaedra was matesprits with Eridan now, and the mere thought of them together sickened Vriska. Even worse was that she'd been forced to watch the entire thing play out in front of her. Well, she didn't really have to, but it was still right in front of her and what was she supposed to do? Plug her ears, close her eyes, and pretend it wasn't happening?

Because it most certainly WAS happening, and DID happen, and she couldn't do a damned thing about it. Although, even if she could… Would she? For some fucked up reason, Eridan made Phaedra happy, and who was Vriska to refuse her of that happiness? Even if the thing that made her happy was a pathetic fucking cod piece that didn't deserve her, she wanted him and that's all that mattered. Knowing this didn't help Vriska, but it did put things into perspective for her.

For one, she finally admitted to herself that she liked Phaedra. She was completely horns over heels red for the indigo blooded troll, and there was no use denying it. She also discovered that she still harbored black feelings for the miserable little twerp and wanted to rip his fucking face clean off! But then Phaedra might get mad at her and that wouldn't end well. The last thing she realized was she needed to talk to somebody about all this, so about twenty minutes ago she'd invited Aradia over so they could talk.

Her friend would be here any minute now and she was more than a little nervous about discussing this openly. It was so unlike her to express herself to someone, and this whole thing was just new to her. She didn't flush crush on trolls, she didn't ask for help, and she certainly didn't allow Eridan the satisfaction of being in ANY of her fucking quadrants! Even considering him for one made her flesh crawl, and it was all because of Phaedra: beautiful, intelligent, deadly Phaedra with her suggestive smirks and addictive determination.

Even the thought of her made Vriska sigh with both wanting and loathing. She wanted Phaedra to be her matesprit so badly, and she loathed Eridan so fucking much for taking away her chances. Who did he think he was anyway? He did nothing but shy away from her advances and yet she persisted! She still wants him, and Vriska cannot fathom what would make Phaedra do something so ignorant. Maybe it was simply because of how accepting she was. Ever since Vriska had met her, all she'd do was stick up for others and protect the weak. Who was weaker than Eridan? Nobody, that's who.

So Vriska continued to dwell on these thoughts with her eyes glued to the moon, not even noticing the maroon blood approaching from her right. Aradia followed her friends gaze and looked at the moon, then back at her and smiled warmly. She knew just how mesmerizing the celestial body could be and was glad that Vriska would share her adoration for it. Aradia sat next to Vriska on the front steps of her hive, her gaze unwavering, and sighed contently.

Vriska jumped in her seat and jerked her head around to stare at Aradia, who greeted her with one of the creepiest grins she'd ever fucking seen. Her grins were already pretty spooky, but the fact that she'd seemed to appear out of nowhere is what freaked Vriska out the most. Ya know, because she didn't know Aradia had walked over there like a sensible troll.

"Damn Aradia, you know there's this new thing called NOT being a total creep? You should totally try it sometime," Vriska said with a smirk, doing her best to mask how terrified she'd been. Aradia just widened her grin, giving the other troll goosebumps.

"My apologies, I didn't mean to frighten you. I just wanted to share your fondness for the moon," Aradia stated calmly, ignoring Vriska's obvious insult. She knew the blue blood was only rude to people because it's what came naturally, and she was too intelligent to stoop to that sort of level. Inside of her harbored wisdom that others could only dream of possessing, and she presented it in such a compassionate nature. Unfortunately, the troll next to her took this as slander and scoffed before retaliating with, "I was so not frightened! Why would I be scared by your lame little ghost act?"

Aradia, taking this as a legitimate question rather than a rhetorical one, scrunched her face up and thought about it. This made Vriska groan in frustration and rethink inviting her over. She just took everything so literal!

"Just don't bother answering that, gosh. Take a joke would you?" the blue blood said to her friend, ignoring that fact that she'd overreacted mere seconds ago. Aradia just nodded and offered another smile, this one less creepy than the others. It seemed to ease Vriska's nerves a little because she smiled back and steered the conversation back on track.

"Now that THAT'S out of the way, we should talk about my problem before I decide it's too lame to discuss," Vriska insisted, clasping her hands together to provide emphasis on her words. Upon hearing this, Aradia straightened her posture as her eyes dilated and brought a hand up to latch onto the side of her head.

"Oh! Right, of course. My bad, I suppose I just got lost in our exchange of words," the maroon blood offered as an explanation for neglecting that topic, "Allow us to begin. You said you were having an issue with Phaedra, correct?"

"Another slip up like that and I might just send you on your way," Vriska playfully threatened, only meaning it a little bit, "But ya, I'm having some trouble with her and I figured, if anybody could help me fix a fucked up relationship it would be you."

Not at all acknowledging what was being implied in that last statement, Aradia just placed her hands in her lap and got into therapist mode. She twisted her body to the left a little and crossed her legs so she could better address her 'patient'. If she maintained eye contact, then Vriska would feel more at ease and willing to open up. Or at least, that's what she thought. The excessive eye contact kind of disturbed her, but she continued anyway.

"I ain't gonna waste your time with pathetic expressions of my devotion, so let's just say I'm red for her and leave it at that," Vriska informed her, figuring she should keep Aradia in the know of her well-kept secret. It wasn't very obvious, and Vriska knew that her friend would be lost without that information.

"Yes, I know. Go on," Aradia urged, doing her best to sound encouraging. The spider troll scowled at her, thinking that her secret had been very well hidden, but kept on.

"Well, now she's matesprits with fish dick and I guess I'm a little bothered by it ok?" she confessed defensively, suddenly finding a small blade of grass next to her super interesting. I mean, she didn't REALLY find it interesting, but she'd rather stare at it than at Aradia who just 'hmm'd for a while before asking, "Do you think that you deserve to be with her more than he does?"

Vriska jerked her attention away from the grass and narrowed her eyes at her friend in anger. How DARE she even ask such a stupid question? Of course Vriska deserved her more than that useless piece of garbage!

"Duh I do, isn't it obvious!?" Vriska exclaimed, wishing she'd never invited the low blood to her hive. She was no help whatsoever and only succeeded in upsetting Vriska further. What the fuck kind of friend was she anyway?

"Do you really though," Aradia persisted, compressing her nose in a way that formed little crinkles and knitting her eyebrows together to express her uncertainty, "and why?"

The last part struck Vriska as odd: why? Because she was better than that sea dweller, that's why, so how come Aradia's words struck something inside her? Did she really think that? If she was so much better, then why did Phaedra choose him over her? These questions tormented the high blood, which was evident in her response.

"I… I think I do, and because she should be with someone better. Even when they first met he just treated her with disrespect, and that's all he's gonna do now that they're together," the noble stated matter-of-factly, voice rising just the slightest bit, but enough so that Aradia could pick up on it. The gutter blood 'tsk'd for a couple seconds before retaliating with, "So you think you're better?"

Normally, Vriska would have given her opinion on that in seconds, proudly stating that she was better and anyone who disagreed could get culled, but with the combination of Aradia's questions and Phaedra's unspoken rejection, Vriska was unsure. Was she really better than anyone, Eridan specifically? Regardless of these thoughts, Vriska decided it would be best to respond like she would've any other day.

"Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?" Vriska said, trying her best to sound confident. Even if her wavering voice hadn't tipped Aradia off, her lack off eye contact and constant fidgeting only confirmed it: Vriska wasn't as sure of herself as she wanted everyone to think. With this not-so-new information, Aradia opted that the best decision would be to come out and answer with something she knew would drive Vriska over the edge.

"Because Phaedra doesn't pity you."

Eeyup, that did it right there. Aradia watched as Vriska tensed up and literally snarled at her like an animal, then raised her hand to undoubtedly strike her, but she didn't flinch. Perhaps that was why Vriska allowed her hand to fall limply to her side? She knew Aradia didn't fear her, and that had to have been the biggest blow to her pride yet. Once she came to the conclusion that she wouldn't be hitting Aradia, the spider troll just bowed her head and forced a laugh.

"Ya, I guess that's a pretty good reason ain't it?" Vriska agrees, shaking her head back and forth to display how troubled she was. She knew Aradia would give her the blunt answer she needed, that's why she invited her over: she just hadn't expected it so soon. To hear somebody else say it out loud just made it that much more true and the reality of everything was crushing Vriska. The troll she pitied didn't pity her back: that was the truth, and Vriska couldn't handle it.

"Help yourself to whatever you want in my hive, just don't go anywhere near my lusus unless you want to get eaten. I have some important stuff I need to attend to because, you know, I'm such an important troll and all," she lies, turning away from Aradia and staring at the ground. Although she can't see her, Aradia nods anyway and steps into Vriska's hive to retrieve a snack, leaving the other with her thoughts.

'What the hell has happened to me?'

Sollux turned to his new moirail with a grin that would even send Karkat's heart aflutter, deciding he'd rather see how she was doing then listen to his matesprit talk about her most recent findings while rummaging through the area surrounding her hive. She took interest in some of the most trivial things, and he swore, if he had to hear another word about some stupid rock he'd kill himself. Wouldn't that be something? Would he be able to hear his own voice before he died, or was he the exception to the voices? He'd have to remember that on his deathbed.

"Tho, you and KK are an item now?" he asked with a suggestive tone, raising his eyebrows to imply something sinister. To the right of his moirail, Karkat's milk shot out through his nose and squirted all over Terezi.

"Shut the fuck up shit sponge, nothing happened!" Karkat yelled, making Sollux and Terezi cackle, the latter dabbing away the white liquid with her napkin. Other than laughing, Sollux ignored Karkat and went back to addressing Lumia who was blushing like crazy. Terezi, still intent on harassing her mutant blooded friend, tossed the soiled napkin on his face.

"Oh Karkles, there's no need to lie! Go ahead and tell us ALL the details," she urged, Karkat's cheeks burning bright red. The two began arguing like wrigglers, continuing their mediocre exchange for awhile. This mostly consisted of Karkat yelling at Terezi, and Terezi laughing at everything he said. She never really took any of it seriously, and he was just SO adorable when he got angry!

"Ith it true?" Sollux questioned, this time a little less suggestively. Lumia nodded, the corners of her lips quirking up into a confident smile. Sollux snorted and pushed his glasses up, very amused by how quickly everyone was getting close. They were all a bunch of horn dogs, seriously. Him and Aradia had known each other for a week before they'd hooked up, but that was still longer than these pity-struck trolls! They practically jumped on the nearest available troll and clung to them for dear life.

"Wwhat the fuck Phae!"

Sollux and Lumia directed their attention across the table, watching the bitchy sea dweller stand up and sail his hands over his head. He was probably trying to convey a point, but the moirails thought it just made him look like more of an ass. The two had developed a sort of psychic connection, learning how to use their psionic's to communicate telepathically. It was pretty fucking cool.

"Wwhy are you so damn wworried about that spider bitch wwhen you havve a perfectly handsome matesprit right in front of you!? Come on, wwhat the fuck do I havve to do to get you to pay attention to me!?" Eridan whined, striking several 'sexy' poses to try to elicit some sort of reaction out of his matesprit. He finally settled on one where he's bent over and shaking his rear, holding up a peace sign while puckering his lips and winking. Phaedra just squeezed the bridge of her nose in frustration, trying not to giggle at his pose.

She fails and winds up giggling at his pose, bringing her hand up to cover her obvious smile. Sollux groans at the display, repulsed by both trolls. Phaedra because she gave into him so easily, and Eridan because… Well it's Eridan and he can't stand that asshole. Phaedra stands up and cups Eridan's cheek, rubbing her thumb in circles against his grey skin and shooshing him to the best of her abilities.

"Calm down dear, you mustn't be so selfish-"

"Ya, don't be so shellfish Eridan!" Feferi seconded, pausing her conversation with Troi to add her two sense. Behind Phaedra, Troi snickered into his hand, using the other to give his gillfround a high five which she gladly returned. Several other high fives were exchanged among the group, only darkening Eridan's mood. Phaedra fought back a laugh as she continued, ignoring the pout on her matesprits face.

"Because it's not a big deal. I'm allowed to worry about someone other than you angel, especially since she's not here, so stop being a jealous little wriggler and wipe that pout of your face. I pity you and no other, so PLEASE just sit down and let us enjoy our lunch," Phaedra soothed, telling him all the things she knew he needed to hear. He mumbled an apology and sat back down in his seat, crossing his arms and retaining his pout. It wasn't a complete win, but at least she'd gotten him to sit down.

"You're worried about Vriska?" Aradia asked, leaning over the table as she munched on her salad. When Phaedra nodded, Aradia decided to get everyone else's answer, "Is anybody else worried about her?"

"Actually, uh… I was kind of worried. Do you know where she is?" Tavros admitted, giving everyone else the courage to admit that they'd been worried too. There were a series of collective nods and questions like 'is she dead' or 'why didn't she show up' that only prompted Aradia to speak up.

"Well, she was feeling a bit exhausted after feeding her lusus and decided to just not show up," Aradia explained. This answer didn't satisfy most, which was obvious when Kanaya pointed out, "Then why is it that she's neglected to answer her Trollian? She can possibly be THAT exhausted."

"Kansis has got a point, shit just don't seem motherfucking right here," Gamzee agreed, which REALLY unnerved everybody because if he could understand how serious this was, then it must've been really bad.

"Maybe her lusus ATE HER!" Terezi joked, snickering at her divine humor. Karkat rolled his eyes and through his pizza at her, nearly smiling as the greasy food slid down her face. His near joy faded away though when she devoured the slice, taking any chances of eating away from him.

"Purrhaps we should check up on her afurter school?" Nepeta suggested, nudging her matesprit in the side so he'd agree with her. Her elbow shocked him out of his daydreams, causing him to stir and stammer out a quick, "Yes, that seems to be in order."

"Ugh, she'th got you wrapped around her freaky clawth," Sollux observed, rolling his eyes at the once-moirails. He was certainly glad that Aradia didn't control HIM so easily.

"Sollux darling, make everyone shut up," Aradia asked kindly, directing one of her eerie grins at him. On second thought…

"Yeth dear," Sollux immediately agreed, losing any backbone he'd had at one glance at her grin, "EVERYONE SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

Everyone did just that.

"I do not think it wise to intrude on Vriska. There is nothing to worry about, she's just a little tired and admittedly kind of sick. She didn't want me to tell you she was under the weather, but I see that there was no choice. I promise she'll be better tomorrow, but for tonight let's just leave her be," Aradia informed them, fucking lying right through that creepy ass grin. This answer seemed to satisfy everyone, because they murmured a collective 'ok' and went back to their conversations.

"Equius! I still think we should visit since we live so close. Maybe we can help her get healthy!" Nepeta suggested, wanting to be as helpful as pawsible to her friend.

"Nepeta, you heard the maroon blood: we are not to bother her," the indigo blood countered, repeating Aradia's instructions. Nepeta frowned up at him and sniffled a bit for emphasis, using her cutesy charms to coax him into submission.

"Purrlease!"

Equius rolled his eyes and groaned, hating how she could do that to him. Oh who is he kidding, he pities it so freaking much she's just so adorable and all his! The high blood smiles at the smaller troll and nods.

"Fine, but we will stop by my hive first. You should be lucky I pity you, kitten. I doubt I would do this for anyone else," Equius informs her, using the pet name he totally didn't like calling her but secretly adored. Nepeta hugs him and lets out little mews as she snuggles into the crook of his neck. Beside them, Gamzee chuckles at their display of affection and turns to his own matesprit with a smirk.

"Why don't we be like them two motherfuckers and get our motherfucking snuggle on Tavbabe?" he suggests to his boyfriend, who merely blushes and scoots his four wheel device closer. Gamzee takes this as a yes and crawls into Tavros' lap, leaning in to kiss his cheek. White face paint residue is visible where he kissed, so he decides that the best option is to lick it off without taking into consideration how bad that would taste, but hey! Can't be any worse than the sopor he eats.

Gamzee licks the stuff away, not at all affected by the terrible taste, and then licks Tavros' lips. Tavros fucking giggles, then in the sweetest voice imaginable says, "We can snuggle for now, but only if we can do something dirtier later."

Ok and now Gamzee has a boner, let's just leave them be for a little bit until they do the dirtier thing.

"Thethe coupleth thicken me AA, I'm tho glad we're not like them," Sollux commented after observing all the other matesprits. He was about to say something else when Aradia grabbed his hand and placed it on her inner thigh, enabling him to form correct words. Just to prove him wrong, Aradia then inched the hand closer and closer, leaning in while doing so until his hand was cupping her crotch and her lips were connected with his.

She pulled away with an innocent smile, letting go of his hand which he didn't move. He found that he kind of liked it there, and opted to remain silent for the rest of lunch. Maybe public displays of affection weren't SO bad. Next to Aradia, Kanaya guffawed at the nerdy boy. He might be a genius, but he was so clueless sometimes.

"Oh Aradia, sweetheart, he's completely unaware of the control you have in your relationship currently, is he not?" Kanaya commented once Aradia turned back to face her.

"You have no idea," Aradia agreed, giggling as Sollux started rubbing her nook through her skirt. Kanaya noticed this and quirked an eyebrow, directing a lopsided grin her friends way.

"I honestly have no clue how you do it," the jade blood commented, making the other laugh, "No, I mean it."

Aradia laughed again, which made Kanaya smile awkwardly since she had been completely serious. Like, 100% sincere. The smile had only been for conversational purposes, so now the jade blood is just sort of sitting there thinking about how somebody could've misinterpreted her words. Ah, lovely Kanaya, overthinking things like the troll she is *insert heart here*

Eridan and Phaedra walked alongside each other on their way to his hive, fingers intertwined and arms brushed up against each other. The former was complaining about his seventh period Physics teacher Mrs. Snowman. Apparently she'd gotten after him for culling some asshole teal blood who SO had it coming.

"He wwas makin' fun of my hair, wwhat else wwas I supposed to do? Let him livve? Ya right," Eridan bitched, using his free hand to attack the air or something like that. How do you even describe someone who talks with their hands? I don't know.

"Well you obviously had no other choice," Phaedra agreed, squeezing Eridan's hand reassuringly, "Besides, I thought killing was encouraged at that place?"

"Not if the stupid teacher is talkin' apparently," Eridan grumbled, not looking forward to going back to school tomorrow. His girlfriend chuckled and brought his hand to her lips, kissing it sweetly.

"Just calm down baby, you shouldn't get so worked up because of that bitch," the indigo blood said, letting their hands swing between them again. Eridan's cheeks turned light purple and he allowed himself to smile for the first time in the last hour. The two continued walking in comfortable silence until they reached the shore. Eridan brought two fingers to his lips and whistled to signal his lusus, who appeared moments later to pick them up.

They both got on the skyhorse, seeing as Phaedra wouldn't be going in the ocean anytime soon. She wasn't very fond of sea dwellers, Eridan and Feferi being the exceptions, and the thought of being submersed in those murky waters made her cringe. The skyhorse let them off on the deck of Eridan's hive, then turned to his 'little wriggler' and neighed urgently.

"Wwwe need to feed Gl'bgolyb," he informed, making Eridan roll his eyes in agitation. All he wanted to do was relax at home with his matesprit, but no. He just HAD to go kill other lusii for that abomination of a creature.

"Ya wwhatevver, let's go already. Phae, just stay here: I'll be right back," the sea dweller told his matesprit as he crawled back onto his lusus and grabbed the reigns tightly.

"What, I don't get to come with this time?" she asked with a raised eyebrow, crossing her arms and shifting all of her weight to her left side, "Actually, that's cool. This just gives me a chance to go through all your stuff!"

"Wwhat!? No don't do that!" Eridan argued, but the skyhorse was already floating upwards. Phaedra raised her middle finger and offered a cheeky smile as she watched him fly away, then sped into his hive to rummage when she received a message on Trollian. She ceased going through his reading material to respond, super happy about who'd messaged her.

arachnidsGrip [AG] began trolling cannibalisticReaper [CR]

AG: Hey, you should totally come over right now ::::)

CR: *k, just give me ^ sec*nd. I g*tt^ le^ve Erid^n ^ n*te s* he'll kn*w I'm g*ne, then I'll be right *ver (:3

AG: Riiiiiiiight just hurry up, gosh!

CR: Hehe ^lright, I just wr*te it. I'm *n my w^y.

AG: Don't t8ke too long, I 8n't got all day ya know ;;;;)

arachnidsGrip [AG] ceased trolling cannibalisticReaper [CR]

Eridan arrived back at his hive and searched for his matesprit, figuring she was hiding so she could jump out of nowhere and scare him. What she didn't know was that Eridan had already suspected this and was an expert at foiling plans. He entered his recuperacoon and noticed some of his books where out of place: she'd been here. If the out-of-place books weren't enough, the piece of paper rested atop one of the covers was. He picked it up with a frown as we read what his girlfriend had written:

"Hey de^r, s*rry I h^d t* b^il *n y*u, but Mindf^ng is fin^lly ^nswering her Tr*lli^n ^nd needed me t* c*me *ver. Pity y*u!"

The violet blood growled and crumbled up the note. How DARE she ditch him like that when he was killing lusii!? Eridan tossed the paper aside and equipped his Epiricist's Wand from his strife specibus. If Vriska thought she could steal HIS Phaedra away from him, she had another thing coming. He gripped the wand tightly and prepared to go to Vriska's hive for a not-so-friendly little duel.

Wow, overreact much?

"AC sneaks up behind her matespurrit and cattures him in a big hug!" Nepeta narrates and then follows through with her words, smiling brightly and squeezing his abdomen. Equius lets out a little gasp of surprise, then grins and uses two fingers to grab each of her wrists. He effortlessly removes the limbs, then releases her and spins around. He'd been working on controlling his strength so he could actually hold the troll he pitied, and was doing an excellent job with her help. Nepeta was pretty STRONG already from sweeps of hunting and surprised the high blood with how much force she could endure, so that was super helpful, but he still wanted to learn to restrain it just in case.

Equius tickled Nepeta's sides, making her laugh obnoxiously while begging him to stop. He didn't though, enjoying the overall happiness emanating from the kitten troll. It was just too much for Nepeta, who was doing her best to pry his hands away while letting out the occasional snort. Sensing her discomfort after a while, Equius instead lifted her in the air and brought her to his height.

She was quick to wrap her legs around his chest and nuzzle all along his face, enjoying how for once she was taller than him. He chuckled whole-heartedly and closed his eyes in contentment while she did, allowing himself to indulge in the little purrs that reverberated from her throat. Equius had grown comfortable in their position, which Nepeta used to her advantage. She squirmed out of his grip and swung around on his body so she was now hanging off his back with her arms around his neck.

"Oh Equius, you're pawsitively exquisite in efury way!" the olive blood exclaimed, placing her hands over Equius' sunglasses and squeezing her thighs tighter against his sides, "We should do what I suggested during lunch!"

Nepeta detached herself and walked back around to face him, pressing her hands to his chest and looking up at him with earnest, adding a 'purrlease' for good measure. She watched as Equius' grin faded away into something more passive, meaning he wasn't too keen on the idea, but would still consider it for her. Sensing that he was leaning towards saying no, Nepeta gave him the biggest, cutest eyes she could and intensely stared at him.

Unsurprisingly, Equius melted in her gaze and nodded forlornly, ashamed that he'd given in so easily. Nepeta twirled in her spot, let out a squeal, and tugged on her boyfriend's hands eagerly.

"Come on, let's go now: too Vriskers!"

Chapters just keep getting shorter and shorter. Gonna go watch Attack on Titan now, later :P