The Serkets lived on the waterfront. It was commonly believed that the Serkets had sea troll blood somewhere in their ancestry, as they were all as comfortable in the water as the Peixes and Ampora families. Mrs. Serket, or Marquise Spinneret Mindfang, as her business name was, ran a successful casino that doubled as a cruise ship. Rumors, which were definitely true, said that she was heavily involved in drug trafficking. Because of these illicit activities, Vriska and Aranea lived alone in their house, and the door was always open for anyone in need.

Feferi knocked a few times, but nobody answered. She tried the doorknob, and, seeing it was unlocked, barged in. Vriska was sitting in front of the tv, completely focused on her role play game. She had headphones, which excused her and allowed Feferi to do this.

"Ah shit motherfuck!" Vriska shrieked, flinging the controller away and jumping ten feet out of her skin. Feferi giggled. All she had to do was sneak behind her and tickle her sides.

"Vriska! Good to sea you!"

"Fuck you," Vriska said, trying to regain her composure. "Your sister is out on a date with Aranea."

"What about Eridan?"

Vriska paused her game and checked where the controller hit the wall, looking for any marks. "Up in the guest room. I figured Cronus would come around checking for him before you did."

Feferi shrugged. "Do you think their bond is that strong?"

Vriska, pleased with the absence of any marks, got up and sat back down with her controller. "Good point. He's been spending a shit ton of time here, you know that?"

"No," Feferi said. "Things have been hectic. I haven't been keeping as good of an eye on him."

"Gotcha. Well please get him out of my hair. He's been pitch flirting again and I want to gut him."

"Thank you for not doing that," Feferi said, heading upstairs.

The guest room was locked, so she knocked a few times. No answer. "Eridan, it's me! Let me in!" Nothing. "Vriska, is there a key anywhere?"

"Top of the door frame!" Vriska called back. Feferi reached for the key and unlocked the door. Eridan was lying on his bed, his cape draping over him like a blanket. Feferi recalled their younger years, when Eridan would have horrible insomnia when faced with great stress. Of course, back then it was his lack of romance or a particularly hard test. Now, however, it was matters of life and death.

She wanted to shake him awake. She probably should've. Instead, she sat on the side of his bed. She couldn't wake him when he was dealing with this stress. She leaned back next to him and, before she realized it, fell asleep.

It was only quick nap. She was woken up by the door creaking. Vriska had peaked in. "I wanted to make sure you two weren't banging."

Feferi scowled and stuck out her tongue. "That's so crude."

"We're teenagers. All of us are basically horny rabbits all the time always."

At her words, not at all quiet, Eridan began to stir. He managed to get out from under his cape and squinted at Feferi and Vriska. He reached for his glasses, which Feferi grabbed for him. "Fef? Wwhat are you doin' here?"

"Drop the seadweller accent," Vriska said. "I'm gonna go back downstairs."

He watched her leave. Feferi had to stifle a laugh. It was easy to be pitch for Vriska. Of course her poor, hopeless romantic of a friend would be horns over heels for her. "Cronus said you might be here."

"Only place I can get a decent night's rest," he yawned. "D'you know that Dualscar set up fuckin cameras in the house? Everywhere. I can't function with those things watchin me."

Feferi saw the visible discomfort on his face and pulled him into a hug. "I wish I could offer a more permanent place to stay, but I doubt my mom would be better."

"Oh god Fef, I don't want to live with the batterwitch."

"Yeah. I don't know if you heard, but I'm in the Protectors of Alternia now."

"Not you too," Eridan whined. "Before long, the Zahhaks and Makaras are gonna be involved."

"Yeah. I went to Cronus for help with my first assignment, but he suggested I go to you instead."

"What do you need to do?"

"Kill Mr. Nitram."

"Fuck." He ran his fingers through his hair. "Well, you're pretty experienced with your trident. With enough training you can attempt to fight him, but maybe a stealthier approach would be wiser?"

Feferi stopped him. "Eridan! You aren't suggesting I try to kill him, are you?"

Eridan shrugged. "I mean, I know it is improbable, but you have to do it. He's a rowdy lowblood, just kill him and get it over with."

"Eridan! I thought you were over this hemocaste bullshit!"

"I've been listenin at the meetins Fef. Maybe they're insane, but lowbloods and humans really are ungrateful shits, aren't they? I mean, Dualscar always talks about how amazin Alternia was, and how legendary their reign was. All without lowbloods in charge. And what did humans do that was worthwhile?"

Feferi glared at him. "Don't you dare tell me that Alternian sympathy bullshit! You know full well humans were just as successful as trolls, for the same exact reason!"

"What would that be, then?"

"Building an empire on the backs of others less fortunate." She got up. "I can't believe you're such a dick!"

He frowned and laid back down. "Fef, I don't wanna go out killin everyone, but maybe Protectors of Alternia is onto somethin. Now if you will be so kind as to excuse me I'd like to get some sleep." Feferi huffed and left the room, finding pleasure in leaving it wide open. Now he'd have to get up and close it himself. Oh yes. Perfect.

She waved good bye to Vriska on the way out, who tried and failed to make Feferi stop so she could drill her with questions about what happened. Once outside, she broke into a run, tears welling at the corners of her eyes.