As the temperatures dropped, the rain clouds rolled in over the mountains, and the rain dropped like ice onto the students as they scurried like little ants to get inside. The rest of the day was cold, dreary, and unpleasant in it's weather. Eridan was thankful at least Physical Education was canceled for today, as running track in hail was deemed too cruel by the teacher. Although, Eridan was a little disappointed, they were going to play Badminton today. That might of given him somewhere to outlet his anger and frustrations. Instead, he went to Mathematics, Biology, and other classes he didn't particularly enjoy as much as others.
When the time came and the bells were rung, the students flooded out of their classrooms to reach the buses before the ongoing hail pelted them into the cement. Feferi and her older sibling passed Eridan by in the halls, the younger stopped and came back to the Aquarius.
"Hey grumpy gills! Sorry we didn't get to hang at lunch, this weather's crazy! I'll see you tomorrow!"
She chirped happily at him, placing a kiss on his cheek before she and Meenah scurried to her car.
With a sigh, Eridan walked home. He had an umbrella at least, and it looked fancy as hell. It was a deep violet, and the handle his grandfather had carved into a seahorse. He received it as a gift when he was a wee lad, to small to carry it properly. He must of been about six or seven at the time, as the umbrella had nearly been as big as he. It was one of the few things he had from his grandfather, Daniel Ampora. The old man now sits at the window in a large rocking chair and looks out to the ocean view, Eridan often times sat down with him and stared, but he never saw anything out there, as he imagined his grandfather was waiting for something. One day, curiosity hit him and he asked,
"Grandfather, what are you looking at?"
The old man smiled, closing his eyes for a moment before looking down at his grandson.
"The sea m'lad. Someday, when I'm young again, I'll take ya sailin' out 'n th' waters."
Eridan never understood what he meant by that, but he had nodded and still he waited for when he would be taken out to sail, though his brother promised to take him out as well, as the older Ampora was taught when their father was still around.
In the Captor's residence, Sollux sat at his desk typing away at his laptop. He'd finished his homework in class, and saw no need for him to be doing it at home when he had better things to be doing. A hiss of irritation was heard from his room as the door was knocked upon, disturbing his work.
"What do you need dad?"
Sollux called out, turning around in his swivel chair. The door opened, flooding the room with light other than from the computer screen. A man with almost white hair and a red eye patch peeked in as he stepped inside the chilled room. A curious name belonged to this one eyed man, his name was Xander Captor, father of Sollux Captor.
"Sollux, what have I told you about this, one, being in the dark like this, and two, letting it get so cold in here. You could catch a cold or get sick. Plus the lighting is bad for you eyes, you already have glasses you don't want to ruin your vision further."
Rolling his eyes, Sollux got up from his chair and flicked the heater on, as well as giving light to a small desk lamp as well before seating himself back in his cushioned swivel chair with a scowl. The light reflected off his computer screen, that's why he kept it dark in here. It helped him focus, he didn't bother explaining that though.
"There, happy now?"
Xander nodded, a smile danced it's way upon his features, but he shook his head.
"Yes, I am glad you turned on the lamp and heater, but no, that's not what I came up here for, might I trouble you with dinner?"
Sollux gave his dad a look, suggesting he didn't really want to go and eat dinner, he got up and shut his laptop regardless.
"Sure Dad, I don't mind."
There was no way of knowing what was going to be for dinner with the Captor family, or really at any time for preparing food, as Sollux's dad was always looking up something new to cook. Last night it was some Thai dish, the night before it had been something Norwegian, and before that it was something that could be Welsh. Thankfully, tonight it was only spaghetti. Probably some special formula red sauce though. Not that Sollux ever minded, it was interesting and he never complained about it, even if he didn't like it. Seeing the joy his father had when he cooked, he couldn't bring himself to tell him it was gross. Fortunately, it was rarely gross and was the best thing in the world every night. As they sat down, Xander took off his rectangular spectacles after he served them both.
"Mind telling me what happened to your glasses, Sollux? I did see them in the trash, and your face is bleeding a bit. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"
There was a long silence, and Sollux didn't speak. He was a little embarrassed about why they were broken, and his expression hardened as he shot his dad a scowl when the man spoke again.
"Sollux. Will you please elaborate here, I am in the dark. Are... Is it a bully? Are you having those troubles again?"
"No Dad it wasn't a bully. I'm fine OK? I do have friends in this school, it's not like last time. It was an accident, wasn't my fault."
A sigh was heard from Xander as he looked back at Sollux, a scowl of his own played with his features.
"I didn't ask whose fault it was, I wanted to know what happened."
Another silence was upon them, and it was growing uncomfortable.
"I know.. I was running a lot of books up some stairs to a classroom for my teacher, and some asshole was running down and didn't see me, we fell, my glasses were crushed under the books, but he was pompous enough to give me a check to pay for it. A check, Dad. Who carries checks with them to school?"
Frowning, Sollux still had it in his pocket. Pulling it out, he slid it across the table as he shoved some spaghetti into his mouth, saying something that was probably supposed to mean "here". Xander picked it up, looking closely at it for a moment, looking puzzled.
"Ampora...? You mean, Ampora as in that one family whom owns over half the ships in the harbor and the fishing company Ampora? Well, I certainly am surprised they'd send their child to this school, they are royalty after all."
"Royalty? Like Kings and shit kind of royalty?"
Xander nodded, frowning as he passed the check back to Sollux.
"I'd get your glasses and get rid of that immediately if I were you. I'd also steer clear of that Ampora boy, I highly doubt he'll be nothing but trouble for you."
Nodding, Sollux stuffed the check back into his pocket, and some more spaghetti into his mouth and swallowing, asking carefully.
"...Why, do you know the Amporas?"
"You could say that, yes. I don't know the boy, only his father. Anyway, tell me about your day, besides the Ampora incident."
After a bit more chatting, Sollux returned to his room to play some Minecraft before he went to bed.
It quit hailing, but the snow soon followed after it. Sitting in her window, Feferi watched as it fell, soft and delicate, yet harsh and bitter. She could hear Meenah getting chewed out by her mother for skipping all her classes, as Meenah was a college student, not a high schooler, so she didn't officially shadow Feferi as it was impossible. Finally when it quieted down, the older Pisces walked in, laying a hand on the younger sister's shoulder.
"Yo sis.. How you holding down the fort in there?"
She asked, tapping Feferi's forehead lightly as she sat down on the window still. Feferi gave a smile, glancing over at Meenah.
"Just worried, y'know? Worried about Eridan, have you thought up a plan on what to do yet...?"
"Sis I've gotten myself that plan this morning. I just have to wait till a certain time to bug a certain someone about it, if they don't pull through I've got a backup plan, and a backup plan for that backup plan. So don't worry, I have this shit figured out! You won't have to lift a finger for any of it, so just relax and let me handle it." Meenah explained a small portion of her plan, and Feferi couldn't help but burst out into a giggling fit,
"Oh my glub, you're really going to do that? Oh gosh, this is going to be good I really hope the first plan works, it'll be so cute to see Eridan like that, and I know for a fact that-" Feferi cupped her hand over her mouth and whispered the rest to his sister, whom also giggled. They gossiped and laughed over dumb secrets until it was time for lights out, the maid coming in and telling them so. Meenah went to her own room and waited till the maids had gone to sleep and the house was completely still and quiet before picking up her phone and dialing up that certain someone.
Hearing his phone vibrate and go off playing "I'mma bad bitch, I'mma bad bitch, I'mma I'mma bad bitch." He knew exactly who it was, as only one person he knew he would have given such a ringtone. Sollux picked up his phone and pressed Accept Call.
"Meenah you better have a damn good reason for calling me at two AM."
"Yeah I do. I need to ask you a huge favor."
"Can this wait till after school, I need to sleep we have some shitty test tomorrow."
"Sollux the test can wait, as we both know you probably studied the fuck outta your eyeballs to get another A."
Meenah heard a hiss of irritation from Sollux's line, and she smiled because he knew she was right.
"You have two minutes, make this fast and worth my while or I hang up and finally block your number from calling after 11:00 p.m."
"Fin fin, just listen up cuz this be important shit. So y'know my lil' sis's buoyfrond?"
"I know of him."
Sollux had a very vague idea of whom it was, but he didn't really pay attention to her boyfriends and crushes anymore, as he pulled himself out of her life a long time ago.
"Well they be breaking it off soon, and-"
"What does this have to do with me."
"Just hush and listen! Anyway, they're breaking' it off and I was wondering if you could give him some support! I know for a fact he aint gonna take it well, and it might actually seriously mess him up and screw him over."
"So what, you want me to fake love him or something?"
"Yeah! That works too. I had meant like be a friend, but fake loving him works too. Only if you're up for that challenge though Captor!"
Sollux lay there with his phone to his ear, thinking what a terrible idea this was and Meenah was shit for brains for suggesting him to get involved when this had nothing to do with him. He sighed and answered, "Yeah sure, why not, I could give it a shot. What's his name and give me some interests."
An excited chirp sounded from Meenah as he grinned like a clown, her plan was going as it intended.
"His name's Eridan, he likes... Well, I heard he was into wizards and magic once upon a time, but I think that wave has already crashed. Um, I don't know a whole lot about him actually! I can tell you this though, if you start talking about sea horses, or old war history, you'll get him hooked into a conversation faster than a fish can slip outta your hands. So keep that in mind. He especially likes old war heros, good and bad. I wouldn't bring up anything environmental though, it's kinda a sore spot for him. Maybe take him for walks on the beach, he likes the ocean and things involving it. He's actually a really nice and sweet kid if you can get past his sour puss facade and douch-y-ness, and he loves to talk about things when he find out he shares an interest! So prepare to just listen to him ramble on, but don't tell him to hush, he doesn't really talk to people so if he opens up to you, treat him delicately. Even Feferi had a hard time getting him to open up, so be ready to work Captor! I expect only the best work from you."
"You say this as if I'm actually going to be in love with him, but eh, whatever, I will try to keep all that in mind. You're three minutes past your time by the way."
"Alright then you ass I will let you get your beauty sleep so you can look a fresh for the Prince. Feferi'll break up with him tomorrow, just wait about a week and drop subtle hints you 'like him'. Kay? Got it? Good. Night!"
"Prince? Wai-"
It was too late, by the time what Meenah had said processed, she was already gone. Shit. Eridan, this was Eridan Ampora? What did he just get himself into.
Cackling to herself at her victory, he jumped out of bed as she tossed her phone onto the covers, silently dashing to Feferi's room.
"Lil' sis, guess what, he agreed!" She whispered quietly to the other, whom sat up and started to squeal.
"Glub! What did you tell Sollux exactly?"
"Just a little bit of info on Eridan, I was gonna tell him to just be a friend but then he asked if he was supposed to fake love him, so I said shore."
Frowning, Feferi looked at her sister upsettingly,
"Fake love him? Won't that just hurt him more though Meenah?"
Meenah Shook her head, smiling and proud of herself for thinking this up on her own.
"Nope! If he just sticks with him for the rest of the year, then we wont' be dealing with him, only Sollux will, so it's up to Sollux if he wants to stick with him or hitch hike it out of there and free himself. I'm sure that Captor has already planned out the rest of the year by now, they're smart like that."
The young Pisces was not satisfied, this wasn't what she'd hoped for. Regardless, she figured it would be better than the alternative of just letting Eridan go and seeing him fall to ruin.
Hissing with irritation, as he commonly did when he was irritated and frustrated, Sollux was nearly pulling his hair out. Ampora. The Ampora his Dad told him to stay away from, the same Ampora who ran into him and broke his glasses, and now the one he was supposed to 'fake love'? He was left sitting there, pondering out of which hole of shit had this unfortunate turn of events crawled out and reared it's forsaken ugly head from.
The soon to be 'victim' of a string of unpleasant events, was fast asleep as soon as he had gotten home after he had eaten dinner and did his homework. He got a glimpse of the newly fallen snow outside his large window as he closed the curtains. Smiling to himself, he climbed into bed and was out like a light within a few minutes. This was going to be a very, very, interesting rest of the year, unbeknownst to him.