Another night, another sleepless day. This was becoming far too regular an occurrence for the young girl's liking. She had barely been able to sleep through an entire day since the competition day. Ever since she became the new Condesce. There wasn't a single troll in the empire who liked the way that had happened, with the exception of the one who pulled the trigger. Unfortunately for Feferi, Eridan was nowhere to be found. She was left sitting in a throne that the previous Condesce must have had designed for lounging in, as it was the only way to get comfortable in it, and wondering what had become of her friends. She hadn't been able to talk to any of them for quite some time.
She knew Karkat was hiding out, as Terezi had given her word that they were all safe, which was good. But she hadn't heard from them since. And she was worried that they may not have stayed all that safe. With Karkat's rants, protesting the way things had been, it was only a matter of time that he and his followers were caught. It was the Sufferer all over again. Only this time, The Condesce was on his side, as the Condesce was one of his childhood friends.
She knew he probably wouldn't answer, but there was a slight chance that he would, and while she'd be willing to take the risk, she had no idea if he would be. But it was the only way she had to talk to him, so she pulled out her husktop and opened Trollian, clicking on his trolltag.
- cuttlefishCuller [CC] began trolling carcinoGeneticist [CG] -
CC: )(ey, Karkrab
CC: You around?
CC: Probubbly not
CC: But I t)(oug)(t I'd c)(eck in on you.
CC: Make sure you )(and't gotten yourself culled yet.
CG: HUH, WHAT?
CG: FEF?
CG: YOU'RE ALIVE?
CC: Yea)(
CG: HOW?
CC: I take it you didn't see t)(e broadcasted s)(ow?
CG: NO, I KINDA FORGOT TO PACK A TELEVISION.
CG: WHAT WITH THE WHOLE FLEEING THE PLANET THING.
CC: T)(e Condesce is dead.
CG: WHAT.
CC: But I didn't kill )(er
CG: THEN HOW IN THE EVER LOVING FUCK ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?
CC: I had a guardian looking out for me.
CC: Even t)(oug)( )(e s)(ouldn't )(ave been.
CG: WHO THE FUCK COULD HAVE POSSIBLY GOTTEN INTO THE ARENA?
CC: I don't know )(ow )(e did it
CC: But it was Eridan.
CC: Karkat?
CG: ERIDAN KILLED THE CONDESCE.
CC: Yea)(
CC: Blew )(er )(ead off wit)( )(is favorite rifle
CG: ERIDAN
CG: KILLED
CG: THE CONDESCE.
CC: Yes, Karkat, we've been over t)(is.
CG: HOW THE FUCK DID ERIDAN KILL THE CONDESCE?!
CC: )(e was in one of the vents.
CC: Blew )(er s)(oulder off before kicking it out and coming to make sure I was okay.
CC: T)(en )(e s)(ot )(er in t)(e )(ead before I made )(im run.
CC: )(e committed )(ig)( treason to protect me
CG: THAT FUCKING MORON.
CG: SINCE WHEN WOULD ERIDAN OF ALL PEOPLE BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE HIMSELF LIKE THAT?
CC: Since )(e made me t)(at promise.
CG: WHAT PROMISE?
CC: )(e promised t) (e would always protect me.
CC: I didn't realize at t)(e time t) (e meant t)(e Condesce was included in t)(at.
CG: AND HE ACTUALLY ULLED THIS OFF?
CC: Yea)(.
CG: SHIT.
CC: I )(aven't seen )(im since t)(at day.
CC: But )(e's alive.
CG: HOW DO YOU KNOW?
CC: People would be parading t)(e streets at t)(e deat)( of t)(e treasonous )(ig)(blood.
CC: And T)(ey're not.
CG: I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT, WOULD I?
CG: OR HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO ANYONE?
CC: No.
CC: You're t)(e first person I've been able to talk to for any great lengt)( of time.
CC: I know Terezi got you safely off-world
CC: But t)(at's it.
CG: OKAY, SO YOU'VE SPOKEN TO HER?
CG: WELL, I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU DIDN'T LET ANYONE KNOW WHERE I AM.
CG:I AM KIND OF A PARIAH, NOW.
CC: Of course.
CC: I just wanted to talk to someone I could trust
CG: SINCE WHEN COULD YOU TRUST ME?
CG: I'M A DANGEROUS MYSTERYBLOOD.
CG: WHO KNOWS WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF?
CG: OOOOOOOOH.
CG: BLEH.
CC: You're my friend, aren't you?
CG: I GUESS?
CC: And if I can't even trust my guards, w)(o else can I put my fait)( in but my friends?
CG: I GUESS.
CC: I'm glad you're still alive, Karkat.
CG: I GUESS….
CC: S)(it.
CG: WHAT?
CC: Someone's coming.
CC: I'll talk to you later, Kar.
- cuttlefishCuller [CC] ceased trolling carcinoGeneticist [CG] -
Closing her husktop quickly, Feferi stowed It back in her sylladex before taking her usual position when someone entered the throne room. One of her guards entered, telling her she had a guest, who she allowed to be shown in. It turned out to be one of the Legislacerators. They stepped forward, kneeling before the throne. "4LL H41L H3R 1MP3R1OUS COND3SC3NS1ON."
"Terezi, you don't )(ave to do t)(at," Feferi sighed softly, smiling in spite of herself. As Terezi got up and stepped forward, Fef motioned for what few guards were still in the room to leave. When the two were alone, she spoke up again. "I was just talking to Karkat."
"R34LLY? 1S H3 OK4Y? WH3R3 1S H3?" Terezi began the questions, speaking as rapidly as she could before her friend silenced her.
"I can't tell you w)(ere )(e is, but )(e's safe. If I talk to )(im again, I'll let )(im know you are too, alright?"
Giving a semi-defeated nod, she nodded "Y34H, OK4Y. 1'M JUST WORR13D. 1 H4V3N'T H34RD FROM H1M 1N 4 LONG T1M3 4ND 1 W4SN'T SUR3 H3 W4S ST1LL 4L1V3."
"Karkrab is way too stubborn to die," The younger replied with a grin. "You know t)(at."
This got a favorable reaction, making Terezi snicker slightly. "Y34H, YOU'R3 R1GHT."
Their conversation went on for some time before Terezi was called away, leaving Feferi once again alone with her fears and thoughts; it was amazing how often those two things would coincide. The rest of the night was uneventful, with very little in the way of interruptions of her thought. Eventually, she retired to her chamber and tried to get some sort f sleep. That didn't last very long, though.
She was just drifting off when she heard the noise of her door opening. She had trained herself by now to be a light sleeper. Making a natural shift in position, her hand slipped off the edge of the couch she was dozing on to reach for her trident. Soft footsteps across the room stopped just short of her bed. Harsh breathing told her that they were nervous, probably shaking slightly.
Cracking her eye open just enough to see a sliver of the person standing over her, she made her move. In a flash, her trident was at the intruder's throat, nicking it slightly. "W)(o are you, w)(at are you doing )(ere, and most important, w)(o sent you )(ere to kill me?" They wouldn't answer her, so she would drag them to the door, and kick them out in front of the guards, who quickly had to act like they were rushing in to save her. Giving them an exasperated look, she snapped a quick "O)( stop. I know you don't care," before closing her door again and flopping back onto the couch.
Only then did she let the tears show. She had been terrified. Had they not hesitated, she may not have survived. Luckily for her they had, and now she was here, shaking and trying to calm herself down. If only she had someone here to comfort her. But the only one who would was probably leagues away from where she was. At least he should be if he was smart. Maybe, just maybe… Would he answer her? Could he even get to the messages to answer them?
Nevertheless, she just needed to talk, even if it was at an empty chat box. So she pulled out her husktop and opened up Trollian, clicking on a much different trolltag than the one she had done earlier in the night.
- cuttlefishCuller [CC] started trolling caligulasAquarium [CA] -
CC: Eridan?
CC: You here?
CC: I can't even do my stupid quirk I'm shaking so bad
CC: I'm sorry to bother you, Eridan, but
CC: I just needed to talk to someone.
CC: Or at least at something.
CC: I don't even know if you can see any of this.
CC: But I'm scared.
CC: Terrified.
CC: I don't know what to do.
CC: I really wish I could hear your voice right now.
CC: Or just see your replies.
CC: I miss you
CC: A lot.
CA: Wwait, Fef
CA: Don't log off
CC: Eridan!
CA: Thank cod
CA: The last feww people I'vve been tryin to talk to all logged off as soon as I shot them a message
CA: Are you okay
CC: Physically, yes.
CC: What about you?
CA: A bit wworse for wwear
CC: What happened?
CA: Nofin important
CC: Please don't give me that right now, Eridan.
CC: What happened?
CA: really, nofin.
CC: Are you sure?
CA: Yeah, nofin to wwory aboat
CC: Okay
CC: It's good to hear from you
CA: Yeah you too
CC: How are you?
CA: Eh
CA: slightly injured
CA: Nofin serious
CC: Are you sure?
CC: Do I need to come looking for you?
CA: Nononono
CA: No lookin for me
CA: I havve business I need to finish on my owwn
CC: But
CC: I'm worried.
CA: Please
CA: You havve to trust me
CA: I can handle this on my owwn
CA: Besides
CA: I'm only bleedin a little
CC: BLEEDING?!
CC: Eridan, what have you gotten yourself into?!
CA: I said I wwas injured
CA: Didn't I
CC: Injured doesn't always mean bleeding
CA: Wwell okay then
CA: I'm bleedin somewwhat
CA: But not badly
CA: I can patch this up on my owwn
CA: Fef
CA: You still there
CC: Sorry.
CC: Had to deal with something
CA: Fef
CA: Wwhat happened
CC: Nothing important.
CA: Fef
CC:I just had to kick someone out of my room
CC: for the second time today.
CA: Wwho
CA: Wwhat happened
CC: Someone else trying to kill me
CC: Nothing special anymore
CA: People are trying to kill ya
CA: FEF
CA: I
CC: ?
CC: Eridan?
CA: SHIT
CA: Sorry Fef
CA: This is probubbly gonna be cut short
CA: But I wwant you to knoww
CA: I
- caligulasAquarium [CA]'s computer exploded -
CC: Eridan!
CC: Damnit!
CC: Please don't die on me.
CC: You're all I have left right now.
- cuttlefishCuller [CC] ceased trolling caligulasAquarium [CA] -
Flinging her computer across the room, Feferi grabbed the nearest soft, plush thing and screamed into it. She didn't know where he was, so she could go help, even if she wanted to. Her heart was aching. She missed him. She missed all her friends. Looking toward the door, she gave a defeated sigh. She couldn't help anyone right now. Not in the state she was in.
Reaching a hand up to her face, she pulled it back to see fuchsia liquid staining her fingers. Tears. Hugging her pillow close, she pulled it to her face again to absorb the sound of her sobbing as well as her tears. She didn't need her guards knowing she was weak right now. Nobody could know how weak she was. It would be a death sentence.
As she settled into an uneasy sleep, there was no way for her to know that Eridan was under fire, glancing back at his demolished computer before cursing and bolting for cover on an injured leg. There was no way to know what he was trying to type in, not that it looked like it would matter much very shortly.