vatheon | Execution

Entry tags:

Execution

Who: Eridan Ampora, Orphaner Dualscar, the Summoner
When: Backdated to the day after Signless' death.
Where: Ordo Apartments, Dualscar's hive, then possibly going...wherever Summoner is taking Dualscar.
Style: Prose
Status: Closed.

Dualscar had slept much of the last 24 hours, the stone Zelda gave him to warn him of territorial incursions in his hand, and his sleep broken by nightmares and guilt. His leg is still a problem, but not one he's going to do anything about until Signless is back, he supposes. For now, he's simply hiding out in his hive with his descendant and - surprisingly - the Heiress, who seems to have forgiven him somewhat.

She's out at the moment, and he is stretched out on the sofa in his living room, a cup of tea cooling on the coffee table, and a book in his hand. He's offered Eridan free run of the hive, of the books he's collected, and of the spa downstairs.

His fins stiffen as the stone heats in his fingers, but of course it's probably Feferi returning already.

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Eridan had basically been on edge since he and Feferi found Dualscar on the island, nearly helpless and bleeding. His ancestor had lost his leg, and having helped him back to his hive, he decided to stay with him. Fef choosing to do the same. It was a comfort, most definitely, but not enough to shake his nerves. Even Eridan had his own group that wanted him dead before with that framing of Karkat's murder, but Dualscar was even less trusted than himself, so he knew the chance of Dualscar surviving till Signless returned wasn't likely. Especially with that onslaught from Summoner before. He just had a bad feeling, one that wasn't letting him settle down at all.

Free run or not, he really couldn't care to make full use of Dualscar's hive or even dive into the books he has, despite how under normal circumstances Eridan would be parking his spinal crevice down to read each one. Instead, he took up a spot near the window, a scowl on his features as he continued to keep an eye out from there for anything and anyone approaching the building, even if it didn't give the best vantage point. All of the tension really allowed an uncomfortable silence to fall between them, but Eridan wasn't about to break it, even if he wanted to, he didn't have anything to say, either way.

Summoner's already broken into Dualscar's hive once, he knows how to, it's not foreign ground. Before all he had done was mess around with the robot he had there, but this time it was to be something completely different. His mood is rather complicated, though he holds his face stern, his eyes dark as he gets near to the sill. This window isn't to the room where Dualscar is located and he's not trying to get in yet. Summoner merely stands, facing away from the building, his wings spread out, his hands free of anything, he's seemingly alone, but of course he's not, he never is. Summoner learned young that he was never truly alone, not with his commune ability... he could never even pretend he was alone.

He watches, watches everything in that apartment, around this building, around this whole damn bubble and even on the island. Slowly he starts to concentrate on just this general area, on just this building. A majority of his attention is focused on the room Dualscar is in, watching he and Eridan for a short while before he watches through the eyes of a bird that moves past a window of their room. The bird move swiftly, soon landing on the sill and hops about innocently.

Locked, damn. He would rather just open it, but he'll have to come back and replace the window now.

The bird flies off and Summoner rolls his shoulders looking downwards with his hands opening and closing. His focus changes, changes to the bugs he's had infesting Dualscar's apartment over the hours since he last accosted him on the island. Quickly, he starts to mass them up in Dualscar's kitchen, keeping the insects in Dualscar's room where he and Eridan was there, not wanting to lead either of the other trolls on just yet.

The black horde of insects make there way to the smallest cup made of glass they can find, something light enough for them to move and push off onto the floor.

Crash!

Summoner slowly lifts from the window sill, nearing the side of the building where the opening of Dualscar's room is. The mass of bugs move again, pushing on a piece of the glass to graze it over the tile, adding a bit more sound.

Dualscar sits up abruptly as he hears the crash. So it's beginning again, is it?

He hisses, pulling aside the blanket and drawing his sword. He doesn't rise, though, knowing that he has to conserve his strength. "Get awway from the fuckin' wwindoww," he snaps at Eridan. "And don't go ovver there in the kitchen. He's tryin' to lure one a us into a trap!"

He's more than willing to believe that someone who is going to be this persistent about murdering Dualscar would also not hesitate to cull someone who stands by him. Particularly one who shares Dualscar's blood.

There's an obvious jolt in Eridan as the crash reaches his ears, his head whipping into the direction of the kitchen, his eyes narrowing into a glare as his lip pulls up in a snarl. He knew this silence was too good to be true. While he isn't about to go into the kitchen, knowing it to be a stupid idea anyways, with Dualscar's command, it's even more cemented. He quickly draws back from the window, shooting it an distrusting look, before looking to Dualscar.

"Do you think it's The Summoner?" His voice is threaded with ire. He almost sounds disgusted saying that name, even. He honestly wouldn't be surprised, for all the others spoke of wanting Dualscar's blood for this misunderstanding, Summoner was the only one who went far enough to draw any. Eridan clenches his fists and in this moment he's never felt any more vulnerable. Dualscar has a sword, while the best Eridan has at this moment is his tranquilizer gun--which could prove useful if he had darts that were actually full, as of right now it would only prove as a minor inconvenience, he's basically unarmed.

"Dualscar, let me hawe that sword."

Eridan looks to Dualscar, his expression serious and stern. He plans to protect him, even if it does kill him. He owes this much to Dualscar, he figures. He might not be skilled with a sword, but Dualscar is missing a leg, either way they are both handicapped in this situation, but at least Eridan has mobility on his side.

Another crash, though this one sounds louder, perhaps something larger, like a glass door of a cabinet, a hung up frame, or a window.

Dualscar curses for a moment. He doesn't want to disarm himself, though he has a dagger and Ahab, of course. But Ahab he's hesitant to use inside the bubble - and especially inside his own hive.

But Eridan does have a point. He has no idea how good Eridan might be with the weapon, but it's not easy to fight with a sword from a seated position. He may be better off with the dagger at that.

"You'vve got swwordkind?" he demands, reversing the sword and offering it hilt-first to the young troll.

That crash doesn't cause the same jolt as the first, in fact, he was somewhat expecting it and more to follow. Whoever it is obviously wants in, so it'd be even more worrying if the crashing and general sounds suddenly stopped. He's glad that Dualscar's handing the sword over though, even if he's a bit nervous with using it. With faux-confidence, he takes it, but shakes his head to his question. Luckily, this place doesn't exactly limit them on weapon use based on their Abstratus. He might not be able to store it, or use it as well as his riflekind or wandkind, but he has to make due with what he can.

"I don't, but it'll work for now." He really doesn't want to leave his ancestor defenseless, but he's certain he has his crosshairs, and even if Dualscar doesn't want to wreck his hive, that is a lot better than being dead, that's for sure. He looks awkward though, holding that sword, a touch obvious he isn't exactly sure what he's doing here, but hitting someone with a sword shouldn't be TOO hard, right?

It's quiet.

"For fuck's sake," Dualscar growls. "At least wwiden your stand an hold it like you mean it. If you're gonna protect my life, hold it strong enough so the first bloww wwon't knock it out a your hand."

He's aware of the quiet, though, his eyes flicking towards the kitchen, but not just there. He looks in all directions, letting Eridan fuss with the sword and pretending to be distracted while he searches for his enemy.

"Excuse the fuck outta me, you act like I'm used to such primitiwe means a defense! Just giwe me a second--" But then he realizes that the noises stopped. Great. Just what he needs. His hands clench the sword even tighter and he works on his posture, trying to do what he thinks is a better stance for it, and arguably it works, better than before at least.

His fins fan out, listening for even the smallest of sounds as he tries to keep an eye out for any sudden movements. His eyes darting to the window he previously occupied, just in case, but it doesn't stay there long, scanning every possible spot that the intruder could be coming from, not wanting to leave one spot open.

A spider skitters over the door near the handle, quickly going to hide between the door and the frame.

Small sounds of glass can be heard here and there in the kitchen, as if being moved a little on the tile floor. Perhaps a chirp of a bird from far away, just barely heard from where the two trolls are.

Dualscar sees the bit of movement, and his eyes follow the spider. Is the Summoner's control so fine? Is that even possible, or is it just a spider?

No, this isn't going to work. Eridan can't fight the Summoner with a sword any more than Dualscar could. Not like this. And he has no doubt that the Summoner would kill the young sea dweller to get to him - why wouldn't he? Eridan is a highblood, too. Summoner likely loathes him no less than Dualscar.

He pushes himself up with difficulty, gasping by the time he's standing upright, and bracing himself on the sofa. "Eridan," he says. "Get dowwn to the basement."

He snaps his head to Dualscar, his hard expression hardly softening even as he sees the struggle his ancestor goes through to just stand. He shakes his head. He isn't about to leave, not even if Dualscar demands it.

"Not unless you plan to fuckin' follow me." His tone is stern and unwavering. He doesn't care for the hate that the Summoner might hold for him, if anything, the feeling is mutual, but for all his hate, he holds no fear for the goal-post horned troll, none at all and he'd reather go down trying than hiding like some yellow-bellied coward.

There's a screech on the window in the room both seadweller's are in. It sounds like a hard point being scraped down the glass, but when looked for there's nothing but perhaps a flash of a feathery wing of a small bird.

The tiny sounds of glass in the kitchen can still be heard, now with more sounds of small birds chirping.

Dualscar might have argued, commanded, but he can see Eridan's determination, and suspects it's pointless to try. He doesn't want to see Eridan murdered by Summoner as well, but it's Eridan's right to choose to take the risk.

"I'm not goin' anywwhere," he says firmly, his eyes narrowed as he looks towards the window, then the door again, then towards the kitchen. Where will he come from? And what's his plan?

"Summoner," he snarls, raising his voice. "If you're comin', then stop hidin' behind your beasts. Come for me, if you're comin'. Wwe're ready for you."

It's better that he didn't argue, because Eridan wasn't about to listen and it'd only serve to distract the two of them. Something they honestly don't need, especially when it feels like no matter what they do, their flank is going to be exposed.

"Well neither am I."

He doesn't say anything more though, choosing to remain quiet, waiting for any signs of attack. Dualscar's calling him out, but Eridan's not sure if the coward is actually going to take the bait and even if he does, he's not sure how well they can take him. If the odds were more even, there wouldn't be a doubt in his mind that they could take him, but as things are, there's doubts gnawing at the edge of his mind.

A few more crunches of glass.

Otherwise it's rather silent and uneventful.

Dualscar growls and sits back down on the sofa. He's far too weak to stand here on one leg and wait with such alertness, anyway, and he doesn't know what Summoner is waiting for. "He's tryin' to tire us out. Surprise us. Sit by me, Eridan. Wwe'll wwait. If he's that much of a cowward to take us from behind, then I'll fuckin' go ahead an cull him sloww wwhen wwe come back."

The noises are more annoying at this point than nerve wracking. Eridan honestly just wants him to show his sorry hide, but it seems the coward just chooses to wait. So fine, wait they shall. He looks to Dualscar, seeing him retake his seat, but he isn't so sure he should sit.

He offers the kitchen one more long look before he lowers the sword, unsure about all of this.

"Fine."

He crosses over to the couch, reluctantly taking a seat, his eyes darting between window and doors as he sinks down besides the older sea dweller. His hands still tightly clasping the sword, his shoulders squared and back stiff. Ready to jump up to attack when needed.

"Figures, a coward like him can't face us proper."

"That's not the issue here, youngling." The voice comes from down the hallway a bit but doesn't sound like it's getting closer.

"I'm not here to face you."

Dualscar shifts so he can see the entrance to the hallway, though he's not unaware of his surroundings, just in case Summoner tries to use his powers to ambush him.

"Just wwhat are you here for? I get you're upset about Signless, but this is too stubborn an pointless evven for you!"

"You're gonna face me either way."

He adds in, flicking his eyes over towards the hall entrance where the voice presumably came from. So he's been there. Eridan sucks in a silent breath, trying to keep himself calm, not that he's about to flip out or anything, but the stress of this situation is hardly making things comfortable. He waits though, for an answer to Dualscar's question, because honestly, this is highly ridiculous, or at least, he thinks so.

"I'm here to help you understand your wrong doing, whether purposeful or not. I'd appreciate if you didn't continue sitting with a child, though I know that's no fault of your own I suppose." A sigh, listening to Eridan for a moment.

"Yes, I'll face you, uh, literally, Eridan, that's obvious. But we're kind of talking about a different meaning here, that of which has nothing to do with you. I understand your agitation at seeing your ancestor this way, the fear of his potential loss, though brief it is here in this place. But you have to respect his wish for you to go to the basement, and respect him as an individual enough to let him face his own encounters."

"You arrogant dirtblooded piece a scum. Wwhat can you do to 'help' me? You wwant to cull me, fine, wwe'll strife. But you takin' my leg or my arm or my eye wwon't change a fuckin' thing."

"And don't you dare," Dualscar rumbles, pushing himself up again and facing the hallway. "Don't you fuckin' dare imply that I'm usin' Eridan as a shield. He might be young, though not so young in comparison to you, but he's got the right to decide wwho to back and howw, and wwhat risks he'll take. That's more of a choice than you gavve all a the fish an birds wwho you sent at me yesterday, though I wwouldn't compare him to them."

"Way to fuckin' misinterpret what I was meanin' you scumsucker."

But the rest he listened to, and to be honest, he didn't care. Dualscar understood his choice and respected it obviously enough with what he had to say and in a way it definitely gives Eridan a boost in pride. Eridan rises soon after, somewhat keeping an eye on Dualscar when he stands, just to make sure he doesn't need help, before looking to the hall.

"So come on out, all you're doin' is delayin' the goddamn inewitable." He clenches his fangs together, moving to the side a bit to give a slight distance between him and Dualscar, but making sure he isn't too far just in case he needs to protect him.

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