vatheon | Unwwelcome vvisitor

Entry tags:

Unwwelcome vvisitor

Who: Dualscar, Helmsman, and Signless
Where: Dualscar's apartment
When: Early evening.
Style: Prose
Status: In progress, closed.

Dualscar slept horribly. Without a nice, comfortable recuperacoon, and even having taken the blankets and pillows from all four of his bedrooms and piled them together, he still wasn't comfortable, and it took forever to get to sleep. And then he kept waking up from nightmares - not the usual violent dreams, but nightmares of a painted skull face and the laughter of the subjugglators.

Then when he woke up and stumbled downstairs, he realized he had no food in the house, because he hadn't yet purchased any. The appliances are vaguely familiar, yet frustratingly alien. And everything is horrible, but he can't leave the house to go shopping because the Helmsman and the Signless are on their way, and he's pretty sure he made a fool of himself the night before when he started getting really frustrated, frightened, and tired.

So it was a growling, hungry, snappish sea dwelling troll who answered the door at their knock, glowered at them and then glared at the Helmsman

"You. Get me breakfast." And then, to the Signless. "You. Come inside."

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For a moment, Dualscar bares his teeth just a bit at the interference. This is a power struggle, if covered with a thin veneer of amicability, and he is determined to come out on top.

So he ignores Signless for a moment, glancing with approval at the Helmsman as he sinks to sit next to him obediently. He drops a hand to pet his head, just lightly, then nods.

"Yes, make the tea, boy. Go on." And he looks at Signless, expectant, as if he merely thinks the other troll is stalling out of nervousness, rather than focused on trying to protect his friend.

Signless doesn't want this to be a power struggle, but he hates the way Psii is cringing around the seadweller, the way he's supplicating himself and acting so afraid. It's not right, it's not fair, and he almost--almost--curls his upper lip at Dualscar when he pats Psii on the head.

But then he remembers how very lonely Dualscar is, how he's completely isolated himself, and that calms him down. So he picks up one of the plates and offers it to the other troll, trying hard to smile and almost succeeding.

"Has anyone explained to you how the monetary system here works? That's something you'll need to know."

He just takes it. That's the way everything works, how his mind follows the structure given to him over innumerable sweeps. When he lifts himself with his psionics, his lips twitch into the faintest of frowns. The last thing he wants is to be the reason that the Signless draws the anger of a highblood.

And he can read it in the other man's face as easily as a wiggler's primer. Frustration, maybe even anger, and it's all because the Helmsman is a mess of subservient programming. There is one last glance at his dear, beloved friend and then he's gone off to the kitchen to quickly prepare the tea.

Leaving the two of them alone for too long would be a horrible idea.

Dualscar relaxes a little when Signless fails to object. He can't understand why Signless is taking it, when it's obvious that he doesn't want to, but Dualscar interprets the whole thing as a win for him, so he smiles smugly and leans forward to take the plate Signless offers.

He shakes his head at the question, leaning back and taking a bite of the pastry. It's annoyingly crumby, but he's hungry enough to ignore the fact. He's in his armour, which isn't exactly good for lounging around the house, but he felt he had to wear it, given his hiveguests.

"No, I allowed the Helmsman to take care of my needs yesterday," he says with a shrug. "Wwhat do I need to knoww?"

Signless had noticed Dualscar's armor, but he finds it more amusing than anything else. Like he could do anything to hurt the other troll, like he would even want to, and like Psii is capable of it. In contrast, he's just wearing his usual pants and cloak, nothing more protective than the bandages he wears out of habit around his wrists.

"When you were brought here, you were given a mark like this," he raises his left arm, pointing out the starfish-shaped tattoo emblazoned above his elbow. "It's somewhere on your body. Show that to the locals, and they'll give you food, lodging, and whatever else you need. Unfortunately, if you want something from home, you'll have to go to an area in the shopping center called the Nostalgia Nook and exchange starfish tokens for it. To get starfish tokens, you need a job, although you should have a few already."

It wasn't that Dualscar was afraid of being harmed by Signless. He wanted to look more intimidating, rather than wearing casual clothes more suited to lounging around the hive. He has the cloak draped over the arm of his chair, the pointed collar sticking up behind his head impressively. Overall, he thinks he cuts a rather frightening figure.

He glances at his own bare right arm, where the tattoo had appeared on his forearm. He rubs it slightly, grimacing with distaste.

"I see, so wwe are provvided for, wwith basic necessities, but beyond that wwe need to wwork." He finds this irritating, but he can work that out for himself, later, decide if he really has a use for these starfish tokens and decide if he's willing to do work for the city as well.

"I wwas told there wwere sea monsters that attacked the city recently," he says slowly. "And that another attack is expected?"

Dualscar is intimidating, Signless can't argue that. But maybe it helps that he knows Eridan, who imitates his ancestor in everything he does but is less skilled at hiding his true feelings, and knowing what Dualscar could be instead of only what he is. Either way, Signless gets the feeling that the armor and the pointed collar of his cape and the casual lounging are all part of a calculated act to make the seadweller seem like something grander and more impressive than he really thinks he is... and that's just sad.

"Yes, exactly."

Signless takes a bite of his own croissant and mulls over how to answer Dualscar's next question.

"I wasn't here for when the sea monsters attacked. However, many of the other residents were; perhaps you can ask some of them? And yes, those who have been here for longer periods of time expect another attack, but they don't know what exactly that might entail."

Dualscar would deny Signless' assessment, and probably cull him for calling him sad, but it isn't far off the mark at all. Dualscar is good at what he does, but he's far from perfect, especially when it comes to social graces.

"It wwas a resident wwho told me about it. I wwondered if anythin' wwas bein' done to prepare. Seems to me that an organized fightin' force is wwhat's probably needed around here."

And he goes on eating the croissant, watching Signless for his reaction.

And it just so happens that Signless has a perfect answer for this.

"Yes." He smiles benignly, but his lips are tight together instead of his usual toothy grin. "This is something I've discussed with Darkleer. We talked about getting the Summoner involved as well."

There's really no point in trying to protect Darkleer; Signless knows that he is quite capable on his own, as is the Summoner.

"I'll lead them," Dualscar says, as if there is no chance anyone would disagree, his purple eyes boring into Signless' crimson.

This is as close as he's intending to come to proposing an alliance. To him, this is a concession. He'll lead the fighting force. Signless can lead everyone else.

"Wwho's the Summoner?"

"A fool. Overrated."

It's not often that the Helmsman offers commentary, but he can't help but speak up when he returns to the room. Three cups of a rather delicious blend of chamomile tea flavored with just a little honey float obediently to their places, one in front of each of the other men and the last staying close at hand as he settles back in the spot he was initially ordered to sit.

"A young brown blood Cavalreaper fond of hith own voice."

It might have seemed like a very poor review, but it was one given for very certain reasons.

Signless glances up when Psii re-enters the room, and reaches out to accept his cup of tea before offering his friend the third plate of croissants. He understands why Psii said that about the Summoner, and he plays along.

"Yes. He's the only one from his point on the timeline, which is after our time but before the time of our descendants."

That answers something about Dualscar though; while he probably could have survived until the Summoner's time, he didn't, and Signless files that information away.

Dualscar takes the cup of tea and sets his plate aside on the arm of his chair. He reaches out almost automatically and strokes the Helmsman's hair once, patting him and giving him a light rub with one thumb to one of his smaller horns. Approval.

"I think I knoww the one," he says with a faint growl. "I'll take him if he's good, but he'd better not givve me that kind a lip in the field, because I'll not hesitate to cull him an teach him a lesson."

"No."

Signless sets his teacup down, and the way it chitters in its saucer is the only indication of how much that offhand comment upsets him.

"We can use your experience, Dualscar, no one is denying or questioning that. But if you intend to lead through fear and intimidation, this isn't going to work. There will be no culling here, no unnecessary violence."

He looks up at the highblood, his red eyes flashing.

"There's no need to fight each other when we have common enemies to attack."

Dualscar locks eyes with Signless and doesn't look away. That foul, unnatural colour all but turns his stomach. The little chittering of cup against saucer is a bell of victory to him, if a minor one. Signless doesn't have the stomach for the inevitable war that's to come.

He leans forward, taking his hand off of the Helmsman's head and gripping the arms of his chair. "I completely agree. There's no need for unnecessary vviolence. But the Summoner made his contempt for me obvvious in the first wwords wwe exchanged. I wwill givve him a chance to mend his tune, but you wwill understand me - I wwill not be soft on someone wwho has no discipline and wwill not givve his commander respect. If he wwill not obey me, if he wwill cause chaos in the ranks and endanger my soldiers, endanger the mission, then I will not tolerate it. Wwhen he wwakes up again, perhaps he wwill havve learned his lesson."

He leans back. "If you wwant my experience, you wwill havve to accept my style."

At least he's not touching Psii anymore. Signless is grateful for small victories.

"Then that is where we have a fundamental disagreement. The Summoner is a general in his own right, and I doubt that he'll willingly follow your command, especially if the only way you know to lead is through violence and the traditions of the hemospectrum."

Signless stares right back at the seadweller. Yeah, get a good, long look at those bright red eyes, Dualscar; let them bore into your soul.

"One thing the Summoner would never, ever do is endanger the lives of his men. Quarrels with you aside, he wouldn't put them in unnecessary danger to prove a point or to show off. Can you say the same?"

"Of course I can say the same!" Dualscar snaps, his shark's teeth clicking on the last syllable as if biting it off. "I don't care wwhat kind a experience that browwnblood has, it doesn't hold a candle to me. I'm just sayin' that if he causes disruption, I wwon't havve him. If he can act professionally - somethin' he'll have to provve, like evveryone else does - then he has nothin' to fear from me."

He sits back, grinding his teeth. Why does this conversation feel like he's trying to prove himself to the Signless, and convince him to allow him to act? Right, because the Signless is in defacto control here, something that Dualscar is loathe to accept or admit, but which is still reality.

He lowers his voice. "I wwill lead through competence an experience, an I wwill demand respect an obedience from my soldiers, as any commander wwould, hemospectrum or no. Military servvice is not like your touchy-feely crap, an if you can't accept that, wwell, then this city is not goin' to do wwell the next time there's a kraken an there's no cohesivve, disciplined fightin' force to oppose it. Despite wwhat you might think, in a city a this size, there aren't enough trained soldiers an people wwillin to servve to just go about cullin evveryone wwho doesn't showw me the proper respect. If I didn't recognize that, you wwould already be dead."

"Don't threaten me, Dualscar. I don't appreciate it and it doesn't speak well for your character."

Signless says that in a calm, measured tone, but he needs to take a sip of tea to steady his nerves afterwards. The simple fact remains that Dualscar does, in fact, intimidate him, but now isn't the time to let that fear overtake him. When it was just his little band of rogues and renegades, they could all fend for themselves, and stayed one step ahead of the Empire for longer than anyone could have imagined. But now there are the children to look out for, and the humans, and he can't afford to piss Dualscar off.

That, and he's met Eridan now. Thinking about the younger seatroll actually calms Signless, and he sets down his teacup and looks up at Dualscar, smiling slightly.

"I'll be your friend if you let me, Dualscar, but if you don't, then at least we can work together to protect our new home. It's up to you to sort things out with the Summoner and Darkleer, but your experience is certainly something we can use, and I believe them professional enough to recognize that. In the meantime..."

He gets into his sylladex and pulls out some fresh eggs that he brought from the supermarket.

"May I use your kitchen, and how do you like your eggs cooked?"

The Psiioniic had stayed quiet through the exchange, the only sign of his discomfort being the gradual way he seemed to pull in on himself. It wasn't his place to speak, and he is certainly reassured when he sees Signless hold his own so seemingly fearlessly. There was something familiar about the steady cadence of his voice and the sheer strength of will; there was a core of iron beneath his soft demeanor. It was easy to forget that.

The yellowblood sits up more, however, when the topic suddenly shifts. He tries not to glance back at Dualscar with trepidation that was too obvious, though it's a tough feat.

"I could..."

Dualscar snorts and sits back, looking at Signless through narrowed eyes. His fins are quivering a little with his anger and frustration, but they smooth out and rest against the sides of his head as he relaxes. Was that a yes, then? He supposes it was.

"If you thought that wwas a threat, you havven't evver heard me threaten someone," he says wryly. It wasn't a threat, as far as he was concerned. Just a fact. In fact, it could almost be interpreted as the opposite of a threat.

As the Helmsman looks at him, he glances down at it, considering. He wouldn't mind seeing Signless do menial tasks for him, and if he grants the yellow-blood's request, then he might wind up in a tussle over it, again.

"No, you stay here," he says with a flick of his fingers. Then he addresses Signless. "I prefer them poached wwithout a lot a runny yolk, if you're capable of it."

"Naturally."

Signless stands up fluidly, and starts moving towards the kitchen.

"Of course, if you want everything served hot, I'll need Psii's help," Signless says casually, almost as an afterthought, even though it's a calculated move on his part. "I only have two hands, and that makes it hard to get everything done at the same time."

Helmsman sinks back down on command, but his eyes track his friend's movement with an obvious concern. While he was well-trained to be properly submissive to the seadweller, it didn't just outright negate his feelings for his friend. He was just stuck waiting, watching and biding his time as he just hopes nothing goes horribly awry.

It was frustrating, more so than it was when he was alone with Dualscar and he really was coming to dislike it.

"Don't wworry, it'll be followwin you in a moment," Dualscar says sarcastically. He waits for Signless to leave, then directs his attention towards the Helmsman.

"Wwhy did he come here? Did he mention anything to you about it?"

"He dethireth to avoid negative relathionth with you," he answers promptly, if quietly. The worst part of all this, more for Dualscar than himself, is the knowledge that he really can't lie to him. Mislead with some effort, perhaps, but never outright lie--though in this case, there isn't any reason to do so right now.

"He would thooner have you ath hith ally than otherwithe."

Dualscar nods, looking away and staring at a point in the middle distance for a few moments. "The Expatriate is making me a robot, wwhich wwill act as a drone, and take care a my basic needs. No doubt it'll be wwatchin' me, as you wwould havve. In any case, I'm sure that's a relief to both a you. But you'll still come to me to check in an make sure you're not backsliding."

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Signless is clattering around and singing quietly, under his breath.

"Yeth, highblood. I will do whatever it ith that you require of me, I thwear it."

That wasn't strictly true, but it was supposed to be. He leans forward, eyes sparking faintly as he presses his hands to the floor. "May I athitht in preparathionth now, thir?"

He watched the slave bow low, then gestured with a hand. "Yes, you may go assist."

It was frustrating to have to play nice with these rebels.

Oh, good, he's just... getting right the hell out and into the kitchen. His pace is still the same, slow float powered by his psionics, but his heart is racing for some reason he can't exactly define. This was definitely one of the less enjoyable situations to be in, and he just wanted to please the highblood and eventually be dismissed.

Dualscar sighs faintly the moment the Helmsman is out of earshot, and settles back in his chair. How long is the Signless going to insist on being here, he wonders.

Signless isn't exactly enjoying your hospitality either, Dualscar.

For all his nonchalant behavior, Signless is very on edge and has been listening for Psii, and he turns almost the instant he comes into the kitchen. Crossing the room in a few quick strides, leaving the eggs cooking on the stove, he flings his arms around his friend's waist and squeezes him tight.

"I'm so sorry," he whispers into Psii's chest. "I'm so sorry he talks to you that way, I'll do everything I can to make him stop, this won't last forever, I promise, I promise I'll get you free, I promise!"

His breath comes out in a shuddering sigh as arms wrap around him, and he bows his head faintly in return. He feels just a little bit ill, shaky and unsure mostly out of concern for his dearest friend. He reaches up, touching the other man's cheek gently.

"It ith not tho abhorrent," he whispers in response. "Let uth thimply complete our tathk."

It is abhorrent, it's terrible, it makes Signless sick to hear it and makes him tremble with anger to see Psii groped by Dualscar. Psii is right, though; they just need to get through this, and then they can go home.

Because he's not going home without Psii. That is simply not a thing that is happening.

Signless gives him one last squeeze, then reluctantly steps back. "Would you mind making some toast while I finish the eggs?" he asks in his normal voice, returning to the stove.

The Psiioniic hums a wordless reply, quietly moving to complete the task asked of him. There really wasn't any need for him to assist in the kitchen, he knew, but the breather from the interaction with Dualscar was appreciated.

After a minute or two, he notes, "It ith worth it."

Everyone had to do unfortunate things for the sake of peace. Even if there was some part of him that found this uncomfortable, that didn't want to submit in the face of all his conditioning and training, that was suppressed by the knowledge that this could make a real difference in the safety of others around them. As long as Dualscar didn't feel provoked, there was still a chance for everything to turn out without violence.

So he would make his toast and allow Dualscar to handle him in that casually depersonalizing way without even trying to fight it.

Maybe the Helmsman is used to being groped like a toy by highbloods, but Signless isn't, and it makes him sick to see it happen. The Psii he knew wouldn't allow that, would fight against it, would keep his independence and sense of self intact at all costs... but this new Psii has a point, too. If he can tolerate being pawed and treated like dirt, it helps keep the peace, and it's obvious that Dualscar won't come to their side easily, so perhaps this is a step in the right direction.

Signless sighs, confused and tired and heartsick, and plates up three plates of eggs. He'd like to stay in the kitchen longer, if only to protect Psii, but he knows that highbloods don't like to be kept waiting. So, laden down with breakfast, he nods to Psii and then returns to the living room.

"Here you are."

He offers one plate to Dualscar.

It took all the willpower Dualscar could muster not to snoop on their conversation. He sat there, tapping his claws against the arm of his chair impatiently, straining his auditory holes to try to listen to what they were saying. All he could hear were noises, though he thought he picked up tones of distress from Signless, and conciliatory noises from the Helmsman.

He wondered if Signless thought they were moirails. The idea made him want to laugh.

With a polite inclination of his head, he took the plate. He assumed the Helmsman would be smart enough to resume its seat without his order, and he didn't look at it for now.

"Feel better after your chat?" he asked with a touch of sarcasm. "Perhaps you think you'vve figured out by noww howw to pacify me."

"We weren't talking about you at all, really."

As far as Signless is concerned, that's the truth. They weren't talking about Dualscar, not really; they were talking about Psii and his situation. Signless would feel the same about it if it were Dualscar or the Grand Highblood or the Condesce herself mistreating his dearest friends.

For all his faults and stubborness, Darkleer is easily Signless' favorite highblood, if only because he doesn't try to hurt Psii.

Signless takes his seat, and eats a bite of egg before speaking again.

"I see no need to pacify you, Dualscar. You are completely in control of your faculties, and if you were going to lash out violently, you would have done it by now."

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Unwwelcome vvisitor

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feel free to skip him a round or two!

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oh shoot sorry guys, I've just been slow to Psiioniic

<3

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Skip him for a bit, if you two want to talk, I guess.

don't worry, Dualscar's breakfast won't get cold, they won't be long! <3

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