Unwwelcome vvisitor

[devwocean]

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."

Comments

[p2iioniicii2t]

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."

[withoutasign]

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.

[p2iioniicii2t]

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.

[withoutasign]

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.

[devwocean]

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."

[withoutasign]

"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."