[CLOSED] REASONS YOU DON'T START A FIGHT

[lethechained]

Who: Naminé lethechained and Terezi tongue3y3s.
What: Somebody Did a Bad Thing. Repercussions ensue.
When: DAY 315
Where: Outside the castle.
Rating: PG-13 for possible mentions of violence, death.


[It's been a long day, if Naminé is honest. There has been enough going on lately that any day would seem like a long one, really, but--]

[Well... she still appreciates her job. She's just glad to be walking home from it, at the moment.]

[The uncomfortable ache in her chest does not help to make it a pleasant trip, exactly, and the absence of other things to worry about allows her thoughts to stray directions she'd rather they didn't, but at the same time, she's tired almost to her bones and the chance to rest them would be nice.]

[Drawing in a lungful of evening air, she raises her eyes to the castle as she passes it, studying it idly.]

Comments

[tongue3y3s]

[It doesn't feel like much, being dead. Little weird.

Terezi never knew how it felt, really; she never died in the game.

She's in a bit of a daze when the faceless maid presses her cane into her hand, and she stumbles when she follows her to the exit of the castle.

The sunlight, when she steps outside, is blinding. She places a hand to her stomach, wincing at the phantom memory of a gaping, bloody tear.]

[lethechained]

[It's not an unfamiliar sight, the castle. She's spent enough time in the city to know it well, to almost be comforted by it. It's still standing, even after all the things that have happened here.]

[But then she sees another familiar figure, this one leaving said castle, and her blood seems for an instant to stop.]

[There are only a handful of reasons she can think of for one of the Travelers to be exiting that particular building, and none of them are good. Stilled by her surprise, she watches - then alters her original course to head toward Terezi, brow already starting to knit in her concern.]

[tongue3y3s]

[Naminé is almost upon her by the time Terezi smells a familiar scent and recognizes it, turning her head to blearily regard the approaching woman.] Um...

[Still disoriented, she stares blankly for a number of seconds before finally forcing out:] Hello.

[lethechained]

[It's futile, really, to be looking Terezi over so thoroughly when it's clear she just came out of the castle; Naminé can't help it, that instinct to search for injury.]

Hello.

[There's a hovering worry in it, but she keeps her physical distance.]

Why were you at the castle?

[Straight to the point, there, Naminé.]

[tongue3y3s]

Oh.

[Terezi flinches a little bit. She's not so delirious that she doesn't recall that she died, doesn't recall that there are certain people around who might be negatively affected by the knowledge.] I unfortunately got in a fight, [she explains, trying to be gentle in the breaking of the news.]

[lethechained]

[Nice try, Terezi.]

A fight?

[Frown protocol initiated. Already her expression is darkening.]

And you didn't go to the hospital?

[She knows what that means, no matter how gently it's meant to be explained.]

[tongue3y3s]

[Uhhhhhhhhh--]

I didn't really have the chance! [she admits, a wary smile spreading her lips.]

[lethechained]

You didn't have the chance?

[The wariness is very well warranted, if her tone is any indication.]

... Meaning you died.

[Let it not be said that Naminé cannot connect the dots. Still, she offers the courtesy of a,]

Didn't you?

[tongue3y3s]

[Terezi regards her carefully, unsure of what attitude to take in response to this. She doesn't know exactly why she's concerned about Naminé's reaction, but after the last few times they've seen each other...

... well, she can't really blame her for being invested.

And so, she quietly admits:] I did.

[lethechained]

[The breath expelled immediately after that admission is slow, sigh-like, almost frustrated - but she stays still, almost like she's trying to sort this out in her own mind before reacting to it.]

I'm sorry.

[It's sympathetic, hushed-- but when she speaks again, her voice is even - but there's a weight to it, an undercurrent, something like the dull edge of a blade. (The other edge is waiting not far away.)]

[She is Not Happy.]

What was the fight about, and who was it with?

[tongue3y3s]

[There's no reason for her to be obligated to respond to Naminé, but Terezi regardless answers immediately and honestly:] Eridan was hosting a celebration over Sollux leaving. I attacked him during the party.

[lethechained]

[It's less painful this way, perhaps; this is the kind of thing that Naminé isn't inclined to let slide with an 'it's complicated' or some variation thereof.]

[Her frown is nevertheless severe.]

You attacked him?

[You done screwed up.]

That was awful of him to do. [She was furious with him, herself, and it shows in her tone. That's not all that's in her tone; there's concern, disapproval, almost grief--] But attacking him wouldn't have solved anything...! Not even if he hadn't killed you. Terezi--

[She cuts herself off, urges away the tension to leave her voice and is only halfway successful. It's replaced by something sad.]

... Do you really think Sollux would have wanted you to die for that?

[tongue3y3s]

It doesn't matter shit what Sollux would have wanted. If that bulgesore wanted a say he would have stuck around to say it! [Maybe it's unnecessarily angry, but she's still sensitive.

She smells the tension in Naminé and it's affecting her, too.]

[lethechained]

[Bitter much? But it slows her, makes her pause, and when she answers, it's gentler. He deserves gentler.]

He didn't have a choice. Just because he was taken away doesn't mean his wishes don't matter.

[But she's letting herself get too emotional about this and she knows it. Frowning, she tries to rein herself in, to force that stiffness out of her shoulders.]

[tongue3y3s]

We don't know his wishes! Maybe he would have wanted me to stab Eridan in his stupid fucking face. You don't know.

[Good going, Terezi. Way to insult his moirail's knowledge of him while she's in the middle of grieving. So kind of you. A+ friend.]

[lethechained]

[It only manages to stop her for a second; in this, at least, she can be confident. The sleight doesn't go over her head. The pang in her chest is vicious and immediate, but it is also forced past.]

Maybe he would have. [It's only a little more pointed than she meant it to be; her control over her voice is returning.] In fact, he might even have been proud of you.

But I don't think he would have wanted you to get hurt in order to do it.

[tongue3y3s]

[The air goes out of her in a heavy whoosh. She can smell the evidence of Naminé's hurt and it-- well, she's right, probably. Shit.]

I...

[Her brow furrows.] I just couldn't stand to hear him insulted like that!

[lethechained]

[Despite seeing a sign that she's gotten through, Naminé does not push her advantage.]

I couldn't, either.

[It's quiet, just barely too strong to be a whisper.]

It would have been bad enough for anyone to say those things, but from someone like that--

[Her anger seethes and boils in her chest, but she clamps the lid down and holds it there and soon enough it burns itself low.]

... He had no right.

[tongue3y3s]

No, he didn't. [she growls, just a little, in the back of her throat, and then she... deflates. Sighs.

... Tenatively reaches over to pat a little clumsily at Naminé's hand. (How do you non-romantic comfort, even?)]

[lethechained]

[It's... sort of strange, seeing Terezi like that - but less so, perhaps, for Naminé having seen her ill. Still-- while this may be less destructive, it's not pleasant seeing her unhappy in any sense.]

[She doesn't jump when her hand is patted, but she does look down, quietly surprised.]

[... Huh. Is that-- is Terezi trying to make her feel better? It's a peculiar thought, somehow, but--]

[Well. She raises that hand slightly, turning her palm upward and spreading her fingers. It's an offer, but not one Terezi has to take.]

The others know it, too. Plenty of people will be very unhappy with him, and he has to live with that. [Cold comfort, but comfort.]

[tongue3y3s]

[Before Asgard, she'd never really... done stuff like this before. But Terezi tentatively lets her hand settle over Naminé's and wraps her fingers clumsily around, huffing quietly through her nose.]

He would have died with it, if I'd had any say, [she claims, bitterly.]

[lethechained]

[No surprise to Naminé, after having been around enough trolls and given enough evidence of their culture. It's something she's quite capable of relating to, given her own situation - but she's learned the value of things like this for the sake of comfort (mostly for the sake of comfort), and she curls her own fingers neatly in, holding very gently. Her skin is as recluse-soft as always.]

I know. From what I understand, he... probably would have had it coming. [Not just for the insult; her moirail told her a few other, even more despicable things.]

[A beat.]

... Did you actually stab him in the face, or were you aiming for somewhere else?

[tongue3y3s]

Um.

Did I say I stabbed him in the face?

[A short laugh.] I stabbed him a couple places, actually! Unfortunately he had regeneration.

[lethechained]

You mentioned it being what Sollux might want.

[The amendment is off-handed, and she moves on quickly.]

I see. [Regeneration, then.... Good to know. (Not that she accepts the price of that knowledge.) Good to know, also, that Terezi at least held her own enough for that-- even if this still isn't something Naminé condones.]

It sounds like you handled yourself well. [A pause.]

[When she speaks again, she does so very carefully.]

I still don't think it was wise to fight him, or that it would be to do it again, but--

[If her eyes dart to the side and back again, that's nobody's business - just like what she's about to say.]

... if you ever have no choice... [Because she knows, she does, that Eridan was responsible for some trouble of a violent nature in the past.] ... it might be better to try to decapitate him.

[tongue3y3s]

[It takes her a second, but Terezi's lips spread into a furious grin.] Trust me, I tried! He was just really quick with the, um.

... harpoon. [Oops.]

[lethechained]

--....

A harpoon?

[That's awful--]

Why did he have a harpoon?

[Why would you attack someone who had a harpoon--]

[tongue3y3s]

[She didn't really know about the harpoon until she got there.] Well... he's a seadweller. He hunts with them. [Said like it's obvious. Duh, Naminé. Keep up.]

[lethechained]

[Excuses, excuses.]

There isn't much of a sea around here.

[She gets the point, regardless, and lets out something almost like a sigh.]

I think I understand. But-- [ugh,] that must have been awful.

[tongue3y3s]

[Terezi shrugs.]

I don't remember the pain so well. It wasn't that bad. I stabbed him back.

[lethechained]

I... suppose that's a blessing.

[Which she's kind of trying to count, here, both for Terezi's sake and her own peace of mind.]

But you died. That-- can't have been a very nice experience.

[She's kind of been trying to avoid finding out firsthand, herself.]

[tongue3y3s]

[Terezi shrugs, nonchalant.]

It had to happen eventually. I was pretty good at avoiding it before, but I had it coming.

[lethechained]

[That? Was pretty much the visual and Naminé flavored version of a record scratch.]

You 'had it coming'?

[Thaaaat tone does not indicate that that was something she was glad to hear.]