[ Action || Cafeteria ]

[bentbowarcher]

[Equius felt a little off all day. There was just some minor detail about his day that was just a bit irregular, but no matter how hard he puzzled, he just couldn't quite put his finger on it. It was confounding, but if he couldn't figure it out, it must not have been too important, right

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[ageaaquarius]

[What is with everyone being freaked out today? He decided to join the other troll with his coffee, something that he realized he was starting to enjoy.

He didn't even know why, but whatever. It was really fuckin' good and truthfully that's really all that mattered.]

Hey Equ', you gonna continue to stare at your food or are you actually gonna eat it?

[bentbowarcher]

I'm full. You may have the rest, if you like.

[The words are automatic, spoken without any inflection. He's just... too stunned to really react to the seadweller's presence]

[ageaaquarius]

Oh.

[He was tempted to reach over for it, but he was more wondering about his current condition.]

Are you gonna be okay?

[bentbowarcher]

I will manage. I have always felt that my STRENGTH should not be how I define myself, after all. [Shrugs his shoulders and looks up at Eridan] I'll not die from being weak, at any rate.

[ageaaquarius]

Well, that's nice to know.

[Sip.]

Wait. [He sets down the cup.] What are you goin' on about? I thought you bein' freakishly strong was the thing that defined yourself.

[bentbowarcher]

It is a physical state of being, something that I was born with, and one that is beyond my control. To tie my entire existence and self-worth to something so unstable would be foolhardy. I am a blueblood, first and foremost, and it is to those standards of thought and behavior that I bind myself. I do not need physical strength to be happy; so long as I have strength of conviction, I will endure all.

[ageaaquarius]

[This look, Equius. Just... this look.]

Okay, so how does this tie in with how different you're actin'? Come on, Equ', work with me here.

[bentbowarcher]

[He's just going to give Eridan a small shove. One that would have normally sent him flying from his seat into a wall, but now it only just... nudges him a little.]

[ageaaquarius]

[OH GOD FLINCHI--- wait.

what.

... WHERE'S THE DEATH?? There's no death.]

Now I get what you've been sayin'. This is real fuckin' weird. Vri' lost her horns, an' now this.

Well... shit.

[bentbowarcher]

Normally, I would reprimand you for the use of such deplorable language, however, it seems to accurately encompass my general thoughts on the situation. Mind yourself around Nitram, as he's the one now in possession of my STRENGTH.

[ageaaquarius]

Number one, you wouldn't do a damn thing about it.

Two, yeah. I'll totally stay away from him. I wouldn't want to be killed by a low blood. That'd be such a shame, of all things I could a been killed from.

[He sighs, standing up. What is he doing...]

And, since you're not gonna kill me where I stand if I do this, I might as well make the most outta what I'm about to do.

[bentbowarcher]

.......What?

[Oh god, if Eridan's going to do what he thinks he's about to do...]

[ageaaquarius]

Nothin'. Nothin' at all.

[Doop doop. Watch him go, getting on his knees and... Embracing him like a bro.

Your name is Eridan Ampora, and you've now reached new levels of being a complete tool.]

[bentbowarcher]

[ . . . ]

[ . . . ]

[ . . . ]

[...oh]

[this is]

[nice]

[Here, Eridan, have Equius sort of, shakily, hesitantly, hugging back.]

[Then burying his face in the crook of your neck and clinging when you don't break in his arms]

[ageaaquarius]

[Why isn't he freaking out? Or like... why is he clinging back? This was not how he planned this hug to go. He thought that he was going to get angry and sweaty and everything else but not kill him. Returning the hug not only put him as confused out of his mind, but damn was he blushing.

This is different. All that he can really muster is an awkward back pat. The affection's nice, just... really sudden.]

[bentbowarcher]

[No one's really ever hugged him before. Or rather, as he gets plenty of tacklepounces and such from Nepeta, he's never been able to return the gesture, and no one else tends to come close to him. This is the first time he's ever gotten to hold a person, so if Eridan doesn't mind, he's just going to sit there and breathe heavily, trying not to cry from the sheer joy of physical contact.]