September / October Test Drive

[soulmods]

Test Drive Meme

Prompts Arrival: So you've just arrived in Nyoi-Cho. Congratulations! You must be so excited about having your wish granted. Or maybe you're upset that the result wasn't quite what you expected? If that's the case, then that's too bad! There are no take backs and no redoes, so you're stuck with what you have! Maybe you should have been more careful about how you worded that wish... Oh well. There's no use in dwelling on it. You're a magi now, and that means adjusting to a whole new lifestyle! Maybe one of the townspeople can help you out. Only... they're acting a bit strangely, aren't they? They're all too happy to show you around, but there's something unsettling about the way they're behaving. Almost cheerfully dissonant. Any questions about the history of the town are met with blank stares and brief silence, before they plaster a smile onto their faces and change the subject. Any attempts to tell them about your duties as a magi or anything else that relates to the magical will get similar reactions. Isn't there anyone normal here that you can talk to at all? Home Improvement: The houses that the magi are given access to really are something, aren't they? There's almost no limit to what they can do! Why don't you create the house of your dreams, or maybe recreate and relive your favorite childhood scenes? Invite some spectators over to marvel! A Corrupted Soul Gem: You neglected to take care of your soul gem, and now you don't feel quite yourself anymore. You feel like you're losing your sense of self - all you seem to be able to focus on is your old regrets and past failures. What's happening to you? A Day in the Life: Everyday hero by day, magician by night! You've got a busy day ahead of you and no time to waste! Maybe it's school, or maybe it's work, maybe it's both! Being magical doesn't make you exempt from paying those shopping bills! May Day: Uh-oh. This magical girl stuff looked easier on TV. You're in some serious trouble! Or maybe you see someone else who is! It's time to pull up your socks and show them what you have. Be the hero you've always wanted to be, or give in and be that damsel in distress. There's no shame in needing a little help now and then. A Successful Mission: Congratulations! You met up with your first Nightmare, and you fought valiantly. You even mastered that tricky power of yours! As if in response to your masterful victory, you feel as though you've unlocked a new power. What sort of power did you get? Is it a useful one, or is it not so useful? Maybe you've mastered it beautifully, and now you're showing off to all of your friends. Maybe you're having a hard time keeping it under wraps, and now you're wreaking havoc across the town without meaning to! A Dreadful Nightmare: You had an absolutely horrid day. As you drift off to sleep, your mind dwells on all the injustices you've had to endure. In response, your bed swallows you up, and your room shifts into a horrific Nightmarescape. What sort of Nightmare are you? What kind of Nightmarescape do you create? Hopefully your fellow magi can stop you before you cause too much damage! Wildcard: Feel free to use any information from the FAQ or the World Info page to make your own prompt!

Comments

[nauticalnightmare]

Eridan may have become a slightly better person over his time exposed to so many supporting factors in his life, but one thing none of them ever managed to help him improve was his patience. Said Patience that Captor was seriously fucking testing right now, saying something like that and then refusing to even respond in a timely manner.

There's annoyance on his features quickly forming, a growl barely held back, and if he hadn't been trained by Dualscar to pay attention to the enemy's every movement, look for every sign of what they may be plotting, he would be more careless and not paying attention at all. But unfortunately for Sollux, the prince was watching him closely while waiting for a proper answer. He sees that irritation shift, and when it doesn't immediately become more angry, instead looking confused and scared of whatever it is going through his thinkpan, it has Eridan tensing and narrowing his eyes for an entirely different reason.

He's well aware things aren't always what they seem on the surface, Shibusen's bullshit was enough of a learning experience there, but there's something Sollux is hiding from him, and he hates being kept in the dark on important matters. And if it's something that can make any troll, much less one as annoyingly stubborn and self-centered as this prick, it's something to be concerned of.

"Sol. Wwhat the fuck happened?"

He doubts he's going to get an answer, knows that if he shows any mocking like he would in any other situation, if this was one of their more entertaining but better arguments, he would, but in a new world being the only trolls, he should be professional about this. Like Dualscar would want him to be, the perfect soldier in a time of uncertainty when information was being withheld.

[psionichax0r]

Eridan is right about one thing: he isn't going to get an answer. The fact that Eridan doesn't immediately insult Sollux back makes him angry, and the fact the seadweller has the intelligence to understand something has happened does even more so. Behind it all is a sense of desperation Sollux can't help but feel from the memories he's trying so hard to forget. He needs to fight right now, he needs to get angry. Otherwise he's going to end up showing a side of himself he never ever wants Eridan to see.

Sol. What happened? How dare Eridan ask him that. As though Eridan, of all people, would care. Eridan never cared, not about anyone other than himself!

"What happened is I finally thought I was free from dealing with dumbasses like you! But of course that's not the case. Thanks a lot universe you've fucked me over once again!"

His voice shakes. He has to get out of here. He has to leave. He doesn't even want to hear what Eridan might say in response to him. It's clear this isn't the same seadweller who was always so easy to predict. He turns away from the other troll, intent on leaving as soon as he can.

[nauticalnightmare]

It doesn't take the emotional competence he learned from Kaworu or the observation training he got from Dualscar for him to realize something is very fucking wrong with this situation. Something happened to the other troll, something bad, and whatever it is that happened Sollux seems hellbent on not wanting to know. Sollux refused to play Eridan's game when he knocked into him, so why the fuck should he play around with this bullshit the mustardblood's throwing at him?

But, even still, the unease in the air's finally getting to him too, because he's not good at comfort in general, much less with someone like Sollux. He never would have even imagined such a thing would cross his thinkpan, that there would ever be any need for it.

But... A thought comes to mind, a memory. Beyond all their fights, all the shit they throw at each other... When he was at his worst, when he had no sleep for the overwhelming nightmares, it was Sollux who was the one to offer up his own sopor slime to help him, as pissy and ridiculous as he was about offering it. It wasn't just the one from before, not just this one in front of him, but despite everything, they were still part of a team, even if they'd never been friends. They were in the same circle of friends, not quite enemies. So, he can't just let him walk away, not like this.

That leaves Eridan with the only course of action he can possibly take, the only logical one with all this weird, uncomfortable bullshit they've been going through since they met.

The growl he was suppressing comes out as he moves forward, faster than really necessary considering it's not like Sollux was running or anything, and doesn't put any more thought into the situation as he grabs the back of the other troll's shirt and yanks hard enough to hopefully throw the other back down on his ass.

"Did I fuckin' say you could leawe, just like that? I wwasn't done talkin', you cod damn cowward."

[psionichax0r]

This is what he was waiting for. Even as he falls flat on his ass there's a part of him that can't help but feel relieved, even as the rest of him is boiling with rage. He jumps to his feet as fast as he can before rounding on the seadweller. There is no respect for Eridan's personal space as Sollux leans forward, a growl echoing in the back of his own throat as well. Even without his psionics, perhaps Eridan can still feel the crackle of electricity that would normally surround him.

"I don't need your permission!" Sollux shouts, so close some of his spit probably lands on Eridan's face.

[nauticalnightmare]

This is what he was looking for from the beginning, the fight he practically feeds from on a good day. Eridan promptly ignores those god forsaken feelings of concern still nagging at the back of his mind, because that's not them. The caring, worrying, fussing over a hurt comrade. That's not who either of them have ever been, that was Kanaya and Karkat's jobs, not theirs. They were the irritable assholes who start the fights, cause the problems, use violence to solve everything and fuck whatever consequences come along. It's how they work, how they communicate, and that's so much easier than dealing with bullshit feelings.

His sneer turns back into an arrogant smirk, just exuding the aura that he's better than him and knows it, and fully intends to prove it. Even if there's still a hint of concern in his eyes knowing something is seriously wrong, it's easy enough to push back to fall into a more comfortable scenario.

"So you're just gonna fuckin' run awway like a wwimpy little wwiggler? An' here I almost thought you better than that Sol, but I guess nothin' else can be expected from a wworthless fuckin' mustardblood like you."

[psionichax0r]

Sollux doesn't even back up before he starts laughing. "You think I'm running away because I'm scared? What the hell do I have to be afraid of."

And now he's the one to throw out the challenge. He isn't afraid of Eridan, never would and never could be. Even if he did something like Bonnie had, not being afraid of the sea dweller was a matter of principal.

"I'm only leaving because I've got better things to do than stare at a piece of shit like you all night."

[nauticalnightmare]

Those are the words Eridan's been waiting for, and his expression shifts between anger and smug satisfaction, as if he can't decide on which one to be feeling at the moment. A ring-adorned hand shoots out to grab a fist full of the other boy's shirt in front of him, making it so he has to listen to what he has to say whether he likes it or not.

"You're afraid a me findin' out wwhat's got you so fucked in the thinkpan. Wwhat managed to make you such a wworthless piece a shit to run awway at merely mentionin' a memory that had a lot a bad shit wwith it. You wwere gonna wwarn me a somethin' Sol, I knoww you wwere, before you turned awway like a barkbeast hidin' it's tail betwween it's legs to run from wwhatewer humiliation it didn't wwanna face."

His grip tightens as he yanks the other even closer, and to give him a jostle and a reminder he can fight all he wants, but physical combat with the other Sollux he met proved to him in a contest of strength against him, the gemini's fucked. That's why he's not starting a fight, not yet, not unless Sollux is the first one to throw a punch. Because it's no fun to fight someone on an uneven playing field, no matter how gratifying the taste of their blood is.

"So I'm gonna say this an' I'm only gonna say it once, so pull your fuckin' head outta your ass long enough to actually listen to me Sol. I don't giwe a shit wwhat happened to you. I'm not gonna suddenly pity your useless ass for somethin' bad that happened and I sure as fuck ain't gonna look dowwn on you for somethin' that could potentially hawe myself put in danger as well. Wwe're not friends, Sol, understatement a the god damn century there, but wwe are the only ones outta our mutual friend group here, an' that means I got a right to knoww wwhat the fuck could make a arrogant prick like you so fuckin' on edge. Not like puttin' you on edge is wery fuckin' hard considerin' you're the only fuckin' one besides me wwho's got a ridiculous temper on you, but I'm not stupid enough to not tell that this is different than wwhatewer stupid shit there is out there.

So suck it the fuck up, pull yourself out a your owwn stupid fuckin' self-pity party, an' just tell me wwhat the fuck you wwere gonna say in the first place, you stupid fuckin' prick."

[psionichax0r]

His own expression is smug to match Eridan's. Even as Eridan grabs his shirt and pulls his expression doesn't falter. It isn't until the seadweller begins talking that Sollux's expression begins to change. At first he's surprised, though he's careful to hide it, if for only a second as Eridan begins to speak. He's honestly shocked Eridan picked up on so much, but that feeling is short lived. As Eridan pulls him in again, the only thing he's left feeling is anger. His expression shifts from smug back to hate filled as Eridan continues to push him around.

He didn't expect any pity from Eridan, and he didn't want the other troll to feel any pity for him either. Though he'll never admit it, it's respect that he's afraid of losing, both his own and whatever amount small amount Eridan ever gave him. So even though the purpleblood says he won't look down on Sollux, the former psionic simply isn't capable of believing it. Honestly the sentiment has him near laughing.

"You aren't going to look down on me?" Sollux asks with a sardonic grin. He laughs, unable to and unwilling to hide just how funny that is to him.

"You already do! You literally just called me a 'worthless fucking mustardblood' not even two seconds ago!" His grin is sardonic, but as he continues it begins to change to a sneer. The things is, despite how much of a joke Eridan's entire speech is, there were still some things he had been right about. Was it wrong not to tell him? He hesitates.

[nauticalnightmare]

It's gratifying to know that even still, despite the prick's obvious avoidance to responding to his initial attempts at starting a fight, that it had been purely stubborn. Just for show, nothing more than that. Because it's impossible for the two of them to be so close to each other without getting into some kind of an argument. They can try to ignore each others games all they want, but he knows eventually, one of them will crack. Usually him, because he enjoys it far too much, but on some occasions Sollux can be just as guilty of giving in as he is.

The words have him between a sneer and a roll of his eyes, because what kind of an excuse is that?

"Course I called you a wworthless fuckin' mustardblood, cause that's what you'we always been Sol, that's just a fact a fuckin' life. But I fail to see howw the fuck that has anythin' to do wwith you holdin' back somethin' about a place wwhere both a us could be put in serious fuckin' jeopardy simply because you're bein' too much of a stuck up, cowwardly prick to tell me somethin' you obwiously thought wwas important enough to share.

Howw fuckin' retarded are you, Sol? Wwhy the fuck wwould I hawe ewen the slightest black inclinations to someone wwho wwouldn't be wworth my time as a actual wworthy riwal? Opposite end a the fuckin' spectrums aside, you're the only fuckin' asshole wwho's got the balls an' the powwer to match me in a fight, an' that in itself is somethin' I'd like to keep in mind, ewen in this place. Because wwhether wwe like it or not, if wwhat you say is true an' wwere the only trolls in a place that could potentially be a fuckin' danger, ewen the slightest bit a truce could sawe both our hides. Simple fuckin' military tactics, that's all. If there's a greater threat to wworry about, hawe the back a someone you knoww rather than let both a us be taken out by somethin' that wwouldn't hawe stood a fuckin' chance if you'd just get ower yourself an' let me help."

Maybe it was Dualscar's training talking or Kaworu and Signless's urging. Or maybe it wasn't really that at all, but a conglomeration of all he's learned, all he's seen, and the reminder of the pure fear he's felt when he was cornered all alone with the Madness Wave rampaging through the city. How despite being with someone he hated, they knew, more than anything, they had to temporarily be allies if they wanted to get out alive. And as he doesn't know anyone else in this godforsaken place, and doesn't have it in him to blindly trust the unknown, if there's something out that that's a concern, he wants to know he might have at least one person to turn to if he can't handle something himself.

[psionichax0r]

God, he's annoying. Nothing more than a stupid worthless piece of shit. Of course he knew Eridan wanted something black with him, but the seadwelling asshole hit on everyone and anyone, even if they didn't so much as give him the time of day. As far as Sollux was concerned Eridan's 'black inclinations' didn't mean shit. What did mean something was everything else the purpleblood was saying, and as much as his use of the word 'military tactics' has Sollux rolling his eyes he does know if he were going into a fight he definitely wouldn't mind having Eridan by his side.

"Fine! You want to know so bad, here's what I was going to say." He struggles, trying to get out of Eridan's grip so he can stand on his own two feet. "There's some fucking crazy assholes here, more fucked up than you or any troll I've ever met. So if you don't want to get tortured or worse than you need to watch out for them."

[nauticalnightmare]

Tortured or worse. So, that's what the problem was. Someone must have managed to capture Sollux, did something to him, something he couldn't stop without his psionics and likely wound his pride more than his actual body. It makes sense how he tried to run, how he'd want to keep something like that to himself. Honestly, if the same had happened to Eridan, he likely would be just on the violent defensive about it. It's hard to trust even your friends in a world like the one they grew up in, Kar's paranoia was enough of a show of that, much less trust someone who's gone out of their way to give you as much shit as possible the entire time you've known each other.

It's with an annoyed snort he finally releases his hold on the bastard's shirt, taking just a few moments pleasure in a small realization he's taller than the other troll, far too pleased by something so minuscule, but quickly pushes that to the back of his mind as possible fuel for later.

For now, he keeps his annoyance on a more serious topic. "There, wwas that so fuckin' hard? If there's anythin' else that comes up like that again, I say wwe declare a temporary truce, wwhat do you say, Sol? The last fuckin' place I wwas in forced us to wwork together, but lookin' like here they'we got the opposite in mind an' fuck that. Anyone's stronger if they'we got someone wwatchin' their back rather than tryin' to do all a this bullshit they expect from us alone.

I still fuckin' hate you, don't get me wwrong, just as fuckin' platonically as otherwwise, but if there's somethin' here that ewen us trolls can't handle, it'd be dowwn right fuckin' retarded to try an' take things such as this alone."

To think, him, a seadweller, being forced to cooperate and possibly even team up with this insufferable prick of a lowblood. But, desperate times call for desperate measures. And maybe if he shows he can play nice to Sollux, if Signless, Karkat or Feferi happens to show up, maybe this could put them in their good graces so he won't have to try so hard to fight with them over the whole murder incidents. It'd certainly make his life a hell of a lot easier in the long run, that's for damn sure.

[psionichax0r]

Eridan is so calm, and so smug, it's infuriating. Sollux grinds his teeth together as he resists the urge to kick Eridan's fangs in. "It wasn't hard, I just figured maybe you could take care of yourself for once. So shut the hell up and stop acting like your the brains of this fucking operation."

He pushes forward with his hand, shoving Eridan's chest. It's not an attack, but it's certainly aggressive. Platonic he'd said, as though the sea dweller ever kept anything platonic.

"Why should I trust someone like?"