thecapitol | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who| Orphaner Dualscar and OPEN
What| Dualscar being horrible about death, news at 11.
Where| Central Commons
When| Prior to the funny business in the tunnels
Warnings/Notes| Talk of death, blatant disregard for the feelings of others etc

For the first time in a long time, Dualscar is somewhere other than his own quarters or the training center. Having exhausted himself with endless gym sessions and relentless practice out of boredom, he's begun to seek out something more interesting to him. An array of things even, all of them managing to preoccupy him for the moment.

Human alcohol is strange, but it certainly hits the spot. He's content with the liquor that's been served to him, though he wouldn't be able to name it if he tried. It's pungent and it burns when he swallows it, all the essentials are there. The other object of interest is a cigarette that had been handed to him sometime ago. He's seen people with them, but he's not entirely sure he wants to put it in his mouth. However, without a lighter the desire is pointless. He simply turns it over in his hands a few time and inspects it curiously before tucking it behind his fin.

The most interesting occupation for now is the television. He's stretched all six feet and four inches of himself over a couch, not bothered by the fact that his legs are draped listlessly over the sides. Generally he'd have more concern for appearances, but he's currently far from anyone he cares to impress. Despite his leisurely position, his facial expression is that of an alert and fascinated person. His eyes are glued to the screen as the deaths of fellow tributes are repeated on the screen.

He certainly isn't the jovial sort, but occasionally a particularly humorous death will have him snorting into his drink. He clearly isn't the empathetic sort, that much is obvious through only a few moments of observation.

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A shadow falls across him when the Signless leans on the back of the couch, looking at the screen with a very different expression.

"I don't see what's funny."

Also, he sees that fucking cigarette. You stop that, Dualscar, you stop that humankin bullshit this instant.

The shadow doesn't distract him at first, but when it starts talking it's quick to bother him. He crinkles his nose instantaneously, shifting up a bit so he isn't in such a vulnerable position.

"And they say I have no sense of humor." He scoffs, letting a wicked grin break his unimpressed expression as another tribute falls to their death in a hopelessly tragic manner. Hi-laaarious.

"Oh, you certainly have a sense of humor, Orphaner. It's just not a very good one."

He winces as the tribute on the screen dies, averting his eyes to look down at the back of the couch instead. It wouldn't be as bad if they didn't show it, didn't focus on it so lovingly and edit it to be as visible as possible.

"You wouldn't find it half as funny if it were you."

Dualscar disregards the comment in favour of scrutinising Signless as he averts his eyes. His own eyes narrow in response, looking quite obviously judgemental of the other troll's soft hearted reaction.

"Is that meant to guilt me, dirtscraper? Am I meant to feel the error in my ways thanks to your bold wisdom?" He rolls his eyes, fixing his eyes on Signless. It's increasingly apparent that Signless just talked his way into an uncomfortable place to be, but Dualscar isn't quite in the mood to lash out.

"Do you have a particular desire to be bothersome or does it come naturally to you?"

"I think it's a mix of both. It comes naturally to me, so I use it, as one would any other skill."

A scream echoes from the television. He winces again.

"I just think it's hypocritical of you to laugh at others' pain when you would likely want everyone to take your own suffering very seriously and feel sympathy for you."

Eridan's gotten used to seeing odd looking people in the Capitol. He wasn't really sure if people was always the proper word, because some of them definitely looked more like a person than others, so. There's that.

So when he spots the troll he's not too thrown. He's different from all of the other ones in a very obvious way, and Eridan's eyes are immediately drawn to his fins. He's immediately intrigued. Time to go make a friend.

Or foe.

Foe is more likely.

"What sort a' purpose do your fins serve?"

Can't a troll watch an endless stream of murder without being interrupted? Apparently not. Dualscar turns to give Eridan a disgruntled look, not bothering to shift much out of his comfortable position for a human.

He's not sure if he's seeing things or if the human truly does bear a resemblance to him. He's hardly going to see similarities in just any of these soft skinned weaklings, but he's not going to assume any further. It must be coincidence.

For all that he's annoyed for being bothered, he still intends to answer the question.

"None of your business." Just without any sincerity or helpfulness whatsoever.

Edited 2013-09-15 10:33 (UTC)

No. No he can't.

Eridan frowns, and he feels like he's being scrutinized. Which, quite frankly, is another thing he's used to, but it's still unsettling to get eyed by a troll who looks kind of like his father.

It's kind of creepy how much he looks like family. Grey, horned, and finned family, but family nonetheless.

"Are they used in communication?" He's going to press on until he gets an answer. He's fascinated. "You're an aquatic subset a' troll, right?"

As if unintentionally answering Eridan's questions, Dualscar's fins flatten as the boy persists on his curiousity quest. He looks increasingly annoyed, enough to push himself up into a sitting position.

"Obviously." He retorts, snarling a little as he does. "Say.." He begins, giving Eridan a perfectly innocent stare as he does. "How about you answer a question of mine and I'll consider indulgin' you." He beckons for him to come closer, as if he wants to keep this between not-family.

Plus one to the inquisition. He shuffles around to the other side of the couch, hesitantly sitting next to the troll. Not too close, but definitely within reach.

"I think you've already done a pretty good job a' answerin' my question." But he does want to know what question the troll has, so he'll indulge him right back. "But what do you want to know?"

Dualscar remains silent as Eridan moves, taking a long swig of his drink before placing it down on the table beside him. He closes a bit more of the distance between them, once again implying he's aiming for discretion.

"Wonderful." His tone is dry, almost as if the fact that he's been helpful makes him annoyed. "I wondered..." He begins, snapping a hand out and grabbing Eridan's ear, tugging him closer with one sharp movement. "Is this the purpose these serve?"

He's almost excited by the attention. An alien - albeit a freakishly familiar looming alien - showing interest in him? He could probably learn so mu-

The hold on his ear hurts, and he lets out the least dignified squawk. That hurt! "No! Let me go!" Please, before he starts flailing.

The squawk is all he needs to know his job is done here. He simply wanted to let Eridan know he isn't here to entertain him or be any sort of company.

He rolls his eyes, giving him a dirty look and another once over. "What's your name?"

He rubs at his ear, trying to look as hurt as he possibly can. Somehow, he knows Dualscar will have no remorse.

He grumbles, looking suspicious. "Eridan Ampora," he manages to bite out, but he still lacks any real venom.

Step two of befriending the big tall murderous fish troll initiated.

If he's going to have any chance at surviving the next arena, it's important that he gets everyone as on his side as he can. So with Dualscar on his good side and with Eridan's help, he might very well have a better chance at not getting horribly injured right off the bat. Mostly though, he just doesn't want this big asshole to consider him an enemy. Even common sense would dictate that that would be a really bad thing.

So he makes his way into the common area, staying back a little to get a sense of what kind of mood Dualscar is in. It's only when he hears him laughing that he figures maybe the troll is in a decent mood. So he steps forward.

"Laughing at other people's pain and suffering is a really cliche thing for a troll," he says, though he sounds like he's just kidding.

Suffice to say, Dualscar is still perplexed by the human's seemingly stubborn intentions of forming an alliance. Perhaps it's because he's in a more amiable mood coupled with the fact that the past few days have been lonely, but he has considered allowing some sort of truce to form between them. Of course, it does help that Dirk seems far less bothersome than a great deal of others he's encountered, he doesn't feel the need to punch him nearly as much as he does generally.

He can't help frowning as he approaches, social butterfly that he is. He's pertubed by the fact that he hadn't heard him at all and his single fin twitches to express his displeasure.

"Perhaps amongst other, more sophisticated trolls." He sits up a little, not enjoying being vulnerable. "The ones gathered here seem to share contrary opinions." Which poses a question.. "I wasn't aware you were familiar with trolls."

Dirk takes it upon himself to sit next to the troll, acting as if it's no big deal. Really, it isn't that big of a deal to Dirk. He's trying to act as casually as possible so that Dualscar doesn't think he's afraid of him or something. The last thing he needs is Dualscar to think Dirk is weak or anything like that.

He does note that Dualscar is missing a fin, a fact that has him really curious. Apparently someone must've attacked him and gotten a good hit in.

"I know a lot more about you than you would think," he says. "Your Empress took over my planet."

Dualscar looks suspicious as Dirk ever so casually continues to invade his privacy with what he claims are offerings of friendship and alliances. Unfortunately, he already thinks Dirk is weak, but he has no reason to think otherwise. He tends to assume the worst of people until proven otherwise.

He gives him a sly grin at his answer, seeming all too pleased with it. Though, of course, that suspicion brims again and he narrows his eyes at Dirk. "And you intend to take your bitter feelings out on me next arena, I take it." He scoffs. "My loyalty lies with hers, you'd be better suited to the morons with their peaceful desires."

Dirk holds up his hands in a sort of surrendering motion, shaking his head. "Nah, don't be ridiculous. It would be utterly ridiculous of me to try that, and so would expecting your loyalty not to be with her." Right here and now, the whole Earth getting destroyed by her seems really small. "That's the past. This is the present. I think your brute strength and my intelligence would go well together."

After a brief pause, he continues, "I don't hold your Empress against you, by the way. Actually, I respect you. You might be a savage, but you're not an idiot. And I'm not suggesting a permanent alliance, either. It would be really stupid to think something like that would hold. But we shouldn't kill each other when given the first chance, either."

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