the Prince of Hope

[ Eridan wastes no time and makes like sheep to get the flock inside. That being said, once he is safely inside the building, he makes haste to return the blanket to Country Japan.]

[He holds the blanket out to Japan while brushing his person clean of dust. Upon further inspection we see a small sack cradled under Eridan's arm. He checks to make sure his gun is indeed still on his back and not thieved by Japan. Japan. Fondly regard being free to stare.]

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[Japan will just take the blanket and fold it slowly]

It is no trouble... Ah, CG-san chose a room just after the staircase this way. [he points] Mine happens to be just before it, so I will leave my blanket there before accompanying you to draw that map.

[this is all so fascinating...]

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[Actually he does, he's just not used to having all day to himself. Regardless he makes his way up the staircase to where Country Japan told him to go.]

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[ GUESS WHO'S ANGRILY OPENING THE DOOR.

WITH ANGER.

If you guessed Karkat, you are right. Because Benfromlost is not an angry penguin creature. He is in fact chilling elsewhere in the apartment. Karkat is still all bandaged up, but he's managed to magically repair his shirt. ]

[ He glances at Japan, his expression slightly less angry. ]

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[Japan had simply tossed the folded blanket next to the door before returning to the hallway to walk over and stop at the next one. There, he sees angry Karkat. And.

That sort of greeting. Um.]

Ah... t-thank you.. I believe. CA-san requested a map, so I will do my best...

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[He just pushes past Karkat. WITH ANGER. Flipping his cape in a very hipster like fashion to indicate in the morse code of hipsters that he doesn't give a motherfucking shit on what Karkat thinks.]

[WITHOUT FURTHER WARNING Eridan slings his gun into a proper shooting position and fires his gun at some random object in the apartment. It leaves a small burn mark on whatever the hell he just shot instead of disintegrating like it should have done.]

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[ SITTING ON A COUCH IN A VERY ANGRY FASHION. His mood doesn't get any better when Eridan decides to burn an endtable. Good job, jackass. It's probably on fire. Karkat is unamused. ]

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[Japan will just be. Walking in and staring at that fire. If he looks nervous HE IS okay he died in a fire he recalls this and does not want to relive it.

So he will be over here far from the endtable, pulling out some sketch paper that I never mentioned he grabbed from his room. And a pencil. Shut up he grabbed that too.

He starts drawing for now -- pretty well! kind of like how you'd expect anime backgrounds to look -- but glances over. he wants to know if Eri and Kar are their names. Seriously.]

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[Eridan pays no heed to the small fire. He's had worst fires happen. Like his husktop exploding in his god damn face. He throws his legendary piece of shit to the ground along with the sack and storms off in search of water]

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[ Karkat doesn't pay attention to it either and pretty much ignores Japan too. Go ahead and stare. Karkat is busy bonding with his fellow boy troll. (By bonding I of course mean standing up to shove him in the direction of the bathroom.) ]

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[This is when Japan can't stand the ignoring of the fire anymore, quietly slides out to grab a bucket from a closet or something... I DON'T KNOW. HE WILL FIND A BUCKET. Are there janitor closets...

Whatever. Water to that fire.]

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[And then in a hushed voice.]

[DISREGARD PREVIOUS WHINING ABOUT HOW HOT HIS SKIN WAS TWO SECONDS AGO TO STARE AT COUNTRY JAPAN.]

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[ Karkat also stops to stare at the bucket, wide-eyed. His hands immediately fly to his scowling face to cover himself, just in case he's flushed at all. He's not, luckily. Whispering right back to Eridan: ]

[ Karkat will be slightly more productive, step towards Japan, and start flailing at him. ]

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[Japan will just be over here, completely confused. Startled to the max. And stepping away from any flailing, wow stop that!!]

W-what?! What sort of-- I do not understand! Have I done something wrong?!

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[Eridan also steps forward and flails at Japan.]

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[ I can't come up with a clever reply so smacking Japan's arm. ]

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T-the pail?!

[OH IS THAT WHAT THEY ARE FREAKING OUT ABOUT. UM. TOSSES IT. BACK INTO THE HALLWAY. AND CLOSES THE DOOR.]

I-is it alright now!? Is it fine?! I do not understand what sort of-- ahh, I was merely putting out the fire...!

[oh yeah I forgot to mention for Karkat's sake that Japan has a black eye now BUT NOW YOU KNOW. it might go unmentioned anyway but still.]

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[And covering his face, Eridan quickly runs off to the bathroom. Embarrassed by grandpa Japan country. He leaves Karkat up to the explanation or the lack of an explanation. brb crying purple tears in the bathroom.

Actually he's not crying so much as just frowning.]

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[ Jeeze you blubbering pansy, and here Karkat was about be all sympathetic and pat your shoulder and shit. So much for that.

YOUR BLACK EYE DOESN'T TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE PAIL SITUATION SORRY JAPAN. Karkat is glaring and probably twitching in barely-restrained rage/embarrassment. It isn't made better when Karkat finally processes that Japan has no idea what's going on. Of course he wouldn't. Stupid cultural exchanges. ]

[ Clearing his throat. He legitimately looks embarrassed and awkward. ]

[ Hiding his face in his hands THIS IS SO AWKWARD. ]

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[Just staring. And staring. Trying to process. O-oh..... Oops...

He'll bow a few times, suddenly embarrassed, himself! Despite not really understanding how it works, he at least has sympathy okay.]

M-my deepest apologies! It will not happen again! Forgive me!

[And after some of that, he will just flee to his paper and start sketching. G-go on Karkat!!! Go help your troll buddy!!! Or something! Japan's not sure what's supposed to go next. Sob. He is trying his best. These trolls are weirder than westerners. Oh god.]

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[Eridan in the meantime is washing away his embarrassment in the bathroom. And by washing away I mean he is basically dunking his face into the water and screaming into it. Hoping the cuttlefish in the sea can hear his teenage angst. It isn't so much the pail incident that brought this outburst on but his frustration with everything. Why is being a teenaged troll such a hard life. Whyyy.

He sits down to the side, trying to cool his burning face. He wishes there was some slime to sleep in, it'd be pretty soothing to all their problems right about now. But alas, there is no slime so he has to suck it up and behave like a big troll. Which he does. Poorly.

God he is such a blubbery asshole.]

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[ Such emotional theatrics. Karkat can't even bring himself to pity Eridan when he's behaving like this. He's just fucking annoying and it embarrasses him more to be associated with such a tool than the pail incident. ]

[ Andddd now going to kick the bathroom door. ]

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[He barges open the door and, sure enough, there are no purple streaks lining his face, just water rolling off his clammy skin. Shoving a little at his fellow boy troy which is physical body troll language for 'fuck you and back off you fucker'.]

[Even if it wasn't Japan's fault. He'd shoot him.]

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[staring at Eridan]

I understand. Ahh, I will do my best to avoid such things in the future.

[UM. DRAWS MORE MAP.]

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