[ Action || Cafeteria ]

[bentbowarcher.livejournal.com]

[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?]

[Perhaps he just needed to eat something.]

[Depositing his things at a table (gosh, he hadn't realized how heavy all those books were until he wasn't carrying them anymore), he got in line and filled his tray with as much food and as many milk cartons as it could hold, as per usual, then sat back down at the table. It wasn't until he was half-way finished that it hit him.]

[He was getting full. He'd gone through three milk cartons without crushing a single one. His silverware was completely intact. Doors hadn't slammed behind him all day. He'd only broken one or two pencils, as opposed to two per class. His books were heavy.]

[His STRENGTH was gone.]

[And he wasn't near as sweaty as he felt he should be for coming to such a startling realization]

[He's just going to stare blankly at his food and try not to panic now]

Comments

[martin-sorvat.livejournal.com]

Equius.

[He steps over, slamming a hand down on the table, causing the whole thing to quake and shake under his hand. he almost jumps a little at first but shakes it off, looking down to the other troll.]

We gotta talk.

[Smirk.]

[bentbowarcher.livejournal.com]

[He's ashamed that caught him completely off gaurd, and consequently, as Tavros's hand slammed down, he jumped and fell out of his chair.]

[This is him blushing while staring up from the floor]

We do?

[martin-sorvat.livejournal.com]

[He smiles, stepping up and over the table, a hand in a pocket as he hops down to the floor on the otherside and leans down, wrapping a single hand around Equius's uniform collar. Yes, they did. Something was up. He... He was breaking things without trying, slamming doors here and there. Without knowing he was getting the strength Equius seemed to be losing. He didn't have it all yet, he wouldn't bruise the other with a slight touch, no, but he certainly could lift him off the ground with a hand, looking up to him with a wide grin, eyes half lidded.]

Oh, yes, we do.

[bentbowarcher.livejournal.com]

[Equius's stomach lurched as he was so effortlessly lifted off the ground, his eyes going wide behind his glasses. Had Tavros always been this strong and he'd just never noticed due to his own immense STRENGTH or was this something new? Something related to his own growing weakness?]

[Gosh, to think of this lowblood having so much power over him... to be helpless before his most passionately hated enemy... It was so wrong. So disgraceful. So depraved. So exquisite!]

Ah... about what?

[martin-sorvat.livejournal.com]

About something I have really, no idea about. But honestly? [Grins, pulling Equius closer, their noses almost touching.]

It's really not THAT big of an issue... I just seemed to wake up as a big six now, smashing cups and bending in door handles. I'd say it's a big familiar, eh? What yeah figure, malchick? [He snickers, dropping the other trollm not caring if he lands on his feet or ass, and pockets his hands going to sit on the table, feet on the seat of it.]

[bentbowarcher.livejournal.com]

[Stumbles a bit as his feet hit the ground, one hand reaching out to steady himself against the table. Yes, that all really does sound familiar, and he's really not sure how he feels about it.]

[No, that's a lie. He knows exactly how he feels about it. He's both excited and terrified, thrilled at the prospect of being able to go a day without breaking anything, and yet to be left so vulnerable, stripped of something he'd simply taken for granted his whole life.]

It certainly seems as though my power is draining into you, yes. How or why, I canter even begin to fathom.

[martin-sorvat.livejournal.com]

Canter? Oh, getting a little on edge are we, droog? Better put yourself on ice before you drown us all. [He smirks, hands leaving his pockets to press on the table behind him, supporting him as he leans back.]

But this does raise a shot lotta questions, eh? I didn't know this place played games on us... Granted bringing us here is a huge game in itself...

[ageaaquarius.livejournal.com]

[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.livejournal.com]

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.livejournal.com]

Oh.

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

Are you gonna be okay?

[bentbowarcher.livejournal.com]

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.livejournal.com]

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.livejournal.com]

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.

[knightofmirth.livejournal.com]

[Suddenly Strider.]

Hey there, bro.

[That feeling, Equius? That pit of dread in your stomach? That may be a bit of Highblood power showing through. It's not on purpose, honest.]

[bentbowarcher.livejournal.com]

[That's awfully presumptive, Strikara. Equius is pretty sure he's not feeling anything resembling dread right now. He does, on the other hand, have a pretty weird boner]

[The overall effect is about the same, anyway]

Ah, hello...

[Why is he blushing?]

[knightofmirth.livejournal.com]

[Oh man, he sees that color. This is the point when he should probably leave, but he's kind of an asshole.]

You look comfortable.

[bentbowarcher.livejournal.com]

[Asshole? Strikara? More like a dumpass in this case. Because Equius is feeling a little like swooning]

[Just going to duck his head, and poke at his food a bit. This is the sort of thrall Gamzee should hold him in, not... this silly, befuddling human]

As comfortable as one can be, given the situation. Is there something you needed?

[knightofmirth.livejournal.com]

[Dumpass is probably right.]

Nah. But what situation would that be, exactly?

[bentbowarcher.livejournal.com]

A combination of your presence and a rather sudden, startling change in my prowess.

[redcinemareel]

The food goes better in your mouth you know~. [Sits right next to him, an apple in her hand.]

[bentbowarcher.livejournal.com]

I have already eaten my fill. [These are his arms suddenly wrapping around hers. because he can, and it's beautiful. he might also be cuddling against her side a bit] I do not seem to require the caloric intake I had yesterday.

[redcinemareel]

[A bit clingy but she will allow this for now. Besides, he's very adorable like this.]

If you're ill, you should rest.

[bentbowarcher.livejournal.com]

I am not ill. [Grell is the best for allowing this. She gets a very faint, but very sincere smile aimed at her] Aside from a sudden lack of my STRENGTH, I feel one hundred percent fine. In fact, I had not noticed the change until recently.

[redcinemareel]

So you've lost your strength... [That sounds odd to her, since that incident in the training center. She plays with his hair idly in thought before smirking.]

Let's have tea.

[bentbowarcher.livejournal.com]

[His crush on you, Grell, you are not helping it. And thankfully, he likes tea.]

That sounds nice. Nepeta likes to have tea parties sometimes. Would you like me to dress up?