The Unfortunate Circumstance Called Reincarnation (A Homestuck Earth C fanfic)

Chapter 8 - The Fortunate Support of Respective Family Members

Reader: Kanaya's freaking out too much, be Rose

You squeezed your eyes shut as you felt your shoulder being gripped and shaken. It didn't take long for you to deduce that it was not, in fact, your drunken mother, but your darling wife, trying to force you awake. Her words sounded as though they were echoing through a tunnel long before they got to you, and thus, you were a moment late to respond to her plea. You breathed out slowly as you sat up, glancing toward her with only the most supportive smile you could manage while half asleep. "Dear?"

You felt your expression falter as your eyes drifted to her lips, normally painted with jade, and yet crudely covered in a dripping violet. It took no time at all for you to understand, and your heart missed several beats before you leaned down to her desperate form, to comfort her. You knew you weren't good at this sort of thing, and you were only grateful that she responded so well despite it. You ran a hand through her hair. "It's okay. You don't have to feel bad about this shit anymore."

The noise that next came from her only made you pity her more. It was similar to a choked sob. You lifted her chin, touching your forehead to hers. "It happened so long ago, Kanaya. You were only a child." She seemed comforted for a moment, but after another, her condition only worsened. "He Was Only A Child As Well Rose" She gritted her teeth to the point that her fangs dug into her bottom lip, and you stroked along her bottom jaw in an attempt to relax her so she would not bleed. "He Was Only A Child And Yet I Held Him More Than Wholly Responsible For The Crap He Did For So Many Sweeps"

You shushed her gently, pulling away only slightly to kiss at her forehead. "Of course. He was just as responsible for his actions as the rest of you were. It is really only fair." You were slightly alarmed when she shook her head, glancing off to the side slightly. "I Didnt Think The Same Of Vriska And She Was Just As Bad And I Was Even Less Harsh To Gamzee" You thought you understood. She felt torn up about it. You sighed, rubbing the thumb in her hair idly over the base of her horn in an attempt to comfort her further. "You were frustrated. I know. It's okay."

You yourself were frustrated that all you could do was comfort her. You could kill for her, plead with the gods of the furthest ring for her- you could do so much for her, but she didn't need any of that. "It's okay to hold a grudge," You continued. "it isn't as though he was blameless, either." "He Almost Trusted Me" "And I'm sure you felt the same toward him." You could feel her pause, then, as though it cast a grim weight over everything in the immediate area.

"I Expected Him To Snap But I Expected To Stop Him Sooner" Her breath hitched, and your hand that wasn't preoccupied in her hair immediately went down to rub her back. "I Let Him Have The Weapon Because I Thought He Was Useless I Led Him To Do It Instead Of Helping Then Blamed" You watched her tear fall, before pulling her closer. You didn't even care that it got violet blood on your clothes. Her chest heaved, and you nuzzled up against her, trying to calm her down. "You were all children, Kanaya. You can't say he was innocent on that front, either. Again, I'm sure he'll understand."

She really did seem to calm down then, nodding slowly. You sighed softly in relief.

"And Im The Reason Hes Still A Child Now"

At least she wasn't crying so much anymore. There was less heaving, and more silent tears. You moved your own head up, and lifted hers slightly from its bowing position, kissing over the tear tracks. "We all made mistakes. Some were a lot worse than others. It was fucked up. It'll be okay, dear. You'll be okay." You wished you could promise that he would, but... Well, you couldn't. You would only be promising for her sake, too. It would be nothing short of hollow.

"You Think"

"Of course."

Reader: Switch back to Eridan-- who said his name?

You knotted your hands together as you sat across the table from mother. You could feel her concerned glare on you, and you didn't dare look up. Not because she'd do anything bad but, she'd ask, and you didn't want to answer right now.

"Eridan. Answer the question."

In fact, she already had. You could imagine that your curling in on yourself slightly didn't help her worries. Maybe, just maybe, you could pass it off as nerves.

"wwell i got an invitation somewwhere"

"At four in the morning?"

You nodded slowly. You weren't lying, not exactly. You just weren't being very specific. You weren't sure if she was going to believe you if you told her a Creator invited you to tea, or whatever the fuck you'd end up doing. "yeah i think theyre in a different timezone" This only caused mother to look more perplexed, despite the fact that her mouth wasn't visible while it was closed. "How would they invite you somewhere then??"

You kind of coughed slightly. "ill ask them to message you about it themselvves" You went to reach for your palmhusk, but you were interrupted halfway. "Eridan, you haven't told me what's gone on for so long. I'd like to hear it from you." You grimaced slightly. "methinks you wwouldnt believve me if i told you" You murmured, and she only sighed. "I will."

And so, after a moment bracing yourself, you looked up to meet her eyes. You didn't understand why you were quite so nervous about telling her. Perhaps it was simply because you didn't want to go.

"one a the creators invvited me round" You didn't have to be able to see her expression to tell she would be frowning if she was actually capable. "see i SAID ill just get her to message you"

"No- if you say so, I believe you." You couldn't stop your gaze snapping back up from your palmhusk. You were dumbfounded. "oh really" You raised an eyebrow. You didn't know why it felt so elating for someone to finally listen to you. "Yes. Yes, I'll believe you. I would still like her to message me, though, to confirm details."

You let yourself sigh in relief, nodding as you got back into Vriskagram to type up a quick explanation.

"its appreciated"