Part of Your World (Jade/Eridan)

The end of the game brought changes not only for the four children, but for their world and the trolls as well. The trolls were brought to earth and suddenly it was like trolls had been there all along. They had integrated schools and communities and it wasn't even unusual to see a human mixed up in a troll's quadrants.

Suddenly John's and Dave's and Rose's lives were all just a little different, but Jade's remained the same.

Jade remained on her island home with no one but Bec and the internet for company. After the game ended she lost the ears and gained Bec back, but she retained some of the powers she shared with him. Nothing too big, but enough to help her get by. She continued to grow into a young woman, innocent and pure, untainted by society's pessimism.

She didn't even get to interact with sea-trolls, most were too afraid to venture onto her island because of Bec, so she was forever alone on her island. Doomed to a lifetime of loneliness.

One morning, while on a walk with Bec, she spotted footprints in the sand. At first she shrugged them off as being her own, because who else could have made them but her or her grandfather, and her grandfather was dead. She thought nothing of it until she returned the same way the next day to find a new set after she hadn't been there since the last tide washed them away. Understandably she was confused, and continued to the spot several times over the next few days before she realized that she only found foot prints in the morning.

Venturing out at dusk, Jade set out for the beach, fully prepared to sit there all night if she had to. Luckily for her, though, she didn't have to. As soon as she spotted the beach, she could see a figure coming up out of the foam.

Quickening her pace, Jade hid herself at the edge of the beach, still safely in the tree line, so she could watch, getting her first chance to see someone without a computer screen between them.

It was especially after the game was finished and the rest of the trolls were integrated into human society, that the loneliness that Eridan felt became almost unbearable for him. Of course, the others contacted him every so often, to at least make sure he was alive. But besides that, he was as lonely as ever, Feferi ignoring his invitation to live with him on the coast of a seemly deserted island.

He would go to the surface some nights, and walk along the beach under the single white moon of Earth. The climate on Earth was so much more temperate than the harsh climate of Alternia. So the constant fear of the sun or the wild lusus who lurked in the depths, was strangely non existent.

It was only that one night when he was out walking along the shore did he see a human female figure in the darkness.

Jade bit her lip in fascination as she watched. She'd only seen pictures of trolls before, this was the closest she'd ever been to a real one. Bec remained by her side, his white coat hidden by the forest's shadows.

Eridan walked towards the figure, desperate for some form of companionship. He had only seen humans in some of the historical texts he owned about the history of Earth. His gaze fell on a lusus-type creature that sat by her side, Eridan could only imagine that her lusus was watching him; waiting to see if he was a threat or not.

Jade's eyes widened when she realized that it was coming towards her, that it had seen her and was watching her as it got closer. She gasped softly, taking a step back from the tree.

Bec stood, his head turning towards the sea troll, his hackles raised.

He saw her stumble a step or two back from where she was sitting. Her lusus was tensed up, with its hackles raised and its teeth bared. He raised his hands up in the universal gesture that meant, 'I'm weapon-less, and my motives are not violent'. He watched her curiously for her reaction.

Jade worried her bottom lip between her teeth, looking between Bec and the sea troll. It was close enough now that she could see it was distinctly masculine looking, so it was a boy troll. Or at least she was pretty sure it was a boy troll. He, it, wore thick-rimmed glasses and had a streak of purple in his hair, and he didn't look like he wanted to hurt her.

Glancing one more time to Bec, Jade hesitantly stepped forward to where she had been before, almost hiding behind the tree.

He watched her emerge from behind the tree where she was taking shelter, he was close enough to her that he could see that it was a young woman. She had long hair, a kind face with round glasses. Her expression was of one with unease, but curious all the same. He tried smiling, then he said, "Hello."

Jade worried at her lip a little more before smiling almost shyly. "H-hello" she mumbled, unused to talking out loud. Sure she could, but it had been years since she had someone to talk to besides Bec, who very well couldn't talk back.

Eridan watched the young woman as she returned his greeting. Unsure of what to do next, he answered her by saying, "My names Eridan Ampora" His voice was a little hoarse from not using it for years. He watched her for her response.

Jade smiled a little brighter. "Jade Harley" she mumbled. After a moment of debate, she held out her hand for a hand shake like she had seen in movies.

He was a bit taken back at the hand that was stretched out infront of him. Eridan reached out his own hand and clasped it in the way that he had seen in his books.

Jade smiled, her eyes locked on their hands as she tried to memorize how it felt to touch another sentient being. Sure, his skin felt different from her own, but he was the only other person she's seen.

Eridan felt her smooth small hand in his own, he tried to lock the sensation into his memory as he noticed that he was staring at their hands like she was. A subtle blush crept onto his face, showing his embarrassment, and how she might think he's socially retarded or something like that. He shook Jade's hand slowly, trying to take his hand from her strong grip. Little to his knowledge, that strong grip came from years of experience from shooting guns that ranged from small hand guns to ones that were half her size.

Jade's face fell slightly when she felt his hand slide from her own, but she didn't try and take it back. She worried at her lip again, worrying that maybe he thought she was weird. She couldn't think of anything to say, and she was scared of just saying anything because she didn't want to scare him away.

Eridan watched Jade worry at her lip and looking at the ground. He feared that he might of done something wrong by letting go of her hand, but he knew that if he didn't; than they would have probably staid in the same position until the sun came up. Knowing his unluckiness in situations involving women (any species in this case), he knew that it wouldn't hurt the situation by asking her how she was and trying to find something to discuss. Eridan cleared his throat quickly and proceeded to ask, "Howw are you Jane?"

"Jade" she corrected softly, looking up at him through her lashes. She smiled though, he was close and she couldn't expect him to get it right the first time. "I'm okay. How are you?"

"S-so sorry, I'm usually good with names." He apologized, blushing slightly. He smiled uneasily and answered, "I'm as good as I'll ever be."

Jade's face fell slightly at his answer. "Is that not good?" she inquired softly

"Its neither good or bad, its just the way I am." he answered

"Oh" Jade replied softly. "Um, is there anything I can do?" she asked, worrying her lip again.

"Nothing you can do, unless you'vve got some sorta time machine on you?" Eridan answered gruffly.

Jade smiled wistfully. "I wish I did" she stated.

"But wwe would never suffer the consequences of our actions." Eridan answered tiredly

"But then I wouldn't be stuck alone on this island" Jade mumbled, clasping her hands behind her back and kicking at the dirt shyly.