Signless was wondering outside the cave, where him and his guardian lay, looking out about at the Alternian skys. When he felt a hand on his shoulder, he was startled, and instantly turned around to face whomever was behind him.
He smiled when he came to find out it was his lusus. Though, she seemed a bit concerned, and worried. She wanted him to go out into one of the nearby villages. She says one of her friends has recently left something there for her, and she was told to retrieve it as soon as possible. Explaining what it was to Signless, he smiled and nodded, making sure he grabbed his small sickle, before walking off into the villages.
This village was quiet, a small, green blooded one. Most of the people were olive bloods, maybe a few jade, one or two, and a rare find of a lime blood. He followed his instructions, taking a left at this corner, then a right at another, until he reached a small opening near a run down building. There, he found a letter, a basket, and a box. Not knowing what each thing contained, he still not dare to open anything. He knew his guardian would get on him for it, and he did not enjoy his lusus's company when she was angry.
When he began walking back out of the village, he got a few stares from most of the people he passed, especially one from this girl, probably around his same age. Her stare seemed to last the longest. Right when he was about to exit, his arm was grabbed, and he was pulled into what seemed to be a... dark alley of some sorts?
The person who grabbed him... well, let's just say he was surprised at how much he had to crane his neck to look up at him, and let's just say he himself was pretty damn terrified. He blinked a few times, trying to pull away from the grip, but it was just getting tighter. Before he was able to speak, that's when the mystery troll decided to finally speak up.
"What ya' doin' all the way over here in this green blooded village, motherfucker? TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING? Picking something up it motherfuckin' seems eheh. WHAT'S IN IT?" the troll says, and his tone is very annoying, something the Signless noticed the first time he began basically screaming into his ear.
It takes the Signless awhile, before he is finally to speak, still recovering from his short termed hearing loss. "I do not know what the contents are, but... I would appreciate it if you would not take it from me, or touch it. I barely know you and you know nothing of me. Maybe we should talk, and get to know each other, before you end up screaming once again with the damned voice of yours and trying to take my goods."
That made the mystery troll chuckle, before he released his grip on the Signless, hoping he would not run away. The Signless stayed put, before he sat down on the muddy ground, patting the spot next to him. "Here, you sit here. Alright? And then we can tal-" the mystery troll sat down with a thud and a snicker, looking over at the Signless with still grey eyes, only slightly rimming with he thought to be... indigo?
Signless knew now, at least this troll was somewhere around his age, if not a bit older. He was glad his own eyes had not began to fill in as of now, since he knew this troll was of a higher colour of blood... his mutant blood colour might be a problem to this troll he had met.
The other troll clasped his hands in front of himself, and grinned. "SO, are we gonna talk or are you just gonna' stare off into my gods know what?" he asked, and the Signless looked up at him, before smiling and offering his hand. "Sure, we can talk. Well, at first my name is Carmin. What is your name?"
When the Signless offered his hand, the mystery troll was not sure if he were to shake it or not. He unclasped his hands, and grabbed onto Signless's, shaking it was a nice, strong, and firm grip. "I don't like my name, just call me Grand." he said, and there was an obvious strain to his voice as he tried to not fluctuate. "It's been an... experience meeting you, Grand. Haha." the Signless responded with, trying to pull his hand away from the grip, that just wouldn't seem to give.
After what seemed to be a pretty long pause and pretty long silence, the Signless felt Grand's grip falter, as he pulled his hand away, and quickly put it back at his side. "So..." he began with, looking down at his lap. "What is it like to be a highblood?"
Grand looked down, smiled, and then shrugged. "I dunno. Supposing you dunno either, haha. But, if you talkin' about my experience being a highblood, I dunno still. I'm young, only eight sweeps. Got a whole motherfuckin' world out there, shit needs to be explored. I know as a highblood, I got to deal, haha, deal with motherfuckers like you, if you catch my drift, but that's when I get older. I got to go through this whole motherfuckin' ritual, subjuggulator style."
The Signless listened to him speak, but when he talked about being a subjuggulator, and 'dealing' with trolls, he scooted away a bit, and looked over at him with wide eyes. His guardian has told him many times about subjuggulators, but he has never met one. It took him awhile to actually speak, once again, but soon, as he even tried to speak, he ended up stumbling over his words. "That... that sounds interesting." he whispered.
Grand noticed how strange he was acting, and cocked his head to the side, narrowing his eyes. He then found the problem, and busted out laughing slapping his own knee a few time as he laughed. "Don't worry man, if I ever see you again, I'll be sure to spare your motherfuckin' ass. Now, I've been wanting to ask, but what's yo' blood colour?" he asked, and the Signless froze up, before scratching the nape of his neck and smiling. "Red." was all he said, not maroon, and not going on about bright, bright candy red. Grand stopped laughing, and poked Signless, or, well, Carmin in the chest, "That's pretty damn low, bro. No wonder you don't show no symbol or colour in the green blooded village. Motherfuckers might get you down right here and now. But, you seem cool, I wouldn't do that to ya'." he said, and Carmin had an uneasy smile.
"What's it like to be a lowblood?" Grand asked, feeling it was appropriate. The Signless huffed, before looking at Grand, in his eyes, and then down to the mud they sat in. "Well... it is not easy, you see, Grand. Most of the lowblooded villages, lower than green, like brown and yellow and red, have all been demolished, by highbloods, going around and culling everyone in sight. I usually get away, with my guardian but... we have ended up living elsewhere than villages. They do not seem safe, and the horror just, it just, I-"
"Bro, calm down, gods." Grand interrupted with, pressing a finger to Carmin's lips. Carmin blinked, and pulled his hood up, sighing. "I am sorry. It's just... terrible. I cannot believe I am sharing it with you, honestly... just, please? Please tell me you at least won't do that. Other trolls have hives too, and lives, and villages, and, and-" Carmin knew he was crying at this point, and that wasn't good. His tears were a straight pink, and if Grand saw, he wouldn't know what the other would do.
He quickly wiped his eyes, sniffled, and covered his face with both of his hands, diving his head down into his lap. Grand was giving the boy odd looks, for sure, but he didn't want the troll to cry. He put a hand on the others back, and let his hand gently, and soothingly, rub at his back. "Hey, hey man stop crying, I won't." That was probably a lie, but whatever it took to make the troll happy, he would do, for some odd reason.
The Signless looked over at Grand, before sitting back up straight, and hearing his back pop once. He winced, and wiped his hands onto his pants. "Thank you, Grand." he whispered, making sure none of his tears were visible before he looked him in the eyes.
Looking him in the eyes was bad, though. Or so it seemed bad, because right when he looked him into the eyes, there was an awkward tension that filled the air, before Grand leaned forward, and nuzzled his cheek against Carmin's. Carmin thought the action was a bit awkward, but if anything comforting. He smiled, and nuzzled Grand back, before pulling away from the affection, to find both of them grinning.
And that's how they started being pale mates.
