I adore the idea of Aradia and Karkat as partners for some reason, and since they both connect themself to the dead in some way, this idea was born.
Also, my love for Arakar may have helped.
At any rate, this is going to be chaptered, but there's not really going to be a plot. Instead, there are going to be events that connect and take place in the same universe. Eventual mentions of Aradia/Karkat are planned.
Warnings for suicide mention and death mention for this chapter.
~shadowyLearner
Aradia Megido remembers exactly how she died, but the details are fuzzy when it comes to how she became a reaper. She doesn't know if there are actually rules, or if she and Karkat are the only two now. She doesn't know if there are others and, if so, why they haven't reached out to either the Megido or Vantas. All she knows is what reapers are supposed to do – which is collect souls and drop them into the afterlife – and that everything turns out alright. Maybe not in life, but then in death. Aradia also knows that Karkat's always been a tad different, especially from her. Then again, it's said that opposites complete each other, so maybe that's why the two had such a great partnership.
The reaper was on this train of thought when Karkat had informed her of a nearby suicide and of a soul to go pick up.
"You're better with those than I am," Karkat had explained. "You know how to comfort them."
This was true. Karkat preferred to collect the souls of those who were expecting death, those more cold-hearted, the impassive. It was his taste, Aradia decided, and she was better fit for the feeling, the emotional. They completed each other like that.
When Aradia arrived at the body, she was in a hospital. The spirit, a young girl, was crying in the corner of the room, obviously frightened and upset. Aradia had approached the girl cautiously and, after a short conversation, learned she had gone by way of overdose. Aradia had comforted the girl and cut the soul down with her scythe. She didn't have to use a scythe or even cut down the soul – just collect it somehow – but it was symbolic, and anyway, that's what people expected, right? No one liked to die or be struck, but it was a great deal more comforting when it matched your fairytales.
The pieces of the girl's soul were sucked into the weapon's material. After the deed was done and with no danger nearby, the scythe's handle shrunk to resemble a sickle. Aradia deposited it into the shadowy "magic" of the reaper's cloak (it certainly wasn't magic, but there wasn't really a better way to describe it) and headed back.
About halfway to the dimensional pocket she and Karkat shared, her sickle started vibrating violently against her waist. As the reaper drew her weapon, its handle extended. She didn't even have time to look for the threat when a voice called out.
"What's that? It looks interesting!"
The voice was feminine and just to Aradia's left. Its source bounced over energetically. Standing in front of Aradia was what seemed to be a redheaded girl, eyes gleaming a bright bluish green. The girl's hands reached for the scythe's handle, but Aradia drew it back.
"Is it a scythe? What're you doing with one?" asked the girl eagerly.
Aradia held it out in front of her but kept it out of the girl's reach. "Yes, it's a scythe. It's my reaper weapon – or collector, whatever you prefer." Aradia smiled. "And who would you be?"
The girl smirked. "I am Terezi Pyrope, justice in training and dragon expert extraordinaire! But" – here the girl hesitated – "what's a reaper?"
Aradia blinked once, dumbfounded. If this person wasn't a reaper, then how did she survive? Was her soul somehow looked over? What sort of sloppy, dishonorable reaper would let one just drift?
"Um." Aradia found her words. "A reaper is a sort of ghost that collects souls and takes them to the afterlife. Are you not one?" She felt she already knew the answer, but she asked it anyway.
"Nope! I've heard of them, but only in stories and stuff," Terezi answered. Sudden realization seemed to sink in, and the girl's grin faded. "So I really am dead?" Her voice was somber.
The reaper turned gentle. "Yes, I believe so. I've never heard of anyone who was able to see us otherwise. Did you know?"
Terezi Pyrope hesitated but answered slowly. "I've suspected it for a while now, but I didn't want it to believe it." She paused again. "So you were once alive?"
Aradia was once again taken by surprise. "Yes, I was, but I died before this modern era. I actually lived in Europe." She paused. "It seems my accent has faded."
"So how'd you get over here? And become a reaper?"
"Drifted, but more importantly, how did you get out here?" Aradia asked, gesturing to the forest around them.
Terezi's smile returned but this time was bitter, reflecting her tone. "Hanged for fun."
Aradia wanted to ask how because people normally didn't just trip and fall into a noose, but she decided now was not the time.
"But answer my question," Terezi said, "about how you became a reaper."
"I don't know how it happened," she admitted. "I was alive, and then I woke up, and the next thing I knew I was out collecting souls. Worked in my home country, worked on the seas, and then here I am, in America."
"Do you think I could be one?"
The reaper shrugged, becoming more and more used to the unusual. "I don't know, but you probably could. Find a seller, start off with a basic weapon, and work your way up."
Terezi eyed the scythe Aradia was still holding. "Reapers work with more than just a scythe?"
"They can work with anything they get their hands on, if it's enchanted correctly," Aradia answered.
"One more question."
"Fire away!"
"Could you help me get started?"
Aradia did not know what to say. She was a natural reaper and had been chosen specifically for the job. Could Terezi really just waltz up to a dealer and get started? What would Karkat think about Terezi, and what would he do if Aradia came home with her? But surely Terezi deserved a chance? Who knew how many reapers were left? Aradia didn't know the right answer or if there was one, but what came out instead was:
"Sure, I don't mind."
And that was the story of how Aradia Megido met Terezi Pyrope.
