John knocked on the door of the hive, grimacing when there was a loud crash and a curse. He tapped his foot against the dirt sidewalk, having gotten directions to the place from a rather sweaty troll. He glanced up at the sun's position, knocking on the door once more before it was opened, throwing John off balance and into the troll.
"Hey John bro, how's it going?"
"Your hive smells like something died in here." John complained, slipping into the hive after pulling away from the troll that had helped steady him.
"Probably," Gamzee shrugged. "I don't often be up and coming here. Karbro told me you would be on coming and here you be, late. Hungry?"
"No, I ate earlier. Er, Karkat said you lived in a dumpster? Also the Maid wants to see you all." John mused.
"I'll be heading on over there soon. And nah bro, I ain't got the time to be living in a dumpster. You be making yourself at home while I be heading out." The troll grinned, ambling out of the still open door, not minding the sun.
John wrinkled his nose at the smell of the hive, looking around at the mess. He jumped when he saw a rat, trying to regain his breath after it disappeared. He trudged through the filth that littered the floor, shaking his head. Piles of empty faygo bottles scattered as John tried to find a window, wanting light as well as fresh air.
The hive was one story, only four doors in the small corridor to the right of John, the hall cast itn shadow as John opened each room, finding a small kitchen on the left, next to a bathroom and two bedrooms, almost bare except for a recuperacoon in each room. The place had an eerie feeling, John feeling alone.
GGGGGGGGG
Gamzee ambled through the streets, finding his way to the castle after a bit. He waved to the other knight, pausing. "We be wanted for a meeting?"
"Yeah, I'll walk with you to the place. Did the air return to your hive?" HE asked. "You could probably use a good, fresh breeze or two in there."
"Yeah yeah, it's getting a good breeze or too." Gamzee grinned. "I'm sure the dumpster needs a good cleaning too."
Karkat rolled his eyes, looking away from Gamzee. "Have you seen our rogue, our witch, our maid, or the prince?"
"The prince landed himself in jail." Gamzee shrugged. "Something to do with our maid's disappearance. Have you be hearing anything from the humans about them leaving our world?"
"god, I wish they could leave. That would be the best thing for them to do. I highly doubt that they would leave though .They could start their own world if they really wanted to. I mean, we could run this one and they could have their own but no, Jane is dead set on running this one because she was the heir to the Crocker empire." Karkat fell silent as a figure joined them, the firelight glinting off cracked shades.
"Nepeta shall not be attending the meeting. She is helping Kanaya in the breeding caverns. The mother grub is having complications. They send their regrets. I shall inform them of what transpired between us." Equius was standing, back stiff, as he looked over Gamzee, words aimed at Karkat.
"Very well. The maid will have to understand that we have issues that pop up." Karkat shrugged, Gamzee grinning at Equius. His make up covered the scars but he could tell Equius was staring at them.
"Karkat?"
The voice caused the trio to move, the fourth figure moving closer. The shadows made it hard for Karkat to pick out who it was, orange robes shifting. "After you meet with the Maide, please join Jade and I. We may have found something that you'll need to see."
"Of course Rose," Karkat replied, rubbing his temples. "I'm running late. Meet me in my room later." he turned, picking up the pace.
Fifteen minutes later, the trio arrived at the meetup place, six others-Eridan in chains-sitting already. "You're late,"
"We had to find Gamzee. Proved a harder task than I originally thought it would have bene. Even with Equius's help, the idiot clown was lost." karkat grumbled, Gamzee grinning at the Maid.
"Very well, take your seats. We're still missing three of you." The maid growled.
"My moirail and the sylph are helping a mother grub currently." Equius responded. "As for the witch, I am unsure of where she is."
"Very well, we'll have to start without them then." Jane turned to look at the trolls. "As you know, Her Imperial Condescension made me the heir to the troll empire. I also hear many trolls complain about this. I have to offer an official challenge to Feferi Peixes in a battle to the death. This is what you would have done in the original world of Alternia, is that correct?" Jane asked.
"Yes," Eridan seethed. "But if you had already kill-"
Jane turned on Eridan, eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to accuse your empress of murdering someone in cold blood?"
"No, that's not what I'm sayin'. Even with those rules, we all reached God Tier in the game at some point. You can't kill us that.." Eridan hesitated, unsure if he should continue.
Karkat glared at Eridan, the prince wrapping his cape in his hands. "Are you saying I wouldn't be able to kill her?" Jane asked.
"Not unless it was just or heroic." Vriska said. "Most deaths while fighting for power are neither."
"YOu would be the one to know that. You died after ascending to God Tier, didn't you?" Jane asked.
"Yeah, you're point?" Vriska asked.
"So, if I were to kill you again, would you die or live?" Jane asked.
"Depends on your reason. Don't see why I would stay dead honestly." Vriska shrugged.
"Then keep your mouth shut." Jane snapped. "Find your precious troll heir and give her my proposal. If she does not show up in three days, I'm killing her on sight. That will be all." Jane turned, leaving the room in a burst of anger.
Karkat watched her leave, shaking his head. "Let's just go meet Rose. Terezi, have you heard anything? I know she's close to Eridan...Eridan, why are you in chains anyway?"
"I may have pissed off Jane because of what happened. I can't say anything but you need to go speak with Rose. She'd be more free to speak. I'm going back to my cell." He turned, the trolls following after his slow pace out.
Karkat rubbed his head, letting out a sigh as Terezi came over, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Kanaya hasn't heard anything lately. You know she would be the first. Didn't the heir hear anything? I thought that's why they were after him. And Eridan said to talk with Rose. And it seems you ran into her earlier."
"I shall let Kanaya and Nepeta know what has transpired." Equius said, moving to leave.
"I'll go too!" Aradia offered, smiling at Equius. "Besides, I'm sure they don't let males into the breeding caverns."
"Very well," Equius said, leaving with Aradia walking with him, voice fading into the distance.
A moment later, they heard a crash, Aradia appearing before them. "Disaster, blood, death, run while you can! Escape, flee!" The troll winked out, warm maroon blood spraying the room and the trolls around them, one last sentence echoing around the room.
"Don't find Rose!"
Karkat snapped at the group, rushing them through the door, shaken as the group hurried out of the castle, bells ringing in the distance.
