"Jade, I really hate this job sometimes," Karkat complains to his partner. The officers are standing inside a large ballroom in the mayor's mansion watching people enter the room. The participants are dressed rather nicely and sporting whatever ally around their arm to make them appear more attractive or rich.

Officer Harley shakes the troll's shoulder, "Come on Karkat, we're serving the good people of Skaia!"

"The rich ones at least," he grumbles. "This is a miserable excuse to use the police department. I wouldn't call it a public event if you're forbidding some of the public. The mayor is a cheap piece of shit."

"Don't be rude, and I know you're only upset because you can't smoke here."

"The grumpy troll needs an excuse to be bitch?" Vriska ridicules.

Karkat growls, "Shut the fuck up Vriska. Why are you even here?"

"Why am I here? I'm not an officer."

"Stop acting like babies you two," Jade orders. "You both know that with the budget cuts, Vriska has to be here in order for Skaia to still be protected by other officers and for this party to be protected whether you like it or not. She's just a standee. Now stop complaining!"

Officer Vantas then tries to retrieve a cigarette, but Jade slaps it out of his hand. "Grub I hate our shit-ass mayor so much!" The troll slams his head on the wall behind them. "I didn't even vote for the guy!"

"Like that would matter?" Vriska smirks. "He hasn't had competition in sweeps."

Jade tilts her head, "I don't understand why you don't like the mayor Karkat."

"That guy is completely incapable of running Skaia! All he does is finance these stupid parties that he gives different fucking names to, so people don't realize that they are the same fucking thing! Banquets, benefits, fundraisers, dance party; they are all the same thing. All ways to suck money from others. He's just too stupid to think of something else that might actually help Skaia."

"Don't the proceedings go to charity?" comments Jade.

Now Vriska's laughing, "Yeah but it really is aaaaaaaall that he is able to come up with. I remember when he tried to rename Skaia to Can Town! That was hilarious, and everyone freaked out."

"Mayor Vallens is so shitty," Karkat continues. "He doesn't even run Skaia. His deputy does all the work; she just doesn't want the title for some reason. Grub I give prompts to Mail for putting up with his bullshit."

"Not to mention how he's always flirting with her, and it's so obvious it's too embaaaaaaaaressing" the spider troll sneers.

"I swear this government could do so much better if they didn't flirt with a girl in a skirt every time they walk by."

Jade shushes her two friends, "Who's that over there?" The trolls look over to see a broad Black man conversing with two humans. All three of them are wearing black suits and shades.

"That's Mr. Arnold Roberts," Karkat answers. "He's head of security. Part of the reason why we're here is he's our boss. Also he's another guy that gets in Ms. Mail's way."

Vriska then tugs on a few strands of hair from the short troll's head, "What's your deal with Ms. Mail's love life? Got a thing for her?" Annoyed, the troll slaps her hand away.

"No, I just . . . I watch Nepeta's show and she talks about it." Karkat ruffles his hair a little, "But Mail is a convincing woman. Kind of scary too."

The blue troll sarcastically rubs her hand, "Well that's probably why we have the best mail service in the world. I swear that woman is obsessed with the system."

"Oh shit!" Jade whispers to her associates; she pulls them closer to her like a protective mother. "Look at the entrance." The trolls now turn their heads over to the entrance of the ballroom where lavish patrons enter. One in particular stands out to the group.

"It's Dr. Scratch-Ass!" Karkat reveals hushed. The non-server of the law turns her head away and ducks behind Jade.

"What is he doing here?" she protests.

Karkat stares down at Vriska, "What's your deal?"

"The guy creeps me out. I can't tell whether he's looking at me or not with those eyes." She shudders, "Just try to stay inconspicuous for the rest of this bulge-thrusting-fest."

Officer Harley pats her friend's head, "It's okay now. I think he's sat down somewhere. Oh hey look, it's Feferi! I'll see you guys later." Jade abandons her position, and the spider troll suddenly finds herself exposed and peeved.

The sea dweller is walking around the ballroom led by a server. He directs her to an empty table with chairs and glasses of water all around it. "Your table Ms. Peixes," he pulls out a chair for her to sit, and Feferi complies while keeping her dress straight. While her server leaves, Feferi notices her matesprit a little ways off and she twiddles her fingers in his direction. Sollux doesn't take notice since he's too busy yelling at some rookie officer for messing up for whatever reason. The little ex-heiress sighs to herself wondering how long it'll be till someone comes to entertain her.

"Hey Feferi!" Apparently not too long.

"Good evening Jade." The dressed up troll smiles, "So you were recruited for this gala?"

"Yeah I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see you here."

The seated troll sips her water, "Yup, the mayor likes to invite me here. I feel bad that you're not here for fun though; you'd be good company." The woman laughs.

"Thanks! Well there isn't much to do right now, may I sit with you?" Feferi nods, so Jade pulls the chair next to her out. Unfortunately someone takes the chair before Jade can seat herself.

Someone with an atrocious ego, "Well it's a surprise to see you here Fef. What are the chances?"

"Eridan," Feferi grumbles. "What are you doing here?"

"Just the same as you I suppose." The sea dweller reaches into his inner coat pocket and pulls out a ticket. "I bought a seat; which just happens to place near you. Aren't I a lucky troll?"

"Why do I have the feeling that your luck involved bribes?"

"Well you're feeling is wrong with some other ones that you have." Rolling her eyes, Feferi works on her newly developed headache that recently sprung up. "You don't answer my calls and you're dating a low blood? I think you have some sort of rebellious act going on. You should-"

"Hey sir?" Jade interrupts. "I don't think it's right to-"

Eridan intrudes right back, "What are you the help?"

"I'm an officer," she corrects frustrated. "We've met before. I was there when Ms. Peixes dumped your miserable ass, and I don't think you should talk to her like that."

"I do not have to be treated like this!" he snarls. Eridan then turns around in his seat to snap his fingers. Immediately, a human waiter arrives. "You will see to it that this urchin doesn't bother us anymore." The waiter nods and surprisingly drags the woman away.

Jade resists through the force, "What? No this isn't right! He was the one annoying Feferi! This is so stupid." She tries to get out of the waiter's iron-clad grip, "And how are you so strong?"

"I carry heavy platters for hours miss." The waiter lets go of her at the ballroom entrance. "Now I know you and your fellow officers are doing a fine service here, but I will not stand to have my guests harassed. If I see you around either of them, then you'll be forbidden to enter here again." With a huff, the waiter waltz over to a table to provide refreshments.

Feeling quite stupid and humiliated now, Jade stays by the entrance to silently yell to herself. This would continue for who knows how long, if something didn't catch her eye just then.

"Aradia?" A maroon blood troll entering last with her camera troll froze. "Hey it's you! Remember me?" The woman bounces over, "I'm Jade!"

The troll pushes with one finger at her forehead tired, "Yes. I remember you. It's hard to forget traumatic events like those."

"Yeah that was one crazy case," the officer smiles uncomfortably. "How are you? Getting back to normal?"

"More or less," Aradia shrugs. "Take five Clevais. Prep for I don't know . . whatever." The camera troll doesn't seem to mind being abandoned for a short time. His attention drifts to the appetizers.

"So Aradia," Jade twiddles her fingers behind her back not sure if she's going to overstep her boundaries or not. "How are things with Equius?"

The woman instantly feels her body freeze around her. Jade's body becomes almost completely detached from her own mind. She tries to move something. Anything. But not even her fingers could twitch; even her own lungs stopped. The officer is forced to look at the last things she saw directly in front of her; which is Aradia's furious eyes. The troll has her hand pushing on the side of her forehead. Realizing that Jade is frozen, Aradia relaxes her arm, but keeps it in position.

"Now, let's walk somewhere a little more isolated." Jade begins to panic even more as her feet move without her own command. Walking a little stiffly, the two head into an empty corridor outside the main ballroom. No one seems to notice the strange behavior. Once there, Aradia releases Jade who gasps for air on the floor. "We can talk now."

"Wha-What is your fucking problem!?" The weakened officer holds her mouth, "I think I'm going to puke."

"You need to learn limits." The troll walks around Jade glooming, "You can't just ask about a relationship you have no part of. Especially one that nearly got me killed already."

"I was just trying to be friendly!"

"And look where that got you now. Trust me girl, I can do much worse if you test me again." Aradia turns down casted, "You can't trust people; except for yourself. All the voices tell me it's the right thing to do."

Jade looks up panicking, "You're hearing voices now?"

"It's not like that. They're voices of the dead, ones I've tried to ignore for too long thinking I knew better. But I'll listen to them now. If they think I should live for myself, then I will." Aradia smirks, "It worked for you didn't it, Vriska?"

Jade leans over to see that behind the maroon troll is her blue friend. "This is a surprise. You being violent. I never thought I'd see the day. Why didn't I bring a fucking camera."

"Are you nervous Vriska?"

The spider troll indicates that is not the case, "Actually I'm more surprised by how the tables have turned. Wasn't I the irrational lonely loser before? And you the powerful bitch with a strong partner to match? My how the fates work."

"You're mocking me."

"You know, on this side I can understand you soooooooo much better; arrogant, cocky and free from all fears. I'm past you now Aradia and I can see why I looked pathetic before to you. I'll admit that this is sort of funny," Vriska ends smirking.

"Careful blue blood," Aradia warns, "I'm still more powerful than you."

"That's right; we both know that I can't control you."

"And you can't use the human as some sort of shield; I know your power on them only extends to make them sleep."

"Yeeeeeeeah, but there's another part to my gift that you don't understand." She leans in, "I can read you like a book. It was harder before, but you make your emotions as legible as a message in the sky. It's like you want everyone to know how miserable you are."

"Stop it."

"People aren't nervous around you because of your kidnapping; they can feel your hatred leaking from your very pores."

"You're lying." Aradia grips her fists and snarls, "Why shouldn't I kill you now?"

"Besides the fact that I don't think you have it in you?" Vriska ponders for a second, "We're at a stalemate. You know my secret, and I know yours. Both psychics, but who will the high bloods favor?"

"That's always your excuse!"

"And I'll keep using it until it isn't true anymore." Vriska saunters around the troll to kneel to her friend. "I think we're done here." She rubs Jade's back to check for injuries.

"No. I won't let you avoid me again; you have no power over me!"

The spider troll gives one of her classic smirks, "Well there's more than one way to hurt you. Direct or not."

"Vriska," Jade mutters kneeling on the floor, "don't do this. Don't fight her."

"Listen to your little pet," the maroon taunts. "She'll probably protect you more than she should." Aradia turns away and exits the corridor.

Vriska helps lift Jade off her knees and on to her feet, "I could have handled it Jade."

The woman leans on Vriska till she feels confident in herself to stand, "I know, but I don't want you to hurt yourself."

"You can be an annoying friend you know that?" Jade giggles in response and the two friends walk back into the main ballroom.

Officer Vantas finds them and nags at their insubordination, "Where the fuck have you two been? The banquet is starting. And-wow, I just realize that nothing ever happens in this nookstained joint."

"Um," Jade stalls, "We were doing girl stuff."

"Yeah, girl stuff," Vriska agrees.

The male troll looks suspiciously at the two, "Wouldn't Vriska have to be a girl first?" And that remark earned him a hard punch in the arm.