Hey, look at that, here's the other chapter I promised.
I swear to Gog, Hussie, you had better hold off just a little longer on introducing the other Vantas. There are lots of other things you could do, right?
...Okay, enough begging the Waste of Space.
I'm so mad at that troll I didn't proofread this as carefully as I usually would so please forgive any mistakes.
The way the Signless talks is not a mistake. I based the style off of the way Hussie wrote the section about the Ancestors. If you don't like it, that's unfortunate, because he talks A LOT!
Anyway, I don't own Homestuck. It belongs to the Ass of Hats. I'm not sure how grateful you should be.
EDIT, Please read: hey if anyone could tell me how to do the quadrant symbols they would be the best person ever. Apparently story descriptions don't like the symbols and I didn't notice when I first posted this stuff. I just used the words but it's not the same :'(
Once the teenagers had introduced themselves, they moved to the den. "Um, why don't you take a seat here?" Rose offered, gesturing toward the recliner.
"Thank you, but I prefer to sit on the floor," he declined. So saying, he gracefully lowered himself to the floor. His legs were crossed, his posture was perfect, and Dave could tell he was lying. The furniture was limited, and there wasn't enough for everyone to have a seat on a chair or sofa. The Signless had refused out of kindness so that everyone else could be comfortable.
And how did Dave know this? He had seen the adult troll wince when he settled himself on the floor.
There was complete silence as everyone stared at the troll. No one was really certain what to say. But it seemed that Terezi was willing to give speech a try. "So, why are you here?" she asked. He tone was a mixture of awe and suspicion. Dave was rather in awe of the man's unflappable calm (he would never admit it) but he couldn't imagine why the Libra sounded so impressed. It was like she had met her childhood (grubhood) hero in person.
The older troll smiled, and everyone but Dave squirmed a little. He might have held still, but that didn't mean he didn't want to shy away from such a genuine, understanding smile. "I have been wandering through the dream bubbles for many centuries, seeking my old friends. I encountered a beta timeline Karkat purely by mistake. Or perhaps it was fate, since it led me here" he amended in a tone that clearly said the man didn't believe in coincidence. After everything he had been through in the past three years, Dave wasn't sure he believed in coincidence either.
"You were hoping to speak to the live Karkat, then?" Kanaya asked. Dave could hear her trying to keep the awe out of her voice.
The troll nodded. "Yes. I was…surprised by the very brief encounter with my successor. And I felt it was vital that I talk to the 'present' Karkat," he stated plainly, though the conviction and caring in his voice said that this was no chore, but an after-life mission.
"You really are an ancestor!" Terezi practically squealed. "I knew you guys were real! Karkat's going to eat his banana cream lies when he meets you." The girl smiled so widely that the aforementioned fruit would easily fit in the space between her lips and serrated teeth.
Kanaya was more confused than pleased. "Why did you run from me?"
The Signless chuckled sheepishly. "You had pulled out a chainsaw before I could even introduce myself."
Kanaya colored, and Rose patted her back consolingly. "I'm so sorry."
"There is no need to apologize, my dear child. That you care deeply enough for my descendant to allow no harm to befall him is a comfort."
Kanaya blushed even further under the praise, and Rose turned to give their guest an inquisitive look. John, however, spoke before she could even open her mouth. "You aren't much older than Kanaya." The comment earned him reproachful looks from the four girls. Dave made no movement, all of his attention focused on the Ancestor. There was just something about him that drew Dave in, and he wanted to figure out what was causing the distraction.
"John, he's been dead for hundreds of years. Haven't you been paying attention?" Jade scolded.
The troll just smiled at the human. "It is understandable. Even in terms of death, several hundred years is not yet old. I lost my life at a young age as well; I did not live to see 11 sweeps." There was no hint of sadness in his voice. Fishing for sympathy wasn't something the troll would or needed to do, Dave could tell. In all reality, the young man knew compassion and sympathy were things the troll would rather give than receive.
Despite this, there were sympathetic looks from everyone else. "I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little longer. As I'm certain you noticed, Karkat isn't feeling well at the moment. In a few days he should be fine." Kanaya explained, getting back to the original topic.
"I understand," the troll nodded in agreement. "Now that I know where you are and where your meteor is headed, I should be able to find you again." He turned his head, watching as the edge of the dream bubble slid through the wall and began to creep closer. "I bid you a fond farewell, my friends." So saying, the edge of the bubble caught him, and the meteor sped away.
"He was so cool." Terezi said, pressing her palms to her cheeks and widening her smile even further.
"Do you think he would mind if I asked him a few questions when he returns?" Rose inquired. Everyone could tell she was looking for more material for her novels.
Kanaya smiled. "I don't see why not. He is almost obscenely friendly." The two girls stood and left the room, beginning to discuss some potential questions they would ask. After all, Kanaya was interested in his story as well.
"I wonder if he likes movies," John commented. Terezi just laughed and took off to do Gog only knew what, and Jade rolled her eyes. She and John left as well while Dave remained behind, lost in thought.
He had felt… uneasy. As though this guy had the power to unbalance him by just being in the same room. Even now that Vantas' ancestor was gone Dave still felt odd. There was just something about him that didn't sit right with the Knight of Time. Did he think his friends were in danger? No. Did he think he was in danger? Not physically, at least.
"Come on, Karkles, you have got to meet him," Terezi demanded as she dragged her unwilling leader toward the den. It had been two weeks since the Signless had visited, and the Knight of Blood had finally recovered from his illness. No one had told Karkat about what had happened for fear the other troll wouldn't be able to return for some reason. The moment he had arrived, though, Terezi had rushed off to tell Karkat his ancestor had come for a visit.
"The last time you told me to go to a dream bubble to meet someone everybody was boring or cavebird-shit crazy." Karkat did not appreciate being pulled out of his room. Nor did he appreciate being dragged across the meteor to meet someone who was clearly an imposter because the ancestors didn't exist.
Terezi paid him no mind as she finally dragged him into the den. The Signless was already sitting in his previous position on the floor, slightly cleaner, though there was still some dirt and dried blood stuck to his skin. When he saw the two younger trolls enter he stood and approached them.
Even Terezi couldn't pull him any closer when Karkat spotted the other troll. He dug his heels into the ground and watched with wide eyes as the taller, more muscular version of him came closer. The older troll smiled and offered his hand. Karkat only glanced at it briefly before snapping, "Who the fuck are you?"
"Karkat," Terezi and Kanaya both warned. The Cancer paid them no mind and continued to glare at the deceased troll suspiciously.
Of course, the Signless took it all in stride. "I am known as the Signless." He lowered his hand, though his smile of greeting didn't turn into a flat line. Instead, it faded into a look of fondness. It was a subtle shift. Dave watched as Karkat seemed to bristle at the look. If Terezi didn't still have a death grip on his arm the guy would have likely bolted. Dave understood the Cancer's wariness completely.
"What kind of a name is that?" Karkat grimaced when Terezi elbowed him in the ribs. "I mean, my name is Karkat Vantas," he grumbled, shooting the Libra a dirty look that she couldn't see.
The Signless just chuckled, earning him another paranoid look from the Cancer. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Karkat. I have much to discuss with you."
His tone was affable and gentle, as though Karkat were a scared kitten that the ghost didn't want to frighten away, instead of a short-tempered, pissy troll. "Well, I don't have any time to waste on some dead guy pretending to be my Ancestor who doesn't exist." Dave could see Terezi tighten her grip as Vantas tried to subtly shake her off.
"If you are otherwise occupied at the time, I understand completely. I would not be averse to returning when it is more convenient for you. There is plenty of time, and if you are not ready to talk with me, I will wait until you are."
Dave knew he couldn't be the only one to catch the significance of the statement. The Signless wasn't implying that he recognized Karkat hated him on sight. He seemed to think that Karkat was afraid of him, and didn't have the courage to face the truth of his Ancestor. At least Dave knew Vantas got it, because his lip curled in disgust. "Don't bother coming back. I will never have time to talk to a fucking ghost with a cracked thinkpan," he hissed. Dave watched the shock play across the other spectators' faces. Really, they shouldn't have been shocked, Dave thought. This was Vantas they were talking about.
Fortunately, his Ancestor refused to rise to the bait. If anything, he seemed to ooze more compassion and understanding. Dave watched as Karkat practically foamed at the mouth. "Let him go, Ms. Pyrope. There is no sense in keeping him against his will."
The moment Terezi's grip slackened Vantas took off, leaving five stunned teens in his wake.
"Another time," the Signless reassured Terezi with a pat on her shoulder.
As they both returned to their seats, Dave looked in the direction Vantas had fled with a slight twinge of longing, wishing he was brave (or afraid) enough to follow. It was no surprise Vantas hated the guy. Vantas hated almost everyone. But Dave still had no idea why the deceased troll managed to get under his own skin. There was nothing to dislike. The guy was patient and kindhearted.
Dave blinked. Everything he knew about trolls told him that while they could be friendly, also had a predisposition for violence. He knew that Kanaya and Terezi had each killed one person. Minimum. And Terezi had attempted to kill John at one point, sort of. And this guy was unconditional kindness. Something was wrong.
Yet for some reason that explanation didn't strike him as completely satisfactory.