The nearest road was about a mile away. "Why is your hive so far from the road?" Terezi asked.
"I don't know. Why don't you ask whoever the fuck built it? They've probably been culled by now." Karkat stumbled for the fourth time in as many minutes. "Shit! Lousy goddamn stupid handcuffs!"
Terezi tsked. "I'm not taking them off. It's in case someone sees us."
"Well, they're making it really fucking difficult to walk."
"Sorry, but they're going to stay on your wrists until we can be sure we're safe."
Karkat narrowly avoided tripping again. He stopped suddenly and planted both feet firmly on the dusty ground. Terezi tugged on his arm, but he didn't budge.
"Why are you-"
"Take these fuckstain handcuffs off of me before I kick your nook through both moons!"
"Karkles, what-"
"Do I really have to repeat myself?" Karkat was practically screeching now. He realized he sounded like his lusus, but that wasn't going to stop him.
"No, but why-"
"Because with every passing second I feel more and more like the fucking Sufferer, and I-"
"I…I understand. And it's been bothering me, too… We're trapped by the lives and deaths of our ancestors, and it's a constant struggle to avoid falling into the same pitfalls they did."
"What the ever-loving fuck are you going on about?"
"Karkles, I thought you knew…I…I'm pretty sure I've deduced that the Sufferer was your ancestor…" Terezi was honestly stunned. Had that really never occurred to him?
"I'd never thought about it…" Karkat was speaking more quietly now that she had heard him speak before. "I always thought ancestors were a thing for pompous highblooded nooksuckers."
Terezi sighed, then disengaged the handcuffs. "We have to get going. I don't know how long it might be before someone starts looking for us. Come on, Karkles. …I won't put these back on until we get to the road."
…
Kanaya's husktop made a noise. She hadn't used Trollian in almost a perigee, so it took her a second to realize what the sound was. She opened the flashing window and was greeted by text in a slightly bluish violet.
-temerousMessenger [TM] began trolling grimAuxiliatrix [GA]—
TM: kanaya…? um, I just had an idea. you mentioned that Feferi had a date today…with who…?
GA: Eridan
GA: I Thought Their Matespritship Was Common Knowledge
TM: i guesss nobody reallly tellls me anything.
TM: um, anyway. you mean Prince Ampora…?
GA: Yes
TM: oh, um, I delivered a messsage to him earlier. i have no idea what was in the messsage, and wouldnt be alllowed to telll you even if I did know, but he seeemed reallly upset about it.
GA: Would You Say
GA: More Or Less Upset Than He Would Be If One Of His Quadrants Was Suddenly Empty
TM: i have no idea. this was the only time Ive met him, and I probably wouldnt know what that loooks like because its never happpened to me.
TM: i mean, Ive never had a matesprit or moirail, and Ive beeen with my kismesis since we were…
TM: um, Im reallly sorrry. i got sidetracked.
GA: Thats Perfectly Alright
GA: It Happens To All Of Us From Time To Time
TM: anyway, the point is that I dont know him welll enough to telll.
TM: if its any help, though, he seeemed kind of scary…
GA: Wait
GA: Marsus
GA: Did You Just Refer To Eridan As Scary
TM: um, yes.
TM: when he answered the dooor, he loooked like he was going to punch me in the face.
TM: and after he finished listening to the memo, he turned around and threw it at the walll. its prettty badly smashed. heres hoping I dont have to pay for it…
GA: You Are Easily Intimidated
GA: But Yes That Must Have Been Rather Frightening
GA: Hes Selfish And Moody But I Dont Think He Could Truly Be Considered Dangerous
TM: um, actuallly Im gettting reallly worrried that Illl get in deeep trouble just for tellling you how he reacted to the messsage.
TM: that might be confidential information…
TM: oh shit oh shit ooohhh ssshhhiiittt, what if I get cullled…? i dont want to die…!
GA: Please Calm Down
GA: Im Certain Its Nothing Major
GA: And Besides I Would Never Tell Anyone
TM: reallly…?
GA: Of Course
GA: And Even If This Transgression
GA: If It Even Is Considered A Transgression
GA: Is Discovered
GA: Feferi Would Undoubtedly Be Willing To Vouch For You
GA: If We Could Find Her
GA: Sigh
TM: kanaya… um, goood luck with your search. i have more memos to deliver now, so I have to go.
TM: maybe you could find Prince Ampora later and ask him about it if hes calmed down. just a sugggestion.
GA: Thanks Marsus
GA: I Believe I Will
TM: no problem.
TM: um. ‹›…?
GA: ‹›
-temerousMessenger [TM] ceased trolling grimAuxiliatrix [GA]-
-grimAuxiliatrix [GA] ceased trolling temerousMessenger [TM]—