Hometale, part 4.
Terezi: B3FOR3 T4VROS W4S CR1PPL3D, H3 US3D TO LOV3 COM1NG UP H3R3
Terezi: BUT TH3 P4TH TH1S H1GH ON TH3 MOUNT41N 1SNT V3RY...
Kanaya: Wheelchair Friendly
Terezi: SO, NOW ON H1S WR1GGL1NG D4Y, W3 COM3 UP H3R3 TO P1CK SOM3 OF H1S F4VOUR1T3 FLOW3RS
Terezi: BUT 1 DONT G3T WH4T TH3 B1G D34L 1S ]:K
Terezi: TH3Y SM3LL PR3TTY 4V3R4G3 TO M3
Terezi: TH3Y WOULD T4ST3 SO MUCH B3TT3R 1N R3D [:K
Terezi: DONT YOU 4GR33 FR1SK
You give a small, indecisive nod as you absentmindedly pluck a lone, golden flower from the ground, gazing past it towards the top of the mountain. In your opinion, they are beautiful the way they are. But, of course, the flowers aren't the only things on your mind. What is that boy doing down there? It's been like five weeks already! It's almost as though he was held up for a month by something completely ridiculous. Probably Tem related.
As the trolls begin to bicker over the colour of the flowers, you wander a little higher. Golden flowers are scattered here and there across the uneven terrain. It is sad, but there is no way a wheelchair could manoeuvre safely up here.
If only you could take the trolls back to your village to see the flowers there. Tavros would probably like that. But, you're pretty sure the six or so other humans there would probably flip their shit if a bunch of trolls just strolled into the village.
It would probably be the fastest way to get someone impaled.
Maybe some day.
As you climb higher, something white among the yellow catches your eye. You push aside the tall flowers to get a better look. It's a hat! Oh, hell yes. Its defensive powers are off the charts! The old bandage you've been wearing for defense is absolutely nothing compared to this hat.
Well, let's be honest; your bandage is probably the worst piece of shit defense item in existence. But...This hat is pretty fucking sweet!
Frisk – Acquire hat.
You reach out to grab the sick headgear, but freeze in your tracks. Is that blood on the rim?
Kanaya: Is Everything Alright Up Here
Terezi: H3Y, TH3Y FOUND SOM3TH1-
Completely in sync, the troll's facial expressions switch from curiosity, to deep concern. Before you can turn to see what their deal is, Kanaya pulls you back by the arm, and covers your eyes.
Kanaya: Terezi
Kanaya: Is It Really Necessary To Poke At It Like That
Terezi: OF COURS3 1T 1S!
Terezi: W3 H4V3 JUST STUMBL3D UPON TH3 SC3N3 OF 4 CR1M3!
Terezi: 1 WONT P4SS UP TH3 OPPORTUN1TY TO BR1NG TO JUST1C3 WHO3V3R 1S R3SPONS1BL3 FOR TH1S H31NOUS 4CT! [:K
Kanaya: As Though There Is Any Chance In Hell It Wasnt The Royal Guard
Terezi: ]:K
Terezi: SW33T FUCK1NG HUM4N J3SUS K4N4Y4
Terezi: C4NT YOU H4V3 4 L1TTL3 FUN W1TH TH1S?
Kanaya: No
Kanaya: And You Should Take Frisk Back To The Hive Before They See-
At this point, your curiosity gets the better of you, and you push Kanaya's hand out of the way.
Instantly, you regret your dumbass decision.
A few meters away from the hat, and laying face down in the flowers, is a dead adult human. It looks like he's been there for quite a few weeks.
Among the possessions scattered around him are a wallet, a cake, and an empty can of shaving cream.
Looks like his attack item ran out of juice mid FIGHT.
Kanaya: Frisk!
You assure Kanaya you are ok. But she doesn't seem convinced. You keep close to her, for both your own comfort, and her peace of mind.
Terezi: H3 W4S PROB4BLY 4 HUM4N WR1GGL3RS LUSUS
Terezi: W3LP, NOT 4NYMOR3 1 GU3SS
Kanaya: I Wonder Where The Wriggler Is
Terezi: M4YB3 TH3Y GOT 4W4Y
Kanaya: You Should Really Come Back Over Here
Kanaya: ...
Kanaya: Considering...
Terezi: 1M L1T3R4LLY H4V1NG 4 BL4ST [:K
Kanaya: But-
Terezi: 1 G3T TO 1NV3ST1G4T3 4 R34L L1F3 MURD3R!
Terezi: 1T 1S V3RY 3XC1T1NG
Kanaya: Even So
Kanaya: You-
Terezi: 1 4M MOR3 CONC3RN3D 4BOUT FR1SK ]:K
Terezi: TH3Y 4R3 B31NG V3RY QU13T
Kanaya: They Dont Usually Say Very Much
Terezi: TRU3
Frisk: ...
Kanaya: I Think The Most Animated I have Seen Them Was When They Were Checking Out Porrims Boobs
Frisk: -_-
Terezi: PORR1MS BOOBS 4R3 PR3TTY ON PO1NT
Kanaya: I Share An Ancestor With Her And Even I Can Admit
Kanaya: They Can Definitely Be Described As 'On Point'
Frisk: *thumbs up.*
The trolls turn their attention back to the body.
Kanaya: I Dont Think It Would Be Appropriate To Leave Him Here
Kanaya: We Should Give Him A Proper Burial
Kanaya: The Garden Should Do
Terezi: YOU M34N
Terezi: YOU W4NT TO T4K3 TH1S HUM4N B4CK TO TH3 H1V3, 4ND BURY 1T 1N TH3 G4RD3N?
Terezi: W1TH ROS4
Terezi: 4ND V4NT4S ]:K
Kanaya: It Seems The Appropriate Thing To Do
Kanaya: And I Dont Think Dolorosa Would Mind
Kanaya: She Could Probably Use The Company
Terezi: ]:K
Terezi: 1 D1S4GR33, BUT WH4T3V3R
Terezi: WH4T DO 1 KNOW 4BOUT WH4T ON3S 4NC3STOR WOULD W4NT
Terezi: SH3 M1GHT W4NT 4 WHOL3 FUCK1NG PL4TOON OF HUM4N CORPS3S BUR1ED 4ROUND H3R FOR 4LL 1 KNOW
Kanaya: I Am Glad You Are On Board
Kanaya: That Was Sarcasm By The Way
Terezi: ]:K
Kanaya: Take Frisk Back
Kanaya: I Will Catch Up
As you turn to follow Terezi home, Kanaya stops you again briefly. She removes the gross bandage from your face. About Goddamn time!
Then she pushes the hat onto your head.
Kanaya: It Would Feel Infinitely Better If You Would Wear Some Real Defense
You hug her gratefully. Although, you could probably do without having to wear the hat while there is still blood on it. Oh well. You can't make every fashion decision for yourself, you guess.
Before you go, you decide to be Kanaya.
Frisk – Be Kanaya.
You be Kanaya, and watch as Terezi and Frisk make their way back down the mountain, a small number of flowers collected.
Someone has been trolling you. Someone unwelcome, and extremely douchey. You pull out the phone, which still receives garbled signals from time to time. More recently, though, some pretentious asshole has been bothering you more and more. Usually, you politely tell him to fuck off.
- [o] began trolling grimAuxiliatrix -
[Hello, my fine young lady.]
[Are we feeling more co-operative today?]
grimAuxiliatrix: I Was Beginning To Wonder When You Would Rear Your Ugly Head Again
grimAuxiliatrix: And Bingo Here You Are
grimAuxiliatrix: Right On Cue
[I assure you, my head is quite handsome.]
[It is also full of wisdom that a being of inferior intellect such as yourself can only hope to imagine.]
grimAuxiliatrix: I Just Now Allowed Myself A Moment Of Private Enjoyment Knowing You Are Probably Being Completely Unironic With Your Assertions That You Are Some Kind Of Higher Being
grimAuxiliatrix: You Actually Believe You Are Better Than Me
grimAuxiliatrix: And That I Actually Give A Flying Fuck What You Have To Say
[I am better than you. That is an indisputable fact.]
[And you will give a flying fuck when I relay to you the information I have gleaned from this timeline.]
grimAuxiliatrix: You Mean That Riveting Sack Of Bullshit Alluding To My Own Death?
[I didn't say you would die. You merely presumed so, from the wisdom I kindly imparted during our last conversation.]
grimAuxiliatrix: You Said I Would See Vantas Again
grimAuxiliatrix: Unless You Are Suggesting There Is Some Way To Resurrect The Dead The Implication Is Quite Obvious
[There is no way to properly resurrect the dead, no.]
[But yes, you will indeed see Vantas again in the near future.]
grimAuxiliatrix: Vantas Is Dead
[Vantas no longer exists, yes.]
grimAuxiliatrix: So What You Are Really Saying Is You Are Completely Full Of Hoof Beast Manure
[I don't lie.]
[However, it does not concern me whether you believe me or not right now.]
[You will believe me soon enough. And you will do exactly, all the things that I have said, and have yet to say.]
[You will see the troll you once knew as Vantas, and yet 'Vantas' no longer exists. You will also rendezvous with an assortment of new friends, and partake in a battle to control the timeline.]
grimAuxiliatrix: And When Will This Alleged Rendezvous Take Place Oh Omniscient One
[On the 12th of June, of course.]
grimAuxiliatrix: ...
grimAuxiliatrix: You Actually Gave Me A Straight Answer Just Now
grimAuxiliatrix: I Thought Your Game Was To Be As Infuriatingly Cryptic And Vague As Inhumanely Possible
grimAuxiliatrix: Were You Just Trying To Evoke An Emotional Response From Me
[As exhilarating as it is to converse with emotional young females, I was merely bestowing your question with the correct, and most appropriate response.]
[In about three weeks, you will gather at an, as of yet, unexplored location on this mountain, and then you will fight for your destiny.]
grimAuxiliatrix: And What If Knowing All Of This I Now Do Everything In My Power To Avoid This Eventuality
[All paths lead to the same end.]
[Besides, I have not yet bequeathed you with today's message.]
[Which is that, right now there exists a fuchsia blooded princess with a legitimate claim to the Condesce's throne. If you meet up with these 'others', which you will, you will come face to face with a way to take down )(er Imperious Condescension once and for all.]
[Do with this information what you will.]
[I, of course already know exactly what you will decide.]
[Once you have rid yourself of that adult human cadaver, beside the resting place of your dear ancestor, I will be in contact again.]
[Farewell for now.]
- [o] ceased trolling grimAuxiliatrix -
What a fucking obnoxious piece of shit!
You almost consider abandoning the dead human, just to spite that guy. But your conscience won't allow you to. He was probably someone's lusus, after all.
The cake is pretty useless now, but his other belongings may serve some sort of purpose. For example, the shaving cream is a weapon with incredible attack power...Or, it was, until it ran out. You guess that is pretty useless now, too. The wallet though seems to be a complex and useful inventory system; much better than your incredibly limited pockets. You decide to take it, since it's not as though he has much use for it now.
As you lift the human gently, a piece of paper falls from his hand, and flutters to the ground.
Kanaya – Read note.
'Happy wriggling day John. I am so proud of you.'
You briefly wonder who this John could be, and whether he knows about the fate of his lusus.
...
We catch up with Frisk, a few hours in the future. They haven't done anything of much importance today, beside help to arrange golden flowers in a vase, and discover the dead body of another kid's lusus. You know, the usual, uneventful kind of day.
I mean, what's a day without finding a few dead bodies, you know? Not the kind of day I want to live through!
Tavros seems pleased with his presents, even if Rufioh couldn't make it to the party. He talks about Rufioh quite frequently. You kind of wonder whether the guy is real or not.
You are now sat in the playroom finishing off some delicious birthday cake, and listening to Aranea telling the other wrigglers a story. It is kind of hard to focus on the story, as you try, and fail to keep your mind off the image of that lusus lying there, sprawled next to a cake not too different from the one you are presently consuming. Fortunately, Porrim agreed to wash the hat, so the next time you wear it, it won't be covered in fucking blood.
Terezi has been rather quiet since you returned home, and you wonder whether the discovery got to her as well. Nothing ever seems to get to her, though. Perhaps she is just so invested in observing in her own way, the little teal grub, Latula, as she torments the candy red Kankri. It is pretty adorable when the grubs play together.
Still, you wonder what Terezi could be thinking.
She seems...down.
End of Hometale, part 4.