A/N: Oh my glub, this took way too fucking long to get out. x_x My only excuse is that finals happened. They done now though, so we should be back on track. Well, not really... Actually, we're going to be better than back on track. +_+
********AS A THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR PATIENCE AND CONTINUED SUPPORT OF LOHAT, ONCE PER DAY EVERY DAY UNTIL CHRISTMAS THERE IS GOING TO BE A CHAPTER UPDATE********
You guys are awesome. x) Thank you so much for all of your feedback and patience.
Enjoy chapter 36, chapter 37 will be up later today (since it's like, past midnight my time... WHATEVER, STILL COUNTING IT AS MONDAY.)
music and MIRTH
There was no time to procrastinate any further.
It was time for some answers once and for all.
Kanaya pulled the two strings into a tight bow on her combat boots, giving a slight nod at her ability to blend both practicality and style together with this particular pair of footwear. Normally, she'd sport something a bit less sensible and a bit more fashion-minded, but this mission would require a more functional attire.
And a chainsaw.
The rainbow drinker stood up to examine herself in the mirror, checking for probably the fifth time to make sure she had her weapon at the ready in her strife specibus. Just as with all the other times, her chainsaw lipstick was waiting, should the need arise.
Kanaya was done waiting and wondering about those strange trolls that she was now beginning to see on a daily basis. The picture being painted by her latest discoveries only added to her growing concern. If Gamzee had been telling the truth, that someone other than himself had dug up the heads of his victims, then she couldn't afford to drag her heels and wait on evidence. She was going to go hunting; first for answers and then possibly for highbloods. In all honesty, she wasn't sure if she wanted to invite their wrath by mindlessly slaughtering them, so she'd just have to settle for trying to both capture and interrogate one of them instead.
Satisfied that she was ready to go, the Virgo made her way to the door. As she went to exit, though, she was startled to find Rose waiting just outside. The human looked equally taken aback and appeared as if she'd been about to knock.
"... Can I assume that you wouldn't be up for a run to the bookstore, then?" the Seer teased with a subtle smirk.
"Yes, well," Kanaya said, folding her hands nervously as she tried to come up with an explanation. "I... was just heading out. There are some things I need to attend to."
"So it would seem," Rose said back, looking over her outfit. "And these things, they require one to don themselves in cargo pants and combat boots?"
The rainbow drinker was at a loss for an answer for her unusual attire, and she sheepishly averted her gaze from the human's curious eyes. It wasn't that she didn't trust Rose with the information, she just didn't want to put her in harms way with such dangerous knowledge. In addition to that, Kanaya didn't want word to get back to Karkat if these trolls ended up being the very highbloods they'd been expecting since she'd returned. This was a matter best kept private, and even if it wasn't, she believed the news would probably sound better coming from her.
"I... erm... Rose, to be perfectly honest, I'd rather not discuss the specifics of my current wardrobe."
"Fair enough. How about, 'where exactly could you be going'?"
"... Any chance we might avoid that conversation topic as well?"
At this, Rose quirked an eyebrow in that cute way she did to show she was interested in something. Kanaya's think pan wandered briefly to the idea of visiting and discussing various bits of literary interest with the human, as if this rift had never grown between them. How she longed to laugh and carelessly enjoy Rose's company as she used to.
"Pardon my prying," the Seer said, brushing a few strands of blonde hair behind her ear. "But could this have anything to do with those large trolls you seem obsessed with lately?"
The Virgo sighed before giving a slight, defeated nod; how did she always know these things?
"I figured as much," Rose replied. "Ever since you went after that one from the convenience store, I've noticed you pay special attention to them. What do you think they're up to?"
"Please, I hope that you will not consider this to be, well, inconsiderate on my part," Kanaya tried, hoping to end the matter. "But I do believe it would be best if I don't enlighten you on the depths of danger we are currently immersed in with their presence."
"... So, they're dangerous then?"
Damn.
Said too much again.
"I... Please, Rose I must be going," Kanaya said, trying to hide her fluster as she hurried past.
"Come now, surely we're beyond this point?" the Seer answered, following her. "Besides, wouldn't it be nice to have some help in this little... endeavor?"
The glowing troll made it all the way to the front door before stopping to consider Rose's proposition. While going it alone would keep everyone out of harm's way, having someone with such unique intuition would speed things up. However, if she allowed the human to help, she'd then risk endangering her.
Maybe if she pointed this out?
"... It wouldn't be safe," she offered, as if she honestly believed this would deter the girl.
"And this should make me feel better about you going off by yourself?"
With a soft sigh, Kanaya conceded with a shrug; she was clearly going to be the loser in this battle. Still, it wasn't safe to talk here, and if they were going to make any progress, it'd be best to stop dilly-dallying.
"Alright... Grab your coat, I'll tell you on the way."
Twiddling the pendant between his fingers, Gamzee stared down lovingly at his necklace from Karkat. It was just so perfect, and the fact that his bro had made it just for him made it all that much more special.
The Capricorn was currently waiting outside of the shorter troll's class, casually leaning against its smooth brick wall. His own class had been canceled for the day, and he now had nothing better to do than wait for Karkat to get out. Anticipation was starting to get the best of him, though, and he had already sent the nubby horned troll six text messages in the time he'd been waiting.
Maybe they could go see a movie together!
They could get popcorn, and hold hands, and maybe makeout, and-
Pail.
Gamzee felt that twinge in the back of his think pan again, and he tried to shake the thought off; nowadays, it was getting harder and harder to do so. Karkat was usually all kinds of patient and shit with him, but sometimes it just got to be feeling like too much. More than once, they'd gotten some wicked snuggles going only for the mirth to be ruined with Gamzee trying to go for Karkat's leg slits or carelessly sliding his hand down to rub his ass.
It happened more times than it should, and the taller troll knew he was beginning to slip up more frequently.
Gamzee couldn't help it; all he could think about was his adorable little motherfucker and how much he wanted to do with him. Visions of Karkat submitting beneath him or mewling with pleasure plagued the highblood's mind with the sweetest of dreams, and he longed to bring them to fruition. Hell, he was kind of surprised their ablution trap hadn't begun taking on a sort of purplish hue with how much he'd been relieving himself these days.
He needed to find something to distract himself, or he was going to end up losing control.
The necklace was tucked lazily back under Gamzee's shirt collar and his eyes shifted to watching the clouds drift by overhead. It was a pretty mild afternoon, if a bit chilly, and it felt nice to just be outside like this. Nothing much was going on, save for the occasional student or professor scurrying by, and the air was fresh with the dry, subtle scents of autumn. Once more, the tall troll found himself longing for his moirail-sprit's companionship in this pleasant lull.
Suddenly, a strange noise could be heard somewhere off in the distance, and Gamzee tore his attention from the sky to his surroundings to try and discern its origin. There didn't appear to be anything new around, though, and the highblood was perplexed with an innate curiosity as he listened. It was a warm, pleasant sound that seemed to carry with it a gentle tune in its notes.
The lilting harmony drew Gamzee in, captivating him with its foreign yet mesmerizing sound. Before he knew it, he was wandering away from Karkat's classroom and instead closer to the music. All previous anxiety over waiting for the other left him as his sole purpose boiled down simply to finding out what was making this noise.
After a bit of walking, the Capricorn eventually came upon a scruffy looking human holding a strange wooden instrument with strings stretched across it. The music seemed to be coming from here, and Gamzee couldn't help but stare in wonderment.
It was some sort of beautiful miracle.
Each string seemed to make its own sound, and when different strings were touched at the same time they made different sounds. Purple and yellow eyes fixated on this phenomenon, and the tall troll's mouth pulled into a long grin that all but split his face in half. The human didn't seem to notice him, his own attention stuck on his instrument, and continued to play on as if he wasn't even there.
One tune after another, Gamzee honestly couldn't have said how long he just stood there smiling and listening to this stranger play. He probably would have stood there all day were it not for the text message that chimed in his pocket about thirty minutes later. Pulling his cell phone out, the Capricorn nonchalantly read over his message.
- - KARKAT sent - -
SERIOUSLY GAMZEE?
YOU MESSAGE ME EVERY FIVE SECONDS WHEN I'M IN CLASS, BUT WHEN I FINALLY GET OUT HEY, GUESS WHO'S NOT HERE?
WHERE'D YOU WANDER OFF TO?
I SWEAR, IF YOU'RE ON SOME SORT OF MURDER HAPPY KILLING SPREE RIGHT NOW, I WILL SHOOSHPAP YOU INTO THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
- - Today 1:38 pm - -
Oh shit, he'd completely forgotten about waiting for Karkat.
- - You sent - -
honk
SORRY ABOUT THAT BRO
didn't mean to leave a motherfucker hanging
I'M OUTSIDE THE MUSIC BUILDING
i think
- - Today 1:40 pm - -
Gamzee continued to stare at his cell phone waiting for a reply, but several minutes later he still hadn't gotten one. Placing the device back in his pocket, he concluded that Karkat was probably just up and making his way over to him.
Surely enough, a few moments later Karkat could be seen walking over to him. Gamzee's former excitement bubbled up once more upon seeing the Cancer, and he moseyed over to meet him halfway. The shorter troll had his usual, ornery default expression, and he looked ready to start on a fresh bout of lecturing at any moment.
"Hey motherfucker," Gamzee said as he casually leaned down to kiss Karkat's cheek.
"Damn it! You Faygo chugging asshole, don't do that in public," the short troll scowled, quickly stepping back from the affectionate gesture as if it might actually burn. "Come on, let's just fucking go home already."
"Honk!"
Karkat shifted the weight of his backpack to one shoulder and began to lead the way. Happy to fall slightly behind him, Gamzee silently admired his moirail-sprit's small, delicate frame.
The back of him definitely wasn't too bad of a motherfucking sight.
The two made their way off campus and were soon walking down the sidewalk towards the apartment-stem. Their path from the university took them through downtown, and Gamzee always took a bit longer to watch the bustling activity of the other city dwellers.
As they went along, the two eventually passed the series of restaurants and shops that lined the streets. The Capricorn always thought these buildings were interesting, but on this particular instance, he noticed something he never really had before.
"Whoa," he said, stopping abruptly in front of a store window.
"Hm? What?" Karkat asked, glancing over to the window as well. "What is it?"
"... Bro, can we stop in here? I want to get something."
The nubby horned troll rolled his eyes at the request, but he waved Gamzee over to the store's entrance nonetheless.
"Just make it quick," he grumbled.
"Real motherfucking quick," Gamzee responded, ducking in through the doorway.
Moments like this were why Terezi really loved her matesprit.
'Love' apparently being the human equivalent for mating fondness.
The teal blooded troll curled closer to her coolkid, taking in the delicious scents of her surroundings. There was a strong, almost bitter odor in the air from ground up coffee beans, and it mixed pleasantly with the light, sugary smells of things like chocolate syrup and whip cream. Dave, being too cool for school, had gotten simple, black coffee that Terezi would always insist needed about twenty pounds more sugar.
Speaking of, the human leaned over to give her a soft kiss near the base of one of her horns. She snickered a bit as it tickled her hair and nuzzled into the crook of his neck. It was a fairly relaxed afternoon together in the coffee shop, and it was hard to imagine anything could manage to break the tranquility of the moment.
"So," she said, deciding to break the brief silence that had fallen between them. "At the end of this month, we're going to slaughter an Earth bird and gather together to feast on its carcass? That doesn't seem nearly as much fun as the human dress up holiday was."
Terezi giggled once more, her think pan flashing back to how the two of them had dressed up like Cinderella and Prince Charming.
It had been a fun night, and Dave really did look stunning in that ballgown.
"Yeah, it kind of blows to be honest," the Strider responded, nonchalantly sipping his beverage. "Something about celebrating family and how white people gave small pox to a bunch of Indians who later turned out to not actually be Indians."
"... What's an Indian?"
"Shit, who even knows."
The blind troll playfully drubbed Dave's ankle with her cane at his lazy answer.
Their lighthearted, merry fun wasn't to last, though, and a frown crossed the Libra's lips as she caught the scent of a pretty large troll coming into the coffee shop. While these trolls obviously had no connection to Gamzee himself, they always managed to get Dave going on that stupid tangent of his.
"God damn it, another one? The fuck, they're everywhere."
Yeah, as predictable as the clocks he worships.
"You seriously need to let that go," Terezi advised. "I get that you and Gamzee don't like each other, for whatever reason that's probably pointless and dumb, but you'll regret it if you keep at this whole... What is it even? Do you have some kind of hatecrush on him?"
"What? Hell no. Mutually wanting to kill each other is what's going on here, not some weird troll hate-flirting shit. Man, I just can't stand that guy. Besides, am I the only one that still remembers he's a complete fucking psychopath?"
"Pretty sure none of us have forgotten Dave. You know, especially those of us who were actually there when you sent him off the deep end in the first place?"
"Damn it... You're right, I'm sorry. I shouldn't look at it that way but... Shit. I'm getting irritated just thinking about this, can we change conversation topic?"
"Hehehe, of course. Can't have the amazing Dave Strider losing his cool."
"Tch, yeah, because that's something that can even happen."
There was a bit of an awkward silence then in which the blind troll wasn't quite sure what to say. Dave went back to nursing his drink, but after a few moments he began speaking again.
"... Don't you think it's kind of weird though?" he said. "I mean... none of you guys are their size except for Gamzee. Even then, he's definitely smaller than them. Oh fuck, wait, is he going to get bigger?"
"Much bigger," Terezi replied, shifting some in her seat. "Yeah... it's kind of hard to say. I mean, Equius wasn't full grown when he was killed so I guess it's possible that all these trolls are indigo bloods."
"Okay, yeah, but what if they aren't?"
At this, the Libra quirked her mouth in concentration; what exactly would this mean if all these strange trolls were purple bloods? According to Rose, after the human-troll wars the sea dwellers sectioned off into their own oceanic territory, and the purple blooded trolls sort of clustered together in one enormous city under the Grand Highblood. If that were the case, then why would so many of them be here instead of there?
Her train of thought was interrupted, though, as she felt the soft vibration of a text message on her phone. She had to wriggle out of Dave's hold to retrieve the device, and it appeared that the message had come from Kanaya.
- - Kanaya sent - -
Terezi
I Was Wondering What You Were Doing At The Moment
Or I Guess More Specifically
I Wish To Know If You Are Currently Busy
- - Today 1:56pm - -
- - You sent - -
D4V3 4ND 1 4R3 JUST H4NG1NG OUT 4T TH3 COFF33 SHOP.
WHY, WH4T'S GO1NG ON? :?
- - Today 1:57pm - -
"Who is it?" Dave asked, peaking over her shoulder as she waited on a reply.
"It's Kanaya. She wants to know if I'm busy."
"Why? Something up?"
"I don't know, shush," Terezi said, pushing his face away. "So nosy."
"Hey, if some luminescent troll lesbian with a chainsaw is going to be swiping up my choice girlfriend time, it's only common courtesy to let a guy know why."
Another 'buzz' sounded before Terezi could respond.
- - Kanaya sent - -
It Really Isnt That Important I Suppose
Well Okay Perhaps It Is Important
But I Dont Want To Interrupt Any Alone Time You Might Be Having With Your Matesprit
- - Today 1:58pm - -
- - You sent - -
DON'T WORRY 4BOUT 1T!
W3 S3R1OUSLY 4R3N'T DO1NG 4NYTH1NG.
H3'S B4S1C4LLY JUST B1TCH1NG ABOUT G4MZ33 4ND TH1S B1G TROLL N34RBY.
1 PROM1S3 YOU 4R3N'T 1NT3RRUPT1NG 4NYTH1NG. :]
- - Today 2:00pm - -
"Wow, rude," Dave said flatly, still reading over her shoulder.
"Well you are," Terezi snickered.
"No big deal, it's not even really a thing," he went on, shifting the troll off of him. "Just gonna go cry forever now."
"Can I taste your tears?"
The human flicked her off as he walked off to stand in line, probably to get another cup of coffee or some small snack to munch on. He pulled out his ear buds from inside his hoodie and casually popped them into his ears as he waited. Sometimes he was just such a dork, and even then he was still pretty much the coolest kid around.
Terezi had almost forgotten she'd been talking to Kanaya when her phone went off again.
- - Kanaya sent - -
A Big Troll
Well Perhaps Luck Is On My Side After All
If You Truly Dont Mind Helping Me For Just A Moment
I Have A Pretty Big Favor To Ask
I Am Afraid I Must Also Ask For Your Utmost Discretion On The Matter
If At All Possible
- - Today 2:08pm - -
- - You sent - -
SUR3. :]
WH4T DO YOU W4NT M3 TO DO?
- - Today 2:09pm - -
- - Kanaya sent - -
Is There Any Way That You Could Get Close To That Troll
As I Am Aware You Have A Particular Knack For Smells And Colors
Even The Smell Of A Color Subtly Hidden Beneath The Surface Of A Trolls Skin
I Have Found Some Disconcerting Information On A Few Things
And I Really Do Need To Know For Absolute Certainty Where These Large Trolls Are On The Hemospectrum
- - Today 2:10pm - -
Terezi read over the message and then tilted her chin up to get a good whiff of the troll in the coffee shop. He was very big, and he didn't smell too friendly. She then sniffed over towards Dave to make sure he was still preoccupied with his coffee line. What Kanaya was asking her to do wouldn't really be a walk in the park; worse than that, if she goofed and angered the troll then things could take a nasty turn.
Then again, what suspect trying to keep a low profile would draw attention to himself with something like a public scuffle?
- - You sent - -
1'LL DO 1T. :]
G1V3 M3 4 F3W M1NUT3S
- - Today 2:13pm - -
Getting one final smell to fully evaluate the situation, Terezi casually slid out of her chair to do as Kanaya requested. Fortunately, the troll of questionable blood was sitting at a table on the way to the bathroom. She could make this really simple; slip past and pretend she was going to the bathroom and then 'accidentally' stumble.
It was time to play the blind girl card.
The Libra did her best to play the part of a helpless, unassuming troll who couldn't make heads or tails of where she was going. She laid the cane tapping on thick, intentionally smacking the legs of chairs and beating the floor to make it painfully obvious that she couldn't see. Terezi was inwardly thankful that Dave had such a weird obsession with music, because without those headphones he definitely would have realized that she was up to something.
Moving a bit closer, she slowed down once she was just a few feet away from the larger troll. It was time for action, and the anticipation of her performance almost made her giddy with devious excitement.
"Whoa!" she said loudly, letting her cane slip out from under her. "I'm going to fall!"
She wobbled for a few seconds before awkwardly toppling onto the large troll. He had smelled irritable before, but now he reeked of fury.
"Get off me," he snarled, immediately shoving her off.
Terezi hadn't quite been expecting that, and now she actually did fall. She'd managed to get a good whiff of the troll, and her discovery probably caught her off guard more than anything else. Panic flooded her think pan for a second, and she quickly reached around to grab her cane.
"Sorry about that," she said, masking her fear with a light, playful tone. "Didn't see you there."
"Touch me again and I'll-"
"You'll what now?" asked the voice of one dashing Knight as he stood there with his fresh cup of coffee.
The tension in the air was palpable, and Terezi could smell Dave's glare even behind the veil of his sunglasses. Troll and human continued their stare down for what seemed like hours before the large troll finally got up and stormed out. Dave then turned his attention back to Terezi, and he carefully knelt down to help her up.
"... Thanks," the Libra replied, at a bit of a loss for words.
"The fuck was that all about?" Dave asked, instantly zoning in on the crux of the matter. "I leave for five goddamn minutes to get another coffee, and I come back to you about to get your ass kicked by some megalithic troll?"
Terezi grew silent at this, and her think pan was struggling to process everything that had just occurred. On top of that, now Dave seemed to be upset with her over the situation. She wanted to tell him why she'd done it, what she'd discovered in doing so, but Kanaya had explicitly asked her to keep the matter a secret.
Now she knew why.
"... I was just going to the bathroom and I tripped," she said, deciding it'd be best to go with a little white lie for now. "It was an accident."
Dave looked at her for a long while, and she could tell from just a sniff that he wasn't buying that story. The blind troll wasn't about to betray Kanaya's wishes, though, and so her matesprit was just going to have to accept this.
"Seriously, I still have to pee," she said, making her way off to the bathroom before he could argue.
Terezi wasted no time in making sure no one else was in the bathroom, even going so far as sniffing under the doors to double check. Once locked inside the privacy of one of the bathroom stalls, she pulled out her cell phone and called Kanaya. In situations like this, texting just wasn't going to do, and the phone rang three times before the familiar voice of Kanaya answered.
"Hello?" she asked on the other end of the phone. "Were you able to... well..."
"Yes," Terezi said, a rare and serious note to her words. "And I'd like to know why there's a bunch of subjugglators running around the city."
"..."
"Kanaya, what's going on?"
Why?
Why the hell had he thought it was okay to stop by that store Gamzee was looking in?
Karkat tried to focus on his husktop through the discordant sounds of his moirail-sprit plucking away at his newly discovered torture device. Ever since they'd gotten back to the apartment-stem, the highblood had been fiddling with the thing.
It had been three hours.
The noises were so bad that Karkat was certain his auricular sponge clots would burst open at any moment. He wasn't going to complain, though, because at least the taller troll was keeping himself occupied and out of trouble. Gamzee also seemed to get some sort of weird enjoyment out of it, so he guessed that was good too?
Doing his best to tune the world around him out, Karkat continued to read over the article he had pulled up on his husktop screen. It was all about the benefits of different types of exercises and programs that helped trolls higher up on the hemospectrum let out some of their excess energy. He was eventually going to want to take things farther with Gamzee, but he didn't want to do so if it would put his mental or emotional stability at risk. Karkat was beginning to feel like his time was running out, and the Capricorn seemed to be growing more and more anxious with each passing day. He needed something that wouldn't stimulate him to get out all that energy.
Maybe this would work?
Fuck, he'd only even thought to look into exercising because of some bullshit commercial he'd seen on television.
More frustrating than all of that was probably the fact that Karkat was having trouble finding any information on the adequate amount of exercise for purple blooded trolls. There were thousands upon thousands of articles for middle bloods, and even quite a few for indigo blooded trolls. Past that, though, the information was sketchy at best. With how secluded seadwellers and purple blooded trolls were from the rest of the world, there simply wasn't as many rambunctious articles about 'what exercise program worked best for them'. Whatever articles the nubby horned troll did manage to dig up on highbloods was usually written by some pompous violet blood chastising others for their improper swimming techniques. Maybe if he rewrote his search words-
TWANG!
Karkat flinched at the sudden, loud sound from Gamzee's guitar, and he reflexively whipped around to shoot the taller troll a death glare. The Capricorn sheepishly smiled up at him, as if expecting the raging molten fury that the nubby horned troll was about to spew all over him.
"... Gamzee," Karkat hissed through gritted teeth.
"... Yes Karbro?"
"Could you maybe, for the rest of your fucking life, stop torturing those strings and everyone else in the nearby vicinity?"
The taller troll looked a bit dejected at this, and he looked away as if to avoid eye contact. Karkat sighed at the reaction, now feeling incredibly guilty; it was as if he'd snatched candy away from a newly hatched wiggler.
"But bro," the taller troll said softly, tapping a claw against the neck of the guitar. "If I don't practice then... I won't get any better."
Fuck. Okay, he was officially the worst troll ever.
"Shit, fine, but... could you maybe not practice right here?" the shorter troll asked, rubbing his arm nervously. "Just for right now... I'm working on something."
Gamzee seemed to be considering the suggestion, and he scratched at the underside of his chin as he thought.
"Okay best motherfucking friend," he responded with a nod, getting up off of the couch. "Where should I up and be getting my practice flowing at?"
That was a very good question.
Who would put up with a semi-stable Gamzee making sounds like he had stepped on Miracle's tail?
"... Well, it's a human instrument, right?"
"That's what I got my know on to saying."
"Alright, so, maybe one of the stupid humans we live with can help you. Maybe Jade? I don't fucking know, go find out for yourself."
"... I didn't even have that motherfucking idea cross my think pan! Shit bro, you're just full of miracles."
"Yeah yeah, whatever, miracles. Take your stupid guitar thing and go away."
The Capricorn's smile was back in full force now, and he leaned over to give one of Karkat's horns a quick kiss before turning to leave their block. Caught off guard by the action, the Cancer's face flushed red.
"D-damn it Gamzee..."
"Flushed for you bro," he called back, closing the door behind him.
"Fucking dumbass," the troll grumbled to himself, glaring at his husktop through his blush.
He then sat there for a few moments, enjoying the tranquility of a silent respiteblock, but eventually went back to his research with a sigh. It was never a dull moment around here, and at the end of each day Karkat found himself reaching the same two conclusions.
Gamzee Makara was the biggest goofy imbecile on the planet.
And the nubby horned troll couldn't get enough of him.