A wild-haired woman staggers out of the dust-bitten wind onto a rickety wooden porch. She hammers on the door, calling out above the gale.
"Hello?"
The door opens a crack, and a yellow eye greets her. It widens in shock, and the door is opened to reveal a troll – sharp-toothed and split-horned. She wears a leather eyepatch over her left eye, with a blood symbol picked out in sparkling cerulean gems – an arching m, ending in a sharp arrow point.
"You'd better come in," she says.
"Thank you!" Jade gasps, glad of the clear indoors air. "My truck broke down and I –"
"You need an ablution," the troll tells her. "Upstairs, second on the left. You can tell me all about it when you're clean."
Half an hour later, Jade's hair is shaking out water droplets onto a silken azure gown as she recounts her travels. The troll's eye grows wide with interest over her coffee, and when she laughs, it rings out like a bell.
"So what about you?" Jade asks at the end of her story. "I thought this part of the world was too bright for trolls..."
"That's why I like it," the woman smiles, sharp and predatory. "There's too many trolls around I'd rather not see."
"Well..." Jade takes another sip of her drink to hide her widening smile. "I'm glad you were here. I'll have to think of some way to thank you for this..."
The troll leans forwards over the table, raising an eyebrow. "Is that a proposition?"
The kiss tastes like her coffee, black and bitter, but it is surprisingly sweet and Jade cannot help but sigh.
"Vriska..."
Vriska pulls away suddenly, scowling. "How do you know my name?"
"Like you didn't recognise me?" Jade asks. "Why do you think I'm here? I'm looking for you."
Vriska shakes her head, her eye glittering fiercely. "Leave be, Harley. I won't bother anyone again, just let me alone."
"No, Vriska," Jade says with a smile. "It's time for you to come home."