The apartment was always quieter without Terezi. Karkat was tempted to invite her back, but it was about time that someone from the Midnight Crew visited, and he didn't want her getting in trouble. One of them getting in trouble with a gang was enough.
Feferi didn't talk to him for the rest of the day. He understood. Either she was mad at him for breaking the news in such a roundabout way, or she was mad at herself and her bloodline for the murder of Karkat's father. It was alright, though. Feferi was one of the most forgiving friends he had.
Nobody visited Karkat for the rest of the day. Nor the next day. The day after, Terezi did stop by again with her old gamehusk, and they played fiduspawn for a good hour. But she couldn't replace the feeling that Karkat had been forgotten by Slick.
He started spending his time staring blankly at the wall. Nothing had happened. He felt stuck. Useless. He voiced this to Terezi, who told him to calm down and appreciate that life was somewhat normal.
No word from Slick. No word from the Midnight Crew. No word from Feferi, and he was starting to worry.
carcinoGeneticist [CG] began trolling cuttlefishCuller [CC]!
CG: I'M SORRY FEFERI.
CC: No Karkat, it's okay.
CC: It's not your fault my mot)(er is evil.
CC: I'm sorry for not responding for so long.
CG: IT'S OKAY. REMEMBER WHEN I HOLED MYSELF UP IN MY HOUSE FOR THREE WEEKS AFTER MY DAD DIED?
CC: )(e)(e, yea)(. But my mom is t)(e one responsible for t)(at.
CC: T)(e worst part is, I believe it. Kanaya didn't )(ave to convince me. It seemed so realistic.
CG: IS YOUR MOM THAT BAD?
CC: Well, s)(e isn't )(orrible. S)(e's a bit cold )(earted. Not big on affection. Really, Meena)( raised me more t)(an anyone.
CC: I didn't really like any of t)(e maids when I was younger.
CG: WELL, SORRY THAT SHE'S A MURDEROUS HEMOCASTE WORSHIPPER. THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED THOUGH, WASN'T SHE THE QUEEN OF ALTERNIA?
CC: T)(e Imperial -Empress, actually. But t)(at'sonly w)(at s)(e says, s)(e doesn't )(ave evidence to back it up.
CG: FUSCHIABLOODS CAN LIVE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
CC: Don't remind me. 38(
CG: OH YEAH, SORRY.
CC: No, it's alrig)(t. It just gets scary to t)(ink t)(at I'm going to outlive all of my friends.
CG: I COULDN'T IMAGINE. I HAVE THE LIFESPAN OF A HUMAN. AND THAT'S ONLY IF I AVOID GETTING KILLED BY THE FELT. I BET THE PROTECTORS OF ALTERNIA WILL BE MY NEXT PROBLEM.
CC: Probably.
CG: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE OKAY. I NEED EVERYONE ON BOARD WITH THIS WHOLE ORDEAL.
CC: I could start getting everyone to talk to other friends. We need as many people as we can get. You're basically starting a political revolution.
CG: REALLY?
CC: Yes Karkat, reelly. More laws are being set up against trolls everyday. Some of it is because )(umans are terrified of trolls, but ot)(er laws are blatant disregard for equality between castes. Like, did you know the government is trying to put )(ars)(er laws against lowbloods joining in the military because t)(ey are considered weak? And more colleges are starting to look for )(ig)(blood applicants, because those are the 'smarter' trolls. Do you know lowbloods are getting paid the least out of any group?
CG: SHIT, HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS? THAT SHIT ISN'T EVEN FAIR!
CC: I know. I want to go into politics w)(en I graduate. I want to make this country safer, more fair.
CG: I'M BEHIND YOU ON THAT ONE.
CG: I'M GONNA LEAVE NOW. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE OKAY. STAY SAFE. IF YOUR MOM FINDS OUT ABOUT THIS, YOUR FUCKED.
CC: Believe me, I know. Good bye!
carcinoGeneticist [CG] ceased trolling cuttlefishCuller [CC]!
She had piqued his interest with the mention of those laws. He wasn't one for politics, all of it seemed like a reeking pile of shit to him, but this was worth investigating. He was under the impression he was going against a gang. An extensive gang, yes, but a gang nonetheless. Maybe those politicians had deeper connections than he thought.
With a quick Google search, he found a site listing some of the most recent xenophobic laws. Most of them were directed towards lowbloods, but there were a few that targeted all trolls. It was easy to forget that humans were the largest species on this planet. They bred like rabbits, for fuck's sake. Some of the blatant xenophobic laws included trolls not being able to carry firearms unless they were police officers or members of the military, highbloods being the first to be drafted in times of war, and all psychic trolls had to be accounted for and tracked.
Then there were the other laws, the ones Feferi mentioned. There was a statistic saying that, in illegal sweatshops across the country, lowbloods made up the overwhelming majority of workers. Lowbloods were believed to be more easily addicted to sopor and got the longest prison sentences, despite it being a known fact that humans were most likely to be addicted. There were around four lowbloods that owned businesses. Lowbloods were more likely than any other troll to be raped, but wouldn't be charged for rape unless it was a human. Lowbloods got more prison time for thievery and murder. There were police investigations for lowblood gangs, but no mentions of any highblood gangs. There was nothing major, but a few blogs dedicated to conspiracy theories were talking about government plans to enslave all lowbloods. A bit of a stretch, but who knew anymore.
Karkat added all of this to the group chat. Nobody was online, he hadn't realized how late it had gotten, but he needed them to be safe. Terezi was right, in a way. He had to keep them updated, make sure they weren't doing anything stupid. He had to be their leader.