♋ PCG 19

[crusthatecean]

[Phone]

[Karkat is calling! He sounds a little shaky this time, and he speaks quickly, dropping the normal amount of too-long-didn't-listen ranting.]Okay, idiots, it's that fucking time again. My safe housing list for December is in the communication receptacle outside 1338 Benny Road, so come get an updated copy, or your first copy if you're new

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[chastesaw]

I'm certain you possessed the utmost in good intentions, Karkat, but your new rule seems a bit...

...well, premature. I haven't felt anything untrustworthy in them at all.

[crusthatecean]

Oh, I'm sorry, Kanaya, I forgot that I am completely incapable of making character judgments or leadership in general. Everyone should just assume I don't have any good reason for this decision and do what they want.

[chastesaw]

That is not what I said, nor what I meant, and I am certain you are aware of that.

Perhaps you could elucidate on your aforementioned good reasons? If there's something I've overlooked then of course I'll listen, but it's difficult to merely accept "I don't trust them" as rationale for cutting all contact when... I do.

I think we can learn from them.

[crusthatecean]

Hey, what if instead of questioning me, for once everyone just listened to me instead of forcing me to explain my rationale? That would be crazy, it would almost be like I was some sort of leader or something.

[chastesaw]

*An audible sigh.* A dutiful subordinate listens to her leader's words and follows them, but a faithful one will inform him when she believes him to be erring, or perhaps allowing his judgment to be clouded.

I have never met another troll like myself in my entire life, Karkat. I want to learn from her.

[crusthatecean]

I don't think she's that much like you. I don't know why everyone gets so worked up at having the same blood color as someone else. It doesn't mean anything! There are a finite number of possible shades and symbols, eventually you will meet someone with one that looks similar.

[chastesaw]

Even if the hatching of a jadeblood were not so rare as to be considered a notable event, and even if she did not possess my precise symbol atop that, there are more than enough similarities between the two of us to warrant raising one's ocular ridge hairs.

*A long pause. She's not sure how to broach the topic, so she opts to dance around it.* Not least of which is the company she kept.

[crusthatecean]

I don't care about her friends.

[There's something in his tone that is definitely a warning. If Kanaya was looking for the reason behind this sudden irrational rule, she may now call bingo.]

[chastesaw]

If that were true, I do not believe you would be forbidding us to speak with them as they arrive here.

*Yep. She's never really discussed this with him before - she's been content to let that strange red blood in his veins be his business, because it's not what defines him as the Karkat she knows; as the friend she cherishes. But if this is him trying to hide from things...*

It can't be anything more than a temporary solution, Karkat - if that.

[crusthatecean]

[He can tell Kanaya has him figured out and wants to talk. But he doesn't want to talk. He just wants this to go away.]

I'm forbidding you from speaking to them because they have their own issues and whether or not you agree, they are fucking dangerous. Even if the jade blood isn't, she clearly has enemies. Do you want to be dragged into that?

It wouldn't have to be a 'temporary solution' if all of you assholes would bother just for once showing me some fucking respect and not assuming I'm being overdramatic when I am serious about this.

[chastesaw]

...we'd thought our entire race had been reduced to twelve. But now there are more of us, and I don't think it's right to shun them even if I didn't think we could learn from their experience. Of course some of them will be dangerous, but so are some of us. If one's own propensity for danger were the only factor, then what would we do with Gamzee, or Vriska - or Eridan? Were the town to return me to my rainbow drinker state, perhaps I too would become a danger.

But we've faced danger before, Karkat. And were their enemies to follow them here, do you think they would abide by any established boundaries between generations? Sooner or later they too would notice any similarities no matter how well-hidden, and then perhaps decide that we were their enemies as well. I would rather face them with the cooperation of the elders than after we'd left them to their own devices.

I don't think you're being overdramatic, Karkat. I'm certain you have very valid reasons for feeling how you do.

But none of this will go away if we simply ignore it.

[crusthatecean]

I'm not the one who said we should include Vriska or Eridan. And Gamzee is a different issue entirely.

Anyway, I'm done here. Do what you want.

[chastesaw]

*There's something sharper in her voice when she speaks next - or more firm, anyway. Perhaps it's slightly motherly?* Karkat, ignoring a problem does nothing to correct it, and I am trying to help. And in the event that you're considering terminating the conversation via audio hook, I feel obligated to remind you that I am well aware of the location of your hive.

Is it a different issue? You've devoted impressive amounts of time and effort - not to mention your true body - to ensuring he remains as harmless as possible. Danger is what we make of it, so I don't believe it's as different as you say.

*And then her tone softens.* Or do you believe they're dangerous because of what they could tell us?

[crusthatecean]

What do you want? I told you, do what you want. This isn't up for discussion. This is listen to me, or don't, but if you don't, also don't bother trying to talk to me.

[chastesaw]

Is that really what you want? For the two of us to never speak again?

[crusthatecean]

Of course I don't. But if talking to some complete strangers matters to you so much that you don't care how I feel about it, then maybe it should be.