[He generally doesn't pay too much attention to the flood of newcomers making bewildered comments, but there are a few terms used in that statement he can't ignore.]
[He should be glad that Mayfield is apparently now reaching into their dead species for new members. It will help them rebuild.
But in a display of complete selfishness that disgusts him, he doesn't want other trolls here. The eleven of them trust Karkat and for the most part, he trusts them. He's gotten used to not worrying about being culled for the sake of his status or what will happen if he's careless about his blood. He's gotten used to not being treated like he's less than everyone else.
But he's the leader of their species, even if she probably would never accept that, and even if he feels more loyalty to humans than he does to trolls besides his eleven.]
Wow, fuck, okay. I'm Karkat. There are twelve of us here already. I have a list that explains how things work around here, although it may be a little specific to the assholes I know.
[She smiles warmly into the phone, a sense of familiarity washing over her. He sounded too young to be Signless, but he sounded like him nonetheless.]
I go by Dolorosa, it's comforting to know that there are other trolls here. I wonder if I would recognize them in these bodies. Any information you have would be appreciated, I know very little at this point. [she hesitates for a moment] You sound like someone I am close with.
[Well, that's a strange comment to make. I mean, there is something about her that reminds him of Kanaya a little, but he would never remark on it. It's just a coincidence.
Still, even if it's misleading, or maybe just because of the resemblance to Kanaya in her way of speaking, he thinks she sounds nice.]
A lot of us aren't humans anymore. You'll get your normal body back soon.
Look outside on the front of the hive. There will be a number, and then at the end of the hive block, there will be a sign that gives a hive block name.
[He gets there in only a few minutes, looking a little nervous as he approaches. He's not wearing his sign, not having regained any clothes from Mayfield yet, but the very writing of the letter he's bringing her shows the anonymous grey he writes in, making it clear he isn't normal. He doesn't even know who she is; this might have been a bad idea.
But he can't let himself be afraid of this kind of thing anymore. And the human woman waiting outside the house doesn't look too intimidating. He waves, trying to catch her attention.]
[She stares at him. Blatantly. Stares at him. He looks just like Signless did at that age, it's like she was seeing her baby again.] Hello. [Her greeting was hesitant and maybe a bit forced but Karkat just looks so much like him. She needs to force her eyes away from him to read the letter.]
You were aware of what humans are when you arrived here? [Wait, she reads over his penultimate paragraph. Different points in time? Interesting.]
[She goes back to studying his face] Why do you hide behind grey text?
[She's staring at him, and he can't stand being stared at like this. He makes him feel like everything he tries to hide is transparent and obvious.]
Yeah, we--
[That question cuts him off from explaining the humans, sending him immediately to defensive mode.]
I don't know, maybe I couldn't find a fucking typewriter with color ink? Maybe it's none of your business how I choose to write an explanatory note that I am giving you for your benefit.
[She watched his defenses go flying up. He was low blooded then... but just maybe he was special.]
[Earlier, while testing the softness of her new body, Dolorosa had cut into the palm of her hand and found candy red blood. She didn't wash it all off though, so she puts her hand out, both to see how he reacts to the color and as a calming gesture.]
He has no idea how to react to that. It's similar to the gesture Noir made to him when they met, although by now he knows that red isn't an unusual color for many species. Surely it's not her usual color. But it's more that there's something about the way she does it that seems like she knows somehow, even though that makes no sense.
Since he can't tell her meaning, he won't volunteer anything. He does tense and take a half step back almost automatically, but otherwise doesn't seem to react.]
I'll never stop being surprised that our species is actually worse at not injuring ourselves than humans.
[She takes a look at her hand and wipes away the remaining blood.] I was testing this new body, it's very soft and injures easily. It's not the body of a warrior race, that much is certain. I was startled to see this color red again rather than green, but blood color isn't something that important. [she can only drop so many hints but she wants him to say something, wants to ask him if he knows anything about Signless.]
[They've just met but she is already a bit attached to him.]
You're a troll?
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[He should be glad that Mayfield is apparently now reaching into their dead species for new members. It will help them rebuild.
But in a display of complete selfishness that disgusts him, he doesn't want other trolls here. The eleven of them trust Karkat and for the most part, he trusts them. He's gotten used to not worrying about being culled for the sake of his status or what will happen if he's careless about his blood. He's gotten used to not being treated like he's less than everyone else.
But he's the leader of their species, even if she probably would never accept that, and even if he feels more loyalty to humans than he does to trolls besides his eleven.]
Wow, fuck, okay. I'm Karkat. There are twelve of us here already. I have a list that explains how things work around here, although it may be a little specific to the assholes I know.
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I go by Dolorosa, it's comforting to know that there are other trolls here. I wonder if I would recognize them in these bodies. Any information you have would be appreciated, I know very little at this point. [she hesitates for a moment] You sound like someone I am close with.
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Still, even if it's misleading, or maybe just because of the resemblance to Kanaya in her way of speaking, he thinks she sounds nice.]
A lot of us aren't humans anymore. You'll get your normal body back soon.
If you give me your address, I'll bring it by.
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Look outside on the front of the hive. There will be a number, and then at the end of the hive block, there will be a sign that gives a hive block name.
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[She puts the phone down and goes to find out her address! A simple recon mission]
Hello? I've returned. I'm located at 842 Hastings Boulevard.
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[Though he doesn't trust her well enough yet to give her his own location.]
I'll be over soon.
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[Dolorosa has faith in him, he seems so much like Signless he can't possibly a bad person. Besides, she could fight him off if the need arose.]
[She waits for him outside, taking in the scenery of this new planet.]
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But he can't let himself be afraid of this kind of thing anymore. And the human woman waiting outside the house doesn't look too intimidating. He waves, trying to catch her attention.]
Hey.
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You were aware of what humans are when you arrived here? [Wait, she reads over his penultimate paragraph. Different points in time? Interesting.]
[She goes back to studying his face] Why do you hide behind grey text?
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Yeah, we--
[That question cuts him off from explaining the humans, sending him immediately to defensive mode.]
I don't know, maybe I couldn't find a fucking typewriter with color ink? Maybe it's none of your business how I choose to write an explanatory note that I am giving you for your benefit.
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[Earlier, while testing the softness of her new body, Dolorosa had cut into the palm of her hand and found candy red blood. She didn't wash it all off though, so she puts her hand out, both to see how he reacts to the color and as a calming gesture.]
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He has no idea how to react to that. It's similar to the gesture Noir made to him when they met, although by now he knows that red isn't an unusual color for many species. Surely it's not her usual color. But it's more that there's something about the way she does it that seems like she knows somehow, even though that makes no sense.
Since he can't tell her meaning, he won't volunteer anything. He does tense and take a half step back almost automatically, but otherwise doesn't seem to react.]
I'll never stop being surprised that our species is actually worse at not injuring ourselves than humans.
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[They've just met but she is already a bit attached to him.]
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