[Video]

[sundigen]

[The feed comes on, fuzzy at first but then it starts to come into focus. Teutorix is standing in front of a bloody heap in all his half face'ed glory, very much a solid looking being opposed to his usual translucent state. He steps away from the body to look at Libby who was giving him a questioning look.]

Yes pet... You may eat.

[The man moved away

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[suchatroll]

[They've found nothing and they've turned the place upside down. Karkat has played games, nay lead long enough to know what that means. He can see Allen's desperation to find Sasuke. He'd seen it enough in the wake of his own rage, peering into the past to see how much time he wasted when deep down he'd known-

He reaches out to snag the Exorcist's arm in a firm grip. It isn't the grip of an angry troll who is raging in a bid to fit into his society. It isn't the boy who tried to be respected. It is the Leader of the twelve trolls that fought through Sgrub and earned their reward. Failure is miserable and in this moment, the Troll has mentally grown up a little stepping away from the past him as he always does. He feels terrible they failed but the fact is they're not going to find anything.

He tries to spin Allen to face him to meet his yellow eyes and the hard set of his jaw. His expression is one that screams he's in charge and the wisdom of someone who lead eleven other fuckasses through hell and back. Through death and into hope. He sighs, quietly. Then puts his sickles away, gesturing they leave the building. 'we're not going to find anything here' he makes the hand gestures to indicate that and points to the outside. 'Now we do this the Troll way'.

Follow. That expression says. 'I will lead because your head isn't on straight in the wake of tragedy'. Then he turns and walks away, slides open his Sylladex, his HOMES SMELL YA LATER, sickle appearing in his hand like as if it had been summoned. He's that leader again. Why he doesn't know but Allen's lost and fruitless search has reawakened it. His rage is like a living entity as he strides forward with a snarl and his shoulders hunched. Every step seems to roar with hate at the place and the things that are causing hell. He'll cut them down.

Destroy them with little remorse and keep hating them after they're gone.]

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[tothelastbreath]

[Allen tenses up when Karkat grabs his arm, but does turn to face him, lips curved around a soundless 'What?'. Even in the verbal silence, it's easy to hear the forced patience behind that word in the scuffle of a boot, already itching to move on, keep looking, keep going. He is so very sick of always being too late, of always running in place. For six months, he had been suspended in limbo. For six months, Sasuke was a quiet but constant part of his life, and Allen regrets now that he still doesn't know much about Sasuke beyond the fact that there are people waiting for him to go home. Sasuke's been waiting for over a year, only to have it end like this.

The upset twist of Allen's mouth says no, his head really isn't on straight, that this is someone he knew and it's starting to look like he won't even be able to give Sasuke a proper burial. But he does have enough sense to see Karkat's completely right about this. So he nods, gives their surroundings one last compulsive look, and follows the troll without complaint. Seeing Karkat's rage cools his head down further, enough to feel some wariness. Not of Karkat, but at his purposeful stride. What did Teutorix say again ― too nosy, was it? Well, they're both terrible at heeding public warnings, apparently. While Allen would have torn Nesreca apart regardless, having Karkat with him changes things. He would be a hypocrite and ask Karkat to stay back, except he can tell just by looking at the troll that it won't do one whit of good.

So by the time they're out the entrance, he's considerably calmer than before, even if the tension in his shoulders hasn't faded at all. If Karkat's taking the lead, then he'll just have to watch their backs.

He taps Karkat on the shoulder, then cocks his head towards the dilapidated landscape in question.

'Where are we going?']

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[selfkimesis]

[He has no idea about this city but they'd had no clue about the game when they entered it. He steps out onto the street and counts the ones on the street. He starts with the fourth building, following the numbers sacred to prophets and seers first. Symbolism never hurt. Even if all their searching is amounting to nothing and Karkat gets steadily and steadily angerier. It's as if every little thing is pissing him off more and more with every passing moment.

The anger, is rapidly transforming into sheer hatred of the city and the thing that interrupted their strange little lives. He finally stops and stares across the water at the other city. There's something in his eyes. A kind of anger that is old and full of despair. Frustration and loathing cloil together in a delicate dance as he turns away, heading back because they've looked everywhere. And he knows it. He's not the dumb fuck that thought maybe they could find something. He's the wind bag future self that knows. They were just following a timeline of defeat.]

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[tothelastbreath]

[In contrast, Allen's getting progressively... Sadder. Not that it shows. On the surface, he just seems more reserved with every passing hour and really goddamn tired. There's no doubt he'll cry later, cry for Sasuke and all the people he left behind, people who will never even get to know what happened to him. But it's a grief Allen won't let anyone see, won't let loose until he's alone.

They're not going to find Sasuke tonight, that much is for certain. So he reaches out and squeezes Karkat's shoulder, holding on a beat too long for a boy with 19th Century sensibilities. Too long for two people still unfamiliar with each other, but then again, Allen is no stranger to that look in Karkat's eyes. He simply can't pretend not to see it. Letting go before the gesture can stretch itself into the realm of awkward, he nods in the direction of the apartments. They should head back before the sun rises.]

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[suchatroll]

[The look in Karkat's eyes is the same one he had after first being stuck in the Veil. The same hopeless despair at being denied entry into what he had helped create. But for a different reason. For one he was still very much the only troll in Niteo. For two, another failure in a long list of failures. The city across the way was a grim reminder of Derse and Prospit. The operations the troll team had taken all of it.

Allen's hand on his shoulder is strange and warm and comforting. But he doesn't admit it. Because he's Karkat and admitting it would be showing weakness. Trolls don't do that. He heads back for the apartments.]

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[tothelastbreath]

[Throughout the trip back, Allen remains subdued under the weight of their situation and his own thoughts, although he does remember to check the skyline every now and then for signs of sunrise. Whenever they get back, he'll turn to offer Karkat a simple nod -- thank you for helping. And for caring.]