I will try not to breathe, this decision is mine

[withoutasign]

Characters: Signless and you
Location: The plaza, near the fountain
Time: Mid-morning
Style: Whatever works
Status: OPEN LIKE HIS HEART

[Signless wakes to find himself in a new place, soaking wet and surrounded by unfamiliar sights. He sits up, grimacing at the pain in his wrists, and looks down at them, frowning. Burned, the skin darkened to a

Comments

[withoutasign]

[Huh. That's interesting. Such a quick response, and with such urgency. Signless wonders if the troll on the other end--because of course it's a troll, what else would it be?--is in some kind of distress, and he pushes aside his own unease, casually shuffling it off, to try and help the nameless, faceless voice on his screen.]

I'VE GONE BY MANY NAMES, IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES.
I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU WOULD KNOW ANY OF THEM.

YOU SOUND TROUBLED, MY FRIEND.
ARE YOU IN DANGER?

[withoutasign]

YES, I'M A TROLL.
WHAT ELSE WOULD I BE?

WHAT IS EARTH?

[The best way to learn is to ask questions, yes.]

[withoutasign]

[Signless isn't quite sure what's going on here, but he takes it in stride. He's a bit reluctant to give away his location, though, since this other troll hasn't revealed where he stands on the his beliefs in the hemospectrum.]

WHY WOULD I STOP TYPING IN RED?
THIS COLOR IS NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF, NOR IS IT SOMETHING I WOULD HIDE.

I AM HERE IF YOU NEED ME, YOUNG ONE, IF YOU NEED GUIDANCE.
OR EVEN JUST A LISTENING EAR.

[withoutasign]

MY
MY DESCENDANT?

[For the first time in a long time, Signless feels excitement, and hope, spike through him.]

I KNOW YOU.
I'VE DREAMED ABOUT YOU.
YOU AND THE ALTERNIA YOU COULD BRING ABOUT.

I AM NEAR A FOUNTAIN, IN THE MIDDLE OF AN OPEN AREA.
PLEASE, YOUNG ONE... PLEASE HURRY.

[withoutasign]

[The Signless looks up when he hears his name, and for just a moment, his eyes widen and he boggles. The troll standing before him... he looks just like him, they could be twins, hatched from the same egg, raised by the same lusus.]

[He isn't aware he's standing until he's on his feet, looking the other troll in the eye--in his bright red eyes--and they're exactly the same height.]

You...

[The word comes out like a prayer, and Signless takes a faltering step forward.]

I know you. I knew you would be hatched, you would live and carry on my work, I knew...

[He points, with one shaking hand, at the sign on the other troll's chest.]

I knew you would have a sign.

[withoutasign]

[Oh, is he still bleeding? Signless has forgotten all about it in the excitement of meeting his descendent, of seeing what he's dreamed about for sweeps brought to life.]

What is your name, young one?

[He follows the young troll, his steps still a little shaky and unsure, his eyes darting from the sign on his chest to his face and back again.]

What is your time, who was your lusus, what was your Alternia like? I have so many questions for you...

[withoutasign]

Karkat Vantas.

[Signless repeats the name, rolling it over in his mouth, appreciating the sound of it and the way it feels finally give a name to the one he's seen only in dreams. He lets the other troll lead him, and he obligingly touches the glowing blue coral, blinking as he feels energy course through him. He does not, however, take his eyes off of Karkat.]

So Alternia is gone, then? And only a few trolls left?

[Surprisingly, at that news... he smiles.]

[withoutasign]

Shoosh.

[Signless reaches out, wanting to touch Karkat's face, if he'll allow it, wanting to lay one finger against his cheek, just wanting to touch him, to assure himself that he's real. As he reaches out, part of his mind registers that the burns on his wrists are now scabbed over, well on their way to healing, but he pays no attention to the miracle, being far too focused on his descendent.]

But don't you see, young one? You can start over now, recreate our world from its ashes, build it up the way it is meant to be.

You can make a new, peaceful place for all of trollkind.

[He just smiles beatifically at Karkat; yes, he is a little saddened to learn of the destruction of their home world, but he long suspected a day like that was coming.]