TROLL!COPS: The AU

[Wigmund]

Would You Kindly?
Part 6 (Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

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Karkat rubbed Gamzee's back as the troll shuddered in grief. Nepeta was sitting behind Karkat, curled against him trying to ignore the sirens of the fire trucks that were putting out the flames that had consumed the only true home any of them had known in years.

"It's gonna be alright pal, everything's gonna be alright. We're alive and we can start over."
Gamzee just sobbed loudly and leaned against the dumpster they were hiding behind.
"We lived through Mr. Pupa's fucking back-stabbing and we escaped from the fucking flatfeet. Isn't that enough of a mira-"
Gamzee spun towards Karkat, rage in his eyes, "DON'T YOU FUCKING MENTION MIRACLES TO ME YOU MOTHERFUCKING SON OF A BITCH!"

Karkat pulled back from the suddenly emotional troll. Nepeta curled into a ball and watched them from underneath the janitor's uniform she was still wearing from the police headquarters - they had lost all of their original clothes while they fled for their lives. She didn't know what to do as Karkat crawled backwards from Gamzee who had gotten up and was stalking after his friend.

"DON'T YOU MENTION THEM KARKAT. DON'T YOU DARE! WE'VE LOST EVERYTHING TODAY! I'VE LOST THE LAST THINGS I HAD FROM MY OLD LIFE....my grandfather...the only guy...the only one..."
Gamzee had grabbed Karkat and pulled him close, hugging him.
"I've lost everything that reminded me of the guy who raised me Karkat."

Karkat pulled himself away from Gamzee, "I...I didn't know man, was that what you fucking kept in your room? All those books and shit we looted from that mansion?" Gamzee nodded.
"That was your old home? Why...why didn't you go back? You could have had a better life than starving with us on the streets all of these years, you could have avoided becoming a slave when I made that fucking deal with Pupa, you could have enjoyed life."
"No. I wouldn't have. The only family I loved, the only one who cared about me was my grandfather...and he...he..."
"He was one of those bodies we found you curled next to."
Gamzee nodded again, his body shaking from grief and the onslaught of repressed memories. Nepeta had pulled herself to her feet and surprised the scared sopor addict when she wrapped her arms around him and started to weep into his back.
"So...we were..."
"You two became my family, but I couldn't let go of memories of my grandfather. The Old Goat was the guy who fucking raised me Karkat."
"And you've lost the last things that reminded you of him, I'm sorry man. I'm so sorry I brought this on us. I'm fucking sorry Gamzee," Karkat wiped away tears.

Gamzee face broke into a small smile and he pulled Nepeta in front of himself and then embraced her and Karkat, "It's not your fucking fault my motherfucking pals. It's that motherfucker Pupa who did this. Fucker set us up with that heist, probably set fire to our place to cover any other tracks linking us to him. Don't fucking beat yourself up Karkat, you've got too fucking much on your shoulders."

The trio pulled away from each other, Gamzee picked Nepeta up on his back and they started walking away from the place they once called home.

"So...so where are we going to live now Karkitty? What are in fur now?"
Karkat looked up at Nepeta, her eyes shining with tears in the low light of the alleyway, and smiled, "Well, I wasn't a complete fucking moron while we worked for Pupa. I did figure out a couple of things while working with the fucking asshole."
"What do you mean Karkitty?"

Karkat puffed up and put on a huge grin to cheer up his companions, "Well, I managed to stash away some shit that I'm damned sure Pupa didn't know about so we don't have to worry about starving."
"Miracles."
"PURRFECT!"
"Also, I still fucking remember those damned lessons Slick stabbed into me along with some shit I picked up watching Pupa while we were at his place."

Karkat stopped, Gamzee turned to face him with Nepeta peeking over his shoulder, "We're gonna start our own fucking gang."
Both of his friends' jaws dropped and they started babbling at him.
"Think about it, we could blaze a path of revenge against everyone and we could help others who've lived in the gutters like us. We will take what the rich fuckers call the cancer of the city and make them into something."
"But what about the other gangs? The motherfucking Midnight Crew, Felt, Striders and the Kingpin's shitheads? What about Mr. Pupa?"
"They won't see a fucking thing coming," Karkat punched Gamzee in the shoulder and beamed at Nepeta.

The three smiled and they resumed their journey through the Settlements.

Gamzee glanced at Karkat, "So where are we fucking gonna set up?" The purple blood glanced up in the night air, clouds blocking out the few stars that could pierce the light haze of Alternia City, "The fucking Crew runs the Narrows, The Felt are over on Alternia Island with the Kingpin's Mafia in Foundry and the Striders in Old Town...."

Gamzee shifted Nepeta on his back, "I guess we could set up in the Settlements," he looked over at Karkat who nodded his head.
"Perfect, everyone does shit here but no one really claims it. This is the worst-off area of the city as well. Everyone looking down on them. They just need someone who can really protect them from the other fucking gangs."
"But what about Mr. Pupurr? He won't let us just have a purrade near him."
"Fuck him, he declared war on us first with this bullshit. We'll bid our time, build up the gang, wait until the moment is right and show everyone that we're not some fucking kind of comedy relief."

"Alright my motherfucking best friend, we've got a plan. But right now we've got a bigger fucking problem."
"What's that?"
"Where are we gonna fucking sleep tonight?"
"Well, Miss Pisces' Shelter isn't too far away. Plus nobody fucking messes with that place. So we'll be bunking there while I go pick up the shit I've left around the city and talk to some people."
"Yay! I love Miss Pisces' place!"

The Karkat Gang, now the beginnings of the Carcino Gang, walked into the night, ready to turn the recent tragedies into something better.


Somewhere else in the city, a new piece was put on the chessboard that was Alternia City.
"Everything is going as you had planned, my love."
"Not exactly. But it, uh, helps when you can turn any outcome into something, um, favorable."

A/N:

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I wasn't planning on this sequel, but the idea for the Karkat Gang transforming into the Carcino Gang struck me earlier and I just couldn't leave this series on such a downer from Part 5.

[Phi]

So Alternia city has a SIXTH serious business gang on their hands, and Pupa seemed to anticipate this.

Wigmund, you never cease to entertain.

[CalamityCons]

Wigmund, I love you so much right now. Great ending, man.

*claps*

[mythmonster2]

OK, definitely gonna write something 'bout this new gang now. STOP MAKING ME HAVE SO MANY IDEAS. Seriously, I write down all my fic ideas. It's two pages in a Word Document now! I am going to be writing and writing!

One thing: Will this be a bona fide gang with henchmen and stuff or will it just be those three?

[Wigmund]

As Karkat said, it's gonna be mostly the cancer of society in their group. The homeless, the desperate, the outcasts. And since The Settlements isn't lacking in those, the Carcino Gang's gonna grow rather quickly. I'm already thinking about stuff where the Midnight Crew and other gangs are surprised by the sudden arrival of this sixth faction.

Actually, more like fifth gang since Mr. Pupa works on a mastermind level and doesn't actually control territory within Alternia City. He stays out of that, working with whomever is required when he needs them.

Damn, I need to write all of this down and drop it off here. SO MANY IDEAS AND CONCEPTS.

Pupa seemed to anticipate this.

Not exactly, he was expecting the gang to be killed in the APD HQ but he has contingencies for other outcomes.

There are no bad outcomes for Mr. Pupa, just unexploited ones.

[Rational Absurdity]

Okay, so maybe I lied about getting a fic up today. Had senior graduation celebrations, and by God were they great.
I'm currently following asleep typing this, as it is 4 AM. I'll get something up tomorrow after some extensive sleep.

[Aquila]

Ahh you guys are super sweet but honestly I'm not that big of a loss. I drew things pretty sporadically, but it makes me really happy to know that you enjoyed them so much.

And even though I am leaving, I too am glad to see Wig and cC back. You guys are both amazing.

cC did not make official icons for Aradia or Kanaya, or many of the bios. As far as I recall, she made them for all the trolls except Aradia, Kanaya and Eridan. For sake of consistency, I altered some of her other pictures/sketches so everyone's bios would match in style. I threw together the Bios pretty hastily to make room in the OP for Deeum. Anyone is free to re-write them or make better ones, hopefully with official icons for everyone if cC feels up to finshing the set.

If you would like to play a game, you can try to find all the original pictures that the other bio pictures are from and see how hilariously I mangled them up.

Huanir, you come up with great ideas and execute them extremely well. Your fics are always a pleasure to read, so thank you for keeping the thread going when activity was low. It's nice seeing the pace pick back up again.

Calamity, my goodness, I was the inspiration for that? I love the mix of pictures and words, you're a very good storyteller. I think you capture adolescent Karkat's voice very well. I can't wait to see where it goes.

Redbirddd, I am going to miss your charming and adorable fics and ideas. Seriously, drawing things related to your Sisters time period was some of the most fun I've had in this thread. Keep writing, keep being great.

RA, thank you, I'm glad you liked my pictures! I really hope med school will be fun. Hard work, but fun. I hope I'll have some time after moving to read this fic that you're working on!

Thanks for all your well-wishes! You guys are all amazing and I love you all very much

Aw, you didn't mangle them up. In fact, I pretty much used the image you altered of Aradia as the RP character's icon.

Well we'll miss you here, Kayak.

[Phi]

As Karkat said, it's gonna be mostly the cancer of society in their group. The homeless, the desperate, the outcasts. And since The Settlements isn't lacking in those, the Carcino Gang's gonna grow rather quickly. I'm already thinking about stuff where the Midnight Crew and other gangs are surprised by the sudden arrival of this sixth faction.

Actually, more like fifth gang since Mr. Pupa works on a mastermind level and doesn't actually control territory within Alternia City. He stays out of that, working with whomever is required when he needs them.

Damn, I need to write all of this down and drop it off here. SO MANY IDEAS AND CONCEPTS.

Pupa seemed to anticipate this.

Not exactly, he was expecting the gang to be killed in the APD HQ but he has contingencies for other outcomes.

There are no bad outcomes for Mr. Pupa, just unexploited ones.

Gargoyles reference NNNNGGGGHHH good times were had by all.

So is he using a Xanatos Gambit or Xanatos Speed Chess? I wonder.

[Huanir]

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As Karkat said, it's gonna be mostly the cancer of society in their group. The homeless, the desperate, the outcasts. And since The Settlements isn't lacking in those, the Carcino Gang's gonna grow rather quickly. I'm already thinking about stuff where the Midnight Crew and other gangs are surprised by the sudden arrival of this sixth faction.

Actually, more like fifth gang since Mr. Pupa works on a mastermind level and doesn't actually control territory within Alternia City. He stays out of that, working with whomever is required when he needs them.

Damn, I need to write all of this down and drop it off here. SO MANY IDEAS AND CONCEPTS.

Pupa seemed to anticipate this.

Not exactly, he was expecting the gang to be killed in the APD HQ but he has contingencies for other outcomes.

There are no bad outcomes for Mr. Pupa, just unexploited ones.

Gargoyles reference NNNNGGGGHHH good times were had by all.

So is he using a Xanatos Gambit or Xanatos Speed Chess? I wonder.

Pupa as portrayed by some seems to have an absurd amount of knowledge as to what is going on. Would You Kindly actually epitomizes this quite well - how does he know about Karkat and Nepeta? Psychological profiling? When he met them, did he calculate a date at which they would get together? Or has he simply bugged their place? It's easier to believe the second - this would simply place Pupa at the center of a whirlpool of information, thus explaining his grasp on so much. On the other hand, his note requires an absurd amount of predictive capacity (with some plans of his own mixed in, like the officer getting shot). I can't help but feel sometimes that he was scheming before he was talking. Oh, Pupa...

[sebastian]

Remember his animal communion powers. It is implied that he can use rats, birds, maybe even insects and of course consorts as his eyes, ears and sometime hands. He can potentially know everything that is going on in the city.

[CalamityCons]

In my headcanon, in order to work under Mr/Dr Pupa, you have to make a bloody handshake and give him a piece of your blood. He only accepts trolls, never humans, and that way he uses psychic magic or something like that to pretty much see, hear and think the way the people working under him are seeing, hearing and thinking. And he can also manipulate them via the aforementioned psychic magic to do whatever he wants them to do at any given time.

[Huanir]

Hm, but isn't it kind of important that he can only manipulate animals and consorts? But yeah, I didn't think about his animalian surveillance network.

He also makes an amazing foil to Terezi for me (both chessmasters, both handicapped, neither handicapped by the handicap), thus solidifying her as my main character as far as good guys go.

[CalamityCons]

I keep thinking about what it would be like to live in Alternia City, full of four almost entirely separate species of humanoids and having to deal with an enormous culture clash as a result. It's fun to figure out.

I am loving this AU more and more each day.

[Ra Zarudo]

Then Karkat gets high on his own supply and Gamzee takes the opportunity to subjugglate him and Nep before seizing control of the whole city as the new Grand Highblood, leading his gang to rule them all.

CAN YOU MOTHERFUCKING DIG IT? honk HONK : oD

...

goddammit now we need a wigmund story with a warriors reference

[Wigmund]

Pupa as portrayed by some seems to have an absurd amount of knowledge as to what is going on. Would You Kindly actually epitomizes this quite well - how does he know about Karkat and Nepeta? Psychological profiling? When he met them, did he calculate a date at which they would get together? Or has he simply bugged their place? It's easier to believe the second - this would simply place Pupa at the center of a whirlpool of information, thus explaining his grasp on so much. On the other hand, his note requires an absurd amount of predictive capacity (with some plans of his own mixed in, like the officer getting shot). I can't help but feel sometimes that he was scheming before he was talking. Oh, Pupa...

Hm, but isn't it kind of important that he can only manipulate animals and consorts? But yeah, I didn't think about his animalian surveillance network.

He also makes an amazing foil to Terezi for me (both chessmasters, both handicapped, neither handicapped by the handicap), thus solidifying her as my main character as far as good guys go.

I've tried to portray Tavros/Mr. Pupa as someone who can read and manipulate people very easily. I'm actually planning on addressing all of his tricks in the bio I've got in the works after I finish everyone else's stuff.

I keep thinking about what it would be like to live in Alternia City, full of four almost entirely separate species of humanoids and having to deal with an enormous culture clash as a result. It's fun to figure out.

I am loving this AU more and more each day.

That's part of what I like - The humans, trolls, the carapaces (Prospitans and Dersites) and consorts all live in this world and are trying to make things work. My headcanon history has multiple wars between what was The Troll Empire and various human nations, the carapaces had their own homeland at one point but are now exiles living in other lands, the consorts are native to the continent (parallel Americas) Alternia City is on but have been treated like animals and you still have old racism in human skin color/ethnic origin, the troll hemospectrum and Prospitan-vs-Dersite rivalries going on.

Alternia City's probably the most diverse city in this world, it barely work. Human politicians plot against troll interests, upper class troll families work to make sure they're on top of everything in the city and they both work to keep the carapaces marginalized and content with their status quo. Everyone looks down on the consorts, especially due to the incident when Tavros murdered his family and he blamed it on their consort butler.

goddammit now we need a wigmund story with a warriors reference

"CaN yOu FuCkInG dIg It?"
or maybe
"Karkaaat...Come out and plaay...KARKAAAT...COME OUT AND PLA-AY!" (supposed to be Slick there)

But that's a great idea, I can definitely run with that idea.
Nowhere to run to baby, nowhere to hide

[Ra Zarudo]

"CaN yOu FuCkInG dIg It?"
or maybe
"Karkaaat...Come out and plaay...KARKAAAT...COME OUT AND PLA-AY!" (supposed to be Slick there)

But that's a great idea, I can definitely run with that idea.
Nowhere to run to baby, nowhere to hide

Heh, I'd be running too. Though SS probably wouldn't use that squeaky voice...unless he was in Bec Noir mode (see Alternia Ego, previous page)

As for the song, based on Ash's pic of Karkat saying FUCK THE POLICE, this one came to mind.

[CalamityCons]

I... Don't know what a Consort is xD

OTL

[Huanir]

Consort: salamander, turtle, crocodile, and whatever's on LOFAF.

http://mspaintadventures.wikia.com/wiki/Consorts

[CalamityCons]

I see. I had no idea those were in this AU. Huh.

Do Lusii exist in any previously set up canon?

[Ra Zarudo]

According to Wigmund's canon they all died out, though if I recall we do have a Pounce de Leon in the RP.

[Wigmund]

They're mostly dead in mine, the Disaster that serves as the kick-off point of everyone's histories also unleashed a plague that wiped them out.

[mythmonster2]

Oh look, remember Wigmund's thing from this last page? Yeah, I made a fic about that already.

Alliance

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“What did he say?”

Don Strider sat up in his chair. Across his desk was one of the paradox clones. The clone said, “It’s true. Another gang. He was walking ‘round the Settlements when some hobos jumped him.”

“Hobos? That don’t sound like a gang to me.”

“Yeah, he fought ‘em off easily enough, but some more people came out to help them. Then the three leaders came out.”

“Who are they?”

“The Karkat Gang. Karkat Vantas, Nepeta Leijon, and Gamzee Makara.”

Don stood up now. “Pupa’s stooges? They got their own gang?” The door opened and Jade came in. She always did, around this time, so she could get information about the gang developments city-wide. She was Space Lass, after all. Don noticed her and said, “Hey, guess what, Jade. We got another gang to deal with! Just fucking great.” He slumped back into his chair as the clone left and shut the door.

Jade went to Don’s side and put her hands on his shoulders. She said, “Oh, I’m sure they’re nothing to worry about. Remember the little ‘gang’ Andrew tried to make a while back?” She giggled, “He had a key and a pumpkin as his members!”

Don smiled and replied, “Well, it was the best gang with only two members.” His face hardened as he slumped forward and put his face into his hands. “But this one’s serious. They operate out of the Settlements and it looks like their main gangsters are hobos and other poor people. What makes them serious is their leaders: the Karkat Gang from Pupa’s stooges.”

Jade gasped and stepped back, “Karkat? They broke off from Pupa?”

“Yeah. After the attack on ACPD HQ, apparently. So, you got any ideas on how to deal with ‘em?”

Jade’s face furrowed in thought. She muttered, “Karkat’s not a bad guy. Nepeta and Gamzee definitely aren’t. If they’re in the Settlements, maybe it’s to help out the people at the bottom.”

Don took it in then replied, “Could be. Still, they’re a gang, and they’ve already attacked a Dave. So they ain’t harmless.”

“Exactly!” Don swiveled around in his chair and saw that Jade had a look of realization in her face. She was thinking now. Nothing could stop her. “They’re not harmless! They have a good goal! So do we! Almost the whole reason for the Strider Mafia is to help out the city by fighting the other gangs.”

Don realized. “Jade, you’re seriously not suggesting that we-”

“Ally with them! We all know how crafty the Karkat Gang can be, and they’ve always been a pain for us. Imagine if we could get them on our side!” Don opened his mouth, but Jade put a finger to it. “Now, no more protesting. Get over there and get us some allies!”

And that was Jade. She had an idea and nothing was going to stop her from enacting it. Don stood up and kissed Jade, then held her and said, “One condition. You come with me. I dunno why, but Karkat seems to like you, or at least he doesn’t try to kill you.”

Jade nodded and the two went out of Don’s office.


“WHAT DID THEY SAY?”

“Karkitty, don’t shout!”

“Right, right sorry.” Karkat turned to the henchman who had just walked into his office. Glorified office, more like. In reality it composed of a chair found in an alleyway, a small painting Nepeta made, and a desk with three legs. It was a start. “Now, what did they say?”

“Dey’re here from de Strider Mafia, and dey want an alleeance.”

“Right, right. Thanks.” The man left. Karkat put his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands. The table fell down and Karkat with it. “FUCKING SHIT FUCK THIS TABLE. Where the hell did you even get it, Gamzee?”

“Man, I don’t even know.”

“Great. Help me with this, Gamzee.” They lifted the table up and tried to set it so it wouldn’t fall down. Karkat asked the two, “So, what do you guys think we should do? Strider Mafia’s tried to kill us more than once in the past.”

Nepeta thought and said, “But that was when we were working with Mr. Pupurr! And if they want to be furiends with us, that would help us get started.”

“Chica’s got a motherfucking point.”

“Who’s to say this isn’t a trap, huh?”

“But we have a good goal! We just want to help out all the purr people who are at the bottom! And the Strider Mafia has a good goal too! They want to fight the other gangs like The Felt. You can’t say we don’t need furiends!”

And that was Nepeta. She felt there was an opportunity to gain "furiends" and nothing was going to stop her. Karkat sighed, then stood up and kissed her. He held her and said, “Fine. One condition: both of you guys stay here and help me.”

Gamzee smiled and nodded. “Sure thing, bro.”

Nepeta hugged Karkat. “Of course I will!”

“Alright then.” Karkat walked to the door and opened it. He called out, “LET THEM IN.”

Jade and Don stepped into the office. Karkat turned to them, “So, the Strider Mafia wants to ally with us.”

Don kept a blank face. “Yeah.”

“Well, it happens we might be interested. We’re just getting started, and we may need some help.”

“Yeah, I’ve already worked out a plan while you kept us waiting. You got a small thing here, not bad. But if any of the main gangs get ahold of your location, you’re screwed. So here’s the deal. The Mafia’ll fight your gang wars. In exchange, you can run some money-making sources. We get a cut.”

Karkat stormed up to Don and stuck a finger in his chest. “Hell fucking no. You’re not gonna run a protection racket on us.”

Don smiled. A business smile. “It’d be a shame if some of the big fish were going to find out about your little operations here.”

Nepeta began running to Don. Gamzee gasped. Jade didn’t react. The Strider Mafia was a Mafia, after all. Sometimes, they had to do things that good guys didn’t. Karkat stopped Nepeta. “It’s not that. You saw the people who brought you in here. They have nothing. No home, no money, hell, most of them don’t have a family! The only thing they have is respect, and if we let all your clones protect us, they’re gonna think they can’t fight for themselves. I sure as fuck won’t let that happen. We’re gonna be fighting our own fights.”

Don put up his hands, “So if you won’t let us protect you, what do you want with this alliance?”

Karkat rubbed his chin. “First off, we’re not gonna fight.”

“We wouldn’t have done that anyways. We’re in completely different sections.”

Karkat ignored him. “Share intelligence to take down the other gangs.” He bared his teeth. “Especially Pupa. Maybe you guys can give us loans. You can see we’re not in the best circumstances.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“How much do you guys need?” Everyone turned to Jade. She was taking out her checkbook.

“C’mon, babe, right now? Really?”

“How much?”

This time Nepeta spoke up. “No, really, it’s OK! We don’t need it right now. We’ll work it out later, Jade.”

Don turned back to Karkat. “All right, you’ll get your loan. We’ll work out details later. Anything else?”

Karkat again thought before saying, “Let’s make it a flexible agreement, in case something comes up.”

“Deal.”

The two looked at each other and, in silent agreement, nodded. Then they moved back. Karkat pulled out a knife. Don drew a sword. Before Nepeta, Gamzee, or Jade could react, they cut their own palms. Then they shook hands.

“From this day, the Strider Mafia and the… wait, shit, what was you guys’ name?”

Everyone in the room facepalmed. Karkat said, “The Carcino Gang.”

“Right, right. From this day, the Strider Mafia and the Carcino Gang are allies.”

[CalamityCons]

Suddenly, ARTWORK!

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I also found a nice Radio Play version of the Trollcops Song!

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[mythmonster2]

Yeah, the Radio Play was a bonus song for Alterniabound.

[Huanir]

The TROLL!COPS songs are actually what prompted me to look into this thread in the first place. It's now my MSPAF home.