MSPA Fanfiction V: We're Going to Need More Wands

[Graven_Image]

The idea that Eridan's lusus taught him that, "Son, life ain't nothin' but bitches and whales. Kill one, impress the other. Just don't fuck up which." is now a permanent fixture of my headcanon.

On a related note, in my mind, Eridan's lusus now has the voice of Samuel L. Jackson.

WHY DOES THIS MAKE SO MUCH SENSE

[A Fan]

^Because that kind of life lesson shouldn't come from the voice of any other man. Not even the Old Spice guy.

[Solarn]

^Because that kind of life lesson shouldn't come from the voice of any other man. Not even the Old Spice guy.

Not even the Dos Equis guy?

[JudgeDeadd]

word up, posting something because i've been told i should several times. yeah moh wrote a fan fic, a whole bunch of fan fics actually. check 'em all out at http://www.fanfiction.net/~mohtzu or you can check out my tumblr at mohtzu.tumblr.com. tumblr also has a bunch of theology posts, and i guess if you missed that from me for some reason you can go check it out. i'll just post these homestuck/one piece crossovers i've written and let you all glimpse at their poor construction. okay, that's about it from me, see you on tumblr or twitter if you miss me, i'm not sticking around.

Moh Tzu?

Back on the forums?

Posting HS fanfiction?

If a week ago someone suggested that to me I'd laugh him out of the continent.

o_O <== Imagine me making this face, only approx. 1000x more intensely

[Jeep-Eep]

Who is this individual?

[Ganato]

CRIPES

Note to self: NEVER STOP READING

I have just spend the last couple of days catching up on the last 40-50 pages I never read because I didn't write anything myself.

And even though I have used several hours on this I still can't help but think it was TOTALLY worth it.

Can I everyone at the same time?
'Cause I really want to.
I'm 0kay with it being unrequited.
is fine as well.

[Embargo]

CRIPES

Note to self: NEVER STOP READING

I have just spend the last couple of days catching up on the last 40-50 pages I never read because I didn't write anything myself.

And even though I have used several hours on this I still can't help but think it was TOTALLY worth it.

Can I everyone at the same time?
'Cause I really want to.
I'm 0kay with it being unrequited.
is fine as well.

Did you seriously read ALL of that?

You sir, are a stronger man than I. I would have just skipped to the end.

[Ganato]

CRIPES

Note to self: NEVER STOP READING

I have just spend the last couple of days catching up on the last 40-50 pages I never read because I didn't write anything myself.

And even though I have used several hours on this I still can't help but think it was TOTALLY worth it.

Can I everyone at the same time?
'Cause I really want to.
I'm 0kay with it being unrequited.
is fine as well.

Did you seriously read ALL of that?

You sir, are a stronger man than I. I would have just skipped to the end.

I think I might have skipped one or two stories.
And saved one for later.
But other than that, yeah.

D---> Perhaps one day you can be as STRONG as I

[KilroyWasHere]

hey look, a short Equius thing.

Quiesscence

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It was quiet, and Equius liked it.
Well, of course it was quiet - it was the Land of Caves and Silence for goodness's sake. Things should be what they are, he thought as he sat on a small boulder wedged in to a rock. His hive was about half a mile away - still visible, but with all his things inside. The tilted building looked out of place in the quiescent landscape of the planet. Gently moving off of the rock so as to not carve grooves in to it with his fingers as he slid, the Heir of Void touched down.

He had already explored much of the calm land since he had returned from the Land of Quartz and Melody. Aradia had gone on to her own server player's - Nepeta's - planet. It would be Equius' next stop. But before he left, the blueblood wanted to look at the place once more before he left.

"It would go well with some FINE ART on the walls," he decided.

why did i write that.

[A Fan]

Because short, exploratory character pieces can be just as enjoyable as epic conflicts. Especially with a dash of humor. Well done.

[lantadyme]

I've been writing these short things lately and I decided I wanted to do a set with every combination of the kids together. Because Karkat's shipping diagram is lame and there is never enough kidfic. Most of these are just friendshippy, though. All the ones in the main set are postgame (assuming some teleportation shenanigans).

Four Little Chords

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John/Rose

They sit in his living room and watch movie after movie. John camps there with popcorn and soda and candy like it really is a movie theatre and Rose sits prim beside him, her legs folded beneath herself and her knitting bag just to her left. He watches and she knits, her eyes mostly on the needlework, and at first he's afraid he's boring her. He glances over again and again to find her squinting at her purple yarn as butterflies assault his stomach lining. The seventh time Rose catches his eye and she smiles, leaning over to whisper into his ear, "Stop worrying, John. Watch your movie."

"Do you want me to put a different one on?"

She shakes her head, the knitting slack in her lap. "Our taste is not quite the same but I do like watching you enjoy yourself." She looks to the screen, mouthing a line that she knows by heart only because he's quoted it to her so many times.

John chuckles and settles back, letting himself fall into the movie again. When he laughs at a particularly cheesy line, tears in his eyes even though this must been his twentieth time watching this movie, Rose laughs right beside him, her eyes on him instead of the screen.

John/Dave

"Look. Dude. Everything isn't a movie," Dave says, shaking his head. "You're never gonna get it exactly right. It's just human nature to fuck it up at least half the time. Probably more than half in your case since you're such a dweeb, but don't freak out."

"C'mon, man, that's easy for you to say. You're the seismic epicenter of cool." John's eyes fall to his lap because he feels like the polar opposite of that at the moment. "Rose has almost as much coolness and I'm like, I don't know—"

"Rolling the negatives?"

John shoots him a frown. "I know I'm lame, Dave. Do you have to do that?"

Dave holds up his hands in concession. "Sorry. Look. Just—" He sighs and drops his hands into his pockets, stepping over to sit next to John on the railing. "You're not really that lame, it's just that she dwarfs everyone out with her big words and her frou frou attitude and shit. You're cooler than I give you credit for, John. You never really cared what anyone said about you until you started liking her. I don't know why that suddenly matters so much to you when that's part of what she likes about you in the first place."

"She likes that I'm a dweeb?"

Dave quirks his mouth into a little smirk. "I like that you're a dweeb. Can't have my best bro outcooling me all the time. It'd seriously rain on my ego."

John laughs and shoves him lightly, watching Dave recoil more than that push should have required. "I balance out your diet of coolness, right?"

"Totally."

"And how is that supposed to make me feel better about Rose?"

"Because she's my paradox sister, man, and I know how that spooky broad thinks. She totally digs the dweebiness, John. You could probably trip down a flight of stairs and land face down in the mud and she'd still want to be on your arm for a lame ass rom-com."

John muffles a laugh behind his hand and then throws his arm around Dave's shoulders. "Thanks, dude."

John/Jade

The basket of Squiddles falls on her head as she pushes open his door, the little plush dolls scattering everywhere as she stands there with wicker on her head and Tangle Buddies pairing up around her feet. For a long time she can't stop giggling with goofy glee. "Where did you get so many?!" she demands eventually, grinning and watching John snicker to himself from where he's sitting on his bed.

"They're not really that hard to get," he tells her once he catches his breath. "I ordered a bunch of used ones off eBay."

Jade rearranges the basket on her head so she can actually see out of both eyes, and then she scoops up a lone red Squiddle and flounces down next to John, flailing it's stubby tentacles at him. "You guys and your fancy reliable package delivery."

"I had to get them when I knew you were coming!" He'd only had a week to plan it, but twenty dollars is nothing compared to watching Jade laugh like that. "Rose just stands there when I prank her and Dave is always rambling on about handle flips and stuff. It's not as fun to prank someone when they don't enjoy it too."

"I know! They are such a bunch of boo heads aren't they?"

"Yes. Why do we put up with them?"

Jade just grins and sets the Squiddle on top of John's head to match the basket on her own, and after a second they both collapse into laughing fits again.

Rose/Jade

The sand on the beach is warm and beautiful and Rose steps through it barefoot, thinking of LOLAR. It's winter back home, a solid foot of snow piled up on her mother's sidewalks and driveway. Here on Jade's island the sun beats down warm and inviting and the surf laps at Rose's ankles. Her hand is balled in her dress to keep the hem out of the waves.

"Look at this one!" Jade yells, grinning as she pulls yet another seashell out of the water in a sparkle of scattered droplets. The shell is deep purple and spiral, the inside full of sand. "Wow, I haven't seen one of these before!"

The other girl is dressed in a green swimsuit and a straw hat, her hair sticking wet halfway down her back and her eyes shining. The bag over her shoulder is full of shells and they clink together as she lopes through the waves toward Rose.

Jade sidles up next to her, the shade of her hat falling over Rose's face as she presses in close. She holds the shell out to Rose and she takes it gently, surprised by how heavy it is. It sparkles like mother of pearl in the sunshine.

"It's beautiful," Rose whispers, her voice hushed in the lap of the waves. She looks over to Jade and smiles, and Jade smells like salt and the sea breeze. There are no complicated mind games with Jade and Rose loves her for that. "I need to thank you for graciously inviting me to spend the day out here, Jade."

"You seemed like you really needed it," she says, shrugging as if it's nothing. As if this place isn't heaven. "We never get to spend time together, either! There's always boys butting their noses into everything."

The both laugh because that's true. The past week has been long for Rose, full of schoolwork deadlines and shoveling snow and the constant nagging of her mother. Here though, standing next to Jade in the ocean breeze, Rose feels the tension ease out of her and she looks over to Jade and smiles. Nothing is expected of her out here but pleasant company and enjoying the sun. She holds the shell with the hand balled in her dress and loops her other arm around Jade's.

"Walk with me for a while?" Rose asks, because as sweet as it is watching Jade dart through the waves looking for shells, she enjoys the way Jade tells stories more.

Jade nods and steps out a bit into the warm surf, pulling Rose after her, and they walk down the beach talking quietly about shells and wizards and anything fantastic enough to make both of the giggle.

Dave/Jade

The credits are rolling through for the second time on the lunchtop when Dave finally wakes up. It's set on his floor, projecting the movie on repeat and he doesn't even remember how it ends. He must have fallen asleep before that. He's got a cramp in his side from the way he was laying but he barely even moves, barely lets himself breathe because Jade is curled up next to him, snoring softly into his pillow. She's warm and calm, wrapped in half of his comforter, and Dave knows he should probably turn off the projector but he's afraid of waking her up. She just looks so peaceful lying there like that, her eyes closed and every inch of her relaxed, her glasses folded up and held in the crook of one pinky finger.

He smiles. No one's around to see it so he lets himself, and it's not his classic coolkid smile either. It's a goofy, bubbly thing that would probably look more at home on John's face than Dave's.

He lifts her glasses carefully out of her hand and folds up his shades, setting them both at the far corner of the bed where they won't be disturbed, and then he closes his eyes and goes back to sleep.


Dave/Rose

"Hold still," she says, and Dave rolls his eyes and follows orders. She tugs his bowtie straight and rebuttons his jacket and stares at him judgmentally for a second before she steps back again.

"I know how to tie one of these goddamn things," he tells her, smirking a little. "It's not like I don't have mad practice with wearing badass suits and shit. I ran around LOHAC for weeks in these."

Rose regards him with bored eyes and looks back to the clock. "Yes, because simply switching between outfits with the aid of your ridiculous sylladex makes for excellent practice. You do understand that wearing the suit, people are going to expect you to handle yourself with the prestige and class it affords you?"

Dave shrugs, not caring. "Sorry I'm so chill right now. It's only right to be jealous of a dude this cool, Rose. I'd look like I just knocked back fifty Alka-Seltzers with a Coke and my stomach is about to explode up my esophagus if I had to walk out there with me, too. Actually, I wouldn't because I have practice with that shit, but still. Ain't gonna be a single eye on you with all this concentrated cool waltzing through the door."

Rose physically turns and gives him a glare that could wilt houseplants and Dave decides he really shouldn't press her like this right now. She's a ball of nerves and she has right to be. It's not every day your Mom gets married and you have to put up with your asshole paradox brother while you wait on pins and needles about it.

"Yeah, I'll shut up now," he tells her, stepping over to sit on the radiator beside her. The only reason he's here right now instead of John is John's fantastic ability to get sick at exactly the wrong time. Dave glances over at her, at the gorgeous purple dress that she fills out perfectly. Her hands are clasped white with nerves in her lap and no one's around to see, so he sets a hand on top of hers and squeezes.

Rose's expression warps into dull surprise. "Are you comforting me, Strider?"

"You complaining?"

"Not especially. I'm simply surprised by your ability to show any form of empathy at all." It sounds like a snipe but her mouth quirks into a smile, and she meets his eyes behind his shades. "Thank you."

Dave smiles back. "Chill. It'll go off without a hitch, just you watch."

Bonus Features:

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John/Rose - first kiss

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She kisses him with soft lips and John has no idea what to do. It's like all the blood in his body is suddenly in his face his cheeks are so red, and how has Rose not noticed that yet? How is she not laughing at him? Yeah, her eyes are closed, her lips warm as she presses them to his own paralyzed ones, but still. He is really messing this up here and he needs to do something. Anything. He rests his hands on her back, stiff and pathetic, and he thinks of every movie he's ever watched as he tries to kiss her back.

She smiles when she pulls away, not disappointed at all, and John's heart skips a beat at how happy she looks.

Dave/Rose - Calsprite timeline

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We need to meet, she'd told him, and he'd agreed, yeah, but now he's got this is stupid this is stupid this is stupid repeating itself in his head like a metronome. What's the point? What's the fucking point when they can chat across worlds and they're as good as dead anyway?

He looks like shit. He knows he does. He tripped somewhere in LOWAS and fell down a hill into a reeking oily river, and now his black suit swirls with purple and green oil stains. He's got a bruise on his jaw and his hands are scraped bloody and hurting, his hair stinking of petrochemicals, and he hates pretty much everything at this point because this was John's world and it's totally empty now.

John's dead and he's in his world and it feels like the ultimate betrayal that Dave hasn't gone back to save him yet.

Rose said she'd meet him at one of the salamander villages. He sees it up ahead, and he's so damn tired of running timeloops right now that he doesn't even give a shit if she sees him like this. He stalks into the village with his sword in hand, eyes flicking everywhere because there are extra imps in the dead worlds. In LOWAS. Dave guesses that with no Heir to cull the herds they're just multiplying out of control.

He expects her to materialize out of the shadows with some snark on her tongue. Interesting fashion choice, Strider. Did you not have time to change? Always with the time jokes and it pisses him off so much at this point because he could spin back right now and save John and end this pointless shit, but she wants him to stay. Prolong it as long as possible. Actually face the fact that John's dead and this is his world and it's fucking empty and why did she ask him to come here—

"Dave," she says, and she's behind him.

He whirls, angry only because his heart is breaking into goddamn endless pieces being here. He wants to scream at her, shake her and tell her what a bitch she is for asking him to come here, but then he notices that she's crying, trembling and choking back sobs, and he steps over the distance between them without even thinking and throws his arms around her.

She sobs into his shoulder, black tar on her face, and Dave cries silently as his iShades fog up.

Davesprite/Rose

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TG: hey look i know youre busy
TG: just
TG: shit
TG: you got a minute
TT: I believe I can set aside more than simply one minute.
TT: Is there something you need to tell me?
TG: yeah i guess
TG: its not like essential game crap or anything
TG: i can vomit up some stuff if you need special insider trading specs
TG: long as you promise not to go on holding cupcake baking lessons and poncho knitting when they throw you in the slammer for it
TT: At this point, my sources are a bit more knowledgeable about what I'm planning than a simple sprite would be.
TT: So I trust I'm set as far as that is concerned.
TT: If you would like a poncho you will have to wait, however. I appear to be in an absence of orange yarn at the moment.
TG: damn
TG: flying around like crow clint eastwood wouldve been pretty cool
TT: Indeed.
TT: I presume you had more than desultory arguments in mind when you contacted me, though, Strider.
TT: What's up?
TG: yeah
TG: its
TG: ...
TG: i think im finished
TT: As you're not generally so inarticulate, I'm assuming this is a relatively heavy topic and not your usual tomfoolery?
TT: I suppose I'll set the scathing banter aside as well.
TG: thanks
TT: What do you mean by finished?
TG: i mean i think the doomed timeline shit is catching up to me
TG: dunno how i know but i can sort of feel it
TG: end looming somewhere on the horizon sword dangling over my head ready to crash down
TG: im cruising around here
TG: not waiting for it just looking for bro and stuff
TG: still i can feel it
TG: figured id say goodbye while i still got the chance
TG: i know you dont really remember but humor me okay
TG: you were all i had for a couple months back there and i gotta say it to someone
TG: i just figure itll break you the least and youll get that alpha me doesnt necessarily feel the same way
TT: I'm not entirely sure what to say, Dave.
TT: I do remember certain things, probably quite a lot more than you assume I do.
TT: And that portion of myself has acquiesced with her doomed nature, so I've been drawing on that a bit.
TT: Still,
TT: Are you afraid? You sound like you might be.
TG: a little i guess
TG: this is like your dream come true lalonde im gonna lay it out straight for you
TT: Oh my. I'm waiting with notebook in hand.
TG: i know its been coming so im more or less okay
TG: which is kinda fucked up in its own sense but
TG: i guess what spooks me is that no ones gonna remember me with alpha dave still in the loop
TT: I may only have dream memories of our time together, but I will remember you.
TT: I promise.
TG: yeah
TG: pour out a 40 for me or something so i go down like a true rap superstar
TG: crocodiles pause at that crosswalk and think
TG: damn someone ace went down here lemme take a moment to consider this heavy shit
TT: I will make it a priority to alchemize one as soon as possible.
TG: awesome
TG: hey promise me one more thing
TT: What would that be?
TG: dont just throw yourself away okay
TG: i know you think it doesnt matter but it does
TG: and youre worth more than that anyway
TG: youre a pretty stellar chick rose and you deserve more than a fucking kamikaze mission
TT: Dave,
TT: Congratulations, you have rendered me relatively speechless.
TG: score
TG: means youll take it to heart
TG: i think i see something up ahead gonna go check it out
TG: good luck on your mission
TT: You too, Dave.
TG: later

Dave/Dave

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His red-sleeved self stalks out of the distance with his hands in his pockets, the air swimming with LOHAC's heat all around him. Dave's used to just ignoring his time-twins but this one is walking directly toward him and he's in the one outfit Dave doesn't currently have. He's from the future, so he might as well listen to what he has to say. He expects coolkid nods and gestures and words muttered half-coherently because this time shit is stupid and neither of them really cares. What he doesn't expect is for the guy to walk straight up to him, grab him by the red lapels, and kiss him full on.

Holy fuck, what the hell is happening? There is tongue in this kiss and how did his own mouth get open in the first place, oh god?

He shoves the other Dave back, recoiling in the least cool fashion with his voice wavering as he spits, "What the hell, dude?"

Red-sleeves frowns in the same way Dave always does when he rolls his eyes. "Chill. I need the goddamn practice and you're helping me out here."

"You need fucking kissing practice? Are you kidding me?"

He steps closer again and Dave backs up. "Yeah, kissing practice. Get with the program, man. It's not like you don't know exactly who I'm talking about, so buck up. Let's get our ironic makeout on."

He wants to complain and tell him to find some other Dave's throat to stick his tongue down, but he knows that he wouldn't be here now if this wasn't exactly how the fucking timeloop happens. He is hedged into this shit, goddamn it. So he sighs and he can't believe he's doing this, but he closes the distance between them and looks himself full in the face, eyebrow raised.

"This better be fucking worth it," he mutters.

Red-sleeves laughs, nods and says, "It totally is, dude," in a weird lovesick way that sounds utterly out of place in his own voice. And when he kisses him again Dave closes his eyes and imagines he's making out with the person this slick bastard obviously needs the practice for.

[Nox]

...

Ok, first off good job everyone. You continue to rock.

Second, I just found something that in retrospect should have been obvious. There's a Homestuck page on Fanfiction.net. Put all your works up their please, the world DESERVES to read it.

...and as much as some things suck on that sight, it IS the biggest fanfiction repository in the world...I honestly think you all deserve to be praised for your work, and more people need to learn about Homestuck. Besides, we can single handedly raise the average quality of fics on that sight by like 2% by ourselves.

[Ganato]

hey look, a short Equius thing.

Quiesscence

Oh Equius. You shall be remembered for being STRONG and an awful taste in mostly everything.

I've been writing these short things lately and I decided I wanted to do a set with every combination of the kids together. Because Karkat's shipping diagram is lame and there is never enough kidfic. Most of these are just friendshippy, though. All the ones in the main set are postgame (assuming some teleportation shenanigans).

Four Little Chords

I like it. Very cute. Especially the John/Rose in which they have their first kiss.

Rose: Kiss the boy

You do so

John: Proceed to flip the fuck out

Way ahead of ya.

@Nox:

Seriously?
They didn't have one last time I checked.
Mind you, that was months ago.

Wicked!

[Graven_Image]

I've been writing these short things lately and I decided I wanted to do a set with every combination of the kids together. Because Karkat's shipping diagram is lame and there is never enough kidfic. Most of these are just friendshippy, though. All the ones in the main set are postgame (assuming some teleportation shenanigans).

Four Little Chords

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John/Rose

They sit in his living room and watch movie after movie. John camps there with popcorn and soda and candy like it really is a movie theatre and Rose sits prim beside him, her legs folded beneath herself and her knitting bag just to her left. He watches and she knits, her eyes mostly on the needlework, and at first he's afraid he's boring her. He glances over again and again to find her squinting at her purple yarn as butterflies assault his stomach lining. The seventh time Rose catches his eye and she smiles, leaning over to whisper into his ear, "Stop worrying, John. Watch your movie."

"Do you want me to put a different one on?"

She shakes her head, the knitting slack in her lap. "Our taste is not quite the same but I do like watching you enjoy yourself." She looks to the screen, mouthing a line that she knows by heart only because he's quoted it to her so many times.

John chuckles and settles back, letting himself fall into the movie again. When he laughs at a particularly cheesy line, tears in his eyes even though this must been his twentieth time watching this movie, Rose laughs right beside him, her eyes on him instead of the screen.

John/Dave

"Look. Dude. Everything isn't a movie," Dave says, shaking his head. "You're never gonna get it exactly right. It's just human nature to fuck it up at least half the time. Probably more than half in your case since you're such a dweeb, but don't freak out."

"C'mon, man, that's easy for you to say. You're the seismic epicenter of cool." John's eyes fall to his lap because he feels like the polar opposite of that at the moment. "Rose has almost as much coolness and I'm like, I don't know—"

"Rolling the negatives?"

John shoots him a frown. "I know I'm lame, Dave. Do you have to do that?"

Dave holds up his hands in concession. "Sorry. Look. Just—" He sighs and drops his hands into his pockets, stepping over to sit next to John on the railing. "You're not really that lame, it's just that she dwarfs everyone out with her big words and her frou frou attitude and shit. You're cooler than I give you credit for, John. You never really cared what anyone said about you until you started liking her. I don't know why that suddenly matters so much to you when that's part of what she likes about you in the first place."

"She likes that I'm a dweeb?"

Dave quirks his mouth into a little smirk. "I like that you're a dweeb. Can't have my best bro outcooling me all the time. It'd seriously rain on my ego."

John laughs and shoves him lightly, watching Dave recoil more than that push should have required. "I balance out your diet of coolness, right?"

"Totally."

"And how is that supposed to make me feel better about Rose?"

"Because she's my paradox sister, man, and I know how that spooky broad thinks. She totally digs the dweebiness, John. You could probably trip down a flight of stairs and land face down in the mud and she'd still want to be on your arm for a lame ass rom-com."

John muffles a laugh behind his hand and then throws his arm around Dave's shoulders. "Thanks, dude."

John/Jade

The basket of Squiddles falls on her head as she pushes open his door, the little plush dolls scattering everywhere as she stands there with wicker on her head and Tangle Buddies pairing up around her feet. For a long time she can't stop giggling with goofy glee. "Where did you get so many?!" she demands eventually, grinning and watching John snicker to himself from where he's sitting on his bed.

"They're not really that hard to get," he tells her once he catches his breath. "I ordered a bunch of used ones off eBay."

Jade rearranges the basket on her head so she can actually see out of both eyes, and then she scoops up a lone red Squiddle and flounces down next to John, flailing it's stubby tentacles at him. "You guys and your fancy reliable package delivery."

"I had to get them when I knew you were coming!" He'd only had a week to plan it, but twenty dollars is nothing compared to watching Jade laugh like that. "Rose just stands there when I prank her and Dave is always rambling on about handle flips and stuff. It's not as fun to prank someone when they don't enjoy it too."

"I know! They are such a bunch of boo heads aren't they?"

"Yes. Why do we put up with them?"

Jade just grins and sets the Squiddle on top of John's head to match the basket on her own, and after a second they both collapse into laughing fits again.

Rose/Jade

The sand on the beach is warm and beautiful and Rose steps through it barefoot, thinking of LOLAR. It's winter back home, a solid foot of snow piled up on her mother's sidewalks and driveway. Here on Jade's island the sun beats down warm and inviting and the surf laps at Rose's ankles. Her hand is balled in her dress to keep the hem out of the waves.

"Look at this one!" Jade yells, grinning as she pulls yet another seashell out of the water in a sparkle of scattered droplets. The shell is deep purple and spiral, the inside full of sand. "Wow, I haven't seen one of these before!"

The other girl is dressed in a green swimsuit and a straw hat, her hair sticking wet halfway down her back and her eyes shining. The bag over her shoulder is full of shells and they clink together as she lopes through the waves toward Rose.

Jade sidles up next to her, the shade of her hat falling over Rose's face as she presses in close. She holds the shell out to Rose and she takes it gently, surprised by how heavy it is. It sparkles like mother of pearl in the sunshine.

"It's beautiful," Rose whispers, her voice hushed in the lap of the waves. She looks over to Jade and smiles, and Jade smells like salt and the sea breeze. There are no complicated mind games with Jade and Rose loves her for that. "I need to thank you for graciously inviting me to spend the day out here, Jade."

"You seemed like you really needed it," she says, shrugging as if it's nothing. As if this place isn't heaven. "We never get to spend time together, either! There's always boys butting their noses into everything."

The both laugh because that's true. The past week has been long for Rose, full of schoolwork deadlines and shoveling snow and the constant nagging of her mother. Here though, standing next to Jade in the ocean breeze, Rose feels the tension ease out of her and she looks over to Jade and smiles. Nothing is expected of her out here but pleasant company and enjoying the sun. She holds the shell with the hand balled in her dress and loops her other arm around Jade's.

"Walk with me for a while?" Rose asks, because as sweet as it is watching Jade dart through the waves looking for shells, she enjoys the way Jade tells stories more.

Jade nods and steps out a bit into the warm surf, pulling Rose after her, and they walk down the beach talking quietly about shells and wizards and anything fantastic enough to make both of the giggle.

Dave/Jade

The credits are rolling through for the second time on the lunchtop when Dave finally wakes up. It's set on his floor, projecting the movie on repeat and he doesn't even remember how it ends. He must have fallen asleep before that. He's got a cramp in his side from the way he was laying but he barely even moves, barely lets himself breathe because Jade is curled up next to him, snoring softly into his pillow. She's warm and calm, wrapped in half of his comforter, and Dave knows he should probably turn off the projector but he's afraid of waking her up. She just looks so peaceful lying there like that, her eyes closed and every inch of her relaxed, her glasses folded up and held in the crook of one pinky finger.

He smiles. No one's around to see it so he lets himself, and it's not his classic coolkid smile either. It's a goofy, bubbly thing that would probably look more at home on John's face than Dave's.

He lifts her glasses carefully out of her hand and folds up his shades, setting them both at the far corner of the bed where they won't be disturbed, and then he closes his eyes and goes back to sleep.


Dave/Rose

"Hold still," she says, and Dave rolls his eyes and follows orders. She tugs his bowtie straight and rebuttons his jacket and stares at him judgmentally for a second before she steps back again.

"I know how to tie one of these goddamn things," he tells her, smirking a little. "It's not like I don't have mad practice with wearing badass suits and shit. I ran around LOHAC for weeks in these."

Rose regards him with bored eyes and looks back to the clock. "Yes, because simply switching between outfits with the aid of your ridiculous sylladex makes for excellent practice. You do understand that wearing the suit, people are going to expect you to handle yourself with the prestige and class it affords you?"

Dave shrugs, not caring. "Sorry I'm so chill right now. It's only right to be jealous of a dude this cool, Rose. I'd look like I just knocked back fifty Alka-Seltzers with a Coke and my stomach is about to explode up my esophagus if I had to walk out there with me, too. Actually, I wouldn't because I have practice with that shit, but still. Ain't gonna be a single eye on you with all this concentrated cool waltzing through the door."

Rose physically turns and gives him a glare that could wilt houseplants and Dave decides he really shouldn't press her like this right now. She's a ball of nerves and she has right to be. It's not every day your Mom gets married and you have to put up with your asshole paradox brother while you wait on pins and needles about it.

"Yeah, I'll shut up now," he tells her, stepping over to sit on the radiator beside her. The only reason he's here right now instead of John is John's fantastic ability to get sick at exactly the wrong time. Dave glances over at her, at the gorgeous purple dress that she fills out perfectly. Her hands are clasped white with nerves in her lap and no one's around to see, so he sets a hand on top of hers and squeezes.

Rose's expression warps into dull surprise. "Are you comforting me, Strider?"

"You complaining?"

"Not especially. I'm simply surprised by your ability to show any form of empathy at all." It sounds like a snipe but her mouth quirks into a smile, and she meets his eyes behind his shades. "Thank you."

Dave smiles back. "Chill. It'll go off without a hitch, just you watch."

Bonus Features:

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John/Rose - first kiss

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She kisses him with soft lips and John has no idea what to do. It's like all the blood in his body is suddenly in his face his cheeks are so red, and how has Rose not noticed that yet? How is she not laughing at him? Yeah, her eyes are closed, her lips warm as she presses them to his own paralyzed ones, but still. He is really messing this up here and he needs to do something. Anything. He rests his hands on her back, stiff and pathetic, and he thinks of every movie he's ever watched as he tries to kiss her back.

She smiles when she pulls away, not disappointed at all, and John's heart skips a beat at how happy she looks.

Dave/Rose - Calsprite timeline

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We need to meet, she'd told him, and he'd agreed, yeah, but now he's got this is stupid this is stupid this is stupid repeating itself in his head like a metronome. What's the point? What's the fucking point when they can chat across worlds and they're as good as dead anyway?

He looks like shit. He knows he does. He tripped somewhere in LOWAS and fell down a hill into a reeking oily river, and now his black suit swirls with purple and green oil stains. He's got a bruise on his jaw and his hands are scraped bloody and hurting, his hair stinking of petrochemicals, and he hates pretty much everything at this point because this was John's world and it's totally empty now.

John's dead and he's in his world and it feels like the ultimate betrayal that Dave hasn't gone back to save him yet.

Rose said she'd meet him at one of the salamander villages. He sees it up ahead, and he's so damn tired of running timeloops right now that he doesn't even give a shit if she sees him like this. He stalks into the village with his sword in hand, eyes flicking everywhere because there are extra imps in the dead worlds. In LOWAS. Dave guesses that with no Heir to cull the herds they're just multiplying out of control.

He expects her to materialize out of the shadows with some snark on her tongue. Interesting fashion choice, Strider. Did you not have time to change? Always with the time jokes and it pisses him off so much at this point because he could spin back right now and save John and end this pointless shit, but she wants him to stay. Prolong it as long as possible. Actually face the fact that John's dead and this is his world and it's fucking empty and why did she ask him to come here—

"Dave," she says, and she's behind him.

He whirls, angry only because his heart is breaking into goddamn endless pieces being here. He wants to scream at her, shake her and tell her what a bitch she is for asking him to come here, but then he notices that she's crying, trembling and choking back sobs, and he steps over the distance between them without even thinking and throws his arms around her.

She sobs into his shoulder, black tar on her face, and Dave cries silently as his iShades fog up.

Davesprite/Rose

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TG: hey look i know youre busy
TG: just
TG: shit
TG: you got a minute
TT: I believe I can set aside more than simply one minute.
TT: Is there something you need to tell me?
TG: yeah i guess
TG: its not like essential game crap or anything
TG: i can vomit up some stuff if you need special insider trading specs
TG: long as you promise not to go on holding cupcake baking lessons and poncho knitting when they throw you in the slammer for it
TT: At this point, my sources are a bit more knowledgeable about what I'm planning than a simple sprite would be.
TT: So I trust I'm set as far as that is concerned.
TT: If you would like a poncho you will have to wait, however. I appear to be in an absence of orange yarn at the moment.
TG: damn
TG: flying around like crow clint eastwood wouldve been pretty cool
TT: Indeed.
TT: I presume you had more than desultory arguments in mind when you contacted me, though, Strider.
TT: What's up?
TG: yeah
TG: its
TG: ...
TG: i think im finished
TT: As you're not generally so inarticulate, I'm assuming this is a relatively heavy topic and not your usual tomfoolery?
TT: I suppose I'll set the scathing banter aside as well.
TG: thanks
TT: What do you mean by finished?
TG: i mean i think the doomed timeline shit is catching up to me
TG: dunno how i know but i can sort of feel it
TG: end looming somewhere on the horizon sword dangling over my head ready to crash down
TG: im cruising around here
TG: not waiting for it just looking for bro and stuff
TG: still i can feel it
TG: figured id say goodbye while i still got the chance
TG: i know you dont really remember but humor me okay
TG: you were all i had for a couple months back there and i gotta say it to someone
TG: i just figure itll break you the least and youll get that alpha me doesnt necessarily feel the same way
TT: I'm not entirely sure what to say, Dave.
TT: I do remember certain things, probably quite a lot more than you assume I do.
TT: And that portion of myself has acquiesced with her doomed nature, so I've been drawing on that a bit.
TT: Still,
TT: Are you afraid? You sound like you might be.
TG: a little i guess
TG: this is like your dream come true lalonde im gonna lay it out straight for you
TT: Oh my. I'm waiting with notebook in hand.
TG: i know its been coming so im more or less okay
TG: which is kinda fucked up in its own sense but
TG: i guess what spooks me is that no ones gonna remember me with alpha dave still in the loop
TT: I may only have dream memories of our time together, but I will remember you.
TT: I promise.
TG: yeah
TG: pour out a 40 for me or something so i go down like a true rap superstar
TG: crocodiles pause at that crosswalk and think
TG: damn someone ace went down here lemme take a moment to consider this heavy shit
TT: I will make it a priority to alchemize one as soon as possible.
TG: awesome
TG: hey promise me one more thing
TT: What would that be?
TG: dont just throw yourself away okay
TG: i know you think it doesnt matter but it does
TG: and youre worth more than that anyway
TG: youre a pretty stellar chick rose and you deserve more than a fucking kamikaze mission
TT: Dave,
TT: Congratulations, you have rendered me relatively speechless.
TG: score
TG: means youll take it to heart
TG: i think i see something up ahead gonna go check it out
TG: good luck on your mission
TT: You too, Dave.
TG: later

Dave/Dave

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His red-sleeved self stalks out of the distance with his hands in his pockets, the air swimming with LOHAC's heat all around him. Dave's used to just ignoring his time-twins but this one is walking directly toward him and he's in the one outfit Dave doesn't currently have. He's from the future, so he might as well listen to what he has to say. He expects coolkid nods and gestures and words muttered half-coherently because this time shit is stupid and neither of them really cares. What he doesn't expect is for the guy to walk straight up to him, grab him by the red lapels, and kiss him full on.

Holy fuck, what the hell is happening? There is tongue in this kiss and how did his own mouth get open in the first place, oh god?

He shoves the other Dave back, recoiling in the least cool fashion with his voice wavering as he spits, "What the hell, dude?"

Red-sleeves frowns in the same way Dave always does when he rolls his eyes. "Chill. I need the goddamn practice and you're helping me out here."

"You need fucking kissing practice? Are you kidding me?"

He steps closer again and Dave backs up. "Yeah, kissing practice. Get with the program, man. It's not like you don't know exactly who I'm talking about, so buck up. Let's get our ironic makeout on."

He wants to complain and tell him to find some other Dave's throat to stick his tongue down, but he knows that he wouldn't be here now if this wasn't exactly how the fucking timeloop happens. He is hedged into this shit, goddamn it. So he sighs and he can't believe he's doing this, but he closes the distance between them and looks himself full in the face, eyebrow raised.

"This better be fucking worth it," he mutters.

Red-sleeves laughs, nods and says, "It totally is, dude," in a weird lovesick way that sounds utterly out of place in his own voice. And when he kisses him again Dave closes his eyes and imagines he's making out with the person this slick bastard obviously needs the practice for.

Collection of the year. Every year.

Lantadyme, you are too good to us.

[Author]

...

Ok, first off good job everyone. You continue to rock.

Second, I just found something that in retrospect should have been obvious. There's a Homestuck page on Fanfiction.net. Put all your works up their please, the world DESERVES to read it.

...and as much as some things suck on that sight, it IS the biggest fanfiction repository in the world...I honestly think you all deserve to be praised for your work, and more people need to learn about Homestuck. Besides, we can single handedly raise the average quality of fics on that sight by like 2% by ourselves.

Trouble is, takes too long for me to upload everything I've written on their. That, and I don't feel like formatting everything again.

[SkaianRedeemer]

Ugh, Nox, I just started colouring HiHH, don't make me go back and undo it all just to appease the Pit of Voles again. *headaches forever*

Ugh. The Pesterlogs. Will look. So hideous. Again.

[Nox]

Aww, come ON guys...this is a big opportunity! Their are so FEW good fics for Homestuck on this page, we can fix that right up!

[SeptimusMagistos]

...

Ok, first off good job everyone. You continue to rock.

Second, I just found something that in retrospect should have been obvious. There's a Homestuck page on Fanfiction.net. Put all your works up their please, the world DESERVES to read it.

...and as much as some things suck on that sight, it IS the biggest fanfiction repository in the world...I honestly think you all deserve to be praised for your work, and more people need to learn about Homestuck. Besides, we can single handedly raise the average quality of fics on that sight by like 2% by ourselves.

I'd love to, but I don't actually know if it even allows colored text. And given that all my best work seems to involve pesterlogs, that's a disadvantage.

I suppose I could put up the colorless ones there at least, though.

[SkaianRedeemer]

It supports one or two colours, I think. Red and blue. Or maybe I'm thinking of pre-style sheet A03 (by which I mean, pre-style sheet A03 did only support red and blue but I think FFn does too?). If that's the case, you're probably cool with John and Dave conversations, and of course the Midnight Crew is all black and white.

Now, I've always valued FFn for its detailed stats page. I think I know 10 gazillion times more about my other big fic than I do about HiHH and its cross-posted silliness, but that doesn't mean it's going to be much use here, since I'll most certainly link the coloured version right there on the first page. Still, I'll give it a thought. The trouble of setting things up under this name so that it's clear both are mine would be frusterating.

[Sporkaganza]

...

Ok, first off good job everyone. You continue to rock.

Second, I just found something that in retrospect should have been obvious. There's a Homestuck page on Fanfiction.net. Put all your works up their please, the world DESERVES to read it.

...and as much as some things suck on that sight, it IS the biggest fanfiction repository in the world...I honestly think you all deserve to be praised for your work, and more people need to learn about Homestuck. Besides, we can single handedly raise the average quality of fics on that sight by like 2% by ourselves.

I'd love to, but I don't actually know if it even allows colored text. And given that all my best work seems to involve pesterlogs, that's a disadvantage.

I suppose I could put up the colorless ones there at least, though.

No, FF.net doesn't allow for colored text or... well, anything cool, basically. Fuck, it doesn't even allow plus and equal signs and shit for some reason. It's incredibly restrictive, format-wise.

It's a big site, though, and there's a lot of good stuff out there if you know where to look, so it might be worth it anyhow.

[anonymousComrade]

...

Ok, first off good job everyone. You continue to rock.

Second, I just found something that in retrospect should have been obvious. There's a Homestuck page on Fanfiction.net. Put all your works up their please, the world DESERVES to read it.

...and as much as some things suck on that sight, it IS the biggest fanfiction repository in the world...I honestly think you all deserve to be praised for your work, and more people need to learn about Homestuck. Besides, we can single handedly raise the average quality of fics on that sight by like 2% by ourselves.

Trouble is, takes too long for me to upload everything I've written on their. That, and I don't feel like formatting everything again.

Seconded

I tried to use ff.net while my AO3 invite waited in the queue (I put my first two fics there) but the way they format things is just so bad

Seriously I had to go into charmap and get something that looked like less-than and greater-than signs because their formatting cuts those out completely (surprisingly, this was actually a problem!)

And the way you have to upload files instead of just posting text directly and ugh

AO3 all the way

[SkaianRedeemer]

Seriously I had to go into charmap and get something that looked like less-than and greater-than signs because their formatting cuts those out completely (surprisingly, this was actually a problem!)

Full disclosure: A03 does this with less than signs still. It's an HTML thing, not much you can do about it.

Not much FFn can do about its lack of colour support, either, because their user base is so wide that they have to account for a larger percentage of a) jerks and b) the stylistically tactless. Browse enough LJ fanfic comms and you'll learn why A03 has a "Turn it off! Turn it all OFF!" button afixed to the top of every fic.

[SeptimusMagistos]

COLORS: Chapter 3

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Eridan: Make the next move

A dear friend and a potential romance; pieces within a grand, almost cosmic, game. Many trolls would find it difficult to think of the very same people in both capacities. Not you, though. Dualities are your passion. Your mutant brain, inconvenient as it may be, has its advantages. One of them is your ability to casually handle two different tracks of thought at the same time. It’s so easy, and you don’t know why others can’t do it.

Oh wait, yes you do. And it’s the same reason they don’t have constant headaches. That goes a long way towards assuaging whatever doubts you might have.

You have brought the highblood into the game. You are her server player, against her will. So far so good. You will now continue breaking her concentration, making her angrier and angrier, inflaming her hatred for you until there is only one small part of her mind that does not want to end your life. If that part is ever extinguished, you think she might actually succeed in killing you. But as long as there is any doubt, however small, you think she won’t.

She is fascinating to you. When she is able to control herself, she is such a collected, powerful young woman, surely capable of crafting the most intricate of plans to try to counteract your own schemes. And when her stress meter goes too high, she transforms into something else entirely. She transforms into a creature capable of a rage that would stagger even her Subjugglator ancestors. There are no jokes present in her rampages, save for the ultimate joke of death.

Dualities, always. Such beautiful dualities. Such potential for a perfectly black romance. All you have to do is make her hate you enough.

Luckily, hate is much easier to force than love.

conjurationAbjurer[CA]began trolling GratingAnomaly[GA]

CA: hello
GA: jUsT sToP tHiS
GA: yOu CaN sHuT uP rIgHt NoW aNd We NeEd NeVeR cOmE iNtO fUrThEr CoNtAcT
GA: i WoUlD eNjOy ThAt
CA: you are 2peakiing differently
CA: that ii2 unacceptable
CA: how diid you do iit
GA: iT iNvOlVeD a LoT oF sCrEaMiNg InTo A pIlLoW
GA: aLsO pLoTtInG yOuR mUrDeR iF yOu DoN’t LeAvE mE aLoNe
CA: that2 flatteriing
CA: thank you
GA: nO bE qUIET
GA: This iSN’T
GA: iSn’T bLaCkRoM
GA: iT iS pLaToNiC hAtE oF tHe MuRdErOuS vArIeTy
CA: are you sure kan
CA: miight you be feeliing ju2t a liitle black spark iin there
CA: you have two admiit ii am really goiing all out here
GA: nO
GA: gO aWaY
CA: . . .
CA: how about now
GA: dId YoU jUsT
GA: dID You jUST Throw a Bathtub tHROUGH My wALL
CA: ye2 well ii have two admiit ii have a liimiited amount of materiial two work wiith here
CA: once we have more tiime ii can annoy you on a more per2onal level
CA: but for now ii 2ort of need two get iinto thii2 game my2elf
CA: ii ju2t wanted two check iin
GA: We aRE NOt fINISHED Discussing tHE BATHTUb tHROWN Through mY Wall
GA: tHIS Is bASICALLY HORRIBLe
CA: thank you
CA: anyway
CA: gotta go

conjurationAbjurer[CA]began trolling GratingAnomaly[GA]

GA: COMe bACK HERe
GA: aAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!

That wasn’t much of a move

CA: 2hut up

Be the Highblood

You probably don’t want to be her right now. She’s going through kind of an intense moment. It involves scribbling all over the walls with lipstick. And she’s going to have her hands full once that particular duality kicks in, especially since her server player is beginning to feel the first effects of the Vast Glub.

Everyone: hurry up and get into the game

All right already. They’re going as fast as they can, especially considering a good half of them weren’t planning to play in the first place. This is why things need to be more organized around here.

Feferi: get in.

CriminalCatcher [CC] began trolling Arboreal Gourmet [AG]

CC: H3llo
CC: L1st3n 1 know you 4r3n’t v3ry 1nt3r3st3d 1n h3lp1ng author1t13s w1th th31r 1nqu1r13s
AG: ::::D < *Darn right I’m not!
CC: So 1nst34d how 4bout w3 pl4y 4 l1ttl3 g4m3?
AG: ::::D < *I am already in the middle of a game!
AG: ::::D < *And I have my claws so full over here, let me tell you!
CC: But th4t 1s th3 b3st p4rt!
CC: Th3 two g4m3s c4n go tog3th3r.
CC: H3r3’s th3 l1ttl3 b3t 1’ll m4k3 you:
CC: br1ng m3 1nto your pr3tty l1ttl3 g4m3
CC: 4nd 1 b3t you 1 c4n g3t through your for3st 4nd 4ll your tr4ps 4nd sniff out your 4ccompl1ce!
AG: ::::D < *Oh, you are on!
AG: ::::D
AG: ::::D < *8ut I should warn you:
AG: ::::D < *No one, 8ut no one gets through my forest unscathed unless I let them.
AG: ::::D < *So this will 8e fun, I think!
CC: Why don’t w3 f1nd out? 3:)

CriminalCatcher [CC] ceased trolling Arboreal Gourmet [AG]

Aradia: get in.

AdventurousArchaeologist [AA]began trolling apologeticTitan [AT]

AA: thanks f0r being my server player tavr0s!
AT: yOU ARE VERY WELCOME,
AA: h0w many times have y0u c0me t0 my aid n0w?
AT: oH MY GOODNESS, sO MANY,
AT: fOR A LADY WHO IS AS CLASSY AND CAPABLE AS YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE,
AT: yOU SURE DO GET INTO AN AWFUL LOT OF TROUBLE,
AT: yOU ARE FORTUNATE, i THINK, tO ALWAYS HAVE A GALLANT KNIGHT TO RIDE TO YOUR RESCUE,
AT: oR EVEN A PAGE AS THE CASE MAY BE,
AA: sw00n
AA: but seri0sly thanks!
AT: iT’S OKAY, i WAS HAPPY TO HELP,
AT: bUT NOW I THINK MAYBE YOU SHOULD FIND SOMEONE ELSE AND GET THEM INTO THE GAME,
AT: bECAUSE IT IS GETTING SO DANGEROUS OUT THERE,
AT: aND I SUSPECT IT MIGHT BE SAFER IN HERE,
AA: 0kay!
AA: see y0u later then!

AdventurousArchaeologist [AA]ceased trolling apologeticTitan [AT]


Terezi: get in.

You’re in no hurry. Your quasi-royal blood will protect you from the worst of the Glub’s effects for a while yet. You will seek safety later. For the moment you are too busy tending to your emperor’s every need, as a good server player should.

Vriska: contact server player

Arboreal Gourmet [AG] began trolling Tormented Anarchist [TA]

AG: ::::D < *The we8 has 8een drawn oh so tight
AG: ::::D < *And you are trapped within it
AG: ::::D < *All the little silky strands settling down around you
AG: ::::D < *Is this the end, you wonder?
AG: ::::D < *Yes!!!!!!!!
AG: ::::D < *Soon the fangs will come!
Tormented Anarchist [TA] changed his name to CreepyGhast [CG]
CG: BEEN THERE DONE THAT.
AG: ::::| < * What.
CG: SURPRISE, LINTLICKER!
CG: TURNS OUT YOUR FRIEND DOESN’T REALLY LIKE YOU.
CG: AND SO HE LEFT YOU TO ME TO DEAL WITH.
CG: WHICH I INTEND TO DO FOR SOME TIME.
AG: ::::D < *This is the best he could come up with?
AG: ::::D < *I wasn’t afr8 of you when you were alive, dum8ass!
AG: ::::D < *Why would I be af8 of you now of all times?
CG: WELL FOR ONE THING, I CAN DO THIS TO YOUR LOADBEARING WALLS.
AG: D:::: < *Oh, you will pay for that one!
CG: ALSO I CAN TORMENT YOU WITH POETRY.
CG: HERE’S A LITTLE SOMETHING I WROTE FOR YOU.
CG:
CG: FREEZING WINDS OF THE NETHERWORLD BLOW ETERNALLY
CG: UNDER THE WORLD OF MORTAL CREATURES.
CG: CRABS FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF BLOOD HOME.
CG: KARMA MAKES ITS MARK ON A KILLER.
CG: YAWNING ABYSS OPENS WIDER ITS MAW
CG: OBLIVION BEYOND EVEN DEATH BECONS
CG: ULTIMATE IS THIS SHOWDOWN.
CG:
CG: IT HAS A HIDDEN MESSAGE.
CG: SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT IT.
AG: ::::D < *Wow.
AG: ::::D < *All that work just for that one potshot?
AG: ::::D < *I am flattered, really I am.
AG: ::::D < *There’s just one thing:
AG: ::::D < *You’re still a worthless idiot!
AG: ::::D < *HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!
CG: LAUGH WHILE YOU CAN, SERKET.
CG: SOONER OR LATER I’M GOING TO MAKE YOU CRY.
CG: ACTUALLY, FYICK LATER, I’M ON IT RIGHT NOW.
AG: ::::D < *Do your worst, Random Encounter #32789!
AG: ::::D < *My other opponent seems to be a little late, so you’ll do for the moment!

CreepyGhast [CG] ceased trolling Arboreal Gourmet [AG]


Eridan: get in.

conjurationAbjurer[CA]began trolling admiraclyCreative [AC]

CA: hey gue22 what
CA: it2 your lucky day
CA: ju2t for twoday ii am offeriing a free get out of the uniiver2e tiicket
CA: the only catch ii2 that you have two take a friiend along for the riide
CA: can you thiink of anyone
AC: Yaaaaaay Eridan!
AC: I Was Hoping You Would Come Through And Pull Me Out Of This Mess
AC: Just Send Me A Copy Of The Game And We Can Blow This Crummy Old World
CA: hurry
CA: ii dont feel 2o good

conjurationAbjurer[CA]ceased trolling admiraclyCreative [AC]


Terezi: get in already.

The Emperor insists that you secure your own safety before you continue serving him. You suppose he’s right.

galleonCemetery [GC] began trolling AdventurousArchaeologist [AA]

GC: HI THERE!
GC: WWHAT’S UP? >8D
AA: 0h
AA: hell0 terezi
AA: 0_0
GC: I APPRECIATE THE DISCOMFORT AT MY PRESENCE, BUT WWE DON’T HAVVE TIME FOR THAT!
GC: I AM COMMANDEERING YOUR SERVVICES AS A SERVVER
GC: NO ARGUMENTS.
AA: n0 0f c0urse n0t
AA: i w0uld be glad t0 serve y0u in that capacity
GC: YEAH, RIGHT!
GC: I KNOWW VVERY WWELL YOU WWON’T BE GLAD.
GC: BUT YOU WWILL DO IT.
GC: AND IF YOU DO A GOOD JOB, WWE MIGHT JUST ALL COME OUT OF THIS ALIVVE! >8]
GC: NOWW DO YOUR DUTY.

galleonCemetery [GC] ceased trolling AdventurousArchaeologist [AA]

Gamzee: bleed out.

Oh, yes, you are all over that already.


Sollux: panic.

Tormented Anarchist [TA] began trolling TotallyChill [TC]

TA: noo
TA: get up yoou stupid sap
TA: get up
TA: please
TA: ooh noo
TA: ju2t
TA: ju2t get that BLOOD back inside
TA: oor soomething
TA: ooh goog

Tormented Anarchist [TA] ceased trolling TotallyChill [TC]

Feferi: Make it right.

No problem.

The thing about being a detective in such a hostile environment is that you have to think in some very unusual ways.

For instance, Vriska believed that you honestly meant to compete with her. But why would you want that? She is an accomplice at best. Probably more of an accessory, really. And you can get the mastermind behind this plot from an unexpected direction.

You have already pulled your jade-blooded friend into the game to ensure her safety. Then you leapt down the chain of clients, deftly avoiding the gargantuan monsters populating these dimensions until you ended up here in the Imperial Flagship. It lies abandoned; its sole occupier has gone to challenge the beasts hand to hand. And you snuck inside, and are now ready to bring in the final player. You’re not sure if you can save his life; but in completing the chain you will secure the future of the race and, more importantly, open up another route from which to pounce onto the enemy.

Long live the Empire!

Recap Chain

Okay, here are the players, server to client order.

Gamzee (bleeding)

Sollux (freaking out)

Karkat (haunting)

Vriska (laying traps for a visitor who will never come)

Feferi (tracking down a criminal)

Nepeta (using heavy tower-mounted weaponry to establish a perimeter)

Eridan (attempting to initiate blackrom)

Kanaya (planning to end the annoyance once and for all just as soon as she discovers how to get to the server’s world)

Tavros (reluctantly destroying monsters; mourning Tinkerbull)

Aradia (quietly terrified; plotting to put an old friend to his final rest at last)

Terezi (Taking a moment to explore her Land, or Sea as it were)

Equius (in absentia; substituted by Feferi)

And then we go to Gamzee again.

[ceruleanTresses]

Dave/Dave

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His red-sleeved self stalks out of the distance with his hands in his pockets, the air swimming with LOHAC's heat all around him. Dave's used to just ignoring his time-twins but this one is walking directly toward him and he's in the one outfit Dave doesn't currently have. He's from the future, so he might as well listen to what he has to say. He expects coolkid nods and gestures and words muttered half-coherently because this time shit is stupid and neither of them really cares. What he doesn't expect is for the guy to walk straight up to him, grab him by the red lapels, and kiss him full on.

Holy fuck, what the hell is happening? There is tongue in this kiss and how did his own mouth get open in the first place, oh god?

He shoves the other Dave back, recoiling in the least cool fashion with his voice wavering as he spits, "What the hell, dude?"

Red-sleeves frowns in the same way Dave always does when he rolls his eyes. "Chill. I need the goddamn practice and you're helping me out here."

"You need fucking kissing practice? Are you kidding me?"

He steps closer again and Dave backs up. "Yeah, kissing practice. Get with the program, man. It's not like you don't know exactly who I'm talking about, so buck up. Let's get our ironic makeout on."

He wants to complain and tell him to find some other Dave's throat to stick his tongue down, but he knows that he wouldn't be here now if this wasn't exactly how the fucking timeloop happens. He is hedged into this shit, goddamn it. So he sighs and he can't believe he's doing this, but he closes the distance between them and looks himself full in the face, eyebrow raised.

"This better be fucking worth it," he mutters.

Red-sleeves laughs, nods and says, "It totally is, dude," in a weird lovesick way that sounds utterly out of place in his own voice. And when he kisses him again Dave closes his eyes and imagines he's making out with the person this slick bastard obviously needs the practice for.

PFFTHAHAHAHHAHAHA. Oh man, all of these were great, but this one was HILARIOUS.

COLORS: Chapter 3

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Eridan: Make the next move

A dear friend and a potential romance; pieces within a grand, almost cosmic, game. Many trolls would find it difficult to think of the very same people in both capacities. Not you, though. Dualities are your passion. Your mutant brain, inconvenient as it may be, has its advantages. One of them is your ability to casually handle two different tracks of thought at the same time. It’s so easy, and you don’t know why others can’t do it.

Oh wait, yes you do. And it’s the same reason they don’t have constant headaches. That goes a long way towards assuaging whatever doubts you might have.

You have brought the highblood into the game. You are her server player, against her will. So far so good. You will now continue breaking her concentration, making her angrier and angrier, inflaming her hatred for you until there is only one small part of her mind that does not want to end your life. If that part is ever extinguished, you think she might actually succeed in killing you. But as long as there is any doubt, however small, you think she won’t.

She is fascinating to you. When she is able to control herself, she is such a collected, powerful young woman, surely capable of crafting the most intricate of plans to try to counteract your own schemes. And when her stress meter goes too high, she transforms into something else entirely. She transforms into a creature capable of a rage that would stagger even her Subjugglator ancestors. There are no jokes present in her rampages, save for the ultimate joke of death.

Dualities, always. Such beautiful dualities. Such potential for a perfectly black romance. All you have to do is make her hate you enough.

Luckily, hate is much easier to force than love.

conjurationAbjurer[CA]began trolling GratingAnomaly[GA]

CA: hello
GA: jUsT sToP tHiS
GA: yOu CaN sHuT uP rIgHt NoW aNd We NeEd NeVeR cOmE iNtO fUrThEr CoNtAcT
GA: i WoUlD eNjOy ThAt
CA: you are 2peakiing differently
CA: that ii2 unacceptable
CA: how diid you do iit
GA: iT iNvOlVeD a LoT oF sCrEaMiNg InTo A pIlLoW
GA: aLsO pLoTtInG yOuR mUrDeR iF yOu DoN’t LeAvE mE aLoNe
CA: that2 flatteriing
CA: thank you
GA: nO bE qUIET
GA: This iSN’T
GA: iSn’T bLaCkRoM
GA: iT iS pLaToNiC hAtE oF tHe MuRdErOuS vArIeTy
CA: are you sure kan
CA: miight you be feeliing ju2t a liitle black spark iin there
CA: you have two admiit ii am really goiing all out here
GA: nO
GA: gO aWaY
CA: . . .
CA: how about now
GA: dId YoU jUsT
GA: dID You jUST Throw a Bathtub tHROUGH My wALL
CA: ye2 well ii have two admiit ii have a liimiited amount of materiial two work wiith here
CA: once we have more tiime ii can annoy you on a more per2onal level
CA: but for now ii 2ort of need two get iinto thii2 game my2elf
CA: ii ju2t wanted two check iin
GA: We aRE NOt fINISHED Discussing tHE BATHTUb tHROWN Through mY Wall
GA: tHIS Is bASICALLY HORRIBLe
CA: thank you
CA: anyway
CA: gotta go

conjurationAbjurer[CA]began trolling GratingAnomaly[GA]

GA: COMe bACK HERe
GA: aAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!

That wasn’t much of a move

CA: 2hut up

Be the Highblood

You probably don’t want to be her right now. She’s going through kind of an intense moment. It involves scribbling all over the walls with lipstick. And she’s going to have her hands full once that particular duality kicks in, especially since her server player is beginning to feel the first effects of the Vast Glub.

Everyone: hurry up and get into the game

All right already. They’re going as fast as they can, especially considering a good half of them weren’t planning to play in the first place. This is why things need to be more organized around here.

Feferi: get in.

CriminalCatcher [CC] began trolling Arboreal Gourmet [AG]

CC: H3llo
CC: L1st3n 1 know you 4r3n’t v3ry 1nt3r3st3d 1n h3lp1ng author1t13s w1th th31r 1nqu1r13s
AG: ::: < *Darn right I’m not!
CC: So 1nst34d how 4bout w3 pl4y 4 l1ttl3 g4m3?
AG: ::: < *I am already in the middle of a game!
AG: ::: < *And I have my claws so full over here, let me tell you!
CC: But th4t 1s th3 b3st p4rt!
CC: Th3 two g4m3s c4n go tog3th3r.
CC: H3r3’s th3 l1ttl3 b3t 1’ll m4k3 you:
CC: br1ng m3 1nto your pr3tty l1ttl3 g4m3
CC: 4nd 1 b3t you 1 c4n g3t through your for3st 4nd 4ll your tr4ps 4nd sniff out your 4ccompl1ce!
AG: ::: < *Oh, you are on!
AG: :::
AG: ::: < *8ut I should warn you:
AG: ::: < *No one, 8ut no one gets through my forest unscathed unless I let them.
AG: ::: < *So this will 8e fun, I think!
CC: Why don’t w3 f1nd out? 3

CriminalCatcher [CC] ceased trolling Arboreal Gourmet [AG]

Aradia: get in.

AdventurousArchaeologist [AA]began trolling apologeticTitan [AT]

AA: thanks f0r being my server player tavr0s!
AT: yOU ARE VERY WELCOME,
AA: h0w many times have y0u c0me t0 my aid n0w?
AT: oH MY GOODNESS, sO MANY,
AT: fOR A LADY WHO IS AS CLASSY AND CAPABLE AS YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE,
AT: yOU SURE DO GET INTO AN AWFUL LOT OF TROUBLE,
AT: yOU ARE FORTUNATE, i THINK, tO ALWAYS HAVE A GALLANT KNIGHT TO RIDE TO YOUR RESCUE,
AT: oR EVEN A PAGE AS THE CASE MAY BE,
AA: sw00n
AA: but seri0sly thanks!
AT: iT’S OKAY, i WAS HAPPY TO HELP,
AT: bUT NOW I THINK MAYBE YOU SHOULD FIND SOMEONE ELSE AND GET THEM INTO THE GAME,
AT: bECAUSE IT IS GETTING SO DANGEROUS OUT THERE,
AT: aND I SUSPECT IT MIGHT BE SAFER IN HERE,
AA: 0kay!
AA: see y0u later then!

AdventurousArchaeologist [AA]ceased trolling apologeticTitan [AT]


Terezi: get in.

You’re in no hurry. Your quasi-royal blood will protect you from the worst of the Glub’s effects for a while yet. You will seek safety later. For the moment you are too busy tending to your emperor’s every need, as a good server player should.

Vriska: contact server player

Arboreal Gourmet [AG] began trolling Tormented Anarchist [TA]

AG: ::: < *The we8 has 8een drawn oh so tight
AG: ::: < *And you are trapped within it
AG: ::: < *All the little silky strands settling down around you
AG: ::: < *Is this the end, you wonder?
AG: ::: < *Yes!!!!!!!!
AG: ::: < *Soon the fangs will come!
Tormented Anarchist [TA] changed his name to CreepyGhast [CG]
CG: BEEN THERE DONE THAT.
AG: ::::| < * What.
CG: SURPRISE, LINTLICKER!
CG: TURNS OUT YOUR FRIEND DOESN’T REALLY LIKE YOU.
CG: AND SO HE LEFT YOU TO ME TO DEAL WITH.
CG: WHICH I INTEND TO DO FOR SOME TIME.
AG: ::: < *This is the best he could come up with?
AG: ::: < *I wasn’t afr8 of you when you were alive, dum8ass!
AG: ::: < *Why would I be af8 of you now of all times?
CG: WELL FOR ONE THING, I CAN DO THIS TO YOUR LOADBEARING WALLS.
AG: ::: < *Oh, you will pay for that one!
CG: ALSO I CAN TORMENT YOU WITH POETRY.
CG: HERE’S A LITTLE SOMETHING I WROTE FOR YOU.
CG:
CG: FREEZING WINDS OF THE NETHERWORLD BLOW ETERNALLY
CG: UNDER THE WORLD OF MORTAL CREATURES.
CG: CRABS FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF BLOOD HOME.
CG: KARMA MAKES ITS MARK ON A KILLER.
CG: YAWNING ABYSS OPENS WIDER ITS MAW
CG: OBLIVION BEYOND EVEN DEATH BECONS
CG: ULTIMATE IS THIS SHOWDOWN.
CG:
CG: IT HAS A HIDDEN MESSAGE.
CG: SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT IT.
AG: ::: < *Wow.
AG: ::: < *All that work just for that one potshot?
AG: ::: < *I am flattered, really I am.
AG: ::: < *There’s just one thing:
AG: ::: < *You’re still a worthless idiot!
AG: ::: < *HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!
CG: LAUGH WHILE YOU CAN, SERKET.
CG: SOONER OR LATER I’M GOING TO MAKE YOU CRY.
CG: ACTUALLY, FYICK LATER, I’M ON IT RIGHT NOW.
AG: ::: < *Do your worst, Random Encounter #32789!
AG: ::: < *My other opponent seems to be a little late, so you’ll do for the moment!

CreepyGhast [CG] ceased trolling Arboreal Gourmet [AG]


Eridan: get in.

conjurationAbjurer[CA]began trolling admiraclyCreative [AC]

CA: hey gue22 what
CA: it2 your lucky day
CA: ju2t for twoday ii am offeriing a free get out of the uniiver2e tiicket
CA: the only catch ii2 that you have two take a friiend along for the riide
CA: can you thiink of anyone
AC: Yaaaaaay Eridan!
AC: I Was Hoping You Would Come Through And Pull Me Out Of This Mess
AC: Just Send Me A Copy Of The Game And We Can Blow This Crummy Old World
CA: hurry
CA: ii dont feel 2o good

conjurationAbjurer[CA]ceased trolling admiraclyCreative [AC]


Terezi: get in already.

The Emperor insists that you secure your own safety before you continue serving him. You suppose he’s right.

galleonCemetery [GC] began trolling AdventurousArchaeologist [AA]

GC: HI THERE!
GC: WWHAT’S UP? >8D
AA: 0h
AA: hell0 terezi
AA: 0_0
GC: I APPRECIATE THE DISCOMFORT AT MY PRESENCE, BUT WWE DON’T HAVVE TIME FOR THAT!
GC: I AM COMMANDEERING YOUR SERVVICES AS A SERVVER
GC: NO ARGUMENTS.
AA: n0 0f c0urse n0t
AA: i w0uld be glad t0 serve y0u in that capacity
GC: YEAH, RIGHT!
GC: I KNOWW VVERY WWELL YOU WWON’T BE GLAD.
GC: BUT YOU WWILL DO IT.
GC: AND IF YOU DO A GOOD JOB, WWE MIGHT JUST ALL COME OUT OF THIS ALIVVE! >8]
GC: NOWW DO YOUR DUTY.

galleonCemetery [GC] ceased trolling AdventurousArchaeologist [AA]

Gamzee: bleed out.

Oh, yes, you are all over that already.


Sollux: panic.

Tormented Anarchist [TA] began trolling TotallyChill [TC]

TA: noo
TA: get up yoou stupid sap
TA: get up
TA: please
TA: ooh noo
TA: ju2t
TA: ju2t get that BLOOD back inside
TA: oor soomething
TA: ooh goog

Tormented Anarchist [TA] ceased trolling TotallyChill [TC]

Feferi: Make it right.

No problem.

The thing about being a detective in such a hostile environment is that you have to think in some very unusual ways.

For instance, Vriska believed that you honestly meant to compete with her. But why would you want that? She is an accomplice at best. Probably more of an accessory, really. And you can get the mastermind behind this plot from an unexpected direction.

You have already pulled your jade-blooded friend into the game to ensure her safety. Then you leapt down the chain of clients, deftly avoiding the gargantuan monsters populating these dimensions until you ended up here in the Imperial Flagship. It lies abandoned; its sole occupier has gone to challenge the beasts hand to hand. And you snuck inside, and are now ready to bring in the final player. You’re not sure if you can save his life; but in completing the chain you will secure the future of the race and, more importantly, open up another route from which to pounce onto the enemy.

Long live the Empire!

Recap Chain

Okay, here are the players, server to client order.

Gamzee (bleeding)

Sollux (freaking out)

Karkat (haunting)

Vriska (laying traps for a visitor who will never come)

Feferi (tracking down a criminal)

Nepeta (using heavy tower-mounted weaponry to establish a perimeter)

Eridan (attempting to initiate blackrom)

Kanaya (planning to end the annoyance once and for all just as soon as she discovers how to get to the server’s world)

Tavros (reluctantly destroying monsters; mourning Tinkerbull)

Aradia (quietly terrified; plotting to put an old friend to his final rest at last)

Terezi (Taking a moment to explore her Land, or Sea as it were)

Equius (in absentia; substituted by Feferi)

And then we go to Gamzee again.

These just get better and better. I think my favorites are Indigo!Kanaya and Blue!Tavros, and Maroon!Karkat is definitely growing on me with his hilariously roundabout methods of insulting people.

[Embargo]

Unfortunately, I still can't get this whole prose thing to work out. Any criticism and assistance you guys can provide is more than welcome.

Aristocratic Outcast

though ivve been made an outcast i am still loyal to those wwho i wwill nevver see again

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Open Journal Entry #2405

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theres been another fuckin rupture dowwn in the underground tunnels. i dont knoww wwhats causin that entire section of the cavve to suddenly start losin its stability but ivve got to find the source of the problem. or i could just look for another hivve but that kinda movve wwould be dangerous. i cant go out at day cause the humans wwould catch me and i cant go out at night cause kar wwould skin me alivve. i havve no doubts about his ability to carvve me up wwith that scythe of his. makes me wwish i still had my wwand.

i mean dont get me wwrong ive got plenty of skill in science i just cant wwork it into pure raww powwer wwithout my wwand. i can feel the empirical powwer brushin past my fingertips but i still cant focus it into any type of wweapon. that means i still gotta work on that stone dagger ivve been tryin to make. its only takin forevver cause i dont havve any tools. no chisels no hammers no nothin.

i might as well just keel ovver and die cause this aint no fuckin wway for me to livve. i shouldnt havve to hear the screams of the horrorterrors in my sleep. i shouldnt havve to starvve for days at a time in this god damn cavve. i shouldnt havve hear them laughing and playing and havvin a gay old time wwhile i suffer in banishment.

i would end it all right noww but im too hopeful for that. the powwers i had in sgrub carried ovver to this neww universe wwhich is to say that my powwers are still as fuckin useless as evver and are nothin more than a liability. wwhat am i supposed to do wwith hope? wwhat kind of shitty powwer is hope anywway?

maybe ill finish myself off tomorroww but not today. today is my wwriggling day and ivve been meanin to go explorin the edges of the forest. i remember seein a lake up north so i might just head there. heres to hopin that kar hasnt decided to go ahead and take that lake for himself.

the prince of hope
eridan ampora

Eridan threw the journal behind the small outcrop of rocks where he kept his meager belongings and headed for the mouth of the cave. He stepped into the night eagerly. The ratbears wouldn't be active in this area for at least an hour, so he had to move quickly if he wanted to get back before they stole his home.

Eridan began running and soon found himself pushing through the thick underbrush that littered the area. The evening was quickly approaching, which left the forest nice and cool. He loved the feeling of the night's wind at his back and the yielding ground at his feet as he ran through his dominion unrestricted. The forest was his vast, untamed kingdom, and he ruled it as best he could.

The gnarled, twisted trees that towered over him formed nigh-impenetrable canopies that left the land dark and caliginous, which suited him just fine. The simple motions of his arms and legs pumping hydraulically dulled the emotions running through his head. The forest was familiar and the creatures paid him no mind as he dashed past. They knew who their king was. Their simple minds recognized him, and they feared him.

He didn't stop running until he'd reached a small grove near the edge of the forest. Small blue flowers glowed softly at the center of the clearing, its vines poking out of the ground. A breeze brushed past, sending one of their soft petals floating away into the breeze. It seemed to glow bright for a moment, before crumpling and turning into ash. He had only recently learned of the Daku flower's healing properties, but now that he knew where they grew he could harvest them at will. The process was tricky, which required steady hands and ample dexterity. Eridan began approaching the flowers, but stopped when he heard something in the bush to his right. The troll could only watch as a much younger troll leaped over the bushes to his right and trampled all over the flowers, crushing them into a fine dust. A spined hog followed suit, scattering the ashes to the four winds and running after the small figure fleeing from the scene.

"I could use some fuckin assistance over here!" he heard the troll cry out desperately, sending Eridan into action. Spined hogs were dangerous creatures to hunt, but scaring them off wasn't very difficult. He picked up a small stone and ran after the two. He'd caught up to them in no time at all, approaching the hog to its left. As he tackled the beast mid-stride, he felt a few of its spines dig into his arm and side. He pressed his weight on the beast's underbelly and struck, driving the stone into the hog's snout as hard as he could. The creature squealed in pain which prompted Eridan to strike again. He delivered strike after strike with primal viciousness until he was soaked with brown blood.

"Wow..."

Eridan turned lazily to the voice and stared in amazement. The young troll looked a lot like him, or rather, the troll looked like him before he descended into the shitstorm that was Sgrub. The same horns, the same glasses, the same scarf maybe less angles around the the cheeks, but the resemblance was definitely there. Though, the troll's voice was a bit more lyrical and his accent less pronounced than his as that age. The little troll gasped at him, touching his own angled horns before pointing at Eridan's.

"Your name is Eridan Ampora, correct?" the younger troll asked slowly. Eridan quirked an eyebrow. This kid knew his name?

"Depends on who wants to know." he responded while pulling the thin spines embedded in his arms.

"My name is Cupid L. Ampora." Eridan froze.

"What?"

"Guessing from your reaction I'm going to say that you are Eridan." Cupid smiled curtly. "Uncle Vantas is going to flip his metaphorical shit when I tell him that I've found you."

It was just a coincidence, right? Yeah, that was it. The whole bodily appearance and name thing was just one big fucking coincidence. Oh god...

"You need to go. Now." Eridan whispered, still reeling from the shock. "You can't be here, with me. Kar could-"

"Could what? He doesn't own me and, if I could be frank for a moment, I don't care what he's going to do or say." Cupid told him blandly. "Besides, I've finally found my father."

"Father? Is that a plant or somethin?"

"Uh, no. It means you are the benefactor of exactly one half of all my genes. Congratulations."

Shit. "So that means... I'm like your ancestor or somethin?"

"Yeah... Sure. Lets go with that." He said, dismissing the conversation with a wave of his hand. They sat there, staring at each other for a few moments uncomfortably. Cupid broke the silence with a loud "Oh!" before reaching into his pack. He produced a white wooden stick engraved with the words "Prince of Hope" on it. He recognized it for what it was instantly.

"Thats-"

"A wand? Why, yes. Yes it is. Care to take it for a spin?" Cupid asked with a grin, tossing it to him. Eridan caught it, feeling the power radiate off of it in waves. It was beautiful...

He stood and raised the wand to the heavens, watching as white light shot forth and lit up the night sky. The forest seemed to glow in response, creatures of all types leaving their homes and calling out to him. He began floating, feeling the power of hope raise him into the air. This new energy was fantastic. He felt better, and dare he say it, more hopeful than ever.

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I'm gonna do a few more of these just to practice. I have a short series in mind, so this was an introduction.

I was inspired to write this after digging through my DnD stuff and finding the character background prompts. One fit so well for an idea that I had that I just had to write it.