Open Log

[devwocean]

Who: Orphaner Dualscar and YOU
When: Any time throughout the curse week
Where: Out and about in the bubble or the island
Style: Starting in action, but I'll follow your lead
Status: Open

[Dualscar's taken careful notice of this curse, and is pretty sure what it's all about - and that he's not affected. As a highblood troll, it would be practically unconscionable for him not to take advantage of this opportunity.

He may be deliberately visiting your character - if you're someone he knows - or it could be a chance meeting. Either way, he may be trying to ferret out information. Or there might not be anything in particular that he cares to know.]

Comments

hopefully this works! if not lemme know and I can fix it. also is the first day alright?

[bethehugejerk]

[Karkat doesn't really have an idea of the curse when he hears the knock at his door. He figured there has to be something, with how his mark glowed, but there was nothing immediately obvious. No physical changes, no new or lost abilities, no change of scenery nor things appearing that weren't there before. That doesn't mean he's let his guard down entirely - he expects some effect on behavior - but he has no clue of specifics just yet.]

[That's probably why he answers the door at all.]

Dualscar?

[Karkat looks up (definitely up) at him and raises his eyebrow.]

Let me guess, you want Eridan for something.

This works!

[devwocean]

[Dualscar actually was looking for Eridan, but he doesn't mind seeing Karkat, for once. Usually he does try to avoid the boy, but today he's willing to deal with his attitude.

He smiles and shrugs faintly]

Good day, Vvantas. I wwas hopin' to vvisit my belovved descendant, but I'm not all that busy. If he's not here, I could wwait.

wooh

[bethehugejerk]

[Karkat's opinion of Dualscar is pretty much this: not as bad as he could be. It's better than active dislike, but he hardly considers him a friend.]

[His eyebrow stays raised.]

And what, stand here like a geriatric snail that forgot where it's going until he shows up? In other words, no, he's not here.

[devwocean]

[Dualscar feels the same way about you, Karkat]

Wwell, you could be a good host, instead. I don't bite. [He shows his teeth in a grin] Wwe don't havve any reason not to be friends, after all.

[bethehugejerk]

Friends isn't what I'd call us.

[Blunt.]

So what, you want to just sit on my couch and wait? I'm not going to make you tea and cookies, and don't expect me to entertain you either.

[devwocean]

[His lip lifts in an amused smirk.]

I'm your ancestor's moirail, and your matesprit's ancestor at the same time. That makes us somethin', I'm sure. Shouldn't wwe try to get along? I don't expect you to wwait on me prong an foot.

[bethehugejerk]

[Karkat decidedly does not return the look. However--]

I guess so.

[He's still not pleased, but he steps aside to let him in.]

Watch your horns because I don't want scratches in the door frame. Sit wherever, don't mess with my stuff, and Eridan will be back when he gets back.

[devwocean]

I don't bash my horns into fuckin' doors. Unbelievvable. [He sniffs and enters the hive] Wwith regard to messin wwith your stuff, wwould you havve a problem wwith me makin' some tea or something?

[bethehugejerk]

[Karkat gives him a flat look for the remark and question alike. This is why he didn't want to let you in, Dualscar. But hey, try to get along, try. Dualscar did have a point there.]

I would apologize if I actually cared enough to.

[There goes the curse again, but it would have been a sarcastic apology if he offered one. He rolls his eyes either way.]

But if that's how you want to get around my refusal to make you any, fine. Follow me.

[He adds a wave of his hand for emphasize, and if he'll come along, he leads to the kitchen. There he'll get out the kettle, tea leaves, and so forth. Once upon a time Karkat did learn from someone who knew his stuff.]

[devwocean]

[Hmm. He goes into the kitchen and starts to make tea, preparing two cups and incidentally snooping as he does so]

You don't havve to be so fuckin' rude to me wwhen I'm bein' civvil, you knoww. Wwhat is it that makes you treat me this wway? [Even as he asks the question, knowing Karkat will have to answer honestly, he wonders if he really wants to know the answer]

(1/3)

[bethehugejerk]

[Two cups? Karkat lifts an eyebrow at that but doesn't say anything. At least on that topic - Dualscar doesn't give him an option for the latter. His arms fold as he answers.]

Rude is my default to everyone, particularly people I don't really trust. Guess what, I have reason! I'm not just a lowblood but an actual cullbait mutant, so trusting people is not something I do super easily despite the amount of friends I have. And yeah, you're my ancestor's moirail, but you're still the troll Eridan tried to emulate when he was at his worst, which I have seen the full fucking spectrum of. I'll give you that you aren't the complete castist douche I was expecting you to be, and you've actually been helpful at least once, but don't expect me to pretend to be all nice and happy to have you here when you're intimidating to be around, barring that time you were a seahorse.

(2/3)

[bethehugejerk]

[Wait.]

[What.]

(3/3)

[bethehugejerk]

WHY DID I JUST SAY ALL THAT?

[devwocean]

[His expression starts off startled, but then he starts to grin nice and slow.]

Don't wworry, kiddo. [He'll just... ruffle Karkat's hair, if he can] You're not the only one wwho's intimidated a me. It's nothin' to be ashamed of.

[bethehugejerk]

[Karkat's arms flail up to swat Dualscar's hand away. No hair ruffles, bad sea dweller.]

Keep your prongs to yourself, asshat! What the fuck just happened? I didn't intend to say half that, and also, I would say I hope you drown on your tea but I don't actually wish you death.

[Pause.]

WHY?

[devwocean]

[He chuckles softly, his violet eyes glowing a bit with amusement]

Guess it must be the fuckin' curse. Wwhy don't you havve a bit a tea, then, if you don't wwant me to to drowwn in it.

[bethehugejerk]

[Karkat groans, pure frustration, but not a drop of disbelief. That answers what the glow was about. He folds his arms.]

No. I don't want the stupid tea.

[His eyes narrow a smidge, then--]

I want to know if I was right about you, with what I said.

[It's a gamble, but he might as well see if the curse goes both ways, and he should think Dualscar owes him after that.]

[devwocean]

[He picks up his own cup of tea and takes a sip, staring at Karkat over the rim]

Wwhich part did you wwant to knoww about. Wwhether I'm a 'castist douche', or did you mean somethin' else?

[bethehugejerk]

That, and... if I should be intimidated, for legitimate reasons and not just satisfying your ego boner. Can you blame me for wanting to know if I can feel safe?

[It's annoying to be this open about his worries, and he cringes about it, but there's nothing he can do. Curses are curses: they do what they want.]

[devwocean]

I can't blame you for bein' intimidated or wworried about me. [He shrugs and spreads his hands in a helpless gesture] But wwhat can I evven do to reassure you? You'vve been hostile towwards me from the start, though you ought to knoww not evveryone is the sum total a their blood.

[bethehugejerk]

I haven't been as hostile as I could have been!

[Pause. Huff. He wanted to say "haven't been hostile", but the curse corrected him.]

And don't even talk to me about blood, not like that. You are not the fucking troll to schoolfeed me on what blood means. I'm the one who's lived with this color, so I know it better than you ever will.

[His eyes narrow, but this line of talk has brought an idea to mind.]

If you want to reassure me, try this. What, in detail, are your views on the hemospectrum and the value it gives trolls?

[devwocean]

[Dualscar arches an eyebrow. He's not affected by the curse, and he's not one for monologuing]

I suppose I could indulge you a bit. Blood affects a lot about trolls, like wwhether they'vve got long livves or sea dwwellin' anatomy, or psychic powwers, but I'm not sure wwhat you mean by vvalue. Evvery troll is vvaluable in their owwn wway.

[bethehugejerk]

[A muscle in his jaw tightens together with the deepening of his scowl.]

You know exactly what I meant, you disingenuous tool. Give me a straight answer.

[devwocean]

[He frowns a little and takes a sip] I believve the hemospectrum affects a lot about the place a troll should havve in life. But that don't mean they should be wwantonly culled or enslavved. Or that someone like you, wwho doesn't havve a place, should be culled either. Does that wwork for you?

[bethehugejerk]

[He folds his arms and scuffs his foot a bit.]

Still kind of vague, but it's probably the best I can expect out of a presumably old as globes sea dweller.

[His gaze slips down, towards a cupboard door. He wants to keep being irritable and defensive, but the curse hinders that.]

It's better than you could give me.