vatheon | a real gentleman

Entry tags:

a real gentleman

who: the grand highblood + you, you lucky dog!

what: GHB is taking a pleasant little stroll

when: 6/19

where: In the plaza

style: doesn't matter

The Grand Highblood doesn't make a huge habit of grabbing foreign objects and placing them on his head, but he's a curious one at heart and the complacency of Vatheon doesn't help one bit. His cave has been sort of infiltrated by a certain vampire by the name of Marceline who comes by now and then to drop off plush shark toys or something, so he assumes its her doing. The thought that maybe it's a curse does come up, but he's too drowsy upon wakening to really care. Besides, it's just a hat, right?

It's nestled between his two large spiraling horns, wreathed by his wild black mane, a symbol of a gentleman, greatly contrasting with his image as a whole: a black top hat. A rich purple satin ribbon is wrapped snugly around it, which appealed to him and was probably one of the reasons he felt compelled to place it on his head. Anyone who sees him whether they know him or not would find it quite the comical spectacle.

When someone runs into him in the plaza, he's still walking through the bustling crowds like he always does- a look of disgust on his face, holding his posture high and intimidating. In his hand is an apple which has been half-devoured in one bite, and if you meet him later on in the day, you'll see that his hands have made their way behind his back, clasped and slight rigidness to his step.

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[Kanaya bumps into him quite literally, taking a corner quickly without looking to see if someone was coming the other way. ]

I'm so sorry, I-

[It took her a moment to realize just who she had run into. Sure, any troll would recognize the Subjuggulator... but she wasn't exactly expecting this. She knew he was here in Vatheon. After all, she arrived at nearly the same time, landing in the plaza to frantic network conversations about the threat, and an immediate escort to the island to join the rest of her friends in exile. Problem is, she hadn't heard or seen him at all in the last year since that event. Thus she's standing dumbfounded, staring up at the one person no troll wanted to have a bad encounter with.]

[Whoops, something just- his first reaction is normally to just snarl and snap at whoever just ran into him, but instead there's this almost... refined sneer. Nothing too unusual, actually, it just looks a lot lazier than usual, and most could just chalk that up to complacency due to Vatheon's peaceful nature.]

I'll all up and pardon your motherfucking misstep, little female. [The gruffness in his voice is still there, but he seems to be holding back the usual nasty quality in his voice. It'll only ~~worse~~ better from here on out.]

[Kanaya takes a step back, retrieving her lipstick from her strife portfolio just in case. She's ready for fight or flight, expecting the worst... but his comment throws her a little off guard. It was almost polite, despite it's underlying malice. It's actually more frightening than an overt attack would have been.]

Yes...? I should have watched where I was going.

[Sighs, noticing the look of slight confusion. At least that's how he interprets her hesitance, anyway. Be prepared for even more of a surprise, Kanaya, because then he tips his body forward a little in a very quick but uncharacteristically polite bow.]

Now, it's only polite to get our introductions on- you may of heard of me, for I could only imagine a troll would not have heard stories of myself during their prolonged stay in Vatheon. But for the sake of introduction, I am the Grand Highblood.

[At least he's still a bit of a blabbermouth. That hasn't changed.]

Edited 2013-06-22 17:49 (UTC)

You're quite correct about your reputation, but it's still a pleasure to meet you, Grand Highblood. [WORDS UTTERED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY.]

I'm Kanaya Maryam.

[oh god is this conversation really happening?]

[He peers down at her from his height, noticing her corresponding blood color. Jade- well, could be worse, but he doesn't say so. That would just be...well, rude. Right? Yes.]

Well then, Kanaya Maryam, tell me- what exactly have you heard? Enlighten me.

[He's never bothered to find out just exactly what they've been saying about him, though he's pretty sure he knows the gist of it. The curse of a never-ending curiosity.]

[Whelp, she's not about to deny that request. She has a pattern for dealing with highblooded adult trolls, and it's one of polite subservience... at least until the encounter is concluded.]

You are the Grand Highblood, leader of the subjuggulators, and enforcer of the rule of Her Imperious Condescension. You are tasked with culling the lower castes, a task which you perform with no small amount of personal pleasure. Despite our removal from Alternia and her sphere of influence, you are happy to continue in your duties if possible. Apon arrival here you became the subject of terror for every troll in Vatheon. The descendant generation of trolls was exiled into safety while a plan was put in motion to maintain our safety. A deal has been struck whereby you are unable to kill capriciously without facing the consequences of perpetual soporification. Since then the handful of remaining members of our species have lived their lives mostly in peace, though never have you ceased to be considered as a major threat in our lives. Zelda was acting as your Auspistice with regards to Darkleer, and with her being stolen from us a replacement had to be found, though you yourself did not particularly care. Your descendant is Gamzee Makara, and like all of the descendants his life would likely mirror your own, if not for the changes wrought by his time in this place.

[Well, you wanted enlightenment. She has a habit of getting all wordy when she's tense.]

[If there is any sort of displeasure or surprise, it doesn't show on the Grand Highblood's face. He merely nods along a little as she talks, not minding the wordiness. His lips turn into a tight line at the mention of Zelda and Darkleer though, but it's extremely brief and waved off simply with a cough into his hand as Kanaya finishes up.]

I had expected more wild tales of cautions and death, but that wasn't as bad as I all had suspected. Though the thought of Gamzee Makara growing up to be like myself seems almost laughable now. The idea of him following in his ancestor's footsteps sounds like but a mere dream.

[A grumbling sigh.]

A dream. I wish.

[Whoops. I kinda seems like GHB doesn't know about the future that awaits Gamzee when he returns, and if she wasn't so on edge she might have thought it better to keep that from him. Maybe she can cover up her tiny little slip.]

You're still dangerous. We all know it. If not kept in check you and Darkleer would likely be trapped in a cycle of killing. We're all terribly aware that could prove fatal no matter the consequences hanging over you. We know the cave you spend so much time in, and I've been warned to avoid it.

It's a gleeful shriek of laughter that announces Marceline's presence, and she's quickly swooping down to invade his personal space like always. She is uninhibitedly delighted as she twists around his head to check out his new headgear before settling in a sitting position somewhere besides his head. "Looking good, GHB," she manages to say, barely holding in more cackling.

He recognizes the shriek anywhere, and he can only assume that she's going to probably sit on his person somewhere like she always does. Brave and bold, this one. But being the gentleman that he is, he allows her to sit without so much of a fuss this time, only acknowledging one irritable quality in this conversation.

"Must you get your motherfucking cackle on near a brother's ear?" He doesn't suppress an eye roll, as he continues to casually stroll through the busy plaza.

Queens are all about bold. The world's her oyster, after all, and she will gleefully go about enjoying herself as much as she can. It's better than the alternative, which is being miserable and lonely. She's not eager to go into repeats of those kind of days. Besides, he's just so huge. He deserves to be her chair.

"I could always go higher pitch," she teases, snickering now. "Rock stars like me have pretty impressive voices. So, whatcha doing?"

The GHB couldn't remember if Marceline had ever told him about her rockstart lifestyle and finds himself almost looking down upon such a career. But the appreciation for the fine arts such as music is still a rare quality, he found to his surprise, so it would have to do.

"I am partaking in my weekly stroll through the plaza," he says without turning his head. "It doesn't do too well to hole myself up in a dank and musty motherfucking cave every single day, you see." There's a rather stiff quality in his voice, which only seems to be getting stronger. Even the amount of motherfuck's in his sentences are getting lesser.

Honestly, she could roll with the stiff sound to his voice, but the lack of liberally sprinkled swearing is what's really getting to her. Marceline could nearly un-die again if she let herself laugh, so she does her best to hold it back. She really does.

Even if this is so friggin' hilarious.

"Oh I quite concur!" she chirrups back, trying to stick to the same 'formal' type of tone that the Highblood is using. It's a little hard, and the slight hitched quality to her voice possibly betrays how funny she finds this. "It is just as I told you, my good sir, your constitution might benefit from such excursions done more often!"

GHB is tempted to raise an eyebrow at her and roll his eyes. Wait, scratch that, he does it anyway, because my what a cheeky little girl! He knows when he's being mocked, but he doesn't see any point in trying to admonish her. It would probably just encourage her more anyway.

"Yes, it has finally occurred to me that your advice was clearly the reason why I have partaken in this activity." One he almost regrets partaking in, if this is what he has to put up with every time he steps outside.

You love her because she's a little shit, GHB, admit it.

"Clearly." She squirms a little, getting all the more comfortable. "Have you ever thought about doing more than just walkin' along? Hobbies are the next step to not being a weirdo hermit, you know."

Later in the day, Kurloz is also out in the bubble, though he's not wandering. He seems to have set himself up a station on one of the street corners by the Plaza, next to a stack of what appears to be newspapers. Maybe the cap he's wearing between his horns has something to do with that.

Maybe it doesn't have anything to do with him noticing the Grand Highblood. But it certainly contributes to how enthusiastically he's waving the other troll over.

The frantic waving does catch his attention amidst the crowd of slow-moving people and other-worldly creatures and he notices it's a little newsstand. Well, being a very ill-informed member of this population (he only comes out ever so often if his attention is actually needed, which is rare), he thinks perhaps having a newspaper will do him some good.

He takes only a couple of leisurely steps (giant to most) and stops in front of the stand. The usual haughty and stiff expression stays, but his words are definitely coming out much more...gentleman-like now.

"Well, my boy, it looks like you've got yourself a...hm, quaint little newsstand here now." He glances down at the pile and gingerly picks one up to read the headlines. "Is this a permanent occupation you've acquired?"

Does Kurloz look impressed? Because he is. He even gives a little deferential tip of his hat, when the GHB does approach and speak. You have to give a dapper gentleman like this one the proper respect, after all.

He grins when the newspaper is picked up, but shrugs at the question. It's not something he thought of doing at all, before this week. But then he nods, because it's been fun, and he certainly wants to keep doing it. The only problem is, he should really be able to shout out lines like "extra, extra, read all about it."

He doesn't show it, but the GHB appreciates the little tip of the hat. It's a good feeling when people actually give you the respect you think you deserve, even if others don't think so.

A shrug and a nod? Hm, he supposes a job at a newsstand isn't quite lucrative as many others available here, but well, it's Vatheon! Who even actually needs a job unless they're bored out of their skulls?

"I see," he replies, scanning the weather section quickly before another article catches his eye. Something about the efforts to clean up the bubble since the recent catastrophe. "And business has been going well?"

Edited 2013-06-24 21:48 (UTC)

Why not show respect to another version of yourself? Kurloz sees no reason for being rude, even if they're from very different worlds, and besides, this is clearly a man or class and importance.

He nods again, at the next question. Flagging people down has helped plenty, but it's difficult to wave people down rather than shouting out to them.

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a real gentleman

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