[Fic] "Trollstuck," part 19 (end of ch. 5) -- Homestuck

[edenfalling]

back to part 18

---------------------------------------------
Trollstuck, part 19
---------------------------------------------

====>Respond to memo

CURRENT tentacleTormentrix [CTT] RIGHT NOW opened memo on board DOWN IN THE DEEP.

CTT: -> The purpose of this memo is to discuss whether or not to enlist Equius Zahhak into our multiphasic effort to prevent Vriska from killing Aradia. <-
CTT: -> Karkat and I are skeptical. <-
CTT: <- Nepeta, what do you think he could do? ->
CURRENT carcinoGeneticist [CCG] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CCG: AND WHY DO YOU THINK HE'D BOTHER.
CURRENT arsenicCatnip [CAC] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CAC: :33 < *ac pounces on tt and rubs her ch33ks against tts skirt*
CAC: :33 < *its so soft and warm*
CTT: -> Wool does tend to have those characteristics, at least when dry. <-
CTT: <- Is this a roundabout way of requesting me to knit a new coat for you? ->
CCG: FOCUS, IDIOTS.
CCG: THERE IS A THING COLLOQUIALLY KNOWN AS A DEADLINE.
CCG: IF YOU CROSS IT WITHOUT A PLAN, GUESS WHAT, PEOPLE DIE.
CCG: ZAHHAK FETISHIZES THE HEMOCASTE SYSTEM AND ALL THE SHITTY IMBALANCES IT PERPETUATES.
CCG: WHY THE FUCK WOULD HE CARE IF A BLUEBLOOD KILLS A RUSTBLOOD, EVEN IF THE BLUEBLOOD IS SPIDERBITCH AND THE RUSTBLOOD IS ARADIA.
CAC: :33 < you cant efur tell him i told you!
CAC: :// < im breaking the sacred trust of the f33lings jam beclaws i dont want aradia to die and i know he wont either
CAC: :33 < beclaws...
CAC: :33 < the thing is
CAC: :33 < and he is so embarrassed about this you have no idea
CAC: :33 < hes flushed fur her!!!
CCG: OH FUCK ME SIDEWAYS AND CALL ME A FILIAL PAIL.
CAC: :(( < ewww! bad karkitty!
CTT: -> Well. <-
CTT: -> That is certainly not something I expected to hear. <-
CCG: YEAH BUT DOES IT CHANGE ANYTHING?
CCG: HE STILL HAS A FUCKINGS STARSHIP UP HIS NOOK ABOUT THE HEMOSPECTRUM, PROPER SOCIAL ROLES AND ALL THAT BULLSHIT.
CCG: IF ANYTHING I'D THINK AN EMBARRASSING FLUSHCRUSH WOULD MAKE HIM ACT LIKE EVEN MORE OF A REACTIONARY DOUCHEWAFFLE.
CAC: X(( < *ac hisses and claws cg fur badmouthing her meowrail*
CTT: -> He does have a point, Nepeta. <-
CTT: Your moirail has many estimable qualities, his care for you high among them, but his treatment of others in our circle of acquaintance leaves something to be desired. <-
CCG: UNLIKE YOURS OF COURSE.
CTT: -> Shoosh, you. <-
CTT: -> I have complete faith that Equius would regret Aradia's death. <-
CCG: I WILL NOT SHOOSH.
CTT: <- But would the anticipation of that future regret be enough to outweigh the anchor of his reluctance to directly interfere with a fellow blueblood on behalf of a rustblood with whom he is not currently quadranted? ->
CCG: YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SHOOSH ME AND THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE QUADRANT MOCKERY.
CTT: -> There, there, Karkat. Imagine me papping you with pity in my, to use the lowblood idiom, ganderbulbs. <-
CAC: :33 < *ac shooshes cg too!* ;33
CCG: AGOHIJADSFSDKLST
CTT: <- Nepeta? ->
CAC: :// < i dont know what equius would do!
CAC: :33 < i want to say yes of course hed help stop vwhiskers but...
CCG: FINE. I CAN TELL WHEN I'M NOT WELCOME.
CAC: :33 < he made sure i wouldnt purrlay flarp with her but he didnt stop aradia or tavros!
CCG: I'LL GO DO SOMETHING USEFUL LIKE TROLLING JOTHAN.
CAC: :33 < he didnt stop anything and hes lived across the canyon from her since they built their hives
CTT: => Leave this memo without permission, Karkat Vantas, and I will see if I can manifest a Visitation inside your skull. <=
CAC: :33 < purrhaps he knew aradia could take care of herself
CAC: :33 < but so can i take care of myself hes seen me hunt thats how we met!
CCG: AND YOU SAY VRISKA'S OVERREACTING.
CAC: :(( < and efurrybody knows tavros cant stand up to vwhiskers
CAC: :33 < but killing aradia with no purrovocation is diffurrent!
CAC: :33 < thats even worse than what she did to purr tavros!!!
CAC: :33 < he hates when people dont follow the rules
CCG: ABOUT THAT "WITHOUT PROVOCATION" PART.
CCG: ARADIA SENT GHOSTS TO TORMENT VRISKA IN RETALIATION FOR MAKING TAVROS EVEN MORE OF A DOOMED LOSER THAN HE WAS BEFORE.
CCG: VRISKA'S ENTITLED TO MAKE HER PAY.
CTT: -> We simply think her idea of payment is too high, and far too permanent. <-
CCG: SAID ONE FOODBLOCK UTENSIL TO THE OTHER. HA. HA. HA.
CAC: :(( < *ac curls up in her den and whimpers*
CAC: :(( < *she says if its revenge her meowrail wont help hell just get more revenge later*
CAC: :(( < vengeance is admeowrable behoofior
CAC: :(( < stopping it isnt
CCG: SO ZAHHAK'S PICTURE OF A SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE OUTCOME IS FOR VRISKA TO KILL ARADIA, FOLLOWED BY HIM KILLING HER, JOTHAN KILLING HIM, YOU KILLING JOTHAN, ETCETERA AD INFINITUM, UNTIL WE ALL ROT.
CCG: WHAT A BRILLIANT IDEA.
CCG: HAS HE NEVER HEARD OF AUSPISTICISM?
CAC: X33 < *ac pounces on cg and claws him up again!*
CAC: :33 < *she says you take that back i wouldnt let him kill vwhiskers even if she deserves it*
CAC: :33 < im a good meowrail!!!
CTT: -> Nobody is implying otherwise, Nepeta. <-
CTT: <- Right, Karkat? ->
CCG: DON'T YOU HAVE ASHMATES ALREADY, HEKATA?
CAC: :33 < *ac flicks her ears and turns her back on both of you*
CAC: :33 < *she says fine go ahead and cheat on jarlia you big meanie*
CTT: <- Jarlia? ->
CTT: <- Goodness, is that official now? ->
CTT: -> And to think nobody told me! Suddenly I am quite flooded with embarrassment over segments of this conversation. <-
CTT: =;)
CCG: YOU KNOW WHAT EVERY SINGLE SEGMENT OF THIS CONVERSATION IS?
CCG: A MONUMENTAL WASTE OF TIME WHEN ARADIA'S LIFE IS HANGING BY A THREAD. THE THREAD BEING A STRAND OF VRISKA'S WEB. METAPHORICALLY.
CCG: YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE IT IS?
CCG: NONE OF YOUR MOTHERFUCKING BUSINESS, THAT'S WHAT!
CCG: ARE WE ASKING THAT SWEATY BULGEMUNCH TO HELP OR NOT?
CAC: :33 < hey!!!
CTT: -> I think, that while his assistance would be invaluable given his proximity to Vriska and his presumed ability to physically render her unconscious should the situation degenerate that far,
CTT: -> his reaction is too unpredictable to base any plans around his participation. <-
CTT: -> We will simply have to stop Vriska without him. <-
CTT: <- On that note, if the proper form of a vengeance cycle is that important to him, will he hinder our attempt at interference? ->
CAC: :33 < um
CAC: :33 < purrobably not?
CAC: :33 < hell grump and need a pawful lot of towels but he wont want aradia to die
CCG: WHAT A HERO.
CTT: -> Don't be rude, Karkat. <-
CTT: -> It wastes time. <-
CCG: SO IT DOES! HOW HAS THAT MIRACULOUS FACT ESCAPED ME FOR OVER FIVE SWEEPS! IT IS A MYSTERY!
CCG: I'M GOING TO TROLL JOTHAN NOW.
CCG: SUMMON A GODDAMN SQUID AND TALK TO TAVROS.
CTT: => No. I will troll Jothan. <=
CTT: => You will talk to Tavros. <=
CCG: EXCUSE ME, BUT WHICH OF US CONTACTED WHOM ABOUT THIS PROJECT?
CTT: -> Your slight temporal advantage in awareness of the situation does not mean you have a better understanding of it, nor a better grasp of the quirks of our compatriots. <-
CAC: :33 < *ac pounces in between cg and tt and bares her furrocious t33th*
CAC: :33 < *she says fur people so worried about wasting time you k33p wasting a lot of it*
CAC: :33 < *she raises her chin and reminds you that she knows lots about our furreinds too and all kinds of ships!*
CCG: CG SAYS THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ROMANCE.
CAC: :33 < *ac nips cgs cute little nose to get his attention*
CAC: :33 < *she says its totally about romance you said it yourself were all auspisticizing fur vwhiskers and aradia*
CTT: -> I would dispute that analysis. <-
CAC: :33 < also i f33l karkitty is right!
CCG: OF COURSE YOU'D DISPUTE IT, EVEN THOUGH YOUR CONCILIATORY PROMISCUITY IS AN OPEN SECRET.
CAC: :33 < jothan is terrified of alonde and wont listen to her or will find ways to furget what she says
CTT: <= MY conciliatory promiscuity? =>
CAC: :33 < and tavros doesnt listen to boys who give him advice but does listen to girls who give him orders
CTT: -> I believe someone may be projecting. <-
CAC: :33 < so pawbviously karkitty should troll jothan and alonde should troll tavros!
CAC: :33 < purroblem solved!!! :33
CAC: X33 < and stop hateflirting in front of me you two its embarrassing
CAC: :33 < efurryone knows karkitty belongs to jarlia even if thats really pawkward fur me
CAC: :33 < and alonde youd be so much better with davven i purromise
CTT: ...
CCG: ...
CCG: I'M GOING TO TROLL JOTHAN NOW.
CTT: -> You go do that. <-
CAC: :33 < yes good :33
CAC: :33 < ill tell jarlia what efurrybodys doing
CAC: :33 < good luck you guys!!!
CAC ceased responding to memo.
CTT: -> Let us never speak of this again. <-
CCG: NO FUCKING PROBLEM.
CTT banned CCG from responding to memo.

CTT closed memo.

====>Now what?

Now you're going to waste more time freaking out and cursing your past self for ever thinking trading screen names with either of those girls was anything less than the prelude to complete and utter disaster. Except oh wait, you're not going to do anything that asinine, because you are an efficient troll with leadership potential and you have a mission to complete and a hatefriend's life to save. Unlike some people whose names you won't mention.

You scroll down your chumproll and select Jothan's name. Here goes nothing.

---------------------------------------------

End Chapter Five

---------------------------------------------

continue to part 20

Okay! Now you get to pick who to be for chapter 6! Unless things spin completely out of my control, the let's-save-Aradia plot arc will wrap up in chapter 7, so choose wisely! Your main options are Jothan or Terezi, though I can also make Tavros work. I am not jumping back to anyone you've already been, and you can't be Vriska because -- executive decision here -- I am forcing you to be Vriska in chapter 7 since she'll have the best POV on how everything goes down.

Feel free to provide reasons for your choice and discuss amongst yourselves. :-)

(Oh, also! I need to draw one illustration for Karkat's chapter. With the caveat that I am not an artist -- meaning don't get too ambitious here -- what would you like to see?)

Comments

[branchandroot]

*dying of laughter* Oh, that was beautiful. I do love the quadrant cross-talk, among them.

I think I vote for Jothan next.

[edenfalling]

Chatlogs are addictive to write. Alonde's inadvisable memos are even more so. *evil grin* And Nepeta is actually quite perceptive -- purrceptive, I suppose I should say -- about interpersonal relationships, much more so than a lot of her friends give her credit for, even if she does go about it by means of RPF shipping grids. *pets her* (Whether she is right about Jarlia <3< Karkat working out, Alonde <3< Karkat being a bad idea, or Alonde <3< Davven being a good idea... well, time and reader input will tell!)

Next question: at what point in time would you like to pick up Jothan's POV, if indeed he wins the vote? Early in his evening when he trolls Davven, around midnight when Jarlia trolls him, or right "now" as a direct continuation of Karkat's actions?

[branchandroot]

I think, when he trolls Davven. That would offer some nice opportunity for Jothan-esque framing of his chat with Karkat without jumping too far.

[edenfalling]

He talks to Davven well before he talks to Jarlia -- Davven's POV is chronologically the earliest chapter so far. It goes Davven-Alonde-Aradia-Jarlia-Karkat, with Aradia and Jarlia overlapping shortly after Aradia disables her laptop. Actually I think Aradia might be overlapping Karkat as well by the time she leaves her dig site.

I really need to make a quick Alternian timezone map or chart for my own reference. That sort of thing is a little too tricky to keep organized without a solid framework.

[branchandroot]

Goodness. Yes, that'd be a bit hard to keep track of.

Hmmm, I think when he talks to Jarlia, then. That seems like a good point for the increasing-tension and moving-toward-action purposes.

[vehrec.livejournal.com]

It's time to be Terezei-the Seer of Mind must put all her powers to bear until the world cracks under her scrutiny and parts the crude facade that conceals everyone's desires, motivations, decisions and consequences thereof. Even a glimpse beyond the veil of mundane existence gives peerless powers of Manipul8tion.

And you should totally draw Karkat fighting the squid in blurry impressionistic fashion.

[edenfalling]

Er, translation into practical plot suggestions, please? Also, Terezi's awesome but please remember that Sburb does not exist in this AU. She can't actually read minds! (And unlike whatever may or may not be going on with the nonexistence of time travel, this is not me issuing suspiciously specific denials; it is straight up Word of God truth.)

And you should totally draw Karkat fighting the squid in blurry impressionistic fashion.

Hmm. Hmmmm. Actually, that ties in neatly with something I couldn't get into the text for the obvious reason that Alonde wouldn't know it and Karkat wouldn't say it. *goes off to hunt reference pictures of squid*

[vehrec.livejournal.com]

Ok, Be Terezei, Use your Knowledge of Trolls and Your Friends to get Daaven motivated. This ain't about Jarilia, it's about the murder she might have accidentally touched off because you guys aren't talking anymore, you jerk. D :<

And yes, show us the blood. Blood for the Blood God! Blood For the Blood God!

[edenfalling]

I am drawing a six-panel comic involving floating shadow-squid. What even is my life.

[vehrec.livejournal.com]

Your life is like the Eurovision Song Contest, and Lordi just took the stage. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAh9NRGNhUU) Rock and roll angels!

[edenfalling]

First three panels, pencil rough sketch:



*evil grin*

[vehrec.livejournal.com]

Uh, your spam settings at my first reply, but I said that your life is the wacky parade of acts that is the Eurovision Song Contest, and demon-ork rockers from Finland just took the stage for their big number.

[edenfalling]

It was just screened! For some reason LJ does that to comments with active links.

[explodingfrogs.livejournal.com]

Hmm.

The obvious pick is Jothan, which would also be a good way of fleshing his character out and giving the reader a better handle on him. Also, he's the only one of the kids who we haven't been yet.

On the other hand, that might be a bit too obvious. Maybe see how Davven's handling things? (Possibly from Kanaya's point of view, since he was at her house when we left him?) Tavros getting his marching orders from Alonde? Maybe Nepeta ignores Alonde's advice and tries to purrsuade Equius to help anyway?

Also, I would like to suggest that when the plan goes into action, we see it unfold from Vriska's perspective.

[edenfalling]

We will definitely see the denouement through Vriska's eyes. That will be chapter 7. :-)

But! Each chapter is a single person's POV -- once you've started being someone, you can't switch halfway through -- so think about who's going to get you the best perspective on events as they draw together. That is why I suggested Jothan or Terezi, with Tavros as a secondary option. Among other things they are the ones most likely to speak with Vriska directly, for their own various reasons. *evil grin*

(Kanaya might also speak to Vriska, but by this time Davven's been gone from her hive for hours. As I said to branch over on Dreamwidth, the chronological chapter order goes Davven-Alonde-Aradia-Jarlia-Karkat, with Aradia and Jarlia overlapping shortly after Aradia disables her laptop. So Kanaya's in the metaphorical dark at this point, though of course it's day in her timezone.)

[explodingfrogs.livejournal.com]

...I have no idea how I missed that note at the end about Vriska!POV.

In any case! In light of the above, my vote is definitely for Jothan.

[marici.livejournal.com]

Wild <3s for Nepeta kicking Karkat and Rose right where it hurts, and their shared chagrin at being out-thought.

I like Jothan POV because we haven't had it yet and because he's going to be talking to Karkat and that should be fun. He was always a little mean, and it comes out very strongly as a troll, but I'd like to see the sweetness? Strength of soul? Whatever it was that let him forgive Vriska and be so good for her in the original, and thus made it easy for me to love him. (I'd really like to see someone take a good run at inspiring compassion or longing for a better life, actually, but I don't know that the Sufferer II: Electric Bugaloo belongs in the Aradia vs Vriska strife.) Karkat was a good leader in the game, kept them all alive and their sharp bits pointed outward -- let's see him show how he did that today. I recently saw a great blog about Karkat and threats: he threatens people with banning from his memos, then carries through, but other than that his only threat was to shit a rage snake to strangle them to death, which really seems more like figurative language. Bribing, he might. Nagging? He absolutely would. Is it possible he can be clever enough to keep shifting the ground until Jothan agrees? Maybe, he's great with language, very bright, and holds his own with Rose....

Also, does Rose have a crush on Jothan? She wanted so much to talk to him, and Rose adoring and protecting John is a great trope, especially when she has a hard time being comforting, gentle, or even conversational with him when she's actually near him. I'd love to see more of this thread sometime. =)

[edenfalling]

Nepeta is pawsome! :33 And I like the way she breaks up the stabbitty-stabbitty dynamic Karkat and Alonde fall into, mostly by being cheerful at them but also by thinking of perfectly reasonable options they're missing because they're too busy trying to score points off each other.

Troll!John really seems to be turning into a character (like Vriska always was) who comes off badly from other people's perspectives. I hope seeing his own POV will help balance that! (It looks like he will indeed be the POV character for chapter 6, btw.)

I don't know about Alonde and Jothan! She might very well have a crush on him, though clearly he has no idea whatsoever. I will put that in my suggestion file and see what comes of it later on. :-)

[(Anonymous)]

Vote: chapter after Vrisja should be Jothan

[edenfalling]

It looks like Jothan will be the POV character in chapter 6!