Jul 27
today’s artfight attack! [gonna post backlog soon i SWEAR]
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from Morocco
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from India
seen from Malaysia
seen from South Africa
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from South Africa
seen from Türkiye
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from Kazakhstan
seen from United States
seen from Russia
today’s artfight attack! [gonna post backlog soon i SWEAR]
Dumb pseudo comic
She's a bitch of a kismesis,
She enjoys to tease him, she likes him and adores to bully him
And she is that heavy
Loksly x Vikare
Chixie: I like singing!
Tegiri: I like dancing!
Vikare: I like planes.
*A plane flies down and crashes hard onto Vikare*
More hiveswap sketches (the bronzes this time.)
Tegiri; What did you say????? WHAT DID YOU SAY?!
Galekh; I said whoever threw that paper, your Lusus is a hoe!
Vikare, who just threw a paper plane he made:.....................................
The Hidden Housemate
(( Set immediately after A Late Wriggling Day Celebration. Shout out to @tegiri-is-my-waifu for helping me come up with Meenah's Trollian handle))
(( Songs that inspired this chapter;
Gravity Hurts by Cryoshell and Brinck
A Rush Of Blood To The Head by Coldplay
We Are Of This Earth by Bush
Feels Like Forever by Lacey Sturm
Unknown Soldier by Breaking Benjamin
Lost In The Dream by The War On Drugs
Pteryla by Novo Amor
Used To Be Young by Miley Cyrus
The Night Will Always Win by Elbow))
Lisa:*standing alone in one of the hallways of the meteor, biting her fist as she stares anxiously at whatever is in front of her*.............
*Just then, the entire meteor crew, Bec and Peregrine included, hurry over to Lisa, having gotten her message on Trollian/Pesterchum and then immediately having hurried her way to see what's going on*
Rosali: Lisa! We're here! What's going on??
Sollux: Yeah, what the hell was so important that you had to drag us all out he--............. What the fuck......?
*Everyone looks to where Lisa is staring, immediately freezing up, their eyes widened at what they see; A large hole in the wall, the concrete broken and debris and rubble all over the floor....... But this mess is nothing compared to what's inside the hole in the wall, that being what looks like a tiny apartment someone built in there. A bed in the far left corner, a recliner in front of a television, and also an old 1930s gramophone*
Sollux:....... What. The. Fuck.......?
Terezi;*sniffs the air, smelling the debris and the presence of a hidden living space* ??????....... Lisa, what the hell is this?!
Karkat; What the--..... How the fuck did you find this???????
Lisa: I........ *sighs* I was still really pissed about you cutting me from the medical team earlier, and I ended up pacing around the meteor to try and shake off all my pissed off energy..... well..... I don't know, I snapped, hit the fecking wall, somehow actually managed to break concrete without breaking my fist, I guess that comes with the God Tier territory....... and then, I find this!........ I..... I don't know, it seemed like something everyone should be aware of......
Kanaya:.......*carefully steps forward to get a closer look at this room, looking around for a moment*........... Everyone? I think we should investigate......
Karkat:...... Agreed. Everyone who has a weapon on them, arm yourselves. *pauses*.... Just incase this is some kind of death trap........
*Immediately, everyone arms themselves with their signature weapons; Rose's sewing needles turned wands, Dave's sword, Lisa's sword transformed from her crucifix necklace, Karkat's sickle, Tavros' jousting lance, Sollux's psiionics, Nepeta's claws, Kanaya's chainsaw, Terezi's blade from her cane, Vriska's dice, Equius' fists, Gamzee's bats, Eridan's wand, Feferi's trident, Rosali's knife, and Peregrine's sword, with Bec standing close to Tavros and growling protectively. One by one, they all carefully step into the room, which upon entry, actually seems somehow much bigger than a nornal apartment, enough to fit the whole group and whoever this room must belong to. They all begin to examine and wander about this strange room, noticing that there is also a kitchen, and another closed door....... Judging by the lack of dust in the room, the fact the TV is currently on, and that the bed was clearly used recently before being made, its all too clear someone has been using this room....... And yet, no one in the group knew about this room until tonight*
Nepeta:...... How long do you guys think this has been here?
Equius; I'm not sure..... *pauses*...... Are we absolutely sure that none of us knew about this spot until now?
*Everyone just looks at each other in confusion, all of them shaking their heads or shrugging...... just like that. No one knew about this room..... Meaning someone has been hiding amongst them for an unknown amount of time...... That they've had a stoaway for some time*
Dave:..........*finds himself glancing to the TV* !!!!!!!!!! What the fuck?????
*Most of the non-humans don't recognize whats on the screen, but for Dave, Rose and Lisa? Its all too easy to recognize the 1980s comedy classic that is Airplane*
Dave; Is THIS where my fucking Airplane VHS went?????? Fuck, I thought Gamzee stole it to fuck with me!
Gamzee;*narrows his eyes at Dave* Dave? Believe me, I can come up with better mothafucking ways to fuck with you back for showing me that disgrace of "clown rap" from your planet....... Stealing your shit doesn't even fucking come close.
Dave; Fair, but.... Still! Whoever fucking lives here stole my tape from me!..... And they were just here watching it.......
Rose:..........*walks closer to the recliner in front of the TV*....... It seems we interrupted their dinner too.......
*Rose takes a careful moment to scrutinize the food displayed on the table in front of the recliner; A roast beef sandwich, filled to the max with mayonnaise, a side of beans, and a bottle of brandy...... The exact brandy Sollux had been drinking for some time*
Feferi: !!!!!!!! Sollux! I thought you threw out your alcohol when you finally decided to stop drinking!
Sollux: I did! I threw out every can and bottle that was still in the kitchen!
Eridan:......... Sollux is telling the truth. I wwatched him throww out all the alcohol wwe still had on board. Wwhoevver lives here must havve taken some of it..... and clearly some of our food too......
Tavros:*examining the fridge* !!!!!!!!!! Oh god! *covers his mouth and nose to protect himself from some god awful smell*......... Vriska? I'm sorry for accusing you of eating that burrito I left in the fridge last month.......
Vriska: Yeah, you'd better be sorry, you little shit. I don't take credit for shit I didn't do..... *her eyes narrow at the gramophone*...... What the hell is this?......
Lisa: A gramophone. It's what folks on Earth had for music before we had CD players and iPods. But why would this be here? I don't think anyone has used a gramophone since the 1960s........
Karkat:.......... Terezi? Can your crazed sense of smell tell us anything about who might be living here, where they might be?
Terezi: I'm working on it, just give me a minute..... *sniffs around the room, trying to collect as much evidence as possible*
Rosali:........... My question is..... are they a friend or an enemy? Human, or Troll? Dersian, Prospitian? Another species entirely?.......
Kanaya:*examining the bed, looking for clues there*....... *her eyes wander to the nightstand, her eyes widening in shock*........... i...... think there's some chance we might have an answer to that.......
Rosali: !!!!!!!! What did you find?????
*Kanaya says nothing, only reaching for a picture frame on the nightstand and examining it for a moment...... When she looks to the group and shows the picture, she reveals an old photograph, another image of Rosali's mother, Livana Vetana*
Rosali: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......... Mother........? *gasps softly*........ Do you think--
Terezi: Your dad's not here. I don't smell Purple anywhere except on Gamzee......... *pauses*..... *sniffs* No..... Definitely not a Highblood..... Its.....chocolate, actually. Like Tavros.
Tavros: !!!!!!! Like me??....... You mean there's another bronze blood here???? Where--
*Just then, an abrupt sound is heard, the faint sound of water pipes when they stop running after a faucet is turned off. This is followed by shower curtains being pulled aside, someone clearly stepping out of the shower as they sing to themselves*
?????? : 🎶 He said, "I'm gonna buy this place and burn it down
I'm gonna put it six feet underground"
He said, "I'm gonna buy this place and watch it fall
Stand here beside me, baby, in the crumbling walls"
"Oh, I'm gonna buy this place and start a fire
Stand here until I fill all your heart's desires
Because I'm gonna buy this place and see it burn
And do back the things it did to you in return" 🎶
Karkat:..............*immediately gets himself into a battle stance, holding his sickle, ready to use it if need be* Guys?..... Get into position...... Now.
*Out of caution, everyone gets into their battle stances, preparing themselves incase they're dealing with someone dangerous*
*They all stand there, waiting for about a minute........Until the door opens to finally reveal their secret houseguest for who knows how long; An adult bronze blooded Troll with horns shaped similarly to Tavros' horns, except for how the tips of them curl backwards, wearing a bathrobe around himself. Based on appearance alone, he has to be at least in the Troll equivalent to his early 30s or late 20s. As soon as the adult bronze makes his entrance and sees all 17 members of the crew intruding on his home, he immediately freezes up, his eyes widening at how they got here....... For a moment, no one speaks. No one moves. It's just a tense silence as everyone waits for someone to make the first move, or say something....... The adult bronze just stands awkwardly, and the humans and dog hybrids all just give him a hard stare..... But the Trolls all seem to be very tense at this encounter, as if they were all afraid at their first encounter with an adult Troll..... Well, except for Rosali, who still remembers how kind Tagora, Tyzias and Stelsa were to her on The Land Of Shadows and Pain*
?????? :........... Oh...... Tally ho--
*Vriska ends up being the first to attack, letting out a battle cry as her dice turn into a sword, which she arms herself with as she lunges towards the adult Troll*
*The adult Troll immediately is pushed to the ground by the unpredictable Cerulean, hitting his head hard on his porcelain shower floor. This leads to some of the others rushing in, specifically Terezi, Kanaya, Karkat and Eridan, all of them pointing their weapons at the mystery bronze as Vriska pulls him up off the floor by the collar of his robe, dragging him out of the room and then pushing him up against the wall of the bedroom/living room/kitchen combo, still pointing her sword at him, this time at the bronze blood's neck*
Vriska; Who the fuck are you?! Start talking if you don't want us to fucking cull you here and now!
Tavros: !!!!!!!!! Vriska..... Vriska, thats an adult.....!
?????? : Oh, its okay, young chap, I mean you all no harm--
Vriska: ANSWER THE QUESTION!
Karkat: Why were you living in the wall????? How long have you been here?! What the hell exactly is going on?!
Equius: Wait!...... Rosali, didn't you say that all the adults below Indigo who were spared from The Vast Glub ended up in your ancestor's dimension???? But.... he's a Bronze..... isn't he, Terezi?
Terezi;*sniffs at the mystery Troll some more* Oh yeah. I know chocolate when I smell it.....
?????? : "Chocolate"?
Vriska: You heard my friend with the fucked up teeth! If you're a lowblood, how the hell are you even alive after the very thing that killed all the adults except for the Highbloods?? Well?! Are you going to answer ANY of our questions, or are we going to have to make an example out of you?! Don't tell me.... You're a spy for The Condesce, aren't you?!
?????? : NO, BLOODY HELL NO, I'M NOT!
*This outburst causes everyone to flinch at his sudden loud tone*
?????? : I've been forced to work for that awful excuse of an Empress for 5 entire sweeps, like Hell i would ever be a spy for her! After all that she--........ *sighs, raising up his hands* Look, kids, put all your weapons down. I'll talk, just...... please......... *shudders*...... You don't even know the awful memories those bring for me......
*The sleeves of his robe slip down his arms; His right arm is intact, but covered in battle scars and tattoos of different sigils from a witch grimoire, while his left arm is completely made of metal, likely a prosthetic after he lost his arm in a battle*
*Both Rosali and Tavros let out a soft gasp when they see the sigils on his right arm, immediately recognizing them from their witch studies*
Vikare:........ My name is Vikare Ratitie. I was a soldier for The Empress before The Vast Glub, but--
*Vikare's words are cut off when he looks to all these children and 2 dog hybrids staring him down...... and among the group, he ends up seeing Rosali, a look in his eyes as if he immediately recognizes her*
Vikare:.................... Oh....... Oh my god......... *gently pushes Vriska away from him, pushing himself off the wall as he walks towards Rosali, slowly and shakily*
Eridan: !!!!!!!!!! *immediately stands in front of Rosali, pointing his wand at Vikare incase he tries anything*
Rosali: Eridan, wait, *places her hand on Eridan's shoulder, making him lower his wand, looking up into Vikare's eyes as she gently moves Eridan away, keeping him from getting between her and this Troll who clearly knows her mother*
Vikare:.............*falls to his knees as soon as he reaches Rosali, looking her up and down, feeling like he's looking at an exact carbon copy of Livana*............. Rosie.......... Little Starlight.......
Rosali:.............
Vikare: You....... You are Rosali....... aren't you......?
Rosali:...........*nods slowly* Yes........
*No one says anything, but the entire room is still on guard around this stranger in their midst......... At first, a smile slowly forms on Vikare's face, but then bronze colored tears fill his eyes........ Suddenly, Vikare lets out a sound that's something of a mix between a laugh and a sob as he pulls Rosali into his arms, hugging her close to him with all his might*
Vikare: ITS YOU! IT'S REALLY YOU! *laughs happily, standing up and spinning around the room with Rosali* I FOUND YOU! I FOUND YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Rosali of course has absolutely no idea what's going on, so she just lets out a small, awkward laugh*
Vikare;*looks up at the ceiling, the tears pouring down his face* MARVUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIVANA! I FOUND HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*Despite everyone's uneasiness, the declaration that this Troll knows Rosali's parents seems like something of a green flag to them, so for the moment, they all slowly put their weapons away*
Vikare:*laughs more, slowly calming himself down as he eventually stops spinning around, looking down to Rosali*...... I.... I'm sorry.... Just...... Heh..... *laughs a little more, more tears going down his cheeks*.......... I just..... I haven't held you in over 6 sweeps....... not since you were a Grub........ You were so small, so fragile..... and now.......... You're here....... You're here........ You're you........
*Everyone immediately goes quiet at Vikare's words........ It occurs to them that they're finally in the presence of someone connected to Rosali's origins. Someone who knows her parents. Someone who can maybe tell them everything that happened, how Rosali's existence is even possible, what happened to Marvus and Livana....... and if they are still alive, why Rosali was separated from them. But first, they still need to know how and why he's here*
Karkat:....... Look..... Vikare, was it?........ I'm just going to assume this display of happiness means you don't want to kill us.
Vikare:*shakes his head, wiping his eyes* No.... Never. Believe me, if killing any of you were my intention, you'd all be dead already.
Feferi: And exactly what is that supposed to mean??
Vikare: I mean no disrespect, princess..... I merely meant the fact that I'm an Imperial soldier that spent an entire sweep going through grueling training to kill any and all beings that would be considered enemies of the Empire..... but..... also the fact that I have been here for half a sweep now, living in this small room.....
*This once again silences everyone, it deeply unnerving them to learn that this stranger has been hiding away from them, possibly watching them, for an entire year*
Karkat:......... Start talking. Now. Tell us EVERYTHING.
Vikare:......... It was half a sweep ago..... Or, a year, as the aliens here seem to call it. I...... *pauses*....... *looks to Rosali, placing her back on her feet on the floor* I was visiting your mother in her cell.
Rosali: !!!!!!!!!..... A cell......?
Vikare;*nods, a sad look in his eyes*....... We were talking...... Having our 15 minute session..... thats the maximum amount of time that anyone is allowed to see her........ Then The Vast Glub happened....... Those in the Indigo caste and above were unaffected, but...... those of us below Indigo...... everyone was either dying, or disappearing into these..... these black holes that started appearing...... I was already starting to feel the effects as death began to come for me....... But..... Your mother grabbed me by my head...... and using whatever magic she could, she used a teleportation spell on me in the hopes I could escape either death, or those black holes......
Rosali:....... Black holes...... (thinks: That must be what took Tagora, Tyzias and Stelsa to that awful place, and who knows who else......)
Vikare:........ She must have known you all would end up here....... That's the only explanation......
Nepeta: What do you mean?
Sollux: How the hell could Rosali's mom have known we'd all be here? How would she even know about this meteor?????
Vikare:........ Livana Vetana..... She just always knew. *chuckles* She knew just about everything...... She can do anything. *pauses*...... All of us that knew her...... She made us like this....... *stares down at the sigils on his right arm*
Gamzee: "Like this"? Like mothafucking what?
Vikare:.........*chuckles, shaking his head*....... Weird. Absolutely, wonderfully weird......
*Vikare pulls down the right shoulder of his robe, revealing to everyone a tattoo there; Just the acronym, "SSDD". He then covers up his shoulder again, showing another tattoo, this time on the left side of his neck, this one being a phrase that says "I Remember Beforus". No one says anything, all of them just more confused by these tattoos, especially after Rosali had already told them all about the mythological place known as Beforus before*
Dave:.......... When you say you were here for a year..... How long exactly? Were you here before or after the Trolls got here?
Vriska: Do the math, Dave! He said he got here when The Vast Glub happened, so that means.......
Vikare:....... I was alone here for 3 entire weeks...... Then you all appeared. Of course, the aliens didn't appear for another month, and the barkbeasts are rather new as well...... and you all had that robot ghost girl who..... came back to life with fairy wings and a red dress...... Was she a Fae, perchance?
Karkat: A what??????
Kanaya; Nevermind that. If you were alone here that whole time..... how did you survive?..... And why have you hidden from us all this time?......
Vikare: Well..... Heh, you learn quite a few survival skills as an Imperial soldier. But it helped that there was already a supply of food just.... sitting here.
Terezi: We still don't get how the hell half the stuff on this meteor got here to begin with.....
Vikare: Neither do I, young lady. But in any case, I faired just fine those 3 weeks, trying to figure out my next step...... No Empire to serve..... No one in my life, nothing left except for this meteor it seemed....... heh....... I was actually starting to feel quite lost after a while..... then..... well, you all appeared. *chuckles* I must say, all you children left unsupervised without Lusii, or any adults for that matter...... You all know how to find yourselves in some form of drama or another, don't you?...... When you're not all trying to kill each other, at least, or already forming matespritships at such a young age. This Sgrub or Sburb must have really forced you all to mature beyond your years.
Karkat:........ Okay, so you admit you've been spying on us. Why? Why the hell did you never make your presence known? Why did THIS have to be how we all found out there's been an adult hiding on board all this time?????
Vikare: Believe me, many times I thought about when the right moment would be to reveal myself, but....... Well......*pauses*...... The aliens never met an adult Troll. And of course.... I'm the first adult you all met, aren't I? Back in my time, all of us living on Alternia were deathly terrified of adults...... We never got to meet them, we only heard stories of how ruthless they all could be....... Even once we reached 9 sweeps, we were terrified to think what kind of Trolls we would be surrounded by in space....... I felt sure you all felt a similar fear of adults, so..... I worried my presence would only make you all more anxious. Afraid....... And you kids don't need that in your lives. After sweeps of being subjected to who knows what forms of Hell on Alternia, you all deserved the chance to finally live freely, without fear of any of our home planet's tyrannical ways. So..... *smiles a little* For me, just watching over you all was enough...... Making sure you were all okay. Heh..... But even now, I see many of you are far from okay....... *pauses*....... In retrospect, maybe you all do need an adult guide in your lives.......
Lisa: No offense, but what the bleeding Hell would an adult Troll who's served a totalitarian Empire know about looking after kids?
Vikare:....... I was friends with a few Jades..... and Livvy.... Livana, she...... *laughs a bit* She was wonderful with children..... I learned a few things from her, actually....... *looks to Rosali* Did you know you have a sister?
Rosali: !!!!!!!!! What??
Vikare;*nods* Yes. A Purple blood, Marvus and Livana took her in as their own when she and her brother lost their Lusus.
Rosali: I have a brother too?????
Vikare:*flinches, as if he immediately regretted mentioning that*....... Yes....... Well..... you had a brother...... *pauses*....... Your sister is still alive, her name is Barzum........ Baizli, however....... He.... died, shortly after you were born.......
Rosali:........ What happened to him?......
Vikare:............*looks down, turning his head away* It's..... not really my story to tell, but...... A Burgundy blood killed him.....
Rosali: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!........ Wh-......... What happened......?
Vikare;......... Like i said..... its not my story to tell......... At least not now. *pauses*....... Your mother never forgave that Burgundy though....... Not for taking her son from her....... Neither did Barzum........
Rosali:............
Terezi: Wait, 2 Trolls actually shared a Lusus????? They were actual siblings?????
Vikare: 2 halves of a whole who hatched from the same egg, but.... yes. It's rare, but it does happen.
Eridan:..... Wwoww..... Just..... Wwoww..... Okay...... A lot to unpack here........
Tavros:*was looking around the small room still, when he stumbles onto something on the kitchen counter* ? Huh...... Vikare, was it? Is this yours? *picks up and holds up Vikare's old aviator hat ans goggles*
Vikare:...... Ah. Yes, that...... *laughs a bit* I very rarely wear that anymore, but....... it brings a lot of fond memories........ *pauses*........ Before I was a soldier, before..... well.... before this, *points to the sigils on his arm* i had dreams in my younger days........ I wanted to build the first flying machine ever on Alternia.......
Sollux: "Flying machine"?
Vikare:........ Yes...... But........ well..... during my time in solitude, someone else clearly fulfilled that dream in my place....... *slowly looks to the TV, where Airplane is still playing, a sad smile on his face*........ The Wright Brothers, I heard they were called....... *forces out a sad laugh*...... Amazing what you can accomplish when you're not living on a planet where the lower your caste, the more easily your dreams are crushed....... Where no matter what, unless you're The Condesce, your dreams are crushed as soon as you hit 9 sweeps.
*Everyone goes silent at this, staring at this man before them; One minute, they all saw him as a threat, but now? Other than someone who's the key to probably a hundred questions they all have, they see someone who was just like them once. He used to be a kid with his own dreams, interests, hobbies, someone who managed to keep some semblance of hope in them once despite the world he lived in. Someone who wanted to make something amazing, someone who wanted to go down in Alternia's history books for his efforts..... Instead, something clearly happened in his life before being drafted into the Imperial military. Something which crushed all the dreams and hope he ever had in life..... Now he's but a shell of his old self, lucky to even be alive after who knows how many battles he's seen*
Tavros:......... Those tattoos on your arm..... You..... You're a witch, too?.......
Equius:....... "I remember Beforus"..... What does that mean?.......
Rose:.......... If you're really a witch, with tattoos like those...... how did you avoid culling?..... How did Rosali's mother avoid culling?........
Vikare:..................
Rosali:.......... I.... I can't speak for the others, but..... you should know. You're not the first adult I've met, Vikare...... I met a few of them, a year ago....... Bronya, Tagora, Tyzias and Stelsa.
Vikare: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...........*immediately turns to Rosali, kneeling to her level and gently placing his hands on her shoulders* You did?? Really?? You..... You know for certain its them?? How?? Where did you meet them??????
Rosali:.....................
Lisa: Um........ Guys?
*Everyone immediately looks in Lisa's direction....... Not expecting what they see before them as out of nowhere, a bright blue tree vine made its way into the hole in the wall where they all came in. As they look through that hole, they see that the entire hallway was replaced by a strange forest of some sort, unlike anything that any being in the room recognizes..... But they also find that the vine appears to lead up to a large pink moon, just like the one on Alternia*
Dave; What the fuck--....... Did we enter another Dream Bubble just now??
Feferi: That's the only explanation for why there's suddenly a pretty forest, and one of Alternia's moons in our path...... I don't think we can go around it.
Tavros: Maybe.... Maybe we're supposed to walk across that vine, up to the moon?........
Bec:*bark*!
Peregrine:..... There could be something there waiting for us.....
Karkat: But why the fuck--
*Suddenly, all the kids' palmhusks go off with another message..... To their confusion, its someone typing in Fuschia*
CephalopodWarhead [CW] opened a memo
CW: Look, lets just cut to the chase here. You guys don't know me, but, it's pretty fucking important that you all climb up that vine and make your way to my moon.
CW: You guppies got a lot of questions, and me and my friends have the answers to them. In fact, we've actually been waiting a really long fucking time to meet you all and talk to you.
CW: So just...... get up here and find me if you want to win the game, got it?
CW: Trust me when I say you'll want to hear us out on this. Take it from the one who's the exact reason why you're all in this position to begin with.
*Those who got the message all just stare at their phones in confusion............ Someone is contacting them through the Dream Bubbles?.... They have information about the game? What do they mean they're the reason for their situation? What the hell is going on?*
Eridan:........... Kar? Wwhat should wwe do?
Karkat:.............
Feferi: Its..... weird seeing another person type in my blood color..... I'm fairly certain it's not a doomed version of me that died...... But....... maybe we should hear them out? This could be something we don't want to miss out on......
Karkat:..........*nods* Everyone? One at a time, get on that vine and make your way to that moon. I'll go last to make sure you safely get there without falling.
Vikare:.......... I'll go last. You do what you think is best as team leader, but I'm the adult here. You're all my responsibility now.
Karkat: !!!!!!!! Hey--
Vikare: No buts about it. You all know about me now, there's no point in me hiding away anymore...... and you all need someone to look out for you, the way an adult should be looking after children. When everyone else goes, you go before me, and i will be right behind you. Got it?
Karkat:.........*sighs, rolling his eyes, looking away as a blush fills his face*....... Fine. You stay behind me.....
Vikare:.......*lets out a small laugh, gently patting Karkat's head*
Karkat; Don't fucking push it man!
Vikare: Hey, now! *sighs and shakes his head* After this, we really need to talk about the potty mouths you all have.
Karkat:.............(thinks; This is going to be a complete nightmare, isn't it? Having an adult around........)
Tavros: Oh, hey! Vikare! *tosses the aviator hat to him*
Vikare: !!!!!!!!! *quickly catches the hat, looking down into the goggles he once wore so often, during a time when he had more hope for his life*..........*slowly looks up at Tavros in silence*
Tavros:...... I, uh....... *nervous smile* Incase you need eye protection, or....... just..... need something that reminds you of happier times.....
Vikare:.......*nods a little* Very well.... Thank you, young chap.
Karkat: And please put some clothes on so whoever we meet, you're not in a bathrobe!
Vikare: !!!!!!! Ah, yes, of course!
*Vikare hurries into his walk-in closet as the others begin to carefully walk on the vine, shutting himself in there so he has privacy to change........ As he changes, he finds himself choosing an outfit he never thought he would wear again; His old aviator jacket with his sign, plus the pants and boots he always wore with it. When he puts these on, Vikare finishes off with the cherry on top when he puts on his old hat, sliding the goggles over his eyes...... He then looks to the mirror in his closet, taking in his reflection; Here Vikare is, a 13 sweep old/29 year old Troll, wearing the very outfit he wore when he was 7 sweeps/15 years old..... Most would find it silly, but for Vikare?...... For a brief moment, he actually begins to feel like his old self again*
Vikare:...............*stares at his reflection, slowly reaching out, placing his palm flat against the mirror*........... Livana...... If you're listening....... I won't fail....... Not again. I'm going to do everything right....... I'll protect little Starlight........
Free Bird
(( Songs that inspired this chapter;
Learn To Fly by Foo Fighters
I'm Going To Go Back There Someday (from The Muppet Movie)
Bent To Fly by Slash and Myles Kennedy
Space Oddity by David Bowie
Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Big Jet Plane by Angus and Julia Stone
Free Falling by Tom Petty
Flight Of Icarus by Iron Maiden
The Neverending Story by The Birthday Massacre))
*Alternia, 6 sweeps/13 years ago*
*At Marvus' hive, where Livana practically lives at this point with how much time she spends there, Livana is currently on the couch, silently reading one of her books while Barzum and Baizli are asleep next to her, Barzum at her right, and Baizli at her left*
Livana;*quietly hums to herself as she turns the page in her book*...... ! Hm?
*Livana quickly but quietly closes her book shut, sensing an unfamiliar presence around the hive....... Placing the book on the coffee table and then covering the twins up with a blanket as they sleep, she carefully and slowly makes her way towards the backdoor of the hive, her hand hovering over the sheath of her knife incase a dangerous intruder is present in the backyard...... She reaches the backdoor, and upon looking through the window, she finds an unfamiliar Troll carefully examining her Lusus, Aurora Doe*
Livana; ??????....... Huh?
*The Troll in question is a bronze blooded male, wearing an outfit that looks a lot similar to an early 20th century aviator outfit from Earth; a Grey jacket with his sign on the upper left side of it, and also a pilot's cap with goggles. For some reason, he seems VERY interested as he examines Aurora Doe, the shining white deer Lusus paying him no mind it seems as she eats grass from the ground below her*
Livana:...........*takes the doorknob and pushes the door open, stepping into the backyard* Hello?
Vikare: !!!!!!!! Good galloping gravy! Why, you must be the Troll that this Lusus belongs to!
Livana:....... Yes? Who are you? Why are you here, and what business do you have with my Lusus?
Vikare: Ah! Apologies, I meant not to cause any sort of fuss. My name is Vikare, Vikare Ratite! And you see, well........ *adjusts his goggles* Now that I am examining you closer..... Aha! Yes, it is you, isn't it??
Livana:......... What are you talking about?
Vikare; Just yesterday, while the sun was out and everyone was in their hives! I had quite a restless day, and found myself looking out the window when I could not close my eyes..... and that is when I saw you! A Troll, flying on her Lusus, an umbrella protecting you from those devilish rays! And that Lusus had wings, as elegant as those of a swanbeast!
Livana;.............(thinks; Shit....... Was i not careful enough when I went out during the day?? All I wanted to do was go out and search for a few herbs that specifically can only be picked in the daytime..... I got them and then immediately came back here while everyone was asleep! If this guy saw me, who else did????? )
Vikare; And seeing such stunning wings, especially after seeing the beautiful creature up close who owns them..... it gave me much inspiration! For you see, I have ambitions of hurtling towards great speeds through the boundless expanse! Of the cosmos! That's right, SPACE! It is spaceflight that consumes my every waking thought and all my ardor! As in accordance with my duty as a future Alternian crusader, of course. No oxygen, no wind, a total vacuum, that is the life for me all right! Flying, in space, ABOVE the atmosphere! Not within the realm of gravity's purview! Wouldn't have it any other way!
Livana;*says nothing, only quietly listening to him, getting the feeling from how he talks that he's saying something completely different*..........
Vikare: I have just one query for you, milady, if I may be so bold; Do you..... also like spaceflight? Do you yearn to see the moons shining above, the clouds whipping by as you chase and tease the impish Western wind? And then also keep going past that up into space?
Livana:...... I..... can't say I'm someone who yearns to see the endless void of outer space, no.......
Vikare; ! Ah, I see! I thought so..... *glances to Aurora Doe* You seemed like someone with a more..... sophisticated palate. A real connoisseur of the buoyant arts, so to speak! You clearly don't see the satisfaction with the anemic affair of traveling through the inky blackness of the galaxies. If you would like to take the trip, I believe a jaunt to my hive is in order! Shall we?
Livana:........ Hm.......*nods slowly* Very well..... let me just leave a note for my kids inside, and my matesprit incase he comes home while I'm gone.
Vikare; ? Your..... "kids"?
Livana: Yes. *pauses*...... Don't worry about it. Just give me a minute to get ready.......
Later
*After walking together for a few blocks, Vikare has brought Livana to his hive; A building where all of the rooms seem to be balanced on spindly-looking stilts. The hive practically reaches for the sky. Vikare gestures to a platform attached to a pulley system, like an elevator. As they both step onto the platform, Vikare and Livana are brought up into the hive, where Livana immediately notices that the walls are covered in star maps and pictures of spaceships. Of course, as Livana expected, many of them are propaganda posters regarding Vikare's future required role as a space pilot...... Possibly even something more drastic, if the Empire were to demand it*
Livana:........*glances to Vikare after examining these posters, carefully paying attention to his expression*
Vikare:..... Hm..... Just the hive for a dedicated spacecraft enthusiast, isn't it?
Livana:.............
Vikare:..........*gulps*...... Who am I fooling? I can see it in your eyes..... You've rumbled me, potential new chum........ What you see before you is a collage of falsehoods....... I'm nothing but an avatar of baloney! In truth, the myriad temptations and desires of space do nothing to tickle my biscuit! The thought of participating in the glorious eternal conquest gives me the screaming mimis! My interest...... it--
Livana: You wish to actually fly through the skies of Alternia, yes?
Vikare: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!..........
*Livana says nothing as she approaches one of the propaganda posters, carefully peeling it back by the corner; Behind it lies another poster, this one showing a view of the clouds in the night sky*
Livana:........*slowly turns her head towards Vikare's direction, a small smile on her face*
Vikare:..........*clears his throat, trying to shake off the shock at how easily she figured him out* Yes...... behold, my shame........ I..... actually long to toss and turn within the grasp of Mistress Gravity's sweet fingers....... Traverse the sky!..... Can such a thing be, for other Trolls? You were able to accomplish such wonders, I thought perhaps I could as well....... You've actually found yourself within the confines of Alternia's very atmosphere! Instead of down, up! Instead of falling, soaring! For so long, I've wondered..... could I ever make such a machine that exists?? One that allows me such wondrous chances?? Could I accomplish something only YOU seem to have??
Livana:....... Flying machines......
*A memory plays in Livana's mind, like one of a distant past only so few Trolls remember...... In it, from far down below, an airplane can be seen soaring through the sky of..... Not Alternia, but..... somewhere like it that once existed. Somewhere that was a happy, peaceful place for Trolls to live, only for it all to be taken away so easily........*
Livana;....... I can't say I've heard of such a thing.
Vikare: Ah, but the future is ours to build! My quiet and mysterious lady friend! What do you think? Does it excite you? Do my ideas rattle your buttons?~
Livana: Well...... *her smile widens, letting out a small giggle* It does sound rather interesting, yes.
Vikare: Aha! The truth will out! You and I share this furtive passion for the indulgences of the air! I knew it the moment I saw you on your Lusus! A dialogue between 2 Trolls, a flying machine and the stars! *whispers* But further away from the stars than we would be in a spaceship....... I cannot stress enough how different of a thing this is.
Livana: Oh..... I can definitely imagine, trust me..... *her smile widens a little as she leans back against the wall, her hands behind her back* So...... you wish to fly. Feel the breeze of Alternia's winds against your face high in the sky, be amongst the clouds, see what our planet looks like down below...... just..... experience what its like up above?
Vikare: I..... Yes. Yes, exactly--
Livana: And how soon do you think you would be able to have such a machine ready?......
Vikare: !..... I..... Well..... Hopefully in the next 2 sweeps, if I can manage it......
Livana;......... Would you say you see yourself presenting such an idea to the Empire? To Trizza, to the Empress? Do you think they would all be inspired by the dreams of a mere rust blood and okay the production of more flying machines for Alternia?..... Even though it would in no way benefit the Fuschias' endless conquest for power?
*This immediately silences Vikare as he goes eerily still, knowing what Livana must be trying to tell him*
Vikare:............ I........ *trails off for a moment*...... I am aware such a thing is..... highly unlikely, yes....... *forces out a laugh* If I were a Highblood, perhaps my ideas would be seen as revolutionary, but...... I'm not........ *smiles* But it doesn't matter...... *looks out towards his window* One can still dream of such wonders no matter what stakes are against them, can they not? The thought alone, even that i might be the only Troll with such dreams...... it brings joy to me......
Livana:........ And what will happen to those dreams in 2 sweeps?..... When you get drafted and are enlisted to a life of servitude towards the Highbloods, and you're taken offworld, never to see Alternia's skies ever again the way you can now....... what then?
Vikare:................ I......... Heh...... *reaches up and grips onto the fabric of his jacket* Goodness..... Way to bring down the mood after I invite you over....... is there some reason you're trying to crush my dreams like this?....... Did I say something wrong? Do something?
Livana: No. Not at all. Sorry, just..... *pauses* Sorry. This wasn't how I meant to go about this....... its just...... *pauses*........ Listen...... These machines of yours..... they sound amazing, they do...... but...... between the Empire's ways, and the fact all of us will never see Alternia again once we get drafted? You know as well as i do that you may truly be the only person that could have the power to bring such ideas to life...... and once you get drafted offworld, you more than likely won't ever have the chance to make more flying machines...... Nor be able to see the beautiful skies again that Mother Alternia gifted us.......
Vikare:................*says nothing, only hanging his head as Livana reminds him of all of this, really not wanting to be reminded of how bleak his life will become in a couple sweeps*.......
Livana; But....... What if i could help you fly now? What if I could give you that ability while you still work towards your passion?
Vikare: ???????.......... *slowly looks up towards her*........ What are you proposing?......
Livana:......... Did you know that centuries ago, in ancient times, there were a few select Trolls that could fly on their own?
Vikare:............. What? What are you--
*Livana holds out her hand, and just like that, Vikare's closet door opens on its own, just before a broom flies towards her and into her hand*
Vikare: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *quickly stumbles back, falling over in shock as he looks up at Livana, trying to piece together how she made that broom fly towards her*........
*Stunned by this twist of events, Vikare quickly pulls up his goggles to reveal his eyes and stare, watching as Livana intently stares at the broom, raising up her free hand and moving it towards the broom..... for a moment, Vikare could swear that he saw some sort of faint stardust sprinkle from Livana's hand and onto the broom*
Vikare:.................
Livana:*smiles, letting her free hand fall to her side before she holds the broom out to Vikare, not saying a word for a moment*
Vikare:............. You...... You're...... You're a.......
Livana: Yes. I am. *pauses*....... You have 2 sweeps before you leave Alternia forever...... Even if it is for just a brief moment, don't you want to truly feel what its like to soar through the sky?........
Vikare:.......*slowly looks to the broom in silence, clearly torn between accepting to actually live out his dream, or refusing a once in a lifetime offer from a witch*.........
Livana: I enchanted this broom so that you will be able to use it to fly for the next 2 sweeps...... There are no limits to how many times you can use it..... Only that the spell will fade on your 9th wriggling day. So..... what will you choose?
Vikare:..........*slowly pushes himself up off the ground, not taking his eyes off of the broom*......
*Vikare hesitates, completely unsure for a moment, barely able to believe that an actual witch is presenting him the chance to actually live out his dream and fly*
Vikare:...... Is there..... a catch to this?
Livana; No catch. *giggles* I'm a witch, not a Fae.
Vikare:............*slowly reaches out, firmly but gently grasping onto the broom*
*Livana lets go of the broom. After Vikare takes another few seconds to examine it, he begins to sit on the broom, just as a witch would...... and just like that, the broom begins to levitate above ground*
Vikare: !!!!!!!!!!.......*looks below him, seeing his feet are hanging just above his floor, realizing the broom is actually floating*....... Great Scott...... *can't help it as he lets out a laugh, looking up to Livana* How.....?
Livana: Just think where you want to go, and the broom will do the rest.
Vikare:.............
*In his mind, Vikare pictures himself flying to the other side of the room, which he does; At first, the broom goes too fast for his liking, but when he mentally asks the broom to slow down, it does. Vikare keeps this up, mentally directing the broom to fly in different directions, to different rooms, all the while, slowly letting it dawn on him that its really flying. HE'S really flying*
Vikare:*laughs joyously as the broom keeps flying him around the hive; He tells the broom to stop in his head, and just like that, he stops just in front of Livana* This....... This is unbelievable! I'm really...... I never thought this would be possible! Never! I........ *looks up into Livana's eyes* I want more..... I want.... I want to go even higher! I........*looks towards his window, looking up at the starry night sky*
Livana: Well..... *smiles, walking around and sitting behind Vikare on the broom* Shall we?
*With a flick of her wrist and one move from her index finger, Livana uses her magic to open Vikare's window*
Vikare:........*his smile widens, nodding as he immediately flies towards the window*
*Vikare and Livana fly out of the window, and high up into the night sky, where no one can see them; They both go higher, higher and higher, just until they reach the clouds. Vikare's grip on the broom tightens a little as he directs it to keep flying forward, directs it to just keep flying, all the while, feeling the breeze fly past him, thinking if he really pictures it, he can actually feel the clouds around him........ After a moment, it dawns on him that he's really living his dream. His dream is actually happening, all because of one magical Troll he had the fortune of meeting....... And as this dawns on him, Vikare lets out a loud, overjoyed cheer into the sky, one that only Trolls with very good hearing could hear due to how high up in the sky he and Livana are*
Vikare: I'M KING OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M KING OF THE WORLD! *lets out a happy laugh, this being the most alive he's felt in probably forever*
Livana;*can't help herself as she laughs a little, happy that she was able to help Vikare fulfill a part of his dream like this*
Vikare: IT'S REALLY HAPPENING! I'm...... I'M FLYING, LIVANA! I'M REALLY FLYING! I.......*turns his head to look into her eyes, still directing the broom forward* You really gave me the ability to fly........ How is something like this possible?????
Livana: Well..... Anything is possible, if you believe hard enough. If you believe in magic enough, let it into your heart..... anything is possible.
Vikare:...... Let magic into my heart, you say...... *nods slowly, letting another laugh escape his throat* Yes! Yes........ *pauses for a moment, another laugh escaping him, while he reaches up to wipe a tear from his eye*....... Thank you....... Thank you....... *pauses*....... I know this kind of wonder will be impossible to experience once I go offworld....... I'll cherish this for the next 2 sweeps..... Every bit of it.........
Livana: See to it you do....... Our time on Alternia is far too short as it is..... Not enough time to live life to the fullest, especially before such freedom is taken from you as soon as you come of age...... We all should live whatever time we have to the fullest, however we can, especially to live out our biggest dreams..... don't you agree?
Vikare:........*nods* Yes..... I couldn't agree more....... *pauses*.......... Livana. What else is there that you can teach me?
Many Months Later, after a crash relating to a certain train heading for Jeevik Week
Vikare;*stands completely rigid, a look of horror visible on his face, even behind his goggles, his hands tightly holding onto a grimoire in his hands*............
*Many other Trolls with him, all of whom are the very Trolls that Livana met and befriended over the last sweep, all collectively stare in horror at something before them, some covering their mouths at whatever they see*
Tyzias:..........*slowly turns to look to Vikare* What have you done........?
*Tyzias runs towards the source of everyone's horror, an unconscious Livana lying on the ground, as Tyzias carefully picks her moirail up and cradles her in her arms. Some of the others hurry over to check on Livana's condition, including Marvus, who can be seen holding a small bundle in his arms hidden beneath a purple blanket*
Tagora: Vikare..... What did you do????? What the HELL did you do????????
Vikare: Wh-..... What do you mean what have I done????? I used magic to save her from the drones! They were after her because of her blood color, and I found a spell that would fix that!
Marvus: "Fix"??..... FIX her?????? You Mother--
Chahut;*grabs Marvus by his shoulders to keep him from charging at Vikare, but she herself is glaring at the bronze blood*
Daraya: I thought these kind of spells were forbidden! How the hell did YOU access such a thing???
Galekh:........ What if this wasn't some spell on Vikare's part?......... What if--
Tagora:*glaring hard at Vikare* YOU IDIOT! What will happen when Livana wakes up?????? She won't be ready for anything like this, no one would be! She'll go mad!
*Livana begins to stir in Tyzias' arms, letting out a soft moan as she wakes up..... When she opens her eyes, her pupils, once black like obsidian stones, are a bright shade of Fuschia*
Marvus: !!!!!!!!!! Livana........
*Marvus hands the small bundle to Stelsa as he and Tyzias help Livana up on her feet. The witchy Troll takes a moment to balance herself, her vision blurry at first before she's able to see everyone clearly, looking all around her........ One of the Soleil twins is missing, but 2 individuals she has never met before are present; a certain Burgundy blooded boy, and a pale girl who is obviously disguised as a bronze blooded Troll*
Livana:............*feels something trickle down her nose, quickly reaching up to touch it..... when she moves her hand away, she sees a Fuschia colored liquid staining her fingers....... to add to this twist, her hair is moved slightly to reveal a fin and gills on the right side of her face and neck*.............. What........
Vikare:................ What have I done.........?