Here trolls (all genres) are being actively hunted as commodity for most of the larger beings (bergens, rageons, etc.; im thinking harlequins/jesters, wooden puppets, as examples of other larger beings) , and theres a proper market and management for them
There's various ways to sell them as products; "consumables" (drugs or performance enhancers or food (ingested or slowly absorbed over time)), and "supplements" (using them as ghost writers or taking their own inventions/ideas and presenting it as their own), "companions", and "entertainment".
Trolls of all ages are in circulation, but its generally a common agreement that minors can be traded but not used fatally or pushed until they are grown. Doesn't stop people from training them or priming them for their purpose; teaching them/supplying them to perform for bands, testing to see where their talents lie, etc.
Some trolls have gained popularity and therefore became a "brand" more or less and can be traded between people or lent as a favor due to their value. Some trolls made a deal with larger beings for a fate that the trolls deemed as a "lesser evil" in return for obedience and commodity
In this au JD was so obsessed to hit the perfect family harmony because he was convinced that it will allow him and his brothers to be "branded" and therefore have a higher chance of survival and better arrangement before they turn into adults. Grandma rosie puff was a great singer and then gambler back in the day, and used her brand to make sure that her family stays with her before they can be sold. She told the trick to JD and also told him about her connections with "rogue trolls". Trolls who are "branded" but not always owned
Rogue trolls; the bounty hunters, barb and riff, Viva and some putt putt trolls, the leaders of the genres, etc. All of them are connected and have been communicating with each other. Theres a plan of saving trolls or getting them allocated to more kinder purchasers, and some have been pushing to wreck system all together.
In this au the bros are more understanding about JDs strictness but there's still the stress and tension. They still weren't able to hit the perfect family harmony, but only JD was in danger of being used fatally after purchase as he was about to turn into an adult. He made a name for himself as a song writer and was going to use that as a last ditch effort to brand himself and have some leeway on what happens to his brothers. He got taken away to be sold but told his brother that he will find them, just stick together and try to make brozone work so they can stay together as a brand. Unfortunately as they keep on missing the perfect family harmony which was one of their largest sells, branch lost his brothers one by one.
john was sold to someone who specializes in supplying or creating bands; his songs suddenly stopped being produced but the owner just said he was in hiatus, but the brothers are worried. john actually slipped away as he heard news about grandma being traded for another person and leaving a singular young troll behind; where are the rest of his brothers? he needs to find them. Became a rouge troll
Spruce was sold for a collector who specializes in attractive/pretty collection. doll collector. during his transport he got washed away and was declared lost goods. was found by brandy and hired at her restaurant where he gave a new name Bruce, and started working in the restaurant, and thought that THAT was the deal between him and brandy, but brandy just thinks shes employed an anxious paranoid person. it took months but eventually bruce shared more information about himself that was true, and they got closer together as bruce saw that for vacaytioners they're not part of the system
clay fought when he was collected and was almost discontinued (either he gets turned into a "consumable" to be purchased or given) he ran for it and later got found by viva and putt putt trolls. stopped dying his hair and let it grow more wild
floyd tried to stay with branch as a duo but it never took off and was taken as a companion because of his sensitive brand. Got taken by velvet and veneer who started using him as a ghost writer and threatened with taking his essence if he doesn't deliver. when he wanted to take a break to talk to his other brother, after hearing about JDs hiatus and thinking that he could do the same. velvet and veneer do not take kindly to that, especially as they are attempting to stay in the top 100.
branch was left with grandma as he was the youngest and she can still keep him as he's a minor and she tried to blend him into her brand. but one unfortunate gambling later where branch took initiative and branch was about to be traded but grandma traded herself instead. unfortunately it didn't save branch as now he's without a brand; and he was fortunately picked again for another budding group, kismet. They were all young when they got placed together by their purchaser and tried to make it work as as a band, they all clung together after being ripped from their family
Poppy is part of the group considered premiums (royalties, leaders, etc.) and have been growing up with more freedom as she was already considered a brand as a royal family. Poppy was encouraged to be what she wants to be and she wanted to be a "companion" because 'those are like best friends and i can be the best friend of anyone, because they deserve it'. It wasn't until king peppy lost viva that he started to impress having a brand on to poppy and playing it safe. Being a royal is not as much of a protection as he thought it to be. Used his connections to try and get poppy to be able to join other bands, such as the snack pack or to a more established group such as kismet.
