*Darkleer hasn't been bothered by caves in quite some time. In fact, he's gotten used to living in one ever since his banishment. But this is not his cave
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[Karkat saw the caves on the map and immediately thinks they may be the safest place to hide out. Especially with Gamzee with him, he wants to find somewhere they can rest and plan their next move.
They've traveled north enough that he can smell the ocean air near enough, which means they're getting close to their destination. But he also thinks he hears something; perhaps nothing at all, but perhaps the sound of someone nearby.
They're in a safe place right now, behind a grove of trees, but if they're going to continue they'll have to move more out into the open. He turns to Gamzee and whispers to him.]
Stay here and don't move. I'm going to check the way ahead; I'll come back for you once it's safe.
[He shrugs, relaxing a little; with the makeshift bandages covering the blood and Karkat's weight against him, the pressure in his head eases back into something he can ignore.]
I don't got a motherfuckin' clue what you're all spouting about a rebellion or mutants or any of that shit, sooooorry. But whatever it is, it don't be mattering none.
[He looks up at the larger troll. There's no fear or anxiety in his face, just a calm certainty.] He's my best motherfuckin' friend. That's all there is to it.
*And he just looks at Gamzee in disbelief.* A... Highblood, you consider this mutant lowblood a friend? That is. That is tremendously inappropriate and in defiance of everything that should be. *And he's beginning to sweat now.*
But if you are certain, I. Could never disobey the orders from one such as you. *And so he reaches around Karkat with one hand to just hoist him into the air - so that he's seated on Darkleer's massive shoulder - without any apparent difficulty.*
[He picks up Karkat's rifle and backpack and swings them both over his shoulders as well as his own, looking a lot more cheerful now that the danger seems to have passed. The adult troll might not be Equius, but he definitely acts enough like him that Gamzee's not really worried.]
Haha, really? I never could be wrapping my pan around that hemospectrum shit. And don't be so cranky, best friend, ain't nothing wrong with spreading the beautiful troll disease around, honk! So what's your name, not Equius brother?
*And Darkleer scowls up at the child - the living image of that Signless, down to the small, stubby horns.* Silence, lowblood. I do not answer to you.
*But it's what Gamzee says that genuinely unsettles him, and he looks very perturbed.* Never before have I met a Highblood of such... casual vulgarity before. It's very disconcerting. And I demand that you not refer to me as a best friend - or, at least, you can refer to me however you please, but I am your lesser and it would not be proper to consider me so close.
But I am Darkleer. Executor of the Grand Highblood. *A pause.* Former Executor.
[He can't directly insult Gamzee right now; he's not confident enough that he'll survive that. But he wants to. He doesn't know how much longer he can take sitting around here being told to shut up and never being referred to except as mutant lowblood. Of course Gamzee wants to make friends, he's not the one being treated like he's scum. He knows Gamzee is just being oblivious, but he can't help but feel a little betrayed and resentful.]
Fine. Highblood who I have so much respect for right now, can you please tell your new friend to get us the fuck out of here because I would really like to get to the caves.
Yes. I insist you try to act more befitting of your station. Of course, you are well within your rights to utterly ignore me as well. So you can do that if you please.
...as you insist, Highblood. It is not far. *And he'll begin walking with Karkat now. The boy's presence won't slow him any.*
[Just. Keeping his eyes open and himself wary and alert, at least trying to get a sense of the terrain. If he focuses on being useful, he'll stop focusing on how angry and upset and in pain he is.]
[Darkleer is acting just as confusing as Equius does, so he's going to go ahead and take the ignoring option in lieu of his headache getting even worse. He glances up at Karkat, concerned over how unusually quiet his friend is.]
*He's silent as he walks - part of him realizes that he's being unfair to a child, barely more than a wiggler... but he can't shake that initial disgust at the red blood he will never forget, from a day etched into his memory.
And for a Highblood to be friends with this mutant... is that why he is here, playing this game usually reserved for gutterbloods? Was he deemed unworthy of his blood right?
Either way, Darkleer now knows that he will die here on this island. When he'd thought that it was just him and the other usual participants, he had allowed himself to suppose the thought that he would triumph. But there is someone above him here now, and there is no way he could bring himself to kill a Highblood... even one so vulgar.
But he says nothing, betraying none of his thoughts.*
[He doesn't answer Gamzee aside from a swallow and a slight nod of his head. But his spirits lift, only a little, as he sees the caves up ahead. Once he can get away from Darkleer and maybe from Gamzee too and just deal with this, he'll feel better. Hopefully the caves are deep enough that they'll find a useful place to hide.]
[His heart sinks again once he sees the inside of the cave. It's wide open, with paths for fuck's sake. This isn't going to be the refuge he was opening, when meant they came here for nothing.]
They've traveled north enough that he can smell the ocean air near enough, which means they're getting close to their destination. But he also thinks he hears something; perhaps nothing at all, but perhaps the sound of someone nearby.
They're in a safe place right now, behind a grove of trees, but if they're going to continue they'll have to move more out into the open. He turns to Gamzee and whispers to him.]
Stay here and don't move. I'm going to check the way ahead; I'll come back for you once it's safe.
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I don't got a motherfuckin' clue what you're all spouting about a rebellion or mutants or any of that shit, sooooorry. But whatever it is, it don't be mattering none.
[He looks up at the larger troll. There's no fear or anxiety in his face, just a calm certainty.] He's my best motherfuckin' friend. That's all there is to it.
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But if you are certain, I. Could never disobey the orders from one such as you. *And so he reaches around Karkat with one hand to just hoist him into the air - so that he's seated on Darkleer's massive shoulder - without any apparent difficulty.*
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Can we stop talking and just go to the damn caves so we can never talk to you again?
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Haha, really? I never could be wrapping my pan around that hemospectrum shit. And don't be so cranky, best friend, ain't nothing wrong with spreading the beautiful troll disease around, honk! So what's your name, not Equius brother?
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*But it's what Gamzee says that genuinely unsettles him, and he looks very perturbed.* Never before have I met a Highblood of such... casual vulgarity before. It's very disconcerting. And I demand that you not refer to me as a best friend - or, at least, you can refer to me however you please, but I am your lesser and it would not be proper to consider me so close.
But I am Darkleer. Executor of the Grand Highblood. *A pause.* Former Executor.
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[He can't directly insult Gamzee right now; he's not confident enough that he'll survive that. But he wants to. He doesn't know how much longer he can take sitting around here being told to shut up and never being referred to except as mutant lowblood. Of course Gamzee wants to make friends, he's not the one being treated like he's scum. He knows Gamzee is just being oblivious, but he can't help but feel a little betrayed and resentful.]
Fine. Highblood who I have so much respect for right now, can you please tell your new friend to get us the fuck out of here because I would really like to get to the caves.
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[He looks around, then up at Karkat blankly.]
Who're you talking to? But yeah, we really should be kicking our fine selves down to those motherfuckin' caves.
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...as you insist, Highblood. It is not far. *And he'll begin walking with Karkat now. The boy's presence won't slow him any.*
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You doing okay, bro?
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And for a Highblood to be friends with this mutant... is that why he is here, playing this game usually reserved for gutterbloods? Was he deemed unworthy of his blood right?
Either way, Darkleer now knows that he will die here on this island. When he'd thought that it was just him and the other usual participants, he had allowed himself to suppose the thought that he would triumph. But there is someone above him here now, and there is no way he could bring himself to kill a Highblood... even one so vulgar.
But he says nothing, betraying none of his thoughts.*
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Almost there. [He reaches up and pats Karkat's uninjured foot.] We'll done have you fixed right up in a blink, don't worry.
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Where would you like me to leave him, Highblood?
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Just put me down anywhere. I don't care.
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