[first level]

[inflictedknight]

[Karkat is standing on the sidewalk, leaning against a wall, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. It wasn't entirely unbelievable; so much had happened to him and his crew lately that this was just another wrench in the plan, as far as he saw it

Comments

[smellyoudie]

[A test? Terezi thinks it's a crime, one she unfortunately can't pin on anybody, because there's no evidence yet!

But the familiar cherry-under-pavement smell when she draws close is evidence enough to draw a very important conclusion-]

Karkat?

[smellyoudie]

I wasn't! I was thinking you're being stupid and jealous.

[She's not so calm either.]

About what? Dave?

[inflictedknight]

I'm not stupid and jealous. Jealous of what? There's nothing to be jealous of.

Yes, let's talk about Dave. Let's talk about how fucking disgusting he is to constantly be hitting on a troll rather than sticking to his own species.

[smellyoudie]

You're jealous because you think he's hitting on me.

[Which...he probably is and Terezi knows it. But that doesn't mean Karkat has anything to be jealous about!]

[inflictedknight]

He IS hitting on you, Terezi! How can you be so blind to his advances?!

[Of course, Karkat isn't meaning to make a pun about her blindness, but even if he was, she probably wouldn't mind anyway.]

[smellyoudie]

[OH SHIT WELL SHE'S GOING TO TAKE IT ANYWAY.]

Because I am blind.

[But it doesn't really...have the same sort of joking feel to it. This isn't really a moment to be making blindness quips.]

That doesn't mean I didn't notice. That also doesn't mean you should see him as a threat to you somehow.

[Even if she did sort of flirt back. She's a girl, it's nice when a guy (even an alien guy) wants to flirt with you, even when half his advances are pretty much incomprehensible. Because she and Karkat had an understanding. Didn't they? Why is he so confusing and defensive about this stuff all the time?]

[inflictedknight]

[Karkat was constantly defensive about everything. Pissy was probably his middle name. If one gave him an excuse to be angry, he'd latch on and ride it for all it was worth-- of course, it wasn't an intentional thing. Once again, it was just a defense mechanism.]

I never saw him as a threat. The only thing I ever saw him as was a goofy alien kid in sunglasses. And it doesn't even matter now. He's not even here.

[smellyoudie]

[If he wants to be a stubborn bulgemuncher about it...]

Fine. [Even though her expression says it is not fine, at all.] Even though I don't believe you.

[inflictedknight]

[Karkat sighs and rubs his forehead a little.]

I don't mean to be a fucking asshole. I'm just stressed out. We need to be working together, not going at each other's throats.

[smellyoudie]

[She eases up, just a little.]

It's not going to be easy. The town is deserted and ruined, and the only people I've met so far have no more idea of how they got here than I do. They say it's the city.

[inflictedknight]

The city? That's strange. My theory was that it had something to do with the game, but if it's happening to humans, then maybe not. I'm not so sure about that theory anymore.

[At least they aren't talking about Dave any longer.]

[smellyoudie]

[Yes we'll just gloss over that totally awkward and unresolved exchange.]

There's no consorts or side-quests. I think it can't be Sgrub. There are too many humans, and they're older. Some of them are nearly adults.

[inflictedknight]

So what could it be? What's the reason? I mean, we were kind of fucking busy. It's a hell of a time to just take us away from that.

[smellyoudie]

It's a kidnapping, Karkat. I don't think they care what we were doing before. Maybe it's to repopulate.

[She says that like she doesn't believe it at all. That's too simple.]

[inflictedknight]

Repopulate? Why would they take trolls at all, then?

[Karkat seems confused about that theory too. What was the purpose in trying to repopulate trolls in a city that was obviously not meant to hold trolls?]

[smellyoudie]

I don't know. It makes as much sense as anything else right now.

[Yeah, she really doesn't know. It bothers her, not even having a clue how to start figuring it out, and she's gripping her cane awfully hard. Bothers her so, so much. What does a city want? People? Food? Somebody to repair it?]

Assuming it is the city. If it's not, then there's no clues to indicate who or why.