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Vriska ambles over to the first playground equipment that's largely populated by other children, kicking up the dirt and grass in her trails across the threshold of adults supervising their kids and the arena of childhood fun.
Rose and Kanaya hang by the outskirts of the playground with zeroed in focus on their daughter, purple and green eyes ever so sharp. Since it is a Saturday, a plethora of children were running around the park, free to spend their energy away from learning about numbers and how to add or subtract them. Rose and Kanaya both knew today was especially an exciting day for Vriska, as it was her first weekend since starting First Grade. Rose and Kanaya could easily recall the overwhelming feeling throttling them within that Vriska was growing up so fast, at such an alarming rate that neither even felt they had the time to cry. The memory of Vriska, cladded in a design of Kanaya's specifically made for her first day, waving back at her moms with vigorous excitement before entering her class was permanent in their minds.
There were more human children playing than troll children, both wives mentally note, as they watch Vriska wait in line to use the slide, with only two other trolls drifting around her. A young bronzeblood was spotted seated on one of the lusus themed spring riders however, making it at least four troll children present at the park, among the thousands of humans surrounding them.
ROSE: I hope she doesn't get too sick from running around like a manic. It wasn't too long ago that we had that picnic.
KANAYA: She Is Quite Resilient So I Dont Think So
KANAYA: But If That Does Come To Fruition
KANAYA: At Least It Is At The Park Instead Of Our Carpet
ROSE: Ugh. Don't remind me of when Vriska puked everywhere in the common area after having consumed too much s'mores.
KANAYA: Yes That Was Certainly The Most Disgusting Thing Ive Had To Scour From Our Carpet
ROSE: Mind you, it was you who didn't have the heart to put brakes on how many she could eat.
Rose pokes at Kanaya's arm with a little smile, who receives it with a playful roll of her eyes.
KANAYA: Well
KANAYA: You Supplied The Chocolate Bars Dear
KANAYA: The Blood Was On Your Hands Too
KANAYA: The Blood Of Course Being Figurative
Rose just giggles, then places a resounding smooch to her wife’s cheek. Kanaya entwines her hand with Rose’s, giving her a kiss in return on the back of her hand.
They take a break from spying on Vriska to make sure she doesn’t get up to any mischief, and scan their surroundings. The large amount of human parents remind Rose and Kanaya once more of the staggering number of human children here.
Some of them hover around the outskirts of the playground with extreme caution, following their child when one of the trolls pass by them. An uncomfortable feeling swirls in Kanaya’s chest when a father’s shoulders twitch almost into action when Vriska taps his daughter to get her attention.
All the human parents of their equally human children seemed so tense. Like as if they were anticipating an accident to happen.
Rose may have been a human herself, but she was the mother and wife of a troll, and wanted to protect them and the troll species as a whole with every fiber of her being. Feeling the distraught emanating from Kanaya, Rose soundlessly squeezes her hand in an effort to comfort her, which Kanaya responds with a small smile.
ROSE: Do you want me to take care of dinner tonight?
KANAYA: Mm That Would Be Nice
ROSE: Grubloaf?
KANAYA: Thats The Easiest Alternia Cuisine For You To Bake
KANAYA: So Yes
ROSE: Oh, shut up.
ROSE: I only really know how to make a grubloaf without you backseating me after I was-
ROSE: …
KANAYA: Uh
Something in the air was off. Unsettling, and twisting Rose and Kanaya’s empty stomachs.
The human couple beside them were suddenly standing up from the concrete bench, looking warily over at the playground.
Hastily averting their attention to the apparent scene, the blood pumping in Rose and Kanaya’s hearts stopped.
In the midst of dashing about on the high equipment, Vriska bumps into a human boy without accounting her surroundings, leading the boy to furrow his brow and frown.
The boy pushes Vriska back, to which Vriska stares at him and frowns back.
Oh no.
Vriska by no means was a pushover. Given who she was cloned of, and who was raising her, would inevitably create a girl who wouldn’t let herself get pushed back and teased. Her mothers knew this, with full blown panic.
ROSE: Vriska!
KANAYA: Vriska Wait-
Before Rose and Kanaya could even pass the threshold of grass, Vriska pushes the boy back, roughly.
The boy grits his teeth as Vriska glowers at him, causing him to immediately throw his hands that resembled a weak fist at her repeatedly. Vriska quickly responds by pushing him away again, towards the long drop of the play equipment. The other children noticeably stop, and watch blankly at Vriska and the boy fighting.
The boy grips at the collar of Vriska’s striped shirt, jerking back as Vriska begins to flail her arms at him. Neither of them clearly realized where exactly they were on the playground, whether or not there was even an adjoining platform, but both were too caught up in their squabble before the back of the boy’s shoe tipped back.
Vriska and the boy thump flat onto the hard ground.
ROSE & KANAYA: VRISKA!
The wives sprint to the commotion before their minds could even register what to proceed with once they’re reunited with Vriska.
The other parents start crowding in as well, gathering their children in, with the human parents particularly backing away and staying on guard from the few troll kids running to their parents.
Despite the brutal fall and possible bone injuries, Vriska and the boy still seem absolutely riled up.
It doesn’t help that the boy suddenly scrunches his face up, and abruptly sneezes directly into Vriska’s face. This only urges Vriska on further, and she starts slapping the boy until Kanaya stretches over and grabs her wrist, pulling her into the safety of her mothers’ arms.
Examining Vriska, a thick line of cerulean blood was dropping from her nose, with her cheeks burned blue and even bluer tears welling up at the corners of her eyes.
ROSE: Honey, are you okay?
KANAYA: Are You Hurting Anywhere
ROSE: Can you move by yourself fine?
KANAYA: Does Your Shoulder Feel Dislocated
Vriska just huffs in response, sniffling sharply as her small hands quickly come to wipe furiously away at her eyes. She’s trying exceedingly hard to keep her eyes from leaking, to act tough, but her figure begins to shake as her face twists.
ROSE: Oh, teacup.
Rose holds Vriska closely to her chest, rubbing circles on her back comfortingly as Kanaya provides soft shushes into their daughter’s ear.
The father of the boy cradles his son off the ground, while the mother sneers at the gods of the universe she’s living in.
MOTHER: Your daughter just assaults our son after crashing into him, and you’re treating her as if she is the pure victim of all of this?!
MOTHER: This can count as physical child-on-child attacks! A troll on a human, no less!
MOTHER: From what I’ve read, troll children are dangerously more durable than human kids. And as a human yourself, Mrs. Rose Maryam-Lalonde, you should know what trouble can arise and be afflicted to a vulnerable human child.
Rose simply just gives her a look, as Kanaya had volunteered to open her mouth and bite back instead.
KANAYA: Perhaps You Should Have Taught Your Son It Is Not Nice To Push People
KANAYA: Even If He Is Very Angry
KANAYA: When He Took That Action He Only Fanned The Fires Of Their Little Altercation
MOTHER: Are you accusing my husband and I of bad parenting?!
KANAYA: No Not Really
KANAYA: Mainly Just Giving You Advice
KANAYA: As One Mother To Another
FATHER: We’re not really comfortable with teaching our child any advisory from a, uh, non-human caregiver like yourself.
ROSE: Fine. As one human parent to another, you should teach your son better manners.
MOTHER: Your child isn’t even human! How does that apply to us?
ROSE: Does that really matter in this situation?
MOTHER: This has to be some kind of cruel joke. First of all, this is a park in the human kingdom.
ROSE: This park is perfectly set in the middle grounds of the troll and human kingdoms.
MOTHER: Sure, but it’s a lot less intense than what troll parks carry.
ROSE: There’s no way you’re genuinely serious about your statement? The difference between a troll and human park is extremely scarce, it would only take someone as xenophobic as Jane Crocker to list them out.
Rose and Kanaya can feel the multiple eyes around them burning into them, tension thick in the atmosphere. The audience is split into two subgroups; half only looking on without any clear emotion, perhaps they were just nosey on the commotion, especially since it involved two gods, and had no real opinionated feelings on the matter of the leisurely forming war of Karkat’s new rebellion and Jane’s desires for regulation.
The other half is the opposite though, and with their furrowed brows, it wasn’t hard to tell who exactly they sided with. This was a dominantly human park, after all.
MOTHER: You know what. I’ll just take Kanaya Maryam-Lalonde’s advice for myself instead, and try to be the bigger person here, because neither of you obviously have the decency to keep politics out of a child-space.
Vriska wets a spot on Rose’s shoulder with her water fountain of tears, and the mother’s words only sting Vriska’s parents more.
MOTHER: I don’t even know why you’re going so above and beyond for a child that’s not even the same species as you, Ms. Seer. With how your living conditions are, you’re better off just renouncing your own species.
KANAYA: Can You Leave
ROSE: I thought you claimed you were going to be the, and I quote, “bigger person” here?
ROSE: Vriska is my child, and there is nothing you can say or do otherwise that’ll invalidate that fact.
KANAYA: If You Really Have A Problem With It
KANAYA: Then You Should Take It Up With Your Beloved Leader
KANAYA: Im Sure She Will Do Something About Six Year Old Legal Adoption Papers And Documents That Clearly State Vriska Is The Child Of Rose And Kanaya Maryam-Lalonde
KANAYA: Leave My Family Alone
The mother and father suddenly still, with their son sneezing and sniffing in his father’s arms being the only noise coming from the opposing family. The mother’s face contorts into an irritated expression, but it falls when Rose and Kanaya stare at her determinately and not threatening to collapse and give in.
The mother just shakes her head disapprovingly, before linking hands with her husband and trekking off without a word. The crowd of other parents watching the scene disperse shortly after, and soon Rose and Kanaya are left alone at the playground.
But with each other, and Vriska weeping in their arms, and a maternal instinct to comfort her.
KANAYA: I Think Its Time We Head Back To Our Hive
KANAYA: The Sun Is Already Setting
ROSE: You’re right. We need to clean up Vriska too.
Standing up to their full height, Rose and Kanaya each take Vriska’s hand, sharing a warm kiss in the cold breeze and make their way back home.
***
VRISKA: Achoo!
ROSE: Bless you.
KANAYA: Bless You
Standing at the open entrance of the kitchenette, Vriska is wrapped tightly around her favorite blue spider blanket, with mucus bubbling up from her nose that she carelessly wipes on her blanket. Rose and Kanaya look over at her from the table they're having breakfast on, consisting of chocolate chip pancakes and strips of burnt bacon. Vriska emits a noise of discomfort as she keeps wiping her nose, causing an irritated rash to well up under her nose.
KANAYA: How Did You Sleep Last Night Vriska
VRISKA: My Nose is Stuffy.
ROSE: Ah. You didn't sleep comfortable then, I presume?
VRISKA: Mhm. And it was really Hot too.
ROSE: That little stomach ache you had last night tipped me off it most likely wasn’t a cold.
VRISKA: I didn’t mean to Throw Up while You and Mama were Playing Twister!!
ROSE: …
KANAYA: …
KANAYA: So Uhm Her Fever Still Hasnt Went Down
ROSE: Erm, yeah. Are you hungry?
VRISKA: No.
Despite her appetite being nonexistent since yesterday, she still joins her parents at the table, and climbs up onto her booster seat with agility. She sniffs again, as Rose and Kanaya stare at the marks still littering her face.
VRISKA: Can we go to the Park again today?
KANAYA: I Dont Think
KANAYA: Thatd Be A Particularly Good Idea
VRISKA: Why not?!
KANAYA: Er
KANAYA: Well After Yesterdays Little Fiasco
KANAYA: I Think Itd Be Best If We Do Not Visit That Park For Awhile
VRISKA: 8ut Mama, it's my Favorite Park!!
ROSE: We know, darling. But your little altercation may have caused quite a... uproar in the news.
VRISKA: Who cares a8out the Stinking news!! I've 8een Playing there ever since I was Little!!
Kanaya leans over to pinch her cheek affectionately.
KANAYA: There Is Still Time To Discover New Favorite Parks
KANAYA: Youre Still Very Little
VRISKA: Ugh!!!!!!!!
Vriska pulls away from her mother's affectionate ministration, and thrusts herself towards her other mother for her attention.
VRISKA: I don't want a new Favorite Park, Mommy! I want my old one!
ROSE: But Vrissy, Kanaya is right, you still have plentiful years of stumbling upon a new favorite park and making your childhood mark there. Besides, you're still very sick.
VRISKA: Mmmmmmughvmjgty.
Deciding the table was suddenly vastly boring, Vriska slides off her seat and dashes out, while Rose and Kanaya make mental notes to each other to serve her more liquids later.
ROSE: Have you checked to see if Jane has possibly made a comment on yesterday's situation yet? It seems like something she'd try to use to her own benefit in order to incite the idea of segregation between humans and trolls.
KANAYA: Not That I Know
KANAYA: If I Even Want To Know
ROSE: Well,
ROSE: This isn't the first time she's tried to use an example of her belief in trolls being too vicious by using our daughter's innate child mistakes.
KANAYA: God
ROSE: I know.
Rose stretches her hand across the table to place it over Kanaya's, slipping her fingers into the troll's. Silence enveloped them into a cold, unforgiving grip, as a reminder of a world they were living in and raising their family in. It wasn't fair, but nothing really ever is.
It was for the best, for the both of them, to resist the urge to check on their phones or flip the TV channel to the news coverage. It wouldn't help anything and would simply just fuel the sick worries and anxiety swirling in the couple, who were already ghastly concerned about Vriska's current fever state. Bringing Kanaya's hand close to her lips, Rose presses a soft kiss to each of her wife's fingers, leaving just a smidge of black lipstick on each finger.
ROSE: I'll go serve Vriska some water and her medicine.
Kanaya nods soundlessly, then picks up both of their plates as Rose heads for the medicine cabinets.
Unscrewing the cap of the cherry medicine, Rose is immediately hit with its strong scent, her nose scrunching up responsively. Carefully aligning the opening with the cup, Rose tips the container forward a little until cherry red syrup slowly starts to pour in and fill the cup to its exact measurements for a six year old to consume. Rose kept her eye focused on the amount of medicine nectar filling up the cup, making sure there was no excess that could possibly harm Vriska's little body.
Once the first task is complete, Rose retrieves Vriska's sippy cup and fills it with ice, cold water to soothe her dry throat.
Arriving to the bedroom, Rose scans around the area, eventually settling on her rambunctious daughter sitting on her bed with her back propped up by her puffy pillows. Vriska's walls were nearly covered head-to-toe in drawings scribbled by her; some featuring moments with her parents, others of her interests or self portraits, or with Harry Anderson Egbert and Tavros Crocker. Rose bites the inside of her cheek when her gaze swipes over a drawing of Vriska and Tavros standing next to each other as they were surrounded by a field of poorly drawn pink and red scribbles representing flowers.
Rose and Kanaya still weren't sure if they were entirely comfortable with Vriska still hanging around Jane's son in the midst of a beginning of a war; not that either of them had any ill will towards Tavros himself, he was a rather nice boy and considerate of the people around him, unlike his mother. But to be so close in the claws of the enemy alarmed Rose and Kanaya urgently that they needed to take some form of action.
Vriska doesn't notice Rose come in, as she's too busy coloring furiously into her coloring book, until the foot of her bed suddenly weighs down.
Ripping her attention away from her book, she stares at the two items in her mother's hands, and once the realization hits of what the red contents are, she sticks out her tongue. Despite this, she still obeys and takes the cup into her small fingers, and hastily gulps it down before displaying the cutest soured face Rose has ever seen.
Vriska hurriedly reaches for her water and drinks it greedily, causing a string of giggles to pour from Rose as she shifts next to Vriska and lies her head down on the pillows. Kanaya joins her wife and daughter in the latter’s chambers in a few fleeting minutes, siding up on the free side of Vriska before she gazed down absentmindedly at the picture the ceruleanblood is coloring in. Kanaya pushes back Vriska’s bangs, placing a kiss to her sweaty forehead that instantly lulls her back to sleep, leaning into Kanaya and using her troll mother as a personal pillow while Rose sifted her fingers through her hair.
Moments like these, when everything was warm and safe in their familial space, were worth fighting to preserve.
***
VRISKA: Wh8t do you MEAN Tavros can’t come to my wriggling day?!
KANAYA: Vriska We Have Been Over This Multiple Times
KANAYA: He Just Cant Come
VRISKA: 8ut that’s not explaining it! >::::(
ROSE: The reasons are classified, and something your sweet, tiny mind can’t comprehend. As your parents, we’re fully allowed to not disclose any adult topics with you. Don't you have any other little friends at your new school?
VRISKA: Tavros is My Friend! He’s not 8oring adult stuff. I mean, He's kind of a Wimp but I like Him anyway! And I 8asically have No Friends at school either.
KANAYA: Like Your Mother Said Youre Not Old Enough To Comprehend Ours And Janes Reasons For Tavros Being Absent
Vriska stomps her foot on the floor, clenching her teeth as Rose and Kanaya look down at her with crossed arms. Ever since she recovered from her sore throat, she was certainly using her voice a lot more after needing to reprimand it. And after the following years of her birthday party guests being sized down to the minimum of just her parents, Vriska was growing upset.
VRISKA: It's no fair! I have no one else to come to my party but you two 8oring old people Smooching and Playing Twister!
ROSE: Vriska!
Vriska winces when Rose raises her tone at her, clutching at the hem of her shirt while her eyes shoot down at the carpet guiltily.
ROSE: I'm sorry, but Tavros isn't invited to your party and that's a final decision which I'm not going to argue with you any further! I'm sorry!
VRISKA: Then let Harry Anderson come!
KANAYA: Teacup Youre Already Aware He Cant Come Either For Different Reasons
VRISKA: AGH!!!!!!
ROSE: Vriska, calm down, you'll hurt yourself.
VRISKA: I can 8arely go Anywhere!! I can’t even go 8ack to my Favorite Park!!
VRISKA: You guys are keeping me Alone! I don't Ever get to Play with Tavros and Harry Anderson anymore or see Auntie Roxy! I can't even Remem8er how Uncle Dave looks!
Kanaya swivels her head swiftly to Rose, who stares at Vriska with no hinted emotions. Roxy is still a sore subject for Rose, and Vriska was only an upset six year old girl who missed seeing her other family members, but she couldn't understand the factors of what caused the strain relationship between her human mother and her aunt, neither the fallout both her parents had with the other people around them.
If Vriska were to know her beloved aunt Roxy was mixed of whether to choose her bffsie or the matters of her niece's wellbeing, her delicate mind wouldn't process it. But Harry Anderson had always been important to Vriska, and the only times they're able to see each other again was on birthdays. Vriska just couldn't picture a hypothetical birthday without him, and admittedly, it tugged at the weakest links within her parents.
Perhaps Rose and Kanaya were acting a little… overprotective; but it was for reasonable circumstances. And yet, with the glossy eyes Vriska stared at her mothers with, those reasons suddenly felt flimsy. And completely unfair.
Glancing back at Kanaya, the jadeblood nods her permission, Rose sighing through her nose.
ROSE: ...okay. Harry Anderson can come over tomorrow for your birthday.
Vriska whips her head up at Rose and Kanaya, eyes bulged out as pinpricks of relieved tears bubble at the corners of her eyes. She latches onto both of Rose's legs, burying her face into the soft material of her pants. Vriska's wriggling days were always a time of tranquility for Rose and Kanaya, and the least they could gift their daughter on her special day was the same in this dreadful world. Earth C wasn't fair to them, but that didn't mean it had to be unfair for such a young, naïve girl.
HARRY ANDERSON: hi auntie kanaya!
KANAYA: Hello Harry Anderson
Harry Anderson stands by himself at the doorstep with an infectious grin the spitting image of his father and a soft blue present cradled in his arms. A backpack full of essentials hangs on his shoulders, as Rose and Kanaya gave him permission as well to have a slumber party with Vriska.
KANAYA: Uh
KANAYA: Did You Walk Here By Yourself
HARRY ANDERSON: no, my mom told my auntie jane's guards to drop me off here! they only took me half way though, so i guess i kind of did walk here by myself haha.
KANAYA: Ah
Kanaya lets him inside the house, then swallows dryily as she studies the outside with careful inspection. There were times in the past when Harry Anderson would be dropped off by Jane's guards, one time even Gamzee, but some guards would linger by the trees and in the bushes of the Maryam-Lalonde property with their blinding red suits and cold shades. Thankfully, Jane apparently gave her rivals a break for their child's birthday, and not a spork in sight could be spotted. Kanaya heaves a sigh of relief.
HARRY ANDERSON: vriska!!!!!!!!
VRISKA: !!
Vriska dashes out of Rose's arms before Rose could even finish brushing her hair, her jade green and lavender glittered dress flowing in the wind at the immense speed she's running at. They embrace each other tightly as childish giggles erupt from them like bubbles from a wand.
HARRY ANDERSON: happy birthday!
VRISKA: Thanks, dwee8. I have so many Things to tell You!
HARRY ANDERSON: i bet! oh yeah, here's my present for you! my mom helped me wrap it, it's a-
VRISKA: Harry, no Spoilers!
HARRY ANDERSON: oh oops. right.
Rose and Kanaya watch as the two children dance around gleefully and hold hands and rejoice after having not seen each other for what felt like eons, absolutely high on adrenaline despite not even consuming any sugar yet.
HARRY ANDERSON: so is tavros not coming?
ROSE: I'm afraid Tavros couldn't make it since his mother and our family are in a bit of a political disagreement.
HARRY ANDERSON: oh okay, whatever that means haha. i'm just glad tavros isn't coming, he's always such a weenie at vriska's totally cool parties.
VRISKA: Hah! Too 8ad He's gonna miss out on pin-the-tail-on-the-Crocker-hoof8east.
HARRY ANDERSON: also i'm super excited about staying over, auntie rose and kanaya! i feel like it's been forever ago since i've seen you guys!
Harry Anderson beams so innocently up at Rose and Kanaya, so blissfully unaware of the situation that drove Rose and Kanaya, thusly Vriska, away from his family. Vriska then pulls him to the kitchen for an early wriggling day cake slice while her parents hang behind.
Sounds of the news covering Karkat's new move on the rebellion plan echoes in the house and mingles with sweet laughter, Jane's voice cutting in shortly after. Kanaya couldn't recall the last time she saw gray letters on her palmhusk, given how busy Karkat had been with organizing his plans to secure the future of trolls like little Vriska Maryam-Lalonde. Rose didn't even want to ponder on the last interaction she had with Roxy, and only vaguely could recount when she last saw Dave and what he was up to with his relationship with Jade and if he'd continued Sweet Bro And Hella Jeff again. Half their ties were either cut or loosened, and it had gathered enough dust to warrant nostalgia whenever their minds grazed over it.
But that didn't matter. Rose and Kanaya had each other, and their daughter, and that's all that was required for their hearts to proceed on with working and beating. Seeing the display of Vriska excitedly attempting to use a spoon to cut a cake slice for herself and Harry Anderson, the aspect of family had never been so important to Rose and Kanaya before, and tightly wrapped their hands around each other.