Chapter Text
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single troll in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a moirail.
However little known the feelings or views of such a troll may be on her first entering a hivestem, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding residents, that she is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their acquaintance.
-- actionableCacophony [AC] started trolling coctileGravamen [CG] -–
AC: My dearheart, have you heard that the penthive of our hivestem is let at last?
CG: i had not.
AC: 6ut it is!! Sparky has just 6een here, and he told me all a6out it.
-- coctileGravamen [CG] is an idle troll! –-
AC: Do you not want to know who it is 9oin9 to?
CG: you want to tell me, and i have no objection to hearing it.
AC: Om9om9om9m9mm9omo9mo9mo9mo9!
AC: You have to know, the Psiioniic says that the penthive is taken 6y a youn9 seadweller of lar9e fortune from the coast.
AC: She came down on Mournday on a 9reat muscle6east to see the place.
AC: She was s9 much deli9hted with it that she a9reed with Rosa immediately!!
AC: She is to take possession (excuse the term, my 6eloved) 6efore the turn to the dim season.
AC: Some of her (trigger warning: o6jectiona6le terminology) servants are to 6e in the hive 6y the end of next apo9ee.
CG: what is her name?
AC: Peixes, I 6elieve.
CG: is she quadranted or single?
AC: Oh, sin9le, my darlin9, to 6e sure!
AC: Ah, a sin9le troll of lar9e fortune. What a fine thin9 for our 6rood.
CG: how so? how can it affect them?
AC: My sweetest of hearts, how can you 6e so tiresome?
AC: You must know that I am thinking of her 6ecoming quadranted with one of them.
CG: is that her design in moving here?
AC: Desi9n!!! Hehehehehe, nonsense, how can you talk so?
AC: But it is very likely that she may fall pitch over pale for one of them, 6ein9 such lovely youn9sters, and therefore you must visit her as soon as she comes.
CG: i see no occasion for that.
CG: you and the young ones may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better.
CG: for as you are as handsome of any of them, miss peixes may like you best of the party.
CG: <3
AC: My 6eloved, you flatter me. :3
AC: I certainly have my share of 6eauty, 6ut I do not pretend to 6e anythin9 extraordinary now.
AC: When a troll has a 6rood of five past their molt, she ou9ht to 9ive over thinkin9 of her own 6eauty.
CG: but in this case, this troll has too much beauty to think of.
AC: Ah, 6ut my dear, you must indeed 9o and see Miss Peixes when she comes into the nei9h6orhood.
CG: it is more than i engage for, i assure you.
AC: 6ut consider the youn9 ones! Only think what an esta6lishment it would 6e for one of them.
AC: Sparky and Rosa are determined to 9o, merely on that account; for in 9eneral, you know, they visit no newcomers.
AC: Indeed you must 9o, for it will 6e impossi6le for us to visit her, if you do not.
CG: you are overcautious, surely.
CG: i daresay miss peixes will be very glad to see you.
CG: i will send a few lines by you to assure her of my hearty consent to her entering into any and all quadrants with whichever she chooses of the youth, though i must throw in a good word for my little nep.
AC: I desire you will do no such thin9, my love.
AC: Nep is not a 6it 6etter than the others, and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Karkat, nor half so 9ood-humored as Tavros.
AC: 6ut you are always 9ivin9 her a preference!
CG: unfortunately none of ours have much to recommend them.
CG: there is a reason they were entered into the system, my darling.
CG: but nepeta has something more of quickness than the rest of our grubs.
AC: 6eloved! I do wish you wouldn’t a6use our cullees in such a way.
AC: You must take such deli9ht in vexin9 me, and o6viously you have no compassion for my poor nerves. ;3
CG: you mistake me, my dear.
CG: i have a high respect for your sensibilities.
CG: your worries over the violence inherent in the system has been my constant companion these twenty sweeps at least.
AC: You cannot know what they suffer without en9a9in9 the pro6lematic nature of the process.
CG: i hope you can put this aside, and live to see many young seadwellers of considerable fortune come into the neighborhood.
AC: Would it matter if there were twenty such hi9h6loods? You would not visit them.
CG: depend on it, my love, that when there are twenty, i will ingrate myself in front of them all. d:B
AC: I must depart, my darlin9. Keep the wi99lers safe.
CG: <3
AC: <3
-- actionableCacophony [AC] stopped trolling coctileGravamen [CG] –-
The Sufferer, or as some knew him, the Signless or Ynadon Vantas, was so odd a mixture of fiery abolitionism, sarcastic humor, reserve, and compassion that the experiences of a lifetime would still be insufficient to make his darling understand his character. He remained a shadowy figure, though more out of fear for his own safety than for any shyness on his part, and he played an admirable role in the Empire by taking in the culled and abandoned and providing them a safe hive.
Dianar Leijon, his mate the Disciple, was somewhat less reserved. As the breadwinner for their brood, it was her responsibility to continue hunting: hunting for meat, hunting for matesprits, it made little difference to her. She was a troll of insurrection, incorrigible cheerfulness, and insurmountable tendencies to ship everyone around her. When she was discontented, it was because of her disappointment in troll society as it stood, and she fancied herself nervous.
The business of their lives was to remain inconspicuous, raise a rebellion, and to keep the young ones in their charge safe from harm. Part of this was in ensuring good matches for them. Their solace was visiting and news—and circulation of pamphlets.