Private RP - Signless/Dualscar/Psiioniic
[He is not sure if he is doing the right thing.]
[On one hand... Signless is his everything. After a life of misery and fear, he was the one troll who was able to convince him he was worth something on his own, that his powers were no curse but a gift waiting to be used to their full potential. Since then, so gentle, so kind... God, the Psiioniic loves him more than anything.]
[But Dualscar. The one person he had regretted- who is he kidding, the only person he had regretted upon leaving that city. He had agonized for ages on whether there was anything he could have done to get the other to follow him, or if it was a regret simply to get so involved with someone of such high caste. Now is his chance to fix things, and...
[They're inland. Very much inland. Despite the complicated well of feelings he has for the seadweller, Artollo still cannot quite trust him. With him cut off from his fleet, well.. Maybe it will make him feel better. He had left a note for his leader back at their temporary hive, and now all that's left to do... is wait.]
[Huddled up on a rock, he simply fiddles with the cloak he has around his shoulders. The forest at the base of this mountain, so near the city, were best for this kind of business. Just to keep them hidden.]
[While he doesn't say anything, he doesn't need to, at least to Dualscar. This is a big risk he's taking. He doesn't want another regret to add to his life.]
[On one hand... Signless is his everything. After a life of misery and fear, he was the one troll who was able to convince him he was worth something on his own, that his powers were no curse but a gift waiting to be used to their full potential. Since then, so gentle, so kind... God, the Psiioniic loves him more than anything.]
[But Dualscar. The one person he had regretted- who is he kidding, the only person he had regretted upon leaving that city. He had agonized for ages on whether there was anything he could have done to get the other to follow him, or if it was a regret simply to get so involved with someone of such high caste. Now is his chance to fix things, and...
[They're inland. Very much inland. Despite the complicated well of feelings he has for the seadweller, Artollo still cannot quite trust him. With him cut off from his fleet, well.. Maybe it will make him feel better. He had left a note for his leader back at their temporary hive, and now all that's left to do... is wait.]
[Huddled up on a rock, he simply fiddles with the cloak he has around his shoulders. The forest at the base of this mountain, so near the city, were best for this kind of business. Just to keep them hidden.]
[While he doesn't say anything, he doesn't need to, at least to Dualscar. This is a big risk he's taking. He doesn't want another regret to add to his life.]
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[He is unsure what else to say for a moment --
There really isn't much to say at first, so he just watches the two interact and lets himself think while they trade comments. Of course he notices everything that has to do with the Psiioniic, especially the differences between how he acts around him and Signless. There is a pang in his chest that he can't put his finger upon, it actually -- Hurt, to see the difference in their relationships, that he had definitely been replaced for a better one. No, he couldn't let his jealousy bubble out like this, he had to reign his feelings in tight. Unfortunately, it left the side effect that while the two lowbloods became more open to each other, Dualscar seems to become more tense and unsure.
Still, there was something Signless had said that interested him at least a bit.]
He spoke highly a' me?
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[ He's also aware of how Dualscar is tensing, glancing between him and Artollo with just a hint of a glare. Of course, he'd feel hurt. Supplanted. Even if they were in different quadrants, Artollo had left Dualscar for him. Signless moves in a little closer, trying to set the other troll at ease with the gentle cadence of his voice. ]
Yes. Of course. He's missed you since we left, and you were the only one who was kind to him where he was before. I've always wanted to meet you.
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[But then he's falling silent, listening to them speak and becoming more awkward as Signless reveals that he's spent more time thinking of Dualscar than perhaps his actions towards his old morail have shown. ]
[He doesn't say anything; Artollo simply looks away and adjusts his cloak for no reason at all.]
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I suppose to those I consider close to my equals, I give them the respect they deserve.
[As as a slave, the Psiioniic had been as equal to him as a lowblood could get. Only keeping everything between them in secret due to his reputation as the Orphaner among his crew and other highbloods.]
As for others...
[A frown, but he continues on.]
I have not hesitated to kill subjugglators before to protect him.
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That's all well and good, but I'm not here to ask about your military prowess. To be honest, I don't care about things like that, so you needn't qualify yourself to me. I'm more interested in the content of your character than how many you've killed, and I'm sure you have questions you'd like to ask me.
[ He laces his fingers through his matesprit's, squeezing gently as he leans back against the rock. ]
So. We have established why I am here. Why are you? What is it you're looking for?
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[So he finally looks back at Dualscar and squeezes Signless' hand as if for strength. A part of him is suddenly scared. The things Dualscar had said before of what he wanted... God, he hopes the other doesn't say something stupid. Or awkward.]
We both know that there ith no hope of even entertaining the idea that I would leave and go back to anything like my life before. [It's hard to say if he's talking to Signless or Dualscar.] Tho what now?
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Well, he needs an escape from his nightmares thanks to the Grand Highblood, any escape from his regret.]
I tire a' waitin' for my death to come alone. That is why I am here, the Psiioniic is the only connection I have to another troll that is not hate.
I know that as a sea dweller I have no idea what it is you two have been through as lowbloods, so I am unable to understand your movement but I can listen and try to understand, which is more than most highbloods will ever do. I could be useful to you, as a sea dweller I could attempt to get others to understand and I could also protect your group as well.
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Tell me, Dualscar. Are you happy? Have you met any troll who is ever, truly, happy?
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[He sways in place, almost as if wanting to go over and take Dualscar by the hand. And he does, really. He's just... hesitant. Old flush feelings are hard. They're hard and no one understands.]
...Am I wrong?
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[Not even being overdramatic about it, ever since he lost his moirail and the nightmares began to worsen. They had always been there, just weaker due to he had been better mentally when he wasn't alone.]
As for seein' happy trolls...
Right in front a' me, they are.
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You're very kind to say so. Artollo has brought light and joy into my life. But it is more than that.
We - trollkind - are all unhappy because we all can only live for one person. It is mandated by law. Any deviation is punishable by death- we exist only to amuse her. And she exists only to be amused. I think no one can be happy like that.
You will have to forgive me for speaking ill of our Empress- I mean her no ill will. I would, in truth, like to see her understand. It must be terribly lonely for her. But we cannot live like this. Survive, yes, but not truly live. I know I ask a hard thing, to have us leave all we know- but I know that we can do it. I've seen what we can do when we live together instead of forcing ourselves apart. And it's so... so fucking beautiful.
[ He extends a hand to Dualscar. ]
You can come with us, you know. Your invisible shackles are no less easy to cast off- but cast them off, you can. All any of us will ever ask of you is to be happy, and to spread that happiness to others.
But it's your choice. It is your decision. Do you want to be happy?
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[But Artollo can't help but want this. He's just being a stupid wriggler, he knows that, but to go back to how things were, only better... Them on equal footing, real equal footing, and everything okay again... Not perfect, never perfect, but good enough, right?]
[He glances away, then looks back, shoulders squared awkwardly.]
...You could. Really.
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A small, genuine smile spreads on his lips, a rare sight as his hand lifts frm his side to grab onto the one the Signless has extended out to him. How could he object, when he just felt so... Wanted by them? This spreading of happiness didn't sound so bad when he could be a part of it, an equal to them. Though they were outcasts, in a way so was he after all he has done for trollkind.]
I want to be happy.
If you will accept me in, I will come with you.
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[ Signless bows deeply, kissing Dualscar's hand; then draws the highblood close, into his arms. ]
Welcome, my brother. Welcome to our family. We've been waiting for you for a long, long time. And we are glad you are here.
[ He kisses Dualscar's cheeks - one, then the other - then gently pushes him into the Psiioniic's waiting arms, smiling brightly. ]