deercountry | I see your face in every crowd (Closed)

I see your face in every crowd (Closed)

Who: Kyle Broflovski & Karkat Vantas
What: Shedding Ceremony stuff
When: Mid-Late January
Where: The Red/Other

Content Warnings: Explicit sexual content/phrases/jokes, themes of gender identity/trans/binaries, blood-based caste systems, mention of genocide/war/violence, body identity concepts, temporary/semi amnesia

(This time when Karkat sheds, he does so with grace and ease. He wakes up feeling like he has been this way most of his life, memories distorted both from home and from Trench, making for a cloudy mix. He goes about his day and remembers that he had somewhere to be. The Red. He was meeting someone special - a boy. A boy he apparently loved because he spent hours figuring out how to get ready. Karkat had an outfit that Madam Generosity had sent him, but the red accents felt jarring and wrong to this new Karkat. He felt the offense of misrepresented blood color and abandoning the outfit for something he picks out and pulls on.

If this boy was as important as he felt, then Karkat wanted to look nice. He ignores his female troll body as he feels he has ignored it since he was a child. There are very few visible differences. His chest plate was slightly raised. There was a bit more curve in his hips. Other than that, there were more obvious differences due to his Fuschia blood. Instead of pointy ears, he had fin-like ears on the sides of his head. His horns were a bit bigger, more pointed. He had Fuschia freckles scattered across his shoulders and across his face and ears. And instead of red eyes, Karkat's were now that vibrant, commanding pink. He was even taller - closer to 5'10 than Karkat's far smaller body. He was, as far as he was concerned, the first male fuschia blood to have existed. He didn't care if his body didn't quite agree with that, he knew he felt he was male in his soul, in his mind, so the details didn't matter. He would be the king of his race when it was time.

He decorates his horns with thin golden chains. He wears his golden tiara, complete with a 69 in its center. He keeps on his golden choker, also decorated properly, with matching golden cuffs around his wrists. He decorates his fins with golden cuffs and dangling chains. He paints golden glitter in a straight line down from a black mouth. There's effortless confidence in this Karkat that just simply didn't exist in the usual Karkat. He didn't slump over, but held himself regally. The outfit he wears makes it evident that he had none of Karkat's shyness when it came to exposing his body.

When he shows up to the Red, he waits inside where it's warmer, standing by the front, feeling only a curl of anxiety. He didn't know which boy he was waiting for. There were two in mind, but one felt more "right" than the other - the red one. He ignores stares sent his way and doesn't respond to idle chatter. He wanted to see Him first. Whoever he was waiting for.)

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(When Karkat sees him, he knows this is the boy he had been looking for. He doesn't quite remember everything, but he can feel that this...Is his mate. Apparently. Maybe? He admires the long, floral clothing and then looks up to Kyle's face.)

Hi. (Definitely Karkat. His voice was a little lighter than his usual voice, but it still had a hoarse quality to it.)

You're...(He pauses.) I don't remember entirely, but we're together, right? And I'm here to be with you.

[Kyle smiles and nods. It's definitely still Karkat, even if he can't recall everything. It's a strange feeling, and he supposes at least now he knows what it's like on the receiving end.] Yeah. You're my boyfriend. I'm Kyle Broflovski.

Your eyes look different. But you look beautiful. You wanna sit down? I can get you some water.

(He relaxes, feeling comforted by the fact that he had been right about this being his mate. A different species. He nods in approval. That made sense. It felt right to be with a human male.)

It's nice to semi-meet you, Kyle Broflovski. Obviously, you know me.

(He smiles at the compliment, and his fangs were sharper and bigger than Karkat's usual.)

Thank you. (Karkat didn't have quite the same shyness when he had mutant blood. This was a Karkat who didn't mind being seen.)

Yeah, we can do that. The dryness is a bit unpleasant. (He wraps an arm around Kyle's bicep, trying to figure out their quadrant. Flushed. It seemed flushed.) You look beautiful too.

I do. Very well, I think.

[Kyle beams and leads Karkat towards some of the seating at the edge of the room. It's something else to see him move so confidently. He seats him before departing briefly to get them both some sparkling water.

Sitting back down, he looks at Karkat more carefully. His eyes are pink, he realises. And he has little pink freckles, which are adorable. Not baby pink, more of a fuchsia. Didn't Karkat say something about fuchsia...?

He can't quite remember.]

You can ask me anything. I know how weird it feels o sort of remember things. You helped me through it, too.

(He was grateful to have Kyle there. Even with the new confidence and certainty, being around so many aliens at once felt a bit overwhelming. He was a (pun intended) fish out of water here. He takes the sparkling water and takes a relieved sip. He could live out of the water just fine, but he didn't like to go long without water. Even if it was just drinking it.)

Right...(The shedding thing. It felt weird when it felt like he had always been this way. He stares away from Kyle, watching people. He rests a hand in his lap, holding his glass in the other.)

So, are these our subjects then? (He finally turns to look at Kyle, a faint smile on his face.)

I didn't expect my first invasion to go smoothly but apparently, it did. I'm glad more survived it than not. You and me...Are we flushed?

[Kyle laughs, but then he catches himself.]

Oh. OH! You're serious. No, uh, no. Not our subjects.

[He nods, blushing.] Yup. And, uhm. Moirails and kismesis too. We kinda cross the quadrants.

Of course, I'm serious. My first conquest is a big deal.

(He was only mildly disappointed to hear that these were not his subjects. He finally slumps into a more familiar position, sighing.)

Clam it. (He rests his chin into a palm, and then when Kyle starts to explain their relationship...)

Wow. I really went the unconventional route. Figures. Well, whatever. Trolls shouldn't be shackled to only one romance system anyway.

Sorry. But you DO inspire people!

You did, yeah. For which I'm eternally grateful, as you can imagine. And that's it exactly! You're a very forward-thinking troll.

[He leans in to kiss Karkat's cheek.] Gosh, your ears are different now. I like your freckles...

[Fuchsia. It suddenly clicks.]

...Karkat? Uhm. What's your bloodtype now?

I don't want to inspire people. I'm meant to rule people. People already don't think I'm capable because...(Well. That part didn't matter as much, he guessed.

The kiss surprises him visibly. He didn't remember Kyle well enough to remember that they had kissed before, so as far as he's concerned, it was the first intentional kiss he's been given. He holds his hand over his cheek for a moment, starting to blush. Fuchsia.)

Are they? What did I look like 'before' exactly? (He touches the edges of his ear/fins, frowning. The frown deepens at Kyle's question.)

...Fuchsia. Obviously. (Except apparently, it wasn't that obvious.) Wait...What are you getting at here?

Heh. I know. Some day. This place is just a little tricky due to there being like, practically gods walking around. Don't worry, I know you're capable. You're the most capable guy I know.

Sorry. Habit.

[Oh boy. How to approach this.] You were shorter, and your ears were pointy.

Well. Okay. This place changes your blood. Don't panic - you're still you! But like, everyone has weird blood. So I'm just warning you about that right now so you don't get surprised. But you're still you, okay? Still Karkat.

I love you a lot, dude. You don't have to do anything with that information, I just want you to know. I got your back no matter what.

If I can't handle a lousy god then I'm a piece of shit ruler. I'm here to decimate entire colonies. (Clearly he was going to have to start drafting some sort of plan. Everyone and everything had a weakness.)

It's okay. Are we usually affectionate then? (He actually liked the idea of it. He had always been raised that whoever he was with would have to be some big deal thing. He didn't really appreciate the social demand of that and the idea of getting to just enjoy casual affection...? Yeah. Definitely better.)

Oh, so I was a land troll. (Okay. That makes sense even if it was slightly embarrassing.

Change his blood. Karkat lowers his hands to the table and tries to keep calm. Because what did that even mean? He looks at the freckles on the back of his hand, his usual color that he was familiar with.

Somehow the loving statement is more distracting than the blood thing. This version of Karkat never had to deal with insecurity about his blood type. As alarming as the information was, he felt Kyle was right. No one could take his crown from him. He still looked like the fuschia blood he felt, and that right there was the closest thing to what blood privilege truly looked like in Karkat's world. This version of Karkat had never known what it felt like to be treated poorly or worry about his blood color. Violet bloods could be prissy about their caste, but fuschia bloods didn't need the burden of insecurity.)

You're right. No one with half a brain would dare to question me. I still have my fins. People know what I am. I know what I am.

(He shrugs. Now. For the other part. He looks at Kyle, straightening his posture again.)

I think I love you too. I can feel it in my blood pumper. Your support is critical and I appreciate it. You seem like a capable mate. How many people have you killed before?

Edited (html) 2022-01-15 06:24 (UTC)

You're not a piece of shit ruler.

We are, yeah. Lots of hand holding and crap. In public, I mean. We don't like, do sex stuff outside of the house. [Mostly.]

Yeah, yeah I guess so.

[Kyle relaxes.] Exactly. You are what you are. You're Karkat Vantas.

[Goddammit, how is he still so fucking precious?] Thank you.

Uhm. Not many. I don't enjoy it. I'm kinda more about figuring things out through compromise.

I appreciate the vote of confidence but I really should have a more substantial army at this point.

(Oh. He smiles. This Karkat definitely smiled far more. He seemed less tired too. There weren't as many things that kept him up late at night.)

That's sweet. I always wondered if I would ever get to have something like that.

(His fins don't perk as his normal ears do. Instead, they do a sort of wiggle that would no doubt be more prominent underwater.)

So you're the more lawful one. That's a reasonable balance. I can be bloodthirsty enough for the two of us. Compromise rarely gets anyone anywhere but sometimes it's good to pretend like it can.

Well. This world is pretty weird, so. Give yourself a break. You did adopt the ruler of hell, that's a big deal.

[Yup, stil going to build him up even if he doesn't agree with the ruler plan.

Oh fuck. Kyle misses the ears, but that fin wiggle is adorable.]

I am, but I really do believe it. And I know part of you believes in fairness, in not just ruling over people because you think they're beneath you. The Karkat I know is a leader, but not a dictator.

Is that impressive?

(He had no idea what Hell was but it sounded dope as fuck. He settles back into his chair.)

We are dictators by nature, Kyle. Our kind is meant to invade and colonize. We have been doing it for a long time. We find weak planets, weak civilizations, and we claim them as our own. That's how this works. I have more to prove than my former ancestors ever did. They think I'm weaker for presenting as male. They call it a refusal of the crown. But I know I can be better than any of those bitches. (He slumps in his seat, sulking down at his rings.) And I look better while doing it.

It is. Hell is like, an eternal torture zone.

Welllll... that's not ALWAYS what you have to do, though.

[Oh. Oh shit. The immortal queens. THAT'S what Karkat had told him about.

Maybe he should avoid the whole signless conversation a bit longer.]

I know you're not weak.

Oh, you were hatched female?

Dude, that's so fucking cool then. (Go past him.)

Maybe, but it's what I want to do. I have an entire plan.

(That was overly complex of course because nothing from this god-forsaken canon was simple.

The blunt question causes a bit of a pink flush to rise up into Karkat's face. He stares away from Kyle, having the strangest feeling bubbling in his stomach. The question implied this was news to Kyle. He wasn't a different troll before - shorter and a land dweller. Had he been... a hatched male in that body? He had to of been.

That made him feel validated in some small way. Like a big silent I fucking KNEW it. Maybe he was jumping to conclusions, but no way. No way. Not if his own mate was asking.)

On a strictly technical level, yes. The fuschia caste has always been entirely female. Except for me. I don't really care what my blood caste says, I know who I am. And who I am just so happen to be the first male ruler of my kind.

(He cuts Kyle an unsure look.) Is that a problem?

Exactly.

Do you?

[Kyle watches Karkat carefully. This isn't exactly the sort of situation he can just trample all over, because Karkat doesn't know who he was before. It's a lot to take in.

At the question Kyle smiles.]

THAT sounds like the Karkat I know: you will not be defined by your blood caste. You're different, and it's beautiful.

No, it's not a problem. I love you no matter what. I might just need to be walked through some stuff.

It's very complicated. There are a lot of mechanics going on behind the scenes.

(It was all sort of a giant headache to even think about.)

Most of it involves assassinating the current sea witch. She's been alive long enough if you ask me.

(Okay well that gets him blushing bright pink. And being called beautiful on top of it? His fins curl a bit and he smiles tentatively at Kyle.)

I'm starting to see why I'm in love with you, I think.

(It made sense that he would wind up with someone filled with this kind of compassion and loyalty.

He relaxes a moment later. That was reasonable enough and he shakes his head.)

That's fine. There are very few differences between male and female trolls anatomy-wise. We have a fairly broad binary. Males have internal shameglobes. You would never know the difference between a male nook and a female nook.

(He wasn't entirely sure if that's what Kyle was indicating, but it felt about right.)

Not to be crude. But I take it we're...involved...intimately.

Right. Only one rules st a time. Hm. But why do you want to rule? Like, deep down, what's the reason?

Because I'm really heavy handed with the compliments? Yeah, doesn't hurt, heh.

Right. Do females have tentabulges?

[He tries not to laugh.] Yes. We are. Frequently and with great enthusiasm.

Because I want to be a leader. (That seemed to translate across all Karkat's. He considers it heavily though in the broad spectrum. After all, no one had ever asked him that. In their culture, people just knew he would wind up their leader one day. What was there to talk about?

It was natural for him. Kyle's right though. Every great leader had a driving force behind their ruling. Goals they wanted to accomplish.)

I want to be loved by my people. I want to change things. I want to be worthwhile to my people. Plenty of trolls will hate me, but I want them to genuinely hate me. Not just hate me for the sake of hating me. Love and hate are necessary for any reasonable leader. But at least let the hate and love have some substance.

(He shifts around a bit towards Kyle and reaches out to touch his hand. Karkat was much cooler to the touch than when he was himself.)

No. Because you seem to support me regardless of the situation.

(That wasn't easy for many to do. Karkat fucked up a lot.)

Yes. Females have more protection around their chests as well, but that's mostly because female trolls tend to be more aggressive. (That's where Karkat felt he lacked. He had never felt aggressive. He was normal aggressive, but not "could cause sweeping genocide" aggressive.

He groans, blushing hotter, and drops his face against Kyle's shoulder.)

Jeeesus. Okay. I guess that's a good thing even if it's humiliating.

[Kyle is beaming by the end of that speech. It's Karkat. Even in a near immortal born genocidal fuchsia blooded body, it was undeniably him.]

Would you change things to be more fair? The caste system, for example, is kinda bullshit.

[He squeezes that hand back.]

I do. As you've done for me.

It's not humiliating! People are totally jealous. [He has no idea if that's true.]

Well...Okay, yeah, obviously that needs to be changed. Caste expectations are fucking stupid to uphold. They're completely outdated. What's the glubbing point? Some of the most capable trolls I've known are lower caste.

(He's liked lower caste trolls before. Granted, that didn't really say as much given some trolls' habit of fetishizing blood caste differences. So, he wasn't about to use that as a bragging point. It felt a bit gross to equate fuckability to basic rights.)

Trolls are so varied. There's no right way to be a troll regardless of your blood. We're shackled by our ancestors. It's fucked.

(He didn't want to be shackled by his, he knew that much.

God, this guy was really cute. He was glad they were actually dating already.)

Are they? (He smiles.) Good. (He smiles even wider and leans towards Kyle.)

Is it appropriate to ask for a kiss now or is it a bit awkward with my memories being jumbled?

It really IS you. That's so amazing, no matter WHAT changes, you're just... you're my guy.

[He's so relieved.

...and those teeth are definitely even sharper. Kyle smiles back.]

It's fine by me.

[He closes the gap between them, lips gentle on Karkat's. Yes, it's still definitely him.]

(Karkat can't help but blush bright pink. He never remembered being with Dave or any other attempts at a relationship. It makes him dizzy to be called someone's guy like that. He blushes even harder when Kyle leans over to kiss him.

It felt right. It also felt familiar amazingly enough. Like they have done this a dozen times before. And he supposed they have. It feels like his first kiss, the best kiss, and he feels - loved. They were in love. They had to be.

He breaks the kiss to briefly hide his face into his hands and conceal that stupid smile on his face. Once he gains control of his face, he lowers his hands, his freckles brighter.)

Okay. So. We're in love. (Not a question.) And we're at a party. So let's...Dance and go be in love.

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