withoutasign: (so much love)
Signless ([personal profile] withoutasign) wrote in [community profile] caughtinanetwork2012-04-05 09:18 am

of birds and bees and buckets

[The video shows Signless, sitting somewhere in the bubble, leaning comfortably against the enclosure wall. There's a school of brightly colored tropical fish behind him, circling and swimming close to his head, attracted by the red and orange stitches on his cloak's hood. He has a large, heavy book open across his lap.]

It's been brought to my attention that many of you here don't know about how troll reproduction works, or how relations between concupiscent quadrant partners are supposed to go. If you're interested in troll romance and how that works, let me direct you to a very thorough, very excellent explanation by my descendant, Karkat.

[Link to GUESSWHATSHITSTAINS.pdf.]

I'm here more to talk about reproduction. As it happens, trolls raise their young very differently from humans. We don't grow our young inside our bodies, and we are hatched from eggs rather than born live. When trolls reach the age of maturity, they are visited by the drones quarterly. When the drones visit, the two adult trolls are expected to produce genetic fluids and present them. We produce a significant amount of fluids, enough to fill a bucket when both partners are done, which the drone then takes away to the Mother Grub. All the fluids from all the trolls that quarter are mixed together, the Mother Grub uses them to fertilize herself, and then lays eggs. Those eggs eventually hatch into wigglers, which will grow into young trolls.

That's the biology of it. I understand that's quite different from how humans do things. However--[he holds up the book; it's a copy of Grey's Anatomy, the much hated loved tome of human medical students everywhere]--it looks like our parts are mostly compatible. Fascinating, isn't it?

[He puts the book down, and his expression grows serious.]

However, that's not really what I want to talk about. Reproduction is all well and good, but it isn't an issue here, not without drones or a Mother Grub. What I want to talk about is what leads up to reproduction.

You see, when two trolls pity or hate each other very much, they'll start getting feelings for each other, very special feelings that they don't feel for anyone else. These feelings are normal and expected, and everyone goes through them. I went through them, and so did every other troll who survived into adulthood.

[He smiles wistfully for a moment, the kind of smile that only someone who is far, far removed from puberty and can safely reminisce about it can make.]

Anyway, you'll start to want a partner, either in pity or in hate, and you'll want to do things with that partner, things you wouldn't do with anyone else. Again, this is normal. If you don't have a concupiscent quadrant partner, it's also normal to fantasize about having one, and what you'd do to them. That's fine, go ahead and do that. However, be aware that the reality of having a partner is often different from the fantasy, and almost always different from the way relationships are portrayed in films or books.

Now, when you're old enough, and both you and your partner are ready--and I can't emphasize that part enough, when you're old enough and both ready--you'll want to fill buckets with each other. There are many ways to do that, and half the fun is experimenting with each other and finding out what you both like! It's going to be different with each partner, although certain things are almost universal. When you first start filling buckets, don't expect to be good at it immediately. Pailing is a skill like any other; you will probably fumble and be awkward the first few times, but that's okay. It feels strange and awkward to everyone at first. You'll just need to practice! It gets better, I promise. Filling buckets with someone you really care about is one of the greatest feelings in all of paradox space.

To make it get better faster, talk to your partner. Tell them what you like, so they can do that to you, and likewise, ask them what they like so you can reciprocate. Even if your partner is a mind-reader, it's best to just tell them what you want. But don't be demanding! Ask nicely, and be open to what they want to do too. Communication is key, in this, as in everything else.

[He smiles beatifically at the camera.]

And in the spirit of communication... does anyone have any questions?

[OOC: a few things about this post!

1.) Please don't add any new comments to Karkat's romance post that I linked here. It's old and has a ton of comments already.

2.) Please don't ask specific questions about troll junk. We've got a big cast and no one headcanon about what they're packing, so let's just keep it vague. It's compatible with humans, that's all you need to know.

3.) I put up two threads down below: "Responses" and "Action." If you want to talk to Signless, please thread under "Responses." If any of the threads end up going into action (which is fine!), please move them to the "Action" thread. I'm tracking the "Responses" thread but not the "Action" one; this is to help me keep track of everything.
]
thekidsare0kay: (what?)

Re: video; filtered

[personal profile] thekidsare0kay 2012-04-07 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
What?
ex_fintastic398: (pic#2156016)

video; filtered

[personal profile] ex_fintastic398 2012-04-07 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
I sort of want it to be a surprise! It's something I already did with Aradia, so she won't even be missing out.
thekidsare0kay: (grin)

Re: video; filtered

[personal profile] thekidsare0kay 2012-04-07 04:52 am (UTC)(link)
Well, okay! Let's do it. I'll just have to trust you.
ex_fintastic398: (pic#2156052)

Video;

[personal profile] ex_fintastic398 2012-04-07 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. Well, I guess I just thought there was more to it than figuring it out? But if that's all it is, that seems easy!
420: (pic#1234426)

Video;

[personal profile] 420 2012-04-07 02:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah. Easy.

[Sorry, Fef! He isn't usually this thoughtful. But having a matesprit that can't touch him and being presented all of this even puts him in a thinking mood.]
ex_fintastic398: (pic#2223460)

Video;

[personal profile] ex_fintastic398 2012-04-07 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She kind of noticed! ]

Are you okay?
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@maf (cONFUSED.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-07 08:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Like what can happen you mean?

[He isn't either, but he's gone Mi>through puberty, so he knows what he would from experience. To be honest he knows a heck of a lot more about animals...]
420: Art by frizz-bee [at] deviantart.com (pic#1234315)

Video;

[personal profile] 420 2012-04-07 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Shit, no worries, no worries. I'm fuckin' fine, aight? Were just all get my consider on over me and my motherfuckin' bluest of babes.
bestestfurrend: (the wall knows all)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-07 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh huh! Exactly. I want to know what to expect!
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@hasstherock (cONTEMPLAT1VE.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-07 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Huh, well there's a lot of things. Horns will start to grow a little faster, hurt for me kinda... Uh, increased sex drive- [Counting on his fingers now.] Change in vocal register, increase in sexual release fluids, thorax sack development, sensory changes, chemical changes, uh, like noticing other people changes and stuff more...
bestestfurrend: (rawrpurrlaying times)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-07 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[She's back to taking notes now, face scrunching up in concentration. She doubts her horns will be growing much more so that part shouldn't be a problem for her, though she notes it down anyway because of Tavros.]

Sensory changes?
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (rEASONABULL.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-07 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Your senses will start to get better, same goes for any powers a troll may have.
bestestfurrend: (chibinep)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-07 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh, that's awesome! That means I'll get even better at hunting!
devwocean: (Hmmmm)

[Video]

[personal profile] devwocean 2012-04-08 12:27 am (UTC)(link)
Wwell, that seems reasonable. So you havve made a commitment, then. That's good.
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (fORWARD.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-08 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
It certainly does! Keep up training though, it's important to know how to focus still.
bestestfurrend: (got your glasses!)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-08 06:55 am (UTC)(link)
I will! Though it upsets Tavros if I hunt too much...

Lysunder? Would you help me train? Like the way we were playing last time, but seriously instead!
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@konradauxilitrix (cUTE.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-08 06:56 am (UTC)(link)
Hunting is important, though I realize why it would upset him.

Hm? Heh, yeah, I could do that.
bestestfurrend: (PLAYTIME)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-08 06:59 am (UTC)(link)
I make sure nefur to hunt more than we'd be sure to use fur food.

Really?! Yaaay, thank you!! [She is looking so excited at this prospect.]
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (cONF1DENT.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-08 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Well yeah, that's very important.

Heh, well, you really don't have to thank me! It will be fun for me too.
bestestfurrend: (and then I'll pawnce!)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-08 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I think so too!

Heehee, yes, it's definitely going to be fun!! When can we start??
ex_fintastic398: (pic#2222939)

Video;

[personal profile] ex_fintastic398 2012-04-08 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Wait, is everything okay with you two?

[ If that butthead caused any trouble for her biffle--!! ]
420: Art by infinityboner [at] deviantart.com (pic#1234505)

Video;

[personal profile] 420 2012-04-08 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sort of but not in the way she thinks!]

Can I... tell you some shit? Or, uh, fuckin' ask I guess.
ex_fintastic398: (pic#2156052)

Video;

[personal profile] ex_fintastic398 2012-04-08 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course! Anything you want.
420: (pic#1234372)

Video - private;

[personal profile] 420 2012-04-08 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[totally privating this, yep.]

You with our Sol-bro and Aradia, right?

You ever... ever all imagine what it would be fuckin' like if you couldn't touch 'em?
ex_fintastic398: (pic#2223460)

Video - private;

[personal profile] ex_fintastic398 2012-04-08 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
No, not really. Wait, you mean...?

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