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.
]
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (pLUCKY.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 07:21 pm (UTC)(link)
She a pirate too? Well then...

Um... [Let him.. think for a seco-OH.]

OH, oh, haha. No. It's not. It's just hurts really bad.
bestestfurrend: (I is the STRONGest)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-06 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Nuh uh, she just likes roleplaying that she's one. Well, to be purrcise, she likes roleplaying that she's Mindfang.

Ohhhh, good! I was worried! ...uhm, theoretically worried. Yup!
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@geromy (fR1SKY.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, roleplaying, right. A game. Pretends she's... haha... oh wow. That'd pump up Legs's ego for sure.

[A smirk and not so subtle eyeroll.]

Ah, well I hope this knowledge stops anything like that from ever happening in the future then. Because it was purely hypothetical and uh, thus hasn't happened in the past, ever, um, for you, is what I meant to say. [Stiiiill smirkiiing.]
bestestfurrend: (I want my meowrail)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-06 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Probably...don't tell her. Or at least don't let Vriska find out you found out from me, she'd kill me. But some of the others used to do it too, Eridan liked pretending he's Dualscar and Terezi played...I can't remember her name. With me she'd play a dragon instead.

[Burying her face in her hands.]

It won't, it won't! It was an accident! But I thought maybe they weren't telling me it was permanent so that I wouldn't worry so I thought I'd better check with someone else too...
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@hasstherock (sTUBBORN.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 07:37 pm (UTC)(link)
...She'd kill you? Whoa, wait, uh, what the hell? That seems a bit crazy. [Most of these kids seemed pretty calm... Killing someone over something like that is petty shit adult highblood's do, not these kids?]

Uh, well it's not permanent. Really. I can't tell you how many ti-

It's not permanent.
bestestfurrend: (why nooot)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-06 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Not literally...actually, I don't know with her. Vriska is a bit crazy I think, look at everything she's done... And she really looks up to Mindfang. She'd be furious if anyone made her look silly in front of her.

Heehee, how many times what??
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (cAR1NG)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 07:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh- [He really doesn't know a lot about what Vriska has done... Except paralyzing Tavros.] I'll take your word for it. But the Mindfang here isn't really what Vriska should be worrying about.

Heh, nevermind, just trust me.
bestestfurrend: (chibinep)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-06 07:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[And Nepeta doesn't mean to go telling tales, not unless he asks outright. She just wants him to be wary of her. She's hurt too many of her friends already - not to mention killing Tavros.] What should she be worried about then?

Oh, okaaay. [Giggling and sticking her tongue out at him again.] But it's good to know he'll be alright!
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@Hanshi (w1CKED.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Nevermind that.

Heh, 'he'? No longer a hypothetical, is it?
bestestfurrend: (nuh uh)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-06 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
But I'm curious now!! I like Mindfang, she's actually nicer than Vriska is.

Poor Gamzee. I was trying to surprise him and Equius with a pouncetackle but I landed wrong...
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (k1ND.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Nevermind, really.

And uh, wow, that would hurt. Probably want to read the situation better before you pounce into it, heh.
bestestfurrend: (you never purrlay with me)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-06 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[Pouuuut.]

I think it did, I was really upset that I hurt him... Next time I should probably wait until they're awake.
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (rEASONABULL.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[A bit more of a serious issue than Nepeta might realize. Sorry, but the pout is going to just have to stay like that.]

Might be a good idea.
bestestfurrend: (this is the only way to travel)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-06 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I just wanted more cuddles. [Such a sad kitty. She is so cuddle deprived. She'd gone a whole hour without any.]
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (1NS1GHTFUL.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh, well jumping into a place your moirail is laying with his matesprit might never be a good idea?
bestestfurrend: (you never purrlay with me)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-06 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
But they were sleeping and I was missing them! We're always having cuddle piles together, I didn't think they'd mind.
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (pERSUAS1VE.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
You're getting older though, you have to start thinking about these things.
bestestfurrend: (WTFFFF)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-06 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
But...

Wait...

You mean...
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (fORWARD.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
I mean...

You need to realize cuddling has a place and a time. Just like everything.
bestestfurrend: (but equiuuus!)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-06 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[But.

It is always time for cuddling.

Lysunder you are destroying her world.]
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (1MPUDENT.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 09:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Not when you want to cuddle with someone who has an erection.]

You're a big kid now~
bestestfurrend: (@///@)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-06 09:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[BUT THIS NEVER HAPPENS WITH TAVROS oh wait crap...]

I'm still only six!
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (aSSURED.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[...]

It's gradual. And uh, if anyone ever said trolls weren't hormonal at that age then they're wrong.

Really really wrong.
bestestfurrend: (why nooot)

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[personal profile] bestestfurrend 2012-04-06 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
I know that! Really!

...but not all of them are, are they?
rebull: Icon - Vouloir@? (k1ND.)

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[personal profile] rebull 2012-04-06 10:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Hormones are a part of every trolls life with a very very few rare cases. [Tavros being one of them...]

Six sweeps is about when trolls start to go through some changes.

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