[Text]

[devwocean]

Attention citizens.

You havve made the stupendous mistake of kidnappin one Commander Orphaner Dualscar, destroyer a wworlds an' scourge a the stars.

In light a your obvvious ignorance, and the admittedly pleasant surroundins, I'll be generous. You havve half an hour to explain wwhere I am, howw I got here, and wwhy, and to showw me the exit. It's the ocean, I can make my owwn wway from there.

I'm wwaiting. Don't fuckin disappoint me.

One last wwarnin: I'm not a vvery patient troll.

[OOC: I'm happy to do action tags/prose in the comments, too. Anyone who wants to run into him in person can find him wandering the main thoroughfare around the Lamufao, using his starfish phone thingy to monitor the network]

Comments

[p2iioniicii2t]

I do not recognithe hith authority.

[ Technically accurate. He's never particularly had to listen to Karkat; the poor kid's always taken care to step lightly around the Helmsman and sworn creatively at his inability to separate himself from his programming.

Now, would he if he could? Different story entirely. ]

[devwocean]

Good.

[He strokes for a bit longer, then asks the dangerous question]

And the Signless?

[p2iioniicii2t]

...I cannot. I am under the thole authority of the Empire.

[



Holy shit, he just kind-of-sort-of lied to the highblood. ]

[devwocean]

[His fingers still for a moment, his body tensing. Was that a lie? He's walking a fine line here, and he knows it. He needs eyes and allies and this one is so powerful, even if he is just a lowblood, he is a useful tool that Dualscar wants more than ever.]

I don't believve you, Helmsman. He trusts you, doesn't he? You'vve resumed your friendship wwith him. You havve one more chance to tell me the truth. I can be merciful if you are obedient an truthful.

[His fingers tighten in the Helmsman's hair]

Do not evver lie to me.

[p2iioniicii2t]

But the thythtem doeth not therve him-!

[ He should have never tried to obscure his relationship with the Signless, but he'd just wanted to avoid causing anger. A seadweller in a rage was a horrible thing. ]

It lived in hith hive, that ith all. The- he- he inthithted...

[devwocean]

[The grovelling is slightly irritating, but worth it in this instance. He lets out a breath and resumes the stroking, rubbing the Helmsman's horn a bit more, soothing him and rewarding him for telling the truth.]

A course he insisted. He wwants to corrupt you, like he did before. You said 'livved', though. You don't livve in his hivve anymore?

[p2iioniicii2t]

[ Not groveling seems like a shortcut to a highblood temper tantrum, something the Helmsman knows better than to provoke. There's some small part of him that thinks he would not mind this very much. It is a very quiet part, however.

His shoulders slump, some of that tension bleeding slowly out of him. He wants to pull his head away, demand that hand get off his horn, but that is the same quiet part of him that wishes uselessly to rebel. ]

I left upon your appearanthe on the network. He wath dithpleathed with me.

[devwocean]

[An eyebrow rises and Dualscar chuckles softly. A choice needs to be made between having the Helmsman return to his living situation, or remaining. But there's another issue]

And wwhat of this Engineer you're attached to. Does he livve with the Signless, too?

[p2iioniicii2t]

[ He shakes his head faintly. ] He attemptth to avoid contact and doeth not engage in herethy.

[devwocean]

Good. I wwant to talk to him. You wwill arrange it, but not right noww.

[He gives the Helmsman one last rub, then takes his hand away]

Arrange for some housing for me. Then you may return to the Signless and tell him howw kind I wwas. I wwill require you to check in regularly, and if I detect signs of... backsliding, I may change my mind.

[p2iioniicii2t]

[ The statement leaves him reeling internally, and he lifts his head up finally. His eyes have a faint, dull glow that gives away just how disconcerted he is. ]

At onthe, highblood. [ A pause. He doesn't question why because that is not his place. ] I will arrange the betht of living condithionth for you.

[devwocean]

Of course you wwill. [He sees the surprise, and smiles faintly. The smirk shifts towards a more approving smile when the Helmsman doesn't ask questions]

I'll wwait here wwhile you make the arrangements. Return wwhen you're done. I havve a feww more instructions for you.

[p2iioniicii2t]

Yeth, thir.

[ Dualscar might note that the Helmsman has to use his psionics to get up, he's still in the midst of physical therapy and it hasn't paid off that much. He leaves without another word, aware of where he needs to go to arrange the highblood's accommodations. A seadweller won't accept anything less than the best.

There is a somewhat significant time gap before he returns and he'll sink right back down to the ground without hesitation, waiting for permission to speak. ]

[devwocean]

[Dualscar pets him for a moment before speaking]

Showw me wwhere my hivve is.

[p2iioniicii2t]

[ There is a faint shiver at the touch, a sense of trepidation nearly overwhelming him. He was in very real danger of displeasing the highblood. He nods, rising with that faint blue and red glow. He does not engage in small talk, quiet save the assertion. ]

There ith no better rethidenthe available than thothe in the area known ath Ordo. That ith what hath been acquired for you.

[devwocean]

If it's the best, then you'vve done wwell.

[Dualscar rises as well, and moves to follow, also remaining silent until they reach the apartment. His anticipation turns into disappointment when he sees it, but he enters and looks around with an expression of distaste. It's alien in design, and far too small]

This is the best there wwas avvailable?

[p2iioniicii2t]

[ He flinches visibly. He had hoped relative best would have been good enough, but... ]

Yeth, my lord. The humanth have a unique thenthe of dethign.

[devwocean]

[He sighs and drops onto the sofa, grimacing as he looks around]

Wwell, it'll havve to do. Wwhere are the drones?

[He hasn't seen a single one yet. Who will perform basic necessary tasks for him like answering the door?!]

[p2iioniicii2t]

[ He is immediately cowed, looking down. Of course he'd find this to be unsatisfactory. A seadweller needed drones. Drones that did not exist in Vatheon.

Stupid, stupid, stupid helmsman. He actually thought this might go over alright. ]

Humanth perform thethe tathkth themthelveth...?

[devwocean]

Wwhat? [Dualscar jumps to his feet again and stares. His voice tightens, and he snaps:] You expect me to perform chores like some kind a slavve?

[p2iioniicii2t]

[ The Helmsman drifts back a half-step length when he jumps up out of instinct. His cheeks color yellow and he shakes his head. ]

[devwocean]

[Dualscar reins himself in immediately. It's been a long, trying day, but he doesn't need to freak out on one of the few useful tools he has. He rumbles, but his voice is calm when he speaks again]

Nevvermind. I'm not angry at you. You havve to come back tomorroww anywway, so you'll do a little housekeepin' on the side.

[He turns away, rubbing the scar that runs across his nose and up towards his hairline, sagging just a little. So much to deal with. So much to do. He is surrounded by enemies, and that's just the trolls. He hasn't even figured out what to do about the aliens.

He sits down again, feeling very alone, and gestures to the Helmsman]

Go awway. Come back tomorroww an be prepared to tell me evverythin about wwhat the Signless has been up to. Tell him that you're givvin me information and I wwill break somethin, an it'll probably be you. Understood?

[p2iioniicii2t]

Of courthe, thir. [ He glances up, just once, his gaze holding something like the stereotypical wariness of a lowblood forced into interacting singularly with a highblood.

But he's not going to do anything that might press his luck. He's going to get out of there, curl up with the Signless, and just not move from the couch until he has to report back in. ]

[devwocean]

[Dualscar looks up briefly and sees that look, then looks away with disinterest, and doesn't move until the Helmsman has left.]