caughtinanetwork | calling all grubs

Entry tags:

calling all grubs

[The video shows a much happier, more content Sufferer than the network has seen lately. In fact, he almost looks like Signless again. Over his shoulder, the video catches a cat-troll, one who could easily be mistaken for Disciple except for her shorter hair and blue kitty hat, sitting on a couch and cuddling something, with two kittens bounding around her. The audio catches the occasional giggle, purr, or squeak.]

Hello! It seems we're under another curse. I'm unaffected by this one, but many of my friends are not. If anyone finds someone who looks like this, please bring them to me.

[He holds up a picture of a... well, it looks like a giant, smiling maggot baby. Which is basically what it is. This is an Alternian grub, everyone.]

My assistant Nepeta and I will take charge of him or her for the week, if you aren't interested in caring for them.

[OOC: answers can come from Sufferer or Nepeta or both!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[When Nepeta comes up to the screen he'll be surprised to see she isn't actually older - she simply hasn't changed at all! She also has a chirping little Disciple grub in her arms, Nepeta's beloved hat held in between her stubby little legs.]

They're like kittens! They're so playful, Karkitt...oh my paws! You're older. [Sudden starry-eyes. My, but isn't he handsome.]

[Oh. Or not. The point is, she should be in her right mind to not freak out over his blood color, even setting aside that she's in company with his ancestor.]

[He easily recognizes the grub in her arms; he's the one who cloned the Disciple into being, after all.]

Would you quit gawking at me? Yes, I'm older, it would happen sooner or later, who cares. And trust me, grubs are worse than kittens. Kittens are soft and warm. Grubs just crawl all over everything if you don't watch them and try to eat things they shouldn't.

[No, it's a good call, Karkat's colour is something Nepeta is absolutely fine with. He'd be their fursome leader who she looks up to no matter what.]

Okay, okay! You just look really good older! I mean you look nice younger too, but growing up suits you, mmhmm!

Kittens try to eat things they shouldn't too, you know! And grubs might not be quite as soft and warm, but I've found lots of cute little clothes for them and that helps. They'll all be soft and fluffy in no time!

[Compliments to his looks aren't unexpected from Nepeta, knowing her past feelings, but he is still visibly caught off guard. Is that a pinkish hue to his cheeks? It totally is.]

[He coughs a moment later, looking away from the camera.]

Can we shut up about my looks? Is that a thing we can do? Because if not, I'm switching to audio.

[As for grubs, okay, maybe they are kind of like kittens. It kittens were maggot babies with segmented legs and less fur.]

What clothes? The only thing I could think to put them in was large socks, and I haven't tried it for reasons that should be obvious.

Okay, okaaaay, I won't say anything more about them!

[Nepeta seems to be under the impression that extra legs and a bit less fur don't make all that much difference, especially judging by the way she's cuddling little Disciple.]

Oh, no, not like that! Little vests like the kind humans put on small barkbeasts to keep them warm, for instance!

[What a flat look he gives her.]

So you treat them like kittens and dress them like dogs. Are they grubs or are they animals?

They're grubs! I'm not dressing them like dogs, I'm finding clothes that are the right size to make sure they stay warm, especially if one manages to wander off! And besides, I'm very good at looking after kittens! If the grubs are happy being looked after the same way it can't be wrong, right?

Last I knew, kittens aren't insectile infants who spin cocoons from stalactites. You tell me what's wrong with treating them the same way. Have you two consulted with the Dolorosa at all? She should know what to do.

She's coming over to help out! Do you know what we're supposed to do with them? Because we're doing the best we can, Karkat!

Keep them away from sharp objects, electronics, and from climbing out of reach. And trust me, the little nooksmears will climb. This is an immutable fact you cannot change, end of story.

...every single one of those things is the same as with kittens, you know! You should see where Pounce and Leap climb to sometimes.

[........]

There still have to be differences, so just trust me. The Dolorosa is bound to back me up once she gets there.

[He hopes.]

I suppaws we'll see when she gets here! [Pause] Unless you want to come over like Signless is suggesting!

[Karkat visibly flinches.]

I already told him emphatically no, and you'll have even less luck if you try to convince me, so don't even try it.

I was only teasing you, silly! I saw how you answered him. Don't worry, we'll take care of your grub-sitting duties this time around.

[That's one side acting reasonably, but...]

Then do me a favor and make him see reason about it! He's not listening at all.

I'm pretty sure he's just teasing you too!

[The bundle in Nepeta's arms stops playing with the hat long enough to attempt to flail her front two claws at the SFC, almost as if she recognizes the voice.]

Krrrr?

[Just as quickly, she was back to being entertained by the hat.]

[And by now he's heard as much from the troll himself. Karkat looks less outright irritated about it, but a miffed air clings to his features.]

I maintain that he's still an ass. Guess I know where I got it from.

And yes, tiny Disciple, I see you. Do not think I've forgotten your wiggly little self crawling around that lab. No one could after that.

Heehee, I guess you do!

[Nepeta bops Digrub's nose.]

I think maybe she remembers you too! She knows me at least, I'm sure, she almost said my name earlier. I wonder what it would be like to be a grub again...

Oh, Karkat! Is Gamzee okay? He's one of the ones I haven't heard from yet.

Wonder all you want about it, but I don't want to fathom it.

[Being an adult comes with its issues, but it's better than being a tiny, wriggly, nigh defenseless little thing.]

Gamzee's fine. He's like 3 sweeps old, give or take, and he neither has his memory nor his taste for sopor, meaning the bundle of corpse rot decided to club me in the knee when I came over to see what happened to him. I have since taken him under my watch, barely have a clue what I'm doing, and suspect that sooner or later I'll wind up tossing glitter around the hive in a half-sane prayer to his awful clown gods for safe passage through the rest of the curse.

So young! He must be tiny. ...oww, are you okay?

I can come over and spend some time with him too if you want, I'll bring colours and paper, he likes drawing. It should keep him busy for a while!

I am fine. I would be one sorry ass excuse for a troll if a bruised knee was my undoing.

Maybe later in the week I'll give you a call and you can try it. I'm still getting him used to the idea of being looked after by me for the week, and I don't want you getting on his bad side just by being some unfamiliar troll coming in.

Okay! Then I'll wait to hear from you. If you need anything at all let me know! He's purrobably quite a handful like that.

Is it three hole handfuls, ergo keeping track of him is like a particularly inept juggling act.

[Huff.]

But yeah, I'll let you know if anything like that comes up. Good luck with your batch of grubs; even with Gamzee, I still don't envy you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

calling all grubs

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered] whoops, misinterpreted the line in the post about her looking like Disciple

[VIDEO, filtered] it's okay!

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[video] One-shot threadjack!

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]

[VIDEO, filtered]