Your name is Kankri Maryam, and you’re going insane. At least, you think you are.

It started out slow- a dull throb, a fleeting thought, a dream that you can’t remember, but wake up crying to. Your mother thought it was just the consequence of a life deprived of sopor. Then you awoke from a nightmare screaming her hatchname.

Doctor Damara was definitely not a real doctor, but she was a friend that both of you could trust, and when she said you were developing visions, you knew that she wasn’t fucking with you.

Now, you’ve made a little name for yourself by spreading word of your visions, both Beforus and the future. You’ve only seen slight ghosts of the future, of a young troll playing the game you once lost. You don’t know his name. You hope he wins.

Your preachings of Hemo-equality have made an impact. You know that much, and yet it is so hard to see sometimes. But then a girl jumps at you, trying to assassinate you on behalf of the Grand Highblood.

And you know you’re insane because you’re keeping her around for the night.

She's tending to her wounds by the campfire. She only had a few minutes to attack, and she only really got a couple swipes in before your Mum came in and used the strength that only a Rainbowdrinker could have to dislocate a shoulder and suck a bit of blood. Honestly, that seems just the tiniest bit overkill, in your opinion.

But at least she'll be here for a bit. For some reason, you wanna keep her around, and her not running is making you want to know more.

DOLOROSA: Kankri I Do+nt Think This Is A Go+o+d Idea

KANKRI: I KN9W Y9U THINK THAT, BUT L99K AT HER! SHE'S PRACTICALLY SKIN AND 69NES.

She's actually rather healthy looking, with a large stomach, one that sags over her belt, showing she has more than enough meat on her. You know that your Mum won't believe you, but you also know that she has never been one to turn a blind eye to a young girl in trouble.

KANKRI: WHAT'S SHE EVEN D9ING WITH THE CL9WNS ANYWAYS? Y9U KN9W WHAT THEY'RE LIKE, MUM.

At that, the young girl looks up at you from the campfire she was staring at, with a weird look on her face.

YOUNG GIRL: :33< 'mum'? wheres...wheres your lusus?

The way she speaks makes her sound younger than she looks, and you can see your Mum's face contort in worry.

KANKRI: SHE *IS* MY LUSUS, IN A WAY.

She glances between you two, and you can see her brows begin to furrow further.

YOUNG GIRL: :33< is...is she your meowrail???

You see her face lightly tinge olive, and her gaze diverts as she plays with the animal skin hanging over her shoulders.

YOUNG GIRL: :33< she s33ms pretty old yknow

KANKRI: 9H, 9H HELL N9! SHE JUST FOUND ME AS A GRU6!

KANKRI: T9 6E H9NEST, IF SHE HADN'T I W9ULDN'T 6E ALIVE RIGHT N9W.

You see your Mum lightly smile at that, and you can see the young girl's brow furrow even deeper.

YOUNG GIRL: :33< would that even be a bad thing? the only thing youve ever done is spread discourse betw33n the gutters and the Highbloods

Oh, yeesh, she has it *bad* for the hemospectrum. You can see that she means it, but you also see her face go through several different phases, and then she speaks up again.

YOUNG GIRL: :33< i want to know what the fuck youre telling them

You blink.

She blinks.

Your Mum vaguely looms in the corner.

KANKRI: WAIT WHAT?

KANKRI: WAIT, ARE Y9U SERI9US?

KANKRI: I MEAN, IF Y9U ARE, I'D 6E HAPPY T9 TELL Y9U ALL 9F IT!

KANKRI: WHAT D9 Y9U WANNA KN9W? I- I HAVE A L9T 9F THINGS.

KANKRI: I'VE SAID. I'VE SAID A L9T 9F THINGS.

KANKRI: S9. WHAT. WHAT W9ULD Y9U LIKE T9-

YOUNG GIRL: :33< DUDE I WANNA LEARN SO FUCKING SHUT UP AND START TELLING ME THIS SHIT!!!

Suddenly- a throb of pain in your thinkpan.

Your vision begins to blur. It's- it's too much, you- you-

KANKRI: ...MEULIN?