He was a good talker.

That meaning he spoke a lot. It was sort of insufferable.

That way that he could just say things, and have people listen, it didn't make sense to you.

It's been about four perigees since you started to spy in on these gatherings, and it still doesn't make any sense to you.

Maybe you're getting sympathetic to his existence, but seeing so many unruly lowbloods around him makes you want to unsheath your claws and cake them in blood. It wouldn't be the first time, and there's no way it'd be the last time.

But. A part of hates that you're even considering this- but. He'd hate that. He'd say that they weren't so bad. He'd call you "Meulin", as if it was a name he held in high regard, and even though you were never called that before, and never will after him, you'd hate to see him say it upset.

It's been so long since you've started this. It's already the second autumn. What are you doing?

Right now, the gentle rays are begining to show, and even though every sane troll would hightail it away to a hive or cave or something, these trolls just stay. You stay in the shadows, under the cool tree shade, and watch as they drink up every word and every idea he throws to them, and every word he says.

He says a lot, too. Always having something to say about how bad the hemospectrum is, how awful the lowbloods are treated. You expected this. You didn't expect him to also speak of the Mirthful Messiahs.

KANKRI: IT'S N9T T9 SAY THAT 6ELIEF IS WR9NG, 6UT IT *IS* T9 SAY THAT USING SAID 6ELIEF IN 9RDER TO ASSERT ANY SORT OF P9WER 9R C9NTR9L IS WR9NG.

You feel like you're back in the carnival, and for a moment you feel the air move with a club- but then he continues on. Kankri is either the bravest troll you've heard of, or the one most willing to die for heresy.

You can see a Ceruleanblood in the crowd slowly raise her hand, and you remember the girl you used to know. She was apart of this as well. You know she was a traitor, she was against the Grand Highblood, and yet...

You hate how much you wish this cerulean was her.

??????: yo 5ign7e55, my friend ha5 a que5tion!

??????: h3y m4n, wh4t th3 fuck!! >:[

She glowers at her friend, and you see Signless softly smile as he lowers his gaze to her.

KANKRI: IT'S ALRIGHT, Y9U CAN ASK ANYTHING Y9U WANT TO.

The Tealblood in question flushes a little, and opens her mouth.

??????: 1, uh... 1ts not...

He laughs. It's not like a highblood, and it's not like someone who views you as anything other than yourself. What the fuck is up with this guy?

KANKRI: WELL, I'M PRETTY SURE IT HAS T9 6E *S9METHING*.

??????: uh, w3ll th3n...

A part of you wonders what she'll say. She's pretty high on the spectrum, higher than you, so you feel yourself glaring at her. Why the hell is she here, when she could be with much better company?

??????: 4r3 you s1ngl3?

WHAT THE FUCK???

THE ASSASSIN: :33< HUH????

She, and the other people as well, are suddenly aware of you, and the fact that you've been hiding from them. Fuck.

??????: uh. h1?

You don't really care about that, you just grab onto Kankri's face, squish up his cheeks, and laugh.

THE ASSASSIN: :33< h33h33!!! do mew really want *this guy* in your quadrants???? h33h33!!!

THE ASSASSIN: :33< hes so- hes so...

Your laughing dies down.

Why is this so funny? There isn't anything bad about him in specific. Except for the heresy. Duh. Obviously.

THE ASSASSIN: :33< hes ugly

You can see the awkward air around the group, and the Tealblood very quickly leaves, and everyone else follows. FUCK!

It's been about three hours since that, and the campfire is quiet.

DOLOROSA: Yo+u Kno+w, He's No+t That Ugly.

You look up and glare at her. Your shoulder still aches, by the way.

THE ASSASSIN: :33< ...i know

DOLOROSA: So+ Then Why Did Yo+u Say That?

THE ASSASSIN: :33< i dont motherfucking know fuck off

KANKRI: IS IT 6ECAUSE I WAS TALKING A69UT THE JUGGAL9S?

You flinch. He looks at you weirdly.

THE ASSASSIN: :33< fucking get that look off of your face

THE ASSASSIN: :33< fuck you!

You go to your tent, and pretend that you don't have a tent. You pretend that you have already killed him. You pretend that you can kill him.

You pretend you don't want to stay. You pretend that you're okay with him saying your name upset, and betrayed, and close to death.

MEULIN: what the fuck is wrong with me?