#Thiomi Shiaka

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Getting Over It

*snap*

The tip of Thiomi's mechanical pencil broke for the fourth time as she was sketching, and the woman silently gritted her teeth and impatiently tapped the eraser to reveal more lead. She was behind on commissions again and hoped to get some warm-up sketches in before starting on her work proper, but her restraint was beginning to wane.

She shouldn't have even approached her. She knew it was going to be an unpleasant interaction. It always is when it comes to her.

Of course she's not sorry. She's never sorry for anything wrong she does, that bitch.

In fact, if not for Thiomi making herself known, she probably wouldn't have even noticed h--

*snap*

"Dammit!"

The sound of paper flapping was followed by a loud THUMP as the sketchbook hit the wall, followed by a thud as it fell uselessly to the ground, and Thiomi balled her hands into fists at her desk with tears threatening to well in her orange-tinted eyes.

She knew talking to her would only make her angry. She knew she wouldn't get the reaction from her that she wanted. She knew it was a mistake, so why did she do it? Why did she bother approaching that spiteful, wretched, insensitive--

"Well shoot, what's got ya doin' all that clickin', miss ma'am?"

Thiomi darted her head toward the doorway to her room where Corali stood with a bowl of sliced pears. Only now did Thiomi take note of the loud throat clicking emanating from her. She quickly unballed her fists and laid her hands flat on the table and unhunched her shoulders as she relaxed her jaw. The clicking slowly subsided as she stood up from her desk and made her way over to her moirail to accept the pears.

"It's nothing," Thiomi responded curtly and took the bowl from her. Corali glanced to the side and eyed the battered sketchbook on the ground before gently picking it up and unwrinkling the bent pages.

"Them eyes a yers're tellin' a different story," Corali remarked with a cross of her arms as Thiomi shoved a large pear slice in her mouth and took her time chewing as if to avoid answering.

"It's just an art block," she lied through her teeth before stuffing her mouth with another large slice. The taller troll narrowed her eyes slightly, then sighed.

"Bullshit it is. Meemaw an' I could hear ya from downstairs. There ain't no amount a art block that could cause that," Corali said bluntly. Thiomi seemed to deflate for just a moment before steeling her gaze, which she kept firmly on the pears. Corali could hear the unspoken "It's not your business" like an airhorn in her ears, and she narrowed her eyes at her and glared like a disappointed parent.

"I'm fine," Thiomi answered curtly and went to angrily eat another pear, but Corali snatched the bowl away from her before she could silence herself again. She now turned her venomous glare at her moirail and opened her mouth to protest, which Corali immediately halted.

"Yer a shit liar. Tell me what's the matter," Corali demanded.

"I s-said it's nothi--"

"An' I'm sayin' it ain't nothin'. You were perfectly fine 'til ya went out, an' when ya came back I could feel the anger comin' off ya like steam out a shower. I thought givin' ya space ta simmer down would help, but if yer gonna lie ta my face then I ain't gonna keep playin' nice about it. I'm yer pale! Why can't ya tell me what's gotcha fumin'??"

"Because you can't help! You can't fix it, s-so why bring it up!?" Thiomi spat with a barely subdued growl. The tears she was suppressing followed through on their threat and came streaming down her cheeks, and she furiously wiped them away on the sleeve of her sweater.

Corali relaxed her glare and sighed before pulling the angrily crying woman into a one-armed hug. As rare as it was to see such a gentle and soft-spoken woman loudly and aggressively angry, Corali didn't flinch at the sight. She knew anger like a childhood friend, a warm security blanket to protect her from fear and abuse like a shield.

A shield she was recently forced to abandon before its heat could burn her any further.

"Maybe yer right, an' I can't fix what's wrong, but that don't mean I can't help," Corali assured her and hugged her just a little bit tighter. Thiomi didn't hug back, but she visibly relaxed against her.

******************************************************

"Her name's S-shadah. We were kismeses s-sweeps ago. The relationship only lasted a s-sweep and a half, and s-she s-spent at least half of it cheating on me before leaving me altogether for her mistress."

Thiomi sat curled against Mousemom's side and leaning against Corali. The bowl of pear slices sat empty in Thiomi's lap as she held her moirail's hand. Her grip was strong and tight with repressed rage, but the metal appendage was more than capable of handling it. Corali couldn't stop a glare from appearing on her face, but it paled in comparison to the scowl Thiomi wore.

"Tch. What a fuckin' bitch. I ain't ever understood the point a cheatin'. If y'ain't happy just break up outright instead a stringin' someone along an' goin' behind their back," she said.

"Exactly! We could have talked and maybe worked s-something out, and if it couldn't be s-saved, then we could have at least broken up on good terms! But instead, s-she s-spent half a s-sweep lying to me!" Thiomi agreed. She growled and ground her teeth as lukewarm tears continued to fall.

"I know I'm not naturally competitive, but if s-she'd just told me s-she wasn't happy, I would have tried harder. S-she was the first person I ever fell pitch for. I hated her arrogance, her selfishness, how loudly and unapologetically disrespectful and rude and s-spiteful s-she is, but s-she's also confident, and headstrong, and determined, and proud... S-she was perfect, and... And--"

Thiomi choked on her last statement and grabbed the bowl in her lap to launch it across the room in frustration. The plastic bounced harmlessly across the floor slinging pear juice with every impact. With a heavy breath, she hid her face in her hands and loudly cried out her rage and hurt. Corali slung her arm around her and pulled her close. Mousemom gave a few concerned squeaks as she listened to her ward's distress, and Corali gently papped her large snout to ease her a bit.

"Why couldn't I be enough for her?? Why couldn't s-she just-- just talk to me!? Why did s-she have to lie to me for half a s-sweep?! I can't-- I can't even think about that quadrant now! How can I trust I won't be hurt again?? That I'm ever going to be enough for anybody!!" Thiomi wailed and slammed her fists against her crossed legs just to release at least a fraction of the tension and angry energy, and Corali made no move to stop her. She'd been carrying around and hiding this anger for sweeps.

Venting was the best thing she could do for herself.

When her rage entered another lull, Corali finally spoke up again. "An' then ya ran inta her while you were out an' about."

"Y-yeah. I was an idiot to approach her at all, but I-I wanted her to be s-sorry. I knew s-she wouldn't be, because s-she's never s-sorry, but..."

"But ya still wanted some kinda acknowledgement that she knew she was wrong. Just somethin', anythin' at all to show she has at least a fraction of a conscience," Corali finished, and Thiomi could only bite her lip and nod in confirmation.

"S-she told me it was my own fault our relationship failed. That not holding her interest forced her to look for s-someone else because I never measured up. S-she called you a downgrade from S-sonja because 'at least he's a highblood,' and 's-settling for the lowest s-society has to offer' means s-she was right to dump me s-since i'm 's-such a joke.'"

Corali could feel her own anger start to well up hearing the brutal dressing down she received. However, rather than contribute to the Shadah hate train, she stood up and walked toward the couch, removed the cushions, and set them in a heap in front of Thiomi.

"What are you doing?" Thiomi asked in confusion as she watched Corali head to the cleaning closet in the kitchen and pull out the broom. She walked back to her, grabbed one of her hands and hoisted the small woman onto her feet with a single yank. Thiomi squeaked in surprise and nearly lost her balance from the sudden motion, but Corali was quick to catch her and straighten her up.

"We're gon' do a li'l thing called catharsis. See, yer gonna take this broom here an' beat the everlovin' shit outta them cushions," Corali told her matter-of-factly. "Hit 'em as hard an' as much as ya need. Trust me, as the expert on bein' angry, it'll feel damn good."

Thiomi stared at Corali, then the couch cushions, then the broom as it was forced into her hands. Broom, Corali, cushions, Corali, broom. Her incredulous gaze went back and forth for a few moments.

"You want me... to hit my cushions?"

"Them ain't yer cushions. They're Shadah's smug bitch face. Show that jackass what for!"

"I... I don't--"

"Here, lemme help getcha started," Corali said with a grin as she lifted up a cushion and held it in front of her. "Yer a spineless li'l wimp what couldn't fight her way outta a wet paper bag. I'm the best yer ever gon' get, an' ya fuckin' fumbled it. An' leavin' a purple fer a rusty? Pathetic."

"Y'all gonna take that lyin' down?" Corali prodded. Thiomi gripped the broom in her hand and gave the cushion a weak swing.

"Y'all call that a swat? I been bit by mosquitoes with more punch than that! Hit me fer real, or are ya too weak??"

"I'm not weak!" Thiomi raised her voice and took another swing, this one noticeably harder than the first.

"Them love taps say otherwise! C'mon, that can't be all ya got!"

"I s-said I'm not weak!" Smack!

"That's more like it! Tell me how ya really feel!"

"I hate you!" Smack! "I wish I never met you!" Smack! "You don't deserve your quadrants!!" Smack!! Smack!!

"An' why d'y'all wish ya never met me, huh!?"

"Because you s-suck!!" SMACK!! "You're a liar!" SMACK!! "And s-selfish!" SMACK!! "And the worst!" SMACK!! "Person!" SMACK!! "I ever!" SMACK!! "Met!!!" SMACK SMACK SMACK!!!

"There we go! Keep goin'! Show that bitch she's a waste a meat an' air!!" Corali cheered as her moirail finally let go and started wailing on the cushion, all the while yelling and venting everything she'd been holding back for sweeps. Her onslaught only stopped when she accidentally walloped Corali in the face. She yelped and dropped the cushion, and Thiomi's rage almost immediately vanished as concern overtook her. She cast the broom aside and tried to get a good look at Corali's face to check for any bruising. Corali, rather than be upset, cracked up laughing as she allowed Thiomi to examine her.

"Oh my god, I'm s-so s-sorry! I didn't mean to get s-so carried away!" Thiomi sputtered, but Corali brushed off her apology with a half-hearted wave of her hand and nudged her away.

"S'alright, miss ma'am! I fight yer matesprit, remember? I been hit with way worse than a li'l ol' broom ta the face. What about you, though? Felt pretty good to let loose, right?" Corali asked with a goofy grin. Thiomi fussed with the hem of her shirt as if she was embarrassed to answer.

"Ye... Yeah, it kinda did," she answered meekly with a small smile.

"Hahaha, the way you were swingin', I'd say 'kinda' is a understatement," Corali laughed and ruffled her moirail's hair before picking up the cushions and putting them back on the couch. As she was about to take a seat, Thiomi grabbed her around the middle and gave her a tight hug.

"Thanks," she said sweetly. "Nothing will fix what happened, but... but I can live with that."

"Good. One li'l beat 'em up session ain't gonna be enough ta heal how bad you were hurtin', but at least ya got some a that anger out now instead a hidin' it."

"Yeah. Next time I s-see Kamava, I'll tell her about S-shadah and s-see what s-she s-says."

"Atta gal," Corali said and leaned down to plant a small kiss on the top of her head. "Yer gonna be just fine."

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WTF THESE ARE ALL SO ADORABLE 😍‼️

OUGH. Sooooo.... Decided to do this myself :3c

In order:

@wormstuck @ketchfantrolls @jaded-daydream

@knavestrolls @ase-trollplays @miks-fantrolls

@lashysdomain @memurfevur

Fuck you *shitty doodles your fantrolls

[12thperigeeball]

Ball Queen Nominee No 2 - Thiomi Shiaka

Submitted by: Maeron Schiek

I want to nominate Thiomi Shiaka to be the

[ ] Ball King

[X] Ball Queen

of the Ball of 12th Perigee Eve 2019 because …. Honet§tly, I ju§t think §he would be @dor@ble @§ queen, @nd it would be @ lovely §urpri§e for her @t her fir§t ever 12th perigee b@ll.

[ase-trollplays-moved-blog]

Hey thiomi whats UP

…i finally talked to dantli… …he was really upset… but it was mostly at himself… …i think were going to be okay… …now i just have to talk to mareth…

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That's perfect and so so adorable Yes she can wear the special hat ❤️

Okay but what if I got her a special hat so that she can wear it. What THEN

@ase-trollplays

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"I Thought You'd Be Happy For Me."

Thiomi paced nervously around the living room of her hive as she awaited her moirail's return. Corali texted the coordinates of where she was going and told her to send Dantli there if she wasn't back in two hours. An hour and a half had already passed, and she was tempted to call him and send him there now. What if two hours is too late? She--

The sound of the boulder blocking her hive entrance being moved immediately snatched her attention, and she felt her heart leap into her throat. She prayed it was Corali and not another kidnapper as she waited for whoever was on the other side to show themselves. Her lusus stood at attention behind her ready to grab her and run in case her ward was threatened.

"Oy, Thiomi, I'm ba--" Corali greeted as she entered, but the sudden force of Thiomi running and throwing herself around her cut her off and momentarily knocked the wind out out of her. Thiomi clung as tightly as she could to her moirail, and her lusus relaxed and went back into her little hole in the wall. Corali clumsily hugged her back as she tried to get air back in her lungs.

"Are you okay?? Did anyone follow you? What happened? Where did you go for s-so long!?" Thiomi asked in rapid succession with panic flooding her tone. Corali patted her on the head and gave her a weary smile.

"I'm fine, li'l miss ma'am. Y'ain't gotta be so scared," she tried to reassure her as she gently broke the hug. Thiomi stared up at her with big worried eyes before taking a step back.

"I... I'm s-sorry, Corali. I just... You were gone for s-so long, a-and... and I thought legislacerators might have found you, and... Where were you for s-so long??" She asked. Corali rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

"I got a job."

******************************************************

Thiomi sat across from Corali at the dining room table processing the information Corali gave her. It didn't sound real, and if it was real, it certainly didn't sound legitimate. How could it? A troll approached her in the forest while she was hunting, convinced her to go with him to somewhere she's never been, and then she personally talked with his boss and was offered a job as a bouncer at her club because she was impressed by Corali's revenge rampage?

Her doubt was clearly plastered across her face, which caused Corali to sigh and run a hand through her short hair.

"Look, I know it don't sound real, but I got a good feelin' about this. 'Parently she's used ta workin' with felons an' fugitives, so me bein' wanted by the empire ain't a problem. She's offerin' me a hivestem so I ain't gotta be couch surfin' between you an' Dan, and she might even be able ta unfuck my situation a li'l," she reasoned, but Thiomi's expression soured rather than softened.

"I don't think this is a good idea. It s-sounds way too good to be true. S-she could just be s-saying what you want to hear s-so s-she could lure you into s-some kind of trap and turn you in," she said, her tone laced with worry and disapproval.

"I don't exactly got options right now. I can't keep livin' like this, bein' holed up in yer or Dan's hives all the time, not talkin' ta nobody, not bein' seen by no one. Just sittin' around with nothin. I feel like a trapped animal, an' I'm bein' offered some kinda semblance a gettin' part a my life back."

"You could have talked with me about this, at least."

"I thought ya'd be happy fer me. I can have some a my life back. I mean, s'far as I know there's still a manhunt fer me an' a bounty on my head, so it ain't like I can go in public still, but this ain't a bad thing."

Thiomi bit her lip and turned away from her. She wanted to be happy for her, but she couldn't shake the fear and doubt. Corali stood up and walked to Thiomi's side and held one of her hands.

"Please... please don't take this job. I don't want to lose you. ... I... I'm s-scared," she begged as she could feel her eyes start to water. "I'm not ready for you to leave me... I can't be here alone."

Corali frowned and pulled the smaller troll into a tight hug, and she clung to her and silently cried into her shirt as Corali rubbed her back.

"I ain't goin' right this second. It'll take a bit a doin' fer my hivestem ta get set up, an' it ain't like we can't visit each other. Yer gon' be fine--"

"You don't know that," Thiomi interrupted. She dug her fingers into Corali's shirt so tightly she thought she might rip the fabric if she clung any tighter. "What if Joclyn becomes a problem again? What if I'm not just kidnapped and s-scarred next time? As long as you're here, I'm s-safe. If... If you leave..."

Corali felt her heart shatter to pieces as Thiomi started to tremble in her arms, and her crying became less silent. She was at a loss for what to do. As much as Thiomi acted like she had everything together, there was still so much fear and trauma. Despite her own experience with those emotions, she felt utterly helpless here.

Her solution to everything was always to fight. Violence was the best way she knew how to handle a problem. It's how trolls were conditioned, but Thiomi's different. This whole situation was different. She couldn't fight emotions into submission, certainly not someone else's emotions. She silently cursed her uselessness and lack of emotional intelligence.

"Like I said, I ain't leavin' no time soon. An' when I do leave, yer still gon' be safe just like ya were before the bullshit happened. Y'ain't as helpless as ya think ya are," Corali reassured her, but her words fell on deaf ears as Thiomi continued weeping and shaking in her arms.

"You-- You don't have to go. There's online jobs. You like accounting, r-right? Why can't you do that instead? Or-- Or take the job but s-stay here??"

"I can't keep livin' hidin' myself from the world. I can't keep bein' hiveless with no money or space a my own. I can't be in a cage fer the rest a my sweeps. An' most important, I couldn't live with myself if I let ya cling ta me like this ferever, scared a everythin' when I ain't there.

"I ain't like Sonja. I don't want ya ta be completely dependent on me. Ya need ta be able ta function again like before things went wrong."

Thiomi shook her head against Corali's body and continued weeping, and the only thing the older rust could think to do was stand there and let her. What else could she say? What more could she do?

She suddenly felt envious of Thiomi's therapist for being able to help her moirail where she utterly failed.

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Moving Night Blues

"Welp, here we are. Hiveblock sweet hiveblock," Corali said as she unlocked the door of her apartment. Thiomi stood close to her and looked around warily. The area was on the rough side, and she was more than a little worried for her moirail's safety despite Nacre's assurance that Corali would be more or less safe. Not that she really needed to worry considering Corali was able to fight trolls several castes above her, especially if her secondary psionics activated.

As Corali entered and flicked the lights on, Thiomi took one last look down at her lusus on the ground floor of the complex and hoped no one tried to hurt her while she was inside. She may be fast and big as a truck, but she was no more of a fighter than Thiomi herself. She squeaked in surprise and jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder, and she whirled around to be greeted by Corali grinning with her hands help up in front of her.

"Whoa, 's just me, li'l miss ma'am. Don't tell me yer that scared just bein' here. Meemaw's gonna be fine, an' so'r you. Now come look around with me, yeh?" Corali asked and gently ushered her inside. Thiomi fussed with the sleeves of her sweater for a moment before looking around the modest one-bedroom hiveblock.

The space was sparsely furnished, so much so that calling it furnished felt like a stretch. The only furniture present in the living space was a modest dining room table with a couple of chairs. No couch or coffee table, no microwave, not even carpet or a rug. Corali ran a hand through her hair as she looked at her new home with a blank expression while Thiomi wore a disapproving grimace.

Corali looked down at the smaller woman's expression and put an arm around her shoulder. "Aw c'mon, don't look so sour. 'S normal fer hiveblocks ta be empty when ya move in. Where d'ya think we are, the highblood district? Honestly, the table an' chairs is more'n I was expectin'."

"I know, but... I mean, when you s-said Nacre was s-setting things up for you, I assumed more would be done, that's all. It took s-so long, and it's just a table and chairs," she complained as she continued to look around the mostly barren space. Corali gave an amused "Pfft" and ruffled Thiomi's hair.

"Beggars can't be choosers, miss ma'am. I asked her fer a place, an' she got me one. 'Sides, I don't mind it at all. Means I get ta make the place look how I want instead a havin' it decided fer me," Corali reasoned and walked further into the apartment. Thiomi sighed and followed behind her. At least it's clean, she thought as she dragged a finger along the kitchen countertop.

The rest of the apartment took less than a minute to peruse. The bathroom was small but functional for one person. The sink was in the open in its own section while the toilet and shower/tub were behind a door. Across from the bathroom was the bedroom occupied by a single recuperacoon in the corner of the room near the bedroom window.

Corali frowned at the sight of a recuperacoon rather than a bed. The slime looked fairly fresh, and the size was large enough to accommodate a troll of her stature, but she still sighed in disappointment at the sight of it. She didn't even try to hide the wince and the grimace that plastered itself on her face.

"Prolly shoulda told Miss Nacre I ain't a 'coon user," she mumbled and pulled two suitcases and a backpack from her sylladex to sit on the floor near the closet. The thought of being completely or even partially submerged sent an aggressive shudder up her spine. That'd have to go ASAP. "Guess I'ma be sleepin' at the table fer a li'l while."

"The closet is a good s-size, at least," Thiomi remarked from inside. There was plenty of space allocated of hangers and a small column of open storage shelves. The electric heater for the apartment also being in the closet wasn't ideal and took quite a bit of space, but, well. Beggars can't be choosers.

With an "Arright, let's get started" from Corali, the two women set about unpacking the small amounts of luggage Corali brought with her. Only one of the suitcases, the smaller of the two, contained her clothes: A couple of work uniforms, some casual clothes, her workout clothes, and a set of pajamas Thiomi bought for her. The backpack was mainly necessities such as her hair brush and comb, hand soap, dish soap, shampoo and conditioner, wash cloths, her toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, and toiler paper.

The second and largest suitcase was full of items Thiomi insisted on buying for her to make the place feel more like a home: a dish and silverware set, food seasonings, pictures of her loved ones, a throw blanket, a stuffed mole plushie that was meant to represent her lusus, an unwelcome mat, some scented candles, and DVDs of a couple of her favorite movies.

It took all of forty-five minutes to unpack and put away everything, afterwards Corali ordered a pizza -- Half meat-lovers and half vegetable supreme -- and soda from the nearest pizza place and had it delivered.

"So whatcha think, miss ma'am? Ya warmed up ta the place any now that it's a li'l less barren?" Corali asked with a smile before taking a large bite of hot pizza which she then spit out with a "Fuck me!" then just about inhaling a large swig of soda. Thiomi laughed and waited for her slice to cool down a little.

"I guess it's not... s-so bad. I s-still think there s-should be more here with how long you waited," she answered and took a modest sip from her glass. Corali rolled her eyes as she fanned her tongue sticking out of her mouth cartoonishly.

"Ah hol' you ith hot a bihg dheal," she said still fanning her singed taste buds before picking up the bite she spat out and plopping it back in her mouth. Thiomi only responded with a sigh and took another drink. The casual air soon turned thick with discomfort and tense from words not being said as silence settled between them. The pizza and soda could only be a distraction for the rust for so long before she picked up on the change in atmosphere. She stared at Thiomi with a raised brow.

"What's the matter? If yer still sore about how empty the place was, don't be. I can buy my own furniture an' niceties an' all that jazz. Expectin' the place ta have all the bells an' whistles is unreasonable," Corali said before taking a tentative second bite of pizza. Thiomi fussed with her sleeves under the table and looked down at her untouched pizza. With a bite of her lip, she looked back at Corali.

"C-can I... Can I s-stay with you today?" she finally asked. The rust chewed more slowly and thoughtfully as she stared her moirail down in search of a motive for her question.

"Ihf yer whorried abhout the arhea-- Fuck, hold on," Corali started to say with her mouth still full before finally swallowing so she could continue unabated, "If yer worried about the area, y'shouldn't be. I can more'n defend myself against anyone'r anythin' that tries comin' through that door."

"It's... i-it's not that," Thiomi confessed and looked away again. "We've been living together for perigees, and before that we s-spent a few perigees with Dantli. I haven't been alone, actually alone, s-since everything happened, and now... now you're leaving, and I'll be all by myself in my hive, and... I'm s-still s-so s-scared.

"I know you keep s-saying the trouble with Joclyn is over because s-she's left us alone for s-so long, but what if that's her plan? To leave us alone long enough that our guard's down s-so s-she can cause trouble again? I s-still keep replaying what happened -- My kidnapping, being held hostage, being tortured and dumped, the two weeks in the hospital! I-I-I can't s-stop thinking about it!

"It's been s-six perigees, but it s-still feels like it was only a few nights ago for me! I-- I can't do this!!"

Thiomi curled in on herself crying and starting to hyperventilate from panic. Corali knocked her chair to the floor as she stood up and hurried to her side. It only took a second for Thiomi to latch onto her and cling to her like a frightened child hugging her security blanket. Corali, having no idea what to say to quell her panic attack, moved to sit on the floor with Thiomi now in her lap.

"'S alright, Thiomi. I gotcha. I gotcha," Corali said and held her close. They stayed hugging each other until Thiomi managed to calm down half an hour later, though not even a crowbar could separate her from Corali. Corali mentally cursed, not sure if Thiomi's therapist was dropping the ball dealing with her anxiety, or if (more likely) Thiomi still wasn't being fully honest with her and let this paranoia fester.

Whatever the case, she was tired of being useless when it came to the emotional aspects of being a moirail. Sure, holding her and offering reassurances worked in the short-term, but it wasn't fixing the core issue. It was just reapplying bandages to an open wound that refused to heal. There had to be something--

That's when it hit her, a solution so obvious she wondered how Thiomi didn't think of it herself.

"Y'all don't feel safe in yer hive on account a Joclyn knowin' she can find ya there, right? Why don'tcha just move inta Dantli's hive? Ain't no way a troll can get through that gauntlet a traps he got set up, an' if they do he'll die b'fore he lets someone so much as tap ya on the shoulder with ill intent. I can't think a no place safer, an' ya know he'd be happy as a pig in mud ta have ya there."

Thiomi went silent as she mulled over the suggestion in her head.

"That s-sounds like a good idea, but... but that's s-still just hiding from my problem instead of resolving it. Kamava--"

"Kamava don't know about none a this, does she? At least not all of it," Corali asked, and the feeling of Thiomi stiffening against her was all the confirmation she needed. With an exasperated sigh, she placed her metal hand on Thiomi's head and gently rubbed the base of her horns. "Thiomi, ya know I love y'all ta the moons an' back, but if y'ain't gonna be honest with yer therapist an' tell her all a what's wrong, what're ya even payin' her fer?"

"... I know," Thiomi said so weakly Corali barely heard her. Corali started to gently push Thiomi off her so she could look her in the eyes. It took more than a little coaxing for the gesture to be allowed, and even then Thiomi wouldn't look at her face. Corali removed her hand from atop her head and used it to tilt her head up to look her in the eyes.

"Yer right. Movin' in with Dan ain't fixin' the problem, but yer way too paranoid ta be left alone in yer hive, so until ya tell yer therapist all this an' let her help ya -- An y'all will be tellin' her all this an' lettin' her help ya -- make it easy on yerself. Once y'ain't a paranoid mess anymore, just move back in. Promise me yer gonna do that, 'kay?" Corali told her and removed her hand from her hand to hold up a pinky. Thiomi, diluted olive green forming in the corners of her eyes, held up a pinky and intertwined it with Corali's.

"I promise I'll tell Kamava everything, for real this time. No more holding back," she said ashamedly, and the two shook on it.

"Good. Now let's get back ta our cold pizza an' warm soda," Corali stated jokingly and slowly stood up and helped Thiomi onto her feet as well. She looked toward the front door. "We're gonna have ta find some kinda way ta get meemaw up them steps an' through that door if yer stayin' the day 'less ya want the undead ta get her."

"I think s-she can get through if we both push from the other s-side."

"Why couldn't ya have a dog-sized lusus, miss ma'am?"

"I didn't choose her, you know, hehe."

"Excuses. If she breaks my door frame, yer explainin' what happened ta maintenance, an' unlike yer big softy matesprit ya can't just bat yer li'l eyes at them an' make 'em fergive ya."

"Haha, wanna bet? We know my s-sad eyes are irresistable."

"Arright, yer on. Now let's go get her and try ta stuff her in here without breakin' nothin."

[ase-trollplays]

What's Good For One...

"...corali..."

"Mm?"

"...i... ...i need to tell you s-something... and i want you to really think about it before you s-say no..."

"... Aright, shoot, but I gotta say y'ain't exactly fillin' me with confidence here."

"...okay... ...i want you to s-see a therapist..."

"Y'all want me ta what."

"...i want you to s-start s-seeing a therapist..."

"All due respect, I don't need a therapist. I can work on my own problems without getting a glorified pale escort involved like some desperate trainwreck."

"...is that what you think about my therapist?... ...what you think about me going to therapy?... ...im just a 'desperate trainwreck' s-spending money on a 'pale escort'?..."

"Wh-- No!! A course not! I-- shit, ya know I didn't mean it like that. I ain't talking about y'all. I'm just sayin'--"

"...you need s-someone to help you process your trauma... and as much as i want to help you... im too far out of my depth to address what happened to you..."

"What happened ta me is in the past, an' no amount a talkin' ta some stranger's gonna fix it. There ain't no point."

"...a therapist wont fix what you went through... but theyll help you heal from it..."

"I'm plenty healed."

"...were you healed when you turned into an alcoholic picking fights to cope?..."

"I ain't no alcoholic anymore, an' I ain't goin' 'round pickin' fights."

"...you only realized it was a problem after you assaulted darius for trying to stop you..."

"Don't y'all dare bring that up! That's a low fuckin' blow, Thiomi. Yeah, I made a big fuckin' mistake, prolly one a the biggest a my life, an' I did what I had ta ta make things right. It's all behind me now, an' it's fuckin' despicable a ya ta throw that in my face."

"...im not throwing it in your face... ...im trying to emphasize that youre not as over everything as you think you are... ...i may be helping you now... but you need more than i can give you... ...your temper... your hatred of highbloods... your anxiety... ...its all connected to your childhood trauma and your inability to move on from it...

"Don't y'all go all therapy speak on me. I said I'm fine, an' I'm gon' keep on bein' fine without therapy."

"...and what about when you s-stop being fine?... ...is therapy really s-such a bad thing?... ...i dont want you to have a complete mental breakdown before you decide to try it like i did..."

"Complete mental... When did that happen?"

"...oh... ...i never did tell you about that... did i?..."

"No, ya didn't. Out with it."

"...it happened when you s-stopped talking to me... ...s-sonjas comedy personality s-saw me in the park and s-started taunting and berating me about my biggest failures... ...losing s-shadah... getting mareth killed... my bad mental health... ...i had the biggest meltdown of my entire life... just screaming at him and crying and s-shaking..."

"I'll kill him."

"...corali..."

"Fine, I'll just knock a couple teeth out. Maybe break an arm while I'm at it."

"...absolutely not!... ...this isnt about what he did... ...this is about you... ...i used to think the s-same thing about not needing therapy... ...after that night... though... i knew i couldnt hide from my problems anymore... and i needed extra help... ...and i know that you need extra help too... and i dont want it to take a complete meltdown for you to realize it like it did for me..."

"I ain't gonna have any kinda meltdown. My life might still be fucked, but I got some a it back. I quit drinkin', got a good job, my own place ta live, a safe-ish neighborhood where I don't gotta worry about gettin' caught, an' I got you an' Dan, an' y'all ain't goin' nowhere."

"...i know things are looking up... but s-still... ...promise me youll at least think about it... ...just because things are going well doesnt mean theyll go well forever..."

"Look. I appreciate the concern. I really do. But I don't need therapy. I promise ya I'm fine."

"..."

"C'mon, don't be like that. What, ya don't trust me?"

"...of course i do... ...i just dont get why you don't trust me..."

"Just cuz I ain't goin' ta see a therapist don't mean I don't trust ya. It's nothin' personal. I just don't wanna waste time an' caegers on shit I don't need."

"...right... ...s-sorry..."

[ase-trollplays]

hey if you aren't on artfight but want art a an oc, you should reblog this with that ref

or if you are and just want art of a specific character idc go for it

[ase-trollplays]

The Moves You Didn't Make, and the Mistakes You Did

Thiomi stared up at the ceiling of her hospital room and sighed forlornly. Alternia was a cruel and unkind place, a hard lesson she was once again reminded of the during two weeks she was kidnapped and held prisoner, unsure if she would be allowed to live or ordered to die. The mutilation of her face and arms recorded for her best friend to see was an acrid and tainted icing on the cruelty cake.

However, there was still the occasional kindness of strangers, two such acts leading her to where she was now. The first act came in the form of a long haul trucker who spotted her on the barren road miles from the city who took pity on her. After he dropped her off at his destination in the city, the second act of kindness came from a blue blood with blue-dyed hair and matching blue jacket who escorted her to the hospital after she informed him of her full injuries. Despite her protests and insistence that he needn't waste his wealth on her, he informed the staff he would be paying for all of her medical costs and provided his address so they could mail him the bill.

She could barely thank him through her tears, though part of her was sure this act of charity would blow back on her in a terrible way in the future.

The nurse had asked if he she had quadrants she would like to call. The first one she contacted was her matesprit whose heart she could hear shatter over the phone as he pleaded for her location and told her he was on the way before hastily hanging up. Her second call was to--

"Where's Thiomi Shiaka??! I ain't leavin' outta here b'fore I see she's okay with my own eyes!"

The troll she hoped to take as a moirail. A decision she would very soon come to regret.

Corali stormed into her room and froze like a deer in the headlights when she laid eyes on Thiomi in her bed. The harshness of her arrival was all but forgotten as she walked to her bedside, looked her over with a pained, pitiful expression, and leaned over the side railing to give her a hug so gentle it was if she was afraid of breaking her if she held her too tightly. Thiomi reached up to put her arms around her, but a sudden sharp pain in both limbs forced her to set them back down on the bed. Corali immediately let go and backed away at least three feet with both hands raised.

"S-shit, did I hurtcha??" she sputtered, and Thiomi shook her head with a pained wince.

"No, it's not that. I just... hurt my s-stitches," she answered and looked down at her wrists where the long cuts ended. The rustblood approached again and gently took one of Thiomi's hands in her, then lightly trailed up her arm with her flesh and blood hand. She had stitches nearly all the way up her arm, and she was willing to bet the other arm was in just as bad shape. She then reached up and rubbed a thumb against one of the bandages on Thiomi's face hiding the deep slices in her cheeks. The yellows of Corali's eyes, which were already a light orange, turned umber with a mix of rage and sadness.

"... I'm glad yer okay. I mean, okay as ya can be, considerin'... y'know," she finally said, though part of Thiomi resented her words. "Where's Dan? I'm s'prised he didn't beat me here."

"He's s-still on the way... I don't think the empress herself could do anything to s-stop him," Thiomi answered with a hefty amount of guilt of her own. She never got a chance to explain anything to him before she was taken. The call from her hospital bed was the first time she spoke to him since her abduction, and she knew he was beating himself up for not somehow realizing something was wrong and flying to her aid. Her only relief was that Varoll was blissfully unaware of all of this, and she would stay that way if Thiomi could help it. A child shouldn't have that kind of stress and upset.

The two spent a few moments in silence as Corali took a seat next to the hospital bed and held her head in her hands in frustration. Thiomi stared down at her lap with her brows furrowed and her normally gentle eyes narrowed every so slightly. She clenched the blanket covering her lower body in her fists.

"S-so... when did you relapse?" Thiomi asked, suddenly curt. Corali went wide-eyed and still as words failed her. Thiomi didn't turn to face her, but Corali could feel her judging and critical glare all the same. "You s-smell like a brewery. How many nights did you s-spend drinking? Does Darius know?"

Corali could feel anxiety creeping in. "Is... Is now really the time ta be talkin' about my sobriety? Y'all just survived bein' held hostage an' tortured. I--"

"Was s-she right when s-she s-said you were s-spending every night getting drunk? Did you even try to find me?" she asked with a growing venom in her voice. Corali stared at her in hurt and confusion at where this sudden vitriol was coming from.

"Thiomi, I... Okay, yeah, I relapsed, but-- Fuck, I was fallin' apart at the seams! I didn't know if y'all were alive'r dead, my job got bombed an' I wound up gettin' fired again! An' the whole time I'm bein' taunted by that psychotic bitch! I cracked! I was scared an' mad an' anxious an'--"

"Do you have any idea what it's like to s-spend every night not knowing whether you're going to live to s-see the next one? Do you know how it feels to fully, truly realize how unsafe you are? Have you ever been s-so s-scared that you cried yourself to s-sleep every day praying for your life to be s-spared? Praying that if you are killed, your loved ones won't be targeted next? Do you???"

Thiomi finally looked at her friend with tears and a burning anger in her eyes so intense Corali momentarily felt her blood turn to ice in her veins. Words completely and utterly failed her. She opened her mouth to talk -- She made three attempts -- but no explanation or justification ever formed.

"Th-Thiomi, where's this all comin' fro--"

"You didn't answer me. Did you even try to find me?" Thiomi repeated, her quiet voice doing little to counter the deafening volume of her disappointment and tranquil fury. She knew that, more than likely, Corali never would have found her. Thiomi herself didn't even know where she was kept, but that wasn't the point. Joclyn mockingly told her that Corali wasn't looking for her, that she hadn't even made any attempt, that she was spending all of her nights at hive getting plastered and wallowing. At first she was sad, devastated even. However, as she was carved on camera, that sadness turned into a slow burning anger.

An anger that was finally coming to the surface. This was Corali's fault.

Corali said nothing and bit her lip with enough force to reopen the puncture wounds from the other night. The lack of verbal response was all the confirmation Thiomi needed. Her sympathy well was now barren and dry.

"Her name's Joclyn, and s-she's a jade. S-she hired the troll who kidnapped me. Whoever s-she hired probably doesn't like her s-since they were willing to tell me about her," Thiomi told her dryly and looked away from Corali and back down at her lap. Corali felt like she got whiplash from the sudden change of subject.

"Wha--"

"They were also really cold, like ice, s-so they might be a s-seadweller. If s-she could hire a s-seadweller, s-she probably has or knows s-someone with a lot of money. Probably a highblood."

Corali tried to take in everything Thiomi was saying. However, she wouldn't get the chance to ask any more questions as she was interrupted before she even had the chance to open her mouth.

"Go away."

"Wh... Y'all can't be serious. Yer throwin' me out?"

"No. I'm telling you to leave me alone. S-security will be the ones to throw you out if you don't." Thiomi's tone was like ice: Cold, harsh, and unforgiving. She reached for the button to call for a nurse, but she didn't press it. This was the final warning the rust would be given, a silent threat. Corali furrowed her brow and gritted her teeth before harshly exhaling through her nose and rising to her feet.

"Arright, I'm goin," she acquiesced and walked toward the door. However, she stopped abruptly in the doorway and turned her head to look at the angry, traumatized woman. "An' fer yer information, I know exactly what all that's like. I know all that an' more'n y'all've ever seen. When ya stop bein' pissed at me, ask me about my childhood. I gave y'all the cliffnotes b'fore. Next time, I'm tellin' it all."

And with that, Corali exited the room and stomped toward the elevators to take her back down to the first floor. She kept mentally going over the information Thiomi gave her: A jade named Joclyn with enough money to hire a seadweller to work for her, and Corali at some point hurt one of her quadmates.

She didn't have everything figured out just yet, but she swore that as soon as she found her -- And she would find her -- she was going to make her regret what she put Thiomi through for the rest of her life.

All five minutes of it.

[ase-trollplays]

Growing Pains All Around

Corali was sat on Thiomi's couch idly cleaning her nails when the familiar sight of the boulder entrance of Thiomi's hive disappearing alerted her to her moirail's arrival. The first one in was Varoll with her fins flared and a sour expression on her face. Corali didn't even get a chance to greet her before she stormed upstairs, and the sound of a door slamming could be heard. Thiomi trudged in after her and replaced the boulder from her sylladex before taking a seat next to Corali and burying her face in her hands.

"Well, that ain't good. I take it boxin' class didn't go well," Corali said and gently placed her robotic hand on her shoulder. Thiomi simply shook her head and heaved a loud sigh. The rust pulled her moirail to lean against her in a one-arm hug and rubbed her arm. "Ya wanna talk about it?"

"I completely embarrassed her, and now s-she won't talk to me," Thiomi sighed and folded her hands in her lap. Corali cringed and ran a hand through her hair. She knew there was a chance this would happen when she suggested Thiomi attend Varoll's first class in an effort to bond, but she really, really hoped it wouldn't.

"What happened?" Corali asked. Thiomi dragged a hand down her face.

"I cheered for her during a s-sparring s-session, and a couple of the other kids s-started teasing her, s-so I decided to s-stay quiet. Then the biggest kid in the class called her a name, s-so Varoll challenged her to a fight.

"I tried to talk her out of it, but the instructor decided to allow it. As they were fighting, Varoll took a hard hit and collapsed. I demanded the instructor break them up, and after Varoll got up s-she was furious that I interfered. S-she hasn't s-said a word to me s-since, even when I tried to apologize."

Thiomi leaned away from her and once again sat slumped with her head in her hands. Corali though back to when she was a kid and at the height of her "Fight me" phase.

"Uh-huh... Yeh, I can see why she's mad," Corali said and began to stand up. Thiomi looked up at her as she made her way upstairs. "I'ma be right back."

Once she reached the upper floor, she looked around for where Varoll might have gone. Thiomi's bedroom door was still open, so she clearly wasn't in there. She also wasn't in the linen closet, which left the bathroom. Corali tried to open the door, but as expected, it was locked. She then knocked on the door and was greeted by a curt "I still ain't talkin' ta you!"

"Wrong one, kiddo," Corali replied and leaned her side against the door. "Y'ain't in trouble. Thiomi told me what happened in class, an' I get it. I'd a been mad as hell, too. That's hella embarrassin', havin' yer lusus run in ta rescue ya. Ya mind lettin' me in?"

"Thiomi ain't with ya, is she?"

"Nope, 's just big ol' me."

After a few moments, Corali heard a soft click as the door was unlocked then opened. Varoll looked around to make sure she wasn't lying, then stepped aside so she could walk in. Once inside, Varoll hastily shut and relocked the door. Corali took a seat on the toilet, and Varoll on the edge of the bathtub pouting.

"Why'd she hafta stay? I knew she was gonna embarrass me an' be all clingy, but she said she wanted ta try bondin' with me. I wish she'd a just dropped me off," Varoll complained. Corali cringed once more and gave a sheepish chuckle as she rubbed the back of her head.

"Yeh, sorry 'bout that. I'm the one who told her it'd bring y'all two closer. That's my bad," Corali admitted which earned her a loud huff and a glare from the adolescent.

"I know ya been buttin' heads with Thiomi since ya turned six, an' I ain't mad at ya. Yer tryin' ta come inta yer own, an' she's still hangin' onta ya like yer still a li'l kid," Corali said and leaned against the back of the toilet with her arms crossed. Varoll threw her hands up in exasperation.

"See?? You an' Dan get it! Thiomi don't!" she exploded followed by a loud groan. Before she could vent further, Corali held up a finger in a silencing gesture to stop her.

"Ah, ah! I ain't done yet," she told her and lowered her finger. "Ya gotta understand where she's comin' from. You, me, an' Dan? We been fighters since the night we was hatched. That shit's in our blood, but Thiomi? Hell nah.

"Growin' up, she was real weak an' could barely defend herself, an' Alternia's a even scarier place when everyone's bigger an' stronger'n you an' ya can't fight. She wasn't confident an' feisty like you. When she thinks a her childhood, she remembers bein' scared an' alone.

"She doesn't want ya gettin' hurt like she used ta get hurt," she explained. Varoll groaned and growled in frustration.

"But I ain't her! I ain't weak an' defenseless an' scared! She don't gotta worry about me like I'm still a wriggler!" she fired back and crossed her arms angrily. Corali chuckled and reached out to roughly muss Varoll's hair.

"That's the thin', squirt. She knows y'ain't her. Y'ain't her, an she ain't you, and the way y'all grew up is totally different. She already knows all that in her head, but her heart don't always listen. 'S just how emotions work."

Varoll huffed and swatted away Corali's hand, then went about trying to fix her already messy hair. "Emotions're dumb."

"Hell yeh they are. Now ya know Thiomi didn't mean ta embarrass ya at class, right?" Corali asked. Varoll pouted and turned her body away from her, but she still nodded.

"She's not like us. She's real soft, an' that ain't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes us rough an' tumble fightin' types need a li'l softness. I'm actually a li'l jealous a you," she admitted with a wistful sigh. "I coulda used someone like her when I was yer age. Woulda saved me a lotta trouble an' hardships. Yer real lucky ta have her even when it don't feel like it."

After a minute of silence between the two, Corali stood up and started walking towards the bathroom door to exit. As she unlocked the door and turned the handle, she look back at the pouting fuchsia one last time with a smile. "Go a li'l easier on her. She's tryin' her best."

With that, Corali closed to door and went back downstairs where Thiomi was waiting for her expectantly. She stood up from the couch and quickly walked over to meet her at the bottom of the stairs.

"Were you able to talk to her? What did s-she s-say?" Thiomi asked worriedly. Corali smirked and gingerly rested a hand on top of Thiomi's head. Thiomi gave a small, quiet squeak at the unexpected contact, and Corali smiled down at her.

"She's still miffed, but I think I mighta smoothed things over. Y'all two're gon' be just fine," Corali assured her before patting her head and wandering toward the kitchen where there was still some of the vegetable pasta Arriak made left over. Thiomi looked toward the top of the staircase and briefly debated attempting to talk to Varoll, but ultimately she decided against it.

Two hours later, there was the sound of a door opening upstairs and footsteps coming down. Thiomi looked up from the couch and Corali paused her sit-ups to look at the young tyrian. Varoll stared at Thiomi with her fins flared slightly before drooping and sighing.

"... Sorry I got mad at ya," she apologized and looked away. Thiomi got up and made her way to Varoll to give her a gentle hug. With some hesitation, Varoll returned the gesture.

"I'm s-sorry for embarrassing you. I need... I need to acknowledge you're getting older and don't need me around as much anymore. I'm s-so proud of who you're becoming," Thiomi told her and hugged her just a bit tighter before letting go and smiling at her. Varoll looked away at first, but she eventually turned back toward her and smiled as well.

Corali grinned from her spot on the floor as she watched the pair make up with just a hint of smugness. Maybe she was better at this emotional stuff than she thought.

[ase-trollplays]

When We Were Kids (Part One)

...s-so... how are you feeling?... ...s-still s-sore?...

Y'all got no idea. The only thing that don't hurt is blinkin'. I swear, soon as I can move again, I'm suplexin' Dan inta next sweep.

...he only picks on you because he cares... ...its his way of making s-sure you dont obsess over everything...

Ya mean like the fact I fucked myself an' can never have anythin' close ta a normal life ever again cuz I lost my fool head?

...yeah... that... ...im just relieved you werent killed... ...i... ...i was going insane thinking id have to bury another moirail...

I wouldn't be too relieved. I can't go out in public ever again with legis an' fleet dogs out fer my head. Prolly got a hefty bounty, too, an' rewards fer turnin' me in. Y'all two ain't safe either if anyone finds out y'all know me.

...yeah... ...when dantli comes back... we s-should all talk about where were going from here...

Ugh, I can't even get my shit from my hive. It's prolly bein' watched or somethin', or it's been raided an' bugged by now in case me'r one a y'all shows up. God, my lusus ain't gon' know what happened ta me, an' he can't come here like yers. I ain't sure he'll wait a sweep fer me ta come back like when I was a kid.

...that reminds me... ...when i was in the hospital... you s-said you knew exactly how i felt when i was being held captive... and that i s-should ask you about your childhood...

Yeh. Yeh, I did say that, didn't I? I'm guessin' this is yer way a askin'?

...yeah... if you dont mind...

Alright. It ain't a happy story, but I'm sure ya already figured that. I guess I'll start from the beginnin'.

I was even more a a hotheaded stubborn shit when I was a kid, if y'all can believe that. Pickin' fights with every troll I saw an' tryin' ta befriend the ones who beat me. Which was damn near all a them cuz fer all my bluster, I was a twiggy scrawny little toothpick, ain't had a ounce a muscle on me. I didn't want nobody thinkin' I was weak just cuz I was a skinny rust.

I was always gettin' my dumb ass beat up an' hurt tryin' ta prove I ain't no wimp, but I did get some good friends outta it. Even had a li'l flush crush on one a them, a girl who beat me in a fight just by knockin' me down an' sittin' on me 'til I wore myself out tryin' ta get her off. I had a whole group a friends back then. I can't tell ya what their names'r caste was, but we were a happy li'l group.

Here's the part where everythin' goes ta shit. When I was five, I was out patrollin' my li'l territory when I spotted a scraggly-lookin' teal prowlin' around. He was a adult an' a lot bigger'n me, but I challenged him all the same. He hauled off an' kicked me dead in the stomach an' told me ta get lost. If I was smart I'd a left it at that, but who said wrigglers are smart? I wasn't ready ta say I lost, so I picked myself up, grabbed a big ol' rock, an' chucked it square at the back a his head. Hit him so hard he started bleedin' an' staggered a good bit.

He looked back at me real mad at first, then he started smilin'. Said I had a lot a fight in me for a twiggy brat. I told him there's more where that came from if he don't git, an' he laughed an' said he'd have a ball breakin' me. 'Fore I knew it, he was right up on me, an' I didn't have no time ta react 'fore he got me in the gut with a stun gun an' knocked my ass right out.

I woke up in a cell with a couple other young trolls. I asked where I was, an' they said I was in the slave camp. Said I was here cuz they were gon' break me, train me inta a perfect li'l pet slave, then sell me off ta the highest bidder. Needless ta say, I wasn't havin' that shit. I made it my mission ta put up as much a a fight as I could an' refuse ta be domesticated.

First handler they assigned ta me was that teal that grabbed me. Since I already fought with him once, I knew what ta expect. He got a lotta good licks in over the first couple nights, but eventually he slipped up an' I was able ta steal his stun gun an' shock him dead in the eyes. After that, they decided to gimme their toughest, meanest, biggest handler.

He was a big blueblood who made us call him "Mister," an' he took that shit serious. I called him asshole exactly once an' he slapped me 'cross the face so hard he damn near snapped my neck. I couldn't feel my face fer a night afterward. Most a my abuse came from him, an' I just know he was havin' fun beatin' my ass every night tryin' ta make me give up.

But I'm the most stubborn bitch ever hatched, so I didn't make shit easy fer him. He beat me ta shit, starved me, locked me in a tiny li'l cage, an' made sure no one talked ta me'r tried helpin' me'r they'd be in the same boat. His favorite punishment fer me was the post. There was a big wooden post in a sort a courtyard outside with a pair a manacles attached. He'd lock me in, hike up my shirt, an' tear me ta ribbons with a whip. Afterwards, he'd leave me out there fer nights with only a thick blanket thrown over me ta keep me from bein' completely cooked ta death by the sun durin' the day.

He liked hearin' me cry an' scream in pain, so I'd try my damnedest to keep my mouth shut no matter how hard an' how much he whipped me. I'd stay quiet for the first thirty seconds, but after that I could never hold it in anymore. Then he'd whip me more fer resistin'. So many times I was close ta givin' up if it meant he wouldn't torture me no more, but I didn't wanna let him win.

...oh my god... ...im s-so s-sorry... ...i cant even imagine... and i s-said all that--

Y'ain't gotta apologize fer bein' mad. I get it. Ya were in a scary situation, an' hearin' that I never even tried ta find ya when this whole thing was my damn fault ta start with? I'd a been pissed, too.

...s-still though... ...it was s-so insensitive...

It ain't like y'all knew any a this at the time. It's fine.

...how did you get out??...

Heh, that's where shit gets real interestin'.

They kept me at that camp fer half a sweep torturin' me, but I held on. I dunno why they didn't just cull my stubborn ass a long time ago. My guess is cuz Mister wanted the satisfaction a breakin' me cuz ain't no one else been this much a a challenge fer him fer so long. If he let them cull me, it ain't a real win. But eventually he reached the end a his patience with me.

I managed ta get a hold a a fork an' taunted Mister 'til he grabbed me 'round the throat an' got right in my face ta threaten me. I stabbed him in the eye an' tried ta make a break fer the exit while he was screamin' an' cursin' an' bleedin'. A course, I didn't make it nowhere close ta the door 'fore I got caught. Mister was fumin' somethin' fierce, and I didn't even get a chance ta register what he was about ta do 'fore everythin' just became blindin' pain.

I remember one a the supervisors cussin' him out cuz they was plannin' on sendin' me ta The Pit, an' now I ain't in no condition ta be transferred. That fucker cut me open from rib ta hip with a dagger. I spent nights in the infirmary tryin' ta get stabilized an' patched up. I was so weak from bein' starved an' beat on a regular basis that I almost died.

But like I said, I'm the most stubborn bitch ever hatched. I was able ta recover enough ta get my stitches out, but after they they decided ta cut their losses and finally cull me. Mister wanted ta do the honors himself. After what I did ta him, he didn't care about winnin' no more. He wanted me dead. He filled a tub full a water, threw me in, an' held me down with his foot while I thrashed an' tried ta free myself 'fore I drowned. Eventually I lost consciousness.

I woke up chokin' on water an' hackin' the shit out my lungs in the middle a the forest. I figured they dumped my body fer the undead an' the animals ta eat once I blacked out. I didn't know where I was or how ta get back home, an' I was fuckin' scared. But I was free after half a sweep in captivity, an' that was more important than bein' afraid. I picked a direction an' started walkin'.

I didn't have no way a huntin' ta feed myself, an' I was still fuckin' weak as shit, so I didn't eat much a nothin' 'cept whatever bugs an' small animals I was able ta catch. I had ta sleep up in trees durin' the day ta avoid the roamin' undead. Eventually between the hunger an' bein' exhausted all the time, I dropped.

Next thing I know, I'm wakin' up in a hive belongin' ta some li'l jade even younger'n me sayin' him an' his lusus found me. I was still a ornery li'l shit an' wasn't exactly a good hiveguest. He still helped me an' everythin' though. Kept me fed, gave me a place ta sleep. Once I was mostly healed an' had my strength back, I robbed him blind an' ran. Took every piece an' scrap a food I could carry, stole a couple knives, an' I was off. I'd prolly apologize ta him if I ever see him again, not that I remember what he even looked like, an' I'm sure he don't remember me or wouldn't recognize me now.

I spent the next half sweep doin' whatever I could ta survive an' try ta find my way home. I stole, I killed, I broke inta hives, I did whatever I had ta do ta make it ta the next night. When I finally made it hive after that half a sweep, my pa was there waitin' fer me. He waited fer a whole sweep fer me ta come back instead a takin' in a new charge. I bawled the hardest I ever have in my life. Makes me feel extra shitty that I can't go back an' say my goodbyes ta him. He's prolly still waitin' fer me ta come back just like I did last time I went missin'.

...if you want... i can ask dantli to go to your hive and tell your lusus you arent coming back... ...i dont think hes on anyones radar s-since he doesnt s-socialize... ...i can tell him to make it look like he's robbing you s-so they dont get s-suspicious... and itll be a convenient way to get s-some of your things for you...

That ain't a bad idea. S'long as he don't say nothin' stupid'r incriminatin', that could work.

Anyway, speakin' a going back hive, when I finally made it back ta mine after my sweep in Hell, I couldn't function fer shit. I didn't wanna reach out ta my friends cuz I didn't want 'em ta see how broken I was. I didn't wanna look weak ta them, an' none a them reached out anyhow. In just that one sweep, they moved on from me, which still kinda hurts ta know that's all it took ta lose 'em.

Fer perigees after, I'd have daymares a bein' back at the slave camp, weak an' in pain with Mister standin' over me with the whip, then draggin' me out ta the post. I was barely gettin' any sleep, I couldn't eat, an' I was terrified a bein' in water. That's when I decided ta start bulkin' up an' gettin' stronger so I couldn't be taken back there or anywhere else.

Fer three sweeps, I had the mother grub a anxiety. A lotta nights, I couldn't even get the nerve ta leave my hive. I'd get anxiety attacks an' panic attacks when I saw highbloods, 'specially male blues. An' y'all know me. When I start gettin' anxious, I get real mad an' itchin' fer a fight. Even now, I don't hate highblood s'much as I get anxiety bein' around 'em. An' I do also hate 'em.

That's when I started drinkin'. It wasn't about gettin' drunk. It was a way ta calm my frazzled nerves an' keep my anxiety under control. Over time, though, it turned inta a addiction, an' y'all know how well that ended up workin' out fer me in the end.

That's basically everythin' about my childhood, so believe me when I say I know exactly what it's like ta not know if yer gonna live ta see another night, an' cryin' yerself ta sleep durin' the day cuz everythin's so awful, an' prayin' that yer loved ones ain't next or won't be too tore up if ya don't survive.

...i... im s-so s-sorry... ...no one s-should have to endure that... especially not a child... ...i... i...

C'mon now, y'ain't gotta cry about it. It sucks, but it's in the past now, an' fallin' ta pieces over it ain't gon' fix nothin'.

...i... i know... but...

It's okay, I get it. If it'll make ya feel better, go ahead an' cry it out. I can hold ya if ya want.

...but arent you s-still sore?...

Not so sore I can't comfort my pale. It ain't gon' kill me, so get yer li'l cryin' sniffly self over here.

[ase-trollplays]

My first fantroll, Thiomi Shiaka. Total bleeding heart and lowkey depressed mom friend

My most recent troll, Takimi Mahsda. She’s a subjug who was raised by the church and has devoted her entire life, goals, and a good chunk of her interests and personality to the mirthful messiahs religion.

They do not know each other and will likely never meet. If they did, Takimi and Thiomi would get along in the sense that Thiomi is very hemo-compliant and would be perfectly polite for fear of Repercussions if she isn’t, and Takimi is tolerant of lowbloods and enjoys them in the same way one would enjoy animals. 

show me your first fantroll and most recent fantroll

do they know each other? do/would they get along?

[ase-trollplays]

The Need For Space

Vvv Can I call ya Thiomi instead a Mimi from now on? vvV

..aww... why don't you want to call me 'mimi' anymore?...

Vvv Same reason I started sayin' Dan instead a Danny. I'm six sweeps now. I ain't a wriggler anymore, an' sayin' Mimi is a wriggler thing. vvV

...if thats how you feel... then its okay with me if you call me my full name instead...

Vvv Thanks, Thiomi. vvV

------------------------------------------------------

Vvv Can we go ta the city tonight? vvV

...oh... uh... s-sure...

Vvv ... Yer still sad about yer face, aren't ya? vvV

... ...y... yeah... ...i am...

Vvv Havin' scars ain't somethin' ta feel bad about. Scars mean ya survived what tried ta kill ya. Me an' Dan an' Corali are covered in them. You even have other scars, and they don't make you feel bad. Why are the new ones different? vvV

...i dont have these s-scars because i s-survived... ...i have them because s-someone wanted to hurt and upset me...

Vvv Well, what about the scar on yer arm I gave ya when I was little? I was tryin' ta hurt ya, an' yer not worried about people seein' that one. vvV

...thats different... ...you didnt know better when you did that... ...the person who cut me up knew exactly what s-she was doing to me...

Vvv Well, that's just more reason not ta be upset. You bein' afraid ta let other people see you means she won! vvV

...varoll... please... ...its not that s-simple...

Vvv Why ain't it?? vvV

...can we s-stop talking about this??!...

Vvv !!! vvV

...i... ...im s-so s-sorry... ...i didnt mean to yell at you...

Vvv 'S fine. I'll ask Dan ta take me instead. vvV

------------------------------------------------------

...you want to go alone?...

Vvv Yeah. I ain't a wriggler anymore. I can go ta the city by myself. I know what the streets an' stuff are an' how ta get ta places, and I always keep my knife in my pocket an' my arrows in my strife deck if I gotta fight. vvV

...but youve never been there without me or dantli with you... ...are you s-sure you dont want one of us there?...

Vvv Yeeesssss, ugh, you don't have ta act like I'm still a little kid. I can take care a myself. I live all by myself in the swamps an' I been just fine--

...because you have your lusus to protect you... ...s-shes never more than s-shouting distance away from you...

Vvv Yeah, okay, but I also like, hunt and kill things way bigger than me! An' ya don't gotta problem with that! Why's goin' ta the city by myself such a big deal?? vvV

...because trolls arent like animals... ...trolls are a lot more dangerous... ...animals dont use weapons... or lie to you to hurt you!...

Vvv An' I killed trolls, too! Plus, I'm the highest blood color, so I'm allowed ta hurt or kill people lower caste than me anyways! vvV

...you s-shouldnt be thinking like that!...

Vvv I'm not! I'm just sayin' if I get in a fight I ain't gonna be in heaps a trouble like Corali! Why're ya makin' this hard?? vvV

...im just worried!...

Vvv An' I'm tellin' ya not ta be cuz I can take care a myself! vvV

...varoll kaydur... do not take that tone with me!...

Vvv Yer the one yellin'!"

...im not--!... ...im not yelling...

Vvv Yeah ya were! If yer gonna be mad about it, then fine. I ain't goin'. Happy now?! vvV

...of course im not... ...youre angry with me...

Vvv I just want you an' Dan ta stop treatin' me like I'm still little. I can do stuff without y'all, ya know. I don't need ya glued ta me all the time anymore. vvV

...youre right... ...i guess im just having trouble letting you grow up...

Vvv So... I can go? vvV

...ill talk it over with dantli... ...if he s-says yes... then you can go on your own...

Vvv Yes!! vvV

[ase-trollplays]

Push, Push, Push

"Well, well, well~ Look what the cat unceremoniously hacked up this otherwise fine evening."

Thiomi looked up from her sketchbook to see Sonja now sitting across from her at her picnic table in the park. It was a dull, overcast night, so very few people were out and about. Only Thiomi, seemingly, would sit among the gloomy surroundings were it not for her former moirail and abuser. The free flowing raven hair along with the rudeness and sour attitude made it clear she was dealing with Comedy.

"... Oh," she replied simply. She knew better than to give him anything to needle and prod at her with. If anything, she should immediately get up and leave for her own safety. Then again, she was easily manipulated by his chucklevoodoo, and he could very easily stop any escape with minimal effort. A fight would be suicide.

Ironically, humoring him was the safer course of action. He was less of a threat if she did what he wanted. In this case, what he wanted was to bully her.

Sonja glared momentarily at her lack of a reaction before shrugging it off and stretching slightly before pulling out his phone.

"An avid conversationalist as always, aren't you. What, you think I'm going to hurt you? Maybe take you to my hive and lock you in the basement until you love me again?" he prodded at her lack of reaction to him. He reached across the table and snatched her sketchbook to flip through it. She didn't even have a chance to attempt stopping him, though she mentally sighed with relief that it was one of her safe sketchbooks. It was mostly full of sketches of animals, a few flowers, and a drawing of Varoll and Dantli she did the last time the three of them were together.

"If you wanted to s-see it, you could have asked," she said before having the book casually tossed back across the table at her. "What do you want?"

"I just thought you would like to know how wonderfully I'm doing ever since you stabbed me in the back and abandoned me," he responded cheerfully even with the added venom in the last part of his statement. She kept her gaze low and focused on the table to avoid the violence in his eyes that she could feel boring a hole into her.

"I'm glad you and Altrii are s-still happy toge--" she began only to be interrupted by his hand slamming on the table and causing her to jump.

"That miserable crow is gone! She was no better than you, only looking for a project to fix then taking her love away when I stopped being fun!" he spat with so much vitriol it sent a shiver down her spine. Her unease turned to fear, then guilt. The only reason he didn't do as he suggested earlier when she broke up with him was because he had Altrii right there to be an immediate backup. As far as Thiomi knew, Altrii didn't have that same luck.

If Altrii really had fallen out of love with him, then it's extremely likely that he... Oh God. He must have. Thiomi's face began to pale at the thought that because of her, Sonja--

"Ugghhh, get that look off your face. I didn't kill her, much as she would have deserved it. Personally I find it offensive you have such a low opinion of me," Sonja said, causing Thiomi to finally look back up at him. His eyes were a clearly irritated orange, though with a deep calming breath the color began to recede back to yellow. For a brief moment, she opened her mouth to apologize, but she was quick to shut it and say nothing.

"No, I have a new muse. Her name is Engela, and she's my starlight, my beloved, my newfound reason for existence~ she's even a highblood-- Tyrian, in fact. Unlike you two failures, she actually appreciates my loyalty and devotion."

Thiomi could feel irritation pricking under her skin, but she tried to ignore it and shove it deep down with her other problem emotions. She so badly wanted to call him out for how delusional he was. How his "loyalty and devotion" was obsession and a desire to possess and control. How her only failing was not enforcing boundaries when they were young instead of running to his every beck and call so he didn't expect it from everyone he met. How he's a selfish narcissist who refuses to take even a gram of accountability for his own actions!

Instead, she sighed and forced a smile on her face. "I'm glad you've found happiness."

"Really, because judging by that hint of orange in your eyes, you're jealous," he fired back with a snug grin. Thiomi's smile fell instantly as she once again looked away from him. She never did have a good pokerface, and with everything going on, she was having a hard time stuffing down her feelings.

"I'm not jealous," she said in what was meant to be monotone, but she couldn't hide her growing annoyance. Sonja's grin only widened at the sight of his former moirail getting upset. It was like drinking a fine vintage wine to him.

"Well~ you're awfully something. Tell me, how's your own love life going? Have you and that hillbilly barbarian pig finally called it quits? ... No, I still see his darker green in your hair."

"Don't talk about Dantli that way. He's--"

"Oh, that's right! That blueblood you took on as your next project! You know, the one you got killed because you're such a shitty pale? Tell me, do you still think about her? How you failed her so severely?"

"I-I didn't--"

"Yes, you did. You got her killed, the main thing a moirail is supposed to prevent. Hahaha, maybe I dodged a bullet when you abandoned me!"

"I'm not--"

"Now, now, no need to lie and try to justify yourself to me. We both know how much of a fuck up you are. I weep for whoever winds up in your sights next."

"S-stop it."

"And then there's that teal you couldn't keep, either. You really are a disaster and a half when it comes to your quadrants! But at least she wasn't let as a catastrophe in your wake. She saved herself from destruction."

"I s-said s-stop it."

"Or what, you gonna cry at me? God, just look at those red eyes. You're practically glowing now! If you have something to say, just--" 

"Shut up!!!"

Sonja gaped at her in shock at her outburst as every insult and jab immediately curled up and died in his throat. Thiomi slammed both hands on the table and stood up, her eyes flowing with frustrated furious tears.

"What do you want me to say!? Why did you even talk to me??! To rub it in how wonderful everything is for you, and how awful it is for me!? Did you just want to see if you could finally reach the end of my patience!!? Well, guess what! You've finally fucking done it!!! Everything is my entire life is going FUCKING wrong!"

Sonja stood up and opened his mouth to speak, but he was immediately silenced by Thiomi grabbing her sketchbook and throwing it directly at his head. He managed to dodge getting hit in the face, but the book knocked one of his horn prosthetics clean off his head and into the grass behind him.

"No! S-shut up!! Shut up, shut up, shut up!! Shut! UP!!!

“You’re right! Is that what you want to hear!? Fine! You’re right about everything!! I couldn’t keep S-shadah! I was a terrible kismesis, and s-she cheated on me for— For perigees! At least four! Before I finally managed to force it out of her, and then s-she left me for her mistress!! I wasn’t a challenge for her! I was a terrible rival!! I’d give anything to go back in time and convince myself to never ever date her if I could!! Because of her, I’m terrified to fill that quadrant now! All I can think is that I’m just going to be cheated on and abandoned again!! That I can never truly compete with other people because I just don’t have that in me!!”

Thiomi’s whole body was trembling and shaking with unrestrained anger. Her normally quiet and soft voice was all but booming, something that Sonja would never in his life believe possible were he not on the other end of it.

“And Mareth??? I failed her even worse!! At least S-shadah is s-still alive! I tried s-so hard with Mareth!! I tried s-so hard to keep her out of trouble! I tried even harder to get her to s-see s-she had a drinking problem, but I s-screwed that up, too!! I wasn’t patient enough! I wasn’t understanding enough!! I tried to force her to get help instead of working with her!! I got s-so s-sick of all the lies and the broken promises that— You know what I did!?

“I tampered with her alcohol! I poured it all out and replaced it with the non alcoholic variant! Like an idiot!!! Of course s-she was furious with me! The angriest I’ve ever s-seen her in my life! AND WHO WOULD BLAME HER!!? Not me! Or you! Or anyone else with functioning common s-sense because apparently I threw mine out the window!!!

“We had the mother grub of all arguments, and s-she tried to leave! And when I tried to s-stop her, s-she hit me in the s-stomach s-so hard I passed out! It was hours before I woke up, and by then it was too late!! When Corali and I found her, s-she’d been dead for at least two hours!! And it’s all my fault for being a goddamn idiot!! If we never had that fight, s-she wouldn’t have left!!

“But no!!! I had to do the most idiotic! Moronic! Insensitive thing ever!! I’m literally the worst person to have for a moirail!! I’m the worst who’s ever done it!!!”

He voice was hoarse and raw, and every word hurt to say, but she couldn’t stop herself anymore as sweeps of repressed emotions came violently flooding out of her. She began aggressively pacing back and forth as restless energy overtook her. It wasn’t enough to just stand there and yell; she had to move.

“S-speaking of being an awful moirail, guess what!! You’re one hundred percent right that I was awful for you!! We never s-should have been moirails! I turned you into a monster!!”

“Now you hold one one second!” Sonja interjected, finally finding his voice now that he was the one being called out. “I am not a—“

“Yes you are!!! You’re the s-single worst person I have ever known in my entire life!! But it’s not your fault! I made you that way! I never made you take any kind of responsibility! I constantly made excuses for you! I accepted being controlled and manipulated and treated like I owed you everything!! I never enforced any kind of boundaries and instead let you treat me however you wanted because you’re purple and I’m green, plus you’re a sweep older than me!! I was s-so s-stupid to let it go on for as long as I did!

“Now look at you!! You’re a s-selfish, s-sociopathic, narcissistic, bitter, petty, homicidal, violent prick!!! At least there’s hope for Tragedy, but you??? I ruined you beyond repair!! You’ll probably never be better, and it’s all my fault!!”

Thiomi punched the table over and over in frustration, and tears still poured down her face like twin waterfalls, but she still wasn’t done. Her throat was in so much pain from prolonged yelling and screaming that she could swear she tasted blood, but she still went on.

“Oh, and you’ll get a kick out of this!! One of my closest friends came to me for help, and I ruined that, too!! S-sure, it s-started out fine! I wanted to help her get better! I wanted to s-see her s-succeed and be happier and fix the relationship s-she ruined with her s-son!!

“That s-should have been enough, but no!!! I got s-selfish! S-she had s-so much in common with Mareth that I used her s-struggle with being s-sober like a s-second chance!! I wanted a win! For once, I just wanted a win!! And I was using her to get it! I failed Mareth the worst anyone’s ever failed s-someone, but now I have another chance!! I have a chance to fix my mistake and do it right this time!!

“Forget about Corali’s feelings! Forget about her being her own person who’s trying to be better for her own sake!! No, no, I made it about me!! And now s-she hates me!! S-she won’t take my calls, s-she won’t answer my messages, and I’m pretty s-sure if I went to her hive s-she’d break my horns off!!

“And you know what??!  I deserve that!! I deserve every bad thing in life!!! I’m the worst there ever was!! All I do is hurt people with my own stupid—“

Thiomi choked on her words as a sudden wave of calm rushed over her. Her anger, her frustration, her every negative emotion was now gone and replaced with a peaceful serenity she hadn’t felt in sweeps. She took a deep breath and sat back down at the table as her head gently spun from all the energy she exerted. She didn't even get to the little boy she temporarily adopted and how she failed him as well before she was forcibly relaxed.

Sonja, eyes glowing bright purple with a deep scowl on his face, waited a full two minutes before releasing her from his voodoo to be sure she wouldn’t immediately return to hysterics. As the effects receded, Thiomi held her head in her hands and turned to face him. She felt better now that so much of what she’d been repressing was forcibly launched out of her system, but there was still a deep cloud of self resentment and loathing hanging over her.

“Christ, you are fucking broken. I actually feel sad for you. You’re even more pathetic than I realized,” Sonja said with a sneer. He turned his back to her to retrieve her thrown sketchbook and his dislodged horn, then tossed the book onto the table. “Word of advice: Get some goddamn help. Fuck.”

Without another word, he reattached his prosthetic horn and stormed away in a huff. Thiomi watched him go before placing her head down on the table and sobbing.

[ase-trollplays]

4. Safety -> Thiomi

"Ya know, yer gonna have ta stop hidin' an' go back ta yer hive eventually."

The sudden statement as Thiomi sat reading on Corali's back while she did push-ups caused the smaller troll to immediately stiffen up and almost drop her book. Corali was completely unshaken and casually continued her push-ups.

"What are you... I'm not hiding," Thiomi said with a defensive edge in her tone. Corali shook her head with a loud sigh.

"Y'ain't gotta lie, 'specially not ta me," she stated, which only caused Thiomi to fluster. She gripped her book tightly in her hands and bit her lip. "Ya think I ain't noticed ya haven't spent a day at yer hive ever since all that happened? I wouldn't a thought much of it if it was just a couple nights, maybe even a week, but it's been... what, over a perigee by now?"

"... We're moirails now. I can't leave you to deal with this alone," Thiomi reasoned after a few tense moments of hesitation. Corali paused her exercise and turned her head toward her moirail. She couldn't see much of her from this angle, but she could feel the woman's anxiety.

"Yeh, see, that mighta held water when I was laid up an' unable ta move, but I been mobile fer weeks, an' we both know Dan could easily take care a me himself even though he'd a been a smug asshole about it. Anyone can see why yer still here. Yer scared ta go home on account a--"

"Do you blame me?" Thiomi tersely interrupted as she closed her book and stood up. Corali moved into a casual sitting position and looked up at her moirail with concern. She wouldn't look Corali in the face, but she didn't have to for her to know how upset she was. She stood with her head low and her shoulders hunched and squared with tension, and her hands holding the book tightly to her chest were slightly shaking.

"Do you blame me for being afraid? The last time I was at my hive, I was kidnapped... who s-says this is over? That it can't happen again, and s-she'll have me killed this time? S-she can get to me at any time if I'm there, and I... I'm no fighter. I didn't even get the chance to defend myself before I was bagged and cuffed and carried away. At... A-at least here with y-you and Danny, I'm s-safe."

Thiomi's shoulders hitched, and her voice became gradually more uneven and strained. A whimper escaped her, and Corali was on her feet immediately. She threw her arms around her and held her close. Thiomi tried to swallow her tears, but within seconds she dropped the book and returned to tight embrace.

"I'm s-so s-scared! I can't be alone there! I'm s-safe as long as I'm with you two!" she cried and whimpered as she clung to her moirail. "I just want to feel s-safe again!"

"An' ya will, cuz I'ma move in with ya," Corali said matter-of-factly. The sudden bold statement was enough to make Thiomi pause her crying and stare up at her.

"Corali, no, I... I can't ask you to do that."

"Yer not askin'. I'm telling ya. I'm movin' in. I'm pretty much hiveless anyways since I can't go back ta mine, an' between you an' me, I'm gettin' sick a dealin' with Dan's shit every god dang night. If I don't get a break, I'ma kill him."

"But--"

"Noo, no, no, y'ain't talkin' me outta this. Yer scared a livin' alone, so I'm stayin' 'til ya feel safe again, an' ya can't change my mind. I got a new arm that's better than ever, an' with my psionics there ain't nothin' that can hurt me. 'Sides, I'm yer pale. I'd be doin' a damn shitty job if I didn't help ya feel less afraid," Corali insisted and ruffled Thiomi's hair a little roughly but affectionately. Thiomi wiped her eyes and took a few breaths to calm herself before ending the embrace and picking up the discarded book.

"S-so you admit you like your new arm," she pointed out, and Corali's confident expression immediately fell upon realizing she did, in fact, highly compliment her arm. She made a noise between an annoyed huff and a scoff and crossed her arms before poking her lip out and looking away.

"Ya know what, I changed my mind. I ain't goin'. Yer on yer own," Corali said with a grumble and a pout like a petulant child that earned a small giggle from her moirail. Corali tried and failed not to smile then once again reached out and messily ruffled Thiomi's hair. "Hmph, laughin' at me, huh?"

"Nooo, never...~"

"I ain't sure I believe ya, li'l miss thing. I-- No, noo, not the big sad eyes! Put them things away 'fore I curl up an' die!" Corali shouted in mock agony. The two women broke down into laughter at each other's ridiculousness before Corali finally grabbed the bag with most of her belongings Dantli was able to take from her hive while pretending to rob the place.