August Pre-Hurricane Post | Open Mingle

[imsorey]

[It's the calm before the storm—or at least the not-quite-so-bad-weather before the storm. The winds are starting to pick up, the ocean is rolling, and all manner of sea creature is heading for cover to ride things out.

But at the base, there's still lots to do as usual. Whether it's getting ready to hunker down, goofing off, or making friends, there's never a dull moment under the sea! Have at it, and remember to check out the OOC planning/mission signups to see what's going on!]

Comments

[alienates]

[ oh my god, someone who actually read it all and appreciates it. bless you, donatello. ]

It definitely isn't a position that just anyone can take. There have been a lot of failed ashen quadrants because the troll who takes up the role just isn't fit for the task. It's a shame, really, since it is a pretty important one.

[bonomial]

[The Turtle nods at this; it does sound like it is important, especially with the "caliginous" quadrant.]

Would you say that there's any relationship considered the most important? Humans tend to see romantic love - I guess the kind you called "flushed" - as really important, but I think familial love is the most important of all.

[Totally not biased, here.]

[alienates]

We don't really have a concept of "familial love" but that's because we don't have a family structure that would be typically found on Earth. I literally only found out what the fuck a parent is after I met humans for the first time three years ago.

[ he is still attempting to wrap his head around the concept of things like uncles. ]

They're all pretty important though. The only reason why the romantic quadrants would take precedence would be because of this bullshit procedure we had to do that I think we will put out of practice.

[ he doesn't go to explain it though since explaining troll customs to people can be. a thing. ]

[bonomial]

['Bullshit procedure' is just vague enough to interest Don.]

You've got enough authority to change the entire way your species does something?

[alienates]

There's only like, five of us left? Maybe seven, I have no fucking clue where two others have ran off to but I'm really hoping they're alive. So yeah. I think we have the authority here.

[ there's a pause, and then he very quickly adds. ] If we all agree on it, I mean. I'm not making the decision by myself.

[bonomial]

[Don sobers a little at the knowledge of just how few of Karkat's kind is even left. That's a genetic bottleneck, alright - though maybe it's less of a problem for a species who routinely interbreeds anyway... still, he can empathize, being one of four-of-a-kind.]

Are you the leader of your group? [Because that was a very leader-like way to phrase that. Don's perceptive enough to tell when someone has shouldered that kind of burden.]

[alienates]

[ karkat actually looks a little embarrassed at the question. don isn't wrong, but... karkat is trying very hard to reject any leadership responsibilities. which is very difficult, since he likes to take charge, but.

he really does not want to fuck over his face more than it already has been. ]

We don't have one right now.

[bonomial]

You could be democratic about it. Poll whoever's here, get an idea of their own feelings about whatever issues you have. Iniidae could be like a chance to start over.

[He's being a little overly idealistic here, whelp. Sorry, Karkat.]

[alienates]

[ ugh that sounds. really tempting? super tempting. ]

We'll see. I guess that might be easier since there's not that many of us.

[bonomial]

[The Turtle smiles encouragingly. Totally go for it, not-leader.]

That just makes it even more important that everyone gets their views out. When you've got a small sample size to work with, you have to use quality data to compensate.

[alienates]

We'll see.

[ he sounds kind of hesitant? so he switches gears here. ]

Are you a leader or something since you seem to know a lot about it.

[bonomial]

[Totally noting this subject change here.]

It's something I've had to deal with personally a lot. [Karkat being in a similar position makes him feel a little safer about being candid:] A small family of weirdos... well, we had to think about this kind of stuff more than the average family.

Plus my brother Leonardo just got insufferable about it sometimes. [He says this with a good-natured exasperation.] You're lucky he isn't here. He'd have more advice than you'd ever know what to do with.

[alienates]

[ he snorts slightly at "small family of weirdos." karkat had been wondering if in donatello's version of earth, maybe giant turtle people were normal? but now he has a feeling that wasn't the case. ]

If I am completely honest here, that kind of sounds like how I was like? Don't tell anyone I admitted to saying this, because I will just lie and claim you made it all up, but I was annoying as fuck about bossing people around? I mean. I'm still annoying and bossy, but not with important things like.

[ he gestures between the two of them, hoping don gets what he means there? ] So maybe your brother and I would get along. Or fight a lot, who even knows.

[bonomial]

Sometimes with him that's practically the same thing. [Don smiles softly; he has no doubts that Karkat would push Fearless Leader's buttons in the same way Raph often did.] I wouldn't take it personally if he ever does show up.

[More seriously:] He recognizes the importance of the responsibility of a leader. There's a lot of pressure not to mess up, and coordination of pretty much everything that goes on behind the scenes. Even in a place like this, a safer place - usually, anyway - for most people, that has a lot of tactical advantages.

[alienates]

I'm not sure if having just one leader would work out here. Everyone is just so. I'm trying to think of something other than "fucking dumb" to say here, but nothing is coming to me.

[ although they're not dumb? the crew can be surprisingly competent... when they want to be. all other times, though, it takes them four months to make more than one toilet. ]

[bonomial]

[Don can't help but laugh a little at how bluntly on-the-nose that is, even if it's also a bit cringey.]

That might be a bit harsh... but we are kind of scatterbrained as a group, huh? There isn't a lot of cohesiveness. I think everybody has their own ideas of what to do, but they're just not getting organized.

[Don could step up and do the organizing himself, but that's always felt like a leadership role... not his role.]

[alienates]

Well, we better get organized sooner rather than later. I rather not have the wake-up call be something that we could have avoided if everyone just got off their asses.

[bonomial]

Wise words, if unconventionally said. Leonardo would approve.

[Accompanied by a small, quiet smile. Karkat is more prescient than he knows, of course.] Maybe we need someone to give us a metaphorical kick - I'll see if there's anyone to suggest it to.