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Gamzee grinned and giggled a little at the playful smack. He watched as Tavros tried to straighten himself out and appear less like Alice, and dug through his pocket for a minute. "Here, you could pull your hair back part ways instead of the hairband, that might help," he suggested, handing him a plain black hair thing.
He listened intently when Tavros told him what he was going to do once they got into the city. "Okay; the gruffer and sterner the better-er," suppressing more mirth as they walked along. "I'll try to act more like a decent gentle-troll, and less like a clown. It's hard to picture you being stern; you're too kind," he smiled gently.
"Uhh, if I act more subservient than you're comfortable with, just try to go with it, okay? It's probably only because the guards are around or something.... a few of them don't like me very much," he said after a pause, somewhat sheepish. "And you can probably act a bit bossy to anyone if you need to, for the most part. I don't think we'll see any other copper bloods, certainly no red ones."
2014-06-26 02:06:11 -
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Pressing his hair back, -though random strands and locks fell from his work and he got frustrated, initially- Tavros handed his hairband to Gamzee for him to hold until it was safe to don his Alice garb again, "Thank you."
It was sweet to think that Gamzee thought of him so highly when it came to his kindness; Tavros had thought that he was being a little rude within their first few moments of knowing each other, and even if it was partially justified, now that he really knew Gamzee, he felt guilty about his rudeness. "It is so odd," He commented offhandedly, "How backwards your world is from mine. In my Alternia, this is completely inverted and our roles would be changed. I prefer things, uh, when we are equals, truly, but I suppose a little acting is a small price to pay to get things done."
2014-06-26 02:13:14 -
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Gamzee put the hairband safely in the bag with the rest of the supplies. "It's no problem, Tavbro," he replied to the thanks.
To Gamzee any minor rudeness that Tavros had perhaps been was quickly forgotten, if registered at all. He was used to worse when the guards were in a foul mood, and lived out in the woods for a reason. When the other troll talked about how Alternia was the opposite, Gamzee was a little surprised. "Really? I could never be a high blood; that would be ridiculous," he chuckled. "I like it when we're equals too," it was nice to know Tavros wasn't usually this high up, it made him a little more comfortable, knowing his friend could probably relate to the unfairness of the system.
They were at the edge of the forest now, with only a small ways to go across a grassy field before they reached the open gates with a guard in red lazing on either side. Gamzee walked a little behind Tavros as was customary, head bent slightly as they approached. The guards perked up slightly, but didn't move much as they got closer, apparently only there to watch people pass in and out.
2014-06-26 02:34:26 -
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It was hard to feel regal or superior when he was so accustomed to being at the bottom of the caste system. Still, he tried to channel what bit of confidence he did have into his poise: his shoulders squared back some, he held his head high, and he stepped with elegance as he walked past the guard without sparing nary a glance.
Readjusting his coat somewhat, he looked expectantly back at Gamzee when they were about in the city, but he tried to display some kindness in his eyes to show that he was sorry for any and all rudeness directed towards him.
"Well?" He asked, head tilted to the side ever so slightly as he gestured around themselves, "Show me where I am, to go."
2014-06-26 02:40:07 -
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"Yes sir, this way, sir," he led the way into the city, giving Tavros a surreptitious wink to show he knew Tavros didn't really mean any rudeness. Mostly people avoided them both, giving them their space. The outer rims were crowded with mostly blue bloods of varying hues, and a few teals. As they got further in, colors became warmer, and the environment was less cramped and cleaner. However, some of the ruder people tended to jostle Gamzee a bit in front of Tavros, but would still give the shorter male his space. Gamzee didn't react to being bumped into, much besides for apologizing occasionally in passing.
"Just here a moment, sir," Gamzee inclined his head to Tavros as he turned to a side street, nearly at their destination, stopping in front of a small stand on the street. There were a myriad of herbs and similar items displayed, and a couple containers of fungi. It was being looked after by an old olive blooded troll wearing a fur shawl over a vividly green tunic with some fine embroidery. He seemed to recognize Gamzee by the smile he gave him.
"Hello, my boy, it's been a while! Got something for me I hope," the elder said jovially.
"Three bags full, sir," Gamzee said, inclining his head slightly as he undid the parcels, handing them over once they were free.
"Growing well I see! You should come back more often, you're the only one who really supplies anything. Young people these days," he shook his head and dug in a pocket. "I've got some extra since you've got a whole bag of the most popular...here," he handed Gamzee a few coins. "Stay safe now!"
"Thanks again, sir," Gamzee smiled pleasantly, pocketing the money and gestured Tavros back to the main street.
2014-06-26 03:05:47 -
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The moments were so surreal; bluebloods and tealbloods did not dare to look at him once they saw the light brown flush to his cheeks or the copper hue in his eyes. They avoided him under any means necessary, and Tavros almost wanted to tell them that it was okay, that they needn't fear him or shrink away, he understood the discrimination just as well as they did. But, he could not. He held his tongue and watched with a calm eye as Gamzee conducted his business, even though he felt lost and not quite like himself.
The oliveblooded troll seemed so sweet and he could tell that he and Gamzee were rather close. Glad to see that Gamzee wasn't completely devoid of friends, Tavros smiled a tiny bit and walked out to the main street, and noticed that some yellowblooded trolls were heading in his direction. To fit the part, albeit reluctantly, he looked over to his guide and held out his hand expectantly, "My coat."
2014-06-26 03:13:01 -
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"Yes, sir," Gamzee was quiet, head bowed lower than before, quickly handing over the neatly folded coat. He'd seen the yellow bloods, and his hand trembled slightly as he handed the garment over to Tavros. A lot of the guards were yellow bloods, and were typically the worst of the bullies.
As soon as Tavros had the coat in hand, he ducked behind him obsequiously, hoping the other troll would continue forward with him following until the yellows were out of sight. They didn't have long to go and he would have been able to see the library in the next large cross roads if he didn't have his head down. He hoped they would mind their own business and just walk past; he really didn't want to get harassed in front of his friend.
2014-06-26 03:28:40 -
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Of course, nothing was ever so easy.
Tavros had taken his coat as if he had practiced doing so before and slipped it on, but the yellowbloods seemed to smell the newness of Tavros and realized that Gamzee had never been in town with a copperblood before. Curious as they were malicious, the pair of yellowbloods sauntered over with upturned noses and inquiring eyes.
"And who might this be, Makara?" One questioned, giving a gesture to Tavros, who still, technically, outranked them but it appeared they thought him close enough in blood that they could do as they pleased. "Your newest /master?/" The word was attributed more towards something degrading and sexual and downright malevolent rather than the acting it was. But the supposed 'master' of the two stood tall to protect his friend, and he cleared his throat abruptly. "If you have anything to say to him," He began with the utmost venomous politeness, "Then you will speak to me, first, understand?"
2014-06-26 03:52:29 -
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Gamzee had been about to reply with something properly self-degrading when Tavros spoke up. He saw the yellow bloods raise eyebrows through the corners of his eyes and was taken aback himself. He was surprised but thankful, hoping the ruse worked out in their favor.
He shrunk behind, watching closely and not letting through the smile he felt on the inside at the bravery of his friend. It was proper to let Tavros speak for them both; he didn't think he could say much anyway, not that would help. He didn't really mind what the yellow bloods had to say about him. They could insult him all they wanted for all he cared, so long as that was all that happened. If they went after Tavros he'd have to get involved; Gamzee wouldn't let him get hurt; not just to maintain their ruse, but also because he was his friend. Even though he didn't want to if he had to fight he thought he could do it for Tavros.
2014-06-26 04:13:48 -
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The pair of yellowbloods almost gave ruder remarks, but even if Tavros was shorter and smaller than them, they knew not to make a scene with someone that was still above them. They left reluctantly, still chattering to each other about the disgrace and general disgust that was Gamzee.
Tavros, still in the rather strange mindset allotted to him, motioned for Gamzee to follow him as he walked in the direction they were heading in prior to being stopped by the illmannered trolls, "Come along."
2014-06-26 14:38:47 -
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"Yes, sir," Gamzee replied lightly, following quickly behind. The cross road in front of them opened up into a wider space, with a vivid flower arrangement small in the middle. The bright buildings leaned almost precariously around the makeshift courtyard.
Gamzee indicated the corner building across from them to Tavros; by far the least busy of the businesses but looking as if it might take up most of the block. The swinging sign above the door had books and scrolls etched into it. Through one of the heavily curtained windows there was a glimpse of shining green scales moving about.
2014-06-26 14:59:40 -
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"Wow..." He looked over the building curiously, a soft wind rustling by him and making him instinctively press down his skirt, even though the coat kept it more or less in place. "So this is the place, huh?" Truthfully, he was not entirely sure as to what he had been expecting, but the location fit the name of Bibliosaurus well enough and Tavros could not be more anxious and excited.
With a grin to Gamzee, he immediately swung open the door and stepped cautiously inside, his Mary Janes clicking against the floor as the smell of old books and dust and knowledge crept against his sensitive nose. Tavros concealed a sneeze, his gaze darting about curiously as he stared at all the fire-lit lanterns and the intricate chandeliers hanging high above them, as well as the stacks of leather-bound books in corners and on tables. They were in such an abundance that the brownblood almost felt as though they were people themselves, chattering away about science and history and fiction. Bloodpusher racing, he flicked his ears up attentively and called out, "Hello?"
2014-06-26 15:31:24 -
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Gamzee stepped inside after, returning Tavros's smile. He dug the book on Alice out of his bag and walked deeper into the place, almost lost from sight behind a tall stack of books. "Hey, 'saurus," he called, "I brought your book back."
There was a smooth sliding sound from deeper in, joined by a lilting lady's voice, "Gamzee? Is that you I hear?" the voice said, as if she knew exactly who it was, "who've you brought with you? They smell a bit like gardening..."
A scaled snout came around one of the piles in front of them, followed by the rest of a bipedal sauropod with glittering green scales. A pair of spectacles hung around her shoulders and she put these on to get a better look at Tavros, bending her long neck down to his level. "Hmm, you smell like outside but don't look like you belong there," she said suspiciously. "How do you know this one?" she indicated Gamzee. She seemed a bit protective.
2014-06-26 15:59:04 -
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Tavros, truly, was surprised; he didn't think that after all this time, he would still have hints of his gardening profession on him, especially with his change in clothing and all. Still, it was nice that his old world had rubbed off on him and was not completely forgotten from his skin and heart.
By this point, he was hardly surprised by any non-troll species, and he took hold of his skirts, then curtsied politely. "I met Gamzee under some rather...unorthodox means." He explained how he basically fell from the sky and landed on a hill that housed a tiny version of the troll he had been traveling with. "I wish him no harm, at all," His brows furrowed as he sighed softly, "I would just like to know how to get home..."
2014-06-26 16:10:56 -
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"Hmm," she grunted, satisfied at his explanation. She listened intently to his strange tale, thinking deeply by the looks of her furrowed brow scales. She moved around, taking the book from Gamzee as she listened. "I have only heard of one such strange appearance...and no one really knows how /she/ got home. She just disappeared after the new kingdom was set up...perhaps you have a quest of your own to complete?"
She moved around, putting the book away among the others, still thinking. Gamzee came back over to stand by Tavros, browsing lazily around the place.
2014-06-26 16:28:51 -
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"She just disappeared?" He parroted incredulously; just what he needed. A long quest and journey that he would /hate/ to trek in with his flats. Tavros sighed heavily and took his hair loose, pawing at it nervously as he began pacing in mild frustration, "Are you saying, that the only way for me to get home is to complete a journey that I do not even know how to start?"
Things seemed rather normal in Wonderland, but then again, it nearly mirrored his own world and he could not think of anything to change. On top of that, he was not overly familiar with the way Wonderland operated and would not go so far as to transform anything that he did not know to begin with. The room was warm inside, and he shed his coat, walking back and forth as he did so before stopping and looking, irritated, down at his shoes, "I feel defeated before I have even gotten started!"
2014-06-26 16:43:09 -
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"Well, how am I supposed to know what you're supposed to do? Certainly complaining about it won't get you anywhere. You could make a perfectly good life here, after all. You'd be well taken care of if you meet the right people; could live richly and want for nothing," she said, high above his head. She sounded impatient and matronly, if a touch disdainful.
Gamzee had touched his elbow lightly during the short tirade and took the coat from Tavros, giving him a small sad smile before disappearing into the stacks to give them some privacy.
2014-06-26 17:02:45 -
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The brownblood glanced briefly to Gamzee, but his gaze was fiery and his aggravation was gradually transforming to anger. Crossing his arms, Tavros stared up at her with narrowed eyes, a threat of a hiss on his tongue. He despised it when people talked down to him, spoke to him as if he were lowly or insignificant; he could just barely stand it in his own Alternia, and he would not take it from the Bibliosaurus, helpful or not. "Firstly, do not talk down to me with your condescension, as whatever feelings I possess are valid and I can complain, uh, all day and night if I so choose. Secondly, I find no desire in living "richly", especially if my blood color has anything to do with it, if Gamzee is still forced to deal with snooty yellowbloods and who knows who else just to avoid further antagonistic tendencies."
He cleared his throat, resisted the urge to growl at her, as his primal instincts dictated, and fumbled in his apron's pocket to pull out the items there, "I came here, and Gamzee so graciously, uh, led me here, so that I may gather answers, not so you could treat me with disdain."
2014-06-26 17:15:22 -
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A low loud hiss filled the place, followed by a thump that shook the floor slightly. She didn't speak for a long time, moving about aggravatedly, air breezing through the place with her quick movements. "Just because you can complain does not mean that it will get you anywhere, or be at all useful," she paused, "but you will forgive me if I've assumed you were as self absorbed as the rest of your kind here. I can see now you are not like that if you appreciate Gamzee's assistance."
She came into the open more fully, dragging a dangerous looking tail and overall many times larger than either of the trolls. It was something of a wonder that she moved though the cramped spaces so easily. She curled her head down to look at the items he had pulled out, long clawed fingers interlaced in front of her for now. "What do you have here then?" she asked neutrally.
2014-06-26 17:45:21 -
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"Where I come from, trolls treat me in the same manner that they treat Gamzee; I understand his plights and struggles fairly well." Glad to see that they were on stable terms now, Tavros unfurled his fist to show what was in his palm.
The cloth pouch and the coins settled in his hand, and he pointed at them curiously, "The coins do not pose much strangeness to me so much as the pouch does." He returned the coins to his apron pocket, then opened the cloth pouch and revealed the map with the unsettling words on the back of it, "This is what frightens me the most." Similar to the first Alice, Tavros was granted a map that detailed his journey, but it was in code and, even worse, the code hid riddles. Even if he were to decipher the code, what he would find would be a riddle, not plain writing.
2014-06-26 17:56:43 -
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"Hmm," the Bibliosaurus gave a long sniff around the pouch and map. "There are hints of magic here, the writing I think I've seen before but I can't readily translate it, though I should have a book somewhere. Otherwise that is a map of Wonderland and some vague surrounding areas..." she scanned around shortly and picked up a square scroll, handing it to Tavros. "Here's a map in regular writing if you want to see the names of places while I search for that book."
She went through her piles and came back a short time later with a large tome. "This should be able to help..." she set it down on a table nearby, gesturing for Tavros to take a seat.
2014-06-26 18:20:21 -
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Thanking her for the map, he rolled it open and peered it over after placing his own, smaller one atop it for comparison. He noted the places he was aware of once he found a place to sit: the Tulgey Wood, the Dewgrass Fields, the Singing Gardens. Even the city was properly detailed and labeled. On his map, there were several dots that were circled, and he figured those were places that he should stop in. Namely, a place called the Screechlands, another called Undlegire and a third detailed as Starnette. There were several other smaller locations that he did not yet read, as he was suddenly struck by the memory of something he had meant to ask as the Bibliosaurus returned with her item.
"Ah, yes, thank you, but I had meant to ask you," He began, mouth flying in a hurry lest he forget once more, "Have you any knowledge about this white rabbit character, that I saw? He or she or it led me, uh, to the hole that I fell down in the first place!"
2014-06-26 19:03:13 -
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"I don't suppose he wears waist coats?" she asked. "There's one who patronizes the shop across the way, always gets a fanciful new waistcoat whenever he comes into town after some venture or other. You might ask the seamstress where he lives, she knows more about him than I, at least. He's only come in here a few times, mostly looks at odd charts and maps. Almost caught him nicking one once, not my type of fellow," she mused, snorting at the memory.
"How's the map sorting going?" she asked, flipping through the book she'd brought and glancing at his map in comparison. "Ah, this looks promising." There were a few pages of similar figures to the ones on his map, with corresponding meanings in understandable writing. "Most should be translatable from this, if not everything."
2014-06-26 19:17:45 -
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"Yes! A waist coat and shoes and everything. It was running about in the gardens, uh, that I care for, but I assumed that it was the royals' newest pet. They have a tendency to dress up their animals, after all." He hadn't thought anything of it and went to water the next bush, but the hole he fell down seemed to appear from no where. "It is so odd! The last thing I saw, as I fell down was the rabbit again, stating something along the lines of 'I'm going to be late!' "
Even that felt like such a long time ago, but he was glad to have a little bit more knowledge about what he deemed was the first encounter with something from Wonderland. "This map business is dreadfully slow, but I am making, uh, progress." He glanced up, then smiled brightly at what she had brought and eagerly took it, "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Thank you, very much. You would not happen to have a pen, would you? And a spare sheet of paper?" If he was ever going to remember what anything on his map said, he would have to write it down, but his own map was much too small to get any proper writing and note taking done on it.
2014-06-26 21:46:33 -
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"Pen?" the Bibliosaurus looked quizzically at Tavros, then swivled her head behind her disappearing behind a stack of books after finding something. "Gamzee, what is a pen?" she asked, her voice muffled that far away, "Is this some newfangled invention of you young people?"
"Uh, maybe it's like some fancy quill?" the other troll spoke from somewhere distant.
"From context that's what I would guess. You may need to come up here and write, I don't know how different these things might work." Their quiet conversation over, the sauropodian lady turned back around to Tavros after grabbing a couple sheets of paper from somewhere else for Tavros.
"There's a quill and an ink well in that desk. I don't know about your pens. If it's too different Gamzee has good handwriting, I'm sure he wouldn't mind helping you."
"Not at all, Tavbro," Gamzee's voice called from the back, somewhat distracted.
"Boy's got his nose in another book," she said secretly to Tavros, smiling a little. "Feel free to take your time, if you need anything just call," she traipsed into the back and out of sight, surprisingly quiet for such a large creature.
2014-06-26 22:24:49