a homestuck? in 2020? it's more likely than you think.

1) I don't think trolls have an exoskeleton by any means, but I like to think that the developing of their bodies was such that they have growth lines that range from very faint like the ones on the Dolorosa's stomach to the segmentation lines still visible on most parts of the Psiioniic (with the thought process being that more of his development biologically was put into psion powers than other physical development). The most subtle of these growth lines are still visible maybe under different types of light than what their moons offer (I imagine most of them are made to see off of the light reflecting off of their moons than the sun, for obvious reasons) or through bio-illumination like rainbow drinkers have (or maybe also seadwellers) and these growth lines are like the natural lines humans have that can't be perceived, and this being where trolls got symbols from, simplifications of the patterns of their bodies.

2) Lots of troll biology isn't really bug-y enough for me and I like to supplement that in thinking about grubscars and pincers and things like that, like the texture imagined for their horns is the same texture as you would see on horned beetles, those big smooth exoskeleton-like horns and pincers, maybe they could even be crushed with enough force? The idea of trolls like Equius having more of a situation of having his horn's outer shell snapped through than it being like a solid antler or horn is a neat idea, like a crunching of a thick outer layer.

3) In the way of liking bug things for trolls specifically, I'm very invested in the idea of "grub scars" as they would be come to known as a residual pupal form almost, like the last thing on their body that is still pupating so it's just the last remnants of their grubal form on their bodies. On some people, they simply go away after a while, especially on trolls dmab, and actually settle out into "scars" that are just evidence of them having been on their bodies, whereas on others, they harden and are a fixture that is raised off of their bodies where wings develop over time, the scars wrapping around to the center of the back and opening if/when they actually grow out wings, rather than them just coming out of nowhere.

4) Additionally, with the evolutionary proclivity towards rainbow drinkers, the concept arises of them having pincers sharp enough and fast enough to puncture skin that are stored under their cheeks, with additional muscle for the darting "bite". This would make jade blood cheeks raised and hard.

5) Really just nailing down the bug thing, I just really like the idea of them having hard carapacian fingers that tend to be shaped like claws (maybe also toes? I don't work on feet often in this chilis) as well as mostly ear holes rather than the types of ears we typically have. Any ear shape would mostly be for keeping hair out of the way, and hearing has a lot more to do with picking up vibrations through possibly the horns or body than actually catching sound waves with the ear shape.

6) I have a LOT of thoughts about color coding and how it works in Alternia, but the most important thing in my mind immediately is that white is something that is rarely seen on trolls themselves, which is probably because in order to have white clothing they would have to get it directly from lusi, who are huge and dangerous. I have LOTS more thoughts about how white clothing would be seen or even obtained in a world where it seems that white as a clothing base for dyeing into other colors seems relatively unobtainable (with more privileged trolls only having solid colored clothing and other trolls mostly having black and grey in their wardrobes), but the coding of color would probably have people think that pure white, especially in a world that takes place at night, would probably be seen as othering and dangerous, with it likening people to lusi as well as "here I am I am very easy to see". When you live in a violent society, allowing yourself to be seen means you can handle yourself and that means you must be dangerous to be drawing attention. Hence, rainbow drinkers glowing bright white.

7) I like to think psionics work as a positive and negative charge, and dance across the body in that format, between the red and blue, and would, as a result, lead to there being different circulations of that power on opposite sides of the body, with the coloration. You see this with the eyes and powers on psionic trolls, but I also like to think that if you retain damage from using psionics, that the scars you develop would then have that coloration from that half of the body, then applying to the face first, and reaction to restraints (like the ones seen on the Psiioniic during his.... um...... employment by HIC)

8) Thinking about grubs, I really like the idea of them having little soft white horns that haven't quite developed yet because they're so small, otherwise I can't imagine the grub pools are very fun, to say the least. Little pincers surround the mouth and aid putting food in as leggies are mostly used for very basic movement and, more importantly, hearing. Ears aren't on the head until after pupation, and instead located on the legs as they need to pick up environmental vibrations. This leads to the few instances of a troll raising a grub usually including speaking to the child's stomach or little grabbers, and adult trolls raised by other trolls finding hands important, listening intently to others by holding their face in their hands even though they no longer hear that way. It paints a striking, abnormally friendly, otherworldly concept of The Signless' adult life and adds a neat little cultural phenomenon to his approach. I like the idea of reaching out to someone or having your hands out in a pleading way be a deeply personal way of listening to the other person in a culture that hasn't developed what would be a common practice of this because of its lack of humanity.