#s93

My only theory is that Vriska's bullying finally went too far. Perhaps she (somehow) found a line that she hadn't crossed yet, crossed it, and completely broke poor Tavros.

GG: what did you want to talk about? AT: i WANTED TO ASK YOU PERMISSION, AT: i WOULD HAVE ASKED PERMISSION THE FIRST TIME, AT: bUT AT THE TIME YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO GIVE IT, oR TALK OR ANYTHING, [...] AT: tO COMMUNE WITH YOUR LUSUS,

Tavros. Are you saying what I fucking think you're saying?

GG: you did it before? AT: yEAH, AT: iT MEANS TO TALK TO HIM, aND, sUGGEST HE DO SOMETHING WHICH IS GOOD,

Tavros can control Bec? Are you serious?

I wasn't assuming that First Guardians were immune to troll psionics. I wasn't assuming it, because the question was so laughable that it didn't even occur to me. These things are demigods; the idea that you can puppet one like a Fiduspawn boggles the mind.

...well, I guess we don't know if it's actually that easy - it's possible that Tavros can only control Bec in a very rudimentary way.

GG: when did you do it before?

Let's hear his report.

AT: aND, iT WAS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE i THINK, AT: oF EXACTLY WHY WIGGLERS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DUAL WIELD FLINTLOCK PISTOLS, GG: hehe what? AT: sO, i DID THE LIBERTY OF COMMUNING WITH YOUR LUSUS,

That... looks like pretty fine control to me. In fact, it looks like Tavros is able to remote-control Becquerel in bullet time.

Maybe he's getting some help from Trollian's time settings, but... yeah. I'm going to need to digest the implications of this.

His negligence bit him in the ass in the end.

What in the hell is Grandpa even doing here? Is this part of some Sburb plan? Does the blue lady actually have some significance, or - now, this is just a theory, mind you - is the teenage runaway who collects mummies just a little eccentric?

Like father, like son. I hope this doesn't foreshadow a similar fate for John and/or Jade...

AT: […] i COMMUNED HIM TO USE HIS AMAZING POWERS […] AT: aND REROUTE THE PROJECTILE AWAY FROM THE PATH THAT WOULD HAVE HARMED YOU, AT: aND ALSO, AT: aS A WONDERFUL BONUS AND COINCIDENCE, AT: iT HAPPENED THERE WAS A FELON ON YOUR PROPERTY, […] AT: tHE SMALL MISSILE WAS REDIRECTED INTO THE SENIOR INTERLOPER'S CHEST, AT: aND HE DIED, AT: }:)

Anyway, let's talk about this hot mess.

He did, technically, save Jade's life. (Or, he was the mechanism behind her Alpha-mandated survival, whatever.) On Alternia, he'd probably have saved her life twice over - to him, Grandpa did look like an adult troll, and I'm sure nothing good happens to a wiggler when a troll invades its hive.

But... damn, Tavros. You knew this was an alien culture, and should have known your assumptions wouldn't necessarily hold. Should you really have shot first and asked questions (a decade) later? Jade is - and always was - alone because of you.

We can argue till we're blue in the face about how much blame you deserve for this - but either way, this isn't going to endear you to her. If you do have a crush, I have a feeling your ship's dead on arrival.

Tavros is usually so reticent, so hesitant to act. It's strange that the Alpha Timeline depends on him breaking this pattern, and I'm not sure why he did. Perhaps he can motivate himself when there's a life on the line, and this is just an extremely unfortunate manifestation of that trait.

Also, he appears to have full control over Bec, directing a portal into Grandpa's heart with pinpoint precision. Piercing the mind of a First Guardian doesn't even seem hard for him - he didn't mention expending any unusual effort to do this.

This, of course, opens up countless possibilities - and I'm drawn to a question which just became very pertinent. If Tavros can control Bec...

That's a great expression. Initially, it looked to be one of disdain...

...but despite his attitude towards Rose, Eridan genuinely likes magic. I think he's just focusing really hard on channeling the wizardly powers he's been dreaming about since childhood.

The dude categorically sucks, but I'm willing to let him have this. It's his one non-shitty hobby, and any time he's spending casting spells is time he's not spending being troll racist.

TT: Will I be blinded by the fearsome lashes of light ribboning from the incandescent coastline of his beauteous aura? TT: Should I borrow my friend's sunglasses? GA: Yes Definitely GA: Definitely Do That GA: Wait I Hope That Wasnt Too Emphatic GA: Maybe At This Point I Should Clarify This Is All A Big Joke

And it was good! Kanaya may be confused by sarcasm, but her progress through the upper echelons of Dave-tier irony is impressive indeed.

TT: Yeah. TT: I was getting that. TT: You don't always have to tip your hand, Kanaya. You were doing well.

Granted, she has an excellent tutor.

GA: I Did In Fact "Train" This Character GA: I Made Him A Wand To Shut Him Up [...]

Well, at least it's not being enhanced by the Horrorterrors this time. Really, this wand is probably a downgrade from Eridan's endgame rifle.

TT: Do keep me apprised of all further developments. GA: Okay I Will TT: At least until my looming grimdarkdeath steals me away.

I can't tell how worried Rose actually is about the blackout. There's a touch of her brother's façade about her at the moment, which is probably how she's able to stay this calm - but that can't last forever.

Tavros is Jade's admirer?

Granted, he doesn't have many options. The trolls are a tangled web of drama, John is infamously straight, and the Derse kids would eat him alive.

GG: i remember you, you talked to me a lot in my dreams AT: yEAH, bUT NOW i'M TALKING TO YOU BEING AWAKE, AT: bECAUSE, AT: yOUR ROBOT CAN'T TYPE, [...] GG: thats because my dream self died [...] AT: aW, nO, i'M DEFINITELY PRETTY SORRY TO HEAR THAT, GG: thanks, but i think im ok GG: i felt pretty shaken up at first though AT: yES, i DID TOO, AT: i SPENT SO LONG SLEEPING AND DREAMING AND PLAYING ON PROSPIT, AT: tHAT BEING AWAKE WAS MADE TO FEEL WEIRD, aND i DIDN'T LIKE IT FOR A WHILE, GG: yeah i have done a lot of sleeping myself :)

I think Jade can relate more closely than she's admitting.

𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐖𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝