#vrissy

After rereading and considering everyone's replies, I'm in agreement with several others' sentiments that Terezi was most likely reacting to the BeyondCanon website on Nymph internet supposedly showing Vriska trying to meet her, which set her off trying to get Ly'lac to get back to that site but Ly'lac wouldn't listen (“WHO C4RES 4BOUT YOUR STUP1D DR34M! FUCK YOU! TH4T W4S FUCK1NG VR1SK4!”), and she has no insight into the fact that Ly'lac dreamed about Vrissy. We'll see if that pans out because the commands apparently aren't done, and Terezi has spent an unknown number of YEARS unsure if she'd ever meet Vriska again and probably thinking it tragically unlikely, only to pick up hints of it from prophetic Nymphs now. (Also it continues to be a cute contrast to John that Ly'lac is an expert at IGNORING commands given to her instead of taking on almost all of them as an Heir of Breath presumably would.)

(We know Vriska is going to crash in and make herself VERY known to Terezi at SOME point in her timeline (she's got "seers to see" after all) as the game commences or gets rolling, especially once any of the Candy Kids are introduced which was probably outside Terezi's (and maybe even Rosebot's!) range of predictive faculties, but from context for Terezi to get this worked up right now, that clearly hasn't happened yet from HER perspective. Plus, Ly'lac's been presumably careful to only talk to Vrissy from a slime-encircled computer, so it's very possible Terminal observers haven't been able to read her conversations with Vrissy.)

I also want to give credit to the reply by @abstractedapotheosis who guessed "The “enigmatic fictional maiden” CC mentioned is probably Vrissy right ? I wouldn’t be surprised if Ly'lac tried to tell CC about her and they just didn’t believe she existed[...]"-- which would contrast Vriska with Ly'lac's other friends being referred to by CC as “the other 2 3dpds” she knows, because CC's assuming Vriska is essentially a 2D waifu Ly'lac's making up a relationship with, which would be a perfectly reasonable course of action in CC's mind.

So, let's see what Ly'lac and auguryAside sound like together, and what sorts of thoughts Terezi is dwelling on?

> VR1SK4...

The unopened package is still there for now.

AA: My superior sources of intelligence have alerted me to thy recent ascent to the quiet kingdom bathed in the wine of She Who Looks Aside, Our Weaver Of Tendrils. GC: oh really...? GC: your "sources" told you this? AA: Yes. AA: My sources. GC: and would this source happen to be a certain disgusting backstabbing seafoam sucking pervert?

Oh my gosh, CC tattled to AA right away?!? That's VERY VERY LOW for a friend-- CC even promised/prommy'd! (Or specifically promised but did NOT "prommy", which may or may not have been the loophole.) Also of note, it seems like auguryAside knows something about Derse, or at least calls the land of dreaming and horrorterror bubbles that in general without knowing about Derse specifically, and associates it with their race's creator, Rose Lalonde. Interesting for "wine" to end up in this metaphor, of all things.

AA: A nymph never tells her secrets. GC: just everyone else's... GC: i really can't with the two of you today. GC: oh that must be why he's going by "dagger"... GC: let me go tell her that.

Very interesting how GC smoothly switches up between calling CC's identities "he" and "her" at the drop of a hat. Is this a genderfluid any-pronouns thing, or more of a plural thing possibly?

Also, back to cloisteredConnoisewer IMMEDIATELY backstabbing Ly'lac, presumably... this might be Destroyer class evidence like for him/her being a Bard of Blood, for him to be obsessed with relationships but not take them seriously, not take his/her promises seriously, and other Blood-associated responsibilities CC's being exceedingly Breathy about...

AA: Thou wilst go nowhere. GC: i don't think "wilst" is a word... AA: Whatever. GC: whatever yourself larper. AA: Oh, boo! Just forgive us for the night! AA: As I forgave thee! AA: (Notice how I continue to be patient and accept thy detestable curses on me with humility and grace? You contemptible whelp?) AA: So please forgive us. AA: Hm, or just me. AA: Continue hating that degeneratress until the sun blows up for all I care. AA: Actually that isn't true, I do care. AA: Forgive her at once. GC: fuck no. AA: Well, I tried.

AA really does seem inclined toward repairing things, retreating from almost any tough talk she gives in favor of Healing. Really fitting the Sylph of Time guess, contrasting Time's destructiveness with her repairing instinct here.

GC: anyway you're asking about the purple place? AA: So it truly is purple? AA: Heh, of course I've read the accounts from the vexpeditionists of the past but with how untrustworthy T.W.A.T.T.S. have been these past few turns... AA: It's sometimes hard to believe what I've read on those lines. GC: i feel that...

Oh so Nymphs have had prophetic dreams about Derse in the past? Dreams about the upcoming session that will help doom their civilization, perhaps, and those who will play it, whether they be in this session or part of the Shurb release across the planet? Are AA's accounts coming from... whatever in the god damn fuck TWATTS stands for or is a pun on, or from personal experience?

AA: So surely thee indulged in the gift of flight that place grants, yes? GC: yeah. AA: I still remember my first flight. AA: Oh Ly'lac, one day soon the three of us will fly together and chase the stars away. GC: heh... AA: Ah yes, wondrous... AA: How wondrous! Isn't it wondrous? GC: yeah it was alright i guess.

Exceedingly interesting... so AA likely HAS had dreams on Prospit already, and wanted to confirm that Ly'lac's dreams were indeed in its purple mirror far in the distance?

AA: ... AA: "I guess" ? GC: if i'm being honest it's basically just swimming but dry which yeah is kind of weird but you get over the novelty after like a minute and after talking to cc about it i guess it's just like um... AA: Okay. AA: Stop talking. GC: . AA: Didst thou speak with the Folx of Eld? GC: ... can i talk or not? AA: When I see you I'm going to hit you.

This seems to be a regular theme of threat these two make to anyone and everyone. Folks of Eld, huh? The Horrorterrors? Right, they were probably whispering to her, not just showing her a Dream Bubble one of them was holding.

GC: ok sorry, i didn't really "speak" with them. GC: but they damn sure started talking... AA: What knowledge did they pass to thee? GC: nothing that crazy tbh. AA: ... Specifically? GC: this and that... AA: Pissing me thee fuck off right now. GC: ha ha ha sorry it's honestly hard to remember. GC: it was about a boat or something... GC: we gotta do something about a boat. GC: i think... AA: ... Okay. AA: I'll reflect on this and share my findings later.

Very Noah's Ark, but it doesn't explain much about "the fucking narwhal". Why would Ly'lac, who has ample sources of horns and nickering from Satyr culture and media, ever confuse a Unicorn or Monohorn horn for that of a Narwhal? Just because she's used to sea life and only saw the horn before the bubble popped or something? *IS* it a Narwhal that nickers and acts horselike? (A friend also pointed out Jade Harley riding a Narwhal in her first dream bubble dream before she saw through the veil to the Horrorterrors around her.)

Also Ly'lac says DO SOMETHING about a boat, not BUILD a boat. So most likely, this has something to do with the boat-like ship the Meat Heroes are taking to Deltritus -- neither Dirk's ship nor alt!Calliope's are boat-shaped.

GC: wait wait wait i almost forgot there was one more thing. AA: Oh? GC: yeah they made it sound like it was less of a priority but still important, but it was also for you specifically... AA: Me? AA: They wanted to talk to me? GC: yeah i guess so. AA: Zounds, that's... I can't believe they actually wanted to talk to me. AA: Have my efforts finally been acknowledged? AA: Ba ha! I'm becoming flush with emotion!

More evidence that auguryAside, if she's properly awoken as a Prospit Dreamer as seems at least somewhat likely and isn't just flying in Dream Bubble dreams, has never heard the Horrorterrors speak to her. Which is sort of, well, confirmation she's a Prospit dreamer, telling us little we hadn't already deduced by process of elimination.

AA: What was it? What did they have to say? GC: they said... AA: ??? GC: they... said... ... ... AA: Do not drag this shit out. GC: they said to tell you to "be nice to her." GC: whatever that means... AA: What? AA: Oh. GC: i'm assuming it's about you know who? AA: Ugh... AA: Yes, most likely. AA: Well, I thank thee for that. GC: that's all...? AA: ... Yes? Was there more? GC: there wasn't. GC: i guess i just thought you'd be more upset to hear that... GC: i don't even know why. GC: i just thought you'd flip out harder than that...

Now that's weird. Who the hell could they be talking about? A Guardian? A Candy Kid in contact with AA who might not be in contact with Ly'lac? For the Horrorterrors to give such a warning, it's usually either an ominous portent meant to soften the regret of someone they're about to lose, or an ominous portent that their attempts won't prevent the consequences that their earlier failure to abide by such whispers (or inevitable failure TO hence abide by such whispers) will cause them, if I have my track record right-- a sort of "I told you so" mostly relevant in retrospect. Either way-- ominous portent regardless.

AA: Bahaha! AA: Now Ly'lac, why would a task so easily ignored be a cause for any such flippage? GC: ... AA: Those little eggs of silence will convince me of nothing so keep them to thyself, lest I gobble them up. GC: please don't eat my eggs ma'am. AA: Then thee'd best behave.

Calling those ellipses dots "eggs of silence" is adorable-- the threat to eat them and Ly'lac taking it so seriously, slightly less adorable. I wonder how much is play-acting with a friend on Ly'lac's part and how much is Ly'lac being generally intimidated with how AA gets angry with her? And... yeah it seems like with all AA talked up the whispers of the outer gods in admiration, she intends to COMPLETELY IGNORE the precious advice passed along to her. Which as we all know, doesn't usually turn out well, as even Ly'lac recognized...

AA: Anyway, enough about that. AA: What's new with me is that I am now a fugitive in mine own home. AA: So that's happening. GC: wow what the hell? AA: Ha ha yes, it's quite horrid. GC: i thought you were just grounded... AA: Quite the opposite, ironically. AA: I'm lurking in the belfry currently biding my time before I can make a run back to my reclusehollow. GC: your sororal shenanigans are always so funnily crazy. AA: Well, I'm glad my suffering can bring you comfort.

Wait, "sororal"? So she either has a sister or sisters, or belongs to a Sorority like the mirror of a Satyr Fraternity???

I hope it's not multiple sisters, because if she's about to go into a Shurb session, that might be... sad.

GC: have i ever told you your life is like an episode of "the shroud family"... AA: Yes. GC: you are kind of like peonia. GC: hm actually no more like one of the twins... GC: or both of them as one character. AA: I don't think I share any traits with any of those characters other than living amongst my sisters. GC: actually maybe you guys are more like "the angry bereavers", a great scrawlcel we should watch btw... AA: Not really the time for that, Ly'lac. GC: could "i am greasel" possibly be a good comparison? AA: I have seen that and if thine implication is what I believe thee to imply that is extremely disrespectful. GC: wayneheads? AA: Just listing shit off.

I added the links to the referred-to-but-renamed-for-Nymphs shows. Most noteworthy is she lists Penny from The Proud Family as Peonia, like a Peony, reinforcing the idea that not just our player Nymphs but almost ALL NYMPHS might have Rose-like flower names!

And, AA lives with sisters plural, uh oh. I hope if she's attached to them they at least make it into their own Shurb session, or we'll get a hands-on spotlight on how Nymph society is built to constantly deal with grief and bereavement or doom at the hands of prophecies.

AA: How is that even relevant to my life at all? AA: If "Pinky and The Upper Organon" is sent next I am going to scream. AA: I can see thee typing. AA: I am going to scream so loud if that is being typed out right now. AA: I am going to blow my cover. AA: And I am going to be torn asunder by the fury of a league of embittered oversensitive embalmaturgists. AA: And the fault will lie entirely on thee. AA: And still thou type?? AA: Speak! GC: i was just gonna say nymphomaniacs was kino... AA: Ly'lac. GC: my bad. AA: The most inane part of all this is that I'm actually going to agree with thee on that. AA: That one was good. GC: :)

This is one of the few times I've seen "kino" written out, what recent slang to see in a work like this. Beyond Canon has that liberty instead of a locked-in year, I suppose. It's really nice to see Ly'lac smile! Also, uh... Animaniacs turning into Nymphomaniacs feels like there's a huge meaning disconnect from, er, what that word usually means in Human. But I guess if they're Nymphs, redefinitions of words like that is pretty inevitable... also from that view, it kind of almost feels like the name might call back to "Psycholonials" which I still criminally haven't played or even spoiled myself on, for reasons??

Hopefully that doesn't affect my Homestuck analysis too much. >_>"

AA: Well, regardless! GC: so what's got them so worked up? AA: I may have resorted to less than scrupulous methods as pertains to the acquisition of thy morphday present. GC: you stole it. AA: I reappropriated it. AA: For thee, I must emphasize! GC: aw, well thanks for becoming a fugitive for me... GC: i'm outside, i'll go get it right now. AA: Splendid. GC: also you gotta teach me that anti-piracy hex you use... GC: it's been fucking these old biddies up. AA: If someone else got their claws on that package before it made its way to thee I'd... AA: Ha, well, let's say I'd be quite cross. GC: i shudder to think... AA: Yes. AA: Shudder.

Regardless of her helpful nature, the consequences of auguryAside's ire are apparently infamous. Given the interactions she's had with others so far, that doesn't surprise me overly much.

AA: Well, friend... thou must realize thee'd need an external conduit to even attempt such deliriously sicknasty majyycks? GC: oh yeah. GC: i keep meaning to make an order for a new wand... AA: Allow me a knowing smirk if thou would. GC: consider it allowed. GC: so what'd you get me this year? AA: Oh Ly'lac, that'd be telling. GC: that is why i am asking... AA: I left a simple glyph explaining (and summarizing) the terms and conditions of my gift. GC: a whole instruction manual? GC: what am i getting myself into... AA: Thou wouldst have known already if thee put an end to this PUTTERING. NOW GO.

Time to open your purloined-and-redistributed present, Ly'lac! (Adding Rogue to the secondary-classes-AA-might-be-if-we-were-somehow-wrong-about-Sylph list.)

Uh oh. So before I click this:

> ROS3 TH1S 1S PR3TTY LOW 3V3N FOR YOU.

The only way I can interpret this is that Vriska is interweaved with the future, including her potentially meeting or trying to meet with Terezi... which is something Terezi has only JUST NOW SEEN, and now blames Rose because she thinks Rose MUST have foreseen it and yet NOT TOLD HER. That's the only thing that makes sense of the last spree of Terezi commands to me in totality; whether Terezi thinks she omitted it to keep the kismesis Rose and Terezi had going, or thinks she omitted it for strategic reasons to keep Terezi on board with The Plan. However, Terezi's animosity may be misplaced... because for all we know, due to the nature of Vriska's colossal intervention from the unlikeliest of places, it's indeed quite possible that Rosebot DIDN'T foresee it at all! And if so, that's going to be very, VERY interesting, although I have to assume that Rose and Dirk are going to be pretty skillful at trying to recalibrate their plans to account for the Candy Kids and Vriska's presence. In the worst case, they might indeed have to do as the comic suggests and pull all the strings they can to keep Terezi and Vriska apart to avoid losing an ally, which may lose them Terezi's limited support regardless...

Okay, clicking the link now.

> ROS3 TH1S 1S PR3TTY LOW 3V3N FOR YOU.

You examine the package. There is an absurdly large stone tablet nailed onto it. Parts of the engraving have been scratched out and another has been added in a script you recognize very well. "User's Manual for THE LATCHKEY. 'This will not hurt me nearly as much as it hurts you.' — Unknown 1. Aim 2. Fire 3. Repeat until desired results ATTENTION: Under no circumstances should this be wielded by an acolyte of less than the 9th circle. Side effects may include mild to severe madness ascendence, delusions of intimacy, aural bleeding, existential drift, tendril swelling, an end to history, etc. Consult your local APOTHESCARY if effects persist longer than four hours.

Oh, so a weapon that can cause damage to the wielder as well as their target? That sounds like the PERFECT sort of weapon for a Doom player!

If found, return to Those With Ambitions Towards The Stars IMMEDIATELY." "I created nothing; credit to the makers. To my friend, Ly'lac, Of the Final Applause."

D'aww. This gift feels sweet.

> Ly'lac: Quit your puttering around.

Whoa... it nearly even matches her Magic Symbol and tower shape, and the duality possibly Doom's theme like Sollux. It even tapers up toward a more Fuchsia Life-color at the top, the power over Life and Death in a single hand, in precarious balance.

The tides rise with each blushing day and happily make their retreat every night. It's one of those things you've never questioned. For a long time you've felt in your chest an absence you couldn't name, something you were never taught the word for. An answer to a question you never knew to ask. You are known as Ly'lac of the Final Applause and you are certain you've never seen or heard of this seemingly LEGENDARY WAND. And yet, feeling this meaty weight in your hands, you know you've been waiting to receive this gift your entire life. Like high tide has finally come. Or maybe low tide? Which one was the good one? Beneath such dreamy weather it's almost a shame; It feels as though a long day is finally coming to an end.

Holy SHIT. What John-looking-up-at-the-sky-from-his-mailbox like words. This is awesome, in the AWE sense. (The fact that she was giving her a wand explains AA mentioning her knowing smirk.) "THE LATCHKEY" is what it's called... what could that name mean? Is it a weapon for a Thief or Rogue? Hard to say, other than that its meanings WILL eventually be made clear. And she's getting a fitting feeling for one who's meant to contribute to bringing about The End, from a Time player no less.

...Knowing Homestuck, of course, she's immediately going to do something hilarious and dumb with it.

===>

WAIT WHOA, HER SHIRT CHANGED, that symbol wasn't on her shirt before, and didn't appear (not on her SHIRT, only around one eye or over her arms) the last times she did magic! Are Nymph shirt symbols like Cutie Marks, branding themselves upon their clothing once they're Complete or have achieved some stage of metaphysical growth?

GC: whoa. this is bizarre... AA: Magnificently powerful, isn't it? GC: i think it's stinging my hand? AA: I think that's normal! AA: A lesser nymph would be shattered by its immense aura. GC: ha ha ha then how'd you manage to carry it? AA: Bah Hah Hah, that's not funny. GC: it kind of looks like two little ladies attached at the hip. GC: like catfishdogfish... GC: thank you, this is freaking awesome.

That comparison is really adorable of Ly'lac to make, hehe.

AA: Of course! But of course, nothing but the best for my wards. GC: don't make it weird... AA: I'm not weird. I'm normal and nice. GC: lol. AA: That surely must stand for "Lots of Like-Mindedness." GC: surely...

Very much like a probably-Sylph to view themselves like a big sister to protegés.

GC: ah damn ok, this computer's literally falling apart. GC: can you do me a favor? AA: There's not much I cannot do. GC: message TC for me. AA: I cannot do that. GC: come on... GC: you're being a lame ass nymph rn. AA: Eugh....................................... GC: it's about the game. the game we wanted to play today... remember the game? AA: Yes...... fine. AA: What is it? GC: tell him to get started without me but i'll be around in a bit. GC: i'm waiting on a message to come in first... AA: Erm, okay. AA: Yes, I can do that. GC: you will. AA: Yes, yes I will. AA: How fortunate for thee that it's such bad luck to not listen to someone's commands on their morphday. GC: heh, that's why they call me lucky ly'lac... AA: We don't call you that. GC: ok cmpeter meltng bye

So most likely, I'd have to say that Ly'lac is waiting for Vriska (Vrissy) to message her (on some device she has to re-acquire or fix else she'll be unable to reply, and that's if she didn't use the broken orb up for her temporary computer) and confirm she's going to play with her, so Ly'lac can hopefully send her back Shurb (and/or Cha.OS) and get this show on the freakin' road as a player/server pair, even if TC possibly planned to connect to Ly'lac first, and will have to connect to someone else to start Shurb whether he expected it or not (possibly in dual chains connecting later like the Troll Session had). I sort of don't fully know yet if Ly'lac is genuinely going to be the First Player as we expect, no matter how John-positioned the writers are making her, nor do I know if a Candy Kid will be bringing her in or HOW SOON a Candy Kid is going to actually make it into the session, no matter how desperately we want to see them join into these shenanigans! But it feels like we're going to get plenty of time with Nymphs and Satyrs first beyond a few glimpses like the Derse one we just got of Vrissy.

Let's see what a Legendary Wand can do in the hands of our little Doom player.

> Ly'lac: Test wand.

You look for a suitable target for your newfound armament. Ah, there's nothing here but these SKULKING CRONES. The CARETAKER wouldn't take kindly to you obliterating some poor old lady for the sake of target practice.

Yeah, this seems a little too much of a target-rich environment.

--WAIT LY'LAC DON'T--

> Ly'lac: Use wand on Meemaw.

PHEW. That's better.

NO! YOU WOULD NEVER! Your precious MEEMAW. Besides, you have no idea what kind of terrible counterhex that might trigger.

Oh, so Meemaw might have counterhexes set up on herself over her long lifetime that would inflict great misfortune on those who might do her harm?

Sigh.

I guess Ly'lac's going to have to target some infrastructure that will accidentally, tragically FALL on Meemaw, killing her and triggering all those counterhexes while priming her up for Spritehood. That's the way this all works in Homestuck, right?

Wait Terezi, what the hell are you planning? Trying to set up a specific prototyping?

> TRY 4G41N.

You spot a wayward COMMON SHALLOWS HAGSNAB, cluelessly unaware of its own impending demise. The SHUBHURB has been swarming with them lately. As a ward, eliminating garden pests is one of the many chores you are entrusted with and have ultimately been putting off. This return to form will surely please the CARETAKER in ways unfathomable to you.

Wait Terezi, how is it 4PPL3B3RRY? It's pure white on our monitors, is something wrong with your tongue or with Ly'lac's eyes?

> OK4Y 4T L34ST 34T TH3 D3L1C1OUS 4PPL3B3RRY SC3NT3D MOLLUSK.

Why? You didn't even kill it yet. Eating a live HAGSNAB off the seafloor is too disgusting even for you.

She's responding to Terezi's commands again, if only to side-eye them because they're so bizzare. And even at this angle, we can see her old magic symbol is still newly emblazoned upon her shirt.

Oh, set wand phasers to GR1LL, then:

> GR1LL 1T?

Eyebrow twitch.

HOW??? You are UNDERWATER. That was a stupid as fuck thought you just had. You're just gonna go and blast it to smithereens for no reason like a normal person.

(So she isn't distinguishing them from her own thoughts, at least for the moment.)

Oh quit griping Terezi, you would hardly even be able to taste it from here.

Also I can't help but remark at how VERY CLOSE Ly'lac is to what's likely to be the epicenter of a much bigger explosion than she expects.

> 1 C4N'T H4V3 FUCK1NG 4NYTH1NG. WH3R3 D1D TH4T TH1NG 3V3N COM3 FROM?

Where did the snab come from? That's a weird question to think, almost as inane of a question as where do babies come from. Obviously, babies come from the beach right over there. Well, not ALL of them, but it is a popular burial ground. Everyone knows that new nymph mothers haul their freshly laid clutch up onto the surface and abandon them to their fate, deposited snugly into a hand-dug frytrench. After they hatch, the young nurslings sort of aimlessly roll down into the ocean proper. In ancient times, they'd be easy pickings for hungry predators or vengeful surfacedwellers, or the odd blood-witch, but this is a kinder era, at least as far as infant mortality is concerned. Also there are treaties about this kind of thing now. Considering this is where you ended up, you must not have rolled very far.

Oh, we've been given the perfect excuse for a segue into an impromptu rant on where Nymph babies come from! Seems a prime breeding strategy for Meteor paradox-seeding to be indistinguishable from natural birth. Also, all auguryAside's "sisters" would be those who rolled down into roughly the same place and would thus be assumed to be from the same Clutch, even if AA happened to come from somewhere else (eg. a meteor strike). Perhaps that would have caused a disconnect between her and her sisters?

Oh-- guess testing out the wand won't be in this upd8, we've reached the end. That felt like it flew by even though it had a lot of content for us. AA does tend to make things a little more long winded for their content density than conversations with others are, too, understandably.