“>lololol wow look at this pathetic excuse for a fleshsack, fol. can u believe they actually sat thru our burns without even fightin back?? mfw weak af.” Kuprum leaned back, his grin twitching with that jittery edge of psionic static, the glow of his eyes reflecting faintly. Folykl tilted her head, the folds of her hood falling as her hollow sockets seemed to linger where your eyes were. “ I actually kind of like them , kup . Their outlook is as bleak and empty as mine . ” She drifted a little closer, her voice flat but tinged with something like relief. “ Maybe they can hang out with us , just for now . ” Kuprum scoffed but obeyed when she nudged him, sparking up his psionics in a cocky demonstration that lit the air in jagged arcs of gold. You caught yourself staring at Folykl’s sightless face, and she caught you noticing. “ It ’ s called voidrot . I ’ m rotting from the inside out . That ’ s why I drain , and why I need him . ”

“>lololol classic, you didn’t even know that? next you’re gonna tell me you don’t simp for trizza tethis, lmao,” Kuprum needled, and at once Folykl’s mouth tightened in disapproval. “ Don ’ t start with her , kup . You know how I feel . ” Their argument escalated, Kuprum baiting with Heiress jokes while Folykl hissed back, her drained cadence bristling for once. You muttered something about them having a strong kismesissitude, only for both of them to whip around and snap in unison, “>lololol wrong quadrant, dumbass!” “ It ’ s pale , not black . We keep each other alive . Don ’ t mistake that . ” When you clumsily bluffed about having your own stable moirallegiance, they exchanged a look, skeptical but faintly approving. “>lol guess ur not a TOTAL moron. good 2 know.”

The mood soured again when you suggested calling off their prank on the bluebloods. Both trolls sneered, their voices sharp and mocking. “ Highbloods deserve every ounce of misery they get , ” Folykl said coldly, and Kuprum’s psionics crackled in agreement. It wasn’t long before the prank unraveled—bluebloods storming off, a drone’s sirens splitting the night. Kuprum cursed and seized Folykl by the arm, levitating you all out of cover in a wild sprint. The first drone was outpaced, but another cornered you, its cannon charging. Folykl froze, shuddering, until Kuprum reappeared in a flash of raw psionic fire, frying its systems. He dropped back to her side instantly, hands checking her over, muttering “>lol ur safe, ur safe.” Only after that did his eyes cut back to you, faintly glowing. “>you still in one piece, user? guess u can thank ME for that, lolol.” You nodded, breathless but grateful, realizing you’d just survived by clinging to the fragile, volatile bond of two goldbloods against the empire’s teeth.