Last time we learned that after entering the medium Kanaya had to deal with something and leave her team. It seems we won’t get to know what that was yet as we now meet Kanaya shortly after the crisis she had was resolved. She is in her room, her lusus sprite next to her.

As she is hosting Vriska she can see everything she is doing, including the things she just did with Travos. Possibly only the kiss as she was very shocked and pissed off by seeing that. She apparently even helped Vriska make the dress that she had been wearing. She repeats the same odd line caligulasAquarium [CA] said before. “Being a kid and growing up. It’s hard and nobody understands.”

We are then given the explanation of how Troll relationships work and what all the weird words mean. I’ll try to sum it up. Humans only have one kind of romantic relationship represented with the heart ♥(red). I think this is a horribly simplified view of human romance but let’s just roll with it.

Trolls experience 4 different kinds of relationships, presented as quadrants.

♥ ♦

♠ ♣

• Top left is the flushed quadrant, relationships in here are Matesprits ♥. This is what humans typically experience. With both humans and trolls is “playing a role in the reproductive cycle”. It’s described as being “Concupiscent”, possessing more sexual desire. As it’s red it is a positive relationship. The example given is John’s Dad and Rose’s Mom, it’s been implied though I guess this confirms it.

• Bottom left is the caliginous (dark or dim) quadrant. These relationships in here are Kismesis ♠. As it is a black it’s a negative relationship, a dark Romance based on hate. If the hate between two people is strong enough it leads to a strong romantic connection. It is also concupiscent and plays a role in reproduction. The example given is Jack and the Queen.

As an aside we are given an explanation on troll reproduction. At least the parts that are different then the human reproduction. For an explanation on human reproduction I recommend you ask your parents, guardians, or google it. For trolls an Imperial Drone is sent to them and they need to provide “genetic material” for a bucket. Failure to provide results in death. I’ll let you use your imagination on what material is required. The buckets contain the “incestuous slurry” of all trolls and is given to the mother grub, Kanaya’s lusus. This is likely related to the weird orb Kanaya pulled from its dead corpse.

• Bottom right is the ashen quadrant, relationships in here are Auspistice ♣. This does not play a role in reproduction as it can be like being the “third wheel” in an existing relationship. Conciliatory relationships act as mediators to help to resolve conflicts . The example given is Kanaya being an auspistice for Vriska and Travos. It is further explained that these auspistice are needed. As all these relationships are volatile. A Matesprit can switch into a Kismesis leading to mass infidelity and conflict. It’s not mentioned, but since this is a black relationship it is a negative one. IT seems the role takes a toll on those in it.

• Lastly top right is the pale quadrant, relationships in here are Moirallegience ♦. This one also does not play a role in reproduction. It is also a Conciliatory relationship. This is more like a platonic relationship. The example given is Nepeta and Equius, Nepeta is the Moirail. The moirail needs to pacify another troll. This is for trolls who may be particularly dangerous or violent. A Moirallegience can work both ways personalities can complement each other. These can also be confused for Matesprits. Much like human relationships this situation causes issues. A second example is provided with the 2 trolls we’ve yet to meet. caligulasAquarium [CA] and cuttlefishCuller [CC] are another example of a Moirallegience. We’re shown CA clearly wants a Matesprits relationship with CC. this is unrequited, thus the relationship is in constant flux.

We are given more hints on the current status of trolls. This unrequited situation was the situation with Kanaya’s feelings towards Vriska. As that failed she became the Auspistice for Vriska’s relationship with Travos. It hints she will also become Auspistice for a relationship between Vriska and CA. That may be a future thing.

We had been told of this before. Just very poorly by Karkat to John. This was a conversion between him and John way back on page 1603 I think?. The point he was trying to make is that Troll romance is way more complicated than human romance. Also John is an idiot for not understanding this apparently very complicated subject. But trolls are apparently all diehard romantics. They believe that someone is out there waiting for them in each of these quadrants. I’ll remind you failure to find love is literally a death sentence. so this belief is a little more understandable.