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“There’s not much information available about the lore of rainbow drinkers, to my knowledge at least, but whatever known storage of information about my condition is indubitably impossible to get ahold of now.” Kanaya rambled as she leafed through the pages of an old copy about general troll biology. Rose leaned into her arm with sharp focus, hesitantly placing a palm on Kanaya's forearm. Apparently, none of the others thought to perhaps gather as much valuable data that would later be proved to be important; their biology, for one, was certainly something they needed to bring a knowledgeable textbook for into the new universe, a completely new life outside of Alternia and the deathly grips the game had on them.
Or maybe that was just the bias of the newly present frustration Kanaya was enduring, over possibly trying to flirt with the ever-curious human beside her while reading about her species’ biological anatomy. Preserving important anatomy information among the steady destruction of their world definitely wasn’t something severely on the mind of any six sweep old troll, of course; but god damn it, if Kanaya had been tipped off before that a particular human, one of special interest, would be incredibly insistent about exchanging cultures and learning more about each other's biology in the name of "friendship", she would've confiscated any data she could grasp her claws on in her chastity fetch modus. Maybe if Dave utilized his newly acquired time powers more, he could casually time travel back to Kanaya's hive two years ago and forewarn that "yo rose is gonna be unsettlingly enthusiastic about wanting to learn about your protein chutes and bulges and assnooks but there isnt that much reliable info available except for three and a half other deranged trolls so if you wanna get some interdimensional space lesbian smooches id suggest you get ahold of a troll vampire 101 middle school biology textbook before you board this hurtling piece of shit rock for a totally not first date."
In similar thoughts but completely unbeknownst to the other alien in the room, Rose was also fussily wishing that there was more available rainbow drinker biology books on the meteor. Both because the general vast mystery of Kanaya’s condition, which she was the last of her kind for, was incredibly enticing amidst the new underwhelming day-to-day life, and the other densely harbored reason being that Rose absolutely refused to flirt and ask Kanaya out like a normal teenager.
Although the approach of just simply light flirting and then an eventual inquiry about a date, alone together somewhere in this dull and dark meteor, would've been sensible, especially for someone seemingly levelheaded like Rose; however, as both Rose and Kanaya had a revelation about, was actually a complete utter disaster. Dave's social blunders practically paled in comparison.
Rose counted herself extremely lucky that Kanaya at this point hadn't even thought of turning her back and raced with regrets at her heel. Similarly, Kanaya silently shared the same sentiment.
“Well then, I suppose retreading the grounds of rainbow drinker anatomy in hopes of documenting your condition all over again, especially considering you’re the last of them, through the simple practice of exchanging asks and questions is our only option.” Rose shrugged, which Kanaya emitted a light chuckle at.
“I guess so,” Kanaya nodded, cupping the back of her neck with her palm. "What would you like to know then?"
"Aside from your biological requirement for blood intake, can you eat solid food?” Rose asked intently. "And if so, is it as necessary and beneficial as the blood intake?"
"I can still consume regular food, yeah, though I'm not very sure if it guarantees the same benefits as just simply sucking blood, which is more like a compulsive need to be honest," Kanaya explained. At the surprised look Rose was giving her, Kanaya took this as a signal to continue on. "I don't really often eat solid meals though. I sort of, uhm, choose to leave it for the rest of you non-blood-sucking passengers - it's not as necessary for me as direly it is for you and the others, especially with the little resources we have already. And with how little you eat, the more I'm incredibly hesitant on siphoning blood from you, so it cuts off two sustenance sources for me. Honestly, I think we indubitably under prepped for this."
"This... whole time, when you would decline any grubrolls, I thought it was simply just because you didn't even have the desire to eat anything like it anymore due to a different shift in biological needs," Rose's lips went agape, staring at the dark smooth wood of the table then at Kanaya's countenance. "Kanaya! You're basically nearly starving yourself!"
"But Rose, without the self-sacrifice, you'd be ghoulishly thin!!" Kanaya defended, as best as she could argue. Her glow flickered on from surprise, slightly brightening then dimming sporadically.
“Well, I’m thankful for my inquisitive nature at least,” Rose sighed. “If not, I would’ve never found out you were selflessly sacrificing your own nutritional needs. I’m going to start sharing half my grubrolls with you.”
“No! Rose, you don’t-“
“Kan, you know I rarely even finish my plate, if anything, you’d still be helping,” Rose interrupted, shaking her head with a tsk. “And in the process, you won’t be starving yourself either.”
Kanaya grunted. “Right.”
Rose squeezed Kanaya’s arm, taking an even bolder move of resting her chin on the troll’s bicep. Warmth flushed Kanaya’s cheeks, blooming a noticeable green under her illuminating skin.
“So I’m assuming since you still have the ability to eat and gain nutrition from regular meals, you’re not entirely undead? Like the stereotypical vampire would be?” Rose murmured, glancing her lavender orbs up at Kanaya, practically seizing Kanaya in her gaze with a slight stutter in her beginning words.
“That’s correct, erm, I’m pretty sure. Developmental and growth wise, I don’t seem to be struggling against anyone here.”
“I can certainly see that - I’m fairly sure you’ve already surpassed Gamzee with height!” Rose exclaimed, garnering giggles and soft snorts from Kanaya. Fuzziness grew in Rose’s chest at the sound, which she attempted to ignore as the fast pattern of her heartbeat started to drown out Kanaya’s voice.
“Maybe, but,” Kanaya’s expression deflated, looking sorely wounded at the table. “There’s still a multitude of things I don’t even know about my body anymore after turning. I mean, I’m not even sure if my pump biscuit still beats.”
“I don’t see why not?” Rose perked a brow. “Your development still progresses and requires sustenances as if you never changed into a rainbow drinker. Would a heartbeat really be too far fetched?”
“I don’t know honestly.” Kanaya sighed through her nose.
Rose gripped onto Kanaya’s gray sleeve in unmitigated deep thought, completely spurred on by the visible dejection in the troll’s countenance and voice, and desperately trying to sought anyway to remedy it. Then, an idea finally sprouted.
“Maybe I can hear it?” Rose piped up. Kanaya stared at her blankly for a moment.
“Hear what?”
“You’re pump biscuit - or heartbeat, I mean. I can hear your chest to see if it’s true you somehow don’t have a pumping heart.” Rose told her, carefully putting her words together, yet also keenly letting them slip her tongue.
There was a hesitant air in the way Kanaya opened her mouth then slightly closed it, her sharpened fangs pressing down on her bottom lip as green started to become more noticeable on her cheeks.
For Kanaya’s sake, Rose pretended to be oblivious to the painfully obvious shade of green against her actively beaming skin that kept flickering along with her nerves.
“I-“ Kanaya coughed, adorably looking to the side before meeting Rose’s gentle and sweet gaze. “Sure. Uh, I suppose that’s really the only viable way we can find out, since there really isn’t any other method that we know of. Unless there’s some other machinery present in the depths of the meteor that the others brought and I had no-“
”You’re rambling, Kanaya.” Rose giggled out, tentatively unlatching her arms from their wrapped place on Kanaya’s.
Kanaya swallowed dryly. Parting from each other and putting a good few inches of space between them, Rose timidly leaned her head into Kanaya’s chest, a choked pathetic noise clogging in Kanaya’s throat.
Rose put her entire focus on detecting any sounds, trying to pick up on any flutterings through the soft material of Kanaya’s shirt. Everything fell silent around them, anticipation rising with every second that skipped by with no response. Rose knitted her bleach brows together, her confusion bubbling up.
Until.
Thumpthump.
Rose’s eyes widened, her stomach flipping at the sound. The noise was incredibly intense, and fast, and for a second Rose was concerned; until she remembered her head was basically pressed into Kanaya’s chest.
Thumpthumpthump.
“Do you hear anything?” Kanaya asked, a bit of a tentative tone in her voice.
“Mhm!” Rose parted from her chest, nodding enthusiastically and smiling so extemporaneously and without restraint, it would’ve felt uncharacteristic to anybody but Kanaya.
Kanaya grinned, relief melting away the anxiety surging within her. However, it only lasted for a moment, before she suddenly felt the weight of Rose’s head back on her chest.
“It sounds quite rhythmic actually,” Rose purred, pink heat flushing her cheeks to her ears. “I could lull myself asleep to it like it’s a classical Earth lullaby, even if it’s beating rather briskly.” Kanaya spotted a mischievous smirk from the corner of her best friend’s mouth.
“Oh,” Kanaya’s voice broke and wavered, immediately clearing her throat afterwards, then boldly placed her hand on Rose’s back as the hotness of her face and pointed ears smoldered. “Okay. Cool. Thank you - for liking my pump biscuit, I mean.”
Rose snorted, pulling out laughter from Kanaya too.