Quadrants are a complicated system of four types of romance. Trolls naturally experience all four types of romance, while humans only experience a single type, cherubs experience another, and carapacians apparently experience at least two of them. However, it has been implied that humans may also be able to feel emotions from at least two quadrants.
They are a frustratingly difficult concept for humans to grasp, so much so that in response to a callous remark, Andrew Hussie trolls the readers by forcing us to read the troll relationship info all over again, “BACK TO BACK TO BACK TO BACK TO BACK TO BACK.”
Karkat has stated that trolls are driven by the two primary emotions, hate and pity. However the other trolls seem to be capable of the full spectrum of emotion familiar to humans and given the corruption of their society by outside forces and revelations about their uncorrupted society, it is likely this statement is part of the beliefs of the corrupted society and not accurate.
The four quadrants are:
- Matespritship, the flushed quadrant ♥
- Moirallegiance, the pale quadrant ♦
- Auspisticism, the ashen quadrant ♣
- Kismesissitude, the caliginous quadrant ♠
Matespritship and moirallegiance are part of the red romance (redrom) group, which means that they revolve around more positive emotions. Auspisticism and kismesissitude, on the other hand, belong to the black romance (blackrom) group, which means that they revolve around more negative emotions. Matespritship and kismesissitude are part of the concupiscent group, and revolve around more sensual emotions. Moirallegiance and auspisticism, on the other hand, are of the conciliatory group, and revolve around more platonic emotions. Trolls usually form quadrangles in regards to their concupiscent relationships, which roughly translates to our human concept of "love triangles" except with more elements in the mix, thus making it more complicated.
The boundaries between the relationships are fluid. Young trolls, like humans, have to find the right balance between the emotions. Since all the Hivebent trolls are still young, they seem to be perpetually confused by the complexities of troll romance, and in some cases are far from discovering romance in any quadrant. Trolls do not differentiate by gender when it comes to their relationships - the very idea is foreign to them.
Nepeta enjoys a hobby of guessing and tracking different relationships with her Shipping walls. Her shipping wall on Alternia lists all possible redrom combinations, while her shipping wall in The Veil includes only current known and suspected relationships (both red and black). Similarly, Karkat "studies" relationships as an avid admirer of troll romance novels and rom-coms. He considers himself an expert in the quadrants, despite exhibiting unusual shyness, bossiness, and relationship failures in both concupiscent quadrants.
The Beforan trolls appear to share the quadrants, having made reference to both flushed and caliginous relationships among their members, and having referred to Moirails, vacillation and the quadrants themselves outright. While the term "quadrants" implies a fourth relationship, auspisticism itself has not yet been confirmed in Beforan society. This article currently tends to the Alternian system until future information comes to light: differences between the two cultures may or may not arise in future updates.
Red Romance (Redrom)
These types fall under the pity hemisphere of troll emotions, and are associated with the color red. They are tied to strongly positive emotions.
Matespritship/Flushed Quadrant ♥
An example of matespritship.
- “CG: <3”
The one most like human love/romance. Matesprits have a strong feeling of affection for one another - though troll psychology being what it is, courtship can be just as violent as that between kismeses, and indeed it can flail between one and the other. It is one of the two concupiscent relationships, those that deal with reproduction, the other being kismesissitude. Matespritships's quadrant is known as the flushed quadrant.
Dad and Rose's Mom were given as examples when matespritship was described.
The term is a portmanteau of "mate" and "esprit" (French for "soul"), as in a soul mate. Mating fondness corresponds with the ancient Greek concept of έρως (érōs), or "passionate/lustful love."
Known Matesprits:
- Dad Egbert and Rose's Mom, from here.
- Marquise Spinneret Mindfang and the Summoner, from here.
- Latula and Mituna, from here.
- Aranea and Porrim (former), from here.
- Jade and Davesprite (former, pre-retcon), from here.
- Meulin and Kurloz (former), from here.
- Alternate John and Vriska (former), from here.
- Rufioh and Damara (former), from here.
- Rufioh and Horuss, from here.
- Kanaya and Rose, from here.
- Dave and Terezi (former), from here.
- Jake and Dirk (former), here
- Sollux and Feferi (former), from here.
- Spades Slick and Ms. Paint, from here.
- Meenah and Vriska (former, pre-retcon), from here.
Known flushed crushes:
- Eridan for Feferi.
- Eridan for Nepeta.
- Kanaya for Vriska. (May only be formerly, as she planned to "abandon" her "preposterous infatuation".)
- Nepeta for Karkat.
- Vriska for Nicolas Cage.
- Tavros for Jade.
- Vriska for Kanaya, from here.
- Vriska for John.
- Gamzee for Tavros, from here.
- Jane for Jake.
- Roxy for Jake.
- Roxy for Dirk.
- Jack for PM, from here.
- Jake for Aranea, from here.
- Sollux for Gamzee as shown here. Sollux's crush vacillates between flushed and caliginous, possibly due to his dual nature.
- Equius for Aradia, from here.
- Cronus for Meenah.
- Cronus for Latula.
- Meenah for Karkat.
- Roxy and John for each other, from here and here. John has stated that they are not in a relationship.
Possible matesprits or crushes:
- Karkat and Terezi (formerly), from here. (They started developing one, but Terezi has broken it off due to Karkat giving mixed signals.)
- Sollux and Aradia.
- Karkat for Jade, from hereand here (possibly unrequited)
- Latula and Porrim (former), from here.
- Tavros and Vriska from here.
- Kankri for Latula.
- Lil Seb for Clover from here.
- Dave and Karkat from here and here.
- The pre-retcon versions of Vriska and Terezi from here.
Chat version: “<3”
Moirallegiance/Pale Quadrant ♦
An example of moirallegiance.
- “GA: But It Just Means Theres Got To Be Someone Around To Keep An Eye On Them”
Moirallegiance is a process that occurs between a troll and their "moirail" (also informally known as a palemate). It is a form of guardianship, but it isn't simply about being platonic soul bros forever: see Andrew's comment. They are a protector of their moirail's heart. They keep each other grounded.
A troll is compelled by fate to watch over their moirail and keep them in line. Despite the platonic appearance of this role (as we currently understand it) to us humans, trolls consider it a type of romance. Moirallegiance may also entail pacifying one's partner, like what Nepeta does for Equius and Karkat for Gamzee. Moirallegiance may translate (roughly) to our human concept of "love for siblings", which contains no intent for reproduction.
It is one of the two conciliatory relationships, the other being auspistice. As it is a redrom, it is linked to pity in the same way that black romance (blackrom) is linked to hate.
Moirallegiance is a portmanteau of "moira" (fated) and "allegiance." This kind of relationship may be most similar to the Greek concept of στοργή (storgē), or "like family," which can be defined as "a desire to ensure the well-being of another."
Known moirails:
- Feferi and Eridan. (Formerly)
- Nepeta and Equius.
- Kanaya and Vriska. (Formerly)
- Gamzee and Karkat. (Formerly)
- Kurloz and Mituna.
- Horuss and Meulin.
- Terezi and Vriska.
Possible moirails or crushes:
Chat version: “<>”
Black Romance (Blackrom)
These types fall under the hate hemisphere, and are associated with the color black. They are tied strongly to negative emotions.
Auspisticism/Ashen Quadrant ♣
An example of auspisticism.
- “CA: i figure if youre going to auspisticize any twwo brinesuckers wwho sneer at each other a funny wway you might as wwell make it official and be ours right”
An auspistice is a "facilitator" of some sort between two others, mediating interactions between them and keeping their relationship functional. Auspisticized pairs include Spades and Snowman, and Vriska and Tavros, all of whom have been shown to be potentially caliginous to some degree, as the emotions between two auspisticized trolls are similar to those of kismesis but are interfered with by the auspistice. Unlike the other quadrants, ashen feelings have only been shown and have suggested to be only felt by the auspistice and not the two parties in the mediated relationship. It may be permissible for a troll to be involved in more than one ashen triad at a time, according to Karkat's suggestion that he auspisticise between Rose and Kanaya in order for Kanaya to auspisticise between Terezi and Gamzee. This comment may also indicate that a couple can be auspisticized even if they were not entering a caliginous relationship.
Andrew explains that if the mediator does a poor job or is uninterested in keeping the peace, the two might delve into more torrid emotions, as stated above. Without auspistices, widespread black infidelity is guaranteed. It is one of the two conciliatory relationships, those more platonic to humans, the other being moirallegiance.
Auspistice is a portmanteau of "auspicious" (fortunate, promising) and "armistice" (truce.) It may be analogous to the ancient Greek concept of αγάπη (agápē), or "selfless love," since the auspistice doesn't get anything out of this directly. It also aptly sounds like asbestos, for its sound absorbing and flame resistant nature.
Known auspistices:
- Kanaya between Vriska and Tavros. Yet it failed, because she was too worked up on her own feelings to grasp the situation and now it's all gone down the slime tube.
- Nepeta believes Jade to be auspisticizing between Karkat's past and future selves.
- Doc Scratch between Snowman and Spades Slick, as seen here.
- The Courtyard Droll (apparently) between Liv Tyler and the Wizardly Vassal, here. The text does say he "mediates between the two bickering parties" and to top it off, the eyepatch he makes for Liv Tyler is a club badge.
Known potential auspisticisms and ashen crushes:
- Terezi believed Eridan was asking her to auspisticize between him and Sollux in Alterniabound, she knew Sollux did not want to be in a relationship with him.
- Feferi also rejected what she perceived as Eridan's ploy to get her to auspisticize between him and Sollux in Kanaya: Return to the core.
- Kanaya between Eridan and Vriska. Eridan attempted to get Kanaya to auspisticize between him and Vriska, claiming that as she's “the vvillage twwo wwheel devvice wwhen it comes to auspisticing” she should be interested, but she rejected him.
- Kanaya felt the compulsion to auspisticize Gamzee and Karkat as seen here, but Karkat paps her, stopping her as seen here.
- Kanaya also feels compelled to auspice between Karkat and Dave as seen here, though it has not yet been addressed again.
- Rose, between Terezi and Gamzee as seen here, as Rose believes the kismesissitude between Terezi and Gamzee could potentially unstablise Terezi's relationship with Dave, and Gamzee's moirallegiance with Karkat.
Chat version: “o8<”
Kismesissitude/Caliginous Quadrant ♠
An example of kismesissitude.
This is what a troll feels towards someone known as their kismesis. This is linked to hatred, and it is necessary that both parties feel hatred towards each other. Not any kind of hatred will do, since there is such a thing as platonic hatred amongst trolls (similar to the human concepts of hatred and platonic love).
In other words, kismesissitude seems to be based on a mix of hatred and sexual attraction. As it thrives on a rivalry between two trolls, defeating or killing your kismesis is discouraged, since obviously there wouldn't be a relationship anymore. However, despite the stronger hatred aspect of the relationship, in order for a kismesis to last there must be some level of respect between the those persons involved; the tension in kismesissitude relies not only on hatred and annoyance of ones more irksome aspects, but also a level of admiration for their more positive aspects, as explained here. It is one of the two concupiscent relationships, those that deal with reproduction, the other being matespritship, and it has been shown that like with matespritship kissing is considered an appropriate expression of kismesissitude. Andrew says that the most appropriate human concept that is somewhat synonymous to kismesissitude would be "potent arch-rivalry".
It has been implied by Karkat that humans may also be able to feel kismesissitude.
Kismesis is a portmanteau of "kismet" (fated) and "nemesis."
Known kismesissitudes:
- Jack and the Queen. Andrew stated "troll players could immediately place it as a dead ringer for kismesissitude." Even in the form of Snowman, the Black Queen continues to taunt Spades Slick.
- Eridan and Vriska, until Vriska broke things off.
- Karkat believes he might be his own kismesis. The only opponent he's ever really felt strongly about were his past and future selves, who he has spent most of his recent time on Trollian arguing with, even after meeting the kids. According to Terezi, he has become obsessed with arguing with his past and future selves.
- Marquise Spinneret Mindfang and Orphaner Dualscar, until Dualscar ended the relationship.
- Terezi and Gamzee. During Openbound, Gamzee stated that they were in the shadows about it, since she believed Karkat would most likely kill Gamzee if he found out. This discussion between Karkat and Dave proves her belief wrong however; he had known for a long time and, while he severely disapproved, was purposefully not taking action. Finding her half-naked and covered in Faygo, however, Karkat attempted to convince her to break it off, while Terezi confessed that while she is incredibly unhappy with the relationship, she finds herself unable to break it off because the very things she finds infuriating and repulsive about him are what makes him so irresistible and alluring as a kismesis.
Known caliginous crushes:
- Eridan for Rose. He solicits her, citing what he perceives to be similarities between the two of them as reasons why they would make a good rivalry: noble blood and diabolical theatrics. She blows up his computer, which seems to only exacerbate his feelings towards her.
- Karkat for John, as shown in Act 5 Act 2. Over time though, the feeling changes to this human emotion called friendship.
- Gamzee for Dave, as shown here. (Or possibly for Insane Clown Posse, after seeing their video.)
- Terezi and Vriska have developed a rivalry that several characters explicitly recognize as a potential kismessitude; Nepeta includes it on her shipping wall.
- Peregrine Mendicant for Bec Noir as shown here.
- Sollux for Gamzee as shown here. Sollux's crush vacillates between caliginous and flushed, possibly due to his dual nature.
- Eridan for Sollux as shown in Alterniabound, although Feferi dismisses it as a ploy to lure her into auspisticing in order to pull her and Sollux out of their flushed relationship.
- John and Terezi as shown here and here.
Possible caliginous crushes:
Chat version: “<3<” or “<}<”
Quadrant Vacillation
This is not a quadrant, but rather an interaction between multiple quadrants. Due to the complex nature of troll romance and its volatility, it is not uncommon for two parties to flicker back and forth between different quadrants.
Matesprit/Kismesis double reacharound
Often in quadrant vacillations one party will have red feelings while the other one has black feelings. Usually one party will adjust their feelings to match their partner's emotions, but this is not always the case. This sort of relationship volatility is one of the reasons why auspistice is an important part of troll culture.
Vacillation from black to red is often drawn from the feelings of respect and admiration that are the other half of spades-type emotions (the first half being just hatred). As Karkat puts it, “THE POSITIVE QUALITIES YOU SEE DEEP DOWN IN A KISMESIS ALSO SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR RED FEELINGS TOWARD THAT PERSON” .
Possible matesprit/kismesis double reacharound pairs include:
- Sollux's two-colored crush on Gamzee.
- Equius and Aradia.
- Vriska and Tavros.
- Karkat and Terezi.
- Jack Noir and Peregrine Mendicant.
Double reacharound pairs may correspond with the ancient Greek concept of μανία (mania), or "highly volatile/obsessive love".
Group Vacillation
A simple Quadrangle undergoing vacillation.
Due to the multiple relationship types and the demands of troll society, trolls form groups and chains of Matesprits and Kismesises. A quadrangle is the simplest complete form of such a group of relationships. It consists of four trolls with two Matespritships and two Kismesissitude between them. If one pairing in a relationship group swaps its relationship type it can force all other relationships within the group to swap as well.
Possible Quadrant Vacillations include:
Friendship
A troll disease which spreads among groups if not carefully controlled. Equius says that in troll language, the word for friend is exactly the same as the word for enemy, even though both words are said separately in this conversation, which he has with Gamzee right afterwards, and Terezi specifically mentions the concept of “H4T3FR13NDS”.
Friendship corresponds with the ancient Greek concept of φιλία (philía), or "love between peers," which humans inexplicably believe to be a good and powerful thing. As a prank, John refers to it as an emotion in a conversation with Karkat, but later (from Karkat's perspective, earlier from his own) insists that it is not.
Aradiabot refers to Karkat as being her friend in Alterniabound.