Chapter Text
Before the Pop Troll Tribe was completely incarcerated by Bergens, Greyness was a natural part of a Pop Trolls life.
Not every troll would experience the condition in their lifetime. Yet, it was understood that some may become grey after a traumatic experience, isolation, social depravity, or other mental illnesses(that could raise the chances of turning grey.)
Pop Trolls used to understand that being grey or dulling was simply a sign of emotional scarring and that a grey or dull troll needed love and support to regain their true colors. Grey periods back then on average (with the proper care) could last from 2 weeks to 3 years.
Being grey didn't become taboo until the establishment of Trollstice. When Trollstice became a holiday, the Pop Trolls began to be treated like nothing more than livestock. With livestock, you'd want to separate the high-quality meat, from the diseased or rotting meat.
Grey trolls were considered undesirables. When consumed, they didn't release any euphoric properties, yet still had an array of effects on the consumer. Most, if not all, were negative. Ranging from food poisoning to a sense of emptiness(far more intense than what Bergens normally experience). These affects lasting period depended greatly on how long that Troll had been grey.
Due to these effects these Trolls would be separated from the colorful ones, believing these Trolls were sick or diseased. The Bergens didn't want this to become a pandemic among their "livestock".
It was unclear what would be done to a grey troll once taken, but it was rumoured they were used for experimentation of many sorts. These experimentation rumors consisted of, how to further enhance a Trolls euphoric abilities(seeing if they could also artificially give these grey trolls back their euphoric properties), attempts to force an increase in Trolls birth rates (to raise the population), simply trying to understand why these Trolls we grey to begin with, etc.
Given time, the constant removal of grey Trolls early on, showed less cases of grey Trolls within the Troll Tree. This led the Bergens into believing being grey was infectious and highly contagious.
In reality, the Pop Trolls were adapting to this new threat pattern. Realizing grey Trolls were taken prematurely, this is when the practices of Toxic Positivity began. They were no longer allowed to process their grief the way they needed to.
This would sooner result in greyness being shunned. Rumors of grey Trolls being diseased, created to keep children away from grey Trolls. These kids would grow into adults and tell their children the same. Yet, the real reason grey Trolls were avoided was to prevent being taken by association (because the Bergens feared they may be "infected") or to protect themselves from going grey themselves when the person they love (a grey Trolls) would undoubtedly be taken.
They felt the need to distance themselves from all tragedy in order to remain happy. Even if it wasn't healthy. In such awful conditions, can you really expect mental health to be a high priority when you mainly wish to survive.
Unfortunately, this mentality was so engraved in Pop Troll culture, that even after escaping the Bergens, grey Trolls continued to be considered taboo. Old habits die hard. So do generational traumas.
The understanding of this condition was far buried, because of how rare it had become. Therefore, during the situation with Branch, people simply were incapable of understanding why he couldn't "just be happy". Causing Trolls to find his presence and paranoia rather irritating or upsetting. As well as being mentally incapable of helping him the way he needed. Thus, making Branch probably the longest recorded case of greyness. At least for Pop Trolls.
Pop Trolls didn't start trying to change their perspectives on this until after befriending the Bergens. Still it is very much an uphill battle trying to get them to understand the condition, how it can affect someone, and how someone should be allowed to process their emotions rather than putting on a happy face at all times.
Now, greyness isn't exclusive to Pop Trolls. Any genre Troll is capable of becoming grey. It's just they are more equipped to handle cases of it. Infact, the ones best at handling them are Country Trolls. As they embrace the concept of death and grief. Allowing their fellow Trolls to process their pain rather than encouraging them to bottle up their emotions.