carcinoGeneticist [CG] opened a video channel [026]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

[The feed comes on to show Karkat's glowering face. He's at the Inn, and sitting with his back to the cupboard under the stairs. It's quite early in the morning, so there's no people in the room with him at that precise moment in time

Comments

[audio]

[redacted_error]

[Hn.]

Are you all right? [A pause.] Do you want help? [The help referring to either situation at hand.]

[audio]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

[That sounds like an older voice. He somehow doubts that she can see the thing that's after him.]

I've got a fucking situation here. How old are you?

[audio]

[redacted_error]

[Wat. What does age have anything to do with it.] ..old enough.

[audio]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

Can you see that motherfucker?!

[He knows if she's older than a certain age she won't be able to...]

[neverhero]

[For a long while he just sits there staring at his device, so many mixing emotions fighting for control. Even near the end there, a bit of worry for the asshole and the consideration that maybe he should head down to the Inn-but no. Karkat could take care of himself when it comes to creatures and shit, so he's not really worried about that. Much.]

Don't die.

[Video, something he rarely uses if at all. But there's the coolkid, sitting on his bed with an even more unreadable look on his face than normal.]

If you can't find him, you're wasting your time searching. He would have told you if he just wandered off somewhere. He already left once, he might not come back this time.

[A pause, collecting and ignoring his own emotions. He doesn't know what to do with them anyways.]

It's better for him. He had shit back home he needed to take care of. He wouldn't want you doing anything retardedly stupid to get yourself hurt.

[A little bit more deadpanned in his voice, but surprisingly none of his usual mocking or amusement.]

Like you are

[sdrawkcabsllort]

Strider, I will gladly have a discussion about the finer points of who is more mentally deficient than the other with you later. But right now? I have a fucking situation, so if you'd just going to be a smug shit, can it.

[Something splinters in the feed. Karkat's breath hitches and comes more quickly.]

[dem_nasties]

[This message comes crackling over the feed, completely seperate from Karkat's. Rationally, there is nothing frightening about it. However, as with most of the fae, rationality has nothing to do with the feeling of terror that seeps out from it.]

There's a bogle by the bour-tree,
At the lang loan heid.
And I canna thole the thocht o him -
He fills ma hert wi dreid...

[mirthfulness]

KARKAT.

[BRB going to best friend's.]

[AUDIO]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

Gamzee - for fuck's sake, don't come here! [Here's the sound of something slamming against a door. Karkat sounds terrified, and furious because of this.] This creepy fuck goes after kids and it makes you fucking terrified. You don't even get a fucking choice!

[Everyone knows Karkat might not be the brave little toaster, but it is true about Rawhead. His breath is coming fast, and he hisses the message in a whisper.]

I don't even know why it's coming after me today - I've got fucking permission!

[AUDIO]

[mirthfulness]

I ain't leavin' you alone with it, bro!

Fear's bein' my motherfuckin' forte.

[He's already running in that direction, and there's little Karkat can say to keep him away.]

[AUDIO]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

[Karkat has since fled from the Inn to his own hive, and he watches the huge, hulking shadow of the bogeyman rattle at the door. He doesn't rationally feel afraid of the thing, but the sheer roiling waves that come off of it like a bad smell wind into his head and flip all the switches into flight mode. He's aware of it and he hates every second of it - it's one thing to be afraid of something, but it's entirely another to have no fucking choice in the matter.]

Gamzee, I fucking mean it!

[The door creaks and bends inwards. Karkat drops his sickle with a clatter, screams in frustration, and scoops it back up in hands shaking almost too badly to use it.]

[video]

[queeningsquare]

[Okay, just someone missing, she was about to ignore it until that.]

Are you alright?! Do you need help, what croft are you in?

[video]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

[This might come across as a bizarre non-sequitor, but to the by now nearly hyper-ventalating Karkat, it seems pretty dire.]

What age are you?!

[video]

[queeningsquare]

[Normally she might tell him he shouldn't ask a woman's age, but, it does sound important, and clearly not a time to joke around.]

Forty-three.

[video]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

Okay this is going to sound like the most fucking idiotic thing in the history of idiotic shit but - give me permission to stay up late!

Me, Gamzee, and Sollux!

[audio]

[shadowscripture]

Sir, do you require assistance?

[Lihua swallows audibly. Though such a repulsive creature generally would not disturb her, even looking at Rawhead through the video feed makes her tremble with unease.]

[audio]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

Shit, yes, that's a terrified fucking voice, you can clearly see the fucker.

Look, stay away! You don't get a fucking choice in feeling shit-scared by this motherfucker. Just leave it!

[audio]

[shadowscripture]

I...I can indeed see it.

[Lihua is torn. Of course, she will obey the direct command, but despite all her efforts, it is difficult to resist the call to support. While she does not want to waste his time by arguing, she feels compelled to say something.]

I have wards against fear, sir! Please...though I hesitate to become one of those "shitslappers" who doesn't take your advice, I...I would prefer not to abandon an ally.

[audio]

[sdrawkcabsllort]

[That makes him stop, even though Lihua can probably hear the way his hands are shaking from the noise his nails make when they rattle against the device. He deliberates, and then there's another thump on the door, causing him to swear and shout -]

Fine! Get over here! Ward us against fear but don't you fucking dare come without doing it to yourself first! You'll be fucking useless otherwise!