vatheon | Just bros hanging out, beating zombies.

[More questing with Karkat? Sure! Though with the invitation mentioning a certain... Indigo blood, he nearly wanted to decline. He hasn't seen Gamzee in a while, and for good reason. He's still livid over the fact Gamzee turns him and Sollux into some fused freak! But, this does open him up for a chance to have a word with him. Or, something like that...]

[He's surprised to see Gamzee at the quest board before himself, let alone Karkat. Today must be one of his good days. Not like that's going to, you know, continue to be one. Because, spotting that ukelele, Eridan's cooking up a way to make himself feel better about the whole sprite shenanigans.]

Surprised to see you here before myself and Kar... But, whatewer.

[A small pause.]

Hey, can I see that for a second?

[He nonchalantly gestures to the instrument in question.]

Hey man!

[It is pretty surprising that Gamzee is here first. Maybe he just had been closer, or maybe that innocent, dumb clown exterior hides a coldblooded merciless puppetmaster, with hornpile worth of devious plans and a level of importance that someone may very well term as 'the most important'.

But no, probably he just had been closest when he got the initial message.

With having no knowledge of the abomination known as Erisolsprite, or his hand in creating said freak of nature, Gamzee has no way of anticipating Eridan's fury. Which is why, when Eridan asks him to see his ukulele, he happily hands it over. Must be that Eridan found himself an appreciation for fine fuckin' music in his soul. Must be.]

Here you go, dude. Ain't it fuckin' cool?

Thanks.

[yeah it certainly is something like that. Now let Eridan teach you how to REALLY use that instrument to play the song of his soul.]

It sure is, though a little gaudy-lookin'. I know what will bloody fix that right up.

[He looks the instrument over in his hands, holding it by the neck, before his gaze flicks to Gamzee, something more sinister to contrast the nearly relaxed look a moment ago. Gripping it tightly with both hands, he swings it like a bat right at Gamzee's head.]

Edited 2013-03-22 23:35 (UTC)

[Things that are on the list of 'things Gamzee saw coming': not this.

His head snaps hard to the side at the rough impact, enough to send him to the ground with a grunted honk of pain. When no further blows come, he uses his hands to push up, just staring at Eridan. Blood is streaming quick freely from his nose, down his face, and his opened mouth show the gap caused by a missing canine. A canine that is now laying on the ground. As it is, he is still far too surprised by the fact that Eridan just smashed his ukulele into his face for no apparent reason to feel betrayed (in as far as he does that) yet. Seriously, he doesn't even have anything to say.]

[Karkat has a reason for his lateness! Usually he's pretty good at getting where he wants to go, but a detour to tell that stock boy again about the aisle spill that keeps happening doesn't take long. The quest may be stupid as globes, but it's a few free points, and helps progress. It's a hard life, being a squishy healer.]

[However, of the things he expected a belated arrival to bring, Gamzee with a bloody nose staring up at Eridan with a smashed ukulele is not even close to anything he imagined. He thought the two resolved their issues! That's why he invited them!]

What the blistered back of a grubfucker do you think you're doing?! Do I have to call Roxy?

[He pulls his SFC from his sylladex, gesticulating as he shouts and storms closer.]

Because I will, and I will tell her in no simple detail what a shitweasel you are being. Why did you even hit him? I know that cod piece is an offense to the eyes but you had better have a reason above that for smashing that instrument over his head!

[WOW WAS THAT SATISFYING. Maybe not only for the Sprite thing either, even if those other issues have long since be laid to rest. When Karkat approaches, Eridan tosses the ukelele to the side, leveling an angry, but stern look at Karkat.]

You don't need to call Roxy, that's all I'm gonna do to this asshole.

[He crosses his arms over his chest, looking thoroughly aggravated.]

An' I got my bloody reasons for it! It ain't the past shit, I am so ower that. But as I found out, this freak onto nature later down the line uses my body to make me into some freak! And not just MY body, either! He throws Sol into the mix.

[He lets out a growl as he stares down at Gamzee, before jabbing a finger at him.]

You're lucky I'm merciful enough to let you get away with a busted sniffnode an' knockin' a fang out for fusin' Sol an' I into that abomination of a sprite!

Edited 2013-03-23 00:16 (UTC)

[Gamzee really isn't keep up with this. Possibly because he is only get bits and pieces of a bigger story he really never wants to know. Though the blow to the head probably didn't contribute meaningfully either.

He sniffs hard, trying to stem the flow of blood, just carelessly using his hands and sleeves to wipe away blood and snot and paint. He eventually turns his head to Karkat, looking confused.]

Karkat...?

[Help him out here, man, cause he has no fuckin' clue what just went down.]

[The good thing about being a cleric: he can heal things. When Karkat can pull himself from the initial outrage, he turns to Gamzee and with a wave of his staff casts a healing spell to deal with that damage.]

Dude, I don't even know.

[He wheels back to Eridan.]

Yes, I think I do need to talk to her, because even if you're "done" you still did that much! And what are you even talking about? A sprite? Whose sprite? Dirk and his team didn't even prototype anything before the game.

Apparently they did once inside the game! Or rather, they didn't, but this sniwelin' sack a trash did! An' I don't need Roxy to come ower here, Kar, I'm not ewen flippin' out, despite how angry I am and hawe been for nearly a damn perigee or so! Just hawen't had the chance to do somethin' about it till now.

[He messes with his sleeves, straightening his cuffs, as if that's far more important than the issue of him assaulting Gamzee with an instrument.]

An' it was Jake's sprite. And I ain't lyin' about this. He bloody told me himself. Normally I would question such hogwash-soundin' fairytales, but he knew me, before I really knew a' him. Callin' me Mr. EriSol, as if that wasn't tellin' enough. Blatherin' about how I was half of his good friend an' all.

Well you need to talk to her eventually, because you still fucking smacked my moirail over the head with a ukulele over something his future self did that he apparently has no clue about. Which isn't even getting into the question of how he got there to do it, because last I knew none of them talked like the meteor had arrived ye--...

Fuck me with my own staff. I'll believe you that he was there, because Dirk did say there was a god tier outfit worse than Prince, and lo and behold. I thought it looked like one, I thought it again when I saw Dualscar with that Hope symbol on his version, and now this. I still sit in a deep, shadowed pit before the peaks of Comprehension Mountain, because none of this makes the faintest lick of sense, but I will buy that it happened.

But couldn't you have, I don't know, warned me? A little "Hey Kar, I'm liable to beat up your moirail so don't bring me on a quest with him if you don't want him injured" would have done wonders, to say nothing of you not telling me about this when you learned about it! It's kind of important, asshole!

[He drops his staff for the moment, turning his attention to his SFC as he looks up Roxy's name to message her.]

[When Karkat drops his staff and starts messing with his SFC, Eridan walks over and puts his hand on it to try and push it down, if Karkat will let him.]

Kar look, I'll admit, it was a bit malicious a me for not sayin' anythin', and usin' that to my adwantage to get back at him for the bullshit he's GOIN' to put me through. An' I'm sorry I deceiwed you in that way, I really am.

[He lets out a sigh.]

An' I didn't want to say anythin' also because I do want to quest with you, I just needed to get that outta my system. Besides, you're a cleric, I knew you'd be able to help him despite what I might hawe done. I ain't sorry for assaultin' him, but I'm sorry for upsettin' you, alright?

Edited 2013-03-23 01:08 (UTC)

[Karkat quite plainly pulls his SFC away from his hand. He does him the respect of listening to his words, but that part he won't allow.]

And you still didn't think, dumbass. Did you really think everything would be smoothed over like that? Oh, Karkat can heal him, so it's all okay? I can't say it's most pan-stunted thing you've ever done, but the lack of intelligence still smacks me in the face with the force of an ill-applied string instrument. I am sending her a message, you will talk to her about this, and I do this as an ex-moirail informing your current one of something you've obviously got a lot of feelings about. Important feelings, merited anger, but a way fucking inappropriate response. You should be sorry, because he hasn't even done it yet.

[And now he looks over to Gamzee.]

And don't think I'm not going to talk to you either! Future you does this and it's not a little whoopsie, so you better believe I'm going to make sure you understand why it's wrong.

Now you let me type this message. Then if Gamzee can still use his skills with his ukulele busted into pieces, we're going to go beat the shit out of these mermaids, because I need to take this mood out on something.

[And provided that much, Karkat will send a quick text to Roxy.]

[Thank god Karkat is a cleric this curse. At the very least that means that after a good application of heal, Gamzee isn't oozing blood everywhere anymore. The tooth it didn't restore but thankfully those regrow. Only a truly pathetic species probably has to deal with the hardships of non-replenishable dentistry.

He spares a look at Eridan for a moment, but then he looks away again. He doesn't particularly know what to think of the situation. At least there is no immediately rage spike, regardless of what regalia he might be wearing. The slime is keeping that nicely in check. The fact that it was so out of nowhere helps that too. It's like his sponge is still barely catching up to what the fuck went down to the point where his pump hasn't made any decisions yet on what to be feeling here.

Oh. Wait. Karkat is talking at him.]

Brother, I ain't got the motherfuckin' notion here at what the shittits just went down. If you wanna jam at me, you know I'm always cool with that, but I don't know what this wicked biznasty did transpire to be making this motherfucker all harsh at a bro.

[Seriously, Eridan. He thought you were his buddy. )o:]

[Eridan frowns as Karkat pulls his SFC away, but it can't be helped.]

I don't see why it was inappropriate. An' it doesn't sound like I can get back at him later, so it's only fair I gawe him the comeuppance his actions afford. But whatewer, send her a message. I'll talk to her if that will make you feel better.

[At least Karkat seems to understand the vileness of the act, and plans to talk to Gamzee about it. When Gamzee speaks up though, he looks at him, his expression far less hostile than it was before, but still a bit scathing in its glare.]

Look, I'll explain this shit as simply as I can. Later on in the timeline you put me through a fate worse than death. Death? I can handle that, but bein' stuck in the same body with Sol of all trolls? That crosses far too many fuckin' lines, Gam.

[Now he's going to approach Gamzee and... offer him a hand to help him back up.]

For what it's worth, we're still friends.

[Or at least Eridan still thinks Gamzee a friend, EVEN IF HE'S GOING TO FUCK HIM OVER AGAIN. Seriously, for all the shit Gamzee has and will put him through, Karkat should be thankful a smashing blow to the face via a wanna-be guitar is all Eridan's done.]

I'm going to ask Roxy for the details and figure that out after this, then talk to you after that and explain it if I even can.

[This he says to Gamzee as he types out a relatively quick message, by his standards. He also levels a glare at Eridan after for his part, but doesn't let it distract him. He captchalogues his SFC afterward.]

Because this version of Gamzee didn't do it, like I already said, and that's all I'm going to. This topic is now dead and done with for the duration of the quest. Bringing it up again will result in a drub to the skull, and I have had enough from Terezi in my time that I more than know what I'm doing. Understand?

[Gamzee's uncertainty as to how to respond to Eridan instantly disappears the moment the seadweller steps forward and extends a hand to him. A dopey grin stretches onto Gamzee's face, very much showing off the new gap between his teeth. If Eridan says they are still friends... well, they are still friends, and friends forgive each other. That was the amazing thing about friends. They were there for you, and who better to know the miracle in that than a kid who had spend numerous amounts of nights on a cold, quiet beach.

For a moment he just sits there, wiping his blood-sticky hand on the front of his shirt until it is more or less clean, before he reaches to grab Eridan's hand, letting him pull him to his feet.]

Aight, bro. I'm cool with that.

[And now that he is on his feet again, he should better check out his ukulele. The instrument clearly has seen better days, with two of its strings snapped, but there are still two that are in working order which is probably (hopefully?) still enough for it to work.]

[Eridan rolls his eyes at Karkat, but that's fine. He is so done with this topic anyways. He made his point, got what he wanted, and Gamzee is even fine with it, if that dopey expression and his accepting of his hand is anything to go by. Gamzee was even thoughtful enough to wipe his hand (mostly)clean before grabbing onto Eridan's. All is well.]

It's a topic best left in the past anyways, seein' as we'we got some mermaids to kill an' sittin' around here like a bunch a brainless barnacles isn't goin' to get them any closer to their expiration.

[He glances to the Ukelele, which is probably the only part he somewhat regrets.]

Sorry 'bout your instrument.

[Only because now Gamzee is kind of useless. Oh well, what had to be done had to be done, after all.]

[Karkat stares at the two of them. Are they...? Did they really? His head tips forward and his hand comes up to greet it, catching forehead and cheek in a mittened embrace.]

Okay, whatever, so long as you two can get along for this.

[What is his life??? He drops his hand away and stoops to pick up his dropped staff.]

Anyway, we're headed for the old church site. Specifically we're going down into the caves, and I've brought us all flashlights so we can see what the hell we're doing. We never seven rotted fins off those chumsuckers, so I have also brought a knife in case they don't fall off naturally or by mystery RPG mechanics. Whoever has the strongest stomach will be tasked with that in the event it's necessary, i.e. I'm not doing it.

[He motions with his staff, and starts walking.]

We'll figure out the party order when we get there, since neither of you are actual combat classes. I figure we can handle them by this point in the curse, though, which is why I didn't ask one along.

[Come on, Karkat. If you can't forgive your bros, then who can you forgive?

Pulling off the broken wires, Gamzee then strums his nails along the two remaining ones. Sounds shitty, but then again, it sounded pretty shitty when it was all complete too. Probably something to do with the clown playing the instrument.]

Naw, man, I got this. I think this lil' fucker will still do the job.

[He lends a polite ear to Karkat's leaderly business -- it is sgrub all over again -- with no particular inclination towards interrupting. He hasn't got the pan for strategies, and he is more than happy to do whatever.

Which means he will probably also end up being the one to slit up some mermaid gills for their loot. On account of not giving a fuck either about smells or his dainty nails.]

[For as finicky as Eridan is, he actually doesn't mind getting his hands dirty when it's important. However, if that job can be shoved off on someone else? Bet your finless face he's gonna do it.]

If you say so...

[But then he turns his attention to Karkat, nodding to what he has to say.]

Alright. I think we can more than handle this, I don't think my digestiwe sack is up for another quest with Sol, anyways. Seein' as he's the only melee class I know of.

[He starts to follow after Karkat, though.]

I'll newer understand the dumb items they request us to get for these ridiculous quests, but whatewer.

[God's punishment against people with ears, but it will do. Better than nothing. Better than dead weight. He might pull Gamzee along even then, because hey, moirails, and he did spend part of Sgrub traveling with him when half the time he fed the imps pie.]

I know a woman called Washu who's a warrior for this curse, but as said, we've got this. I will beat their skulls in by my own staff if that's what it takes, but hopefully I won't have to invite the theft of my organs if you two can keep them back from me. At least I've actually got some offensive spells this time around.

[The two following him is nice. Addressing the quest proper is a more productive direction for his anger, too. Hopefully he'll be able to get out the worst of it before Roxy giving him the whole story inevitably flares it back into new life. This flame of rage never dies: it only ever cools to glowing embers.]

Edited 2013-03-23 04:15 (UTC)

[A befoulment upon the airwaves it might be, but Gamzee knows there's still magic in these there strings. Call it an odd RPG class thing, but as a bard, he just feels whether or not it'll work and right now he can feel that handful of spells he had been gifted with just waiting to be plucked alive.

And hey, if that doesn't work out, with two shitty chords at his disposal, he could always write a chart topping pop song.}

No worries, my best motherfucker, we got your back. We can handle these rude-tittied bitches.

[At which he casually tosses an arm around Karkat's shoulders.

May the ever glowing embers of rage be dampened by the wet tea-towel of moirallegience.]

Edited 2013-03-23 04:40 (UTC)

[Gamzee better not be dead weight, it might be Eridan's fault that he would be dead weight, but Eridan is not about to put up with Gamzee being useless! A+ for Eridan. He offers the two a glance as he catches up to walk side by side, but he doesn't follow Gamzee in throwing an arm around his boyfriend.]

Ahh, didn't realize what class she was, not that I care. Either way, we'll be fine. What's a couple a mermaids, right? This will be hardly a fuckin' challenge, ewen if our bard is a little, uh, lackin' in the strings department.

[Oh Eridan. If only you knew what's to come. He honestly has no doubt in his mind that this will be SO easy.]

[Karkat allows the arm this time. Gamzee he's not mad with, for one.]

Could you even pick a worse way to refer to them? They're mermaids, Gamzee. Say mermaid.

[Eridan in the meanwhile he offers a sideways glance. Whose fault is that, huh? But the topic's dead, so he says nothing of it, not wanting to violate his own order.]

I wasn't aware you knew her.

[With a nudge at Gamzee's shoulder, he goes to pick up the pace a little. The sooner they get to the caves the better.]

[He'll pick it up a little. No time for lazy strolling then, huh?]

Mermaid.

[Hey, give a stupid command, get a stupid reaction. Now does he get a cookie? His attention is most on Eridan though.]

Don't you fuckin' fret, I'll make that shit happen even if a motherfucker gotta up and rap it into being.

[Actually, that is a cool idea. Can he just rap his spells?]

Just bros hanging out, beating zombies.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject