♋ PCG 8

[crusthatecean]

[Audio Hook]

[This is hardly the only phone call of its type Mayfield will hear today, but when Karkat's voice comes over the phone, he definitely doesn't sound all right. He sounds shaky and terrified, in fact, and his words lack most of the usual angry edge he gives them.]

Oh shit. Okay. Hi.

Whoever explained everything to me when I first got here, well the main person is gone now, but the point is I'm pretty sure all of you failed to mention this one. So can someone please for the love of your human god tell me what Mayfield does to turn a person into a murderous psychopath and how to fix it? And it's not even the friend who usually turns into a murderous psychopath, so this is a really exciting and new situation right now and I'm not sure how to fucking deal with it!

I know you all sound pretty busy with your own problems but it's really important and...oh god, if there's a human doctor anywhere, I need a doctor really badly. Please. Oh man, he's really...just fucking come, okay?

[Action]

[For all interested parties, after the events of this log, Karkat and Gamzee are hiding in an empty house near Benny Road. There's no sound or lights to indicate anyone is home, but there is a noticeable trail of red blood drops leading to the front door.]

Comments

[miraculls.livejournal.com]

[He knows that Karkat just told him to shut up, but he can't help disobeying that order, because it's important that he hear what Gamzee has to say next.]

Ain't your fault, best friend. Ain't hivesis's either, or any other motherfucker's. Just...how things be...

[With that said, he tries to follow Karkat's instructions as best he can, just concentrating on breathing deeply and ignoring the black spots dancing in his vision, the fuzzy haze threatening to take over his thinkpan, and the coppery taste of blood flooding his mouth.]

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Stop it. I'm fucking fixing things.

[He knows Gamzee is dying right now. He doesn't know how good human medicine is, but he doesn't really think anyone will be able to patch Gamzee up if he's hurt like this. But he has to try. Eventually if he tries hard enough to fix mistakes and change things then somewhere along the way he has to hit the time when his efforts actually work. It hasn't happened yet, but he's keeping a hand on the phone ready to get it if it rings.]

[miraculls.livejournal.com]

I know. It'll all be fine, bro, I trust you and the messiahs to all up look out for me.

[And it's true - Gamzee has complete faith that things will all work out in the end. That said, even he's not a huge enough idiot to miss the signs that he's very clearly on the verge of death right now. And while he still has his hopes that a miracle will occur, why bother worrying about something he can't do shit about when there's people around whose fates haven't been finalized yet?

The prayer he sends up now isn't for himself, but for Karkat and Jade and all of his friends. Protect them. Keep them safe. And if that's too much to ask for, at least make sure they're happy. Maybe they can all meet up in the paradise land of carnivals later, kick back a few pies or so.

It's a prayer that's sent none too soon, judging by how he's shaking and shivering continuously now, breath coming harsh and deep and still not enough to replenish the oxygen leaving through his blood.]

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Oh, fuck.

[He'll finally stop sitting next to the phone and will instead go over to Gamzee and sit down next to him. It's over now, and even though he knows everyone says no one stays dead here, it just hurts so much and he can't stop himself from starting to cry. He just wanted to save one of his friends this one time, and it doesn't seem like such a big thing to ask, to do something right for once in his life. But here they are.]

Okay, okay. For once, you're actually right. Whatever happens, you'll be back as good as new sometime soon.

[He reaches down and takes Gamzee's hand and squeezes it.]

I'm sorry about all of this, buddy.

[miraculls.livejournal.com]

[O-oh, Karkat. Gamzee would try to pull the other troll into a hug, but he can't get his arms to work for some reason, so instead he just squeezes back as hard as he can.]

H-hahaha, well, if we're...both putting all our faith into it...then a motherfuckin' miracle has to occur. So...don't cry...best friend. Everything will...turn up on all right in the end.

[Gamzee's voice is barely audible, lost under gasps for air, but he manages to smile at Karkat right before his eyes slide shut. A few seconds later, his body seizes violently, shuddering and jerking for nearly a whole minute before he finally falls still, hand going limp in Karkat's grasp.]

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

I'm not crying.

[He wipes his eyes with his free sleeve, but doesn't let go of his friend's hand until he's sure he's gone.]

I didn't mean a miracle, you unbelievably stupid asshole, I meant it's a town mechanic. Now I'll have to put up with even more fucking irritating miracle bullshit when you come back.

[He'll stay there for just a little while longer to pull his shit together, but now he has to go back and help Jade, even if he has no idea if what he's planning will work.]