♋ PCG 18

[crusthatecean]

[He isn't familiar enough to think twice before eating what just looks like another strange type of fungal food product. He doesn't feel the effects until later, when the feeling of intense terror and hallucinations overtake him. Even then, plagued by horrifying visions and the sensation of his vascular sac beating in his thorax so violently that he feels it might burst, he isn't aware this is not real or unusual.

In his visions, the walls are splattered with colorful gore. He's hunted by unstoppable predators he can't hope to flee or leave behind. He and everyone he knows is going to die. And worst of all? Preventing this was his responsibility, and he's failed. He's more than failed. All of this was his fault. The red lines cracking through the sky, destroying everything and everyone and ensuring their last safe haven will be gone is the same color as the red running through his veins. He is the cancer, and he will destroy everything he loves.

The sensation and knowledge is unsurprising. His worst fears come to life is something that by now, he is all too familiar with.]



[Action; 1338 Benny]

[Early in the afternoon, soon after the mushrooms have taken their effect, Karkat can be found in the family room of the house. He's still lucid, but he's pacing and clutching his garden sickle, and occasionally looking around at the walls and jumping at shadows. There's something clearly very wrong here; he looks either like he's about to bolt or like he's about to be sick, and he's muttering to himself.]

Oh god. Oh man. Fuck. Fuck. Oh man. Oh god.

[Phone]

[Karkat's voice over the phone is trembling badly; rather than his usual angry and loud tone, he sounds panicked and hollow.]

Okay. Fuck. Okay. I need everyone to fucking listen right the fuck now.

Those red lines earlier mean that Mayfield is going to be destroyed. We're going to need to find a way out, everyone, that's...that's something we can do. Shit. Okay.

If that's not enough, Gamzee, he's gone completely shitfucking off the fucking deep end again. He...fuck fuck fuck. If you see him around, stay away from him. Oh god. He's incredibly dangerous. I...shit, shit, I'm sorry, I promised I wouldn't let this happen, it's all my fault for not...I'm sorry...

You probably won't hear from me again, so don't wait for me to find a way out of here any way you can. I'm so sorry, you guys, I fucked up everything.

...Bye.

[He hangs up and won't answer any calls, but you may find him at or around 1338 Benny. He has definitely deteriorated from earlier, though, and it's evident from the way he'll react to anyone who approaches him that he may attack you with the sickle he's brandishing.]

((OOC: Sorry to post again so soon! I will still backtag the other post too. Feel free to action tag in response to the phone call or just in general, he'll mainly stay around his house but if you prefer he can be outside. Thanks!))

Comments

phone;

[byakkoyagirl]

[......Eh, why not? It won't put Karkat's mind at ease, but he may as well say it either way.]

Red Miles cannot be active without Jack Noir.

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[Dialtone.]

action;

[spaceshadowfax]

[This is somewhat worrying. She's only known him a few days but this type of behavior seems very strange and different from what she's seen so far.]

Is something wrong?

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[He looks at her initially like he doesn't recognize her. After a few seconds, recognition dawns, but his panicky attitude doesn't change.]

No. No, not really.

I think something bad is happening.

[miraculls.livejournal.com]

[He hadn't meant to listen in on the phone call, but Karkat's tone and then his name had caught his attention. None of what he's saying makes sense though; Gamzee doesn't feel any different from normal and he certainly doesn't feel dangerous. He tries to remember everything he's done today - there's the usual blanks here and there where he spaced out, but nothing long enough to account for warning everyone to stay away from him.]

...bro? What's going on?

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[He hears Gamzee approaching behind him, turns around, and his eyes widen.]

...Bye.

[He hangs up the phone.]

action;

[coolbowtie.livejournal.com]

Karkat.

[The Doctor leans against the entryway, keeping a distance.]

What's happened?

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[He looks up, his expression fearful and sick.]

We don't have much longer. How many people can you fit in that spaceship you have? I need you to get my friends out of here.

We're only thirteen; you can leave me and Gamzee, and I think Jade is dead.

[echidna]

[ Having heard his phone call, she approaches carefully. ]

Karkat? Are you okay?

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Jade!

[Pulling her into a tight embrace.]

Oh god, Jade, you're still alive.

Phone -> Action?

[chastesaw]

...Karkat? Karkat! *There's no small measure of concern and urgency in her voice over the phone. Normally she'd believe him no matter what he said, but there clearly aren't any red lines around, which makes her wonder if this is another trick by the town.

And when there's no answer, she's packing up her chainsaw and booking it over to his place, carrying her shoes so she can actually move at a semblance of decent speed.*

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[When she knocks on the door, he won't answer. But if she comes inside, she'll find him with Gamzee in the family room. They seem to be hugging, but Karkat looks completely limp and terrified at the same time.]

[smallestgrave.livejournal.com]

Mr. Vantas? Are you alright?

[Just the other day he had sounded fine....]

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[He's hung up the phone.]

[Phone->Action]

[heardeadpe0ple.livejournal.com]

Karkat? Hey-Don't hang up on me!

[She drops the phone and runs out of her house to Karkat's.

But there's nothing he's mentioned anywhere...

Bang Bang. Open your door Karkat.] Karkat! There's nothing wrong going on. Karkat?

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[He opens the door, brandishing his sickle and looking as though he doesn't recognize her at first.]

You died.

Action

[a1a100.livejournal.com]

[How could he not go check on his best friend after a phone call like that?

When he arrives at Karkat's place, he raises an eyebrow. There didn't seem like there was anything going on. He walks over to Karkat and leans against a tree.]

Tho it theemth you've finally gone inthane, KK.

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[Karkat is crouched behind the tree staring at the ground, looking lost in his own world. He jumps when Sollux speaks.]

Sollux!

Sollux, where are you?

phone;

[cullscuttlefish]

[We'll just say this is later in the day after Fef's been made to go to bed and sleep a lot of this off?]

Karkat? Oh cod, are you okay?

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[He's hung up!]

action

[bullsit.livejournal.com]

[Gosh things sure get weird if you stick around this hive.]

Uh, hey?

action

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Tavros!

[Gaping at him]

You're still alive?

phone;

[foretastes.livejournal.com]

Karkat? What are you talking about? But you're still alive, that... that's good, that's...

[Terezi also sounds like she's majorly freaking out.]

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[No response; he hung up right after finishing speaking.]

Phone ☆ Action

[fatedmagica.livejournal.com]

Karkat? Karkat, what are you talking about? What red lines--.

[ Oh, why a dial tone now of all times? Madoka shakily hangs up the phone. She doesn't know him very well and has no idea what he's going on about but even Madoka can tell something is very wrong.

Luckily, she lives on the same road as him. So when she decides to gather some courage and go to him there is very little time for her to get cold feet and change her mind. She'll be banging on the door within a matter of minutes, and even letting herself in if it's unlocked. ]

KARKAT! Karkat, it's okay! It's okay, nothing is going to happen!

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[He'll open the door and stare through her as though he doesn't recognize her for a few seconds, before the recognition hits through the fog of his panic.]

Madoka. You need to get out of here, okay? Something bad is going to happen.