crusthatecean | ♋ PCG 18

[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!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No, I can't, because it's not there.

He wrote on the wall with Jade's blood, you fucking idiot. It's right there!

[ Jade grips him tightly by the shoulders, jerks back enough to look at him. ]

I'm Jade! I'm right here! No one is dead!

Why don't you believe me?

I know he killed Equius and Nepeta.

[ She's quiet for moment, resuming the embrace and trying to figure out what she's supposed to do. ]

That didn't happen here. He hasn't killed anyone here.

I tried to stop him, but I wasn't able to.

I always try to fix my mistakes but I fail at the same things again and again.

That's not true. You've done so much here, for all of us. [ Her words are gently and sincere, but she's not sure how much will even get through to him. ] I think you should lay down.

I can't.

Mayfield is going to disappear. Because of me.

It's not, I promise. You trust me, don't you?

Of course I do. But you're wrong. It's not your fault, I just didn't tell you something you needed to know.

[ She shakes her head. ]

Then I need you to trust me when I tell you it's going to be okay. [ She steps away from the embrace, slips a hand into his and tugs. ] Come on.

Jade, don't you trust me?

It works in both directions. You have to believe me because there isn't very much time.

I do trust you. Come with me for just a minute.

Only if you'll listen to me.

Of course I will.

Fine. I'll come with you.

Good. [ She squeezes his hand, leads/drags the way up to her room. She shuts the door behind her and makes sure he's settled down on her bed before sitting beside him. ] Okay, I'm listening.

Okay.

The problem is, I lied when I said Noir was the cancer. I didn't know I was lying, but I also have always known the truth.

The real cancer is me. As long as I'm here, I'll ruin this universe, too.

[ She nods slightly, more in acknowledgment than anything else, but doesn't comment on the first part of what he said. ]

You're not going to ruin this universe.