♋ PCG 20

[crusthatecean]

[Action, 1338 Benny Road]

[Karkat wakes up unable to shake the memory of his dream. He has nightmares regularly, a combination of sleeping without a recuperacoon and everything he's been through since he began playing Sgrub. But something about this one felt more real and vivid and awful, and he remembers it more clearly.

But he wakes ordinarily, only to watch the news and hear his own name, among others, listed. He remembers. She told him she would erase his existence, and he said yes. That memory combined with the news spooks him; Mayfield is clearly doing something, and he doesn't know what to think. So when the television shuts off, he'll go looking for his housemates to try to calm his nerves.]

[Phone, later]

All right, this is Karkat. No, guess what, this is actually Karkat. I'm here. You can choose to believe me or not.

Is anyone else who supposedly disappeared still here? Let's discuss this latest Mayfield fuckstorm like the rational conversationalists I know we all aren't.

[Filtered to Feferi, Tavros, Eridan, and Sollux]

And I especially need to talk to all of you. Now. Don't give me any shit about whether or not I'm the real Karkat. If you are here, answer me now.

I can't believe a single one of you complete drooling panrotted fucking assholes.

[Filtered to Signless.]

You.

((OOC: Karkat has been erased, so he will seem like a fakey fake doppleganger!))

Comments

filtered

[misterwwizard.livejournal.com]

Well Kar she was just so convincin' an' really think about it if I hadn't existed the matriorb wouldn't have gotten destroyed an' I wouldn't be feelin' all isolated from everyone!

[Welcome to Eridan logic.]

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Eridan, you're a fucking idiot. I know about that shit already.

[But his tone is surprisingly warm compared to all of their recent interactions. Eridan seems like a fake to him, but he knows what that probably means. Eridan erased himself for all of them.]

No one asked you to fall for this typical Mayfield bullshit. None of you should have gone along with this, not even you.

[lamingtons]

... What, so some of us really vanished and some didn't?

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

I don't know what's going on. I've 'vanished' apparently, but look at me, I'm still here. Only no one seems to realize it's me.

[Phone]

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

It's another bullcrap lie pulled by this place that we were dumb enough to walk into. Whoop-de-doo.

I think it's kind of early to discuss it more than that.

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

You don't think it's worth maybe talking this out and coming up with a plan?

phone;

[demonmaid.livejournal.com]

After the fucking end of the world we had, I was not expectig to be told I'm a fake.

Did you have a fucked up dream too?

[]

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Aradia? Fuck, Aradia, tell me you believe it's really me.

[phone]

[doudemoe]

I believe you.

[Even after getting suckered into offing himself earlier to save the world, Minato's deadpanness never ceases.]

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Good, then you're not an idiot. Remind me who this is again, because all of you just seem like creepy fakes to me.

[wantasammich.livejournal.com]

So this is what it's like to disappear? I was thinking something more... oh, I don't know, non-existent.

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

It's a real let down, honestly.

[phone; filtered]

[nosigntospeakof.livejournal.com]

Yes?

[phone; filtered]

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Hi, I know I just seem like another creepy fake shitbag to you, but I'm so much more than that. I am your image in the reflective device sent through the ages so I can raise both my hands to you in a hearty fuck you salute.

What the actual fuck is wrong with you?

filtered;

[cullscuttlefish]

Cod, Karkat.

It's not like I can't listen to my lusus when she's whispering in my ear like she did all the coddamn time back home. I can't go "Gee, Bolly, that's great, but it's all bullshit!"

Besides, without me, the Condesce wouldn't have gone off, the Vast Glub wouldn't have happened, and there would still be a fucking Alternia to come back to. You know that and I know that.

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Alternia would have been destroyed whatever happened.

Don't give me any of this, I'm too busy pissing my pants with hot steaming ragefluid. How can any of you possibly think this is okay? How could you possibly believe that you could just be erased and we would all be all right with it?

[miraculls.livejournal.com]

[After watching the news, Gamzee's first reaction is to look for Karkat. He doesn't really know what the guy was talking about with people not existing anymore or whatever, but he knows he heard Karkat's name in there, along with Tavros's and some of his other friends.]

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

There you are. Look, I don't know what that was about, all right?

[He's lying, but he just wants this fucked up dream past him.]

[Phone]

[a1a100.livejournal.com]

You fell for it too you know.

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Did I say I didn't?

This is different. I told you the other day, Sollux. I told you. No pointless self-sacrificing gestures, you're better than this.

[foretastes.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Gross. Don't call me again.

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Terez, wait!

[By now he's talked to his housemates and he knows how she'll react to him; calling her didn't even seem worth the trouble before he had a chance to find out more information.

But she responded, that had to mean something, right? She could have just ignored his call, it clearly wasn't directed just to her, but she responded. He knows how unlikely it is, but he wants her to see through the illusion and know it's him. He doesn't want her to think he's deserted her, and he wants to think that she would know him well enough by now to know the real him anywhere, even as he also knows that's unfair to ask of her when it's Mayfield playing tricks and it's his fault.]

Terezi, I swear, it's really Karkat. You know me, more than anyone. You know what color my blood is, you know who my ancestor is, you know that I like movies you hate and I can't draw for shit. You know I'm pale for Gamzee and you know you once caught me sharing a caliginous kiss with myself, and you know that I'm so red for you.

I really need you to believe me right now.

Phone

[chastesaw]

*What a joke. That's not him; it doesn't even sound like him. How could somebody think she'd fall for that so easily?*

You must think me a particularly dense-minded wiggler to believe I would fall for that. I do not know what you have done with the genuine article, but you can drop the pretense at once.

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Really? Even you?

You're always the sane one. I could use you in my corner right now.

Phone

[noluckduck]

[Yup. That's a sad fake, alright.]

Aww, crap. He seemed like a fun guy.

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Not really. No offense, though, but I can't deal with this shit right now.

Phone, yup

[motherofjegus.livejournal.com]

You may sound like him but there is something about your performance that is lacking, please don't attempt to imitate Karkat again, he is important to a good number of people.

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know, because I am actually him.

Ugh, I can't deal with this right now. I know I brought this on myself, but I will really never cease to be amazed at the skill this place has in leading me to make terrible choices.

[Phone]

[worstvikingever]

[oh my god he sounds like a fake he really really does but hiccup wants so badly for somebody to be real and not ignore him.]

Kar...kat?

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Hiccup, is that you?

[action]

[coolbowtie.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor walks down stairs, running a hand through his messy hair. He feels exhausted even though he slept deeply last night, but that dream...

In the hall way he runs into Karkat and instinctively raises a hand to wave at him and say 'good morning' but...

Wait, why would he do that. That thing isn't Karkat. It's just a fake.

He drops his hand and sidesteps the doppleganger.]

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[He's having a bad enough of a time, having just talked to Gamzee and found out that Gamzee doesn't recognize him, seems completely repulsed by him. So when he sees the creepy thing in the hallway, he snaps at it.]

Will you get out of my way?

several days into the future (but not many)

[miraculls.livejournal.com]

[Gamzee's behavior has been getting increasingly erratic over the past few days as he's forgotten more and more of the erased trolls, snapping in and out of a furious temper and alternating between his usual friendly self and something far, far colder. He's been managing the mood swings with an increased intake in sopor, but recently, the very idea of consuming his pies makes him sick for some reason.

Finally, he wakes up one morning with his memory completely altered and his identity with it. There's a strange yet familiar lethargy to his thoughts and a sickly sweet taste in his mouth; it takes him a few seconds to realize that he's currently riding the aftermath of a sopor high. He reacts instantly, grabbing the trashcan and shoving a finger down his throat until he brings up bright green bile, gagging.

Once there's nothing left in his digestive sac and his head starts to clear, he slams the door to his room open and storms down the hallway. There's only one troll he knows who'd have the gumption to drug his food and find it funny, and he's not about to let this slide.]

Terezi, sweet thing, if you all what wanted my attention, you motherfuckin' got it. [He spreads his hands mockingly, raising his voice.]

I know you're somewhere around here laughing, chica. The motherfuckin' judge and jury calls out his number one legislacerator to present her motherfuckin' case.

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

[Karkat hasn't been able to stop worrying about Gamzee; he's gotten used to realizing Gamzee's forgotten something important, forgotten him, for long periods, but it's also clear that his mood and behavior has been deteriorating. He's been doing his best to make sure Gamzee is still eating sopor, but it's difficult to monitor him when half the time he's in such a bad mood.

When he hears Gamzee shouting, he comes out of his room, looking for him. He doesn't know why he's shouting about Terezi, but he can tell Gamzee is dangerous right now, so he puts his hands up to show his non-threatening intent, keeping his sickle on his belt.]

Gamzee, it's okay. Terezi isn't here.

[bullsit.livejournal.com]

Uh, hey, this is me answering, without any shit, not that I planned on that anyway.

[crusthatecean.livejournal.com]

Good, because I am not taking any shit from you, you fucking moron. What were you thinking?