Event: Consolidation Theory, Part Four and Five

[snowblindmods]

Characters: red-marked characters and their new friends
Location: ???
Date: Morning 354, Morning and Day 355
Summary: A quiet morning and a confusing morning, or maybe they're both, or maybe they're neither.
Warnings: gore, psychological horror, warn for specifics in the subject lines

Part Four OOC Post
Part Five OOC Post

Comments

cw: blood, broken bones, and a bite mark? (????)

[quadrangle]

[The dull look in Karkat's eyes and the prominent bags beneath have little to do with the events of last night, but the scowl on his face? That's reserved exclusively for Robert Miller and his bullshit. How and why could anyone think that dragging more people into this clusterfuck would make a positive difference? Because, wow, he didn't think he'd ever prefer Kanaya's brand of just-saw-them-in-half problem-solving skills over anything, but here they were.]

[He rubs at his neck with his good hand, then goes back to cradling his bandaged one and stalking more or less directionlessly between the cells. He's been pacing out the area up until now, trying to search for clues, but as miserable as he is at it and in general, he'd soon decided his time was better spent checking on the others. It's either that or stay huddled in the corner, but after the last time he'd woken up to find himself in a cell... yeah, no. He's better off than some of the others he's seen (even if god his head aches), and he needs something to preoccupy himself before he crawls out of his own skin.

[(Before things get any worse.)]

[He has an obvious preference for people who look worse off or for people he knows, but he doesn't discriminate between those with or without the red lines, instead approaching them as tactfully as he can and trying to keep his voice lowered.]

Hey. How are you holding up? Do you want me to pass on a message to anyone?

[Between cells, he mostly means, but it applies just as equally to anyone who's currently immobile or too scared to approach others on their own. He's splattered with blood (none of it his own), still careful with his hand, and as scratched up as everyone else, but he's far from threatening.]

cw: hallucinations, delusions

[bywolves]

[ Royce is... pretty sure that Karkat wasn't here yesterday. Was he? He wasn't. Royce knows that much. It's hard to concentrate, but he knows Karkat was not in a cell. And that Karkat is outside of a cell, now.

Royce stares up at Karkat as he passes, from where he's curled up on the floor, covered in bandages, dizzy and out of it.

Voice rough and crackling: ]

Are - have you seen Tifa? Did she move to another cell? [ A beat. He clears his throat. ] Are - you real?

[quadrangle]

[... Oh. Oh, shit.]

[Karkat's composure when he reached this cell was already not the best, but the second Royce opens his mouth, it vanishes entirely.]

Royce? I...

[He reaches out to test the invisible barrier, which of course doesn't exist for him. He hadn't wanted to try at most of the other cells, but after confirming it now, he's stepping in and going to crouch at Royce's side, concern plain on his face. God, what the hell happened to him?]

Why are you asking about Tifa? She's... uhh...

[The realization that Royce is probably (definitely?) hallucinating comes a bit late, and he shakes his head to dismiss the matter, offering his hand again for Royce to take if he wants it. This is so fucked up.]

I'm here. I'm real. You can touch me, see?

[bywolves]

[ Royce hesitates. Nothing can get through the barrier. What if it isn't Karkat? What if it's something else, trying to fuck with him? He can't be sure. Royce looks up at Karkat with a bit of fear and a fuzzy sort of distance that suggests he's only half seeing Karkat. ]

She was... she was just here. She was angry with me and she left. [ Royce mutters, and very carefully, slowly reaches to touch Karkat's hand. His own hand shakes terribly. ] It's - it's like. This is like.

[ Pull yourself together. Royce closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. ]

You're hurt. Did we do that? To you.

[quadrangle]

[Karkat makes sure to wait until Royce has touched him first before taking his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze, his attention soon shifting to figuring out how the fuck to wrangle himself around into a sitting position without the use of his hands and without tipping over. It isn't the most challenging task ever, but it's awkward as hell when Royce is acting and talking like that.]

I'm okay. I don't know who did it.

[Better to get that out of the way first, especially since he has no idea how to address the whole Tifa thing. Should he not say anything at all? But Royce is probably going to bring it up again, so...]

[He bites his lip.]

I didn't see her. If she was here, I didn't see her, but I... are you sure you saw her? She hasn't been around for months.

[bywolves]

No. [ Royce mutters, curling up further. ] I'm not sure. Alfie couldn't see her either.

[ Royce holds onto Karkat's hand, though. It makes him feel a bit better. Centered. He sighs out that deep breath, slow and even, and opens his eyes to look up at Karkat, calmer than before. Still distant, but not freaking out. ]

I can't tell what's real anymore. She's... she's probably not here.

[notaquaman]

[Well, the two of them aren't exactly familiar--especially not in a capacity outside of texting over the Network, but maybe the rapid, frantic pacing that Nathan is doing inside of his cell is enough to stop Karkat. He's muttering to himself and chewing on a nail, only about as banged up as if he got into the wrong end of a fist fight--but then, whoever the other guy was...well, we know who got the worse bargain.

He stops when he hears the voice, glancing over.]

Yeah, yeah, I got one for Bobby Miller. Lovingly, eat a dick.

[quadrangle]

[The pacing is enough, yes, and although Karkat doesn't recognize the voice, that sentiment is one he can fully appreciate.]

Preferably his own, right? Yeah, I'll tell him as soon as I can.

[notaquaman]

[Nathan nods sagely, as if to say, yeah, you got that one right, alien boy. But his eyes narrow. He doesn't begin to pace again, but the agitation comes back the more he stands still.]

I'll tip you the messenger's fee when we're not stuck in the sci-fi remake of Hostel, yeah? Sorted.

[He pauses again. Usually, he's much more chatty, but his well of inspiration is a bit dry at the moment.]

I didn't, uh...you know.

[Here, he gestures briefly at all of Karkat.]

[quadrangle]

[He's gotten pretty good at reading chatty, inscrutable assholes (fucking ow, thanks for the reminder, Past Karkat), so that narrowing of the eyes definitely gets a tiny frown in return. Aside from that, what the fuck is a hostel? He knows better than to ask, but he's heaving a brief, exasperated sigh anyway.]

As far as I can tell? No.

[Yes, masterful redirect right there. His ignorance isn't blatant at all, but the way he then forgets himself, goes to cross his arms, and has to stop partway in favor of tucking his hand to his chest again is.]

I don't remember. You pink monkeys all look the same anyway after a while, but whatever. None of it was really you.

[That's "you" as a general statement. He's not about to hold brainwashed people's actions against them, much as he's avoiding the fuck out of England right now.]

[notaquaman]

Let's not get into a racial debate, here.

[But, okay, despite this...whatever all this is, his lips crack up in the beginnings of smile at "pink monkeys".]

I just don't want "bit a chunk of face off some kid" to end up on my record, you know? I've got a reputation to uphold and an ASBO that's only just been expunged.

[devoutish]

[Alfie shakes his head wordlessly from his place on the floor, making no secret of the fact that he's looking Karkat up and down. He's in a pretty pathetic state himself, what with the vomit, nausea, and hallucinations, but Karkat looks about a thousand times worse.]

Nah. No. Sit.

[Anywhere. He's not picky.]

[quadrangle]

[Karkat is definitely not enjoying the scrutiny, but it's making him nervous more because it's Alfie, total badass, than because of any weird skin and/or eye condition. The offer (order?) has him scratching at the back of his head with his good hand, anyway, and after dithering a moment, he shrugs and heads into the cell to sit beside him. Like, not anywhere near any vomit because um, ew, but he's seen worse anyway.]

Oh, by the way, can you tell Royce I'm real? Like, just in case. He says he trusts me, but I don't want this fucking with him later.

[devoutish]

[Sup, Karkat. He's welcome to sit wherever he wants; Alfie won't kick him out.]

Mm, yeah. But later, not now; he's napping now and I don't wanna wake him up. The man doesn't get enough sleep.

[quadrangle]

[Karkat glances over in whatever direction Royce is, then looks back to Alfie and shrugs.]

Yeah, that's fair enough. So, uh... I heard you got injured? Not last night, but... before.

[You know, when Royce lost his memory and got stabby. Stabbier.]

[devoutish]

[Alfie's eyes go to Royce too, and they stay there on his sleeping form.]

Yeah. I suppose he told you, didn't he.

[And part of it - the part that happened after his memories came back - Alfie recognizes as Royce's fault, but he doesn't blame him. Not really.]

He's feeling awful about it.

[warriorscribe]

[One can't blame Karkat for stopping at this one if he wouldn't have stopped for Enoch, considering he probably didn't know who was in it. Enoch is hiding in the bathroom, as he has been most of the morning. The sight of him, as one of the marked, could make things worse for the people who were clearly so violently treated last night.]

I...I can think of nothing adequate to say to anyone right now. But you're free to have my food, if you want. Or to take it to someone else.

[He half-peeks from behind the partition between the toilet and the rest of the cell, a red eye appraising Karkat's condition. Good. He can walk.]

[quadrangle]

[The eyes are the most unsettling part, but probably not for the reasons Enoch must assume. Karkat's quick to glance away and shift his weight uncomfortably, the corner of his mouth twisting.]

Yeah, no, not interested. You assholes need to eat too, you know?

[Assuming they haven't lost their appetites. Judging by some of the things he's seen by now, that's probably likely, but. Still.]

You don't need anything, then?

[warriorscribe]

I don't know what I would say. I...

[He trails off, and shakes his head before withdrawing it behind the bathroom wall again.]

If you see anyone who needs more, I'll be willing to give up mine. I can't possibly think of eating now.

[It's not like the tower, where he had forced himself to eat something because there was actually a way to work against their captivity. Here, he's helpless. Food would only give his body strength Miller could use to hurt someone else with again.]

[quadrangle]

[His brow furrows, but seeing Enoch retreat like that, he can't find it in himself to press the matter.]

Yeah, okay. Let me know if you change your mind, all right?

[warriorscribe]

I will. Thank you for doing this. It's important that we work together.

[0thingsonmymind]

*He peers up at the strange, grey creature addressing him. This was...a troll? From Jade's universe.

He cants his head and points at Karkat. Who are you?*

[quadrangle]

[Uhhhhhhhh huh? Karkat cants his head right back, brow furrowing. What the fuck?]

Me? What about me?

[0thingsonmymind]

*He nods and points to Karkat again. Since that likely doesn't do much, after a moment he taps his own head around where Karkat's horns are.*

[quadrangle]

[Again, Karkat mirrors the motion, but his hand stops halfway, a wince crossing his face. There's one interpretation that he could go with that he doesn't wish to consider, so he opts for the other.]

Oh. Yeah, I'm an alien. Troll. I have horns, big deal.