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

[quadrangle]

[Not freaking out is good. It's better than he'd been expecting from what little of Royce he's seen so far, so he's not inclined to question it. Instead, he's going to settle in a bit closer at his side because they could both probably use it.]

Okay. Then, I don't know, you should probably have Alfie screen shit for you. Trust him, right? And if he says someone is or isn't here, you'll know it's the truth because he's been here the whole time.

[Karkat's assuming, anyway, considering everything that led up to this. The only problem is if Royce starts hallucinating Alfie talking to him too, but that... shouldn't happen, right? Fuck, he needs Royce to believe he's real ASAP so he can help sort this out for him.]

When did you start seeing her?

[bywolves]

When I came back the second time. [ Sniff. ] Alfie's seeing things too. The sun. He had sunlight, for a while, but it wasn't there.

[ He absolutely doesn't mind Karkat being closer. In fact, he shifts a little to position himself so he's on his side on the floor, torso in front of Karkat and legs coming around to rest against Karkat's back. Like so, only less awkwardly drawn in paint. If he's allowed to, anyway. All his movements are cautious. ]

I trust you. [ He mumbles. ] You're probably real.

[quadrangle]

"The second time?!"

[He blurts it out without really thinking, and even if Royce is getting a weird look for the new position he's just chosen, Karkat isn't about to stop him. All he's hoping is that he gets to keep holding his hand because god everything about Norfinbury is fucking with him.]

I—fuck, okay, one thing at a time. What do you mean, "the second time?" And you can definitely trust that I'm real, but I wouldn't be surprised if this place makes us torture you next. So yeah, I'm real, but I can't promise Miller's not going to find some way to pit us against each other again.

[bywolves]

[ He doesn't think he can pick himself up enough without throwing up, so this is where he's staying, bud. A pause. ]

I know. I don't blame you if he does. [ Royce closes his eyes, still holding Karkat's hand. He'll keep that hold as long as Karkat lets him. ]

Static figures came to get us. One by one. They took us and injected us. More than once. Two... I think two. Maybe three, for me? I can't remember. It's hard to remember.

[quadrangle]

[... Well, fuck.]

[He gives Royce's hand another squeeze.]

I don't blame you for any shit either, if that was you.

[Just to get that out of the way. The rest takes a bit more thought.]

... Static figures were what got me too. They injected me with something, but I don't know what it was. That all happened last night.

[He tries and fails to suppress a shudder.]

Maybe it gets worse the more injections they give you.

[bywolves]

Probably. [ He swallows hard. ]

How did... did they come to you? In the town, in the house you were staying in. They were just static? That's all I could see. Hear. Static. Static and needles.

[quadrangle]

Yeah, like that.

[He breathes a heavy sigh.]

I didn't see any needles until I got down here. They put a collar on my neck and chained me to the wall—I think it was them? And then they gave me that injection. I can't remember a lot of it.

[bywolves]

They chained you to a wall? [ Royce opens his eyes again, looking up at Karkat. He actually looks a little horrified. That's awful. ]

I don't remember what I did. Last night. But. I didn't... I wasn't injured yesterday. Just sick. I wasn't bandaged and I don't remember what they did and I'm tired of - I'm tired of losing time, I.

[ Deep breath. He says this all quietly, upset, and then closes his eyes again and presses his face down against the cold floor. ]

[quadrangle]

[One glance at that horrified expression has Karkat looking away again and shrugging uncomfortably, clearly self-conscious.]

It beats them fucking with my wrists again.

[And, you know, cutting his chest open. That was pretty memorable and set a high fucking bar for shit he finds unbearable. On par with getting thrown into lava, even.]

And I, uh. I think you guys mostly did that to each other—you and the others with the red lines, I mean.

[... Also, yeah, he's not Royce's moirail or anything, but he can squeeze his hand and scoot a tiny bit closer, too close already not to notice how much the topic is distressing him. He wonders if he should leave it there, but he's not sure that he has a choice in the matter.]

I'll let you know what else happens, okay? If I remember it and you don't. I don't think Miller wants us to, but he's clearly fucking atrocious at this and I don't care what he thinks anyway.

[bywolves]

[ Royce flinches down at the reference to the torture tower. He hadn't handled waking up here well, reminded firmly of the last time he'd woken up in a cell, and he doesn't want that panic to take over now. It'd been a good ten minutes of Alfie soothing Royce before he'd been able to function, earlier. Yesterday? Fuck.

He's taking deliberately slow and even breaths, keeping himself calm. ]

Thank you. [ He says after a moment, soft. ] If I remember, I'll tell you. If you want to know.

Are you okay? [ He can't remember if he asked that already. He's so unsure of everything. ]

[quadrangle]

[Karkat isn't able to discern offhand what may have caused that flinch when so much about this situation is upsetting as hell, but he resolves to be more careful anyway before he speaks next. Was it the thought that Alfie might have been the one to hurt Royce or vice versa? Something else? God, he hates this.]

I'm okay.

[He's quick to affirm it after that reaction, and hey, why not another demonstrative hand squeeze. (Royce was so much better at this than him.)]

My hand's fucked up, but that's about it. Some of you tried to rip off my horns too, but I guess they're too fucking tiny to get a good grip.

[The other injuries are barely worth mentioning, as far as he's concerned. Oh no, some scratches, fuck, better go crying to his lusus. Wah wah, who cares?]

[bywolves]

[ Honestly, Karkat coming by and trying at all is making this so much easier for Royce to bear. He feels a little more centered. A little more like he can hold onto some form of sanity. ]

M'sorry. [ Royce mumbles. ] If I did, I don't remember.

[ He squeezes Karkat's hand in return. ]

How is your hand fucked up? [ He sounds a little distant, but he's trying. A beat, and then, quieter, like he's talking to someone else, under his breath: ] Not now, shut up.

[quadrangle]

Not your fault. If it was you.

[He's going to need to say that a lot today, isn't he? The thought gets another sigh.]

And, I don't know, someone bit it. I don't really give a shit, but it hurts like hell. It's going to make carrying my stuff a pain in the ass later.

[Not as bad as a broken arm, though, or as a totally random example, bleeding everywhere. He couldn't even read when that happened and he's still angry about it.]

[bywolves]

You should come to us. After this. If we survive.

[ Sniff. ] We have disinfectant and bandages. And can help carry your things. If you want.

[quadrangle]

[The offer is neither unexpected nor unwelcome, but...]

I have to check on Davesprite.

[bywolves]

Yeah. I know. [ A beat. A little smaller, hesitant: ] If you need company... just ask.

[quadrangle]

[There's a really, really, really stupid, sentimental line he's considering saying, but yeah, no. Not now.]

I'll let you know, okay? I just... I need to wait for him. Maybe it won't be that long.

[bywolves]

Okay. [ Royce says, quietly. ] The offer is open-ended.

[ He closes his eyes. ] If you need to move on, you can. I won't keep you. [ Not that he necessarily wants Karkat to leave - he's still got a hold on Karkat's hand. ]

[quadrangle]

[Yeah, he's not letting go of that hand either. He does feel a pang, though, at practically everything Royce just said.]

I can't just—he might come back, okay? He will come back. I'm not—

[Karkat stops, closes his eyes, and tightens his grip. He can't bring himself to say anything more just yet, not while they're here.]

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ Royce says soft. ] He'll come back.

[ He sounds tired, and out of it, half-asleep. ]

[quadrangle]

[Which only makes it less convincing, for the record, but Karkat can set that aside for now. Mostly.]

Get some sleep, okay? I'll wake you up if anything happens.

[bywolves]

Okay. [ He sighs. And - without letting go of Karkat or moving away from him, Royce eventually drifts off. ]