* Add missing styles in ebook.css

* Change remove all --md prefixes from classes
* Fix some formatting issues, e.g. Davepeta dialogue with typo'd class
master
Jay Logan 2020-03-29 12:23:21 -05:00
parent 7c5dd8e52b
commit f9f3f2db3e
92 changed files with 1388 additions and 1309 deletions

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@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
body {
font-size: medium;
}
/* defaults */
blockquote {
font-style: italic;
border-left: 3px solid black;
@ -31,6 +28,96 @@ pre {
font-size: 75%;
}
/* general hs imported styles */
body {
font-family:adobe-garamond-pro, serif;
font-weight:normal
}
span.opener {
float:left;
font-family:'Homestuck-Regular', monospace;
line-height:0.825
}
div.chat {
margin:15px 0px 15px 25px;
font-family:"courier-std", courier, monospace
}
div.chat p {
text-indent:0px;
font-weight:bold
}
p.Command {
text-indent:0px;
margin:15px 0px 15px 25px;
font-family:Verdana, sans-serif
}
.type-xxl {
font-size:74px
}
.type-hs-opener-rg {
font-size:65px
}
.type-xl {
font-size:56px
}
.type-hs-opener-sm {
font-size:51px
}
.type-lg {
font-size:39px
}
.type-md {
font-size:28px
}
.type-hs-header {
font-size:32px
}
.type-hs-copy {
font-size:24px
}
.type-rg {
font-size:20px
}
.type-hs-rg {
font-size:18px
}
.type-sm {
font-size:16px
}
.type-hs-small {
font-size:14px
}
.type-bs {
font-size:12px
}
.type-hs-button {
font-size:11px
}
.type-hs-bottom {
font-size:10px
}
.type-center {
text-align:center
}
.type-left {
text-align:left
}
.type-right {
text-align:right
}
p.no-indent {
text-indent:0px
}
.weight-bold {
font-weight:700
}
/* character styles */
.aranea {
color:#005682
}
@ -122,9 +209,4 @@ pre {
}
.vriska {
color:#005682
}
p.Command {
text-indent:0px;
margin:15px 0px 15px 25px;
font-family:Verdana, sans-serif
}

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@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s1'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 1</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">C</span>andy was
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">C</span>andy was
definitely the right choice, John thinks, as he munches
thoughtfully on a strawberry swirl mint. It cracks to splinters
between his teeth. Incredibly tasty splinters, the consistency of
@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
fatalistic mood that hes been walking around with all day seems
somewhat... melodramatic. Embarrassing, even! Who has time for
nihilism when its such a beautiful day.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: you know what?</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: ...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: maybe ill stay after all.</p>
@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
when he thinks about it. Superficial. And a bit sappy toward his
friends. So what if he wants to make an insubstantial, superficial,
and sappy decision?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: are you absolUtely sUre aboUt this,
john?</p>
</div>
@ -101,7 +101,7 @@
tree, not to the world, not even to the leaf itself. He flicks the
delicate green metaphor away with a flourish of disdain, and sudden
conviction.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah. actually, i dont think ive ever been
so sure of anything in my life.</p>
</div>
@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
sexist way to describe it. Its definitely a girly noise, though,
and not what John was expecting. Without warning, she launches
herself into his arms.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: omg john</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: thats...</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: AMAZING!</p>
@ -132,7 +132,7 @@
were just waiting for him to pick up the phone, or to come along
and hug them.</p>
<p>Roxy pulls back and claps excitedly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: this is gonna be so effing AWESOME</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: yes. i think that yoU have made an
excellent choice, john!</p>
@ -161,19 +161,19 @@
makes it so that she dips into shadow. The sharp recesses of her
skeletal face turn those shadows black. For a moment, her voice
sounds the way wind does when it howls through a narrow chasm.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: yoU mUst free the bard from his
prison.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ???</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Did he hear her right? He cant imagine she
could <em>possibly</em> mean...</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: gamzee.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Calliope puts her hands together and pulls
back, smiling sweetly. Her voice is sugar-sweet again.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: let poor gamzee oUt of the fridge,
john.</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: the time has come. u_u</p>

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@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s10'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 10</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: WH3R3 3V3N 4R3 YOU</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 4ND WHY H4V3NT YOU SL1C3D M4K4R4 1N H4LF
Y3T</p>
@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
contact with him, and Gamzee gives him a thumbs-up. A chill runs
down Johns spine, so he goes back to his conversation with
Terezi.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1M W41T1NG</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: ...</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: ...</p>
@ -179,7 +179,7 @@
looking at him that makes him glad he got out of bed today. It
makes him, for the first time in years, excited about the idea that
the future is a thing that exists.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: sorry for takin so long had to reapply the
face u kno how it is</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: actually u probably dont but let me tell u
@ -247,7 +247,7 @@
because theyre sitting so very close. Her lashes look about twice
as long in the low, pale light. They shadow her eyes so that he
cant read her expression.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: ya know i didnt even know any adults when i
was a kid</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: so i got nothin except the legends of how my
@ -280,7 +280,7 @@
actually humors him. The glasses clink together clumsily, and water
gets all over the complimentary breadsticks. She starts laughing
harder.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: oh john</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: why didnt we do this SOONER</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i love spendin time with you</p>
@ -298,7 +298,7 @@
cant tell what Roxy is thinking. Shes so warm and open and
inviting, but when John looks into her eyes... its almost like
staring into a voi—</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: oh</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: wtf look behind you</p>
</div>
@ -316,7 +316,7 @@
angles a look at John through the panels of his shades. It looks
like he hasnt slept, but its hard to tell with Dave. Hes out of
breath.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: hey dude</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: and roxy</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: uh rather...</p>

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@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s11'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 11</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">D</span>ave grabs
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">D</span>ave grabs
the sleeve of Johns tux in his sweaty palm, and the two of them
fly to the top of the nearest tower. John glances at him en route,
and the look on Daves face strikes him as that of a man condemned
@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
even in the middle of the city.</p>
<p>Dave cups his hands over his knees and stares straight
ahead.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: yo john what do you think about me and
karkat</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: um...</p>
@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Dave says this so neutrally that John has no
idea how to read it, despite having years of practice reading
Daves many neutral tones.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: er... yes.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: thats exactly what i mean.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: why</p>
@ -136,7 +136,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave makes a couple truly useless hand
gestures.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: in the greater fabric of our weird incestuous
social group</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: it might be the wrong move i think</p>
@ -150,14 +150,14 @@
developed a bad habit of sometimes approaching delicate social
situations with all the grace of an elephant stumbling around in a
dark room.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: right.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i almost managed to forget that she was
trying to fuck you and karkat.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave snaps his head around to stare at John in
shock.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: wait you knew about that</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: uh, yeah?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: did you not?</p>
@ -182,7 +182,7 @@
with his elbows crossed over his thighs. The angle hes at gives
John a good look at his eyes, which are boring a deep, miserable
hole to the center of the Earth right now.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: thats why i think that i should</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: give it a try i guess</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: give what a try? dating jade?</p>
@ -204,7 +204,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave doesnt answer. His silence says a lot,
John thinks.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ...are you in love with karkat?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: thats</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: thats a big fucking question</p>
@ -250,7 +250,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">He tilts his face so that he can give John a
look. The corner of his lip quirks ambiguously.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: have you been talking to terezi</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: um...</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: damn i thought she ghosted everyone</p>
@ -267,7 +267,7 @@
catches Johns gaze and makes a rolling gesture with his hand,
miming the way a practiced magician would flick a coin over their
thumb.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: do you know what a coin flip is</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: like universally i mean in the grand scale of
all this time space infinite string theory bullshit were always
@ -316,7 +316,7 @@
is essential, true, and relevant. He remembers those three words,
but no other contextual remarks which bind them. That conversation
seems so very long ago now.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i mean... it doesnt sound...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: *canon*?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: ugh not you too</p>
@ -326,7 +326,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave sighs and runs a hand through his
hair.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: doing the right thing</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i guess</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: this doesnt seem hard to me at all,
@ -349,7 +349,7 @@
isnt easy for him, though. John guesses this is what it means to
be a friend. It means being the guy who understands when easy isnt
actually that easy.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: i have to... talk to dirk i think</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: uh, ok?</p>
</div>
@ -365,7 +365,7 @@
lingers between the two of them. Before John can fill it with some
stupid words, he hears Roxy calling up to him from below. He pops
his head over the roof and waves at her.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: whats up?</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: yo boys not to interrupt but we got kicked
outta the restaurant for not ordering</p>
@ -391,14 +391,14 @@
more, like this whole conversation was sand running through his
fingers. It itches at the back of his head, the idea that he might
have just fucked up Daves entire life.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: im... sorry i couldnt help.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: nah dude its not your fault</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave gives him a light bro-punch in the arm
and tries to smile.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<p class="dave">DAVE:enjoy your date</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: enjoy your date</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>

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@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s12'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 12</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">J</span>ake wakes
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">J</span>ake wakes
up to the unfamiliar feeling of a cheek on his chest and a thigh
slung over his stomach.</p>
<p>Not that waking up to limbs entwined with some fleeting
@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
worst fears.</p>
<p>But his worst fears are confirmed for him without him having to
do anything, unfortunately, which seems par for the course.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Good morning.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane sits up in the bed and stretches her arms
@ -58,13 +58,13 @@
sight of her. Its not her attractiveness that was ever in
question. Its everything else about this situation which is the
problem.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Jane.....</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: What in the blazes happened!?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She turns to face him, giggling into her
hand.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Why Jake, I would imagine that you are
practiced enough at sexual congress at this point that I shouldnt
have to explain it to you.</p>
@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane blinks and touches a hand to her
collarbone, like she doesnt quite recognize herself.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Oh dear, did you hear what I just said?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Lighten up?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Its been quite a while since Ive thought
@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
Lollipop on his bedside table. It sits, like evidence at a murder
scene, beneath an empty bottle of vodka and far more sets of
underwear than the number of people accounted for in the room.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Um...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">...Jake says, but Jane shuts him up with a
@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
several objections, but Jane is plucking all his strings quite
mercilessly. He feels like a snake about to be necked by a
mongoose.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Wh... whats the meaning of the lollipop? I
thought we agreed never to use trickster mode when we were...
er.</p>
@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Janes expression falls. Shed been feeling
quite buoyed after a night of jolly—if inebriated—fun, but Jake
does not seem to share her enthusiasm.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Dear me... was that innuendo a bit too much?
Im sorry. Im not very good at this.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: No its not that. Jane... i...</p>
@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
words leave his mouth. Jane looks absolutely crushed. Devastated.
Like Jake just ripped the rug out from underneath her entire
universe.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: What?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Are you saying everything we did...</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: It...</p>
@ -158,11 +158,11 @@
<p class="no-indent">Jane stares up at him, her eyes so bright
theyre practically clear, like tropical water on a sunny day. She
looks like girls do right before theyre about to cry.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Jake...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Oh, how could he deny her anything?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: What was i even saying? Im being terribly
foolish.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Sure we may have er. Overdone it a bit on the
@ -179,7 +179,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Its not the most rousing speech Jake has ever
given, but it seems satisfactory enough for Jane. He releases a
tremendously relieved sigh when Jane breaks into a smile.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Oh, Jake!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">He flails when she kisses him. But this time,

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@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s13'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 13</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">D</span>ave and
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">D</span>ave and
Dirk dont talk that much about the heavy stuff. They dont need
to. Dave can hear his brothers voice in his head.</p>
<p>Not, like, literally. That would be insane. But Dave knows what
@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
<p>Dave knocks on the door, loud, but theres no answer. Nothing
when he calls out Dirks name either. Then he tries the knob, and
the door swings right open.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: uh</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: hey</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: bro</p>
@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Still no answer. Dave lets himself in. Its
not like his bro would actually mind. Theyre family, after
all.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: bro</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: hey</p>
</div>
@ -69,14 +69,14 @@
flitting from room to room, checking for any signs of Dirk.</p>
<p>This is strange. The guy doesnt usually go out to do things,
unless those things are actively being televised.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: dude are you like gone i have something i
really need to talk to you ab</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave all but jumps out of his skin with a
shriek when he turns to find the last individual in the world he
ever expected or wanted to see.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: HoNk.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: jesus FUCK</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: HeY wHaTs ShAkInG mY mAn :O)</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s14'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 14</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">Y</span>our name
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">Y</span>our name
is Dirk Strider, and you know what you must do.</p>
<p>The decision was made the moment John chose his course. This
world has been set on a path that you cannot tread.</p>

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@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s15'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 15</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">T</span>he rain is
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">T</span>he rain is
coming down in sheets. It rains just seldom enough on this idyllic
world that most of its inhabitants are conditioned to leave their
homes without umbrellas, and today theyre paying for it. The press
@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
comes time to set it down in the cathedral, upsets the balance of
the whole thing, and sends it careening down so hard that the nose
of it crashes right through the stage.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: OoOpS mOtHeRfUcKeRs.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: oops???</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: its fine gamz</p>
@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
inside, past the barrier of reporters. Jane drags Jake off by the
wrist to deal with them as Roxy approaches the pulpit, looking
miserably ghostlike in her violet mourning clothes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: um</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: hey thx everyone for joining me today</p>
</div>
@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
back a whole mouthful of snot. The sound is very much in contrast
with the delicate, feminine manner with which she tugs a tissue out
of her modest cleavage in order to dab at her eyes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: wow now that im up here its like</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: idk</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i have no idea what to say</p>
@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Of course she doesnt. Dirk was her first BFF,
her first love, and at one time, the only other human being left on
Earth. She rolls the wet tissue between her fingers.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: and i guess thats cuz there IS nothing to
say</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: theres no words to describe how i felt about
@ -113,7 +113,7 @@
on his camera as quietly as possible.</p>
<p>It takes Dave a moment to gather himself when he reaches the
lectern, but when he speaks his voice is steady and even.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: hey guys</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: wanna apologize in advance cuz this is about
to get a lil real</p>
@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave hesitates. His voice might be cracking,
but its subtle.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: he was just an absolute bastard no offense to
the dead</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah ok sure he taught me a ton of shit that
@ -247,7 +247,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Dave takes a deep, shuddering breath and
actually takes off his shades to wipe away the tears that are
pooling on his eyelashes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: i guess thats all i got to say about that</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake is openly weeping by the time the speech
@ -257,7 +257,7 @@
suit. Dave leaves the stage, face turned away from the glare of the
camera lights, and Roxy takes her place at the pulpit once
again.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: anyone else have a eulogy theyd like to
give</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i think the best way we can honor dirks
@ -279,7 +279,7 @@
room immediately to escape the stench emanating from this smiling
clown. Suddenly, his expression distorts, to become something which
can only be described as a leer.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: WhAtS uP oN tHiS mOsT rIgHtEoUs AnD
fRoWnY Of DaYs My BiTcHeS. :o(</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: OH MY GOD</p>
@ -293,7 +293,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Gamzee clears his throat quite loudly and
abruptly, sending ear-shattering echoes throughout the church. It
sounds like someone just threw a toilet in a woodchipper.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: NiNjAs AnD gEnTlEhOeS!</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: We GaThEr Up At ThIs ShRiNe Of WoRsHiP tO
wHaTeVeR fAlSe IdOlS oR mEsSiAhS tHeSe HoMiEs GeT tHeIr DeVoTiOn On
@ -334,7 +334,7 @@
retrieves a piece of paper, crumpled and soaked from the rain
outside, and attempts to smooth it out over the lectern. The wet
paper breaks apart immediately beneath his oafish clown paws.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: AwWw, ShIzZ. i GuEsS iVe GoT tO uP aNd
WiNg It!</p>
</div>
@ -343,7 +343,7 @@
Dirk had apparently handed down to Gamzee to be passed on. John
cant seem to find that optimism himself.</p>
<p>Gamzee draws a big, fat breath, and begins his speech.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: YoU eVeR wAkE uP aNd SiT dOwN tO dRoP a
FaT oNe In ThE lOaD gApEr, BuT yOuR fLeSh BoDy JuSt AiNt ReAdY tO
gO aNd DoOk It OuT yEt?</p>
@ -352,7 +352,7 @@
scans the crowd, silent for a uncomfortable while, as if his
question werent rhetorical and he were expecting an answer that
will never come.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: tHaTs WhAt LiFe WaS lIkE fOr ThE
d-MaN.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: A mAn BoRn WiTh A pUrPoSe. A pLaN.</p>
@ -379,7 +379,7 @@
or two mercifully concluding remarks. Roxy stands up and begins
clapping loudly to bring a heroic end to the elocutionary horror
show.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: WOW WASNT THAT GREAT FOLKS!</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: WOW JUST WOW I KNEW THIS GUY WOULDNT LET US
DOWN</p>
@ -393,7 +393,7 @@
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: hOoOoOoOoOnK.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She nudges Jake.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: (hey dude can u get up there and say somethin
as like...)</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: (a palate cleanser?)</p>
@ -431,7 +431,7 @@
<p>John sneezes.</p>
<p>Dave and Karkat jump apart like opposing magnets.</p>
<p>Oops.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: uhh, hi guys!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John waves dopily and hopes that he doesnt
@ -439,7 +439,7 @@
still staring at each other from the corners of their eyes, warily.
Something silent and tense passes between them.</p>
<p>They make a quick recovery.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: hey</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I SEE THAT EVEN YOU COULDNT BEAR
GAMZEES ASININE, BRUTAL AND 100% NONCONSENSUAL ASSAULT ON YOUR
@ -456,7 +456,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave glances at Karkat again. He... smiles.
Its a sad smile, but its there.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: well no</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: but its ok to not be ok about this specific
@ -478,11 +478,11 @@
down at his hands. Now that hes paused to think a little, what
hes about to offer is a pretty weird way to console a friend after
the death of a loved one.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: do you... want me to go back?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave quirks an eyebrow.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: go</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: back??</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: with my retcon powers.</p>
@ -491,7 +491,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave says at the same time that Karkat
shouts:</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: JOHN!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: what!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: DO YOU NOT HAVE AN INCH OF GODDAMN SENSE
@ -511,7 +511,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Dave makes a wavy hand gesture that implies
hes about to jump into a rant about causality or whatever. John
cuts him off.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: but!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: if i retcon it...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: then its like it never even happened!</p>
@ -533,7 +533,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">John frowns. Dave opens his mouth to say
something else, but hes cut off by Jade poking her head out of the
church window.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: dave!!! roxys wondering where you are</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh yeah be right there</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: what about you karkat? you coming??</p>
@ -554,7 +554,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Karkat stomps back toward the church,
bickering with Jade his way across the graveyard. Dave adjusts his
shades and puts a hand on Johns shoulder.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: john</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i get what you were trying to do</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: but</p>
@ -575,7 +575,7 @@
<p>Do the... retcon thing? He thinks much, much harder than he
thought about doing the last thing.</p>
<p>Still nothing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: thats weird...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: it was working just the other day.</p>
</div>
@ -583,21 +583,21 @@
starts to hurt. So hard that he doesnt hear the footsteps sloshing
through the wet grass behind him. When Roxy taps him on the
shoulder he yelps and shoots six feet up into the air.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: lmao john its just me</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John spins around to greet her. He hides his
hands behind his back like he was doing something bad with them.
Which he guesses he was, kind of. Roxy shields her eyes against the
rain and laughs.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: doin ok up there b?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: im fine!!!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: wait. b?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John lands softly, close enough to Roxy that
she can slide a hand up his arm.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: yea like short for babe</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: cuz ur my babe b</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: oh, haha. right.</p>
@ -607,7 +607,7 @@
affection in public places like this. He slips a hand into the
small of Roxys back and feels a pang of guilt about what he saw
transpire between Dave and Karkat earlier.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: is dave ok?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah, i guess.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ...</p>
@ -617,7 +617,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Her gaze gets distant as she stares at
something over Johns shoulder. Whatever shes thinking about, it
tugs a soft smile across her face.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: yea</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: actually</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: im more than ok</p>
@ -626,12 +626,12 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Roxy starts dancing her fingers up Johns
chest.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: about you n me</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: and this</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She bops him on the nose.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: hey john</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: we should get hitched</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ummmmmm...</p>
@ -639,7 +639,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">John stares at where Roxys finger is still
pressing down on his nose and goes a little cross-eyed as his brain
tries to process what she just said.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: um...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ...what???</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: um what WHAT?</p>
@ -648,7 +648,7 @@
<p class="john">JOHN: like...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John looks around the graveyard nervously.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: right NOW?</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: lmao totes</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: were already at the church n everything</p>
@ -660,7 +660,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Roxy starts laughing so hard she has to wipe
away a tear. She leans in to give John a quick, chaste kiss on the
lips.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: no LOL</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: john u take everything so literally</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: its fuckin adorbs</p>
@ -689,7 +689,7 @@
gut. He goes breathless with shock; adrenaline pumping through him,
his blood rushing in his ears. When he speaks, his voice is
hoarse.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: you...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: LOVE me??</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: yea john i love you</p>
@ -722,13 +722,13 @@
pirouettes. His hands come up around Roxys shoulders, and keep
going until hes cupping her face in both hands. He starts
giggling.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ok.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ok, lets... lets do it!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Roxy waggles her eyebrows.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: ooo u want to do it??</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: er... i mean...</p>
@ -743,7 +743,7 @@
and laughing against her lips. She kisses him until theyre both
breathless, then pulls back so that she can gaze at him with
glittering eyes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: omg</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: were gonna be SO freakin happy!</p>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s16'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 16</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: hey terezi, guess where i am right now?</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: YOUR HUM4N W3DD1NG</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: considering that humans are the only species
@ -221,8 +221,8 @@
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah, ok. take care of yourself terezi.</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1 4LW4YS DO</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold"></div>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: hey terezi, i have something to tell you and
youre not going to believe it!</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1 4LR34DY H34RD 4BOUT HOW J4N3 1S D4T1NG

View File

@ -25,15 +25,15 @@
<div id='s17'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 17</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">T</span>hree
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">T</span>hree
months later, John is still thinking about his last conversation
with Terezi. Its kind of impossible not to, when Rose and Kanaya
keep saying the name “Vriska” every five minutes. He really thought
they were done with hearing about Vriska all the time, but
apparently Rose and Kanaya were intent on breathing new life into
that tradition.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Vriska, dont chew on your chairs dinner
tray.</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Darling She Is Only A Grub She Hasnt Yet
@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
sign of movement.</p>
<p>She lifts her head to speak. Hes like Houdini with that
phone.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: damn i still cant believe dirks gone tho</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Yes, it was so sudden.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: But the best we can do to honor him is simply
@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
cradles Vriska in one arm, and begins to unbutton the top of her
shirt with the other. John instinctively finds something else to
look at. Anything. His fidgeting hands will do.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Have You Two Thought About What To Name
Your Grubs</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: its just one grub lol</p>
@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Kanaya gives John an inquisitive, wide-eyed
look. As if there could be no conceivable reason for someone to ask
this question.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Yes Of Course</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Why would we change her name when shes
nearly a year old?</p>
@ -166,7 +166,7 @@
dragging his heels on for months. Back when Roxy first got pregnant
it was all they talked about it, but now that shes so close to the
due date, all the subject does is make his pulse go shaky.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: um...</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: harry anderson egbert</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: roxy! we hadnt...</p>
@ -178,7 +178,7 @@
Roxy didnt seem to have any suggestions of her own. Rose stops
breastfeeding Vriska, and hands her off to Kanaya. She comes to sit
beside John, setting a hand on his knee. She speaks kindly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Wasnt that the guy from Night Court?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: which was...</p>
@ -199,13 +199,13 @@
the planet turning under his feet. He whips his head up to look at
Rose intently. She seems alert. Her gaze is precise. She doesnt
seem ill, or off, or confused at all.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: no she... didnt?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: vriska didnt defeat lord english.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Rose doesnt say anything. No one says
anything.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: rose, no one knows what happened to lord
english.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Of course we do. Vriska used the juju and her
@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">John swivels around to point a finger at his
wife. It comes across as more accusatory than he means it to
be.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: roxy, you and calliope told me that i had a
choice!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: and i MADE my choice, which is why i ended up
@ -262,7 +262,7 @@
big deal at the time, and then suddenly it felt like nothing at
all. Why?</p>
<p>Roxy leans over and sets a cool hand on Johns forehead.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: u doin ok there babe</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: im fine!</p>
</div>
@ -271,7 +271,7 @@
than he already looks. He brushes Roxys hand away and stands
abruptly, looking woozy and sweating at the temples. His skin is
tight and clammy, too hot and too cold all at once.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i just... need some fresh air.</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: want me to come with u</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: no!</p>
@ -288,7 +288,7 @@
over the treeline and out of the troll suburb that Kanaya and Rose
have made their home in. Furiously, he begins typing on his
phone.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: terezi. i know that youve got important
stuff to do out there in paradox space, but i really need to hear
from you.</p>
@ -303,7 +303,7 @@
deep breath. The breeze that rattles over the forest seems foul,
somehow. Stale, like air thats been recycled multiple times
over.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: theyre not great.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i mean, on the surface everything is
fantastic! everyones so happy and it finally seems like were all
@ -361,7 +361,7 @@
the bottom corner of the screen. Its an indication that someone is
typing.</p>
<p>He stops breathing until the text actually appears.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: OK4Y LOS3R, T3LL M3 WH4T H4PP3N3D TH1S
T1M3</p>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s18'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 18</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">J</span>ane may
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">J</span>ane may
have stepped away from her pursuit of public office, but its
important for any educated businesswoman to stay abreast of the
political goings-on of her nation.</p>
@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
languorously in front of her television. She remembers her father
doing the same all the time. Well, without the luxurious silk robe
and eighty-inch TV screen.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: I admit I had second thoughts about calling
off my presidential bid after what happened with Dirk, but...</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: You know what, Im surprised to say that this
@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
the day. When she asks for a fresh pen, he fishes one out of his
codpiece and hands it to her, but he looks uncharacteristically
disquieted.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GaMzEe: WhOa. ArE yOu ReAlLy AlL uP aNd
SuPpOrTiNg ThAt StIcKy ShIzZ, mY wOmAn?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Excuse me? That... what?</p>
@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane chuckles at Gamzees jape. But the
strange expression persists on his clownish face.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: ThIs Be WiCkEd SeRiOuS bOo.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: YaLl ReAlLy DoWn WiTh SuBjUgGlAtInG mY
nInJaS?</p>
@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
hand is that ones wrist is bound to get a bit sore, and its left
her short on patience for the tiresome ordeal of explaining the
basic functioning of a political system to an ignorant farceur.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Gamzee, please.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Im not down with doing anything of the
sort.</p>
@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
ShOe It MiGhT bE aLl RiGhT mAnG.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane has to pause to huff in exasperation.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: No, Gamzee!</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Everyone needs shoes that fit the size of
their feet!</p>
@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
as willfully loathsome as Makara could be this dense. Whats more
likely is hes attempting to get a rise from her. To get her a
little hotter under the collar. To put her in a certain mood.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: I just explained: its essential that these
regulations remain in place so that the human and troll populations
can remain proportionate.</p>
@ -215,7 +215,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">And just like that, she falls right into his
trap. Theres no turning back now. The salacious ritual is
imminent.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Excuse me, Im sorry. “Canceled”?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Are you even hearing yourself?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Who in the world gave a <em>literal
@ -264,7 +264,7 @@
<p>As soon as Jane starts screaming, the baby does too. Jake,
sitting approximately six feet away, bounces the infant a little to
calm him down.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: I say would you mind keeping it down for
tavros?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: He was sleeping and to be honest i think
@ -274,7 +274,7 @@
shed forgotten that Jake was there at all—she scrambles to cover
herself properly the moment his voice cuts through the din of
sloppy, moist honking.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Jake! Darling.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Dont worry. Th-theres plenty of attention
to go around, my love.</p>
@ -301,14 +301,14 @@
<p>Jakes heart is racing so hard he loses focus. He doesnt notice
that Gamzee is offering him the bottle until Janes angry voice
wrenches him back to his senses.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Gamzee! Thats been on the ground! Get him a
clean one.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Gamzee shrugs, and squirrels away the
half-spilled bottle in his codpiece. He walks off and returns with
a fresh bottle from the fridge, then hands it over to Jake.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Haha thanks ill just be going now. See
ya.</p>
</div>
@ -323,7 +323,7 @@
skull like a gunshot.</p>
<p>As Jake gently bounces the baby in one arm, he takes out his
phone to text an old friend.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Jade are you there?</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: yep!</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: whats up?</p>
@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
voice. Its something to focus on besides the—</p>
<p>OHHHH! HONK!</p>
<p>Jake winces.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: jake!!! its been a while since you
called!</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: is everything ok?</p>
@ -351,7 +351,7 @@
to stand. So Jake shuts himself into the first empty room he comes
across and lets himself slide to the ground against the closed
door.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Anyway whats up with you? Hows life with
davekat going?</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: oh its great! im really glad i just went for

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s19'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 19</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: how cute do you guys think johns baby is
going to be</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: like on a scale of 1-11???</p>
@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
Alternian mushrooms that flare up at night with a sick, green
bioluminescence, and from above by the soft glow of his social
media accounts.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: i dunno</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i still havent come to terms with the fact
that johns gonna be a dad</p>
@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
Instead, hes seriously considering Daves question. He picks a leg
off one of his beetles and flicks it over Jade so that it lands on
Daves forehead.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: BELOW ME BUT ABOVE YOU.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah exactly</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: now hes all married and pregnant and hes got
@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
immature. Jade doesnt pick up on the obvious subtext in the
conversation, however, because shes been willfully undermining the
subtext in her own personal life for nearly a year now.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: well...</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: ive actually been thinking lately about how
since rose and kanaya had a kid and jane and jake had a kid and
@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Karkat starts laughing. Jade flicks him in the
forehead.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: no stupid all three of us!</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: uhhh</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: what??</p>
@ -144,7 +144,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Dave puts away his phone and rolls up so that
hes braced on his elbow. He meets Karkats gaze over the rise of
Jades chest and smiles at him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah dude i know</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: youre probably like closet dad of the fuckin
year</p>
@ -195,7 +195,7 @@
in the fridge more than once in his life. Jade and Karkat exchange
a private look theyve also given each other more than once in
Daves presence.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah so anyway im gonna stick to hot pockets
i think</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: dave</p>
@ -238,7 +238,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade sits up and wraps her arms around her
knees. Her ears go flat as she chews her lip.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: ...its not like i dont know that</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: john never shuts up about it</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: i mean, he and jane used to be close back
@ -291,13 +291,13 @@
ringer for her old Witch of Space uniform. Jade touches the body
with the toe of her shoe, and then gasps when it rolls over to
reveal its face.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: its...</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: ME???</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Karkat and Dave stick their heads over the
edge of the pit.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: holy shit</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT IN THE EVER LIVING FUCK?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: uh</p>
@ -315,7 +315,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Karkat watches as Jade stands over her own
younger corpse. He notices the way her shoulders are slanted. Its
clear even from a distance that shes shaking.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: JADE?</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHATS GOING ON
HERE??</p>
@ -328,7 +328,7 @@
gruesome, yet also... peaceful, somehow.</p>
<p>Dave slides down the ridge of the crater and grabs her by the
shoulder.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: hey jade you hear us</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade wipes a hand across her cheek and looks
@ -336,13 +336,13 @@
massless shards from the sky must have nicked her in the face. Her
eyes go wide and she feels the breath go out of her for a moment.
She looks directly upward. Where did this body come from?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: jade???</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: yes dave i heard you</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Still staring at the body, Jade digs her phone
out of her pocket.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: i need to talk to jane</p>
</div>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s2'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 2</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">J</span>ohn zaps
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">J</span>ohn zaps
back to the quietest point in the fridges impressively storied
timeline that he can pinpoint, which is on The Land of Tombs and
Krypton, T-minus about half an hour before his final battle against
@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
fridge back to Earth C. He zaps himself and the fridge back to the
same picnic grounds he departed from, while cleverly leaving the
chains wrapping the fridge behind on LOTAK.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: so uh...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: im back.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: everyone get ready for THIS fucking guy, i
@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
smelling like socks that have been worn continuously for two weeks
straight. John rears back and pinches his nose shut. Calliope
shoots John a sharp look, like a stern teacher would.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: HOOOOOOOOOOOONK.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: cough COUGH cough CHOKE honk CHOKE!</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: wheeeeeeeeeze HONK cough HONK choke
@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Calliope nods knowingly, and pats him on the
back.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: i Up AnD dOnE sOmE mOtHeRfUcKeRs RaW.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: ThOsE mOtHeRfUcKeRs MoSt Of AlL wHo I
cAlLeD aS mY fRiEnDs.</p>
@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
own sobs does she steal a glance at her phone, tipping the fact
that she too wouldnt mind if this redemptive soliloquy could hurry
itself along.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: ThEsE rEdEmPtiVe FuCkIn EuReKa
ThUnDeRcLaPs AlL bAnGiNg At My ThInK pAn...</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: GeTtInG mE tO gO aLl LiKe, BoO hOo, Im
@ -201,7 +201,7 @@
tiptoes a few yards away from the group and slips his phone out of
his pocket. Theres only one person in the universe who can truly
understand what Johns going through right now.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: hey terezi, you around?</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: WH4T DO YOU W4NT</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: you wouldnt believe whats happening just
@ -213,7 +213,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">John discreetly holds his phone over his
shoulder and takes a snapchat of Gamzee sobbing in Calliopes arms.
Roxy is beside them, nodding along solemnly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: HOLY SH1T</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i know, right?</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: H3S CRY1NG L1K3 4 L1TTL3 WR1GGL3R</p>
@ -293,7 +293,7 @@
repentance.</p>
<p>Calliope comes to stand with John, her hands folded behind her
back and her expression peaceful.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: thank yoU for this, john.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: um...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: youre welcome?</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s20'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 20</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WOW, SURE FEELS WEIRD TO JUST BE HANGING
OUT WITH ALL THESE ASSHOLES WE WERE TOTALLY GOSSIPING ABOUT JUST
TWENTY MINUTES AGO.</p>
@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Karkat is loudly whispering to Dave, leaning a
bit too intimately into the curve of his chest for two dudes who
are dating the same girl, but not each other.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: i always knew our gossip sins would catch up
with us eventually</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: SHH both of you!!!</p>
@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
confusing day.</p>
<p>John hangs back with Karkat and Dave while the girls go
upstairs.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: uh, hey. how are you guys doing?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh you know just enjoying a nice night out
with our girlfriend when another teen version of our girlfriend
@ -115,13 +115,13 @@
Makara-Crocker is at her side, serving as her ever-faithful shadow,
holding her arm to steady her as she tries to revive teen-Jades
corpse.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Jake!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Vitriol leaks from every letter of his name.
John and Dave exchange a knowing look: whos supposed to be the
kismesis here, again?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Would you take Tavros out of here?
Please?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Well golly jane i just thought it would be
@ -143,7 +143,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane wipes perspiration off her face and
sighs.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: I... I dont know.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Ive just been under a lot of stress lately,
trying to run my business, raise a child, and manage the political
@ -160,13 +160,13 @@
go by. Quite sorry blokes, he whispers as he takes his leave.</p>
<p>Jane clutches her hands around teen-Jades thin shoulders,
looking the corpse over with an expression of absolute sorrow.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: I dont know why, but Im having an extremely
difficult time reviving her.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Where did she even come from?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">The living Jade shakes her head.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: we have no idea</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: its like the sky just opened up!</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Well Obviously She Is From Another
@ -178,7 +178,7 @@
moment to respond. Her fingers close around the neckline of her
dress as her gaze sweeps across the room. She looks over each
person present, but avoids making eye contact.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: I...</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: I havent the faintest clue.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: It could be anything.</p>
@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">John quirks an eyebrow at her. She doesnt
sound confident. Not like she did a month earlier when she claimed
that Vriska had defeated Lord English.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Well, something is blocking my Life
powers.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Its as if she has... a sort of poison in
@ -223,7 +223,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Roxy places her hand on Jades head and gives
her a little scritch between the ears.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i thiiiink that janey was just bein
melodramatic jade</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: its not ur fault</p>
@ -233,11 +233,11 @@
godlike in her abilities, and on the verge of fighting a battle
that could change everything. She cant believe how young she
looks.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: what should we do with her?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Roxy claps her hands together.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: well</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: hate to be the one who says what were all
thinkin but...</p>
@ -256,7 +256,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Roxy looks around the room searchingly with a
big, bright grin. Karkat snorts from the far corner of the room
where hes been pouting the whole time.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IM SORRY, WAS THAT A RHETORICAL FUCKING
QUESTION OR WERE YOU GOING SOMEWHERE WITH IT?</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: it was not rhetorical at all</p>
@ -278,11 +278,11 @@
are standing shoulder to shoulder, very much in stable, devoted,
interspecies Love. Kanaya catches that gaze, and holds it, for a
very long, tense moment.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Um. Roxy...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Kanaya interrupts, tone clipped and dry.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Perhaps We Should Not Talk About That
Particular Subject</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: If Your Concern Here Is That We All
@ -293,7 +293,7 @@
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: UH, EASY FOR YOU TO FUCKING SAY.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade interjects, tiredly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: karkat... lets not ok?</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: i mean, not now?</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: LETS NOT WHAT?</p>
@ -319,7 +319,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Karkat pushes off from the wall, furious,
practically spitting flames. He points at Jane, his whole arm
quivering.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I LISTEN TO THE FUCKING NEWS, YOU KNOW.
IVE HEARD ALL THE ARGUMENTS, THE ONES BASED ON THE POLICY ADVICE
YOUR CORPORATE THINK TANK FEEDS THE PRESIDENT.</p>
@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane folds her hands in her lap. Her voice is
ice-cold, and varnished to a shine.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Is this meant to be a threat of future
violence, Mr. Vantas?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Im not sure menacing me is making the most
@ -353,7 +353,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Gamzee steps out from behind Jane, putting
himself between her and Karkat. He raises his hands in a calming
gesture</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: hEy BrOtHeR cHiLl OuT</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: FUCK OFF GAMZEE.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: wOaH wOaH, kArKaT mY DUDE wHy ArE yOu AlL
@ -387,7 +387,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Gamzee gets up from where he had been crawling
across the floor in preparation for some righteous attritional toe
sucking. He looks positively crestfallen.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: kArKaT... yO tHeReS gOtTa Be SoMeThInG i
CaN dO.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: NO.</p>
@ -413,7 +413,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Karkat points at Jane again, then at Roxy, and
then at Gamzee.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: FUCK YOU, AND YOU, AND ESPECIALLY
YOU.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IN FACT, FUCK ALL OF YOU. IM
@ -424,7 +424,7 @@
under his gentle grip, hissing. He jabs Dave hard in the clavicle,
hard enough that Dave is forced to take a shocked half-step
backwards.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: dude</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT PART OF “ALL OF YOU” DO YOU NOT
UNDERSTAND, STRIDER?</p>
@ -434,7 +434,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Dave folds out of the way, stunned and
compliant. Jade gapes at her stunned boyfriend, and the empty space
in the doorway left by her other boyfriend.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: dave what the FUCK did you say to him
downstairs?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: uh</p>
@ -451,7 +451,7 @@
interrupted by Jake looking all toothsome and fatherly with Tavros
asleep in his arms, and a placated Vriska riding his broad
shoulders.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: By jove chaps what was all that
commotion?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: It was nothing, Jake. Go back to the
@ -501,7 +501,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane pushes up her spectacles so that she can
pinch the bridge of her nose.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: How is it that no matter how hard I try to
keep the foolishness in my life confined exclusively to my romantic
partners...</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s21'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 21</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">I</span>ts
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">I</span>ts
raining again, coming down in a frigid torrent. John is a
pallbearer this time around. Teen-Jade is so light, he and Jake
alone carry the coffin with ease. Together, they trudge through the
@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
behind her, spreads her arms and begins to speechify. She
practically has to shout to be heard over the roar of the rainstorm
outside.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: thx everyone for joining us today</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: we are gathered here to honor the memory of
alternate universe jade</p>
@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
he waxed his mustache in the mirror. But its better for a man to
just let his wife do whatever she wants. I promise youll experience
less pain that way old boy.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: pUrple roses traditionally represent
love at first sight, however these roses are actUally red roses
that we prepared Using a blUe dye.</p>
@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
holds it.</p>
<p>John tilts his head and squints at the image in front of him.
Hmm.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: woah callie thats a beautiful metaphor</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: aw, thank yoU roxy. u_u</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: dont sound so humble it is v v deep</p>
@ -123,7 +123,7 @@
that paints the walls around her pink and red. Sollux is with her,
feeling his way into the church along the grain of the door. Hes
soaked head to toe.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: oh no did we miss the entire corpse
party</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: i hope not</p>
@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Karkat jumps to his feet, eyes so wide theyre
practically popping out of his head.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ARADIA?</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: HOLY SHIT... SOLLUX?!</p>
<p class="sollux">SOLLUX: hey l0ser. its been a l0ng time.</p>
@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
eulogy. Aradia glides to the floor and sets her feet on the stone
tiling, elfin and weightless. She sidles up to Gamzee and jostles
him in the ribs.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: so i see you managed to get out of the
fridge</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: i DiDnT jUsT gEt OuT oF tHe FrIdGe, I
@ -223,7 +223,7 @@
lecherous ogle. She observes the bored-looking woman who she
recognizes to be Jane. Aradia looks her up and down, and arches an
eyebrow in approval.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: its so nice that you believe all that
gamzee</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: i think i can honestly say</p>
@ -243,7 +243,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Roxy smacks herself in the forehead, like this
is the most obvious thing in the world. Of course, how could she
forget the fucking corpse?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: oh lol ur right i cant believe that slipped
my mind</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: hey jake a lil help?</p>
@ -255,7 +255,7 @@
He jumps onto the stage and begins unlatching the coffin while
Calliope throws more rose petals for some reason. Living-Jade
slumps in her seat a bit, beginning to look green.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: ughhh...</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yo babe its ok</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: easy for you to say! youve got practice with
@ -293,7 +293,7 @@
fashioned her a lovely flower crown. If not for all the blood caked
down her front, and her conspicuous impalement, shed look like she
was merely sleeping.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: now this is more like it</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: i cant look...</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh</p>
@ -304,7 +304,7 @@
physical contact here for the purpose of getting his cuddle on.
Instead of cradling Jade in his arms, he uses his hands to cover
her eyes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: uhh... what... are you doing??</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: emotional support yo</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Dave.</p>
@ -365,7 +365,7 @@
funeral-goers.</p>
<p>Slowly, she lowers her arms, staring at her hands in shock. This
time, she whispers:</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: please. roxy gathered yoU all here
for a reason.</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: at least listen Until the end.</p>
@ -374,7 +374,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Roxy comes back to the pulpit and wraps an arm
around Calliopes shoulders.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: look everyone im not dumb ok even tho i act
like it sometimes</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i know whats goin on here</p>
@ -431,14 +431,14 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Roxys voice starts to crack. She staggers off
the podium, clutching her bloated stomach.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: roxy? are yoU okay?</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: of course im not ok i just WENT INTO FREAKING
LABOR</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: oh my god!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John scrambles to his feet.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: oh my god!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: its happening, oh my god!!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ...</p>
@ -452,7 +452,7 @@
dutifully standing next to the corpse, who catches Roxy under the
armpits when she topples backwards. He passes her off to John, who
whips up a cushion of wind for her to recline on.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: doing ok there, sweetheart?</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: ugh whyd i let you put this thing inside
me</p>
@ -469,7 +469,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John swoops his wife up in his arms and starts
scrambling down the aisle.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: wait! i...</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: i woUld like to be there as well!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: hurry up then!</p>
@ -483,7 +483,7 @@
teen-Jades peaceful face.</p>
<p>Suddenly, the corpse bolts upright. Calliope yelps and falls on
her butt. Adult-Jade screams.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: By jove!</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: jesus fuck</p>
@ -491,7 +491,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Hair veiling her face, teen-Jade sets her
hands on her chest and dissolves the shard bisecting her ribcage.
The wound does not heal, but it doesnt bleed either.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: jade! yoU...</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: yoUre alive!</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: or, Um,</p>
@ -500,7 +500,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">It takes the corpse a while to reply. Everyone
waits for her to speak. When the words leave her mouth, they send a
chill through the cathedral air.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: i am not jade.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Slowly, Jade raises her head. The stage makeup
@ -511,7 +511,7 @@
infinite expanse. Meeting her gaze is like peering into a realm
where light goes to die. Calliope finds the sensation disturbingly
familiar.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: then who...</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: who are yoU?</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: you know who i am, calliope.</p>
@ -529,7 +529,7 @@
growing quieter as she recedes into the distance.</p>
<p>Kanaya adjusts the buttons on her very fashionable mourning
gloves and sighs.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: This Certainly Is A Turn Of Events</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: ill say</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: at first i was underwhelmed with the
@ -548,7 +548,7 @@
has seen in years. Its as if her glare is passing through the roof
of the church and continuing unimpeded through the partitions of
this very plane of reality itself.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: youre undoubtedly surprised.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: but these events were not
unpredictable at all.</p>
@ -557,7 +557,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She spreads her arms and speaks in a voice as
deep and dark as the void.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: and while i cannot say the same
thing for the rest of you,</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: i, at least, am exactly where i am
@ -565,7 +565,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake meekly raises his hand, now treating the
botched funeral as something closer to a classroom setting.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Hey uh.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Not to come off as a total idiot here
but...</p>
@ -576,7 +576,7 @@
radiating a sense of disdain for what may very well be the greatest
living source of ignorance she has ever encountered in her many
eons of existence.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: my name is calliope.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: i am the muse of space.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: and i have entered this body to

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s22'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 22</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: H3Y JOHN</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: T1M3 FOR YOUR R3GUL4R CH3CKUP H3H3H3</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: oh. hey.</p>
@ -121,8 +121,8 @@
M1NUT3S</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: whew. THANK you!</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold"></div>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: OK 1TS F1V3 M1NUT3S L4T3R</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: DONT T3LL M3 4NOTH3R TWO SW33PS H4V3
P4SS3D</p>
@ -136,8 +136,8 @@
wild.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: here wait, let me take a picture.</p>
</div>
<p>-- <span class="john">JOHN EGBERT</span> sent <span class="terezi">TEREZI PYROPE</span> the photo “ghostrain.jpg” --</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold">-- <span class="john">JOHN EGBERT</span> sent <span class="terezi">TEREZI PYROPE</span> the photo “ghostrain.jpg” -- </div>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: WH4T TH3 4CTU4L FUCK</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: it started a few days ago. the sky above the
capital of the troll kingdom just cracked open and ghosts began
@ -232,8 +232,8 @@
<p class="john">JOHN: holy shit, hang on. i gotta take another
picture.</p>
</div>
<p>-- <span class="john">JOHN EGBERT</span> sent <span class="terezi">TEREZI PYROPE</span> the photo “PBandJ.jpg” --</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold">-- <span class="john">JOHN EGBERT</span> sent <span class="terezi">TEREZI PYROPE</span> the photo “PBandJ.jpg” -- </div>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: ...</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: WH4T TH3 FUCK 1S TH1S?!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: heheheheh.</p>
@ -367,7 +367,7 @@
“redeemed” acolytes.</p>
<p>Johns eye wanders toward the center of the crowds focus. Looks
like a conversion is taking place right now.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: NoW We wElCoMe iNtO ThE DoPe aRmS Of
mOtHeR ReDeMpTiOn tHiS lOwLy PeNiTeNt WhOs AlL kInDs Of SoRrY
aBoUt HiS pAsT dEeDs.</p>
@ -403,7 +403,7 @@
covering them both with little drops of milk, as clergy does with
holy water. He then takes a swig from the bottle himself before
returning it to his codpiece.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: NoW...</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: kIsS, mY mOtHeRfUcKeRs.</p>
<p class="feferi">FEFERI: Ummmm...</p>
@ -426,12 +426,12 @@
would have been transfixed by the spectacle for longer if his phone
didnt start buzzing in his pocket again. He fumbles it out of his
coat and checks.</p>
<p>-- <span class="terezi">TEREZI PYROPE</span> sent <span class="john">JOHN EGBERT</span> the photo “H3R3.JPG” --</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold">-- <span class="terezi">TEREZI PYROPE</span> sent <span class="john">JOHN EGBERT</span> the photo “H3R3.JPG” -- </div>
<p class="no-indent">He looks around, then presses “accept,”
embarrassed to realize how fast his heart is beating. Before he can
look at the photo, a familiar voice breaks through the din of the
crowd.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: yo john</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: over here hon!</p>
</div>
@ -451,7 +451,7 @@
horrible sight crawling across the sky above them. Calliope clasps
her hands together and stares at the ship with a terse
expression.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: its getting less and less UnUsUal to
see those in the troll kingdom, isnt it?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah.</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s23'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 23</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: honey u ready to go?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah, sweetheart... give me a second!</p>
</div>
@ -89,14 +89,14 @@
screwdriver, molding plaster... Johns so focused on finding places
in his coat to hide all these things that he doesnt hear footsteps
behind him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: dad... what are you doing?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John spins around, startled. Its just his
kid, though, already looking uncomfortable in his tweed jacket and
knee socks. John kicks the closet door closed. He already has
everything he needs anyway.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: just getting your gifts, harry anderson! its
your birthday after all.</p>
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: ...but i already opened all the
@ -109,13 +109,13 @@
good father wouldnt need to keep any secrets from his son. No, a
good dad will always let his son in on the joke, no matter how much
trouble he might be about to get himself in.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: harry anderson, dont tell your mother
but...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: were getting a new addition to the family
today!</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold"></div>
<p class="no-indent">Its little Tavros Crocker who opens the door
to Janes opulent mansion. Hes still so short that he has to stand
up on his toes to reach the knob. He stares up at his visitors with
@ -123,7 +123,7 @@
the size of his pupils so that they look like big, wet, depressing
sinkholes. Johns heart wrenches at the sight of him. Hes so
young, but he always looks so somber and sad.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Oh,,, hallo folks,</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Youre a mite early dont you think?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: um, nope!</p>
@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
in a pressed red suit, she in a glittering Space dress. Theyre
both holding gifts wrapped in spare printer paper. Dave adjusts his
sunglasses and smirks at Harry Anderson.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: you were exactly thirty seconds and like
sixty eight nanoseconds early</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: oh eff off dave</p>
@ -173,7 +173,7 @@
leads everyone inside with a stoic countenance more befitting of a
footman than the firstborn son of the planets wealthiest
family.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: sooo</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: wheres ur mom and dad</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Theyre still in,,, uh,,, auspistice
@ -190,7 +190,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Roxy sighs loudly through her nose. She hates
talking about this shit.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: cuz of the political situation</p>
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: whats... a political
situation?</p>
@ -207,7 +207,7 @@
than a little jarring that this five-year-old kid seems so well
educated on the intricacies of xenophobic political policy. But
then again, this is Janes son, they remind themselves.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Anyway,,, wh, why would you WANT vriska
to be here,,,?</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Why ruin a nice birthday party?</p>
@ -243,7 +243,7 @@
be ordered around. Harry Anderson is opening his gifts from Jade
and Dave when a door upstairs slams open so hard it rattles all the
crystal glasses arranged on the nearby table.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: You are such an unbelievable dunce, Jake
English!</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: I cant believe that I work so hard and have
@ -255,7 +255,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Jakes side of the conversation is too far
away to hear, but Gamzees unmistakable mush-mouthed voice floats
down the hallway between the sharp edges of Janes shrieks.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: And youre not even... youre not even
proficient in bed anymore!</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: What is even the POINT of you if...</p>
@ -265,7 +265,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Tavros stares at his feet, wearing a strained
expression.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Its fine,,, my parents are kismeses
after all,,,</p>
</div>
@ -277,7 +277,7 @@
smiles, looking cordial and perfectly pleasant, fluttering her
lashes like theres nothing in the world more important to her than
being an excellent host.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Oh. Hello everyone.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Im sorry that I was not able to greet you at
the door. I had some pre-appointed business to attend to.</p>
@ -288,7 +288,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane pats him on the head as she goes by,
patronizingly, like youd pet a dog. Or Gamzee.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Harry Anderson, my dear!</p>
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: auntie jane!</p>
</div>
@ -299,7 +299,7 @@
sees the queasy face hes making. Jane is, unfortunately, Harry
Andersons favorite aunt. She gained his affection the same way she
gains everyones affection: she fucking bought it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Look at you! Youve gotten so big and strong
since I last saw you!</p>
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: i grew a whole three inches!</p>
@ -321,7 +321,7 @@
one of those drone thingies for my son.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane rises to her feet, huffing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: And if I did, John, what would be the problem
with that?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: um...</p>
@ -337,7 +337,7 @@
her husband. Dave and Jade have also developed a profound interest
in the patterns woven into the expensive carpet under their
feet.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: er</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: well i cant say im comfy with it but</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: but???</p>
@ -355,7 +355,7 @@
birthday. John has to pinch his nose and practice controlled
breathing to keep himself from getting mad for real. Getting in an
argument right now would totally fuck up all his plans.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ok. fine. you know what?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i dont care.</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: rly</p>
@ -407,7 +407,7 @@
all about your dads glory days?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Tavros blinks up at John in surprise.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Oh, I can take you there, John.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: NO!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i mean... no, thats fine.</p>
@ -438,7 +438,7 @@
him out of the room. When theyre upstairs together, far enough
away from the party, Tavros wrenches his hands together and
asks:</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Uncle john,,, whats the real reason
were up here,,,?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: oh. i could see that you were getting
@ -458,7 +458,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">John grabs Tavros by his chubby wrist and
begins dragging him around a corner, from one featureless white
hallway into another.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: This isnt the right way,</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i know. hey tavros, why dont we just go to
your room for a minute?</p>
@ -477,7 +477,7 @@
he expecting from this situation, having been led away to a
secluded part of the house by an adult? What has he been taught to
expect?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: tavros...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: is everything ok?</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: ,,,</p>
@ -507,7 +507,7 @@
of his shoe. The floor is sticky here, like the floor of a movie
theater. He bends down to touch it, and give it a sniff. Just as he
thought. Faygo.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: tavros... does gamzee ever come into your
room?</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Possibly,,,?</p>
@ -516,7 +516,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John glances under the bed, then sees it. A
half-finished bottle of Faygo.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: isnt that his faygo there??</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Oh,,, my, no,</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Please, uncle john,,, dont tell my
@ -529,14 +529,14 @@
everything about the boys life it could be implying. He takes a
deep breath, and becomes very serious. He places a hand on Tavros
shoulder, and looks him directly in the eye.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: tavros, listen to me.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: are you... getting... bad touched by your
uncle gamzee?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Tavros seems taken aback by the question. Then
appears thoughtful.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Oh,,, uh,,,,</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: No??</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: But, yes,,, i can gather how you might
@ -549,7 +549,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">A look of sadness washes over Johns face. A
sadness deeper than either kind he could summon for the previous
two funerals hes attended.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: what would make you say that?</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Well, i think,,,</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: For the same reason that led you yourself
@ -573,7 +573,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Tavros sighs again. John makes no effort to
disguise his look of grave disapproval and sorrow.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: I dont want you to worry,,, too much,
though,</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: His occasional sojourns in my room are
@ -593,7 +593,7 @@
arranged stack of papers off the desk. They flutter through the
room like dead leaves caught in an autumn storm. Soon the room is
howling with his sustained winds.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: thats IT!!!!!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: tavros, start packing right now.</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Packing,,,?</p>
@ -622,7 +622,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John produces his screwdriver and a length of
wire from the inside pocket of his suit jacket.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: were leaving through that window, one way or
another.</p>
</div>
@ -660,7 +660,7 @@
She looks like a shadow with her dark hair hiding her face. John
cant tell what kind of expression shes making under there. She
speaks softly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: john...... what are you doing?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: um...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: nothing!</p>
@ -670,7 +670,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">She twitches her dog-ears and raises her face.
Her mouth is a neutral line, but her eyes are burning
furiously.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: i heard everything</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">The two of them stare at each other for a long
@ -679,13 +679,13 @@
shes passed him by, just like the rest of the world. Tavros is
cowering in his closet, fiddling with the strap on his
backpack.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: so, what are you going to do?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: tell jane?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade flinches like shes been hit. She flicks
her tail, breaks eye contact.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: john...</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: i wouldnt do that to you</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: youd probably end up on jakes stupid
@ -693,7 +693,7 @@
<p class="john">JOHN: then are you gonna help me?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She shakes her head.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: i cant do that either</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: you know that this is just going to make
everything worse right???</p>
@ -720,7 +720,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade sighs in frustration and pushes back her
bangs.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: john, jane is one of the most POWERFUL people
on the ENTIRE PLANET!!!</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: do you REALLY think that you can keep him
@ -737,7 +737,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">A gust of wind blasts in through the window
and blows back Jades hair, leaving it all mussed over her
shoulders. John points at her.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: if there was another way we would have found
it by now!!!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: but there isnt one, because everyones been
@ -788,7 +788,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">The wind in the room picks up. It skates
against the walls, dislodges books from the shelf, gets under the
bedsheets and balloons them off the mattress.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: the jade i used to know was caring and
selfless! all you ever wanted was for your friends to be safe!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: you werent this... this SELFISH!</p>
@ -808,11 +808,11 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John and Jade stop. There is another shadow
cast in the doorway. A much darker one.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Excuse me.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She says in a sugar-sweet voice.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: But what the FUCK is going on in here?!</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Oh,,, no,,,,,</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: jane!! haha!!!</p>
@ -835,7 +835,7 @@
including Jake Crocker himself. Theyve all come upstairs to
investigate the noise. Tavros flinches when a book slams against
the closet door, two inches from his face.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: wats going on</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh shit</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i dont know, jane. i feel like if i really
@ -897,7 +897,7 @@
the debris spinning in every direction, smashing against the walls
and bedposts. John doesnt seem to notice, encased in his own
cyclonic armor.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh my god i am so sick of all this domestic
relationship shit every fucking day</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: can we talk about something else for once</p>
@ -952,13 +952,13 @@
edge of the door. Everyone else is clustered around the doorway.
Jade stares at John with a dark expression. After a beat of
silence, Harry Anderson starts crying.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i... i...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Roxy wont meet his eyes. Dave wont either.
John turns to Tavros, opens his mouth to apologize, but the kid
just ducks deeper into the closet, trembling.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: im sor—</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: No one wants to hear it, John.</p>
</div>
@ -986,7 +986,7 @@
frosting in the air as he looks at the screen. The color of the
text sends a jolt through his blood. With shaking fingers, he
answers the text.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: JOHN</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 4R3 YOU TH3R3</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1 R34LLY N33D TO T4LK TO SOM3ON3 R1GHT

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s24'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 24</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: the timelines are interacting
again.</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: ooh do you hear anything interesting</p>
@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
to reinstate her corporeal presence, couldnt care less about her
hosts appearance. It is simply serving as a functional vessel for
the crucial role she now must play.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: what would you classify as
interesting?</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: oh the usual</p>
@ -66,8 +66,8 @@
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: very well.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: lets see.</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold"></div>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: H4H4H4 1 TH1NK 1M DY1NG</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: oh no!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: what happened?</p>
@ -140,11 +140,11 @@
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1M SUR3</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ...</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold"></div>
<p class="no-indent">Aradia leans over and sticks her nose in
dead-Jades face. She watches how her eyebrows wrinkle at the
center, just a little bit.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: so</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: what do you see</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: nothing i would describe as
@ -163,8 +163,8 @@
visi0ns.</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: ok im sorry im just really curious!</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold"></div>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: no sign of her yet?</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: NO</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: terezi, seriously. its been years here.</p>
@ -196,13 +196,13 @@
<p class="john">JOHN: so why are you still trying so hard?</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: ...</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold"></div>
<p class="no-indent">Aradia stretches her arms over her head and
yawns. She launches from her perch at the edge of the meteor
facility with a little somersault, coasting through the air so that
shes level with Solluxs face. She gives one of his horns a light
tap, to affirm her proximity.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: she talks in five word sentences so even
im still in the dark about what it is shes really trying to
accomplish</p>
@ -239,13 +239,13 @@
<p class="no-indent">Calliope lets out a long, thin sigh from
between the teeth of Jades corpse. Its more for effect than
anything, as corpses dont actually need to breathe.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: we are the ones fortunate enough to
live in a reality that is beyond the influence of the prince.</p>
<p class="sollux">SOLLUX: wh0 the fuck is the prince?</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold"></div>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1V3 N3V3R TOLD 4NYON3 TH1S B3FOR3</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: W3LL</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: NOT 4NYON3 WHO C4R3D 3NOUGH TO L1ST3N 4T
@ -349,10 +349,10 @@
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1 JUST W4NT3D TO G1V3 YOU TH3 COURT3SY OF
CLOSUR3</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold"></div>
<p class="no-indent">Dead-Jades eyes slowly flutter open. She gets
to her feet and brushes down her skirt.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: are you done working for the day</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: the work is never finished.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: not until i am able to deal with the
@ -362,7 +362,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">The meteor is passing beyond the fall of
night. Dead-Jade, standing half in light, half in darkness, looks
up at the sky.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: not soon enough.</p>
</div>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s25'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 25</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: SWIFER</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: SWIFER CAN YOU...</p>
</div>
@ -47,16 +47,16 @@
get used to, living hand-to-mouth inside a cave. Its that
persistent fucking leak directly above his desk that is driving him
to distraction.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: SWIFER!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Swifer Eggmop pokes her head into the
chamber.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">SWIFER: Aye aye Commander! Whats up?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Karkat pinches the bridge of his nose.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: FOR THE LAST TIME, DONT CALL ME
THAT.</p>
<p class="kanaya">SWIFER: Why not, Commander? Yer the Commander,
@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
the jaunty beat and struggling to knock his knees together with the
required vigor. The fact that he is shackled at the wrists doesnt
seem to be helping.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">SWIFER: Poor Cliper.</p>
<p class="kanaya">SWIFER: He could record a stat like nobodys
business but no one ever taught the boy how to dance.</p>
@ -113,7 +113,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Swifer frowns and tugs at the kerchief around
her neck.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">SWIFER: Golly. Look Commander. Thats a big
question that I think you gotta take up with someone more in the
know than myself.</p>
@ -125,7 +125,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Karkat throws both hands in the air
melodramatically. A drop of stale water plops off one of his nubby
little horns.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YOU KNOW, RIGHT ABOVE THE PLACE WHERE WE
KEEP ALL OF OUR FRAGILE LOGISTICS EQUIPMENT?</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: DIDNT I TELL YOU TO FIX THAT A FUCKING
@ -146,7 +146,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Karkat gapes at her, open-mouthed. She grins
back, unaware of any mistake on her part. The only thing he can do
is bury his face in his palms.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: UGH.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YOU KNOW WHAT?</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IM GOING TO GET SOME FRESH AIR.</p>
@ -173,7 +173,7 @@
<p>As he stomps through the winding tunnels, thinking very hard
about this incredibly tragic thing, his speaker crab crackles to
life.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Well</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: That Was A Lot</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: OH SHIT.</p>
@ -262,7 +262,7 @@
takes two steps out of her crater before falling flat on her face
again. Karkat runs to help her, putting her arm over his shoulders
and dragging her out of the dust cloud from the impact.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: MEENAH??</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE?</p>
</div>
@ -270,7 +270,7 @@
that seem different to him somehow, but he cant put his finger on
it. He has to admit, its been a long time since he saw her. She
seems singed, woozy, but mostly undamaged.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: woah shouty mcnubs that you</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: UH, THATS STILL NOT MY NAME. BUT
YEAH.</p>
@ -287,7 +287,7 @@
his eye. A gold ring on her finger. He glances back up to look in
her eyes. They arent blank, like all the other fallen ghosts eyes
are.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WAIT A MINUTE.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ARE YOU...</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ALIVE???</p>
@ -319,7 +319,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Karkat side-eyes the revived heiress,
flinching only slightly at that last pun, before offering a
reluctant nod.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: what are you up to?</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WELL...</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: THATS LIKE, A WHOLE FUCKING
@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
in this older, battle-hardened version of Karkat impresses her. She
starts laughing, big and bright. She slaps him so hard on the
shoulder that he nearly falls down.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ACK.</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: now thats what im TALKIN about</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: yeah i could use a new seacond in
@ -387,7 +387,7 @@
has turned into a grimace.</p>
<p>Above them, the sky tears open again, and again. A new wave of
ghosts pours in from Meenahs doomed assault.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: well here comes the caviarlry</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: THE WHAT?</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: the cavia—</p>

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@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s26'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 26</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">J</span>ohn stares
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">J</span>ohn stares
at his phone for a while, thumb pressed to the space just below the
“send message” button. He realizes hes not dwelling so much on the
content hes hesitating to send—which now that hes looking at it,

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s27'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 27</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">T</span>en years
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">T</span>en years
have gone by.</p>
<p>Two minutes before midnight, a teenage boy crosses beneath the
neon lights of the Trollish slums, stepping quick and sure-footed
@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
Anderson and Vriska part, both wet-mouthed and short of breath.
Harry Anderson wipes a bit of blood off of his bottom lip. Vriska
pokes him in the chest and hisses.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: What took you so long????????</p>
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: hey, give me a break here vris. my
auntie has guards breathing down my neck day and night.</p>
@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
parents genes, all things considered. Hes got his fathers
infectious grin, his mothers long eyelashes, and his “aunties”
unusually blue eyes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: fucking gamzee.</p>
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: he was all like:</p>
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: Yo HaRrY mY dAwG, yOu Go OuT aNd
@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
and vaguely lewd posture. Harry Anderson starts giggling too. He
cant help it. Shes so pretty and her laugh is both cruel and
infectious.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: god! he always makes sure to point
out that hes politically neutral in literally every sentence that
comes out of his mouth, even though hes *definitely* still fucking
@ -88,7 +88,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Vriska hooks two fingers under the hem of
Harry Andersons shirt and reels him in close.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: In thaaaaaaaat case...</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Why dont we run aw8y and join the
rebellion together, Harry Anderson? Wouldnt that be Terribly
@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Vriska shoves Harry Anderson. Not playfully.
He hits the bricks behind him with a soft oof, then keeps
laughing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERON: oh my god, vriska, you always talk
so big but youre not any more of a rebel than i am!</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Oh shuuuuuuuut up. You dont know shit,
@ -139,19 +139,19 @@
over it.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Vriska snorts at him condescendingly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Dont be ridiculous Harry.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She pushes him up against the wall again and
kisses him hard.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: If we really do end up absconding from
our mediocre Hot Teen Lives to become rebels, then OBVI8USLY Im
going to be the one with the Extremely Dashing And Sexy eyepatch.
H8h8h8h8h8h8h8h8!!!!!!!!</p>
</div>
<p></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold"></div>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: hmm its getting pretty bad down there</p>
<p class="sollux">SOLLUX: wh0 cares.</p>
<p class="sollux">SOLLUX: this is 0fficially s0mething we d0nt
@ -170,7 +170,7 @@
looked like from the sky as well? Aradia lived far from the city,
and that all seems so long ago anyway. Sollux comes to stand by
her, popping open a can of fizzy drink.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: karkats really going to fight that war
isnt he</p>
<p class="sollux">SOLLUX: yeah.</p>
@ -199,7 +199,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Sollux tosses Aradia a can of fizzy drink. She
catches it without looking, cracks it open and takes a long,
refreshing sip of the hissing liquid.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: hm</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: in that case i guess we should keep
watching</p>
@ -266,7 +266,7 @@
horns and distinctive shoulder-hunch. Of course.</p>
<p>John snorts back his tears and jaunts forward with a jolly
wave.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: hi, karkat!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Karkat blinks and looks up, startled out of
@ -275,14 +275,14 @@
bitchin eyepatch, he looks almost imposing. Kind of dashing,
actually. When he opens his mouth, however, hes just the same old
Karkat.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: HI AGAIN IDIOT.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: what are you doing standing out here alone
like a creep?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Karkats frown gets deeper, and he picks at
the red cording that runs down the breastplate of his uniform.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I REALLY SHOULDNT BE HERE.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: why not? you were on the guest list.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: OH, HMM, I DONT KNOW. MAYBE THINK ABOUT
@ -290,7 +290,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John chews his lip and thinks about it for ten
seconds.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i guess this would probably be pretty hard to
watch if you were still, you know, all heartbroken about it.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I WOULDNT SAY THAT I WAS STILL “ALL
@ -301,7 +301,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">John joins him at railing and bumps his
shoulder. Karkat groans and runs a hand down his face, obviously
still a little “all heartbroken” about it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ITS JUST THAT BREAK UPS ARE HARD, AND
OFTEN HAVE UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCES THAT CAN LINGER FOR YEARS.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: youre telling me. when my wife left me, she
@ -353,7 +353,7 @@
stroke of light over the water, like a blade descending from the
night sky to shear the harbor in half. He takes a despondent sip of
his champagne and sighs.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i dunno. it doesnt seem responsible,
really... to dedicate my life to something so important when im in
a place where i cant even find the energy to think that getting
@ -375,7 +375,7 @@
reflecting the light from the party. He opens his mouth to say
something, but is distracted by movement from inside the
ballroom.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: OH SHIT.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: HERE COMES DAVE. I HAVE TO GET THE FUCK
OUT OF HERE.</p>
@ -386,7 +386,7 @@
elegant bound. John watches him rappel down the cliffside until he
disappears beneath the precipice shadows. Wow. Karkat grew up to be
kind of cool. Who would have guessed?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: no john dont do it</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John spins on his heel to see Dave in the
@ -396,7 +396,7 @@
this guys almost forty. Jesus Christ, are they seriously almost
forty? Yes, theyre technically immortal—that doesnt mean the
encroaching milestone isnt making him feel dizzy nonetheless.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: huh? dont do what?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh you looked pretty bummed when you left the
reception and then i find you staring at the ocean like you just
@ -423,7 +423,7 @@
mention what he was actually doing. And definitely not to mention
who just rappelled off the balcony with alarming stealth and
grace.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ...appreciating how pretty the view is.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: hm yeah i love the sight of the military
industrial complex destroying the landscape in the evening</p>
@ -436,7 +436,7 @@
empty glass, looking for another shot of sparkling social
lubricant. Dave tops him off before taking a long swig off the
bottle himself.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: you okay, dude?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: eh</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: having been married once before, i gotta
@ -447,7 +447,7 @@
this all just feels like</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave shrugs.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: whatever</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i was sort of hoping that</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i mean considering that were working together
@ -457,7 +457,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John looks down and twirls the stem of his
glass between two fingers.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: so youre still not... um, over that?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: the whole karkat thing?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i mean will i ever be over it??</p>
@ -475,7 +475,7 @@
picture is still in his wallet: faded, dog-eared, marred by ragged
white lines down the center from being folded and unfolded so many
times, deep enough to be called valleys at this point.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: right.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: right</p>
</div>
@ -483,7 +483,7 @@
atmosphere, sipping their booze, contemplating the suckiness of
being an adult. Dave lets out a soft laugh and slaps John on the
back. John swallows his champagne wrong and starts coughing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: yo dude thanks for being my best man</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: *cough* oh. th-thanks, man. no problem!</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: cuz you are</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s28'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 28</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">T</span>hat being
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">T</span>hat being
said, its very rude, all things considered, for Karkat to start a
war on Harry Andersons birthday.</p>
<p>Johns floating above the outskirts of the Human Capital,
@ -63,19 +63,19 @@
crater and peers through the smoke.</p>
<p>He recognizes the ghost immediately, because he sees a younger
version of her almost every day.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: vriska?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Vriskas face snaps up, eyes blazing. Eyes.
Actual eyes, with expression, color, pupils, and everything.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: wait. youre...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: alive??</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John skids down the side of the crater and
helps her sit up. He wasnt imagining it. Shes extremely alive.
And extremely wounded. And above all, extremely Vriska.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: oh my god. youre not just “vriska”...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: youre *actually* vriska!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: youre like, literal, for real, actual
@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
her chest. It appears to be the same material as whatever was
piercing the center of teen-Jades corpse. Shes bleeding bright
blue all down her side, but her expression is wild.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: What the F8CK are you t8lking a8out?</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Where am I????????</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: I c8nt 8e here! I h8ve to go
@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">She whirls around and grabs John by the
shoulders. She starts shaking him, voice cracking with crazed
desperation.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: I need to go 8ack!</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: I need to SEE!!!!!!!!</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: I NEED TO SEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s29'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 29</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: i see him.</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: ooh is it the prince</p>
<p class="sollux">SOLLUX: fucking finally.</p>
@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
here, and rouses it from perfect, corpse-like stillness. Dead-Jade
unfolds from her meditation pose and pushes to her feet in an
elegant sweep.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: it is the one i have been waiting
for all these years.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: we have run along parallel lines for
@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
Jades body out into the open air. She casts her pitch-black eyes
down to watch the dark clouds of battle beginning to form above the
Human Capital below. Sollux frowns.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="sollux">SOLLUX: are y0u sure y0u want t0 g0 d0wn there?
it seems like its ab0ut t0 get wild.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: yes. more than you can possibly

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s3'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 3</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">Y</span>es,
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">Y</span>es,
something feels <em>very</em> different.</p>
<p>Dirks hands begin to shake, so violently that he drops his
screwdriver into the chassis of the battle bot hes working on. It
@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
them. He nearly drops his phone while attempting to dramatically
autodial Janes number through the haze of his trembling, sudorific
stupor.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Hey, Jane. Bad news.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Cancel everything.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Excuse me, what?</p>
@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane gasps loudly, without a hint of
irony.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: I dont understand.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Dont worry about it.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Just do what I say.</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s30'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 30</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">A</span>s Jake
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">A</span>s Jake
traverses the length of Janes ship, he suspects he has never
carried more dread in his heart than he does in this moment.</p>
<p>The burden of the call he just received weighs so heavily upon
@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
approaches. He has to conspicuously clear his throat before Jane
turns her attention away from Gamzee, and even then she only
dignifies Jakes appearance with a fleeting glance.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Do you need something?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Well... i have some terrible news im
afraid.</p>
@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Janes face twists in annoyance. She is quite
a bit shorter than Jake now, but the way she looks down on him
makes her seem like she towers ten feet above him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: My <em>goodness</em>, Jake! What do you want?
Cant you see Im right in the middle of something?! Just spit it
out already!</p>
@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
<p>Jake swallows like hes in a cartoon. Its a big, loud gulp. A
sound that instantly rachets up Janes annoyance—like most of
Jakes actions seem to, these days.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: I...</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Well you see...</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: I guess ill come right out and say it
@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
the statement strikes her, sending a jolt of shock through her
chest.</p>
<p>It passes quickly, though. Shed almost forgotten.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: An unfortunate incident, but its no
matter.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Ill simply revive him, and then make sure
@ -114,7 +114,7 @@
<p class="jake">JAKE: Theres no body for you to revive at all.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Janes eyes widen in disbelief.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: What?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: What... what happened?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: It... word from the secret service is that it
@ -143,7 +143,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jakes gaze falls to the floor. Janes hand
clutches at the front of her suit in an unsteady fist.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: P... please tell me youre joking.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Jake, tell me this is just a prank.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Im... im afraid not jane.</p>
@ -155,7 +155,7 @@
now. Shes come so far.</p>
<p>Jane sniffles and swipes at her eyes with the back of her hand.
She wont cry. But she can be angry instead.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: UGH!</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: That... that fool!!</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: I cant believe that he would do this!</p>
@ -171,7 +171,7 @@
a wounded animal—pulls her into a hug.</p>
<p>Jane is too dazed to protest. She limply stares past Jake, eyes
unfocused.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: I dont... no...</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Shhhh. Shhhh. Everythings going to be ok.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: God. I cant believe he...</p>
@ -195,7 +195,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Gamzee turns to the bridge crew and gestures
magnificently with his arms. Rivulets of milk are running down his
chin.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: hOnK iF yOu LoVe ThIs BiG tItTy
BiZzNaTcH!</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: WhOoP wHoOp!</p>
@ -213,7 +213,7 @@
to the bridge and takes a forward step, stumbling slightly in her
heels. But she catches her balance, fixes her posture, and slips
back on a stony mask.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: All right.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Jake! Get the president on the phone.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Its clear to me now that its past time for
@ -240,7 +240,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane is blazing with fury. She marches to the
center of the bridge.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: ALL OF YOU, RETURN TO YOUR STATIONS! WE ARE
CHANGING COURSE!</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: WE WILL BE GOING DIRECTLY TO MEET WITH THE
@ -253,7 +253,7 @@
navigator adjusts the ships destination coordinates, and the comms
officer opens a line with the governments seat of command. Only
one man in the room is brave enough to take a stand.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: hEy.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: Do YoU tHiNk ThAt MiGhT bE a BiT
mOtHeRfUcKinG xEnOpHoBiC?</p>
@ -261,7 +261,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Jane spins on her heel like a whirlwind, her
face twisted into a hideous snarl. She rounds on Gamzee with all
the hatred she can muster.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: XENOPHOBIC?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: I am not fucking xenophobic!</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: iM jUsT sAyInG mY mOsT bOdAcIoUs Of
@ -290,7 +290,7 @@
silent.</p>
<p>Gamzee smiles vacantly down at Jane, unaware of his misstep.
When Jane next speaks, it is in a controlled, steady voice.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Security.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Escort this troll off of my ship. Now.</p>
</div>
@ -299,7 +299,7 @@
swarm, grabbing him by his arms. The baby bottle tumbles out of his
grasp, busting open when it falls. The remaining milk spills out,
pooling in the recessed lighting of the floor.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: wHoA wHoA wHoA, hOlD uP!</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: YoU cAnT jUsT gO aNd ThRoW mE oFf BoArD,
mY mIlKy MaMi.</p>
@ -308,7 +308,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">The security officers begin to pull Gamzee
away, but he makes one final desperate play.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: wAiT!! jUsT hEaR mE oUt!!</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: What?</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: iF yOu ThRoW mE oUt IlL bE aLl LoSt AnD
@ -321,7 +321,7 @@
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: ItS aBoUt YoU.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane stops.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: What...?</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: i NeEd YoU...</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Are you saying that y—</p>
@ -337,7 +337,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane sneers. She has no idea why she thought
for even a moment that he might have meant anything else.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: I am so...</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Ugh. Forget it.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: You are despicable.</p>
@ -350,7 +350,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Janes eyes rake up and down Gamzees body,
like shes carefully considering her response. Her face is
expressionless when she answers.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Begone, clown.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane turns, and waves the security away. The

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@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s31'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 31</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: John, I need to see!</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: How do I get 8ack!?</p>
</div>
@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
flying overhead. Aside from the encroaching fleet, the blue sky is
seamless and calm. The hole that Vriska came through has already
sealed up.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: um.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i dont think you *can* go back.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i have no idea what the exact scientific
@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Vriska releases her vice grip on Johns arms
so that she can cradle her head between her hands.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Oh my god!</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: This is the worst thing that could h8ve
possibly h8ppened to me.</p>
@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Vriska gestures wordlessly at Johns entire
body. Then she leans in closer to study his face, squinting with
suspicion.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: John, are you old?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: um. a little, i guess.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i mean, im going to live forever apparently,
@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Vriska runs both hands down her face, leaving
long, dark streaks of blood.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: I cant 8e here.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: vriska...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: wait, actually, i guess i shouldnt call you
@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
flinch at the sound of a sonic cannon blasting off behind her. She
slowly peels her hands from her face and glares at John as one of
her eyes twitches at the corner.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): ...</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): ...</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Thats...</p>
@ -126,13 +126,13 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">(Vriska) paws at her head wound, fingers numb
and vision blurry.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Wh8tever the fuck it was that hit me in
the head!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She sways on her feet. John tries to steady
her, but she slaps his hands away.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: do you wanna see a doctor for that or
something?</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): No!!!!!!!!</p>
@ -184,7 +184,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">John sighs and sweeps an arm across the
landscape. The sky darkens as the first of the troll fleet roars
onto the frontline.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i dont know, really.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: rose explained it all to me once, but i
pretty much forgot what she said. i didnt actually think it was
@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
expletive. Around her, the ground begins to shake as the human
fleet of batterpanzers roll out from the edge of the city and take
position.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: um, so we should probably get out of here
soon.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: or not. were both god tier, so as long as we
@ -277,7 +277,7 @@
a8out this! Were you in love with her or something?!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John laughs sadly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: well... i dont know.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: what does it even matter!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: like everything else, it was just some more
@ -293,7 +293,7 @@
than Janes, most of them having been scavenged, patchworked, and
jury-rigged. But theyre numerous enough to blot out the sun when
they coast overhead.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): I dont c8re a8out wh8tever the FUCK
“c8non” is supposed to 8e!</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): I dont a8out your dum8, unrequited
@ -312,7 +312,7 @@
spaghetti western mouthing a cigar. He tugs the rubber nipple out
of his mouth with a pop. The chalky, viscous milk forms a goatee of
spittle on his chin.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: VrIsKa My MaIn BiTcH, lOnG tImE nO
sEe.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: YoU SeEm aLl dIsCoMbObUlAtEd tHeRe,
@ -342,7 +342,7 @@
her with the complacency of a man perfectly oblivious to the
one-way ticket to the world of shit his big mouth just bought for
him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Wh8t the F8CK did you just s8y to
me?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!</p>
</div>

View File

@ -25,11 +25,11 @@
<div id='s32'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 32</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">(V</span>riska)
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">(V</span>riska)
grabs Gamzee by the front of his shirt and yanks him down, her hot,
furious breath brushing his disgusting face.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: I sAiD tO yOu YoU gOtTa ChIlL, yO.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: ItS hIgH tImE yOu GoT yOuR rEdEmPtIoN
oN.</p>
@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
malevolence, and then it finally happens.</p>
<p>She just. Plain. Fucking.</p>
<p>SNAPS.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Dont you daaaaaaaare</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">(Vriska) clenches her fists together and slams
@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
hook. His nose makes a crunching sound like someone just stepped on
a pile of crackers. He stumbles backward, cupping his palms over
his face to catch the gush of blood.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): FUCK8NG touch me</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">(Vriska) grabs him under the armpit and
@ -67,14 +67,14 @@
a wheezy, guttered honk. It comes out slowly, mournfully, like a
broken bike horn getting backed over by the rear wheel of a
hearse.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): EVVVVVVVVER</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She spins out from under his flailing arm and
does a full 360-degree pirouette off the fucking handle to deliver
a ruthless Knife Chop straight to the cartilage at the center of
his chest, like a veteran butcher getting down to business.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): AG88888888IN!!!!!!!!</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: :o(</p>
</div>
@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
shirt. With an impressive maneuver, hard for the eye to follow
unless youre a trained wrestler, she adroitly twists a hand in his
hair and Reverse Hangmans him against the tree branch.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: HONK!!!!</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): WHY WONT YOU JUST</p>
</div>
@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
and again. Each time he lets out a sound like a damaged squeeze
toy, his bloated, slimy tongue unspooling like a frogs as all the
air is crushed out of his esophagus.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): D8EEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Shouting like a berserker, (Vriska)
@ -156,7 +156,7 @@
<p>Mercifully, Johns attention is caught by someone calling his
name from above. He has never felt so grateful for an excuse to
look away from anything in his life.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: John, up here!</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: I need to speak with you!</p>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s33'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 33</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">J</span>ohn looks
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">J</span>ohn looks
up to see Rose waving at him while hanging out the hatch of a troll
cruiser. John tries to smile at her, but all he can muster is a
weird, queasy expression. Rose looks glad to see him anyway. She
@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
lack of desire for any physical contact to be made between them),
but instead uses his momentum to spin her all the way around so
that her back is facing the cursed shrubbery in the distance.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Whoa! Hey, Old Man.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: hey vriska, hey rose. nice to see you
both!</p>
@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">John and Rose appear equally surprised
themselves when Vriska hauls him in to seal the deal with a
crushing hug of her own.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: haha. geez! hi vriska!</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Hi John!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: this is great. just great. hey, why dont we
@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Rose cocks an eyebrow at him. Behind her, the
bush releases a strangled, lusty honk.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Was that...</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Nevermind.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Vriska, why dont you go and help your mother
@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
luminescent cording that matches their blood colors. Rose is
wearing it too, John notices, in black and lavender. He gives her a
concerned look up and down, then holds out his hands, palms up.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: so... i guess this war is really
happening?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Yes.</p>
@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
<p class="john">JOHN: the circle of stupidity is complete?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Rose laughs.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Dont be ridiculous John. Nothing is
complete.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: There is no true ending or beginning in this
@ -123,7 +123,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">John strokes his chin and thinks very hard on
this. Maybe too long, because Rose sighs and taps the bridge of his
spectacles.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: “No” is a perfectly valid answer to that
question, John.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i just didnt want to make it look like i
@ -151,7 +151,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Contemplating the vastness of that statement
makes John feel suddenly very small and sad. He shuts his eyes and
runs a hand through his hair.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: oh my god, rose. its too early in the day
for this.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: I agree.</p>
@ -164,7 +164,7 @@
and pulls him gently toward her. He cracks his eyes open to see her
face glimmering in the late morning sun. Her eyes are glossy and
bright in the gleaming light.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: I want to thank you.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: for... for what?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: didnt i fuck everything up by not going to
@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Rose pauses meaningfully, as if the
realization is falling into place as she says it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: I never thought I would actually get to be
happy.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: rose... you werent happy before?</p>
@ -203,11 +203,11 @@
her and raises her head to look at the perfectly blue sky with its
perfect sun and its perfect clouds, unmarred by the dark storm
brewing on the planet below.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: In Complacency of th—</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She corrects herself.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: In the silly wizard story I wrote when I was
a child,</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: The realm most comparable to heaven existed
@ -228,7 +228,7 @@
then after. There are things that he cant forget. That he wont
forget. Is this the reason hes felt like this for so many
years?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: But that isnt me anymore.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: I am blind against the veil of this
world.</p>
@ -248,7 +248,7 @@
and honest. Her eyes are perfectly clear. There is no other word
that could possibly do justice to her expression. She looks
happy.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Thank you.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She comes forward to give him a kiss on the

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s34'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 34</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Hey, Harry Anderson, guess where I
am!</p>
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: what???</p>
@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Vriska cups her hand around the receiver of
her phone and shouts over the artillery barrage.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Its ME, idiot! The HOT 8A8E youre lucky
enough to h8ve gotten to second 8ase with!</p>
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: oh hi vriska!</p>
@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
above the post-bombing silence. Its a sound that she knows from
hard-won experience can mean only one thing.</p>
<p>Theres a clown nearby.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: I think I hear...</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: GAMZEE??</p>
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: gamzee? my auntie janes
@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
attention to bear on this curious rhythm of noises coming from
nearby, beckoning from the underbrush. She pushes toward it through
the thorny shrubbery.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Theres a bounty out for his arrest!
D8mn, theyll probably put him in front of a tribunal if we can get
our hands on him!</p>
@ -181,7 +181,7 @@
exhibition of unexpected and deeply profane lust. Now that the
battle has stilled, he can overhear the vile melody of the
blasphemous union.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Theres that noise again.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: I knew I wasnt imagining it.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: oh no.</p>
@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
tangled black hair, and stunned faces, her expression begins to
slowly melt. It then drifts quickly, from phase to phase, to one of
wonder, then anguish, and finally, abject horror.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: oh god.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Vriska and (Vriska) both start shrieking at a

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s35'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 35</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">W</span>hile John
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">W</span>hile John
dealt with the sight by immediately turning and walking away, and
the Earth Vriska dove into a nearby bush for safety, Vriska is
contending with her predicament through willful denial. Shes
@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
stuck her tongue in the heinous mouth of that frisky, unwashed
jester, she began jackhammering through the stubborn concrete of
rock bottom like she was digging up the corpse of a mob snitch.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: HeY (vRiSkA) mY bOoTyLiCiOuS bAbY
bItCh.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: YoUr BaD bOnE dAdDy Is GeTtIn To Be A
@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
paradise planet might look like to certain individuals. The small
sob shes been stifling finally comes out. Tears cut through the
oily, shining mask of blue, purple, and mud on her face.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: HeY bEaUtIfUl. :O)</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: iS sOmEtHiNg MoThEr FuCkIn ThE
mAtTeR?</p>
@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
smearing the blood around. She looks at her hands, notices the
blood, and continues cleaning her face, using her tears as a
solvent and wiping the blood on her shirt.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Gamzee...</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Can you just</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Not talk?</p>
@ -119,7 +119,7 @@
insubordination of a raunchy clown. Its almost like a smelling
salt. She sneers, revealing a fang, and spins on her heel to face
him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Did you hear what I F8CKING
said????????</p>
</div>
@ -143,14 +143,14 @@
distant row of trees. The rubber nipple remains stuck in his
clenched teeth, his face now coated with a good portion of the
punted bottles milk.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: Aw MoThEr FuCk SuGaRpUsS. :o(</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: mY nAnNa NeCtAr!!!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">(Vriska) presses her foot down on his chest
and pins his back flush against the grass. He exhales with a
startled wheeze at the sudden force.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): You 8etter fucking listen up,
Makara.</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): I dont know what you may have
@ -171,7 +171,7 @@
on his face, slightly lightening the tint of the purple.</p>
<p>She hears a faint digital clicking somewhere. What is that? It
seems to be coming from just behind her. She turns around.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): What the fuck do you think youre
doing????????</p>
</div>
@ -183,7 +183,7 @@
long. Somehow this makes her even more pissed off about it than if
he were just broadcasting their snogging fiasco without the use of
a typing quirk.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: I gOtS tO fUcKiN tElL mY nUmBeR oNe
InVeRtEbRoThEr AbOuT aLl WhAt JuSt GoT dId.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: hE aNd I aReNt As TiGhT aS tHe BoYs We
@ -210,7 +210,7 @@
it from either side, and breaks it in half. She then spikes both
pieces down at him, missing, but causing him to flinch
nonetheless.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): No selfies, no texts, no N8THING!</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Which fucking part of “youre not
telling anyone” is so hard to understand?!</p>
@ -237,7 +237,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Gamzees expression changes slightly. He
retains his unfortunate aura of amorous placidity, but theres now
a hint of sadness.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: I dOnT kNoW aBoUt AlL tHe BuSiNeSs YoU
sAiD, hOnEyNiPs.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: iVe GoT tO fEeLiNg ThAt WoNdEr In My
@ -250,7 +250,7 @@
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: I gOt ThE aDvAnTaGe TaKeN oF mE.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">(Vriska)s face contorts with rage.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): You son of a 8itch.</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): This was C8NSENSUAL!</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): If ANYONE didnt consent to this horror
@ -292,7 +292,7 @@
puts her shaking hands around his neck and grips tight. She
positions her face inches from his, hissing hot breath through her
clenched teeth.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): NO ONE IS GOING TO FIND OUT A8OUT THIS
YOU FUCKING 8ASTARD.</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW, SO HELP ME
@ -315,7 +315,7 @@
backs up a few steps, studying the corpse. If her body language
signals any remorse or sadness, the witness in the bushes certainly
cant tell.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">Vriska: (Eep!)</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Oh shit. (Vriska) had already forgotten about
@ -323,7 +323,7 @@
witnessed not only the original feat of debauchery, but all the
compromising activity which followed as well. (Vriska) would
probably need to have a few words with her.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">Vriska: Um...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Vriska stands up slowly from the bush,
@ -333,7 +333,7 @@
given up. (Vriska) doesnt blame her. She cant imagine there being
anything in anybodys life that could adequately prepare them to
have a snappy response ready for a situation like this.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md" stylw="margin-bottom:0">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small" stylw="margin-bottom:0">
<p class="vriska">Vriska: Hey.</p>
<p class="vriska">(Vriska): Sup.</p>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s36'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 36</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">T</span>he moment
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">T</span>he moment
John caught a proper glance of (Vriska) and Gamzee going at it in
the bushes, he was done. He simply had no further capacity to deal
with any of it. He just fucked off.</p>
@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
dozes off to a lullaby of distant sonic booms.</p>
<p>When next hes jostled awake, its by a figure that looks
uncomfortably like—</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: dad?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">As John blinks away the sleep from his eyes,
@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
esoterically bullshit way than the man who used to fill this study
with pipes and black licorice. John sits up straight in the chair
and rubs at his eyes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: jake?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: what are you doing here?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: wh</p>
@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
Harry Anderson does when hes lying. Across the room, Tavros
Crocker fumbles his grasp on a particularly hideous fanciful
harlequin. One of its pointy shoes snaps off.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Cripes,,, sorry, uncle john,</p>
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: Ill replace it,,,</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: its fine. thats actually just a piece of
@ -114,14 +114,14 @@
<p class="no-indent">John thinks he might still be dreaming. Though
if his subconscious were controlling the scene, there would be a
few alterations.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: arent you cold?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: I am in fact!</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: These old duds...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake snaps the elastic on his pair of red
underpants. Its the only thing hes wearing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Well you see janey bought all my other
clothes.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: She had a certain way she liked me kipped out
@ -130,11 +130,11 @@
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: You took me,</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake winces.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">TAVROS: And,,, you took you,</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jakes wince deepens.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Then i daresay i made the right choice not
rustling the bushes in the making off with inanimate belongings
department.</p>
@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
disappeared up under his bangs, but he doesnt say anything. He has
the air of a boy who has spent all of his life not saying
anything.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: okay, so, uh...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i guess im just gonna move past the fact
youre 90% naked in my house.</p>
@ -169,7 +169,7 @@
drink. Or at least a pair of pants. But all this is is another
reminder of how inescapably preposterous every aspect of this
reality has become.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: so i guess this is the thing thats currently
happening now.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: what exactly do you want me to do?</p>
@ -178,7 +178,7 @@
<p class="john">JOHN: help you out?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John produces a dry laugh.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: thats pretty funny.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i remember trying to help you for years, and
you never seemed that interested back then.</p>
@ -192,7 +192,7 @@
function of the absurdity of this contorted reality? Its hard to
be sure. Are Jakes “struggles” worth any more of Johns guilt and
emotional energy than a Sim stuck in a pool without a ladder?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Look here chap sometimes not everything is so
simple!</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: It isnt as if i couldve just walked out the
@ -223,7 +223,7 @@
fault, too? Did his reckless decision really author a
<em>child</em>, just for it to suffer?</p>
<p>John finds himself feeling a little sick.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: are you guys... i dont know, hungry, or
whatever?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i think i have a frozen pizza.</p>
@ -241,7 +241,7 @@
cabinet. Tavros takes one look at the bottle in his fathers hand
and heads upstairs. Maybe thats for the best—its getting hard for
John to look straight at him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: im sorry for being... i dont know. a
bitch.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: its just been kind of a rough forever.</p>
@ -254,14 +254,14 @@
alcohol tastes just as harsh and bitter as he remembers it. Jake
swirls the rocks in his glass, looking queasy despite his
proclamation of tolerance.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: John.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Do you think im a bad person?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Thats certainly not a question John ever
expected to hear come out of Jakes mouth. He hadnt thought him
capable of that degree of introspection.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: wait. what?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Do you think ive ruined my whole entire life
and all of my relationships and especially the most important
@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake grimaces. In the dim kitchen light his
five oclock shadow looks like a bruise.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: I wish i could tell you hearing that was a
load off my mind john.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: The me of yesteryear probably would have
@ -330,7 +330,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">The two of them share a moment of obligatory
silence for someone long dead and gone.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: In a way i think i found all that
comforting.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Havent you ever wanted to let someone make
@ -346,7 +346,7 @@
influence he might have had over the metaphysical shape of reality
just a way to brush off his simpler failures as a man and a
father?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: maybe. yeah. i dunno.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Im starting to think ive been a bit of a fool
about it all though.</p>
@ -363,7 +363,7 @@
wouldnt do much good to say it, though. Its not like John wants
to torture the guy, whatever the status of his realness
attribute.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: jake, i guess i actually dont know you that
well, but i think theres a difference between making excuses and
just giving reasons.</p>
@ -386,7 +386,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Johns mouth open and closes dumbly. Thats
it?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: thought it would be harder to convince
you?</p>
@ -400,7 +400,7 @@
just forget all his fears and regrets, and forge forward with the
honest, dumb conviction that if he just <em>tries hard enough</em>
all his problems can be chased away.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Golly john, i</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Gee willikers, do you hear that?</p>
</div>
@ -411,7 +411,7 @@
tapping his fingertips on the kitchen countertop, his aura of hope
pulsing brighter. Then, with a dignified flourish, he raises an
arm.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: John.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Take my hand.</p>
@ -420,7 +420,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Jake snatches Johns hand and pulls him in,
catching him off guard. John floats, an instinctive reaction to
when hes knocked off balance.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Dance with me!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: oh, jesus christ.</p>
</div>
@ -434,7 +434,7 @@
do end up stepping on each others feet, gamboling around like
newborn giraffes, who cares? Whats the harm in a little
dancing?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Im excited, john! I havent been excited in
such a long time.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Its just so great to be out on my own! Here
@ -456,7 +456,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Jake launches into a real doozy of a spin,
which John supposes may well have knocked the last of his sense out
of him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: sure. why the hell not.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake gives John a twirl, which sends him
@ -467,14 +467,14 @@
like being dashed with a bucket of ice water, though. All of Johns
gloom and malaise surges back to the fore like air filling a
vacuum. He feels hungover.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: oof...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John lies immobile on the floor tile. Jake
draws up to look down at him in confusion, striking a pose that is
both dazzlingly modelesque and doubtlessly completely
unintentional.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Eh? What are you looking so glum for there
chap?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: oh, you know. the usual.</p>
@ -501,7 +501,7 @@
the living room. Jake follows, but John now ensures thats theres
a healthy enough physical distance between himself and Jakes black
hole of psychic optimism.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: You cant rightly go and blame the woman for
all your troubles john.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: im not!</p>
@ -510,7 +510,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">John sighs and drops down onto the couch. He
stretches out so Jake cant take the seat beside him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: that even if i COULD talk to her and try to
set things straight...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: why bother?</p>
@ -558,7 +558,7 @@
what he knows is true. The allure of the denial—of the anaesthetic
hope radiating from Jakes epically sculpted body—is difficult to
turn away from.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: My word john. Are you... crying?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: haha...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: jake, do you have roxys number?</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s37'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 37</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">B</span>ecause
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">B</span>ecause
(Vriska) only spent a few minutes on Prospit before her dream self
was whisked away to the Battlefield the moment she ascended to her
god tier form, she never exactly got to enjoy Prospit life as much
@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
really required is a willingness to let yourself waste the time. A
willingness she only just discovered minutes ago, since wringing
the life from a libidinous harlequin.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): I think that one is...</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): A sort of snake?</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): A snake with a strangely 8ig head.</p>
@ -101,7 +101,7 @@
entered high school. She shrugs and turns her attention back to the
sky. Another nimbus cloud wanders lazily into view, and catches
(Vriska)s eye due to its peculiar shape.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): That one there.</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Thats... some sort of squat, can-like
8uilding, right?</p>
@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
her ability to recognize the shapes is beginning to fade. They
start to resemble fluffy, amorphous blobs. Was it all just in her
imagination?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): May8e this is just crazy nonsense,
actually.</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Seeing shapes in clouds, I mean.</p>
@ -206,7 +206,7 @@
feels right, natural even, as if he was never meant to serve any
purpose other than that of a deceased, soft vehicle for head and
neck support between two blossoming friends.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Hey, can I just ask...</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Why were you making out with this
Ridiculous Shithead?</p>
@ -347,7 +347,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">(Vriska) thinks for a while on her next
statement. She needs the time to let a thought shed never had
before arrange itself into words.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): May8e thats why I h8d my ghost self
so much?</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Why?</p>
@ -409,7 +409,7 @@
near-duplicate of herself whos easy to confide in, maybe shes
said too much already. Maybe shes even admitted too much to
herself. Moments pass in silence.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Im pretty sure Harrys Dad used to talk
to her a lot.</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): What?</p>
@ -439,7 +439,7 @@
decades of use. This is not the device of a man who frequently
upgrades his technology. Theres no password to unlock it. (Vriska)
scrolls upward on a text exchange for quite some time.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): How far 8ack does this go??</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Not sure. 8efore I was hatched, at
least.</p>
@ -457,7 +457,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">(Vriska) clicks on the reply field. Her thumbs
hover over the digital keys.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): What would I even say?</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Tell her you Love Her.</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Oh, shut the fuck up.</p>
@ -473,7 +473,7 @@
while studying the cloud shapes again, providing (Vriska) with a
wide berth for this critical rumination.</p>
<p>Finally, (Vriska) stops pacing, and begins typing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Hey Terezi.</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): This isnt John.</p>
<p class="vriska">(VRISKA): Its Vriska.</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s38'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 38</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">R</span>oxy tugs
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">R</span>oxy tugs
at a piece of hair behind her ear with one hand as she checks the
time on her phone with the other.</p>
<p>Johns not late, but Roxys run out of things to do except wait
@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
contrition, and she can only handle so many self-absorbed attempts
at communicating remorse before her head starts feeling like itll
float away from her body.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: sup john</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: long time no see</p>
</div>
@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
would be handy, because thats really the best angle shes got.</p>
<p>She mirrors the movement with her own hand and steps aside for
him to come in.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: well alright then pal</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i do believe u know the way to the living
room</p>
@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
her that John always said was “weirdly sexual, for them.” He looks
at it now like its something from an almost forgotten dream. Roxy
sighs.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: sorry for staring like an idiot.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: its...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i just got done with a whole week of feeling
@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
couch a polite distance away. He looks past her, almost through
her, like he usually does. She knows him well enough to know what
hes politely not asking.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: harry andersons out if u were wonderin</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: hell scoot back home later so if you make it
thru round 1 of awkward ex-family convos im happy to say you can be
@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
for real—but she knows by now that its not her job to make him
happy. That was something she gave up on years ago. But wanting to?
That feeling is still as fresh as it always was.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: sounds like a plan.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: so, uh.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ive been doing a lot of thinking
@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
isnt the worst person she could talk to about it. If hes truly
about to be real with her for the first time in forever, she might
as well try to meet him halfway.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: janey n me havent been super tight of
late</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ah.</p>
@ -241,7 +241,7 @@
doesnt need to hear it. Shes not a kid anymore, and she doesnt
have to pretend someone else is right just to keep the peace if she
doesnt want to.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: im sorry john ilu but this is some hot
steamin horseshit</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: what?!</p>
@ -250,7 +250,7 @@
her face for maybe the first time since he showed up on her
doorstep. Goosebumps trail down her shoulders, but she doesnt let
the closeness of it distract her from her frustration.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: its some real jerkoff emoji stuff is all im
sayin!!</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: you think you choice mattered so much that no
@ -284,7 +284,7 @@
He blinks a few times, slow, but hes still focused completely on
her. The corners of his still-open mouth pull themselves up
helplessly into a smile.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: uh</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: wat r u lookin at me like that for?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: no, im sorry.</p>
@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
life. But she doesnt want to twist the knife of blame further into
him than it needs to go. So she shrugs, looks her ex-husband in the
eyes, and tells him the truth.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i mean i felt... somethin i guess</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: but its not just you</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: youve never been the only player in this game
@ -366,7 +366,7 @@
<p>When she sits back down next to John, he takes the glass
wordlessly. After a minute of reflective sipping, which she is
grateful for, he speaks.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i just kept wanting to find ways to make
everything make sense, you know?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: but maybe it just fucking doesnt.</p>
@ -393,7 +393,7 @@
discovered in the back of the closet is comfortable. Smells mostly
musty, but still enough like home to knock you right on your
ass.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: im sorry. its just so hard to not feel like
a total asshole.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: maybe im not some grand vizier of destroying
@ -425,7 +425,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Roxy wrinkles her nose. Thinking about all the
lives she could have led makes her feel dizzy.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: nah dont say that</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i mean i accept ur apology this time but</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: theres obvs all kinds of ways shit coulda
@ -487,7 +487,7 @@
choice that hang just outside her periphery, and the vertigo grows.
She rolls the word “regret” around in her brain; she feels it on
her tongue. John waits.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i dont think i can regret anything</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: theres not only one right way to be me
imo</p>
@ -524,7 +524,7 @@
convoluted and personal and she isnt sure she can do the
overwhelming goodness of it justice. But then, Harry Anderson is
his, too, so she knows she has to try.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: idk this life ive been livin gave me harry
anderson</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: that kinda outweighs anything else just for
@ -539,7 +539,7 @@
with words feels bigger than she expected, and tears prick at the
backs of her eyes. She shakes her head and laughs before John can
start crying, too.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: but lmao john were just adults</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: were not dead!</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: idk i mean were only what... barely middle
@ -578,7 +578,7 @@
pressure makes it so, but she doesnt question it too closely. She
doesnt want to go back to where shed been with him, but knowing
theyd both been there, together, feels like enough.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: thank you for trusting me with this personal
stuff.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i know partly you were telling me all that to
@ -620,14 +620,14 @@
self-imposed suffering and blame loop. Something about the last
hour must have done the trick, though. John stands up, brushes his
hands on his jeans, and walks, back straight, toward his son.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: hey harry anderson.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: its really, really good to see you.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: do you wanna go for a drive?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">The muscle in Harry Andersons jaw clenches a
few more times, but when he smiles, it is genuine.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: yeah, dad.</p>
<p class="harry">HARRY ANDERSON: that could be cool.</p>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s39'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 39</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">O</span>n the
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">O</span>n the
other side of the continent, somewhere along the border between the
Human and Troll Kingdoms, Dave and Jade navigate a densely jungled
region. Though theyre high-ranking members of the resistance, they
@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
Liberties.</p>
<p>They fly side by side just above the thick jungle canopy,
sweeping the horizon with sharp eyes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: i think i see another one!</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh snap</p>
</div>
@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
to be a large, rusted arm holding a torch, blurred by JPEG
artifacts and covered in vines, poking out just above the canopy.
Its two or three miles off to the west.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: youre right</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: another shitty liberty</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: good eye jade</p>
@ -101,7 +101,7 @@
perhaps? No, this structure is different, more compact. More likely
a ruined building from an ancient Earth city. It seems to call to
him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: yo jade</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: why dont you go ahead and rig that liberty
ill be right there</p>
@ -170,7 +170,7 @@
tall man. The radiance of the holographic image diminishes to
reveal a man in a suit, with a strikingly recognizable face. Dave
draws in a sharp breath and clutches at his chest.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Hello, Mr. Strider.</p>
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Ive been waiting a long time for you to
show up.</p>
@ -178,13 +178,13 @@
<p class="no-indent">Daves jaw hangs open. The legends have been
confirmed. As well as several key headcanons of his. Without
thinking, he drops to one knee and bows his head.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: m... mr president</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: its an honor sir</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">President Obama laughs amiably and gestures
with one hand for Dave to rise.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Come on now, Dave. We cant be having
that.</p>
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Im nobodys king. Im a democratically
@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
respond to such soft-spoken words of wisdom and humility. He idles
for a moment, seemingly waiting for Obama to follow through with
his promised act of deference.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Hahaha, Im not gonna bow, man. I was just
pulling your leg.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh ok</p>
@ -223,7 +223,7 @@
adjusting the cuffs of his holographic suit with the casual manner
of a skilled statesman. Its the body language of a man getting
down to business.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Now, you probably werent aware of this.
But Im familiar with the work youve done for your country in the
past. For the whole planet, actually.</p>
@ -269,7 +269,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Dave pauses, pensively fiddling with the
pockets of his camo pants. He has so many questions for the
ex-president. He braces himself, and presses ahead.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: if you dont mind my asking sir</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i thought you died?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: well i mean i KNOW you did where im from with
@ -306,7 +306,7 @@
are times when he feels relieved by the lifestyle decision he made
as a kid to wear a pair of aviator sunglasses at all times, no
matter what.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: no</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: but like</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: thats all good and totally inspiring and all
@ -355,7 +355,7 @@
too, with more thoughts than he can keep track of. Thoughts of
affirmation, exhilaration. i knew it... i knew it! his brain
repeats to itself. The sense of vindication is indescribable.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Others were there. Kids my age. I made
friends that lasted a lifetime.</p>
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Over the years, I would return there now
@ -386,7 +386,7 @@
crosses his arms. But on his exhale, a small, choked sob escapes.
He seals his lips tight, but his mouth quivers and puckers under
the impossible pressures of restraint.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="obama">OBAMA: I know what youre going through. Theres a
lot to be emotional about in these trying times.</p>
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Hey, why dont we take a walk. Youll have
@ -400,7 +400,7 @@
solid feet making audible footsteps that echo far ahead into the
darkness. The light from Obama himself serves as Daves torch.
Soon, he feels calm enough to continue the conversation.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: mr president</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: you said...</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i reminded you of the adult dave from your
@ -435,7 +435,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Obama nods solemnly at this clarification. His
expression makes it clear that this is the type of executive
decision he understands all too well.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: but compared to that guy i apparently turned
out to be</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i dunno</p>
@ -492,7 +492,7 @@
flickering hand on his shoulder. Dave feels the dense light of the
hologram buzzing through the fabric of his clothes, grazing his
skin. It tingles, like mild static electricity.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: my bro died a long time ago</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: fuckin hung himself for some damn reason</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: for a little while i had a bro</p>
@ -520,7 +520,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Dave falls to his knees. He slides his open
palms up beneath his shades and covers his face. He weeps quietly
as Obama looks down on him, smiling patiently, understandingly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: i think i messed up</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i didnt do the right thing a long time ago
and now</p>
@ -536,7 +536,7 @@
He has to calm down. This is no way to behave in front of a
president. He collects himself, starts breathing steadily, and
looks up.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: mr president</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: can you keep a secret</p>
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Yes I can, Dave.</p>
@ -546,7 +546,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">He runs a hand through his hair, and looks
back down.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: i think im gay</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Obama purses his lips in that trademark way of
@ -554,7 +554,7 @@
silence grow, as if considering precisely how to deliver the most
perfect arrangement of words any man has uttered in human
history.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Over the course of our lives, we all tend
to believe were a lot of different things.</p>
<p class="obama">OBAMA: One year, youre this. Another, youre
@ -572,7 +572,7 @@
eyebrows high above his shades. They stare at each other, and in
the look they exchange, they seem to say all that needs to be said
between two grown men on the matter.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Identity, sexuality, gender, all that stuff
is about as illusory as I am, standing before you here.</p>
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Is this the real me? Who can really
@ -603,7 +603,7 @@
The only thing he knows is he needs to listen carefully to every
precious syllable. To listen with his ears, his heart, his entire
being.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="obama">OBAMA: The truth of oneself can be very specific,
if one wills it to be.</p>
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Statements such as, I am gay, I am
@ -631,7 +631,7 @@
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Oh... weve met on a few occasions.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave blinks.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: thats</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: how is that possible</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: he killed himself</p>
@ -657,7 +657,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Obama winks again. Dave has actually lost
track of how many times hes winked so far.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: right right</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: so... somehow he met you and uh</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: trained you and stuff</p>
@ -689,7 +689,7 @@
gleaming, polished silver replica of Dave, but without shades. It
stands totally still, unpowered. Dave struggles to make sense of
what hes looking at.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="obama">OBAMA: Now, look.</p>
<p class="obama">OBAMA: A human body, even one thats been elevated
to god tier status, cannot withstand the stresses put on it by the
@ -718,7 +718,7 @@
of decision. He understands now that the decision was already made
the second he first laid eyes on the former president. He pauses
only to savor this perfect moment.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: yes</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: absolutely</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i have never been more ready for anything in
@ -766,7 +766,7 @@
confusion, the insecurities of the man lying here all died along
with his body. Davebot smoothly reaches down, lifts the shades off
the corpse, and puts them on his face.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVEBOT: its about fuckin time</p>
</div>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s4'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 4</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">R</span>oses eyes
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">R</span>oses eyes
flutter open to the sound of a heart monitor and the sight of a
featureless white ceiling. Fluorescent lights, diaphanous curtains,
everything crisp and clean.</p>
@ -34,13 +34,13 @@
<p>Wait, this doesnt seem right, she thinks. When she closed her
eyes, she was dramatically lingering about her bedroom at home.
Shed just taken a handful of pills, and said goodbye to...</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: John!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She shoots up in bed, tugging the IV taped
under her elbow. Kanaya is sitting at her bedside, hemming a
sundress. She thins her lips and gives Rose a half-lidded look.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: “John”</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I See</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Is There Something I Should Know</p>
@ -51,14 +51,14 @@
plunging into a stagnant pond.</p>
<p>Instinctively, Rose raises her hand to her forehead, but theres
no pain there. Her head is the clearest its been in months.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Kanaya, what...</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: What happened?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Kanaya throws her sewing project aside and
sweeps in close, wrapping a cool palm around Roses arm. Her voice
quakes but retains most of its porcelain decorum.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I Came Home And Found You Passed Out In
Front Of The Load Gaper</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Your Skin Was Freezing And You Were
@ -75,18 +75,18 @@
fixed on the window at the other end of the room. The night is
dying behind the thin, pale curtain. She can barely see the
moon.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: I feel...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She looks back to Kanaya, eyes wide and
bright.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Kanaya, I feel... fine.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Its been such a long time since shes felt
anywhere in the same ballpark as “fine” that its almost an
out-of-body experience to say the word. She feels giddy.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: No Headaches</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: No headaches, no visions. Nothing at all.
I...</p>
@ -125,7 +125,7 @@
today, for the first time in ages?</p>
<p>When the nurse leaves, Kanaya puts a hand over the wrist that
she is so preoccupied with.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Is Something Wrong</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: It just seems like all of this is happening
so quickly.</p>
@ -141,7 +141,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Kanaya tips her face away from the light to
hide it in the curve of her shoulder. Rose reaches out and takes
her wifes hands in her own. Theyre colder than she remembers.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Are you crying?</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Since When Have I Been Known To Cry</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Quite often, actually. But usually because
@ -164,7 +164,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Kanayas lips twitch into a smile and she
laughs, sadly. Her laughter forces the tears out. They drip down
her perfectly made-up face in thick trails.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I Really Did Think I Had Lost You</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Its Not That I Thought You Would Die</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: It Was That You Felt So Far Away</p>
@ -194,7 +194,7 @@
shape.</p>
<p>Rose uses the hem of her hospital gown to wipe the tears off
Kanayas face.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: It really is. Honestly, Kanaya, Ive never
heard such a ridiculous thing in my life.</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: You Are Talking To Me As If I Am A Pupa
@ -218,7 +218,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Kanaya presses a snotty, uncharacteristically
imperfect kiss to the back of Roses hand, right beneath where she
wears her wedding ring.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: If You Would Have Me Forever</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Who else?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Theres no one who understands me like you,

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s40'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 40</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">F</span>rom atop
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">F</span>rom atop
the tallest bell tower in the Carapace Kingdom, the sky looks like
something painted by a crazy person. The fierce lights of war on
the horizon stain the sunset in unnatural hues: ultraviolet
@ -39,14 +39,14 @@
<p>Aradia glides up to meet her, having left Sollux on the balcony.
Above, in the sky, a hole has opened up. One so big it fills the
entire radius of her vision.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: oh thats very dramatic</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">The dead cherub says nothing. Aradia flits in
front of her face and looks into her eyes. Theyre the same black
as the vortex above, so absolutely dark that they reflect no
light.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: i think i understand whats going on
now</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: do you?</p>
@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Aradia pinches her thumb and forefinger
together.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: off about this place</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: just a little bit</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: yes, you would think so.</p>
@ -177,7 +177,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">The cherub makes a rare physical gesture with
her hands to begin framing her next statements. Aradia notes this
and strives to listen more closely.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: physical destruction is one
thing.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: obliteration of the entire canvas
@ -254,7 +254,7 @@
but change the way i say it very slightly.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: listen again carefully.</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: ...</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: <span class="calliope-dead-story type-rg type-sm--md">a martyr died and said
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: <span class="calliope-dead-story type-rg type-sm">a martyr died and said
fuck.</span></p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: hmm</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: yes that was a little different</p>
@ -273,7 +273,7 @@
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: yes i think youre right</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: but now imagine that i told your
story in exactly that way. that i said,</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: <span class="calliope-dead-story type-rg type-sm--md">a martyr died and said
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: <span class="calliope-dead-story type-rg type-sm">a martyr died and said
fuck.</span></p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: but it was the first time you ever
heard that story.</p>
@ -330,7 +330,7 @@
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: again, id like you to imagine this
is the only way youve ever known this story.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: but then it continues...</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: <span class="calliope-dead-story type-rg type-sm--md">a martyr died and said
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: <span class="calliope-dead-story type-rg type-sm">a martyr died and said
fuck.</span></p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE:</p>
<p>his final howl of profanity reverberated through the ages.</p>
@ -346,7 +346,7 @@
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE:</p>
<p>and though his death was gruesome, it opened the world to a
feeling of hope.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: <span class="calliope-dead-story type-rg type-sm--md">this hope echoed through
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: <span class="calliope-dead-story type-rg type-sm">this hope echoed through
the ages.</span></p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE:</p>
<p>it gave his disciples the strength to persist as they perished
@ -357,7 +357,7 @@
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE:</p>
<p>and if you are one so devoted to his teachings, who sees truth
in his words,</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: <span class="calliope-dead-story type-rg type-sm--md">it may be said with great
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: <span class="calliope-dead-story type-rg type-sm">it may be said with great
authority that</span> you are wrong.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: you are foolish to believe his lies.
his martyrdom is false, his sacrifice hollow.</p>
@ -436,7 +436,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">The cherub falls silent. Aradia takes this to
mean this lesson of sorts has ended. She ruminates on it all for a
while before speaking again.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: thats all pretty neat i guess</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: so...</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: does this stuff have anything to do with
@ -448,7 +448,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Aradia starts giggling. Above, the sky yawns
open a little wider. Aradia waits, but gets no response.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: even now when youre being
uncharacteristically forthcoming youre still impossible to talk
to</p>
@ -476,14 +476,14 @@
black on the rim of a dying galaxy. Aradia follows behind the
cherub, unable to pull her eyes away from the eerie phenomena
overhead.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: what will you do when he comes</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">The cherub is focused on something very small
falling from above. The bright object flutters down from the broken
sky and lands in her host bodys outstretched hand. Its a feather,
burnt at the edges, flickering orange and green.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: consume his body.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: absorb his essence.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">JADE: and then using this host, i will

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s41'></div>
<div>
<h1>Postscript</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">E</span>lsewhere,
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">E</span>lsewhere,
beyond the horizon...</p>
<p>A spaceship tears across a starfield at warp speed. Each dot of
distant light stretches to become a spear, hurtling in the opposite
@ -132,19 +132,19 @@
<p>She holds her thoughts. They can wait, and theres much to
discuss. She taps a button, and lowers her head a little closer to
a mic on the panel.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSEBOT: Dirk.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She supplies a courtesy pause, as if waiting
for him to reply. He usually doesnt.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSEBOT: Youre going to want to come see this.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Enough time goes by that she begins to wonder
if hes asleep. But no. Its just the irritated silence of a man
who knows he isnt currently dressed well enough to attend to
something important.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Are my fucking pantaloons ready yet?</p>
</div>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s5'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 5</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: did you hear that john left his house?</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: multiple days in a row even!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: NO FUCKING WAY. THATS INCREDIBLE. IVE
@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
technically, but theres domestic evidence of her all over the
hive. Her plants, her bass, her clothes slung over the couch where
she sleeps for weeks at a time...</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: im being serious dumpass</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: i was really worried about him!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IM BEING SERIOUS TOO. I WAS ACTUALLY
@ -105,7 +105,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Jade floats over to the couch, shooting her
two besties a salacious smile. She taps Karkat on the nose as she
passes by.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: im just enjoying my youth</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: you could be enjoying it too hehehehe</p>
</div>
@ -119,13 +119,13 @@
uncomfortably close to sexual thing to be doing in front of other
people. Dave and Karkat share a vaguely mortified look. Jade sort
of lives here, but she doesnt <em>that</em> sort of live here.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: but seriously.... what do you two even do
holed up in here together all the time?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Karkat snorts, still pointedly not looking at
her.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: OH IM SORRY, HAVE YOU NOT SEEN DAVES
ILL BEGOTTEN ART EMPIRE?</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: HES GOT HIS OPPOSABLE DIGITS STUCK IN SO
@ -139,7 +139,7 @@
cheek on the cushion. The look she gives Karkat is just shy of
devious. Karkat defensively scuttles to the other end of the couch,
where he ends up pressed flush against Daves entire left side.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I UH</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: sit around and play video games all day?</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: HEY! THATS NOT THE ONLY THING I DO!
@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave puts both hands over Karkats mouth and
does a stage whisper over his shoulder.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: he means that he uses the alchemizer in the
basement sometimes</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?</p>
@ -184,7 +184,7 @@
it makes her want to howl at the moon in sorrow.</p>
<p>What shes planning isnt a seduction. Its a public
service.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: why not dude i think its cute</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: hes on all the major political sites of
course but he spends most of his time going after people who leave
@ -224,7 +224,7 @@
his chest. She bounces them there a few times, enjoying the way
troll skin is just a bit thicker than human skin, taut like the
membrane over a poorly maintained drum.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: a husband....</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She begins walking her fingers up the length
@ -235,14 +235,14 @@
of conversation altogether. If hed known it would only fan the
flames of discussion in this case, he would have kept his mouth
shut.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: a husband is a little like what you both do
already</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: only with....... certain “benefits” :)</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Her fingers reach the hollow of Karkats
throat just in time to catch him swallow. He starts to sweat.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WH... WHAT KIND OF BENEFITS</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: heheh dont play dumb karkat</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: jade dude cmon</p>
@ -252,7 +252,7 @@
fingers up under Karkats chin so that they can rest on his lips,
which are a little chapped. It doesnt take much work to pop them
open and slide both fingers in.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: if youre really that clueless.... i can show
you....</p>
</div>
@ -263,7 +263,7 @@
<p>It would be pretty easy to mistake his reaction for arousal, so
its understandable that Jade is extremely surprised when Karkat
snaps his jaw shut and chomps down on her hand.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: OW!!!!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She flies back, literally, spiraling up
@ -271,7 +271,7 @@
all tangled in her clothes for a few seconds. She clutches her
wounded hand and glares daggers at Karkat, ears flat under her
long, dark hair.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: karkat what the HELL!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT THE HELL??</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YOURE SERIOUSLY ASKING *ME* WHAT THE
@ -294,7 +294,7 @@
slumps into the dip between cushions while settling even more
deeply into one of his better-practiced pouts. Dave clears his
throat.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: so apropos of nothing</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: just a cool segue into a completely different
topic for no reason</p>
@ -303,7 +303,7 @@
casual motion with his hand. A smooth wrist swivel, like hes at a
turntable scratching one song into the next. Thats the effect hes
going for, at least.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: did you guys hear that jane was gonna run for
high office</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: NO FUCKING WAY</p>
@ -377,7 +377,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade pinches his ear and twists hard, smiling
pleasantly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: get fucked karkat</p>
</div>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s6'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 6</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">N</span>o one is
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">N</span>o one is
answering the door to Jakes mansion, so Jane lets herself in.
There is almost no crime on Earth C, and so almost no one locks
their door. In fact, most doors do not have locks, which has been
@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
corporate bailouts?</p>
<p>Well, Jane thinks with a heavy sigh, now that shes not running
for president, it doesnt really matter, does it?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Jake?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane feels rather like a princess in an
@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
unmistakable roar of a rifle firing. She sprints the rest of the
staircase and runs down the hall, <em>clack, clack, clack</em> in
her expensive—but understated—kitten heels.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Jake! Jake, where are you?!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">The big oak door at the end of the hallway
@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
dress shirt buttoned up to midsternum. There is a smudge of
gunpowder on his cheek. His whole face lights up when he sees
Jane.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Oh jane how unexpected!</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Are you alright?!</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: What? Of course! Why wouldnt i be?</p>
@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake grins and holds up his rifle, which is
still smoking from the muzzle.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Just a little morning target practice!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">He kicks the door all the way open behind him
@ -90,11 +90,11 @@
hit many times with bullets. There is a battle bot hanging out by
the fireplace at the back, holding an armful of bottles and
surrounded by a sea of broken glass.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: You do this... in... inside the house?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">He looks at her like shes the stupid one.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Well of course jane where else would i do it?
Bringing this operation outside would only startle the
neighbors!</p>
@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
<p>Instead, she enters the room and takes a seat in one of the
ostentatiously cushioned bergère chairs, careful to step around the
puddles of cracked glass.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: I must ask jane... it seems that you are
rather frazzled. Are you sure you arent the one whos not
alright?</p>
@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Jane rests her temple in her palm. Jake grabs
another of his ridiculous fake-Victorian chairs by the back and
swivels it around so that hes sitting across from her.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Have you talked to Dirk lately?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Er not exactly. I would say that i have been
talked *to* by dirk.</p>
@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
the state of the locksmith industry with the seriousness it
deserved.</p>
<p>Jake scoffs and flops a hand. Both actions are dismissive.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: I dont see what all the ruckus is. Our good
chum dirk fancies himself a dark and tortured soul. Cutting us off
is not entirely out of his wheelhouse.</p>
@ -150,7 +150,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake laughs, all uneven, and runs a hand
through his attractively tousled hair.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: I must admit i am rather half rats at the
moment.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Youre what?</p>
@ -162,7 +162,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">He makes a motion like knocking back a bottle.
Jane side-eyes the idling battle bot, flush with empty wine
bottles, and then side-eyes Jake.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: First thing in the morning?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Well i needed the bottles for my target
practice jane i couldnt just pour the wine down the drain! Thatd be
@ -180,7 +180,7 @@
codependently. No matter what he said, this had to be affecting him
as well.</p>
<p>Jane lets out a fluttering breath.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: You know what, Jake?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Youre right. It really would be a waste!</p>
</div>
@ -193,7 +193,7 @@
years.</p>
<p>She braces herself on the mantle and knocks her head back,
taking a long, uninterrupted swig right from the bottle.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Jeepers jane! Slow down!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane keeps gulping. She drinks until she cant
@ -202,7 +202,7 @@
swimming. Spilling a bit of wine on herself, she spins around to
stare at the silent battle bot. Its got its hand out, waiting for
her to hand over the bottle.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Could you leave us alone, please?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">The battle bot tips its head at her with a
@ -214,7 +214,7 @@
Scorched-earth policy. That robot was indeed programmed by Dirk
Strider.</p>
<p>Jake is staring at Jane wide-eyed behind his spectacles.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Jane i must ask again... are you quite
alright?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Actually no, I am quite not!</p>
@ -223,7 +223,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She staggers back to her seat and takes
another swig of disgusting wine.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: I canceled my presidential bid.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: What? I was under the impression that you
were awfully chuffed about that!</p>
@ -232,7 +232,7 @@
“cancel everything.” And so...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane puts her face in her hand miserably.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: ...I canceled everything.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Why jane do you really need dirk to run for
president?</p>
@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane looks up at Jake from between her fingers
and under her bangs.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Well yes, I suppose that I could run a
successful presidential campaign on my own merits, especially since
Dirk and I developed most of our strategy together.</p>
@ -256,7 +256,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake pries the wine bottle from her hand
gently. He takes a drink from it, less gently.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Dirk has that manner about him does he
not?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: A way about him that makes you feel like
@ -265,7 +265,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">He sounds a little... bitter? Jane blinks at
him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: I hadnt thought about it that way.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: But yes, ever since I talked to him I have
felt... strange.</p>
@ -275,7 +275,7 @@
isnt it? Especially since she spends several nights a month
drinking much harder and fancier drinks at investor dinners. Jake
passes the bottle back and she takes another drink.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Strange how?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Strange like you just explained... like
nothing I do matters. I should be more upset that Ive spoiled my
@ -299,7 +299,7 @@
<p>Maybe because of the wine, and maybe just because she wants to,
Jane reaches out and sets a hand on his thigh. She leans in closer
until she can feel his breath on her face.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Oh, this is mortifying to admit, but Ive
been thinking that perhaps Ive been doing the wrong thing with my
life.</p>
@ -331,7 +331,7 @@
though.</p>
<p>Jake is still staring at her, drunk and enraptured. She ventures
deeper into his personal space.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Well, Jake, it doesnt always have to be that
way.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Putting business first? Ignoring the good
@ -356,14 +356,14 @@
face. His eyes are so green, and theyre glittering with naked
adoration, for her. Its all for her. He nudges a knuckle under her
chin and tips her face towards him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Jane...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Hes so close that Jane thinks he might kiss
her. She shuts her eyes and lets his husky wine-breath wash over
her face.</p>
<p>Instead of kissing her, he says:</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: I say this sincerely as one of your oldest
and dearest friends.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: I hope that you have luck in finding a
@ -378,7 +378,7 @@
<p>But Jake doesnt register her mortification or frustration
either. He just keeps smiling and gazing into her eyes, warm and
drunk.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Well, then.</p>
</div>
<p>With a deep sigh, Jane shoves Jake off of her and stumbles back

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s7'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 7</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">J</span>ohns been
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">J</span>ohns been
spending a lot of time with Roxy lately. Which also means spending
a lot of time with Calliope, which is awkward, but fine. But it
also means spending a lot of time with Gamzee, which is awkward,
@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
John still believes him to be.</p>
<p>Roxy and Calliope, however, apparently do not believe him to be
full of shit, for some reason.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: isnt that nice?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: huh?</p>
</div>
@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
words, and incite revolutionary fervor amongst the masses. John
tries his best to ignore it and walk ahead, but Roxy loops her arm
through his and pulls him back.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: were here check it</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: wheres here?</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: me n callies fave cafe!!</p>
@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
just the mood hes in. Maybe it has something to do with the fact
that Calliope insisted on including an unbelievably smelly clown on
an otherwise perfectly pleasant stroll.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: thats it? were going to a coffee shop?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i got out of bed for THIS?</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: lmao</p>
@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
around her and Gamzee as they stand in the busy street. At high
noon, her little body casts almost no shadow on the cobblestone
road.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: sigh.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: WhAtS sHaKiN sIs, YoU lOoK bUmMeD aLl
ThE fUcK oUt.</p>
@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
his mouth lolling open as he contemplates what is transpiring with
the closest facsimile to wisdom he can muster. He puts one of his
huge hands on Calliopes narrow shoulder, all comforting-like.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: Oh YeAh. FoR sUrE yOuR gIrL rOxY iS aLl
GlObEs DeEp iN tHaT dUdEs DaNk NoOk.</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: yes. and while i cant say i didnt
@ -146,7 +146,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Gamzee leans in so that his face is level with
Calliopes. His grin shows every single one of his teeth.
Miraculously, his breath smells worse than his body.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: MOTHERFUCKING DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?
&gt;:o)</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: no!</p>
@ -165,7 +165,7 @@
<p>John notices him there, just outside the window, leering at him
and Roxy. His expression is serene, vacant. Calliope is nowhere to
be seen.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: um, hey roxy...</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: wats up</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: gamzee. hes staring at us, and its kind of
@ -182,7 +182,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Roxy takes a sip of her tea. Her purple
lipstick leaves a stain on the fine china.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: yeah john its totes sad</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: he never had a chance with the kinda life he
had</p>
@ -198,7 +198,7 @@
of Roxys chair and looms over her. Without breaking eye contact
with John, Roxy scoops up a spoonful of cheesecake and feeds it to
him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: HeY rOxItA.</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: hey gamz whats shakin</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: CaLlIE wEnT aLl RuNnInG oFf, UgH.</p>
@ -221,7 +221,7 @@
she doesnt notice. Instead she puts her fork down, slides her
chair out, and springs to her feet with an abundance of this
newfound enthusiasm hes been struggling to understand.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: brb!</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: gonna hit the ladies room</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: back in a jiff suckers</p>
@ -235,7 +235,7 @@
forearms on the table in front of him, folds his hands, and gazes
into Johns eyes with what he has come to identify as Gamzees
signature brand of faux serenity.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: mY fUcKiN *gUy*. :o)</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ...</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: My DuDe AnD mY nInJa AlIkE.</p>
@ -248,7 +248,7 @@
service, in the hopes that it will provide a social buffer for the
appalling interaction that is presently taking place. But no
carapacians seem to be close enough to heed his request.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: I SeE WhAts fUcKiN Up, My gOoD
VeRtEbRoThEr.</p>
<p class="gamzee">GAMZEE: AlLs aBoUt i cAn sAy iS GaMe rEcOgNiZe
@ -297,7 +297,7 @@
this lunatic, John nods very slowly as he listens, while taking a
secret snap of his ghoulish face to send to Terezi. Before John
submits, he tags the photo with a message:</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i absolutely fucking hate this.</p>
</div>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s8'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 8</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Did you hear that Jane had been intending to
run for president?</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Yes She In Fact Asked Me To Serve A
@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
an outcropping over the lip of the breeding pit, knitting a series
of tiny scarves for the grub clones that she and Kanaya have come
to help hatch.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: That bad, huh?</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: She Was Already Talking About Regulating
Troll Reproduction</p>
@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
a batch of eggs. Her wife is luminous in the early morning light,
her rainbow-drinker skin soaking in the pink light and reflecting
it back like the inside of a snails shell.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: I dont think Karkat would be such a bad
candidate actually. Depending on certain factors I mean.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Im assuming that in this theoretical
@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
well-meaning jade-blooded assistant. She talks a little like a
parody of a 1920s newsboy archetype, which Rose can only theorize
has to do with Janes influence on the culture.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">SWIFER: Just tryin to get her nice and clean! I
heard the New Prospit Hornographers coming by later to scope out
some pics!</p>
@ -103,7 +103,7 @@
on, then twirls the mop over her wrist with a martial flourish that
absolutely recalls the fact that she is from a natural-born warrior
species. She then gets to work washing the Mother Grubs horns.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Whats this about the Hornographer?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Since when has the press taken in interest in
our activities down here?</p>
@ -152,7 +152,7 @@
of early spring from the mouth of the chasm. Rose closes her eyes
for a moment and breathes it in: taken just one minute at a time, a
day can be filled with hundreds of perfect moments.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Well Whatever Inconvenient Party Ruining
Opinions Dave and Jane Might Have About The Economic Future Of Our
Planet Its All In The Past</p>
@ -202,7 +202,7 @@
concert.</p>
<p>Swifer is sniffling. She makes the motion of wiping away a tear,
somewhat cartoonishly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">SWIFER: Golly gee oh my. This part always makes
me tear up.</p>
</div>
@ -214,7 +214,7 @@
like a rock on the outside, but has a layer beneath like mulched
flesh. Kanayas hands are soaked blue with bloody yolk when she
finally lifts the grub and holds it up to the light.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Rose Look</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Rose looks. All troll grubs appear kind of
@ -222,7 +222,7 @@
horns, one crescent, the other harpoon-like. A mussed mane of hair
and a mischievous glint in her beady little eyes. Particularly the
one with seven pupils.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: ...</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Vriska?</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Pretty Close</p>
@ -285,7 +285,7 @@
her excitement. She leaps into the pit with Kanaya and runs to
embrace her, not caring about the irreversible rainbow-colored
stains that shes smearing into her dress.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Oh Kanaya, youre right.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: We are going to be so astonishingly
happy!</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s9'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 9</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: arent you guys happy to get out of the house
for once!!!</p>
</div>
@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
distance. Karkat is still shielding his eyes against the dying
strains of the sunset. His shoulders are scrunched up so high that
his cheeks disappear into his turtleneck.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: NO ACTUALLY.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I DONT GET WHATS SO GREAT ABOUT IT. I
CAN SEE THE SAME BULLSHIT FROM THE COMFORT OF MY HOUSE.</p>
@ -113,7 +113,7 @@
in between them and uses her Space powers to teleport Daves phone
out from the center of his traumatized palm and into the pocket of
her sweater.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: hey can we focus here?</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: jakes ass isnt the one you two should be
talking about right now</p>
@ -129,18 +129,18 @@
longer and sharper than a normal humans, making her grin seem more
predatory in nature, especially when she wants it to be. Karkat
shivers at the sight of it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: thats NOT what im talking about...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade grabs Karkats right hand, and then
Daves left one, and she begins to pull them toward each other.
Both boys recoil, but she is much stronger than them.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: jade</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: cmon what are you...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Shes doing it. Shes making it hapen.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: this is a DATE dummies!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: NO, STOP!</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: dude</p>
@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Karkat makes a fist so tight that his nubby
fingernails pinch his skin. Dave does the opposite. He makes a flat
palm, and raises it as if to stop traffic.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: no..... let me.... show you....</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: you have to... turn it... flipwise!</p>
</div>
@ -165,7 +165,7 @@
middle of it, and its a work of art. Just what she wants the rest
of her life to be. After all, where would these two pitiful beta
boys be without her?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: see i dont mind at all!</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: i would never try to break up what you two
have.... im just trying to make it BETTER!</p>
@ -175,7 +175,7 @@
Karkat up flush against her. Their fingers remain entwined behind
her back. She begins walking them down the ridge of the hill,
beaming brighter than the first stars in the sky.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: see isnt this perfect?</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: it could be like this all the time you
know... the three of us in every combination</p>
@ -190,7 +190,7 @@
looking elsewhere that he trips over a rock and is only saved by
Jade picking the three of them off the ground as she takes flight.
Karkats legs flail when his feet go out from under him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: AUGH! DONT DO THAT!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YOU KNOW I FUCKING HATE THAT!</p>
</div>
@ -203,7 +203,7 @@
did with their hands. She does a few quick calculations in her
head, refusing to give up on her assumption that relationship
issues can be solved the same way math problems can.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: dont worry karkat theres nothing to be scared
of...</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: well take care of you... right dave?</p>
@ -213,7 +213,7 @@
cheek. He yelps and leaps away like hes been scalded by a burning
iron, liberating himself from the deeply uncomfortable hug
triad.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: OKAY THAT IS IT.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I AM DRAWING A FUCKING LINE IN THE SAND
RIGHT HERE AND NOW, JADE. YOU WILL CEASE THIS ENDLESS VIOLATION OF
@ -242,13 +242,13 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade covers her mouth coquettishly and
winks.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: it was.......DAVE!!!!!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave turns around, shoulders going rigid, and
eyes popping open like hes just awoken from one of the terrible,
sweaty nightmares he was projecting onto his hand earlier.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: i what</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: you kissed karkat! finally!!!</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: n</p>
@ -259,7 +259,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Dave hesitates. Jade is giddy with
anticipation. She couldnt possibly look more pleased by her own
handiwork.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: i have no idea what youre talking about</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i would never</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: youre wack jade im not</p>
@ -291,7 +291,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Karkat begins hyperventilating, and
momentarily forgets his beef with Jade long enough to lean on her
to prevent himself from toppling over.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: youd have to be really careful to like</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i mean if you were INTENDING to kiss
karkat</p>
@ -313,13 +313,13 @@
<p class="no-indent">Daves mouth hangs open a bit. His gaze flits
from Karkat to Jade and back again. His palms are wet, but his
mouth is dry.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: im not</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i was never</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: were not</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Daves mumbling protest slows to a stop.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: actually ya know what</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i dont have time for this</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: peace dudes</p>
@ -332,7 +332,7 @@
ultraviolet that only she can see. It lingers in the unstable
particles between the air.</p>
<p>She huffs and puts her hands on her hips.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: wow RUDE!</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: siiigh. i forget sometimes how immature dave
can be</p>
@ -344,7 +344,7 @@
staring at her slack-jawed. He takes a step back, but isnt
watching where he puts his foot. His heel goes into a dip in the
hill and he goes stumbling backwards, feet over head.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: AH!! FUCK!!!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: JADE!!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WOULD!</p>
@ -365,7 +365,7 @@
on his face for at least an entire minute. Then he slowly pulls
himself to his feet and brushes the brambles off his pants. He
points up the hill at Jade and shouts.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: FOR THE RECORD</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: JUST SO WERE BOTH CLEAR</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: THIS IS WHY I HATE LEAVING THE *FUCKING
@ -375,7 +375,7 @@
left side of his ass, which unfortunately for him affords nowhere
near the level of padding as Jakes legendary backside. Jade puffs
out both of her cheeks and stares after him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: well i guess im eating grub spaghetti
alone</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: *again*!!!</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s1'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 1</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">M</span>eat was
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">M</span>eat was
definitely the right choice, you think, as grease drips down your
chin. The meat is cold and undercooked, so you have to grab it with
both hands while you rend it apart with your incisors. It bursts in
@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
around you and its too hot, almost suffocating. You swallow back a
mouthful of pungent bile as your eyes swim and lose focus.</p>
<p class="Command">&gt; You know what you must do.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i know what i must do.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Of course you know. What kind of guy would you
@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
capable of completing the grim task? A pretty shitty one, who just
sneezed up a chunk of raw meat in front of a girl you used to have
a gigantic crush on.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i have to go back and kill lord english.</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: u sure?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i think so. it will probably be hard. but i
@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
as usual. Calliope looks... well, her face is a permanently
grinning skull. Youll be damned if you know whats on her mind
either.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i understand</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">No one says anything for some time. A pleasant
@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
to stare at you with beady-eyed fascination. The front of your
shirt is stained with dark, slimy patches from the meat. Christ,
why did you have to eat that meat like such a slob?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: so, is that it?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: should i, uh... get going?</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: if this is yoUr decision, then
@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Calliope closes up the picnic basket and
stands. Roxy follows, taking Calliopes hand in hers again.</p>
<p class="Command">&gt; Say goodbye?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ok then.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: umm...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: thanks for inviting me to this picnic.</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s10'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 10</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">J</span>ane
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">J</span>ane
Crocker sweeps into her office with grace befitting her station and
slams the door shut behind her. The sun cuts through her venetian
blinds, painting butter-yellow strips of light all the way from one
@ -132,18 +132,18 @@
thought that used to rule her world and make her so terribly weak.
The shameful thought is expressed out loud in the form of a
defeated sigh.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: I need Jake.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She spins around and, still sitting on her
desk, presses a familiar entry on her phones contact list.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Ahoy ahoy!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane has to suck in a hard breath to stop
herself from groaning. Why were so many of the finest young minds
on this planet slaves to this foolish mans perky glutes?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Jake! Hello, how are you doing?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: As well as can be i suppose considering that
i just woke up in the middle of a mafficking ruckus at the stadium
@ -165,7 +165,7 @@
strategy with Dirk, he seems to be perfectly aware of this feature
of Jakes personality. You cant be too nice when courting his
endorsement, Dirk would say. He doesnt respond to nice.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Be that as it may, Jake, I still do worry
about you an awful lot.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Well that is...</p>
@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
followed by a noise that sounds suspiciously like something big and
hollow and metal connecting with Jakes head. When Jake comes back
to the phone, hes yelling into it. Jane grimaces.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: ...very sweet of you jane! I appreciate very
much that you have called me out of the blue to say such nice
things to me with no ulterior motive!</p>
@ -183,7 +183,7 @@
portentous statement. However, Jane knows that Jake English could
not have possibly meant this with anything but the utmost
sincerity.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Well, you know that I—</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Because i must note that although i try to
stay sporting about what comes at me, i cant say that i am chuffed
@ -205,7 +205,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake is quiet a moment, and Jane can hear the
rusty gears turning in his head.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: You should stop by to see me this
evening!</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Do you mean my evening or yours? Were in
@ -218,7 +218,7 @@
every category that you could possibly love a person, but sometimes
talking to him is like trying to build a house of cards while
riding a mechanical bull.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Mine, of course! Ill have the best year of
your favorite crocodile-made scotch flown in from the Consort
Kingdom and well have a little catch-up.</p>
@ -230,7 +230,7 @@
watch her old friend pretend to sip at the same glass for a couple
of hours while prattling on.</p>
<p>And shes willing to do more than that, too.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Whens the last time weve done that, just
you and I?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: You know what? Youre quite right. Its been a

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s11'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 11</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">T</span>hats
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">T</span>hats
that, you think. Your glasses are broken forever, and you totally
fucked up and underestimated young Lord English. Rose should have
known better than to trust this to you alone.</p>
@ -40,13 +40,13 @@
around, you realize there is no apparent source to all this bright
light, making it hard to tell where the floor ends and the walls
begin.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: John? John? Are you there?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Her voice is muffled, coming from what you
presume to be an adjacent room similar to yours on the other side
of the wall.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah, im here.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Oh, thank goodness. Everyones accounted for
then. Are you okay?</p>
@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">You can hear a thud from Roses corner, like
someone slumping against the wall in relief. Well, thats what
youre doing at least.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: —ay?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah im fine too but this is</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: uh</p>
@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">The noise outside the juju grows. Something
sharp and metallic splinters above and rains down on the top of the
chest.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: What did my future self say it was we had to
do?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: erm... she never rea—</p>
@ -91,13 +91,13 @@
<p class="no-indent">The metallic noises rain down harder, drowning
out Roses attempt at being loud.</p>
<p class="no-indent">PLINK, PLINK, SMASH.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: NOW I CANT HEAR YOU!</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: TRY USING LESS WORDS</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">The length of the silence coming from Roses
corner communicates just how difficult a task that is for her.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: SHE SAID THE JUJU WOULD GET LOADED AND
UNLOADED.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: WHAT?</p>
@ -191,7 +191,7 @@
<p>Another arbitrary thought hits your brain, completely unrelated
to the subject of Terezi, or what you would or wouldnt tell a
bunch of incarcerated teens, or so you think.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: am i... depressed??</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">You ask aloud, quietly enough that your
@ -218,7 +218,7 @@
eagerly greets you again. Like an old friend ready to pat you on
the back and say, good try man. Ill always be here for you, when
you fail. Thanks dude, you think.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ROSE WAS RIGHT.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: WHAT?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: THE JUJU HAS TO UNLOAD.</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s12'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 12</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: so we gotta hit jane right in her neoliberal
austerity measures were all agreed on that right</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: UH HUH.</p>
@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
JPEG artifacts.</p>
<p>Everyone in this room knows each other way too well, so what
happens next goes a little like clockwork.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Says Karkat, for like thirty seconds straight
@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
artifacts and all, with the grace and proficiency of a man who has
diffused an awkward situation in his own household many times per
day, every day, for many years.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: anyway we all know the real issue is troll
reproduction</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: this election season is gonna be so jacked up
@ -179,7 +179,7 @@
cellophane. He is the only person who cant see through it.</p>
<p>Jade does some calculations in her head. Two kinds of
calculations, in fact: mathematical ones and personal ones.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: soooooo</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: do you want a projection of her first years
hit on the economy down to the decimal with a 0.3% margin of
@ -208,7 +208,7 @@
make her eyes look anime-huge. They might literally be glittering,
shes so completely serious about the issue she is trying to
stress.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: so now that thats all out of the way</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: its time to get real you two</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i</p>
@ -280,14 +280,14 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade faceplams. She does it a little too hard
and slams the bridge of her glasses into her forehead.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: ow!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ANYWAY WERENT YOU... DATING THAT
CARAPACIAN COUPLE? LAST TIME WE CHECKED?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade drags her hand down the bottom half of
her face and sighs.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: yeah for FUN</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: im twenty three dont you think thats a little
old to still be dating for fun</p>
@ -299,13 +299,13 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade sighs and crawls closer. She takes one of
Karkats hands in hers.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: i think wed all work good together</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">In her other hand, she tries to grab Daves
wrist, but he flash-steps to the other side of the couch. She pouts
at him and keeps holding Karkats increasingly sweaty palm.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: and i think weve been dancing around that for
years now</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: i wanna try dating for real</p>
@ -323,7 +323,7 @@
considering the history between them and the sheer level of black
flirtation that Karkat accidentally indulged in during his insecure
youth. He doesnt even pull his hand away.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: ok first of all dont slut shame me
fuckass</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: second of all thats what im trying to do
@ -347,7 +347,7 @@
has Jade messing with her glasses again so that she can peer right
at him and apply some more of that faulty personal math to his
facial expression.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: dave......</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: what</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: is this...........</p>
@ -409,21 +409,21 @@
permanently sworn off playing board games with them.</p>
<p>The moment Jade brings the paint program up on the television,
Karkat stops laughing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: NO!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">He tries to grab the tablet from her, but
shes hovering well above the ground and he simply is not tall
enough to reach. With a shit-eating grin and deliberate care, Jade
begins to draw a grid.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: ill put this in terms karkat will appreciate,
check it out</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: JADE, I SWEAR TO...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Karkat jumps and tries to grab her skirt, but
she swims through the air with ease, giggling as she doodles.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YOU BETTER NOT BE DRAWING WHAT I THINK
YOURE DRAWING!</p>
</div>
@ -433,7 +433,7 @@
room right now. She gives Karkat a pair of fuzzy, angry eyebrows
and starts drawing other lines. Sinister lines, with salacious
meaning. Its exactly what Karkat fears: a shipping grid.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: STOP! CEASE! DESIST THIS MOMENT! DO NOT
DRAW ONE MORE LINE!</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: oh nooo im drawing a line karkat better stop
@ -444,7 +444,7 @@
tries to wrestle the pen out of her hand, but all he accomplishes
is turning the redrom trajectory between her and Dave into a redrom
loop-de-loop.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: see me and karkat have great black
chemistry!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IT IS NOT BLACK CHEMISTRY YOU HORRID
@ -455,12 +455,12 @@
<p class="no-indent">for his trouble. Jade comes out on top and
sits on his back, humming to herself as she crafts her grand
design.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: and now that daves all chill hed make a great
auspistice</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She says, cheerful and oblivious.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: no</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: because you and karkat are kind of like
moirails</p>
@ -475,7 +475,7 @@
fills the entire room with red light. Karkat raises his face and
stares at it in utterly bereft horror. The sick light makes the
bags under his eyes look like divots.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: in this model..........</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: troll quadrants are dumb so we ALL kiss!</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: i call this political arrangement:</p>
@ -486,7 +486,7 @@
Dave has just crossed his arms and pressed his mouth into a thinner
line than usual. Jades ears flatten and she huffs. It sounds a
little like a dog whining.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: oh come on that was a good one!</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: its politically relevant and everything</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: jade im not gonna laugh at your made up ship
@ -497,7 +497,7 @@
catch his very expensive computing device in both arms. The pen
bounces off his forehead. Jade dismounts from Karkats poor,
abused, terribly mortal spine and brushes down her skirt.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: well ive said what i wanted to say</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: its up to you two what you do with it</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: i have to go talk to roxy and callie about
@ -515,7 +515,7 @@
both stare after her, silently caught in their own private
rationalization spirals.</p>
<p>Karkat needs to verbalize part of his out loud.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WOW WHAT A CRAZY AND TOTALLY IMPROBABLE
CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD WITH OUR BEST FRIEND JADE.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: y...</p>
@ -529,7 +529,7 @@
When their palms connect, theres a moment where something could
happen. A little spark of potential. It would be so very easy for
something to happen.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ...........</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: ..........</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WANNA PLAY SOME TROLL TONY HAWK?</p>

View File

@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
<div id='s13'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 13</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="Command">&gt; Be John again.</p>
<p class="no-indent">It seems as if youre attempting to be John
again, with the expectation that we might spend a little more
@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
apologize to her, <em>o8viously</em>, but in retrospect maybe her
accessorizing wasnt so bad. At least she understood the basics of
having a simplified silhouette.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: im goin back fin</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: you comin vris</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Of course!!!!!!!!</p>
@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
still standing though, and laughing. Thats what you were doing
when Lord English put a split in the fabric of reality. You were
<em>laughing</em>, not crying. It doesnt hurt at all.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="tavros">TAVROS: vRISKA,,, aRE YOU OKAY?</p>
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Shhut up!!!!!!!! Im... Im</p>
</div>
@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
the dark maw of infinity. You wipe your bloody hand on the leg of
your jeans and sneer with rage. You wont go down so easily.</p>
<p>Tavros tries to steady you, but you slap his hand away.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="vriska">VRISKA: Fuck 8ff!!!!!!!!</p>
<p class="tavros">TAVROS: uHHH OKAY, iT LOOKS REALLY,,, kINDA,,,
eXTREMELY BAD,,,,,,, tHOUGH,</p>
@ -195,7 +195,7 @@
<em>ending</em> for you—finally you lose all sense of composure.
You flail, spin, and flip in helpless little circles like a bloody
rag doll, and you begin to scream.</p>
<p></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small weight-bold"></div>
<p class="Command">&gt; JOHN: Emerge from the juju.</p>
<p class="no-indent">The first thing you hear is a tiny scream
getting sucked into oblivion. The voice is familiar, but not as
@ -204,7 +204,7 @@
<p>Its not just a crack in your ears. This crack goes all the way
down your spine. You almost dont react to it because its so
familiar. Around you, a cacophony rises up like steam.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh shit</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: its really popping off out here</p>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s14'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 14</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">J</span>ake yawns
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">J</span>ake yawns
and knocks on the window to Janes office again. For some reason
Jane has the shades pulled shut all the way around, so hes been
hovering here for way too long in his best tie and his best pair of
@ -40,12 +40,12 @@
of silk-lined venetian blind to glower at Jake, who is hovering
uselessly in the air. <em>Use the front door</em>, she mouths at
him. But he responds with his specialty: incomprehension.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Im sorry... what?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">The exasperated hand motions Jane tries next
work better.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Oh! The front door, of course!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake flies down to the street so that he can
@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
hem. Jakes bow tie practically spins at the sight of it. He
freezes on the spot, an animal in the predatorial headlights of
this buxom blue businesswoman.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Come have a glass of scotch with me Jake. We
have so much to discuss.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: I-indeed.</p>
@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">He crosses the office and shakily accepts the
offered glass of ludicrously expensive fermented barley grain. He
raises it to his nose and pretends to sample the scent.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Jane i must say that is a very striking
ensemble.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Oh, you like it? Why dont you...</p>
@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
brand-new sexy dress with quite an ungentlemanly fountain of boozy
spittle. Jane is lashed both by the scotch in her face and how
quickly her plan has fallen apart.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Jake!</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Bejabbers!</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Oh no, all over my new dress...</p>
@ -109,7 +109,7 @@
that is going on right now. Some of Jakes scotchy slobber is on
her glasses, which is not the place she was planning on having it
tonight.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Is this why you wanted to see me? To show off
uh... this proper bit of frock?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Oh, no, of course not. I just wanted
@ -120,7 +120,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake doesnt care about the economy. But hes
an ardent supporter of changing the subject.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Ah, its doing quite well right now
actually.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: I should hope so!</p>
@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane laughs quite sincerely as he ruffles his
jacket through her hair.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Oh, Jake, you really have no idea whats
going on, do you?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Wait is this...</p>
@ -146,7 +146,7 @@
directs him to one of the couches that line her office. They
stumble there, his jacket and hands still wrapped around her
shoulders.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Im sure youve had an earful about the
election already.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: I apologize. You must understand that my mind
@ -173,7 +173,7 @@
versions of themselves? Jane absently rubs the narrow strap of her
dress between two fingers, vainly attempting to sort out her
jumbled thoughts.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Thats an earful jane.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: I know. Its a head-full too.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: I cant help but worry...</p>
@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Jane pulls a leg up beneath her, which slides
her bare knee between Jakes. The couch dips a bit under their
weight.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: I must admit i never thought of it that
way.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: I know.</p>
@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake blinks, his eyes wet and glossy beneath
his spectacles.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Ah. Well... I suppose that i miss you too
jane.</p>
</div>
@ -272,13 +272,13 @@
When a heart like that opens up to you, it opens up the whole world
as well. A world of increased appreciation for combat, philosophy,
life, love...</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Yelp!!!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jake yelps and rolls off the couch in such a
panic that he almost takes Jane with him. She flies to her feet,
startled, breathing fast, and readjusts her disheveled clothes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Jake?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Are you... quite okay?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: I</p>
@ -291,7 +291,7 @@
kicking open the latch to one of Janes giant windows and letting
himself out.</p>
<p>Hes got a lot of things to think about, apparently.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: What the...</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Everliving <em>fuck!</em></p>
</div>
@ -300,7 +300,7 @@
back over her shoulder. Then she closes the window, sits in her CEO
chair and speed-dials the number for her one-man Kitchen
Cabinet.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Yo, what up?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Not Jake, apparently.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Wow. Going straight for the double entendre,
@ -325,7 +325,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jane squeezes her eyes shut and, very softly
and quietly, bumps her head against the edge of her desk.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Why do I feel as if weve had this exact
conversation, almost word for word, before?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Because we have. Many times.</p>
@ -340,7 +340,7 @@
laughs at that. Theres a sardonic twist in Dirks voice that
intentionally recalls every time hes ever fucked up. But it
satisfies Jane nevertheless. She knows that he wont fail her.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Fine. Please call me later so that we may
strategize.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: And also because I could use some emotional
@ -358,7 +358,7 @@
falling across in her face at an angle that bisects her perfectly
neutral expression. Dirk sets down his phone and acknowledges her
with a nod.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Well,</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Go on.</p>
</div>

View File

@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
<div id='s15'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 15</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="Command">&gt; John: Fight Lord English.</p>
<p class="no-indent">All around you is pandemonium, a
multichromatic cyclone of shrieks and clashing colors, as Meenahs
@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
distortions behind him that look, if you dont squint, a lot like
JPEG artifacts. Jades got her favorite gun cocked and ready, with
her ears perked up.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: lets DO this!!!!</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Dont get overconfident.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: We have to do it exactly like we discussed.
@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
drifting apart like a handful of salt tossed out to sea. You can
almost hear the cosmic clock counting down, tick tock, and a chime
to accompany her fate: <em>Heroic</em>.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: rose!!!! no!!!!!!!!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade doesnt wait to fire. Space splinters
@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
gigantic CRUNCH. And then another. And another. It sounds like a
cereal commercial is playing outside the periphery of your
vision.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: dave!</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: what</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: is lord english... eating my hammer?</p>
@ -167,7 +167,7 @@
ghosts. You land clumsily, palms first, and do an accidental
handspring right into a bunch of alternate timeline trolls you
dont recognize.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: uh, hey guys. anyone see a pair of glasses
down here? its pretty important.</p>
</div>
@ -181,7 +181,7 @@
space. Before the leg hits you, a troll leaps into action and
blocks the blow. Her trident makes a satisfying ring off the round
of the peg and sends it skidding backward.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: woah, that was a close one!</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: shell of time to finally show up</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: sorry, we were kinda busy!</p>
@ -231,7 +231,7 @@
masticated Wrinklefucker, shrug, and toss it into the hole.</p>
<p>Glancing back down toward your foe, you notice Meenah still
appears to be hanging on, clinging to his left suspender.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: yo hold on</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: goin in for the krill</p>
</div>
@ -253,13 +253,13 @@
hammer-snack, seems to have bought Dave just enough wiggle room to
slip out from under the foot, regain his composure, and draw his
sword.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: john i need a little...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave ducks a wide blow from Englishs swinging
fist. He backs up nervously, holding his sword out in front of him
with two shaking hands.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: anything</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i need a little anything right now</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: literally any stupid fucking thing you can
@ -281,26 +281,26 @@
implement, and begin your advance.</p>
<p>However, youre interrupted by a voice screaming out from behind
you. Its half familiar, half... cat?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">waaaaaaaaaaaait</span></p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">You whip your head around just in time to see
a bolt of orange-and-green energy racing by you like a bullet. It
slams into Lord English and sends him stumbling.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">im back</span></p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave stands there with his sword, absolutely
agog, his expression perfectly reflecting a blend of horror and the
total inability to process who or what he is looking at.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">dude i cant believe you dont recognize
me</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">its me davesprite</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">and also nepeta?</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">now were called
davepetasprite^2</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepedtasprite-dialogue">we purrmenantly merged forms and worked out all our shit!</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">we purrmenantly merged forms and worked out all our shit!</span></p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: well that sounds fucked up but ok</p>
</div>
@ -316,9 +316,9 @@
opening new voids where they land. Above the bedlam, Davepeta is
finishing up an inspiring speech. You realize you tuned most of it
out due to the surrounding chaos.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepedtasprite-dialogue">i know it looks pawful right now but we can do it</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepedtasprite-dialogue">in fact were literally the only ones who can do it</span></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">i know it looks pawful right now but we can do it</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">in fact were literally the only ones who can do it</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">after all</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">it is our destiny B33</span></p>
</div>
@ -352,7 +352,7 @@
gluttonous display you wont soon forget. You realize you seem to
be stuck in a cycle and are in serious danger of running out of
hammers.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: dave...cat sprite thing! help!</p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">coming bro</span></p>
</div>
@ -362,7 +362,7 @@
Vrillyhoo undercut to his jaw.</p>
<p>On the snapback, Lord English grabs the head of the hammer in
his mouth.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: oh no. not again... you...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: big, ugly oaf!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i really, REALLY like this hammer!</p>
@ -383,7 +383,7 @@
one gulp. Vrillyhoo is in his stomach, and youre following it down
quicker than you can even process. Is this the end? No, you think.
This is such an unfairly <em>stupid</em> fucking way to die!</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">john!!</span></p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Davepeta flashes behind you and hooks their
@ -401,12 +401,12 @@
long it was. But it was long enough for Davepeta to get you out of
Lord Englishs mouth. You can see their face floating above you.
Theyre just a smudge of neon swimming in a sea of chaos.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">wrow you almost got vored to
death</span></p>
<p class="john">JOHN: what?</p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepedtasprite-dialogue">im afuraid to say that you look like total shit my dude</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepedtasprite-dialogue">you should stay here while we wind this bitch down</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">im afuraid to say that you look like total shit my dude</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">you should stay here while we wind this bitch down</span></p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">purromeows me you wont move</span></p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i... purromeows?</p>
<p class="davepetasprite">DAVEPETASPRITE^2: B33 &lt; <span class="davepetasprite-dialogue">oh hehe</span></p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s16'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 16</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: When I was a child, I wrote a novel.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Rose is speaking with her eyes closed. She is
@ -35,14 +35,14 @@
Sawtooth 3.1. The energy humming inside its mechanical heart warms
her palms. Dirk snorts, but in a good-natured sort of way. Thats
the closest he usually gets to laughing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Another one of those Lalonde childhood wizard
fics, I presume?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">He leans his elbow on the table and stares at
her over the rims of his shades. The weight of Dirks scrutiny is
potent. She looks away.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Complacency of the Learned.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Ah. <em>The</em> wizard fic, then.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Yes.</p>
@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
passes in front of the window. With the sunset behind her shes a
shadow ringed in yellow light that turns white at the tips of her
hair.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Though I must say, in defense of Young Roses
literary integrity,</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Having carefully studied all volumes of the
@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Hmm.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She turns to look at him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: For all its plainly evident amateurism as the
literary product of a child, Ive come to believe its a much
stronger work standing alone as a single volume, its meaning and
@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
into a halo that is suspended in the air for a moment, trailing
spiderwebs of gold that dissolve into dust. Shes smirking now,
just a little.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: ...en<em>light</em>ened.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: That sucked.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Yes.</p>
@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
him—probably without thinking about it, Dirk imagines, because
neither of them really “do” that—he doesnt pull away. If its her,
its all right. He wont begrudge her a small weakness now.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: You describe this as a fact of numerological
significance.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Which makes it seem you suspect these
@ -167,7 +167,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Rose looks up to Dirk with the ghost of a
smile that she inherited from him. On her face, its blankness is as
enigmatic as the Mona Lisas.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Could it be that it is <em>you</em> who is
smacking of bullshit, dear father?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Nah, I smack of many admirable qualities, as
@ -177,7 +177,7 @@
return, but her gaze lingers. She stares into his shades as if
convinced she could see past them. Dirk allows their eyes to
meet.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Im just saying its all evidence of a grand
design. An immortal, metatextual apparatus beyond our ken that we
can only catch glimpses of when were proverbially shitting our
@ -188,7 +188,7 @@
<p class="rose">ROSE: Which is precisely my question.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Her gaze drifts towards the ceiling.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: In my story, all twelve of the disciples fell
victim to the vagaries of power.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: They were filled with the light of knowledge
@ -202,7 +202,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She shoots him a <span class="Standard-Text CharOverride-14">look.</span></p>
<p>Its the kind of look Kanaya gives her sometimes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Only a few?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: I mean, some of us have stopped using our
powers completely. Not a whole lot of need for emergency
@ -221,7 +221,7 @@
<p class="rose">ROSE: In that case...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Rose sways suddenly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: In that case, perhaps Terezi had the right
idea.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Getting away from this place, I mean.</p>
@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
on the floor to save her energy. Shes mostly composed when she
raises her head. Theres bitter laughter at the edge of her
words.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: How... How are you handling this so well?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: I assumed it was just that feigned Strider
Stoicism, but you seem to be taking this...</p>
@ -256,7 +256,7 @@
floor. He looks very together. He says the word “crazy” with the
same intonation with which he might say “good morning.” Its hard
to believe he means it at all.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: But Ive got more practice at this than you
do. I spent most of my life before the game multitasking my entire
fucking subconscious. Ive had several times my age on paper to
@ -270,7 +270,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Rose wraps her hands around her upper arms
like theres a winter chill rattling through the workshop. She
shivers.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Its not the headaches that concern me
most.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: In fact, I dont think its the expansion of
@ -300,13 +300,13 @@
of her, curls a knuckle under her chin, and lifts her face up to
his level. Then, in a deliberate motion, he pulls off his
shades.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: I understand completely.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Roses eyelids flutter, heavy. She meets the
intensity of his naked gaze aloofly, like shes not aware this is
the first time hes ever let her see it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Hm?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: I know I sound pretty nonchalant most of the
time, but actually Im scared shitless of myself.</p>
@ -328,7 +328,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Rose laughs softly. Shes not scared of this
abyss shes staring into at all. She doesnt even think to look
away.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Theres really not an inch of humility in
you, is there.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Ive just spent a lot of time in my own
@ -346,7 +346,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Roses eyes have grown distant, almost
mirrorlike. Dirk can see himself reflected in her vacant stare.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: All the pieces in their place.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: The mechanisms all running smoothly.</p>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s17'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 17</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">N</span>one of my
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">N</span>one of my
friends have noticed it yet, but you have. You have the ability to
read between the lines, to understand that our lives are blighted
by this undercurrent of subtext, of <em>narrative

View File

@ -25,9 +25,9 @@
<div id='s18'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 18</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">Y</span>ou wake up.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">Y</span>ou wake up.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: wh-what?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">You open your eyes. Actually, youre not
@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
like absolute shit right now, my man. In fact, you really should
strongly consider issuing an apology for the mess youre
making.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: im...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: im sorry.</p>
</div>
@ -71,13 +71,13 @@
Cat Dave, and hundreds of ghosts, who all valiantly contributed to
a victory which youre only now beginning to question the
functional necessity of.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: functional... necessity?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: that... that doesnt sound like something i
would think.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Thats because its not.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: what the fuck...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Youve finally noticed.</p>
@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
youll bleed to death pretty much instantly. On the other hand, the
tooth is poisoned. So youre pretty much fucked either way, and
thats really all there is to say on the matter.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: sigh.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">You sigh in painful resignation, and
@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
singularity. How about Jade though? She could still be out there
somewhere, injured, alone, scared. And its your fault, isnt
it?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: its...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: its all my fault.</p>
</div>
@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
you feel, you should look around first before you leave. You were
the one who dragged her here. You owe her at least that much. Plus,
theres someone else on your mind, isnt there?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">You proceed to wander for a long fucking
@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
miss it.</p>
<p class="dirk">There. Eleven oclock. Do you see it? Its that
tiny dot floating over there.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: huh?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">You scramble to catch it before it drifts

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s19'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 19</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">A</span>nyway,
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">A</span>nyway,
back to the B Plot.</p>
<p class="dirk">Right about now, Jade should be wrapping up her
political presentation to Roxy and Calliope, using a lot more
@ -36,14 +36,14 @@
flightiness and the kind of legit, down-to-earth cred that can only
be earned by having done something like cutting open your own
grandfather and stuffing him full of polyurethane foam.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: so you see janes neoliberal austerity
measures—</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Roxy groans upon hearing the phrase
“neoliberal austerity measures” for no less than the third time in
this presentation.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: as i outlined here in graph b-2</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: and here in figure a-6</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: and here!!! in this very spooky drawing i
@ -78,12 +78,12 @@
She spins them around her, gliding her hands through the air like a
conductor, before folding the pages together and shrinking them to
pocket size.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: and!!</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: thats my pitch!!!!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Roxy and Calliope exchange a look.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: im...</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: going to get Us tea and snacks. woUld
yoU like some, jade?</p>
@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
to disguise the fact that she is in fact fleeing. Jade deflates as
she watches her go, sensing that her presentation wasnt the slam
dunk she was hoping for.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: soooo..........</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: what do you think?</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: hmmmm</p>
@ -134,13 +134,13 @@
<p class="dirk">Jade drifts down to sit cross-legged on the couch
beside Roxy. She stares at her with a doggish expression—eyes wide,
head lolling to the side—until she gets an answer.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i just dont rly</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: care about politics that much i guess</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Roxy turns to face Jade again, smiling
apologetically.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: also this election is all kinds of
personal</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i mean if i came into ur house and asked u to
@ -166,7 +166,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Roxy frowns. Jade is being pretty
unfair.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: *fragile*</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: shes gotta be miss perfect all the time for
the billboards n press meetings</p>
@ -198,12 +198,12 @@
as I can tell. She still wears her heart on her sleeve. But the
bottom line remains: Roxy Lalonde is still utterly fucking
inscrutable.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: well janes not perfect</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Roxy shrugs and runs a hand through her
hair, which has been recently cut shorter than usual.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: and idk if shell be a good president</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: but shes not betty crocker</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: and i luv her and i dont wanna hurt her
@ -214,7 +214,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">Calliope returns from the kitchen with
three cups, a handmade teapot, and some candied cakes. Jade finally
relents.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: fiiiiine</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: i understand</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: callie what about you?</p>
@ -223,7 +223,7 @@
brushes Jades skirt aside so she can sit down. She puts a claw to
her mouth and makes a facial expression more complicated than youd
think a skull would be capable of.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: oh, id rather stay Uninvolved, thank
yoU.</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: :(</p>
@ -240,13 +240,13 @@
she still cant believe that she has so many friends. She smiles at
Jade, and Jade smiles back. The tea tastes great. The cakes are
even better. Callies an artist in everything she does.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: wow callie youre such an amazing hostess!</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: hehehe roxy youre so lucky to have her</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Roxy giggles. Awkwardly. She gives Jade a
gentle jostle, an elbow to the ribs, and lowers her voice.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: psst not “her,” “them”</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: oh</p>
</div>
@ -254,11 +254,11 @@
wide-eyed look to Calliope, who is still smiling politely. She
realizes, a bit too late, the profoundly insensitive nature of her
social misstep.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: oh!!!!!!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">She grabs one of Calliopes hands.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: oh wow!</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: im sorry i didnt mean to be uh... culturally
insensitive?</p>
@ -277,7 +277,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">Roxy pauses, even though the lilt of her
voice makes the sentence sound unfinished. She stutters the next
part out.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: m-me too actually</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: you??</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: o yeah we are both a “they” household now</p>
@ -286,7 +286,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Wait.</p>
<p class="dirk">What?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: really?</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: yup</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: well</p>
@ -312,7 +312,7 @@
insulting</em> anyone would ever imagine otherwise.</p>
<p class="dirk">So yeah, Im gonna allow it.</p>
<p class="dirk">Carry on.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: wow that felt good to say aloud man</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: ahah hahaha hell of a way to come out</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: its ok</p>
@ -336,7 +336,7 @@
own thoughts. Reasonable thoughts, Id say. But Ill refrain from
any further comment. Im staying away from this subject, from now
on.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: so youre uh</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: not...... “doing gender” anymore??</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: ya i guess not lmfao</p>
@ -348,13 +348,13 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">Calliope takes a teacake between two of
her claws and eats it delicately, hyper-aware of the horrible
gnashing and snapping her powerful jaw is capable of.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: my ideas aboUt gend—</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">SHIT. Between two of <em>their</em>
claws. They take a teacake between two of their claws and eats it
delicately. Sorry, my bad.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: —er were entirely inflUenced by my
time watching earth.</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: i sUppose i only thoUght of myself as
@ -386,7 +386,7 @@
her. Eye-opening, really. Why hadnt anyone told her this was even
an option when she was younger? She probably would have loved being
a “they” when she was a teen.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i mean what am i gonna do</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: get married and pop out 100 bbs?</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: uh... no???</p>
@ -411,13 +411,13 @@
certainly didnt notice.</p>
<p class="dirk">But there is something wrong. And this time,
theyll notice.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: i...</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: i.........</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Jade drops her tea. The cup hits the
floor and shatters.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: jade?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">She takes in a sharp breath. Shes not
@ -426,7 +426,7 @@
circle, burning a hole in her eyes. She tries to stand, but her
knees wobble and knock together. Roxy shoots out of her seat and
catches her before she hits the floor.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: o shit</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: is she okay?</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: idk</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s2'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 2</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: bro</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">In the heart of the Troll Kingdoms capital
@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
trollish non-euclidean architecture and bizarre social mores, and
Karkat has adjusted his diurnal schedule to, in theory, see the
sun.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: bro you have got to check this out</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Karkat is leaning forward, munching on
@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
watching. The glow from the television highlights the dark bags
under his eyes. Dave reaches out and, very gently, pokes Karkat in
the cheek. Karkat flinches out of his full-body slouch.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: NOT NOW DAVE. JAKES ASS IS ON TV
AGAIN.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: stop ogling jakes ass this is important</p>
@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
say, the second option was much less popular.</p>
<p>Karkat gestures at the televised spectacle, a bit
helplessly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ITS ALL IN THE WAY ITS BEING PROGRAMMED
BY THE STATION.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO NOTICE, BECAUSE
@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
they can both read the news on his phone. Karkat tips his head to
the side to get a better view, until it bumps against Daves
shoulder.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: got the announcement right here</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YOU MEAN PRESIDENT OF EARTH?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah</p>
@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Karkat, without drastically altering his
position on the couch, turns his head so that he can look Dave
straight in the sunglasses.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: DAVE, I DONT KNOW IF YOUVE NOTICED,
BUT</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: A LOT OF HUMANS ARE???</p>
@ -156,7 +156,7 @@
He reaches for another beetle as his guffaws subside, and eats it
in a manner he hopes will convey his casual contempt for Daves
insinuation.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND? DO YOU
HAVE ANY IDEA HOW *RICH* SHE IS?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: dude were all rich</p>
@ -170,7 +170,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Karkat stops chewing his beetle and does a
literal spit take right into Daves face.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ME???????????????</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah man</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: its perfect</p>
@ -231,7 +231,7 @@
movies, eating chips, or talking about the top six hundred stupid
things Karkat saw earlier that day because he made his intrepid
annual decision to go outside.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: MAYBE I DONT ACTUALLY LIKE BEING
FAMOUS?</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: AND MAYBE THATS AS GOOD A FUCKING REASON
@ -267,7 +267,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Very slowly, Karkat raises his right palm and
forcefully unites it with his own face.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: he barely even got a chance to prove
himself</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: he was sworn into office and it was cool and
@ -366,7 +366,7 @@
Space. Dave pats Karkats knee comfortingly, and Karkat lets out a
quivering breath of sorrow, of remembrance.</p>
<p>Into this reverent silence, Dave says:</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: i think he would be totally in favor of my
idea btw</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: he loved democracy</p>
@ -405,7 +405,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Theres a measure of real concern and passion
working its way into Daves voice. Karkat, despite his typical
front of loud indignation, hangs on every word.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: and once rose and kanaya crank out a few more
broods in the caverns i guess were supposed to think its all fixed
right</p>
@ -446,7 +446,7 @@
whatever tension Daves impassioned appeal was causing to brew
inside him. Motherfucker literally just told him to think of the
economy.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: jane has this reputation for being awesome at
business but imo she actually just sucks</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: she doesnt seem to be even remotely aware how
@ -514,7 +514,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave wipes an invisible tear from beneath the
rim of his sunglasses.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: do it for obama</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: GOD DAMN IT DAVE.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I DONT REALLY GIVE A FUCK ABOUT
@ -526,7 +526,7 @@
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I DO CARE ABOUT YOU.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave smiles.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: SO</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ILL DO IT.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHY NOT.</p>
@ -562,7 +562,7 @@
bounces off the glass of the framed print of Daves “least
psychologically revealing <em>SBaHJ</em> strip.” Karkat sighs and
rubs the space between his horns.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: CANT I JUST</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: READ A BUNCH OF BULLSHIT YOU WRITE FOR ME
OFF A TELEPROMPTER?</p>
@ -573,7 +573,7 @@
back around and points the pen straight at Karkat. The arc of his
arms motion is polished and decisive even though its been a long
time since hes properly used a sword.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: but you also need to be natural and speak
from the heart and shit</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: just like</p>
@ -600,7 +600,7 @@
props his chin on his palms so that he can watch Dave scribble
political ambitions directly into the shittiest paint program on
his OS.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: time to talk some strategy</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: we need to rally as much high profile support
to our cause as we can</p>
@ -642,7 +642,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">They stare at each other. Karkat sighs and
Dave raps his pen against the tablet screen in a slow, uneven
staccato.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: uh</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i think its fair to say shes going to be on
our side</p>
@ -711,7 +711,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Jakes butt flexes on the television, as if in
response. Karkat cannot avoid watching it from the corner of his
eye.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: OH, FUCK.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: no this is important</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: jake is a huge wild card here</p>
@ -758,7 +758,7 @@
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave fishes his phone out from his lap.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: dirks calling me</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT THE FUCK DOES HE WANT?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: idk he just calls me out of the blue from
@ -790,7 +790,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave hits the callback button. On the
television, Dirks phone begins ringing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: sup</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Hey dude.</p>
</div>
@ -804,7 +804,7 @@
hes shooting his sparring partner is caught halfway between
confused and exasperated.</p>
<p>Karkat looks from Dave to the TV and back again.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Got your sword handy?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: always</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Good. See, Im in sort a bind here.</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s20'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 20</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">J</span>ade gasps
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">J</span>ade gasps
awake, and begins to spiral.</p>
<p class="dirk">Her body vibrates, sending waves of space
distortion out in all directions. But theres nothing to absorb

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s21'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 21</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: holy shit thats disgusting</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: DONT BE A FUCKING XENOPHOBE</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: im not being a xenophobe</p>
@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
shuffles his feet to the edge of the outcropping theyre standing
on and stares down at the brood pit, where the Mother Grub of Earth
C is squelching out unfertilized jelly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: dude you know im not a xenophobe</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">No answer. This silence makes Dave
@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
<p class="dirk">Dave could definitely be handling this situation
with a certain measure of restraint or grace. But hes got my
genes, so he decides to handle it a different way than that.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: i mean thats what this whole election thing
is about</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: having your back when it comes to this
@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Karkat still doesnt answer. Hes staring
real intently at the jelly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: dude hey</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: karkat</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yo karkat you listening?</p>
@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
half in shadow and half in orange light. Dave winces as the grubs
nasty slime chute sputters out a bunch of air bubbles. Its a
gross, gurgling fart that goes on basically forever.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah but it is totally disgusting right</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I CANT FUCKING BELIEVE YOU</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT PART OF THIS IS DISGUSTING?</p>
@ -129,7 +129,7 @@
she was doing grub science, wiping her hands on a silk cloth. Shes
glowing. Her skin, I mean. Her mood can be politely described as
pensive. Still, she smiles at the sight of old friends.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: whats shaking sis</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Must You Always Call Me That</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: nah but it does feel pretty rad to say</p>
@ -151,7 +151,7 @@
common Davism that involves two hands and a double-wrist swivel.
Its an incredibly good imitation, because he sees this particular
bit of body language like ten times a day.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ...MOTION WITH YOUR HANDS DOESNT MAKE IT
SMOOTH</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: no see the reason its smooth is because i was
@ -182,14 +182,14 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Kanaya regards them with a thin-lipped
smile that is equal measures patronizing and fond.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: So This Is About The Election</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: AH.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YES.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YOUVE ALREADY HEARD.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Kanaya holds up her phone.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I Do Get The Internet Down Here</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I Am Impressed That You Managed To Be
Seen In Front Of That Many People Without Spontaneously Bursting
@ -235,7 +235,7 @@
hand there and pulls him a step closer so that she can speak softly
to him. Her voice travels high in the empty cavern, but her tone is
tender and private.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: While I Know That It Is Difficult For You
To Take A Direct Compliment</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I Have In The Past Put My Faith In You
@ -247,7 +247,7 @@
more carefully than usual. She takes her hand off Karkats head and
puts two fingers to her lip. Karkats eyes follow the motion, wide
and bright as dollar coins.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: *Existential*</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Is How I Think I Shall Put It</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: If We Are Going To Be Polite</p>
@ -255,7 +255,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Kanaya sighs and starts making her way
around the edge of the brood pit.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: How Could I Not Be When It Concerns Me So
Directly</p>
</div>
@ -268,7 +268,7 @@
he and I have in common.</p>
<p class="dirk">We internalize and project the quality in very
different ways, however, which is why Im going to win.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Jane Has Been Here To Speak With Me
Recently In Fact</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: no fucking way</p>
@ -288,7 +288,7 @@
steps between the puddles of brood jelly and approaches the Mother
Grub. She rests an ear against the rise of its massive stomach,
then taps the shell with two perfectly manicured fingernails.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: By Which I Mean That Jane Is Perfectly
Pleasant And I Believe That She Has Only The Best Of Intentions</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: But I Cant Shake The Feeling That Deep
@ -313,7 +313,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">When Kanaya is satisfied by whatever she
hears churning inside the grotesque insides of the giant bug, she
comes back up to the lip of the pit and hoists herself out.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: This Is Why I Trust You Karkat</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Because You Listen To Advice From Below
And Beside You Not From Above</p>
@ -323,7 +323,7 @@
<p class="dave">DAVE: so weve got your endorsement then</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">She laughs, not kindly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Jane Offered Me “A Seat” On The “Board Of
Responsible Troll Reproduction”</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT THE FUCK. HOW DARE SHE!</p>
@ -377,7 +377,7 @@
construct. Its pure ego for any of them to believe that their
personal interpretation of it will result in the most effective
laws.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: you know</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: that might be the magic ticket folks need to
hear to wake up about this issue</p>
@ -421,13 +421,13 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Dave mimes laying down and taking pills.
The look Kanaya gives him is neither fond nor patronizing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: whats up with that anyway</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: are you guys uh</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: grub pregnant</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Kanaya keeps staring.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: DAVE WHAT THE FUCK</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: No</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: its ok if you are we wont tell</p>
@ -462,7 +462,7 @@
you put a foot in your mouth, shoving it all the way through your
intestines and pulling it out your ass is a valid tactic, he seems
to believe.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: id be cool with it yknow</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: bring on the rosemary combo grubs</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Rosemary</p>
@ -499,23 +499,19 @@
it, because Im the one holding the phone, and Rose is in
absolutely no condition to be having a conversation with anyone.
Not even her cherished bride.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Hey,</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Sorry, but Rose cant come to the phone right
now.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Kanayas voice turns sharp right
away.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: <em>Excuse Me</em></p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">She can sense that somethings wrong.
Shes also smart enough, and facile enough</p>
<p>in handling questionable men, to understand that she quickly
needs to regulate the</p>
<span class="Standard-Text CharOverride-32">tone of her voice for
diplomatic purposes.</span>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
Shes also smart enough, and facile enough in handling questionable men, to understand that she quickly needs to regulate the tone of her voice for diplomatic purposes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Dirk</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Is That You</p>
</div>
@ -523,14 +519,14 @@
distracted by something. She really should chill out, anyway. Ive
got everything under control. Not that shell ever be able to fully
appreciate this.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Dirk</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Why Are You With Rose</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: <em>What Is Going On</em></p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">I dont have time to explain right now.
Johns doing something vaguely important to the plot again.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Kanaya, I dont have time to explain right
now.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Johns doing something vaguely important to

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@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s22'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 22</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">Y</span>ouve been
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">Y</span>ouve been
drifting so long that youve lost the ability to objectively judge
time or depth or distance. Its getting hard to think about
yourself as an objectively limited being. The boundaries of your
@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
gods? Why shouldnt we become <em>one God</em>.</p>
<p class="dirk">You scrunch up your nerdy face and furrow an
eyebrow. It seems you arent enjoying this train of thought.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: why am i even THINKING about this
bullshit??</p>
</div>
@ -46,14 +46,14 @@
right now. Im having a phenomenological debate in my third ear
thats way more popping than your little heros journey into the
belly of a quarter-life crisis.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: argh!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">It turns out you dont have time to worry
about the voice inside your head, because you hear one outside of
it. At first you dont think its real. You think it must be an
aural mirage. Then it calls you the fuck out.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: yo blue guy</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: get the shell down here</p>
</div>
@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
<p class="dirk">Shes clinging to a random server beacon, looking a
little the worse for wear but still grinning. You float on down to
greet her.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: thank god. i was beginning to think that no
one else was alive.</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: im not alive</p>
@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">She narrows her blank eyes. Her mouth
twists into a frown. Not quite a concerned one, but close enough.
Youll take it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: i gotta say</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: damn buoy ya look like S)-(IT</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah, i know.</p>
@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
arent glad to see Meenah, but you dont <em>know</em> her, and
shes not who you were really looking for.</p>
<p class="dirk">That reminds you.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: hey, uh...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: mee...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: fish?</p>
@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">This is without a doubt one of the worst
conversations youve had in many, many years. And you arent just
thinking that because Im telling you you are.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: well...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: shes...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i dunno.</p>
@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">Youve never been accused of having
stellar people-reading skills. But even you can tell the look on
her face says it all right now.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: wait a minute.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: do you even know MY name?</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: uhhh</p>
@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
pulls out a small, clamshell-shaped accessory kit, and begins to
file her nails. She almost dislocates her jaw by yawning the moment
you mention Jake.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: alright, were veering off course.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: jade is my sister.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i think shes still out here, somewhere.</p>
@ -167,7 +167,7 @@
person.</p>
<p class="dirk">You exhale, and just let some stuff off your
chest.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: man i...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i just didnt expect everything to go to shit
so fast.</p>
@ -184,7 +184,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">Theres another awkward silence. You
spend most of it looking at your feet, until something occurs to
you.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: so whats your plan now?</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: plan</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah.</p>
@ -207,7 +207,7 @@
Thats what she <em>could</em> be thinking, you think. You hope not
though, because if true, it would hurt your self-esteem.</p>
<p class="dirk">She finally appears to make up her mind.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: naaah</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: why not?</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: ok for one thing genius</p>
@ -228,12 +228,12 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">You lean in rather credulously, and bring
your ear toward her cupped hand.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<p class="meenah">MEENAH: (nerd)</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: (nerd)</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">You pull back, unamused by the prank.
What is this, you think. Fucking amateur hour?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: reel cute you wanna be my savior blue
boy</p>
<p class="feferi">MEENAH: but the fact is you already helped me
@ -247,19 +247,19 @@
her.</p>
<p class="dirk">Oh, shit. I think I know what just happened. You
might want to check your pockets.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: wait a...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: minute...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">You fruitlessly fumble around in your
front hoodie pocket.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: wait a fucking MINUTE!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Sure enough, its missing. The Ring of
Life you stole back from Aranea has been re-stolen. Bitch just
picked your pocket. You got played, man.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: <em>fuck!</em></p>
</div>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s23'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 23</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Why Are You With Rose</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: What Is Going On</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Why would you think something was going
@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
easy?</p>
<p class="dirk">Kanaya loves Rose, but sometimes love just isnt
enough. Sometimes what you need is <em>understanding.</em></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: You Are Testing My Patience Sorely
Dirk</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Yeah, Ive gotten pretty good at that.</p>
@ -122,7 +122,7 @@
<p class="dirk">Rose looks up from where shes suffering on the
floor. The shadows around her are growing. She stares at me with
glassy eyes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Is everything okay?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Yeah. Just a telemarketer.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: You know how those carapacians can be when

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s24'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 24</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">T</span>he server
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">T</span>he server
Meenah fled through is a distant speck now. You look back, and
cant even see it anymore. In fact, youre not even sure youre
looking in the right direction. You are utterly adrift, continuing
@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
suppose.</p>
<p class="dirk">She waves back. But hearing her voice is what makes
it real.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: H3Y LOS3R</p>
</div>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s25'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 25</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Customarily, we speak in favorable terms
about “getting to know each other” as people.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Humans, I mean. I doubt trolls are as fixated
@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
faded to light behind her, assuming the shape of a Rose-like
apparition. I nod to her, and she continues. When she speaks, its
almost as if its the apparition thats doing the talking.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: But is it really a good idea?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: To know a person?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Know them inside and out, so thoroughly that
@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
of intellectual pablum could pour out of my mouth any second, and
shes not prepared. For all she knows, Im about to start quoting
Kierkegaard.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Please dont start quoting Kierkegaard.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Youve never even read Kierkegaard, have
you.</p>
@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
attributes it to exhaustion, an all-encompassing sense of weakness
due to her condition. Of course, she <em>has</em> been weakened by
her condition, and thus she suspects nothing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Never mind.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: You shouldnt be moving around much in your
condition, remember?</p>
@ -202,7 +202,7 @@
To be honest, I dont even notice myself until Ive done it. I
continue speaking, and she remains rapt. But now even I cant help
but wonder where Im going with this.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Logically speaking, individuality is a
collection of processes and properties, interrelations of matter
and experience all bundled together.</p>
@ -214,7 +214,7 @@
narratively permitted a response. Im forgetting myself, like a
fool. Distracted by the surprise my own actions have caused me. I
resolve to stay focused, remain in control. I let her speak.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: I dont understand.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: You do, though.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Weve been talking about it, but using
@ -248,7 +248,7 @@
concentration speaking to the migraine she must be fighting now.
Small beads of sweat appear on her forehead. She wont respond. And
not because I havent allowed it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Rose, stop being a fucking martyr and open
your eyes.</p>
</div>
@ -263,7 +263,7 @@
she drifts beyond the torments of her unbundling mind. My words
feel like her own intimate thoughts and my distant voice in the
room at the same time.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Open your eyes wider.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: What do you see?</p>
</div>
@ -273,7 +273,7 @@
shuddering breath and runs an invisible pair of hands afforded by
her new sight over the narrative whole cloth, and begins smoothing
out the wrinkles.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: I see... John.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Doing exactly what you told him to do, like a
good boy.</p>
@ -301,7 +301,7 @@
yourself, stop what youre doing, flip the whole thing over, and
begin again. Ill be right here when you get back, waiting. Trust
me, no ones going anywhere.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: So, what do you think?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Its difficult to say.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: I suppose there are negatives and positives.
@ -347,7 +347,7 @@
of micromanaging the inconsistent and confused desires of total
imbeciles, wouldnt it be a relief to have someone by my side who
understood me?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Youre almost there.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: All your eyes are open, Rose.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Now all you need to do is take a step off the
@ -380,7 +380,7 @@
either. Its like the first time you see the Green Sun. Of course
it is, because thats the way Im describing it. The truth belongs
to me. And as of now, so does she.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: I see it now.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Youre right.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Have I ever not been?</p>
@ -388,13 +388,13 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">A wrinkle in her brow. It smoothes out
quickly. She murmurs to herself, trailing off quietly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: What... time is it...?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">I step forward and steady her, hand firm
but gentle against her cheek. Thats all she needs: a stable
anchor.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Rose, does time even exist?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">You already know the answer.</p>

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@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s26'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 26</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">J</span>ade kicks
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">J</span>ade kicks
her shoeless feet behind her slowly, as if shes swimming with the
current of the gravitational waves pulling her ever closer to their
source. Her feet arent completely bare; theyre still covered by

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s27'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 27</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">A</span>nd then,
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">A</span>nd then,
she opens her eyes.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">not the jade who just returned to me. the
jade living on earth c, sleeping on a couch.</p>
@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">she snaps awake. her human hands
are clammy. her face, expressive due to the layers of flesh
enveloping her skull, appears haunted to her friends.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: omg!</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: jade</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: jade u ok?</p>
@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
So maybe we could stand to dial down the melodrama, just a bit?</p>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">when jade turns to look at roxy,
her eyes are completely black.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: woah</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: what the actual f...</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: are you</p>
@ -102,14 +102,14 @@
wails in protest at his imminent narrative impotence. however,
there is nothing he can do as long as jade remains in this
trance.</p>
<p>Nah, Im being chill as a cucumber about this, considering
<p class="no-indent dirk">Nah, Im being chill as a cucumber about this, considering
youre vagueblogging the shit out of my methodological approach to
storytelling right where I can see it. Which is to say, directly
into my fucking brain, apparently?</p>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">calliope emerges from the
kitchen, carrying a bowl of cool water and a cloth. jade turns her
head to meet the sound of their footsteps.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: i came back as fast as i coU—</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">the bowl of water clatters to
@ -125,7 +125,7 @@
slides off the couch to approach them. but calliope stumbles
backward in terror and trips in their desperation to escape. roxy
gapes at them.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: hey callie</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: whats going on?</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: i...</p>
@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">calliope does not talk to them.
roxy looks to calliope, then to jade, sensing that there is dark
energy coursing between them.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: would one of you just effing say something
already?</p>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s28'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 28</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: uh, how long have you been watching?</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: LONG 3NOUGH TO SM3LL YOU FL41L1NG 4BOUT
L1K3 4 W1GGL3R WH1L3 T4LK1NG TO J4D3S SHO3S</p>
@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
<p class="calliope-dead">and he does mean more to her than that.
her hesitation isnt meant to make him feel unwelcome. shes simply
processing what she is “seeing.” something is off about him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: JOHN DO NOT T4K3 TH1S P3RSON4LLY</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 4LTHOUGH 1 DO 4BSOLUT3LY M34N 1T
P3RSON4LLY</p>
@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
<p class="calliope-dead">she decides to keep her observations to
herself, lest she cause this ailing version of john more
confusion.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah well... you smell like shit too!</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1 4SSUM3 TH4T YOU 4R3 CORR3CT</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: B31NG TH4T 1V3 B33N OUT H3R3 FOR 4
@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">john laughs, exposing his two
rows of disarmingly dull human teeth, signature characteristics of
his smile.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: oh this?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: its only a flesh wound, haha.</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: Y3S JOHN, G3N3R4LLY WOUNDS T3ND TO H4PP3N
@ -121,7 +121,7 @@
between ones archetypical appearance and idiosyncratic personal
attributes. terezi is definitely cute, john decides. the conclusion
is now at the forefront of his mind.</p>
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">I dont fucking believe
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom">I dont fucking believe
this.</span></p>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">but he still resists, doubts
himself. perhaps its even weirder to frame it this way, he
@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
entertained by a man of low character. by, perhaps, a scoundrel.
his worries are interrupted, as terezi floats over and flicks him
on the forehead.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: DONT STR41N YOURS3LF TH1NK1NG TOO H4RD
TH3R3 3GB3RT</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: uh, yeah, now that i think about it, that was
@ -160,7 +160,7 @@
compared to humans, trolls have little color to lose. when they
feel ill, there is a pallor to them, a dusty quality running deeper
than the surface of the skin.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: woah! are you ok?</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: OF COURS3 NOT!</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: JOHN, 1 4M 1N TH3 PROC3SS OF ST4RV1NG TO
@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
temptation to playfully antagonize john against the virtue of
sincere expression. there are times she worries the latter may be
more appropriate.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: TH4NKS 3GB3RT</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: no problem. were friends, terezi...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: its not like im going to let you die out
@ -212,7 +212,7 @@
his ever-prepared father must have captchalogued a second one as a
backup. perhaps, as john speculates, in case his primary vehicle
got a flat tire.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: ...</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: YOU WH4T JOHN?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: uh, hold that thought...</p>
@ -223,7 +223,7 @@
from the dealership. it strikes john as the first bit of good luck
hes had all day.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">terezi is less impressed.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1S TH1S P4TH3T1C4LLY PR1M1T1V3 FOUR WH33L
D3V1C3 3D1BL3, OR 4M 1 M1SUND3RST4ND1NG SOM3TH1NG H3R3</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: no, its just that i...</p>
@ -250,7 +250,7 @@
of the woods. it is confident only in its surety of being
unobserved. like this, he does not think she is cute at all. no,
she is beautiful. this vision of her is haunting to him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1TS R34LLY 4 M3SS OUT H3R3 1SNT 1T</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah...</p>
</div>
@ -258,7 +258,7 @@
to search for something edible and to take his eyes away from her.
objects begin appearing around him as he leafs through the cards. a
crumpled fedora. a silk tie. his fathers backup cufflinks.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: what are you doing out here anyway?</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: WH4T DO YOU TH1NK 1M DO1NG OUT H3R3?</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: LOOK1NG FOR VR1SK4 OF COURS3</p>
@ -285,7 +285,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">terezi stares at him with her
wide, red eyes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: Y34RS...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: yes.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: oh. a year is about half a sw—</p>
@ -311,7 +311,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">she leans in close to sniff him
carefully.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: HMMM</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: YOU SM3LL OLD3R</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: BUT NOT 4S OLD 4S 1 THOUGHT YOUD B3</p>
@ -323,7 +323,7 @@
quickly snatches something out of the open wallet. it is a can of
human shaving cream. she clutches it with covetous desperation, her
mouth watering.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: terezi, no!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: thats not food!!</p>
</div>
@ -341,7 +341,7 @@
<p class="calliope-dead">but no. its just my brothers tooth,
lodged deep in his chest, spreading its poison. it really should be
extracted before its too late.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: um... you feel better?</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: Y3S</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: thats good.</p>
@ -354,7 +354,7 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">she grabs him by the shirt. her
voice begins to waver. he notices desperation in the dark circles
under her eyes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: PL34S3 JOHN</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: C4N W3 JUST</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: ST4Y 4 L1TTL3 LONG3R?</p>
@ -364,7 +364,7 @@
he redoubles his effort to ignore the pain. he fights back tears.
she can sense his great struggle but says nothing. with a tilt of
his head, he gestures toward the car.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: um. ok.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: we can stay a little longer.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: why dont you rest in the back seat, so you

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s29'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 29</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">T</span>he
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">T</span>he
elevator to janes office opens, and she stumbles inside. the last
traces of trickster mode are bleeding off her aura. the great gift
of this sacred boon has run its course for the evening, and though
@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
many detractors who claim that the whole thing is “extremely
problematic.” i doubt this is true but must also acknowledge it
exceeds the scope of my expertise to comment on the subject.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Oh my goodness.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Its NOT problematic!</p>
</div>
@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
responding to her own inner monologue, which i, admittedly, am
presently conducting. she appears to agree with me on this matter.
the juju has truly blessed her with great wisdom.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: I have endured this argument for years, and I
honestly cannot see a single thing about it that could be even
thinly construed as <em>problematic</em>.</p>
@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
could possibly say it myself. it is unusually gratifying to witness
a human with such high regard for hallowed cultural artifacts and
the unparalleled blessings they bestow upon lesser beings.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Wait, who am I talking to?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">jane rubs her eyes under her
@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
desk, her legs shaking as if she has just run a great distance.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">the moment she sits down, her phone begins
to ring.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Yes?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Yo, dont spend too much time in Trickster
Mode.</p>
@ -149,7 +149,7 @@
not the type who takes well to having his plans upended, or his
control of a shared vehicle fully suppressed. my brother wasnt
much that type either.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Oh, fuck off. Im nothing like that guy.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Huh?</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: What guy?</p>
@ -181,7 +181,7 @@
examine the firing mechanism.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">the prince clearly believes he is a very
clever boy. my brother did too.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: (Christ.)</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: So, on the Jake issue,</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Unfortunately, my influence is a
@ -260,7 +260,7 @@
place. he sets the weapon on his shoulder so he can test the view
through the scope. the setting sun bounces off the slick, red metal
and slices a bar of light across the wall behind him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Sigh.</p>
<p class="jane">JANE: Dirk... do you want me to deal with Jake or
not? Youve offered nothing helpful yet, but youve shot down all
@ -275,7 +275,7 @@
the mantle. she admires it longingly. piously. she will never
relinquish her priceless boon, no matter what reprehensible lies
the prince whispers into her ear.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jane">JANE: Then what do you want me to DO?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Play defense for a while. Like I said, Ive
got some cakes in the oven so to speak.</p>
@ -295,15 +295,15 @@
loaded, but the shot goes off without a hitch.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">what do you think youre up to,
prince?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: <span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Your
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: <span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom">Your
ass is mine, Jake English.</span></p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">he speaks under his breath
inaudibly, perhaps frustrated, unaccustomed to scheming while
others look over his shoulder. its possible he is not as bold, or
as confident in his own designs as i believed.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: I <em>fucking</em> said, your ass is mine,
Jake English.</p>
</div>

View File

@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
<div id='s3'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 3</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="Command">&gt; JOHN: Zap.</p>
<p class="no-indent">You zap back into canon. Its been so long,
youd forgotten what it feels like. The atmosphere smacks
@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
and his codpiece jiggles ominously. Aranea staggers to her feet,
looking rather pleased with herself. Until she notices you and
gapes in bewilderment.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aranea">ARANEA: What are you doing here?!</p>
</div>
<p class="Command">&gt; Rose was perfectly clear about what to do

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s30'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 30</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Ah chaps dont you love to take a rigorous
jaunt about the wilds first thing in the morning, middle thing in
the day, and last thing in the evening?</p>
@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
rigorously, as he put it, up the ridge of the mountain behind his
mansion. every now and then, he pauses to accommodate the pace of
his less limber friends.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: By jove karkat that you are so winded by such
little activity is truly alarming!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WEVE BEEN HIKING FOR A FUCKING HOUR,
@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
he sets his companion upright and continues to guide him with his
hand on his back as he walks, the way an older human does with a
small child who is learning to ride a bicycle.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: hey jake were cool on the whole cardio
program or whatever</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: karkats not really what id call a kinesthetic
@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">jake spins around in his worn
boots. he bites his lip and looks at the ground.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Ah i see. That was your purpose in coming out
here.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah</p>
@ -135,7 +135,7 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">a look of sadness sweeps across
jakes face, but he quickly turns it into a glare of
indignation.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Ive seen the shit YOUVE been saying about
HER!</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Your poorly optimized billboards about “huge
@ -158,7 +158,7 @@
his presence more than once. in his estimation, there are few
individuals on this world who would benefit less from an in-depth
discussion of political financing procedure than jake english.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: LOOK, DAVE. JAKE REALLY DOESNT CARE WHAT
A SUPER PAC IS.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I DONT THINK ANYONE CARES ABOUT FUCKING
@ -179,7 +179,7 @@
mouth, and bumps him away with his hip, so that he may continue
saying things he regards as terribly important for others to
hear.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: ok but thats partially my point</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: were doing all our propaganda in house
instead of outsourcing to unscrupulous shadow networks with deep
@ -220,7 +220,7 @@
internally, jake becomes pensive, thoughtful. he kicks a rock over
the edge of the trail and watches it bounce down the mountain with
a baleful expression.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Willickers dave has anyone ever told you that
you have an uncanny talent for cutting straight and incisively to
the point without sweating any of the bullshit.</p>
@ -283,7 +283,7 @@
princes grip. an old confidence fills him as he continues to
speak, a feeling of inner freedom he hasnt enjoyed in some
time.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Why should i side with either of you?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Flattery is all well and good but i hardly
think i would bother casting my knickers in with anyones lot based
@ -311,7 +311,7 @@
but he realizes its only a tiny insect buzzing about his ear. a
gnat-like presence of absolutely no consequence. he simply waves it
away.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: ok yeah we can do that</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: you mean like</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: an actual pitch?</p>
@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
with sweeping conviction, and yet create a sense of intimacy when
addressing an individual. he has learned to come across as one who
was once a leader, and could be again.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: LOOK, JAKE.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IM NOT GOING TO TRY TO SELL YOU SOME
LUDICROUS STORY ABOUT HOW IM THE BEST CANDIDATE EARTH C HAS EVER
@ -424,7 +424,7 @@
<p class="calliope-dead">and to whatever extent the prince intends
to put jakes life in jeopardy, for now, his agency remains safely
obscured from his sniper sight.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Well dash my wig!</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Ill do it!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: DASH YOUR WHAT?</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s31'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 31</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">T</span>erezi is
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">T</span>erezi is
munching her way through another tin of human fatherly tobacco as
john crawls into the back seat. this has been their ritual for
several days. precisely how many, they couldnt say. between her
@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
knees up to his chest, unsure how to act around terezi or how much
room to give her.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">she holds out a handful of tobacco.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: W4NT SOM3 D3L1C1OUS DRY C4NDY
SH4V1NGS?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ew, no.</p>
@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
off her hand. his eyes cant help but follow the motion of her
tongue. it leaves a trail of faintly teal saliva behind that
glistens in the strange light coming through the windows.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: its like... a poison plant. youre not
supposed to eat it, youre supposed to put it in a pipe and smoke
it.</p>
@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
look. her thick eyelashes shadow her gaze. he feels anxious without
knowing why. its as if hes waiting for something to happen. for
something to change.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: WHY JOHN</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 4R3 YOU CUR1OUS 4BOUT M3? H3H3H3H3</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: no!</p>
@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">terezis expression changes in a
subtle way, slowly, like the tide pulling out. she snaps the
tobacco tin shut and sets it down on the floor of the car.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1...</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: SUPPOS3 1 C4N B3 PR3TTY D1FF1CULT TO B3
4ROUND</p>
@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">he unfolds his legs, so he can
set a comforting hand on her shoulder. he wonders if hes allowing
it to linger there longer than it should.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: look.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ive been really depressed and antisocial for
the last few years.</p>
@ -129,7 +129,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">he pushes her shoulder, lightly,
so that theyre looking at each other.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: terezi.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i want to have a real conversation with
you.</p>
@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
nose contact with john, in a way that comes across as intently
sincere. this arrangement lasts for about ten seconds before her
mouth cracks in a grin, and she doubles over laughing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 4H4H4H4H4H4H4!</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: OH MY GOD TH4TS TH3 L4M3ST TH1NG 1V3
H34RD 1N MY 3NT1R3 L1F3</p>
@ -160,12 +160,12 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">she pulls her legs up under her.
her shoes catch the light and reflect it all over the ceiling in
little red dots. johns heart skips a beat.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: youre wearing jades shoes.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">terezi frowns, and then her eyes
widen as if shes been caught. her reply is defensive.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: TH3Y W3R3 1N TH3 W4LL3T</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: oh yeah. i guess i put them in there.</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1 L1K3 TH3M</p>
@ -179,7 +179,7 @@
billions of pieces of debris from several shattered planets. he
pictures terezis lifeless body as it collapses onto a
corpse-shaped chalk outline she drew for herself.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: you know what happened, right? the first time
we all met up and tried to fight the condesce?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: we were completely unprepared and basically
@ -211,12 +211,12 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">suddenly, terezis voice is very
small.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1 R3M3MB3R 4LL TH4T</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: you do?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">she nods, smiling grimly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: TH4TS WHY 1M OUT H3R3</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: YOU S33...</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: TH4T DOOM3D T3R3Z1 M1SS3D VR1SK4 *SO*
@ -252,7 +252,7 @@
notices his own palm grazing up the side of her neck to cup her
face. the act was made with barely a thought, and his own boldness
surprises himself.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: you SAVED everyone!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: youre the only reason we were able to defeat
lord english and win the game at all!</p>
@ -266,7 +266,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">terezi shrugs out from under his
grasp but doesnt move away.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: S1GH</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: DONT G3T M3 WRONG</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1M NOT D1SCOUNT1NG TH3 OBJ3CT1V3 V4LU3 OF
@ -301,7 +301,7 @@
reminds himself that he never wanted perfection, never asked for
it. and yet he feels guilty every day for failing to enjoy it as
much as he believes he was supposed to.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: youre right. i dont.</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1F YOUV3 B33N D3PR3SS3D 4ND 4NT1SOC14L
@ -319,7 +319,7 @@
him, patient and sympathetic.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">she tips her head to one side, and
asks,</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: WH4T 3ND3D UP H4PP3N1NG W1TH ROXY?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: dunno.</p>
@ -340,7 +340,7 @@
<p class="john">JOHN: what makes you say that?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">she taps her nose and winks.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1 DUNNO</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: TH4TS WH4T H4V1NG 4 HUNCH FUCK1NG M34NS,
N3RD!</p>
@ -359,12 +359,12 @@
home with him.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">he wonders if the time is right. the time
to ask.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: terezi... come home with me.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">she shakes her head. her face is
turned against the light so he cant read her expression.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1M NOT R34DY Y3T</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: when WILL you be ready?</p>
@ -383,7 +383,7 @@
has a smear of shaving cream on the hem of her shirt, crusted over
from sitting there for hours. she sniffs at the residue, then lifts
her shirt to lick it off, crinkling her nose.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: HMM</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: YOU COULD B3 ON TO SOM3TH1NG</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: at least let me make a supply run.</p>
@ -393,12 +393,12 @@
uncontroversial compromise to offer, so he pulls back, preparing to
travel back to earth c via his retcon capability. but terezi grabs
him by the wrist.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: W41T</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">her eyes are wide, her voice
cracked and desperate.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: DONT GO</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: PL34S3 JOHN</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: ST4Y W1TH M3 JUST 4 L1TTL3 LONG3R</p>
@ -415,7 +415,7 @@
<p class="calliope-dead">they are silent for a minute. they both
stare ahead at the car seats in front of them, sitting close enough
to hear the beat of each others hearts.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: ...DO YOU</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: W4NT M3 TO T4K3 4 LOOK 4T YOUR WOUND?</p>
</div>
@ -425,7 +425,7 @@
he dwells on it, he can feel the ache again, both from the tooth
piercing his flesh and, more insidiously, from the poison it has
been delivering into his bloodstream.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: oh, um.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah, we should probably do something about
that.</p>
@ -439,12 +439,12 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">he rolls his eyes. terezi
produces her cane and unsheathes the blade in one fluid motion. the
metal rasps against the grain of its sheath, rather loudly.
<span class="dirk type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Im sorry, what? No
<span class="dirk type-bs type-hs-bottom">Im sorry, what? No
it doesnt.</span> the noise resounds throughout the sealed
interior of the car <span class="dirk type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Actually, drawing a sword is pretty quiet. It only makes that sound in the movies.</span>and rings through johns skull like a gunshot.</p>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="dirk type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Are you seriously manifesting inaccurate physical properties of
swords for the sole purpose of antago</span>john reflexively backs up against the door at <span class="dirk type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Oh, fuck this.</span> the sight of the blade.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
interior of the car <span class="dirk type-bs type-hs-bottom">Actually, drawing a sword is pretty quiet. It only makes that sound in the movies.</span>and rings through johns skull like a gunshot.</p>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="dirk type-bs type-hs-bottom">Are you seriously manifesting inaccurate physical properties of
swords for the sole purpose of antago</span>john reflexively backs up against the door at <span class="dirk type-bs type-hs-bottom">Oh, fuck this.</span> the sight of the blade.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: woah!</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: HOLD ST1LL 1F YOU DONT W4NT TO D13 FOR
R34L</p>
@ -461,7 +461,7 @@
edges, bruised all around. his entire torso appears to be a mottled
mess of purple and yellow, like a sort of fancy earth cheese.
terezis blade cuts into it as easily as if it were.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: oh FUCK!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ow!!!!!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: could have used some warning there,
@ -486,7 +486,7 @@
lashes brush the ridges of her cheekbones.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">her nostrils are flared, assessing the
scent of his blood.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 4R3 W3 DO1NG TH1S OR WH4T?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">he presses his eyes shut, and
@ -495,14 +495,14 @@
himself. as his own thoughts struggle to be honest with him, he
cannot disguise the truth from me. what he is fighting is an
intense desire to kiss her.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: g... go for it.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">she grinds the sword between two
of his ribs. the pain returns instantly, his acclimation erased
nearly as quickly. he clenches his jaw hard, and his head spins.
terezis blade catches against something.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: HMMM</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1TS LODG3D 1N TH3R3 PR3TTY GOOD</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: BR4C3 YOURS3LF 3GB3RT, TH1S 1S GO1NG TO
@ -517,7 +517,7 @@
the car, in what suddenly strikes john as a fairly unhygienic
surgical situation, and grabs his shirt with two clenched, red
fists.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1 N33D TO STOP TH3 BL33D1NG</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: JUST FOLLOW MY L34D</p>
</div>
@ -547,7 +547,7 @@
contradict ones true thoughts and feelings. irrational. unbecoming
of an existence governed by free will.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">what are you waiting for, john?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: um.</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: FOR FUCKS S4K3 JOHN, DONT S4Y 4NYTH1NG
STUP1D R1GHT NOW</p>
@ -568,7 +568,7 @@
really wants to do, which is ghost his hands all the way up the
curve of her spine.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">she sighs into his mouth.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: OH MY GOD YOUR BLOOD SM3LLS D3L1C1OUS</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: woah.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: um, wow.</p>
@ -580,7 +580,7 @@
snarl and wraps both her hands around his neck. she doesnt press
down, but the weight of her thumbs above his throat makes his heart
race.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: D1DNT 1 T3LL YOU</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: DONT</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: S4Y</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s32'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 32</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">R</span>oxy is
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">R</span>oxy is
nervously dialing roses number repeatedly. then they try kanaya.
considering roses failing health, roxy hates to bother her, but
they arent sure who else to call regarding jades unexpected
@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
conversations with dave simply have a reliable habit of straying
far from the desired topic for extended periods of time. he picks
up on the third ring.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: yo</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: love to chat but im kinda in the middle of
something</p>
@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
jake as he heads toward the podium. he is scheduled to give a
speech announcing his official endorsement of karkat vantas in his
bid for the presidency.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: idk about that</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: in terms of scale and relativity and stuff
maybe not</p>
@ -86,10 +86,10 @@
on daves end. the gathered crowd is relaxed by the warmth. many of
them partake in the pleasure of a cool treat, such as earth “iced”
cream.</p>
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Jesus fuck, this is
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom">Jesus fuck, this is
excruciating.</span></p>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">it isnt. <span class="dirk type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Yeah it is.</span> no. it is not.
<span class="dirk type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Okay. Whatever the
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">it isnt. <span class="dirk type-bs type-hs-bottom">Yeah it is.</span> no. it is not.
<span class="dirk type-bs type-hs-bottom">Okay. Whatever the
fuck you say.</span></p>
<p class="calliope-dead">the audience is large and diverse. mostly
trolls and carapacians, but it is dotted with representation from
@ -97,9 +97,9 @@
certainly, but the very model of diversity compared to the crowds
of his opponent. it is a true inspiration to all those who have
placed their faith in the vantas ticket.</p>
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Lord save me from this fake woke
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom">Lord save me from this fake woke
nightmare.</span> <span class="calliope-dead">be quiet.</span>
<span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">No.</span> <span class="calliope-dead">yes.</span> <span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Let me fucking say stuff again.</span>
<span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom">No.</span> <span class="calliope-dead">yes.</span> <span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom">Let me fucking say stuff again.</span>
<span class="calliope-dead">no.</span></p>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">dave stops walking, and cups a
hand around his phone in order to hear roxy over the chatter of the
@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
manner which signals to karkat that he should attempt to stall.</p>
<p>You want to keep shutting me down? Fine. But check THIS shit
out.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: lmao dirk just texted me about this</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: somehow he found out about jade did u tell
him</p>
@ -210,7 +210,7 @@
me? How about we call a truce and end this petty feud. This is your
one and only chance to accept.</p>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">no.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: jakes on ur side then?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: wasnt that hard to convince him after your
@ -252,21 +252,21 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">yes, is the resounding answer.
calliope <em>is</em> beautiful, roxy thinks. and furthermore, they
think they should be reminded of this fact every day.</p>
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Lol.</span></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom">Lol.</span></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: you rly believe in him dont u</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: of course i do</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: because i...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Love him? Come on, man. Just say
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom">Love him? Come on, man. Just say
it.</span></p>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">roxy listens for a moment after
he trails off. they do not speculate or comment on his feelings
toward karkat, because it is none of their business.</p>
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Pussies. Im surrounded by fucking
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom">Pussies. Im surrounded by fucking
pussies.</span></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: hey before you jet can i ask you another
question</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: theres somethin else ive been meanin to ask u
@ -274,7 +274,7 @@
<p class="dave">DAVE: uh alright shoot</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">they take a deep breath.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: yea soooo</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: dave how did you come out</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: ...</p>
@ -312,7 +312,7 @@
now...</p>
<p>Thats because he needs me. Hes suffering without my guidance.
If only youd stop being so cruel and let me help.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: anyway uh</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: thats a pretty deep question considering all
the shit we have going on right now</p>
@ -357,7 +357,7 @@
performance of his signature booty-bumping charleston for the
crowds entertainment, so they will be satiated for another few
minutes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: ok so</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: what ive learned is</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: coming to terms with all this bullshit is a
@ -471,7 +471,7 @@
of their gradual gender transformation. how would calliope feel
about that? what is it that calliope themself understands or cares
about gender?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: The Prince opens his fucking mouth, and just
literally starts SAYING SHIT, out loud, because he doesnt think he
can take another fucking second listening to a pompous alien virgin
@ -483,7 +483,7 @@
compensate for his feelings of disempowerment. while the strategy
he is resorting to has moderate value as an amusement and a
nuisance, it will ultimately be of no consequence whatsoever.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: No consequence, my ass. You may be able to
suppress what I do with my mind, but you have no control over my
mouth. Im nobodys fucking puppet.</p>
@ -492,7 +492,7 @@
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Theyre mine.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">whatever you say.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Do you even know where I am right now?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Do you have the <em>slightest</em> idea what
Im up to?</p>
@ -513,7 +513,7 @@
anticipated his attempt to assassinate his own friend in order to
advance his political goals, and that i am prepared to take
measures which make this impossible.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Yeah, well. Try and stop me then.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: I fucking dare you.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Here I go. Im walking up the tower stairs
@ -529,7 +529,7 @@
flash through his mind, thoughts of giving up and retiring to his
sad little robotics lab so he can continue with his true passion:
the ongoing corruption of his cerebrally impaired daughter.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Argh. Wow, yeah.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Youre right. My feet are definitely getting
heavy.</p>
@ -551,7 +551,7 @@
dislodged from its fixture with a loud crack. the huge, multiton
bell plummets, crushing the surrounding staircases in its wake as
it careens toward a young man consumed by hubris.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: The Prince busts out his sword and makes
short work of that big old bell.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: The slicing is accompanied by the
@ -566,14 +566,14 @@
apologize for my amateurism.”</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">no i dont.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Sure you do.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">this foolishness is interrupted
as we resume listening to a conversation which we are all
considerably more invested in than catering to the inconsequential
flailing of a grown man who fancies himself an earth ninja.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: well lets just say internalized whatevers are
kind of like an onion</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: theres lots of layers</p>
@ -602,14 +602,14 @@
direction. something is off here. a dark feeling brewing in his
intuition, which he decides to monitor as he wraps up his call with
roxy.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Im on top of the tower now. Ive got my long
sniper rifle ready and everything.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: I check to see if its loaded. It is. I get
in the PERFECT spot for taking aim at this hunky imbecile whos
about to give a speech.</p>
</div>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: anyway i dont think any of our friends are
gonna hold your feet to the flames over dumb shit like this</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: and its not like anyone else is gonna care
@ -660,7 +660,7 @@
about to be an assassination attempt. karkat must be protected. and
jake, the intended target, must be obscured from a snipers
path.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: karkat! dude!!!</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: GET DOWN!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT?????</p>
@ -678,7 +678,7 @@
everyone knows that for all of the princes shortcomings, he would
never expose his beloved brother and son to the risk of a heroic
death.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Youre absolutely right.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: I would never do that.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Id never kill Dave, no matter what I felt
@ -691,7 +691,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">and what would those things
be?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: First of all, this gun is loaded.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: But not with bullets.</p>
</div>
@ -707,14 +707,14 @@
pull off two tranquilizing shots at dave and then jake in quick
succession, before he is stopped. it certainly would be a risk to
even try. but as the humans say: no guts, no glory.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Yes. Youre right about the tranquilizer.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: But theres one more fact youre not aware
of.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Which is that I never intended to aim for
Jake at all.</p>
</div>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: hellooooooo</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: dave??</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: whered ya go</p>
@ -723,7 +723,7 @@
dave continues guarding jake, pausing for a moment their critical
discussion of human gender. meanwhile, the prince lowers the rifle,
and strongly reconsiders the foolishness he has initiated here.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: No, thats not what he does.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: He swings the rifle around one hundred eighty
degrees, and points the scope toward the large, now-curtainless
@ -737,7 +737,7 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">his finger tenses up, quite
painfully. perhaps its a cramp? whatever the malady, it isnt
budging.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Ow!</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Yeah, you got me. Cant move it an inch.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: The only problem is, he doesnt need to pull
@ -748,12 +748,12 @@
<p class="dirk">DIRK: All he needs to do is say...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">he doesnt say it.</p>
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Oh, but he DOES.</span></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom">Oh, but he DOES.</span></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: FIRE.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">...</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: I see. So youre not going to say what
happens next?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Is that really how its gonna be?</p>
@ -780,21 +780,21 @@
</div>
<p>it seems uncalled-for to insult her after this little stunt you
just pulled. what did she do that was wrong?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Oh, whats that? Youre getting a little
quiet for some reason.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Youre going to have to speak up.</p>
</div>
<p>this is not the last youll be hearing from me, prince.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Aaand, nope.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Youre getting quieter, not louder. Youre
gonna need to work on that.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Maybe try shouting it?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">soon, i will be coming for
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom">soon, i will be coming for
you.</span></p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Yeah, I didnt catch that at all.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Not even one syllable.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Guess thats it for you? Back to not

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s33'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 33</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">S</span>peaking of
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">S</span>peaking of
meat, holy shit. You just look more fucked up every time we come
back to you, dont you, John?</p>
<p class="dirk">Youre a disgraceful mess right now. Covered in
@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
<p class="dirk">Terezi doesnt make eye contact with you when she
slithers back into her shirt. She rolls down the window and floats
outside.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: um.</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: W3LL? COM3 ON</p>
</div>
@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
girl in a car is some deep, soul-shattering experience that bonds
you for life. Yeah, John, you do think that. You think that you and
Terezi are basically married now.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1 G1V3 UP</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: oh. dont do that.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: like, im not suddenly going to be ok with
@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
if it was snorting or farting. But for some reason, the little
noise gives you palpitations. Holy shit, dude, youve got it
bad.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: NO 1D1OT</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1 G1V3 UP ON VR1SK4</p>
</div>
@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
<p class="dirk">But <em>you</em>, John, feel extremely sad. Not for
Vriska, but for Terezi. You run a comforting hand up and down her
arm.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: terezi.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: come home with me.</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: C4N W3 3V3N GO HOM3?</p>
@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Can you? Youre so, <em>so</em>
tired.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: um, i dont know actually.</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: &gt;:?</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: WH4T</p>
@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
<p class="dirk">You wake up, with your back flat on the car trunk,
Terezi shaking you and looking genuinely frantic. You didnt even
realize you fell asleep.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: JOHN!</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: JOHN!!!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: hey.</p>
@ -132,7 +132,7 @@
glasses. You feel so awful that you didnt even notice how blurry
everything looks without them. You grope for Terezis hand and get
her thigh instead.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: hold on to me, ok.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: no matter what happens... dont let go.</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 4R3 YOU SUR3 YOU C4N DO 1T</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s34'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 34</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">S</span>peaking of
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">S</span>peaking of
giving it everything you got, here comes Jake McGee, about to pop
his pistols off in front of a whole crowd of Karkats progressively
prismatic proletarian partisans.</p>
@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
of his front pocket. I let him read it over one more time even
though theres nothing in the universe that could possibly matter
less.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: yo</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: sure you still want to do this</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YEAH. ITS NOT TOO LATE TO CALL IT
@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
GO HOME.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Dave elbows him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: OR. YOU KNOW. JUST YOUR SPEECH.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Dont be daffy chaps. If i were the sort of
man to balk at a bit of hot potato in the evening i wouldnt be
@ -95,14 +95,14 @@
<p class="dirk">Whats that, Jake? You didnt notice your hands
were sweating until now? Not surprising considering how overtaxed
your precious few neurons are at any given time.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: I... I... er hallo folks dandy weather were
having here isnt it.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Jakes hands are so sweaty theyve
smeared the words in the speech beyond recognition. He begins to
panic.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Er... thank you... everyone for coming out on
this benjo of a day to um...</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Do whatever it is that weve all congregated
@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
nonsexual, intimate close-talking. Jesus, if I have to watch one
more minute of this beta-bitch calamity Im going to fucking
dissipate on an atomic level.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: (WHAT IS HE DOING? I SAW HIM REREAD THE
SPEECH.)</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: (yeah)</p>
@ -144,7 +144,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">Jake tugs at collar. It feels tight,
suddenly. Hes dripping buckets down under his suspenders. Dark
patches are starting to form on his dress shirt.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Rather that is to say,</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: In delicate times such as these,</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Even though usually its a toffer of a bad
@ -166,7 +166,7 @@
that the crowd can hear it, like the sound of somebody shaking a
soda can filled with coins. He goes pale as the depravity of what
hes about to do hits him like an eighteen-wheeler.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Ive... made a terrible mistake.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Hey, Jake. Dont undersell yourself here.
@ -189,7 +189,7 @@
but not yourself. The truth is that theres a canniness to the act.
Its partially <em>cultivated</em>. Youre stupid, but youre not
nearly as stupid as you pretend to be.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: What in the devil was i thinking coming
here?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Why did I...?</p>
@ -245,7 +245,7 @@
<p class="dirk">Sorry, Im overdoing it. That should be enough.
Dudes about to pop off. The words erupt from his mouth like a
tragic, Dirkthirsty Vesuvius:</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: <em>I love dirk!</em></p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: <em>IM IN *LOVE* WITH DIRK!!!</em></p>
</div>
@ -254,7 +254,7 @@
Definitely not sell out his good and dear friend Jane for a
loudmouthed pipsqueak who noisily transcends failure even as he
redefines it. Do good by her, Jake. Do good by <em>me</em>.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: (oh jesus fucking christ)</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Boy howdy...</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Umm.</p>
@ -286,7 +286,7 @@
<p class="dirk">Jake opens his big, dumb mouth to make the only
important contribution to the plot he ever has or ever will make in
his whole sad, pointless joke of a life.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: I—</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Having said that, its not like were

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s35'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 35</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">Y</span>ou zap
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">Y</span>ou zap
back to Earth C with the last of your energy. And I do mean last.
You place your first foot on the ground, stumble forward three
steps, and cough up blood. Terezi has to catch you under your arms,
@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
furiously its making your veins feel like cords.</p>
<p class="dirk">Terezi can tell youre dying. Shes not in great
shape herself, but she manages to tug you to your feet.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: JOHN COM3 ON</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: L3TS G3T YOU TO J4N3</p>
</div>
@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
it looks like someone nudged the contrast a couple degrees in the
wrong direction? How does it look now?</p>
<p class="dirk">You close your eyes against the light.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i dont think it...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: m-matters.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i dont think... this is a wound jane can
@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
the only choice you possibly could have made.</p>
<p class="dirk">It was, John. This will be the best outcome for
everyone. I promise.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: JOHN</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: hey, come here.</p>
</div>
@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
do anything sappy like take your hand, though. Mostly because she
knows how this is going to go, and doesnt want to experience the
tactile sensation of feeling your pulse slow under her palm.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ive got, um...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: dying words to say and stuff.</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: R34LLY</p>
@ -122,7 +122,7 @@
<p class="john">JOHN: are you... crying?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">She wipes her eyes and nods.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i cant believe it...</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1 R3S3NT TH3 1MPL1C4T1ON TH4T 1 WOULD
PR3T3ND TO B3 UN4FF3CT3D BY YOUR D34TH 4FT3R W3 H4D 4N 3MOT1ON4LLY
@ -163,7 +163,7 @@
now. You miss, and lovingly caress the air instead. Your hand lands
back on your chest. You feel blood soaking through your shirt.
Youre bleeding again.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: oh man...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: now that im on the spot... i cant think of
anything significant to say.</p>
@ -225,7 +225,7 @@
thats much more important for her to answer.</p>
<p class="dirk">Terezi, are you <em>seriously</em> just going to
leave the body here?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: HUH?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Of course not. Terezis a practical girl,

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s36'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 36</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">S</span>o it turns
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">S</span>o it turns
out that “home” is an entirely abstract concept. A state of mind,
if you will, rather than a literal, physical construct that can
make you feel one way or the other. Terezis been gone long enough
@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
on the Legacy of Responsibility she is about to inherit, that she
mistakes the familiar figure standing in front of the hospital for
someone else entirely.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: H3Y COOLK1D</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: HOWS J4DE DO1NG</p>
</div>
@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
wants.</p>
<p class="dirk">Roxys whole face lights up when she sees
Terezi.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: omg terezi i didnt know u were back!</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: what UP???</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: OH ROXY</p>
@ -130,7 +130,7 @@
hear any words that remind her of those few hours with John. Her
hand goes to her pocket, where shes keeping the wallet. She traces
the contours of it with her thumb and forces a smile.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 1F YOU S4Y SO</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: um yeah i fuckin DO say so</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: dont make me repeat myself</p>
@ -140,7 +140,7 @@
from inside. Terezis head is filled with stories about a different
version of Roxy—the polar opposite of the one standing in front of
her.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: so....</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: ur here to see jade huh??</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: Y34H</p>
@ -155,7 +155,7 @@
feeling more like hes under her skin. She hasnt told anyone what
happened. But at least she knows she can look at him whenever she
wants.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: yeaaa</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: its lookin grim</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: on one hand shes just layin there so theres
@ -219,13 +219,13 @@
intrigued, but she thinks better of worrying about it. Itd be rude
to look at her phone while shes in the middle of a
conversation.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: oh that reminds me!</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: have u seen john lately?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Terezis heart skips a beat. Its almost
as if Roxy is the one reading her mind.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: WHY DO YOU 4SK</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">No one else has asked yet.</p>
@ -235,7 +235,7 @@
impenetrable. Those baller shades arent exactly improving my odds
of reading her, either. Ill say again what Ive always felt about
her on some level: some riddles were never meant to be solved.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: he went back to the medium a while ago
right??</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i thought</p>
@ -244,7 +244,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">Terezi does not flinch. Her pleasant
expression does not falter. Shes good at the appearance of
confidence even when wracked with indecision and grief.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: NO</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: I H4V3NT S33N H1M</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: oh....</p>
@ -268,7 +268,7 @@
fixer, and it has been a very difficult lesson for her to learn
that some things are simply out of her control. Maybe its just
that Roxy can hear the bone-deep sorrow in her voice.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: (OMFG)</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: (1TS “H1M” YOU FUCK1NG O4F!!!)</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: wat</p>
@ -279,7 +279,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">Oh, my bad. Why not send him my regards?
Tell him he makes a kickass him for me. It suits the hell out of
him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: (1M NOT FUCK1NG T3LL1NG H1M TH4T)</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Whatever was bothering Roxy, it passes
@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
out.” Its convincing, actually. Reasonably authentic, and quite
masculine. Hes off to a great start exhibiting the mannerisms
associated with his chosen gender. Im genuinely proud of him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: ummm</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: kay well i should get goin</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: was nice catchin up!</p>
@ -312,11 +312,11 @@
the stuff we cant even remember, because it technically never even
happened to us. We have enough to worry about as it is, right,
Terezi?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: UUUUUUUGH</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">I know you can hear me.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: OF COURS3 1 C4N H3AR YOU!!!</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: YOUV3 B33N BRO4DC4ST1NG YOUR NONS3NS3 4T
M3 NONSTOP S1NC3 JOHN Z4PP3D US B4CK!</p>
@ -329,12 +329,12 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">I feel depressed all the time. But I
cant remember ever having the luxury of feeling peaceful about it.
Why should it be different for anyone else?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: WH4T DO YOU W4NT?!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Come on, Terezi. You dont belong here.
You <em>know</em> you dont belong here.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: 4ND WH4T TH3 H3LL DO YOU KNOW 4BOUT WH3R3
1 B3LONG?</p>
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: WH4T DO YOU KNOW 4BOUT WH4T 1
@ -355,14 +355,14 @@
understood.</p>
<p class="dirk">You know youll never be happy here. And neither
will I. Because this place isnt for people like us.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: D1RK, 1 H4V3 NO 1D34 WH4T YOUR3 T4LK1NG
4BOUT</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Youll see, if you come with us.</p>
<p class="dirk">Hey, heres an idea. Why dont you bring him with
you?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="terezi">TEREZI: H1M?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Yeah. You saved his body for a reason,

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s37'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 37</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">W</span>e make a
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">W</span>e make a
quick stop back at Roses apartment. She understandably wants to
pack a few things before we leave this planet forever. Not a whole
lot, mind you. Its not like shell be needing many clothes from
@ -37,14 +37,14 @@
survive the absolute realization of her Ultimate Self. The new body
Ive made for her wont have much use for her usual ensembles.
Thats all I was saying.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Do you really need all of this crap?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Rose is sprawled out on her bed, resting.
Its pretty much all she can bring herself to do these days. But in
spite of her physically incapacitated state, her stare tracks me
intently as I root through her belongings at her behest.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: No, I dont... I dont need it.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: But Id...</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Id like to have it. Some of it.</p>
@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
her. It frustrates me too. Thats why I want to get out of here as
soon as possible.</p>
<p class="dirk">I let my voice soften.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Rose.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Everything is going to be fine.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: But, daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad...</p>
@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
<p class="dirk">I dont get it and I dont really care to
speculate. I sigh, and return to picking through her jewelry. The
tactic fucking works on me, I guess.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Is this the thing you were talking about?
This...this rock rope?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: <em>Rock rope?</em></p>
@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
see. The effort to do just that seems to take everything out of
her. She collapses heavily after she gets a look at what Im
holding up, huffing in annoyance.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: F-first of all.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: That... the word for that object is... a
“necklace.”</p>
@ -118,13 +118,13 @@
doesnt matter.</p>
<p class="dirk">When she next speaks, it seems her mind has
wandered. Her voice is as distant as her expression.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Are you sure Kanaya is going to be ok with
this?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">I slide a drawer shut, and shove whatever
it is Im holding into the bag without looking.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Theres no need to worry about that.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: How...</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: How will we break it to her?</p>
@ -205,7 +205,7 @@
focused. You know what you must do now. There is no crisis. There
is nothing in which to intervene. Nothing to stop. You tap your
phone, and hold it up to your ear.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Rose?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Ka...</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Rose</p>
@ -241,7 +241,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">Roses turns her face into the bed, to
muffle her sobs. Im holding the phone up to her ear. I move the
phone quickly to follow the movement of her head.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Its Fine Really Sweet Heart</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I Love You</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: I love you too.</p>
@ -249,7 +249,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Before Kanaya hangs up, I quickly bring
the phone up to my ear to say a few words.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Hey Kanaya. Thanks for getting in touch
before we take off.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: We both really appreciate that.</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s38'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 38</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">B</span>ut before
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">B</span>ut before
we get completely out of dodge, theres one more trifling matter
Id better take care of.</p>
<p class="dirk">Its a big day, but not one my dear brotherson and
@ -47,12 +47,12 @@
hatefully at the televised production. He doesnt look up when Dave
walks back into the room, carrying two massive bottles of
liquor.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: hey</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: want to get drunk</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Huh.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: HUH?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i went and got all this fucking booze</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YOU *GOT* BOOZE?</p>
@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
<p class="dirk">Dave sits beside Karkat on the couch, and sets the
alcohol down on the table in front of him. He sinks heavily into
the cushioning with a sigh.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: HAVE YOU NOW.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: its never too late to develop a substance
@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Karkat falls into a vacant, thousand-yard
stare.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah see thats why im an alcoholic now</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: want a drink</p>
</div>
@ -159,7 +159,7 @@
circumstance.</p>
<p class="dirk">But this was how things had to be. Its better this
way. They know that. At least, Karkat certainly does.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IF IM BEING PERFECTLY FUCKING HONEST</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IM GLAD I LOST. I NEVER WANTED TO
FUCKING WIN IN THE FIRST PLACE.</p>
@ -218,7 +218,7 @@
Daves efforts mean to him. Its really welling up inside him now.
Hes so emotional about it that he cant help but say
something.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: HEY.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Dave stops with his arm outstretched. His
@ -226,7 +226,7 @@
contact for long. Looking at Dave is like staring straight at the
sun. He is awfully handsome, isnt he? Then again, crawling out of
a primo gene pool does have its benefits.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah buddy whats up</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I JUST...</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: hey dont worry about it</p>
@ -259,7 +259,7 @@
floor. The slightest of smiles tugs at the corners of his mouth. He
feels something warm inside of his chest. It feels right. Its
something he needs to say.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: FOR... EVERYTHING.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: EVEN IF WE DIDNT WIN, IM GLAD WE
TRIED.</p>
@ -301,7 +301,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">Karkat draws a breath and curls up on
himself. His instinct is to pull back, but hes fighting it now. He
needs to see this one through to the end.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: BUT WITH YOU, IT MAKES SENSE. I
GUESS.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHEN YOU SAY SOMETHING NICE TO ME, IM
@ -324,7 +324,7 @@
believes in you</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Dave. Please.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YEAH, KIND OF?</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: FUCK, MAN. THATS KIND OF DEEP.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i know</p>
@ -335,7 +335,7 @@
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: THAT WERE...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Come on. Youre so close.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IM GLAD YOURE MY FRIEND, DAVE.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Oh, for the love of god.</p>
@ -357,7 +357,7 @@
<p class="dirk">I look Dave right in his minds eye and tell him to
cut it the fuck out. He wants it, you want it, so just go for it,
my man. Its now or never.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: same</p>
</div>
@ -365,7 +365,7 @@
body begin to perish in real time. Dave, you cannot actually be
that bad at this. How the hell are you walking around with my genes
and still acting like this?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: so...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Look. Even you can manage to top this
@ -375,7 +375,7 @@
<p class="dirk">Dave scrunches up his face a little like hes
constipated. Okay, maybe Im getting a bit worked up. I need to
dial it back.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IS SOMETHING WRONG?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: huh</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: no</p>
@ -392,7 +392,7 @@
He just dropped some touching-ass bomb about believing in you
believing in him or whatever. You should really get to the root of
where this is all coming from.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh right</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: all that shit you said about us being friends
@ -405,7 +405,7 @@
<p class="dave">DAVE: hm.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Go on.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: im kind of getting the feeling that...
maybe...</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: theres a level to what were thinking that
@ -425,7 +425,7 @@
<p class="dave">DAVE: about... that</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Well, I guess this is progress?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: THAT???</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah, like</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: how... when you say were friends</p>
@ -437,7 +437,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Karkat looks like a deer caught in the
headlights.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: OF COURSE NOT.</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YOURE MY...........</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: B......</p>
@ -449,7 +449,7 @@
was less unbearable than this. I dont understand it. I just want
you to be happy, man. Why cant you make anything easy for
yourself?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: well</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: ok then</p>
</div>
@ -462,7 +462,7 @@
shit is pure and true. A supernova of all your hopes and dreams
swirling together like a radially effervescing kaleidoscope of more
hot boy peckers than you could ever imagine.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: D... DAVE?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">But you arent imagining any peckers
@ -471,14 +471,14 @@
about in years. Suddenly, you cant even comprehend how it is
youve gone so long without kissing him. You want to so badly. It
would be so easy, and you know he wouldnt turn you away.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: karkat</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">You lift a trembling hand and slowly
close the scant distance between you to brush your thumb against
Karkats cheek. He freezes in place, terrified.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: i think i</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Karkats lips part, his breath held. His
@ -488,14 +488,14 @@
<p class="dirk">You start to lean in. Karkat closes his eyes and
relaxes into your hand. Hes ready. Its happening. Its FUCKING
happening!!!</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: wait</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: fuck</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">What? What are you doing? Oh my god. Im
throwing my hands up in the air in the middle of the other shit Im
doing because this sucks just that much.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHATS WRONG?</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: DID I DO SOMETH—</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: no</p>
@ -505,7 +505,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">It feels like nothing, Dave. Dont worry
about it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: what the fuck is going on</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: this feels really off</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ????</p>
@ -518,7 +518,7 @@
not listening to me. This dude has such a titanium grasp on his own
born-again virginity that not even the literal hand of God can
compel him to kiss his own goddamn boyfriend.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i have no idea</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: im sorry</p>
@ -588,7 +588,7 @@
teeth, and putting both hands up to his temples. Beads of sweat dot
his brow. This is so fucking unreal. Holy shit, Dave, if you so
much as—</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HEAD AND JUST LET ME
DO THIS MYSELF!!!</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s39'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 39</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">I</span>m inside
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">I</span>m inside
Jakes mansion. Its just as idiotically garish as the last time I
saw it. There was once a time I swore Id never set foot in here
again, for various reasons I wont get into. Jake is the type of
@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
that would hurt his value as priceless sexual commodity. The only
thing affected was his brain. Its a bit like if someone hacked a
comments section. Who gives a shit?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: DIRK!!!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">I glance up the stairs, where hes
@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
and gives me a huge bro-hug, making my spine pop. God, hes so
fucking strong. I <em>hate</em> that the brief feeling of being
crushed by this oaf makes my dick twitch slightly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Hey Jake.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Well isnt this a heap of shillelaghs and
shamrocks!</p>
@ -115,14 +115,14 @@
now, making no effort to disguise his interest in the contours of
my muscles. I use that arm to put a hand on his shoulder in an
affable way, so that hes forced to stop.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Listen, man.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: You got a spare spaceship lying around?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Were going on a trip.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">I nod over in the direction of the couch.
Jakes eyebrows shoot up.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Oh! I didnt even notice rose there.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Wow she looks really zonked. Bad hangover i
presume?</p>
@ -140,7 +140,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Im gritting my teeth, focusing on
breathing steadily.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Yeah, um.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: I dont know, dude. Anything, really.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Something fast.</p>
@ -150,7 +150,7 @@
baroque antique cabinet, his ample junk swinging about in his loose
boxers free as a jaybird. He opens a small door and rifles through
a stack of stray papers and captchalogue cards.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Heres one! Oughta do you splendidly.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Thanks bro.</p>
</div>
@ -159,7 +159,7 @@
always is with him. In fact, here it comes. I can smell it a mile
away. I know exactly what hes about to say, and the buoyant
obliviousness with which hell say it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: So where are we going?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Yeah, I thought this misunderstanding might
happen.</p>
@ -179,7 +179,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">Jake falls quiet for a moment as his
pitiful pea brain struggles to process the shocking
information.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Gadzooks...!</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Well say no more then.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: So um... how long will you be away? Does
@ -193,7 +193,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">He shakes his fist to demonstrate
whatever bad point hes making.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: There are times let me tell you how i feel
like i dodged a bullet by not jumping the matrimonial broom with
jane.</p>
@ -220,13 +220,13 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">Hes sweating. More nervous than Ive
ever seen him before. Stammering, desperate. I need to be brutally
direct with this poor guy. Enoughs enough.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: I wont be coming back, Jake.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">His mouth is hanging open. Not a shred of
restraint in his crestfallen posture. But he needs to hear this.
All of it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Like</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Wait.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: You arent...</p>
@ -247,7 +247,7 @@
exquisitely kissable mouth. This is the face he lives for now. A
visage that, in mere minutes, will vanish from his life forever.
The tears drop. His voice cracks.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Please...</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Please take me with you dirk.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: I cant do that, Jake.</p>
@ -277,7 +277,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">I almost burst out laughing, but I manage
to control myself.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Uh, Jake. Nobody wants you to do any of
that.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Well, I know Jane sure doesnt.</p>
@ -310,7 +310,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">I glance at a clock on the wall. This
needs to end soon. There are a lot of important things still to be
done, and this sure isnt one of them.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Time to man up, Jake.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: This is what your life is now. Its only bad
if you treat it this way.</p>
@ -344,7 +344,7 @@
<p class="no-indent dirk">He waits a second for a response, but my
face doesnt move a muscle. He wont dare waste this momentum
though. He threw in the penny. Here comes the pound.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Dirk im BEGGING you just take me with
you!</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Its... its fine! You dont have to love
@ -385,7 +385,7 @@
<p class="dirk">I move my hands up to his face, and with my palms
on his wet cheeks, I gently push his head about six inches away
from my face, and say:</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Im sorry, Jake.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: But Ill never let you break my heart
again.</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s4'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 4</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">Y</span>ou arrive
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">Y</span>ou arrive
in the Land of Heat and Clockwork in a flash of white. A column of
brutally hot air blasts up from the lava below and instantly hits
your entire body. Luckily, youre fairly immortal, so the only
@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
is familiar to you, his longtime best buddy. Casual, wandering,
verging on droning. Its a good indication hell be monologuing for
a while, and probably already has been.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: im serious</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: the thing is</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: being a time guy</p>
@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Its a fair question, which logically should
have been directed to the oldest and most knowledgeable John.
Nevertheless, one of the younger Johns replies first.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">(JOHN 1): er.</p>
<p class="john">(JOHN 1): i dont know.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN 3: john, dont worry about it. ill take
@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">The useless Johns zap away. You sincerely hope
that they have a beautiful and fulfilling youth.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: adult john what the fuck have you done</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: is this some time travel shit</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: please dont tell me youve been spending the
@ -210,7 +210,7 @@
circumvent the life-changing epiphany hes just had that you know
for a fact will make him a happier, chiller, and altogether more
well-balanced human being.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh shit</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: <span class="jade-brainwashed">what??</span></p>
<p class="jade">JADE: <span class="jade-brainwashed">john. he is NOT going to fight lord english just yet</span></p>
@ -244,7 +244,7 @@
situation.</p>
<p>The Mayor tips his head at you and fiddles with his sash. God
damn, you missed the Mayor.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: so what do we do next</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: well, ill leave you to hang out with jade
for a bit, while i go round up the others.</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s40'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 40</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">K</span>anaya
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">K</span>anaya
Maryam is single and ready to mingle.</p>
<p class="dirk">Alright, not really. But shes coping admirably
with the sudden departure of her beloved spouse. Shes doing her
@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
talking to Jade? Thats very kind, but she cant hear you, Roxy.
Shell be able to soon enough though. And when she does, youll
probably want to be the one listening to what she has to say.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: oh hey</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Hello</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: How Is She</p>
@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
a better look. Theyre Jades same old eyes, playful, intelligent.
But they seem different somehow. These are eyes that have seen so
much more than they had the last time they were open.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: jade!!!</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: omg jade</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: youre awake</p>
@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
quivers. And then it hits her. She knows exactly why shes feeling
this way.</p>
<p class="dirk">She bolts upright from her bed, and shouts:</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jade">JADE: DIRK STRIDER HAS TO BE STOPPED!!!!!!!!!!</p>
</div>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s41'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 41</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">S</span>hes
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent dirk"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">S</span>hes
right, of course. I do have to be stopped.</p>
<p class="dirk">Not because Im really that bad. I mean, I dont
think I am. Ill understand if there are those who disagree. If my

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s42'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 42</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: so uhhh</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: dirk needs to be stopped from</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: doin what again?</p>
@ -164,7 +164,7 @@
prove your worth to her if you really tried. For now, the only
thing that really matters is to acknowledge its too late for any
of that.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Wait</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I Dont...</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Im Confused</p>
@ -198,13 +198,13 @@
overrated. My mission is to someday clear this all up for everyone.
Remove the ambiguity, suck the mud out of the water. Itll be a lot
better that way, trust me.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: HAVE I LOST MY FUCKING MIND?????????</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent dirk">Shes really pissed. Yikes. Couldnt pay
me to be in that room right now. Not for all the agency in the
world.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: WHAT HAS DIRK DONE TO MY WIFE?!</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: whoa</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: what u mean there</p>
@ -228,7 +228,7 @@
to get answers from her that way. If anything, shell cause her to
go silent a lot more quickly than she was about to anyway. Shes
just wresting the spirit from her slumber.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU KNOW!</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: WHY DOES DIRK HAVE TO BE STOPPED?! WHAT
DOES THAT *MEAN*?!!</p>
@ -265,7 +265,7 @@
use lingering around here much longer. The cherub is already
beginning to drown me out. I can feel it. But this time, Im
ready.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Jade?</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: JADE???</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: aw no</p>
@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
wild goose chase trying to hunt me down. I know that already. Its
really not rocket science. Except for the fact that it literally
is.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: kanaya pls chill</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: ive seen this before</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: theres no breakin her out of this</p>
@ -323,7 +323,7 @@
so long as they remain on this planet and under my protection.</p>
<p>But a bunch of them wont remain, will they? They wont be able
to help themselves. You know that.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: He Has To Be Stopped...</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: He Has To Be Stopped...</p>
</div>
@ -340,7 +340,7 @@
wanted to, even if you brain-fried them all to become your own
personal cherubic puppets and sent them on the warpath to come get
me, theyd still never catch me. You still dont get it yet.</p>
<p class="dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom--md">Im
<p class="dirk"><span class="type-bs type-hs-bottom">Im
already gone.</span></p>
</div>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s43'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 43</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">L</span>ater that
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">L</span>ater that
night, jade has been moved from the hospital to the troll kingdom.
she now sits in a wheelchair, remaining in perfect silence with her
dark eyes open to maintain my transmission. roxy and kanaya rolled
@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
troubling events.</p>
<p class="calliope-dead">roxy is using his phone to pursue leads on
the whereabouts of the prince.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: mm hm</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: mhmm</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: ...</p>
@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">he hangs up, and sighs
dramatically.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: poor guy</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: whatd he say</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: a lot of it was hard to make out due to all
@ -82,14 +82,14 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">she takes roxys phone and
presses janes name in the contact list. she moves to the far side
of the room to speak, while the others continue conversing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: so uhhh</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: phewww...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">dave makes a noise humans
sometimes do, by expelling air through his closed, fleshy lips,
creating an impolite flapping effect.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: rose and dirk huh</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: YUP</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: rose and fuckin dirk...</p>
@ -291,7 +291,7 @@
distance between himself and karkat once theyve collected
themselves. dave awkwardly clears his throat. karkat wipes off his
cheek. both are looking off in opposite directions.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: awwwwwww</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: u boys cute :)</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: hey can you just forget you saw that
@ -308,7 +308,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">kanaya returns to the seating
area and hands roxy his phone.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: If Jane Is To Be Trusted Apparently She
Didnt Even Know Dirk Was Gone</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: She Doesnt Know Where He Might Be Headed
@ -376,7 +376,7 @@
corporeal life. they will have their guidance, but my instructions
will be minimal. so long as they remain in my conduits presence,
they will know the way forward.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: UM</p>
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT THE FUCK IS JADE DOING?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: huh</p>
@ -390,7 +390,7 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">jade has raised her right hand
and is pointing upward at an angle of about forty-five degrees.
seemingly in a random direction. but its far from random.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh oh</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i think i know whats up</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: shes tryin to say theres something important
@ -401,7 +401,7 @@
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">dave walks over and kneels in
front of her chair. he looks closely at her. her face, though still
expressionless, strikes him as serious and tense.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: jade is it john?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: johns that way right</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: you want us to go in that direction to find
@ -427,14 +427,14 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">he leans in closer and studies
her face carefully. it hasnt changed.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: maybe its not john that way maybe its...</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: jade is it...</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: is that where DIRK went?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">its barely noticeable, but dave
picks up on it. her face relaxes slightly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: THATS IT</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: thats the way dirk went and she wants us to
follow</p>
@ -443,7 +443,7 @@
<p class="dave">DAVE: is john safe?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">she doesnt move.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: is john...</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: does he have anything to do with whats going
on?</p>
@ -455,7 +455,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">slowly, she lowers her arm, and
places her hand back on her lap.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT THE FUCK DID THAT MEAN.</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: it means...</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i think it means im right</p>
@ -473,7 +473,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">karkat springs to his feet and
easily resumes his well-practiced posture of leadership.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: KANAYA, GET JAKE ENGLISH ON THE
PHONE.</p>
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Okay</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s44'></div>
<div>
<h1>Postscript</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">E</span>lsewhere,
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">E</span>lsewhere,
below the horizon...</p>
<p>The distant sounds of war travel above the canopy of a forest.
The artillery fire fades to a series of muted knocks and thuds as
@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
as if theyre weathering hurricane-force winds. In a moment, calm
is restored. She opens her perfectly black eyes again.</p>
<p>Aradia staggers back to her feet and brushes herself off.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: i take it everything went as you
hoped</p>
</div>
@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
into its abyss. Her face is expressionless. Her glasses flash white
as they reflect the lightning that arcs sporadically inside the
wormhole.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: well?</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: arent you going in</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: wasnt that the idea or did i not...</p>
@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
recognizes the gear symbol on his chest, identical to her own. She
also recognizes the sunglasses the robot is wearing. She knows who
this is.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: dave?</p>
<p class="dave">DAVEBOT: sup</p>
</div>
@ -105,14 +105,14 @@
knew this Jade many years ago, but by this point their paths have
diverged in ways that he couldnt begin to describe even if he
wanted to.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVEBOT: so we doin this</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Jade says nothing, and looks up into the
wormhole again. She begins to levitate, gradually picking up speed.
Without looking back, she rockets into the vortex, vanishing into
the darkness. Davebot turns to Aradia.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVEBOT: how about you</p>
<p class="dave">DAVEBOT: wanna come along</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: i guess so?</p>
@ -139,7 +139,7 @@
implacably confident. But then, people go through changes. Shes
been through more than her share. She cocks an eyebrow, recalling
her own stint with a metal body.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVEBOT: hey earth to whats your face</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: oh</p>
<p class="aradia">ARADIA: its aradia</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s5'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 5</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">T</span>he stands
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">T</span>he stands
of the Cantown Memorial Arena are packed front to back with
audience members from every kingdom. Presently the crowd is going
nuts, enthralled by Jake Englishs skillful posing and mollified by
@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
<p>Dave takes a seat on the couch, right in Karkats butt groove.
He observes his battered ecto-father, who is lying inside a wreath
of busted robot limbs like a piece of absolute garbage.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: bro im watching you on the tube and i gotta
say</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: while the beatdown you just received was as
@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
over the crowd. It zooms in on a young crocodile wearing an
oversized T-shirt with Jakes highly marketable ass plastered over
it and the phrase “Tally ho” written in big bubble letters.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Dave, theres such a thing as
showmanship.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Im sure I dont need to explain this to you,
@ -122,7 +122,7 @@
fish-eye lens for some unfathomable reason, giving the whole
exchange an air of demented absurdity. Dirks sunglasses distort
and stretch to dominate the entire screen.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Oh.</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Then yes, I guess that is what Im doing.</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Dirk are you going to be much longer with
@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
except for a single carapacian in the front row, who continues to
glower at Dirk with an expression of absolute and total
contempt.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: why do you want people to hate you so
much</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: its fucked up</p>
@ -172,7 +172,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Something flies out of the audience and smacks
Dirk in the side of the head before flopping out of view of the
camera. He doesnt react, or make a facial expression at all.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: did...</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: did someone just throw a diaper at you</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Theres gonna be some diapers, yeah.</p>
@ -244,7 +244,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dave opens his mouth to argue, but something
else occurs to him.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: wait</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: how do you even know hes entering the
race</p>
@ -318,7 +318,7 @@
again, who would Dirk be if he werent so contentious and
imperious? Certainly not someone to inspire such wistful
lollygagging, Jake cannot help but observe.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Sorry for the momentary diversion, Jake. Now
where were we?</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Momentary??? Gadzooks man you were on the
@ -342,7 +342,7 @@
the sort youd give to a dog for performing a trick adequately.
Jake responds to the signal like an Olympic athlete hearing the
starter pistol. He was born for this.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Tally ho its me, jake mcgee!</p>
<p class="jake">JAKE: Popping my pistols off, two shots and a
kiss</p>
@ -387,7 +387,7 @@
themselves during a live broadcast they have waited two and a half
years in line to buy a ticket for.</p>
<p>Dirks phone begins going off again.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: When the splendid lads and ladies ask me “how
do you do?” i -</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Whoops. Jake, sorry to cut you off...</p>
@ -402,7 +402,7 @@
up from the crowd like groundwater. Dirk artfully dodges a bucket
of obscene troll fluid to field yet another very important personal
call.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Yo Rose, whats up?</p>
</div>
</div>

View File

@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
<div id='s6'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 6</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="Command">&gt; Look up.</p>
<p class="no-indent">The sky is really blue. But its a different
kind of blue than Earth Cs sky; its <em>less</em>, somehow, like
@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
thing is? Of course not. The fool.</p>
<p>Dave fractures the silence by broaching a subject thats on
everyones mind but yours, apparently.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: so whats gonna happen to everyone we left in
the wrecked time line</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: uh, well.</p>
@ -122,7 +122,7 @@
of shaving at least once per day, even if it isnt really
necessary. You owe at least that much to the memory of your
departed father.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: lets chill out for a minute. im sure this
is all very confusing to all of you.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: about the time line youre leaving behind...
@ -161,7 +161,7 @@
looks from the others, all of them may share your assessment of
your own oratorical skills, except for one person. Shes perked up
at your spiel, regarding you with alert and admiring eyes.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: damn</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: john uh</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i know we just met and all but</p>
@ -170,7 +170,7 @@
<p class="roxy">ROXY: lets do this shit</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She *wonks* at you.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: uh.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">You werent prepared to get passively hit on
@ -181,7 +181,7 @@
monster girlfriend. You start to sweat, and again the unwelcome
odor of undercooked meat emanating from your body makes itself
known to your nose.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: oh, um. thanks.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: anyway, we need to make battle plans.</p>
</div>
@ -209,7 +209,7 @@
gavel for adjournment by rocking back a bit too far on your lawn
pogo and launching himself over the top of the ride on the next
bounce. He face-plants right into the dirt.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: Jeepers!</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Dirk goes to help your yard clean the Jake off
@ -274,7 +274,7 @@
you tolerate another moment of your self-incriminating reverie. You
wait one more minute before breaking it up, but not a second
longer.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: uh, hey kids...</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Please, Adult John, dont do that.</p>
</div>
@ -283,7 +283,7 @@
looking very much like your Rose did when she saw you off that
morning. Its obvious that shes trying very hard to hide her
apprehension.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Is it time to go?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i mean...</p>
@ -296,19 +296,19 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">After all these years, in the reverse
direction, she still has your number.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i guess its true that people dont really
change. they just grow up?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Rose gives Roxy a strange look, appearing to
silently acknowledge an entire conversation that has been taking
place, using a great volume of words that arent being spoken.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: I guess.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She smiles.</p>
<p class="Command">&gt; Get the show on the road.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: okay everyone... ive never zapped this many
people before so lets all just...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: uh, hold hands, maybe? in a circle, i mean.

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s7'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 7</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">T</span>he boxing
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">T</span>he boxing
bell is going off like its having a fit. Dirk has to stick a
finger in one ear to hear what Rose is saying over the cacophony of
boos and buckets being lobbed toward center stage. He considers it
@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
<p>The last standing robot scoops up Jakes unconscious body and
cradles him to its chest before blasting off through the roof.</p>
<p>On the other end of the phone, Rose lets him know whats up.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Its not so much “what is up” as “what is
down,” the answer to which is, proverbially: Me.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: I mean that both physically and
@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Rose adjusts her position on the couch with
the body language of one about to dive into the latest gossip about
a mutual friend. The mutual in this case: her tortured psyche.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Years of refining my Seer of Light powers
have cursed me with what is approaching near infinite prescience.
Dwelling in this idyllic post-canon realm has worn down the
@ -108,7 +108,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Rose is silent on the line for a few moments.
Dirk can hear how labored her breathing is, how thin it is. She
snorts out a quick, humorless laugh.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Really?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Thats the hottest take you can manage?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Of course not. They havent built the vessel
@ -122,7 +122,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She allows several rare conversational beats
to pass in silence between them, to process the admission.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: We are?</p>
<p class="dirk">DIRK: Sure.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: It doesnt sound to me like youre suffering

View File

@ -25,10 +25,10 @@
<div id='s8'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 8</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="Command">&gt; JOHN: Zap to your final destination.</p>
<p class="no-indent">Where the hell are you?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="dave">DAVE: where the hell are we</p>
<p class="dave">DAVE: i cant see shit</p>
<p class="jade">JADE: shhh!</p>
@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
lights out” dark. More like “someone destroyed the concept of light
at its very source” dark. Its a darkness that fills up your skull.
Jake puts this more eloquently, as always:</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="jake">JAKE: By golly it is indeed dark as fuck.</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: shoosh!!!</p>
</div>
@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
rather, he <em>was</em> waltzing around. He stopped the moment you
looked at him.</p>
<p class="Command">&gt; Behold your adversary.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ...</p>
<p class="caliborn">CALIBORN: ...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ...</p>
@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
The kind you cant really teach. Lord English drops the puppet. For
a moment he looks shocked, maybe even a little afraid, but it
passes quickly. He starts laughing.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: uh.</p>
<p class="caliborn">CALIBORN: NEVERMIND. I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.</p>
<p class="caliborn">CALIBORN: IT WAS FORETOLD. BY THE MASTERPIECE I
@ -109,7 +109,7 @@
unhinging of his jaw reverberates in the empty space. He laughs
through the remainder of his nefarious soliloquy, which he has
possibly prepared in advance for this moment.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="caliborn">CALIBORN: BY NOW, SURELY MANY HAVE WITNESSED MY
MASTERPIECE.</p>
<p class="caliborn">CALIBORN: AS IT HAS CIRCULATED THROUGH THE
@ -129,7 +129,7 @@
It spikes towards you in waves, distorts and pitches low. He is
beyond pleased with himself, and with the line he is about to
deliver.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="caliborn">CALIBORN: FOR YOU ALL TO *BECOME* MY
MASTERPIECE!</p>
</div>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s9'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 9</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">I</span>f you were
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">I</span>f you were
one of the haters and fools who saw Lord Englishs masterpiece
circulating through the black veins of the dark web, and were
rendered agog by its majesty, then you probably have a pretty good

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s2'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 1</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">I</span>t starts
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">I</span>t starts
with a crack. Everything else rises up from that like steam: a
trembling thread that cuts through space in jagged lines,
splintering the void into razor-sharp shards of putrefying leptons
@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
number forty-six, which is how many text messages your friend left
you while you were sleeping. A bit excessive, even for her.</p>
<p class="Command">&gt; Answer the phone.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Since when are you known to operate your
telephone?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: since... i dont know. has it really been
@ -116,7 +116,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">The silence over the phone is growing awkward.
Youve stalled long enough. You decide to just come out and say
it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ive been dreaming in anime again lately.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i have no idea what it could mean.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: I see.</p>
@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
astounding spit bubble. Truly one for the books. Your eyes trace
its meandering journey into the sky as you gather your
thoughts.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: what do you think it all means?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: What do I think what means?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: what do you think it means that ive been
@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
leave a thought unfinished in over ten years of acquaintance. You
suppose its possible it may have happened one of the times she
died. You wouldnt bet on it though.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: rose... are you ok?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Not exactly.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: whats wrong?</p>
@ -185,7 +185,7 @@
assume an expression you havent practiced in years. It is the look
of a man who actually has something to do. Holding the phone
directly in front of your face, you speak into the receiver.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ok, im on my way. bye, rose.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">As you hang up the phone, a familiar feeling

View File

@ -25,17 +25,17 @@
<div id='s3'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 2</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">W</span>hen you
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">W</span>hen you
arrive at Roses apartment, you find her asleep on the couch. You
slide the balcony door open, quietly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: rose?</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Her eyes flutter open. She looks like a ghost,
and not the kind of ghost that looks and acts exactly like an alive
person.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: How... how long have I been sleeping?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i dunno. i just got here.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: are you ok?</p>
@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">You watch her rise in stages. Her arm is
trembling where shes bracing it on the couch.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Oh. Yes. The condition itself is not ideal,
obviously. And perhaps it does constitute something to worry about,
in the context of a different conversation. All Im trying to say
@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
nothing at all in response to this. You examine Roses supine,
languid form on the couch, optimistic that she will continue
speaking any moment now.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: I struggled with substance abuse for a while,
years ago. Remember?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: rose, jesus. i wasnt going to accuse you of
@ -121,7 +121,7 @@
with a practiced motion, no water. Her vacant stare drills into the
countertop as she quietly waits for the medication to take
effect.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ...and?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: And what?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: what is it about our situation that you
@ -150,7 +150,7 @@
purpose, as if to say, <span class="Standard-Text CharOverride-14">there</span></p>
<p>. Right there, precisely, is where the green sun would be, if it
still existed.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: The green sun is gone.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: what??</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: It has been destroyed. At least, from the
@ -198,7 +198,7 @@
the width of eternity.</em></p>
<p>You quickly open your eyes again, and pretend to forget what you
just saw.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Theres really no route through this
expository garden path that will adequately cushion you from the
bottom line, John.</p>
@ -213,7 +213,7 @@
totally convinced that you are approaching this topic with a level
of nonchalance that is entirely plausible and genuine. Youre sure
of it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: yeah, i had a feeling that was going to come
up again someday.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Im sure we all did. That is, even those of
@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
<p class="Command">&gt; Take a look around and survey the current
status of all life on Earth, which is totally possible to do from
the vantage point of a single apartment balcony.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: fine?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Of course everything is fine here.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Were outside of canon now.</p>
@ -266,7 +266,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Rose shoots you an irritated look. You know
what that look means. Its reserved for the sort of bozo who just
said “what” once too often.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Any event said to take place inside canon
will have nonzero values of relevance and essentiality, while
maintaining an absolute foundation in truth, by definition.</p>
@ -279,7 +279,7 @@
<p class="rose">ROSE: Are you still following?</p>
</div>
<p class="Command">&gt; Say “oh, yeah. totally.”</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: oh, yeah. totally.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: So to be clear, everything thats taken place
here on Earth C since we exited canon can be considered completely
@ -301,7 +301,7 @@
<p>You can feel your eyes go wide as the gears in your head slow to
a stop. The implications of what Rose is saying are as vast as they
are completely incomprehensible. Your mind has just been BLOWN.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: John?</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Are you okay? Your pupils have gone quite
wide, thereby facilitating the appearance that your mind has just
@ -375,7 +375,7 @@
</div>
<p class="Command">&gt; Make a theatrically startled
expression.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: ok, i guess we dont want THAT to happen.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: or... unhappen. whatever.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: so i just retcon-poof back to english and
@ -431,7 +431,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Rose looks at her phone. You recognize
Kanayas distinct typing style in the window. Roses thumbs begin
to fly across the keypad. She continues to text as she talks.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: so if were going to go back and kill him in
time to “authenticate canon,” i guess we have to get going
soon.</p>
@ -475,7 +475,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Rose leads you back inside and retrieves a
letter from her desk. She hands it over, still typing one-handed on
her phone. She sits down and you read the letter.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: huh.</p>
<p class="rose">ROSE: Is anything confusing about my
instructions?</p>
@ -490,7 +490,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Rose is ultimately right about that, the way
she is about most things. You continue to scan the letter, and
grimace slightly.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: should i really punch her in the face?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i felt kinda bad about it, last time i did
that to someone.</p>
@ -502,7 +502,7 @@
processed the instructions drafted in the polished purple
handwriting. You like how Rose still writes in purple, after all
these years. Some things never change.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: alright. this seems straightforward
enough.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i mean, aside from the part where we all have
@ -545,7 +545,7 @@
hasnt changed. Shes still trying to solve the problems you all
left behind. You cant believe how sick she looks. How did this
happen to her?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i should probably get going and let you
rest.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: we can talk all about it when i get back.
@ -557,7 +557,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Rose opens her eyes and looks at you, but she
says nothing. Just looks.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: im not scared, if thats what youre worried
about.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: you already said were going to defeat him.
@ -567,14 +567,14 @@
<p class="no-indent">Something flickers through her eyes, almost
too quick to catch. When she smiles at you, its warm and
sincere.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Youre going to do great.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Rose slides her arms around you. After a
while, she releases you from the embrace and gets up to fetch her
bottle of pills. She pauses at the bedroom door to look at you one
more time.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="rose">ROSE: Goodbye, John.</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">She closes the door behind her.</p>

View File

@ -25,8 +25,8 @@
<div id='s4'></div>
<div>
<h1>Chapter 3</h1>
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm--md line-caption line-copy--md pad-x-0 pad-x-lg--md pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm--md">I</span>ts a
<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
<p class="no-indent"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">I</span>ts a
beautiful day in the Carapace Kingdom, just like it was in the
Human Kingdom and just like it was in Salamander Village. For
whatever faults this paradise you created might have, you sure
@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
not to notice that three celebrities are having lunch in the grass
nearby. Its extra polite of them, because you and Roxy are having
a very personal conversation.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: she looked alright. mostly just tired.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: at least she seemed to have enough energy to
babble at length about philosophical gibberish, and things about
@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">Roxy gives you a serious, sidelong glance.</p>
<p class="Command">&gt; Remember that whole totally unprovoked
spiel Rose gave you about substance abuse.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: she said it wasnt like that!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: i mean... she said it was under control.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: well, what the fuck do i know. the only
@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
thinking about how you hadnt talked to Rose in ages either. Roxy
gives you a quizzical look, but you turn away before she can draw
meaning from it.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: maryams been keeping her real busy since they
got hitched</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: they both vanished down the brooding caverns
@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
havent talked to Roxy in ages either. You were having such a nice
time ignoring that fact, too.</p>
<p class="Command">&gt; Change the subject.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: so, are you and callie still living at the
same place i last saw? the one near the tower?</p>
</div>
@ -111,7 +111,7 @@
can ever navigate your way here flying. Carapace architecture is
otherwise identic, a reflection of their functional, collectivist
society.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: yup</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: thats cool.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: its a nice place.</p>
@ -160,7 +160,7 @@
carry, like the dumb kid you were.</p>
<p class="Command">&gt; Tactfully avoid saying anything at all
about Roxy and Calliopes weird, ambiguous relationship.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: uh, so...</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">But you cant stop thinking about it. What
@ -178,7 +178,7 @@
<p>You wonder suddenly, watching her. This version of her, that is.
The one with whom you share all these bittersweet memories—will you
ever see her again?</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: ahem.</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: john!</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: what?</p>
@ -193,7 +193,7 @@
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Calliope is smiling brightly, but Roxys face
has no expression at all.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="john">JOHN: i was just assuming i had to go.</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: because if i dont, then...</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: a lot of stuff will stop being real. or i
@ -267,14 +267,14 @@
quiet while you make up your mind. Youre sweating, you realize.
Cold sweat. Even worse than the anime nightmare sweat you woke up
soaked in this morning.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="roxy">ROXY: john u ok?</p>
<p class="john">JOHN: ...</p>
<p class="roxy">ROXY: looked like you were gonna pass out there for
a second</p>
</div>
<p class="no-indent">Suddenly, Calliope bolts upright.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: of coUrse! what was i thinking.</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: this decision is far too important to
be made on an empty stomach.</p>
@ -282,7 +282,7 @@
<p class="no-indent">She fetches the picnic basket, which naturally
has been sitting there on the tablecloth since the moment you
arrived.</p>
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small--md">
<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: here, before yoU choose which path
yoUre going to take, yoU shoUld decide what yoUd like to eat!</p>
<p class="calliope">CALLIOPE: i have packed a wide variety of

View File

@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
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@ -10,10 +10,10 @@
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