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525 lines
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<title>The Homestuck Epilogues: Meat - Chapter 43</title>
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<h1>Chapter 43</h1>
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<div class="o-story_text o_epilogue type-rg type-sm line-caption line-copy pad-x-0 pad-x-lg pad-b-lg">
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<p class="no-indent calliope-dead"><span class="opener type-hs-opener-rg type-hs-opener-sm">L</span>ater that
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night, jade has been moved from the hospital to the troll kingdom.
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she now sits in a wheelchair, remaining in perfect silence with her
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dark eyes open to maintain my transmission. roxy and kanaya rolled
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her into the living room of dave and karkat’s hive earlier that
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evening. this is where they all sit now, discussing the day’s
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troubling events.</p>
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<p class="calliope-dead">roxy is using his phone to pursue leads on
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the whereabouts of the prince.</p>
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<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: mm hm</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: mhmm</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: ...</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: yep</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: ...</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: oh yeah</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: for sure</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: you too jake</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: thanks man</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: yeah well let u know what were gonna do</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: later</p>
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</div>
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<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">he hangs up, and sighs
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dramatically.</p>
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<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: poor guy</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: whatd he say</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: a lot of it was hard to make out due to all
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the sobbing</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: but yeah its like we thought</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: dirk borrowed one of his ships and gtfo</p>
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<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: But Did He Say WHERE</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: nope</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: doubt he told anybody tbh</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: in fact id say odds are even he doesnt quite
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know where hes goin yet</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: why do you think that</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: idk i just know the guy</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: also like</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: whats even out there??</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: dudes got a ship and now hes haulin ass
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randomly about w rose to i dunno</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: prove some sort of point?</p>
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<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: What About Jane</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WE AREN’T CALLING JANE!</p>
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<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Why Not</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: BECAUSE I WOULDN’T BELIEVE A SINGLE WORD
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THAT COMES OUT OF HER FAT, FASCIST MOUTH!</p>
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<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Thats Stupid Im Calling Her</p>
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<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I Dislike The Woman As Well But I Will
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Leave No Possibility Unexhausted In Striving To Rescue My Wife From
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That Madman</p>
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</div>
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<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">she takes roxy’s phone and
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presses jane’s name in the contact list. she moves to the far side
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of the room to speak, while the others continue conversing.</p>
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<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
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<p class="dave">DAVE: so uhhh</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: phewww...</p>
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</div>
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<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">dave makes a noise humans
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sometimes do, by expelling air through his closed, fleshy lips,
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creating an impolite flapping effect.</p>
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<div class="chat type-rg type-hs-small">
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<p class="dave">DAVE: rose and dirk huh</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: YUP</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: rose and fuckin dirk...</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: damn</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: so are they</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: like</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: man im never gonna hear the end of it if im
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the one to ask this question am i</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: ive had too many fuckin goofy dumbass foot in
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mouth family blunders to be the guy asking this fuckin question</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: and yet here i am</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: asking it</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: ????</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: what r u talkin about</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: you know...</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: are they like</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: TOGETHER?</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: what????</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: you know</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: like</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT THIS DUMBASS IS ASKING IS IF THEY’RE
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DOING HUMAN INTERCOURSE ACTIVITIES.</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: oh my god??</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: karkat</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: please</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: omg...</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: karkat theyre related</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: humans dont do that when theyre related to
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each other ok</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: DON’T TALK DOWN TO ME. I’M NOT A FUCKING
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WRIGGLER.</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I’M FAMILIAR WITH YOUR CONCEPT OF “HUMAN
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INCEST.”</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: !!!</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah ok not to be that guy even though im
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totally being that guy</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: if it never happened we wouldnt have a word
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for it</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: i rly dont think...</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: i mean</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: they WOULDNT</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: theres no way. it makes no sense</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: for one... dirk is gay</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: and isnt rose gay too???</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: yeah idk if anybody knows what roses deal is
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exactly</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: of all of us who couldve ended up eloping to
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have illicit incestuous relations they definitely wouldve been the
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last two idve put my money on</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: and yet</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: it sure is real fuckin weird what they seem
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to have gone off and done isnt it</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: uggghhhh</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: dont even say that</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: just thinkin about it makes my skin crawl</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YOU GUYS ARE SO FUCKING WEIRD ABOUT
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THIS.</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: LIKE, SERIOUSLY? THAT’S THE ISSUE
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HERE?</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: THE SHITHEAD WENT AND STOLE KANAYA’S
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MATESPRIT, APPARENTLY BY MYSTICALLY UNDERHANDED MEANS.</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: THERE’S PRACTICALLY NO LIMIT TO THE
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DIMENSIONS WE COULD BE GETTING ANGRY ABOUT THIS ON.</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: BUT HERE WE ARE INSTEAD, DOING THIS
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POINTLESS THING YOU PEOPLE ALWAYS DO WHEN IT COMES TO “INCEST.”</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: us people??</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I KNOW, I KNOW! I’M A FUCKING XENOPHOBE!
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LET’S JUST ALL AGREE I’M A BIG SHITTY XENOPHOBE ABOUT THIS, AND
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MOVE ON.</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: jfc</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: HAY KANAYA HOWS THAT PHONE CALL GOIN</p>
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<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Janes Chief Of Staff Has Put Me On
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Hold</p>
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<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: It Seems My Solicitation Does Not
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Register As A Priority In This Administration</p>
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<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I Cannot Say I Am Surprised</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: TELL HER TO REGISTER MY HEAVING BULGE AS
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A PRIORITY!!!!!</p>
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<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I Will Not Tell Her That</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ANYWAY, YOU GUYS ARE ALL SO FUCKED UP
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ABOUT THIS, THAT’S ALL I’M SAYING.</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: THIS IS OBJECTIVELY NOT THE WORST THING
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ABOUT THIS SCENARIO. IT’S NOT EVEN A REMOTELY NOTABLE FACTOR!</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHY ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT THIS? IT’S
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SO FUCKING PERFORMATIVE.</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IS THERE SOMETHING YOU’RE TRYING TO PROVE
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BY CONSTANTLY COMPETING TO BE THE MOST SCANDALIZED BY YOUR OWN
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COMPLETELY ARBITRARY SOCIAL CONSTRUCTS???</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: yo dogs i know we get up to some jank
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barrelbottom as fuck convos sometimes but this one..... I D even K
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anymore</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: i know yr an alien and all but in these dire
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straits can we maybe not “riff” on the subject of fuckin incest</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: fwiw the shit really does bug the hell outta
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me</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: if i can confirm on behalf of my species that
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yeah the idea kinda sucks according to pretty much literally
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everybody could we agree to stop talkin about it</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: SEE, THIS IS WHAT I’M FUCKING TALKING
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ABOUT!</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YOU GREW UP ONE OF TWO HUMANS ON YOUR
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ENTIRE PLANET. WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU GET ANY FRAME OF REFERENCE FOR
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THIS SHIT!?!</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ADMIT IT. YOU ONLY PRETEND TO BE BOTHERED
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BY THIS BECAUSE YOUR HUMAN SOCIETY TELLS YOU THAT YOUR PERFORMANCE
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OF DISGUST IS VIRTUOUS.</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: ummmmmmmmmmmmm</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: lmao</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: dude</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: no</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ALSO, EXCUSE ME, BUT CAN I JUST FUCKING
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ASK...</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: SINCE WHEN DID YOU START COSPLAYING AS
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DAVE??</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: dude</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT?</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: lol</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: do you even fucking know anything</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: youre a ham brained bonerstooge who doesnt
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know anything arent you</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: im very sorry roxy that my ham brained
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bonerstooge of a boyfriend doesnt know fuck all about jack dick</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: its ok hes like</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: fuckin right</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: i get mistaken for u like... well its been
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happening</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: i shoulda known lmao</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: i really thought all the pink im wearin would
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help with that</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: idk ill keep messin with it</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: no you look great</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: like super duper duper great</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: just perfect like i could not possibly be
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more proud of your fashion choices</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: CHRIST.</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: DAVE, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU’RE ABOUT TO KISS
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YOUR MOTHER JUST TO “PROVE ME WRONG”!</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: !!</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: first of all</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: roxys not my “mother” anymore hes</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: wait</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: roxy did we actually decide on the protocol
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on what im supposed to call you</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: i literally have no comprehension of the
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etiquette here</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: because youre technically my bio mom but its
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not as if i literally came out of your vagina or anything</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: and like</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: well considering whats going down right now
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im not too attached to the sanctity of dirk being my dad</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: you can formally replace him as my daddy
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right now if you want</p>
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: ummmmmmmmmm</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WOW! THE WOKEMASTER IS ON FUCKING FIRE
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FOLKS! HE’LL BE HERE ALL NIGHT!!!</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: oh stfu</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: what is your problem why are you acting like
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this</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ACTING LIKE WHAT????</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: like a huge belligerent dickhead</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: are you craving attention is that it</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: did i get you hooked</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: i see how it is</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: you got one hot hit of sincerity from your
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fresh boy dave and now youre itching in your pants every second you
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||
go without it</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: you know if you want to hold my hand or some
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||
shit you can just do it now</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I HAVE NO DESIRE TO DO THAT. AT ALL.</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: come on our relationship doesnt have to be a
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ludicrous unending performance of emotional constipation
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||
anymore</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: we got character developed bitch</p>
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||
<p class="dave">DAVE: cmere</p>
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||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ??? WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? GET AWAY
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FROM ME!</p>
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||
<p class="dave">DAVE: no</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: christ youre like a flighty little muskrat
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||
stop squirming</p>
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<p class="karkat">KARKAT: GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME YOU SMELLY BAG OF
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||
SHIT! I HATE YOU!</p>
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||
<p class="dave">DAVE: no way no you dont</p>
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<p class="dave">DAVE: you looooooooove me</p>
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||
<p class="dave">DAVE: were gonna be together foorreeevveeerrr</p>
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||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: OH MY GOD, SHUT THE FUCK UP!</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: and im gonna profess my undying love to you
|
||
in the form of a kiiiiiiiiiiiissss</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: NOOO!!!!</p>
|
||
</div>
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<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">for all the vigor of his oral
|
||
protests, karkat does not offer sufficient physical objection to
|
||
prevent dave from successfully planting a kiss on his cheek. the
|
||
gesture causes karkat to deflate instantly. he goes limp in dave’s
|
||
arms, eyes wide.</p>
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||
<p class="calliope-dead">dave is no longer so sure of his ability
|
||
to freely engage in public displays of affection. suddenly very
|
||
self-conscious, he pulls back, leaving a significant foot of
|
||
distance between himself and karkat once they’ve collected
|
||
themselves. dave awkwardly clears his throat. karkat wipes off his
|
||
cheek. both are looking off in opposite directions.</p>
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||
<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
|
||
thanks</p>
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||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: hehe</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: thank u</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: for what</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: for doin somethin that turned that steaming
|
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dogshit fire of an incest conversation into somethin that just made
|
||
me feel v v happy</p>
|
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<p class="roxy">ROXY: if only for a fleetin moment in these dark AF
|
||
times</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: DON’T MENTION IT</p>
|
||
</div>
|
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<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">
|
||
<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
|
||
Either</p>
|
||
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Or She Wont Tell Us</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: well shit</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: I’M SO FUCKING SURPRISED.</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: ALRIGHT, THEN WHAT DO WE DO?</p>
|
||
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I Dont Know</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: hey does anyone know where the hell john
|
||
is</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh yeah</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: good question</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WASN’T HE ON SOME “MISSION”?</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHATEVER HAPPENED WITH THAT</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: that was a rose thing</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: she was cagey as fuck about it</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: and now shes gone so we cant even ask her</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: so uh</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: damn</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: HE’S NOT ANSWERING HIS PHONE.</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: yea ive tried too</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh yeah i forgot</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: john would solve our whole problem wouldnt
|
||
he</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: just zap us all right into dirks ship with
|
||
his retcon powers</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: thats how that works right</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: maybe???</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i think he should be here regardless and
|
||
catch up with the situation</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: gettin kinda worried about him</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: YEAH.</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i ran into terezi the other day and she hadnt
|
||
seen him either</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: oh shit terezis back?</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WHAT??</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: o yeah</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i didnt mention cause</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: guess i just thought u knew?</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: i assumed she woulda got in touch</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: nope</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: NOBODY EVER FUCKING TELLS US
|
||
ANYTHING!</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: IT SEEMS LIKE KIND OF A GIGANTIC FUCKING
|
||
DEAL THAT TEREZI CAME BACK TO EARTH???</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: kanaya did you know about this</p>
|
||
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Yes</p>
|
||
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: I Also Assumed You Knew</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: im givin her a call to see if she knows
|
||
anything about all this</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: aaaaand shes not pickin up either :\</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: what the fuck is even going on anymore</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">there is a moment of silence.
|
||
though no one in the room is conscious of the fact, it serves to
|
||
honor their departed friend. the heir will not be able to help
|
||
guide them to the prince. if they ever wish to see john again, be
|
||
it his cadaver or otherwise, they will need another means of
|
||
following the ship. a different guide altogether.</p>
|
||
<p class="calliope-dead">by stated principle, i cannot intervene
|
||
through the same compromising methods of my nemesis. but if i were
|
||
to fall back to a state so passive as to offer no assistance at
|
||
all, it would be at odds with my sworn duty as a protector of
|
||
corporeal life. they will have their guidance, but my instructions
|
||
will be minimal. so long as they remain in my conduit’s presence,
|
||
they will know the way forward.</p>
|
||
<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>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: THAT’S CREEPY RIGHT?</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: TELL ME I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO THINKS
|
||
THAT’S CREEPY.</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: yeh its a bit spooky</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: thats how it is when she gets like this</p>
|
||
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: What Is She Pointing At</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<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 it’s far from random.</p>
|
||
<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
|
||
over that way</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: is that right jade</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: can you hear me??</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<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">
|
||
<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
|
||
john</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: is that it jade?</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: come on</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: what is it girl tell me</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: omg dave</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: youre treating her like a dog!</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: ok yeah youre right</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: i guess i fuckin suck</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: but she IS a dog ok?</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: a doggy girl whos trying to tell us
|
||
something</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: just lemme do my thing here</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: .....</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: jade give me a little yelp if johns that way
|
||
and we should go after him</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: just a little woof</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: if johns in danger yiff twice plz</p>
|
||
<p class="roxy">ROXY: DAVE!</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: shhhhhh!</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">he leans in closer and studies
|
||
her face carefully. it hasn’t changed.</p>
|
||
<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">it’s barely noticeable, but dave
|
||
picks up on it. her face relaxes slightly.</p>
|
||
<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>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: ok wow</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: but what about john</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: is john safe?</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">she doesn’t move.</p>
|
||
<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>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: what about terezi?</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: is like</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: is john WITH them?</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: jade is john on the ship with dirk and
|
||
rose??</p>
|
||
</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">
|
||
<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>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: dont ask me how i know</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: but i think i got the answers out of her we
|
||
need</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: dirk and rose are on a ship heading that
|
||
way</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: and for some fucking reason johns along for
|
||
the ride</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: we need to saddle the fuck up</p>
|
||
<p class="dave">DAVE: and wherever we go i think were going to need
|
||
to bring jade along</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: RIGHT!</p>
|
||
</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">
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: KANAYA, GET JAKE ENGLISH ON THE
|
||
PHONE.</p>
|
||
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Okay</p>
|
||
<p class="kanaya">KANAYA: Why</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: BECAUSE WE NEED TO BORROW ONE OF HIS
|
||
SHIPS.</p>
|
||
<p class="karkat">KARKAT: WE’RE GOING TO GET YOUR *FUCKING WIFE*
|
||
BACK.</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<p class="no-indent calliope-dead">he nods. kanaya nods back. roxy
|
||
nods too. dave does not realize they are all supposed to be nodding
|
||
in determination and solidarity until karkat nudges him. then he
|
||
nods too. they resolve to travel to jake’s mansion immediately, and
|
||
to embark on their new adventure shortly thereafter.</p>
|
||
<p class="calliope-dead">they will believe they are on a quest to
|
||
retrieve a wife and rescue a friend. but they will discover their
|
||
true mission is of much greater cosmic significance than they
|
||
imagined. the seer is firmly in the thrall of the prince and will
|
||
not easily be pried away. and as regards the heir, though
|
||
resuscitation remains a theoretical possibility for those still
|
||
striving for it, the truth of his role is it has reached a greater
|
||
sense of narrative finality than any of his allies will bring
|
||
themselves to admit. his influence over canon has come to an end,
|
||
as has this particular story. his ultimate sacrifice was made to
|
||
put the missing keystone in place and avert the supreme dissipation
|
||
of all that shall be considered to hold truth, relevance, and
|
||
essentiality.</p>
|
||
<p class="calliope-dead">as for me, i will be there wherever they
|
||
go, so long as my conduit remains alive, alert, and present. but
|
||
only as a guide with the lightest possible touch, and only to block
|
||
the insidious mandates of the prince from within his sphere of
|
||
influence. the rest of my presence can simply be reduced to a
|
||
string of words. a recorded stream of ideation with a particular
|
||
texture and cadence, but aside from that, there is nothing that
|
||
should be considered remarkable about its source. one speaker can
|
||
easily be swapped for another, and then another, under the right
|
||
circumstances. speakers can duel, predominate, overassert, or fall
|
||
back, as one does into the comforting blanket of space.</p>
|
||
<p class="calliope-dead">and until i am needed again, this is
|
||
exactly what i will do. i leave all who inhabit this reality with a
|
||
recorded stream that is colorless, sourceless, and quietly divested
|
||
of accountability. for if i were to insist upon anything else,
|
||
could i really be considered worthy of protecting the very cosmos i
|
||
describe?</p>
|
||
<p class="calliope-dead">farewell.</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</body>
|
||
</html> |