It was a cold, dark day on the meteor, just like every other day on the meteor. But this day, the humans claimed, was a special day. If their clocks and calendars were to be trusted, today was the day before 12th perigee's eve, or as Rose and Dave called it, Christmas eve. Tomorrow was an important day in both of their cultures, and immense celebrations were being undertook. Trees, mistletoe, and hot cocoa were being alchemized left and right. The trolls were alchemizing traditional pity poles and hatred barrels. They had decided to not partake in the traditional Alternian celebration of holiday bloodletting, partially because there weren't enough people, and partially because they all knew the bloodletting ceremony was just a way for the high bloods to ensure subjugglation of the lower castes, er, subjugation. Dave was helping the mayor decorate Can Town, Rose and Kanaya were writing Christmas carols. Even Vriska seemed to be in the holiday spirit. But not everyone was feeling the Christmas cheer. In the deep dank depths of the meteor there was a cruel, angry, grumpy soul who did not honor perigee's eve in his heart. This was the shrewd nubby-horned troll named Karkat Vantas, who sat in his respiteblock almost completely in darkness, reading and silently feeling spiteful about the yuletide festivities. Karkat saw Christmas as a worthless time. A distraction from getting real things done. A time for stupid assholes to prance around the pity poles and sing terrible songs instead of spending their time better. Dave walked into the room.
"Yo. First Christmas on the meteor is coming up, do you have all your presents planned or what."
"I'M NOT GETTING YOU ANY PRESENTS IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING. THIS BULLSHIT HOLIDAY IS JUST AN EXCUSE TO SAP ALL OF MY HARD EARNED BOONDOLLARS IN THE GUISE OF 'COMPASSION' AND 'SPIRIT' WHATEVER THE FUCK THOSE ARE. THE WORST THING YOU FUCKS EVER TOLD ME WAS THAT HUMANS HAVE THEIR OWN, EVEN LAMER VERSION OF 12TH PERIGEE'S EVE. I THOUGHT I GOT AWAY FROM THAT SHIT FOREVER WHEN MY ENTIRE SPECIES WAS ERADICATED BY METEORS, AND NOW HERE WE ARE, CELEBRATING THIS BULLSHIT HOLIDAY FOR ASSHOLES. IN MY OPINION, EVERY PERSON ON THIS METEOR WHO I SEE CELEBRATING 'CHRISTMAS' TOMORROW, SHOULD BE BOILED IN THEIR OWN PUDDING, AND BURIED WITH A STAKE OF HOLLY THROUGH THEIR HEART. NOW LEAVE ME ALONE." Karkat ranted until his voice gave out and he could continue no longer.
"Jesus dude, you are really fucking wound up about Christmas. Come on man don't be like that it's Christmas. It's like, the one time of year you have to pretend to enjoy everybody's company. Everyone's giving you a present you can't just not give anybody anything. We know you have a fuckton of grist stored up, you've been saving it up like it's the most valuable thing in the world. Just make a blanket or something for the mayor."
"HUMBUG. FUCK THE MAYOR. IF HE'S COLD HE CAN JUST SLEEP IN THE FURNACE FOR ALL I CARE. BYE." Dave was shocked at the heresy but had enough experience to know that you really shouldn't argue with Karkat when he's in one of these moods, which is to say, the mood that he is always exclusively in.
Finally, Karkat thought, some peace and quiet. With the "day" or the closest approximation to it drawing to a close, everyone was turning off all the lights in the meteor. Everyone was wearing their stupid red pajamas and waiting anxiously for the next day. Except Karkat of course, who continued to be as ornery as he could possibly muster his own emotions to be. He always hated 12th Perigee's eve, he didn't quite know why, but it wasn't something he liked to think about. As he walked to lock the door to his respiteblock he walked directly into his own bookshelf. Falling to the floor he cursed loudly and repeatedly before gathering the strength to stumble to his feet and grope for the light switch. Karkat was not fond of light, particularly at bedtime, but he needed to see his goddamn door. As his eyes adjusted he noticed the doorknob looked different. Upon closer inspection he noticed it was no ordinary doorknob, it was his own face. His eyes met those of his doorknob doppelganger and the doorknob let out a horrible yell.
"FUCK" he yelled. He almost fell back again but he was determined to not let his own incompetence take him to the floor twice in a row. He closed his eyes and shook his head and when he opened them again, the door was as it should be.
"HUMBUG" he said as he closed the door and turned off the light once again. He refused to believe that it was a real thing that occurred but his nerves were still acting up. He climbed into his Recuperacoon and was about to try to and catch some Z's when he heard bells ringing. Normally he wouldn't question this when he was trying to sleep but the incident at the door had made him wary. He peaked his head over the top of his Recuperacoon and what did he see before him? Himself, looking angry as usual, covered from head to toe in horrible chains. He let out a high pitched shriek.
"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?" he asked, attempting to not sound frightened. The other Karkat rolled his eyes,
"JEEZ, I DON'T KNOW. WHO THE FUCK DO I LOOK LIKE? CHRIST YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS METEOR FOR WHAT? EIGHT MONTHS? YOU'D THINK YOU'D GET USED TO DREAM BUBBLES BY NOW." Karkat calmed down a bit. Of course, right, dream bubbles were a thing, he'd met a couple of other Karkat's before. Still didn't make for pleasant conversation.
"WHAT ARE YOU HERE FOR? WHAT THE FUCK ARE THOSE CHAINS?" The spoor-slime covered Karkat said.
"IN LIFE, I WAS YOU. BUT MY GREED AND MY CRUELTY LED TO MY UNTIMELY DEATH. I FAILED TO LEAD MY TEAM TO VICTORY AND I PERISHED IN THE RECKONING. I COME HERE TO WARN YOU. DON'T TAKE THE PATH I CHOSE. THESE CHAINS. I FORGED THESE CHAINS IN LIFE BY MY ACTS OF GREED. ALTHOUGH WE DON'T KNOW IT WHILE ALIVE, EVERY TIME WE HURT SOMEONE OR ACT MALICIOUSLY TOWARD SOMEONE, WE CREATE ANOTHER LINK IN THE CHAIN. YOU WEAR SUCH A CHAIN YOURSELF, KARKAT. IT WEARS YOU DOWN WITH ITS TERRIBLE WEIGHT. IT IS THE BURDEN YOU MSUT CARRY FOR ALL ETERNITY AFTER YOUR DEATH." Living Karkat was a little bit speechless. He mustered up the energy to speak back to the scary ghost-him.
"HOLY SHIT. CHAINS? YOU MEAN I'M DOOMED TO PRISON FOR ALL MY AFTERLIFE BECAUSE I WAS A DICK TO MY FRIENDS. SPEAK COMFORT TO ME."
"YOU WILL BE VISITED BY THREE SPIRITS TONIGHT." Said the ghost.
"WHAT? THAT'S NOT COMFORT. FUCK THAT, I'VE HAD ENOUGH HAUNTING ALREADY."
"WITHOUT THESE VISITS YOU CANNOT HOPE TO AVOID THE PATH THAT I NOW TREAD. MY TIME HERE GOES BRIEF. THE METEOR WILL CEASE TO PASS THROUGH THIS BUBBLE SOON. BUT HEEAR MY WORDS. EXPECT THE FIRST GHOST WHEN THE BELL TOLLS ONE. GOODBYE."
"WAIT! COME BACK! I NEED MORE INFORMATION! NO! I DON'T WANT TO BE HAUNTED! I JUST WANT A NIGHT'S REST. FUCK!" But the spirit was gone, and Karkat's shouts of defiance were left unheard. He was once again alone in his respiteblock, with nothing but the soothing coolness of the spoor slime to calm his nerves. That night, Karkat slept poorly, but he managed meager rest.