Chapter Two

== BE THE IMPORTANT GUY

You are now Karkat Vantas and you're still slightly on edge, but the caressing hand on your head has been helping your state exponentially. You glance towards the owner of said hand. You would like to know who it is.

By the abundant amount of unkempt black hair and long lanky limbs, you immediately know that it is Gamzee. But there seems to be something off. His face is stained with red. So is his neck. And his shirt. And his arms and hands and the walls. Everywhere.

And so are you.

All you remember is a dream of pretty colors. That's all. You have no idea why you're here or what happened. Or…why Dave is sitting across the room from you…? He looks nervous. You take note that Gamzee does as well. Maybe you should too? But you don't.

Suprisingly, you feel at peace?

You start to realize that you kind of like the color red. But as you're having this revelation you also realize that there seems to be lumps of some sort of mangled masses sprawled throughout the tainted room. They look…familiar. Yes, you've definitely shaken that hand before. And you've definitely seen those lips moving, speaking slurs at you. And you've definitely seen that leg kick you to the ground at some point or another. And you know you've seen that hair flicked at you. And that wheelchair…at least it looks like it was…you know you've seen it rolling around somewhere. Hm.

But you don't care to find out if you're right or not, because the overwhelmingly disgusting stench the masses all carry, is annoying you.

You look up to Gamzee again. Now with your newfound appreciation for the color red, he looks kind of…pretty. You smile coyly up at him. "Hi," you croak. Oh man, was that your voice?

Nevertheless, he smiles back, although still nervously, and replies with a short laugh. He weaves his long fingers through your hair more thoroughly in place of speaking.

It feels nice and you close your eyes contently.

== BE THE GUY ACROSS THE ROOM

You are now Dave Strider and you are confused as fuckall. You should be angry. You should be scared.

But you're not.

You're actually kind of relieved that Karkat is breathing normally and smiling. Although you hate the fact that he's smiling at him. You fucking hate that clown. Then again – why would you be alright with Karkat smiling in this setting? Does he not see what's around him? Does he not remember?

Shit. If he doesn't remember, that's…good. He's still innocent. And he deserves to remain that way. Because it wasn't his fucking fault.

You heedfully stand on your two legs. Oh. When did they start shaking? Irrelevant. You want to be near Karkat.

Slowly you work your way around your friends. You should win a fucking award for being able to NOT puke. Like if that kind of award existed, you would win it so hard. Like whoa.

As you inch nearer and nearer to the two bodies across from you, Gamzee's once trembling body stiffens. Is that fucking juggalo growling at you? You hope he understands that you do not in anyway give one fuck. You are getting to Karkat.

Once you've gotten close enough, you cautiously (okay, so he scares you a little bit) lower yourself next to the other side of Karkat. He turns away from Gamzee and blankly stares at you for a split second before raising a bloodied hand and smearing the contents on your left cheek. He smiles. He whispers. "Pretty colors."

Then he passes out.

What.

== BE GAMZEE

Obviously you are now Gamzee. Karkat has just fallen back into unconsciousness after acting out a bit strangely. Even though you did find it kind of motherfucking adorable. You are trying so hard not to honk.

Dave is too close. You don't like it. So you look up to let him know, but before you can threaten his very existence you catch a rather meaningful look in his eye. And you understand it. We need to discuss Karkat. Because he can't know. And for some reason, we're all three still here and alive. Covered in red.