LAST TIME
()
When Karkat gets to the door he grabs the handle and yanks it open. Inside, time begins, the dust falling and the candles inside flickering. Tall older Atori stands there and looks back at Karkat and Tavros.
"Huh? Oh wow... Gamzee it worked... It worked!"
"Of cOuRsE It fUcKiNg wOrKeD! i wOrKeD HaRd gEtTiNg eVeRyThIn' JuSt mOtHeRfUcKiN' rIgHt."
Gamzee turns around to look at his much older friends, for probably the hundredth time since the last cycle of time... His hair is longer and larger, his facepaint has changed a little bit, adding white teeth to the grey smile. He's god damn tall that's for sure. He's nearly twice Karkat's size and his eyes are fully purple...
"HeY KaR, tAv... iT'S BeEn a lOnG AsS TiMe hUh?" Karkat just stands there taking this new Gamzee in...
()
After a few minutes of staring, Karkat breaks loose from his stance and rushes Gamzee throwing his arms around his waist (since that's as high up as he can reach really...) and hugs him tightly!
"WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU SO TALL YOU FUCKING BACK OF DISEASED GOOY DICKS?! WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST COME BACK?! WHY THE GOD DAMN FUCK DIDN'T YOU JUST COME BACK TO US IF YOU HAVE ALL THIS TIME TRAVELING BULLSHIT POWERS HUH!? DO YOU HAVE ANY FUCKING IDEA HOW-..." Karkat grits his sharp teeth and looks up at Gamzee with big bubbly girlly tears forming in his red and yellow eyes. Gamzee just picks Karkat up from under his arms and hugs him tightly to his chest.
"YoU KnOw wHy bRo. ShIt's gOiN' oN In tHiS TiMe. AnD I CoUlDn't lEaVe sOlLuX BeHiNd nOw cOuLd i?"
"I KNOW BUT- YOU-" Karkat looks up at Gamzee again and that stupid clown just has a small smile on his face.
"HOW CAN YOU BE THE SAME GAMZEE WE GREW UP WITH EVEN? YOU'RE REALLY DIFFERENT."
"I SeEn a lOt wItH ThEsE StAnKy cLoWn eYeS O' mInE KaRbRo..."
"A LOT?... HAS IT BEEN LONGER FOR YOU?"
"OoOoOh yEaH It's bEeN LoNgEr fOr mE... fOr yOu gUyS It wAs tHrEe sEePs. I'Ve bEeN DoIn' WhAt i'm dOiN FoR AbOuT... aToRi hElP Me oUt..."
Karkat looks over at Atori when Gamzee sets him down. Atori. Isn't that the guy that one little kid mentioned Gamzee would be training with in a tent or something? Huh.
"Since you got here... It's been about fourty somethin' sweeps I think."
"FoRtY SoMeThIn'? sHiIiIt mAn. YeAh iT'S BeEn a lOnG TiMe." Karkat's eyes go huge... over forty sweeps?
"GAMZEE... WHY HAS IT BEEN SO LONG?..."
"WeEeLl i gUeSs i hAvE A LoT Of eXpLaInInG To dO..."
"YOU'RE GOD DAMN RIGHT YOU DO YOU PIECE OF SHIT..."
"PlEaSe tRy nOt tO HaTe mE KaRkAt... It rEaLlY WaS FoR ThE BeSt... i dOn't tHiNk i cOuLdA MoVeD AnOtHeR InCh iF I HaD To dO ThIs aGaIn... sO I HaD To mAkE ThInGs hArDeR FoR YoU So yA'Ll wOuLd gEt mOrE PoWeRfUl..."
"WHAT ARE..."
"gAMZEE!" Tavros gets his horns through the door and his eyes are just... full of all kinds of emotions. Karkat steps aside, because he knows Tavros has been suffering the same pain he has...
"TaVbRo... tAv..." Tavros rushes over and jumps, swinging his arms around as much of Gamzee as he can. Gam bends over and picks Tavros up around his waist and hugs him tightly.
"TaV... fUcKiNg hElL... I MiSsEd yOu sO MuCh..."
"gAMZEE... gAMZEE!" Even though Tavros looks much tougher now and more like a cool guy, he's still a troll who has been without his red quadrant for a long time... He's still a person with feelings that he can't control sometimes... Even though his face has become that of a man, tears break from his eyes like a flood with every passing second of finally having Gamzee in his arms.
He still smells the same, and even though he's older and larger and more muscular, he still feels and sounds the same...
"i MISSED YOU MORE YOU D-DAMN JERK!"
"I TrIeD LeAvIn' YoU As mAnY NoTeS As i cOuLd tAv. DiD YoU GeT ThEm?"
"i DID! i GOT ALL OF THEM! aND EVERY TIME I SAW YOUR STUPID CLOWN FACE DRAWING AT THE END I'D C-CRY BECAUSE I MISSED YOU SO MUCH! i THOUGHT MY BLOOD PUSHER WAS GOING TO IMPLODE ON ITSELF! iT HURT SO MUCH YOU STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID JERK!"
"I KnOw tAv... I'M So sOrRy, BuT It wAs aLl i cOuLd dO To kEeP In tOuCh wItH YoU WiThOuT RuInInG ThIs tImElInE. i wAnTeD To gO In tHaT HiVe aNd hUg yA AnD KiSs yA FoReVeR... bUt iF I DiD It rEaLlY WoUlDa mEsSeD StUfF Up... AnD I CoUlDn't lEt iT HaPpEn aGaIn."
"y-yOU KEEP SAYING THAT SHIT AND IF YOU SAY IT AGAIN WITHOUT EXPLAINING IT I'M GOING TO PUNCH YOU R-RIGHT IN THE PROTEIN CHUTE!"
Gamzee laughs a little and just buries his stupid painted face into Tav's neck.
Atori stands by the door and lets everyone in, then walks to Karkat.
"So I take it you and the orange guy are the red ones."
"HUH?"
"He called you the red one for your blood which is ASTONISHINGLY red by the way, and he called the wide horned guy the red one for his quadrant. Honestly I have no idea how Gamzee got a red quadrant." Atori looks down at the far shorter Karkat and smiles a little.
"SO WAS I JUST THAT? THE RED ONE?"
"No no. You all were lots of things. He named you by color of course, and then he had nick names for you all. You're Karbro, Pale bro, pinky, the REALLY red one. I've never seen a red so... vibrant." Karkat looks up at Atori defensively for a second, until Atori raises his hands in surrender.
"Ah no no I don't mean that badly! I'm not castest. Gamzee was sure to sear that into all of our heads during his long ass rule."
"SERIOUSLY?"
"Oh yeah. He talked about being with the lot of you all the time and how the blood colors never really affected anyone's friendship with the other. He told me he was proof of that, having a matesprit who was considered a lowblood and a moirail whose blood isn't even on the spectrum, and other friends of a color from every chuck of it too."
"WOW... SO HE NEVER FORGOT ABOUT US?"
Atori looks down at Karkat a little shocked and it seemed to hit a chord with him that Karkat notices quickly wasn't a particularly good one.
"The only reason he's alive right now is because he chose to live and fight for his friends. Every single waking minute he thought of you all. Every day he'd talk about the past with you all, or how something someone did reminded him of a little tick someone else in your group had. Of COURSE he never forgot about you. You're here now because of him-" Deep breath...
"Sorry... I guess I'm... nah. Never mind. Gamzee. Get to greeting everyone so we can sit down and talk about things."
"Y-yEaH." Gamzee smiles hugely and sets Tavros down. One by one all of his friends come up and hug him or shake his hand. going down the line.
"Gamzee y0u're friggin huge!"
"AgE DoEs tHaT To yOu aRaDiA.-I MEAN NOT /YOU/-"
"I know what you mean you doof. _ " Aradia hugs Gamzee where she can tightly and moves over. Nepeta runs and JUMPS on Gamzee and hugs him around his neck and big stupid hair.
"GAMZEEEEEE! I knew we'd see you again! I knew it!"
"Aw mAn, SiS I MiSsEd yOuR SpUnKy aTtItUdE. sOuR PuSs oVeR HeRe iS..."
"HUH?" Atori squints at Gamzee and Gam just chuckles and waves the other off.
"Oh nothin'." Nepeta jumps off and runs over to Tavros to hug the weepy boy while the others took their turns. Kanaya comes up and folds her arms.
"You Thought This Outfit Would Be Suitable For Battle?"
"YeP. i aIn't a sTyLiSh gUy, BuT I WaNtEd tO Do mY BeSt fOr yOuR OuTfIt. It's gOt a fUlL RaNgE Of mOtIoN So iT WoN'T SlOw yA DoWn nOnE AnD It lOoKs gOoD." Gamzee nods matter-of-factly and Kanaya is silent... then smiles.
"Well You Did Good I Must Say. The Lace Is Soft On The Inside And The Dress Isn't At All Tight And It's Stunning. I Like The Green Bow For A Little Extra. You Could Have Used Black But The Lace Would Make It Seem Like Over Kill. I'm Proud Of Your Choice."
"I'M GlAd yOu lIkEd iT SiS." The two hug and Kanaya moves to the side to let Terezi come up.
"W3LL SH1T ST41N 1T'S B33N 4 WH1L3 4ND 1 H4V3 4 LOT 1 W4NN4 S4Y..."
"StIlL MaD At mE?"
"DUH. BUT TH4T C4N W41T. 1T'S ST1LL GOOD TO S33 YOU... F1GUR4T1V3LY." They hug and then Vriska comes up and just looks confused.
"Wow uh... I don't even know what to say. It's good to see you 8ut I never imagined you'd 8e so d8ng tall. And... I dunno. It's just 8een so long since I've seen you I almost forgot what your stupid p8nted face looked like! I see a different Gamzee from 8efore and it's weird to me..."
"YeAh a lOt's cHaNgEd, NoT GoNnA LiE. bUt i'm sTiLl tHe sAmE StUpId mOtHeRfUcKeR FrOm bEfOrE."
"Christ I hope not TOO much..." Vriska decides a hug is in order and gives him a tight one before moving aside. The tallest of the rainbow group, Equius comes up and has to look up less than the others to Gamzee's bright purple gaze.
"Gamzee... I must say I'm impressed..."
"YeAh? WiTh wHaT? i gOtTa sAy i'm iMpReSsEd. YoU LoOk sTrOnGeR ThAn yOu uSeD To."
"Of course I do, I've trained hard with the others. I knew my strength would be necessary..."
"YoU CaN ShOoT A BoW NoW RiGhT?"
"Well of course, I haven't missed a bullseye in sweeps..."
"PeRfEcT. tHaT BoW I GaVe yOu wOn't bReAk oN Ya lIkE ThE OtHeRs pRoBaBlY DiD. i mAdE GoD DaMn sUrE Of iT."
"Thank you... it's good to see you again Highblood."
"GoOd tO SeE YoU ToO Eq mY BrO." Gamzee hugs the slightly more hesitant Equius until the bloo blood walks to the side. Eridan comes up to Gamzee and just stares at him... But he's unable to bring up any words... He looks down a bit and to the side as if looking for the right words to say floating in the air... Without settling on anything he looks back up at him.
"I KnOw yOu gOt a lOt tO SaY ErIdAn. I CaN SeE It bRo. BuT I PrOmIsE I'Ll aNsWeR EvErY QuEsTiOn yOu hAvE."
"Swwear?"
"SwEaR. gOoD To sEe yOu mAn." He smiles again when Feferi pushes Eridan's face right the fuck outta the way and she jumps and hugs him tightly around the neck!
"Oh Gamzee I'm so )(appy to see you again! I'm so sososoossosoosssosossossososo )(appy!"
"BaW FeF I MiSsEd yOu tOo! gOsH YoUr oUtFiT LoOkS GoD On yOu. YoU GoT So tAlL AnD WoMaNlY! iT'S SoRtA WeIrD AcTuAlLy."
"Oh yeah? Well good because I'm ready to get this show on the road!"
"Before we get the 'show on the road'—" Atori interupts.
"Let's go this way to a bigger place. To the tent Gamzee?"
"HmMm... To tHe sTaGe. ThAt fEeLs lIkE A GoOd pLaCe."
"The stage?"
"YeAh, I GoTtA InTrOdUcE EvErYoNe tO EaCh oThEr."
"Oh god that'll take forever..."
"We nEeD To aNd yOu fUcKiNg kNoW It aToRi yOu pIeCe oF ShIt."
"Yeah yeah, fucking brick head." The two just smirk rudely at each other.
Gamzee reaches back and pulls a lever, opening a door in the wall.
"AlRiGhT MoThErFuCkErS ThIsAwAy."
"Wait when did you put that door in there?"
"It's aLwAyS BeEn hErE AtOrI, tHiS UsEd tO Be a sAfE HoUsE FoR RuNaWaY LoWbLoOdS WhEn fUcK FaCe sTiLl wAs iN ThE SeAt."
"FUCK FACE?"
"The previous Highblood. The very very very large one..."
"OH CHRIST THAT GUY. I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HEAR ABOUT HIM AGAIN... OH WAIT SHIT, GAMZEE YOU'RE THE HIGHBLOOD! SHOULD WE BE BOWING OR KISSING YOUR SHOES OR SOMETHING?" The sarcasm is thick in Karkat's voice, but Gamzee just laughs and starts to walk down some stairs.
"DoN'T Be dUmB. i dOn't eVeN LiKe bEiNg hElD In sUcH HiGh fUcKiNg rEgArD By aNyOnE. jUsT TrEaT Me lIkE YoU NoRmAlLy wOuLd."
Tavros quickly runs up to Gamzee and slips his hand into the purple bloods and holds it tightly. Gamzee looks down at his tough orange blooded sweetie and holds his hand back with a smile. Karkat rushes over as well and takes the other hand, although he looks far more embarrassed to do so... Gamzee also takes his hand and the three walk together.
Nepeta's shipping green eyes flash with excitement and the others can't help but notice with the way her aura is literally fucking sparkling, that she really hasn't changed one god damn bit.
"Ddaaaaah look at 'am! They're a perfect trio! Aaahhh what a hot ship!"
"Nepeta it doesn't even fit in the quadrants the w8y you're thinking a8out things..."
"Shush Vriska let a girl dream!~" With a green blush dusting her cheeks Vriska just rolls her blue eyes as hard as she can and as dramatically as she can. Feferi just giggles and puts her cold hands to her hot cheeks.
"Nepeta you are terrible!~"
"You know it!~"
"You both are disgusting" Equius can't help but say.
"You're still such a baby, let us have our thoughts while we can!" Nepeta and Feferi walk together and giggle.
In the back is Eridan who is almost glaring at Gamzee's stupid giant hair and tall horns... He isn't sure how he feels about all this right now... He's angry at Gamzee but he also knows he shouldn't be, but that only makes him more upset... Guess he'll just have to wait until they have a sit down to figure stuff out...
Kanaya walks with Terezi and she seems to be in a good mood.
"Oh Terezi This Is It. This Is Really Truly The Moment We Learn Everything We've Wanted To Know For So Long... We're Slowly Becoming A Whole Again."
"Y34H. 1T'S PR3TTY W31RD THOUGH. 1 GU3SS 1'M JUST SUSP1C1OUS 1S 4LL B3C4US3 1 ST1LL DON'T H4V3 THE 4NSW3RS R1GHT TH1S S3COND... 1 KNOW 3R1D4N F33LS TH3 S4M3 W4Y."
"Are You Doubting Gamzee?"
"1'M... R3S3RV1NG JUDG3M3NT 1S 4LL..."
"I See. I'm Sure He'll Put Some Light On... All Of The Subjects For Us."
"4LL OF TH3 SUBJ3CTS?"
"/ALL/ Of The Subjects."
After a long walk down the stairs and down a few hallways, they appear at another door that Atori opens and it leads right to the stage. Karkat and Tavros are the first to get a look at it.
"tHIS IS... THE SAME PLACE..."
"YEAH THIS IS THE SAME STAGE WE PRACTICED ON ALL THIS TIME!"
"YeP. i wAnTeD Ya'lL To bE In a fAmIlIaR PlAcE, sO I MaDe sUrE ThE StAgE WaS ThE FoCaL PoInT Of yOuR SeArCh aNd sHiT."
"WHY THE STAGE THOUGH?"
"WhY NoT ThE StAgE My bRoThEr? I GrEw uP On tHiS StAgE Ya kNoW? i tRaInEd hArD HeRe sO I KnEw tHaT YoU GuYs wOuLd tOo eVeN In aNoThEr tImElInE AnD ShIt. AlRiGhT RoUnD We gO ErR'BoDy." Gamzee sits down with the others and the rainbow circle is nearly complete...
Tavros and Gamzee of course refuse to let the giant juggalo go, and everyone understands that. Atori is sitting between Tavros and Nepeta and he can't help but take some good looks at everyone's faces. These are the kids Gamzee grew up with and talked about all the time. He's utterly intrigued.
"AlRiGhT, aSk aWaY EvErYoNe."
At first everyone is quiet. They all look at each other and Feferi finally speaks up.
"Tell us more about Sollux, PLEASE... Now that were here there can't be much to hide right?..." Her hopeful sad face at the front of her question... Gamzee nods.
"AlRiGhT HeRe's tHe dEaL. cUnT LiPs hAs sOlLuX On hEr sHiP AnD ShE'S HaD HiM FoR As lOnG As i'vE BeEn hErE. oN HeR ShIp i lEaRnEd tHaT ShE ToLd hIm wE WeRe aLl dEaD AnD ThAt hE KiLlEd uS."
"WHAT? WHY THE HELL WOULD SHE DO THAT?"
"WeLl bEcAuSe sHe kNoWs tHaT ThAt's hOw sHe'd gEt hEr nEwEsT BaTtErY To sTaY WiTh hEr. ShE TrEaTs hIm bEtTeR ThAn tHe pSiIoNiIc, BuT StIlL TrEaTs hIm lIkE ShIt."
"How did you learn this Gamzee?..."
"I GuEsS It's aLl iN ThE TiMe tRaVeLiNg i'vE HaD To uP AnD Do aLl tHiS TiMe... FoR FoRtY SwEePs i'vE ReLiVeD EvErY ScEnArIo i cOuLd tO GeT ThE BeSt oUtCoMe. BuT WiTh eVeRy tImElInE It's tHe sAmE. sHe tAkEs hIm aNd cOnViNcEs hIm hE KiLlEd uS AnD He sOrTa lOsEs iT. So sHe rEaLiZeD ThAt iF ShE TrEaTeD HeR BaTtErY A BiT BeTtEr tHaN ThE LaSt tHeN He wOuLd lAsT LoNgEr. ShE PrEtEnDs tO Be a nIcE SyMpAtHeTiC LuSuS WhEn sHe's tOtAlLy lYiNg tO HiM..."
"How... Gamzee..."
"HOW MANY CYCLES HAVE YOU GONE THROUGH?..."
"ThAt sHiT AiN'T ImPoRtAnT. i'vE BeEn aRoUnD ThE BlOcK A FeW TiMeS... aNd i'vE SeEn fUcK ToNs oF OuTcOmEs..."
"WH4T K1NDS OF OUTCOM3S?"
"BaD OnEs. ArAdIa yOu kNoW WhAt iT'S LiKe yEaH?" Gamzee looks over to Aradia at his left and she nods.
"Yes. When I was traveling with the Handmaid we saw l0ts 0f different results and endings, m0st 0f which never ended well 0f h0w we planned... I went thr0ugh... I think thirty 0r s0 r0unds."
"I'Ve dOnE A HuNdReD RoUnDs. AnD EvErY TiMe iT'S AwFuL..."
"So that's why you weren't really reacting to us showing up like this. You knew the whole time." Vriska leans in a little and finds this disturbing... To watch people you care for so much die so many times...
"YeP. i'vE DoNe tHiS A HuNdReD TiMeS. yOu gUyS ShOw uP AnD We mEeT AnD TaLk aBoUt pAsT EnDiNgS AnD ThEn yOu gUyS ThInK YoU'Ll dO It tHaT TiMe. YoU ThInK 'fUcK YeAh i gOt tHiS' aNd tHeN We gEt oUt tHeRe... AnD It's hElL. tHe fIrSt tO Go uSuAlLy cHaNgEs, BuT ThE LaSt fEw tImEs hAvE BeEn kArKaT..."
Gamzee holds Karkat's hand a little tighter thinking about it. Karkat looks up at his much taller friend and strokes his hand with his free one, trying to reassure him that he was there... But then he wonders if that does any good since he's sure a different timeline version of himself did the same thing...
"I ReMeMbEr tHe vErY FiRsT RoUnD LiKe iT WaS FuCkIn' YeStErDaY. i dIdN'T SeT Up a mEeTiNg pLaCe. I WaS StIlL YoUnG AnD DiDn't kNoW ShIt aBoUt sEcReCy. We mEt oUt iN ThE OpEn aNd hAd a gReAt rEuNiOn... ThEn wE TaLkEd fOr tEn mInUtEs... tEn fUcKiNg mInUtEs aNd tHaT GoD DaMn tRiDeNt fLeW It's wAy iN AnD StUcK ItSeLf iN FeFeRi's bAcK... eRiDaN FlIpPeD OuT FiRsT, sO He wAs aN EaSy eMoTiOnAl tArGeT FoR ThE BaTtEr wItCh aNd hE WaS CuLlEd nExT... eVeRyOnE RaN In wItHoUt a pLaN... wItHoUt fOrMaTiOn wItHoUt /AnY/ sOrTa iDeA WhAt tHeY WeRe dOiNg. So wE AlL FoUgHt hArD, bUt... We wErE AlL StIlL ReAlLy yOuNg iN ThAt tImE. bEfOrE I WaS KiLlEd, I AcCiDeNtAlLy sToPpEd tImE WiTh tHe hAnDmAiD'S WaNdS ThAt sHe lEfT Me. TiMe sToPpEd aNd i dIdN'T KnOw wHaT ThE FuCk hApPeNeD. aLl i kNeW WaS ThAt mY FrIeNdS WeRe dEaD AnD I HaD To gO BaCk aNd fIx iT... sO ThAt's wHeN It sTaRtEd. I WeNt bAcK AbOuT TeN TiMeS, aNd oN ThE TeNtH TiMe sOlLuX FiNaLlY CaMe iNtO ThE PiCtUrE. wE MaNaGeD To sUrViVe lOnG EnOuGh bEcAuSe i'd gIvEn yOu gUyS A LiTtLe tImE To tRaIn wItH Me. I TaUgHt yOu wHaT I LeArNeD AnD It wOrKeD PrEtTy gOoD. bUt sOlLuX CaMe oUt aNd wIpEd uS AlL OuT In a sEcOnD... I HaD To sToP TiMe aGaIn aNd i rEmEmBeR JuSt sItTiNg tHeRe iN ThE DiRt sTaRiNg aT ThE BlOoD ThAt wAs pOoLiNg aT My kNeEs... So i rEwOuNd aGaIn aNd tRiEd tO StOp mYsElF FrOm dOiNg aNyThInG To hAsTy... i hAd tO ThInK AbOuT ShIt aNd hOw tO MaKe iT So i wOuLdN'T HaVe tO SeE YoU GuYs dIe oVeR AnD OvEr..."
"Gamzee..." Kanaya has her hands together tightly... She looks down sadly at her knees and knows there are more explanations... but hearing this made her want to cry... She can't even for a second imagine the pain and mental strain it was putting on Gamzee... Gamzee who was doing his best to get the best outcome for everyone... Gamzee, who had to watch everyone die one by one so many many times and him thinking it was his fault...
"Gamzee... You Know... That The Reason We Died So Many Times Was Because Of Our Inabilities Right?" Everyone looks over to Kanaya whose hands are in a tight ball.
"It Was Because We Weren't Strong Enough And We Weren't Prepared That, Without Your Help We Would Have Be—"
"BeEn dEaD FoReVeR. i kNoW SiS... It's oKaY ThOuGh. I NeVeR CaReD WhAt tHe rEaSoN FoR OuR MaNy fAiLuReS WaS... i jUsT KnEw tHaT I HaD To kEeP TrYiN' iS AlL."
Kanaya swallows hard and grits her teeth a little... Dammit of course her alternate timeline had said something like that... Maybe she should stay quiet so she won't repeat the process for Gamzee again. But what if her other timeline self thought that too. DAMMIT.
"DoN'T SwEaT It kAnAyA."
"But... Fine... What About The Rest Of The Times?"
"ThE ReSt oF ThE TiMeS. lEt's sEe. AfTeR ThAt tEnTh tImE We wOuLd aLwAyS GeT To sOlLuX AnD FoR AbOuT FiVe tImEs aFtEr tHaT He kIlLeD EvErYoNe aGaIn, AnD ThEn oN ThE TwEnTy tHiRd tImE I AcCiDeNtAlLy kIlLeD SoLlUx. So /ThAt/ WaS A GoD DaMn bUsT AnD HaD To sTaRt oVeR ThErE." Gamzee rolls his eyes at himself for making such an obvious error.
"How did you accidentally kill him?!" Feferi facepalms hard and Gamzee responds.
"WeLl lEt's sEe... It hApPeNeD A CoUpLe tImEs aNd mOsT Of tHe tImE SoLlUx jUsT KiNdA GoT In tHe wAy oF CoNdY WhEn i wEnT In fOr tHe sTaB, oR I'D ReFlEcT HiS PoWeRs aNd tHeY'D BoUnCe bAcK AnD HiT HiM AnD He'd dIe tHeN, aNd tHeN ThErE WaS ThIs oNe tImE WhEn eRiDaN KiLlEd hIm aNd fEfErI WeNt bOnKeRs aNd kIlLeD ErIdAn, AnD So iT WaS JuSt a gIaNt cLuStEr fUcK EvErY TiMe."
"I... I killed Eridan myself?" Feferi looks slightly horrified that she could EVER find it in herself to kill Eridan, even if he HAD killed Sollux...
"YeP. yOu gRaBbEd hIs hAiR AnD YaNkEd hIs hEaD BaCkWaRdS UnTiL HiS HeAd kInDa jUsT RiPpEd oFf. So tHaT'S WhEn i rEaLiZeD We wErE StIlL A LiTtLe tOo yOuNg tO Do aNy rEaL DaMaGe tO CoNdY. wE WeRe iNfLiCtInG HeLl oN OuR GoD DaMn sElVeS, sO ImMaTuRiTy wAs a tHiNg i hAd tO AcCoUnT FoR, wHiCh iS WhEn i gOt tHe iDeA To lEt yOu gUyS TrAiN FoR HaLf a sWeEp oR So. So i dId tHaT FoR TeN SwEePs aNd tHaT StIlL DiDn't wOrK. wE StIlL NeVeR GoT A HiT On tHaT BiTcH AnD ToO MaNy oF Us dIeD FoR Me tO Be hApPy wItH SuCh sHiT ReSuLtS. sO I WeNt bAcK AgAiN."
"You speak so calmly about all of this highblood..."
"It really shouldn't come as a surprise Eq that he wwould. He has after all seen this a hundred times. He knowws it'd be fuckin' stupid if he let his emotions get in the wway of evvery single explanation he told. Blockin' out the ache is better than lettin' it get in the wway all the time."
"YeP. tHaT'S RiGhT. iT SuCkS BuT It's tRuE. aFtEr aNoThEr tEn sWeEpS Of uS FuCkIn' LoSiN' aNd gEtTiNg oUr aSsEs kIcKeD EvErY SiNgLe tImE, i sTaRtEd rEcRuItInG HeLp fRoM OtHeR TrOlLs tO SeE If i cOuLd bEnD HoW ThInGs wOrKeD FrOm tHe oUtSiDe. AnD I StArTeD SeEiN' sOmE BeTtEr rEsUlTs. EvErY TiMe i aSkEd fOr hElP FrOm sOmEoNe i tRuStEd aNd eVeN MaNiPuLaTiNg pEoPlE I DiDn't kNoW ThAt wElL I SaW BeTtEr aNd bEtTeR ReSuLtS. jUsT LiTtLe tHiNgS, lIkE FeF NoT KiLlIn' ErIdAn, Or sOlLuX'S PoWeRs nOt bOuNcInG OfF Of a fOrCe fIeLd, Or eQuIuS NoT BrEaKiN' a bOw oR AnY WeApOn hE HeLd aCtUaLlY. tHiNgS LiKe kArKaT NoT LoOkInG BaCk tO YeLl aT SoMeOnE WhO WaSn't kEePiNg uP AnD HaViNg hIm nOt dIe, ThInGs lIkE TaVrOs sTaBbIn' FoRwArD An iNcH To tHe rIgHt wHeRe tHe bEsT BlOw wOuLd oCcUr. I GoT To tHe 60tH TiMe aRoUnD AnD FiNaLlY I AsKeD AtOrI FoR HeLp. My oRiGiNaL AtOrI."
Gamzee looks over at Atori with a small smile, and Atori smiles back, then sits up straight proudly.
"I AiN'T NeVeR GoT As fAr aS I DiD BeFoRe tHaT WiThOuT AtOrI. hE HeLpEd mE SoRt oUt hOw i fElT AnD He hElPeD Me sTrAtEgIzE. i mEaN Of cOuRsE AfTeR A FeW MoRe sWeEpS Of bUlLsHiT DeAtHs tHaT DiDn't nEeD To hApPeN, aToRi tOlD Me hE'D Go bAcK In tImE WiTh mE InStEaD Of bEiNg sOmEoNe wHo lOsT AnY MeMoRy oF FiGhTiNg iN ThE FiRsT PlAcE LiKe eVeRyOnE ElSe dId. So i tOoK HiM BaCk wItH Me eVeR SiNcE ThEn. AfTeR A FeW MoRe tHiNgS I StArTeD GoInG To lEvInA WhO I TaLkEd tO AlL ThE TiMe wHeN ShE WaS GrOwIn' Up aNd iT TuRnS OuT ShE CaMe uP WiTh gReAt iDeAs tOo, So i sTaRtEd uSiNg tHiS WoRlDs lEvInA FoR SmAlL ThInGs tO HeLp gEt tHiNgS DoNe. AnD EvErY FiGhT ThAt hApPeNeD WoUlD TuRn oUt bEtTeR. wE StArTeD GeTtInG HiTs oN ThE StUpId sEa bItCh aNd sHe'd gEt fRuStRaTeD AnD LoSe hEr cOoL WhIcH MeAnS We cOuLd gEt mOrE DaMaGe oN HeR. bUt iT TuRnS OuT ShE WaS AlSo gOiN' bAcK In tImE AnD WaTcHiN' oUr eVeRy mOvE... sHe fOuNd uS OuT AnD WaS JuSt fUcKiNg wItH Me fOr aNoThEr 30 RoUnDs, ThAt fUcKiNg gOd dAmN BiTcH...""
Gamzee gets another several paps on his big hand from Karkat and Gam remembers to take a couple breaths to relax.
"So tHaT'S WhEn i fIgUrEd i hAd tO ReAlLy mAsK AnD HiDe wHaT We wErE DoInG. pLaCeS WhErE ShE CoUlDn't fInD Us oR SeE Us. I HaD To gO To oThEr tImElInEs aNd aSk oThEr vErSiOnS Of pEoPlE I KnEw fOr hElP. i wEnT To tHe tImElInE WoRlD WhErE YoU GuYs jUsT CaMe fRoM AnD FoUnD ThAt lEvInA. sHe wAs sTiLl jUsT A KiD. aNd i tOlD HeR To hElP Me oUt. WhIcH ShE DiD, bUt iT TuRnS OuT ShE WaS ToO YoUnG To dO A LoT. sO I WoUlD WaIt aNd cOmE BaCk wHeN ShE WaS A LiTtLe oLdEr, AnD I CaMe bAcK So mAnY TiMeS UnTiL I GoT To tHe rIgHt aGe wHeRe sHe cOuLd hElP Me. AnD I FiNaLlY GoT To tHe rIgHt aGe aNd i bEgGeD HeR To bUiLd a tUnNeL. aT FiRsT ThE TuNnEl wAsN'T LoNg eNoUgH AnD HeR LuSuS DiDn't tRuSt mE WhIcH Is uNdErStAnDaBlE. wHeN I ExPlAiNeD To tHe bOtH Of tHeM WhAt wAs hApPeNiNg iN ThIs tImElInE ThEy hElPeD Me wIlLiNgLy. ThE TuNnEl wAs mAdE AnD I WeNt bAcK EvEn fUrThEr wHiLe sHe dId tHaT UnTiL I GoT BaCk tO ThE DaY ThE WiTcH FlOoDeD ThE PlAnEt oF DeAd tRoLlS."
"yOU WENT ALL THE WAY BACK? aLL THE WAY BACK THERE? wHY COULDN'T YOU HAVE JUST STOPPED HER RIGHT THERE?"
"TaV DoN'T YoU ThInK If i cOuLdA DoNe iT I WoUlDa? I WaNtEd sO BaD To fUcK HeR ShIt uP. bUt tHeN AlL My tImElInE JuMpInG AnD HaRd wOrK AnD AlL YoUr dEaThS WoUlD HaVe mEaNt nOtHiNg. So i hAd tO LeT HeR FlOoD It. I HaD To wAtCh aLl tHe kIdS AnD CaMpFiReS AnD OuT OlD EsCaPe pOd gEt fLoOdEd aWaY, aNd i wAtChEd wHeN ArAdIa pRoTeCtEd yOu aLl wItH HeR SiCk pOwErS. a cOuPlE TiMeS ThE CoNdEsCe wOuLd nOtIcE YoU AlL SiTtInG DoWn tHeRe iN A LiTtLe bUbBlE AnD ShE'D KiLl yOu. So i hAd tO UsE SoMe oF My vOoDoO MaGiC I'D BeEn wOrKiNg oN To vEiL YoU GuYs fUrThEr. YoU GuYs wOuLd pOwEr tHrOuGh tHe wAtEr aNd gEt tO ThE PoRtAl tHaT ThE HaNdMaId sEt uP FoR YoU To eScApE WiTh."
"How'd she know that we'd end up in a specific place and time?"
"CuZ I TaLkEd tO HeR Of cOuRsE. oR I GuEsS, sHe cAmE To mE."
"She DID? Tell us m0re!"
"SuRe sUrE. wElL It wAs aFtEr i gOt yOu gUyS AlL VeIlEd uP AnD To tHe pOrTaL I WoNdErEd hOw tHaT PoRtAl wAs tHeRe, AnD HoW HaNdY KnEw wHeRe tO PuT It aNd wHeN To pUt iT. tHe tHiRd tImE I SaW It aNd wOnDeReD ShE ShOwEd uP AnD ToLd mE To nOt gIvE Up. I ToLd hEr ' wHaT ThE FuCk aRe yOu tAlKiN' aBoUt wHaT Do yOu tHiNk i'm eVeN DoIn' HeRe?' aNd sHe aSkEd mE WhAt tImE It wAs, So i tOlD HeR. iT LoOkEd lIkE ShE DiDn't eXaCtLy mEaN To lAnD In tHaT TiMe pErIoD WhIcH I ThOuGhT WaS FuCkIn hIlArIoUs. ThE HaNdMaId nOt kNoWiN' wHeRe oR WhEn sHe wAs? GoD DaMn hYsTeRiCaL! aNyWaY So i tOlD HeR AbOuT WhAt wAs gOiN' oN AnD ShE JuSt tOlD Me nOt tO GiVe uP. i aSkEd hEr iF ShE'D GoNe aHeAd aNd sEeN ThE OuTcOmE, tHe rEaL OuTcOmE AnD ShE SaId nAh. I SaId wHy tHe gOd dAmN FuCk nOt, AnD ShE SaId sHe cOuLdN'T, wHiCh i tHoUgHt wAs wEiRd bEcAuSe sHe's sUpPoSeD To gO AnYwHeRe aNy tImE AnD FoR HeR To nOt bE AbLe tO Go tO ThE PlAcE I NeEdEd hEr tO GeT To wAs fUcKiN AnNoYiNg. BuT ShE ToLd mE EvEn sO To nOt lOsE HoPe. So i tOlD HeR 'fUcK YoU Of cOuRsE NoT' aNd sHe rOlLeD HeR EyEs aNd pOoFeD AwAy. I CoUlDa bEeN NiCeR To hEr, BuUuUt i wAs iN A BaD MoOd sOoOoO I WaS A DiCk."
"GAMZEE HOW DID YOU GET THROUGH ALL OF THIS WITHOUT... ME? WOW THAT DIDN'T SOUND FUCKING SELFISH AT ALL. DON'T EVEN- PRETEND I DIDN'T OPEN MY FUCKING GARBAGE HOLE."
"NaH KaR DoN'T WoRrY, aSk aLl tHe qUeStIoNs mAn. I WaS AbLe tO CoPe bEcAuSe i oFtEn wEnT BaCk tO SnEaK PeEkS At yOu gUyS. aNd jUsT SeEiN' yOu kArKaT MaDe mE FeEl bEtTeR. eVeN ThOuGh i kNeW I CoUlDn't cOmE Up tO YoU AnD HuG YoU, i cOuLd sEe yOu aNd i cOuLd sEe tHaT YoU WeRe tHiNkInG AbOuT Me aNd tHaT'S AlL I NeEdEd..." Gam smiles at Karkat a little and Karkat just looks down, a light dusty pink on his cheeks.
"DON'T FUCKING SAY IT LIKE THAT MAN IT'S EMBARRASSING."
"HeHeHeHe. DoN't Be ShY nOw." The bigger troll hugs tiny Karkat and Karkat just sits there without hugging back, but also without struggling.
Nepeta makes a diamond shape with her fingers and smirks with her sharp cat teeth and snickers.
"Keh keh keh!~"
"I KnOw, Me aNd tHe tOwNs fOlK SaW YoU GuYs a bUnCh aRoUnD HeRe."
"HUH HOW? :?" Terezi leans foward, her head resting on one of her hands from her crosslegged position.
"I GuEsS AlL My tImE TrAvElInG To yOuR TiMeLiNe wAs eFfEcTiNg hOw yOu gUyS ShOwEd uP In tHiS WoRlD WhErE I OrIgInAlLy lAnDeD. wE SaW FlAsHeS Of yOu gUyS RuNnIn' ArOuNd tHiS StAgE HeRe sInCe i sEt uP PoRtAlS ThAt yOu cOuLd sEe wHaT HaPpEnEd tO SoLlUx iN ThE FiRsT PlAcE AnD I GuEsS It cOnNeCtEd tHe tWo wOrLdS FoR A FeW SeCoNdS. i rEmEmBeR WhEn i fIrSt aCtUaLlY BeCaMe hIgHbLoOd i nOtIcEd tHaT SoMe gUaRdS AnD SoMe rAnDoM TrOlLs wErE CoMiNg tO Me sAyInG ThEy wErE SeEiN' tRoLlS ThAt wErEn't fRoM ArOuNd hErE AnD As tImE PrOgReSsEd eVeRyOnE CaLlEd yOu pHaNtOmS Of dAyS PaSt aNd wEiRd sHiT LiKe tHaT. bUt wHeN ThEy sTaRtEd mEnTiOnInG CoLoRs i wAs gEtTiNg sOrTa wEiRdEd oUt. I DiDn't gEt iT. oF CoUrSe i tHoUgHt oF YoU GuYs eVeRy tImE It hApPeNeD BeCaUsE I WaNtEd tO BeLiEvE It wAs yOu tHaT EvErYoNe wAs sEeInG... aNd lUcKiLy iT WaS FuTuRe mE DoIn' SoMe hArD CoRe tImE TrAvElInG WoRk."
"WOW. SO... WHAT ROUND IS THIS? WHAT NUMBER OF TIMES OF GOD DAMN FAILURE ARE WE ON?"
"NuMbEr 101 mY BrOtHeR." He nods a little and lets out a small sigh. A tired sigh.
"gAMZEE WHAT MAKES YOU SO SURE... THAT THIS TIME WILL BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST TIMES?" Tavros looks up at Gamzee and notices he's been stroking his thumb over Gamzee's hand.
"WeLl tAv hOnEsTlY I CaN'T TeLl yOu iF ThIs iS ThE TiMe. BuT I KnOw fOr a fAcT ThAt tHiS Is aT LeAsT GoNnA Be oNe oF ThE BeSt cYcLeS I CaN ImAgInE. i'vE DoNe eVeRyThInG ThAt i cAn uP To tHiS PoInT ThAt wE ShOuLd gEt a pErFeCt gAmE. nO OnE DiEs aNd wE CaN AlL StAy tOgEtHeR. i hAvEn't pLaNnEd aNyThInG FoR AfTeR We wIn eVeNtUaLlY..."
"That May Be A Good Thing Gamzee. Getting Our Hopes Up With Promises Of A Perfect Game Are Unreasonable..."
"Aw kAn cOmE On. If wE ThInK Of tHe fUtUrE WhErE We'rE AlL ToGeThEr tHeN AiN'T ThAt sOmE GoOd iNcEnTiVe? If yOu aLl wAnNa lIvE AnD SeE ThE ReAl sUcCeSsFuL FuTuRe tHaT'S AhEaD Of uS ThEn fIgHt hArD FoR YoUrSeLf aNd fOr yOuR FrIeNdS. iS ThAt tOo cHeEsY?"
"A Little Bit."
"A LOTTA 8it." Vriska chimes in under her breath.
Eridan speaks now.
"So Gam wwhen wwe entered this place you told Atori you had people to introduce us to. Wwhere are they?"
"I WaNtEd tO GeT EvErYtHiNg sEtTlEd. BuT I GuEsS If yOu'rE ReAdY To mOvE On wE WiLl. It aIn't lIkE I'M ClOsInG ThE QuEsTiOn bOx oR AnYtHiNg." Gamzee stands up and looks at Atori and the two nod to each other. Feferi and Nepeta are the first to stand up.
"Ya'lL ArE GoNnA MeEt mY MaIn tRaInErS WhO TaUgHt mE EvErYtHiNg i kNoW. tHeY HeLpEd mE GeT StRoNgEr aNd hElPeD Me wItH My cHuCkLe vOoDoO PoWeRs aNd wHaT NoT."
"HOW STRONG WITH THAT WEIRD SHIT ARE YOU ANYWAY?... YER MAKING ME NERVOUS YOU JERK."
"i'M SURE IT'S FINE KARKAT."
"YOU TRUST HIM /THAT/ MUCH?"
"wELL OF COURSE I DO. hE'S NEVER LEAD US ASTRAY."
"OTHER THAN THE HUNDRED OTHER TIMES BEFORE THIS? YEAH HE HAS." Tavros puffs out his cheeks and squints at Karkat a little.
"wELL NEGATIVE NANCY PANTS I BELIEVE IN GAMZEE AND YOU SHOULD TOO."
"HE FUCKING /JUST/ SAID THAT WE'VE ALL DIED A HUNDRED TIMES BEFORE THIS TAVROS, I'M NOT TOO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS OUTCOME... IT'S LITERALLY A LESS THAN ONE PERCENT CHANCE THAT WE'LL WIN BASED ON WHAT HE TOLD US."
"I'M StAnDiN' rIgHt hErE YoU KnOw kAr bRo..."
"DON'T YOU 'KARBRO' ME YOU FUCKING DIRT SNIFFING ASS DRAGGER, YOU CAN'T SPOUT THAT SHIT ABOUT EVERY PREVIOUS LIFE AND FIGHT BEFORE THIS HAS ALL ENDED IN FUCKING RUIN AND EXPECT ME TO BE EXCITED AND READY TO GO FOR THE NEXT BATTLE. IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE SENDING US OUT TO DIE AGAIN SO YOU CAN GET SOME MORE RESEARCH DONE."
Gamzee looks down at Karkat and thinks for a second.
"So... WhAt iF I PuNcHeD YoU In tHe hEaD RiGhT NoW. dO YoU ThInK It'd hUrT?"
"EXCUSE ME?"
"I SaId iF I PuNcHeD YoU In yOuR DoMe, Do yOu tHiNk iT'D HuRt?" Karkat looks at Gamzee in slight disbeliefe. He wasn't sure what the fuck Gamzee was talking about.
"WELL YEAH IT'D FUCKING HURT IDIOT, YOU'D BE PUNCHING ME IN THE FUCKING 'DOME' WITH YOUR GIANT STUPID FIST."
"DoEsN'T ThAt pRoVe tHaT WhAt yOu'rE GoInG ThRoUgH Is rEaL? dO YoU WaNnA JuSt lAy dOwN AnD DiE AnD NoT EvEn tRy bEcAuSe yOu tHiNk i'm uSiNg yOu fOr sOmE StUpId bUlLsHiT ExPeRiMeNtS? iS ThAt wHaT YoU GoT OuT Of eVeRyThInG I SaId?... ThAt's a dAmN ShAmE BrO."
Gamzee sulks a little bit and Karkat just looks up at him... then down to his hands a little.
"I... DUNNO. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME GAMZEE AND I JUST GOT HERE AND LISTENED TO YOU TELL US ALL THAT WE'VE DIED A HUNDRED TIMES BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO GET THE... JUST SHUT UP, I KNOW YOU WANT WHAT'S BEST, BUT IT'S JUST SORTA... WEIRD TO HEAR YOU SAY IT WITH SUCH A FLAT TONE. I GET YOU'VE HAD TO SAY IT EVERY TIME AND I GUESS THAT WHAT BUGS ME. DOES EVERY INCARNATION OF US MEAN NOTHING? ARE THESE VERSIONS OF US JUST SOME BULLSHIT FILLERS—"
Gamzee lifts his big fist and bonks it right on top of Karkat's head.
"OW JESUS CHRIST WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR DEAL?!"
"KaRkAt nO MaTtEr wHaT VeRsIoN Of yOu i sEe yOu'rE StIlL My mOiRaIl wHo i nEeD. yOu'rE StIlL My bEsT FuCkInG FrIeNd. I DoN'T LiKe wAtChInG YoU GeT YoUr lImBs tOrN OfF AnD I DoN'T LiKe wAtChInG YoUr bLoOd cOvEr eVeRyThInG I SeE. i dOn't gEt aNy jOy oUt oF WaTcHiNg yOu aNd eVeRyOnE ElSe i cArE AbOuT GeT BuRnEd tO DeAtH AnD DrOwNeD To dEaTh. Do yOu tHiNk i dOn't fEeL ShIt wHeN I HaVe tO FiGhT HaRd wItH YoU AnD WaTcH YoU AlL DiE AnD ReWiNd oNlY To wAtCh iT AgAiN WiTh mInOr dEtAiLs cHaNgEd? Do yOu tHiNk i wAtChEd aNd dIdN'T FeEl sAdNeSs? ThErE Is nEvEr aNd nEvEr wIlL Be a vErSiOn oF YoU GuYs tHaT I DoN'T FuCkInG LoVe."
Tavros listens to Gamzee and then looks at Karkat with a 'told you fucker' face.
Karkat just holds his head and looks up at Gamzee... then down at his feet...
"ALRIGHT ALRIGHT... IT'S JUST..."
"Are these the little fuck wits you tell us about all the time?" A new voice breaks the dull chatter of the rainbow group. The tall and now rather lanky Reznia walks in at the head of the group, Tieono a pace behind her. Tieono instantly points to Nepeta!
"Hey it's you! You're that girl who grabbed me in the portal and then pushed me out!"
Nepeta's eyes go big and she jumps down off the stage.
"Whoa if it's really been so long then why do you only look a little bit older? Is it really you?"
"Well yeah!" Teiono is now very fall and his paint has been updated from it's simple swirl and dot under his left eye to two swirls and two dots under his eyes. But his three pronged star like horns are honestly just a bit bigger than they were before. He's as tall as Reznia now for sure.
"Reznia don't be rude to the children, the'll be helping us a lot." old man Kloshe walks up and he looks even older now, slightly hunched over. Even so he apparently refuses to use a cane...
"I say let her do what she wants. They still look stupid and scrawny to me." Bratty Persha walks up and she's older now too. Taller fork horns and even longer hair adorn her head and behind her, hand in hand with her, is Marsho. Silent as ever. His hair is still long and his face paint has also gone from a pointed smile to a curvy more meanacing looking grin.
"Don't mind that one... She's always been quite a snot." Elegant Chebur walks on the right side of the group with a taller and worn out looking Grooga.
"No one asked you Chebur."
"I don't need asking."
"That's enough you two... This is a happy moment and we should all be greeting our guests and possible saviors with respect."
"ThErE Ya aRe kLoSh, ChRiSt i tHoUgHt yOu dIeD Or sOmEtHiNg." Gamzee smiles as a much older very hunched over Kloshe walks in.
Our rainbow trolls look at Kloshe and wonder how on earth something so old can even move...
"You shouldn't expect me to get here first, i'm getting old."
"No yOu aRe /NoT/ i oNlY CaLl yA 'oLd mAn' As a jOkE. 'SiDeS I KnOw yOu gOt aNoThEr fIfTy iN Ya."
"Elder abuse! It's cruel to wish me another fifty."
"Alright well we're not going there." Atori interupts. He coughs a little...
"Everyone up on the stage. Introductions and all that." The juggalo group get on stage and begin to introduce themselves in a big giant circle.
"I'm Tieono! I saw you when I was a kid cat lady! And candy blood colored guy! I saw all you guys!" Tieono smiles widely and points at Nepeta, who smiles back and waves at him.
"I'm Reznia. Tieono is my Moirail and no one fucking touches him. EVER." Reznia squins at Nepeta a little for taking her sweet little moirail from her that time... Nepeta just scratches the back of her head a little and waves at her as well. Equius squins at Reznia who then squints at him.
"I'm... Chebur. This is Grooga. He doesn't like to talk much. So I talk for him."
"Do you alwways knoww exactly wwhat he's gonna say or wwants to say?" Eridan asks while tilting his head a bit and folding his arms. Chebur makes the smallest of smiles and nods.
"We're matesprits. And we have been for many many sweeps." Feferi looks down at them holding hands tightly as if the other is their life line. She smiles a little and squishes her own hands together excitedly. It's very nice to see another matespritship, especially one between two purple blooded juggalos. It's also a little strange. Even though she knows matespritships happen all the time between two of the same color, but when it comes to these juggalo trolls... it always seemed far less likely.
"Oh gosh that's so sweet! How many sweeps exactly, do you know?"
"Mmmmm... I've nearly lost track of time. Grooga?~" Another small smile from her. Grooga thinks hard, distorting his blunt rocky face a bit... A voice comes from him finally. Very deep and rather raspy.
"Almost our whole lives... 90 sweeps?"
"Gosh it's been that long."
"Wow!~ That's so cool!~" Feferi and Nepeta say together.
"Anyway... I'm Persha."
"And I'm Marsho..."
"We're together too you know!" Persha holds up Marsho's hand in her own, not wanting to be outdone by the perfect couple over there...
"Bawww~ I think you two look cute together!~" Nepeta hugs herself a little at her shippy feels nearly exploding from her chest!
"I'm Klosh. Been through a few highbloods in my life and Gamzee is my second favorite one."
"Sec0nd fav0rite?" Aradia puts her hands on her hips and can only remember The BIG motherfucker as Highblood before Gamzee...
"XhIoNe iS HiS FaVoRiTe. MiNe tOo aCtUaLlY." Gamzee walks up from backstage. When did he even...
Gamzee holds the skull with the four moehawk curved horns in his hands, now so big they make the skull look even smaller than it did before.
"U...Uh... Why Exactly Do You Have A Skull?" Kanaya doesn't look quite as excited about it as Aradia does.
"Y0u said his name was Xhi0ne?"
"YeP. tHiS LiTtLe gUy wAs tHe hIgHbLoOd bEfOrE KuRlOz... ThE GuY WhO I'M MaDe fRoM. mY AnCeStOr. I HaVe hIs sKuLl yA'Ll bEcAuSe iT'S TrAdItIoN To kEeP ThE SkUlL Of tHe hIgHbLoOd bEfOrE YoU AfTeR YoU KiLl tHeM." Gamzee smiles fondly at the skull and hands it over to Kloshe who holds it with both hands.
"dOES THAT MEAN YOU HAVE... THE BIG GUYS... KURLOZ' SKULL TOO?"
"I SuRe dO TaV. i mAdE It iNtO A ChAiR BeCaUsE HiS WaS ToO BiG FoR Me. BuT EvEnTuAlLy i gOt tOo bIg fOr iT, sO I HaD To bReAk hIs jAw aNd bEnD It bAcK FuRtHeR. gOoD TiMeS. yAnKeD HiS HoRnS OuT AnD PuT ThEm iN HiS EyE SoCkEtS. iT LoOkS PrEtTy fUcKiN CoOl, NoT GoNnA LiE BrO."
"You... used his skull as a throne?" Vriska makes a slightly disgusted face, but it's easily over powered by a wide sharp sneer. She rather enjoys the fact that Gamzee dismantled that jerks skull. Aradia interupts loudly.
"What ab0ut the rest 0f his b0nes?!" A big smile is planted on her maroon lips.
"SoRrY SiS, i uP AnD BuRnEd tHe dAmN ThInGs. ToO BiG To uSe fOr mUcH ElSe. AnD I DiDn't wAnT AnY PaRt oF HiM OtHeR ThAn tHe tRaDiTiOnAl hEaD NeAr mE Or mY PeEpS, dIg mE? bAd mUmBo jUmBo. CaN'T HaVe tHaT WhEn i'm tRyIn' To rAiSe tHeM As aN ArMy."
A long pause from everyone. The purple trolls don't look at all surprised. They knew about this already.
"4N 4RMY?" Terezi scrunches her nose a little...
"ThAaT'S RiGhT SiS. a gOd dAmN ArMy. AfTeR GoIn' ThRoUgH A CoUpLe cYcLeS Of gEtTiNg mOrE HeLp fRoM EvErYoNe... AlL My pEoPlE SaId tHeY WaNtEd mE To tRaIn tHeM To hElP FiGhT FoR ThE NeXt rOuNd... So fOr tHe lAsT ThReE CyClEs i'vE BeEn tElLiN My pEoPlE ThE StOrY OvEr aNd oVeR AgAiN AbOuT HoW In tHe lAsT RuN ThEy wAnTeD Me tO TrAiN ThEm. AnD So nOw aLl oF My aBlE BoDiEd bRoThErS AnD SiStErS ArE TrAiNeD AnD ToUgH As nAiLs tO HeLp uS AlL FiGhT AnD KiLl tHaT DaMn wItCh aNd tAkE OvEr... sPeAkIn oF WhIcH... FeFeRi."
"M...me?" Feferi stands up a little straighter and points at herself. Eridan gets on high guard and holds onto his strap. Gamzee sees this, but he goes on.
"YeP. fEf, SiNcE YoUr pInK BlOoDeD SeLf hAs tHe tRaDiTiOn oF KiLlIn' YoUr pReDeCeSsOr i wAs wAnTiN' tO TaLk tO YoU AbOuT WhAt yOu wAnTeD To dO."
"W...wow you remembered?"
"CoUrSe i rEmEmBeReD, iT'S ThE WaY It's bEeN SiNcE ThE DaWn oF TiMe yO. eVeRyOnE ShOuLd kNoW ThAt." An educated Gamzee is a very strange Gamzee indeed... Feferi feels a little dumb for assuming Gamzee didn't know, but how was she supposed to know he'd actually gotten more intelligent? Bigger and stronger doesn't always mean better and smarter.
"I guess we all already know your names. Gamzee spoke of you all quite often so we have all of you basically memorized." Marsho says. Persha puts her free hand on her hip which she sticks out a little, balancing her weight on one leg.
"Yep. Now what Gam?"
"wAIT WAIT WAIT. sO YOU GUYS REALLY AREN'T LIKE... DISGUSTED TO SEE US OR ANYTHING?" Tavros looks at the painted trolls and all of them sorta shrug.
"We've seen you many times running around the city in brief flashes of time rips."
"T1M3 R1PS? :? 3XPL41N."
"I ThInK I /sOrTa/ DiD EaRlIeR. bUt bEcAuSe i wAs tRaVeLiNg tHrOuGh tImE So gOd dAmN MuCh tHaT ThE ReAlItIeS Of tHe wOrLd yOu wErE In aNd tHiS WoRlD WeRe sTaRtInG To mEsH ToGeThEr aNd sTuFf tOgEtHeR. sO ThRoUgH OcCaSiOnAl rIpS, wE'D SpOt yOu rUnNiNg aRoUnD ThE ArEa. I ThInK If i tRaVeL AnD TeAr tImE AnYmOrE ThAn i hAvE... yA'Ll mIgHt jUsT PoP ThRoUgH ThE RiPs aNd tHaT'D FuCk tHiNgS Up aNyMoRe... So wE GoTtA MaKe tHeSe tImEs cOuNt, Ya dIg mOtHeRfUcKeRs?" Gamzee looks at Terezi and points a finger at him and she swats at it playfully.
"We'll have to teach them everything all over again though Gamzee. It'll be such a pain in the fucking ass." Persha folds one of her arms under the one that's holding Marsho's hand.
"Well... Persha we've had to teach many trolls the ropes. I'm sure we can do it again." Marsho looks at her and smiles a little. Persha makes the smallest of purple blushes and looks to the side.
"I guess, it's just won't it be a hassle?" Gamzee raises his hand a little and waves up and down at them.
"Ey yO, wE WoN'T HaVe tO TeAcH ThEsE GuYs nOtHiN'." Grooga looks at Gamzee questioningly and raises his low voice.
"What does that mean?"
"GrOoG My bRoThEr i wOuLdN'Ta bRoUgHt 'Em hErE If i dIdN'T ThInK WiTh mY PaN ThAt tHeY WeRe aLl uP AnD ReAdY FoR ThIs sHiT StOrM. tRuSt mE On tHiS OnE. i kNoW Ya'lL CaN WoRk tOgEtHeR. sEe mY MuLtIcOlOrEd mOhErFuCkIn bEsT FrIeNdS, aLl yA'Ll gOtTa dO WiTh mY PuRpLe bRoS AnD SiStErS Is tRuSt iN ThEm cOmPlEtElY." Gamzee says this as if it's quite obvious. But Vriska is very unconvinced.
"Gamzee that doesn't tell us a god damn thing. How can we just automatically trust them? I mean yeah sure I get that they have 8een the ones training with you and shit for all this time 8ut we haven't and that makes me worried. And I don't really get worried if you remem8er right. You gotta give us a little more than that. We're not going in 8lind god dammit..."
Gamzee folds his large muscular, yet long and scrawny if that makes a lick of sense... He nods and puts his hands on his knees, then streeetches.
"My cErUlEaN SiStEr i hEaR Ya. I'Ll gIvE YoU A LiTtLe iNsIgHt tHeN On wHaT We lEaRnEd aNd wHaT We tEaCh. SoUnD LiKe a dEaL?"
"Gamzee," Kloshe interjects.
"I think we should just do what we normally do. Begin the demonstration and slowly enter the new players one by one so it can be understood exactly what we need from them."
"ExAcTlY WhAt i wAs tHiNkInG KlOsHe mY MaN. aToRi, SoUnD GoOd?" The rainbow trolls nearly forgot Atori was even in the area. He's so quiet and he stands away from the group, observing the lot of them, probably contemplaing how things would work out. Learning personalities and everyones smallest quirks and movements and clinging to every word for analysis.
Atori stands up straight from the back of the stage and nods.
"Yeah sounds good. I already have the order I want them to enter in."
"CHRIST I FORGOT THAT GUY WAS THERE... SCARED THE SHIT OUTTA ME."
"AiN'T No tImE FoR ThAt bEsT FrIeNd. GoTtA KeEp yOuR ShIt iN TaCt yA HeAr? AlRiGhT AtOrI LiSt uS OfF."
The purple trolls all seem to shift, both in body language, stance auras. Tavros looks at this group of trolls and can tell they're very well trained... He wonders what is going to happen. He's actually pretty excited. Tav and the others finally get to spar with Gamzee after all these sweeps... With Gamzee and the ones he seems to trust most in this world...
Tavros thinks first and foremost in his mind that he won't let these people one up him. He's going to prove that he's good enough to be in their ranks and maybe even better. He's know Gamzee longer dammit and he's gonna show them how this shit is done.
Equius looks down a little at Tavros and sees his slowly growing determined sneer and smirks himself. He can feel everyone in his group slowly get more hyped, ready to prove themselves no less than the juggalos.
Gamzee makes the most familiar ugly grin with his large sharp teeth behind those painted pointed lips of his
"First, Grooga, Persha, Reznia."
The three jump up and away from each other. They all make eye contact and seem to evaluate the situation, just like every time they spar. Tavros is amazed at their speed for being so tall. He watches them make eye contact, and sees the ways their bodies move according to their facial expressions.
Persha goes to attack Reznia by jumping off the wall and heading straight up to her. Reznia grabs her fist and throws her down at Grooga, who ducks and backflips to swing his leg at Persha.
"Tieono!" Atori calls. Tieono is quick to dash in and pushes Persha out of the way and grabs Grooga's leg and trips him, making him land on his face. Reznia crashes her feet into the stage and headbutts Tieono grabs her hair and yanks it down so he can kick her in the face. Persha kicks Tieono in the head, then with the other leg kicks Reznia in the teeth, but Grooga grabs Persha before she can do more damage, and swings her down.
"Marsho." Atori says. Marsho bursts in there faster than anyone and frog hops over Tieono and slides on the ground, grabbing Persha before she is slammed into the ground. Persha uses the momentum to kick Grooga in the crotch with a smirk.
Chebur giggles on the sidelines and shakes her head a little.
"Pentalty!" She calls out. Kanaya just watches in awe.
"Miss Chebur..."
"Just Chebur is alright."
"A-Ah Yes... This Is How You All Train? Isn't It Quite Violent?"
"Quite violent? How else are we supposed to toughen our skin? We've all broken bones and lost teeth because of this. But if it happens often enough, we stop noticing when it does happen so we can keep fighting. That is the reason for our existance in this time I feel. To aid our Grand Highblood in his goal and dream. His dream to have you all together as a group."
"When You Say It Like That..."
"It sounds selfish. But you should all be happy that he thinks of you as more important to him than even an entire world. He's watched the deaths of the only people he truly cares about so many times. If he'd done that for any of us... I'm sure he could replace our love for the messaiah's. Gamzee is very important to us... he's taught us many things... told us how lowbloods and highbloods are all the same... how the colors don't matter. He's told us of your journeys, how you all met your ancestors and hwo each of you learned something special about them and about yourselves and each other... He told us how he grew up along, his lusus always away from him... how you all were the only ones that made him feel alive and happy. We used to say in our naivite, 'surely you don't need all of them, especially the mustard boy' and he would get mad at us and tell us 'his name is sollux you fuckers.'" Chebur smiles a little and nods. Kanaya bites her black lip a little bit... She feels terrible for ever thinking lowly of Gamzee...
"He told us about how all he wanted to do on that meteor was keep everyone together and happy, and when our highblood at the time attacked you all and killed many of you, he said he could feel his old lonely angry self coming back."
Kanaya doesn't recall any of thsi since she was killed towards the beginning of that clusterfuckery. Hearing that Gamzee was really so upset his friends were dying...
"And he explained all about that planet of dead rolls to us... how he and Karkat were taken and how he couldn't controll himself anymore without anything to sustain his at the time quite fragile and unstable mind... He said he remembers the exact moment when things went seriously wrong... he thought Karkat had brushed him off and told him he was crazy... Gamzee says now that because of his own instability, such tragety had to happen."
"It Wasn't His Fault... But It Wasn't Karkat's Fault Either... It Was No One's Fault..."
"At first we all real blamed the candy boy." Chebur looks over at Karkat who's watching the sparring going on intensely and then back to Kanaya.
"But Gamzee insisted he was the one who couldn't control himself. He says he doesn't remember all of what happened after that... he was screaming at himself and killing anything in his path. And when Kurloz dropped back down and took Gamzee under his wing he recalls feeling the imense anger... but most of all he remembers the pain and torture of sopor training. How his mind was so clouded all he could do was hear voices and feel anger. The highblood had that effect on trolls... And later Gamzee says he remembers drowning and dying when Dualscar had killed him. Gamzee said he saw the messaiah's for real... and they told him what was up. He snapped out of it then and plotted to kill the highblood on that planet... then Her Royal pain in the ass showed up and ruined it all... he got to this world and thought for sure you were all dead..."
Kanaya wishes she'd stop talking about all of this. It only makes her feel bad for thinking that there was no way Gamzee gave that much of a fuck about his rainbow group of troll buddies... but he really had a deep and paiinful understanding...
"I Can't Imagine Coming To A World All By Myself... Thinking The Others Had Died... That I Wasn't Worthy Of Living If My Friends Weren't There With Me."
"Kloshe!" Comes Atori's voice. The old troll jumps in and grabs Marsho by the hair and reminds him to keep it back if he intends on fighting seriously, to which Marsho swings his leg back and kicks at him, but Reznia jumps in and grabs Marsho's leg, then taking his other leg and swinging him around, slamming him right into Kloshe. The two go flying and Grooga jumps up to dodge the mass of trolls flying at him.
"Exactly. He was sullen for a long time and I remember how often he cried... He was still so young then. Just a child really. I remember the very first time you all came here."
"What? I Thought Thsi Was Our First Time Meeting..." It is YOUR first time meeting us. Many other you's were here. I'm sure Gamzee told you about the rounds he's done, rewinding time whenever a single one of you died in the final battle with her majesty."
"He Has..."
"You all are his life. Without you Gamzee feels like he's nothing. Like he's alone. Even though he has all of us who love him and will die for him... Even though we're all here for him... without having his true friends at his side like the old days..."
"Chebur!" Atori calls.
Chebur's attitude shifts quicker than anything Kanaya has ever seen as she looks towards the battle and jumps in the fray, letting Grooga grab her hands so he can spin her around and throw her up and kick Persha right in the chest.
Atori looks over at Gamzee.
"Wanna get in there Gamzee?"
"I'lL gEt To It My MaN. I wAnNa WaTcH hOw My BuDdIeS dO gOiN iN tHeRe." Gamzee smiles a little at Atori. Atori rubs his thumb over the tiny skull of Xhione, and then goes back behind the stage and sets it on a make up table that has broken bulbs... then comes back out.
"Alright then. Let's see. Any volunteers?"
Atori stands straight and folds his arms, turning his large body towards the group.
"SURPR1Z3 US!" Terezi shouts. Atori still doesn't know how the blind girl can fight, but he then figures her hearing and smelling senses are amazing without such an important sense like seeing to get in their way.
"Surprise you huh? Alright I'll surprise you."
Karkat looks up at Gamzee.
"HEY, YOU'RE NOT GOING IN YOU FUCKING LAZY JUGGALO?"
"No sIr. Ya'Ll aRe gOiN' In fIrSt. I WaNnA SeE HoW YoUr tRaInInG WeNt. It bEtTeR Be gOoD ShOrTy." Gamzee smirks down at Karkat and Karkat at first starts to get mad, but he knows that stupid joking smirk of Gamzee's even after all this time.
"WHATEVER. WE'LL SHOW YOU."
"ReMeMbEr mY PaLe mOtHeRfUcKiN BeSt fRiEnD PrEtEnD ThIs sHiT Is lIfE AnD DeAtH. mY BuDdIeS HeRe wOn't gO EaSy oN YoU. i'm sUrPrIsEd i aIn't sEeN A BoNe bReAkInG Or a tOoTh fLyIn' YeT."
"CHRIST... THAT BAD?'
"ThAt BaD." Gamzee nods, his stupid huge hair, slipping over his giant shoulders.
"Grooga!" Atori shouts, holding up his hand, all five fingers spread out. Grooga knows that that means.
"Aw sHiT Yo. AiNt gIvIn tHeSe GuYs a cHaNcE HuH?" Gamzee looks at Atori and chuckles a bit. Karkat looks between Gamzee and Atori wondering what the fuck that meant.
Right on que, Tieono's shriek is paired with a very ugly snapping sound followed by him crashing into the ground, cracking the hard dry desert floor.
Everyone looks at Tieono laying there holding his broken arm, head bleeding from crashing into the ground. Then the other juggalos all look over at Reznia who jumps down to Tieono and looks up at the other juggalos and makes the loudest most terrifying screech. It shakes our rainbow trolls to their bones. Seeing Reznia slowly lose her mind is utterly frightening...
"Wwhat the fuck is goin' on Gam?" Eridan says angrily. Gamzee just smiles back at him.
"ReZnIa's oUr tRuMp cArD Yo. AtOrI AiNt gIvE YoU JaCk sHiT Of a bReAk."
"You're kidding! You wwant us to fight THAT?!" Eridan points to Reznia who is going absolutely nuts on everyone in the group, grabbing hair and scratching. Normally she'd rip limbs completely off bodies, but Gamzee and the others have managed to train her to control most of her crazy rage.
"That's the idea fish head. And look at Tieono if you will." Everyon looks back to the youngest troll and the kids already sitting up, wiping blood off his face with his not broken arm... and smile back at the group with a thumbs up!
"He's... okay?" Feferi said worriedly.
"Of course he is. If Tieono ever gets hurt and looks immobilized, Reznia loses her shit and when she's angry she is a fucking BEAST on the battle field. If she weren't so crazy she could even be one of the strongest trolls of our color in a long time."
"H0w... h0w str0ng is she c0mpared t0 Gamzee? And Kurl0z?"
Atori looks over at Aradia for a few seconds, then looks at Gamzee.
"Hm. I don't want to lie... but at the same time your heads might all explode."
"oH MY GOD IS SHE STRONGER THAN GAMZEE?" Tavros seems shocked by this. His perfect Gamzee weaker than someone with almost no control of their mind?
"Alllmost."
"aLMOST?"
"Almost. Gamzee's been able to immobilize her many times."
"NoT WiThOuT SoMe fUcKiNg bRuIsEs aNd cUtS AnD BrOkEn sHoUlDeRs tHoUgH."
"Are you serious? I can't imagine." Equius folds his muscley arms in thought.
"Then again," He continues "We havn't been able to see or gauge your stength Gamzee so it's a little hard to make a comparison."
"Ah i lIkE To kEeP It dOwN. bUt i aIn'T BeTtEr tHaN AnYoNe eQuIbRo, So i dOnT WaNt nOnE Of yA'lL To tHiNk tOo hIgHlY Of mE. bEsIdEs, EvErYoNe hErE HaS ThEiR OwN StReNgTh, PhYsIcAlLy aNd mEnTaLlY HoNeStLy."
"Yeah?" Vriska says, putting one hand on her popped out hip. "Like what?"
"LiKe wHaT ShE SaYs." Gamzee says to Atori. Atori chuckles.
"LiKe wHaT. wElL VrIs sIs lEt mE LaY It oN Ya.
KlOsHe, My oLd mAn mEnToR BrO GuY ThErE WiThOuT AnY HaIr oN HiS HeAd? He's a wIsE MoThErFuCkEr. He's bEeN HeRe tHe lOnGeSt oUtTa eVeRyOnE AnD HiS AdViCe iS To bE TaKeN GoD DaMn sErIoUsLy. I WoUlDa lOsT My fUcKiN' mInD If hE DiDn't hElP Me oUt sO MuCh aNd tAlK Me tHrOuGh tHiNgS."
Kloshe dives away from Reznia as she jumps for him, then trips her up and finally backflips away from her again when she swings at him. Yet when he flips he's very aware of Persha's presense and spins his body like a damn breakdancer and kicks her away.
"GrOoGa, My mUsClE MaN WhO DoN'T SaY A ToN HaS SoMe cRaZy sTrEnGtH In tHoSe aRmS AnD LeGs. He's sOrTa lIkE YoU EqUiUs wItH YoUr sTrOnGnEsS AnD ShIt. BuT He's aLsO StRoNg iN HiS PaN WhErE He tHiNkS HaRd aBoUt eVeRy mOvE He mAkEs aNd iF It'lL BeNeFiT AnYtHiNg hE'S WoRkInG ToWaRdS."
The muscular troll digs the back of his foot into the hard broken dry sand and thrusts his arm up, focusing not on hitting the target, but going THROUGH the target. That target being Chebur. Chebur however gracefully manages to twist her body away from the punch, rolling along side his muscular arm and then grabs it with her danty looking hand and kicks back, yanking the limb out of it's socket and then flipping away without a sound.
"ChEbUr iS LiKe tHe fUcKiNg wInD Yo. ShE'S QuIeT WhEn sHe fIgHtS. sHe dOn't mAkE AnY NoIsEs wItH HeR MoUtH Or wItH HeR FeEt wHeN ShE RuNs. ThE OnLy sOuNd tHaT HaPpEnS Is wHeN ShE PuNcHeS YoU AnD YoUr tEeTh cLaCk tOgEtHeR. cHeBbY Is gRaCeFuL As fUcK AnD ShE'S SwIfT. oNe oF HeR FaVoRiTe tHiNgS To dO Is gO So fAsT ThAt iT LoOkS LiKe tHeRe's a lOt oF HeR AnD ThEn pUnChInG KiCkInG AnD PuLlIn' YoUr hAiR WhIlE YoU FrEaK OuT AnD FlAiL ArOuNd tO TrY AnD CaTcH HeR."
"Why doesn't she use it all the time?" Feferi doesn't want to look away from the fight. It's so interesting to see everyone move so easily with each other...
"BeCaUsE FeF It tAkEs a lOt oUt oF HeR. sHe uSeS HeR OwN BoDy tO ChAnNeL ThE VoOdOo sHiT AnD SoMeTiMeS ShE LeTs aNy sPiRiTs sHe cAn fInD ThAt aRe aNgRy eNoUgH To jUsT TaKe oVeR HeR BoDy aNd gO ApE ShIt. BuT ShE CaN Do sO MuCh mOrE ThAt i cAn't eVeN ReMeMbEr aLl oF. sHe iS A BoSs fOr sUrE."
"Oh gosh. so that's gotta make her super tired right? Does she stay more towards the back during battle then?"
"OnLy wHeN ShE DoEs tHe cHuCkLe vOoDoO YeAh. BuT OtHeRwIsE ShE'S RiGhT Up fRoNt. NoW SeE, mArShO Is tHe oNe wHo uSuAlLy sTaYs iN ThE BaCk. He's oUr sTeAlTh gUy. He hAnGs bAcK A LoT AnD WhEn hE SeEs aN EaSy oPeNiNg hE GoEs fOr iT AnD TeArS RiGhT InTo iT. iT AiN'T FaIr, BuT We dIdN'T LeArN To bEaT ThE FuCk oUt aNyOnE FaIrLy. EsPeCiAlLy iF YoU WaNnA KiLl wHoEvEr yOu'rE GoIn' FoR. yA GeT In tHeRe, RiP ThEiR FuCkInG StOmAcH OuT Of tHeIr aSsHoLe tHeN YoU Go iN ThErE AnD RiP ThEiR FuCkInG StOmAcH OuTtA ThEiR AsShOlE."
"I'd... honestly rather not see any asshole tearing..." Eridan says while making a sick face. He's sure that these guys have done stuff like humiliating the other lots of times... gross.
"Aw mAn tHaT'S ThE BeSt pArT ThOuGh."
Marsho jumps back and lands on the ground next to Tieono to make sure his arm is actually okay.
"Does it hurt much?" He says worriedly.
"I'm okay! Thanks for being concerned though." Tieono smiles at Marsho and nods. Marsho makes a small smile back at him.
"So Mar, any openin's at all?"
"I can't see many. Reznia's defense are low, but I'd rather keep my limbs unbroken for now. You know how hard it is to find a good spot when we train together all the time for 40 sweeps."
"Yeah true. But you know what I noticed, Grooga keeps looking over at Persha. See if you can't get a spot on his right side when he looks over at her."
"Yeah? She is being especially squirlly today. Don't get in my way." Marsho finally lets out a playful grin at Tieono who mirrors the look.
"I'm gonna get in your way so hard core bro."
"Better watch your blind spot."
"I ain't got no fuckin' blind spot." The two jump away from each other and then get back into battle.
Atori continues for Gamzee.
"Persha, even though she's pretty hot headed and a rude bitch, she's flexable and is able to twist ridiculously to get out of any situation. And while she might not be the strongest of this group, she can fit nearly anywhere like a damn cat. That and when we throw her around she goes faster and pierces harder with her crazy pointed nails."
"SHE CAN PIERCE SHIT WITH HER NAILS? LIKE A NAIL ARE YOU SERIOUS?"
"If mE, gRoOg, Or eQ HeRe wErE To tHrOw hEr tHeN HeLl yEaH."
"We don't need to explain much about Reznia. She's amazingly strong and unpredictable when she goes into a serious rage. But at the same time when she's not fighting, she's very gentle. But I'm pretty sure that only applies if she trusts you a lot. Something you'll all have to earn... When you do earn her trust, then she becomes probably THEE most loyal troll here. Of course Tieono is her absolute priority and she hardly lets him have any time to himself, the poor kid." Atori chuckles a little.
"Tieono even comes before the messaiah's on her list."
"YeP. tIeOnO, mEsSaIaH'S AnD ThEn mE."
"WOW. TH1RD 1N L1N3? TH4T'S PR3TTY FUNNY.~" Terezi snickers a little, glad to hear that Gamzee isn't always the top dog around here.
"Eh iT'S FiNe wItH Me. If sHe cAn fInD SoMeThInG AnD SoMeOnE To kEeP HeR MiNd oUt oF HeR CrAzInEsS ThEn bY GoD I DoN'T GiVe a fUcK WhAt pLaCe lIl oLd mE Is iN."
"Your grammar is awful Gamzee... That certainly hasn't changed... it's 'i dont give a foop what place i'm in.'"
"GrAmMaR ShMaMmAr." Gamzee waves Equius off and Equius just rubs his eyes a little. Gamzee's type of language has always bothered Equius to no end, seeing as how it's VERY unbecoming of a highblood to have such AWFUL grammar and speech patterns... However it would also be very unlike Gamzee to speak normally and to be honest it would seriously weird him out if Gam talked like a normal troll...
"AnYwHo, LiTtLe tIeOnO LiKeS To pReTeNd hE'S An aVeRaGe lItTlE BrAt aSs tRoLl. BuT HaViNg rEzNiA As a mOiRaIl aNd fRiEnDs lIkE Us hE'S MaNaGeD To gAiN AlL Of oUr sKiLlS, iNcLuDiNg tHe pOwErS Of cHuCkLe vOoDoO. tHe kIdS A SpOnGe. AtOrI AnD ThE OtHeRs hAd aLrEaDy sTaRtEd oUt oN TrAiNiNg hIm aNd dOiN' tHe sOpOr sLiMe tRaInInG WhEn hE WaS ReAlLy yOuNg, BeFoRe i eVeN GoT HeRe. ThErE IsN'T A DaMn tHiNg tHaT GeTs pAsT HiM WhEn iT CoMeS To lEaRnInG StUfF."
"I'M NOT LITTLE ANYMORE GAMZEE YOU HULKING PIECE OF SHIT!" Tieono calls to Gamzee playfully while he swings around and cartwheels right down Chebur's back after she goes to tackle him.
"WhErE DiD My lIl t gO HuH?! He nEvEr wOuLdA TaLkEd sMaCk lIkE ThAt yO! i mIsS My /lItTlE/ TiEoNo!" Gamzee fake sobs until Tieono swings down and tackle hugs Gamzee around his neck, swings behind Gamzee, using him as a human shield for Grooga's fist, which connects to Gamzees ribs, breaking a few.
Gamzee quickly retaliates by grabbing Grooga's head and SLAMMING it into the stage's wodden floor, cracking it. Aradia steps back a few feet with the others and covers her mouth. Oh christ, she felt the crash go through the boards, up her legs and to her spine and shake her ribcage around with the intensity and power... Even though Gamzee hadn't technically been put into the fight it looks like his instincts overpower thought.
"WhOoPs. SoRrY GrOo bRo. YoU BrOkE LiKe tHrEe rIbS YoU PiEcE Of cRaP." Gam squishes Grooga's head into the ground a little. He looks up along with his friends and sees the juggalo trolls all together jumping at the stage.
The entire rainbow group jumps back quickly while the line of purple bloods land and then jump up to chase them. A massive fight breaks out between all the trolls, taking up the entirity of the tent. It seems to be team juggalo vs team rainbow.
It's soon obvious that everyone is nearly evenly matched. Although team juggalo seems to be winning out since most of the blood is coming from team rainbow...
Even so, Gamzee manages to slip away from the fight, his bulky figure disappearing midair and then landing on the ground at the entrance of the tent. No one notices since they're all so caught up in their own sparring matches.
"HoT DaMn... I ThInK We hAvE A PrEtTy gOoD ChAnCe tHiS TiMe..." Gamzee says to himself. He watches everyone individually to see how everyone moves and to see if they can take the heat from his juggalo partners. Even Atori has joined in on the fight.
He notices Feferi is pretty damn good with her crazy trident, swinging it around and spinning it and thrusting it forward, not scared to draw a little blood from her opponents. Eridan doesn't even use his gun, he's pretty strong without it. He even manages to keep the majority of his suit unscathed, free of blood, scuffs or tears. His rings however arew quite bloody from punching Persha repeatedly in the face at one point.
Equius and Grooga seem to be locked in on each other most of the time, punching each other and using their muscles and size to compete with each other. He has yet to touch his bow.
Nepeta and Vriska have teamed together to take on Chebur, and while Vriska hasn't used her guns, she's started to use her sword to defend herself, teaming up with Nepta who is using her new claws which tear at flesh nicely. It doesn't cut clean at all either, oh no no no, it makes jagged ugly gashes that make it harder to heal.
Kanaya has decided to team up with Tavros against Marsho. The two swing and stab at Marsho, but he's rather swift, getting a few hits on the two opposing trolls. However he's not gotten by without some nasty stab wounds and slashes on his arms. Karkat, Aradia and Terezi have all teamed up to take on Tieono and Reznia who've teamed up themselves. Aradia uses her whip to wrap around Reznia's arms, but Reznia is quite strong and she simply pulls Aradia towards her and goes to punch her, but Karkat jumps in and headbutts Reznia! Gamzee can't help but gasp and yell "OoOoOoOoH!" into his hand. Terezi swoops up and trips Tieono, but the kid doesn't go down so easily, wrapping his legs around Terezi and spinning her in the air then slamming her headfirst into the ground. Aradia, now free from Reznia's grip flicks her spiked whip around Tieono's neck.
"Stay back Reznia 0r I'll be f0rced t0 d0 the unthinkable!"
Gamzees eyebrows go up, happy to finally see someone use Tieono as a hostage. Reznia stands still, stillready to pounce. But she sees Tieono pretending to be a helpless wriggler. He's pretty interested to see how she responds to this as well. Karkat and Terezi jump beside Aradia putting all of their weapons to his neck. Surely now if this were a true life or death situation Tieono would be dead were Reznia to advance a single inch. Tieono looks at Reznia and whines for help.
"Ah Reznia they got me!"
"You IDIOT how could you get caught so easily!?"
"It isn't my faaaault! They're fast! Just do something before they chop my head off!"
"Stupid if I MOVE then they chop your head off!"
"Then THINK OF SOMETHING!" Tieono knows the girls and Karkat won't really kill him, so he's having a little fun with it. Even though he's acting far younger than he should be, he doesn't give a single fuck about any of that. It's never even crossed his mind.
Reznia thinks hard and then just stands up straight... and folds her arms.
"Are y0u really n0t g0ing t0 d0 anything ab0ut this?" Aradia questions warily.
"I don't need to."
"HUH?" Karkat squints at her a little until he realizes Reznia is looking past them. He looks behind himself quickly and Kloshe bursts in, crashing himself into Aradia and Terezi and Karkat in a domino failure. Tieono is freed and he jumps away behind reznia.
"Jeez what if they were actually enemies and we were alone without any help Rez?" Tieono puffs his cheeks out and stomps his food a few times on the ground. Reznia just rolls her eyes.
"It doesn't matter."
"it'll sure matter if it happens again! Then what?"
"Well then I'm sure you can survive for a while with a slit throat."
"WHAT?!" Reznia lets the absolute tiniest smile deform her face. The two go back into battle.
After a long time, everyone starts to lose stamina and just start to sit down and calling uncle. All eighteen of them plop down somewhere or other and just catch their breath.
Atori is even out of breath.
"Hey G-Gamzee you fucking cheater, you fought for like one minute then bailed!"
"Don't bother Atori, you know Gamzee would wipe us all out with his stupid overpowered ass." Persha chimes in tirdly. Gamzee just walks up and laughs a little and claps.
"ThAt wAs a gOoD MoThErFuCkIn sHoW Ya'lL. eVeRyOnE DiD FuCkInG AwEsOmE!"
"wERE WE..." Tavros starts...
"wERE WE ANY BETTER THAN THE OTHER TIMES THIS HAPPENED?"
"AcTuAlLy yEaH TaV. yOu aLl dId pReTtY DaMn gOoD! i sAw a bIg dIfFeReNcE. i /KnEw/ LeTtInG YoU GuYs tRaIn fOr aLl tHoSe sWeEpS WoUlD Be a gOoD IdEa."
Gamzee smiles at Tavros and Tav smiles back widely.
"Hey Gamzee! Now that my arm is broken, am I gonna be a liability?"
"NaH YoU'Ll hEaL Up iN A FeW HoUrS YoU DiNgUs yOu kNoW ThAt."
"Awwww, I wanted you to fawn over me like a lusus."
"You fucking weirdo." Reznia grunts. She's lying on her stomach on the stage, arms at her side.
"I'm not a weirdo I just want TLC from someone other than you for once."
"Is my TLC not good enough you fucking brat?"
"Aw don't be that way Rez you know we're pale for life."
"Yeah yeah whatever you say."
"Aw what?! What's that mean?" Tieono rolls over to her then plops himself sitting on Reznia's back.
"Don't you cuddle up to me after saying my TLC ain't good enough for you. Hmph." Reznia looks forward, chin on the ground in a very pouty potision, putting her arms up and then folding them under her chin.
"Aw Rezniaaa! Gamzee heeeelp!"
"NoThIn' DoIn' BrO, yOu dUn fUcKeD Up."
"NOOOOOO Come oooonn!"
"I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO THAT SAYING CERTAIN THINGS CAN ACTUALLY REALLY FUCK UP A MOIRAILEGANCE." Karkat pitches in. Gamzee looks over at him and so does Atori... Tieono lays down on top of Reznia, which is ALMOST inappropriate looking since he's on her back. But neither of them seem to feel awkward about it. Nepeta knows how that is!~
"Huh? You know about it Karkat? Like what? Who is your moirail?"
"WELL... BEFORE WE MET YOU GUYS I WAS GAMZEE'S MOIRAIL. IT'S A LONG STORY I'M SURE GAMZEE'S TOLD YOU BEFORE. I SAID SOMETHING REALLY STUPID TO GAMZEE WHEN HE NEEDED ME MOST AND I FUCKED IT UP BIG TIME."
"KaR I KnOw wE HaVeN'T BeEn aBlE To tAlK AbOuT WhAt hApPeNeD On tHaT PlAnEt, YoU BeTtEr fIgUrE OuT ThAt i dOn't bLaMe yOu fOr aNy oF ThAt sHiT YoU HeAr?"
"I DON'T NEED /YOU/ TO BLAME ME, I ALREADY BLAME MYSELF. IF I JUST LISTENED TO YOU THEN MAYBE NONE OF THAT STUFF WOULDA HAPPENED."
"BrO I WaS AlReAdY On tHe eDgE. i bEt yA TeN ThOuSaNd bOoN DoLlArS ThAt i wOuLdA FaLlEn oFf mY RoCkEr eVeNtUaLlY WhIlE We wErE ThErE AnD ShIt wOuLdA GoNe dOwN ThE SaMe eXaCt wAy. ArAdIa sIs hElP Me oUt hErE. yOu wEnT ThRoUgH SoMe lOoPs oF ThAt tImE ThEn tOo rIgHt?"
"0h uh, yeah I went thr0ugh quiiiiite a few trips. And I've already t0ld Karkat that even if he didn't say what he did that things still w0uld have taken the same turns. Karkat just insists 0n being Karkat y0u kn0w."
Aradia is lying on her back catching her breath as she looks over at the boys. Even though they're older and bigger than before, she still sees the two smaller boys having pale problems and beating themselves up over every little detail. It makes her smile to see them together again. Especially to discuss things. Everything had happened so fast. Gamzee came back to them and told them he'd been alright for a little while at that point... then he disappeared into the water wall until now...
"WELL EVEN SO IT STILL MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A BULGE SNIFFER FOR HAVING SAID ANYTHING AT ALL LIKE THAT. I FUCKED UP AND I WANNA SAY I'M SORRY."
"HeY IsN'T YoUr jOb tO PaP Me? It aIn't tHe oThEr wAy aRoUnD MoThErFuCkEr. BuT If i pReTeNd tO AcCePt tHiS UnNeEdEd aPoLoGy wIlL YoU GeT OvEr iT?"
"GET OVER IT? GAMZEE THAT HAS BEEN PLAUGING ME ALMOST EVERY DAY FOR THREE SWEEPS MAN, I CAN'T JUST GET OVER IT!"
"Wow," Tieono mumbles mostly to himself.
"You two really DO have pale problems. If there were such thing as being an aucpitise between pale bros then I'd so be it! But since that isn't gonna happen I'm just gonna interject if that's chill. Karkat I get that calling Gamzee crazy and then Gamzee going actually crazy makes you feel bad. And Gamzee's told us that you're a super self loathing type of guy and I get that too. Gamzee I'm sure it's hard for you to not really get Karkat's feelings right now because you've had 40 sweeps of being over it. And you never really blamed him in the first place."
"What the little shit is TRYING to get at is you both need to put stupid shit behind you, get over it and move on. Lingering on and clinging to bad memories like that isn't gonna make it better or change what's happened. This is now and thinking back on stuff like that isn't gonna do a FUCKS worth of good. You both just talked about it and it's out in the open and now it should be done with." Reznia sits up after pushing Tieono off of her back and then sits crosslegged, hunching down a lot. She has awful posture everyone can't help but notice.
Gamzee looks at Karkat and then reaches over with his long arm, grabs Karkat's arm and drags him over to sit by him and pats his shoulder.
"ThInK YoU CaN AgReE WiTh tHaT KaRbRo? My pAlE MoThErFuCkEr?"
"Y...YEAH WHATEVER." Karkat's way of saying yes without directly telling the others that they are 100% right.
Gamzee pulls Karkat close with one arm and gives him a tight hug to which Karkat struggles against at first. But of course Gamzee is bigger and stronger than Karkat, so the candyblooded troll gives in and gives him a small hug.
"Now Gamzee... when is all 0f... THIS g0ing t0 g0 d0wn?"
"In tWo dAyS. tWo dAyS AnD ShIt gEtS ReAl fOr tHiS RoUnD. bUt lIsTeN Yo, I'M HeLlA OpTiMiStIc aBoUt tHiS."
"That so? How come?" Nepeta sits back on her legs and takes off her claw gloves and hooks them to the sides of her belts.
"Are we just sepecially pawsome this time around?~" She asks with a big smile.
"ThAt's rIgHt sIs. ThIs tImE Is lOoKiN' gOoD. i tHiNk wE'Ll gEt fArThEr tHaN We eVeR HaVe. I ThInK... tHiS MiGhT EvEn bE ThE TiMe."
()
TBC
Feferi. Eridan. Gam. Equius. Vriska. Terezi. Kanaya. Nepeta. sol. Tavros. Aradia. Karkat
Kloshe, Grooga, Chebur, Marsho, Persha, Tieono, Reznia