It's mid-afternoon, the shower is running in the bathroom. Stretching out languidly, I turn over to see who's still in the pile. Gamzee is wearing my headphones, fiddling with a hand held gaming device. He's blissfully unaware of the world, so I take the opportunity to study him. His hair is a hot mess, sticking up at odd angles in some places, flat in others. His already painted face is all angles and smooth planes, interrupted by the scars. I know he considers them a reminder of something horrible, but they really don't take away from his good looks. His honey gold eyes and indigo irises busily scan the screen while he mumbles under his breath, "Run, motherfucker! Those little dudes are gonna get ya!" He nibbles on his lip in concentration, conic teeth digging into his skin in a tantalizing way. Hm. He has fangs. I don't know if that's a fulfillment of my vampire fangirl dream or creepy. I'll withhold judgment for now. His bottom lip juts into a pout, "Damn, dude! Don't be runnin off the platform like that! Fuck. Now I gotta start the whole level over." He snaps the top closed with a grumpy exhalation.
I close my eyes so I don't look like a creepy lurker. He perches his chin on the edge of my bed, and a finger pokes me on the nose. "Honk. Wake up motherfucker!" Opening my eyes into slits, indigo irises look dreamily into my own. "Morning Rosesis. Sleep good?" I nod and yawn, moving back to give him enough room to join me on the bed, patting it in invitation. He stands and stretches his arms over his head, giving me a show of his toned torso. Hmm. What the fuck are those purple ridges on his sides? I give myself a mental note to ask later. He plops down noisily next to me, sweeping me into a cuddle. I settle my head onto his shoulder with a contented sigh that's answered by a faint rumble.
"I was thinkin on what all we should talk about today. Could we..talk about my goat dad?" I hadn't really given thought to therapy in bed, but I admit it's rather comfortable. But I have to pee and I need a shower. And he has to do something with that mop of hair. I stretch again, arching my back and clawing at the air behind me. His soft hum of appreciation makes me blush and shift my shirt into its proper position. "Certainly, Gamzee, but after breakfast and showers for both of us." He scratches my sides lightly in a tickle as he whispers in my ear, "You gonna help me again? I'm thinkin there's a few places a brother can't reach too well." I squirm and giggle, slapping his stomach. "No, Mr. Makara, I believe you will be fine on your own." I bat at his arms until he raises them in defense with a goofy grin. "Damn. Can't blame a ninja for trying." I roll my eyes, "Of course not, Mr. Makara. My genetics are nothing if not appealing." I get out of bed and stand, popping my shoulders and neck. I hear a soft grumble behind me, but I ignore it in favor of finding an outfit for the day. Need some sunshine in my life. Action Pajamas!
Karkat is the longest shower taker ever. It is him. He has all the water. All of it. By the time he's finished, we've started breakfast, tied back Gamzee's messy hair, (It was an undertaking, trust me.) discussed what medicines he should take and when, and are in full goatdad discussion mode. He finally emerges, towel wrapped firmly around his hair. I almost choke on the bacon I'm eating. "What? Jade showed me how once. It keeps my shoulders dry! Shut up!" I shake my head mirthfully and say nothing. What I'd really like to know is why he was looking at her in the shower. Naughty boy! I pat Gamzee's hand, "I'll be right back." He mumbles an ophkay through a mouthful of egg. This is probably the most relaxed I've been since starting this clusterfuck.
I finish quickly, not wanting to forget what he had just said, "It's just like, sometimes a motherfucker feels like the whole world revolves around his lusus. They're supposed to teach us how to be righteous motherfuckers, but he was never around. I always wondered if it was something I did..." Damn that's harsh. And too much like my own feelings on the subject. I'm quite pleased I decided to follow Karkat's suggestion, though I made Gamzee promise not to tell him. He'd be an insufferable prick if he found out.
Its turned up pay dirt for his therapy. He's much more comfortable, easily discussing anything I ask of him. I brush down my bangs and rub pomade between my fingers to wet-style my new haircut. So. Awesome. Action pajamas in place, I open the door to rejoin my companions. And see only Gamzee lounging on the beanbags I set out, diddling with a paint-set I appearified earlier. "Wherever did Mr. Vantas go?" I question, sitting next to him. He finishes a petal with an inexpert swirl, "He said it was stupid to stay, went to see Terezi." I'll have to talk to him about that.
No time like the present, I guess. It's not like I'm alone in the room with a hot shirtless clown or anything. "Right then, have you ever considered that your lusus' shortcomings as a caretaker was his own fault, rather than your own?" He starts drawing something that looks like Aradia's music boxes, "Not really. They're the ones who are supposed to know what all to do and say and shit." I hmm, adding a sticker from the paint set on the edge of his picture, "Just because someone is a caretaker, or in my case, adult, doesn't mean that they know what they are doing." He nods, adding blue to it, "Guess so. I mean, I never know what the fuck I'm doing. That mean it don't matter how old you are, you're still never gonna know what's up?"
He always surprises me with how astute he is. "More or less. I've found that regardless of one's age or position, it is rare that one really knows how their actions effect the rest of the world." He doodles a frowny face. "Huh. Goat dad didn't know what he was doing was wrong?" Wow. He admitted it! "I cannot vouch for his thoughts, but it certainly seems he was unaware of his affect on you. Whether that be a willing or unwilling ignorance, I cannot tell you." A flower goes over the frown, a delicate rose, "That sucks. Suppose it makes sense, in a way. Ain't got to tell you how many times I wished he'd come home. But you're saying it ain't my motherfucking fault that asshole never came to see me?" He peeks at me with a sidelong glance, sad and wanting. "No. He made his own choices. It's his fault he missed out on someone so wonderful." He bumps my shoulder with a shy smile. "Motherfuck then. Been up and worrying about that shit for ages, weighing down a brother." He finishes the rose, which is a bright red, edging the tips with purple.
Quite a few sheets of paper later, I feel it's time to end the session. "Can you take these back to Karkat?" I hand him back the journals when he nods. "I want you to keep a different list these next few days. It's going to be a little harder, I think." He raises an eyebrow, curious. "I want a list of things that make you angry, or upset. Is this acceptable?" He rubs his forehead with worry, frowning slightly, "A motherfucker can try. Ain't making no promises. Can I still list stuff that makes me happy, too?" I put an arm around his chilly shoulder and squeeze. "Of course. It's your journal. You put what you want in it. Here's the medicine we talked about earlier. I've written a timetable of what to take when in the back of both your and Karkat's notebook. Be aware it won't work immediately. It should take a few days to kick in. Just try to take it at regular intervals." He takes the passionflower teabags and bag of Valerian root capsules in his hands carefully, slipping them into his captchalouge. "Could you show me how to make the tea so it don't taste like shit? Can I put it in Faygo?" Goofy nut. "Sure. I don't recommend the Faygo though. Somehow hot soda just sounds terrible."
TentacleTherapist has begun pestering CarcinoGeneticist
TT: Mr. Vantas, I thought we had agreed you would be present for all of Gamzee's sessions until I said otherwise?
TT: Regardless, I wanted to remind you of his medication regimen. I have it written in the back of your journal, but I am nothing if not careful. Please do the following:
TT: Morning: Bath with lemongrass oil (2 capfuls), Bergamot oil (3 capfuls), and grapefruit oil (4 capfuls).
TT: Directly after bath, please give passionflower tea, he seems to like it with two spoonfuls of honey and a spoonful of sugar. 4 capsules of the Valerian root.
TT: The Valerian root pills should be taken every four hours until he goes to bed.
TT: He should have passionflower tea again an hour before he goes to sleep.
TT: Evening: Same bath as earlier.
TT: I know it is difficult, and in many ways annoying, but I do appreciate that you are willing to do this for your friend. Good luck.
TT: And just for your edification, you should start to see results within a week or two. The herbs have to build up to a workable level in his system.
TT: Do not be surprised if he is a little sleepy at first, it will take some getting used to.
TentacleTherapist has ceased pestering CarcinoGeneticist
CG: Thanks.