"You're sure it's okay if I stay here for the time 8eing?" asks (Vriska) as her doppelganger leads her into her flat. It's not far from the caverns, yet not close enough to rouse much suspicion.

"Yeah. I don't think my Moms will O8ject," Vriska responds. "At least, they won't once we explain What's Going On."

"Ah, yes, we oughta do that."

(Vriska) smirks and gazes around the flat. It's modest, especially for the home of two of the founders of the universe. It's also incredibly tidy. Well, Kanaya was always a neat freak. Some things never change.

A large bookcase, packed full, stands against the wall nearest the door, next to a coat rack. On the opposite side is a kitchenette and a doorway leading to a short hall. (Vriska) can see three doors in the hall. A wall of photos is on the immediate left.

"You should Change Out of those 8loody Clothes," Vriska remarks offhandedly. "My stuff should fit you, since we are 8asically the Same Person."

(Vriska) nods, only half-listening. Her attention is snared by the wall of photos. They're pictures of family and friends, mostly people whom (Vriska) recognises. There's a selfie of John, Rose, Dave, and Jade in a town with cylindrical buildings. There's a picture of Karkat and Dave standing by the Mayor's grave (may he rest in peace). There's Rose and Kanaya's wedding photos. There's one of Kanaya hanging out with some of her assistants in the Mother Grub's cavern. There's a professional family portrait of Jane, Jake, some toddler with black hair, and that forking harlequin. There's a selfie of Roxy and that green skeleton girl in some place that looks suspiciously like Prospit.

There's a bunch of pictures of Vriska. Vriska on her first day of school, Vriska being hugged by John, Vriska riding on Karkat's skinny shoulders, Vriska reading with Rose, Vriska absconding with Kanaya's lipstick. It's like looking at (Vriska's) bound photo collection from another timeline.

There's one photo that (Vriska) can't stop looking at. It's a selfie of all twelve of the founders of Earth C, taken just after they set foot in their new universe. They all look jubilant. Even Karkat, Mr. Shouty McNubs himself, presents a somewhat sincere smile. But he's not the focus of (Vriska's) attention. (Why in hail would he be?) She's looking at a girl who's not even looking at the camera. She's looking at a girl who's grinning about forty-five degrees in the wrong direction. She's looking at a girl with horns as short and sharp as her teeth, which are all on full display.

Vriska interrupts her double's nostalgic reminiscences with all the grace of a musclebeast stampede. "Hey, are you going to keep Staring at Memories or are you going to change?"

(Vriska) wants to retaliate angrily, but she can't bring herself to muster any negative emotions. Beating the fork out of Gamzee, both figuratively and literally, is a fantastic cathartic release. Instead, she stares at Vriska with hollow eyes.

"It's weird. It's like I'm just now realising that every8ody grew up."

Vriska shrugs. "It's a Thing That Happens."

"You sound a lot like your mom, you know. Like Kanaya, to 8e specific."

Vriska nods. "8eing raised by her pro8a8ly had Something To Do with it." She snaps upright. "Now, let's get you out of those Wet Clothes! ::::)"

(Vriska) stifles an immature giggle. "Show me the way!"

The two Vriskas enter the younger one's bedroom. Its disorder is almost a relief. A dark-brown bow guitar lies on the unmade bed. The clothes hamper is full, and the desk is covered with papers and writing implements. Blinds are drawn over the small window. A blueish-green shag carpet is bunched up and kicked to the side. A black chair with weblike bungee straps forming its seat is nestled in the corner.

Vriska rummages through her chest of drawers, wearing a schist-eating grin. "I have an Idea. 8efore my folks get home, what say we do some 8ugging and Fussing and Meddling with them?"

(Vriska) laughs. She had completely forgotten how much she loved to meddle. "Ooooooooh! What do you have in mind?"

"You're aware that we look Almost Identical?" Vriska pulls out a T-shirt and jeans similar to the ensemble that she's wearing.

(Vriska) connects the pieces instantly, as a master manipul8or is wont to do. "Ahhhhhhhh, so you want to do the classic switcheroo? I like the way you think! Or rather, the way WE think!"

Vriska hands over the outfit. "Hahahaha! It's a Relief to know someone on the Same Wavelength as me for once! Now go shower! The 8athroom is through the Door immedi8ly across the Hall."

(Vriska) follows her doppelganger's instructions to the letter. She strips down and steps under the pleasantly warm water. Cerulean and indigo blood mix together and flow down the drain. She sighs in relief.

This place was the last thing she expected to find inside a black hole.

As she remembers her true location, (Vriska's) relief melts away slowly, like the cleansing bar in its dish.

Why is this place here? Is this… is this like human heaven? Did she die and then have her soul destroyed? She sure doesn't feel dead. But then why would Earth C exist in a black hole?

(Vriska) exhales. Her swift motion scatters water droplets. She doesn't want to worry about the metaphysical ramifications of her existence right now. Rose and Kanaya will help with that.

Her head still aches, and it hurts even more when she runs her hand over the wound. That fragment of reality really did a number on her, didn't it. A fleeting theory passes through (Vriska's) head, that she's unconscious and that this is all a dream, but she dispells it and lets it run down the drain. She was never a lucid dreamer, everyone here is alive, and she doesn't want to dwell on her meta-existential crisis right now. She needs to relax for once in her life. She needs to relax, and she needs to remove the essence of Gamzee from herself. She picks up the cleansing bar and scrubs vigorously.

She really has hit rock bottom, (Vriska) realises. Her moment of triumph was ripped from her grasp when she was flung into the black hole. Then, after God knows how long, she landed in this place, which seems like a torture chamber specifically designed for her. Terezi's not here, there's a civil war on trolls, everybody's twice her age, and she's been replaced. By herself, of all people. Plus, she had a massive freakout upon landing, took out her frustration on that forking clown, and vented all her emotions into her former friend's stolen phone to a person whom she'll probably never see nor hear from again.

(Vriska) wonders if she did the right thing by saying what she said. It probably wasn't. It's not likely that she'll ever hear from Terezi again. Moreover, would she even want to talk to (Vriska), after all she's done and failed to do?

All the same, she can't help but hold a shred of hope in her heart that she might hear from her again.