carcinoGeneticist [CG] has started memo: FUCK

CG: Hey everyone.
CG: So…
CG: Bad news…
CG: My dad… he…
CG: Didn't make it.

cuttlefishCuller [CC] responded to memo

CC: Karkat, I'm so sorry!

turntechGodhead [TG] responded to memo

TG: fucking blows dude
CG: Don't be sarcastic, Strider.
TG: im not
TG: it may shock you to know that I am in fact
TG: capable of sincerity
TG: give me the benefit of the doubt dude
TG: instead of hopping all over me the minute I open my mouth
TG: all up in my business like youre trying to hop on my dick
CG: GROSS, fuck off.
TG: nah man the fuck is on
TG: your sympathy fuck I mean
TG: looking for one?

twinArmageddons [TA] responded to memo

TA: wouldn't put it past him
TG: haha nice one man
CG: You FUCKERS!
CG: Stop ganging up on me, it's seriously not cool.
CG: I'm having an honest to God crisis.

arachnidsGrip [AG] responded to memo

AG: Honestly, Karkat, when aren't you having a crisis?
CG: UUUUGH forget it.
CG: Why did I think I could talk to you assholes?

ectoBiologist [EB] responded to memo

EB: guys, come on
EB: karkat just lost someone important to him.
EB: I don't think it's the time for dick jokes.
TG: what are you like his boyfriend or something
EB: dave, no.
EB: i'm not…
EB: i'm straight, dave.
TG: sure
TG: youre about as straight as I am
TG: but sure
CG: Egbert, PLEASE. I DON'T need your fucking help.
CG: Strider, SHUT UP.
AG: Soooooooo
AG: What exactly was the point of this group chat?
AG: Half of us aren't even online right now.
TA: man I wish I wasn't
CG: I was trying to get to that.

CG: I could honestly really use some moral support right now.
CG: So you're all invited to the funeral.
CG: Not that any of you will actually show up.
CG: Now leave me alone.

carcinoGeneticist [CG] is now an idle chum!

Vriska rolled her eyes. It had been a few days since Karkat ditched the birthday party, and everyone had been more or less radio silent, except for John. He texted Vriska pretty much non-stop, which was something she wasn't quite used to; talking to someone all the time and being close to them. But John was different. She could trust him. Regardless, she found the whole thing to be pretty melodramatic. Coming from Karkat, that was unsurprising. Aranea knocked lightly on her door.

"Hey. Did you hear about Mr. Vantas?" she asked.
"Yeah. Karkat won't shut up about it."

"Do you… want to talk about it?" Vriska scoffed at her sister. She should have figured this conversation was coming. Aranea was pretty into Solomon's way of life and his teachings.

"What's there to talk about? He died. People die every day."

Aranea scowled at her. "That's so cold, Vris. He's your friend's dad."

"Yeah, and?"

"Wow. Callous as ever," Aranea murmured before skulking off. Whatever. Who was she to judge? She only pretended to care about people. There was no way she actually gave a shit about how Kankri was feeling. And there was no way her mom would give a shit about Solomon, either. Actually, their mom didn't give a shit about most things, so that wasn't saying much. Vriska slumped her shoulders, laying her head down on the computer desk. What was the big deal anyway? Sometimes people died. And sometimes people didn't have dads. Karkat was just part of the club now.

Vriska went about her business. It wasn't her problem, and the world kept turning, after all. School still happened the next morning, and Vriska walked the last few blocks to school from where her mom dropped her off alongside Eridan, Feferi and Gamzee trailing behind them a bit.
"Didn't see you poking your head into the group chat yesterday," Vriska muttered to him.
"Yeah, well I don't think Karkat would want to hear what I have to say."
"What's that?"
"Maybe life would be easier without a dad around. Course, my situation is a bit different."
"What, is he being an ass?"
"Look, don't try to make this about me. I got my own issues to deal with, I didn't want to put them on him is all. So I kept my mouth shut."
"So considerate," Vriska said, bitter sarcasm on her tongue.
"Hey, I'm at least tryin' to be less of an ass."
Vriska shrugged a bit, biting her tongue. She already knew Nepeta and Karkat would likely be out of school that day, dealing with the sudden lack of a father in their lives, but she was surprised to see Kanaya on her way to school, walking on the other side of the street from her and Eridan. She darted over, leaving Eridan behind. Kanaya was obviously annoyed before Vriska even opened her mouth.

"So, sucks about your uncle, huh?" Kanaya just sighed at her. "I mean, if you ask me, Karkat's being really melodramatic about the whole thing. I grew up my whole life without a dad, and look how I turned out."
"I would not use your character as the basis of 'turning out okay'," Kanaya answered through clenched teeth.
"What! All I'm saying is, it's not the end of the world if he has to learn a little independence. Actually, Karkat's kind of a whiner. This might actually be a good thing."
And before another word was out of either of their mouths, there was a sudden, blunt pain in Vriska's nose and she stumbled, falling onto the sidewalk. "Shut. Up. About my cousin," Kanaya said tersely. Vriska pinched her nose to keep it from bleeding as Eridan ran across the street to see what was going on.
"Ow! Jeez, why do people keep on punching me!"
"Maybe you deserve it," Eridan muttered. Again, Kanaya moved like a flash, turning on her heel and slapping Eridan across the face. "God! What did I do?!" he shouted.
"That one was not for me, it was for Sollux and Feferi," Kanaya said, before shifting her bag on her shoulder and continuing on her way as though nothing had happened. Vriska could still see Feferi and Gamzee across the street, taking in the scene. Feferi looked confused and concerned, and Gamzee was grinning like he thought it was funny. Vriska stood up and brushed herself off.
"You wanna fight, Makara?" she shouted, while Feferi and Eridan just stared. Gamzee didn't answer, just continued to grin.
"Vriska, stop it," Eridan urged her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She nudged him away.
"Shut the fuck up, Eridan, you're no voice of reason." And feeling isolated once again, Vriska left the others and just went to class.

Maybe they were right, maybe she did deserve it, maybe she isolated herself so nobody else could reject her, so it was all her call. And maybe she would be different if her dad had been around, or at the very least, if he knew who he was. She didn't even know if her dad was the same guy as Aranea's dad, since their mom didn't know who either of their dads were. Apparently that was what happened when you spent your twenties just partying and fucking around and not having to work for anything in your goddamn life, because you're old money. Seriously, Vriska had no idea how it was possible that their mother had absolutely everything handed to her, but never gave Vriska or Aranea anything. Probably because she was a twisted, abusive selfish bitch. But with a parent like that, was Vriska destined to turn out just like her? Or did she just have to keep pushing herself to do something with her life? Sometimes she wished she were in Aranea's position, able to leave before the end of the year. And sometimes she thought Aranea was just running away from her problems. Whatever. Maybe she was the way she was because of her mom, because of the way she was raised. But there wasn't anything to do about it. So she wasn't always the nicest person. Big deal. She was who she was. Maybe Vriska could soften a little, and let people in. But she wasn't about to pretend to be someone different just to please others. She had flaws, and the people who mattered would be able to look past that.