[gallowsCalibrator has begun trolling carcinoGeneticist]

GC: TR33S 4R3 COLD

CG: WHAT THE FUCK

CG: WHAT KIND OF WAY TO START A FUCKING CONVERSATION IS THAT?

GC: 1LL B3 R1GHT B4CK 1M GO1NG TO S3T ON3 ON F1R3!

CG: WHAT THE FUCK? SINCE WHEN ARE YOU A PYRO?

GC: 1 4M NOT 4 PYRO! 1 ONLY BURN3D DOWN ON3 TR33! H3H3H3

GC: 4NYW4Y 1T H3LP3D

GC: 4ND 4S LONG 4S 1T DO3SNT SPR34D 1T 1S 4LL GOOD!

CG: FUCK

CG: JUST DON'T BURN YOUR HIVE DOWN OR ANYTHING

CG: THAT WOULD BE PRETTY FUCKING STUPID

CG: EVEN FOR YOU

GC: STUP1D STUP1D DUMB

CG: ARE YOU WARMER NOW?

GC: NOT 4S W4RM 4S C4NDY 4PPL3S! BUT ST1LL W4RM

CG: WELL I'M NOT FUCKING DOING ANYTHING IF YOU'RE STILL COLD LATER.

GC: OH?

CG: YEAH FUCKING OH.

GC: SO YOU 4RR3 GO1NG TO COM3 OV3R H3R3 TH3N?

CG: DO YOU WANT ME TO?

GC: M444YB3

CG: WELL THEN MAAAYBE I'LL MOVE MY ASS OVER THERE

GC: M444YB3 YOU SHOULD!

CG: FINE. JUST HOLD YOUR FUCKING CRAB SHIT WHILE I MAKE MY WAY OVER.

GC: H1S N4M3 1S S1R C4NDY MCGRUMP!

CG: RIGHT SORRY. COMPLETELY SLIPPED MY MIND.

GC: 1T SHOULDN'T 1 N4M3D H1M 4FT3R SOM3ON3 4M4Z1NG!

CG: I. UH. FUCK. WHAT THE FUCK DO I SAY TO THAT, TEREZI?

GC: 1T 1S N4M3D 4FT3R SOM3ON3 TH4T SM3LLS L1K3 C4NDY 4PPL3S 4ND H4S N1C3 3Y3S 4ND 1S FUN TO W4TCH RUN 4ROUND!

CG: I DON'T RUN AROUND.

GC: WHO S41D 1 W4S T4LK1NG 4BOUT YOU? H3H3H3

CG: TEREZI.

CG: SHIT.

CG: THAT. ARGH.

CG: WHY DO YOU FUCKING DO THIS?

GC: B3C4US3 YOU 4R3 4DORK4BL3 WH3N YOUR3 4NGRY

GC: DON'T WORRY NUBBY

GC: 1T 1S 4 CRABBY GRUMP 1T 1S OBVIOUSLY YOU!

CG: FUCK I AM NOT GOING OVER NOW.

CG: JUST KEEP YOUR DAMN CRAB.

CG: AND MAKE IT DANCE OR WHATEVER SHIT YOU DO WITH IT.

GC: 1 4M DO1NG TH4T R1GHT NOW!

GC: BUT NUBBY 1TS ST1LL COLD : (

CG: I WILL NOT BE SWAYED BY YOUR PUSSY ASS WIMPY TEMPERATURE ISSUES.

GC: 1 4M STRONG!

GC: 1 JUST DO NOT L1K3 WH3N TH3 FOR3ST G3TS COLD

GC: W3 DO NOT 4LL H4V3 B1G FUN LUS11 TO PL4Y W1TH WH3N 1T G3TS COLD!

CG: YOU ARE THE STRONGEST FUCKING TROLL EVER TEREZI YES.

CG: I'M SURE THIS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.

CG: BUT YOUR TEMPERATURE ISSUES ARE STILL WIMPY AND STUPID AND I AM NOT MOVED BY YOUR BACKWARDS PLEA FOR ME TO MOVE MY ASS OVER THERE.

GC: OK4Y 1 W1LL G1V3 UP

GC: HMMM

GC: P3RH4PS TH3 COOLK1D W1LL B3H4V3 D1FF3R3NTLY

GC: 1 H4V3 H34RD HUM4NS 4R3 V3RY W4RM!

CG: FUCK THE COOL KID.

CG: TEREZI.

CG: SHIT YOU ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT DON'T YOU?

GC: Y3S 1 4M TH3 S33R OF M1ND

GC: 1T H4S 1TS P3RKS

CG: FUCK. YOU FUCKING OWE ME. THAT DANCING CRAB BETTER BE FUCKING IMPRESSIVE.

GC: 1T 1S V3RY FUN! BUT 1 DON'T KNOW HOW 1T LOOKS.

CG: I'LL LET YOU KNOW

GC: H3H3H3 TH4NK YOU NUBBY

CG: HEY I'LL BE THERE SHORTLY

GC: R34LLY?

CG: I JUST HAVE SOME SHIT TO CLEAN UP HERE.

GC: OK4Y WORK H4RD NUBBY

CG: DO YOU UH. WANT ME TO BRING ANYTHING?

GC: HMMM L1K3 WH4T?

CG: I DON'T FUCKING KNOW. HENCE THE QUESTION.

GC: 1 THOUGHT 1T W4S SOM3 CH33SY S1LLY STUP1D ROM TH1NG YOU M34NT! SO NO DONT BOTH3R

GC: JUST BR1NG YOU! H3H3H3

CG: I CAN BRING YOU A FUCKING SWEATER TOO IF YOU WANT. MIGHT HELP YOU WITH YOUR PANSY ASS COLDNESS.

GC: 1S 1T YOUR SW34T3R?

CG: WHY THE FUCK WOULD I GIVE YOU SOMEONE ELSE'S SWEATER?

CG: JUST GO OUT AND MUG A WRIGGLER FOR ONE?

GC: 1 W4NT 1T!

GC: W1TH YOUR S1GN 4ND 3V34YTH1NG R1GHT?

GC: H3H3H3

CG: YES TEREZI THAT IS GENERALLY THE IDEA OF IT BEING MY SWEATER

CG: IT HAS MY FUCKING SIGN

GC: SHOOOSHHH NUBBY

GC: L3T M3 3NJOY TH1S H3H3H3

CG: TEREZI YOU ENJOY THINGS REGARDLESS OF WHAT I SAY

GC: H3H3H3 TH1S 1S TRU3

CG: ALRIGHT I'M COMING

GC: 4BOUT T1M3! YOU 4R3 SLOW!

CG: YOU'RE IMPATIENT.

GC: YOU 4R3 SLOW!

"Fuck, Terezi. Look. I'm here now, okay? In your colourful ass vomit hive. Take the gogdamn sweater."

Terezi spun around in her chair and Karkat thrust the sweater at her. She grinned, pulling it over her head.

"Hehehe. It smells good," she said, hugging it close. It smelled like liquorice. Lots and lots of liquorice, with the faintest hint of black cherry.

"I fucking bet it does," Karkat snapped, though the irritated tone was rather half-hearted.

"It is nice and warm! Thank you, Nubby."

"Anytime," Karkat muttered.

Terezi twitched her nose excitedly. "Oh! It smells like cotton candy in here again!"

"Fuck off," Karkat said immediately.

"I want to taste it!" she continued.

"Terezi, don't you dar—"

"Too late!" She had already grabbed his arms and stood on her toes, pressing her lips to his cheek. The cotton candy was perfect! It made her want to go to the carnival all over again. But then, being with Karkat was like being at a carnival all the time. "Hehehe."

"Argh, shit, Terezi, don't fucking lick my face!" He tried to push her off, but Terezi was stronger.

"But I always get what I want! You said that, remember?" she argued.

"You are frustrating."

"And you are silly!" Avoiding the temptation to bite him, she stepped back.

"Whatever. Let's see this fucking crab dance."

Terezi grinned and picked up Sir Candy McGrump, holding it up for Karkat to see. She wiggled it in her hands. "Look, Nubby! It dances like you!" Awfully. It danced awfully.

"You have never even seen me dance." He paused, adding, "And not because you're blind, before you say anything."

"Aw! You got there before me. Hehehe." She wiggled the crab plushie some more. The dancing candy apples were hypnotic. "Then dance for me, Nubby. Prove it!"

"No. That's stupid."

"No, it is awesome!"

"Fine. Come on, Terezi. Let's fucking dance." He pulled the crab from her hands. She groped the air for it, but depth perception is a bit of a bitch when you can't actually see.

"Oh, me too?" She allowed Karkat to take her hands, pulling her away from the computer.

"Obviously."

"Okay, I will dance! I am a good dancer!" Terezi was an amazing dancer. She could wiggle as well as any crab plushie could, at least.

"I bet you are. You're a fucking troll ballerina," Karkat grumbled.

"I am very much!" Yes, Karkat had to know that she was an amazing dancer. She would seduce him with her beautiful hopping dance. It wasn't an awkward dance at all. Not even when she tripped on her recuperacoon. She was as graceful as they came.

"Hey, Terezi?" Karkat said as they degraded into a rather boring slow dance. Terezi thought the lack of jumping off of things was sort of lame, but being so close to Nubby wasn't all that awful.

"Yeah, Nubbynubs?" she replied, stabbing the pointy edge of her glasses into the side of his neck (50% accident, 50% lucky happenstance).

"Fuck. I just. I like this."

"Hehehe," she giggled. Stupid Nubby didn't even notice her glasses. "You are silly. But…it is kind of fun. It feels like you dance better than I had thought. Hehehe." Secretly, Terezi was legitimately impressed. He held her close and, at least, hadn't stepped on her once (though she had trampled his feet a few times).

"I am always more awesome than you think. It is how I fucking operate."

She ignored his boasts. "It is a pleasant surprise."

"Good."

Frowning, Terezi knew she'd have to put an end to the silliness. There was something Karkat had to find out, and he had to learn it soon. She leaned closer. "Hey, Nubby."

"What?" Karkat grumbled.

"Are you scared?"

He stopped swaying back and forth with her for a moment. "What? Where the fuck did that come from?"

"Because…" Terezi took a deep breath. "I smell cotton candy all the time when I'm with you. But only recently."

"Fuck off," he growled, resuming their dance. "That doesn't mean I'm scared at all."

She shook her head. Stupid Nubby didn't get it at all! "No, Nubby. Think harder. I mean all the time." She waited. He still didn't understand. She rested her forehead in the crook of his neck. He needed one last megahint, or he'd never get it. "I think soon it will smell like candy apples instead."

Karkat stopped. He squeezed her hand roughly. "…you can't fucking tell anyone."

"I won't, Nubby," she promised. Then, "I won't need to…"

"I know. Fuck, Terezi, I fucking know, okay." He stepped back. Terezi felt suddenly cold again.

"Come here, Nubby," she said, gesturing to him.

"I don't know what I'm going to fucking do. Shit. Shit. Terezi, just. It's all shit. All this blood and colours and eyes and shit is just completely fucking crap. I hate it."

"Shooooshhh, Nubby. Shoooshhh," she reassured. "We will fix this."

"Terezi?" he breathed, voice strained.

"Yeah, Nubby?"

"I am scared."

She frowned. This wasn't brave Nubby. This was terrified Nubby. She walked forward and slipped her arms around him. "I know, Nubby. You're shaking."

"Fuck. You'll stay, right?" He didn't move to return the embrace.

"Of course I will. You smell like delicious candy apples!" she replied. It was obvious she'd stay. There was no way she'd let her endless carnival leave! "I will help you. I will save you!"

"Terezi. Fuck. What the fuck would I do without you?" Finally, he put his arms around her. About time.

"Suffer endlessly," she said, grinning. "Hehehe."

"Probably."

"Definitely!" Terezi gave him a squeeze, then shifted. She slipped off her glasses and held them up to him. "Here, Nubby. Put these on."

"Terezi? What the fuck?" He took the glasses, but she knew he hadn't put them on. Stupid Nubby was probably just staring at them like the idiot he was.

"Nubby, if you wear these, no one will know."

"Yeah…you're right." He slid them on and she grinned. Double the delicious! Her glasses magically amplified the candy apple scent wafting her way. Perfection. "Terezi, thanks. Maybe I'll take you up on this if we go out again or something." He paused, pulling the glasses off again. "Fucking shit. I cannot believe I am saying this."

"Say it anyway."

"If it's alright… I'd rather not wear them around you."

"Hehehe good! I wouldn't want you to." She paused. "Just don't break them! They are very very important to me!" It was difficult to express her attachment to them in mere words. They had been Redglare's, after all. They were irreplaceable.

"I know, Terezi. Thanks."

"Yes! I am a genius! So I will lend them to you. And whenever you are with me, you can give them back. That way, you can never leave! Hehehe." He would never be able to leave. He would be hers forever. With those glasses, she could claim him.

"Why the fuck would I leave with your glasses?"

"You will have to keep coming back," she reiterated.

"Of course I will come back. Shit, Terezi. Why the fuck would I want to leave you? Who the fuck else is with me right now? Who the fuck else knows about my blood?"

A sudden, entirely unamusing thought struck Terezi. "Hey, Nubby."

"What?"

"Is that…is that the only reason you like me?"

"What? No."

"So you are not just with me because I am the only one that doesn't mind? I am not so sure."

"That is fucking stupid."

Terezi made an unusually fierce expression. "It is not stupid!"

"Sorry," Karkat said quickly, surprised. She wondered if he had ever seen her make that face before. Not many had. "Terezi, fuck. Look. There is nothing about you that makes me want to leave you. Ever. Alright? You mean a lot to me regardless of my fucking mutant blood."

She inhaled deeply, narrowing her eyes. "Mmm…well, you smell genuine."

"Of course I'm fucking genuine, why would I lie to you about shit like that? Fuck." He began to sway again, starting up their silly pseudodance once more.

"Nubby, I think…I may sometimes understand what you meant," she said. "But only a little."

"…yeah." She felt Karkat nodding. "That's alright. Thanks, Terezi."

"Maybe one day I will really understand." She snickered. "But you are the feelings expert! Hehehe."

"Fucking shut up, no I'm not," he growled. "And…I'd like that."

"Well, I suppose I owe you that. Since the carnival helped you understand me." She squeezed his claw. "If only a little bit."

"I hope it did." Finally, Karkat stopped shaking. Stupid Nubby. "Terezi, thanks for making me get off my ass and come over."

"And thank you for the sweater, hehehe." She kissed his cheek briefly and whispered, "you are never getting it back!"

"Whatever," he grumbled. "Keep it."