"Kanaya, it'll be alright. Just breathe," Rose said, unsure of how much Kanaya was really hearing, She had this distanced, far-away look in her eye. Rose rest a hand on Kanaya's shoulder and leaned up and pecked her on the cheek. "Just breathe." And then Kanaya was off, whisked away by her family.
Rose did nothing but worry over the weekend, for Solomon's health and for Kanaya's mental well-being.
turntechGodhead [TG] opened memo on board: vantas leijon maryam protection squad
TG: hey so
TG: yall are the ones closest to karkles nep and kan respectively
TG: i figured if you guys hear anything we can keep each other up to date
TG: so we all know how to support them
TG: even though kar isnt even talking to me right now
gallowsCalibrator [GC] responded to memo
GC: I haven't heard anything.
GC: I think Kar is staying at the hospital until they let his dad out.
TG: hmmm
tentacleTherapist [TT] responded to memo
TT: Nothing from Kanaya yet, either.
centaursTesticle [CT] responded to memo
CT: I messaged Nepeta not too long ago.
CT: She seemed very alarmed but they have Solomon with the doctors.
TT: Did she say anything about anyone's emotional state?
CT: She said
CT: AC: everyone is sad and scared and i am too and there's nothing we can do about it!
TG: valid
GC: Okay well, if anyone gets an update, let us know.
Nobody bothered to close the memo board, even though no news broke, and Rose accosted Kanaya in class about the situation.
"Kanaya, are you doing alright?" Rose asked. She understood why Kanaya may have been ignoring her over the weekend, preferring to spend the time with her family as they handled a delicate situation. But that didn't exactly erase Rose's concern. "I'd been trying to message you all weekend."
"Yes, we haven't gotten much news, so as far as I am aware, Solomon is still alive."
"That's good." Kanaya got a very far-away look in her eyes, staring forward blankly. Rose reached for Kanaya's hand and squeezed it tightly. "I'm sure it'll be alright."
"How can you be sure of that?" Kanaya snipped. The question depleted Rose of any and all optimism.
"Well…" Unable to come up with an answer, Rose let Kanaya withdraw into her mind. Rose turned to her phone, disregarding the fact that they were in class, going over irregular conjugations.
TT: Kanaya said there hasn't been any news
TG: no news is good news
TT: Theoretically, yes.
TT: But she's still a bit…
TT: Out of it.
CT: As is Nepeta.
CT: I suggest we be delicate about the topic.
TT: A wise choice indeed, Equius.
GC: You guys haven't seen Karkat around, have you?
TG: he wasnt in class this morning
TG: wouldnt surprise me if he didnt show up at all
TG: i mean
TG: you said he was staying at the hospital until his dad gets released so maybe hes still there
GC: That's what's worrying me; it's been three days.
GC: He's not answering my messages.
TG: come on dude his dad is in the hospital
GC: Yeah, I'm just…
GC: Worried.
TT: We all are.
It was later that day that Rose, Dave, Equius, and Terezi, along with the others, got their answer.
carcinoGeneticist [CG] opened memo on board: 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
Another Pesterchum window appeared on Rose's computer.
turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering tentacleTherapist [TT]
TG: rose holy shit
TG: what the fuck is wrong with me
TG: im supposed to be fixing things with him not wedging the foot farther into my mouth
TG: why do i say some of the things i say jfc
TT: I can't really begin to answer that.
TT: But I can guess it's because you have a difficult time showing genuine affection.
TT: You tried to console him in a real way, and then played it off with jokes to avoid looking like there's serious care.
TT: Especially for another boy.
TG: ughhhhhh i hate this
TG: i just keep making things worse
TT: Try to avoid making this about you.
TT: He's the one who just lost his father, after all.
Rose turned her attention back to the memo, despite Dave's continuous typing.
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
TG: dont make me feel like more of an ass
TG: i know im terrible at this shit
TG: rose?
TG: god damn it
TT: You're projecting, Dave.
TG: what?
TT: Onto John.
TT: Implying he's confused about his sexuality.
TG: look i already admitted to you i think im pan what more do you want from me
TT: I just don't see why you continue to make these jokes at John's expense. Maybe he ISN'T straight, but that's his business and something he'll have to come to terms with on his own.
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!
TG: i just
TG: dunno what to do
TG: pretty sure kar hates me now
TT: You have to make a gesture and talk about your feelings without making a plethora of dick jokes.
TT: Now forgive me, but I really should speak with Kanaya.
TG: no wait i like need more advice
TT: Dave, I have given you all the advice I can.
TT: Sorry that your relationship is not my main concern in such a trying time.
tentacleTherapist [TT] ceased pestering turntechGodhead [TG]
tentacleTherapist [TT] began pestering grimAuxiliatrix [GA]
TT: I don't blame you for not wanting to check your notifications.
TT: But I am here if and when you want to talk about it.
tentacleTherapist [TT] is now an idle chum!
Before she left the computer, Rose checked one final message that had come in from John.
ectoBiologist [EB] began pestering tentacleTherapist [TT]
EB: your cousin is a total jackass
ectoBiologist [EB] is now offline!
Whatever. If Rose spent too much time repairing all of Dave's friendships, she was going to give herself a migraine, and that energy was better spent in other places for the time being. Also, she doubted John was actually going to stay mad at him for very long. She wanted to focus on supporting Kanaya up until and through the funeral, so that was exactly what she did.
Solomon's funeral was not much longer after that conversation. Rose hardly ever left Kanaya's side in the weeks that had passed, and the funeral was no different. She sat, squeezing Kanaya's hand as Nepeta's mother, Solomon's fiancée, spoke to the crowd.
"Solomon Vantas was… one of the kindest, greatest people I ever had the pleasure of meeting. He was so inspirational to me, so influential to the word; how he was just… always trying to help whoever he could, always trying to make peace or find a diplomatic way around a problem- that was all he wanted to be. A diplomat. He wanted to make a better future for his kids, for my kids… Solomon was…" Her voice cracked. She was about to lose it. "…my best friend, and my first love. When we met in high school, I knew I'd found someone I could confide in. Someone I knew I wanted in my life. He had such an idealistic concept of what the world could be. And… oh, the way he lit up when we talked about how we could improve the world, leave our mark… and then we fell in love… and then… both left for different colleges. I never thought I'd be lucky enough to find him again, but I was. I swore I'd never lose him again. And yet, here we are. Solomon Vantas was… a great man, who did great things, and I will not let that be in vain. He may be gone, but the impact that he's had will be with us forever." Rose watched as she switched places with Karkat's older brother, but as he spoke, she watched Kanaya's face.
"My father was an ambitious, idealistic man. He was always trying to do something to help someone, and help this town. Someone I always admired, and from this day on I will be taking up his cause and do my best to be as he was. Thank you for everything, Dad."
The procession finished up, and Rose caught a ride with the Maryams back to the Leijon home for the reception. Rose leaned on Kanaya a bit, despite circumstances calling for it to be the other way around. "How are you doing, Kanaya?" Rose asked. Kanaya looked very thoughtful for a moment.
""I am doing… surprisingly well. Life without Solomon will be something to adjust to, but I think… if my family sticks together, we will be alright."