Droog gave Karkat a crisp twenty dollar bill. Deuce gave him a chocolate bar and a "I would've gotten something more, but you know how I am with dates." Boxcars gave him a bone crushing hug and a new pair of headphones. Ms. Paint did come downstairs and hugged Karkat, an indication of her forgiveness. She had gotten him a new sweater. Kankri came home later that night. They didn't speak, but Karkat wasn't going to say more on the subject.
Karkat couldn't sleep that night. At first, he woke up after a nightmare. Brots was holding a gun, his father was lying dead on the floor, covered in mutant blood. Strings trailed from Brots' arms and legs. Behind him was a green skull, laughing. Then Brots raised his gun to Karkat's head. Before he could pull the trigger, a knife landed in Karkat's back. Then Slick's voice, saying, "Told you they wouldn't miss, brat."
He woke up in a cold sweat, knowing full well it wouldn't be worth it to try going back to sleep. Instead, he checked his laptop. TurntechGodhead was awake, along with Sollux. As he sat there, deciding who he'd bother, he considered his capability of finding an informant without getting himself killed. Nobody in the Midnight Crew would offer their help, Slick would be sure of that. He didn't know anybody involved in The Felt, or anyone who wanted to get involved.
Doc Scratch.
Fuck. Of course. If he could talk Doc Scratch into joining The Felt once more, he'd be set!
turntechGodhead [TG] began pestering carcinoGeneticist [CG]!
TG: oh shit youre up
TG: that never happens at midnight anymore
CG: GEE YOU'RE STILL A SARCASTIC DIPSHIT. WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT?
TG: god i missed your anger
TG: so whats up loser
CG: COULDN'T SLEEP. WHAT ABOUT YOU?
TG: i got an idea for a song and i wanted to write it down before i forgot it
TG: then i ended up getting distracted by fucking cal so i forgot it anyway
CG: ART IS FLEETING OR SOME SHIT.
CG: YOU DON'T WANT TO JOIN A GANG ANYTIME SOON, DO YOU?
TG: what fuck no
TG: hugs not drugs dude
TG: that shit would be irresponsible
TG: what would my fans say
CG: GETTING ONE HUNDRED LIKES ON A SELFIE THAT ONE TIME DOES NOT MAKE YOU FAMOUS YOU PIECE OF SHIT.
TG: no but my sick beats and good humor does
TG: anyway why do you ask
CG: I NEED AN INFORMANT AND I FIGURED STARTING WITH THE SCUM OF GENESIS CITY WOULD BE SMART.
TG: haha wow that is so clever
TG: sadly this low life cant give you the drop on gangs
TG: good luck finding someone though
CG: WAIT, YOU AREN'T GONNA TRY AND TALK ME OUT OF IT?
TG: get ready for this dude
TG: i actually think youre smart
TG: and if you know that people will try and talk you out of something then you know that whatever youre doing is wrong
TG: youll figure it out
TG: alright i gotta go and gift the world with my music
turntechGodhead [TG] ceased pestering carcinoGeneticist [CG]!
Somehow, after talking to turntechGodhead for a few years, they had never exchanged names. Karkat figured it was some sort of unspoken decision that they would formally introduce themselves only after meeting in real life.
Karkat glanced at his clock. One in the morning. That wasn't too bad, but sneaking out to meet Doc Scratch wouldn't be worth it. The Slick residence wasn't placed in the safest neighborhood. Instead, Karkat opted for snooping around the house. Whether or not TG was right, Karkat was going to follow this lead.
Slick kept information on every gang in Genesis City. Well, Droog organized it and made copies for everyone. Slick would be lost without him, honestly. There were about twenty different gangs in Genesis, the two most powerful being The Midnight Crew and The Felt. And The Protectors of Alternia, if Doc Scratch was to be believed. Grabbing a napkin and a pen, Karkat wrote a quick summary of the Protectors of Alternia and placed it on top of the stack of files. Slick wouldn't question it.
'The Felt is a large gang whose main sources of income are extortion, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. The Felt is responsible for bribing the largest amount of public officials to remain as powerful as they are, as they are undeniably sloppy due to the lack of experience of thugs. Members are called leprechauns, and have tattooes of pool balls showing their rank and jobs. The two most powerful members remain unknown to anyone. Snowball is known to be a black carapace woman, though nothing else is known. The identity of Lord English, the kingpin, remains unknown. The gang is centralized in Genesis City, and rarely, if ever, do they do business in different areas. The Felt is infamous for their cult-like views. Members who join take a blood oath and 'sell their soul.' Members who leave are considered traitors, and are banned from the gang before being killed.'
Droog's description was informative, as usual. And getting Doc Scratch to join again was impossible. Change of plans, then. Karkat would still consult Doc Scratch, but wing it instead of going in with a solid plan.
Karkat wasted a few more hours online, reading about new games. After not passing out from exhaustion, much to his despair, he looked outside to see the dull glow of morning light. It would be safer to walk outside now. Karkat went through his bag pulling out his sickle. It was sort of cheap, and would probably break given a fight with someone who also owned a weapon, but it was the best he had.
Nobody else was awake yet, which was surprising, given Kankri was an early bird. But after their fight yesterday, Karkat figured his brother wanted some time to himself. He left without telling anybody, hoping that meeting with Doc Scratch wouldn't take too long.
Getting to the mansion only took a ten minute walk. It was a miracle it hadn't been foreclosed yet, as its existence was hazardous and it looked likely to collapse. But it remained standing, and was habitable.
The highblood from before had kicked down the door. Doc Scratch apparently did not attempt to fix it yet, so Karkat walked into the open entrance. The walls and floors of the mansion were covered in burn marks. From the looks of it, Lord English had ordered The Felt to burn the place to the ground. On the grounds next to the walls were broken stands, shelves, and empty frames.
Retracing his steps, Karkat managed to find his way to Doc Scratch's room once more. He knocked and said, "Doc Scratch? It's Karkat." Doc Scratch didn't say anything, but the door opened.
"What brings you back, young Vantas?" He was wearing the same green suit from before,
"I need your help." Fuck, he was saying that a lot now.
"I'm assuming it involves what I told you yesterday."
"I know what I need to do, but I can't infiltrate The Felt. Most likely, those fuckers know my face. So I figured, I'd need an informant. But I don't know anyone who can help me out."
"No."
"I didn't even ask yet! Come on!"
"You don't have to. You were making it obvious. I'd be killed for exposing myself and trying to join again. Lord English is ruthless."
"Can you at least point me in the direction of Lord English! So I could fucking go directly after him or something!"
"That'd make things easier, wouldn't it. No, I am not capable of revealing such information. I believe Lord English has secured his identity so well that nobody knows who he is."
"Well fuck, what's the point!"
Doc Scratch didn't reply, but looked at the wall. Karkat wanted to yell more, which seemed to be the case with this asshole, but he appeared to be deep in thought. Not wanting to ruin his chances of getting help, Karkat stayed silent, fuming inside.
"I can help you find somebody. Remember how I told you my children are in the gang?" Karkat nodded. "Well, the boy, he would refuse and try to kill you. But my daughter never wanted to get involved. Find her, and you'll have someone."
"How do I contact her?"
"I believe she still has a pesterchum handle, but I don't know the name."
"Sorry to pop your bubble of ignorance, but I refuse to search online and pretend I can find her."
"Let me finish. I remember one of her friends. A something Lalonde. If you can find her, convince her to give you my daughter's account. Then you'll have a source. I guarantee it."
A last name. He could work with that. Even if he'd still have to do some digging, it was something. "What's your daughter's name?"
"Calliope. Good luck, Karkat."