♋ 26

[crusthatecean]

[action;]

[Karkat hasn't really slept in days, but he comes to in the morning of February 6, the groggy, drugged state he's been in wearing off, and he realizes with sudden clarity that he isn't in pain anymore. Oh, it still hurts, his limbs are stiff and ache to move and his wrists are throbbing and raw and he has a nauseating headache, but the agonizing pain that's completely consumed his consciousness for a length of time he wouldn't even be able to guess at is gone. The first day back from his surgery, he was able to stay lucid enough to make audio hook calls, to tell Gamzee what to do. But following that, he's spent the past several days closed in on himself completely, drifting too much from the sopor and the sensation of being burnt alive to focus on anything but the thing on his wrists.

It's like reviving, it's like being alive again, because what he's been for however long he's been can't really be called alive. He opens his eyes and looks down at his wrists; several inches of his skin where the cuffs had been have been burned raw and bloody red; he doesn't dare to touch it, but he knows it will be painful and he knows it's likely to get infected. It doesn't matter; he should have died from what they did to him, but he didn't, he's still here, and he's not really okay but he's okay enough to shove all of his fear and horror and the memories of those helpless and torturous previous days somewhere beneath the surface where everything else that hurts and terrifies him goes. He can function as though he's okay, and that has long since replaced okay as normal for him.

Gamzee is sleeping half on top of him and he can't bring himself to be annoyed at all; just thinking of everything they've both been through during all this makes him miserable but also fond at his stupid useless moirail who took care of him the whole time he was such a mess. He doesn't want to wake him up, so he extracts himself gingerly and goes to the hygiene block to clean himself up, checking the date on the calendar on the way there.

He needs it, but he doesn't have the energy to shower and the thought of anything, even cool water, touching his wrists makes him want to vomit, so instead he carefully washes his face and looks at himself in the mirror. He looks exhausted, he looks like death, and according to the calendar that was five days, five days of torture. Five days of the torture that killed his ancestor, and he survived it. In a way, he's almost proud, even if he knows Mayfield kept him alive and he gladly would have died if he hadn't meant Gamzee would have had to be the one to do it, but that's the way he wants to feel so he doesn't lock that one away.

He looks down at his wrists, and he has to do something, he has to, they'll get infected, but he doesn't want to look at or touch them and finally he just bites his lip and wraps gauze and bandages around them; it will have to do for now.]


[Phone]

[He's a little unsure about calling; he doesn't really remember even half of what he said while he was drugged, and he isn't sure whether what he remembers really happened or if he dreamed it. But he has to let everyone know he's back to normal and to see how everyone else is doing, make sure everyone made it back all right.]

It's Karkat. Has everyone mostly gone back to normal?

For all the fucking good it did everyone, it's about time I passed out the shitty monthly list of places you can maybe go to get a healer or save your life. Okay, but I'm fucking sorry about this, I can't use a typewriter right now, so you'll just have to deal with the awful state it's in for this month. It's at 1338 Benny, I don't have unlimited copies that haven't been drooled on, so copy from someone else.

I also had an idea proposed to me that I think is worth pursuing, but as I'm sure no one is clamoring for more sickening alt caps it may be a while before I put it together. In addition to doctors and healers, there are plenty of other fucking useful skills some of us might have. Mechanical prowess or having a husktop available for use or the ability to find your own asshole for those who can't, I don't know. Just tell me if you can do something useful or if there's something you're looking for, and we can pool resources.

That's about it.

((The month's list is available in the mailbox at Karkat's hive, but instead of the typical list, it looks like this.))

[Filtered to 6 Sweep Trolls, Kids, and Signless and Psiionic]

Yeah. Okay. Sorry for whatever stupid shit I said or did the past few days, it's not my fucking fault. How is everyone doing?

Comments

[crusthatecean]

So there's one down. Headache. What else?

[godcomplexed]

[Oh. He sees what you did there.]

Oh fine, you got me. Got a bit of a bump on the head. Honestly, there are much more important things to worry about.

[crusthatecean]

All right, that's it, I'm calling in Gamzee to hold you down like it's your first medical inspection.

[godcomplexed]

No!

[He snaps. He can't avoid Gamzee forever. But he's going to do it as long as possible.]

I'll go find Rory. He's a nurse. He'll patch me up.

[crusthatecean]

[...Well, that's a weird reaction.]

Fine, call Rory. If you actually do that, I'll leave you alone.

[godcomplexed]

Of course I will. I'll just... pop off to the TARDIS and give him a ring. I'm sure he... wouldn't mind.

[crusthatecean]

[Rolling his eyes exaggeratedly]

There's an audio hook right here. I wasn't hatched yesterday.

[godcomplexed]

Well. My phone is much nicer. Understands every language in the universe. And it has speed dial.

[Picks up the phone. Or tries to. It's difficult with the use of only one arm.

...Yeah, he just dropped it.]

[crusthatecean]

It's easier to walk outside to dial one number than dial seven right here?

[Picking up the phone.]

What's the number?

[miraculls]

[Well, Gamzee was off getting food or being otherwise useless, but now he's back! He hasn't seen the Doctor since getting the guy to mercy-kill him - strange, it was almost like the Doctor was avoiding him for some unfathomable reason, but he's sure it's just because the past week's been tough on everybody - so finally coming face-to-face with him prompts a delighted squeal.]

Docbro!

[Sorry, Karkat, but you are getting unceremoniously shoved aside as Gamzee launches himself in for a hug.]

[crusthatecean]

Hey, careful!

[He doesn't mind being shoved aside, but the Doctor is obviously hurt and he doesn't know where, he doesn't need Gamzee's stupid hugs. He'll grab Gamzee by the back of his shirt collar to try to pull him off a little.]

OH RIGHT. HAHAHA WHAT IS THREADTRACKING...

[godcomplexed]

Alright there, Gamzee?

[The Doctor reaches up awkwardly with his uninjured left arm to pet Gamzee on the head.

What else is there to say? Gamzee isn't mad, of course, but since when as he ever allowed that to be a reason not to be upset with himself.]

[miraculls]

[beams at the headpatting and nuzzles the Doctor with a cheerful honk]

Sure am, motherfucker! Be all getting my righteousness on back now that I know you okay.

[crusthatecean]

[Siiiigh both of you are such idiots, well, he'll stop trying to yank Gamzee off.]

He was just saying how he's calling his doctor friend to come fix him up. Isn't that right?

[godcomplexed]

...Was I?

[NO I WAS PETTING GAMZEE. SEE HE'S PETTING GAMZEE ON THE HEAD. PET PET.]

[miraculls]

[YAY HEADPETS FROM A GUARDIAN FIGURE Gamzee just looks super happy right now! this is all he ever wanted in life

he withdraws slightly when he hears that the Doctor is injured, though]

Shit, you be hurt somewhere, dogg?

[crusthatecean]

[Disgusted disapproving looks at all of this.]

He obviously is. This is why you don't just jump on people with no regard for their well-being.

[godcomplexed]

I'm fine. Just a bit banged up. By all means, jump a way.

[One armed, rather pathetic, hug for Gamzee.]