CCA: alright so guess wwhos got all the rings
CCA: i got all the rings all of them
CURRENT ascendantGambler [CAG] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CURRENT carnivorousGravitation [CCG] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CCA: *i havve all the rings but twwo
CAG: I think we're forgetting that I was to thank for 8ringing the first two and therefore the THEORY to the ta8le here.
CCA: wwe could alwways get more rings
CCA: play a game like wwe said wwe should
CCG: YOU BETTER BELIEVE I JUST ROLLED MY EYES AT YOU, VRISKA.
CCA: see if wwe can do anythin wwith all the rings afterwward
CCG: WELL, UNLESS THEY EXPECT US TO COMPLETELY COVER OUR FINGERS WITH THEM, I'M SURE WE'LL FIND SOMETHING TO DO WITH THEM.
CCA: speakin of covverin our fingers wwith them
CCA: i think im gonna perform an experiment
CCG: PLEASE, TELL ME ABOUT THE SCIENCE YOU'RE ABOUT TO PERFORM.
CAG: This ought to 8e good.
CCA: i am bored enough that im gonna see howw many of these rings i can put onto my hands
CAG: Alright, while you diddle away precious time, I'm gonna go out and check the 8oard.
CCA: i am performin a vvaluable experiment this is for SCIENCE
CCA: you should pick out a game for us to play
CCG: I THINK THAT WAS THE POINT OF HER CHECKING THE BOARD.
CCA: i can put all of these on
CCG: HOW MANY IS ALL OF THEM?
CCA: im gonna take them off and then uh
CCG: GREAT. I'LL SEE YOU EVENTUALLY.
CCA: all rings off and my owwn rings back on
CCA: wwhat the fuck else wwould i mean
CCG: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING ROOM?
CCA: i wwant you to ask yourself
CCA: wwould eridan bring his husktop out wwhen wwe are about to enter a game
CCA: specifically to tell you that i got my rings off
CCG: YOU NEVER. FUCKING. KNOW.
CCA: ok im leavvin noww you can leavve in a minute if youre wwaitin for my sloww ass
VRISKA: *if she had a watch she'd be checking it impatiently as though someone was there to watch her be a little impatient shit.*
ERIDAN: *and eridan exits the memo and goes! wow vriska looks impatient.*
VRISKA: *she WHIPS AROUND, braid a'flyin'* Wow!
VRISKA: That was an inordin8 amount of time you just w8sted when we could pro8a8ly 8e winning my 8ody parts 8ack.
KARKAT: *karkat also exits the memo. then waits a few seconds. then a few seconds more because god only knows eridan is a slowpoke. okay now he can go.*
VRISKA: *leans to look behind Eridan at Karkat* Were you 8ickering over who would go out the door first?
VRISKA: *unimpressed look before she whips around to the board again. Dodge the braid.*
ERIDAN: *am dodging the braid*
VRISKA: Alright, while you lollygaggers were lollygagging, I picked a game for us to play.
KARKAT: *does the bla bla bla hand motion and looks at the board* GREAT. WHICH ONE OF THESE TERRIBLE WORLDS ARE WE ENTERING?
VRISKA: That one! *lifts her arm and points to the final one* Divine Destin8tion! It sounds like something I'd 8e good at.
VRISKA: And like something you guys could may8e keep up with.
ERIDAN: alright vvris wwhatevver you say
KARKAT: SOUNDS LIKE SOME HEAVENLY MISSION.
VRISKA: What? It could have to do with divin8tion or something, too. Or with past god tier status! 8oth of which I have way more experience with than either of you. *takking away at the keyboard to input her info there we go*
ERIDAN: of course howw could i be so blind *a little amused. when she's done putting in her info, he puts in his own. taptaptap ok here you go karkat*
VRISKA: *she's already walking towards the door to the escalator, twisting to look over her shoulder when she reaches it*
KARKAT: *shakes his damn head, pretty sure divination has nothing to do with it. fine okay, type in the info. okay. now let's go do the escalator thing*
[The terminal screen merely says: “All first stage games - Unlocked. Players 1-3, proceed.”]
ERIDAN: *huh, ok, escalator time go go go*
[The escalator behaves just the same as before, loading message and all. It is just going. So. Slowly.]
VRISKA: *starts jogging up it*
KARKAT: *looks around, with his grump face, and sighs.* RIGHT.
KARKAT: *half ass jogs after her*
ERIDAN: *oh good vriska's making them actually MOVE. kinda nudges at karkat's back like come on you can move faster than that go go go*
KARKAT: *lightly kicks behind him, the goes a little faster*
VRISKA: *She is paying utterly no attention to them, curiously eyeing the platform by the time they reach the top and stepping towards the center of it to inspect their surroundings.*
[At the top you see another platform much like the one you just left, only this one has five empty portal stations. Only one of them has a keypad and hand-print sensor (for logging in) beside it though.]
KARKAT: HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO BET THAT THAT'S OUR GAME?
KARKAT: *he huffs when he gets to the top*
VRISKA: *scuttles on over to inspect the pad*
[There is a little screen above the keypad, currently blank apart from the words “Divine Destination: Enter?” There’s even an enter button below that too, amazing.]
VRISKA: Ding ding ding! As if that surprised any8ody.
ERIDAN: *these portals are fucking weird, but whatever. let's go look at the keypad yeah yeah*
KARKAT: *a SUPER enthusiastic* YAY. *then goes to look at it as well.*
VRISKA: *Never really one to hesitate, she just goes ahead and presses the enter button, and will probably press all the necessary ones that follow.*
[“Press hand to sensor, then wait for signal before stepping through.”]
[The portal is activated all the same with a piercing beep and a vortex of blue light. How cozy.]
ERIDAN: *okay these portals are REALLY weird. alright.*
KARKAT: *this is just like one of his scifi romcoms*
VRISKA: *she grins* Sweet. *and as always, wastes no time in jumping straight in*
ERIDAN: *ok. puts hand down more gently on the hand sensor thing*
KARKAT: *after eridan's gone through, karkat stares at the pad and like. pokes it very thoroughly, because who knows what else has touched this thing.*
["Please allow the scanner to read your palm print."]
KARKAT: *SIGHS. none too gently presses that shit down*
[Once you enter the portal, you will be eveloped with a strange prickling sensation as you fall down, down, down, as though the dark is composed of tiny needles and little more. You don't quite remember hitting the ground, but once you are all inside, you find yourselves on your feet in a dimly lit space. In front of you, there is a sliver of light, like the crack between two large doors. All at once, they open to reveal a powder-pink ... boutique? Do you step out to explore?]
KARKAT: *with the most confused suspicious face, he steps through the doors and marvels how... /cute/ this place is* I THINK WE WERE BOTH WRONG.
VRISKA: *Was this better or worse than the first time she'd fallen down a mysterious space vortex as if she didn't care? Unknown. At least she didn't land in an insurmountable amount of pain, and she was on her feet properly, quickly widening her stance to ensure she doesn't fall.* ........
ERIDAN: *everything tingles and it is a very uncomfortable sensation. he just steps out to shake off the feeling in his legs, taking in the environment. it's... not actually that bad?*
VRISKA: I 8et you feel right at home. *steps out to inspect this place; nothing seems outwardly dangerous* What the fuck are we supposed to do?
[Once you step out of what you will soon realize was a very elaborate changing room, you will hear a distant squeaking sound. It's coming from the wheels of a mobile mannequin, which is currently slowly advancing towards you, its prim and proper pose unmoving and its empty face looking up and away from you. Silence.]
ERIDAN: *wh--what the fuck. what the actual fuck? what?*
ERIDAN: wwhat the FUCK is that
KARKAT: *the look on karkat's face would probably be incredibly hilarious.* WHAT THE FUCK.
VRISKA: *gets into a SEMI-FIGHTING STANCE?!*
ERIDAN: *glances around, just in case there are more mannequins coming toward them. the coast seems clear.*
KARKAT: *he just keeps watching the one, with the same face*
[For a moment, it does nothing. Then, in a swift snap, its head turns towards you and nothing else. Where its eyes and mouth should be light up blue as if there are lightbulbs beneath white plastic, flaring in time with the automated voice that fills the room around you, as though there are speakers all around rather than coming from solely this object.]
KARKAT: *when the head moves, he jumps back a little* JESUS.
ERIDAN: *OHHHH GOD IT JUST LOOKED AT THEM. jerks back like oh god*
VRISKA: *she jerks back, too, with a nondescript noise of shock and unsettlement. Luckily she does not punch it.*
Welcome to Divine Destination, your premier fashion experience! Feel free to browse, but remember not to put together anything /too/ shabby - That simply won't do, and the judges won't like it at all. Have fun and happy dressing!
[After this, the mannequin does not light up again, and the air of life it had about it a moment ago is gone once again.]
VRISKA: *Squinting... slooowly, she starts sidestepping around it, keeping her distance while maintaining that squint.*
ERIDAN: *stares at it warily. it seems like it'd be its style to suddenly reanimate and say something else just to scare them.*
ERIDAN: *follows vriska's lead in sidestepping it, though. maybe if they both keep an eye on it and don't blink...*
KARKAT: *stays still to keep watching it, but blinks plenty. yeah okay, let's just walk away from it. he kind of wants to push it away. no it might come back to hurt him. for some reason, he feels like he should fear manequinns. like in some other life, they ate one of his friends right in front of him*
[The further you get into this place, the more shelves of clothes and shoes and accessories you will see. They are sectioned off, as if categorized by the things you need one of to create a full outfit. There is basically no limit to the things that you will find here, colors and styles alike. Go nuts, kids.]
VRISKA: *Once she's far enough away, she starts to scurry and look around at the shelves* So, we have to 8uild a crappy outfit and get judged on it? That's it?
KARKAT: I DIDN'T KNOW WE COULD BE THIS WRONG.
ERIDAN: at least this oughta be a piece of cake
VRISKA: Oh, totally! How hard could it possi8ly 8e. It just seems 8oring as hell.
ERIDAN: *somehow eridan doubts that they're going to get actual good scores.*
KARKAT: *claps his hands together* ALL OF MY TIME WITH KANAYA HAS LED TO THIS MOMENT.
ERIDAN: *looks at vriska*
ERIDAN: *looks at karkat*
VRISKA: *just darts off and starts perusing the boots first because she Knows boots. Don't need no Kanaya to know boots.*
ERIDAN: *alright you know what? let's go to the scarves. eridan knows scarves.*
KARKAT: *what does karkat know? sweatpants. that's not... that is not gonna cut it. he stares around at the aisles for a while trying figure out where to go first. fuck it. go to the sweaters*
VRISKA: *A gleeful gasp can be heard as Vriska discovers a pair of tall, red leather boots. Time to snatch those bad boys up.*
ERIDAN: *hmm wait no. hm. eridan changes his direction to the jackets because he needs a cool jacket. the coolest jacket. and once he finds that jacket, the rest of the outfit will fall into place.*
KARKAT: NO. NO. HELL NO. *he's browsing and hating everything that he sees. oh but then there's a nice easy on the eyes dark maroon-ish sweater.* YOU WILL HAVE TO DO. *pants time here we go*
[Once you settle on a singular item, it will disappear from your hands, but you will feel as though it is still with you... Because it's in this game's version of a sylladex, you weenie.]
VRISKA: *There go the boots. Yet, she fears not for their loss. Time to skitter over to the jackets, too, because those are her next favorite things after boots, and she shares Eridan's mindset that the jacket makes the outfit. Oh, yes.*
VRISKA: (I'm gonna find a cooler jacket than you.)
ERIDAN: (shut up no you aint)
KARKAT: *he probably passes the jacket aisle on his way to the pants and yells at them* NERDS.
VRISKA: *just waves falsely flirtily at Karkat*
KARKAT: *oh here we go pants. they're all... so... boring. except for the ones that are gaudy as hell. why this.*
ERIDAN: *these nerds. after a bit more perusal, his eyes settle on a dark jacket somewhat reminiscent of the one he had during their flarping days. luckily it is more fashionable and easier on the eyes than that violet thing. picks it up. oh woop there it goes into the inventory.*
ERIDAN: *hm... some more items this shade of blue-black, perhaps...*
KARKAT: *whoa* HELLO. *some soft as hell pants that aren't hideous. yes. good. bam into the fakey sylladex. should he get different socks? a different shirt to have under the sweater? he did not think about this. there's no way he's browsing for underwear though. awkward.*
VRISKA: *Her jaw drops on a silent pleased gasp as she runs her fingers along the sleeve of a black jacket with navy accents. Damn, the front buckles on this thing were pretty nifty. Is that a red interior? Inventoried in a HEARTBEAT. This is gonna be the coolest intimidating pirate outfit Ever.*
ERIDAN: *goes to the shirts. so many shirts. how will he ever choose? something stark against the jacket to better draw the eye... hm. white shirt, hello.*
KARKAT: *socks. he's actually going to look at socks. amazing.*
ERIDAN: *something over top of the shirt. something to make him look hella fine. vests. vests are always the answer.*
VRISKA: *Clearly she needs another red accent to compliment the boots and inside of the jacket. A red shirt should be easy enough to find. She is the danger.*
KARKAT: *gray and white argyle* YOU ARE FANTASTIC. *poof. okay he guesses he'll go to look at shirts. oh hey, vriska*
VRISKA: Are you /talking/ to the clothes?
KARKAT: N... NO. *blinks at her... then quickly turns toward the shirts*
[And if you'll look to your left -- the mannequin is no longer positioned at the doorway you entered through, and is instead much closer to you all than is probably comfortable. It doesn't ay anything yet.]
VRISKA: *snorts at Karkat-- then screeches internally*
ERIDAN: *while the nerds do nerd things, eridan is finding more fashion things--OH GOD WHAT THE FUCK*
KARKAT: *he makes a face at the snort, but once he's picked out a nice nice plain black long sleeved shirt, he turns and jumps back again.* WHAT THE FUCK.*
ERIDAN: *just. just find a vest, eridan. you can do this. you can do this and avoid the mannequin. see? take that nice vest with gold accents. take it. it is yours.*
ERIDAN: *now find pants and hope to god the mannequin won't follow you.*
KARKAT: *shoes shoes just go to the shoes for god's sake*
KARKAT: *don't look at the creepy faceless thing*
KARKAT: *oh shit he looked. walking faster now*
VRISKA: *She stares at the mannequin for a second, into the inventory goes this red shirt she grabbed very quickly before hopping over to the pants section, too, its safer where there's pants. Oh, sweet, what a nice dark denim. Yoink.*
KARKAT: *he notices suddenly that none of these things have sizes labeled on them. maybe they'll just... magically fit? whatever. oh shit look at those. kanaya would be proud. actual decent looking dress shoes. grabs them.*
ERIDAN: *oh god look at these pants oh god they are the exact shade of black he needs and they have little buttons on the side and he just KNOWS they'll look hella fine on his legs. he's taking them.*
ERIDAN: *of course this means he should probably get boots. hm.*
VRISKA: *How do trolls know anything about color coordination? It's a mystery. Now that she's got the basics, she hops on over to the socks and crap. Don't look at the bra I'm probably going to grab. You, too, Manny.*
KARKAT: *okay he has an outfit. but well. accessories wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. he guesses. uhh... maybe if he's quiet about it, he can get a scarf without being accused of copying eridan or something.*
ERIDAN: *boots boots boots he is going to find the best boots. and. look. look, those are the best boots, he does not even care what sort of garish scarlet thing vriska must have picked up*
ERIDAN: *they are the black he needs and they have gold on them and he is taking them*
ERIDAN: *he can pick up some socks too. and then he's going for accessories. like a gold belt to tie this all in.*
KARKAT: *this weird black scarf with tassles would looks good if he knew how to put it on... fuck it he's taking it anyway, and then looksing around to see if he needs anything else*
ERIDAN: *ohhh wait back up are those glasses?*
ERIDAN: kar wwhere are you come ovver here
KARKAT: *he looks around, and sighs and goes to meet eridan* YES WHAT.
ERIDAN: *squints at the rows of glasses before picking up a pair.* just stay still for a second *is he gonna try and put them on karkat? yes he is*
KARKAT: *his eyebrows come together as these fucking glasses are put on him* WHY IS THIS A THING?
ERIDAN: cause wwe all got glasses come on get wwith the program
VRISKA: *she ignores them for a bit as she gathers the necessities before she, too, steps over to the accessories. She always did want some cool fingerless gloves. Time to spot the nerds being nerdy.* You have to match us, Karkat.
VRISKA: If we don't get jackets, this we can do.
VRISKA: *she DOES need glasses again, too. Sift sift*
KARKAT: GOD, FINE. *only now do the glasses disappear, because he decided to keep them*
ERIDAN: *glasses club 5ever*
KARKAT: *is there anything else he needs? not really actually. he doesn't need shit for his wrists. don't need a hat. fuck this he's done.*
ERIDAN: *hm actually eridan should go back to the scarves and find a dark one to complete this look. hm. yes.*
VRISKA: *Fingerless gloves? Check. Glasses? Those are pretty nice. Check. She isn't one for jewelry bling, though, so after another glance around (mostly for the mannequin) she props a hand on her hip and taps her foot.* Think that's it? How do we get r8ed on this?
ERIDAN: *good question vriska. very good question. a question they dont have the answer for right at this moment.*
KARKAT: UH... *scratches his head*
ERIDAN: *maybe theyll have to put the clothes on a mannequin? glancing at the creepy mannequin, he decides that if that's the case, he is not going to complete this level.*
[Once Eridan picks up his final piece, whatever it may be, the mannequin speaks again.] Splendid! Right on schedule! All models, please report back stage to get ready for the show.
VRISKA: *Snaps her head towards the mannequin, and makes such a face* Shiiiiiiiit.
KARKAT: *looks around, expecting some other people to show up out of nowhere*
[And before you can object, yes Karkat. More people show up. But these people are mannequins and they are advancing on you like ice cold zombies.]
KARKAT: THESE AREN'T THE MODELS I WAS LOOKING FOR.
ERIDAN: *oh god okay no he is going to just. move away from them. yes.*
KARKAT: *backs away slowly, watching them with the face he had at the beginning*
VRISKA: Nope. Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope-- *mantra of this as she starts to skitter away*
[They vant to see jor cloooothes.]
[It appears they are all coming from different directions except for the one they apparently want you to go in.]
KARKAT: WHAT THE FUCK. I AM NOT HERE FOR THIS. *let's just jog away from that shit and into that place*
ERIDAN: *they're being fucking herded like cattle. eridan would be annoyed, but mostly he is freaked out, so he is going to be herded like a good little cow.*
KARKAT: *and now they are there wherever there is*
VRISKA: *She doesn't even care, she just doesn't want these fucking things to get anywhere near her.*
[They have successfully herded you into a dark space behind a curtain. A moment passes before Eridan and Vriska find themselves seated in an empty audience, and Karkat is standing at the mouth of a catwalk, behind another curtain. Congratulations, Karkat; you're super fashion. The curtain is drawn, and spotlights/camera flashes from nowhere assail you. Walk, walk, fashion baby.]
ERIDAN: *oh well okay then.*
VRISKA: What the hell is this 8ullshit? *leans to ask Eridan. As if he fucking knows.*
ERIDAN: im guessin wwere the models
ERIDAN: and kars the first one up
KARKAT: *suddenly in the clothes he picked out, he squints at all the lights. this is completely foreign. guess he should... walk. he... puts his hands in his pockets? and walks down the cat walk, looking around awkwardly.*
KARKAT: *inwardly he is like WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK
ERIDAN: *oh no he's. he's adorable. oh no.*
VRISKA: *oh no he IS adorable.*
ERIDAN: *trying very hard to not look adoring and might be kind of failing a bit.*
VRISKA: *shifty eye at Eridan because even she wants to go aaaaaaaaw. Even if hers would be a bit more on the joking side.*
ERIDAN: *vris. vris he has glasses and a scarf. LOOK AT HIM.*
KARKAT: *when he seems them with those looks on their faces, he shoots them a glare and then. he's at the end of the cat walk. wh... what now? he? walks back? yeah okay... he turns around and walks back...*
VRISKA: *waves at him like YOU GO, NUBS!*
ERIDAN: *waves at him also like YEAH NUBS*
KARKAT: *he makes a terribly face at the wave and avoids eye contact the rest of the way down*
ERIDAN: *REMEMBER US LITTLE PEOPLE*
[What a trend setter. Next up is Vriska; it's less than graceful how Karkat is suddenly tossed into the chair she was sitting in, and she's tossed on stage and suddenly in her new outfit. Can you compete with what we just saw, Vriska?]
ERIDAN: *oh THIS oughta be good.*
ERIDAN: *nudges karkat like come on thisll be great wont it oh man*
KARKAT: *SHIT FUCK oh thank god he's not up there anymore*
VRISKA: *Oh, fuck, fuck, this was funnier when it was someone NOT her. Oh shit. Okay, no, you know what? You got this, Vris. You're fabulous. Don't get too over ambitious, girl, just... walk. And don't trip on the slight heel these boots have. Aw shit. She tripped a little. Time to recover with a ... braid flip? It isn't as great without her hair down.*
KARKAT: *gives approving nods*
[Eridan, you're up. It's gonna be hard to compete with both of these other fashionable douchebags. Vriska is tossed into Eridan's seat now and vice versa. Good luck.]
VRISKA: *here we go, though.*
KARKAT: *he nods at her before looking up to see how eridan does*
ERIDAN: *oh shit okay. okay. he can do this. he takes a breath, puts his hands into his pockets, and affects a leisurely demeanor as he struts down the catwalk because he is hot as hell and knows it*
KARKAT: *wow of course he's so shiny*
KARKAT: *whispers* HE'S DOING MY POCKET THING. JACKASS.
ERIDAN: *B) what u gonna do about it*
KARKAT: *gonna pout obvs*
VRISKA: *Eyebrow raise + leans her chin in her hand. Ah, yes. Time to obnoxiously wolf whistle when he's close enough.*
VRISKA: *Might as well make it funny.*
KARKAT: *he doesn't look terrible though. he snorts at vriska's whistle*
ERIDAN: *blows a kiss to vriska*
VRISKA: *gonna catch that and oh so strategically slap it onto Karkat's cheek. Patpat.*
KARKAT: *makes a little annoyed and startled noise like GNAHH*
ERIDAN: *just smirks because that was actually good. alright. walks back. it's a shame that they can't see his butt. truly unfortunate.*
[And now, all three of you are back up on stage. The cameras aren't flashing as wildly as before, and one by one, the spotlight will fall upon you one at a time as your score is announced via the surrounding speakers. Karkat; pass! Vriska; pass! Eridan; pass! Congratulations!]
KARKAT: *whips around to look at eridan* SERIOUSLY?
VRISKA: Can't you accept our mutual hotness here for ONCE.
ERIDAN: *he is maybe pouting a bit though.*
ERIDAN: *he definitely should've been the absolute definite winner of that catwalk.*
[After the scores are announced, suddenly there is a single spotlight on a figure in the fake audience, a far distance away. It is the mannequin, and it's the only thing you can see in the dark. It turns sharply to face Karkat, and all at once, a slot opens where its mouth should be and it begins shooting rings directly at him. Gotta catch 'em all.]
KARKAT: OH MY GO-- *he's cut off though, as he's pelted with rings and he like sinks to his knees with the most bewildered look on his face*
ERIDAN: *does he laugh or does he pity him oh god*
KARKAT: *he slowly and quietly picks up all the rings that he was shot with*
ERIDAN: *wheezes a bit, trying not to laugh*
VRISKA: *She laughs out loud, actually.*
KARKAT: *he can't even be mad at them he's just sitting there with these rings in his hands*
[It's your turn to be pelted with very fast moving rings.]
VRISKA: *Her laughter is cut off with a short screech as she is indeed pelted with these fucking rings. Like bullets. Fancy goddamn bullets. She curls away instinctively, tripping a little.*
ERIDAN: *okay NOW eridan is laughing*
KARKAT: *he watches on in horror as she is literally assaulted just like he was*
VRISKA: *Once its over, she huffs and goes to collect the damn things, jamming them in her coat pockets before reaching to punch Eridan in the knee.*
ERIDAN: *kinda crumples, still laughing, but* oww
[Oh, hate to hit a man while he's down. Here comes Eridan's rings. Only one is shot at first.]
ERIDAN: *looks at the mannequin*
ERIDAN: are you FUCKIN KIDDIN ME
[And here come the rest in spitfire succession. Literally.]
KARKAT: *puts his rings in his pockets too, then watches eridan*
KARKAT: *and now karkat cracks the fuck up*
ERIDAN: *pain. so much pain. oh god. curls over to protect his face*
VRISKA: *Cackles again, laughing too hard to really stand up yet, pointing at him before she teeters and catches herself on his back. Laughing. So. Much.*
ERIDAN: *when the barrage is over, he just. slowly uncurls. shakes off vriska. and picks up his rings, very mortified.*
VRISKA: *Teeters back, gasping to catch her breath.* Oh, my /God./
VRISKA: *Refuses to say 'ow' again. She's tougher than y'all.*
KARKAT: *wipes at the little bit of tears that happened from the laughter, and stands up*
ERIDAN: *because he is a very skilled person, he counts his rings as he picks them up*
ERIDAN: howw many did you guys get
VRISKA: How many did YOU get?
ERIDAN: *turns to karkat* karrrrr *whines*
KARKAT: DEAR GOD. *turns to vriska* JUST. PLEASE.
VRISKA: *makes an exasperated noise in the back of her throat and flops her head back.*
VRISKA: *time to count my rings*
ERIDAN: *slowww turn back to karkat* and you
KARKAT: YOU GO FIRST. I GOT HER TO COUNT HERS.
ERIDAN: just say howw many you got
ERIDAN: i wwill wwhen you do
KARKAT: I ALREADY COUNTED MINE. WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE A BIG BABY ABOUT THIS?
ERIDAN: wwell then TELL ME
VRISKA: HOW MANY RINGS DID YOU IDIOTS GET?
ERIDAN: *lookS AT KARKAT*
VRISKA: *points* Karkat, COUNT.
KARKAT: *crosses arms and glares at eridan*
ERIDAN: *insistent look turns into a slightly more pleading one. do it karkat. do it.*
KARKAT: *extra dramatic groan and he kind of mumbles* ELEVEN.
ERIDAN: *rises up from the ground because he never got up*
ERIDAN: *grins at karkat. grins at vriska.*
ERIDAN: i am the fuckin undeniable wwinner
ERIDAN: i fuckin KNEWW IT
KARKAT: *very offended* STOP WITH THAT SHIT EATING LOOK. HOW MANY DID YOU GET?
ERIDAN: *so proud of himself*
KARKAT: OH, FUCK YOU. YOU AND YOUR SHINY BOOTS AND RINGS. *grumbles* I LOOKED FUCKING GOOD.
ERIDAN: you looked fuckin fantastic
ERIDAN: *pats his shoulder*
VRISKA: *snickers at Eridan for a second*
KARKAT: *pushes his hand away* DON'T PATRONIZE ME.
ERIDAN: vvris tell him he looked awwful
ERIDAN: i thought you didnt wwant compliments hmm
KARKAT: NO, YOU WERE OBVIOUSLY BEING SARCASTIC.
ERIDAN: no i wwasnt-- *sighs* nevver mind
[The lights shift back to the boutique setting and you realize you have been in there all along. That was trippy. If you inspect the place again, you will find that a new space has opened up. A simple counter off to the side.]
KARKAT: *huffs and recrosses his arms*
VRISKA: *Ooh. Lets them argue and trots off to investigate*
ERIDAN: *just kinda pats karkat again* you wwanna go see wwhat that is
KARKAT: WHY ARE YOU PATTING ME? *awkwardly pushes his hand away, oh wow his hand is cold* BUT YES.
ERIDAN: it wwas a gesture of comfort and reassurance
ERIDAN: *why do his pats always come off weird. goddammit.*
ERIDAN: *but yes let us follow vriska to the counter*
[Behind this counter, the mannequin stands. But it's wearing a bright pink wig. Hm.]
KARKAT: RIGHT. *he believes you. really. let's go.* WHY.
KARKAT: *stands in front of the counter, just staring at the mannequin. why is it... why is this a thing. karkat is very confused*
[The computerized voice resounds again] Welcome to the Inventory. This is the station where you may purchase items of interest via the gold rings that you have hopefully been collecting all throughout the games. Do you wish to view the catalog?
VRISKA: *Her eyes light up and she blurts an answer* Yes! Yes, yes. God. Finally.
VRISKA: *EYE... LIGHTS UP.*
KARKAT: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A THING WE'D LIKE TO SEE.
ERIDAN: *oh good, this is actually useful*
[A large screen lights up behind the mannequin, and its upturned hand appears now as though it had been pointing to this all along. On the screen, items are listed beside a number that represents how many rings it is worth. Wheelchair, 20. Robotic arm, 25. Robotic pants, 30. Arm, 35. Eye, 40. Two eyes, 45. Full restore, 50.]
KARKAT: LITERALLY ROBOTIC PANTS. CONGRATULATIONS TO TAVROS.
VRISKA: Amazing. *her eye bounces back and forth between the items that pertain to obviously her, but land finally on the final item* Full restore? Like, could that fix everything?
If you select Full Restore, it will regenerate proper function to all aspects of the chosen recipient.
VRISKA: *all but slaps the counter* Sign me the hell up. *starts digging for the rings in her pocket*
ERIDAN: *just kind of. dumps all the rings he has onto the counter. the fifteen he got from the game and the eighteen he got from roxy.*
VRISKA: *glances at his collection like* Damn.
ERIDAN: i knoww *kinda smug*
KARKAT: *he mentally counts how much that adds up to, then checks the price again and sighs. fine. he pulls out the three that they need to complete the exchange and slaps them on the counter*
VRISKA: *Just gives him this ::::'D! look before looking back at the mannequin*
[The mannequin begins to emit a strange buzzing sound. Its mouth slot opens again. And suddenly it is sucking the rings back into its mouth like a vaccuum of death. Once they are all taken in, the slot closes again, and you hear nothing but clanging inside the mannequin before it stops, and out from its mouth spurts a small slip of paper. It's a reciept. Take it.]
VRISKA: *jumps back a little*
VRISKA: This. This is never going to stop 8eing creepy.
KARKAT: *watches in continued horror*
VRISKA: *Sighs and just ... reaches to very quickly tear the paper free and take it. Please don't chomp my hand off I nEED THIS*
[The mannequin is harmless, Vriska. Calm down.]
KARKAT: *no mannequin is harmless*
VRISKA: "Full Restore, 50 rings, no additional tax," what the hell? This is gr8 and all, I feel super official, 8ut where's the restor8tion part???????? *waves arm at the ceiling* Come on!
[The music in the room changes to a peppy tune in a language that none of you understand as a strange cosmic light seems to envelope Vriska entirely. In fact, she sort of becomes the cosmic light, a multicolored silhouette. But you can still see her. And you can see this very dramatic, graceful transformation take place. It would appear that she has no actual control over her body as she starts twirling around like a ballerina. Is she naked? Not really. Because she's a silhouette. What appear to be pixels slowly begin to stack together from her shoulder and outward, rebuilding her arm as if from scratch. Oh, nice pirouette. When this light fades away and things return to semi-normal, she's in a peculiar pose, like something out of a human anime. That sure was majestic. Congrats on your body parts.]
KARKAT: *for that whole time they just. stare*
ERIDAN: did you just see wwhat i saww
VRISKA: *straightens up very quickly, her face bright blue. Just. Stares back at them.*
VRISKA: *Can't even be glad about my arm yet.*
VRISKA: I'm going to strangle you 8oth.
ERIDAN: just dont sparkle again
VRISKA: *Just. Reaches up to rub her shoulder. Wibbly frowning.*
KARKAT: *she's really cute wtf*
ERIDAN: *she really is cute*
VRISKA: *I'M N8T CUTE I'M M8NLY AS HELL!*
KARKAT: *oh i mean she's such an intimidating scary pirate*
ERIDAN: *super hot evil intimidating scary pirate*
KARKAT: *i feel wrong calling her super hot for some reason*
ERIDAN: *you dont gotta do it buddy*
[If you take a closer look at her, you would see that scars still web along her face and neck, as if her eye was simply placed back in the socket because that's all that mattered for function. Now that THAT is over. The mannequin begins buzzing again. Out pops another reciept.]
KARKAT: *sharp head turn* WHAT IS IT NOW.
VRISKA: I 8n't touching it again, one of you gra8 that.
ERIDAN: *cringes... oh god okay hes gonna do it. he's gonna get it. snatches the receipt out of the mannequin's mouth*
KARKAT: *watches so cautiously*
[The receipt says, "Perfect Score: Bonus Unlocked!"]
[The mannequin speaks again.]
KARKAT: *you stupid fancy bastard*
You have unlocked a Bonus Achievement! You now have three minutes to freely gather additional items from the catalog. Starting countdown.
ERIDAN: youre fuckin WWELCOME
KARKAT: WAIT, LIKE WE GET TO KEEP THEM? OUTSIDE OF THE GAME? *sparkly eyes*
ERIDAN: yes yes cmon cmon lets GO
VRISKA: Don't question it, go!
KARKAT: *don't have to tell me twice. runs*
VRISKA: *darts off, hoping to grab at least two things from each little section*
ERIDAN: *literally just goes straight for the rings he needs to get all the rings all of them*
KARKAT: *gotta get some fresh sweaters and mock turtlenecks and decent pants. he's just running around and grabbing shit that isn't immediately hideous.*
ERIDAN: *he needs more pants and shirts and socks and whoa okay hey let's nab a sweater let's take some shoes and then scarves section we go*
[The three minutes goes by accordingly. When your time is up, a siren blares throughout the place. If you raise your head to look, the mannequins will have begun to advance again. There are more than before. They are moving slightly faster.]
KARKAT: *he does look up and he screeches a little, grabbing things as he rushes away from these terrifying things*
ERIDAN: *oh god oh god ok just grabs the largest thing and then GOES*
VRISKA: *more unintelligeble noises of horror as she snatches a few loose items and books for whatever direction they're clearly being ushered into.*
[You are herded back into the entrance you came from, in through the open doors of the changing room. The mannequin that greeted you is there again, its raised hand now appearing like a wave.] And don't forget, players! Whilst you are currently at too inferior of a level to access them, once you have progressed further you will have the option to access a far greater range of items and prizes from our catalogue. Until then!
VRISKA: *practically dives into the freaking doorway*
KARKAT: *even more freaked out noises and jumps after vriska*
ERIDAN: *HI MANNEQUIN BYE MANNEQUIN*
[The doors slam shut, and all at once, there is a sensation akin to falling /up/ along with the usual prickling, and then you will be deposited back in the game hub. An impersonal robot voice boops out an echoing “Game complete.” accompanied by a muted equally robotic trumpet fanfare, and then you find yourselves walking in slow motion like a posse out of the portal and back into the game hub. Breeze and everything.]
KARKAT: *when they finally stop moving, he continues to look so. damn. confused.* WELL.
KARKAT: THAT JUST HAPPENED.
ERIDAN: that sure wwas a thing
VRISKA: *braid flips again, but then stops, really wishing she could dwell on the confusion that IS still in her system, but it really does hit her just then that she's whole again and she really just makes a small happy breathless noise as she grabs her shoulder one more time*
VRISKA: That was the 8est, and you know it.
ERIDAN: okay yeah it wwas
ERIDAN: *even WITH the shitty creepy mannequins*
KARKAT: IT... IT KIND OF FUCKING WAS.
VRISKA: *grin and genuine laugh combo for both of you*
ERIDAN: *kinda smiles back bc man it's good to see vriska whole and pretty okay*
VRISKA: Hold on, 8efore we go and go through all the sweet loot we got--! *just hops over between them to get them both in headlock hugs. Both arms. Both arms in use. Two.*
KARKAT: *smiles a little also, nodding in approval*
ERIDAN: *nyEHH ok. pats her back*
KARKAT: *okay smile gone as he is pulled into this psuedo hug*
VRISKA: *She releases them in short order and punches the air victoriously* Woo! Okay, we HAVE to look at what we pulled out of there, come on, come on! *happy skitter running lets hang out in my r00m*
ERIDAN: *before they follow her...*
KARKAT: *whispers back* YEAH.
ERIDAN: do you think the sparkles changed her
KARKAT: YE... I DON'T KNOW.
ERIDAN: lets followw her to happy pixie land
KARKAT: YEAH. *following time*
ERIDAN: *ill follow u until u love me pa pa paparazzi*
VRISKA: *she totally got to her room before them and left the door open for them, already going through her sweet loot. It's about whenever they get to the door that she quickly shoves something under the pillow behind her.*
ERIDAN: *squints. they saw that.*
VRISKA: *tight smile. no they didnt.*
ERIDAN: *lets it go FOR NOW. cmon we gotta check out our sweet loot*
KARKAT: *totally did butttt whatever. into the room they go, and the door finally gets to close*
VRISKA: *scoots back to sit on the pillow. yes dont mind me. im just making room for yall on this here loot deposit.*
ERIDAN: *sits at the foot of the bed because we need room if we're gonna show off our clothes*
KARKAT: *sits on the floor because there's not that much room on the bed and it's not like the floor is filthy*
VRISKA: Okay, so I got some preeeeeeeetty awesome shit. Have-- Karkat. What.
ERIDAN: kar just sit on the bed
VRISKA: *goes to organize all the stuff she had sprawled out on it so there's more room*
KARKAT: THERE'S NO ROOM FOR MY SHIT UP THERE.
KARKAT: BUT I'M ALREADY SITTING DOWN.
ERIDAN: *reaches over to grab at his arms*
ERIDAN: cmon up and at em
KARKAT: *goes to join them on the bed*
VRISKA: *claps. SHE CAN CLAP.*
ERIDAN: *now it's time to unload sweet loot*
ERIDAN: *rings. first the rings. holy shit how many did he even pick up.*
KARKAT: *watches the avalanche of rings*
ERIDAN: i may havve underestimated howw many rings there wwere
VRISKA: Oh, my fucking God.
VRISKA: No8ody needs that many rings, you weirdo.
ERIDAN: you nevver knoww wwhen youll need them ok
ERIDAN: here kar gimme your hand
KARKAT: I DON'T WANT ANY OF YOUR RINGS.
VRISKA: Aw, Karkat, sure you do!
KARKAT: I'M NOT A RING PERSON.
ERIDAN: *tries to take hold of one of karkat's hands so that he can shove rings onto his fingers*
ERIDAN: dont be silly evverybodys a ring person once they try it out
VRISKA: *I am not a ring person if you do this to me I'll only use them to swat at you with bc it's funny.*
KARKAT: *makes agitated noises, but lets eridan attempt to turn him into a ring person*
ERIDAN: *bling blings one hand*
ERIDAN: *takes hold of karkat's other hand to bling bling it also*
KARKAT: I THOUGHT WAS ONLY GETTING ONE RING. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?
ERIDAN: because i havve too many rings for one person
VRISKA: *Leans her face in both hands to make a knowing face at Eridan because she is mean*
KARKAT: SO GIVE THEM TO OTHER PEOPLE. I DON'T NEED ALL OF THESE.
ERIDAN: *glances at vriska and freezes*
KARKAT: *stares as he gets so many damn rings on his damn fingers*
ERIDAN: *slowwwly just. lets go of karkat's hand. there are like three rings on karkat's second hand.*
ERIDAN: youre gettin rings too
VRISKA: No, no, no. Nope. My hands are 8randy new, totally clean, I don't need your gaudy ha8its tainting them.
ERIDAN: fuck you *he has to cross his ring pile to get to her. shit. tries to just avoid it in his attempt to crawl over to her to get rings on her*
VRISKA: *Shoves her hands out to stop his shoulders, reclining to escape* Get away from me with those, agh!
KARKAT: *meanwhile, karkat is inspecting all his new... bling. with an incredulous look on his face*
ERIDAN: just take ONE ring
VRISKA: *can I just grab your face and squish it and make you do a really ugly fish face. Because then I might be satisfied enough to allow this.*
KARKAT: *so tooootally offended* OH, SHE'S ALLOWED TO HAVE JUST ONE, BUT I GET ALL OF THESE?
ERIDAN: *ugh fish face. ugh. he will forever hate this. KARKAT HE CANNOT SPEAK RIGHT NOW*
KARKAT: *snickers a little at the face squishing though*
VRISKA: *blows a raspberry at him how disgusting*
ERIDAN: *scrunches up his face and pulls back ugh you fuckin nerd*
VRISKA: *laughs and releases him*
VRISKA: *i CHOSE to let you go*
ERIDAN: *right right. now you gotta let him give you a ring. and now he can answer karkat*
ERIDAN: yes kar you gotta get so many rings
KARKAT: *takes off all his rings but one, putting the rest in his fakey sylladex thing*
ERIDAN: *puts ring on vriska's middle finger*
ERIDAN: *goes back to his place at the end of the bed, satisfied*
ERIDAN: *looks over at karkat's hands and sees that he kept one ring on and is even more satisfied*
VRISKA: *holds her hand out to dramatically admire it* Eh. Not 8ad.
ERIDAN: youre damn right it aint bad
VRISKA: How is it from a distance? *flips him off*
VRISKA: *WINKS BECAUSE SHE CAN WINK NOW*
ERIDAN: *snorts and goes back to gettin his loot out*
ERIDAN: *oh hey this sweater is. it's gray.*
ERIDAN: *just kinda looks down at it*
VRISKA: *starts shifting through her own clothes. Huh. That's a violet sweater.*
KARKAT: *also looks at their sweaters and then. well. let's look at what karkat got. he got a couple sweaters too. this one. oh.*
KARKAT: *this one is. cerulean. this is. well.*
ERIDAN: *looks up from his sweater to look at theirs*
VRISKA: *breaks the chain* No8ody wants to trade or anything, right?
VRISKA: *Because I like this one...*
ERIDAN: *kinda pulls the sweater toward himself like yeah no*
VRISKA: *looks at Karkat like. Well.*
KARKAT: *glances around and just. thinks.* I GUESS NOT.
ERIDAN: *just kinda. keeps the sweater on his lap. okay. let's see what else we got.*
VRISKA: *smiles a smaller smile and looks back at the loot* Okay! What else, what else... Eridan.
VRISKA: What the fresh hell are those.
VRISKA: *points to a pair of strawberry patterned boots beside him*
ERIDAN: as you can see theyre fuckin boots
VRISKA: You didn't notice yourself gra88ing those a8omin8tions?
VRISKA: Oh, man, you MEANT to.
ERIDAN: i wwasnt lookin at wwhat i wwas takin apparently
KARKAT: *opens his mouth to say something about the boots also, but. maybe he should just. not.*
ERIDAN: but you knoww i think theyvve got a certain charm
ERIDAN: *looks over at karkat*
KARKAT: WHAT ARE WHAT? *he tries to follow where eridan is looking but he doesn't see*
ERIDAN: *eridan picks them up. there they are. tripp pants.*
KARKAT: *karkat's face slowly shifts into confused disgust*
ERIDAN: you gotta put them on
KARKAT: WHY? NO. GOD NO. FUCK NO.
VRISKA: *just gaping at him in amused horror too*
VRISKA: Seriously, right now, just go for it.
KARKAT: PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS.
ERIDAN: *tries to shove it up on karkat's nearest leg*
VRISKA: *do I need to dive and make sure he doesn't fall off the bed*
KARKAT: OH GOD, STOP. *kicks at him, very nearly falling*
VRISKA: *lunges to catch him*
ERIDAN: *tries to get the leg in the pants*
VRISKA: *also try to pull him a little so he isnt as near to the edge omg*
KARKAT: *is caught* STOP TRYING TO SHOVE PANTS ONTO ME
VRISKA: It'd 8e 8etter for your health pro8a8ly if you just put the pants on.
KARKAT: FINE, I'LL PUT THEM ON. JUST STOP FORCING ME INTO THIS HIDEOUS THING.
ERIDAN: *eridan's B) and lets go of the pants*
VRISKA: You're welcome for saving you, 8y the way! *leans back to sit on her knees. The pillow she had been sitting on is shifted.*
KARKAT: YEAH. THANKS. *and then he stands up holding the pants and then. suddenly he's holding the pants he was just wearing, and the tripps are on his legs* GREAT. THEY'RE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
ERIDAN: *oh yep he should probably actually sit too. he's grinning though.* holy shit
ERIDAN: holy shit i cannot evven see your legs
VRISKA: *claps her hands over her mouth to catch the caw of laughter that flew forth*
ERIDAN: *pokes at one of karkat's legs*
VRISKA: They're-- they're /glorious./
ERIDAN: *gotta make sure theyre there and not lost to the tripp pants void*
KARKAT: I AM SUDDENLY ACCUTELY AWARE OF THE SPACE BETWEEN MY LEGS AND THESE PANTS. *smacks eridan's hand away*
KARKAT: OH MY GOD, ERIDAN.
ERIDAN: kar just bear wwith me here
VRISKA: Holy shit. *just. So amused.*
KARKAT: *but theeeen karkat sees something. something a littlesparkly. under the pillow.*
VRISKA: ........What's what. *slowly sits back*
KARKAT: THAT THING THAT YOU'RE TRYING SO DESPERATELY TO HIDE. *points accusingly behind her*
VRISKA: *flutters her lashes innocently efore turning* Eridan, you didn't put on those stupid 8oots! If Karkat had to put on the pants, you have to wear the 8oots.
ERIDAN: if i put on the boots you gotta showw wwhats behind you
KARKAT: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY FAIR TRADE.
VRISKA: Eh, your shoes are fine as they are.
KARKAT: NO. FUCK YOU. SHOW US.
ERIDAN: *eridan is putting on the boots.*
ERIDAN: *looks at vriska the whole time.*
ERIDAN: *your move, serket.*
VRISKA: Show you what, there's nothing-- stop looking at me like that!
ERIDAN: lookin at you like wwhat hm
VRISKA: *sniffs and straightens up to cross her arms in defiance* I'm not moving.
ERIDAN: *looks at karkat*
ERIDAN: *u thinking what im thinking*
ERIDAN: *time to go on either side of her and just. pick her up.*
VRISKA: *Color just drains from her face*
VRISKA: *flails* Put me down!
ERIDAN: *pushes her toward ring pile go go work with me kar*
KARKAT: *grabs what's hiding beneath the pillow and holds the items of clothing up with a gasp*
VRISKA: *flops on the ring pile and dramatically snaps her head in his direction* Don't even say it.
ERIDAN: *still has hold of vriska's arm and looks back*
ERIDAN: *lets go of vriska*
KARKAT: *looks at vriska and holds the clothes out to her* YOU HAVE TO WEAR THIS.
VRISKA: *flips up the hood on her sweet assassins jacket and hides*
KARKAT: I'M WEARING THE PANTS.
VRISKA: No, I don't got to.
ERIDAN: im wwearin the boots
VRISKA: *makes a barrage of irritated noises and pushes herself up, reaching to snatch them away from Karkat*
KARKAT: *holds back the smile that is so desperately trying to spread on his face*
ERIDAN: *is not even hiding his grin*
VRISKA: *And there we go. She begrudgingly resigns herself to having to put on these sparkly tights and uncomfortably short looking shorts. Wow. They're suddenly on her body. Thank GOD for this long-ass coat, she's wrapping it around her legs now.*
VRISKA: Every8ody has knees!
ERIDAN: you only havve knees wwhen its convvenient to stab me wwith them
VRISKA: Oh, yes, okay, I regener8 my knees when I need to summon them as a weapon.
VRISKA: The rest of the time I keep them in storage.
KARKAT: *just nods, still tryingnot to smile*
VRISKA: *twists to sit up and slowly,,, unfold the coat from her legs. Looking down at them mournfully.*
ERIDAN: *just kind of. reaches out to touch one of her knees like im still pretty sure this isnt real*
ERIDAN: *this is the first time he's ever actually seen her knees what the hell is this*
VRISKA: *slaps his hand away*
ERIDAN: *he just looks. so amazed.*
VRISKA: *looks at him like B[* You cannot 8e this surprised a8out my knees.
ERIDAN: *looks at karkat helplessly like back me up on this man*
KARKAT: *puts one finger to his chin, the other arm going across his body. like he's appreciating art.*
ERIDAN: *the helpless look turns into one of more just. confusion. kar what*
VRISKA: *NOW she looks so confused*
KARKAT: *just continues to nod slowly*
ERIDAN: *reaches over to just kind of. snap his fingers in front of karkat's face*
KARKAT: *stops, drops his arms, and gives eridan an annoyed look* THAT IS EXTREMELY FUCKING RUDE.
ERIDAN: wwhat havve the pants done to you
ERIDAN: wwhat havve wwe DONE
VRISKA: Get rid of them, they're an evil relic.
KARKAT: YES. I AM FINE. UNLESS SAYING THAT THEY'RE AFFECTING ME MEANS THAT I CAN TAKE THEM OFF.
ERIDAN: *take it off take it off*
VRISKA: *Take it off, take it off.*
KARKAT: *bam he's back to his regular pants and he is so relieved*
ERIDAN: *looks slightly mournfully at karkat's legs. they are back from the emo void*
VRISKA: *Slowly looks back at the rest of their loot. Suddenly feels so lost.*
ERIDAN: *looks back at vriska's legs, still amazed*
VRISKA: *looks up at him slowly*
VRISKA: Do /you/ have knees?
ERIDAN: *looks back at her*
ERIDAN: i dont knoww vvris
KARKAT: *is eridan going to wear the tights*
ERIDAN: *oh no wait a second oh NO*
VRISKA: *staring at him like My soul is displaced. Help me. Wear the tights.*
ERIDAN: *oh god fine hand them over*
VRISKA: *Vriska digs through her other loot and grabs a pair of orange sweatpants, tall blue socks, and a blue t-shirt to match. These are her new pajamas. Bye bye, assassin jacket. Her, Eridan. I'm very slowly and gravely handing you the tights and shorts.*
ERIDAN: *takes them equally slowly and gravely*
KARKAT: *he's gonna wear it*
ERIDAN: *he. he has them. he's wearing them. they actually fucking fit. he shifts so that both of them can see his legs.*
ERIDAN: *just kind of. looks at his own legs.*
ERIDAN: *kind of strokes the tights at the side of his thigh like. what is this.*
VRISKA: *Her eyes are like fucking saucers*
VRISKA: *slowly reaches out*
KARKAT: *also. slowly. reaches.*
VRISKA: *just. everyone is stroking eridans legs in confused awe.*
ERIDAN: *looks at karkat*
ERIDAN: wwhich one of us wwears it better
VRISKA: *looks at him too*
ERIDAN: the wwhole fuckin truth
KARKAT: *continues to gape*
KARKAT: I... *he doesn't know*
ERIDAN: *touches karkat's hand.*
ERIDAN: *keeps looking at him.*
ERIDAN: *you know you want to say me, karkat.*
KARKAT: *holds out his hand* IT'S MY TURN.
VRISKA: *looks at Eridan like do what you must*
ERIDAN: *picks out new pajamas. dark sweatpants and a soft gray shirt.*
ERIDAN: *switches out. holds out the tights and shorts to karkat slowly and gravely.*
KARKAT: *slowly takes them and looks at them for a while. and then he is wearing it. and he looks up at both of them with a completely straight face* I WEAR THEM BEST.
ERIDAN: *he. he has to do it. he has to touch karkat's legs.*
ERIDAN: *he is in stunned aw*
KARKAT: *crosses his arms like. yeah. that's fuckin right.*
ERIDAN: *theyre just kind of. touching his legs. amazed.*
VRISKA: *this is never to leave this room.*
KARKAT: *okay now his cheeks are starting to burn*
KARKAT: OKAY THAT'S ENOUGH.
ERIDAN: *looks up at karkat's face*
ERIDAN: *nudges vriska like look. look at him.*
VRISKA: *leans to hug her legs and lie her head on her knees, still bewildered*
KARKAT: *clears his throat and goes to dig for some pj's of his own*
ERIDAN: *lets go of karkat's leg. he is immeasurably confused and awed and adoring.*
ERIDAN: *they all need some time to recover from this.*
KARKAT: *ah yes a fresh black sweater and gray sweats. perfect. just like what he always wears all the time every day.*
ERIDAN: *vriska is so colorful compared to these two*
VRISKA: *she is the pep of the group ngl*
VRISKA: *heaves a deep sigh* So, that was a day.
ERIDAN: *just. sweeps up his rings into his inventory.*
ERIDAN: *and then. lies down. right where he is.*
ERIDAN: *looks up at the ceiling*
KARKAT: *gathers his things as well and. slowly lowers himself to lay on his back on the floor*
ERIDAN: *just slowly. lets an arm hang off the side of the bed.*
ERIDAN: *touches karkat.*
ERIDAN: wwhy do you alwways
KARKAT: IT'S ALWAYS THERE WHEN I NEED IT.
ERIDAN: *rolls over to just kind of. look down at him.*
KARKAT: *looks back at him*
VRISKA: *gathers all her loot into her inventory, too, and pauses. Not even really looking at either of them, she slowly tilts over like melting plastic. To just. Lie on top of Eridan. But she addresses Karkat with a monotonous voice.* Get up here, nitwit.
ERIDAN: *just kind of. pats him.*
KARKAT: BUT I'M ALREADY LYING DOWN.
ERIDAN: wwere better company than the floor
KARKAT: *sighs a very long and exaggerated sigh*
VRISKA: *just kind of makes a chirrupy noise. It's a whiny sound. Cmon.*
ERIDAN: *makes a whiny sound also*
KARKAT: *sigh and groan combo thing and he pushes himself up* FINE. GOD. I'M COMING.
ERIDAN: *vris. vris scoot. he needs to be in the middle*
VRISKA: *she does indeed scoot*
KARKAT: *watches them scoot, understanding that they want him to be in the middle. drags a hand down his face and crawls in between them*
ERIDAN: *rolls over again. hi karkat. you are very warm. allow me to leech your warmth*
KARKAT: *kind of mumbles* YOU ARE FUCKING FREEZING.
ERIDAN: *puts a hand on karkats face*
VRISKA: *allow me as well. because you have no choice, i'm over here on this side and am not moving*
ERIDAN: *because that is the thing to do when someone tells you youre freezing*
KARKAT: *he's makin a face under that hand. he thinks about doing that very childish thing where you lick the person's hand. then decides haha fuck no.* WHY.
VRISKA: *pushes Eridan's hand away herself bc no Karkat stay*
ERIDAN: *sets his hand on karkat's arm then. his sweatered arm.*
KARKAT: *to vriska* YOU'RE ALSO COLD. BUT I GUESS YOU AREN'T AS BAD. *fucking blood colors affecting temperature*
ERIDAN: *hmm. settles in more comfortably, which also means a little closer to karkat. he can smell karkat's hair. goddamn. but something's still not right. hm...*
ERIDAN: *kind of hitches a leg over karkat's. yes. this works.*
KARKAT: *normally, he'd yell about this. but he's just. so tired. so instead he grumbles incoherently*
ERIDAN: *pats karkat's arm soothingly*
KARKAT: STOP. *continues grumbling. just don't look at his face cause it's warm again*
ERIDAN: *stops patting, but keeps his hand there*
VRISKA: *Vriska is half asleep as it is, and she tends to sleep like a small animal, so there comes a point where she just pulls her legs up to curl up and they wind up tilted to rest against Karkat's side. Hi buddy.*
KARKAT: *amazing. simply amazing.*
KARKAT: *he starts falling asleep too, arms over his stomach. just lying on his back. not like he can move much right now.*
ERIDAN: *there's silence, predictably, but then.*
ERIDAN: i cant stop thinkin about howw wwevve all got knees
VRISKA: *her eyes pop open*
KARKAT: *his eyes open as well*
