So, we know that Dave - as a time player - can sense when a timeline is heading towards being doomed, right?
It's probably this thick, slimy feeling that writhes around in the back of his mind, screaming at him to fix it as he senses the seconds ticking away. Reminiscent of a familiar hand crushing his windpipe, stealing the air from his lungs.
In my mind, it feels like a panic attack. Slowly approaching, ready to hit you full force. Feeling the world around you fade into the background, knowing that you're only a ruined version of yourself who won't live much longer.
He's seen himself die. He's seen his own bodies lifeless, and he's planned out his own death more than once to reach the ultimate goal of progression.
What do you think that does to a boy, because he is a boy - not a man. Hardened by the world that never gave him a second thought, bruised by the man that was supposed to hold him, he's a boy that fell through the cracks.
Maybe he wakes up in the dead of night, that slimy feeling crawling its way up his throat. Frantically checking his messages, frantically checking the pulse of the troll next to him, making sure he didn't miss something detrimental.
Because it's not fair. Time players are cursed with knowing. Knowing how many minutes are left, knowing that some things are just inevitable, knowing that every second adds up into exploitative hours.
He and Aradia don't talk much for that exact reason. How can you look into the eyes of someone who's been touched with the same tragedy and expect to have a normal conversation.
They've both tasted death, they both feel every tick of that internal clock. They both know that there's only so much time before there's nothing left but them.
Gods don't get a forever future. They don't get to grow old with the mortal they love. Karkat will die. Sollux will die. And they'll still be there, feeling that ticking.
