tentacletrainer | Chapter 21; Action for Karkat

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Current Location: Violet City Hotel

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Chapter 21; Action for Karkat

[[Really, she was glad Karkat had asked to go back to their room. Not just because it would give them a more comfortable place to talk where no trouble-causing ears could hear, but because she could give Soul the go-ahead to take care of Eridan as needed, which she did on the way to the hotel room.

Rose held the door open for Karkat, and closed it behind him once he was in. Letting him do as he pleased, sit where he wanted, she sets her things down and gives the excited Guile, the content Loke and the 'oh my gosh I am so glad you are home why did you leave again never leave again mommy ;A;' Nartac pets to their heads.

Returning all but the Glameow to their Pokeballs, she picks the purple cat-Pokemon up, letting it cocoon into her hair as he usually does. Guile might be let back out later, since the little Eevee seemed fairly talented in giving Karkat cuddles, but for now she had a feeling that wouldn't be the best of ideas.

She's doing what she can to both give Karkat time to settle, and to properly sort out the questions she had to ask.]]

Whenever you're ready, Karkat.

((OOC: Backdated to 4/4, just after 7pm))

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...Alright. Be careful, of course.

And...try not to beat yourself up too badly over this. Try.

[Karkat looks back at her then, gaze lingering a moment, but he doesn't say anything. His head's too much of a mess for him to say he won't. Turning, he heads on out the door.]

[It's an hour or so later when he returns. He's a bit damp with the weather the way it's been, but he must have had an umbrella stored away in his bag (which is now stored back up) given he isn't soaked. Emotionally, he doesn't look his best, but he's better off than the mess he was earlier.]

... I'm back.

[[She hadn't expected him to be home so soon, but wasn't unprepared either. She had apparently ordered out while he was gone, and there was food on the table yet unopened.

Guile launched herself from her perch on the couch, quickly occupying the space around Karkat's feet with excited 'welcome home!'s. Nartac launched himself the other way, clawing his way back onto Rose's shoulder and into his sanctuary of blond hair.

And all she did was sigh and smile.]]

I should have sent you out with a raincoat as well. Welcome back.

[Karkat can brood like a motherfucker when he wants to, but brooding out in the rain in the evening is a bit unpleasant. This his return now. He frowns down a little at Guile's enthusiastic welcome. So cheery. Why so cheery?]

It wasn't that bad compared to earlier this week. Just let me get a towel or something; it's not like I'm dripping everywhere.

[He does, however, slip his shoes off, since those fared worse. To the bathroom next, and soon enough he's back, looking a bit drier.]

So, you said you had other shit you were curious about.

[More of a statement than a question. He goes to sit on the couch then, peering at the unopened food containers meanwhile.]

[[She's cheery because it's Uncle Karkat! And when he sits down, she quickly finds her perch again, wiggling on the arm of the couch and waiting for an okay to take his lap.

And Nartac? "Oh my gosh why is he sitting so close?" Backing up, his tail pokes out around the other side of her face, the spring shape causing it to curl up around her face. Which earns another sigh.]]

I did indeed, and those are for you.

Mostly, I wanted to inquire about how you are dealing with Dave. And...well. Something I will ask after that. Possibly.

[Wooh boy, Dave. Such a fun topic there. His face falls, and despite his earlier frown at Guile, he now pats his lap to invite her to sit. One she's there, he gives her an obliging pat on the head. Nartac on the other hand he largely ignores. Such a strange cat.]

[And while not knowing what exactly Rose got, he grabs something and opens it up.]

That whole field's going about as shitty as fucking possible.

He doesn't even hate me platonically.

[[Guile is so pleased. But why do you not look happy, Uncle Karkat? Here, have a tiny Eevee noise as she kind of gently nudges your arm.

The food, predictably, is at least something Karkat seemed to enjoy the last time she brought home dinner. So hopefully he'll enjoy it again this time.]]

He doesn't? [[That's honestly hard for her to believe. While sure, Karkat isn't as hateable as he wants to be sometimes in her opinion, this is also Dave. She'd figure Karkat would be right up his alley of hate. But then, he had just arrived.]]

Well, he has only been here thirteen days or so...

He said he dislikes me, but that's it.

[He ignores the nudging for the most part, instead using his meal as a distraction while he thinks.]

It was easier before, because I hated him then, and it was me who had to develop that kind of hate for him. But now it's like... a repeat of that whole clusterfuck with John, but worse somehow.

Worse because you already know he's capable of hating you.

[[With a sigh, she sits back against the couch.]]

Though that should at least give you more hope than the situation with John had. It's also more hopefully that he dislikes, again. Unlike John.

But I half-feel like giving up, Rose.

[His head lowers, focusing on Guile for lack of something better.]

I mean sure, I want him to hate me and everything, but that's the whole damn problem. How the fuck do I do it? I've been trying to troll him and shit, but he says it just amuses him most of the time. And the rest, he fucking calls me desperate. I don't want to be like that douche Eridan.

[[Guile certainly doesn't mind this, obviously trying to converse with him too!]]

Karkat, you have to remember whom you are dealing with. Simply because Dave Strider calls you desperate certainly doesn't mean you are becoming like Eridan, especially if you let it show that it bothers you. That would simply encourage him to inform you of how 'desperate' you are further.

[Karkat absently scritches Guile behind the ears.]

Yeah, I know, but...

No, maybe I don't know.

[His hand goes back up to rub at his forehead.]

It's just frustrating. And fucking stupid! I had all that with him, and then the whole fucking thing just got taken away, and now there's this and I don't even know what the hell I'm doing anymore.

[[Ear scritches! Just going to settle right down and make all sorts of happy noises about that.]]

...Have you ever, perhaps, considered playing 'hard to get'?

[[Is she really suggesting this to Karkat? She can't quite believe herself.]]

... Huh?

Well, rather than chasing him, perhaps you should try being indifferent towards him. Trolling him is one thing, but if you let him troll you in return it doesn't work. He simply finds it humorous, which is opposite of what you're trying to accomplish.

So, instead, try being the 'cool kid' yourself.

But you know I can't control my temper. And if I just hang up or something, he'd probably call back and keep pissing me off.

Well then we obviously have more reason to work on that.

[[Chuckling, she wiggles her Pokegear a little.]]

And that is also the beauty of text. If you can get enough of of a grip on your temper, you can think about what you write before sending it. Much easier than video or voice, where your responses are barked out on impulse.

No shit text is easier. And he prefers it anyway, with his stupid ass coolkid facade.

[He turns his attention back to his food now, though not away from the conversation.]

[[Sigh.]]

Okay. Here is a very good chance to work on that temper.

His coolkid facade is entirely frustrating, yes. Infuriating sometimes. However, instead of making comment on that, focus on what brought that up.

He prefers it. That's a good thing. A positive thing to focus on.

[[Oh yeah, they had dinner, didn't they? Just taking a bite of her own food now.]]

What do you mean, 'what brought that up'? And isn't focusing on what he wants counterproductive?

[He's not really getting it, being of the 'rage first, ask questions possibly later' mindset.]

Well, if you hadn't been thinking about the fact that he only uses text, you would not have thought about why he prefers it. The fact he prefers text brought up why he does - that being his facade. So, focus on what brought that up. The text.

And it depends on the situation. In this case, it's a good thing. He prefers using text, meaning you are able to use text with him without it being questioned, giving you more chances to think first before you say anything.

[Karkat is a pessimist, man. At least he is in this case. He looks at Rose, dubious still.]

Text is what I've been using so far, and it's done about nothing to make shit go better.

That's because you still answer on impulse, I'm sure. Either that, or you simply don't consider your replies first. I said it gives you opportunities, not that it will automatically fix everything.

[He snorts, munching on some more of his food as he considers her advice.]

So you're saying I should pretend I'm not pissed off when I am, and do the coolkid thing to him? Even though I'll probably hate every minute of it and just get pissed off all the more because of it?

Chapter 21; Action for Karkat

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[ACTION] unannounced 2/2

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[ACTION] Nevermind that PM I sent last night; sleepiness kept my brain from working.

[ACTION] That's okay. <3

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