You Good, Bro??
"You skipped school for this?"
"Hello, brother dearest. How wonderful to see you on such a fine day." Rose lilts, her natural steady rhythm of wordage falls into the pattern you've come to identify as solely hers (except for the times when she is- rarely -flustered as hell and barrels her full wit into an erratic, broken speed, but it almost never happens anymore).
You give the slightest eyeroll, sure that she caught it anyway, and lift the corner of the tablecloth covering her little stand, "So, how many poor, unlucky people did you pull your ominous vagueness for, Oh mighty Overseer?"
She deflates, not so much visibly as most people might; with her it's the very slight downward tilt of her head and the faint sullen flat line of her mouth, "Not so much, it seems I have acquired a business rival," She speaks evenly, but beneath calm words you feel the waves of barely restrained wrath. Rose drags her arm upward, pointing at that ugly yellowy-orangey building on the other side of the street.
"Ick, the fuck is that, Dirk's secret Smuppets Gone Wild base, forbidden centrifuge of debauchery and the debased? The great hold of all things never meant to be seen in broad daylight? I swear that be the ugliest orange to burn my retinas."
"David, you're rambling."
"Don't call me 'David'."
She hums, a smugness naturally settles on her face, kicks her chair into folding, sliding the carry-case over it, and starts with you on the table.
"Whether that is true or not remains to be proven so. The better question here is, do we care enough to find out?" She asks. It's a loaded, rhetoric question, one that you're not going to bother with an obvious unsaid answer.
"I did meet an...interesting person today. He proved to be quite a delectable read. Out of all that I have seen today, I'd say he was the most enjoyable."
"You sound like you're giving your impression of a meal you just had like some kinda Food Network judge. Consider me just the teensiest bit disturbed here," you joke, but wonder a bit about who it was Rose met, if the contented curl on her face is anything to go by. They must have had one hell of a fortune. (For all the extra vague flowery that Rose is known to speak, for the most part, she's not usually wrong.)
(It's been twenty-two minutes, forty-eight, forty-nine, fifty seconds since you last saw Nubs. You don't know why this is important.)
.
✮☆★♋★☆✮
.
John curls around your leg, and you misstep completely, your foot unsure if you're trying to avoid stepping on him or not. In the end, you meet the cement with both hands, the impact jarring your bones.
"Fffffffff.....fuck, ow...," You kind of just, stay there on the ground for a while, perfectly content to let your shame sting along with your hands.
John snorts, "Well, aren't you a klutz."
"Shut it, you shitty cat..." you groan and pick yourself off, dust off your uniform and resume walking, a bit more careful as John stays on the ground and sticks around your legs. You wouldn't put it past him to trip you on purpose.
"Pthbthtbt. Anyway, what did she tell you?"
"She sai--," you catch yourself, nearly clamping teeth on your own tongue, "Wait a sec, who are you talking about?" You probably know who, but you want to make sure it's the right 'who'.
"That fortune-teller kid. For a human, she kinda reeks of some for real magic power, that's a bit rare to feel off of a human," John looks almost thoughtful, then continues, "Anyway, her stall smelled like rosewater and something inky, and I can smell some of that on you, my dude. So, what'd she say to you?"
You're mildly impressed, at least somewhat. You have some things to add to your 'John' theory board.
"I had no intention of having her...'read me', or whatever, but she pretty much told me about myself, but like in a more cryptically-flowery way, I guess. And then there was the last thing she said to me--," you're about to tell him about the weird not-vision, the hallucinated warning that you're not entirely sure if it actually happened, however, those words still manage to pierce straight through some deep part of you.
Beware of those who collect feathers
"--Karkat! Hey, hellooo?? You alright there, or you in the middle of a monologue-induced flashback? Your face looks a little funny like that, by the way. You should see a mirror."
"Well, that's fucking rude."
"Welcome back!"
You hiss a little, but pick up pace again. It's suddenly hard to breathe, and your pusher's hammering seems to be getting a bit too fast for your liking. It probably would have been best to not think about the witch girl. Like, for a good long time, and then some. You really need to go home and calm down.
Surprisingly, John says nothing more, neither does he press on the matter. A surprise, but not unwelcome. You don't say anything either, silence is golden after all.
(You dream in goldenrod and lilacs, dark shifting masses and eye-searing suns. Somebody calls, but it's in such an unnerving way, like taunting, laughing at you almost. "Be wary and take heed, take caution of those who collect feathers...Mhmhmhm~ Well, I guess in your case, it would just be wings, wouldn't it? Wake up, little knight.")
★♋★
"Thhighh, I guess thith means no lunch-swiping for me today."
"Sollux, no swiping!" Nepeta giggles, cheekily smiling at her own joke.
"You did not just fucking sigh out loud."
Gamzee shows up today, attention span somewhere far away in the nethers of the galaxy, leaving his physical form to endure through school. Sometimes if you're watching meticulously, you can swear that he's swaying a little bit, a tilt too far to the side and he'll crash right into the ground. You just want to inch closer sometimes, without being too obvious, just in case, to keep him upright.
"I did, and you can't stop me, watch. Thhhhhhhiiiggghhhh~."
"Ew, stop. You sound like you're about to spit something up."
Nepeta turns, "Pawlux, are ya gonna spit up a furball??"
"Please don't use that as your cat pun name for me."
Nepeta sticks her tongue out at him, then perks up to the sight of Equius...who doesn't really look like Equius at all.
His hair is unbound by his favorite hair tie (his favorite because it was Nepeta's until she fixed it on his hair, the old one breaking, the excuse being his hair was too strong), the strands free to fall wildly- you're not gonna lie, it's a surprisingly good look on him - and his chipped glasses replaced with a very new pair of shades, now studded with spikes, sits over his eyes. He's not wearing a tie, his jacket is thrown over his shoulder, his shirt sleeves are missing (they look like they've been ripped off), as well as his book bag. His pants are ridiculous, tight and torn leather (the possibility of him flexing his legs until the poor seams on those pants just couldn't take it seems very real right now), and metal-studded boots.
All in all, things Equius usually would most definitely not wear, especially to a school setting, so, therefore, this person cannot seriously be Equius. Of all things, this is what makes Gamzee's focus return to earth, getting a full view and directing a low, long whistle at him.
"Whoa, the heck happened to you?" Sollux fixes his glasses, actually taking them off to clean the lenses, only to cringe-squint.
Nepeta looks unsure of how to react to this new Equius, ultimately ends up looking really confused, but asks him nonetheless, "What's with the get-up? Is there a dress-up thingy today?"
Equius snorts, actually fucking snorts, "Nothing that I owe an explanation to. Just felt like it." Even his voice is different, none of that mild stern calmness, but instead he sounds more brash, definitely more aggressive than usual. Ah, out-of-character, that's it.
The rest of you are still trying to process who is this and where Mr. Goody-blue-dude who is the star stickler for rules and uniform dress code has gone.
"I think you should change clothes, Equius. You're gonna get in trouble dressed like that--" Nepeta tries, but gets cut off.
"And why do you think that? I don't care about rules and shit," he smarms; overconfidence and swagger is not something he usually displays-- neither is swearing --and in a way it's somewhat fitting (though, at the same time it's not...something's wrong).
You all kind of give him the same look, four awkward disbelieving stares.
"Uhm, you feeling okay Equius?"
"Yeah! Don't think I've ever felt this good. I feel like I can do anything!!" He stretches out his arms (goddamn is that some eye candy) and turns to head for class. Nepeta tears herself away from watching, at a complete loss for words.
Sollux breaks the weird silence, "Well that was a thing," he pulls out his mobile, "and now we have that forever recorded so that in the future we may reflect on this moment in time and wonder: 'The fuck happened here??'."
"Some kind of reflecting," You glance at Nepeta, somewhat concerned, "Did something happen, because he was fine-- as far as fine relevantly goes for him --yesterday."
"I don't know?? The last time I spoke to him was yesterday, when school let out. I walked with you guys because he said he had something to do and didn't want me to wait for him. But he was fine then, but now he's all weird...," She squeezes her eyes tight and pinches at her ears with both hands, trying and failing to think of anything that might explain the situation.
Gamzee opens his mouth to say something, for once looking very clearheaded and very much present, but whatever it is putters out on his tongue and he instead says, "I'll take on the responsibility-like role then, being as saying we should get our befuddled selves to class time too," As if on cue, the first bell chimes, "Whoa, see?"
"Huh, so you can be sensible sometimes..."
Nothing like an unexpectedly intelligent prompting to get you all moving.
"Hey, KK, wait," Sollux stops and swings his bag forward to dig through it, flipping through various papers. He pulls out a few and oh hey, it's the study guide you asked for, you almost forgot about that. "Here."
"Oh, thanks. Should keep me from falling behind."
"Heh. I theem to keep you from failing a lot."
"Ugh, shut up, you get paid, don't you?"
"I want honeybars with the berries this time."
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you. I'd call you a parasite, but it's not like I'm not benefiting from you either."
"See? We have such a great working symbiosis, I'm surprised we haven't been marked for observation study projects."
"Bleh, sure."
The second dinging of the five-minute bell goes off, and you both end up sprinting to the second floor (it's utterly unfair trying to keep up with someone whose legs make up twice your height).
(There's still that...icky, squirming sensation, it's happening in the pit of your gut and somewhere in the back of your head. You don't like it and you don't like that it's not going away.)
★♋★
"Soo lucky Ms. Paint was subbing today, we were able to go over the study answers from yesterday," Nepeta yawns, seeming very ready for a nap.
"If you want I could lend out my guide to you, too," Sollux offers.
She considers it very seriously, humming with her eyes closed, "Hrmmmmmmm, that would be a good idea.....but no thanks! I can do it! I have Equius to help me, anyways, if I do need a ready study guide.
"Yeah," Gamzee agrees, lazily stretching his arms behind his head, mindful of his horns, "That brother is real good in being studious and the like, he probably got his packet all filled out too. Be no problem to be aiding his kittysis. Helps me out a bunch too."
(He seems more aware of things today. Usually he'd just be out of it, but you do like seeing this more awake Gamzee, even if he does forget to feed himself.)
"Speaking of..."
The subject of the conversation is spotted towards the back of school grounds with a small group of other kids....who are bombarding the ground floor windows with whatever they have on hand.
"The fuck!?"
"EQUIUUUUUUS!!! THE FRICK ARE YOU DOING, THAT'S BAD!! YOU'RE GONNA GET SUSPENDED!!!"
You all rush over there, but now what? Equius may not be one for violence-- normal Equius, at least --but he is fucking built for fighting, if any of you tried to stop him, it's a bad concussion and then some waiting to happen. Ideally, Gamzee would have been able to take him down, but he's about as thin as Sollux, heck you can see his ribs through his shirt sometimes.
"No need to worry. Just having some FUN!!" He grins manically as he cocks a fist back and lets it slam into the brick, several cracks spreading out from the impact. The others with him cheer and continue their destruction of school property. He faces the rest of you, "What, you guys wanna join?"
Nepeta's face scrunches up into a snarl, she's not usually one to correct, but this is plain wrong and there's a desperate need for a role-switch here, "Equius, what the hell!? Do you really want to get in trouble for something like this?!!" She's stomping right up to him, looking very much ready to use Equius as a scratching post.
Equius laughs, "Wow, you're a lot lamer than I thought you were. And kinda annoying too," Nepeta looks stunned for the most part, and the hurt blooms across her features (of fucking course, how does someone just say that to their moirail!!?). "I mean, how the hell did I put up with you for this long?" Their string wavers into existence, so much thinner than what you'd seen it be before.
The sight calls on you to act, and you most definitely will not stand for this, "You bULGE-FONDLING BITCH HOW CAN YOU SAY SHIT LIKE THAT ARE YOU SHITHIVING RIGHT NOW ARE YOU FUCKING FOR REAL--"
"And what's some filthy little blood-mutie like you gonna do?" Equius stops your advance by towering over you, eyes shining full of malice and menace, some age-long species-installed instinct, that you've never had to rely on before ever, telling you that this is dangerous and you might be in some deep shit. Everyone is appalled at the words he's used, since casteism is simply not done here on this planet and you've certainly never had to deal with it right in your face like this. Your friend who isn't actually himself begins to leer down at you, something else mixing in his eyes that you don't like at all. Even for what he says next, your stubborn streak keeps you from fully backing down.
"You've always been cute for a lowblooded-mutant, y'know? But you must really think you're some great shit. If we had hatched on Alternia, I'd be having your pathetic ass in your place, as my personal p--ghk-!?"
You were on the verge of unleashing a loud screechy 'How dare you!!' along with some other choice words, but Gamzee moves before you can even make a sound, already there and blocking you off. He has Equius shoved against the brick of the building by his shoulder, and when a fist begins to launch, Gamzee's other hand stops it like it's nothing (Equius is abnormally stronger than he should be, you all know that. But Gamzee must be something else to stop a punch like it's nothing, with his bony, breakable-looking body).
It is the first time you've seen such an expression that wasn't the lax, wonder-haze or generally cheery grin that usually sits on his face. Gamzee looks terrifying, with this silent expression of anger, eyes half-lidded and a simple frown replacing his easy, carefree smile.
"...Really not liking that kind of talk, shit's really fuckin' rude if you ask me. I really, really don't like how you's speaking at our friends all disgusting like that, bro...," his grip tightens on the fist he's holding, Equius wincing from whatever amount of pain gets through to him, "Really don't like how the way you're talking at my kittysis or my little brother...," he twists to bring Equius in closer, now gritting his teeth, "And just to clarify something for your sponge, if we's had been hatched on the motherfucking home planet, I'd 'a culled you for every utterance you've just made in front of me."
Nepeta moves quickly before any of you can really register, and then Equius is on the ground clutching at his face, separated from Gamzee, who flinches back with a look of genuine surprise. Her whole body shakes with what must be a great effort to restrain herself, "...Is that really how you feel? You've been so stupid weird all day, and clearly you're still not really you. Talk to me when you get your fucking shit back together," she turns back towards the school building, the sheer wrath radiates off of her and causes anyone she passes to give her a wide berth.
Equius seems to have recovered, blue dripping from between his fingers. He calls to his new little entourage and they flee further behind the school.
You don't understand this...shift that he's made-- or Gamzee's for that matter, but that's not as important right now, since Gamzee is still mostly himself --like he's seriously not himself at all, and yeah, you agree with Nepeta, he really needs to get his shit together and dislodge his head from his ass (again, that feeling of wrongness. Why are you worried about their string? It starts to make something curl in your gut and you almost want to puke a little).
"I'm sorry, I-I don't got any idea of what came over me, but," Your (pale-crush) friend looks worriedly at Nepeta and then you, "....Didn't really like that brother's choice 'a words, especially since they was made to make like verbal blows and hurt the heart," Gamzee stares after Equius, that new side having calmed down but the goofy smile hasn't returned either, "...Imma go after him, see if he'll talk on about why he's got himself all twisted," he starts with slack motivation, "Maybe you should go check up on kittysis, see to her being alright, cos I don't think I've ever seen 'em fight where it's gone to being bad like that."
"Gamzee!"
You're about to go with him, concerned, but Sollux stops you, "Wait, he's right. We should go make sure NP's okay."
★♋★
You find her nearly on the other side of campus, mechanically kicking at the border wall. There are blue speckles and smears on her knee, you can sort of guess where that's from.
"Hey, you doing okay? Gamzee went to see what's up with him...Nepeta?"
She doesn't say anything, continues kicking at the wall, lips pressed thin. The kicking slows, until her foot is just dragging on the ground and comes to a stop completely. Finally, she looks up at the two of you, mouth quivering and her eyes glassy and oh no, you know that face.
"...snff...sniffff...," There is very little warning and then Nepeta just bawls. Big beads of chartreuse gather up on the rim of her eyes, falling heavily from their own weight. She tries to speak through the sobbing, though it's difficult to make anything out.
"Wait, no no, uhh, don't cry....unless crying helps..?....KK I tried, your turn," Sollux looks to you, an awkward plea for help.
(Hmph. Amateur.)
You turn to Nepeta and open your arms, "Okay, c'mere."
Still wailing, she slumps over and her head lands on your shoulder (Oh come on!! Even Nepeta is taller than you!) and continues to wail into your uniform. You wrap her in a hug, pat up and down her back (PAT, not pap, that's a quadrant breach, and you are not that guy), and repeat comforting things. "This is how you comfort your friends, Sollux, maneuver 'E & E', Embrace and Ensure."
He mock-swoons, "Oh yes, S-senpai! Your technique is the greatest--"
"None of that!! I've seen your animes, I know what goes on there."
Nepeta starts shaking terribly, making soft choking sounds, you being worried that trying to joke around now just made it worse. Then you realize she's laughing.
"Nyeheh, *snifff*...y-you'd be the best senpai though."
"Please Karkat-senpai!! Teach me your secrets!!" Sollux is still at it, which makes your face grow hot and you have to scold him for awkward advances. The bell rings, and you use it as an excuse to get away. You steal looks at Nepeta and are some bit of relieved to see that at the very least she's not in tears during class, though that's just what's on the surface, you bet inside she wants to throttle Equius and figure out what's wrong with him...There's that internal twisting, the thin flickering string, and this time you think of John; this just might have something to do with him.
★♋★
"KK," Sollux stops you on your way out of the classroom, pulling you to the side.
You give him a questioning look, "Hm? What is it?"
He purses his lips, holds his breath for just a second before letting it go, "Okay, I wasn't sure if I should say anything...but I, I think this might have something to do with why...with what's going on with Equius."
"Huh!?" What does he mean? "Well go on, you've already started, you might as well finish!"
"Well," he scratches behind his head and starts fiddling with the zipper of his bag, "...Oh bluh, welp, here it is: you know that new place that opened? That-- well I guess it's orange --but that orange building, Fortune Place or whatever. I...saw Equius going in there yesterday."
"Wait, when? I thought you left up the other street."
"I did...technically. I'm working on an experimental study thing, though that's not really important right now, but I was checking on an item that I left stationed near there, and...let's just say I happened to see Equius acting a bit shifty when he went in there."
As much as you want to ask details, that's not as important as the information you've received. "Are...are you sure?"
"Pretty friggin' sure, here look," he pulls up a video file on his cell, skips forward some and shows you. It's not a very clear video, something that surprises you to be of Sollux's work, but it's done it's job well enough. Sure as the sky is Equius' large frame-- in all his normal, typical school day glory, you might add --in front of the loud, flashy building with its flickering neon sign.
You make some sort of surprised sound. How did he get this? "How'd you even record it?"
Sollux clears his throat, "That's not really...important now, but to get back to the point I think we should check this place out for ourselves later. Did Gamzee ever get back to you with anything on EQ?"
You know that his question is meant to distract you from yours, but that does raise a very important thought...in spite of you forgetting about it, "No, no he hasn't." Gamzee hadn't even come back to class yet, so that's another new thing to worry about.
(Now that feeling comes again, this time there's literally something churning in your stomach and you're beginning to feel very sick. You need to find John.)
★♋★
"Hmmm...I see," John muses aloud, visibly contemplating what you've just told him. His moue takes on a self-satisfied expression and if he had eyebrows, you're sure they'd be waggling, "Y'know~ It seems like something 'evil~' is at work here. Just saying. Maybe it's something we should check out, hm?"
John was waiting for you at the gate, immediately affixing himself to your shoulder and rushing you away from the crowds. Explaining the situation, he's already come to the conclusion you were kinda maybe sorta afraid of.
"So...you mean that Equius and those other kids..."
"Mhmm, you're right on the money there, pal. Most likely being mind-controlled."
"I guess. And there is that Fortune Place, can't get much more suspicious than opening right up all of a sudden."
"Right again. Hey, you're a lot smarter than I gave you credit for."
"If you want to continue being a talking cat, I suggest you keep your tongue to yourself."
"If you want to help your buddy out, I suggest you get ready to head over there, if you know what I mean."
"Wait," you skid to a stop, "First off, we're not really buddies, he's my friend's moirail, which by extension I guess does make him a friend, but he's more like an acquaintance that has yet to earn a reason for me to truly dislike him." Aside from today, after the fucker said all those shitty things to you. Alternian rules have no meaning and application on Earth (hadn't they already learned that with Vriska?), "Second, the fuck do you mean 'head over there'? As in, you want me to fight again?"
John grins, "Well, that is more or less the idea."
"So, let me get this straight: You, want me, to risk my neck, against some bullshit unnatural forces, which to be quite honest with you, I'm not sure if you are aligned with them yourself and you're just playing me like a sad piano. Meanwhile, as I'm doing this 'job', I am not getting paid, nor am I receiving any kind of benefits to my knowledge and understanding. Is that everything?"
The little bastard actually thinks about it, "Hrrmmm, weeeell, when you put it like that...yeah, that sounds about right."
You could strangle this shitty cat and throw him in the river and there would be none the wiser.
"Oh c'mon! The payment is the joy and satisfaction you get from helping protect people from their unknown assailants! Isn't that something?"
"Rrrrrgh, okay you know what, fine!! I'll do it, BUT. When I die, because of you, just know this. With whatever shred of will I have left, I will repossess my damn corpse and drag my ass to find you because I will take you down with me."
"Alright! Glad we got that out of the way! Now, transform~."
"...Why?"
"Because we're here, duh."
You look up and yeah, that building is right there. If you go a few steps more, you'd be literally at the front door.
....
You are so not ready for this shit.
"You mean I have to fight them now?!?"
"Hey, now or never. D'you want more people to end up brain-washed? Or for those who already are to start getting worse? I mean, they might possibly die, even."
"Ughh, okay........," you fish out the bracelet-- an object you've been trying not to think about too much --and clasp it around your wrist...but nothing happens, "...Uhhm.."
John sighs (you get the distinct feeling he's calling you an idiot in his head) and shakes his head, little bell jingling, "So you say, 'Cancer Prisma Power, Make Up'. Go on."
"...Right," Dammit. You take a deep breath, duck into an alley and hope to whatever god that no one walks by, silently cursing your feline friend.
"CANCER PRISMA POWER, MAKE UP!!!"
Once more you are enveloped in that brilliant light, it's warm and safe, and it feels like you're being filled with pure energy. Your body is directed again by whatever force that wills it, skating silken touches across your skin, against the essence of you. Flashes of dreams dance before your eyes and you know what they are, what they mean, it, names, words, they're all on the tip of your tongue but it's just not getting through and--
You come back and it feels like you've been dumped back out into reality, and the urging of the responsibility ahead of you breathes, the feeling spreading through your body with purpose and maybe something like power; maybe, what do you know about this stuff? Hah, not S H I T.
"Ready?" John walks ahead of you, leading to a door on the side.
As much as you'll ever be.
"I guess. Let's get this over with."