8 ∅ [Text/Action for Ecruteak Inn]

[callbacks]

[TEXT:]

currently taking your hottest exorcism tips
the top five submissions get a prize
the prize is whatever i get out of these boxes of abra jacks and if thats not your idea of a good time im sorry because theyre all i got stashed in this closet atm

if this is punishment for cultural appropriation at the festival im gomen
but can we maybe stop
onegai shimass

[ACTION FOR ECRUTEAK:]

[The great (???) thing about the ghost currently haunting Dave is that, for the most part, it stays out of sight, meaning that with everyone else distracted by their own phantasms, Dave managed to spend the whole day yesterday blatantly not acknowledging it, only twitching at its constant presence at the edge of his awareness. But after no sleep the entire night--negative sleep, probably, it's possible he will never sleep again, fuck every molecule of his being--he's just grabbed some foodstuffs, marched into the inn room closet, and settled in with his eyes shut, hugging the cereal boxes to his chest.

At least he can pretend Bro's not there, in the dark.]

Comments

[in4apounding]

Codpiece? What- OH.

[So that's a thing. And very definitely looking Karkat in the face now, slightly pink.]

Are- um. What about you, are you okay?

[quadrangle]

[There's a sound that might have been a laugh, in another life. He tries not to acknowledge making it.]

Yeah, I'm totally fucking fine. Why wouldn't I be?

[Ignore the bags under his eyes and how prominent they look even for Karkat, this is clearly insignificant.]

[in4apounding]

Because a dead friend in purple pajamas and scary clown makeup is stalking you and no one knows why or how to- ...oh, you were being rhetorical. Sorry.

[It's possible at least one of them is functioning on less sleep than usual.]

[quadrangle]

[—oh HELL no. Karkat's head snaps up.]

He is not my fucking friend! Friends don't pull any of the shit he [He jabs his finger at the apparition.] did when he was still—

[Alive. Haha. Karkat swallows and switches gears immediately, his arm returning to the far more important task of cradling—no, petting his Meowstic. Calm, he is fucking calm, can't throw a tantrum while he's holding one of his Pokémon, even if Sharru could probably handle it.]

That fucking asshole is lucky I never got my hands on him.

[in4apounding]

He's not-

[Oh my has she misjudged things here.]

[She looks from Karkat back to the ghostly juggalo, expression hardening slightly. She takes a step out of her room, not quite between Karkat and Gamzee, but ready to be if necessary.]

[That whimsical pajama-suit is sewn from magic and LIES.]

What did he- do you want to talk?

[quadrangle]

[He can't tell if the offer or the protectiveness is more surprising—if he's even reading her stance right, that is. He might not be. Why the hell would Penny be protective of him, anyway? He's a raging douchebag.]

Yeah, no, I'll pass.

[It's an easy dismissal, if a not entirely sincere one. Karkat probably should talk about to someone, but dumping this shit on Penny, of all people, can't be a good idea. She has her own ghost to deal with.

He frowns and shifts his weight a little, not quite making eye contact. See? Totally sincere here.]

Uh, unless you do—about your ghost, whoever the fuck they are. It might be easier to talk to someone who wasn't involved? In whatever the hell went down with them.

[........... Yes, because that's completely different from his own feelings on the subject of ghosts and you know what this is stupid. Please point out the hypocrisy, Penny, you're our only hope.]