i think karkat vantas would absolutely LOVE heated rivalry, for a multitude of reasons but namely because the early relationship between shane and ilya is actually a really good example of kismesis. like, they hate each other (some could read it as lying to themselves about hating each other or ilya being whipped from the beginning (he totally was) but for the purposes of argument lets just say) but its more of a hatred born of them seeing each other and finally seeing someone on their level. someone who can keep up with them. and so what if we say the were really in love from the beginning (they totally were) pitch pairings vacillate to flush all the time, its actually explicitly stated that the feelings of respect ad admiration in pitch romance often lead towards those flush feelings. IN FACT i think karkat would also really appreciate the explicit and extremely well done SHOW of them realizing these feelings are actually leaning more flush. like literally look at the scene where shane runs away from ilyas house. like. their doing their thing. their usual pitch thing. (i also think them really only hooking up when they have games against each other because thats the only time theyre in the same town really lends to that pitch feeling because it kinda says that its really mostly when they go against each other that they wanna fuck. like obvs thats not the case but also like when they see the other go against another team their more like mam thia guys really good at hockey but when theyre against each other they have that deep seeded burning desire to be better than the other which if that aint pitch idk what is). and then shane kinda realizes that this whole moment ™ is very much lacking that hatred hes so used to that like being angry that he really wants to fuck this guy- sorry sorry- be fucked by this guy, amd hes like oh shit this is weird. THATS VACILLATION!!!! REAL TIME!!!!! WE WATCH IT HAPPEN!!!! i just think he would really enjoy it and i kinda wanna draw/write troll heated rivalry but it think im the only person in the universe putting these two universes together in my mind.
