#3867

So Karkat took on Gamzee, and lived to tell the tale? Color me extremely impressed.

Upon reflection, it makes a sort of sense that Karkat would be able to counter Gamzee's mind games. A huge part of Gamzee's threat is his sheer intimidation factor - but if Karkat managed to work himself up into one of his classic ragefits, he might simply have been too angry to be intimidated.

CG: OK, I'M DONE HERE. TALK TO YOU IN ONE SECOND FOR ME, ONE LONG WINDY FUCKING JOURNEY FOR YOU. carcinoGeneticist [CG] ceased trolling ectoBiologist [EB] carcinoGeneticist [CG] began trolling ectoBiologist [EB] […] CG: LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS. EB: aren't you going to ask me how my journey was? CG: NO. EB: it was long! and windy. but a lot of fun. EB: i really like flying, it's so much fun.

EB: is something wrong? […] EB: a while ago you talked to me and it sounded like you were in danger, and it sounds like some people died, but you never told me what happened! […] CG: A BUNCH OF US DIED, THE END. CG: I DON'T REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. […] CG: [..] AND NOT JUST BECAUSE, OH, THE CLOCK IS RAPIDLY TICKING DOWN TO SOMETHING WE'RE CALLING THE CRITICAL MOMENT, AND NO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, SO CLOSE YOUR REEKING QUESTION GEYSER BEFORE IT ASKS. EB: but, i'm your friend. aren't i? CG: OH GOD. EB: well? CG: JOHN, I CAN'T HANDLE TALKING ABOUT IT, OK.

But notably, you did not deny that he's your friend.

I think we're past that, by now. Karkat's finally willing to admit, implicitly, that he's pretty fond of this guy.

CG: I JUST GOT DONE CG: UH CG: DEALING WITH GAMZEE CG: AND I'M FEELING PRETTY EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT.

Furthermore, I don't think it's a coincidence the moment John asserted their friendship, Karkat actually started to open up a little. <3

CG: GAMZEE WAS MY VERY GOOD FRIEND, WHO WAS THIS GOOFY LOVEABLE BULLSHIT CLOWN UNTIL HE WENT PSYCHO AND KILLED SOME PEOPLE. I LIKED HIM A LOT. […] EB: so he killed some people… and then what? CG: SO THEN I EB: it's ok, you can tell me. CG: JOHN, TRUST ME. YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND. CG: IT'S JUST A TROLL THING, HUMANS WOULDN'T GET IT.

I don’t think you’re giving John enough credit, here. He’s just told you that he already knows about Vriska’s murders, and they were a lot less justifiable than yours.