#smiffles

anyway so quick explanation in my sbau, since the others dont remember karmor due to him resetting everything after making the deal w crow, theres no explosion or whatever changes karmor makes to the timeline. but hipswitch has remnants of feelings (bc he was there when karmor made the secret deal), so they kinda just haunt his shop trying to get closer (its little attempts at meet cutes type stuff except the intention is to try and figure out wtf is the mysterious mans deal). when karmor hears theyre planning on going on the paladin ship mission, he freaks out bc mahatma is meant to die and he cant let that happen, so he comes along to try and change fate. except his kids follow from a distance, and instead of doc getting shot its tryx. she nearly dies herself, but with mahatma around he helps stem the bleeding long enough to buy her some time.

after cutting the mission short and heading back home, karmor decides to relocate to the bounty hunters' base in order to get tryx good treatment. poor girl is bedridden for days, and doesnt regain consciousness until after three. so mahatma, out of guilt and concern for her condition, almost constantly stays by her side to manage her vitals. and karmor hovers nearby too. doesnt really talk to mahatma, or any of the others. he kind of wanders the halls like a ghost, knowing the layout already to avoid them. but when he thinks doc is asleep, he comes in to check on tryx. and only then does he talk. softly, gently, he talks to his daughter. to one of his babies. and then he talks to mahatma, fond and guilt-ridden.

and mahatma n hipswitch essentially just agree to treat him like a nervous cat. act like theyre asleep just to hear him talk. and, on occasion, feel his touch, because karmor will drape blankets or leave little trays of food behind when he knows they havent eaten (or energy cells, in hipswitch's case). albus will even find a bottle of something that looks like whisky near his bed (only to find that its flavored water when he drinks it. which he still does, just to keep the little gifts coming.)