caughtinanetwork | 038 ♋ [TEXT]

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038 ♋ [TEXT]

BEING AS MY PREVIOUS EMPLOYER HAS BEEN GONE FROM VATHEON FOR ABOUT HALF A MONTH
AND CERTAIN OTHER COMPLICATIONS OF LIFE ARE FINALLY SETTLED DOWN
THIS SEEMS THE OPTIMAL TIME TO LOOK FOR A NEW JOB.
AND YES, THE FACT THAT I HAVE MADE THIS POST MEANS THAT I AM LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS.
NO, SPIDER, I WILL NOT GO INTO JOURNALISM BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN THINK WE HAVE A NEWSPAPER HERE.
NO, GUY WITH THE UGLY HAIR I TALKED TO EARLIER IN THE MONTH, I AM NOT GOING TO WRITE A BOOK.
NO, EMPTYLOBED SHITWITS WHO WANT TO SUGGEST STUPID THINGS FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR OWN SHAMEFULLY UNATTRACTIVE LAUGHTER CONVULSIONS, I WILL NOT EVEN BEGIN TO HUMOR YOU, SO DO ME A FAVOR AND CHOKE ON THE NEAREST EATING UTENSIL.
FOR REFERENCE MY PRIOR EXPERIENCE INCLUDES MISCELLANEOUS TASKS IN RESTAURANTS UNTIL
1) MY FIRST EMPLOYER FIRED EVERYONE IN A FIT OF RAGE-FUELED DOUCHEBAGGERY FOR NO GOOD REASON
2) MY SECOND AS ALREADY STATED VANISHED FROM THE BUBBLE.
FOR THE RECORD, I DO NOT WANT THIS JOB AGAIN.
I AM A BADASS WITH A SICKLE
HAVE LEAD A TEAM OF TWELVE UNRULY AND ASSBRAINED MORONS TO VICTORY IN A GAME THAT ENDED ONE WORLD AND CREATED A NEW UNIVERSE
AND I AM DEEPLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THE TROPES OF ROMANTIC FILMS, WHICH ARE GREAT SO GO SINK YOUR SKULL INTO THE NEAREST SEWAGE DRAIN IF YOU'RE ONLY HERE TO SAY OTHERWISE.
I'M ALSO GREAT AT PROGRAMMING COMPUTER VIRUSES BUT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT USE THAT WOULD BE HERE.
SO WHATEVER
GIVE SUGGESTIONS, ASK *INTELLIGENT* QUESTIONS, AND WITH ANY LUCK I'LL FIND SOMETHING.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Calm down! Goodness. At the very least, it's not relationship drama.

[It's a little bit of a weak joke, but she's trying to think of some advice for him.]

I think, first and foremost, you need to let the adults meddle amongst themselves. They have their own lives and dramas to play out, and the best you can do is to remind them one-on-one that you would much prefer them safe.

If you believe that someone, who has a history of violence, is going back on his "promise", then you may have no choice but to always be ready with an escape route when he's near. It may be rude, but that would simply be safer for everyone.

And you may have to consider that the one adult troll who didn't keep you in the know was doing it so that you wouldn't try to get involved. Sometimes there are affairs which are best left to only a few people, even if that may be difficult for you to accept. I understand that withholding that sort of thing makes a role model look a bit less trustworthy, but they could very well be doing it in your best interests or in the best interests of others involved.

Let's see... that's the best advice I can offer based on what I know. I don't know if it will help, but I hope things are resolved for you soon.

[Believe it or not, that "joke" actually helps a bit. He's had relationship drama before. It sucked.]

[He breathes out a sigh, and listens as she doles out her advice, frowning still be at least considering.]

At this point I'm inclined to agree on the first thing. They don't want to listen to me anyway, so what's the point?

[Not bitter, nope. Just because he has a complex about being leader and they won't play along doesn't mean anything big. You're imagining things.]

There's not a one among us who doesn't know not to steer clear of that guy. I just hope that they actually went through with the backup in case the first plan failed, but of course I've got no info on that right now.

And that third guy is not a role model - not to me. And I'm not even talking about whether or not I'd get involved; I'm talking vital information to the effect of, "Yes, the murderous rampaging fucktard is taken care of, you can all go back to your hives now." I was staying a friend's place; knowing when I can go back is important, especially when he's the one who told us to all take shelter.

Edited 2012-07-20 06:26 (UTC)

[Mrs. Brisby stops and thinks for a while, trying to get some better context and a better grasp of what Karkat himself was trying to accomplish.]

You can't always control everyone else and you definitely can't control their situation, and it's very unrealistic to try and do it for more than one or two of them. Speaking from experience, of course...

And, well, perhaps he wasn't certain? I would have to hear his side of the story before making an opinion on it.

[Karkat grumbles at the first part. He's learning it, and he doesn't like it.]

That's the thing: he told other people - which is how I even heard about it - but not all of us, and I don't even know why.

That's very strange. Where were you staying before? Do you live with him, or were you staying with him?

Hell no! I wouldn't live with that guy if you paid me. He lives with two other guys. Do you know Gamzee and Equius? Them. I saw Gamzee mention something in passing that implied him to be back at his own place now, which is how I learned.

I live with this other guy, Eridan, but while that crap went on we were staying with a good friend of mine who was kind enough to share her place. Strength in numbers and keeping away from where the central asshat would go looking if for some reason he wanted to find us, you know? That was the idea behind it.

[He rubs at his temples again.]

Odds are you're not going to be able to make any more sense of it than me when you weren't involved in the first place.

Oh, you mean Mr. Darkleer! Yes, I know him. I do live with Gamzee, after all. Or, rather, my home is inside of his.

Ah, well, admittedly I would have an easier time if I knew names and could keep all of these characters straight, but you're right. It's very convoluted and confusing. This is actually the very reason I never really spoke with most of my neighbors.

What?

[He gawks.]

How, in all the times I've been over there, did I not even notice that? Gamzee didn't even tell me.

But fine: the Summoner's the one who died, the Grand Highblood killed him, and Darkleer's the one who took care of crap.

To be fair, I live in a brick in the wall. It's got a little red curtain instead of a front door, since I still haven't really carved a door for it. My husband was much better with wood than I am.

The Summoner... I believe I remember him, as well. He was rather charming towards me, but we never really pursued conversation. The "Grand Highblood"... I've only heard his name from Gamzee, and even then, I don't know much.

So, let's see... you're confused why Darkleer didn't tell you that everything was taken care of, the Summoner did something to endanger himself, and the Grand Highblood was who killed him?

Right.

[He shakes his head a bit, more at the oddness of the conversation than anything else.]

That's the rough outline of it, yes.

Then you need to have a talk with Mr. Darkleer. Not yell at him, per say, just sit him down and discuss things to try and get an understanding. He may have forgotten, but it does seem more likely that he had a reason. Do think about it and understand before reacting too strongly.

As for what to do with the Summoner... well. I would only lightly scold him, myself - I'm sure he's had punishment enough, with what he's gone through.

But I don't even like him, Mrs. Brisby. I go out of my way to avoid him even on a good day, and he seems pretty damn content to avoid me, too.

[He huffs.]

And I'm not going to even try to scold the Summoner for anything, because odds are he wouldn't listen to a bit of it.

Well, that may be your answer right there. If you want him to be in contact with you for emergencies, then you will have to suck it up a little and come to neutral terms with him at least. He has no obligation to speak to someone who hates him, after all, just as you have no obligations to do anything for him.

Hey, I talked to him enough about the first time, which is how I even learned the whole of the situation and that I needed to hide in the first place. He's the one who didn't follow through afterwards.

At least that means he doesn't hate you enough for you to die, but he doesn't care about you enough to keep tabs on you.

[FACTS OF LIFE, SOCIALIZING IS HARD.]

You'll need to compromise in some way.

[He grumbles a bit more.]

No, fuck it. I compromised enough for that much, and at least we're not dead. I'm staying out of his mess.

I think that's wise, then. Getting involved with someone you hate is a waste of time and energy, unless you absolutely need something from them.

[It is a little strange to hear that from Mrs. Brisby, who is always oh-so-polite. But it's true.]

Hey, hate has its value in troll culture. We have a whole category of romance based around hate, and it's the central emotion we feel. But the specific hate I feel for him is the kind where he can fall off a cliff for all I care.

[...]

--Pfft-

[Okay dammit Brisby you can keep from busting out laughing]

-Hahah! I think your sort just... just has too much time on their hands. T-that's the silliest thing I've ever heard!

[Way rude, totally culturally insensitive!!]

HEY! Hate-based romance is deeply fulfilling, I'll have you know, and has plenty of reasoning and practical usage in the context of our sociocultural environment! We are a violent, hateful people, and black romance in both its concupiscent and conciliatory forms have value, one that would leave us all the more prone to unneeded outbursts on others in their absence. Even the red quadrants can be outlined by their relationship to the moderation or absence of the hate we usually feel for others.

Oh really! You all seem like very loving, normal people to me, Karkat. I'm afraid this is definitely something I don't understand at all.

I cannot even fathom living long enough to waste time on a relationship based on hate.

It's not wasting time!

It's hating someone so much you can't just ignore them or off them; you have to express it and make them know how deep it runs. You do all within your power to make them the most miserable sadsack you can. You want to crush them to prove to them and yourself both that you can, that you're that much better, and they can't stop you. But at the same time they're trying everything in their power to do the exact same from the other side. It's fighting on purpose, digging up every little weakness you can for ammunition, and firing without mercy. It's feeling hate so deep and dark you wonder how the stars keep shining. It's rivalry at its finest and most exhilarating. If it was anyone else you would throw a party on their grave if they died, but this person you have to keep around just to let them know what a disgrace to the universe they are. And then you kiss, but not the soft gentle kind: you kiss like you want to tear each other's face off.

[A shake of the head, and a little laugh.]

I still say that you must have too much time on your hands. You all live so long! I suppose you have that time to waste on someone you hate, instead of devoting it to those you love.

Although I suppose then it's strange that humans don't do it, either.

[Everyone lives for what seems like forever to a mouse.]

I don't have too much time on my hands! I don't go insulting whatever facts of squeakbeast culture you celebrate, so lay off mine.

Humans, for the record, do not even have half the forms of romance we do. They limit themselves to a singular type of romantic relationship compared to us, and they're too emotionally squishy to see the merit in hate-based romance.

Hah, there's not much to "mouse culture". You move into the farmer's field to escape the forest in winter, then you move out before he plows the field. The rest is simply... surviving, for the years we have.

[Not for Mrs. Brisby, but she had a few simple years.]

I would much rather be with someone that makes me happy. Someone who would do violence to me... I'd never wish for that, and it would be much too dangerous for the children, to have a father like that.

038 ♋ [TEXT]

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